Liu Ji understood the emperor's intention and could not complain any more this time. He quickly nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty, don't worry. No matter what happens in the Ministry of War, I will definitely report it to Your Majesty."

It sounds beautiful, but in reality it is still difficult.

The Ministry of War has always been regarded as the foundation by Fang Jun, and the entire Fang Jun team regards the Ministry of War as the "base camp". It is Fang Jun's territory. It is not an exaggeration to say that "a needle cannot penetrate, and water cannot pour in."

.

If you want to pry a crack in it and get a glimpse of what's going on, it's as difficult as climbing to the sky.

However, Fang Jun set up an organization within the Ministry of War to discuss the details of the military reform, involving personnel, systems, regulations and many other aspects. A large number of manpower must be transferred from elsewhere to fill it, which gave an opportunity.

Nowadays, there are actually not many generals who are familiar with military affairs, and even fewer are able to maintain high positions. There are only a few in total. I can still find connections...

…

When he came out of Tai Chi Palace, it was already evening. Instead of going back home, Liu Ji asked the carriage to go out from Yanxi Gate. He walked around at the entrance of Dongshi, bought some biscuits, cheese topped with fresh cherries, and ate another bowl.

The locust leaves were being washed coldly, and the sky was completely dark, so I asked the coachman to drive to Zheng Rentai's mansion.

The door was closed. The doorman who was asked to open the door was startled when he saw Zhongshu Ling coming and hurried inside to report.

Not long after, Zheng Rentai, who had no time to change his clothes, hurried to the main gate with his sons and juniors and welcomed Liu Jie into the house.

In the middle hall, Zheng Rentai shielded the left and right, and asked in a low voice: "Zhongshu Ling is coming to the door now, but what's the important matter?"

Without making an appointment in advance and coming at night, it would definitely not be a normal visit.

Liu Ji ate a lot of cold locust leaves and felt a little cold in his stomach. Now he took two sips of hot tea and suddenly felt comfortable all over. He put down the tea cup and said with a smile: "There is indeed something. I came here on your Majesty's order."

Zheng Rentai was shocked, stood up hurriedly, bowed in the direction of Tai Chi Palace, and then said respectfully: "Wei ministers, listen to the holy teachings!"

"Hey, it doesn't have to be like this. It's not an instruction from His Majesty. It's just an instruction from Tong'an County to handle something."

"Your Majesty's order, don't dare be rude."

Zheng Rentai sat down again and asked curiously: "What is it that requires Zhongshu Ling to come to the door to convey it in person? Send someone over to call, and I will go to the house to listen to the order."

Liu Ji said: "Today, there are rumors in the city that Fang Jun proposed to establish an additional Privy Council. I must have heard about it, right?"

Zheng Rentai hesitated slightly, then nodded.

This rumor spread like wildfire, and it quickly spread throughout Chang'an. It was difficult not to hear it. At first, Zheng Rentai thought it was just spreading it deliberately, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was indeed Fang Jun's handiwork.

, my heart suddenly felt hot.

He has already secretly taken refuge with Fang Jun, and even placed his eldest son beside Fang Jun at his disposal. Once this Privy Council is really established, there is a high probability that Fang Jun will place him in it, whether it is to win over him or to express goodwill to him.

That was the yamen in charge of the entire army. The chief officer was the actual person in charge of the army besides the nominal "supreme commander". Regardless of whether Fang Jun was the chief officer or not, the deputy position must have great power and unparalleled glory.

With his reputation, status, and meritorious deeds, he is fully qualified to enter the Privy Council today when the Zhenguan nobility is gradually withering away...

But now that there is a military and political struggle, Liu Ji and Fang Jun are almost incompatible. How can Fang Jun allow Liu Ji to interfere with the Ministry of War?

Liu Jie stopped beating around the bush and said bluntly: "Your Majesty is worried about the reform of the military system proposed by Fang Jun this time. I have to pay attention to it. But now my relationship with Fang Jun is tense and we hate each other. The situation within the Ministry of War is completely unknown."

I know that if the Duke enters the Ministry of War in the future, we can communicate with each other and serve His Majesty."

Zheng Rentai almost sneered.

I thought it was His Majesty who ordered him to join the Ministry of War to act as an "internal agent" and report any news to the Imperial Palace in a timely manner. However, it turned out that he had to go through the "middleman" Liu Jie. Even though he betrayed Fang Jun, he was afraid that he would not even be able to see His Majesty.

…

It's really easy to calculate.

Zheng Rentai looked surprised: "What does this Yamen established by Fang Jun have to do with me?"

Liu Jie said: "If nothing goes wrong, he will definitely rely on the Duke."

Zheng Rentai thought for a while and realized that his private contact with Fang Jun could not be hidden from everyone. It would be bad if he kept it out at this time, so he nodded and said: "If this matter can be accomplished, I will definitely be obliged to do so."

Suddenly, I felt a little awkward. Could it be that I had become a "double-faced worker"?

It’s just that this matter must be discussed with Fang Jun. When the time comes, Liu Ji can only let him know what he wants him to know. If he doesn’t want him to know, he will definitely know nothing...

As he was thinking this, Liu Ji across from him suddenly said: "Between justice and selfish interests, I hope the county official can make a choice."

Zheng Rentai looked upright and said with emotion: "Don't worry, Ling Zhongshu. We, the ministers, must be loyal to the emperor and serve the country. How can we ignore the justice of the emperor and his ministers for our own selfish interests? Moreover, Fang Jun has imposed excessive taxes and high-profile suppression on the Henan aristocratic family. I

It is really unspeakable hardship to wait, but I am afraid of its power but have to compromise and be driven by it. Zhongshu Ling, I have been waiting in a miserable house for a long time!"

His eldest son follows Fang Jun, which is known to both the government and the public. However, because of the conflict between Fang Jun and the Henan family, and Liu Rengui's journey north to defeat the Zheng family in Xingyang, the hatred between the two parties became even more public-known to the whole world. He insisted on Xingyang.

The reason why Zheng followed Fang Jun and worked for him was because he was coerced by him. Who can deny that?

Hearing this, Liu Ji nodded repeatedly. After all, he felt Fang Jun's coercion. Linghu Defen and others suffered from it. His tough style was evident. He even dreamed of overthrowing Fang Jun...

…

After sending Liu Ji away, Zheng Rentai returned to the study and called his cronies over. He wrote a letter and gave it to his cronies, telling him: "Tonight, it must be sent to the Duke of Liang's mansion, and it must be delivered to the hands of Duke Yue."

.”

"Here!" the confidant responded, took the letter, put it in his arms, turned around and left.

Zheng Rentai suddenly waved: "Wait a minute!"

The confidant stopped and looked puzzled: "What else does the master have to say?"

Zheng Rentai thought for a while and felt that he should be more cautious, so he ordered: "Change your clothes and go out with the vehicle purchased by the government. After arriving at Dongshi, you must remain invisible so that you cannot be noticed by others, let alone be recognized by others. When you arrive at Chongren

Afterwards, I tried to find a way to lurk, looking for an opportunity that would not be noticed by others, and then sent this letter to Liang Guogong's mansion."

"Here!"

The confidants suddenly became nervous. They thought it was just a letter, but now they realize that the task is very arduous. The people in Chang'an City are very discerning. It is not easy to hide without being noticed...

*****

Liu Jie left Zheng's Mansion and did not go home. Instead, he asked the coachman to return to Dongshi and stop at a nearby wine shop on the street. He got off the carriage and sent the carriage home, then entered the wine shop.

Walking into an elegantly decorated and simple room, he saw Li Junxian, who was dressed in regular clothes and wearing a futou, kneeling on the mat in front of the window, pouring himself a drink. When Liu Jie entered, he did not get up to greet him, but only smiled slightly.

Nodding: "Zhongshu Ling, do you want to sit down and have a drink?"

Liu Ji shook his head with a smile, walked to the window and took a look outside. Across the long street was the gate and wall of Chongren Square. It was already dark, and the hanging lanterns reflected everything very clearly, and there were merchants near Dongshi City.

Crowds of people gather, customers come and go, and pedestrians and cars flow continuously. It is difficult to be noticed by people monitoring here.

Looking back, he saw Li Junxian still pouring himself a drink without raising his eyelids. Liu Ji smiled, came to sit opposite him, poured a glass of wine himself, took a sip, and asked: "General, sit here.

Could it be that the outside situation was overlooked? The outside world knows that the general and Fang Jun have a close personal relationship. If the situation is overlooked, some people will inevitably think that the general is acting for personal benefit and violating the emperor's order."

Li Junxian glanced at him and said calmly: "I will be loyal to your majesty and act on the emperor's orders. Why should I care about other people's attitudes? If Zhongshu Ling feels that I am not worthy of this position, or if he suspects that I am secretly colluding with the Duke of Yue,

Please come into the palace now and ask Your Majesty to replace you."

Liu Ji frowned: "It's just a reminder to the general to be careful. Why be so aggressive?"

But Li Junxian refused to give in: "Although the general has a low position, he is not an ignorant boy just starting out. If Zhongshu Ling looks down on me, you can impeach me to your majesty, otherwise please do not affect my duties."

He had never had a good impression of Liu Jie, so he tried to trick His Majesty into spying on his meritorious deeds. How could this be what a truly loyal minister did? Besides, civil and military careers were different, and there was no need to be polite to a so-called Zhongshu Ling. No matter how high his official position was, he was still in charge.

Without him as the commander of the "Hundred Cavalry Division".

On the contrary, if two people cherish each other and cooperate seamlessly, that would not be a good thing...

Liu Ji also knew this truth, so he didn't say anything more, didn't care about the other party's disrespect, and drank slowly.

There was a sound of footsteps outside, and a captain of the "Hundred Cavalry Division" in casual clothes walked in quickly and reported: "General Qi, someone just climbed over the wall of Chongrenfang. Wait until we set up a secret sentry to check.

The other party has disappeared without a trace."

Li Junxian asked: "But when I was talking to Zhong Shuling?"

The lieutenant glanced at Liu Ji, whose expression changed slightly, and nodded: "It's the part about the general's incompetence mentioned in the Zhongshu Order just now."

Liu Ji couldn't help but said: "Don't you think I sent someone to inform Fang Jun?"

The reason why "Baiqisi" is hidden here is to prevent himself from visiting Zheng Rentai and see if the latter has tipped off Fang Jun, so as to identify whether Zheng Rentai has colluded with Fang Jun in private, and then make a decision.

Should Zheng Rentai be given a heavy responsibility?

Now it seems that he deliberately pulled Li Junxian to make nonsense to attract attention, so that Li Junxian could not tell whether the person who entered Chongrenfang to report the news was sent by Zheng Rentai, or whether he was Liu Ji's person pretending to be Zheng Rentai's subordinate to frame the case.

Jung In Tae...

Li Junxian looked calm: "Who said such a thing? Besides, we are here to guard against someone spreading rumors in private. How have we ever monitored the Duke of Yue? Please be careful in your words! As for the others, I will tell you later.

I will report it to His Majesty on the 10th. If Your Majesty asks about it at that time, Zhongshu Ling can just go to the Imperial Palace and explain."

Then he ignored the rising anger of Liu Ji, stood up and ordered to the captain: "Since we can't identify the identity of the messenger, there is no use for us here. Send the order and withdraw the troops back to the camp."

"Here!"

As Li Junxian strode out, people of various identities around the wine shop instantly disappeared into the crowd outside the Dongshi Gate...

Liu Ji was left alone in the wine shop, looking embarrassed and full of anger.

These proud soldiers!

If generals are allowed to take charge of the army, the final result will be such arrogance and domineering, regardless of the overall situation, shaking the country and the country.

The generals must be suppressed to death, so that the country can maintain long-term peace and stability.
Chapter completed!