These words seem to be usually spoken by emperors to educate their sons. You are just a group of ordinary civil servants and generals. How qualified are you to talk about the affairs of the emperor's family? To put it bluntly, it was difficult to deal with this prince who turned his face like a book. But if you talk too much or go too far, it’s really easy to lose your head. Facing Huang Qiong's gaze, all the ministers lowered their heads and no one dared to say a word.
There was only one seventh-grade official. He thought for a while and then said: "Back to the prince, I think that the events of the former Tang Dynasty cannot be generalized. Although in the former Tang Dynasty, there were the Xuanwumen Incident, the Empress's arrival, the Anshi Rebellion, the separatist rule of vassal towns, and the eunuchs' manipulation of the court. . But as the prince said, the rule of Zhenguan, the prosperous age of Kaiyuan, the rule of Dazhong, and the Zhongxing of Huichang also occurred in the former Tang Dynasty. These should also be taught to future generations."
"Especially how the three emperors Xianzong, Wuzong, and Xuanzong worked hard to regain power from the powerful officials, accepted advice humbly, and treated their ministers on their merits, so that the country's declining power was restored. Prince, I believe that everything must be looked at from both sides. It was the unfilial piety of Yizong and Xizong of the Tang Dynasty, their excessive playfulness and indulging in vocal music that caused the efforts of the predecessors to be wasted."
For this seventh-grade official to refute himself here, Huang Qiong only smiled lightly, said nothing more, and nodded slightly. However, after everyone dispersed, when the seventh-grade official was about to leave with the crowd, he was stopped by a eunuch. The eunuch didn't say anything when he saw him. He just said that the prince had invited him and took him to Wanchun Hall, which served as Huang Qiong's study.
When the confused seventh-rank official was brought to the back of Wanchun Palace, he saw Huang Qiong reading a book. When he knelt down and was about to kowtow, Huang Qiong put down his book, walked up to him and raised his hand to stop him from kowtowing: "Get up, there is no need to pretend. I have a king and a court in my heart, so I won't kowtow." That’s fine. If not, there’s no point in kowtowing a hundred times.”
"If you officials can do practical things, think about the court and the people, and tell the truth to me, I will be very happy even if you don't kowtow. If you only know how to fool your superiors, even if you kowtow ten thousand If you are tall, you are also fooling your father. That is the real deception. The sincerity of your servant does not depend on how much you kowtow. Kowtow less and do more, that is what I like."
Regarding Huang Qiong's words, the seventh-rank official smiled and said: "Prince, no matter whether you are sincere or not, you still have to kowtow. Not only the kowtow, but also the full kowtow. There is a person in the court. The secret to getting promoted is to kowtow more and talk less. Kowtow more to show your willingness to serve the emperor. Talk less and you have to control your mouth. If you control your mouth well, you will naturally not cause trouble."
"Officials who don't cause trouble or look for trouble are extremely respectful to the king. Which boss doesn't like it, which emperor doesn't like it? In this way, no matter how the situation changes, he can be invincible. Tian Jing of Lizong Dynasty "Tan Zhongshu, didn't he just kowtow his whole life and be promoted to an official all his life? Except for one sentence of the emperor's sage, he kept his mouth shut for half his life to achieve phase."
Hearing this official's answer was very interesting. Huang Qiong was not angry, but smiled slightly: "You are a narrow-minded person, and this answer is realistic. However, if such an answer spreads, some officials in the DPRK will hate it to death. You? According to what you said, if you want to be promoted in this dynasty, you only need to shout that the Emperor Sheng Ming kowtows loudly, and you don’t have to do anything, just sit and wait for promotion?"
Huang Qiong's answer, but the official said seriously: "Back to the prince, this also depends on the character of the emperor. If the emperor can accept advice with an open mind, listen to different opinions and listen to criticism, the official said The kind of officials who only know how to kowtow are naturally not welcome. If the emperor is too particular about governing by doing nothing and only wants to listen to good words and is unwilling to listen to the truth, then this kind of officials will become popular. "
"Of all the officials in the world, how many don't want to be promoted? Officials of the seventh rank want to be promoted to the sixth rank. Officials of the sixth rank want to be the fifth rank. Officials who are thin and short want to get a good job. Those from poor counties Officials want to be transferred to wealthy places. County magistrates want to be magistrates, and magistrates want to be magistrates. Magistrates want to do many things, including ministers in the six ministries, ministers to the left and right, transfer envoys, and inspectors."
"If you can't control your mouth and make the emperor and superiors angry, then you won't be promoted, and you won't be able to keep your current official status. Therefore, sometimes it is a good idea to kowtow more and talk less. The secret to getting promoted. As long as someone is senior to you, there is nothing wrong with kneeling down and kowtowing. Because even if there is such a powerful command that is not easy to use, not many bosses are willing to use it."
Huang Qiong frowned slightly at the words of this seventh-grade official, but nodded and said: "It makes sense, it makes sense. It seems that although you are not very old, you are still very proficient in the officialdom. Look. Come on, I still look down on you, a seventh-rank official. After talking for so long, apart from knowing that you are a seventh-rank official, I don’t know that you serve in that yamen in Xijing."
After Huang Qiong finished speaking, the seventh-rank official looked at Huang Qiong who didn't get angry after hearing his words. Suddenly he gritted his teeth, knelt down and said: "I'm going to be the official. I'm currently the seventh grade judge of Dali Temple in Xijing. Liu Chang, the top three Jinshi in the 11th year of Mingde, comes to see His Royal Highness. Your Highness, please forgive me for being disrespectful. Before I go down to the official position. Although what I said is true, it is too extreme, and I ask the prince to forgive me."
Huang Qiong was not surprised to see that this official not only reported his family status, but also suddenly confessed to himself. He just raised his hand and said: "Get up. You just told some truths, so why are you guilty? Since you are not guilty, how can you say sorry? Although your previous words are indeed a bit extreme, but As long as you tell the truth, there is no sin here."
After Huang Qiong's words fell, the official hesitated for a moment, stood up and cupped his hands and said: "I would like to thank the prince for his innocence. I have been taught by my father since I was a child, and I always like to say a few words when I see injustice. This I haven't gotten rid of my problem for many years. And in this officialdom, the most taboo thing is not being able to control your mouth. In fact, to put it bluntly, you are the person who is most afraid of telling the truth."
"I thought that after becoming a Jinshi, I could express my ambitions. But I didn't expect that because of this mouth, I would offend people unintentionally. So after the six ministries watched the government, I was sent to Xijing, and I just squatted on the bench. It was nine years. The first magistrate of Lantian County was let go, but he offended people again because of his mouth. The first acting magistrate only served for one year and was transferred back to Xijing."
"It's just that this time, the original Ministry of Rites in Xijing was moved to Dali Temple, which is not too cold, and I served as a judge in my original position. But the prince, if he can say good things, he can be a low-ranking official. He can also write articles. The compliments come just as easily as they open their mouths. But in this officialdom, everyone says good things, and no one tells the truth. If no one tells the truth, wouldn’t that mean he is a closed-minded listener?"
Speaking of this, this guy said very self-deprecatingly: "Madam at home, I often say that the only bad thing about a lower official in his life is his mouth. Just open his mouth and a mule is sold for a donkey price. Although he has been a Jinshi for a full ten years , but he is still wandering around in the seventh-grade position. But in terms of regret, the lower official does not regret it. At least the lower official did not betray his conscience just because he became an official. "
Regarding this guy's words, Huang Qiong nodded slightly and said: "It's good if you can guarantee your original intention. Once a person enters the officialdom, how many can keep his original intention? As for the other things, it doesn't matter. If it is real gold, although maybe It will be covered in dust, but one day it will shine. It is good for people to be beaten more often, which is good for their growth. Can a sword be sharpened by sharpening it? You are still young, there will be opportunities. "
Hearing Huang Qiong's words about being young again, he looked at the young prince in front of him who was only nineteen this year and would not turn twenty until the new year. Liu Chang, who also wanted to run forty people, felt awkward about this. This prince, who is a year younger than me and has some tricks up his sleeve, actually says that he is still young? I was indeed young when I passed the imperial examination, but now my hair is all white.
It's just that he is the prince of the dynasty, and he is just a small seven-level commentator in Xijing. What qualifications do he have to challenge others? He is the uncle, so whatever he says is right. Although I am older, I can't stand the fact that my official position is too small. Whatever people say is what it is. Huang Qiong, who was in front of him, looked at this guy's somewhat uncertain expression after hearing his words and just smiled faintly.
He did not worry too much about this aspect, but instead started talking with Liu Chang about the past and the present with great interest. After talking about it, Huang Qiong realized that he really underestimated this guy. This guy is very proficient in all the schools of thought, and he talks about Ziyi's classics very clearly. Seeing this guy, there was indeed some energy in his stomach, and Huang Qiong directed his thoughts to state affairs.
This guy was so engaged in conversation that he completely forgot about the identity of the person he was talking to and started talking about current problems. Not only are the views clear, but quite a few of them coincide with Huang Qiong’s. These views of Huang Qiong were accumulated during his time in power. It was surprising that this guy, a seventh-grade low-level official, had such vision, which aroused Huang Qiong's growing interest.
The two of them stayed in the Wanchun Palace and talked about dinner time. When a woman came to ask Huang Qiong where to eat, the guy remembered that the person he was talking to was the new crown prince of the dynasty. Thinking that what he said before was not an exaggeration, and even insinuated that today, a disrespectful word cannot be escaped, his head couldn't help but banged, and he fell to his knees involuntarily.
Seeing this guy kneeling on the ground, sweating all over his body, Huang Qiong smiled and helped him up and said: "Today, you and I are talking in private. Although your words are a bit biased, but I can Saying this in front of a few people is enough to show that you are focused on the country. You are much better than those guys who only know how to sing the praises of virtues, dare not speak out about the shortcomings when they see them, and only know how to apply rouge and powder."
After telling the woman who was waiting in Wanchun Hall that he and Mr. Liu had a meal here, Huang Qiong smiled faintly: "Mr. Liu, although you live in this corner of Xijing, your vision is very broad. It's a pity. Some of our officials just can't hear others tell the truth, let alone see others tell the truth. As the saying goes, good medicine tastes bitter. How can you cure a disease without bitterness? Telling the truth means entering a different world."
After Huang Qiong's words, this book has been kept in cold storage for ten years since he was awarded the title of Jinshi. At a young age, he was sent to Xijing, known as the Daqi Chao Nursing Home. While some Jinshi in the same discipline have become fourth-rank magistrates and heads of six ministries, he is still honing his duties as a seventh-rank petty official. Liu Chang, who was full of ambitions and had nowhere to stretch, and who had always been depressed, couldn't help but burst into tears.
Kneel down on the ground and kowtow desperately. Huang Qiong Huang Qiong patted his shoulder and said: "A man won't shed tears easily, but he has not yet reached the point of sadness. You are a true-tempered person, and I admire you for this. I hope you will always maintain this true temperament, forever." Don't forget your original intention of becoming an official. If you are interested, come to me. It just so happens that I still lack Zuo Zhongyun."
