Chapter VII The Appearances of All the Officials at the Court
At five o'clock the next day, Jiang Zhe was woken up. Because he had too many things on his mind the night before, he couldn't sleep well all night, so he was woken up at this hour, which made him a little annoyed.
After looking at the darkness outside, Jiang Zhe asked angrily: "What time is it? You won't even let me sleep peacefully?"
He Zhen replied from below: "It's already Maozheng time to return to the Emperor."
"Maozheng? Oh, it's six o'clock, but it's not too late. I don't usually get up so early." Jiang Zhe muttered and refused to get up.
He Zhen didn't know what the emperor's six points meant, but as a great eunuch, he had to fulfill his obligations, otherwise it would be a problem for the emperor to investigate afterward, so even though he didn't want to get up when he saw the emperor, he still had to say, "
Your Majesty, today is the day for morning court."
"Morning court?" Jiang Zhe asked subconsciously. Yes, the emperor is going to court, but he has been here for so long, why do he have to go to court today?
"Yes. The emperor of the Tang Dynasty had to attend morning court on the first and fifteenth day of every month. Previously, because it was the mourning period of Emperor Mu Zong, the morning court was suspended. Now the funeral has been completed, and today happens to be the first day of October, so
...However, if the emperor is unwell, I will send someone to inform you that the court will not be held early today." He Zhen patiently explained to the new monarch.
"No, no, no, no, I'll get up and go to court." Jiang Zhe quickly turned over and sat up. Well, if he doesn't go to court on the first morning after he ascends the throne, wouldn't he become a great emperor?
In the Xuanzheng Hall, Emperor Qianwei sat facing south, with Zhang Xiao standing on the left and Baili Hongyu standing on the right. The reason why Jiang Zhe let Baili Hongyu follow him to the court instead of Zhao Neng was to completely cut off eunuchs from interfering in politics.
Channel, Li Gang, the powerful official in the court, could not be moved for the time being, but he could still subdue the eunuchs in the harem.
After all the officials knelt down and kowtowed three times, shouting "Long Live the Mountain", the court meeting officially began. Jiang Zhe looked down and saw that among the dark crowd, he recognized Li Gang, Zhang Jinzhong and a few other people, but he didn't know.
Are there any loyal ministers and good ministers here? Anyway, I didn't see anyone in the list of officials who particularly satisfied me.
After calming down, Jiang Zhe said: "Today is the first court meeting since I ascended the throne, and it is also the first time I discuss court affairs with all my beloved ministers, so today everyone can speak freely! No matter what you say, I will not blame you.
.Let’s talk about it, what are some memorials?”
A minister in the front position came out and said: "Your Majesty, the Khitan, Koryo, Uighur and Tuyuhun have sent envoys to congratulate me on the new emperor's enthronement. This is the gift list. The envoys from the four countries are also waiting outside the palace."
Jiang Zhe recognized him as Li Shuzheng, the Minister of Rites, and while taking the gift list from Baili Hongyu, he smiled and said, "They get news pretty quickly, let me take a look."
Opening the gift list, I found that they were just specialties from various countries. I couldn't understand it for a while. I thought that I would definitely have to return the gift, so I put it aside and said: "This is the job of your etiquette department, so it will be handled as usual. As for people,
I will disappear from the court today, Li Aiqing will arrange another time."
After Li Shuzheng retired, several officials reported several auspicious things. One said that a yellow dragon appeared in such and such a place and then flew away. The other said that a Ganoderma lucidum as big as an umbrella appeared in such and such place. They were nothing more than words of praise to the saint.
.
Jiang Zhe really felt like laughing. Do these people think they are fools? Okay, you can brag, but I will see how you can justify your lies. So he said calmly: "Okay, I just went to the extreme,
There are so many auspicious things, I am very happy. Since the yellow dragon has flown away, forget it, arrange for the Ganoderma lucidum to come in immediately, and I also want to take a look."
Several ministers looked at each other in disbelief, wondering where they could get that thing, so they could only reply awkwardly: "I have heard about it and have not seen it in person."
Jiang Zhe's face turned cold and he said, "Since it's just been heard, do you dare to make false claims about good fortune and consider me as someone who can be deceived?"
When several flattering ministers saw the horse's hoof being flattered, they quickly knelt down and begged for mercy.
Just when Jiang Zhe was about to rebuke him again, Li Gang had already come out and said: "The emperor will rejoice, the world will be prosperous, the river map and Luo Shu will be published, auspicious things have been done in ancient times. All the ministers are the children of saints, and they are full of poems and books, how can they do this?"
Are you talking about auspiciousness?"
As soon as Li Gang said this, more than half of the officials in the Xuanzheng Palace immediately echoed.
When Jiang Zhe saw this, he couldn't help but take a breath of air. It seemed that he had underestimated Li Gang's power. Looking at this posture, it was possible to force him to the throne on the spot.
At that moment, Jiang Zhe had no choice but to say in a calm tone: "I don't intend to punish you for this, but you should remember from today on that although I am young, I am not an ignorant king. You must serve you with sincerity."
"For those who can really contribute to the country, the country and the people, I will not begrudge high-ranking officials and generous salaries; but if I only think about charming you and greedy you every day, I have no mercy." Although these words are said openly, it is still somewhat still.
There is a bit of helplessness in it.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Li Gang said expressionlessly.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," all the officials chanted in unison.
"Okay, okay. Is there anything else that needs to be done?" Jiang Zhe couldn't hide the bored tone in his tone.
Taiwei Zhang Jinzhong went out to report again: "Your Majesty, Cheng Guangzhi at the border has sent an urgent military report. The Western Turkic army is attacking the city day and night. Although the defenders of Yumen Pass have high walls and deep fortresses, they have suffered heavy casualties.
, with all the casualties and casualties, please increase the number of troops and food supplies as soon as possible."
Jiang Zhe knew that many great defeats in history were caused by the blind command of emperors who did not know how to fight. Moreover, the transportation at this time was very underdeveloped, and it would take several days to transmit information at the fastest. The military situation at the front was changing rapidly, so commanding from the rear was the right thing to do.
The command also turned out to be wrong when it reached the front.
And to be honest, he didn't dare to say that he knew about fighting. Although he had read some books on this subject, after all, he did not graduate from a military academy. So Jiang Zhe decided to ask for advice humbly and asked: "
What knowledge does the lieutenant have?"
Zhang Jinzhong said boldly: "I am a rough man and don't have much knowledge. I know that the territory of the Celestial Empire will not be lost, and I will beat anyone who makes trouble."
It seems that Zhongzhong still has a bloody spirit in his heart. Jiang Zhe nodded with satisfaction and said: "Then according to the Taiwei, how should we fight in this battle?"
Zhang Jinzhong said without hesitation: "Move 100,000 troops from the capital camp to form the middle route army, and 30,000 troops each from Guannai Road and Jiannan Road to form the east and west wings. Together with the garrison on Longyou Road itself, the total number is 250,000.
Attacked by a pincer from three sides, the Western Turks' military strength is said to be only one hundred thousand, and they can be defeated in one battle."
Before Jiang Zhe could say anything, a minister had already come out and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that this move of the Taiwei is absolutely undesirable."
Jiang Zhe was stunned and asked: "Who are you?"
The minister replied: "I am Li Min, the Minister of Household Affairs."
"Tell me why this move is absolutely impossible?" Jiang Zhe became interested. Does the Minister of Household Affairs know how to fight?
"As the Taiwei said, with a massive attack on all sides, military supplies will be allocated and tens of millions of dollars will not come. As the folk proverb goes, you cannot build a house without mountains of rice, and as the national proverb goes, you cannot fight a war without mountains of gold and silver!"
For a twenty-five-strong army, the number of laborers transporting grain in the rear would be 200,000. Plus the other personnel on the grain transport road, the total would be 600,000. Each person would be calculated at twelve taels of rations per day.
Rice and flour consume 6,000 shi per day. It costs three taels of silver per shi to transport the grain from Guannei and Hedong to the front line. If the grain is transported from Huainan and Jiangnan, it will cost twice as much.
Calculating this way, we need at least 18,000 taels of silver every day, and 540,000 taels a month. This does not include the wages of the grain transporters. If we calculate it all, it will cost at least one million every month.
Two silver coins.
The existing silver in the treasury is less than two million taels, and we still need to provide disaster relief and build mausoleums. In a word, your Majesty, I cannot afford this money." What Li Min said was spitting, and when he said it, he may have really gotten angry.
His tone seemed very hard.
Jiang Zhe's spirits suddenly rose. Li Min didn't pay much attention to this Li Min when he looked at the resumes of hundreds of officials before, but judging from his performance, he is at least a capable official. This person needs to be paid close attention to. I think.
After a moment, he asked: "Then according to Aiqing, how should we fight this battle?"
Li Min straightened his neck and said: "I am in charge of the household department. I am only responsible for money and food. I know nothing about marching and fighting. I dare not make any comments. But the Taiwei's method is absolutely unworkable."
Another minister went out to report: "Huang Jingtai, the imperial censor of Zuodu in the Imperial Procuratorate, reported to the emperor that Mr. Li's words are really cowardly and harmful to the country. The Western Turks have been our country's foreign invaders since ancient times and have been our country's enemies for many generations.
Since I came to Dingding, I have never stopped harassing and plundering our borders. They are greedy evil thieves and robbers. I can no longer tolerate these evil thieves. Your Majesty, Fuqiu, is determined to fight with the thieves."
Jiang Zhe shook his head slightly in his heart. These censors shout louder slogans, but they are just shouting slogans. You think I don’t want to fight. Just now, the Minister of Household Affairs said that if you don’t have money, you can’t afford to fight. But Huang
Jingtai has such integrity and cannot be suppressed, so he said: "Ai Qing, what is the best way to defeat the enemy?"
Huang Jingtai said loudly: "It is the duty of the generals to protect the border and kill the enemy. It is beyond my ability, but I believe that we will never tolerate the rampant thieves."
Jiang Zhe felt like kicking him in his heart, so he just shouted slogans with your brother. Looking at Li Gang with his face slightly closed underneath, looking calm and composed, even though he was not very willing, he still had to ask him:
"What does Mr. Li think?"
Li Gang said slowly: "Negotiate peace."
"Negotiating a peace?" Jiang Zhe felt a little conflicted. Coming from a modern society, he knew too many unequal treaties. There was no equality at all in this kind of alliance signed under the city's doorstep.
"Yes. It's a peace negotiation." Li Gang still had a calm expression.
"Tell me your reasons." Jiang Zhe gritted his teeth and said.
"The Western Turks have strong soldiers and strong horses, with men like wolves and horses like tigers. However, most of our soldiers are neglected in battle formations. There have been few victories in previous battles. This time our troops have been resisting the Western Turks for more than a month. It is a good time to negotiate and negotiate a peace."
Moreover, the Western Turks just want some money and things, so just give them to him."
When he said this, except for Zhang Jinzhong and several generals, all the ministers in the DPRK and the Central Government agreed with him.
Although Jiang Zhe was very resistant to the peace negotiation, seeing that the ministers in the DPRK and the Central Government unanimously advocated for peace, it was difficult for him not to agree. Moreover, he was not an angry young man without brains. He also knew that judging from the current situation of the Tang Dynasty, the peace negotiation was indeed feasible.
It was better than a hard fight, so he said: "Then according to Prime Minister Li's wishes, who is suitable to go to negotiate peace?"
"I recommend Mr. Huang, the imperial censor of Zuodu." I don't know if Li Gang deliberately targeted Huang Jingtai.
Jiang Zhe happened to want to see if Mr. Huang really had the backbone or just shouted slogans, so he said: "It's just what Aiqing said. Huang Aiqing, I hope you will go there this time and don't fail me."
The emperor had spoken, and Huang Jingtai couldn't say not to go. Wouldn't that mean he was resisting the decree? He could only say: "I accept the decree. I will never lose the authority of the Tang Dynasty and the emperor by going."
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