Chapter 553: Stop pretending, you are Zhao Duan
Chapter 553: Stop pretending, you are Zhao Duan
"Let him go?!"
After hearing Sun Lianying's words, Zhao Duan had not yet reacted, but several subordinates around him could no longer sit still.
Their expressions changed at the same time.
I was thinking about the game in the court, did His Majesty choose to give in?
The people who were finally captured were released just like that? Doesn't this mean that the purge operation has failed?
"I obey your order." Zhao Duan's expression was unusually calm, as if he had expected it. He turned his head and instructed the secretary and others:
"You hear me? Go and free the innocent part."
The innocent part... Qian Kerou and the others' eyes lit up, realizing something. She asked uncertainly:
"Your Excellency, you are talking about..."
Zhao Duan reminded: "The newly added half of the list."
At the beginning, when Lihuatang launched a large-scale arrest of members of the Qingliu Party, Zhao Duan had handwritten a bunch of names at the end of the suspect list and arrested them all.
Although these people suffered some minor injuries in the past two days, they were not actually treated as traitors.
The Jinyi soldiers were always wondering why their master had brought in an extra group of people. Until this moment, they suddenly understood something. Surprise appeared in their eyes, and several of them turned around and ran away immediately.
Sun Lianying looked at this scene in surprise and suddenly laughed:
"Would you like me to sit in your house for a while?"
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Supervisor Sun, please come in."
The two of them immediately walked towards the inner hall.
The eunuchs who followed him did not move and still stood where they were.
When there were only two people in the inner hall on a autumn day, Sun Lianying dusted off his robe and sat down. He folded his hands and watched with interest as the white-faced official handed him a washed pear.
The old eunuch suddenly smiled and said:
"It is an honor for our family to have the great Governor Zhao personally wash the pears and present them to us."
Zhao Duan's action of bending over to hand over the pear froze, and he raised his masked face, showing surprise and confusion just right:
"What does Supervisor Sun mean by this?"
Sun Lianying said unhappily:
"Stop pretending. You may be able to fool those people outside, but you can't fool my old eyes.
When did you come back?
I was wondering before, when did such a powerful person appear among the worship shadow guards? I searched my mind but couldn't find the corresponding person. I just saw you and I am sure. "
Zhao Duan's face fell, he raised his hand and grabbed at the air, the door slammed shut, he took off his mask and smiled bitterly:
"How did you figure that out? Did His Majesty sell me out?"
Sun Lianying looked at the familiar face under the mask, and was slightly dazed for a moment, as if he had finally confirmed it, and smacked his lips and said:
"How many people are brave enough to make such a big fuss and make Yuan Li back down?
Besides, just from the attitudes of your subordinates, it is clear that why would the troublemakers of Lihua Hall bow down to a boss who just came out of nowhere?"
Zhao Duan smiled awkwardly, not surprised.
In the entire capital, the person who knows him best is the old man in front of him.
Although Zhenbao was distant from him, they did not spend much time together.
On the contrary, it was Sun Lianying who saw everything from the beginning when she promoted the original owner to the entire transformation of Zhao Duan's personality later on. Moreover, she knew the people in the palace very well and could see through their identities, which was reasonable.
"I haven't been back for too long. To be precise, I haven't been back completely yet."
Zhao Duan briefly explained how he was able to split himself into two places with the help of a talisman:
"I learned that the Qingliu Party was a difficult problem, so I took action. As for this disguise, it can't be concealed for too long."
Sun Lianying suddenly realized and sighed:
"The country is in turmoil, and those who are capable should do more work. It's just that you have worked hard and received a lot of criticism."
Zhao Duan smiled nonchalantly and said:
"I am a well-known treacherous minister in the entire Dayu, a pretty boy's concubine, why would I care about this? What happened at the morning court today?"
Mention business.
The old supervisor recounted the situation during the morning court session.
It’s not complicated and is pretty much as expected.
As the leader of the Qingliu Party, Yuan Li led his ministers in a game of chess with the empress. Master Dong dragged his old body to the palace to mediate.
In the end, both sides took a step back. Those who had solid evidence of treason would be dealt with according to law, and those without sufficient evidence, the empress agreed to release.
"You don't seem surprised. What do you mean by the new additions to the list you just mentioned?" Sun Lianying asked curiously.
Zhao Duan explained with a smile:
"Nothing. When we first arrested the first group of people, we arrested some extra people to make up the number. Now we just happened to let them go."
This sentence is light and does not seem to have any weight, but if it falls on the outside, it will surely surprise countless people.
Sun Lianying's breath tightened and she stared at him: "Did you do this on purpose?"
Zhao Duan sighed softly, his eyes deep as he said:
"It is not difficult to eliminate the traitors. The difficulty lies only with Yuan Li."
"The difficulty lies in how to catch the traitor without damaging Yuan Li's position and reputation as the 'party leader'."
"After much thought, I think the only way to preserve both your majesty's dignity and Yuan Li's prestige is to make Yuan Li furious and lead his ministers to fight with Your Majesty. After a fierce fight, both sides will take a step back and save some people.
"But this is not a fair fight, so I have to give Yuan Li a reason to end it with dignity... It's like a play. Since the purpose is to get things done without making a big fuss, there must be someone who plays the good cop and someone who plays the bad cop."
Sun Lianying was stunned for a moment, and suddenly a radiance burst out from her cloudy eyes:
"So, all this was planned by you?
When you first took office, you barged into the Censorate rashly and arrested people in an illegal manner. Your purpose was to make Yuan Li legitimately stand up for the people below you.
And you deliberately left a loophole for the other party, so that the Qingliu Party would have an excuse to impeach you and a reason to fight with Your Majesty?"
Zhao Duan nodded.
Sun Lianying took a deep breath and continued quickly:
"After you came back, you arrested a group of extra officials. You were waiting for this moment. These extra officials were supposed to be released later, to show the entire capital, to give an explanation to the Qingliu Party, and to give Yuan Li a way out?!"
Zhao Duan smiled and nodded:
"It's like two armies fighting each other. If Yuan Li is defeated and can't save a single person, how can he keep his position? How can the people under him obey him?
On the other hand, once this group of officials was released, Yuan Li would become the party leader who snatched food from His Majesty's tiger's mouth. Even if only a group of them was rescued, it would be enough to shut up those who were questioning.
Everything is afraid of comparison. When Li Yanfu faced the capture of his men, he could only retreat step by step, but Yuan Li was able to save a group of people... At least she is better than Li Yanfu.
As for His Majesty, the goal has been achieved. By eliminating the traitors and letting the innocent go, it can show magnanimity...
In this drama, the only one who should be sacrificed is me. But I am just an "acting police officer". When the matter is over, if someone still bites me, at worst, I can ask His Majesty to take my position...
Well, it’s okay to kill me, I’m just a substitute now anyway.”
After a pause, he added calmly:
"Of course, everything is based on the premise that there is nothing wrong with Yuan Li. Fortunately, after our interrogation, there is no evidence to show that Lord Yuan is colluding with the rebel king."
Finished talking.
There was nothing but amazement in Sun Lianying's eyes.
Such a tricky situation was actually solved by Zhao Duan using this method, and the whole process took only a few days.
In contrast, when Zhao Duan overthrew Pei Kaizhi, Zhou Cheng, and dealt with the young cabinet minister Li Yinglong in the early days, he sought help everywhere, involved himself, and won the victory with difficulty.
Now, when he uses his skills, he feels more at ease and does it with ease.
With just a wave of his hand, he stirred up the situation in the court.
How could he be the slightest bit like the favored minister who rose to fame overnight and was hated by everyone? "If I hadn't seen you grow up to this point, I would have questioned who you really were," Sun Lianying exclaimed.
...Zhao Duan was silent for a moment, then handed the pear over:
"No matter what time, I am always the White Horse Guards messenger and your subordinate."
The old eunuch was amused: "You, you..."
As I laughed, I felt a little moved:
"I am old and can't help His Majesty. With you and Mochou by His Majesty's side, His Majesty won't have to work so hard."
No...don't compare me to a eunuch...Zhao Duan complained.
At this moment, Zhao Duan suddenly heard footsteps outside. He picked up the white mask on the table, put it on, and waved his hand.
The door creaked open by itself.
Qian Kerou and the others came back: "Sir, the person has been released."
"Okay, the matter is settled, and it's time for us to return to the palace to report." The old eunuch wiped the corners of his eyes with the sleeves of his robe, stood up, flicked his whisk and smiled.
Zhao Duan hurriedly said, "I'll take you there, father-in-law."
The two walked outside.
The government office looked desolate in autumn, with yellow leaves scattered on the ground.
The two walked in front, and several eunuchs and Lihuatang brocade clothes followed behind.
Sun Lianying looked at the golden autumn wind and suddenly thought of something and said:
"Recently, people have been comparing you to Xue Shence, and a group of people are openly praising you and secretly criticizing you. I heard that the Golden Autumn Gathering is going to be held, and they may invite you to attend."
Golden Autumn Gathering? Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, thinking it sounded familiar. He strained his brain to recall it, and then he remembered that this was the common name for the mountain climbing gatherings in the capital every autumn.
Climbing high places in autumn, or "trampling the autumn", or reciting poems and essays, or gathering to play games... are the customs of the Yu State.
Even though war is raging now, the capital city of Beijing is still stable. In order to reassure people, the court does not interfere with such autumn gatherings and even encourages them.
Last fall, Zhao Duan missed a number of literary gatherings in Beijing because he went to Taicang to investigate the "silver mine case."
Zhao Duan frowned and said:
"I remember that most of the participants of the Golden Autumn Gathering were scholars. Why would they look for a police inspector like me?"
Sun Lianying glanced at him:
"Since you are in this position, many people have already judged you to be a lackey of 'Zhao Shaobao'. Do you really think that the scholars who have been scolding you these days are only scolding you?"
Good man, I have become my own lackey... Zhao Duan was amazed.
Sun Lianying sighed:
"You are now a well-known figure in the entire capital. I don't know how many people want to find out your background. Even if the Qingliu Party's matter has a tolerable result for the time being, those literati are still angry and will still keep an eye on you."
Zhao Duan said with a smile: "At worst, I won't go."
At this time, the two men walked out of the yamen and ended their conversation.
I watched the old eunuch get on a carriage and go to the palace.
Zhao Duan stretched his waist and said to the secretary:
"Prepare the car. I have to go to the palace as well."
Now that this power struggle had come to an end, he breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to go to the palace to see Zhen Bao.
At the same time, he also needed his soul to return to Linfeng to arrange the second step of the plan against Xu Jingtang and Zhao Shixiong.
Soon, Hou Renmeng and Shen Juan brought out a carriage, and the little secretary got into the carriage holding a bunch of pears as snacks for their masters.
Just as the group turned the corner, Zhao Duan suddenly turned his head and looked at a large carriage parked on the opposite street.
Zhao Duan paused for a moment, then retracted his gaze and continued walking away.
……
Inside the carriage.
Yuan Li, dressed in blue, holding a jade ruyi in her hand, opened the curtains a little, and watched the "white-faced police officer" walk away and disappear in the crowd.
In the distance, the Imperial Censor Chen Hong came back, got into the carriage, and reported:
"Mr. Yuan, the Imperial Prison has released a large number of people. Just as you guessed, this new police department seems to have been prepared. Do you want to find a way to investigate the identity of this person?"
Yuan Li put down Yu Ruyi, the tired look on his face eased a little, and he sighed softly:
"A good white face."
He turned his head and looked at Chen Hong with gentle eyes:
"Anyway, this mess has had a tolerable outcome, right? Why create more complications? Besides... there are already enough people in the capital who want to investigate this person's identity. Let's go."
The driver cracked his whip.
The carriage started moving.
Chen Hong remained silent. She had a hunch in her heart that it was not that Mr. Yuan did not want to investigate, but that he already knew the identity of this white-faced police officer.
But who is it?
The image of a person flashed through Chen Hong's mind, but was immediately cut off by his shaking head.
That person is in charge of Linfeng, with countless eyes watching him, so it is impossible for him to appear in the capital.
The carriage went along Zhuque Street towards the Censorate.
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance, and the people retreated to both sides of the street.
Yuan Li also asked the driver to pull over, lifted the curtain and looked out. He saw a messenger running from the city gate, carrying a flaming red banner. He rode his horse at a slow speed and shouted as he ran:
"Great victory on the Eastern Front! Privy Councilor Xue led his troops to defeat the Jiancheng rebels! And defeated the traitor Prince Jing!"
Inside the car, Yuan Li was stunned for a moment, with a look of surprise in his eyes.
Chen Hong was overjoyed:
"Lord Yuan! Great victory on the eastern front! The imperial court has won another victory! Envoy Xue is worthy of being the military god of Dayu. How long has it been? And there is good news?"
Yuan Li stroked his beard and nodded, commenting calmly:
"With Xue Shence's combat ability, combined with the new firearms of the Shenji Battalion, the Three Thousand Battalions, the Shenji Battalion, and the Linfeng Military Mansion's troops, it's not surprising that he can defeat Prince Jing. It all depends on how much he wins this time and how much territory he recaptures."
The people on both sides of the street were also shocked and cheered.
Someone shouted "Military God!"
Win the approval of everyone.
A victory can resolve many internal conflicts. For the entire court, which had just experienced the turmoil of purging the Qingliu Party, it was time to crave victory.
……
Another street.
Zhao Duan's carriage was also forced to stop.
"Sir, we have won the battle on the Eastern Front!" Qian Kerou was surprised.
Inside the carriage, Zhao Duan, leaning against a soft pillow, smiled:
"It stands to reason that if Xue Shence can't defeat Prince Jing with so many soldiers, we should really doubt whether there is something wrong with him. Hey, why are you not happy after winning the battle?"
The secretary said with a bitter face, somewhat resentfully:
"People have been comparing you to Xue Shence. Now that the Eastern Front has won a great victory, you haven't made any major moves on the Western Front. It's understandable that there must be a group of people who want to use this incident to belittle you, sir."
……
Layout is updated first and then modified
(End of this chapter)