Chapter 402: Two Powers at War
Jiang Changyun's guess was correct. Shi Tao really liked the two bottles of wine he offered him.
During this period, Shi Tao was in a particularly good mood. Firstly, he had heard that his daughter had won the emperor's favor in the imperial selection and was very likely to ascend to a high position in the harem; secondly, he was worried that Lü Desheng, who had a bad relationship with him, was about to face misfortune.
On this day, Shi Tao took advantage of the fact that he had obtained two bottles of good wine and gathered his people for a small banquet.
When Shi Tao was drunk and jealous, he heard the shocking news that his daughter, who had a bright future, was ruined.
He was just enjoying the pleasure of being a Cheng'en Duke, when it was as if a basin of cold water was poured over his head, not to mention that the cold water was poured by the new emperor himself.
For a while, Shi Tao's mood fluctuated greatly.
Alcohol makes people indulge.
Shi Tao's eyes turned red, and he let his emotions overcome his reason. He cursed, "You brat are not worthy of being a consultant!"
After cursing, he continued to mutter, "This emperor is mean and ungrateful, far worse than the old emperor. He came to power improperly. No wonder Dali has suffered so many disasters since he ascended the throne..."
The truth in my heart just poured out.
Lu Yiliang, who was drinking with Shi Tao, was shocked.
When the servants heard his outrageous words, they were all silent.
Lu Yiliang hurriedly shouted, "Hurry, Master Shi is drunk, help him into the house."
Although they reacted quickly, the matter was eventually discovered by the second wave of people sent by Song Mo to Pingzhou.
If they know, it means Song Mo knows.
Every word Shi Tao said hit Song Mo in the heart.
When Song Mo found out, he was furious. How dare Shi Tao do that?
At the same time, his people also attached evidence of Shi Tao's corruption during his tenure.
Under normal circumstances, Shi Tao would have been corrupt, as the saying goes, "If the people don't sue, the officials won't investigate."
But now, Song Mo couldn't bear it at all.
This man's abilities were mediocre to begin with, and now even his only virtue, loyalty, has been lost. There's no point for him to stay in the position of Pingzhou Governor.
Song Mo directly issued an order to dismiss the person from office and investigate the case.
Since Shi Tao and his daughter both thought the late emperor was good and loyal to him, right? And since they thought he had come to power unfairly and was mean and ungrateful, right? Then Shi Tao should forget about being an official and making a living during his Tianhe reign!
Liaodong County
After receiving the news, Lv Songli smiled and said to her father, "Dad, Shi Tao is going to be in trouble."
"Is he going to be finished?" Lu Desheng looked a little dazed. You know, Shi Tao has all kinds of shortcomings and problems, but it is an undeniable fact that he has been the governor of Pingzhou for ten years.
"Dad, you know that our emperor is not very kind-hearted."
Shi Tao had mediocre abilities. How did he become the governor of Pingzhou? Wasn't it because of his loyalty?
Now, he has broken this advantage with his own hands.
And he kept jumping around Song Mo's taboos. How could Song Mo let him go?
After reading the news from Chang'an and Liaoxi County, Lu Desheng snorted, "This Shi Tao is really courting death. He's lived for most of his life, and doesn't he know how much he can drink?"
Lu Songli said nonchalantly, "I guess it's because he's happy and gets too carried away."
Both Shi Tao and his daughter were people who couldn't control their mouths after drinking.
This weakness was repeatedly exploited by Lu Songli.
As the saying goes, one trick is enough to conquer the world. It doesn’t matter if the trick is old, as long as it is useful. This is true for Song Mo, and it is also true for Shi Tao and his daughter.
"Dad, congratulations. It won't be long before you are promoted to the governor of Pingzhou." Lu Songli thought, if nothing unexpected happens, Song Mo should make a decision.
Lu Desheng controlled the upward curve of his mouth, feeling a little excited at the thought of becoming the governor of Pingzhou.
"Song Mo really doesn't agree to redress the Qin family's injustice?"
"Um."
Lu Desheng didn't know what to say. Song Mo didn't let up at all in his suppression of the Qin family.
Thinking of the Qin family who have been loyal to Dali for generations, Lu Desheng felt a heart attack. Isn't the Song family bullying honest people?
"You have to tell your son-in-law and his family about this." Lu Desheng told her, fearing that it would cause a rift between her and her husband's family.
"Okay." Lu Songli agreed.
Whether Song Mo wants to redress the Qin family or get her father promoted, it makes no difference to Lu Songli.
Her parents' family and her husband's family were like the spear and dagger in her hands: an inch longer, an inch stronger; an inch shorter, an inch more dangerous. The reward for her merit in the Battle of Nanyang, no matter which side it fell on, she would make the most of it.
When the Qin brothers learned that Uncle Lu had submitted a memorial, hoping to use the merits of Nanyang in exchange for a chance to redress their Qin family's wrongdoing, but was suppressed by the emperor, they felt very upset.
As for the sixth brother's wife, it was because the emperor did not immediately agree to Uncle Lu's request and realized that there was no hope for the Qin family to be rehabilitated that he initiated the subsequent action and pushed her father to the position of governor of Pingzhou.
At this time, Qin Heng was the first to break the silence, "Actually, Uncle Lu's promotion to Governor of Pingzhou is a good thing. I was previously worried about the future Xianbei moving south."
"Liaodong County is currently developing very well, but it is still too difficult for Liaodong County alone to resist the Xianbei army."
"Liaodong County is too small and lacks depth. If the two armies fight, we will be very passive and unable to fight flexibly."
Qin Yan, Qin Zhao, Qin Sheng and others all agreed with what he said.
What Qin Heng didn't mention was that while he was stationed in Xiping'an County, he had been pondering the terrain of Xuanxue and Donglang counties. If Liaodong County could capture these two counties, its chances of victory against the Xianbei army would increase by at least 50%.
"Now that Uncle Lü has become the governor of Pingzhou, he has jurisdiction over four counties. This also gives us the strength to fight against the Xianbei army."
"Brother, let's see when we can find an opportunity to destroy the Three Han states south of Lelang County?"
"That depends on my sixth brother's wife." After all, the Qin family is still a fugitive.
Everyone looked at Lu Songli.
Lu Songli smiled and said, "Don't worry about it, there will be a chance."
Lu Songli's guess was correct. Song Mo had already made a decision on how to reward Lu Desheng. He decided to promote Lu Desheng to the position of Governor of Pingzhou!
At this time, Song Mo's disgust for Shi Tao definitely exceeded that for Lu Desheng.
Although Lü Desheng was also annoying and had a sharp tongue, he was loyal to the late emperor, but he did not slander him constantly like Shi Tao did. Moreover, he had some ability and could share his worries.
When faced with two evils, the lesser one would naturally be Shi Tao removed and Lu Desheng replaced.
After the imperial edict promoting Lü Desheng to the position of Governor of Pingzhou was copied and the emperor personally stamped it with the imperial seal, Zhang Xianfang felt relieved.
The ministers looked hopeless.
Of the two options, they would rather the Qin family be rehabilitated.
When they thought about Lu Desheng being promoted to governor, they couldn't even enjoy their meals.
This person is getting closer and closer to Chang'an, woooo.
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