When he arrived at the martial arts arena, Duke Hua seemed to have finished practicing martial arts and was wiping the weapons with a handkerchief.
He should have heard footsteps, so he turned his head. Seeing Yun Shang, Fang hurriedly put down the big knife and handkerchief in his hand, and took two steps forward to salute.
Yun Chang quickly reached out to support her: "Grandpa, don't be too polite. At home, these vain etiquettes can be avoided. I came here today because I have something to ask my grandfather."
Hua Guogong did not refuse, but said in a deep voice: "This place is very chaotic, let's go, let's talk in the courtyard."
After entering the courtyard, Duke Hua asked someone to pour two cups of tea before he raised his head and looked at Yunshang: "Have all the affairs in the court been dealt with?"
Yun Chang shook her head and lowered her eyes slightly: "There are so many vacancies in the court, and it is not easy to deal with, and after all, it is a major matter related to the country and society, so I can't be impatient, so I can only take it step by step. "
"That's right, I really can't be in a hurry." Hua Guogong took a big sip of tea: "You just said you came to me with something, why?"
Yun Shang briefly talked about the matter with Hua Guogong, and Fang asked: "Then Cao Zhan, is your grandfather familiar?"
"I have been in the court with Cao Zhan for more than 20 years, and I probably still understand the situation. It's just that he and I are a civil servant and a military commander. We don't communicate too much on weekdays, and we don't understand deeply."
"I only know that Cao Zhan was the magistrate of Cangzhou before. He has achieved excellent political performance for three consecutive years and is well-known among the people. Therefore, His Majesty promoted him to Taichangqing and took office in Jincheng. At that time, Cao Zhan moved his family to Jincheng. When I was in the city, because there were too many things brought in, hundreds of horse-drawn carts were used to load them, which attracted countless people from Jincheng to watch."
"Because of this, some people suspected that Cao Zhan was greedy for money during his tenure as the magistrate of Cangzhou, and that's why he was so rich. They even wrote a letter to His Majesty to investigate carefully. His Majesty did indeed send someone to investigate, and it was found that Cao Zhan was in Cao Zhan's place. The family in Cangzhou is a century-old family with a wealth of wealth. In addition, his younger brother is a good businessman. His business names are spread all over the Xia Kingdom, and he has accumulated a lot of wealth. On the contrary, Cao Zhan often helps the poor people in Cangzhou out of his own pocket. Everyone knows that. After the investigation results came out, His Majesty praised Cao Zhan in the early court."
"During his tenure as Taichangqing, Cao Zhan was conscientious and conscientious, and handled his duties properly. Although I am a general, I have heard many people praise him. Cao Zhan is careful and diligent in his work, and he has a rich family background. , the family members are generous, good at communication, and will help to find ways to clear up the relationship. Cao Zhan has been promoted several times in the following twenty years, and the promotion speed is extremely fast."
Mrs. Guogong heard what Hua Guogong said, and quickly added: "Besides, during the 20 years since the Cao family moved to Jincheng, the Cao family has tried every means to form marriage relationships with many honorable families. Zhan’s eldest son also married Princess Fugui, the niece of Emperor Sheng’an.”
"In-laws?" Yun Chang squinted her eyes. Before that, she always felt that she seemed to have overlooked something. Now that Mrs. Guo mentioned this, she suddenly became clear.
Yes, she ignored the in-laws.
Including the brochure that Cao Han submitted before, which recorded the relationship between the Cao family and the collateral lineage, it did not record the Cao family's in-law relationship.
There must be clues hidden in this thing that they deliberately hid.
Grandpa Guo nodded: "I don't know the in-laws very well, even because civil servants and military commanders have always had a somewhat incompatible relationship, you look down on me and I look down on you, and I don't have much intersection with Cao Zhan. It’s just that most of the rumors I’ve heard about him are good and praiseworthy. They praise him for his excellent work, his integrity as an official, and his outstanding political achievements.”
"It's just that I have always felt that among the civil servants, those who are praised by everyone are the ones with the most clues."
Yun Shang raised her eyebrows in surprise: "What does grandfather say?"
Hua Guogong sneered: "I don't deny that there are indeed many good officials for the country and the people in this court, but in fact, there are still a lot of corrupt officials. The real honest officials are the people ZTE may have a good reputation, but among colleagues and other officials, it definitely gets more infamy than praise.”
Yun Shang pondered carefully, but she also understood: "Because, if you are a real honest official, you will definitely hinder those corrupt officials from getting rich, and they will be regarded as a thorn in the flesh by corrupt officials. You can't wait to drag him into the water together, or Get rid of him."
"Yes." Hua Guogong nodded: "Cao Zhan is praised by so many officials, and his promotion speed is so fast. There is only one possibility, that is, he secretly doesn't know how much money he spent and how many people he bought."
"However, when it comes to the reason for Cao Zhan's promotion, there is one person who knows more than me."
Yun Chang raised her eyes, exchanged glances with Duke Hua, and then understood who he was talking about: "The Supreme Emperor."
Hua Guogong smiled: "Yes, the Supreme Emperor."
"No matter how many people Cao Zhan bought, how many in-laws he made, and how many things he did overtly and secretly. But in the end, the person who agreed to Cao Zhan's promotion and appointed Cao Zhan an official position was always the emperor at that time, and now the Supreme Emperor."
Yun Shang nodded: "Thank you, grandfather."
"Thank you for what I did? Speaking of it, I didn't provide you with much useful information." Hua Guogong smiled, holding a teacup in his hand, and his eyes were filled with resentment: "After such a commotion, the family in the court and even the entire Jincheng, It will all be reshuffled."
"This may not be a good thing. To put it bluntly, for an emperor, the way of survival since ancient times is just a few words. Those who follow me prosper and those who oppose me perish."
Hua Guogong laughed loudly: "Yes, you are very courageous. Those who follow me will prosper and those who oppose me will perish. That's very good."
Yun Chang hooked the corners of her mouth, and there was a smile in her eyes.
After coming out of Hua Guogong, as soon as he walked to the back garden, he saw Shen Yilan coming over, twisting Yan'er's ear.
"Ouch, it hurts! My mother..." Yan'er kept yelling.
Chengye followed aside, staring curiously.
"What's the matter?" Yunshang and Mrs. Guo quickly walked over.
Shen Yilan let out a long breath, let go of the hand that was twisting Yan'er's ear, pointed at Yan'er, with a sullen expression on her face: "This brat! When the servants are not paying attention, I ran to kiss His Highness the Crown Prince, and said that before Both the Empress and Your Majesty have promised to marry their future children to him."
"Originally, I have already met my father-in-law. I have already agreed that if I look as good-looking as my aunt, I will marry no matter whether they are younger brothers or sisters."
Yan'er shouted loudly at the side, then raised her hand and pointed at Chengye: "He is so good-looking, he is my daughter-in-law."