Gao Zhang and his biological father Gao Qiu watched helplessly as Huang, one by one, pulled the two young ladies into the smoke-filled ancestral hall.
"Father, look..."
Gao Zhang looked at this scene with a messy face, couldn't help but asked his father in a low voice.
"Well, there are people coming later, so we father and son should not go in and cause trouble. I just have something to talk to you about..."
"..."
Although I feel that my biological father clearly wants to take the opportunity to escape, but considering that it is not easy for me to disturb the harmonious relationship between mother-in-law and mother-in-law in the ancestral hall, it is better to go and talk to my biological father about some important national affairs.
The father and son walked side by side, whispering as they walked towards the distance.
Outside the ancestral hall, several servants of the high government were taking turns stepping on the exhaust fan so that the smoke in the ancestral hall could be quickly drawn out.
This allows the ancestral hall to breathe fresh air while reducing PM2.5 pollution to indoor air.
In this Gao family ancestral hall where feudal superstition and technology are mixed, Fu Jin threw paper money into the brazier with a curious expression on his face.
While looking at the rising green smoke, it seemed to turn into pillars of smoke, which were drawn directly into the beams and pillars of the rooms, and then disappeared without a trace.
The tablets of the ancestors of the Gao family that were enshrined on the desk were shining brightly under the candlelight, giving them a vague sense of transparency.
The entire ancestral hall looked even more solemn and solemn under the falling snow in early winter...
#####
"The officials intend to appoint Zheng Juzhong as the Shaanxi Road Economic and Social Envoy, and Gao Zhang'er as the deputy envoy."
"In my opinion, you are the only one who can handle the important task of military affairs on the Shaanxi Road. Zheng Juzhong is a mediocre and incompetent man. He only got where he is today because of Concubine Zheng.
The official family has entrusted him with such important responsibilities. The truth is difficult to understand since the official family ascended the throne.
Staff Officer Tong has made numerous achievements in the northwest frontier, making our Song Dynasty connect several states.
Why don't the officials use you this time, but this animal? "
In a restaurant, Cai Jing, who had put on ordinary gentry clothes, looked at Tong Guan, who was also dressed as a rich man, with great confusion.
"Not to mention you, even our family is at a loss to understand it. Although the officials are blocking it because of the new establishment of the General Staff Council and the complicated affairs."
"Until Prime Minister Cai said this, we thought that the reason why the official family was like this was to pave the way for Gao Zhang..."
As soon as he said this, Cai Jing's eyes suddenly narrowed, and the cold light in his eyes flickered. He took a few breaths before saying bluntly.
"Chief Counselor Tong, please don't joke with the Prime Minister. That boy is too young after all. What's more, everyone in the court only follows the Prime Minister's lead.
Even if the officials insist on supporting this person to rise to power, how can such a little brat, who is not even old enough to stand up, convince the public? "
"Now even if the officials don't want to use our family to take control of the northwest, there are enough reasons. But you, Prime Minister Cai, have done evil to the officials because of the affairs of those three envoys."
"Now the government has chosen Zheng Juzhong, who is your enemy, as the Shaanxi Road Manager's pacifier. You can't stop it, so you want to find our family as the scapegoat?"
Having said this, Tong Guan smiled gloomily, looked at Cai Jing in front of him, who was now acting more and more extreme, and smiled meaningfully.
"Haha... Prime Minister Cai, you are also a man who has weathered many storms. You have won the trust of officials twice after returning to prime ministership. You can be regarded as reaching the highest level of being a minister."
"Zheng Juzhong is just a mediocre person, so why should you be so afraid?"
"Our family is an eunuch, and our family's life and death depend on the official's thoughts. Our family knows better than you, Mr. Cai, what can and cannot be done..."
Having said this, Tong Guan stood up, straightened his clothes, and looked at Cai Jingdao, whose face was ashen and frightening.
"Xiang Cai, our family is really not as good as yours. Besides, for the sake of helping each other for so many years.
Our family advises Prime Minister Cai not to think too much about this matter. It would be inappropriate to offend the officials and deprive them of their favor... Say goodbye. "
Listening to the Tong Guan's footsteps disappearing outside the private room, Cai Jing, with a livid face, swiped his big hand and threw the drinks and dishes on the table all over the floor.
"Tong Guan, you eunuch, how dare you do this..."
What followed was a stream of Fujian trash talk spouting out of Cai Jing's mouth.
Cai Jing's confidants, who were guarding outside the private room, were frightened and looked around vigilantly, fearing that someone would notice the movement here.
At this moment, Tong Guan, who had already reached the door, naturally heard the faint noise coming from the restaurant.
Tong Guan shook his head, let out a deep sigh, then got into the carriage and sat down.
The vehicle swayed towards the mansion, and Tong Guan, who was sitting in the carriage, looked straight ahead.
He had almost made it clear just now, but unfortunately, that old man Cai Jing didn't understand at all.
Ever since the officials made themselves aware of the master-disciple relationship between Gao Zhang and him.
Tong Guan only felt that Gao Zhang only relied on his good looks, eloquence and sweetness to win the favor of the officials and grant him the mantle.
But Gao Zhang's various actions after that made Tong Guan finally understand that this boy could make a living with his kindness and flattery.
But he was so talented, shrewd and capable, but fortunately for Tong Guan, this boy followed the road map for civil servants to become officials, which had nothing to do with him.
But who would have thought that when this kid arrived in Jiangnan, he would calm down the Zhu family rebellion in Jiangnan with ease.
What's more, the Zhu family's father and son are deeply involved with him, and they are also closely related to Cai Jing.
From that moment on, Tong Guan could clearly feel that the officials seemed to be a little alienated from him.
Fortunately, he has always been low-key and honest, and does not cause trouble. The government established this new staff council and directly entrusted him with the second-rank staff council envoy.
This made Tong Guan finally relax and understand that his favor was still there.
However, after rejecting his request to go to Liao as an envoy, he sent Zheng Juzhong and Gao Zhang as envoys to Liao.
Tong Guan, who had rich experience in political struggles, already understood that in the eyes of officials, Gao Zhang, his beloved disciple, was not a favorite, but a pillar of the country.
In particular, the beloved daughter of the official family, Maode Diji, became a monk and was later adopted by Wu Zhizhong. Later, in order to fulfill his promise, Gao Zhang married Wu Zhizhong's stepdaughter.
It seemed like a lovely story about lovers finally getting married, but it fell into Tong Guan's ears.
Tong Guan quickly clarified the twists and turns here, and understood that this was clearly a large-scale secret manipulation by the officials, which showed how important Gao Zhang's son was in the hearts of the officials.
This time the officials sent Zheng Ju, a mediocre man who knew nothing about military affairs, as the Shaanxi Road Manager and Comfort Envoy.
Isn't it clear enough to send Gao Zhang, who was both civil and military and had quelled the Zhu family rebellion in the south of the Yangtze River, as deputy envoy?
(End of chapter)
