Chapter 163 King Qi: Is the emperor a time traveler?
Chapter 166 Xia Yuanji’s allegiance
After retiring from the dynasty, the ministers left one after another.
As for Qi Wang's party members such as Lu Chaoyang, Yang Rong, Li Xuan and others, they did not crowd around Zhu Gaojie to flatter him. After all, they were in the Jinluan Palace, so they were embarrassed to form a clique so obviously. They couldn't talk about anything when they got home.
Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Household Affairs, was not in a good mood today. His old friend Jian Yi ended his political career in the court absurdly, which made Xia Yuanji feel as desolate as a rabbit dying and a fox dying.
"Old Minister Xia, please stay."
Xia Yuanji turned around and saw that it was Prince Qi who had been silent in the court just now. He had peach-blossom eyes, red lips and white teeth. It was hard to imagine that such a handsome young man who was quiet and docile could stir up countless storms in the government.
"Prince Qi, what's wrong with you?" Xia Yuanji bowed slightly, a little confused.
Zhu Gaojie smiled and cupped his hands and said, "I am hosting a banquet at Fudong Tower on the Qinhuai River tonight. I wonder if Mr. Xia would be kind enough to have a few cups of wine?"
Xia Yuanji waved his hand: "Forget it, the Qinhuai River is where young people go. I'm an old man and can't afford that kind of luxury. The prince's personal invitation is a great honor for me. Lao Xia, I
I understand, but the household affairs department is busy, so please forgive me for not accompanying me, please take my leave."
Just as Xia Yuanji turned around and was about to leave, Zhu Gaojie suddenly said: "Isn't it true that Master Xia doesn't know that a solitary sail is easy to sink but a group of peaks can stump it? If a person walks alone at night for a long time, he will always hit the knife edge if he is blind.
"
After the prince lost power, Xia Yuanji ruthlessly declined all communication with the East Palace and broke away from the princeling party.
King Qi was so treacherous. His seemingly casual words contained evil intentions, which directly aroused Xia Yuanji.
If he is nostalgic enough, he should live and die with the princelings at this time, why should he become a rebel?
If you ask where is the most beautiful place in Jinling City, it is of course the Qinhuai River at night.
Xia Yuanji was so drunk that he could only feel the disgusting rotten smell in the air, which was so oppressive that he could hardly breathe. He hurriedly walked to the deserted area of the boat fence. The lights here were dim, quiet and cold, and it was only then that the old minister could barely breathe.
.
At this point, Xia Yuanji's voice suddenly came.
Today, Zhu Gaojie only tied up his long black hair with a blue hairband, and wore a white robe that was slightly fluttered in the wind. He was elegant and suave, looking like an immortal.
If he was ruthless enough, he should directly join the once hostile King Qi Party and find a backer, but Xia Yuanji did not.
Xia Yuanji wanted to refute, but the words came to his lips but he couldn't say them out.
But this has always been Xia Yuanji's style of doing things. He is used to being alone, has a strong personality, and dares to challenge anyone.
"Old Minister Xia, what do you think?"
Xia Yuanji was a little helpless and replied feebly: "You win, I will go and deal with it tonight, but I have agreed in advance that just because I go to the banquet does not mean that I will be loyal to you."
Zhu Gaojie laughed wildly, picked up a white porcelain wine bottle with half a bottle of spirits left next to him, raised his head and poured it into his throat. The transparent wine slid down his throat and fell on his chest, soaking the clothes in front of his heart.
, vaguely revealing the well-defined and strong muscles under the robe.
It is difficult for the next person in power to be as sober as King Qi.
Xia Yuanji smiled: "I am a good minister of the Ministry of Finance. With my many years of hard work and great achievements, I can have a good death even if I am dismissed from office. If nothing happens, I will be a person in history in the future. Why should I sell my life?"
for you?"
Zhu Gaojie sneered and said, "If the government does not change, the Ming Dynasty will surely perish. The corrupt dignitaries you see on the boat are just a bunch of bugs bred by the incompetent government. Now that the Ming Dynasty is prosperous, it can still be supported by the national power, but the national power of the Ming Dynasty will always be limited."
What will happen one day when it fades away? Only change can prevent the foundation of Ming Dynasty from being eroded by moths!"
Zhu Gaojie pursed his lips and smiled and said: "Since Sir Xia intends to do so, I won't say much more. But I heard that the cabinet bachelor Hu Guang is very talented. I wonder if he can become the new generation head of the household department after Sir Xia?"
"Some people are alive, but he is dead; some people are dead, but he will always live in people's hearts."
After drinking heavily, Zhu Gaojie threw the bottle into the Qinhuai River with a wild posture, as if he was breathing in the sun and the moon, and the stars and the Milky Way trembled.
Xia Yuanji took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly. The strong smell of alcohol in the air made his face turn red.
"Old Minister Xia is overly concerned. I worked with him when he was supervising the country in Wenhua Palace. Although the time was only a few months, I have some understanding of Lord Xia's temper."
Even if there is no Zhu Gaojie, there will be other people in power. As long as there are people in power, "vultures" will definitely appear. Power breeds desire, desire breeds corruption, and the repetition is endless... Where there is light, there will be shadows.
Are you really willing?
I was willing to miss such an opportunity and let myself live the rest of my life in the torture of my inner demons. When I was lying on the couch, I saw this trance-like scene in front of me as soon as I closed my eyes. When I had only one breath left, I still regretted it...
The dignitaries in the capital are so extravagant here, which shows that the people of Li have been suffering for a long time. They eat from the people's fat and drink from the people's blood!
"In my eyes, no one's life is more noble, because everyone's life is in my hands and can be sacrificed as a sacrifice at any time, but they will not sacrifice in vain. After their death, their names will be
Engraved on the merit monument of the Han people, it will always be remembered by the world!"
However, how long can this situation last?
Being alone is very difficult.
Even though Xia Yuanji has now figured out the layout of this, it still doesn't help. He saw this scene of corruption and King Qi's heart-breaking remarks forever engraved in his heart. If this heartache cannot be eliminated, Xia Yuan
Ji will live in regret for the rest of his life!
Xia Yuanji's pupils shrank, as if his heart was pinched by a strong hand, making him unable to breathe.
The largest painting boat on the river, with three-story cornices, carved beams and painted edifices, is like a fairy palace in the sky. The melodious sounds of the harp and harp are flowing like fairy sounds. The dancers are dancing in the sound of the pipa. The tourists on the boat are all officials and ministers of the capital, and the dignitaries and relatives.
Niang Xipi, you’re trapped!
"It seems that Mr. Xia still cares about the Ministry of Finance." The corners of Zhu Gaojie's mouth raised slightly.
Zhu Gaojie said calmly, "There are always people in power who tacitly support changes, and there are also officials who are willing to sacrifice. But if the two appear together at the same time, it is not common. After you and me, I am afraid it will be difficult for the Ming Dynasty to encounter such a situation.
This is the opportunity. If Mr. Xia is not willing, I will not force it. You and I were born in the prosperous era of the Ming Dynasty. Looking at the dynasty at its peak in the Spring and Autumn Period, even if the official system collapses, it will only be a hundred or two hundred years later. Even if the official system is reformed, it will not happen.
It may not be possible to continue this country."
The seemingly arrogant and unruly Shangshu Xia actually has a soft spot in his heart - the world!
For Xia Yuanji, the Ministry of Hubu is more important than his life. He doesn't care who becomes the emperor, but he cares about the health of the country. Nowadays, the Ministry of Hubu is out of business. If Xia Yuanji falls, who will lead the Ministry of Hubu?
The Ministry of Husbandry is the money bag of the Ming Dynasty, and the Minister is the leader of the Ministry of Husbandry. If the leader's conduct is not correct, the conduct of the Department of Husbandry will be improper and bring trouble to the court. This is something that Xia Yuanji is obsessed with.
"Since the prince knows the bad temper of an old man like me, why do you need to say more?" Xia Yuanji said calmly, "It's just death, why should we be afraid of it? When the dynasty changed, Xia had already died once. He would die again.
It doesn’t matter if it happens once, life is full of ups and downs, Xia is going straight in this life, and he is living a free and unrestrained life with no regrets!”
In the quiet corner of the boat, a young man's calm voice suddenly came. Xia Yuanji followed the sound and looked, it was King Qi in white clothes.
Xia Yuanji paused for a moment and said disdainfully: "The Hubu is the Hubu of your Zhu family, and the Ming Dynasty is also the Ming Dynasty of your Zhu family. What does it have to do with me, Xia Yuanji?"
How can such an old man not be admired?
…
"Xia Lao Shangshu, if you want to reform, you need a powerful victim with the tacit support of the superiors. I am willing to be the tacit support of the superiors and make suggestions behind the scenes. I just don't know if Xia Lao Shangshu is willing.
Be this victim?" Zhu Gaojie asked.
Moreover, Xia Yuanji is not easily killed offline. Despite his age, this old minister is still physically strong and his boxing skills are very powerful.
Yongle Dynasty was very fierce, and there were often fights between ministers during the morning court. Xia Yuanji's temper often offended people, but with his ancestral "Xia Ji Ba Da" boxing technique, he once set a record of one fight and three fights despite his advanced age.
The record of being able to fight back is admirable.
Why don't you die?
Xia Yuanji's face turned dark: "King Qi, you are really good at it!"
Xia Yuanji's face turned cold when he heard this: "Old Xia, I have a tough mouth and won't say anything even if I bump into each other. I'll hit a knife edge while walking at night. At worst, I'll have a scar as big as the mouth of a bowl on my head. It doesn't matter where I die. I live my whole life without asking for anything."
Do you want to do whatever you want?"
No one knows what Xia Yuanji meant by this move, because it was too stupid to be done by the shrewd and capable Minister of the Ministry of Finance.
Even though he is used to seeing darkness, Xia Yuanji still finds it difficult to accept: "If Ming officials are like this, in the future Ming..."
"You saw the darkness but didn't dare to speak out, so what's the difference between you and those in the darkness? According to the law of the Ming Dynasty, the criminals will be protected and punished with the same crime!"
The cruise boats on the Qinhuai River are different from the leisurely duck boats on Xuanwu Lake. The boats with exquisite carvings slowly sail across the river, creating ripples that seem to be coated with color under the moonlight. When they go to the dark place, the ripples disappear.
All I could hear was the sound of the oars, the melody of the waves lapping on the shore, and the melodious singing of a singer.
Unlike other people who broke away from the princelings, Xia Yuanji did not join any party after breaking away from the princelings, and became a lonely minister in the wind and rain.
Zhu Gaojie said calmly: "Without Zhu Gaojie, there would have been a second King Qi. Wherever there is carrion, vultures will appear. As long as someone in power holds a banquet, this extravagant scene will appear."
To dare to create such a grand ceremony at the feet of the emperor and invite so many important people to the banquet, the master behind it must have enormous power.
Xia Yuanji, Xia Yuanji, was the leader of the Household Department, in charge of the world's money. He had been in charge of his job for thirteen years, and had passed hundreds of millions of silver from his hands, but not even a dozen taels of silver had been left behind.
Xia Yuanji is not an innocent child, he is a powerful minister who turns his hands to make clouds and rain in the court, and he is also a rare sober person.
And how can Xia Yuanji, with his own strength, shake the interests of the civil and military interests of the dynasty? He needs allies, a strong ally, and this ally has already extended a hand to him - the sword-wielder of the Ming Dynasty, King Qi!
I cried to death!
What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean, can I die for you?
Zhu Gaojie said calmly: "The official administration of the Ming Dynasty has long been doomed. The future Ming Dynasty will be destroyed by party struggles. Am I right, Mr. Xia?"
Zhu Gaojie's words undoubtedly hinted at this.
So what if you, King Qi, I dare to confront the emperor! Whoever is afraid of you can kill me offline alone if you dare!
If you dare to kill me, put the knife on my neck and blink at me!
Xia Yuanji was stunned for a moment, then blurted out: "How can Hu Guang be in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs! Although this person is talented, his talents are not in the Ministry of Household Affairs. He is a smooth man. If he were the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, he would definitely let..."
"Look, you said it yourself, so why should I sacrifice myself?" Xia Yuanji spread his hands.
The smoke cage is cold and the moon is caged in the sand. I stay in Qinhuai at night, close to the restaurant.
You won't force me to do it, that is to say, let me die voluntarily?
After all, Xia Yuanji and Zhu Gaojie are actually the same kind of people. They seem docile, but in fact they are rebellious. They won't obey anyone and will kill anyone they see unhappy. I'm risking my life to play with you. You can kill me!
Zhu Gaojie said slowly: "Mr. Xia, I admire you for your courage, but if you die, what will happen to the Department of Husbandry? You probably haven't had time to train the successor of the Department of Husbandry.
If there is no one around, can you really leave without worries?"
From the moment Xia Yuanji walked into the painting boat, he had already lost to Zhu Gaojie. All he could do was get into King Qi's trap and follow King Qi to eradicate his inner demons.
"Are you talking about your Prince Qi's Mansion?"
"But……"
"Xia Shangshu, I invite you to Qinhuaihe tonight, what do you think?" Zhu Gaojie asked with a smile.
Xia Yuanji sneered and said, "You, King Qi, are so majestic. As soon as you hold a banquet, you will attract powerful people to gather. Just like vultures smelling the smell of rotten meat, they are attracted uncontrollably. Xia admires you."
But when he thought of the charming dancers on the Qinhuai River, Mr. Xia murmured a little in his heart: "This King Qi is so damn rich. The dancers on the Qinhuai River are notoriously expensive, and the worst ones are even better."
Two more coins, I passed by several times and couldn't find the money to order one, ahem..."
Xia Yuanji suddenly felt disappointed at the Qinhuai Night Banquet that he had been looking forward to for a long time. Even the charming dancer felt like an eyesore.
Are you really willing?
All of this was prepared by King Qi for Xia Yuanji!
In the name of King Qi, Zhu Gaojie hosted a banquet in the Qinhuai River. The banquet hosted by the powerful attracted numerous dignitaries, both black and white, who filed into the boat. When Xia Yuanji came to the banquet, how could he accept it with his temper?
At this time, King Qi took advantage of the situation and used official administration to directly attack Xia Yuanji's weakness!
Xia Yuanji was stunned: "Do you want to listen to what you are saying?"
The fluorescent lights sprinkled on the river from the gaps in the willow branches, as if a layer of gold powder had condensed on the Qinhuai River, like a dream. The spring breeze wrinkled the quiet river surface, causing ripples. The occasional passing waterbirds spread their wings leisurely.
Open your wings, lightly skim across the water, and fly away into the distance.
Therefore, Xia Yuanji has now become the most special person among the six ministers. However, he has a high position and strong qualifications. After doing such a puzzling behavior, he can still stand upright in the Ministry of Revenue.
Zhu Gaojie said quietly, "Are you really willing?"
Zhu Gaojiu chuckled lightly, cupped his hands and said: "Tonight, I am waiting for Mr. Xia at the Fudong Tower on the Qinhuai River. The old minister is physically strong and can beat the five tigers Huang Zhong. He will definitely kill the dancing girl in the crotch."
Suddenly, Xia Yuanji opened his eyes, with undisguised rebelliousness in his eyes. The people in Prince Qi's Mansion are all rebellious madmen.
"Xia still said the same thing, it's just death, why should we be afraid of it?"