There are still more than ten days until the Great Court Meeting. After the Great Court Meeting, it will be the fourth year of Qin II, and this body should be eighteen years old.
It was a crisp autumn day in September, and it was quite cool in the Sihai Palace. Even the reports on the table looked much more pleasing to the eye.
I glanced at the morning meeting and suddenly realized that Feng Jie was not here.
After returning to Sihai Palace and asking Qi Wan, he found out that Feng Jie had taken leave.
"I got sick?"
Qi Wan responded: "Your Majesty, it is Marquis Huyi's condition that has worsened, and Prime Minister Zuo has gone back to take care of Marquis Huyi."
I stopped the pen in my hand: "Is it serious?"
"It is said that I asked the imperial physician Su He to take a look. I'm afraid..."
I frowned, thought for a moment, put down the pen and report in my hand, stood up and walked towards the side hall.
"Prepare the car and go to Huyi."
Not long after, the motorcade left Xianyang Palace.
All you see along the way are people busy with the autumn harvest. Now that the court situation is stable and Huyi is only fifty miles away from Xianyang, there is no big fanfare to clear out pedestrians along the way.
Guanzhong is rich, especially around Xianyang. The Wei River meanders through it and there are few natural disasters. The millet in the fields on the roadside has been harvested, and most of them are children picking up the leftover grains, as well as farmers who have begun to cultivate millet. Nowadays, with the new agricultural tools, it is more convenient to obtain cattle in Guanzhong than in other places, and the speed of harvesting and farming is much faster.
When the fields were being plowed, there was a woman leading an ox in front, and a man holding a plow behind. The plow used was an improved curved shaft plow. On the edge of the field, several children are catching grasshoppers and cutting grass. The former is used to feed chickens and ducks, and the latter can feed cattle and sheep. The younger children stuck their buttocks out and had fun jumping up and down following the cries of the crickets.
Further away, there are many scattered villages. There are several tall waterwheels between the villages. Below them are water-powered mills built. Some people are repairing the roofs. Compared with the dilapidated houses seen in Longxi and Sishui, these houses are much better. I think other places in Daqin have also improved.
Looking into the distance, the majestic Qinling Mountains are like a giant green dragon lying across the golden land of Guanzhong, with no end in sight forward and backward.
"Autumn enters the Yunshan Mountains, and everything is in a natural and unrestrained mood. All kinds of scenery are worthy of pictures."
The land of Guanzhong in autumn is even more impressive. The clouds and mountains in Zhang's eyes are like paintings.
When I arrived at the Houyi Mansion, I looked up and saw that it was only half the size of Li Xin's Longxi Mansion.
Feng Jie was waiting at the door. Qi Wan had already sent someone to inform him first.
Seeing my car arriving, he quickly stepped forward and saluted, his voice a little hoarse.
"Join Your Majesty!"
I stepped forward and gave him some support.
"Prime Minister Feng, there is no need to be polite. This Houyi Mansion is a bit too simple."
Feng Jie squeezed out a smile on his tired face: "This was originally Chen's hometown. After my father came back, he only changed the plaque and did not carry out any major construction work to repair the yard."
I nodded and sighed softly: "Marquis Huyi has worked hard for the Qin Dynasty all his life and lives such a simple life. He is really a minister of the Qin Dynasty!"
Feng Jie turned sideways and saluted: "Thank you, Your Majesty. Come into the house quickly."
I stepped in and Feng Jie followed behind me.
"Let's go see Hou Yi."
Feng Jie raised his hand to signal, and the housekeeper leading the way turned around and walked towards the inner courtyard with a few people.
As soon as I arrived at the door, a strong smell of bitter medicine hit my lungs and spleen. I frowned slightly. It seemed that Feng Quji was really seriously ill.
Entering the house, Feng Quji was lying on the bed, and his wife Bai Yunying was wiping his cheeks with sweat breaking out on his face.
Seeing me arriving, Bai Yunying quickly stood up and bowed slightly, her pale face expressionless.
"I have met His Majesty."
I nodded. I personally killed her brother Bai Tu. I don’t know what she thinks of me.
"No need to be polite."
Over there, Feng Quji struggled to get up, and Bai Yunying and Feng Jie quickly stepped forward to help him.
I took two quick steps and said comfortingly: "Marquis Huyi, don't get up, lie down quickly."
Feng Quji nodded weakly as a salute.
"Thank you, Your Majesty..."
Then Bai Yunying retreated, leaving only the three of us in the room.
I sat down on the couch. Feng Quji had white hair, a thin face, and only skin and bones left in his body. Even so, he was still sweating.
"Old minister... What virtues and abilities does this old minister have? Let Your Majesty come to visit you personally. Old minister... I would like to thank Your Majesty... ahem..."
I quickly waved my hand to signal him to stop talking.
"The Marquis of Huyi has worked hard for the Qin Dynasty all his life. Now he is seriously ill. How can I abandon him? I have ordered Su He to find a solution. The Marquis of Huyi can rest in peace."
Feng Quji coughed twice more, and Feng Jie fed him some of the decoction beside him, which made him feel better.
"Jie'er, please go out. I have something to report to Your Majesty alone."
Feng Jie glanced at me worriedly. I signaled that I wouldn't let him talk for too long, and then Feng Jie bowed and left.
Feng Quji relaxed for a moment and showed a long-lost smile.
"Your Majesty, when a person is about to die, his words are also good. There are some things that I will not say now, for fear that I will have no chance. I hope your Majesty will give you permission."
I nodded: "For me, Marquis Huyi's words have always been loyal and good words, but there is no harm in saying them."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"The first is Feng Jie. Thanks to His Majesty's grace, he was made the Prime Minister of the Left. But although Feng Jie is thirty years old, his temperament is not stable enough and he is not as good at handling political affairs as other ministers in the court. Therefore, I ask for your Majesty's permission to remove him. The position of Prime Minister Zuo!"
I was slightly stunned, not expecting Feng Quji to make this request. Everyone said that the King of Qin was ungrateful. Wang Jian, Wang Ben, Wei Liao, and furthermore Fan Ju, Wei Ran, and Zhang Yi, all those who held great power in the Qin State, either retreated bravely or died in depression.
I smiled bitterly in my heart. It seemed that Feng Quji also understood this.
"Li Si alone cannot handle many issues such as the Western Regions, the Huns, and corruption. I will consider Marquis Eyi's suggestions after the government is stabilized."
Feng Quji is already like this. You should agree to him first and then talk about it. Don't argue for a long time and make his condition worse.
Feng Quji nodded. If I didn't agree, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. He would just say it.
"The other is Li Si." Feng Quji frowned: "Originally, I shouldn't have said this, but seeing that your majesty is diligent and caring for the people, our Daqin is quite prosperous, so I still want to remind your majesty. Li Si, a capable minister. , veteran ministers are no better. But there is only one step between a capable minister and a powerful minister. A capable minister is good at doing good things, and a powerful minister is good at the party. If a capable minister starts to form a party for personal gain, the monarch will be in danger."
I nodded, with a solemn look: "The Marquis of Yiyi reminded me well. I have recently felt that Li Sinai is a capable minister and official, and he can be used easily. But if I rely too much on him, I am afraid that he will eventually become a powerful minister due to his character. But now the court There is no one available among them, and those I promoted are still young and cannot be used in a big way. Does the Marquis of Huyi have any good ideas?"
Feng Quji calmed his mind, took a long breath, and smiled with difficulty: "My words have already offended Li Si. If your Majesty really wants to listen, I may offend the emperor's spirit in heaven."
My eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that Feng Quji had finally come to the core issue.
