There is a saying that the situation is unpredictable, but this wave of changes is too fast.
Hou Junji and Xue Wanjun, who were so happy the day before, were thrown into jail early the next morning. The rapid changes were jaw-dropping.
But when they learned the details of what happened, everyone fell silent, and then cursed: "You deserve it."
The two men set up troops to plunder the people and privately massacred high-ranking prisoners who should be dedicated to the emperor. The evidence is conclusive.
Ordinary people can be said to feel the same crime of "sending troops to plunder the people", especially since Gaochang State was also a country composed of Han people, which made the people of the Tang Dynasty feel that things were hurting others.
They were deeply disgusted by this behavior. No one complained for the two of them, but more of them cursed them for what they deserved.
For high-ranking officials, plundering and plundering is not really a crime. What is really serious is dealing with the emperor's prisoners in private, which directly crosses the line between human beings and ministers.
Rules are rules, and only the emperor can deal with those prisoners. You did it without asking the emperor. To put it lightly, it is lawless, and to put it more seriously, it means that you don't take the emperor seriously.
If you break this rule, no one can save you.
As a result, few people from the private sector to high-level officials sympathized with them, and no one went to court to intercede on their behalf.
Both of them are princes and hold high positions of power.
Their current status is mainly due to their efforts, but being able to secure this position is inseparable from the support of the forces behind them.
The two of them are imprisoned, and the forces behind them will also suffer a huge blow.
Fortunately for Xue Wanjun, he has many brothers. If something happens to him, he will still have his brothers to support him.
Hou Junji started from scratch and was the leader himself. If something happened to him, it would also mean that the force he formed would fall apart.
Even people who have something to do with him will be implicated. As for how much the implication will be, it depends on how the emperor wants this matter to develop.
But before the emperor said anything, people who were related to them were panicked, fearing that they would be implicated.
Especially those with noble titles are even more anxious. They have finally waited for enfeoffment. If they are killed just before they become princes and kings, they will really cry without tears.
…
After listening to Yuchi Xunyu's account of what Hou Junji and Xue Wanjun did in Gaochang, everyone couldn't help but shake their heads. People should not be too arrogant, otherwise they will easily do stupid things.
Cheng Huailiang said with emotion: "This General Hou is really... but fortunately, we have nothing to do with him."
Yuchi Xunyu said with some fear: "It is said that this time all the achievements of their direct troops will be halved. The higher the status, the more severe the punishment."
"Fortunately, I listened to Jing Ke and didn't follow him, otherwise there would be no place to cry now."
Cheng Huailiang chuckled and said, "If you hadn't followed Jing Ke's suggestion and followed General Qibi, would you have had such an opportunity to make meritorious deeds?"
Yuchi Xunyu couldn't help but nodded and said: "It's true, General Hou has too many meritorious disciples. Our relationship with him is average, so it's really not my turn to do good tasks."
"General Qibi is a humble man, and he doesn't want to be criticized because of his background, so he is very willing to give the Tang army a chance... The chance of meritorious service is 50-50, and he is impartial."
Chen Jingke said: "On the one hand, you are your subordinates, and on the other hand, you are the country's army. Being able to be impartial is already a matter of course."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Yuchi Xunyu said sadly: "I really don't know what General Hou is thinking. We are all brothers who fight together. I feel uneasy when I see them being punished."
Chen Jingke said: "What else could it be? Just greed. Thinking that you have the power to destroy a country, you can sit back and do whatever you want."
"As everyone knows, you can only enjoy credit if you abide by the rules. If you don't understand the rules, you won't be able to keep the gold medal for immunity from death."
Qin Huaidao gloated: "That's right, so you have to be low-key... Hey, this time they will shed their skin even if they don't die."
Cheng Huailiang did not answer his words, but asked Chen Jingke: "How did you guess that General Hou would do this?"
He still remembers Aye's shocked expression when he told her about this yesterday.
The same goes for Qin Huaidao, who quickly echoed: "Yes, yes, you can guess it months in advance. Have you learned how to tell fortunes?"
Chen Jingke said calmly: "What kind of fortune is it? It's calculated based on personality."
"I told you that my elders met General Hou and said that he was ruthless and weak-minded. They also said that he was greedy for money and had no righteousness. If he was rich, he would be destroyed by his complacency."
"At that time, I was thinking that if the Tang Dynasty attacked Gaochang, it would be easy to capture them. Any general sent there would be able to destroy the country."
"But General Hou will definitely not think so. He will only think that he uses his troops like a god and takes sole responsibility for the destruction of the country."
"With his character, what would he do after receiving such great achievements? I can't think of anything other than burning, killing, and looting."
Yuchi Xunyu said: "I see, well, it's good that you are here."
Cheng Huailiang and Qin Huaidao also nodded in agreement.
In fact, they didn't completely believe Chen Jingke's words, but they didn't suspect that he was deliberately lying. They just thought that there were some things that were inconvenient for him to say.
Besides, if Chen Jingke didn't say anything, wouldn't everything be gone? Whatever Hou Junji did had nothing to do with him.
For the sake of brotherhood, he said that Yuchi Xunyu was the direct beneficiary of this speculation, and it would be too much for them to ask random questions.
So the three of them pretended to believe it and did not ask further questions.
Chen Jingke also knew that this argument was difficult to win people's trust, but by the same token he believed that the other party would not ask further questions. This was a tacit understanding.
In fact, everyone did what they should do and did not let each other down.
After that, everyone changed the topic and talked about what happened in the capital.
For Yuchi Xunyu, the changes in the capital were even greater: "I didn't expect that when I came back after more than a year, the imperial court was going to enfeoff. I really didn't expect it."
Cheng Huailiang also said: "Yes, the year before last, His Majesty wanted to be granted the title of governor for the whole world. How many people tried to dissuade him before giving up the idea. In the blink of an eye, everyone collectively agreed to the enfeoffment."
Qin Huaidao said: "Who would have thought that the world is so big? There seems to be no other good way to govern it except enfeoffment."
Hearing this, Cheng Huailiang's expression changed, and he subconsciously looked around. He felt relieved when he thought that this was Yuchi Gong's family, and said:
"Don't say such words anywhere in the future. The enfeoffment is an act by Your Majesty to fulfill the friendship between the monarch and his ministers. This is the only reason."
Qin Huaidao also realized the problem in his words, so he slapped himself and said, "I'm talking nonsense. Enfeoffment is a gift from His Majesty to his ministers. We must be grateful."
Chen Jingke also just realized that there was indeed something wrong with what Qin Huaidao said just now. If it reached the ears of the emperor and the prince, he would lose a lot of points.
The Qin family has staked all its treasures on the prince. If he, the heir to the family, loses points, the future of the Qin family will be difficult.
Of course, there is no remedy. The Qin family should give up on him as the heir and train someone else.
But no matter how he did it, Qin Huaidao himself was the one who suffered the biggest loss in the end.
Sure enough, engaging in politics is too dangerous, and even the wrong thing you say can be used as leverage.
Fortunately, I have a trump card that can lock the blood. As long as I don't really seek my own death, it will be difficult to die.
Because Qin Huaidao said something wrong, the topic was dropped. In fact, there was nothing to say. In the end, no matter how the enfeoffment was carried out, they had no room to intervene and could only passively accept it.
After that, everyone stopped talking about political matters and started talking about some interesting things.
For example, the business situation of the restaurant this year.
Cheng Huailiang was mainly responsible for this matter. He said: "We have opened branches in nine important towns, and they have become local landmark places, where literati and poets gather."
This is all money. Yuchi Xunyu was naturally very happy and said: "I can rest assured that you are doing your work. Hehe, I am taking advantage of my brothers. I have not put in any effort and I will get the dividends."
Qin Huaidao said unhappily: "What are you talking about? Our ability to develop such a big business without being harmed by local snakes relies on the names of several companies. This is the biggest capital. How can we say that you have not contributed."
Cheng Huailiang also said: "Yes, after all, it's our brothers who take advantage of each other. It's right to help each other."
Yuchi Xunyu begged for mercy: "It's my fault, it's my fault. I won't say this again in the future."
Only then did everyone let him go.
At this time, Chen Jingke said: "Huai Liang, didn't you say you wanted to come to the Gewu Class to study? Are you really here or are you joking?"
Cheng Huailiang said sternly: "If you really go, my brothers will have serious careers, and I can no longer be idle like before."
"I think your gewu science is very promising. If you join it before it develops yet, you can take advantage of it in the future."
Chen Jingke smiled and said: "I won't tell you how broad the future of gewu studies is. Anyway, you will never regret it."
Cheng Huailiang said: "That couldn't be better."
Seeing that he finally found what he wanted to do, everyone couldn't help but feel happy for him.
After a little celebration, Chen Jingke said again: "Gewu studies need to be studied with concentration, and you can't be distracted. You'd better leave the restaurant business to others."
Cheng Huaidian nodded, pondered for a moment and said, "How about I help your wife Wu take care of it?"
Chen Jingke said: "Yes, but I have a better suggestion. Call the ladies from each family together and let them take care of it together."
"In this way, when they have something to do, they won't think wildly, and our ears can be quiet. And when they have money, they can speak more forcefully at home."
The last sentence was addressed to Yuchi Xunyu. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in his family was the most difficult. Although the situation has improved after having children, there are still some awkwardnesses.
Therefore, Yuchi Xunyu agreed very much with this proposal: "I agree. You know the situation of my family. She has a better life at home, so I can rest assured when I go out."
Cheng Huailiang had no doubts and said: "Qinghe is busy at home every day, she will definitely be willing to manage the restaurant."
Only Qin Huaidao said hesitantly: "Three women are doing a show. If I let them manage the restaurant together, I'm always afraid that they will fight."
Chen Jingke smiled and said: "It depends on us as men. As long as the four of us don't have any problems, no matter how much trouble they make, they won't be able to cause trouble."
Cheng Huailiang said: "Yeah, which one of these four women do you think is the stupid bitch? I'm not afraid of them fighting, I'm afraid that they will join forces to deal with us four big men."
Qin Huaidao couldn't help but shuddered and said, "Stop talking, I'm already starting to get scared."
"Haha..." Several people laughed endlessly.
Then Cheng Huailiang asked about Journey to the West: "This novel is really wonderful. Do you have a follow-up in hand? Can you let me take a look at it in advance?"
Qin Huaidao said quickly: "Yes, yes, Yue'er really likes this book. You have asked me to ask you for the follow-up chapters several times. Take it out quickly and let me go back and submit it."
Chen Jingke shook his head and said: "This book is related to the follow-up plan of Taoism. For the sake of confidentiality, it is inconvenient to show it to you in advance. But there is no need to worry, the whole book will be published in a month at most, and then each of you will be given a copy."
Qin Huaidao immediately said: "Forget it, when we no longer need to keep it secret, you can just ask someone to give me a copy."
Cheng Huailiang had the same plan. Although Yuchi Xunyu had not read Journey to the West, he also expressed his desire for a copy.
The three of them were very smart and didn't ask what the big plan was.
Since it is a big move for Taoism as a whole, it is definitely not a small matter. It is better not to embarrass your brothers by asking around.
After that, everyone changed the topic and started chatting all over the world. They didn't go home until it was getting late.
After sending the three people away, Yuchi Xunyu returned to his yard.
Xue Xun came up to him and said, "Master, are they leaving?"
Yuchi Xunyu directly held her in his arms, bowed his head and said in her ear: "What are you calling Zhenren? Just call him by his name, and he still calls you sister-in-law."
Xue Xun's body went limp and fell into his arms, his breathing disordered, and he said: "He is a real person, so you must respect him."
Yuchi Xunyu said: "Hey, no matter how real he is, he is still my brother. When I see you, I will call you sister-in-law... By the way, I have some good news for you."
Xue Xun's whole body was numb and his voice was trembling a little as he said, "What good news."
Yuchi Xunyu said: "Huailiang has to do his own thing and has no time to take care of the restaurant business. Jing Ke proposed to let you four women take care of it. Isn't this good news?"
Xue Xun was stunned for a moment, then returned to normal instantly, broke away from his arms, and said in disbelief: "Really?"
Yuchi Xunyu said proudly: "Can I still lie to you? I will take you to Zixiao Temple tomorrow so that the four of you can meet and figure out how to run the restaurant."
Xue Xun said excitedly: "That's great, that's great."
The dowry given by her natal family was also very generous, but this richness was only relative. For the Yuchi family, it was not even average. This was one of the reasons why the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was not good.
But the restaurant business owned by Chen Jingke and his partners is different. Although there are only nine branches, they represent completely different meanings.
By taking control of the restaurant, she would have more say. At least she wouldn't have to be so weak when facing her mother-in-law. How could she not be excited?
Yuchi Xunyu asked: "Okay?"
Xue Xun replied: "Okay."
Yuchi Xunyu said pointedly: "Then how do you want to thank me?"
Xue Xun's face turned red and she said in a disgusting voice, "I will thank you as much as you want."
Yuchi Xunyu picked her up in the arms of a princess and walked to the room.