In the palace, the ministers have already made preparations.
It is an auspicious time.
With the appearance of the ceremonial officer, the enthronement ceremony is about to begin.
The ceremony always feels a bit sloppy. Perhaps Daqi has never paid much attention to this aspect. Even during the enthronement ceremony, there will be vacancies, officials will be absent, and even mispronounced words will occur.
rough.
No one expressed much joy because of the new emperor's ascension to the throne. Perhaps only the Hu family could still feel a little happy at this moment.
There were many ministers standing outside the hall, they were dressed luxuriously, and there were many soldiers standing around, fully armed.
Ritual and music were played together, and the ritual officials played and chanted loudly.
Various types of ritual vessels were lifted up from all directions and gathered together.
The little emperor wore a royal robe and looked timidly at the people around him. There was an eunuch accompanying him, constantly informing him of the next step.
Everything looks very luxurious and extraordinary.
But the faces of the group of officials were extraordinarily calm. Many of them had calm faces. They could not see any respect for the new emperor, nor could they see any reluctance for the Supreme Emperor. There was no joy, no sorrow, no trace of regret.
Mood swings.
The soldiers around them seemed empty under their tall and sturdy armors, with no emotion at all visible.
Even the clan that supported the emperor's rise to power had serious expressions and frowns at this moment.
Outside Yecheng.
A large group of people were already driving on the road.
Major events in the palace have nothing to do with them.
Liu Taozi rode a war horse and walked at the front, followed by various carriages and many people following in the procession.
The road to the destination was extremely long, the cold wind blew, and the carriage shook violently on the uneven road.
They didn't raise any big banner.
As he hurriedly walked away, Zu Jue and Shi Yao followed Liu Taozi respectively, whispering something at the moment.
"Then Miss Lu must want to support the prince. He wants to win over the old lady mainly because he wants to win over the lord."
"This woman is not simple, and the current queen is stupid. I'm afraid she is no match for her. Although the prince was promoted, he is young and has little power, but if someone is attached to him and does things through him, then
You can really do a lot of things.”
Zu Jue analyzed it carefully and said: "I think this woman wants to get rid of the Queen Mother first and take charge of the harem affairs by herself, and then use the lord and the old lady to kill Gao Rui, get Gao Jun, and support a new batch of heroes.
You are here to take charge of Yecheng."
"However, I think Gao Rui seems to have some ideas. Maybe he is trying to do something big."
Zu Jue finally said: "My lord, please don't get involved in these things. If they want to fight, let them fight first. We don't want to interfere. If we can manage the border states well, the power will not be comparable to that of Yecheng."
Zu Jue is full of confidence in the future.
He smiled and said: "Hengzhou produces war horses, Shuozhou produces copper and iron, Yanzhou has cultivated land, and Anzhou has people."
"After returning this time, there are many talents to help me. There are actually eight states under the lord's command, and the states such as Ying, Xian, and Si can actually be included in his command."
"With these talents, we will implement the policy of granting land and government troops, and it will be one year later."
Zu Jue laughed, "I will definitely give Yang Zhong a big surprise."
"Yang Zhong came with one hundred thousand troops, and he didn't know what he was going to face!"
Shi Yao was not as confident as Zu Jue. He was worried, "Grandpa, although the frontier fortress has a lot of land, it has just experienced war and is sparsely populated. If Yang Zhong comes with a hundred thousand elites to attack, it is not a joke. Besides, this governance
It has always been difficult to achieve results, and just arranging officials in one year may not be enough."
Zu Jue waved his hand, "You don't understand."
"Do you know what my lord's strongest point is right now?"
Shi Yao was stunned for a moment and said slowly: "My lord is brave, with a cloud of fierce generals under his command, and more than 40,000 elite soldiers, stretching across the north."
Zu Jue laughed.
"Although my lord's army is strong, Duan Shao's command alone has more than 50,000 elite soldiers!!"
"And the lord's 40,000 elites are to be defended in various places. They can only fight in the field with more than 10,000 people. Duan Shao's 40,000 to 50,000 people can be dragged out to fight in the field. Moreover, these soldiers are extremely elite and the generals are extremely fierce. In terms of military strength,
Even if he is strong, my lord may not be stronger than Duan Shao."
"The reason why Gao Jun, Gao Rui and others are not worried about our lord is because the temple has a strong military force, isn't it?"
After hearing Zu Jue's words, Shi Yao just asked again: "Is that because the Lord has a benevolent heart and loves the people?"
Zu Jue laughed again, "My Lord, it is true that he is benevolent and righteous and loves the people, but aren't Gao Jun and Gao Rui the same? There are many people in the court who are benevolent and righteous and love the people. If we really talk about it, how many years did Gao Rui stay in the frontier fortress?
, he has done many more benevolent and righteous things than my lord!"
Shi Yao secretly glanced at Liu Taozi.
Grandfather, is it really okay for you to belittle my lord like this?
Liu Taozi's face was calm, and she was obviously not dissatisfied with Zu Jue's words.
Shi Yao said: "I'd like to inform you, Grandpa."
Zu Jue then said proudly: "The strongest point of my lord is the casual officials under his command."
"ah??"
Shi Yao was a little confused.
Zu Jue continued: "No matter how much Gao Jun, Gao Rui and others love the people, their hands cannot reach the casual officials. At most, they just linger around the officials, but it is these casual officials who really do things."
"My lord's policy of distributing staff from school to school is really admirable!"
"The lord has set up schools in various places and trained many casual officials. Every time he takes a place, he will first let the casual officials take up positions. The lord's orders can directly reach the hands of the casual officials and be implemented thoroughly."
"Most of these casual officials are from poor backgrounds. Even if there are evil people, they are still in the minority. Most of them are people who have experienced hardship, know good from bad, and can distinguish right from wrong. They can also directly report the local situation to the lord through the teachers in the school.
It is difficult for officials to suppress these schools of law."
Shi Yao was stunned when he heard this.
He had been an official at the grassroots level, so he could understand what Zu Jue meant.
He frowned and asked: "Grandpa, if this is the case, wouldn't it turn out to be a hijacking of officials? If local officials become more scattered, officials will be sidelined by them."
Zu Jue laughed, "Wouldn't that be better? Help us sort out all the unqualified officials. These days, we are afraid that we can't find anyone to be an official?"
He became confident again, "Just wait and see, in one year, just one year. The frontier fortress will definitely be transformed. When these stupid people in Yecheng are beaten to death, we will open their eyes."
"If Yang Zhong fails to defeat the lord this time, there will never be another time. Next time, he should think about how to survive from the lord."
Zu Jue laughed, his teeth were sharp.
Shi Yao didn't say anything anymore. He always felt that this person was a bit too arrogant.
This is not taking the people of the world seriously at all.
Zu Jue was following Liu Taozi at this moment and talked about his thoughts in detail.
"My lord, the divisions in the frontier states are too detailed and too complicated. I think we can slightly modify them. When we created so many states and forcibly split them up, we were afraid that local officials would seize power. We are not so worried about the details of the states.
If it is transformed, it will increase the burden on officials and increase the salary problem. I think it is better to re-divide the temples and halls without informing them, and they don't dare to do anything."
"The towns under the current rule are loose and the defense lines are redundant. They can be re-established."
Zu Jue took out a long map from his sleeve and handed it to Liu Taozi.
"Lord, look, this is what I am thinking right now."
Shi Yao followed not far away, looking at Zu Jue in surprise. He originally thought that his abandonment of his official position and defection to Liu Taozi was a treasonous act, but he didn't expect that there was a more important person here, re-dividing local states and counties?
??
Isn’t this a clear rebellion?
This is more serious than setting up officials for private purposes. According to the laws of the Northern Qi Dynasty, this matter is classified as setting up officials for private purposes, and is one of the ten unpardonable sins.
He looked around. No matter whether it was the soldiers following the general, the scribes further away, or even King Qinghe who was carrying the horse on his side, there was no sign of surprise or fear at all.
They looked calm.
Everything seems to be taken for granted.
Qi, Jiangzhou.
Governor's Office.
"Cough, cough, cough"
There was a coughing sound in the inner room.
Master Qian held the bowl and carefully walked to the door. When the two soldiers at the door saw him, they immediately got out of the way.
Master Qian walked into the house, and Lu Yao was sitting on the bed, wearing a coat but not fully dressed, crossing his legs, holding a document in his hand, sweating profusely as he read it.
Master Qian hurriedly handed him the medicine bowl, secretly looked at the documents in his hand, and said with a wry smile: "Master, don't look at it anymore. Take some medicine first."
Lu Yao put down the paperwork, took the medicine handed to him, and took a few mouthfuls.
He breathed a long sigh of relief, "Gao Zhan has done a good deed by deposing me here."
"Look at what Liu Taozi has done. If he still stays in Yecheng, wouldn't we be frightened to death by him?"
Master Qian asked curiously: "What terrible thing did he do again??"
Lu Yao gently rubbed his forehead, "Forget it, let's not say it. It's useless to say it."
Looking at Lu Yao who was taking the medicine, Master Qian hurriedly said: "My lord, recently many scholars in the city are singing a song about General Wei's defeat of thieves. I heard that it was written by Wei Shou, recording the defeat of General Wei.
Everyone thought the story about Yang Zhong was extremely well written, and it was spread everywhere."
"Wei Shou??"
Lu Yao was stunned for a moment, and then said disdainfully: "This is not surprising. Wei Shou can take bribes and write random things when compiling history books, let alone just write prose? This is his strength!"
"It seems that he is preparing to follow Liu Taozi?"
"It seems like this. Recently you can often hear a lot of poems and poems written about General Wei. Several county magistrates have reported that the scribes who have recently set up offices are going to the frontier fortress, and they don't dare to stop them.
"
"Liu Taozi is trying to trick these scholars into going to the frontier fortress!"
Lu Yao shook his head again.
Soon, Lu Yao drank all the medicine in his hand.
He wiped his lips, looked at the money manager aside, and his expression became slightly more serious.
"How is the matter I asked you to investigate earlier?"
Master Qian put on a familiar bitter face and said, "Lord, Lord, Lord. I, I, I."
Lu Yao was a little angry, "Can't you handle this?"
Master Qian quickly knelt down and said, "My lord, you can't blame me. Everyone here is doing business with the Southerners. Common people, soldiers, officials, wealthy families, and even ministers have traveled thousands of miles to come here."
We are here to do business with the southerners. We are outsiders after all. I have no confidants here, let alone any minions. Their officials protect each other and cover each other up. I really can’t find a gap!!"
Lu Yao shook his head, "Normal trade, you don't have to stop it, and you don't have to pursue it."
"What I asked you to investigate is those unfair trades."
"Selling war horses, iron cavalry, and food to the Southerners are all ways of supporting the enemy. I also heard that some people even trafficked people to the Southerners!!"
"How can we let these people go?!"
Master Qian looked up at Lu Yao and said timidly: "My lord, didn't General Wei tell you to go to the frontier to join him? I think this is not a good place. It's close to the enemy and it's chaotic inside. Why don't we
So I went to join General Wei and do whatever I want under his command, and I think he won’t treat me badly.”
"snort!"
Lu Yao snorted coldly and said angrily: "It would be fine if I didn't know about this. Now that I know the situation in several southern states and counties, is there any reason to continue to let them go?"
"I will recuperate for some time first, and you can take advantage of this time to conduct a strict investigation on me!!"
"All the states and counties in the south are suspected of supporting the enemy!! Don't let it be taken lightly!!"
"only!!"
Master Qian didn't dare to say anything more. He knew his lord's character. He had always been like this. Although he looked like a good old man and had a gentle appearance, he was extremely serious when doing things. He was just a man who couldn't tolerate the slightest bit in his eyes.
Sand people.
Lu Yao had just arrived here, and he was a little acclimatized. His health was not very good to begin with, so he could only rest first.
Many matters were handed over to Master Qian for thorough investigation.
After Master Qian accepted the order, he took care of Lu Yao for a long time before walking out of the official office.
As soon as he left the official office, he saw an official running towards him.
It seemed that I had been waiting for him for a long time.
Chief Qian looked at the official in front of him, feeling that he looked familiar, but he couldn't remember his name.
"Mr. Qian!! I found evidence of guilt!"
"ah??"
"I found a big ship with many iron tools in it."
"Where?!"
"Please get in the car!"
The young official waved his hand, and immediately a carriage stopped in front of him. Master Qian hurriedly got into the carriage, and the young official followed him.
Chief Qian looked very excited, "If the evidence is really found, then the governor can feel at ease!"
The clerk nodded with a smile on his face.
Master Qian asked about specific matters again, and the clerk told them one by one in great detail.
The carriage drove out from the city gate and walked quickly on the road. The roads on both sides were getting narrower and narrower, and there were fewer and fewer people.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and the clerk stuck his head out and took a look, "Mr. Qian! We're here!"
Master Qian jumped out of the carriage and was about to speak.
"Bang!"
The little official hit him hard on the back of the neck with the handle of the knife, and Mr. Qian fell to the ground. The little official looked around and saw many people emerging from the bushes on both sides. They were carrying Mr. Qian.
He quickly left here.
Master Qian felt his head hurt.
He touched the back of his head, as if someone had entangled it with something.
Slowly opening his eyes, he saw the blue sky.
He struggled to do it and looked around blankly.
Right.
The clerk said he had discovered a pirate ship and followed it, but was attacked later.
At this moment, Master Qian's eyes suddenly became frightened. Those people in the smuggling business wanted to murder him!
He looked around in fear, only to find that he was at a dock.
Many large ships were parked around, and fishermen were walking in the distance. The fishermen were all wearing short clothes and bare legs. There were a few soldiers around them, wearing paper armor and holding hooked shields.
There is a small market in the distance, and I can hear many people chattering.
But he couldn't understand a word.
Master Qian looked confused.
Where did this come from? Is this still Daqi?
"Why."
Someone shouted, and Master Qian slowly raised his head, and saw a man wearing armor standing not far away, surrounded by several soldiers standing around him with him as the center.
The man looked at Master Qian. He was not young, tall and had a resolute face.
“Who are you??”
"Look, the other side of this bank is your country of Qi."
"Southerners!"
Master Qian immediately understood his situation. He stood up and looked around, "I'm just a small official."
"I know who you are, you are Lu Yao's confidant."
Master Qian's whole body was cold. He looked at the soldiers around him and then at his own body. These people came prepared. He had always been weak. If he was tortured by them, he might not be able to endure it.
He suddenly gritted his teeth, closed his eyes and rushed towards the water in the distance. But just after running a few steps, he was knocked to the ground by the soldiers and pinned to the ground again.
The general was a little surprised. He smiled and squatted in front of Master Qian, "Why are you running? Can you still swim to the other side?"
"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to kill you, nor am I asking you to murder your lord. I just want you to give your lord a message. We, the people on both sides of the North and South, have nothing wrong with doing trade and selling things."
Yes, almost all the officials along the coast are engaged in this kind of business. Lu Jun is not simple. Just after he took office, he actually wanted to send people to conduct a thorough investigation? Do you want to catch all the officials along the coast? "
"There is no need. I, Da Chen, have always been on good terms with you. If I can do trade with peace of mind, then let them do trade. If Mr. Lu is stubborn and insists on ruining the good things on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and forcing us to fight each other hahaha, then I will
You won’t be polite.”
"In these days, many of your puppet Qi officials have sent people to contact me. They all want me to send troops to attack and kill Lu Yao."
"This incident involving Lu Yao has done a lot of harm but no good. He has offended everyone, just to clear his name. It's not worth it. It's not worth it."
"When you go back, tell him that he can be the governor with peace of mind and not pay attention to too many things. Otherwise, I will lead the troops to attack. By then, there will be many casualties, all because of him."
Master Qian's face turned pale and he nodded, "I remember."
"Don't you know the general's name?"
"I am the governor of Jiangzhou, Wu Mingche."
Chapter completed!