Chenzhou·Prefecture
They fell without attacking and met the imperial court. After several military disasters, every house was closed. Soldiers stood at the entrances of important streets, checking the occasional passers-by, while the cavalry scattered into small groups looked around and inspected vigilantly.
There are many victims and beggars in the city, and tens of thousands more have fled in the past two days. Women are mourning and crying, and children are huddled in their mother's arms, crying out that they are cold and hungry.
"Catch the traitor."
A group of soldiers shouted, and a man with disheveled hair ran away. When he saw the figure, the eyes of the patrolling soldiers on horseback lit up, and he chased after him with a whip.
Scenes like this happened from time to time in the city. Pei Ziyun led a hundred riders inside and watched all the way. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard the sound of gongs in the distance approaching, shouting: "Listen, everyone who is widowed and orphaned, who is over sixty years old, flees to live in the wilderness. Those with household registration will go to the porridge shed to receive meals, and will be registered and sent back to their hometown."
The street immediately exploded with beggars, idlers, and refugees. Pei Ziyun's eyes flashed, he pondered for a moment, and said to one person: "I ordered suppression before entering the city, and set up tents to provide porridge. I don't want these people to be demoted." , it will be done soon, please go and have a look."
A soldier responded and came back in a blink of an eye, reporting: "I went to the porridge shed and took a look. The porridge is not too thin, there is no sand, and it has a bit of a musty smell!"
After saying this, Pei Ziyun took a breath, took a glance, and said, "It's not bad at this level. If the local officials let them return to their hometown for spring plowing, it will be peaceful."
As a group of people walked through the street, they saw a palace. This was the former site of the Duke of the State, with a grand structure. King Lu had repaired and expanded it, built a palace, and looked majestic and luxurious.
Someone looked at it and said, "True Lord, this is King Lu's palace. If you don't want King Lu to really enjoy it, just transform the Duke's Mansion into a royal palace. It's so magnificent that True Lord can enter!"
"Nonsense. Originally, I couldn't live in the Duke's Mansion. Now, King Lu has misbehaved and restructured the palace. At least it is a temporary palace. How can we live in it? Send someone to seal it and wait for the court to come and deal with it." Pei Ziyun looked at the palace, Regardless of whether this person was trying unintentionally or not, he spoke immediately.
"Yes, True Lord." Someone responded: "There are still many maids and eunuchs recruited by King Lu in the palace. What should we do with them?"
Pei Ziyun pondered for a moment: "The palace maids are from innocent families. Those who have families are sent home, while those who have no families stay with the eunuchs in the palace. The court may be able to use them."
"Let's go to the Governor's Palace."
"yes!"
After Pei Ziyun finished handling these matters, he moved to the Governor's Yamen. In fact, the Governor's Yamen was quite big, so Pei Ziyun settled in and Gao Guang signed up to see him.
Gao Guang moved into the small hall and saw Pei Ziyun drinking tea, holding a scripture in his hand and flipping through it casually. He hurriedly stepped forward to pay homage to the court. Pei Ziyun waved his hand: "Get up, what are you doing here?"
Gao Guang glanced at it and said, "Zhenjun, please go down and investigate Li Cheng's matter. With the cooperation of the government and people from the Daolu Division, some clues have been found. These are the clues we have found in the investigation."
Saying that, he handed over the folding book.
"Oh?" Pei Ziyun smiled: "Is it done so quickly
After taking it and looking at it, I found that several places where Li Cheng had passed by had been recorded, and someone was already following the nearest line.
"With the power of the imperial court, no matter how many things are concealed, there will always be traces." This thought flashed through Pei Ziyun's mind. The imperial court's power is like a mountain and a sea. Now it is up to him to make use of this power.
Gao Guang looked at him from the side, seeming to have something to say, hesitatingly speaking. Pei Ziyun glanced over and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Gao Guang took a step forward and smiled flatteringly: "Congratulations, True Lord, congratulations, True Lord, the imperial court has granted the old lady a third-grade Hao Ming, and granted the old lady a third-grade life. The imperial edict will surely arrive in your hometown soon."
Hearing this, Pei Ziyun was a little surprised. He stood up and stood for a moment. After listening attentively, he cupped his hands and said, "This is the grace of the court and the emperor."
Gao Guang raised his head slightly and glanced at Pei Ziyun. He was very happy to see Pei Ziyun's face glowing. Then he felt relieved and stepped back. Watching the man go away, Pei Ziyun's smile faded. He threw the book away and laughed: "No wonder , I am a true king, I cannot be promoted, and I have no children, so gifts to my parents are unavoidable."
"But this is a good thing. I got the body of the Pei family. Even if we don't talk about cause and effect, it is Buddhism, but it still has human morality - I have to make up for it."
"Father Pei's gift of three products is a rare gift. If nothing else, at least Da Xu will be able to enjoy the blessings in the world for hundreds of years."
"Pei's mother has a third-grade imperial title and can be granted the title of lady. Women's imperial titles are different from other titles. Once the title is granted, it will be automatically extended after death, and there is no need for further gifts."
"The parents' karma is enough, and it saves them a lot of trouble." Pei Ziyun stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open. It was still raining outside, and there were already buds on the branches in the garden.
"It's spring again." Pei Ziyun whispered, seeming to have remembered something: "As for the blind Taoist, now that you have lost the protection of King Lu and exposed your traces, I wonder how long you still have to survive."
Woniu Village·Pei Mansion
The Pei Mansion was in a hectic state. A banquet was arranged inside the house, a reed shed was built outside the house, and a theater troupe was invited. Dozens of people from the Pei clan got up before the chickens crow. The men were busy with foreign affairs, the women helped serve the dishes, and the chefs slaughtered fish, chickens, Boiled meat, fried balls, a piece of meat is fragrant.
"It's really a shame. The Pei family is getting more prosperous day by day, which is enviable." An old man stood in the crowd of onlookers and watched the excitement. He saw the maids and servants coming in and out, as well as the people who were directing the scene. The county police officer sighed.
"The Pei family is really blessed." Another person said.
"Crack" firecrackers went off, and the village chief squeezed in, grabbed a servant and asked: "Where is the old lady?"
"The old lady is dressing up and will come out soon." The servant said, but before he finished speaking, Mrs. Pei Qian came out wearing her original seventh-grade life wife, and beside her was Su Ye'er, who was also dignified and beautiful, and the younger one was Liao Qingye. But in an instant she was a little girl.
Mr. Pei Qian had been wealthy for several years, and when he came out accompanied by his maid, he was already somewhat grand and graceful.
The table for offering sacrifices to welcome the imperial edict had already been set up. As soon as the old lady went out, the policemen, led by the arrester, drove away the villagers.
"Back up, back up." The yamen servant wielded a long whip and hit it one by one. It was very crisp, only two or three inches away from the face, and it would not hit the flesh unless it was hit. This was because it was a festive time and there could be no bleeding. atmosphere.
The magistrate of Pingshou County arrived early and led the local government officials to maintain public order. He shouted: "Ran Qianxiang, you people, please don't make any noise. If you bump into the imperial envoy and the old lady, I will make you walk around without food!" "
The people were still afraid of the magistrate, so they took a few steps back in fright. As they spoke, a series of firecrackers were set off, and someone shouted: "The governor is here!"
"Master Participation is here!"
Following the sound of the announcement, a large number of officers poured in. The onlookers looked at it and said, "It's really amazing. Originally, Pei Ziyun was already famous when he became a civil servant. Unexpectedly, now the governor has sent people to congratulate him. It's really enviable." .”
"Keep your voice down. If you disturb the adults, you'll be in trouble."
"Sir, why would you bother us on such a festive occasion?"
A police officer happened to hear it and glared: "My lord, if I don't cause trouble for you, I will cause trouble for you. If you talk nonsense again, I will arrest you."
"The imperial envoy has arrived, all idle personnel should stay away!" someone shouted, and all the irrelevant people immediately stayed away. However, they saw Yin Lu holding the imperial edict covered by the yellow silk bundle in his hands and standing on the incense table to the south. And behind him, there were people with both hands holding the edict. Holding a gold plate, on which was placed a set of resplendent third-grade imperial attire. Pei Qian had already been taught etiquette at this moment, and she saluted immediately: "My concubine, Pei Qian, respectfully greets you!"
"Saint Gong'an!" Yin Lu read loudly: "The imperial edict says: Your Pei Qian family is the mother of the True Monarch Qining. She is filial, diligent, thrifty, chaste, quiet and kind. I specially designate you as a third-grade lady. I admire this!"
Mrs. Pei Qian was mentally prepared, but she still sobbed: "My concubine, Mrs. Pei Qian, thank you!"
The woman in front of her suddenly turned into a third-grade imperial concubine. Yin Lu was smiling and said politely, "Madam, please wait a moment. I still have an edict."
After a pause, he continued: "The edict says: You are the father of Zhenjun Qining. You are well versed in farming and have a good harvesting method. I would like to confer upon you the title of a third-grade general general. I commend you for this!"
This edict is not enough, there is a third one, which can only be read aloud: "The edict says: I govern the world with literature and fight chaos with force. The true monarch of Qining is both civil and military, and he is the mainstay of the imperial court and the stronghold of the country. Is there any reason not to show favor? I will give all the land that Er cultivates to Liujin Island to Ba. I appreciate it."
In these three consecutive decrees, Pei's mother was granted a third rank, and Pei's father was given a third rank. They even officially gave Liujin Island to Pei Ziyun, but without adding a title or official title.
When everyone heard the decree, they took a breath of cold air. The ancestral graves of the Pei family were really filled with smoke.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Tears welled up in Pei Qian's eyes, and she quickly wiped them away and thanked her.
Chenzhou·Prefecture·Governor-General's Palace
Unknowingly, the spring of the first year of Qitai came to the world. The lake gradually turned green and the willows on the bank were green. Pei Ziyun was talking to someone: "Go to the study and get the collection of ancient pictures."
Then he turned to Gao Guang and said: "These political matters related to relief and reclamation are also shared with me, so that you don't worry about it. Don't send official documents to me again in the future."
"How to inspect the river defense, how to provide relief, let the local officials handle it according to their respective powers. If they can't handle it, write a note - the governor is about to arrive."
"If there is anything else, you are also an imperial envoy. Just handle it."
Gao Guang secretly admired Pei Ziyun's ability to keep things under wraps, so he responded and stepped back. Pei Ziyun sneered, got up and was about to go back, when he suddenly started and looked into the void.
"Hey, do you have a favor?"
A flash of light flashed across Pei Ziyun's eyes, and he stood up. With a thought in his mind, the light flashed, and his soul suddenly fell into the underworld. As far as he could see, it was gray and black. It was said to be night, but he could still see.
But this time it was different. The place where the light escaped was full of flames and full of majesty. Everyone avoided the place where they escaped. In less than a moment, they arrived at the building corresponding to the Pei family ancestral hall.
This building was very large, with several buildings in a row, guarded by white energy. The light suddenly descended, and Father Pei immediately sensed it and looked at it: "Hey, who is it?"
(End of chapter)