The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 181 Zheng Renhui Passes Away

"Did Prime Minister Zheng die of illness in the night?"

When Li Yi learned of this news from the messenger sent by Xiang Xun, he couldn't help but be taken aback.

He originally thought it was something of great importance that made Xiang Xun so anxious to send someone to find him, but it turned out that it was just that Zheng Renhui had died.

It should be noted that since the emperor returned from his campaign against the Northern Han last year, the Privy Councilor Zheng Renhui has been recuperating at home due to illness, and his condition has been fluctuating without improvement.

Given Zheng Renhui's advanced age, if his illness is incurable, current medical methods certainly cannot cure it, and death from the disease is foreseeable.

Moreover, Zheng Renhui did indeed die around this time in history... So what's so surprising about that?

The messenger bowed deeply and said, "The Imperial Censor and the Prince's Mansion officials have already gone to the Zheng residence. They have specially ordered me to invite Commander Li to go there immediately..."

"Okay, I'll be right there," Li Yi nodded in response.

After seeing off the messenger, Li Yi did not delay any longer and immediately ordered Xu Sheng to take dozens of his personal guards and accompany him to the Zheng family.

As Li Yi rode his horse out of the mansion gate, a light snow suddenly began to fall from the night sky over Tokyo. Snowflakes landed on his eyebrows and eyelashes, only to melt quickly into water droplets from his body heat.

In the stillness of the night, the dull thud of horses' hooves echoed through the streets.

On the way to the Zheng residence, Li Yi suddenly realized that Zheng Renhui's death was indeed no small matter.

After the emperor promoted Wei Renpu, the deputy privy councilor, to the position of privy councilor, Zheng Renhui only held the title of privy councilor and no longer had any specific jurisdiction over the affairs of the privy council.

Nevertheless, his status and position cannot be ignored.

When Chai Rong personally led the expedition against the Northern Han, Feng Dao, who had served ten dynasties without ever falling, did not accompany him. Among the ministers who remained in the capital, Feng Dao had the deepest seniority and prestige.

However, the emperor appointed Zheng Renhui as the garrison commander of Tokyo, and only ordered Feng Dao to serve as the mausoleum commissioner of the late emperor and preside over the funeral of Emperor Taizu.

Moreover, after Chai Rong returned, he immediately appointed Zheng Renhui as a Chamberlain.

Later, when Zheng Renhui fell seriously ill, the emperor visited his residence twice to offer his condolences, and he appeared extremely sad and sighed deeply.

If Zheng Renhui hadn't fallen ill and been unable to take charge, Xiang Xun might not have been appointed as the garrison commander for this campaign against Jiangnan.

Looking across the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, only a handful of high-ranking officials could enjoy such treatment, which speaks volumes about the extent of the favor bestowed upon them.

As for why?

In fact, clues can be seen from Zheng Renhui's resume—especially his appointment as Privy Councilor by Guo Wei.

The position of Privy Councilor was first established in the late Tang Dynasty. It was originally a temporary post held by eunuchs in the inner court and was a product of the development of the "envoy" position in the Tang Dynasty.

At that time, the Privy Councilor was merely in charge of receiving and proclaiming imperial edicts, and was more like the emperor's mouthpiece than a formal department of the court.

By the early Five Dynasties period, the position was filled by scholars. In order to adapt to the situation of continuous wars, the scope of the Privy Council's responsibilities expanded, and the status of the Privy Councilor rose rapidly.

Later, it was gradually taken over by military officials, and its administrative organs became increasingly sophisticated, establishing an ever-growing Privy Council that controlled financial, political, and military power. It gradually transformed from the inner court to the outer court, becoming a formal decision-making body.

However, this led to a hidden danger: the military officials were in charge of the Privy Council, which meant that the generals in charge of the army also had the power to deploy troops, and the checks and balances that should have existed were completely lost.

However, the Later Tang, Later Jin, and Later Han dynasties all started from the Hedong military governorship, so the Privy Councilor's thunderbolt never had a chance to explode.

It wasn't until Guo Wei, the founding emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty, was appointed as the Privy Councilor and stationed in Yedu that the "Chanzhou Mutiny" and the "Yellow Flag Incident" were staged.

However, unlike Zhao Kuangyin later, Guo Wei did not strip the Privy Councilor of his power, but instead appointed Wang Jun to this important position.

Wang Jun was no ordinary man. He was a close friend of Guo Wei, who often addressed him by his courtesy name or as "brother." He not only served as the Privy Councilor and Prime Minister, but also as a regional military governor.

However, Wang Jun was arrogant and spoiled because of his high achievements. He once prevented Prince Chai Rong from crossing the river back to the capital, and he often interfered in military and political affairs.

Of course, Wang Jun wasn't the key figure; he met a bad end, eventually being demoted and killed by Guo Wei.

However, it was Zheng Renhui who succeeded Wang Jun as the Privy Councilor.

Even after Guo Wei rebelled while holding the position of Privy Councilor, and after the Wang Jun incident, Guo Wei still appointed Zheng Renhui as Privy Councilor, which shows how much he trusted him.

Moreover, to be precise, from the time Zheng Renhui became the Privy Councilor to the later establishment of the Privy Council as a civil official in charge of Privy Council affairs in the Northern Song Dynasty, this was a crucial stage in the evolution of the Privy Council system.

The practice of scholars serving as Privy Councilors originated in the early Five Dynasties period, but at that time it was more about replacing eunuchs, and the Privy Council was not a well-established department or institution.

During the period when military officials were in charge of the Privy Council, the boundaries between the power to command and deploy troops were relatively blurred, and the Privy Councilor would often personally lead troops into battle.

Even during Wang Jun's reign, this situation remained unchanged. After Guo Wei became emperor, Wang Jun also led troops out to fight on several occasions.

Until Zheng Renhui took over as Privy Councilor, and then to the current Privy Councilor Wei Renpu, and in history, when Zhao Kuangyin established the Northern Song Dynasty, the Privy Council was completely controlled by scholars, and the power to mobilize troops and the position of commanding troops were separated.

Therefore, Zheng Renhui's historical status is evident, and Emperor Shizong Chai Rong held him in high esteem. His death was actually more significant than the deaths of Zhe Congruan and Liu Ci.

It's no wonder that Xiang Xun and Wang Pu rushed to Zheng's residence overnight to offer their condolences.

The reason why Li Yi initially thought this matter was unimportant was simply because he always considered things from the perspective of the future, thus ignoring the influence Zheng Renhui had during the reign of Emperor Sejong.

……

As night deepened and fine snow fell, Li Yi and his group finally arrived at the Zheng family's residence.

From afar, one could see white banners hanging high in front of the Zheng Mansion, and white lanterns swaying in the wind and snow, making the plaque above the gate flicker and adding a touch of solemnity.

Two blue-draped carriages were already parked in front of the mansion gate, their shafts covered with a thin layer of snow.

Li Yi recognized one of the carriages as Xiang Xun's, and the one next to it must be the one Wang Pu was riding in.

Xu Sheng was about to step forward to announce his arrival when the gatekeeper of the Zheng residence hurried out to greet him. The old servant, dressed in mourning clothes and with his beard and hair covered in snowflakes, bowed and asked, "May I ask if you are Commander Li of the Palace Guard?"

Li Yi dismounted, and snowflakes fell softly from his black cloak.

He replied in a deep voice, "It is indeed I, the envoy." As he spoke, the white breath he exhaled quickly dissipated in the cold wind.

Upon hearing this, the gatekeeper hurriedly bowed deeply again: "Please, Commander Li, follow me inside..."

Li Yi nodded slightly and followed him through the vermilion gate. The accompanying guards were led to a side courtyard to rest.

Inside the mourning hall, the smoke from sandalwood incense swirled among the white curtains.

Zheng Renhui's coffin rested quietly in the central hall, the coffin lid covered with a brocade quilt with dragon patterns bestowed by the emperor, and freshly picked pine branches and winter plum blossoms were offered in front of the coffin.

Xiang Xun and Wang Pu had already offered incense in the hall and were now standing silently to one side. Seeing Li Yi enter, Xiang Xun nodded slightly, while Wang Pu gestured with his eyes towards the incense table. Li Yi straightened his clothes, which were damp from the wind and snow, and took three sticks of incense from the steward. He then stepped forward, bowed three times before the coffin, and carefully placed the burning incense into the bronze incense burner.

On the right side of the altar, the Zheng family members all kowtowed in return. The young children, unaware of matters of life and death, simply followed the elders' actions in a daze.

Li Yi bowed and said, "Please accept my condolences."

Having said that, he walked over to Xiang Xun and Wang Pu and stood silently. In this situation, the three of them naturally had nothing to talk about; their visit late at night in the snow was merely to express their sentiments.

After all, when Zheng Renhui was seriously ill, the emperor visited him twice in person. Now that this important minister has suddenly passed away, it would be unreasonable for the four people who remained behind not to attend the funeral.

Outside, the wind and snow intensified, battering against the windows of the mourning hall.

A gust of wind blew through the hall, causing the candlelight in front of the altar to flicker and casting long and short shadows of everyone present.

Li Yi pondered to himself, glancing at the door from time to time—now he was just waiting for Han Tong to arrive, but the other party was quite far away, and it would definitely take some time for him to come after hearing the news.

Half an hour later, Han Tong hurriedly arrived.

He arrived a little late because he was working on a construction site in the outer city, which was the furthest from here.

After Han Tong offered incense, Li Yi and the other three stayed in the mourning hall for a while longer. They offered some words of comfort to the Zheng family, saying polite things like "please accept our condolences," which moved the Zheng family to tears as they thanked them.

Seeing that the snow outside was falling heavier and heavier, the four of them bowed to the Zheng family and took their leave.

Zheng Su, the eldest son of the Zheng family, personally escorted them through the courtyard, snowflakes falling softly onto their shoulders. Upon reaching the gate of the mansion, Zheng Su bowed deeply again: "Gentlemen, you have braved the snow to come and offer your condolences. My father's spirit in heaven will surely be comforted."

Xiang Xun reached out to support him and said gently, "The passing of Lord Zheng has saddened the entire court. We have come here tonight, and we too are reluctant to part with him. If there is anything your household needs, please let us know, and we will do our best to help."

Zheng Su's eyes reddened slightly, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Li Yi and his three companions bowed respectfully before turning and descending the steps. Outside, the wind and snow intensified, swirling the ashes of paper money in front of the mansion gate before finally dissipating into the vast night.

After bidding farewell, Han Tong led his personal guards away first, leaving a trail of deep hoofprints on the snow.

Just as Li Yi was about to mount his horse, he suddenly heard Xiang Xun's voice from behind: "Commander Li, please wait."

He turned around at the sound and saw Xiang Xun half-lifting the blue curtain of the carriage, leaning out of the carriage and waving slightly at him: "The snow is falling even more heavily tonight, and Commander Li will probably get soaked riding back. I happen to be passing through Zhengyangfang on my way, so why don't you ride with me for a while, Commander Li?"

Li Yi looked up and saw that Wang Pu's carriage had already driven several feet away. The lantern hanging at the back of the carriage swayed in the wind and snow, like a dying star, gradually disappearing into the depths of the night.

After a moment's thought, he immediately understood: Xiang Xun's invitation to ride in the carriage might be because he had something to say to him... and even if that wasn't the case, it must have been out of good intentions.

"Then I will trouble you, Your Excellency," Li Yi replied, bowing.

After saying that, he turned around and handed the reins to Xu Sheng, then walked towards Xiang Xun's carriage, his boots crunching softly over the snow.

As soon as Li Yi boarded the carriage and lifted the curtain, he felt a wave of warmth wash over him. The charcoal stove inside was burning brightly, and tiny sparks were reflected through the perforated copper cover.

He bent down and entered the carriage, sitting on the brocade cushion next to Xiang Xun. Then, the carriage began to move slowly, and Xu Sheng led a group of personal guards to follow.

"Traveling on this snowy night, a carriage is much more comfortable," Xiang Xun chuckled, handing over a hand warmer.

Li Yi took it with both hands, held it in his arms and gently stroked it. The warmth from his palms relieved the stiffness and coldness in his fingers.

At this moment, Xiang Xun suddenly sighed softly, "With the passing of Duke Zheng, the court has lost another pillar of support..."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted into the distance, and a hint of reminiscence inevitably appeared on his face.

After a moment, he spoke again: "Speaking of which, I have some connection with Master Zheng. Back when Emperor Taizu was stationed in Yedu, he appointed Master Zheng as the chief yamen clerk and me as the yamen clerk. At that time, Master Zheng and I worked in the yamen and often talked late into the night by candlelight in our spare time. We would discuss current events or chat about everyday life. Thinking back on the past is as if it were yesterday."

"Sigh... How could someone who was perfectly healthy suddenly leave us like this?"

"Brother Xiang, there's no need to be so sad," Li Yi gently comforted him.

"The matter of life and death is a cycle of Heaven, which is beyond human control. Zheng Gong was loyal and diligent throughout his life, and he remained steadfast in his principles even when he reached the highest position in the government. Now that he has passed away as the Grand Chancellor, he must have no regrets."

Xiang Xun nodded slightly upon hearing this: "What you say makes sense, my brother... However, I am not saddened, but just feeling a little sentimental."

Outside, the wind and snow howled, and the wheels churning through the snow made a dull thud. Inside the carriage, the faint light from the charcoal stove cast orange patches of light all around.

Xiang Xun suddenly changed the subject, saying, "On the way here, I heard from Prince Wang that you had visited the government office and made suggestions about planning the capital."

Li Yi nodded: "This is just my humble opinion, and whether it is feasible is still uncertain."

Xiang Xun laughed and said, "Brother, there's no need for modesty. Knowing you as I do, when have you ever said something you weren't sure of? Last year you reorganized the Imperial Guards, this year you volunteered to attack Shu... Once you've given the order, there's nothing you can't do. I imagine you already have a plan in mind for this proposal, don't you?"

Li Yi hadn't expected Xiang Xun to be so confident in him... But thinking about it carefully, since he made a name for himself in the Battle of Gaoping, he had indeed made a lot of contributions, and each of his achievements was remarkable.

Moreover, given his background and age, it's hard not to be impressed by his achievements.

On the contrary, Li Yi underestimated himself, always thinking that everything was as it should be, and was even dissatisfied with the status quo—little did he know that what he considered the starting point might be the end point that most people could never reach in their lifetime.

Even though he was just a junior officer in the Imperial Guard, he was someone many people could only dream of.

"Brother Xiang, you flatter me," Li Yi said modestly.

Next, Xiang Xun carefully inquired about Li Yi's views on the specific planning of Kaifeng City.

After all, Xiang Xun was nominally the governor of Tokyo. If he could handle the task of expanding the capital well, he would naturally deserve some credit.

And so, the carriage traveled slowly along the road, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the gate of Zhengyangfang.

Li Yi straightened his robes, lifted the heavy carriage curtain, and a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed towards him.

He jumped off the carriage, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you for seeing me off, Brother Xiang."

Xiang Xun looked at him and chuckled, "Brother's insightful remarks have been very helpful to me. When I have some free time in the future, I will definitely have a long talk with you by candlelight. Please don't think I'm bothering you then."

"I will certainly prepare a warm welcome for you!"

Watching Xiang Xun's carriage head towards the imperial city until it disappeared into the vast snow, Li Yi then turned around, mounted his horse, and led his personal guards into the gatehouse.

What started as scattered snowflakes has long since turned into a blizzard, with the snow on the streets already reaching above the soles of boots.

The wind whipped snowflakes into a dance in the streets and alleys, making a mournful sound.

It seemed as if only this one color and this one sound remained in the world. Even the watchman's clapper sounded dull and distant, as if it came from another world.

(End of this chapter)