Chapter 301: There is no need to take action personally, someone will naturally take care of the matter
Duan Da was yelled at by a piece of advice. His mind buzzed for a while before he came back to his senses and stood firm on the spot.
In his mind, he really remembered the scene when everyone went to the execution ground to watch Cui Shouye's execution. The head was violently chopped off by the executioner, and he died without resting in peace.
I felt quite happy at the time.
Seeing the superior person fall into the mortal world, even if he does not benefit at all, he feels comfortable in his heart.
What's more, when Cui Shouye was the minister of the Ministry of Punishment, he always spoke the truth and was domineering. Duan Da was even scolded by him, and he wished that he would be unlucky.
But if it were you, kneeling on the high platform of the execution ground, surrounded by pointing colleagues and common people, and behind you stood the executioner covered in the smell of blood...
Duan Da was trembling all over, but he was even more unwilling to leave. He whispered: "Huang Jiyi, I heard that Mr. Cui is interested in the position of Minister of the Ministry of Punishment?"
Huang Zhen raised his eyebrows: "You are quite well-informed!"
The Cui Langzhong here refers to Cui Xiuye, Cui Shouye's elder brother. Now he has completely inherited his father Cui Dunli's connections, and Huang Zhen is also his right-hand man.
Duan Da had made preparations before coming. He took out a gift list and handed it over: "Although I speak lightly, I am also a doctor from the Fourth Department of the Criminal Department. I want to help Mr. Cui. I also have some friends who are willing to work together to build momentum for Mr. Cui...
…”
Huang Zhen looked at it carefully and his expression softened, but he still shook his head and said: "Based on this alone, it is impossible for us to offend Li Yuanfang."
Duan Da hurriedly said: "Huang Ji Yi Ming Jian, after all, what Li Yuanfang received was just a report letter. He might just be checking it out on a whim."
"And those things at the slave meeting hall are just like that. Slavery is prevalent in our Tang Dynasty. Without the Chengyi Chamber of Commerce, there will still be other chambers of commerce on top. There is no difference. Some businessmen do things unscrupulously, and are even far worse than Chengyi Chamber of Commerce.
Yi Chamber of Commerce."
"I'm just asking you two to help me get through this difficult time. I don't have any extravagant expectations!"
Huang Zhen pondered for a moment and then said: "The key to this matter depends on what those slave traders did. So, I will tell you what happened to Cui Langzhong..."
Duan Da knew it was a drag trick as soon as he heard it. He used this trick with great proficiency. He immediately interrupted the spell and made a pleading look: "I only have ten days, I hope Huang Jiyi will tell you quickly, please!"
Huang Zhen glanced at him coldly and stood up slowly: "Okay, I'll go now, you're satisfied!"
Duan Da escorted him all the way out of the Criminal Department with a smile on his face. After watching him enter the door of the Household Department, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to his office room.
When Huang Zhen came to the Ministry of Household Affairs, he found that Cui Xiuye happened to be receiving others.
This period of time was a critical moment in this official's career.
After the death of Cui Shouye, the Minister of Punishment, Liu Shilang was left in charge of the Punishment Department. However, that person was not in good health recently. The Punishment Department cannot be without a leader. Many people are eyeing this position, including Cui Xiuye.
But he also had the least hope, because Cui Shouye did not retire peacefully, but committed a serious crime and was beheaded in the city and made public.
As the elder brother of Cui Shouye, Cui Xiuye is certainly experienced in dealing with people and is not as domineering as his younger brother, but he is a brother after all. Other political opponents will naturally focus on this and make a fuss about it.
Cui Xiuye is already very old, approaching sixty. If he misses this opportunity, he will never be able to go further. In order to get the upper hand, he also united many parties. At this time, he had just seen off an old friend and immediately welcomed Huang Zhen into the house.
He looked tired, sipping tea, and listening to Huang Zhen explaining the situation, his face became more and more serious: "In your opinion, has the Chengyi Chamber of Commerce committed any crime?"
Huang Zhen said: "Slave venues are places where filth and evil are hidden. None of the slave traders are clean. There must be crimes, but I don't know how serious they are."
Cui Xiuye said in a deep voice: "I'm afraid that the crime is not light. Li Yuanfang is young, but he is very good at protecting himself. According to my observation, he always targets the big and let go of the small, but all the cases he focuses on are major cases! We must not do it because of that.
A little profit, and you’ll sink yourself into it!”
Huang Zhen nodded suddenly, his eyes flickered, and he whispered: "But since Duan Da is here, why don't we check this person's criminal evidence and sell Li Yuanfang a favor?"
Cui Xiuye paused while drinking tea: "Mr. Duan is in deep trouble?"
Huang Zhen said: "Du Guan Si has many benefits from his position, and this person is even more greedy and wants to seek personal gain. He refuses to let go this time. It is obvious that he has received too many benefits from the slave traders and cannot get out."
Cui Xiuye was obviously moved, but also hesitant: "This is indeed an opportunity, but we can't make friends casually, appear too warm, and be underestimated by the other party..."
Huang Zhen was a little helpless. Compared with Cui Shouye's domineering attitude, Cui Xiuye's shortcoming was that he was particularly concerned about face.
Now that you are thinking about the position of Minister of Justice, you have to win over all parties. How can you miss this opportunity?
But if you think about it carefully, it’s really hard to make excuses.
The two parties usually met in court and just nodded. The last time they had a private encounter with Li Yuanfang, it dates back to when Cui Shouye was beheaded, when Li Yuanfang took Qiu Shenji to Cui's house for a banquet.
You can’t say that my food is good. Would you like to try it again?
Huang Zhen thought for a moment and suddenly raised his eyebrows: "It is said that Li Yuanfang has a very good relationship with the Zheng family in Xingyang. Recently, many scholars have been campaigning for him, publicizing his achievements in sending envoys to Tibet and conquering Tuyuhun. Why doesn't Brother Cui contact Duke Zheng and hold a banquet?
Get together?"
Cui Xiuye's eyes lit up, he stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Mr. Zheng and I, the Cui family, are also old friends. We haven't paid a formal visit since we came to Luoyang. I just want to take this opportunity to sit down and talk about old times!"
…
Zheng Mansion.
Li Yan was invited to come, and saw Zheng Hui holding a cane from a distance, greeting him in front of the door.
He got off his horse and walked forward: "Brother Zheng, what's wrong with you?"
Zheng Hui waved his hands repeatedly: "Li Jiyi, you are my savior, how can you call me brother?"
Li Yan smiled and said: "You are older than me, and it is a private banquet, so why are you being called so strange? What's wrong with your legs?"
Zheng Hui did not avoid it after all, and sighed: "I was beaten by my father. If I don't cultivate myself for a year and a half, I won't be able to walk normally."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! This is what Li Yan wanted to hear. He was immediately satisfied and curious, and asked in a low voice: "You and Lady Yan...?"
Zheng Hui's eyes showed determination, and he said resolutely, "I want to marry her, even if I have two broken legs!"
Li Yan thought to himself that your sister really understands you. Whatever you want to do, you must do it. Zheng Rentong can't really break both of your legs anyway.
However, Zheng Hui still remembered his filial sister: "I will not delay my little sister. I will marry Yan Niang elsewhere so as not to tarnish the reputation of my Zheng family... Li Jiyi, I am ready to become an official!"
Li Yan was a little helpless: "Brother Zheng, how many scholars in the world study hard just to understand how to become an official. It's too disrespectful for you to talk about becoming an official like being a prisoner."
Zheng Hui was obviously confused: "I also want to study hard in the cold window and rely on my literary talent to pass the imperial examination and become an official. It's a pity! I want to go to the south of the Yangtze River to take up a post, and I will take Yan Niang with me..."
Li Yan didn't express any hope, but he still blessed: "I hope Brother Zheng can serve as an official, benefit the people, and live a happy life with Lady Yan."
Zheng Hui smiled and said: "Thank you very much!"
The two chatted all the way until they arrived at the main hall.
From a distance, I saw two old couples waiting in front of the hall.
At their age, it was impossible for Zheng Rentong and Cui Xiuye to wait in front of the door, but waiting in front of the hall was already a huge honor, not to mention bringing their respective wives.
Seeing this, Li Yan stepped forward a few steps faster, bowed his hands and said, "Mr. Zheng! Mr. Cui! Wish you two ladies good luck!"
Zheng Rentong smiled heartily: "Yuanfang, you said you would come to my house often, but you only came three times. Haha, please take a seat quickly!"
Everyone sat down and chatted about common topics. Ms. Cui looked at Li Yan, and the more she looked at her, the more she liked her: "Yuanfang is very charming and talented. Can Duke Wei arrange a marriage for you? We are waiting for the noble girl from Shandong to know the rules and be polite."
, a virtuous man who manages the family, he will be a good match! If Yuan Fang is interested, I will come to Li Gong and tell him!"
She looked very serious. Marriage between high-ranking families is a big deal. If the matchmaking is successful, the friendship will be deep. Although the status of the five surnamed women in the early Tang Dynasty is not as exaggerated as later generations passed down, it is indeed first-class.
A good match for one.
In particular, Li Yan brought disgrace to the Dou family and the Wei family, the two Guanzhong aristocratic families who were best at marrying each other. The status of women with the fifth surname in the marriage market was getting higher and higher. Cui was so excited that she wanted to really make arrangements.
It is a beautiful thing for a girl with the fifth surname from Shandong to marry Li Yuanfang.
However, Li Yan's smile remained the same, but he spoke rudely and choked out: "I am an open-minded person, but I am not urging me to get married. I focus on work at the moment..."
Ms. Cui immediately shut up. Her father was not in a hurry, so why should she be in a hurry?
But this has already harmed the owner of this place. Zheng Rentong glared at his son fiercely: "Marriage is a major event in life, so you must be cautious!"
Zheng Hui quickly looked away, while Mrs. Zheng protected her son and changed the topic: "Eat vegetables! Eat vegetables!"
In comparison, Cui Xiuye was more concerned about the relationship between Li Yan and Li Derjian. In the past, I heard that this person was in charge of the Duke Wei's mansion, but now it seems true. He raised his glass several times to invite you to drink: "Yuanfang, please!"
"
Li Yan was also very enthusiastic: "Mr. Cui invites you!"
If Cui Shouye had any knowledge, he would probably have resisted pushing the coffin board a few times when he saw this happy scene.
Even if he hates his in-law Doulu Qinwang the most, you can't collaborate with the enemy like this!
But this is the manifestation of power. As Li Yan's status becomes higher and higher, anything that is not a direct mortal enemy is just like the past, not worth mentioning.
Li Yan would never turn away those who acted according to the prevailing circumstances in the officialdom, and deliberately made enemies. Cui Xiuye talked about some officialdom topics, and quickly mentioned Duan Da: "I heard that Li Jiyi found someone a few days ago.
Mr. Duan who is in a lawsuit?"
Addressing the official position means talking about business. Li Yan nodded and said: "I received a letter reporting the Chengyi Chamber of Commerce. The content mentioned above is very serious and I have to investigate..."
Cui Xiuye said solemnly: "I would like to hear the details."
Li Yan roughly stated the content of the report letter he wrote, and added: "If it is just a simple letter, without evidence, it will not lead to a big fight. Chambers of commerce will use such tactics in confrontations, but
Previously, I discovered the Shence Crossbow on Gaolinu, which can only be equipped by Beiya Baiqi..."
Cui Xiuye was moved: "A slave actually holds a crossbow?"
Zheng Rentong's expression also changed: "Is this matter related to the group of slave traders in Bei City?"
Li Yandao: "There is no evidence yet, but the Shence Crossbow is a sharp weapon of the country and must not be obtained by foreigners. Those slave meeting places are involved in many, and they must be investigated in detail!"
Cui Xiuye hated Duan Da in his heart. As expected, Li Yuanfang was investigating big things. This thief actually dared to drag him into trouble. He even said it was a simple slave trade. He immediately expressed his position: "Huang Jiyi has also noticed a long time ago that Duan Da has many things."
He was bribed and had serious involvement with slave traders. This matter should be reported to His Highness the Crown Prince to thoroughly investigate the lawlessness and serve as a warning to others!"
Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "Then I have to thank Cui Langzhong and Huang Jiyi."
Du Guansi's status among the four departments of the Ministry of Justice is not high, but when he was competing for the position of minister, Cui Xiuye was unwilling to let his political opponents take the position. He simply did nothing and sold his favor to the end: "I don't know what Yuan Fang thought. Duan Da
After you leave, who will be qualified to take up this position?"
Zheng Rentong also looked like he was listening. Li Yan thought about it for a while, but then he gave an unexpected figure: "I will recommend someone to His Highness the Crown Prince, the prison guard chief Shi, Jin Liangtu."