Chapter 2 Kangzong Chapter 2 The Era of Assistant Government
Who was the most powerful in the Han Empire in the second year of Pingkang? This is a question worth exploring.
The first to be eliminated was Emperor Liu Wenpeng, who should have legitimately held the highest power in the empire. Then Yongxi's ministers firmly controlled the power, and then Empress Dowager Murong made a series of unpopular moves. As for the emperor himself, even Emperor Taizong was left behind.
How much wealth we have has not yet been fully accounted for.
The situation in which the leader was weak and the ministers were strong continued after the "Palace Transfer Case" in the spring of the second year of Pingkang, and it was amplified to a certain extent. The impression of "your majesty is weak" really entered the court officials for the first time.
people's psychology, and the political pattern of "everyone assists the country" has also become a reality.
When it comes to power, of course, we have to find it from the job of the political affairs hall. From the Kaibao period, Shangshu Ling became the de facto prime minister of the empire. This has long been a consensus, even if it is not mentioned in the "Han Huidian"
There are only a few words to explain the position of "Prime Minister", but this conventional consensus has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the upper class of the empire.
Therefore, Zhang Qixian, as Shangshu Ling, is undoubtedly one of the most powerful figures in the empire. However, more eye-catching, or perhaps more surprising, than this elder of the Three Dynasties, is Zhongshu Ling, Lu
Wang Liuyan.
Since the time of Shizu, King Lu has not been an outstanding person. His talents and merits have been overshadowed by the light of his brothers who are like dragons and tigers. Even his reputation is not as good as that of Liu Hui and Liu Shu, who are so troubled. "
A prince with a lot of bad things.
Low-key is his style, and mediocrity is the deepest impression he brings to people. Even if he was promoted to "imperial minister" at the end of Kaibao, it was "shit luck". Wu Gong Liu Hui was angered by "abolition of the Imperial City Siyi"
Shizu was deposed from the prime ministership, and Yan Gong Liu Zhao was humble about his duty and retired. Only then did Shizu pay attention to this eighth son.
To a certain extent, it can be said that Lu Wang Liu Ai was able to be active in the political arena of the Han Dynasty from the end of the Kaibao period. It was almost an accident and coincidence. Power and fame almost fell to him from the sky.
And in the nearly twenty years before and after, it is difficult to find out how outstanding his achievements and deeds were. Even though he was conferred the title of king by Emperor Taizong and promoted to the rank of Central Secretary, in the eyes of the public ministers and officials, he was still the same
The mediocre "eighth prince", he is based on the capital of the political hall, and the role he plays in the center of imperial power is only due to his status, just because the system established by Emperor Shizu requires a role with such a status to occupy the court.
No matter how King Lu Liu Ai felt about such a role, he grasped it very well. Moreover, he spent the entire Yongxi era, and even placed him in the position of assistant minister when Emperor Taizong came.
in the column.
From this perspective, how can Lu Wang Liu Ai be explained by his superficial "foolishness" and "mediocrity"?
It was precisely during the period of administration after the "Palace Transfer Case" that he truly showed his true character and allowed his clan members, ministers and officials to see a trace of Liu Yan's true appearance.
Through the "Gong Move" operation, Liu Yan, Zhang Qixian and other Yongxi ministers reached a political alliance. This alliance may not be strong, and it is difficult to say how long it will last, but at least after suppressing the Empress Dowager Murong and Murong's relatives, they
Controlling the progress of the Han Empire and maintaining order in the court.
It goes without saying that the importance of ordering the country, the country, the national economy and the people's livelihood is the positive significance of this political alliance, which also established the political pattern of the entire Han Empire in the second year of Pingkang.
In this pattern, the most prominent ones are Lu Wang Liu Ai and Shangshu Ling Zhang Qixian. There is even a clear division of labor between the two parties. Zhang Qixian, the prime minister of state affairs, is responsible for the specific handling and implementation of military affairs just like Emperor Taizong was during his time. However,
It has gained more power to discuss affairs, make decisions and make decisions than before. Of course, it is inevitable that the efficiency will become lower, because all the ministers cannot be unanimous, and there is always internal tension.
The role of King Liu Ai of Lu was to work with the ministers, coordinate the relationship between the internal and external courts, and deal with the affairs of various countries, clans, and kings. The core point is that he is the son of Shizu and the auxiliary minister appointed by Taizong.
Participate in national affairs on behalf of the royal family to ensure the stability of the empire and the security of the country.
Against this background, Lu Wang Liu Ai gradually gained a certain sense of justice and orthodoxy. His power and prestige were constantly increasing, and correspondingly, troubles and pressure were also constantly accumulating.
"Regent" is by no means an easy position to occupy. It is not an exaggeration to say that you are sitting on the stove and roasting. If you don't pay attention, you may even die without a burial place.
As far as Lu Wang Liu Ai was concerned, there was an emperor named Liu Wenpeng. The emperor was young, but he was not an ignorant young master. Any reckless and extreme move could bring huge impact and trouble to Liu Ai.
At the same time, the cooperation with Yongxi's ministers may be shattered at any time. These Taizong veterans were able to fear King Zhao Liu Fang before and cooperated with Queen Mother Murong to force him back. When King Lu's authority was truly established, the same could be said.
It is impossible to remain indifferent.
At the same time, inside and outside the court, there were endless dissatisfaction and even voices over the situation where King Lu and Yongxi's ministers controlled the government and power was not vested in the emperor.
Today's emperor is the orthodox emperor. Taizong retained auxiliary ministers to assist Bi from the side, rather than letting King Lu and others exercise imperial power on their behalf.
If Empress Dowager Murong's rough and hasty operations only made people feel dissatisfied, then after the "Gong Move Case", the accusations and criticisms of Yongxi's ministers were made clear, because no matter what
Even if there is a reason to "prevent the harem from interfering in politics", the legal rationality is not strong after all.
After all, Empress Dowager Murong did not reach the point of causing anger and resentment. To be fair, the occurrence of the "Palace Relocation Case", apart from preventing Empress Dowager Murong from further tormenting the Han Dynasty, did not bring any more benefits to such a huge empire.
This incident actually weakened the absolute authority of the central government of the imperial court and completely exposed the young emperor's inability to control the empire. This was a matter of major political risk and brought huge uncertainty to the operation of the empire.
I won’t talk about those strata that are not at a high level and cannot be contacted, but at least the powerful people in the capital, high-ranking local officials, feudal officials and even the feudal kings do not have a clear understanding of this, but at least they have some opinions.
Of course, with the central authority of the empire that has been strong for more than half a century, and the state system that is still operating stably, these people will not lose their respect for the court and the central government.
However, he is dissatisfied from the bottom of his heart towards the situation of "the leader is weak and the minister is strong" and "auxiliary ministers are in power".
They may not be very loyal and convinced of the emperor Liu Wenpeng, but the fact is that they can accept a young emperor to guide the country and issue orders to them, but it is difficult to tolerate someone exercising power "on behalf of heaven".
The power of the emperor has legal explanations and the maintenance of moral traditions. It was given by the ancestors and the two generations of emperors Taizong. Being young is not the reason for the ministers to rely on power and arrogance to carry out state affairs on their behalf. Instead, they only rely on a "Taizong's edict".
A "status of assistant minister" obviously cannot explain all their actions since they became assistant ministers, and there are many things that can be criticized.
And this dissatisfaction obviously cannot be just out of loyalty to the emperor and the maintenance of legality. It will inevitably be mixed with some disputes over power and interests. And once these are involved, contradictions, conflicts, and struggles cannot be avoided.
of.
It is conceivable that after the empress dowager moved to the palace, the internal fighting in the Han Empire did not stop. On the contrary, it continued one after another and became more and more intense. The cry of "returning power to the emperor" was shouted from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, from spring and summer to autumn and winter.
