After the dynasty ended, the six ministers walked out of the palace hall one after another and slowly descended along the stone steps. Meng Xiangli, Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel, walked at the forefront, followed by the Ministry of Husbandry, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Ministry of Industry.
The Minister of Personnel can be said to have the greatest authority among the six departments, and is in charge of personnel appointments in the Great Xia Dynasty. The early Minister of Personnel was Zhang Rang's father and the biggest supporter of the current emperor Zhao Wuji. After his death, the related Meng family took over the position of Minister of Personnel.
Meng Xiangli left the main hall and walked towards the palace gate without stopping.
After getting up, Xue Qing was not in a hurry, as if he was waiting for someone. After Zhao Ren, the Minister of Rites, and Fang Shutong, the Minister of War, passed by, it was Dai Yan, the Minister of Punishment.
When Dai Yan approached, Xue Qing readjusted his pace and the two of them walked side by side.
Dai Yan did not look at Xue Qing, but a faint sentence came out of his mouth: "Is Brother Xue waiting for Dai?"
Xue Qing continued to move forward without stopping, with a smile on his lips: "Brother, I got a new can of good tea, and I want to invite Brother Dai to share it with me!"
The sound of the two communicating was extremely low, and it was almost difficult to hear them from three to five steps away.
"Haha, Brother Xue rarely invites Dai to tea!" Dai Yan replied calmly.
"I'm afraid ordinary tea leaves won't catch my eye, so how dare you invite me?" Xue Qing said nonchalantly.
"Then it seems that Brother Xue's tea this time is extraordinary! Then you're welcome, Dai."
"I have an elegant courtyard in the south of the city. My brother will be waiting for you at the elegant courtyard in the afternoon."
After leaving the palace gate, the two of them got on the carriage and rushed back to the mansion.
Xue Qing returned to his mansion, and under the service of his servants, he took off his court clothes and put on a Confucian shirt. After noon, go out through the back door.
The carriage slowly moved toward the south of the city amid the bustling crowd. In the south of the city, in a street where wealthy families lived, in front of an exquisite courtyard, several servants in ordinary clothes were waiting outside.
Although these servants are dressed simply, from the looks of their bodies, they all appear to be strong men, and their eyes also show a sense of awe. Anyone who has been in the military camp can tell at a glance that they are Bai Zhan. Born as a soldier.
The carriage stopped in front of the door. Xue Qing walked out of the car slowly, looked around, and then walked towards the courtyard gate.
In the courtyard, the ground is paved with blue bricks and the stone steps are winding. There are ancient trees planted in the courtyard, with lush branches and leaves, and the leaves rustle in the breeze.
The courtyard is also dotted with rockeries and ponds, with crystal clear water and fish swimming in the water.
The doors and windows of the house are simple and elegant, and are carved with exquisite patterns, highlighting the identity and status of the owner. The whole house gives people a peaceful and primitive feeling, as if time has stood still here, making people forget the hustle and bustle of the world.
Xue Qing walked along the stone road toward the inner courtyard. There is a two-story bamboo loft in the backyard. The second floor of the loft is elegantly decorated and full of charm. The light inside the house is soft, shining through the fine bamboo curtains and onto the ground. There are several landscape paintings hanging on the wall, with vivid brushwork and profound artistic conception.
There are potted plants placed by the window, with lush green leaves and full of vitality. The entire interior gives people a warm and comfortable feeling, as if they are in a paradise far away from the hustle and bustle.
There is a bamboo tea table placed in the center of the room. There is a tea set on the tea table, and a trace of white gas is coming out of the teapot.
There were two soft silk cushions on each side of the coffee table. On the other two sides, two stunning maids were kneeling there quietly, as if waiting for someone to arrive.
Xue Qing walked up the stairs to the second floor and came to the coffee table. Two stunning maids were crawling on the ground to greet them. Xue Qing didn't say a word, just sat quietly on the silk cushion.
A maid poured him a cup of light green tea, and then he returned to his original state.
Soon after, footsteps were heard downstairs, and soon, Dai Yan, who was also dressed in a Confucian shirt, came upstairs accompanied by a guard.
Xue Qing waved his hand and asked the two women to retreat. Then he pointed to the position opposite the coffee table.
"Brother Dai, please sit down."
Dai Yan nodded slightly to the guard behind him, and the guard immediately went downstairs.
"Brother Xue has been waiting for a long time!" Dai Yan said with a smile.
Xue Qing just smiled, picked up the exquisite teapot on the coffee table, and poured Dai Yan a cup of tea himself.
"Brother Dai, how about you try this newly arrived tea?"
Dai Yan looked at the teacup on the coffee table with a calm expression. Without stopping too much, he brought the teacup to his nose and took a light sniff.
A faint fragrance floated down the nostrils.
"Well, the fragrance is light and elegant, good tea!"
As he spoke, he brought the tea to his mouth and took a sip. The tea is refreshing in the mouth, fragrant and sweet, with a pleasant fragrance.
Dai Yan gently put the tea cup back on the coffee table, raised his head and looked at Xue Qing opposite.
"I wonder where Brother Xue got this tea!" Dai Yan asked lightly.
"To be honest, this tea is called Ziyangya. It was sent from Guanzhong by a friend of Brother Yu. There is a mountain in the south of Guanzhong called Ziyang Mountain. Its mountain is towering into the clouds and is extremely steep. The mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round. , this tea is produced here, and it is extremely difficult to pick." Xue Qing said lightly.
Hearing the name Ziyang Mountain, Dai Yan couldn't help but smile. He naturally knew where Ziyang Mountain was located.
The border area between Qin and Ba is bounded by Bashu to the south and Guanzhong to the north.
Xue Qing took a sip of tea and continued: "It's a pity that we are separated by a mountain, so it is difficult for you and me to get this top-quality spiritual tea into our mouths."
Xue Qingyi had something to say, and Dai Yan naturally understood the meaning.
"Brother Xue, haven't you tasted this Ziyang tea?" Dai Yan said lightly.
Xue Qing looked at the tea on the table and sighed: "It's just a trick!"
"If I remember correctly, this Ziyang Mountain should have been the boundary of Bashu. Is Brother Dai just willing to do so?"
Dai Yan looked at Xue Qing who was at the turnout with a different look. Xue Qing's words undoubtedly hurt Dai Yan. Zhao Wuji ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor. The Zhang family gained power and suppressed the Dai family, constantly eroding the area controlled by the Dai family. If the Zhang family succeeds again in this heirloom, the situation of the Dai family will become even more difficult.
Xue Qing's purpose in saying this was undoubtedly to win over the Dai family, but it was not the Zhang family who suppressed the Dai family. The Xue family was no less important than the Zhang family.
Xue Qing saw that Dai Yan was silent, so he simply made his words clear and said: "You and I both know the current situation. If the Zhang family gains power again, I am afraid they will have to go deep into the hinterland of Bashu. By then, other families in Bashu will probably They will turn to the Zhang family, and then the Dai family will probably be even more in danger."
"If my brother is willing to cooperate with my Xue family and support the eldest prince, Brother Yu can guarantee that when the matter is completed, the land of Hanzhong will be completely under the control of your Dai family."
Dai Yan smiled and said: "Brother Xue's promise is too big. How can the Zhang family give up the land of Hanzhong so easily?"
"Hmph, Brother Yu will have his own way by then. Whether or not to give in will not be the final decision of his Zhang family." Xue Qing said coldly.
In fact, it can be said that overthrowing the prince is the common goal of several major families except the Zhang family. This does not require any discussion, but after overthrowing the prince, everyone will fall into the struggle for the prince's position.
Xue Qing's purpose is to get the Dai family to give up their support for the fifth prince Zhao Yan, King of Han, and fully support the eldest prince Zhao Tong.
Each family supported the prince's fight for the throne simply because they wanted to expand their own strength and suppress other families.
The land of Hanzhong has always been controlled by the Zhang family, which controls the main roads in and out of Bashu. This puts a lot of constraints on the Dai family. If they can really get the land of Hanzhong, even giving up their support for the fifth prince will be worthwhile, because Even if the fifth prince wins the throne, the Dai family will not be able to completely gain control of Hanzhong.
Dai Yan was moved. If it could really be realized, it would be the best choice for the Dai family.
Dai Yan never spoke. He quietly looked at the bright sunshine outside the window. After a while, Dai Yan stood up and left.
Xue Qing looked at Dai Yan's leaving figure. He knew that Dai Yan had agreed, and a silent answer was the best answer.
Three days later, the fifth prince Zhao Yan, King of Han Dynasty, suddenly wrote a letter requesting to go to Bashu to join the vassal state. Five days later, Zhao Yan's motorcade left the south gate of the capital and headed towards the fiefdom.
