Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty-Six Domineering Prime Minister?
In April, Han Qi returned to the court from Shanling envoy.
Wang Tao, the censor Zhongcheng, went all out to impeach Han Qi.
Wang Tao's impeachment tactic was to settle old scores.
In the second year of Zhiping, Wang Tao was first promoted to Shaanxi Province by Han Qi, who appointed him as the Xuanfu envoy to Weizhou.
Because Guo Kui was a military general, it was quite taboo to serve as deputy envoy to the privy council. It was even more so when he was in charge of the local affairs as deputy envoy to the privy council.
However, the late emperor said nothing at the time and agreed to Han Qi's suggestion.
Wang Tao didn't say anything in the second year of Zhiping, but now he jumped out and said in the fourth year of Zhiping that Han Qi couldn't do this.
Wang Tao cited two examples. One was Zhou Shizong who served as a privy envoy and eventually conquered the world. The other was Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, who followed the same path.
The officials believed that this was approved by the late emperor, and there was no point in Wang Tao digging it up to settle old scores now.
Then Wang Tao jumped out and accused Han Qi. The two prime ministers Zeng Gongliang did not supervise their duties in the early dynasty, saying that Han Qi was domineering and comparable to Huo Guang and Liang Yi.
There is no point in doing this in the early court. Since Emperor Renzong, the prime ministers have not been on duty. This was especially true during the reign of the late emperor. The prime ministers would directly discuss politics with the emperor during daily life. It seems meaningless to stand guard there in the early court.
Wang Tao, however, was not merciful. He said that since his appointment, Han Qi had been exclusively in charge of the country, and the king was weak and the ministers were strong. This was really a crime of disrespect!
Han Qi couldn't help but go to the Wende Palace to argue with Wang Tao in front of the officials.
Zhang Yue's attendant was standing by and witnessed this scene.
But seeing Wang Tao's aggressive attitude, he said: "Guo Kui is just a pawn of Wen Yanbo and a pawn of Fan Zhongyan. Han Qi appointed him as deputy privy envoy to guard a state. He really has ulterior motives."
Han Qi said to the official: "Your Majesty, this Guo Kui is really a talented general. He was highly appreciated by Fan Wenzhenggong back then. He first quelled the Baozhou mutiny, and then joined forces with Jiayou to conquer Peng Shixi and pacify Hubei in the third year. They are all extraordinary achievements. I am honored to serve you."
I really think that Guo Kui is a famous general who is not inferior to Di Wuxiang."
Speaking of this, Han Qi glanced at Wang Tao: "Now the imperial court is troubled in the western frontier. The Xia people have repeatedly breached the border. There are no famous generals to guard it. The western frontier is in danger. If your majesty is suspicious of Guo Kui, then which general in the Western Army is willing to serve the country?
, do your best for Your Majesty."
"There are people in this court who strive for power and gain that no one can match, but when it comes to controlling border invaders, they are incompetent and can only be suspicious of important officials. In the past, Li Mu and Hu Luguang all died unjustly in the hands of such villains."
Wang Tao was so angry at Han Qi that his face turned crooked, and he said loudly: "It is the ancestral system to control military affairs with literature. Han Qi, don't you have other motives for encouraging military generals to become privy ministers?"
Han Qi said proudly: "Emperor Renzong and the late emperor both know what my intentions are."
Wang Taodao: "What you mean is that only the officials don't know?"
Han Qi said: "I don't dare."
The official said: "Well, there is no need for the two Qings to argue. I have thought that Guo Kui was employed by the late emperor. If I change it, it will not be a publicity for the late emperor's mistake in employing people. There is no need to discuss this matter anymore."
Zhang Yue listened and felt that it was fortunate that the emperor was not Hu Tu.
Wang Tao added: "Then I don't know what Han Xianggong said to deny the fact that the prime minister did not take charge of his duties. This matter is recorded in the "Edicts of the Emperor You". On a regular day, one of the prime ministers would take charge of his duties. But according to the quoted official,
The prime minister has not been to the prison for many years, and he has not been to the prison two or three times a year."
Han Qi was silent for a moment and then said to the official: "This matter is my fault, and I have no excuse."
After saying that, Han Qi bowed to the official and said: "Why does Wang Zhongcheng want to kill Han Qi? Your Majesty, when the late emperor passed away, I said that once the emperor's mausoleum is restored, I will no longer work under Zhongshu's family, so I will resign."
.Now that I have finished this matter, I would like to ask Your Majesty to remove me from my official position and return me to my hometown alive."
When the officials saw Han Qi acting like this, they couldn't help but think, Wang Tao kept saying that Han Qi was Huo Guang and Liang Yi, but how could Huo Guang and Liang Yi look like this?
The officials said that Han Qi was domineering, but they didn't believe it in their hearts, but then they thought about whether Han Qi was really a traitor and a loyal person. However, Wang Tao had his own reasons for impeaching Han Qi.
When the government and the family were in a dilemma, Wang Tao already felt that he had seized the opportunity and said loudly: "The prime minister is domineering. Now he has confessed his crime. Please punish him! Otherwise, things will change later!"
Han Qi said: "I am not domineering. Your Majesty only needs to send a small Huangmen to tie me up and go. If you arrive too late, things will change."
The officials listened to Wang Tao and Han Qi's words and were unable to make a decision. Then Wang Tao urged the officials to make a decision immediately, but Han Qi said nothing.
Wang Tao looked so excited that he almost rushed to the throne to ask the officials to make up their minds. At this moment, he stamped his feet in the hall again and again, as if he hated the iron.
The official was startled by Wang Tao, and felt that he was too indecisive, so he said: "Let me change my clothes."
After saying that, the official retreated to the side hall as if running away, and Zhang Yue followed suit. Seeing that the official didn't even notice the colorful jade on his belt falling to the ground, Zhang Yue quickly picked it up and offered it to him.
Seeing that Wang Tao had just forced the officials into extreme embarrassment, the officials calmed down a little after seeing Zhang Yue offering the jade.
Seeing that he only knew how to make the imperial edict, fellow practitioners who were watching Teng Fu and Zhang Yue couldn't help but ask Teng Fu first: "Teng Qing, how do you think you will decide this matter?"
Teng Fu hesitated for a moment and replied truthfully: "Reporting to your majesty, I think the prime minister is certainly guilty, but to accuse him of being domineering is actually to deceive heaven and trap people."
As he talked, Teng Fu wrote down his conversations with the emperor in his daily notes.
Obviously Teng Fu is a very responsible official.
The official looked at Zhang Yue again and asked, "What do you think, Qing Zhang?"
Zhang Yue thought for a while and said: "Reporting to your majesty, it seems to me that the prime minister is not domineering, but dares to act straightforwardly."
The official looked at Zhang Yue and asked: "If you appoint a military officer as a privy envoy, do you still dare to act straightforwardly if you don't serve as an escort?"
Teng Fu quickly wrote down the conversation between Zhang Yue and the emperor.
Zhang Yue said: "Has your Majesty forgotten what Duke Han said when the ministers invited your Majesty to ascend the throne when the late emperor passed away?"
The officials suddenly remembered that when the late emperor passed away, the ministers invited Zhao Xu to take the throne, but at this time, the late emperor's fingers suddenly moved slightly.
Zeng Gongliang suddenly panicked and said to Han Qi: "Do you want to wait a moment at this time?"
Han Qi said: "Why are you panicking? Even if the late emperor is resurrected, he will still be the supreme emperor."
After Han Qi said these words, all the ministers felt relieved and supported Zhao Xu to become a Shangguan.
"Your Majesty, you are brave and decisive in a sudden situation. I don't know how to evaluate the Prime Minister, but I feel that these words are appropriate to evaluate the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister does not take responsibility and follows the rules in everything, I am afraid that the world will be in danger."
"As for whether the prime minister is domineering or not, it is entirely up to His Majesty to decide."
The official nodded after listening to Zhang Yue's words.
"No wonder Emperor Renzong and the late Emperor have peace of mind and entrust the inheritance of their ancestors to Han Qing! Without the advice of my two beloved ministers, I almost made an oversight."
Zhang Yue and Teng Fu both said they didn't dare.
The official straightened his robes and went to the palace. He met Wang Tao and Han Qi again, and each comforted them.
When Han Qi saw that the officials had just retreated into the banquet hall, they had no idea but had their own ideas after coming out. Han Qi couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yue and thought, could it be that he said good things about himself in front of the officials?
