"People's hearts are getting more and more scattered." But Cao Yiyan knew that he should not be angry with these people for this matter.
First of all, people from the imperial court suddenly launched an attack, which was really hard to guard against. More importantly, these people were the last seeds of the Wei Dynasty in Beijing.
"We must complete the restoration of the Wei Dynasty in my generation, otherwise, I am afraid there will be no hope at all."
In fact, Cao Yiyan knew that if it were not for the hope of Yingguo, even this group of people would have dispersed and ceased to exist.
After a long time, Cao Yiyan broke the silence, frowned and said: "The first stronghold that was broken was the stronghold where Chen Sanyu lived. It was to follow King Dai. Could it be related to King Dai?"
"Young Master, this is not necessarily the case." Liu Danai first spoke up: "King Dai is in the limelight today. This matter of being a saint in the daytime immediately brought King Dai to the forefront."
After a pause, Liu Danai glanced at everyone and told them one by one what had just happened in the Minister's Mansion. These people had never heard of it and were dumbfounded.
Zhong Cui also said: "Unless Dai Wang is a fool, he will not know how dangerous this thing is, whether it is a disaster or not a blessing. But is Dai Wang a fool? Obviously not, obviously, he may have fallen into the trap!
"
"Since he fell into the trap, it means that King Dai is now unable to protect himself. It also means that besides King Dai, there is a more mysterious force that plots against us and King Dai at the same time."
"This kind of power can even plot against the King of Dai. You can imagine how terrifying it is, and the King of Dai has already encountered this. If you don't act with your tail between your legs, how can you still have time to plot against us?" Zhong Cui's voice said.
With a gloomy and awe-inspiring look, he was obviously very wary of this.
"So, the acting king should be excluded."
His own people and stronghold were destroyed after nightfall. Does King Dai really feel like this at this moment?
Besides, after years of infiltration, my own people have some manpower in various places. Although the palace has been cleaned up several times before, the people who were placed in it have been cleared out long ago, but the information obtained from other places can also be used.
It can be deduced that tonight, the Daiwang Mansion has too much time to take care of itself!
Cao Yiyan frowned slightly after hearing this. In his heart, he still put the threat of King Dai first.
He didn't know why he thought so, but he subconsciously felt that this matter was closely related to King Dai.
But what Zhong Cui said makes sense. What happened during the day was not only not a blessing, but also a great disaster for King Dai.
This matter could not have been done by King Dai himself, but it was not done by King Dai, nor by his own people. The information obtained through his people seems to have nothing to do with King Qi and King Shu, so who did it?
come out?
Who is the person behind it?
Could it be that this is really the work of a new force and has nothing to do with the King?
"Acting King?"
Cao Yiyan thought again, although he was unlucky, it was obvious that King Dai was even more unlucky. He only lost his stronghold in the capital, but King Dai might die immediately and be executed by the emperor!
He couldn't figure out who the person behind it was, but he didn't know why, even though he was in danger, he couldn't help but be secretly happy!
The death of so many people could not wash away this inexplicable joy. It seemed that only when King Dai died could he get rid of the heavy stone in his heart.
"Double stars invade the emperor's star." Cao Yiyan thought thoughtfully. Could it be that besides himself, there is another star that represents the king and competes with him for destiny?
Just as I was thinking about it, the sound of horse hooves came from outside again. Everyone in the room immediately changed their colors, stood up and held down the hilt of the knife.
The young eunuch had been guarding the door, and now he came in and reported: "There are Imperial Cavalry and even imperial cavalry passing by, but they are not looking for us!"
But this place was not far from the palace, and it was snowing at night. When Ti rode over, there were not two of them alone. Could it be that something big had happened?
"Let's go up and have a look." Out of worry, Cao Yiyan quickly went to the second floor, opened the window a little, and looked into the alley.
Sure enough, he saw knights riding horses one after another at extremely fast speeds, but the people passing by in a flash still allowed him to see their attire clearly!
It's Tiqi!
This shocked Cao Yiyan, and there were a few people hiding at the side doors outside. He came back after a while and reported to Cao Yiyan what had just happened.
"Is it really Tiqi? The leader is still the eunuch Ma Shunde? Did you read that right?"
"Sir, you are absolutely right, it must be Ma Shunde!" Liu Danai said. He has had good eyesight since he was a child and can see people fifty meters away. Even at night in the snow, the distance is shorter, so he can see clearly.
Cao Yiyan couldn't help but think to himself, it was so late, and where was Ma Shunde going with Tiqi in such a hurry?
On your own side?
Except for a few secrets, all the strongholds on our side have been removed, so we don't need Ma Shunde to lead the team. Could it be...
Cao Yiyan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he thought of a possibility.
Liang Mansion
"It's not easy to be in the capital!" Liang Yuyin saw the person off at the door. A cloud of cold wind carrying snow immediately came in, making the person shiver. He watched the person walking away and sighed.
"Husband, you borrowed another fifty taels of silver. Even if you support your descendants, it won't be like this?" Mrs. Liang Qian then stepped forward to close the door and complained.
"There is no way around it. I am a bachelor's degree student from the fifth rank, but my annual salary is only one hundred and twenty-four taels, six cents and five cents, while the minimum annual expenditure for a Beijing official is three hundred taels, and my annual overdraft is two hundred taels.
One hundred taels, these new Jinshi, seven or eight grades of treatment, how can those with poor families endure it?"
"Borrow it if you can!"
The officials in the capital were so poor that they "couldn't lift fire." Liang Yuyin understood this deeply. Seeing Liang Qian's disapproval, he touched a chubby big civet cat coming out of the wing and said, "You didn't know the key!"
"
"In any case, they are new Jinshi. They have been in power for two years, and at the worst, they were sent to the county magistrate. How can they not pay back the money they owe me?"
"Besides, if you become a official, even if you are a county magistrate, you will have an honest bankroll. How can you afford to be so poor?"
"Speaking of Yanglian Yin, why do the seventh-grade county magistrates have it, but you don't?" Liang Qian said dissatisfied: "Don't you need to Yanglian?"
The reason why Liang Yuyin was able to own a small house in Qingsheng Lane, two or three miles away from the imperial palace, had nothing to do with his family background. He was from an official family, but he was only a local official and could not reach the capital. This house was a gift from his wife's family.
Despite this, no one thinks it's too much money, and Madam is very dissatisfied.
"You are just a woman's opinion. Do you know what raising an honest banknote is all about reputation?" Liang Yuyin couldn't laugh or cry: "Like the vulgar people in the folk, you think raising a trustworthy banknote is to train officials to be honest and avoid corruption with a high salary?"
"How can the imperial court provide ten to a hundred times the official salary to an individual?"
"In the government yamen, only officials and official officials are given salaries and are supported by the court. Other staff, accountants, coachmen, etc., and even some yamen servants are not given salaries, but these are indispensable."
"To maintain the operation of the government, officials must find ways to obtain expenses, money, money, ice, and filial piety. It is not direct corruption, but it is really necessary. Therefore, the emperor also recognized that the process often becomes an excuse for corruption."
"The so-called "Integrity-raising Silver" is not meant to be used as a personal fund for officials, but rather that officials should not engage in such activities as "fire, envy, charcoal, and filial piety." The government directly allocates office expenses and is not allowed to use the excuse to engage in corruption, so it is called "Yang-Integrity Silver."
"Why is it that the salary of raising an honest silver is usually ten times or a hundred times, and it is only available to upright officials? It is because upright officials only support the yamen, and deputy and minor officials do not need to support the yamen. So even if I am from the fifth rank, and I am not a regular official, I do not raise the honest silver!"
"Raising the Integrity Bank is an office expense. Ordinary people don't understand it. You are the daughter of the Minister of Rites. You don't understand this. Didn't you hear what your father and brother said?"
After Liang Yuyin finished speaking, he saw his wife's expression of "I haven't heard of it" and "How can this be allowed (disapproval)", sighed and waved her hand: "What am I telling you? Women are women!"
After saying this, Liang Yuyin entered the study, took a long box, took out a scroll, and slowly unfolded it.
This is a painting of "Dragon Girl's Frame". It depicts Panlong Lake. Someone is watching. The lake is covered with clouds and mist, and there are all the gods accompanying them. Their clothes and belts are swaying. There is a dragon girl in the middle. The clouds and wind ring are just dragons.
The women frowned and seemed unhappy.
"The dragon girl is the dragon king, what's the worry?" Liang Yuyin carefully appreciated that he and Dai Wang were still classmates in theory, but one was the number one scholar and the other was the second.
As soon as he was appointed as an official, he became the editor of the Hanlin Academy, with a rank of seven, which was not bad. Moreover, because of his youth, he was able to marry the youngest daughter of Qian Wei, the Minister of Rites, known as the Minister of Rites, and he felt very proud.
"With my father-in-law as the backstage, with my talents, why should I worry about my career not going smoothly?"
Sure enough, within a few years, I had been promoted several levels, from an official position to a bachelor's degree. How could the number one scholar be as good as mine?
Unexpectedly, Su Ziji suddenly became a prince, a royal nobleman, the son of a dragon, and his grandson. He wanted to have a relationship, but he couldn't help but feel ashamed for a while.
"When you are an official, you can't be pretentious."
Liang Yuyin was also a little proud when he thought that he had overcome his shame and managed to get the calligraphy treasure at the party based on his friendship with the same year.
"My background is not as good as yours, but I am good at dancing, but you are not as good as me."
At this time, the wife came in with the hot meals, took them off the tray and arranged them all, and said, "Husband, do you know that something big happened today?"
"Oh? What's the matter?" Liang Yuyin asked casually, still very satisfied with his wife. The youngest daughter of the Minister of Etiquette was originally the eldest lady, but after getting married, she still made soup with her own hands, and was virtuous.
Liang Qianshi said: "During the day, Dai Wang went to the palace of the Minister to see something. As a result, the god showed his holiness and saluted the Dai Wang! I heard that there was also a dragon that jumped directly into the arms of Dai Wang. Husband, you say,
If the Emperor knew that Dai Wang was like this, he would definitely pay more attention to it, right?"
She wanted to say something else, but she saw her husband's expression suddenly changed!
"Stop talking nonsense!" Liang Hanlin immediately scolded him, rarely speaking harshly for the first time. After saying that, he looked at the scroll, his face changing.
This is the calligraphy treasure of the acting king that I just asked for not long ago!
It’s not warm yet!
Finally, he unfolded it and looked at it again and again. Looking at the paintings and calligraphy on it, he couldn't help but sigh: "Poetry, calligraphy and painting can be called the three greatest things."
After admiring it, he put it directly on the candle flame. Suddenly, the green fire flourished and a corner of it was lit.