Aspirations

Chapter 114 Dragon Trapped in the Shoal
Hou Pingpan was slightly taken aback, and took back the letter: "It's not that Cui Xiang couldn't suppress Xia Xiang, but that Xia Xiang acted smoothly and spoke impeccably. The murder case of Dong Xian in Le County brought Fu Ke, a well-known local rogue from Le County, to Zhending County for trial. Kill Xie Huagai and Liu Changting ruthlessly..."

"It's just a small matter of sesame seeds and mung beans. Mr. Hou has taken care of everything, isn't it too much trouble?" Xing Wang waved his hands disapprovingly, "If Liu Xie and the others can't even handle this small matter, there is no need for them to deal with it." He is in charge of the business of a certain place."

"His Royal Highness, please listen to me..." Hou Pingpan smiled knowingly, "Xia Xiang alone cannot compete with Cui Xiang and Liu Xie. He has a lot of support around him now, except for the Zhending county lieutenant. , Catcher, Ma Qingyuan, Xu Wangshan, Lian Ruohan and Lu Zhiyue."

"Lian Ruohan? Good times are always here? A woman, a businessman, and the defected daughter of the Qinghe Cui family, why be afraid? What can Lu Zhiyue do? Fan Yang's Lu family has declined, and even Cui, Zheng and Li The family is not as good as it is, not to mention that the four major families have been in decline for a long time." Xing Wang does not like the powerful families, and the imperial power has always disliked the powerful families, because the powerful families have always been the biggest threat to the imperial power.

"In the past, when the emperor was in the prime of his life, the emperor's authority and power, the four seas surrendered, and the four great families were not worth mentioning, but the situation is very different now, and the imperial power is weak. Although the four great families have declined, they are still local forces that cannot be ignored. They have both financial resources and military strength, and each has someone who is an official in the court. If His Royal Highness does not rely on the power of the four great families, he will definitely be used by King Jing and King Qing..." Hou Pingpan patiently tried to persuade King Xing, "Your Highness If you want to win the world, you must not only have the help of civil officials, but also have military officials to follow, and you must also borrow the financial resources of the four great families, in case there is an army, the position of the four great families will be extremely critical."

Xing Wang pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Hou Xianggong's words are very reasonable, and this king has been taught. Among the four great families, the Cui family and King Jing are now on good terms, and the Li family, Zheng family, and Lu family have unclear attitudes. Does Xiang Gong have a plan?"

"Whether the emperor died safely, or encountered an accident in Zhending, or raised troops to force the palace, the four great families will not stand idly by. For them, the change of dynasty is the best opportunity to rise again." Hou Pingpan told the four great families His understanding is more thorough than anyone else, because he was born in a commoner family, he has always looked up to the family, and he has awe and disdain for the mystery of the family. , is like a tiger with wings added. If it is blocked by the four great families, it will get twice the result with half the effort."

"Third brother, my younger brother has a pretty good relationship with the Li family in Taiyuan. Mr. Hou has many contacts with the Zheng family and the Lu family, but only the Cui family..." King Yun thought thoughtfully, "Cui's good friend with the elder brother The family is the Qinghe Cui family, and the Boling Cui family can be used by me."

"His Royal Highness Yun Wang is wise." Hou Pingpan sent a flattery without losing the opportunity, "Although the Cui family of Boling and the Cui family of Qinghe are from the same family, they are two branches. Cui He, the head of the Cui family of Qinghe, and Cui He, the head of the Cui family of Boling Bi has the ambition to revive the Cui family. Since Cui He has turned to King Jing, Cui Bi can only choose His Royal Highness Xingwang. This is not a matter for His Highness to worry about. I have already sent a letter to Boling to invite Cui Bi. See you in Beijing."

"That's...very good." Xing Wang was overjoyed, "Taiyuan Li family, Fan Yang Lu family, Xingyang Zheng family, Hou Xianggong and the fifth younger brother should also move around more. The four great families may not necessarily be of one mind."

"Of order." Hou Pingpan crossed his hands and bowed respectfully. He smiled again and said, "It shouldn't be a problem for King Yun and I to come forward for the matter of the four great families. But for Dong Xian's murder case, we have to bother King Xing Your Highness, spend more thought."

Xing Wang frowned slightly: "Why did you come back to Xia Xiang again? Could it be that the little Xia Xiang is more troublesome than the four great families?"

"I'm afraid that's true." Hou Pingpan's expression became more solemn, "Your Highness does not know that the murderer of Dong Xian's murder case Xia Xiang tried was Fu Ke..."

"Who is Dong Xian? Who is Fu Ke?" Xing Wang thought for a while, but couldn't remember who Fu Ke was. His high and mighty prince naturally wouldn't know a man more than [-] years away from the capital. The gangsters and rascals in the small county town.

"Dong Xian is a wealthy businessman in Shile County. He handles the granary and grain business in Shile County. He has a close friendship with Cheng Tianqing of Shile County. Fu Ke is an unemployed vagrant in Shile County. He usually idles around and bullies men in the village. Domineering girl, is a big rascal."

Xingwang yawned a lot, and was not interested in listening any more: "Such a trivial matter, Xia Xiang will try it after trial, so what's the trouble?"

Hou Pingpan said patiently: "Dong Xian's murder case is a case in progress, and Pei Shuozhang was incompetent and unwilling to take over the case, so Xia Xiang, who passed through Le County in the city and went to Zhending to take office, picked up a huge bargain. Pei Shuozhang is really mediocre In order to cope with the assessment by the Ministry of Officials, he did not accept Dong Xian's murder case, and missed a great opportunity. Dong Xian's death is not only related to His Highness's layout in Zhending Mansion, but also related to Cui Xiang's future, and it is related to Wu Yidong, the forbidden army stationed in Zhending Mansion. , and may even involve the Boling Cui family..."

"..." Rao Xingwang, who has experienced countless storms, couldn't help but gasped and was taken aback, "Dong Xian and Fu Ke are just unknown juniors, how could so many people be involved, what is going on? Son?"

Hou Pingpan sighed: "Your Highness, this matter is a long story, let me speak slowly..."

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and many guests in the living room outside had left one after another. King Jing, King Qing, and King Jian were still there. Not only did the three of them appear at the same time on a rare occasion, but what was even more rare was that the three took the initiative to talk to each other. Everyone in the meeting drinks.King Jing and King Qing both had a lot of wine, and they didn't feel drunk at all after drinking several liters of wine, but they saw that Wang was staggering, obviously out of support.

At the beginning, everyone was proud of drinking with King Jing and King Qing, but slowly they all came back to it, no matter how they thought it was wrong.When I came back, I remembered that Chai Shiye, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, left early because he was drunk, and only woke up when everyone was drunk. King Jing and King Qing clinked glasses with everyone one by one, not because they really wanted to drink with everyone, but because they wanted to take the opportunity to remember. Everyone, let's see who attended Xingwang's birthday party.

Later, even sharp-eyed people such as Zhang Yinong, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, discovered that when King Jing and King Qing were toasting, he saw that Wang was secretly writing something down with a pen, and he broke out in a cold sweat. Write down the name of each person in attendance.Well, being on the black list of King Jing and King Qing, I'm afraid that he will have a bad life.

Thinking about it this way, Zhang Yinong ran away with the second excuse that something happened at home.

There are also many people with the same vision as Zhang Yinong, such as Fu Xianfeng, Minister of the Ministry of War, Fu Xianfeng, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, and Li Shide, Minister of the Ministry of Households. However, the three did not leave, but sat firmly on the Diaoyutai, looking as calm as you can. .The three of them talked in private, since they decided to take refuge in King Xing, they were not afraid of King Jing and King Qing wearing small shoes. Judging from the current momentum, the possibility of King Xing taking over the throne was far greater than that of King Jing and King Qing, so... what to be afraid of.You can't be as timid as a mouse like Chai Shiye, and you can't want to have both sides like Zhang Yinong.

The principals and deputies of the six ministers and nine ministers left some later, some because they found something wrong and didn't want to stay in the early days, and some because the rain was getting heavier and heavier. No matter who left, King Jing and King Qing got up and saw each other off. Just like the owner of Xingwang Mansion.When the raindrops gradually formed into a line and became rainwater, suddenly a thunderstorm exploded in the sky, shaking it around a few times, and the pillars of the house creaked a few times.

Sitian Supervisor Wei Qiang was clinking glasses with King Jian, when there was a thunder, his hand shook, and the wine glass fell to the ground and shattered.He suddenly changed his color, threw him down to see the king, ran out, stood under the dripping eaves and looked up at the sky. After a while, he said in a slightly trembling voice: "Thunder and lightning are yang, five elements of gold are in order, and thunder belongs to oriental wood. In autumn, everything kills." , Yang Qi is harvested and Yin Qi is raised, and thunder is caused by the rise of Yang Qi. In autumn, Yang Qi is not harvested, and everything is not hidden in winter. Autumn thunder is the battle between gold and wood, and I am afraid that next year there will be a lack of harvest.”

"Is it just a lack of harvest?" King Jing came to Wei Qiang at some time, holding his beard in his hand, looking up at the sky, "Wei Tianjian, look at the black clouds pressing down on the city, and the black cloud is over the palace, covering the palace. Shrouded in it, it is the image of a dragon trapped in the shallows."

Wei Qiang's expression changed: "The villain doesn't know what Your Highness means by this."

"One day the dragon will get the water, and the river will turn over and the sea will flow back... Wei Tianjian, there are rumors among the people that there will be thunder in autumn, and there will be thieves everywhere." King Jing laughed, turned around and left, "Don't be taken advantage of by thieves and steal things, haha .”

Seeing that the rain was getting heavier and heavier, most of the servants did not bring umbrellas before they went out, so they asked the servants to go back to get the umbrellas. Suddenly, the servants and their followers ran back and forth, creating a mess.

Anyway, it was still early, some people withdrew the banquet and served tea, and everyone sat around drinking tea and chatting, reciting poems and appreciating the rain, which was not out of elegance.

Someone proposed to use the scenery to write a poem, and everyone applauded.Fu Xianfeng, Minister of the Ministry of War, was the first to write two lines of poems: "When the rain hits a thousand mangroves, the autumn wind blows thousands of yellow willows."

"No, no, this poem is used to describe that the spring rain is okay and has the meaning of joy. The autumn wind and autumn rain are sad, and the more sad taste is suitable for the scene." Shen Fuming, Minister of the Ministry of punishment, shook his head and wrote a poem, "There are bamboos in the pavilion Autumn is always there, the mountains are quiet and there is no one, and the water flows by itself..."

"It's also inappropriate." Li Shide, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, shook his head again and again, "Although there is autumn feeling, there is no autumn sadness, and it is too leisurely, there is—— Unintentionally, the north wind and flowers have faded, and there is leisure in autumn. Yan Nanfei. "

"Good." Everyone applauded.

Even King Jing and King Qing nodded repeatedly, admiring the strong sense of autumn in Li Shide's poem.

"Autumn rains are innocently written into poems, and the people are fortunate enough not to be idle. You know the passing of time without traces, and you don't feel the coldness of life when you have dreams." Before the crowd applauded, suddenly a voice came from a corner, the voice was generous and tragic, just right for this The scene of sad autumn and rain.

Everyone's expression changed immediately after hearing this. The poem is a good poem, but the cynicism in the poem made everyone feel like they had been slapped in the face.This person's poem is obviously a satire that everyone in the room is doing nothing, regardless of the suffering of the people, they only know how to recite poems and fight against the wind, flowers, snow and moon.

Who is so daring to beat to death more than a dozen second and third-rank officials present here with a stick!So ignorant, so arrogant!
In addition to several great ministers, five of the nine ministers are here, and almost all the most powerful people among the hundred officials are here, not to mention King Jing, King Qing and King Jian are here. .

Everyone searched for their reputation, but the poet recited it bravely. He stood up from the corner, came to the center, made a bow, and smiled coldly: "Masters, ministers, Shi Teng Zhengyuan, servant in the palace."

In fact, there is no need for Teng Zhengyuan to introduce himself, many people present have already recognized him as the famous hedgehog censor Teng Zhengyuan.Fu Xianfeng laughed, and looked up at the sky: "So it's Teng Hedgehog, why, who do you want to stab today?"

The crowd laughed.

Teng Zhengyuan's face remained unchanged, and he saluted Fu Xianfeng: "Thank you Fu Shangshu for giving me the name. From now on, I will be named Hedgehog and be proud of Hedgehog."

The crowd laughed again.

Fu Xianfeng was taken aback for a moment, and then he laughed: "So, do you want to kill me today? Come on, I have rough skin and thick flesh. I'm not afraid of you, a hedgehog. Just let the horse come here."

"The lower officials are not targeting Fu Shangshu." Teng Zhengyuan didn't show timidity at all. Instead, he held his head high, his eyes glaring at everyone, and said loudly, "Now the emperor is seriously ill, and the new law has displaced the people everywhere. There are more than one hundred thousand households who have become landless refugees, but you eat the king's salary, but you don't share your worries for the king. They gather together, recite poems and make love, feel the spring and autumn, sing and dance to promote peace, ashamed to be a minister, ashamed to be a son of man, ashamed to be the emperor, ashamed to be right People!"

Teng Zhengyuan's words were like the sound of iron tools, the sound struck everyone's ears, although it was harsh, but every sentence was true. Among the people present, some bowed their heads in shame, some sneered, some looked down upon it, and some didn't take it seriously.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

Fu Xianfeng clapped his hands three times, and chuckled lightly: "What an impassioned speech, Teng Yushi, the implication of your words is that, except for you, all the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty are idlers with nothing to do? It’s a vegetarian meal for a corpse, and it doesn’t seek a place in its administration? How do you know that I’m here to recite poems and fight against you, without worrying about the country and the people? How do you know that when the country is in danger, I won’t stand up and stand up for the country? Sacrifice?"

Although Teng Zhengyuan was only a seventh-rank censor, and there was a huge difference between him and a second-rank Shangshu, he met Fu Xianfeng's gaze without fear, and said generously: "When the country is in danger, how will you ministers and ministers serve the country? Is it to go to battle and kill the enemy?" , or use the pen as a knife to crusade against the enemy? There is nothing to do and talk about the heart, and it is not enough to die in the face of danger to repay the king. It is better to work hard to rejuvenate the country than to die in danger."

As soon as Teng Zhengyuan finished speaking, he bowed his hands and bowed to everyone: "I will take my leave now. All ministers and ministers, for today's matter, I will be a letter to the emperor to impeach you for malfeasance."

Without waiting for any reaction from the crowd, Teng Zhengyuan flicked his sleeves and strode into the rain.It was raining heavily, and he had no entourage, nor did he hold an umbrella. He was drenched in a moment, but he still walked away at a leisurely pace.Not long after, his back disappeared into the boundless heavy rain, lonely and stubborn.

"Teng Hedgehog, what a hedgehog." King Jing nodded and smiled, and asked King Qing sideways, "Fourth brother, he and Xia Xiang were Jinshi in the same year. I heard that he also has friendship with Xia Xiang?"

King Qing nodded and said: "Although Hedgehog Teng is proud, he is strong and easy to break. His mouth is like iron, his knees, gallbladder, and bones are all like iron. He is really a four-iron censor worthy of the name."

"Four iron censors? Okay, I will give him a copy of the four iron censors, and I hope he will always be strong in the future." King Jing appreciates Teng Zhengyuan's temper, but he also knows that Teng Zhengyuan is too upright, and he is afraid To go through some hardships.

Thinking of something again, King Jing asked, "Where did Cao Shujun, Jin Jia, and Ye Muping go?"

"Probably went to Guanxin Pavilion... Lian Ruohan's mansion." King Qing smiled slightly, "Miss Lian is a strong woman, and she is indeed a good match for Xianer."

"It doesn't matter if you don't mention it." King Jing waved his hand, "I hope that Xianer can marry the princess of Mongolia."

The rain gradually stopped, and everyone left one after another. They stood at the gate of Xingwang's mansion and sent everyone away with Xingwang. King Jing, King Qing and King Jian also left.

After the rain in the capital city, there is a trace of cold air amidst the freshness.This is especially true for the Guanxin Pavilion, which has few people and a large space. In the living room, there are a few more screens to keep out the cool autumn wind.Fortunately, although Guanxin Pavilion has a large area, its layout is exquisite. The living room is not too big, nor does it look empty, nor does it feel that the autumn wind is annoying.

In the living room, Lian Ruohan was gently holding Su's hand, making tea for several people.Cao Shuli was at the side shaking a small fan lightly to stir the fire.

The tea is the best Longtuan Shengxue, the teapot is also the best silver pot, and the teacup is the favorite Jianzhan of the Daxia people.Only the Dehua white porcelain Xiaoyao cup is placed in front of Ye Muping.

After the autumn rain, the sky is as clear as a clear blue, which is refreshing.The air is also extremely fresh, and on the table in front of the screen, there is a lotus incense burner, with sandalwood wafting endlessly.

"Beiyin Mountain is a place of pure yin and no yang, so there is no grass growing on the mountain, no peaks piercing the sky, no visitors to the mountains, no clouds in the caves, and no flowing water in the stream." Ye Muping's voice was as soothing as running water, "the sky has nine heavens." , The earth has nine layers of earth. According to "Taixuan", there are nine heavens, one is Zhongtian, the other is Xiantian, the third is Congtian, the fourth is Gengtian, the fifth is Zoutian, the sixth is Kuotian, and the seventh is Xiantian. The eighth is the sunken sky, and the ninth is the eternal sky. The earth has nine levels, also known as the nine secluded places. The nine levels mean nine times, so there are [-] hells behind Yinshan Mountain."

"It is said in "Liezi·Tang Wen" that there is a huge gully in the east of the Bohai Sea. It is actually a bottomless valley, and there is no bottom below it. It is called Guixu." Ye Muping took a sip of tea, lightly With a smile, "Guixu is said to be a bottomless valley in the sea, where all the waters converge. The world, including all the rivers in the universe, and even the water in the Milky Way in the sky, finally converge into this primitive and mysterious bottomless pit." However, the miraculous water in Guixu did not increase or decrease in the slightest because of this."

(End of this chapter)