In the inner courtyard of the governor's yamen, Lou Xian'er, the third lady of the Xu Mansion, was instructing a group of maids to clean the inner courtyard and prepare New Year's goods. Lou Xian'er was busy inside and out, and when she was tired, she went back to the house to drink water and rest, and when she entered the house, she saw Xu Liang, the prime minister, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand, standing by the window, his eyes drifting, and he didn't know where he fell.

Lou Xian'er drank a few sips of water, sat down and rested for a while, looked up and saw Xu Liang maintaining that posture, standing motionless, couldn't help but walk over curiously, shook his hand in front of Xu Liang a few times, and asked with a smile: "Xianggong, what do you want?" So fascinating? ”

Xu Liang's floating gaze finally had a focus, looked at Lou Xian'er, and said with a slight smile: "What's the matter, the outside is all arranged?" ”

Lou Xian'er clapped her hands and said, "The things that should be prepared are almost ready." By the way, Xianggong, two days ago, Sister Suqin wrote to say that the surveillance around the Dongjiang Annexes seems to have been withdrawn. It seems that the court is not going to spy on the Dongjiang Courtyard. ”

Xu Liang nodded and said, "I have also heard about this." In fact, it is not difficult to understand that I led the officers and soldiers of Shaanxi to defeat the rebellious people's army in the entire Shaanxi, and I can be regarded as a hero of the court. If Emperor Chongzhen still holds on to the Dongjiang Courtyard, it will be too stingy. ”

"Hmm." Lou Xian'er nodded thoughtfully, tilted her head and said: "Xianggong, I think it's strange and lonely for Sister Suqin to stay alone in the Dongjiang Courtyard, so it's better to take Sister Suqin to Chang'an for the New Year." ”

Xu Liang remembered that he wrote a letter to Feng Suqin in the capital a few days ago, asking her to leave for Chang'an for the New Year. However, in her reply, Feng Suqin said that there were still some things to deal with. I want to come to Chang'an again after the year.

Xu Liang shook his head lightly and said, "Xianggong has already mentioned this matter to Su Qin. It's just that Suqin said that there are still some things to deal with, and she will not come over until the next year. That's right. Do you know what Suqin has been busy with in Jingshi recently? ”

Lou Xian'er thought for a while and said, "I don't know what the specific thing is, I heard that it is a partnership with which lady in the palace is doing business." ”

Xu Liang chuckled in his heart and asked in surprise: "The lady in the palace?" Which mother? ”

Lou Xian'er shook her head and said, "I don't know about this." ”

Xu Liang thought back to the palace and the few ladies he knew, and involuntarily remembered that the queen of the previous dynasty, Zhang Yanlai. Secretly said: It can't be Zhang Yan, right?

Xu Liang thought in his heart, so he said to Lou Xian'er casually: "Go back and ask Su Qin what the hell is going on." If it's nothing serious, let's leave for Chang'an quickly. ”

Lou Xian'er nodded, stood with Xu Liang for a while, suddenly woke up, glared at Xu Liang and asked, "Xianggong, you haven't told Xian'er yet, what were you thinking just now?" ”

Xu Liang smiled dumbly and said, "Actually, it's nothing. Wasn't Cao Wenzhao sick two days ago? He proposed to me that his nephew, Cao Bianjiao, be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general of the cavalry battalion. I still had doubts in my mind for a while. He didn't immediately agree to him. I'm thinking, what Cao Wen got was just a little wind chill, and it seems that there is no need to appoint a deputy general in such a hurry! ”

Lou Xian'er tilted her head and thought about it. Then he analyzed matter-of-factly: "Does Xianggong feel that Cao Wenzhao is so anxious to support his nephew to ascend to the throne and nepotism, and he feels a little uncomfortable?" ”

Xu Liang put the cooled teacup back on the table. Shaking his head, he said: "If you want to talk about Cao Wenzhao's nephew, Cao Bianjiao." I still know about it, Cao Bianjiao only needs time. It is indeed a rare talent. ”

Lou Xian'er asked in surprise: "What else does the Xianggong suspect?" ”

Xu Liang helped Lou Xian'er to sit on the chair, stroked Lou Xian'er's hand with one hand, looked faint, and said: "I just think that even if Cao Wenzhao wants to promote Cao Bianjiao, there is no need to be in such a hurry, after all, Cao Bianjiao joined the cavalry battalion, and it has only been more than a month since he was full, and his qualifications, prestige, and foundation are completely blank." In such a hurry to promote Cao Bianjiao, I wonder if there will be other reasons. ”

Lou Xian'er thought seriously for a while, and then nodded and agreed: "Yes, even if Cao Wenzhao wants to promote Cao Bianjiao, he should wait until the next year." He brought it up at this time, but he said that the prime minister couldn't celebrate the New Year with peace of mind. ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he felt that the reason Lou Xian'er said was too unreasonable, so he laughed.

As the New Year was approaching, the governor's yamen did not have anything particularly important to deal with, so Xu Liang took Lou Xian'er to wander around Chang'an City casually and bought some flashy objects back.

When he returned to the governor's yamen, Tietou greeted him and said to Xu Liang: "Young master, I took my grandfather from Pingliang to Chang'an. ”

Xu Liang listened, and Lou Xian'er went to meet Tie Si Ye together, and talked about gossip in Tie Si Ye's room, after coming out, Tie Tou followed Xu Liang into the study, took out a secret report from his arms, presented it to Xu Liang, and said with a serious expression: "Young Master, this is urgently sent by the Imperial Shi Huang Dao three days ago in the top secret. ”

Xu Liang's expression became solemn, and he motioned to Tietou to close the door of the study, then carefully opened the secret report, read the information on the secret report, and threw the secret report to Tietou. Taking advantage of the iron head to read the secret report, Xu Liang said with a solemn expression: "Dao Zhou said in the secret report that Emperor Chongzhen frequently summoned the cabinet and the military department two days ago to discuss the transfer of troops to quell the civil unrest in Shanxi. ”

Tietou looked at the secret report and said in surprise: "The emperor intends to transfer Cao Wenzhao to be the chief soldier of Shanxi?" ”

"Not bad." Xu Liang nodded slowly, paced in the study, and said as he walked: "Cao Wenzhao was originally sent by Emperor Chongzhen to assist Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides, to quell the civil unrest in the northwest, but now most of the rebellious people's army has gone to Shanxi, and Emperor Chongzhen wants to transfer Cao Wenzhao to Shanxi and then quell the chaos. ”

Tietou scratched his head, and suddenly said: "No wonder Cao Wenzhao is so anxious to arrange for his nephew Cao Bianjiao, originally he knew that he was going to be transferred." ”

Xu Liang was stunned, his face suddenly changed, and he waved his hand and said, "It's still not right." Emperor Chongzhen's transfer of Cao Wenzhao should have been revealed two days ago! Huang Daozhou, the imperial history of the capital, has been keeping an eye on the movements of the court in Beijing, and with the speed of Tsing Yiwei's information transmission channel, we have only now gotten the exact news. It is impossible for Cao Wenzhao to know more than ten days ago and make arrangements in advance. ”

When the iron head heard this, he scratched his head and said in astonishment: "That...... Could it be that Cao Wenzhao can still predict the prophet? ”

Xu Liang sneered. "General Cao fought bravely, but he was by no means a street fortune teller. He was able to anticipate it. Most likely someone revealed the news to him. ”

Tietou frowned and said: "Judging from the information that Tsing Yiwei has about Cao Wenzhao, I haven't heard that Cao Wenzhao has any strong relationships in the capital?" He went from being a soldier to being promoted to general. has always been in Liaodong, and it has nothing to do with Beijing, and the only one who has a little connection with the left capital Yushi Cao Yubian was hung up a year ago. ”

Xu Liang thought about it, and then instructed: "Order the Tsing Yi Guard Detective Department to check carefully, what Cao Wenzhao has done recently, and who he has met." ”

Tsing Yi Wei's eyes and ears have already penetrated into all aspects of the entire territory of Shaanxi, and Xu Liang gave an order. Tsing Yi Wei quickly launched, and for a while, all kinds of information related to Cao Wenzhao flew towards Tsing Yi Wei like snowflakes.

Three days later, Tietou hurriedly entered Xu Liang's study, closed the door with his hand, walked to Xu Liang's desk, and said, "Young Master, it's clear." ”

Xu Liang put down the book in his hand and sat up straight. "What's going on?" he asked. ”

Tietou put a sorted piece of information in front of Xu Liang, and Zhengse said: "Half a month ago, the governor's yamen held a celebration ceremony, and the governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou, was also invited to participate. After the celebration, Governor Hong had a separate meeting with Cao Wenzhao in a teahouse. ”

Xu Liang flipped through the information in his hand. His brow furrowed slightly. Tietou continued: "Three days after the celebration, Cao Wenzhao did not show up in the cavalry camp, and then the news came that Cao Wenzhao was affected by the cold. Tsing Yi Wei checked the people who had entered and exited Cao's house in those days. What makes people suspicious is that Cao Wenzhao fell ill for four days. I invited a doctor to the house for treatment. After the doctor was cured, Cao Wenzhao took the illness to the governor's yamen. recommended Cao Bianjiao to the face of the adults as the deputy general of the cavalry battalion. ”

When Xu Liang heard this, his face began to be gloomy.

Tietou presented another piece of information, and said angrily: "I also ordered the brothers of the detective department in Guyuan City to check the movements of the governor of the three sides, Hong Chengchou, and gained a lot. ”

Xu Liang listened, stood up from his seat, and asked in a deep voice, "What did Hong Chengchou do?" ”

Tietou shouted angrily: "The brothers of the detective department have investigated and found that when the trilateral governor Hong Chengchou was in Shaanxi to recruit and suppress the rebel people's army, Hong Chengchou summoned Guyuan Zhizhou many times in the name of government affairs. Now Guyuan Zhizhou is extremely flattering to Governor Hong. When Governor Hong expanded the recruitment of Hongbing soldiers, Guyuan Zhizhou made great efforts, not only secretly providing tens of thousands of loads of food, but also providing thousands of sets of armor free of charge. ”

Tietou finally said: "More importantly, two days ago, the brothers of the detective department intercepted a letter written by Cao Wenzhao, the deputy chief of Shaanxi, to Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides. Young Master, based on this information, Tsing Yiwei suspects that Cao Wenzhao's promotion of Cao Bianjiao is very likely to be instructed by Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides. ”

Xu Liang listened, was silent for a while, sighed lightly, raised his head and shouted to the Tsing Yi guard outside: "Go and invite Wang Qinian." ”

Although Wang Qinian's official position is to participate in the politics of Shaanxi, his office is not in the Shaanxi Political Envoy Department at all, but in the Shaanxi Governor's Yamen. Xu Liang designated a separate courtyard for him as an office location. The high-ranking officials of Shaanxi Province all understood that Wang Qinian's name was to participate in politics, but in fact he was the master of Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, and he was very trusted by Xu Liang.

Wang Qinian soon arrived in Xu Liang's study, and when he saw that Xu Liang and Tietou both looked serious, he couldn't help but be startled, and asked blankly, "My lord, what's wrong?" What's wrong? ”

Xu Liang waved his hand, and told Wang Qinian about the findings of Tsing Yiwei's investigation. Then he threw a few pieces of information to Wang Qinian, and patiently waited for Wang Qinian to read them one by one.

Wang Qinian looked at it very carefully, very slowly, and after about half an hour, Wang Qinian put down a few pieces of information in his hand, stood in front of Xu Liang with his hands down, looked at Xu Liang, and said calmly: "My lord, it is obvious that Hong Chengchou, the governor of the three sides, did this to win over some officials in Shaanxi, develop and strengthen the Hong soldiers he wielded, and intend to establish Governor Hong's own power as soon as possible. ”

Xu Liang listened and pondered.

But Tietou asked strangely: "We have all defeated the rebellious people's troops in Shaanxi for him, why doesn't Hong Chengchou stop and want to dig into the corner of our young master?" It's too much! ”

Wang Qinian looked at Tietou and patiently explained: "Admiral Tie, have you forgotten that Hong Chengchou is the governor of the three sides!" The officialdom of Shaanxi is all based on the lord and the horse, and the army in Shaanxi is all obedient to the lord! What does Hong Chengchou, the trilateral governor, want to do, if there is no nod and agreement from the lord, Governor Hong will not be able to mobilize a single soldier! In such a situation, no one would be reconciled. Governor Hong did this, and his subordinates thought it was a reasonable thing. ”

Xu Liang nodded slowly, sighed, and said, "Qi Nian's analysis is good. In other words, if it were me Xu Liang in the position of Governor Hong, I would do the same. ”

Xu Liang said, his expression turned cold, he sneered, and said confidently: "However, Hong Chengchou also thinks that my Xu Liang is too simple!" Hmph, the corner of my Xu Liang is not so easy to dig. ”

Wang Qinian and Tietou both looked at Xu Liang, and Wang Qinian asked, "What is the lord going to do?" ”

Xu Liang's eyes flashed with a hint of fierceness, and he said: "That Guyuan Zhizhou dares to hide from his own official and Hong Chengchou, such a person can no longer be used!" After the year, find an opportunity to drive him out of Shaanxi. The official is still thinking that he will try to raise the grade of He Qi in Zhenyuan Zhixian County after the year, but he is worried that there is no place to place it, and I think it is appropriate to put He Qi in the position of Guyuan Zhizhou. ”

Wang Qinian listened and nodded approvingly, the official level of Guyuan Zhizhou is the fifth grade, and the Zhenyuan Zhixian of the seventh grade He Qi is the Guyuan Zhizhou of the fifth grade, not only gave He Qi a grade, but also placed a pair of eyes under Hong Chengchou's nose, which can be described as just right.

Wang Qinian asked again: "Then about Cao Wenzhao's uncle and nephew, how does the lord plan to deal with it?" ”

Speaking of Cao Wenzhao, Cao Bianjiao and the two, Xu Liang felt embarrassed, these two people are Xu Liang's very important generals, Xu Liang tried his best to pull Cao Wenzhao into his camp, and he was about to succeed, but Emperor Chongzhen wanted to transfer Cao Wenzhao to Shanxi! The rest of Cao Bianjiao doesn't know if it's reliable in the future.

"Cao Wenzhao is the one who wants to leave, and he can't stay, but Cao Bianjiao is also a rare general, if we miss a tiger general because of the competition with Governor Hong, it will be a pity." Xu Liang said embarrassedly.

When Wang Qinian heard this, he smiled slightly, shook his head and said: "Lord, my subordinates have a plan, which can make the lord not only get the support of Cao Bianjiao, but also pay tribute to Governor Hong fiercely." ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he was immediately overjoyed, and hurriedly asked: "Is there any way to Qi Nian, tell me quickly." ”

Wang Qinian stroked his long beard a few times, and said sinisterly: "According to the estimation of his subordinates, Governor Hong instigated Cao Wenzhao to recommend Cao Bianjiao to the lord is only the first step, in order to win over Cao Bianjiao, after getting Cao Wenzhao's reply, Governor Hong will most likely push the boat down the river and come forward to give Cao Bianjiao a garrison, guerrilla and other military positions, so as to show that Governor Hong is kind to Cao Bianjiao and slowly get Cao Bianjiao's support. The lord, his subordinates thought that what the lord had to do now was to plan the plan, get ahead of Hong Chengchou, and show favor to Cao Bianjiao first. (To be continued.) )