When Shao An saw Zhang San again, it was already March in the spring of Yangchun, and he was stunned to watch Zhang San roll in lightly from the window, still as light as a swallow, and he landed silently, knowing that Brother Zhang's injuries had been healed.

The two hadn't seen each other for a few months, but Shao An felt that it had been a long time. has experienced so many things and so many hardships, but now, Zhang San is like no one else, and he has begun to open the window again.

However, Zhang San dared to turn over, but Shao An didn't dare to see him. He stood up from his desk and tried to walk over, but the next moment he stopped. He looked at Zhang San from a distance and asked, "Why do you dare to come?" ”

"What would I not dare." Zhang San walked up to Shao An and looked him up and down, "You...... Are you okay? ”

"I'm fine." Shao An sighed, "It's me who has caused you to come again." ”

"It's not you." Zhang San shook his head and said meaningfully, "Shao An, you can follow the emperor in the future." It's not that he doesn't trust you, it's just that the position is too high and lonely. He had to be on guard against everyone, he had to be suspicious. ”

When Shao An heard this, he smiled and did not say anything.

※※※※※

Three months ago.

Zhang Sanyi was covered in blood that day, and when he was dragged to the West Side Palace, he was already delirious. When he woke up, it was two days later, and he vaguely saw Ding Yi's back through the curtain, and his heart was at a loss. Ding Yi is also a teacher and friend to him, and he has never been so ruthless as he is today. He knew that it was the emperor's order, but he was still chilled.

"You're awake." As soon as Ding heard the slight sound, he turned around and saw Zhang San looking at him in a daze, with a look of disappointment in his eyes.

Zhang San lifted the curtain of the bed and looked around, "Where is this?" ”

"Still in the palace. The emperor asked you to recuperate in the palace and go out when you are ready. ”

"What about Shao An?"

Ding Yi frowned and said, "I know you have a good relationship with him, but now ...... You'd better have less contact with him. ”

"Why? When I met Shao An, the emperor agreed. ”

"You are a hidden guard, he is the prime minister. You have different positions, and you are destined to be at odds. Ding Yi said angrily, "The emperor asked most of the team leaders to gather in the east side hall of the front hall this time, and his intention is self-evident. ”

"I don't understand."

"The emperor thinks, the secret guard is bright."

"Dark Guard Minghua? That's a good thing. Zhang San was delighted, he had been looking forward to such a day, when the hidden guard could stand in front of everyone openly, and he could be like hundreds of officials, rewarding meritorious deeds and being promoted to a knighthood. Instead of sneaking, it can only exist in the shadows.

"It's just that the ministers won't agree. Even if the emperor forcibly issued an order, it would be rejected by the Ministry of Zhongshu. I'm afraid that at that time, it will be difficult to end. ”

Shao An...... He won't. ”

"Will it be, you can ask yourself."

※※※※※

Thinking of this, Zhang San cautiously inquired: "I heard that the emperor wants to add a guard division (1) to share the forbidden army with the palace front division. All the official positions in the Guards Division are held by the hidden guards. ”

Shao An keenly sensed that things would not be so simple, and asked casually, "Oh? What is the authority? ”

"Serve as a guard of honor, guard the palace city, and serve as a saint's personal soldier."

Of course, Shao An would not be naïve to think that there was only this, and asked: "What else?" ”

"Listen to the enemy's situation, supervise hundreds of officials, and any corruption and bribery will not escape the eyes of the Guards."

"Listen to the enemy's situation and supervise hundreds of officials?" Shao An looked at Zhang San solemnly and continued to ask him, "If corruption is discovered, how to deal with it?" ”

"Of course, it's the Holy Grace, arrest him." Zhang San said as a matter of course.

"What about after you catch it?"

"Naturally, it is an interrogation and judgment, and it will be dealt with according to the law."

Shao An sneered, "Arbitrarily tortured and executed without going through the Criminal Department and Dali Temple, the power of the Guards Division is too great." ”

"You...... Oppose? Zhang San's heart sank suddenly, and sure enough, he was still hit by Boss Ding's words.

Shao An asked rhetorically: "What do you say?" ”

"Why, Dali Temple and the Criminal Department have to go through layers of approval and reporting to arrest individuals, the efficiency is so slow, the criminal officials have already destroyed the evidence of the crime and fled." Zhang San was not convinced, and argued strongly, "And the hidden guard goes straight to the sky, which is convenient and trouble-free, why don't you agree?" ”

"It's a hassle-free, and the efficiency is greatly improved. All civil and military officials are under the supervision of the people, and they can take people arbitrarily without going through any yamen. The various departments of the imperial court can no longer restrain you, so who dares to say that the secret guards are criminal? ”

"Do you think I'm corrupt? Our hidden guards are all framing loyal people? ”

"It's hard to protect." Shao An said coldly, "Even if you are loyal and righteous people, what about the next generation, how can you guarantee it after eternity?" ”

"Could it be that we will never come out of the shadows?"

"The system of hidden guards, which is separated from the law, should not exist in the first place."

"You ......" has been denied by people for half a lifetime, as if the braincase was hit hard by a hammer, and it jumped suddenly. Zhang San pressed his temples, turned around angrily, and left Shao Mansion without looking back.

What Sun Yi said was indeed true, Shao An finally understood what the emperor's big action was, but he felt weak. He wanted to go directly to the palace to advise, but he had followed the emperor for many years and knew that the emperor was bound to win this matter and would not allow anyone to stop him. However, Shao An, as the head of civil officials, must not agree, otherwise he will bury the root of the country's ruin and become a sinner for the ages.

Shao An quickly thought about countermeasures in the study, and after thinking for a long time, he felt that this matter could only be discussed with Sun Yi. Organize all civil officials together and collectively write letters and advises, or there may be room for manoeuvre.

As for the civilian clique, although they often disagree politically on weekdays, they have always been unanimous in their views on matters involving their own interests. Thinking of this, Shao An urged Ah Rui to prepare his horse and prepare to go out.

It's a pity that ginger is still old and spicy, and the emperor made the first move. As soon as Shao An walked out of the gate, he saw Ding Yi waiting outside the door. He suddenly felt a chill in his heart, Ding Yi would be here, so Zhang San ......

Ding Yi stopped in front of Shao Anma and arched his hand: "Prime Minister, where are you going?" ”

Shao An didn't answer.

"I'm afraid I'm going to disturb the prime minister's Yaxing in the future, and you won't be able to go anywhere." Ding Yi smiled and said, "Holy Lord's message, summoned by the Heart Cultivation Palace." ”

※※※※※

After three months, except for the early dynasty, the two monarchs and ministers never met privately. During this meeting, Shao An felt like the one three months ago, and his fate was unpredictable.

"You're here." After the emperor waited for Shao An to finish saluting, he pointed to the table and chair next to him, "Sit." ”

There have never been tables and chairs here in the Heart Cultivation Palace, Shao An turned his head and saw that there was a pen, ink, paper and inkstone on it, which seemed to be specially prepared for him.

After Shao An sat down, the emperor spoke: "I called you here to make you write an edict." ”

Shao Anxin sank, and asked knowingly: "I don't know the saint, what is the will?" ”

"I want to set up a guard department, Zhang San, he should have told you."

Tom? Shao An glanced at the emperor suspiciously, refusing to believe the emperor's words in his heart.

"The guards are in charge of the guards, arrests, and prison matters, and the secret guards lead the ......," the emperor said slowly, seeing Shao Angan sitting still without writing, he frowned and said, "Why don't you write?" ”

Shao An suddenly left his seat, knelt down and bowed his head: "The minister will not dare to be summoned." ”

The emperor seemed to have expected Shao An to refuse, and said with a smile: "Why? ”

Shao An looked up and saw that the emperor's eyes were calm, while Gonggong Chen behind him secretly glanced at Shao An. Shao An pondered for a moment and said: "The minister heard that the ancient Ming Jun made the chicken the night, and the raccoon dog held the mouse, and each performed its own duties, so it could be ruled by the arch." Don't change, don't make it easy, go with both. Doing it is also a matter of doing it. (2) Now the saint wants to do the opposite, so that the guard department will do justice on his behalf, and abandon the criminal department and Dali Temple. There are often killers who kill, and husbands who kill on behalf of the killers, which is said to be a great craftsman, and I hope that there are those who do not hurt their hands. ③ ”

"If a traitor breaks the law, I must get rid of my evil, and I must not borrow it. If relaxed, these people will become more prosperous. (4) What's wrong with me setting up a guard department to supervise the world on my behalf? I have high hopes for you, and I hope that I will think carefully and act carefully, and do not gain an inch. ”

The meaning of the emperor's warning was already obvious, but Shao An said after hearing it: "If the government is lenient, the people will be slow, and if it is slow, it will be violent; If you are fierce, the people will be disabled, and if you are disabled, you will be lenient. Wide to help fierce, fierce to help wide, government is to peace. (5) Don't you hear, Zhou Xing, come to Junchen......"

"Bold!" The Emperor slapped the table and rebuked.

"In prison, more than half of the wrongdoers are wronged, and the wind of accusation is blazing." Shao An still insisted, "In troubled times, we should use heavy canons, and now we should govern the world, and the holy way will be gentle and far-reaching, and we should be benevolent." ”

"I have made up my mind, and I don't need to persuade again. If you make a decree (6), what can you do? ”

"If you don't have a book, what is the name of the edict? ⑦”

"You!" The emperor took the case, and he was really angry. But when he thought about it carefully, such a major event was by no means feasible in the middle of the purpose, and it had to be passed through the Chinese book. However, after Sun Yi had a deep conversation with Shao An, he fell ill at home. The emperor knew very well that no civil official was willing to do this, let alone Sun Yi. Only Shao An, whose brother can also be used as a restraint, he has to take care of one or two.

The emperor didn't directly turn his face with Shao An, calmed down his anger and said: "Don't think that if you leave your Zhongshu Province, the decree will not work." To write or not to write, think about it yourself. After that, he ignored Shao An and walked away.

Gonggong Chen glanced at Shao An, who was still kneeling in place, and sighed slightly, with the temperament of a prime minister, he would not compromise lightly. How can this deadlock be solved?

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(1) Guards Division: The military institutions of the Five Dynasties and the Song Dynasty, the full name is the Guards and the Guards of the Ma Bu Army.

(2) From: "Han Feizi Yang Quan Chapter", with slight changes. Translation: The minister heard that in ancient times, the Ming monarch ruled the world, just like letting the rooster report the dawn at night, letting the cat catch the mouse, so that the officials could perform their duties, so they could rule by doing nothing. Don't change, don't change, act according to the laws of nature and man, and continue to do it without stopping, this is called following the reason.

(3) From: Lao Tzu, Translation: Whoever is in charge of killing people kills kills, and he who is in charge of killing people kills in place of those who are in charge of killing people is like cutting wood in place of a clever carpenter. There are few who cut wood in the place of a skilled carpenter who does not cut his own hand.

(4) From: Qing Dynasty Gu Yingtai "Ming History Chronicle"

(5) From: "Zuo Chuan: Twenty Years of Zhao Gong", translation: The policy is lenient, the people are sluggish, and the (people) are sluggish, and the (people) are slack, and the (people) are slack. If the people are strong, they will be hurt, and if they are hurt, they will be lenient. temper severity with leniency; Complementing leniency with harshness, politics is reconciled by this.

(6) Zhongzhi: The emperors of the Tang and Song dynasties issued personal orders from the court or passed through the Zhongshu Gate with an edict abnormally, and directly handed over to the relevant institutions for implementation, which is called the Zhongzhi.

(7) What is the name of the edict without going through the Chinese book: it means that if you do not go through the province of the Chinese book, how can you be embarrassed to call it a holy decree?