Chapter 618: Zhou Weigong

Bai Letian has a poem saying: "The fragrance of the world is gone in April, and the peach blossoms in the mountain temple are blooming."

April in Zhongdu is already full of prosperity and green shade. People gather in tea shops, under the shade of trees, eating tea and drinking water, and discussing recent big and small matters with enthusiasm. But what can the common people know? It's just following the crowd. Just like a small sampan on the sea, you can only see the waves rolling up high, but you can't feel the surging tide hidden under the water.

In fact, compared with the last years of Zhaowu who bullied him, these days were really dull and turbulent. Nothing could be called a turbulent situation than the Taiwei Mansion, the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, the Censorate, and the Four Ministry of the People's Republic of China to try the case of the loss of Hulao Pass.

This incident really made the people of Zhongdu angry, so that tens of thousands of people surrounded the Taiwei Mansion and the Huangfu family, insulted and attacked them for a long time, but that was last year. Now, as the Qin army turned defeat into victory and lost all the land, the people were happy, and there was no resentment that last year would be that they could "eat their flesh and eat their marrow".

The reason why I continue to pay attention and keep hot discussions now is largely just to find some adjustments to the ordinary life and want to see the excitement.

This trial is indeed a bit interesting, for example, how Taiwei Li tried his cousin... In theory, if there is such a relationship, Taiwei should have avoided it, but the adults in the court who are familiar with the law chose no one to raise objections, as if they were sure that he would be fair and strict.

For example, what was the situation at that time that two veterans who had been in battle could not kill one or fight a war and surrender the Huzhuo Pass that he had finally seized.

Just as the people of Kyoto were talking, the interrogation of the relevant criminals began. This day was the ninth day of the fourth month of the first year of Tianyou, and history will remember this day.

In the solemn and dignified Dali Temple lobby, two rows of vicious soap-coat yamen runners stood. Under the plaque of "justice and strictness", the Grand Master Li Hun, the Minister of Justice Wei Zhengyi, the Minister of Justice Wei, and the Left Censor of the Censorate, Wang Piyan, but the judge was Zhou Weigong, the Minister of Dali Temple with the lowest official position... This is nothing strange. Dali Temple was originally a place to judge officials' crimes.

At this moment, everyone's eyes gathered on the four-inch arbor in Zhou Siqing's hand. Just when he raised it high and fell heavily, he began the complex interrogation of the hall.

Zhou Weigong pressed his right hand on the awakening wood, his face was serious and steady, but he had a different thought in his heart...

Less than a year after he took office, the former Dali Temple Minister was Lord Qu Yanqu, who was known as the "Tenior Party of the Cultural Party". The fall of Wen Yanbo the last year, Emperor Zhaowu did not implicate too many people. He just drove a guy like Qu Yan out of the court. The name used was not to "form a clique for personal gain", but to "corruption and bribery" a proven weapon.

As Zuo Shaoqing, Zhou Weigong naturally took over. But there is a saying that "a nest of snakes and rats". Zhengqing has a problem, how can Shaoqing be clean? Therefore, Lord Zhou has been in panic all day long, worried that one day he would be labeled with the same hat and follow Qu Yan.

He was worried and tormented until the emperor went east and the merciful prince became the prime minister. Only then did Master Zhou breathe a sigh of relief. Therefore, from the heart, Zhou Weigong was grateful to Emperor Tianyou, and also wanted to do this seemingly unconventional errand to repay Tian's kindness and to all officials to increase their future career.

But what happened last night disrupted Lord Zhou's wishful thinking and finally made him clearly understand that he was not facing an ordinary case of dereliction of duty by officials, but a political incident that was planned and planned together...

The matter has to be mentioned yesterday evening. As the judge of the imperial court in this case, he would go to the palace to meet the emperor as usual, report on the preparations and ask for instructions on his superiors' spirit. This is nothing strange.

But this was the first time the emperor summoned him alone, which was of great significance, so Lord Zhou was still very excited. Following the eunuch who led the way to the imperial study, Zhou Weigong finally met the gentle and jade-like Emperor Tianyou.

He knelt three times and kowtowed nine times in fear and fear, shouting: "My minister, Dali Temple Minister Zhou Weigong, was ordered to meet him!"

Emperor Tianyou put down the book in his hand and smiled slightly, "Please get up and talk!"

Zhou Weigong quickly thanked him and got up, and the emperor ordered: "Move a pillow for Lord Zhou."

Then a little eunuch moved a Jindun over. Zhou Weigong hurriedly refused in panic: "I'll kill Weichen, I'll just stand and reply."

"Sit down." Emperor Tianyou smiled and said, "I don't like looking up at people."

Then Zhou Weigong sat down with his body slanted, his behavior was quite restrained.

Emperor Tianyou waved his hand and served the eunuch and bowed and retreated. After the heavy red sandalwood door was closed, only two kings and ministers were left in the huge imperial study.

After a while, Emperor Tianyou broke the silence, and said with a word, Shi Potian was shocked: "Do you know that you are in control of the fate of my Great Qin Empire now?"

When Zhou Weigong shivered when he heard this, he couldn't help but look up at the imperial desk. He saw Emperor Tianyou looking at him with bright eyes, and hurriedly lowered his head and replied, "I am so foolish... I don't know."

Emperor Tianyou smiled distractedly and changed his words and said, "When the father was in power, someone actually wanted to include you in the Cultural Party." Zhou Weigong quickly got up from the dormitory and kowtowed repeatedly, "Your Majesty, I am an accuser of the court, and I am the minister of Your Majesty. If you have a party, you will be the same party as Your Majesty..." The officials are so good at speaking.

"Don't be afraid, I know you." Emperor Tianyou said in a clear voice: "I said to my father at that time: 'Zhou Shaoqing has always been loyal, fair and strict, and is the treasure of the country and can suppress bad people. What's the matter with such a person?'

Zhou Weigong cried and said, "I thank my emperor for his kindness for preservation... I am so careless."

"Get up quickly, I have something to tell you." Emperor Tianyou smiled gently.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhou Weigong then stood up wiped his tears and sat on the pier again.

"You don't have to thank me." Emperor Tianyou smiled and said, "I was also keeping virtuous for the country to fight against evil spirits." As he said, he seemed to say casually: "In the opinion of my dear, are there evil spirits in the court? I want to listen to the truth!"

Zhou Weigong felt a thud, and he immediately saw sweat on his forehead. He said with a tough forehead: "It should be...."

"Who?" Emperor Tianyou asked. In fact, this question is purely redundant. Li Hun's contempt for the past six months, his troops are respectful, domineering, and arbitrary. Every one is vivid in his mind and clearly visible. Each one can be called a "treacherous"!

Thinking of the idleness he had suffered in the past six months, Emperor Tianyou slapped the table and said angrily: "Actually everyone knows it, but everyone doesn't say it!"

"This..." Zhou Weigong swallowed several times and spitted, so the mosquito hummed, "It should be Taiwei Li..."

"It's not easy for you to be my dear, I did not see the wrong person." Emperor Tianyou said with a long sigh: "Since my father's departure, Li Hun has become more and more lawless and has no longer taken me seriously." Speaking of this, the emperor's tone became low and his eyes were serious: "Zhao Wujiu in the east and Zhu Hongjun in the south are all sharpening his swords. Looking at our great Qin court officials and lords, what will happen in the end?" As he said that, his eyes flashed and he stared at Zhou Weigong.

"The country will not be a country." Zhou Weigong lowered his head and said softly.

"Well said it! It's the country but the generals are not the country!" Emperor Tianyou hit each other with his hands and said in a deep voice: "The Grand Marshal Li was indeed a meritorious minister in the past, but now he is relying on his merits to deceive the king and is lawless! He has long lost his heart to make enemies in the court and the country! Who dares to ask the current masters, who would not hate eating his flesh and sleeping with his skin?"

"He is a cancer growing on the body of my Great Qin Dynasty. It is already rotten and has no cure. If a strong man does not cut off his arm, he will kill the entire Great Qin Dynasty!" Feeling that this was a bit cruel, Emperor Tianyou sighed and said, "Do you know? Now he is planning to force me to abdicate!" He stopped abruptly and stared at Zhou Weigong.

'Tell me this to the general who led the army, what can I do, a scholar without any power?' Zhou Weigong cried out in his heart, but obviously he could not answer the emperor like this. After thinking for a moment, he knelt down and started to speak: "Master Li is unruly, and everyone in the court knows that he should be severely punished. But he is deeply rooted in the army, with tens of thousands of soldiers under his command, and he also controls the defense of Kyoto. Even among the guards, there may be people who may not be said to be his. If something goes wrong, it will harm the emperor, which is necessary."

After talking for a long time, Zhou Weigong finally whispered: "Besides... Weichen, a small third-rank civil servant, can't do anything..."

Although I had expected him to be afraid, Emperor Tianyou was still a little disappointed and smiled faintly and said, "Don't be afraid, it's not that you are going to charge into battle, and you are going against Li Hun in front of you."

After Zhou Weigong breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the white-haired sweat from his forehead and said, "Dare you dare to ask Your Majesty, is there no possibility of easing?"

"Tell you the truth. My royal family must have a battle with the Li family. I am not helpless against him, Li Sanjun." Qin Ting said and pointed to the south and said, "There are my brother's 100,000 imperial guards, and there are 300,000 troops waiting for the order to be held in the south. You said that our two families can laugh to the end?"

"Of course, evil cannot defeat justice." This answer was smooth and pleasing. If Li Hun wins in the future, he can also say that the royal family is "evil".

"Yes, it's just that evil cannot defeat justice!" Emperor Tianyou was indeed happy and said with a grip: "I have already had a complete plan, and I can definitely catch all those who are plotting against each other!"

Seeing that the emperor had already made a secret, if he didn't agree, he might not even be able to get out of this door. But he had never thought about going against the vicious Taiwei Li. When he thought of Li Hun's old face with all his beards and hair, Zhou Weigong felt creepy. It was really hard to get rid of a tiger...

He was pondering and heard the emperor say, "Zhou Aiqing, I know that that person is powerful, you have to make a great decision. But it is imminent now and I have to send it." He said with a sad smile and said, "When I and the emperor's grandmother are forced to sing the palace drama, who can be the Zhang Meng General of my Great Qin?"

Who was Zhang Mengjiang? Former Tang Prime Minister Zhang Zhang Jianzhi was famous for protecting the Tang Dynasty royal family and forcing the Wu Empress to abdicate.

When Zhou Weigong heard this, he thought to himself that Your Majesty's words were worthwhile, which was a very obvious hint! As long as I can handle this matter, I can become the prime minister! At the very least, I am also the prime minister of the cabinet... This is exactly what he dreamed of. Thinking of this, I suddenly felt warm and kowtowed and said, "What do you need to do in the end? Please let the emperor make it clear that I should be brave and I will not be cherished when I die!"

Finally agreed!

The atmosphere in the imperial study room was much gentler. Emperor Tianyou said with a gentle expression: "Don't worry, it's not that you are going to match Taiwei Li with the drums in front of you. What you have to do is very simple... one word, drag it."

"Drag?" Zhou Weigong whispered: "Your Majesty wants me to delay time?" As he said this, he suddenly said: "Case..."

Emperor Tianyou nodded and smiled, "Mr. Zhou is a wise man." Then he said seriously, "Yes, Li Hun wants to use this case to force the palace, and I still need time to prepare."

"I wonder how long it will take for Your Majesty?" Zhou Weigong gritted his teeth and asked, "I should try my best to do this cheap life." The temptation to be a marquis and minister was so strong that Lord Zhou really thought he had become Zhang Meng General...

"One month." Emperor Tianyou said lightly: "For such a big case, it is normal to have a trial last month?" Qin Lei had already sent a letter and it would take as long as one month for his army to arrive.

"I... I understand!" Zhou Weigong kowtowed solemnly.

"Please give me everything." Emperor Tianyou stood up and helped Zhou Weigong up and said, "I will drink the celebration wine together in the future, and I will recommend my dearest merit!"

Under the emperor's earnest gaze, Zhou Weigong stood out of the imperial study.

At this time, the setting sun was thick, and the afterglow made his shadow grow old, and it felt like the wind was whistling and the Yishui was cold, and the hero would never return once he left.

After leaving the palace, the cold wind blew, Zhou Weigong couldn't help but chill, and his boiling blood immediately dissipated. When he thought of dealing with the old devil for more than a month, he was immediately worried again. It was said that errands were easy to take on, and it seemed to be good at all. This matter is of great importance, so why did he agree so hasty?

He wanted to discuss it with someone, but he was afraid that the news would leak and cause a disaster. Zhou Weigong was helpless in the sedan chair, and even the temptation of being a marquis and minister could not make him energetic.

While he was wandering, the curtain was lifted, and a follower gave him an elegant invitation and said respectfully: "Sir, a gentleman asked me to give you this."

"It's so fucking unruly!" Lord Zhou, who was in the lawsuit, actually swears: "Is he your uncle? Why do you do what you want?" As he said that, he reached out and knocked the invitation to the ground, and said angrily: "I will return the original post, let him stay wherever he wants to cool down."

The follower said innocently, "But that gentleman said, you will definitely attend the banquet after you see it."

"Dream!" Zhou Weigong spat, put down the curtain of the sedan chair and said, "Get up the sedan chair..."

The sedan chair owner quickly lifted up the sedan chair and continued to move forward tremblingly.

Before taking two steps, Lord Zhou in the sedan chair said in a muffled voice: "Take that thing over."

"What adult?" the follower asked carefully.

"Are you a pig? Of course it's an invitation!" Mr. Zhou was under great pressure and wanted to vent, he could only be considered unlucky for the follower.

The follower, regardless of the bloody spitting, ran back and built the invitation, and handed it to the adults happily.

Zhou Weigong opened it and groaned weakly, "I'm so curious about what I'm doing..." The signature on the invitation was Yin Wuyi. Zhou Weigong had heard of this person, knowing that he was a guest of the Taiwei Mansion and had a high status, so he could represent Taiwei Li.

This is really just saying to fight ghosts, but ghosts come. Did I forget to worship me when I went out?

It is better to not meet at this time, but he is just a small third-rank civil servant. How dare he offend the powerful Taiwei in person?

After fighting in the sedan chair for a while, he had to urge him to order: "Go back and change your clothes, I will go to Yudaihe."
Chapter completed!