The Child Emperor

The emperor stayed in Luoyang for a few months, and the New Year was approaching. He still refused to drive back to Beijing. Instead, he was keen to issue imperial decrees. Seeing one, in addition to the prime minister, almost all ministers with real power above the third rank were called.

The emperor's countermeasures thus became clear.

The purpose of summoning the ministers one by one is to divide the court. This trick is indeed effective. When they were in the capital, the ministers were very united. Once they were divided into two cities, with Hangu Pass in the middle, they would inevitably suspect each other, as long as they were seen by the emperor. Those who do have to prove their innocence to their colleagues.

However, the ministers were gradually divided. Jiang Juying, the former minister of the Ministry of War, was transferred to the chief seal officer of the General’s Mansion to investigate the soldier slave case full-time. As soon as someone interceded, he would hold out a copy of the military order with both hands to show the other party, “This official’s net worth is life and death. It's all on this, you say, how can I help you?

Another trick of the emperor made the ministers even more headaches.

The new officials are all talents personally selected by the emperor. They are not high-ranking people, but they are placed in important ministries. These people are supported by the emperor. They are all very arrogant. A big fight made the boss extremely dissatisfied and at the same time uneasy.

Most of the ministers in the capital have already handed in their resignation memorials, and the emperor is holding them back. It turned out that it was just a plan to delay the army. As long as the cronies mature, all the ministers will be replaced!

Few people really wanted to resign from office. The emperor only demanded the release of private slaves, but did not confiscate the fields and houses. If the official position was lost, the loss would be huge.

The ministers began to counterattack. The method was to stay in their positions without seeking political affairs, implying that the old officials under them could slack off. Since the emperor sent new officials, let them do their jobs.

The imperial court was gradually plunged into chaos, and the influence was so great that even the emperor far away in Luoyang could feel it.

The memorials are no longer delivered on time, two or three days late has become the norm, the order is reversed, the priorities are not prioritized, and occasionally they are lost, either at the post station or in the department. Who is responsible for doing things, the new officials appointed by the emperor have no choice but to plead guilty.

The emperor still did not give in, and the memorial was chaotic. He simply did not give a reply. After he had an idea, he directly issued the imperial edict. The post station was unreliable, so he sent the imperial guards and even the eunuchs around him to send the imperial edict to the prime minister's mansion in the capital, and watched the prime minister release it. .

Zhuo Ruhe finally fulfilled his duties. He did not completely stand on the side of the ministers. Although he kept writing to resign, and earnestly asked the emperor to put the world first and take a step back, he did not slack off like other ministers. As long as it was an imperial decree, All will be correct.

In the snowy season, the emperor and ministers fought fiercely, and the battlefield gradually expanded. The first to join was a group of scholars.

Scholars also split. One faction supported the emperor and the other supported ministers. They debated in public or exchanged letters, each holding their own opinions, and some even broke off diplomatic ties because of this.

Qu Zixi used to be one of the leaders of scholars, but now he can't hold back his former admirers. He is still in the East China Sea, and there is an endless stream of letters from all over the place. The mansion is often stuffed into anonymous letters, mostly accusing and cursing, claiming that he has lost his integrity. , chilling the hearts of readers all over the world.

Qu Zixi only replied to a few good friends, but did not reply to other letters. He wrote four big characters in his own hand and pasted them on the gate—the public door was selfless, and the handwriting was splashed with ink, so he arranged for a craftsman to carve a wooden plaque.

As a censor of the right patrol, Qu Zixi was unable to participate in the battle between scholars. The general on the emperor's side was Kang Zijiao. He was not sent back to the capital to serve as an official, but remained by the emperor's side as a consultant. The scholars argued on the spot, wrote hard at night, and continued to defend themselves.

Kang Zijiao is very smart. He doesn't use power to oppress others, and is good at repaying others with the way of others. The other party said that the emperor worked for the people and hurt the wealth, so he asked whose people would be hurt and whose wealth would be hurt? The other party said that the world is turbulent, and the emperor should bear the greatest responsibility. He said that the emperor is of course responsible, so he has to issue imperial decrees frequently...

This is a battle without winners or losers, and no one can convince anyone, but more and more people are beginning to believe that, right or wrong, the emperor will not change his mind.

This is what Han Ruzi wanted. Next, he had to wait for the minister to make a new move.

There was still half a month before the New Year. Shortly after noon on this day, the King of the East Sea asked to see him.

The King of the East Sea has always been careful to stay out of business, refuses to see outsiders, and rarely writes letters. He only gives some innocuous advice when asked by the emperor.

Han Ruzi had just eaten lunch and was standing beside the table in a daze. The official documents on the table were in a mess.

After the King of the East Sea came in, he said with a smile: It's unreasonable, even the people around His Majesty are slack, and the table is so messy, it's not good to clean up.

Han Ruzi turned around, Why? This is the real status quo, no need to whitewash it.

The King of the East Sea smiled again, did not answer, and said, I received a letter this morning, and Your Majesty will definitely not be able to guess who wrote it.

Since you said that I 'can't guess', then nine times out of ten this letter came from the palace, the queen mother or the queen?

It's the Queen Mother. The King of the East Sea bowed and said, the emperor was like a master who was about to enter the competition, showing his aura, ready to counterattack at any time, the King of the East China Sea could only bow down, The Queen Mother Cining asks me for one thing, ask me to persuade Your Majesty Just go back to Beijing for a new year, and you can go anywhere with your majesty after the new year.

Han Ruzi pondered for a moment, This is the minister's new move.

Well... not necessarily, Sizi is eager, the Queen Mother Cining should really hope that Her Majesty will return to Beijing.

The queen mother is sincere, but the sincerity will be used by falsehood. Han Ruzi pointed to the memorial on the table, Do you feel confused? This is the most punctual time in two months, and the number is also the largest. Before you came, I I'm thinking, what is the reason for the minister to be soft?

The East Sea King did not want to argue directly with the emperor, so he smiled bitterly: So, even I was used.

Han Ruzi smiled, Since you are here, let's talk about it, how do you persuade me to return to Beijing?

I have self-knowledge, Your Majesty will definitely not agree, why should I bother?

Your remarks today may be the remarks of the ministers in the future. Even if I don't accept it, I can take precautions in advance.

The King of the East Sea scratched his head, Actually, I really don't have any good words to say. I thought so before I came here. The empress dowager's face cannot be dismissed. I came to see your majesty, just say a few words, even if it is an explanation for the empress dowager.

Your ability is more than that, don't be modest, just say it 'whatever' you want.

The King of the East Sea folded his hands, with a contemplative look on his face, took three steps sideways, turned to face the emperor, and said, Your Majesty allows me to say 'whatever' you want, so I will take the risk once: Your Majesty thinks it is difficult to be an emperor, but I once thought that the queen mother is also very difficult. Disaster?

The King of the East Sea hit the spot, Han Ruzi was silent for a moment, and said, Where is the empress dowager?

Your Majesty thinks the minister is difficult to deal with, so she is far away from the capital, but the queen mother is in the capital, deep in the palace, and is not affected by the minister all the time. What I have seen and heard is all bad things about your majesty. In a dangerous situation, the heart of a loving mother is worried, and this is a difficult thing.

Han Ruzi was speechless. He repeatedly sent Zhang Youcai back to the capital to deliver letters to his mother. It was believed that he was not him after all, so he could not offset the influence of the minister. He could imagine that in the eyes of his mother, the emperor must have been precarious outside.

The King of the East Sea continued: What do you mean by 'noble'? It's just that it's useless to respect the status, and you have to be famous in front of others. Therefore, a lower-ranked official with real power has a higher status than an official with a false title in the first-rank. Among them, the empress dowagers have the highest status, but they are expensive and not obvious, and they are reduced to empty titles. This is a dilemma.

I left my uncle's family in the capital. Han Ruzi defended that Empress Dowager Cining had pleaded guilty to the emperor and wanted to send the Wang family back to their hometown in the countryside. This was the first time Han Ruzi sent Zhang Youcai back to Beijing. He left the Wang family behind and gave many rewards.

The King of the East Sea smiled and said: Your Majesty treats the uncle just like the queen mother. If you are rich, you will be rich. It is not 'precious', nor is it 'notable'.

Han Ruzi sighed, If the Wang family becomes a 'dignitary', I am only afraid that the ministers will follow suit, and the officials will be cronyism, and the decline of the Great Chu will be even worse.

Your Majesty is very worried. Relatives are often the source of troubles, and there are countless records in the history books. I just thought, Your Majesty can't make the Wang family 'noble', can you lift the Queen Mother in other matters and make the Queen Mother's face brighter? What? Your Majesty is full of filial piety, and the Empress Dowager will have peace of mind, and will no longer think that her position as Empress Dowager is an empty title.

Han Ruzi stared at the East Sea King and thought for a while, You really have some skills.

The King of the East Sea smiled and said: It's just a little clever, as for the court and the world, I have nothing to do.

The East Sea King blocked the road first, and Han Ruzi snorted. He doesn't believe that the East Sea King can still seize the throne, but he will not reuse him.

Wait a minute. Han Ruzi didn't make a decision immediately. Even if he wanted to respect the Empress Dowager Cining, he had to wait for the minister to ask the emperor to return to the capital first, and then accept Empress Dowager Cining's request after rejecting it.

Why did the empress dowager write to you? Han Ruzi was a little puzzled. His mother had never been happy with the King of the East China Sea, and even persuaded the emperor to cut the weeds down, but now he asked the King of the East China Sea for help, which was really strange.

I'm not particularly clear, probably Mrs. Ping'en Hou praised me a few words in front of the Queen Mother. The King of the East Sea shook his head, Mrs. Ping'en Hou is too nosy.

Mrs. Ping'en Hou... Is his son still in Luoyang?

Miao Yuan? In Luoyang, the military officer of the Xiaoqi battalion.

Han Ruzi fell into deep thought.

The East Sea King waited for a while and asked, How should I reply to the Queen Mother? Rest assured, Your Majesty, what His Majesty said will never leak out of my mouth.

Han Ruzi raised his head, Why do I have to go back to the capital? Why can't the empress dowager and queen come to Luoyang to meet with me? The road is not far, and the road is smooth.

The East Sea King was stunned for a while, It should be possible, but this way... won't Luoyang become the capital?

Han Ruzi nodded, Donghai King, you have come up with a good idea.

The East Sea King was taken aback, this was not his idea.