Chapter 43 Prepare to start breaking the situation
What can be confirmed now is that there must be some collusion between Pei Ju, Zheng Shanguo, and Zheng Yuanxuan. It is even possible that Pei Ju knows about the Luozhou plague. What makes Li Zhiyun even more angry is the plague. It may be possible,
Pei Ju also participated.
Thinking of this, he suddenly wanted to slap this old fox who wanted to die. For his own benefit, regardless of the life and death of the people and the danger of the court, so as to cause trouble to himself, this person is really a great traitor.
But he was not a child after all, and he still kept in mind the late emperor's instructions, telling him to calm down and not act impatiently.
"Mr. Pei, I will consider it carefully."
Pei Ju nodded. Today, when the emperor summoned him privately, he knew that the matter was mostly successful. Although the current emperor is smart, he is still young, too young.
hehe.
After a while, Pei Ju stood up, said goodbye and left.
Bang!
Li Zhiyun slapped the table with his palm, causing the memorial to fall to the ground. The eunuchs serving in the palace lowered their heads in fear.
Gao Liangzhong swallowed his breath quietly and asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, do you have any instructions?"
"Go and summon Zheng Shanguo to see me."
"yes."
Gao Liangzhong lowered his head and went down.
At Pei Ju's level, Li Zhiyun has basically figured out the person behind it. Then the only thing left is to find out the truth.
If you want to make a move, you can't break the situation with Pei Ju, because Li Zhiyun feels that with this old fox's character, once the matter is exposed, he is likely to get out of it.
If you want to figure out Pei Ju's plan, you have to start with the Zheng family.
The control of the Zheng family is in his hands, and he is not afraid of Zheng Shanguo's disobedience. Otherwise, he can use this to suppress the Zheng family in Xingyang.
Let's say that Pei Ju had just returned home when he received news about Zheng Shanguo, and the emperor summoned him.
"Congratulations."
"It's all Duke Pei who helped me. I'm very grateful." Zheng Shanguo thanked Pei Ju very sincerely. After former members of the Yuan Yin Prince's Mansion scrambled to be appointed by the emperor, Zheng Shanguo naturally couldn't sit still and wait for death.
Pei Ju said: "The emperor is young. You must obey him and never get angry with the emperor. This is your hard-won opportunity. If you miss it, you Zheng will have to waste decades before you can return to the court."
Hall."
"Yes, what Mr. Pei said is true. I will keep it in mind." Zheng Shanguo nodded in agreement.
"Okay, go ahead and don't keep the emperor waiting."
"Yes, I'll take my leave."
After Zheng Shanguo left, Pei Xuanji walked into the hall.
"Sir, I don't quite understand."
"What don't you understand?" Pei Ju drank tea quietly.
"Why do you want to help the Zheng family, and in this way?" Pei Xuanji's face was not very good, because he also knew a little bit about the inside story of Luozhou. With Zheng Shanguo's frequent visits in the past few days, he also knew a little bit.
matter.
Especially the plague, which was actually caused by the Zheng family. And my lord probably also played a disgraceful role in it.
This is difficult for him to accept.
Pei Ju put down the tea cup and said thoughtfully: "I know, you think the Luozhou plague was caused by Zheng's instructions, right?"
Pei Xuanji said nothing.
Not speaking is acquiescing, but Pei Ju still understands, so he said: "If I say that I don't know about the plague and they are responsible for it, do you believe it?"
Pei Xuanji was stunned for a moment and then nodded.
"I believe my lord."
"Okay." Pei Ju continued: "Let's talk about why we need to help the Zheng family. In fact, I am not helping them, but helping ourselves."
"Help ourselves?" Pei Xuanji was puzzled.
Pei Ju sighed: "My life is short. Once I pass away, we, the Pei family, will lose what we have won so hard. So, before I leave, I have to make arrangements. At the very least, let someone from the Pei family take over."
The emperor trusts his ministers, as you know. Du Ruhui and Xue Shou are examples. If I leave the political hall, who do you think will take my place?"
A name flashed through Pei Xuanji's mind.
"Cen Wenwen?"
"That's right." Pei Ju said: "Except for the generals and military generals, most of the emperor's ministers in the residence govern a state locally. After thinking about it, I feel that Cen Wenwen is the most likely. This person's talent is also the most valued by the emperor.
.Otherwise, Luozhou will not be handed over to him."
Pei Xuanji frowned and asked, "But sir, who of our Pei family can be the prime minister?"
"Your uncle Shiqing."
So that's it. Pei Xuanji fully understands this.
Pei Ju continued: "Actually, my methods were too hasty. This matter will definitely arouse the emperor's resentment, but I don't have time. My son, you have to know that in the palace, the Xian Concubine has given birth to a prince.
We, Mr. Pei, must become the pillars of support for the two of them."
It turned out that his father thought much more than he thought.
On the other side, Zheng Shanguo put on his clothes and followed the chamberlain to the Tai Chi Hall.
He used to be a frequent visitor to the Tai Chi Palace, but after his failure to hide himself from the crown prince, he had no chance to attend the Tai Chi Palace. Seeing Wang Gui, Wei Ting and others being appointed by the emperor one after another, he inevitably became impatient in his heart.
The Zheng family in Xingyang is becoming increasingly weak. If they cannot rely on the power of the imperial court, the family status is likely to be replaced by other famous families. If he cannot hold a high position in the court, there is no telling how the Zheng family in Xingyang will be targeted.
It’s no wonder that he is not afraid, because he was a die-hard loyalist to Prince Yin back then. What can he do if the emperor comes to settle accounts?
This time, he didn't ask for much. If he could win the position of Luozhou governor, he would have a way to return to the center within three to five years.
Walking into the Taiji Hall, Zheng Shanguo faced the emperor who was processing the memorial, extended his arms and bowed.
"Zheng Shanguo, see His Majesty the Emperor."
Li Zhiyun slowly raised his head, with a warm smile on his face.
"Mr. Zheng is here, please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The waiter brought a futon, and Zheng Shanguo sat down on his knees.
Li Zhiyun said: "Earlier, I wanted to see Mr. Zheng. But since the Zhenguan Year, all parts of the world have been unstable, and I can't spare the time."
"I know."
"Hmm." Li Zhiyun asked, "Does Mr. Zheng know about the Luozhou plague?"
"Reporting to your Majesty, I have heard this mentioned by people in the market."
What a great Zheng Shanguo, even pretending to be stupid at this time, his acting skills are quite good.
"Gao Liangzhong, please show Luozhou Memorial to Duke Zheng."
"yes."
Gao Liangzhong held some memorials and placed them in front of Zheng Shanguo.
"Mr. Zheng, we are all here." After saying that, Gao Liangzhong bowed and left.
Li Zhiyun said: "Mr. Zheng, you might as well understand a thing or two first, and then express your opinion after reading it."
"yes."
Zheng Shanguo was overjoyed in his heart. The emperor wanted him to go to Luozhou.
In fact, he knew the situation in Luozhou very well, but he pretended to pick up a memorial and read it while performing the whole drama.
Seeing this, Li Zhiyun was stunned, looking forward to Zheng Shanguo's next expression.
When Zheng Shanguo finished reading the two letters and started reading the third memorial, the look of ease on his face disappeared in an instant.
What's left is horror, panic, and fear.
His eyes passed over the dazzling characters on the memorial, his heart was trembling, and his palms were shaking violently.
The names Wu Chi, Zheng Dayong, Zheng Yuancong, and Zheng Yuanxuan mentioned in the memorial were like sharp knives, ruthlessly inserted into his heart.
The weather was about to turn cooler, but Zheng Shanguo only felt that it had become colder, as cold as falling into an ice cellar.
He raised his head and saw the playful smile on the emperor's face. At this moment, he lost all thoughts and his mind went blank.