To be honest, Jia Cong is really not interested in attending the so-called gathering of top dignitaries.
It's just that Lian Er's kindness was too great to refuse, so he had no choice but to go along with him to see the world.
Unexpectedly, Lian Er arrived first, and in the main hall of the fifth-largest mansion in the capital, except for the serving maids, no so-called top nobles were present.
What made Jia Cong even more disdainful was that Lian Er took the initiative to sit on a chair by the door, and with a smile on his face, he invited him to sit down and wait.
"Brother Lian, your status is too low, isn't it?"
Jia Cong didn't think it was anything. He just pulled a chair to the side and sat down. He smiled and joked: "Looking at your high-spirited look before, I thought you had such a high status here. After all, you are a dignified third-grade scholar."
You are a member of the Communist Party of China, and your life is too miserable, right?"
"What do you know, kid?"
Lian Er rolled his eyes and said with some embarrassment: "The other members are all noble family heads who have inherited the title. I am the only one..."
"Tsk, tsk, it seems that Brother Lian has some ideas about the title of the family!"
Jia Cong chuckled and said, "How about I ask the master for you?"
Although he was interrupted, Lian Er didn't care. He was quite moved when he heard the words, and finally shook his head: "Forget it, it's not easy for the master..."
"It's not easy for anyone!"
Suddenly a loud voice came from the door, and Jia Cong looked at Niu Jizong, a first-class uncle with a majestic stature, no shorter than him, the Minister of War and a member of the cabinet.
Lian Er hurriedly motioned for Jia Cong to get up and said with a smile: "Uncle Niu came very early, it was just a chat between my third brother and I..."
As he spoke, he pointed at Jia Cong beside him and introduced: "This is my third brother!"
"I've never met the famous 'Cong Sanshao' in the capital before!"
Niu Jizong laughed loudly and walked towards him, like a black bear approaching, full of pressure. His big hand with a cattail leaf fan suddenly slapped Jia Cong on the shoulder, hehe said: "You kid, you can do it. The book I wrote before has been exhausted."
Limelight!"
Jia Cong remained motionless and said calmly: "Great Sima Miao, I just have a talent for writing ideas, and I can't get into the elegant hall!"
Da Sima is another name for the Minister of the Ministry of War. It is said that the guy Jia Yucun in the original Red Mansion seems to have become the Minister of the Ministry of War. It seems that the Xungui Group was defeated very simply in the later period of the Red Mansion.
As for Niu Jizong's probing slap just now, it has some hints of martial arts and Ming Jin. As for whether this guy has reached the level of Ming Jin, it's hard to say.
"Okay, okay, you are very good!"
Feeling the shock and pain in his palm, Niu Jizong's eyes flashed and he said hello repeatedly, turned his head and said, "Your brother is really good!"
Unfortunately, most of Rongfu's connections in the military were inherited by Prince Tengnasi.
Otherwise, given that Jia Cong is less than sixteen and has such a tall and strong body, he is definitely good material for joining the army.
As for Wang Ziteng, he was not a top member of the nobility. He was also very ambitious and wanted to be the leader of the nobility. He was never liked by Niu Jizong and others.
Lian Er was overjoyed and nodded in agreement, as if Niu Jizong's praise was as good as today's golden words.
Jia Cong naturally looked calm as usual and sat down on the chair without paying too much attention. It was hard to say whether there would be a chance to meet him in the future. Why was he so excited?
Besides, judging from the subsequent plot of Red Mansions, it is obvious that Niu Jizong, an honorable leader, is not very qualified, so naturally there is no need to pay too much attention to it.
His reaction was all seen quietly by Niu Jizong, who frowned slightly with his thick eyebrows. He felt that Jia Cong's attitude was too bland, and it was really a bit baffling.
Of course, he didn't pay too much attention to it, he was just a concubine of Rong Mansion.
Having the opportunity to participate in a gathering of top nobles in the capital is definitely a rare opportunity for this guy. The noble family heads who have inherited the title will not take it too seriously.
To put it bluntly, as Jia Cong modestly put it, the family is not an elegant place at all!
With the arrival of Niu Jizong, other top nobles appeared one after another.
It is recorded that the grandson of Liu Biao, the duke of Youli, is now the first-rank son Liu Fang, the grandson of Chen Yi, the duke of Qi, is hereditary general Chen Ruiwen of the third rank of Weizhen, the grandson of Ma Kui, the grand master of the country, is hereditary general Ma Shang of the third rank Weiyuan, and the grandson of Xiuguo Gong Hou Ming is hereditary first rank.
Waiting for the son Hou Xiaokang; Shi Guangzhu, the hereditary third-class general and grandson of the Duke of Jiu.
Tsk tsk...
Looking at the titles of these guys, except for Niu Jizong, who can be regarded as a high noble, the rest, except for the two viscounts Liu Fang and Hou Xiaokang, are not even as high as the lord.
The titles of these guys are almost over, and they don’t know how they can have the honor to represent the top nobles in the capital?
Of course, the legacy of the Eighth Founders has been preserved. Although the titles of the grandsons are appallingly low, the resources and power at hand are still quite astonishing.
At least, if the Duke's plaque at the door of the Eighth Duke's residence has not been removed, they can still show off and proclaim their Duke's family status to the outside world.
Every time someone came in, Lian Er took the initiative to stand up and greet them, and then warmly introduced Jia Cong to them.
The eight founding fathers are old friends, so even if the relationship between the grandchildren is normal, they still have to show respect on the surface.
Lian Er's status at this time is not ordinary. Who knows if he will be able to enter the cabinet in the future?
These noble family heads with various titles on their bodies were all smiling and polite, praising Jia Cong for his tallness and his ancestral style.
But, that’s it!
Jia Cong could clearly feel the indifference of these guys beneath their surface politeness, and they obviously didn't like him as a bastard and his so-called family.
Tsk…
It was just for Lian Er's sake, otherwise he would have said goodbye and left long ago.
They are just a bunch of prodigal toys, what is there to be proud of?
Since these guys are so arrogant, Jia Cong naturally has no intention of participating. He doesn't like to put his hot face against his cold butt.
"We are going to discuss important matters next. Third brother, please listen carefully!"
Lian Er obviously didn't notice this. The red light on his face never faded after Niu Jizong entered the door. He was obviously either excited or excited.
Damn, I don’t know what this guy is thinking about?
As a result, Jia Cong was greatly disappointed...
What nonsense is there to discuss important matters? It’s just a small talk for a while, gossip about each family, and the emphasis is on the ‘excellence’ of the children of each family.
After half an hour, we started talking about the real thing: how to deal with today's suppression?
In other words, even if Jia Cong's actions were a bit shocking and attracted some of today's attention to Buddhist fields and temple properties, he still did not forget to cause trouble for the Xungui Group. This is the established strategy for controlling the court today.
Listen to what the so-called top nobles in front of you have to say. It's just a cliche saying that you should be careful not to be caught by the current situation. As for the rest, there is nothing else.
With such a passive response strategy, it is no wonder that in the later stages of the original Red Mansion novel, after the emperor died, the Xungui Group was completely defeated and even lost its last fortress, the military headquarters.
Don't talk about the Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies, which is the specific execution and command organization of the army. Although the Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies is of extremely high rank and holds the most substantial military power, he is not qualified to enter the cabinet.
In other words, after losing the Minister of War as a natural cabinet member, the military attache group represented by the Xungui Group has lost its right to speak in the court.
Without the right to speak, if you refer to the real history of the Northern Song Dynasty and the middle and late Ming Dynasty, you will know how miserable the Xungui Group was.
In today's confusing time, what the Xungui Group should do most is to proactively fight back instead of passively supporting.
When it comes to power struggles in the court, even if the so-called top nobles are rich in resources, they may not be as capable as those old foxes in the civil service group.
such a pity……
As a junior, not to mention Jia Cong, a mere scholar, even Lian Er, who has become a third-rank official, can only listen obediently.
It's just that what you said is more constructive. Don't always say vague words and clichés that only make people think about it, okay?
Lian Er listened carefully and even seemed to be interested in the idea. On the surface, Jia Cong was sitting upright, but in fact, he had already wandered away.
It is said that the Eighth Prince family of the founding of the country still has some foundation. Such a blatant gathering can actually ensure that there are no palace guards lurking in and eavesdropping within ten feet of the surrounding area.
Moreover, there are experts with long breathing lurking in the corners of the room, on the roof, and in the lush trees outside, monitoring everything.
As for why Jia Cong is sure that these masters are all from the Eight Dukes' family who founded the country?
With Jia Cong's keen sense, how could he not notice that most of these guys were lurking around after the so-called top nobles came in?
As he has the responsibility to monitor all around him, he also has the responsibility to protect the safety of his own boss!
The clichéd rhetoric obviously made Niu Jizong, who was presiding over the meeting, quite helpless and dissatisfied. He kept repeating these words over and over again. Without any fresh suggestions, what was the point of the gathering? What was the point of gathering together to chat and spank?
Rarely, he glanced at the two brothers Lian Er and Jia Cong who were sitting closest to the door, and when the conversation stopped, he suddenly said: "Lian Er, and brother Cong, you can tell me what you think."
What!"
The other family heads were stunned at first, and then they all spoke in agreement, but the disapproval in their eyes should not be too clear.
Lian Eryi was a little at a loss for a moment, and said dryly: "My nephew thinks all your uncles' suggestions are good, but I don't have any ideas!"
After saying that, he pointed at Jia Cong and said with a smile: "But my third brother has loved reading since he was a child. He may have other ideas!"
He urged: "Third brother, if you have any ideas, just speak up!"
Such a move was naturally well-intentioned, as it was an idea to show Jia Cong in front of a group of top nobles.
"I think you are all talking nonsense!"
This shocking statement immediately stunned the top dignitaries present and Lian Er next to him, and the atmosphere in the room fell into an awkward silence for a moment.
"I don't know what it means, but a child with a yellow mouth is talking too much!"
Suddenly, Hou Xiaokang, the grandson of Duke Xiu Ming and a hereditary first-class son, roared and pointed at Jia Cong with an evil look on his face...