Chapter 1003 A wave of unresolved waves rises again and again
Kou Ji stood there and thought for a while, and decided to go to Zhao Zhen to clarify.
Zhao Zhen's concubines set up a trap to harm the prince. How to decide, only Zhao Zhen has the final say.
Although he did not get any personal or material evidence, he told Zhao Zhen what kind of personal or material evidence he wanted?
I'm afraid Zhao Zhen himself had already guessed that his concubine was setting up the trap behind the scenes.
If it was just to harm the prince, Kou Ji could still handle it with care, but Chang Xinglong's artillery workshop exploded and a hundred kilograms of gunpowder disappeared, so he had to dig it out as soon as possible.
Otherwise, it will cause big trouble if it explodes anywhere.
Under the strange looks of Empress Cao and the other five people, Kou Ji returned to the entrance of the Cold Palace. He stepped on the stone steps at the entrance of the Cold Palace and prepared to enter the Cold Palace to see Zhao Zhen.
Just as he reached the threshold of the Cold Palace, he saw the imperial doctor hurriedly walking out of the Cold Palace with a pale face.
After seeing Kou Ji, he whispered: "Kou Gong, the Queen Mother... has passed away..."
Kou Ji's expression changed, his mind buzzed, and he stood there blankly without any reaction.
Seeing this, the imperial doctor bowed his hand to Kou Ji, walked to the five empresses Cao, and conveyed to the five empresses Cao and others exactly what he told Kou Ji.
Empress Cao and the other five people immediately had sad expressions on their faces.
Empress Cao immediately arranged for Concubine Zhang Xian, Concubine Zhang Guifei, Concubine He De, and Concubine Zhou Shu to accompany Zhao Zhen here while she went to prepare for the funeral.
Kou Ji had already woken up when Empress Cao handed over the four concubines Zhang Xian. He quickly entered the cold palace and saw Zhao Zhen kneeling in front of Empress Dowager Li's bed, holding Empress Dowager Li in his arms, his face covered with tears.
Tears.
"The official family...condolences..."
Seeing that Zhao Zhen didn't respond, Kou Ji could only sigh, cupped his hands to Zhao Zhen and said: "I will summon all the officials and tell the world about this..."
After Kou Ji said this, the four concubines Zhang Xian and others had already appeared at the door of the dormitory in Leng Palace.
Kou Ji glanced at the four of them, reminded them to take good care of Zhao Zhen, and hurriedly left the cold palace.
Now that Empress Dowager Li has passed away, Zhao Zhen has no intention of taking care of anyone else.
Kou Ji couldn't bother Zhao Zhen with the matter of the house beauty at this time, so the matter could only be shelved for the time being.
Kou Ji returned to the meeting hall and immediately ordered people to ring the bell.
When the Queen Mother passed away, the bell rang eighty-one times to announce her death to the world.
On top of the imperial city, two strong men with big muscles and round waists were vigorously striking the big bell hanging on the imperial city.
"Dong dong dong..."
The steady and heavy sound of bells spread throughout the city of Bianjing.
All the civil and military officials in Bianjing pricked up their ears and listened when the bell rang.
When the bell tolled more than eleven times, the expressions of all the civil and military officials all changed. They knew that someone was dead in the palace.
They probably guessed who died.
All civil and military officials immediately put on their sacrificial robes and hurried to the palace.
Along the way, they saw many people's lanterns at the gate of Zianfu. Some of the lanterns that were covered with red and colorful colors were quickly replaced with plain silk.
When a big shot in the palace dies, the common people cannot display lanterns and decorations, and marriages are also prohibited.
It is a capital crime if committed.
There are not many things that the common people need to prohibit, but there are even more prohibitions in the homes of civil and military officials.
In the homes of civil and military officials, not only were lanterns and decorations prohibited, marriages and marriages were prohibited, but pleasure and sexual intercourse were also prohibited.
As the Queen Mother, she was bound to be mourned for three years after her death.
In other words, it takes three years for all civil and military officials to become a monk.
Anyone who violates the precepts during the mourning period, regardless of official position or status, will be severely punished by the emperor to maintain filial piety.
All civil and military officials rushed to the Donghua Gate from their respective Fu Mansion residences, and the bell had already struck eighty-one.
Eighty-one bells have told them who died.
Not long after the civil and military officials arrived at the gate of Donghua Gate, the gate of Donghua Gate slowly opened.
All the officials filed in and headed straight to the Chui Gong Hall.
When they arrived at Chui Gong Hall, they saw Kou Ji standing in the main hall waiting for them.
"Xiaguan and others have met the Prime Minister..."
All civil and military officials saluted in unison.
Kou Jicheng sighed, "The Queen Mother passed away..."
All the civil and military officials raised their hands and made three hundred and nine kowtows, and then they all knelt on the ground.
After all the civil and military officials knelt down, Kou Ji lamented: "The Queen Mother has passed away, and the officials are in grief and have no intention of taking care of the funeral. Therefore, the affairs in the palace are temporarily handled by the Queen, and I handle the affairs outside the palace."
"Where is Ouyang Xiu?"
"The official is here!"
"Order the Political Council to draft an edict, stamp it with the seal of the Political Council, stamp it with the seal of the Government Council, stamp it with the seal of the Privy Council, and send it to the Council Hall. I will stamp it with the seal of the official family and the seal of the Prime Minister, and announce it to the world.
"
"Here!"
"The Ministry of Rites is in charge, and the Ministry of Work is in charge?"
"The official is here!"
"The Ministry of Rites presided over this grand ceremony, and the Ministry of Works supervised the construction of the mausoleum!"
"Here!"
"..."
"The Registration Department recruits civilian husbands, and the Zishiyuan approves the food and salary!"
"Here!"
"..."
Kou Ji arranged the arrangements one by one, and the officials responded one by one.
At the end, Kou Ji let out a long sigh and said, "The concierge department sent people to issue documents to the vassal and the royal family scattered around, allowing them to return to the capital to express their condolences."
Ouyang Xiu hesitated for a moment and then asked, "What if the vassal king wants to enter the capital?"
Kou Ji pondered for a moment, shook his head and said: "The vassal king is not allowed to enter the capital. Only his prince is allowed to enter the capital to express his condolences."
Ouyang Xiu nodded without saying a word.
After Kou Ji finished giving all the instructions, he led the civil and military officials to wait quietly in Chui Gong Hall.
After Empress Cao had decorated the mourning hall and put Empress Dowager Li's bones in the coffin, she rushed to express condolences with all the officials.
Empress Dowager Li's coffin lies in Yanfu Palace.
Zhao Zhen, dressed in plain clothes, knelt in front of the coffin.
Prince Zhao Run and his brothers knelt behind him.
The other concubines were led by Queen Cao to kneel on the other side.
Kou Ji led all the officials into Yanfu Palace, knelt three times and kowtowed nine times, and then knelt aside.
Not long after, the Zhao family members came to the palace one by one to express their condolences.
After expressing condolences, he also knelt aside.
Kou Ji led all the officials to kneel down for a full day.
The next day.
Kou Ji took all the officials and left Yanfu Palace to arrange the funeral of Empress Dowager Li.
During this period, Zhao Zhen didn't say a word and was in very low spirits.
From then on, on the 21st, Kou Ji was preparing for the funeral of Empress Dowager Li.
Since Zhao Zhen didn't care about anything, Kou Ji and the officials discussed it hard and decided on a posthumous title for Empress Dowager Li.
Zhang Yi.
Then came the construction of the mausoleum and the reception of people into the palace to express their condolences.
After the twenty-first day.
Kou Ji took hundreds of officials to invite Zhao Zhen to come to court.
Zhao Zhen refused and extended the period of vigil from twenty-one days to eighty-one days.
Zhao Zhen's attitude is very tough.
Kou Ji and the officials had no choice but to follow Zhao Zhen's wishes.
Fortunately, the official system of the Song Dynasty has been changed to the three-three system and the separation of powers.
Even without Zhao Zhen, everything in the government and the public could run smoothly.
Otherwise, if Zhao Zhen does this, the government and the public will definitely be in chaos.
In addition to accompanying Zhao Zhen on his knees every day, Kou Ji also had to handle official duties in the council hall.
One and a half months of busy work.
One and a half months later, envoys from various vassals who could reach Bianjing by land arrived in Beijing one after another.
For example, the Zhong family in Dongyang, the Liu family in Xiyang, and the Liuqiu Cao family. Those who are on the sea and have a difficult journey may be lost in a year.
The three-year suspension period set by the ancients was not set incidentally.
The reason why it was set for such a long time is to allow everyone time to rush to the capital to express condolences to the noble man.
When envoys from various places came to Beijing, Kou Ji put aside trivial matters and went back to Zhuyuan.
After Kou Ji dragged his equipped body back to the Zhuyuan, he saw Xiang Yan talking to a girl.
After seeing Kou Ji, the two stood up immediately.
"master……"
"My daughter-in-law has met her father-in-law..."
The girl Xiang Yan is holding is none other than Princess Baoqing, Kou Ji's daughter-in-law.
As the granddaughter of Empress Dowager Li, Princess Baoqing naturally had to go to Beijing to express her condolences when Empress Dowager Li passed away.
In addition, there is no crown prince in Han Dynasty.
Therefore, Princess Baoqing can also replace the Han Palace.
Kou Ji looked at Bao Qing and saw that the ignorant little girl had grown up. He smiled and said: "No need to be polite...just sit down..."
Xiang Yan sat down carelessly. Seeing that Baoqing was still a little restrained, she pulled Baoqing to sit down.
"This girl has only been with us for a few days, and she is a little unfamiliar when she sees us..."
Xiang Yan pulled Bao Qing and said with a complaining look on her face.
Bao Qing smiled bitterly.
Although Baoqing is their daughter-in-law, she spends very little time with them.
When facing them, I felt a little reserved, unfamiliar, and very ordinary.
Kou Ji seemed to have not heard Xiang Yan's words and asked Bao Qing with a smile, "Are you still used to staying in Han?"
Bao Qing nodded and said softly: "It's nice to have mountains and water and no one to disturb you. It's just that it's a bit cold in winter."
Kou Ji was stunned and said with a smile: "Then burn more fire..."
Bao Qing looked embarrassed.
Kou Ji smiled bitterly in his heart.
He found that not only could he not get along with his son, but he also seemed unable to get along with his daughter-in-law.
Kou Ji coughed dryly and asked, "Did my grandfather and Tianci tell you anything when you returned to Beijing?"
Baoqing hesitated for a moment and said hesitantly: "Great-grandfather said that he was afraid that he would not live for a few days, so he asked you to go back as soon as possible. The prince asked his daughter-in-law to bring you a letter."
Kou Ji curled his lips and said, "What kind of bullshit prince is he..."
A trace of embarrassment appeared on Baoqing's face again.
After Kou Tianci inherited Kou Ji's title of King of Han, everyone had to call him "Prince" when he arrived in Han.
Over time, everyone got used to it.
Kou Ji now looked contemptuous, and she naturally felt embarrassed.
Kou Ji noticed Bao Qing's embarrassment, coughed slightly and said, "How is my grandfather's body and bones?"
Bao Qing hurriedly said: "I can eat and sleep, but I am dissatisfied with the scholars in Han. They say that all the scholars in Han are useless and not a single one is talented."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment and said, "Liang Shi and his nephews are all rare talents."
Bao Qing nodded and said: "Mr. Liang is indeed talented, and the children of the Liang family are all outstanding men. But Mr. Liang is now serving as the royal envoy, and the children of the Liang family are now serving as officials in various states and counties. There is no way to learn from their great-grandfather."
Kou Ji nodded thoughtfully and said, "My grandfather was lying to me when he said that his health was failing. He actually wanted me to help him abduct a few talented people and let him train them so that he would feel a little worried, right?
?”
Bao Qing nodded lightly, "Although great-grandfather didn't say it clearly, this is what Wang... Xianggong said when he said great-grandfather."
Kou Ji thought about it and said with a smile: "I just took in a few students and have no time to take care of them. You can take them with you when you go back and let my grandfather train them."
Baoqing nodded obediently.
Kou Ji ordered: "Take a short rest, tidy up, and let your mother-in-law take you into the palace."
Baoqing nodded obediently again.
Xiang Yan stood up and took Bao Qing away.
When Bao Qing left, he took a letter with a strange expression and handed it to Kou Ji.
After Bao Qing left, Kou Ji picked up the letter, glanced at it, and laughed out loud.
The content of the letter is very simple.
Kou Ji repeatedly told him not to do bad things.
But he and Baoqing got along day and night every day, and they couldn't bear it anymore, so they did bad things.
He also sent a letter to Kou Ji and spoke very boldly to Kou Ji.
He did bad things.
He accepted whatever punishment Kou Ji wanted.
"You little bastard, your wings are stiff. Let's see how I deal with you when I get to Handi."
Kou Ji burned Kou Tianci's letter casually, walked out of the side hall, went to the study to look at his students, rested for a while, and then hurried into the palace.
When they arrived at the palace, as soon as they sat down, Ouyang Xiu appeared in front of Kou Ji with two memorials.
"Sir, one is the ceremonial process for the vassals from various countries to meet... and the other is the process of implementing the new decree..."
Kou Ji took the memorial that the vassals from all over the world had met with each other, looked through it briefly, and saw that all the procedures were in order, so he wrote the correct word.
Then he took the memorandum on the implementation of the new decree, read it for a while, was a little stunned, and said with some surprise: "Has the new decree been completely implemented at the local level?"
Ouyang Xiu nodded with a smile and said: "Our teachers and students are keeping an eye on it day and night, and have sent many people to the local area to strictly supervise this matter.
The implementation of the new decree will naturally be quick.
Now not only the new decree has been implemented.
The officials who were cleared out after the implementation of the new decree also made up for the shortage of officials in the border areas.
Now, our Song Dynasty finally no longer lacks officials."
Kou Ji put down the memorial, let out a long breath and said, "Everything can finally be settled."
Ouyang Xiu shook his head and smiled: "Now the New Deal has just been implemented. If we want the people to fully recognize the New Deal, it will take at least four or five years."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "Of course I know this. I have already built the bridge that should be built. I have also repaired the road that should be built. It's up to you how you go in the future."
Ouyang Xiu was stunned and hurriedly asked: "Sir, are you leaving?"
Kou Ji laughed and said, "I have already gained all the power. If I don't leave, I won't be able to leave."
Ouyang Xiu solemnly said: "Sir, you are loyal to the Song Dynasty and to the official family. Everyone knows it. You don't need to think too much, sir."
Kou Ji shook his head and said with a smile: "You hired a Prime Minister to stand up for me, didn't you just think I was in the way?"
Ouyang Xiuxian said seductively: "The students and others have absolutely no such intention."
Kou Ji waved his hand and said: "Okay, if I don't leave, and if the position of Prime Minister is not removed, you three ministers will never be able to grasp the real power that belongs to you."
Ouyang Xiu bowed his hands to Kou Ji and said, "Students and others are willing to obey Sir."
Kou Ji shook his head and said: "You are the officials' ministers, not mine. It is because you are so obedient to me that I have to be powerful.
Today's Song Dynasty has my part, and I don't want it to be damaged because of me."
"gentlemen……"
"It's just a matter of seeking kindness and receiving kindness..."
"..."
Ouyang Xiu left the meeting hall with complicated thoughts.
Ouyang Xiu originally thought that after the new decree was implemented in local areas, it would be a very happy thing.
But when he knew that the new decree was completely implemented in the local area and that Kou Ji was leaving, he suddenly felt a little unhappy.
Kou Ji was both a teacher and a friend to them.
Rather than saying that Kou Ji is their teacher, it is better to say that Kou Ji is their leader.
Without Kou Ji taking the lead, these pretentious people would not have gotten together.
Without Kou Ji as the leader, who could control this group of outstanding people?
In the whole world, there is only one person named Kou Ji.
Although Zhao Zhen was the number one person in the Song Dynasty, he still couldn't get all of them to sincerely bow their heads.
Not to mention others, Liu Yong, who was newly transferred to the Ministry of Education as Jia Changchao's deputy, was not a fan of Zhao Zhen.
If Zhao Zhen really forced him to do something, he would dare to write poems and curse people.
Ouyang Xiu felt that he needed to find Fan Zhongyan and Yang Wenguang to see if they could find a way to keep Kou Ji.
Kou Ji didn't know what Ouyang Xiu was thinking.
Kou Ji felt that it was time for him to retire after his success.
There's not much point in staying any longer.
The only thing that worried him now was that the one hundred kilograms of gunpowder had disappeared.
As long as the gunpowder is found, he will be worried.
Chen Lin is now busy taking care of Zhao Zhen every day and has no time to investigate this matter.
Kou Ji handed the matter over to Bao Zheng, but Bao Zheng still hasn't found out where the gunpowder went.
The longer the time went on, the more uneasy Kou Ji felt.
In the next few days, Kou Ji continued to attend to official business in the meeting hall.
A few days later.
Di Qing actually came to the door in a hurry.
When Kou Ji saw Di Qing, he said with a look of astonishment: "Aren't you busy with matters at the Mangshan Martial Academy? Why did you come to see me in leisurely time and elegance?"
Di Qing said with a gloomy face: "Something has been lost in the army..."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, then stared in shock, "Musket?"
Di Qing nodded solemnly and said: "I also lost three artillery pieces..."
Kou Ji stood up slowly, frowned and asked, "Have you been caught?"
Di Qing shook his head and said, "He ran away a long time ago."
Kou Ji asked: "No trace left at all?"
Di Qing shook his head again.
Kou Ji clenched his fist slightly and ordered: "Immediately block the news and tell everyone below to shut up. Send someone to investigate the matter strictly and be sure to bring all the firearms back to me.
Not one thing is missing.”
"Is there anyone stopping me?"
"Kill without mercy!"
Kou Ji ordered coldly.
Di Qing nodded, said no more, and quickly left the meeting hall.
After Di Qing left, Kou Ji paced in the meeting hall.
After walking back and forth several times, Kou Ji told the eunuch guarding the door: "Send Bao Zheng into the palace..."
The eunuch at the door agreed and immediately sent someone to find Bao Zheng.
Not long after, Bao Zheng rushed to the meeting hall.
When Bao Zheng saw Kou Ji, he quickly saluted him.
After the salute, Bao Zheng said to Kou Ji solemnly: "Sir, the students have not found any clues about the whereabouts of the gunpowder."
Kou Ji said with a stern face: "Can we find out this matter within three days?"
Bao Zheng was stunned and looked at Kou Ji in astonishment: "Sir, why are you so anxious all of a sudden?"
Kou Ji did not answer Bao Zheng's question, but continued: "Can you find out."
Bao Zheng hesitated for a moment and shook his head.
The gunpowder seemed to have disappeared out of thin air, and the only person in the palace who was related to the gunpowder was already dead.
Bao Zheng couldn't find any clue at all.
Kou Ji saw Bao Zheng shaking his head and asked, "What about seven days?"
Bao Zheng still shook his head.
Kou Ji frowned and said, "I can't find out in seven days."
Bao Zheng said with a grimace: "All the clues to this matter have been cut off. Even if the students want to investigate, they have to slowly look for clues.
Not many people were involved in this matter.
It’s not easy to check students at all.”
Kou Ji was silent for a while, "I will create a condition for you. But you only have one chance. Whether you can seize it or not depends on your ability."
Bao Zheng was stunned and hurriedly asked: "What are the conditions?"
Kou Ji did not answer, but said coldly: "You will understand in three days."
Bao Zheng nodded, stared at Kou Ji and asked, "Sir, you suddenly became so impatient, but what happened?"
Kou Ji shook his head and said: "It's just some speculation. I can't make it clear now. You can go down first."
Bao Zheng hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and left the meeting hall.
After Bao Zheng left, Kou Ji stared at the harem and said coldly to himself: "Steal the gunpowder first, then the muskets and artillery. Do you really think I have a good temper?!"
Kou Ji snorted coldly and walked out of the meeting hall.
He ran all the way to Concubine Zhang's palace.
Concubine Zhang knelt in front of Empress Dowager Li's coffin for twenty-one days, and then returned to the palace to take care of her prince.
When Kou Ji barbarically broke into Zhang Guifei's palace, Zhang Guifei was shocked.
After Concubine Zhang handed the shocked and wide-eyed prince to her personal female officer, she glared and angrily yelled at Kou Ji who rushed into the palace door.
"Kou Ji! What's the crime for breaking into the harem without permission!"
Kou Ji stared at Concubine Zhang and said coldly: "Did you take the musket and artillery?"
Concubine Zhang said angrily: "Are you questioning me or interrogating me? Kou Ji, the palace is not a place for you to act wild! Although the officials respect you, it does not mean that you can ride on my head!"
Kou Ji stared at Concubine Zhang and said coldly: "If you took it, it's best to hand it over. I can forget about it."
"presumptuous!"
"I'll give you three days! After three days, if you don't see the missing muskets and artillery in the army, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"..."
Kou Ji left Concubine Zhang's palace amidst Zhang Guifei's furious voice, and then barbarically broke into the palaces of Concubine He De and Concubine Zhou Shu, and said exactly what he had just said.
Finally, Kou Ji arrived at the gate of Yanfu Palace and waited quietly for Empress Cao.
As soon as Queen Cao left the gate of Yanfu Palace, Kou Ji couldn't get out.
Queen Cao was also shocked when she saw the evil spirit lingering in Kou Ji's eyes.
"Kou Qing's family..."
Kou Ji didn't wait for Empress Cao to finish speaking, and quickly asked: "Empress, I want to know if you have used the muskets and artillery in the army!"