After hearing this, Cai Xianqing looked at the two rows of noisy civil and military ministers and fell silent for a moment. Only Zeng Liang was unconvinced and stood up straight, still arguing: "Fengxiang, what do you mean by this? Military and national affairs, How can you deceive me!"
Niu Yuan stared at Zeng Liang angrily and cursed secretly: "It's a shame that I helped this guy get rid of Yan Wen in the past. If I didn't protect him, he would have been killed long ago!" Now you are pursuing me so fiercely, how ungrateful! After thinking about it, he finally suppressed the anger in his heart and sneered: "Zeng Shangshu, I have completed my great work today, and the people of Fuguang and Guangzhou are also grateful for my merits. It is nothing more than killing first and reporting later. Could it be that Zeng The minister wants to settle the accounts and undermine his good governance because of what happened today? Isn't this just for the sake of some personal gain and harming the country? "
"You..." Before Zeng Liang could finish his sentence, he knocked him down. He had nothing to say and had to take two steps back: "Okay, how do you want to deal with the matter at hand?"
Niu Yuan said proudly: "What is there to talk about? Everyone, the deal is done and there is no way to regret it. The only way is to make a special case for the other country."
After hearing this, Liu Zhennian did not look up to see everyone's reaction. He just turned his ears slightly to listen to what someone was going to say. But everyone seemed to have read his mind, and they remained silent, not even loud. He dared to breathe out, but he did not try his best to flatter or speak out to argue, and together they maintained a strange silence.
Zeng Liang glanced at Lian Chongwen from the corner of his eye and saw that the latter's expression was alternately uneasy and expectant. He looked at the ministers with wandering eyes. In addition to their seriousness, their faces also showed some fear and anxiety. , was looking around anxiously, as if searching for someone - he had been observing carefully from the beginning, so he was extremely concerned about these small changes.
Zeng Liang hesitated for a moment, he knew who everyone needed, so he took a long breath, and after making up his mind, he stepped out of the queue again, and retorted vigorously: "No! The country has already banned the sea, if it is just for pardoning people, Therefore, by deliberately turning on and off, wouldn't it be condescending to other countries and greatly damaging the face of our country? If this is done, how will the people of the world regard it? How will the neighboring countries of the country regard it? I am eager to make achievements, but I ignore the cause of the country. His crime is so great!"
"Zeng Liang!" Niu Yuan was so angry that he suddenly darkened his face. He didn't even care about the prince's face and directly slapped the table and shouted, "You are so brave. How dare you make irresponsible remarks to me? This You are so rampant, maybe there is a treacherous mastermind behind it! If you dare to criticize the government again, be careful I will take off your official uniform and beat you to death on the spot!"
Zeng Liang bowed proudly and said: "I have always regarded myself as a direct minister. Now that I have been gifted, I am honored to be able to bear my name of loyalty. But it is a pity that Feng Xiang is not a man who sticks to his word, so I have to follow the emperor's instructions." That’s what Mr. Liu meant.”
Lu Zhixian saw that Niu Yuan was so angry that he couldn't help but secretly rejoiced and wanted to see how he would respond. The minister next to him saw this and wanted to please the chief officer, so he also stepped forward to help. He slowly straightened his waist and was about to take a step when his arm was tightly held by Lu Shangshu: "Don't go."
"What?" The minister looked forward and back and asked in a low voice, "If we don't deal with him at this time, sooner or later our etiquette department will be dragged down by him."
Lu Zhixian said: "That's the truth. However, Niu Yuan's power is raging, and Liu Gong's attitude is not clear. We can't take the initiative. Zeng Liang has already stood up, and then we can just encourage him to write a letter. We only need to stand up. Behind him, nothing will happen."
"Okay, okay..." Niu Yuan did not dare to look back at Liu Zhennian, for fear of losing face. He stared at the ministers with his eyes, "Since you Zeng Liang consider yourself a disobedient person, then I will You have to see who supports your ridiculous remarks! Anyone who supports him, come out!"
Of course no one dared to step out, not even to stretch out their feet.
"Zeng Shangshu," Niu Yuan sneered, his eyebrows twitching twice, "You can impeach if you want, but no one cares. General Lian, let's continue talking!"
Zeng Liang silently resigned, but strangely, he did not show any trace of frustration.
After this big quarrel, the negotiation with Lian Chongwen began to go smoothly. The two parties negotiated repeatedly and finally ended up with a plan that everyone was happy with. The contract was settled without any danger.
Niu Yuan copied a copy of the contract and happily went to the emperor to claim credit. The emperor removed the screen to meet him, not even carrying the dagger with him. He spoke highly of this great hero and rewarded Niu Yuan with a thousand taels of silver on the spot. He also gave the empty head a number of personal complaints, and ordered him to fill them in as he pleased. , promoted confidant.
Niu Yuanke rarely saw the true face of the emperor. He expected that the emperor was really afraid of him, so he would be so accommodating, so he became more and more unscrupulous. He directly added the names of several confidants to Gao, or transferred him to the Yushitai. As the assistant's deputy, or as a court official in various ministries, he can write while thinking, without any trouble.
After writing, he distributed the confession to many of his confidants. Seeing them kowtow in fear, he felt as if he was floating in the clouds. He felt extremely proud.
But there were also timid confidants among them. Some people did not dare to accept the letter of appointment and said to Niu Yuan: "Sir, although most of the courtiers did not object to the treaty discussed today, they expressed their dissatisfaction orally secretly. They must be plotting against you. It's better to keep a low profile for the time being. When the pirates are defeated and the artillery is delivered, the dust will settle. It is said that a big tree attracts wind, but if you are arrogant now, it will easily lead to jealousy. I still don't want to accept this. It's a good idea to sue." Niu Yuan sneered at this, and after hearing these inappropriate words, his expression suddenly changed, forcing him to obey the order.
"We are looking for Zeng Shangshu! Zeng Shangshu, please come down and answer me!"
As soon as Zeng Liang's sedan stopped in front of his residence, he heard the roar of people in front of him and hurriedly asked the sedan bearers to put down the pole and lift the curtain to take a look. It turned out that Gao Jizhi was leading the sedan chair, together with Lu Zhixian, Guo Xiangren, Chen Comrades and other senior officials bowed their hands to him as if worshiping Buddha.
"What's the purpose of your visit?" Zeng Liang seemed calm, took the paper fan from the sedan, and asked as he got off the sedan.
"Your Excellency, you should know," Gao Jizhi deliberately bent down to look up at him, "We also deeply hate this agreement. If our country's prestige is harmed because of this, we who eat the emperor's salary will not be able to escape the blame. Now is the time. In times of crisis, we have nothing to ask for, so I ask you to speak out and impeach me!"
"This matter is exactly what I am responsible for, and I am bound to do it! It is not convenient to talk here, so please come into the house and talk." Zeng Liang did not hesitate at all, because he had already made his decision in the main hall.
