The officials couldn't help but be furious when they saw the fraud cases investigated by Cai Que.
Not only the direct lecturer and supervisor in Taixue, but also high-level officials such as Yuan Jiang, the counselor and the governor of Kaifeng Prefecture, and Xu Jiang, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, were implicated.
The calmest people on the field were only Cai Que and Li Ding, the newly appointed imperial eunuch last year. Li Ding was ordered to remonstrate with officials by the Zhongshu family headed by Su Song, causing three commotions.
Sacrifice incident.
However, Li Ding's official career has always been smooth. After Wang Anshi, Li Ding boarded Cai Que's boat again and went to Baowen Pavilion to wait for the imperial edict.
When Su Shi went to Huzhou before, it was Li Ding who excerpted the sentence "Knowing that he is stupid and untimely, and it is difficult to accompany the new advance" from Su Shi's memorials, which ultimately led to the Wutai Poetry Case in which Su Shi was arrested and sent to Beijing.
Cai Que promised Li Ding that if he became Zhongshu, he would fully support him as Yushi Zhongcheng.
This Taixue cheating case occurred before Li Ding was sentenced to the Imperial Academy.
Li Ding immediately said: "Your Majesty, the case of malpractice in Taixue is due to the three-level rule. Because the first-level students can serve as officials, the second-level students are exempted from the rites examination, and the third-level students are exempted from the interpretation examination. Therefore, students rush to compete.
In the door of lecturers and dignitaries, I strive to make up for my loss."
"I think that in order to correct this shortcoming, we must either cancel the Sanshe Law or cancel the qualifications of being an official after being born in Shangshe."
This is actually what Zhang Yue meant. He wanted to reform the Imperial Academy. But he couldn't say it himself, so he asked Cai Que to speak through Li Ding. Cai Que wanted to take office at this time, which was the most useful time. After passing this village, there was no such thing.
Shop.
The official replied to Li Ding: "This matter will be discussed by the prime minister before reporting to me."
The officials looked at Yuan Jiang and asked General Xu.
Yuan Jiang came out of the class and said: "Your Majesty, this matter is the fault of the minister. I am willing to dedicate my life to my position and ask your Majesty to forgive the crime of the minister."
Yuan Jiang's son Yuan Qining was imprisoned by Cai Que.
Knowing that Cai Que was ruthless, Yuan Qining was afraid of being tortured by Cai Que, so he confessed everything.
Yuan Jiang spoke with the utmost sincerity: "Your Majesty, I beg you to remember me and spare me from my sins."
The official nodded slightly when he saw Yuan Jiang acting like this.
In full view of everyone, Yuan Jiang prostrated himself in the tunnel and said, "I thank your Majesty."
Although Yuan Jiang absolved his son from the crime, everyone saw that his position in Zhongshu had come to an end.
Yuan Jiang looked like he was being pardoned and wept again and again, which was quite sympathetic. Although Yuan Jiang didn't know why Cai Que suddenly took action, he guessed that it was probably because of some tacit understanding between Cai Que and Zhang Yue.
Ever since the arson case in the Third Division that year, he and Zhang Yue had been in a relationship.
However, Zhang Yue was only responsible for one aspect of the arson case. Because at that time, the three departments were not under the control of Zhongshu, and they repeatedly opposed Zhongshu on financial policies.
Therefore, Lu Huiqing became angry and ordered Yuan Jiang, the envoy of the Third Division, to be ruthless and burnt the Third Division directly. Then there was a drama of Zhang Dun leading the soldiers of the Ordnance Supervisor to put out the fire.
When Yuan Jiang thought of this, he knew that there was no sense in being a king and losing a bandit. He really hated Cai Que now. He had a close relationship with him before, but this time he suddenly turned against Cai Que, and the other party actually used his son to coerce him into submission.
Yuan Jiang thought to himself, "Flowers can't stay red for a hundred days, but I want to see how many days Cai Chizheng can stay red."
After Yuan Jiang retreated.
General Xu also appealed to the officials.
In the end, the officials gave Yuan Jiang and General Xu the decision to go out and serve as magistrates of Xiazhou.
The dispositions of the prime ministers and the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture are decided by the officials.
All the other officials involved in the case agreed to Cai Que, ranging from a fine of copper to being removed from his current position and replaced with another official, and the most serious was being dismissed from the official and suspended.
As for those imperial students who paid bribes, the most severe ones were served for two years, and the rest were also expelled from the imperial court, never to be used by the imperial court, and no longer qualified to serve as officials.
A total of hundreds of people were punished from top to bottom.
The Xiangzhou murder case, the Yanyan Road case and the Taixue Yufan case were all handled by Cai Que, who can be said to be strict in governing officials.
…
After the court meeting, all the ministers and officials discussed the aftermath.
Wang Gui and Zhang Yue stayed to greet each other, and the official said to Wang Gui and Zhang Yue: "I have been feeling better recently, so I can rearrange the Sutra banquet."
The banquet is not only about what the emperor hears, but also an opportunity for officials to show their faces in front of the emperor.
In the past, when the emperor first took office, it was a very important opportunity to select talents. Now that the officials have already established their own opinions and cannot be fooled, it is also an opportunity to stand out.
Faced with this position in the past, Wang Gui and Zhang Yue would definitely compete for it. This is a good opportunity to install party members. Each would have to make a long list.
But today the official suddenly mentioned that both of them had been in the officialdom for many years, so how could they not understand.
Wang Gui said: "I thought that the left admonished the officials, that he had direct access to the Academy of Scholars, and that he knew An Tao of the Academy of Judgment and Punishment. He was knowledgeable and profound in classics, and could serve as a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy."
The officials were obviously very satisfied with Wang Gui's choice.
Zhang Yueze said: "I think that I am a doctor in the Ministry of Household Affairs, who serves as the imperial censor and knows everything about Chen Mu. Before I was sent to Korea as an envoy, I was neither humble nor overbearing, and did not disgrace the country. My knowledge can be used in ancient and modern times. I can serve as a lecturer for Tianzhang Pavilion."
An Tao and Chen Mu were recommended by Wang Gui and Zhang Yue.
The official said: "I agree to both of them."
"Now that Yuan Jiang is out of town, his involvement in political affairs is empty. I wonder what considerations the two Qing families have?"
The official first sold a favor to Zhang Yue and Wang Gui, and then asked who would be involved in political affairs. Obviously, he already had the answer in his heart.
Seeing Wang Gui, Zhang Yue remained silent, and the official said: "I think it is appropriate for people under Zhongshu's sect to be guilty of two offenses. What do you think?"
Wang Gui said: "Your Majesty, I think Cai Que and Zhang Dun are both suitable."
After listening to Wang Gui's words, Zhang Yue cursed secretly. Officials had recommended Cai Que and Zhang Dun to them in the past, but they were rejected by either Wang Gui or Zhang Yue.
This is the same as the famous joke on the Internet, where India wants to join the five permanent members of the United Nations. Each time the other four members of the five permanent members agree, and then any country takes turns exercising its veto power.
Zhang Yue and Wang Gui wished that Zhongshu had only one prime minister under his command. Two aspects, two references, two references and one reference were not as good as one aspect and zero reference.
But this time the official was a little more serious. The two of them were embarrassed to have repeatedly rejected the official, so the matter could only be postponed.
After all, the emperor's other appointments must be implemented through Zhongshu.
But at the level of governorship, the emperor could appoint directly through "Baima" without going through the Zhongshu in advance. The Zhongshu only had to complete a formality confirmation after the appointment.
However, this move will undoubtedly hurt the feelings of the prime ministers, and new candidates will also be easily excluded by the prime ministers.
Therefore, the officials still have to discuss with the prime ministers. In the past, when Wang Anshi was strong, the officials had examples of Zhang Fangping being appointed prime minister, but Wang Anshi objected and gave up.
This time Wang Gui gave up his position first and followed the official wishes and recommended Cai Que and Zhang Dun.
Now the pressure is on Zhang Yue's side. It's hard for Zhang Yue to object any more. Any further objection will mean seizing power. New people are not allowed to participate in politics and join Zhongshu. What is Zhang Yue doing? He wants to make Zhongshu's sect airtight.
place?
Therefore, we still have to discuss things with the emperor. If you object again and again, what will you do if the emperor won't discuss it with you in the future?
Repeated opposition can easily offend Cai Que and Zhang Dun.
Zhang Yueze said: "Your Majesty, there is something wrong with Zhongshu's disciples. There are no more than three in the world. I once said that Tao gives birth to one, which gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things."
"If there are too many, there will be chaos, and if there is chaos, it will be difficult to resolve. It is easy to shirk responsibility when things happen. I thought it would be better to add someone to take charge of political affairs."
After Wang Gui heard what Zhang Yue said, he immediately said: "Your Majesty, I think what Jixian said is very true, so we can add one more person to the prime ministership among Cai Que, Zhang Dun and Cai Que."
The official said: "If this is the case, who among the two Cai Que, Zhang and Dun should be chosen to become the prime minister?"
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, a good minister is like a helpful friend."
"It is common for a ruler to choose ministers and friends. What does it mean to benefit a friend? What does it mean to harm a friend? Friends who are straightforward, forgiving, and knowledgeable are beneficial. Friends are easy to be open, friendly are gentle, and friends are inconvenient. This is a loss."
What does Zhang Yue have to say about the official mentality? Confucius said that when making friends, you should make friends with upright people, those who are tolerant and forgiving, and those who are knowledgeable.
And don't make bad friends who follow crooked ways, like to talk sweet words, and like to flatter you.
The official asked: "How does Zhang Qing make friends?"
Zhang Yue said: "I now make friends but not those who meet me. When something happens, I don't ask whether it's right or wrong, so I will help you first."
"I want to do one thing. I don't care whether it's right or wrong, so I risk my life and fortune. I'm willing to go with you."
The official smiled and said, "Isn't this a good friend?"
Zhang Yue said: "I thought so when I was young. Now that I have encountered many problems, I realize that the evil of such friends is more harmful than friends. They are even evil friends. When you meet them, you must stay away from them."
The officials thought that Cai did cater to me in everything, just like Zhang Yue said he was a bad friend.
But Zhang Dun was not sure. This time, Yan Yan Road's troops failed.
He was about to kill a magistrate.
All the chief ministers said: "Don't kill him."
The official said angrily: "Why can't this person be killed?"
Wang Gui said: "Since our ancestors, we have never killed a scholar, and I don't want to start from your Majesty."
The official thought for a long time and then said: "It can be paired with thorn noodles to avoid evil."
Zhang Dun came out of the group and said, "It would be better to kill him than to do so."
The official also said that Zhang Dun supported him and asked: "Why?"
Zhang Dun said: "A scholar can be killed but not humiliated."
The official asked in a stern voice: "Can't you do even one thing that pleases you?"
Unexpectedly, Zhang Dun responded without any politeness at all: "It's such a happy thing, it's better not to do it."
This sentence makes Guan Jia's lungs still feel a faint pain.
The official thought when he thought of this sentence, Zhang Yue seemed to mean Zhang Dun, not Cai Que.
There are rumors that the two of them are at odds with each other, but it seems that this may not be true. Could it be a lie?
…
In Cai Que's house.
Cai Qiezheng washed the feet of his mother Mingshi.
Cai Que acted very carefully and meticulously. After serving his mother, his wife Sun helped carry away the foot-washing water.
Ming glanced at Sun's back and said, "I heard that you are going to serve as Prime Minister. Recently, many relatives and in-laws have come to visit you. What are your plans?"
Cai Que sat up and said, "Mom, have you forgotten how those relatives and in-laws treated us when our father passed away?"
"I will always remember the warmth and kindness of my father when he was buried."
"Sanlang said that I grew up in humble beginnings, so my relatives don't recognize me. He is right in what he said. I have seen all kinds of hardships in the world, and my heart has already become cold."
Ming gave a long sigh and said, "I know those people didn't treat you well back then. Your father was an official and lived in poverty all his life. Otherwise, why would you have to go through such a difficult road?"
"The officials have asked you to do so many things that offend people. I'm really afraid."
Cai Quedao: "Mom, I am sensible. The hard days are over."
"Now our Cai family still has a big feud to deal with. I promised dad that I will take revenge on the Chen family if I have the chance in the future."