The Great Court Meeting is one of the most important ceremonies in the country, but the highlight lies in the New Year's Day. At that time, people from all over the world come to congratulate each other, come to pay homage from all directions, and Chinese and foreign Xianji, Hu and Han stand side by side. This is to demonstrate the power of the empire and intimidate all nations.
It seems that there is no important agenda for the great court meeting in June. The monarch and his ministers complete the entire process of the great court meeting according to etiquette, and there is nothing interesting to say...
After the Great Court Meeting, the emperor held a meeting in the inner court. This was the top priority.
Today the sky is gloomy and dark clouds are gathering. The doors and windows in the side hall are open. A strong wind blows the fragrance of the lush flowers and trees in the yard into the hall, making it clear and refreshing.
After a while, fine rain fell from the sky, moistening everything.
In the side hall, there are Shangshu Zuopushe, Prince Shaoshi Li Ji, Shangshu Youpushe, Prince Shaobao Fangjun, Zhongshu Ling, Prince Shaofu Liu Jie, Shizhong, Jingzhao Yin Mazhou, Hejian County Prince and officials. Li Xiaogong, the Minister of the Ministry of War, Cui Dunli, the Minister of the Ministry of War, Tang Jian, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Zhang Liang, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, Liu Xiangdao, the Yushi Zhongcheng... all the important officials in the court gathered together.
It was already noon. Li Chengqian sympathized with the ministers and asked the chamberlain to prepare cakes and tea. He also asked the imperial kitchen to prepare a banquet. After the meeting, the emperor and his ministers dined together and drank and celebrated.
Fang Jun's eyes passed over everyone's faces, and he didn't care about the previous meeting procedures and polite greetings. He went straight to the point: "Your Majesty, the preparations for the establishment of additional institutions within the Ministry of War have been completed. Please appoint suitable personnel to take up the posts. Discuss the charter of military reform as soon as possible, and draft laws and regulations, and then circulate them to the entire military to implement the reform. ”
Chinese culture is about moderation and implicitness. Everything must have a tactful and smooth process. For example, most of the time, topics in meetings will be naturally mentioned by a certain person and following a certain topic, and everyone will then express their opinions. .
It can be said that there are very few who are as straightforward and straight to the point as Fang Jun.
Liu Ji felt that Fang Jun didn't understand the art of being an official, so he said: "The reform of the military system is of great importance, and we must be cautious. The candidates who formulate charters, regulations, and regulations must be carefully selected, and nepotism must not be used."
The selection of candidates must be discussed by everyone. While focusing on ability, we must also consider all parties. No one can make a decision with just one word...
Fang Junqi said: "The reform of the military system is a matter within the military. What does it have to do with the Zhongshu Order? I am ignorant, but I don't know when the Zhongshu Order will also be in charge of military affairs? Did you give yourself additional authority? ”
Liu Jie said calmly: "The army of the Sixteenth Guards is stationed in various places, and the Six Hundred and Thirty-three Chongfu is all over the country. They all need the local government to provide logistics. How can you say it is none of my business? The military and government are the same family, and they have been in the same family since ancient times. Unable to distinguish clearly.”
Fang Jun nodded, as if he didn't want to argue with Liu Jie, but he reminded him: "The number of Zhechong mansions in the country is currently 617. While Zhongshu Ling is messing around, he should also do his homework, so as not to It’s so generous.”
Liu Ji didn't take it seriously: "I will pay attention to it."
The Zhechong Mansion was the grassroots military government of the Sui and Tang Dynasty's "Mansion Army System". It was distributed in various places. It was discarded at any time, increased or decreased, and the number changed very frequently. As a Zhongshuling, he could not tell the exact number of Zhechong Mansion, which would not be considered a dereliction of duty.
Even within the Ministry of War, if they are not directly in charge of officials, they may not be able to figure it out...
All he had to do was talk about the topic. Civil servants could not be excluded from this additional agency established by the Ministry of War. That was enough.
Li Chengqian felt that Liu Ji's eyes were looking towards him, so he coughed dryly and said: "What Zhongshu Ling said makes sense. The original intention of the military reform is to prevent the military from getting too involved with the local government. Both sides need to participate and brainstorm. ”
Everyone's eyes moved slightly, and they were all surprised. His Majesty actually helped Liu Jie to refute Fang Jun?
This is a huge event...
Fang Jun's face remained as usual and his expression remained calm: "What your Majesty said is true."
Everyone was shocked again. As a die-hard supporter of His Majesty, Fang Jun actually accepted it so calmly when faced with His Majesty's "transfer of love."
What happened?
The officials in the palace were astonished, and only a few people knew what was going on.
Li Chengqian glanced at Fang Jun and said, "If the Duke of Yue has a suitable candidate, you might as well put it forward, and all my dear friends will discuss it together."
Fang Jun did not hesitate, nodded and said: "Liu Rengui, the left minister of the Ministry of War, although he came from a famous family, but was poor at a young age, he has always been eager to learn, well-read and knowledgeable. Since he served as the Navy, he has both civil and military skills and military exploits. Outstanding, capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of reforming the military system.”
Li Chengqian looked around: "Do you have any objections, dear friends?"
Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.
The meaning of His Majesty's words is very clear. He supports Liu Rengui. Otherwise, he should say "whether this person is qualified for the job" instead of "who has any objections"...
Obviously, the candidate Liu Rengui has been approved by His Majesty. Even if others are coveting the position of military system reform, they cannot compete with Liu Rengui.
Li Chengqian said: "Everyone also recommended talents and pooled their wisdom."
Zhang Liang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice, who had just returned to the court and had not yet taken up the post of General Youjinwuwei, said: "Zheng Rentai, Duke of Tong'an County and General Youlingjunwei, has profound qualifications and outstanding achievements. He assisted Taizong in the past and made great contributions to the world! I think I can do it.”
Everyone nodded in approval.
Zheng Rentai seems to have been very low-key in the Zhenguan Dynasty. He was neither important to Emperor Taizong nor had much sense of existence. However, during the "Xuanwumen Incident", he led the army to guard the palace, placed Gaozu under house arrest, and even caused Emperor Taizong to leave the palace. Successfully eliminated Jiancheng, Yuanji and their gang members, and made great contributions.
Today, Zhenguan's honorable ministers are gradually withering away, and Zheng Rentai, who was silent in the past, naturally stands out...
Seeing that others did not object, Li Chengqian nodded and said: "Good!"
This candidate is easy to pass. On the surface, Zheng Rentai is now working closely with Fang Jun. Fang Jun and his colleagues will naturally not object. Secretly, they have already turned to him, and the civil servants Liu Ji and others who handle him will not object...
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"Wei ministers recommend Pei Huaijie, the former governor of Henan! Pei Huaijie has been in Henan for more than ten years, appeasing the people and guarding one side, making Henan's political situation stable and prosperous. He is very proficient in civil affairs and can better coordinate the military and political parties. ”
The person who spoke was naturally Zhongshu Ling Liu Ji.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, the minister and Jingzhao Yin Mazhou shook his head and objected: "Absolutely not! Pei Huaijie has been in Henan for many years and allowed the aristocratic families to annex land and hide people to evade taxes. Before the Jin Dynasty mutiny, the Henan aristocratic family strongly supported Pei Huaijie. How can such a biased and ignorant person participate in such a major event by sitting back and letting things go? ”
For a moment, needle drops could be heard in the side hall.
Henan Prefecture Yin is a second-grade high-ranking official on the same level as Shangshu Zuopushe and Daduhu. In terms of rank alone, he is an undisputed high-ranking official in the empire, especially above officials such as Zhongshu Ling, Shizhong, and Liubu Shangshu.
Such a high-ranking official returned to Beijing to report on his duties and was accused of low-level crimes. This was an extremely important political event and even meant a violent turmoil in the officialdom, because there must be huge interest groups behind it.
But who is Ma Zhou?
Emperor Taizong's favorite minister, together with Fang Jun, supported Li Chengqian, who was the crown prince at that time. He was also a pure man and diligent in government affairs. It is not an exaggeration to say that "Jane is in the emperor's heart".
If such a person openly fires at Pei Huaijie, wouldn't he be determined to die?
Li Chengqian really had a headache, so he raised his hand and pinched his eyebrows.
Liu Ji retorted: "There are indeed some rumors in the court involving Pei Huaijie, but everything Ma Shizhong said is without evidence and is tantamount to groundless rumors. Is it inappropriate to slander an important minister of the court like this?"
Then, without waiting for Ma Zhou to speak, he looked at Liu Xiang and said, "The imperial censor Zhongcheng returned from Luoyang and interrogated the officials of the Henan government during his stay in Luoyang. Do you dare to ask Pei Huaijie whether he was involved in what Ma Shizhong said?"
Liu Xiangdao glanced at His Majesty on the throne and shook his head slowly: "No evidence of Pei Huaijie's violation of law and discipline was found."
The interrogation in the Henan Mansion was actually just a show, and all the records afterwards were burned. Otherwise, if the investigation was carried out, not only would it be difficult for all the Henan aristocratic families to be cleared, but all the officials in the Henan Mansion would be imprisoned, including Pei Huaijie.
So no matter what Pei Huaijie did in Henan, he could only turn a blind eye for the sake of the overall situation.
Liu Ji nodded and asked Ma Zhou: "What else does Ma Shizhong have to say?"
Of course, Ma Zhou knew that Pei Huaijie could not move, and the reason why he mentioned it on this occasion was just because he was dissatisfied that these so-called considerations of the overall situation were actually just a fool. After hearing this, he simply closed his eyes and said nothing.
A proud look of "disdain" to be associated with you...
Liu Ji almost laughed angrily, okay, you are noble...
Li Chengqian looked at Li Ji: "Do you think Pei Huaijie is qualified for the job?"
Li Jidao: "As Zhongshu Ling said, the reform of the military system may seem to be a matter of the military itself, but in fact it involves a wide range of things and has far-reaching connections. Having an important minister who is proficient in government affairs and is pastoral in one's position can indeed give more meaningful opinions. , Wei Chen agrees.”
Li Chengqian was in a very good mood. With Zheng Rentai and Pei Huaijie involved, whether it was this so-called additional institution or the Privy Council that was likely to be established in the future, at least it would not be out of his control.
"Ai Qing is the head of the prime ministers and assistants. With you in charge, and with these worthy men and women working diligently on the king's affairs, I will wait for the day when the great success is accomplished, and the whole world will celebrate."
Although Li Ji didn't take care of things much and wouldn't collide with Fang Jun, as long as he was sitting there, Fang Jun wouldn't dare to act unscrupulously.
Especially when the Privy Council is established in the future, Li Ji will also be bound to serve as the Privy Council...
Li Jidao: "Wei ministers have their own affairs! However, the reform of the military system is a big matter and involves too many aspects. Wei ministers also want to recommend Cui Dunli to Your Majesty. He is the Minister of the Ministry of War and is familiar with military affairs. With his participation, we will get twice the result with half the effort." . "Li Chengqian was a little speechless. His favorable impression of Li Ji had dropped a lot just now. His motivation for recommending Cui Dunli was very clear: If he didn't want to work, he would naturally have to find someone who could do it...