After Li Yue finished teaching Xiao Wu how to do questions, the two of them cleaned up the waterside pavilion and prepared to leave.
Seeing that the prince was still looking at the direction in which his daughter was leaving, Zhang Yang stepped forward and said, "Everyone is gone and can't be seen."
Li Chengqian withdrew his gaze and said, "I would also like to thank you for your arrangement."
Zhang Yang patted his shoulder and asked, "How was the discussion?"
Li Chengqian smiled foolishly, "She said Gu is very knowledgeable and she also likes to read Chinese books."
"I'm trying to get the prince to be alone with her. Are you talking about Han Shu?"
Li Chengqian nodded.
Zhang Yang asked again: "Is there nothing else?"
Li Chengqian nodded again, "Gu... Gu didn't think so much at the time. I was very satisfied to be able to meet Gu."
Looking at the crazy smile on his face, this is the person who fell in love for the first time.
Zhang Yang sighed: "His Royal Highness, please think about it carefully. I will go home first."
Li Chengqian nodded, "Yeah."
But it turned out to be okay... Once the prince fell in love, he seemed to lose his ability to think.
Zhang Yang took his two aunts, Li Yue and Xiao Wu home.
"I don't know if Little Bear will be hungry at home." Xiao Wu muttered.
When we arrived, the little bear refused to leave the house. This bear had been extremely lazy for the past two days and could not move even when he was lying on the ground.
When I got home, the little bear was lying next to his bowl.
Xiao Wu, with his hands on his hips and his short legs, was scolding it, saying that it would be asking for trouble if it didn't go to Qujiang Pond and starved for a day.
Zhang Yang said suspiciously: "Daughter-in-law, do you think this bear can understand?"
Look at Xiao Wu scolding the little bear, looking quite like an adult.
Li Yue put Ouyang Xun's copybook on the table, "I can probably understand it."
Zhang Yang said melancholy: "There are differences between humans and animals. They may be able to understand most of it, but they have been listening to dogs barking for more than ten years, and they still can't understand what the dogs are barking."
Li Yue frowned and looked at her husband, "Why are there such strange words?"
"Is it weird? I think it's a normal question."
In the palace, Li Shimin was listening to Fang Xuanling's report on preparations for the construction of the Hexi Corridor. With enough money, Tian Khan was much more confident.
Life in the palace is still frugal, and the urgent needs are finally relieved.
Fang Xuanling bowed and said, "Construction can start in late autumn and October."
Li Shimin nodded and said: "This matter must be done sooner rather than later."
"I understand."
Li Junxian walked into the hall and saw that Fang Xuanling had something to say but it was difficult to speak.
"If you have anything to do, just say it."
Li Shimin drank tea leisurely.
"Here." Li Junxian bowed and saluted, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had a quarrel with Su Quan an hour ago."
"A verbal dispute?"
"That's right, because Su Dan's daughter went to Qujiang Pool with the Queen to meet Princess Runan before. Her Royal Highness the Princess intentionally invited her to meet again. Su Dan also went with her. After the prince found out, he also followed. When he left, The two of them had a quarrel outside Qujiang Pond over the opening of an official school and had a long quarrel."
Fang Xuanling bowed and lowered his head without speaking.
Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Cheng Qian still clings to official matters."
Naturally, the DPRK and the Central Government also want to encourage various state capitals to open official schools, but currently the costs of the DPRK and the Central Government are tight, let alone the various state capitals.
Li Shimin nodded and said: "Is the matter of opening an official school still the same as before?"
Fang Xuanling replied: "Your Majesty, this is indeed not something that happens overnight. It needs to be carefully considered. The government and the Central Government must be watching. If the situation improves, we can naturally seize it. The counties around Chang'an are currently going well."
This is indeed not something that can be done overnight. It requires the cooperation of all parties, and the state governments in various places also have to arrange for good relations with the gentry from all over the country.
"This matter will be discussed later."
In addition to taking care of Li Chengqian's affairs, there is another thing that needs to be done for Zhang Yang.
Yan Shigu had a distinguished life experience, and his family ancestor was Yan Zhitui. People like him were born with a good status among the gentry.
In addition, this person was indeed talented and learned, so the nobles naturally sought after him.
Enjoying this kind of popularity, Yan Shigu once again served in the court, and many people joined him.
He has always lived according to the way of the noble clan. In this way and with his status, he can naturally obtain a lot of resources and connections.
And this kind of people are also the most opposed to the imperial examination system.
It is said that people with different paths cannot work together, and if they have different values, it is even less possible for them to become people who share the same path.
The gentry's monopoly on the electoral system affected the power of the emperor.
The Five Surnames and Qi Wang are the largest forces among them.
At a certain period, the emperor even had to bow to the five surnames. They were local lords and even had greater power than the state capital.
The officials of the state government are elected by them, and they have more say in the court.
As long as they want to, it is not impossible to rule by demarcation.
This is the contradiction.
This kind of people dislike ordinary rural people. The gentry behind Yan Shigu almost monopolized the spread of books, controlled scholars, and enslaved scholars as their talking points.
Controlling scholars is their real goal, and becoming the hereditary successor of a thousand-year-old family is their ultimate goal.
In the process, they stifle new ideas and snuff out any inclination that might work against them.
As long as the world is still ruled by the old order and old ideas, they will be invincible.
Zhang Yang finished writing two letters and looked at the sky before nightfall. "Please, auntie, please send these two letters. The one with red sealing wax will be sent to Xu Xiaode's home in Chang'an City, and the one with black sealing wax will be sent to the village to Niu Chuang." "
"Here."
Li Yue was packing up the clothes to be dried in the yard. Her belly carrying a baby had not had much impact on her daily life.
When the dinner was served at night, Li Yue looked at the dishes in front of her with a sad face, "Are you really going to be so lonely?"
Zhang Yang poured out the fish soup and said, "Doctor Sun said that you cannot take medicine when you are suffering from internal heat, and you should mainly eat a light diet."
Li Yue held the bowl and took a sip of fish soup.
Xiao Wu is not picky about food, and he will be very satisfied with two poached eggs with scallion oil.
The beautiful day passed, and the couple looked forward to the early arrival of this little life every day.
In the morning, it's not completely bright yet, and it's time to go to court.
Zhang Yang came to Chengtai Tianmen early and waited for the palace gate to open to go to court as usual.
Li Xiaogong and Cheng Yaojin stood together and talked in low voices. Zhang Yang stepped forward and listened carefully. It turned out that they were talking about businessmen.
The old Cheng family also needed money. Cheng Yaojin wanted to find a good marriage for his son Cheng Chumo and asked Li Xiaogong to help find out if there was a suitable girl.
Just as he was speaking, Cheng Yaojin suddenly stopped talking and looked at Zhang Yang, "Zhang Shangshu, you will cover up when others are eavesdropping. What are you..."
Zhang Yang stood up again, "I wasn't eavesdropping."
"Your ears are almost to my mouth, and you still say you're not eavesdropping?" Cheng Yaojin looked disdainful, "Oh, you're a meddler."
The conversation between the two stopped, and Zhang Yang stood back to his original position.
Several people from the Ministry of Rites also arrived one after another, the Chengtian Gate opened, and a group of officials walked in.
Every time I walked towards the Tai Chi Hall, everyone was silent and did not speak. There was only the sound of footsteps all around.
There is still some cool morning breeze blowing, and the white fish belly is still there on the horizon. The sun has not yet reached the sky. When the sun comes out, the dark clouds in the sky will be dispersed.
Zhang Yang straightened his back, stepped into the Tai Chi Hall, and stood in a familiar position.
Only when waiting in Taiji Hall, everyone would whisper a few words.
With a loud shout from the eunuch, Li Shimin walked into the hall, and all the officials saluted.
The morning court officially began, and the Ministry of War reported the arrangements for troops and horses sent to Tubo and the Western Regions this time, as well as the number of garrison troops sent by each guard.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported that after the imperial examination, the officials had made arrangements.
The Ministry of Household Affairs has finished reporting this year’s tax situation.
It was another harvest year in the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin had a smile on his face. As the Khan of Heaven, the majesty of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was a little softer.
When the Ministry of Works was about to report the matter, discordant voices came from outside the palace. The guard in front of the palace stood outside the palace and shouted: "Your Majesty, Xu Xiaode, the chief official of the East Palace, wants to see you."
】
Li Chengqian also looked outside the hall in surprise.
Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Let him enter the palace to speak."
"Here!"
Xu Xiaode walked into the hall wearing a black official robe and bowed. He first saluted, "Your Majesty, I impeach the secretary, the Young Superintendent, Yan Shigu."
The first time I heard that Secretary Su Dan's heart suddenly jumped, he thought that the matter with the prince had been discovered by his majesty.
But when he heard it was Yan Shigu, he let out a sigh of relief.
Xu Xiaode added: "Your Majesty, Yan Shigu has the power to compile ancient books, but he relies on his own talents to suppress poor and poor scholars, and gets close to the noble and powerful people, and colludes with wealthy businessmen and others to accept ancient relics. Money has caused many wealthy and powerful children to live in secretarial prisons."
After the words fell, Li Shimin shouted and asked: "Is Yan Shigu here?"
It was just when Li Shimin was rectifying the officialdom that Xu Xiaode opened his mouth and hit the emperor's sore spot.
In order to rectify the officialdom, even Gao Shilian retired to make way for Li Shimin.
Zhang Yang stood up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the administration of Qingming by officials is the foundation of the country. If such a matter is discovered by such a secretary, it must be investigated! I believe that if this matter is true, it should be severely punished."
As the initiator of this incident, Zhang Yang came out and pushed him unkindly.
Who told you to impeach me every day? Come on!
Let's take advantage of each other to see who can't survive first. Everyone in your impeachment alliance claims to be aloof.
Fight! No one can live in peace anymore.
A figure walked out of the class, and it was Yan Shigu. His steps were a little panicked, and he bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the Secretary's Office is where students study classics. They often organize various books, and I have never accepted property!"
At this time, Su Dan, who was also the secretary's supervisor, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, since Yan Shigu took office in the secretary's supervisor's office, he relied on the name of his grandfather Yan Zhitui to make friends with powerful people everywhere. You know, there are indeed many businessmen in the secretarial prison."
Yan Shigu closed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the secretaries, supervisors, and officials are all eager to learn."
Li Shimin said in a deep voice, "Have you ever suppressed poor scholars?"
The court was very quiet. The emperor didn't know Yan Shigu's virtues, but most civil servants understood.
Ever since the prince compiled the Han Dynasty and was rewarded by his majesty, he has become more unscrupulous in his actions and has a wide circle of friends in Chang'an City.
Pride can make people careless, and because of the prince's affairs, he became even more arrogant.
Different stances lead to different ways of acting. The civil servants of Yan Shigu's faction were all members of the gentry, and they were also the faction that had always been the loudest in opposing the imperial examination system and the official school system.
He is also a supporter of the old system of aristocratic families.
Yan Shigu looked at Xu Xiaode and said, "Xu Xiaode, you can be considered a descendant of the Xu family in Donghai. You have always relied on others to help you when you moved in. Why are you impeaching me?"
Xu Xiaode bowed and said: "Even if Zhang Shangshu's local officials in Lishan want to impeach him for doing something wrong, the same is true for Yan Shaojian. If Yan Shaojian has not done this, he will naturally not impeach him without proof."
"You! What proof do you have?"
Xu Xiaode bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask if Tang Guan, the young minister of household affairs, is here."
Tang Guan walked out of the courtroom in response, "Your Majesty is here."
Xu Xiaode added: "I dare to ask how the young official entered the secretarial prison in the first place."
Tang Guan first saluted Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, I know what I know and dare not hide it. When I was able to enter the Secretary's Prison, it was because my father, Tang Jian, gave Yan Shigu many antiquities, and then I entered the Secretary's Prison."
Xu Xiaode added: "May I ask, Young Master, how did you enter the Ministry of Household Affairs?"
At this moment, Tang Jian, who was standing in the morning class, looked livid and stared at his son.
Tang Guan added: "It was my father Tang Jian. My father felt that the official had not made much progress in the secretary's office, so he gave Master Yan a thousand guan of ancient silver coins and several rare antiques, and then recommended the official to the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Lu Chengqing, and Lu Shangshu also readily accepted it."
Yan Shigu turned pale as he listened to Tang Guan telling the facts sentence by sentence.
The discussion in the court became even louder.
Li Shimin closed his eyes and endured the anger in his heart, "Tang Jian!"
Tang Jian walked out of the courtroom in panic, "Your Majesty!"
"Do you know your guilt?"
"I...I know the crime."
"Your Majesty, I thought that the imperial censor of the Tang Dynasty also wanted his son to become a talented person, so he came up with this policy. Otherwise, he would not have given gifts to Yan Shigu. As the saying goes, flies cannot bite perfect eggs."
Zhang Yang just made another assist at the right time.
"Flies don't bite, hahaha..." Li Shimin sneered, "Okay, how long has it been since the imperial examination ended, and there is such a thing happening in my court!"
Zhang Yang added: "Your Majesty, I believe that the administration of court officials is a top priority and should be strictly investigated and dealt with. A good person cannot be wronged, let alone a bad person."
After saluting again, Zhang Yang added: "I am a good person."
Hearing the conclusiveness of these words, I thought to myself that I haven't said how to check yet, but you kid can speak quickly.
Li Shimin nodded and said: "Mr. Zheng!"
Wei Zheng took a step forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."
"This matter will be thoroughly investigated by Zhongshu Province, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and Dali Temple. I will arrest all the people who are seeking favoritism!"
"His Majesty!"
Another sentence sounded in the hall.
"I believe that the property should be confiscated as a warning to others. Until the investigation is carried out, the relevant people should not leave Chang'an City for fear that someone will escape." Zhang Yang saluted again after saying this.
Seeing Zhang Yang return to his position, Li Shimin had a feeling in his heart that when this boy returned to the court, the court would never be quiet again.
Zhang Yang led his team from the Ministry of Rites to salute Li Shimin and said, "Rectify the administration of officials and bring order to the court. Your Majesty is wise!"
The ministers followed and saluted, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Li Shimin stood up and glanced at the ministers in the palace, "Zhang Yang, the Minister of Rites, Xu Xiaode, the chief official of the East Palace, Tang Jian and Tang Guan came to the Ganlu Palace to discuss matters, and Zhongshu Sheng led people to investigate Yan Shigu and his ilk!"
"Here!" Zhang Yang responded with a loud voice.
