The fireworks all over the sky rendered the entire night sky magnificent and colorful. The residents of Luoyang City were shocked and crazy by it. They walked out of their homes, crossed the streets and alleys, and gathered towards Shangshanfang, wanting to be closer to the infection. A splendid beauty.
But the officials at all levels in Luoyang City almost went crazy...
Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets in the middle of the night. The crowds shuttled and rubbed each other. The squeezing and collision with each other were inevitable. This resulted in countless insults, fights, and fights. Many women were In the chaos, bad guys took advantage of her, molested her, and even some thieves sneaked into the house to steal and plunder. It was a chaotic situation.
This is still minor. Once the crowd loses their minds and a serious stampede occurs, a number of high-ranking officials, including the governor of Luozhou and the governor of Henan, will be impeached, ranging from reprimands and warnings to dismissal and demotion.
All Luoyang City officials and government servants rushed to the streets immediately, struggling to maintain order for fear of a stampede.
…
News of the whole city gathered at the Fuyin Yamen in the east of the imperial city at the same time. Pei Huaijie stood in front of the window holding a wine glass, looking at the bright fireworks filling the night sky in the distance, ignoring the busy officials and staff behind him.
Fireworks like falling stars reflected on his face, gloomy as water.
Duan Baoyuan walked over from behind, wiping the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief, looking through the window at the starry night sky, and sighed softly: "As expected of the second room mate."
Pei Huaijie drank the wine in his glass and snorted: "I'm still thinking of giving someone a blow, let's see, who can match the power of someone's casual counterattack?"
This is a very simple but very direct collision. On one side are the outsiders headed by King Wei and Fang Jun, and on the other side are the local aristocratic families in Luoyang. They both want to show themselves off in a way that is almost "showing off". His strength surpassed that of his opponent.
This may seem naive, but in fact it is extremely important for the guidance of the people, people's hearts and public opinion. The stronger party will take the initiative in the situation.
The Luoyang family occupies an advantageous location and manufactured a large number of lanterns to place in Luoyang City in a very short period of time. The scale of the lantern festival more than doubled compared to previous years, in order to declare its strength to the people in Luoyang City - a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake.
His Royal Highness the King of Wei is almost at his wits' end. What can he do even if he has the right to do so?
This is not Chang'an, but Luoyang.
However, as soon as Fang Junfu arrived in Luoyang City, he smashed the Luoyang Family to pieces, set off tens of thousands of fireworks to exaggerate the night sky of the entire Luoyang City, and told the Luoyang Family in an unscrupulous manner that they were not fierce dragons. But not the river!
It is impossible for the Luoyang family to turn defeat into victory. The stronger and more domineering attitude of Fang Jun and King Wei has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Although the people still rely on the local family to live, perhaps at a certain point, this understanding of the situation will changes in the situation.
Duan Baoyuan had a headache: "The King of Wei carried out the imperial decree to build the Eastern Capital, and Fang Jun rushed to Jiechi to rectify the salt affairs. Both events will inevitably affect the interests of the Luoyang family. It is difficult for us to take care of both ends. What should we do?"
The so-called "building the Eastern Capital" is naturally not completed by repairing the official mansions and palaces left over from the former Sui Dynasty. It will also involve many aspects such as real estate, buildings, business taxes, population, official system, etc., and these have already been How can you hand it over easily after becoming the possession of the Luoyang family?
Not to mention Jiechi, the Hedong family has controlled the salt affairs of Jiechi for hundreds of years. It is intertwined and regarded as the lifeblood of each family. They will definitely not sit back and watch Fang Jun interfere.
For the aristocratic families in Luoyang, Hedong, and even the entire Nanyang, the situation they are about to face will be extremely dangerous: Should they completely prevent the imperial court from reforming Luoyang and Jiechi, or should they choose one and defeat them one after another?
Pei Huaijie shook his head, turned back to his desk, and read and signed the official documents compiled by his staff one by one. After he had disposed of a large pile of official documents, he put down his brush and looked at the official documents still standing in front of the window in admiration. Duan Baoyuan said speechlessly: "Isn't it finished yet?"
Duan Baoyuan admired: "What a big deal. Isn't the fireworks set off this night worth tens of thousands? No matter how rich you are, you can't do this!"
The aristocratic family is full of food and lives a luxurious life, but most of them spend their money on things that can improve their etiquette level or hold it for a long time. It is very rare that they will do something like this for tens of thousands of dollars just to hear the sound.
Pei Huaijie said: "Fang Er's actions are often unexpected. It is difficult for ordinary people to figure out his intentions and methods, and it is extremely difficult to deal with him... How about gathering all the heads of families in Luoyang City and going to Shangshanfang to meet in person?"
"Visiting" is of course a polite way of saying it, but actually it means going to put some pressure. Since the use of lanterns to show off wealth has been countered by others, we can only confront each other with gongs and drums, otherwise what will happen if one loses and the other goes? Is good?
Duan Baoyuan walked back to the desk and sat down. He thought about it for a while, shook his head and said, "It's better not to expose the conflict directly. King Wei and Fang Jun are attacking, and we are defending. The other party is taking the initiative. If there is a direct confrontation, it will cause We are in a situation where there is no way back and no way around, and I am afraid it will be disadvantageous.”
Faced with the imminent loss of interests, the Luoyang family could not sit back and wait for death. They would definitely resist the obstruction, but they could not openly disobey the emperor's order and confront Fang Jun. After all, the other party had the right to honor.
Li Chengqian is indeed a kind-hearted person, but everyone also knows that Li Chengqian's health is not very good. If he dies early and the dragon dominates the sky, the new emperor wants to kill chickens to scare monkeys and knock mountains to scare tigers. Today, everyone who disrespects the king's orders and disrespects the king. Anyone who is above may encounter a counter-attack...
As long as the aristocratic families can maintain their interests, they will never challenge the imperial power. They will only go to pieces when their survival is threatened.
As long as there is room for change, everything will definitely not be lost.
Pei Huaijie sighed and said, "Then let me go over and pay a visit. Fang Er has a very different style of dealing with things. He is resentful when he is far away, and he is rude when he is close. He can give him enough face without making him fall out, but he can't be too lenient and generous. , it is extremely difficult to grasp the size.”
Duan Baoyuan laughed and said, "Does the governor regard him as a villain?"
Pei Huaijie snorted: "Looking at his behavior, although many people praise him for his 'righteousness', he is not as gentle as a gentleman. Although he is not a villain, he is still far from it."
A gentleman is a metaphor for righteousness, and a villain is a metaphor for profit. The so-called gentleman is a model of morality. He acts as gentle as jade and follows universal principles. He will never escape from the world and be unruly. However, Fang Junzhi always acted in his own way and never followed the rules of the officialdom. He often exceeded expectations and broke the rules, making people unprepared and caught off guard.
Maybe there is still a gap between him and a "villain", but he is definitely not a "gentleman".
This kind of person is the most difficult to deal with, because everything you regard as a criterion is like nothing in front of them. Every time you face someone directly, it is difficult to guess the trajectory of their actions. They know themselves but cannot know the enemy. They are passive and passive in everything. controlled.
Duan Baoyuan had never been in contact with Fang Jun, but he had always heard of his style of behavior, and agreed: "It is necessary to stabilize him, otherwise once this guy gets to know Chi Guanjie and acts recklessly, he will be in big trouble."
A gentleman can bully someone, but a villain can't. With Fang Jun's rumored temper, it is difficult to guarantee that he will act safely after arriving at Jiechi. If he encounters resistance and obstruction and becomes angry after encountering resistance, he is very likely to act in extreme ways.
It is an extremely terrible thing when a person who occupies a high position does not care about the rules...
*****
Pei Huaijie drove out of Guansha and passed by the Tianjin Bridge. On both sides of the Luoshui River, the waves were rolling in the cold winter, and the fog was clear. On the other side, Dingdingmen Street was crowded with people and tourists, and there was a constant "bang bang" sound in his ears. In one piece, the fireworks swayed upwards with their flame tails, blooming brightly one after another in the night sky. Each fireworks exploded, attracting countless exclamations and cheers, and the scene was lively and noisy.
Seeing many Luoyang city officials sweating profusely as they struggled to maintain order among the crowd, Pei Huaijie shook his head and sighed softly.
The carriage arrived outside the gate of Shangshan Square. Dozens of soldiers in helmets and armor blocked the gate and strictly prohibited entry and exit. Everyone who entered the square had to undergo strict interrogation, identity verification, and body search. Even if He, Henan Yindu, is no exception.
This made Pei Huaijie extremely uncomfortable. He was already the number one person in Luoyang's local military and political affairs. Now because King Wei came to Shangshanfang, he had to accept such strict interrogation. It was like a mother-in-law suddenly appeared above the bride's head. , the depression is beyond words...
After finally completing the investigation, the Che family wanted to enter the workshop, but Pei Huaijie raised his hand to stop him: "No need!"
One person walked into the square and went straight to the palace of the King of Wei.
When I arrived outside the official residence, I waited for the announcement and looked up with an indifferent expression as the fireworks exploded above my head...
After a while, a servant came out and asked to come in to see him.
Pei Huaijie straightened his clothes, walked up the stone steps, and entered the door...
…
"I have an audience with Your Highness!"
"It turns out to be Yin Pei. You should stay in the mansion to accompany your wife and children on the festive night. Why come to my place? Come on, come on, please take a seat and have a few drinks."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Pei Huaijie first met with the King of Wei, and then met with Fang Jun and Ashina Zhong. His eyes turned around Fang Jun's face and then gave Ashina Zhong a deep look, which was meaningful.
Ashina Zhong turned a blind eye, with a smile on his bearded face, showing his white teeth: "Although I am in Luoyang, I rarely see Pei Fuyin. Today, I will use the noble place of King Wei to drink with Pei Fuyin." Just serve a few drinks.”
One sentence expresses attitude and position.
Pei Huaijie said: "I'm really busy with official duties, so I can't go to Duke Xue's residence for advice from time to time. I hope you'll forgive me."
Ashina Zhong smiled and pulled Pei Huaijie to the table: "It doesn't matter, I am a subordinate of the general, and you are a feudal official. You should have many taboos. If you stay in my house all day, you will let me I’m on pins and needles, haha.”
(End of chapter)
