Chapter 61: Willing to serve His Royal Highness the King of Chu
Xu Shi could tell that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, so Duguji smiled slightly and got down to business.
"I heard from Dugu Ying that His Highness seems to have encountered difficulties recently."
Dugu Ying?
Li Zhiyun's mind moved slightly and he said calmly: "Uncle, can you clarify."
Duguji said: "This war with the Turks has lasted for nearly a year, and all the grain warehouses in the pass have been emptied. Your Highness wants to provide pensions and rewards to the three armies, but I'm afraid it's a bit stretched."
This is not a secret. The courtiers knew all about his pursuit of food from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Li Zhiyun sighed: "That's true."
Seeing this, Duguji secretly thought that King Chu's words were really not pleasant enough, why didn't you ask me if there was anything I could do.
He smiled and said: "The Dugu family has received favor from the emperor and is willing to help His Highness unconditionally and provide pensions to the soldiers of the three armies."
Um?
Li Zhiyun was startled, what did Duguji mean? How could the stingy Dugu family be so kind?
Although he has not had much contact with the Dugu family, it can be seen from Dugu Zhen and Dugu Sheng that the richer the Dugu family is, the stingier they become.
Except when Lao Li first started his business, the Dugu family invested a lot. Later, if it weren't for Wang Defa's incident, the Dugu family would not have suffered a lot of bleeding.
Why did the Dugu family change their gender this time?
Wait a minute, he just said he would help him unconditionally?
Thinking of this, Li Zhiyun tried and said: "Dou Shangshu should be responsible for this matter, why should my uncle do this?"
Duguji shook his head and said: "Your Highness is wrong. If His Highness had not repelled the Turks, how could the country enjoy peace now? The Dugu family is not doing it for themselves, but to repay His Highness's kindness."
Favor?
I have never seen you repay kindness in the past.
Li Zhiyun asked carefully: "I wonder what my uncle wants?"
There is no free lunch in this world. Although he already had plans to fill the food gap, he was also curious about Dugu's sudden show of kindness.
"There are no requirements." Duguji said with a smile.
Li Zhiyun smiled, which made people feel strange.
"Uncle, if you have any requests, please tell me. If I can do it, I will definitely help you."
"No request." Duguji shook his head.
Li Zhiyun sneered, "Uncle, people in the Ming Dynasty do not speak secretly. Although I have not been in contact with government affairs for a short time, I also know that the Dugu family is the most important family in the Tang Dynasty. How can Zhiyun treat the Dugu family's kindness like this? If uncle has no request, Zhiyun
Even if I get food, I'm afraid I won't be able to feel at ease."
Very careful King Chu!
Duguji coughed lightly and said: "Actually, the Dugu family really has no requirements. It's just that the relationship between the Dugu family and His Highness was a bit unfamiliar in the past. The head of the family thought it was inappropriate. The King of Chu worked hard for the Tang Dynasty. How could the Dugu family turn a blind eye to this?
This is the Dugu family's repayment to His Highness."
Is this... a sign of goodwill?
Li Zhiyun thought for a moment, what does the Dugu family mean by surrendering to him?
Did you get the wrong script? Shouldn't you be showing favor to the prince?
"What my uncle said makes Zhiyun ashamed."
"Your Highness, there is no need to be ashamed." Dugu Ji said meaningfully: "There are some things that the Dugu family did not do well enough, and they have neglected Your Highness in the past. I hope that in the future, Your Highness can get closer to the Dugu family."
Interesting, this should be a sign of goodwill.
Li Zhiyun smiled and said: "In that case, I would like to thank my uncle for his understanding of righteousness. The court is currently short of food, so I might as well donate food to my father in person."
"Easy to say." Duguji stroked his beard.
He was certain in his heart that the King of Chu must have some thoughts about that position. Otherwise, he would not accept this good offer.
Because in the past, the relationship between the Dugu family and the King of Chu could only be described as indifferent.
Now that the other party is willing to accept the food, it can only mean that he also intends to get closer to the Dugu family. With the intelligence of the King of Chu, he would not fail to see the current situation in the court.
In this way, King Chu also had an idea.
Soon after, Li Zhiyun and Wei Gui left.
In the study room.
Dugu Ji said to Dugu Sheng: "It seems that our guess is correct. King Chu also has ideas, but he is very cautious."
"It's not surprising that King Chu is very scheming and cannot be compared to someone like King Qi. He didn't have much contact with the Dugu family in the past. Facing our overtures, it was an unexpected surprise that he agreed." Dugu Sheng said.
Duguji said: "Leave King Chu's side to me. If he fails in the future, the head of the family can let me go out and take the blame."
Dugu Sheng was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will protect the children of the Dugu family no matter what."
Shence Mansion.
After returning, Wei Gui took his children back to the inner courtyard, while Li Zhiyun went to Shence Mansion to summon Du Ruhui and Xue Shou to discuss important matters.
Li Zhiyun did not expect that Dugu Ji's unexpected show of goodwill today would require him to formulate his attitude towards the Dugu family.
After Du Ruhui heard about this, he mused: "Dugu did this, it seems that he was preparing to get close to His Highness secretly."
Li Zhiyun said: "I think so. Since the death of Dugu Zhen, the Dugu family has been very low-key in the court. In the past, there were very few children of the Dugu family in the Tiance Mansion. Now that King Qin is dead, the prince has seen the situation, and they are also there
Find a way out.
After all, the Dugu family has more backbone than the Dou family and did not immediately bow down to the prince."
Xue Shou said: "Having said that, I think the Dugu clan may also bet on whether His Highness has the intention to seize the direct descendant. And His Highness's promise to accept the food may have aroused the Dugu clan's suspicion."
"You think it's inappropriate?" Li Zhiyun asked.
Xue Shou shook his head, "No, this is an emergency. If His Highness can get help from the Dugu clan secretly, he will save a lot of trouble in the future. The Guanlong family alone, with the support of the Dugu clan, can stabilize the family."
side."
"Is this an unexpected surprise?" Li Zhiyun laughed.
Du Ruhui smiled and said, "It should count."
Li Zhiyun thought for a while and said: "Dugu Ying is quite talented. Let's promote him to be a reporter and join the army."
"Yes." Xue Shou held his hands.
Li Zhiyun said with emotion: "Originally we thought Dugu Sheng couldn't be won over, but we didn't expect him to come over on his own. Now, it's time to consider Pei Ju."
Speaking of Pei Ju, the three of them were a little silent. This man was not easy to attack.
Soon after, Dugu Sheng, the Minister of Civil Affairs, wrote to the emperor that the Dugu family was willing to contribute 70,000 shi of grain to help the imperial court overcome the food shortage crisis.
Lao Li was overjoyed when he heard this, and quickly praised Dugu Sheng, and then sent someone to fetch food.
Jiang Guogong Mansion.
Because of the bad things done by Li Yuanji, after Chen Shuda defeated Xiao Xian at the court, he sent all the female relatives back to their hometown in Jiangzuo, not daring to let them live in Chang'an.
Therefore, the house seemed quite deserted.
On this day, a guest came.
Chen Shuda added some tea to Yang Gongren and said in a low voice: "Prime Minister Yang, the court is currently worried about food, so you would like to see me if you have time."
Yang Gongren said: "Chen Xiangnai is a hero of the Tang Dynasty. Now he is ill due to government affairs. As a colleague, why should I not come to visit him?"
Hearing this, Chen Shuda sneered. He was not sick because of overwork. He was heartbroken and despairing about the death of King Qin.
"Mr. Yang, no one can cure my illness. Tell me, why do you want to see me today?"
"What Mr. Chen said is wrong. I haven't told you how to cure it. How do you know that I can't cure you?"
Chen Shuda said with a smile: "Then let Mr. Yang have a try."
Yang Gongren smiled slightly and said unhurriedly: "The death of King Qin was due to Chen Xiang's heart disease. This is one thing. The prince, King Qi, regarded Chen Xiang as a bandit and wanted to get rid of him quickly. This is two things. Chen Xiang,
Am I right?"
Chen Shuda was not surprised. His support for King Qin was not a secret, and several people in the political hall could see it.