Chapter 822 Self-destruction
During dinner, Chen Yao seemed a little absent-minded and picked up dishes that he didn't like several times.
His wife Huang poured him a glass of wine and asked, "Are you in trouble, my husband?"
Chen Yao shook his head. "It's just some official stuff."
"My husband always says that we should distinguish between public and private affairs and not think about official business when he gets home. Why do you make an exception today?" Huang teased.
"You are making fun of me too!" Chen Yao suddenly became furious. Huang was stunned, "Husband..."
"I don't want to eat anymore!" Chen Yao threw away his chopsticks, got up and walked out.
Just then, an aide came over and glanced at the dazed Huang inside, then whispered, "News from Xin'an Lane..."
"How?" Chen Yao's eyes sparkled and his breathing became rapid.
dead!
Either Jiang Qingzhi died, or his wife and children died. If neither of the two was possible, then it would be fine if a dozen of today's guests died. As long as there was a commotion, from Emperor Jiajing to Jiang Qingzhi, who would care about the Ministry of Revenue?
"There were bandits who raided the Bo's house..." The staff's voice was low, "Jiang Qingzhi had been prepared for this, and they were all...caught in one fell swoop."
The staff knew how much of a blow this news was to Chen Yao, and they also knew what would follow.
Once the full moon banquet is over, the new policy will be implemented.
Before the army sets out, they have to offer sacrifices to the flag. In the early years, the best thing to offer to the flag was a human head.
The launch of a new policy also requires something to be offered as a sacrifice.
"Whose head?" the aide murmured. He slowly raised his head and saw Chen Yao staring blankly at the void, as if his soul was gone.
"Minister." The staff member said in a low voice, "The crisis will come in the next few days, we have to think of a solution. Otherwise, we should bow our heads now!"
"It's too late." Chen Yao sighed with despair.
"Although Jiang Qingzhi admires Lu Song, the two sides have different ideologies and cannot work together. If an assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue surrenders, it will be of great benefit to Jiang Qingzhi's plan. He is a famous general, how could he not know this? In addition..."
The more the staff thought about it, the more excited they became. "Black or white is one of the reasons why Wang Anshi's new policy failed. Jiang Qingzhi is a great Mohist scholar, and judging from his past words and deeds, he is not such a person. Think about it, Du He offended him deeply at the beginning, but after he went to Xin'an Lane to bow his head, Jiang Qingzhi still accepted him. Du He was just an idle military meritorious service at that time, but you are the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who holds real power! Is Jiang Qingzhi stupid? Will he reject you?"
In this way, Chen Yao suddenly transformed himself into a key figure in the new policy.
Not only will all his previous sins be forgiven, but he will also be able to rise to prominence. If things go well, he may even be able to dethrone Lu Song and take his place.
A bright future!
The staff rubbed their hands happily.
"I've been there before."
“……”The staff was unaware of this.
"I sent someone to pass on the message, hinting at my intention to surrender."
The staff then remembered Chen Yao's face-saving nature, "Then Jiang Qingzhi..."
"He replied me with one word!" Chen Yao raised his lips, "Get lost!"
Staff: “…”
"Yes, get out!" Chen Yao suddenly roared, "He told me to get out!"
Huang heard the roar inside and was so scared that she slowly came out along the door. After she went out, she ran away.
Chen Yao looked at his staff in anger, "He flatly refused. This means he wants to kill us all. Do you understand? He wants to kill us all!"
The staff stared at Chen Yao blankly: "Minister, this matter... this matter... the big deal is over!"
The affairs of the Ministry of Revenue cannot withstand investigation. Chen Yao himself is not clean. As long as some clues are found and the case is traced back, Chen Yao's trusted officials will not be able to escape responsibility.
"...Now that the father is dead and the mother is remarried, everyone will take care of themselves. Those people will definitely betray the Minister. Minister, surrender yourself!" This is the best outcome the staff could think of.
Turn yourself in and report.
This will reduce the guilt.
Chen Yao suddenly smiled and said, "When I was a child, my teacher once said that books contain everything you want, including wealth, fame, and a bright future."
This is a common saying, and the teacher uses this to stimulate children's interest in learning.
"Do you know? Before the Enlightenment, who was the official I admired the most?" Chen Yao laughed mockingly, "It was Wen Zhonglie."
Wen Zhonglie refers to Wen Tianxiang. Wen Tianxiang died bravely and won glory for eternity. In the Ming Dynasty, he was posthumously awarded the title of "Zhonglie".
"But what you said made me confused. I thought, shouldn't I learn from Wen Zhonglie?" Chen Yao sighed, "So, you want me to learn from Qin Hui."
The decline of Confucianism is closely related to education.
From the beginning of enlightenment, they went astray.
Why read?
For fame, fortune and power.
How many good things can there be among the Confucian children who grow up in such an educational atmosphere?
The Han and Tang dynasties used Confucianism as a cover and legalism as a backbone, so they were strong for a time. In the early Song Dynasty, Confucianism finally ascended to the center of power and began its own performance.
"After I returned home, I told my parents what the teacher said and asked them if it was right or wrong. My father said that what the teacher said was not wrong. Now that I think about it, it was wrong, all wrong." Chen Yao laughed so hard that he cried. "From then on, I changed my ambition of studying to pursue fame and fortune."
The staff felt sympathetic, but the most important thing at the moment was to save the situation!
"Minister, this matter..."
"If you surrender yourself, the best outcome is exile."
"Yes, but at least I'm alive."
"According to your teachings, I have enjoyed all the glory and wealth in my life. So, if I die, I should die happily." Chen Yao's face was grim. "The army heading north only has one day's worth of food and fodder left." "The baggage from the capital will reach the army tomorrow." The staff didn't know why he said this.
"What if this batch of food and fodder is turned back?"
"There are more than 40,000 troops, plus the border troops returning to Beijing to offer captives, a total of 60,000 troops. The food for the people and horses... how can the local food reserves be enough to supply them?"
"What would the victorious soldiers think if they suddenly ran out of food?"
"This is the court's contempt and hostility towards them. Those victorious soldiers will certainly be furious, their morale will be shaken, and they may even mutiny. Minister, you..."
"The army mutinied, His Majesty was furious, Lu Song would be in trouble, and Jiang Qingzhi, the famous commander, would also be in trouble if he left the army and returned early. Think about it, the army was starving, but he was feasting at home. The rich are feasting, but there are people freezing to death on the road." Chen Yao smiled, "Leave the city while the gates are open. You follow."
The staff was startled. "What the Minister means is..."
Chen Yao said coldly: "The one who escorted the grain is my confidant, so I ordered the convoy to turn back on the pretext that the army still has plenty of grain."
Once the escorting officer speaks, who dares to question?
This is……
Chen Yao grinned, "Jiang Qingzhi wants to kill me, then... let's die together!"
Later, several riders rushed out of the capital, and then the city gates were closed.
The next day, the aide's nephew suddenly received a letter.
He took a look and his face changed drastically. He then went to Xin'an Lane to meet Jiang Qingzhi.
"They said it's an extremely urgent matter that can't be delayed." Jiang Qingzhi was holding the child in a daze. Yesterday, he was forced to drink by everyone and was drunk. When he woke up in the morning, he had a splitting headache and even stopped his routine exercises.
"I'll go right away." Jiang Qingzhi handed the child to the wet nurse and went to the front yard.
"Hello, uncle." The aide's nephew saluted.
"What's the matter?" Jiang Qingzhi's mind was still blank, as if someone was hitting him with a hammer.
"My uncle is the staff of Chen Yao, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. This morning, I received a handwritten letter from my uncle. My uncle said... take a look."
Jiang Qingzhi took the letter, took a look at it, and his expression changed drastically.
"Damn it Chen Yao! Is this bastard going to blow himself up?"
Xia Yan came over with a pale face. Yesterday, after the old man killed a man with his own hands, he was complimented by everyone. The old man was so proud that he got drunk.
"Qingzhi has a good alcohol tolerance." Xia Yan couldn't help but praise Jiang Qingzhi when he saw his face turn red.
Xu Wei is here. He was fine yesterday.
Only Hu Zongxian, who blocked the drinking for Jiang Qingzhi yesterday, was still lying on the bed. He woke up once before and said that he should not be woken up even if a dragon turned over.
Jiang Qingzhi handed the letter to Xia Yan. Xia Yan covered his forehead with one hand, took the letter with the other hand, and glanced at it casually.
"You bastard, are you crazy?" Xia Yan's face flushed suddenly, then quickly calmed down. He handed the letter to Xu Wei and said in a deep voice: "Divide into several groups. One group will chase Chen Yao, and the other group will go to the palace to report to His Majesty. Also, send someone to the Ministry of Revenue to inform Lu Song of this matter."
Each of the three suggestions hits the nail on the head.
Xu Wei raised his head, his face solemn, "Chen Yao wants to make a big move before he dies. Yan Song leads the army... Once the food is cut off, he has no prestige in the army and cannot suppress the soldiers. Du He is also not a good choice. This matter... must be handled by you personally."
Xia Yan nodded, "The old man will go to the palace, and Wen Chang will go to the Ministry of Revenue."
"Yes!" Jiang Qingzhi narrowed his eyes. "Yesterday someone sent a message, asking if the Ministry of Revenue could let me off the hook, and that I was willing to surrender. I flatly refused... I didn't expect it to be Chen Yao. This guy is crazy to the extreme, and there must be a lot of money and grain involved in the case."
"Ministry of Revenue, I'm afraid the dragon is about to turn over." Xia Yan murmured.
Jiang Qingzhi went to the backyard to say goodbye to his wife. Li Tian saw that he looked calm and asked what was wrong. Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said that he went out to chase someone.
"man?"
"Maybe it's neither male nor female."
Jiang Qingzhi rushed out of the city with his guards.
Xu Wei also went to the Ministry of Revenue.
"Chen Yao's staff sent a handwritten letter to my nephew, saying that Chen Yao was involved in a corruption case and begged Lord Bo to let him go, but to no avail. So he left the city yesterday and prepared to intercept the last batch of grain and grass sent by the Ministry of Revenue to the army."
Xu Wei said in a deep voice: "My Lord has already gone after him. The Ministry of Revenue cannot escape the blame for this matter."
Since everyone has different opinions, let's just pass on the blame first.
Lu Song immediately thought of the huge crisis that was brewing in this matter. "If the army runs out of food..."
Xu Wei smiled and said, "It will cause chaos, and maybe even a mutiny. Minister Lu, the Ministry of Revenue... they are really full of talented people! Such a strong-willed person has emerged."
Lu Song was a very cunning man, his face was still pale and his body was shaking.
Xia Yan hurried into the West Garden.
"You came to the palace so early in the morning. Did something happen because you were too happy yesterday?" Yan Shifan was on sick leave, so Emperor Jiajing simply took on some work himself. At this moment, the desk was full of memorials that had just been dealt with, and Huang Jin was helping to sort them out.
Xia Yan is here.
As soon as he came in, he said, "Your Majesty, big news!"
Not long after, the Taoist's angry roar was heard from Xiyuan.
"Copy the house!"
(End of this chapter)
