With a "pop" sound, the tea cup fell to the ground and was smashed to pieces. All the eunuchs and palace servants in the hall fell to their knees, and the only thing heard in the huge hall was the heavy breathing, which was the anger of a man.
Everyone did not dare to show off their anger, for fear of attracting attention at this time.
Someone seemed to say something, and a eunuch (a high-ranking eunuch was called a eunuch, and a high-ranking palace official was called a capital official) agreed and got up and trotted outside the palace: "Orally, the chief assistant minister Yang Xueshi is here to see you! "
An old minister who had been waiting at the foot of the steps kowtowed tremblingly: "Your Majesty Yang Zhen obeys the order."
A young eunuch with delicate features walked up next to him and said softly: "My lord, please go away. Today is the birth of Concubine Yun, so the emperor will not criticize my lord harshly."
He was probably fifteen or sixteen years old. If you didn't look at his clothes, just by his voice and manner, he was as soft as a girl.
"Oh, A Wu is a good boy. He knows how to pity an old man like me who has bad legs and feet." Yang Zhen smiled bitterly and stepped up the steps step by step with his help.
"Eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor are the things that should be done. But I am old. It seems that the emperor will definitely agree to begging for leave this time."
"Look what you said, how can such a big country do without you as its pillar?" Liang Wu pursed his lips and said with a smile, "His Majesty often says that you are the pillar of the country."
"It was once a pillar, but when it is decayed and eaten away, it needs to be replaced." As he spoke, Yang Zhen had already stepped forward with one foot on the threshold. Read the book
"Your Majesty, Yang Jin, is here to greet you. Long live your Majesty!" Yang Jin was given special treatment. The emperor allowed him to enter the palace wearing boots and shoes without having to kowtow. This was a special consideration for an old minister who was old and in poor health.
But Yang Zhen still politely took off his boots and shoes at the door every time, but his waist and legs were not good, so when he saw the driver, he only bowed deeply instead of kneeling down.
"Sir... take a seat." The emperor suppressed his anger and hesitated for a moment before offering him a seat, but his tone was cold.
After sitting down, Yang Min sat down halfway on the embroidered pier moved by the palace servants. At that time, it was customary to fully sit down as a relaxed and comfortable posture, while half sitting down showed a respectful, humble or humble attitude.
There was a moment of silence in the main hall. The eunuch who had just gone out to deliver the order silently waved the dust. The eunuchs and palace servants kneeling on the ground quickly exited after hearing the order, leaving only two high-status palace servants outside the Nuan Pavilion door. There are two eunuchs standing in the palace gate with their hands crossed.
"Yang Qing."
"I'm here."
"I take you as my chief and assistant because of your loyalty and stability. But what happened today makes me very disappointed!" The emperor said:
"Ten thousand troops were wiped out, and such a shocking thing happened right next door to Nanzhili, and yet you concealed it and refused to report it! No matter how many reasons there are, I cannot understand your motive for this action."
The emperor reached out and picked up a memorial on the bed: "If it hadn't been for the secret memorial from the Southern Zhili Metropolitan Procuratorate, I would have thought they were defeated. I didn't know that these ten thousand people would have become dead souls!"
The more the emperor talked, the more excited he became, and he slapped the table tops of the bed with the memorial.
"Do you know how sad I am? That was ten thousand elites, three battalions of iron troops! From Taizong to Emperor Ren and Emperor Xuan, which dynasty has such a shocking thing ever happened? How do you want me to face my ancestors in the ancestral temple? Liezong!"
Seeing his excitement, the eunuch holding the fly whisk took a step forward and whispered softly: "Please calm down the officials and be careful not to hurt yourself."
The emperor waved him away, took a deep breath, looked at Yang Min who was wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, and sighed in his heart. Since Yang Shizhen's death, Yang Zhen has been in charge of the government alone, but it has become increasingly full of loopholes.
Frequent uprisings occurred in various places, especially the Louyang Rebellion dominated by miners in Fujian and Jiangxi, and the Tusi separatist regime in Hunan, which all occurred inland. Whenever he received news about this, he felt as if there were bugs biting him. His own five internal organs were intolerable to him.
But these officials were just like normal people. They were eating, drinking, and writing poems as usual. It seems that to them, it is not surprising that there are several moths in the world.
"Your Majesty went down to draw up an edict to immediately reissue pensions to the families of fallen soldiers and generals. Jiangnan West Road was appointed as the Provincial Envoy, and the Left Administrative Envoy Yang Tao was unable to quell the rebellion and regain Fuzhou. This is a strict edict and is to be blamed!
Arrange troops
The Ministry has drafted reinforcement measures, and the Fifth Army Commander-in-Chief has sent capable generals to Nanchang to take command. They will quickly decide on the candidates and report them to me...! "
The emperor said something, and Yang Zhen responded yes. He was now in a mess and didn't know which side to take care of first.
"Um... Lou Zishi, where is he now?" the emperor asked.
"The Lou bandits lost nearly half a man under the city of Shangrao, and due to lack of food and grass, they have now retreated into the high mountains of southeastern Zhejiang..." Yang Min replied.
"It's okay, it's okay," the emperor nodded: "If Shangrao hadn't defended at the beginning, I don't know what would have happened. Please discuss with the Ministry of War. If Shangrao is not in a hurry, can you mobilize some troops to go west to Geyang and Guixi to defend against Stop Yang He from turning back and heading east?"
"This..., I will discuss this with the cabinet and the Ministry of War as soon as possible." Yang Zhen complained in his heart. He knew that it was not good for the little emperor to know about this kind of thing! It’s not that he wanted to deceive, he actually knew the emperor too well!
Today, His Majesty is young, fond of martial arts, often practiced riding and shooting, and he prides himself on being as capable as the previous emperors, as a civilized and military emperor.
Especially when there was a military operation, this person was particularly willing to get involved and point fingers. However, he was still a child, and no one dared to say so publicly.
The reason why Yang Zhen didn't dare to tell the truth was because he was afraid that he would intervene again.
Those useless censors in Nanzhili scribbled secrets with the intention of using themselves as stepping stones to climb up the ladder. As a result, they probably lost many more lives than these 10,000 people!
"Oh, by the way, they mentioned in the book that there was a man named Li Dan in Yugan County, who was the son of Duke Li Wencheng. They said that he organized regiment training in Geyang and fought several victorious battles with the Lou bandit generals. Is this true? Why didn’t you see it in the newspaper?”
"Li Wencheng...oh, oh! The one your Majesty is talking about is his eldest son."
Shangrao reported these matters in the morning, but Yang Zhen glanced at them and saw that they were talking about team training.
In addition, Shangrao emphasized the role of team training and asked for permission to formally establish the position of team training officer. He felt that it was making a fuss. Team training can be temporarily established when needed, and there is no need to establish it permanently.
Therefore, he put this matter aside, but fortunately he remembered Li Dan.
"Your Majesty, Li Dan was entrusted by Yugan County Magistrate to lead civilians to Geyang on a business trip. Because the grain road from Geyang to Shangrao was repeatedly damaged, Li Dan asked for a post to deliver grain. Therefore, the Geyang Guards discussed with the County Magistrate to temporarily provide food. The title of his team's defense envoy.
He used this as an excuse to train hundreds of local warriors, and together with 300 officers and soldiers, he protected the food supplies and sent them to Guangxin and Shangrao. In fact, the main credit is due to the guerrilla attack of the officers and soldiers, and this person is just helping from the side. "
"I heard that he was slightly younger than me by two years. He rode a Hequ horse and charged forward. Lou Zi sent two sons but they couldn't stop him. In the end, he sent his trusted generals, but he set up an ambush. He was defeated and fled. This boy is a talent!"
The emperor's eyes sparkled when he spoke. Yang Zhen knew that the emperor meant to tell him that he could lead troops at a young age, so he refused to follow suit and said: "That officer Sheng Baihu in the army is also very good. After the war, he was promoted to guerrilla service."
The emperor lost interest in him: "Then, just ask him to lead troops to Guixi!"
"Ah?" Yang Zhen was a little confused. He knew that Sheng Huai'en had taken over Guangxin's garrison duties. This one was transferred to Geyang. Who would guard Guangxin? But His Majesty has said his words and cannot take them back. He had no choice but to gulp down the foam and agreed with some difficulty: "I obey the decree."
After talking about other things for a while, when the emperor's anger subsided, Yang Zhen stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, I am old and unable to take care of you. I would like to beg your Majesty for his bones and return to his hometown for retirement."
"Why do you mention this again?" The emperor was displeased: "Didn't I say that I would allow you to achieve seventy-five?"
"This...," Yang Zhen smiled bitterly: "It's not that I don't know what to do, it's really that I'm suffering from an unbearable injury. Moreover, I have been in power for many years, and I have been thinking of writing "Tongzheng Dayi" for future generations to refer to. But with your pen, Your Majesty, please grant me your honor!" After saying this, he bowed deeply.
"Why did Lao Qing's family abandon me so soon? The Taifu (referring to Yang Shizhen) passed away not long ago, how can the government lose another pillar?" The emperor stepped forward to help him up, and said in a gentle tone:
"The situation on the grassland is treacherous now. The southwestern barbarians are separatist and self-reliant, and what kind of chaos is happening?
The army came with great plans. The situation in the court is like this. My dear, please stay with me for a few more days.
When the time comes to make the appointment, I will personally send you out of Chongli Gate wearing red and colorful decorations, leaving a good story about your monarch and his ministers for the world, okay? "The words made Yang Jin burst into tears and thanked him.
"Your Majesty." A eunuch at the door walked to the door of Nuange and reported: "The Queen Mother's guard of honor has entered the palace gate."
"Oh? Got it." The emperor straightened up.
Yang Zhen quickly saluted: "Her Majesty the Queen Mother has arrived, I will leave first."
"Please go, Chief Minister, learn a lesson, work with peace of mind, and don't have useless thoughts." The emperor said calmly.
Watching Yang Zhen leave, the emperor turned to the eunuch: "Liu Daban, did I speak too harshly just now?"
"Your Majesty, what did you say? The tone of your words just now is just right." Eunuch Liu smiled and lowered his head in response.
"Huh, when I taught him a lesson, did you feel happy?" The emperor glared at him. Eunuch Liu did not answer, but lowered his head more humbly.
"How are you, Queen Mother? Why did you come to the Qiande Palace today?" The emperor saluted the Queen Mother who came in with a smile.
Queen Mother Zhang, the daughter of Wu Qinghou Zhang Pei, entered the palace at the age of fifteen and became Queen Xuanzong. Two years later, she gave birth to her eldest son, Zhao Tuo, the current Emperor Jingwu.
Three years later, Xuanzong passed away. Zhang and the Empress Dowager helped the new emperor ascend the throne. With the support of Er Yang, they began to govern the two palaces for more than ten years until the emperor took charge after the death of the Empress Dowager.
"The Emperor is well. The Aijia heard that His Majesty lost his temper and didn't know why, so they came here to have a look. However, there is nothing wrong with His Majesty from the look on his face, so the Aijia can rest assured."
Queen Mother Zhang said as she sat down on the chair that the emperor moved for her. Eunuch Liu personally brought the tea tray, and Queen Mother Zhang looked at him attentively: "Liu Banban is very attentive. Thanks to you for being here today, the Ai family has to thank you."
Eunuch Liu was startled and hurriedly knelt down: "I don't dare!"
"Well, I believe that. Just get up." Empress Dowager Zhang was still smiling and glanced at the emperor standing beside her:
"I am very happy that everyone in the court lives in harmony, and that the internal and external courtiers work together for the country and each do their part. Only such an emperor can become a great emperor who is respected and passed down by future generations."
"The son reminds himself day and night, mother." Zhao Tuo replied respectfully: "I just couldn't hold it back and spoke too loudly, which alarmed the mother. It is the son's crime." Then he explained the matter in general. Queen Mother Zhang frowned slightly and said nothing.
"Ten thousand lives, and everyone in the cabinet just used the word 'big defeat' to cover it up. How could they bear it! That's why I gave you a strict admonishment. I also feel that the relationship between the king and his ministers is not easy, and I hope there will be a good ending."
"The Emperor should take full responsibility for the Prime Minister's negligence, but if Prime Minister Yang resigns, does the Emperor already know who can take over?" Queen Mother Zhang asked.
"This... I didn't think so much about it at the time."
"Yes, as soon as he resigns, His Majesty will be gentle to persuade him to stay, and the blame will no longer be on him."
Zhao Tuo's heart trembled, and he understood what his mother meant: "My child is still reckless, please accept your mother's teachings!"
Empress Dowager Zhang stood up with a smile and said as she walked out: "Your Majesty is the smartest, and the Ai family is very happy. After the death of the Taifu, there was a lot of excitement in front of Yang Zhen's door. It is necessary to wake him up a little!" She stopped at the door and thought about it. Want to say:
"Talent is important! The emperor still employs mostly old people from the Ren and Xuan periods. I hope that this autumn Wei can select some good Jinshi for the country, just like the one in the second year of Song Jiayou's reign (see note 1). La!"
"Yes, Queen Mother, the child is also looking forward to it!" Zhao Tuo told the truth.
His mother was worried that although the emperor was pro-government, the court was still dominated by benevolent and Xuan ministers. The emperor did not have his own team, which was quite a hindrance to consolidating his rule and implementing the emperor's will.
Therefore, Empress Dowager Zhang took this opportunity to warn him to be patient for a while, and at the same time, seize the time to recruit talents, and influencing the court's decision-making through them is the most important thing at the moment.
However, this does not happen overnight. From the discovery and discovery to the introduction and training of talents, it is a long process.
long process. Queen Mother Zhang actually regrets that she should have paid attention to this issue earlier, but now it seems to be a bit of an afterthought.
After seeing off the Queen Mother, Zhao Tuo went to sit with his favorite Concubine Yun and promised to come to celebrate her birthday in the evening. Then he walked around three times to the Queen's Kunming Hall and hurriedly changed into the clothes of a guard.
"Your Majesty, are you going out to play again?" the queen asked softly while helping him change clothes. Empress Zhang is the niece of the Queen Mother and is two years younger than the emperor. She entered the palace and was canonized last year.
The emperor usually liked to go to Concubine Yun, who was two years older than him, but because the empress was gentle and obedient, he would come to her to cover up every time he left the palace.
The queen was still a child at heart, so she found it fun to help him put on makeup, and the emperor never forgot to bring him some "little bribes" every time he came back, or give her interesting people and things outside, so she was happy to help.
"This is no joke." The emperor stretched out his arms and looked at the little queen, who was a head shorter than himself, with a smile:
"Actually, I have a purpose every time I go out. Playing is just convenient. I have the heavy burden of the world on my shoulders, so how can I really go play?" He looked at himself in the mirror held by the palace attendant with satisfaction.
"Let's go to Concubine Yun's place for a banquet tonight. I'll be back soon." After saying this, he greeted Eunuch Liu who had already changed his clothes. The two of them followed behind a group of guards and walked toward the Banqing Gate.
"Note 1: In the imperial examination in the second year of Renzong Jiayou's reign in the Northern Song Dynasty, a large number of talents such as Su Shi, Su Che, Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, Zeng Gong, Zeng Bu, Zhang Chun, Zhang Zai, etc. emerged, and they were rated as the most brilliant among the imperial examinations by later generations. .”
