Chapter 158 Checks and Balances

There is no other reason, the Xu family is rich in the world, Xu Tancheng is the governor of Shannan, and Xu Beiqing and Ko Yanwu are close friends.

The three families originally thought that because of the South Canal, the Xu family would definitely be eradicated by Qin Lei, and even if they were lucky enough not to die, they would have to shed their skin, and they would lose the capital to fight against the three families. Who would have thought that Xu Tancheng would come, and put on a posture of pleading guilty, he must have been frightened by Qin Lei and had the heart to take refuge.

Once the Xu family becomes the eagle dog of the king of Longjun, there is no problem in winning the right to say anything. At that time, the big three in the south will become four. The three self-regarded high-ranking masters have a long history, and they have always been disdainful and enthusiastic about the Xu family, a newcomer who has risen rapidly by the canal. Therefore, in the past, there were many ridicules and exclusions, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is bound to become fire and water.

After exchanging glances, they decided to change their plans and finalize the matter before Qin Lei met the Xu family. Even if you make some blood and make more concessions, you can't let the Xu family get involved in the decision-making circle.

The situation at the table was immediately reversed, and the old god who was originally there became impatient; It turned out that there was no choice but to be at ease. It's just that the people at the table have become fine, and they will naturally not show it on their faces.

For a while, everyone was eating the vegetables on the table, and the atmosphere was very dull. Qin Lei, who was originally the most uncontrollable, also deliberately kept silent because he hated the teasing of the three of them.

Fortunately, there were other people at the table, Zhuo Wenzheng was not only Qin Lei's subordinate official, but also the eldest son of the Zhuo family, so he naturally wanted to come out to adjust the atmosphere. His own father smiled and said: "Father, although this table full of vegetables is clear, most of them are cold and not suitable for the stomach, so it is better not to be greedy." His meaning is obvious, everyone is relieved, let go, don't hurt the feelings.

As soon as these words came out, how could his old man not follow the step down, put down the white radish strips in his hand, and wiped his hands clean with a towel. smiled: "Wen Zheng is right. The older I get, the more I can't control my mouth, which is not good. ”

Qiao Qipei also put down the things in his hand and said with a smile: "It's not good, it's not good, you have to change it." ”

Xu Chang stopped eating it a long time ago, and said with a smile there: "The prince is young and strong, so he can eat more." ”

Qin Lei saw that everyone had expressed his position like this, so he no longer muttered. He also picked up the towel at hand to wipe his mouth clean, and said with a smile: "The three elders have stopped, and it is rude to eat alone." I don't eat anymore, I don't eat anymore. ”

Seeing that he didn't eat, the two governors naturally stopped and ordered their subordinates to withdraw from the banquet, serve tea and start talking.

Qin Lei has always been a person who respects me and I respect people, this time without waiting for the three of them to speak, he said directly: "The proposal of the three elders is very exciting, since there is sincerity, if it is still a business with hawkers, one asks for a price and the other sits on the ground to pay back, it makes people laugh, isn't it?" ”

The three of them smiled and nodded, waiting for Qin Lei to follow.

Qin Lei said in a clear voice: "Since the three of them also think so, then the Lone King will give a condition, and the three elders will see if they are sincere." ”

"I want to hear about it." The three of them spoke in unison.

Qin Lei smiled and said: "Lone guarantees that the Xu family will not get more than one percent of the right to speak, and Lone will not entrust the royal twenty percent to his family." ”

Xu Chang groaned: "Who will it be entrusted to?" ”

Qin Lei smiled: "Gu hasn't thought about it yet, but in this way, the Xu family will definitely not pose a threat to you." And we have a common opponent, so no matter who Gu entrusts the right to speak, only the three leaders will look forward. ”

The three of them had to groan. Qin Lei looked at the problem really well, and the price he gave was indeed fair. Knowing that the three parties are afraid that the Xu family will be bullish in the future, they will block the Xu family in the right to speak in Yicheng, so that the Xu family will not be a threat. It can also be seen that the three families want the right to take charge of the future south, and they have also given it generously. Especially when the three of them said it before they opened their mouths to ask for power, it did not damage the face of the three people.

It makes sense that all three of them should be satisfied. But the three of them are old and mature, how can they not see that Qin Lei entrusted the right to speak to other families, and then let them obey the orders of the three families. Rather than directly entrusting it to the three. It looks like a fart with your pants off – a lot of work, but it actually cuts off the possibility of the three families forming absolute domination over the South.

It's complicated to say, but it's actually quite simple. If Qin Lei also gave them the right to speak in two percent, they would be the absolute number one leader. In the future, when they have been calling the shots for a long time, and their prestige has grown, people will forget that they have actually reached that position by virtue of the royal two-tenth, and absolute authority will be formed, and the system of restricting them will be fictitious.

And Qin Lei gave out the right to speak in this way, although it did not affect their decision-making. But at any time, others will be reminded that the three families rely on the other two percent of the power to complete the control, and naturally they cannot form absolute control.

The three of them looked at each other and smiled bitterly, and they had to admire Qin Lei's bearing and wrists. In this way, if the three of them get another inch, it will be a point of non-separation. But their basic goals were achieved. The three of them are all outstanding people, so they pressed that trace of regret to the bottom of their hearts, and they all smiled heartily: "The prince is kind, and we are very satisfied." ”

When the agreement was reached, the atmosphere eased suddenly, and the three of them chatted a few words lightly, knowing that Qin Lei still wanted to see the Xu family, so they got up and said goodbye.

Qin Lei personally sent the three of them to the gate, and waited for the three-person convoy to disappear before turning back into the hospital. After walking for a while, he saw that Lu Yanwu beside him wanted to speak and stopped, so he instructed Zhuo Wenzheng: "Wenzheng, sort out a copy of the charter of the bidding committee, and send it to my study later, and we will discuss it again." Zhuo Wenzheng knew that they had something to discuss, so he took the order and left.

When he walked away, Lu Yanwu said softly: "Lord Wang, I don't know what you want to do with the Xu family?" ”

Qin Lei said quietly: "What good ideas does Lord Koji have?" ”

Lu Yanwu whispered: "Xia Guan thinks that the Xu family is one of the four great families after all, if the prince wants to convince him and completely accept it for his own use, it is better to be gentle." ”

Qin Lei let out an 'oh' and said lightly: "I think Xu Beiqing is a little hard and not soft." "He does have the idea of sending the Xu family to hell, and he just said that 'the Xu family will not exceed one percent' Yunyun, just to make the three families jealous, and he actually doesn't plan to share its share."

Lu Yanwu said softly: "Xu Tancheng is extremely knowledgeable, with him, the Xu family will not be ignorant." ”

As the two walked inside, Lu Yanwu explained: "According to Weichen, Xu Qiaozhuo's three plans are not small, if they are allowed to become bigger, it will inevitably cause trouble. And the candidates that His Royal Highness is preparing to support must respect the three of them on the bright side, so the clamping effect may not be very ideal. So ......"

He paused, and seeing that Qin Lei's face remained unchanged, he continued: "My subordinates think that it is necessary for the prince to set up an opponent for the three families in the Ming place that can neither pose a mortal threat nor be easily eliminated, and the Xu family is the most suitable. ”

Guan Tao told Qin Lei that the way of checks and balances is the avenue. Whether it is a large country or a small family, absolute authority is not the most stable and lasting state. Only checks and balances can maintain the vigilance of those in power and ensure long-term peace and stability. Although Qin Lei has his own ideas, he has never ignored the importance of checks and balances.

He muttered: "One light and one dark, it is indeed necessary to press the head of the three families." As he spoke, rubbing his chin that was getting more and more sharp, he asked casually: "Gong Qi, are you out of public heart or selfishness?" ”

In the past half a month since Lu Yanwu and Qin Lei came into contact, they had already swept away their contempt, and replaced it with admiration, obedience, and even worship. He didn't dare to imagine that in another ten years, this prince would be in power or ruined, but it would undoubtedly not be mediocre. If the future events can be harmonious, whether it is to continue to guard the pastoral side or enter the ministry, it will no longer be able to erase the brand of the Longjun Wang faction.

He undoubtedly had clearly realized that his net worth and disgrace would be tied to this eighteen-year-old prince, so he said calmly: "My subordinates think that with their relationship with the Xu family, they will never fall to the other side, so they say this." ”

While the two were talking, they had already arrived outside the room where the three members of the Xu family were waiting. Qin Lei stopped and said with a smile: "If Gu remembers correctly, Lord Koji has passed the year of knowing his fate, right?" ”

Lu Yanwu nodded and said: "Lord Lao hangs on the record, and there are three out of fifty Weichen." ”

Qin Lei said with a smile: "I am seventy years old, and you still have seventeen years of eunuch journey." As he spoke, he looked directly at him and said softly, "As long as Koji-sama can be consistent, Lonely, at most, ten years will allow you to pass the addiction of Zaifu Chaogang." ”

Only those two people in the Manchu Dynasty dared to say that it was Zaifu Chaogang. Qin Lei said that the meaning of wishing to win over is secondary, and more importantly, it is the first time that he has expressed his intention and determination to challenge hegemony to Lu Yanwu.

After speaking, regardless of Lu Yanwu's surprised gaze, Qin Lei strode into the room. Koji Yanwu hurriedly suppressed the throbbing in his heart and followed.

Qin Lei deliberately whispered outside, in order to remind the people in the house that he was here, so don't lose your manners.

Sure enough, as soon as he came in, he saw the three members of the Xu family, young and old, kneeling facing north in turn. Qin Lei walked to the Eight Immortals table in front of the three of them expressionlessly and sat down, looking at Xu Tancheng in the middle of the three-grade costumes. I saw that he was forty years old, beautiful and plump. Those Danfeng's eyes were full of calmness, and they were indeed not ordinary people.

When Xu Tancheng saw that Qin Lei looked at himself first, he knew that there was a door to the matter, and he couldn't help but be secretly grateful to Lu Yanwu who followed up. After taking his father and younger brother to kowtow to Qin Lei, Xu Tancheng still knelt on the ground and said to Qin Lei: "Tancheng abolished the public for personal reasons, please punish the prince." ”

Qin Lei said noncommittally: "What personal matter does Lord Xu have?" ”

Xu Tancheng's face did not change color, and he smiled: "Actually, it is also a business matter." Wechen's surrender is coming. ”

Qin Lei said lightly: "What is the crime? ”

Xu Tancheng looked at his father on the left, then at the little brother on the right, and kowtowed: "The Han family has three major crimes, one of them: my brother Xu Tanzi mistakenly believes in the cult, and he is still obsessed, and even has the behavior of the enemy. Second: My father was guilty of covering up because he doted on his younger brother and did not report it. Third: Xia Guan Xu dared to sue his father for his son, and he was guilty of unfilial piety. ”

Qin Lei smiled at Lu Yanwu, who was sitting on the side, and said, "Sure enough, he is worthy of being the governor of a province, and he is so thorough and understated in all aspects of the way of punishment." ”

Koji Yanwu just smiled and didn't say anything.

Qin Lei turned his head, his gaze swept to Xu Beiqing, who was resigned to his fate, and said with a smile: "Old man Xu, please get up, I forgive you for the crime of covering up." ”

Xu Beiqing didn't expect Qin Lei to let himself go so easily, and hurriedly kowtowed and thanked him: "Thank you for your kindness, thank you for your kindness......"

Lu Yanwu stepped forward to help Xu Beiqing up, and said with a smile: "Brother, the prince still asked about your injury today?" ”

Qin Lei said with a guilty face: "Yes, this king only learned later that he accidentally injured the old man, and he is really sorry." ”

Hearing Qin Lei's personal apology, Old Man Xu suddenly felt that the stuffiness accumulated in his heart had disappeared a lot. He sneered: "The old man is old and confused, and it is thanks to the boss who came back to tell me well, so I realized that I had lost my way." Thank you for your magnanimity. "A big family like them, face is more important than anything else, Qin Lei cut his face at that time, he was going to die or live, and he was even ready to fight to the death. At this time, Qin Lei returned his face, and the old man had no resentment.

Xu Tancheng, who was still kneeling, knew that his low profile had received a kind response from Qin Lei.

Qin Lei let go of his old man first, that is, he told himself that he could not damage the face of the Xu family. But he still let himself kneel, which means that if he doesn't know how to advance or retreat, he can still knock the Xu family into the dust.

He gave his father who was already sitting on the right, Xu Beiqing nodded knowingly, and said to Qin Lei: "The prince is so loving, my Xu family must also show sincerity." "What he means is, we will pay a great price, and you will be free of my son's sin.

Qin Lei looked at the old man Xu who had a painful face, nodded and said heartily: "It's easy to say." ”

Xu Beiqing gritted his teeth and said: "The Han family is willing to use the right to operate the South Canal and two million taels of gold in exchange for a dry share of the Fuxing Yamen!" ”

Qin Lei could no longer maintain the calmness on his face, and said with bared teeth: "What? ”