After leaving the Qi Palace, Lu Zhuo was still in a trance. It was because he was not mentally prepared that when he went to the Qi Palace, his Minister of Rites disappeared, which made it really difficult for him to accept.

"Master, are you going home?" Lu Zhuo got on the carriage and the coachman in front asked in a low voice.

"Go home!"

As soon as Lu Zhuo finished speaking, he suddenly changed his mind and quickly ordered: "Go to Pei's residence."

It was almost dark at this time, the scorching sun was gone, the air had a little cool breeze, the streets became lively, people were coming and going everywhere, and vaguely heard the gongs and drums celebrating victory in the distance.

Lu Zhuo's arrival was as expected by Pei Ju. In the study, a maid served them tea. Pei Ju took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "The nephew seems to have something to worry about?"

Power is a sweet poison that makes Pei Ju unable to stop. Although he is over 70 years old, he is still extremely obsessed with the power in his hands. He refuses to relax for a moment and fights for the most allies to protect his power. This is what Pei Ju has been doing.

Lu Zhuo and Pei Ju have always had a good personal relationship, especially after Zhang Xuan married Pei Zhizhi, the two became a "relative" relationship to some extent. Pei Ju failed to recommend ministers in succession and was in a period of loss. At this time, he needed the support of allies, but looking around, it seemed that only Fan Yang Lu's family could give him support, so Pei Ju also had a special grudge against Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo sighed, "Last time, my grandson Lu Han was removed from the imperial examination list. I originally thought it was a trivial matter, but now I realize that I have caused a big disaster."

"Why did my nephew say this?"

"The King of Qi accused me of destroying the imperial examination, and he was furious at it. I really don't know who told him about this?" Lu Zhuo said in a hatred.

Pei Ju didn't care who leaked the secret. He only cared about how Lu Zhuo got the news about King Qi. He pondered for a moment, woke up immediately and smiled and said, "You are here from the princess just now!"

“That’s right!”

Seeing that Pei Ju had guessed the source of the news, Lu Zhuo sighed and said, "The King of Qi is considering my face and is willing to solve this matter privately, but I feel uncomfortable and confused. So I ask Uncle Shi to give me some advice."

"Can you tell me first what is the solution for King Qi?" Pei Ju asked as she stared at Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo hesitated for a moment, but still said, "The King of Qi has two plans. Let me choose one. One is to ask me to resign from my post as an illness, and the second is to transfer to Jianghuai as an official. This is a disguised demotion."

When Pei Ju heard the second plan, his eyebrows raised. He smiled and said, "I don't think the first plan will be considered. In fact, there is only one plan. If I am not wrong, the King of Qi is going to let the uncle of Jiangdu be the prefect of Jiangdu."

"But Jiangdu is still in Chen Ling's hands!"

"It won't be soon."

Lu Zhuo owed his body and asked with interest: "So, has Chen Ling decided to be loyal to Zhongdu?"

"It's hard to say, but Chang'an has sent a special envoy to Jiangdu. It is said that it is Chen Ling's brother. Under pressure, we will not drag it down again."

Speaking of this, Pei Ju smiled and said, "I will tell my nephew another news. Cui Huan is likely to be transferred to Beihai County as the prefect. Today, the letter King Qi also mentioned this in his letter to us. Of course, as compensation, Cui Huan will be granted the Duke of Qinghe County, and then the Duke of Fanyang County will also be granted the Duke of Fanyang County."

Lu Zhuo was stunned. It was not because Feng Jue was wanted to be transferred away, but because Cui Huan was in a mess. He didn't understand why this was.

"Don't you understand?"

Pei Ju smiled slightly and said, "It's not a sabotage of the imperial examination, it's just an excuse. The fundamental reason is that the Hebei gentry group has no problem with the gentry itself, but once an interest group is formed, no one above will tolerate it."

The so-called authorities are confused, and the bystanders are clear. Pei Ju's words made Lu Zhuo wake up in a dream. Zhang Xuan transferred himself and Cui Huan away, which was to demolish the Hebei gentry group.

Lu Zhuo returned home with great worries, but as soon as he entered the mansion, he accidentally learned that his second son Lu Qingyuan had come to Zhongdu.

Lu Qingyuan has been serving as the governor of Zhuo County since last year. Jiang Zhong, the former magistrate of Shouguang County, who was originally appointed as the governor of Anle County, was changed to the governor of Anle County. This was also a selfish wish of Zhang Xuan, who gave this important position to his wife and brother-in-law.

Although Lu Qingyuan was not the prefect of a county, Zhuo County was one of the two most populous counties in Hebei. As the county magistrate of Zhuo County, his official position was far greater than that of ordinary prefects of small counties.

Lu Zhuo went back to the study and changed his clothes. At this time, the maid reported at the door, "Master, the second young master is here."

"Let him in!"

Lu Zhuo returned to his desk and sat down. After a moment, Lu Qingyuan quickly walked into the room and knelt down to give a big gift, "Children's greetings to my father!"

Lu Zhuo was in a bad mood today. His son's arrival made him feel a little relieved, but he was also a little surprised. OK, what did his son do when he came to China? It should not be time to report his work.

"Sit down and talk!"

Lu Qingyuan sat down and said to his father: "The child comes to receive the letter from the Ministry of Personnel, as if the child is going to be transferred to the court."

Lu Zhuo's heart was shocked. He was about to be transferred to Jiangdu soon, but his son wanted to be transferred from the local area to the court. Is there any relationship between the two?

"What position do you want to take?" Lu Zhuo asked afterwards.

Lu Qingyuan hesitated and said, "I went to see Mr. Wei today and chatted with him for a few words. He asked me if I would like to come to the Ministry of Rites to serve, but my father was the Minister of Rites. How could my son join the Ministry of Rites again? So Mr. Wei felt that Mr. Wei was just joking."

Lu Zhuo stood up suddenly, feeling extremely excited, as if he suddenly discovered a huge secret. He paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. That's right. Zhang Xuan did not want to suppress the Lu family, but would still protect the interests of the Lu family's court. If he had expected it, his son Lu Qingyuan would serve as the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, and he might be promoted to the Minister of Rites in another ten years.

"Father, I don't want to come to the court to take office at all!" Lu Qingyuan said calmly.

"Why?" Lu Zhuo looked at his son in confusion.

"I have only been the governor of Zhuo County for half a year. I have just straightened out various relationships and are about to start performing my duties, but I have been transferred back to Zhongdu. I really find it difficult for me to accept this appointment."

Lu Zhuo was also silent. He paced back and forth slowly in the room with his hands behind his back. At this time, he had slowly calmed down. His son's idea actually made sense. His son is still young, only thirty years old. He first trains in the local area for ten years and accumulates enough qualifications. When he is 40 years old, he can become an official in the court and become a minister of the court for a few years. He can be promoted to the Minister of the State before he is fifty. This is the safe way to promote.

Now Zhang Xuan only let his son enter the court to be an official in order to appease the Lu family. Such promotions lack qualification support and cannot grow up. They are easily demoted if they make mistakes. They should start with local officials. Lu Zhuo remembered Li Qingming again, and he was promoted to Minister of War, but repeatedly asked to become an official in the local area. This is actually the same thing.

As for the interests of the Lu family in the court, Lu Chu, once he came to Zhongdu, he could still serve as the Minister of Rites.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhuo said to his son: "I can tell the King of Qi about this matter, so that you can continue to be an official in Zhuo County. I will talk to Secretary Wei tomorrow and ask you to go back first. In short, you can be at ease as an official in the local area and accumulate fame and experience."

"Thank you, my father, I will remember my father's teachings in my heart."

Lu Qingyuan bowed and was about to leave, and Lu Zhuo said to him again: "There is another thing you must remember, don't attend any gatherings of the Hebei gentry."

As the leader of the Hebei scholars, Lu Zhuo was demoted. He learned from his mistakes and never wanted his son to be implicated again. He knew that Zhang Xuan was just warning now that if the Hebei gentry group did not disband, he would kill and bleed.

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Four days later, the first group of triumphal soldiers, a total of 50,000 Sui troops arrived in Zhongdu on a large ship.

On the banks of the Huan River north of Zhongdu, the people of Zhongdu came out to welcome the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who returned in triumphantly. The shore and the official road were filled with hundreds of thousands of people. They cheered and sang and danced. Everyone was extremely excited and waved the colorful flags. The entire Huan River became a sea of ​​colorful flags.

When the Sui army soldiers came down from the ship, countless fellow villagers rushed up and handed a pot of fine wine and bread to the Sui army soldiers. The enthusiastic smile melted the hearts of all the Sui army soldiers.

When King Zhang Xuan of Qi walked out of the large Suzaku boat he was riding, hundreds of thousands of people were in full bloom, and the entire southern bank of the Huanshui suddenly burst into cheers like a mountain collapse and tsunami. "Long live the King of Qi!"

"Long live! Long live King Qi!"

Zhang Xuan kept waving to the people on the shore, and the warm atmosphere was pushed to a climax. "Long live!" The cheers resounded throughout the sky.

Then the 30,000 Sui troops held an entry ceremony, which was the most effective way to boost morale, increase public recognition and centripetal force. When teams of soldiers of the Sui army lined up toward the north gate of Zhongdu, hundreds of thousands of people on both sides greeted each other in the streets, everyone cheered and excited, and their expressions were beyond words. They beat drums and drums, waving flags made of brocade, "Long live the Sui army!"

This supreme glory made every Sui army soldier excited and burst into tears. This is a glory they are willing to use their lives to safeguard.

But the most passionate and crazy thing is the cheers of hundreds of thousands of people to Zhang Xuan. Every time the carriage he was riding in, it immediately cheered like a tide, "Long live the King of Qi, long live the Emperor!"

Finally, some people shouted out their deep desires. They sincerely hoped that this wise King of Qi could take another step and become their emperor. They didn't care whether they established the country as the Sui Dynasty or other dynasties.

Hundreds of old men in white dress knelt devoutly in front of Zhang Xuan's carriage, with their white-haired heads kowtowed on the ground. They had the greatest hope for His Royal Highness, and everyone longed for the reappearance of the prosperous age.

Although Zhang Xuan sat in the tightly defended carriage and could not see the enthusiasm of the welcome crowd, he still saw the crowd of people in an accidental flash of excitement, saw the faces flowing with tears, and heard the cheers of mountains and tsunamis, and was also extremely moved.

He deeply felt that he was carrying a heavy burden of a thousand pounds. He knew that the people of Zhongdu were no longer welcoming his triumph, but instead entrusting their greatest expectations for themselves in troubled times. The fate of thousands of miles, the fate of tens of millions of people, and the powerful revival of an empire will all be tied to him.
Chapter completed!