Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!

"Open the door! Open the door for me!"

Zhong Liyan, with a bruised nose and swollen face, and a few armor-piercing leaves hanging on his body, roared loudly outside the imperial city and banged on the door.

Xiang Zhaohuai, the commander of the Imperial City Guards, is on duty today. He is wearing armor and hanging a sword. He is standing on the city gate tower with a headache: "Brother Zhongli, how can you break into the Imperial City without permission in the middle of the night?"

Zhong Liyan hit him hard several more times before he withdrew from the city gate. He looked up at General Nalaoshizi at the top and said, "His surname is Xiang! Report to the emperor that Zhong Liyan, the first arrogant genius of Chu, wants to see you!"

Xiang Zhaohuai did not refute his claim, lest he hold grudges, but said: "It is already getting late, and Your Majesty is too distracted to disturb you. If Mr. Zhongli has something to do, you might as well come back tomorrow morning."

"Can't wait for tomorrow!" Zhong Liyan waved his hand: "This is a big deal! I want to see the emperor! I want to ask him to uphold justice!"

Xiang Zhaohuai smiled bitterly: "I'm just kidding - who can deny you justice?"

"You don't want to give it now!" Zhong Liyan raised his finger and pointed at him: "I'll count to three, if you don't give me a pass, I'm going to beat the drum - I'm going to beat the drum to complain!"

This kid can tell that he can really do it.

Xiang Zhaohuai jumped off the tower and held Zhong Liyan's arm affectionately: "Brother, brother! What are you in a hurry for?"

Then he looked at Zhong Liyan's appearance and whispered: "What's the matter with the injury on your body? I'll ask the imperial doctor to take a look at it first. It's not decent to see the emperor like this."

"Don't even think about it!" Zhong Liyan broke away from him: "This is all evidence of crime! I just want the emperor to see how Douzhao disrespects the national law, openly beats me, and seizes my seat!"

Xiang Zhaohuai was thinking about settling the matter, but suddenly he realized something was wrong: "That's not right, you and Douzhao have been fighting since childhood, and I have never seen you complain. When did you, Zhongli brother, become the one to complain?"

"Don't confuse such a serious matter into an ordinary fight!" Zhong Liyan was furious: "The emperor promised me to be a member of Taixu Cabinet, but now Douzhao is domineering and refuses to give it. There is no explanation for this matter, and I can't give up.

of!"

If you didn't file a complaint before, then it would be useless to complain. Although Xiangu Zhongli is from a famous family, Duke Wei's family is an aristocratic family, and no one can win against any cunning complaint.

This will be useful if you file a complaint.

If you go out with your credentials in hand and come home with a bruised nose and swollen face, who is hurting your face? How can you sue them specifically instead of making a big report?!

What else should I say to Xiang Zhaohuai?

Zhong Liyan pointed angrily and cursed again: "If you stop me again, I will sue you too. How dare you protect Doujia's son!"

Xiang Zhaohuai felt helpless.

But at this time, he heard the instructions in his ears, so he smiled bitterly and asked someone to open the door: "Okay, okay, let you in, and I will tell you - brother Zhongli, I may have to take responsibility tonight."

"Don't worry, no one will blame you." Zhong Liyan immediately changed his smile and patted his shoulder to express comfort: "Everyone knows that I, Zhong Liyan, am a reasonable person, and you understand the truth, General Xiang.

Only those who are willing to collude with the Dou family will let me enter the imperial city. If it were those of the Dou family... hmph!"

Xiang Zhaohuai already regretted talking to him, so he just pointed the way and hurried back to stand guard.

But he said that Zhong Liyan entered the imperial city without restraint. Under the leadership of Xiao Huangmen, he walked through the corridor and passed through the palace, and soon arrived at Shehu Palace where Emperor Chu was meditating.

"Your Majesty!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, and walked in while shouting: "Can you ignore this matter? In broad daylight, with the sky clear, he surnamed Dou tore out his credentials. How can he not have the imperial court in his heart?

Dachu Sheji—eh?”

The Shehu Palace was empty. Gu Chi, who was as thin as a clothes hanger, was floating alone in the corner, touching his nose slightly awkwardly: "Your Majesty hasn't come here yet, why don't you call after a while?"

Zhongliyan snorted, folded his arms and said nothing. Uncle Zhongli disdained to associate with such evil spirits.

Not long after, there was a sudden warmth in the palace, as if spring had just arrived. The majestic figure of Emperor Chu appeared in front of the jade furnace, wearing only ordinary clothes. He picked up the incense sticks with fine tongs and did not look back: "Zhongli."

The kid has been making noises most of the night, what is going on?"

"Your Majesty~~~!" Zhong Liyan immediately entered the state, prolonged his voice, and howled: "I was ordered to enter the cabinet to participate in Taixu affairs on behalf of Chu State. But Douzhao was stubborn and refused to leave, and even made a sneak attack on

I, the minister, was not aware of it for a moment, and thought that I was also from Chu, so I was soft on him - and I was hit hard!"

He cadenced for a while: "This is not a sneak attack on me, this is a sneak attack on His Majesty's face! Please banish Douzhao! Exile him to the demon world! Let him guard the gate!"

Emperor Chu held his forehead and said nothing for a while.

Zhong Liyan was unreasonably trying to stir up trouble. Now he felt that he had great righteousness in hand, and he was not willing to give up: "Your Majesty! I will obey your will and dedicate myself to the country. I resigned from the post of General Qian Niuwei and publicly announced my withdrawal from Chu. I will devote myself wholeheartedly to the country."

Prepare to get involved in Taixu's affairs - now Dou Zhao dominates the position and refuses to leave, and I am in dire straits, like an orphan without a father or a mother, how can you bear it?"

Gu Chi stood by and his teeth gritted as he listened.

The political reform of Chu State was in full swing. As Duke Huai took the lead in handing over troops to liberate power, other Xiangguo aristocratic families also expressed their support... The overall progress was considered smooth. Zuo, Dou, Wu, and Qu all came from the royal family with the surname Xiong. It can be said that the land of Chu

Nothing is impossible.

But there are also unsatisfactory situations.

After all, depriving a family of interests is a painful and flesh-cutting wound. Even the most majestic Duke of Huai can only be said to be repressive within the Zuo family, and it is impossible to make everyone willing. Don't you see that the recent period has been

, Mr. Zuo has spoken out publicly many times, Mr. Zuo has visited the ancestral temple seven times, and has repeatedly worshiped his ancestors... But there are so many new heads hanging on Luoshan Mountain!

Duke Yu had a gentle temperament and was lenient to his relatives, and the Qu family was the most favored and arrogant. These days, Qu Shunhua was the one holding a knife, and every family came to try to reason with him.

The Dou family had an unruly Dou Zhao who suppressed both internal and external affairs arbitrarily, but it was better.

The heir of the Wu family died, and there was no second heir who could obey the public to step forward. This coincided with the overall situation change, and the internal situation became much more chaotic.

This is true even for the Xiangguo family, let alone those below. There is an undercurrent, but no one has ever seen it.

The State of Chu is a large aristocratic family, and each of the major aristocratic families is a small state of Chu.

Now the top level of Chu State has reached a general consensus, while the middle and top levels are divided under the table, and the bottom level only knows to cheer Huang Weizhen's return.

For example, now, doesn’t Zhong Liyan just want to speak the Dharma?

The Xiangu Zhongli family is a famous family second only to the Xiangguo family. It was also the family that lost the most blood during this political reform.

Who said this kid is reckless and brainless?

It is true that they are competing for Zhao's cabinet position, and it is true that they cannot be overtaken. It is even more true that they want a definite position in the system after the New Deal is rolled out!

Probably...it was Zhongli Zhaojia's idea, right?

"You deadbeat." Chu Tianzi turned around and scolded with a smile: "Your father is there well, eating, drinking and doing things, but you always say that you are an orphan, what's going on?"

Gu Chi's eyelids drooped slightly. The word "tossing" is not a good comment for a person in Zhongli Zhaojia's position.

"Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have never been complete!" Zhong Liyan said loudly: "For the sake of state affairs, I have left Xiangu and severed the father-son relationship with Zhongli Zhaojia! You asked me to be a member of Taixu Cabinet. Even though I am not willing, I must do it well.

!”

"Okay, okay." Emperor Chu waved his hand: "Dou Zhao is also very stubborn. He has two wild bulls with their horns raised, and I can't force either one. It's a good thing that he's back. The position of Taixu Cabinet Member

, forget it - don't worry, don't yell, Qian Niuwei, you can go back and become a general again. I will give you a salary promotion to the third level, an increase of one thousand troops, and royal secrets. You can choose three volumes to help you next time.

What do you think about turning defeat into victory?"

"Your Majesty, who do you think Zhong Liyan is?" Zhong Liyan looked distrustful and indignant: "I am asking you for an official position! I am asking for wealth!"

Chu Tianzi then laughed: "You just go through the motions and I will give you this, aren't you satisfied? Even Jiang Wang, who is now recognized as the number one genius, probably won't be able to afford this in appearance fees."

Zhong Liyan raised his head and said: "It's a shame that people in the world are short-sighted and don't distinguish between stone and jade. Your Majesty also underestimates me!"

Emperor Chu looked at him: "Then tell me, what do you want?"

"I'm asking for the official examination!" Zhong Liyan said loudly: "The great state affairs of the state will benefit the future. I, a son of a noble family and a man who offers grain, won't support it! I want to take the lead in taking the official examination. I will rely on my own ability to divide the money and win by the sword.

Name. I just ask the court to treat me fairly, not to give preferential treatment, and not to suppress me."

Chu Tianzi looked at this guy with a bruised nose and swollen face and was in an embarrassing condition, and he was quite impressed: "You and your father have different ideas."

"He is old! When people get old, it is inevitable to cling to old feelings. He has to consider the interests of those old friends and cannot let go of them." Zhong Liyan waved his hand and looked very proud: "I am different.

I deny Xiaoliu's relatives, and he is full of five evils. Your Majesty simply removed him and told him to remove his armor. I will be the leader of the Zhongli clan. I will banish all the old people and vigorously promote the backbone of young people. I will definitely make great achievements!"

Gu Chi remained silent beside him, but he had silently adjusted his attitude towards Zhong Liyan... He really couldn't just be regarded as a reckless man. This kid from the Zhongli family wanted to occupy an important position in the New Deal!

"What nonsense!" Emperor Chu raised his finger and cursed: "You are disrespectful to your father, the general of Chu State!"

"Since ancient times, it has been difficult to have both loyalty and filial piety!" Zhong Liyan said carelessly: "Your Majesty, you and I are on the same side, and you have to be loyal to me."

The Emperor of Chu did not comment, looked at him twice and then said: "The official examination is meant to treat everyone equally, without distinction between high and low. The door is facing the sky, welcoming Chu people from all over the world. If you want to take the exam, you can go - whoever dares to be unfair to you, you come and knock again

Just go and hear the drum."

Zhong Liyan said solemnly: "In this case, I only have a small request."

Emperor Chu said "ha": "Tell me and listen."

"The royal secret minister doesn't know how to choose." Zhong Liyan said: "You can help me choose."

"This matter is quite simple." Chu Tianzi smiled: "What do you want?"

"Look at what you said, there are no requirements..." Zhong Liyan grinned: "As long as you can suppress Dou Zhao!"

…

…

"There are ways to suppress the golden body of fighting and the golden bridge on the other side." A bored Jiang was using the Taoist platform to deduce Taoism. By the way, he used Taixu magatama to discuss some cultivation issues with other real people.

This letter was returned to Qin Zhizhen.

Qin Zhizhen was indeed very interested and responded faster than before - "What can I do?"

Jiang Wang wrote back: "Go to the Duke Wei of Chu State to find a man named Doumian."
To be continued...