After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Hongrun took a long breath and shook his head.
"The throne...is really not what I want..."
After saying that, he looked at Luo Yao with regretful eyes, and he couldn't help but feel a little depressed in his heart: Talents that are so easily available are not available to me.
But it is undeniable that Luo Yao is right. How could Confucian scholars with ambitious goals like them be willing to defect to a prince who aspires to be a playboy king?
Like the East Palace, like King Yong, those princes who can become the monarchs of the Wei State are the ones these scribes should follow and die for. After all, the former can support them, realize their ambitions, and make the Wei State stronger.
But just when Zhao Hongrun was filled with regret, he saw Luo Yao smile from the bottom of his heart and said with a smile: "Zhou Min, it seems that he is not your person, His Highness Prince Su."
Hearing this, Zhao Hongrun was slightly startled, then frowned and said with some displeasure: "Are you testing me?"
Seeing this, Luo Yao's face straightened, he raised his hands and apologized: "Please forgive me, Your Highness King Su."
Looking at Luo Yao, who was apologizing to him, Zhao Hongrun's heartbeat just now because of Luo Yao's words disappeared without a trace, because Luo Yao didn't want to defect to him at all, he was just here.
Just testing him.
"Are you still thinking of assisting the East Palace?" Zhao Hongrun frowned and asked, "He has already expelled you from the East Palace..."
Hearing this, Luo Yao smiled slightly and said calmly: "Since you are the king of men of your choice, no matter how bumpy the future is, you have to crawl through it... This is the stubbornness of our generation of scholars."
Zhao Hongrun looked at Luo Yao in awe and silence. After a long time, he said calmly: "Donggong... no longer needs you."
"No!" Luo Yao shook his head and corrected: "Although His Highness the Crown Prince's reputation in the government and the public has increased dramatically, in fact, he has fallen into someone's trap... Luo Yao once suspected His Highness Prince Su, but only after His Highness Prince Su
It can be inferred from your attitude that Your Highness is not the one who set up this plan, so it is not difficult to guess who is behind Zhou Min..."
Having said this, he narrowed his eyes slightly and said confidently: "Yong Wang Hongyu!"
"This guy..."
Zhao Hongrun looked at it calmly, feeling surprised in his heart.
You know, he only learned that Zhou Min was a secret chess piece that Yong Wang Hongyu had prepared for two years based on the information gathered by the Green Crows. But it was not easy for Luo Yao to see through this matter.
Of course, Zhao Hongrun was not prepared to expose himself, so he pretended to be confused and asked: "Zhou Min, who is that?"
After hearing this, Luo Yao looked at Zhao Hongrun with a half-smile.
Seeing the other party's smile, Zhao Hongrun secretly cursed himself for being confused: He didn't know who Zhou Min was, so how could he know that Luo Yao had lost the respect of the East Palace and take the opportunity to recruit him?
However, Luo Yao did not tell the truth, but simply explained Zhou Min's deeds to Zhao Hongrun, finally saving face for Zhao Hongrun.
"I heard that this person Zhou Min, like me, was a talented scholar who took the imperial examination in the 16th year of Hongde. It is said that his article was not liked by the officials of the Ministry of Rites at that time, so his ranking was not high... But the strange thing is that this person was in
After the scientific examination, he disappeared
It is said that he returned to his hometown to study the Book of Songs painstakingly and prepare to take the exam next time... However, a while ago, Zhou Min suddenly came to the East Palace and offered such an amazing national policy. No matter how I look at it, I don't think this matter will happen.
Simple."
"Oh?" Zhao Hongrun blinked and asked, pretending not to know, "Why?"
"Because it's such a coincidence." Luo Yao shook his head and said: "At that time, after King Su left Daliang, everyone in the Daliang court knew that the battle between the East Palace and King Yong was bound to begin. At this time, Zhou Min suddenly appeared.
, gained the trust of the East Palace... I was thinking at that time, if this person is not from His Highness King Su, then he must be the killer move that His Highness King Yong has been preparing for a long time."
Having said this, Luo Yao turned to look at Zhao Hongrun and said conclusively: "Everyone with a discerning eye can see that the strategies for strengthening the country mentioned by Zhou Min, except for the 'Great Wei Military Army', all have shortcomings. If they are not implemented properly,
The future troubles are endless... It is a pity that the East Palace was stimulated by His Highness Prince Su and was too eager to obtain the military power of an army. After seeing Zhou Min's first strategy, he happily adopted it and combined Zhou Min's items.
The strategy is presented to the imperial court..."
Zhao Hongrun listened quietly to Luo Yao pouring out his bitterness to him, telling him that the East Palace did not listen to his advice, favored Zhou Min without telling him, and even accused him of being jealous of the virtuous, and Luo Yao moved out of the East Palace angrily.
"... I am indeed very angry. Zhou Min is clearly not well-intentioned, but Dong Palace... alas!" Luo Yao shook his head and said with a wry smile.
"But even so, you still have to return to the East Palace, right?" Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
Luo Yao did not notice the jealousy in Zhao Hongrun's eyes, and said sternly: "I will never let Zhou Min succeed! ... He set up such a poisonous plan to harm the East Palace, but there is no way I can turn it around and make King Yong eat his own food.
Bad consequences!"
At this point, he realized that he had been confiding and complaining to Zhao Hongrun since just now, and said awkwardly: "I'm really sorry that Your Highness, Prince Su, has heard all kinds of complaints..."
"It doesn't matter."
Zhao Hongrun waved his hands and was about to speak when he saw Luo Yao stood up and said with a smile: "Thank you, His Highness King Su, for allowing me to express my grievances in my heart. I have cheered up." After that, he hesitated for a moment.
With a bit of pleading, he said: "His Royal Highness, King Su, can you please put me back to Daliang? If you don't, I'm afraid the East Palace will ask King Yong and Zhou Min to play around with applause."
Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, but looking at Luo Yao's eager eyes, he finally swallowed the words he was about to blurt out. He clapped his hands to summon Duan Pei and ordered: "Duan Pei, send Mr. Luo... back to Daliang."
There was obvious confusion on Duan Pei's face, maybe he was wondering, wasn't this Luo Yao the person His Highness specially asked them to kidnap back from Daliang? Why did he have to send him back again?
But since it was Zhao Hongrun's order, Duan Pei naturally did not dare to object: "Yes!"
"Thank you, His Highness Prince Su!"
Luo Yao cupped his hands and bowed deeply, with a look of gratitude on his face.
Seeing Zhao Hongrun was very depressed: How could even a guy like Zhao Hongli be assisted by such a loyal and outstanding adviser? And I, the majestic King Su, could not recruit anyone who could make suggestions?
Looking at Luo Yao's back as he left the study, Zhao Hongrun walked to the window and let out a long breath.
"I wonder if there are any talents in the world who can match Luo Yao?"
——At the same time, Wangdu Daliang——
In the Hanlin Office, there was a young copyist who was holding an official document that he had just copied, with a look of confusion in his eyes.
"Zhou Min...this person's plan is good, but it has consequences...I always feel like something is wrong."
Just when this person was doubtful, he suddenly heard a call from outside the door: "Brother He, it's time to go back home."
"oh oh."
The young copyist put the documents in his hands back into the distance, straightened his sleeves, and went to drink with his friends from the same government office whom he had met on weekdays.
This person is called He Xinxian.
——At the same time, both in Daliang, the capital——
In a waterside pavilion that Zhao Hongrun frequently visited in the past, in the hall on the first floor, there were many scribes waiting for the oiran in the building to present their questions while talking about the recent events in Daliang.
Among them, they talked about the incident where the Prince of the East Palace struck out hard and put Yong Wang Hongyu at a complete disadvantage.
However, when those scribes excitedly mentioned that they wanted to defect to the East Palace, in the corner, there was a romantic scholar who curled his lips and said disdainfully in a drunken tone: "A bunch of idiots."
The scribes became furious and pointed at the man and cursed: "What did you say?"
In the verbal conflict, someone recognized the drunken Confucian scholar and laughed loudly: "Who do I think it is? It turns out to be Mr. Wen who was expelled from the exam for cheating two years ago..."
After hearing this, the Confucian scholar called "Mr. Wen" turned red and said angrily: "It's the officials, it's the officials and that gang of bastards who set me up! They hated me for informing King Su, so they colluded.
Officials from the Ministry of Etiquette used the stigma of cheating in the exam room to trap me!"
"Yes, yes..." the scribes sneered.
Mr. Wen's face was full of anger, and he gritted his teeth and said secretly: "Okay, let's say I cheated...Okay, I will cheat in the imperial examination next year and show you! See how I can put a bunch of idiots on the top list!"
This person is called Wenqi!
——At the same time, in a small county near Quyang County, Shangdang County——
"Master County, Master County."
A young government official carried a document in his hand and delivered it to the study room in the county government office. He panted and said to a young county magistrate who was mending his own tattered clothes in the study room: "Master, this is what the imperial court has just sent."
Official document."
"Huh?"
The young county magistrate put down the clothes in his hands, stepped over to take the official document, opened it several times, and started reading.
After just a few glances, the young magistrate frowned.
"Sir, what's going on?" the young government servant asked cautiously.
The young county magistrate smiled faintly and said casually: "It has nothing to do with our county... The imperial court is planning to rent and sell the idle land in Shangdang, Hedong and other places to the domestic nobles, and ask the latter to form private soldiers to stop the Korean army.
For this reason, the imperial court set heavy bait."
After that, the young magistrate dismissed the government servant with a wave of his hand, and stood alone at the window with his hands behind his back.
"Zhou Min... Humph! Do you think your clothes are perfect?"
The young magistrate curled his lips and then continued to mend his old clothes.
This person is called Kou Zheng!
——At the same time, Xingyang——
A scribe dressed in a reading voice was looking at the notice posted by the local county magistrate, and could not help but frown slightly.
"Jiezi, what's wrong? Is there anything wrong with the policy just promulgated by the imperial court?"
Following the questioning, his friend came to him at some point and asked doubtfully.
Behind him were dozens of Hu slaves.
"Well... I'm a little concerned." The scribe nodded, with a look of confusion on his face.
Seeing this, his friend put his arm around his shoulders and said with a smile: "Don't think so much, we have made a lot of money again, we should find a place to celebrate."
"Okay." The scribe smiled helplessly, but before leaving, he still glanced at the notice.
This person is called Jie Ziyu!
--at the same time--
In the county government office of Huangchi County, there was a young official dressed as a registrar, standing next to the county magistrate, looking at the court documents with a strange look on his face...
In Xiangling County, a young man who had just returned to his hometown to study the Book of Songs and was preparing to take the imperial examination again in three years, heard the noise outside the house, turned his head and looked out the window, and saw outside the courtyard of his simple house.
For some unknown reason, a well-known local tycoon sold off his property and prepared to go to the Party...
Huayang...
Shanshi...
Xu County...
Yanling...
Shangshui...
There were many evildoers in the imperial examinations held in the 16th year of Hongde and the next 19th year of Hongde!