Chapter 548

The Minister of Works, Yang Ci, who seemed somewhat listless and was wearing a wide court robe, walked slowly to the main hall with the support of two attendants.

"Grand Marshal."

"Lord Grand Marshal."

Everyone stood up one after another upon seeing Yang Ci.

Yang Ci, who was walking toward his seat, immediately pressed his hands down: "Sit, sit, everyone sit, sit."

"I have been feeling a bit unwell recently and failed to receive you all in time. I am truly powerless and hope you will not take offense."

Yang Ci bowed and apologized to Cui Lie, Ma Ridi, and the others while taking his seat.

"We dare not, we dare not," Cui Lie immediately returned the salute and said: "Winter is approaching, Lord Grand Marshal should take care of your health. We of the Pure Stream must rely heavily on you, Lord Grand Marshal."

As soon as Cui Lie said this, the many Pure Stream scholars in the room echoed and nodded.

If the Yuan clan, with four generations of Three Excellencies and students and former officials all over the world, was the number one noble clan in the world today.

Then the Hongnong Yang clan, which surpassed the Yuan clan with four generations of Four Excellencies, was the leader of the Pure Stream faction in the world today.

But even with four generations of Four Excellencies, the Hongnong Yang clan still could not compare to the Yuan clan of today.

Only because the Hongnong Yang clan was of the Pure Stream faction.

Yang Ci's grandfather, Yang Zhen, was once famous inside and outside the court, fighting against the eunuch faction many times, and winning more than he lost.

In the end, he even committed suicide by taking poison to argue with the Emperor.

At that time, the Yang clan's reputation in the Han Dynasty was unparalleled.

To die for speaking out with remonstrance, this was a loyal and righteous person.

Yang Ci coughed lightly, interrupting Cui Lie's words, and then looked at the people below the hall: "The purpose of your coming, my son has already told me, it is for Duan Yu, the Governor of Hanyang Commandery, right?"

Cui Lie and the others nodded immediately.

"Lord Yang, we must be wary of the lessons of the past," Cui Lie said with a frown: "What Duan Yu is doing now, how is it different from what Duan Jiong did back then?"

"I heard that the last time the father-in-law and son-in-law came to Luoyang, they sent generous gifts to Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and others."

"Such people are ruthless and rely on eunuchs. Sooner or later, they will become the hawks and hounds of the eunuchs. If he is allowed to grow this big, it will not only endanger the safety of Liangzhou, but sooner or later he will do what Duan Jiong did!"

Yang Ci lowered his eyes, his expression calm as an ancient well, as if he were thinking.

"Then... according to your opinions, what should be done?" Yang Ci raised his head and looked at Cui Lie, Ma Ridi, and the others.

Cui Lie's eyes rolled and he said: "Since the Emperor wants to reward him, why doesn't Lord Yang suggest transferring this person back to Luoyang and giving him an empty title to hang high?"

Cui Lie's meaning was the same as the methods used to deal with Zhang Huan, Huangfu Gui, and Duan Jiong back then.

Zhang Huan, Huangfu Gui, and Duan Jiong all rose to prominence because of their war merits.

But after the war, they were all stripped of their military power, recalled to Luoyang, and given an idle position that looked high but had no real power.

After hanging for a period of time, they would find some reason or excuse to punish them.

And then demote them.

This kind of method was almost the most common way to deal with military generals.

After Zhang Huan was dealt with like this, his first choice was to rely on the Pure Stream, study academics, and even go so far as to change his household registration.

But in the end, he still died in depression at home.

After Zhang Huan, Huangfu Gui also rose to prominence in the court due to his war against the Qiang, but later he was framed and accused of accepting bribes.

Perhaps because of the lesson of Zhang Huan, Huangfu Gui did not choose to rely on the Pure Stream, but chose to rely on the noble clans, preferring to take the blame for the noble clans when the Partisan Prohibitions broke out.

But in the end, he still ended up with a fate where he couldn't even fulfill his wish to die at home, dying of illness on the way to his post.

Duan Jiong did not rely on the Pure Stream, nor did he rely on the noble clans, and finally chose to defect to the eunuchs.

But in the end, he committed suicide by taking poison in prison.

At this moment, Cui Lie compared Duan Yu to Duan Jiong, who defected to the eunuchs.

Yang Ci squinted his eyes and listened to Cui Lie's words, as if he had fallen asleep.

Yang Biao stood beside Yang Ci, and after Cui Lie's voice fell, Yang Biao also spoke: "Father, this Duan Yu's methods are even more fierce than Duan Jiong's. If he is really left in the post of Liangzhou, I am afraid it will lead to a great disaster."

Yang Ci nodded slightly.

"This matter... I know, but..."

"My opinion cannot influence the Emperor's thoughts. It still depends on them..."

The "them" that Yang Ci spoke of...

Cui Lie, Ma Ridi, and the others knew clearly in their hearts.

It was nothing more than Dong Zhuo's recommender Yuan Kui, and the Central Regular Attendant Zhang Rang and others in the palace. ===== CHAPTER 550 =====