The entry point that Chu Ge found was the phrase "ruling the world with scholar-bureaucrats."
This sentence was used before in the copy of Sheng Taizu, and now it is used again.
Coincidentally, these words were exactly what Wen Jun actually said.
This incident occurred during a court battle shortly after Wang Wenchuan's reform.
At that time, the old and new parties discussed everything from major national affairs to the details of the reform, and finally turned into mutual quarrels. In the end, the emperor, who wholeheartedly supported the new law, could not bear it anymore and ended up dead.
The original text in the historical materials records it this way.
Jun Shi said again: The ancestral laws and regulations are still there, and there is no need to change them to lose people's hearts.
The above said: Changing the legal system will greatly displease the scholar-bureaucrats, but why is it inconvenient for the common people?
Jun Shi said: To govern the world with the scholar-bureaucrats, not with the common people.
This conversation is actually very easy to understand.
When it comes to reform, Wen Junshi said that the ancestral law has been perfected and there is no need to change it. If you change it, you will lose people's support.
The emperor was puzzled: the scholar-bureaucrats were indeed unhappy with the reform of the legal system. After all, it harmed the interests of the scholar-bureaucrats; but what should the people be unhappy about? What could they lose their hearts for?
Wen Junshi said: The emperor governs the world together with the scholar-bureaucrats, not with the people.
The result of this conversation was that Wen Junshi made a big move and rendered the emperor speechless.
At that time, the emperor stumbled and said: "The scholar-bureaucrats...are not all opposed to it?"
This weak rhetorical question had no effect at all, and also proved that the emperor was actually frightened by Wen Junshi.
It can be said that Wen Junshi was indeed a very upright person and told the truth that has been true for thousands of years.
In the eyes of people of that era, the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats were both the ruling class of the country. The people were the ruled class of the country. If the emperor wanted to maintain his rule, he had to satisfy the scholar-bureaucrats. Otherwise, the emperor would rule
Can't go down.
In other words, when Wen Junshi said, "There is no need to be more open to lose people's hearts," the "people" here specifically refer to the scholar-bureaucrat class.
As for the people?
Those are cattle and sheep that are being ruled. Can they be considered human beings?
Since they are not considered human beings and can be fooled casually, and they will be cut no matter how they are cut, they can be completely ignored.
Only the two parties, the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats, were taken into consideration. If the reform was to affect the interests of the scholar-bureaucrats, it would of course lead to instability in the country.
In fact, not only Wen Junshi, but also other ministers basically had the same idea.
And it was precisely because the scholar-bureaucrats had such a consensus that the reform was almost impossible to succeed. After all, it meant being an enemy of the entire bureaucracy, and the emperor, the only one who could be of any use, was also very confused on this point.
But it was this conversation that allowed Chu Ge to find a breakthrough.
At that time, the emperor was indeed refuted and speechless.
But this does not mean that the emperor accepted Wen Junshi's statement.
On the contrary, the emperor felt resentful because of this. In his future life, he began to rack his brains to think about how to stop himself from being so aggrieved.
The "Yuanfeng restructuring" just shows that the emperor could never get over this hurdle.
In fact, this is how a normal person should react.
Who can refuse power?
For every emperor, mastering absolute centralized power is their lifelong pursuit. For ministers, they must do everything possible to reject the emperor's request, or even wrest power from the emperor's hands.
Therefore, just because the emperor has not thought of a solution for the time being, it does not mean that he does not want to change this situation.
What Chu Ge has to do now is to provide the emperor with a solution.
Thinking of this, Chu Ge said: "I believe that officials do not rule the world with scholar-bureaucrats, but use scholar-bureaucrats to govern the world.
"Everything in the world depends on the officials. If the officials want to do something, if the scholar-bureaucrats support it, everyone will be happy; if the officials want to do it, but if the scholar-officials don't support it, then the officials can naturally change a group of people to support it.
"Scholar-officials are herders on behalf of the emperor. How have you ever heard that scholar-officials are herders on behalf of the emperor?"
"Officials want to do things, but they are hindered at every turn. Don't you hear what Taizu said: How can you allow other people to sleep soundly beside the couch?"
After hearing these words, the emperor's eyes became brighter and brighter.
Obviously, Wang Wenchuan, played by Chu Ge, made many shocking remarks. Although it would cause an uproar when heard by other ministers, to the emperor's ears, they were as beautiful as fairy music.
Chu Ge's meaning is very simple. Your Majesty, why do you think Wen Jun is so stupid?
Why did scholar-bureaucrats share power with the emperor?
You are the emperor, and you can do whatever you want. In ancient times, officials were called Zhou Mu, which meant that they were herders on behalf of the emperor. But do they dare to say that they were herders on behalf of the emperor? That would be rebellion.
So, no matter what, it is the emperor who has the final say.
If the emperor can't have the final say, what else is he called an emperor?
These words really spoke to the emperor's heart.
Why didn't he think so?
In fact, in history, part of the reason why the emperor and Wang Wenchuan parted ways was due to this.
Wang Wenchuan himself is a very stubborn person and likes to take over everything. But when the emperor stands behind him, he always feels a little uncomfortable.
Wang Wenchuan did many things by himself. If the emperor had different ideas, he had to consider Wang Wenchuan's views and often had to compromise.
Over time, the emperor would naturally feel that there was no difference between Wang Wenchuan and Wen Junshi, and they would be more or less alienated.
Once there was a problem with the new law, the emperor's first reaction was not to take responsibility himself, but to think that this was a problem caused by King Wenchuan's sweeping responsibility, and that you had to bear the whole blame.
So later on, the emperor alienated Wang Wenchuan and personally carried out the Yuanfeng restructuring.
Although the effect of Yuanfeng's reform was not as good as Wang Wenchuan's reform, after all, it was what the emperor himself wanted to do. He himself was the first person responsible. Naturally, he could not find anyone to blame, so the matter continued like this.
This fully shows that any emperor wants to centralize power and does not want to share his power with the prime minister.
The answer given by Sheng Taizu was to directly cancel the prime minister and do all the work himself.
In the Qi Dynasty, it was not that the emperor did not want to do this, but they did not see the feasibility of doing so.
Sheng Taizu was a reckless emperor. He started from the grassroots level and knew everything. Naturally, he did not need the help of the prime minister. However, the emperor at this time was just an ordinary conservative king and could not have the perverted ability of Sheng Taizu.
He wants to compete with the civil service group on his own, but that is impossible.
But what if Wang Wenchuan is on his side?
The emperor's face showed an excited look, but then he hesitated: "Wang Qing, this matter... is really feasible? If it is feasible, how should I do it? I'm afraid... the world will be in chaos.
"
Obviously, the emperor's concerns were justified.
These scholar-bureaucrats were so powerful that even the emperor was afraid of them.
If he really takes the initiative at this time, he will inevitably arouse unanimous opposition from the ministers. At that time, he will really become a mere commander and a lonely man.
If it gets to that point, at least the decree will not be passed and the emperor's will will not be carried out; in the most serious case, the emperor may even be deposed.
Chu Ge was well prepared, with a bewildering expression on his face: "Officials, don't worry, I have my own good strategy.
“Of course this matter cannot be accomplished overnight, it must be done step by step.
"The key is that officials must clearly distinguish who is the enemy and who is the friend."
The emperor's expression became even more urgent: "How to tell the difference?"
Chu Ge smiled slightly: "Do you still remember the Ayun case?
"In short, those who recognize the official family are friends, and those who do not recognize the official family are enemies.
"If there are some people who don't even agree with the government to save a weak woman, or even agree with the government to change a few laws, then it's obvious whether they are enemies or friends.
"As for how to deal with these people, it's easy.
“First cut off the branches and leaves, then cut off the trunk, just do it step by step.
"The officials can leave these matters to their ministers. As for who to choose for these vacant positions, the officials can decide on their own."
At this point, Chu Ge finally revealed his conspiracy.
Of course, for officials like Wen Junshi, this might be a conspiracy, but for the emperor, it was an out-and-out conspiracy.
Chu Ge had told the emperor 90% of the entire plan without reservation.
The remaining 10% is his selfishness.
The breakthrough point of the entire plan was the emperor's desire for power.
At this time, the court was divided into two parties, one was the new party headed by Wang Wenchuan, and the other was the old party headed by Wen Junshi.
They have many differences, but they have one thing in common, that is, they all want to use their power to suppress the imperial power and are unwilling to hand over half of it.
Wenjun was like this, and so was Wang Wenchuan.
Therefore, the emperor was actually very depressed.
He wanted to make a difference, so he supported Wang Wenchuan's reform, but from beginning to end, he never really trusted Wang Wenchuan because Wang Wenchuan didn't want to share power with him.
Of course, this does not mean that Wang Wenchuan is greedy for power. It is more likely that Wang Wenchuan feels from the bottom of his heart that these matters should belong to the prime minister, and the emperor should not interfere or interfere.
This was the consensus of all scholar-bureaucrats at the time. It was impossible for Wang Wenchuan to see the world hundreds of years later like Chu Ge.
This can be regarded as a certain limitation of the times.
Therefore, although these reforms were approved by the emperor, the emperor's support was not firm.
After a slight wavering, Wang Wenchuan was dismissed as prime minister.
But now, Chu Ge is the first to break through this bottom line.
What is the consensus of scholar-bureaucrats? Sorry, I just want to be the emperor’s dog!
Originally, the emperor also wanted to take back the power of the prime minister, but he had no one to support him. But now, Wang Wenchuan sent him a pillow when he was dozing off.
On one side is Wang Wenchuan, who is willing to be his dog, willing to hand over power unconditionally, and only works for the emperor in a down-to-earth manner; on the other side, he insists that "the laws of the ancestors are immutable", and the emperor must abide by the laws of the ancestors in everything he does.
Wen Junshi.
It is clear at a glance whether people are close or distant.
Is there any doubt about who the emperor will like?
If Wang Wenchuan's favorability in the emperor's heart was originally 60, and Wenjun's favorability was 40, then now, Wang Wenchuan's favorability has soared to 100, while Wenjun's favorability is only 10.
After finding this retreat, Chu Ge's goal became clear.
That is: blatant partisanship!
Logically speaking, the emperor should be the person who least wants to see party strife.
Because once the parties fight, it means that if a certain party wins, it will have a huge impact, which in turn will further suppress the imperial power.
When the two factions were in balance before, you still suppressed me to death. Now that one faction has fallen and everyone in the court has become members of the other faction, then I shouldn't abdicate on the spot?
But the party struggle Chu Ge wants to engage in now will not arouse fierce opposition from the emperor.
First, because he has given enough sincerity.
Chu Ge first took out the official system law and voluntarily gave up part of the power of the prime minister. This made the emperor feel that he was an unambitious and very obedient minister. After the favorability level was full, the emperor naturally would not think that Wang Wenchuan would have a great influence on him.
threats.
Secondly, it was because he packaged the party struggle into clearing obstacles for the emperor to centralize power.
Chu Ge mentioned the Ayun case, using this inconspicuous case to transfer the conflict between the old and new parties into the conflict between the old party and the emperor.
What I mean is that let’s not talk about the reform first, but let’s look at the small matter of the Ayun case.
In the Ayun case, there is an order from His Majesty!
Our new party is actually working for His Majesty. His Majesty said in his hand that he wanted to commute his sentence, so we commuted his sentence. Similarly, when His Majesty wanted to change the law, we changed the law. Everything we did was actually for His Majesty.
What about the old party? Your Majesty wants to pardon a weak woman today, but they don't agree. Your Majesty wants to reform the law, but they don't agree.
If you follow the laws of your ancestors, does that mean that everything should be done according to the laws of your ancestors? Just leave everything to them, the old ministers? The emperor said that nothing can be done?
In this way, the old party was further pushed against the emperor, making the emperor hate them even more.
Since the emperor already hates them, then this is not a party dispute, but the emperor is eliminating disobedient ministers.
Thirdly, it is because he left enough room.
Chu Ge said that anyone who does not support the emperor in the Ayun case and anyone who does not support the new law will be targeted.
Start with the little miscellaneous fish first, and then drive away the important officials in the court step by step.
But what happens after the blow is over?
If Chu Ge said that when these positions become vacant, they will be filled by members of the new party, or even further, that he will decide who will fill the positions, then the emperor will definitely be alert.
Isn’t this still cultivating Wang Wenchuan’s power?
But Chu Ge has handed over the power of personnel appointment and dismissal, and it is the emperor who has the final say who will fill these vacancies.
All in all, from the emperor's perspective, he decided which officials to attack and which officials to promote.
If this is the case, what kind of cliques are there? What threats are there?
How happy it feels to be in control of everything.
This is what Chu Ge showed to the emperor, the 90% conspiracy.
But there was another 10% that he didn't say.
That is, after such operations, in the later stage, he can still achieve the operation of evading the emperor.
Because when dealing with these old parties, he will kill them so that they will never have any chance to come back.
On the surface, the emperor could appoint, remove, and promote officials at will. The emperor himself probably thought that he could promote others to check and balance Wang Wenchuan at any time, and that everything was under his control.
But in the eyes of other officials, this is not the case.
They would only see that the old party was completely defeated by the emperor and Wang Wenchuan, and that they were all liquidated by Wang Wenchuan with cruel means.
At this time, if they want to become an official in the court and want to be promoted, are there any other options?
They can only choose to side with Wang Wenchuan and become a supporter of the new party.
And when they are promoted, will they be better off remembering the emperor or Wang Wenchuan?
Even if this promotion was made by the emperor himself, these officials would think in their hearts that their official positions were actually given by Wang Wenchuan.
Because they had no way of telling whether the emperor was so decisive to support the new law? Or to support Wang Wenchuan?
In fact, it is not the case. The emperor is for his own power. But it is difficult for those officials to realize this. And even if they realize it, they can't do anything.
You can't go to court and scold the emperor, right? Even if you see this kind of thing, you can't just talk about it everywhere!
Over time, the emperor ostensibly had the power to appoint and remove officials, but the entire court was composed of Wang Wenchuan's people. What difference did it make who he appointed or removed?
At that point, Chu Ge can implement the new law unscrupulously without worrying about any objections and doubts.
What? Or will there be?
There won't be, because by that time, Chu Ge will not let these voices reach the emperor's ears.
If you can't even deceive your superiors and conceal your subordinates, what kind of powerful official is he?
Of course, Chu Ge also knew that even if he did this, the Wang Wenchuan he played would not be able to become the uncrowned king, nor could he really completely depose the emperor and do whatever he wanted.
Because this emperor is not a child, he is in his prime and still firmly holds power.
After all, the Qi Dynasty was different from those previous dynasties. There were too many checks and balances.
Even if the entire court belongs to Wang Wenchuan, if one day the emperor is really determined to kill Wang Wenchuan, there will still be a way, but it will only take a long time.
Just like Yan Maoqing was able to control the government for more than 40 years, was it because the emperor didn't want to get rid of him? It was so easy that he couldn't let go. If he really wanted to, he could still do it.
But even if one day the emperor really makes up his mind and opens Wang Wenchuan's coffin and kills his body like he did those powerful officials in history, so what?
This long time is enough for Chu Ge to do a lot of things.
Finally, the emperor was completely conquered by Chu Ge's words.
"So, in Wang Qing's opinion, where should I start?"
Chu Ge paused for a moment, and then said: "Please ask the officials to lend me Wude Si for use."
…
Not long after Chu Ge returned to the mansion, Liu Zhien, the top leader of Wude Division, arrived.
The great eunuch's face was obviously full of doubts and confusion.
Because he really couldn't figure out why the emperor asked him to come to see this Ao Xianggong.
Chu Ge smiled slightly and said to Liu Zhien: "Liu Tiju, please sit down."
The so-called Wude Division was the secret service agency directly under the emperor of the Qi Dynasty.
Unlike the Jin Yiwei of the Great Sheng Dynasty, Wude Si's power was actually very limited. Because the Qi Dynasty had the ancestral motto that "you cannot punish an official", the environment for literati was very relaxed, and they basically did not suffer particularly severe persecution.
Even if Wude Division uncovers the criminal, he still has to send the suspect to Dali Temple for conviction.
In the circumstances at that time, even the emperor had nothing to do with these scholar-bureaucrats, let alone Wude.
Therefore, although the Wude Division at this time was a secret service agency that was in charge of both palace guards and surveillance, it actually played no role in the affairs of the court at all, and its presence in history was very thin.
In the Qi Dynasty, this organization could be said to be hated by even dogs.
In the court, Wude Si was directly subordinate to the emperor and did not accept the jurisdiction of any ministers, so ministers including Wen Junshi repeatedly wrote letters of impeachment and scolding; among the people, Wude Si was also despised by the people, and anyone with any potential would not do it.
If you go to serve in the Wude Department, let alone be a talented and learned Jinshi.
This led to the fact that most of the members of the Wude Division, or the peripheral members, were local hooligans who used the emperor's banner to bully the market and commit all kinds of evil, which ruined the reputation of the Wude Division and made the emperor unable to hold his head high in front of the scholar-bureaucrats.
The emperor did not want to abolish Wude Si, so he finally had to compromise and limit Wude Si's activities to the capital.
Although Chu Ge promised the emperor that he would bring down these old parties, he still had to think carefully about how to bring them down.
It is definitely not possible to act recklessly. If an official has not committed any crime but forcibly accuses him, it will be too obvious and it will be easy for other old parties to attack him.
At that time, the emperor will not be able to step down.
And if there is evidence of guilt, this kind of thing can be done much more justly.
If you want to collect criminal evidence or fabricate criminal evidence, Wude Division is an agency that you must have in hand.
Since the establishment of the Qi Dynasty, Wudesi has been playing a role and has been scolded by civil servants.
In the original view of Wang Wenchuan, this was obviously a disgusting secret service agency, and it was impossible to have a good look.
But in Chu Ge's view, Wu Desi did not do too much, but did too little.
This organization simply did not play its due role.
Thinking of this, Wang Wenchuan, played by Chu Ge, directly threw a memorial into Liu Zhien's hands.
Liu Zhien was stunned for a moment and took a closer look.
"On the Wude Division's Inspection of Marriage Officials Zazi", author, Wen Junshi.
This was Wen Junshi's previous memorial to the emperor to impeach Wude Si.
Liu Zhien glanced briefly, then looked up at Wang Wenchuan, played by Chu Ge: "Wang Xiang, what are you..."
He was completely confused by Wang Wenchuan, who did not follow the routine.
Chu Ge smiled slightly, picked out a short paragraph from the memorial and read it out: "'The ministers and others heard that Wude Si secretly sent out soldiers to listen to the people in the market slandering the deputies, and then punished them. They also issued a list to reward them.
Recruit people to report and arrest those who slander the government. I don’t know that the government of the holy emperors and kings has been like this since ancient times?'
"This is a memorial before the Wen Jing Council to impeach Mr. Takeshi for committing lawlessness, wanton conduct, slander, and guilty speeches.
"Liu Tiju, if the officials really listen to Wen's advice, abolish the Wude Department, and arrest and punish all the lawbreakers in the Wude Department, how will you deal with yourself?"
