Although His Majesty Li Er ordered the news of Fang Jun's assassination to be blocked, there were so many witnesses at the time that the news inevitably leaked out.
Not only could Fang Jun's assassination be concealed, but the discovery of coin molds in the Qiu family's ancestral home also spread within a small area...
Caused a strong shock.
Assassinating an important official of the imperial court in the street was something that had never happened even in the precarious Sui Dynasty when the building was about to collapse, but it happened like this in the glorious and prosperous Tang Dynasty, in the city of Chang'an at the foot of the emperor in the country, and it was really Very shocking.
For a time, the emperor was furious and the government and the public were in shock.
Especially after the news spread that the emperor merged the two cases and handed them over to Changsun Wuji to command the Sanfa Division for review, the government and the public were even more panicked.
Everyone knows that the Guanlong nobles have been suppressed by His Majesty Li Er in the past two years. The power they originally held has been spit out little by little, and has been eaten up by the two major factions of Jiangnan gentry and Shandong aristocratic families. Their momentum is not far behind that of the beginning of Zhenguan. It can be said that if Changsun Wuji gets this job, there will be a lot of scrutiny, and countless officials will be involved.
The struggle for power has never been about tenderness. Once the opponent finds a gap to break through and attack, it will inevitably pursue it until it is completely defeated...
No one is sure what His Majesty Li Er is thinking. Since he spared no effort to suppress the Guanlong clan before, why has he given such huge power to Changsun Wuji this time?
*****
Shen Guogong Mansion.
Gao Shilian was also invited by His Majesty Li Er to the Lotus Garden to enjoy lotuses. Naturally, he heard about Fang Jun's assassination during the dinner. He was greatly shocked. Although he had some speculations in his mind, he remained silent and never participated in the discussion. The subsequent banquet had to end hastily due to panic.
After returning to the mansion, after bathing and changing clothes, I sat in the flower hall and drank tea. I heard the housekeeper talk about the discovery of coin molds in the ancestral home of the Qiu family.
Gao Shilian held the tea cup and was stunned for a long time. Then he sighed softly and said, "Is Da Lang in the house?"
The steward said: "Dalang followed his colleagues to Furong Garden this morning. He must be having a banquet in a restaurant somewhere in the city now."
Gao Shilian rubbed his forehead and said: "Immediately send someone to find Dalang. No matter where he is or who he is with, just say that I have something to look for and you must return home immediately."
The steward was stunned for a moment and said hurriedly: "Here!"
Turn around and leave in a hurry.
Gao Shilian sat there motionless, closing his eyelids, subconsciously placing his right hand on the coffee table, tapping his fingers on the tabletop, and thinking intently.
After a long while, he finally opened his eyes and slowly exhaled.
He just sat alone in the flower hall, motionless for half an hour, until Gao Xingxing was found...
Gao Xingcheng was having a drink with friends in Songhe Tower. Hearing that his father was looking for him, he did not dare to neglect him. After confessing to his friends, he hurried home. The smell of alcohol on his body had not yet dissipated. When he came to the flower hall, he first bowed and saluted, and then sat down with his father. Next to me, the maid served tea, took a sip, and asked: "Father is so anxious to call me back, but what are your instructions?"
At the banquet, Fang Jun's assassination was the only topic of conversation. He guessed that his father called him back because of this incident.
Gao Shilian drooped his eyelids and slowly sipped his tea. After a long time, he suddenly said: "Resign from your post in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The governor of Hengzhou is vacant. I'd like to say hello to the British Duke. You can go to Hengzhou to take up your post. My family is here. Changshan County has a deep foundation, which will definitely enable you to make progress in your official career. Serve as an official there for one term, accumulate qualifications, and do not return to Chang'an before the crown prince can ascend the throne."
Gao Jingcheng was shocked when he heard this. He almost choked on a mouthful of tea and said in panic: "Father, why is this?"
Although he is now just a minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, with a rank of fourth rank, he is only one step away from the position of minister. Now Tang Jian, the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, is old and frail, and is in a state of semi-official status. Everyone expected him to take the lead, and if nothing unexpected happened, it would be a matter of course for him to take over the position of Minister after Tang Jian took office.
Six Ministers, he has become the center of the empire and an important minister of the court. With his age and the background of the Gao family, it is just around the corner to become the prime minister.
But now his father asked him to work in Hengzhou...
Where is Hengzhou?
In a remote place in Hebei Province, Dou Jiande marched across Hebei Province in a series of fierce battles, beating the entire Hebei Province to ashes. There were no roosters crowing for hundreds of miles. Many villages are still "widow villages". There is not a single adult man in the entire Zhuangzi. That place may look like the governor of a state, but what is the difference between being derogatory and exiled?
A poor place can naturally produce political achievements, but how can one return to the center without political achievements?
Not to mention promotion, it is difficult to maintain the current rank during the triennial performance review of officials...
Totally unacceptable.
Gao Shilian raised his eyelids, stared at Gao Xingyi expressionlessly, and asked word for word: "Let me ask you, how deeply involved are you with His Highness King Jing, Qiu Xinggong and others?"
Gao Jingcheng was stunned and replied: "It's not that there's anything involved, it's just that we can talk and get closer."
Gao Shilian asked: "Are you not aware of their secret plans?"
Gao Xingcheng looked confused: "Plan? What's the plan? The son dare not hide it from his father. He really doesn't know anything about it."
"snort!"
Gao Shilian snorted angrily, making Gao Xingshi tremble with fright. Then he tapped his forehead with his finger and said, "What can I achieve if I only play with those dirty little calculations all day long?" A great weapon? When you are in the world, only meritorious achievements are the foundation of your life. Your outstanding achievements are there, and no one has to take a high look at you. How can your Majesty not reuse them? You are like a dog, and you work together. Even if you succeed for a while, you will not be able to succeed. How can it last long?”
Gao Qingcheng looked aggrieved and said, "What my father said is true, but my son really doesn't know what happened. What happened to King Jing?"
Gao Shilian glanced at him coldly and said slowly: "Fang Jun was assassinated, and the Youtun Guards immediately sealed off the nearby houses and residences. In Qiu Xinggong's ancestral house, traces of a crossbow were found, and later a crossbow was found. The crossbow machine and other parts, Qiu Xinggong is hard to escape."
Gao Xingyi naturally heard the news and said with emotion: "This Qiu Xinggong is really bold. It seems that he still blamed Fang Jun for Qiu Shenji's death. But at the foot of the emperor and in the capital, His Majesty was at the Ziyun Tower not far away. , he automatically used a military-standard crossbow to shoot him without permission, which is simply a capital crime!"
However, before he could finish his emotion, Gao Jishi added: "Not only that, when the Youtun Guards searched for crossbows, they also found the coin molds in Qiu Xinggong's ancestral house. His Majesty was furious and ordered Changsun Wuji to take responsibility. This case will be investigated by the three law enforcement departments and the mastermind must be found out."
"hiss--"
Gao Xingxing took a breath of cold air and was so frightened that he almost flew away: "Mold for coining? Mother! Qiu Xinggong is so tired of life that he dares to mint coins privately?"
Although the assassination of Fang Jun is a serious crime, since Fang Jun is not dead after all, the crime is lighter. With His Majesty's nostalgic character, he may not be able to do anything to the mastermind behind the scenes. Minting coins...which emperor can tolerate this?
That is the death penalty for the three clans!
He knows his son better than his father. When he saw Gao Xingjie's expression, Gao Shilian knew that his guess was correct, and immediately shouted angrily: "To this day, you still haven't told the truth to your father?"
Gao Xingyi's face turned pale and he muttered: "This... my son doesn't have much contact with Qiu Xinggong. Besides, how can he talk to his son about such a thing as losing his head?"
"Snapped!"
Gao Shilian was so angry that he threw the tea cup on Gao Xing's head.
Gao Xingcheng was caught off guard and was beaten so hard that he screamed "Ouch" and the tea cup shattered. He covered his forehead and felt a warmth. He stretched out his hand and touched it, and blood started to flow out.
Gao Shilian said angrily: "It's so stupid! Even though no one in my Gao family is an official in the court, the foundation is still solid. As long as you don't make mistakes, who in the world can touch our family? But you, an ignorant fool, don't think about how to build a good career." Instead, the Meng family is fighting with those people who have ulterior motives. This world belongs to His Majesty. Even if His Majesty passes a hundred years later, this world still belongs to your Highnesses! Everyone in the civil and military dynasty respects and admires Your Majesty. How can they watch helplessly? Is this country falling into the hands of others? You are an ignorant person, and you have reached this point and still don't tell the truth. You want to tie our Gao family to you, and finally annihilate the nine clans and kill everyone. What?"
Gao Xingcheng was so frightened that he left the table, covered his forehead with one hand, and knelt down and said: "Father, calm down..."
