Chapter 141

Perhaps he had faint guesses before, but after revealing the fine salt refining method, with Pei Xun's experience, how could he not see the true intention?

What about giving gifts to his family's Suiwan?

What about the bet with the Eldest Princess?

They were all just smoke screens...

The drunkard's heart was not in the wine, but in him as a person!

"Pei Imperial Steward, why do you say that?"

Chen Yan did not change his expression and asked calmly: "This official has not yet reached the age of twenty; how could I have so many schemes?"

These words were said lightly, as if he were really some kind of good person...

"Hahahaha!"

Pei Xun pinched his beard, raised his eyebrows slightly, laughed out loud, stared with great interest at the boy who was telling lies with his eyes open, and said meaningfully: "Dealing with Chen Kaiyuan and Chen Zhiyun sharply, yet not getting a single leaf on your body..."

"The art of suppressing and supporting in the Qinzhou pacification is superb..."

"And borrowing the funeral of the former Inspector and Governor to win the hearts of the people and the army; how can you have no schemes?"

"Chief Mirror Officer Chen, don't you find it funny to say this?"

This Heavenly Office Imperial Steward knew Chen Yan's deeds like the back of his hand, and this was only the tip of the iceberg of what he knew.

Solving that pair of Chen siblings, the difficulty was not in the result, but in how not to leave himself with the notoriety of fratricide.

In the end, one "hanged himself for fear of crime," and the other was "murdered by his son," which could be called a textbook-style plan.

Not to mention using the funeral of Dugu Zhao's direct line to show off, winning a good reputation and being praised by everyone, while also allowing the Imperial Court to successfully regain control of Qinzhou, with the hearts of the people returning...

"It seems Pei Imperial Steward is quite concerned about this official..."

Chen Yan, who had been "exposed," was surprised but not surprised, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he smiled.

Not only had he made full preparations, but the other party had also done the same, so they could skip the process of mutual understanding and smoothly advance to the next step...

"With Chief Mirror Officer Chen's deeds, it would be difficult for this old man not to be concerned!" Pei Xun picked up the hot tea, took a light sip, and said playfully.

He paused, then continued: "Chang'an has produced an incredible young man!"

Ordinary aristocratic family children, let alone entering his eyes, even entering his line of sight was difficult...

But this Mirror Master before him, starting from the Deposed Emperor's rebellion case, had "refreshed the screen" time and time again, and done it perfectly.

Why does this sound so much like a young man came to the Organization Department... Chen Yan felt more and more familiar as he listened, muttered in his heart, and responded with a formulaic cupping of hands: "Imperial Steward, you flatter me!"

A new comrade came to the Organization Department, but he was too young...

Chen Yan did not want to follow in his footsteps; he had to keep a low profile when he should, and accumulate enough political resource redundancy and allies.

"Alright, let's get back to the point..."

Pei Xun did not want to engage in this kind of superficial commercial flattery, then pressed his hand, re-entered the theme, and said: "Such a detailed fine salt refining method, if presented to the Great Chancellor by anyone else, would be a great merit and a huge favor..."

"Yet you chose to tell this old man in detail!"

After saying this, Pei Xun's sharp eyes, like an eagle's, stared straight at Chen Yan, full of pressure.

As if he wanted to take in every emotional change on his face.

What these fine salt refining methods that could be promoted on a large scale meant, no one sitting in that position would not know...

So many high-ranking officials in the Heavenly Office, giving it to anyone would be a huge favor...

It was hard not to make people's imaginations run wild.

"Pei Gong has seen the ups and downs of the world in Chang'an; truly nothing can be hidden from you..."

Chen Yan smiled indifferently, met Pei Xun's gaze that seemed to be able to see through everything, was calm, and asked back: "Presumably you have already seen through the junior's intention, right?"

Chen Mouren changed his form of address just right and kicked the question back.

This Zhuque Mirror Master, Great Zhou Poet Immortal, is really full of schemes just as described in the letter from the eldest brother... Pei Xilou, who was silent at the side of the table, watched Chen Yan, who had excellent linguistic skills, and muttered in his heart.

With his father's prestige accumulated over the years, if it were an ordinary person, they would have already been pressed into timidity.

But this young man before him did not even have a trace of emotional fluctuation...

He revealed a calmness and composure far beyond that age.

He was even able to respond with ease.

No wonder the eldest brother's evaluation could be so high...

"So this old man is very curious, the dignified Zhuque Mirror Master, the Great Chancellor's favorite minister..."

Pei Xun nodded slightly, his gaze did not move away, and he asked in a deep voice: "Why did you choose my Pei Clan as your alliance object?"

Such a huge merit, and the huge benefits that would come with it, how could it be easily given away?

Such a heavy gift, no matter how you look at it, it looks like an olive branch handed out to express the sincerity of joining forces with an ally...

But Pei Xun did not care about these; he cared about the reason why this young man, who was on the rise and deeply valued by the power minister, made this choice.

"Since things have reached this point, then the junior will not hide it..."

Chen Yan heard this, picked up the hot tea and took a sip, then said: "The Hedong Pei Clan, a great surname in Guanzhong, is a famous and prestigious family passed down for thousands of years; its foundation is deep and unfathomable!"

He paused, then raised his hand, pointed at Pei Xun, and said respectfully: "Pei Gong, your students are all over the world, and your disciples and former officials are all over the Great Zhou!"

This was not superficial flattery, but real praise.

Guanzhong is also called the County Surname, with Wei, Pei, Liu, Xue, Yang, and Du at the head.

It is indeed a top-tier Great Zhou gate valve, a traditional Central Plains powerful clan.

Having stayed by that big shot's side for so many years, Chen Yan knew the importance of having a backer and a background.

He knew even more clearly that eggs cannot be put in one basket, and there must not be only one backer; the fault tolerance rate must be improved.

And the Hedong Pei Clan was the ally he chose after careful consideration that he could rely on!

"In this vast Chang'an, those who can stand side by side with my Pei Clan are the Jingzhao Wei Clan, the Jingzhao Du Clan..."

Pei Xun pursed his lips and smiled, without any emotional fluctuation, and said unhurriedly: "Those few are also virtuous and prestigious, not a bit worse than this old man!"

He paused, then continued: "Even that person from the Wei Clan has an official position above this old man..."

Among the six surnames of Guanzhong, besides the Hedong Pei Clan, there are a full five families!

If we talk about family strength alone, plus Chen Yan's evaluation criteria, no matter how you look at it, the Jingzhao Wei Clan is better, right?

Why did he choose the Pei Clan, which was suppressed?

This is the answer Pei Xun wanted to know!

Chen Yan raised his head, his gaze like a torch, and said word by word: "But the younger generation in their clan is far inferior to the Pei Clan's sons!"

As the saying goes, power is in hand; if it is not used when it expires, it is wasted.

Chen Yan, who was in charge of the Mingjing Si Zhuque Guard, had long since used public office for private gain and made the data analysis he was once best at for the future...

He conducted in-depth investigations and analyzed the ability and character of the younger generation of each family.

Only then did he reach this conclusion.

This boy's entry point is really not generally vicious... Pei Xun did not change his expression, but sighed in his heart, and asked calmly: "How do you explain that?"

Chen Yan smiled indifferently, phrased his words slightly, and said: "Not to mention the distant ones... just talking about the two legitimate sons under Pei Gong's knees, they are extraordinary people!"

"Brother Yanshao just arrived in Qinzhou and grasped both government affairs and people's livelihood, making the land that was devastated after the turmoil quickly get on the right track, with the hearts of the people settled; this is not something ordinary officials can do, right?"

The news sent back by the Mingjing Si spies in Qinzhou showed that Pei Yanshao's governance in Qinzhou was very methodical:

Repairing water conservancy, checking household registration, pacifying the people, and rooting out several items simultaneously, and he also started to shatter the foundation of the Tongtian Society.

Even if he, Chen Yan, had already laid the foundation, if Pei Yanshao had no ability, he would have made a mess of it long ago; how could it proceed in an orderly manner like now?

He actually pays so much attention to Qinzhou affairs after returning to the capital... Pei Xilou heard this and sighed in his heart.

"And Brother Xilou is young and promising; at such an age, he has become the Grand Physician of the Ministry of Accounts..."

Chen Yan raised his hand and pointed at Pei Xilou beside him, saying: "Government affairs are handled in an orderly manner!"

"Excluding family factors, can these two be compared by other aristocratic families?"

It cannot be denied that this pair of Pei brothers could enter the officialdom, which was inseparable from the shade of family elders...

But being able to reach a high position was entirely due to their own ability.

After all, there are so many aristocratic family children with backgrounds; why did it have to be these two?

After all, a family's upper limit lies in people, in the young descendants in the clan...

"Chen Yan, oh Chen Yan, I have long heard that you do things without a leak..."

The appreciation in Pei Xun's eyes became more intense, and he smiled: "Seeing it today, it is indeed well-deserved!"