After the spies retreated, it was already getting late. Xue Bai thought about it and summoned Yan Zhuang.
Yan Zhuang no longer looked like the poor man who went to Chang'an to take the exam. He looked much older, and his movements were calm and dignified.
He met Xue Bai while praying, and his eyes showed the joy of seeing an old friend again after a long absence, but also deep admiration and awe.
"I'm calling you here so late. I'm going to put an extra burden on you." Xue Bai said, "What do you think of the imperial court's new policy?"
"good!"
Yan Zhuang's eyes showed excitement and he couldn't wait to respond.
Then, his expression calmed down and he said solemnly: "What the New Deal has improved is the fate of people like me who come from humble backgrounds. The high-ranking families have been annexing their fields and hiding their population, so that the court taxes have to be borne by ordinary households.
We are getting more and more, especially in Hebei Province, which is suffering a lot. There is a lot of chaos, heavy taxes, and few opportunities for advancement. Now that your Majesty has reorganized the system and is personally supervising it, the people of Hebei Province are very lucky."
Xue Bai nodded and said: "I am very happy that you can see this."
"Since the New Deal was promulgated, I have been thinking about it day and night and dare not neglect it."
"Pei Yi impeached Yan Gaoqing for occupying military fields and exploiting soldiers. What do you think?"
"It is true that Duke Yan cannot intimidate the arrogant and powerful generals in Hebei." Yan Zhuang said: "There are inevitably some domineering generals in the army who use military camps to occupy more of the fields of their soldiers and refuse to hand over grain. Duke Yan
Force them and get a lawsuit against them."
"Who do you think can hold it down?"
Yan Zhuang hesitated for a moment and said, "If we can let Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi go to Fan Yang, and I can help them from the side, things will go smoothly."
"I understand."
"In addition, Pei Yi's impeachment was motivated by speculation." Yan Zhuang added: "Xiangong Yan presided over the new administration in the court, which may have touched the interests of some aristocratic families, so he was instructed to deal with the Yan family... I think there are many powerful people.
This is possible."
"That's how you see it."
Xue Bai nodded and did not comment, but ordered Ji Yanzhuang to be the envoy to encourage farmers in Hebei, and ordered him to be responsible for rearranging the field registers and household registrations in Hebei, and he must provide accurate figures.
Yan Zhuang received the order to thank him and retreated.
~~
Night enveloped Fanyang City, which was very peaceful.
Pei Yi was leaning on the recliner with his eyes closed, and his face showed a look of concern for the country and the people.
Beside his legs, two pretty and lovely Silla maids were holding his legs on the left and right. From time to time, fair and delicate hands would reach his lower body, trying to arouse his interest.
"Don't tease me."
Pei Yi snorted lightly, with a sense of alienation after exhaustion in his tone.
"The word sex has a knife on its head." He murmured with emotion, reminding himself: "The saint is in Fan Yang right now, I have to be more cautious."
When the beautiful maid tried to tease him again, he waved his hand sadly and asked them to retreat. He also summoned a confidant and ordered: "Send them outside the city tomorrow and don't attract anyone's attention."
"Here, Ah Lang, there is someone visiting, calling himself Wei Ling."
"Let him meet me in the hall."
Pei Yi straightened his clothes, picked up a volume of books, and walked out slowly. When he saw Wei Ling, he asked arrogantly: "Why is Wei Ling's visit here?"
Wei Ling's expression was quite flattering. It must have been because he saw the emperor's high regard for Pei Yi a few days ago and Yan Jiming was never released from prison, which made him realize that Fan Yang's situation was about to change.
After complimenting Pei Yi a few words, Wei Ling said: "I have something I want to give to Pei Sima."
"I will not accept any gifts, please take them back."
"Pei Sima." Wei Ling bowed forward and whispered in Pei Yi's ear.
Pei Yi was surprised when he heard this. He looked Wei Ling up and down and said, "Did he ask you to come?"
"yes."
Pei Yi then changed his attitude and said, "That's one of our own, but you didn't tell me earlier."
Wei Ling smiled and said, "Brother Pei, why don't you take a look at the gift I brought? She is a Silla maid, and she is stunningly beautiful."
"Stunning?"
Pei Yi raised his eyebrows and immediately became interested.
There are actually more than a hundred beautiful Silla maids in his house, but he always feels unsatisfied. It's not that he is talented enough to handle those hundreds of people, but the one he likes the most is always the next one.
This tireless search for beautiful maids can no longer be described as lustful, but rather like some kind of addiction.
At this time, Pei Yi forgot about the word "sex" he just said and said there was a knife on his head. The emperor was in Fan Yang. He had to be more cautious and said impatiently: "Where are the people?"
Wei Ling was stunned for a moment, surprised that Pei Yi's serious appearance hid such an eager temper, and also surprised that his true colors were revealed so quickly, and quickly replied: "It's just outside."
"Call me and have a look."
After a while, a slender woman was brought in. She was said to be stunningly beautiful. In fact, there was no shortage of such stunning beauties in Pei Yi's mansion, but he was still very excited. He rubbed his hands and said, "Okay, okay, with her, I will gather."
The number is one hundred and eight...what is your name?"
"Nujia, Li Ji."
Wei Ling laughed at the side and said, "I spent a lot of money to buy this Liji, and specially gave it to Brother Pei."
Pei Yi knew that he wanted to ask for something, so he raised his hand and asked him to sit down and talk. At the same time, he waved his servant to take Li Ji to his room to wash herself and wait for him.
He stared at her walking away figure, raised his chin slightly, and signaled Wei Ling to talk to him if he had anything to say.
"That's right." Wei Ling said: "My ancestors settled in Fanyang at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty. They bought some thin fields, tribes, and slaves. Now that the imperial court has implemented reforms to tax the land, equalize the land and release slaves, I'm afraid that in the future
It’s unsustainable.”
Pei Yi understood it as soon as he heard it, clapped his hands and said: "Let me reassure you first. Your Majesty's new law will not work, or it will only work half of it."
"I wonder what this means?"
"Let me tell you what will happen in the future. The tax law will change from rent tax to land tax. It doesn't matter if it is collected once or twice a year. The court can do this. But the investigation of hidden fields and households cannot be found clearly.
, it is impossible to equalize the land and free the slaves. This is like bargaining. Now that the court's price has been given, it is time for you people to bargain."
Wei Ling understood, but still looked confused.
Pei Yi smiled and said, "You don't know how to bargain?"
"Exactly, please give me some advice from Brother Pei."
"It's just that you dare to speak." Pei Yi said, "You speak first and bite the court back."
Wei Lingruo realized something and said, "Yan Gaoqing?"
"Not bad." Pei Yi waved to him and asked him to come over and said: "First divide the clan's fields among different clansmen, find Yan Gaoqing, and verbally promise to donate all your fields. I will wait for an opportunity to impeach you again.
He invaded people's fields and confused the situation."
"Can these fields be recovered?"
"If you defeat Yan Gaoqing in a fight, it will naturally be yours once the emperor leaves. What? Under the emperor's nose, if you don't hand it over, do you want to die?"
"Would it be too eye-catching?"
"Did you think you were the only family?"
Wei Ling said: "It turns out that the same is true for military camps."
Pei Yi smiled faintly and nodded.
Wei Ling asked again: "What about Yan Jiming?"
Pei Yi said: "I have known for a long time that Yan Jiming had contacts with Shi Siming's daughter. Among the remnants of them, one of them was a slave trader for the Shi family. I bought several Silla maids from him and waited for many days.
I deliberately waited until Yan Jiming passed by before ordering the arrest."
"Gao Ming, if this happens, the Yan family will not be able to clean themselves out, and the water will become even more muddy." Wei Ling said, "But what's the benefit of Brother Pei doing this?"
This time, Pei Yi did not answer again, but glanced at Wei Ling sternly, thinking that he asked too many questions.
Wei Ling quickly confessed and left after a while.
"Too careless."
Pei Yi looked down on Wei Ling and shook his head, thinking that if it weren't for that person's relationship, he wouldn't be helping Wei Ling at this time.
Thinking of Li Ji just now, his heart became hot again, and he quickened his pace and hurried to the house.
This thing is very strange. He has obviously planned not to have sex with women for a while, but he still can't help himself when he encounters a new beauty, especially when he opens the door and smells the strange and delicious fragrance.
"Beauty, where are you?"
A slim figure appeared behind the screen, but Li Ji didn't respond. She glanced at him, looked timid, and quickly hid behind the screen.
Pei Yi quickly rushed towards her, but unfortunately she was in vain. Li Ji made a "squeak" sound and turned to the other side, her skirt flying in the air and the fragrant wind gusting.
"What are you hiding from, beauty?"
"Mr. Lang looks so serious. The slave family is scared."
"Haha, don't look at me. I look upright. I'm very easy-going in private. Come here and I'll give you a hug."
Li Ji hid again and asked: "Mr. Lang just said that there are one hundred and seven beauties, how can he still like the slave family?"
The more she behaved like this, the more interesting it became to Pei Yi, and he said: "You are wrong, you are my favorite, and the others are very boring."
"The Yinu family sees it, Langjun, you are suffering from a disease. If you don't get it, you will go crazy."
"You're right, I'm sick. I have a heart problem." Pei Yi laughed, "I have to be cured by a beauty like you."
"Ugh, disgusting."
Li Ji circled the screen and hid, and soon she was panting again and again, which made Pei Yi even more excited.
He even deliberately slowed down to enjoy the pleasure of letting her escape without being able to escape from his grasp. Because he was old and his body was not as good as before, what he liked most was the process of collecting.
"Hahaha."
Pei Yi gradually forgot his feelings, and his demeanor became bold. He calmly stretched out his hand, grabbed Li Ji's Cai Lian, and pulled her, frightening her face to pale.
At this moment, his mood reached its highest point. He simply untied his belt and threw it aside, opening his clothes, showing his excitement and high spirits.
Li Ji yelled, abandoned Cai Lian, and ran out the door.
Pei Yi chased after him with a ferocious smile, spreading his hands to hug her.
"ah!"
Li Ji suddenly felt like a cat.
Pei Yi felt that he was hugging a body, and then he felt a smell of sweat and blood coming to his nostrils. When he took a closer look, he found that he was hugging a majestic man.
He was startled and quickly took a few steps back. He found that there were many people standing in front of him. The evil man at the head looked familiar. He looked like... a guard around the emperor.
"Pei Sima is so cheerful. Did you have a good time? Your Majesty wants to see you."
Pei Yi's body trembled, and his excitement and high-spirited energy subsided instantly. He felt five thunders in his heart, and all his thoughts were shattered.
Unspeakable regret came to him. He clearly knew the consequences and reminded himself time and time again, but he just couldn't hold it back and finally made a big mistake.
~~
It was late at night, and Xue Bai was still awake. He walked to the lobby and saw Pei Yi who was tied there, and Wei Ling who was standing beside him.
"Your Majesty, we have all been recruited." Wei Ling said: "Pei Yi once personally admitted to me that he framed Yan Gaoqing and Yan Jiming."
Xue Bai was not surprised, because he was the one who asked Wei Ling to explore Pei Yi's story.
"Your Majesty, I am aware of my guilt!"
Pei Yi kept kowtowing, crying bitterly, and howled: "I want to make meritorious deeds too much. As soon as I heard that the generals were making trouble, I went to the court to impeach me. I was deceived by beauty, lost my head, and committed a serious crime. I can only ask your Majesty to give me the punishment."
Give me a chance to reform."
Xue Bai looked at his eyes that were red from crying, unmoved, and said: "You are also a person who has made contributions to the Tang Dynasty, why do you do this?"
"I...I'm sick and lustful. I will definitely change my past..."
"I ask you why you want to frame Yan Gaoqing and go against me."
Pei Yi was stunned for a while, and then he replied hesitantly: "I would never dare to disobey Your Majesty, I just...just think...there will be a chance if I do this..."
"What kind of opportunity?"
Pei Yi kowtowed and said, "I deserve to die."
"I ask you, what opportunities will there be?"
"I mistakenly thought that I could step on Yan Gaoqing... and rise straight to the top."
"Okay, I understand. You are sure that I will be afraid of the excessive power of my foreign relatives, and you are also sure that my new law will not be implemented. You are not going against me, but you are not optimistic about my national policy and are betting on the other side."
"I deserve death for my crime!"
Xue Bai asked: "Tell me, how are you driven by Yan Zhuang?"
Hearing this name, Pei Yi finally reacted and said quickly: "Your Majesty, it is clear that Yan Zhuang was behind everything! He understood the weakness of the minister's lustful nature, designed to deal with the minister, and asked the minister to deal with Yan Gaoqing, thinking
To take over Yan Gaoqing's position..."
~~
"Today I met with Your Majesty. Your Majesty entrusted me with the important task of sorting out the land and household registration in Hebei."
Yan Zhuang sat in the darkness, speaking slowly to a few people, and then said: "You can tell your masters when you go back. Don't worry, His Majesty is not here for us. Your Majesty is busy reforming, as long as we express our support
, this time there will be no danger."
"Yes." Several people across from him agreed.
These are the envoys sent by General Fan Yang.
With the various policies adopted by the new king after he came to the throne, they gradually felt uneasy.
After all, during the Tianbao period, the imperial court delegated great autonomy to Fan Yang. The military, government, finance and taxation were under the control of the military commander, and it was like a country of its own. Now with the military settlement, the soldiers gradually settled down, and once the reform was implemented, the imperial court could pass it.
The land directly controls the soldiers, which means that the power of taxation is taken back. If this continues, these people will have no value. Who knows whether the court will settle accounts in the future.
Considering this point of view, they were dissatisfied with the New Deal. When something happened, they sent someone to ask Yan Zhuang. At that time, Yan Zhuang reassured them, saying that he had his own arrangements.
This arrangement is not complicated. He bribed Pei Yi and instructed Pei Yi to continuously frame Yan Gaoqing.
If the emperor did not come in person and only read the memorial in Dongdu, there would be two opinions, either that the Yan family was arrogant and arrogant, or that the aristocratic family was dealing with the Yan family, then they would either doubt Yan Gaoqing's loyalty or doubt Yan Gaoqing's loyalty.
With his abilities, Yan Zhuang may take advantage of the opportunity to rise to the top.
At least this matter was absolutely safe in his opinion, because as soon as the new law came out, the court would be in a state of confusion and would not be able to take care of Fan Yang.
The only thing he didn't expect was that Xue Bai came to Fan Yang in person. Fortunately, Xue Bai still believed in him when he met the saint today.
"Also, no matter what they want to do, they have been more honest recently and will endure it until His Majesty returns south."
"But I don't know how long it will take?"
"It won't be long." Yan Zhuang said: "It is impossible for states and counties in the world not to have troubles. Maybe the news is already on the way at this time. His Majesty is most worried about Hebei, but we want him to know that Hebei is the least for him to worry about...
"
Just as he was talking, someone rushed to the door, as if he had something urgent to say. Yan Zhuang took a look and saw that it was the person he sent to keep an eye on Pei Yi, so he immediately sent someone to the side hall to report.
"What's wrong?"
"Alang, Pei Yi was taken away."
"Why?"
"I don't know why, I just know that Wei Ling went to see him, and not long after, a group of people broke into the house and took him away."
"Intrusion?" Yan Zhuang felt deeply uneasy and frowned in thought.
He was pacing back and forth, thinking about various possibilities, and his face gradually became serious.
Finally, he looked down and found that his hands were shaking badly.
"Crack."
Yan Zhuang put his hand on the table, suppressed the fear in his heart, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind to have Tian Chengsi's envoy summoned over first.
"I'm going to see Tian Chengsi and leave the city with you."
"Leaving the city tomorrow?"
"No." Yan Zhuang said, "I'll leave the city tonight."
As soon as he finished speaking, a servant came outside and said: "Alang, the saint has summoned..."
"What?!"
Yan Zhuang's eyes showed fear and he hurriedly whispered to the envoy: "Go and tell Tian Chengsi quickly that when the birds are gone and their bows are gone, if anything happens to me, he will not end well."
After hearing these words, the messenger became a little panicked and turned around to leave.
Yan Zhuang grabbed the man and said, "Go from behind."
If possible, he would also like to escape together, but he knows that he can't leave anymore, so he can only hope that he can pass the border again tonight.
~~
When he saw Xue Bai, Yan Zhuang felt a little more at ease because there was no tense atmosphere in the hall. The emperor seemed to be sleepless in the middle of the night and wanted to find someone to chat with.
"I remember that the first time I met you was at a wine shop in Chang'an. You talked loudly, calling Li Linfu a traitor and talking about the evils of the Tang Dynasty."
"Yes, I was young and short-sighted at that time, which made Your Majesty laugh."
"When you helped me invade Luoyang and get rid of Anlushan, I asked you why. You said that you assisted Anlushan in the rebellion to change the world, but it turned out that you were wrong. Is this the truth?"
"Your Majesty, it's the truth."
Xue Bai said: "But now it has changed."
Yan Zhuang paused for a moment, sensing something was not going to happen, so he continued to cover up and responded: "I have become slow and lazy."
Xue Bai looked at him deeply and said: "I originally thought that what you did was to resist injustice, but gradually I realized that you were doing it out of selfishness."
"I... I wonder what your Majesty means by these words?"
"It took a lot of effort to pacify the world, but some people want to benefit the people. You are thinking of seeking personal gain, so you persecute loyal people and incite soldiers to cause trouble, isn't it?"
"I am terrified. I don't know where these rumors come from. I have always adhered to them..."
"How dare you quibble?!"
Xue Bai suddenly shouted, and immediately a guard pushed in the door and lifted Pei Yi up.
"Young man Yan Zhuang!"
As soon as Pei Yi came in, he cursed Yan Zhuang.
"How dare you deny it in front of His Majesty?! If it weren't for your wolfish ambition, which was designed by me, how could I have reached this point, a shameless beggar slave, a maid giving birth to a son, and a villain like you can still hold a high position and bring harm to Shengli!"
He probably also knew that he was going to die, so he just used his words and scolded him harshly.
Yan Zhuang prostrated himself in front of Xue Bai, but remained silent.
After Pei Yi completed his testimony, Xue Bai asked: "Yan Zhuang, do you plead guilty?"
"Pei Yi has wronged his ministers, and I sincerely ask your Majesty to come to his senses."
"Your Majesty, the guilty minister has evidence." Pei Hu said: "He embezzled the rebels' seizures, bribed generals, befriended barbarians, and all kinds of evil deeds. I have evidence of guilt. He can't escape!"
Yan Zhuang still refused to plead guilty and asked: "Pei Yi, you have wronged Yan Gaoqing and you want to frame me. What are your intentions?"
Pei Yi was furious and suddenly said: "Your Majesty, Yan Zhuang's refusal to plead guilty must be to delay time... He has made friends with rebels and wants to rebel. Please kill him to frighten the generals in Hebei."
Yan Zhuang's expression changed slightly, he quickly lowered his head and said, "Those who are clean will be clean by themselves."
Xue Bai became more and more disappointed, waved his hand and ordered them to be dragged down.
The reason why Xue Bai met Yan Zhuang was not because he needed his confession, but because he was from a humble background and should have supported the New Deal, and wanted to give him a chance to repent.
But since Yan Zhuang wants to delay, Xue Bai can just wait and see if those Hebei surrendered generals really dare to rebel again.
~~
The next day, when officials from Fan Yang heard that the emperor had captured Yanzhuang, they were immediately disturbed and feared that they might force the generals of Hebei to rebel. However, Xue Bai did not take it seriously and went on patrol incognito again to see Du Fu.
Du Fu served as the Secretary of Education in Hebei Province and had a large official office in Fanyang City. However, in his free time, he would go outside the city to personally teach some children from poor families as a kind of guidance.
Over time, people built a thatched cottage in Yanjiao for them to teach, which was called "Huanhua Cottage".
Xue Bai came in disguise and did not disturb anyone else. That day he and Du Fu were sitting in the thatched cottage, talking about solemn matters.
"Although Yan Zhuang suffered from being born in poverty, he never thought of protecting others from suffering in the same way. It can be seen that this kind of sympathy is not born with everyone, and it needs to be taught." Du Fu said with emotion.
Xue Bai smiled and said: "Du Zimei has gained experience through teaching."
Du Fu suddenly frowned and said, "How can your majesty come out of the city when such a big event has happened? Wouldn't it be dangerous if Yan Zhuang's colleagues mutiny?"
"You have been in Fan Yang for a long time. Who are Yan Zhuang's allies? Who are likely to mutiny?"
"Of course those domineering generals are surrounded by barbarians." Du Fu said, "The complexity of the situation in Hebei is complicated by these rebellious people who are ready to draw their swords against each other."
"Then let me see if they dare to draw their swords against me."
Du Fu was still uneasy and hesitated to send Xue Bai into the city as soon as possible.
Xue Bai was calm and drinking tea.
He didn't show it, but he was a little disappointed in his heart. The Yanzhuang incident made him realize that in today's Tang Dynasty, there are not so many people who want to change the huge gap between classes like him.
Those common people and poor families resisted desperately, not to change the world, but to become a high-class family and bully others.
This made him feel that the ideal he wanted to achieve was out of reach, and changes came and went, but in the end nothing changed.
Thinking of this, Xue Bai looked out the window and saw a young man holding a book and teaching a group of ragged children to read.
"The sky and the earth are dark and yellow, the universe is primitive. The sun and moon are waxing and waning, and the stars and stars are arrayed..."
The sound of reading was heard, and Xue Bai put down his tea cup and asked, "Is that the son of the general Zhang Zhongzhi?"
Du Fu was surprised and said: "Your Majesty actually knows him?"
Xue Bai felt relieved and smiled: "After all, it was Brother Zimei who changed the Tang Dynasty."