NOVEL WEB Chapter 302
Song Zhen knew how to read people's expressions. He knew it as soon as he saw their faces.
So he quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Dukes, for your favor to my brother. I hope you will help me in the future."
Su Lie was stunned and hadn't reacted yet.
Yuchi Gong looked at his grandson Yuchi Junjun who was supporting him, and said in a deep voice, "You will follow Duke Xing to come out some other day."
"Ah?" Yuchi Junjun was completely confused. He didn't understand the arrangement of his grandfather.
"If you are asked to go, then go. Your grandfather is also doing this for your own good."
Li Ji understood the ways of the world very well. He immediately appointed Yuchi Junjun as a Zhaowu school lieutenant of the sixth rank.
In the early Tang Dynasty, military generals, like civil officials, still looked at their connections and backgrounds. If there was a founding general in the family, it would be easy for their descendants to get a position as a general in the army.
Cheng Zhijie looked at Song Zhen and Cui Mengzhu. Their love was beyond words. He sighed slightly.
"Song Zhen, do you know? There was a time when I really wanted to kill you!"
"Ah?" Song Zhen was slightly stunned.
"My wife is also the legitimate daughter of the Cui family of Qinghe."
Song Zhen's heart was shocked. To be honest, he really didn't know about this.
After some understanding, Song Zhen realized that this was the case.
Cheng Zhijie did marry the eldest legitimate daughter of the Cui family of Qinghe, probably the same generation as Cui Mengzhu's grandmother.
However, their marriage was different from that of Song Zhen and his wife.
They were second marriages. When Cui was widowed, she was already a middle-aged woman in her forties.
Then Cheng Zhijie's original wife, Madam Sun, died of illness. He prepared a "Marriage Book" and asked a matchmaker to go to the Cui family to propose marriage.
At that time, Cheng Zhijie had been appointed as the third-rank general of the Right Guard, on par with the prime minister, and was named Duke of Suguo.
If it weren't for the fact that Cui was married for the second time and her husband had just died, and if she married Cheng Zhijie, she would immediately be named Lady of Suguo by Li Shimin.
If it weren't for these two points, to be honest, Cui really looked down on him. From the perspective of family background, this was a marriage of inferiority.
So, what are the benefits of Cheng Zhijie marrying Qinghe Cui?
One major benefit is that he can get along with the literati and pave the way for his official career.
The second major benefit is to use the Qinghe Cui's superior status among the people to benefit future generations.
However, Cheng Yaojin could not have expected that Song Shouzheng would suddenly appear halfway?
Song Zhen designed to make the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Families lose their reputation overnight. His scheme was so insidious that Cheng Yaojin had no time to respond and take remedial measures.
Fortunately, Li Zhi did not kill the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Families for his sake.
This is why, after a direct conflict with the royal family, and even after being attacked in public, Li Zhi only punished the civilian scholars, and did not severely punish the masterminds behind the scenes, the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan.
Because the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan could not be touched. Once they were touched, it would very likely damage the foundation of the country.
Many people in later generations thought that Li Zhi was weak in character. One of the reasons was that he did not dare to attack the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan.
"Wouldn't it be enough to just exterminate the clan? You are the emperor, who are you afraid of?"
If it were really that simple, you could not imagine how powerful the scholar-officials were.
If you were to use force directly, do you know what terrible consequences would result?
Do not seek to govern if you are not in the position.
Therefore, Li Zhi appointed Song Zhen to use him to deal with the powerful Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan.
Song Zhen's strategy was very simple, with only two words.
"Split!"
Split the relationship between the scholars and the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan.
Split the relationship between the gentry and the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan.
Split the relationship between the clansmen and political alliance groups within the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan.
The rebellion of the Wen and Yu families in Yongzhou was like sending a pillow to someone in his sleep.
However, even without them, Song Zhen would find a way to create an opportunity, but it would only take some time.
The Hedong Pei family, the Hongnong Yang family and other Guanzhong groups were taking advantage of the situation behind them. For Song Zhen, aren't they his pawns?
It was this group of famous families, second only to the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan, who took the lead in breaking with the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Clan, causing other gentry to follow suit.
It seems that Li Zhi favors Song Zhen, but in fact, the two of them are a pair of political allies.
Li Zhi got the results he wanted through a series of conspiracies and tricks by Song Zhen.
And Song Zhen, under the guise of the royal family, also achieved his goal.
Song Zhen has always been such a vindictive person.
If you respect me one foot, I will respect you ten feet. If you embarrass me, I will destroy your family.
On the day when Song Zhen went to Qinghe Cui's to propose marriage, the group of arrogant people from the five surnames and seven aristocratic families did not look at him in a good face.
Especially Cui Yu, who insulted him in public with so many ugly words.
Called him an orphan, called him a murderer of his parents, called him a fatherless child, called him a country boy, called him a dog and a rat....
It can be said that he used all kinds of dirty words and behaved in an ugly manner.
I am sorry, so let's wait and see.
Later, Song Ruoshen and Song Ruozhao wrote in "Women's Language Theory·Herou Chapter": "Don't learn from foolish women, who don't ask the root cause, and use dirty words and offend the virtuous."
......
At this time, Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang arrived at Huiyou Hall.
Everyone immediately stopped their actions and bowed, saying: "Greetings to the Emperor and Empress."
Li Zhi was very happy. He smiled and pressed his hands, and enjoyed himself with his ministers.
Wu Meiniang looked around but didn't find Song Zhen, so she asked Huang Sijian to look for him.
She really had something to do with Song Zhen, and she wanted to arrange for her family to serve as officials in the court.
So, where is the best place to go?
Naturally, it is to take an idle position in the Taichang Temple first and get some experience.
It is a bit inappropriate to enter the three provinces and six ministries directly, which is easy to attract criticism.
Song Zhen was called over, and Wu Meiniang said softly: "Come with me, I have something to ask you."
The two came to a corner, and Wu Meiniang said straight to the point: "I want to arrange for my brother to join the company."
Song Zhen's heart sank. I didn't expect that this day would come?
Why did she make such a change?
Song Zhen seems to be in a good position now, but the matter of the five surnames and seven families will eventually end. At that time, he will no longer be useful in Li Zhi's heart, and Li Zhi may do something irrational.
How to maintain the current status?
There is no doubt that the best way at present is to rely on Wu Meiniang, who is the queen.
Although Wu Meiniang has not yet participated in politics, she has a high status in Li Zhi's heart.
Li Zhi and Song Zhen are only temporary political allies, while Wu Meiniang is Li Zhi's lifelong political ally.
Some people may wonder why the seriously ill Li Zhi entrusted power to his wife Wu Meiniang.
Put yourself in his shoes, if you were Li Zhi, what would you do?
First of all, the ministers must not be trusted. Li Zhi had a bit of PTSD from the powerful Changsun Wuji, and he didn't want to raise another Changsun Wuji.
Then, the crown prince was too young, and with the example of his father Li Shimin, he was extremely distrustful of the crown princes and princes, fearing another Xuanwu Gate Incident.
So, who else is the most suitable?
Li Zhi tilted his head and saw the person next to him.
Wu Meiniang's obedience, practicality, and quick thinking touched him deeply, and the two of them had a very pleasant political cooperation.
"She is a woman, she can't be the emperor, right?"
......