Chapter 218: Demotion

"Oh, Yang Zhengshan, the garrison commander of Anyuan City, that's right!" Emperor Chengping also remembered.

"I remember that he had made contributions in the battle of Chongshan Pass, leading 300 soldiers and killing nearly 1,000 enemies. By the way, Marquis Changping also said that this man was both wise and brave, and had the talent of a general!"

The smile on Eunuch Chen's face became even brighter, "Your Majesty still has a good memory. If it weren't for your reminder, I would have forgotten that Marquis Changping had mentioned Lord Yang in the battle report!"

How could he not know that Liang Chu mentioned Yang Zhengshan in the battle report, he just didn't say it.

Your Majesty remembered, which means that your Majesty has a good memory. After all, he is not old yet. It was your Majesty who reminded me.

And if your Majesty didn't remember, he wouldn't mention it again.

"It's a pity, he's just a little older!" Emperor Chengping said with some regret.

"It doesn't matter if he's older, the important thing is that Lord Yang was born into a farming family." Eunuch Chen reminded again.

Born as a farmer, it proves that he is of humble origin and has little connection with the various forces in the court.

Such a person is actually the most in line with the heart of Emperor Chengping, because Emperor Chengping now hates the officials in the court to form cliques and cliques.

However, Emperor Chengping did not speak again, but focused on the content of the memorial.

After he finished reading the memorial, his wrinkled face drooped.

"Where is the prince?"

"Your Majesty, the prince should be in Wenhua Hall to handle state affairs at this time!"

"Let him come!"

The voice of Emperor Chengping was particularly cold and solemn. Eunuch Chen did not dare to say another word and bowed and left the study.

About a quarter of an hour later, a middle-aged man in a bright yellow brocade robe and with an elegant face came to the study panting.

"The son pays his respects to the emperor!" The prince knelt down with great courtesy.

However, Emperor Chengping seemed not to hear it and continued to look through the memorial in his hand.

Eunuch Chen stood by, lowering his head and lowering his eyebrows, even his breathing became a little weaker.

In the entire study, there was no other sound except the sound of Emperor Chengping flipping through the memorials.

The prince knelt on the ground, touching the ground with his forehead, and cold sweat wet the marble floor.

It was unknown how long it had been, when the prince felt his legs were numb and painful, Emperor Chengping finally said: "Tea!"

Eunuch Chen immediately came back to life from the state of a wooden man, and hurried forward to change a bowl of tea for Emperor Chengping.

Holding the tea, taking a few sips, Emperor Chengping raised his eyelids and looked at the prince calmly.

"Get up!"

"Thank you, father!" The prince stood up tremblingly.

"Look at this!"

The prince bent over and picked up the memorial on the desk.

Opening the memorial, the prince quickly browsed it, and when he finished reading it, a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

Unprovoked disaster!

What the hell is going on!

He wanted to promote the marriage between the Marquis of Changping and the Earl of Qing'an, but he did not force anything.

The Marquis of Changping's attitude has always been very clear. They do not participate in the fight for the throne. The prince also understands this, so he does not have to drag the Marquis of Changping into the water. He just wants to use the Earl of Qing'an as an insurance.

If this is successful, it will be a trump card. If it fails, he will not force it too much.

But he never expected that the Marquis of Jingyuan would do it this way.

Although he does not know all the causes and consequences now, he can already guess where the problem lies.

"Father!" The prince opened his mouth and wanted to say something.

However, as soon as he opened his mouth, a tea bowl flew towards him.

"Asshole!"

Followed by a curse, the prince who wanted to dodge stopped his body abruptly, allowing the tea bowl to hit his chest and wet his clothes.

"Father, calm down!"

With a plop, the prince knelt down again.

Emperor Chengping looked at him gloomily, "Get up!"

The prince stood up again with a bitter face.

"What on earth does Marquis Jingyuan want to do? He actually secretly dispatched the imperial guards to leave the capital!"

Emperor Chengping was really angry, pointing at the prince and said angrily: "Today he dared to dispatch the imperial guards to leave the capital, tomorrow he will dare to lead the imperial guards into the imperial city!"

After this, the prince could no longer stand, and could only kneel down again, "Father, Marquis Jingyuan doesn't dare!"

"Don't dare, I don't think there is anything he dares not to do!" Emperor Chengping leaned over and hit the prince's head hard with the memorial.

Yang Zhengshan was wrong about one thing. He thought that Yuan Qing's leading people to draw swords in the garrison hall was more serious than Marquis Changping's sending Yuan Qing to Chongshan Town.

But in fact, it was Emperor Chengping who decided whether it was serious or not. Which one Emperor Chengping thought was serious was treason.

Arrogance and abuse of power are nothing in the eyes of Emperor Chengping, but the private transfer of troops from Beijing, even if there are only a few dozen people, is a taboo for Emperor Chengping.

After scolding the prince, Emperor Chengping's anger subsided a little.

"Tell me, what did you let Jingyuan Hou's people go to Chongshan Town for?"

Although the Secret Guards monitor many officials and nobles in the court, the Secret Guards do not report everything to Emperor Chengping, otherwise Emperor Chengping would not have to do anything else, and it would be enough to listen to the reports of the Secret Guards all day long.

The prince said in a stammer: "Son!"

"Louder!" Emperor Chengping shouted.

"Son wants the Qing'an Marquis's Mansion to marry the Changping Marquis's Mansion!"

Emperor Chengping looked at his stupid son and felt a little powerless.

He leaned on the soft couch and looked at the prince calmly.

"Stupid, really stupid!"

The prince panicked. He felt the look in his father's eyes and was very flustered.

"What is the basis for the inheritance of Changping Marquis Mansion for more than 300 years? Don't you know?"

"I know." The prince replied in panic.

"Since you know, why do you still do such a stupid thing!" Emperor Chengping thought the prince was really stupid.

For an emperor, the nobles like Changping Marquis Mansion are the most trusted nobles.

No party, no team, no power.

If your majesty uses me, I will work hard, if your majesty does not use me, I will enjoy wealth.

This is the main reason why Changping Marquis Mansion has been passed down for more than 300 years and has not been deprived of its title.

This is also the reason why Emperor Chengping can safely put Liang Chu in Chongshan Town.

Other border towns have eunuchs guarding them and are closely monitored by the Secret Guards, but what about Chongshan Town now? The eunuch Lu Hua who guarded them had already run to Beiyuan Town, and the Secret Guards' strength was not placed in Chongshan Pass.

In short, Liang Chu is the noble that Emperor Chengping trusts the most.

If it were not for the purpose of reorganizing Chongshan Town, Emperor Chengping would definitely keep Liang Chu in the Imperial Army.

"Go back and confine yourself for a month, and reflect on it for me!"

Emperor Chengping said a little tiredly.

The prince knelt on the ground, and said with a dejected face: "Your son obeys the order!"

"Decree that Jingyuan Hou abused his power and ignored the law of the country. He will be demoted by one level, fined for three years, and dismissed from the post of the governor of Fenwuying."

The prince trembled all over when he heard it.

He knew that Jingyuan Hou was completely screwed this time.

Fixing salary and dismissal were nothing.

But demotion!

Such a punishment is very serious.

Jingyuan Hou is a second-class marquis. If he is demoted by one level, he will be a third-class marquis. If Jingyuan Hou cannot make merit and be promoted, the next generation of Jingyuan Hou will become Jingyuan Bo.

The most feared thing for the nobles is to be demoted or stripped of their titles.

However, the prince did not dare to plead for mercy, and could only bow and leave the study.

After he left, Emperor Chengping leaned on the soft couch, rubbing his eyebrows tiredly.

"Marquis Changping has made great contributions in leading Chongshan Town. He will be rewarded with 1,000 taels of silver and one of his sons will be appointed as a thousand households of the imperial guards!"

There are punishments for mistakes and rewards for merits.

Although it is a bit too early to reward Marquis Changping now, Marquis Changping has also been wronged by the things done by the crown prince, and Emperor Chengping can only appease him first.

...

Anyuan City.

At this time, Yang Zhengshan naturally did not know what happened in Kyoto. After taking down Yuan Qing, he locked Yuan Qing in the prison of the garrison hall and left him alone.

Because the rest of the things were no longer something he could control at will.

He did not know how effective Xu Jin's memorial was, and he did not know what Liu Yuanfu could do.

At present, all he could do was wait for news. As for other things, he could only make plans after the results came out.

As for Marquis Jingyuan, Yang Zhengshan did not have too many worries.

As I said, this is Chongshan Town. No matter how powerful Marquis Jingyuan is, he cannot interfere in the affairs of Chongshan Town.

Compared with Marquis Jingyuan, the most important thing for Yang Zhengshan at this time is Yang Yunxue's marriage.

Liang Jinyan came to Anyuan City, not only Liang Jinyan, but also Liang Hui, the uncle of Jingyuan Marquis Mansion, who was Liang Jinyan's father.

Liang Hui was the eldest son of Liang Chu and had the right to inherit the Marquis Mansion. Although he had not yet been canonized as the prince, his position in the Marquis Mansion had long been determined.

Liang Hui came in person, so Yang Zhengshan naturally had to go out of the city to greet him.

Looking at the long convoy coming along the official road, Yang Zhengshan stood in front of the city gate on horseback, stroking his beard and thinking.

When the convoy came closer, a handsome uncle in a black Chengzi robe got off the carriage.

"Lord Yang, hahaha, it's really embarrassing for me to let Lord Yang come out to greet me!"

This lord of the Marquis Mansion was interesting, and he actually put his attitude so low.

"Lord Liang is joking. Lord Liang came in person, and I am very happy!"

The two were shamelessly polite and flattering.

After talking for a long time, there was no nutritious word.

Liang Hui also has an official position, as the deputy commander of the Chongshan Vanguard. Although it is just a nominal position and has no real power, no one can ignore his existence, after all, he is the future Marquis of Changping.

"Junior greets Lord Yang!" Liang Jinyan came over and saluted.

Yang Zhengshan nodded with a smile, but he didn't say anything, just greeted Liang Hui into the city.

Back to Yang Mansion, Yang Zhengshan naturally received him well.

Liang Hui obviously approved of this marriage, and he had been talking to Yang Zhengshan affectionately.

The two talked about everything, from Chongshan Town to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Jiangnan, not talking about state affairs, but only talking about romantic and interesting things.

To be honest, Yang Zhengshan is not as good as Liang Hui in this regard.

In terms of knowledge of this world, Yang Zhengshan really lacks a lot.

He has been in this world for several years, and he has a deep understanding of the Liaodong area, but he knows much less about the entire Darong, and most of it is hearsay.

Liang Hui is different. After all, he is a son of a noble family. He used to live in Kyoto and has a very detailed understanding of the customs and topography of the entire Darong.

Talking with him gave Yang Zhengshan a lot of insights.

Of course, Yang Zhengshan did not forget the business. He has been observing Liang Jinyan.

Although he did not communicate too much with Liang Jinyan, he can still see a lot from Liang Jinyan's every move.

He is polite and modest, not arrogant or impatient. Although he looks immature, he is very calm in his actions.

This is a typical son of a noble family. Those dandy sons of noble families are actually a minority.

The more profound the family, the stricter its family education will be.

Most of the children of nobles have received a strict education. It is normal for them to have some bad habits or be a little arrogant, but in terms of etiquette, they are far superior to officials from humble backgrounds.