Long live the general

In Shoucheng Hall, there are four people sitting.At the top is the young emperor in Xuanpao. On his left is Huo Yi, the prefect of Bianjun, and on his right is Chen Zhonglang with a gentle face. On the opposite side is a commoner in white, Gongsun Yang.

Although Gongsunyang is the lowest-status person present, he is the real protagonist of the meeting.

They have been discussing for a long time, Huo Yi and Chen Zhonglang are still sitting in a state of distress, but Gongsun Yang has no regard for etiquette, he said loudly: "The problem of Da Viet lies in the chaos of power, the annexation of land, and the literati misusing the country."

Huo Yi frowned, thinking that this Gongsun Jun really dared to speak.In one sentence, he almost put himself on the opposite side of all those with vested interests.

Zhou Zhenyan asked calmly: "Gongsun Jun, tell me more carefully."

Gongsun Yang spoke very fast and in a low voice: "Today's Dayue has accumulated huge wealth after five generations. But this wealth is not in the hands of the people, nor in the treasury, but in the hands of the nobles of the local gentry. The local gentry has no limits. Annexed the people's land, made them landless to cultivate, and reduced them to refugees. They also colluded with the local government and ran rampant in the countryside. The county guards from all over the country stayed away from Chang'an, did not obey the emperor's order, and did not respect the law. The Beihai county guard went out with the emperor. At home, the bells are ringing and the food is being eaten, and the behavior is extravagant."

Huo Yi, who is also the governor of Xihebian County, the local governor, glanced at him. As the highest governor of the region, if he wants to gather the strength of the whole county to support him, he can indeed live a good life.

Gongsun Yang went on to say: "The officials in the court form cliques for private interests. The top cannot control the lord, and the bottom dies to benefit the people. They are all dead and vegetarian. Those in their positions do not seek their own government. As a result, although the superintendents are earnest, the bottom listens. Zhe Hengliu. If Your Majesty wants to enrich the country and strengthen the army, you must first rectify the administration of officials."

His meaning is very clear. The problem with Dai Viet today is that the officials in the court are immoral and incompetent and greedy for self-interest. As a result, the emperor's orders cannot reach the local area, and local affairs cannot be heard by the emperor.

Zhou Zhenxie asked, "According to Gongsun Jun, what should we do?"

The emperor's question at this time is meaningful to consider. Gongsun Yang has long been prepared for this. He said: "Your Majesty should attribute the power of the localities to the central government, and the power of the central government to your majesty. As for the officials in the court and the local officials, they should be regularly Conduct assessments to test their ability to govern."

Zhou Zhenyan looked at Huo Yi: "Speaking of this, Huo Qing, I remember everyone in the army tried it out to test the strength of the army."

The capital test was held in summer, and Huo Yi had just held it in August this year. Qiu Hongguang performed extremely well in that capital test, and became the captain of the Scout Gui team.

Huo Yi explained: "The test is held once a year in each county. Since the time of Emperor Gaozu, it has been more than a hundred years to assess the combat capabilities of soldiers in the army in terms of shooting, riding, and battle formation. However, the content of the test Depending on the region, border counties mainly use cavalry to patrol barriers, while counties with built-up ships practice sailing water battles."

Zhou Zhenyan was temporarily interested in trying everything, and felt that the famous Northern Army could also form one. He hadn't seen with his own eyes the strength of an army raised with a lot of money.

Following Huo Yi's words, Chen Zhonglang said, "I believe that the evaluation criteria for various officials should also be different."

Gongsun Yang turned his head and glared at Chen Zhonglang: "Different standards will inevitably lead to injustice! Chen Zhonglang, if the assessment is not thorough, it will only backfire."

Chen Zhonglang wanted to say more, but Zhou Zhenyan finalized the conclusion in a few words: "Let Gongsun Jun handle this matter, and Chen Zhonglang will assist you."

He immediately made Gongsun Yang Zhonglang, with a rank of more than six hundred stones, and served the emperor around him.

When Gongsun Yang came in, he was only dressed in white, but when he left the gate of Shoucheng Hall, he was dressed in official robes, which was appreciated by the emperor.

The emperor didn't even ask about his birth history.

Gongsun Yang is in a complicated mood, because of his sudden change of fate, and also for the next thing.

He knew that the emperor entrusted him with the assessment, which meant pushing him to the opposite side of the officials.But he was valued by the emperor because of this, which was the capital he left behind with the emperor. He had to get this matter done first before he could have more opportunities to participate in political affairs.

This is a crucial test. The emperor doesn't care about his background, and he doesn't waste people because of his words. He needs people who can really do things.

"Gongsun Jun, go slowly, wait for me."

The sky was gradually turning yellow, Chen Zhonglang walked out quickly, and said with a smile: "Gongsun Zhonglang, we will be colleagues from now on."

They had a dispute in the hall just now, Chen Zhonglang seemed to have forgotten it, his eyes rolled and turned: "I will follow His Majesty from now on, there are some important matters, I have to tell you..."

At this moment, Huo Yi also came out of the hall. He was wearing court clothes, mixed with the wind and frost from the northwest, making him look thin and neat.He nodded slightly to Gongsun Yang, his attitude was the same as before.

"Chen Zhonglang, I'm leaving first." Huo Yi cupped his hands.Today, because of Gongsun Yang, he stayed in the palace for too long.

"Huo Jun, I heard that you have a little niece?" Chen Zhonglang suddenly thought of something, and said, "My family also has a little girl, I can bring her to play when I have time."

Huo Yi glanced at him with a strange expression, and said slowly: "Lingyue is only eight years old, so it's too early to talk about this kind of thing..."

"What are you thinking! I just want to help the child find a playmate." Chen Zhonglang looked at him contemptuously: "Mr. Huo, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person!"

Gongsun Yang waited for a while, and after Huo Yi left, he couldn't help asking: "Who is that?"

"The sheriff of Xihebian County, surnamed Huo." Chen Zhonglang said slowly, with an expression of "you checked all the sheriffs just now, but you didn't recognize this sheriff", "but it will be General Huo in the future... ..."

Huo Yi thought about it seriously while sitting in the carriage. Huo Lingyue really needs a playmate of the same age, but she has been sent to the academy to study. The little girl is so cute, there must be many people who like her... But what if she What about the academy being bullied?

He was disturbed by this sudden thought, and hurried the carriage back to the Huo Mansion.At this time, Huo Lingyue should also go home. Huo Yi wanted to ask her how she was doing in the academy, if anyone bullied her, and if she could understand the teacher's lectures, but she went around and didn't find the little girl. where.

In the end, I found it in the corner of the garden. Huo Lingyue sat on the stone steps where he had been sitting, staring at the front with ecstasy, his eyes were red, and he looked like he had cried.

Huo Yi's heart skipped a beat, he walked over quickly, squatted in front of Huo Lingyue, stared at her, and softened his voice: "Why are you sitting here?"

This is the first time for him to be a child's uncle, so he can only try his best to recall how his parents coaxed him in the past - let alone Huo Fengnian, Cong Yunmeng is very good at coaxing children.

Huo Lingyue stared at him blankly, and seemed to realize that this was the little uncle.She curled her mouth, tears came out again immediately, and said in a crying voice: "Little uncle..."

Huo Yi snorted.

"Are you good?" Huo Lingyue asked suddenly.

What kind of question is this... Huo Yi said cautiously: "It's okay."

Huo Lingyue put her knees together, leaned her head on her knees, and looked at him with watery eyes: "How is it compared with the prime minister?"

Huo Yi: "...It depends on the aspect. If it is better than fighting, I should be better, but I can't fight him."

Huo Lingyue asked sharply: "Do you want to listen to him too?"

"That's not necessary. The county guard is directly appointed by the emperor, and I only obey the emperor's orders." Huo Yi added: "The prime minister also obeys the emperor."

Huo Lingyue gave a simple and rude conclusion: "So the emperor is the most powerful?"

"...Yes." Zhou Zhenyan's face flashed in Huo Yi's mind, the dominance of the imperial power and prime minister's power is constantly changing, to a certain extent, it depends on the emperor's personal character.

Huo Lingyue said softly: "Then I will be the emperor in the future."

Huo Yi's face darkened, he didn't get angry, but this expression was scary enough - if this kind of words spread, others would not think that the child was outspoken, but would only think that it was taught by the Huo family adults.

Back then, Huo Fengnian died because he threatened the imperial power.

"Don't say such things in the future." Huo Yi asked: "Have you ever told others?"

Huo Lingyue was in the midst of extreme anger and bewilderment, Huo Yi reprimanded her like this, but she became even more aggrieved.

"No." She said stiffly, it was just a thought that came to her suddenly.

"Why did the prime minister mess with you?" Huo Yi simply sat side by side with her on the stone steps, letting the dirt and leaves fall on the corner of the court clothes.

"I was outside today, and I saw a man riding a horse in the street, trampling a child to death." Huo Lingyue's logic was very clear: "The man wanted to run away, so I stopped his horse and asked Uncle Wang to report to the police. Later Zhi Jinwu arrested that person, and I followed as a witness."

"There were witnesses and evidence, and the man was put in prison. However, within a short time, other witnesses retracted their confessions one after another, and he was acquitted. My testimony was dismissed as a child's lie, but the dead man child, whose blood is still in the street."

"There is only one reason why they retracted the confession and I became a liar, because that person is the son of the prime minister's family."

Huo Lingyue's fingers trembled slightly, and she was so angry that no one believed her words—no, everyone knew what she said was true, but they chose to cover their eyes and ears and make lies.

The life and truth of civilians are insignificant in the face of power.The prime minister will soon put this matter behind him, and Ting Wei will only be happy to give the prime minister another favor. The other witnesses are afraid of the power of the prime minister's house, and after coercion and temptation, they unanimously retract their confession in order to protect themselves.

"The prime minister's son can kill people without paying the price. Is this the national law of Dai Viet?" Huo Lingyue was trembling all over.

She wasn't crying for herself, Huo Yi couldn't answer this question for the time being.

"If people don't act in accordance with the national laws of Da Viet, what are they based on?" Huo Lingyue's question ended here, and she couldn't think of a deeper level, but she was still angry about it: "Little uncle, can you help me?"

Huo Yi thought for a while and asked, "What do you want to do?"

"Kill the prime minister's son!"

In fact, that was not the prime minister's son, but his nephew, but Huo Lingyue didn't understand it.

Huo Yi rubbed her head: "We have no right to judge his life or death. Let's go to the parents of that child and see if we can help."

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