In mid-May, Yang Qixuan and his wife escorted Li Tengkong and Li Jilan to Wangwu Mountain and visited Princess Yuzhen, and then returned to Yanshi County again.

At this time, the winter wheat is almost ripe, and the wheat fields along the river are showing a golden color, giving people a sense of harvest.

Yang Qixuan's heart was like an arrow, hoping to return to Chang'an after finishing his errand earlier, as soon as he entered the city, he went to the county office to see Xue Bai, this time Xue Bai didn't let him wait too long, and immediately invited him to meet him in the flower hall after the communication.

In the flower hall, it was found that Xue Bai was talking with two old men, and several of them were not wearing official uniforms, and their faces were very serious.

"You two go down."

Yang Qixuan thought that they were officials, and waved his hand casually, wanting to talk to Xue Bai alone. Unexpectedly, the two old men were unmoved, and he couldn't help frowning.

"Can't you hear me? Let you out. ”

One of the old men spoke: "Old man, the new Yanshi County Cheng Yan Chunqing." ”

"That's it?" Yang Qixuan smiled proudly, ignored Yan Chunqing, and said to Xue Bai: "Look, whoever you want to be the county minister, the Right Prime Minister's Mansion can arrange it." ”

In a word, none of the three people in the flower hall answered, and the corners of their mouths were slightly raised, and they all smiled slightly, as if they felt funny.

"Please also ask Yan Xiancheng to go out first, I have something important to talk to Xue Bai." Yang Qixuan looked at the other old man and said, "Yan Xiancheng's staff, right?" Please. ”

"The old man's servant Miao Jinqing."

Yang Qixuan was stunned, a little unconvinced, because among the three people, Miao Jinqing has the highest official position, but his aura is the weakest, Xue Bai and Yan Chunqing, one has his own graceful bearing, and the other has a famous man's bones, but Miao Jinqing's eyes are a little meritorious.

In order to prevent Yang Qixuan from making more ugliness, Miao Jinqing then said: "The old man came here at the behest of the right minister. ”

"Is it the meaning of the right minister? Then I'm ......"

"Yang Lang and sit down."

Obviously, the situation is changing very quickly, and it is no longer something that Yang Qixuan, a waste, can grasp, so Li Linfu will send Miao Jinqing to Yanshi County again.

Miao Jinqing and Xue Bai had met in Tongguan, when he had just gotten rid of the influence of "dragging the white champion" and returned to Beijing, and Xue Bai was preparing to go to Yanshi, but he didn't expect to see each other so soon.

In fact, he only arrived not long before Yang Qixuan, and the topic had just begun.

"Xue Lang is a jinshi and an official slave, and he has more or less received the kindness of the right minister, but now he is too ungrateful, right?"

Yang Qixuan was dazed, but he still nodded again and again.

Xue Bai said: "Why did Miao Gong say this? ”

"When you asked for office, you promised to thoroughly investigate the traitors in the DPRK and China, but now you have colluded with Wang Jie, Zhao Fengzhang and others to slander the right minister, with ill intentions."

“……”

Yang Qixuan listened for a long time before he knew what was going on.

Xue Bai put forward conditions to both sides and arranged for Yan Chunqing to be the head of Yanshi County, and as a result, Yan Chunqing's Shangguan Zhao Fengzhang sued the right minister for more than 20 major crimes.

Then, no matter what the truth is, in the eyes of outsiders, Wang Jie, Zhao Fengzhang, Yan Chunqing, and Xue Bai all seem to be conspiring.

"Damn it!"

Yang Qixuan was filled with righteous indignation when he heard this, and got up and said angrily: "Xue Bai, you are too much! ”

In the face of this accusation, Xue Bai didn't care, since Li Linfu just sent someone to talk, it can be seen that he didn't do anything too much, otherwise he wouldn't be so polite.

"Yan Xiancheng's official position was arranged by Wang Jie, and Zhao Fengzhang's complaint was also made by Wang Jie. One of the purposes is to create the illusion that I am joining forces with him, and if the right minister believes it, he will be deceived. ”

Xue Bai said this unhurriedly, turned his head to look at Yang Qixuan, and said, "Presumably the right minister will not be so unwise." ”

Yang Qixuan was still angry, wanting to put pressure on Xue Bai, but he couldn't help but be embarrassed when he heard this.

Miao Jinqing had no choice but to break the siege again, and said: "Whether it is a false image or not, speak with evidence." ”

As he spoke, he looked at Yan Chunqing.

"Before Zhao Fengzhang falsely accused the right minister, he had forged several pieces of evidence and put them in the treasury of the Danzhou Prefecture Office, but when he was arrested, these perjuries disappeared. On that day, only Yan Xiancheng went to bid farewell to him, I don't know if he knew about it? ”

Yan Chunqing was about to deny it.

Xue Bai had already answered: "Yan County will cooperate with the search." ”

Yan Chunqing was a little surprised, turned his head to look at Xue Bai, and wanted to speak, but because of Xue Bai's resolute look and powerful aura, he didn't object to it in person after all.

Miao Jinqing was able to get such a statement just now, and he was quite satisfied, and asked again: "By the way, the source of the Lishan case?" ”

Xue Bai shook his hand and didn't talk about it, but said: "Gong Miao and Brother Yang are tired of traveling and driving, so let's rest first." ”

……

Sent away the two people sent by the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, and the Yanshi County Cheng and the County Lieutenant continued to sit in the flower hall.

Yan Chunqing observed Xue Bai's expression, thinking that this young man was Yan Zhenqing's disciple and son-in-law, and his character must be credible.

He then asked, "Why do you want to hand over the evidence left by Zhao Taishou?" ”

Xue Bai was very calm and asked rhetorically, "Is the evidence useful?" ”

Yan Chunqing said: "When others mention Zhao Fengzhang, the Taishou of Danzhou, they all say that he is Wang Jie's confidant, because he has been exceedingly aggressive in the collection of rents owed by the people over the years, and he is also uneasy about this. The evidence was indeed given by Wang Jie, and it is related to the record of the right minister's greed for ink over the years, and only Wang Jiao can have these evidences. ”

"Yes, but is it useful for me to ask?"

Xue Bai's tone was a little strong, he also had this confidence, after all, he recommended Yan Chunqing to the official position, and he held the power of Yanshi County.

By dealing with a troublesome matter, it is the time to lay the foundation for the relationship between the two, and Xue Bai must take the initiative.

Yan Chunqing was arrogant, but he was frustrated in his life, so he didn't mind the matter, and muttered: "If this evidence is useless, the brother slave will not send a servant to the master, right?" ”

"The servant of the ministry, not the overseer of the imperial history." Xue Bai said: "Miao Jinqing is coming at me, and what Li Linfu wants is my statement." ”

These words were crazy, Yan Chunqing was stunned for a moment, but she didn't believe it. Since joining the government, he has only served as a magistrate, and he really doesn't know much about the struggle at this level of the court.

Xue Bai said: "Li Linfu dared to order someone to kill Zhao Fengzhang directly, this is the confidence." He didn't care about the evidence given by Wang Ji at all. Since it's useless, we might as well hand it over. ”

"But in this way, I missed a good opportunity to deal with the traitor." Yan Chunqing sighed.

When he said this, he didn't think that Xue Bai could have any words that would convince him to hand over the evidence left by Zhao Fengzhang.

Xue Bai was not in a hurry to persuade him, but pondered, and muttered at the end: "If you deal with the adulterous appearance, will Datang be better?" ”

"Nature is ......"

"Yan Gong thinks that who will be the prime minister in this court right now, and he can sweep away these malpractices?"

Yan Chunqing said: "It is precisely because the virtuous people have been eliminated by Li Linfu. ”

"But right now, get rid of Li Linfu according to Wang Jie's wishes, and it is Wang Jiao who worships the prime minister."

Yan Chunqing was speechless, but it was not because he was persuaded by Xue Bai, but because he suddenly felt confused in his heart, and began to think about some questions that he had never thought of.

Xue Bai said: "This matter has nothing to do with justice, it's just a struggle for power, we don't have to participate, hand over the evidence, and seize the time to govern the Yanshi." ”

Yan Chunqing was silent for a long time, and finally nodded and obeyed Xue Bai's arrangement.

In this regard, Xue Bai was quite relieved and quickly chatted with him about business.

"This year's year is not very good, and there may be some disasters after the autumn, but the grain in the Yicang in Yanshi County has already been stolen......

~~

The next day, Miao Jinqing looked through the books handed over by Yan Chunqing and understood Xue Bai's attitude.

He was still not satisfied, and asked, "Xue Lang thinks that the Yanshi several cases are related to the transfer envoy?" ”

This is still trying to give Wang Ji a charge of rebellion.

Xue Bai was never interested in this matter, and said: "I am a lowly official and have no understanding of this, but now that Xing Gong, the head of the household department, is in Luoyang, Miao Gong may go and ask him?" ”

Miao Jinqing saw that he began to play with these twists and turns, but said bluntly: "This time, what the old man wants is very simple, to find out the crime of Wang Ji to blame An Lushan." ”

Xue Bai said: "I remember that when Miao Gong named Zhang Zheng as the champion, it was An Lushan who reported to the sage that Zhang Zheng had no talent to learn, which caused Miao Gong to be demoted. ”

Miao Jinqing stroked his beard and said: "It can be seen that An Lushan is loyal and straightforward. How could they instruct the Gao brothers to behave mischief? ”

If a person has no personal morality, no matter how famous he is, he still has to be despised a little. Xue Bai looked at Miao Jinqing again, and his eyes were a little imperceptible with disdain.

"But the case has already been submitted to the Imperial Palace, and if it is to be changed, what I said doesn't count, and what Miao Gong said doesn't count."

"Right phase as long as the result."

"Then there has to be someone to testify and lead the case of the Gao brothers to Wang Jie." Xue Bai groaned and said slowly: "Henan Shaoyin Linghu Tao, should the weight be heavy enough?" ”

"Linghu Tao?"

Xue Bai said: "Ling Hu Tao has a brother named Ling Hu Chao, and his daughter eloped with Gao Shang, and Gao Shang secretly caused trouble in Henan Mansion through this relationship. ”

Miao Jinqing asked, "Why aren't these in the file?" ”

"The noble is the person of An Lushan, and the yamen dare not make a big fuss, so they will press down all the news, so as to make the big thing small."

This sentence made Miao Jinqing keenly aware that something was wrong.

Ling Hutao, as the young Yin of Henan, even if he is not a member of the right minister, at least he has to obey the official documents of the right minister, but he concealed this.

Xue Bai continued: "Miao Gong wants to put the evidence of the rebellion on Wang Jie's head, instead of letting me do it, it is better to ask Ling Hutao, his confession is very important. ”

"Confession?" Miao Jinqing said: "The dignified Shaoyin of Henan Mansion is not a prisoner, where did he come from? ”

Xue Bai didn't answer immediately, as if he was thinking.

Miao Jinqing gradually became impatient and said: "If you want Ling Hu Tao to come forward to testify against Wang Jie, it is equivalent to making him confess, how is it possible?" ”

Xue Bai said: "Yanshi County ordered Lu Linghao to resell the grain of the Yicang, and this matter was obviously known to Hu Tao, and even Ling Hu Tao also resold the Yicang in Luoyang Mansion. ”

"What do you mean?"

"If Miao Gong wants to force Ling Hutao, you can check the fact that the officials of Henan Prefecture resold the grain in Yicang......"

In Yanshi County, and even in the entire Henan Prefecture, the direction of things is gradually becoming strange.

Miao Jinqing was clearly here because of the power struggle, but for some reason, he came forward to help Xue Bai investigate the matter of the uprising.

~~

By June, Xue Bai was still in Yanshi County, patiently governing.

It has come to summer, the weather is gradually getting hotter, Henan Province is still raining little this year, although it is not a major drought, but it will obviously have a great impact on the harvest.

Repairing canals and digging wells, Xue Bai organized the power of a county as much as possible, so that the people could keep some more harvests.

In addition, he also took advantage of Miao Jinqing's prestige to investigate the resale of grain stored in Yicang, in order to prepare for the fact that in the event of a disaster year, there should be enough grain to help the people.

In Chang'an, the party struggle is still intensifying......

~~

Before the fourth watch, Yuan Zai opened his eyes and woke up.

He didn't sleep for two hours in total, but he didn't feel sleepy, so he tiptoed up and tried not to alarm Wang Yunxiu, who was still asleep.

I walked all the way to the study, where there were several books on the desk.

The roster was handed over to Yuan Zai by Wang Jie, and it recorded a list of henchmen of the right phase, including the family history, official positions, and more information of these people.

Of course, this roster is very important, because it can be used not only to dismantle the forces of the right, but also to win over talent.

Yuan Zai was already able to think that if Li Linfu was overthrown, he would assist Yang Yan as the prime minister, and at the same time take this opportunity to accumulate qualifications, sooner or later, he would also dominate the Tang Dynasty.

With this thought, his mind was inexplicably excited, and he was studying these things in his sleep.

was busy, the door of the house was pushed open, Wang Yunxiu came dressed and said, "You haven't slept well for several nights, why do you have to work so hard?" ”

"I have big ambitions, but I can't sleep."

Yuan Zai was full of ambition, although it was a sighing tone, but in fact it was with an enterprising spirit.

Wang Yunxiu didn't understand her husband's ambitions, and said: "Now that we have a luxury house, with your age, six official residences, multiple positions, and heavy power, why not be satisfied?" I'd rather not sleep at night than hurt myself. ”

"Sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat." Yuan Zai said, "The dispute between Li Linfu and Wang Ji cannot be avoided, so it is better to take this opportunity to make a fortune." ”

Wang Yunxiu still wanted to persuade him, but he added another sentence.

"You don't understand, you don't understand how far I can go."

The candles in the study were bright, Wang Yunxiu looked at Yuan Zai, and saw that his eyes were already red and bloodshot because of exhaustion, and his partial eyes were still full of excitement.

He has gone from a slight cold move to today, and all the experience has made him feel that life will get better and better, so this is his chance to change into a red robe.

……

In the morning, Yuan Zai tidied up his appearance and rushed to Yang Chen's mansion early.

At this time, the morning drum of Chang'an City was just sounding, and the officials waiting to be seen outside the gate of Yang's Mansion were already full, and they didn't know how they came, maybe they waited here all night during the curfew?

Wonjae didn't have to wait, and was taken straight to the council hall.

"Uncle Guo, I looked at the list overnight and thought that just a few more important ministers would be enough to bring down Li Linfu."

Yang Yan shook his hand and said, "Ah Bai's latest letter has arrived, saying that he shouldn't be in a hurry to get involved. ”

"The situation is out of control." Yuan Zai responded.

He thinks that whether it is mixed or not, it makes sense to consider it, and it is just a different choice. The only thing that should not be indecisive, and once you have made a choice, you should follow through to the end.

"Xue Lang's recommendation of Yan Chunqing was used by Wang Jie, implicated in the Zhao Fengzhang case, and many people have decided that we are allied with Wang Jiao and dealt with Li Linfu together. If you retreat at this time, where is the prestige of Uncle Guo? Who else is willing to serve Uncle Guo in the future? ”

"Xue Lang is not in Chang'an, and his grasp of the situation will inevitably be deviated. However, there are priorities, and the affairs of Yanshi County should not be compared with the major affairs of the uncle......"

Yuan Zai talked eloquently, and in the end, he persuaded Yang Yan to let him win over the officials on the roster.

In this way, in the name of the Yang Party, he visited the officials of the DPRK and China, promised the future, gave generous gifts, and his popularity soared within a few days.

He is finally able to represent the attitude of a part of the Yang Party.

~~

On June 18, Wang Yunxiu entertained her friends at home.

"I'm angry when I talk about this, I obviously haven't been to Luoyang, but because of this incident, many people are saying that I ran to have a tryst with him, and I ruined my reputation, how can I marry in the future?"

"Don't worry, with the Zhang family's family, the person who wants to marry you can be arranged to Luoyang from the elder."

"You see, even you said that they asked to marry me because of the Zhang family."

Wang Yunxiu realized that she had said the wrong thing.

She grew up in Biansai since she was a child, and her temperament is like that of a man. It's really not good at all kinds of careful thinking that women need to get along with.

"Zhang ......"

Wang Yunxiu was about to speak, when suddenly, there was a noise in the courtyard.

She was a little upset, and when she got up and looked out, she was surprised to see a group of officers striding in.

"Ordered to raid Wonjae's mansion!"

Suddenly shocked, Wang Yunxiu frowned, but she still maintained her composure, stepped forward, and shouted: "This is the judge of the salt and iron transfer envoy......"

"It's Yuan Zai who is confiscated, take her back for questioning!"

"Who dares to touch me?!"

Although Wang Yunxiu is a woman, she is quite strong, and she shows the demeanor of Wang Zhonghe's daughter, so drunk that those officials dare not come forward.

However, after asking what happened, she realized that the imperial court came to check Yuanzai this time, and it really didn't wronged him.

only said that the mansion where they live now is indeed a gift from Yang Chen; In recent days, Won Jae has continued to make friends with officials in the DPRK and China, giving generous gifts, and some of them have been prosecuted.

The evidence is conclusive, if an official from a poor background acts like this, if he says that he has not taken ill-gotten gains, who can believe it?

But in fact, Wang Yunxiu had a premonition about this result, Yuan Zai was too smart, so smart that he thought that everything was in his own hands.

The more this happens, the easier it is to fall into trouble......

~~

When the news reached Yanshi, it was already July, and Xue Bai was worried about the farmers' harvest, so he often took Yan Chunqing to the fields with him.

He was much tanned.

It's not in Chang'an, when you always need to cling to nepotism, it doesn't matter if you're darker.

"Shaofu, the news of Chang'an has arrived."

"Say."

"Yuan Zai has been demoted to Qianzhong."

Xue Bai had no sympathy for this, and said, "He deserves a lesson." ”

In fact, in this way, the reputation of the Yang Party, which had been rising constantly, was also frustrated, but Xue Bai thought that it didn't matter, when Li Linfu and Wang Jiao fought more fiercely, they would naturally give more good conditions.

"Shaofu, what Mrs. Qiu Guo and Uncle Guo mean, I still hope that you can return to Chang'an as soon as possible, the position of the county lieutenant of Wannian is still retained, and now Uncle Guo has no strategists who can make decisions for him......"

Xue Bai looked at the field again.

Compared to before, if he left now, he would be much more relieved. But autumn had not yet arrived, and he was most worried about the part of taxation, and he was uneasy if he did not make a charter......

~~

Yang Zhen has been even more uneasy recently.

Yuan Zai's derogation made him feel Li Linfu's strength.

I have to say that Wang Ji is still not as good as Li Linfu, at least in the initial confrontation, all kinds of means were fiercely counterattacked by Li Linfu.

After this incident, Yang Yan fully understood Xue Bai's plan, and decided to start Taoguang for a period of time, waiting for the opportunity.

He was too excited a while ago because of Yuan Zai's instigation, and once he relaxed at this time, he suddenly felt tired.

Originally, he didn't plan to see any officials on this day, but Yang Guozhong came, still with a questioning tone.

In other words, as soon as he came, he suppressed Yang Chen's momentum with the attitude of rejuvenating the teacher and asking for guilt.

"Brother, can you tell me why Wonjae behaves like this?!"

"What else is there to say about this?" Yang Yan said: "People have already been degraded. ”

"Yuan Zai was greedy and fell for Wang Jie's tricks." Yang Guozhong said: "But why didn't Brother tell me earlier?" ”

This matter is indeed Yang Chen's loss.

Although Yang Guozhong's status is inferior to him, he is now one of the most favored officials for the saint, and he is also the core cadre of the Yang Party today.

Yuan Zai did have the intention of suppressing Yang Guozhong, and Yang Yun also understood that the reason why he still promised Yuan Zai and didn't tell Yang Guozhong was to balance the people under him.

"Alright, it's over."

"Brother said it lightly, but I don't know how many big things we have missed! I have to try my best to redeem it. ”

Yang Guozhong grinned, obviously much more arrogant in front of his brother than before.

As he spoke, he changed his words and said: "The right minister invited me to discuss matters today, and he promised me the post of Shaoqing of Taifu, so that I can run Taifu in a proper name." ”

"What do you mean?"

"I probably understand Xue Bai's plan. It's nothing more than to wait and see what happens, and now that the time has come, I have been awarded the official position, and I can help the right minister get rid of Wang Jie, so that I can make up for the losses caused by Yuan Zai. ”

"No!"

No matter how smart Yang Qian is, he completely understands that Yang Guozhong's so-called benefits are the benefits of him alone, he got the position of a Taifu Shaoqing, but what about the rest of the Yang Party? Or how the situation has improved.

"The time has not yet come, we will continue to watch from the sidelines, and we can no longer easily give a position."

"Brother, what do you mean?!" Yang Guozhong said, "Yuan Zai wants to help Wang Ji deal with the right minister, but he still uses shady means. On the contrary, it is my turn, but my brother wants to block my future?! ”

"Ahem, ahem." Yang Yun coughed angrily, and finally said: "It's different, he is a weak ......."

Yang Guozhong was bound to win, but he didn't come to discuss with Yang Chen, and said: "I came today to inform my brother that I have decided to accept the official position given by the right minister." ”

With that, he threw his hand away.

"You ......"

Seeing this situation, Yang Qian was furious, and he was angry and scolded Yang Guozhong for being short-sighted and greedy, but he couldn't stop coughing at the beginning.

It took a long time for him to take off the handkerchief that was covering his mouth, and slowly opened it with a trembling hand to take a look.

There was a pool of blood in the veil.

Looking at it, Yang Chen's old eyes gradually became chaotic, and then he showed unwillingness.

He sighed, beckoned his henchmen and ordered: "Go to Yanshi again and tell Xue Bai that it is time to go back to Chang'an no matter what......"

(End of chapter)