Two days later, there was a court meeting at Daqing Palace.
Before going to court, Lu Yunxi repeatedly warned: "Your Majesty, you cannot speak of me in the court. You must speak of me. You must speak of me."
Emperor Changle said impatiently: "If you don't talk about me, what can you do? How can you use it as food? How can you use it as money?"
Arriving at the Daqing Hall, Emperor Changle sat on the dragon chair and looked at the ministers with a smile on his face: "The ministers are here, and so am I. Please report anything you have to do."
Yan Anqing glanced at the ministers with the corner of his eye, then raised his eyes slightly to look at the emperor.
The emperor's attitude was slightly joking, in order to let the ministers have less fear and worry and just report their advice.
Yan Anqing knows the next process well.
According to his decades of experience as an official, the censor must have heard about it first, starting with the Fuzhou embankment breach, and directly pointed out that the Ministry of Industry was suspected of corruption.
Then the censors jointly submitted the memorial, forming a momentum in the court.
But it is impossible for the censor's tone to be consistent, especially in the case of Liao Shuming. Too many people in the censor's office took advantage of him, and there must be more people defending him than impeaching him.
It was not because these censors were conscientious, but because Liao Shuming could not be saved and they might also be implicated.
Yan Anqing turned his attention to Wang Yanyang. No need to ask, he must be the first one to report. Yan Anqing quietly waited for the next scolding battle on the censor's stage.
Unexpectedly, the first person to speak was not Wang Yanyang, but Liang Yuyao, the internal historian:
"Your Majesty, I have this report!"
Yan Anqing's heart trembled, this move of chess was played superbly!
Let the internal history order speak first and give the ministers a direction.
The courtiers were all afraid of the internal history order or Princess Yuyao herself, and smart courtiers could also see that Liang Yuyao represented the emperor's thoughts to a certain extent.
Under the guidance of Liang Yuyao, the scolding war at Yushitai will definitely not be too intense, and it may not even lead to a scolding war. It may then turn into a one-sided denunciation of Liao Shuming.
Yan Anqing sighed secretly: The young emperor is very skillful, but he is still young after all.
Whether it’s scolding or fighting, or condemning, I remain unchanged despite all changes.
Yan Shoufu smiled calmly and predicted the next situation: Liang Yuyao would impeach Liao Shuming, He Fang would definitely agree, and the emperor would definitely have the same attitude.
The emperor and the two important ministers agreed, and the cabinet certainly could not refute it, and must deal with it appropriately next.
Yan Anqing’s response strategy is divided into three steps.
The first step is to settle the matter, but waste time on drafting the bill on the grounds that it still needs to be verified.
The second step was to rebuild the Fuzhou River embankment and let the Ministry of Industry take on the important task. This would give Liao Shuming an opportunity to make meritorious deeds, and secondly, it would prevent the emperor from easily replacing the Minister of Industry.
The third step was to wait until the Ministry of Works rebuilt the river embankment, then dismiss the right minister of the Ministry of Works and the two chief officials and investigate. Liao Shuming's merits and demerits were balanced, and the major incident became minor from then on.
The three-step response can be said to be seamless.
Yan Anqing looked indifferent.
Liang Yuyao began to report: "The Second Assistant to the Cabinet has been vacant for many days. I recommend Wang Yanyang, the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, to serve as the Second Assistant to the Cabinet."
Yan Anqing was no longer indifferent.
He couldn't help but glance at Liang Yuyao.
She did not talk about the affairs of the Ministry of Works, nor did she mention the affairs of the Minister of Works.
She was talking about the cabinet!
What is the situation?
Emperor Changle said: "What the Nei Shi Ling said is very much in line with my wishes. Wang Yushi, what do you think?"
Wang Yanyang leaned over and saluted and said: "I am willing to go to pieces, and I will never disappoint His Majesty's high expectations!"
This is promised.
Emperor Changle then asked He Fang: "Pingzhang is an important military and state matter, what do you think?"
He Fang responded: "I thought that Wang Yushi was an upright official and an upright person, so he was the best choice for the cabinet. However, I thought that the affairs of the cabinet were complicated and the number of cabinet ministers was obviously insufficient. In addition to the new deputy minister, I recommended Tianzhang Pavilion.
Yu Guoliang, a great scholar, and Qiu Dongcai, the censor of Yushitai, entered the cabinet!"
Emperor Changle nodded and said: "I, that's what I mean. The cabinet is hard working day and night, so it's time to add a few more people. What do you think, Neishi Ling?"
Liang Yuyao said: "I think what Pingzhang said about the important affairs of the military and state is very true. The flood situation in Fuzhou is serious now, and the war in the north is about to start. The states and counties in the west and north are short of food, and everything is overwhelmed. The appointment of cabinet ministers cannot be delayed."
Emperor Changle nodded and said: "What I'm saying is that there is no need to delay. I am willing to issue an edict immediately. It depends on whether Yan Shoufu can accommodate the new cabinet minister?"
It's time for Yan Anqing to speak.
But he didn't know what to say.
Things changed too suddenly, the three of them cooperated too well, and Yan Anqing was unprepared.
Follow his three-step response?
The first step is to agree to something?
Counting him, the cabinet originally only had four cabinet ministers, but now three cabinet ministers are suddenly added to the cabinet. Can this be agreed to?
These three are all tough people. Can they be at their own mercy in the future?
Don't agree?
Emperor, Pingzhang has important military and national affairs, and the internal history order has already spoken. Is it okay if you don't agree?
Seeing Yan Anqing's silence for a long time, Emperor Changle asked: "Yan Shoufu, do you really think you can't tolerate the new cabinet minister?"
how to answer?
If you don't agree, you won't tolerate it.
If it cannot be tolerated, it proves that Yan Anqing wants to control the cabinet.
To put it mildly, this is called dictatorship!
To put it more seriously, this is called disobedience!
"Your Majesty, the affairs of the cabinet are very complex and complicated. I can't help but ask for help from all the princes!"
I have no choice, I must agree.
Can this matter be delayed?
Delaying it will not change anything, but will ruin Yan Anqing's reputation.
Emperor Changle said: "Then please ask the cabinet to draft an edict immediately, and let the three cabinet ministers take office today."
Yan Anqing said yes.
The court meeting ended soon after, and no one mentioned anything related to Liao Shuming, Minister of Industry.
Yan Anqing looked back at Daqing Hall, still unable to clear his thoughts.
After returning to Longtuge, the chamberlain Lu Yunxi came to urge the imperial edict.
Yan Anqing had already agreed in court and could only let the cabinet ministers draft the edict.
He felt like he was being pushed forward.
After the edict was drafted, Lu Yunxi took it to approve it. When he arrived, the edict was issued and three cabinet ministers immediately took office.
Wang Yanyang, Yu Guoliang, and Qiu Dong had just taken office, and Lu Yunxi sent more than a dozen memorials.
These memorials were all intended to impeach Liao Shuming, Minister of Industry.
The three original ministers in the cabinet were all silent, waiting for Yan Anqing's instructions.
However, the three newly appointed cabinet ministers did not have this habit. Wang Yanyang read the memorial and immediately said: "The Ministry of Industry has accumulated many abuses in river affairs, and this matter should be investigated strictly."
Yu Guoliang said: "Fuzhou built a new river embankment last year, but a spring flood caused a dangerous situation. The Ministry of Industry cannot be separated from this matter in any way."
Qiu Dongcai said: "Liao Shuming, this traitor, has taken bribes and perverted the law. Now we should draw up an edict to dismiss him immediately and deal with him severely!"
The three original cabinet ministers were confused for a moment and stared at Yan Anqing for a long time.
Yan Anqing said nothing.
An old cabinet minister named Feng Junhuai interjected: "The flood problem in Fuzhou has not disappeared, and river affairs are urgent. If this matter goes wrong in the Ministry of Works, there may be something wrong."
Qiu Dongcai sneered and said: "Brother Feng, according to your opinion, the Ministry of Industry has not been on business trips before?"
Feng Junhuai waved his hands repeatedly and said: "That's not what I said. The past events must be carefully verified."
Wang Yanyang said: "When will the verification begin?"
Feng Junhai said: "Of course, we have to wait for the chief assistant's instructions."
Yu Guoliang said: "Since we have to wait for the chief minister's instructions for everything, what do we need to do? It's enough to prepare a few more scribes!"
Qiu Dongcai said: "If we don't draw up the votes today, I will impeach Liao Shuming tomorrow."
Feng Junhai hurriedly said: "How could this happen? How can a cabinet minister easily petition for impeachment? This matter must be considered in the long term and wait for Mr. Yan's decision..."
Wang Yanyang said loudly: "No matter whether Wang is a cabinet minister or not, he is a minister of Daxuan. Daxuan has been plagued by floods for many years. If Liao Shuming is still in charge of river affairs, wouldn't he bring disaster on himself for Daxuan? No matter whether the cabinet minister approves it or not. , I will give a memorial tomorrow!"
"This, this..." Feng Junhuai didn't dare to speak.
If these three cabinet ministers bypass Yan Anqing and write a letter of impeachment against Liao Shuming tomorrow, it will prove that there are serious differences in the cabinet, which means that the cabinet has completely lost its prestige.
In this case, Yan Anqing should resign from his position as chief assistant.
Yan Anqing looked at the three new cabinet ministers with no expression on his face.
Can he suppress these three ministers?
have!
Yan Anqing has been the chief assistant for ten years. He has countless tricks, some of which are used to deal with these three tough guys.
But it is easy to deal with them, but it is too difficult to deal with another person.
I thought he was a fool at the time, but later I found out that he was not.
They also thought that he had lived in the palace for a long time and was not familiar with worldly affairs. It was not until the prince was supervising the country that he discovered that the princes had their own methods of civil and military affairs.
Now I think he is too young and cares too much about things. After experiencing today's court meeting, Yan Anqing understood one thing.
Why do you always think you are smarter than him?
Knowing that this matter is unreasonable, why do you think you can control everything?
By the invisible rules in the court?
Does it mean I can be unreasonable just by following the rules?
What if he is unreasonable and directly uses Zhang Deng Yamen?
By the time I meet Xu Zhiqiong, it will probably be too late whether I want to be reasonable or follow the rules.
That’s all.
Yan Anqing laughed at himself: "Everyone, prepare an edict and strictly check Liao Shuming, the minister of the Ministry of Industry."
Liao Shuming's official position will definitely not be saved.
Whether you can save your life depends on the emperor's will.
The edict is not difficult to draft, and all ministers, old and new, are good writers.
After drafting the edict, Yan Anqing read it over and sent it to the palace.
Yan Anqing felt relieved, returned to the Grand Master's Mansion, and had a solid sleep.
For some things, if you talk more about principles and less about rules, everyone will be less worried.
When Yan Anqing woke up in the evening, his cousin Yan Anming sent him this month's red money and three tickets.
Yan Anming opened a medicine shop in the west and south of the city. The business was booming, and it was all because of Yan Anqing's care. Naturally, the monthly dividends could not be reduced.
The money is about the same as last month, and Yan Anqing doesn't bother to care, but what's going on with these three tickets?
One is from Yinggeyuan, one is from Luohuayuan, and the other is from Yu'an Pavilion.
Yan Anqing frowned and said, "Where did this thing come from?"
Yan Anming said: "It was given by the Ministry of Rites."
"The Ministry of Etiquette gave it to you?" Yan Anqing looked his cousin up and down.
Yan Anming quickly explained: "I also know that my status cannot go to this place, but the Ministry of Rites has said that shops that pay more than one hundred taels in tax in a month will give a yard entrance ticket, and those who pay more than seventy taels in tax in a month will I’ll give you a restaurant ticket.”
Yan Anqing looked at Yan Anming, with doubts and questioning in his eyes.
"Is this really what the Ministry of Etiquette gave you?"
Yan Anming lowered his head and said: "How dare I lie to you? It was really given by the Ministry of Rites. I don't dare to go. I might as well just send it to you."
Yan Anming is a first-grade grandmaster and the cousin of the chief minister of the cabinet. Isn't he qualified to go to Yinggeyuan?
No!
Yan Anming didn't like studying and failed to obtain any honors. In order to avoid suspicion, Yan Anqing did not give him any official position. As an ineffective man of the Yan family, Yan Anming's task was to take care of business.
Even though he is the younger brother of the Grand Master, he is just a white man. No matter how much wealth he has, he has no fame or official position. In name, he is just an ordinary businessman.
Yinggeyuan, Luohuayuan and Yu'an Pavilion are the academies under the Ministry of Rites, and they are also top-notch academies.
A white man like him, no matter how much money he pays, is not qualified to visit. This is the rule of Daxuan.
Even if he spends a lot of money and reluctantly comes in, he is asking for trouble. There is no suitable circle for him. Once he enters a place like Yinggeyuan, he is guaranteed to be in an even more embarrassing situation than Chu Xin.
Yan Anming held the ticket and lowered his head, not daring to look at Yan Anqing.
Yan Anqing took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "Since you earned it, just take it."
Yan Anming shook his head repeatedly and said: "Why did I go to that place? I was ridiculed by others even when I went there..."
"Go if you are told!" Yan Anming poured a cup of tea for his cousin, "Remember, just go and have a look, don't bring any money."
…
In front of Yinggeyuan, there is a lot of traffic.
Emperor Changle's palace could not be sold overnight.
The property of the Minister of Industry can only be inspected after the charges are proven.
Tu Nu's compensation can only be claimed after winning the battle.
But the first batch of money that Xu Zhiqiong earned by helping Emperor Changle will arrive from tonight.
The tickets are free, but you’ll feel a little embarrassed after entering!
Don’t feel bad if your skin peels off, I guarantee you’ll want to come again next time!