It is the harsh winter, and even though the climate in Dongsheng City is mild, far less frosty and snowy than in Xingluo County, in winter, the vegetation inside and outside the city is withered and yellow, and the flowers and leaves are withered.
However, when Zhao Shu came to the palace, he found that the flowers and plants everywhere were lush and full of vitality. The potted flowers that had been trimmed by the palace people still had morning dew on their delicate and tender petals, making the winter seem like nothing.
Such scenes that go against the weather and phenology should be the work of those Kanyu masters. Even judging from Zhao Shu's current level of cultivation, by arranging the pattern and sorting out the earth's veins, he can make the world have its own atmosphere, which is an extremely extraordinary achievement.
.
What's more, such a unique palace city also has the effect of restricting magic and getting rid of evil spirits. After Zhao Shu came here, he felt that his hands, feet and limbs were not as light and strong as usual. He thought it was to prevent cultivators from sneaking into the palace.
assassinate.
In order to keep the many restrictions in operation, this palace city must have consumed a large amount of spiritual materials and treasures to lay the foundation. However, considering that the construction of a palace city often requires a nationwide effort, it is not surprising.
Zhao Shu followed Anyang Hou, remembering his previous instructions not to look around after entering the palace, so he quickly looked away, lowered his head and lowered his eyes, and secretly beat a drum in his heart.
Passing through the long corridor and turning into the entrance, you can occasionally see several groups of golden-armored guards passing by. Zhao Shu followed Anyang Hou to the outside of a quiet palace. The eunuch who led the way came in and announced, and he was summoned to enter after a while.
There was already someone in the palace, a good-looking man wearing a yellow robe, plain without lines. After sitting at the desk, on the left and right sides were Zhang Duanjing and Liang Tao. Liang Tao, as always, was wearing dark clothes and a crown.
His eyebrows are furrowed, his eyes are furrowed, his beard is twisted and he is sneering.
"See Your Majesty." Marquis Anyang and Zhao Shu quickly bowed down.
"There's no need to salute." The man in yellow robe said gently, and his eyes moved slightly: "Are you Zhao Shu?"
Zhao Shu knew in his heart that this man in yellow robe was the current leader of the Huaxu Kingdom, so he bowed his head and said, "Yes. I am a humble minister, Zhao Shu, here to see your Majesty."
"I heard Wei Qing mention you." The king smiled warmly and said in a tone that was not threatening: "It is said that you were the first to create the Talisman Soldier?"
"The minor ministers occasionally achieve something, but it is because of His Majesty's grace." Zhao Shu carefully followed the instructions of Marquis Anyang and answered.
"Oh? He Enze?" asked the king.
"If His Majesty hadn't swept away the land and guarded against the invaders, I'm afraid the ministers would have perished in Qiuxu long ago, let alone study in the palace." Zhao Shui replied.
The king smiled softly, without comment, and then looked at Anyang Hou: "The arresting department found a batch of treasures in the ghost market, and there are many spiritual materials and magic objects in them. How do you think Aiqing should deal with them?"
"The evil spirits in the ghost market are accustomed to doing illegal things and amassing treasures. After searching and counting, they should be filled into the treasury. Spiritual materials and legal objects should be handed over to the officials, and they can be used for their magical purposes to support the country and protect the emperor." Anyang Hou responded.
The king nodded slightly: "The recovered spiritual materials and artifacts will be handed over to the Jinding Division for inspection and then assigned for disposal."
Marquis Anyang could not conceal his excitement: "I obey the order!"
The king handed a copy of the book to the eunuch beside him and forwarded it to the Marquis Anyang, and then said: "Ai Qing, go and do some business first. I still have something to say to Zhao Shu."
"I beg you to leave." Anyang Hou lowered his head and cupped his hands. He glanced at Zhao Shu as he stepped back, as if to remind him secretly.
After Anyang Hou left, the king waved the eunuchs to leave. He tapped his fingers on the desk and looked at Liang Tao: "Liang Weng, now there is an uproar in the court and the public, and you understand why. Jiujiang Zheng
If you do such a thing, do you really want to protect him to the end?"
"What kind of thing is this kind of thing that your Majesty is talking about?" Liang Tao raised his eyebrows: "If we talk about the assassination case at Jibao Pavilion, in the end it was Zheng Tunan who wanted to avenge a personal grudge and was subjected to the ghost market.
The evil bewitchment has nothing to do with the whole family of the Zheng family in Jiujiang. The arrest department has already found out the truth from Qing Luoyi and other criminals.
As for the Jiujiang Zheng family's secret liaison with the enemy country, it has been found out that the specific affairs were entrusted to the ghost market demons. The Jiujiang Zheng family did not even know that the ghost market trafficked grain, rice and raw silk to Jiuli country. Your Majesty, please don't forget
, many descendants of the Zheng family in Jiujiang were killed in the battlefield because there were not enough people close to them, so they had no choice but to entrust the management of the farm property to outsiders."
The leader of the country was silent, while Zhang Duanjing, who was opposite, said: "Master Liang, on this occasion, there is no need to use clever words. The country has laws and regulations. It is true that the Zheng family in Jiujiang collaborated with the enemy. A large amount of grain, rice and raw silk were trafficked out of the country and bribed a group of people.
The defense of the pass on the road relied on the Jiujiang family Zheng to send letters to his disciples and old officials. Can this also be used to falsely claim that Zheng was negligent and ignorant?"
"Master Zhang, you want to talk about the law?" Liang Tao smiled a little: "Okay, I'll talk about the law. If the Jiujiang Zheng family is guilty, how should the clan members who are also closely associated with the ghost market be dealt with?"
Zhang Duanjing did not answer, but the king frowned slightly. Liang Tao turned to look at the king: "There is one more thing. I saw that it was not mentioned in the case file of the arrest department. Your Majesty, can you allow me to speak frankly?"
"Liang Weng, it's okay to say it." The king was still calm.
"I learned that the overseas Huanbo Palace once sent people to and from the ghost market. Ordinarily, this is not worthy of my attention." Liang Tao said: "However, I have heard recently that this person has a close relationship with the Zhou family."
The king asked: "Marquis Fufeng?"
"Yes. There are recent rumors that Fufeng Hou Zhou is a descendant of Huanbo Palace." Liang Tao said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this matter may be just a rumor. I have sent out capable disciples to capture this Huanbo Palace disciple.
He must be sent to the imperial court and ordered to reveal the truth. If the Phantom Wave Palace pretends to be the Queen's family and acts, it will damage His Majesty's reputation and will never be forgiven."
Zhao Shu, who was below, was frightened when he heard that Fufenghou was the father of the current queen. The Zhou family had no achievements in civil and martial arts, but they were particularly good at breeding and doing business. It is said that at the time, the head of the country was just a person with a low reputation.
When he was a son of the clan, he married into the Zhou family with the help of Madam Zhu Zi, and received a large dowry, which he used as capital to fight for the throne in the future.
As a result, the Zhou family rose to the top. When the treasury was empty and the internal funds were insufficient, the financial resources of the Zhou family were the backbone of the king. After the king wiped out the troops in Shouyang, he reorganized and dismantled all the domestic armies. If he had some remaining strength, he reciprocated the favor.
, allowing the children of the Zhou family to participate in the management of many industries in the country, including national wealth such as Shanze Salt and Iron.
Back then, Luo Xixian went to the salt farm run by the Zhou family to slay evil spirits, and was rewarded with light-containing pearls from Donghai Palace, which shows his financial strength.
Now that he heard that the Zhou family had contacts with a certain overseas immortal cultivating sect, Zhao Shu didn't find it strange. However, there were hints in Liang Tao's words that the Zhou family was probably under the instigation of Huanbo Palace.
A descendant of a country, or a descendant of a family who is responsible for a large amount of wealth, turns out to be the descendant of an overseas sect. Isn't this equivalent to giving away the lifeblood of the country?
Originally, there were many people in the court who were deeply dissatisfied with the control of the salt and iron wealth by the descendants of the Zhou family. They repeatedly submitted letters but were ignored by the king.
The position of the Hou Qi Zhou family is quite special. Very few of their descendants enter the palace to practice immortality and Taoism. In this turmoil where the walls of the court were clearly divided, they did not stand on either side. This can be seen as a wise act.
way.
But now Liang Guoshi has involved the members of the Huanbo Palace, and the Zhou family has also been dragged into the quagmire. This move directly targets the most critical part of the country's leader, which can be said to be extremely cruel.
Zhao Ming guessed that Liang Guoshi might have known about the relationship between the Huanbo Palace disciples and his descendants Zhou family for a long time, but he had kept it secret in the past and only waited for this time to talk about it.
But he also understood that the turmoil in the court had reached its extreme. It was not just the two factions of ministers arguing about right and wrong, but also the tit-for-tat confrontation between the king and Liang Guoshi. If the fight continued like this, both sides would suffer.
"Master Liang, what do you mean by this?" Zhang Duanjing asked, "Do you want to use this as a threat?"
"I just followed the wishes of Mr. Zhang and put the country's laws first." Liang Tao's eyes were bright and frightening.
"Okay." The leader of the country quickly interrupted the conversation between the two, looked at Zhao Shu, and changed the subject: "Zhao Shu, you have made a great contribution to the country by assisting the arresting department in capturing the Jiuli country spies this time."
"This is a matter that belongs to the minor officials." Zhao Shu lowered his head and replied.
"What's your job?" the king asked, "You are the deacon of Jinding Division, and your job doesn't seem to include arresting evil spies."
"Wei Chen made a mistake." Zhao Shu said.
"I want to ask you something now, please answer truthfully." The king's eyes were sharp: "When you left Jindingsi and went out of the city with Chongxuan Hall, were you ever coerced?"
Zhao Shu slowly raised his head, and the three people above him looked at him. Feeling the pressure, he quickly lowered his head and said, "Wei Chen, Wei Chen doesn't dare to answer!"
The king looked at Zhang and Liang and waved his hands gently: "You two will step aside for now."
Zhang Duanjing stood up and held his hands, while Liang Tao bowed slightly and looked at Zhao Shu with a meaningful look.
It wasn't until the two leaders left that the king said: "Zhao Shu, you can speak now."
But Zhao Shu still bowed and the king smiled lightly: "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe and sound. You just need to answer truthfully."
Zhao Shu raised his head and made up his mind and said: "Wei Chen went with Chongxuan Hall voluntarily and was not coerced."
There was no strange look on the face of the king: "Is this your answer?"
"Yes." Zhao Shu lowered his head again.
"I understand." The king pondered for a moment and then asked: "Zheng Tunan colluded with evil spirits to assassinate. How do you think the Zheng family in Jiujiang should be dealt with?"
Zhao Shu quickly replied: "His Majesty has made his own decision on this matter, and the ministers are ignorant and dare not speak nonsense."
"If you are ignorant, will what you said just now count?" the king said with a smile.
Zhao Shu was stunned for a moment, and then the king added: "I originally thought that because Zheng Tunan did such things, you should be resentful of the Zheng family in Jiujiang, and you would definitely seek revenge."
"But... Your Majesty, the Zheng family also has a son who is very effective in the Jinding Division. It is really not appropriate to implicate the whole family." Zhao Shu said.
The king's smile was approachable: "When did I say that I would implicate the entire Zheng family? Is this your plan?"
"No." Zhao Miao changed his mind and replied: "Wei Chen feels that the Zheng family in Jiujiang has indeed violated the national law, so we might as well deprive him of his official title and demote him to a commoner."
"Then what?" The king saw that Zhao Shu had something to say.
"The Zheng family's farm property in Jiujiang stretches across the country and across counties, so they must have hidden a large number of tenant farmers." Zhao Miao thought: "The Zheng family can be exempted from the death penalty, but they cannot be allowed to hold these farm properties anymore. The imperial court
We might as well take the opportunity to conduct an inventory of the Zheng family's land and people, reorganize the households and equalize the people, and equalize the land by population.
The countryside, mountains, city walls and mansions occupied by the Zheng family were all returned to the jurisdiction of the imperial court, or used as rewards. Each family of the Zheng family was left with fifty acres of land, allowing them to farm by themselves without using knives or axes.
To show the favor of the imperial court."
The king looked at Zhao Mi for a moment, who lowered his head and did not dare to say anything. Then he smiled and said, "Are you robbing the rich and giving to the poor?"
Zhao Miao replied: "Those who cultivate immortality and learn Taoism only hope to ascend to the true level. If they can make up for the deficiencies by making up for the excess, they may be able to secretly learn the way of heaven."
"What a spy." The king smiled and said: "With your words, I can deal with Liang Weng."
Zhao Ming snickered secretly, and the king sighed: "The Zheng family in Jiujiang has made great contributions to the country in the past, so it is indeed inappropriate to massacre them. But each family of the Zheng family only has fifty acres of land, is it enough?"
"Your Majesty doesn't know something, but this is more than enough!" Zhao Shu said: "As far as I know, in many wealthy family estates, a tenant farmer cultivates a hundred acres, and most of his income is only 20 to 30%. This is still
Not counting the rental and loan items of various cattle farming tools."
The king nodded slightly with a smile on his face: "If you stay in Jinding Division, you are overqualified and underused."
Zhao Shu quickly replied: "Weak ministers are not familiar with ordinary affairs. Your Majesty has ministers to offer advice, so there is no need to listen to the nonsense of humble ministers."
The leader of the country changed the topic: "I heard from Marquis Anyang that your father once led the army of the Xiong Kingdom into the Fumirage Valley with his fine cavalry, but unfortunately he died for his country?"
"Yes." Zhao Miao replied.
"After being a hero, I didn't expect that I have been let down for a long time." The king tapped the desk with his fingertips, and then asked: "What do you think of Liang Guoshi?"
Zhao Shu could not see the intention of the king's words, so he had to ask: "Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth?"
The king feigned anger and said, "Is it possible that you still want to deceive me?"
Zhao Ming said: "Then please forgive me for speaking frankly - Master Liang is the pillar of Huaxu Kingdom."
"Is this what you think?" The king was puzzled: "Could it be that you intend to switch to Chongxuan Hall?"
"I had this thought in the past." Zhao Shu replied: "But I personally experienced the assassination, and only after this incident did I understand that without the support of Liang Guoshi, Huaxu Kingdom may not be able to maintain the peace and prosperity it has today."
"I saw in the file submitted by the arrest department that you got the guidance of Master Liang to stop the evil spirits. Are you trying to repay the favor now?" the king asked.
Zhao Miao denied: "Weichen had no such intention. But please think about it, your majesty, why did the spies from the Jiuli Kingdom assassinate Weichen? And why did Zheng Tunan get involved? In the final analysis, it was nothing more than trying to kill Zheng Tunan from Jiujiang.
The Chongxuan family and the Chongxuan Hall were involved, and eventually all the fingers were pointed at Liang Guoshi.
Isn't the current chaos in the court caused by an assassination in Jibao Pavilion? Such a situation has made Liang Guoshi deeply trapped in it and has no time to deal with foreign enemies. This is the real purpose of Jiuli Kingdom. It is precisely because Liang Guoshi is a
The mainstay, just now he resorted to such clumsy methods!"
"But you have also seen Liang Guoshi's attitude." The leader of the country said: "It is true that Huaxu Kingdom has always been helped by Chongxuan Guan, but Liang Guoshi regards Huaxu Kingdom as a plaything in his hand, and the number of dissatisfied people in the court is increasing day by day.
.”
"Your Majesty, let's not talk about the past. If a powerful enemy invades Huaxu Kingdom again in the future, who else but Liang Guoshi can turn the tide?" Zhao Shu asked back.