Zhao Ji was a foolish emperor who was greedy for pleasure, arrogant and absurd, but he was not an idiot who didn't know how to figure out the thoughts of his ministers.
Although Zhao Ji has been living in the inner courtyard of the palace for a long time, he sometimes goes out of the palace privately. He is very fond of Gao Qiu's behavior of nepotism and suppressing his subordinates in the Palace Commander's Mansion. In particular, in the past, Gao Qiu's evil deeds were more or less common, especially in the past when Gao Qiu was a slave to the common people of the capital and violated the law.
I heard it later. The reason why Zhao Ji still allowed Gao Qiu to mess around was because he knew that his ambition as a humble minister was nothing more than this, while other favorite ministers such as Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, Cai You, etc.
If they cater to their followers, Zhao Ji will also notice their greater ambition for power.
What's more, in the final analysis, the reason why Xiao Tang and Gao Qiu started to have a feud was that Xiao Tang was more reasonable. Zhao Ji originally wanted to mediate a few words himself, but Gao Qiu, who had always been very close to him, should no longer insist on being with Gao Qiu.
Xiao Tang secretly argued, but now seeing Gao Qiu's change of attitude in a desperate situation, how could Zhao Ji not see that Gao Qiu was submissive on the surface, but in fact he didn't take him seriously at all?
The minister's double-dealing with him was a violation of Zhao Ji's taboo.
At this time, Zhao Ji thought again in his heart: When we entered the official system of the Song Dynasty, we promoted civility and suppressed military power, that is, judges, divisions, bookkeepers, lieutenants and other positions must have two-term and four-term backgrounds. Just like you, Gao Qiu, had no military exploits in his past background.
, I have spent a lot of effort to make you one of the military officers and generals in Bianjing, and more than ten thousand people, the Sanya Taiwei, and now you are the leader of the court martial arts. I treat you like this.
In the past, being a helper was more than just the emperor's grace. You should not have enjoyed such fame and wealth. I only valued Xiao Tang and promoted him. Do you, Gao Qiu, really think that the military and political power in Bianjing is what you deserve?
But you are obsessed with power, how dare you not take me into consideration?
After all, Gao Qiu was familiar with Zhao Ji's temperament. When he saw the displeasure on his master's face, he immediately realized that his recklessness had touched Zhao Ji's taboo. Thinking of this, Gao Qiu suddenly broke out in cold sweat, like an arrow piercing a goose.
His mouth was hooked on the fish's gills, and he didn't dare to speak any more.
At present, among the officials with military background in Bianjing, Xiao Tang is the only one who can openly confront Gao Qiu. No matter what the purpose of the other courtiers, they see that someone can finally come forward to check and control the military power of Bianjing, and control the power of the army.
Gao Qiu, who had been promoted and demoted in all military positions in the front department of the palace and even had the power of life and death, was also happy to see this happen. The few other officials were not willing to join Gao Qiu and wade into troubled waters again, so they did not accept Xiao Tang's exceptional promotion.
The opposition has gradually subsided.
As things became clear, the imperial court also changed the reward for Xiao Tang from "posthumous title" to "increased title". In addition to revoking Wu Jing's posthumous title, he was still granted the title of Second Grade Privy Council Member, worshiped Xin'an Jun Jiedushi, and went to Zhuguo Wu.
He was awarded the title of "Founding Marquis of Henghai County".
Xiao Tang, who was thinking about it in his heart, immediately stood up after hearing this, and respectfully said to Zhao Ji: "I am so grateful for your majesty's holy grace, and I am really frightened in my heart. I only feel ashamed to receive promotions and titles from time to time. I am so humble.
How can I receive this great favor?
I think that the war between the Song Dynasty and the Xia people has not subsided, and the Xixia Kingdom intends to invade the territory of the Song Dynasty by taking advantage of the Hengshan Gorge. I have a desire to contribute to the country, and there are military experts who are reporting their advice to your majesty today, and I must do so on that day.
Only after conquering and establishing meritorious deeds can I be worthy of His Majesty's favor and increase the amount of official rewards."
The smile on Zhao Ji's face froze when he heard this, and the civil and military officials in the Chui Gong Palace also became excited. People in the audience said that you, Xiao Tang, had taken such a huge advantage that you were even promoted. They pushed it back in person and then thanked you.
It's okay to be rewarded for the emperor's favor, but now it seems that Xiao Tang is really not pretending to shirk the blame, but has other intentions to ask for rewards from the officials.
And what many ministers are thinking about is: advice from military strategists? You, Xiao Tang, have been suppressed by Gao Qiu in the palace commander's palace for a long time. Are you now starting to get involved in the power in the army?
Zhao Ji stared at Xiao Tang calmly, and then said to Xiao Tang: "Aiqing is my closest minister, how can I not accept such a reward? Since Xiao Aiqing has a track record in military affairs, it doesn't matter."
Xiao Tangxuan was about to report to Zhao Ji one by one his plan to select other troops and recruit elite men from the Heshuo area to form a new army. After hearing this, Zhao Ji nodded from time to time, and the look on his face gradually relaxed. At that time, he made an unusual promotion
When Xiao Tang was serving as the pacifier on the South-West Jing Road, Xiao Tang recommended himself and asked for instructions, asking him to give him the real power of the pacifier to inspect the military divisions of various states along the South-West Road.
Later, Xiao Tang investigated Yang Tai, the commander-in-chief of the troops on the southwestern route of Beijing, for embezzling military pay, killing good men and taking merit, framing colleagues, collaborating with bandits, and assassinating Shangguan. He then sent his troops to recapture Fangzhou and wiped out the bungalow bandits in one fell swoop.
Zhao Ji was also very satisfied. In Zhao Ji's view, Xiao Tang felt as terrified by such a favor as he did at that time, so he was bent on resolving the country's worries and problems, and was not willing to receive the imperial court's generous rewards in vain.
Although Zhao Ji himself is an extremely incompetent emperor at his job, he is the emperor of a country after all. Zhao Ji will naturally appreciate those ministers who will not ruin his interest in enjoying life and can be down-to-earth and dedicated to the country.
.And Gao Qiu had only made some achievements as a supervisor of the army, but he was promoted by himself to be the chief military officer of the Sanya Taiwei. In addition to being able to play with him a few times, Gao Qiu even made arrangements with peace of mind.
His relatives in the Gao family held important positions such as Jiedu Envoy, Jinwu Guard General, Propaganda Envoy, and Observation Envoy. Comparing Xiao Tang's reaction, Zhao Ji thought to himself that this was because Xiao Aiqing put all my sympathy and favor towards him.
Heart.
Although the involvement of military power seemed somewhat sensitive to the ministers in the court, Zhao Ji then thought about whether Tong Guan Aiqing had repeatedly asked for orders, and the troops were ruthless, bent on solving my problems for me? And whether it was Tong Guan, the powerful official in the court, or Tong Guan,
Xiao Tang, a rising star in the imperial court, was under the restriction that the Song Dynasty emphasized civil service over military affairs, the imperial army was under the direct control of the Privy Council, and the three yamen leaders who controlled the heavy army in Bianjing were directly responsible to the emperor. Even Tong Guan, Xiao Tang and others were
The courtiers who have been entrusted with important tasks can temporarily control an army alone, and the command power can still be firmly held in the hands of the emperor.
Now Xiao Tang was just admonishing to build another strong force in Hedong for the war against Xixia, so Zhao Ji would not suspect that Xiao Tang would have any evil intentions.
It's just that Zhao Ji never paid much attention to the military affairs. When it came to teaching his ministers to control the army alone, he was not so willful that the military generals could not care about the actual military power. He thought about it briefly, nodded and said: "
I am naturally very relieved that you are traveling tirelessly and willing to fight for the country. I am naturally very relieved... It is just a soldier. Important matters of the country must be carefully scrutinized. What do you think of Xiao Qing's family's advice?
?”
Among the courtiers present, Zheng Juzhong regained the power of the Privy Council and became the leader in the fight against the powerful Prime Minister Cai Jingzhong. Zheng Juzhong's eyes flashed, and he subconsciously looked at his political rival Cai Jing.
In party struggles and political struggles, factions with different political views usually confront each other. Any policy measure represents their own position and interests. Therefore, in the political struggle between Zheng Juzhong and Cai Jing, his intentions will be very obvious.
point out all the shortcomings in the other party's policies.
But at this time, Zheng Juzhong couldn't help but murmur, because through his previous contacts with Xiao Tang, Zheng Juzhong also knew that although Xiao Tang was from the left-behind department under Liang Zhongshu, Cai Jing's son-in-law, he seemed unwilling to succumb.
That Prime Minister Cai Jing.
The intrigues in the court to suppress and win over each other, and the partisan fights are definitely different from the fights between the villains in the market. It’s not just because I don’t like him, so we can form a clear-cut alliance and openly fight with the third party.
Therefore, Zheng Juzhong can also understand why Xiao Tang seems to be closer to Cai Jing on the surface. Xiao Tang is just a military officer, and his role in maintaining the confrontation between the two groups in the court is also very important.
Limited, now for Zheng Juzhong, the question is whether he still wants to believe that Xiao Tang did not show false kindness to him at the beginning, but was also a political ally that he could win over.
Suddenly, Zheng Juzhong remembered that he was jealous of the officials because of his excessive publicity. Not only was he no longer able to serve as prime minister, but he was also removed from the post of Privy Councilor. When he was most discouraged, Xiao Tang once said to him:
"... Mr. Zheng is in front of the prime minister, but he promises that he will get the prime minister. If the officials know about this, how can he not have some thoughts in his heart? And since Mr. Zheng is still an official in the court, how can he know that he can no longer be the prime minister?
Is it important to be used highly by officials and to gain a good position?"
Thinking of this, Zheng Juzhong gradually calmed down and made up his mind.