Just as dawn was dawn, more than 20 cavalrymen escorted a prison cart to appear in front of the gate of Jinyang Palace. It was the peak period for court. More than 200 ministers were preparing to enter Jinyang Palace. I don’t know who it was.
He shouted, "There is a prison car behind!"
The ministers turned around and saw more than twenty cavalrymen holding long halberds guarding a prison cart towards the gate. On the prison cart, a man in his forties was dressed in white, with shackles on his hands, and his head was exposed.
Outside, his hair was disheveled and his expression was dull.
Everyone immediately dodged a path and watched the prison car pass by silently. Someone shouted, "Isn't this the prefect Zhang of Zhao County?"
A whisper suddenly sounded in the crowd. Zhang Jibei, the prefect of Zhao County, was the brother-in-law of Cui Hongyuan, the prime minister. The King of Chu issued an order two days ago. Zhang Jibei was suspected of accepting bribes and dereliction of duty, which was closely related to the corruption of the charity warehouse in Fangzi County, and ordered the grand dying.
The three departments held a trial, but unexpectedly, Zhang Jibei was taken to Beijing at this time.
Many of the officials outside the gate were from the Hebei system. Many of them had a good relationship with Zhang Jibei. Seeing Zhang Jibei being brought in by a prison car, someone sneaked out of the crowd and rode a horse to report to Cui Hongyuan.
At this time, soldiers ran down from the Jinyang Palace City, and a lieutenant on duty asked loudly: "Where is the prison car going?"
The escort said coldly: "I am ordered to escort the Censorate!"
A soldier rushed into the palace to report to the Censorate. Soon, the Chief Censor Han Shouzhong hurried out with several Censors and a dozen guards. He bowed and handed over his fish sign, "I am the Chief Censor Han Shouzhong."
, I will be ordered to try the Zhang Jibei case, and you will give him to me!"
The escort officer verified Han Shouzhong's fish card, returned the fish card to him, waved his hand, "Give them the prison cart!"
More than a dozen guards came forward to take over the prison car, and another censor came forward to receive the documents. The prison car was taken into Jinyang Palace by the guards. At this moment, Zhang Jibei in the prison car suddenly struggled and he tried hard to
Officials shouted: "Yang Yuanqing unloaded the mill and killed the donkey, and wanted to clean up the Hebei officialdom..."
Before he finished speaking, a soldier slammed his face with a spear, screaming and bleeding from his nose. Zhang Jibei was knocked to death, and the officials shouted softly, and took a step back one after another. Han Shouzhong
Yin shouted with a calm face: "Take him into the Censorate's Dungeon!"
The prison car was pushed into the palace. The officials were talking in front of the gate for a moment. At this time, the bell in the Jinyang Palace rang. This was the first sound of the three bells, and the officials entered the palace one after another. In front of the Jinyang Palace gate
Quiet again.
Just half an hour later, the scene that happened in front of Jinyang Palace spread throughout the court and became a topic of discussion among all officials of the court. Although Zhang Jibei's case was just a simple case of bribery and dereliction of duty, the officials thought
But it’s not simple. Zhang Jibei had the backstage of the Boling Cui family and the identity of Cui Hongyuan’s brother-in-law, which complicated this seemingly simple case.
When Yang Yuanqing came to Jinyang Palace, a scene that happened in front of the gate had passed. He entered his official room as usual. As soon as he sat down, Pei Qingsong reported outside the door, "Your Highness, Cui Xiang and Yang Xiang asked for a meeting."
At this time, most of the dissatisfaction in Yang Yuanqing's heart had disappeared. The two of them came to apologize to him last night. They appeared in time today, which shows that their attitude is still relatively sincere. Just because of their sincerity, they don't care about them.
"Let them in!"
Soon, Yang Shidao and Cui Junsu walked in quickly, and there was an embarrassment on their faces that could not be concealed. After all, they came to admit their mistakes and apologize. Most people couldn't stand it. They bowed together, "Wei Chen, especially to your Highness."
Apologize!”
Yang Yuanqing waved his hand, "Please sit down!"
The two sat down. Although the atmosphere was a bit awkward, some words had to be explained clearly.
"One of you two has followed me for many years, and the other is my old friendship, so I just said it."
Yang Yuanqing glanced at them, and both of them smiled bitterly and said, "Please speak frankly!"
"I can understand your feelings, and I appreciate your practice of adhering to institutional principles. First of all, I position you as the strongest ministers of the Great Sui Dynasty."
The two of them were overjoyed and bowed together, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Yang Yuanqing waved his hand and interrupted them, "Although this is the case, I am extremely dissatisfied with your actions!"
Yang Yuanqing paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, his tone very stern, "Although I violated the system and killed the county magistrate without being convicted by the Ministry of Justice. This is wrong, but have you advised me? Or pointed out my wrongness in person,
If I don't listen to advice, then it is reasonable that you are forced to resign helplessly. I have nothing to say, but you didn't do this. I'm still on the way, so you shouted to resign. As a goddamn hall
Prime Minister, did you make a decision so rashly? You didn’t even have the minimum advice, just use resignation to force me. Don’t you think this is a bit too much?”
Cui Junsu and Yang Shidao both showed shame on their faces. Yang Shidao felt a little ashamed and stood up to salute deeply, "This is all the rashness of the minister. If you think about the problem, Cui Xiangguo resigned, and the minister came to persuade him.
He bears the main responsibility and is willing to accept His Highness's punishment."
Cui Junsu also stood up to apologize, "This has nothing to do with Yang Xiangguo's advice. It is because the minister is not cautious enough and he is willing to accept the crime!"
Yang Yuanqing sat down again, and the sincere confession of the two people finally made his dissatisfaction completely disappear. He nodded, "I was originally punishing you, but I was afraid that the court officials would think that I, Yang Yuanqing, would not accept the advice, so the punishment was exempted.
, I just hope you remember one thing, I am wrong, you can advise me, if I firmly refuse to change, then if you resign, I have nothing to say. No matter what, I must accept the advice.
Chance."
The two of them suddenly relaxed, and the matter finally passed. They saluted deeply together, "Thank you for your teachings, I will remember!"
"Okay! I don't need to mention this matter anymore. Please discuss with you two Prime Ministers and Prime Minister Du together if you manage the charity warehouse well, brainstorm and come up with the best solution."
"Abide by the order!"
The two bowed again and retreated together.
Yang Yuanqing also breathed a sigh of relief. The matter finally passed. At this time, he saw Pei Qingsong poking his head at the door and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
"Your Highness, I have one thing to report to you."
"What's up?"
"This morning, the entire court officials were talking about something, which was already very rumored."
A sentence reminded Yang Yuanqing that he came to Jinyang Palace this morning. Along the way, he saw officials talking about something in groups of three or five. When he saw him coming, he stopped talking immediately, which made him a little strange. He wanted to ask Pei Qingsong
, but was interrupted by Yang Shidao and Cui Junsu.
"You reminded me that today I also saw a lot of people talking about what happened?"
"Report to Your Highness, Zhang Jibei was escorted by a prison car this morning. Bei Yi was also present at that time..."
Pei Qingsong then explained the incident that happened in the morning at the gate of Jinyang Palace in detail. Yang Yuanqingyin listened calmly and said nothing. After listening, he asked coldly: "He is really shouting."
Will I, Yang Yuanqing, kill the donkey?"
"He shouted like this, calling His Highness the name directly, which was very rude, and he also said that His Highness would clean up the Hebei officialdom."
"Hmph!" Yang Yuanqing snorted heavily, "I think he is impatient in his life. It's time for him to even threaten me."
After pausing, Yang Yuanqing asked again: "Did Cui Hongyuan go to court today?"
"Reporting to your highness, he still claimed to be ill and did not attend court. However, Prime Minister Lu went to court, and I saw him just now."
Yang Yuanqing took two steps behind his hands and immediately said, "Prepare the carriage, I want to visit the Cui Mansion!"
.........
Cui Hongyuan's mansion in Taiyuan is not big, it is just a six-acre middle house. However, the area is very good, just close to the north gate and not far from Taiyuan North City. He goes to court every day and is a prosperous place, but he
The house is in a quiet corner.
Currently, only Cui Hongyuan and his wife live in the Cui Mansion, as well as more than a dozen servants, and the other children of the Cui family in Boling do not live in this mansion.
Cui Hongyuan is over 60 years old. He is the brother of Cui Hongsheng, the former prefect of Zhuo County. Cui Hongsheng unfortunately died of infection during the First Goryeo War.
Because Cui Hongyuan was already old, he was appointed as the head of the Cui family in Boling. In fact, family affairs were managed by his nephew Cui Zhong.
Moreover, among the seven majors of Ziwei Pavilion, he is the only one without real power. He is the chief secretary of the prince and the leader of all officials in the Eastern Palace. However, there is no Eastern Palace in the Great Sui Dynasty, and there is no prince. He is a free position.
.
Not only that, because of his age, Ziweige's political affairs pen only symbolizes Xing to him and Su Wei, and the real power is taken turns to the hands of the other five prime ministers.
Cui Hongyuan has been ill for three days, while Lu Yu has been ill for two days. Their illness is a strategy, and they use delays to force Yang Yuanqing to give up the cleaning of the Hebei officialdom.
As for resignation, the two of them and Yang Shidao and their real resignation were different. They just verbally clamored to resign, but the written resignation was not handed over to Yang Yuanqing at all.
Cui Hongyuan was really sick today. He was worried and got the news early in the morning that his brother-in-law Zhang Jibei was escorted to Beijing by a prison car, which made him even more worried.
In the room, a maid was carefully feeding Cui Hongyuan to drink medicine, but her hands were put into the maid's collar and playing with the maid's plump breasts. The maid's face was flushed, but her body was not
Dare to move.
Most old men are better. Although they have no ability, their good intentions are getting older. Cui Hongyuan is no exception. He can only move his hands, his eyes narrowed into a slit, and his excitement is flashing, staring at him tightly.
The maid's face flushed due to shyness.
Just as his hand was about to touch the maid's skirt, a rapid run came from outside the door, and the old butler was anxiously reporting outside the door: "Master, there is something urgent!"
"What urgent matter?" Cui Hongyuan's tone was extremely unhappy. The ignorant butler dared to interrupt his interest.
"Master, the King of Chu is coming down."
"Ah!" Cui Hongyuan sat up and urged the maid to say, "Hurry up and change my clothes!"