According to the Great Xia Dynasty, officials in Beijing are on duty every day, and they can take a day off every ten days. When the emperor has three illnesses and two pains, or is lazy and slack, then everyone is relaxed. As for when the dynasty will be dispersed, it is uncertain, and middle and high-level officials have something to do and nothing to leave. Middle- and lower-level officials are afraid that their superiors will go crazy or have some unexpected situation, and they usually dare to leave when they have nothing to do, but there is absolutely no such thing as starvation.

When the emperor is in the court, the ministers discuss politics, and except for the emperor, no one else can sit. People have three urgencies, and it is not impossible to go to the toilet during this period. But because it is indecent in the end, and it must be played in court to ask the emperor for approval, so the vast majority of people can endure it, and they can hold it back.

From the hour to the time of unitary, there are six hours and a full twelve hours. Listening to Xu Wenhan's meaning, it seems that there was no intermission during the period, and the emperor did not provide any meals. Even Xu Wenhan, who was in the prime of life, couldn't withstand such a toss, he was tired and hungry and almost collapsed, how could he bear it with Zhao Qi's small body and a few elderly ministers?

What is the situation of today's court discussion, since it has been "decided", and what kind of result it is, all aroused Yang Zhi's great interest, and helped Xu Wenhan to go straight to the study of the back house.

People who are hungry usually have no appetite for a while, so they should not overeat immediately, nor should they eat too much oily food and fish. There are young women and children in the Hou Mansion, and many snacks are always available. Yang Zhi first ordered someone to make a pot of hot tea, sent a plate of dim sum, and then instructed the kitchen to prepare a few lighter side dishes and boil a pot of gruel.

Xu Wenhan ate a few pieces of dim sum with hot tea, and then he eased up, and his face was slightly better. didn't wait for Yang Zhi to ask. took the initiative to speak: "I have been out of office for nearly ten years, and today I can be regarded as truly understanding the emperor's methods!" ”

"The day before yesterday, the emperor distributed the three pieces to the official offices of the ministers of the Zaifu Cabinet. I ordered us to deliberate, and then issued an edict to discuss it today. Time is so short. It is clear that the civil and military ministers of different factions are not allowed to take advantage of the gap to figure out the holy will and unify their positions, and their real intention is to let us go out and muddy the waters in advance. ”

"In addition to the fact that the three movements are all related to you, they seem to be irrelevant and even contradictory. You have been in charge of the Great Xia Customs for a long time, and you have the power to collect taxes. According to common sense, it is the duty of the bank to meet the emergency needs of the state. However, none of the three strategies you have offered to raise money mention the imposition of additional taxes. It is true that the vast majority of self-proclaimed and upright courtiers do not tolerate borrowing for loans. Initiating donations is not an ordinary form of hate. ”

"In the eyes of outsiders, you have always been iron-fisted, and the Governor of Customs is the No. 1 fat shortfall in the sky. Even if some people have already coveted it, they dare not covet it. But you first offended the Manchu Dynasty civil and military with a silver-raising performance, and then said that if you don't do it, you won't do it, how can people suddenly come back to their senses? ”

"It's all right, there are many people in the DPRK who wish you would get out of Chang'an as soon as possible. The sudden vacancy of the post of Governor of Customs is enough to make countless people's eyes glow green! But the emperor immediately threw out the old lady and Wang Xiang's joint recommendation for you, and the peak suddenly turned around. How can people understand? ”

Yang Zhi smiled: "Didn't you already say that that kid just deliberately muddied the water?" The so-called lesser of two evils is easier to divide and rule precisely because of mutual contradictions. Reach a compromise with the courtiers. Anyway, I am the target, and the black pot is carried by me, what is he afraid of? ”

Xu Wenhan took a sip of tea and moistened his throat. Then he said: "When I went to the court today, a large number of colleagues had gathered outside the palace gate early. Groups of people gathered in groups to discuss. Although I don't usually have much contact with the ministers, I can at least say hello when I meet. Today, I thank you for the blessing of your brother-in-law. Wherever I went, I stopped silent, and looked at me in a strange way. Needless to say, they counted all the bad ideas you came up with on my head. ”

Yang Zhi smiled and said nothing: This is the legendary lying down and getting shot.

"The emperor is in the court, and after the ministers worship, the emperor went straight to the point and laid out the three things to discuss today. It is stated in advance that today's business must be completed today, and each matter must be discussed until the three matters are resolved. All the ministers were eager to see what the outcome would be, and naturally there was no objection. ”

"The emperor is not in a hurry, and he is very calm. First give the old lady and the king a seat, and then order the inner servants to serve with tea and pastries, and then order the inner servants to read your silver raising chapter in court. The two pillar stone veterans are highly respected, and it is understandable to enjoy such favors. But the emperor's behavior, I vaguely felt that something was wrong at that time. After the recital was read, the emperor asked: What do you think? Feel free to speak your mind. ”

"The first emperor was more tightly used in the country, and he didn't dare to blatantly borrow money for loans, but relied on all kinds of interest exchanges, squeezed the Guanlong Hao clan, supported the Qin family as a new chaebol, and reused you to collect money in the later period. The first emperor was extremely authoritative, and he did not put it on the table, because the ministers had no reason to play admonitions and attack. And your strategy of raising money is obviously contrary to the common sense of living within your means. Once thrown, how can people not attack it in groups? ”

"It has always been human nature to bully the weak and fear the hard. In the first emperor's dynasty, the power was monopolized, the cadres were arbitrary, and most of the time the imperial historians were just decorations and had little to do. The new emperor was newly established, his authority was not obvious, and his governance was relatively moderate. The Imperial Historian was already ready to move, and he jumped out first. Because they think they have good reasons and are high-sounding, some people are the first to demonstrate, and some people are close behind. Many ministers, regardless of faction, were unanimously opposed. Those who speak excessively have even said your words about being a traitor and flattering king, bringing disaster to the country and the people, and punishing the nine clans. Above the Golden Palace, it was suddenly noisy like a bazaar. ”

Yang Zhi listened with great interest, and interjected: "The emperor is anxious to raise money, is it to reward the martyrs of the country, to deal with the war in Southern Chu, and under the banner of cherishing the people's power, presumably all the military ministers are just watching from the sidelines?" ”

Xu Wenhan nodded and said, "That's true." All the military ministers remained silent and silent. The emperor neither interrupted nor annoyed, just drank tea and listened quietly. When they were allowed to scramble to say enough, they said with a smile that because there were many people and too noisy, they didn't hear clearly, so they ordered them to come one by one and say it all over again. ”

Yang Zhi couldn't help but snort: "No one was choked by him and rolled his eyes, right?" ”

Xu Wenhan sneered: "Who said there isn't? None of the ministers dared to disobey the palace, and the gossip was indeed unseemly. So they came one by one and gave a round of advice. The emperor is still drinking tea. While eating pastries, listen patiently. Halfway through the toilet and back. He ordered them to go on. Some of the ministers also saw that the signs seemed to be wrong, and that the time of this round of admonitions was much shorter than before. ”

The emperor asked seriously. Zhongqing thinks that the three strategies offered by Yang Zhi are not feasible, right? The words of the ministers are all said to be. The emperor asked again, do you have another good plan? If it can solve the urgent need of Great Xia, it should be a great achievement. ”

"This has come and gone, and there is no eyebrows on the first thing to be discussed, and it is almost noon. The ministers were enthusiastic about opposing it, and they were silent when asked about the best alternative strategies. There are quite a few people who are clever enough to try to avoid it temporarily. The emperor readily agreed, but on the grounds that the matter was important and could not be delayed, he ordered the inner court guards to follow him. ”

Yang Zhi laughed and said, "This kid has been prepared for a long time, but it's really bad enough!" It won't let you pee for too long, and it won't let you take this opportunity to discuss the tandem with someone! Interesting, interesting! ”

Xu Wenhan smiled bitterly: "You think it's funny, but I suffered a big crime with them." After a lot of urine, except for a few pedantic and honest fools, he advised the emperor to follow the old policy of the first emperor's truce. What are the alternatives? Even if there is, it is nothing more than an increase in commercial taxes and levies, and these people keep advising the emperor to cherish the people's strength, and how can they slap themselves and bear the infamy. Easy export becomes the enemy of the public? ”

It took another half an hour, and most of the ministers were hungry by this time. Tired. The emperor sat peacefully, eating and drinking. Radiant, of course. However, the emperor and the ministers have a word first, if anyone is the first to retire. If you are guilty of a great disrespect, it is very light, and it is good not to climb on it for disobedience. Therefore, the ministers have words of suffering, and they can only accompany them to survive. ”

The emperor inquired repeatedly in the palace, until no one spoke, and then he said a helpless solution. There is no need to think about it, it can only be an increase in commercial taxes. As soon as these words came out, the ministers were in an uproar again. At this moment, all the ministers have come to their senses, and the emperor claims that today's affairs must be completed today, not for fun. It was quickly divided into two factions, one opposing and the other conforming. There are many opponents, but few are in favor. ”

"The emperor spreads his hands, this is not, that is not good, so what are you going to do? Furthermore, who can voluntarily ask Ying to send an envoy to Southern Chu to persuade Emperor Chu to withdraw his troops and return to Suizhou, no matter what position he is in, he can be directly promoted to a rank and promoted to duke! ”

Yang Zhi said jokingly: "The art of war is a roundabout outflank, nothing more than this." They later agreed to my money-raising plan? ”

Xu Wenhan replied: "How many stupid people can be there who can enter the court as an official and go to the palace to discuss politics?" Then you can't help but underestimate the emperor, and you underestimate those people too much. It is useless to provoke, strongly oppose, there is no way, what can I do? The emperor is not in a hurry, he tastes tea and eats leisurely, and occasionally gets up to go to the toilet. I only ordered the ministers to think carefully, and it was not too late to play after the agreement. Although the ministers were hungry and thirsty, they also saw the emperor's true intentions, and they still refused to give in. After a stalemate for a long time, several courtiers were publicly recommended to play and approve the increase in commercial taxes. The emperor was noncommittal, and only replied with two words: again. ”

"When it dragged on, there was still no conclusion. Among the ministers, those who can't work hard, some people are upgraded from urine to, in order to rest for a while. Some half-truths were impatient with hunger and thirst, and fainted in the temple. The emperor really did it, and the escapees still sent the inner court guards to follow him, but they were not allowed to close the door to cover up. When the temple fainted, the imperial doctor was ordered to treat them on the spot, or administer acupuncture, or pour decoction, in short, they were not given food. Before the court discussion is over, don't think about leaving under the pretext. ”

"The emperor has always been smiling and smiling, and there is no displeasure. For those who escape or faint, it is difficult to be in charge of the court if they claim that they are not in good health, and they can't bear to be burdened by state affairs. After this court meeting, there is no need to come. As soon as these words came out, it was very miraculous, and most of these two types of people were immediately cured. ”

If Xu Wenhan plays the role of a joker in the two-person cross talk, Yang Zhi is a very tacit complacer: "You can't survive, you can't die." This is called a fist hitting the silk cotton, and there is nowhere to use the force! And that's it? ”

Xu Wenhan sighed: "That's pretty much it. There is still no shortage of people who would rather die and insist on their own opinions. But most of them are silent. There are very few die-hard people, and they can't make any waves. The emperor has repeatedly confirmed that those who insist on their own opinions and have no other good plan will not be punished for their words. Those who are silent and speechless are deemed to have acquiesced. In this way, it took until the first moment of the Shen time, and the first thing was reluctantly decided. But then there is the second and third thing, and all the ministers have palpitations. ”

"The first emperor was resolute, and most of the so-called court discussions were to cut off the tongue and go through the motions, so that they could make a profit. In order to achieve the goal, the new emperor is a slow grinding, soft bubbles. Let's say he's hard, and he doesn't have half a heavy sentence. Say he's soft, don't think about leaving if you don't follow his wishes. People can't blow it, and they can't beat it! After this incident, will the future court meeting still be so difficult? ”

Yang Zhi said meaningfully: "Big brother, there is something else you may not have realized. The emperor attached great importance to today's court discussions, so much so that he personally told me that he had to go into battle shirtless, but he would not blindly do it. ”

Xu Wenhan thought for a while, frowned and asked, "You mean...... Fight for power with the ministers?! ”

"Exactly." Yang Zhi said coldly: "Whenever the old and the new alternate, it is the time for the monarch and the minister to fight for power." The new monarch was first established, the foundation was not stable, and it was inevitable that there would be a power vacuum in the court. Vacuum...... That is, if the courtiers use the name of loyalty to the country to influence the emperor's will, the weight will be greatly increased. The first emperor monopolized power, the cadres were arbitrary, and the ministers were under the pressure of authority, so they had no choice but to obey. The new monarch ascended the throne, and it was the first time that the court discussed it like today, so why not fight hard? King Ning and King Kang both thought that the emperor had picked up a big advantage in the competition between the snipe and the clam clam , how could the two courtiers who supported the two kings be willing to do so? ”

"The emperor saw this section very clearly, and planned to launch a Turkic war, and today's three things are discussed because of this. Imperial power is supreme and cannot be touched. From the very beginning, the emperor had no intention of giving them any chance at all! ”

Xu Wenhan muttered: "The division of power between monarchs and ministers has been a double-edged sword since ancient times. If you meet the Holy Lord of the Ming Dynasty, it is a good thing to be eclectic, brainstorm, and dictatorial. On the contrary, the power will fall, the government will be multi-faceted, and the court will be chaotic. It's too big a topic, so let's leave it at that! ”

"After the discussion of raising money, the next thing is about your whereabouts. Because of the lessons of the past, it is no secret that you resigned and returned to your hometown, and this round of ministers' repetitions has calmed down a lot. There are more than 20 courtiers who have advised the emperor to keep you as the governor of customs, which seems to be a small number of people, but in fact they have their own thoughts. There are those who are purely out of the public will, there are those who think of the holy will and want to welcome them, there are those who think of the next issue and make tempting words, and there are those who can't bear the tiredness and hunger and thirst, and there are those who are determined to finish things early. ”

"The emperor is still repeating the old tricks, and he only talks about it again. At this moment, the sky is even the end of the hour. The ministers couldn't eat if they wanted to, they didn't dare to defecate, it was useless to faint, and they couldn't walk if they wanted to, and they were already miserable. Although many military ministers did not say a word, it is not difficult to see that they have unconsciously supported you with all their might, and they can still support themselves. As soon as the emperor said that he would discuss it again, it meant that he did not fulfill his wish, and the ministers quickly changed their words unanimously and agreed that you would resign and return to your hometown. ”

"When it comes to the third thing, it's much simpler. The matter has come to this point, the emperor's true intention is clearly revealed, and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty are unwilling to offend the old lady and the king for no reason. Unprecedentedly unanimous recital, all determined by divine will. This is the end of the court discussion. If the ministers are amnesty, they will be scattered as birds and beasts as soon as they leave the palace gate. ”

Yang Zhi couldn't help but smile: "The next time the emperor decrees the court again, I am afraid that all the civil and military ministers will change their color and be frightened!" (To be continued.) )