[The faces of several family heads changed drastically, and many of them even stood up. 】
[Clan Chief Gongsun: Lord Chief Assistant, why is this happening? Now that the disaster has been temporarily controlled, you have completed your duties to the court and can return to the capital to receive your merits. Why should you harm your own future for the sake of these victims? 】
[We will not take any of your gold. We will also give you a generous gift as your travel expenses back to Beijing. We hope that you will be kind enough to let us ordinary people live. 】
[We will never forget your kindness, and we will definitely send you generous gifts someday to help you take further steps. 】
[Several family heads also apologized and promised generous gifts, hoping that Zhou Zhenwen would show his favor. 】
"snort!"
"These local aristocratic families are simply a cancer to the country!"
"Without their interference, how could the famine in Qingzhou have reached this point?"
Empress Liang Zhao secretly cursed a few words, but she still quite approved of Zhou Zhenwen's actions of distributing all his family's wealth to help the victims.
Although this person is greedy for money and power, he still has his own principles on big issues of right and wrong.
[Zhou Zhenwen: Is your generous gift comparable to this one hundred thousand taels of gold? 】
[The head of the Gongsun clan gave a wry smile: Of course there is no comparison. 】
[Zhou Zhenwen: I can give up even one hundred thousand taels of gold, and even my position as chief minister of the cabinet. Can't you still see my determination? 】
[As soon as these words came out, all the family heads knew that there was no room for maneuver on this matter. 】
[After deliberation among several major families, they finally chose the first path and fully cooperated with Zhou Zhenwen to solve the famine in Qingzhou. 】
[Zhou Zhenwen also knew that simply distributing disaster relief food would not be a long-term solution, so he proposed a work-for-relief approach, allowing the victims to contribute to rebuilding houses, paving roads, renovating city walls, etc. 】
[With the help of Zhou Zhenwen’s series of measures and the help of several major families in Qingzhou, the famine in Qingzhou was completely resolved. 】
[Simulation completed...]
The infinite mist converged and the scattered light spots disappeared.
Empress Liang Zhao gradually woke up and looked at the familiar room, feeling quite like waking up from a dream.
She took a deep breath, exhaled a long breath, and sighed: "What a Zhou Zhenwen, what a chief minister of the cabinet, really good skills!"
Empress Liang Zhao also admired Zhou Zhenwen's method of forcing the Qingzhou aristocratic families.
Using the chief minister of the cabinet and ten thousand taels of gold as a bet to force the Qingzhou family to compromise, with such courage, it is no wonder that Zhou Zhenwen, at the age of less than 30 years old, can overpower the other cabinet bachelors and become the chief minister of the cabinet and the leader of the Tsing Yi Party. .
Empress Liang Zhao turned her gaze to the late emperor's letter in her hand, looked at the evidence of Zhou Zhenwen's crime on it, smiled softly, shook her head, and murmured: "This Zhou Zhenwen's control over human nature is really amazing. He obviously brought dozens of boxes and prepared a complete plan. , but he just pretended to be in ruins, forcing the Qingzhou family to bow? Interesting..."
Although Empress Liang Zhao didn't see what was in these boxes?
But she could guess a thing or two.
In addition to the necessary ten thousand taels of gold, they must also carry firearms, crossbows and other military control equipment. Once the Qingzhou family refuses to compromise or has different intentions, Empress Liang Zhao believes that the chief minister will lead the army without hesitation. The army went on a conquest and killed one to serve as a warning to hundreds.
As long as the famine in Qingzhou can be solved, Empress Liang Zhao believes that the chief minister will do anything.
After all, he dared to risk his life and wealth, and he could give up his position as chief assistant and ten thousand taels of gold. What else would he be afraid of?
"Your Majesty, it's time for morning court..."
The eunuch knocked lightly on the door and fanned the door and reminded in a low voice.
"What time is it?"
Empress Liang Zhao's voice immediately became low and extremely calm.
"Your Majesty, it's almost time..." the eunuch responded.
It turned out that only half an hour had passed... Empress Liang Zhao pushed open the door and walked towards the Jinluan Palace in large strides.
The big eunuch quickly followed.
…
In the Jinluan Hall, hundreds of officials gathered.
Arranged according to rank and status, the civil and military factions were divided into two factions, the civil and military factions were on the left and the martial arts on the right, whispering to each other.
"It seems a little late today..."
"Your Majesty, why haven't you come out yet? It's almost midnight?"
"Yes, it should end before the normal morning meeting?"
"There won't be a court meeting today? Shouldn't it be? If the court meeting is cancelled, we should have informed you in advance."
…
Listening to the whispers of the officials, Zhou Zhenwen's expression remained as usual, without any change.
Zhou Zhenwen was not interested in their discussion.
At this moment, a cough suddenly sounded.
"Ahem!"
All the officials immediately became quiet, and they all turned their attention to the gauze curtain behind the dragon chair. Looking at the blurry figure behind the curtain, they did not dare to make any more mistakes.
Although the emperor has reached adulthood, the empress dowager still controls the court and is unwilling to completely delegate power. She has always used her own influence to influence the situation in the court.
Zhou Zhenwen squinted slightly, looking at the woman behind the gauze curtain, and murmured in her heart: "Why is this Queen Mother paying so much attention to her unwillingness to release her power?"
"Are you worried about the little emperor's ability?"
"Or is there any other additional purpose?"
Zhou Zhenwen always felt that there was something wrong with the empress dowager. According to the ancient system, empress dowagers in the past dynasties would delegate power to the emperor after the emperor came of age, allowing the emperor to govern and handle government affairs by himself.
In an era when the empress dowager did not delegate power, the emperor was equivalent to a puppet.
In the history of Zhou Zhenwen's previous life, there was a female emperor who reigned for 24 years and reigned for 15 years.
"Is it possible that the Empress Dowager is not satisfied with being the Empress Dowager and wants to go one step further and become the Empress?"
Zhou Zhenwen had a guess in his mind and decided to resolve the issue of the Empress Dowager's appointment as soon as possible and further control the situation in the court. It would be best to restore the prime minister system and completely dominate the family, becoming a powerful and unequivocal existence.
Nowadays, although the cabinet has great power and can handle government affairs, the final decision to deliver the red is still up to the emperor. The empress dowager takes charge of the court, so the power to wear the red is naturally firmly in her hands.
The Empress Dowager disagreed, and many policies could not be implemented unless the jade seal was stamped.
In order to solve the matter, Zhou Zhenwen had to cooperate with Wei Xian, the eunuch of Bingbi, to control part of the power of approving the red party. Only then could he overpower the Qingliu Party, Yan Party, Wang Party and other parties.
The cooperation between Zhou Zhenwen and Bingbi eunuch Wei Xian was also called the cooperation between the Tsing Yi Party and the Eunuch Party by many officials in the capital.
Many court officials who pride themselves on being clean and honest scorned what Zhou Zhenwen did, believing that he would do whatever it took to achieve his goals, and that he was willing to collude with the eunuchs, which was simply ruining the reputation of scholars.
Zhou Zhenwen didn't care about this. He was originally from the treacherous minister system, but he was not a clear prime minister or a loyal minister system. What did he need to have a clear name?
At this moment, a voice came from outside the hall.
"Your Majesty has arrived..."
