In the evening, Pei Ju returned to Pei's mansion by horse, the carriage slowly stopped, Pei Ju got down from the car, and saw a carriage parked not far away, so he asked: "Whose carriage is that?" ”

The porter hurriedly reported, "Master Qiyu, that's the carriage of the eldest son." ”

The eldest son is Pei Ju's eldest son Pei Wenjing, half a month ago Pei Ju wrote to him and asked him to return to Beijing, but he didn't expect him to come back, Pei Ju was surprised, "When did he come back?" ”

"―Just arrived an hour ago."

Pei Ju walked up the steps, and the second son Pei Wenyi greeted him and said slackly: "Father! ”

Since the last time he quarreled with his daughter-in-law Wang in the Chu Palace, Pei Ju suddenly realized the contradiction between himself and his son, although the second son never said it, but he must be dissatisfied in his heart, he let him do nothing for decades, Pei Ju also felt a little sorry in his heart, so he made a decision to let the second son take over the vacant position of the old Sanwenju and take charge of the Pei family's financial power.

Pei Ju nodded: "Is your eldest brother back?" ”

"Big brother is back and talking to everyone."

"Hmmm! You told him to come to my study, and the eldest grandson to get up. ”

Pei Ju commanded, and went directly to his study, and as soon as he entered the study and sat down, there was a knock on the door, "Father, it's me!" It was the voice of the eldest son Pei Wenjing.

"Come in!"

The door opened, Pei Wenjing and his son, that is, Pei Jin, the grandson of Pei's family, walked in, Pei Wenjing saw that his father was old, his heart was sour, and he stepped forward and knelt down, "The child has been away for many years, and he can't take care of his father, and the child is not filial." ”

Although Pei Ju is very powerful, he has been a minister for more than ten years, but his sons are not good, the eldest son Wenjing is still because of his blessing, he got the post of Ren Taishou, the second son Wenyi and the third son Wenju are only short-lived, but the official position is not long.

However, the grandchildren are good, the eldest grandson Pei Jin has done the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, the second grandson Pei is now Sima of Xihe County, Pei Yun's grandson Pei Yao is the magistrate of Loufu County, and Pei Qingsong also served as an extremely important secretary to join the army, so that Pei Ju saw hope, among several grandchildren, someone will inevitably become a big weapon.

Pei Ju nodded gently, "Get up!" Sit down and talk. ”

Pei Wenjing is over fifty years old, his temples are gray, but he is still a child in front of his father, and when he is close to his father, he wants to come down.

"Is there anything wrong with the father calling the child back?"

Pei Ju smiled slightly: "Don't worry, let's talk slowly." ”

"Yes! The child is too impatient. ”

Pei Wenjing smiled apologetically, and let his son stand behind him, Pei Jin is also in his early thirties this year, as early as the early years of the great cause, he was known as the leader of the young dynasty officials, when he was only twenty years old, he served as the county magistrate of Jiexiu County, Yang Guang also praised him, so that the Pei family can continue the phase.

Of course, Pei Jin also has a weakness, that is, he is more proud, which is related to his illustrious family background, as well as his own youthful ambition and smooth sailing.

Pei Jin didn't say much, he saluted his grandfather, and then stood behind his father, Pei Ju looked at his grandson, and then said with a smile: "Let me tell you the news first, I have decided to return to my hometown." ”

He said it very easily, but Pei Wenjing was frightened, the new Sui had only been established for a few years, and the various interests were not clear, and it was when the major families laid the foundation in the new dynasty that Pei Ju was about to retire, which would have an extremely adverse impact on the Pei family.

Pei Jiajing hurriedly said: "Father, please think twice!" ”

Pei Ju waved his hand, "There is nothing to think about anymore, I decided to retire last year, I have been saying for a few months, I don't want to delay any longer, tomorrow - morning, I will submit my resignation to the King of Chu, begging the bones to return to my hometown."

Pei Wenjing's expression was solemn, he didn't expect his father to make such a big decision, and he didn't even discuss it with himself, which made him very frustrated.

Pei Ju looked at Pei Jin again, he told him about this matter, he didn't tell his father, at a young age, did he have such a deep city?

Pei Wenjing still couldn't help it, and wanted to persuade his father again, "Father is not in good health, the child understands, and the child also hopes that his father can rest early, but now is a critical time, if the father retires at this time, it is very likely to affect the status of the Pei family in the new dynasty, and in the long run, it may be unfavorable to the Pei family." ”

"In the long run?"

Pei Ju sneered, "After four years of Renshou, I realized that Yang Yuanqing would become a big weapon, so I bet heavily on him, which of you has such a long-term vision as mine?" ”

Pei Wenjing was speechless, so he had to lower his head and say, "Since the father has decided, the child has nothing to say." ”

Pei Ju looked at him, "Not only do I want to retire, but I also hope that you will find an excuse to resign." ”

"What!"

Pei Wenjing's eyes widened, "Father, why?" ”

Pei Ju closed his eyes, "Jin'er, tell me why?" ”

Pei Wenjing looked back at his son, "What happened?" Why did you never say anything to me? ”

Pei Jin talked to his grandfather, he knew the reason, so he bit his lower lip and knelt down to Pei Wenjing, "Father, my grandfather thinks that our Pei family is too powerful in the New Sui and has already made great achievements, we must know how to advance and retreat, otherwise the status of the princess of Chu and the prince will not be guaranteed." ”

Pei Ju sighed, "I am the left servant of Shangshu Shangshu and the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, ranking ...... in Ziwei Pavilion Pei Shiqing is the secretary of Honglu Temple - Jin'er is the Shaoqing of Dali Temple - Pei Yao is the history of the magistrate of Loufu County, Pei is the Sima of Xihe County, Pei Qingsong also served as an extremely important secretary to join the army, two days ago Pei Ming served as the judge of the Sui army Cangcao, plus you are the magistrate of Hedong County, and there are more than 20 protégés of the Pei family as officials, don't you think our Pei family occupies too many positions in the Sui Dynasty? ”

Pei Wenjing's lips trembled, and he couldn't speak for a long time, Pei Ju said slowly: "I might as well tell you one more thing, Wang Su was demoted, Wang Xu is also going to quit the prime minister, and the next one will be our Pei family's turn, if I don't know the interest and still have to rely on the phase and not leave, then the Jiangnan Shen family will be the Shangshu, do you understand what this means?" ”

Although Pei Wenjing is relatively mediocre, after all, he has also been in the officialdom for more than 20 years, his father understands, he lowered his head, "The child understands, I am willing to listen to my father's arrangement." ”

Pei Ju listened to him although he agreed, but he was unwilling in his heart, smiled again, and said to him seriously: "If I remember correctly, you should be fifty-two years old this year, you have been twenty-six years old from twenty-six years old, and you have never been able to enter the center of the court for twenty-six years, have you ever found your own reason?" ”

"It's because the child's ability is mediocre and he has no political achievements, but the child is an honest official, and he has not disgraced his father or discredited the Pei family." Pei Wenjing said a little excitedly.

Pei Ju sighed secretly in his heart, the eldest son's reaction was indeed relatively slow, he had already hinted at him like this, he still didn't understand, he had to explain it himself.

"Wen Jing, do you think your future will surpass that of your son?"

Pei Ju's tone gradually became stern: "If you refuse to resign, then your son must resign!" ”

Pei Wenjing was shocked, he looked back at his son, he understood what his father meant, and finally lowered his head, "Okay! The child is willing to quit his job and go home. ”

Pei Ju patted him on the shoulder and comforted him: "I am a dignified prime minister, I don't miss this position, you are a little county magistrate, what is the pity, you must consider the long-term interests of the family, leave the opportunity to the children, the princess of Chu will be the queen in the future, and the prince will be the prince in the future, and our Pei family is still the first family in the world." ”

"The child understands that for the sake of the family, the child is willing to give up this long-standing position."

……

The next day, on the grounds of old age and decay, Pei Ju formally proposed to Yang Yuanqing, the king of Chu, to retire and return to his hometown, which shocked the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty.

Pei Ju, as an old minister of more than ten years, as the head of the five prime ministers of Ziwei Pavilion, as the grandfather of Princess Chu, the head of the Hedong family, and the leader of the Pei Party, a big force in Ran Tingdi, actually proposed to retire, which made countless people incomprehensible.

"The minister was imprisoned in the Turks' essence and blood decay, every night, always feel that it is difficult to continue, I am afraid that he will die soon, the minister begs the bones, returns to his hometown to recuperate, and spends his last years ......in peace."

Pei Ju's resignation report is poignant and sympathetic, but almost on the same day, Pei Ju's eldest son, Pei Wenjing, also submitted his resignation application, requesting to resign from the post of Hedong County Magistrate, because he had been an official outside the country for many years, and he had been in the well with his father for decades for less than one year, and he had lost the filial piety of a son, and he had to take care of his father.

The resignation of Pei's father and son at the same time made some smart people begin to realize something, and there must be something strange hidden in it.

In the official room, Yang Yuanqing slowly looked at the resignation letter of Pei's father and son, Pei Ju's retirement was in his mind, but Pei Wenjing's resignation was something he didn't expect, and he had to admire Pei Ju's old scheming.

Pei Wenjing's ability -- generally, his resignation has no significant impact on the Pei family, but Pei Ju's sincere gesture has been put on display, the Pei family -- the resignation of the next son has given you enough face Yang Yuanqing, so should you Yang Yuanqing also say something?

"Pei Xiangguo is gone, Xin Sui has lost its pillars, and I have a feeling that the building is about to fall." Yang Yuanqing sighed, although Pei Ju's retirement was what he wanted, but the departure of an old minister would also have a negative impact.

Pei Ju sat opposite Yang Yuanqing, and said with a smile: "Go to the old minister, there will be a new minister, the old minister is old and frail, and he really has no energy to deal with government affairs. ”

"Pei Xiangguo's high style and bright festival is worthy of being the first minister of the new Sui Dynasty, the sacrifice made by the Pei family, I also understand, I will compensate the Pei family."

Pei Ju's eyes flashed - a rare bright color, he secretly praised in his heart, Yang Yuanqing really has the heart of an emperor, and he actually understands the real purpose of letting his son resign, very good, he will wait and see.

……

In the afternoon, Yang Yuanqing promulgated two letters of appointment, appointing Nayan Yang Shidao into the Ziwei Pavilion and becoming the one of the five phases, and the second letter of appointment was to promote Pei Shiqing, the secretary of Honglu Temple, to the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, which was the real purpose of Pei Ju's son Pei Wenjing's resignation.