Chapter 980: When the Wall Falls, Everyone Pushes! [3]

The news of Duan Yu's death had already made it impossible for Liu Hong to sit still.

Coupled with the request for an audience from the Three Excellencies and the officials, Liu Hong could no longer stay in the West Garden, so accompanied by Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and others, he simply tidied up and returned to the Jiade Hall in the Southern Palace.

Outside the Jiade Hall of the Southern Palace.

Minister of Works Zhang Wen, Minister of the Masses Cui Lie, and dozens of court officials stood together.

Yang Ci and his son Yang Biao walked very slowly, lagging behind the other officials.

When they arrived outside the Jiade Hall, Cui Lie and his party, who were waiting for Liu Hong to return to the palace, stopped at the foot of the stairs of the Jiade Hall.

Cui Lie looked back at Yang Ci, who was walking behind the officials, and then, as if casually sighing, said: "Alas... Grand Marshal is old now, and even moving about is inconvenient. It seems he will soon be retiring to his hometown."

Once Cui Lie said this, the expressions of everyone around him became thoughtful.

This was clearly saying that the Yang clan was on the decline and that Yang Ci was nearing his end.

Some quick-witted people had already begun to whisper flattery into Cui Lie's ear.

The Minister of the Masses deliberates on the officials of the commanderies and counties, holding the power to promote and recommend officials.

The reason the Yuan clan was so prosperous had something to do with their long-term control over the power of the Minister of the Masses.

Officials wanting to be appointed or promoted could not bypass Yuan Kui.

And before Yuan Kui, Yuan Pang, Yuan Tang, and others of the Yuan clan had all sat in this position.

Although the Boling Cui clan was also a top-tier great clan in Jizhou, it was not even close to the Yuan clan.

Although the Hongnong Yang clan was also "Three Excellencies for Four Generations," besides Yang Ci, no one in the Yang clan had served as Minister of the Masses.

Furthermore, the Hongnong Yang clan had always been a pure stream of the academic lineage, far less influential politically than the Yuan clan.

Coupled with the geographical location of Hongnong, all these factors led to the Yang clan being unable to be like the Yuan clan.

"In the future, in the imperial court, we will still need Minister Cui to speak up for justice."

"That's right, with Minister Yuan gone, in the future, only Minister Cui will be able to turn the tide in the imperial court."

"Whatever Minister Cui commands, we will surely follow."

The sounds of flattery around Cui Lie continued to ring out.

Listening to the flattering words, a smile of enjoyment gradually appeared on Cui Lie's face.

In the imperial court, the least lacking things were grass on the wall that swayed with the wind.

Today the Yuan clan is in power, so they cling to the Yuan clan; tomorrow the Cui clan is in power, so they cling to the Cui clan.

Even emperors are rotated, let alone the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers.

Without a keen political sense, one would have long been kicked out of Luoyang and banished to the provinces.

"His Majesty has an order." ===== CHAPTER 982 =====