"The husband who throws the pot will not make it go too far, nor will it make it fall short, so it is middle." New Pattern of Tou Hu
After leaving Zhao Qian's mansion, Mu Shun did not dare to delay and went directly back to Weiyang Palace. He didn't even have time to take a sip of water and was busy looking for the emperor to return to his life.
At this time, the emperor was having an open-air banquet with a group of secretaries outside Shiqu Pavilion, playing the game of pot tossing. Pot tossing originated in the Warring States Period and became popular in the Qin and Han Dynasties. It was an activity for banquets among Confucian scholars and officials at that time.
About last month, secretaries Lang Wangcan and Yang Xiu taught the emperor this game. The emperor quickly picked up the game and enjoyed it very much. Almost every time he invited the secretaries and supervisors to a banquet, he would definitely play several games. However, the emperor's accuracy was too bad.
Nine out of ten arrows missed, so I let the secretaries play while I watched the game.
When Mu Shun came, after completing the circle, it was Fa Zheng's turn to throw the pot. He saw Fa Zheng sitting on the table, holding an arrow without a sharp point in his hand, squinting at the one in the center with a big belly and a small mouth.
The copper kettle, after waiting for a long time, he finally made a move and raised his hand to throw an arrow.
Yang Xiu happened to say on the side: "Every time you throw a pot, you are the best."
clang
Fazheng flicked his wrist, and the arrow missed its target, barely grazing the pot and falling to the ground.
His face suddenly darkened, and he couldn't help but look at Yang Xiu. Yang Xiu's expression was stunned, and he knew he had made a mistake, so he immediately turned away and pretended that it was none of my business.
Although Fazheng failed, everyone here had received a gentleman's education and did not wantonly make noises. Wang Can and Shi Sunmeng looked at Huan Fan with indifferent expressions on the side. Fu Qian's slightly raised smile at the corner of his mouth had not dissipated. Pei Qian,
Wang Fu shook his head slightly, feeling sorry for Fazheng this time.
Only Wang Fu dared to think and say: "It doesn't count this time, Xiaozhi will vote again."
Fazheng glanced at Wang Fu gratefully, and his expression immediately softened a little, but he would not be embarrassed again.
Pei Qian smiled and said, "It's my turn."
He picked up an arrow casually, looked at it briefly, and then threw it casually. The arrow flew accurately towards the copper kettle, hitting the belly of the pot. The copper kettle shook a few times, then fell to the ground, and filled the copper kettle with water.
All the arrows that had been inserted fell out.
"Okay, it doesn't matter if I missed the shot, but I also knocked the pot over." The emperor also smiled and said: "Wen Xing, it seems that you are not suitable for playing this game."
As soon as he said this, everyone started to cheer with the emperor.
Pei Qian was not annoyed at all, and said with a smile: "Everyone has his or her own strengths. It's just a game. Since Qian is not good at this, it is better to watch with His Majesty from now on."
He was born in the Pei family in Hedong, and was the son of Pei Mao, the imperial censor. His father did not like him because of his informal manner. He was given the name Wenxing in the hope that he would understand some rules. Unexpectedly, after entering the palace, Pei Qian became more and more
Because of his indulgent nature, he rarely got to hang out with Wang Fu, Fazheng and other eccentric people.
This time, Pei Qian was obviously helping Fazheng. The emperor didn't think it was strange when he saw it. The nine secretaries had different personalities, family backgrounds, and talents. Under the influence of their fathers, it was easy for them to form small groups.
, for example, Yang Xiu, Huan Fan, and Fu Qian have a good relationship. Wang Can and Shi Sun Meng are the best friends. Wang Fu and Pei Qian have similar personalities. Although they may be hostile in private, such as the enemies Fazheng and Yang Xiu, overall
There is still an emperor as the core and a team of secretaries closely surrounding the emperor.
At this time, the emperor noticed Mu Shun who was standing quietly aside. He waved Mu Shun forward and asked, "When did you return to the palace?"
"Just now, I didn't dare to disturb the interest of the country, so I was waiting aside."
The emperor responded casually, looking at everyone present inadvertently, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared: "How is Mr. Zhao's condition?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone, including Secretary Ling Shejian, Secretary Lang Yangxiu, Shi Sunmeng and others, all held their breath and listened. The relaxed and joyful atmosphere just now disappeared. Although everyone's expressions did not change, they looked at each other.
Xiang Mu Shun's eyes showed nervous inquiry.
"Hey, the imperial doctor said that it is difficult to survive until the cool autumn." Seeing that the emperor had no intention of rejecting everyone, Mu Shun simply said frankly and honestly: "Mr. Zhao is described as haggard. He has no strength to speak. He has been sleeping all day long and has been eating rice soup."
Spend the day.”
"Is it really so serious?" the emperor asked seriously.
"I don't dare to talk nonsense about this kind of thing." Mu Shun recounted the details of his visit to Zhao Qian's house in front of the emperor. The emperor's eyes turned red and he said sadly:
"The last time I saw Mr. Zhao was at the grand ceremony where I took over the throne. Although he was ill at that time, he was in good spirits. I thought that if someone could do some work for him, he would be able to nurse himself back to health.
Come back. Who knew he would be "
"Zhao Situ is committed to ZTE and has repeatedly implemented good governance. Now if he doesn't hesitate," Yang Xiu saw the emperor's eyes filled with tears, and then he sighed and said, "It's better to make plans early."
The tone of this last sentence revealed the nervousness and uneasiness in Yang Xiu's heart. This was the first time that he had spoken to the emperor as a close minister and tried to interfere in important court affairs.
The emperor lowered his head and rubbed the fabric of his sleeve carelessly with one hand under the table. After a while, he raised his head and said vaguely: "What Dezu said is that everything will be done after the imperial doctor orders the pulse report to be submitted."
Make plans."
At this time, the emperor had no intention of continuing to chat and laugh with his secretaries. He took advantage of this situation and let them leave the palace early so that they could convey the news to their elders as soon as possible.
The emperor was sitting in the Shiqu Pavilion, facing the sunshine outside the window, and suddenly remembered that Zhao Qian and Ma Rixi went to court together to force him to depose Wang Yun. At that time, he was still pretending to use them to protect his reputation. After that, Zhao Qian fell ill.
I can't help but accommodate the emperor in everything and fully support him.
He thought of this old minister who had a good impression, and also of Wang Yun, who had been deposed and returned to his hometown after being used by him, and of the Ma family, Yang family and other noble ministers who were loyal but had different political views with him. None of these people
They were not loyal to the emperor, but loyal to the Han Dynasty, but their loyalty was nothing more than the court's selective loyalty on the premise that it could satisfy their own interests.
Once they are not satisfied, or cannot be satisfied, they will either speak up and plead for the people, or, like the Yuan family, taking advantage of the central government's declining control over the local area, separatist parties and plot evil.
As the emperor of the Han Dynasty, as early as Zhao Qi and others used diplomatic means to persuade Yuan Shao and other officials to re-recognize the emperor's legal authority, he had actually been able to slowly boil the frog in warm water and use administrative means and power to achieve the goal.
It is possible that with as few wars as possible, the country can be surrendered again.
But after doing so, the court is still the same sluggish court that strives for power and wealth. The powerful families still control the country's economy, politics, public opinion, and even the military. Although using literary methods can get twice the result with half the effort, it makes this country truly
The enemies came in from the outside and continued to stand openly in the court. These powerful men had understood the political rules of the court. If they were allowed to infiltrate into the court and fight with the emperor, the emperor might not win, and he would still end up falling out.
Since he never wanted to be a monarch who compromised with the aristocratic family like Guangwu from the beginning, the emperor would naturally not choose to listen to the words of those ministers in the court and use his kindness to attract the submission of the princes. He would use fists and feet instead of words to regain the world.
After coming back to his senses, the emperor suddenly said: "Mu Shun"
"My slave is here."
"Go to the Chancellor's Desk and ask Jia Xu to come and see you."