In the imperial city, in Wenyuan Pavilion, this is the center of the world. The major policies of the four capitals and eighteen provinces of the Zhou Empire are decided here. Everyone who can be here is a human spirit. A look, a small change in expression
, everyone will analyze and judge.
Emperor Xiaode sat in the middle, and his trusted eunuch Dai Quan stood with his head bowed like a wooden statue behind him, as if he never existed.
And below, stood the three princes, Prince Yi Zhong, Prince Zhong Yi, and Prince Zhong Shun, as well as the cabinet ministers, ministers, and the Metropolitan Inspectorate.
Everyone is discussing major national policies.
"Korolev, the governor of the East of Eros, led his troops to attack the Dzungar region in the northwest of our country. The local garrison general Yue Qilin is resisting bravely. I believe there will be good news soon."
"King Maha Lun Ming and King Jin Lun are at odds, please ask the court to mediate."
"There are signs of instability in the Black Liao Yehenala tribe..."
"An earthquake occurred in Gan Province..."
"The Haihe Water Conservancy Project has started..."
As the ministers reported all the major affairs of the country one by one, Emperor Xiaode, the three kings, and the elders of Wuge discussed these major matters one by one and made decisions. When they were almost finished, Emperor Xiaode flicked the table with his fingers.
, Wenyuan Pavilion immediately became quiet.
Emperor Xiaode looked at Ma Huan, the Minister of Household Affairs, and asked:
"Is there sufficient money and food in the treasury?"
When asked about this, Ma Huan, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who is also a bachelor, replied loudly:
"According to His Majesty's instructions, after handling these important matters, there are still four million taels of silver in the treasury. This is all due to Your Majesty's wisdom, and the national treasury will have no worries from now on!!"
"very good."
Emperor Xiaode showed a smile on his face.
After all, it is indeed the emperor's credit that the treasury is full.
You must know that when the Supreme Emperor abdicated, there was a deficit of more than one million taels in the treasury.
Fortunately, he had capable ministers at his disposal. In just a few months, the treasury was filled to the brim. I am afraid that few emperors in the past and present could compare with him.
Thinking of this, he felt better, so he asked: "Today's important matters have been discussed, do you have anything else to do?"
Xu Ben, the censor of Zuodu of the Ducha Yuan, came out and said: "Your Majesty, the memorials from the officials of the Du Cha Yuan, Hanlin Academy, Imperial College and other departments have been delivered to Wenyuan Pavilion in the past few days. I wonder what your Majesty's holy wishes are?
"
The smile on Emperor Xiaode's face suddenly faded, and he said coldly:
"I don't know why Xu Aiqing is so sure. How do you know that these memorials have not been sent back by me?"
Xu Ben looked stunned. According to the rules, the memorial must be submitted to the General Affairs Department, and then the General Affairs Department will forward it to Wenyuan Pavilion. After review, it will be in the hands of the emperor. Many times, unimportant memorials are directly approved by cabinet ministers, and the emperor may not be able to read them.
arrive.
After all, there are so many things in the world, and the emperor only needs to pay attention to the big things, and the minor details will naturally disappear, leaving ministers and cabinet ministers to give instructions.
Xu Ben, the censor of the capital, seemed to know that these memorials were in the hands of the emperor. He asked directly, but Emperor Xiaode caught him.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Xu is the commander-in-chief's supervisory officer. It is his duty to ask this question. If there is a slight slip of the tongue, Your Majesty is magnanimous and can just let it go!"
When Xu Ben was in embarrassment and didn't know whether he should kneel down and confess his guilt, Prince Yi Zhong calmly relieved him.
Prince Yizhong was not only the "King of Checks and Balances" appointed by the Supreme Emperor, but he was also in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, and his words carried a lot of weight. Although Emperor Xiaode's authority was growing, Prince Yizhong still had to give Prince Yizhong some face.
Emperor Xiaode glanced at Xu Ben and said in a very calm tone:
"I receive countless memorials from officials every day, and they are all nitpicking. Which one is Xu Aiqing talking about?"
When the emperor asked this question, which minister dared to answer the question obediently?
Wouldn't it just reinforce his reputation for being picky?
"Master Xu, as the chief of the supervisory officials, you must know the most about what you are reporting. Just say it bluntly!"
The one who will smooth things over is Prince Zhongshun.
He is a sibling of the same mother as the emperor, so his reputation is naturally greater than that of the other two kings.
Xu Ben sorted it out for a while and said loudly: "Yangzhou is an important town in the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, a water transportation hub, a place where grain and fodder supplies gather, and it is also the world's salt transportation center. The imperial government set up an official office in Yangzhou to severely punish lawbreakers, supervise the transshipment, and transport relics.
The Salt Transportation Yamen is for the purpose of managing salt affairs. Now Yangzhou has transferred the salt transportation department to the deputy envoy Lin Ruhai, but he acts wantonly, commits crimes and commits lawlessness."
After hearing the name "Lin Ruhai", several officials in Wenyuan Pavilion lowered their heads directly, while others looked at their mouths and noses in deep thought, but took a few steps back.
Several pavilion elders and ministers even made clay and wooden statues, motionless.
"The son of Lin Ruhai, Lin Zhao, drove Yan Ding across the city and killed good people in the streets. Many people in Yangzhou City fled to other places. He even led troops into the city a few days ago and forcibly expelled the good people from the city. Everyone was frightened by the power.
Dare to be angry but dare not speak."
After Xu Ben finished speaking loudly, Zhang Kangnian, the censor of the right capital next to him, also came out and said:
"Yangzhou City is an important city in the world, and there cannot be any mistakes. What Lin Zhao did, not only violated the law, but also ruined the reputation of the imperial court in Yangzhou and disturbed the water transportation. This is the key to the great Zhou Dynasty. I invite you
Your Majesty decrees that Lin Zhao be brought to justice and that Lin Ruhai, deputy envoy of the Capital Transfer and Salt Transport Department, be punished for his oversight!"
Emperor Xiaode sat there and looked at the ministers on both sides. When he saw these ministers looking at ease and not participating at all, he felt clear in his heart.
He looked at Prince Yi Zhong and Prince Zhong Yi again, but saw that their eyes were slightly wandering.
It turns out they are the people behind these two guys.
Emperor Xiaode leaned back, with a smile on his face. Although the ministers stood upright, everyone was observing the emperor's expression.
This sudden smile actually gave people an unpredictable and profound feeling, and Prince Yi Zhong and Prince Zhong Yi felt a little bit inappropriate.
Emperor Xiaode said:
"Do you two have any other reports?"
Ma Huan, the great scholar who had been silent until now, the Minister of Household Affairs, pondered the report and said:
"Your Majesty, the Department of Transportation of the Ministry of Revenue has also sent a letter to you these days, saying that Lin Zhao, son of Lin Ruhai, seems to be particularly hostile to the coolie laborers at the dock in Yangzhou, and has sent his men to enforce management. They have to rectify it every day and insist on making the busy place dirty.
It's spotless, but I don't know how much goods have been delayed. Your Majesty, Yangzhou is a canal hub. If you delay it for just a moment, there will be a lot of grain and rice in Beijing."
Emperor Xiaode had a faint smile on his face and said loudly: "The duty of the officials of the Metropolitan Procuratorate is to hear the news and report the matter, but I have never heard the word 'Wenxiang Sect' in a report."
As soon as these words came out, the entire Wenyuan Pavilion immediately fell silent.
The Wenxiang Sect made trouble thirty years ago and almost led to an uprising. However, after being suppressed, it no longer surfaced. The ministers present had almost no impression of this.
But having no impression does not mean that you don’t know.
"The Wenxiang Sect was suppressed thirty years ago, but the Centipede Insect died but stayed dormant for thirty years. With the help of Yangzhou's salt transport, it gradually recovered its vitality and the number of followers increased."
"The more people there are, the more courageous they become. Relying on the strength of their numbers, they actually force merchants in the city to burn incense and worship gods, and they all have to pay silver coins. The people are in dire straits and complain endlessly. The Lin family and his son are not afraid of risks and wipe out evil.
OK, kill the top leaders of the Wenxiang Sect and drive the rest of the stupid people out of the city. This is a move that will benefit the country!"
"My dear friends, the Wenxiang Sect has been running rampant and lawless in Yangzhou City for so long, but no civil and military officials in Yangzhou City have reported it. This gang has been running rampant and lawless for so long, and no civil and military officials in Yangzhou have reported it. Why is it that Lin Zhao punishes it, but Yanguan doesn't?
If someone immediately impeaches someone, what’s the connection?”
The Censor of Zuodu and the Censor of Rightdu looked at each other and knelt down. Everyone in the room looked unnatural. Emperor Xiaode leaned on the back of his chair, his tone became a little solemn, and he said:
"Lin Ruhai and his son are not in danger of personal safety, but they have made great contributions to the country. According to the decree, Lin Ruhai was named Viscount Zhongyong and his son Lin Zhao was named Baron Zhongxiao."
What he said was plain, but it was like using a big slap to slap Xu Ben and some people behind him hard.
Emperor Xiaode's authority was growing day by day, and he often spoke of the Constitution and followed the law.
The Ministry of Rites has been firmly controlled by him. Even the Supreme Emperor can't stop whoever he wants to confer.
In just over a month, the titles of Lin Ruhai and his son were once again promoted. Like a hurricane, it quickly spread throughout the official circles of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Everyone understood that Lin Ruhai and his son were deeply blessed by the divine grace, and that they were in Yangzhou, so no one could touch them.
Even Prince Yi Zhong and Prince Zhong Yi also felt deeply powerless.