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

Chapter 610 It's truly absurd, but it's also incredibly satisfying!
At this moment, Pei Yuan felt an overwhelming sense of arrogance.

The saying "drunk on a beauty's lap, awake to wield power over the world" probably describes this feeling.

What about the story of "lighting the beacon fires to amuse the feudal lords" and "a concubine's smile as a rider gallops through the dust"? It's absurd, but it's incredibly exhilarating.

If I could really make Commander Han smile and throw himself into his arms, what would it matter if I turned against Yang Tinghe?

Pei Yuan was filled with murderous intent and was about to go to the Meridian Gate to confront Yang Tinghe and give him a big beating.

Pei Yuan waited for a while, but the newly appointed scholars had not yet arrived, when Wei Ne came running over excitedly.

Upon meeting, Wei Ne said with a delighted expression, "Chief Qian is truly a man of hidden talent."

Pei Yuan smiled faintly.

This kind of secondhand flattery from Dou Yu had already left Pei Yuan with no pleasure.

Unexpectedly, Wei Ne exclaimed, "This humble servant never imagined that our backer would actually be Yang Ting and Grand Secretary Yang!"

Pei Yuan was stunned. "What did you say?"

Wei Ne smiled obsequiously, "Grand Secretary Yang, isn't Grand Secretary Yang our backer?"

"Wasn't this top-ranking position created by Commander Qianhu and Grand Secretary Yang?"

Pei Yuan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly realized the flaw in his thinking.

Even when he was in a difficult situation, he always regarded himself as a highly independent force.

Even when facing his superior, Commander Han, Pei Yuan was constantly thinking about how to take advantage of his position.

Pei Yuan abandoned his original idea of ​​taking things slowly and instead seized the title of Commander Han through a marriage arrangement. Besides not having much hope for their relationship, Pei Yuan had many other considerations.

One very important reason is to eliminate any worries about the future.

The deep integration of their interests also allowed Pei Yuan to take over the Thousand Households in a way that his subordinates could understand and accept.

However, while Pei Yuan takes himself seriously, outsiders may not necessarily think so.

From this perspective, when faced with this "Qingqian case" of obvious cheating, most people's thoughts might not necessarily be that Pei Yuan is awesome!

They will only think that Pei Yuan and Yang Tinghe are in cahoots!

Yang Tinghe had made some kind of agreement with Tang Gao and the other two, but Pei Yuan was more trouble than he was worth, and he revealed the matter in advance, making it known to everyone, which led to the "Qingqian Case".

This line of thought... makes perfect sense!
Pei Yuan was also somewhat shocked after figuring this out.

"I, Pei Yuan, am actually one of Yang Tinghe's men?"

Hearing Pei Yuan's words, Wei Ne felt there was something to them, and he became somewhat doubtful. "Isn't that right?"

Pei Yuan had already forgotten about giving Yang Ting and Da Bidou.

He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should I be?"

These words were less an answer to Wei Ne and more a monologue to himself.

Wei Ne was completely bewildered by Pei Yuan's attitude.

Seeing that Pei Yuan seemed lost in thought, Wei Ne did not dare to disturb him. After a while, Pei Yuan finally came back to his senses.

He didn't mention what had just happened, but instead asked, "By the way, the top scholars Tang Gao, Huang Chu, and Cai Ang should have submitted memorials to clear their names. Has the Ministry of Justice received them?"

Wei Ne said, "Received. Normally, these three haven't officially started their jobs yet, so their memorials shouldn't be accepted. However, when the three of them went to submit their memorials this morning, they mentioned my name."

"As soon as I heard it was these three people, I knew what was going on. So I took those memorials and sent them directly to the Wenyuan Pavilion."

Pei Yuan was very concerned about the follow-up of this matter and asked directly, "Have the Grand Secretaries approved it?"

Wei Ne said, "Chief Minister Yang was very angry, believing that these three people were being stirred up by petty people after the slightest setback, which was unbecoming of a minister. The memorial was suppressed by Chief Minister Yang, and neither a reply nor a return was given."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuan felt greatly relieved.

As long as Yang Tinghe doesn't back down, then Pei Yuan won't back down either.

No matter how much trouble they cause, Yang Tinghe will always be there to protect them.

Pei Yuan thought about it and realized that Yang Tinghe's strong support for Tang Gao and the other two was naturally for the sake of his son Yang Shen's reputation.

The articles by Tang Gao and the other two perfectly supplemented the deficiencies of Yang Shen's theory and effectively proposed a method that combines the two approaches.

At this time, the more assertive Tang Gao and the other two were, the more they would meet Yang Tinghe's expectations.

Now that we've tested the waters, it's time to let these three people make contact with Yang Tinghe.

Pei Yuan summoned a guard and instructed him, "Go and tell Tang Gao and the others to visit Yang Tinghe's residence tonight."

"Tell them that Chief Minister Yang has read their memorials."

"Prime Minister Yang was very angry, believing that they were swayed by petty people over the slightest setback, which was unbecoming of a minister. He told them to think carefully about what they should say when they met Prime Minister Yang."

Tang Gao and the other two were able to write an essay that resonated with Yang Tinghe's heart based solely on Pei Yuan's hints, thus winning first place in the imperial examination. They were all naturally intelligent people.

Pei Yuan no longer needed to teach him how to deal with Yang Tinghe.

The guard repeated Pei Yuan's words before hurriedly leaving.

Wei Ne looked at the guard's back with some doubt, then asked Pei Yuan, "Aren't we in cahoots with Yang Tinghe?"

Pei Yuan ruthlessly shattered Wei Ne's illusions, "No."

Disappointment immediately appeared on Wei Ne's face, but he quickly recovered and said, "It's good that it's not. Those old guys may seem powerful and influential, but their subordinates have long been divided into several factions."

“Someone as imposing as Yang Tinghe might collapse at the slightest provocation. It’s more reliable to follow the commander.”

Pei Yuan didn't care how sincere Wei Ne's words were, and instead started talking to him about something else.

"Back then, you had a good relationship with Jiao Huangzhong, so you must know something about Jiao Fang's faction, right? How many of them are still serving in the court, how many have been transferred to local areas, and how many have retired? Do you know anything about that?"

When Wei Ne heard Pei Yuan ask about Jiao Fang, he had some guesses in his mind. He asked with surprise, "Could it be that Commander Qianhu is planning to help Prime Minister Jiao return to the capital?"

Pei Yuan said, "I have this idea. As you know, I have always respected Yan'er, and I will always consider her words carefully."

Pei Yuan was using Wei Ne to pass on a message to Jiao Huangzhong, hoping to improve Jiao Yan'er's standing with the Jiao family.

This will make it easier for Jiao Yan'er to coordinate matters between the two families in the future.

When Wei Ne heard that it was Jiao Yan'er's influence from her husband, she felt that the matter was more plausible.

After all, Commander Pei was in the prime of his life and couldn't withstand this.

After Pei Yuan finished speaking, he asked Wei Ne directly, "If Jiao Fang comes back, will you work for me or for Jiao Fang?"

Wei Ne thought to himself, "Even Jiao Fang is waiting for you to bail her out, and this is considered a big deal?" He immediately replied, "This subordinate will naturally listen to the commander."

Pei Yuan smiled and revealed his main purpose, "Then help me organize the information about the Jiao Party from back then; it will be of great use to me."

Upon hearing this, Wei Ne immediately agreed.

At this time, Xiao Tong had already brought Huo Tao and the others over, and Pei Yuan sent Wei Ne away before meeting the newly appointed scholars.

After everyone had finished their greetings, Pei Yuan said with a smile, "This is my private residence. If you ever can't find me at Zhihua Temple, just come here and look for me."

After speaking, Pei Yuan gestured for everyone to enter the hall and sit down.

Pei Yuan's original old house has been completely renovated and used as a front yard for receiving guests and handling affairs.

The main hall was no longer in its shabby state; it had long been cleaned up and tidy.

After everyone was seated, Pei Yuan asked them, "I heard that you went to Zhihua Temple after the Honglu Banquet. Is something important happening?"

Huo Tao stepped forward and replied, "During the Honglu Banquet, we heard that the Cabinet intends to act swiftly and decisively to conclude this special imperial examination as soon as possible. The selection of probationary officials has already been scheduled for the day after tomorrow."

"No Zhongshu Sheren were selected in this examination. After the selection of Shujishi, apart from the top three candidates who entered the Hanlin Academy, and the Shujishi selected from the Hanlin Academy and those who studied at the Imperial Academy, the remaining newly appointed Jinshi would enter various ministries to observe government affairs."

"My fellow students and I all wanted to come and ask what arrangements the commander has made."

Pei Yuan thought to himself, "Could this guy be addicted to winning by doing nothing?"

Fortunately, Pei Yuan had indeed thought about these things.

So he looked at everyone and said carefully, "Huo Tao, you are outstanding in talent and have the best writing skills. You can go to the Hanlin Academy to be selected as a probationary official. After that, it is best not to be greedy for the title of Hanlin Academy. It would be best to go out and serve as a censor in the Six Ministries for a few years. If you can become a censor in all six ministries, that would be even better."

Huo Tao knew that Pei Yuan must have had a reason for making such detailed arrangements.

He immediately declared with great ambition, "I am eager to do something for the country. Although my position in the Hanlin Academy is secure, it is a waste of time and I have no opportunity to demonstrate my abilities."

Entering the Hanlin Academy meant entering a special promotion system. Hanlin Academy officials were close advisors to the emperor, and their promotions largely depended on the emperor's wishes.

If one never gains the emperor's favor, one might waste half a lifetime writing history and congratulatory messages for the emperor during festivals.

However, if one were to become a Censor in one of the Six Ministries, not only would one be able to directly intervene in the court's major policies even at a low rank, but once one had built up a reputation in this position, it would be a super track that allowed for rapid advancement.

Moreover, as long as one has served as a probationary official, even if one does not remain in the Hanlin Academy, one will still have the qualification to study there, which will not affect one's future entry into the cabinet.

For a young man like Huo Tao, who is still full of energy, going to the Sixth Department is much more meaningful than developing in seclusion at the Hanlin Academy.

Pei Yuan then said to Tian Fu, Bai Jun, and the others, "As for you, I have other plans for you. It's a waste of your time to take the exam for the position of Shujishi. You should go out and make a name for yourselves as soon as possible."

"As you have all met before, for the sake of your future, I even specially invited Li Shishi, the Left Censor-in-Chief, to Zhihua Temple for drinks."

Everyone had some guesses after hearing this, and their eyes showed excitement.

Xu Qing couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that we can become imperial censors?"

If one becomes an imperial censor, one's future prospects are second only to those of the Six Ministries.

Although it's unlikely they'll join the cabinet, given their status and background, it's already a pipe dream.

Pei Yuan nodded clearly and said, "I have already made an agreement with Li Shishi that as long as the time is right, I will send you to the Censorate. So you don't need to worry about the matter of observing politics."

"No matter which ministry the court assigns you to, you must do your job well. Make more friends and learn more about the relevant matters. You may not necessarily do this job in the future, but you may still be involved in this area."

Everyone felt reassured and put their minds at ease.

Pei Yuan then asked, "By the way, have you gone to pay your respects to your master?"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, and then shook their heads in unison.

These scholars who passed the imperial examination in the same year had already implicitly formed two small groups, namely Huo Tao and Tian Fu.

Unfortunately, Huo Tao and Tian Fu were the leaders who organized the candidates to make a scene over the "Liang Cishu case".

Historically, after being selected by Liang Chu, one of them immediately resigned due to illness and returned to his hometown, while the other directly cursed the master. Of course, neither of them would go to pay homage to Liang Chu.

The other classmates were all from Shandong, so they didn't really understand the "big fish eat small fish" mentality in Guangdong.

However, after hearing these two mention that Commander Pei had repeatedly beaten Liang Cishu, he naturally gave up the idea of ​​visiting Liang Chu.

This is the most crucial issue of choosing sides.

In fact, many of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations deliberately avoided visiting Liang Chu.

Liang Chu himself was also sensible. Taking advantage of the previous incident of Mao Cheng's betrayal, he simply stayed at home and pretended to be sick, avoiding seeing the few newly appointed scholars who came to his door.

Pei Yuan said slowly, "It's never good to be in officialdom without connections. If others can't figure you out, how can they confide in you?"

“It’s perfect timing. Mao Ji, the Vice Minister of Rites, is from Shandong, and he’s also one of the examiners for this imperial examination. Even if he’s not from your branch of the family, the bond of being from the same hometown is always strong.”

“I’m acquainted with Mao Ji, so I’ll take you to meet him tonight. You can then present yourselves as Mao Ji’s disciples. Huo Tao and Tian Fu, you two can also come along and benefit from his presence.”

The newly appointed scholars were overjoyed and exclaimed, "Brother, you've thought things through perfectly!"

Pei Yuan made a guess.

Mao Ji should have realized by now that he had no hope of confronting Wang Hua. In addition, he had participated in a special imperial examination and served as a co-examiner, which was a very important qualification for him.

It's estimated that Mao Ji has little to hold onto and will soon submit a memorial requesting leave to observe mourning for his father.

We can't afford to waste any more time.

Pei Yuan summoned his personal guards and ordered them to inquire whether Mao Ji had returned to the mansion.

Upon hearing that the Ministry of Rites had already closed its offices and that Mao Ji had just arrived home, Pei Yuan led a large group of his underlings to Mao Ji's house.

When they arrived at Mao Ji's residence, they saw that many newly appointed scholars were already queuing up in front of the gate.

Pei Yuan was not surprised by this.

After all, the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were about to be sent to various ministries to observe government affairs. The Ministry of Rites was an excellent and prestigious government office, and coincidentally, Vice Minister Mao Ji was one of the examiners for this year's examination.

As a result, all the newly appointed scholars from Mao Ji's branch of the imperial examinations came to curry favor with him.

These people were unaware that Mao Ji was about to return home to observe mourning for his parents. Since they could not rely on their mentor, they could only rely on their advisor.

Mao Ji thought that these people were a relatively important political legacy. Although he knew that it would be a problem if he left soon, he still accepted them all and gathered a large group of followers to solidify their relationship.

Seeing that the queue outside was still long, Pei Yuan felt it was inappropriate for him to show his face and expose his relationship with Huo Tao and the others.

Without waiting any longer, he said directly to everyone, "Never mind all that, let's go through the back door."

Upon hearing this, the underlings nodded, their eyes clear yet foolish, and obediently followed like chicks.

(End of this chapter)