After hearing this, Cai Xianqing looked at the two rows of noisy civil and military ministers and fell silent for a moment. Only Zeng Liang was unconvinced and stood up straight, still arguing: "Prime Minister, what do you mean? Military and state affairs,
How can you deceive me!"
Niu Yuan stared at Zeng Liang angrily and cursed secretly: "It's a shame that I helped this guy get rid of Yan Wen in the past. If I didn't protect him, he would have been killed long ago! Now he is chasing after me like this."
"How ungrateful!" After thinking about it, he finally suppressed the anger in his heart and sneered.
: "Zeng Shangshu, I have completed my great work today, and the people of Fuzhou and Guangzhou are also grateful for my merits. It is just a matter of killing first and then reporting later. Could it be that Zeng Shangshu wants to settle accounts after the fall and destroy my good governance because of what happened now?"
Isn’t this just for some selfish gain and harming the country?”
"You..." Before Zeng Liang could finish his sentence, he knocked him down. He had nothing to say and had to take two steps back: "Well, how do you want to deal with the matter at hand?"
Niu Yuan said proudly: "What is there to talk about? Everyone, the deal is done and there is no way to regret it. The only way is to make a special case for the other country."
After hearing this, Liu Zhennian did not look up to see everyone's reaction. He just turned his ears slightly to listen to what someone was about to say. But everyone seemed to have read his mind, and they remained silent, not even loud.
He dared to breathe out, but he did not try his best to flatter or speak out to argue, and together they maintained a strange silence.
Zeng Liang glanced at Lian Chongwen from the corner of his eye, and saw that the latter's expression was alternately uneasy and expectant; he then looked at the ministers with hesitant eyes. In addition to their constant seriousness, their faces also showed some shrinkage and anxiety.
, was looking around anxiously, as if searching for someone - he had been observing carefully from the beginning, so he was extremely concerned about these small changes.
Zeng Liang hesitated for a moment, he knew who everyone needed, so he took a long breath, made a draft, stepped out of the queue again, and retorted vigorously: "No! The country has already banned the sea, if only for pardoning people
Therefore,
To intentionally switch the switch on and off would not be to condescend to the other country and bring great harm to the face of our country. If this were done, how would the people of the world regard it? How would the neighboring countries of the country regard it? It is a crime to be eager to make meritorious deeds while neglecting the cause of the country.
It’s big!”
"Zeng Liang!" Niu Yuan was so angry that he suddenly darkened his face. He didn't even care about the prince's face and directly slapped the table and yelled, "You are so brave. How dare you make irresponsible remarks to me? This
You're so rampant, I'm afraid there's a treacherous mastermind behind it! If you dare to criticize the government again, be careful I'll take off your official uniform and beat you to death on the spot!"
Zeng Liang bowed proudly and said: "I have always regarded myself as a direct minister. Now that I have been gifted, I am honored to be able to bear my name of loyalty. But it is a pity that the Prime Minister is not a man who sticks to his word, so I have to follow the emperor's instructions."
Mr. Liu’s intention is clear.”
Lu Zhixian saw that Niu Yuan was so angry that he couldn't help but secretly rejoice and wanted to see how he would respond. The minister next to him saw this and wanted to please the chief officer, so he also stepped forward to help. He slowly lifted his waist
He straightened up and was about to take a step when his arm was tightly held by Lu Shangshu: "Don't go."
"What?" The minister looked forward and back and asked in a low voice, "If we don't deal with him at this time, our etiquette department will be dragged down by him sooner or later."
Lu Zhixian said: "That's the truth. However, Niu Yuan's power is raging, and Liu Gong's attitude is not clear. We can't take the initiative. Zeng Liang has already stood up, and then we can just encourage him to write a letter. We only need to stand up
Behind him, nothing will happen."
"Okay, okay..." Niu Yuan did not dare to look back at Liu Zhennian, for fear of losing face. He stared at the ministers with his eyes, "Since you Zeng Liang consider yourself a disobedient person, then I will
You have to see who supports your ridiculous remarks! Anyone who supports him, come out!"
Of course, no one dared to step out, not even to stretch out their feet.
"Zeng Shangshu," Niu Yuan sneered, his eyebrows twitching twice, "You can impeach anyone if you want, but no one cares. General Lian, let's continue talking!"
Zeng Liang silently resigned, but strangely, he did not show a trace of frustration.
After this big quarrel, the negotiation with Lian Chongwen began to go smoothly. The two parties negotiated repeatedly and finally ended up with a plan that everyone was happy with. The contract was finalized without any danger.
Niu Yuan copied a copy of the contract and happily went to the emperor to claim credit. The emperor removed the screen to meet him, not even carrying the dagger with him. He spoke highly of this great hero and rewarded Niu Yuan on the spot.
He was given a thousand taels of silver, and he was given a number of short-term reports, telling him to fill them in at will, and to be promoted to his confidants.
Niu Yuanke rarely saw the true face of the emperor. He expected that the emperor was really afraid of him, so he would be so accommodating, so he became more and more unscrupulous. He directly added the names of several confidants to Gao, or transferred him to the Yushitai.
As a deputy to an assistant, or as a court official in various ministries, you can think and write at the same time, without any trouble.
After writing it, he distributed the confession to many of his confidants. Seeing them kowtow in fear, he felt as if he was floating in the clouds. He felt extremely proud.
But there were also timid confidants among them. Some people did not dare to accept the letter of appointment and said to Niu Yuan: "Sir, although most of the courtiers did not object to the treaty negotiated today, they expressed their dissatisfaction orally secretly.
They must be plotting against you. Why not keep a low profile for the time being and wait until the pirates are defeated?
The artillery has also been delivered, and it is time for the dust to settle over there. It is said that a big tree attracts the wind, but if you become arrogant now, it will easily lead to jealousy. It is better for you not to accept the complaint." Niu Yuan sneered at this and listened to this again.
The inappropriate words and sudden change of color forced him to obey the order.
"We are looking for Zeng Shangshu! Zeng Shangshu, please come down and answer us!"
As soon as Zeng Liang's sedan stopped in front of his mansion, he heard the roar of people in front of him and hurriedly asked the sedan bearers to put down the pole and lift the curtain to take a look. It turned out that Gao Jizhi was leading the sedan chair, together with Lu Zhixian, a native of Hunan, and Chen
Comrades and other senior officials bowed their hands to him as if worshiping Buddha.
"What do you mean by coming here?" Zeng Liang seemed unfazed. He took the paper fan from the sedan and got off the sedan and asked.
"Your Excellency, you should know," Gao Jizhi deliberately bent down to look up at him, "we also deeply hate this agreement. If our country's prestige is harmed because of this, we who eat the emperor's salary cannot escape the blame. Now is the time
In times of crisis, we have nothing to ask for, so I ask you to speak out and impeach me!"
"This matter is exactly what I am responsible for, and I am obligated to do so! It is not convenient to talk here, so please come into the mansion and have your say." Zeng Liang did not hesitate at all, because he had already made his decision in the main hall.