"Haha, I just came out of the Cabinet and haven't eaten anything. I'm so hungry. I'm really sorry."
Seeing that it was about time, Shen Yicheng opened his mouth slowly.
"It doesn't matter. I'll tell the servants to prepare a banquet!"
Zhang Weixian immediately asked the servants to prepare a banquet. Shen Yicheng looked at him with a smile and did not stop him. When Zhang Weixian finished his orders and looked at Shen Yicheng with expectant eyes, Shen Yicheng also felt it was time to speak.
"It is certain that Hsiao Jixin will be conferred the title of Duke Qin after his triumphant return. As for whether Hsiao Jixin will stay and take other positions, it's hard to say."
Shen Yicheng always liked to tease people's appetite. Zhang Weixian and Xu Wenbi looked at each other with a puzzled look.
"What do you mean by hard to say? What does His Majesty mean? Minister, to tell you the truth, I went to see His Majesty, but His Majesty refused to see me. "
Xu Wenbi had a depressed look on his face.
Shen Yicheng nodded.
"Of course His Majesty won't see Duke Ding. Shen Li and Yu Jideng objected to His Majesty's plan to confer the title of Duke Qin on Hsiao Jixin. They were severely reprimanded and driven out of the palace by His Majesty. His Majesty is angry and won't see anyone."
The two looked at each other again.
"Speaking of which, why did His Majesty confer the title of Duke Qin on Xiao Ruxun? The title of Qin was once used by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and it will not be used by the officials of the Tang Dynasty in the future. Why did His Majesty confer it on Xiao Ruxun? "
Zhang Weixian asked.
"What His Majesty means is that Hsiao Jixin was born in Yan 'an. Yan' an was the territory of the Qin State during the Warring States Period. It's reasonable to give him the title of Duke Qin to bring honor to his ancestors. We've also told His Majesty that the title of Duke Qin is inappropriate and suggested to use other titles. His Majesty refused and insisted on using the title of Qin."
Shen Yicheng had a helpless look on his face. "His Majesty is the ruler, and we are the subjects. The subjects can only advise against what the ruler wants to do, and cannot forcefully stop him. Otherwise, it would be considered disloyal. As a subject, this old man is also helpless."
Not to mention people like Zhang Weixian and Xu Wenbi, even a small bureaucrat wouldn't believe such nonsense. It was an excuse and an excuse. However, Zhang Weixian and Xu Wenbi didn't understand. Could it be that Shen Yichuan was deliberately trying to fool them?
Do you have nothing better to do but look for trouble?
This was obviously not Shen Yicheng's style, and they did not believe it.
"Minister Shen, stop beating around the bush! Tell us! Has His Majesty decided to replace me with Xiao Ruxun as the Admiral of the Capital Camp? "
Zhang Weixian decided to get straight to the point. He didn't want to beat around the bush with this old guy. This old guy was too cunning, and he couldn't beat him.
"Why do you say so?"
Shen Yicheng didn't show a surprised expression. Instead, he smiled ambiguously, which made Zhang Weixian a little worried.
"Xiao Ruxun is a famous general who has fought hundreds of battles, and he is the best general in Daming. Didn't His Majesty give him the title of Duke to win him over and let him come to the capital to train the soldiers? I heard that Xiao Ruxun is very good at training soldiers. Three years ago, someone wanted to let Xiao Ruxun replace me to train the soldiers in the capital camp. This time, is His Majesty planning to do so? "
Zhang Weixian's question was very thorough, and Shen Yicheng's answer was also very thorough.
"Since Duke Ying said so, I won't avoid it. His Majesty indeed didn't mention this, but His Majesty gave Hsiao Jixin the title of Duke and gave him a favor. All the signs show that His Majesty is not just rewarding the meritorious minister. Otherwise, Marquess Zhao and Marquess Yan could do it, but why Marquess Qin? Is it really because Xiao Ruxun was born in Qin? "
Zhang Weixian was really nervous, and even Xu Wenbi was nervous.
"Is it possible that … His Majesty really wants to replace us with Xiao Ruxun?"
Zhang Weixian was closely related to Xu Wenbi's interests, and so was Xu Wenbi. Every year, Xu Wenbi was one of the few people who lived without pay in the capital camp. Losing the capital camp was a small matter, and not being able to live without pay was not a big deal. However, if the Emperor found out that they were living without pay, and the capital camp was in such a mess, everyone would be finished!
At that time, it wouldn't just be one person who would be finished.
The Xiao family was a family of generals in the northwest. Before Xiao Ruxun made his fortune, only Xiao Wenkui had been in the capital and held a position in the capital camp. But because he wasn't a noble, he wasn't in the capital camp.
It was only after Xiao Ruxun made her fortune and became the Duke of Pinglu, and then the Marquis of Zhennan, that she could be considered a noble. However, she could not be counted in the circle of the capital. Their Xiao Family had never been a noble within the circle of the capital, but a noble outside, just like the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Qian.
There had never been any conflict of interest between the two groups. The only direct contact they had was probably on the eve of the outbreak of the Korean War. Xiao Ruxun had been appointed as the commanding general, and the nobles in the Beijing circle had wanted to let Xiao Ruxun bring along their descendants to see the world and see blood.
In the end, when they heard that the Japanese pirates were strong, they didn't dare to go and lost face. Later, Xiao Ruxun destroyed the Japanese pirates in Korea and made a great contribution. Only then did these people regret it.
They could only say that they didn't offend Xiao Ruxun. Originally, one was in the capital, and the other was in Myanmar. They had nothing to do with each other. But now, Xiao Ruxun would soon return to the capital and be conferred the title of Duke of Qin. This was completely beyond everyone's expectations.
Who would have thought that Xiao Ruxun was so fierce and chopped off so many heads?
Looking at the two panicked and lost faces, Shen Yicheng looked down on them.
But for the sake of the big picture, he had to make use of them, protect them, and form an alliance with them. The rest was really not very important.
"His Majesty has been dissatisfied with us for a long time. If His Majesty really uses Xiao Ruxun to lead the camp in the capital, then the whole noble circle will not be able to escape. We all know the situation in the capital, and we can't allow an outsider to intervene!"
Xu Wenbi was a bit fierce in appearance but weak in heart.
"Of course I know this, but if His Majesty insists, what should we do?"
Zhang Weixian looked at Xu Wenbi.
"How about we think of a way to …"
Xu Wenbi made a gesture of cutting his neck.
Shen Yichen happened to be drinking tea at this moment. When he saw this scene, he choked on his tea and felt unwell.
"Cough, cough, cough … cough, cough, cough, cough …"
Zhang Weixian and Xu Wenbi hurried over.
"Minister Shen, what's wrong?"
"Minister Shen, drink slowly, don't choke."
Shen Yicheng finally caught his breath and looked at Xu Wenbi in shock.
Is he really a descendant of Xu Da?
He is a duke like you. It is impossible to kill him without the charge of rebellion. How can you say that you want to assassinate him?
Xu Wenbi saw Shen Yicheng looking at him in shock and was a little confused.
Could it be that my plan was too ingenious and had scared Minister Shen?
"Hsiao Jixin will soon become Duke Qin and be on the same level as Duke Ying and Duke Ding. It is impossible to kill him without the charge of rebellion!"
Shen Yicheng hurried to say so, dispelling the two's thoughts.
The two looked at each other.
That's right.
What should we do?
Ask the Emperor for mercy?
No way, right? The Emperor will ignore them.
What should we do?
The two could only look at Shen Yicheng for help.
"Elder Minister, once Xiao Ruxun finds out about what happened in the capital camp, we really can't guarantee what he will say. But I'm afraid that we won't be able to protect so many noble families. Elder Minister, you have to think of a way!"
"That's right, Cabinet Elder. This Xiao Ruxun is an outsider through and through. If he really gets the capital camp, who knows what he'll do? At that time, not only us nobles, but also a group of people in the imperial court will suffer. That will be the end! "
Shen Yicheng took a deep breath.
If I don't push you to the edge of death, how can I make you willing to be used by me?
Shen Yicheng laughed.
"Duke Ying, Duke Ding, don't be impatient. This matter is not certain. His Majesty did not say that Hsiao Jixin will replace Duke Ying to take charge of the capital camp. Although there is a possibility, it is not certain. If it is confirmed, it is not too late for you to be anxious, right?"
"If it is confirmed, it will be too late to be anxious!"
Xu Wenbi understood this point.
But Shen Yicheng wanted to force these two to a dead end before he could discuss important matters with them!
Shen Yicheng decided his next step.
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