After reading the letter of surrender, the emperor took a deep breath: "Lao Wu, lying about this kind of thing is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
The emperor's first reaction was that Lao Wu was so bold that he wrote a false story to deceive himself.
"This is such a serious matter, how dare I lie?"
"Just now, the golden tiger sent by my ministers returned from the east of the river."
"Zhou Jiao promised to stop the war and accept all the conditions of the court, including the return of the prisoners!"
Zhou Ming was impassioned.
The emperor stared at him carefully and said nothing.
After a long time, he suddenly nodded: "You did a good job in this matter."
Zhou Ming said loudly: "This is what a son should do!"
"Is there anything else?" the emperor asked again.
"Um?"
The emperor raised his hand slightly, and someone handed him a tea bowl. He took a sip and then asked: "Now that you have obtained Zhoujiao, do you think you got a lot of information from others?"
"For example, why was the second brother defeated?"
Hearing this question, Zhou Ming's heart suddenly twitched. Before he could respond, the emperor said again: "For another example, Lao Liu spent a long time at Jishan Pass and only went in at the end. What on earth was going on? You figured it out. ?”
"Report to my father." Zhou Ming had obviously already responded, as if he was hesitant to speak: "I did get some news about this matter, but..."
"But what?" The emperor suddenly smiled: "You have made such a great contribution, what else do you dare not say? Just say it!"
"Yes!" Zhou Mingyi leaned over: "As far as I know, the reason why the second emperor brother was defeated was because of the sixth emperor brother!"
"oh?"
Before coming, Zhou Ming had already made a decision: first ease the second child and trample the sixth child to death!
"According to what Zhou Jiao said, the Sixth Emperor's brother intends to cooperate with Guo Zhenyue. In the previous battle at Mangshan, it was Guo Zhenyue who deliberately helped the Sixth Emperor's brother become famous."
"And when Guo Zhenyue was fighting with the second emperor brother, the sixth emperor brother leaked military information, causing the second emperor brother to lose and the entire army fell to the north bank."
"He will take advantage of Guo Zhenyue and achieve some so-called military exploits, in order to win the favor of your father."
"Who would have thought that a Zhou Jiao would show up halfway and ruin his plan..."
Snapped!
After listening to Zhou Ming's words, the emperor threw the tea bowl to the ground angrily, and a murderous look flashed in his eyes: "How brave!"
Great, seeing how angry he was... Zhou Ming knelt down with a look of fear on his face: "Father, calm down!"
"It's logical. It can even be said to be perfect. It's such a good plan. It even deceived me!"
The emperor smiled coldly and stared at Zhou Ming with a cold gaze: "You have done the great work, Lao Wu, but you can tell me how this matter will end? What kind of reward do you want for recruiting Zhoujiao and pacifying Hedong?"
It's coming, it's coming, the biggest one is coming... Zhou Ming tried his best to suppress the corners of his mouth and said sincerely: "As the emperor's heir, it is his duty to share the worries of his father. I don't ask for any reward! It's just something wrong. , I think it has to be corrected."
"explain!"
"First of all, whether it is the Mangshan Salt Factory or the conquest of Hedong, Lao Liu has the strong support of the great farmer Lu Huang. Now that Lao Liu has made such a big mistake, Lu Huang must take responsibility!"
As soon as Zhou Ming finished speaking, the emperor said: "Although Lu Huang is in charge of money and food, he has always been an upright official and is known throughout the world. Without concrete evidence, if he arbitrarily touches the nine ministers, I am afraid that the government and the public will criticize him."
"What my father said is true." Zhou Ming cupped his hands and said, "Sikong can come forward and imprison him temporarily. When everything becomes clear, he can be questioned again!"
The Great Xia had a two-dynasty system of internal and external dynasties. The inner dynasty was dominated by Cao Shangshu in the Shangshutai, who were mainly responsible for decision-making; while the outer dynasty was all under the system of Sangong and Jiuqing.
Coupled with the invitation system of Daxia, it can be said that every official who reaches the level of Sangong and Jiuqing is famous all over the world.
Regardless of whether it is true or not, at least in people's mouths, all of them are moral models. In addition to official positions, they often also have some auras similar to "a fish hanging in the air refuses a bribe" or "lying on the ice to ask for a carp".
Therefore, if the superiors want to move them, they may use several methods:
1. The evidence is solid and fair;
2. Lose your reputation. For example, if you are famous for your righteousness, then find loopholes in you to prove your unrighteousness and break your halo;
Third, that is to follow the institutional procedures. For example, if Lu Huang is the chief minister, his chief officer, Si Kong, will be responsible for him.
Can the emperor ignore these and go straight to Lu Huang?
Of course, you can kill his whole family.
The question is, you want face, but the emperor doesn’t want face?
The emperor's 'name' is more valuable, right?
After getting the emperor's consent, Zhou Ming's eyes were fierce: "The Huangfu family is deeply involved in this, we can't let it go!"
The emperor's expression was indifferent: "The Huangfu family has been a general for generations, guarding the border and the pillar of the northwest. How can we move lightly?"
"In the past, in the northwest, the imperial court had to rely on the Huangfu family. It happened to take the opportunity to do something to make the Huangfu family obey the imperial court." Zhou Ming smiled treacherously: "You can still make them work, but you can also avoid them by taking advantage of the opportunity to reduce their marginal power. He’s getting bigger day by day.”
"You see clearly." The emperor's eyes flashed: "Go on, is there anything else?"
"And Mrs. Zhen!"
Zhen is not going to let this kid go, he has done a great job... The emperor whispered in his heart and shook his head slowly: "Zhen just presented the refined salt production method not long ago, and now I am attacking him, I am afraid that the people in the world will say that I am unkind. .”
"This matter does not worry my father." Zhou Ming bowed his hand again: "Zhen Wu is in the army, salt production method has appeared in Hedong, Zhen Wan is engaged to Lao Liu... With all these things, how can Zhen escape? Is it related?"
"My son, I will first find a reason to control the whole family. When it is found out, my father will forgive his life. What else can others say?"
After talking about the Zhen family, Zhou Ming did not mention the small characters such as Qian's Casino and Xu Yan again.
Lu Huang, the ninth minister in charge of finance, was Lao Liu's greatest help among officials;
Although the Huangfu family is far away in the northwest, they have been a powerful general for many generations. Once they actively get involved in the matter of seizing the direct descendants, their energy will be huge;
Although the Zhen family is not in the court, their money is in the sky, so they have to guard against it.
After taking these three pillars, plus the evidence sent by Zhou Jiao, I am still afraid that the sixth child will not die! ?
"Every corner and every corner is really clean for you."
The emperor half-smiled, and finally asked: "What about Lao Liu?"
"His Majesty!"
At this moment, the emperor's uncle Zhou Chong, who had been silent all the time, spoke up: "Your Majesty, we are all the heirs of the imperial family, please be merciful!"
"What the emperor said is true." The emperor shook his sleeves and said to Zhou Ming: "Lao Wu, did you hear that? Your emperor asked you to be lenient and merciful."
This sentence put the question in front of the two of them: whether Zhou Che should be treated harshly or leniently, it was Zhou Ming, the 'hero' who had the final say!
Zhou Chong was a little confused at this moment.
When Zhou Ming didn't come, the emperor told him: Zhou Ming collaborated with the enemy, and the handle fell into Zhou Che's hands.
But now... Zhou Ming actually has the handle on Zhou Che's collaboration with the enemy! ?
Which of these two princes is traitorous and who is loyal?
But he can't control so much. Zhou Chong's mission will always be only one, and that is to make peace.
He used his legitimate authority to minimize the damage caused by the fierce internal fighting among the royal family.
"Your Highness the Fifth Prince!"
He turned around and saluted Zhou Ming: "Brothers, please be lenient in everything!"
"The emperor's uncle broke me!" Zhou Ming quickly held him up and sighed: "I also want to be lenient, but the sixth emperor's brother is with the thieves. How can we be lenient to such a heinous crime?"
"Your Majesty the Fifth Prince..."
"There is no need to say anything, uncle." Zhou Ming gritted his teeth and seemed to have made up his mind in pain: "When the evidence is confirmed, please be fair and remove Lao Liu from the ancestral hall, strip him of his Zhou surname, demote him to a commoner... and then implement the law!"
Zhou Chong suddenly raised his head.
He is old, but he is not yet senile.
Through the fake pain on Zhou Ming's face, he saw a fierce killing intent hidden deep in the prince's eyes!
Zhou Ming must continue acting, because if he wants to depose and kill a prince, he must follow the procedures of Zong Zhengfu.
If this imperial uncle is determined to protect his people and wants to kill them all... it will be difficult!
"Uncle Emperor, it's not that I can't tolerate the Sixth Emperor's brother."
"But as the emperor's heir, he secretly collaborated with the bandits, causing heavy casualties to our Daxia soldiers."
"If such a serious crime is not severely punished, why will the people be angry?"
Zhou Chong's beard trembled: "If it is made public, how will the royal family retain its dignity?"
Zhou Ming sneered in his heart.
Make it public? If we let it go completely, do you still have to be lenient?
"Some things cannot be completely frank. Because of this, some people have to learn from the law!" Zhou Ming said.
