As someone who aspires to become the first emperor of the ages, Li Er has always believed that all the affairs of the court are under his control.
This is his confidence and his pride.
But now it made him feel a little hesitant.
Could it be that I was too tolerant before?
So much so that these people dared to blatantly threaten her and force her into a palace.
For their own selfish desires, these people disregarded the interests of the empire and the majesty of the imperial power.
What is the limit for such unscrupulous criticism of a young talent who has made countless contributions to the empire?
At this moment, His Majesty Li Er was really angry!
Once these officials in Jiangnan are touched, the situation in the DPRK will definitely be turbulent for a period of time.
But there’s nothing we can do about it!
Changsun Wuji, however, just stood aside silently, neither fanning the flames nor trying to persuade or stop him, as if he was a bystander.
Just when His Majesty Li Er was thinking about which people to bring out for surgery and do something to scare the monkeys.
When the chamberlain came to report, Yang Fan sent Chief Shi Quan Wanji to the capital for an audience.
Hearing this, His Majesty Li Er was slightly stunned. What is going on?
Has Jiangnan changed?
Otherwise, how could he easily send Chang Shi to Beijing at this moment?
His Majesty Li Er didn't say anything, but he kept speculating in his mind.
Could it be that Chang Shi came to persuade him to protect Yang Fan?
After thinking about it, it would be understandable even if Yang Fan asked someone to seek refuge from him.
After all, almost half of the censors and officials now gathered to impeach one person, which was extremely rare in the past dynasties.
This is unprecedented since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.
Even he, the emperor, felt a little suffocated by the oppressive feeling created by this situation and the public opinion offensive.
Yang Fan was young and had never experienced court strife. It was understandable that he panicked and sent people to ask for help under the heavy pressure.
Thinking of this, Li Er became even more worried about Yang Fan's situation in Jiangnan.
After all, if Yang Fan can't withstand the pressure and quits, then the situation he finally opened up will be in vain!
On the side, Changsun Wuji's narrowed eyes flashed with a smile.
His views were similar to Li Er's. Yang Fan must have been unable to bear the pressure and sent someone to Chang'an to ask for His Majesty's protection.
But Changsun Wuji was not optimistic that Li Er could find a way to get the best of both worlds.
The emperor's authority alone cannot settle everything in court disputes.
After all, even the supreme imperial power must weigh and take into account the interests of all parties.
If we blindly favor Yang Fan and fight against some officials and people in Jiangnan, it will inevitably lead to chaos in the court.
If Li Er wants to become an emperor through the ages, he must think carefully.
After all, Yang Fan opposed the Jiangnan nobles in such a big way and tried to improve the status of merchants. This was not just a problem in Jiangnan.
Therefore, Yang Fan's final ending can only end miserably.
Although he felt that Yang Fan was desperate and even unable to recover, Changsun Wuji did not intend to get involved in the fight between the Jiangnan nobles and Yang Fan immediately. He just wanted to wait and see what would happen.
After a while, Quan Wanji was brought into the palace by the chamberlain.
"We have met His Majesty and Duke Zhao."
As soon as he entered the main hall, Quan Wanji bowed deeply.
Of course, Yang Fan did not send Quan Wanji to Beijing this time to ask the emperor to protect him.
Because Yang Fan knows how political power comes from the barrel of a gun.
Now that Jiangnan's gun is in his hands, these clowns have nothing to fear.
The reason why he sent Quan Wanji to Beijing was not only to express his dissatisfaction with those Jiangnan nobles who impeached him.
It was also because Quan Wanji had the deepest understanding of Jiangnan's reforms, especially the reforms in Huating County, except for himself.
For some of Jiangnan's measures, only Quan Wanji is the most suitable person to explain it.
He can describe very well what he did in Jiangnan.
"No courtesy!" His Majesty Li Er waved his hand, glanced at the dusty Quan Wanji, and asked, "Why did Yang Fan send Aiqing here?"
Quan Wanji said respectfully: "I am here because I have been entrusted by the Governor to ask your Majesty for something."
At this time, Changsun Wuji snorted coldly and said, "Is it possible that Yang Fan couldn't stand it anymore and sent you to ask for His Majesty's protection?"
Quan Wanji frowned, but did not pay attention to Changsun Wuji. Instead, he solemnly said to the emperor: "The governor asked the ministers to take the lead and asked your majesty not to punish those officials who impeached him, let alone those who impeached him.
Targeting his officials and killing them, because this can easily cause instability in the DPRK..."
Hearing this, His Majesty Li Er was stunned.
I really didn’t expect that Yang Fan sent Quan Wanji to Beijing to intercede for the Jiangnan officials who were targeting him?
This style of painting is wrong!
Isn’t that bastard Yang Fan always seeking revenge and complaining?
Is this kid trying to play another trick?
His Majesty Li Er's mind was running rapidly, thinking about whether there was any other meaning behind Yang Fan's move.
But Changsun Wuji on the side didn't think so, thinking that Yang Fan was playing a trick.
So he said disdainfully: "Quan Changshi, you are considered an old man in the officialdom, why are you still cooperating with Yang Fan to play a hard-to-get game?"
"Haha, he had known this, why did he do it in the first place? Yang Fan is now taking the initiative to show weakness to the Jiangnan nobles, where does he put your majesty's love and care?"
These words were obviously meant to tell the emperor that Yang Fan had surrendered to the Jiangnan gentry.
Every word is full of ridicule, even deliberately provoking the emperor's anger.
Because Changsun Wuji knew that the emperor would never give up Jiangnan easily.
The purpose of such a vengeance was to undermine Yang Fan's status in the emperor's heart.
At this time, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but be secretly happy.
In his opinion, Yang Fan must have been frightened by the crazy impeachment in the DPRK.
Seeing that he had become a rat on the street, everyone was shouting and beating him, and he was afraid that the emperor would not protect him.
Therefore, we had to send people to the emperor to deliberately make such rhetoric, with the purpose of blackmailing the emperor into protecting him.
Because Yang Fan could also see that the emperor was determined to win Jiangnan, he made a move to retreat in order to advance.
I have to say that Changsun Wuji thought Yang Fan's move was very clever.
Now that Yang Fan wants to please both sides, Changsun Wuji certainly won't allow this to happen.
Changsun Wuji knew His Majesty Li Er very well.
Li Er is a very wise man, but he cherishes his reputation too much!
In order to become the emperor of the ages, the eastern expedition to Goguryeo has become the emperor's obsession.
Holding Jiangnan in his hands can provide strong logistical support for the Eastern Expedition, so it is impossible for the emperor to abandon Jiangnan.
Yang Fan obviously saw this, so he sent these words to tell His Majesty Li Er.
If we don't do our best to protect him, then he will reconcile with the Jiangnan gentry.
Therefore, Changsun Wuji directly pointed out that Yang Fan had sinister intentions in this move.
Because Changsun Wuji knew that His Majesty Li Er was very proud, and what he hated most was someone threatening him.
Changsun Wuji deliberately guided him in this direction, just to make the emperor unhappy...
As expected, after hearing what Changsun Wuji said, Li Er naturally thought about this.
So he looked at Quan Wanji with a somewhat evil look.
Li Er really cherished Yang Fan and admired his talent.
But Li Er hated those people who were arrogant and relied on their merits and wanted to use various reasons to bargain with him, the emperor.
Because in Li Er's mind, the majesty of imperial power cannot be violated, and no one can be an exception.
Originally, Li Er planned to transfer Yang Fan back to Chang'an and join the cabinet for training after Yang Fan took control of Jiangnan.
After Li Er dies, Yang Fan can also become the new emperor's right-hand man.
But what does Yang Fan mean now?
Do you want to use your own merits to blackmail yourself into protecting him?
What does Li Er hate the most?
He hates his ministers bargaining with him the most, and hates his ministers blackmailing him the most.
As a result, His Majesty Li Er went astray under the deliberate guidance of Changsun Wuji.
I saw that Li Er's face quickly became ugly, and he said sullenly, "Then tell me, what is Yang Fan's purpose in sending you here? Is it because as long as I can't protect him, he will give up his business?"
"
Quan Wanji was slightly stunned, he didn't expect the emperor to understand so much.
It can be thought of Changsun Wuji's deliberate guidance just now, and then he realized that Changsun Wuji had led the emperor astray with just a few words.
Changsun Wuji is indeed an old fox!
Quan Wanji glanced at Changsun Wuji warily, and quickly explained: "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood the meaning of the Governor. There is no other connotation in what he just said."
"Before coming, the Governor specially asked the minister to tell His Majesty that the sage king will create a prosperous age and will definitely open up the world."
"Only when a king listens extensively to opinions from all sides, can he listen to both sides and gain understanding, and then he can be called a wise king."
"Since most officials in the court have impeached the Governor, although most of them are nonsense, if His Majesty suppresses them forcefully, who will dare to speak out and remonstrate with him in the future?"
"Although the current remarks of the imperial censor and official in the imperial court are a bit excessive, the flaws should not cover up the flaws, and we should not give up eating because of choking."
"Since these officials have doubts about Jiangnan's reforms, let's speak with facts and use the voices of the people to judge the results of the reforms. There is no need to use other means to interfere."
His Majesty Li Er was a little confused.
Are the words Yang Fan really meant literally?
What puzzled him was how Yang Fan could withstand the siege of Jiangnan nobles if he didn't protect him.
Although the laws of the Tang Dynasty clearly stipulate that the imperial censor can report things based on rumors, even if he is wrong, he does not have to bear responsibility.
This provision is to encourage the imperial censors to speak out boldly, and at the same time, it can supervise the style of civil and military officials.
The imperial censor does not have to worry about impeachment mistakes and cannot criticize and remonstrate directly.
If the impeachment of the Yushi Yanguan is true, Yang Fan is guilty. If Yang Fan is not guilty, the Yushi Yanguan just has unclear perception...
Originally, His Majesty Li Er wanted to use a few officials to scare the monkeys, but Yang Fan asked not to punish the officials who impeached him. He even refused His Majesty Li Er's implicit love for him.
His Majesty Li Er is a little puzzled.
Is Yang Fan stupid?
Could that bastard really be able to fight against the Jiangnan nobles on his own?
Or is it that Yang Fan has no clue what happened to the Jiangnan nobles?
His Majesty Li Er is a little confused!
Changsun Wuji also frowned and looked at Quan Wanji doubtfully, as if he wanted to see if what he said was true.
But seeing Quan Wanji, who was full of righteousness, he didn't think that this stubborn old man dared to spread Yang Fan's words.
Turning to look at His Majesty Li Er, Changsun Wuji's heart skipped a beat, he was going to be bad!
As expected, His Majesty Li Er was very moved.
What kind of minister is a good minister?
Talented, capable, loyal...
These are all factors that a good minister must possess.
But like Yang Fan, he took all the grievances on his own in order to make the emperor less embarrassed. This is simply a selfless and famous official!
I wonder if the emperor doesn't like such a minister?
His Majesty Li Er was excited and praised: "The prince-in-law is really good, I am very relieved! Quan Aiqing went back and told the prince-in-law that I will not let him bear the responsibility alone, and I want to let those officials know that they also need to bear responsibility for spreading rumors."
of."
Quan Wanji said: "Your Majesty's holy grace, I would like to thank you on behalf of the Grand Governor. In addition, this is the explanation of those people's impeachment of the Grand Governor. Please have your Majesty take a look at it. I will retire for the time being!"
After saying that, Quan Wanji handed over the memorial in his hand, then turned and left.
Looking at the memorial in his hand, His Majesty Li Er did not open it immediately.
He controls the secret service organization "Hundred Riders" and has Li Tai as his spy.
We can still know about Yang Fan's various reforms in Jiangnan.
The reasons given by the DPRK for impeaching Yang Fan are almost based on facts, or even invented out of thin air.
How could he not be pleased to see that Yang Fan was still able to take care of the overall situation despite being so wronged?
His Majesty Li Er secretly decided that if Yang Fan could not cope with it, even if the court would be in turmoil, he would kill some people as a warning.
Seeing this scene, Changsun Wuji was angry and resentful!
Yang Fan's ability to endure humiliation and bear the burden moved His Majesty Li Er to the extreme. That guy is so cunning!
It seems that even if Yang Fan fails to hold on in the end, the emperor will definitely protect him!
Changsun Wuji really had some doubts. Could it be that Yang Fan was Li Er's illegitimate son?
Otherwise, how could he be so favored by Li Er?
Changsun Wuji was very jealous. Originally, all these benefits belonged to his son Changsun Chong!
Unknowingly, Changsun Wuji's hatred for Yang Fan deepened.
Of course, Changsun Wuji, who knew how to watch what was happening, would not do anything right away, but could only retreat unwillingly.
He wanted to see what Li Er could do in the face of impeachment and siege by many courtiers.
At this time, Changsun Wuji decided that he should take action!
…
Early the next morning, before dawn, the court bells rang throughout Chang'an.
In the early Tang Dynasty, there were three types of court gatherings, with slightly different participants and different times.
In addition to the Yuan Day dynasty meeting, the lunar meeting on the first day of every month has the largest number of participants.
This kind of court meeting includes not only princes and nobles, but also civil and military officials of the ninth rank and above in the capital, as well as local officials.
Therefore, the court meeting on the first day of every month is very grand.
At this time, the court meeting required that the hall be equipped with mats, incense burners, incense tables, and ceremonial displays according to ancient rituals.
After everyone was told by the servants to sing, all the officials entered the Tai Chi Hall.
Today happens to be the first day of the Lunar New Year, so we have already been waiting here in the square outside Chengtianmen. The huge square seems full of people!
When the Chengtian Gate opened, the officials and the lords who were attending the court filed in, and the entire Taiji Palace seemed very lively.
Everyone walked straight in along the wide imperial road, which was the Tai Chi Gate. After passing this gate, they were in the majestic Tai Chi Hall.
Thousands of officials and nobles attended the court meeting at the same time, and the momentum must have been huge.
Generally, there can't be so many people standing in the Tai Chi Hall, and some of the lower ranks can only wait outside the hall.
In the past, the officials waiting outside the palace would have been whispering to each other, but now everyone was silent, as if a storm was about to come.
It seems that everyone knows that something important will happen in the morning, so the atmosphere is very quiet.