Manchu traitor, how can you let me be the emperor of the ages

Chapter 193 Zhuge Liang's Arrest Plan
Li Qian looked at Qin Hui in front of him and felt a headache.

"Your Majesty, is there no chance of winning if this continues?"

Qin Hui looked at Li Gan, with a bit of puzzlement in his eyes: "Now the Ministry of Rites is also on Cai Jing's side, and it is within their purview to choose the deputy examiner. Get over them."

"If Your Majesty gives up at this time, you can stop the loss in time."

Li Qian's face was a little gloomy: "No, with such an anticlimax, wouldn't I be the laughing stock of others?"

Qin Hui was speechless. Wouldn't it be more embarrassing to be ashamed in the end?
It's just that with his character, he wouldn't be so clear as His Majesty the Emperor said.

"Your Majesty, I think it's better to be careful."

Qin Hui persuaded: "No one will think that His Majesty loses face, and no one will make His Majesty a laughing stock."

"On the contrary, it is Cai Jing who has no superiors and acts domineering. Sooner or later, he will suffer retribution."

Li Gan's face was a bit ugly: "Listen to the news in the capital, I have long been the laughing stock of others!"

"There are people stuck in Zhenzhen's Guangwen Department every day, writing some things that are not there."

"No need in the future, I want those people to be punished now!"

Qin Hui got even more headaches, and couldn't help but said: "But Your Majesty, the current situation is not good, if you force it, you will only..."

He wanted to say that he would make you a bigger laughing stock, but he didn't say it out of concern for His Majesty's face.

"It will only fuel his arrogance." Qin Hui's words were somewhat euphemistic.

This time, Li Gan was on the edge of his horn, and he accepted the deadly truth: "No, we must not let that old thing get his way so easily!"

He gritted his teeth and looked at Qin Hui, the hatred in his words was extremely strong: "Qin Xiang, didn't you see that old thief mocking me at the end of the court meeting?"

"No matter what happens in the end, and no matter what the Ministry of Rites or the Six Departments, I will make him pay the price anyway!"

Qin Hui was silent for a moment before slowly uttering a few words: "Your Majesty, this is really a bold decision."

"Qin Xiang, you won't go back on your promise to save me and my disciples, will you?" Li Gan squinted his eyes at Qin Hui.

Qin Hui felt a little helpless, because of the Ministry of Etiquette, he thought you always had the means to win.

But now that the Ministry of Rites has betrayed you, you don't even have confidence in yourself. Do you still want to drag others?

"What you promised His Majesty will definitely be done, and I will naturally not go back on my word."

Qin Hui said in a deep voice: "It's just that I can only do my best, and there is no guarantee that I will win over Cai Jing."

Li Qian's complexion eased a little: "It's enough to do your best, and I won't ask you too much."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qin Hui heaved a sigh of relief, it seemed that His Majesty the Emperor was still sensible.

Li Qian continued: "No matter what Cai Jing's plan is, as long as the servants attached to him are wiped out one by one, he will be helpless."

He gritted his teeth and said: "I don't believe that Cai Jing can be so kind and willing to help others make wedding dresses!"

Qin Huixin said that when you are a servant, are you a little bastard in the ditch or a big grasshopper in autumn?Can it be cleaned if it is said to be cleaned? ?

"Your Majesty, I understand."

Li Qian pondered for a moment, and then said: "Qin Xiang, who do you think Cai Jing's subordinates have the best chance of winning the deputy examiner?"

"The right servant of the Ministry of Rites, Song Qiaonian."

Qin Hui replied without thinking, "This person is in the Ministry of Rites. He has only served as a deputy examiner once before. There is still room for him to win. The chance is the greatest."

Li Gan's face was gloomy: "Okay, just follow what Qin Xiang said, let this person be dismissed first, no matter how bad it is, he can't let him continue to fight for the deputy examiner, and let the Ministry of Rites know that some things have been done wrong, and you must pay the price! "

"Yes, Your Majesty." Qin Hui replied.

In fact, he didn't quite agree with His Majesty's statement.

Since Cai Jing has already served as the chief examiner, he probably won't bother to find someone of his own to be the assistant examiner.

Unnecessary, but also off the tongue.

His Majesty the Emperor started in the wrong direction, and no matter how hard he tried in the future, it would probably be useless...

"Your Majesty, please leave."

"President Qin, go slowly."

After Qin Hui left, Li Gan let out a long sigh of relief.

After reviewing all the events at today's court meeting, thinking about whether there were any flaws in it, and reviewing it again, he finally felt relieved.

Now that the situation of confrontation has been formed, they should be able to relax a little bit a while ago, and don't have to worry about it anymore.

Of course, the necessary superficial effort is still to be done, to show your anger and the strength of Zhongshu and Menxia provinces...

Qin Hui's method was very sharp, but on the second day, a memorial to impeach Liu Da, the head priest of the shrine, was sent to Li Gan's desk.

Instead of attacking Song Qiaonian directly, he pointed the finger at a small chief under his command, who was only a sixth rank.

Li Gan was not surprised either. After half a year, he had gradually become familiar with these routines of civil servants.

Start with a seemingly irrelevant trivial matter, and after this matter is completed, use various means to involve it on the desired goal, suddenly attack, and achieve the goal.

That's what Qin Hui did this time.

Li Qian just watched it for a while, and then approved the red on the memorial.

However, he believes that Cai Jing's people are not idiots, and they must be alert...

Sure enough, like a stone stirring up thousands of waves, this trick was quickly seen through by Cai Jing and others, and they counterattacked!
The last battle between Qin Hui and Cai Jing was just a few months ago, and the memory of Baiguan has not faded so quickly.

But this time the dispute is much wider and involves far more people...

At this time when the whole court was disturbed and disturbed, Li Gan left aside the trivial matters in the palace and came to the capital to feel the more and more strong taste of the New Year. At the same time, according to the clues, he wanted to find Zhuge Liang trail.

For him, everything that should be done in the court has already been done, as long as the status quo is maintained and the result can be settled with peace of mind.

Today Li Gan did not go to the East City, where he usually goes the most, but came to the West City.

There are obviously more pedestrians on the street here than in Dongcheng, but the clothes are not as gorgeous, and the shops on the street are not as high-end as those in Dongcheng.

However, the "New Year flavor" here is much stronger than that in Dongcheng.

The new year is less than half a month away, and red lanterns are hung on the facades of shops along the street, and festive red couplets are posted in advance.

Walking on the road, I heard the endless yelling and shouting, and occasionally there were a few children whose faces were flushed from the cold, laughing and playing, and ran past with firecrackers.

"Yes, this side is much more comfortable than the Dongcheng side."

Li Gan nodded as he walked: "I heard that Zhuge Liang appeared here again?"

Lu Bu nodded, with some helplessness on his face: "This man is always elusive, so many people have been looking for him for so many days, but they can only follow behind him to eat ashes, and he can't even find him!"

Li Gan chuckled: "This just shows that he is a capable person."

But the old eunuch persuaded from the side: "My lord, that Zhuge Liang just haunted the neighborhood, and there must be many people following him."

"Let's go shopping in the car, so as not to be recognized."

Li Qian sighed lightly: "Alright."

So, the few people who had just walked a few steps got into the carriage again and slowly moved forward on the crowded street.

Li Qian lay on the window, staring closely at the pedestrians outside. Fortunately, they got on the bus early. In just a short while, he had already seen several groups of people with hastily looking and suspicious behavior passing by.

Lu Bu added: "My lord, it seems that not only people from the imperial court, but also many other people have come to look for Zhuge Liang."

Li Gan frowned. There are more competitors?

"who?"

"There are all kinds of people, people from Ming Dynasty, Han Dynasty and other vassal states, barbarians from the west, barbarians on the grassland..."

Lu Bu said helplessly: "These people didn't know Zhuge Liang's name very much at first, but when we looked for it, they also came to join in the fun."

Li Gan frowned: "Are these people here to participate in the Great Court Meeting?"

"It's quite early..." He muttered a few words, but didn't say anything good.

As the suzerain of the vassal states and a leading power, the influence of the Dagan court is still great.

Whenever there is a big court meeting, all the vassal states, the nearby Hu people's countries, and the countries on the grasslands will send envoys to participate in the court meeting.

"It's getting late, Your Majesty."

The old eunuch seemed to be very keen on such things as the Great Court Meeting, and said with a smile: "In previous years, these people came just after the twelfth lunar month, and now it's halfway through the twelfth lunar month, so they should have arrived long ago."

While talking, the carriage gradually walked out of the street and turned into a small alley.

There are green and black brick walls on both sides, and festive couplets are posted in front of almost everyone's doors. The narrow alleys can barely accommodate a carriage.

After Lu Bu opened the car door and took a look, he said, "Master, it's the one in front."

"But let's go in first, sir."

Lu Bu pointed forward and said with a troubled expression, "Sure enough, a minister has sent people to watch here, so don't get out of the carriage."

Li Gan frowned, and opened the carriage door a crack.

Sure enough, at the exit of the alley ahead, there were a few idlers leaning against the wall, chatting casually.

But Li Qian found out, did these people just turn their heads and look at the carriage, as if they were paying attention to the movements of him and others.

These are only those who came to the alley, and there are probably more waiting outside the alley.

Li Gan frowned, these people really lingered: "Staying in the carriage may not prevent you from being found, I'd better go down with you."

"Yes, sir."

This time it was a grocery store that had Zhuge Liang's clue. I heard that someone had seen him shopping here two days ago.

After getting out of the carriage, I looked up and saw the wooden plaque of an old grocery store. There were not many goods in it, and the shop was deserted. There are countless such ordinary grocery stores in the capital.

As soon as the group got out of the car, a young man who looked very smart came from the store with a smile and asked politely, "Guests, what do you want to buy?"

"Let's take a look first." Li Gan stepped inside, and the young man just followed them with a smile and didn't stop him.

Spring Festival couplets, blessing characters, candles, bowls and chopsticks, dustpans, tables, chairs, benches, charcoal, washbasins...

Everything seemed normal, just an ordinary grocery store.

Li Qian casually picked up a pottery jar, and flipped through it a few times in his hand: "I heard that a few days ago, a Juren came to you, and people have been asking about him for the next few days?"

The young man was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't expect Li Gan to ask such a question. After recovering from his senses, he still smiled and replied: "This guest officer, your eyes are as bright as a torch!"

"I'm really thankful to the guest officer that day. The business of the shop has been booming in the past two days!"

Li Gan felt a little funny when he heard it. It seems that those who inquired about the news were ashamed of whoring for nothing, and even bought some things.

But it's because they didn't figure out the relationship between Zhuge Liang and this grocery store, so they kept in awe, so as to avoid any trouble in the future.

If you really meet some vicious people who don't care about anything, you may directly tie them up, go back and torture them carefully, and at the same time prevent latecomers from getting clues.

"What did they find out?" Li Gan looked at the waiter carefully.

"That's all the little one knows, and I've already told the guest officers all about it."

Xiao Er looked a little helpless, but still smiled and said: "The guest officer was wearing a plain white cotton robe, so he came to the small shop to buy two candles, paid six Wen and left."

"The little one doesn't know him either."

He seemed to be very proficient in dealing with this kind of interrogation. Before Li Gan could continue, he added by himself: "I don't know where the guest officer went after he went out, and the six copper coins he paid have already been exchanged." Gone, the shop left nothing behind."

"It's really here to scrape the ground." Lu Bu muttered a few words angrily, how can people find it!

Li Gan also shook his head helplessly: "Give us two candles."

Since I'm here, I'm sorry to ask for nothing, and it's the same to buy something before leaving.

"Okay!" Xiaoer responded happily, and handed two red candles thick as fingers to Li Gan.

"Guest officer, I have to tell you."

Xiao Er seemed to think of something again: "The same batch of candles that was bought by the white-clothed guest officer before was bought by Baoyuan, and now this candle is re-entered by the small shop."

Li Gan was a little speechless: "Is it the candle that sells the most recently?"

"Guest officer, you are really good at predicting things." Xiaoer stretched out his thumb and exclaimed: "Several batches of candles have already entered the small shop, and this one is almost sold out."

Li Gan shook his head helplessly, those people were so crazy about Zhuge Liang's whereabouts, quite similar to the star chasers in his previous life.

"Whose carriage is this? Why is it stuck here? Are you so blind?"

There was a loud noise outside the door, accompanied by the voice of the coachman waving his whip to drive people away: "Go, stay away!"

"You can also touch our master's car?"

Lu Bu immediately strode out, followed by Li Gan and the old eunuch.

Outside the door, it turned out that a few idlers had arrived in front of the carriage, pushing and yelling with the driver. One of them still had a blood-red whip mark on his face, and blood was slowly oozing out.

The rest of the people wanted to go forward, but they seemed to be afraid of the whip in the driver's hand, so they just surrounded the carriage in front.

"Is it reasonable for you to be stuck here?"

"It doesn't look like a good person at first glance! Who knows what is hidden in your carriage? Let us see it quickly!"

"It's crazy to ride a horse. Believe it or not, you won't be able to eat for a while..."

Facing the threat of these idlers, the tall coachman just smiled coldly, waved his hand, and the whip bit out like a black poisonous snake. Before he could see anything clearly, he heard two clear sounds of "slapping".

The two punks fell to the ground, covering their faces and screaming.

The remaining few people also looked terrified, seeing that they were invincible, they were about to pull their companions away.

"Don't let them go yet." Li Gan said suddenly.

Hearing this, Lu Bu ran forward quickly, and the coachman jumped off the carriage and stopped in front of the idlers.

"Go and ask, who do these people obey and what do they know."

Li Qian's plan is very straightforward, if he can't get the result himself, he will get it from the person who gets the result.

The shop waiter at the back seemed to have seen many such conflicts, and now he just hid in the shop shyly, with a forced smile on his face...

Li Qian got into the carriage and did not participate in the inquiry.

After a while, the old eunuch and Lu Bu finished the torture and returned to the carriage.

Lu Bu said in one breath: "Master, these people were also hired by others, let these gangsters stay here and watch how many people enter that grocery store every day, and how long they stay there. If Zhuge Liang comes again, he must stay here." They don't know other news, and they don't know who the employer is."

Li Gan frowned slightly, and the old eunuch hurriedly added: "However, these homeless people know what their employers are investigating recently."

Lu Bu hurriedly said again: "It's the craftsmen in the capital, the artisans of the Ministry of Industry!"

"artisan……"

Li Gan rubbed his chin, and subconsciously thought of Mu Niu Liu Ma, Zhuge Liannu and other things.

Zhuge Liang himself is also a master craftsman, so it doesn't seem strange to find some craftsmen.

It's just...he is also powerful enough, just leaving one puzzle after another, he can lead everyone in the capital by the nose.

This ability is really too profound.

It seems that if you want to find him, you have to bypass the step-by-step clues he set up and break the rhythm led by him, and you can't be led by the nose all the time by such a resourceful person.

Otherwise, Li Gan suspected that he might never find him in his life.

The carriage continued to move forward, slowly drove out of this small alley, and merged into the street with people coming and going again.

The old eunuch asked cautiously: "Master, shall we go to the Ministry of Industry now?"

Li Qian shook his head lightly, but did not reply.

He was thinking, what is the purpose of Zhuge Liang setting up these things.

Just like today's grocery store, it may not be that Zhuge Liang's whereabouts were leaked, or it may be that he himself released the news.

If you want to find him, it doesn't depend on how closely you can follow and how quickly you can get first-hand information.

Follow other people's routine, you can only find him when he wants to be found, and when he doesn't want to be found, you are helpless...

Just like there are so many people chasing Li Qian, including Tang Guogong, General Yang Jian, and Zhao Kuangyin... But there is no news that they have found Zhuge Liang.

Li Gan is almost certain that if he goes to the Ministry of Industry now, or finds those craftsmen, he will only be in vain.

The key to finding Zhuge Liang is to predict his next move in advance, so that he can be stopped...

So what will Zhuge Liang do next?

The carriage passed through the crowd, Li Gan looked at the crowded street outside the window, frowning tightly.

"What is his purpose in coming to the capital..."

Li Gan tried to put himself into Zhuge Liang's thinking, but found it difficult to do so.

It is difficult for ordinary people to understand this kind of rare genius who has been rare for hundreds of years.

Li Gan was not discouraged, and thought about it from the perspective of an ordinary person.

Come to Beijing to visit relatives?Visiting friends?
Probably not, this cannot explain his current behavior.

Maybe it's business?Ask for money?
Less likely.

He is a Juren, so maybe he came to take the exam?

After thinking about it, Li Gan's eyes lit up.

The possibility is there, and not small.

"Fengxian, let people keep an eye on Jingzhao Mansion, where you will try to register."

Li Qian suddenly turned his head, looked at Lu Bu and said, "If Zhuge Liang goes to sign up for the test, he must be kept."

After thinking about Lu Bu's style of doing things, Li Qian added: "Please come here."

Lu Bu was startled, as if he understood the meaning of Li Gan's words: "Yes, sir, I will definitely invite him over!"

The word "please" is also specially emphasized.

Li Gan didn't notice this, he was thinking about what to do if he found Zhuge Liang.

The Ministry of Rites set up a registration place for the examination in the Yamen of Jingzhao Prefecture.

You can only use your real name for the registration test, and you have to check your details clearly. No one can hide from this.

Li Gan knew that once Zhuge Liang appeared in the Ministry of Rites and signed up for the test, the news would definitely spread throughout the capital in the shortest possible time.

At that time, it is extremely important to grab a first move.

After the arrangement here, Li Gan began to think about other possibilities.

But after much deliberation, I couldn't find a more suitable reason.

As the saying goes, hindsight is wise. Most people can only deduce the reason for their actions after the fact, which is difficult to do beforehand.

Li Qian thought about it for a while, and thought that besides waiting, he could take the initiative to do something to see if he could lure Zhuge Liang out.

What will he be seduced by... no, attracted?
All kinds of exquisite appliances?
Li Qian subconsciously thought of his telescope, which might be a good bait.

It's just that the telescope is very useful and can be used as a last resort, but it's widely used... it's better to avoid it.Li Gan didn't want to let it go outside for the time being.

Li Qian glanced out through the window, recalling the huge gap between the street in his previous life and this place, trying to find some inspiration.

Paper windows, burnt glass?Won't.Stone walls, making cement?Nor will it.Carriage, car?Still won't make it.Lanterns, lamps?This is a bit of a clue, I heard that tungsten wire is used, but the power is out of work...

Wait, lantern?
This seems to be a bit of a statement.

Looking at the red lanterns outside, Li Gan thought of such things as Kongming lanterns, the inventor of which was Zhuge Liang.

But Li Qian had never seen a Kongming lantern in Dagan, and he had never heard of it in his memory. Maybe Zhuge Liang hadn't made it yet.

And the large Kongming Lantern can also be used as a hot air balloon, which can make people go to the sky...

This thing may be able to arouse Zhuge Liang's curiosity.

He did it when he thought of it, and Li Gan stopped wandering outside, let the carriage go back to the palace, and formulated a "Zhuge Liang arrest plan" in the palace.

He also ordered the old eunuch to get the raw materials, and made a Kongming lantern with paper and wooden sticks.

I have to say that the principle of this thing seems simple, but it actually requires a certain amount of manual skills to build.

When Li Qian was a child in his previous life, he always failed to make this thing. Several times, he just started flying up and then spontaneously ignited.

But fortunately, there are some failed experiences, this time Li Qian did it right in one go.

He didn't dare to try it in the palace either, the beams above were made of wood, it would be a lot of fun if it caught fire.

Li Gan ran to Yulinyuan specially, and found several eunuchs with long poles, and beat them down when they got a little higher.

After doing a few experiments like this to make sure it was correct, Li Qian was relieved.

Next, there is only execution left.

(End of this chapter)