Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 195 The Emperor Suspends Court!

End of October.

In the Wende Hall, officials stood in rows, holding their tablets and standing solemnly.

Standing on the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying looked down and couldn't help but feel a sense of annoyance.

During the border campaigns, some people not only failed to fulfill their duties, but also desperately sabotaged the efforts.

He submitted a memorial to the emperor every day without fail.

He's a complete traitor, it's chilling!

After about ten breaths, Zhao Ceying lowered his hands to his knees and slowly said:

"All internal and external departments may immediately submit their reports."

As he spoke, Zhao Ceying turned his attention to some censors and officials from the Ministry of War.

Following the example set by their superiors, Lü Gongzhu and Ouyang Xiu made their choices, and their students and former officials naturally followed suit.

Once the officials were in court discussing the matter, their protégés and former subordinates would flock to submit memorials.

The fact that dozens of people submitted memorials has already affected the operation of the regular court to some extent.

Generally speaking, a morning audience usually lasts about an hour.

Recently, it has become common for court meetings to last for three hours at a stretch.

Zhao Ceying glanced at them indifferently, then focused his attention on some of the "regulars" who submitted memorials.

Recommending relatives of the empress to join the border and pulling them into the game is undoubtedly a disgusting tactic.

Are there any benefits?
Perhaps the only benefit was that it allowed him, who had only recently ascended the throne, to understand who belonged to the Pang Ji lineage and the Ouyang Xiu lineage.

"Your subject, Yuan Zheng, a senior official in the Ministry of War, has something to report."

At the end of the left column, an elderly man in a red robe of the fifth rank stepped forward and respectfully said, "In all matters of war, there must be a military supervisor."

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying glanced down.

"vomit!"

"vomit!"

"If relatives of the empress enter the border region, they can share the burden."

Halfway through his sentence, Yuan Zheng, the Vice Minister of War, was startled and immediately stopped talking, looking up.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying pretended to vomit, his face turning red from vomiting.

This is?

All the civil and military officials turned their gazes in that direction.

"vomit!"

"vomit!"

"Where is the imperial physician?" Grand Chancellor Han Zhang asked hurriedly.

"Someone, summon the imperial physician."

In one corner, the Grand Eunuch in charge of ceremonies hurriedly summoned the physician.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying vomited for more than a hundred breaths.

Under the watchful eyes of all the officials, the physician took the emperor's pulse and said, "Your Majesty's spleen and stomach are out of balance. You should observe a period of fasting and recuperation to regulate your vital energy."

Zhao Ceying waved his hand weakly, and the physician withdrew.

After a long pause, Zhao Ceying sighed and said, "My spleen and stomach are out of balance, and I am feeling unwell. Therefore, I hereby order the temporary suspension of regular court sessions."

"Officials' memorials should be submitted to the Imperial Study."

Zhao Ceying added: "The officials' suggestions were submitted to the Censorate, and then passed on to the Imperial Study."

"If there are any disputes regarding government affairs, convey them to the Grand Secretaries and have them discuss them with me in person."

After saying this, Zhao Ceying waved his hand.

"Retreat—"

The shrill voice of the eunuch echoed throughout the palace.

Zhao Ceying glanced down, ignoring the reactions of the officials, and strode away.

The process was very smooth.

All the civil and military officials suddenly realized what was happening.

The show has started!
The memorials submitted to the emperor with advice and remonstrances annoyed him, so the emperor simply stopped attending court!
hiss~!

Even if it meant suspending court proceedings, there would be no compromise.

The new emperor has a rather stubborn personality!

Kunning Palace.

At the head of the table, Empress Gao, dressed in a phoenix robe, sipped soup.

He wore a pheasant-embroidered robe with nine embroidered patterns, adorned with nine dragons and pearls, and a red sash and a brocade collar.

As the empress of a nation, she is the mother of the world, and her phoenix robe is naturally exceptional.

However, when Empress Gao wore this specially made phoenix robe, it gave the impression that "the person and the clothes did not match".

Or rather, one's temperament doesn't match the extravagance of the clothes!
Below, an old eunuch stood, whom Gao asked questions from time to time.

Indeed, the new emperor Zhao Ceying had warned that "the empress dowager should not interfere in politics."

However, Gao did not take it seriously.

Empress Dowager Cao, the wife of the late emperor, and Empress Dowager Liu, the wife of Emperor Zhenzong, were both involved in court politics and even ruled from behind the curtain.

Compared to Liu and Cao, she merely advised the emperor to appoint relatives of the empress, which was already a very restrained approach.

Moreover, if she did not advise the emperor to give important positions to his maternal relatives, her maternal family's influence would be limited, and how could she feel at ease?

The old eunuch reported the details one by one.

After a few words, Gao was startled and asked in surprise, "What did you say?"
Madam Gao quickly confirmed, "You mean, the Emperor has stopped holding regular court sessions?"

“That’s right,” the old eunuch replied respectfully.

"Your Majesty, is your temperament really so strong?" Madam Gao frowned slightly, somewhat incredulous.

In a society where men are superior to women, it is not uncommon for husbands to be assertive and authoritative in front of their wives.

Therefore, she really didn't know whether her husband's personality was "really" strong.

After all, being tough on one's wife and being tough on one's subjects are two completely different kinds of toughness.

Who would have thought that the government would actually be so tough!
They would rather skip court than compromise!

Mr. Gao was somewhat at a loss, feeling very conflicted.

On the one hand, she felt some regret.

If the emperor continues to stubbornly resist, her advice will likely only annoy him and have no other effect.

On the other hand, she wanted to persevere.

After all, the suspension of regular court sessions was not only a tough stance, but also a result of coercion by the subjects.
Since it has already come to the point of suspending court proceedings, we might as well hold on a little longer.

What if the government compromises?

Hesitation filled my heart.

After a long pause, she finally made her decision.

"Jun'er's health is getting worse and worse." Madam Gao said slowly, "Could you please mention it to the Emperor, so that he might come and visit him?"

I'll try to persuade you one more time!
the last time!
The old eunuch hesitated for a moment, but eventually agreed.

"promise!"

Red pillars and carved rafters, green tiles and vermilion eaves.

Ouyang Mansion, a cool pavilion.

Ouyang Xiu and Lü Gongzhu stood side by side, admiring the shallow pond.

"Dozens of memorials in a row have forced the Emperor to suspend court. I wonder if the Emperor will compromise?" Ouyang Xiu sighed inexplicably as he looked at the fish swimming in the pond.

Sixty-one years old, the age of sixty!
As a leader in the literary world, he has been in the cabinet for two years.

The Grand Secretary of the Cabinet is already a figure who stands at the pinnacle among millions of scholars.

In terms of his career, he only had two paths to take: to advance or to retreat.

First, he was appointed prime minister.

Besides Grand Chancellor Han Zhang, there were five other Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet.

If one seizes the right opportunity and rises above the five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet to become the head of all officials, one will be second only to the emperor and above all others.

Secondly, he retired with honor.

Theoretically speaking, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet does not necessarily have to retire after three years.

There were quite a few highly capable Grand Secretaries who served in the cabinet for six years before retiring with honor.

However, his lineage is different.

Wen Yanbo, who had been demoted, received the favor of the new emperor and was recalled to the capital to serve as acting prefect of Kaifeng.

One chair, two people fighting over it.

If he cannot become prime minister, then he will definitely have to compete with Wen Yanbo for the position.

Wen Yanbo is a first-rate veteran.

In the competition within the party, he might not necessarily be able to defeat Wen Yanbo.

Therefore, there is no room for easing tensions.

Either become prime minister and reach the top, or retire with honor.

Ouyang Xiu gazed at the pond, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

He had a premonition that this "struggle for checks and balances" would be a turning point in his life. To be honest, things had developed to this point somewhat unexpectedly.

Originally, it would have been enough to coerce the new emperor into making concessions.

In his mind, a couple of weeks of coercion would be enough to make the new emperor back down.

But now, almost two months have passed.

There was a sense of unease, as if things were spiraling out of control.

"There is no other way out, continue with the memorial."

“I had someone find Jiang Zichuan’s flaws and submit a memorial to impeach him.” Lü Gongzhu’s expression darkened slightly.

The new emperor's decision to suspend court proceedings was both a good thing and a bad thing.

The good thing is that the ministers' coercion had worked, putting considerable pressure on the new emperor.

Otherwise, the new emperor would not have stopped court.

The bad thing is that the new emperor did not compromise.

The new emperor chose to suspend court proceedings, but did not choose to compromise.

His personality is really tough.

"That's the only way." Ouyang Xiu nodded helplessly.

For relatives of the empress to enter the border region, it certainly won't work without the new emperor's approval.

The problem now is that I'm stuck in this limbo.

The new emperor may be at his limit; if we continue to submit memorials for a few more days, he may not be able to hold on and may have to compromise.

It's also possible that the new emperor was unusually tough and stubbornly resisted the memorial.

In that case
Ouyang Xiu gazed upon the northern frontier.

The day Jiang Zhao returns in triumph will be the day they are purged.

Han Mansion.

Grand Chancellor Han Zhang and Grand Scholar Wang Yaochen sat facing each other, playing chess.

"The Emperor's toughness is truly beyond expectations!" After placing his piece, Wang Yaochen narrowed his eyes and said slowly.

As of now, dozens of civil officials from Ouyang Xiu's lineage have submitted memorials, as have a group of veteran officials left behind by Pang Ji.

In addition, the officials under Zeng Gongliang, Zhang Sheng, and Wu Chong also submitted sporadic memorials to varying degrees.

Of course, the three did not publicly express their "support" or "opposition" regarding whether to allow relatives of the empress to enter the border region.

The scattered memorials were submitted by only four or five people, all of whom were minor officials of the fifth rank. They represented only their personal opinions and did not reflect the unified opinion within the party.

Even so, these scattered memorials, taken together, amounted to a considerable number, totaling twenty.

If we include the memorials from the lineages of Ouyang Xiu and Pang Ji, there would be seventy or eighty of them.

Under heaven, there were fewer than four hundred civil and military officials qualified to attend court, and only about two hundred and fifty or sixty fifth-rank officials in the capital supported by the six cabinet chairs.

Nearly 30% of civil officials submitted memorials to the emperor!
If the previous emperor had been in power, he probably would have chosen to compromise long ago.

Or rather, it would have been impossible for such a proportion to be achieved under any previous emperor's rule.

If it's around one-tenth, the late emperor will seriously consider it.

With a success rate of around 20%, the late emperor would almost certainly compromise.

After all, 20% means that at least two factions will submit memorials, which could easily trigger a major factional struggle.

Now, 30%!
The pressure conveyed by the memorials submitted to the emperor alone was enough to cause panic in anyone's heart.

Even the emperor would be alarmed.

"Didn't our students and former officials, Grand Tutor Wang's students and former officials, and Zhao'er's students and former officials all submit some memorials opposing this?" Han Zhang stroked his beard and smiled.

His life was full of ups and downs, including "dismissing four prime ministers with a single memorial", "the Qingli New Deal", "the struggle to enter the cabinet", and "the controversy over the succession". Even the 30% of civil officials could hardly put any pressure on Han Zhang.

"Seventy or eighty people supported the entry of relatives of the empress into the border region, while more than a hundred people opposed it."

Wang Yaochen shook his head: "The implications are completely different."

The 80 or 90 supporters come from several major factions.

The eighty or ninety people who opposed it were only from Han Zhang's faction.

The meaning is different, so the weight is naturally different as well.

Han Zhang remained calm and did not speak.

After about ten breaths, he slowly said:

"To truly understand a person, one must observe not only their words but also their actions."

"The new emperor has ascended the throne. He speaks eloquently and his every word and action is full of great power. He even has the desire to expand the territory and rule the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

Han Zhang said with a serious expression: "We can take advantage of this opportunity to find out whether the new emperor is truly resourceful and brave, or just ambitious but incompetent."

"If the new emperor has any strategy, he will know that I, Han, definitely support Zhao'er. If he can hold out until Zhao'er returns with great power, the victorious officials, the Grand Chancellor, and the Emperor will all support a certain cause—"

Han Zhang squinted and gazed at the palace: "Suppressing the world is not impossible."

Wang Yaochen remained silent, then nodded in agreement.

The emperor has the name, the Grand Chancellor has the power, and Jiang Zhao has the army.

Commanding an army of 300,000 is certainly a form of deterrence.
None of the remaining four Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet were in command of troops.

Without military power, how could they possibly turn the world upside down?

If the new emperor truly possessed immense courage, then the seventy or eighty memorials submitted recommending relatives of the empress to enter the border would be nothing more than useless pieces of paper.

"Not urgent."

Han Zhang waved his hand: "Let's observe the new emperor's words and actions."

"If the new emperor compromises, then it will be as if he has helped Zhao'er understand his true nature."

"On the contrary, if the new emperor can stick to his own opinions, then he is the kind of person who can accomplish great things."

Han Zhang didn't care much.

If the new emperor chooses to compromise, it will simply mean sending his relatives and a group of scholars to the border.

When the imperial relatives and a group of scholars enter the border region, those people will surely be able to eat meat.

But it's just some scraps of meat on the edges and corners.

Some important official positions had already been occupied by Jiang Zhao's protégés and former subordinates.

If someone is appointed to a post in the border region, there's no reason to kick them out, is there?

This action doesn't actually affect anything.

My disciple Jiang Zhao has already presided over the special imperial examination, and has also trained the students in Xihe Road.

The trend is achieved!

Hanlin Academy.

Cai Jing held an article in his hand, squinting as he sketched on it.

"Brother Cai?"

Huang Shang, a court attendant, happened to pass by and glanced at it, somewhat puzzled.

Cai Jing looked up and calmly explained, "It's Ouyang Yongshu's article from more than twenty years ago, 'On Factions'."

Huang Shang understood.

He had read about this article.

"Do gentlemen form cliques, or do petty men form cliques?"

The so-called "On Factions" is an article written by Ouyang Xiu during the Qingli Reforms, which expounds the concept that "a gentleman makes friends but does not form factions".

At that time, the conservatives did not support the reform. Ouyang Xiu wrote this article to criticize the conservatives and thus promote the reform.

A gentleman makes friends with like-minded people, which is called "friends"; a petty person forms cliques to seek personal gain, which is called "a party".

The article was excellent, but the effect was not very good.

The terms "friends" and "party" are essentially the same as forming cliques, and Ouyang Xun's remarks were not accepted by public opinion.

You say you're a gentleman, so you are?

How can you prove that you are a gentleman?
Those who support your reforms are gentlemen, while those who oppose them are villains?

An essay on factionalism not only failed to help promote the reforms, but also produced considerable negative effects.

Furthermore, it has also planted many potential pitfalls.

After all, Ouyang Xiu did not admit to forming factions, but he did admit to forming "friends".

There is almost a consensus on forming factions from top to bottom.

This thing objectively exists; it cannot be destroyed; it truly exists.

However, having a consensus does not mean that it should be publicly acknowledged.

Ouyang Xiu was different; he acknowledged forming friendships.

Making friends is the same as forming a party, and forming a party is the same as making friends!
There's probably no problem with this kind of article if you don't delve into it too deeply.

If someone were to investigate further, Ouyang Xiu would be in deep trouble.

Cai Jing was undoubtedly the one who intended to investigate further!
“There’s no harm in reading Ouyang Yongshu’s ‘absurd’ words,” Cai Jingping said calmly.

Huang Shang understood and joined in to watch and "read".

The young Grand Secretary's triumphant return will surely lead to political infighting and reckoning.

This essay, "On Factions," is enough to denigrate Ouyang Xiu a hundred times over!

Some opinions are astounding as they seem.

Once it's on the scale, it might not even be able to bear a thousand pounds!

(End of this chapter)