Han Shizu

Facing Liu Jiqian's respectful and even attentive greetings, Liu Gui showed a slight smile on his face and said to him: "Zhizhou is both the parent of a state and a descendant of the royal family. I am so flattered by him for being so condescending and personally greeting him!" "

Hearing this, Liu Jiqian shook his head repeatedly, even moved forward a little, and said humbly: "I don't dare to deserve it! I'm ashamed to accept it! Mr. Liu is loyal to the king, conscientious in his work, and has always been trusted by your majesty. This is the role model that other officials should follow."

It is a great honor for Mr. Liu to take time off to attend the meeting. I am extremely grateful! "

Facing Liu Gui, an old eunuch, Liu Jiqian kept his attitude very low and showed no airs about his status as a descendant of the royal family.My family knew about their own affairs, and their ancestors were the guilty ministers after all. At the same time, even when they were in Prince Xu's palace, except for Liu Chengyun, their brothers and sisters were ostracized and bullied.An adopted son is not as good as a concubine. He has experienced suffering, and he cares deeply about his current status and power, and he longs for more power.

With Liu Jiqian's intelligence, how could he not have known the harshness of his administration in Shenzhou over the past two years, the disasters involved, and the pain and burden it had brought to the people.

However, just like Wang Qinruo, Liu Jiqian was also gambling. If he gambled, he would be promoted to an official position, and his career would be promising. If he lost the gamble, the worst he could do would be to lose his head.

Ever since he entered the officialdom, he had always kept in mind King Xu's teachings, restrained, waited, kept a low profile, and been cautious. He had waited for more than 20 years. By the time he was [-] years old, his hair had turned a little gray.

If there was no Taikang Palace and no Holy Master Nan Xing, Ao would just have to endure it. However, the palace was located in Jigong Mountain and he happened to be taking office in Shenzhou. Isn't this God's arrangement and fate?
Under such circumstances, it is absolutely unacceptable for him to remain calm and do nothing.For a bureaucrat, such an opportunity is rare. In the Han Dynasty, the last time was when Mount Tai was enshrined in Zen, and the person who achieved it that time was Zhang Qixian who was then in Yanzhou.
Fortunately, he seemed to have won the bet. Judging from the old emperor's arrangements, he had passed the test.Shenzhou's transfer to Suzhou is an obvious signal.

Similarly, Liu Jiqian was still worried about this transfer, because it came suddenly and the request was too urgent. He hoped to stay in Shenzhou until Luan Jia returned to Beijing.

However, the old emperor asked him to go directly to Suzhou, which worried Liu Jiqian that the old emperor did not really let go of the matter.He couldn't help but worry that he would die "suddenly" on the way to Suzhou. This was one of the reasons why he invited Liu Gui to talk before leaving. At least as far as the matter of Taikang Palace was concerned, he and Liu Gui were on the same page. They share the same stance and have the same interests, and they have cooperated well in the past two years.

"How can I not give face to the governor when I invite you?" Liu Gui was obviously very satisfied with Liu Jiqian's attitude and chuckled: "It's just that from the palace to Xinyang, there are dozens of miles of mountain roads and straight roads, and my old arms are so old It doesn’t matter if your legs get a little bumpy. What’s important is that you need to apply for leave from the official.”

Seeing that the eunuch was still being manipulated, Liu Jiqian felt slightly uncomfortable in his heart, but he still had a gentle and respectful look on his face. He said humbly: "I really didn't think carefully about it, but Shenzhou is not as big as Gyeonggi. It's just a small place. It can The only one we can use is Yiyang Tower. I hope Mr. Liu will take care of the trouble!"

"Liu Zhizhou is so polite!" Liu Gui smiled, looked at Liu Jiqian, and said meaningfully: "If the rumors are true, after three years in Shenzhou's term, this must be the first time Zhizhou has set foot in Yiyang Tower."

Liu Gui was smiling like an old fox at this time, and the look in his eyes made Liu Jiqian feel a little scared.Holding back the feeling of discomfort, Liu Jiqian laughed along with him, gave up half of his body, and stretched his hand into the building: "Let Mr. Liu laugh! This is not a place for conversation. If Mr. Liu enters the building, the officials have prepared a banquet!"

Liu Gui nodded, straightened the sleeves of his robe, and walked inside. However, he quickly stopped and noticed that Liu Jiqian's eyes were still looking towards Yankang Street.

The smile disappeared immediately, and the voice of the question was low, but the tone was not so friendly: "Why, do you have any distinguished guests from Zhizhou?"

Noticing the change in the eunuch's face, Liu Jiqian cursed secretly, as if he didn't notice anything on his face, and said in a low voice: "I also invited the Marquis of Nan'an, but..."

"No need to be just!" When he heard that it was Nan'an Hou, Liu Gui's face became a little brighter, and then said: "Nan'an Hou's anger towards you and me has not been dissipated, so I'm afraid he won't come. What's more, Nan'an Hou is a camper We are all deployed to protect the Holy Master, how can we leave our posts without permission?"

Murong Chengtai, the Marquis of Nan'an, was the old emperor's cousin and brother-in-law, so there was no doubt that he had a strong relationship with him. In addition, he had always had a close relationship with King Yong Liu Chengxun, and they were still deployed in the camp.

With such a background, such a title, and such power, even if he is as arrogant as Liu Gui, he has to be treated with more respect. This respect is much more real than that treated by Liu Jiqian.

Hearing what Liu Gui said, Liu Jiqian knew in his heart that it was still the eunuch who was showing off.How could Liu Jiqian not know what he said? However, the garrison and protection of the palace has always been the responsibility of the imperial army. Murong Chengtai was deployed in the camp. In the government, he handled the daily affairs of the camp, and in the army, he was in charge of the mountains and Xinyang. The Forbidden Army has no direct jurisdiction over the Imperial Army, and Luan Jia does not need Murong Chengtai to be at his command at any time.

Liu Jiqian seldom showed what was going on in his heart, so he still responded to Liu Gui's words with an apologetic smile: "It seems that I can only find another opportunity to apologize to the Marquis of Nan'an!"

Of course, the Marquis of Nan'an had reason to be angry with Liu Jiqian and Liu Gui. Murong Chengde was also implicated because of his appeal for grievance and the subsequent exposure of the bad government in the construction of Taikang Palace. He was summoned by the old emperor and scolded.

Murong Chengtai was a little aggrieved, but he couldn't retort when he was scolded, because both things were related to him, not to mention driving, he was responsible for the deployment of the camp, and the construction of Taikang Palace, he was also responsible for it. He has been supervising the work for nearly a year, although he does not care much about specific affairs.

So, after being harassed by the old emperor, Murong Chengtai became angry and had nowhere to express his anger but to target other people. Er Liu was the first to bear the brunt. If they hadn't been messing around, how could he be involved.Especially Liu Gui. It is said that when he was the supervisor, he went to work for him.

Inside the Yiyang Building, there was a buzz of people, and the noise was overwhelming. However, the elegant room arranged for Zhizhou by the restaurant was naturally elegant and quiet, and the sound insulation measures were in place.After a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere immediately became lively. The relationship between the two was already pretty good, but tonight's meal made them even closer.

Liu Jiqian served Liu Gui well, pouring tea, wine, and food, and just feeding him to his mouth. Even King Xu had not received such service from him, of course, that was because he did not have the opportunity.As for the intimacy, Liu Jiqian would probably feel sick after seeing it himself.

As for Liu Gui, there were indeed many people who flattered him in the past, but those ministers did not need to please him, and he did not think much of ordinary people. Overall, Liu Jiqian was in good condition in all aspects and could touch his eunuchs. His vanity and attitude are indeed good, making him feel comfortable from the inside out.

However, in the past two or three years, more and more people are trying to please Liu Gui, and their status level is also rising.Liu Gui, who has a keen sense of smell, obviously noticed this change.

He also made an analysis on this, and finally came to a conclusion that surprised him. Perhaps the reason was that the officials were not as wise as they used to be.
It is understandable that for eunuchs like Liu Gui, it is very difficult for them to perform well and gain the "respect" and even awe of foreign ministers under the sight of a wise and powerful emperor.

The emperor is too wise, so it is difficult for the bureaucrats to be deceived, but their slaves will not have an easy life either.It can be said that the emperor's wisdom, which has always been praised by the powerful, is based on the premise of protecting the interests of the powerful. Giving them power and benefits, the emperor had better rule honestly and dutifully. This is the most worthwhile thing. Praise for your wise behavior.

Putting aside this premise to talk about wisdom is mostly self-comfort. For a long time, the old emperor's approach deviated from this. He spurred, monitored, and suppressed. When he went too far, all his ministers could hardly find it. Take a breath.

Interestingly, it is precisely in recent years that no matter how much turmoil there is inside and outside the capital, some people are less eager to cause trouble, but in the upper echelons of the imperial court, those high-ranking dignitaries are living in peace and harmony.

Everyone has a tacit understanding and a conservative attitude, and they all accompany the old emperor cautiously. No matter what he wants to do, as long as it doesn't come to them like he did in the past, and they can be beaten at every turn, they can endure it, wait, and wait. It belongs to the complete end of the old emperor's era.

But Liu Gui, the dignified Young Mansion Supervisor, still couldn't help but make trouble and make some noise, just because his level was not high enough. At the same time, he was also the person who most sincerely hoped that the old emperor could live a few more years.

Liu Gui himself has certain abilities and qualities, and he does not want to be a traitor. Therefore, in his opinion, the old emperor does not need to be too dim, as long as he is not so wise, the current state is just right, a bit Selfish desires are enough to pamper oneself.

For now, Liu Gui's biggest ambition is to become a powerful eunuch, the third level of the inner court after the chief servants and the imperial city department, and this trend has already begun.

When Wang Jien and Yan Tuo were still there, there was no comparison, but Zhang Bin and Hu De, what kind of rotten fish and shrimps were they?With the support of the Shaofu and the trust of the old emperor, Liu Gui's power has been rising rapidly in the past two years.However, Liu Gui also had his worries, that is, the eunuchs of the Shaofu were not as good as the internal eunuchs and the imperial city officials. This was not the traditional sphere of influence of eunuchs. Before him, every eunuch had been a foreign minister, regardless of whether he was a relative of the emperor or a close minister. They are all foreign ministers.

In recent years, under the management of Liu Gui, the independence of the Shaofu has been further strengthened. Except for the emperor, no one can be independent. Only the Shaofu has always intervened in the affairs of foreign dynasties, and no external dynasty has interfered with the Shaofu.

Liu Gui has recently received some bad news. Some people in the court are planning to remove him from the position of Shaofu Supervisor and replace him with a "virtuous minister".

Liu Gui naturally sneered at this. Those who are not sons of man simply don't know what to say. Is the young manor something that their foreign ministers can get involved in?Can officials trust foreign ministers?

However, when such rumors emerged, Liu Gui felt that he had not done a good job and his influence on foreign countries was too low.At the same time, why not worry that once trouble breaks out, the old emperor will change horses under pressure.After all, he was special in the eyes of foreign ministers, but in the inner court and among the eunuchs, he seemed ordinary. The emperor never lacked servants.

Therefore, Liu Guike was nervous about the things that happened after arriving in Shenzhou. He was also afraid that those who were blind would criticize him on this matter.Fortunately, the old emperor's attitude towards him was very clear from the beginning, and when Liu Jiqian's matter was settled, he was completely relieved.

However, even so, I still feel scared when I think about it. Political dangers often appear in these inadvertent places, catching people off guard.And when the two of them drank together, they were both afraid. When talking about this, there was no one without emotion.

After the two of them drank a pound of wine, they began to call each other brothers and sisters.Liu Gui was several years older than Liu Jiqian, so Liu Jiqian called him his brother, and Liu Rules called him his brother in return.

There is no doubt that Liu Gui dominates the relationship between the two.Liu Jiqian asked for many more things from him. There were some things that King Xu was unable or unwilling to do, but Liu Gui was able to do them and accomplished them. This was brought about by his position of power.

Liu Gui, at least for now, has nothing to ask for from Liu Jiqian, so he is not worthy of much attention. It would be fine if he were the legitimate son of King Xu, but he is just an adopted son.

But on the other hand, after this incident, Liu Gui had some insights into Liu Jiqian's future.Whether it is an adopted son, he must be smart, capable, have a reliable background, and have strong execution ability, so he has a promising future.

The drunkenness was already on his face, and he listened to Liu Jiqian's drunken eyes. He repeatedly said compliments and thanks, but from time to time he was testing the affairs of Taikang Palace and Shenzhou politics. Liu Gui could not see his guilty conscience.

So, he poured himself a drink for the first time, then put his hand over his shoulder, leaned into his ear, and said: "Xian brother, it's rare that you and I are so in love with each other. Now that we have said this tonight, the next few words will come out of my mouth. If I hear you, I won’t recognize you at all after leaving this room!”

Not dissatisfied with his drunkenness, Liu Jiqian's eyes moved for a moment when he heard his words, and then he continued to laugh drunkenly and said: "Brother, if you have any good words, I am all ears!"

A look of emotion appeared on Liu Gui's face, and he sighed: "You see, I am a young eunuch and a third-grade official. I can barely be considered a high-ranking official. Fortunately, I have the trust of the officials, and I can still speak to the court. Even if those ministers despise me in their hearts, who would dare to break up with me?

I also have a lot of things under my control, especially the money bags of officials. This is much more comfortable than being a prime minister. The future, wealth and even the lives of a large number of people from the young governor level are in my hands. And decide.

In the eyes of some people, I am considered powerful.However, Brother Wei knows in his heart that no matter how powerful he is, he is just a slave of the official family, and this life may be over!
But, dear brother, you are different! "

Liu Gui's tone became decisive. He looked more drunk, but his conversation became more lively.Liu Jiqian also rarely echoed the words, but drank a small drink and listened silently to the "heartfelt words" of his new eldest brother.

"The officials hate it when their ministers speculate on their intentions, but tonight, I will boldly make a guess." Liu Gui habitually cupped his hands in the direction of the emperor, but his eyes were fixed on Liu Jiqian:
"Do you know why you were able to pass the risk this time? From Brother Yiwei's point of view, the official family has to protect their face. Of course, on the one hand, His Highness King Xu also has some influence, but more importantly, you, my dear brother, are you!

Brother, I have long seen that, dear brother, you are not an ordinary noble son. You have a big heart and high aspirations. You are not greedy for profit or fame. All your efforts are for the sake of the Holy One and the overall situation.

Getting scolded for doing things is really insignificant, and the means are another matter, but being able to do things and accomplish them is what officials appreciate.Others may think that you are notorious in Shenzhou, but in the eyes of my brother, you are a blockbuster. Otherwise, in another ten years, how many people inside and outside the court will know about you, the son of King Xu?
Without this reason, it would be very difficult to save my dear brother’s head.”

As he spoke, Liu Gui vomited the smell of alcohol and almost choked Liu Jiqian, but he ignored the physical nausea and responded cautiously: "Brother's words sent chills down my spine and made me extremely scared. !”

Seeing his reaction, Liu Gui smiled, drank another glass of wine, and continued: "So, dear brother, don't worry, you can dispel any doubts in your mind, and Suzhou can take up the post as openly as possible.

It's one thing for the officials to be angry with you, but it's also true that they appreciate you. Of course, when you get to Suzhou, you can't be like Shenzhou again.
The current political situation is at a time when ministers like you and I are working hard to make progress. If my good brother is better than me, one day he will be able to rise to the top. Who knows, I will still have to rely on your help as a brother in the future."

At this point, Liu Gui gradually fell silent, but he was drunk when he saw this.Liu Jiqian smiled and said: "Thank you for your advice, brother. After listening to your words, I suddenly became enlightened. I feel confident now."

After pushing and calling, Liu Gui still didn't respond. Liu Jiqian drank another glass of wine, and then drunkenly went out to ask someone to prepare a car to take Liu Gui back to his dormitory.

After sending Liu Gui off in person, Liu Jiqian slumped down on the ground until he put Liu Gui on the carriage. He did not forget to explain the precautions to Liu Gui's driver and guards.

After watching the car drive away, Liu Jiqian stood up again and straightened his clothes. The alcohol was still on his face, but his expression was more thoughtful.In the car, Liu Gui's eyes gradually returned to clarity, and he was also thoughtful.They are all gods at the wine table, how can they get drunk so easily.
In contrast, Liu Jiqian gained more from this drink. After drinking a lot, he understood what was going on and barely reached a political alliance with Liu Gui. Even though this alliance was still relatively fragile, it was of great benefit to Liu Jiqian. It is obvious.

What Liu Gui said tonight is extremely profound. The current political situation is really an opportunity for people like them to make progress.

Returning to Yiyang Tower and continuing to drink, while Liu Jiqian was still thinking about Liu Gui's words, the attendant came to report that Ma Qing from Luoshan County asked to see him.Liu Jiqian was naturally very angry about Ma Qing. After all, Wang Qinruo was his subordinate.

Since Ma Qing went to Xinyang, they had met each other before and after, and they still denounced him angrily. At this time, although the matter had been settled, the anger in Liu Jiqian's heart had not dissipated at all.

He deliberately refused to see him, but considering that Ma Qing had been loyal and respectful in the past and never discounted the instructions of the state government, he was indeed one of his own, and he felt lonely after drinking alone, so he ordered someone to bring him in.

In the same room, there was another drinking session, but in this second session, it was Liu Jiqian who was holding the airs, and Ma Qing was fawning and flattering.Complaining and begging for mercy is still what Ma Qing mainly expresses, but what Liu Jiqian talks about more is Wang Qinruo's situation.

Between the two gamblers, Liu Jiqian completely hated Wang Qinruo. After all, Wang Qinruo had taken off his pants. In the end, Ma Qing achieved his ultimate goal and was transferred from Shenzhou, and Liu Jiqian promised to find him. Opportunity transferred him to Suzhou.

This Ma Qing is not smart. He can't see the high-level places, but in this three-acre land, he can see that it is inevitable for Shenzhou officialdom to undergo a major adjustment. At least, the state and county officials Adjustments will definitely be made. The public resentment against them is too heavy!
With this understanding, how could Ma Qing not take the initiative and struggle for her own future? Instead of passively waiting for arrangements, it would be better to hug Liu Jiqian's thigh tightly.