Cai Jing, the grand master who dominated the government and the public, was already seventy-four years old at this time and was serving as prime minister for the third time. Although there was a regulation in this dynasty that the prime minister should not be in office for more than eight years. But when it came to Zhao Ji and Cai Jing, the monarchs and ministers
Here, it doesn't work.
Just because Cai Jing was able to figure out Zhao Ji's preferences, he blindly advocated "prosperity and prosperity in Henan", and in the name of reform, he could collect all the wealth from the people into the imperial treasury to provide Zhao Ji with a luxurious and lustful life. Therefore,
Although he was dismissed as prime minister twice before, it didn't take long before Zhao Ji thought of his benefits and appointed Cai Jing as prime minister again.
It has been eight years since the third appearance of the Prime Minister in the second year of Zhenghe. The Cai family is extremely prominent, but after all, it is already seventy years old. In recent years, Cai Jing's energy has been far less than before. He originally wanted to support a few more sons.
Cheng, then retired and returned to his hometown.
Unexpectedly, a document suddenly came from Jiangzhou more than ten days ago. Cai Dezhang, the ninth son who was sent to Jiangzhou to serve as the governor, was actually assassinated in the street.
The pain of the white-haired man sending the black-haired man away made this powerful traitor who had experienced many ups and downs in the court seem to have aged several years and no longer had the energy to care about the affairs of the court.
Cai Jing leaned back on his chair weakly, looked at the officials standing under the hall, and said, "How is it? Is the assassin's whereabouts known?"
This official was a cadre of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, who was good at finding traces and catching prisoners, so he was sent by Cai Jing to Jiangzhou to catch the assassin.
"Reporting to the Grand Master, the first few assassins in white clothes and black hats must be members of Manichaeism in the south of the Yangtze River. Some people also heard that the assassins called the women among them holy aunts, so they thought that the first batch of assassins were all Manichaeism.
Later, the assassin who killed Master Zhizhou turned out to be a carrying pole, and he was not considered to be a group of them. It must have been a temporary act. However, he was not from Jiangzhou. He fled immediately after the incident, so his whereabouts have not been found yet.
"
Cai Jing nodded and was about to speak when he saw his eldest son Cai You, who had opened his own mansion, come in. He couldn't help but ask, "Why are you here today?"
The official from the Ministry of Punishment saw another dignitary of the Cai family coming in and quickly retreated.
Cai You said: "I heard that my father has been in poor health these days, so I came here to visit."
When Cai Jing heard this, his expression changed. He had already ordered his servants not to tell anyone about his frail health, but he didn't expect that he would let this traitor know about it.
Then he said in a deep voice: "This is nothing, please come back."
Cai You ignored his father's order to expel him, but stepped forward, grabbed Cai Jing's wrist and took his pulse.
Cai Jing couldn't help but tremble with anger when he saw Cai You being so presumptuous.
Cai You said with a smile: "My father's pulse is a little disordered. I'm afraid he has been feeling unwell recently."
Cai Jing naturally knew what Cai You was thinking, and said angrily: "You are such a traitor, you wish your father was sick, right?"
Cai You let go of his father's wrist with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Father, I misunderstood. It's just that you are already over seventy years old, and the affairs of the court are complicated and heavy. I don't want you to be upset anymore. Now my brothers and I are able to serve in court."
By establishing a foothold in China, father can enjoy his old age in peace."
Cai Jing glared at Cai You and said: "Now that you are the third division of the Kaifu Yitong Division, you have become a first-rank official, and you can be on an equal footing with your father. You just don't know my position, how are you going to treat your second brother?"
Cai You said without hesitation: "My Cai family's reputation has been ruined by him. Now the people are eager to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin. For the sake of my Cai family, my son can only petition the Holy One to kill him to show the anger of the people."
Cai Jing couldn't help but his eyes darkened, he leaned back on the chair for a moment and then said: "Treason, Trick, as long as I live, you will never succeed."
Seeing that his father was indeed weak and that the purpose of his career had been achieved, Cai You patted his forehead and said, "Suddenly I remembered that there were still things in the palace, so my son resigned."
Seeing Cai You's resignation with a happy face, Cai Jing couldn't help but sigh and said to the official of the Ministry of Justice: "You can go down now. You can just report the assassination to the Ministry of Justice. I will have no right to interfere in the future."
Sure enough, Zhao Ji ordered Cai Jing to become an official within a few days. Just because he had contributed so much to the country, he was allowed to go to court on the first and fifteenth day of each month.
After Cai Jing was deposed, Chao Gai and others only used their troops in Liangshan and stopped plundering cities and mansions. None of the traitorous ministers in the court meddle in their own business and only focused on fighting for power and profit in the court.
But it was said that after Li Kui had a happy few days in Liangshan, he saw Zhang Shun's wife living happily on the mountain, and he also thought of his own wife. He immediately came to Chao Yong to go down the mountain to pick up his wife.
Although Li Kui had just arrived in Liangshan, the nearby state capital did not know his murderous name, and the previous murders in the countryside were all over after several amnesties.
However, Li Kui was reckless and Chao Yong was afraid that he would get into trouble on the way and would be caught by the government if he told the story about Luocao Liangshan, so he asked Mu Hong to go back with him.
All the way north from Jiangzhou, Li Kui had troubles with everyone. Li Jun, Zhang Heng and others were all heroes in the water, so they were often annoyed by him. Only Mu Hong was good at martial arts. Li Kui flirted with Mu Hong several times, but he failed.
They were all taught a lesson by Mu Hong, so Li Kui was a little afraid of Mu Hong.
The two of them went down the mountain. Mu Hong restrained Li Kui all the way. Not surprisingly, they were silent all the way. They arrived at Baizhang Village in Yishui County early.
Li Kui has been away from home for more than ten years, but the people in the village did not recognize him. When they saw the two entering the village, they just looked at him curiously.
Li Kui was impatient to chat with them and came home directly.
When Mu Hong took a look, he saw two dilapidated thatched houses, which were very dilapidated.
The two pushed open the firewood door and entered the room when they heard an old woman's voice coming from inside: "Who is coming in?"
Li Kui heard the familiar voice and called out "Mother", then he knelt down and walked inside.
When he entered, he saw my mother sitting on the bed and chanting Buddha's name. He threw himself into my mother's arms and shouted, "Mom! Tien Niu is back."
When I heard Li Kui's voice, my mother immediately started groping for Li Kui's face with both hands. After stroking for a while, she said, "It's my son Tieniu. Tieniu, where have you been all these years? I thought I couldn't see you anymore."
Li Kui saw that my mother was just touching her face without looking down at him, so he couldn't help but said: "Mom, can't you see?"
"You have been gone for so long. My mother has missed you day and night. Her tears have dried up, so she cannot see you. I didn't expect you to come back. It is really the Buddha's blessing. It is not in vain that I pray to the Buddha every day to keep you safe."
Along the way, Li Kui had already thought about it and responded: "The previous crime of murder has been forgiven. Now Tieniu is an officer in Jeju and has money to use every month, so I came to take my mother to enjoy the blessing."
The old lady didn't think much about it and heard the words: "I didn't expect my Tieniu to be so blessed. When your brother comes back, take him with you. He works as a long-term worker in someone else's family. Not only does he get some food to eat every day, but he also has to give it to my mother."
Give him a share. He hasn’t even asked for a wife in these years, so you can take him to enjoy some blessings."
Li Kui and his brother Li Da were from different walks of life. Hearing this, he said impatiently: "He loves to work for others. When he does anything, my mother and I will go."
With that said, he picked up my mother and left.
(Thanks to book friends "Shen Zhongche", "Cuba Project", "Haoshan Tiancheng", "hansire", "Wind Xiangda Desert" and "Wenyuange University Scholar" for the reward. Congratulations to "Cuba Project" for becoming a disciple)