Thanks to Yuan Shanggongzi's own blessing, when Yuan Shanggongzi was still on the way south to Xuzhou to blame Deputy Director Tao, the detailed experience of Yang Changshi's mission to Jizhou, as well as the coping strategy adopted by Yuan Sangong, were sent to Deputy Director Tao in advance through letters.

It's just a crime, I heard that the two conditions I put forward were rejected by Lord Yuezhang, and I heard that the third brother-in-law, who had always had a good relationship, would come to scold him for stretching out his hand for nothing, Deputy Director Tao not only didn't have the slightest anger and disappointment, but also nodded with satisfaction, and then asked Bo Chenying, the master who was in charge of confidential documents for himself: "Yuan Fang, did you tell the story you told to Yuan Tan's eldest prince?" What does the eldest prince have to say? ”

"That's it." Chen Ying nodded and replied: "After listening to the story of the Xuanwumen Incident, the eldest prince was very surprised, and hurriedly asked what happened in the capital at that time, and asked why the second prince didn't kill the second prince after killing the prince's brother and younger brother?" ”

"And how did you answer?" Deputy Director Tao hurriedly asked.

"It should be the answer of the lord's explanation, saying that it was something that happened in the Great Qin Kingdom (Rome) thousands of miles away in the west." Chen Ying replied truthfully: "Then Ying told the eldest prince that the Great Qin Emperor did not dare to kill the second prince, because the Great Qin Emperor's imperial forest army was in the hands of the second prince, and the second prince had many courtiers around him who supported him to inherit the throne, so the emperor not only did not dare to kill the second prince, but was forced by the second prince to become the emperor in a few days." ”

"Explain beautifully, and then what is the reaction of the eldest prince?" Deputy Director Tao slapped excitedly.

"I beg me to lend him this book to read." Chen Ying replied with a smile: "The eldest prince began to pretend to scold a few words about the second prince who killed his brother and usurped the throne, and then asked Ying to borrow a book, saying that he wanted to see the despicable crimes of the second prince with his own eyes, and Ying had to tell him that the book was written in Daqin script, and he couldn't read it, and wrote a few Western characters that the lord taught to Ying to show the eldest prince, and the eldest prince found that he really couldn't understand it before he gave up, and continued to scold the second prince who was not as good as him." ”

"Yes, a rebellious minister and thief who kills his brother and forces his father like this, everyone will be punished, and the eldest prince should condemn a few more words." Deputy Director Tao laughed loudly, and after laughing, Deputy Director Tao couldn't wait to instruct Chen Ying: "Yuan Fang, hurry up and find an opportunity to tell your close friend the eldest prince about Mr. Zhong Ming's envoy to Jizhou, especially to let the eldest prince know that Tian Feng and Fu Zhi are both resolutely opposed to my father-in-law abolishing Chang Liyou, Xun Chen and Xu You stand by and watch, and there is no opposition to my father-in-law's abolition of Chang Liyou." ”

"No." Chen Ying nodded in agreement, and asked curiously: "Should you dare to ask, in the opinion of the lord, Ben Chu Gong proposed to make Yuan Shang's third son as his son-in-law in public, is it really just a joke with the ministers under his command?" ”

"Of course not, Lord Yuezhang is testing what the reactions of all the ministers under his command are after he chooses to abolish Chang Liyu." Deputy Director Tao shook his head again, and said with a sneer: "Don't underestimate my father-in-law, he understands in his heart, we and the third prince teamed up to play that scene, he must be insightful in his heart, but he is just unwilling to expose it, otherwise, how dare my father-in-law let his beloved son personally serve as a messenger, come to Xuzhou to condemn my sin of interfering in his family affairs, and take back his eldest son?" ”

"Ben Chu Gong understands that we are acting with the third prince, so why is he unwilling to expose it to his face?" Chen Ying, who was still relatively honest, was a little surprised.

"Of course, it's because Lord Yuezhang loves the third son and wants to pass on the throne to the third son, so he doesn't want to expose it and make the third son lose face." Deputy Director Tao spread his hands and said: "The reason why Lord Yuezhang is relieved to boldly let the third prince go south to Xuzhou to negotiate with our army is also because Lord Yuezhang knows in his heart that the third prince will not be in the slightest danger when he comes to Xuzhou to negotiate with me this time, and I will definitely hand over Yuan Tan to the third prince, so that the third prince can once again establish immortal merits and lay the foundation for the third prince to be crowned as a concubine." ”

After all, Chen Ying was still young and too loyal, and after thinking about it for a long time, he completely woke up, and said happily: "It turns out that the real purpose of the lord is not to push the third prince to the position of the Yuan family's sister-in-law, but to take this opportunity to further intensify the already sharp contradictions between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, so that the internal struggle of the Yuan family in Jizhou will be made public, so that the Yuan family will fall into civil strife and have no time to look south, so that the northern front of my Xuzhou army will be as stable as Mount Tai." ”

"Only half of the answer was correct." Deputy Director Tao muttered in his heart, but said with a smile on his face: "It's almost, but now this level is far from enough, we must add a few more firewoods and light a few fires, so that the more intense the fight between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, the more beneficial it will be for us." ”

"Yes, Ben Chu Gong is too strong, if his interior is ironclad, then our pressure will be great." Chen Ying sighed.

"If the old Yuan family is monolithic, what chance will I have to destroy the Jizhou army? Occupy the four states of Hebei, You, and Qingyan? Deputy Director Tao muttered in his heart, and after a little calculation, Deputy Director Tao instructed Chen Ying again: "Yuan Fang, why don't you be a good person to the end, tell Mr. Zhongming's mission to Jizhou, as well as my psychological analysis of Lord Yue, and tell Yuan Tan Gongzi in your tone, let Yuan Tan Gongzi know, in fact, my respected Lord Yue knew from the beginning that Yuan Shanggong was acting, and he was also testing the reaction of the ministers of Jizhou to his abolition of Chang Liyu." ”

"Can Yuan Tan believe it?" Chen Ying asked worriedly.

"Believe it or not, it's his business, just let him know about it anyway." Of course, Deputy Director Tao didn't mind what Yuan Tan Gongzi thought, but urged: "Seize some time to act, my good brother-in-law Yuan Shang is coming soon, in order to help him establish a tall and glorious image, Yuan Tan Gongzi I can only let him take him back to Jizhou." Chen Ying respectfully agreed, and did not mention the order that night.

……………… Five days later, Yuan Shanggongzi really led the army under the protection of his confidant and cronies Xianrong to Langya Ju County - poor Yang Changshi was left in Jizhou as a hostage, Deputy Director Tao personally led the army out of the city for ten miles to greet him, originally Deputy Director Tao also made the idea to show off his acting skills, and joined forces with his third brother-in-law Yuan Shang to play a double reed in public, so that Yuan Shang accused himself in public of letting himself change his previous non-salute and ask for sin, and staged a Three Kingdoms version of the prodigal son turned back, who would have thought that when Uncle Lang met, Yuan Shanggongzi split his head and covered his face and asked Deputy Director Tao: "Brother-in-law, When your father Gong Zugong decided to abolish Chang Lixian, did the important ministers of Xuzhou oppose it in public? ”

"Are there any important ministers in Xuzhou who oppose it in public?" Deputy Director Tao, who was brewing emotions, was asked by Yuan Shanggongzi, and finally came back to his senses, Deputy Director Tao replied with a wry smile: "At first, there were a few objections, but they were not against the abolition of the elder brother and the young, but hoped that the younger brother's father would give up the position to the big-eared thief Liu Bei, and after the younger brother got rid of them, when the father officially decided to abolish the long and young and pass on the throne to the younger brother, no one in Xuzhou Zhongchen spoke up to object. ”

"Get rid of them?" Yuan Shanggongzi's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "Brother-in-law, tell me quickly, how did you get rid of these courtiers and thieves?" ”

"It's ......." Deputy Director Tao looked at the left and right in embarrassment, and said in a low voice: "Brother, this is not the place to say these words, and the younger brother will slowly introduce him to the elder brother when he returns to the city." ”

"Then let's go." Yuan Shanggongzi didn't say a word, pulled up Deputy Director Tao and walked forward.

"Brother, why don't you scold your little brother in public? Let the people you bring show you your majesty? Deputy Director Tao asked with a wry smile.

"What to scold? Brother-in-law, you and I are closer than brothers, and I can't play in front of you if I have prestige, right? Besides, these are my people, there is no need to act in front of them, last time I acted a little too much in front of my father, and I was beaten down by my mother, and I was annoyed to death. ”

So, just like that, Yuan Shanggongzi, who should have scolded his brother-in-law immediately after meeting, took the lead, and took his brother-in-law's hand without taboo and strode into Juxian City, which was controlled by the Xuzhou army, and after entering the city, Yuan Tan Gongzi did not pay any attention to the eldest brother and a large number of his own soldiers who were detained here, and only urged his brother-in-law to introduce his experience in dealing with political enemies.

Not to mention, Yuan Shanggongzi is really a little self-aware, after listening to Deputy Director Tao's introduction of how he cleaned up the Mizhu brothers to deter political opponents, Yuan Shanggongzi first applauded, and then said with a sad face: "It's a pity, although my brother-in-law's plan is wonderful, the foolish brother does not have such a good opportunity, nor does he have such a smart and prestige as the virtuous brother, otherwise, this time my father decided to make the foolish brother his heir, and there would not be so many thieves who dared to stand up against it." ”

"Brother, you have to understand clearly." For the sake of the third brother-in-law, who still has great use value, Deputy Director Tao hurriedly warned: "Lord Yue's proposal to appoint his brother as his heir this time is just to take the opportunity to test the attitude of the hundred officials, in fact, he has no intention of establishing a successor immediately, and my brother must not be unrestrained and urge my father-in-law to establish a successor, so that my father-in-law feels that my brother is in a hurry to succeed to the throne, which will be counterproductive." ”

"Of course I don't know this, so I don't need to be instructed by my brother." Yuan Shanggongzi said with a gloomy face: "My mother has already made it clear for my brother, my father really just wanted to test the attitude of the ministers at that time, even if the ministers all support the establishment of a son-in-law for my brother, my father will refuse to accept the threat of the virtuous brother and refuse to immediately appoint a son-in-law, because my father is now in the prime of life, and he really does not plan to establish a son-in-law immediately." Therefore, the mother is also called to calm down for the brother, and must not be in a hurry, angering the father who has no plan to establish a successor. ”

"What is the opinion of the two gentlemen of trial and Feng Ji?" Deputy Director Tao asked.

"All the same, they tell me to be patient." Yuan Shanggongzi seemed to be a little dissatisfied with the two henchmen of Trial and Feng Ji in this matter, and said with a gloomy face: "Ask them to find a way to solve the problem of many civil and military ministers opposing my being named concubine, and also tell me to take my time, first establish more meritorious deeds, and establish absolute prestige in Jizhou like your brother-in-law, and then I am not afraid that those chaotic ministers and thieves will not support me to be named concubine." ”

"Brother, please forgive the younger brother for being blunt, Mr. Judge and Mr. Feng Ji They are very right, Lord Yuezhang has many heirs, brother, you are not the eldest son, if you want to stand out, the best and most secure way is to make meritorious deeds and build prestige."

Deputy Director Tao agreed very much with the opinions of the trial and Feng Ji, and seeing the displeasure of the third brother-in-law's expression, Deputy Director Tao, who was more slippery than a loach, hurriedly added: "Of course, this is also the slowest method, and it may not be suitable for your current situation, brother, even if the younger brother fully supports his brother, within three years and five years, I am afraid it will be difficult to see results." ”

"yes." Yuan Shanggongzi finally nodded, gritted his teeth and said: "Not only is it time-consuming, Tian Feng and those corrupt Confucians are determined that what is the way to take trouble is to abolish the elder and establish the young, even if the brother establishes more meritorious deeds and establishes a higher prestige, when the father decides to establish a successor, this group of rotten Confucians is afraid that they will continue to oppose the younger brother and continue to support Yuan Tan Pifu to be named a concubine!" ”

Gong and drum listening, obedient and listening, seeing Yuan Shanggongzi repeatedly mentioning the names of Tian Feng and Fu Zhu, the two important ministers of Jizhou, and seeing Yuan Shanggongzi as soon as they met, he asked himself about the process of getting rid of political enemies, and Deputy Director Tao, who had practiced a set of good skills in observing words and emotions in the public servant school, blinked his triangular eyes, and suddenly lowered his voice and asked: "Brother repeatedly mentioned Tian Feng and Fu Zhu two thieves, could it be that he intended to get rid of these two thieves for Lord Yue?" ”

Yuan Shanggongzi glanced at Deputy Director Tao, and finally showed some smiles on his handsome face, and said softly: "Brother Xian really knows that he is a brother, these two thieves are important ministers in front of his father, and they are also the leaders of Jizhou officials who oppose being a brother and a son-in-law. ”

"Third brother-in-law, you want to destroy the Great Wall? Self-breaking pillars? Well, the brother must help you in this matter. Deputy Director Tao was secretly happy in his heart, and continued to lower his voice and asked: "Brother, although Tian Feng and the two thieves are hateful, is my brother willing to do it?" They are all the pillars of my brother's future. ”

"What is the use of disobedient pillars, no matter how capable they are?" Yuan Shanggongzi asked rhetorically, and said: "Besides, there are already two capable strategists for my brother, who are matched and punished, and it doesn't matter if there is Tian Feng and Fu Zhu." ”

"Don't send me, these two are bulls with IQs of more than ninety." Deputy Director Tao muttered in his heart, but Deputy Director Tao also knew that this was absolutely impossible-because Tian Feng and Fu Zhu were too loyal to the old Yuan family, so Deputy Director Tao thought about it for a while, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "It's not difficult for my brother to get rid of these two thieves. ”

"How?" Yuan Shanggongzi couldn't wait to ask.

"Start with the flaws in their surnames." Deputy Director Tao said in a low voice: "Tian Feng has just made a mistake, his temper is short, he doesn't know how to be flexible, and he has never been liked by his father-in-law; Frustrated is not much better than Tian Feng, and he is very assertive, and has repeatedly put forward suggestions and strategies that are not accepted by Lord Yue, and he is not liked by Lord Yue, the elder brother only needs to firmly grasp their fatal shortcoming, and then take advantage of the opportunity that the eldest brother will inevitably strengthen contact with them when he goes back this time, and take the opportunity to frame them with a plot, and the two thieves will not be difficult to get rid of. ”

"After Yuan Tan Pifu returns to Jizhou, he will inevitably contact Tian Feng and the two thieves? These two thieves usually rarely interact with Yuan Tan Pifu? ”

"Why do you knowingly ask, younger brother?" Deputy Director Tao chuckled and said: "Tian Feng and Fu Zhu took the lead in opposing Lord Yue's appointment of the elder brother as the heir this time, how can the eldest brother not know after returning to Jizhou?" This time the eldest brother encountered another disgraced face in Langya, his face was greatly damaged, and his reputation plummeted, it was precisely when he urgently needed to save his prestige and consolidate the team, how could he not try to get close to Tian Feng and Fu Zhi? As long as they communicate privately, brother, don't you want as many opportunities as you want? ”

"Brother Xian is reasonable, and that's what it means to be a brother." Yuan Shanggongzi was overjoyed, and hurriedly asked: "Brother Xian, how should you act as a brother?" ”

"How do I do that?" Deputy Director Tao was stopped by Yuan Shanggongzi's question, and said hesitantly: "Brother, it's not that the younger brother refuses to serve, it's really that the younger brother doesn't know, to do such a thing, you must improvise and make a temporary plan, and judge the situation and decide how to use the plan temporarily, otherwise, no matter how wonderful the plan is arranged in advance, as long as there is a small fork in the middle, the previous efforts will be wasted." ”

"Improvisation? Situation? Provisional Schedule? Yuan Shanggongzi made a bitter face and said, "Brother Xian, didn't you say it in vain?" If you have the shrewdness and cleverness of a virtuous brother, do you still need to ask for advice from a virtuous brother? ”

"It's ......." Deputy Director Tao was a little embarrassed, and began to regret that he didn't memorize the ancient masterpiece "Luo Weaving Sutra" by Brother Junchen of the Great Zhou Dynasty when he was in the public servant school, and now he can't write and transcribe it to the third brother-in-law to study, otherwise, maybe he can really help the good brother-in-law.

Fortunately, our Deputy Director Tao is also a highly talented student of the Public Servant School, after a turn of his triangular eyes, Deputy Director Tao slapped his thigh again, and said with annoyance: "Brother, the little brother is really confused, now that my brother is in Jizhou City, he has a capable helper!" When it comes to officialdom scheming, fighting for power and profit, and excluding dissidents, the younger brother may have to bow down in front of him! ”

"Who?" Yuan Shang Gongzi asked with great joy.

"The envoy sent by the junior brother to Jizhou, Yang Hong and Yang Zhongming!" Deputy Director Tao replied categorically: "After my brother returns to Jizhou, I can order Yang Hong to secretly help you eradicate Tian Feng and Fu Zhu, you must be able to capture it and succeed!" Even if they don't want Tian Feng and Fu's life, they can let them take off a layer of skin! ”

"Really? Does Mr. Zhongming really have this ability? Yuan Shanggongzi asked even more pleasantly.

Seeing Deputy Director Tao smiling confidently and nodding, Yuan Shanggongzi was even more overjoyed, and hurriedly thanked Deputy Director Tao, "Thank you for your advice, please rest assured, he said that if his brother's wish is fulfilled, he will repay the kindness of the virtuous brother for his repeated secret help, and he will not be disappointed." ”

Deputy Director Tao was pretending to be modest, and asked Yuan Shanggongzi not to be polite, but Yuan Shanggongzi insisted on thanking him again and again, and suddenly remembered a major event, and hurriedly said: "By the way, there is a good news that I almost forgot to tell the virtuous brother, the accurate news that my mother found out from my father, after Yuan Tan Pifu returned to Jizhou this time, although his father still let him hang the false title of Qingzhou Assassin History, he will not let him lead the troops again, and he will not let him come to Qingzhou to embarrass the virtuous brother." ”

"Thank you, brother, thank you, mother-in-law." Deputy Director Tao was also a little happy, and hurriedly asked: "Then let me ask my brother again, who does Lord Yuezhang plan to send to Qingzhou to take charge of state affairs?" ”

"My second brother Yuan Xi." Yuan Shanggongzi replied honestly: "Originally, I wanted to come to Qingzhou, but my mother resolutely refused to allow it, saying that Qingzhou was too poor, and once I stayed away from my father's side, it would be troublesome if I was taken away by Yuan Tan Pifu, so my mother persuaded my father to send my second brother to Qingzhou." But Brother Xian can rest assured, my second brother is a real honest man, three hammers can't beat a fart, and he has always listened to his father's words, he came to Qingzhou, he will definitely not be like Yuan Tan Pifu, he will be embarrassed by the virtuous brother at every turn, and he will not dare to take the initiative to provoke a conflict with the virtuous brother. ”

"Okay, okay." Deputy Director Tao was even more overjoyed, and asked, "What about the candidate for Beihai Taishou?" Have you decided? Beihai borders Xuzhou, the younger brother, and this location is also very important. ”

"This ......." Yuan Shanggongzi recalled carefully, shook his head and said: "Don't blame the virtuous brother, I really can't remember clearly, it seems that the candidate has not been decided yet, but I am not sure." ”

"In that case, can the younger brother ask the elder brother to do another favor?" Deputy Director Tao opened his mouth to plead, and when he saw Yuan Shanggongzi nodding in agreement, Deputy Director Tao smiled and said: "That's the case, in Wuji County, Zhongshan Country, Jizhou, there is a famous man named Zhen Yi, he once served as Shang Cai Ling, and he went to work because of the dark anger of officialdom, he is very talented, and has some connections with the younger brother Tao family, the younger brother wants to ask the elder brother to recommend this Zhen Yi in front of Lord Yuezhang, let him serve as the Taishou of Beihai, or serve in Beihai, and repay him for his kindness to the younger brother Tao family, I don't know if it is possible?" ”

"It's a small thing." Yuan Shanggongzi waved his hand casually, and said in a big way: "Zhen Yi's name is brother, I seem to have heard of it, and I will do this when my brother goes back, I don't dare to say that I will ensure that he is pushed to the position of Beihai Taishou, and it is quite appropriate to get a Beihai for him, and he is still seventy or eighty percent sure." ”

(To be continued)