Chapter 4980 Pingzhang State Affairs
Li Chengqian drank tea slowly, his eyes slightly gloomy, but his expression was calm and showed no emotion or anger.
During the quarrel, Liu Ji and Ma Zhou looked at each other, lowered their voices and gave up the argument.
For some reason, the sight of His Majesty in front of me makes people suddenly feel strange, as if the young king with a weak heart and no tenacity in the past suddenly turned into a wise king with forbearance, gloominess and ruthless methods...
In his indifference, he has his own majesty.
Li Chengqian put down his tea cup, looked at the two heads of civil servants in front of him, chuckled, and said, "Why don't we stop arguing?"
Ma Zhou said: "The humble minister is reckless and dishonest before the emperor. Please punish him."
Liu Jie also said: "Your Majesty is the supreme king in the world, and he is arbitrary in his principles. I will respectfully listen to the holy precepts and no one dares to disobey."
"Haha, I am an emperor with a lot of misfortune. When I was the prince, I was terrified day and night, fearing that my life would be precarious. After I ascended the throne, I was not respected by the people in the world. Mutinies and rebellions happened one after another. Fortunately, my ancestors protected me and I saved my life. Where? How can I be called the supreme person in the world? I’m afraid everyone in the government and the public are talking about my stupidity and mediocrity behind my back.”
After hearing this, Liu Jie and Ma Zhou couldn't sit still. They stood up one after another, bowed and saluted, and said in panic: "Your Majesty is gifted and kind, and you are indeed a benevolent king rarely seen throughout the ages. It is the luck of the Tang Dynasty, the luck of the officials, and the luck of the common people! ”
"Your Majesty should not belittle yourself because of the rampant rebellion. The Tang Dynasty is rapidly changing, its national power is at its peak, and it has created unprecedented prosperity and beautiful mountains and rivers. It is all due to your Majesty!"
"Okay, I'm not a child, why do I need Aiqing to comfort me like this?"
Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand. He did not comment on the praise of the two people. He invited them to take a seat and asked: "As the two dear friends said, the army can go to war without orders, and there will be endless troubles. But the Tang Dynasty has a vast territory and an army." Millions, it is impossible to report and ask for imperial edicts in advance for every battle... Is there a compromise between the two? "
Liu Ji and Ma Zhou fell into deep thought.
This is a paradox. If you want to ensure the military's combat effectiveness and respond quickly to critical situations without delaying the opportunity to fight, it is necessary to give the army the power to make emergency decisions. On the contrary, this power to make emergency decisions will damage the central authority and affect the monarch's power. There is damage that shakes the foundation. There are two sides of the same body, focusing on one and losing the other. How can there be a compromise?
The reason for such a dilemma is that the system is not perfect and the situation is too complicated. The king's prestige is not enough to command the entire army and subdue the world.
During the Zhenguan period, although the Tang Dynasty did not have the vast territory it currently has, it also had a large number of armies. They fought in all directions and were at war. Did any army dare to go to war without obeying Taizong's orders?
Even those Hu tribes who are attached are loyal and follow the rules...
Li Chengqian also seemed to realize that this was an inextricable knot, so he did not dwell on it, but changed the topic: "Now the empire's territory is extremely vast, and domestic development is changing with each passing day. This is an increasingly severe test for the political hall. Dear friends, Qing eats late at night and sleeps up late at night. While worrying about your health, you must also cheer up and make sure you don't make any mistakes. ”
After a pause, his eyes swept over the faces of the two people, and continued: "It is not easy for the empire to be what it is today. It is due to the tens of thousands of people in the country working side by side and working together. If it is due to the mistakes of a certain prime minister, Although I cannot bear to be harshly criticized for causing serious losses, the laws of the country are not merciful.”
"Uh..."
Liu Ji and Ma Zhou were confused and didn't know how to reply.
There was a moment of silence in the royal study room. Later, Liu Jie asked tentatively: "We are not saints, how can we make no mistakes? No matter how cautious we are, we may not be able to avoid making mistakes. But we are deeply favored by the emperor. They also enjoy the support of the country and should perform their duties. If they have merit, they will be rewarded, and if they make mistakes, they should be punished. ”
Is Your Majesty dissatisfied with the Prime Minister or the Councilor in the Political Affairs Hall?
Unexpectedly, Li Chengqian shook his head and said: "It is natural to reward merits and punish demerits, but we should try our best to avoid making mistakes. If a person makes a mistake, he can be punished, but the mistake he made has caused huge irreparable losses. This is not right A good policy for governing the country.”
Liu Ji looked at Ma Zhou thoughtfully and saw that this man was just drinking tea with his eyebrows lowered and he said helplessly: "Perhaps we can increase the number of people in the political hall who are involved in political affairs, so that everyone can perform their duties and work on their own affairs as much as possible." , Taiwei has a good saying, 'Leave professional things to professional people.' In this way, mistakes can be minimized. ”
As expected, Li Chengqian's eyes lit up and he praised: "Zhongshu Ling is indeed mature enough to plan for the country!"
Seeing that His Majesty really had such thoughts, Liu Jie immediately complained incessantly. However, facing His Majesty's expectant gaze, he could not pretend not to understand, nor could he politely refuse. He could only swallow his bitterness and said: "Nowadays, the territory of the empire is getting wider and wider, and the wealth, labor, and labor are getting bigger and bigger." more and more , it is necessary to not only open up the people's wisdom, but also develop and construct. The talents of ministers are limited and it is difficult to take care of everything. It is better to increase the number of people to participate in Henan's political affairs and expand the scale of the political hall. After all, if one person is short-term and many people are long-term, they will be able to take care of everything. .”
The Political Affairs Hall was the decision-making center of the Tang Dynasty. Government affairs across the country were discussed and discussed by the ministers here to assist His Majesty in making decisions. It could be said to hold the highest power in the empire.
How can a great man lose his power even if he is established in this world? Once there are more people involved in Henan political affairs in the political hall, power will inevitably be dispersed. Which prime minister can have such high integrity? No matter what, I will blame the person who came up with this idea.
This is a big scapegoat...
He glanced at Ma Zhou, who was as quiet as a cat and said nothing. While he was angry in his heart, he also envied Ma Zhou's temperament and style. For example, His Majesty would only ask him about this kind of thing and would not tell him, but he would never do it. Go and force Ma Zhou to say it.
Because as long as Ma Zhou doesn’t want to say anything, it’s useless for anyone to force him...
However, although he had already thought very evil of Li Chengqian, who would have expected that Li Chengqian was even more evil than he thought.
"Participating in Henan political affairs is just a title. Although you can enter the political hall and make suggestions on certain government affairs, you do not have the right to make decisions after all. No matter how many people there are, it will not be enough to change the current predicament."
As soon as he said this, Ma Zhou raised his eyes and looked at Li Chengqian in surprise, and Liu Ji broke into a cold sweat.
What does this mean?
The qualifications to participate in Henan's political affairs are not enough to change the current predicament, so what is the point of increasing the power to participate in Henan's political affairs?
Increasing the number of people participating in Henan's political affairs will make the prime ministers and ministers complain. If the power of participating in Henan's political affairs is further increased, wouldn't it mean that power is decentralized from the hands of the prime ministers and ministers?
Then shouldn't he, the "initiator", be hated by the prime ministers and ministers?
Besides, he is the head of the civil service and nominally the first among the prime ministers and assistants. Could it be that he "offers advice" and divides his own power?
Shooting yourself in the foot!
Li Chengqian smiled brightly and seemed a little excited: "I agree with Aiqing's idea very much, haha, Aiqing is not only resourceful, but also my humerus, and actually the stronghold of the country!"
Liu Jie didn't know what to say. He was dumb and said, "Your Majesty is so complimentary that I cannot bear it."
Was that what I thought?
It's your idea, Your Majesty!
Li Chengqian pondered for a while and said: "Since I have the same idea as the two beloved ministers, how about adding Liu Xiangdao, Dai Zhou, Tang Jian, and Pei Huaijie to the political affairs hall? It's just that these four people are all important ministers of the country, and their status and qualifications are , His achievements are even more extraordinary. A mere title of participating in Henan political affairs seems a bit careless and careless.”
Then, without waiting for Liu Ji and Ma Zhou to express their objections, he continued: "I still remember that in the fourth year of Zhenguan, Dai Zhou used the Ministry of Civil Affairs' Minister Tong Pingzhang's national plan. In the eighth year of Zhenguan, Shangshu Zuopu shot Wei Guogong and said harshly Emperor Taizong ordered him to recover slightly from his illness. On the third day of the second day, the government affairs under Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhang... are all in the position of non-prime minister and assistant, and they exercise the power of prime minister and assistant. It is better to give Liu, Dai, Tang, and Pei the "Pingzhang Affairs under Tongzhongshu Menxia". How about participating in Henan political affairs? ”
Liu Ji felt a buzzing in his head. He glanced at Ma Zhou and saw the shock in his eyes. Then they stood up together, bowed and saluted, and said with fear and fear: "Your Majesty, think twice!"
Is Your Majesty going to overturn the table? !
"Tong" means identical, "Zhongshu" and "Menxia" are two of the three provinces, "Pingzhang" means evaluation, identification and decision-making, and "Shi" means temporary dispatch. Such a title seems to have the same power as Prime Minister, but in fact it is just a temporary assignment. He can be appointed, dismissed or retained at the discretion of His Majesty. It can extremely effectively control the political hall and firmly grasp the central power.
But even if it is just a temporary assignment, it still has the same power as a prime minister!
Wouldn't it be that there were four more prime ministers and assistants for nothing?
Today there are four, but tomorrow there will be six or even eight?
If it only stops here, then that's it. Your Majesty is the most powerful person in the world and has such power. None of the ministers and assistants in the political hall dare to disobey.
But the most important thing is not just this!
"Everything is settled under the same banner as Zhongshu." The prime ministers and assistants of the Tang Dynasty were not only Zhongshu Ling, the chief official of the Zhongshu Province, and Shizhong, the chief official of the Menxia Province, but also the left and right servants of the Shangshu Province!
Due to historical reasons, there is no Shangshu Order in the Shangshu Province. Zuo Pushe is the actual chief official of the Shangshu Province. Who is the Shangshu Zuo Pushe now?
Except for a few people who enjoy the title and treatment of servants, there are two people who are worthy of their official positions.
Minister Zuo Pushe, British Duke Li Ji!
Shangshu's right servant shoots, Taiwei and Yue Guogong Fangjun!
What about "Tongzhongshu's disciples" and "Shangshu province"?
Do you want to expel the chief official of Shangshu Province from the rank of prime minister? !
Those are Li Ji and Fang Jun!
Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows and said solemnly: "Do you think it's inappropriate, do you two dear friends?"
Liu Ji and Ma Yiyi were speechless for a while.
Not only is it inappropriate, it is deeply inappropriate!
Even though the army has repeatedly provoked the monarchy, and is even in danger of escaping from the control of the monarchy, which is very likely to cause huge hidden dangers, this matter can only be dealt with gradually, how can it confront the military head-on, and expel the two giants of the military in one fell swoop? List? !
Your Majesty, do you think the military are just docile cats and dogs that can be suppressed at will? Or maybe you have become accustomed to the frequent mutinies that have occurred since you came to the throne, and you don't care if those two people try to mutiny you again?
But these two are neither Changsun Wuji nor the King of Jin!