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

Chapter 309 Zhong Huai, I need to know my place, and you need to know your place too!
January 11th, the seventh year of the Xifeng reign.

Wende Hall.

All the civil and military officials stood in orderly and solemn silence.

On the imperial steps, Emperor Zhao Ceying sat upright with his arms around his head, exuding the composure and calmness of a superior.

However, a faint, almost imperceptible hint of decline could still be seen between his brows.

"when--"

A single chime of a bell echoes on and on.

"this--"

"what?"

"Where is the eldest son?"

Generally speaking, the ringing of the bell upon entering the palace signifies the start of the officials' discussion of state affairs.

All civil and military officials would become even more solemn and silent, lest they be disrespectful in front of the palace and be impeached.

However, today is an exception.

Upon entering the palace and ringing the bell, the civil and military officials became even more boisterous.

All those who entered the hall, including hundreds of civil and military officials, whether they looked up, stood on tiptoe, or turned around, all focused their gaze on one point—the left side of the hall!

There's no other reason than that one person is missing.

Since its founding, the Great Zhou Dynasty has always revered the left.

The left side of the main hall naturally became the row of positions for the six Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet.

However, at that very moment, there were only five people on the left side of the main hall.

One person is missing.

Moreover, the one person missing is none other than the Grand Chancellor, Jiang Zhao!

The eldest son is absent?

These two words, taken individually, are actually quite normal.

However, when combined, it becomes quite abnormal.

Civil and military officials may occasionally "take leave" in case of emergencies or illness.

However, the scope of this so-called "leave of absence" certainly does not include high-ranking officials and ministers.

Generally speaking, high-ranking officials and ministers are "online" every single day of the year.

Now, the sudden absence of Grand Chancellor Jiang Zhao could mean something big or small.

It may be a minor matter, perhaps just a simple request for leave.

It is indeed a large entity, and the political implications it contains are likely enough to shake the world.

Consequently, both civil and military officials couldn't help but pay close attention.

That's how it is in officialdom; you have to be constantly aware of every little thing that happens and always be vigilant.

Even a slight, unintentional action by someone in a position of power can be enough to make both civil and military officials uneasy.

However, this is not a meaningless overreaction to the dangers posed by every bush and tree.

Only in this way can one live a long life in the imperial court.

Having eyes that can see in all directions and ears that can hear in all directions, and knowing everything from astronomy to geography, this is not just empty talk!
On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying appeared calm, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief.

Zichuan is certainly someone you can entrust with this task!
Demoting the Grand Chancellor was a well-considered move on his part.

Overall, the fish can be prepared in two ways:
Firstly, it could be a test to see if Jiang Zhao remained loyal.

People's hearts are changeable.

Power can influence people invisibly.

Some people undergo a drastic change in mindset once they gain power.

History records countless examples of those who went from being loyal to being treacherous.

Conversely, some people who gain power remain loyal.

Similar to Zhuge Liang of Shu Han, Gao Jiong of Sui Dynasty, and Guo Ziyi of Tang Dynasty, these are all examples of people who remained loyal despite having power.

Since the second year of the Xifeng reign, the reform of officialdom has benefited tens of thousands of people.

Among these people were not only Jiang Da Xiang Gong's former students and officials, but also those who still felt indebted to him.

Even Yuan Jiang, a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion who had already reached the pinnacle of officialdom, had actually received favors from Jiang Zhao.

In just five years, the Jiang faction's power has grown so deep that it has been elevated to a rather alarming level.

The conquest of Jiaozhi and the restoration of Yan and Yun, along with his two temporary administrations of state affairs, elevated Grand Chancellor Jiang Zhao's power, reputation, and influence to a level unmatched by his predecessors.

It can be said that Jiang Zhao was a powerful minister!
Moreover, he was not just any ordinary powerful minister.

In terms of power, perhaps only figures like Huo Guang and Yin Yi could truly surpass him.

Given this situation, no one can guarantee whether Jiang Zhao remains loyal or sincere.

After all, the acting skills of literary figures are widely recognized as remarkable.

As the head of all officials, Jiang Zhao's acting skills are beyond question.

Last time, Gu, Wang, and Zhang knelt for a long time, begging for forgiveness. Wasn't that a typical example of "acting"?

Therefore, given Jiang Zhao's acting skills, he could naturally portray loyalty and disloyalty.

Even so, Zhao Ceying still had to find a way to see through everything and distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous.

The reason is simple: it may involve the issue of "entrusting an orphan to someone else"!
How can the fate of the nation be entrusted so easily?
By proactively and semi-frankly getting Jiang Zhao to demote himself, he was undoubtedly a superior way to test whether Jiang Zhao was still loyal.

Ultimately, a play can be performed, but behavior cannot.

After all, once demoted, there is a real possibility that one may not be able to successfully reinstate oneself.

Furthermore, considering the treacherous nature of human nature, how can we know if this is a trap set by the monarch to seize power?

Therefore, taking this as an opportunity, one can distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous.

If one is a loyal subject, one will naturally trust the monarch and be willing to temporarily relinquish power.

If one is disloyal, one will naturally fight to the death and choose to seize power.

In this way, with a simple test, Zhao Ceying can prepare for whether or not to entrust his son to someone else.

Looking at it now, the answer is quite obvious.

If you ask him to retire, he will voluntarily retire.

If such ministers are not loyal ministers, then there are no loyal ministers in the world.

Secondly, it is naturally a morally motivated strategy.

On the surface, moral maneuvering may be a less important "process".

After all, the young prince and Jiang Zhao had a very close relationship, and there was no shortage of gratitude for the young prince's reinstatement.

In reality, it is quite necessary to impose a layer of constraints through moral maneuvering.

On the one hand, no one can guarantee that Jiang Zhao will never change his mind.

Temporary loyalty does not guarantee lifelong loyalty.

Moral conspiracy is a kind of invisible external constraint.

A single thought can make a virtuous minister for all time; a single thought can make a villain.

Historical evaluations are likely to become polarized as a result.

The force of this constraint is actually quite strong.

On the other hand, this move at least puts Zhao Ceying's mind at ease!

For a dying person, the only thing they can ask for is peace of mind.

"cough!"

A soft cough.

The civil and military officials immediately stood at attention.

Zhao Ceying looked down, glanced around, and then asked calmly, "Where is the eldest master?"

"Your Majesty."

The Imperial Censor hurriedly stepped forward and said respectfully, "The Grand Chancellor is ill and unable to attend court to discuss state affairs. He has already submitted a request for leave."

With just this one sentence, the civil and military officials exchanged glances and began to discuss amongst themselves.

The eldest son is a man capable of conquering new territories on horseback. He is young and healthy, and I have never heard of him having any illness. How could he suddenly fall ill?

Moreover, he was so ill that he could not attend court.

How could someone get so sick in just a few days? You're kidding me.

On the left side of the main hall, the five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet vaguely guessed some of the inside story. They exchanged glances and were secretly alarmed.

Just a few days ago, the Emperor summoned several Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet to announce their continued appointments and spoke privately with the Grand Secretary.

Today, the eldest son claimed to be ill and did not go out.

If you say there's absolutely no connection between these things, even a ghost wouldn't believe it!

"Is he/she ill?"

Zhao Ceying looked quite surprised.

What caused the illness?

Judging from his appearance, he looked very concerned.

"They said it was due to the cold weather, and they caught a cold," reported the Palace Attendant.

As a seventh-rank censor, the Palace Attendant Censor was not qualified to attend court to discuss state affairs.

However, his main responsibility was to take attendance of all officials, which was a small part of his ability to attend court.

"Wind chill?"

Zhao Ceying frowned, stood up and took two steps, his face solemn, and waved his hand: "A minister of the state is of great importance, concerning the fate of the nation. Now that Minister Jiang is ill, we must not be careless."

"Order the Imperial Household Department to allocate some precious medicinal herbs from the Imperial Treasury to nourish Jiang Qing's body."

"Send three imperial physicians to diagnose and treat him; we must not allow any chronic illness to remain, lest we suffer a greater loss for a small gain."

"Yes."

The Grand Eunuch Li Xian, who was in charge of the Imperial Ceremonies, quickly bowed.

The inner treasury, to put it bluntly, was the emperor's private treasury.

The Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Physicians were both government offices specifically serving the imperial court.

These few words convey a hidden sense of importance.

"call!"

After giving the relevant instructions, Zhao Ceying seemed much more at ease and sat back on the dragon throne.

After a few breaths, calming his breathing, he slowly said:
"All internal and external departments may immediately submit their reports."

Jiang Mansion, Cool Pavilion.

"Den-"

"Den-"

The wind in the pines enters the strings, each note clear and melodious.

On a small wooden table about ten feet tall, there was a xylophone, pastries, fruits, tea, and several documents.

Jiang Zhao sat on the futon, his eyes slightly closed, his fingertips moving smoothly like clouds and water.

The crisp sound of the zither and the gentle sound of the water, when combined, create a unique and delightful ambiance.

"My lord." A soft call came as the steward, Hesheng, approached.

"The Duke of Yue, the Duke of Dai, Grand Secretary Zhang, and Minister Zhang request an audience," He Sheng announced in a low voice.

"Den-"

The plucking stopped, and the music gradually faded.

"Let them in," Jiang Zhao said calmly.

Since it involves self-deprecation, there are some things that definitely need to be explained to others.

The so-called request for leave is just the beginning.

In the days that followed, there were also submissions of official documents, persuasion from the emperor, and insistence on requesting to be transferred to a post outside the capital.

Of course, Jiang Zhao couldn't stay idle for long during this time.

He had to make proper arrangements for the promotion of his students, former officials, and meritorious officials who had contributed to the expansion of the territory; he couldn't simply walk away.

In addition, Jiang Zhao also planned to make some arrangements regarding the young prince Zhao Shen, which could be considered as adding an "insurance lock" to his life of demotion.

About twenty or thirty breaths.

"Zichuan."

A loud shout came from Gu Tingye.

Beside him were Wang Shao, Zhang Fangping, and Zhang Heng.

The two civil officials and the two military officers rushed over immediately after resigning from their posts, clearly representing the sentiments of many people who came to visit.

"sit."

Jiang Zhaoyi stretched out his hand and said calmly.

The group took their seats one after another.

"Zichuan, why do you claim to be ill?"

As soon as he sat down, Gu Tingye put on a serious face and quickly asked.

Just now in the Wende Hall, he felt that there might be a problem with Jiang Zhao's request for leave.

Now that I see it, it is indeed so.

Jiang Zhao was clearly not sick, yet he insisted on staying out of the house.

No one would believe there were no political factors involved.

"It's a long story."

Jiang Zhao sighed.

With a wave of his hand, he passed over a document.

Above it were records of the diagnosis and treatment of the official's illness.

"this--"

The article was passed around among several people, and their expressions all changed.

Gu Tingye and Wang Shao, in particular, were horrified and deeply shocked.

Carbuncles!

This ailment was all too familiar to military generals.

Simply put, it's caused by inadequate or untimely cleaning of the injury, leading to inflammation.

And after becoming inflamed, it gradually turned into pus and ulceration.

This is truly an incurable disease!
Those who develop carbuncles are almost guaranteed to die!

"How did we get infected?" Gu Tingye frowned and shook his head repeatedly.

Generally speaking, three or four out of ten people who are hit by arrows will develop carbuncles.

Like many famous figures such as Fan Zeng, Liu Biao, Liu Yan, Cao Xiu, Meng Haoran, and Guo Chongtao, they all died from carbuncles.

Among them were powerful figures such as prime ministers and famous generals.

Of course, this is in the case of wounds not being cleaned in time.

With timely wound cleaning, the infection rate is estimated to be only one or two out of ten.

One in ten or twelve, that's not a particularly high probability!
Your Majesty, how did you unfortunately fall victim to this?
Wang Shao frowned but remained silent.

What is the connection between the official suffering from carbuncles and the Grand Chancellor claiming illness?

Could it be?

Wang Shao's heart sank slightly.

A dying person is the most difficult to deal with!

On the fifth day of the first month, the Emperor summoned six Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet to the palace.

Jiang Zhao explained the whole story bit by bit.

About half an incense stick's time.

"Thus, the path of feigning illness and staying home to seek self-deprecation arose."

Jiang Zhao shook his head and sighed silently.

No one wants to be demoted.

But there's no other way; I have to belittle myself.

Moreover, rather than being falsely accused and demoted, it is undoubtedly more dignified to voluntarily claim illness and demote oneself.

"Self-degradation?"

Gu Tingye was startled, and even his posture became much more upright.

"this--"

Zhang Heng frowned and couldn't help but hiss.

I really have to belittle myself!

The main point is that the official adopted a semi-frank approach, which was just short of explicitly stating that it was "like the story of Emperor Taizong and Li Shiji".

Even so, if one refuses to humble oneself, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting one's ill intentions?

At that time, the government will probably have to start "liquidating" matters to pave the way for its son.

Maybe she's thinking of taking her husband with her before she leaves, so they can keep each other company!

"Zichuan, do you really have to belittle yourself?"

Gu Tingye frowned, hesitating to speak: "What if..."

Several people looked over.

Even though Gu Tingye didn't elaborate, everyone understood what he meant.

Self-deprecation is not without its risks.

If the emperor truly entrusts his son to another, then self-degradation would naturally be a good thing.

But what if the emperor doesn't entrust the young prince to anyone? This would be a trap set by the emperor to "dispose of power with a single word," and then everything would be ruined.

"Ugh!"

Jiang Zhao shook his head and sighed, "With one prefecture, two capitals, and fifteen circuits in the entire empire, what is there that is without risk?"

"Zhonghuai, you need to get your bearings right."

"I need to know my place too!"

Gu Tingye frowned and nodded.

The first thing the Emperor said was to demote the Grand Chancellor.

That's an absolutely brilliant statement.

Having said all that, there are only two possible scenarios for the ruler and his subject:
There's no other way but to fight it out or for the Grand Master to voluntarily demote himself!

Fortunately, the new policy has been implemented.

Jiang Zhaoping said, "As long as the new policy is not abolished, my influence will remain and will continue to exist."

"These years of self-degradation are just a period of rest and recuperation, nothing serious."

"Ah."

Several people nodded in agreement.

The new policy cannot be abolished.

Since the second year of the reign of Emperor Xifeng, five years of reform and innovation have cultivated interest groups that genuinely and wholeheartedly uphold the new policies.

Even if the government wanted to abolish the new policies, it would not agree.

The resistance encountered may not be any less than that of reform and innovation.

Not to mention, with reforms and innovations leading to national wealth and military strength, it's impossible for any official to abolish the new policies unless they've gone mad.

As long as the new policies are not abolished, the Grand Chancellor's influence will be sufficient to sustain his rule.

Furthermore, if Gu Tingye and Wang Shao correct their positions and maintain their loyalty to the emperor, they can continue to command troops.

Thanks to the new policies and the meritorious officials who expanded the territory, even if the Grand Chancellor did not enter the court for thirty or fifty years, it would be almost impossible for anyone to exist that could affect his authority.

"Don't let the news of the carbuncle spread," Jiang Zhao cautioned. "Otherwise, it will only cause trouble."

"Yes."

Several people quickly echoed this.

This kind of thing definitely can't be spread.

"also……"

Jiang Zhao gave Jiang Zhao some advice on how to be a good official.

However, in general, it can be summed up in one sentence: recuperate and keep a low profile!

A short while later, the group dispersed.

Today, each of them has more or less formed their own "core clique".

Regarding the matter of the eldest son claiming illness, the group naturally had to inform him.

"Ugh!"

Jiang Zhao shook his head and sighed.

Reaching out, I picked up a piece of paper and a pen, and slowly began to write—

Preface to Sending Off Prince Zhao Shen of Yan!
Help Zhao Shen gain fame!
This was Jiang Zhao's plan against Zhao Shen.

As a dying man, Jiang Zhao was of paramount importance to the nation and its people, so the emperor dared not place too much trust in him and chose to test him.

Conversely, when it comes to official career, Jiang Zhao naturally dared not trust the emperor too much, and therefore had to choose to keep a backup plan.

This is all perfectly normal; it's human nature.

No one dares to trust others completely without reservation.

That is, to consider the problem from the perspective of the "evil" in human nature.

Therefore, even considering the worst-case scenario, Jiang Zhao decided to help Prince Yan, Zhao Shen.

In this way, even if all of this is indeed a trap set by the emperor to "dissolve the regime with a single word," he can still be invited back to power by Zhao Shen and Empress Xiang in the future, thanks to his position as a member of the Crown Prince's faction.

Of course, this is already the worst-case scenario.

Therefore, it is also called a "safety lock".

……

(End of this chapter)