Chapter 185 Three Gongs
When Chen Gui, the prime minister of Jibei Province, sent his final apology form and the anti-traitor policy jointly signed by the county and government offices directly to Kyoto along the Jishui River, a huge turmoil arose in both the government and the public.
No one expected that such ferocious bandits would gather quietly within the empire. So far, three of the two thousand stone officials have died, and you must know that the empire only has a total of 106 counties.
At first, Zhang Rang and others regarded this group of thieves as scabies and thought that they could be wiped out by the joint force of the prefects from several counties near Mount Tai. But now, it seems that the Taishan thieves can no longer be regarded as ordinary thieves.
To be honest, this is not Zhang Rang's fault, because there are many ministers who think like Zhang Rang. In this dynasty, civil strife and thieves have not happened once or twice. There are also some bandits, pirates, and barbarians who have caused trouble in several counties. However, as long as the imperial court sends a person who can serve as a prefect, they can be easily wiped out.
It just doesn't work now. If the old methods don’t work, then we need to discuss new methods. Therefore, Liu Hong called several important officials into the palace to discuss strategies to suppress the bandits.
This kind of large-scale suspicion was basically discussed with Sangong and Shangshuling. So after Xiaohuangmen passed the decree, Taiwei Yang Ci, Sikong Zhang Ji, Situ Yuan Wei and Shangshuling Cao Ding entered the palace.
The reason why Sangong was called was not because they had any power, but simply because major military and state affairs required consensus with leaders like Sangong, and the one who really issued the decree was Shangshu Ling.
In fact, the three princes of this dynasty only had the power to discuss affairs. Compared with the prime ministers of the previous Han Dynasty, they were as big as heaven and earth. The prime minister of the former Han Dynasty was truly the head of the foreign dynasty, with one person less than ten thousand people. However, it was precisely because of his great power that the dictatorship of Huo Guang during the Zhao Emperor and Wang Feng during the Cheng Emperor finally evolved into a usurper like Wang Mang. Minister of the Han Dynasty.
Therefore, after Guangwu conquered the world, he was angry at the loss of power for several generations, and was angry at the stealing of the lives of powerful ministers. Although he appointed the three princes, he was not responsible for the administration. The affairs were returned to the Taige, and the duties of the three princes were just to prepare personnel.
In fact, the weakness of the three princes can also be seen from the background of the three princes who entered the palace. The three officers above, Taiwei Yang Ci, Sikong Zhang Ji, and Situ Yuan Wei, were all Confucian scholars, and the prime ministers of the former Han Dynasty were all descendants of meritorious princes before Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The former is nothing more than a piece of paper that can be retreated, while the latter can check and balance the emperor.
But there is a saying that preventing the emergence of powerful ministers like Wang Mang was indeed the initial reason for the separation of the three princes, but it was not the reason why it could be maintained for more than a hundred years.
People often say that we should learn from history, as if people can really change from history.
But in fact, only those like Guangwu and Emperor Ming could appreciate the role of learning from history. Later emperors could only learn about it indirectly through books and oral memories, and often did not take it seriously.
For example, Guangwu also opposed the exclusive power of his relatives and felt that the starting point for Wang Mang to succeed the Han Dynasty was that Wang Feng had the exclusive power of his relatives. But in reality? Emperor Ming could also be wary of his uncle's family and prevent him from taking the position of cardinal. When Emperor Zhang arrived, even though some ministers used the lessons of the Tian family to usurp the Qi Dynasty, the six ministers to divide the Jin, and Wang Mang to usurp the Han Dynasty to warn his relatives, the emperor still favored his relatives Dou Xian and allowed him to take charge of secrets, which also opened the door to the exclusive power of relatives in this dynasty. wind.
Therefore, if people can really learn lessons from history, it will not turn history into a cycle.
The reason behind this is that it is more reasonable for three people to do things than one person. In the past, the prime minister had many affairs and no responsibilities. But now one of the three men oversees some things, and there is a division of labor and responsibilities.
For example, Taiwei Yang Ci, who was the first to enter the palace, was in charge of military affairs in all directions, and then rewarded and punished him based on assessments every year. The four-party military affairs here mainly focus on the inspection and supervision of border county chiefs. In addition to supervising the two thousand stones of the border county, the Taiwei also supervised the work of Taichang Qing, Guanglu Qing and Wei Weiqing.
But the above are actually all false. The most valued thing among the three princes is that they can recruit subordinates. This is the power that can make people become officials and go further. Often, just one three princes can train more than ten people. A disciple is an old official, so if you want to become a soldier leader, you must have a San Gong in your family, so that you will have enough followers. Therefore, even if the San Gong always has to take the blame for the emperor, even in Liu Hong's generation, when the San Gong Even though we have to spend another sum of money, there are still so many people flocking to it. This is the root behind it.
Yang Ci became a Taiwei in October last year, and this is the fourth time that he has served as Sangong. Before, he served as Sikong and Situ, then he became Situ again, and finally became a Taiwei. Ups and downs.
This time, he took over the class of the former Taiwei Xu Xu, who was also a Confucian scholar, but unlike Yang Ci who opposed the eunuchs, Xu Xu was pro-eunuch. He was dismissed for his mistakes, and the eunuch group lost a city.
As a veteran who has been active since the Liang Ji era, Yang Ci is already old enough. At this moment, he is being helped into the palace tremblingly from the small yellow gate and is panting. But compared with Sikong Zhang Ji beside him, Yang Ci is already Spiritual enough.
Sikong Zhangji was a native of Xiyang, Runan, and also came from a public family. His family was the descendant of Zhang Er, King of Zhao in the early Han Dynasty, and was an established family in the Han Dynasty. Like the former Taiwei Xu Jian, he also flattered the eunuchs. In addition, Yuan Wei, who had been serving as Situ for two years, was also close to the eunuchs. It can be said that the team of the previous Sangong were simply eunuchs. of yes-men.
But with Yang Ci replacing Xu Zhu as the Taiwei in October last year, the power of the eunuchs has weakened. In addition to Yang Ci himself being highly virtuous and highly respected, he is also Liu Hong's imperial disciple and has his own prestige. Another reason is that Sikong Zhang Ji is old and Faint.
For example, Zhang Ji was helped to the mat, his eyes were in a daze, and the drool overflowing from the corner of his mouth showed how old and comatose this person had become.
Although Zhang Ji and Taiwei Yang Ci belong to different camps, the relationship between the two is still very good, so seeing that his old friend has reached this level, Yang Ci is also very sad, so he calls over a small Huangmen attendant to ask him Put his waistcoat on Lao Sikong's shoulders.
When Yang Ci was feeling distressed, Situ Yuan Wei entered the palace. Compared with Zhang Ji and Yang Ci, who were young, Yuan Wei was in good spirits. Since his brother died of illness four years ago, the Yuan family in Runan has only been headed by Yuan Wei. In recent years, with the expansion of the family's power and the influence of nobles and eunuchs, Between them, Yuan Wei's career became smoother and smoother.
The so-called power is a man's second life. With this blessing, Yuan Wei will naturally grow stronger. Accompanying him was Shangshu Ling Cao Ding, who was a member of the Cao Teng clan of the late Zhong Chang Shi, and could be said to be an authentic eunuch.
It can be seen from this that the previous team of Sangong and Shangshu Ling were all members of the eunuch party. From this, we can get a taste of how powerful the eunuchs are. The three princes sat together, and Shangshu Ling sat alone on one side. Not long after the four of them sat down, Liu Hong came.
At this time, Liu Hong's face was already a little pale, and his steps were a little sloppy. The three princes who are currently serving have served the country for several generations. Liu Hong's state is exactly the same as that of the previous short-lived emperors. Involuntarily, everyone showed sadness.
But Liu Hong didn't know what the old men below were thinking, so he asked vigorously and resolutely:
"The ministers have read Chen Qing's letter. How about the letter he wrote to vindicate the thief?"
After all, this matter is related to the military, so Yang Ci was the first to express his opinion:
"This strategy has been used to plan the country. Chen Qing is worthy of being the pillar of our Han Dynasty. Xihu, God will not miss his age and make him die early. This is a loss for the world."
The superior Liu Hong nodded, and then looked at Situ Yuan Wei.
Yuan Wei received the wink and said calmly:
"Chen Qing's plan is good, but it is not practical. It will cost more than hundreds of millions to build the wall connecting road, and to add troops to each wall, the cost is too huge. And this strategy is not surprising. In the previous generation, when the Qiang was suppressed, in order to prevent the Qiang from entering Hebei from Bingzhou, a barrier was built between Changshan and Zhao. But that was against the Qiang, and now this strategy is only used against the bandits who are seeking survival in Taishan. Passed.”
In fact, Yuan Wei's meaning is very simple. It is not that this strategy cannot be used, but once it is used, you don't know how much it will cost. If it is to deal with the Qiang people, the money is spent, but now it is just a thief. Isn't this method just like killing mosquitoes and flies with huge rocks? It's too much to mobilize troops and mobilize people.
After listening to Yuan Wei's words, Liu Hong grinned and was secretly satisfied. The money Yuan Wei mentioned was what he cared about. Although the young man in charge of the money didn't come, he still didn't know how much it would cost according to Chen Gui's strategy. But Liu Hong knew that no matter how little he did, he would still be cut off from him.
But Yuan Wei's words aroused Yang Ci's opposition. He said to Liu Hong:
"Situ's words are actually a big fallacy. The so-called chaos that subverts the country is not external but internal. Since the Qin Dynasty, the world has been unified and has not been overthrown by foreigners. No matter the Xiongnu, Qiang or Xianbei, they are all suffering from ringworm and scabies. On the contrary, the ones who overthrew the country were Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and Red Eyebrow Green Forest. Now, this group of Taishan thieves had the momentum to disturb the world. It can be seen from Chen Gui's confession that this group of thieves are fierce and difficult to fight. After several battles, the effective strength of several nearby counties has been exhausted, and they are no longer able to attack. Therefore, do not wait for the situation to be resolved. A wise man will see it before it is too late."
Although Liu Hong was disgusted with Yang Ci's preaching, he had to admit that what Old Yang Tou said made some sense. During his hesitation, he turned his questioning eyes to Sikong Zhangji in the middle.
But Zhang Ji was still in a daze and did not respond. Instead, Liu Hong said it several times before the old man realized:
"What does the state say?"
"What does Zhang Qing think of this?"
"What happened?"
"Plain the thief."
"What thief?"
Liu Hong sighed and gave a direct order to Cao Ding, the minister next to him:
"Old Sikong is old. Let him go down to recuperate later. Don't let the outside world say that I treated the old minister harshly."
Cao Ding accepted the order and immediately wrote an edict and sealed it with clay.
Seeing that his old friend was still there, Yang Ci sighed secretly, but he also thought that Zhang Ji was too old to be useful. He cared more about state affairs than personal affairs, so he continued to advise:
"Have you forgotten that besides this Taishan thief, there is also a Tao of Peace..."
Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Liu Hong:
"How do you know that Taiping Dao wants to fight evil?"
(End of chapter)