Subconsciously stroking his big belly, Xue Huairang tried his best to make an ugly and humble smile, and replied: "It's all thanks to your majesty's grace."
"Eh... I don't have much kindness for Xue Shijun. If I do, I must have the kindness of the late emperor!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand, and without waiting for Xue Huairang's reply, he changed his tone and said with an edge: "In comparison, Xue Shijun received the favor from Li Shouzhen, please ask for more!"
Hearing what Liu Chengyou said, Xue Huai's face suddenly changed. His cheeks were hot and slightly cold, but he broke out in cold sweats. He didn't care much, and stood up and knelt down: "Your Majesty, forgive me. It was Li Shouzhen who wanted to know that my ministers were greedy for money, so he sent He wanted to bribe me with courtesy. I was greedy for a while, so I got in touch with him, but I have no intention of treason. When the rebellion breaks out, I will also lead the people in the same state to fight against the rebels... ..”
Xue Huairang probably used all his limited eloquence. Speaking these words, I think he wasted a lot of brain cells.
Seeing his performance, Liu Chengyou fainted and said in a "curious" tone: "I still remember last year, when Xue Shijun was in front of him, he was so heroic and unyielding. Why is he so cautious and humble now? It's polite, but it makes me look at you differently and I don't feel comfortable with it..."
Xue Huairang's expression froze. Although he was a reckless man, he could still hear something wrong in Liu Chengyou's words. He blushed and faltered: "My lord, my lord..."
"My eyes don't mean to detect every detail, but I think I am clear-eyed. I know the situation in Tongzhou very well. Xue Shijun thinks that I can be deceived by his clever words and arguments."
Xue Huai let the stone hanging in his heart become heavier. He lowered his head, his face changed a bit. He suddenly raised his head, looked directly at Liu Chengyou, clasped his fists and said loudly: "Your Majesty, if you want to punish the past, you will kill the minister, otherwise Dare to complain."
But Xue Huairang couldn't stand Liu Chengyou's yin and yang, and this venting was a bit like breaking a pot. Liu Chengyou was only slightly surprised, and then glanced at him, clearly seeing tension and panic in the eyes of this warrior. .
The movement of nodding lightly made Xue Huairang's waist sink a lot. Seeing this, he showed a slightly stiff and cold smile to him. Liu Chengyou suddenly looked at Hou Zhang on the other side and glanced at his clothes: " The clothes that Lord Shijun wears are extremely exquisite and gorgeous!"
Hou Zhang was stunned for a moment, but he simply prostrated: "I am guilty, please punish me!"
But he had already planned that no matter what the emperor said, he would just apologize, and his attitude was extremely respectful. Thanks to Xue Huairang's performance, at least from the scene, his attitude of admitting his mistakes and repenting was much better. .
With his head buried and feeling Liu Chengyou's appraising gaze, Hou Zhang couldn't help but mutter in his heart: Brother Zhao, I believe what you say, this time I have put the lives of my whole family on the line...
After glancing at the two people from left to right for a while, Liu Chengyou showed his face, leaned back slightly, relaxed his whole body, and said: "Second Qing, please stop kneeling and get up to answer me!"
The change in Liu Chengyou's tone was clearly felt. The two people with their heads lowered couldn't help but turn their heads and look at each other. Both seemed a little at a loss, but they quickly stood up and still waited cautiously below.
The emperor's uncertainty and sudden changes in the atmosphere obviously made the two of them very uncomfortable.
His expression slowly returned to calmness, and Liu Chengyou said slowly: "I heard that in the past year or so, in the two states of Huatong, the two of you have accumulated great wealth, rich families, fertile fields, and a hundred thousand yuan... ..."
Seeing the confused expressions on both their faces, Liu Chengyou asked, "What? Is there anything wrong with what I heard?"
He was really not sure what Liu Chengyou's plan was. After being silent for a while, Xue Huairang couldn't help but said: "No... not that much!"
Faced with Xue Huairang's "sincere" answer, Liu Chengyou no longer wanted to fight with the two of them. He stood up, walked to the two of them, and said calmly: "The Khitan Lord took advantage of the internal rebellion in the country, raised troops to invade Hebei, and invaded Hebei." , harassing prefectures and counties, and plundering my people. Border affairs are urgent, and we are short of money and food. However, this time to suppress the rebellion, the imperial court's money and supplies have been wasted. Recently, I have been having a special headache in raising money and food for Beiji... "
The emperor's hint was almost explicit, but Xue Huairang and Hou Zhang did not react for a while.
It was Hou Zhang, whose head was not completely filled with fat, who took the initiative and said: "I am willing to donate five thousand yuan of my family wealth to support the imperial court in the northern war against the Hu Kou!"
At this time, Xue Huairang also reacted and said immediately: "Is the same true for me?"
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou immediately raised his hand: "This is unacceptable. If it spreads to the ears of ignorant people, I will be considered as taking away the wealth of my ministers!"
Hou Zhang seemed to have become smarter, and he immediately bent down and replied: "This is my voluntary contribution to repay His Majesty and the court for doing my part in border preparations and for the soldiers in northern Xinjiang."
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"Me too."
Liu Chengyou nodded slowly, his eyes were a little playful, and he looked at the two of them, with a cold arc at the corner of his mouth that seemed to be a smile but not a smile.
The atmosphere in the hall was strange and a little embarrassing. After a moment of silence, Hou Zhang seemed to understand something. He gritted his teeth and said again: "I am willing to donate 10,000 yuan."
Xue Huairang looked at Hou Zhang in surprise, and then at Liu Chengyou, with a look of pain on his face: "Just like you."
"Ten thousand yuan?" Liu Chengyou slowly walked back to the case, sat down, and seemed to sigh: "It seems that the second minister is indeed rich in wealth!"
Liu Chengyou said this in a tone that seemed to be hinting at something.
"..."
Silent oppression forced the two of them to raise the donation to 50,000 yuan and 10,000 grains of grain, and Liu Chengyou just let them go. He said rather unhappily: "Second Qing made a fortune to help the country's poverty. Even if it is a drop in the bucket, it still shows your sincerity. I have seen your loyalty to me and the imperial court, and I also believe that the former Second Minister was deceived by the traitor Li Shouzhen!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
After a pause, Liu Chengyou revealed the real deal with the two of them: "This time, you two must have been greatly frightened. Life is nothing more than fame and fortune. You two have been in the army for decades, and you are so tired today. This is it. , I will give each of you a beautiful house in Xijing. You can move your family, buy some acres of land, and buy some property. From now on, you can live well in Xijing, have grandchildren, and spend your remaining years peacefully..."
After saying this, the expressions of the two people changed at the same time, and their eyes clearly showed anger and unwillingness.
"What, do you have any opinions? If you have any opinions, feel free to mention them!" Seeing the bitterness on their faces, Liu Chengyou said in a loud voice.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Having reached this point, the two of them could still have any opinions. They agreed in a somewhat confused manner.
When they resigned and left, the two of them were still a little unresponsive, and their steps were a little sloppy. Their lives were saved, and the Lord was not deprived of it, but they were not happy at all.
In this era, without power, especially military power, even if you have a huge fortune, it is just a piece of fish and meat that can be slaughtered by others. Lord, what kind of rotten fish is that? Look at how miserably those people in Xijing were punished by Shi Hongzhao, and They will also join the ranks.
"The little emperor is so cruel. So much money and food is enough to send out a wave of military pay!" This time, Liu Chengyou was squeezed to pieces, and his heart was bleeding.
"It was a fluke that I saved my life!" Hou Zhang's expression was not good-looking either, but he was a little more open-minded: "I was still frightened by the emperor. He didn't seem to have the intention to kill us."
After sighing, Xue Huairang quickly cursed: "It's all Li Shouzhen's fault. If he comes now, someone will definitely rip off his head..."
"Brother Xue, the emperor has deprived us of our authority. From now on in Luoyang, we have to support each other." Hou Zhang was not interested, so he dragged his steps and gave Xue Huairang a fist.
"That's natural." Xue Huairang replied.
After going through this tribulation together, the relationship between the two people became obviously closer.
"Brother Hou, how old is your husband?" Xue Huairang suddenly asked.
Hou Zhang turned his head and faced him with doubt.
Xue Huairang said: "I have a daughter who is seventeen years old and has not yet been married..."
Soon, the brothers and sisters began to discuss the marriage of their children. Late autumn has arrived, and the weather is getting colder, so they can only join a group to keep warm.