Without money, what is the point of being a traitor?

Chapter 559 Life is impermanent
Pei Yuan thought clearly, but when Xiao Yan saw his scoundrel face, he couldn't bear it anymore.

Moreover, Xiao Yan also heard that it was Captain Han who personally came to the Northern Pacification Division to ask for the removal of Captain Zhenxie's Captain.

I really don’t know if Han Qianhu will regret his original decision when he finds out that this guy is greedy for his body and has stamped his seal in advance.

Moreover, when Lu Ting was still a little Karami, in order to please Xiao Jing and help Xiao Yan and Xiao Tong, father and son, to gild their reputations, Lu Ting even went to Nanzhi to snipe Pei Yuan.

Xiao Yan remembered clearly that many people died when Lu Ting and Han Qianhu competed for Pei Yuan's official files.

Now thinking back on it, life is so unpredictable.

This guy Lu Ting inexplicably cooperated with Bai Yu to win an incredible victory, and then Lu Ting took away the military commander's post from Gu Dayong who was fooled by the Bazhou army.

Then this guy chased the Bazhou army all the way and made them run around everywhere, and he also completely put down the Bazhou Rebellion in Huguang.

After that, Lu Ting became Xiao Jing's strongest competitor, and even defeated Xiao Jing in the end to become the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department.

As for the other Han Qianhu who was competing for Pei Yuan...

Well, that really helped her succeed.

Xiao Yan thought with some malice.

But when I think about my own loss of power, I feel really depressed. At this time, I have to talk about other unlucky people to ease my mood.

Xiao Yan changed the topic very flexibly and sighed, "If Jiang Bin knew that you used the fabricated rumors to slander him as an excuse to win the beauty, I wonder how he would feel."

Pei Yuan said with great vision, "Even if they are strangers, they can help each other. I'm sure my second brother will be very happy."

Xiao Yan hummed and said nothing more.

Pei Yuan remembered something and said to Xiao Yan, "Now is the time for warriors to rise. As the Left Commander, you should show your abilities in front of His Majesty from time to time."

“You may not see the benefits in the short term, but you may get unexpected rewards in the future.”

If someone else said this, Xiao Yan would still make a fool of himself, but since it was Pei Yuan who said this.

Xiao Yan simply spread his hands and asked, "Do you think I am suitable for this?"

"If you hadn't helped me get two barons for our Xiao family, and if I hadn't relied on my military achievements to be promoted from a thousand households to the left governor, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to get a real position as a thousand households now."

"Your Majesty is now surrounded by Jiang Bin, Li Cong, Shen Zhou and other fierce generals who have truly fought against the Bazhou rebels."

"To be honest, I feel a little guilty when I see them. I'm afraid someone will ask me how I got this tattoo on my body."

"With those guys surrounding Your Majesty, how can I have a chance to show my face?"

Pei Yuan thought to himself that it would be strange if he didn't feel guilty, as those three hadn't even received their titles yet.

Pei Yuan said to Xiao Yan, "You don't have to fight with them about this. Your Majesty doesn't have any power in his hands now, so he will naturally pay more attention to ability."

"When Your Majesty wins the hearts of the troops little by little and can control the border troops with ease, then he will begin to value the loyalty of his subordinates."

"Given his majesty's talent and intelligence, even if you have some abilities, he may not see you as such."

"In that case, you might as well think more about the word 'loyalty' and see how to make His Majesty remember you at the critical moment."

Xiao Yan was confused again after hearing this and pointed at himself, "Loyalty? Me?"

If he had anything to do with these two words, he wouldn't be chatting and laughing here with Pei Yuan.

The way out that Pei Yuan planned for the Xiao family was to fuel the Queen's fire.

But who would stare at a young queen so hard?
And from what Li Zhang vaguely hinted at, Pei Yuan is still looking for a way to sneak into the palace.

No matter what Pei Yuan wanted to do, Xiao Yan couldn't tell him.

If we really talk about loyalty, sending Pei Yuan to the imperial prison is the greatest loyalty.

Seeing Xiao Yan struggling, Pei Yuan did not say much. He pointed out a path for Xiao Yan, and how much he could understand depended on Xiao Yan himself.

Xiao Yan, the Left General, might be a little incompetent, but when it comes to military issues, his noble status can give him a say.

The two chatted and soon the auspicious time arrived.

Chen Xinjian is his confidant, and most of the people around him are brothers in the Qianhu Division, so Pei Yuan feels very involved in the whole thing.

After happily watching the bride and groom enter the bridal chamber, Pei Yuancai and Xiao Yan went to the banquet to drink the wedding wine.

After a while, Chen Xinjian came out to toast.

Pei Yuan was very considerate and asked him to go and busy himself somewhere else first, while he and Xiao Yan chatted slowly.

When Pei Yuan was having fun, he was hesitating whether to go back to Zhihua Temple or to the old house in Dengshikou when someone came to report happily, "Captain, General Yun has woken up."

After hearing this, Pei Yuan naturally had no reason to hesitate, and immediately took his men back to Zhihua Temple drunk.

Yun Buxian was lying on the couch eating. When he saw Pei Yuan coming in, he wanted to get up and greet him.

Pei Yuan hurriedly stopped him and asked, "How do you feel? Your injuries are serious, and I dare not let anyone attack you recklessly. Chen Xinjian has been taking care of this place before."

"The Chen family has been practicing torture for generations, and they are experts in trauma."

Yun Buxian looked around, with an expression as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Pei Yuan waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, eat well first, and we can talk about other things later."

Now that things have come to this, there is no point in being anxious.

The opponent has already released all the Datong roaming troops, what else is there to say?

People are really anxious.

In this situation, let alone Pei Yuan, a small captain of the Jinyiwei, anyone who takes over will have to weigh the consequences.

Perhaps some people think that if the corruption of the Xing Taipu Temple in the horse price silver is exposed, it may make the Shanxi border troops a little more fearful.

But even if you dare to say such a big thing, the court will not dare to acknowledge it.

When Liu Jin sent people to Ningxia to check the military settlements, the Ningxia border troops joined forces with Anhua King Zhu Zongxuan to rebel. After the rebellion was put down, who came out to quell the rebellion?
——That was Yang Yiqing, a major faction in the imperial court today, who was the Chief Censor of the Three Borders at that time.

Yang Yiqing said to Zhang Yong, that’s enough, let’s leave the military settlement matters here.

Zhang Yong received accurate signals from the border troops and civil officials and conveyed them to the emperor. Although Zhu Houzhao was extremely indignant, he had no choice but to torture Liu Jin to death after Empress Dowager Zhang entered the scene.

Sometimes, politics not only involves considering right and wrong and winning and losing, but also whether one can bear the consequences.

If the shabby border town can still be maintained, it is best not to touch it until there is a sufficient alternative.

If the military settlements cannot be investigated, then they cannot be investigated; if the military households cannot be found, then they cannot be found; if the military rations are sold, then they can be sold; if the servants are used in the war, then the servants can be used.

As long as the four towns of Xuan, Da, Ji and Liao are still there, it will be fine.

Things always have a wonderful way of working themselves out before they completely fall apart.

It is better for the emperor and the court that do not have the ability not to mess around. For example, a certain emperor who was capable but incompetent just optimized the postman, and the Ming Dynasty was gone.

If Pei Yuan exposed the thief-eating-the-cheater affair now, the court might be excited and excited at first, but after hearing that the Datong guerrillas had been dispatched, they would most likely ask the Minister of Revenue Sun Jiao to dispel the rumor. ——What horse price silver? Haven't you heard of it?

Seeing Pei Yuan so calm, Yun Buxian ate two more bites symbolically before asking his attendants to leave again.

Pei Yuan naturally knew the importance of the matter and waved his hand to let people leave.

After the Jinyiwei serving around retreated, Yun Buxian hesitated for a moment, then looked at Cen Meng with an attitude of wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Cen Meng was a little unhappy. Why did he always get chased away when there was a secret?

But Cen Meng also understood that if he did not take the initiative at this time, would he have to wait for his lord to point it out?

So he retreated to the door angrily.

Cen Meng closed the door tightly and waved his hand to ask others to stand further away.

At this time, Captain Pei, who had appeared very calm just now, was heard shouting inside.

"Thirty thousand taels?!"

"I fought the Bazhou bandits in Shandong for ten thousand taels of silver. How dare you take thirty thousand taels from them?!"

"Where do you get the courage!!"

Cen Meng, who vaguely knew something, couldn't help but take a breath.

Even at the actual price, thirty thousand taels of silver could buy five thousand war horses!
The losses in Shanxi are almost as great as those suffered in a tough battle in the border town. No wonder they are so anxious.

Cen Meng quickly looked around again and asked the soldiers vigilantly, "Did you hear anything?"

After Cen Meng came out, those personal soldiers were almost driven to the courtyard gate by him. Naturally, they did not hear Pei Yuan's voice. When they heard it, they hurriedly shook their heads.

Cen Meng then breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand, asking his personal soldiers to stand further away.

After a long while, the door behind him opened and Pei Yuan came out with a gloomy face.

Cen Meng subconsciously did not dare to say anything, but thinking about Chen Xinjian's usual appearance of a villain who would help the emperor solve his problems, he asked cautiously, "Captain, is this very troublesome?"

Pei Yuan said gloomily, "It is very troublesome."

Then he said, "Call some people and come with me."

This time, Pei Yuan rushed to a small temple called Tianguang Temple overnight.

This temple is not far from Zhihua Temple. When they arrived there, the people inside heard someone shouting outside the temple gate and asked vigilantly.

When they heard that it was Captain Pei coming and recognized Cen Meng's voice, someone from inside opened the door.

When Pei Yuan led his men in, he saw Yun Weilin, who looked haggard, coming towards them with a few others.

Yun Weilin was about to salute, but Pei Yuan waved his hand to stop him, and casually said what Yun Weilin was most concerned about at the moment, "Yun Buxian has woken up, and he seems to be in good condition. He should not die."

Hearing this good news, Yun Weilin obviously relaxed. He let out a long breath and subconsciously chanted the Buddha's name.

Pei Yuan looked at the bald man and then he remembered that Yun Weilin seemed to have been the abbot of a temple before. Later, he envied the wealth and glory in the world and joined the Qianhusuo.

As far as I can remember, the temple where he was the abbot was called Tianguang Temple.

Pei Yuan saw that Yun Weilin's mood had stabilized a little, so he didn't want to comfort her. He asked directly, "Where are the things?"

Yun Weilin knew his limits and quickly asked everyone to leave, and personally took Pei Yuan to a small Zen temple at the back.

When he arrived in the yard, opened the door and entered the dusty warehouse, Pei Yuan saw several boxes there.

There were some messy footprints on the ground.

Pei Yuan turned around and signaled to Cen Meng, "Open it."

Cen Meng stepped forward, took the key from Yun Weilin, opened the boxes one by one, and displayed them in front of Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan waved back and took the torch from someone to shine it.

There were many silver ingots in the box. Pei Yuan picked up one and took a look. Even the mark of the Imperial Household Department's casting had not been removed on it.

According to convention, the pretext of buying horses for the Imperial Household Department was an opportunity to engage in large-scale smuggling outside the Great Wall.

All they had to do was exchange the silver for goods like salt, tea, and ironware, and then sell them to the grasslands, and then buy inferior horses from the grasslands to fill the account.

With the money and permission from the court, they could make a lot of money from this deal. This was much more profitable than shipping goods piecemeal from the border.

Judging from the situation, it seems that the money from the imperial court had just been allocated, but before it could be put into use, Yun Buxian had already embezzled it.

Pei Yuan couldn't help but sigh again, "30,000 taels, how dare Yun Buxian?"

Yun Weilin's face changed. He had contacted Yun Buxian before he returned to the city, so he knew the whole story clearly.

Hearing Pei Yuan's words, he couldn't help but beg, "I also know that my son has gotten into trouble. I hope that the commander will save him for his hard work. As long as my son's life can be saved, I will repay your kindness by working like a slave in the future."

Pei Yuan pondered in silence.

Cen Meng, who was standing by, had a simpler idea. Seeing Pei Yuan in a dilemma, he whispered, "Why don't we try to get the money back? As long as we get the money back, Shanxi won't make a big fuss about it."

"Give it back?" Pei Yuan scolded, "Do you think giving it back can solve the problem? It's about money now?"

"And even the Shanxi guerrillas have been dispatched. Isn't this considered a big deal?"

After hearing what Pei Yuan said, Yun Weilin looked even more disheartened.

Fortunately, Pei Yuan changed the subject and said, "If you really want to keep Yun Buxian, there are ways."

Yun Weilin felt hopeful after hearing this, and quickly asked, "I hope the thousand households can give me some advice."

Pei Yuan said solemnly, "It's definitely not possible for me to do this alone. We have to drag Han Qianhu into this matter as well."

"Captain Han?" Yun Weilin was surprised.

Pei Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Let someone wrap the silver in red silk and send it to Zhihua Temple tomorrow. I plan to use it to propose marriage to Han Qianhu."

Yun Weilin was numb when he heard this.

He had heard Pei Yuan talk about the marriage granted by the Emperor, and he knew that the two might be getting married soon, but what kind of operation was it to use the stolen money as a betrothal gift?
Is he really not afraid of being beaten by Han Qianhu?
Pei Yuan's thoughts at this moment were unusually calm.

Anyway, the disaster was caused by the people from the Qianhu Office, and Qianhu Han could not stay out of it no matter what, so he simply found an excuse to make it clear.

The threat from Datong's guerrillas was like a thick black cloud, but under this downpour, Pei Yuan was able to use this huge external pressure to achieve a delicate balance with Han Qianhu.

Under the huge threat that the Shanxi border army may directly attack the Qianhu Division, who among the henchmen in the Qianhu Division, big and small, would be willing to see Qianhu Han and her super-powerful deputy Qianhu fall out?

In a nutshell, if Han Qianhu doesn't marry me, no one else will have a good life.

This will add another bit of success to Pei Yuan.

(End of this chapter)