In the evening, Pei Ju returned to Pei Mansion by Ma Mou. The carriage stopped slowly. Pei Ju got out of the car and saw a carriage parked not far away, so he asked: "Whose carriage is that?"
The porter quickly reported, "Master, that is the eldest son's carriage."
The eldest son is Pei Ju's eldest son Pei Wenjing. Pei Ju wrote to him half a month ago, asking him to return to Beijing. Unexpectedly, he came back. Pei Ju was surprised and asked, "When did he come back?"
"Just arrived an hour ago."
Pei Ju walked up the steps, and his second son Pei Wenyi came out to greet him, saying with ease: "Father!"
After the last quarrel with his daughter-in-law Wang in the Chu Palace, Pei Ju suddenly realized the conflict between himself and his son. Although the second son never said it, he must be dissatisfied in his heart. He had let him do nothing for decades, and Pei Ju felt dissatisfied in his heart.
Feeling a little guilty, he made the decision to let his second son take over the vacancy left by the third son, Wenju, and take charge of the Pei family's financial power.
Pei Ju nodded, "Is your elder brother back?"
"Big brother is back and talking to everyone."
"Well! You ask him to come to my study, and the eldest grandson also gets up."
Pei Ju gave the order and went directly to his study. As soon as he entered the study and sat down, there was a knock on the door, "Father, it's me!" It was the voice of the eldest son, Pei Wenjing.
"Come in!"
The door opened, and Pei Wenjing and his son, Pei Jin, the grandson of Pei's parents, walked in. Pei Wenjing felt sad when he saw his father's old age, so he stepped forward and knelt down, "The child has been away for many years and cannot take care of his father. The child is unfilial."
Although Pei Ju was very powerful and served as the prime minister for more than ten years, his sons were not so good. The eldest son Wen Jing only got the post of prefect because of his blessing. The second son Wenyi and the third son Wenju were only short-lived.
He entered an official position, but his official position did not last long.
However, the grandchildren are good. The eldest grandson Pei Jin has become the Shaoqing of Dali Temple. The second grandson Pei Zhu is currently the Sima of Xihe County. Pei Yun’s grandson Pei Yaolao is the governor of Loufan County. Pei Qingsong also serves as the extremely important clerk.
Joining the army gave Pei Ju hope that one of his grandsons would become a great man.
Pei Ju nodded gently, "Get up! Sit down and talk."
Pei Wenjing is over fifty years old, with gray hair on his temples, but he is still a child in front of his father. When he is close to his father, he wants to stand down.
"Father called the child back. What's the matter?"
Pei Ju smiled slightly and said, "Don't be anxious, let's talk slowly."
"Yes! The child is too impatient."
Pei Wenjing smiled apologetically and asked his son to stand behind him. Pei Jin was in his early thirties this year. As early as the early years of Daye, he was known as the leader of the young court officials. At that time, he was only the second generation.
At the age of ten, he served as the magistrate of Jiexiu County. Yang Guang also praised him for allowing the Pei family to continue their power.
Of course, Pei Jin also has a weakness, that is, he is rather proud, which is related to his prominent family background, as well as his success at a young age and his smooth career.
Pei Jin didn't say much. He saluted his grandfather and stood behind his father. Pei Ju glanced at his grandson and then said with a smile: "Let me tell you some news first. I have decided to retire and return to my hometown."
He said it very easily, but Pei Wenjing was shocked. The new Sui Dynasty had only been established for less than a year, and all kinds of interest relationships had not been clarified. It was just when the major families were laying the foundation for the new dynasty that Pei Ju wanted to withdraw.
Official, this will have an extremely negative impact on the Pei family.
Pei Jiajing said anxiously: "Father, please think twice!"
Pei Ju waved his hand and said, "There is nothing to think about this anymore. I decided to retire last year. I have been talking about it for several months and I don't want to delay it anymore. Tomorrow - early morning, I will submit my resignation to the King of Chu and beg for my bones to return home.
Pei Wenjing looked solemn. He did not expect that his father would make such an important decision, and he did not even discuss it with himself, which made him very frustrated.
Pei Ju looked at Pei Jin again. He had told him this matter, but he didn't tell his father. How could he have such a deep city at such a young age?
Pei Wenjing still couldn't help but wanted to persuade his father again, "My father is not in good health, and I understand. I also hope that my father can rest early, but now is a critical time. If my father retires at this time, it will most likely affect the Pei family."
His position in the new dynasty may be detrimental to the Pei family in the long run."
"In the long run?"
Pei Ju sneered, "After four years of Renshou, I realized that Yang Yuanqing would become a great player, so I bet heavily on him. Which of you has such a long-term vision as me?"
Pei Wenjing was speechless and had to lower his head and said: "Since the father has decided, the child has nothing to say."
Pei Ju glanced at him and said, "Not only do I want to retire, I also hope you can find an excuse to resign."
"What!"
Pei Wenjing's eyes widened, "Father, why?"
Pei Ju closed his eyes and said, "Jin'er, tell me why?"
Pei Wenjing looked back at his son, "What happened? Why did you never tell me?"
Pei Jin talked with his grandfather, and he knew the reason, so he bit his lower lip, knelt down and said to Pei Wenjing, "Father, my grandfather thinks that our Pei family is too powerful in the new Sui Dynasty and has already achieved great success.
We must know how to advance and retreat, otherwise the status of Princess Chu and the Crown Prince will not be guaranteed."
Pei Ju sighed, "I am Zuopushe, the Minister of the Secretariat, and the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. I am ranked first in the Ziwei Pavilion... Pei Shiqing is the minister of Honglu Temple - Jin'er is the young minister of Dali Temple - Pei Yao is the governor of Loufan County, Pei Shiqing is the minister of Loufan County.
As the Sima of Xihe County, Pei Qingsong also served as an extremely important clerk and joined the army. Two days ago, Pei Ming served as the judge of Cao Cao, the Sui army. In addition, you are the governor of Hedong County, and there are more than 20 disciples of the Pei family who are officials.
Don’t you think our Pei family occupies too many positions in the Sui Dynasty?”
Pei Wenjing's lips were trembling, and he couldn't speak for a long time. Pei Ju slowly said: "I might as well tell you one more thing. Wang Su was demoted, Wang Xu will also be dismissed, and it will be our Pei family's turn next.
, if I still don’t know how to be interesting and still rely on my position, then the Shen family of Jiangnan will be appointed as the minister, do you understand what this means?"
Although Pei Wenjing is relatively mediocre, he has been in the officialdom for more than 20 years after all. His father understood, so he lowered his head and said, "My son understands and is willing to listen to his father's arrangements."
Pei Ju heard that although he agreed with his mouth, he was unwilling in his heart. He smiled again and said to him seriously: "If I remember correctly, you should be fifty-two years old this year. You have been an official since the age of twenty-six.
It has been twenty-six years. In the past twenty-six years, you have never been able to enter the center of the imperial court. Have you ever found out the reason for it? "
"It's because the child has mediocre abilities and has no political achievements, but the child is an honest official and has not embarrassed his father or brought disgrace to the Pei family." Pei Wenjing said with some excitement.
Pei Ju sighed secretly in his heart. The eldest son's reaction was indeed slow. He had already hinted to him like this, but he still didn't understand and had to tell him clearly.
"Wen Jing, do you think your future is greater than that of your own son?"
Pei Ju's tone gradually became stern, "If you refuse to resign, then your son must resign!"
Pei Wenjing was shocked all over. He looked back at his son. He understood what his father meant and finally lowered his head, "Okay! My son is willing to resign and go home."
Pei Ju patted him on the shoulder and comforted him: "I, the prime minister, don't miss this position. What's the pity that you, Shi, are a little county magistrate? You must consider the long-term interests of the family and leave opportunities to your children. In the future,
Princess Chu will be the queen, and the future son will be the prince. Our Pei family will still be the best family in the world."
"My child understands that for the benefit of the family, my child is willing to give up this long-standing position."
…
Early the next day, Pei Ju formally proposed to Chu King Yang Yuanqing to retire from his official post and return to his hometown on the grounds of old age and frailty. This news shocked the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty.
As an old prime minister for more than ten years, as the head of the five prime ministers of Ziwei Pavilion, as the grandfather of Princess Chu, as the head of the largest family in Hedong, and as Ran Tingdi, the leader of the powerful Pei Party, he actually proposed to retire from office.
This is difficult for countless people to understand.
"I was once imprisoned in the Turks. My essence and blood were declining. Every night, I always felt that it was difficult to continue on my own. I was afraid that I would die soon. I begged for the bones and returned to my hometown to recuperate and spend my remaining years in peace..."
Pei Ju's resignation report was sad and made people sympathize and understand it, but almost on the same day, Pei Ju's eldest son Pei Wenjing also submitted his resignation application, requesting to resign from the post of Hedong County Magistrate Shi. His reason was that he had been an official away from home for many years.
He had been with his father for decades but less than a year, which was unworthy of his filial piety. He had to take care of his father.
The resignation of the Pei father and his son at the same time made some smart people begin to realize something. There must be something fishy in this.
In the official room, Yang Yuanqing slowly looked through the resignation letters of Pei and his son. Pei Ju's resignation was in his mind, but Pei Wenjing's resignation was something he did not expect. He had to admire Pei Ju's cunningness.
Pei Wenjing's ability is average, and his resignation will have little impact on the Pei family, but Pei Ju's sincerity gesture is shown. Two members of the Pei family resigned at once, which gave you Yang Yuanqing enough face, so should you Yang Yuanqing do the same?
Means - what?
"With the departure of Xiangguo Pei, the new Sui Dynasty has lost its pillars. I have a feeling that it is shaky and the building will collapse." Yang Yuanqing sighed. Although Pei Ju's retirement was his wish, but if an old minister leaves, he will also
Have negative impact.
Pei Ju sat opposite Yang Yuanqing and said with a smile: "When the old ministers are gone, new ministers will come. The old ministers are old and weak, and they really don't have the energy to deal with government affairs. In the past, only Hedong was slightly better. Now that we have taken Hebei, a lot of government affairs
It made me breathless, and it also delayed many important decisions, so the old ministers abdicated and made way for young and powerful newcomers. This is the general trend."
"Prime Minister Pei is a high-ranking official and worthy of being the new emperor of the Sui Dynasty. I understand the sacrifices made by the Pei family and I will compensate the Pei family."
A rare bright light flashed in Pei Ju's eyes, and he secretly praised in his heart that Yang Yuanqing really had the heart of an emperor, and actually understood his true purpose of asking his son to resign. It's good, he will wait and see.
…
In the afternoon, Yang Yuanqing issued two appointment letters, appointing Nayan Yang Shidao to Ziwei Pavilion and becoming one of the five prime ministers. The second appointment letter was to promote Pei Shiqing, the minister of Honglu Temple, to the minister of the Ministry of Rites. This is why Pei Ju ordered his son Pei Wenjing to resign.