The hall of the government hall is not much smaller than the size of many large halls and palace rooms in the inner court, but when you come in, it is not as spacious and spacious as in the palace, probably because there are too many things, the most are tables, chairs, stools, and many bookshelves, and the scene of people coming and going makes the space a little crowded and chaotic. I saw that some people were writing hard, and some were still planning to "crackle", and this place seemed to be busier than the lobby of the six departments. This is also the result of the further concentration of power as the prime minister of the government hall and the six ministers.

The original prototype of today's ruling system was actually the three-province and six-ministry system, but the Tang Dynasty has undergone development in the past hundred years and has undergone subtle changes. The division of labor among the three provinces was very clear, with the Zhongshu having decision-making functions and the Shangshu being the executive department. However, the current prime ministers of the political hall are involved in decision-making, and they also lead six ministries, such as Cheng Qianli is the secretary of the military department, Xiao Zhizhong is the secretary of the criminal department, etc., and the decision-making and executive agencies are integrated, which not only increases administrative efficiency but also promotes the centralization of power. But now the new cabinet has also joined the ranks of decision-making, and it is another division of decision-making power.

The six prime ministers entered the yamen of the political hall one after another, and Zhang Shuo walked in front. Today, because of the cancellation of the court meeting, saving time, everyone's itinerary is relaxed. Just as the topic along the way was still unfinished, several people followed them to Zhang Shuo's study and continued to talk.

Since ancient times, Chinese have liked to form gangs and factions, and the relationship between several people in the government hall is clearly different from that of the cabinet members, for the simple reason that they are more familiar with each other when they work together in a big house. Although the cabinet scholars were also officials of the same dynasty, they met almost every day; But after all, it is not under the same roof, and such a difference causes a subtle difference in the position.

Zhang said that sometimes he would say that "the court and the hall are all one, but the rice is eaten in separate pots", that is, at lunchtime, it is a working meal that the state is responsible for, but because there are too many officials in the court, the source of food for each yamen is not a kitchen. Zhang said this sentence more than once, sometimes emphasizing the unity of "oneness", and sometimes emphasizing the second half of the sentence.

Everyone mentioned the matter of Du Xian's excerpt again, and Dou Huaizhen said with an unfathomable look: "A few days ago, I summoned Du Xian alone in the greenhouse hall for two consecutive days, what did you say? It may be that the strategy of taking Yingzhou has been persuaded by Du Xian early this morning, and this time the excerpt is just for show. When the time comes, let's not raise any objections, we already have a score in our hearts, so as not to make him unhappy. ”

Dou Huaizhen has always regarded himself as a handsome old man, and he usually pays attention to his appearance, and his posture is also very stable when he says a few words. But it's not all because of narcissism, his appearance is indeed better than that of several others, his complexion is relatively white, his cheeks are very shaved, and his beard is trimmed under closer inspection...... It just so happened that Li Shouyi was standing next to him, Li Shouyi was not ugly, but in front of Dou Huaizhen, his beard suddenly looked like straw, and what was even more excessive was that his nose hair was actually exposed, which was really a little sloppy.

But Li Shouyi didn't realize the external things, and at this time, he turned to look at Dou Huaizhen with contemptuous eyes: "We are in this position, not to meet the head!" ”

Dou Huaizhen saw that he was spitting and flying around, and his nose hair was disgusting, so he subconsciously patted his sleeve and hid a few steps to the side.

Zhang said looked at Cheng Qianli, who was silent on the side: "Cheng Xiang is proficient in the art of war, is it appropriate to transfer troops between you to take Yingzhou?" ”

In fact, Cheng Qianli is also a very temperamental person, only middle-aged, with a clear face and a slender figure, but his skin is not as white as Dou Huaizhen, but his expression is more righteous and has the demeanor of an ancient gentleman. He listened to Zhang Shuo's question, and pondered for a while before he replied cautiously: "A while ago, the Ministry of War approved an official document, and the four guns of the Mingguang Army were transferred to Hedong, and they may go from the elite of Guanzhong at that time...... It is indeed a wonderful step to get twice the result with half the effort, and it has grasped the key point of the northeast shape. It's just ......"

"Cheng Xiang has something to say but can't, just a few of us here." Zhang Shuo casually encouraged.

Cheng Qianli said with a straight face: "Yingzhou is now in the hands of the Khitans, but Xi has always joined forces with the Khitans, and our army will definitely encounter at least two forces of men and horses if they take the initiative to attack, which is not easy." It is estimated that the troops of the three towns of Hedong, Youzhou, and Andong must be concentrated to be enough. In this way, the selection of troops in the northeast is very powerful, and the main force of the three towns plus the elite of Guanzhong transferred to the east will reach 20,000 or 30,000 regular troops, and the local regiments of the three towns will be controlled to train township soldiers and town soldiers, and they will have no less than 100,000 heavy troops. The person who can be entrusted with such an important task must be a minister who is loyal to the emperor and trusted. Therefore, I am not opposed to the strategy of attacking Yingzhou, but it is difficult to think of the right person. ”

Zhang said: "Loyal and important ministers, but also know the art of war, and the person who meets the three conditions is none other than Cheng Xiang." ”

"I'm afraid it's more than ......that," Cheng Qianli glanced at the people left and right. Sure enough, Li Shouyi spoke bluntly again: "The method was proposed by Du Xian, according to the usual practice in the past, whoever writes and speaks, who is responsible, Du Xian is more likely to be entrusted to the northeast." ”

Zhang said: "But with Du Xianam's qualifications, it is still a little shallow to serve as a one-man feudal official, he is a military attaché, he has just entered the cabinet to participate in the secrets, but he is a five-grade bachelor." If our political hall wants to recommend him, he is irresponsible for the government! ”

Dou Huaizhen said angrily: "What are you afraid of with shallow qualifications, go to Youzhou and come back and say that maybe you will be given the first and second grades, and the few people in the cabinet will be mentioned as the first and second grades, so that you can be on an equal footing with our old guys and be slightly higher." ”

Zhang Shuo frowned and pondered for a moment, and said: "When the time comes to mention this matter in the court, except for Cheng Xiang's five people, we will recommend Cheng Xiang together, and there are only four people in the cabinet. Let's make the truth clear in front of the emperor, and let the decision be made today. ”

"How can the old man be ...... If you don't stand firm in Yingzhou, won't you live up to the hearts of your colleagues, and how will the old man face you at that time? Cheng Qianli hurriedly refused.

Zhang said: "Don't say such useless modest words, how many times have you fought hard battles with Tubo in Longyou in the Western Regions before, and can Khitan and Xi be stronger than Tubo in the past?" We believe in you. ”

Cheng Qianli said: "The old man is not humble, Yingzhou is indeed difficult, since the Wu Zhou Dynasty, Chang'an has sent ministers to recover Yingzhou several times, all of them are full of meritorious service and return. The time and place are favorable to the north, and the non-feudal officials are not full of personnel. ”

"You're not completely sure?" Zhang Shuo asked, seeing Cheng Qianli shaking his head, he said again, "Cheng Xiang's qualifications and abilities are enough, things are man-made, even if there is no perfect strategy, you can always have a better chance of winning." ”

Zhang Shuo and the other three spoke enthusiastically, apparently discussing the candidates on the premise of using troops in Yingzhou. In fact, there is another option: not to use foreign troops. It's just that they feel that Xue Chongxun has that idea and is unwilling to disobey.

Liu An, the head of the household, has not spoken, he is not a taciturn person, and if he does not speak at this time, he may not approve of the use of troops abroad, after all, he is in charge of the household to fight and ask for money. However, Liu An is Xue Chongxun's descendant, since everyone guessed Xue Chongxun's thoughts, he naturally didn't want to stand up and say anything, but only thought about how to open up sources and reduce expenditure to divert some military spending.

At this moment, Li Shouyi finally thought of this, and said: "Zhongshu Ling and Cheng Xiang both know soldiers, since they know that Yingzhou may not be able to be defeated, why don't they advise Jinshang?" In the past few years, when has the court not used troops abroad? More than half of the world's wealth is used for war and raising soldiers, the central government does not care about production and operation to recuperate, the world is tired of conquest, and how many people in the northern states and counties have lost their sons and husbands because of this? We live in the temple and hold the country, and we are not sympathetic to the people when formulating national policies, and the public does not feel guilty? ! ”

Everyone looked at each other, there was really nothing they could do with Li Shouyi, this guy was really pretending to be loyal, and even his own people in the political hall had to be scolded. Several people have the intention of squeezing him down, but he is neither greedy for money nor lustful, and his family is so poor that he always speaks with righteousness, and it is not easy to grasp the handle; At the same time, he seems to be able to see it, and he still wants to resign, and the emperor himself will keep it. Such a person really makes people have nowhere to speak. But the ministers actually didn't respect him so much in their hearts, because they always felt that this old boy didn't have a backache when he stood and spoke, and he rarely came up with something reasonable and feasible.

Just when everyone who was discussing the matter was occupied by Li Shouyi on the moral high ground, Cheng Qianli stood up and confronted each other: "Zhongshu Ling Zhang Xiangzeng engraved a book to teach hundreds of officials, and Li Xianggong has never read it?" ”

One sentence made Zhang Shuo very useful to hear, and he unconsciously got closer to Cheng Qianli in his heart, but he didn't show an expression like being complacent, but disagreed. In fact, everyone knows that although Zhang Shuo has never been an important minister of the imperial court, he has always regarded himself as a literati and cherishes the reputation of Shilin, and he has to do some articles from time to time, from the idea of stabilizing the country to such anecdotes as "The Green Messenger", he has to write. Cheng Qianli mentioned the book he wrote, and it had the meaning of letting everyone read it, which naturally made Zhang Shuo useful.

Cheng Qianli continued: "In the past, Longzhou County in the west was slaughtered all over the city; The northern Guannei Province, Hedong Province, and Hebei Province have been looted all year round, and tens of thousands of people have been ruined at every turn, and their wives have been separated. We don't go on expeditions, and sit back and watch the people's parents, wives and children being abused? The use of soldiers naturally consumes national strength and kills and injures Ding Zhuang, but if the man does not die, who will die? ”

Zhang said that he couldn't help but praise after hearing this: "Cheng Xiangzhen is a big husband!" ”

Several people quarreled like this, and finally broke up unhappily, and Zhang Shuo's study stopped. G