At night, Lu Heng's mansion, the hall house.

Yang Gao, Liu Bowen, and Lu Heng sat with each other. Lu Heng presented an account book in his hand to Yang Gao: "Your Majesty, this is the account book that Weichen found in Yang Xi's mansion, which records the silver taels that Yang Xi has embezzled over the past year and the expenses he used to bribe his boss. ”

Yang Gao took the account book, roughly flipped through it, his face suddenly became extremely pale, and he smashed the account book on the ground with hatred: "A small county order dares to embezzle tens of thousands of taels of silver, it's really a big dog's guts!" Spread the decree, immediately behead this thief to show the public, and all the family wealth will be confiscated! ”

Lu Heng arched his hand and said in a deep voice: "Weichen obeys the holy order!" ”

After a pause, Yang Gao suddenly remembered something again, and asked Lu Heng: "Lu Aiqing, if I remember correctly, in the list of officials sent by the Ministry to the Central Plains to take office, you should be an alternate for the position of Dingtao County Commander, why did you downgrade one level to become a county commander." ”

Lu Heng hurriedly replied: "Back to Your Majesty, Xia Guan went to the Central Plains to be an alternate for the post of Dingtao County Commander, but later when Lord Xiao Yu went to Xingyang County to visit the Zheng family, he accidentally met Yang Xi, the original county commander of Tao County, and later, under the recommendation of several Zheng family members, it was decided that Yang Xi would serve as the county commander and Weichen would serve as the county commander. Lord Xiao Yu should have reported this matter to the scribe's department, maybe His Majesty was working on state affairs, so he didn't pay attention to it. ”

Yang Gao nodded when he heard this, the transfer of a county order and a county official would indeed not attract his attention very much, but didn't Xiao Yu always boast of being upright? How could he allow a corrupt official like Yang Xi to reappear?

Liu Bowen on the side seemed to see through Yang Gao's thoughts, and approached Yang Gao and whispered: "Your Majesty, although Lord Xiao Yu is upright, he is from Xiao Liang's aristocratic background after all. Perhaps in his heart, the son-in-law of the Zheng family in Xingyang is more suitable to be a county official than Lu Heng, who was born in a poor family and has a poor appearance. And Yang Xi has the recommendation of the Zheng family in Xingyang, I'm afraid that Lord Xiao Yu didn't carefully examine his virtues? ”

When Yang Gao heard this, he suddenly became angry, the nobles of the family, the children of the high-ranking families, the five surnames and the seven wangs, are these clichéd things again!

Since Yang Gao came to this world, I don't know how many times I have heard people mention this. But it wasn't until today that he really realized the horror of the so-called family, and even Xiao Yu, who prided himself on being upright, met the nobles of the family, and he would sell a few favors.

Although Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and Temujin are powerful and strong, they are still enemies on the surface in the final analysis. And these family lords are always hiding in the shadows, secretly developing their strength and priing your foundation before you know it, such enemies are the most terrifying.

Thinking of this, Yang Gao couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and hurriedly turned his head and asked Lu Hengdao: "Lu Aiqing, I ask you, is there any other similar personnel adjustment for Xiao Yu Xiangguo besides you?" ”

Lu Heng lowered his head and recalled for a while, and replied: "Back to Your Majesty, as far as the minister knows, there should be two people who have been demoted to the county governor or county lieutenant like the minister, and there is also a person named Zheng Kuan, who was originally an alternate county commander, but then somehow went to Jiyin County as a long history. ”

"Zheng Kuan? Is he a member of the Zheng family? ”

Yang Gao stared at Lu Heng with a pair of eyes, and the anger in his chest was already burning more and more.

Lu Heng was stared at by Yang Gao and his scalp was numb, and he said in a low voice: "Back to Your Majesty, Xia Guan stayed at Zheng's house in Xingyang with Lord Xiao Yu that day, and I once heard Zheng Kuan shouting Uncle who entertained us. ”

"Hey!"

After hearing this, Yang Gao sighed, slumped on the chair like a deflated ball, and said to Liu Bowen: "Bowen, this uncle of mine is really disappointing to me!" ”

Liu Bowen arched his hand and said lightly: "Your Majesty, Lord Xiao Yu is probably doing this to win over the Zheng family in Xingyang for Your Majesty and consolidate Your Majesty's rule in the Central Plains. ”

"Of course, I know that my uncle is for my own good, but has he forgotten who is contributing to the current situation of my Great Sui. My father did whatever it took to weaken these families to the point where they are today, and my uncle still wants to help them recover, which is simply the biggest joke in the world. ”

Yang Gao closed his eyes slightly, shook his head and said: "In the final analysis, it is the family style in his bones that is causing trouble, looking down on the children of the poor family, looking down on the people of the world, and thinking that only the big family is qualified to live in the temple." ”

Liu Bowen had already heard the meaning of Yang Gao's words, and asked cautiously, "I don't know what His Highness plans to do with Lord Xiao Yu?" ”

"My father even paid his own life to weaken the family, if I keep him in the court as the prime minister, what face will I have to see my father under the nine springs?"

Yang Gao said and slowly opened his eyes, and sighed for a long time: "But after all, he is my uncle, and his sister is my queen mother, my queen mother of the Great Sui." If I dismiss him, not only will his dignity be disgraced, but my face will also be dull! ”

Liu Bowen frowned slightly, the feather fan shook a few times quickly, and a flash of inspiration occurred in his mind, and he suddenly had an idea: "Your Majesty, according to Wei Chen's opinion, if Xiao Xiangguo is promoted to the Taifu with his original merits in the inspection of the middle school, and remove him from the position of the most powerful Duzhi Shangshu, this may be able to save the face of Xiao Xiangguo and His Majesty." ”

Rising and falling, this is indeed the best choice at the moment.

Yang Gao nodded and said: "This should also be the best way at present, but it's a pity, the Tao is not the same, and my uncle's full talent will sink." ”

After a pause, the corners of Yang Gao's mouth hooked, and he sneered: "The Zheng family in Xingyang is very capable, and my uncle is also a smart person, so I didn't expect to be persuaded." Hmph, do you still want to be above the court like before, dreaming! The purpose was to transfer Yu Yunwen as the governor of the Central Plains and inspect the political achievements of officials at all levels. In addition, Shi Zhengkuan, the magistrate of Jiyin County, was immediately dismissed and demoted to a commoner! ”

Lu Heng was shocked when he heard this, and said dissuasively: "Your Majesty, dismissing a long history without reason, will this cause dissatisfaction among other colleagues." ”

"For no reason?"

Yang Gao snorted coldly when he heard this, picked up the account book on the table and said, "Lu Aiqing, you have written many times to report Yang Xi, but Yushitai has never received your letter. If there is no Zheng Kuan's name in this, my surname will be written backwards from now on. ”

Liu Bowen smiled slightly: "Cutting off people's careers is like killing your parents." I'm afraid that after this incident, Your Majesty will be the enemy of the Zheng family in Xingyang, so I don't know how much trouble they will make! ”

Yang Gao smiled coldly: "I hope they make a lot of noise, which just gives me a reason to eradicate them in one fell swoop." The order was sent to Zhan Zhao and Ouyang Chun, ordering them to use all the Jinyi Guard forces in Xingyang to monitor the Zheng family's every move without interruption at twelve o'clock a day. ”