"Hey...... Alas......"

In the Qiongzhou Naval Base, Qi Zhonghao stared at the huge map of the Great Song Dynasty and sighed for a long time, sullen.

"I said, brother, you've sighed a hundred and fifty-three times, can you sit down and have a glass of wine?" Yang Sien was lying on the recliner, drinking a little wine, while enjoying the massage of his wife Zhou Xiangyu, without caring about Qi Zhonghao, a single dog, who was alone there, if it weren't for his sigh affecting the atmosphere, he wouldn't have bothered to make a sound.

"Alas......" Qi Zhonghao poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip, and continued to lament: "Brother Yang, you don't understand! ”

Yang Sien: "Yes! Little brother, I don't understand! But the younger brother knows that as long as you find a sister-in-law, you won't be staring at the map in a daze. Speaking of which, I remembered something, Brother Qi, it's been a long time since I've seen you go to sea? ”

Qi Zhonghao said disdainfully: "Nothing fun!" Everything that can be exterminated has been exterminated, and now those scattered pirates see that our naval dragon flag is running faster than rabbits, so I don't bother to play with them! ”

Yang Sien: "That's right! The younger brother has turned around this broken island all these years, and now it is quite boring, the emperor originally planned to send a construction corps to replace it, but who knows that it will be delayed because of the affairs of the Liao State. ”

Qi Zhonghao: "Who says it's not!" If you fight, you will fight, but I haven't had anything to do, even my report on the war has been lost, there is no news, such a good opportunity to make contributions, just missed it, it's a pity! ”

"The little brother said at the beginning, it's not a fart if you can't drive the navy on land, so stay honest!" Yang Sien's goods are not comforting to others, even if they are not comfortable, they have to give others a stone.

"Humph!" Qi Zhonghao said unconvinced: "Liao is also close to the sea, I don't believe that our navy has no place to stretch out its hand, wait for me to write a few more war reports, let the emperor know the determination of my navy to ask for war, and I will definitely send my navy to fight when the time comes!" ”

Yang Sien: "If you want to think so, brother, my brother advises you not to work in vain." ”

Qi Zhonghao: "Why? Don't you have a good relationship with the emperor, and help talk! ”

Yang Sien: "No one can say it's useful!" Because I just received a letter of greeting from Wang Shenli, our war with the Liao State has been over for almost a month, do you say that the emperor will still pay attention to your war report! ”

"This ...... This can't be! Qi Zhonghao was surprised: "The last time I saw the announcement of the Di newspaper, it has only been a month now!" How can it be over? ”

Yang Sien: "What am I lying to you for?" It's really over, because it's only been half a month! ”

"In such a short period of time?" Qi Zhonghao was puzzled: "Didn't you say that the Empress Dowager of Liao led 200,000 elites to invade the south!" Why did it only take half a month to finish? Could it be that what kind of agreement was signed to end hastily? Or are the ministers of the court cowardly again? ”

Yang Sien: "I don't know the specific details, and the gentleman only told me the result of this battle, in short, we won a big victory this time, and it took only half a month to annihilate more than 150,000 elite troops of the Liao army, and the queen mother of the Liao State fled." And when you talk about this agreement, you did sign one, but it's not what you think, if this agreement really takes effect, then the sixteen states of Yanyun are all ours, but it's a pity that Liao will definitely not approve it now! ”

"Hahaha......" After Qi Zhonghao heard it, he laughed loudly: "I don't recognize it!" I just like that they don't recognize it! ”

Yang Sien: "I said brother, you can't be crazy when you hear that the battle is over, right?" ”

"Go aside! You're going crazy! Qi Zhonghao broke his mouth: "How many merits can I pick up in the future!" You think, let's kill more than 100,000 people in just half a month, isn't this like picking up meritorious deeds! However, I'm still a little worried, how many troops do you say Liao, will my navy be able to drink soup at that time? ”

Yang Sien: "I think it's a bit hanging!" ”

"Hmm!" Qi Zhonghao nodded: "It seems that I have to continue to write this war report, at least the emperor can think about our navy next time he has something good, and he can't always throw us here!" That's right, just do it! You little couple continue to show off here, brother, I'll go and get busy first. ”

Yang Sien shook his head slightly when he looked at his performance, and then said to Zhou Xiangyu beside him: "Madam, we estimate that it won't be long before we have to go back to the capital, let's find a time to see my father-in-law!" ”

Zhou Xiangyu smiled and responded gently: "It's all up to the husband's arrangement!" ”

……

At this time, at the other end of the Great Song Dynasty, Yan Shu was leisurely drinking tea and reading books at home, and when he was interested, he also said a few words in the face of the disturbing snow.

At noon, Yan Juhou came on the snow, making a creaking sound, interrupting Yan Shu's poetry.

Yan Shu glanced at his son and asked, "Isn't it quite steady on weekdays, why are your steps so impetuous today?" ”

Yan Juhou: "Back to my father, the emperor just sent someone to summon you to enter the palace, and the child is worried about ......"

Yan Shu waved his hand: "Don't worry! Since the Holy God has called, he must have made a decision to enter the palace for the father. ”

At the same time, Fan Zhongyan, the secretary of the household department, and Li Di, the secretary of the military department, who were playing at home, also received an inexplicable summoning order.

It didn't take long for the carriage of the three of them to meet at the gate of the palace, and Yan Shu saw Li Di and Fan Zhongyan as soon as he got out of the carriage, and hurriedly came over.

At this time, Fan Zhongyan and Li Di, who had just finished greeting each other, saw Yan Shu coming, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "I've seen Yan Xiang!" ”

Yan Shu returned the salute to the two and asked, "Why are you here?" ”

Li Di: "The saint is called, and the lower officials don't know what's going on." ”

Fan Zhongyan: "Xiaguan too!" ”

Yan Shu: "Then let's go together!" ”

"Whoa!" Li Di and Fan Zhongyan answered together.

Subsequently, the three of them walked through the palace to the vertical arch hall, and after a report from Xiao Shunzi, they came to Zhao Zhen and said: "Chen Yanshu (Li Di, Fan Zhongyan), see the emperor!" ”

Zhao Zhen: "Everyone, Aiqing is exempt! Little Shunzi, give a seat to all of you. ”

Xiao Shunzi: "Wow! ”

"Emperor Xie!" The three of them thanked each other before slowly sitting down.

Zhao Zhen: "I summoned you here today because something happened yesterday that surprised me. I thought about it all night, but decided to gather the three of them to discuss it. You are all cabinet members, and you must already know what it is, yes, it is the impeachment of Yan Xiang. Although there have been occasional impeachment twists and turns in the past, they are not as crazy as yesterday, and the overwhelming momentum has taken me by surprise. I thought this was a bit strange, so I sent someone to investigate, and after investigation, I found that some ministers are now suspected of secretly forming parties for personal gain......"

"The old minister is guilty! It's all the old ministers' poor supervision, please punish the emperor! Before Zhao Zhen finished speaking, Yan Shu slammed on the ground, startling both companions.

Zhao Zhen: "Yan Xiang, please get up quickly!" Listen to what I'm saying. ”

Yan Shu: "Your Majesty, please!" ”

Zhao Zhen: "What I want to say is that this kind of thing has often happened in all dynasties, and this is a kind of human instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, and it is impossible to absolutely prohibit it. However, there is no doubt about the dangers of forming a party for personal gain, and I cannot let it develop indiscriminately. Therefore, after careful consideration, I have come up with a way to circumvent this problem, and I would like to discuss it with you Aiqing here. ”

"Please command the emperor! Listen up! And they answered together.

Zhao Zhen: "I think so, since there is no way to absolutely prohibit the formation of parties for personal gain, then I will include it in the category that can be monitored." All of you are important ministers of our court, and you must all know that if you want to do a big thing, without the support of the officials and friends below, this matter will often be a mere formality. Historically, there have been many policy decisions that have come to naught for similar reasons, and those who want to be these decision-makers often feel helpless. In that case, why don't we make a fuss about 'forming a party'? ”

Yan Shu: "Dare to ask the emperor, do you want to relax the restrictions on 'forming a party'?" The harm of 'forming a party' is very serious! There is even a danger of endangering the community, and the minister also asked the emperor to think twice! ”

"Please think twice!" Li Di and Fan Zhongyan also agreed.

Zhao Zhen: "I am deeply gratified by the loyalty of all Aiqing! However, I have also thought of your concerns. To put it mildly, in the past, all dynasties also forbade the formation of parties for personal gain, but is this kind of thing happening rarely? Even the things you were worried about have never happened! It can be seen that there are some things that are useless to be banned alone, and I feel that if I can guide them well, it may be more beneficial to the development of the country. One of your worries is nothing more than that once I lift this restriction, it will inevitably make the court officials join together and disregard the law of the country for their own selfish interests. But what if we let them only form a party and not engage in personal interests? Or is it very little selfish? ”

Li Di: "Your Majesty, how is this possible!" Even if it is as strict as it is now, there are still people secretly colluding, if you want to let go of the restrictions, it must be all demons dancing! ”

"That's right! Your Majesty, the ministers also think that this matter is too risky, do you think about it again? Fan Zhongyan also helped Li Di persuade.

"Alas!" Zhao Zhen sighed: "I don't know the risks of this matter, but society always has to develop, and change is the main theme of this world, and we can't always be the same, otherwise we will be eliminated one day." I have decided that this matter must be carried out as soon as possible, and that I will have a lot of time to cultivate a good habit while I am still young. But don't worry too much, I'm not going to do it overnight. I have a preliminary idea for this, but I may have to be wronged by Yan Xiang! ”

Yan Shu: "Your Majesty, please speak!" ”

Zhao Zhen: "Prime Minister Yan has been in charge of the prime minister for more than ten years, and he has a very tacit understanding with me, but it is not a good thing not to change for a long time." Therefore, I want to remove Aiqing from the post of prime minister and still serve as the secretary of the criminal department......"

"Thank you for your grace!" Before Zhao Zhen finished speaking, Yan Shu knelt on the ground first to thank him.

Zhao Zhen had no choice but to pull him up: "Aiqing, don't be impatient, I haven't finished talking yet!" ”

Yan Shu: "Please listen!" ”

Zhao Zhen: "My assumption is this: from next year, each prime minister will serve for three years, and he can only serve two consecutive terms at most. Moreover, I plan to fix the imperial examination every three years, that is, to preside over the imperial examination after each prime minister takes office. And how to determine the candidate for this prime minister? In the beginning, of course, it was mainly up to me to decide, but in the future, I will slowly transfer this decision to the Sage Council, and the sages from all over the country will vote on it. ”

Li Di interjected: "Your Majesty, please forgive the old minister for being rude!" I would like to ask, how did those sages decide who to choose? There are so many ministers in the DPRK and China, they can't choose them randomly! ”

Zhao Zhen: "Aiqing's question is good!" What I'm going to talk about next is this question, I set up this sage conference, and there are four or five hundred people at least, so it will definitely not work to let them choose randomly! So here comes the question of a candidate, so who will be the candidate? (To be continued.) )