Throughout the Zhenguan Dynasty, although His Majesty Li Er was talented and decisive, his mind was as big as the sea and could accommodate all rivers. His tolerance for his ministers, as long as it did not violate principle issues such as treason, was nothing more than serious.
He was reprimanded from the capital, demoted, and the censor-general did not care at all about the impeachment of officials.
In His Majesty's opinion, there are only a few saints after all, and ordinary people cannot be held to the standards of saints. It is human nature for officials to be a little greedy and lazy. Is that a problem?
Therefore, the officialdom of the Zhenguan Dynasty was extremely relaxed. Everyone was tit-for-tat in the court, and after the court, they often put their arms around each other and drank and had fun.
Most of the officials had experienced the wars in the late Sui Dynasty and knew that the current prosperity and stability were hard-won. Therefore, even if violations of law and discipline could never be eradicated, they generally had restraints on doing bad things and would not easily break the bottom line.
The emperor is tolerant, his ministers follow the rules, and the court is naturally harmonious. Officials are rarely demoted due to faults, and most of them are stable and stable. When they reach old age, they return to their hometowns to entertain their grandchildren, and their former subordinates take over in succession. Hello, everyone
good.
Therefore, as soon as Liu Xiangdaofu took office, he was sharpening his sword and intending to go to war, which some officials in the imperial court could not accept.
Since Liu Xiangdao, your new official, wants to use us as your stepping stone after taking office, don’t blame us for attacking first...
…
Liu Xiangdao was born in the Liu family of Guangping. His father, Liu Linfu, was in charge of secrets in the early years of Wude and was known for his talents. He cooperated with Zhongshu Ling Xiao Yu and others to write laws and regulations, and wrote more than ten thousand words of "Lvyi".
, a man from Leping County who was given a title. In the early years of Zhenguan, he was moved to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Before his death in the third year of Zhenguan, he still recommended virtuous people and was commended by His Majesty Li Er.
Liu Xiangdao entered the official position through his family background, inheriting his father's title. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, he served as a minister of the Zhongshushe, and later served as a minister in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He was always known for his tough style and unreasonableness. He was not popular and was slandered a lot.
This time, he suddenly gained the emperor's favor and ascended to a high position to take charge of the Yushitai. He was grateful for the emperor's favor and vowed to serve him wholeheartedly, share the emperor's worries, and clean up the administration. After getting the emperor's hint, he did not hesitate and was ready to fight, but he was the first to encounter
The ministers reacted against him, and the imperial study room of Wude Palace was almost filled with memorials to impeach him.
Even though he knew that these impeachments would not shake the emperor's trust in him at all, according to the rules, he still had to go to the palace to plead guilty and prove his innocence.
Liu Xiangdao, who was just fifty years old, was thin, with a pale face and meticulously dressed. Under the guidance of the chamberlain, he entered the Chengtian Gate and went straight to the Wude Hall. In the imperial study, he saw Li Chengqian after Yu Yu, and also saw Yu Tou and Yu Yu.
Memorials half as tall as a person were piled up on one side...
"I have an audience with Your Majesty."
"Nan Si, there is no need to be polite, please take a seat." Li Chengqian's voice was low and soft, sounding very comfortable, without much domineering power.
"Nansi" was another name for Yushitai during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It could also be called Yushitai's boss, Yushi Zhongcheng...
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Liu Xiangdao felt relieved and sat on a chair by the window, but he didn't dare to sit down fully, only touching half of his buttocks. He put his hands on his knees, leaned his upper body slightly forward, his expression was respectful, and his eyes fell on the emperor's chest.
Don't dare to look straight.
Although I knew that His Majesty promoted him for great use and would not blame him for impeachment, I still felt at ease when I saw Li Chengqian's plump and kind face and listened to his soft and pleasant voice.
The waiter served him tea inside and then left the door.
Li Chengqian picked up the tea cup and took a sip. After putting down the tea cup, he pointed at the book and the memorial on one side and said with a smile: "Look, you have passed through the hornet's nest in three provinces, six ministries, nine temples, and almost all the yamen in the central government."
Officials have written a letter to impeach you, or they are stubborn and do not correct their mistakes, or they are corrupt and bribery, or they are amassing property and annexing properties, or they are narrow-minded and retaliate... If I didn't know how much I love you, I would think that loving you is a heinous crime.
A treacherous traitor."
Liu Xiangdao was frightened and stood up and said: "Your Majesty has learned clearly that although I dare not claim to be incorruptible, impartial and selfless, I will never trample on the bottom line of being an official or a human being."
Li Chengqian waved his hands and said disapprovingly: "Sit down. As the saying goes, don't use people you doubt and don't trust people you employ. Since I have enabled Aiqing, I have absolute trust in Aiqing's character and integrity. A little slander from others cannot interfere with me."
He is the emperor and must stand firm. How can the ministers who have just been appointed be dismissed because of a wave of impeachment?
Not to mention that most of these impeachments are based on rumors and have no basis. As long as they do not involve unforgivable issues of principle, he will turn a blind eye and say nothing...
Otherwise, who would be willing to work for him wholeheartedly?
Liu Xiangdao burst into tears with gratitude: "Your Majesty has great trust, and I will deeply appreciate it."
Li Chengqian asked him to sit down and sighed: "My dear, don't blame me for not punishing me even though I know that most of these memorials are slander. My character is a bit soft, and I also know that it is not easy for my ministers to be officials. I can't bear to do it because of some small things."
If you are wrong, you will be held accountable. Investigate it. In the final analysis, it is still a lack of prestige. It is not as coercive as the late emperor did to the Yunei government and the public. No one dares to disobey."
Liu Xiangdao suddenly became excited, patted his chest, stood up again, bowed his hands to the ground, and said loudly: "Your Majesty is kind and kind, it is a blessing to the whole world! I am willing to be your Majesty's eagle and dog, clean up the administration, severely punish lawlessness, establish your Majesty's prestige, and lay the foundation for a prosperous future.
The cornerstone, no matter how much your liver and brains are wiped out, you will not fall into this ambition!"
He knew Li Chengqian's purpose, wasn't he to take charge of the Yushitai and kill the people in the court who were "remembering the late emperor" and "offending Yan Zhijian"?
If the king encounters his ministers as a soldier of the country, the minister will repay him as a soldier of the country!
Sitting in the position of censor Zhongcheng, enjoying high official status and generous salary, and ascending to the sky in one step, he will naturally have to pay a corresponding price. He does not care whether he will have political enemies in both the government and the public because the emperor is a kind man and will definitely not do anything to kill the donkey.
As long as the emperor can remember his heroic contribution to the battle for him, what's the problem if the whole world is his enemy?
Li Chengqian was also moved. How could he not know that if Liu Xiangdao acted according to his wishes, the consequences would be enemies of both the government and the public, and a slight mistake would lead to a bad outcome?
Knowing clearly that there are tigers in the mountains, you prefer to travel to the Tiger Mountains. If you are so loyal, courageous, and fearless, you must treat yourself kindly...
He stood up, stepped forward and stretched out his hands to hold Liu Xiangdao's shoulders to lift him up, and then patted him hard: "I have just ascended the throne, and I have great ambitions to reform the shortcomings of the government. However, the foundation of government lies in the administration of officials, and love
As long as you are in charge of the Yushitai, you can be honest and selfless, and you can do things boldly and confidently. Even if it rains and winds blow sometimes, I will protect you from the wind and rain!"
…
The next day, Zhengshitang.
It has been raining for the past two days, and all the prime ministers and officials involved in political affairs gathered together in the hall. The tea in the cups was steaming, and the tea was fragrant. The rain was gurgling under the eaves outside the window, and dripping in the water tank under the window.
A soft tinkling sound.
"Your Majesty felt a little unwell when he got up in the morning. After diagnosis and treatment, the imperial doctor said that he had accidentally caught wind and cold. He has taken medicine and has stopped. He will not come to observe the government today." Li Ji, who was sitting at the head of the throne, took a sip of tea and spoke slowly. Explained the reason for His Majesty's delay in arriving.
When the rest of the people in the hall heard this, they suddenly felt as if they were punched in the air...
In the past two days, Liu Xiangdao took charge of the imperial censor's desk and mobilized the censor to check the files. He dug out all the reports, reports, visits, and complaints against imperial officials in the past few years, classified them into categories, summarized them, and then wrote a letter An official letter was handed out from the Yushitai, and the snowflakes flew to various yamen in the three provinces, six departments and nine temples. Dozens of officials received the official letter, requiring them to take the initiative to explain the problem at the specified time and place.
Up and down the government and the public, the sky is filled with boiling water.
The struggle for interests is an eternal melody, so the official struggle that represents the highest interests is the most cruel. In any peaceful year, invisible gunpowder smoke is always floating in the court. Today you sue me, tomorrow I will sue you, you catch me If there is conclusive evidence, I will fabricate your perjury... Even if it is not a matter of life and death, the difference between victory and defeat is still very dangerous.
Anyone who has been in the officialdom for more than three years can’t tell whether he is guilty or not.
In the past, perhaps due to lack of evidence, perhaps because stability was the overall goal, or perhaps because the competition for power always reversed, many evidences, letters, and official documents of mutual accusations and accusations were stranded at the Yushitai. Over time, everyone began to think of this. Forgot things.
Now Liu Xiangdao, this lunatic, once he had the power, he carried out the orders and started to investigate them one by one, regardless of whether they were true or false...
Who can bear this?
Everyone also vaguely understood that Liu Xiangdao was now the sword in His Majesty's hand. Anyone who disobeyed and was not loyal to the emperor would be knocked to the ground and kicked out of the court. Liu Xiangdao was holding the sword on one side and shouting to kill, while on the other side he kept pulling young people away. When officials rush into the center, they may seem to have inconspicuous positions, but in fact they all hold important positions.
Under coercion and inducement, many people were afraid and came to Liu Zi and others, hoping to persuade His Majesty to stop fighting, let everyone go, and no longer dare to half-heartedly attack Qin Muchu...
I made an appointment to give advice to His Majesty at the Political Affairs Hall today. Unexpectedly, His Majesty seemed to have foresight and actually avoided seeing me.
What should I do?
Liu Zi raised his eyebrows and looked at Liu Xiang, who was sitting upright, and said: "Liu Nansi, as far as I know, you have ordered the imperial censor to issue many official letters in the past two days to investigate the past reports of officials, but those cases are either too old or too old. After a long time, there is no need to trace the case, or there is no real evidence and it is purely a false accusation. Such a big fanfare makes people panic, especially under the current tense situation, which will do more harm than good."
The Yushitai has always been his foundation, but now that Liu Xiangdao has taken over the Yushitai, he not only refuses to listen to him, but also vigorously purges and eliminates dissidents. In just two days, several former subordinates have been sent to idle positions, which makes his own party members Complaints are endless.
It was even heard that Liu Xiangdao was going to launch an internal self-examination, which made the internal discussion at Yushitai even more serious and made him sleepless at night...
If the Yushitai was completely controlled by Liu Xiangdao, how could Liu Zi accept it?