Chapter 819: Prime Minister, you win!
Yijing, Cui Mansion

Although it was a good thing that Cui Desheng was able to return to the Cui family, he did not return home after winning a battle, but was released by the Luoan court because of a prisoner exchange agreement. In addition, the Fengwu Army was more determined to handle this matter in a low-key manner, so when Cui Desheng returned to the Cui family, there was no ceremony. He returned home through the side door in a very low-key manner...

"Visit Uncle Sansheng!"

Looking at Cui Shao in front of him, Cui Desheng's eyes were filled with tears and he quickly bowed to him.

He knew very well that as a senior general of the Fengwu Army, he was a rare treasure to the Luoan court, and they did not want to let him go easily. Deep down in his heart, he had prepared for the worst. He was pleasantly surprised that he could return home in less than a year. He knew very well that Cui Shao had made great efforts behind the scenes to make this happen.

During the time he was captured, although Cui Desheng was treated with courtesy by the Luoan court and did not suffer any inhumane treatment, and was usually well fed and well cared for, his status was ultimately that of a prisoner, and naturally he was not as comfortable as he was with the Fengwu Army.

What's more, Cui Desheng was born in the Cui family. His parents, wife and children have been away from home in Yijing for so long, and he missed his relatives very much. Now that he can return safely, Cui Desheng is very grateful to Cui Shao.

In response to Cui Desheng's greeting, Cui Shao patted him on the shoulder and said:

"Desheng, I'm glad you're back! Everyone in the family misses you so much!"

Cui Shao also values ​​his nephew Cui Desheng very much. After all, he is the only member of the Cui family who has military talent. Although the Cui family did not dare to violate Ye Mingsheng’s taboo and get close to the military over the years, they have maintained a relatively good relationship with the military. However, even with a good relationship, it is not as easy as using family members...
Therefore, over the years, Cui Shao has been promoting Cui Desheng intentionally or unintentionally, helping Cui Desheng to go further in the army. When Cui Desheng was promoted to the commander-in-chief of the Third Army and became the second-in-command of tens of thousands of soldiers in the Third Army, Cui Shao also made great efforts in secret.

Cui Shao also knew that Cui Desheng was worried about his relatives, so after comforting him with a few words, he let Cui Desheng go and look after his relatives.

After Cui Desheng left, Cui Zibo also came into the room. Looking at his father who was a little silent in the room, he asked curiously:

"Dad, didn't my aunt ask Brother Desheng to go to the Ye Mansion to pay his respects as soon as he got home? Why do I see Brother Sheng is still at home?"

Listening to Cui Zibo's words, Cui Shao said calmly:
"I'll write to your aunt and tell her that Desheng is not feeling well and can't see guests!"

Cui Zibo was extremely surprised when he heard this, and asked in confusion:

"Dad, why are you doing this?"

"Aunt dotes on Big Brother Desheng, this is a good thing for Big Brother Desheng!"

Cui Shao shook his head and said:

'Ye Cheng sent someone to deliver a message. Although he didn't say it directly, he hinted that he didn't want to see Desheng go to Ye's house...'

Hearing his father's words, Cui Zibo also understood the key point. Realizing the key point of the matter, he could not help but whispered:

"Dad, Ye Cheng is the Marshal's mouthpiece. Is this what the Marshal meant?"

"But since the Marshal doesn't want to see Brother Desheng, why did he spend so much effort to redeem Brother Desheng? I heard that the Marshal personally approved the use of three thousand Yunbing army prisoners to redeem Brother Desheng. If he didn't want to redeem Brother Desheng, he could have simply not approved it!"

Cui Shao shook his head and said:

"Desheng has violated a taboo. We in Fengwu Army have always called Shangguan Hongyuan a traitor who stole the country. We in Fengwu Army are purging the emperor's side, and the one we are purging is Shangguan Hongyuan, the traitor. But in Luoan, Desheng has sung praises for Shangguan Hongyuan at banquets many times, praising Shangguan Hongyuan as a good minister and a pillar of the country!"

"Desheng is a senior general of the Fengwu Army, but this move is a blatant violation of the will of the Marshal and a counter-acting against him!"

"Fortunately, the Marshal was broad-minded and did not bother with Desheng. He also spent a huge price to redeem Desheng from Luoan for the sake of our Fengwu Army's reputation, and did not let Desheng die of old age in Luoan."

"If the Marshal is a narrow-minded person, I'm afraid he will never give us the victory. Even if he does, he will kill us!"

"Now the Marshal just doesn't want to see Desheng, which is already very good! If Desheng goes to the Ye Mansion for the banquet, he will be courting death!"

At the end, a hint of regret appeared in Cui Shao’s eyes. Although he didn’t know what Cui Desheng was thinking when Luo An praised Shangguan Hongyuan, things had come to this point and nothing could be changed...
Although Ye Mingsheng was not broad-minded enough to kill Cui Desheng, Cui Desheng's future in the Fengwu Army was ruined after he offended Ye Mingsheng. All his cultivation of Cui Desheng over the years was wiped out in one day!
Cui Zibo felt very sorry for Cui Desheng's experience. As Cui Shao's biological son, he also understood his father's intentions.

If he had not been captured, then with the help of his father, Cui Desheng would have accumulated some experience and would have most likely become the commander of the Fengwu Army, commanding tens of thousands of Fengwu soldiers and becoming one of the most powerful men in the military. But now all this has become a mirage.

After calming down, Cui Shao asked Cui Zibo:

"How are you preparing for the Deng family's affairs?"

Cui Zibo heard this and said:
"I have relayed everything I know to Ji Xian. Ji Xian said that what I said is very valuable and he will report it to the Marshal truthfully!"

After hearing the news, Cui Shao felt relieved. Because the Deng family had no grudge against the Fengwu Army, they secretly defected to the Supervisory Office with ill intentions. They also wanted to alienate Ye Mingsheng and the Cui family through Cui Zibo. However, Cui Zibo was not stupid and not only did he not fall for their evil plan, but under Cui Shao's instruction, he also reported their news to the Coordination Office...

Cui Shao knew that the matter was of great importance, and Ji Xian would definitely report everything to Ye Mingsheng. In this way, they also showed their loyalty to Ye Mingsheng, and indirectly let Cui Zibo show his face in front of Ye Mingsheng, which would be good for Cui Zibo's future career. The next day, Cui Shao called Cui Desheng to his side again, and not only told Cui Desheng about the banquet yesterday, but also told Cui Desheng:

"Desheng, you just came home yesterday and there are some things I didn't tell you directly, but today there are some things you have to do as soon as possible!"

"Write a memorial to the Marshal right now, and tell him that all the words of praise you said to Shangguan Hongyuan in Luoan were coerced by the Luoan court. You can polish your experiences and write in detail about the persecution you suffered by the Luoan court and how loyal you were!"

"Besides that, you also need to tell us about the treacherous official Shangguan Hongyuan, how he persecuted loyal officials in Luoan and committed all kinds of evil that deserves to be punished by everyone!"

"Finally, you should take the initiative to ask the Marshal to resign from the position of the Third Army Commander-in-Chief, citing the persecution you suffered from the Luoan court and a hidden illness!"

Faced with Cui Shao’s requests, Cui Desheng fell into silence. Although Cui Shao asked him to give up the power he had worked hard for more than ten years, Cui Desheng did not hate Cui Shao. He understood the interests involved and knew that Cui Shao, his third uncle, wanted to protect him...
He could totally agree to Cui Shao's request on this point, but Cui Desheng was unwilling to do the first thing Cui Shao asked for!
Although Cui Shao put it very tactfully as embellishment, Cui Desheng knew very well that Cui Shao was actually asking him to fabricate evidence.

Although he was treated preferentially because of his status and was not abused during his time in the Luoan court, for the sake of his own and his family's safety and interests, he was willing to go against his conscience and say something against his will!
However, Cui Desheng was really unwilling to discredit Shangguan Hongyuan. During his time in Luoan, although he did not have much contact with Shangguan Hongyuan and had only met him seven or eight times, Shangguan Hongyuan's demeanor and bearing completely impressed him.

In Cui Desheng's eyes, Shangguan Hongyuan, who should have been regarded as a traitor by him, was actually a kind-hearted elder and a capable and wise minister. He was definitely not the traitor who disrupted the government and committed all kinds of evil as described by the Fengwu Army.

At those banquets in Luoan, his praise for Shangguan Hongyuan came from the bottom of his heart. He really recognized Shangguan Hongyuan's political achievements from the bottom of his heart!
Seeing Cui Desheng remaining silent, Cui Shao’s expression turned cold and without further ado, he slapped him hard in the face. The slap was so powerful that a trace of blood appeared at the corner of Cui Desheng’s mouth. However, Cui Desheng still did not speak and used silence to express his protest···································
Seeing this, Cui Shao became even more angry and immediately scolded him harshly:
"If you want to die, no one can stop you, but don't drag your family down with you!"

"Do you know what those Ye clan members call you in private?"

"They said you were a loyal minister and filial son of Shangguan Hongyuan. They also said that since you were so filial to Shangguan Hongyuan, why did you come back?"

"Do you know how your words put the family in a passive position?"

"Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about your children, right?"

"You are useless now. You will just be an idler in the family in the future. But Shouye and Yue'e are still young. Shouye is already sixteen years old this year. In a few years, he will also be able to enter the government. But who would dare to employ him if you are like this?"

"Yue'e is fourteen this year. In two or three years, she should get married. But because of your father, no one with a promising future would be willing to marry her. What do you want Yue'e to do? Do you want to see her grow old like a maid?"

Facing Cui Shao's series of questions, Cui Desheng, who had been silent, became painful. Although he was unwilling to betray Shangguan Hongyuan, when he thought of his family, wife and children, Cui Desheng could only nod helplessly and said:
"Uncle San, I'll write it right away! I'll write whatever you tell me to write!"

Cui Shao nodded in satisfaction after hearing this and then ordered:

"Tell me in detail about Shangguan Hongyuan's physical condition..."

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Luoan, Shangguan Mansion

Shangguan Hongyuan and Murong Lun were playing chess. Knowing that his chess skills were not as good as Murong Lun's, Shangguan Hongyuan did not hesitate to play first with black pieces.

However, compared to Shangguan Hongyuan's swift moves, Murong Lun seemed very hesitant today, as if he had something on his mind. Shangguan Hongyuan saw through it but did not say anything, and built a big dragon on the chessboard to bite Murong Lun's white chess pieces.

Just as Shangguan Hongyuan was enjoying his battle on the chessboard, Chen Jingyu quietly came to his side. This henchman of Shangguan Hongyuan, without even looking at Murong Lun standing beside him, reported to Shangguan Hongyuan:

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Shi Huairen, the Minister of Justice, Zheng Chaozong, the Marquis of Baijiang, Sun Yourong, the governor of Luoan, and 5,000 rebels have been executed. Our Supervisory Department and the Imperial Guards are currently clearing out the remaining rebels!"

Murong Lun was shocked when he heard the news, and Shangguan Hongyuan, who was sitting opposite him, said another word, and then casually instructed Chen Jingyu:

"Three tribes of Yi!"

Although it was just three short words, Murong Lun could feel the bloody smell coming towards him. He knew that behind these three words there were probably tens of thousands of wronged souls...

In response to Shangguan Hongyuan's order, Chen Jingyu, who had done countless dirty things, immediately nodded and left the room. From the time he entered the room to the time he left the room, he never even looked at Murong Lun, as if Murong Lun, the big boss in the court, did not exist at all!
After Chen Jingyu left, Murong Lun looked at the chessboard in front of him, which still had a chance to turn around, and he simply admitted defeat and surrendered to Shangguan Hongyuan:
"You win, Prime Minister!"

Looking at Murong Lun's calm expression, Shangguan Hongyuan said with a smile:

"Minister Murong, you still have a chance, why don't you give it a try?"

In response to Shangguan Hongyuan's words, Murong Lun just continued:

"You win, Prime Minister!"

Listening to Murong Lun talking about this for the second time, Shangguan Hongyuan looked deeply at the chess player in front of him, and then said calmly:
“Minister Murong, I am old, and you are an extremely smart person. From now on, the affairs of the court will depend on you…”

(These days, Tongming has also received some suggestions from fellow book friends. Tongming feels that these suggestions are very pertinent, so based on these suggestions, I have also made some adjustments and decided to speed up the progress and strive to unify the world in the next fifty chapters or so! Please stay tuned. If you have any good suggestions, Tongming is also all ears. I hope you will give me your advice!)
(End of this chapter)