In the Chui Gong Hall, Zhao Zhen was sitting on a chair, listening to the courtiers below arguing about the matter of being crowned king. He felt a slight headache and rubbed his eyebrows.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to drive the courtiers out of Chui Gong Hall, Chen Lin quietly approached him and whispered something in his ear.
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen raised his brows and raised a smile at the corner of his mouth. Looking at the quarreling courtiers below, the smile on his face became even stronger, as if something interesting was about to happen.
However, what was fun for him was not so fun for the courtiers.
Lu Yijian and Zhang Zhibai saw that the expression on Zhao Zhen's face changed, and there was a hint of playfulness in his smile, so they secretly guessed whether Zhao Zhen had some bad idea and planned to punish some courtiers.
Just when the two of them were secretly guessing.
Outside Donghua Gate.
The two old guys and their servants wandered to Donghua Gate.
After the imperial guards in front of Donghua Gate saw them, their expressions became serious and they stood up straight.
Seeing the two old guys getting closer and closer, the Royal Forest Guards took the initiative to move away from the Jinshui Bridge they were guarding, preparing to let the two old guys pass.
It was just that the two old guys reached the end of the Jinshui Bridge and suddenly stopped.
Kou Zhun glanced at the palace and asked the imperial guard standing on the bridge of Jinshui Bridge, "Have you not gone to court yet?"
The Royal Forest Guard officers heard Kou Zhun's question and just finished their guard duty. They bowed and saluted each of Kou Zhun and Cao Wei, "I haven't gone to court yet to reply to Kou Gong."
When Kou Zhun heard this, a joyful look flashed across his face. He turned his head and said to Cao Wei, who was sleeping with his eyes closed beside him: "We are not too late..."
Cao Wei nodded his head incomprehensibly.
It's not that Cao Wei is showing off in front of Kou Zhun, but that Cao Wei is now on the verge of death. It takes a lot of strength to stand and walk. He will be out of breath when talking and can't explain clearly, so he can talk less, just
Talk less.
Kou Zhun knew Cao Wei's situation, so he didn't say anything.
If someone else had treated Kou Zhun with such an attitude, Kou Zhun could have gone up and slapped him twice.
"Quickly...bring me and Cao Wei's things..."
Kou Zhun greeted.
The entourage moved the rocking chair. Under the astonished eyes of the Royal Guards on the Jinshui Bridge, they placed the rocking chair at the end of the Jinshui Bridge, covered it with delicate and soft animal skins, and stood aside with their bows.
Kou Zhun laughed and walked into the rocking chair and waved.
The entourage presented him with a big halberd.
Kou Zhun hugged the euphorbia, went to the rocking chair, and basked in the sun very comfortably.
Cao Wei also lay down in his rocking chair, hugged his own euphorbia, and basked in the sun.
One civil and one military, two big men who were once very popular ministers walked to the top of Jinshui Bridge, one to the left and the other to the right. The scene was very strange.
There is a saying that those who come are not good and those who are good will not come.
The two big guys obviously had nothing to do and came here to have fun.
He must be looking for trouble.
The Royal Forest Guards guarding the Jinshui Bridge did not dare to ask, let alone tell, what trouble they were looking for.
Although they have a special mission, they can use some special privileges when necessary.
But their privileges are of no use to these two big guys.
Because their status and achievements determined it, even if he was lying like this in the Chui Gong Hall, no one would even complain.
Not only did the Royal Guardsmen not dare to ask or tell, they also had to stand appropriately in the place with the strongest sunlight to block some of the dazzling sunlight for the two bosses to prevent them from getting too much sunstroke.
Not long after the two big guys lay at the head of Jinshui Bridge, the meeting broke up.
The officials came out of the Chui Gong Hall in twos and threes and gathered together in small groups, discussing government affairs as they walked toward Donghua Gate.
"The officials didn't get angry today and didn't kick us out when we were discussing the matter of making the king..."
"Have the officials been persuaded by us and are ready to listen to our advice?"
"It's possible, it's possible..."
"..."
Zhao Zhen's abnormal behavior today was misinterpreted by the courtiers.
The courtiers could not figure out Zhao Zhen's background, but Lu Yijian and Zhang Zhibai, two people who often accompanied Zhao Zhen in discussing political affairs, knew Zhao Zhen well.
Zhao Zhen did not get angry with the courtiers today, not because Zhao Zhen accepted the advice of the courtiers.
There must be bigger trouble waiting for the courtiers, so Zhao Zhen generously and kindly let them go.
As Lu Yijian walked out of the imperial city, he whispered to Zhang Zhibai: "What methods do you think the officials will use to rectify the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty?"
Zhang Zhibai pondered and said: "It doesn't have to be an official..."
Lu Yijian said unexpectedly: "Apart from the officials, who else can suppress the civil and military forces of the entire dynasty?"
Zhang Zhibai glanced at Lu Yijian and reminded: "Have you forgotten Cao Wei and Kou Gong?"
Lu Yijian was stunned and said hesitantly: "They no longer care about political affairs."
Zhang Zhibai said quietly: "Just because they are not involved in political affairs does not mean that the two of them cannot embarrass the civil and military officials of the court."
Lu Yijian thought for a while and said: "Kou Zhun has many disciples with old friends, and his grandson Kou Ji is a powerful figure. Even if he leaves the center, there are still many people who are willing to work for him.
I don't find it strange that he tried to embarrass the civil and military officials of the imperial court.
But why did Cao Wei embarrass the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty?
He has outstanding merits, but the court is not a place to act wildly based on his merits.
He relied on his own status to suppress the military ministers, which was fine.
But we civil servants will not buy his fault."
Zhang Zhibai sighed and said helplessly: "If he were a vigorous and energetic military minister, we wouldn't be afraid. The key is that he is already on his deathbed.
He made great contributions to our Song Dynasty, and now everyone in the government and the public is spreading his reputation of being good at conquering and fighting.
The officials even planned to make an exception and grant him a prince with a different surname while he was still alive.
Such a person suddenly falls in your arms, or falls in front of you.
How many clan heads do you have to show to calm the anger of everyone in the Song Dynasty?"
When Lu Yijian heard this, his pupils shrank slightly, and a trace of fear actually arose in his heart.
With Cao Wei's current achievements, it would be great fun if he really fell in front of someone or in someone's arms.
When the time comes, Zhao Zhen must kill a person and give an explanation to everyone in the government and the public.
If killing people can't quell the matter, Zhao Zhen may even issue an edict to punish himself.
Lu Yijian thought about it for a moment. If Cao Wei fell into his arms, then his status as a disciple of Tong Zhongshu would not be enough.
Just the nephew of the Cao family and the daughter of the Cao family who went out cannot be suppressed by his status as a disciple of Zhongshu.
Not to mention the old department that Cao Wei has been running for many years.
If Cao Wei was really humiliated to death by civil servants, Cao Wei's old subordinates would dare to rebel.
Since you don't regard us warriors as human beings, then we warriors can only turn you into a dead person.
According to history books, Han Qi was majestic and domineering when he beheaded him in front of Di Qing.
He shouted out the words in public, "You can only become a man by calling him in Donghuamen", which influenced the Song Dynasty for hundreds of years.
But he only dared to kill Jiao Yong, bully Di Qing Zhongyong, and would not break up with him.
Let him try to kill Di Qing.
If he dared to kill Di Qing, Di Qing's subordinates would dare to rebel.
No matter what era it is, the generals and officers in the army admire the capable generals in the army.
Once they recognize the general, they dare to do anything for him.
Therefore, if Cao Wei falls into someone's arms, the whole family will be in trouble.
Therefore, Cao Wei cannot be messed with.
You can't mess with Cao Wei, let alone the other one.
The other one is almost 80 years old. Although his body and bones are still good, no one can guarantee whether he will suddenly die due to his popularity.
If he was so angry that he died suddenly, the entire Song Dynasty would explode.
By then, even one family's head will not be able to settle the matter, at least it will take eight families' heads to settle the matter.
What if his grandson took the opportunity to start an uprising and rush into Bianjing City in the name of avenging his grandfather?
More people died.
Maybe the entire Song Dynasty will have to be buried with him.
So the other one can't be messed with even more.
Not a single heavy word can be said.
If you say it, you will get sprayed.
"If Cao Wei and Kou Zhun really make things difficult for us, we can only watch and do nothing."
Lu Yijian sighed speechlessly.
When others do things that are normal to Tong Zhongshu's sect, it is a sign of authority, suppressing whomever they want, and scolding whomever they want.
He was doing the normal things for Tong Zhongshu, but there were a bunch of ancestors sitting on his head, none of whom he could afford to offend.
He felt aggrieved.
Lu Yijian sighed and asked Zhang Zhibai, "They shouldn't get confused, right?"
Zhang Zhibai curled his lips and said: "Even if they come here, who can do anything to them? Even if they break into our house, occupy our mansion, and block our door, we still have to serve them with good food and drink."
Even if the officials were invited to come forward, they would only give good advice.
If they refuse to leave, no one can help them."
Lu Yijian frowned and said: "The officials are the lords of the emperor, how can we let them manipulate us?"
Zhang Zhibai said speechlessly: "The officials are eager to see us digest. How could they offend them both for our sake?"
Lu Yijian was a little speechless.
After being silent for a long time, Lu Yijian stared at Zhang Zhibai and asked: "How can you be sure that those two old guys will make things difficult for us?
Why don't the officials use methods to deal with us?"
Zhang Zhibai rolled his eyes and said, "It was proposed by the officials themselves to make Cao Wei the king. Fifty of the courtiers petitioned to make Cao Wei the king, which is in line with the officials' wishes.
What the officials were dissatisfied with was the fact that the courtiers had bad intentions and petitioned Kou Ji to be crowned king.
Before the officials gave Cao Wei the title of king, it was impossible for him to use any method to calm down the heated discussion about the title of king.
Most of the current debates in the court are instigated by officials.
If the officials really gave an order not to allow courtiers to discuss this matter anymore, who would dare to disobey it?
Therefore, even if the officials use methods to deal with people, they will only deal with some of us, not all of us.
When we just went to court, the official looked at us in a wrong way. He looked at all of us with a look of gloating.
That means we're all in trouble.
At this time, the only ones who can cause trouble for us are Kou Gong and Cao Wei."
After listening to Zhang Zhibai's analysis, Lu Yijian gritted her teeth and said, "Then let's hide for a while after leaving the palace. We can afford to offend those two old guys, but we can't afford the consequences, so it's better not to meet each other."
Zhang Zhibai nodded in agreement.
At this time, it is necessary to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.
You can't be stubborn.
If you act forcefully, not only will you not get any benefits, but you will also easily get into trouble.
The courtiers walked out of Donghua Gate chatting and laughing.
As soon as I left Donghua Gate, I saw two figures outside Donghua Gate and at the head of Jinshui Bridge.
The courtiers looked at each other and almost all noticed that Cao Wei and Kou Zhun were sitting at the end of the Jinshui Bridge. It was obvious that they were coming with bad intentions.
The courtiers looked at each other, and no one dared to cross the bridge.
After Lu Yijian and Zhang Zhibai arrived, the courtiers immediately surrounded the two people.
Chen Yaozuo, the Minister of Household Affairs, said in a deep voice: "Prime Minister Lu and Prime Minister Zhang, I'm afraid these two are here with bad intentions."
Lu Yijian's face looked a little ugly and said: "Everyone can see it."
Lu Yijian and Zhang Zhibai were just talking about avoiding them, but they didn't expect them to appear so quickly and block the Jinshui Bridge.
He has a posture of embarrassing whoever crosses the bridge.
"What now?"
Some people frowned and asked questions.
Some people muttered dissatisfiedly, "It's too silly to rely on the old and sell the old."
Lu Yijian turned around and glared hard at the guy who was telling the truth.
The man quickly shut his mouth.
If they really want to offend Cao Wei and Kou Zhun to death, then Cao Wei and Kou Zhun will dare to play tricks on them.
Lu Yijian said with a gloomy face: "I told you not to stare at Cao Wei and Kou Ji, but you refused to listen. So what if Cao Wei is granted the title of king based on his merits?
He is already on the verge of death. Could it be that with the title of king, he can threaten you, me, and the court?
Also, the officials only named Cao Wei the king, but did not mention the title to Kou Ji. Why did you involve Kou Ji?
Do you really think that your family is at the border and there is nothing you can do about it?
I have a grandfather who served as the regent twice.
When my grandfather was a highly respected minister, some of you had not yet entered official careers."
Speaking of this, Lu Yijian gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "When Kou Laoxi used the knife to kill people, no official in the government or the public could bear it."
After Lu Yijian finished speaking, some people looked ugly and remained silent.
Some people beg to differ.
"Prime Minister Lu, our Song Dynasty does not allow living kings with different surnames to appear. This is an ancestral system. This rule cannot be opened. Once it is opened, we don't know how many kings with different surnames will appear in our Song Dynasty in the future.
When the time comes, all the kings with different surnames in the dynasty will have no place to talk to you and me.
When the time comes, kings with different surnames will replace the former royal relatives and generals, and become the new dangers of the Song Dynasty.
Therefore this case cannot be opened.
As for the petition to confer the title of king on Kou Ji, it was also for the consideration of the imperial court.
Kou Ji's current contribution has reached the point where he can't be named.
By conferring the title of king on Kou Ji, it is necessary for us to alert the officials and the common people.
If Kou Ji was sensible, he should have taken the initiative to retire after his master returned to the court.
In this way, it will be good for the court, the officials, him, and us."
A censor said seriously.
His meaning is very simple. There must be no living king with a different surname in the court.
The petition to confer the title of king on Kou Ji was just to remind Zhao Zhen and the world that Kou Ji had reached the point where his achievements were so great that he could surpass his master.
If you continue to let Kou Ji stay in the court, sooner or later he will become a disaster to the Song Dynasty.
Kou Ji should retreat bravely, it would be better for everyone.
Lu Yijian, Zhang Zhibai and many others frowned when they heard this.
Jia Changchao couldn't help but said: "Privy Kou is loyal to the official family."
The censor replied unceremoniously: "Cao Mengde was also loyal to the Han Dynasty in the beginning, and Ding Wei was also a wise minister in the beginning."
Jia Chang stared angrily.
Among the military ministers, Zhu Neng, who had been pretending to be dead in the court since returning to the court, suddenly said, "Do you dare to say this in front of Privy Councilor Kou?"
The censor raised his head and snorted: "Why don't you dare!"
Zhu Neng sneered, "I respect you as a man, so go and invite those two back. You are the one who caused the trouble, and we shouldn't be allowed to suffer along with you."
Hearing this, the censor said angrily: "This matter is a matter for the court, not for us personally."
"Court?!"
Zhu Neng sneered and said: "Can you represent the imperial court? Can you represent my military ministers? Can you represent my Privy Council? Do you have the guts to go to my Privy Council and say what you said again?
Do you believe that my people from the Privy Council will cut you into pieces?"
The censor said angrily: "Zhu Neng, you are so presumptuous!"
Zhu Neng said disdainfully: "Presumptuous?! The only people who can represent our Privy Council are Privy Council Kou and the officials. Our Privy Council is a self-contained entity and does not fall under your jurisdiction or discussion.
So the trouble you are getting into has nothing to do with my Privy Council.
So please solve the trouble you have caused as soon as possible.
If the trouble you caused prevented us from returning to the Privy Council for business, then you should bear the responsibility for delaying military flights."
The censor was so angry that he wanted to curse loudly.
Zhu Neng did not give him a chance. Zhu Neng continued: "The Privy Council is now coordinating the mobilization of nearly a million soldiers and horses, as well as food and fodder. If someone is killed innocently because of the delay in the military flight, everyone from the Privy Council to the Forbidden Army will come to you and ask for an explanation."
.
This time our Song Dynasty faced off against the Black Khanate, Qingtang, and Liao Kingdom, and countless military officials achieved great success.
I believe that some of them will use their own merits to exchange for the death of your whole family out of pity for their subordinates."
The censor's eyes widened and he was trembling with anger.
But he didn't utter any more wild words.
Because among the military officials there were some straight-tempered people, they could really do the kind of things Zhu Neng said.
There are also some people whose contributions are so great that it is difficult to reward them.
They shouldn't mind using part of their credit in exchange for the censor's life.
Zhu Neng was not trying to scare him. If there really was a delay in the military flight and the death of some Forbidden Army soldiers, if someone was to investigate, someone must be responsible.
The officers and soldiers of the Forbidden Army would not accept any punishment such as dismissal from office.
They would rather see the thief's head.
"That's enough..."
Lu Yijian frowned and shouted, "Haven't you argued enough in the court? Are you still arguing here? What we need to do now is to ask those two to leave instead of bickering here.
Looking at the postures of the two men, it was obvious that they were unwilling to give up.
If we keep arguing here, we might not even be able to get out of the palace today."
As soon as Lu Yijian said these words, the courtiers fell into silence.
Lu Yijian called by name and said: "Zhu Neng, you are friends with Kou Zhun, you are a military minister, and you can talk to Cao Wei. You go and persuade them."
Zhu Neng snorted and said in a neutral tone: "I'm not that shameless..."
Lu Yijian said displeasedly: "Now is not the time to be angry. As a court official, you should take the overall situation into consideration."
Zhu Neng narrowed his eyes, stared at Lu Yijian, and said unceremoniously: "Is Prime Minister Lu teaching me to do things, or is he telling me to do things?"
Lu Yijian subconsciously stared and wanted to curse.
Zhu Neng continued: "If you teach me to do something, I don't want to listen. If you tell me to do something, please ask Prime Minister Lu to take out the military seal of the Privy Council."
Our Privy Council is different from your other yamen.
We are only under the control of officials and privy envoys.
No matter how powerful others are, they can't control us."
Lu Yijian was so angry that she wanted to hit someone.
He was also fooled by lard at the beginning, and he actually supported the independence of the Privy Council from other yamen of the imperial court.
Now that the Privy Council is not under their control, they cannot interfere in the affairs of the Privy Council. The people in the Privy Council are using this rule to make trouble for him.
How could he not be angry?
"Wang Shu! Go!"
Lu Yijian had no way to instruct Zhu Neng to do things, so he could only instruct Wang Shu, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, to persuade his father-in-law.
Naturally, it was impossible for Wang Shu to confront Lu Yijian like Zhu Neng did.
Zhu Neng is not afraid of Lu Yijian, because Lu Yijian will probably never be able to control him in his life.
But Wang Shu had to be afraid, because Lu Yijian was his boss.
"I'll go and try it..."
Wang Shu bowed slightly and stepped onto the Jinshui Bridge.
When he reached the end of the bridge, Kou Zhun felt someone coming and shook the euphorbia in his hand.
Seeing that Kou Zhun seemed to be stopping him with a big halberd, Wang Shu hurriedly shouted.
"father in law!"
Kou Zhun heard Wang Shu's cry and paused with the halberd in his hand.
Wang Shu approached Kou Zhun and bowed respectfully, "Father-in-law..."
Before Wang Shu could say anything else, Kou Zhun waved his hand and said, "Go home by yourself. Don't stand here blocking me from the sun."
Wang Shu hesitated for a moment, nodded, glanced back at the courtiers on the other side of the Jinshui Bridge, slightly arched his hands, and hurriedly left the Jinshui Bridge.
When the courtiers saw this, they looked at each other in shock.
"What do those two people mean? They pretended to stop people, but let Wang Shu leave. Don't they want to stop people, but just want to be door gods?"
Someone muttered quietly.
Lu Yijian thought for a moment and ordered the censor who just spoke, "Go..."
The censor hesitated for a moment, and Lu Yijian stared.
Seeing this, the censor surrendered.
The royal family went to Jinshui Bridge and just reached the end of Jinshui Bridge.
"Bang bang..."
With two muffled sounds, the two euphorbias fell to the ground crosswise.
When the censor saw this, his cheeks turned red with embarrassment, "Kou Gong, Cao Wei, what are you two doing?"
Kou Zhun turned his head slightly, glanced at the censor coldly, opened his lips lightly, "Get out!"
The censor trembled all over, feeling unprecedented humiliation.
He gritted his teeth and trembled all over, wanting to accuse Kou Zhun.
But under Kou Zhun's cold eyes, he didn't say a word.
Don't look at how fierce he is in front of Lu Yijian and others.
In front of Kou Zhun, he really couldn't be fierce.
Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, censors have rarely been punished for their words. Almost no one will offend an upright censor, and no one will be punished with swords or axes.
But during the regency of the country, Kou Zhun, the person who suffered the most cuts was the censor.