Cai Jing came to Zhizhengtang in the afternoon, because he was a little sick today and was unwell. This excuse was a bit unreasonable for ordinary officials, but no one dared to say that it was inappropriate for an old prime minister who was already 76 years old.

Currently, the Zhizheng Hall is composed of four prime ministers, Wang Fu and Cai Jing serve as the left and right prime ministers. The remaining two deputy prime ministers are Zhang Bangchang and Li Bangyan. Wang Fu controls Zhang Bangchang and Li Bangyan is loyal to Cai Jing. This has long been an open secret in the court. Wang Fu wins Tong Guan and Li Yan as internal aid, Cai Jing is close to Liang Shicheng, and Tan Zhen is also a well-known secret in the court.

However, with Tong Guan being demoted, Li Yan was not allowed to use it. Starting this year, Wang Fu's arrogance was no longer as arrogant as in previous years. He did not dare to make decisions without authorization. He had to go to the emperor for a joint trial of the Zhizheng Hall.

Li Yanqing's report was sent to the Ministry of War last night, and the Ministry of War presented it to Zhizheng Hall overnight. It was originally a joint trial this morning and then Wang Fu presented it to the emperor. However, because Cai Jing was sick, the report had to be submitted to the afternoon for review.

"Is Xianggong Cai more in good health?" Zhang Bangchang greeted Cai Jing flatteringly at the gate.

Cai Jing snorted coldly in his heart. This bastard who betrayed him actually had the face to say hello to him? Cai Jing still smiled on the surface: "I'm old, I can't do anything. Bangchang, there should be nothing wrong today!"

"There is an emergency report today, and it will be submitted to the emperor immediately after the court."

"What emergency report?" Cai Jing stopped and asked pretending to be confused.

"It was the riot that quelled the Qiang Rebellion in Qingzhou. It was sent to the Ministry of War last evening. I originally planned to pass the court early this morning, but Cai Xiang happened to be away and had to wait for the afternoon."

"ah!"

Cai Jing was shocked, his eyes suddenly widened, and his tone became very strict, "Why don't you report such an important matter to the official first, how did you arrange it?"

Zhang Bangchang felt as disgusting as if he had eaten a fly. He could not report any government affairs without authorization. He must know that the rules for the presidency of the government were decided by the prime minister in front of him? At this moment, he was more fierce than anyone else.

There was no choice but Zhang Bangchang had to lower his head and whisper: "But the report in the hall may not be in line with the rules set by Zhizheng Hall at the beginning of the year."

Cai Jing then seemed to react and patted his forehead, "If you don't say it, I almost forgot it. It's this rule, hey! People's memory has decreased when they get older, but I still criticize you. Things can be adapted! There are only four prime ministers in total, which really doesn't work. Come to my mansion to communicate. I have no objection, so you hand it over. Am I so stubborn and must participate in the discussion of Zhizhengtang Businessmen?"

Zhang Bangchang was really distressed in his heart. He didn't dare to argue anymore, so he could only be timid. Cai Jing snorted, "Things are so urgent, so let's get through as soon as possible!"

Wang Fu finally got the reports signed by four prime ministers and rushed to the palace, but less than a quarter of an hour, Wang Fu came back with a pale face. Just now he got the news that Taiwei Gao of the Privy Council had already sent the report to the palace early in the morning.

It was not until this time that Wang Fu realized that he had been sold by Cai Jing. Although the Morning News and the Evening News did not harm his interests, Cai Jing obviously stole himself and gave him the opportunity.

"Why is Wang Xianggong back?"

Wang Fu threw the report on the table and cursed, "Old bastard!"

Wang Fu was so angry that he cursed. Zhang Bangchang was startled and asked quickly: "What happened?"

Wang Fu sat down angrily and said for a while: "The Privy Council has sent the report to the palace early in the morning."

Zhang Bangchang's face suddenly became ugly. Of course, he knew that the Privy Council could not bypass Zhizhengtang and sent the memorials into the palace without authorization. However, since Gao Qiu made a bad opening in the last Yang Lin incident, the official family actually acquiesced to this open violation of regulations, which made Zhizhengtang extremely dissatisfied.

Fortunately, Gao Qiu usually does not care about the affairs of the Privy Council, and Gao Shen is responsible for it, but Gao Shen does a very regular job and never surpasses Zhizheng Hall. Everyone is peaceful. Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, Gao Qiu goes beyond the rules again, which really makes Zhang Bangchang feel deeply depressed.

However, Zhang Bangchang also seemed to feel that Wang Fu was angry not targeting Gao Qiu, but others. Who is this "old bastard" referring to?

Wang Fu glared at Zhang Bangchang fiercely, "Don't you understand yet? Why didn't we send a report in the morning?"

Zhang Bangchang immediately understood that Cai Jing took sick leave in the morning and delayed Zhizhengtang.

"King Wang, are they already?"

"Who knows? Humph! This old guy is vicious!"

"He wins over Gao Qiu, how should we deal with it?" Zhang Bangchang asked carefully.

Wang Fu sneered, "To be honest, I still want to win over Gao Qiu!"

"What do you say about this?"

"Tong Guan has always been neither yin nor yang to us. He just looks down on me, Wang Fu, and I think I have little experience. Now Cai Jing has been trying to win over Gao Qiu. Do I think he is anxious?"

Zhang Bangchang was stunned for a moment. It turned out that Wang Fu had already figured it out. He secretly admired Wang Fu's high opinion in his heart.

At this time, he pointed to the report on the table again, "What... what should I do with this report?"

"What should I do? I originally wanted to pay a happy greeting to the official family, but the Privy Council took the lead. I was too lazy to send this report. Mr. Zhang, please ask you to come!"

Zhang Bangchang was a little embarrassed. Isn’t this putting himself on the fire? He didn’t go to the left and right, but asked himself to report. The official still thought he didn’t understand the rules.

"Why would you mention this matter at the court meeting the day after tomorrow?"

Wang Fu was actually just holding his breath in his heart. Of course, he knew that this kind of thing could not be delayed until the court meeting, so he stood up and said, "Forget it, I'd better go by myself!"

At this moment, an eunuch ran from outside, "Mr. Wang, the official family summoned you and Mr. Cai to the imperial study room immediately!"

When Cai Jing and Wang Fu came to the imperial study room, Zhao Ji was still reading the report written by Li Yanqing, and saw the prince standing aside with his hands hanging down, with no expression on his face.

Cai Jing knew that since this year, the officials rarely came to the imperial study room unless there was a major event. Obviously, the officials attach great importance to the suppression of the Xiang Rebellion of the Black Party, and the prince was summoned, so the meaning here is self-evident.

"As old minister, please see your Majesty!"

"I'm going to see your Majesty!"

The two bowed and bowed at the same time, and Zhao Ji smiled and said, "The two husbands are here, please sit down!"

Some eunuchs brought in two soft chairs, but they didn't have the position of the prince. Of course, there was nothing wrong with the prince standing, but the two prime ministers were a little uneasy when they sat.

But Cai Jing was still much more experienced. Although he was standing outside, he walked around first and sat on the chair inside. The chair leaning against the prince outside could only sit in a grievance.

Wang Fu hesitated for a moment, but Cai Jing took the lead. He had no choice but to sit down. But as soon as he sat down, he felt the pressure of the prince standing beside him. Wang Fu couldn't help but scold Cai Jing for being cunning.

Zhao Ji was not about the subtle differences in their seats. He raised the report in his hand, "This is an urgent report sent by the Privy Council early in the morning. Zhizhengtang should have one!"

Wang Fu quickly submitted the report in his hand, "The Zhizheng Hall has finished its review, and we are also preparing to submit it to Your Majesty!"

Zhao Ji said lightly: "It seems that Zhengzhengtang doesn't care much about this matter, so he just gave it to me now."

Wang Fu glanced at Cai Jing and saw that he was half-squinting his eyes and said nothing. He couldn't help but feel very hatred. He could only whisper: "I was going to send it to His Majesty after deliberation in the morning, but Cai Xiang was sick in the morning, so it was half a day late."

Cai Jing smiled faintly and said lightly, "Prince Wang, deliberation and timely reporting of military information are two different things. To be honest, even if the deliberation is pushed to the day after tomorrow, it should be the first time to report military information to Your Majesty. After all, it is because Wang Gong does not pay much attention to this matter, what does it have to do with me?"

"King Cai, you can't say that, when the rules were set at the beginning of the year"

Wang Fu wanted to argue again, but Zhao Ji didn't give him a chance. Zhao Ji waved his hand impatiently, "Don't argue about this matter anymore, tell me the report!"

Wang Fu had to hold his hatred back into his chest and said for a while: "We have also studied this report carefully. It always has a good ending and can solve the problem through negotiation. This is in line with the court's consistent position of "suppressing people with virtue and resting chaos with harmony". However, Li Tongzhi's handling methods are some of which Wei Chen personally thinks are worth discussing."

"It seems that Zhizhengtang has not reached a unified end?"

"It's a bit of a difference, but considering that this is an important military situation, we think we're going to be a part of the matter first and put the difference aside."

"Then let's talk about it! What are the wrong things in Li Tongzhi?" Zhao Ji put the report aside and asked without saying a word.

"Weichen mainly thinks there are three inappropriate things!"

Wang Fu glanced at Cai Jing from the corner of his eyes. Seeing that he was still half-squinting, Wang Fu thought about it and continued: "First, the killing was too cruel. The black party Xiang was originally a small clan, but he massacred more than 10,000 young and strong people, which was too cruel. Although the black party Xiang also killed many Han people, since the other party had surrendered, he should be forgiven and convinced others with kindness. I think Li Yanqing's approach is inappropriate, and he should even be severely denounced!"

Zhao Huan next to him was about to speak, but he found a hint of undetectable coldness flashing through Cai Jing's half-closed eyes. He immediately swallowed the words he had spoken.

"What then?" Zhao Ji asked lightly again.

"The second inappropriate thing is that he is too cruel to exploit the black party Xiang. His redemption and compensation almost took away most of the century-old black party Xiang's foundation. More importantly, he did not report to the court in advance and negotiated with the black party Xiang without authorization. The ministers felt that this was an act of ignoring the court. The court could not accept it passively, and must make a statement."

"What's the third point?" Zhao Ji asked silently.

"The third point is that in the handling of Lin De, the governor of Gyeongju, Weichen felt that Li Tongzhi was completely covering up Lin De. The black party Xiang rebelled and rebelled, and Lin De had an unshirkable responsibility, but Li Tongzhi clearly excused Lin De in the report. Weichen did not understand why this was?"

Wang Fu's first two points made Zhao Huan's heart agitated. He also felt that Li Yanqing had done a bit too much, but as soon as Wang Fu's third point came out, Zhao Huan immediately felt relieved. Wang Fu's third point was obviously Xiang Zhuang's sword dance, aiming at Pei Gong, and he was targeting Cai Jing next to him!

Since you are determined to cause trouble for Li Yanqing, you should not cause trouble and push Cai Jing to Li Yanqing by adding strong enemies. This is an extremely unwise move. With Wang Fu's status and official experience, Zhao Huan also believes that Wang Fu would never make such a stupid mistake. But Wang Fu still took this step, which is not a stupid problem, but he has been blinded by selfishness.
Chapter completed!