At the same time, a mansion in the imperial city of Cangguo.

This is the mansion of the Shangguan family in the four major gates, and the head of the family, Shangguan Mingwen, is the current official department Shangshu.

Gorgeous carriages stopped at the door of the mansion, and there was an endless stream of servants and maids, respectfully waiting for the dignitaries and nobles who came from all over the world.

At the same time, heavy boxes were brought down from the carriage and carried by groups of servants to the mansion.

Of course, this scene is not seen by ordinary people, the mansion covers an extremely wide area, even if the street in the distance is full of traffic, it has nothing to do with here, one by one, the family is guarded, just like the armor in the army, no ordinary people dare to approach within a radius of hundreds of zhang, occasionally there are one or two naughty children secretly hiding in the corner to watch, and they are also taken away by their own adults.

It was not dark yet, but the mansion was already brightly lit, and on both sides of the road leading to the main hall, there were hundreds of servants kneeling, all of whom were talking and laughing, complimenting each other, and crossing the avenue into the main hall.

And in the main hall, there were already three people sitting.

Shangguan Mingwen, Pan Wang, and an old man with a dragon bell.

Pan Wang was holding a cup of tea and sending it to his mouth, when he suddenly heard the noise outside, and couldn't help frowning.

"Lord Shangguan, these little flies really smell good." Pan Wang said nonchalantly.

Shangguan Mingwen glanced at him and said in surprise: "Does King Pan mean something?" ”

Pan Wang said: "This king has heard that Kong Shangxian was summoned into the palace this afternoon, and the monarch and ministers have been discussing each other for a long time, and there has been no movement until now, isn't Lord Shangguan worried?" ”

Shangguan Mingwen smiled: "Isn't there General Wei, Lord Wang Ying of the Ministry of Rites is also there." ”

Pan Wang sneered: "It's good that Lord Shangguan knows, Kong Shangxian's holy family is thick, this kid has already smelled the smell, will he not report to the master?" Now Your Majesty has full wings, it's not something that you family valves can restrain you, think about the Tian family and the Zhang family, all over the house, the main members of the family were executed, and the remaining side children and female dependents were either slaves or prostitutes, trampled and humiliated, could it be that Lord Shangguan also had to experience it? Oh, by the way, I heard that the Shangguan family also bought some sinner girls from the Jiaofang Division, I don't know how the training is going these days? Is it enough to wave, is it cheap enough? ”

As he spoke, Pan Wang snorted lightly and put down the teacup in his hand heavily.

Shangguan Mingwen's face was gloomy as water, and he said: "King Pan has said it, although this official is a secretary of the ministry, but the officials below are all from the rest of the families, and this bowl of rice is not something that this official can eat alone, even if His Majesty notices something, can he still wipe out all the major families?" ”

King Pan's face was a little pale, and he said: "The situation is sensitive, Lord Shangguan had better be restrained, don't make such a big fanfare, otherwise don't blame this king for not leaving you a way out when the time comes." ”

"Retreat...... Is what Panwang said true? Shangguan Mingwen hesitated and said: "Your Majesty is determined to suppress us and other gate valves, and the king is like a tiger, if you can find a way out, it would be good, but ...... Is it reliable? ”

King Pan smiled, glanced at the old man next to him, and then said: "With this king as a guarantee, my two nephews will also join at that time, isn't Lord Shangguan still at ease?" ”

Shangguan Mingwen nodded: "Okay, then even if I am one of the Shangguan family, after the matter is completed, I hope that King Pan will fulfill his promise." ”

"Definitely." King Pan nodded, and then said: "In this way, Lord Shangguan will entertain all the officials first, and this king will leave first." ”

Shangguan confessed a few times, and then asked the butler to lead the Pan King and the old man out of the side door of the mansion, and instead went to entertain the officials from all over the country who rushed in.

The atmosphere is very lively, almost all of them are familiar faces, although most of them are people from the four major families, but at this time, there are no families, there are dozens of official vacancies, whoever can compete is whoever, the major families can say a few words in the ministry, as long as this Shangshu Lord is done well, and he does not deliberately make things difficult, then it is half the success.

"Lord Li, haven't you only been in office for half a month as the Taoyuan County Commander, and you have to fight for it?"

"And Lord Wang, the county is doing a good job, why do you want to enter the Ministry of Rites? This official has already received the names of three waiters of the Ministry of Rites, but the position of this waiter is too big, and His Majesty has to ask about it personally, and this official can't afford it. ”

"By the way, Lord Wang and Lord Fan are too, aren't these Jiang Shuncheng and Pancheng treated well, why do you want to enter the imperial court, accompany the king like a tiger, you don't understand ......"

"The Ministry of Industry is still short of people, I don't know which adult is willing to give in?"

Shangguan Mingwen sat on the top, holding a big red gift slip in his hand, which recorded the gifts sent by various local officials, reading the names on it, and commenting on the names of a person at every point, and the officials below hurriedly laughed.

It seems that what Shangguan Mingwen is holding in his hand is not a gift list, but an edict for the appointment of officials, as long as a name is read, it will definitely cause everyone to be nervous, hold their breath, and listen attentively.

Then, Shangguan Mingwen frowned: "How did you court officials get mixed up?" Life is so poor? Let's just say that Lord Wang Hao, a few days ago, he also bought more than a dozen sinners in the Jiaofang Division, but the shot was more generous than the official, how could it be that when it came to doing business, it was only five hundred taels ......"

"Lord Shangguan Mingjian, the subordinate is just a small Lang official of the Ministry of Industry, you also know that there is no oil and water in the Ministry of Industry, and His Majesty the Emperor allocated a sum of money half a month ago, but it is all in the hands of Lord Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, and half of the cost will be used for the weapons supervision, it is said that what iron smelting and steel smelting will be, and what kind of crossbows, anyway, now those craftsmen are so rich that we have nothing to catch."

"Hmph, the silver is spent on the craftsman, putting the cart before the horse!" Shangguan Mingwen snorted coldly and said: "Your Majesty is young and vigorous, and he is cruel and tyrannical to us and other family lords. ”

"Xiaguan must be!"

"Please also ask Lord Shangguan to do his best, and the lower officials are grateful!"

"Lord Shangguan is loyal to His Majesty, the sun and the moon have learned from it, and the lower officials must learn more."

Dozens of officials were relieved, as long as Lord Shangguan accepted the gift money, it was tantamount to acquiescence, I don't know if it could be successful, but at least when the officials were appointed, they would not give any stumbling blocks, which was more important than anything else.

After a while, the banquet in the mansion began, and the beautiful dancers wearing only a thin shirt danced gracefully, with frivolous manners and silky eyes, slowly approaching the officials seated, hugging and hugging, and from time to time there were delicate gasps and soft hums.

The officials drank fine wine, hugged the beauty in their arms, and discussed with the officials next to them while getting their hands up and down, completely losing their previous serious appearance, and the whole banquet became a glamorous banquet.

"Lord Shangguan is really good at training, and the playthings in this house are more flavorful than those in our house." An official hugged a dancing girl, his face was flushed, and he didn't forget to pat his ass with the strength of wine.

"Yes, yes, Lord Wang also said to my heart, I heard that Shangguan's Mansion is a place with aura, Xiaguan accepted two concubines a few days ago, which can just be sent to Shangguan's Mansion to be blessed, and I hope Shangguan will not dislike it."

The rest of the officials also followed, and the officials in the imperial city directly ordered their entourage to go to the mansion to bring their concubines and playthings over to entertain everyone, and they would not return home tonight.

Shangguan Mingwen sat at the top, and was praised by everyone so that he couldn't keep his mouth shut, and hurriedly beckoned everyone to enjoy the wine and beauty, and there was no doubt that these officials praised him the most proud.

A financial transaction has completely changed its taste.

As for the servants and servants who were waiting outside the main hall, their faces were as usual, and occasionally a few young men secretly glanced into the hall a few times, secretly swallowing their saliva, but they also quickly suppressed the restlessness in their hearts.

Because, they have experienced too many such banquets, but this time it is more grand than usual, as long as they have any abnormal movement, the master can make them die without a place to bury them.

Abiding by the duty of a slave is the only rule of survival, and like those lowly dancers who have become playthings, they must learn to obey and learn to accept their fate.