Chapter 30: The Vicious Snake in the Palace

Although allowing cross-border bandit suppression is indeed helpful in cracking down on riots in various places, this will also leave hidden dangers of excessive power among local officials. Yang Guang pondered for a long time and weighed the pros and cons. He finally nodded, "I can agree to your suggestions, but I want to add one, and I must obtain the approval of the Ministry of War in advance to suppress bandits across the border. (")"

Yang Guang still decided to take the approval authority for cross-border bandit suppression to the court, and did not allow local areas to cross-border bandit suppression at will. But in this way, Yang Yuanqing's goal was achieved.

He was overjoyed, "I thank Your Majesty for your tolerance!"

Yang Guang nodded and waved to the eunuchs beside him, "You all retreat!"

Several eunuchs retreated. Yang Yuanqing had become accustomed to this scene. As long as Yang Guang ordered the eunuchs to retreat, he would definitely talk to him about the Guanlong nobles. Sure enough, Yang Guang turned the topic to the Guanlong nobles. He slowly said: "I plan to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, what do you think?"

This sentence is said without any conclusion, but Yang Yuanqing knew very well what Yang Guang was saying? This is what he wanted to say to Yang Guang, and he had already thought about it along the way.

"Your Majesty, although killing chickens can scare the monkeys, killing grass will shock the snakes. Please be careful."

The reason why Yang Guang trusted Yang Yuanqing very much in Guanlong nobles was because he had rich experience and could see through the various complex relationships between Guanlong nobles than other ministers. Therefore, although Yang Yuanqing did not agree to his plan, Yang Guang was still not upset. He pondered for a moment and asked again: "What do you mean is that I will not move?"

"Your Majesty, I advised Your Majesty in Zhuo County last time. After the Battle of Goryeo, many people's mentality will change, and many people will have ideas. At that time, I suggested that Your Majesty do not make a decision for the time being, observe for a few months before considering countermeasures. Now I still have this suggestion, and I will wait and see if it changes, and even entrust some people to use it to differentiate the nobles of Guanlong and numb them. This is my meticulous statement. Your Majesty has his own methods of emperors, and I dare not give advice."

Yang Guang really wanted to deal with Yuan Hongsi and kill a chicken to warn the monkey, but Yang Yuanqing's advice made him hesitate again, and he still needed to think about it carefully.

"Yang Aiqing, you are in Youzhou, do you know how the military and civilians of Youzhou evaluate Yuan Hongsi?"

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Just when Yang Guang met Yang Yuanqing alone in the Censor's Office, the deputy general manager of the provincial eunuch, the eunuch Li Zhongliang walked in from outside the palace. Li Zhongliang had great power. According to the division of power, he was responsible for the outer palace. He was in charge of any affairs outside the Xianren Palace. He was extremely busy every day and did not always stay outside the imperial study. (　　　)

He approached the imperial study and saw that all the eunuchs gathered outside the door. He was stunned and asked, "Who are the Lord meeting?"

The eunuchs quickly reported: "Report to the general manager, you are receiving Yang Yuanqing."

When Li Zhongliang heard the name "Yang Yuanqing", his face immediately sank. Although his nephew was later changed to the commander of Liang County, he was still full of resentment towards Yang Yuanqing. He would never forget anyone who offended him.

"What is the Lord talking to him?"

"I don't know, the Lord drove us out, it's probably a top secret matter!"

Li Zhongliang waved to another little eunuch who served Yang Guangbi. They walked to a place where no one was left. Li Zhongliang then asked him in a low voice: "Have you read the memorial of Prefect Li? I told you that book in the morning."

The little eunuch nodded, "The emperor read it and he also wrote two words on it."

"Just say it straight, what words?" Li Zhongliang glared at the little eunuch, a little unhappy, why did he hesitate? He asked a question before saying something.

The little eunuch shivered in fear and said hurriedly: "The two words criticized by the emperor are 'Great Good'. It can be seen that the emperor is very interested in this book. He was originally indifferent, but this memorial made him feel energetic."

Li Zhongliang smiled and took out a golden bean for him, "I'll give it to you."

"Mr. Xie!"

The little eunuch repeatedly thanked him. At this time, someone from afar called him, "Wu Zhong, the meeting is over, go in quickly."

The little eunuch ran back in fear. The gate of the imperial study room had already opened. Yang Yuanqing walked out of it. He took off his black gauze hat, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked quickly, but he didn't know that a pair of poisonous snake-like eyes stared at him from behind.

"The emperor wants to issue an order, go and find the clan clan!"

There was a chaotic situation in front of the Imperial Study room. After a moment, Feng Deyi hurried into the Imperial Study room. He was the person on duty today. He walked into the Imperial Study room and sat down, spread paper and picked up the pen. Yang Guang then slowly issued an order: "The bandits in various counties are rampant. In order to benefit the suppression of bandits among counties, each county is allowed to submit approval for the Ministry of War to suppress bandits, and I respect this!"

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It was noon, and this was the ministers' lunch break. It took about half an hour. Most of the middle and lower-level officials made an appointment to go out to drink, while the important officials usually went home to eat and rest.

Li Zhongliang slipped away and came to the side door of Dugu Mansion by carriage. He did not dare to enter through the main door, for fear that others would see him.

Li Zhongliang was led by an old family to Dugu Zhen’s study. After a moment, Dugu Zhen smiled and greeted him, “Which fragrance gust blows General Manager Li today?”

Li Zhongliang bowed slightly and said, "I will leave after only a few words!"

Dugu Zhen's face was solemn, "Please!"

Li Zhongliang walked into the study and saw Dugu Luo's eldest son Dugu Liang was also there. Dugu Liang inherited his father's title Duke Zhao, and was appointed as the Jin Zi Guanglu Dafu, and was also an important official in the court. Li Zhongliang hurriedly gave a tribute, "See Duke Zhao!"

Dugu Liang smiled, "Eunuch Li, please sit down."

Li Zhongliang sat down and said to the two: "This morning, the emperor has read the memorial of Prefect Li and approved it as 'Great Good'. The emperor is very satisfied with Prefect Li's memorial."

Dugu Zhen and Dugu Liang looked at each other, and neither of them showed any expression. This news was as expected by them. It was they who instructed Li Yuan to write this memorial to impeach Yuan Hongsi. What they needed was more valuable news.

Li Zhongliang carefully observed Dugu Zhen's face. Of course, he was not here to do good deeds. His second half of his life was counting on the wealthiest family of the Sui Dynasty. Especially now that the Sui Dynasty was in danger, he cared more about the Dugu family's attitude.

Seeing that Dugu Zhen and his two faces were very plain, he was secretly panicked in his heart and said, "Now the emperor favors Prefect Li. If Dugu Duke goes to find Yuwen Shu again, Prefect Li should be able to be transferred back to Beijing to be the Minister of Shang."

Li Zhongliang did not understand the Dugu family's ideas. He thought they wanted to bring Li Yuan into Beijing to be the Minister of Shang. Many high-ranking officials died in this Liaodong battle, and many high-ranking positions in the court were vacant.

Dugu Zhen smiled and said, "Why do you want to find Yuwen Shu?"

Li Zhongliang was excited and hurriedly said, "Although the priest was annoyed by the Battle of Goryeo on the surface, he was not. He trusted Yuwen Shu more. I found that the priest would ask Yuwen Shu for his opinions on the personnel appointments and removals of the Guanlong nobles, and they would basically obey. Now that the priest has a good impression of Li, if Yuwen Shu goes to persuade the priest again, the priest Li is expected to be a high-ranking official. Of course, Yuwen Shu has a hobby, and I don't say it, Dugu should know it."

Dugu Zhen narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Thank you, Eunuch Li, for coming to provide the news."

"You are welcome!"

When Li Zhongliang saw that Dugu Zhen did not express anything, he seemed to step on the empty space. Are they still not satisfied with this news? Li Zhongliang felt uncomfortable like a cat was scratched. What kind of news the other party wanted to give him benefits?

At this time, Dugu Liang, who had been silent, asked, "Three days ago, I wonder why Eunuch Li went to Yuan Hongsi's mansion?"

Li Zhongliang's face turned pale. It turned out that the Dugu family knew that they had secretly interacted with the Yuan family. His lips were trembling and he couldn't say a word for a long time.

Dugu Zhen smiled and said, "But it's all an exchange of interests! Why should Eunuch Li be worried? We don't care. We are just a little curious. I wonder if Eunuch Li is willing to do business with the Dugu family?"

Only then did Li Zhongliang realize that the Dugu family really cares about the Yuan family. He hesitated for a while and gritted his teeth and said, "I wonder what price the Dugu family is willing to pay?"

Dugu Zhen stretched out a finger and said, "Fifty thousand acres of land on Guanzhong."

Li Zhongliang took a deep breath of air conditioning. At this time, he didn't want to sell the Yuan family, but he was willing to sell himself. He felt a little dizzy and tried hard to stabilize his emotions. Then he whispered: "The Yuan family asked me to help and rescue Yang Xiu, the King of Shu who was imprisoned in the Escort Province."

Dugu Zhen and Dugu Liang looked at each other again, and both of them showed shock in their eyes. This was valuable news. Dugu Zhen asked again: "What method is he going to use?"

Li Zhongliang lowered his voice and said, "Strike the pillars, the Yuan family found someone who looks a little like Yang Xiu and replaced the real Yang Xiu. Anyway, Yang Xiu has been imprisoned for more than ten years, and her appearance has changed a lot, and ordinary people can't see it."

"When will they change?"

Li Zhongliang showed a look of embarrassment on his face, and he said for a while: "Actually, it's changed last night."

Dugu Zhen nodded, took out an envelope from the drawer, handed it to him, and smiled and said, "There are 50,000 acres of land here, and there are four manors in total. Eunuch Li, please accept it with a smile."

Li Zhongliang was overjoyed. He took the envelope and stuffed it into his arms, stood up and said, "I can't stay outside for a long time, so I'll say goodbye and leave first. If you have any questions, please come to me."

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Li Zhongliang left, Dugu Liang smiled and said, "Why did the head of the family give him land instead of gold treasures?"

Dugu Zhen sneered, "This kind of treacherous eunuch is not worth merciless. If he is given treasures and gold, he will escape overseas. Only by giving him land can he not take it away. Sooner or later, I will return it to me. If I were not afraid of scaring him, I would still give him 100,000 acres."

"The head of the family is wise!"

Dugu Liang praised and sighed: "I didn't expect that the Yuan family would support King Yang Xiu of Shu, and I thought they would become independent directly."

"Only fools can stand on their own, and establishing a puppet emperor is the clever strategy."

Dugu Zhen pondered for a moment, and his worries hung on his face, "But the Yuan family is moving very quickly, and we must step up, so we can't delay any more."
To be continued...