Dugu Qun and others slammed the table, "What did Zhang Yang seal?"
"As Tong Yi Da Fu and concurrently Director of Fields! It was said that the curved-shaft plough was widely promoted and extremely practical, a great merit!" the butler replied.
He Wanli's expression changed, "Another fourth-rank official qualified to attend the imperial court?!"
After Dugu Liang dismissed the butler, he trembled with anger, "Xiao'er is still waiting for his appointment, and this Zhang Yang has actually risen to the fourth rank!"
His nephew, Dugu Xiao, had not been able to secure a satisfactory official post, with Xiao Qing's reason being: awaiting arrangements.
And so it was delayed!
Dugu Xiao was unwilling to take an eighth-rank official post, so he had to go to Jiangnan to seek help from the Grand Tutor.
And he, Dugu Liang, had been dismissed from office because of the curved-shaft plough, and now Zhang Yang was promoted because of it. How could he not hate him!
"This Zhang Yang is from the Liang family, and he previously proposed to reduce redundant officials and cut the salaries of civil officials. Such a scoundrel is a traitor among scholars, and he can also be promoted?" Ouyang Ji said angrily.
Dugu Qun sneered, "Do all of you still believe the Son of Heaven is wise?"
Everyone fell into a brief silence, filled with indignation.
A foolish ruler, a foolish ruler!
In just a few breaths, the butler rushed back to report.
"Master! Liang Xiao has been temporarily appointed as the 'Envoy of the Son of Heaven', and will soon be ordered to inspect and patrol the East Sea area, and he is also allowed to recruit private soldiers to serve as 'Bu Qu'!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Qun and others changed their expressions drastically, "Is this to give Liang Xiao another achievement?"
Dugu Qun regained his composure and said to the butler, "Quick!! Immediately send someone to rush to the East Sea to notify them, kill that Nan Jiyun, or at least cripple him!!"
The butler turned pale with fright, agreed, and ran out in two quick steps.
"Nan Jiyun? Minister Dugu, are you referring to that young brat who clamored at your doorstep years ago to resist the barbarians and die rather than surrender?" He Wanli frowned.
Dugu Qun nodded repeatedly and said in a deep voice, "This child's martial arts are superb, his archery is excellent, and he possesses the courage of ten thousand men, yet he refuses to obey me! If Liang Xiao discovers him, I fear he will become another fierce general in the northern frontier in the future! At that time, the matter became a big deal, and I was worried that killing this child would lead to criticism. Now, no matter what, he must be dealt with, and he must not be allowed to meet Liang Xiao and Zhang Yang!"
Everyone's heart grew serious, Ouyang Ji trembled, "If one Heavenly General is already so difficult to deal with, and if a few more fierce generals are added to the northern frontier, perhaps Lü Yi, that old dog, will be able to return to the capital with peace of mind to collude with the foolish ruler, Wang Canghai, and Liang Xiao. I fear we will never have a chance!"
Thinking of Lü Yi's fox-like smile, everyone felt a chill down their spines!
Dugu Liang sneered, "There's no need to be so pessimistic. Even if they gain power, so what? If they eliminate us, whom will the court find to replace us? The Gu family and the Mu family do not have so many capable people! We still have the Grand Tutor and the Gongyang family of Jiangnan, and we also have King Nan as a card, and the barbarians and the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom can also provide covert assistance!"
Everyone could only give bitter smiles.
After Dugu Liang was removed from office, Huang Xing served as the Minister of Works, and the power of the Ministry of Works was completely controlled by the Son of Heaven and the Huang family, which was already quite unfavorable. However, it was like adding insult to injury!
In the secret chamber of the Baichun Tower, Zuo Wushang and Ye Qingyi, who had received several messages, also wore solemn expressions.
Ye Qingyi sighed, "Since Liang Xiao has begun to show his talents, it seems as if this Great Gan Kingdom is about to undergo a major change..."
She had finally managed to break free from her inexplicable feelings for Liang Xiao, only to repeatedly receive news related to him.
Zuo Wushang smiled, "Isn't this a good opportunity? He is going to the East Sea, and we will split into two groups. I will go to the East Sea to monitor, and you and Yirou will pay attention to the maidservant named Yue Lian beside him. Liang Xiao is closest to this woman. Lure her out and detain her in Baichun Tower as a bargaining chip. Remember not to harm her, provide her with good food and drink, and do not force Liang Xiao to turn against us!"
Ye Qingyi asked doubtfully, "Marshal, why not abduct Luo Qingxue?"
Zuo Wushang said solemnly, "Luo Qingxue might be with Liang Xiao, and that Yue Lian might also be! But Luo Qingxue is both civil and military, and difficult to deal with. Of course, we can only target Yue Lian!"
Ye Qingyi suddenly understood and took her leave.
Zuo Wushang looked at the portraits of his comrades alone and sighed, "Don't blame me for concealing this from them. I only worry that they are young. If they believe that the princess is in Liang Xiao's hands, they will inevitably go to two extremes..."
Either they will risk everything and perish with Liang Xiao, causing the princess's death!
Or they will surrender to Liang Xiao.
These were all outcomes that Zuo Wushang did not wish to see.
At this time, Liang Xiao put away the imperial decree and was watching the girls play in the courtyard, thinking about his trip to the East Sea.
Zhen Mi held the docile little sprout with its tongue sticking out, giggling as it nuzzled her cheek, "Xiao Gege, Xiao Dou Ya'er is really well-behaved. Do you want to play with it?"
Jian Qinwan was startled and looked at Liang Xiao, her heart filled with apprehension.
Liang Xiao also looked over, "How well-behaved is it?"
Zhen Mi held Xiao Dou Ya'er and walked to Liang Xiao, explaining, "Xiao Dou Ya'er looks fierce, but it actually never bites! Sister Qinwan said that Xiao Dou Ya'er used to be unwell, and it only recovered after careful care from the Medical Saint and Sister Qinwan. It's very clingy."
Liang Xiao looked at Xiao Dou Ya'er and breathed a sigh of relief, "As long as it doesn't bite, that's good."
There were no vaccines here, and ordinary people could contract rabies, which was fatal.
Because of Xiao Dou Ya'er's arrival, Liang Xiao occasionally flipped through medical books and asked Hua Xiong's couple, but found no records of rabies symptoms, nor were there any rumors of similar symptoms in Great Liang or the barbarian lands.
This world might not have rabies virus at all, which was a good thing!
Thus, Xiao Dou Ya'er became extremely cute in Liang Xiao's eyes.
But seeing Jian Qinwan squinting at him from the side, Liang Xiao quickly turned his head away, "Your Xiao Gege is a grown man, how could he possibly like small animals!"
Seeing this, a hint of disappointment appeared in Jian Qinwan's eyes.
Zhen Mi said "Oh" and was about to take Xiao Dou Ya'er back when, unexpectedly, Xiao Dou Ya'er jumped onto the stone table, looked at Liang Xiao, and appeared pitiful.
"Did it understand human speech and act cute towards me? Will I fall for this?" Liang Xiao looked at Xiao Dou Ya'er, who was walking towards him step by step, and could not help but reach out and stroke its little head.
Liang Xiao suddenly remembered that in order to execute missions, he could only remain alone, and only his trained police dog accompanied him, and later died with him heroically...
Xiao Dou Ya'er sat obediently in place, gently licked Liang Xiao's finger, and then looked at Liang Xiao with a pleading expression, as if it was about to cry.
A moment later, Liang Xiao held Xiao Dou Ya'er in his arms and glared at everyone, "This is my child."
Everyone was surprised.
Jian Qinwan came back to her senses and said coquettishly, "Give it back to me quickly!"
Liang Xiao, holding Xiao Dou Ya'er, dodged to the side and glared warily at Jian Qinwan, "Your Xiao Dou Ya'er has already run away. This big Dou Ya'er is my child."
"Give it back!"
Jian Qinwan's gaze was resentful, but her heart was filled with joy, and then her nose felt a little sore.
He didn't dislike Xiao Dou Ya'er, and he even liked it!
Xiao Dou Ya'er also didn't dislike him, oh heavens...
Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, and Zhen Mi were already laughing uncontrollably.
He, who could discuss politics and write elegantly in conversation, could actually conquer small animals?
It wasn't until Zhang Yang and Liang Qing came to find Liang Xiao to discuss important matters that Liang Xiao returned Xiao Dou Ya'er to Jian Qinwan.
Jian Qinwan held Xiao Dou Ya'er, looked at Liang Xiao's departing back, and smiled charmingly.
Back in the main hall, Liang Qing finally resumed her worried expression.
"Xiao'er, I just received news from the East Sea. It turns out the East Sea is also not optimistic! Some foreign merchant ships may be carrying plants and seeds that the people of Great Gan have never seen before. I don't know if they have the three you are looking for."
Liang Xiao's expression changed, and he suddenly stood up.
If he could find seeds or seedlings like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn there, wouldn't his accumulated barren land in Yanzhou be ahead of schedule...
Liang Qing sighed, "But the problem now is that the Japanese pirates from Izumo are rampant, robbing passing ships. I heard that some foreign merchant ships that were originally coming to our Great Gan country have also been robbed. The navy in the East Sea dare not intervene!"