Chapter 282: The troubles of the Yang family

Yang Guozhong was used to sleep late. He was a man with a strong desire for power, especially when he controlled the position of Minister of Personnel and took over the power that was originally the Minister of Personnel. He had to review the evaluation, political achievements and other reports of officials at all levels. At the same time, he also held nearly forty positions. He had to listen to and ask about all matters of big and small. If the government affairs were not completed during the day, he would take them home at night and continue working at home. This was generally not allowed. Some powerful officials, such as Wang Gong, could not bring official duties home, so he bought a house next to the Jingzhao Yin Mansion and played a verbal ball.

But Yang Guozhong didn't care about so much. He took it home and worked at home. Many court officials had to go to his mansion to report their work. The public and private sector were united. For this reason, he was impeached by the Censorate. However, Li Longji's reply was only two words: diligence.

This is equivalent to recognizing Yang Guozhong and allowing him to take the court back to the mansion, which makes Yang Guozhong even more unscrupulous. Some major decisions, such as the list of new officials who were admitted to the Ministry of Personnel Examination in the Spring Examination, were completed by Yang Guozhong at home.

Tonight, Yang Guozhong did not have much work. He had handled all the government affairs early. Tomorrow it will be a court meeting. Many important things will be announced, such as the rewards of the Anxi Army, Li Cong's seat in Anxi, Gao Xianzhi's rewards of the Nanzhao, and the possibility of Wang Gong becoming the prime minister, etc., are all headaches for Yang Guozhong.

Especially when Wang Gong became prime minister, according to the news in the palace, Wang Gong was very likely to be appointed as the Minister of Justice, which would undoubtedly be his first political enemy to Yang Guozhong. Yang Guozhong has been worried about this matter these days. Li Linfu's health is getting worse and worse. He thought that Li Linfu was dead and that he was Yang Guozhong, the world of the Tang Dynasty, was controlled by him. Unexpectedly, Wang Gong actually inherited Li Linfu's prime minister and became his checks and balances. Yang Guozhong was both angry, but he had no choice. This was Li Longji's decision, and the purpose was to give him an opponent.

He can't move Wang Gong, but he can move other people, such as Li Qing'an, which is also his strong rival. He destroyed his plan a few days ago and beat him up to pieces. Tomorrow is the day when Li Qing'an was awarded the title. How could he make Li Qing'an so comfortable?

In his study, Linghu Fei, the Minister of War, placed the promotion and reward plans of the Anxi Army on Yang Guozhong's table. This was actually the merit book written by Sima of the Anxi Army. Li Qing'an proposed to be appointed to the official and handed it to the Ministry of War for review. Finally, Li Longji approved it. Yang Guozhong could not interfere in the military affairs. In fact, the Ministry of War could not inquire about the promotion of the border army. They only reviewed symbolically and put forward some of their own opinions. For example, the person who was to be promoted had committed a crime and was not suitable to be promoted to an important position, etc. However, the Ministry of War had no right, and then handed over to the right prime minister after putting forward his opinions. Some slightly lower-level officers can be rejected, but the officers above the Central Army General can only be rejected by Li Longji.

‘There were four deputy commanders of the Jiedushi, 34 generals, 415 generals of the Central Army, 1,200 generals of the Lang, more than 300 civilian officers including the Chief Secretary, the Judge, and the Military. The rest were countless Guoyi Commander, the Clerk, and the Governor.’

Yang Guozhong's eyes were wide open. Li Qing'an actually wanted to promote so many people. Is this opening an officer's shop?

Linghu Fei sighed and said, "To be honest, I also think Li Qing'an's promotion is a bit too much. He is buying people's hearts, but there is no way. The Ministry of War has no control over the border army anymore. He can only fabricate official documents for these people and log in. I just show it to the Shangshu, and I hope that Shangshu will not raise any objections tomorrow."

"Why?" Yang Guozhong asked in great displeasure.

"Because the Lord of the Lord has agreed to this plan, in fact, Li Qing'an directly gave the promotion plan to the Lord of the Lord, which was transferred to us by the Lord of the Lord. Chen Xiangguo said that the Lord of the Lord has agreed. The Shangshu's opposition tomorrow will not only cause the suspicion of overreach of authority, but also have no sufficient reason. These people clearly have recorded the merits on the case."

"Then what else do you mean by showing me these?"

"I just want the Secretary to understand one thing. Now Li Qing'an is very favored by the emperor. The Secretary should not be enemies with him for the time being."

“Grace?”

Yang Guozhong smiled sarcastically, "His fiancée almost entered the palace. I don't know if this is also a kind of favor?"

Linghu Fei was stunned. Li Qing'an's fiancée entered the palace? He had never heard of this before. He asked quickly: "What the hell is going on?"

"I heard from the people in the palace talk about this. Do you still remember the last time the imperial concubine's birthday party? Li Qing'an's fiancée was named the county lady in public."

Linghu Fei nodded and said, "I still remember that the country is as beautiful as the imperial concubine."

"It was that time that the emperor also fell in love with her. This time Dugu Haoran returned to Beijing. I heard that today the emperor hints Dugu Haoran and asked him to regret his marriage with Li Qing'an."

Linghu Fei's expression became serious and he asked: "What? Is there any latest news from Shangshu? Does Dugu Haoran regret his marriage?"

Yang Guozhong shook his head and said, "I don't know yet, I don't care much."

He showed a sarcastic expression on his face and said, "It would be better to regret the success of the marriage, so that Li Qing'an would suffer this great humiliation. Then he rebelled in anger. Doesn't this prove that I, Yang Guozhong, have seen through this person long ago?"

Linghu Fei was about to speak when he heard the voice of Yang Guozhong's son Yang Xuan from outside the door: "Father, Eunuch Yu has news, and he said it is very urgent!"

Yang Guozhong was stunned and hurriedly said, "Pick it in!"

Yang Xuan quickly walked into the study and handed a note to Yang Guozhong. When Yang Guozhong opened it, he was shocked. He said to Linghu Fei anxiously: "The emperor is going to favor Concubine Mei again."

Linghu Fei was also surprised. The emperor had not asked about Concubine Mei for many years, but why did he suddenly think of Concubine Mei? Something must have happened here.

"Shangshu Yang, did you say anything about what happened? "

Yang Guozhong looked at the notes again and said in panic: "Eunuch Yu said that the emperor was angry at the imperial concubine, so he remembered Concubine Mei."

Speaking of this, Yang Guozhong slapped his forehead and suddenly said, "I understand that it must be the imperial concubine who helped Li Qing'an, which made the emperor angry. This empress! Why are you so confused?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from the outer courtyard from afar, "The emperor has an order, Xuan Shangshu Xuan will enter the palace immediately!"

Yang Guozhong was so scared that he shouted: "Envoy Linghu, what should I do? The emperor must be the deposed concubine. Our Yang family is about to end! It's over!"

"Shangshu Yang, calm down."

Linghu Fei took his outer robe and put it on and said, "Let's go together! I'll tell you on the road that things are not what you think."

Yang Guozhong hurriedly changed into a dress, got on the carriage, and then headed towards Xingqing Palace.

In the carriage, Linghu Fei said slowly: "Shangshu, it is not scary for the emperor to favor Mei Concubine. If Dugu Mingyue really enters the palace, that is scary. Do you understand?"

Yang Guozhong had calmed down a little, and he nodded and said, "Although I was gloating about Li Qing'an's bad luck, I also know that Dugu Mingyue is young and beautiful, and has an advantage over the imperial concubine. She will be a strong competitor to the imperial concubine, so I don't want Dugu Mingyue to enter the palace."

"It's not just that simple. In fact, Concubine Mei is not scary. She has no background background and her family is also a small family in the distance. She will not be able to affect the Yang family again. But if Dugu Mingyue enters the palace, the consequences will be serious. With the background of the Dugu family and its relationship with the royal family, I dare to assert that the Dugu family will soon replace the Yang family and become the new favorite of Chang'an. The Yang family will wither quickly, so the imperial concubine will do everything possible to obstruct the matter. This is a very wise move. Shangshu, although you have a personal grudge with Li Qing'an, you must stand on Li Qing'an's side in this matter and must never let Dugu Mingyue enter the palace."

Yang Guozhong sighed slightly, "You are right. My Yang family is a civilian. If you can live today, you will rely on the imperial concubine. If she falls out of favor, that is, the day when my Yang family collapses, my Yang Guozhong's career will end. I understand in my heart!"

He smiled bitterly and said to Linghu Fei: "Yesterday, the Empress sent someone to bring me a message, asking me to find a way to let Dugu Mingyue and Li Qing'an go to Anxi. I didn't understand what the Empress meant at first, but now I understand that Dugu Mingyue is actually related to the rise and fall of my Yang family. Unexpectedly, Li Qing'an actually owes me a favor."

"Did the Secretary of the House think of a solution?"

"I have a little idea, but I want to talk to Li Qing'an in person about this."

Yang Guozhong was a little proud. His wife was nagging about her brother-in-law in his ear every night, so he could seize the opportunity.

As soon as Yang Guozhong arrived at Xingqing Palace, Concubine Mei had already entered the palace first. In a sedan chair, Concubine Mei, Jiang Caiping, silently stared at the scenery outside the sedan chair. She actually came to Concubine Yang's palace. The palace lanterns were bright and dark, reflecting her pretty and handsome face. Although she was over thirty years old, her eyes were still flowing, as if she was in autumn water.

This is the first time Jiang Caiping has come to Xingqing Palace. In the past ten years, she has spent her time in the Daming Palace and Tai Chi Palace. The Daming Palace has left her literary and elegant style, leaving her joy and sorrow, while Tai Chi Palace has only loneliness. She regards plum as a daughter, crane as son, and pine and cypress as close friends. She is neither happy nor sad, and her heart is as calm as water. She spent eight years like this. She is willing to think that her life will end so coldly, but she did not expect that the emperor remembered her again. Yes, there are too many people he should remember, Wu Xianyi, Zheng Cairen, Lu Meiren, Gao Jieyu, Liu Jieyu, these women who dedicated their body and mind to him have been forgotten by him and only favored the daughter of the Yang family. How unfair is he to these women?

"Empress Mei, I'm here!"

The sedan chair fell, Yu Chaoen lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and two palace maids helped Jiang Caiping out. Jiang Caiping looked around. It was deserted and there were no palace servants.

"Where is the Lord?"

"Empress, this is Datong Hall, and the Lord is waiting for the Empress in the hall."

Yu Chaoen smiled flatteringly and carried the lantern, "Please follow me!"

Jiang Caiping's heart was as cold as ice and snow. Logically, they should have parked the sedan chair on the hall platform, but now they want her to walk up such a high stairs. She was wearing a long floor-sweeping skirt. How could she go? This eunuch was secretly wearing small shoes for herself!

Jiang Caiping didn't say anything. She didn't want anyone to help her. She picked up her skirt and walked slowly up the stairs more than ten feet long. Just as she walked up the steps, Yang Yuhuan was silently watching Jiang Caiping's arrival in a pavilion opposite Datong Hall. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes. The flowers bloomed and faded, spring was gone and autumn came, and life was changing and fickle. How could she know tomorrow?

She sighed softly, "Let's go!"

Yang Yuhuan turned around and left, and his lonely back gradually disappeared into the darkness.

"I'm going to see Your Majesty!"

In the side hall of Datong Hall, Jiang Caiping knelt down in front of Li Longji, "Long live Your Majesty!"

"Hurry and don't give me a gift!"

One day, the couple had a hundred days of gratitude. Looking at the Mei Concubine he had once loved, Li Longji's eyes turned red. He quickly helped Jiang Caiping up and looked her up and down. Her beauty was as fresh and elegant as before, like plum blossoms. Li Longji remembered the past years again. He sighed loudly: "My beloved concubine, we haven't seen each other for seven or eight years!"

Tears also poured into Jiang Caiping's eyes. Is Li Sanlang the past? Then, the elegant and handsome man became so old. She said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, it's eight years, three months and five days. At noon that day, Your Majesty was going to meet the Prince of Bohai, so he told me to see me again in the evening, but this farewell was eight years. In these eight years, I have been waiting every day, and finally I saw my husband again."

When Li Longkeating heard that she remembered the specific time and things so clearly, he was moved and guilty in his heart. He quickly wiped the tears from her face and comforted her, "I know, I'm sorry for you, I will definitely compensate you heavily."

Jiang Caiping shook her head and whispered: "Just because I feel that I have looked back, I have made me think about you in the morning and evening. I don't have any compensation, I just want to cook another cup of tea for Your Majesty."

"Okay! I will definitely come to drink your tea often. I will keep my word."

At this time, Yu Chaoen whispered at the door of the hall: "Your Majesty, Shangshu Yang is here."

"I understand!"

Li Longji raised his voice unhappily. Yu Chaoen, the servant, dared to interrupt his interest. He said to Jiang Caiping softly: "I will still have some court affairs to deal with. My beloved concubine will go to the back hall to rest first. We will have a long talk tonight."

"I dare not disturb Your Majesty's national affairs, I will take my leave!"

Jiang Caiping followed the palace maid to the back hall. Only then did Li Longji glar at Yu Chaoen fiercely and said, "Let him go to my imperial study!"

After a moment, Yang Guozhong hurried into the imperial study room. Seeing that Li Longji had already taken his seat, he quickly knelt down and kowtowed, "My minister Yang Guozhong will meet with His Majesty!"

"Get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yang Guozhong stood up and stood aside with his hands down. He knew that Jiang Caiping had entered the palace, but he did not dare to mention this matter at all. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty summoned me to the palace for the sake of the meeting of the National Palace!"

"It's this matter. You are the Minister of Personnel. I want to discuss with you the reward for tomorrow."

"Is it Li Qing'an's reward?" Yang Guozhong tentatively tentatively.

Li Longji nodded, "Not only Li Qing'an, but also Gao Xianzhi and Ge Shuhan. Gao Xianzhi pacified Nanzhao. I only rewarded the Jiannan Army, but did not reward Gao Xianzhi himself. Ge Shuhan was the same. He was rewarded for his contributions to conquering Shudun City in Tubo. I will also reward them tomorrow."

Speaking of this, Li Longji took out a thick memorial on the table. This was a copy of the list of rewards submitted by Li Qing'an to the Anxi Army. The original copy had been transferred to the Ministry of War. He opened the memorial and looked at it, and said, "Li Qing'an asked for rewards to the heroes of the Anxi Army. Although there was a little more people, I still decided to promise him that I will announce it in the morning court tomorrow, so you don't obstruct it, do you know?"

Yang Guozhong had already received Linghu Fei's revelation in advance. He knew it in his mind and bowed and said, "I dare not overstep the power!"

"Um!"

Yang Guozhong's words satisfy Li Longji. He understood that advancement and retreat were manifestations of political maturity. He put the memorial together and said: "I named An Lushan the Prince of Dongping from the year before yesterday. This matter is criticized and I also have pressure. Of course, I cannot cut off his prince, so I consider adding two princes of different surnames as appropriate. Tell me, how should I allocate these two places among the three tomorrow?"

Yang Guozhong figured out what Li Longji meant. Logically, it was not the turn of a prince to negotiate with him. Li Longji himself could be sure that he must have thought about it, but now he had changed his mind and asked him to discuss it. He must have wanted to cancel Li Qing'an's prince's qualification and let him come forward to object. It must be like this. He did not get Dugu Mingyue tonight, and he was angry and embarrassed.

Thinking of this, Yang Guozhong shook his head and said, "I think that not only must I have military achievements, but also qualifications. Although Li Qing'an has outstanding military achievements, his qualifications are a little bit less serious. Therefore, I think Geshuhan and Gao Xianzhi can be awarded the title of Prince. Li Qing'an can consider it in a few years."

Yang Guozhong thought he had a good guess and was a little proud. Although he could not move the reward from Anxi Army, he felt very happy that Li Qing'an could not do it.

Unexpectedly, Li Longji shook his head and said, "I mean to choose one person from Gao Xianzhi and Ge Shuhan, and the other person Li Qing'an is not to be controversial."

Yang Guozhong was stunned. He actually figured out the wrong intention. Li Longji still wanted to confer Li Qing'an. He couldn't help but look embarrassed on his face and laughed dryly: "If this is the case, I think Ge Shuhan has a greater contribution and can be the prince."

Li Longji still shook his head, "Actually, my idea is to Feng Gao Xianzhi, Ge Shu Han Chi Feng, I asked you to come here because I wanted you to cheer up Ge Shu Han before tomorrow's morning court. As long as he wins this year's East-West Battle, I will definitely win him as Prince Xiping. Remember? You must cheer up him in advance so that he will not be dissatisfied."

Only then did Yang Guozhong understand what Li Longji meant, and he wanted to comfort Geshuhan himself. He quickly bowed and said, "I will go to find Geshuhan tomorrow morning!"

"All right!"

Li Longji was thinking about Concubine Mei and was about to get up. At this time, Yang Guozhong smiled and said, "I have another suggestion to ensure that there is enough money and food supply in Geshuhan's two-line battle."

This is something Li Longji is very concerned about. What he is most worried about is the shortage of money and food. The problem of money can be solved through the circulation of silver and money. The key is food. He calculated that this battle requires at least one million and fifty stones of food. However, in the past two years, the taxes in Hedong and Henan have become less and less. Of course, he knew that this was the cause of serious land annexation, which led to a year-on-year income and an increasing dependence on the grain of Jianghuai. Last year, he suppressed the rebellion of Nanzhao and almost exhausted the grain of Taicang. He was worried about where the grain came from? Yang Guozhong made a suggestion.

He was excited and hurriedly said, "Tell me quickly, what can I do?"

Seeing that Li Longji attaches importance, Yang Guozhong said proudly: "I am also the chief of transportation, and have been considering how to increase the amount of rice transferred by Jianghuai. I believe there are two plans to increase the amount of grain and rice transport."

"Continue talking!"
Chapter completed!