Purple Chen Hall in Bianliang, Tokyo. Qinbei Pavilion
In the middle of the Zichen Hall, on a vermilion lacquer square platform, Emperor Zhao Ji sits on a gold lacquer withered dragon throne, with a dragon screen behind him. There are six tall dragon-like golden pillars on both sides of the square platform, with a vigorous golden dragon coiled around each pillar. .
Below are officials wearing purple, red, and cyan official robes. Each of them wears a long-winged official hat, holding a court board, and standing with his head bowed.
"If you have something to do, you will leave early. If you have nothing to do, you will roll up the curtain and leave the court."
The palace official beside Zhao Ji took a few steps forward and shouted in a high-pitched voice. The duck's voice echoed in the Zichen Palace.
At this time, Zhao Ji was a little absent-minded. He was thinking about the article he wrote last night, but now that he thinks about it, he seems to be missing something.
"I still need to discuss it with Cai Jing! It would be perfect if my handwriting had a little more muscle!"
Zhao Ji silently thought in his heart that Cai Jing's calligraphy was also unparalleled in the world. As he got older, he became more and more calm, cheerful and strong. It seemed that he would have to learn more about calligraphy from Cai Jing.
"Your Majesty, the Jeju Prefecture has urgently reported that there are evil thieves such as Sun Lei entrenched near Liangshanshuibo, and the people have suffered greatly. Not long ago, the thieves broke into Qinghe County and committed crimes in public. The Jeju Prefecture has insufficient troops to subdue them. I hope your Majesty will soon Send out heavenly troops to suppress thieves and save the people from the hands of thieves and bandits.”
An official came out to announce.
"Why is he a thief again? How can there be so many thieves in this world?"
Zhao Ji said irritably, his ears were on fire hearing about the thieves. The thieves have not stopped making troubles in the years since he came to the throne. There are thieves here and there. Last month, he said that the thieves in Jiangnan were making trouble. , broke the county government's murder of officials, and also asked him to send troops to suppress it.
"Tell me, why are there so many thieves!"
The more Zhao Ji thinks about it, the angrier he becomes. Suppressing thieves is a trivial matter, but every time he mobilizes troops and horses, he needs a lot of money and food. This is cutting off his flesh. His "Long Live Mountain" has not been completed yet, and what he lacks is money.
"Your Majesty, there are endless thieves in the world. Corrupt officials are running rampant, and they have plundered so much that the people have no way to live. I hope that your Majesty will forgive you and be merciful, and save punishment and taxes, so as to bring peace to all the people!"
One of the censors came out to play the sermon.
"Nonsense, is it true that the world is full of corrupt officials, and you are the only one who is an upright official? Thieves have been around since ancient times. These thieves are all treasonous and unruly people, and they should be cut into pieces with thousands of swords to frighten the world."
Gao Qiu originally wanted to keep quiet because the emperor had forgotten who Sun Lei was and thought he was just a local thief, but the censor actually followed the emperor's words, which made him unhappy. The emperor could forget about his Gao Qiu. These officials cannot forget the blood feud they seek. If they don't speak out, they will be ridiculed.
"Lieutenant Gao, we have destroyed so many bandits in this dynasty. Isn't it true that every time a thief is broken up, he is punished according to the canon? But how has the bandit trouble ever subsided?"
Zhao Ding, the admonishing doctor, spoke.
"What do you mean, you want to speak for the thieves?"
Gao Qiu stared at Zhao Ding. He had already seen the suppressed smiling faces of the civil servants.
"Lieutenant Gao, I'm just discussing the matter. The thieves will never stop."
Zhao Dingyi said sternly that his advice had no selfish motives. Banditry would only become worse if it was purely based on killing.
"Then what do you think we should do?"
Gao Qiu looked at Zhao Ding fiercely and asked.
"Recruitment!"
Zhao Ding's answer was very simple, just two words.
"Recruitment?"
The originally quiet officials began to whisper among themselves, their slender hat wings swaying from side to side in confusion.
"Recruitment? Those are rebel traitors. I heard that the traitor set up a government office by the waterside, built a town, and trained troops and horses. This time, Jeju's two thousand soldiers and horses led a regiment to train envoys, arrest envoys, and inspect the princes. They have all been captured by thieves, and it is well known to everyone that these thieves are rebellious, so you want to recruit them too?"
Gao Qiu made it clear directly that these civil servants were protecting each other. It was said that the local and state governments failed to do their best, but in fact they failed miserably.
"There are still such evil thieves, how long will it take if we don't suppress them?"
Zhao Ji also thought of Sun Lei at this time. Isn't this the same Sun Lei who killed Gao Yanei and turned Tokyo upside down last year? His nickname is the Monkey King.
"Your Majesty, the war in the north is about to begin. The annual coins required by Liao and Xixia have increased sharply this year. Border defense is urgent. Tokyo really has no soldiers, horses, and food to adjust!"
Lieutenant Su said as he left his shift.
With these words, Zhao Ji immediately gave up the idea of sending troops to annihilate Liangshan. Compared with Liao and Xixia, a grass bandit in a pond is nothing. Thinking of the lions of Liao and Xixia this year, Zhao Ji felt depressed for a while. Why is the world like this? What a troublesome thing, he just wants to write, paint, recite poems, make rocks in the "Long Live Mountain", and find some beauties to pamper his concubines. This is the life he wants.
"Your Majesty, actually there is another benefit to recruiting people."
Seeing that the emperor had given up the idea of sending troops, Lieutenant Su continued.
"Oh? What's the benefit?"
Zhao Ji became interested after hearing the benefits. What benefits could a grassroots copycat have?
"Your Majesty, the war in the north is urgent and we are in need of those who are fierce and willing to die. These grass bandits are a disaster in the local area. If they are recruited to the court, they can resist foreign enemies, just like the previous ten military envoys. There are many capable people among the people. , if it is brought back to the imperial court, it will be a blessing to His Majesty and a blessing to the world!"
Lieutenant Su said.
"These are traitors, and their intentions are clear. If we let them go, there will be others who come after us, and they must be severely punished!"
A Chengxuan envoy behind Gao Qiu spoke.
"During the time of Emperor Taizu, there were bandits in Changzhou and Runzhou. Zhao Taizu sent Liu Kai to deal with the bandits. After Liu Kai arrived, he used two methods to appease the bandits. On the one hand, he gave money and on the other hand, he gave his clothes to the bandits. The leader, and let the thieves stay with him - to show respect and trust for others. In just half a year, there were no thieves in the two states, and Liu Kai was promoted to the supervisory censor by Taizu. "
"Later, there were bandits near Tokyo who often harassed the people. So Taizu issued an order to absolve them of the crime and promised not to kill them, so these people immediately accepted it. In order to show their trust and attention to them, Taizu not only gave them They were given money and clothes, and they were promoted to officials. During the Zhenzong and Renzong periods, thieves and bandits were often recruited."
"Your Majesty's decree is to bring peace and harmony to our ancestors' benevolent and righteous way of governing the country. When the thieves and bandits in the world hear this, they will be ashamed and disperse."
Zhao Ding began to introduce allusions to the kings of the Song Dynasty. With these examples, it was easy to convince the emperor.
Zhao Ji was somewhat moved after hearing this. He could solve the bandit troubles without spending a single soldier, money or food. It also allowed the bandits to guard the border and defend the country. This was a good thing that killed three birds with one stone.
"Your Majesty! I am suffering! My son died miserably!"
At this moment, Gao Qiu suddenly fell to the ground and cried loudly, showing no trace of the manners of a third-in-command officer.
"Gao Aiqing, what are you doing?"
Zhao Ji looked at the crying Gao Qiu and said helplessly. Thinking of how diligent Gao Qiu was in his daily service, and thinking that Sun Lei was Gao Qiu's son-killing enemy, he couldn't agree to the order to recruit him.
The officials in the court looked at Gao Qiu, who had no manners on the ground, with expressions of contempt. However, if Gao Qiu interfered with the recruitment matter, it was considered a crime. All the officials had to admit that this rogue and idle man's tricks were in the court. It really works in the hall, but it's a pity that no one here can be as shameless as Gao Qiu, regardless of appearance and decency.
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