Chapter 136: Xie Family

When Zhang Yuelu went to meet the people of Ziguang Society, Qi Xuansu was going to meet the people of Qingping Society. One "purple" and one "green" were symmetrical.

With the relationship between Qi Xuansu and Qingping Society, there was no need to play any games. In other words, the three revenge actions were the best token of loyalty, and they had shared the spoils together. They were all family members.

When Qi Xuansu was rectifying the atmosphere in Dongcheng, he deliberately made things difficult for a legal brothel called "Leng Feiyuan". It was said that this brothel had the background of Lord Xie.

In other words, Lord Xie's Xie family was indeed one of the backers of Leng Feiyuan. The reason why I said one of them was that the Xie family valued their family reputation and was unwilling to directly touch such a business. However, the expenses of being an official in the imperial capital were high, and the Xie family did need such a business, which required a cover. So another family, the Yang family, also became one of the owners of Leng Feiyuan. If there were any things to make friends with the government and the Taoist sect on weekdays, it would usually be the Yang family who came forward.

The Yang family is barely a middle-class family in the imperial capital. Their ancestors also took root in Jinling Prefecture, so they are old friends with the Xie family. The family's three most recent generations have served as the Minister of Works, the Deputy Imperial Envoy, and the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. In terms of power, the Yang family naturally cannot compare with the Xie family, which has already entered the cabinet. However, it is precisely because the Yang family is only a middle-class family that does not need to be so concerned about the face of the prime minister. There are many things that the Xie family disdains to do, which just allows the Yang family to step forward. Later, the Xie family let his nephew marry the daughter of the Yang family, which can be regarded as a relative, and the relationship between the two families became closer.

Logically speaking, if something happened in Leng Feiyuan, it should be the Yang family who should deal with it, but the Yang family is not sure. After all, they are just a middle-class family. What is a superior family? The ministers and princes of the royal family are all upper-class families. This Master Qi is a bad luck star. Whether it is the King of Liao or the Prince of Langya, they did not get much advantage from him. In the end, it was nothing. It was barely a draw. Although the two princes did not show up in person, it was a bit difficult for them, such a middle-class family, to deal with the notorious Master Qi.

There was no way, the Yang family had to discuss with the Xie family. It was fine for ordinary trivial matters. You were concerned about your status and would not show up if you could. When encountering such a big event, it would be inappropriate for you not to show up again.

The Xie family agreed very happily, saying that they would talk to Master Qi and it would be best not to start a war.

The Yang family was relieved.

So Qi Xuansu received an invitation from the Minister Xie, inviting him to his house for a chat.

Qi Xuansu gladly accepted the invitation.

Although Qi Xuansu was rectifying the atmosphere, it did not mean that he became a person of the lower nine classes. He was still a Taoist at heart, and a high-quality Taoist priest, a noble person.

Even though the gentry did not like many of the Taoist's actions, they were still happy to make friends with Taoist people, talk about emptiness and mystery, add luster, and would not be branded as flattering and dependent. After all, this was a discussion of Taoism, which belonged to the scope of academic exchange and had nothing to do with other things. The friendship between gentlemen was as light as water. Even the royal family and nobles were proud to marry Taoist women, and they did not even mind paying some price - Taoism practiced monogamy and concubines. If the royal family and nobles married female Taoist priests, they would have to say goodbye to the life of being surrounded by women.

So it was normal for the Xie family to invite Qi Xuansu. Only the kings who held military power would like to use force to solve problems.

Qi Xuansu's visit to the Xie family can be said to be a tacit agreement between Qi Xuansu and Xie Linyuan. After showing the invitation, the Xie family had already made preparations and welcomed Qi Xuansu in with courtesy to welcome the distinguished guest.

Under the guidance of an old housekeeper who was loyal to the Xie family for generations, Qi Xuansu passed through the first narrow courtyard and came to the second gate in the middle of the mansion, commonly known as the second gate. A vertical plaque was hung high on the lintel. Usually, only the side gate was used, and the main gate was not opened to show solemnity. After passing this gate and arriving at the main hall, Xie Linyuan had been waiting for a long time.

At this time, in addition to Xie Linyuan, there was also a graceful young man. After seeing Qi Xuansu, he took the initiative to salute and said, "Xie Buying greets Master Qi."

Qi Xuansu likes to do homework in advance. Before coming to the imperial capital, he specifically read "Da Xuanlu". This time, he came to see Xie Linyuan and did some homework. As one of the most important figures in the court, Xie Linyuan's various relevant information is not difficult to find. Qi Xuansu naturally knew who this person was. It was Xie Linyuan's nephew. Xie Linyuan himself has no children, so he values ​​this nephew very much and cultivates him vigorously.

To be fair, this son of the Xie family still has some weight in the Imperial Capital City, not much different from Qin Hengde and others, but he is a little bit worse than Qi Xuansu. In many cases, power background is certainly useful, but when both parties have power background, it depends more on their own ability. In this regard, except for Zhang, Li, and Yao, few can be compared with Qi Xuansu.

"Hello, Brother Xie Shi." Qi Xuansu returned the greeting.

Many times, they have to talk about their own things. Even if Qi Xuansu and Xie Linyuan are equal, he can't be too arrogant in front of his peers. Just like Li Changge, his seniority is still higher than Li Ruoshui, but the latter is one of the real people after all. Li Changge is also equal to her and does not regard herself as an elder.

The three of them sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries. Xie Linyuan was easy-going and pointed at Xie Buying: "Tianyuan, if we meet outside the Imperial Capital in the future, I will need your help and care."

Although Xie Buying was married, he was still only a Hanlin Academy Scholar. This was a short-term position. Potential candidates were selected from the newly-appointed Jinshi candidates. He was a close minister to the emperor, responsible for drafting imperial edicts and explaining classics to the emperor. At the same time, important cabinet officials were sent as teachers to teach Hanlin Academy Scholars. He was one of the important sources of cabinet assistants. After all, only Jinshi candidates could enter the Hanlin Academy, and only Hanlin candidates could enter the cabinet.

Speaking of which, Xie Buying had just gotten married and passed the imperial examination. He was a young and successful candidate, and was in high spirits. But compared to Qi Xuansu, he was still a little behind.

Although Hanlin Academy Shujishi is noble and has a bright future, they have just entered the official career after all, and there is still a long way to go. The Daxuan court resists lucky promotion and pays special attention to the experience of being sent to local officials. That is, the prime minister starts from the state department. If you want to be a prime minister, no matter what your background is, you must start from the bottom. Therefore, if you want to enter the cabinet, you generally need to have two or three experiences of being sent to local officials. The county level varies from person to person, but the prefecture level and state level are the only way. In short, it is from the central government to the local, and then from the local to the central government, and so on.

Civil officials are not like military officials. Generals in their twenties and thirties are common, but prime ministers in their twenties and thirties are rare. Unless there is a big war, you have to slowly accumulate experience. Entering the cabinet in your fifties is considered young, and those in your forties are suspected of being lucky.

Qi Xuansu is different. Although he is a Taoist priest, his promotion track is like that of a military officer because of various "wars". He has been promoted very quickly because of his repeated "war achievements". Basically, the faster he is promoted, the more capable he is. Even with the restrictions of the suspension system, he can be promoted by force. Now he is already a fourth-rank official with real power. The next step is to be a third-rank deputy palace master.

This is also related to the system of Taoism and the court. Taoism does not contact ordinary people and does not involve major issues such as people's livelihood. It is more about commerce and military affairs. Even if he is younger and has no grassroots experience, as long as he is talented enough, there is no big problem. For example, the Champion Marquis was sealed as a wolf at the age of 20, which has nothing to do with whether he has grassroots military experience.

But the court is different. It concerns the livelihoods of millions of people. Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish. If you don't have enough grassroots experience, you don't know the hardships of the people, the crux of the current situation of the world, and the operating rules of the officialdom. If you don't have enough experience, it's easy to take it for granted, or your governance is floating in the sky, or you are deceived by the people below, so it's better to be mature and prudent.

When Qi Xuansu is promoted to the third rank, Xie Buying may still be a middle-level official of about the fifth rank. If he happens to be in the same place as Qi Xuansu, he will naturally need Qi Xuansu to take care of him. After all, the county magistrate is not as good as the current one. No matter how high Xie Linyuan is, he is far away in the imperial capital, and he is not as practical as the help in front of him.

Qi Xuansu said: "I don't deserve it. Let's help each other and make progress together."

Xie Linyuan smiled: "Progress, you Taoists can always come up with some new words. We who read the books of saints have never heard of it and don't understand it. You still laugh at us for being vulgar behind our backs."

Qi Xuansu said: "Mr. Xie, you are joking."

Xie Buying was a little surprised and doubtful. Looking at the conversation between the two, it seemed that they were old acquaintances. He didn't know when his uncle had a friendship with this Master Qi. Then what happened in Leng Feiyuan this time...

Qi Xuansu glanced at Xie Buying and said softly: "I came here this time because of Jiaci's matter."

Xie Buying was startled again. He heard that this Master Qi was born in Wanxiang Taoist Palace and had no father or mother. How could there be another Jiaci? Could the rumor about the Qi family in Shuzhou be true?

Xie Linyuan knew that the "Jiaci" mentioned by Qi Xuansu had nothing to do with the Qi family. He was talking about Qi Niang. After all, a strict father and a kind mother, "Jia Yan" is the father, and "Jia Ci" is the mother.

Xie Linyuan nodded, then winked at Xie Buying.

Xie Buying immediately stood up and said goodbye, full of doubts.

It was obvious that his uncle had known the famous Master Qi for a long time, and was also related to the "Jia Ci" mentioned by Master Qi. You should know that Master Qi had a complicated background, including Deputy Master Shi of the Imperial Capital Dao Mansion, Donghua Zhenren of Yujing, and the Zhang family of Zhengyi Dao. This showed that the Xie family had already boarded the big ship of the Dao Sect, and even participated in the competition for the Grand Master of the Dao Sect, but he knew nothing about it. This made Xie Buying, who had always been smooth sailing, a little discouraged. The Master Qi was a few years younger than him, and he was already able to participate in such a confidential event, planning in the secret room and spreading the order to the world. But he could only be an outsider. Was he just a child in his uncle's eyes, so useless?

After Xie Buying left, Xie Linyuan asked, "What did Qi Niang say?"

Qi Xuansu said, "The mission of the Qingping Society this time is to contain the 'inn' with all its strength. All the personnel in Beijing are mobilized, just in time to settle new and old grudges at the same time."