Imperial Palace in the capital, imperial study room

Zhou Chengxuan sat on the dragon throne and kept flirting with memorials.

"Urgent report, urgent report, and urgent report!"

"Either you want money or food! There is no good news. What does the imperial court keeps these officials for food on weekdays!"

"Bang!"

Zhou Chengxuan, who was very unhappy, slapped a memorial on the table and was furious.

Since returning from the border patrol, the Empress Dowager intends to temper Zhou Chengxuan and gradually begins to let him interfere in government affairs.

Zhou Chengxuan was originally very excited, but when he really worked, he realized that the emperor was not so easy to be accustomed to. Just reviewing memorials was enough to make him tired.

Not to mention that it is still a year of great disasters, and the reports from all over the country are one after another, piled up higher than people, and they are busy day and night.

At this time, there were only three people in the imperial study room, Your Majesty, Empress Dowager and Shangguan Taiqing, who were actually all their own family members.

"Your Majesty, please be careful not to be impatient. If you get angry, your body will be bad." Shangguan Taiqing hurriedly bowed and said.

Zhou Chengxuan held his forehead angrily and did not speak. Judging from the memorials from these newspapers, tens of thousands of people died in each section of Jiangnan within a month. How could he not be angry?

"The people below are really too unreasonable!" The Empress Dowager also frowned and said, "The court has also given the silver and the food and supplies, and so many people have died today!"

Shangguan Taiqing smiled bitterly, blinked at the Queen Mother and said, "It's not that there is no good news. Now the plague spread has been stopped, and isn't this a prescription for curing diseases? The patients around the capital have already

Many people have recovered, and I believe that this plague will be completely solved in no time."

After hearing this, Zhou Chengxuan's face eased a lot, and he frowned and asked, "Uncle, what should you do next? Didn't the Ministry of Revenue have lost money long ago? What else can I use to provide disaster relief?"

"The only way to ask local governments to raise disaster relief supplies on their own, and then the capital will draw silver from the prefectures with mild disasters to support the disaster area."

"Can the governments in various places still pay out the money? I'm afraid I can't squeeze out much, right?" Shangguan Wanrong said in confusion.

"No matter how many there are, it's better than nothing." Shangguan Taiqing whispered: "It's a little bit."

"Oh~"

Zhou Chengxuan sighed: "Okay, just follow my uncle's wishes and issue an order to the various governments tomorrow."

"Abide by the order!"

Zhou Chengxuan stood up and said viciously: "When the disaster is over, I must deal with the officials who are not doing their job well! Look at the people in Beiliang and Liaodong! How well they did!"

Although Zhou Chengxuan was young, he was not a fool. He knew that the officials below had not tried their best to provide disaster relief, but he still couldn't take action to deal with them.

Shangguan Taiqing smiled helplessly when he heard this, and nude his mouth towards the Empress Dowager.

Shangguan Wanrong understood immediately and said softly: "Okay, Your Majesty, don't be angry. It's late, go back and rest first."

Zhou Chengxuan also felt a little tired and bowed and said, "My son is leaving!"

"Your Majesty walk slowly~"

Shangguan Wanrong waited for Zhou Chengxuan to walk away before speaking: "Brother, just say anything if you have anything."

Shangguan Taiqing smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty has been too radical now. He has executed many officials on Tai'an Road, which has caused panic among the people of the neighboring prefectures and counties."

The empress dowager frowned: "If you don't do anything well, shouldn't you be killed?"

"It's good to kill the chicken to warn the monkey. There are a lot of killings. Now, there are still not many officials to be drawn to fill the vacancy. It's time to use people. As for these people, it's not too late to kill them when the plague has passed." Shangguan Tai

A meaningful smile appeared on Qing's face.

Shangguan Wanrong said angrily: "Why not kill me? I heard that some local officials embezzled the food and money for the court to provide disaster relief, and they were all well-eared. Merchants hoarded medicine, food and grass, and raised prices on the land, making a fortune in the national crisis, and making a lot of money.

It’s a lot of money! These people can’t help but get rid of the hatred in their hearts if they don’t kill them!”

"Haha, keep them first and kill them slowly, I'm useful." Shangguan Taiqing smiled slightly.

Seeing his brother's calm appearance, Shangguan Wanrong looked at him curiously, and then asked with a hint of point:

"Brother, I heard that many people have visited your mansion recently, and they all have brought great gifts?"

"Haha, that's right, nothing can be hidden from the Queen Mother's eyes."

"Why are they going?"

"Of course I'm asking for an official position. I've killed many officials, so someone has to make up for the vacant positions, right?"

Shangguan Wanrong was a little unhappy and said in a deep voice: "It's the year of great disasters. These guys have the money to buy and sell official positions, but they don't provide disaster relief. Brother, you're doing this a bit too much. If this matter is spread, you

Where can you put your Majesty’s face? You are Your Majesty’s uncle!”

"Ha ha."

What surprised the Queen Mother was that his brother was not only not ashamed, but instead laughed: "Sister, haven't you seen anything from this?"

"What?" The Empress Dowager looked puzzled.

"When I first became the Minister of Works, there were only a few people who came to visit, and no one was willing to join my Shangguan family. Look at the moment, these people are hurried to us.

Why?

Because Tailei has gained a firm foothold in Nanjiang Road, and we have also inserted it into the Ministry of War. His Majesty is getting bigger and bigger and will take power in a few years. The ministers have seen the momentum of the resurgence of the imperial power, so they

All turned upside down!

Shouldn't this be worth our happiness?"

Shangguan Wanrong nodded with some understanding and hesitated: "Brother is right, but it is always bad to accept gifts on a large scale."

Shangguan Taiqing raised a finger and said, "I am useful to these people. Plagues and famine will pass. The ultimate target of our struggle is the Yuwen lineage and the aristocratic families that depend on them.

But it is not enough to fight them by ourselves and His Majesty who have not yet grown up. We also need a large number of officials who work hard for us.

Most of the people who come to give gifts and buy officials may be fences, but there will always be a few available people, and small people are smarter.

As I just said, corrupt officials in each county can be killed, but I have to wait until I choose some useful people before killing them, put them in the right position to serve us and serve His Majesty!

In time, the prestige of Yuwen's lineage will be greatly reduced. At that time, hum~”

At the end of the conversation, Shangguan Taiqing sneered in his throat.

Shangguan Wanrong looked surprised, but she didn't expect that her brother was preparing such a big game of chess.

"As for the money we collected, we can go and buy people and train guards who are loyal to His Majesty. It is very useful, haha!"

The Queen Mother couldn't help but give her a thumbs up: "Brother, I'm afraid this plan wasn't something you thought of."

"That's right, this is the advice given to me by the fifth Xinrou. This guy is really a talent!" Shangguan Taiqing said with relief.

The Empress Dowager said happily: "It seems that the good days of the Yuwen family will end!"
Chapter completed!