Chapter 207: Changes in the Pattern (IV)

Just as Zhang Huan's carriage left, a luxuriously decorated carriage came from the west under the escort of hundreds of people and slowly stopped in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion. The gatekeeper recognized it at a glance that it was the left Prime Minister's carriage. He did not dare to neglect and quickly reported it.

Cui Yuan was already asleep at this moment, and the eldest son Cui Xian had just left at dusk. The butler hesitated for a long time and quietly came to Cui Yuan's room. A small light was lit in the room. The light was dim. Two concubines stood on both corners of the room, one left and one right. The concubines who were near the door saw the butler poking their heads and waved their hands quickly and whispered: "The master just went to bed, so you can't disturb me."

"But things are very urgent. Look at Master Ruo is still awake, so I'll inform me."

"No, the master will be angry!"

The two of them whispered at the door, but Choi Won woke up. He coughed gently, "What's the matter?"

Without waiting for the concubine to tell her, the butler went forward to report directly, "Master, Pei Xiangguo is visiting and is waiting outside the mansion. The eldest son has not come back yet."

"Where is the lady? Let her welcome the prime minister in for me."

The butler was in a very difficult situation and said for a while: "Miss was called by a friend."

"Friend?" Cui Yuan was silent for a moment, sighed slightly, "Then please ask Pei Xiangguo to come in directly! Clean up the room again."

"Yes!" The butler winked at the two concubines. He immediately stepped back. One concubine lit the lamp and placed a handful of sandalwood in the incense burner. The other concubine went forward to put up the curtain, sat Cui Fu up, and put a mattress behind him.

"Okay! Help me bring some memorials on the table."

Cui Yuan coughed twice and picked up a memorial. These memorials were to be voted on in the New Year. One was some local adjustments to the Ministry of Revenue’s tax plan this year, mainly targeting Shuzhong, including temporarily suspending the salt tax in Shuzhong area, and changing the ten taxes currently renting Shuzhong to thirty taxes.

Another one is some major personnel changes proposed by the Ministry of Personnel based on the meaning of the cabinet. Among them, due to the fierce achievements and great defeat in the Battle of Shu, Cui Qinggong was removed from his post as General of Jinwu Guard, deprived him of Duke Yan of the title of Duke of the Army and the scattered officer of the general of the army, and demoted him to common people.

Wei Yan also dismissed his position as the third officer of Kaifu Yitong and the Shaobao of the Crown Prince for his crime of not observing the defeat, and was transferred to the governor of Hanzhong, but he retained his position as the Shangshu of the Military Secretary and the Pingzhangshi of the Secretariat of the Secretariat of the Secretariat of the Secretariat of the Secretariat of the Secretariat of the Secretariat of the Secretari

The other two are memorials from the court to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers in Shu. Cui Yuan has been suppressed for two days. One is that he really doesn't have the energy to read it carefully, and the more important reason is that Zhang Huan's official position does not mention in the memorial. This is one of the three major personnel changes collectively approved by the cabinet at that time, but now there are only two.

Cui Yuan certainly knew that Pei Jun had made trouble in the cabinet resolution. Cui Yuan did not want to add Zhang Huan's title, nor did he intend to grant him a heavy position in the court. He even wanted to hold him accountable for occupying Longyou while taking advantage of the Shu chaos. His purpose was to tightly compress Zhang Huan's influence in Longyou, but Pei Jun wanted Zhang Huan to use Longyou as the foundation and give him greater power, so that he could expand his influence to Chang'an and even the whole country.

This is the core conflict between Cui and Pei. This is not because Zhang Huan is Pei Jun's son-in-law. If this is the case, Zhang Huan will marry Cui Yuan's daughter sooner or later. No! This has no relationship with who he is, but because of his true identity, the deep contradiction between Cui and Pei Erxiang is highlighted. The focus of their conflict is actually whether the Tang Dynasty should follow the monarchy or the aristocratic family route.

Of course, there is only one way to resolve this deep contradiction, that is, who can control the power of the court. If Cui Yuan takes control, he will carry out the government affairs of the aristocratic family to the end, and if Pei Jun takes control, he will slowly restore the power of the Li family.

Cui Yuan ordered his concubine to take a pen and approved the word "correct" on the Ministry of Revenue's plan for tax adjustment in Shuzhong. He threw the comments on personnel transfer aside, and he wanted to have a good talk with Pei Jun.

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Pei Jun was no longer outside the mansion, but was sitting in the living room waiting. He was welcomed into the mansion by Cui Yuan's eldest grandson Cui Yao. Although Cui Yao was only eight years old, he was mature and steady, and he was not polite when he advanced and retreated. He was a junior and did not dare to sit with Pei Jun, but stood beside him and talked to the prime minister.

Pei Jun casually placed a rectangular sandalwood box on the table. He opened the lid and placed an old ginseng that looked like a human. Pei Jun pointed at it and smiled slightly, "This is a ginseng that the Bohai Kingdom worshipped. Your grandfather has been working hard for many years and needs such a great tonic. Since your father is not in the house, you can accept it for him!"

Seeing that the gift was precious, Cui Yao looked solemn, he quickly took a step back, bowed deeply and said, "The Prime Minister is so beautiful, Xiao Cui is very grateful. I should report to my father and ask him to come to thank him another day!"

"It's just a little bit of heart, it doesn't mean respect." Pei Jun picked up the teacup and took a sip, and looked at Cui Yuan's treasured grandson with interest. He had long heard that Xiao Cui had a great appearance. When he saw him today, he was indeed well-deserved.

"How is your grandfather doing recently? Not a little better?"

"Thank you for your concern to Xiangguo Pei. My grandfather has been in a little bit of spirit these days, but his legs are not convenient, so he can't get out of bed and walk."

"Just be better!"

Pei Jun heard that his voice was still very tender, but his conversation was appropriate and he was very calm and calm. He admired him in his heart. He pondered for a moment and asked deliberately: "What about your father? I have always seen him socializing outside these days, and it is rare to see him return home. Is it because of his opinion that filial piety is behind?"

"I don't agree with what Pei Xiangguo said." Cui Yao straightened his small waist and pushed the sandalwood box towards Pei Jun to show that he could not take away his ambition. He retorted loudly: "Filial piety can be divided into big filial piety and small filial piety. He serves tea and water. The service in front of the bed and behind the bed is certainly filial piety, but I think this is just filial piety."

"Where is the great filial piety?" Pei Jun asked again with a smile.

"Adhering to the ambition of my father, his vision is higher than the nine heavens, his mind is thousands of miles away, he does great things and achieves great achievements. This is great filial piety. Although my father is a small official position, he does everything for his grandfather's reputation. I think this is great filial piety. Since the Duke is the prime minister of a country, he should take it as his responsibility to observe the world clearly. How can he imitate those ordinary people and save people with small filial piety?"

Pei Jun was shocked. He stared at Cui Yao tightly. After a long time, he slapped and sighed: "Cui Xiang has the same kind of grandson, which is enough to comfort his whole life!"

At this time, the butler came over sweating profusely and hurriedly said, "Pei Prime Minister, my Prime Minister has a welcome!"

Pei Jun got up, he took out a jade pendant from his arms and gave it to Cui Yao and smiled and said, "This jade pendant has been with me for many years. Today, Xiao Cui's words have benefited me a lot. I will give it to you!"

"Thank you, Prime Minister Pei!"

Pei Jun raised his head and laughed. He followed the butler into Cui Yuan's inner room. The room had been cleaned up. The light was bright and warm like spring. A faint sandalwood filled the room, replacing the original strong smell of medicine.

Pei Jun walked into the room and before he could speak, Cui Yuan smiled and said, "Pei Xiang is here to visit at this time. Is it because I bullied me and couldn't get up to greet me?"

Pei Junyi smiled and said, "Suang Choi has a good grandson in the country, so what if you can't get up?"

"Did it be my grandson who received you for me?" There was no surprise in his words, and there was even a hint of pride. Of course, his grandson was his most proud capital. No matter how others praised him, Cui Yuan didn't think it was too much.

Pei Jun sat down on the embroidery pier that he prepared in advance. He smiled and said, "Let Sun say that Cui Xiang's condition has improved. This is my blessing in the Tang Dynasty!"

"That stupid child, where did my condition improve?" Cui Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "But I have been feeling a little better recently. I have to thank the Prime Minister Pei for sending the report in time. Alas! I have been busy for most of my life and suddenly became idle, and I am really not used to it for a while."

"Brother Cui is the right prime minister of a country and the pillar of my Tang Dynasty. Now the state is in chaos, and the pressure on me alone is too great. I hope Brother Cui can recover sooner."

The two of you said and said, all of you were testing each other. Cui Yuan had the intention to retreat, but the premise of this retreat was that the right prime minister must still be in the hands of the Cui family, but until the situation was unclear, he would never mention the word "ret".

Pei Jun has been paying attention to Choi Yuan's condition. He even knows it thoroughly better than Choi Yuan himself. He knows it is difficult to stand up again. So Cui Yuan doesn't want to give in to the position of right prime minister. It is not that he is Lianzhan, but that he will not let himself take over the power alone for a long time.

Of course, the position of Right Prime Minister involves the power structure of the entire court, which is definitely not something that can be decided by visiting the disease. It involves the reintegration of power. If Cui Yuan was an iron-blooded right prime minister, he would definitely remove all stumbling blocks for Cui Yu before he took over as Right Prime Minister, and eliminate all officials who would threaten his Cui family's interests, including Pei Jun, Chu Xingshui, and even Wei Yan.

Unfortunately, he couldn't do it. A battle in Shuzhong had quietly changed Cui. The power comparison between the Pei family. The Pei family was far greater than the Cui family in Guanzhong alone. What's even more terrible is that Pei Jun controls the Tongguan Fortress. If he does not agree, the Cui family's Shandong army cannot enter Tongguan, and Zhang Huan occupied Longyou, and the Shandong army cannot borrow. Pei Jun's strength in Guanzhong is already faintly above Cui Yuan.

Not only the military force, but also the highest decision-making body of the Tang Dynasty - the cabinet. Since Li Mian entered the cabinet, the power balance of the cabinet has been tilted towards Pei Jun, and the court structure has quietly changed. In this way, how could Pei Jun be willing to be the second prime minister? Now, Cui Yuan's condition has become Pei Jun's greatest opportunity to seize the right prime minister.

Cui Yuan knew Pei Jun's routine very well. His first step was to suppress the call for him to be the right prime minister and propose that "everything is big or small, it will follow the old rules." But this was just his attitude, which made the world believe that the court was still united and peaceful. Pei Jun had no ambition to seize the right prime minister. The second step was to visit his illness today. In fact, it was a temptation. Seeing that Cui Yuan was willing to give way, if he refused, his third step would come out immediately.

Cui Yuan sneered in his heart. He wanted to take a look. How did Pei Jun's third step be?

Thinking of this, Cui Yuan took several memorials and handed them to Pei Jun and said, "I have already approved these memorials. The plan to adjust the tax in Shuzhong is very good, which can make Zhu Li unrighteous in making money. Cui Qinggong was greedy for merit and reckless, and he was the Grand Marshal of the Conquest of the South. He should bear the main responsibility, and Wei Yan was also fair to assume the secondary responsibility, but Pei Xiang seemed to have forgotten one person."

"The Prime Minister is talking about Zhang Huan!" Pei Jun smiled faintly and said, "This book is to be approved by the third reading of the Grand Court. Zhang Huan's official position is low and cannot be compared with the two of them yet, so it is not put together, but a new discount."

"The official position is low?" Cui Yuan sneered: "According to the court rules of the second year of Qingzhi, all appointments and removals of officials from the third rank must be approved in the Grand Court. Zhang Huan, both the Longyou Jiedushi and the champion general, are already in the third rank. How can't he read in the Grand Court? Perhaps because I have been ill for a long time and don't know that the rules of the Grand Court have changed. Please teach me!"

Pei Jun smiled and quickly explained: "Cui Xiang doesn't have to be angry. I mean Cui Qinggong and Wei Yan were dismissed, but Zhang Huan was promoted. It seems inappropriate to put it together, not that he is not studying in the grand court for the third time."

Cui Yuan did not stop, and he still pursued and said relentlessly: "Since I have something to say when it comes to promotion, I have to say that the war in Shu is in urgent need, but Zhang Huan took the opportunity to occupy Longyou. Indeed, the shore of the land is the king's land. I will not say what he seized from the Wei family here, but his move has indeed affected the morale of the soldiers who conquered Shu. He also has the responsibility for the great defeat in Shu. I hope Pei Xiangguo can understand this."

Pei Jun's smile was gone, and he also fought against each other and said, "There may be a possibility to affect the morale of the soldiers who conquered Shu, but when Zhu bandits attacked Hanzhong and Chang'an was in danger, he sent troops from Longyou to Shuzhong and forced Zhu bandits to retreat. This made great contributions to the country and could be offset. But I thought he defeated Tubo general Ma Chongying in Hexi and made contributions to defending the territory, and he should be rewarded."

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Pei Jun's carriage was racing on the streets of Chang'an. The light in the carriage was dark. Pei Jun was half lying on the soft couch and sneered continuously. He made a gesture of not asking about the right prime minister during this period, just to get his Cui Yuan's response. Seeing that the New Year was about to be on the verge of the new year, he did not make any statement.

Today's test finally made Pei Jun see Cui Yuan's bottom line. Cui Yuan did not mention giving up the right prime minister at all, which means that his right prime minister would never be given to him, but would let the Cui family continue to control it.

Pei Jun snorted coldly, strength determines the size of power. Now the strength comparison between the two sides has changed, but Cui Yuan doesn't know how to advance or retreat. Does he want to repeat the path of Zhang Potian again?

"Change and go to Yongjiafang!" Pei Jun whispered. At this time, he needed strong support from Zhang Huan.

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To be continued...