The emperor could no longer pretend to be ignorant and hid. He stood up and spoke to stop him. The prince held the helmet and wanted to put it on the iron masked general himself.
Zhou Xuan also squeezed to the front, gloating and fanning the flames: "I didn't expect that the Zhou State and the Qi State were pacified. The general had just returned with his army and had to disarm and return to his fields. This is not what Your Majesty expected."
The words of the general who was a scholar were powerful. When the other generals heard this, they immediately became more sad and angry, and beat their chests and feet. Some shouted that the general had worked hard for the Great Xia for sixty years, and some shouted that now that the world is peaceful, it is time for the general to rest, and the general is leaving.
Let them go too.
The civil servants did not dare to say anything more at this time, they were so dizzy and confused by the noise.
"Shut up, everyone." The emperor shouted angrily, "Today is a good day for the general to take care of himself. Don't say anything else!"
This was a scolding of the civil servants who had stirred up the trouble. The civil servants also knew that they could not continue talking. The iron-faced general had led the army for sixty years and Daxia could be what it is today. He was indispensable.
What a grievance. I have never said anything about disbanding my armor and returning home. I just came back today, and when I finally realized the emperor’s wish and the princes and kings were pacified, I said this. This is anger, this is raising a sword to fight them to the death——
crazy!
You can't conflict with a madman.
The civil servants all said, "General, that's not what we meant." "Your Majesty, please calm down." and backed away.
"General." The emperor was helpless and sad, "Are you blaming me? Jinrong has already said it. If you have anything to say, please say it."
Prince Chu Jinrong raised his helmet and saluted the Iron-faced General solemnly: "Jinrong was all reckless. We shouldn't have said this today. Please forgive me, General."
The emperor and the iron-faced general have worked hand in hand for decades. The iron-faced general is the eldest. The emperor treats him as an elder brother every day. It is not an exaggeration for the prince to perform the ceremony of nephew in front of him.
The iron-faced general looked at the prince: "Your Highness is wrong. It's not about when to say it, but it doesn't need to be said at all. The prince is the crown prince and the future king of Great Xia. He wants to take up the foundation of Great Xia. Does the prince want to say it?"
What you want is the foundation controlled by such a group of people?"
The prince was scolded in public and his face turned red.
Seeing the prince in such embarrassment, the emperor couldn't bear it and sighed helplessly: "Yu Aiqing, why are you so angry? The prince is kind enough to explain to you, why are you so anxious? How can you talk nonsense like disbanding your armor and returning home?
?”
The iron-faced general said in a calm voice: "Your Majesty, I am getting old and I will eventually be disarmed and return to my field."
The prince apologized again and said solemnly: "General, please calm down. I understand what the general said. It's just an unprecedented matter. We must consider the nobles and cannot enforce it forcefully -"
"Tough?" Iron Mask, the iron-faced general, turned to him, his hoarse voice mocking, "What kind of toughness is this? The scholars and common people have been competing lively for a month, isn't it enough? Opposition? What are they opposing?
If their knowledge is not as good as that of the poor people, how can they object? If their knowledge is better than that of the poor people, there is no need to object. If they have passed the examination, won't they still be the ones chosen by Your Majesty?
"
He looked at the officials in the palace again.
"His Majesty has already held one in the capital to recruit scholars. Shouldn't other states and counties in the world follow suit and hold one?"
"What's so tough about this? What's hard to say? Chen Danzhu has already said all the hard-to-say things. Everything you want to say is good."
Is this so? The hall was quiet and everyone's expressions were unpredictable.
...
...
What happened today has once again stirred up excitement in the capital. The people on the streets were lively, and then the high gates and deep houses were also very lively. Many houses still had lights on even in the dark night.
When the morning light shone into the main hall, Eunuch Jinzhong who was guarding the dark room gently knocked on the wall to remind the emperor that it was dawn.
The lights were on in the dark room, making it impossible to tell the difference between day and night. The emperor and the five officials from last time sat together. Everyone's eyes were red from the excitement, but their faces could not hide their excitement.
"Your Majesty, this is the most suitable plan." One person said tremblingly, holding a piece of paper with wet handwriting, "The recommendation system remains unchanged, and a consultation center will be set up in each state and county, scheduled to be held at this time every year
When asked about policy, all scholars regardless of their gentry or common people can apply for reference and then be hired at will."
Another official held up another piece of paper: "Concerning policy questions, they are also divided into six schools, so that people like Zhang Yao, who are inferior in classics and meanings, but have special skills in art, can also be used by Your Majesty."
Another official was still holding the pen and thinking hard: "We need to think carefully about the method of policy questioning——"
The emperor laughed: "Master Wei, don't be anxious. The details will be discussed in court. Now the most important step can be taken."
Several officials leaned over one after another: "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
The emperor signaled them to stand up and said happily: "My dear friends, you have worked hard too."
An official rubbed his sore eyes and sighed: "I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. This is thanks to the return of General Iron Mask. With his help, the momentum is enough."
Another official couldn't help laughing: "The general should be asked to come back early."
It depends on who invites the invitation. The emperor hummed in his heart. He heard the sound of knocking on the wall again and nodded to a few people: "Everyone has reached an agreement and is ready. Let's go back to rest first and recharge ourselves.
It was clearly stated in the court."
Several officials responded solemnly.
The emperor left the dark room. He was not too tired after a night's sleep and was still somewhat energetic. Eunuch Jinzhong supported him towards the main hall and said softly: "The general is still waiting for your majesty in the hall."
The emperor's footsteps paused slightly, and he walked to the curtain. In the hall, which was gradually filled with morning light, he saw the old man sitting cross-legged on the mat with his head on his hands, seemingly asleep.
Although the helmet was retracted, the Iron-faced General did not put it on anymore and placed it beside him. His gray-white hair was slightly scattered with only a wooden hairpin. He sat cross-legged and curled up, looking like a dead plant.
Tree.
The emperor felt a little prickly.
"The general didn't sleep all night, and he didn't eat the food sent by the slaves." Eunuch Jinzhong whispered, "The general came back from the horse march day and night——"
It's not a long night.
The emperor sighed, walked over, stood in front of the Iron Masked General, and suddenly reached out and patted his head: "Okay, stop pretending here, there is a room on duty in the outer hall, go and sleep there."
The iron-faced general then raised his head. The iron mask was cold, but his hoarse voice contained a smile: "Congratulations to your Majesty for achieving your wish."
The emperor said angrily: "Even if you are smart, you don't have to be so hasty and make trouble. Look at what you look like!"
The iron-faced general said: "For Your Majesty, I can become anything I want."
These words sounded so familiar - the emperor was in a daze, then sneered, raised his hand and hit the Iron Masked General on the head again, the loose wooden hairpin was knocked off, and the Iron Masked General's gray hair suddenly fell apart.
"Stop talking sweet words to me, you are not doing it for me, you are doing it for that Chen Danzhu!"
The iron-faced general looked up at the emperor: "Chen Danzhu is also doing it for your majesty, so it's the same."
It’s the same ghost! The emperor raised his hand to strike but then put it down.
"I won't bully you, an old man." He shouted, calling to Eunuch Jinzhong beside him, "You, beat me, give me a hard beating!"
Eunuch Jinzhong said helplessly: "Your Majesty, this old slave is actually not too old."
Beating the iron-faced general is also bullying the old man.
The emperor glared, and the iron-faced general leaned over with a smile, his gray hair like a waterfall covering the ground: "Old minister, I am guilty, old minister, please retire."
