Xu Huizu asked him to sit down, with a look of hatred on his face. He looked at him for a long time, and saw that he was really confused. Then he said helplessly: "Since the emperor decided to cut down the vassal, our Xu family has been in an embarrassing situation. Now,
, you, me, and the second brother who is out of town, we three brothers have all lost power and become decorations. [] The Xu family, now there is only a sign left, and you have nothing to do with the future of my Xu family.
Any ideas?”
Xu Zengshou glared and said: "The emperor has such a wish, what can I think? Besides, isn't it you?"
Xu Huizu glared at him and said: "Originally, the emperor appointed Cao Guogong Li Jinglong with the intention of using him to replace our Shanwangfu, making him the number one military commander in the class, and weakening the power of my Xu family, because behind my Xu family, there are even
The emperor is worried about the three vassal princes. Are you aware of this?"
Xu Zengshou said "Huh" and his face gradually calmed down.
Of course Xu Huizu could confide in his brother. He went on to say: "To promote Li and suppress Xu, this is the emperor's purpose. Only when the military power and the influence of my Xu family in the army are transferred to the hands of Li Jinglong, whom he trusts, will the emperor feel at ease.
As for Huang Zicheng, who strongly recommended Li Jinglong, he had his own plans, but his foundation was really too weak!
Originally, Huang Zicheng was just an imperial envoy and a professor from the Imperial College, an official of the fifth rank. What about Fang Xiaoru? It was just a professor of the Han Dynasty, and an official of the ninth rank. The two of them rose to the top in one step, surpassing the martial arts of the Manchu Dynasty.
Above, how many ministers who have worked hard for ten years are willing to accept it?
Huang Zicheng strongly recommended Li Jinglong to make great achievements, and then used his military exploits to push him to the position of the first military commander. Through Li Jinglong, he could indirectly control the power of the military officials, thereby checking and balancing the officials who were not convinced by him, and achieving true control.
Chao Gang, even if he does not rely on the emperor's trust, he can still speak for himself.
At this point, the officials must have realized that they were also repelling him. However, it was the common interest of all ministers for the emperor to restrain his military power. Huang Zicheng was the emperor's master and had the greatest power. In order to achieve this goal, they treated Huang Zicheng
As for his ambition, he can only make some concessions. After all, this is in the interest of all officials.
It's a pity that Li Jinglong's 800,000-strong army was completely defeated. At this time, the officials and the military generals of the court became allies again, and the common goal became Fang and Huang. The impeachment memorials of the military officials were like snowflakes.
These two rotten scholars must be thrown out of office. Although the emperor has not punished them, under such momentum, they have no shame in continuing to stand on the imperial court. Now they have resigned from most of their posts and seem to be only responsible for their duties.
He is an idler whose salary is not involved in political affairs.
However, they are still the emperor's subordinates and still hold great power. It is just that it is inconvenient to show up in public and some power has to be shared with other officials. The ultimate interests of the officials and Fang Huang are the same. Although they are dissatisfied with Fang Huang's
He accepted the emperor's favor and climbed to the sky in one step, but he did not want to give the military commander another chance to compete with the official.
At this time, it would not be in their interests to continue to suppress Fang Huang. Therefore, after this goal was achieved, the fragile alliance between Wu and Wu immediately collapsed. General Xun Qi was just used as a weapon by the officials.
Now the officials have appointed Sheng Yong as the commander-in-chief of the rebellion. Although Sheng Yong is a military general, he is not a Qi, nor does he come from any Qi faction. His foundation and prestige are too shallow, and he has Tie Xuan as a minister to check and balance him.
No matter how many achievements he has made, he cannot become the second Mountain King or the second Cao Guogong, nor can he unite all the military forces under his banner. Do you understand?"
Xu Zengshou asked tentatively: "Brother, what do you mean...?"
Xu Huizu smiled lightly: "Third brother, it is inevitable for warriors to lose power. The ministers used the reduction of vassal status to weaken the influence of the vassal kings on the court; the use of rebellion made me, the Xu family's honorable relative,
The first was to stand aside; the defeat of Li Jinglong was used to further weaken the power of all the nobles and relatives in the court; now, the power of the military generals is disintegrated by using the simple and the prosperous and the mediocre, and using iron and iron as a check."
He leaned back on his chair and said in a dull tone: "Just wait until King Yan is defeated and all the vassal kings are completely wiped out. Then it's time for the cunning rabbit to die and the lackeys to be cooked. It was the minister who advocated cutting down the vassalage in the first place.
The ministers are the ones who preside over the affairs of the government and direct the fight against rebellion. Those who have made great achievements are all ministers. The military achievements of a hundred battles are not as good as a beautiful chapter. On the day when the king of Yan conferred the title, the ministers celebrated each other with their crowns, fully controlled the court, and drove the military ministers like lackeys.
It’s time.”
Xu Zengshou was moved when he heard this. After thinking about it carefully, he felt that this was a great opportunity. He couldn't help but test it out: "Brother, if this is really the case, we should...should stand on the side of King Yan."
"nonsense!"
Xu Huizu glared at him angrily and said, "Can you even say something so treasonous?"
Xu Zengshou shrank his neck and muttered something unconvinced. Xu Huizu said angrily: "Third brother, although King Yan has achieved some victories and even defeated the imperial court's 800,000 troops, it is only because the coach Li Jinglong is stupid.
Incompetence does not mean that he, Zhu Di, has the power to reach heaven and earth, and that he has the ability to fight an army ten times his own.
It is impossible for the King of Yan, or even all the vassal kings, to succeed. Sooner or later, he will be wiped out by your majesty's army. Do you understand? The ministers are more powerful than the military ministers. They not only control the government, but also control the military and government. This is an irreversible necessity.
, you understand? Let’s put these aside, the most important thing is!”
Xu Huizu suddenly stood up and said with excitement: "My father is loyal to protect the Ming Dynasty and has made great achievements in battle..."
When he heard that he mentioned his father, Xu Zengshou quickly stood up. Xu Huizu said impassionedly: "My father was praised by Emperor Taizu Gao as the first hero in the founding of the Ming Dynasty! After my death, I, the hero of the Ming Dynasty, were all under the Hanlin official system and erected Shinto monuments. Only my father
, Emperor Taizu Gao personally wrote the stele and erected the stele for his father. The Shinto stele is even larger than Emperor Taizu Gao’s own Shinto stele.
This is the only family that has such an honor and is the hero of the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Taizu Gao even bestowed upon me the title of king for three generations of the Xu family. My descendants will have titles and honors, and we will live together with the country forever. How can we, who have been blessed by the country, have any disrespect for the emperor?
No matter what the emperor wants to do, we can only obey, this is the way to be a minister!"
Xu Zengshou rolled his eyes disapprovingly and said: "Brother, if that's the case, why are you talking so much? Let's hand over the power and guard our mountain prince's palace, rely on the land and estates rewarded by the late emperor, and rely on the imperial court
If you don’t have enough salary, just become a rich man!”
"You, you, can't you use your pig head to think more?"
Xu Huizu glared at his third brother angrily and said: "We, as ministers, must not disobey the emperor's will. But my father spent his whole life as a soldier in the Ming Dynasty, assisting Emperor Taizu Gao to conquer this beautiful country. Only then have we become the second generation brothers of you and me."
, are you willing to let the decline of the Shanwang Mansion remain unknown and disappear from the court?"
Xu Zengshou said: "Brother, I don't understand. You've been talking for a long time. What do you want to say?"
Xu Huizu said: "Don't you understand? The vassal kings are going to be doomed! The nobles and relatives have to step aside! The generals have to be driven by others! In the future, those who will be in charge of the court and control the court must be ministers. The ministers must be led by Fang Huang. I asked my younger sister to take the imperial examination today and choose a son-in-law who can ride the dragon for herself. This is to choose a way for our Xu family to ride the dragon. Do you understand?"
Xu Zengshou hesitated and said: "Brother, you mean... we take the initiative to go to the minister's side?"
Xu Huizu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Third brother, you finally understand. The examiner of this examination is Fang Xiaoru, and the disciples of the emperor in this examination are also his disciples. He and Huang Zicheng are still favored by the emperor. In all important matters, Don't worry about them. Just wait for the imperial court to win a few battles, and then they will be able to dominate the officials again.
Although our Xu family has lost power now, we still have the connections and prestige from the past in the court. It is not easy to support a new Jinshi and make his official career smoother? The son-in-law of our Xu family will be the emperor's favorite. As a disciple of the minister Fang Xiaoru, we can use this relationship to establish a connection with Fang Xiaoru, and through his tutor, in the same year, we can establish a connection with countless officials in the government and the public.
At that time, the Yan vassal has been eliminated and all the kings have been reduced to pieces. The emperor will not be so afraid of our Xu family. By forming an alliance with the officials, our Xu family will still occupy the court. A place, not just a decoration with a position but no authority. You have such good intentions for your brother, do you understand?"
"I see!"
Xu Zengshou's big eyes showed an extremely strange look, as if he were a complete stranger: "Of course I understand. My little sister is only fourteen after the Chinese New Year. She is not in a hurry to get married. You are so impatient, you just want to get there before the sun sets. , draw another line, the line of Fang Xiaoru, and the line of official, so as to consolidate your favor, right?"
Xu Huizu's face turned red, and he said angrily: "If you don't belong to this family, of course you don't need to think so much. I don't care about my little sister's lifelong happiness. Am I not going to take her with me and ask her to choose a suitable husband? ?What’s wrong with killing two birds with one stone?”
"You just have a bad conscience!"
Xu Zengshou said the next sentence angrily, turned around and left.
Xu Huizu was furious and slapped the table: "You bastard! Come back here!"
What answered him was a loud "bang" sound, and Xu Huizu was so angry that his whole body trembled.
Nothing happened all night. Early the next morning, Xia Xun was exercising in the courtyard. Secretary Zhang Xitong suddenly walked into the courtyard. When he saw Xia Xun, he winked at him and said with a smile: "It's really great to find the messenger. Last night It’s such a hard work, but I’m so energetic so early in the morning.”
Xia Xun laughed dryly and said, "My lord, you are just joking. It's so early in the morning and Your Highness hasn't had a meal yet. What can I do, lord?"
"Oh!" Zhang Xitong hurriedly handed over the invitation and said with a smile: "The Ministry of Etiquette has decreed that tomorrow night, we will convene the imperial examination scholars on Mochou Lake to hold a poetry and wine party. Your Excellency, the Minister, has specially taken care of it and invited the distinguished envoys of the two countries to join us. join."
After hearing this, Xia Xun hurriedly took it with both hands and said with a smile: "I will report it to His Highness now. Your Majesty the Minister is kind, and our Highness will be happy to attend the meeting."