In the early Tang Dynasty, Zhongshu, the provincial governor, Zhongshu Ling, the provincial governor, and the Shangshu, the provincial governor, Shangshu Ling, discussed state affairs together. They were all prime ministers. The prime minister was an official who assisted the emperor in directing the world's affairs.
"New Book of Tang·Hundred Officials": "It is an important task to serve the emperor as the chief official and to govern all affairs."
Later, because even though Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty had served as Shangshu Ling before he came to the throne, his subordinates avoided him and did not dare to take up his position. Therefore, "Pu She" was appointed as the Minister of Shangshu Province, and his subordinates served as ministers. Zhongshu Ling was called the prime minister.
"Cefu Yuangui·General Preface to the Prime Minister" records that since the Sui Dynasty, there have been "sometimes other officials were involved in the affairs and in charge of the government, and served as assistants". In the Tang Dynasty, because the prime ministers were respected for their taste, the rulers did not
He was willing to appoint people easily, so he often occupied the position of prime minister with other officials and used the title of other officials. For example, during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Du Yan participated in the affairs of the government as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Wei Zheng participated in the affairs of the government as the Secretary Supervisor. Later, it was also called "Conference".
Gains and losses", or "participating in political affairs", etc., have different names, but in fact they are all prime ministers.
"Tongkao of Documents·Official Officials 4" says: "When Zhongshu issued an edict, the subordinates of the sect approved and refuted it. There were arguments and disagreements on the day, so the two provinces were asked to discuss it in the political hall first and then report it to the public."
In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the chiefs of the three provinces held meetings in Menxia Province. This meeting place was called the Political Affairs Hall.
During this period, the prime ministers were all part-time officers of the three provinces, and the governors of the three provinces still had the executive affairs of their respective provinces. Therefore, under normal circumstances, they would discuss matters in the political hall in the morning and return to their respective provinces to work in the afternoon. Therefore, there was no need to establish a separate office for the prime minister.
Major military and state affairs are agreed upon at the Political Affairs Hall meeting and submitted to the emperor for final decision. Confidential matters and the promotion, demotion, and dismissal of officials above fifth rank are only discussed in the Political Affairs Hall, and other officials are not allowed to hear about them in advance.
In this way, the Political Affairs Hall became the decision-making organ that assisted the emperor in ruling the country in the early Tang Dynasty, and was the real "heart of the empire."
**********
The heavy snow in the winter of the twelfth year of Zhenguan covered the entire Guanzhong. The roads were blocked by the heavy snow, houses collapsed, and countless people and livestock froze to death. The affected people cried and cried, and emergency documents from all counties in Guanzhong flew in like snowflakes.
Zhongshu Province.
Ma Zhou, the new member of the Zhongshushe, rubbed his red and dry eyes, put down the brush in his hand, looked up at the heavy snow that was still falling outside the house and sighed helplessly.
After fighting for two consecutive days and nights, the total rest time during the period was only two or three hours. The instructions, filing of various documents, and distribution statistics of relief supplies were too much for even the young and powerful Ma Zhou.
After taking a sip of hot tea and shaking his shoulders that were sore from writing for a long time, Ma Zhou looked around and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
The establishment of the Zhongshu Province has been simplified. Due to the large amount of paperwork caused by the snowstorm, the long time of reading the instructions still made the two elders of the Zhongshu Shen sick and went home. Now they are still unable to work in the duty room.
Three or four people.
Just at this moment, his eldest attendant walked in from the door and handed him a jade pendant.
The jade is warm and moist, crystal clear and white. It is a fine piece of Hetian seed jade.
The carving skills are also good. With a few simple cuts, the image of a carp can be carved vividly.
Looks a bit familiar...
The Chang Sui leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Fu Zhou, Zhou Ming's Mansion sent someone to see him, saying that he had something important to discuss."
Ma Zhou hummed. He was the same age as Zhou Fu and had always had a good relationship. They had to meet each other, so he apologized to his colleagues in the room and walked out.
There is a room for officials to rest on the duty room side. Ma Zhou drank hot tea and listened to Zhou Fu's staff explain what happened in detail, but his brows gradually furrowed and he felt a little dissatisfied.
At present, the heavy snowfall has caused disasters, and all the counties in Guanzhong are busy. They want to learn the art of self-cloaking, but as the magistrate of Chang A County, Zhou Fu has abandoned the affairs of the county and is entangled in a fight...
Even if Chang A County is located in the city and the disaster situation is better than outside the city, at least we should pay attention to it in terms of attitude.
It was just a fight, and no one was killed, so why should I ask for help?
In Ma Zhou's opinion, handling such incidents is the easiest.
In a word: only justice!
Both parties are untouchable, so if it's a bowl of water, whoever's responsible is responsible, and how to deal with it. Everything is based on the law, who can find any fault in you?
?
But this Zhou Fu always wants to play tricks, go in evil ways, dare not take responsibility when things happen, and just wants to shirk responsibility...
Ma Zhou sighed, he was a man of the same age who had both knowledge and talent, but his temper was too slippery, but he didn't know that this was a taboo in official circles.
But even though I feel dissatisfied in my heart, after all, the friendship is there and it is impossible to ignore it.
Ma Zhou picked up the tea cup and said to the staff member: "I know this matter well. I'd like to bother to report back to Brother Zhou. Please don't be impatient for a while."
The staff member understood the situation, breathed a sigh of relief, and bowed to say goodbye.
Ma Zhou went back to the duty room to get a memorial, then came out and looked up at the gloomy sky, then turned and walked towards the political hall.
**********
When the thick curtain at the door of the Political Hall was opened, a wave of heat suddenly poured out.
When Ma Zhou walked in, someone was talking in the political hall.
"Which is more difficult for an emperor to start a business or to stay successful?"
The voice is deep, steady, and full of energy.
Ma Zhou was slightly startled, why is Your Majesty here?
Taking a closer look, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and Wang Gui are all there.
Ma Zhou hurriedly took two steps, glanced at the middle-aged man in a bright yellow robe sitting at the main seat, and bowed in salute.
"Your Majesty, Ma Zhou, has met with you."
The man waved his hand slightly and said with a smile: "Excuse me. The old bones in Zhongshu Province can't stand it anymore, but are they suffering for Aiqing?"
This man has sharp eyebrows and tiger eyes, a square face and a wide mouth, and three long beards under his chin. He is tall and strong. He sits there as calm as a mountain, and his gestures are powerful. He has an air of looking down on the world, and he is majestic and coercive.
Come on, it makes you feel relaxed.
It is none other than the current emperor, His Majesty Li Shimin.
Ma Zhou respectfully replied: "This is my own business, I dare not express my sorrow."
Li Shimin said happily: "There is no need to be humble, I have seen it in my eyes. I am young and powerful, so I have to shoulder more burdens so that I can be of great use in the future."
The emperor has no nonsense. Li Shimin's seemingly casual remark of "it will be of great use in the future" is almost equivalent to a guarantee of Ma Zhou's future.
Jane is in the heart of the emperor!
Ma Zhou felt hot in his heart: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Shimin waved his hand and turned to look at the next old man, who was Fang Xuanling.
"Can Xuan Ling teach me the question I just asked?"
Fang Xuanling pondered for a while and said: "At the beginning of the war, the world was in chaos. I wrestled with other heroes. I was born and died many times, and my brothers were buried in the battlefield. Only then did I set the Central Plains to clear the world. In my opinion, starting a business is difficult.
"
Li Shimin was silent, and pictures and figures could not help but appear in his mind...
The soldiers were very quick and they conquered Xihe County in nine days!
The shallow water source put everyone to death and defeated the ten thousand enemy Xue Rengao!
Holding a halberd at Hulao Pass and rushing into the formation, three thousand broke through one hundred thousand!
…
Along the way, there was a bloody storm with swords, guns, swords and halberds, which was really difficult!
Wei Zheng said: "Since ancient times, emperors have always suffered from hardships and lost their comfort. It is difficult to maintain success."
Born in sorrow and died in happiness, this is the eternal truth.
Li Shimin nodded in agreement: "Xuanling and I share the world. They have died hundreds of times to gain a lifetime, so they know how difficult it is to start a business. Zheng and I share the peace of the world. We are always afraid that arrogance and extravagance will come from wealth, and disasters will come from neglect, so we know how difficult it is to maintain success."
.However, now that the difficulty of starting a business has passed, we should be cautious about the difficulty of maintaining success."
Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and Ma Zhou said at the same time: "Your Majesty has said this, which brings blessings to the whole world."
"Hahaha……"
Perhaps it was because "Ming Jun" was so happy that Li Shimin burst into hearty laughter, then looked at Ma Zhou and said, "Ai Qing has so many affairs, how come you have time to come here, but there is something wrong?"
Ma Zhou thought about the telegram, raised the memorial in his hand, and said: "I was giving instructions when I suddenly heard that the second son of Fang Xiang's family was fighting with His Highness the King of Qi, and they were arrested together by Chang A County. I was anxious and came here to report it, but I didn't know.
Your Majesty, please forgive me if you do this again."
This is the brilliance of Ma Zhou.
He did not directly say that Fang Jun and the King of Qi were caught fighting, but adopted a roundabout strategy, as if he had heard about it inadvertently and ran to report it without even having time to put down the memorial in his hand.
In this way, the fact that he is entrusted by others is obscured.
Ma Zhou is not a person who is irresponsible, but unlike Zhou Fu who only shirks his responsibilities, he knows how to change things.
If you come up rudely and say: "Old Fang, your second son is having sex with His Majesty's fifth son, you should go take that guy home quickly, don't be embarrassed..."
Not only did Fang Xuanling not necessarily accept the favor from him, she would even involve herself in it.
You, a middle school student, don't do business, why are you gossiping? Are you very idle?
After finishing his words, Ma Zhou lowered his head and counted the ants and said no more.
Fang Xuanling was still in a daze, why did his second son start a fight with His Highness King Qi?
Li Shimin was furious: "Fang Yiai has always been peaceful and never caused trouble. Needless to say, it was Li You who must have started the trouble! This evil man has a violent temperament, is arrogant and domineering, and I have decreed that he is the king of Qi, but he calls him sick."
It is simply unreasonable not to go to the fiefdom to take up the post! Someone, please go to Chang A County and bring this evil obstacle back to me, I will skin him!"
Someone outside the door said yes, and then there was the sound of footsteps, presumably rushing to the Chang A County Government Office.
Fang Xuanling looked horrified: "Your Majesty, the cause has not yet been found out, how can it be blamed on His Highness Prince Qi? That traitor must also be at fault..."
Li Shimin waved his hands and said bitterly: "Xuan Ling doesn't need to say more. The so-called good son is better than his father. How can I not know how evil his family is? Yi Ai is an honest boy who never causes trouble. The responsibility must be on Li You.
Please take it easy, I will never spare him, I will give you an explanation!"
If Fang Jun and Li You were present, they would both spurt out blood.
Fang Jun was depressed: This rhythm is wrong. We are just looking for trouble to make His Majesty Li Er angry. Your Majesty, why don't you follow the script...
Li You is going crazy: Why is Fang Yiai an honest child? Do you blame me? I am even more unjust than Dou E...