Chapter 29 The Corruption in the Court

In the capital, the cabinet is on duty.

The cabinet system was first created during the reign of Emperor Taizong. Originally, it was just to promote a few veteran ministers to be bachelors to help the prince supervise the country during Taizong's northern campaign. There was no so-called duty room, but a side hall of Xuanhe Hall was set up so that the prince could consult at any time. Afterwards, the two emperors Renzong and Dezong continued to improve it, the cabinet was gradually established, and the housekeeper was finally established in Wenyuan Pavilion.

In the Wenyuan Pavilion duty room, the fire was burning brightly, and four officials in red were sitting at separate tables. All four of them were silent, with unusually serious faces. The tea on the table had been changed several times, but no one had any intention of drinking it.

Soon, footsteps were heard outside the door, and Yang Ming, the chief minister of the cabinet and Minister of Rites, who was sitting in the middle, stood up first. Footsteps approached outside the door, and the last cabinet member, Li Shuo, the Minister of Household Affairs, walked in quickly. Before he could take a breath, the cabinet member on the left side, who was as thin as a bamboo pole and had eagle eyes and a white face, couldn't help but ask: "Master Li, how is the situation?"

Professor Li ignored it, just picked up the tea on the table, took a long sip, and then slowly said: "Elder Ge, Mr. Jiang, what's the matter? Not to mention Eunuch Feng, there are no eunuchs on duty. ”

The four of them looked at each other with doubts in each other's eyes. Yang Ming glanced at Professor Li, who nodded and sighed helplessly.

He knew that Mr. Ge didn't believe it, but there really was no one in charge of the ceremony, so he couldn't just make a few people come out, right? Silently he walked to an empty table and sat down to drink tea. From the cabinet duty room to the ceremonial duty room, I almost broke both legs from exhaustion!

"Since there is no one, let's just wait." Yang Ming said helplessly. There was nothing he could do if he couldn't find anyone. "I think the father-in-law of the Supervisor of Ceremonies should be waiting for the saint. Our vote should be drafted again." Wait!"

The three of them had no better idea. They remained silent and covered their hands with solemn expressions. Only Xia Shang, the eldest member of the cabinet, knew that there was no one in charge of the ceremony, so he drank tea and read a book leisurely, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

At this time, the imperial study room.

Eunuch Feng knelt on the ground while the current emperor Yuan Zhuo finished washing. As soon as he walked into the royal study room, he saw Eunuch Feng kneeling on the ground. He quickly took two steps and helped Eunuch Feng up, "Da Ban, why is this? Why are you kneeling here? Is it possible that someone is giving trouble to Da Ban?"

"The Holy One has many things to do, and this old slave... This old slave is not doing things well and has betrayed the Holy Grace. He deserves to die." Eunuch Feng wiped his tears with a cry in his voice, and wanted to kneel down again after saying this.

"Why do you think your great companion is like this? Talk to Lian Ting, and I grant that my great companion is not guilty!"

It is said that people become nostalgic for the past as they age, and Yuan Zhuo is no exception. Yuan Zhuo is already fifty-seven this year, and has been with Eunuch Feng for almost sixty years. The two naturally have a deep friendship. Of course Yuan Zhuo couldn't bear it when he saw Eunuch Feng in tears.

"The Holy One is merciful! Chen Jing...Chen Jing didn't stop him from going to the Liu family."

Eunuch Feng looked at the solemn and majestic emperor sitting behind the table and did not dare to hide anything. He explained the process and result of the matter in a few words.

Yuan Zhuo was over fifty but still majestic. The bright yellow dragon robe on his body made him extremely noble, and his eyes were filled with the domineering power of a superior.

Hearing Eunuch Feng's words, his expression did not change at all. He caressed Nadeshiko lightly, and then said: "Whose family doesn't have a few unsatisfactory children? It's hard for you too! Chen Jing doesn't do things well, but he is also sincere, but It’s just because of your own inability, I won’t punish you this time, you will still have to beat me when you return to the Supervisor of Ceremonies.”

Eunuch Feng quickly knelt down and kowtowed politely, "The Holy One is as kind as Heaven. The Holy One will not punish, but this old slave will also punish me. Chen Jing owes the Holy Grace!"

"Well, my eldest companion is sensible. You should also pay more attention to other matters." Yuan Zhuo said with a smile, "Okay, go to the check-in room and let Yang Ming and Chen Zhifu come see me."

"Old slave, let's do it now."

In the check-in room, when no one was waiting impatiently, a voice finally sounded outside the door, "Eunuch Feng."

"There is no need to inform, our family is just here to announce the decree."

When the five people heard this, they were immediately happy, stood up quickly, and went out to greet them.

No matter how you say it, Eunuch Feng is a master. Before the five people arrived at the door, Eunuch Feng had already walked into the check-in room. When he saw the five people there, he quickly raised his hands and saluted, "Mr. Ge, you must be waiting in a hurry. Hahaha, wine and vinegar." There are a few slaves in the bureau who don’t understand the rules and delayed some time, making the adults wait for a long time. "

Yang Ming hurriedly smiled and said: "My father-in-law is working hard, I just want to drink a few more cups of tea.

Eunuch Feng: "Mr. Yang Ge and Mr. Xu Ge, Your Majesty has decreed that the two Ge elders should enter the palace to meet the Holy Spirit."

Yang Ming and Xu Zhifu followed Eunuch Feng all the way. When they asked questions on the way, Eunuch Feng didn't reply. He just said, "I will understand everything after meeting Your Majesty."

The two pavilion elders were both obedient and had never practiced martial arts. They walked unsteadily for a quarter of an hour before arriving at the imperial study.

"Elder Ge, please." Eunuch Feng pushed open the door of the imperial study and said to the two elders.

"My companion, bring chairs to the two elders." Yuan Zhuo saw the three people coming in, put down his tea cup and said, "Yang Ge is the first assistant, and Xu Ge is the second assistant. They are both the pillars of the country. From now on, Xu Ge will come to see me." , and also given a seat.”

"yes"

Xu Zhizhou is already sixty-two years old. He has been in the pavilion for eight years, but he does not look old. He has a well-proportioned figure, even steps, and high energy. Even his hair is only half white. After hearing the emperor's words, he hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am only a secondary assistant and I dare not overstep my bounds."

"We are all the pillars of the country. There is no need to prioritize. Sit down, Mr. Xu Ge." Yuanzhuo said calmly with a calm expression.

After the two sat down and Eunuch Feng stepped aside, Yuan Zhuo continued: "Have you found out anything about the imperial envoy case in Jiangnan?"

Yuan Zhuo seemed not to have seen the two cabinet elders, but asked Eunuch Feng first. The two cabinet elders felt depressed. They had been in the cabinet for many years, so how could they not know what the emperor meant? The matter in Jiangnan was probably irreversible.

"Your Majesty, we have some clues. Officials in Bianzhou, Changzhou, Yunzhou and Lin'an colluded with businessmen. They were afraid that Lord Jiang would find out the problem, so they hired assassins to assassinate Lord Jiang in Changzhou!"

Yuan Zhuo put down the teacup, and with a "ding" sound, he was obviously angry. "Keep investigating. Pull out the radish and bring out the mud. These rats must be investigated and eliminated!"

"Don't worry, old slave!" Eunuch Feng responded.

"Lord Yang, last month Cui Han went south to inspect the salt, why is there no news yet?" Yuan Zhuo's face was deep, squinting at Yang Ming, "I heard that Cui Han is also a student of Lord Yang, how can he be so careless?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I will send an urgent letter to Cui Han and urge him to reply quickly." Yang Ming got up from the warm stool and knelt on the spot.

Yuan Zhuo took his time, picked up the teacup and drank a sip of tea, without saying anything, and did not let Yang Ming get up.

After waiting for a long time, he spoke in a cold tone, "Okay, get up, I don't blame you, but I have to rush for the military supplies in Ningzhou. Military and national affairs are more important than Mount Tai!"

"Xu Zhizhou, you are in charge of the Ministry of War, you should also pay more attention to such things. I heard that you also have a student in Jiangnan, you should also send a letter to ask."

Xu Zhizhou knelt down before the emperor finished speaking. The two ministers looked at each other and were already sweating. Cui Han is Yang Ming's student, and Yang Ming is the chief minister of the cabinet. If you write to Cui Han, you can say that it is the cabinet's intention. In what capacity can Xu Zhizhou write to his student? You can't say that it was the emperor who said it, right? The meaning is clear. This is not just about money, but also about life!

The two of them have understood each other's intentions from each other's eyes. In this case, how dare the cabinet's bill go up? Those people in Jiangnan are not afraid of death, but they are afraid!

The sun shines through the window and shines on the ground. Yuan Zhuo gets up and walks into the sun, folding his hands and saying lightly: "The sun is good in winter, and the people of the world will have a few warm days. Sit down, listen to Daban, the two cabinet elders have a bill, but the Silijian will not approve it for you?"

Yang Ming and Xu Zhizhou did not dare to sit down, only half of their buttocks were on the warm stool. Yang Ming replied timidly, "Your Majesty, I have a draft, and I have discussed it with the cabinet members. It is about the banditry in Shu..."

"The banditry in Shu is under the military control of Hexi, so what's wrong with that?"

"Your Majesty, I think we can transfer some of the garrison troops in Dazhou to enter Shu to suppress the bandits. By attacking from both inside and outside, the fierce bandits can be defeated."

"Oh, Bingzhou is in danger, Annan is not peaceful, and the corruption case in Jiangnan is not clear. Doesn't Yang think that the Ministry of War has too much money?" Yuan Zhuo smiled sideways, neither sad nor happy.

"I dare not." The two cabinet elders knelt down again.

"You already dare!"

Eunuch Feng hurried forward, his expression indifferent, but his true energy was already running, and the pressure doubled as time went by. Several Jinyiwei outside the door had entered the hall, holding the embroidered spring sword in their hands.

Yuan Zhuo looked relaxed, still smiling, waved his hand, and said: "Okay, step down, that's not what I meant. It's good that Yang Ge Lao and Xu Ge Lao are aggressive, but they are not mature enough. It's hard for you, it's hard for me, and it's even harder for the people! Do your job and think about the people of the world. This time I will treat the two elders as doing state affairs."

"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty."

"But this matter is serious and must be punished! Pass on the order, Yang Ming will be demoted to the second assistant, and Xu Zhizhou was originally the second assistant , it will not change. Jiang Fengji will be the chief minister, who will actually take charge of cabinet affairs. Jiang is mature and steady, has been in the cabinet for many years, and is adept at handling state affairs. The two cabinets should learn more from Jiang. "Yuan Zhuo lowered his eyes, put his hands behind his back, and shone in the bright winter sun, with a real dragon's might. "Don't go to pass on the order, my dear companion. I'm in a good mood today. Please accompany me to the garden for a walk. Let Xu pass on the order. Okay, go down, and discuss state affairs with cabinet members. "

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I'll take my leave!"