Chapter 0699 The key to the problem is to have a son? Twelve thousand seven!)
After Kou Ji arrived, Xiang Yan relaxed.
After Kou Ji saluted Zhao Zhen and Empress Cao, he sighed to Zhao Zhen: "Don't spoil him rotten..."
Zhao Zhen glanced at Kou Ji, stared at Kou Tianci lovingly and said, "How old is he? Does he know what pampering is? How can he be spoiled?"
Kou Ji felt helpless towards Zhao Zhen, an official who favored other people's sons as his own.
Zhao Zhen teased Kou Tianci for a long time, forcing Kou Tianci to call him "Father" for a long time. He waited until Kou Tianci yawned sleepily before letting him go.
After Zhao Zhen ordered people to return Kou Tianci to Xiang Yan, he glanced at Queen Cao.
Empress Cao understood, found an excuse, and left the main hall of Xingqing Mansion with Xiang Yan and Kou Tianci.
After Queen Cao and Xiang Yan left.
Zhao Zhen asked Chen Lin to move a seat for Kou Ji. After Kou Ji sat down, he said to Kou Ji: "Fourth brother, after much consideration, I have decided to designate Zhu Neng's title as second class."
Zhao Zhen's words were expected by Kou Ji.
Kou Ji heard Zhao Zhen's words and said thoughtfully: "The official family plans to appoint Zhu Neng as deputy privy envoy."
Zhao Zhen nodded slowly.
Zhu Neng has the power to break the city, Zhao Zhen cannot refuse to reward him, but it would be inappropriate to make him a first-class Duke...
It's not because Zhao Zhen is stingy.
It's because most of the people with first-class titles are princes or important ministers who have retired.
Because the first-class Duke is only half a step away from the king.
To paraphrase a common saying, only those who are only half a step away from being a master of great merit are qualified to receive the title.
Whenever a court official is awarded the title of First-Class Duke, he can only resign.
Zhu Neng is not old yet and can still do many things for the Song Dynasty. It is inappropriate to let Zhu Neng retire now.
Zhao Zhen said frankly to Kou Ji: "Although Cao Wei failed to take back the sixteen states of Yanyun in one fell swoop, he helped me win the land of five states in the Song Dynasty. After Cao Wei returned to the court, I
He must be made a first-class public servant.
I have already told the queen about this matter and asked her to remind Cao Wei afterwards and let Cao Wei complain.
Once Cao Wei left, there was no leader among the military officials.
You and I will subsequently change many of the government decrees and laws of the Song Dynasty, so the leader of the military officials cannot choose someone with a martial arts background.
Zhu Neng comes from a humble background, and his achievements today are all due to the support of Mr. Kou, me, and you.
If he serves as the Deputy Privy Envoy, he will help us intimidate the military officials, and the pressure on you and me will be much less."
Kou Ji stared at Zhao Zhen and said with a smile: "There are many people in the court now, and the impeachment ministers have controlled the civil and military affairs of the court. If Zhu Neng serves as deputy privy envoy, then they will impeach the ministers to control the civil and military power in the court.
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Zhao Zhen laughed and said, "I know in my heart whether you control your words or not. I don't even care, so what do you care about?"
Kou Ji said frankly: "Zhu Neng was promoted by my grandfather after all. Zhu Neng was also very filial to my grandfather. As he serves as deputy privy envoy, there will definitely be people in the court making irresponsible remarks."
Zhao Zhen put away his smile and said solemnly: "I won't believe it..."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "Of course I know that the officials don't believe it, but whether the people will believe it or not, you and I can't tell."
Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment and sighed: "Can it be that I can no longer use Zhu Neng?"
Kou Ji continued to smile and said: "If the officials want to use Zhu Neng, they can just use it. I will go back to my grandfather to discuss something and break off all contacts with Zhu Neng."
Zhao Zhen frowned.
Kou Ji consoled him: "The officials don't have to feel uncomfortable about this. Everything is for the Song Dynasty and for the people."
Zhao Zhen let out a long sigh, "It is better to guard against the mouth of the people than to guard against the river. If the river collapses, many people will be hurt, and so will the people. Therefore, those who serve the river must make decisions and guide them; those who serve the people must declare and use words."
…”
What Zhao Zhen is talking about is a passage from "Guoyu·Zhouyu Part 1".
The general meaning is that the harm of preventing people from speaking outweighs the harm of blocking rivers.
Even though Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji are now in power, they still care about what the people think, say, and feel.
When the people's condemnation became a wave, no matter how powerful Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji were, they had to surrender to the people.
If you don't give in, the biggest possibility is that there will be smoke and war everywhere.
All sage kings and virtuous ministers know where the foundation of the country is.
After Zhao Zhen sighed, he looked at Kou Jida and said: "This will make Zhu Neng wronged..."
Kou Ji said solemnly: "I will go to Zhu Neng and talk to him. I believe Zhu Neng can understand."
Zhao Zhen nodded slowly and said: "After Zhu Neng agrees, you send someone to inform me, and I will immediately draft an edict to seal Zhu Neng as deputy privy envoy."
Kou Ji nodded and asked, "Who will serve as the envoy of the Privy Council?"
Zhao Zhen rubbed his eyebrows and said, "I'm having a headache because of this."
Kou Ji looked puzzled.
Zhao Zhen said frankly: "I originally wanted to let Zhong Shiheng be appointed as the Privy Council Envoy. Zhong Shiheng comes from a scholarly family. If he serves as the Privy Council Envoy, the civil servants will not object.
Zhong Shiheng had the merit of subduing Li Deming, so he was appointed as Privy Council Envoy, and it was difficult for the military ministers to oppose him."
Kou Ji stared at Zhao Zhen and said nothing, because he knew that what Zhao Zhen said was not the point.
Sure enough, Zhao Zhen sighed and said with an unclear expression: "But Zhong Shiheng seems to be a little unwilling. He seems to want to guard his one-third of an acre of land and does not want to move a step."
Kou Ji was silent for a moment and asked, "Have the officials talked to Zhong Shiheng?"
Zhao Zhen nodded slowly, "After a few words of conversation, he politely declined before I even mentioned the matter."
Kou Ji thought about it: "Are there any other candidates for the official family?"
Zhao Zhen said nothing and his eyes fell on Kou Ji.
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment and said hesitantly: "Your Majesty?"
Zhao Zhen nodded seriously and said: "In terms of background, you are also from a scholarly family, a family of officials, and your grandfather is a living sage, higher than Zhong Shiheng.
In terms of merit, the number of merits you can count is far greater than that of Zhong Shiheng.
Zhong Shiheng just won a few battles and surrendered to Li Deming.
But you helped me recapture Hexi, defend the northwest, and conquer Xixia.
Therefore, you are far more tenable as Privy Councilor than Zhong Shiheng."
Kou Ji pursed his lips and said nothing.
Zhao Zhen said earnestly: "I know what worries Fourth Brother has in his heart. It's just that the civil servants in the court are suppressing the military ministers. Standing at the head of the military ministers is far less comfortable than standing at the head of the civil ministers.
But can the civil and military forces of the entire court decide whether the civil and military forces should prevail over the civil and military forces in the court?"
Kou Ji was slightly stunned and understood the meaning of Zhao Zhen's words.
Emphasizing civility and suppressing military force was not a national policy decided during the civil and military deliberations of the Manchu Dynasty.
It was a national policy set by Emperor Zhao in order to prevent warriors from causing rebellion.
Therefore, whether to emphasize culture or military affairs depends on the Zhao emperor, not the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty.
After being suppressed by Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong, the military officials were already weak to a certain extent.
But as the Song Dynasty continued to expand its territory, a large number of new military ministers emerged again.
If new and old military ministers put aside their prejudices and fight with civil servants, they will be able to fight.
If Zhao Zhen favors the military ministers, and the military ministers can take advantage of the situation to rise up and suppress the civil servants, then it can be done.
Kou Ji wanted to be a civil servant before because he knew the national policy of the Song Dynasty and knew that the Song Dynasty emphasized culture and suppressed military affairs. There was no future for being a military minister, and sooner or later he would be suppressed and beaten by civil servants.
But today's Song Dynasty has already undergone earth-shaking changes.
Who suppresses whom depends not on national policy, but on Zhao Zhen's thoughts.
When the power of civil servants and military ministers can compete in separate courts, whoever Zhao Zhen favors will have the upper hand in the court.
What's more important is.
Whether he is an envoy to the privy council, or whether he is under Tong Zhongshu's command, everything is going smoothly.
They all serve Jiangshan Sheji.
Tong Zhongshu's subordinates can discuss military affairs and express their opinions on military matters.
Privy envoys can also discuss civil affairs and express their opinions on civil affairs.
In other words, both Tong Zhongshu's subordinate Ping Zhangshi and the Privy Council can participate in the discussion of all political affairs of the imperial court.
The only difference is that when it comes time to make a decision, Tong Zhongshu's subordinates can make the decision on behalf of the officials, but the Privy Council cannot.
"The official family needs me to serve as a privy envoy, so I just serve as a privy envoy. I am a minister of the official family, so I naturally have to obey the official's instructions."
Kou Ji said with a smile.
Although Kou Ji was reluctant to serve as Privy Councilor, Zhao Zhen needed it, and Kou Ji fully supported it. After all, the two of them had the same goal.
It's just that I have served as the Privy Councilor, so why do I need Zhu Neng to serve as the Deputy Privy Councilor?
Kou Ji was asking in his mind.
Zhao Zhen didn't know what Kou Ji was thinking. When he saw Kou Ji agreed, he smiled and said: "Then I will wrong my fourth brother and sit in the position of Privy Councilor for a few years. When the fourth brother retires from the post of Privy Councilor, he will be the colleague."
When things are going smoothly under the Zhongshu sect."
Kou Ji laughed and said, "Are the officials making a promise?"
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Am I not qualified to make a promise?"
Kou Ji said dumbfounded: "Officials are naturally qualified to make promises, but I remember that those who serve as privy envoys cannot serve as Tong Zhongshu's subordinates."
Zhao Zhen laughed and said: "Who said that? Is there national law to follow, or is there ancestral records? I have to follow the rules set by the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty themselves? Who will serve as the privy envoy, and who will serve as Tong Zhongshu's Ping Zhang?
Do I have the final say on things, or do they have the final say?"
Kou Ji also laughed.
Zhao Zhen is right.
Some of the small rules in the court were tacitly set by the courtiers and the previous kings, or were tacitly set by the courtiers themselves.
There is no written record and no announcement to the world.
As the ruler of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Zhen could pretend that they did not exist.
When Kou Zhun once advised Kou Ji to study, he told Kou Ji that there was a rule in the Song Dynasty, that is, "You cannot punish a doctor."
But does the Song Dynasty exist now?
No.
If anyone shouted, "The doctor cannot be punished," he would probably be laughed to death.
If someone took it seriously, those doctors who died at the hands of Kou Jijian would probably cry to death.
After laughing.
Zhao Zhen said to Kou Ji: "Since the fourth brother has agreed, I will draft an edict when I get back and appoint the fourth brother as the privy envoy."
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said, "Thank you so much for your love."
Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said: "I remember that when I came to the throne, I was still very young, and I always had the idea of giving my fourth brother a high official. I didn't expect that it would be realized in just a few years."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "The civil and military officials of the entire dynasty didn't take it seriously at that time."
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "They don't know my determination, nor do they know the talent of fourth brother."
Kou Ji smiled and said nothing.
After Zhao Zhen laughed for a long time, he suddenly said: "Zhong Shiheng has the merit of subduing Li Deming. Should I make him a first-class Duke?"
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, "If the officials don't call him to return to court, he will probably be frightened day and night."
Zhao Zhen put away the smile on his face and said lightly: "I just want to scare him. The Zhe family has been eliminated now, and I don't want a second vassal town to appear in the Song Dynasty. Even if there is, it can only be in my country."
Outside the Song Dynasty."
Kou Ji nodded slowly.
He can understand Zhao Zhen's thoughts.
Any ambitious emperor would find it difficult to tolerate the existence of vassal towns, even if you are loyal, even if your family is full of loyalties.
Everything in the world is not the king's land, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers.
This is not something you say casually.
Since we are in the territory of the king, as a minister of the king, there is no reason to listen to the instructions but not the propaganda.
If everyone in charge of military affairs in the world followed suit, wouldn't it mean that overnight we would be back to the age of enfeoffing feudal lords?
Kou Ji smiled at Zhao Zhen and said: "Zhong Shiheng is also a talented person and cannot be wasted. I will go back and talk to him to see if he can return to Bianjing City to serve."
Zhao Zhen thought for a while and said: "Fourth brother can persuade me, but there is no need to do it deliberately. If he really doesn't want to, then he can stay in Qingjian City."
Kou Ji nodded slowly and sighed in his heart.
In the past, with the Zhe family standing in front of him, Zhong Shiheng regarded Qingjian City as his own private land, so it was not so conspicuous.
Now the Zhe family has handed over military power and has become an ordinary wealthy family in the Song Dynasty.
If Zhong Shiheng occupies Qingjian City as his own land, he will naturally be particularly dazzling.
It was so dazzling that Zhao Zhen couldn't stand it.
Kou Ji accompanied Zhao Zhen to discuss the rewards for others before leaving Xingqing Palace with his wife and children.
The family of three left Xingqing Palace and got on the carriage. After walking for a while, they stopped in front of a gorgeous mansion.
The house was a separate courtyard given to the Kou Mansion by Zhao Zhen after the Xingqing Mansion was settled.
It used to be the place where a royal family of Xixia lived.
It's not that gorgeous, but it covers a large enough area.
After Kou Zhun arrived at Xingqing Mansion from Xiazhou, he moved in with Kou Ji.
Zhao Zhen sent someone to clean it, so it was clean inside.
Previously, there were only Kou Zhun, Kou Ji, and some guards following Kou Zhun and Kou Ji, which seemed a little deserted.
After Xiang Yan brought the servants from Bianjing City, the excitement became lively.
Kou Ji and Xiang Yan just arrived at the house.
Kou Zhun couldn't wait to rush out, snatched Kou Tianci who was asleep again from Xiang Yan's hand, and carried him into the house.
Xiang Yan and Kou Ji looked at each other, smiled bitterly, and stepped into the house.
After the two briefly washed themselves, they entered the bedroom.
We spent the whole night chatting about home affairs on the big bed in the bedroom.
The nobles of Xixia do not like beds as much as the nobles of Bianjing City.
They prefer solid and durable kangs.
The bed has the advantages of a bed, and the kang also has the advantages of a kang.
Especially in winter, the advantages of kang are even more obvious.
On a cold day, the kang was warm and very comfortable to lie on.
Covered with a soft quilt, you can stay in bed for a whole day.
Kou Ji only stayed on the kang for an extra hour before Kou Zhun sent people to wake him up.
After Kou Ji woke up, he woke up Xiang Yan, washed up together, and rushed to the main hall to salute Kou Zhun.
After arriving at the main hall, they saw Kou Zhun sitting on the chair with a golden sword, playing with Kou Tianci in his arms. After seeing Kou Ji and Xiang Yan, without waiting for them to salute, he said: "When?
Give me another great-grandson?"
Kou Zhun held Kou Tianci in his left hand, gave it a little hug with his right hand, and said dissatisfied: "I still want to hold a great-grandson in each hand, and three or five more around my knees."
Xiang Yan blushed with embarrassment and glared at Kou Ji without any trace.
Kou Ji shamelessly saluted Kou Zhun, "Grandpa is well..."
Kou Zhun did not let him go, and continued: "I heard that when you were in Hexi, you gave Li Di a bad idea, so that the homeless women in Hexi would have sex with those civilian husbands.
Pile of cubs.
In August or September, Li Di wrote to me saying that Hexi had more than 20,000 female babies and more than 30,000 male babies this year.
Why do you care so much about other people's babies, but not care so much about yourself?
Are you worried that the Kou government can't afford it?"
Without waiting for Kou Ji to reply, Kou Zhun said boldly: "Even if you give birth to a hundred children, our Kou Mansion can afford to raise them."
Xiang Yan was too embarrassed to raise her head, but Kou Ji said with a very bachelor smile: "I would like to have more children, but I am afraid that if I give birth to a daughter, I will be asked to be the prince's concubine by the officials."
When Kou Zhun heard this, he was slightly stunned and said in a deep voice: "You are right, the royal family is a den of trouble. Even if a good girl enters the royal family, she will be ruined.
We in the Kou government do not need to rely on our daughters to seek wealth."
Kou Ji nodded solemnly.
Kou Ji thought that Kou Zhun would let him go now, but he didn't expect Kou Zhun to say righteously: "If you are afraid that your daughter will be snatched away by the officials, then have more sons."
When Kou Ji heard this, he couldn't laugh or cry.
What Kou Zhun said was a bit unreasonable.
Kou Zhun is not the kind of unreasonable person, and most of the time he does this on purpose.
I just want to urge him to have more babies.
Xiang Yan couldn't stay any longer and kept asking Kou Ji for help with her eyes.
Kou Ji coughed dryly and said to Xiang Yan, "You take Tianci'er down to have a meal first. I have some things to discuss with my grandfather."
Xiang Yanru was granted amnesty, and after bowing to Kou Zhun, she picked up Kou Tianci and escaped from the main hall.
Without Kou Tianci in his arms, Kou Zhun said to Kou Ji with some lack of interest: "Tell me, if there is any important matter, you must discuss it with me in private."
Kou Ji said frankly: "The officials want me to be the privy envoy, and it's not easy to refuse."
Kou Zhun was stunned when he heard this, his face became a little solemn, and he sat silently thinking.
After a long time, the solemn look on Kou Zhun's face dissipated. He glanced at Kou Ji and said calmly: "The Privy Councilor is very good. Your status is the same as that of Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai. You have reached the sky in one step."
Kou Ji said solemnly: "But after I serve as Privy Councilor, I'm afraid I won't have the chance to enter the inner court in the future."
Kou Zhun glanced at Kou Ji and snorted: "Are you telling me a joke?"
Kou Ji was stunned and asked: "Why did grandfather say this?"
Kou Zhun said disdainfully: "In a few years, you monarchs and ministers will not have the final say in the court. Even if you merge the Privy Council and the Inner Court into one place, who can say no?"
At that time, will there be any difference between the Privy Council envoy and Tong Zhongshu's affairs?"
Kou Zhun seemed to feel that his words were not serious enough, so he glanced at Kou Ji again, "You have already made a decision in your heart, so why bother asking me? If you really don't want to be the Privy Councilor, can the officials really force you? "
Kou Ji's lie was exposed and he smiled dryly, "I just don't know what I'm doing, so I asked my grandfather for advice."
Kou Zhun was stunned for a moment, then said with a half-smile: "You two boys are going to do something big?"
Kou Zhun suddenly became interested, waved his hand to Kou Ji and said, "Don't tell me yet, let me guess."
Kou Zhun stroked his beard, guessed for a long time, stared at Kou Ji and chuckled, "You two boys want to touch the meat on the plates of all the dignitaries. Once you touch the meat on their plates, they will definitely rise up to resist.
You are unsure, because you are afraid that if you sit in the position of Privy Councilor and do not have enough authority, you will be moved down by others, and you may even lose your life.
Is what I said right?"
When Kou Ji heard this, he sighed with emotion: "My grandfather really has a sharp eye."
"fart!"
Kou Zhun cursed and said: "I guessed it with my brain, not with my eyes."
Kou Ji couldn't laugh or cry.
Kou Zhun cursed and said: "You don't have any confidence in your heart, and I don't have any confidence at all."
Kou Zhun knew that Kou Ji was a man given by heaven.
The man who was appointed by Heaven felt that he had no idea. How could he, an ordinary man, help Kou Ji to find out the truth or give him a stable suggestion?
Kou Ji laughed and said, "As the saying goes, if there is an old man in the family, it is like having a treasure. With you, my grandfather, a long-standing official in the officialdom, I naturally have to ask for advice."
Kou Zhun hummed twice, lowered his head and began to think deeply.
Although he was teasing Kou Ji from the beginning to the end, when it came time to make up his mind, he was absolutely unambiguous.
The big things that Kou Ji wants to do are things that he wants to do but doesn't dare to do.
Kou Ji was helping him handle the government affairs that he couldn't handle, so he naturally needed to contribute.
After Kou Zhun thought for a long time, he suddenly raised his head, stared at Kou Ji and said, "It is a wonderful move for you to serve as Privy Councilor."
Kou Ji stared at Kou Zhun without saying anything, waiting quietly for the next sentence.
Kou Zhun continued: "Since you have become the Privy Councilor, you should start with military matters first. Nowadays, most of the newly promoted military ministers are supported by you. You are kind to them, so you harm some of their interests. They won't fight you either.
They haven't become entrenched generals yet, so they're not that greedy.
As long as you don't push them to a dead end, they will not only not go against you, but will also help you.
With them helping you and the civil servants of the dynasty, it will be much easier for you to handle military matters."
Kou Ji nodded slowly.
Kou Zhun's words were very useful to him.
Kou Zhun added: "When dealing with military affairs, it is best for you and the officials to have control of the troops and horses in your hands."
Kou Zhun said no more words.
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment and asked, "What then?"
Kou Zhun glanced at Kou Ji, "What else?"
Kou Ji hurriedly asked: "How to deal with the gentry?"
Kou Zhun rolled his eyes and said, "Kill him."
Kou Ji stared in shock.
Can the problem of the gentry be solved by killing?
Kou Zhun curled his lips and said: "If you kill with all your hands and feet, no one will be good anyway. After the killing, you and the officials will bear all the infamy. You will resign and the officials will abdicate."
Kou Ji said in astonishment: "Isn't the world in chaos?"
Kou Zhun looked at Kou Ji and said: "So you have to persuade the official to give birth to a son as soon as possible. After you have done everything you want to do, let the official follow the example of the sages and pass the throne to the prince.
When the new emperor succeeds to the throne, he will grant a general amnesty to everyone, which will naturally appease everyone.
The soldiers and horses are in the hands of you and the officials. Even if the people of the world really want to make trouble, nothing will happen.
After the new emperor takes the throne, a little appeasement can calm people's hearts.
When the time comes, you will bear the infamy and the new emperor will enjoy the consequences."
Kou Ji's mouth twitched and said, "What if I can't be comforted?"
Kou Zhun sneered: "Do you really think it's so easy to rebel? Since the founding of our country, there have been countless rebels. Why haven't any of them succeeded?"
Kou Ji said nothing.
Kou Zhun snorted coldly: "That's because we have enough soldiers and horses. Whenever there is trouble somewhere, the imperial army can quickly go over and put it down.
After all, your goal is to win benefits for the people.
At first, the people may be encouraged to cause chaos, but in the end, after they know and feel your good governance, who will still cause chaos?
Without the support of regular troops and the help of the common people, what can a group of gentry do?
Apart from being beaten to death by you, I can only submit to you."
Kou Ji frowned and still didn't speak.
He felt that Kou Zhun's method was too risky.
The biggest risk is the problem of Zhao Zhen giving birth to a son.