In the palace, the court meeting had just begun, and Emperor Chongzhen had just sat down on the wide dragon chair, his eyes casually scanned among the ministers, and suddenly his eyes shrank, and he saw Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi, standing at the end of the officials, waving his little hand to greet him. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info the end of the courtiers, all the little officials in blue robes, only Xu Liang is wearing a new scarlet official robe, and he will be more swaggering if he wants to stand there.

The emperor was originally in a very happy mood, and he suddenly felt panicked. Since the emperor made a poisonous oath, in the past half a month, Emperor Chongzhen and Xu Liang have met for the first time. Although both sides are paying attention to each other with great concern.

The emperor suddenly felt a toothache, and suddenly raised his head angrily: "Who is that?" Shaanxi Governor Xu Liang! You stand among the three-rank officials! Hang behind what words! ”

With the emperor's words, the courtiers once again looked at Xu Liang in unison.

Xu Liang looked flattered, and arched his hand at several courtiers who were blocking the front with a smile: "I'm sorry, let let, hey, let let me, my position is there!" ”

Originally, the middle of the hall was very wide, but Xu Liang didn't go to the middle, and just squeezed away one after another officials below the third rank, and squeezed into the team of third-grade officials.

The emperor frowned for a while, and when the ministers refocused, Chongzhen said, "Ladies and gentlemen, what is going on today?" ”

Immediately, there was a household department Shangshu Bi Ziyan out of the ranks, and he arched his hand and said: "The ministers and the household department are still in the book to enlighten my emperor......"

When the emperor saw that the first person to play was actually Bi Shangshu, his face was a little ugly, because according to the previous practice, although this Bi Shangshu was in charge of money for the Ming Dynasty, but every time he folded up, he cried to the emperor that he was poor, and he had no money, and he was also short of salary, and he called on the adults in the capital to donate at every turn......

Sure enough, Bi Shangshu opened his mouth to talk about money with an old face, the army of the Liaodong Department has been in arrears for three months, and if the court drags on any longer, the army will mutiny, but the household department is already empty, and there is no money to pay the salary, what should I do, and ask the emperor and the ministers to think of a way!

……

The ministers carried the folds in their arms, one after another, they all asked questions, talked about difficulties, but there were few measures to solve them, for the emperor, there was a lot of bad news, and there was basically no good news!

Xu Liang was bored listening to it, and Xu Liang didn't even have the heart to listen carefully to these things in the court. He stood boredly in the line of Sanpin officials and began to look around, his fugue was too empty.

Suddenly, Xu Liang's gaze met a eunuch standing on the side of the Jinluan Palace. The eunuch was pleasantly surprised, looking at Xu Liang's eyes full of excitement and eagerness!

This person is naturally Wei Hong, a eunuch dressed as Chai Laoliu. Xu Liang looked at it slightly, threw Wei Hong a tacit look, and then looked away. He began to stare at the pattern of the flower beams above the main hall and studied it.

Nearly an hour later, the mess of the court meeting finally came to an end. The ministers have reported everything that should be reported. Xu Guangqi, the second assistant of the cabinet, came out and bowed his hand to the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, according to the topic, it is time to hold a court to add a cabinet minister." ”

The emperor looked a little tired, and when he heard what Xu Ge Lao said, he nodded lightly, "Then let's start." ”

Elder Xu Ge turned around and said to the officials in the main hall: "The officials above the third rank in the court, the officials of the six sections, the inspectorate, and the general administration department will stay, and the rest of the people will retreat to wait outside the palace." ”

The ministers followed the requirements, those who should stay stayed, and those who should go out, and after a while, the entire hall was empty, and those who stayed were all adults who were qualified to participate in the court push.

A military officer stared at Xu Liang, the governor of Shaanxi who was standing in place with a smile, and asked with a serious face: "Lord Xu, you are the governor of Shaanxi, a local official, and the court push is a major event of the military aircraft in the DPRK and China, not everyone can participate, please wait outside." ”

Xu Liang was annoyed when he heard this, and when he looked at the military department, he felt that his face was tight, and he couldn't help but snort angrily, "What a joke!" This official is a dignified official of the third grade, and I have always been able to participate in the court, but I have never heard of distinguishing between Beijing officials and local officials! You dare to deceive the official in this little matter, you are really a bastard! ”

Immediately, Xu Liang stared at Wang Guoguang, the official of the Ministry of Shangshu, and asked loudly: "Wang Shangshu, does my dynasty have a clear rule that local officials of Sanpin are not allowed to participate in court pushing?" ”

Wang Shangshu was helpless for a while, and glared at the military department angrily, secretly blaming this kid for causing trouble. Said: "Lord Xu, although there are very few local officials involved in the court promotion of my Ming Dynasty, there is no clear provision that only Beijing officials are allowed to participate in the court promotion!" ”

Xu Liang sighed, then pointed to the military department, and shouted angrily: "Then you have heard what you just said in the military department, and this official now seriously suspects that this person is instructed by someone to deliberately obstruct the fairness and seriousness of my Ming Dynasty's court promotion!" I, Xu Liang, strongly ask the court to strictly investigate this matter! ”

Xu Liang said eloquently, and the adults in the hall frowned. Cabinet Minister Sun Chengzong glared angrily at the Ministry of War, he recognized that this person had a good relationship with Liang Guodong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, and he had just come out like this, obviously he also had the intention of suppressing Xu Liang and showing favor to Liang Guodong.

"This person doesn't learn and has no skills, so it's not enough to watch this court push, go out!" Sun Chengzong shouted at the military department!

"My lord, I'm ......" The Ministry of War suddenly looked like dirt in the middle of the matter, and looked at Liang Guodong, the secretary of the Ministry of War, as if asking for help. Then Liang Shangshu didn't pay attention to this idiot at all at the moment.

Helplessly, the military department went out obediently in frustration.

A small turmoil subsided, and when Xu Guangqi, the deputy assistant of the cabinet, saw this, he slowly spoke: "Okay, let's continue with Tingtui." Ahem, the number of additional cabinet ministers this time is one person, and there are three candidates: Qian Shisheng, Tang Shiji, and Huang Daozhou ......"

"Wait!"

Suddenly, Xu Gelao's words were interrupted by Xu Liang again.

Xu Ge Lao frowned and looked at Xu Liang. The emperor looked at Xu Liang with a gloomy face. Cabinet Minister Wen Tiren suddenly asked reluctantly: "Xu Liang, what do you want to do?!" ”

Xu Liang ignored Wen Tiren at all, but looked up at Emperor Chongzhen and asked, "I don't want to do anything." It's just that there are some things that need to be confirmed with the emperor before the court pushes. ”

The adults looked at the emperor, the emperor frowned, seemed to sigh, and asked, "What does Xu Aiqing want to ask?" ”

Xu Liang said: "The emperor and all the lords should also know that Huang Daozhou, the imperial historian of the Imperial Procuratorate, is one of the candidates for the cabinet minister, and his relationship with this official is extraordinary. Ahem, a while ago, I had some misunderstandings with the emperor before, although the misunderstanding has been eliminated now, but the mustard in my heart will not be eliminated for a while and a half. I want to know whether the final decision is still in the hands of the emperor after the results of the court election come out, and if the emperor is not satisfied, then the result of this court election will be considered invalid? ”

The emperor frowned, and when Wen Tiren saw this, he snorted coldly and asked, "Dare Xu Liang!" How dare you question the emperor! My cabinet elder of the Ming Dynasty has always been pushed out by the courtiers first, and then the emperor will make the final ruling. The so-called Sacred Heart's arbitrariness is embodied in this. What, Xu Liang, do you have any objections? ”

Xu Liang sighed, still didn't look at Wen Tiren, but stared at the emperor, sighed lightly, and said, "If that's the case, then I think the name of the Imperial History of Huang Daozhou can be taken down now." I think no matter whether the final result is or not, even if Huang Daozhou wins with a high vote, he still can't pass the emperor's pass, can't enter the cabinet, and can't be a cabinet minister. Rather than this, it is better to abstain from voting, so that people in the world will suspect that the emperor is narrow-minded and cannot tolerate people! ”

"Presumptuous!" Wen Tiren was furious.

Xu Liang pursed his lips, then arched his hand towards the emperor and the ministers, and said freely: "Since this is the case, then you will continue, and this official will not accompany you!" Retirement. ”

After saying that, Xu Liang turned around and looked like he was going to leave the Jinluan Palace on the spot.

"Xu Aiqing stays!"

The emperor's face was gloomy, and he finally opened his mouth to stop Xu Liang.

"What else does the emperor command?" Xu Liang paused and asked faintly.

The emperor smiled, looked at Xu Liang playfully, and said, "I know that Xu Aiqing's concerns are nothing more than worrying that once the court results show that Huang Daozhou has won, I still don't need him. Although according to the ancestral system, the final decision of the cabinet ministers still lies with the emperor, but this time the situation is a bit special, since Xu Aiqing has concerns, so in order to convince Xu Aiqing to lose, I will give you a face today, this court push, no matter which of the three candidates wins, I have no objection! ”

"Your Majesty ......?" As soon as the emperor's Chrysostom opened, the three ministers in the cabinet were immediately shocked and looked at the emperor in shock.

The emperor waved his hand, glanced at Sun Chengzong and Wen Tiren, and said, "I have made up my mind, you don't need to persuade me anymore." Why, I am confident, but you are so unconfident? ”

Seeing this, Sun Chengzong and Wen Tiren were moved, and then they realized that they had overreacted. Although there are three candidates this time, the support that Huang Daozhou's side can get is pitiful, and it is estimated that there is no one else except Li Tengfang, a secretary of the Ministry of Rites. Such a person has no chance of winning at all!

As for Huang Daozhou's move to plead for support a few days before the court push, in the eyes of the emperor and the three cabinet elders, it was purely a big joke.

Sun Chengzong and Wen Tiren put their hearts at ease, and the emperor also had a sneer on the corner of his mouth, looked at Xu Liang and said secretly: Xu Liang, Xu Liang, I am the son of tomorrow, do you dare to fight with me? Look how I play you to death!

The emperor looked at Sun Chengzong and Wen Tiren with inquiring eyes, and after receiving the affirmative glances of the two pavilion elders, he was in a good mood, put all the weight of his body into the dragon chair, put a more comfortable posture, and looked at Xu Liang coldly, his eyes playful.

Xu Liang smiled, turned around and stood in the team again, and arched his hand towards the emperor and said: "Since the emperor said so, the minister absolutely believes that the emperor is not the kind of person who can't afford to lose, so good, the minister has no opinion." ”

Hearing Xu Liang say this, Xu Ge Lao felt a lot more relaxed in his heart, so he stood up and went on to say the rules of the court push, the materials used by the court push are still mung beans, soybeans and red beans, which represent the three candidates, and the voting minister liked which one he liked, so he threw a bean of the corresponding color into the pot.

A eunuch who was the celebrant of ceremonies came to the ministers one by one with the utensils of divination, and the ministers each took a bean and threw it into the pot.

When it was Xu Liang's turn, the eunuch who hung his head respectfully trembled slightly, Xu Liang smiled, threw a red bean into it, and gently patted the eunuch's sleeve when he left his hand, and suddenly, the eunuch's slightly trembling body gradually stabilized.

During the six sections, the imperial historians of the Metropolitan Procuratorate all widened their eyes one by one, staring closely at every step of the divination to ensure that there were no problems in the whole process.

One by one, beans representing the number of votes won by the three candidates were thrown into the pot, making a clanging crunch, which touched the nerves of every adult in the Jinluan Palace. The final pitcher was in front of the three elders.

Xu Ge Lao took a soybean and gently put it in. Then it was Sun Ge Lao. Finally, it was Wen Ge Lao, Wen Ge Lao sneered, glanced at Xu Liang defiantly, and threw the bean that represented his opinion into it.

The process of a round of voting has been completed, and the adults who voted are secretive one by one, and before the final results come out, everyone pretends to be unfathomable.

Elder Xu Ge looked at the Six Departments and the Metropolitan Procuratorate and asked, "In the process of divination, have the Six Departments and the Metropolitan Procuratorate found any problems?" ”

The six branches looked at each other with several imperial historians, and they all shook their heads. Despite their sour eyes, several people really didn't notice any problems.

Seeing this, Elder Xu Ge turned to look at Emperor Chongzhen and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, do you see?" ”

Although the emperor's eyes did not keep his eyes on the entire process of divination, he was very confident in the energy and arrangement of Sun Chengzong and Wen Tiren, no matter who won in the end, it would definitely not be Zodiac Zhou.

Compared to seeing Xu Liang's lost demeanor for a while, the emperor didn't care much about the result of the court push. He nodded lightly and said, "Then check the results." ”

Elder Xu Ge nodded, then looked at the eunuch.

The eunuch lowered his head, nodded slightly, and then took a large, clean white porcelain plate, then reached into the pot and took out a bean.

The yellow beans were dripping around on the white plate, and the officials of the General Administration Department shouted: "Qian Shisheng, one vote!" ”

With this shout, all the ministers showed expressions of surprise on their faces, and the emperor's face was even more smiling, and his eyes were very proud when he looked at Xu Liang.

Drip! Another bean was taken out, still soybeans.

"Qian Shisheng, two votes!"

The third one, mung beans!

"Tang Shiji, one vote!"

Wen Tiren chuckled lightly, and sneered at Xu Liang: "Lord Xu, it seems that Huang Daozhou's popularity in the court is really not very good!" Well, I heard that two days ago, Huang Daozhou was still carrying large bags of gifts and wandering around the adult's house, trying to pull support! I heard that I ate a lot of closed-door soup? Haha......"

Xu Liang didn't care, and said quietly: "The results of the divination have just begun to be revealed, and the outcome is not yet known, I really don't understand what the ghost is called Wen Laogou!" ”

"You?!" Wen Tiren was angry, and pointed at Xu Liang angrily.

At this moment, the fourth bean fell on the white plate. The official of the General Administration Department looked at the bean, rubbed his eyes, and was sure that he was not mistaken, so he read: "Zodiac Zhou, one vote!" ”

"Huh?" Swish! Dozens of pairs of eyes fell on the white plate in unison, and a red bean was still spinning. (To be continued.) )