Chapter 367 Peace in the world
Zhang Guifen said this because she was worried that the Zhu family would be dissatisfied with Zhu Shiquan's exile and would ask Zhao Xing to pardon Zhu Shiquan later.
"I understand what you said, don't worry, I will be satisfied as long as he lives. The official warned my brother back then, but he still doesn't repent. I won't care about him anymore in the future." Zhu said.
She was completely disappointed with Zhu Shiquan and didn't want to embarrass her son.
If Zhu Shiquan hadn't been sentenced to death, she wouldn't have cared about it at all.
Zhang Guifen was relieved to see that Zhu was so reasonable.
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"My lord, a decree from the Supreme Emperor has arrived!"
In Zhizheng Hall, Han Zhang was handling official business in the public room, and his entourage hurried in.
"Are you sure it belongs to the Emperor and not His Majesty?" Han Zhang frowned.
It is not that the Supreme Emperor cannot issue imperial edicts, but after the Supreme Emperor abdicates, he should not issue imperial edicts directly to Zhizhengtang.
Otherwise, if the orders of the Supreme Emperor and Zhao Xing conflict, who should they listen to?
"Young lady, I've confirmed it. The chamberlain who came to inform me said it was the Supreme Emperor's order," the attendant said.
Han Zhang was silent for a while and said, "Inform others to follow me to receive the order."
"Yes!" The attendant responded with a salute and retreated.
Han Zhang picked up his official hat and put it on, straightened his clothes and walked out.
After a while, the officials from Zhizhengtang came to the courtyard outside.
After waiting for about a cup of tea, the eunuch who announced the order arrived.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, he started reading the imperial edict directly.
The content of the imperial edict was to exempt Zhu Shiquan from the death penalty and change it to exile, without pardon.
After handing the imperial edict to Han Zhang, the eunuch left.
"Hu Shangshu!" Han Zhang called out to Hu Zhongyan who was about to leave.
"I wonder what the Grand Prime Minister has ordered?" Hu Zhongyan said with a smile.
"I have something I want to talk to Hu Shangshu. I wonder if Hu Shangshu has time to go to my husband's room and have some tea." Han Zhang said.
"It's an honor to be invited by the Grand Prime Minister." Hu Zhongyan said with a smile.
"Please!"
Han Zhang led Hu Zhongyan to his public room, asked Hu Zhongyan to take a seat, and asked him to leave after his entourage brought him tea.
"Hu Shangshu, it's best to stop some things in moderation," Han Zhang said.
After hearing this, Hu Zhongyan put down the tea cup and said with a smile: "Why can't I understand what the Grand Prime Minister means?"
Han Zhang looked at Hu Zhongyan and said: "There are only two of us here, and I will say some things directly. I don't care what Hu Shangshu wants to do, but I still want to remind you that you and I are colleagues. If you have great ambitions, you won’t give up because of a little resistance. If you continue, it will be counterproductive and you will not be able to protect your future!”
Zhao Xing had been forced to ask the Supreme Emperor to issue an imperial edict.
He was worried that Hu Zhongyan would continue to do something that Zhao Xing would not be able to deal with. He really didn't know if Zhao Xing could still restrain himself.
"I have always admired the Grand Prime Minister, but the Grand Prime Minister has been really disappointing recently."
Hu Zhongyan shook his head and said: "The official is not old and has only ascended the throne not long ago. He needs the help and advice of us veterans. However, the Grand Prime Minister clearly knew that the official was wrong and never gave any words to dissuade him."
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with investigating and punishing corrupt officials?" Han Zhang asked rhetorically.
"There is nothing wrong with investigating and punishing corrupt officials, but the official punishments are a bit excessive. The Supreme Emperor has been in office for ten years, and the only civil servant to be executed was the original Yushi Zhongcheng Feng Deguang. Isn't it true that the government is harmonious and the world is peaceful?"
Hu Zhongyan said: "But after His Majesty ascended the throne, he first executed several important officials in the court, and many officials in the south of the Yangtze River were exiled. Now the court and local officials are in panic, what is the benefit to the country?"
"Whether it's beneficial or not, let's not put it aside, is it beneficial to the Song Dynasty if Hu Shangshu is so difficult?" Han Zhang asked rhetorically.
"According to the Grand Prime Minister, no matter what your Majesty does, no matter whether it is right or wrong, the ministers should not object. Then what do you want the ministers to do in this world?"
"You are making excuses!"
"It is the Grand Prime Minister who is the one who makes strong remarks!" Hu Zhongyan said lightly: "When the Supreme Emperor was in power, the sea, rivers and rivers were clear. When His Majesty ascends the throne, all he needs is Xiao Gui and Cao to follow, and the world will be at peace.
Your Majesty is young and it is normal to want to achieve something.
At this time, we, as ministers, need to advise His Majesty.
Did the Grand Prime Minister forget about Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty? ”
…………
"A good Xiao Guicao can easily bring peace to the world, but he still compares me with Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty."
After Zhao Xing heard Liu Sanshi's words, he sneered.
His father treated others with kindness, although Zhao Xing did not agree with this approach.
But it is undeniable that the father did gain the loyalty of some people by doing this.
These people are the maids and eunuchs in the palace.
In the original play, King Yan rebelled, and a palace maid was willing to risk her own life to deliver a blood edict for her father.
You know, at that time, they had no idea that Zhao Zongquan had arrived outside Bianjing City.
In that case, even if he escaped from the palace through the dog hole.
A palace maid who has been in the palace for several years may not even know the way to Bianjing. Let alone go to Yuzhou, the chance of leaving the city is very slim.
Even so, the palace maid was still willing to deliver the message.
Later, Queen Mother Cao launched a mutiny, and many maids and eunuchs in the palace were willing to help Queen Mother Cao.
It's because of the Supreme Emperor.
After Zhao Xing succeeded to the throne, he appointed Liu Sanshi as a permanent attendant, responsible for managing all the eunuchs in the inner treasury and harem.
At the same time, Liu Sanshi was also secretly asked to pay attention to the disturbances in the entire imperial city.
After leaving Zhu's palace, Zhao Xing asked people to bring Liu Sanshi over for questioning.
As a result, Liu Sanshi brought a conversation between Han Zhang and Hu Zhongyan.
Zhao Xing glanced at Liu Sanshi who was kneeling on the ground, and said calmly: "It's a merit or a fault. I asked you to block the news and prevent the mother and concubine from knowing. Why did the mother and concubine still know the news?"
"Returning to Your Majesty, it was the concubine who asked the palace maid next to her about the news about Minister Zhu. The concubine noticed that the palace maid was acting abnormally, and she told her after being forced to interrogate her. Your Majesty, please punish me if you do something wrong." Liu Sanshi said .
Zhao Xing's expression softened a little when he heard this. From this point of view, Liu Sanshi cannot be entirely blamed for this incident.
"Get up!" Zhao Xing said.
Liu Sanshi breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, got up from the ground, and stood up with a bow.
"I just said that merit is merit, fault is fault, and merit and fault cannot be offset. You can go and get twenty boards later." Zhao Xing said.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!" Liu Sanshi bowed.
"How did you bribe Mr. Han's entourage?" Zhao Xing asked with some confusion.
The conversation between Han Zhang and Hu Zhongyan that Liu Sanshi just recounted was passed down to him by Han Zhang.
The chief attendant, like the personal secretary, knew many of his master's secrets.
Such people usually choose people they trust very much.
Liu Sanshi was able to bribe people, and Zhao Xing was really curious about the method he used.
You know, Liu Sanshi is only responsible for the intelligence work in the imperial city.
Han Zhang's long entourage only followed Han Zhang at the Zhizheng Hall and served him everywhere.
"Your Majesty, it's like this..." Liu Sanshi explained the matter simply.
(End of chapter)