Qi Baihe knelt on the ground, kowtowed his head and drew blood, and the two lines of old tears also fell down.
He originally thought that he would stop at the fifth rank position of civil servant wailang in his life, but he did not expect that today he would have the opportunity to step up to the third rank in one step.
Chu Zheng glanced at Qi Baihe happily and then turned his attention to Sun Liufang.
"Sun Liufang, you should also know that begging for mercy is useless, but you are also an old minister of my father's time. They say that merit and demerit cannot be offset, but I am nostalgic for old feelings. Today, I see you as my father.
What do you think about the fact that Da Chu Jiangshan only killed you because of their contribution, and did not hold your wife, children, and children accountable?"
When Chu Zheng said these words, he turned into that ruthless king again.
In fact, Sun Liufang knew that this matter would be exposed sooner or later, and he even knew that Chu Zheng felt the same as Ming Jing about this matter. But he never thought about staying in this position for a lifetime. In his expectation, Chu Zheng
The liquidation should not occur until three to four years later.
Therefore, in the past few years, he has been ruthless in trying to make a fortune for himself. In two years, after finding an opportunity to get rid of the first-grade Congzi on his head, he can return to his hometown with satisfaction.
, if everything goes well, he will still be able to get a good posthumous title after his death.
There is no need to think about the top five names Zheng Zhen Cheng Zhong Xian, but one of the next three names Duan Ding Jian will definitely fall on his head.
But now, all his own calculations have come to nothing. If there is no accident like Qi Baihe, then his idea is very likely to be realized. Even if Chu Zheng really wants to clear out the government and opposition in three to five years, at that time, it will be difficult for him to
Even if he has no merit or hard work in the past, he will not come to trouble him.
It's a pity that there is no if. Qi Baihe's unexpected appearance forced Chu Zheng to come in advance to complete this matter. If he didn't come, it would not only make Qi Baihe, a small official official in the official department, disappointed with him, but also
The entire Chu State will lose confidence in his Chu Government. As a king who strives to govern, Chu Government will never allow such a thing to happen.
"Old minister...Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
Sun Liufang raised his hands above his head, slowly took off the black gauze hat from his head and put it aside. He secretly thought of the words Su Wang had sent back to him in the morning.
The human heart is not enough for a snake to swallow an elephant!
There were no tears or fear. Sun Liufang was so calm that he didn't seem to notice even if his head was broken.
Until the policeman from the six gates took him down, he still insisted on walking on. His back could not be said to be miserable or lonely, as if he was not going to die this time, but to go home.
Same.
After watching Sun Liufang being escorted away, Chu Zheng turned around and looked at the two assistant ministers in the Ministry of Personnel, who were a little embarrassed.
These two people only got promotion opportunities in recent years by flattering Sun Liufang. They were far from being his old subordinates of the Chu family, so Chu Zheng didn't have much affection for them.
"These two guys, together..."
Before Chu Zheng could say the word "kill", he was stopped by Cheng Yijie who hurried over.
"Wait a minute!"
It turned out that when Sun Liufang discovered that something was wrong, he had quietly sent someone to invite Cheng Yijie, the minister, but he still came late. By now, Sun Liufang's head might have been chopped off.
"Your Majesty, although these two people have committed heinous crimes, the main culprit is Sun Liufang after all. Besides, he has already been executed, so these two people are not guilty enough to die!"
Cheng Yijie's words restored some color to Zhou Mowu and Zheng Liang, who had originally dull eyes. However, they did not dare to ask for mercy. They just looked at Cheng Yijie with hopeful faces.
"Then, Cheng Aiqing, tell me how you should judge them?"
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, these two people are just a little greedy for money and power, but they still have some knowledge in their hearts. Why not let them go out to work as small officials to benefit the people and give them a chance to atone for their sins?"
Opportunity."
Chu Zheng was a little angry when he saw Cheng Yijie who was increasingly overstepping his bounds, but now was far from the time to cause trouble for him.
"Atoning for your sins!" Cheng Aiqing, there is an old saying that I don't know if you have heard of: It is easy to change a country, but it is hard to change one's nature. If they are let out and out of my sight, then they must not let my children
The people are in dire straits! How can we talk about benefiting one side!"
Facing the fiery Chu Zheng, Cheng Yijie was very stable.
"Your Majesty, let's simply confiscate their property, demote them to common people, drive them out of the capital, and refuse to hire them from now on. In fact, the main purpose of the veteran's words is to hope that the Emperor can give them a way to survive. This way,
It can reflect the emperor’s benevolence.”
"My benevolence is not reflected in this kind of place, but having said that, Cheng Aiqing, what you said is somewhat reasonable, so this time, I will believe you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust."
Cheng Yijie said this in a neither humble nor overbearing tone, and then asked Zhou Mowu and Zheng Liang to stand behind him. Before finally leaving, he did not forget to look at Qi Baihe, who had just been promoted by Chu Zheng as the new Minister of Civil Affairs.
"Master Qi is so good at it. Even I have never skipped three levels in a row. Congratulations to Master Qi."
"Master Cheng, I have received the award. It is nothing more than thanks to the emperor's love. The gloomy days of the imperial examination are over. I want to give it a bright future!"
Facing the sarcastic Cheng Yijie, Qi Baihe didn't care about his face, no matter how big an official he was, or what big things he did. Since he, Qi Baihe, sat at the first rank of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and had the tree of Lu Xiangrui behind him,
Dashu, he has nothing to fear from this minister.
"What a wonderful world. I hope Mr. Qi's ideal can be realized soon. Don't die young!"
After saying that, Cheng Yijie said goodbye to Chu Zheng and left with Zhou Mowu and the others.
"Qi Baihe, don't pay attention to that old guy. Who are you trying to scare? As long as I'm here, he can't touch you."
Lu Xiangrui looked at the two servants who were taken away by Cheng Yijie and said with an unhappy expression.
"Thank you, Master, for taking care of me."
This time is not the time for Qi Baihe to show off his power, so he humbly accepted Lu Xiangrui's protection. In this court, only veterans like them have the strength to challenge each other, because only
When facing them, the emperor would level the bowl of water.
"Okay, now that nothing happens, let's go back! Do you want Grand Master to come with me?"
"Why do you want me to stay here? Do you want Qi Shangshu to treat me to a meal? Even if you want to treat me to a meal, it can't be a simple meal in the official department! Why should I go to the Manxiang Building to put it on the table?
Only one table will do!”
Chu Zheng nodded.
"That's right. Qi Baihe, don't forget to ask me to come with you when you set the table. For so many years, you have been eating my food, but I have never eaten your food."
"Your Majesty, when I set the table, you have to show me some respect! It's best if you come with some congratulatory gifts."
Qi Baihe is gradually trying and fine-tuning his way of getting along with the emperor, because he will definitely not meet the emperor less often in the future.
"Hahaha, you just got the official position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs from me, and you are already thinking about my gifts. Yes, you learn so fast!"
After saying that, Chu Zheng asked Wu Chan and others to get up in sedan chair and go back to the Regency Hall.
Before Lu Xiangrui left, he gave Qi Baihe a meaningful look and seemed to be saying that a boy can be taught!
"By the way, Your Majesty! What should I do with this Qian Dabao? Is he still here?"
Qian Dabao, who had long been frightened by Chu Zheng's roar, curled up into a ball and sat on his knees on the ground, his body still trembling.
"Isn't his father rich? If he is willing to spend 8 million taels to buy a place for his stupid son, then let him use 16 million taels of silver to redeem his son."
Chu Zheng's dragon chase did not stop, but a voice came.
"As expected, you are the emperor. This deal is really worth it!"
After Qi Baihe muttered something in a low voice, he was surrounded by colleagues who came to congratulate him. They were all old acquaintances, and he couldn't refuse. He made an appointment with them to go to Manxiang Tower after work today.
After eating enough, everyone dispersed.
The end of the imperial examination means that this year is about to pass. Counting the time, Chu Zheng has been in power for twenty-six years.
The twenty-sixth year of Fu Rui! On the day Chu Zheng ascended the throne, the reign name was changed from Xiangchun in the Chutian period to Fu Rui. It has been twenty-six years now.
On the morning of the beginning of winter in Fu Rui's twenty-sixth year, a young scholar wearing a green shirt and carrying a bookcase came to the gate of the capital. Looking at the tall walls of the capital, the young man murmured to himself:
"No wonder the world says Jiangnan is so tender. Compared with this city, Jiangnan is indeed like a little girl!"
After entering the capital, this young man only did one thing, which was to deliver greeting cards to all the officials and literati in the capital.
However, every greeting card from this scholar seemed to be sinking into the sea without any news.
There is no other reason. When people in the capital saw the name on the greeting card, they stayed away from him.
Lu Dongshu of the Jiangnan Lu family! This young man is the young man from the Jiangnan farming and studying family who listened to Ergou’s advice.
"If you didn't come and give it a try, how would you know that this road is impassable? But after trying it, you still found that this path is impassable!"
In the inn, Lu Dongshu looked helplessly at the last two greeting cards in his hand.
Each of the last two greeting cards had a name written on them: Su Wang and Lu Xiangrui.
After hesitating for a long time, Lu Dongshu decided not to give up. Since the previous dozens of companies had touched the walls, he didn't care about the last two.
With a hopeless attitude, Lu Dongshu came to the door of the Su Mansion and put in the greeting card. He thought he would be rejected without hesitation, but the high-ranking Prime Minister actually received him.
"You want to be an official?"
This was Su Wang's first and last question after seeing him.
Lu Dongshu thought about it for a long time. He originally wanted to say some heroic words such as establishing a life for the people and bringing peace to all generations, but he always felt that such words were a bit unrealistic.
"There is no scholar who does not want to be an official."
In the end, Lu Dongshu decided not to say those inflammatory words, but fortunately he didn't say them out, otherwise he would really have no chance.
"Quite honest."
Su Wang looked into Lu Dongshu's eyes and said.
"But your knowledge is not deep enough!"
Su Wang said this before Lu Dongshu introduced himself, just after taking a look at his appearance.
"I don't know how the Prime Minister can see that my knowledge is not profound enough, and what kind of scholar does it take to be considered knowledgeable in the eyes of the Prime Minister!"
Of course, Lu Dongshu knew that he was no better than these old guys who had been studying for decades, so he humbly asked for advice.
"Temperament! Your current calm and tranquil temperament is just an act. Your heart is not calm enough at all. You are covering up the fear deep in your heart! You are afraid that this trip to the capital is in vain. You have to learn to be afraid of yourself.
You can’t display it. In fact, whether a person is knowledgeable or not can be seen from his temperament! He is full of poetry and calligraphy! Obviously, you are not enough!"
"Xiaosheng, I..."
"I don't know how much ink is hidden in your belly, but I don't care, it's just that you are not suitable for being an official now!"
Before Lu Dongshu could express his full thoughts, Su Wang interrupted him directly.
After this, both of them stopped talking, and the scene seemed a little unseasonably quiet. After about half a quarter of an hour of silence, Su Wang looked at Lu Dongshu and nodded.
"It would be so disappointing if you don't even have this patience. Go back and study for another five years!"
Lu Dongshu didn't argue with this, but calmly gave Su Wang a student salute, then turned and left.
On the evening of the Beginning of Winter in Fu Rui's twenty-sixth year, the young scholar who had just entered the capital that morning wearing a green shirt and carrying a book box took advantage of the setting sun to leave the capital.