"Lord Xia, why are you pleading for Yu Xili and Shi Jin in the court today?" Peng Yue paused, as if he felt that he was asking something wrong, "You should know that the emperor will definitely not spare them..."

It turned out that Zhu Houxi had recently built a large number of buildings for the cultivation of the Tao, built a fairy palace on Guixi Mountain, and asked Fang Shi Shao Yuanjie to pray for his heirs. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

All the ministers knew that Zhu Houxi liked to cultivate the Tao, but they also understood that this matter could not be changed, so they were silent one by one. Only Shi Jin and Yu Xili vigorously opposed it, and their words were sharp. Moreover, he turned left and right in the recital, and mentioned two issues that could not be raised: 1. Pardon a cadre of ministers who were convicted of the "Great Rites Discussion". Second, the issue of Zhu Houxi's heirs was mentioned, and the words were very ugly, "Your Majesty is silently concentrating, holding on to his program, so that the spiritual connotation is fundamentally solidified, and the celebration of Baisi Nan will come unexpectedly." ”

In Peng Yue's view, this is an obvious act of "looking for death", and if he talks like this, isn't he scolding Zhu Houxi for not succeeding because of his lack of morality? No matter how ornate the words are and how earnest the words are, they will be drowned out by Zhu Houxi's anger without a trace.

However, just when the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty thought that Shi Jin and Yu Xili would definitely die, and even felt sorry for their deaths, Xia Yan stepped forward, pleaded for the two, and defended them, saying that they had no other intentions, which made Zhu Houxi furious.

"Actually... There are many reasons for this. Xia Yan looked up at Peng Yue and sighed softly, "There are some reasons to meet people, and some reasons... I can't see anyone..."

"Oh? I don't know what the reason is for being unsightly? Peng Yue asked with a smile.

"Haha... That's why you Zirui would ask like this..."Xia Yan lowered his head and sat in his seat with a wry smile, "You also know that I haven't been able to enter the cabinet until now, so I did this... Naturally, it is planned to enter the cabinet. ”

"Huh? But... Lord Xia, you have angered the emperor today..."Peng Yue had a puzzled expression on his face.

"It doesn't matter, although this anger has angered the saint, but the resentment of the saint is mainly on the two of them, I just need to ask the emperor tomorrow to ask for guilt..."Xia Yan explained softly.

"But what does this have to do with your entry into the cabinet?" Peng Yue asked, thinking quickly as he could.

"Sometimes you can't just think about the emperor's feelings, you can't just think that you can be promoted by pleasing the emperor..."Xia Yan paused, and pointed to himself with his finger, "You also have to understand what you are missing..."

"What do you mean... Do you need more than just the emperor's favor? Peng Yue said with a frown.

"That's right..."Xia Yan nodded with a smile, "Do you think the emperor's favor for Lord Li Shili is more or less than me?" ”

"Many ministers should be able to see this, and the emperor naturally favors you more." Peng Yue arched his hand at Xia Yan, "I'm definitely not saying anything false here, this is indeed the true thought in my heart." ”

"I know you're not lying..."Xia Yan smiled, "But Li Shi is the first assistant of the cabinet, and now he is the only one in the cabinet as an auxiliary minister, but I haven't even entered the cabinet until now, why do you say this?" ”

"It's... In fact, in my opinion, Master Li Shi Li and Lord Zhai Luan Zhai are... Very similar, both of them are modest people. Peng Yue said a little embarrassed, "Master Li Shili has been in the cabinet since Jiajing ten years ago, but he has always been cautious. I remember that Zhang Fujing was recalled and re-entered the cabinet, and he was in charge of everything alone, and Master Li did not complain about it, although he could not get the emperor's favor, but he could get the emperor's trust. ”

"It's not just that... Li Shi Li is usually generous and easy to people, which you and I also deeply understand. During this period of time in charge of the cabinet, he also presided over the overall situation with quiet inaction, and the ministers of the DPRK and China all spoke highly of him, privately calling him a "loyal and honest person", you must know that this is a very rare evaluation for a person in a high position. And the courtiers' support and convincing of Lord Li may not be an important reason why Lord Li can sit in that position. ”

"So you're doing that today to enlist the support of some ministers?" Peng Yue asked tentatively.

"Yes, exactly!" Xia Yan's expression became serious, "Although I am now one of the Six Secretaries, it only took less than a year to be promoted from such a humble official position to the Ministry of Rites Shangshu, one of the Six Secretaries. The ministers were not convinced by this, and I knew it in my heart, because although I was not young, in their eyes, my qualifications were still too shallow. The most important thing is that not only do they think so, but the emperor also thinks so, and the emperor will also have this concern, and I think this is one of the reasons why I can't enter the cabinet even though I am favored..."

Moreover, Shi Jin is an honest official, upright, and impartial law enforcement, and shares the reputation of "Erjin Zhengzheng" with Dai Jin of Hanyang, and Yu Xili is the same, he is honest and outspoken on weekdays, and he is not taboo. Although the two were not in high ranks, they enjoyed a high reputation among courtiers and scholars. This time I persuaded the emperor to forgive them and intercede for them, although I did not succeed in saving them, and finally the emperor put the two in prison, but I have done this favor, and the ministers' opinions on me will naturally change, and their praise for me will naturally increase. ”

"But Lord Natsu... At the beginning, Zhang Fujing went from an unknown official to the cabinet, but it only took a few years..."Peng Yue regretted a little after saying this, "So you don't have to worry too much about your qualifications." Peng Yue added on the side.

"That's a good opportunity for him Zhang Fujing to catch up with the "Great Rites Discussion", I don't have his life. And at that time, the emperor was in urgent need of employing people, and now there is no shortage of ministers around the emperor. Xia Yan said with a little emotion.

"And I admit that the emperor is respectful to Zhang Fu... has a deep feeling..."Xia Yan stroked his chest to calm down, "After all, the saint was young at that time, and under the circumstances at that time, only Zhang Fujing stepped forward as the emperor and said bluntly, this kindness will naturally not be forgotten by the emperor." But now the emperor is no longer the young man who just ascended the throne back then, he has thoughts, plans, and knows how to control the ministers, so... Zhang Fujing's thing will never happen again. ”

"I know that, and I do... Figured it out. Peng Yue said in a low voice.

In fact, Peng Yue was very pleased with Xia Yan's willingness to admit Zhang Fujing, after all, the contradiction between the two was once so deep. Of course, he has a deep understanding of Zhu Houxi's skills in controlling ministers, in fact, he has long understood that Xia Yan cannot enter the cabinet in the short term, because Zhu Houyi wants to maintain the balance of ministers' power.

Li Shi has a generous personality, does not like disputes, has a good reputation among ministers but has no power, and is even more respectful to Zhu Houxi, such a person naturally wants to stay in the cabinet and help him deal with some daily government affairs. Because even if he was given such a position of power, he would not do anything beyond the norm.

And Xia Yan is different, he is an upstart in the imperial court, and he is a minister who Zhu Houxi picked up. Because of this, the DPRK and China are indispensable to those who tend to be attached. Moreover, Xia Yan is strong, capable, smart and alert, and quite familiar with the way of thick black, such a person can be favored by Zhu Houxi, but he will also be jealous of Zhu Houxi. So before deciding to give Xia Yan power, Zhu Houxi had to think about it carefully.

Peng Yue saw this, and Xia Yan naturally saw this, so Xia Yan had these intensive practices. He constantly flattered Zhu Houxi, in order to eliminate the mustard in Zhu Houxi's heart, so that Zhu Houxi's good impression of himself gradually eliminated those doubts.

And his approach this time is undoubtedly to win the support of public opinion, because the views of the ministers of the DPRK and China are still very important, and it is also convenient for him to get along with each other in the future. Zhang Xuan is undoubtedly a negative example, when he first entered the cabinet, he was opposed by many ministers. As a result, although Zhu Houxi favored him a lot, the opposition and slander of the ministers of the DPRK and China did not diminish him. And he has also formed a somewhat radical character, in line with the "go with the way, prosper, go against the other" way of acting, and the contradictions with the minister are getting deeper and deeper.

Later, Zhang Xuan was deposed many times, and his political ups and downs, so his reforms were also intermittent, and in the end they did not achieve the desired results. The reason for this is Zhu Houxi's suspicion, Zhu Houyu is out of the need to balance the forces of the DPRK and China, but it is also indispensable for groups of ministers to oppose Zhang Xuan openly and secretly, and this huge force is also the biggest reason why Zhu Houyu continues to be suspicious of Zhang Zhang.

"Zirui?" Xia Yan saw Peng Yue sitting there with a somewhat dull look in his eyes, so he turned his head sideways and whispered, "What are you thinking?" ”

"Oh... It's nothing..."Peng Yue came back to his senses and smiled awkwardly, "Didn't the adults just now say that there is still a reason to meet people, I was wondering what the reason is."

"Haha... Since you can see people, there is nothing mysterious, there is no need to guess like this..."Xia Yan said with a smile, but his expression was a little unnatural.

"They are all direct ministers and loyal ministers, especially Shi Jin, who dares to speak out and commit crimes, and even put life and death out of the way. In the two of them, I seem to see the shadow of myself back then..."Xia Yan lowered his head as he spoke, so that people couldn't see what his expression was, "They said what I didn't dare to say, and did what I didn't dare to do, no matter what, we can't let such a minister die, otherwise this will become my Ming Dynasty..."

"Lord Xia is loyal, I admire you..."Peng Yue didn't expect Xia Yan to say such a thing, and he couldn't help but be surprised and moved in his heart.

"What is there to admire..."Xia Yan laughed at himself as if he was teasing, "They are all so submissive, and only the two of them dare to speak, they should be admired..."

"The emperor is obsessed with cultivation, I don't agree with it, I also want to dissuade, I also want to change..."Xia Yan sat in his seat and muttered, I don't know if he said this to Peng Yue or to himself.