The atmosphere in the flower hall of the British government palace was a bit awkward.
However, the difference from just now is that this time it was because of Zhu Yi's "unobstructed speech".
It is true that these people present are all former ministers of the Supreme Emperor, and they are not favored by the Emperor.
However, there are some words that should be avoided.
Regarding the issue of the ownership of the throne, it is not something that can be discussed by others. You can think about it in your heart, but once you speak it out, it will inevitably lead to disaster and become a reference for others.
Apart from anything else, if the words just said spread out, it would not be a joke. In today's court, no one dares to say that the emperor should abdicate.
Whenever someone dares to say that, it is guaranteed that the Jin Yiwei will come to visit him the next day.
Strictly speaking, this is already considered slandering you.
You know, the case of King Zhennan that caused a lot of commotion was just because the fat prince wrote a poem about the late Emperor Renzong after being drunk.
A mere poem caused such an uproar and almost led to the deportation of a vassal king, which shows the seriousness of the matter.
Because of this, Zhang Shi felt restless when he heard Zhu Yi's words.
Now, the two families are already closely tied by marriage. If something happens to Zhu Yi, it will definitely involve the British government.
Why hadn't he noticed before that Zhu Yi was such an impulsive and radical person?
However, what Zhang Min didn't notice was that after hearing these words, Zhu Jian's expression flashed and he didn't know what he was thinking.
On the other side, after receiving Zhang Shi's 'reminder', Zhu Yi seemed to realize that she was a little excited, so she cupped her hands and said.
"Everyone, please forgive me for what I said in a moment of impatience."
"It doesn't matter, the Duke of Guo is outspoken and outspoken, and it is normal for him to be inappropriate occasionally. Since we are having a secret discussion today, it will naturally come from the mouth of the Duke of Guo and enter our ears, so no one else will know about it."
At this time, what surprised everyone was that the person who changed his mind was actually Zhu Jian, who had just been tit-for-tat with Zhu Yi.
However, this can be considered a good thing. The group of people didn't hesitate much and all agreed.
"That's right. It's just a casual conversation, and it doesn't count. The Duke of the country doesn't need to be nervous."
"Don't worry, Mr. Guo, we will keep our conversation confidential today and we will never reveal a single word."
As a result, the slightly tense atmosphere just now was diluted a lot as everyone spoke one after another.
Of course, that's what he said, but what he was thinking in his heart is unknown.
However, after finally saving face, Zhu Yi calmed down her emotions, organized her words well, and spoke again, saying.
"What I want to say is actually very simple. After all, the current emperor inherited the throne from the Supreme Emperor, not from the previous emperor."
"Especially now that the Supreme Emperor is still recuperating in Nangong, this makes the Emperor even more eager to do something great and prove himself to the ministers."
"But, it's risky!"
At this point, Zhu Yi hesitated again, but seemed to think that he had already said so much, so he simply said it.
"When the Supreme Emperor came to power personally, he conquered Luchuan River, sailed to the Western Seas, and then went on to personally conquer the country. This was because he had the intention of achieving great achievements."
"but……"
"So, judging from everything that has happened in the past two years, this emperor is holding back his energy to be a promising king, but he is also afraid that he will be impulsive and cause something difficult to deal with."
As he spoke, Zhu Yi stopped talking, looked up at the crowd, his eyes flashed, and his tone became determined.
"This is our opportunity!"
Then, Zhu Yi glanced at Chen Mao and Zhang Shi and said.
"Just now Marquis Chen said that the emperor's reform of science and education was for the sake of being arbitrary, but in my opinion, that may not be the case."
Chen Mao and Zhang Min looked at each other, then frowned and said.
"What's the meaning?"
"Jiang Shibo just said something that was a bit taboo, but it pointed out the key point."
Looking at Zhu Yi who was looking at him, Jiang Yi was confused and didn't know what this matter had to do with him.
Jiang Yi blinked and said tentatively.
"Duke Guo is talking about starting a war with the grassland?"
"good!"
Zhu Yi nodded and said.
"Jiang Shibo just asked, if the emperor insists on going his own way and wants to start a war with the grassland, can we start a war? My answer is..."
"cannot!"
These two words were said decisively, and then Zhu Yi continued.
"As for the reason, I have just said that starting a war requires the full cooperation of the Ministry of War, but Yu Shaobao, who is now in charge of the Ministry of War, cannot agree to this."
"Besides, Chen Zongxian, Yu Cifu, even Lord Tianguan, Lord Chief Assistant, I'm afraid they won't agree!"
Speaking of this, everyone present gradually started to feel something about it.
Zhu Yi was talking about starting a war, but it was not just about starting a war.
The key lies in Yu Qian, Chen Yi, Wang Wen... these important officials of the imperial court.
After pondering for a moment, Zhu Jian was the first to speak.
"Yes, although Yu Shaobao, Lord Chief Assistant, Chen Zongxian and others are all trusted by the emperor, and in many things, they are...but in short, they have their own integrity after all, especially Yu Shaobao, who committed Yan Zhi Remonstrance is a common thing, and even that old guy Wang Jianzhai, although he has a bad temper, is not a sycophant who only obeys the orders of the emperor."
Therefore, at this time, the benefits of Zhu Jian's presence in the cabinet were revealed.
The cabinet is located at the junction of the inner court and the outer court. Among other things, it has a unique advantage in obtaining information.
Take Wang Wen as an example. Everyone in the outer dynasty believed that this Heavenly Official was always facing the Emperor and would carry out all the Emperor's orders without hesitation.
But in fact, all the important ministers in the court knew that this was just the image Wang Wen established for himself in the court.
During small-scale discussions, Wang Wen would still have many differences with the emperor. Of course, he would not go against the emperor like Yu Qian.
However, he also had his own opinions on many things. Even when he had a disagreement with the emperor, he would try to dissuade him instead of blindly submitting.
So in fact, this is the core point that Zhu Yi wants to express...
"Stay upright and not party!"
"This is the common characteristic of many important ministers in the DPRK today!"
"At the same time, this is also the emperor trying to tie himself up!"
Having said that, the relationship between them is becoming clearer and clearer, but the amount of information is also becoming larger and larger.
For nobles like Zhang Xi who are not good at fighting in the court, it is indeed difficult to understand and follow Zhu Yi's ideas all at once.
Rubbing his forehead, Zhang Xi said again.
"My lord, what do you want to say?"
"There is something I want to ask Second Master."
So, Zhu Yi looked up at Zhang Shi and said.
"Second Master, do you think that the reform of science and education is really an edict from the emperor, carried out arbitrarily?"
this……
Zhang Min was stunned for a moment and said hesitantly.
"This matter has not been discussed by the imperial court, but has been directly issued by the imperial decree. Naturally..."
"wrong!"
Halfway through his words, Zhang Shi suddenly came to his senses.
"This is an imperial edict, not a central edict. Therefore, the cabinet must have forewarned this matter in advance. Moreover, if I remember correctly, Chen Yi and others entered the palace before the edict was issued, so..."
"So, although this matter has not been discussed at court, the emperor still has to discuss it with a group of important ministers. To say that Qian Gang is arbitrary is actually a bit exaggerated."
Zhu Yi took over the conversation and said.
"Although they have different positions on some matters, I still want to say that whether it is Yu Shaobao, Chen Zongxian or Yu Cifu, they are all upright ministers. Although they have positions, they are not sycophants."
"So, regardless of certain positions, they are not the ones we should deal with. On the contrary, if we can make good use of them and achieve cooperation, maybe they can."
These words are a completely new idea.
Normally, it's not like they haven't secretly tried to win over some important officials in the court, but they basically ended in failure, and even in the end, many people avoided seeing them.
Looking back now, it is quite possible that their thinking was wrong.
Although Zhu Yi spoke a little more cryptically after the reminder just now, everyone present could naturally understand it.
The position he mentioned was actually the issue of alignment between Nangong and the Emperor.
From this point of view, the positions of these people are different from those of Yu Qian, Chen Yi and others.
Therefore, in the past, they came to the door with the purpose of getting the other party to change their stance and become their side.
So naturally, it is common to be rejected.
After all, on such matters, Yu Qian and others, like them, are not so easily moved.
However, what Zhu Yi meant just now was to put aside the discussion of positions and reach an agreement on specific government affairs.
In this way, it is indeed a good idea...
"good!"
Zhang Xi was the first to speak and said.
"This is indeed something we have overlooked before. Take the matter of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince leaving the cabinet as an example. In fact, many ministers in the court support His Highness leaving the cabinet. After all, only when the principal residence is established can the stability of the country be ensured."
"Even in the later matters such as preparing the government and setting up officials, many ministers were in favor, including some important ministers."
"However, we did not make good use of it, but..."
Having said this, Mr. Zhang seemed to have remembered something, glanced at Zhu Jian intentionally or unintentionally, and stopped talking.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward and the words were not spoken, but combined with Zhu Yi's reprimand to Zhu Jian just now, the meaning was actually obvious.
They could obviously join forces with the ministers who supported the prince's resignation, but due to their positions and the selfishness of some people, they caused an uproar in the court.
The bigger the incident gets, the less conducive it is to the stability of the court. The prince's resignation from the cabinet will certainly have the effect of calming people's hearts, but the huge conflicts caused by this will naturally make many ministers who originally supported it begin to hesitate.
Zhu Jian's expression changed, but at this moment he also figured out the connection between Zhu Yi's words. After pondering for a moment, he said in a rare way.
"My lord, you are right. In the past, I was not very thoughtful and acted recklessly in the court."
Ah this...
Everyone present looked at Zhu Jian and looked at each other, all seeing the surprise on each other's faces.
Zhu Jian, an old man, is actually willing to admit his mistakes?
However, in the face of everyone's weird looks, Zhu Jian remained calm and composed, as if he just said an ordinary thing.
Only Zhu Yi, a smile quickly flashed in his eyes, and then said.
"You don't have to be like this, Mr. Pavilion. Whether it was welcoming the return of the Supreme Emperor or His Highness the Crown Prince leaving the cabinet, the Emperor superficially approved of it, but in fact he opposed it."
"Therefore, conflicts are inevitable. Without the elders working hard in the court, His Highness's resignation from the cabinet would not be so smooth."
This is a step up. Zhu Jian sighed and said.
"Having said that, there are still many twists and turns after all."
"However, the past has been settled. We still have to look forward. Mr. Guo, I roughly understand what you mean."
"Are you trying to get closer to the important ministers in the DPRK and China through support on specific government affairs?"
"not only that!"
Zhu Yi shook her head slightly and said.
"I said from the beginning that our previous direction was wrong."
"Although the relationship between Nangong and the Emperor is tense now, and the Emperor has been deliberately suppressing me and others, this does not mean that we must always confront the Emperor."
After going round and round, I finally got back to the original question.
However, after experiencing the previous series of foreshadowing and hearing this conclusion, everyone was obviously more accepting of it.
Seeing this situation, Zhu Yi struck while the iron was hot and continued.
"In the past, we had to fight secretly with the Emperor in the court due to matters such as welcoming the return of the Supreme Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince's appointment to the cabinet. But other than these, in fact, there is no need for us to do so in many government affairs."
"This is what happened in the grassland this time. If we don't sing this counter-melody, naturally someone will sing it. Why take the risk?"
"It is not our purpose to go against the Emperor. Especially the Emperor's reform of science and technology reminds me of this. Now that the Emperor is getting stronger, we are getting weaker. In this case, we should fight for it instead of futile efforts.
It is better to think about how to increase your voice in the court, which is the most fundamental thing."
"You still need to be strong when you are forging iron. I am waiting for my words to have weight in the court. Naturally, I will be able to deal with various situations in the future, and I don't have to be so passive."
After saying this, everyone present couldn't help but start thinking.
After a while, Jiao Jing said.
"What the Duke said makes sense, but as you just said, the emperor has been deliberately suppressing us. If this is the case, how can we increase our voice in the court?"
"It's very simple. It's just four words: clear rewards and punishments!"
Zhu Yi turned to look at Jiao Jing and immediately said.
"No matter how powerful the emperor is, there are still some rules that must be observed. Those who have merit will be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will be punished. This is a truth that will never be easy to change."
"Take the rectification of the military camp as an example. This is a major policy that is supported by most people in the court and down the court. If we go against the trend, we will naturally be defeated."
"However, if you contribute to this matter in turn, everyone in the court will naturally see it."
"Have you forgotten, my consort, how I restored the title of Duke Chengguo?"
How did you recover?
Jiao Jing frowned, thought for a while, and said.
"Duke Guo is talking about the previous cooperation with various families to donate their field records?"
Zhu Yi nodded and said.
"Yes, the Duke of Chengguo was able to regain his title because of the help of the Supreme Emperor. However, it was the support of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Households in this matter that ultimately facilitated this matter."
"So, since the emperor has used people like Yu Qian, we can use their characters to expand our right to speak."
"good……"
Zhang Xi also nodded and said.
"Even if the emperor is biased, it is not good that there will be no distinction between rewards and punishments. Mr. Zhu Ge was able to join the cabinet in the first place because of his contribution to welcoming the Supreme Emperor back."
"Perhaps the emperor does not care about public opinion, but the hearts of civil and military officials must always be taken into consideration. Otherwise, rewards and punishments will be unknown, officials will be resentful, and nothing will be accomplished in the court..."