"The way of the master knows people, and the way of ministers knows things." Xunzi's summary
Zhao Wen suppressed the pride in his heart and said truthfully: "Situ was very angry and said that Zheng Jun had betrayed his trust, but Sikong didn't say anything."
"Mr. Ma is good at scholarship and has a stubborn temperament. He will not change his opinion easily after he has determined something." The emperor commented lightly: "After all, he is not as stable as Mr. Shisun Gong."
Ma Rixi had high hopes for Zheng Xuan, hoping that he could use this to make a proud contribution to the study of ancient Chinese classics. Unexpectedly, he was betrayed. On the contrary, scholar Sun Rui seemed to have a premonition of impending disaster, but his mood became much calmer and he began to think about a way out.
Thinking about Shisun Rui's knowledge and talents, it's a pity that he was dragged down by Ma Rixi.
"I think so too." Zhao Wen reminded carefully: "Sikong is an old man who plans for the country, and Boda knows everything. Whether he was planning to kill Dong Ni or assisting His Majesty in governing the country, he has contributed a lot."
With Ma Rixi's ability, just by staying in the court alone, he cannot pose a threat to anyone. But the scholar Sun Rui is different. Whether it is Huang Wan, Dong Cheng, or Yang Zan, they are all afraid of him.
.
At present, all parties have a tacit understanding. After the incident about Zuo Fengyi comes out, they will first accuse Ma Rixi of his unexplained faults, and then bring in Sergeant Sun Rui to impeach him for the crime of supporting the rural party. Among the Kansai scholars,
Two important figures were criticized at the same time. An unknown crime was not enough to depose Ma Rixi. To protect Corporal Sun Rui, Ma Rixi had to exchange his power and position.
But almost everyone knows about the discord between Ma Rixi and Shi Sunrui. Whether Ma Rixi will be willing to sacrifice himself to preserve the overall situation, the result is not difficult to foresee.
The emperor suddenly sighed: "What is the duty of a minister?"
The topic changed so quickly that Zhao Wen didn't react and just felt confused. After seeing the emperor finish speaking, he looked at him carefully, as if waiting for Zhao Wen's reply. Fortunately, he was always quick-witted and coughed lightly and said: "
Repairing the feudal territory internally for war, and externally cultivating and preparing for war. The land is left barren and the people are close to it. This is the matter of ministers."
This sentence comes from the Spring and Autumn Period of Wu and Yue. It was said by Wen Zhong, the official of King Goujian of Yue. Zhao Wen obviously meant something. The emperor raised his eyebrows and said: "Are you comparing yourself to Wen Zhong? But I am not the king of Yue.
"
After Wen Zhong assisted Gou Jian in destroying Wu, he was soon sentenced to death by Gou Jian. This is actually not a very good analogy, but Zhao Wen had already thought of the rhetoric: "But for the sake of the country, what's the harm in dying? The minister is not talented.
, I don’t dare to control, I am happy to compare myself, I only dare to imitate the literary style, and cultivate and live the people for your majesty. What’s more, your majesty is a tolerant king, with a beautiful mind, far superior to the king of Yue ten thousand times.”
This is a hint that he will work for the emperor no matter what. He is very satisfied with Zhao Wen's answer, and this level has been passed: "Shan, a real man should be a male to fly, and an able female to crouch! You were able to say such generous words back then, and now it's natural
You must fly high to answer the foreword."
Zhao Wen did not expect that the emperor would actually remember what he said when he resigned from office. Although he was moved, he couldn't help thinking about the profound meaning of these words.
He is now one of the Nine Qings, Taichang, and there are only a few positions left for him to go up to the top.
There is no doubt that Shisun Rui will be deposed. It is just a matter of time. When Shisun Rui leaves, it seems that the emperor will not continue to play the three-legged alliance and leave the vacant position of Sikong to others. Instead, he will
The key positions are reserved for your own people.
Zhao Wen remembered the question and answer he had just had with the emperor, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and tentatively said: "Your Majesty"
The emperor did not pay attention to the other party's hesitant attitude, and changed the subject and said: "Zuo Fengyi's Chongquan Order said that the imperial court sent people to inspect, because he did not trust the performance of these herdsmen officials and could not bear the humiliation, so he surrendered.
Shui Mingzhi." Halfway through his words, the emperor couldn't help but said with emotion: "What a pity."
Zhao Wen didn't know what the other party was feeling sorry for, but he vaguely sensed something bad. Someone was taking advantage of Chongquan Ling's death and deliberately exaggerating the atmosphere of panic.
Although the emperor directly froze all the officials of Zuo Fengyi indiscriminately, which was indeed cruel, but if he did not do this, he would not be able to dig up the roots of the big tree. Zhao Wen expressed his support for this: "Confucius
It was once said that the emperor's envoys should treat the emperor with courtesy, and the ministers should treat the emperor with loyalty. Your Majesty treats others with sincerity, but Zuo Fengyi still caused the current situation. It can be seen that some of the ministers did not serve the emperor with loyalty. In this case, why should your Majesty be lenient?
Of?"
"You are right. If you are upright, you are not afraid of the shadow. If they have a clear conscience, why should they be afraid of the imperial court sending people to investigate? The imperial court has not convicted them yet. They are still my ministers, but now some people are self-conscious
Putting yourself in the position of a guilty minister, I don’t know if it’s because of a guilty conscience or because you really have integrity that cannot bear being humiliated.” Chongquan Ling’s words did not cause any ripples in the emperor’s heart. Even in the court, except for a group of Kansai people,
Outside of the country, not many people advocated for him, which shows that Shisun Rui and his gang were fierce and cruel.
The emperor then sneered and said: "Now that Fu Xun has not yet crossed the river, Zuo Fengyi has begun to have officials complain. They all look at the wind and untie their seals and leave without permission. If it is not a guilty conscience, why abandon the official position and leave?"
Zhao Wen was only obedient, but he was just too often. This was not his responsibility, so even if the emperor had something to say, he did not dare to express his opinions without permission.
Fortunately, the emperor did not let him wait long and said straightforwardly: "To prevent chaos, Changshui Camp has been dispatched to Zuo Fengyi. This matter is serious. No matter who is involved, we must deal with it strictly! You have Xiong Fei."
As for the ambition, now we should make preparations early."
After saying that, the emperor looked at him deeply.
Zhao Wenfu was in his heart and was about to say something to show his loyalty, but he saw Mu Shun of Xiaohuangmen suddenly come outside the palace gate.
The emperor raised his eyes to look at Mu Shun and saw that he looked panicked, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Your Majesty, rats are running wild in Yongxiang, Yeting, and chickens and pheasants are wailing. This, this, this seems to be a bad omen!"
"What?" The emperor's face suddenly changed. He subconsciously looked at the table. In addition to the letters, there was also a bowl of tea. At this time, he saw the calm glass of tea under the emperor's gaze.
Down, ripples suddenly appeared.
"Your Majesty, leave quickly!" Mu Shun immediately ran in regardless of his own safety.
Needless to say, the emperor jumped up from the table without thinking, stepped across the table, and without caring about his imperial demeanor, walked out with long strides. Everything in front of him suddenly appeared as a double image, and the people on the beams
The dust began to fall, the water in the tea bowl spilled out, and the ground began to shake violently, making a thunderous roar. Accompanied by the screams of palace people from far and near, the scene was chaotic. After passing by Zhao Wen,
At that time, seeing Zhao Wen still kneeling there in confusion, the emperor easily pulled him out.
It was not safe to run out of the palace. The emperor took Zhao Wen out of the eaves and came to a platform in front of the Xuanshi Palace. It was still raining lightly in the sky, and the emperor stood in the rain. He was so shocked that he realized at this time
The earthquake at this time was not very strong, and the standard for future generations was only magnitude 4 or 5. An earthquake of magnitude 4 or 5 could not even crack the ground. At most, it would crack the walls of some old houses, and the emperor's heart would be hanging.
Only then did he settle down.
Even so, this kind of earthquake that implies the power of God brings not only physical harm to people, but also a kind of psychological shock. Looking around, the eunuchs, Huangmen Minister and others were kneeling in the corridor without any sense of safety.
Some looked pale and muttered something.
Xuanshi Palace is located on Longshou Mountain, facing Cangchi to the south. At this time, Cangchi was making waves from the center to all sides, as if there was a monster at the bottom of the pool about to surface. The emperor turned to the east
Looking over, he saw faint white smoke caused by the collapse of the house rising slowly from between the houses, and he couldn't help but clenched his fists.
Not long after, the earthquake sensation disappeared, and the earth returned to calm. The emperor looked down at Mu Shun, who had just rolled down the steps of the palace in a panic. Thinking of Mu Shun's loyal way of protecting the Lord, his heart warmed: "Did you fall?
"
Mu Shun was still frightened, but when he saw that everything was alright, he quickly replied: "It's all thanks to your Majesty's blessing that this slave is not hurt!"
After saying that, he gritted his teeth at his big words.
However, the emperor did not continue to be concerned. There were more important things to do at this time: "Then what are you still doing? Go and tell the Northern Army Zhonghou, Zhi Jinwu, and Jing Zhaoyin to enter the palace!"
Mu Shunxin asked how the emperor could calm down and summon the ministers when such a thing happened? But he didn't say anything, he just admired him secretly in his heart and bowed down to accept the order.
After ordering Mu Shun to leave the palace to deliver the edict, and sending people to the Chengming Palace to express condolences to the three princes, the emperor turned back and looked at Zhao Wen.
Being able to think about saving people at a critical moment is already a great act of justice, not to mention that this person is still the emperor! Zhao Wen was not as shocked as when he encountered an earthquake, as if his feelings for the emperor over the years, and his definition of monarch and ministers were all changed by this earthquake.
Subverted. The earthquake outside him had subsided, but the earthquake in Zhao Wen's heart became more intense. He stood there for a long time, and his eyes slowly regained their brightness.
The emperor was not in a hurry to speak. He had a premonition that Zhao Wen would change because of this, which may be related to the fact that the two of them may have an unusual monarch-minister relationship in the future. Fortunately, the emperor did not wait long, and Zhao Wen suddenly knelt down and expressed his incomparable respect to the emperor.
He solemnly bowed his head and kowtowed. The sincere expression on his face was something the emperor had never seen before: "I thank your Majesty for saving my life."
"You are both my subordinate and my subject. I have no reason to stand by and watch when such a thing happens." The emperor knew that he did not need to say any high-sounding words. His actions today had already captured Zhao Wen's heart.
, he stretched out his hand to help Zhao Wen up, started to walk up the stairs back to the announcement room, and suddenly sighed: "And if you thank me, then Sikong should thank heaven even more."