Chapter 30: The Vicious Snake in the Palace

Although allowing cross-border bandit suppression is indeed beneficial to crack down on local bandits, this will also leave hidden dangers of excessive power among local officials. Yang Guang pondered for a long time and weighed the pros and cons. He finally nodded, "I can agree to your suggestions, but I want to add one, and I must obtain the approval of the Ministry of War in advance to suppress bandit suppression across borders. Uploaded by netizens =="

Yang Guang still decided to take the approval authority for cross-border bandit suppression to the court, and did not allow local areas to cross-border bandit suppression at will. But in this way, Yang Yuanqing's goal was achieved.

He was overjoyed, "I thank Your Majesty for your tolerance!"

Yang Guang nodded and waved to the eunuchs beside him, "You all retreat!"

Several eunuchs retreated. Yang Yuanqing was used to this scene. As long as Yang Guang ordered the eunuchs to retreat, he would definitely talk to him about the Guanlong nobles. Sure enough, Yang Guang turned the topic to the Guanlong nobles. He slowly said: "I plan to kill Ji Jinghou, what do you think?"

This sentence is said without any conclusion, but Yang Yuanqing knew very well what Yang Guang was saying? This is what he wanted to say to Yang Guang, and he had already thought about it along the way.

"Your Majesty, although killing ji can scare the monkeys, killing grass will shock the snakes. Please be careful."

The reason why Yang Guang trusted Yang Yuanqing very much in Guanlong nobles was because he had rich experience and saw through the various complex relationships between Guanlong nobles than other ministers. Therefore, although Yang Yuanqing did not agree to his plan, Yang Guang was still not upset. He silenced and asked again: "What do you mean is that I will not move?"

"Your Majesty, I advised Your Majesty in Zhuo County last time. After the Battle of Goryeo, many people's mentality will change, and many people will have ideas. At that time, I suggested that Your Majesty do not make a decision for the time being, observe for a few months before considering countermeasures. Now I still have this suggestion, and I will wait and see if it changes, and even entrust some people to use it to differentiate the nobles of Guanlong and numb them. This is my meticulous statement. Your Majesty has his own methods of emperors, and I dare not give advice."

Yang Guang really wanted to deal with Yuan Hongsi and kill him to warn him, but Yang Yuanqing's advice made him hesitate again, and he still needed to think about it carefully.

"Yang Aiqing, you are in Youzhou, do you know how the military and civilians of Youzhou evaluate Yuan Hongsi?"

Just when Yang Guang met Yang Yuanqing alone in the Censor's Office, the deputy general manager of the inner province, the eunuch Li Zhongliang walked in from outside the palace. Li Zhongliang had great power. According to the division of power, he was responsible for the outer palace. He was in charge of any affairs outside the Xianren Palace. He was extremely busy every day and did not always stay outside the imperial study.

He walked up to the imperial study and saw that all the eunuchs were gathering outside the men. He was stunned and asked, "Who are you meeting?"

The eunuchs quickly reported: "Report to the general manager, you are receiving Yang Yuanqing."

When Li Zhongliang heard the name "Yang Yuanqing", his face immediately sank. Although his nephew was later changed to the commander of Liang County, he was still full of resentment towards Yang Yuanqing. He would never forget anyone who offended him.

"What is the Lord talking to him?"

"I don't know, the Lord drove us all out, probably it was a top secret matter!"

Li Zhongliang waved to another little eunuch who served Yang Guangbi. They walked to a place where no one was left. Li Zhongliang then asked him in a low voice: "Have you read the memorial of Prefect Li? I told you that book in the morning."

The little eunuch nodded, "The emperor read it and he also wrote two words on it."

"Just say it straight, what words?" Li Zhongliang glared at the little eunuch, a little unhappy, why did he hesitate? He asked only one question.

The little eunuch was frightened and said hurriedly: "The two words criticized by the emperor are 'Great Good'. It can be seen that the emperor is very interested in this book. He was originally depressed, but this memorial made him feel refreshed."

Li Zhongliang smiled and squinted his eyes, mopped out a golden bean for him, "I'll give it to you."

"Mr. Xie!"

The little eunuch repeatedly thanked him. At this time, someone from afar called him, "Wu Zhong, the meeting is over, go in quickly."

The little eunuch ran back in fear. The imperial study room had already opened. Yang Yuanqing walked out of it. He took off his black gauze hat, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked quickly, but he didn't know that a pair of poisonous snake-like eyes stared at him from behind.

"The emperor wants to issue an order, go and find the clan clan!"

A while ago, Feng Deyi hurried into the imperial study room. He was the person on duty today. He walked into the imperial study room and sat down, spread paper and picked up the pen. Yang Guang then slowly issued an order: "The bandits in various counties are rampant. In order to benefit the suppression of bandits among counties, each county is allowed to submit approval for the Ministry of War to suppress bandits, and then the county can suppress bandits across borders. I respect this!"

It was noon, and it was the ministers' lunch break. It took about half an hour. Most middle and low-level officials made an appointment to go out to drink, while important officials usually went home to eat and rest.

Li Zhongliang slipped away and came to the side of Dugu Mansion by carriage. He didn't dare to go in from the front, for fear of being seen by others.

Li Zhongliang was led by an old family to Dugu Zhen’s study. After a moment, Dugu Zhen smiled and greeted him, “Which fragrance gust blows General Manager Li today?”

Li Zhongliang bowed slightly and said, "I will leave after only a few words!"

Dugu was solemn, "Please!"

Li Zhongliang walked into the study and saw Dugu Luo's eldest son Dugu Liang was also there. Dugu Liang inherited his father's title Duke Zhao, and was appointed as the Jin Zi Guanglu Dafu, and was also an important official in the court. Li Zhongliang hurriedly gave a tribute, "See Duke Zhao!"

Dugu Liang smiled, "Eunuch Li, please sit down."

Li Zhongliang sat down and said to the two: "This morning, the emperor has read the memorial of Prefect Li and approved it as 'Great Good'. The emperor is very satisfied with Prefect Li's memorial."

Dugu Zhen and Dugu Liang looked at each other, and neither of them said anything. This news was as expected by them. It was they who instructed Li Yuan to write this memorial to impeach Yuan Hongsi. What they needed was more valuable news.

Li Zhongliang carefully observed Dugu Zhen's face. Of course, he was not here to do good deeds. His second half of his life was counting on the wealthiest family in the Sui Dynasty. Especially now that the Sui Dynasty was in danger, he cared more about the Dugu family's attitude.

Seeing that Dugu Zhen and his two men's faces were very plain, he was secretly panicked in his heart, and said, "Now the emperor favors Prefect Li. If Dugu Duke goes to find Yuwen Shu again, Prefect Li should be able to be transferred back to Beijing to be the Secretary of Shang." He went to Beijing to be the Secretary of Shang, and many high-ranking officials died in this Liaodong battle, and many high-ranking positions in the court were vacant.

Dugu Zhen smiled and said, "Why do you want to find Yuwen Shu?"

Li Zhongliang was excited and hurriedly said, "Although the priest was annoyed by the Battle of Goryeo on the surface, he was not. He trusted Yuwen Shu more. I found that the emperor would ask Yuwen Shu for his opinions on the appointment and removal of Guanlong nobles, and basically he would obey. Now that the priest has a good impression of Li Prefect, if Yuwen Shu goes to persuade the priest again, the high-ranking officials of Li Prefect is expected. Of course, Yuwen Shu has a hobby, and I don't say it, Dugu should know it."

Dugu Zhen narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Thank you, Eunuch Li, for coming to provide the news."

"You are welcome!"

When Li Zhongliang saw that Dugu Zhen did not express anything, he seemed to step on the empty space. Are they still not satisfied with this news? Li Zhongliang felt uncomfortable like a cat was caught. What kind of news the other party wanted to give him benefits?

At this time, Dugu Liang, who had been silent, asked, "Three days ago, I wonder why Eunuch Li went to Yuan Hongsi's mansion?" He shivered and couldn't say a word for a long time.

Dugu Zhen smiled and said, "But it's all about the interests! Why bother Eunuch Li? We don't care. We are just a little curious. I wonder if Eunuch Li is willing to do business with the Dugu family?"

Only then did Li Zhongliang realize that the Dugu family really cares about the Yuan family. He hesitated for a while and gritted his teeth and said, "I wonder what price the Dugu family is willing to pay?"

Dugu Zhen stretched out a finger and said, "Fifty thousand acres of land on Guanzhong."

Li Zhongliang took a deep breath of air conditioning. At this time, he was willing to sell the Yuan family. He felt a little dizzy and tried hard to stabilize his emotions. Then he whispered: "The Yuan family asked me to help and rescue Yang Xiu, the king of Shu who was imprisoned in the inner province."

Dugu Zhen and Dugu Liang looked at each other again, and both of them had shocked eyes. This was valuable news. Dugu Zhen asked again: "What method is he going to use?"

Li Zhongliang lowered his voice and said, "Someone has found someone who looks a little like Yang Xiu and replaced the real Yang Xiu. Anyway, Yang Xiu has been imprisoned for more than ten years, and her appearance has changed a lot, and ordinary people can't see it."

"When will they change?"

Li Zhongliang felt embarrassed and said for a while: "Actually, it's changed last night."

Dugu Zhen nodded, took out an envelope from the trunk, handed it to him, and smiled and said, "There are 50,000 acres of land here, and there are four manors in total. Eunuch Li, please accept it with a smile."

Li Zhongliang was overjoyed. He took the envelope and stuffed it into his arms, stood up and said, "I can't stay outside for a long time, so I'll say goodbye and leave first. If you have any questions, please look for me."

Li Zhongliang left, Dugu Liang smiled and said, "Why did the head of the family give him land instead of gold and treasures?"

Dugu Zhen sneered, "This kind of slander eunuch is not worth mercy. If he is given treasures and gold, he will escape overseas. Only by giving him land can he not take it away. Sooner or later, I will return it to me. If I were not afraid of scaring him, I would still give him 100,000 acres."

"The head of the family is wise!"

Dugu Liang praised and sighed: "I didn't expect that the Yuan family would support King Yang Xiu of Shu, and I thought they would be independent directly."

"Only fools can stand on their own, and establishing a puppet emperor is the clever strategy."

Dugu Zhen was worried and worried about his face, "But the Yuan family is moving very quickly, and we must step up, so we can't delay any more."

"I still have some questions from the head of the family."

Dugu Liang couldn't help but say, "Why are our Dugu family not independent and must support Li Yuan and make wedding dresses for others?"

Dugu Zhen smiled and said, "I asked you when the family decided on this matter last time when they were in a meeting, and you agreed. Why did you regret it now?"

"I'm not repenting, I'm just... I feel a little unwilling."

Dugu Zhen nodded and said earnestly to him: "The last words left by your grandfather back then were that he would never be independent. This is the family motto of the Dugu family. Only in this way can the Dugu family reproduce and continue to flourish. It is not so easy to overthrow the Yang family. There are great risks here. Maybe they will destroy the nine clans. Only behind the scenes can they obtain the greatest benefits. Li Yuan is the nephew of the Dugu family. If he ascends the throne, the Dugu family is the uncle and can dominate the government and the country. If he fails, it will have nothing to do with Dugu. Let us support another family. This is called "not as good as a stone in hand than a flying egg."

Dugu Liang nodded silently, "Head of the family, I understand."

Dugu Zhen laughed, "It's good to understand. You go to the Li Mansion and find Li Shentong for me."

Dugu Liang was stunned, "What are you doing for him?"

"You! You're so confused."

Dugu Zhen shook his head and smiled, "Of course it's for his brother Li Yuan. If he doesn't run away for some things, can he still ask me to run for him?"

"Why is the head of the family talking about Yuwen Shu?"

Dugu Zhen narrowed his eyes and smiled: "That's it!"
Chapter completed!