After entering Beijing with the princess, Wei Zifu's sister and brother were placed in the Pingyang Hou Mansion to listen to errands. Chang'an City is at the foot of the Son of Heaven, the prosperity is far better than Pingyang County, and the princess's mansion is also better than in Caohou Mansion.

The weather is gradually getting hotter, and in the blink of an eye, it is June, Chang'an City is like a steamer that has just been opened, exuding heat everywhere, and a dispute over the appointment and dismissal of officials in the Longevity Palace is in full swing.

"For the post of prime minister, the mourning family has decided to be a baby, and Hugh has to say it again!" The majesty of the Empress Dowager Dou in the Changxin Palace does not allow Liu Che to argue again.

Here's how it happened.

When the prime minister Wei Juan was unable to go to the court due to his frail and illness, he was dismissed, and the vacant post of prime minister made the old queen mother and the emperor both move. Empress Wendi Dou Yifang, who is now Liu Che's grandmother, Empress Dowager Dou, has gone through three generations in the court, and her henchmen have spread all over the court. Since Emperor Jing, the crown prince Liu Che succeeded to the throne, the power of the court has been firmly in the hands of this old Empress Dowager Dou, Liu Che is young and vigorous, how can he be willing to be restrained everywhere, so he took advantage of Wei Juan to be dismissed, and he also began to prepare to support his own forces.

The three princes and nine secretaries of the DPRK and the Central Committee hold various positions, but the two positions of prime minister and captain are the most critical. The prime minister is the highest official in charge of a country's administrative affairs, which can be said to be under one person and above ten thousand. The Taiwei is the highest commander in charge of a country's military, and the prime minister and the Taiwei are both literate and martial, controlling half of the Han Dynasty.

Although the old Empress Dowager Dou suffers from eye disease, she is full of insight in her heart, how can she allow such a position to fall into the hands of Liu Che, "The position of Taiwei has been vacant for a long time since Zhou Yafu died, so it is better to be succeeded by Bai Zhihou Xuchang." The Empress Dowager Dou continued.

"Dou Hou is virtuous, worthy of being the prime minister, the emperor's grandmother belongs to Dou Hou, and the grandson is completely reasonable! It's just that the position of Tai Lieutenant, it may be inappropriate for Xu Chang to succeed him, and I ask the imperial grandmother to think twice! ”

Liu Che clearly remembered that when he was still in the Jing Dynasty, the Empress Dowager Dou favored Liu Wu, the king of Liang, and Emperor Jing also intended to pass on the throne to the king of Liang after a hundred years, but this matter was fiercely opposed by Dou Ying, and he insisted that the inheritance of the imperial throne from father to son was the law of the Han Dynasty. Therefore, although this Dou Ying is the nephew of the Empress Dowager Dou, Liu Che has a very good impression of him, so when the Empress Dowager Dou insists on taking Dou Ying as the image, Liu Che really has no objection.

"Oh? What's wrong with Bai Zhihou Xuchang? Seeing that Liu Che agreed to take Dou Ying as the face, the old empress dowager Dou suddenly became angry and lowered a lot, and couldn't help but ease her tone.

"Imperial grandmother, Bai Zhihou Xuchang has no battlefield exploits in the court, and no leader talent, if he is a captain, he will not be convincing!" Liu Che replied respectfully.

"Hmm!" The old Empress Dowager Dou pondered for a moment and nodded slowly. Although this Xuchang is his confidant, he is indeed slightly inferior in terms of the strength of the position of Tai Lieutenant, but apart from him, there is no more suitable candidate, if it is not Xuchang, who else is more suitable to serve?

"According to the emperor's opinion, who can be the lieutenant in the court?" After being silent for a long time, the old Empress Dowager Dou asked slowly.

"Grandson, it's better to let Wu'an Hou Tianwei take the position of Tai Lieutenant, what does the imperial grandmother think?" Liu Che carefully observed his grandmother and responded carefully.

This Tian Wei is the half-brother of the Queen Mother of the Dynasty, that is, Liu Che's mother, the Queen Mother, and let Tian Wei serve as the Tai Lieutenant, isn't it obvious that he is inserting his own people, how can Liu Che's careful thinking hide from the old Queen Mother who has gone through three dynasties?

The old Empress Dowager Dou was about to refute it, but after thinking about it, Tian Wei has always been rash and frivolous, arrogant and arrogant, but he can speak well with a mouth, and the Wang family has no power in the court, so why not give Tian Wei an empty captain? And although Liu Che has ascended to the throne, but the real power is still firmly in his own hands, with the foundation of the Dou clan in the court, it is expected that he Tian Wei will not be able to play tricks, it is better to be a favor and sell him the face of the emperor. Thinking of this, the old Empress Dowager Dou said: "That Tian Wei acts frivolously, since the emperor takes a fancy to it, it is not impossible to try, but as the pillar of the court, he must act carefully in the future!" ”

Liu Che had already thought of the corresponding words, but he didn't expect the old lady to agree so refreshingly, which surprised him. No matter what medicine the old queen mother sells in the gourd, as long as the result is what she expects, thinking of this, Liu Che hurriedly bowed and said, "Grandson obeys the order of the emperor's grandmother!" Thank you, Grandmother! ”

The old Empress Dowager Dou smiled slightly, the overall situation was set, and everything in the court was still firmly in her hands. But at this moment, she never expected that the nephew she relied on, the prime minister who was chosen by thousands of people, would make the situation under her control go wrong.

After the rebellion of Zhulu in the Han Dynasty, the society was turbulent and the people's livelihood withered. After more than 40 years of rest with the people, the society gradually settled down, the people were happy to work, and the treasury was full.

"Quiet and inactive" Huang Lao thought in the early Han Dynasty to social stability, the stability of the people played an irreplaceable role, the Empress Dowager Dou was still in the Empress Wen when she was the Empress Wen, she had ordered the royal family and the children of the Dou family to be familiar with the book of Huang Lao, after more than 40 years of immersion, the way of Huang Lao has already penetrated into the bones of the Empress Dowager Dou and a group of old ministers.

And Liu Che was ambitious and high-spirited, and Huang Lao's quiet inaction was incompatible with him, while the gentleman advocated by Confucianism at this time was self-reliant, vigorous and promising, and advocating respect for the monarch was more in line with his heart. At this point, Dou Ying actually stood in the same camp as Liu Che, and together with Tian Wei, he recommended Zhao Juan and Wang Zang, disciples of the current Confucian master Shen Gong, to serve as the imperial historian and Lang Zhongling respectively. Because the prime minister and the prince were recommended at the same time, in line with the etiquette system, the old empress dowager Dou had to swallow this breath stiffly, and reluctantly agreed to the positions of Zhao Juan, Wang Zang's imperial historian and Lang Zhongling.

Together with the prime minister and the captain, the imperial historian is called the "Three Princes", and his status is equivalent to that of the deputy prime minister, and he has the authority to play the chapter and supervise the civil and military officials. And Lang Zhongling was in charge of the palace guards, Wang Zang served as the prince's young master when Liu Che was still the prince, and the relationship with Liu Che has always been close, and now Lang Zhongling is in charge of the emperor's guards in the palace, and he is a veritable close minister of the Son of Heaven.

After Zhao Juan and Wang Zang took office, they formulated a series of reform plans after discussions, the most important of which was the establishment of the "Ming Hall".

It is said that in ancient times, all the emperors of Youde held grand ceremonies such as worshipping the heavens, worshipping ancestors, and meeting princes. Zhao Juan Wang Zang wanted to maintain the absolute authority of the Son of Heaven through the establishment of the Ming Hall, and promote the Confucian idea of unification and the ethical concept of monarchs and ministers.

"Have you ever drawn up a plan for the two Aiqing's Mingtang?" Liu Che asked with interest.

Wang Zang said: "The system of the Ming Hall has been abolished for a long time in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and now His Majesty wants to restart the Ming Hall. ”

"Do you have a candidate for those two Aiqing?" Liu Che asked.

Zhao Juan and Wang Zang glanced at each other, and said in unison: "The ministers have discussed for a long time, and recommend the minister's teacher, Shen Gong, to take on this great responsibility!" ”

Liu Che smiled and said, "I have heard the name of the Lingshi for a long time, but Shen Gong has been in hiding for a long time, how can I invite him?" ”

Zhao Juan said: "If Your Majesty has this intention, the ministers are willing to run, please ask the teacher to help Your Majesty's great cause!" ”

"If you can invite Shen Gong, it will be good!" Liu Che looked at the two henchmen, his eyes were full of expectation, "Duke Shen is the great Confucian of the world, if my Mingtang is made by him, everyone in the world must be convinced!" ”

"Zhao Xuan, Wang Zang takes the order!" Liu Che even gave an order, "Wait for you to bring my hand edict and carry heavy gifts, no matter what, you must invite Shen Gong to come to Beijing!" ”

"No!" Zhao Xuan, Wang Zang knelt down and responded, "The ministers will definitely live up to Your Majesty's trust!" ”

Soon, Zhao Juan Wang Zang went to the ancestral land of Shen Gong with heavy gifts, and invited Shen Gong to come to Beijing with a national gift.

Shen Gong was already eighty years old at the time, old and frail, and he was really unwilling to travel such a long distance again, so he politely declined the invitation of the two disciples, but Zhao Juan Wang Zang did not give up and tried to persuade him again and again.

"Teacher, today's Your Majesty is eloquent and strategic, light and old and heavy on Confucianism, if the heart of seeking talent is thirsty, if the teacher can go out of the mountain to help, it will be a move for the benefit of the country and the people!"

"Teacher, the system of Mingtang has been abandoned for a long time after the Spring and Autumn War, the teacher is the great Confucian, if the teacher restarts the Mingtang law, it will be a move of the world, and it will be able to last for a hundred years!"

"Teacher..."

Unable to resist the repeated persuasion of the two disciples, Shen Gong finally relented and hesitated: "Think about it again when you are a teacher..."

"Teacher, don't think about it, you look at the carriage outside the door, and you will know that Your Majesty treats the teacher!" Zhao Juan helped Shen Gong to the door, pointed to the horse car, and said, "Teacher, look, Your Majesty specially used a horse to pick up the teacher, teacher, look at it again!" Following the direction of Zhao Xuan's finger, Shen Gong saw that the wheels of the carriage were also different, each wheel was wrapped in thick pampas grass, which could effectively reduce the bumps in the journey of the carriage and make the people in the carriage stable and comfortable.

"Teacher, you see that Your Majesty is so thoughtful, what else is there to hesitate about?" Zhao Juan looked at Shen Gong with gratitude on his face, and lost no time in persuading.

Wang Zang took out the exquisite jade and fine silk silk given by Liu Che on the side, and presented it: "Teacher, please take a look!" This jade is crystal clear and moist, the whole body is flawless, it is the best Hetian jade, and this silk silk is produced in Suzhou and Hangzhou, fine and shiny, soft and smooth, Your Majesty has taken a lot of effort! ”

"Good!" Seeing that Liu Che attached so much importance to himself, Shen Gong was very grateful in his heart, so he no longer shirked, and responded: "Then as a teacher, I will enter Beijing with you!" ”

Zhao Juan Wang Zang couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw this, and hurriedly thanked: "Thank you, teacher!" ”

After many days of long journey, Shen Gong and his entourage finally arrived in Kyoto, the arrival of the great Confucian made Liu Che very happy, and received the Confucian elder in Weiyang Palace with a grand salute, Shen Gong said: "In the twelfth year of Gaozu, the old man once accompanied the teacher Fu Boqiu to see the ancestor in the Lunan Palace, and the magnanimity of the ancestor made the old man unforgettable!" Now in my old age, I am fortunate to see Your Majesty again, which is really fateful! ”

"Oh? Shen Gong actually met Gao Zu? Liu Che couldn't help but be moved when he heard this, "In this way, it has been forty and five years since now, and Duke Shen and my royal family are really fated!" ”

Zhao Juan Wang Zang didn't expect the teacher to have such a relationship with Gaozu, and couldn't help but be happy: "It seems that it is destined to invite the teacher out of the mountain this time!" ”

Liu Che nodded approvingly, and asked Shen Gong respectfully: "I want to govern the world, make Haiyan River clear, and come from all directions, I don't know what method to use?" ”

Shen Gong stroked his white beard and said slowly: "Your Majesty wants to make the state officials clear, not to talk more, but to do more." ”

"Hmm!" Liu Che nodded, calmed down, and waited for Shen Gong's next words, but he didn't expect to wait for a long time and saw no movement, and when he glanced sideways, he saw Shen Gongcheng brushing his beard with a calm face. So he hurriedly sat upright, respectfully asked: "I want to restart the Mingtang ritual system and make great rituals, I don't know what Shen Gong's opinion is?" ”

Shen Gong squinted slightly, and said slowly: "The system of the Ming Hall has been abandoned for a long time, and it must be considered in the long run. ”

Liu Che saw that Shen Gong cherished words like gold, and couldn't help but glance at Zhao Juan Wang Zang, and the two immediately got up and said to Shen Gong: "Teacher, Your Majesty has been planning for a long time to rebuild the Ming Hall, where should the teacher start to revive the Ming Hall Law?" ”

Shen Gong pondered slightly, and Xu Sheng said: "The old man thinks that the restart of the Ming Hall system should start from the determination of the rules and regulations for the Son of Heaven's patrol, change the calendar, change the color, etc., and combine the ancient system to slowly draw it, and it is not appropriate to be in a hurry!" ”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a cough, and Shen Gong hurriedly suppressed himself, bowed and said, "Old decay is rude!" ”

Liu Che hurriedly said: "Shen Gong has traveled a long way, and he hasn't rested yet, so I didn't think about it!" ”

"Two Aiqing!" Liu Che said to Zhao Juan Wang Zang, "You entertain Duke Shen for my good life, and it's not too late to discuss the affairs of Mingtang after a while!" ”

"No! Thank you, Your Majesty! The two of them were grateful and thanked each other.

Liu Che approached again and said to Shen Gong with concern: "Shen Gong is resting, why do you need to send someone to inform me!" ”

Shen Gong was old and tired from the journey, so he really needed to rest, so he was no longer polite at the moment, and said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" ”