As night falls, the neighborhood doors in Shangguanli slowly close, and the thick wooden doors lock the entrance and exit to this residential area.¤
Only those with a special talisman issued by the Neishi Yamen or an order from a higher level can enter or leave this place at night.
If it were other residential areas in Chang'an, people would almost be ready to rest at this time.
But in Shangguanli, the lights are still bright.
As the area with the highest concentration of dignitaries in Chang'an City, apart from Qili.
Shangguanli is often brightly lit all night, just like during the day, and the aristocratic ministers who are intoxicated with wealth and wealth compete here to show off their wealth.
But today, the atmosphere in Shang Guanli was a bit strange.
Some whispers spread among the servants of each family.
"Your Majesty went to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager this evening..." someone said.
"Your Majesty met with Yan Yi today..." The other party reciprocated and told the secret.
"Oh, what a pity..." Someone else sighed with regret.
Soon, these people dispersed, as if they just came out to communicate with their colleagues in the neighborhood.
The watchman in Shangguanli and the soldiers on night watch watched all this with cold eyes.
This is usually how most high-level secrets are known.
It all seems harmonious.
But in some dark corners, careerists and conspirators one after another screamed like poisonous snakes.
"Why does Your Majesty want to let Confucianism go?" Some people were very reluctant.
Historically, political purges can always create a group of heroes who use the blood of others to achieve their own status. This has always been the only way to develop in political struggles.
This time Confucianism was being watched, and among the people who made trouble, there may not be people who want to use the blood of Confucianism to help them rise to power.
"Send someone to visit Nanpihou to find out the reaction of the East Palace. Also, send someone to Zhihou to ask..." Some people made a decision calmly. Since the emperor wants to protect Confucianism, then... he must first protect Confucianism.
Find out what Dong Gong thinks?
If the emperor has settled the East Palace, then he might as well be a red face. He can provide help in times of need and gain some reputation at the same time.
The vast majority of people in the political arena have already mastered the art of face-changing. For them, as long as it is beneficial, they are willing to do it.
They are like scavengers and will not let go of any possible benefit.
Of course, if the emperor cannot protect Confucianism, then they will immediately transform into demons, pounce on him, and bite off a piece of meat from Confucianism to fill their stomachs.
The Confucian landlord and bureaucratic class in the south has become extremely fat over the years!
However, compared to the mainstream power holders, these voices are just noise.
Prime Minister Zhou Yafu was looking intently at Yuan An, who was sitting in front of him.
Yuan An was both a teacher and a friend of Zhou Yafu. Under the influence of Yuan An, Zhou Yafu's stance was actually in favor of Confucianism.
Yuan Ang sympathized with and even leaned towards Confucianism, which was no secret in the Han Dynasty.
His struggle with Chao Cuo lasted for nearly twenty years. Such a long struggle with each other naturally allowed people to see his butt clearly.
"Your Majesty summoned Yan Yi today and asked Yan Yi to ask the Confucian sect a question, and then went to the East Palace at dusk..." Yuan Ang is naturally well-informed, and the information he knows is far more detailed than others. Specific, he
Smiling softly, he poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip: "Your Majesty is still in the East Palace at the moment!"
When Yuan Ang said these words, the meaning was naturally obvious.
Zhou Yafu listened but said nothing.
Yuan An looked at it and just smiled.
Who doesn’t know Zhou Yafu’s temper?
During the reign of Emperor Taizong Xiaowen, Zhou Yafu, as the governor of Hedong, led the army and was stationed in Xiliu to resist the invasion of the Huns.
Therefore, the famous story of Xiliu Camp was born. Zhou Yafu became famous all over the world through this, and he naturally became a famous general in the world. The name of Xiliu Camp Iron Army was known to everyone.
Emperor Taizong Xiaowen was a good-tempered emperor, open-minded and broad-minded. He did not regard Zhou Yafu's embarrassment to him in Xiliu Camp as a nuisance, but praised him highly.
After that, Zhou Yafu was even more valued, and despite all opinions, he promoted Zhou Yafu from the governor of Hedong to the general of chariots and cavalry. In his dying edict, he promoted Zhou Yafu to lieutenant and became the new king's wing.
The late emperor reigned for a relatively short period, during which he had great trust in Zhou Yafu. He almost handed over all the military power of the Han Dynasty to Zhou Yafu, so that he could control the world's troops and command the thirty-six generals.
Therefore, Zhou Yafu's temper became tougher day after day.
In Yuan An's view at this moment, Zhou Yafu was stubborn, rather like a spoiled little girl. Whenever the emperor did not get what he wanted, he would strike.
To be honest, Yuan Ang felt that if Zhou Yafu continued like this, once or twice, he might still be able to bear it today.
But as time goes by, it will definitely lead to death!
As a friend, Yuan Ang felt that it was necessary for him to do his part to help Zhou Yafu make up for some of the shortcomings caused by his stubborn temper.
A more realistic consideration is that without Zhou Yafu, Yuan Ang would not be able to fight Chao Cuo.
Especially after last year's incident where he almost lost his head, Chao Cuo's behavior and actions have become more mature and steady.
He stopped being so aggressive and started to manage his own power.
This time, he was not so picky about choosing those 'allies' who were not on the same page as him and were just using each other.
The emerging Legalist bureaucrats, such as Zhang Tang, Ning Cheng and others, began to involuntarily approach Chao Cuo.
Even the old lieutenant, the old general, and the late emperor's Gosying Zhidu, who have been appointed as the governor of Henan County, have had close interactions with Chao Cuo these days.
Legalist bureaucrats showed an obvious tendency to stick together.
In the foreseeable future, Legalism will inevitably become a force that cannot be ignored in the political arena.
Therefore, Yuan An knew very well that his struggle with Chao Cuo would inevitably become protracted, complicated, and continue.
In this way, the support from Zhou Yafu becomes unnecessary.
Regardless of personal feelings or political interests, Yuan An could not see Zhou Yafu, his biggest ally and backer, like Shen Tujia, the prime minister during the late emperor's time, who ultimately relied on his own personality and hated the emperor in vain.
That would be more of a loss than a gain!
"The Prime Minister is still angry with the Emperor?" Yuan Ang chuckled.
"Huh!" Zhou Yafu snorted coldly. The more he thought about this matter, the more unhappy he became.
How could the Yi and Di retain the privileges of their chiefs and nobles?
Not even if the emperor restricts it!
Whoever created the figurines has no descendants?
It seems quite beautiful now, but if in the future the descendants are unfilial and the Rong and Di dynasties bring disaster to China again, wouldn't we have to find another Qi Henggong or Guan Zhong?
What if China were unfortunate enough not to have heroes like Qi Henggong and Guan Zhong at that time, then wouldn’t future generations of descendants have to be sent to the mountains to become savages?
Zhou Yafu deeply felt that as the Prime Minister, he had been deeply favored by two generations of previous emperors and should fulfill his duties as the Prime Minister.
Just as Emperor Taizong Xiaowen arranged for him in his final edict: If there is any inconvenience, Zhou Yafu can be used as general.
In Zhou Yafu's understanding, this has become his life and survival mission: to do everything possible to eradicate everything that is detrimental to the country! (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and updated faster!
