The prince is more stable

Chapter 519 Coercion and inducement

Although Zhao Hao is a fat man, he is very smart. He not only understands the rules, but also understands the market conditions.

Zhao Xiaoqian got into trouble this time, and before he returned to the capital, Zhao Hao had already started to move around and give gifts everywhere.

The gifts given out had different values, some were 80,000 taels, and some were 50,000 taels.

The only gift given to Zhang Dun was 200,000 taels, and he was the richest.

Zhang Dun is a high-end product and worth the price.

If Zhang Dun were placed in an auction in the world of cultivation in fairy tales, he would be equivalent to a rare treasure that only appears once in a thousand years. He would be fought over and bid for by bigwigs from all sides, and would even kill for him.

How could Zhao Xiaoqian let him go easily with such high-end goods?
Unfortunately, this high-end product has become sophisticated now. It doesn’t realize how expensive it is and is about to leave with an anxious and angry look on its face.

The Zhao family father and son naturally refused to let you go. You've already jumped into the pit on your own initiative, and you still expect us to pull you out? Ha!

"Mr. Zhang, please don't go. We haven't finished talking yet." Zhao Xiaoqian grabbed his sleeve and refused to let go.

Zhao Hao was more enthusiastic than his son, and immediately ordered people to close and lock the door of Yin'an Palace.

The veins in Zhang Dun's neck were throbbing.

Because of carelessness, I walked into the dragon's den and the tiger's lair!

"Zhao Zi'an, it's not that I don't want to help you. What you did is too big, and I really can't save you." Zhang Dun shook his head and sighed.

"You killed 42 officials without a single word, without even receiving an imperial decree. Putting aside the identities of their backers, the mere fact that you killed officials is unacceptable to the court!"

Zhang Dun grew increasingly angry as he spoke. "As Prime Minister, I should hate evil as much as I hate evil. Logically, I should order him to be imprisoned in the Dali Temple today, and then convene a court meeting to discuss your crimes..."

"Then why don't you order me to be arrested?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked suddenly.

Zhang Dun's momentum suddenly froze, and then he quickly became dejected.

"Your father's gift was so swift and unexpected that I, a single misstep, would be a source of eternal regret, let alone the emperor..." Zhang Dun paused dejectedly, then said, "In short, I could be the most kind person by pretending not to see Zi'an's crime. I can't help you, so please seek help from others."

"Farewell!"

Zhang Dun stood up and was about to leave, but this time he was pleasantly surprised to find that Zhao Xiaoqian was no longer holding him back.

Just as they reached the gate of Yin'an Palace, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly turned around and said to Zhao Hao, "Father, let's go out now and sit in the brothels in Bianjing and find a few famous storytellers..."

Zhao Hao replied in a tacit manner, "Oh? Why are you looking for a storyteller?"

“Pay them to tell your story.”

"what story?"

"It's a long story about a prime minister who accepted a bribe of two hundred thousand taels, then turned hostile and refused to do anything. I'll tell you about it a hundred times..."

"Oh, by the way, let me mention a few more things. The Prime Minister doesn't even give the Emperor face. Perhaps it's because the minister is strong and the emperor is weak, so they bully the Emperor because he's young..."

Zhao Hao's eyes widened in shock. "Ah? Is this Prime Minister going so far? Well, we must make this known. You and I, father and son, are loyal ministers who hate evil. Seeing this injustice, we should stand up..."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded repeatedly: "Not bad, not bad. If I am wrongfully imprisoned, I will serve the country once more before leaving. By dragging a treacherous prime minister down with me, I can at least live up to my conscience..."

The father and son sang together and cooperated very well.

Zhang Dun stood at the door of Yin'an Palace, his old face turned green and his body trembled as if he had suffered a stroke.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Zhang Dun suddenly turned around, pointed at the father and son, and shouted angrily, "Both of you have lost your consciences! How dare you talk about serving the country? You are traitors, living traitors!"

Other excuses would be fine, but Zhao Xiaoqian’s statement “the ministers are strong and the king is weak” is too deadly and too heartbreaking.

If this sentence really got out, Zhang Dun would be a little scared.

The emperor is young, but he has been in power for two years. He has become more and more mature, his imperial mentality has gradually developed, and his control over the court has become stronger and stronger. If the four words "ministers are strong and the emperor is weak" are spread, the emperor will definitely remember them.

After all, since Zhang Dun became prime minister, he has vigorously suppressed and eliminated the old party, and his methods are indeed very strong. Because of his strong approach, he did have several conflicts with the government. Now think about it, these were all the mines he had buried in the past.

Zhang Dun knew that he could not leave now. He did not want to take sides, but the emperor and the King of Chu and his son forced him to do so. With just a few words, they left him with no way out.

He no longer had the heart to distinguish right from wrong, as the government's reputation was at stake.

After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Dun stomped his feet angrily, turned around and sat back at the low table.

Although he was reluctant, he had to help Zhao Xiaoqian. It was simply a matter of "pros and cons".

"Bring some wine!" Zhang Dun slammed the table and shouted.

Zhao Hao immediately smiled and ordered someone to open the door of Yin'an Palace and asked the servants to bring wine.

Zhang Dun picked up the wine glass and drank without paying any attention to table etiquette. He picked up the chopsticks and ate the food with big mouthfuls, chewing with a crunching sound, as if he was chewing the flesh and blood of this unscrupulous father and son.

Zhao Xiaoqian also changed his expression at this time, from the threat just now, to concern quickly, and diligently helped Zhang Dun to serve food and pour wine.

"Mr. Zhang, eat more! You've worked so hard for state affairs these past few years. Look how thin you are. It makes me want to cry..." Zhao Xiaoqian said emotionally. "Get lost!" Zhang Dun glared at him fiercely, then took the dish Zhao Xiaoqian had given him from his plate and threw it on the table, his face full of disgust.

Before visiting today, he had planned to ease the relationship with Zhao Xiaoqian and do each other a favor.

As a result, less than half an hour after entering the door, Zhang Dun suddenly understood his former self.

It is really difficult to ease the relationship when dealing with this insidious and cunning guy. His ability to offend people is much greater than his ability to maintain the stability of the country.

Such a person does not deserve friends and deserves to be enemies all over the world!

Zhao Xiaoqian was completely unaware of Zhang Dun's mental journey at the moment, and his attitude remained very sincere.

Zhang Dun ate and drank as if to vent his anger, but he was a sixty-year-old man after all and could not eat much.

After a few bites, Zhang Dun put down his chopsticks and stared at the bright and clear sky outside the Yin'an Palace, feeling sad and with the expression of a kidnapped hostage longing for freedom.

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked and said, "Prince Zhang, why don't you ask why I killed Han Wei and forty-two other criminal officials?"

Zhang Dun said coldly, "You have your reasons, and you will certainly claim to be righteous, but I am not one to listen to one side."

Zhao Xiaoqian curled his lips. This stubborn old man took my money but was still so arrogant. He must be a prime minister. If it were someone else, his body would be under the car, no, at the bottom of the well.

Ignoring Zhang Dun's bad attitude, Zhao Xiaoqian gave a complete account of what Han Wei and others had done in Zhending Prefecture.

The more Zhang Dun listened, the more solemn his expression became. When he looked at Zhao Xiaoqian, his eyes were no longer filled with anger, but still mixed with a hint of suspicion.

There was no way. Zhao Xiaoqian's credibility in Zhang Dun's mind had collapsed like that of an idol whose reputation had collapsed.

"Is what you said true or false?" Zhang Dun asked directly.

Zhao Xiaoqian said seriously, "Before Han Wei and the others were executed, they wrote a confession in their own handwriting. The Imperial City Department and the nine counties under the jurisdiction of Zhending Prefecture have collected a large amount of hard evidence, and..."

After a pause, Zhao Xiaoqian's tone gradually became murderous again, and he slowly said, "There are also more than 400 newly buried graves in Zhending Prefecture, which can testify for me. If you don't believe me, you can secretly send people to Zhending Prefecture to investigate openly and secretly."

"Although I am young, I am not someone who does things without distinguishing the importance of things. If Han Wei and his men had not really committed a heinous crime and the local people were not outraged, how could I be so impulsive as to execute forty-two criminal officials in front of tens of thousands of people?"

Zhang Dun remained silent. Although he was still somewhat angry with Zhao Xiaoqian, his rage had subsided a lot at this moment.

Zhang Dun had a bad temper and was a strong-willed person. He also had the limitation of taking revenge for personal gain and was not magnanimous.

But to be honest, he is not a bad person. As the prime minister of the current dynasty, in addition to taking revenge on the old party that bullied him in the past, he really wants to do something practical for the Song Dynasty and the people. Otherwise, he would not have worked so hard to implement the new policy.

If the actions of Han Wei and others in Zhending Prefecture are true, then it is not unfair for them to be killed by Zhao Xiaoqian, and they deserve to die.

Emotionally, he was still full of anger towards the father and son of the Zhao family, but it was undeniable that from the perspective of right and wrong and sense of justice, Zhang Dun had unknowingly stood on Zhao Xiaoqian's side.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled slightly, took out a list from his arms and handed it to Zhang Dun.

Zhang Dun frowned, took it subconsciously, unfolded it and looked at it, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

"This is……"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "I know that Mr. Zhang is not willing to help me, so how about this from another perspective?"

"This is the list of powerful people behind the scenes that Han Wei and others confessed before they were executed. They were the ones who instigated all the evil deeds that Han Wei and others did in Zhending Prefecture, and they were also the ones who enclosed the land."

Zhao Xiaoqian emphasized his tone and said slowly, "Half of the dignitaries on the list are members of the old party, or have close ties with the old party."

Having said that, Zhao Xiaoqian doesn't need to say anything more.

He saw that Zhang Dun's eyes were beginning to shine, and he knew that Zhang Dun was moved. To him, this was a benefit given to him by Zhao Xiaoqian.

"Interests" are not just money and power, but also "hatred" that is difficult to resolve in nine lifetimes.

Since Zhang Dun became prime minister, his revenge on the old party has been simply insane. When the old party was in power, they suppressed and exiled Zhang Dun too severely. Zhang Dun had been silent and dormant for many years, and his hatred for the old party grew deeper and deeper. So after he became prime minister, he retaliated and attacked the old party even more excessively.

Half of the people on Zhao Xiaoqian's list were from the old party.

what is this?
This is to bring him performance, this is naked revolutionary friendship!

Zhang Dun, who had been reluctant just now, now had a completely changed spirit. His eyes shone with a bright light and he became excited.

After quickly putting away the list, Zhang Dun's expression returned to calm.

"This matter has not been verified yet..." Zhang Dun stroked his beard and said in a pretentious manner.

Zhao Xiaoqian said innocently, "You still don't trust me?"

"I can't trust you!" Zhang Dun said sternly, "Zhao Zi'an, in my eyes, you're even more dishonest than a prostitute who abandons her after having sex with her. You're nothing but a villain!"

Zhao Xiaoqian exclaimed in shock, "Who the hell spread this rumor? There are three thousand women out there, and I've never been to a prostitute once!"

(End of this chapter)