Therefore, Hao Langzhong felt that after he said "yes", he felt that he could not describe his confident mentality at all. In order to avoid the cooked duck flying away, he hurriedly added:
"I don't dare to hide it from your highness. I have a cousin who failed to study. He is working as a businessman and spends a lot of time running around on the grasslands outside the Great Wall. He also knows the details of the Sanli tribe that is entrenched in Wuzuo City. If I were to preside over this matter, I dare to say
In one sentence, without spending the country's gold, silver and silk, the captured soldiers can escape unharmed, and maybe it can fill the national treasury."
When Hao Langzhong said these words, even the extremely frustrated monarch raised his head and glanced in surprise. To be honest, if he could really achieve this step, he would be able to defeat the enemy without fighting.
.
Princess Cui then said:
"If you are really confident that you can accomplish such a big thing, then you can be promoted to the rank of Minister."
Everyone knows that Hao Langzhong is also the backbone of the Queen's Party, and the Queen also intends to promote him, so she immediately promoted him to the position of Minister! Hao Langzhong said proudly:
"Then thank you for your mercy, Your Highness."
Princess Cui looked around at the ministers and said with stern eyes:
"I know you want to say that I favor one over the other. In this way, if anyone can take charge of this matter like Hao Langzhong, without consuming the country's gold, silver, and silk, the captured soldiers can escape unharmed, and maybe it can fill the national treasury.
Then whoever can take this job will be promoted to the next level!"
The ministers looked at each other in shock. Xu Tianguan Xu Shangshu from the Ministry of Personnel suddenly said:
"What if Mr. Hao messes up the matter?"
This Mr. Hao was also a ruthless man. He gritted his teeth and said:
"There is no guarantee of success in this world. When Li Minghua went on the expedition, he vowed that he would open up territory for me in the Eastern Xia Dynasty. As a result, less than 600 people from the 60,000-strong army came back, and the three miles of Wuzuo City were occupied.
The subordinates are even more ruthless, and the lower officials also have to carry their heads to do things."
"but......."
Hao Langzhong deliberately dragged out his words to make a big deal out of it:
"Since Mr. Xu said so, Hao will say that if things go wrong, he will resign and go home. But if I am lucky enough to accomplish something big, I will definitely come to the Ministry of Personnel and become a minister.
"
Hao Langzhong was a doctor in the Ministry of Rites before. Compared with the cold Yamen and the popular places like the Ministry of Personnel, there is a huge difference. In other words, for him to come to the Ministry of Personnel to become a minister is equivalent to having to pay extra.
Promoted to one level. Since Hao Langzhong said this, the other officials also nodded slightly. Nothing in this world is perfect. Since you want others to succeed but not fail, naturally you have to add some chips.
Xu Shangshu, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, is also a veteran. He has always been a neutral figure, but accidentally, he was forced to this extent by Hao Langzhong's use of power. What else could he do? He could only laugh and said:
"In this case, I also hope that the soldiers will return to the country as soon as possible. The officials should leave their positions empty."
What happened next was that the king was sulking and silent, but Queen Cui was there. She had been behind the curtain for five or six years, and she was very familiar with everything.
I also compared the monarch's powerful performance these days after taking charge, and immediately made a comparison in my mind. Naturally, I felt that Princess Cui was more reliable.
After dealing with the consequences of this defeat, Princess Cui then straightened her face and said coldly:
"Clear rewards and punishments are the way to govern a country. The family has family rules and the state has national laws. This time, Wu Zuocheng was conquered. I was opposed to it, but when I saw that the monarch was supportive, I was very enthusiastic, so I kept silent. But now, with an army of 60,000,
The defeat was like this, and only a few hundred people returned. It is because the military department did not support it well. He Shangshu, do you have anything to say?"
This He Shangshu is from the royal party. He was elected only three months ago. However, there was such a big mess in his tenure. Moreover, the royal party did not have any constraints on this matter, so there is no excuse for shirk. Is it possible?
Are you saying that the king is ignorant of things, or that his subordinates are not doing things well? Both of these statements are asking for death. You, the Minister of War, are supposed to support the king and select talented people!
Therefore, He Shangshu could only sigh and said:
"I cannot escape the blame for this defeat."
Princess Cui said calmly:
"When you took office three months ago, you were asked to temporarily hold the title of Shangshu as a minister. In this case, let's go with the title of Shangshu."
He Shangshu was shocked. A few words demoted him from Shangshu to Minister of War. However, he had nothing to say and could only retreat. The pain in his heart was beyond words.
Next, Princess Cui said:
"The main reason for the defeat in this battle was that Li Minghua suddenly fell ill and died in office. However, he was loyal and diligent but lacked talent, so he was not guilty and was buried with his rank as a soldier."
No one will have trouble with a dead person, and everyone will praise him for his kindness.
After punishing several royal gangsters who had waved the flag the most loudly before, Princess Cui looked at the uneasy Zhang Zhenhao and said solemnly:
"What this person has done has violated our Eastern Xia criminal law, so naturally it should be decided by the Minister of Punishment."
Zhang Zhenhao was speechless, but Princess Cui called out the backbone of her subordinates, Li Huai, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, and closed her eyes to rest. Obviously, to deal with such a small character, Princess Cui is still needed.
Will the big BOSS take action?
And Li Huai has been in the Ministry of Criminal Affairs for seven years. The famous Li Tiemian and Li Qingtian have an excellent reputation among the people. At least 90% of the cases can be impartial and straightforward, which is already very rare.
.What? You said that since it is clear, why not enforce the law impartially in all cases?
Are you kidding me? How can a person who doesn’t know how to make a choice between advancement and retreat sit in the position of Minister of the Ministry of Justice? A gentleman starts from humble beginnings, and he can only follow the power in urgent matters. When Lin Fengjin and Princess Cui were chatting, they gave this person
The verdict was made: know how to advance and retreat, and understand gains and losses. To be able to receive such an evaluation is already quite high.
Li Huai looked at Zhang Zhenhao and said coldly:
"Article 16 of the Great Xia Law states that anyone who accepts a bribe of more than a hundred taels will be sent thousands of miles away, and his family property will be confiscated and transferred to the public."
"Article 17 of the Daxia Code states that anyone who accepts a bribe of more than a thousand taels shall be beheaded and his family property shall be confiscated and transferred to the public office."
"The Eighteenth Law of Daxia states that anyone who accepts a bribe of more than five thousand taels shall be beheaded, his family property shall be confiscated and his family members shall be sold as official slaves."
"The thirty-one laws of the Great Xia Dynasty provoked mutiny. Those who rebelled against the people were killed and their families were exiled 1,500 miles away."
"Several crimes were punished at the same time. The barbarian general Zhang Zhenhao demanded a bribe of 60,000 taels, which made the people unable to live, and even provoked a mutiny. The crime was unforgivable. He was beheaded, his family property was confiscated, and his family members were sold into official slaves."
When Zhang Zhenhao heard the ending, it was as if a thunderbolt suddenly sounded on a sunny day, and he was stunned. After a while, he waved his hands to catch something. Looking over with tearful eyes, he saw everything.
A mocking and malicious face.
This man was originally a greedy, cowardly and despicable person. Suddenly he encountered a life-or-death event. Suddenly he saw the king. He immediately rushed towards him, hugged the king's legs and cried loudly:
"Your Majesty, spare my life, Your Majesty, please save me. I was just confused for a moment!"
King Cui Jiang was being scolded by Queen Cui and was in despair. He was racking his brains on how to fight back. Someone suddenly rushed towards him and startled him. He hurriedly kicked Zhang Zhenhao until his nose started to bleed. However,
Life and death were at stake. As long as Zhang Zhenhao hugged his thigh, he would not let go and begged frantically.
Cui Jiang thought that the queen had no way to explain. He coughed and was about to speak, when Li Huai said coldly:
"Your Majesty, your family has family rules and the state has national laws. How can you ignore them?"
This sentence suddenly made Cui Jiang's face turn red. It turned out that the monarch had held Princess Cui's sore foot and wanted her to marry. He also said this sentence. At this time, Li Huai treated him like this.
He took out the sentence intact and pushed it back, but Cui Jiang was unable to say a single word. There was a gloomy feeling in his chest. He was really conflicting. He was about to roar that as a king, I can't protect anyone.
He said something angrily, but suddenly he saw that the faces and expressions of the officials below were a bit ugly... His heart twitched like a knife!
Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!
Cui Jiang is just impulsive, but he is not stupid at all. He sees that if he really wants to save Zhang Zhenhao's life at all costs, he is afraid that he will arouse public anger. In the final analysis, it is because he, a relative, is so capable of inciting hatred.
, sighed, but suddenly winked at the little eunuch next to him. The little eunuch was also smart and hurriedly ran towards the back.
Cui Jiang made up his mind and scolded Zhang Zhenhao loudly. As a king, he couldn't even have the right to scold others. Therefore, it was hard for others to say anything, but it was clearly delaying time. However, after staying for a while, someone next to him
Suddenly another bead curtain was hung up. Astonishingly, the queen heard that her brother was about to be killed, and rushed over. Before she could sit down, she said simply:
"I am here to see who wants to kill the direct brother of the Ai family!"
When the queen spoke, everyone else was hard-pressed to respond. However, there happened to be Princess Cui here with a curtain hanging down. She said coldly:
"Who wants to kill him? It is my founder of Dongxia who wants to kill him! It is my ancestors of the Cui family who want to kill him! The purpose of defining the foundation of the country and promulgating laws was to punish rape and eradicate evil, and to bring justice.
Chao Gang, Zhang Zhenhao has violated the national law and will be punished! Does it mean that you, Queen, think you are more disciplined than your ancestors?"
Queen Zhang was stunned and suddenly burst into tears:
"When my mother passed away, she held the Aijia's hand and said that she must take good care of this younger brother. If he is killed by you today, the Aijia will be unfilial to the mother and unjust to the younger brother. You are trying to force me
Are you being an unfilial and unjust person?!"
This queen is not a fool, she is very powerful. This time the monarch was able to counterattack, she must take at least half of the credit. At this time, she used the word "filial piety" to speak, which immediately made the ministers look at each other, helpless.
Feel.
However, Princess Cui's eyes lit up. She had always exchanged letters with Lin Fengjin. Lin Fengjin was not very good at the overall situation, but his ability to adapt to changes was unparalleled in the world. He had already imagined that the queen would have
A similar answer. This answer seems very appropriate, but in fact, as long as it is used a little bit, it can make her seek death!
Now Queen Zhang's pretense of cleverness is like a fish that has swallowed the bait and is hooked on the golden hook!
Queen Cui also had a troubled look on her face. Queen Zhang was very good at observing words and expressions. She was already feeling proud, but she continued to cover her face and cry loudly:
"Although the Ai family is not talented, they have read a few books of sages. Since the founding of the world by Grandpa Pangu, no minister in the world has wanted to force the mistress to be unfilial and unjust. You just go ahead and do it. History is like iron.
, let’s see if the history books will record you traitors, and you will be reviled by thousands of people in future generations!”
Youdao is a hooligan with a culture, and everyone is afraid of him, let alone a female hooligan, not to mention she can cry and act violently? But she doesn't know that there is another mountain high, and her words and deeds have long fallen into Lin Fengjin's mind
speculation.
Princess Cui snorted coldly and said:
"The state has national laws, and families have family rules. Put the country before the family, and put the public before the private. This is the principle of governing the country passed down by the sages of the past generations. How can you become a traitor when you say it? Come on, drag Zhang Zhenhao down for execution!"
Princess Cui grew up in the palace. Naturally, the power in the palace was extremely strong. At that moment, someone obeyed the order and went to take the person. When the queen saw it, she simply broke her face, stood up with strode, and blocked Naidi's way.
In front of him, he screamed:
"Come to me if you can! Let's see who can touch him today!"
Princess Cui sneered:
"Zhang Zhenhao has committed a heinous crime. Whether it is corruption or inciting mutiny, it is a capital crime. Do you think you can stop this crime by standing in front of him?"
Queen Zhang sneered:
"In terms of righteousness, I am his sister. In terms of filial piety, I promised my late mother to take care of him. He made a mistake. The Ai family has to shoulder the responsibility. The Ai family values filial piety and righteousness as their top priority. All of you civil servants have read this in your books.
Is it in the dog’s belly? Cui Ruoying, if you say you can’t stop it, then you can’t stop it?”
This picture of the queen reading poetry and books and never leaving the words "filial piety" is really giving people a headache.
Because the moral concept at this time is that relatives hide from each other, which means that if we are relatives, you secretly touched the breasts of a girl on the subway. Not only can I not report your behavior that is worse than a beast, but I must help you to give false testimony.
, saying that the girl hit the armrest by herself... If I reported you, then it would be morally corrupt and you would be cast aside.
-------The king of heaven and the earth are relatives and teachers, and relatives come before "teacher". Therefore, this kind of moral code is above the law.
Princess Cui was furious when she heard that the queen actually spoke out her name in such an occasion, which was a great insult at the time. But she said calmly:
"The queen always puts filial piety as the most important thing, and for the sake of filial piety, she does not hesitate to stand in front of the national law? Should her brother die?"
Queen Zhang was frightened when she heard the word "death", but she was also a very smart person and immediately sneered in her heart, knowing that Queen Cui was trying to scare her.
Just kidding, she was the queen who rectified her position after offering sacrifices to heaven and earth. Although Princess Cui was so powerful, she was determined not to kill the queen brazenly. Even the emperor could only depose the queen, not kill her directly. This is five thousand
As has been the rule over the years, if Princess Cui really dares to act recklessly, the ministers below will definitely not be able to sit idly by.
Therefore, Queen Zhang made it clear that she wanted to fight for this breath, just to embarrass Princess Cui. She raised her neck and sneered:
"That's right, the Ai family wants to die for the sake of filial piety. If you have the ability, do it!"
Queen Zhang's pressure immediately put an end to the situation in the court!
If Princess Cui does not take action, today's obviously long-planned attack by Princess Cui can only be exposed, and the defeat can only be downplayed. But if Princess Cui takes action, the civil and military ministers of the entire dynasty and even the Queen's party will inevitably
It is impossible to just sit back and watch, and must be remonstrated. This is equivalent to Princess Cui once again standing on the opposite side of the civil and military forces of the dynasty, and abruptly turning the situation around!
Therefore, in everyone's opinion, Queen Choi was forced into a desperate situation!!
However, at this tense moment, Princess Cui suddenly smiled, which relieved a lot of the tension in the air:
"Tsk, tsk, the love between brother and sister is really deep. I just want to test the depth of the friendship between the Queen and General Tuman. How can you possibly fight and kill? Now it is confirmed that the Queen is truly unparalleled in filial piety and righteousness. From now on,
Things will be easier to handle.”
Queen Cui suddenly made such a light turn, and Queen Zhang immediately had a very ominous premonition, as if it was a very difficult climb on a rainy night, but when she was about to reach the top of the mountain, she accidentally fell.
The kind of panic you feel when your feet are in the air!
At this time, Li Huai, the Minister of Punishment, said calmly:
"Your Highness is right. There is a record in the record of clearing grievances. In the 11th year of Dachen (before the David Dynasty), the queen's brother had a plot to rebel. Later, she cried and begged him, and was willing to take her own life, so she deprived her of her title.
Two levels, my brother will live."
Princess Cui smiled and said:
"Since the queen has unparalleled filial piety and is willing to die for her brother, I don't need you to die now. I'm just going to cut off your two-level title. In this way, the laws of the country can be preserved, and General Zhang can avoid death."
Princess Cui's words were really gentle, but in the Queen's ears, they suddenly exploded like a bolt from the blue! Even the ministers took a breath, knowing that this time
The queen had really been tricked. It turned out that the trap that had been buried in advance was actually here!
Below the queen is the imperial concubine, and below the imperial concubine are the concubines. In other words, if Queen Zhang is deprived of two levels of status, she will be the concubine Zhang from now on...
This is the real bottom line!!
The queen had been using "filial piety" to show off her nobility before, so that people could not catch her sore feet when she was acting recklessly. But in an instant, this "filial piety" became a fatal weapon in the hands of Princess Cui! Obviously.
If the queen refuses, Princess Cui will immediately use Xiaoyi against her. The higher the queen takes the moral high ground, the worse it will be when she falls!
At this time, the ministers suddenly realized, why did Princess Cui want to kill Zhang Zhenhao? What is there to kill this idiot? Her real target is the queen! After overthrowing the queen, the monarch seemed to be cut off.
An arm is similar.
As a king, there are always things that are inconvenient to say and do, so a middleman is needed. What is better than a queen? Her status is also noble. What she says is also persuasive, and she can conquer the other party.
In fact, at least half of the royal party at this time were persuaded and won over by the queen.
Once the queen's status is reduced by two levels, no, don't say two levels, even if she is only reduced to one level. She becomes a noble concubine and will immediately disappear from everyone. Not to mention that Princess Cui can cover the sky with one hand in the palace.
The competition among the other three concubines alone would be enough for her to drink from a pot, let alone being reduced to an ordinary concubine? That would mean hundreds of people competing for favor!
The queen apparently figured out the relationship in an instant, and suddenly felt chills all over her body. She screamed:
"No!!"
Princess Cui said calmly:
"Didn't the queen put filial piety first? Why would she be willing to die for filial piety and for her younger brother? Why do you think status is so important at this time? It's just a mere two-tiered status. The filial piety you flaunt
You are not even as good as these two levels of fame? Then you are pretending to be filial and righteous? As a queen, you want your mother to treat the world well. But your conduct is so filthy, how can you still have the nerve to stay in this position? How to educate?
Ten thousand people?”
At this time, Zheng Shangshu from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward and said calmly:
"The queen has lost her moral character, indulged her family, brought trouble to her family and country, regarded etiquette as power, and acted recklessly. Her virtue is no longer worthy of her position."
Zheng Shangshu was originally neutral, but when the royal party gained power a few days ago, they took a fancy to his position and almost drove him out of breath. If something like this didn't happen today, maybe today
We are about to discuss his removal and ask him to get out. At this moment, he is seeing the other party jump into the trap. If he doesn’t add insult to injury, how long will it take?
And this good-for-nothing Zhang Zhenhao caused a lot of hatred on behalf of the Queen for nothing. Those who had impeached him before had some concerns about the Queen's revenge. Now when they chased the dog into the alley, the wall collapsed and everyone pushed,
Anyway, we have formed a deadly feud. If I don’t deal with you today, why don’t I wait for you to come and count them one by one tomorrow and kill me?
Therefore, ministers came out one after another to support Zheng Shangshu and gave him thirty-two likes for his statement. These ministers also have friends, parties, and interests. Many of them even want to be neutral, but---
----We are all good brothers who have eaten, drank, whored, gambled, embezzled and accepted bribes together. If you don't stand up today, he will remain silent tomorrow, so he will be dragged into the water.
At this time, the general trend in the court was that the Queen's Party was the vanguard. At this time, people from the neutral faction also defected. Almost more than 70% of the officials in the court were in favor of abolishing the queen. The general trend was established. Moreover, these officials who supported the abolishment were also deeply convinced.
He knew very well that he had an undying feud with the queen, so he said he was determined to win.
Seeing the chaos in the court, the monarch felt a rush of blood rushing to his forehead. He slapped the dragon chair and roared:
"That's enough. I'm not dead yet. Are you going to rebel? After I'm done with it, I'm done with it. Have you ever asked me?"
The emperor was angry and blood flowed, but Princess Cui knew the character of her younger brother very well and said calmly:
"Your Majesty, there is a lot of discussion in the court now, are you turning a deaf ear to it?"