Laiwang County
In the study of County Magistrate Cheng, he and his teacher were discussing something.
His teacher was very worried about this matter: "Sir, is there really no problem in dealing with General Qin? The prefect already knows about this matter, I am worried... Besides, General Qin is a student of Minister Du, if Qin Fang gets into trouble, Minister Du will not resign. Besides, now that Tu Qiang has used General Qin's reputation to injure someone, this matter will get bigger and bigger."
County Magistrate Cheng sighed. Even though he was very confident in front of Lord Liu that day, in fact, he was not so confident: "I have no choice. The higher-ups want to take action against Qin Fang. How can I refuse? But fortunately, their purpose is not really to take action against Qin Fang. The higher-ups said to be polite to Qin Fang and delay this case for a few months before clearing Qin Fang's name."
The master didn't understand: "Why did the higher-ups do this?"
County Magistrate Cheng said: "How should I know? You go and prepare. Tomorrow I will go to the General's Mansion in person and ask General Qin to give an explanation for this matter." Although Qin Fang's rank is higher than his, he is the parent official of Laiwang County, and he has the right to ask Qin Fang to cooperate with the investigation.
County Magistrate Cheng didn't know why the higher-ups did this, but someone in the capital knew.
Wei Mansion
Wei Hong sat in the kitchen, facing Wei Ting, who had a sullen face.
Wei Hong's face was not good either. This was the first time his son yelled at him. However, this was the son he had cultivated, the future head of the Wei family, so he had to be ruthless. "Wei Ting, this has already been done. Even if you want to stop it, it's too late."
Wei Ting was very disappointed. He knew everything about the Yang Mansion, but he didn't stop it. He had a different stance and he knew his father's helplessness. But now that the Wei family had the emperor's backing and had become the emperor's confidant, why did his father still do this?
Wei Ting: "Father, Qin Fang is a student of Du Shilang. On that day in Yu's study, it was the emperor who said in person that he wanted Du Shilang to accept Qin Fang as his student. This shows how much the emperor values Qin Fang. You asked County Magistrate Cheng to move Qin Fang. Are you slapping the emperor and Du Shilang in the face? Because of the affairs of the Yang Mansion, although our Wei family is still a first-class family in the capital, our actual status is very embarrassing. If Du Shilang knew about Qin Fang's affairs and brought them to the court, Du Shilang would not resign."
Wei Ting snorted: "He is just a student. How can Du Ke value him so much?"
"Father..." Wei Ting had witnessed the relationship between Du Ke and Du Shilang with his own eyes. He had never seen Du Shilang, who was so strict that he didn't think twice, smile at Qin Fang like that. Even his son was no more than that. "This is not just a student issue. Qin Fang is the student assigned by the emperor to Minister Du. You think you are a sensible person. Why are
you so careless about this matter? Is it because Bingyun Township Princess refused to become the adopted daughter of the Wei family?" Wei Hong said, "Is that matter worth it for me to touch Du Ke's student? Don't worry, Qin Fang will be fine. He will be cleared of all charges afterwards. I will not touch people that Du Ke and the emperor value. I just want Qin Fang to get into trouble and move him to another position. He cannot stay in Yunxiang County. When he is dismissed from office, he will be cleared of all charges. Then he can still be an official, but not in Yunxiang County."
Wei Ting narrowed his eyes. As smart as he was, he immediately thought of something: "I didn't go for Qin Fang, but for Qin Fang's official position. But what is there to be concerned about in the city guards of Yunxiang County? A poor and remote place, now the most valuable is because the Qin family has become a franchisee of the imperial grain. But just because of this matter, you won't touch the people that Du Ke and the emperor value. It's not because of the matter of Bingyun Xiangjun, then... Yunxiang County's biggest secret, the most valuable thing, is the ore..." At this point, Wei Ting's eyes widened, "Father, are you going for gunpowder?!" Although it was a question, Wei Ting's voice was decisive.
Wei Hong looked at his eldest son. The eldest son was very outstanding, much better than the second son. So he would tell his eldest son some of his decisions, but not his second son. However, at this moment, he regretted that his eldest son looked too smart.
From his father's eyes, Wei Ting knew that he had guessed it right. At the same time, a more terrifying doubt lingered in his heart. He stood up suddenly and came to Wei Hong: "Father, only a limited number of people know about the gunpowder. The ore and gunpowder are now managed by Qin Fang, which is equivalent to being in the hands of the emperor. Even if outsiders know about saltpeter, sulfur and ore, they don’t know the emperor’s gunpowder plan. Moreover, gunpowder is in the hands of the emperor. It is the foundation of the country, which is the most beneficial.
But you want to touch Qin Fang for the gunpowder, which means you don’t want the gunpowder to be in the hands of the emperor. Father... your son has a bold guess, if you didn’t commit treason, then you took sides. Which prince did you take? The prince’s family knew about the gunpowder and wanted Qin Fang’s position as the garrison commander of Yunxiang County, right? But because of Du Ke, they won’t really touch Qin Fang, right?”
"Shut up." Wei Hong roared.
Wei Ting's eyes were full of disappointment: "After the saltpeter ice-making incident was made public, everyone thought that I took people from the Ministry of Works to Yunxiang County to mine, but they didn't know that I went there because of the gunpowder incident. I came back and brought back the news of the successful research on gunpowder, which you also know. So, is it really because of the gunpowder, is it really because you sided with the prince's family? Father, you are so confused. The emperor is not even thirty years old, and he has been in power for a long time. You..."
Wei Ting closed his eyes: "What do you know? You also know the current situation of the Wei family. Back then, when the emperor had not yet ascended the throne and was still Prince Yuan, although I was his confidant, he did not think highly of me. The one he favored the most was Du Ke. Later, when the fight for the throne began, Prince Yuan and the Yang Taifu faction fought fiercely. I proposed to Prince Yuan that Wei Wu and the daughter of the Yang family be married to each other to take over the Yang Taifu faction. Prince Yuan neither agreed nor objected.
But I know that his lack of objection meant he agreed.
But Wei Ting, your father had a double plan back then. If the Yang Taifu faction succeeded, then with the relationship between Wei Wu and the Yang family's daughter, our Wei family would not be bad off. Later, when I saw that the Yang Taifu faction was no match for Prince Yuan, I told Prince Yuan about the Yang Taifu faction's plan. I originally thought that the emperor would value me with this matter, but I didn't know that the emperor valued... It's Duco."
Wei Ting disagreed: "But the emperor let me participate in the gunpowder plan. Isn't this enough to prove that he thinks highly of our Wei family? Father, which prince are you on the side of? Let me guess... Is it the Royal Concubine? Although the emperor did not make her the queen, who doesn't know that the ministers in the court are most optimistic about the eldest prince? Moreover, the Royal Concubine was originally the princess, and the eldest prince was originally the eldest son. "
Wei Hong said: "So what the emperor did was not authentic."
Wei Ting defended: "Whether the emperor is authentic or not has nothing to do with us. Father, what did the Royal Concubine promise you?"
Wei Hong didn't say, but changed the subject: "Don't worry about it, it has nothing to do with you . No one knows the relationship between Cheng County Magistrate of Laiwang County and me. Even if Cheng County Magistrate of Laiwang County gets into trouble, it will not involve us."
Wei Ting: "How did you arrange this matter? Use the servant's son-in-law to question Qin Fang's character and private morality, and then propose to suspend his official position, and then clear his name after the new official takes office? You rely on the fact that Minister Du is not in the court, so you put Qin Fang down? But father, although Minister Du is not here, his people and his relationships are still in the court. Will his students and his people let you touch them?"
Wei Hong: "So this is not a move? It's just a suspension of official position. Don't worry, we don't have to worry about other things."
Wei Ting still disagreed, but his father had already sided with the Imperial Concubine's family, what could he do? For a moment, he was confused. Fortunately, this matter would not harm Qin Fang, otherwise the ending of the matter would be even more troublesome. However, Wei Ting still felt very uneasy.
Qin Fang left Yunxiang County without letting the two guards follow him. Instead, he said, "You go to Laiwang County and secretly keep an eye on County Magistrate Cheng's every move. I will go to the capital alone."
The guard was surprised: "What about your safety, General?"
Qin Fang said, "It doesn't matter. Your horses can't keep up with Marshal Wu's speed. I want to go as soon as possible. Don't tell the governor about this when I come back. Do you understand?"
The guard: "Yes."
After separating from the guards, Qin Fang climbed onto Marshal Wu's back: "Marshal Wu, let's speed up. We can't damage the majesty of your precious horse."
The people behind the Wei family didn't want to do anything to Qin Fang, and County Magistrate Cheng didn't expect Qin Fang to secretly leave Yunxiang County. Qin Fang was a general guarding the city. Leaving Yunxiang County without permission was against the law. In the case of a minor offense, it would be fine. In the case of a serious offense, he would be dismissed from office or even convicted.
In fact, if it were Du Ke, he would not have thought that Qin Fang would leave Yunxiang County. But Qin Fang left, and he left without any pressure. He rode Wu Shuai day and night, and arrived in the capital in the afternoon two days and one night later.
When he arrived in the capital, he needed an identity document. After he knew that someone in the capital wanted to deal with him, he naturally would not take out his identity document, but he did not have a fake identity document. But it doesn't matter, isn't this captain guarding the city the second son of Du?
The second son of the Du family was eating snacks in the duty room on the city wall. When he heard someone looking for him, he asked, "Can anyone look for me? Who is that person?"
The guard said, "He claims to be Tao Shan's friend. Tao Shan asked someone to send you something from Yunxiang County, saying that he is grateful for your help that day."
Eh? The second son of the Du family was alerted when he heard it, "What is it? Watermelon?" He got up immediately and said, "Let's go and have a look." Since he tasted watermelon, the only thing that the second son of the Du family has left in his life is eating. Unfortunately, watermelon is limited in quantity and cannot be eaten in the capital.
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