Chapter 618 The Last Insider
Liao Chen was not only half the late emperor's imperial tutor, but also had a high reputation among the scholars. The late emperor had been quite reckless for a while, but it was Liao Chen's persuasion that made him restrain himself.
This was also the beginning of Liao Chen's fame in the world of scholars.
When the late emperor was about to lead an expedition in person against Prince Ning, it was Liao Chen who advised him against it. Although his advice was futile, his reputation for being upright grew even greater.
When Emperor Jiajing ascended the throne, Liao Chen did not say he would stay in office, but resolutely resigned. The court tried to retain him according to convention, but Liao Chen refused without hesitation.
Isn't this just treating fame, wealth and power as dirt?
This series of operations made Liao Chen so famous that he still maintained his influence after retirement.
At this moment, Liao Chen's eyes were full of anger, which then slowly dissipated. Seeing his daughter was confused, he drank a sip of tea and sighed, "Everyone says that Jiang Qingzhi's hostility to Confucianism is like hitting a rock with an egg. But he continued to expand under the siege of Confucianism. Wang Yiqi, Jiang Hua, and even Xiong Jia of the Ministry of Personnel, three of the six ministries, can Yan Song have such power?"
Liao: "Dad, those people just have a good impression of him."
"Many times, goodwill means standing in line. You don't understand, and neither do those idiots." Liao Chen said sarcastically, "Jiang Qingzhi, who controls three of the six ministries, is actually regarded by you as a weakling against a rock."
"But Confucianism is so powerful!"
"Powerful? There is a god behind Jiang Qingzhi." Liao Chen said calmly: "His cousin, the current emperor!"
Liao was stunned. "Didn't they say... that the world belongs to the scholars? The emperor... the emperor is just a decoration."
"Yang Tinghe also saw it this way, and eventually fell from power. His son Yang Shen also saw it this way, and now he is stuck in Yunnan and cannot return home." Liao Chen looked at his daughter. "The fight between Jiang Qingzhi and Lu Song seemed fierce, but everyone overlooked one thing..."
Liao Chen coughed dryly. "The condition that Lu Song offered on the spot was not to suppress the Mohist school. Do you know why?"
"Could it be that Lu Song also has a good impression of Jiang Qingzhi and the Mohist School?" Liao was not only in charge of the affairs of the Marquis' Mansion, but also involved in many external affairs, so she would come home from time to time to ask Liao Chen for advice.
"No." Liao Chen shook his head and said with a tone of regret and sigh: "Lü Song was afraid of Jiang Qingzhi, so he left some room for him."
"Lu Song...you praised him highly at the beginning, saying that he had the talent to be a prime minister. How could he be afraid of Jiang Qingzhi?" Liao couldn't believe it.
"After the Mohist School came into being, I met Lü Song. When he mentioned the Mohist School, his disgust was evident in his words. If there was a chance to suppress the Mohist School, he would not hesitate at all. But he hesitated this time."
Liao Chen sighed, "Fool, fool, do you still understand now? Jiang Qingzhi was besieged by Confucianists, but he always managed to strike back in desperate situations. Lu Song saw this, so he left room for maneuver in the bet."
"Then with me..." Liao's expression suddenly changed.
"Your husband doesn't have much real power. Can he be compared with Lu Song?"
Although very reluctant, Liao still shook his head, "Not even close."
"Even the powerful Lu Song was afraid of Jiang Qingzhi, so he had to leave some room for maneuver when dealing with him. How could you, a woman with little real power, have the courage to make an enemy of Jiang Qingzhi?"
The more Liao Chen thought about it, the angrier he got. "Jiang Qingzhi's words weren't a threat, they were a reminder to you, you idiot. Tell me, what did he ask?"
"Dad, I just want to ask you... I just want to know where we knew that Zhu Shitai had a hidden illness." Liao had never seen her father so serious before, and she trembled a little.
"You didn't say?" Liao Chen stared at his daughter.
"without!"
"Just for a piece of information, you chose to make an enemy of Jiang Qingzhi?" Liao Chen looked around.
The old man was a representative figure of corporal punishment in his time. He used a stick to teach his children and grandchildren, and sometimes even beat his daughter.
Liao was panicked, "Dad, Dad..."
"Go!" Liao Chen didn't find anything suitable, so he pointed outside and cursed: "If you don't want to create such a big enemy for your family, go and apologize!"
"Dad, that... that... you've lost face." Liao stood up, feeling unwilling, and saw her father was about to throw the teacup. "I'll go right away, right away!"
After Liao left, Liao Chen's anger seemed to have never disappeared.
The housekeeper then said, "My dear, why should the Marquis' Mansion bow to Jiang Qingzhi?"
Liao Chen's eyes were filled with gloom. "I have been in the government for many years, and I have also attracted attention beside the late emperor. How could I escape unscathed?"
The housekeeper said, "It is due to your virtue."
"What a bullshit morality." Liao Chen said disdainfully: "I am the one who knows the current situation. Jiang Qingzhi seems to be under siege by Confucianists at the moment, but don't forget your majesty."
"If everyone attacks, can Your Majesty still resist?" The housekeeper said with a smile, "If he could resist it back then, why did he let Yan Song stand in front of him?"
"What if Altan goes south? What if the Japanese pirates are rampant in the southeast?" Liao Chen shook his head. "Jiang Qingzhi's greatest reliance has never been the Mohist school, but... his status as the most famous general of the Ming Dynasty!"
"The most famous general of the Ming Dynasty?"
"As the saying goes, when the birds are gone, the good bows are put away. Even if Jiang Qingzhi and the Mohist School are in danger, Your Majesty only needs to do one thing..."
Liao Chen pointed to the north and said, "Start the war!"
Using war to resolve contradictions and conflicts is an eternal method.
"Then... do you want to interact with Jiang Qingzhi?" asked the butler.
"I am a disciple of Confucianism. Confucianism and Mohism cannot coexist." Liao Chen took a sip of tea, and his old eyes were full of deep light. "But why do many things have to be tense? This is what the saying "gentle rain moistens everything" means."
This was the old man’s secret skill that allowed him to navigate the political world without falling.
Conspirators like to show goodwill to their opponents first, and then look for an opportunity to launch a fierce attack.
Most of the time, Liao Chen would choose to attack silently, so that his opponent would get into trouble and think that someone else did it.
"Then you ask the lady to apologize..."
"Damn Jiang Qingzhi." Liao Chen stood up. "The current situation is turbulent. I have been retired for many years. It is time for me to do something for the Liao family!"
……
"Something seems to be wrong with Qingzhi today."
When the Duke's wife learned that Jiang Qingzhi and Liao had fallen out, she was puzzled, "Somewhat impulsive and reckless."
"You think so too?" The couple looked at each other, both feeling that something was wrong with Jiang Qingzhi today.
Jiang Qingzhi is in the palace at this moment.
Yan San still looked cold and icy. Jiang Qingzhi was a little curious, "Why do you live in the palace?"
A person must have a goal in life, right?
Even if this goal sounds a bit ridiculous or funny.
Not even worth mentioning.
But you always have to give yourself a goal, otherwise your life will be like that of a walking corpse.
"Protect the emperor." Yan San patted the wooden pillar, with memories in his eyes, "When the late emperor was alive, he said that one day he would lead his army to attack the Hu. Who knew..."
"I came here for this very reason." Jiang Qingzhi said. Suddenly, Yan San's eyes turned fierce. "Did Lord Chang Wei find anything?"
"You lose your composure when the late emperor is mentioned." Jiang Qingzhi took out the medicinal cigarette.
"The death of the late emperor is a shame for our Yanqi. If we don't find out those people behind this and kill them, we won't be able to face the late emperor after we die!" Yan San's eyes were bloodshot, "Who is it?"
"The last time we tortured Wang Fa, he confessed that only two people knew about the late emperor's plan to board the ship, and one of them was Liao Chen!"
Jiang Qingzhi lit the incense and took a deep breath. How could he be so unreasonable and mad at Liao?
Are you trying to make an enemy of me?
These words are naked contempt and oppression.
The temperament of people like Liao is written all over their faces; they are arrogant and domineering. Once they are looked down upon and bullied, they will definitely turn hostile.
What Jiang Qingzhi wanted was for her to turn against him.
"Has Long Wilbur found a clue?" Yan San clenched his fists.
Jiang Qingzhi shook his head. Just when Yan San was disappointed, he said, "How is the investigation going for Yan Qi these days?"
"Liao Chenhua did not hold back, and the other man is now old and frail and can't stand the torture." Yan San was a little anxious.
As time passed, those who knew about the incident and participated in it passed away one after another. If no clues were found, the death of the late emperor would most likely become an unsolved case.
"I just had a falling out with Liao Chen's daughter."
Jiang Qingzhi exhaled smoke, and Yan San's eyes lit up, "Can it be used?"
"We've made enemies!"
"it is good!"
Yan San's thin face showed more joy, "I can use this opportunity to get in the way!"
This is exactly what Jiang Qingzhi intended.
"Leave this matter to me, Yan Qi." Yan San's eyes were bright.
The Taoist priest told Jiang Qingzhi to use his brain and Yanqi to do the hard work, which made the Yanqi people quite dissatisfied.
"inappropriate!"
"Why?"
"Go out and ask someone." Jiang Qingzhi pointed at Yan San's face, "Let them guess who you are."
"What's wrong?" Yan San touched his face.
"You have the aura of a stranger who is not allowed to enter. You also look a bit out of tune with the world. If you do things like this, who wouldn't be alert?"
Yan San was dumbfounded, "How about we change our appearance?"
"Come on!" Jiang Qingzhi sneered, "The so-called disguise technique is just changing the skin color and trimming the eyebrows. Do you think you can hide it from an old ghost like Liao Chen?"
"That's right." Yan San smiled bitterly, "Liao Chen had seen many eunuchs around the late emperor. He is familiar with the aura on me."
"I have already thrown out the bait. Now it depends on how Liao Chen will make his move."
Jiang Qingzhi returned home and learned that Liao had been there.
"She said there was a misunderstanding with my husband, so she sent some gifts." Li Tian was reading a travelogue. "Ms. Liao looked a little reluctant, and then she left. My husband, what was the misunderstanding?"
"Don't worry about it." Jiang Qingzhi touched her belly. "Is the child making a fuss today?"
"Not bad." Li Tian smiled and said, "It seems to have moved today."
Jiang Qingzhi talked with Li Tian for a while, then went to the front yard later and called Xu Wei over.
"Spread the word... Madam Linqing is rude and throw the gift away!"
Xu Wei was surprised, "Marquis Linqing...Is the uncle going to turn against him?"
Jiang Qingzhi nodded and implicitly mentioned Liao Chen's involvement in the death of the late emperor.
Xu Wei couldn't help but take a deep breath, "Many people have doubted the death of the late emperor. Could it be true..."
Jiang Qingzhi sneered, "Those people are more courageous than you can imagine. They threw away the gift."
"There are quite a few."
Then, the side door of the Bo Mansion opened.
The servant threw a box outside, the gifts scattered all over the floor, and shouted, "The wife of the Marquis of Linqing has gone too far. This matter...is not over yet!"
On that day, it was widely rumored among the powerful circles and scholars in the capital that Jiang Qingzhi and the wife of the Marquis of Linqing had become enemies.
(End of this chapter)
