"When you speak threateningly and ridicule, you complain about powerful ministers, you don't get rid of the wrongdoers, and you lose your virginity by not keeping secrets. It's a sad husband!" [Hanshu·Jingfangzhuan]
The emperor looked into Shisun Rui's eyes and said nothing for a long time. After a while, he made up his mind and nodded: "Yes."
Shi Sunrui breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he left cleanly, even if he couldn't come back cleanly, he could still maintain a good reputation.
He solemnly bowed his head and accepted the decree. Yang Zan thought about it in his heart for a while, and then he, Yang Qi and others also bowed down.
The emperor seemed to have no time to continue talking, showing a lack of interest. Everyone observed his words and consciously resigned and left. Only the newly appointed general of the guard, Wang Bin, stayed.
Wang Bin followed the emperor's instructions, moved a few seats forward, sat next to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty seems a little unwilling."
In front of his uncle, the emperor showed his innermost emotions without any pretense, and placed the tea bowl heavily on the table: "We have prepared step by step until now, but it ends like this. Who would be willing to accept it?"
After the earthquake, the people in the court and the public were in panic, and they were all concerned about the emperor's situation. Therefore, the sooner the court meeting was held, the more people would be reassured, and gossip would not be caused. Otherwise, based on Miao Si's actions just now, which sounded like he was facing a formidable enemy, if the meeting is not held tomorrow,
During the court meeting, the courtiers still didn't know what to think about.
"But even if your Majesty delays it for a few days, what can you do? Zuo Fengyi has been doing bad things for a long time. He has mediocre officials and subordinate officials, and he has done countless things that are corrupt and despicable in the law. How can Fu Xun be able to eliminate him overnight?" Wang Bin
He had been watching the court situation for the past few days, and he also understood the emperor's regret that he could not achieve full success at this critical moment. Seeing the emperor's frustrated look, Wang Bin used a fatherly tone to comfort him and said: "Shisun Gong knows the destiny.
He will soon be in his 60s, how long can I last with you?"
The emperor was displeased: "If that's the case, why should I have so many plans? I can just wait for disaster to come from the sky."
Wang Bin slightly bowed his back to the emperor and said meekly: "However, I understand that your majesty wants to use this matter to establish his authority. If necessary, he will not hesitate to kill people. When the prince was here, the Kansai scholars were already powerful.
After the prince left, there was no one to control him. Fortunately, Huang Gong, Yang, Dong Cheng and others were there to restrain the family, so that the family would not be the only one. Now that the king wants to cheer up, he naturally wants to deal with those who are disobedient and let them easily
It is indeed not your intention to escape."
"It's just that I still don't know something." After saying that, Wang Bin said doubtfully: "No matter how big the incident about Zuo Fengyi is, to Ma Gong, Shisun Gong and others, it's just a matter of careless recommendation and cover-up.
If they are responsible for their crimes, they can defend themselves against their superiors. If your superiors want to use this to implicate and punish them, it is inevitable that some people will be dissatisfied."
"It's okay to say that the recommendation was neglected. I shielded and protected the local party, and the minister still had territorial opinions. Isn't this still a small mistake?" The emperor sat upright and said calmly: "Starting from the investigation of Zuo Feng Yi, they
He kept trying to persuade me to minimize the big issue. If he didn't intend to protect Lu Xu and was worried about losing his power, why would he stop me several times? What's more, Sanfu was the first place to implement river construction, post roads and other policies. When Shisun Rui was the minister,
He almost took care of it all by himself. Now because of the earthquake and disaster, he takes the blame for me. After resigning, if I punish him for Zuo Fengyi's matter, wouldn't it appear that I am unkind?"
If the disaster occurred on the same day as the results of Zuo Fengyi's administrative rectification, or if the results came out first on Zuo Fengyi's side, and an earthquake occurred a few days later, the emperor could link the disaster with Zuo Fengyi's administrative problems and give
Shi Sunrui labeled him as a man who had neglected his duties and covered up the cause of the disaster. This would not only prevent him from having a chance to stand up, but also prevent anyone from blaming the emperor for the disaster.
It's a pity that the earthquake happened just before Zuo Fengyi had a solution. This messed up the emperor's plan. Because at this time, Shi Sunrui's excuse for dereliction of duty and cover-up had not yet been established. Waiting for him
After he resigned, everyone left. If the emperor still used Zuo Fengyi's incident to punish him, a minister who had been dismissed, it would appear to others that the emperor was mean and ruthless, and that he did not cherish his ministers at all. This would not only chill the hearts of others.
, it will also damage the image of the emperor.
Even others will worry about whether the emperor will settle old scores with him after he leaves office, which will deepen their concerns and affect possible cooperation and mutual trust with the emperor in the future.
After all, ancient times were a society that valued humaneness. The "responsibility upon leaving office" system like that of later generations was still difficult to accept in ancient times. The emperor had no choice but to start step by step, first rectifying the administration of officials, and then exerting his authority to make everyone fearful.
, and then implement "responsibility after leaving office" among grassroots officials, or even "lifelong accountability".
"Perhaps this disaster really happened to Sikong." Wang Bin did not think of this, so he suggested to himself: "How about triggering a court discussion tomorrow morning and saying that Sikong's neglect of affairs caused the turmoil of heaven and earth.
, it has nothing to do with the king’s lack of virtue.”
The emperor shook his head: "Zuo Fengyi's matter has not yet come to a conclusion. No matter Lu Xu or the county magistrates, they are all ministers of the imperial court at the moment. Sikong usually acts cautiously, what reason do you have to involve him in the earthquake?"
Together? If you can’t explain it clearly, this earthquake should still be shining on me, and he should still take it as a routine matter, and take it on your behalf.”
"These are not things that bother my uncle, let alone him." The emperor waved his hand and said casually: "The reason for keeping my uncle this time is for the Forbidden Army. The generals of the North and South Forbidden Army such as Xu Huang, Gao Shun and others are all
I am not a man who is resourceful and good at fighting. There are also rules and regulations to follow regarding daily training, military logistics, deployment and other matters. All generals will handle everything according to the rules. There should be no serious problems and there is no need to disturb my uncle."
The various systems of the Northern and Southern armies have been gradually improved, and the rights and responsibilities are also very clear. The emperor's appointment of Wang Bin as General Guard is not to add a leader to command the Northern and Southern armies. That is unnecessary and does not conform to the principle of decentralization of military power. Rather, it is to
Let him use it for other purposes.
Wang Bin cheered up, knowing that the emperor was going to clear up the duties and responsibilities of his general, he responded: "However, the veteran also believes that military power cannot be exercised in the hands of one person. How can Jin, Dong Zhuo and others use military power?"
Those who are good at it still have lessons learned from the past, so they must not be careless. The northern and southern armies are not under each other, and there are no generals to control them. Each general is directly under the king. This is a plan for the safety of the imperial court."
The emperor nodded. He knew that Wang Bin had neither ambition nor sufficient talent, so he was so relieved to let him take charge of the army: "In addition to the 38,000 people of the Northern and Southern Army in Gyeonggi, there is also Pingdi General Ma Teng.
, General Fan Chou, Zhonglang General Wang Fang, Li Meng and other generals have more than 30,000 soldiers and horses. Now Fan Chou's army and Taiwei's old army Yang Ang and 20,000 people have been sent to Guandong. As a general, Ma Teng will not be here for the time being.
"Hao Dong, I will hand over Wang Fang and others to you first, and my uncle must take good care of them."
These Liangzhou generals around Dong Cheng have always been the emperor's worry. Although the emperor is not worried about what they will do, the emperor does not want to have an army that is not completely under his control. So he took advantage of Fan Chou to lead him.
Most of the troops went to Kanto to waste their strength, and Wang Bin put the matter of dismantling the remaining Wang Fang and others on the agenda again.
The army in the capital can only obey the command of the emperor alone. As for Dong Cheng, he can just be a minister who does not command troops.
"I promise." Wang Bin knew that he had a heavy responsibility. As for whether Dong Cheng would be angry for thousands of people like Wang Fang, that was Dong Cheng's business.