Chapter 198: Prime Minister Proposal

Chang'an was also a little cold in early November. The cold wind blew the last few yellow fallen leaves in the air, and the pedestrians' pace became hurried, with few people on the streets. At this time, a carriage came from Xuanyifang, with more than a dozen knives guarding the left and right. The carriage quickly stopped at the mansion of Zhang Yun, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. A middle-aged man immediately got off. He had fair skin and a slightly fat body, leaving a troubling of goats. This person was Zhang Yun's younger brother, Zhang Wan, Taichangqing.

As the son of Zhang Shuo, the famous prime minister of Kaiyuan, Zhang Yun and Zhang Yi held high positions and were deeply trusted by Li Longji. In particular, Zhang Yi was also the leader of the Chang'an literary world. If a Chang'an scholar wants to get a job, he must burn this incense stick.

In the early years of Tianbao, Li Bai became famous in Chang'an because he couldn't stand Zhang Yi's face, so he was framed by Zhang Yi and was eventually given away from Chang'an by gifts. Li Bai wrote in the poem "Dreamwalking in Tianmu's Song of Farewell": "How can I bow my eyebrows and serve the powerful and noble, so that I can't be happy." This powerful and noble refers to Zhang Yi.

Today, Zhang Yi came to find his elder brother worriedly because Yang Guozhong won the battle in Yunnan and was officially named Minister of War. He was the Minister of the Central Secretariat and Pingzhang. Yang Guozhong's strong entry into the army affected every powerful and powerful person in Chang'an. If the Yang family was favored only because of the imperial concubine in the past, although Yang Qi, Yang Ji and Yang Li were able to hold high positions, they were just jesters. However, Yang Guozhong's entry into the prime minister means the true rise of the Yang family's power.

Zhang Ye walked in directly without reporting, and the butler stepped forward and said, "The master is fishing in the back garden."

"I got it, I'll go find him."

Zhang Yun's house covers an area of ​​nearly 100 acres, with pavilions and lush trees. There is also a small lake covering an area of ​​20 acres in the back garden. This house was left by their father Zhang Shuo. Zhang Ye grew up here since he was a child. He was extremely familiar with every tree and grass here. He did not need guidance. He soon came to the lakeside of the back garden.

From a distance, several maids in costumes stood in a pavilion carved with jade plates, carved with whole pieces of white jade. Zhang Yun, the Minister of Revenue of the Tang Dynasty, sat in the pavilion, and a fishing rod was fishing for the west wind. He was wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, just like an old farmer fishing alone in the snow in the cold river.

Zhang Ye slowly walked into the pavilion. When several maids saw him coming in, they hurriedly asked to show their salute, but Zhang Ye waved his hand, telling them not to disturb their brother.

"Is it my second brother?" Zhang Yun didn't look back and guessed the person coming directly.

Zhang Ye was very surprised and asked quickly, "How did you guess it was me?"

"Does this still need to be guessed? Who dares to report to my backyard without reporting?"

Zhang Yun turned around and glanced at his brother, pointed to the side and smiled, "Sit down!"

Zhang Ye sat down cross-legged, waved his hand and ordered the maids to go down. After a moment, the only two of them were left in the pavilion. He sighed and said, "What do you think of Yang Zhao's appearance?"

"He is not Yang Zhao now, he has changed his name to Yang Guozhong. Humph! What else can I think of the loyal minister of the country?"

In front of the brothers, Zhang Yun did not hide it, and his displeasure appeared in Yan Biao. He knew Li Longji very well. This time, Li Longji strongly opposed the ministers' opinions that they did not accept Nanzhao's surrender, and insisted on agreeing with Yang Guozhong's Nanzhao plan. He also promoted him to prime minister with Yang Guozhong's great contribution to the country. With such eager manifestations, Zhang Yun saw through Li Longji's thoughts and asked Yang Guozhong to pick up Li Linfu's right prime minister.

The right prime minister was already established as Zhang Yun. Whether it was family background or literary ability, he was fully qualified to be promoted to right prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. Yang Guozhong was just a clown who could become a candidate for right prime minister, which really made Zhang Yun dissatisfied with Li Longji.

He snorted again and said, "It doesn't mean anything that he has entered the prime minister now. It's not clear who will win in the end. Li Linfu probably can do it for a few years. These years are our chances, so we must seize it."

Listening to the elder brother's tone, there seemed to be a countermeasure. Zhang Ye was excited and asked hurriedly: "What are your plans?"

"Plan?" Zhang Yun sneered, "Of course there is, but the key is the power. As long as the power is sufficient, the right prime minister will not be able to escape from my palm."

"But brother, it's probably inappropriate for us to reach out into the army!"

Zhang Yun glanced at him and smiled with a hint of mocking smile: "Second brother, the power I am talking about is not the army."

Zhang Ye was stunned. This time he suddenly realized. He patted his forehead and smiled, "Look at me, I'm confused. There is really an army, let alone the prime minister, even......"

He laughed dryly and couldn't say anything anymore. At this time, the water waves rippled. Zhang Yun lifted the fishing rod, and a foot-long carp jumped out of the water. Zhang Yun smiled and took off the fish and put it into the fish basket. Then he said to his brother again: "This expansion of power is like fishing. You can't be reckless. You have to use roundabout means to make their willing people hook up. A famous family has always been the focus of the court's suppression. The emperor didn't say it, but he was afraid of it. Seeing that he cultivated Cui Qiao, he wanted to use Cui Qiao to differentiate the Cui family, which was exactly the same as when he used Pei Zunqing to differentiate the Pei family, so it's not easy for me to come forward directly. You are the leader of the Chang'an literary world. You can use this identity to make friends with aristocratic families for me. Do you understand?"

"Yes! I understand, please rest assured, but in addition to famous families, the Guanlong clan is extremely important. The Changsun family and the Dugu family are all royal relatives. If the eldest brother can get their support, his influence on the priest will not be a little bit."

"I know this, you don't need to remind me. Dugu Shi passed away last month. You are Taichangqing. You must make a more important contribution to Dugu Shi's reputation. Also, I am going to go to Dugu's family in the afternoon. I guess I can take down this Dugu family."

Speaking of this, Zhang Yun threw out the fish hook without bait, and smiled faintly and said, "I want you to see how Jiang Taigong fishes."

Dugu Shi's death shrouded the Dugu family in a miserable mist. Several sons from other places asked for leave to return to Beijing to handle the funeral. The eldest son Dugu Haoran even took half a year of bereavement leave and stayed in Chang'an to mourn his father. Yesterday forty-nine days, the Dugu family's ritual was finally removed. Although he was still in a sad mood, at least everyone took a breath from the heavy pressure of mourning.

In the room, Dugu Haoran was talking to his wife Pei about the marriage of her two daughters. Although her youngest daughter Mingzhu was sixteen years old, she was seriously ill when she was five years old and deliberately changed her age to avoid the Yang Blade God. She was actually only fifteen years old, and she was lively by nature and always looked like a young lady who never grew up. The Dugu and his wife didn't really take her marriage seriously. The eldest daughter Mingyue, who will be eighteen years old next year, will be eighteen years old. Dugu Haoran is usually busy with government affairs and has no time to ask about this matter, but his wife Pei has always been worried about this matter.

"Master, I know that my father passed away is not the time to talk about this, but Mingyue is not young after all. After missing the past few years, it may not be easy to marry a good husband again. Master, while you are at home during this period, it is better to make the wedding early. Even if it is not suitable to hold a wedding now, at least the title must be decided and the wedding can be done later."

Mrs. Pei was secretly happy about Dugu Shi's death. The key was her daughter's marriage. At the beginning of the year, Zhang Xiangguo specially proposed to her favorite disciple Zhao Xuming. Zhao Xuming was also her future son-in-law. She was handsome and elegant, and had a long-you family. She was a good family with the Dugu family. She was also a Tanhualang. She was promoted to the Ministry of Revenue in April this year. She had a bright future. She had such good conditions. Her father refused to agree and found various reasons to postpone the excuse. In fact, the real reason Pei knew, wasn't she just liked Li Qing'an?

To be fair, Li Qing'an's conditions are also very good. He became the governor of Beiting at a young age. I don't know how many people want to marry his daughter to him, but Mrs. Pei just doesn't like it. On the one hand, she has a bad impression of Li Qing'an. That year, Li Qing'an came to Dugu's house for a blind date. She met her. She was dark and strong and had a vulgar conversation. She was really a rough man from a military background. More importantly, Li Qing'an's background was a humble background. This was unacceptable to Mrs. Pei, who came from a famous family and had a deep-rooted concept of family background. Now that Dugu Shi died, Mrs. Pei had no shackles, and her daughter's marriage would be decided by her.

She glanced at her eyes and saw that her husband was still looking down at the book, as if he had not heard her words. She couldn't help feeling a little displeasure and said frankly: "If the master does not object, then Mingyue's marriage will be decided by me, so that's it!"

Dugu Haoran is the head of the family in other matters, and he has no say in his daughter's marriage. The reason is that his eldest daughter Mingjing was chosen by the emperor and was chosen by the Khitan four years ago. His attitude was strongly agreed with him. Unexpectedly, the eldest daughter was killed by the Khitans in less than a year, which made him extremely ashamed of his wife. In the marriage between the two daughters, he promised his wife that he would not interfere. Seeing that he could no longer use reading to make excuses, Dugu Haoran had to sigh and said, "There is only one, my daughter likes it himself, and I have no objection to the others."

If my daughter wants to like it, the marriage will be ruined. Pei smiled and said, "What do they know? The couple is in love with each other. After a long time, there is no husband and wife who are not loving. Besides, they like it now, it is nothing more than that they like it because they are fond of their appearance but do not understand their nature. They live together for decades in the future. What should they do if their temper is not harmonious and conflicts arise? The master is a veteran. I don't need to say more about this!"

Dugu Haoran couldn't find any words to refute for a long time. At this moment, a maid suddenly reported outside the door: "Master, the housekeeper said that a guest is coming, it's Zhang Xiangguo."

"Ah!" Dugu Haoran stood up and said to his wife anxiously: "Madam, I'll go to meet up with you. Let's talk about Mingyue's wedding."
Chapter completed!