Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Hearing about Cheng Yaojin's bandit behavior of blatantly robbing people, Yu Chang, Xiao Kai and the other four could only respond with a wry smile.

"Don't worry, Duke Lu, we will definitely bring valuable gifts to your door."

They chatted with Cheng Yaojin for a few words, and then did not stay here any longer. Instead, they followed Du He and quickly left the Taiji Hall.

Just after they were away from the Taiji Hall, Xiao Kai said with a pout and a speechless look.

"Duke Lu is indeed a bandit. He actually openly asked for gifts from us in the Taiji Hall."

"I didn't believe the rumors about Duke Lu robbing houses before, but now it seems that this matter is definitely not groundless."

As a descendant of an aristocratic family from the Lanling Xiao clan, Xiao Kai had never encountered a situation like today. The scene just now almost shattered his three views.

Feng Jian, a doctor in the Military Farm Department, also agreed: "Doctor Xiao is right. Duke Lu is so shameless!"

"A dignified Duke actually did such a thing. If it were me, I would not even be able to face people, and it would bring shame to the family behind me."

Then the other two doctors who came from aristocratic families also complained about Cheng Yaojin's behavior.

It's not that they were reluctant to give this small gift, but they just couldn't stand Cheng Yaojin's coercive behavior of forcing people to buy and sell, which made them feel unhappy about giving the gift.

After hearing their complaints, Du He smiled and spoke to them.

"When you go to the Duke Lu's mansion for a banquet, you can bring more of your family members with you. Maybe you can even make back the money you paid for the gifts."

"And Duke Lu is very generous when it comes to food, so every dish must be filled with meat."

Hearing Du He's words, Feng Jian and Xie Rongxing's eyes lit up, and then they shook their heads worriedly.

Although it would make one feel relieved to bring his whole family to the banquet, being targeted by that scoundrel Cheng Yaojin would also bring him a lot of unnecessary troubles.

Xie Rongxiang whispered, "Shangshu Du, let's not get into too much trouble."

Several other people also agreed with Xie Rongxian's words and nodded.

Du He smiled and nodded, but didn't talk to them any more about this topic.

In fact, the gifts given by everyone would not be much. They just used it as a topic for chatting. After all, it was the cold winter and there was not much work to do in each department.

...

In the afternoon.

Du He was leaning leisurely on a chair reading a book. Not far away, a steaming fire was warming up the surrounding area.

"Knock knock knock."

There was an unexpected knock on the door, followed by the sound of Xiao Kai's soft Wu dialect voice.

"Minister Du, Pei Xingjian, a doctor in the Ministry of Personnel's Division of Seal, is here to ask for an audience."

Hearing Pei Xingjian coming to find him, Du He put down the volume of "Qimin Yaoshu" in his hand and shouted towards the door of the room.

"Doctor Xiao, please ask Doctor Pei to come over."

Ever since Pei Xingjian was promoted to Langzhong of the Sifengsi some time ago, except for attending his and Linglong's concubine-taking banquet the day before yesterday, he has been busy in the Ministry of Personnel all the time.

As one of the four officials of the Ministry of Personnel, he needed to have access to information on tens of thousands of officials in the Tang Dynasty in order to see whether their achievements met the standards for being awarded a title.

Currently, the titles bestowed by the Tang Dynasty are mainly given to the royal relatives, and the rest are the meritorious ministers who came from the Qin Palace.

As for the officials who later passed the imperial examinations and were recommended for official positions, it was extremely difficult for them to obtain titles.

For example, Ma Zhou, who entered the court as an official in the fifth year of Zhenguan, has now been promoted to the position of Chief Censor, but still has not obtained a title of nobility.

Cen Wenben, who served in the government during the Wude period, was not an old man in the Qin Palace. He was just a neutral minister who did not participate in the struggle for imperial power.

Cen Wenben served as an official in the Tang Dynasty for nearly twenty years. Finally, in the tenth year of Zhenguan, he was canonized as the Marquis of Jiangling County by Li Shimin because he participated in the completion of the "Book of Zhou".

The title of Xianzi was only the eighth rank of nobility, second to last among the nine ranks, and the actual fiefdom granted was only about 30 households.

Cen Wenben has now been promoted to the rank of Minister of the Central Secretariat, but his title remains unchanged, which shows that it is not easy to obtain a title.

Just as Du He was stunned, Pei Xingjian, wearing a light crimson official robe, pushed open the door and walked in, then carefully closed the door again.

Pei Xingjian clasped his fists and bowed to Du He, saying, "Greetings to Minister Du."

Looking at Pei Xingjian who was in high spirits, Du He waved his hand slightly, then said with a smile.

"Shouyue, you look really majestic in your scarlet dress and golden belt!"

The color of the official robe represents the rank of the official position. After wearing the scarlet official robe, the whole person's aura is completely different.

Pei Xingjian said in a low voice with gratitude on his face: "Thank you very much for the support of Minister Du. Without your full support, I would not have been able to be promoted to the position of Langzhong of the Ministry of Enfeoffment."

Du He shook his head and said, "Keep your promise. If you want to thank someone, go thank your father-in-law, Hou Junji."

"You were able to be promoted to the position of Doctor of the Ministry of Sealing because he had smoothed over many relationships in private. Otherwise, you would have had to wait for several more years before you could be promoted."

Among the many official positions in the Tang Dynasty, the fifth rank was a watershed.

Officials above the fifth rank basically hold real power.

For example, the twenty-four Langzhong of the six ministries, a group of Zhongshu Sheren and Jieshi Zhong, as well as the adjutants of the nine temples and five academies.

Pei Xingjian said softly: "Without your assistance, Du Shangshu, it would be difficult for Hou You Pushe to accomplish this alone."

He knew very well that the appointment of officials above the fifth rank could only be nominated by the heads of the three provinces and submitted to His Majesty for imperial approval.

This would inevitably involve the mediation of Du He, the Minister of Works, or other prime ministers would give Du He some face.

Du He waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "Shou Yue, what important matter do you have to report this time?"

Pei Xingjian reported in a low voice: "Minister Du, the Supervisory Censor Li Yifu has been promoted to the position of Right Assistant Censor, and he has also completely surrendered to the Eastern Palace!"

"And on the first day after Li Yifu was promoted, he brought me important news about the King of Jin!"

Even Du He was a little surprised to hear that Li Yifu was so efficient.

Although this guy later became a treacherous official, his talent is indeed beyond doubt.

If we only use his abilities without considering his personal character, his talent would probably be not much different from Pei Xingjian.

Du He asked curiously, "Shou Yue, what news did Li Yifu bring?"

Pei Xingjian leaned closer and said, "Your Majesty showed the Emperor's Model to His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin in private, and the Prince of Jin showed it to the Duke of Zhao, Changsun Wuji!"

"And when Changsun Wuji, Liu Shi, Xu Jingzong, Chu Suiliang and others drank to celebrate their promotion, His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin also joined them."

"It's just that because of Li Yifu's low status, he couldn't participate in their banquet, and he didn't know what they talked about at the banquet."

Du He was not too surprised by the news brought by Pei Xingjian.

When he went to Hou Junji's mansion to drink, he had already guessed about the forces that Li Zhi had won over, and now it has simply been confirmed.

Du He nodded and said, "Keep your promise, let Li Yifu continue to keep an eye on Prince Jin."

"It will be a long-term thing for him to be a hidden player in the Prince Jin's palace. He must keep his temper and slowly become a favorite of the Prince Jin."