Young Master Jiang was in a daze and only thought about the terrible consequences of Yang Fan taking control of this matter. He did not think that if Yang Fan took charge of this matter, many of the officials dispatched to Southern Border would be recommended and evaluated by Yang Fan. His control over Southern Border would also increase greatly. Moreover, Yang Fan and Shen Mu were allies. At that time, Young Master Jiang's plan to create a new horse import channel in Southern Border would also become a bubble.
"Young Master?"
That person waited for a long time and did not see any movement from Young Master Jiang, so he tried to call him.
Young Master Jiang took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Qin lost its deer, and the whole world chased it! This deer is now in the hands of Yang Fan. The deer is not his, but whoever he is willing to throw the deer at, that person will be able to eat a mouthful of meat …. If this matter is not handled well, he will be smashed to pieces, and together with that fat piece of meat, he will be chewed to pieces by the jackals, wolves, tigers and leopards. But if it is done well … "
Young Master Jiang's face darkened. After a while, he said in a hoarse voice, "I know. Call Yuan Tingyun to see me!"
That person heaved a sigh of relief and left.
Young Master Jiang waved his hand to the person behind him and said, "You go, just do as we said just now!"
The person behind him cupped his fists and like a gust of wind, he quietly left with the maple leaves on the ground.
Young Master Jiang slowly raised his head and muttered to himself, "How can this be? Could it be that even God was helping him? I asked Qiao Wenda to write a memorial to impeach him, accusing him of lust and staying in Chang 'an. With the Empress's usual cold style, he should be severely punished. But why … he was not beaten back to his original state, but received such an important task? "
Although Young Master Jiang was smart, he was limited by his status and did not understand the Emperor's mind. He also misjudged the current situation. If the world was at peace and the court was calm, Yang Fan would abandon his official duties for his private interests. With how much Wu Zetian valued her empire, she would definitely not tolerate such a person and would punish him as a warning to others.
However, in the current situation, Yang Fan's usefulness was far more useful to Wu Zetian than his mistakes. Therefore, if he had some flaws, it would make Wu Zetian feel that this person could be trusted. People with flaws were not scary.
Wu Zetian was troubled by the fact that she couldn't solve this problem perfectly. At this time, Liu Xuntian handed over the secret report and Yang Fan came into her sight. Thinking about his loyalty, his closeness to the Wu Clan, his friendship with the southern tribes' chiefs, then thinking about his instinctive resistance and hatred towards the aristocratic families as a commoner's disciple …
Liu Xiantian's report made Wu Zetian value and trust Yang Fan even more. Moreover, Yang Fan's relationship with the various powers in the competition was the most suitable for Wu Zetian's interests. Choosing Yang Fan to take on this heavy responsibility was inevitable. Therefore, it would be strange if Wu Zetian didn't want the "hothead" Yang Fan to take on this matter.
For Dugu Ningke, this was his design. For Wu Zetian, this was her own choice. She wouldn't find out that there was someone else's inducement.
When the canal is formed, it will come naturally.
Many aristocratic families had been using this method to induce the introduction and implementation of national policies that were beneficial to them. They had never openly opposed the imperial court and advocated their own ideas. Now, Dugu Ningke was just using the same method on one person and one thing.
Thinking of the increasingly disadvantageous changes in the situation, Young Master Jiang felt more and more bitter in his heart. He couldn't help but raise the wine pot and take a big gulp. He had always been self-disciplined and temperate. Usually, he only drank tea and didn't drink wine. But now, he felt that everything tasteless in his mouth except for this wine …
Although the strong wine only tasted bitter when it entered his throat, it was the only thing he could swallow.
Yuan Tingyun hurried over and stood beside Young Master Jiang.
Young Master Jiang's slender fingers clenched the wine pot as if he was tightly strangling someone's throat. He said, "Kill Yang Fan, quickly!"
…
In the Zhongnan Mountains, there were a thousand peaks and a deep and elegant valley.
In an unknown and elegant valley, there were a few houses built with bamboo and wood, surrounded by fences. There were chickens and geese walking leisurely in the yard.
The sky was clear and blue. The geese flying south swept across the sky like a boat gliding on the blue sea. In the distance, there was the sound of a flute.
In front of the bamboo fence, there was a big tree. In front of the tree, purple chrysanthemums were either in bud or in full bloom, painting the picture of late autumn with the most gorgeous color.
In front of the tree, there was a flat rectangular stone with a chessboard on it. On both sides of the stone, there was a person sitting cross-legged on a futon, playing chess.
Both of them were very old, with white hair and white beards. They wore loose and comfortable white shirts with a pair of wide black trousers.
The two old men looked like a pair of mountain hermits playing chess for fun. However, they didn't move the chess pieces in their hands and only whispered to each other.
If Yang Fan were here, he would immediately recognize the old man on the left as Li Mubai of the Longxi Li Clan. The one on the other side was the lord of the Xingyang Zheng Clan.
Elder Zheng's tone was very solemn, but the thick wrinkles on his face made it difficult to bring out any lively expressions. "Yang Fan has been transferred to the position of Heavenly Official Minister, Assistant Minister of Heavenly Official. The demotion, appointment, and removal of officials below the third rank will depend on his hands. It seems the Empress wants to throw the hot potato of the Southern Border to Yang Fan. "
Li Mubai stroked the black chess piece in his hand and said slowly, "If it was only the appointment and removal of a position, it could be decided by the Ministry of Appointments. But now that there are so many vacancies in the Southern Border, the Emperor himself will definitely ask about it."
Elder Zheng raised his white brows and said unhappily, "Of course I understand! Although the matter has been handed over to Yang Fan, the list he provides must satisfy the Emperor and all other parties before it can be implemented. But since he is in charge of this matter, it will be more convenient than others.
Seventy percent of the vacancies in the Southern Border will inevitably be divided among the various powers. Everyone is well aware of this. What's left is the 30% gap. There are too many variables in this 30% gap. Therefore, regardless of the gains or losses, it's all within an acceptable range. And it's precisely this 30% gap that's the key to disrupting the balance. Aren't we fighting for these gaps? "
Young Master Jiang was the first to know that Yang Fan was about to be appointed as a doctor of the Heavenly Official Mansion and had the right to know the position of Assistant Minister of the Heavenly Official Mansion. Then came the other aristocratic families. At this time, the Zhongguan who delivered the decree was still on his way to Chang 'an, so Yang Fan did not know. In such matters, the efficiency of the officials would always be ranked last.
Elder Zheng immediately came to discuss this matter with Li Mubai as soon as he heard the news.
Li Mubai lowered his eyes and said slowly, "What is Elder Zheng's opinion?"
Elder Zheng leaned forward and said in a deep voice, "Then negotiate with Yang Fan!"
Li Mubai chuckled and said, "Elder Zheng, Yang Fan's appetite is too big. What he wants … is the Lord of the Obvious Sect!"
Elder Zheng's face darkened and said, "In my opinion, that Lu Binmi should have given up his position long ago. What has he done since he was in charge of the Succession Hall? The so-called Hidden Sect was only in charge of some matters that the Obvious Sect should not be involved in. It was just a few hidden characters under him. What about now? Not only are they on equal footing with him, but they have even surpassed him. Lu Binmi is obstinate and self-opinionated. He has high standards but low abilities. It is difficult for him to take up this heavy responsibility! "
Li Mubai held the chess piece and smiled lightly without a word.
This could be said by others, but not by him. Because Shen Mu was nurtured by him, but he didn't expect Shen Mu to be so capable. He only appreciated this junior and bestowed him a lake. Who knew that this kid had painstakingly managed it for so many years and actually turned the lake into a sea.
But in the eyes of outsiders, they couldn't help but think that he had been planning and supporting behind the scenes, intending for Shen Mu to steal Young Master Jiang's authority. Therefore, he had to avoid suspicion at this time.
Elder Zheng saw that he smiled and didn't reply. He angrily threw the white chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard and said angrily, "You and I have been friends for many years. Do you still have to be afraid of me? You old thing, say something! "
Li Mubai gave a long sigh and said, "Elder Zheng, you should be clear what it means once Yang Fan sits in this position. He will control enormous wealth and power. Also, he will not only have to be responsible for the aristocratic families, but also for the Succession Hall, this semi-independent existence.
Therefore, all of his decisions, under the premise that it does not affect the interests of the aristocratic families, he can make his own decisions. We cannot control him at all times. This is different from the Prime Minister. All of the power of the Prime Minister comes from the Emperor and the court. He can be removed at any time and replaced with another person. But the person who becomes the sect leader of the Xian Clan can control enormous personal power.
It is fine if it is a short period of time, but once it is long enough, not only will he become part of it, his children and grandchildren will become an important part of it. He is not one of us, but he will definitely have a powerful family that is rooted in the Succession Hall. How can we ensure that his family will always have the same interests as us and will always be used by us? "
"Then we will make him one of us!"
A loud voice suddenly sounded from the side. Li Mubai and Old Zheng paled in fright and suddenly turned their heads to look. This place might seem like a hut for hermits in the mountains, but the perimeter had long been cleared of people. The two of them were discussing business here. There could not be a single person within three li of them. Unless one cultivated the All-Seeing Eye and Wind Hearing, who could see their shadows and hear what they were saying?
Turning his head to look, he saw an old man with a white beard walking towards them with a walking stick in his hand. This old man's body was very robust. Li Mubai and Old Zheng sighed in relief at the same time. The person who had come was the leader of the Wang Clan of Taiyuan.
Li Mubai frowned and said, "Old man, why have you come? Be careful not to let the eyes and ears of the court find out and raise their guard."
Old Wang snorted heavily. Leaning on his walking stick, he walked in front of them and said, "If this old man doesn't come, do you think you two old fellows will be able to argue here? You are not in a rush. If you miss this chance, you will have other chances. But my Wang Family places great importance on this chance and sees it as a key to the Wang Family's rise again! "
What Old Zheng cared about was how to make Yang Fan one of their own. He hurriedly asked, "Old Wang, tell me, how do we make him one of our own?"
Geezer Wang mumbled, "Isn't that simple? This old man still has more than a dozen little granddaughters. We can just randomly pick one to marry to him, and then wouldn't he be one of us? "
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