This is the first time Zhang Huan has stepped into Pei's Mansion in four years, he stood on the steps of the gate, quietly waiting for Pei Jun's reception, no one dared to let him in, and no one dared to come out to greet him, Zhang Huan and Pei Jun have a tense relationship over the years, and everyone in Pei's Mansion knows it, as if Zhang Huan is a murderous knife, and getting close to him means disaster.

After about a quarter of an hour, the old housekeeper walked out slowly and saluted Zhang Huan, "Aunt Zhang didn't come at the right time, the master was in the court room last night to deal with official business until midnight, and he just rested, so Uncle might as well come back at night!" ”

"Since my father-in-law has rested, then I won't bother." Zhang Huan took out a letter and pointed to a few boxes on the ground, "This is a letter from the young lady, as well as some medicinal herbs and native products for my father-in-law, please accept it from the housekeeper." ”

The old housekeeper looked at Zhang Huan, as if he wanted to say something, but his lips moved, but he couldn't say anything, and he said helplessly: "I can't invite my uncle into the house, please forgive us a lot of difficulties." ”

"The housekeeper doesn't need to explain, it's no wonder you, I wonder if my father-in-law will go to court today?" Zhang Huan asked quietly.

The old butler shook his head, "If there is nothing special, the master will not usually go." ”

"Thank you, old butler!" Zhang Huan hugged his fists and smiled: "Then I will leave." ”

He turned around and was just about to leave, when a person suddenly limped out of the door of the mansion and shouted: "Go sick and walk slowly!" ”

Zhang Huan turned around, but it was Pei Jun's eldest son Pei Mingkai, among Pei Jun's sons, the eldest son Pei Mingkai was the most kind, but he was also the least liked by Pei Jun. On the one hand, it is of course because Pei Mingkai has a physical disability. On the other hand, it is also because Pei Mingkai is too kind-hearted and even his subordinates are not afraid of him, Pei Jun thinks that he is really not suitable as the heir to the head of the family.

At the family meeting of the Pei family in September last year, the Pei family unanimously agreed to Pei Jun's proposal, and Pei Jun's second son, Pei Mingyao, was appointed as the heir to the head of the Pei family, and Pei Mingkai officially lost the position of heir to the head of the family that he had been looking forward to for many years.

It's okay that he can't be the heir to the head of the family, but he still goes his own way and repeatedly doesn't know each other. For example, today, even the subordinates know that they can't get close to Zhang Huantao, but he doesn't seem to know it.

Zhang Huan had a good impression of this brother-in-law, he smiled and saluted: "Brother Pei has something to do with me?" ”

"Actually, it's nothing." Pei Mingkai glanced at the old butler and smiled at Zhang Huan: "I want to go to the Imperial City." Can you give me a ride? ”

Zhang Huan nodded. A beckon. Hundreds of cavalry parked at the corner of the street slowly stepped forward around the carriage, Pei Mingkai and Zhang Huan got into the carriage, and the brigade started and galloped towards Suzaku Street.

The old butler looked at the carriage and couldn't help but smile bitterly, when will this eldest son be sensible?

Inside the carriage, Pei Mingkai's smile had disappeared. "You know. My father didn't rest, but didn't want to see you. ”

"I know!" Zhang Huan replied calmly.

Pei Mingkai looked out the window at the street scene flying by. After a long time, he sighed and said: "I always thought that my father could be different from Cui Yuan and return to the emperor, but it turned out that I was wrong, seeing that the chaos in the DPRK and China was about to break up, and the local warlords were about to split, but my father was obsessed with power and couldn't extricate himself, and turned a blind eye to the crisis. ”

Speaking of this, Pei Mingkai turned his head and stared at Zhang Huan, "I know that you are the son of Prince Yu, and you will definitely not sit back and watch Datang go to split, the contradiction between you and my father has involved the future and fate of Datang, and it is not something that can be solved by Weng's son-in-law's personal feelings, I want to beg you, when the day comes, you can leave a way for our Pei family to live." ”

Zhang Huan smiled, "Maybe you think a little seriously, put aside the love of Weng and son-in-law, Pei Xiangguo and I only have different political views, far from being like Cui Qinggong, Zhu and others, can only be solved with a sword, this point, I Zhang Huan is very clear, unless."

Speaking of this, Zhang Huan stopped talking, Pei Mingkai should understand what he meant, unless Pei Jun also has the intention of usurping the throne, he looked at the eldest son who lost in the battle of the head of the family, smiled and comforted him: "If I want to point out the biggest mistake in my father-in-law's life, it is that he did not appoint you as the heir of the head of the Pei family, if the Pei family loses in the future, it is because of this." ”

While the two were talking, they had already arrived in the imperial city, the carriage entered the Suzaku Gate, and slowly stopped, Pei Mingkai got out of the carriage, looked at Zhang Huan and said sincerely: "I can't help you much, for the sake of you being able to understand that the dispute with your father is just a difference in political opinions, I will send you a suggestion, if you are free, you might as well go and have a good talk with Yang Yan, the salt and iron supervisor, maybe he can inspire you." ”

After that, Pei Mingkai limped away, Zhang Huan looked at his back and shook his head gently, if he was Pei Jun, he would not use this Pei Mingkai as the heir to the head of the family, his kindness and kindness are certainly advantages, but he is not suitable for survival in the power field of iron and blood, there has never been a fixed routine in the power struggle, but one thing is certain, that is, there must not be the slightest bit of women's kindness, if Pei Junzhen becomes his enemy one day, he will never show mercy.

"Turn around and go to Menxia Province!" Zhang Huan gave an order, the carriage turned around and went onto Chengtianmen Street, and the group galloped towards Daming Palace.

Today is the fourth day of Zhang Huan's entry into Beijing, and it is also the second day of his four places, and the influence of this matter in the DPRK and China has begun to become increasingly apparent, along the way, countless officials have retreated and given way when they saw Zhang Huan's carriage coming, or silently saluted, or their faces were full of contempt.

The power struggle is like this, if there is no strong strength as a backing guarantee, no one will follow just by the sound of the throat, or even just add to the joke, it is Zhang Huan who has a strong army and strong strength, so that every action and every statement he makes has a decisive influence in the court.

The procession passed through the imperial city and slowly stopped in front of the provincial steps under the door, and Zhang Huan walked up the steps quickly and walked into his court room. Just entered the room. Niu Monk and the child greeted him, "Governor, there are two things to report. ”

"Say!" Zhang Huan took off his coat and handed it to the scholar as he walked, walked to the seat and sat down, waiting for the report of the cow monk and child.

"One thing is that the subordinates have found out that Pei Yi's son Pei Mingdian has a detailed background, this talent is shallow in learning, and his subordinates have also obtained the examination paper of his imperial examination strategy, which is completely consistent with Zhou Ming's silence. He was indeed suspected of cheating. ”

"It's a great job to get results so quickly!" Zhang Huan was very appreciative of his ability, smiled and asked, "What is the other thing?" ”

"Another thing is that the governor's personal soldiers just sent a piece of information that Liao Hui did not go to Cui Yu's mansion, but went to Xuanyangfang before dawn this morning."

"Xuanyangfang?" Zhang Huan was stunned. He blurted out suddenly. "Could it be that he went to Cui Yuan's mansion?"

"Yes!" The cow monk nodded solemnly. "The governor's personal soldiers saw him enter Cui Yuan's mansion through the side door."

"I see!" Zhang Huan sneered and said to himself: "I almost forgot about him." ”

He immediately took out Zhou Ming's report letter from the table, handed it to Niu Shengyu and said: "You send it to Liao Hui and order him to impeach Pei Yi to the cabinet for leaking the imperial examination questions and conniving at his son to cheat in the Jinshi examination." "Subordinates obey!" Although the eyes of the cow monk were full of doubts, he didn't dare to ask anything, and walked quickly with the letter.

At noon, an explosive news suddenly came out inside and outside the government and the opposition. Zhang Huan, the new servant, and Liao Hui, the middle of the imperial history, jointly impeached the son of Pei Yi, the Chinese scholar, who was suspected of cheating.

Shock, anticipation, and discussion. All the officials knew that Zhang Huan would have a move when he opened the four boxes, but he didn't expect it to come so quickly. It was only shot on the second day, and for a while, the entire imperial court was boiling, discussing this matter everywhere, and the entire Datang government affairs almost stopped, and everyone waited and waited, as if a large dark cloud was rushing towards Chang'an like wind and rain.

There was a loud "bang", the teacup on the table was shaken and jumped, rolled down and fell to pieces, Pei Jun's face was so angry that his face turned pale, and he almost yelled at Pei Yi: "Look at the good things you did!" How can I step down now? ”

"Big brother, this matter is very secret, I don't know how Zhang Huan knows?" Pei Yi's face turned pale with fright, his lips trembled, he had never seen his eldest brother lose his temper so much for so many years, he trembled and said: "I have interrogated Mingdian today, and he has repeatedly assured me that he has not leaked the test questions. ”

"Idiot! How did he get into the Jinshi without leaking the test questions, and what kind of talent he learned, don't you know? Pei Jun was so angry that he couldn't speak, he thought that Zhang Huan was just catching some bad children of the Pei family doing evil things outside, so he would be punished a little, but he didn't expect to shake Pei Yi out, the year before last, he used Cui Xian's wife and brother to leak the case of the imperial examination questions, and pulled Cui Xian down from the position of the servant of the ministry, but today he reported it and reported it, seeing that Pei Yi was also going to be planted on it, how could he not be angry.

"And you!" Pei Jun turned his head and glared at Pei Danming, who was standing with his hands down, "I asked you to check that scholar, why don't you have any news, if you find out earlier, will I be so passive?" ”

Pei Danming lowered his head and didn't dare to speak, in fact, Pei Jun only assigned the task in the morning, how could he find out the results so quickly, he didn't even have a clue yet, although he was a little wronged, but how could Pei Danming dare to tell at this time.

Pei Jun paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, quickly thinking about the cause and effect of this matter in his mind, the impeachers were Zhang Huan and Liao Hui, and Liao Hui was Cui Yu's confidant, which means that Cui Yu was also involved, could it be that Zhang Huan and Cui Yu formed an alliance so quickly?

Pei Jun shook his head, the alliance is not a child's game, saying that the alliance is an alliance, he knows that there are many interests between Zhang Huan and Cui Yu that are difficult to separate, so he can rest assured that Zhang Huan will be sent to the elevated Menxia Province, but he actually sacrificed the killer feature of Sikuang, this is his own mistake, Pei Jun sighed long, he knew that he would still let him be the secretary of the Ministry of Works, and change Wang Ang into Menxia Province.

"Big brother, what should I do now?" Pei Yi asked timidly, he was most worried that he would be implicated and lose his position.

"What else can I do?" Pei Jun let out a long sigh and said: "Since Zhang Huan dares to sign the impeachment, he must have already mastered the evidence, and now he can only lose his pawn to protect the handsome, otherwise Cui Xian will lose his official position." I can't explain it to the officials. ”

He saw a look of fear in Pei Yi's eyes. He smiled coldly and said, "What are you afraid of?" I'm not saying that you, Mingdian wants to dismiss the official, that's for sure, and secondly, I have to put the responsibility for leaking secrets on the examiner, and I insist that he deliberately released the water, do you understand? ”

At the beginning of the year, the chief examiner of the imperial examination was Lang Yuanzai, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, although he was clearly attached to Pei Jun, but he was far from being a confidant. Pei Yiluo thought about it, and suddenly realized that the eldest brother meant to take the initiative to get rid of Pei Mingdian and win the reputation of not favoritism, but it did not hurt his muscles and bones. You can even insert your henchmen into the Ministry of Rites. It can be described as killing two birds with one stone. Although his son can't keep the official, he can still go to the place in the future, but he can skillfully get rid of suspicion, he can't help but praise from the bottom of his heart, "Big brother, what a cleverness!" ”

Pei Jun stroked his beard lightly and smiled proudly. Zhang Huan wanted to fight him. It's still a little tender!

Just then, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door. I saw Pei You striding into the door, his face was extremely serious, and he bowed and said, "Big brother, do you know the latest news, just an hour ago, the provincial officials under the door suddenly withdrew the two boxes outside the Suzaku Gate. ”

Pei Jun was stunned, "What does this mean?" ”

"Not only that, but Liao Hui also made a public statement in the imperial history, saying that he would withdraw the signature on the impeachment excerpt." Pei You sighed, "First of all, he impeached Pei Yi in a high-profile manner, but suddenly withdrew the two queries, and then Liao Hui changed his mind again, but the eldest brother didn't do anything, these subtle changes, can't the eldest brother still understand Zhang Huan's true intentions?" ”

Pei Jun's eyes slowly narrowed, he came out in a high-profile manner, and ended in a low-key manner, there is only one possibility for this situation, that is, he was exerted a strong pressure, and this pressure can be done except for him Pei Jun? Zhang Huan really didn't mean to drink because of the drunkard, if he guessed correctly, the two should have come out again now.

Thinking of this, he immediately instructed Pei Danming: "You go to the Suzaku Gate now to take a look at the two Kuang Ke, and report to me immediately." ”

"Yes!" Pei Danming turned around and ran away, Pei Jun sat down, closed his eyes and didn't say a word, Pei You and Pei Yi glanced at each other and sat down, the room was very quiet, no one spoke, just quietly waited for Pei Danming's news.

About half an hour later, the footsteps of Dong Dong Dong suddenly sounded in the corridor outside, Pei Danming rushed in like a gust of wind, and reported loudly: "The head of the family, the two boxes are really out again, Zhang Huan put on his armor and led nearly a thousand soldiers to personally escort the two boxes. ”

Pei Jundi's eyes slowly opened, his eyes were full of loss and helplessness, what leaked secrets in the imperial examination, what impeachment of Zhongshu Shilang, all of them were just an introduction to him Zhang Huandi, he was still thunderous, racking his brains to think of countermeasures, Pei Jun smiled bitterly, Zhang Huan took this receiving, and the timing was very clever, so that the image of the leader of the anti-Pei Party had been invisibly established.

At this time, Pei You said slowly: "Big brother, there is something I have always wanted to say to you, the Tang Dynasty is not the world of my Pei family, and it may not be a good thing for the eldest brother to monopolize power

"That's it!" Pei Jun interrupted him impatiently, "Do you think that now it is still the same as before, and the seven great families are holding each other back?" If I delegate power, who can control Cui Qinggong and Zhu? Or what is Li Xilie and Li Huaiguang, one by one, like wolves and tigers, just waiting for the chaos in the court, you think about it simply, delegate power, to whom, Cui Yu? Then Wang Ang, Chu Xingshui, and Li Mian all came to me to ask me for power, how should I distribute it? Give it to them, then Cui Qinggong, Zhu, Zhang Huan, what to use to fill their appetites, second brother, now is not the time for Cui Yuan to be the prime minister. ”

But Pei You wanted to argue, but Pei Jun waved his hand and said coldly: "You don't have to fight with me about this matter, if you are really willing to help me, you can go and talk to my son-in-law and ask him what he wants?" ”

Pei You was helpless, so he nodded silently, arched his hand, and Pei Yi next to him waited for him to leave, and immediately said: "I heard the eldest brother mention Cui Qinggong and Zhu just now, I have a plan." Pei Jun smiled faintly and said, "Don't say it, I have already arranged it." ”

At the beginning of November in the sixth year of Xuanren, on the fourth day of Zhang Huan's entry into Beijing, he suddenly set off a storm of accountability, and he impeached Pei Yi, the scholar of Zhongshu, for conniving at his son to cheat in the imperial examination, which caused an uproar in the court, some sneered at his officials, and some local officials were full of hope for him, but some people were full of bitter hatred for him, such as Cui Qinggong, the king of Ruyang County, and Zhu, the king of Hanzhong County.