Chapter 433: Keep a low profile and bide your time
Before the arrival of the twenty-eighth year of Kaibao, another grand funeral was held in Xijing City, with snow dancing all over the sky. Perhaps because Luoyang is originally a white world, when white flags stand in the forest and ghost coins fly, white blends with white.
It’s not so abrupt in this snow season.
The funeral of Qin King Liu Xu was, strictly speaking, just a memorial service. Liu Xu's body was buried in the Andong Tomb. As for the Han Dynasty Emperor's Mausoleum, he was only buried symbolically with clothes. But even if it was just a memorial service, the specifications
It is so high and the scene is so grand that it can be called the fourth time since the founding of the Han Dynasty.
The first three times were the great ancestor Liu Zhiyuan, the empress dowager Li and the empress Fu. From this perspective, we can see Liu Xu’s status in Emperor Liu’s mind. But everything is too much, and when Emperor Liu raised Liu Xu so high, below
It's inevitable that there will be a lot of strange stories.
In the eyes of some people, no matter how noble Liu Xu's status is, he is still just a concubine. What's more, since he has enfeoffed Anton, he already belongs to a foreign vassal. It is a special grace for the King of Qin to retain his title. Although there is a saying that death will lead to mourning, but
Such a big funeral ceremony and extraordinary treatment are hard to win over people's hearts. People who do not match their virtues have been easily criticized since ancient times.
One can imagine how the old emperor would react when such remarks reached his ears. What was originally a pot of cold oil was quickly stimulated into a pot of exploding hot oil. Those rumors were like cold water as cold as snow.
As a result, a retaliatory dismissal of officials took place again. Dozens of officials in the capital were demoted, and instead of being sent to the border areas in the traditional way, they were all driven to Anxi and Nanyang by Emperor Liu.
Emperor Liu was very angry, not only because of the rumors, but also because those people dared to speak and criticize. They were so courageous and so strong that Emperor Liu felt that he was too old to be able to control others.
In fact, in the old emperor's state, he was very restrained and extremely tolerant without killing anyone. However, compared to the demotion of officials, there is one thing that is more frightening, that is, among the demoted officials, some
More than two-thirds of them are East Palace staff or people involved with the East Palace. In summary, they come from the "princeling party", which really can't help but give rise to many bad associations.
Therefore, after entering the New Year, Prince Liu Yang has obviously kept a low profile and his presence is much less. Except for important meetings of the court, he almost does not appear in front of people. With the arrival of the New Year, everything is trying hard to recover, but the Han Dynasty court has fallen into
Silence, even if it is the Shangyuan Festival, the scene is still grand, the subjects are still lively, but Emperor Liu is still lonely, becoming more and more boring
It was late at night, and the Qianyuan Palace banquet ended as usual. Under the dark sky and the cold night wind, Prince Liu Yang and Deputy Privy Councilor Murong Defeng were walking between the palace rooms drunkenly, slowly.
Heading towards the East Palace.
Probably because there had been too many fireworks before, the air was not that fresh, and there was still a lot of pungent smell left. Ever since Murong Defeng was promoted to deputy privy envoy, the monarch and his ministers rarely walked together like this.
, since each performs his or her own duties and cannot escape, he also needs to avoid suspicion.
However, no matter how the situation changes, Murong Defeng is Liu Yang's closest, most trusted, and most dependent official. Of course, considering the existence of Ma Huaiyu, it is reasonable to add "one" after these "three most"
.
"Your Highness, I heard a piece of news earlier, saying that Your Majesty intends to let Duke Yan replace His Highness the Prince of Jin and enter the political affairs hall to handle the affairs." Murong Defeng followed Liu Yang respectfully, but the palace lantern failed to illuminate his entire face.
His face, but the words he spoke can reflect his expression: "These days, there are a lot of rumors in and out of the palace. I don't know about this. Is it a rumor?"
Upon hearing the question, Liu Yang's pace was still slow and slow, without much change, but after a while, he nodded and said: "That's what happened, but the tenth brother refused."
Duke Yan Liu Zhao ranks tenth among the brothers. Of course, more importantly, he was born to Empress Fu and is Liu Yang's younger brother. From the perspective of inheritance law, in terms of the inheritance qualifications of the princes
, second only to Liu Yang.
However, Liu Zhaoyi has never shown extraordinary talents, and Liu Zhaoyi has not shown similar ambitions. His growth trajectory is also the same as that of ordinary princes in the later years. There is nothing special. Therefore, there are few people.
focus on.
However, when Emperor Liu suddenly issued an edict to allow Liu Zhao to enter the political hall as prime minister and participate in central government affairs, it inevitably aroused some people's associations and speculations. At this time, many people seemed to realize again that this was also the direct descendant of the Han Dynasty.
prince
As a die-hard supporter of Liu Yang, Murong Defeng naturally belongs to those who have rich associations. Seeing the prince's calm reaction, he asked: "I wonder what your majesty means by this move?"
There was something in Murong Defeng's words that was difficult to understand, but Liu Yang clearly received it. He glanced at him, put his hands behind his back, and said calmly: "Didn't you already say that? In place of the King of Jin, you will serve as counselor to the government.
, there needs to be a seat for members of the royal family in the political hall!”
Is that just that? Murong Defeng was secretly scheming, but looking at Liu Yang, he was obviously pretending to be stupid. After hesitation, Liu Yang spoke: "The tenth brother refused. The reason is that he has insufficient talent and virtue and has not practiced.
Government affairs are difficult to handle, so Your Majesty must find someone else who can be worthy."
"I dare to ask directly, what is your Majesty's attitude?" Murong Defeng's eagerness was almost written on his face.
In response to this, Liu Yang showed a faint smile on his face: "Your Majesty agreed, and talked to the seventh brother, and the edict will be issued within these three or two days."
When he heard that it was Liu Hui, Duke of Wu, Murong Defeng's wonderful expression returned to calm. Obviously, in his opinion, Liu Hui was not a big threat. Liu Hui's literary talent was very good, and he could almost be called the best in the capital. In poetry
Shang Geng and Li Yu are both called "Southern Li and Northern Liu", but similarly, they are indispensable for their shortcomings of being high-minded but low-handed, and they are vain and flashy. Even if they dance happily, it is difficult to cause fear.
What happened during the Henan Metropolitan Government's tax reform had already made many ministers see the seventh prince clearly, and now he would not be noticed by important ministers like Murong Defeng.
As if aware of Murong Defeng's relaxed aura, Liu Yang spoke in a calm tone and said something that surprised him: "I have been working hard on state affairs for these years without stopping, and I am really tired. I decided to ask your Majesty for a
Take a vacation, leave the government for a while, cultivate your moral character, and live a relaxed life."
Hearing this, Murong Defeng frowned and boldly observed Liu Yang carefully. Under the dim light, his face was still calm and hazy. After thinking for a while, Murong Defeng sighed softly: "Why?
this?"
Liu Yang was silent for a moment, shook his head and sighed softly: "Dong Palace has seen a lot of people leave during this time, and it feels a little lonely! Rixin, do you intend to serve somewhere else? With your current qualifications, you can become a frontier official.
, it’s a natural thing.”
Murong Defeng's brows furrowed even more tightly, and his mind was spinning rapidly, thinking about the intention of the prince's words. After a while, he calmly raised his hands and asked, "I obey your highness's will!"
"Liaodong Road and Yanshan South Road, one of the two!" Liu Yang said.
Murong Defeng naturally wanted to go to Liaodong, but considering Liu Yang's starting point for doing this, he hesitated and solemnly responded: "I would like to go to Yanshan South Road."
"Okay!" Liu Yang's answer was also brief and powerful.
The monarch and his ministers walked for a while, until they reached Xuanhui Gate. They stopped and looked at the majestic and heavily guarded palace gate. Liu Yang murmured in his mouth: "Thousands of rocks and canyons have been built without hesitation. Only when you look at it from a distance can you tell where it comes from;
How can a stream survive? It will eventually become the waves of the sea."
Hearing this, Murong Defeng's face showed a look of surprise, and he also murmured to himself: "Hide your strength and bide your time!"
Liu Yang glanced sideways at Murong Defeng, stretched out his hand, and invited with a smile: "I'm afraid you haven't had enough fun in the Qianyuan Hall. Come to my Hongde Hall and have another drink, and you won't come back until you're drunk?"
"Then I have no choice but to sacrifice my life to accompany you!" Murong Defeng responded with a smile.
In fact, in Liu Yang's planning, not only Murong Defeng, but also a large number of nobles, bureaucrats and talents he valued who were close to the East Palace were to be gradually released outside.
The purpose is very clear, not only to train talents, but also to strengthen the prince's influence and control over the local area. At the same time, the capital also makes the old emperor feel more comfortable.