Long live the general

In Ziwei Palace, the emperor is reading a political commentary.

In February, the Shangshuling required all ministers to submit a political commentary on world affairs. Those political comments were first handed over to the Shangshuling, and after the Gongsunyang group read them, they were classified as high, middle and low and handed over to the emperor for review.Zhou Zhenyan read the books one by one. He not only read all the political comments, but also kept in mind the grades of who rated them as the basis for his employment.

The book Zhou Zhenyan was reading was very simple compared to others.

"...Abandon useless words, don't make useless weapons; don't seize the people, use the people's strength; the virtuous will advance, and the unvirtuous will retreat; the meritorious will go up, and the worthless will go down; punishment should be crimes, and rewards should be virtuous..."

"Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith are the ways of governing a country and cannot be abolished..."

These words are neutral and there is nothing wrong with them, but they are also mediocre. Anyone who has read the book can catch a few sentences. No wonder they are rated as inferior.

What Zhou Zhenzhen noticed was that this person finally put forward what the sages said, "repay grievances with straightness, and repay virtue with virtue." At the beginning, the Xiongnu humiliated the hatred of Yue.

Zhou Zhenzhen was able to notice this political commentary, firstly because the characters were well written, upright and peaceful, and secondly because the person who wrote this political commentary was named Tao Jiamu.

If I remember correctly, this person should have replaced Huo Yi as the prefect of Xihebian County.At that time, the "Supervision Order" was promulgated in February, and Huo Yi hadn't set off yet. Now it's almost June? It happened to be the day when the "Supervision Order" was sent to Xihebian County, and the county guard sent it back after writing it.

And Tao Jiamu's resume was also sent? He came from a local aristocratic family in Shu County. He used to be an official in the palace for the late emperor, and was later sent to Xihebian County.

Zhou Zhenxie thought to himself that there are quite a lot of talents in Xihebian County.

He immediately asked Tao Jiamu to enter the palace, and then among the Lang officials—that is, the group of high-ranking officials who were preparing to find someone to be the governor of Xihebian County. After thinking about it, he thought Chen Zhonglang was pretty good.

Chen Zhonglang has worked hard for so many years, should he be given some real power? Let him go to the border county for two years of experience, and he will be able to take on great responsibilities when he comes back.

Zhou Zhenyan continued to read those political comments. Here, some talents can still be selected. Although the Dai Viet court is like a pool of stagnant water, there are many underappreciated young people, middle-aged people or old people who are eager to make contributions... …

He took it down in his mind? Some available talents, at this moment, Xiao Huangmen reported that the prime minister was asking for an interview outside the door.

The current Prime Minister is the original Tingwei. This person is named Liu, and he is quite proud of himself these days.

The so-called extremely human minister is not the prime minister. To be the prime minister is definitely the highest ideal of every courtier? To get a salary of ten thousand stones, to be admired by the courtiers, and then to be a ten thousand household marquis, to grasp the real power, one person is under ten thousand people. On, maybe? It can also leave a name in the history.

After all, who would pay attention to who the Tingwei of the past dynasties are!

He became the prime minister as he wished, and he had a good impression of Zhao Cheng in his heart.Had it not been for Zhao Cheng’s persuasion at the beginning? He said, maybe? He would have prevented Zhao Cheng from killing Wang Chengxiang, so when the emperor used the military ration case as a meritorious service to Zhao Cheng and let him directly sit in the position of Tingwei, Liu Chengxiang also There is no objection.

Tingwei is the highest official position in the judiciary. He is in charge of criminal defense and adjudicating cases. He is one of the nine ministers who also need to refer to the opinions of Tingwei when writing and amending national laws.

In the military ration case, the emperor showed an extremely tough style and attitude. Nearly 1000 people participated in this incident, and more than 500 people were beheaded. Dozens of people punished the whole family, and they did not even wait for the good season of execution in autumn and winter.

All the sinners were divided? Three batches were cut off, and the emperor expressed his attitude very clearly: the Northern Expedition was his untouchable bottom line, the soldiers of the Northern Expedition were his eyeballs, whoever touched his eyeballs, he would kill his whole family.

The smell of blood lingered in Chang'an City. For a few days, even Mr. Liu, who had just become the prime minister, felt a little guilty. He also found out that the emperor didn't seem to like him very much.

Emperor Yueyun and the previous prime ministers were very respected by the emperor. If the prime minister wanted to leave, the emperor had to go out and see him off.Is it all these vain rituals?... No!What Prime Minister Liu valued was this vain courtesy.

But what's more serious is that in political affairs, the emperor occasionally asked him for his opinion, but never took his advice!He felt very helpless, even a little panicked. Is the emperor targeting him?Or did I never make the right suggestion myself?

Prime Minister Liu could almost feel that the power in his hands was gradually disappearing.

And this morning, he received an urgent report from Wuchang County. Prime Minister Liu didn't dare to delay, so he hurried to the palace to meet the saint.

Prime Minister Liu held a memorial and said urgently, "Your Majesty, Wuchang County is urgently reporting!"

Zhou Zhenxuan: "Say."

"This year, Wuchang County has experienced heavy rain for half a month, the flood season has been brought forward, and the Nanjiang River burst its embankment." Prime Minister Liu said with difficulty.

Zhou Zhenzhen's heart skipped a beat. Before Huo Yi left, he also said that every year when the flood season comes in June in Wuchang County, there will be flood disasters. We must keep money in the treasury to deal with these things.

But it's only May, and Huo Yi has been away for two months.

"Call Zhang Dasinong." Zhou Zhenqian gave an order, and then asked: "How much is the loss of Wuchang County now? How many houses collapsed and how many people disappeared. How did the governor of Wuchang County respond?"

Prime Minister Liu handed in the memorial in his hand, and Zhou Zhenyan hurriedly flipped through it. This memorial was submitted by the sheriff of Wuchang County.

This is a rare flood in 50 years. The governor of Wuchang County has tried his best to build a dam to divert the flood, but to no avail.The ferocious flood destroyed the houses of the people, and countless people were submerged in the raging river. The county guard not only organized dam repairs, but also arranged for rescue of refugees, distribution of food and accommodation, and appease the hearts of the people. The whole memorial only wrote ?one thing.

Ask for help.

Not only for food, but also for youth and strength, and the court sent people to help.

The handwriting on the memorial was extremely hasty. A few lines of cold numbers made the emperor's scalp numb. He tapped the table with his fingers, as if he could see the cries and tears of countless people in Wuchang County through the peaceful and luxurious Ziwei Palace. The choppy river.

Natural disasters.

The Xiongnu in the north can send troops to fight and drive them away completely, but the floods in Wuchang County, the earthquake in Shu County, the drought in the northwest... are things that cannot be completely solved by manpower. solve.

Prime Minister Liu made a special trip to report this matter, hoping that this matter could be entrusted to him.

Although the matter of disaster relief is troublesome, there is a lot of money to be made. The emperor has expressed that? The Northern Expedition? There is no room for operation. Disaster relief can always be done.

He knelt beside him? After a while, he saw the servant sneaking in with the chief minister Zhang Lai.

Zhang Laiqian's face was pale, his eyes were reddish, and his outstanding appearance could not conceal the fatigue on his face.

Zhou Zhenxuan said, "Prime Minister, step down."

Prime Minister Liu was stunned, what do you mean, he is not allowed to participate in disaster relief?

He didn't have time to think about it, so he quickly recommended himself: "Your Majesty, the matter of Wuchang County is a big one. I invite you to personally go to Wuchang County to relieve the disaster, appease the civilians, and build dams."

"I already have a candidate in mind for this matter." Zhou Zhenxie said: "The important thing about disaster relief is the beginning and the end, and it can't be completed in two or three months? The prime minister should stay in Chang'an."

Prime Minister Liu vaguely heard some danger from this sentence, but he couldn't figure it out.

When he went out, he saw Shang Shuling Gongsun Yang, who glanced at the restless Prime Minister, passed him by, and said, "Prime Minister, I advise you to resign as Prime Minister as soon as possible."

This sentence, Gongsun Yang once said to Prime Minister Wang.

Prime Minister Liu didn't hear it clearly, he looked dissatisfied at this Shang Shuling who didn't salute himself and had an arrogant expression, and snorted coldly in his heart.

Sooner or later, teach this Shang Shuling who was born in white a lesson.

Zhang Laiqian was sitting in the main hall, Zhou Zhenxie gave him the memorial and asked, "How much do you think the food will be paid?"

After Zhang Laiqian read it carefully, he thought about it, "I'm afraid it's a big expense."

"How many?"

Zhang Laiqian said a number that made Zhou Zhenxie feel distressed. He is in charge of the treasury, of course not only looking at the surplus of the treasury, but also the future expenditure and taxation: "General Huo and his team will return to the court. I am afraid there will be a large amount of expenditure."

Zhou Zhenzhen thought for a while, and said: "Wuchang County is connected to two big rivers, extending in all directions, and it is a place where merchants prosper."

Zhang Laiqian: "That's true, there are many big businessmen there."

Zhou Zhenzhen nodded slowly, and asked, "What do you think? Who is better to handle this matter?"

"As far as the style of work is concerned, I think Zhao Cheng is suitable. He is an upright and honest official. Your Majesty doesn't have to worry about him enriching his own pockets." Zhang Laiqian said truthfully that he didn't know many people. Compared with other people, he His sensitivity to politics is a little better than that of Li Yi.

He is only sensitive to numbers, and the place where Dai Viet is most suitable to deal with numbers is in the Si Agriculture Department.

Zhou Zhenzhen shook? Shaking his head, the figure of another person flashed across his mind.

"Your Majesty, the Minister ordered to see you." The servant came over and shouted.

Zhou Zhenyan's brows widened, and he said to Zhang Laiqian, "Look, someone who can do this is here."

That afternoon, they discussed until dark and came up with several plans.Gongsun Yang is also eager to do some practical things, instead of staying in theoretical discussions on state affairs.This? It will determine the emperor's opinion of him, whether he is only rhetoric or really capable.

After they left, Zhou Zhenyan sighed long and hard facing the memorial on the desk.

It's almost June already.

Where is General Huo now?The food and grass planned at the beginning was only three months. Logically speaking, they should be back soon.

There has been no news from the border so far. Zhou Zhenyan is looking forward to their return, but he is also afraid of the news of nothing or failure.

Thinking of this matter, Zhou Zhenzhen couldn't calm down? He waited in suspicion and anxiety, and the longer he waited, the more uneasy he became.

As long as the fighting situation is not too tragic, he can accept it.

While waiting, the emperor lowered his expectations again and again.