The Child Emperor

In a fit of anger, Han Ruzi stood up and almost went to the Children's Army camp in person, and immediately found all the impostors and brought them back to the capital to question their parents.

But after all, he has been an emperor for a while, and he understands a truth that it is not appropriate for the emperor to solve many things in person, and it will complicate the problem.

He sat down again.

In Cui Teng's expectation, when the emperor raised his teachers to ask for guilt, he was the one who stood by his side to protect the emperor, and glared at the group of ugly people, showing that he was not only a close minister, but also an important and loyal minister.

Seeing the hesitation on the emperor's face, Cui Teng was greatly disappointed and couldn't help but say, Your Majesty sees his own family the most, so you can't bear to deal with it, right?

What? Han Ruzi glanced at the list again, and there were indeed the most children surnamed Han on it. He shook his head and smiled and said, It must be dealt with, but it is not for me to do it myself. I am thinking which yamen should manage this kind of thing, the Ministry of War? Zongzheng's Mansion? General's Mansion? Or give it directly to the Prime Minister?

Cui Teng blinked, Why do you still use so much trouble? Your Majesty used to do things neatly and neatly, but now... If Your Majesty doesn't trust the Imperial Court, why should you rely on it? If Your Majesty thinks it's not good to do it yourself, let me go, I can be a villain, Let none of those impostors escape.

Han Ruzi was shocked. Even Cui Teng knew that he didn't trust the imperial court, so he could say it casually. If things go on like this, the imperial court will lose power, and the most important weapon in the emperor's hands will become blunt and rusty.

Call the King of the East Sea.

Ah, why did you call him here? This is a clue I found so hard, and it has nothing to do with him. Apart from disappointment, Cui Teng felt even more unfair.

When Cui Teng got into trouble, even the emperor had to be appeased. Han Ruzi said flatly, You have to learn to employ people, instead of fighting endlessly every day.

Han Ruzi pointed to his side, Cui Teng immediately ran over with a smile, the eunuch stepped back two steps to make way for him. Although he was still standing, Cui Teng felt that he had become more important.

The eunuch went to pass on the King of the East Sea and brought people back soon.

The King of the East Sea glanced at Cui Teng, and turned slightly to avoid Cui Teng's direction when saluting.

Han Ruzi asked the eunuch to transfer the list to the King of the East Sea.

This is... Donghai King didn't understand.

Cui Teng said proudly: There is an impostor in the 'Children Army'. This is the list, and it is only a small part.

Oh. King Donghai smiled and returned the list to the eunuch.

What are you? Cui Teng looked serious. It seems that you know about this. Since you know it, why didn't you tell His Majesty?

King Donghai ignored Cui Teng and said to the emperor, If I guess correctly, this is a so-called 'replacement soldier'. There should be, and there are quite a few. I had one before, and so did Cui Teng.

Cui Teng was furious, What kind of soldier? I've never even heard of it!

The King of the East Sea still ignored him and only spoke to the emperor, According to the rules, as long as the sons of the clan or aristocratic families reach age, they must be paid by the court, just like in literature or martial arts. Because of the hard work, many people feel sorry for their son, so they raise a 'replacement soldier', who is about the same age as his son, and specially enters the army camp for his son.

Cui Teng said again: That's you. You are spoiled. I don't have one. Our family has never used a 'replacement soldier'.

The King of the East Sea finally turned to Cui Teng and asked, How many times have you entered the military camp since you were a child?

countless.

Not to go in and have fun, but to practice with the soldiers. How many times have you been?

Cui Teng was at a loss for words. In his memory, the military camp seemed to be a playground. There were a lot of drinking, slapsticking, women... and so on.

So you also have a 'replacement soldier', but the Cui family is very powerful, and there is no need to support a living 'replacement soldier'. Just a tick with a pen will solve everything. If you don't believe me, go to the records of the Ministry of War, Cui Teng's name is , there must be no shortage of a dozen years of military career.

Cui Teng was stunned for a while, Aren't you the same?

King Donghai nodded, I lived in the Cui Mansion since I was a child, and I used my uncle to handle everything. Of course, there was also a 'substitute' on paper. Alas, I prefer real people, like a substitute for myself. interesting.

Cui Teng hurriedly said to the emperor: Your Majesty, I don't know... that was all in the past, and now I am standing in front of Your Majesty, nothing false.

Han Ruzi snorted, becoming more and more interested in this matter, and said to the King of the East China Sea, Could it be that there are soldiers on paper in this 'disciple army'?

The King of the East Sea thought for a while, That's not necessarily the case. Those who can have 'replacement soldiers' on paper are all big families. Your Majesty may have seen it before. When His Majesty appeared in person, they dared not not come, and they did not dare to use a substitute. . He pointed to the list on the table, Instead, it is those small and medium-sized families that His Majesty does not usually see, who dare to use substitute soldiers.

Han Ruzi sneered, Zhao Ruosu stayed in the city, so he had to ask the East Sea King, Which yamen should be in charge of this kind of thing?

That depends on what Your Majesty plans to do with it.

Tell me more.

If you want to kill chickens and monkeys and set an example, you will hand it over to Zongzheng's mansion, and only investigate the clan and the children of foreign relatives. Zongzheng's mansion will severely reprimand these people and ask their father and brother to submit a letter to plead guilty. The degree of generosity at that time will be decided by your majesty. .

Also lenient? All sent to join the army... Cui Teng hurriedly shut up, the courtier must not make decisions for the emperor, and since he is a foreign relative, it is better to be careful when speaking.

The King of the East Sea continued: If you want to carry out a comprehensive purge of the 'Children Army', then hand it over to the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War will definitely be able to find out all the 'replacement soldiers', all will be screened out, and the real people will be ordered to return to the army. I have nothing to do with my father and brother.”

It's my father and brother who raise the 'replacement soldier', how can we easily let it go? Cui Teng couldn't help but added another sentence.

The King of the East Sea continued: If you want to be involved more widely, then the Ministry of Rites will have to come forward. Once it involves violating etiquette, it is a major event, and there is suspicion of bullying the king. A large number of officials will be imprisoned for this, and even the Ministry of War will be arrested. Check, the officials over there are at least responsible for oversight.

It's about the same. Cui Teng nodded.

The King of the East Sea only looked at the emperor, If you really want to dig up the roots, you have to unite all the ministries, the prime minister will personally examine, and the entire court will be thoroughly investigated. So this matter can be big or small, and everything depends on Your Majesty's choice.

Cui Teng looked at the emperor expectantly, hoping that the bigger the trouble, the better. In that case, the credit he made would be enough, and he muttered, Cui Fu must know about these things, but he didn't tell me, wait until I go back to clean him up.

The King of the East Sea smiled, Cui Fu was only a poor relative of the Cui family, how could he know so much?

Han Ruzi has not expressed his position all the time. He already understands the intention of the King of the East China Sea. The King of the East China Sea deliberately made the situation more and more serious.

Find these people first. Han Ruzi thought about his words, but didn't say catch them.

Cui Teng couldn't distinguish these fine distinctions, and immediately took the order, Yes, Your Majesty, I'll go to arrest people. If I find any other 'replacement soldiers', I'll arrest them all.

Han Ruzi raised his hand to stop Cui Teng, and said to the King of the East China Sea: You go, don't need an order, tell the generals of the children's army and let them bring people over.

The East Sea King understood, knowing that His Majesty did not want to make matters worse, he bowed and said, Yes, Your Majesty.

As soon as the Donghai King left, Cui Teng said eagerly, How could Your Majesty let him arrest people? The Donghai King will definitely let all the 'replacement soldiers' go.

Don't worry. Han Ruzi actually didn't want to startle the snake, at least he had to find out how many ministers were involved, and then decide which yamen would handle the matter.

Cui Teng didn't trust the King of the East Sea, and kept whispering, I think it's going to be bad...

He really made it right. The King of the East China Sea came back soon, and he did not bring the Children Army generals and replacement soldiers, but Cai Xinghai.

Both looked serious.

Cai Xinghai said: There was an outbreak of the epidemic in the 'Children Army' camp, and dozens of people have been infected. Please get up and drive back to the city immediately.

Cui Teng pointed at the King of the East Sea, and was about to speak, when the emperor glanced at him and shut up abruptly.

There must be a fraud in the epidemic, but this has nothing to do with the King of the East Sea. The time is too short for him to cheat.

How did the epidemic happen? Han Ruzi asked.

Maybe it's because of the weather, it happened last night. Cai Xinghai didn't know about the replacement, he just received news that he met the King of Donghai who was about to leave the camp, and came to see the emperor together, After all, the young master in the camp more.

Well, I know, dozens of people are not too seriously ill, and it is said that the military doctor will go there for treatment. It is inevitable that this kind of thing will happen during the march, so it is better to train.

But Your Majesty...

Needless to say, I won't go back to the capital because of this trivial matter.

Cai Xinghai had no choice but to retreat and go to the imperial doctor who accompanied the army.

Donghai Wang said: It seems that the news has been leaked, and preparations have been made there.

King Donghai, are you talking about me? Cui Teng asked loudly.

Han Ruzi said: It is indeed leaked, Cui Teng, tell me how you got the news?

Cui Teng was helpless and told his cousin Cui Fu and the informer Yang Keyi.

Han Ruzi and Donghai looked at each other and understood what was going on: Yang Keyi informed Cui Teng, and Cui Fu told the Children's Army again. I don't know who came up with the idea and pretended to be a plague.

It seems that there are smart people in the 'Children Army'. Han Ruzi laughed.

Being clever in front of Your Majesty is the greatest stupidity. Donghai Wang said.

Cui Teng stared at Donghai Wang, thinking that Donghai Wang is a clever person.

What should I do now? Han Ruzi asked.

It's up to Your Majesty to decide. The East Sea King understood that the Emperor had already made up his mind, so he didn't need to talk too much.

Han Ruzi still thought about it for a while, Pretending to be sick is just an expedient measure, I will not leave if I stay, the 'Children Army' will come to see me sooner or later, the 'smart people' in the camp must be delaying time - King Donghai, Cui Teng, the two of you lead five hundred sergeants, waiting on the official road, people from the capital, see one and arrest the other.

According to the order, Your Majesty. The King of the East China Sea replied.

But Cui Teng was inexplicable, The 'replacement soldiers' are all in the barracks, so why are you arresting people from the capital?

The King of Donghai explained on behalf of the emperor: The 'substitute soldiers' are all in the military camp, but the original owner is in the city. If the news leaks here, there is a natural need to rush to rescue the scene. It's just a day's journey from here to the capital. Less time, tonight, we will have a harvest.

Only then did Cui Teng understand, and he became excited again, gearing up to arrest people.