Li Qian looked at Qin Hui in front of him and felt a headache.
"Your Majesty, there is no chance of winning if this continues?"
Qin Hui looked at Li Qian with a bit of confusion in his eyes: "Now the Ministry of Rites is also on Cai Jing's side. The choice of deputy examiner is within their scope of authority. Even if Zhongshu and the two provinces are together, there is no need to fight. Beat them."
"If Your Majesty gives up at this time, you can still stop the loss in time."
Li Qian's face was a little gloomy: "No, if it's so anticlimactic, wouldn't I become the laughing stock of others?"
Qin Hui was speechless. Wouldn't it be more embarrassing to be disgraced after all the hard work?
But given his character, he would not be able to make it so clear to His Majesty the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, I think it's better to be careful."
Qin Hui advised: "No one will think that Your Majesty has lost face, and no one will make His Majesty a laughing stock."
"On the contrary, Cai Jing has no superiority and acts domineeringly. He will be punished sooner or later."
Li Qian's face looked a little ugly: "Listen to the news in the capital. I have long been the laughing stock of others!"
"There are people who sit in our Guangwen Department every day, writing some things that are not there."
"No need to do that later, I just want those people to suffer retribution now!"
Qin Hui had an even worse headache and couldn't help but said: "But Your Majesty, the situation is not good now. If you act forcefully, it will only..."
He wanted to make you a bigger laughing stock, but he was concerned about His Majesty the Emperor's face, so he didn't say anything.
"It will only encourage his arrogance." Qin Hui's words were somewhat euphemistic.
Li Qian got into trouble this time and accepted this dead end: "No, we must not let that old guy succeed so easily!"
He gritted his teeth and looked at Qin Hui, and the hatred in his words was extremely strong: "Prime Minister Qin, didn't you see at the end of the court meeting, that old thief was sarcastic about me?"
"No matter what happens in the end, no matter what the Ministry of Rites or the Sixth Ministry is, I will make him pay the price anyway!"
Qin Hui was silent for a moment, then slowly uttered a few words: "Your Majesty, this is really a courageous decision."
"Prime Minister Qin, you won't regret your promise to me and my subordinates, will you?" Li Gan stared at Qin Hui with squinted eyes.
Qin Hui felt a little helpless. For the sake of the Ministry of Rites, he thought you always had a way to win.
But now that the Ministry of Etiquette has rebelled, you have no confidence in yourself, so why bother dragging others along?
"I will definitely do what I promised your majesty, and I will naturally not regret it."
Qin Hui said in a deep voice: "I can only do my best, but there is no guarantee that I will be able to win against Cai Jing."
Li Qian's expression softened slightly: "Just do your best and I won't ask too much of you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qin Hui breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that His Majesty the Emperor is still sensible.
Li Qian continued: "No matter what Cai Jing's plan is, as long as the ministers who are attached to him are eliminated one by one, he will be helpless."
He gritted his teeth and said, "I don't believe that Cai Jing can be so kind and willing to help others make wedding dresses!"
Qin Huixin said that when you are a servant, are you a little tortoise in the ditch or a big grasshopper in autumn? You can sweep it away if you say sweeping it?
"Your Majesty, I understand."
Li Qian pondered for a moment and then said: "Xiang Qin, who do you think among Cai Jing's men has the best chance of winning the position of deputy examiner?"
"Right Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Song Qiaonian."
Qin Hui replied without thinking: "This person is in the Ministry of Rites and has only served as a deputy examiner once before. There is still room for improvement and the best chance."
Li Qian looked gloomy: "Okay, let's follow what Xiang Qin said and remove this person from office first. No matter what happens, we can't let him continue to compete for deputy examiner. We also let the Ministry of Rites know that if we did something wrong, we must pay the price! "
"Yes, Your Majesty." Qin Hui responded.
In fact, he did not quite agree with what His Majesty the Emperor said.
Since Cai Jing has already served as the chief examiner, he probably won't bother to find someone of his own to be the deputy examiner.
It's a redundant move, and it's just a mouthful.
His Majesty the Emperor started in the wrong direction at the beginning. No matter how hard he works later, it will probably be in vain...
"Your Majesty, please leave."
"Prime Minister Qin, walk slowly."
After Qin Hui left, Li Qian breathed a long sigh of relief.
After reviewing everything that happened in today's court meeting, wondering if there were any flaws in it, and reviewing it again, he felt relieved.
Now that a confrontational situation has taken shape, I should be able to relax a little bit before the year before and not have to worry about this matter anymore.
Of course, the necessary superficial skills still have to be done, to show your anger and the strength of Zhongshu and the two provinces under the sect...
Qin Hui's method was very sharp, but the next day, a memorial was sent to Li Qian's head, admonishing the right doctor to impeach Liu Da, the chief priest of the temple.
Instead of attacking Song Qiaonian directly, he pointed the finger at a small chief under his command, who was only in the sixth grade.
Li Qian was not surprised. After half a year, he had gradually become familiar with the routines of civil servants.
Start with a small, seemingly unrelated matter, and then use various means to involve it in the desired goal after it is completed, and then suddenly attack to achieve the goal.
This is what Qin Hui did this time.
Li Qian just read it for a while and then gave the memorial a red mark.
However, he believes that Cai Jing's people are not idiots, and they will definitely be alert...
Sure enough, just like a stone causing a thousand waves, this trick was quickly spotted by Cai Jing and others, and they fought back!
The last battle between Qin Hui and Cai Jing was just a few months ago, and the memories of all officials have not faded away so quickly.
But this time the scope of the dispute is wider and affects many more people...
At this time when the whole court was disturbed and uneasy, Li Qian left the trivial matters in the palace and came to the capital to feel the increasingly strong flavor of the New Year. At the same time, he also based on clues to find Zhuge Liang. traces.
For him, everything that the DPRK and China should do has been done, and he just needs to maintain the status quo and wait for the results with peace of mind.
Today, Li Qian did not go to Dongcheng, where he usually goes most often, but to Xicheng.
There are obviously many more pedestrians on the street here than in Dongcheng, but the clothes are not as gorgeous, and the shops on the street are not as high-end as those in Dongcheng.
However, the "New Year flavor" here is much stronger than that in Dongcheng.
The New Year is less than half a month away. Red lanterns have been hung on the shop fronts on the street, and festive red couplets have been pasted in advance.
As I walked on the road, I listened to the constant shouting of sales, and occasionally there were a few children with red-faced faces laughing and playing, running past with firecrackers.
"Yes, it's much more comfortable here than in Dongcheng."
Li Gan nodded as he walked: "I heard that Zhuge Liang showed up here again?"
Lu Bu nodded, with some helplessness on his face: "This man is always elusive. So many people have been looking for him for so many days, but they can only follow him and eat dust, and they can't even find him!"
Li Qian laughed: "This just shows that he is a capable person."
But the old eunuch persuaded him from the side: "Sir, that Zhuge Liang has just appeared nearby, and many people must have followed him."
"Let's just sit in the car and stroll around, so as not to be recognized."
Li Qian sighed softly: "That's fine."
So, the few people who had just walked a few steps got into the carriage again and slowly moved forward on the crowded street.
Li Qian was lying on the window, staring closely at the pedestrians outside. Fortunately, they got on the bus early. In just a short time, he had already seen several groups of people walking by with hurried looks and suspicious behavior.
Lu Bu added: "Master, it seems that not only people from the imperial court, but also many others are here to look for this Zhuge Liang."
Li Qian frowned. Are there more competitors?
"Who?"
"There are all kinds of people, from the Ming Dynasty, from the Han Dynasty and other vassal states, from the barbarians in the west, from the barbarians on the grassland..."
Lu Bu was helpless: "These people didn't know Zhuge Liang's name at first, but when we looked for it, they also joined in the fun."
Li Qian frowned: "Are these people here to attend the imperial meeting?"
"It's quite early..." He muttered a few words, but didn't say anything nice.
As the suzerain of the vassal states and the leading power, the influence of the Daqian court was still very great.
Whenever there is a big court meeting, all the vassal states, the nearby barbarian countries, and the countries on the grasslands will send envoys to attend the court meeting.
"It's getting late, Your Majesty."
The old eunuch seemed to be very enthusiastic about things like the Great Court Meeting, and said with a smile: "In previous years, these people came right after the twelfth lunar month. Now it is already halfway through the twelfth lunar month, and they should have arrived long ago."
As he spoke, the carriage gradually walked out of the street and turned into a small alley.
There are green and black brick walls on both sides, festive couplets are posted in front of almost every house, and the narrow alley can only barely accommodate a carriage.
After Lu Bu opened the car door and took a look, he said: "Master, it's the one in front."
"But let's go in first, sir."
Lu Bu pointed forward and said with a troubled expression: "As expected, the minister sent people to keep an eye on us. Please don't get off the carriage."
Li Qian frowned and opened the carriage door a crack.
Sure enough, at the exit of the alley ahead, there were a few idle men leaning against the wall, seemingly chatting casually.
But Li Qian noticed that these people turned their heads and glanced towards the carriage, seeming to be paying attention to the movements of himself and others.
These are just those who came to the alley, there are probably more waiting outside the alley.
Li Qian frowned. These people were really lingering: "You may not be found if you stay in the carriage. I'd better go down with you."
"Yes, sir."
This time the clue to Zhuge Liang was from a grocery store. I heard that someone had seen him shopping here two days ago.
After getting off the carriage, I looked up and saw the wooden plaque of an old grocery store. There were not many goods inside and the doors were empty. There were countless such ordinary grocery stores in the capital.
As soon as the group of people got out of the car, a smart-looking young man came over from the store with a smile and asked diligently: "Guests, what do you want to buy?"
"Let's take a look first." Li Qian stepped inside and the young man just followed them with a smile and did not stop him.
Spring couplets, blessing characters, candles, bowls, dustpans, tables, chairs and benches, charcoal, washbasins...
Everything looks normal, just an ordinary grocery store.
Li Qian casually picked up a clay pot and looked through it a few times: "I heard that you had a juren here a few days ago, and people kept coming to ask for news about him in the next few days?"
The young man was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't expect Li Qian to ask such a question. After he came to his senses, he still replied with a smile: "My guest, you have a sharp eye!"
"I'm really grateful to the guest officer that day. The store's business has been booming these two days!"
Li Qian felt a little funny after hearing this. It seemed that the people who were inquiring about the information were too embarrassed to have sex for nothing, so they bought some things conveniently.
However, it was because they did not understand the relationship between Zhuge Liang and this grocery store that they remained in awe to avoid any trouble in the future.
If you really encounter some extremely vicious people who don't care about anything, you might just kidnap them and go back and torture them carefully. This would also prevent latecomers from getting any clues.
"What did they find out?" Li Qian looked at the waiter carefully.
"Youngster, you only know that much. I have already told all the guests."
The waiter looked a little helpless, but still smiled and said: "The guest officer was wearing a plain white cotton robe. He came to the shop and bought two candles. He paid six cents and left."
"The younger one doesn't even know him."
He seemed to be very skilled in dealing with this kind of interrogation. Before Li Qian could continue, he added: "I don't know where the guest officer went after he left, and the six copper coins he paid have long been replaced by others." He left, leaving nothing behind in the shop."
"You're really here to scratch the surface." Lu Bu muttered angrily, how could anyone find this!
Li Qian shook his head helplessly: "Bring us two candles."
Since I'm here, I'm too embarrassed to ask in vain. It's the same thing to buy something before leaving.
"Okay!" The waiter agreed happily and took a red candle as thick as two fingers and handed it to Li Qian.
"Sir, I have to tell you."
The waiter seemed to remember something again: "The same batch of candles that was bought by the guest officer in white were all bought by someone else. Now this candle is re-purchased by the shop."
Li Qian was speechless: "Are candles the most sold recently?"
"Sir, you are really good at predicting things." The waiter raised his thumb and praised: "The store has already received several batches of candles, and they are almost sold out again."
Li Qian shook his head helplessly. Those people were so crazy about Zhuge Liang's whereabouts, quite similar to the star-chasers in his previous life.
"Whose carriage is this? Why are you stuck here? Are you so blind?"
There was a burst of noise outside the door, accompanied by the sound of the coachman waving his whip to drive people away: "Go, stay away!"
"You can also touch our master's car?"
Lu Bu immediately strode out, followed by Li Qian and the old eunuch.
Outside the door, it turned out that several idle men had arrived in front of the carriage and were pushing and shouting with the driver. One of them still had a blood-red whip mark on his face, and blood was slowly oozing out.
The remaining people stepped forward willingly, but seemed to be wary of the whip in the driver's hand, so they just surrounded the carriage in front.
"Is it reasonable for you to be stuck here?"
"You don't look like a good person at first glance! Who knows what is hidden in your carriage? Let us see it quickly!"
"It's so crazy to ride a horse. Believe it or not, you will be unable to eat for a while and walk around..."
Faced with the threat of these idle men, the tall coachman just smiled coldly, waved his hand, and the whip came out like a black poisonous snake. Before he could see anything clearly, he heard two clear cracking sounds.
The two gangsters fell to the ground, covering their faces and screaming.
The remaining few people also looked frightened, and when they saw that they were unable to defeat them, they pulled their companions away.
"Don't let them leave yet." Li Qian suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, Lu Bu quickly ran forward, and the driver also jumped out of the carriage and stopped in front of the idlers.
"Go and ask, who do these people take orders from, and what do they know."
Li Qian's plan is very straightforward. If you can't get the results yourself, then get them from the people who get the results.
The waiter at the back seemed to have seen many such conflicts. At the moment, he was just hiding in the store with a forced smile on his face...
Li Qian got on the carriage and did not participate in the inquiry.
After a while, the old eunuch and Lu Bu finished the torture and returned to the carriage.
Lu Bu said in one breath: "Master, these people were hired by others with money. Let these gangsters here keep an eye on how many people enter that grocery store every day and how long they stay there. If Zhuge Liang comes again, they must stay. Get him. They don’t know other information, and they don’t know who the employer is.”
Li Qian frowned slightly. Seeing this, the old eunuch hurriedly added: "But these vagrants know what their employer is investigating recently."
Lu Bu rushed to say again: "They are the craftsmen in the capital, the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works!"
"artisan……"
Li Qian rubbed his chin, subconsciously thinking of wooden cows and flowing horses, Zhuge Liannu and other things.
Zhuge Liang himself is also a master craftsman, so it doesn't seem strange to find a craftsman.
It's just that... he is also powerful enough. He can lead everyone in the capital to follow him just by leaving a puzzle.
This ability is really too profound.
It seems that if you want to find him, you have to bypass the step-by-step clues he has set up and break the rhythm led by him. You cannot be led by such a resourceful person all the time.
Otherwise, Li Qian doubted that he might not be able to find him in his life.
The carriage continued to move forward, slowly exiting this small alley, and merged into the busy street again.
The old eunuch asked carefully: "Master, shall we go to the Ministry of Works now?"
Li Qian shook his head gently and did not reply.
He was wondering what Zhuge Liang's purpose was in setting up these things.
Just like today's grocery store, it may not necessarily be that Zhuge Liang's whereabouts were leaked, but it may also be that he released the news himself.
To find him, it doesn't depend on how closely you can follow him or how quickly you can get first-hand information.
If you follow other people's routines, you can only find him when he wants to be found, but when he doesn't want to be found, you will be helpless...
Just like there are so many people chasing Li Qian, including Tang Guogong, General Yang Jian, Zhao Kuangyin... But there is no news that they have found Zhuge Liang.
Li Qian was almost certain that if he went to the Ministry of Industry or found those craftsmen now, he would only be in vain.
The key to finding Zhuge Liang is to predict his next move in advance, so that you can intercept him...
So what will Zhuge Liang do next?
As the carriage passed through the crowd, Li Qian looked out the window at the crowded street, frowning.
"What is his purpose in coming to the capital..."
Li Qian tried to put himself into Zhuge Liang's thinking, but found it difficult to do so.
It is difficult for ordinary people to understand this kind of genius that has been rare for hundreds of years.
Li Qian was not discouraged and thought about it from the perspective of ordinary people.
Coming to Beijing to visit relatives? Visit friends?
Probably not. This cannot explain his current behavior.
Maybe it's about doing business? Looking for money?
Even less likely.
He is a civil servant, so maybe he came to take the examination?
As he thought about it, Li Qian's eyes lit up.
This possibility is indeed possible, and it is not small.
"Fengxian, please let people keep an eye on Jingzhao Mansion, where you can sign up for the test."
Li Qian suddenly turned his head, looked at Lu Bu and said, "If Zhuge Liang goes to sign up for the examination, he must be kept."
After thinking about Lu Bu's style of doing things, Li Qian added: "Please come here."
Lu Bu was startled, and seemed to understand the connotation of Li Qian's words: "Yes, sir, I will definitely invite him over!"
The word "please" was also specially emphasized.
Li Qian didn't notice this. He was thinking about what to do if Zhuge Liang was discovered.
The Ministry of Rites set up a registration location for the joint examination at the Yamen of Jingzhao Prefecture.
You can only use your real name when registering for the audition, and your details must be thoroughly checked. No one can avoid this.
Li Qian knew that once Zhuge Liang showed up at the Ministry of Rites and signed up for the examination, the news would spread throughout the capital in the shortest possible time.
It is extremely important to get the first move when the time comes.
After setting up this place, Li Qian started thinking about other possibilities.
But after much deliberation, I couldn't find a more suitable reason.
As the saying goes, hindsight is better. Most people can only deduce the rationale for their actions after the fact. It is difficult to do it beforehand.
Li Qian thought for a while and thought that besides waiting, he could also take the initiative to do something to see if he could lure Zhuge Liang out.
What would he be tempted by... no, attracted by?
Various exquisite appliances?
Li Qian subconsciously thought of his telescope, which might be a good bait.
It's just that the telescope is very useful and can be used as a last resort, but it is not necessary to put it into widespread use. Li Qian doesn't want it to wander outside just yet.
Li Qian glanced outside through the window, recalling the huge gap between the streets in his previous life and here, trying to find some inspiration.
Paper windows, burned glass? No. Stone walls, cement? Nor. Carriages, cars? Still can’t make lanterns, electric lights? I have some clues about this. I heard that tungsten wire is used, but there is no electricity. …
Wait, lantern?
This seems to have some meaning.
Looking at the red lanterns outside, Li Qian thought of something like the Kongming Lantern. The inventor of this thing was Zhuge Liang.
But Li Qian had never seen the Kongming Lantern in Daqian, and he had never heard of it in his memory. Maybe Zhuge Liang hadn't built it yet.
Moreover, the large Kongming Lantern can also be used as a hot air balloon, allowing people to fly into the sky...
This thing may arouse Zhuge Liang's curiosity.
He did what he thought of, and Li Qian stopped wandering around and sent the carriage back to the palace, where he formulated a "Zhuge Liang arrest plan."
Then he asked the old eunuch to get the raw materials, and he made a Kongming lantern out of paper and wooden sticks.
I have to say that the principle of this thing seems simple, but actually it requires a certain amount of manual skills to make.
When Li Qian was a child in his previous life, he always failed when trying this thing. Several times, he would spontaneously combust as soon as he started flying upward.
Fortunately, despite all the experience of failure, Li Qian did it right the first time this time.
He didn't dare try it in the palace. The beams above were made of wood. If it caught fire, it would be a lot of fun.
Li Qian went to the Royal Forest Garden and found a few eunuchs with long poles. When they were a little higher, they knocked them down.
After several experiments like this and making sure everything was correct, Li Qian felt relieved.