Han Shizu

Chapter 2113 Kangzong Chapter 5 The counterattack begins

"Here comes the envoy. I am so far away from you, but I still beg for forgiveness!" In front of the Guanfeng Palace, a young eunuch wearing a red robe and a smart face came out to welcome him, and he came forward with a slightly flattering look. The imperial envoy Wang Yuedao met with him.

As an old slave of Taizong, and as an envoy of the imperial city for fifteen or sixteen years, Wang Yue was a powerful figure within the imperial city and among the eunuchs.

However, in the past two years, Wang Sushi's life has not been easy. The old slaves of the old era, not to mention lonely ghosts in the new era, are always not so reliable to rely on, and their confidence is somewhat lacking. In the political situation of "all the people assisting the country", the life of the hawks and minions of the Imperial City Division is certainly not easy.

If we say that during the Yongxi period, under the constraints of Emperor Taizong, the Imperial City Division only restrained itself and tried not to be domineering and bully others. So in the past two years of the Pingkang era, it was the Imperial City Division that had to resist the suppression of others. Since the time of King Shizu, the Imperial City Division has been criticized and criticized. Now it is finally the ministers' turn to take power. It can be imagined that , what kind of reversal will occur.

In the face of the suppression by Prime Minister Nagan, Wang Yue and the Imperial City Secretary's resistance seemed a bit reluctant. The fundamental reason was still the lack of imperial power. Whether these dogs can be strong-willed and dare to bite people essentially depends on their owners. If the owners are not strong enough, they will have to swallow their teeth if they break their teeth.

Starting from the second year of Pingkang, the Financial Secretary even began to withhold funds allocated to the Imperial City Department, which was equivalent to a stab in Wang Yue's back. It has been almost fifty years since the establishment of the Imperial City Division. Over such a long period of time, this organization has continued to grow and develop. Even though the scale is not as large as that of the Wude Division, including the Imperial City Camp, the number of "staff on staff" has also increased. In the tens of thousands of people.

If you add in the second and third line and other peripheral officials, the number of personnel will expand several times. It is not easy to support such a large stall. In addition, the cost of secret intelligence work is already huge. Therefore, the Financial Secretary began to restrict funds. Naturally, it seriously affected the normal operation of the Imperial City Division.

If the Imperial City Division had not accumulated many years of experience, as well as some of the industries it has secretly mastered, coupled with the support from the young master Liu Gui, the Imperial City Division would have fallen faster, but even so, the hearts of the people up and down were somewhat scattered. .

Regarding these, Wang Yue felt particularly deeply when he was in it. He saw it with his eyes and felt anxious in his heart. In the entire capital, if anyone wants the emperor to govern personally and hold great power, servants of the emperor like Wang Yue are definitely the most eager.

However, what really made Wang Yue feel disappointed and nervous was not the outer court, but the inner court. One is that the emperor is inactive and has difficulty making decisions for them. The other is that the young emperor is not too close to them, the old slaves around Taizong.

From the beginning of Liu Wenpeng's accession to the throne, Wang Yue took the initiative to get closer to the young emperor, but the emperor was not so grateful. When Zhu Fu was in charge of the country, the imperial power was restricted. Wang Yue also secretly gave Liu Wenpeng advice, suggesting that he should take decisive measures to gather power and restore the imperial prestige.

However, I don't know if Liu Wenpeng didn't understand or was timid, so he ignored it. He didn't seem too interested in Wang Yue's report about the situation in the DPRK and the movements of ministers.

After doing this several times, Wang Yue's confidence gradually became less and less, and he was very depressed on weekdays. And the emperor was surrounded by flattering villains who only wanted to flatter and play with the emperor, but did not get close to "loyal ministers" like them. Their growing distance made Wang Yue even more sad and missed him from time to time. What a day it was when Taizong was born

Just like the house servant in front of him, he was a domestic servant during the period of Prince Liu Wenpeng. His name was Qin Fu. Even though he was smiling and respectful, his disguise could not conceal Wang Yue's eyes at all. He could almost conclude that people like this had long been concerned about the position of their old servants, just like when Taizong succeeded to the throne.

Just like the foreign dynasties, in today's Han Dynasty, the majority of people in the inner court are still old people. The imperial envoy is Wang Yue, the Shaofu is still Liu Gui, and the head of the chamberlain is still Zheng Yuan, but he is no longer serving the emperor.

"No more! No more!" In the Guanfeng Hall, Emperor Liu Wenpeng brushed away the chess pieces, then stared at the old man sitting opposite and said angrily: "Jia Xuan, do you think I am easy to bully?"

The person playing chess with the emperor was an old man with gray hair but red lips and white teeth. He was full of elegant temperament. Seeing that the emperor was angry, he quickly stood up and worshiped: "I don't dare!"

The old man had been working as a chess player in the Hanlin Academy for decades. Although his official position was not high, he was very famous. He could be called a national player and a master of chess.

During the Kaibao period, Jia Xuan entered the Hanlin Academy to play chess and waited for the imperial edict. However, there was no room for him to display his superb chess skills. Emperor Shizu could not even play chess, let alone Go. It was not until after Taizong ascended the throne that he summoned people from the Hanlin Academy to play chess when he was not running the country. Jia Xuan, who was superb in chess, was the person he summoned the most. The experience of playing chess with Taizong for more than ten years made Jia Xuan even more respected by others. Because he played chess with Taizong dozens of times, no matter what the rules were, he only lost to Taizong by one piece.

It was this that made Liu Wenpeng angry. He glared angrily and said: "When the late emperor was the emperor, he lost one piece every time. When playing chess with me, he still lost with one piece. How could my chess skills still match the emperor's?" Comparing the test?"

Hearing what Liu Wenpeng said, Jia Xuan's complexion changed slightly, and he immediately knelt down and begged: "I am guilty!"

"You know what crime you are guilty of!"

A flash of embarrassment flashed across Mr. Jia Xuan's face, and he buried his head and said: "My eyes are dim, I am illogical, and I am guilty of being stupid."

Seeing Jia Xuan's serious look, Liu Wenpeng couldn't help laughing, and said happily: "I really embarrassed you! No one in the entire Gyeonggi Province knows that you, Jia Xuan, are superb in chess and can be called the leader.

With Huang Kao's wisdom, why can't he still see the secret behind it? Even if he doesn't care about you, how can I punish you? "

Hearing what the emperor said, Jia Xuan glanced at Liu Wenpeng in shock, then quickly came back to his senses and said, "Your Majesty is wise, I feel so inexplicable!"

"You are a good person!" Liu Wenpeng laughed, looking in a good mood, and said, "Come here and give me five hundred coins."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xuan immediately refused and said: "Your Majesty's gift, I am very grateful, but please forgive me for not accepting it!"

"Why?"

Jia Xuan said with a solemn expression: "I have done nothing for the country, and I feel unworthy of it. What's more, playing chess and trivial matters, I don't dare to be rewarded by flattery. I still remember that in those days, Taifu Li (Li Fang), the late emperor, It’s nothing more than a gift.”

When Liu Wenpeng heard what Jia Xuan said, his expression was a little exciting, his eyes changed a little, and he said: "It seems that you are not only a superb chess player, but also a humble and loyal minister. If you don't accept money, I will promote you." official!"

Hearing this, Jia Xuan was about to resign when he heard Liu Wenpeng say: "Of all the officials in the world, how many of them can be promoted just by working hard on their seniority and age.

How can it be that after decades of hard work, you are still waiting for an edict? Are you inferior to those mediocre ministers and dim officials?

After listening to the imperial edict, Jia Xuan was given a Jinshi background and was promoted to a Hanlin bachelor to wait for the imperial edict! "

Seeing that the emperor was so determined, Jia Xuan no longer refused and thanked him gratefully.

Liu Wenpeng seemed to be touched by Jia Xuanshi's words. He pondered a little, rolled his eyes, smiled at the corner of his mouth, pointed to the chessboard on the table and said: "I am the emperor, and I should take the world as my board. All people in the world play chess, and this chessboard is too small, how can I let me play to my fullest?"

After finishing speaking, regardless of the astonishment on the left and right, he raised his finger and ordered: "I have given an oral instruction and asked Shaofu Liu Gui to build a chessboard for me. It should be ten feet wide. A high platform should be built outside the board as a chess seat. Then strong guards should be dispatched to train carefully. Zuozi"

"Jia Qing!" Looking at Jia Xuan, Liu Wenpeng even called him kindly: "The next time we play chess, the scene will be different."

Facing the emperor's "whimsical ideas", Jia Xuan was a little stunned. However, before he could say anything, Liu Wenpeng had already waved his hand to drive them away, and his interest quickly shifted from the chess course.

The good mood did not last long, because Wang Yue came. In fact, Liu Wenpeng didn't have many opinions about Wang Yue, an old slave of Taizong. Otherwise, how could he be allowed to continue to stay in the position of Imperial City Secretary? He just didn't I like Wang Yue to advise him like those prime ministers and officials. It's not that Liu Wenpeng doesn't listen to what others say, it's just that the experiences he's had since taking over the throne have given them a strong rebellious mentality. In severe cases, they don't even distinguish between good and evil, good and evil, true and false, and good and evil.

"What's new in Beijing?" Liu Wenpeng asked Wang Yuandao directly. He most liked to hear anecdotes and interesting stories in Beijing. Unfortunately, Wang Yue's answer was not what Liu Wenpeng wanted. Facing the emperor's gaze, he bowed with unusual solemnity: "Old slave, I came here to say goodbye to the official family."

Hearing this, Liu Wenpeng was slightly surprised and said with some doubts: "I have no intention of removing you from your post, so why are you resigning?"

Wang Yue took a deep breath and bowed: "The Imperial City Department is about to be abolished and will no longer exist. Where will Lao Nu, the Imperial City Envoy, live? If Your Majesty remembers Lao Nu's decades of service to the late Emperor, he will give Lao Nu a gift." As a gift, let the old slave go back to his hometown to retire."

"What do you mean!" Liu Wenpeng put away the carelessness on his face and stared at Wang Yue coldly: "Who wants to abolish the Imperial City Division!"

Facing the emperor's cold gaze, Wang Yue's heart skipped a beat, and he explained in an aggrieved tone: "Today's court meeting, Lu Mengzheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, proposed this proposal."

After the death of Murong Defeng at the beginning of the year, Lu Mengzheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was recommended by Zhang Qixian and Li Hang to come to Beijing to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and pass on the throne to the prime minister.

In this matter, Lu Wang Liu Ai actually had objections. He preferred Liu Jichang, the political envoy of Gyeonggi Province who was born in the clan, but in the end he failed to make the trip.

"Lu Mengzheng!" At this time, Liu Wenpeng was a little annoyed when he heard this. He placed the table and said angrily: "Why should he! There is no such person among the ministers appointed by the late emperor!"

Seeing Liu Wenpeng getting angry, Wang Yue felt relieved. What he feared most was that the emperor had no reaction. If the emperor is not even aware of the sensitivity and criticality of this matter, that would be the most terrifying thing.

Wang Yue lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, Lu Mengzheng is a veteran minister of the three dynasties. He is quite famous both inside and outside the court. Moreover, there has long been a grudge between this person and the Imperial City Secretary. During the reign of Emperor Shizu, he launched a group of ministers to criticize the Imperial City Secretary. , intending to abolish the Imperial City Division.

Now that he has ascended to the throne to worship the prime minister and holds great power, it is not surprising that he should raise this issue again. At that time, this man had great righteousness and served the country and the king, but in fact, he was trying to cut off the eyes and ears of the officials so that the foreign ministers could deceive the listeners.

The ancestors were wise and powerful, how could they not see through their sinister intentions? Long Yan was furious, the power of heaven descended, and he demoted the traitors and ministers for twenty-eight years, and Lu Mengzheng was transferred to the local government for twenty years.

Nowadays, Lu Mengzheng has only been in Beijing to serve as prime minister for a few months. He not only rehabilitated and promoted officials who were demoted in the past, but also started to discuss them again, which shows his intentions.

The Imperial City Division has been criticized since its establishment. When the ancestors and late emperors were in power, they were still able to maintain it. Now, the assistants are bullying the young officials—"

"That's enough!" Liu Wenpeng suddenly interrupted Wang Yue angrily, his eyes almost cannibalizing.

"Yes!" Wang Yue was startled and stopped immediately, but the joy in his heart began to spread.

Liu Wenpeng thought for a while and asked in a suppressed voice: "How do the ministers react to this proposal?"

Wang Yue said without hesitation: "Except for the express opposition of the imperial envoy Wang Xuanzhen, everyone including King Lu and Shangshu Ling were vague and said they would discuss it later. In the opinion of the old slave, all the ministers are leaning towards Lu Mengzheng's proposal."

"Can you still see through the hearts of the ministers?" Liu Wenpeng glanced sideways at Wang Yue.

Wang Yue felt a slight suddenness in his heart, and immediately responded: "Old servant is concerned about this, and I made a wild guess. Please forgive me!"

"Lu Mengzheng" Liu Wenpeng ignored him and murmured, with a hint of anger on his young face.

Liu Wenpeng didn't know Lu Mengzheng, but at this moment, he was full of disgust. What's more, when Lu Mengzheng paid homage to the prime minister, he only briefly asked for his opinion as the emperor.

At this time, Liu Wenpeng was thinking about a lot of things, but there was only one thought that occupied the high ground in his mind. Other ministers were not easy to move. Lu Mengzheng didn't have the aura of "Taizong's will" to protect him.

"You all get out!" After coming back to his senses, Liu Wenpeng immediately waved his hands to the left and right and ordered.

"Official!" Qin Fu, the chamberlain who was waiting nearby, was a little surprised and called out subconsciously.

"Huh?" Liu Wenpeng gave him a cold look.

"Yes!"

After the screen retreated, Liu Wenpeng waved to Wang Yue and asked him to come forward and talk. He said one thing after another. This was the closest Liu Wenpeng had ever been to the imperial envoy since he ascended the throne. Even though Wang Yue was over fifty years old, he couldn't help but feel hot at this moment. If he hadn't controlled his emotions, his eyes would have become wet.

"Tell me all the information and secrets you collected during your investigation!" Liu Wenpeng ordered, staring at Wang Yue.

Even though he was prepared, Wang Yue was still surprised, but he immediately asked for instructions: "I wonder what report the officials want to hear?"

"Tell me about Lu Mengzheng!"

Of course, it was impossible to say anything good about Lu Mengzheng from Wang Yue's mouth. Wang Yue almost introduced Lu Mengzheng's resume and all the rights and wrongs involved, as well as anecdotes. Liu Wenpeng obviously didn't care about this person's talents. Morality and merit were of little significance to the little emperor at this time.

"Arrange the things you collected and find someone to impeach you!" Finally, Liu Wenpeng ended the secret conversation with Wang Yue with this instruction.

This also started the emperor's first counterattack against his ministers since he succeeded to the throne, and also took the first step to regain power.

Of course, this process was not so smooth, even if the person he chose was just Lu Mengzheng who did not have the talisman of "Taizong's Will".

But in the same way, Lu Mengzheng is really the right choice, with enough fame, status and influence.

In the winter of November of the second year of Pingkang, Zhizhi Gaoding suddenly impeached Lu Mengzheng, the prime minister and official secretary, saying that he employed people for personal gain.

This winter in Gyeonggi has become particularly lively.

(End of this chapter)