Struggle in the early Tang Dynasty

Guo Ye smiled wryly, and said, "What are you trying to do? Of course it's for self-protection! A woman's heart is a needle in the sea. Even though Pipa girl left me a letter, who knows what she thinks? The most urgent thing is to get her Her reputation has been completely ruined, making her afraid to show her face in front of His Majesty. As long as His Majesty is not involved, I will be completely safe with my back against the big tree of King Qi."

"Then you are not afraid that she will defect to King Qi?"

"Impossible. It would be fine if I secretly offered her to King Qi, but now the rumors between her and King Qi are spreading all over the city, and King Qi is so daring that he dare not have anything to do with her."

Kong Congming nodded and said, "It seems that your idea is not only beneficial to Kong, but also to yourself."

"It's not about any benefits, it's just a precautionary measure. I still have to worry, how can I explain today's matter to Uncle Guo!"

"How about it...Guo Dianjun, don't leave yet, I'll ask Xiu Lian to write a letter, and you can bring it to my cheap old father-in-law, and it will be regarded as an explanation to him."

"That's all it takes."

……

……

In the following days, Kong Congming acted according to plan, and first sent people to publicize the news that the Pipa girl had returned to King Qi.Then one night, she quietly left with Yin Xiulian, without knowing where she was going.

The masters of the great village have all run away, no matter how stupid the Douzigang bandits are, they know that something is wrong.In desperation, they set fire to Dazhai and went their separate ways.

Guo Ye's plan was not as simple as what he told Kong Congming.

As soon as the Douzigang bandits broke up, he sent someone to spread the news.In fact, it's not really news, it's just a little detail added to what the Douzi Gang group of bandits announced.

"Have you heard? The robbers in Douzigang are gone!"

"I've heard about it a long time ago. Not only do I know that the Douzi Gang gang has disappeared, but I also know why they disappeared."

"What?"

"You don't know yet. Didn't there be rumors that the bandits of Douzigang captured the imperial court offender Pipa girl and offered her to the King of Qi?"

"Ah, that's right! Could it be that His Majesty found out about this and became furious and wanted to destroy Douzigang?"

"Then how can it be possible? There is a grievance and a debtor. Your Majesty is angry because of this matter, and you have to find trouble with King Qi first! Let me tell you, there is another story behind this matter!"

"What inside story?"

"Hey, do you think that the Pipa girl can confuse His Majesty, so she can't be so beautiful? The gangsters in Douzigang, who have ever seen such a beauty? Ever since they captured her, they have been day and night... night and day. ... After tossing and tossing for more than a month... This is dedicated to the king of Qi! Now that the Pipa girl has leaned against the tree of the king of Qi again, can she not take revenge? .”

"Is there such a thing? Tsk tsk tsk, I didn't expect this bunch of bastards to have such a good fortune..."

Despite this rumor, if you analyze it for a while, you will know that there are many loopholes in it.But this kind of rumor full of lace is exactly what the broad masses of the people love to hear.They passed it on from word to mouth, and continued to add oil and vinegar to it, enriching the details of Pipa Girls vs. Douzigang heroes.As for whether the rumor is true or not, who cares?

Of course someone cares.

Those who care about this rumor are the magistrates from all over the Tang Dynasty.

It is not a trivial matter for Douzigang group to break up.With so many vicious bandits running around, it still has a great impact on the performance appraisal of officials.

It took them a lot of effort to arrest most of the robbers.At this time, rumors also reached their ears.

It is definitely a huge scandal for His Majesty to compete with King Qi for a woman!

So many bandits have cuckolded His Majesty, which is a scandal among scandals!

Now who dares to interrogate the bandits?Don't you think you don't know enough?

But, without interrogation, just close it like this?It's not a problem either!Isn't the existence of this group of people mocking His Majesty's incompetence?Then give them canonical punishment?Or not.Human life is at stake, public execution, if His Majesty Li Er is required to collude with him personally, wouldn't that be a hindrance to His Majesty?

Of course, no matter how big the problem is, these veterans in the officialdom will not be troubled.

Not long after, the sanitation environment in Datang Prison deteriorated sharply.All the captured Douzigang bandits were sick and died of serious diseases!

As soon as these people died, the lies spread by Sun Congming became untrue, and there was no hard evidence to expose this lie.

……

……

Chang'an City, early dynasty.

His Majesty Li Er said: "I just received an urgent report from the Ministry of Rites that Qin Guoye, the Duke of Qin who is on an envoy to Silla, is about to return to Chang'an. Let's discuss how to welcome him."

Wei Zhengdao: "Your Majesty Qi Zuo, how to welcome the envoys from foreign domains to return to the country? There is a set of rules, so why discuss it?"

"Qin Guogong is not only the Duke of the Tang Dynasty, but also the Minister of Rites. His status is precious, how can he be the same as others?"

Wei Zheng said disapprovingly: "Although it is so, His Majesty can choose an important official to greet him. For such trivial matters, His Majesty can make his own decisions. Why do you need to ask the ministers?"

His Majesty Li Er was very unhappy when he heard this, and said in his heart, according to what you Wei Xuancheng said, I can only do some trivial things arbitrarily?Then what's the taste of me being the emperor?

He snorted softly and said: "According to what you said, it's my fault that I ask the opinions of the officials?"

"I don't dare, it's just that there are priorities. I think it's not appropriate to discuss such trivial matters in the early court!"

"A small matter? You thought it was a small matter, but I thought it was a huge event!" His Majesty Li Er paused for a moment, and continued: "Have you heard of that rumor?"

As soon as His Majesty Li Er said this, the atmosphere in the hall was extremely strange!

Rumor?

The most popular rumor right now is that the female pipa is fighting against the heroes of Douzigang.The second most popular rumor is that His Majesty Li Er and King Qi will fight against Pipa girl together!

These two rumors have been adapted by countless people, and they have become more and more exciting and obscene. It can be said that everyone in the court knows it.The only one who is still in the dark is His Majesty Li Er!Who is this so ungrateful to tell His Majesty Li Er about this?

Wei Zheng also had a look of embarrassment on his face, and said, "Rumors? Your Majesty, you can't believe all the rumors! People are ignorant, and they like to spread rumors..."

"No... I don't have to believe any other rumors. But this rumor is related to Qin Guogong, so I have to believe it!"

"Duke Qin? I thought it was..." Wei Zheng let out a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, what exactly are you referring to by the rumors?"

"Wei Aiqing didn't hear about it?" His Majesty Li Er said excitedly: "It is said that at the Oiran Competition in Shuikou City, Queen Seondeok of Silla personally admitted that she has feelings for Duke Qin!"

"This is Qin Guogong's private matter, even if it is true, so what?"

His Majesty Li Er said proudly: "This is both a public matter and a private matter. Qin Guogong and Queen Shande have a good relationship, and if they will have a boy and a half girl in the future, won't they be the next generation of the Lord of Silla? The Silla royal family has Tang people. The benefits of bloodlines to our Tang Dynasty are self-evident! Qin Guogong has made such great achievements, and the welcoming ceremony cannot be brief."

Wei Zheng said seriously: "Your Majesty, be careful! As the old saying goes, there is no king in the world, and the king's ministers on the coast of the land. No matter whether the royal family of Silla is married to Qin Guogong or not, they are all the ministers of your majesty. Strictly speaking, this matter is of great importance to From your Majesty's point of view, there is no merit or fault, it's just the marriage of two ministers."

Wei Zheng's words are of course justified. Although people are quite disapproving of what they say now, they can't make a mistake. His Majesty Li Er can only say: "Even so, the state of Qin used a plan to kill Yuan Gai Suwen. It’s always a great achievement, right? Yuan Gai Su Wen’s murder of the king is a common outrage between heaven and man! Qin Guogong’s killing him is really a joy to the hearts of the people.”

"I'm afraid this can't be regarded as any merit." Wei Zheng shook his head, and said, "Yuan Gai Su Wen's regicide should indeed be killed. But there is no real evidence to say that he was killed by the Qin State's scheme."

His Majesty Li Er said: "Then Duke Qin contributed to the Three Kingdoms Alliance and vowed never to attack each other?"

"This... this is a great achievement."