There are countless kingdoms in the Western Region, and anyone who can occupy a city in the Western Region can have the title of king on his head.
Because of this, countless kingdoms were destroyed in the Western Regions.
Maybe the country will be founded today and destroyed tomorrow.
Therefore, the Western Region is a hell on earth for good people and a paradise for evil people.
Zhang Yuansheng was a person who lived in the Western Regions. Kou Ji threw him there. It was only natural that he could make some noise in the Western Regions.
Kou Ji did not continue discussing with Liu Heng because of Zhang Yuan's matter.
The soldiers and horses in Zhang Yuan's hands were controlled by the leader of the horse patrol who was most loyal to Kou Ji.
Zhang Yuan's own head is controlled by Yu You.
Zhang Yuan's weakness is controlled by Kou Zhong.
Kou Ji didn't think that under such shackles, Zhang Yuan would be able to do anything detrimental to him after he became powerful.
"I'm looking for you this time because I need your help with something."
Liu Heng heard Kou Ji mention the purpose of finding him back, and immediately asked solemnly: "What's the matter?"
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "During your absence for more than half a year, many things happened in Bianjing City, and everything was weird. The people in my house couldn't find any useful information, so I need you to help me check it out.
"
Hearing this, Liu Heng nodded without hesitation and said: "Okay, tell me how to investigate and who to investigate. I will ask people from the Imperial City Department to help you investigate later."
Kou Ji shook his head and said, "We can't use people from the Imperial City Department this time."
Liu Heng was stunned and said in astonishment: "Could it be that you want to investigate my aunt?"
Kou Ji shook his head and said: "That's not true. I want to check on Guo Huai who is next to your aunt. But Guo Huai is your aunt's confidant. Checking him will inevitably arouse your aunt's suspicion.
So we have to send out manpower."
Liu Heng nodded and said: "That's okay. If you want to check on my aunt, my father will know about it and may not agree. He might catch me and beat me severely. It would be easier to just check on Guo Huai."
I didn't stay in the Imperial City Division for long, but I also recruited some people who were not named in the Imperial City Division.
If they take action and keep an eye on Guo Huai, they will definitely be able to find out Guo Huai's movements."
Kou Ji nodded and said: "That's good... In addition to Guo Huai, you can send some more people to help me keep an eye on the Eighth Prince's Mansion."
"Zhao Yuanyan?"
"good."
"What did he do?"
Liu Heng asked.
Kou Ji said quietly: "I haven't done it yet. I can't say for sure in the future... Recently, he has taken advantage of the turmoil in the court to win over many officials."
Liu Heng clucked his lips and said: "He is a prince, and he has gathered so many officials... zizizi..."
"There is one more person!"
"who?!"
Kou Ji said loudly: "Wang Qinruo!"
Liu Heng said in shock: "Wang Libu, has he offended you?"
Kou Ji shook his head, "A lot of things have happened in the court recently, but he is too quiet. So quiet that it feels abnormal."
Liu Heng said doubtfully: "Wouldn't it be nice if Wang Qinruo didn't have to find trouble for you?"
Kou Ji sneered and said: "That's good, that's good, but a person who often makes trouble for you suddenly stops making trouble. Do you think this is reasonable?"
Liu Heng shook his head decisively, "It's unreasonable and inconsistent with his character."
"Then it won't end..."
Kou Ji rolled his eyes and said to Liu Heng again: "I won't keep you. Go back quickly, arrange your people quickly, and help me find out these people."
Liu Heng didn't bother much, so he just forced Kou Ji to reminisce with Kou Ji.
Immediately.
He had people carry him out of the Kou Mansion, and began to follow Kou Ji's instructions to send people to keep an eye on Guo Huai, Wang Qinruo, and the Eighth Prince's Mansion.
I stared at him for more than half a month.
period.
Liu Heng also sent people to send a lot of news to Kou Ji.
Except for the specific list of personnel recruited by the Eighth Prince's Mansion, the other things found by Liu Heng's people and the people in Kou's Mansion were the same.
When Liu Heng handed Kou Ji the list of people recruited by the Eighth Prince's Mansion.
Kou Ji glanced at it roughly and threw it aside.
on the list.
In addition to Wang Qinruo and Li Zhen, who were considered to be important ministers of the imperial court, there were also two fourth-rank officials who had been transferred from Shaofu Supervisor to other yamen and could be in Kou Ji's eyes.
The rest are almost all rotten fish and shrimps.
They are not enough to cause any disturbance in the court.
After more than half a month of rest, Liu Heng had recovered as before. He sat on the chair next to Kou Ji, and while eating the fruits on the table, he asked Kou Ji, "Fourth brother, are your worries a bit unnecessary?
Except that Guo Huai went too far in forcing Cao Yong, there was no other difference. The Eighth Prince's Mansion recruited some officials, but they were all losers in the court.
If you and I take action, we can trick many of them to death.
Wang Qinruo didn't show anything inappropriate except for walking diligently to the Eighth Prince's Mansion."
Kou Ji sat next to Liu Heng with a thoughtful look on his face. He heard Liu Heng's words, but did not answer.
In Liu Heng's eyes, everything seemed to be fine.
But in Kou Ji's eyes, that was a big problem.
What is a court?
The court is a meat grinding ground full of various interests.
Every moment, every minute and every second.
There will be fierce fights among courtiers for certain interests.
If there wasn't much fighting, it would be abnormal.
Especially Wang Qinruo.
This person started his career by exploiting his business. Ever since he became an official, he has used various methods of exploiting his business.
Now Kou Zhun and the others are in trouble with the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, as well as the emperor's relatives and relatives because of the abolition of the Shaofu Supervisor and the issue of the general prisoner.
According to Wang Qinruo's temperament, this moment was the best time for him to win over officials and relatives of the emperor, but he did nothing.
If it were said that he had taken refuge in Zhao Yuanyan, was helping Zhao Yuanyan plan, and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to seek greater benefits, that would be wrong.
Judging from the list sent by Liu Heng, most of the people Wang Qinruo helped Zhao Yuanyan win over were small fish and shrimps.
On the contrary, it was Li Zhen who took action and helped Zhao Yuanyan win over two important fourth-rank ministers.
Kou Ji didn't believe that with Wang Qinruo's prestige and means, he would be worse than Li Zhen.
There is something strange about Wang Qinruo.
But neither he nor Liu Heng found anything.
It was also difficult for him to explain to Liu Heng.
"That's all... If we can't find out, we won't do it... The official wedding is coming soon... The official wedding is a big deal... After the official wedding, we can check Wang Qinruo carefully..."
Kou Ji then sighed.
Liu Heng nodded in agreement and said, "Marriage in the official family is naturally a first-class event. I heard that the official family ordered your grandfather to witness the marriage. Do you praise it?"
Kou Ji shook his head and said with a smile: "Maybe it's because I'm young and have a loud voice. When an official gets married, he has to shout for a day. The other important ministers in the court are too old to do it.
He is young and his status is not high enough."
Liu Heng said with a smile: "Now people in Bianjing are saying that you and your grandson have been favored by the official family. Some people say that after your grandfather resigns, you will enter the inner court and become a
The next Kou Gong."
Kou Ji was stunned and said quietly: "These words obviously have bad intentions. This is to praise and kill our ancestors and grandchildren, which is not a good thing."
Liu Heng was stunned for a moment, then said thoughtfully: "How about I send someone to check?"
Kou Ji pondered for a moment, "They are just a small group of people, not worthy of raising an army. If they really have the ability to move to our ancestors and grandchildren, they should come to Kou's house and point their noses at them."
Liu Heng looked Kou Ji up and down and said with emotion: "Fourth brother, your official power is getting stronger and stronger. Now you talk like those old men in the court."
Kou Ji straightened his clothes and said calmly: "I am now considered an important minister in the court and hold great power."
"Yes, yes!"
"..."
The next day.
Kou Ji left behind some trivial chores, put on court clothes, and entered the palace.
When Zhao Zhen was getting married, all the relatives of the emperor, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, envoys from various countries, and even some elderly people among the people came to the palace to watch.
So I started preparing a month in advance.
At the same time, drills should be started one month in advance.
As a praise singer, Kou Ji naturally had to accompany the officials of the Ministry of Rites, as well as the maids and eunuchs in the palace to practice.
The place where Zhao Zhen got married was in Yanfu Palace.
The reason why I chose Yanbokgung Palace is because the space in Yanbokgung Palace is large enough to accommodate all the people watching the ceremony.
After Kou Ji arrived at Yanfu Palace, he saw eunuchs, palace maids, and officials from the Ministry of Rites busy around.
Kou Zhun sat on a seat in the palace and dozed off.
Kou Ji walked over in small steps, took off his coat, and covered Kou Zhun with it.
Then he found officials from the Ministry of Rites and accompanied them to discuss the regulations of Zhao Zhen's wedding.
During Kou Ji's wedding, Zhao Zhen tried his best to help Kou Ji gain respect.
Kou Ji naturally couldn't work as a foreigner when Zhao Zhen was getting married.
Kou Ji accompanied the officials of the Ministry of Etiquette to chat for a long time about the wedding regulations and optimized some details.
Kou Zhun woke up.
After waking up, he looked at Kou Ji running around in underwear. He frowned and felt something pressing on his body. When he looked down, he saw Kou Ji's vermilion official uniform, and his heart felt warm again.
"Smelly boy..."
Kou Zhun cursed Kou Ji, but he held Kou Ji's official uniform tightly in his hands.
He forcefully used Kou Ji's vermilion official uniform to cover his more noble purple official uniform, and the pride on his face was undisguised.
If the eunuchs and concubines around him could be replaced by the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, he might not be able to open his mouth and say a faint word.
"My grandson...filial piety..."
"Master Kou, are you awake? Shouldn't it be time for us to practice?"
Chen Lin didn't know when she appeared next to Kou Zhun, bowed her waist and whispered something.
Kou Zhun hummed in a neutral tone.
The reason why Zhao Zhen's wedding procedures have not been rehearsed is because everyone in Yanfu Palace is waiting for Kou Zhun to wake up.
When Grand Master Kou was in charge of government in the palace, he worked hard day and night, often until midnight, and everyone in and outside the palace knew about it.
If he fell asleep, he was really tired.
I once missed the morning court because Grand Master Kou was too asleep.
The civil and military officials of the entire dynasty, including the official Zhao Zhen, waited until he woke up before going to court.
No one in the government or the public had any complaints about this.
Even if someone disagrees with Kou Zhun's politics.
Even if someone has a grudge against Kou Zhun.
…
Because this is respect for an old minister who has worked hard for the country.
Respecting veterans was the tone set by the Taizu and Taizong dynasties.
It is still used today.
When Kou Ji saw that Kou Zhun was awake, he quickly dropped what he was doing and walked to Kou Zhun's side, "Grandpa..."
Kou Zhun nodded, handed the official uniform in his hand to Kou Ji, and reminded: "Autumn has entered, and the weather is getting cold. Remember to wear more clothes... If you want to give me something to keep out the cold, you can ask Chen Lin for it.
.”
Kou Ji took over the official uniform, nodded and said, "My grandson has taken note of it and will ask Chen Lin for it."
Kou Zhun nodded with satisfaction and told Chen Lin beside him, "Let's get started..."
Chen Lin agreed and immediately asked the officials of the Ministry of Rites, eunuchs, and palace ladies to start the drill.
Kou Zhun's grandfather and grandson cooperated with them in practicing.
The regulations for Zhao Zhen's wedding are very complicated.
I only practiced once and most of the day passed.
After correcting the discovered problems, it was already evening.
Kou Zhun left Kou Ji behind and had a meal with him in the palace.
After eating.
Kou Zhunping stepped back, stared at Kou Ji and asked, "Do you have any suggestions for the queen?"
Kou Ji pondered for a moment and asked, "Why did my grandfather ask this question? Did someone tell you something?"
Kou Zhun rolled his eyes, "From the time you entered the palace and met the official family, and after you left the palace, the Cao family began to donate money without hesitation, I knew that you were dishonest."
Kou Ji smiled dryly and said, "The Queen Mother likes Guo's daughter, and the officials like Zhang's daughter. They had different opinions, so my grandson gave the officials some advice. Grandpa, don't you think it's inappropriate?"
Kou Zhun stroked his beard and said calmly: "There is nothing wrong... You can choose Cao's daughter among many women, which shows that you have good taste. Because I, Wang Zeng, and Li Di also like Cao
daughter."
Kou Ji pondered: "You three, also want to intervene in the selection of the queen?"
Kou Zhun nodded, then shook his head.
Kou Ji looked at Kou Zhun in confusion.
Kou Zhun explained: "Originally I was planning to intervene, but after knowing that you intervened, the three of me were no longer prepared to intervene."
Kou Ji thought about Kou Zhun's words and asked tentatively: "The reason why the three of you want to intervene in the selection of the queen is to prepare for the dismantling of the Xiang army in the hinterland of the Central Plains?"
Kou Zhun nodded slowly and said bluntly: "After the official wedding, I will prepare to attack the Xiang army in the hinterland of the Central Plains. Giving the Cao family a rear position is also to appease Wu Xun.
Now that you have done it for me and the three of you, I can save the effort."
Kou Ji smiled knowingly, "That's good..."
Kou Zhun laughed and scolded: "What a fart! Stop interfering in palace affairs from now on."
"It's just this once, it won't happen next time..."
"Get out of here..."
"My grandson is resigning..."
Kou Ji left the palace with joy, and as soon as he went out, he bumped into Chen Lin's dead face.
Kou Ji looked at Chen Lin carefully and asked doubtfully: "Waiting for me?"
Chen Lin glanced at Kou Ji and said in a very low voice: "There is something that, after much thought, our family thinks we should tell you."
"What's the matter?"
"The equipment supervisor is missing two people..."
"Um?!"
"Went to the Eighth Prince's Mansion..."
A moment.
The joy on Kou Ji's face disappeared, and his whole body became cold.