The music is elegant, dancing lightly.

Eight dancing girls danced to the music, and the girl who led the dance was bewitching, with picturesque eyebrows, a thin light veil fluttering with the dance, and a wonderful ketone body disappearing from time to time.

Dressedly dressed maidservants serve wonderful dishes from time to time, and each maid is carefully selected and beautiful as a flower.

This is not a banquet, there is only one guest, and the person sitting in the guest seat is a middle-aged man in white, with handsome eyebrows and a smile on the corner of his mouth.

"I have long heard that Gu Gongzi is good at music theory, and the old man's song "Immortal Fu", please comment on Gu Gongzi. The old man on the left said with a smile.

"Tian Gong has a good reputation, Gu only understands it a little, it is comparable to Tian Gong's family history, this "Xianyuan Fu" is really Xianyuan, the younger generation thinks, even Xianle is just like this. Gu Wei replied with a smile.

Tian Ning laughed happily, but his eyes were very clear, and there was no smile. He raised his wine glass, Gu Wei raised his wine glass unhurriedly, and the two of them were respectful to each other.

The dancing queen swirled around the field, and the thin light veil fluttered, colorful, like eight blooming flowers.

"I've long wanted to communicate more with Gongzi," Tian Ning put down the wine glass, looked at Gu Wei and said sincerely: "I think that Gongzi is busy with official business, and the old man is unwell, so it has been delayed until today, Gu Gongzi don't blame the old man." ”

"There, there, Tian Gong's words are serious, how dare Gu be disrespectful to Tian Gong. Gu Wei quietly bowed slightly.

Tian Ning sighed softly: "Speaking of which, the emperor handed over Du Zhi Cao to the son, and the old man was relieved, over the years, the deficit of the imperial court has become bigger and bigger, and the old man has been stumbling left and right, and it is easy to maintain this situation. ”

A trace of ridicule flashed in Gu Wei's eyes, but a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Where did Tian Gong say, the emperor ascended the throne and is working hard, with the help of Tian Gong, how can Tian Gong easily say it at this time, I think the emperor asked me to check the Du Zhi at this time, I think there are two purposes, one is that there are rumors in the court, and after finding out the Du Zhi Cao, those rumors will naturally disperse, and the other is to deter Xiao Xiao."

I have been in the Jin Dynasty for hundreds of years, the rule of officials has gradually deteriorated, corruption, looting people's wealth, punishment is not endless, the first emperor also has a headache, has long had the heart to rectify, but unfortunately, the first emperor is seriously ill, no energy, your majesty today, but adhering to the last wish of the first emperor, the rectification of finances, is not aimed at Tian Gong you. ”

Tian Ning smiled dryly, and then sighed: "To be honest, over the years, the imperial court treasury has been empty, and it has been unable to make ends meet every year. , alas, Gu Gongzi, these days you have also read Du Zhicao's accounts and correspondence, and you also know the difficulties of the old man, not that the old man does not do his best, but that there is really no way. ”

Gu Wei scolded the old fox contemptuously in his heart, but his face remained silent, and he nodded frequently: "Tian Gong's difficulties, the lower officials know it well, but, Tian Gong, the emperor summoned me and told me a few numbers." ”

Speaking of this, Gu Wei deliberately stopped and looked at Tian Ning, Tian Ning couldn't help frowning when he heard this, waved his hand, and let those dancing girls go down, the dancing girls quickly stopped saluting the two, and then retreated backwards and exited the living room, and the musicians behind also quietly retreated, and the two of them were left in the spacious living room now.

"The old man doesn't know, and he asks Gu Gongzi to make it clear. Tian Ning said slowly.

Gu Wei pondered, took a sip of the wine glass, and then said: "I won't say what the emperor said, in fact, the emperor asked me two questions, the salt tax in Jiangnan, when Taiding was 7.2 million in the tenth year, and now it is 1.3 million, why is this? ”

Gu Wei sighed and shook his head slightly at Tian Ning: "Tian Gong, Xia Guan really doesn't know how to answer, and ask Tian Gong to teach me." ”

Tian Ning frowned slightly, looking at Gu Wei, Gu Wei also looked at him without concessions, and the two looked at each other.

The emperor checked the degree of Cao, in order to avoid interference, forced Tian Ning to rest sickly, Tian Ning did not go to the book, very calmly recuperated at home, every day is not to feast guests or to talk about Taoism in the Taoist temples around the imperial capital, it seems that he is not worried at all.

The emperor personally appointed Gu Wei as the left commander of the Du Zhi Cao Shangshu, this position was the first person under the Du Zhi Cao Shangshu, and when the Du Zhi Cao Shangshu was unable to see things for some reason, the left palm order would take over the power and responsibility of the Du Zhi Cao Shangshu.

The emperor's move was actually to hand over Du Zhi Cao to Gu Wei, and after Gu Wei became the master of Du Zhi Cao, he transferred a large number of account masters from various ministries and began to check the accounts of Du Zhi Cao over the years. Two months ago, Gu Wei took action to impeach more than a dozen officials under the right order of Du Zhicao in succession, and at the same time involved more than 20 other officials, and the government and the opposition were shocked.

But there was one person who didn't move, this is Tian Ning, Du Zhi Cao Yuan Shangshu.

Everyone in the government and the opposition knew that Gu Wei's next target was Tian Ning.

But at this time, Gu Wei stopped, it seemed that there had been no movement for two consecutive months, and it seemed that all the moths in Duzhicao had been dug up.

Tian Ning stared at this beautiful face, it turned out that he didn't look at this person from a poor background in his eyes, let alone him, even if his master Pan Lian, he Tian Ning didn't look at it, what kind of person is Pan Lian, but a shameless person who climbed up with his daughter, this Gu Wei is just a grandstander, what talent can he have!

But in the past few months, he has really understood the power of this white-faced scholar who looks harmless to humans and animals.

He has controlled Du Zhi Cao for decades, and his people are all up and down, and he thinks that his accounts are seamless, but it didn't take long for Gu Wei to find out the flaws when he went in, his people fell one after another, and seeing that the other party was pressing step by step, he had to be vigilant.

That's why we have today's feast.

"I'm ashamed, the old man doesn't know the emperor's problem," Tian Ning took the lead in breaking the silence, and said with a long sigh: "In short, the old man is not doing his job well and failed to find the following moths in time, the old man is ashamed of the emperor!

"Don't blame yourself so much," Gu Wei smiled slightly, this smile was like a spring breeze, and like a hundred flowers blooming, Tian Ning didn't seem to see it, his expression was still very solemn, Gu Wei continued: "After this cleanup, Du Zhicao is naturally clean, and no one dares to be corrupt anymore, alas, since ancient times, the upper beam is not right and the lower beam is crooked, we are on the beam, and the bottom is naturally right." ”

Tian Ning faintly heard that Gu Wei's meaning seemed to end here, he couldn't help but wonder a little, he knew very well in his heart that if Gu Wei continued to investigate, he would chase him, but Gu Wei announced the withdrawal of troops at this time, what does this mean?

Gu Wei saw his doubts, so he smiled lightly: "Lord Tian, the emperor wants to purge the rule of officials, not for adults, the reason why adults are sick is also to take care of the adults' age, and they are worried that adults will not be able to bear it, this is the love of adults, adults should be sympathetic," Speaking of this, he hesitated again, and lowered his voice an octave:" In addition, the adult is in charge of the degree branch, the time is as long as decades, the imperial court treasury is empty, the court is known to everyone, the court is private, there is a lot of discussion, and the reputation of the adult has also been affected a lot. ”

Although the latter passage was vague, Tian Ning naturally heard the meaning, and he said with a wry smile and a little mockery: "The back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, with Lord Gu here, the imperial treasury can naturally be enriched again, and the old man is naturally happy in his heart." ”

Gu Wei didn't think about it, but Gu Wei shook his head, Tian Ning was a little surprised, and said in his heart, Is it not enough for me to resign? Gu Wei sighed: "The emptiness of the treasury is not just a matter of changing the book for Du Zhi Cao, salt tax, field tax, silk and cotton cloth, the reason why it has fallen so fast over the years is that, the adults are clear, and the lower officials are also clear, in fact, alas, others don't know, the adults are not clear, this Du Zhi Cao is a hot potato, and whoever holds it is hot." ”

This sentence made Tian Ning's tears almost come out, and his good impression of Gu Wei suddenly soared, and he couldn't help but pour bitter water: "Yes, it is said that Duzhi Cao is in charge of the world's money and grain, and it looks infinite, but who knows the difficulties, how much money and grain the imperial court enters the treasury every year, how much is spent, the old man is clear in his heart, the first emperor Zi Palace is still in the west, the blessed land is still under construction, and it will be hundreds of thousands of expenses to move the soul in the future, and the old man does not know where to find this money." ”

Tian Ning said that the old tears flowed, Gu Wei couldn't help sighing, he didn't want to impeach Tian Ning, this Tian Ning embezzled 100,000 taels of silver from the treasury and gave it to the Tian family's business in the imperial capital.

The old concubine in the palace is not dead, the Tian family is a thousand-year-old family, and it is the most famous family of gate valves in Jizhou, and there are countless disciples of the protégés, and Tian Ning will be impeached, he is bound to become the public enemy of the gate valve in Jizhou.

Leaving Tianfu, Gu Wei went straight home, although he became the master of the degree of Cao, but Gu Wei was still the ordinary carriage, and the one who pulled the carriage was still the old horse, as soon as the carriage moved, the carriage creaked, and the old groom who drove the car shouted from time to time to drive the old horse forward.

There is a carriage at the door of Gu's house, but this carriage is much more luxurious and beautiful, compared with Gu Wei's, it is simply a heaven and an underground. As soon as Gu Wei entered the courtyard, the little boy came out of the room and was about to report to him, but Gu Wei had already waved his hand.

"How is it? Why did the old guy agree?" Pan Lian sat on the couch and asked first without waiting for Gu Wei to speak.

Gu Wei smiled faintly, sat down opposite him, poured himself a cup of tea first, and then said slowly: "Tian Ning has been an official for decades, and he has become a refined person, how can he not know how to advance and retreat, within three days, he will definitely go up and tell the old." ”

Pan Lian applauded and laughed: "Okay! The soldiers are not bloody, and they will take down Duzhi Cao! The boy in white is worthy of his name!"

Gu Wei couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Taishi, it's a good thing for Tian Ning to retreat, besides, I didn't lie to Tian Ning, now this degree of Zhicao is a hot potato, and the treasury is empty, but I can't blame Tian Ning completely." ”

Pan Lian couldn't help but shake his head when he heard this, lifted the teapot and poured a cup of tea, looked at Gu Wei and shook his head and said, "You, it's such a disappointment, it's a good thing to be happy, it's a disappointment!"

Gu Wei still looked solemn and didn't speak, the two sat opposite each other and drank tea, and the room suddenly fell silent.

The reason for the emptiness of the treasury, Gu Wei has already analyzed it for Pan Lian, but there is no solution, unless the gate lord clan is taxed, but this will inevitably cause the world to shake, and even the world is in chaos.

This hornet's nest can't be poked, and it doesn't dare to be poked.

After a while, Pan Lian sighed: "Will the emperor let Tian Ning go?" He was very dissatisfied with Tian Ning. ”

"It's the emperor's business to kill him," Gu Wei said slowly: "However, I'm worried about you." ”

"I, what's wrong with me?" Pan Lian was a little surprised, Gu Wei put down the teacup: "You should stop the emperor from using Xue Yu." ”

"Xue Mi is a gentleman, except for eating, drinking, prostituting and gambling, he will not know anything, the emperor wants him to serve as the captain of Yuling, Taishi, this is the emperor's right to divide you. Gu Wei reminded.

Pan Lian frowned at first, and then shook his head resolutely: "Captain Yu Ling is in charge of the palace forbidden army, which is related to the emperor's safety, and must not be handed over to a gentleman who does not learn or know." ”

Gu Wei shook his head again, half a month ago, the emperor accidentally discovered that the discipline of the forbidden army was lax, and he couldn't help but be furious, so he dismissed Captain Yuling on the spot and wanted to promote Xue Yu, but this matter was blocked back by Pan Lian who was present.

Gu Wei later told Pan Lian that he had made a mistake and should not be stopped, but should be promoted to the Xue family.

"Alas, I heard that Concubine Shu is about to give birth," Pan Lian said again, "It would be nice to give birth to a boy." ”

"I wish I had been a princess. Gu Wei said coldly, Pan Lian looked at him in surprise: "Why?"

"If it was a boy, the world would never be eventful. Gu Wei sighed, the emperor's eldest son is not a descendant, and it is inevitable that there will be many events in the future, Pan Lian naturally knows it, but Pan Lian shook his head: "I heard that the emperor is increasingly dissatisfied with the queen, and he has rarely been to the queen's palace over the years." ”

This is an extremely secret thing, but Pan Lian just knew, and Gu Wei was not surprised, but Gu Wei still shook his head: "If the emperor wants to abolish the queen, why do you still use Xue Mi? And it is still such an important position?

Pan Lian was stunned, and his face changed suddenly.

"Since ancient times, the heart of heaven has been unpredictable, although the emperor is a little impatient, but in this kind of matter, he is still stable. Gu Wei said slowly.

Pan Lian thought for a while and smiled: "It's nothing, find an opportunity, I recommend Xue Mi to the emperor, what do you think?"

"It's not too late to make amends, so good. Gu Wei said leisurely.

Pan Lian said another conversation before leaving, not long after he left, Xiao Tong came in with a few books and put them on the desk, Gu Wei went over, first looked at a few pictures, and his brows couldn't help but lock.

Outside the imperial capital, a manor in Yishui Mountain, the manor is not big, among the many mansions in the imperial capital, it is very inconspicuous, and at a glance, I thought it would be the warehouse of a certain gate lord clan.

But in a small room in the depths of the manor, an old man with a white beard and a black robe was talking to a middle-aged scribe in a gray robe:

"Jin Yi is missing, how did he disappear, did he send someone to investigate?"

"The subordinates have already sent Suihu to go. The middle-aged scribe replied.

The black-robed old man frowned and shook his head: "Suihu? no, if Jin Qi is dead, Suihu will not be able to deal with it," slightly contemplated: "Qu Zhang is thoughtful, let him go, tell him, investigate secretly, don't reveal his identity, and at the same time ensure the safety of Suihu." ”