Chapter 114 Asking for help
Chapter 114 Asking for help
"Is this really true?" Inside the box, the two friends all changed color, realizing the difficulty of the problem.
When Feng Ju falsely accused Li Yanfu, any discerning person could see that something was wrong.
With a little more investigation, it is not difficult to guess the role Zhao Duan played in brokering the issue.
However, all the officials instinctively believed that this was just another little game between the empress and the prime minister, and everyone saw through it but did not speak out.
It was not surprising that Xia Jianghou knew this.
But no one expected that the past, which had long been settled, would be brought up again.
"Why is this? Did Zhao Duan offend Marquis Xia Jiang?"
The slightly fat scholar wondered:
"I have never heard of any intersection between the two sides."
The middle-aged man wearing a futou said in a deep voice:
"Have you two forgotten Princess Yunyang? Coincidentally, before I came here at noon, I heard from a friend that Zhao Duan's car was forced to stop on Zhuque Street this morning by the Grand Princess's sedan chair, and Marquis Xiajiang seemed to be there too.
At first I thought it was a rumor, but now I think it might be true."
The slightly fat scholar was surprised:
"Brother Changfeng, do you mean that Marquis Xiajiang took action against Zhao Duan in order to please Princess Yunyang?
Yes, Xiajiang Hou has always been a nobleman, arrogant, ruthless, and has done many dirty things. This is really something he can do."
The middle-aged man with a bun analyzed:
“Zhao Duan has made many contributions recently and is favored by the Saint. It will not be easy for Xia Jianghou to deal with him.
The lawsuit against the Prime Minister is an opportunity. As long as we force our elder brother to bite back and overturn the verdict, and make it public that it was Zhao Duan who deliberately framed him, then the Li Party will definitely help. It just so happens that the two sides have a grudge... In this way, the evidence of the crime will be confirmed, and even Your Majesty will find it difficult to openly take sides."
Feng Ju's face looked extremely ugly and he said nothing.
Obviously, he had thought this through as well.
A slightly fat scholar said:
"But, if the case is overturned, let's not talk about whether Xia Jianghou will abide by the agreement and release the person intact. Brother Bo will offend both the dead saint and the prime minister at the same time, not to mention Zhao Duan, who is said to be vindictive... In this case, is there any way to survive?"
Dead end!
All three of them were smart people, and after a simple analysis, they realized how bad the situation was.
If Feng Ju disobeyed, his biological daughter would be gone.
If you follow, you will become a complete abandoned pawn, and the ending will not be good either.
This is the helplessness of the little people, they don’t even have a chance to survive in the cracks.
Feng Ju's eyes were red, and he said in a low voice:
"My mind is in a mess right now, and I don't know what to do. So I'm looking for you two brothers to help me think of a solution..."
The two good friends looked embarrassed. The three of them were acquaintances, but like Feng Ju, they were of low status, with no power and no big family behind them.
How to fight against a hereditary marquis?
Even if you want to find connections, give gifts and beg for mercy, you can't find a way!
The atmosphere was silent for a moment.
The slightly fat scholar thought for a moment and said:
"Since you have joined the imperial party, why don't you seek the protection of the saint?"
Feng Ju smiled bitterly and shook his head:
"With our status, how can we talk to His Majesty? Moreover, I have no evidence of kidnapping. I only know that my daughter is missing, and Marquis Xiajiang only sent a servant to deliver a verbal message. How can I prove it?"
He hadn't said anything else:
It involves a hereditary marquis and a grand princess... Will the members of the royal party he knows really offend them for him?
I’m afraid that the news will never be delivered to the palace and will be lost along the way.
The slightly fat literati were outraged:
"In my opinion, why not go directly to the government office and report to the Dali Temple! A sixth-rank official is also an official appointed by the court. How can you threaten a nobleman who has no official status at will? Where is the face of the court?"
The middle-aged man with a bun on his head smiled bitterly:
"Brother Zigu, please don't say such angry words. How can the government dare to accept it? As for the Dali Temple, don't forget that the Dali Temple Minister and the Prime Minister are also very close. In my opinion, if we really have to find someone, there is one person who can do it."
"Who?" They both looked at the same time.
"Zhao Duan!"
The middle-aged man with a bunted head uttered the name and looked at Feng Ju:
"Brother Bo, don't forget that you and he are on the same boat in this case. If you overturn the verdict, he will also suffer. And in the final analysis, this matter was caused by him, so he should solve it."
Feng Ju's eyes suddenly lit up!
Yes, if Zhao Duan is willing to help, with his connections, as long as he passes a word to His Majesty, his predicament will be resolved.
He was so angry and confused just now that he didn't think of this.
The slightly fat scholar next to him shook his head:
"But will the Zhao guy help? It is said that he is a cruel and ruthless person, not a good person.
Even if he came to ask for help, he could make other preparations when he found out about this, or even turn against him and throw his elder brother into the imperial prison, or tie him up and send him to Xiajiang Hou in an attempt to mend their relationship...
What can't that kind of traitor do? On the contrary, rescuing people is both laborious and useless, and we have to worry about our elder brother surrendering to Xiajiang Hou and jumping back and forth..."
Feng Ju's eyes suddenly dimmed.
Yes, given Zhao Duan’s character, would he help him?
Or would he be ruthless and kill him outright to avoid the risk of having his case overturned?
I really can’t say for sure.
All I can say is... while Zhao Duan enjoys the benefits of being a "villain", he also inevitably carries the negative buff of not being trusted.
In the box, the two friends each had their own opinion, but both of them made sense.
Feng Ju's expression changed constantly. Finally, he gritted his teeth, clenched his fist and slammed the table hard, saying:
"I'll go ask Zhao Duan for help!"
Feng Ju, who loved his daughter dearly, could not afford to delay any longer:
"Compared to the reputation of Xia Jianghou, I would rather bet on Zhao's mercy!"
Seeing this, the two friends fell silent and the slightly plump scholar stopped talking.
The middle-aged man with a bun hat reminded:
“If you go, remember not to threaten him or say something like, you are in the same boat, and he will suffer if you are in trouble.
There is no need to ask him to go find His Majesty, just explain everything clearly and ask him to take action.
By the way, it’s best to meet in private, or send a letter. Xia Jianghou will definitely send someone to secretly monitor your every move, so remember to be careful. "
Feng Ju stood up and nodded heavily:
"I understand." With his intelligence, he didn't need anyone to remind him.
But now my emotions are running high and my rationality has diminished, so I need the advice of my two good friends.
……
……
Afternoon, Lihua Hall.
Zhao Duan did not take a nap, but instead looked through the information of "Marquis Xia Jiang" from the government office.
Know yourself and the enemy, a hundred battles will never end.
Compared to the eldest princess who had no real power and only knew how to control men, he felt that this marquis was a greater threat.
"Tsk tsk, it's really not that simple."
After reading the information, Zhao Duan was deeply moved and understood why this guy was so arrogant.
According to internal archives, Xia Jianghou entered the martial arts divine realm ten years ago.
Although he was suspected of asking a strong man for initiation and assistance in breaking through the barriers, he was what the empress called a "fake warrior".
But his realm is there, his foundation is good, and he has no shortage of powerful martial arts.
"No wonder you dare to stop me in the street, you must have the confidence." Zhao Duan shook his head slightly.
In addition, the archives also record that Xia Jianghou was suspected of controlling the gang industry in the capital.
He is the boss behind the Red Flower Society, the largest gang in Beijing.
Where there is light, there is darkness.
When Zhao Duan read history in his previous life, he was curious about why gangs were so popular despite being banned. Not to mention the famous "Cao Gang" and "Yan Gang" in history... because they involved huge interests.
There are countless local gangs in various places.
Later I realized that it was because the feudal dynasty had weak control over the grassroots and the tentacles of imperial power could not penetrate into the streets and alleys.
However, the operation of society does require "governance" at the grassroots level to maintain a certain order.
The countryside is controlled by clan forces, while the densely populated cities provide space for gangs to survive.
Although it is a bit counterintuitive, the existence of gangs is certainly driven by human nature and interests, but on the other hand, the people also need a gang to establish order.
Even bad order is better than chaos.
When there is a vacuum of light, the king of darkness will come into being.
"He has a noble status, but also has his own thugs... He pretends to be high and mighty in front of me, and is indifferent to worldly matters, but in the end, he is also a shady person."
Zhao Duan secretly complained.
He pondered silently whether he could start with the Red Flower Society and trick Xia Jianghou.
It's not his style to just take a beating.
Anyone who has been in a group fight knows that if you squat down with your head in your hands, hoping that the enemies will lose interest and leave, you will only be bullied to death.
The correct way is either to mobilize people or catch the leader of the other side and fight back. Knock the leader down, and the rest of the brothers will retreat.
Princess Yunyang has a special status, so she cannot be moved for the time being.
But it shouldn't be a big problem for a hereditary marquis with no real power to do something about it, right?
"It's a bit difficult to deal with. It seems difficult to make a big deal about the feudal nobles accepting offerings and protection from gangs. It belongs to a certain degree of unspoken rules...Unspoken rules are something that cannot be exposed unless there is a big problem..."
"How about creating some big problems?"
Zhao Duan was trying to think of something to do, but he had no idea what to do.
Suddenly, confidential secretary Qian Kerou walked into the hall:
"Sir, a messenger from our hall handed over a letter, saying that it was sent by Feng Ju, the director of the Ministry of Personnel, and that he had something very important to tell you."
Feng Ju?
Zhao Duan was startled, recalling the beginning of his time travel, when he took advantage of the power of others to deceive the leader who had the style of a scholar.
Hearing that he was commended by the empress, he thought he would rise to a high position in the future, so he stopped paying attention to him.
What does the other party want you to do?
Why not come in person?
He took a roundabout way and asked his subordinates to deliver the letter.
Zhao Duan had a good impression of Feng Ju, even though the other party was deceived.
But the reason why he was able to turn the tables and survive the Zhuang Xiaocheng case was that Lao Feng's attack played a crucial role.
Zhao Duan was a man who cherished old friendships. Even though Zhu Kui betrayed him, he still gave the other party a decent ending.
If Old Feng encounters any difficulties, Zhao Duan doesn't mind helping.
He immediately took the wax-sealed letter, tore it open and read it.
After a while.
His face changed slightly, he was startled at first, and then a slight chill ran down his back.
"Overturning the verdict... what a good move... If he really succeeds, even if nothing serious happens to me, I will still suffer a lot."
Immediately, Zhao Duan flicked the envelope with his finger, as if thinking about something.
He realized that the breakthrough he needed to counterattack Xia Jianghou seemed to be right in front of him.
"Kidnapped the family of an imperial official, even a marquis can't stand it, right?"
……
Typos should be corrected first and then replaced
Thanks to Zhizhuzaiwu for the 500-point reward~
(End of this chapter)