It had only been three months since the cabinet was established, and it was also the third month since the new emperor ascended the throne. It was difficult for everyone in the court to settle down from the busyness at the beginning of this year.
Xu Jingzong missed the days when the county marquis was in the court. After the clan rebellion last year, the county marquis and Tian Khan lived in seclusion in Lishan Mountain and did not care about worldly affairs.
It's my first year now.
In the past, I could still communicate with the county magistrate and write letters, but now I can't even hand in a piece of paper.
Xu Jingzong is already one of the cabinet members. The current cabinet also includes Cen Wenwen, Ma Zhou, Chu Suiliang and Duan Zan.
There are five people in the cabinet. Why did His Majesty choose Duan Zan? It was probably because he was considering the Western Expedition.
Duan Zan had been stationed in the Anxi Protectorate for several years. He was the only one who entered the cabinet as a military general and had experience in commanding the Western Regions.
Xu Jingzong felt that Duan Zan was able to enter the cabinet because he had a clean background and was absolutely loyal to the Tang Dynasty.
Originally wanting to recommend Shangguan Yi, Xu Jingzong sighed, but all the people in the Lishan department were relatively junior, and even Zhang Xiangxiang was not capable enough.
Some people in Zhongshu Province were talking in low voices, their voices as low as mosquitoes.
"I heard that a boy named Pei Yan was assigned the position of Shaoqing of Taifu Temple."
It was Ma Zhou who spoke. Xu Jingzong knew that he was asking this question, so he replied: "The government encourages young officials to be reused. Pei Yan is a good boy. He is studious and sensible. Naturally, he can serve as the young minister of Taifu Temple and be in charge of water conservancy projects." .”
Ma Zhou frowned and said, "I heard that this child surrendered to you during the clan rebellion?"
They are members of the cabinet and make state affairs for His Majesty. They also retain their official positions. Cen Wen serves as the secretary of the Central Committee, Ma Zhou serves as the admonishment official, Chu Suiliang serves as the minister, and Duan Zan serves as the minister of the Ministry of War and the cabinet.
Xu Jingzong thought that he was also a Zhongcheng now.
Everyone's official position is the same, and everyone performs his or her duties.
Ma Zhou continued to be in charge of supervision, and Xu Jingzong continued to be in charge of the foreign affairs of the Tang Dynasty and other countries.
Listening to the other party's doubts, Xu Jingzong said: "Does Yushi Ma think that I, Xu Jingzong, make good use of my own people?"
Ma Zhou withdrew his gaze and said, "Pei Yan's appointment is indeed not yours. Now that Pei Xingjian is coming back, I just advise you not to have too much power in the court."
Xu Jingzong bowed and said, "Thank you Ma Yushi for your advice."
Ma Zhou nodded slightly and left with his people.
Just as His Majesty is a strict emperor now, people like Ma Zhou are more to the emperor's appetite.
After serving as an official for half his life, Xu Jingzong thought to himself, I also want to retire. Why hasn't Di Renjie come back yet? What on earth is this kid doing outside?
Why haven't you written any letters in the past six months?
The new official residence of Taifu Temple was built in the corner of the imperial city, and there were a few more young officials here to deal with documents on weekdays.
The previous Minister of Taifu Temple was the Marquis of Lishan County. After he left, the position of the Minister of Taifu Temple has been vacant to this day.
The DPRK has never found a suitable candidate, but it has sent a lot of files from Lishan County, which are Guanzhong soil and water records accumulated by the Marquis of Lishan County for many years.
Sanliang literati here also often read these files to learn the knowledge about water and soil management, including various measures to dredge rivers, build river embankments, return farmland to forests, and plant trees to strengthen embankments.
Pei Yan, the newly appointed Shaoqing of Taifu Temple, rarely came to the official residence for duty.
Many people rumored that this man named Pei Yan had become a disciple of Xu Jingzong in the 18th year of Zhenguan. The reason why he was able to serve as Shaoqing of Taifu Temple was because he was promoted by Xu Jingzong, the Prime Minister in the current cabinet.
I heard that the monk named Xuanzang had left Guanzhong, but I didn't know where he was going.
There are a lot of new things happening in Chang'an City. For example, there is a man named Zhang Jianzhi. He angrily scolds today's scholars for talking about benevolence, justice and morality, but acting like pigs and dogs.
This matter fell on the ears of Li Chengqian. In the palace, the new emperor looked gloomy and summoned Xu Jingzong, Chu Suiliang, and Liu Dewei because it was related to the official style. It is said that Li Yifu was also present.
They had no choice but to summon them all. Li Chengqian was really not interested in these broken facts. He just wanted to govern the country and make the Tang Dynasty strong. He could settle these broken things cleanly and make the country strong with peace of mind.
Furthermore, it was said that Pei Xingjian was coming back and planned to hand over Zuowuwei to him. Su Dingfang had resigned, and the position of General Zuowuwei was still vacant.
Today's imperial palace, Budokuden Hall, Ganlu Hall, and Lishengden Hall are all vacant and preserved.
Now Li Chengqian lives in Xingqing Palace, and the Crown Princess has become the current queen. She often said that she wanted Li Xiang to worship the Marquis of Lishan County as his disciple.
Of course, Li Chengqian also wanted to maintain a good relationship between the royal family and Lishan, and appointed Li Xiang as the prince.
However, Zhang Yang has repeatedly pushed back, but the matter has not been settled yet.
Look at Xu Jingzong and Chu Suiliang, Li Yifu and Liu Dewei in front of us.
Zhang Jianzhi, the bastard, was beaten up by the scholar scholar and is still squatting in Dali Temple waiting to be dealt with.
Although Zhang Jianzhi was very happy with his scolding, since the establishment of the imperial examination, scholars were still the main force participating in the imperial examination. Li Chengqian still wanted to give him some face, at least wipe out the value of those scholars.
It is true that Zhang Jianzhi's father was a scholar, but why did he himself scold the scholars for "talking about benevolence, righteousness and morality, praising Yao and Shun, but acting like pigs and dogs, which is extremely pitiful."
Chu Suiliang said: "Your Majesty, you should take Zhang Jianzhi's official clothes as a warning to others."
"Wait!" Xu Jingzong stood up and said, "Chu Suiliang, you are going too far."
Chu Suiliang said with a dark face: "I'll just discuss the matter."
Xu Jingzong first saluted His Majesty, and then said: "Just because of Zhang Jianzhi's words, his official uniform was taken away. Who dares to scold Shilin in the future? Do the officials in the court have to be inferior to them?" "
Chu Suiliang said: "The atmosphere in the court has been ruined by you and others. Do you have the nerve to say that?"
Xu Jingzong looked around, but was surprised to find no weapon. He stepped forward and picked up Chu Suiliang's lapel, and said angrily: "Chu, if you have the ability to attack me, how can you be a good man against this junior?"
Chu Suiliang snorted coldly: "You are so cruel in front of Your Majesty. With you in this court, how can this court be peaceful?"
Seeing this, Li Chengqian held his forehead and lowered his head, only to feel a big headache.
Seeing that Xu Jingzong had raised his fist, he was about to hit Chu Suiliang in the face.
Li Yifu quickly stopped him, "Old Xu, forget it! Forget it!"
Xu Jingzong also realized that something was wrong. Seeing that His Majesty lowered his head and did not speak, he retracted his hand and said loudly: "Okay, I won't argue with him for now."
Li Yifu just let go.
Xu Jingzong suddenly became violent again, picked up Chu Suiliang's clothes and started to hit him again.
This time, Li Yifu hadn't come to his senses yet, he only heard a scream in the hall, and Chu Suiliang was hit by the punch, causing his nose to bleed.
"enough!"
Hearing His Majesty's loud shout, Xu Jingzong quickly packed up his clothes, stood up and bowed.
Li Chengqian looked at everyone present angrily, and said: "Zhang Jianzhi made rude remarks, and the Ministry of Punishment punished him with thirty sticks. This is a lesson."
"Back then, my father accepted advice and never punished his ministers for his words, and neither would I. In the future, I can discipline such things if I can, and that's the end of the matter."
Liu Dewei, the Minister of Punishment, has not spoken yet.
Li Chengqian said again: "Xu Jingzong took action in front of the palace, but Li Yifu did not dissuade Zhang Jianzhi, and you will all be fined for one year."
Xu Jingzong bowed first and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
Li Yifu also said: "Your Majesty is wise."
Chu Suiliang covered his nose and looked angry.
Zhang Jianzhi was only punished with a cane for thirty years and was not taken away from his official uniform. Instead, he scolded the scholars this time, which made him famous.
Therefore, Xu Jingzong felt that this person who was regarded as a fool by His Highness the King of Jin might also be a talent that could be developed.
This Zhang Jianzhi is fine, and it makes people feel that the light of righteousness is shining on the earth again.
Xu Jingzong returned to his mansion and burned a stick of incense in front of a spiritual throne.
Mrs. Pei, Xu Jingzong's wife, asked curiously: "There is no name on this spiritual tablet. Who are you giving a photo to?"
"Light up the incense for me." Xu Jingzong said calmly: "Being in the court is always precarious. In order to ensure the safety of the county prince, the prince of Hejian County hung a hanging rope at home as a warning to himself."
"Now I put a memorial tablet at home to warn myself that those who do unrighteousness will be killed."
Pei asked in a low voice: "So you are going to do good things in the future?"
Xu Jingzong waved his hand and said, "I always only do good things."
Mrs. Pei packed some clothes, including many of Di Renjie's clothes. She said quietly: "I don't know where the kid Renjie went or when he will come back. There is no news."
Xu Jingzong was also silent.
Forget about hanging a hanging rope in other people's homes, Xu Jingzong also placed an empty memorial tablet at home and lit incense from time to time.
Rumors abound that this incident is unlucky.
Only Xu Jingzong felt that by doing this, he could always alert himself.
There are more and more weirdos in this court.
In mid-March of the first year of Qian's reign, Pei Xingjian and Xue Rengui returned from their northern expedition. These two generals defeated Xue Yantuo and built the Hanhai Protectorate.
Xu Jingzong and Shangguan Yi personally greeted him in front of Chang'an City.
Looking from a distance, he saw a group of soldiers heading towards Chang'an City.
Shangguan Yi was now over 40 years old. He calmed down and said with a smile: "With the great victory in Mobei, our Tang Dynasty will have one more capable general."
Xu Jingzong stroked his beard and said, "The County Marquis's moves are really sharp. You can tell at a glance that this person is a talent."
Not long after, the soldiers and horses arrived. Pei Xingjian led everyone to dismount, took off their armor, and took down their weapons.
"Hahaha." Xu Jingzong stepped forward and said, "Pei Xingjian has returned with a great victory. Your Majesty has already hosted a banquet in the palace to congratulate the general."
Pei Xingjian is now in his early twenties. He smiled heartily and said: "The Tang Dynasty will be victorious!"
"The Tang Dynasty is victorious!"
The crowd of spectators also burst into cheers.
Xu Jingzong and Shangguan Yi welcomed people into the city.
Pei Xingjian asked curiously: "What happened to Chang'an City? Why is it like this? Where is the city wall?"
Shangguan Yi whispered: "They were blown up by the little princess of Lishan and Tian Khan."
Pei Xingjian was surprised and said, "Why?"
Xu Jingzong said: "What else could be the reason? It's just a whim."
Pei Xingjian took a breath, "This sudden whim is really big... A certain family has not been in Chang'an City this year. I heard that Tian Khan has abdicated and many people died."
Shangguan Yi nodded, "This matter was done by us and the county marquis."
Pei Xingjian was still in a daze and said, "What about the county marquis?"
"The county prince and Tian Khan retired together." Xu Jingzong stroked his beard and said: "There is nothing we can do about it. The county prince had to retreat, otherwise the clan would be uneasy and the court would be uneasy. But now everything is better, the county prince The marquis has entered Lingyan Pavilion, but he is still the county marquis."
Shangguan Yi led the way with a smile.
Pei Xingjian went to meet His Majesty, but Xu Jingzong did not attend the night banquet in the palace. He walked alone in the night-shrouded Chang'an city.
A figure came carrying a bucket. When the person came closer, Xu Jingzong saw clearly that the person coming was Pei Yan.
"How did you come?"
Pei Yan put down the bucket and saluted: "I'm here to offer your majesty something to eat."
Xu Jingzong asked curiously: "What to eat?"
Pei Yan opened the bucket and explained: "This is called tofu. It is the result of years of research by the county prince. The president of the King of Wei ordered his subordinates to give it to your majesty."
Pei Yan currently serves as the Shaoqing of Taifu Temple, but he has been in the academy recently and rarely moves around in front of people.
Opening the lid, Xu Jingzong frowned at the white food in the bucket and asked curiously: "What is this for?"
"It's a kind of food. Dean Wei Wang said that when he was the minister of Taifu Temple, the county prince always hoped that the Tang people's dining tables would have sumptuous dishes."
Xu Jingzong couldn't help but nod, "Yes, the county prince has always been like this. He has never forgotten his ambition."
Pei Yan said: "Just like the poem outside Zongzheng Temple, it is strong despite being attacked by the winds of east, west, south and north."
Xu Jingzong patted his shoulder. Pei Yan looked a little thin, "If you can take over the position of Taifu Temple Minister, you just need more experience."
Having said that, Pei Yan took out another drawing from his arms, "This is our preliminary construction of Yellow River management and water collection and sand flushing. We plan to build a dam on the Yellow River waterway north of Tongguan to try this time. experiment."
Xu Jingzong took the drawing and looked at the appearance of the embankment. He walked to a house next to the street and looked at it by the light of the candlelight.
When this family saw Xu Jingzong in official uniform, they did not shy away from suspicion. Instead, they raised the wick of the oil lamp to make it brighter.
The embankment of the dam is zigzag, much like the origami fans used by Lishan people today.
Pei Yan's explanation was very general, and Xu Jingzong also had a vague understanding of it. It was roughly some potential energy or inexplicable conservation laws.
Xu Jingzong did not understand these knowledge and could not keep up with the ideas. He just smiled and said: "Controlling the Yellow River is the county prince's biggest ambition since he became the minister of Taifu Temple. No matter how many people in the court oppose it, I will definitely implement it. .”
Pei Yan bowed and saluted. This Xu Zhongcheng was the first person to follow the county prince, and he was also the most determined person to follow the county prince for so many years.
For this reason, Xu Jingzong was busy and did many bad things in his spare time.
Pei Yan put a piece of tofu in a cloth bag and handed it over, "Xu Zhongcheng, just take it, and the remaining officials will send it to the palace."
Xu Jingzong took the bag, stroked his beard and smiled, "Go ahead."
I ordered a bottle of wine from a restaurant on the street, and Xu Jingzong drank it while walking. He had a smile on his face and walked happily.
After nightfall in Chang'an City, there were very few pedestrians on the streets.
Xu Jingzong walked alone on Zhuque Street, sometimes walking quickly and sometimes laughing.
He suddenly said: "To be successful in life, you must have all the joy, and don't let the golden bottle stand empty against the moon."
This is a verse from the Lishan Psalm.
Xu Jingzong is now in the cabinet and has become the center of power. He has become what he dreamed of being.
When he returned home drunk, he looked up to the sky and laughed, "This dream in this world cannot fill my old Xu's heart!" (End of Chapter)
