Fang Jie stretched his waist, and didn't seem very worried. So Chen Xiaoru's heart also calmed down a little, he was really afraid of seeing Fang Jie helpless. As long as the backbone remains so indifferent, Chen Xiaoru knows that there is hope for this invisible war.
When he recently noticed that Dugu Wenxiu and Cui Zhongzhen, who seemed particularly at odds on the surface, were faintly showing signs of coming together, he was extremely shocked and terrified in his heart. Because this is far beyond his ability to control, he knows that it is impossible for him to stabilize this situation.
Even so, Fang Jie gave him a lot of power.
He hoped that Fang Jie would come back soon, because every day he was aware that the crisis in Chang'an City was approaching the brink of eruption step by step.
If Fang Jie never came back, he was afraid that he would not be able to bear the pressure in his heart.
"During these days, Xiaoqi School has been investigating a few things."
Chen Xiaoru took a deep breath to calm down his mood gradually.
"First, it's the matter of Dugu Wenxiu and Cui Zhongzhen. If the two of them were at odds before, and now there are signs of walking together, it was all intentional... I have the responsibility to remind the lord that there may be something behind these two people. A plot against you."
Chen Xiaoru said solemnly: "Secondly, where are the sources of the rumors in the city? His subordinates have been secretly sending people to investigate. But apparently it started to spread from the low-level people, and the people involved are too wide to find out where the source is. Where. But recently, the subordinates secretly sent people to start checking restaurants, gambling houses, brothels and other places."
"Thirdly, the Xiaoqi school started self-examination, because the minister was in the dark, and most people in the Xiaoqi school didn't know that the minister was watching them. So some people began to behave unreasonably, although these people's status is not high , but the position is sensitive."
Chen Xiaoru said: "I suspect that those people's means are to start controlling the middle and lower classes but have real power in their hands."
"It's always been the most efficient path."
Wu Yidao was silent for a while and said: "This is why these people are so powerful... For example, in the former dynasty of Dazheng, the royal family sat on the highest seat from fighting for the world to winning the world. But the highest , does not mean the most effective. The emperor seems to control the overall situation, but the most effective control is actually only the courtiers in the court, and even the local officials cannot be controlled. "
"As for these people, they did not take the path at the highest point, but another path. After hundreds or even thousands of years of precipitation, they held huge wealth and strength in their hands. Then they began to infiltrate, Gradually control those who are not of high status but have real power. For example, if you want to control a county magistrate, you may spend 10,000 taels of silver to bribe him. But if the headhunter is theirs, this money does not need to be spent at all. The county magistrate ordered To do certain things is conveyed by the headhunters. The real manpower is in the hands of the headhunters.”
Wu Yidao continued: "For another example, the Minister of the Household Department's understanding of the Ministry of Households is definitely not as good as that of a small official who is in charge of policies. You can ask the Minister of the Household Department how much money the treasury has to spend. He can't answer the specific figure. I have to go back and ask. But if you ask this little official, he knows everything. Another simple and vulgar example... You want to secretly date a girl in a brothel. It is obviously too difficult to bribe the mother of the brothel, but it is too difficult to bribe a turtle... Very simple."
Fang Jie nodded, he knew that Wu Yidao's analysis was correct.
But obviously, Chen Xiaoru did not think of this level. He just noticed these signs, but didn't think about it at a deeper level.
"So, this time our opponent is terrible."
Fang Jie was still smiling, as if he was trying to calm Chen Xiaoru down.
"It seems difficult to control a royal family, but Tonggu Academy has done it. Before, we know that Tonggu Academy has been trying to control the world by controlling the royal family, but the opponents they are facing now are taking a more thorough route. Road. They do not control the royal family, but a large number of middle- and lower-level officials. So relatively speaking... Tonggu Academy is inferior to these people."
Wu Yidao asked Fang Jie: "Didn't Sang Luan establish Tonggu Academy? If Tonggu Academy didn't notice the existence of these people before, it's obviously impossible. Why didn't these people just be wiped out with Sang Luan's cultivation base?" Lose?"
Fang Jie shook his head: "I don't know Sang Luan, and I can't fathom his thoughts. The purpose of his establishment of Tonggu Academy is to test whether the direction of a country's development will be changed by manpower, but later he obviously has a deep understanding of Tonggu Academy. The academy has lost interest, otherwise Yang Jian would not have sat and watched Tonggu Academy destroyed."
"The current opponents must be equally afraid of Sang Luan, that's why Tonggu Academy was established. If it weren't for the existence of such a powerful person as Sang Luan, these people might have wiped out Tonggu Academy long ago. Just like Yanwuyuan, they all know that Yanwuyuan was actually established by the royal family of the Sui Dynasty. If they want to get rid of the general, they have to choose the path from the aristocratic family, and they want to select talents from the poor. If there is not such a powerful person as Wan Xingchen Sitting in the town, then the Martial Arts Institute will not be able to continue at all."
"That is to say..."
Wu Yidao thought for a while and said: "These people don't have the strength to fight directly with Sang Luan and Wan Xingchen. Therefore, they choose to endure and deceive at a certain time."
"They can't beat Wan Xingchen, they can't beat Sang Luan."
Chen Xiaoru suddenly thought: "Then they might use Wan Xingchen and Sang Luan?"
…
…
"That's right!"
Wu Yidao's thinking gradually became clear: "They are afraid of Sang Luan, that's why they watched the rise of Tonggu Academy and were powerless, so that they had to hide their strength deeper. But their control power is indeed strong, and then they discovered The people in the Tonggu Academy are completely incompatible. So they can rest assured that while continuing to control the middle and lower officials, they began to install their people in the Tonggu Academy."
"As for Sang Luan, he had no interest in Tonggu Academy at all in the end."
Wu Yidao, like Fang Xie, knows Sang Luan better than Chen Xiaoru. After all, Huo Tong Tian Xing and Sang Luan were inseparable from a very long time ago. If it weren't for the strong support of Tonggu Academy, Huotong Tianxia might not be able to become the largest trading firm in the world in just 20 years.
Big enough to affect the pattern.
Chen Xiaoru's mood improved a bit, because he found that these hidden enemies were not so powerful that they could not be defeated. In a sense, they are far inferior to Sang Luan. Even, far inferior to Wan Xingchen.
"Next, how to deal with it?"
he asks.
After Fang Jie came back, Chen Xiaoru felt that the pressure was relieved too much. Even if the situation is still so unclear, even up to now it is still unclear who the enemy is. But when the backbone came back, he felt that nothing was invincible.
"You decide for yourself."
Fang Jie smiled and said, "You should continue to check what you should check. If I change your thinking, those people will also be able to notice your change."
Chen Xiaoru nodded.
It seems, a little passive.
"The situation has actually changed."
Fang Jie said: "Now, they don't know what I want to do."
After finishing this sentence, Fang Jie suddenly said another thing: "You go and make arrangements. I heard that Cui Zhongzhen's father is here. I'm going to visit his home. When I left Fan Gu, I happened to meet Cui Zhongzhen and had a relationship with his father. We met once. Back then, his father sent some people to protect him along the road and gave me a good horse."
Chen Xiaoru responded.
"The minister will arrange it now."
Fang Jie got up and stretched his body: "By the way, let's arrange again. After leaving Cui Zhongzhen's house, I will go directly to Dugu's house. Dugu's mother is a sensible person, and I also want to visit her."
"Here."
Chen Xiaoru was a little confused, not knowing what Fang Jie was planning to do.
…
…
Cui Fu
Cui You's face was a little gloomy, he looked at his son, this son who he didn't think would be able to become a weapon all the time but is now very important. He used to think that the Cui family's status would come to an end with Cui Zhongzhen's generation. Because of Cui Zhongzhen's incompetence, he could not give him the huge benefits that he secretly controlled. Because once it was handed over to him, his end would be death.
Those people, it is impossible not to make a move.
If everything in the Cui family is handed over to Cui Zhongzhen, it is tantamount to putting a gold ingot in the hands of a three-year-old child, and this child has to survive in a place controlled by gangsters. This is impossible... Even if the child is just staggering down the street holding the gold ingot, it is impossible for him to be safe.
But now, he had to place all his bets on his son.
"Did you reveal any flaws?"
he asks.
Cui Zhongzhen thought about it carefully, then shook his head: "Don't worry, father, I didn't say anything about sending people to infiltrate Gyeonggi Province in the East Nuan Pavilion of Taiji Hall. It was Dugu Wenxiu who raised his head. I didn't interrupt, nor did I What did you say? As for why Fang Xie objected to me sending someone to assist Dugu Wenxiu, his explanation seems to make sense."
"not that simple!"
Cui You waved his hand impatiently.
He was really annoyed by his son's naivety.
Cui Zhongzhen is now completely capable of being on his own, but in his opinion, Cui Zhongzhen is still that incompetent son. Or maybe, he gave too much hope. Now that Cui Zhongzhen has matured, his previous disappointment has turned into greater hope, so it is inevitable that his requirements will be higher.
"Fang Jie is not a person who does things casually. Since he wants to do this, he must have some purpose. Even if he is not targeting you or us, he must be guarding against something."
"what to do?"
Cui Zhongzhen asked.
"Nothing to do."
Cui Youdao: "You still do what you should do. The success or failure of this matter is not on you. You are just the one who stands up at the most critical moment. So you don't need to go too deep into anything. Let Fang Xie even If you notice something, you won’t suspect it. So all you have to do is do nothing, wait for us, wait for us to pave the way for you... "
"The child understands."
Cui Zhongzhen nodded.
When he lowered his head, there was some sadness in his eyes.
Because he knew that his father still had no love for him. This arrangement was indeed to keep him from being hurt, but the premise was...for the family, not because he was Cui You's son.
At this moment, the footsteps of the housekeeper outside hurried over.
"master!"
The housekeeper said outside: "Xiao Qi School sent someone to deliver a letter before, saying that the prince knows that you have come to the capital and wants to come to visit!"
Cui You was taken aback, suddenly felt a sense of uneasiness in his heart.