The night dew was heavy, and just after reviewing the tax and household registrations of the 57 counties in the 13 states of Huainan Province, Lu Yan couldn't help but feel sleepy, and went to his dormitory accompanied by a maid in red clothes.
The strange thing is that this maid in Zhu Yi, who looked no more than twenty-eight years old, did not even support Lu Yan, but walked in front with a lantern in her hand. If it were other dignitaries in Chang'an, they would at least be able to walk a short distance in the inner courtyard of their house.
There were four or five maidservants following closely, so as not to tire their master in the slightest. However, the dignified Prime Minister Lu was so simple in the inner courtyard of his residence, and outsiders would probably not believe it when they saw it.
The dormitory was right in front of him, but the maid in red clothes suddenly stopped and raised her hand to stop Lu Yan.
"What?" Lu Yan raised his eyes and looked, but the dim light couldn't reveal anything strange.
The maid in red clothes pointed her sword and made a few empty sweeps. The invisible sword energy shuttled back and forth outside the inner courtyard bedroom, seeming to cut off many filaments that were difficult to detect with the naked eye, and disappeared in an instant.
"Tianluo silk hand." The maid in Zhuyi turned around and said. Her expression was cold and cold, not like a servant at all.
Lu Yan frowned and sighed, tightening his cloak and saying, "It's so late at night that I don't let anyone sleep peacefully."
Pushing the door and entering the bedroom, there were no lights in the room. The maidservant in red clothes walked in first. No movement was seen from her. The sword energy penetrated her body and cut off the threads wherever she passed. She came to a table as if nothing had happened and clicked on it.
Light the candle to illuminate Eunuch Feng, who is sitting at attention next to the case.
Eunuch Feng was wearing a black cloak, and he closed his eyes to meditate. When the candle light was on, he raised his eyes to look at the maid in red clothes, and said with a smile: "She is indeed the female swordswoman known as the 'Qifeng Guan Yue'. In recent years, there have been many swordsmen in the world.
The good guys are trying to compile a ranking of martial arts masters, and Fairy Qiu is among the top ten. When I see her today, her reputation is well-deserved."
Fairy Qiu was too lazy to say anything. She just walked to the side and stood silently, like an ordinary maid who was always ready to step forward to serve.
Lu Yan pulled off his cloak without saluting, sat down and asked, "Eunuch Feng is here late at night. He must have something important to do. You and I should stop chatting and speak frankly about your purpose."
Eunuch Feng suppressed his smile and took out three pictures from his sleeves. They were none other than Cheng Sanwu and others. After unfolding them, Eunuch Feng asked, "I came here just to talk to Mr. Lu about these three people."
"What are you talking about?" Lu Yan only glanced at him briefly and then turned his attention back to Eunuch Feng.
Lu Yan has been an official for many years, and his beard and hair have turned gray, and wrinkles have crept into the corners of his eyes. The long work of writing papers has also made his neck slightly hunched. Only a pair of sharp eyes, which gather brilliance, seem to be able to penetrate the world's hearts.
But for Lu Yan, the human heart is the least trustworthy in the world. In the court, Lu Yan has seen too many people who do all kinds of things against their will due to the real situation. What's more, the vast majority of people can't even stick to their true intentions.
If you can't do it, if you just touch a little power, you will completely sink and no longer be able to get up. This is normal in the world.
But I have to admit that among the characters Lu Yan has read in the past, Eunuch Feng is one of the very few who can hide his emotions to the extreme, like a deep pool that cannot be seen through at a glance. And the same unpredictable martial arts realm makes this person
There are almost no traces of the passage of time on his body, and his appearance is described as being much younger than Lu Yan.
"Let's talk about Cheng Sanwu first." Eunuch Feng asked: "I received a reliable tip and learned that this person was the real culprit in the Heyang murder case."
"The murder case in Heyang has been concluded. It was Sun Shaoren's son who caused the murder, causing the villagers to revolt and massacre the whole family." Lu Yan's tone was plain, as if he was reciting a dossier document.
Eunuch Feng asked: "It has been many years since the Sun family was exterminated. What I am asking is not the cause of this case. But, Prime Minister Lu has already found out that Cheng Sanwu is the real culprit. Why didn't he order the arrest?"
Lu Yan said bluntly: "I need someone to control the situation in the Western Regions for me. Ten years ago, I was short of manpower. I didn't mind letting criminals escape to the Western Regions."
Eunuch Feng came late at night, obviously not with His Majesty's orders, but on his own initiative. This situation was not a torture investigation. Lu Yan could have easily handled it with his eloquent words, but he still confessed on the spot.
What Lu Yan said was not a secret at all for people like Eunuch Feng, and it was not worth the effort to investigate. However, Cheng Sanwu's situation was too special, and Eunuch Feng had to investigate in detail:
"Does Prime Minister Lu know that An Quti, the leader of the demons who caused trouble in the Western Regions recently, was killed by Cheng Sanwu?"
"The report sent back to Chang'an didn't mention it." Lu Yan said calmly.
"Did Mr. Lu not seem surprised when he heard the news?" Eunuch Feng turned his face to the side, looked at the question and raised his thin and smooth chin slightly, revealing his fair-skinned neck. If he hadn't seen his Adam's apple, even Lu Yan couldn't help but
You have to doubt whether the person in front of you is really a woman as rumored.
"I am not a general on the battlefield. I don't care who kills the demon." Lu Yan pinched his eyebrows slightly tiredly.
"Prime Minister Lu covered up Cheng Sanwu's achievements with just one word, and did he intend to ignore his crimes as well?" Eunuch Feng kept asking, but his tone was gentle and gentle.
"If the Ministry of Internal Affairs wants to arrest Cheng Sanwu, there is no need to report it to me." Lu Yan closed his eyes and said: "Since Eunuch Feng has arrived, it means that this person has been under your close attention for a long time, and it is only a matter of words to take action.
"
"Having said that, the origin of this person is unknown and he has hidden powerful abilities. I have to ask Prime Minister Lu personally for advice." Eunuch Feng said.
"In my opinion, even if Cheng Sanwu is somewhat capable, he is no different from those green forest robbers and gangsters." Lu Yan pressed his hand on the table and tapped his fingers: "Two months ago, a report came from Jingzhou
, a fleet sailing down the river was hijacked by local water thieves, and more than a hundred corpses were later found downstream. Although it has been identified that it was Baili Chang, the Jiangling thief, he has not been captured and brought to justice. So far.
The thugs and villains appear every once in a while, and we can just let the local prefectures, counties and officials deal with them. Do we still need to carefully examine them one by one?"
Lu Yan's tone was slightly reproachful, and he seemed to be dissatisfied with Eunuch Feng's late night visit.
On the other hand, Eunuch Feng was not sure of Lu Yan's intentions for a while. Was his statement downplaying the importance of Cheng Sanwu, or did he really not care about this person?
"Since Jiangling Bandits are mentioned." Eunuch Feng rolled his eyes: "It might be a good idea to let people like Cheng Sanwu deal with extremely vicious people. Prime Minister Lu is determined to innovate, but in the past six months, the implementation of the new policy has been repeatedly hindered, especially
There is a ban on escape, and the local wealthy people and traitors are colluding with each other, and they are secretly colluding with the green forest thieves. If someone uses force to break the situation, what will Prime Minister Lu think?"
Eunuch Feng knew very well that although Lu Yan also wielded power and made money, those extraneous things were nothing compared to the realization of his grand plans. Eunuch Feng only made this suggestion after he had figured out Lu Yan's likes and dislikes.
"This matter cannot be done in the name of the imperial government." Lu Yan said seriously: "As for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, although it has the power to supervise according to the decree, you should not get too involved in the affairs of local states and counties."
Eunuch Feng tapped Su Wangting's graphic with his finger and said with a smile: "Before this, I didn't expect that the trading company could be of such great use."
How could a person like Lu Yan not understand the intention of the other party? His tone turned calm: "There was a severe drought in Hebei last year and food prices soared. I intend to ask your majesty to expand the Changping warehouse in each state, with the government taking the lead and presiding over it. And it is evenly distributed.
The categories to be transported are not limited to rice and grain, but also include critical necessities such as cloth, charcoal, salt and iron. The implementation of this method also requires the cooperation of merchants from all over the country to supply and transport."
When it comes to this matter, there is no need to say more. It would be best if the local wealthy businessmen can cooperate. If they do not cooperate, they will do tricks overtly or covertly, or even invite martial arts people to do tricks, then let Cheng Sanwu
Deal with this kind of person.
Even if there is a loss of life, it can be explained as a private fight between Jianghu and Jianghu warriors, ensuring that the Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China stays out of the matter and does not have to face direct criticism from the government and the opposition. Then, business forces with government backgrounds such as Su Wangting can be allowed to take over the original local industries and cooperate with the implementation of the New Deal.
Eunuch Feng knew very well that these things were just the first step for Lu Yan.
It has been more than a hundred years since the founding of this dynasty. Anyone with some discernment can see that there are many disadvantages. In the early years of the founding of the Xia Dynasty and the expansion of borders, we relied on the system of government soldiers. The so-called "registered in the government, and scattered acres of land" was to unify the forces of soldiers and farmers.
No distinction.
However, since several sea-crossing expeditions decades ago, the officers and soldiers have returned home after battles, but there are no records in the government. The officers and soldiers are not allowed to receive awards and decorations, and they are not allocated land, which greatly shakes the foundation of the country. Even the government that already has the land and property of the honored officers has
The army is suffering from mergers and acquisitions, and it is difficult to continue.
All these factors have made it more and more difficult for the imperial court to order prefectures and counties to recruit soldiers in recent years. Rich families either paid bribes to redeem their soldiers, or asked tenants to replace them in their names. The poor and weak had no choice but to flee, or commit suicide to seek immunity.
To make matters worse, while it was difficult to recruit soldiers, the royal court's taxes were gradually insufficient, and troops were frequently used in various areas on the border, so money could only be spent on recruiting soldiers. Because the government's soldiers were withered, the newly recruited soldiers also needed weapons, armor, food, fodder, and mounts.
Provided by the imperial court, this is another huge expense.
With such expenses increasing and taxes decreasing, no matter how big the family is, it cannot withstand the consumption. It is urgent to get rid of the old abuses and implement the new policy. Lu Yanan has been in power for many years, and no one can shake his position. It is precisely because he can continuously acquire
Taxes and money are used to feed the gluttonous people of Great Xia.
"Everyone knows that Prime Minister Lu is devoted to the country." Eunuch Feng immediately asked, "It's just the matter of abolishing Zazuo. Can it be slowed down a little?"
"Eunuch Feng, am I too easy to talk to?" Lu Yan's eyes were as bright as a candle, making people afraid to look directly at him.
Eunuch Feng did not hesitate and said with a smile: "It's not the whole country, it's just the four towns in Anxi that are implementing it a little slowly."
Lu Yan was silent for a moment and sneered: "Eunuch Feng is so good at making others work hard, so the servants can enjoy the benefits without having to do anything."
"We are all serving His Majesty loyally." Eunuch Feng smiled like a demure woman.
Lu Yan didn't say anything more, so he acquiesced. When he implemented the New Deal, he had to ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to support the emperor to ensure that the decree would not be interrupted due to strife in the court. Accordingly, Lu Yan had to make certain concessions.
For the Ministry of Internal Affairs, maintaining a balance between a group of worldly bureaucrats headed by Prime Minister Lu and the generals in border towns is in line with the fate of the Sacred Heart, and it can also reap benefits from them below.
"In the end, it was him."
Eunuch Feng pressed Changqing's hand on the shadow figure and gently pushed it in front of Lu Yan: "I would like to ask Prime Minister Lu to clear up my doubts about this person's origin."
Lu Yan stared at Chang Qing's face for a long time, with no expression on his face, and said, "He is my son."
Eunuch Feng showed a hint of surprise when he heard this: "Prime Minister Lu has admitted it now? Are you so sure before you even meet him?"
Lu Yan looked at him sharply: "Isn't this the answer that Eunuch Feng wants?"
Eunuch Feng was silent for a long time, then nodded and said, "That's fine. I wonder when will Mr. Lu plan to meet him?"
Lu Yan answered with a question: "When will Taguanzi of Terma Palace come to the palace to preach?"
"I understand." Eunuch Feng reached out to pick up the drawing, but Lu Yan suddenly held him down with his palm.
As soon as Eunuch Feng raised his fingers, the cold hairs all over his body suddenly stood up, and he suddenly felt that murderous intent was coming. He could feel that he was surrounded by dozens of invisible sword energies. As long as there was any hostile move, the sword energy would attack him immediately. The man in Zhu Yi
The maid just pointed her sword with her hands, without even raising her eyelids, and all moved based on the sense of Qi.
Taoist swordsmanship has been practiced to the extreme, and there is a state of "not looking at it". Not only does the sword move rely entirely on the mind and heart, which greatly saves energy, but also includes the subtle energy emitted by the opponent when fighting against the enemy.
, predict the trend of the attack, so as to predict the enemy's opportunity first, and specialize in the key points of weakness, so that there is no disadvantage.
Eunuch Feng's silk-winding hand was better at weaving a snare and attacking from behind, but if he really had to fight head-on with this extremely sharp female swordsman, he had no chance of winning.
"Fairy Qiu is so sharp, Feng admires her." Princess Feng was convinced and slowly retracted her outstretched hand, then looked at Lu Yan: "I hope Prime Minister Lu can take care of himself. There are some things that I don't need to say more."
The invisible sword energy made way for the space, and Eunuch Feng stood up and put on the hood of his cloak. His face was hidden in the shadows, which showed that this black cloak was not ordinary clothing.
Eunuch Feng came to visit late at night and had a private meeting. If this matter were to be known to outsiders, it would definitely arouse suspicion. A high-ranking and powerful person like Feng Daxuan would have to imitate the flying thief at night.
After Eunuch Feng left, Lu Yan looked at the evergreen graphics, unable to hide his tiredness, and let out a long silent sigh.
The maid in Zhu Yi took the initiative to step forward, picked up the paper and looked at it for a long time, her cold expression showed a hint of softness: "He looks like senior sister, very similar."
"But there are still some similarities between the eyebrows." Lu Yan said vaguely.
"Do you really want to recognize him?" the maid in red clothes asked.
"Otherwise?" Lu Yan stood up with difficulty: "No one wants things to go wrong."
"I want to see him." said the maid in Zhu Yi.
"What can you say when you see him?" Lu Yan said with a wry smile: "Staying in the Fu Zang Palace, not caring about worldly affairs, and cultivating a pure life is the life I arranged for him. This Daguanzi, and
You are being smart there."
"Feng Yuanyi has set his sights on him." The maidservant in Zhu Yi showed a serious expression on her cold little face: "I don't want senior sister's son to be unable to protect himself."
"Daguanzi has already taught him Taoism." Lu Yan reacted: "Are you planning to teach him swordsmanship?"
"As long as he has this understanding." The maidservant in Zhu Yi said in a stubborn tone, seemingly not allowing Lu Yan to object.
"Be careful and don't expose yourself." Lu Yan looked at the shadows on the case and said, "Also, don't test Cheng Sanwu."