Liu Mingzhi picked up the ink pen that had been dipped in the tray in front of him, and under the gazes of the civil and military officials and Wei Yong, he wrote down the three positions of first assistant, second assistant, and second assistant on three pieces of rice paper.
Putting down the ink pen, Liu Mingzhi held up the three pieces of rice paper with official positions written on them in his hand and gestured to the civil and military officials in the palace, then slowly folded them and hid them behind his back.
"Xia Lao Aiqing, Wei Aiqing, Tong Aiqing!"
The three people came out with different expressions. Wei Yong and Tong Sansi had a touch of excitement in their eyes.
On the contrary, although Xia Gongming, the imperial censor, had also become one of the candidates to be elected as the chief minister of the cabinet, instead of being excited at all, there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
"I'm here!"
Liu Mingzhi raised the three paper balls in his hand and slowly passed them in front of the three people.
"Three old dear friends, you are all the pillars of the court. There is almost no distinction between your talents and virtues. Most of them are in the middle of the pack.
Regardless of whether I appoint any of you as the chief minister of the cabinet, the other two dear ministers will think that I am biased.
Then I will leave it to God to decide on the choice of the first chief minister of the cabinet.
Which of you can draw the note of the chief minister of the cabinet among the three slips and serve as the first chief minister, it can only depend on God's will.
How about you three veterans discuss who will be the first to draw lots! "
"this........"
The three of them looked at each other with a faint look of excitement in their eyes, but no one was the first to stand up.
It's obviously a move, but I don't want to lose my style.
"Since the three old ladies can't make up their minds for a while, I might as well decide it for you!
Liu Song! "
"Master?"
"You then write down the three numbers one, two and three in front of all your ministers, and let the three beauties draw lots to decide who will be the first to draw the secret lot in my hand."
"yes!"
After a while, Liu Song held up three folded and messed up rice papers and smiled at Xia Gongming and the others.
"Three elders, please!"
Xia Gongming and the other two looked at each other, and Wei Yong extended his hand to signal: "Xia Yushi, you are my senior, please come!"
Xia Gongming glanced at Tong Sansi, who had no objection on his face, and without any hesitation, he was the first to raise his hand and take out a piece of rice paper from Liu Song's hand.
The three pieces of rice paper were divided up in an instant, and Xia Gongming and the others opened the rice paper in their hands with different thoughts.
Wei Yong suppressed the excitement in his heart and raised the rice paper in his hand: "Your Majesty, I am one!"
Tong Sansi also raised the note in his hand with a complicated expression: "Your Majesty, Second Minister!"
"Your Majesty, I am three!"
Liu Mingzhi nodded calmly: "Fair and fair, since Wei Aiqing has won one, he should be the first to draw the secret lot in my hand!"
As Liu Mingzhi spoke, his hands hidden behind his back shook slightly, and he placed the three paper balls in his hands in front of Wei Yong.
Wei Yong's palm trembled slightly as he hovered over Liu Mingzhi's palm. After hesitating for a long time, he finally took the paper ball in the middle of Liu Mingzhi's hand and subconsciously opened it.
Liu Mingzhi hurriedly raised his hand to stop Wei Yong's movement.
"My dear, wait a minute. It will be better for the three of you to present your official positions to all your ministers together later."
The moment Liu Mingzhi spoke, he lowered his right hand and moved vaguely. The officials' eyes were also curious about what official position Wei Yong had been awarded. They kept focusing on Wei Yong and did not notice Liu Mingzhi's movements.
Wei Yong was startled for a moment, then nodded excitedly and uneasily.
"Yes, yes, I obey the order."
Liu Mingzhi raised the remaining two paper balls in his hand and looked at Tong Sansheng: "Tong Aiqing, it's your turn next!"
"yes!"
Tong Sansi looked at the only two paper balls left in Liu Mingzhi's hand, raised his hand with the same hesitation, and finally picked up the paper ball on the right side of Liu Mingzhi's hand.
"Your Majesty, the veteran has made his choice!"
Liu Mingzhi nodded with a slight smile, laughed and handed the last paper ball in his hand to Xia Gongming.
While laughing, his cuffs moved slightly, his movements so subtle and quick that almost no one noticed.
Xia Gongming took the paper ball offered by Liu Mingzhi with a complicated expression.
Liu Mingzhi slapped his palms a few times and climbed up to the dragon platform at a fast pace. He picked up the herbal tea on the dragon table and took a sip. He smiled and nodded to the excited and hesitant Wei Yong and the others.
"My dear friends, please!
Show your answers directly to the ministers, so that they can witness the future first minister of the cabinet! "
"I obey the order!"
The three of them suppressed the excitement and uneasiness in their hearts and silently opened the papers in their hands.
"Jisuke?"
"Jisuke?"
"Chief Assistant!"
The first two surprised and slightly doubtful voices came from the mouths of Wei Yong and Tong Sansi, and the latter surprised and sonorous voice naturally came from Xia Gongming's mouth.
The smile in Liu Mingzhi's eyes flashed away, and he looked at Xia Gongming with pretense of surprise: "Old Xia Aiqing, did you get the first assistant?"
Xia Gongming reacted, holding the rice paper in his hand and looking around at the officials, then turned around and saluted Liu Mingzhi.
"Reporting to your Majesty, I am lucky enough to have been selected as the chief minister of the cabinet."
Liu Mingzhi walked down the dragon stage with a slight frown, reached for the rice paper in Xia Gongming's hand, stared at it for a while and said softly: "You were the last to draw lots, but you won the official position of chief minister of the cabinet.
It seems that God is helping you! "
Liu Mingzhi's slightly furrowed expression and his neither salty nor bland words seemed to make Bai Guan feel uncomfortable.
Isn't it that His Majesty doesn't want to see Mr. Xia win the position of Chief Minister of the Cabinet?
Involuntarily, Baiguan suddenly recalled in his mind the humiliating and abusive behavior of Mr. Xia towards Liu Mingzhi when he rebelled and entered the palace.
Could it be that His Majesty has not truly let go of those things in the past?
Even Wei Yong, who was depressed, came back to his senses. Looking at Liu Mingzhi's face, they had the same thoughts as Bai Guan, and they had similar thoughts.
Liu Mingzhi stared at the rice paper in silence for a moment, then returned the rice paper to Xia Gongming with a faint smile.
"Dear ministers, the first chief assistant of the cabinet is Xia Gongming, the imperial censor.
Now that Xia Aiqing has served as the chief assistant of the cabinet, the position of imperial censor... should be held concurrently for the time being, and he will leave the post later when a suitable candidate is found. "
"This... I obey my order."
"Wei Aiqing, Tong Aiqing, from now on you must assist Mr. Xia in handling government affairs.
Don't deliberately hold back Mr. Xia just because you didn't serve as the first chief minister of the cabinet!
After all, the position of chief minister of the cabinet is determined by yourselves by drawing lots. If you are in bad luck, you cannot be unwilling to do so and deliberately neglect your duties.
Otherwise, once important responsibilities related to people's livelihood and official administration arise, don't blame me for not remembering old feelings and deal with them in accordance with the law! "
"I dare not, but obey the Holy Word."
"I believe in the character of these two old ladies.
Dear ministers, you have not yet met the first chief minister of the cabinet! "
"I'll wait for you to see the Chief Assistant. Your Majesty is wise!"
"My colleagues do not need to be polite. From now on, I and my colleagues will serve the country and govern the country together. If there are any shortcomings, I hope that your colleagues will not take offense."
"We don't dare, thank you, Mr. Chief Assistant."
"My lords, the Cabinet Office is in the Wen'an Hall on the east side of the Qinzheng Hall. When you finish busy with the government affairs at hand, you can start instructing the imperial guards to help you move all the expenses of the office there."
"I obey the order!"
"The first and second assistants have been decided, and I will make my own decision for these five assistants.
Sun Aiqing, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Pan Aiqing, the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Yue Aiqing, the left minister of the Ministry of War, Guan Aiqing, the young minister of Dali Temple, Li Baihong, the prince of Qing, the young minister of the Zongren Mansion, and Cai Aiqing, the honorary minister. "
Except for King Qing Li Baihong, the other four people came out with excited expressions: "I'm waiting!"
Li Baihong was stunned for a while before he realized what he was doing. He walked to the middle holding the jade wat and looked at Liu Mingzhi who was smiling lightly with complex eyes and astonishment.
"I'm here!"
"The five of you are temporarily serving as the first assistants to the cabinet. I hope that you will be loyal to the country and do your best to assist the chief minister of the cabinet, Mr. Xia, to be a good shepherd to the world."
"I obey the decree, long live my emperor."
