Chapter 140 I Want to Sit at the Poker Table

Chapter 140 I Want to Sit at the Poker Table

Chapter 140 I Want to Sit at the Poker Table
Report... Report again...

In the courtyard, on a hot summer day, in the main room, Yuan Li suddenly had a sense of déjà vu.

In a trance, I recalled the night when Zhao Duan came to report.

I just gave a long speech, trying to persuade him not to rush, saying that Zhou Cheng's flaws were hard to catch, and you just said you found them... Yuan Li's heart skipped a beat, and he frowned slightly with a stern face:
"Killing an important official of the imperial court unjustly and violating the law and discipline, do you know what you are saying?"

Having been in a high position for a long time, Yuan Li has seen too many subordinates exaggerating their reports.

Although Zhao Duan is capable, he is still young. Perhaps he has caught some clues, but the four words "wrongly killing an important official" cannot be used casually.

Therefore, this sentence has some warning meaning in it.

Zhao Duan said in distress:

"I was silent because I was wondering if the evidence I found was what Mr. Yuan said was a 'small matter' that would not be investigated. After all, it only involved the death of a junior official of the Dali Temple, a censor, and a dozen implicated officials."

When Yuan Li heard the first half of his sentence, her body relaxed quietly, thinking that it was indeed not a big deal.

But when he heard the second half of the sentence, this powerful official in the court suddenly looked up, and the tea bowl in his hand tilted, spilling some tea without even caring.

Merely?

The death of a dozen officials?
He was stunned for a moment, suspecting that he had heard it wrong.

When he saw Zhao Duan's firm and confident look, his breathing became slightly tight.

At this moment, even with his shrewdness, he could not help but show a little surprise on his face, but he quickly restrained himself and said in a deep voice:
"say clearly!"

"Yes!" Zhao Duan stopped talking nonsense.

He immediately told her everything, including how his colleagues discovered the missing files, how he found Xue Lin's descendants, and how he learned the truth of the old case.

Yuan Li listened quietly without interrupting.

When he finished his narration, the current Imperial Censor sat up straight with a sharp look in his eyes:
"Do you believe what later generations said?"

Zhao Duan said firmly: "I think there must be something fishy about this matter."

Yuan Li stood up and paced slowly in the hall, as if thinking. After a moment, he sighed:
"I have heard of Xue Lin in the past. Although I have never met him, I know his reputation. Later, I heard that he was imprisoned, which was a pity. As for the eunuch Wang Zhen... humph."

He snorted coldly, his disdain for the evaluation evident in his words.

Zhao Duan also got up early and blinked:
"Since Lord Yuan has heard of this matter, has he never investigated it?"

Yuan Li glanced at him and said unhappily:

"Thirteen years ago, I was still working as an official in another province. By the time I returned to Beijing, several years had passed."

It turned out to be the case.

Yuan Li and Xue Lin have no friendship, and after so many years, how bored must she be to delve into the old case?

If Haitang hadn't investigated it for the sake of merit, and if the empress hadn't issued an order, this old case would have remained sealed in a dark file library until it was forgotten.

Zhao Duan said respectfully:

“I found this point and realized that it would be difficult for me to find the erased clues by myself.

Especially when it comes to opening up the various government offices, I am not the director of the imperial office, so I dared to come to your door and ask for help from Mr. Yuan. "

Yuan Li was not surprised, and after a moment of silence, he said:

"Give me a reason. A reason to help you."

An old case from the "previous dynasty" was tried by the then Chief Censor, and the late emperor wrote the final verdict.

Even if she was wrong, Yuan Li had no reason to make a fuss about it.

Zhao Duan said without hesitation:

"As far as I know, Prime Minister Zhou is very close to Li Yanfu. He is in charge of one of the three judicial departments, and many things done by the Censorate are also subject to checks and balances by him."

Just as Xue Lin could repeatedly reject cases reviewed by the Censorate back then, Zhou Cheng today also has a restraining effect on Yuan Li.

What Zhao Duan meant by this sentence was that Zhou Cheng was also Yuan Li's enemy. If he could be abolished, it would be a huge benefit to the Censorate.

Yuan Li stared down at him, narrowed his eyes and asked, "That's it?"

Zhao Duan lowered his eyes and nodded: "That's it."

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Immediately, Yuan Qingyi, who had looked so majestic just now, suddenly smiled, and the sharpness in his eyes turned into admiration.

He took a step, sat back in the chair, and said softly:
"I thought you just used the mission His Majesty gave you as an excuse."

Zhao Duan shook his head seriously:

"This is a task that your majesty has given to me, not a task for Lord Yuan."

Logically, since the empress ordered Zhao Du'an to investigate, it was a "special authorization of the imperial power" and he could order the Censorate to cooperate.

Otherwise, you can file a complaint with the Empress.

But truth is just truth.

When Zhao Duan left school in his previous life, he also believed that "the truth will prevail in the world" and he always had to argue about right and wrong in everything.

After working, I found that the rules governing this world have never had anything to do with the word "reason".

The words "right" and "wrong" are only important to the parties involved, and outsiders never care.

Just as he watched "Flying Spurs 2" in the cinema before traveling through time, Shen Teng was in tears in the play, saying that he didn't care about the ranking, but what he wanted was innocence.

But even in the world of movies, no one cares about these things, they only care about the results.

Of course, he could threaten Yuan Li by complaining to the empress, but that would create a powerful enemy for himself and would be detrimental to solving the problem.

Therefore, even when Yuan Li asked him about it, he never mentioned the word "empress".

Let’s just talk about what benefits the Censorate will gain by defeating Prime Minister Zhou.

After hearing this, Yuan Li's eyes became more filled with admiration.

If Zhao Duan uses the name of the empress, he will also help.

With his broad mind, he would not hate Zhao Duan or harbor any grudge against him.

But... the judgment of him in my heart will inevitably be lowered by several levels, and I believe that his future achievements will be limited.

If you don't know how to win over allies in the court, even if you gain power for a while, it will only be short-lived. "Very good," Yuan Li thought for a moment and said:

"It is indeed beneficial for me to bring down Zhou Cheng, but if the case is not as you investigated, or if there is not enough evidence, the intervention of the Censorate will cause a fallout with the Dali Temple.

At that time, the consequences of falling out with Zhou Cheng will be borne by the Censorate."

There are risks indeed, but if it succeeds, the benefits will also be huge... Zhao Duan said nothing and waited for the next step.

Yuan Li pondered for a moment and said with a smile:
“So, you have two choices before you.

First, I can provide you with all the help you need in this case. Even if the evidence is insufficient, I can help you to "fill it up". I can also take on any counterattack from Zhou Cheng for you.

You can enjoy the fruits of your labor and complete the tasks assigned by His Majesty, but...if it succeeds in the end, you will only get a small share of the credit."

Implication:
Yuan Li also believed that this was a good opportunity and he was willing to take action to deal with Zhou Cheng.

But the vast majority of the fruits of victory must be given to the Censorate.

"What about the second option?" Zhao Duan asked.

Yuan Li said slowly:
"As for the second one, I will also provide what you need and help you get it. But that's all. How to defeat him afterwards is still up to you or the Zhao Ya behind you.

You will have to bear all of Zhou Cheng's subsequent counterattacks alone. I will not protect you from the wind and rain...

But correspondingly, if it succeeds, you will get most of the credit, and the Censorate will only need a part. You can think about it slowly and give me an answer later."

"No need to think," Zhao Duan said without hesitation:

"I choose the second one. Please support me, Mr. Yuan."

Yuan Li looked at him quietly and reminded:
"You have to think clearly. Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. If you continue to investigate, even if you can conceal it for a while, Zhou Cheng will find out sooner or later.

By then, if a third-rank official attacks with all his strength, it will not be easy even if you have Ma Yan's protection.

Just like Pei Kaizhi back then, if I hadn't been there before you, you would have been thrown into the prison of the Ministry of Justice by him long ago.

Don't think that just because you are wearing a brocade robe, those important officials in the court will be helpless against you."

Zhao Duan said sincerely:
"Thank you, Mr. Yuan, for your advice. I know very well that Pei Kaizhi was brought down because of the entire Censorate.

If it were just me, even if I could instigate a rebellion against Lu Liang and alienate the father-in-law and son-in-law, it would be useless, and I would only be crushed to death by Pei Kaizhi who would react. But..."

He paused, pursed his lips, and said slowly:
"But... back then, I was just a powerless messenger. Now, things are different.

Of course, I know that a mere Lihuatang Jisi is still like an ant compared to Zhou Cheng, a dignified Nine Ministers...but..."

He suddenly laughed, a laugh that was somewhat rebellious, somewhat fierce, and somewhat ambitious:
"But, I also want to be a chess player for once."

Chess player!

In the case of Pei Kai, although Zhao Duan called himself a "chess player", he was ultimately just a chess piece, and Yuan Li was the one playing the game.

Only the chess player can take the biggest piece of cake.

But this time, facing the fat and rich cake of Zhou Cheng, Zhao Duan weighed the limited power in his hands and became eager to try.

If the struggle in the court is an endless game of cards, the empress is the dealer.

So this time, Zhao Duan wanted to tiptoe and sit at the poker table.

"Mr. Yuan once taught me that if I want to make achievements, it is better to take a big chance instead of focusing on small fish and shrimps. I listened to this truth," said Zhao Duan.

Quiet.

On a hot summer day, the scorching sun in the courtyard seems not as bright and piercing as the young man's eyes.

Yuan Li looked at him quietly, and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes suddenly became more and more fine, as if she saw herself when she was young.

"Okay," he suddenly laughed out loud, and then waved his loose robe sleeves:
"As you wish! This time, I want to see if you, a little police officer, can bite an elephant to death."

Zhao Duan bowed respectfully:
"Thank you, Mr. Yuan, for your help."

Yuan Li glanced at him:

"Tell me what you want me to check for you."

Zhao Duan took out the last page of the file from his arms.

That year, Zhou Cheng stamped the document with numerous names written on it and handed it over with both hands.

"Please ask Mr. Yuan to help collect the relevant documents of this case.

And where are the officials from the Dali Temple who were either employed in the Censorate or the Ministry of Justice and participated in the trial of the case, or were implicated and imprisoned?

If the person is deceased, who are his direct descendants?

Although many files have "disappeared", such a large case is bound to leave many indelible traces.

What I want is to gather together again these evidences that have long been scattered, disrupted, and buried in the dust of the past.

This will form ironclad evidence that will be enough to nail Zhou Cheng to death in court."

Yuan Li raised his hand to take it and glanced down.

The numerous clues spread across various government offices and even outside the capital gave Haitang and Zhang Han a headache.

In the eyes of this top official of the current dynasty, there seemed to be no obstacles at all.

"Someone is coming."

Yuan Li called over a man, who was the "Yuan family coachman" who always accompanied him.

He repeated what Zhao Duan needed, and finally said:
"Collect everything and send it to Lihua Hall before tomorrow. Remember, be careful and don't alert outsiders."

Decisive and domineering.

"Yes, sir." The Yuan family's coachman bowed and went down without any hesitation.

Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then said hurriedly: "Actually, there's no need to be so anxious..."

After all, there are so many names, involving many government offices and places.

Yuan Li, however, looked calm and said calmly: "One day is enough."

Zhao Duan was fascinated.

Yuan Li solved the problem that the three halls of Lingzhao Yamen were at a loss for a solution with just one sentence.

(End of this chapter)