In the Cui family compound in Guangning Mansion, Cui Shaozheng was practicing his calligraphy in his study with great interest.
As a Jinshi of the Zhou Dynasty who read poetry and books, Cui Shao has always believed that words are like people, which also gave him a special preference for calligraphy. Calligraphy has become one of the few pastimes and entertainment in his life... ·····
Under Cui Shao's writing, the brush began to dance on the white paper. After a while, the four characters "God rewards those who work hard" appeared on the paper.
I have to say that Cui Shao's calligraphy is still very good. These four characters are written with strong and vigorous writing. You can feel the vigorous momentum at a glance.
Regarding the calligraphy he had just written, Cui Shao had a slight smile on his face and seemed to be very satisfied.
"Da da!"
At this moment, there were two knocks on the door. Cui Shao said without raising his head:
"come in!"
With Cui Shao's permission, Cui Zibo walked in from the door. When he saw his son coming, Cui Shao, who was in a good mood, pointed to the calligraphy treasure on the table and said to Cui Zibo without waiting for him to report the matter:
"Zibo, you came just in time. How about taking a look at these words?"
Although the old father did not say that the words were written by himself, Cui Zibo knew clearly when looking at the ink marks on the paper that had not yet completely dried. He also knew what his father liked, so he immediately praised:
"These words are light horizontally and heavy vertically. They are straight, open and vigorous! They have the charm of Yan Zhenqing and Yan Gong!"
When Cui Shao heard his son say that his calligraphy resembled Yan Zhenqing's, the joy in Cui Shao's expression became even stronger. He had liked Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy since he was a boy studying. Later, in order to satisfy his personal preferences after he came to power in the family, he even more I spent huge sums of money to buy several authentic paintings by Yan Zhenqing. Whenever I have free time, I take them out to enjoy and copy...
As the saying goes, hard work pays off. Over the past few decades, Cui Shao has prided himself on the fact that his handwriting is half as good as Yan Zhenqing's.
After being happy for a while, Cui Shao ordered the people around him to frame the calligraphy painting. He wanted to hang it in his study. After doing this, Cui Shao remembered that Cui Zibo came to him because he might have something important to report, so he He calmed down and looked at Cui Zibo and asked:
"What happened?"
"Yes! It's just a good thing!" Cui Zibo nodded, and then explained:
"There is news from Uncle Guang, saying that Ye Mingsheng is not sure whether he is insane or not. He has appointed Tanzheng Salt Transport Department deputy envoy, Cui Hong as the magistrate of Changqing Prefecture, and Liu Renchuan as the magistrate of Xuantu Prefecture... ·········”
Cui Zibo named eleven appointments in a row. The more he talked about it, the happier he became. When Cui Shao heard what he said, his face gradually darkened. Whether it was Tan Zheng, Cui Hong, Liu Renchuan, or... Everyone else has a close relationship with the Cui family. They are either old in-laws with the Cui family, or they simply have the surname Cui!
After talking about these appointments, Cui Zibo looked at Cui Shao, whose face was already as gloomy as water, and couldn't help but asked in surprise:
"Father, the people who have been promoted are all members of our Cui family. Why don't you look very happy?"
Seeing that Cui Zibo had not yet realized the stakes involved and was still so proud, Cui Shao couldn't help but angrily said:
"Why are you so happy? This is Ye Mingsheng's poisonous plan!"
Although he didn't know what Cui Shao meant by his words, Cui Zibo still lowered his head very wisely when he saw the furious Cui Shao.
Cui Zibo looked at Cui Zibo who was still confused and just lowered his head. Cui Shao became even more angry and continued to curse:
"If I die one day, and the Cui family is headed by idiots like you, I am afraid that if you are sold by Ye Mingsheng and you are still counting money for Ye Mingsheng, this huge family business will fall apart... ············”
"You little wolf, Ye Mingsheng, is trying to drive a wedge between us and the Gongsun family and the Yun family!"
Cui Shao directly pointed out that Cui Zibo was being stupid, but he gradually came to his senses and said in disbelief:
"Father, are you saying that Ye Mingsheng wants to use this official position to cause conflicts between us and the Gongsun family?"
Seeing that his biological son was not hopelessly stupid, Cui Shao felt more comforted and patiently taught:
"Otherwise, why do you think Ye Mingsheng did this? Do you really think his conscience found out?"
"If you taste it carefully, he asked Tan Zheng to be the deputy envoy of the Salt Transportation Department. Where is the Salt Transportation Department? Who is leading the salt industry in Liaoyang?"
Under Cui Shao's introduction, Cui Zibo blurted out: "The Yun family! More than half of Liaoyang Salt Industry belongs to their family!"
"Think about it again. The Changqing Mansion where Cui Hong went is the territory of the Gongsun family. Ye Mingsheng's dozen appointments are all very vicious. He wants our Cui family to become the target of public criticism in Liaoyang, and then use this to Dismember the connection between our major families..."
Speaking of this, Cui Shao couldn't help but sigh, and said with some emotion:
"First it was the disarmament case, and now it's like killing three soldiers with two peaches. Ye Mingsheng's strategies are really interlocking, one after another. In terms of political methods, Ye Mingsheng is really better than Song Wenhui, the reckless man who only knows how to kill and assassinate. Much stronger!”
Hearing his father's emotion, Cui Zibo thought for a while and said unconvinced:
"Father, since we know that this is Ye Mingsheng's poisonous plan, can't we just let our people refuse? As long as our people don't take office, they will not infringe on the interests of other families, and Ye Mingsheng's poisonous plan will fail. Already?"
Seeing Cui Zibo making things so simple, Cui Shao shook his head and said with a bitter smile:
"Things are not as simple as you say! In just a few decades of life, how important is an opportunity for promotion in the officialdom?
"How many people have worked hard for more than ten years, just wanting to be promoted and rich, but they still stay where they are. Now the opportunity has come. If you let our people refuse Ye Mingsheng's appointment, how can we compete with murderous parents? The wives and children are almost the same!"
"Ye Mingsheng's move is not a conspiracy, he is a conspiracy! If I don't come forward to suppress the matter, our Cui family will be the target of public criticism in the family. There will be no results in our previous cooperation against Ye Mingsheng.
"If I suppress the matter forcibly, then our Cui family will have uneasy feelings, and everyone will be very resentful of me even if they don't say it openly... ·”
"No matter what I do, Ye Mingsheng's treacherous plan has already succeeded." Cui Shao said quietly:
If at the beginning Cui Shao was very confident about joining forces with Zonglianheng, several big families, and some local generals to turn Ye Mingsheng into another Song Wenhui, then now under Ye Mingsheng's successive tricks, Cui Shao was originally determined Confidence has begun to waver.
Cui Zibo thought for a while and said without giving up:
"In that case, father, we can openly disclose Ye Mingsheng's plot to the Gongsun family and the Yun family. I believe they will also understand that this is Ye Mingsheng's plot to divide and destroy our cooperation!"
Cui Shao shook his head when he heard this and said:
"The old guys from the Yun family and the Gongsun family are not fools. Of course they can see Ye Mingsheng's intentions, but the time Ye Mingsheng chose is very good. It happens to be the time when we are plotting to prevent him from disarmament!"
"So the Yun family and Gongsun are most likely murmuring in their hearts, worrying that we have reached some kind of secret agreement with Ye Mingsheng to sell them out. That's why in exchange for benefits, Ye Mingsheng promoted so many of us!"
"Just watch! In as little as three days or as long as seven days, the Yun family and the Gongsun family will definitely send people to find Ye Mingsheng!" Cui Shao analyzed calmly:
His father's analysis immediately filled Cui Zibo's heart with disappointment. Although he had no choice but to accept that his beloved woman had been snatched away by Ye Mingsheng, and this child from a poor family who he had once looked down upon, a poor relative of the Cui family in the countryside, suddenly became a He became the future lord of Liaoyang Governor.
But Cui Zibo's inner world is painful, and he is not willing to accept the status quo. This time, the aristocratic families united to target Ye Mingsheng, allowing him to see a glimmer of hope. However, before this hope can take root, now Will be mercilessly crushed by Ye Mingsheng...
Compared with his lost and painful son at this time, Cui Shao also felt more helpless in his heart. He had to make a choice between maintaining the family alliance and the stability of the Cui family itself.
In later generations, there was an outlaw named Zhang San who once said that the greatest sorrow of mankind is the inability to cross the gap between knowing and doing.
Although Cui Shao didn't know the existence of this sentence at this time, he had the same feeling. He knew that the essence of Ye Mingsheng's move was to take advantage of the weakness of the different major families and their own thoughts. Use it to break down the provocations and conflicts.
Cui Shao knew how to fight against it, such as marriage, creating common interests, etc., but his reason also clearly made him realize that even if he uses all his methods, as long as Ye Mingsheng persists in inciting divisions, he will continue to increase his efforts. Pressure, then the fragile alliance of the aristocratic families will eventually fall apart...
After all, now that Ye Mingsheng is in the driver's seat, he wants to make the Yun family, the Gongsun family, and the Caotou King generals who have guns and territory sincerely surrender, obey the leadership of their Cui family, contribute their strength, and work together Dealing with Ye Mingsheng is almost impossible!
After thinking for a while, Cui Shao ordered Cui Zibo;
"Served with pen and ink!"
Although Cui Zibo was a little surprised when he heard this, his father was still in the mood to write calligraphy at this time, but he obediently followed the instructions and polished the ink.
While Cui Zibo was studying ink, Cui Shao was also brewing his thoughts. When Cui Zibo finished the preparations, he immediately took out the writing paper and started writing.
Although he knew that he was at a disadvantage at this time, Cui Shao was not a person willing to accept failure. He had to make efforts to change the situation.
After spending a stick of incense, Cui Shaocai put down his pen after writing two letters. The two letters were written to Gongsun Heng of the Gongsun family and Yun Guanjing of the Yun family. Although the contents of the letters were different, It probably means the same thing.
All of them show that this treacherous plan is Ye Mingsheng’s plan to alienate each other. The Cui family will not ruin the relationship with the Gongsun family and the Yun family just for this small gain. Let everyone not have any unnecessary thoughts and just unite. With one heart, you can defeat the likes of Ye Mingsheng...
Cui Zibo, who was watching Cui Shao finish writing the letter, looked a little hesitant after reading the content of the letter. He seemed to want to say something, but was afraid of offending Cui Shao. He was not in a good mood. Cui Shao, seeing his son's fear of wolves in front and tigers in back, became even more angry and scolded:
"A man, just say what you think. How can you be so timid? You are my son, even if what you say is wrong, I can at most rebuke you, but I can't kill you, and I can't chop you up!"
"Look at how hesitant you are now, how can I let you take charge of it alone and leave the Cui family to you?"
Hearing Cui Shao's rebuke, Cui Zibo gritted his teeth and said with a heartbeat:
"Father, you suppressed everything and asked everyone to reject Ye Mingsheng's promotion this time. This will put too much pressure on you within the clan. Can those uncles be willing to accept it?"
"I think it would be better to keep half and reject the other half! If we do this, we can have an explanation whether within the clan, the Gongsun family, or the Yun family, and no one on either side will be offended... ····”
Seeing that Cui Zibo really had this idea, Cui Shao knocked on his head, nodded and said:
"Remember at this time, you can choose to maintain the alliance of the family, or you can choose to maintain the stability within the family!"
"No matter which one you choose, there are pros and cons. You have to make a decision based on your prestige in the family, but the last thing you can do is to choose a compromise like you just did!"
"You seem to offend no one by doing this, but in fact you offend everyone!"
"Do you think that if you give up half of it, the Yun family and the Gongsun family will understand you and be grateful to you? No! They will still call your ancestors damn names!"
"Within the family, no matter who you allow to accept or reject, it will make the rejecting party even more unbalanced. Why can you allow him to accept Ye Mingsheng's promotion, but let me reject this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? It’s better to reject them all from the beginning!”
"When faced with this kind of dilemma, the compromise is to be unpalatable inside and outside, and not a human being inside and outside!" Cui Shao said with a hint of helplessness;
After hearing his father's insightful analysis, Cui Zibo was enlightened. He bowed to Cui Shao and said:
“Zibo remembers his father’s church!”
Seeing that Cui Zibo listened to his words, Cui Shao felt somewhat comforted in his heart and ordered again:
"Let the family prepare some wealth! If everyone refuses Ye Mingsheng's promotion, no matter what, we have to give everyone some compensation to appease people..."
7017k
