At dusk, Pei Ju's carriage walked slowly on the streets of Zhongdu, and more than a dozen sword guards followed on horseback on both sides, at this time in the past, Pei Ju would close his eyes and take a nap on the carriage, but he seemed a little worried today, when he set up Ziwei Pavilion, he was a little worried in his heart, and today his worries finally became a reality. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The multi-phase system is really going to be implemented, the two-phase era is coming to an end, and the seven-phase era is beginning, in the past, he and Su Wei took turns to hold the phase power, and the meal eaten by two people would become seven people to eat, and the decision-making power would become the right to vote, which would inevitably greatly damage his Pei Ju's interests, so how willing he was.

But even if he doesn't agree, it won't help, he has seen Zhang Xuan's determination to implement the multi-phase system, he doesn't want to be a sacrifice for Zhang Xuan's implementation of the multi-phase system, he must agree, and to actively implement, the implementation of the multi-phase system, which means that Zhang Xuan will substantially delegate power, such as financial power, personnel power and other court powers, I am afraid that in addition to military power, knighthood power and the right to appoint officials above the third rank Zhang Xuan will not let go, he will give other court affairs to Xiangquan.

Pei Ju has realized that this will be the beginning of a monarch's confirmation of power, and it is also the beginning of the redistribution of power, he needs to establish his own faction as soon as possible, even if he can't change the fact that his power has been weakened, he must protect his interests.

Six of the seven prime ministers have been determined, he, Su Wei, Wei Yunqi, Xiao Yu, Chen Ling, Li Gang, and there is still no candidate for the seventh phase.

Among the six, although Li Gang and Su Wei had conflicts in their early years, Li Gang's seal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs was the result of Su Wei's hard work, and to some extent, Li Gang was actually Su Wei's person.

And he Pei Ju is not isolated, Chen Liu's relationship with him is extraordinary, he can completely regard Chen Ling as his own faction, if he wins the seventh phase, then in the seven phases of Ziwei Pavilion, he will have three votes.

This seventh phase is especially important to Pei Ju.

Pei Ju can basically be sure that the seventh person should be from the Hebei Shi clan, no matter how dissatisfied Zhang Xuan is with the Shi clan, but Pei Ju knows in his heart that before Zhang Xuan's empire is completely established, he must and can only choose to compromise, otherwise the Northern Sui will start to split from the inside, which is what the Tang Dynasty is most looking forward to.

If the seventh phase is a Hebei Shi clan, then who will this person be? It's nothing more than the Lu, Er Cui, Li, Gao, and Bai families, Pei Ju screened them one by one in his heart, it should be the Lu family, but Zhang Xuan appointed Lu Chu as the right servant, obviously to temporarily exclude Lu Chu, not to mention Lu Zhuo, this person is ambitious and talented, not only can not help Zhang Xuan, but will bring him endless trouble, so he will be appointed to the place, and the rest of the Lu family's children, whether Lu Qingyuan or Lu Han, are too young to be useful.

The second is the Boling Cui family, Cui Zhao was captured in Xuzhou after Zhang Xuan released him back to the family, I heard that the family was banned for life in the ancestral hall to repent, his son Cui Wenxiang is still working for the rebel thief Wang Shichong, it is said that he has been promoted to the Yellow Gate Shilang, there is a pair of Cui father and son to discredit the Boling Cui family, the seventh phase should have nothing to do with the Boling Cui family.

Then followed by Qinghe Cui's family, Qinghe Cui's family was greatly affected by Zhang Jin's rebellion, and many outstanding children died, like Qinghe Taishou Cui Yan, Pingyuan County Taishou Cui Hongxin are all Hebei famous ministers, unfortunately died in the chaos, Cui's school was also burned by Zhang Jin, resulting in Qinghe Cui's talent withering in recent years, and the head of the family Cui Huan can only say that his ability is mediocre, so he is a little reluctant to be the Taishou of Qi County, not to mention Xiangguo.

There is also the Li family of Zhao County, Li Shoujie is hopeless, and he will immediately become the Taishou of Hejian County, but his son Li Qingming and his nephew Li Jing are deeply valued by Zhang Xuan, Li Qingming will enter the phase sooner or later, but not yet, Zhang Xuan will leave the opportunity of the Li family of Zhao County to Li Qingming.

The rest of the Bohai Gao clan and the Xindu Bai clan basically had nothing to serve as important ministers of the Xiangguo.

Pei Ju couldn't help but feel a little confused in his heart, but he also knew that if he hadn't found a suitable candidate, Zhang Xuan wouldn't have decided on the seventh phase until now.

Pei Ju's carriage slowly stopped in front of the house, an attendant helped him out of the carriage, the second grandson Pei Jun ran quickly from the steps and helped Pei Ju, Pei Ju saw a carriage parked next to him, and asked, "Is there a guest visiting?" ”

"Grandfather Qiqi, it's Zheng Shangshu of the Criminal Department, he has been waiting for his grandfather for almost a quarter of an hour?"

Pei Ju frowned, "Did I have an appointment with Zheng Shangshu in advance?" ”

"There shouldn't be, Zheng Shangshu himself said that he came abruptly."

Pei Ju nodded, since this is the case, it is not his Pei Ju's problem to let Zheng Shanguo wait for a quarter of an hour.

"Go and tell Zheng Shangshu, I'll change my clothes, I'll come right away!"

Pei Ju went back to his study and changed into a home Zen suit, he needed time to think about the purpose of Zheng Shanguo coming to see him, it stands to reason that it would not involve the multi-phase system, after all, Zhang Xuan only told himself and Su Wei about this matter, unless Su Wei leaked the news.

Pei Ju couldn't think of the reason why Zheng Shanguo came to find him, so he changed his clothes and walked quickly towards the Guike Hall.

In the Guike Hall, Zheng Shanguo was drinking tea with his head down, looking a little preoccupied, he was the official secretary of the Criminal Department, and he was also one of the important ministers of the Northern Sui, but he was also a little upset during this time, as an old bureaucrat who had been mixed in the officialdom of the Great Sui for decades, he also keenly smelled that the redistribution of power was coming, but he was hovering outside the door, and it seemed that he could not participate in this feast of power distribution, so how could he calm down.

At this time, a gentle cough came from the door, which woke Zheng Shanguo from his contemplation, and when he looked up, he saw that Pei Ju had appeared at the door, Zheng Shanguo hurriedly got up and saluted, "The little nephew took the liberty to visit and disturbed Uncle Shi's rest, please forgive Uncle Shi!" ”

Zheng Shanguo is fifty years old this year, belongs to Pei Ju's younger generation, and he Zheng Cheng is Pei Ju's best friend, so he has always called himself a nephew in front of Pei Ju.

Pei Ju walked into the room and said with a smile: "The virtuous nephew is also a scholar, and his identity is extraordinary, so there is no need to wronged himself like this, please sit down!" ”

The two sat down, and a maid came in to serve tea again, Pei Ju took a sip of tea without hurry, and said with a smile: "I heard that Zheng Shou, the brother of the virtuous nephew, was named the secretary of the ministry in Luoyang, is there such a thing?" ”

Zheng Shanguo smiled bitterly, "I was also forced to serve, in order to ensure the safety of the family." ”

"Actually, it doesn't matter, I can only say that the Zheng family is very valued, there is a son-in-law in Chang'an who is the prince, and there is a Shangshu in Luoyang and Zhongdu, and he is worthy of being the leader of the Central Plains Shi clan."

Although Pei Ju was in a praising tone, Zheng Shanguo was extremely uncomfortable listening to it, and he hurriedly diverted the topic, "Has Uncle Shi heard about it?" Cui Zhao committed suicide at the Cui clan ancestral hall. ”

Pei Ju was stunned, "When did this happen?" ”

"Just five days ago, I heard the news of the Cui family's blockade, but it still came out."

Cui Zhao once tried his best to tie up Pei Ju, and even his son Cui Wenxiang almost married Pei Ju's granddaughter, at this time when he heard the news of Cui Zhao's death, Pei Ju had no expression, and only said lightly: "What does it make if he dies or not?" ”

"But this incident has a great impact on the Boling Cui clan, and I heard that Cui Hongsheng is going to resign from the post of Zhuojun Taishou."

"He didn't resign because of this matter, he asked to return to his hometown as early as a month ago, after all, the seventy-year-old man was tortured a lot in Goguryeo, and his body made him unable to bear the heavy affairs of Taishou, and his resignation has been approved by His Royal Highness, but it has not yet been issued."

Zheng Shanguo's face was overjoyed, he hesitated for a moment and said, "The little nephew also heard that Lu Chu is going to serve as Shangshu's right servant, is this to canonize the senior minister of Ziwei Pavilion?" ”

Pei Ju's eyelids jumped suddenly, and his eyes looked at Zheng Shanguo sharply, "How did you know about this?" ”

Zheng Shanguo was panicked by Pei Ju's sharp gaze, and muttered, "I heard Wei Shangshu talk about this matter in the afternoon. ”

It turned out that Wei Yunqi leaked the news, but Pei Ju changed his mind, Zhang Xuan talked about this matter with him and Su Wei in the morning, and he must have talked to others in the afternoon, besides, Zheng Shanguo is the secretary of the Criminal Department, and it is normal for him to know about this matter.

Pei Ju asked with concern: "Did Yunqi tell you that Lu Chu was going to be canonized as the senior minister of Ziwei Pavilion?" ”

This news is very important, Wei Yunqi is Zhang Xuan's confidant and will serve as Shang Shuling, and his news often reflects Zhang Xuan's true intentions, so Pei Ju is very concerned.

Zheng Shanguo shook his head, "He didn't say that, he just said that Lu Chu would have to be reused, so the little nephew guessed ......."

"Don't speculate about this kind of thing!"

Pei Ju breathed a sigh of relief and said: "It's true that Lu Chu is going to be reused, he will be promoted to the right servant of Shangshu, this is reuse, as for the senior minister of Ziwei Pavilion, I haven't heard of it." ”

At this time, Zheng Shanguo couldn't help but ask: "I don't know what conditions are needed to canonize Ziwei Pavilion, how far is the little nephew, can Uncle Shi tell the little nephew?" ”

"You-"

Only then did Pei Ju understand Zheng Shanguo's true intention to visit him, it turned out that he was also staring at the seventh Xiangguo, as a scholar, Zheng Shanguo could not know the conditions of Ziwei Pavilion's senior minister, Zheng Shanguo was just implicitly asking himself, can he enter the cabinet as a minister?

Pei Ju's heart was in a hurry, and he suddenly realized that Zhang Xuan did not say that the Hebei Shi clan must be the seventh phase country, and the Shi clan in the Central Plains can also be used as an alternative, so as the leader of the Shi clan in the Central Plains, Zheng Shanguo does have hope to enter the cabinet as the prime minister, and he can completely pull Zheng Shanguo into the Ziwei Pavilion as the prime minister, so in addition to himself and Chen Ling, there is one more Zheng Shanguo, and he has three votes in the seven phases of Ziwei Pavilion.

Pei Ju's heart began to get excited, and he paced back and forth in the hall with his hands in his hands, in fact, Zheng Shanguo's worries were not wrong, if he had to find the seventh phase among the Hebei Shi clan, then this person must be Lu Chu, if Lu Chu could not serve as the seventh phase, then the quota would be transferred from Hebei to the Central Plains, and Zheng Shanguo would be the most promising candidate.

Pei Ju was almost certain that the seventh phase was produced between Lu Chu and Zheng Shanguo, and Zheng Shanguo also realized this, so he only came to him today.

Thinking of this, Pei Ju smiled and said: "This is not the place to talk, please follow me to the study to talk in detail!" (To be continued.) )