The Great Dragon Emperor Li Zheng was sitting high on the dragon chair, looking majestically at the civil and military officials below: "Dear sirs, besides the issue of the Yanzhou locust plague, is there any memorial?"
The civil and military ministers of the DPRK and China looked at each other, and Prince Duan Li Yang came out of the procession to stand in the atrium: "Your Majesty, I have a script to report."
Li Zheng frowned and looked at his brother Duan Wang Li Yang, who was a compatriot from his mother's side: "Quickly played, what did King Duan say?"
Duanwang Li Yang took out a memorial from his sleeve: "Reporting to your majesty, a locust plague occurred in Yanzhou. The locusts passed through the border and no grass grew. Now the people of Yanzhou must be in dire straits. I sincerely ask your majesty to open warehouses to provide relief. Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, is responsible.
Holy grace, in vain and without concern for the safety of the people, concealed the news of the locust plague in Yanzhou, causing many people in the Dalong Dynasty to starve to death on the streets. My brother thought that he should immediately issue an order to dismiss the governor of Yanzhou from his post and investigate, as a warning to others.
The details have been stated one by one in the memorial, your Majesty, please check."
Li Zheng motioned to the eunuch on the side: "Send it up." The eunuch immediately walked down the dragon ladder and took the memorial from Li Yang and presented it to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, memorial."
Li Zheng carefully looked through the memorial in his hand. The more he read, the more his brows furrowed. Then he looked at Prince Duan: "Ma Tailai, the Minister of Household Affairs, is responsible for disaster relief matters. Yu Tonghao, the doctor of the Ministry of War, will be appointed as the governor of Yanzhou?"
King Duan saluted: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am only responsible for recommendation. As for how to deal with me, I will not interfere. Your Majesty knows it clearly."
Li Zheng glanced at the ministers who only knew how to look at the eyes, nose and nose, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "What do you all think of King Duan's memorial? Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, was dismissed on the spot for investigation, and the Minister of Household Affairs was responsible for disaster relief and food payment.
Do you have any objections to the appointment of a doctor from the Ministry of War as the governor of Yanzhou?"
A middle-aged man in a purple official robe standing at the head of the row on the left stood up, holding a ceremonial wat, "Your Majesty, I would like to inform you that if you have any objections, please give me your original report."
"Oh, what does the Prime Minister want to say? It's accurate!"
"Reporting to your majesty, although Yanzhou is a lower state in Shanxi Prefecture, our government has stipulated that the governor of Xiazhou should be ranked in the lower and fourth grades of the third rank. Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, was a Jinshi who was a distinguished scholar for thirty-seven years when the late emperor was in power. He is quite qualified.
Deep, and he is an honest official, ranking in the fourth rank. Taizu's order stated that officials above the fourth rank must undergo a joint examination by three divisions, and only after finding out the evidence can they be convicted. Now what King Duan said is to directly dismiss Luo Governor on the spot and investigate.
It is not in compliance with the legal system. I advise that the governor of Yanzhou be escorted back to Beijing safely, and that the evidence will be complete after a joint review by the three departments before handling it."
Li Zheng nodded: "What the Right Prime Minister said is true. This is the rule set by Taizu. Officials of fourth rank and above must go through a joint trial of three divisions before they can be convicted. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, I have sent you a memorial from Wei Yong."
"Wei Aiqing also has a plan to play? It's accurate."
"It is difficult to make a conclusion whether Luo Lin, the governor of Yanzhou, is guilty for the time being. As the Right Prime Minister said, he needs to be tried by three divisions before he can be convicted. I have no objection. However, in the memorial of King Duan, he recommended the Minister of Hubu to relieve the disaster, and Yu Tonghao, the doctor of the Ministry of War, took up the post.
The governor of Yanzhou has objections. The appointment and removal of officials must be reviewed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, let alone the official of a state's frontier. Such an easy decision can be concluded based on only one memorial. This is irresponsible to the people of Yanzhou. Your Majesty, please be clear."
"Your Majesty, I have my report, Xia Gongming."
"Master Imperial Envoy, do you also have a report?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I impeach King Duan Li Yang in vain, in vain to respect the clan's etiquette, and to bring chaos to the imperial court."
Duan Wang Li Yang's face was gloomy. He turned slightly and stared at Xia Gongming, the imperial emissary who was in the procession. The imperial emissary was responsible for checking all the behaviors of the officials in the court. He heard that he was responsible for making trouble. He didn't expect that he would be burned today.
to yourself.
Li Zheng rolled his eyes: "Oh? Why did Xia Aiqing say this? King Duan is committed to disaster relief and solving my problems. How can he ignore the patriarchal etiquette and bring trouble to the court?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Taizu of our dynasty has issued a decree that the harem and eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in politics. Up to the princes and prefectures, except for the prince, the Li family members have titles but no power. If they exceed the limit, they will be beheaded. Prince Duan is the prince. According to etiquette
If you interfere in the government's affairs and recommend officials, you will exceed the regulations and you will be executed for the crime. Your Majesty, please remove the title of King Duan and escort him to Tianlao. The clan government will review and record the evidence and ask for execution after the fall."
All civil and military officials in the dynasty looked at Xia Gongming, the imperial censor who was standing in the middle, in shock. Unexpectedly, he would say such words. It was not the emperor's final decision whether King Duan should exceed the rules or not. Now he has brought out Taizu's order.
, This completely cuts off King Duan’s retreat. Xia Gongming, you are really fair and wise.
King Duan was frightened and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, I am aware that I am just trying to solve your problems for Your Majesty, and I will never do anything beyond the rules. Xia Gongming, the old thief, is framed by me. I ask Your Majesty to make the decision."
Li Zheng looked troubled: "Xia Aiqing, Prince Duan also has good intentions, but it was an unintentional act. I think it's better to forget it."
"Your Majesty, the rule of law is the rule of law. As an imperial envoy, this is my duty. Good intentions and unintentional actions are both overstepping the rules. Please follow Taizu's order, remove the title of King Duan, and escort him to Tianlao."
The censors behind Xia Gongming looked at each other and decided to follow the boss. As the censors were destined to do so, they knelt down one after another: "Your Majesty, please execute the order, cut off the king's title, and go to the prison."
Li Zheng felt dizzy for a while: "Xia Aiqing, I think"
"Reporting to your majesty, I have given you my advice, Emperor Li Zheng, have you forgotten the etiquette of your ancestors? Forgetting your ancestors is unfilial, and failing to distinguish between rewards and punishments is unfaithful. Li Zheng, do you want to be a foolish emperor?" Xia Gongming is nearly sixty years old.
He was old, his beard and hair were all white, and he looked at the emperor sitting high on the dragon throne with sharp eyes.
Li Zheng's face turned purple, and he looked at the imperial censor, one of the few old ministers left by the late emperor, angrily. He wanted to point his nose at him and scold him, but he was afraid that he would scold him away accidentally. After all, Wuliu
He is already ten years old. It is rare to live in seventy years since ancient times. It is rare for an official to criticize him. Besides, Xia Gongming is indeed right to seek his own government in his position. The duty of the imperial envoy is to inspect all officials.
"I, Duke Xia, would like to ask Your Majesty to cut off the prince's rank and send him to the prison."
Seeing the upright Xia Gongming, Li Zheng sighed and said: "It is decreed that King Duan ignores the ancestral etiquette and exceeds the control of court affairs. He will be demoted to the county king with immediate effect and will not be allowed to go to court for a month. I admire this."
King Duan glanced at Xia Gongming fiercely, wishing to kill the old man, but Li Zheng had already issued the decree and did not dare to refute: "I thank the Lord for your kindness."
"Xia Aiqing, you have nothing to say, I have already issued an order, you can't let me change it overnight."
The imperial censor kowtowed and stood up. Just because he is upright does not mean that he does not understand etiquette. A king cannot change his orders overnight. The matter is a foregone conclusion. If he continues to be forced, he does not know how to commend himself.
Li Zheng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the imperial emissary returning to his original place. It would really be a headache if Xia Gongming continued to remonstrate with death. This is why Xia Gongming dared to call the emperor by his surname but still remained firmly in his position.
The reason is that those who understand Dali, know how to advance and retreat, and criticize ministers are good critics. If you are really stubborn, you will die countless times.
Moreover, Li Zheng needs a veteran like Xia Gongming, who has deep qualifications and lives up to his name. Gongming, sometimes Xia Gongming is indeed a good sword.