From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 229

On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little New Year had just passed.

The heavy snow that had been intermittent for several nights finally stopped, and the sun was shining brightly, as if an auspicious new year was about to come.

At this moment, in the Xu Mansion, Xu Shigong, the Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, was holding a teacup with a heavy face.

Zeng Cheng, the Inspector of the Right Inspector of the Censorate and Grand Secretary of Wenhua Pavilion, also frowned and whispered: "Since the incident of Princess Qinshui, the capital has been in a state of panic these days. I gradually realized that something was wrong."

Wu Qingrong said: "That's right. The key is what's going on in the Fifth Army Camp. The money transferred there is like a drop in the ocean, and the soldiers can't see it!"

"What is that damn Wu'an Marquis Wei Wei doing? It's okay to eat empty salaries, but he also withholds real salaries. Now the Fifth Army Camp is in trouble. I'm afraid there are signs of mutiny!"

Xu Shigong said in a deep voice: "I After asking Wei Wei, he was vague and said that he could find out before the New Year. Now it seems that he is hiding something. "

"Songhe, what do you think?"

Zeng Cheng waved his hand and said, "If there is something, we are powerless now. If there is nothing, we can't settle this account before the New Year. We can only settle it after the New Year."

"But the current sage king doesn't attach so much importance to the so-called sacrifice to heaven and ancestors. In previous years, there was no big ceremony. This year, the Ministry of Rites has to prepare solemnly, and all the ministers have to watch the ceremony. It is really unusual."

Wu Qingrong said, "Could it be that Prince Fu is secretly..."

"Shut up!"

Xu Shi Gong immediately changed color and said: "Don't talk nonsense. This matter is the foundation of the country and the stability of the country. We can't speculate at will."

"The king is the tile, the minister is the beam, and the people are the people. No matter whether it is gold or silver tiles, the beam is always there and cannot be missing. Otherwise, the house will collapse and the people will be exposed to the wind and rain."

"We don't have any big worries. We just need to do our duty well."

Zeng Cheng couldn't help but say: "Shao Zhan, this is not right! As a minister, loyalty to the king is our duty. At the critical moment, we still have to be loyal to the holy king."

Xu Shigong took a sip of tea and said lightly: "Song He thinks that Prince Fu is no longer a saintly ruler? To be honest, Prince Fu has been in charge of the Imperial Clan Court for many years, and he has done a great job. The construction of the imperial mausoleum is also remarkable, without any mistakes..."

Zeng Cheng said in a deep voice: "How can this small matter be compared with the great Jin Dynasty? Although your majesty is a woman, she has worked hard to govern the country, is diligent in government affairs, does not think about extravagance and enjoyment, and is dedicated to the country and the people... Shaozhan, it has been nine years, hasn't your majesty proved her ability yet!"

Wu Qingrong lowered his head and did not dare to speak. It would be better to let the elders talk about this matter. After all, his position is too low.

Xu Shigong said: "At least the situation in Dajin is getting more serious. Changing someone may increase cohesion."

"Nonsense!"

Zeng Cheng said loudly: "If changing someone can make a difference in the world, then they would not have been defeated by Your Majesty. Each of them is afraid of taking responsibility, afraid of being infamous, and afraid of being the king of a fallen country. Otherwise, Your Majesty might not have the opportunity to ascend the throne."

"After serving as an official for decades, I have also seen that the courage and boldness of those princes are not as good as Your Majesty when tied together!"

Xu Shigong frowned and said: "Songhe, calm down , don't say anything wrong."

"We can't decide on this matter, let's talk about it later."

Zeng Cheng said: "Shao Zhan, you have to promise me that you will stand on the side of His Majesty first. What Lin'an Qiaoshan said is really inspiring! After all, we are disciples of saints and Confucian scholars in the world. We should establish our hearts for heaven and earth and our lives for the people!"

"You also know that Prince Fu is capable, but also cold and cruel."

"Enough!"

Xu Shigong immediately shouted: "Drink tea, what about family and national affairs!"

...

In a private house in the southern city of Shenjing, the food is fragrant.

Deng Bochi, the Left Inspector of the Inspectorate and the Grand Secretary of the Dongji Palace, put the dish into the other's bowl and chuckled, "Mingyi, we haven't seen each other for ten years. At the beginning, you kept issuing orders and brazenly sent troops to support Datong, and finally ended up with a guilty conscience. Now you have finally survived."

Qu Shaogeng was also full of emotion and nodded, "It's been eleven years, uncle, I still think I did nothing wrong, I just did what the generals of the Great Jin Dynasty did."

Deng Bochi smiled and said, "What is the right thing to do!"

Qu Shaogeng said, "Guarding Rivers and mountains, protect the people, Bei Meng is reckless, attacking Datong, plundering the silver and grain of Dajin, and slaughtering the people of Dajin. How can I sit back and do nothing! "

Deng Bochi sighed and said, "This is the way of a general, not the way of an official!"

"The way of a general is to protect the country, and the way of an official is to please the emperor."

"What you did made the late emperor unhappy, so the late emperor naturally had to punish you, but you did defend the country, so the late emperor could not punish you severely, otherwise, at least you would have to chop off your head."

Qu Shaogeng gritted his teeth and said: "I don't understand these words."

Deng Bochi said: "It's very simple. The emperor is also a human being. He also has joys and sorrows. He can make mistakes and be careless."

"The late emperor asked you to keep your troops in place, but you did. Even if you made the right judgment based on the war, you must be punished, because if you are not punished, it means that the late emperor was wrong."

"As an emperor, you can have anything, but you can't make mistakes."

"When you comprehend these, you will understand the way of being a minister."

Qu Shaogeng was silent and wanted to say something fierce, but after all, he was in front of his elders, so he held back.

But Deng Bochi saw everything. He patted Qu Shaogeng on the shoulder and said, "I don't want you to understand me. It's better for military generals to be pure, otherwise the Great Jin will be finished."

"At the same time, the current emperor is indeed different from the previous emperor. Your Majesty is more pragmatic, more sharp and rational, and is a rare wise emperor."

"Otherwise, how would you have the opportunity to go to Zhejiang to pick up a bargain and restore Tianjin."

Qu Shaogeng said, "Uncle, I found a problem when I came here this time."

"Regarding the garrison in Xuanfu, it is shrinking recently, and a large amount of grain is purchased. It seems that..."

Deng Bochi waved his hand and said, "Mingyi, we haven't gathered for a long time, what official business are we talking about."

"Besides, Xuanfu is not under your jurisdiction. You are the governor of Tianjin, so you should guard your own gate. Shenzhou is the capital. If it is lost, Jinmen will be the last barrier. "

Qu Shaogeng said anxiously: "That's not what I meant, uncle. I'm worried that something will happen in Shenjing. Recently, things are not right in Jingying and Xuanfu..."

Deng Bochi interrupted: "Mingyi! You are a military general! Civil officials can get involved in these things, but military generals can't. Do you understand? Go back to Jinmen after dinner. You think your whereabouts are secret enough, but you don't know that Shenjing is full of eyes, and you have been stared at to death."

Qu Shaogeng stood up, his eyes burning, and said in a deep voice: "Uncle, you also know that my name is Mingyi. Mingyi knows the righteousness of the family and the country. How can I not report it and conceal it from the king!"

"Whether it is a thousand cuts or a sea of ​​fire, this palace, I Qu Shaogeng will go!"

He threw down his chopsticks and walked out of the house directly.

Deng Bochi frowned, then suddenly laughed and shook his head, saying, "He is so strong, no wonder he can resist the Northern Mongols."

Qu Shaogeng did not drink, he had quit drinking for many years.

He was sure that he was sober, so he came to see the cabinet vice minister, but he was very disappointed. The other party seemed to have long forgotten the righteousness of the country and family, and only had the way of being an official.

However, before Qu Shaogeng walked to the palace, several boudoir girls who were playing on the street came over with a smile.

When one of the girls passed by Qu Shaogeng, she said in a low voice, "The female guard of the inner court conveyed the emperor's oral order, ordering you to return to Tianjin immediately to prevent the Eastern Tartars from mobilizing troops, and not to ask about the affairs of the capital."

While speaking, she had taken out the waist badge from her sleeve, showed it to Qu Shaogeng, and suddenly put it back.

This set of movements was so smooth and secretive that Qu Shaogeng was stunned.

He stood on the street, looking at the night scene of the capital with singing and dancing, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.