Two hundred and sixty-two chapters under the court
Court discussion is a very important decision-making method for the imperial court. The scope of participation varies, but it is definitely indispensable for bachelors and six ministers. When the emperor himself cannot make up his mind or wants to see the direction of the courtiers, he often asks for approval of the memorial. "Xia Ting Yi".
When Li You saw the criticism, he couldn't help but fell into deep thought. The Empress Dowager Cisheng gave up the arbitrary decision of Qiangang, and the "lower court discussion" she proposed was worth pondering.
Although the spark of this salt industry craze was the Cheng family's injustice case, the root cause still lies in the fact that after the abolition of treasure banknotes, the imperial court used salt citations as banknotes. It has been a custom to this day, and nearly 1,000 Changlu salt citations are awarded every year instead of real gold and silver. One hundred thousand, seriously disrupting the order of the salt industry.
The biggest losers are naturally the powerless small and medium-sized salt merchants, and the beneficiaries are the powerful people in the capital. For example, a certain eldest princess received five thousand dollars (note: super-princely treatment) of Changlu salt last year and withdrew all of it— - This is what Li You saw by chance when he was checking the archives. No wonder she casually bought herself a thousand taels, which was really not enough money. No wonder she was so sensitive about the salt matter that she came out of thin air to steal Cheng's family from him. .
This was five thousand dollars for nothing. Out of envy, jealousy and hatred, and because it involved his mistress, Mr. Li was very impressed, so he jokingly said to His Highness, "You and I can't be of the same mind on this matter."
Although she is a person with vested interests, Gui De Chitose is more generous and loyal to protect the Zhu family. She understands the seriousness of the corruption of the salt incident. Therefore, even though she is fully aware of its hypocrisy, she still can't help being deliberately said by Li You. "Serving the country and the people" moved me.
However, not every powerful person has the magnanimity of Princess Gui De. Due to various reasons and ties, the Queen Mother is also in a very contradictory mood. She does not want to be judged by future generations as fatuous, greedy, and competing for profits with the people, but she also does not want to be stingy, stingy, and mean. En's reputation. Therefore, she handed over the responsibility to the court officials to discuss and handle this complicated matter involving the struggle between the interests of the powerful and the common people.
Under normal circumstances, when matters belonging to which ministry is discussed, that ministry is responsible for convening and presiding over it. If it is difficult to define the ownership or involves multiple ministries, it will be presided over by the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the head of the six ministries. The salt industry belongs to the affairs of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so The meeting to discuss the closure of salt merchants in Zhili, the capital, was convened by the Ministry of Household Affairs.
On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, there was no court meeting, no scriptures, no feast, no day for lectures, and it was not a birthday celebration, so the Ministry of Household Affairs decided to hold it on this day.
Two days in advance, the Ministry of Revenue sent a summons to all yamen and the cabinet. Cheng Zhilang, Shang Baosicheng, the following twenty-eight words are omitted. Mr. Li learned the news, and then he did not receive a message from the Ministry of Revenue for a long time. He felt in his heart Then he became dissatisfied with the household department.
Recently, when the Queen Mother convened the cabinet, ministries, and ministers of science and technology to discuss matters, Mr. Li, as a court official and with the special position of sub-voting secretary, has always had a stable position, and even a class position. Listed on the scientific list. This time the Ministry of Household Affairs Organization Committee actually missed him? This is unscientific.
Although he, a junior, generally does not interrupt during discussions, it does not mean that he can tolerate being ignored by the Ministry of Household Affairs. If there is no place in the court discussion, then what is the dignity and significance of being an official in the court? There are only a few officials in the court. Isn’t that a joke if you can’t even participate in court meetings?
Well, in fact, it is Mr. Li who is habitually arrogant and arrogant in good times. It is easy to change the situation but hard to change the nature.
In the afternoon, Li You finished processing the memorial at hand and hurried out of the palace to the Ministry of War Shangshu Mansion. After ten days of raising troops and using them for a while, it was time to use the troops. It was a pity that Mrs. Cheng was caught by Guide Chitose and would not let go.
He stayed in bed for several days while the eldest princess was unconscious and failed to get her back. This shows that His Highness is determined to do things for others.
When he arrived at the Lu Mansion, accompanied by the cheap nanny Mr. Lu San and the steward, Li You entered the courtyard and the house, and said to Father Cheng: "Today, you have become famous and the time has come to make a fortune!"
Father Cheng sat still, without any desire or desire. He raised his head and glanced at Li You calmly, then lowered his head and said, "I'm lucky to be pardoned. I have no other thoughts in this life. I just want to spend the rest of my life quietly."
How did this somewhat dull but self-righteous old man become like this? A few days ago, it was okay when he was allowed to show up in front of the household department and put up a signed poster to increase his reputation. Li You was stunned by this.
His eyes fell on Father Cheng's hand, and there was a Buddhist scripture lying there. Could it be that he was depressed by this cruel world?
Father Cheng said again: "Dependent origination and annihilation, all dharmas are empty, the world of mortals is caused by cause and effect..."
Another... superstitious Buddhist father-in-law (potentially considered) is the most annoying! Li You angrily kicked away the Buddhist scriptures and asked the accompanying steward of the Lu family: "Where did it come from?"
"There are always clutter in this room. There are some Buddhist scriptures of the late old lady in a cabinet. The old gentleman probably dug them out out of boredom."
Strange enough, Li You said to Father Cheng: "Old man! You were just a small salt merchant in the past, and it was difficult to buy even a bag of salt. Don't you want to be admired by thousands of people, become a celebrity, and earn a family fortune for generations?
"
Father Cheng closed his eyes and said nothing.
"In the last hundred years of this life, great opportunities are right in front of us. Opportunities cannot be missed and will never come back. Don't you think it's a pity?"
Father Cheng shook his head and said nothing.
"You can earn thousands of dollars every year! Maybe the court will look at you differently and you won't be tempted at all?"
After all the temptations of fame and wealth failed, Li You was really speechless and thought about using some violence? According to his observation, Cheng Cheng seemed to have a psychological shadow on force and was very afraid of it. Last time, Wang Yannu forcibly took Cheng away in person.
Little lady, he didn't dare to say a word; when he forcibly kidnapped him and left, he was still taken away without saying a word, even though he was very stubborn before.
At this time, Mr. Lu San, the nanny of Li You's wife, suddenly stood in front and said to Father Cheng: "Can you understand Buddhist scriptures? Are you also a person who has read books?"
Father Cheng nodded and said, "It's a pity that I couldn't study well when I was young."
Mr. Lu Sangong then said loudly: "What is the purpose of reading the books of sages? Confucius said to become benevolent, Mencius said to seek righteousness, to establish oneself in heaven and earth, to benefit the common people, I have no regrets in my heart! Isn't reading the book in vain if I indulge in heretics?"
A pair of nerds! Li You sighed, this kind of truth can be just a show-off sometimes, but what's the use of talking about it now? This is not a Wai Wai novel, do you really expect that someone will accept a few empty and empty truths?
Bow down?
Mr. Lu Sangong continued: "Although your family is unfortunate, there are still millions of colleagues in the industry who are facing the same danger as you! To this day, the colleagues in the industry are aware of your experience and are fighting for their own destiny. The former sage Yun Tie shoulders the responsibility of morality and justice.
And you are also a person who has read books. How can you not recognize morality clearly and evade your own responsibility by talking about emptiness and emptiness? Do you deserve to say that you have read books by sages?"
Father Cheng's expression gradually changed, he stood up and bowed to Young Master Lu, saying, "Young Master's teachings, please keep them in mind."
Is this enough? Li You was dumbfounded. He, a common man, didn’t understand the spiritual world of a nerd...
After thinking about it for a while, I came to a conclusion: "Actually, Father Cheng has never succeeded in reading, let alone thoroughly read it!"
If you really read well, you will know what the big shots in the court look like.
The next day, the salt merchants in the capital heard that there was going to be a court meeting, so they once again gathered in front of the household department to petition. The father of the Cheng family also showed up, acting seriously and true to his true self, running around and shouting under the slogan "Reform the Salt Law".
He also posted big-character posters and was brutally beaten after a conflict with officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs, which made him famous in the capital circles.
The seventh day of the Lunar New Year has arrived in a blink of an eye. The sky is clear and windless, and the winter sun is so warm that people don't want to go inside. At this time of year, when there is sunshine outside, it is often warmer outside than inside.
For example, the first room in the east room outside the Meridian Gate was very cold, but the big shots from the imperial court still gathered here.
This is a small court meeting, not too large in scale. The participants are limited to bachelors, Jiuqing, Hukegeishizhong, and relevant censors.
With a cough from Yan Jun, the Minister of Household Affairs, the court meeting began, and the topic was naturally the bankruptcy of the salt merchants in the capital.
The salt industry is basically a matter that belongs to the Ministry of Household Affairs and has almost nothing to do with the other five ministries. Moreover, it is a relatively vulgar government affair. It is too proactive and is detrimental to dignity. In addition, it involves the interests of the powerful and powerful, and these big bosses have to pay attention every year.
Being rewarded with salt as a sign of honor, he was also a beneficiary, which made the situation more complicated. Therefore, most other people had no interest in speaking, and Xu Tianguan, the Minister of Personnel, began to close his eyes and rest.
People in the business department could excuse themselves by saying that the matter was none of their business, but the senior academicians could not show their dignity. So the court discussions were mainly conducted among the academicians, with occasional comments from the academic officials.
Gradually, two completely different opinions formed, one advocating pacification and the other advocating suppression.
The "pacifying" faction is led by Peng Ge, the great scholar of Wuying Palace, and the "suppressive" faction is led by Yuan Ge, the great scholar of Wenhua Palace. It just so happens that these two people are secretly competing for the No. 1 Ge Lao, so things become complicated.
Become more complex and sensitive.
Mr. Yuan Ge said with murderous intent: "How can we tolerate those people who are threatening the imperial court? If they feel uncomfortable, they will stop work and call for rest. Where will the imperial court's plans be? If they are easily hijacked, where will the imperial court's face be? This is absolutely unheard of.
It cannot be long-term, and the culprits must be investigated and the principles must be rectified! Otherwise, if you follow the same example, there will be more troubles in the future!"
Mr. Peng Ge retorted: "You are wrong! His sentiments are excusable. He only wants to make a living, and he is not planning to rebel. The court should consider the people's sentiments, practice benevolence, soothe their hearts, and forgive their intentions. How can it be used as fire?
A plan to add fuel to the fire? What’s more, business travel is not a matter of forced labor. How can we recruit them by force? On the contrary, it will ruin the major national events next year!"
"You are so kind to a woman!"
"You are too harsh and harsh!"
In fact, both of them consciously ignored one point: Should they restrict the powerful Shiobei? Whether it is suppression or appeasement, this premise must be present, but it is more difficult to solve, so they let it go first.
During the stalemate, the door to the court room suddenly opened, and a bright beam of sunlight shone into the room. The tall figure who stepped into the threshold with the sunlight, who could it be if it wasn't Li Zhongshu?
"I just heard the opinions of the two cabinet ministers outside the door. They were all empty talk! When national affairs are in trouble, how can we deal with them with empty talk?" Li You said loudly as soon as he came in.
"Get out! I'm waiting for a discussion, who allowed you in?" Mr. Peng Ge scolded unceremoniously.
Li You smiled nonchalantly and said, "The Queen Mother has a decree for me to come to the East Chamber! Mr. Peng Ge doesn't allow it?"
Everyone in the court room was thinking quickly, what does the Queen Mother mean by sending Li Zhongshu here specially?