Chapter 797 The Death of the Prime Minister!

Jingchu, Hanyang, Lin Mansion
Lin Shize, with a flushed face, lay quietly on the bed, his eyes calm and deep, as if he was recalling his turbulent life······················

Following a burst of hurried footsteps, Lin Yi walked into the room and looked at his father with a flushed face lying on the bed, with surprise and worry in his eyes.

Seeing Lin Yi appear, Lin Shize nodded slightly and said with a smile:

"Yier, your father's time is coming!

"father!"

After hearing this, Lin Yi realized that his father was having a last gasp, and he immediately knelt down beside his father's bed, with a look of grief on his face and tears in his eyes.

Patting Lin Yi on the shoulder, Lin Shize comforted her:
"Birth, aging, sickness and death are common to all human beings! Yi'er, don't be sad!"

As if realizing that he didn't have much time left, Lin Shize hurriedly said:

"Yier, have you contacted Xu Zhaojie?"

Hearing her father's question, Lin Yi wiped the tears from her face, nodded and said:

"I have contacted him. Although Xu Zhaojie has not yet expressed his opinion, judging from their attitude, I think they are still very interested in this matter. Besides, the situation of the Zhennan Army on the battlefield is not good right now!"

Hearing his son's answer, Lin Shize felt relieved and asked again:
"How did Sun Liangyu's talks with Luo'an go?"

Facing this question, Lin Yi said in a very excited tone:

"Sun Liangyu, that bastard, is now very close to the Luoan court, although he has not yet agreed to hand over our Lin family to the Luoan court."

“But in my opinion, Sun Liangyu is just waiting for Shangguan Hongyuan to offer a higher price. When Shangguan Hongyuan’s price satisfies him, he will definitely hand over our entire family to Shangguan Hongyuan…”

Hearing his son's words, Lin Shize's eyes became very angry. He and Sun Liangyu had been close friends since they were young. When they grew up, they served in the same court and supported each other all the way. Their friendship was very deep. His grandson Lin Zi'an even married Sun Liangyu's granddaughter Sun Xiaoqian to form a relationship.

However, even so, Sun Liangyu finally chose to betray his trust!
Honestly speaking, when Lin Shize first learned that Sun Liangyu had started contacting Shangguan Hongyuan behind his back, he was still a little bit unconvinced. Even when it was later confirmed that Sun Liangyu and Shangguan Hongyuan were really in contact secretly, Lin Shize still had illusions and felt that Sun Liangyu would not be so heartless and ungrateful.

However, Lin Shize soon discovered that the reason why Shangguan Hongyuan agreed to contact Sun Liangyu was on the prerequisite of handing over their entire Lin family!

Feeling betrayed by his old friend of decades, Lin Shize felt extremely painful and angry. He really wanted to ask Sun Liangyu in person why he did this.

Back then, you failed to manage the flood in Nanjiang River, which led to the outbreak of the Nanjiang River, causing tens of thousands of casualties and hundreds of thousands of people being displaced. Who protected you in the court?

Back then, you withheld relief funds and grain, which led to a civil unrest. You also falsely passed an imperial decree to kill innocent people and take credit for it. Who helped you shirk responsibility and exonerate yourself?
There were countless memorials impeaching you back then. Who supported you and allowed you to be the Inspector General of Jingchu?

Even if I have fallen into trouble and come to Jingchu, I will use the last of my political influence and connections to help you develop and strengthen Jingchu...
What did you say at the beginning?

You patted your chest and told me that you would live and die together with Shangguan Hongyuan and would never yield to me, and would fight with me to the end. But it has only been more than a year, and you have completely forgotten everything you said, right?
Although he really wanted to say these words to Sun Liangyu, Lin Shize chose to remain silent in the end. After all, he is no longer the Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty who holds great power and glory and can decide life and death with a single word, and whose cough can tremble the entire court!

Now he is just an old man who lives under someone else's roof and barely survives!
Since Sun Liangyu has already decided to do this, don't expect him to have any sense of shame. Therefore, if his true identity is revealed now, it will not make him wake up, but may make him completely tear off his last disguise and show his true colors!

Although he is already on his last legs, as the once powerful Prime Minister of the Great Zhou, Lin Shize will not sit idly by and wait for death in the face of the current situation. Even with his sick body, he has made a final escape plan for his family!

After hesitating for a while, Lin Yi still asked in confusion:
"Dad, why don't we just go and join Ye Mingsheng?"

“Ye Mingsheng also expressed his loyalty to the court during the southern tour, and you appointed him as the governor of Liaoyang. Later, after he conquered Youyan, you recognized him as the governor of Yan and Liao. This can be regarded as a token of your loyalty…”

"Although the Fengwu Army has not yet achieved great success, it still has a great advantage in terms of military strength when facing the southern princes or the Luoan court led by Shangguan Hongyuan. With this advantage, the Fengwu Army should be able to unify the world within ten years!"

"And the most important point is that although the Fengwu Army is very strong militarily, they have risen suddenly and lack foundation and help from people with political influence. They are suppressed by the Luoan court in the battlefield of public opinion. So if we can go to the Fengwu Army, we should be reused by Ye Mingsheng!"

Listening to his son's words, Lin Shize coughed twice and then said with all his strength:

"Yier, I know what you're thinking, but if you want to be valued by Ye Mingsheng, you can't do it empty-handed. You need a stepping stone and a token of your loyalty!"

As soon as these words came out, a gleam of light flashed in Lin Yi's eyes, and he asked happily:

"Dad, do you have any arrangements?"

Hearing this, Lin Shize pointed to the drawer on the desk beside him and said tiredly: "Yier, the drawer is the backup I prepared for you. This huge Jingchu is your gift to Ye Mingsheng!"

Although he was very surprised by his father's preparations for him, seeing his father's face gradually fade from rosy to gray, Lin Yi was still filled with grief and held his father's hand tightly, shouting:
"father··························"

Lin Shize forced a smile, touched Lin Yi's head and said:

"Yier, from now on, the Lin family will depend on you alone. You have to ensure that our Lin family continues to thrive!"

Lin Yihu's eyes were filled with tears as he cried and promised:
"Dad, I understand! Don't worry!"

After getting his son's promise, Lin Shize nodded slightly. Then he seemed to say something again. A hint of hesitation flashed across his face, but he didn't say it in the end. He stretched out his hand with all his strength to touch his son's face again, but in the end his arm fell down weakly.

Feeling that his father had stopped breathing, Lin Yi suppressed his grief and kowtowed three times to Lin Shize. Although Lin Shize had not said anything just now, as the saying goes, father and son are connected by heart, Lin Yi still knew very well what his father wanted to say after his death, and then he also cried and said in a deep voice:

"Dad, don't worry, I will never let the ungrateful Sun Liangyu go!"

"On the day when the Fengwu Army captures the city, I will bring him to your grave, cut him into pieces, and let him go down to the underworld to apologize to you!"

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In Chenji Teahouse in Yijing, Mr. Zhang was giving a passionate speech on the stage:
“When Empress Xiao saw that Yu Wenhuaji was trying to show some mercy, she wept tenderly and said, ‘My lord is unjust, he deserves to be killed. My life and death all depends on you, General.’” Yu Wenhuaji said, “Don’t worry, I will take care of this matter. I don’t think you will lose your wealth and status.” Empress Xiao said, “Since the general is like this, why don’t you make him your successor to show your righteousness…”

In a corner of the hall on the first floor below the stage, Ye Mingsheng was sitting and listening to him with great interest, while he picked up the fennel beans on the plate and put them into his mouth. Perhaps he felt that the fennel beans were a little salty, so he looked at the teacup on the other side of the table.

Seeing Ye Mingsheng looking at the teacup, Ye Cheng took the initiative to hand it over without waiting for Ye Mingsheng to speak. When Ye Mingsheng finished drinking, he attentively refilled Ye Mingsheng's cup and whispered:
"Sir, if you like this seat, why not make it your special seat?"

In this era when the entertainment industry was not well developed, listening to storytelling and drinking tea in teahouses was one of the few ways for people to relax. Ye Mingsheng also enjoyed this. However, unlike other people in power who liked to drink tea and listen to storytelling in VIP rooms, Ye Mingsheng preferred to sit in the lobby where there were many people and eyes.
Ye Cheng and Ye Kui, who was in charge of security, also advised Ye Mingsheng on this, hoping that Ye Mingsheng would put his own safety first. However, Ye Mingsheng flatly rejected their suggestion. He always felt that storytelling should be done in the lobby to have that down-to-earth feel and a lively atmosphere!
Although it is safer to listen to storytelling and drink tea in a private room, it does not feel like anything!
Ye Mingsheng insisted on doing so, and Ye Cheng and Ye Kui had no choice but to strengthen the control inside and outside the teahouse to ensure Ye Mingsheng's absolute safety while enjoying the fun. However, although it was much safer, Ye Cheng still couldn't accept that other people often came to sit in the corner where Ye Mingsheng liked to sit the most...
Just like when they came just now, this corner was full of melon seed shells, peanut shells and the like. Although the waiter cleaned it up, Ye Cheng still felt it was a bit dirty. With great respect for Ye Mingsheng in his heart, he thought that since Ye Mingsheng liked this seat, it should become Ye Mingsheng's exclusive seat and no one else was allowed to touch it!

Seeing Ye Cheng's serious expression, Ye Mingsheng could also sense his thoughts and said with a smile:

"We come here to relax and have fun with the people! Ye Cheng, don't be too serious!"

Listening to Ye Mingsheng's words, Ye Cheng nodded slightly. At this moment, a hurried figure appeared at the entrance of the teahouse. Seeing this person appear, Ye Mingsheng asked Ye Cheng to bring him to him.

Seeing Ye Mingsheng dressed in civilian clothes, Wang Xuecheng was a little at a loss. He knew that Ye Mingsheng wanted to conceal his identity, so he did not dare to show his respect to Ye Mingsheng in a big way. He could only bow and whisper:

"grown ups!"

An incense stick of time ago, Wang Xuecheng heard Ye Mingsheng's attendant say that Ye Mingsheng was here to meet him. He was skeptical, but after Ye Mingsheng's attendant confirmed it again and again, he came. And under the attendant's instructions, he now changed into civilian clothes...
Seeing Ye Mingsheng here, Wang Xuecheng's doubts disappeared. However, as one doubt disappeared, another doubt also appeared. Is there any deep meaning behind the Lord meeting him here for the first time? Is there any special intention?

Ye Mingsheng nodded with a smile in response to Wang Xuecheng's invitation, then pointed to a chair beside him and asked him to sit down. Although Wang Xuecheng was a little worried about sitting with Ye Mingsheng, when he saw Ye Cheng and two personal guards sitting here, he first said thank you for the seat, and then sat next to Wang Xuecheng.

After eating another fennel bean, Ye Mingsheng slowly said:

"I was supposed to be listening to your report in the study today, but for some reason I just wanted to come here to have a cup of tea, so I came here. Please don't mind thinking that I'm treating you poorly!"

As soon as these words came out, Wang Xuecheng said:

“Your Excellency, you are too kind. You are busy all day and night, working on military and political affairs. It is only natural for you to come and have some tea and relax for a while. I am extremely grateful that you can still listen to my report despite your busy schedule…”

Ye Mingsheng nodded slightly and asked:

"How many years have you been the deputy director of the Coordination Office since you completed your studies?"

Seeing Ye Mingsheng asking this, Wang Xuecheng was even more confused, but he still spoke very respectfully:
"Your Excellency, it has been three years and five months!"

Hearing this answer, Ye Mingsheng nodded and said with some emotion:

"It's been more than three years. Remember I promised you that I would let you leave the Coordination Office and return to the right path!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Xuecheng's heart suddenly tightened. He knew that Ye Mingsheng's decision to ask him to meet him here was definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision!
Because he had studied sage books since childhood, Wang Xuecheng, as a Confucian scholar, had a natural aversion and contempt for secret agencies like the Coordination Office. Therefore, when he learned that Ye Mingsheng asked him to join the Coordination Office as deputy director, Wang Xuecheng was still very resistant.

In response to this, Ye Mingsheng also promised that one day he would let him return to the right track. Under this promise, Wang Xuecheng joined the Coordination Office and served as the second-in-command of this notorious organization!

To be honest, during the first one or two years after taking office as deputy director of the Coordination Office, Wang Xuecheng was still thinking about returning to the right track. However, after gradually feeling the power of the Coordination Office in the past two years, Wang Xuecheng’s thoughts faded a lot, and he even felt that it was not bad to stay in the Coordination Office...
(Sorry for being late. I was so lazy today that I didn’t save the document after I finished writing it. It took me 20 minutes to find the document.)
(End of this chapter)