The news of Yan Wen's dismissal spread all over the government and the opposition for a while, although the ministers had expected it, but it was not until the emperor's will came down that they were completely relieved.

Needless to say, the person who took over Yan Wen's second-in-command position was naturally only Feng Xiangniu. Many people who wish to advance took this opportunity to cling to the Liu Party and congratulated them on their victory; The latter also wanted to win the hearts of the people in this way, so he ordered his henchmen to entertain all the officials in the palace to celebrate the merit of eradicating the traitorous party.

Compared with these idle officials, the chiefs of the various ministries were obviously much busier, especially Gao Jizhi of the Ministry of Officials, who had to deal with the documents sent by Zhongshu Province, but also had to take care of Chen Tong's comrades who stayed in Shandong, and wrote letters to persuade him to return as soon as possible. ，

Chen Tongpao got the letter, and after looking at it, he knew that it was Yan Wen who had an accident in the court. He immediately handed over the letter to the two clerks, who did not think so, and never believed that the imperial court would stop the new policy, so they insisted on staying in Jinan and refused to go back with him. Chen Tongpao didn't say anything, and waited for the two to leave, before he secretly discussed with the prefect: "Listening to what Gao Shangshu said in the letter, Yan's participation in politics may have been dismissed, so it is inevitable to settle his old accounts and clean up his henchmen." Those two clerks are Yan Xiang's minions and henchmen, and they can't be let go. After I leave, you can send troops to keep an eye on the two of them, and if you hear the exact news, you will arrest them quickly, and do not be merciful! Once they let them run, you and I are very guilty! The prefect nodded solemnly and sent him out of the city.

The prefect immediately followed the instructions of his comrade Chen, secretly placed several officers and soldiers in the palace, all of them changed into the clothes of ordinary officials, and patrolled in turn in front of the guest rooms where the two secretaries lived, without a moment's leisure; At the same time, on the grounds of disturbance in the hearts of outsiders, he discouraged the secretary office from going out and blocked the news, which made the two panic and feel uneasy all day long. Within two days, the edict of the dismissal of Yan Wen had already come from the Beijing Division, and the prefect was overjoyed, and immediately ordered people to lay down on the side of the road and called two secretaries to come to listen to the announcement. The officers and men seized the opportunity, rushed out halfway, tied them with hemp ropes, handed them over to the prefect, and were brought back to Beijing by a special person for trial.

"Do you say it or not!"

In the prison of the Criminal Department, Shang Shu, who was in charge of interrogation, roared violently, and the loud noise made by Xingmu echoed in everyone's ears.

"I've said enough......" Yan Liang was hung from the wall, his clothes were torn, revealing more than a dozen deep blood marks; He opened his eyes weakly and glanced at the jailer next to him who was taking notes, "No one......

Shang Shu was very dissatisfied, he pouted and asked the jailer, "Look at how many people he said?" ”

The jailer took out the list pressed under the confession, looked at it for a while, and then announced: "There are a total of 126 people, and according to his description, there are 84 officials, all over the capital, prefecture and county. ”

Shang Shu turned his head and scolded: "Your Yan family has been in charge of the government for many years, and it is really shameless to take the cultivation of party henchmen as the top priority!" It is so deep-rooted that you will not be able to find out all the traitors, and since you don't know anything, I will open the net and spare you from death. Come on, submit the confession and the list to the Zhongshu Province, please make a personal ruling! ”

The provincial ministers and ministers in the hall all looked at Niu Yuan in unison, and when they saw him reading a confession, they sighed, frowned once, and then sighed more and more, wrinkled deeper and deeper, and looked very worried about the country and the people.

"Alas, alas...... Ladies and gentlemen, please take a look at it too. Niu Yuan reluctantly picked up the list and stretched out his hand, "Everyone knows, I, Niu Yuan, have always been a true temperament, and I have always said anything, and I have no taboos." Although Yan Xiang and I have been colleagues for many years, we have a deep affection, but who would have thought that he would be such a villain who takes the world as his own self, it is really hidden......"

"There are protégés, fellow villagers, relatives and friends, and all kinds of people who come and go. And most of them can have a half-official position, what is it if they are not friends? ”

"Niu Gong, I think this statement is a bit arbitrary," when Niu Yuan spoke, Li Wenshou had already read the list almost, "Yan Wen may have the possibility of forming a party for personal gain, but he has presided over many spring festivals in the past, and there will naturally be no fewer protégés, so if you prove that they are party henchmen, I am afraid that you will not be able to block Youyou's mouth." And there are many people in the same country, and they may not have met with them, so why should they be counted among them? The confession reported by the Criminal Department is simply nonsense, and it should be remanded for retrial! ”

Niu Yuan suddenly put away his sad face, and his expression showed some unhappiness; He rolled his eyes, coughed twice, and then reluctantly laughed: "Vice President Li said well about participating in politics. The official also doesn't want to affect innocent people and damage the face of the court, so it is more important than anything else to figure things out. However, the suddenness of the incident left us with very short time, so it was very difficult. It is better to kill Yan Wen, the traitor who caused chaos in the dynasty, first, and his henchmen will disperse like birds and beasts, and the situation will be calmed down. Why do you think so? ”

Li Wenshou was caught off guard by his hand, and only then did he understand Niu Yuan's true purpose, so he tried his best to advise: "Once Yan Wen is dismissed, he is already harmless in the court, if you kill him again, won't it disturb people's hearts?" And we don't have a single evidence of his guilt that would condemn him to death. ”

"Vice Li participated in politics, what benefits did you receive from him, and now you still help him speak?" Niu Yuan finally couldn't hold back his anger, he said hurriedly, "I want evidence of the crime, the disaster to the country and the people is the evidence of the crime, and I want him to pay for the lives of the officials and people who died due to the new deal!" ”

"Niu Fengxiang ......"

"Don't say it again," Niu Yuan interrupted him, "It's not up to me to say anything about this, and the official has to go and ask Liu Gong." If you have a stomach of grievances to sue, just go to Liu Gong and see if his old man will give you a good face! ”

After that, he got up directly and ordered outside: "The next person will play a sedan chair, and the official will go to the Prime Minister's Mansion again!" Then he went without looking back, leaving Li Wenshou alone in front of everyone, very embarrassed.

Niu Yuan walked out of Zhongshu Province with his hands behind his back, and walked onto the sedan chair absentmindedly, and urged the sedan chair man: "Go!" ”

"My lord," the sedan chair man looked into the distance, glanced at the other person, then lifted the curtain, bowed down and smiled at him, "The villain dares to ask you to get off the sedan chair, this sedan chair ...... Anyway, I can't go now. ”

"Why can't you go?" Niu Yuan stomped his feet, his eyes widened angrily, "He Li Wenshou wants to deal with me, and you are also determined to squeeze me!" ”

"The villain would never dare to think like this! It's just that the forbidden troops in front are still blocking the way and refusing to leave, I'm afraid that you can only leave if you come forward. ”

"Still in the way?" Niu Yuan stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and actually smiled.