Fang Jie would never have imagined that he was unknowingly involved in a bloody storm that swept across the Sui court, even though he was just a small figure at the very edge of this storm. Of course, even His Majesty the Sui Emperor, who was in charge of this storm, didn't care about Fang Xie, an inconspicuous frontier pawn.
This storm launched in advance by the emperor in order to expand his territory was to raise his prestige to the highest level, let the courtiers put away all the awe they should have for the emperor, and also let the courtiers know that when the emperor decided to go all out. When something happens, no one can stop it. Since it cannot be stopped, the courtiers can only do their best to assist the emperor in this matter.
Therefore, the death of the minister of the Ministry of War, Hou Junci, was just the beginning, the beginning of the emperor's prestige.
If the emperor does not act first, once he announces his decision to use troops in the northwest, there must be many supporters, but there is no doubt that there must be many people in the court who dare to stand up against them. It was an extremely long process for those grown-ups to go back and forth, and the emperor was not in the mood, nor interested, nor had the time to watch their gradual transformation from theory to mutual slander and abuse.
Kill a few people, especially those who are not light. In this way, the mouths of the courtiers will be kept shut.
It had been several years since he had killed an official, and the emperor might feel that his majesty was gradually decreasing. And once the war starts, what he needs is a Tai Sui who works together, and what he needs is a Tai Sui with him as the center and everyone working hard for this war.
After Huai Qiugong got off Yu Donglai's carriage, Yu Donglai suddenly realized what he should do. It was also at this time that he understood what the true meaning of His Majesty the Emperor asked him to reflect on at home for a day. If Huai Qiugong hadn't reminded him, he wouldn't have understood what the emperor asked him to reflect on. He just thought that His Majesty really just asked him to reflect behind closed doors.
What I reflect on is the list of people who should lose their heads.
The weight of this list can't be too heavy or too light, so he really needs to think carefully about it. And at the moment when he got off the carriage, he also understood that although this incident did some damage to him, the benefits he got would definitely far outweigh the damage. So after seeing off Huai Qiugong, Yu Donglai had a smile on his lips.
His Majesty wants to use the Ministry of War to operate, and he will draw up the list.
Those who are going to die are all those who disagree with the emperor's idea of the Western Expedition. And Yu Donglai, who is the minister of the Ministry of War... no, now he is the Minister of the Ministry of War, he will naturally stand firmly on the emperor's side, so the people who will be added to the Ministry of War must also be those who support His Majesty's Western Expedition. For the vacant position, he can arrange his own people.
Hou Junci and him have always been at odds with each other. His Majesty didn't want the officials of any ministry to be too united, so he was happy to see him and Hou Junci intriguing. One Minister and one Minister, the more fierce the fight, the happier Your Majesty will be. But it is different now, what His Majesty wants is a military department that must be united, or even the entire imperial court that must be united. And with this opportunity, he can firmly hold the Ministry of War in his own hands, so compared to what he lost, he gained much more.
When Yu Donglai returned to his home, he asked people to close all the doors of the house, so that no guests could be seen, no matter who they were. The lights in Yu Donglai's study room were on all night, and the door of the study room was not opened until the evening of the next day. Yu Donglai with red eyes looked as tired as if he had just run fifty miles, but his expression was There was an incomprehensible ease.
After leaving the study, Yu Donglai went back to the bedroom without even washing and eating, and fell asleep until the next morning. After waking up, Yu Donglai didn't wear the official uniform of Minister of the Ministry of War, but went straight to the palace in ordinary clothes. He was holding a small box in his hand, which contained a memorial.
Ouchi Guard Office.
Luo Weiran, the head of the Ouchi Guard Office, slowly picked up the cup, blew on the tea leaves floating in the cup and slowly took a sip. This tea was given to him by Wu Yiyi, the richest man in the Sui Dynasty. A catty of this kind of tea can be exchanged for a not too small house in the imperial capital.
Hou Wenji, the governor of Qingya, pushed the door and walked in, couldn't help but sniffled and praised the fragrance.
Luo Weiran smiled, poured a cup of tea for Hou Wenji with his own hands, and said with a smile: "The haze on your brow two days ago finally disappeared, and today I saw a smile on the corner of your mouth... Why, I saw you yesterday Your majesty, everything is done?"
Hou Wenji sat down, picked up the teacup and put it under his nose to smell it. He didn't rush to answer Luo Weiran's question, but couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "I'm afraid my one-year salary would be worth more than a catty of tea." can not afford."
Luo Weiran smiled and said: "You look down on this tea too much, anyway, I can't afford it with my two-year salary."
"This is the most authentic single-branched red robe. In addition to offering it to His Majesty, the circulation in the world does not exceed five catties. There are so many rich people in the Sui Dynasty that there are as many people who can afford this top-quality big red robe. It’s not that whoever wants to buy it can buy it, it depends on whether they have the face.”
Hou Wenji nodded and said, "No official dares to buy such an expensive thing. As long as someone buys it... the censors of the Overwatch Council will have work to do."
Luo Weiran laughed out loud.
After taking a sip of tea, Hou Wen slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and waved his hand to signal the guard standing at the door to close the door. He put down his teacup, glanced at Luo Weiran and said, "You still see this matter thoroughly. If you hadn't given me this idea, I really don't know how to pass this level."
Luo Weiran shook his head and said: "Even if I don't help you come up with a lie, His Majesty will still let you pass this level. Why haven't you figured it out yet, what His Majesty wants is not to be ugly... No matter what the lie is Said, Your Majesty will direct his anger to the Ministry of War."
He glanced at Hou Wenji and said with a smile: "Do you think that His Majesty is really kept in the dark? You have been the envoy of Qingya Township for too long...so long that you even think that Qingya is you Yes. But you forgot that the love office has always belonged to His Majesty... If His Majesty wants to know something, is there anyone in the Sui Dynasty who can hide it?"
Hou Wenji was startled, his face changed and he had to nod his head: "It's me who is really too presumptuous."
Luo Weiran smiled and said: "It's okay, you have already given what your majesty asked... Speaking of which, your majesty's move was too beautiful. It was so beautiful that everyone was caught off guard, not just the Ministry of War and us."
"Who else?"
Hou Wenji asked.
Luo Weiran gave him a blank look and said, "Why pretend to be stupid? A person like you can't pretend to be like that!"
"I just don't know who you're referring to in particular."
"Who else is it? The Northwest War... Who will be involved first?"
"Li Yuanshan?"
"Yes... Your Majesty must rely heavily on Li Yuanshan to use troops in the northwest. You Xiaowei has been stationed in the northwest border for many years. It is the vanguard of clearing away obstacles for the army."
After listening to Luo Weiran's words, Hou Wenji was silent for a while. He frowned and thought for a while, then he suddenly came to his senses, and he slapped his forehead suddenly and said, "I just knew that Your Majesty's chess move is so beautiful that people dare not not admire it." ! Three birds with one stone!"
…
…
Hou Wenji pondered for a while and said: "First, make a big fuss about Fan Gu this time, let the generals and civil officials in the army be quiet, kill a few people, suppress a few people, even if the officials in the court are self-righteous Do you still dare to disobey His Majesty's will at this moment? Unless you don't want to live, or you just want to take off your official skin and go to plow the fields."
"Second, kill all the guys in the Ministry of War who happen to be in charge of military affairs but who are not of one mind with His Majesty. In this way, the people in the Ministry of War must be cautious and do their best, lest they do something wrong and follow in the footsteps of the emperor. Once it starts, logistical supply is the most important thing, and the dispatching of the military department is very important. At this time, His Majesty's clean-up of the military department will definitely benefit the war without any harm."
"Thirdly, since Your Majesty wants to use troops to the northwest, he must use Li Yuanshan's Youhouwei... With Li Yuanshan's ability and Youhouwei's 50,000 elite soldiers, I am afraid that after the battle, the military achievements will be superimposed one after another. On him. In order to show the might of the Great Sui Dynasty and boost morale, Your Majesty's rewards for meritorious officers and soldiers will definitely not be shabby... But Li Yuanshan is already the Duke of the State, a general of the third rank, and then rewarded... what else can he be rewarded? Is it possible? Want to be crowned king? Promoted to the second-rank general of the town army?"
Luo Weiran shook his head: "Emperor Taizu said that there must be no king with a different surname in the Sui Dynasty. Even the royal family members are not allowed to be kings except the emperor's brothers and heirs. Even if Li Yuanshan relies on his 50,000 or so Hou Wei just flattened Meng Yuan and captured Great Khan Mengge alive, so don’t expect to be crowned king.”
Hou Wenji said with a smile: "So, your majesty must first suppress Li Yuanshan before mobilizing troops. Suppress his officials and titles, so that once the war starts, Li Yuanshan has made great achievements, and your majesty only needs to reinstate him as an official and reward him with some rewards." Land, gold and silver are enough... This is the beauty of His Majesty's chess game, the more you think about it, the more incredible it becomes."
He sighed: "Three birds with one stone... Wonderful!"
Luo Weiran shook his head and said: "Where is one stone and three birds... I don't know how many birds will be killed if this stone goes down."
He snapped his fingers and said, "In addition to the three things you mentioned, there are many people and things that have been calculated by His Majesty's move. For example, Your Majesty wants to show his prestige and let everyone I dare not disrespect the imperial power in the slightest. In this way, His Majesty will not obstruct the command of the Western Expedition. For example, to double the salary of the frontier army, no matter whether this matter is implemented or not, once the news is released, the frontier army The soldiers must be grateful to His Majesty. Once the battle starts, who will not fight the enemy bravely?"
"Another example… "
Luo Weiran looked at Hou Wenji and said word by word: "Knock and beat you, the governor of Qingya, your Majesty may still want to tell you... Qingya, from beginning to end, is His Majesty's Qingya, and it is entrusted to you to take care of it." ... instead of giving you the reward of love, it becomes yours."
Hou Wenji nodded, took a sip of the already cold tea and said softly: "Should I distribute some more rights? Seven years ago, I took Mr. Zhuo out of the prison and brought him into the courtroom. With him in these seven years, His Majesty has no doubts about me... But at this juncture, it seems that I should distribute some more."
Luo Weiran shook his head: "Score? If you really dare to bring it up now, His Majesty will immediately call you an idiot! At this time, His Majesty beat you not because he doubts you, but because His Majesty still trusts you... Otherwise, you think His Majesty just punished you with three years of salary What's the matter? Even the first-rank officials of the imperial court dare not treat you like an envoy, but His Majesty only needs one word to kill you."
Hou Wenji, instead of being panicked, smiled and said, "I know."
Luo Weiran said: "I know I'm still pretending."
Hou Wenji laughed and said: "If I don't confirm it from you, I will not be at ease. I think so, and you think so too...then there are nine out of ten that His Majesty thinks so."
Luo Weiran glared at him and cursed: "Old fox!"
Hou Wenji stood up, tidied his clothes, and prepared to leave: "I'm not an old fox... Even if I were, I'm still a very energetic fox, in the prime of life."
Luo Weiran scolded with a smile: "Fuck you, you have always been flamboyant and flamboyant."
While the two big men were chatting, the little man Fang Jie finally entered Gyeonggi-do after a three-month journey. Although it will take a while to walk, but once you enter Gyeonggi-do, you will be close to the heart of Tai Sui. Fang Jie, who was riding on a red horse, looked ahead and narrowed his eyes slightly and listened attentively. The big dog asked him what he was listening to in confusion.
Fang Jie smiled and said, "Try to see if you can hear Da Sui's heartbeat."