The question of the Son of Heaven only caused a silence in the temple.

The deacons all looked down at the wat board in their hands, and no one spoke, carrying out the maxim that silence is golden.

It's not that Han Gang is popular, but since Lu Gong's writings, many rulers have suffered losses at his hands more or less when they didn't take Han Gang in their eyes in the past. With the respect of the important ministers of the two governments, to target a newcomer, the victory that should have been captured by hand was easily reversed by Han Gang. Eat a trench and grow a wisdom, at the moment, among the Zaifu, a few people who have been enemies of Han Gang would rather let the supervising imperial historians who are anxious to step on the throne charge into battle, rather than make a public statement, otherwise things will take a turn, and it will be themselves who will be embarrassed.

The silence in the hall was embarrassing, and the crying voices of the sects in the main hall next door came in clearly. Zhao Ji saw that he couldn't hear from the courtiers, and his face was slightly gloomy, "Lu Qing's family, you are the head of the Western Mansion,"

Wang Jue was still in the main hall, and the only prime minister was not there, so Zhao Ji named the oldest privy envoy in the government.

There was coldness in Zhao Ji's tone. Han Gang's actions in Hedong have already violated Zhao Xuan's taboo as the Son of Heaven. After a little envoy along the way, you can be greedy for merit and kill, and you can be coerced by your generals, but you can't fool the court openly.

Han Gang has the right to act on the fly and act cheaply, but it does not mean that he can do whatever he wants. If Han Gang can write a secret letter and explain the situation, no matter what the reason is, Zhao Ji is not inconsiderate.

How big is it with just 20,000 Montenegrin party members? But Han Gang didn't do anything, just ordered someone to fly into Beijing. This is a matter of pure attitude, and he is not taken into account as an emperor. Moreover, Han Gang's merits are so high that he can't go unrewarded, and Zhao Ji is worried that he can't find a reason to block his opportunity to enter the Western Mansion.

The thoughts of the Son of Heaven were more or less felt by everyone in the hall, which was the reason for their silence.

Lu Gongshu was outspoken in private, but when he was in the court, he didn't want to take the initiative to get along with Han Gang: "Go back to Your Majesty's words." A few days ago, the Hedong Economic Strategy Division reported that the official army went south to the Montenegrin Dangxiang Coalition Army in the Battle of Shengzhou, and beheaded more than 23,000 ranks. The Privy Council has sent people to the Shengzhou Survey in accordance with the old story. If the number does not match, or if there is any transgression, he should be sent back to His Majesty according to the routine. ”

Wang Zhongzheng stood solemnly not far from the Son of Heaven, listening to the privy envoy Lu Gong's glance, telling how to deal with the good news of the 23,000 beheadings of the Hedong Army. The heart is an old fox again.

With the title of imperial equipment, Wang Zhongzheng, who has just returned to Beijing, is not standing in the side hall of Qingshou Palace as a commander, but a guard who protects the wings of the emperor. Although he was not qualified to participate in the court discussion in the side hall, he watched Han Gang become the target of the imperial historians from the sidelines, but the Son of Heaven did not directly reject or stay in the middle school, but took it out for the auxiliary ministers to discuss, and Wang Zhongzheng's heart inevitably had the sadness of the rabbit and the fox.

Wang Zhongzheng knew that if he helped Han Gang speak, most of the people would slander in front of the Son of Heaven. But he is an old man in the palace, and he knows how to speak so as not to violate the taboo of the Son of Heaven. If you don't have this ability, can you have such a big reputation now? Just luck, how can you get such trust in front of the Son of Heaven? Even Zhao Kuo and Ma Jian must also have good eloquence in order to be reused.

But whether to help Han Gang or not, or to which step, whether to help him get rid of his crimes, or to help him ease his cheeks, you have to look at the intentions of the official family first. Otherwise, let the Son of Heaven misunderstand that he colluded with Han Gang inside and outside, and it would be a big trouble.

Wang Zhongzheng watched coldly, and Lu Gong babbled about it, but he dealt with the story, and did not say that he wanted to attack Han Gang.

Zhao Ji patiently listened to Lu Gong's writing, and turned his head to look at Lu Huiqing: "Lu Qing, what do you think should be done?" ”

If the Son of Heaven wants to punish Han Gang, Lu Huiqing does not object. If you can take the attention of the court away from yourself, it will really be a beautiful thing that you can't ask for. However, he will not endorse the impeachment of the imperial historians: "In the opinion of the ministers, in the first battle in the northwest, the soldiers and horses in Hedong contributed a lot. Nowadays, although there is a suspicion of killing and surrendering meritorious service, if the crime is investigated and punished, it is not a way to give preferential treatment to meritorious heroes. Once the morale of the army is broken, how can they be used to kill the enemy in the future? ”

Zhang Dan's brows furrowed more and more, and Lu Huiqing's statement always sounded wrong. He avoided talking about Han Gang, it seemed that he didn't want to mix, but he took out the Hedong Army to have something to do with Han Gang, which seemed to have a deep meaning.

The impeachments of the supervising imperial historians are all talking about Han Gang's fault, but the severity is different. said that Han Gang was greedy and easy to kill, but it was just a matter of character, and it had nothing to do with ability. Moreover, killing people is another thing from killing good people and risking merit. Killing 20,000 Montenegrin party members is not deeply responsible, but it is just two more years to stay outside. But impeaching him as a subordinate general, that is to attack Han Gang's ability, once this crime is confirmed, let alone being promoted to Xifu, it is difficult to be a border minister. As for saying that Han Gang deliberately used his military merits to buy the hearts of the Hedong army, it would arouse the jealousy of the Son of Heaven. The superintendent of the imperial history has not yet impeached Han Gang on this charge that can destroy the door, but Lu Huiqing has a vague intention to introduce this aspect.

Regarding Lu Huiqing's words, Zhao Ji still didn't express his position, but pointed to Zhang Dian again: "Zhang Qing, what do you think?" ”

"The imperial history has the right to hear about it, and there is nothing wrong with Han Gang's greed for merit and murder, and coercion for his subordinates. However, according to the words of the imperial history, he asked the border ministers, and the court has never had such a law. This matter should be sent to Hedong to investigate thoroughly, and an edict was issued to order Han Gang to defend himself to make it clear what was right and wrong. ”

Zhang Dian made it clear that he supported Han Gang. And he's right. Even if the case is tried in court, the human and material evidence is complete, and the prisoner must be given the opportunity to defend himself. How can you be convicted without a confession?

Of course, Zhao Ji knew that Dao Zhangdun and Han Gang had a good relationship. It's just that I didn't expect him to stand on Han Gang's side so simply. Once things turn into an open war of words between the two sides. Even the other border ministers who were originally jealous of the Hedong Army's killing of the surrendered people had to worry about whether they would be cited by the imperial history in the future, and they would be punished with an impeachment. It is very likely that he will go to the Ben Qi to protect Han Gang, and when the time comes, it will be the turn of the inspectors who impeached Han Gang to be sacrificed.

Zhao Ji was displeased in his heart, and was displeased: "If he really kills the Montenegrin party who came to Guishun, what should he do?" ”

Zhang Dian replied: "Your Majesty is clear. I remember that the Liao people were able to capture Xingling before, and it was the soldiers and horses of the Black Mountain Weifu Military Division who led the wolf into the room. His Majesty wants to keep him on the border, and the Liao people invade the south on another day, and he may not turn against him. Tartar barbarians, how do you know loyalty? Han Gang's soldiers killed him, although there was a small mistake, but in the future, it is not a big mistake. Do you know that this group of Montenegrin fugitives will not come out in the future, and another Li Jiqian? ”

Zhao Ji was silent for a while.

Since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, they have been guarding against warriors, not to mention those Montenegrin party items with three surnames as slaves? Don't say that it is a party item of Montenegro, and the relics of the Western Xia people have been killed, so Zhao Ji can feel at ease. But this cannot be spoken, and once it is said, the courtiers below who think they are benevolent gentlemen will be scolded. But who can guarantee that there will not be a second Li Jiqian in this batch of Montenegrin party items? Han Gang helped solve the headache problem, and Zhao Ji was actually quite pleased.

But Han Gang did this, and he was too pleased with the generals. Unlike those low-grade officials who want to become meat eaters, but shout that 'meat eaters are despicable and fail to plan ahead', Zhao Ji knows Han Gang's ability very well, and knows very well that he will never be able to control the generals below. In Li Xian's secret performance, he can also vaguely see Han Gang's control over the generals of Hedong. With such a military heart, how can it not make people jealous?

Moreover, with Han Gang's merits and abilities, after the end of the Northwest War this time, only if Xifuzhong gives him a position can it be justified. Otherwise, if you don't get rewarded for your merits, who will work hard for the court in the future?

But that's less than thirty years old in Xifu......

Zhao Ji has been suppressing Han Gang's promotion, isn't it just because he doesn't want to see this scene? Even if Han Gang was wronged, for the sake of the long-term peace and stability of the Great Song Dynasty, this precedent could not be set. Han Gang did a very good job in Hedong, and he couldn't find fault with military and political affairs, but fortunately, a public case in Shengzhou made Zhao Ji see the opportunity.

Sooner or later, Han Gang will enter the two provinces, but not now. In terms of rewards, Zhao Ji will never be stingy, but he will always be pressed on his official position. This is also for Han Gang's good, if he rises too fast, it will be difficult to end well.

Zhao Ji frowned. Lu Gongzhu said the scene, Lu Huiqing looked at him left and right, Zhang Dian helped, and the few others who did not speak were Buddha statues made of mud tires.

From their attitudes, it can be seen that several ruling officials all advocate that Han Gang's charges must be confirmed before he can be punished. But Zhao Ji thought that it was not a canonical punishment for Han Gangming. In terms of criminal law, as long as the court has not yet agreed, the Montenegrin party is still a person from the enemy country, and Han Gang is not guilty of killing. If the imperial court really succeeded in finding a reason to condemn Han Gang, the Hedong Army would definitely have to punish them as well, but this was the result that Zhao Ji tried his best to avoid.

Wang Qi is not here, why is there no one who can be considerate?

Zhao Ji's gaze swept over the bodies of the ministers in the hall one by one, his mood became worse and worse, and his face became even more gloomy.

"Your Majesty, the minister has a word to enter Your Majesty."

Suddenly, a person came out of the class to speak, and Zhao Ji looked at it, but it was Cai Qu, who had recently been promoted to the political hall.

"Cai Qing, but it doesn't hurt to say it."

Cai Qugong said: "Hedong originally had to take the horses to bear, and Li Xian had the right to supervise the soldiers and horses in Hedong. He reported the battle of Shengzhou and beheaded 20,000, which should not be false. If there is still doubt, the Privy Council has also sent someone to check the authenticity, and it will be known in a few days. ”

Zhao Ji frowned and didn't speak, to see what Cai really wanted to say.

"In the opinion of the ministers. Whether the beheadings came from Montenegrin or not, it is not appropriate to delve into them. The merits are doubtful, and the crimes are light. He is not a Chinese citizen, and his majesty is obedient, so killing him can be described as a crime? Cai Qu peeked at Zhao Ji as he spoke, and saw that the face of the Son of Heaven was getting worse and worse, and his words changed, "However, Han Gang is indeed careless, and his majesty can send a secret decree and strictly plead." Presumably, Han Gang can appreciate His Majesty's good intentions. ”