"Brother An, Ji Guoliang has come to the countryside, this is your opportunity!" Yang Zhong, who was sitting in the living room, ignored the tea and said excitedly to Xie Minhong.
"Minzhou should be careful. He, Ji Guoliang, has been in the cabinet for so many years and has been influencing the government. The emperor kindly allowed him to grant him gold and become an official. It is a great favor, but what does it have to do with me?"
Xie Minhong smiled and waved his hand. He is forty-one years old this year. He has a rectangular face and a high nose. He is in the prime of life, so he is very ambitious.
However, after many years of career as an official, he has long understood the need to hide his clumsiness. Of course, he cannot accept Yang Zhong's straightforward words.
Although everyone in the room is the so-called pro-Xie faction, or officials from the Southern faction, Xie Minhong still does not want any mistakes to be reported to the imperial court. That would not be beautiful!
Among the people who came today, there are two people who are the most capable and whom Xie Minhong values the most: Gao Moling, a member of the Zhongshu Provincial Department, and Du Shifei, the right minister of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. The former is his think tank, and the latter is his Sharp sword.
The outside world gave these three people the title of the Three Elders of the Southern Sect.
When Xie Minhong answered Yang Zhong, his eyes glanced at Gao Moling intentionally or unintentionally. He knew it when he saw the sneer on his face, and then glanced at Fei Jin, who was expressionless and silent as usual.
"You can't say that. Everyone knows this is a signal. Your Majesty must be determined!" Yang Zhong's words were echoed or approved by several officials present.
"Yang Taige has been in office for too long. Although His Majesty has given the old ministers enough face since he took office, bad news has come one after another.
Not to mention Jiangxi, Guangnan, and Guizhou, the position of Yimali Khan in the west has now been determined. Tieli Khan has invaded Hami and Shazhou several times. Taige has always given in and tolerated. The emperor is obviously dissatisfied.
After the Tatar royal court fled north, the seven tribes of Egu entered the south of the grassland and gradually grew stronger, and they were already inexhaustible. Taige still used inaction as an excuse and sat back and watched them oppress the border defense line. This was not satisfactory to the emperor.
Not to mention that he allowed the Liaodong women to be straight, abandoned the defense of Nanjiao, and prohibited the Yunnan Xuanwei Department from interfering with Nangan's intrusion. This kind of practice is no different from selling out the inheritance of the ancestors!
Your Majesty is wise, how can you allow such a person to continue to control the court? Therefore, a cabinet change is inevitable and is imminent.
Sir, thank you for being the right counselor of Zhongshu, and you are also a close official of the emperor!
The lower official thought that this adjustment had made up for the fact that Master Gu had taken over the Minister of War and merged it into the cabinet, and acted as the right minister. After the Taige retreated, the next step would be to select a Nanchen to join the cabinet. Isn't this an opportunity for adults? "
"Haha, Master Yang is probably too optimistic, isn't he?" Fei Jin suddenly opened his eyes and shook his head. Although he was only a fourth-rank official, due to the special status of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, others did not dare to refute him even if he said something unexpected.
Yang Zhong's face changed, and he smiled awkwardly, but he said humbly: "I'm sure you have some great opinions, and I'd like to hear the details."
"I heard that the emperor summoned some northern officials from time to time. Although they were in the name of consultation, they did not mean to win over them. Especially considering the shock to the northerners after Mr. Yang left the field, it is appropriate to appease and compensate them appropriately. righteous.
Therefore, the official thinks that we cannot just assume that there will definitely be a by-election of southerners. It is impossible to say that the emperor will once again take the wrong approach and recruit northerners! "
After saying this to Yang Zhong, he turned to Xie Minhong and nodded in greeting: "If we want the southerners to maintain their advantage in the cabinet, I'm afraid we still need to do some work.
What's more... the current situation is that the northerners are in power and the south is worried about civil strife. Does he really understand the south and be able to govern it properly? From the perspective of "fighting the outside world and pacifying the inside", if there is no need to worry about external invaders, internal strife will shake the foundation.
With the precedents of Huang Chao and Fang La, the emperor had to give more consideration to how to maintain stability in the south. The official thought that if he submitted the letter from this angle, His Majesty would definitely feel sad. "
"So, can you come again when you are busy?" Xie Minhong asked with a smile.
"It is my duty to fill in the gaps for His Majesty. You will write the letter tonight, and you will submit the letter to me tomorrow morning!"
"Okay, great!" Xie Minhong raised his hands to express encouragement and said: "The reasoning should be as Minzhou said, but our young emperor is extraordinary, how can we take it lightly?
The British Lord is here, so we had better think more about His Majesty. As I said just now, it is our duty to pick up the pieces and make up for the deficiencies. "
"Your Excellency, you are absolutely right!" Yang Zhong flattered him first, and then said: "But it seems that Your Majesty still cares about the honor of the old minister and will not take the initiative easily.
I am afraid that the appointment of Ji Guoliang to the official position this time was also done for Taige to see. I hope he can understand. I guess Taige pretended to be deaf and dumb and would not take up the subject of Your Majesty. "
Xie Minhong smiled and said nothing. Hearing him say again: "Why don't you use your majesty's strength to give you a push? This way, the emperor can't have the impression of being a direct minister." Hearing this, Xie Minhong was speechless and impatient. He turned his head to the other side:
"Qingsong, you and Ji Congxie can still talk to each other. When he leaves, help me deliver it. Just say that it is inconvenient for me to come in person, and give Cheng Yi three hundred taels as a gift. Please take care of him!"
Gao Moling stood up, held his hands in his hands, and said, "I will definitely bring the message to you." Then he sat down.
Seeing that he ignored his suggestion, Yang Zhong felt a little disappointed. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard the man next to him said again: "What Mr. Yang said is common sense.
However, His Majesty is most concerned about Ji Guoliang's official appointment and the position and performance of the officials. It is impossible to say that the Jinyi Colonel or the Huangmensheren were secretly observing the scene.
The lower official thought that Your Excellency was the Councilor of Zhongshu Province and had a colleague and subordinate relationship with Lord Ji, but he was also a person of great trust to His Majesty, so he could express it slightly, but he could not show too closeness.
It's okay for you to send someone to give Cheng Yi as a gift, but if you give it in person, the emperor will inevitably be displeased, so it's a good idea to handle it this way!
If it is as Lord Yang said, I think it seems reasonable but it may not be worth implementing now. It is better to be patient and wait for the opportunity. Even if someone impeaches the crown prince, your Excellency will inevitably cover one or two of them. It seems better.
Since it is only a matter of time before the prince goes out to the countryside, we can just wait and see, why bother to make something out of nothing? "
This statement made Yang Zhong very unhappy: "Hey, how can this be said to be 'creating something out of nothing'?"
"Master Yang, please don't like to hear this. Let me ask you this: I have heard for a long time that your master and Taige have a teacher-student relationship. Why are you now so hard pressed to hope that he will step down as soon as possible?"
"Here," Yang Zhong's face turned red: "I, I have no actual teacher-student relationship with Taige, but because he was the examiner of the imperial examination, it was customary to call him teacher. What do you mean by that again? , do you want to impeach Yang as a person?"
"I dare not." Fei Jin sneered: "It is your duty to impeach officials. But since it is a private meeting, there are no taboos. Minzhou can speak, and someone can also ask. Where does the term 'impeachment' come from? Mr. Yang is too sensitive. some."
After all, Yang Zhong is a high-ranking official of the third rank, but most of the people here are from the seventh to the fourth rank. The only one who reaches his level is Xie Minhong. Therefore, Yangzhong glanced around and saw that everyone was either looking away or snickering. In short, the room was filled with awkward silence.
He stood up and said angrily: "I have good intentions and have many suggestions, but they are not taken seriously. Anyway, since we have different views and don't agree with each other, I have to resign as an official!" After that, he didn't wait for Xie Minhong to call him again. The housekeeper saw him off and went out to mind his own business.
Xie Minhong couldn't help but smile bitterly and said to Fei Jin, "Why would you offend a third-grade official for no reason?"
Fei Jin said sternly: "This person's heart is not right and he makes frivolous remarks. Gentlemen should not associate with him. A gentleman is a person who does great things, how can he associate with villains?"
"Hey, I also know that what you said here is right. But since he is a villain, I'm afraid he will have to write a secret when he goes back tonight. Tomorrow morning, the plot of the discussion between you and me will be handed over to Huang The emperor has seen the names of all the gentlemen in the sect's hands, so why bother?" Xie Minhong sighed.
"Your Excellency, why don't you have a chat with us over tea? Moreover, we only talked about sending off Ji Gong and giving Cheng Yi as a gift. Those dirty topics were all brought up by Yang Minzhou, and we and your Excellency did not take up the topic. Where are you afraid of him?"
He waved his hand vigorously and said: "If the emperor raises questions about this tomorrow, I will write a book of impeachment and Yang Minzhou to see if he is afraid or not?"
"Hey, don't act out of emotion!" Xie Minzhong and Gao Moling exchanged glances and quickly advised.
However, the court hall was quiet and nothing happened the next day. I wonder if Yang Zhong handed in the book. Anyway, nothing happened. Xie Minzhong and others slowly felt relieved. But they were all wrong. In fact, Yangzhong handed over the capital.
After returning from the imperial court, Zhao Tuo complained that he was hungry. Eunuch Liu hurriedly ordered the palace servants to cut two plates of fruit and bring them in. The emperor read several memorials and secret documents with relish, and ate some fruit.
Eunuch Liu knew at a glance that these books were related to officials' response to Ji Guoliang's removal from power. They were handed in by officials such as Yilong Guard and Huangmen Supervisor, as well as ministers like Yang Zhong.
"Hmph, look, my dear friend, we can knock the mountain to shake the tiger, and by the way, many yellow sheep and hares will jump out!" Zhao Tuo said.
Eunuch Liu couldn't help but laugh out loud after hearing his metaphor, and quickly complained to the emperor for being rude, and said: "Your Majesty is really clever. Now you can see them clearly like these city locusts." La. The old minister is so impressed that he fell to the ground!"
"This is just the beginning." Zhao Tuo raised the fold in his hand: "Sometimes I really want to overturn the table, but I can't. This is governing the country, not playing cards. Everything has to be patient and slow down. Come!"
"Your Majesty is wise." Eunuch Liu habitually raised his hands in praise, and then asked: "But..., if Old Taige pretends to be confused and ignores us, what should we do? Otherwise, send a Huangmen to him Just a reminder?"
"No!" Zhao Tuo shook his head: "If he falls in love, I will tell him time and time again that he can't fall in love! If he keeps showing off like this, then I won't have to worry about anything in the future."
After he finished speaking, he tapped his fingers on the table very maturely, and suddenly asked: "There is no report on the battle situation at Shi Hao today? In that case, while I have time now, I went to the Huiwen Hall to find some books to read. drive!"
"Yes, His Majesty ordered it to be sent to the Huiwen Museum!"
The Huiwen Museum was founded in the first year of Emperor Renzong's reign. At that time, a large number of books, calligraphy and paintings captured in Yanjing were transported southward and stored in more than 4,000 large camphor wood boxes to be transferred to Jinling. However, due to the Jing Rebellion, they were diverted and stranded in Shangqiu. .
Renzong believed that these books should be shared with scholar-bureaucrats instead of being kept in the palace. Therefore, the Huiwen Pavilion was built on the north side of the Confucian Temple and the Imperial College on Yingzhou in the southwest of the imperial city, which means "gathering the best of literature".
At first, the books in the Huiwen Hall could only be consulted by the bureaucracy. However, under Emperor Xuanzong, he had a very heroic habit of leading troops. With a wave of his hand, he issued an edict: All scholars in the world, regardless of their fame or fame, can borrow and copy them. You can carry it out of the library.
At this time, he gained the gratitude of all scholars, and there was an endless stream of scholars coming in and out of Sungnyemun Gate every day. What an honor it is to be able to sit on the Chongli Gate, Huixian Embankment, and Shixian Bridge where officials from the capital come and go during court meetings!
Although it is almost winter today, the weather is sunny and there are still many literati coming to Huiwen Museum. If such a large number of people appear on Huixian Embankment, they may disturb the pedestrians.
Therefore, after Zhao Tuo delivered the decree, the honor guard did not leave the palace. Instead, he went from Qianyuan Palace to Chengxuan Gate, where he changed clothes at Chengde Hall, then changed into a sedan chair and headed south along the west path between the former palace and Yanwu Hall, avoiding Open the eyes and ears of all the lords in front of you.
Finally, when you come out from the right gate of Lujiao on the west side of Chengtian Gate, you will see Tianjin Bridge and Zhuque Embankment in front of you, and at your hand is the vast and spacious Nanhaizi.
The emperor was wearing a cotton robe and linen shoes, and was followed by eunuch Liu and the commander of the bodyguards, Liu Funian, and three or five other bodyguards following him from afar. From a distance, Zhao Tuo looks like an unruly yamen with a butler.
Liu Funian had good civil and military skills and seemed to be a harmless guest to accompany him, and the guards were all selected civil and military talents.
The group crossed the Tianjin Bridge and headed east from Lingxingzhou to the west embankment of Huahuixian. The emperor admired it for a while on the Fangsheng Bridge in Jiuzhou, looked south thoughtfully at the Zhangxun Temple, and watched the herons flying on Bird Island. Feeling in a good mood, he walked along the embankment towards Fangyingzhou with his hands behind his back.
Seeing outside the door of Huiwen Hall, I suddenly saw a group of scholars walking out of the alley. Some were in brocade clothes and jade belts, some were in plain robes and hemp shoes, some were high-spirited, and some were following silently. They were of different lengths and uneven shapes.
These people were making noisy noises, and surrounded an Imperial College Supervisor who couldn't laugh or cry, shouting: "If I don't write a poem today, I won't let you go home. Let's see if the little lady is impatient or not!"
Zhao Tuo was horrified, looked at their backs and laughed, and asked: "I heard what they said, it seems they are going to a poetry meeting, but I don't know that the poetry meeting is also used to intimidate them from going home."
Liu Funian laughed silently and said: "This is a common thing for your Majesty to write music in the same year. However, this is a good time. When the rivers and lakes freeze, there will be fewer people who have the intention to continue writing poems."
Especially next spring when there is a big competition, everyone is jumping around in the room and memorizing books, how can they have the time to have such fun? "
The emperor was right to think about it. Suddenly, he turned back and took a closer look at the group of people, remembering that he seemed to have met the Imperial College Supervisor in a hotel by the pier, his surname was Han. I wonder how he was transferred here to become a prison student?
He ignored these students and continued to walk into the Huiwen Pavilion. He asked softly without looking back: "Who is on duty in the Huiwen Pavilion today? Go and ask, if Zhu Zhanzhen is here, can you invite him to see me?" . If he is not here, there is no need to alarm the others. I will find two books and leave."
"According to the order." Eunuch Liu turned around and called Liang Wu, who was disguised as a servant, and whispered in his ear. Liang Wu's eyes rolled, and after listening, he held his hands and immediately ran to the duty room.
After a while, Zhu Zhanchang, a direct bachelor of Huiwen Hall, came running out of breath. Eunuch Liu stepped forward to greet him and shook his head solemnly at Zhu Zhanchang, who held up his hands to express his understanding.
Then he followed him quietly to a deep row of bookshelves, bowed to the young emperor, and said softly with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty Zhu Zhanxun, I would like to welcome you. I don't know that I didn't come far to welcome you, so please forgive me! "
Zhao Tuo took his eyes away from the book and said with a smile: "You fat man is so cunning. How can you ask for my forgiveness when you say you don't know? It's my fault."
Zhu Zhanji chuckled, straightened up and took out a handkerchief from his arms to wipe his sweat, while answering the emperor's words: "I am fat, these few steps... Oh, don't tell me! Anyway, if your majesty feels sorry for me, It's better not to be so sudden in the future.
Well, you came to Huiwen Hall today and specifically asked to see the minister by name. Could it be that you have some instructions? No, it's better to just issue a decree and be done with it. Why do you need to come in person? "
