Although the power of the prime minister at this time had already been divided into pieces due to the group prime minister system, he no longer had the majesty of the past that was only half a position behind the king.
However, as long as three of the five prime ministers in Zhongshu work together, they will still be complete prime ministers with great power.
Besides, even if they are divided into five people, each of these five prime ministers is still a big shot who shakes the world. The status and power of each of them is much better than that of the six ministers.
It's not because the authority is much greater than that of the Six Ministers, but because in this position, if the status is high enough and the authority is great enough, many people will come to join him, and there will be more and more disciples and old officials.
It can be said that every prime minister represents a force in the court.
If they were prime ministers like Yang Jingzong and Zhang Jing who could be called a party, they would be even more powerful.
In Shen Yi's current position, even when facing Chen Jing, he has to be a little cautious. When facing five people at the same time, he has to carefully consider every word.
Shen Yi was a little surprised.
Because his matter is not big, he only needs to go through the process with Zhongshu, and there is no need to alarm the five prime ministers at the same time.
But now that Chen Jing had spoken, Shen Yi had no room to refuse and could only nod slightly to express his agreement.
After all, he was a second-ranked Jinshi, and now he is also a civil servant, so he still has to be managed by these old men.
Of course, Da Chen has used culture to control military affairs for many years. If he becomes a military general, he will be tightly controlled by these prime ministers.
Chen Jing said a few more words to Shen Yi. After a while, he stood up and left with his hands behind his back. He said, "Let's go to the council hall to talk."
Zhongshu Meeting Hall is the name of a house in Zhongshu Province, but at the same time it is more than just a name, it is more like a yamen and an institution.
Because not all the prime ministers are from Zhongshu Province, but as long as they enter the meeting hall, they are all prime ministers.
Just because the meeting hall was located in Zhongshu, they were called Zhongshu prime ministers.
Zhongshu Shen Yi has been here many times and has met several prime ministers. However, this is the first time for him to go to the meeting hall. Following Chen Jing, it didn't take long for Shen Yi to be taken to an inconspicuous room. in the room.
The furnishings in the room are very ordinary, and it looks no different from an ordinary living room. The only difference is that there are no host or guest seats in this room, only six chairs on the left and right sides.
After Chen Jing walked in, he found a chair and sat down. Mr. Shen looked at the only empty seat, but did not walk over.
Because he knew in his heart that he was not qualified to sit down yet.
Take a look around.
The five prime ministers Chen Jing, Xie Min, Yue Qian, Yu Fang, and Cui Yu have all arrived.
Shen Yi clasped his fists in front of everyone, lowered his head and said: "Shen Yi from the Ministry of War, pay homage to all the gentlemen."
Among the several prime ministers, only Prime Minister Xie Min was smiling. The other four prime ministers had no expression. Chen Jing coughed and said to Shen Yi: "Shilang Shen, I have some questions I want to ask you."
Shen Yi looked calm: "Just ask, Mr. Chen."
Chen Jing nodded and asked the first question: "Will the Huai'an army be defensive or offensive this year?"
The emperor's decree to Shen Yi had been sent to Zhongshu years ago, but the decree only stated that the Huai'an army should be expanded by 20,000. Moreover, Xu Shenyi acted expediently in Huai'an, and did not specify in the imperial decree whether to attack or defend.
The emperor did this naturally to avoid unnecessary trouble.
To put it bluntly, I just don’t want to argue with these old men.
Shen Yi frowned slightly, cupped his hands and said: "Mr. Chen, things on the battlefield are changing rapidly. The subordinates command the troops according to the orders, so they naturally adapt to changes."
As soon as he said these words, Prime Minister Cui Yu couldn't bear it anymore and asked, "What's the best way to deal with this?"
Shen Yi looked at the prime minister with whom he had the worst relationship without salt, and said calmly: "Prime Minister Cui, the so-called adaptability means making different changes and responses according to different situations."
"This is an idiom passed down from ancient times."
This sentence has a bit of a yin and yang flavor.
It is mocking Cui Yu for not studying.
Cui Yu was able to worship the prime minister because he was naturally a Jinshi. Moreover, the Cui family is a big family with hundreds of years of history. It has heirlooms of poetry and calligraphy and a long history of family learning. After hearing Shen Yi's words, his face immediately became ugly and he clapped his hands. At the tea table next to him, he said angrily: "What I'm asking is, what changes can the Huai'an army cope with!"
Shen Yi first looked at the other four prime ministers, then looked at Cui Yu, and said calmly: "Prime Minister Cui, the change of the Huai'an army is that the enemy attacks and we defend."
Shen Yi paused and continued: "If the enemy retreats, we will advance."
After hearing these four words, Cui Yu finally got the answer he wanted. He turned to look at Chen Jing and said, "Mr. Chen, you heard me."
Chen Jing nodded.
"Don't be anxious, Prime Minister Cui, ask clearly before talking."
He looked at Shen Yi again, took a deep breath, and asked, "Does Mr. Shen mean that the Huai'an army is going north this year?"
"If I have the chance, I will naturally go north."
Shen Yi looked at the prime ministers and asked calmly: "Don't you all agree with the Northern Expedition?"
This sentence made Chen Jing's heart skip a beat, and he quickly said: "It's not that I disagree."
During this period of time, the emperor put a lot of pressure on him as the prime minister, and as the battle on the front line went smoothly, the pressure became more and more intense. Now, Chen Jing, the prime minister, has had to change from a centrist to a Northern Expeditionist. .
To put it more bluntly.
If he doesn't change. This prime minister can no longer do his job.
After coughing, Chen Jing organized his words and said: "Senior Minister Shen, what the council means is that the national war between the two countries should not be started lightly. Now I, Chen Jing, have not made enough preparations to formally declare it in the imperial court." Before the Northern Expedition, the Huai'an army should not..."
"Not appropriate..."
The Prime Minister of Zhongshu seemed to be stuck. After stammering for a long time, he finally managed to utter one word: "Don't be too radical."
Shen Yi frowned again.
He was standing. When he heard the words, he looked at the crowd and said slowly: "Masters, I took over Huai'an in August of the year before last. It has been nearly a year and a half. In this year and a half, the Huai'an army and The people of Qi fought at war no less than ten times."
"In each of these ten times, Qi people took the lead and crossed the Huaihe River to attack our great Chen Huai'an Mansion."
"In one and a half years, the officers and soldiers of the Huai'an Army alone suffered more than 10,000 casualties. If the casualties of the Forbidden Army are included together, the number will exceed 20,000."
Having said this, Shen Yi was also a little annoyed and glared at Cui Yu.
"Do you think the Qi people are radical or not?!"
Cui Yu was a little angry and said angrily: "Shilang Shen, this is the meeting hall, you!"
Prime Minister Xie Min interrupted Cui Yu's words with a smile, and said: "Prime Minister Cui, I think it's okay for Minister Shen to speak. We invite people here to ask questions, so naturally we want him to speak."
"Yes or no?"
Chen Jing quickly answered and said to Shen Yi: "Don't get me wrong, Mr. Shen. The Qi people are extremely ambitious and hateful. As prime ministers, we all wish we could attack the Qi people immediately to settle the old grudges."
"It's just that we can't be careless in state affairs, and we must be even more cautious when the two countries are at war."
At this point, Chen Jing looked at Shen Yi's expression and did not continue. Instead, he said to Xie Min: "Xie Xiang, what do you want to say?"
Xie Min still had a smile on his face and said with a smile: "Shilang Shen, Prime Minister Chen and the others want to ask you if you will suffer a loss if you go north this year?"
"If the fighting becomes intense, will it provoke a national war and evolve into a war involving hundreds of thousands of people?"
"Thank you, Prime Minister."
Shen Yi said in a deep voice: "The council is worried about this and that."
"Why have the people of Qi been able to brazenly attack my country of Dachen for more than a year without any concern?"
"Are they not afraid that it will turn into a national war?"
Mr. Shen raised his head slightly, with some arrogance in his tone.
"Everyone should know that our Huai'an Army has never lost to the Qi people in more than a year. Since we are the winners in battles between both sides, it should not be our Huai'an Army's concern. Qi people are scrupulous!"
With a smile on his face, Xie Min turned to look at Chen Jing and said with a smile: "Mr. Chen, I'm done asking. Young people may be a little angry when they speak, so don't take it to heart."
Chen Jing sighed slightly.
At this time, it was useless for him to take it seriously. With Shen Yi's current status, the council could not easily move.
Prime Minister Chen turned to look at Yu Fang and Yue Qian, and asked, "Prime Minister Yu, does Prime Minister Yue have anything to say?"
The two prime ministers looked at each other and both said, "Mr. Xie has already asked us what we want to say."
Chen Jing looked at Cui Yu again.
Cui Yu snorted: "The young man is so angry because he has never suffered a loss. If he is alone, he will suffer a loss. It doesn't matter. Now he has a lot of troops..."
This was what he said to Xie Min.
Shen Yi looked calm: "If Prime Minister Cui has any objections to Xianguan's command of the army, he can write to His Majesty. It happens that Xianguan is tired after being outside for so many years, and he also wants to rest in Jiankang and be a civil servant for a few years to accompany him. Wife, children and young children.”
"If you can stay in Jiankang."
Shen Yi held up his hands and said calmly: "I will treat Cui Xiang to a good meal."
Cui Yu's voice became even more angry: "Have I spoken to you? There are no rules!"
Shen Yi did not back down: "Since Prime Minister Cui mentioned Xiaguan, why can't Xiaguan speak?"
Chen Jing lowered his head to take a sip of tea and looked at Shen Yi. Just as he was about to speak, a clerk walked in, lowered his head slightly and said, "Sir, Eunuch Gao is here."
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall eunuch dressed in purple walked in.
Several prime ministers stood up to greet him.
Eunuch Gao also saluted several prime ministers. After the ceremony, he looked at Chen Jing with a smile and said, "Prime Minister Chen, Your Majesty is going to summon Shi Lang Shen to the palace. I wonder if the matter here in Zhongshu is over?"
"If it's not over yet, our family will wait here for a while."
Chen Jing took out a breath and forced a smile on his face.
"It's over. Eunuch Gao, please excuse me."
"That's good."
Gao Ming turned around and looked at Shen Yi with a smile: "Shilang Shen, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace for questioning."
Shen Yi glanced at the five old men, then lowered his head slightly.
"minister…"
"As commanded."
(End of chapter)
