Struggle in the early Tang Dynasty

"When Mr. Zheng returned to the clan, he couldn't just eat and drink. Mizhou has the mausoleum of my ancestors of the Zheng family, and Mr. Zheng was sent by the clan to guard the mausoleum of our ancestors!"

"The so-called Zheng family in Xingyang should naturally originate in Xingyang. Brother Zheng is from Xingze, and it is right next to Xingyang. Mizhou is more than 1000 miles away from Xingyang. Why are the ancestors of the Zheng family still buried here?"

"You don't know about this. Although the Zheng family of Xingyang originated in Xingyang, after a series of wars, our Zheng family moved to Mizhou during the Han Dynasty. For example, Zheng Xuan of the Han Dynasty was the middle school of my Zheng family in Xingyang. He is now buried in Houdian Village, Shuangyang Town, Mizhou. As for the Zheng family back to Xingyang, it has been less than 100 years now!"

"So it is!" Guo Ye understood after hearing this.The Zheng family in Xingyang is also a well-known family, and it is still passable on the surface.Because Zheng Yuan is down and out, he will not turn his face and deny anyone.But in fact, Zheng Yuan's life is not satisfactory.He was a general in the past, and now he was sent to Mizhou to guard the ancestral tomb, in fact, it was almost the same as being assigned!

Guo Ye paused for a moment, then continued to ask: "So, Boling Cui asked Brother Zheng to be a lobbyist?"

"Uh...Actually, the Boling Cui family doesn't know about my relationship with you, and they didn't invite me here."

Guo Ye was taken aback, and said: "Then you volunteered to help the Boling Cui family deal with me? Zheng Yuan, Zheng Yuan, I, Guo Ye, have treated you well. Is this how you repay me?"

"It is precisely because the Duke of Pingyang has shown me the kindness of Zheng Yuan, that Zheng Yuan came to visit. I am here this time, obviously for the Boling Cui family, but secretly for you!"

"How do you say this?"

"The five great noble clans are united in one spirit, and one loses the other and the other wins..."

Guo Ye waved his hands again and again, and said, "I've heard this [-] times, so I don't need to say it again! Brother Zheng, you're clearly speaking for Boling Cui. Why do you still say you're helping me?"

"Don't be angry, Prince Pingyang! Then listen to me. The reason why I came here was not at the request of the Cui family of Boling, but because I read the notice on your street! Otherwise, Mr. Zheng lives in the countryside. How did you know that you came to Mizhou? Zheng Xuan also knew after reading this notice that you are in big trouble now!"

"Big trouble? Do the five noble families dare to rebel and besiege me, Guo Ye?"

"That's not true, but it's not much better. Duke Pingyang, do you know the current situation? On the surface, you have the upper hand. In fact, if you are not careful, you will lose face!"

"Brother Zheng, what you said is too dangerous and alarmist. Cui Xuanren and Cui Liuquan assassinated me, and the evidence is solid. I don't believe that they can turn this case over. But just to be on the safe side, they released the notice, search more Let us know about their crimes! Even if no one files a complaint, Er Cui will be dead!"

Zheng Yuan smiled slightly, and said: "It's easy for you to put Er Cui to death, but it's difficult to deal with the aftermath! Who saw Er Cui assassinate you? Those under your command are not the ones who can testify? This evidence is not so reliable .Even if the Ministry of Punishment sentenced these two because of your face! The five noble families will inevitably spread rumors, saying that you bully others and avenge your personal revenge!"

"The clear ones are clear, and the turbid ones are turbid. I'm still afraid of them chewing their tongues?"

"Mr. Pingyang County, you still underestimate the power of the five great gentry clans! The greatest strength of the five great gentry clans is neither power nor money, but fame! Whoever they say is good will be famous all over the world. Which one do they say People are not good, even if this person is Duke Zhou reborn, he will be regarded by the world as a humble and unaltered Wang Mang!"

"Damn it!" Guo Ye couldn't help swearing, and said, "They're toads sticking to their feet—they don't bite, they're disgusting!"

This remark scolded Zheng Yuan, and his face was slightly embarrassed, but thinking of Guo Ye's kindness to him, he continued to say: "It's not bad now, the power of the five great gentry has declined! After decades of money , Whether or not the five great gentry clans approve or dislike a person can directly affect the promotion and relegation of officials! This is how my officials, Zheng Yuan, came! Although they don’t have such a great prestige now, it’s still no problem for you to slander the world!”

"No way, it should be the Qingliu family of scholars who control the public opinion now? What's the matter with the five major gentry families?"

"That's true and it's not! The five great gentry clans used to influence public opinion because they were noble, well-educated, elegant, and admired by the world! Although their strength has declined a bit, they are actually similar to the Qingliu clan of scholars in terms of influencing public opinion. Moreover, say If you don’t like to hear a sentence, the most likely to be influenced by the five gentry clans is the Qingliu Clan of Shilin!”

"Why is that?"

"Most of the Shihlin Qingliu Clan come from humble backgrounds. Once they occupy a high position, they want to change their family! The fastest way to change their family is to get married. The world's respect for the five great gentry families is actually the most respected by the Shilin Qingliu Clan! So you have offended the five great clans." The gentry is tantamount to offending the five great gentry and the Qingliu School of Shilin at the same time!"

Guo Ye thought to himself that I belonged to the Qingliu Department of Shilin, so why didn't anyone mention the five great gentry clans to me?That's right, I have already married Princess Chai, it doesn't matter if I know the five great noble families.On the other hand, it may be that this group of poor people praises Lao Tzu on the surface, but because I am ignorant, I secretly do not regard Lao Tzu as one of my own!

He said: "According to what you mean, as long as I behead Er Cui, the five great gentry families will definitely ruin me in public opinion! Then they don't care about my identity as the Duke of Pingyang at all? For two Clansmen, just provoking such a powerful enemy like me is not like the style of those aristocratic families!"

"That's because you offended them so much this time! The most important thing for the five great noble families is their reputation. The accusation you gave Er Cui'an hit the pain points of the five great noble families! In my opinion, they would rather die with Er Cui than follow him." You decide the winner! Only by ruining your reputation can you show that the five great noble families are still of high morals; otherwise, if your reputation is ruined, the five great noble families will be nothing!"

After hearing Zheng Yuan's words, Guo Ye couldn't help but think of a famous saying in modern society, since I became a piece of shit, no one dared to step on my head!Although the five great gentry clans cannot be compared with feces and urine, their functions are similar to each other!Although they don't have any real power, the tricks of disgusting people are endless!

He frowned tightly and said, "Brother Zheng, in your opinion, how should this matter be resolved?"

Chapter 1420 Rescue Zheng Feifei!

Zheng Yuandao: "From Zheng's point of view, it's best not to fight to the death in this dispute between you and the Cui family of Boling! You won, but it was just out of a bad breath in your heart! But then the world will criticize you, and your heart will be punished. Wouldn't it be more boring?"

"Then according to what you mean, I just let Er Cui go?"

"That won't work either! The five noble clans are gradually declining now. If you let Er Cui go like this, in order to revive their momentum, they will definitely publicize that the majestic Duke of Pingyang has surrendered to them! Although they may give you a Can you swallow the comment of 'If you know your mistakes, you can correct them'?"

"Neither left, nor right! Brother Zheng, don't be foolish, tell me what to do!"

"Right now, you and the Boling Cui family are actually beating wolves with a stalk. You are worried about the disgusting tricks of the five noble clans, but in fact, the five noble clans are not willing to fight to the death with you! It is best to turn this matter into a trivial one. How about Just let me be a middleman, make peace with the two families, tell me what conditions you have, and they dare not refuse to agree!"

"This..." Guo Ye thought for a while, and said: "This matter is really difficult to decide! No matter how many conditions are raised, it will be difficult to solve my hatred for Er Cui! However, the tricks of the five great gentry clans It's really disgusting, I'm not afraid of your jokes, I really don't want to provoke them! How about... let me think about it for two more days?"

Zheng Yuan stood up helplessly, and said: "Then Zheng won't bother me any more, and I will pay a visit to the Duke of Pingyang in three days' time!"

"Hey, don't go! Brother Zheng, did you forget something?"

"what's up?"

"Zheng Feifei! Your own daughter! You father and daughter haven't seen each other for a year, so you don't want to see her?"

Unexpectedly by Guo Ye, when Zheng Yuan heard this, not only was he not a bit happy, but rather flustered, he said: "Ms. Zheng came in a hurry, and there are important things at home, so I'm gone this time! Feifei I will stay here with you, Zheng is very relieved!" After finishing speaking, he turned around and was about to leave!

As soon as Guo Ye stretched out his hand, he grabbed his sleeve and said, "Zheng Yuan, don't go!"

"Mr. Pingyang, what else do you need?"

"What's the matter? Zheng Yuan, you have to figure out that Zheng Feifei is your daughter, not me, Guo Ye. She was okay when she was young, but now that she's getting older, what's the matter with always being by my side? Spread the word, I'm afraid it will be a hindrance to her reputation! You can go if you want, and bring Zheng Feifei with you! It's not that I, Guo Ye, don't want to raise her, it's really inconvenient!"

Zheng Yuan's face was full of pleading, and he said: "Mr. Pingyang, please let the little girl stay with you for a while! It is really inconvenient for someone Zheng to take him away now!"

"Inconvenient? I think you're well dressed. Can't you afford her?"

"Of course not! If I, Zheng Yuan, can't even afford to support my own daughter, how can I be human?"

"That's because you are old-hearted, and you married another one after returning to Datang. Afraid that Zheng Feifei won't be welcomed by her stepmother when she returns home?"

"Mr. Pingyang, where are you thinking! At my age, half of my body has been buried in the ground. How can I have such thoughts?"

"Then why don't you want to see your own daughter, and don't allow her to go home?"

Zheng Yuan let out a long sigh, and said, "This matter is really unspeakable!"

Guo Ye sneered and said: "Zheng Yuan, although Zheng Feifei is your biological daughter, you have never cared about her! If you say you have no feelings for her, I can understand. But as a parent, you have to do your best. Responsibility of parents! If you want to make some fools, abandon Zheng Feifei or even hurt Zheng Feifei, I, Guo Ye, will not spare you!"

"It's because I don't want to hurt her that I don't want to take her home?"

"What do you mean by this?"

Zheng Yuandao: "Oh, I won't hide it from you now! Let go of your hands first, and let me tell you slowly!"

Guo Ye let go of Zheng Xuan, but still blocked the way, saying: "Speak!"

"Mr. Pingyang, have you ever heard of the five noble clans buying and selling marriages?"

"I've heard of it..." At this point, Guo Ye's mind flashed, and he said, "You mean, the Zheng family of Xingyang is going to intervene in Zheng Feifei's marriage?"

"Exactly! The family has sent a message a few days ago to recruit women of the right age in the family and choose a good match!"

"But Feifei's age..."