In the study, Queen Mother Wei pondered for a moment and said directly to Zhu Shengfei: "How likely is it that the Ai family wants to ascend the throne and become emperor?"
Zhu Shengfei bowed and said: "This is also the advice that the minister wants to give to the Queen Mother. It is not impossible to proclaim the emperor, because there is no suitable heir to the throne, so the possibility of proclaiming the emperor is there."
"Then what?"
Queen Mother Wei continued to ask: "What can be done to turn the possibility of becoming emperor into a reality?"
"Reporting to the Queen Mother is actually about unifying the internal and external affairs and meeting the expectations of the public. There are not many external problems now. Chen Qing has clearly stated his support for the Queen Mother's ascension to the throne."
"Why does he support the Aijia?"
Queen Mother Wei interrupted Zhu Shengfei's topic and asked: "The Ai family has a bad relationship with him and has offended him countless times. I really don't understand why he would stand on my side?"
Zhu Shengfei smiled bitterly and said: "Empress Dowager, Chen Qing is a hero. He will not take such trivial personal grievances to heart. As long as it can be used for him, he will support it. If the Empress Dowager ascends the throne, the legitimacy of the Song Dynasty will no longer exist. How can he
Can you support the Queen Mother?"
Queen Mother Wei said after a while: "Okay! Even if he supports the Ai family for his own benefit, with external support, doesn't the key lie within?"
Zhu Shengfei nodded, "That's right. The key is to straighten things out internally, especially the military. If the Queen Mother can get the support of the military, there will really be no problem. If some ministers object, just let him go. There won't be any trouble."
.”
The new newspaper office is located outside the city on the Qiantang River. It is a mansion covering an area of ten acres. All raw materials, equipment and personnel have been transferred here to continue running the newspaper. Of course, Chen Qing cannot give up the "Beijing News". This is his public opinion.
The weapon is also the mouthpiece through which he speaks.
In the Xinfeng Tea House outside Nancheng, Wang Mu gave a note to Lu Gang. There was only one name on the note, Sima Chun.
Empress Dowager Wei took a few steps with her hands behind her back and said slowly: "The Ai family also has this idea, and holds the military power in their own hands."
Sima Chun was about thirty-seven or eighteen years old and a native of Xinxiang County, Weizhou. He was originally a Imperial College student in Tokyo. During the Jingkang disaster, he and a group of Imperial College students fled to Lin'an and made a living by teaching. Fortunately, his mentor had a good relationship with Zhu Shengfei.
In the sixth year of Shaoxing, he joined Zhu Shengfei's house as a minor staff member. He persuaded Zhu Shengfei to attach himself to the Queen Mother and become the Queen Mother's spokesperson in the court. Zhu Shengfei's fortune changed and he regained his position.
Mrs. Liu comforted her husband, "We also have some savings. If we can't do it, we can go back to our hometown, buy some land, live peacefully, and raise our two children, isn't it good?"
In this way, Han Shizhong was deprived of his military power as commander-in-chief of the three armies in the form of promotion. At the same time, Xu Xiantu was removed from the Privy Council, vacating the position of chief privy officer. In particular, she made Zhu Shengfei concurrently serve as the envoy, holding the real financial power.
Zhu Shengfei also nominated Wei Tong to be a member of the Privy Council, referred to as the Zhiyuan. Empress Dowager Wei immediately approved it, making Wei Tong the fifth prime minister. At this time, Zhu Shengfei emphasized the principle of civilians in charge of the army. Empress Dowager Wei accepted this principle and appointed Wei Tong to serve on the Privy Council.
As governor, he served as the envoy of the Shenwu Army and the marshal of the three armies.
Of course, everyone understood that the Queen Mother's real purpose was to let Wei Tong control the military. Of course, Han Shizhong also understood that this military power looked glamorous, but was actually very hot. He might become a sinner of the Song Dynasty, and he had no attachment to it.
, happily handed over the military talisman seal and the marshal's arrow to Wei Tong.
Zhu Shengfei understood the Empress Dowager's thinking and nodded: "In the Song Dynasty, civil servants have always controlled the military power. We can let Wei Tong serve as the magistrate, and then serve as the marshal of the capital as the privy magistrate and control the military seal. In this way, there will be no problems in the system.
Well, as for his ability, the key is that he has a good staff to advise him and teach him how to control him. If these two things are done well, Wei Tong can take charge of the military."
But what really made the officials happy was another thing. At noon, the Beijing News, which had been silent for nearly half a month, suddenly appeared on the streets of Lin'an. The newspaper sellers screamed loudly, which made everyone overjoyed. Some
With this newspaper, they can grasp the general trend of the world and avoid losing their direction.
This time, Zhu Shengfei recommended him to the Queen Mother and became Wei Tong's staff advisor. This was an opportunity for him, but it also gave him tremendous pressure. Wei Tong was an uneducated playboy who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun.
If you don’t understand anything else, what future will you have as a staff member for such a person?
At night, Sima Chun was thinking about the arrangement of the army generals in his study. The army generals were obviously dissatisfied with Wei Tong, especially Liu Qi, the commander of the Shenwu Left Guard Army, who was simply a thorn in the side and opposed Wei Tong everywhere. However, he had three soldiers in his hands.
Thousands of elite soldiers, with deep qualifications, were difficult to deal with. It was better to have Yang Yizhong under the control of the Central Guard Army and Yan Changde under the control of the Right Guard Army, knowing that Wei Tong represented the Queen Mother.
"He is from Weizhou. He was born in Taixue. He fled to Lin'an in the fourth year of Jianyan. There should be some clansmen in his hometown. He has two sons. He had been Zhu Shengfei's staff before. Wei Tong rewarded him with a house in Lirenfang.
, I guess I’m moving in the next two days.”
"This person is Wei Tong's only military advisor. Wei Tong's intelligence is not enough to control the military. We must follow Sima Chun's arrangements. This person is the key."
Queen Mother Wei said happily: "Does Zhu Xiangguo recommend a suitable candidate?"
Lu Gang nodded, "Do you have this person's background and other information? For example, his family, children, etc."
Lu Gang nodded, "I'll go meet him tonight."
Wang Mu smiled and said: "The weaknesses of the imperial students are all the same. He did not pass the imperial examination, could not become an official, and is grudge. He also has two weaknesses, which are his two sons."
"Husband, take a rest!"
Therefore, Zhu Shengfei also trusted Sima Chun quite a bit and appointed him as his chief staff officer. Sima Chun's life gradually improved.
Queen Mother Wei suddenly said: "The Ai family wants Wei Tong to be the marshal of the capital to replace Han Shizhong. Do you think he is qualified?"
Zhu Shengfei said that in Empress Dowager Wei's heart, she also knew that her brother was uneducated, empty-handed, and useless, unable to solve her problems. However, she needed her brother to take control of the military before she could give up, so Zhu Shengfei's staff
This suggestion is very timely. If a brother has good staff, it means he has a good mind, which can make up for Wei Tong's biggest shortcoming.
Zhu Shengfei smiled slightly and said: "I do have a staff member named Sima Chun, who is from Weizhou. He has clear ideas and a flexible mind. If the Queen Mother does not have a suitable candidate, Wei Chen will recommend him to be Wei Tong's military advisor."
The Empress Dowager Wei has been living in the harem for a long time and has no staff. Zhu Shengfei is her interest representative in the court. Apart from Zhu Shengfei, she does not trust other ministers. The Empress Dowager Wei nodded, "Then it's decided. The Ai family will explain it in person."
Wei Tong."
At this time, his wife Mrs. Liu came in with a cup of tea. Mrs. Liu was the daughter of his mentor. She married him when he was at his lowest. The couple had been loving each other for so many years and had two sons.
"What's his weakness?" Lu Gang asked again.
Wei Tong is Empress Dowager Wei's biological brother and the person she trusts the most. Of course she wants her brother to take control of the military, which means that the military power will be in her own hands.
On the morning of the next day, Empress Dowager Wei held a small court meeting and proposed to improve the system of the Prime Minister and the Internal Affairs Hall. She appointed Han Shizhong as Shangshu Youcheng, replacing Zhang Jun's position, in charge of the officials, households, and military departments. She also appointed Xu Xiantu as Shangshu Zuocheng.
In charge of the three ministries of rites, punishment, and work, Qin Hui continued to be the right prime minister and was in charge of the government, and Zhu Shengfei was the left prime minister and the envoy.
Sima Chun put down his pen and sighed: "Zhu Shengfei recommended me to Wei Tong, which really pushed me into a pit of fire. He does all kinds of evil and seizes people's property everywhere. Sooner or later he will be punished by God. I will be tied to his car and will follow him."
bury."
Sima Chun smiled bitterly, "That's all it can do!"
At this time, the housekeeper reported from outside that there was a visitor. Mrs. Liu was startled and said, "It's so late. I'll go see if anyone else is here!"
Mrs. Liu hurried out and walked to the door, only to hear the housekeeper say, "The person coming is called Lu Gang. He said that the master knows him."