The Liyang Temple in Yingting caused an uproar. It came so rapidly that all the Grand Secretary of the Palace and the Six Ministers of the Secretariat were dumbfounded. Zhang Julu, the chief assistant of this dynasty, still insisted on mobilizing Gu Jiantang, who was in charge of the military and political leadership of the Northern Land, to move the most sharp sword of the empire to the neck of Xichu and cut the mess with a quick knife, instead of the previously established position in Beiguan. If this were the case, no one in the court would dare to question it loudly. Although Biyaner has relaxed in recent years, he has been in the five departments outside the Ministry of War.

The only way to control the admonition is to keep the way of admonition is tightly controlled, so the Prime Minister does not need to take action personally. These censors who only follow the head of Zhang Lu can almost kill anyone. Fortunately, Zhang Zhengshou has rarely deliberately targeted anyone, but as long as Zhang Julu holds this piece, even if he never makes a move, no one in the court dares to be unscrupulous. Unfortunately, at the end of the spring of the first year of Xiangfu, even if the way of speaking is in the hands of Zhang Julu, even if the temple is extremely deep and invincible for more than ten years, the Prime Minister finally ushered in the first defeat, without it,

Because this time his opponent was Tantanweng, and a powerful minister behind Mr. Huan, including Zhao Youling, the head of the six ministries, the recognized prime minister Yin Maochun, and even the new Minister of Rites Yuan Guo, a large group of veteran generals led by Zhao Wei, a general who had not yet ordered the south to attack Western Chu, and a royal family member who had been suppressed by Biyan'er for more than ten years. Strangely, these people did not have any agreement in advance. After Huan Wen pointed the finger at the chief minister, he went to report one after another, all of whom he believed that "the north and the south were used to "

"A plan is too reckless, and a Western Chu who is looking back is far from comparable to the millions of string control men in Beimang. At that day, the court meeting was undercurrent. Except for Wang Xionggui, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stood on his mentor without any suspense, almost everyone chose to be timid and silent, and did not dare to get involved in the most bizarre fight between gods since the first year of Yonghui. The reason why it is said is almost because in addition to Wang Xionggui, there is also a Jin Lanting who has been very proud recently, unexpectedly followed Wang Xionggui and spoke for Zhang Shou Guard.

Anyone who is interested saw that after leaving the court, Tantan's eyes did not squint and passed by the chief assistant directly. Wang Xionggui, who was in a dismay, followed the indifferent Yonghui master, but never took the initiative to approach the chief assistant Jin Youjiujiu, and walked firmly beside Zhang Julu. Today's ups and downs made the bystanders both dazzled and inexplicable. When he left the court, he only heard the sound of pearls and jade knocking, and did not hear a loud talk or whisper. This was the only strange scene that the Liyang Dynasty Chinghui had seen in twenty years. Zhang Julu slowly walked down the white jade steps, without looking at the young master who was frowning beside him, and laughed softly: "Shen Sanlang, you may be making the wrong bet this time."

Jin Lanting, who had a beard and made a clear mind, shook his head and said, "Late life was not a risky bet. He deliberately became enemies with civil and military officials in the court, and used this to please the chief minister. It was just a real man who should do something, that's all."

Zhang Julu smiled, slowed down, and said straight to the point: "I originally intended to pull you into Zhang Lu, and then controlled the fancy way of speaking for me, but since Your Majesty looked at you with admiration, I am a minister, so I don't want to take away the beauty of the monarch."

If you don't want to, you must not.

There are still some clues between the walls, not to mention that they have not left the palace city, and there are many slow-moving civil and military officials not far away from them.

Zhang Julu said calmly: "Looking at the struggles between gentlemen and villains in all dynasties, most court officials who are known as gentlemen lost a lot during their lifetime. At most, they were posthumously given a posthumous title by the next emperor after their death. It is of no benefit to the country and the people. This reputation that remains in history is not bad. There is no secret of party disputes. The more you care about the people, the more you need gentlemen and friends, and the more you need a smart evil dog among your colleagues, who can bark and bite people, rather than a group of people who are there, who are only good at doing business by scholars. In the end, it is nothing more than writing a few lonely tomb poems that make future scholars cry during their exiles. It is quite boring."

Jin Lanting stumbled for a moment and said self-deprecatingly, "It's hard to escape the rut when I was born late."

Zhang Julu turned around and patted Wang Xionggui on the shoulder, "I'm not on duty today. You go to Zhanglu to sit there. When a colleague asked, you only responded with the word "ignorant."

Wang Xionggui nodded and left quickly.

The purple beard and blue-eyed man who held power for a long time and walked slowly along the way and crossed the threshold of the palace together. Zhang Julu suddenly smiled and said, "I saw you for the first time, and I remembered my situation back then. I was ashamed and wronged as you. But to be honest, you are still much worse than me, so I am just better than me in the past."

Jin Lanting smiled knowingly, "It is enough to have something that makes the Prime Minister willing to admit defeat and put it into words."

Jin Lanting wanted to speak but stopped, Zhang Julu said calmly: "Are you wondering why that old guy flirted with the same room?"

Let Jin Lanting be the favorite minister of the emperor and the popular man around His Royal Highness, and his future is destined to be brilliant. This right priest, dared not say a word at this time, or even dared not speculate on his own.

Zhang Julu said: "Huan Wen and I have a scale in our hearts, and we have never underestimated the state of Western Chu. It's just that the two ends of the scale have been somewhat different over the years. I value Western Chu and Beimang, while he value Northern Mang and Western Chu. He has his plans and vision. He insisted on using Northern Liang to consume the national strength of Northern Mang, for fear that once Gu Jiantang went south, he had already decided to swallow Northern Liang first and then break away from Yang's Beimang to change his course. He mistakenly thought that there was an opportunity to take advantage of it. At that time, the Tai'an City spread from Beiguan to our feet, and there were all smoke everywhere."

Zhang Julu pointed to the south, "The old guy not only saw the north, but in addition to the stubborn disease in Beiliang, Tantanweng also saw Yan Chidao, which seemed to be 'undecided', and those who could not withstand the spring breeze, and his concerns were naturally understandable. I was afraid that Western Chu would become a quagmire and lead to the revival of the country in Spring and Autumn Period. He was afraid that Beimang would go south from the eastern line, causing the whole world to be quagmire. I and him were a real gamble. Even if you stand at the center of the dynasty, you would not see these things. Because of the court, everyone had their own plans. The warriors wanted to be granted marquis and generals during their lifetime, and the literati thought of accompanying Zhang Sheng Temple after their death. The reason why I told you these complaints was that you, Jin Lanting, was rarely confused and interesting. After all, it was not uncommon to be scolded by Old Man Huan, and it was very rare to be beaten."

Jin Lanting subconsciously touched the cheek that was slapped by Tantanweng, and quickly retracted like a hot hand.

Zhang Julu whispered: "You and I will come here."

Jin Lanting stopped tactfully, and only heard the Prime Minister say a word, "There are many new Shangshu in the future."

Jin Lanting was stunned. New Shangshu? Is it Yuan Guo, the Ministry of Rites, or Lu Baijie, the Ministry of War?

Or are there both?

Coincidentally, today, the two of them walked together. The two were young and middle-aged pillars and officials in the temple full of frost white eyes. They had many similarities and common languages, different backgrounds, but they were both first-class romantic figures in Liyang. Lu Baijie was the Tangxi sword immortal on Jiangnan Road, and Yuan Guo was a famous figure who could become brothers and brothers with everyone. Both of them had no sense of victory or defeat. They looked at many things that others regarded as precious. They had a very good reputation in the court and the country. They had no enemies, nor had they obvious factions on the mountain. They were both guests of Tantanweng, and they were also scolded by Tantanweng. They had met the saints, entered Shuanglu, and were scolded by Huan Wen. The three steps that the Liyang court had to take to become a powerful minister. These two Shangshu obviously had experienced it. The two retreated to the court and returned to the palace.

"Honor Heroes" Lu Baijie did not return to the extremely busy Ministry of War immediately, but followed Yuan Guo to the Ministry of Rites, which was very different from the Ministry of War. In the ritual office where scholars and celebrities gathered together, he saw the Minister of Shangshu, who was the boss, and dared to make fun of him. Because when Yuan Guo was the new official of the old wine insect, he brought a big box, but not a book, but more than twenty bottles of Jiannan Spring Brews given by His Majesty the Emperor, and as a result, he hit the emperor who came to the official residence of the Ministry of Rites. Then His Majesty made his own decision to drink wine with the ministers. The king and his ministers sat at will. While drunk, he did not forget to sprinkle salt on the wounds of the heartbroken Secretary Yuan, and said with a smile that I took the initiative to help you win over the relationship between ministers, so don't thank you. Remember to turn around and get a salary and buy a few pots of good wine to send it to the palace.

Now the Ministry of Rites has begun to wrench his fingers and calculate when to receive his salary. He also joked that the Secretary of the Shangshu needed to help collect some money. Today, he met the Minister of War. If it was General Gu Jiantang, his scalp would naturally be numb. If it was Chen Zhibao, he would have to retreat. But since he was the elegant sword immortal Tangxi, he would greet Secretary Yuan with a smile. Anyway, as long as the Ministry of Rites does not encounter important festivals and Jiaqing.

The ceremony was the clearest yamen among the six ministries, and it was really a blessing for everyone to have Yuan Guo, who was lenient to himself and others. It was because Yuan Guo was in charge of the Ministry of Rites that many officials from the five ministries of the Ministry of Rites, whether they came to visit or the Ministry of Rites to ask for services, they were more polite in their faces. Anyway, for the famous scholars of the Ministry of Rites, it was enough to give such a thin face.

The Ministry of Rites, which is worthy of face, already covers a large area, so Yuan Guo naturally has his own elegant room. When he walked to the door, Yuan Shangshu smiled and hurried into the room, bent down to pick up books, and then he made a way out. He put it on a chair that was already shaking and piled up books. He actually shaking but not falling. It can be seen that practice makes perfect. Perhaps the study in Yuan Guo's mansion was also in such a messy scene. Yuan Guo finally moved away the book on the chair in front of the book desk. Lu Baijie waved his hand and smiled: "I won't sit there, just a chair. When I sit, wouldn't it be that I occupy the nest? You, Shangshu, aren't you afraid of being teased by others, and I'm afraid of saying that the Ministry of War is suppressing the Ministry of Rites."

Yuan Guo laughed and said, "It's been a day or two since the Ministry of War oppressed the Ministry of Rites. Lord Lu, don't behave like a cheap person."

Lu Baijie said bluntly: "Stop doing this. In the past, the Ministry of War treated the other five equally and bullied them. Anyway, they were not worried about the lack of people but the unevenness, so I don't know who was acting good."

Yuan Guo touched his slightly red rosacea nose, "I didn't care before, but in the future, the Ministry of War dared to fuck someone from the Ministry of Rites to scare people, so I dared to go to the Ministry of War to scold the shrew."

Lu Baijie did not comment and looked around, feeling a little moved. Lu Baijie was born in the Lu family of Yangzhou, which is known as "a wide range of images". His elder brother Lu Daolin withdrew from the Imperial College and became the Minister of Rites. He was the premiere of this house. Lu Baijie first entered the capital and came once. Today is the second time. Lu Baijie had a very good relationship with his brother. It can even be said that the reason why Lu Daolin, who was like a father, left the temple and retired to the mountains was mostly because he made room for his younger brother.

Then the two brothers were two ministers in one go, and the several clans in Yangzhou were anxious and red-eyed, and there would be criticism in the capital. When Lu Baijie was in the wild, he lived in the retreat garden for a long time. Lu Daolin "regressed" twice, and formed many incense for his younger brother that could only be understood but not expressed. This is the knowledge rarely taught in the books of sages. Yuan Guo slapped his head and pretended to be angry: "Good you, Tangxi Sword Immortal, it turns out that the previous occupies the magpie's nest, ultimately, was it accusing me of robbing Mr. Lu's house?"

Lu Baijie didn't refute, and asked with a smile: "Where are you hiding the wine?"

Yuan Guo glared at him, "It's gone long ago!"

Lu Baijie laughed playfully and said, "When my name is a sword immortal in Tangxi is blown out? Even if I don't practice swords anymore, will this little wine smell? "

Yuan Guo spread his hands, "It's really gone."

Lu Baijie walked to the corner of the wall, opened a pile of books, picked up a pot of wine, and shook it. Yuan Guo smiled and hurriedly took out two wine glasses hidden under the desk, wiped them with his sleeves, one by one, for fear that the Tangxi Sword Fairy would take the wine away, and muttered: "I'm not afraid of drinking and drinking, but if it delays Lord Lu's military affairs, I can't afford to be guilty. However, the light of inspiration just came to me. Lord Lu's swordsmanship was excellent, and I guess he had a good alcohol tolerance. It should be fine to drink a glass of wine or two. Come on, let's have a drink, a drink, and a drink."

Lu Baijie sat on the ground straight, Yuan Guo put a stack of books under his butt, the former drank the wine in the glass in one go, while the latter squinted his eyes and drank slowly.

Lu Baijie smiled and said, "Let's say something drunk?"

Yuan Guo glanced at the door of the house, perhaps remembering that Shangshu Lu was an outstanding martial arts master, so he withdrew his gaze and nodded.

"What's going on? On the way Lu came, he understood a little, but he still couldn't figure it out."

"You and I will forget it as soon as I get up, and I won't convey Liu Er's drunken words?"

"Drunk talk."

"The Ministry of War has mastered many secrets that cannot be known to the five departments. Lu Baijie, you can understand the differences between the Chief Auxiliary and Mr. Huan, the same brothers. What I can't figure out is why Mr. Huan did not discuss it in the study of any mansion on both sides, and why did he openly confront each other in the temple, right?"

"Um."

"The reason I can't figure it out is because you know that many people mistakenly think that today's court meeting seems to show a sign. In the past twenty years of Yonghui, except for Your Majesty, the presiding master of the Prime Minister finally went downhill in the first year of Xiangfu. It was time to gradually descend on the west. However, this is an extremely ridiculous illusion, and you and I know it. Zhang Lu destroyed the wall of the courtyard for so many years, abandoned Zhao Youling, who was the most knowledgeable in Yonghui, and abandoned Han Lin, who was old and steadfast. Of course, I, Yuan Guo, did not want to make progress, and naturally, I can't achieve anything.

He was even thrown away early. In the end, he only supported Wang Xionggui, who seemed to have no presiding equipment. Even the Hanlin Academy swept out and gave it to Yin Maochun. Why? What was the Prime Minister thinking? It was very simple. Zhang Shoufu never thought that someone was his political enemy. As long as he stood in the court, there was a poem that said well. If I don’t speak first in spring, which insect dares to speak? There is only one person who can speak in twenty years. In the future, if this person dies first and Zhang Shoufu dies later, then there will be no one."

"Understood."

The house was in a quiet and speechless situation.

Yuan Guo was vaguely tearful and his eyes were blurred. He simply picked up the wine pot and took a sip of wine, and asked, "Do you really understand?"

Yuan Guo asked and answered, "You don't understand!"

Lu Baijie sighed, without saying a word, stood up and left, helping to cover the door.

Yuan Guo was sitting alone in the house and cried and laughed. Lord Shangshu, who didn't drink much, actually lost his composure after being drunk. "You don't understand, Yuan Guo's mentor, our chief assistant, once the war in Western Chu fails, the chief assistant who looks like a gaze wins face, but completely loses the temple. His Majesty, who is known for his magnanimity, no longer tolerate it. The chief assistant really starts to dim down the west. So today's court meeting, he is seeking a retreat for Mr. Huan and forcing himself to death!"

Yuan Guo fell back and fell, and the Minister of Rites, who was cherishing wine, threw away the wine pot and cried, "Why are we a scholar, why are you afraid of dying? But why do you have such a miserable way of death, my teacher?"

———

Today, Zhang Julu deliberately made himself useless and did not think about anything. This was the opportunity to go to an old restaurant that he had been moved by for a long time. After drinking half a pot of aged wine, it seemed that it was not as delicious as Huan Wen and the others said. Because he did not take off his court uniform, the visit of the Prime Minister made the restaurant both Peng Shenghui and everyone was trembling. Looking at the Prime Minister from afar, as long as the chopsticks in the hand of the old man picked up food a little slower, it seemed that he was about to be pulled out soon. Go and behead him. It is true that the Prime Minister has never appeared in public in the capital. It is unlike the leaders of the six major officials of other palaces and pavilions. Each has his own temperament and hobbies, and he still has a quiet place that he often goes to. But Zhang Guanfu is different. He always only appears in the residence of Shangshuling and the palace. So this news spreads at an astonishing speed, but no one who is a good person dares to come and join in the fun even if he gets the exact news, he dares to join in the fun. This is probably Zhang Julu's real It's a terrifying place. Wang Yuanran, the first son of the capital, Wang Xionggui's youngest son, claimed to be a man who openly challenged the prince of Beiliang. He had the honor of following his father to Zhang's house to celebrate the New Year once when he was a teenager. He was just glanced at him quietly, and he would never go to Zhang's house from then on. General Zhao Wei and Yang Shenxing, who made achievements in the Spring and Autumn Period, was the most precious seed of generals in Liyang. They had never seen this head of officials in 2000 or 30 years. It’s not a mouse who meets a cat, but a mouse who meets a tiger. It gives people the feeling that it will lose a piece of meat when they meet. Even the most promising prince Zhao Wu, who had an affair with the treasured daughter of the Prime Minister, could not afford to take it away, and Zhang Julu didn’t have to say a word. The prince who is a stalemate of Miaochun is like this. The royal relatives who are alienated from today’s lineage were originally the pitiful people who were suppressed by Zhang Julu when he was the first to take power. They dared not speak out.

This is easy to grow old, but it always makes people forget the age of old people, not greedy for money, not be fond of beauty, not like delicacies, do not advocate simple talk, do not worship Buddhist teachings, and do not preach poetry. All those who are interested are waiting for him to make mistakes, but he does not.

He traveled to the palace day after day, year after year, boring and impeccable. For twenty years, no one could be called one person or more than ten thousand people.

Zhang Julu raised her head, put down her chopsticks, and saw a familiar and beautiful face. She sat opposite the table, holding her cheeks, and smiled as smart as her mother when she was young.

The chief assistant chuckled softly: "Has I drunkenly alarmed the Great Female Zhang?"

Zhang Gaoxia still held his cheeks with both hands and blinked his eyes.

Zhang Julu smiled and said, "Tell me, besides looking at my father, there is anything else to ask my father for it. I will make an exception first."

Zhang Gaoxia laughed and said, "My sister-in-law just complained to me, saying that in the spring of this year, my second brother ran out to borrow money and drink wine from others, but he also had the idea of ​​taking a concubine. It would be fine if he took a concubine, but the woman was still a brothel woman. My sister-in-law couldn't persuade the stubborn third brother, so she had to bring me into her camp. I went to secretly see that woman. It doesn't matter if the brothel is not a brothel, but the water-like poplar flower is real. Dad, aren't you afraid of humiliating the family?"

Zhang Julu frowned.

Zhang Gaoxia raised his voice, "Dad, you have promised your daughter."

Zhang Julu stretched her eyebrows and nodded.

Zhang Gaoxia, who had no expectations at all, widened his eyes, but something even more incredible is still behind. Outside, he is the Prime Minister's father at home and even the Prime Minister's father, and he actually said, "Go to your third brother's mansion to take a look."

Zhang Gaoxia was overjoyed. You should know that the father of the four brothers and sisters really didn't look like a father at all. Apart from her daughter, it was okay. The three brothers were already married and had children. Zhang Julu never showed up when they married and had children. Regardless of whether the three sons of the Prime Minister's three sons were promising or causing trouble, they never paid attention to them. The whole capital city joked that the three noble families who were obviously from a wealthy but helpless family were mostly children picked up on the road. Zhang Gaoxia's third brother was Zhang's most unlucky young son. He was idle and no one was willing to take this coward to play. He often

Carrying a pigeon whistle with you, wandering around Tai'an City. The eldest brother has entered the official career at least. Although the rise is slow, he can barely be considered as a son to inherit his father's business. The second brother is a real nerd and is still okay. The third brother Zhang Bianguan is not a man inside and outside, and he is the worst. He is sure that he is not favored by the eldest master's father at home. Moreover, the bigger playboys in the capital don't bother to be friends with him. Zhang Gaoxia knows better than anyone else. In their hearts, the three brothers hope that this taciturn father can look at them directly without expecting any praise, but even a scolding is fine.

Zhang Julu walked out of the restaurant, suddenly said, "I won't go."

Zhang Gaoxia had a bitter face and was pitiful.

Zhang Julu smiled and said, "Although you don't go, you can bring a message to the border and rely on his elder brother and second brother's salary to spend money every day. Isn't he trying to join the army? Dad told Gu Jiantang and let him go to Liaodong. Also, you don't have idle people at home. You are so arrogant girl, go out to Beijing to play. As for where you go, you can go wherever you go. Just don't write a letter to ask your father for money."

Zhang Gaoxia's eyes lit up and he said happily: "Really?"

Zhang Julu nodded gently.

Zhang Gaoxia suddenly said, "Dad, are you not sick? Is Uncle Huan so angry that you are today? My daughter will get you back now. Let me see if I don't make the Huan Mansion poor and drink poor!"

The chief assistant laughed softly and said, "Excellent!"

Then he added: "It was agreed in advance that you can go anywhere in Liyang. The first one on Beiliang Road cannot go, the second one on Yanchi Road cannot go, and the third one on Guangling Road cannot go."

Zhang Gaoxia said oh, and said with a finger: "The fourth one in Jiangnan Road cannot be gone, and the fifth one in the two Liaos cannot be gone..."

She counted all the Li Yang paths in one breath and said with a smile: "Then I'd better stay at home and eat and drink all my life and never get married. Anyway, I can't go anywhere."

Zhang Julu took the reins from the restaurant shopkeeper who was walking on thin ice and handed them to her daughter. She smiled and said, "You are so slick with your father, hurry up and report the good news to your little sister-in-law."

Zhang Gaoxia made a face, turned over and rode away.

Zhang Julu stood there. The shopkeeper dared not care about the Prime Minister's accountant forgot to pay the bill. Besides, when the Prime Minister was there, no one dared to come and die, but the shopkeeper dared to guarantee that the restaurant would not even be left, not even the place to sit in the restaurant tomorrow.

The shopkeeper had already turned around quietly, but was stopped by the Prime Minister. The shopkeeper's face turned stiffly and he was at a loss.

Zhang Julu smiled and said, "Shopkeeper, you can eat and drink for free, don't mind."

The shopkeeper shook his head hard and didn't say a word.

Zhang Julu walked towards the heavily guarded carriage, and in a voice that only he could hear, he said to himself: "Eat the king's fortune and loyalty to the king, both of them are not worthy of each other. I, Zhang Julu, finally asked the people of the world for a pot of wine, isn't it too much?"
To be continued...