Pei Ju, Yu Wenshiji, Liu Wenjing, and Zheng Yuanxuan, who were envoys to the Turks, returned to Chang'an. As soon as they came back, before entering the palace to meet the saint, they learned about the major events that had happened in Chang'an during this period from the officials who received them.
Dou Wei resigned!
This news is very important to Pei Ju, Liu Wenjing, and Zheng Yuanxuan.
With Pei Ju's cleverness, he quickly analyzed a general sequence of events through the case of Dou's private possession of crossbows. Although he did not dare to draw a direct conclusion because the saint was controlling the direction of the incident behind the scenes, he still had basic suspicions.
Liu Wenjing and Zheng Yuanxuan were simply excited and happy. Dou Wei left the political hall to go home to retire, which was equivalent to King Qin cutting off his arm. Without such a powerful enemy, the prince would be able to confront King Qin more easily in the future.
As for Yuwen Shiji, he didn't have many ideas, and he didn't have time to pay attention to these rumors after the business trip.
For him, nothing was more important than persuading his daughter-in-law to go home. After meeting Li Yuan and explaining the passage of his envoy to the Turks, Yu Wenshiji left the palace to meet his daughter-in-law, Princess Nanyang.
Regarding the rewards for the four of them, Lao Li did not announce them immediately, but hinted that they would announce them at the court.
Pei Ju naturally didn't care about this. He was an important minister in the former Sui Dynasty and didn't care about such a short time.
Liu Wenjing was already the Prime Minister and knew very well that she would not be promoted in her position. She just expected to be awarded a high title this time.
Zheng Yuanxuan, on the other hand, had no expectations for the reward, because he understood that his achievements this time could at most offset his fault for the defeat in Nanyang.
Compared with their own rewards, they care more about the vacant position of prime minister.
East Palace.
When Liu Wenjing and Zheng Yuanxuan returned, Li Jiancheng held a celebration banquet for them.
After eating and drinking, all the staff gathered in the meeting hall of the East Palace.
"Your Highness, Dou Wei's departure from the court this time is an excellent opportunity for us. We must not let go of this opportunity!" Liu Wenjing's eyes flashed.
Although Dou's stumble this time was a bit strange, after the East Palace staff analyzed it, they remained silent at the same time.
Because Wei Ting, Wang Gui, and Zheng Shanguo had already understood that there was probably a saint behind this matter.
Even so, Dou Wei retires and returns home, which is a great opportunity for them. There is no need to go into details.
Li Jiancheng nodded and said, "This time, I must win that position!"
The last time Chen Shuda was appointed prime minister, he was squeezed out by the Qin royal family in the political affairs hall. This time, he will never make the same mistake again.
The vacant phase must be taken!
Wei Ting asked: "Who is your Highness going to nominate to be the prime minister?"
"Of course it's Li Gang." Li Jiancheng said without hesitation.
Li Gang was the Minister of Rites and Prince Zhan Shi. He had seniority and was also one of his own.
Wang Gui frowned and said hesitantly: "Your Highness, Li Shangshu failed to become the Prime Minister last time. I'm afraid it will be quite difficult to do so again this time."
"That's wrong." Liu Wenjing disagreed with Wang Gui's words.
So, Wang Gui asked: "May I ask what Prime Minister Liu has to say?"
Liu Wenjing's eyes flickered and she analyzed: "This time Dou Wei's resignation is by no means as simple as it seems. What happened to Chen Shuda last time, the saint will never let King Qin succeed this time, so I believe that the person recommended by King Qin this time
It is extremely difficult for people to fall in love with each other. And the Dou family was suppressed by the sage, which meant that the sage warned the King of Qin. So this time, the King of Qin has nothing to worry about."
Li Jiancheng said: "What Liu Xiang said is true. King Qin's people don't have much chance this time, but we must be careful of him jumping over the wall and ruining our plan."
How could they not see Li Yuanming's actions of suppressing the Dou family? After driving away Dou Wei, Li Yuan would never allow another person from the Qin royal family to become the prime minister.
"I understand." Everyone clasped their fists.
Wang Gui opened his mouth, gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, actually Mr. Pei can do it too."
Pei Ju?
Liu Wenjing glanced at him, knowing full well the relationship between the Wang family in Taiyuan and the Pei family in Wenxi.
"Of course Pei Ju can do it, but he has always been aloof from His Highness. How can we support him in becoming Prime Minister?"
Hearing this, Wang Gui suddenly fell silent. This was also what he didn't understand. The prince obviously favored the Shandong family, but why didn't Pei Ju be loyal to the prince?
Li Jiancheng thought for a moment and said: "The position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is vacant. We can discuss it with Pei Ju this time."
Although he was very annoyed with Pei Ju's nonchalant attitude, he still wanted to give up on Pei Ju because he wanted to hear about the Pei family.
Wang Gui sighed softly, cupped his hands and said, "I understand, I understand."
Immediately, everyone discussed the matter of recommending Li Gang to become prime minister.
The next day, Wang Gui visited Pei Mansion.
He wanted to know why Pei Ju didn't agree to be loyal to the prince.
Main hall.
"Uncle Shi, what are your plans?" Wang Gui looked at Pei Ju.
Pei Ju had enough of the cold wind on the grassland, and after returning to Chang'an, his face became much rosier.
"What do you mean?"
"Pei Gong, there are only you and me here, why do you need to avoid the important and take the easy? You know what I mean when I ask, what do you think about the prince?" Wang Gui frowned. In fact, he had been interacting with Pei Ju all the time.
Touch. The Wang family of Taiyuan and the Pei family of Wenxi lived together in Bingzhou, and there was also a saying of "North King Nan Pei". The two families had exchanged wealth and married each other for hundreds of years, and their relationship was unusual. He hoped that Pei Ju would be loyal to the prince and assist the prince.
.
Pei Ju naturally knew the meaning of Wang Gui's words. He sighed: "You know, this time I went on a mission to the Turks and found that my body and bones were not as strong as before. It was a blessing to be able to come back alive. People who were half buried in the ground,
No matter how difficult it is to make progress above the imperial court, how can I promise you?"
"Mr. Pei, there is no need to worry about these things when you have His Highness the Crown Prince," Wang Gui said.
Pei Ju shook his head and said, "I have no ambitions."
Wang Gui pursed his lips and tried to persuade him: "Mr. Pei, can't you see that King Qin's help from Guan Long is already a serious problem for His Highness the Crown Prince. If the world is reversed one day, the Shandong family will be in a difficult situation in the Tang Dynasty!"
Hearing this, Pei Ju sneered in his heart. The situation of the Shandong family is never difficult, only temporary difficulties. If the King of Qin comes to power one day, the Shandong family will be suppressed temporarily at most, but no ambitious emperor will only use the Guanlong family.
.
All I can say is that Wang Gui is still too young!
Pei Ju said lightly: "Wenxi's situation is equally difficult now, and the Tang Dynasty doesn't recognize my status, right?"
Wang Gui immediately understood that what Pei Ju was talking about was about the head of the Wenxi family.
"Pei Gong, this time Dou Wei resigned as prime minister, and the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs is vacant. If Pei Gong is interested, His Highness the Crown Prince is willing to fully assist you. Once successful, I will remind the Crown Prince and ask His Highness the Crown Prince to help you."
To be honest, Pei Ju was a little tempted by the position of Minister of Civil Affairs. However, he was not optimistic about whether the prince could get Li Yuan to recognize his position.
Because the person who prevented the Tang Dynasty from recognizing his identity as the head of the Wenxi family was Pei Ji.
"It's better not to embarrass the prince." Pei Ju waved his hand and refused.
Seeing this, Wang Gui could only persuade him again, but Pei Ju refused to let go.
Disappointed, Wang Gui could only leave temporarily.
After seeing off Wang Gui, Pei Ju also had a sneer on his face. There was obviously a vacancy for the position of Prime Minister, but the prince dismissed him with the position of Minister of Civil Affairs.
What do you think of him?
In addition, the main reason why he did not agree was that he still felt that the matter was not that simple. Dou Wei resigned as prime minister because Li Yuan was trying to balance the situation in the court. He was born in a Shandong family and had his own brand. Whether he could become the prime minister did not depend on whether the prince had
Ability, it depends on whether Li Yuantong agrees.