After washing up, Yang Ji had a general understanding of the visitor's purpose, and then came to the side hall to meet with Xiao Yu and Wang Gun. Xiao Yu introduced Xu Yi, Shi Zhiyong, Lu Yan and other famous monks to Yang Ji one by one, and then apologetically handed over. He said: "Your Majesty is very busy with official duties and has many things to do. As a brother, I have taken the liberty to come to visit you. I also hope that your Majesty will be honored."
Xiao Yu is the third son of Xiao Kui. He is already in his early forties. He is extremely handsome, elegant and graceful. Just from his demeanor and facial features, he makes people feel good about him.
"Brother, you're welcome. Everyone, please take a seat. Please take a seat." Yang Ji said with a smile, "It's been a long time since I've seen my brother, but I wonder what he's been busy with lately?"
"I went to Jiangling, Nanjun County a month ago for family matters." Xiao Yu leaned forward to answer.
Yang Ji picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then asked casually: "What's new in Jingzhou recently?"
Xiao Yu looked at Yang Ji and smiled: "Of course there are new things, but no matter how big it is, it can't be bigger than the Chen family's rebellion. I wonder if this counts?"
"Of course." The two of them introduced each other and entered the topic. Yang Ji smiled and said to Xiao Yu: "Brother, I have heard from Hao Yuan Changshi about your purpose of coming. I understand that you are confused if you are concerned. But you There’s no need to read too much into it.”
Seeing everyone watching, Yang Ji continued: "The saint did not intend to kill all the major families in the south. What he meant was what was announced: in addition to killing the entire Chen family and the evil leaders of the Chen family's gang members, , followed by the exile of the party member’s branch and a certain amount of property punishment.”
Xiao Rong nodded. His sixth brother Xiao Jue actually said the same thing. However, the Xiao family and the southern nobles were all involved in the situation. Their brothers were still a little uneasy and hoped to get reassurance from Yang Ji.
He thought for a while and asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, does the 'Court' intend to use the Chen family's rebellion as an excuse to purge the southern officialdom?"
"Shouldn't it be right?" Yang Ji glanced at him, picked up the tea cup and took a sip of the tea soup, and said bluntly: "Whether it is the nobles who have lived in the south for a long time or the nobles who traveled south in clothes, they all regard the south as forbidden\/蔔, the world has been unified for so many years. However, the southern gentry have not allowed the imperial court to intervene and are still holding public opinion against the imperial court. And if the officials appointed by the imperial court do not act in accordance with the will of the southern gentry and are unwilling to be the puppets of the southern gentry, they will Died in various accidents.”
"Aren't the so-called accidents a murder committed by the southern gentry? Aren't the so-called bandits and robbers dogs raised by the southern gentry? When the court asked for an explanation, they slaughtered the people who owned good fields and beautiful houses, and the people who had thousands of wealth. The merchants filled up their accounts, and then happily divided other people's properties."
Seeing Xiao Yong's intention to defend, Yang Ji waved his hand and continued: "I'm not talking about you, but all of you. I have been fighting against aristocratic families and corrupt officials for so many years, and I am very familiar with you."
"Tell yourselves, should the imperial court clean up the southern officialdom that cedes territory for self-reliance, fosters bandits for self-respect, is lawless, and slaughters good people? Now that there is such a great opportunity, should the imperial court make full use of it?"
When Xiao Yu and others heard this, they were greatly embarrassed.
After a long silence, Xiao Feng regained his composure. He coughed lightly and said, "As a family has a great business, it is inevitable that there will be some bad ones. It is understandable that the court will punish these lawless people in accordance with the law. It's just that I can't figure it out."
Yang Ji asked: "Brother, why can't you figure it out?"
"It has been a few days since the incident, and many people have been brought to justice. I believe that the states and counties have also made great gains, but why has the court still not tried it? And since the 'court' wants to clean up the officialdom in the south, why hasn't it been brought to justice? Also arrest those black sheep?" After saying that, Xiao Yu bowed his hand to Yang Ji and said, "Brother Yu, I can't figure it out clearly, please give me some advice."
"Brother, don't you understand? When the court decided to let Prime Minister Li, the chief judge of Zhao Dali Temple, the Prime Minister Changsun and the minister of Pei Taixue go south, the case actually had nothing to do with the saint or the court." Yang Ji looked up and looked up. Xiao Ming smiled coldly and said: "When wolves hunt, they usually don't rush to kill their prey. Instead, they follow the prey group and maintain a deterrent posture at all times. Once the prey group becomes chaotic and disperses, they will let out a thunderous sound. one strike."
"If I'm not wrong, this is the tactic used by several major forces this time. Under this deterrent situation, you southern nobles must be in chaos, and some people must betray others in exchange for a chance of survival; and they It can not only defeat you one by one and bite you to death, but also attract people to intercede for the felons. This time, whoever dares to intercede for the felons will be involved in a major case. If the intercessors are from the southern gentry , will definitely die."
"And you have some kind of relationship with those felons on death row. If you make a joint petition, you will die more and more miserably. And under the uproar, the saint will save you even if he wants to do it for personal gain." It’s hard to break the law. So brother, please don’t do such stupid things; if you don’t believe it, you can give it a try.”
Yang Jizhen was not exaggerating. Because political struggle is so cruel, there is no humane nature, and there is no difference between right and wrong. The only eternal theme is the supremacy of interests.
In this major case, he and Yang Guang did not want the hatred between the north and the south to deepen further, so they only asked about the evil leaders and direct descendants of the major families of the southern gentry, and then added fuel to the flames, causing the branches of the major families to weaken in the struggle for power. , rather than mass killing.
Now that I have said all this, I just hope these people will not be stupid. The rationale and intention are exactly the same as what Xiang Zhou Shaoji said that day. However, when Xiao Rong, Xu Yi, Shi Zhiyong, Lu Yan and others heard the end, their faces turned pale, and they all showed shock and fear.
What's Yang Ji's look like? When he saw them like this, he immediately became happy. He said to Xiao Yu: "If the elder brother is the initiator, or if there is an elder brother's name, the Xiao family's children and disciples will mistakenly think that it means the sixth brother. I'm sure Sign your names one by one; then you, the Xiao clan, will generously go to justice together, and your heads will fall to the ground together. It is so happy and magnificent!"
"Okay, okay! For today's sake, I will give each of you a fine nanmu coffin. But I don't like to eat with the dying. Brother, you go! After you die, Your wife and children..."
"It's not that serious." Xiao Yu wiped away cold sweat and said, "We only have this intention and have not done it."
Yang Ji was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Really? That's such a pity!"
"..." Xiao Yu sighed and solemnly asked for advice: "What does your Majesty think we should do?"
Yang Ji raised his head and glanced at him, and said calmly: "Those 'black sheep' are guilty of rebellion. It is inevitable that some of your southern nobles will sacrifice. This is also the tacit agreement that your Xiao family has to reach with the major families. Otherwise, you The gang dispersed in one fell swoop. At the same time, you should stop struggling, otherwise, you will suffer more losses."
Considering that the southern gentry were passive and weak, they were no match for the major forces in the north, so Yang Ji added: "After I return, my brother can say to the people of the major families, 'I, Yang Ji, will finally take care of this case. Promises made by forces are useless, there is no need for internal strife, and there is no need to betray everyone."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Yu and others were overjoyed.
Yang Ji's ordinary words can be regarded as solving the most terrifying danger of rupture and internal strife among the southern gentry.
So many precious gifts are indeed not given in vain.
Yang Ji looked at Shi Zhiyong, smiled and said: "Master, I have a gift for you."
Before he finished speaking, Hao Yuan placed a rosewood box on the desk in front of Shi Zhiyong.
Xiao Yu and others looked around, all showing shock. Isn't this the "Lanting Tie" that Shi Zhiyong sent out an hour ago? Why was it sent back again?
Shi Zhiyong also looked at Yang Ji in shock: "Your Majesty, is this...?"
"This is Wang Youjun's "Lanting Tie"." Yang Ji faced everyone's shocked eyes and said sincerely: ""Lanting Tie" is the best running script in the world and a priceless treasure. I know its value. But I If I can't take good care of it, I can't steal it for myself because it's precious, let alone let it get damp, moldy, or be eaten away by insects. And the master has written tens of thousands of words on how to care for it. It is beyond my power to cherish it. Its master should not be me, but the master."
For Yang Ji, "Lanting Tie" is just one of many treasures. It is no different from cold gold and silver jewelry. At most, he can look at it occasionally when he has time; if he keeps it for a long time, It will definitely be destroyed in his hands. But in Shi Zhiyong's eyes, it is an existence far beyond life, and Shi Zhiyong can guard and protect it with his life.
Therefore, Yang Ji believes that the owner of "Lanting Tie" should be Shi Zhiyong, not himself, who is unlikely to cherish it. Only Shi Zhiyong could keep "Lanting Tie" intact.
It would definitely not work if it were him.
"Your Majesty..." Shi Zhiyong was so excited that he almost shed tears. He understood what Yang Ji meant: he could use his life to cherish and protect "Lanting Tie", but Yang Ji knew that he couldn't, so he didn't even have a sealed box. He opened it and gave it back as a gift.
Yang Ji waved his hand and said to Shi Zhiyong, "But I have a request!"
"Your Majesty, please speak." Shi Zhiyong said quickly.
Yang Ji said: "Master, how about you make a hundred rubbings or copies for me after you return?"
Everyone looked at each other in shock. They thought the allusion of "buying a coffin and returning a pearl" was a lie. But he never expected that the story of buying a casket for a pearl would actually happen right in front of him.
As the person involved, Shi Zhiyong was also dumbfounded. He looked at Yang Ji in disbelief and said, "If your Majesty doesn't dislike it, I will spend my whole life copying two hundred paintings."
"Okay, it's settled." Yang Ji knew that Shi Zhiyong himself was also a great calligrapher. His calligraphy would be equally valuable in later generations, but like Wang Xizhi's, there were very few, so he had to give it to him while he was alive. He writes more. And Shi Zhiyong will definitely put all his effort into writing it for the sake of his own reputation and that of the Wang family.
. . . . . .
The Chen family rebellion case that shocked the world seemed to have been frozen, and suddenly fell silent. No one mentioned it again, and no one was arrested again; those arrested and imprisoned were not interrogated, and the court No statement has been released.
The people in Luoyang City gradually stopped paying attention to this matter, and the uproar of public opinion was also attracted by the fact that Gaochang State took the initiative to merge with the Sui Dynasty. This major case seems to have been wiped out by a pair of invisible hands, making people feel that this abnormal silence is the depression before the volcano is about to erupt.
In the afternoon of that day, Xie Ge rode a carriage to the door of Zhou's house in Taoism Square.
Ever since Xie Ge reported on the Chen family, the Xie family had broken off with the southern gentry and was regarded as a traitor by the southern gentry. His former in-laws and friends regarded him as a god of plague, and even though no one despised him, they shunned him.
Xie Ge was actually mentally prepared for such a sudden change in treatment before reporting it to Yang Ji. Although he was a little disappointed, it was not something that scared him. What made him feel worried and uneasy was that not only did the court not release his son Xie Daohong, but they didn't even say a word.
Another thing that made him uneasy about food and accommodation was that some unfilial sons of the Xie family were involved in the rebellion and became Chen's party members. If someone holds a grudge and gives the Xie family a fatal blow, he really won't even have a helping hand.
It was the accumulation of these fears that made Xie Ge extremely fearful and worried that the Xie family would become victims of the struggle on the eve of the depressing and almost suffocating storm.
At this time, Pei Yun had already moved south, leaving Xie Ge with no one to speak or analyze the current situation. By some strange coincidence, I thought of Master Zhou, a close family friend and relative by marriage.
Naturally, the disciple knew this Zhou family's in-law, so he quickly brought him to the flower hall, served him fragrant tea, and then reported to the master.
Within a moment, Zhou Shaoji, who had arrived after hearing the news, quickly stepped into the flower hall and bowed deeply to Xie Ge: "My nephew Shaoji pays homage to Shibo!"
"My good nephew is exempt from courtesy. I wonder if your uncle is here?" Xie Ge saw that although Zhou Shaoji was very polite, he did not see Zhou Faseng. He was immediately disappointed. At the same time, he also understood that Zhou Faseng also deliberately avoided him like others.
Zhou Shaoji said: "Shibo, my uncle went to Prince Wei's Mansion an hour ago."
Xie Ge was stunned and asked casually: "But why?"
Zhou Shaoji bowed his hands respectfully and said, "My nephew is not sure, but he seems to be conveying some important military matters on behalf of my father."
I heard that Master Zhou didn't avoid it deliberately. Although Xie Ge felt a little disappointed, he was still somewhat comforted.
After pondering for a long time, Xie Ge's turbid old eyes suddenly lit up. He raised his eyes and looked at Zhou Shaoji who was pouring tea, and asked: "Shouldn't we report important military matters to the Ministry of War?"
Zhou Shaoji put the tea cup in front of Xie Ge and said: "Shibo doesn't know that King Wei is not only the minister of the military department of the school, but also has the power to supervise all the military affairs in the Sui Dynasty. As the commander-in-chief of the Northern Navy, my father is also nominally under the supervision of Xie Ge. King Wei supervises."
This statement is very reluctant, but Xie Ge doesn't care about this. He could tell that the Zhou family had an excellent relationship with Yang Ji, or that the Zhou family used so-called "supervision" to "loyalty" to Yang Ji.
From this point of view, in order to protect themselves before the storm came, the Zhou family was also trying to break away from the southern gentry and prepare to move closer to Yang Ji and the royal family.
The Zhou family's ancestral home is in Runan, and they are also members of the Yingchuan family. The Yingchuan family has always wavered between the north and the south. Although the Xie family has declined, it is still a famous family. It still has a certain reputation in the south, and it has no quarrel with the Sui Dynasty royal family.
Moreover, his brother Xie Hong was conquered many times by the royal families of the two dynasties. Perhaps the Xie family could completely "loyalty" to Yang Ji in order to seek protection.
With this thought, Xie Ge could no longer suppress it. When he thought again that he had reported the Chen family to Yang Ji, he had contributed to the Sui Dynasty. If he went to visit, Yang Ji should not avoid it. ?
