A Thousand Hills

Chapter 316

The fifth prince just said a few words to He Pu. He Pu is the great official of the frontier, and the fifth prince is the vassal king. If it weren't for some connection before, it would be hard to have much contact with each other.Fortunately, He Bo is a smart person to be the governor of Zhili. He visited the First Prince of the East Palace and others earlier, and he came to the Prince of Fujian's mansion with great sense of propriety.

In fact, He Bo knew that it was the fifth prince who came forward to speak, so that Li Jun won the position of minister. Of course, He Bo was not very straightforward, but the fifth prince is famous, and he is also a vassal king. In recent years, he has the momentum to surpass the East Palace If His Majesty hadn't recalled Li Jun, who was the former Prince Shaofu, and married the grandson of Su's daughter as his concubine, the whole court would probably think that His Majesty was dissatisfied with the East Palace and interested in the King of Fujian.It's not that He Pu hates the fifth prince for speaking for Li Jun in front of the emperor. He has no friendship with the fifth prince. Moreover, it's not the heart of a feudal official to remember to hate a vassal for this matter.However, He Bo didn't understand, if the king of Fujian really wanted to take over the East Palace, how could he help the East Palace recall Li Jun?In other words, King Min is really a peaceful person, or Li Jun has secretly turned to King Min.No, if Li Jun secretly turned to the King of Min, it would be even more impossible for the King of Min to recommend him openly. Wouldn't this create a rift in the East Palace.

He Pu pondered deeply, and felt more and more that King Min was unfathomable.

Because he couldn't see through, he couldn't help being a little more respectful.

However, the two of them didn't have much to talk about. After exchanging a few greetings and getting familiar with each other, He Pu left.

In fact, don't say that He Bo couldn't figure out the move of the King of Min recommending Li Jun, even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince couldn't figure it out, but Li Jun was old and mature. , In fact, he is a meticulous person. Thinking about the time when the old minister was demoted from the imperial capital, His Royal Highness the King of Min also gave the old minister something from his study, which was beyond the expectation of the veteran. It should be noted that the old minister was demoted back then, so to speak, he was implicated in the scientific fraud case."

When Li Jun said this, the crown prince was suspicious and said, "Fifth brother is more than meticulous. I'm afraid Li Xiang doesn't know. These years, the fifth brother has become more and more organized."

Although the crown prince did not recommend him before the imperial court, Li Jun himself was able to be included as one of the three candidates for the Minister of Punishment, which was much appreciated by the crown prince.If it had been earlier, Li Jun might have worried about Donggong's status in Jinshang's heart, but after referring to Su's daughter as the grandson concubine in Jinshang, and then transferred himself to the Ministry of Punishment, Li Jun knew that the crown prince still had a dispute. force.What's more, the King of Fujian is famous now, but he has a deep relationship with the prince, and there is probably no place for him to stand beside the King of Min.Even though the prince is in a dangerous situation, the more so, if he can help the prince to the great position, it will be more meritorious.

Li Jun had already made some plans in his stomach. Seeing that the crown prince seemed to have something to say about the king of Fujian, Li Jun said, "I don't know, but I have heard a lot. Forgive me for speaking bluntly. When I am away, I only hear that the king of Fujian is in full swing." , but did not hear His Highness respond, I don't know why?"

The prince's complexion turned dark immediately, and he said in a low voice, "Father is about to set up a new empress, what can I do?"

Li Jun said warmly, "If your majesty really lost confidence in your highness, how could you point out such a marriage for your grandson? Think about it, your highness, among the grandsons of the emperors, which emperor's grandson can marry the chief assistant family? The Su family, a The chief assistant, the two governors, and the remaining officials are innumerable. Even though there is no title of duke and marquis, but in all the imperial capitals, there is no duke's mansion that can match the strength of the Su family."

The prince's expression softened a little, and he sighed, "Gu has thought about this matter too. However, if the father still values ​​Gu as much as before, why should he mention the matter of succession?"

Li Jun said, "Your Highness also knows that His Majesty treats His Highness differently than before. I don't know why Your Highness knows?"

The prince sighed, "It's just because I was alone in Jiangnan and lost in the war."

"No." Li Jun said seriously, "His Royal Highness was just visiting Jiangnan on behalf of His Majesty. His Highness was not the commander in chief. How could His Highness be blamed for Jiangnan's defeat? If His Highness was responsible for Jiangnan's defeat, then why didn't the Marquis of Nan'an back then?" Ken returned to the imperial capital after being defeated in the south of the Yangtze River? Why do you want to return to the court after you have established meritorious service?"

The prince smiled bitterly, "In the whole court, I am afraid that you are the only one who thinks like this. They are just because of the face of the East Palace, so they are not easy to speak, but in fact, these people are probably thinking that they were alone in favor of Wu Guogong to seize Nan'an Hou's military power, which led to the defeat of Jiangnan. Alone in their hearts, they are just sinners who almost brought down the country."

Li Jun asked, "Your Highness thinks, is what these people are thinking correct and reasonable?"

The prince's thin lips were tightly pursed, and after a long silence, Fang said slowly, "At that time, the Marquis of Nan'an won several battles in the south of the Yangtze River, and Gu was ordered to tour Jiangnan. Gu did have selfish intentions. So, if Gu is in the south of the Yangtze River, it would be good if the Marquis of Nan'an can fight a few more victories. One, he can learn some military strategies; He was dissatisfied with life, but it can be said that Gu seized the military power in Nan'an because of selfishness. Gu can swear to God that it was because Nan'an might have contacts with Jingjiang at that time, and Gu was worried about the safety of the Jiangnan army, so Fang put Nan'an Hou under house arrest. Gu later Send the secret book to the imperial capital, and ask the father to make an idea. Unexpectedly, Jingjiang turned around. When I went to look for Nan'an Hou, Nan'an Hou had disappeared. Nan'an Hou said that someone poisoned him, and I had the evidence at that time. As long as the father condemns the general to replace the Marquis of Nan'an, the Marquis of Nan'an can be taken to the emperor's capital for trial, so why bother. Don't say that killing him with poison means that Marquis of Nan'an will lose a single hair, fearing that everyone in the world will be regarded as a lonely Let me do it. Gu is not so stupid!"

Li Jun also thought about Jiangnan affairs many times, but he was working in Shaanxi and Gansu at that time, and there were wars every year at Xining Guan, so he didn't know much about Jiangnan affairs.However, Li Jun and the crown prince had the same views on the poisoning of the Marquis of Nan'an. Li Jun and the crown prince had not known each other for a day. He could do the poisonous killing of the Marquis of Nan'an.This thing is too stupid.

Li Jun asked some more details, and then said to the crown prince, "Your Highness lost love with His Majesty because of Jiangnan, but after all, it would be too unfair to blame His Highness for all the Jiangnan incidents. The old minister knew His Highness Over the years, I have said some things directly, and please forgive me, Your Highness."

The prince hurriedly said, "In Gu's heart, Li Xiangyi is the Gu's grand master. Since he is a master and apprentice, there is nothing Li Xiang can't say. If Li Xiang can't speak up to Gu, who else can Gu trust?"

Li Jun said, "Your Highness is indeed at fault in Jiangnan affairs."

Although the prince's face was ugly, he still said, "Yes, Gu admits it."

"Then, now that Prince Jingjiang's princes and ministers have all been escorted to the imperial capital, would His Highness ask His Majesty to issue an order to re-examine the Jiangnan matter and find out the truth about the murder of the Marquis of Nan'an!"

The muscles on the prince's cheeks twitched unconsciously, and he said to Li Jun, "If the trial of this case starts at this time, I'm afraid it will be done after I'm afraid."

Li Jun said, "Your Highness, the Fengyi Palace has been vacant for many years. Which son in the world can stop his father from marrying another wife? Even if he establishes a new queen, the new queen will never be able to surpass the previous queen? If your majesty really asks five Your Highness, how can you recall the minister back to the imperial capital?"

The prince whispered, "This is exactly what loneliness and suffering cannot understand. If the father still wants to be lonely, he shouldn't let the fifth younger brother sit down. If the father wants the fifth brother, how can he make such a marriage for the grandson?" , How can you favor Yu Gu in the matter of the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment?"

Li Jun comforted in a warm voice, "If your majesty is so easy to be seen through, you are not your majesty." Then, his voice changed, and his tone was low and cold, "Your Highness, according to my understanding of your majesty, this It can explain that His Majesty is dissatisfied with His Highness, but His Majesty still has a sliver of confidence in His Highness, and is willing to wait and see. After all, reserving a position is nothing more important than others. However, if His Highness makes a wrong step, I am afraid that His Majesty will Change your Highness without hesitation!"

The prince's eyes darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Li Xiangken and Gu said these confidantes, and Gu understands." It was a bloody fact, but it was suddenly revealed. Even though it was embarrassing on the surface, the prince also learned of Li Xiang's love. .After a pause, the crown prince continued, "What are Li Xiang's plans, even if you tell Gu to know all about it."

Li Jun thought to himself, although the prince is indecisive, he is good at accepting advice, and he is still a wise king.Although King Min's momentum is good, but there is an old story of the assistant saint, and King Min only favors Xie, so unless it is absolutely necessary, he cannot turn to King Min.With a sinking heart, Li Jun said to the crown prince, "I am in charge of the Ministry of Punishments, so let's bring the Jiangnan case to the third division for a trial! Here, if His Highness has made any mistakes, His Highness should ask His Majesty for guilt. If it wasn't for His Highness's negligence, I will never let His Highness take the blame for others. After the trial of this case, there will be an explanation for the right and wrong in it! Your Highness just listen to the government at His Majesty's side with peace of mind. People are not sages. There is nothing good that can be changed. Your Highness is His Majesty's parent and son, even if His Highness makes mistakes, as long as the relationship between father and son is there, the position will be secure."

The crown prince said, "Tomorrow Gu will ask the emperor for an order, and the three divisions will jointly interrogate the case of Marquis Nan'an being poisoned."

Li Jun nodded, "Your Highness is wise."

"There is one more thing, His Highness needs to talk to His Majesty before asking for a joint trial on the poisoning of Marquis Nan'an."

"What's the matter?"

"Fengyi Palace has been vacant for many years. Since we want to become a queen, we should overhaul Fengyi Palace." Li Jun said lightly, "Your Highness should remind His Majesty."

The prince gritted his teeth, "I understand."

Li Jun looked at the prince's gnashed teeth, and thought to himself, what kind of style was it when the fifth prince asked His Majesty to establish the prince early, but it was just to build a Fengyi Palace, as for what.Li Jun had no choice but to say, "Don't worry, Your Highness. Seeing that the roots of the year are getting worse, we are still busy with worshiping the heavens and ancestors. Even the repair of Fengyi Palace will have to start next spring."

The prince and Li Jun talked about everything, and sighed, "If you don't establish a queen, what if you build him ten or eight palaces of Fengyi? Once the queen is established..." After a moment of emotion, the prince said, "According Look at Li, which empress will the emperor choose?"

Li Jun replied decisively, "It must be Concubine Su Shu."

The prince's face turned pale, and he asked Li Jun, "How about the imperial concubine's position?"

Li Jun accompanied her for many years, and said, "If it's the imperial concubine's position, it's good. If it's the later position, Your Highness shouldn't mess up."

"I understand alone."

Li Jun sighed in his heart. His Royal Highness probably didn't understand how cruel his father had.

Although the establishment of a queen makes the crown prince uneasy, His Majesty's heart is still in the East Palace. Otherwise, based on His Majesty's temperament, if he really has the heart of easy storage, he will definitely not be so troublesome to establish a queen first.However, the fifth prince's grandeur gradually became apparent, but the prince made repeated mistakes. It is inevitable that His Majesty's mind will be shaken on the matter of reserve.

Xie Moru's evaluation of Li Jun was, "It's a hundred times better than that Ning Jijiu."

The fifth prince also said, "As soon as Li Xiang came back, the weather in the East Palace was different. You don't know, when the Crown Prince asked the Ministry of Industry to overhaul the Fengyi Palace today, the expression on the elder brother's face seemed to have seen a ghost."

Xie Moru said, "Lord Li Xiang is much scarier than ghosts."

The Fifth Prince said, "Add a strong enemy."

Xie Moru smiled, "Li Xiang is not considered a strong enemy. Think about it, Your Highness, with Li Xiang's ability, he was not a first-class figure in his Majesty's personal administration back then. Could it be that he became a first-class man when he was old?" gone?"

"Then who do you think is the first-class person?"

"Your Highness is like this."

The fifth prince couldn't help but chuckled at this flattery, and said, "Don't make fun of me."

"Why are you joking? In this world, there are many outstanding people. Some are good at poetry and prose, and some are good at martial arts. Your Highness may say that if the Jiujiang River is like Fufeng, you can be regarded as outstanding if you can write, stabilize, and martial arts. But think about it, Your Highness. Before they followed His Highness, they were just ordinary people among all living beings. After following His Highness, they could display their talents. For example, Maxima is common, but Bo Le is not. Your Highness has the talent of Bo Le, His Highness is not a first-class figure, who counts? "

The fifth prince's face was slightly warm when he praised his wife, and said, "A talented person will have the day to show his talent sooner or later."

"That's not necessarily the case. Isn't the Marquis of Nan'an equally talented? If the first person he meets is His Highness, I'm afraid there will be more than one Marquis."

Speaking of the Marquis of Nan'an, the fifth prince sighed again, and discussed with Xie Moru, "The prince requested to review the case of Marquis of Nan'an being poisoned."

"This is what the prince understands. If there is a result of the trial, even if there is an explanation, the mouth of Chaozhong Youyou will be blocked."

How could the fifth prince fail to guess the intention of the East Palace, and said, "It is naturally good for the prince."

Xie Moru said, "Your Majesty is well aware of the Jiangnan affairs. Speaking of which, even though grandfather has retired, the Third Prince has been in the Criminal Department for many years. Even if Li Xiangyu is in charge of the Criminal Department, it is not easy to have the Third Prince here. I am afraid that the Third Prince has such a temper , I just hope that no one will be offended, but I don't know what his idea is."

"Third brother is afraid that he himself will be in trouble. He is always a harmonious person, so he doesn't want to get involved, but if he doesn't do anything in this matter, he is afraid that the Ministry of punishment will eventually fall into Li Xiang's hands." The fifth prince also knows the temper of the third prince. Speaking of which, the third prince is really good-natured, neither the crown prince is headstrong, nor the eldest prince is arrogant and rude, and he is not as confused as the sixth prince. It can be said that such a delicate person is also the person who has no position.If the eldest prince encounters such an opportunity, even if he doesn't want to add insult to injury to the prince, at least he must let the Ministry of Justice investigate and find out.But put it on the head of the third prince, the third prince is afraid that he does not want to offend the prince.

The relationship between the fifth prince and the third prince is no better than that with the fourth prince, and it is even more difficult to express any opinions on this matter, because even if the fifth prince only wants a fair review, he will give the Marquis of Nan'an justice.Fear of falling into the mouth of the villain is also intended to interfere with the Ministry of Punishment, which is not good for the prince.Therefore, the fifth prince can't say anything.The fifth prince turned to discuss with his wife, "Jiang Shilang from the Ministry of Punishment is about to retire."

Xie Moru thought for a while, "Jiang Shilang is also a 65-year-old man. If he can go further to become a minister, he can continue to work. Now it is not easy for him to go further, and he is not young. What's more, the investigation of the murder case of Nan'an Hou has a lot to do with it." Many, Jiang Shilang is afraid that he wants to become an official because of this." This is the case in the court, these people, when they want to use them, one by one is more foolish than the other.It was Xie Shangshu's proposal that Jiang Shilang became a candidate for Shangshu. It's just that Jiang Shilang didn't catch up with the good season.But Jiang Shilang's election for the post of Shangshu shows that he has a lot of qualifications in the Ministry of Punishment.Xie Shangshu just became an official, and his contacts in the Ministry of Punishment are still there. If these people are willing to contribute, it will not be so easy for Li Jun to take down the Ministry of Punishment.However, who would want to get involved in the muddy waters of the fight between the prince and the fifth prince?Jiang Shilang is going to retire at this time, probably not only because of his old age, but also because he doesn't want to get involved in the investigation of Nan'an Hou's poisoning.

The Fifth Prince said, "If it's because of this, it's really right not to let him be Minister of the Ministry of Punishment."

Xie Moru said, "There are a lot of things to do in the next year, and the investigation into the murder case of the Marquis of Nan'an may have to wait until next year. Jiang Shilang is appointed as an official, and Li Xiang couldn't ask for it. He must be replaced by an official of the prince's family."

Obviously, this is the reason why the fifth prince discussed this matter with Xie Moru. The fifth prince said, "If we just sit back and watch, the Ministry of Punishment may fall into the hands of Prime Minister Li."

"Does Your Highness have someone he likes?"

The fifth prince was in a dilemma because of this. The fifth prince said, "It's not a problem if someone is arranged in the army. In these years, most of the people we know are generals in the army. Even if there are one or two officials, they are all small officials in the south of the Yangtze River. Son." There is really no one available, the Fifth Prince sighed, "If I knew Li Xiang gave the Prince this idea, I would have asked the old Shangshu to support me for another year or so."

Xie Moru laughed, "Your Highness is in a hurry, if it wasn't for the grandfather's appointment, Li Xiang would have been the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishments. Even if grandfather had such an idea, Li Xiang would not dare to bring it up."

The fifth prince also laughed, "Hey, I've been racking my brains, but I don't even have a suitable candidate."

Xie Moru also knows that the fifth prince does not have many close ministers in the court. The fifth prince is on errand in the Ministry of Rites, and his contacts are also in the Ministry of Rites. In the other five departments, the fourth prince is in the Ministry of Industry. Therefore, at the Ministry of Industry, the fifth prince also said Let's talk.Of course, Tang Ji became the secretary of the household department, which is also acquainted with the five princes. However, Tang Ji is an old man in the officialdom. The one who takes refuge in the prince is the same as the fifth prince.The Ministry of Punishment, hey, Xie Shangshu is an idiot, and his subordinates also have the characteristics of an idiot. The Ministry of War has always been the territory of the eldest prince.Of course, Marquis Yong'an, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, also had a good impression of the fifth prince.There is also Beichanghou, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, who is married to the Xie family, but has no direct or indirect connection with the fifth prince.Looking at it this way, it seems that the fifth prince is in good momentum in the court, but Xie Moru said that all the adults are good at showing certain political tendencies, and then adjust their own wind direction according to the likes and dislikes of Emperor Mu Yuan. Xie Moru believes that when the Eastern Palace was stable, they must have also expressed their friendly gestures to the Eastern Palace.However, at the critical moment, no bird is of any use!

Xie Moru suddenly said, "Your Highness thinks, how about Su Buyu?"

The fifth prince said, "Buyu has done a good job in Nan'an Prefecture, but he has just been promoted to governor for a few years, and he is a foreign official who entered the imperial capital..."

"Your Majesty has always trusted the Su family. In other words, except for Prime Minister Su as the chief assistant, whether Su Yan's governor of Shaanxi-Gansu or Su-language governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, it is not a peaceful place right now. The grandson's father-in-law Su Fang is just an acquaintance, Your Highness It's not that because of the grand-grandson's wedding, His Majesty wanted to be promoted to the magistrate, but Su Xiang persuaded His Majesty, and he was not promoted to the official position of Su Fang." Xie Moru said, and the fifth prince followed, "Su Xiang has always been upright. "

Xie Moru nodded and continued, "So, Su Fang will take over next year. Prime Minister Su is old, so it's good that there are no parents and children around to serve him. Your Majesty is sympathetic to the old minister, and loves Prime Minister Su. He is the crown prince. Because of his relationship with Su I'm afraid they won't object to Su Buyu's appointment as the servant of the Ministry of Punishment."

The fifth prince said, "I'm only worried that Su Buyu will be used by the prince."

"Your Highness also knows that I met Su Buyu as a young man. Jiujiang's biological mother and Buyu's biological mother are twin sisters. In terms of blood relatives, they are two cousins. Buyu married a lady from Qi Guogong's family. It is the same as Mo You It's my sister-in-law." Xie Moru first explained the relationship between Su Buyu and his family with the fifth prince in detail, and then said, "Furthermore, let's take a look at this, whether the loyalty of the Su family is to His Majesty!"

(End of this chapter)