As soon as it got dark, carriages one after another stopped in front of Yuan Shou's house. Today was the birthday of Yuan Shou's wife, Hou Mochen. Yuan Shou wanted to celebrate a little and sent out more than thirty invitations.
More than ten important Guanlong nobles.e^See
Yuan Shou's brother Yuan Su and his eldest son Yuan Shangwu were standing at the gate to welcome the guests. At this time, a carriage stopped with the word "Dou Mansion" written on the shaft of the carriage. This should be Dou Kang, Yuan Su.
He hurriedly greeted him.
Dou Kang had a very good relationship with Yuan Hongsi, a younger brother of the Yuan Shou clan and the current general manager of Youzhou. They were also an important member of the Long family that Yuan Shou placed his hopes on. Unexpectedly, a young man of about 27 or 27 years old walked out of the car with his head bowed. Yuan Su
He was stunned for a moment. Didn't he agree that Dou Kang would come in person? How did he become his eldest son Dou Yan?
Ever since Dou Kang, the former general manager of Youzhou, was arrested on suspicion of following Yang Liang's rebellion, he has been idle at home, waiting for the opportunity to resume his official career. Originally Dou Kang was going to come to the door in person tonight, but he changed his mind and asked his eldest son Dou Yan to come in his place.
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Dou Yan cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Father was originally going to come, but when he came out, his ankle sprained and the pain was unbearable, so he had to order me to come to celebrate his birthday on his behalf. Please forgive me for my rudeness!"
Yuan Su was extremely disappointed, but had no choice. At this time, another carriage arrived, and Yuan Shangwu greeted it. Coincidentally, it was Li Jiancheng who came on behalf of his father.
"My father is seriously ill and can't come here. It's disrespectful to ask me to give you a small gift."
Yuan Su glanced at Li Jiancheng, his expression of contempt was clear. Of course he knew that Li Yuan was pretending to be ill, just because he didn't want to come forward to impeach Yang Yuanqing for killing Yuan Shangwu. He was a typical cowardly and useless person. It would be useless whether he came or not.
Yuan Su was too lazy to pay attention to Li Jiancheng. Dou Yan and Li Jiancheng were cousins. They grew up together and had a deep friendship. He had already greeted him and said with a smile: "Da Lang, if I had known that you would be in the carriage behind me, I would have waited for you."
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Li Jiancheng also smiled and said: "I called you a few times, but you just couldn't hear me. I thought you were holding a grudge because I didn't invite you to drink at the beginning of the year."
The two of them laughed loudly and walked hand in hand to the Yuan Mansion. They walked around the screen wall. Seeing that there was no one around, Li Jiancheng asked in a low voice, "Didn't you say that uncle came here? Why didn't he come again?"
Dou Yan glanced back and curled his lips disdainfully, "My father said that this was the feud between the Yuan family and Yang Yuanqing. Yuan Min was actually interrupted at noon today. This shows the depth of hatred between them. My father did not want to participate.
There was animosity between them, so they stopped coming."
Li Jiancheng was stunned. Interrupting Yuan Min's tui actually had such an unexpected consequence. He quickly said: "Didn't you say that we will unite the Guanlong forces to deal with the Shandong nobles?"
"Jian Jiancheng, this kind of thing cannot be explained clearly. My father originally suspected that this was just an excuse for the Yuan family to deal with the Shandong gentry, but it was actually to take revenge. After what happened at noon, my father didn't believe it even more. Anyway, this
The Dou family has decided not to participate in this matter."
Li Jiancheng nodded, "It is right not to participate, but if you participate, you will get into trouble."
The two walked while talking, and soon entered the lobby. There were already more than twenty people sitting in the lobby. They were all representatives from various families. Some important people also arrived. Yuan Shou was accompanying Yu Zhongwen to speak.
Zhang Jin was accompanying Yu Wenkai to talk. The Dugu family sent their eldest grandson Dugu Qi. The Wei family also came, including Wei Xiaokuan's son Wei Ji, the official servant Shaoqing, and He Lou Zigan's son He Lou Shanzhu, the governor of Qian'an.
, He Ruobi's younger brother, Wanrong County Duke He Ruodong, etc., and even Ande King Yang Xiong sent his youngest son Yang Shidao to attend.
Nominally everyone came to celebrate his birthday, but in fact they all had their own agenda. Some really wanted to deal with Yang Yuanqing, such as He Ruodong, who wanted to cut Yang Yuanqing into pieces with a thousand knives.
Some want to deal with the Shandong gentry. The most typical representative is the Jingzhao Wei family. The Wei family mainly arose because of Wei Xiaokuan. In a strict sense, it does not belong to the Guanlong aristocracy, but belongs to the Guanlong family like the Hongnong Yang family and the Longxi Li family.
The Longshi tribe and Jingzhao Weishi believed that there should be a representative of the Longshi tribe in the cabinet prime minister. If the Yang family of Hongnong could not be appointed, Jingzhao Weishi should be the one to serve. They were dissatisfied with Wenxi and Pei clan occupying two positions.
On the other hand, Wei Shi felt deeply guilty towards the Yuan family because of the affair between Yuan Shangwu's wife and the King of Qi, so Wei Ji, an important figure in the Wei family, came to attend this time.
But most people hope to take this opportunity to reunite the Guanlong nobles. In the past few years, everyone has witnessed the suppression of the Guanlong nobles by the Holy Emperor. If they don't fight for it, they will inevitably fall apart in the end, and the Guanlong nobles will completely decline. However,
Due to the impact of the Yuan Min incident at noon, many people were still suspicious and sent their sons to participate to test the truth first.
At this time, Yuan Shou saw that everyone had almost arrived, so he stood up and said with a smile: "Everyone, please be quiet!"
The lobby gradually became quiet, and Yuan Shou raised his voice and said: "On auspicious days, Yuan Mansion welcomes all the Guanlong families. Since today is my wife's birthday, I also want to take this opportunity to discuss the future of the Guanlong family with you.
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Yuan Shou had discussed with Zhang Jin in advance that he could not directly deal with Yang Yuanqing, which would offend many people, thinking that the Yuan family was taking advantage of justice to avenge his grievances. It could only be said that it was to deal with the Shandong nobles, and in the end it fell on Yang Yuanqing. Yang Yuanqing could only
He is one of the noble families in Shandong.
Yuan Shou was about to review the glory of the Guanlong nobles first. At this moment, a housekeeper ran over in a panic, "Master! Master!"
Yuan Shou's speech was interrupted. He was extremely annoyed and shouted angrily: "What's the matter?"
The housekeeper stammered: Qing is here and I want to apologize to...the master!"
There was an uproar in the lobby. Yang Yuanqing actually came to the door to apologize. Did he really come to apologize? Yuan Shou couldn't go on. If it was normal, he would have ordered him to be beaten away with a stick, but now he didn't dare to deal with it hastily. Yuan Shou glanced at it
Zhang Jin, Zhang Jin was his military advisor. Zhang Jin nodded, meaning to deal with Yang Yuanqing's matter first, otherwise it would arouse unnecessary suspicion among everyone.
A surge of anger arose in Yuan Shou's heart. Yang Yuanqing interrupted his son's tui and actually had the nerve to apologize. He bowed his hands to everyone and said, "Please sit down for a moment. I'll be back soon."
But who would be willing to sit here for such a thing? Everyone stood up and followed Yuan Shou out. Some even rolled up their sleeves and shouted, "Yang Yuanqing bullied others too much. I'm sorry for Brother Yuan!"
Li Jiancheng vaguely guessed that the purpose of Yang Yuanqing's visit was to solidify his feud with Yuan Shou and weaken the cohesion of the Guanlong nobles. This was similar to the way he interrupted Yuan Min's tui.
This is an extremely powerful move. Once the conflict between him and Yuan Shou turns into a personal grudge between the two of them, then the common hatred of the Guanlong nobles will only turn into lip service, and no one will really help. Back then
Isn’t the He Ruobi case just ahead?
Li Jiancheng also wanted to know how Yang Yuanqing would provoke him, so he quickly followed him out.
Outside the gate of the mansion, Yang Yuanqing was wearing a purple robe of a civil servant, with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. Behind him were still two iron guards, Sanlang and Shilang, and placed a sandalwood box on the steps.
Dozens of servants from the Yuan Mansion crowded in front of the main door, staring fiercely at Yang Yuanqing. Yang Yuanqing had a leisurely time with his hands behind his back and a calm smile on his face. He had already heard the noisy footsteps coming from the mansion.
The main door opened, and the servants dispersed to both sides. Yuan Shou strode out, followed by a large group of birthday guests.
Yuanshou stared at Yang Yuanqing with cold eyes and asked in an extremely cold voice: "What are you doing here?"
Yang Yuanqing cupped his hands and smiled and said: "Yuanqing was young and ignorant, and he had too many grudges with the Yuan government. He felt deeply uneasy. I came here to apologize to Yuan Neishi in person, hoping to resolve the grievances between us."
Zhang Jin also understood that Yang Yuanqing was provoking and sabotaging tonight's meeting. With a thought in his mind, he simply took advantage of Yuan Shou's plan and pretended to reconcile with Yang Yuanqing. This blocked everyone's speculation that he was seeking revenge for his grievances.
Zhang Jin glanced at Yuan Shou, but Yuan Shou ignored him and whispered behind him: "You can pretend to reconcile."
Yuanshou still ignored him, and Zhang Jin smiled bitterly in his heart, yes! His brother and nephew were not killed, but his son was interrupted. How could this hatred be resolved? Even pretending can't do it.
Yuan Shou laughed angrily, "Yuan Qing, you only broke my son's pussy at noon, and you came here to reconcile at night. Who do you think the Yuan family is, and can you manipulate it at your will?"
Yang Yuanqing smiled faintly, "My master killed me first at noon. I was just defending myself. Moreover, my master admitted that it was the Yuan family who made up my prophecy in an attempt to kill me. I, Yang Yuanqing, have completely ignored the Yuan family's attempt to harm me."
"Wait a minute!"
Zhang Jin interrupted Yang Yuanqing's words. He stepped forward and said coldly: "General Yang, those prophecies were not compiled by the Yuan family. They were made by you to trick Yuan Min into admitting. The so-called state-owned laws, since you have found out that they are from the Yuan family."
For what you did, you should write a memorial to report to the Holy One, go to the Holy One to sue the Yuan family, but you took the beggar to go to Yuan Min without permission. Isn't this a trick? You also deliberately interrupted Yuan Min's tui.
, to increase the hatred between you and the Yuan family."
Zhang Jin turned around and said to everyone: "Everyone should understand that Yang Yuanqing's intention is to make everyone think that the Yuan family and he are enemies, so as to provoke unity among our Guanlong nobles."
"Zhang Shangshu, you are wrong, you are really wrong!"
Yang Yuanqing still used an extremely cold tone, looked at Zhang Jin with a disdainful look, shook his head, and said to everyone: "Dear ministers, I, Yang Yuanqing, am a soldier. I pay attention to the distinction between grudges and grudges. I don't like civil servants.
This is a secret fight, and I came to the Yuan family today just to settle this grudge completely."
He cupped his hands to Yuan Shou and said: "In the history of the Yuan Dynasty, there is a saying that it is better to resolve enemies than to end them. As witnessed by all the senior officials, I formally apologize to you. From now on, our grudges will be wiped out. How about that?" Two words came out viciously,
"dream!"
Yang Yuanqing's expression changed, he took a step back, stared at Yuan Shou and said slowly: "Yuan Neishi, is there really no chance of reconciliation?"
"Yang Yuanqing, you are too naive. Can our blood feud be settled with just an apology? Go away! I won't kill you now. I hope you won't show up in front of my Yuan family again."
Yuan Shou secretly held back the anger in his heart and repeatedly warned himself not to get angry or fall into Yang Yuanqing's scheme. If he reconciled with him, no matter it was true or false, his Yuan family would not be able to hold its head high in front of the world. This was why he did not want to
The reason why he was willing to agree to Zhang Jin’s pretense of reconciliation.
Yang Yuanqing had a look of disappointment on his face, and he let out a long sigh, as if the Yuan family had lost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Yuan Neishi, I will not leave. I just said that I must settle this grudge today."
Yuan Shou's eyes flashed with overwhelming anger, "What do you want, tell me!"
Yang Yuanqing's gaze suddenly became fierce, full of murderous intent, as if there was a huge conspiracy hidden behind him. His gaze slowly swept across everyone's face, looking into their eyes.
Let the cold and ruthless murderous intention in his eyes be deeply imprinted in their hearts, and let a trace of doubt or fear arise in everyone's heart.
Finally, his eyes fell on Yuan Shou's face, and the ruthlessness in his eyes disappeared, becoming as sharp as a knife. He said word by word: "Okay! I respect the Yuan family as the Xianbei royal family, and we
The Xianbei people’s way of resolving this grudge.”
He turned around and winked. Yang Sanlang stepped forward and opened the lid of the sandalwood box on the steps. There was only a piece of paper inside. Yang Yuanqing pointed to the piece of paper and said coldly to everyone: "This is my challenge letter. I officially
The Yuan family will engage in a life-and-death duel with me, and we ask all ministers to be intermediary witnesses for us."
Yang Yuanqing deliberately emphasized the word 'duel'. Many of the guests behind Yuan Shou were extremely sophisticated old bureaucrats. Many of their faces turned pale, even though there was no connection in Yang Yuanqing's words.
, but there was an invisible involvement in his words, which made many people involuntarily think of the 'He Ruobi case' that happened four years ago. Didn't He Ruobi ask Yang Yuanqing for a life-or-death duel at that time?
The Holy Emperor took advantage of the conflict between Yang Yuanqing and He Ruobi to set up a trap, and finally severely damaged the Dugu family and the Yuan family, marking the beginning of the attack on the Guanlong nobles.
Everyone thought about the silence of the Holy One on the prophecy, and how Yuan Min was interrupted at noon, and the Holy One still didn't express his opinion at all. Many people felt a chill in their hearts. Could there be a trap hidden this time?
?
This is an extremely clever psychological tactic. Yang Yuanqing never mentioned the role of Emperor Yang Guang in his battle with the Yuan family. He would never blatantly threaten anyone, otherwise he would be tabooed by Yang Guang.
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Instead, he used a clever psychological suggestion to propose a duel with the Yuan family, which immediately reminded everyone of the He Ruobi case.
When Yang Yuanqing saw that everyone's faces had changed, he knew that he had achieved his goal, and the iron plate of the Guanlong nobles was smashed by him.
He slightly cupped his hands and said: "If the internal history of the Yuan Dynasty is difficult to decide for a while, I can wait. Ministers, Yuan Qing has disturbed everyone, so I'll take my leave!"
Yang Yuanqing turned around and walked away. After walking a few steps, he turned back to Li Jiancheng and smiled: "Brother Jiancheng, please tell my father that I, Yang Yuanqing, thank you very much!"
Li Jiancheng's face changed, and he asked in a trembling voice: "What are you thanking my father for?"
Yang Yuanqing smiled enigmatically, "You understand in your heart!"