The Great Dragon Emperor Li Zheng was sitting high on the dragon chair, looking majestically at the civil and military officials below: "Dear sirs, besides the issue of the Yanzhou locust plague, do you have any other memorials?"
The civil and military ministers of the DPRK and China looked at each other, and Duan Wang Li Yang came out of the queue and stood in the atrium: "Your Majesty, I have a report to report."
Li Zheng frowned and looked at his brother Duan Wang Li Yang, who was a compatriot from the same mother's side: "Quickly played, what did King Duan say?"
Duanwang Li Yang took out a memorial from his sleeve: "Reporting to your majesty, a locust plague occurred in Yanzhou. The locusts passed through the border and no grass grew. Now the people of Yanzhou must be in dire straits. I sincerely ask your majesty to open warehouses to provide relief. Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, is responsible. Holy grace, in vain and without concern for the safety of the people, concealed the news of the locust plague in Yanzhou, causing many people in the Dalong Dynasty to starve to death on the streets. My brother thought that he should immediately issue an order to dismiss the governor of Yanzhou from his post and investigate, as a warning to others. The details have been stated one by one in the memorial, please check it."
Li Zheng motioned to the eunuch on the side: "Send it up." The eunuch immediately walked down the dragon ladder and took the memorial from Li Yang and presented it to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, memorial."
Li Zheng looked through the memorial in his hand carefully, and the more he read, the more his brows furrowed. Then he looked at Prince Duan: "Ma Tailai, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, is responsible for disaster relief matters, and Yu Tonghao, the doctor of the Ministry of War, will be appointed as the governor of Yanzhou?"
King Duan saluted: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am only responsible for recommendation. As for how to deal with me, I will not interfere. Your Majesty knows it clearly."
Li Zheng glanced at the ministers who only knew how to look at the eyes, nose and nose, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "What do you all think of King Duan's memorial? Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, was dismissed on the spot for investigation, and the Minister of Household Affairs was responsible for providing food and salary for disaster relief. Do you have any objections to the appointment of a doctor from the Ministry of War as the governor of Yanzhou?"
A middle-aged man in a purple official robe standing at the head of the row on the left stood up, holding a ceremonial wat in his hand, "Your Majesty, please think twice and have any objections. I have my original intention to report."
"Oh, what do you want the Prime Minister to say? It's accurate!"
"Reporting to your majesty, although Yanzhou is a lower state in Shanxi Prefecture, our government stipulates that the governor of Xiazhou is ranked in the third, lower and fourth grades. Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, was a Jinshi who was a distinguished scholar for thirty-seven years when the late emperor was in power. He is quite qualified. Deep, and he is an honest official, ranking in the fourth rank. Taizu's decree stated that officials above the fourth rank must go through a joint examination of three divisions, and only after finding out the evidence can they be convicted. Now what King Duan said is to directly dismiss Luo Governor on the spot and investigate. It is not in compliance with the legal system. I advise that the governor of Yanzhou be escorted back to Beijing safely, and that the evidence will be complete after a joint trial by the three departments before handling it."
Li Zheng nodded: "What the Right Prime Minister said is true. This is the rule set by Taizu. The trials of officials above the fourth rank must be verified by three divisions before they can be convicted. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, I have a memorial from Wei Yong."
"Wei Aiqing also has a plan to play? It's accurate."
"It is difficult to make a conclusion whether Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, is guilty for the time being. As the Right Prime Minister said, he needs to be tried by three divisions before he can be convicted. I have no objection. However, in the memorial of King Duan, he recommended the Minister of Hubu to relieve the disaster, and Yu Tonghao, the doctor of the Ministry of War, took up the post. The governor of Yanzhou has objections. The appointment and removal of officials must be reviewed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, let alone the official of a state's frontier. Such an easy decision can be concluded based on only one memorial. This is irresponsible to the people of Yanzhou. Please be clear to your majesty."
"Your Majesty, I have my report, Xia Gongming."
"Master Imperial Envoy, do you also have a report?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I impeach King Duan Li Yang in vain, in vain to respect the patriarchal laws and etiquette, and to bring chaos to the imperial court."
Duanwang Li Yang's face was gloomy, and he turned slightly sideways and stared hard at Xia Gongming, the imperial emissary who was out of the queue. The imperial emissary was responsible for checking all the behaviors of the officials in the court. He had heard that he was responsible for making trouble. He didn't expect that he would be burned today. to yourself.
Li Zheng rolled his eyes: "Oh? Why did Xia Aiqing say this? Prince Duan is committed to disaster relief and solving my problems. How can he ignore the patriarchal etiquette and bring trouble to the court?"
"Reporting to your majesty, the Taizu of our dynasty ordered that the harem and eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics. Up to the princes and prefectures, except for the prince, the Li family members have titles but no power. If they exceed the limit, they will be beheaded. Prince Duan is the prince. According to etiquette If you interfere in the government's affairs and recommend officials, you will exceed the regulations and you will be executed for the crime. Your Majesty, please remove the title of King Duan and take him to Tianlao. The clan government will review and record the evidence and ask for execution after the fall."
All civil and military officials in the dynasty looked at Xia Gongming, the imperial censor standing in the middle, in shock. They did not expect that he would actually say such words. It was not the emperor's final decision whether King Duan should exceed the rules or not. Now he has brought out Taizu's order. , This completely cuts off King Duan’s retreat. Xia Gongming, you are really fair and wise.
Prince Duan was frightened and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, I am aware that I am just trying to solve your problems for Your Majesty, and I will never do anything beyond the rules. Xia Gongming, the old thief, is framed by me. I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."
Li Zheng looked troubled: "Xia Aiqing, Prince Duan also has good intentions. It was an unintentional act. I think it's better to forget it."
"Your Majesty, the rule of law is the rule of law. As an imperial envoy, this is my duty. Good intentions and unintentional actions are both overstepping the rules. Please follow Taizu's order, remove the title of King Duan, and escort him to Tianlao."
The censors behind Xia Gongming looked at each other and decided to follow the boss. As the censors were destined to do so, they knelt down one after another: "Your Majesty, please execute the order, cut off the king's title, and go to the prison."
Li Zheng felt dizzy for a while: "Xia Aiqing, I want to..."
"Reporting to your majesty, I am admonishing you, Emperor Li Zheng, have you forgotten the etiquette of your ancestors? Forgetting your ancestors for too many times is unfilial, and ignoring rewards and punishments is unfaithful. Li Zheng, do you want to be a foolish emperor?" Xia Gongming is nearly sixty years old. He was old, his beard and hair were all white, and he looked at the emperor sitting high on the dragon throne with sharp eyes.
Li Zheng's face turned purple, and he looked at the imperial censor, one of the few veterans left by the late emperor, with an atmosphere. He wanted to point his nose at him and scold him, but he was afraid that he would scold him away accidentally. After all, Wuliu He is already ten years old. Seventy years of life are rare in ancient times. It is rare for an official to criticize him. Besides, Xia Gongming is indeed right to seek political power in his position. The duty of the imperial envoy is to inspect all officials.
"I, Duke Xia, would like to request your majesty to cut off the king's title and send him to the prison."
Seeing the upright Xia Gongming, Li Zheng sighed and said: "It is decreed that King Duan ignores the ancestral etiquette and exceeds the control of court affairs. From now on, he will be demoted to a county king and will not be allowed to go to court for a month. I admire this."
King Duan glanced at Xia Gongming fiercely, wishing to kill the old man, but Li Zheng had already issued the decree and did not dare to refute: "I thank the Lord for your kindness."
"Xia Aiqing, you have nothing to say, I have already issued an order, you can't let me change it overnight."
The imperial censor kowtowed and stood up. Just because he is upright does not mean that he does not understand etiquette. A king cannot change his orders overnight. The matter is a foregone conclusion. If he continues to be forced, he does not know how to commend himself.
Li Zheng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the imperial envoy doctor returning to his original place. It would really be a headache if Xia Gongming continued to remonstrate with death. This is why Xia Gongming dared to call the emperor Gao by his first name but still remained firmly in his position. The reason is that those who understand Dali, know how to advance and retreat, and criticize ministers are good critics. If you are really stubborn, you will die countless times.
Moreover, Li Zheng needs a veteran like Xia Gongming, who has deep qualifications and lives up to his reputation. Sometimes Xia Gongming is indeed a good sword.
