In the study room of the Ministry of Official Affairs, the steward opened the door and came in respectfully: "Sir, Cao Mao has gone out."
Liao Wei, who was looking down at the file, raised his head when he heard the words and looked at the steward. The steward quickly said: "Don't worry, sir, I've already asked someone to follow him. They are all veterans and they won't be discovered by him."
Liao Wei nodded, put down the file in his hand and said, "It's okay if you are discovered."
The steward was stunned for a moment, obviously not understanding what his master was thinking.
After hesitating for a while, the steward said: "Sir, the Cao family and our family are in-laws after all. If the Cao family finds out, Miss..." If the Cao family knows that they are following Cao Mao, the Cao family may have some objections to the miss in the future.
My opinion is not good for the relationship between the two families.
Liao Wei snorted lightly and asked, "Do you believe he just came to wish Mr. Feng a birthday?"
"This..." The steward was a little hesitant, and for a moment he didn't dare to make a statement.
Liao Wei said: "Mr. Feng is not celebrating his birthday this year. Something like that just happened at the end of last year. The mourning period of the Empress Dowager has just passed. The Feng family has not distributed birthday messages yet. The Cao Family Association does not know that Mr. Feng does not plan to hold a birthday party this year.
feast?"
The steward said: "After all, he is Mr. Cao's father-in-law. Maybe he just wants to give me a gift to show his filial piety?"
Liao Wei said: "Cao Mao is Cao Mian's nephew. It is not his turn to run errands."
What Liao Wei didn't say was that what concerned him most was the attitude of the regent. It was such a coincidence that Cao Mao came, so no wonder he was cautious.
"Go ahead and let people keep an eye on him. If there is anything important, report back immediately." Liao Wei waved.
The steward did not dare to ask any more questions and resigned respectfully.
Liao Wei was the only one left in the study. He was staring intently at the file in front of him, but his mind was no longer on it.
He suddenly thought of a question. None of the direct descendants of the Cao family stayed in the capital, and even Chunwei did not participate. Is Cao Mian really unsure of his son's strength, or does he simply not want them to come to Yong?
On the other side, Cao Mao left the Shangshu Mansion and walked around the city twice before entering an inconspicuous house in the city.
There were already several people waiting for him in the house. When they saw Cao Mao coming in, they quickly stepped forward and saluted, "Master Mao!"
Cao Mao glanced at a few people and frowned: "Why are there only a few of you? Where are the others?"
Several people looked at each other, and there was obviously a bit of confusion in their eyes.
Cao Mao waved his hand a little irritably and said, "That's all, let's talk about your situation first."
The leader said respectfully: "Back to Mr. Mao, we found Luo Ran near Yangxin and dealt with him five days ago. Later, we received a message from Guan Cao saying that a man named Chen Xun was about to arrive in Shangyong.
, let us come over to help. However, we did not find them after we rushed to Shangyong, nor did we find any trace of Chen Xun. If Cao Guanling had not already solved Chen Xun, I am afraid... Chen Xun would have entered Shangyong Imperial City by now.
Already."
Seeing Cao Mao's ugly face, the man quickly handed over a roll of cloth with blood written on it and said, "This was found from Luo Ran."
Cao Mao opened it, took a look, sneered, crumpled the cloth into a ball and threw it on the table.
Cao Mao glanced at everyone and said: "In the past few days, you will continue to make secret visits around the city, and make sure that everyone above is arrested. These acid scholars want to bring the matter to the court, and they don't even look to see if they are there."
This ability!"
"Yes, Young Master." The man responded, as if he had remembered something again and said cautiously: "Sir, I'm afraid it's not as convenient as doing things outside in the imperial city. Should we still..."
Cao Mao glanced at him coldly and said, "Did you forget what the eldest son said before leaving?"
The man's heart trembled, and he quickly raised his hands and said: "I understand, I will eradicate the root cause!"
Cao Mao snorted and whispered unhappily, "If it weren't for my uncle's kindness and mercy, how could there be so many things?" If the entire Yunhai Academy was killed from the beginning, how could those who had no power to restrain the chickens be allowed to do so?
The scholar escaped? It also saved him the trouble of this trip.
"Whoosh!" A cold arrow suddenly shot in from outside. Cao Mao was startled and quickly leaned over to avoid it. People in the hall were also shocked. They all pulled out their weapons and looked outside warily. The two people standing behind had already
Rushed out.
However, there was no one in the courtyard outside, as if the arrow appeared out of thin air.
Soon the person who went out to check came back, shaking his head solemnly, obviously not seeing any trace.
Only then did Cao Mao come back to his senses, and stood up holding the chair with some annoyance.
"Sir, there is a letter on the arrow." The man reminded.
Cao Mao, who had just had a brush with death and looked pale, looked at the arrow nailed into the back of the chair he was sitting on. He saw that the arrow had completely sunk into the back of the chair, and there was a letter tied to the arrow.
If this arrow had hit him, it would probably have penetrated him, right?
Cao Mao took a deep breath, reached over and took down the letter and opened it. His face instantly became twisted and ferocious.
The most ordinary envelopes and paper, even the ink used, are mediocre. The handwriting is even close to the Taige style used for imperial examinations, and there is no distinguishing feature at all.
The content of the letter is also very simple - I want Cao An to prepare 100,000 taels of silver and deliver it to Asakusa Lane in the west of the city within two days. Otherwise, I will ask the Cao family to go to Dali Temple to pick up the person. If he is overdue, he will not wait.
After seeing the contents of the letter, Cao Mao's first feeling was a cold feeling on his back, and a chill surged into his heart.
He had just arrived in Shangyong yesterday, and it was his first time here today, and someone came to his door without even having a pot of tea. It could be seen that the other party had already set his sights on the Cao family and him.
Cao An betrayed the Cao family! Apart from this, he could not think of any other reason.
"Damn it!"
"Master Mao?" Seeing his appearance, everyone else looked over.
Cao Mao said with a gloomy face: "I'm afraid that all Cao An's group fell into the hands of others. Maybe...even Chen Xun fell into the hands of those people."
"Then... what should we do?" The leading man was also very worried.
Cao Mao asked: "How many people are there in Shangyong?"
The man said: "Just... us people, the others... probably haven't reached Shangyong." Those scholars are quite thoughtful, but after all, they are all nerds who have never been out much and only know how to read. How can one of them reach Shangyong?
Yong, it is quite remarkable that he was caught by them only after he ran to Yangxin. The others may have been captured or dealt with within a few days of leaving Qingzhou.
"..." Cao Mao remained silent.
With just these few people, even if we add some of the men left by the Cao family in the capital, they may not be enough to deal with those who dare to threaten the governor of Qingzhou.
In the Regent's Palace, Luo Junyao was sitting behind the desk with a serious look on his face, writing and drawing. Not far away on the other side, Xie Yan was also sitting behind the desk reviewing papers. The two of them were doing their own things, and the study was harmonious and quiet.
Duoying came in from the outside, held his hands respectfully and said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Luo Junyao put down his pen, raised his head, and said with a smile: "You're back? Is everything done?"
Duiying said: "Don't worry, Princess, it's been done. There are people watching around the place where the Cao family's group gathered, but we found that there is another group of people watching them."
Luo Junyao was a little surprised, "Is there anyone else watching them?"
Xie Yan raised his head and said, "Liao Wei's people?"
Dieying nodded and said, "They are from the Liao family."
Luo Junyao said: "Why is Liao Wei staring at that Cao Mao? Aren't he and the Cao family related to each other?"
Xie Yan stood up and walked to her, looked down at what she had written, and replied: "Liao Wei is a very cautious person. Yesterday I specifically mentioned the Cao family in front of him, and Cao Mao came to the door.
Of course he wants to check it out. Don't worry about him, just don't let the Liao family find you." The last sentence was said to Duiying.
Duoying nodded in agreement and asked: "Princess, it is unlikely that Cao Mao can collect one hundred thousand taels of silver in two days, right?"
Luo Junyao smiled and said: "Do you really think he will give you money? He can't get the money, but there is no way he won't go to Asakusa Lane to take a look. Didn't those old and weak women and children in Asakusa Lane and Mr. Bian just move away?
Is that okay? Let’s borrow his old man’s name and place for use.”
Dieying immediately understood, "What does the princess mean to make the Cao family think that they are being targeted by the underground forces behind Shangyong?"
"Chen Xun accidentally ran into the hands of people in Asakusa Lane, and then those people thought they could take the opportunity to defraud the Cao family. It's very reasonable, isn't it?"
"If Cao Mao makes trouble, we will take the opportunity to kill them all?"
Luo Junyao couldn't help but rolled his eyes and sighed: "Die Ying, have you stayed in Shangyong for too long and your head has gone numb? Why go to all the trouble to catch them all? You can lead the troops to surround that courtyard now.
Already."
Duoying looked at Xie Yan silently. His Royal Highness the Regent played with the ends of the princess's hair and nodded: "Shao Yao is right."
Luo Junyao said earnestly: "As for the Cao family, let alone the regent's palace, even the real Mr. Bian would not dare to take action. Unless he can mobilize the Cao family's connections in Shangyong, the premise is that those people are willing to
Support him unconditionally regardless of the consequences. Whether he is sincere or just wants to buy time to find other ways, he will definitely negotiate with you, and when the time comes we will take the opportunity to ask for cooperation with them."
Duoying suddenly realized this, and looked at Luo Junyao with a more frightened look.
Does the princess want them to infiltrate the Cao family? Is this really the idea that the princess came up with? She is only seventeen years old this year, right?
Luo Junyao looked at him with a smile and said: "In short, that's the way it is. You can think of it yourself on what to do."
Duixing looked at Xie Yan. Xie Yan was holding the back of the chair with one hand and the table with the other hand, carefully looking at the file in front of Luo Junyao. It was obvious that he had no intention of paying attention to him.
Dieying has been following Xie Yan for many years, so he naturally understands what the prince means.
"Yes, Princess."
When Dieying resigned and left, Luo Junyao sighed: "Dieying is good at everything, but he is too serious."
Xie Yan picked up the pen and helped her make a few strokes on the file, while saying: "Duoying is not good at these things. They are guards and have been with me all year round. They are more suitable to follow orders and carry out tasks."
Luo Jun said: "But Leng Shuang is gone, and so is Boss Cui. Gu Jue has to take charge of the army, and Wei Changfeng is now the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and he has no time to help you. Prince, don't you think?
Are your hands a little shabby?"
Xie Yan smiled and said: "What the princess said makes sense."
"So?" Luo Junyao asked, blinking.
Xie Yan said: "Ye Feng is almost in good health. He can work with you in the future. And Qu Fang...but Qu Fang probably can't help you much. At most, he can only be a master of self-protection. If the princess is really short of people,
I can recommend a few to you, but whether you can let them do things for you is your own business."
Luo Junyao remembered Ye Feng, the young man who was exchanged with Song Wenyue, Yu Mingqiu and others last year. He had some heart and lung problems at the time, but he had almost recovered under the wonderful hands of Doctor Xue.
However, Luo Junyao was curious about the person Xie Yan wanted to recommend to her.
"who?"
Xie Yan said: "Xie Xiao, Zheng Jingchuan, Xu Chengyu."
Luo Junyao was a little surprised, "Xie Xiao is going to participate in the audition this year, right? Boss Cui left without making a fuss or following him. He must have wanted to give Princess An Cheng some comfort. And Zheng Jingchuan and Xu Chengyu..."
Luo Junyao looked at Xie Yan faintly: You two dudes, are you kidding me?
Xie Yan raised his hand and touched her cheek and said: "These two are both generals. Although their kung fu is not very good, they are not stupid. The most important thing is that few people in their backstage dare to provoke them.
"
Luo Jun said: "Are you suggesting that I win over the Chengguo Duke's Palace and the Xu family?"
Xie Yan said: "That fat boy from the Zheng family is still in the palace, how can he be considered to be wooing you? As for Xu Chengyu, you should let him run errands for you."
Luo Junyao quickly understood the benefits of this.
It is much more convenient to use these two hard-working dudes to do things than ordinary subordinates. There are many people and things, and the results will be completely different if they are handled by different people.
The most important thing is that the Chengguo Duke's Mansion and Princess Changzhao's Mansion already have a good relationship with the Regent's Mansion, so why can't they be better?
"The Duke of Chengguo and Princess Dezhangzhao won't feel bad, right?"
Xie Yan said: "They will only thank you. The imperial sister said before that the prince-in-law was restricted by his parents and could not discipline Xu Chengyu harshly. She wanted him to follow me."
"..." You don't like it, so you pushed it to me, right?
Xie Yan seemed to see what she was thinking, raised his hand and knocked on the top of her head and said: "If I need people around me, I can choose them from the Jinshi Jinshi. Even if the situation is bad, I can transfer people from the Zhenguo Army. It's okay to have two dudes."
Very useful."
Luo Junyao smiled and turned around and hugged his waist, raised his head and said with a smile: "I know, Ayan gave it to me specially." There is a big difference in the attraction of talents between the Prince Regent and the Princess Regent.
Even if Xie Yan showed favoritism, it was not easy for him to become a Jinshi or achieve some military merits after ten years of poverty. As a result, he was sent to follow the regent princess, and he was not sure why he was depressed.
If you are more arrogant and arrogant, you may think that the regent has insulted talents and is blinded by his lust. After all, most people who become officials want to run their families and govern the country and bring peace to the world, not to work behind the princess's back.
Sure enough, being an idle playboy is more suitable for her.
