Chapter 62 The first step to defeat the villain
How to breach a strong fortress?
Historical experience tells Zhao Duan that we need to start from within.
Three elements can be extracted from Yun Xi's information:
1. The fourth mother of the Pei family wanted to abolish her husband, but she has not been able to do so.
2. Lu Liang and his father-in-law seem to be inseparable, but they just use each other's relationship. Lu Liang hates the Pei family, but is unwilling to get rid of them.
3. Lu Liang and Pei Shilang knew each other’s dirty information.
The key is this last one.
"Lu Liang is known for his integrity, but not only has he accepted 'bribes', he has also accidentally killed someone, which is enough to ruin his future."
"Pei Shilang is one of the core figures in the 'Li Party', second only to Li Yanfu. He has been in the officialdom for many years, and even Yuan Li can't catch his flaws. This shows that he is extremely cautious and does everything flawlessly, but people always make mistakes...
Lu Liang's ranking in the imperial examination was interfered with many times by him... Oh, as long as the charge of manipulating the imperial examination is proven, it will be easy to abolish him. "
Zhao Duan narrowed his eyes and thought secretly:
“Unfortunately, although the direction is there, practical implementation is still difficult.
First of all, it is unrealistic to investigate the imperial examination itself. It happened more than ten years ago and is too long ago to be traced back.
Moreover, it is impossible for Mr. Pei to be stupid enough to leave evidence until now. Even if there is any evidence, it must be erased. "
"So, the ideal situation is that Lu Liang can come forward to expose and report this matter... But it is more difficult...
Lu Liang did not hesitate to be humiliated and wanted to be an official, which shows that he is very motivated.
He is also deeply bound to Mr. Pei, and is both a member of the ‘Li Party’. He is a grasshopper on the same rope. It is impossible for him to self-destruct and die with his father-in-law..."
"As for Pei Siniang, although she hates her husband, she cannot backstab the entire family for the sake of her father..."
Zhao Duan was a little confused.
The opportunity came, but the opportunity seemed not to come.
Tathagata.
No wonder, Yuan Li had no idea what to do for a while. There are no simple figures who can stand in the court for many years.
"Think about it carefully! There is definitely something to be done with this information...but there is still something missing." Zhao Duan frowned and thought hard.
While he was frantically squeezing his brain cells, Zhu Kui left and came back:
"Sir, Qin Qi pays my respects."
Qin Qiu?
Zhao Duan was startled, and the memory of the original owner suddenly emerged.
In his mind, he sketched out the image of a dog-leg with a thin body, narrow eyes, and a constant smile.
Qin Qiu, one of the original owner's friends, is also a strange flower in the circle of friends of the rich and powerful in the capital.
He was not born into a noble family, but he was able to sneak into the "Beijing circle" because he tried to please Princess Yunyang's consort and was accepted as a horse boy.
Later, in order to cling to Wang You, the son of the Minister of Rites, he turned around and drew a clear line with the prince-in-law. He was a model of ungratefulness and bullying of the weak and afraid of the strong. Therefore, he was shamed by many powerful children.
Of course, he is not without merit. He can write beautiful calligraphy, is proficient in poetry, poetry, and poetry, and has a foundation in martial arts with guns and sticks.
At the beginning of Zhao Duan's rise, Qin Qiu came to visit him and praised him to the point of ecstasy.
He also led the original owner into the circle of powerful people, which was an eye-opener. It can be said that Qin Qiu must bear 50% of the responsibility for the original owner's notoriety.
However, after Zhao Duan's "accident", the other party disappeared out of thin air.
Now, the news that Zhao Duan solved the firearm case and was rewarded by a saint has spread. This little man who sees the wind and rudders comes here as soon as he smells it.
"Call in." Zhao Duan thought for a moment and decided to meet.
…
After a while, there was a pretense of hearty laughter outside the hall.
Then, Qin Qiucai, who was about twenty-five or sixty-six, short and thin, wearing a satin shirt and a folding fan slanted on the back of his neck, with small eyes that were darting around, burst into the door laughing.
He was clearly dressed as a scholar, but it seemed that because of the baggy clothes, it gave him a sense of obscenity.
"Brother Zhao! I miss Qiu'er so much..."
As soon as Qin Qiufu stepped in, his smile turned into a cry. He almost rolled and crawled forward, grabbing his hand and not letting go.
A burst of snot and a burst of tears, and an exaggerated and hypocritical change of expressions, unparalleled in the Beijing circle.
Zhao Duan withdrew his hand in disgust. He had seen many flatterers, but this was the only one who was disgusting: "Oh? You want to see me, why haven't you seen me for so many days?"
Qin Qiu had a sad face and slapped himself twice in annoyance. He slapped himself hard twice before saying: "I fell down some time ago and I'm recovering from my injuries at home. I don't know, brother, you've been framed by an adulterer. I'll wait until the injury heals." When I came out, I realized that so many great things had happened in such a short period of time, and that my brother had made great contributions... If Qiu'er had known earlier, he would have been willing to lose his leg and come out early to clear his brother's name! It has its own destiny." Then his eyes were sinister:
"I have long disliked the Zhang brothers. I was only afraid of their elders and would not take action. Now that the trees have fallen and the hozens have dispersed, Qiu'er has long been keeping an eye on his female relatives. If my brother wants to enjoy them, I will take care of them!"
Zhao Duan's expression suddenly turned cold: "Female family member?"
Qin Qiu, who was trying his best to please Ying, failed to pat Ma's leg. After being stunned for a moment, he remembered that Zhao Duan was infatuated with the empress and was dismissive of other women.
And not long ago, the female family members of the Zhao family were almost bullied...
Immediately, he slapped himself hard twice, his cheeks were red, swollen and swollen, and he apologized: "Qiu'er made a mistake, please punish me, brother!"
Zhao Duan smiled half-heartedly:
"I'm not as ignorant as you, a wise brother. I'm both a confession and a congratulatory person, so why do I come to the door empty-handed?"
Niang Xipi...don't you just want benefits?
Qin Qiu cursed secretly in his heart, with a humble and flattering face:
“Take it, take it.”
As he said this, he fumbled for a crumpled five hundred taels of silver note in his arms and borrowed flowers to offer to the Buddha:
"Pei Wulang owes you three hundred taels of silver from the cypress garden. I will collect the money and buy wine for my brother."
Zhao Duan stared at the banknote, his pupils suddenly shrank!
Memories that have gradually become blurred, stress emerges.
Pei Wulang...Hinoki Garden...Banknote...IOU...
He finally remembered the whereabouts of the money in the money box in his bedroom!
The process is not complicated:
Two months ago, the original owner brought Qin Qiu to a private "casino" to play in. The casino was located in the north of the city and was called Huibai Garden.
It is worth mentioning that in Dayu, gambling was strictly prohibited by the "Dayu Law". As early as the founding of the country, Dayu Taizu had formulated strict laws.
Gambling games were cracked down on, and a Daoxiao Tower was even built north of the "Baishi Bridge" in the capital.
Anyone who does not do his or her job and plays games or plays is imprisoned in the building, which is euphemistically called "Xiaoyao Prison".
If an official gambles, civilian officials will be dismissed from their posts to serve the people, and military attachés will not only be dismissed from their posts, but also "take the leftover food with them to serve". Translated, it means bringing their own dry food to serve the people...
Those who refuse to change despite repeated admonitions may even be punished with having their hands cut off.
To this day, although the enforcement of laws is far inferior to that in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and gambling has spread throughout the country, it is still something that cannot be seen under the eyes of the emperor in the capital.
Therefore, casinos are extremely hidden, mostly hidden in private homes.
Zhao Duan met many dandy boys in the juniper garden.
One of them is Pei Wulang, the fifth son of Pei Shilang of the Ministry of Punishment and the biological brother of Lu Liang’s wife!
Afterwards, Zhao Duan became addicted to gambling and couldn't help himself. He lost most of his savings and lent some of it to his "gambler friend" Pei Wulang.
and set up an IOU.
Qin Qiu serves as the "guarantor".
"No wonder...the money I had been greedy for so long suddenly disappeared..."
Zhao Duan felt mixed, feeling both disappointed and surprised.
What's disappointing is that I will never get back the money I lost.
The surprise was... He had remembered that Pei Wulang's IOU was hidden in the mezzanine of his study.
"Gambling is prohibited in Dayu. If the evidence of Pei Wulang's gambling is handed over to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Pei Shilang will not be able to save his own son..."
"From the fact that Mr. Pei is willing to choose a husband for his daughter and interfere in the imperial examination, it can be seen that this Mr. Pei cares about family ties very much..."
"In this way, I have a small handle on him... Of course, with this alone, it is impossible to shake the position of Minister Pei. If we break up, the other party will give up his son at most...
Those who play politics are not soft-hearted..."
"But if I can use this 'little handle' properly, it may be of great value."
At this moment, the intelligence provided by Yun Xi and the evidence handed over by Qin Qiu were pieced together, forming a slightly risky but vaguely feasible plan in Zhao Duan's mind -
The plan to overthrow Minister Pei is accomplished!
"Brother Zhao?"
Qin Qiu held the banknote in both hands. Seeing Zhao Duan's expression was gloomy and uncertain, he couldn't help but feel uneasy and called carefully.
The next second, Zhao Duan saw a smile on his face, put the banknote in his arms, put his arm around Qin Qiu's shoulders, and laughed and said:
"You are really my lucky star."
Thank you: Xicheng Xue Erlang for the hundred-coin reward~
(End of this chapter)