"Your Majesty, who does the Prime Minister want?" Zuo Chen asked again.

The emperor did not hesitate at all: "I see that Peng Aiqing will be the ......" ”

"Your Majesty!" Zuo Chen interrupted the emperor with a bit of a gaffe, and shouted loudly: "Don't!"

The emperor looked at Zuo Chen angrily, if he had to be replaced by someone else, I was afraid that he would have to be treated for being rude in front of the emperor, but Zuo Chen was the emperor's teacher, and the emperor had to give him a little more face in many cases.

Zuo Chen immediately noticed his gaffe, hurriedly took a step back, straightened his clothes, and then said solemnly: "Your Majesty, although Lord Peng is talented, the prime minister needs to lead a hundred officials and set an example for a hundred officials, which requires extremely high prestige, and it is difficult for Lord Peng Zhu to bear this responsibility now." ”

"Prestige is not innate," the emperor was very unhappy, and said coldly: "Everyone says prestige, hum, officialdom is a big dye vat, pay attention to harmony and light and dust, hello, I am good, everyone, but I just forgot whether the court is good or not, and whether the people are good or not." ”

This is enough to punish the heart, officialdom pays attention to harmony with light and dust, the kind of maverick is often the frustrated in officialdom, young people grind in it, grind away the edges and corners, so they become old and become a certain country.

"Look at the current officials, those who want to do things can't do it, those who can do things, don't do anything, it's been ten years, so long, but if there is an official, there is a little bit of thought for the sake of the court, this group of thieves can run rampant for ten years!"

The more the emperor spoke, the more angry he became, and he slapped his hands heavily.

"A group of thieves! My Great Jin Imperial Court has raised such a group of thieves!"

The emperor's roar resounded inside and outside, and the ministers in the study were silent.

"The imperial court treasury is empty, the Hu tribe outside the Saiwai is provocative, and the people in the world are all over the place! But no one is worried! The words of the sage!

The emperor vented his resentment and grievances in the three years since he ascended the throne and his disappointment with the court situation.

"Your Majesty is angry," Zhang Meng comforted in a low voice: "There is nothing wrong with what Lord Zuo said, but it was in an ordinary period, Lord Zuo. ”

Zhang Meng turned to look at Zuo Chen and said: "Boss, don't you notice, today's court, from the court to the locality, the officials have to get by, and they don't feel the crisis at all, the Hu clan outside the Saiwai is ready to move, the number of displaced people in the world is increasing day by day, the imperial court treasury is empty, Wen Tian is martial, and he can't come up with any way, my lord, if it goes on like this, the world will be in chaos." ”

"I think Your Majesty's choice is right, although Lord Peng Zhu is young, it is good that he is young, he is talented, he has momentum, he can rely on his enthusiasm to inspire the dynasty, and more importantly, His Majesty trusts Lord Peng, and Lord Peng will be the prime minister, and he will be able to be a monarch and a minister!"

Zhang Meng's words pierced the shortcomings of the current imperial court, the imperial court treasury is empty, and there are many displaced people in the world, but the imperial court has no way, and officials at all levels are united, happy and happy, and do not care about various problems.

If you want to say that the current emperor, since he took office, if you want to talk about diligent government, there is nothing to say, but the ministers are indifferent, what should be done, the emperor is always angry.

"Your Majesty, this prime minister is not trivial, should I ask the ministers of the DPRK and China to discuss together. Pan Lian cautiously stepped forward and proposed.

"Lord Pan said very much," Zuo Chen also agreed: "The prime minister has jurisdiction over the six Cao, Du Zhi Cao, Bing Cao, Min Cao, Officials Cao, Tian Cao, Xing Cao, and Six Cao Shangshu are all old and respected ministers, and they are also ministers appointed by the first emperor for many years, Your Majesty...."

The emperor became more and more impatient in his heart, and interrupted him: "Lao Cheng is serious, Lao Cheng is serious, what is the use! When Tian Ning is here, is it also old and serious!"

These words were too heavy, Zuo Chen's face turned red, Pan Lian wanted to interject at this time, but the emperor waved his hand: "That's it, I will make a decree, worship Pengzhu as the prime minister!"

Zhang Meng went over, sat on the side, and quickly drafted the edict and handed it to the emperor, who took a cursory look and picked up the jade seal and covered it.

Pan Lian hesitated for a while and still refused to move, Zhang Meng sighed: "Taishi, the imperial court needs a cadre who charges into battle, Lord Pengzhupeng, is the best candidate!"

Pan Lian was silent for a while, raised his head just in time to meet the emperor's cold eyes, and subconsciously spoke: "The minister's order." ”

The emperor turned his head to look at Peng Zhu, Peng Zhu was still a little stupid, it was his dream to enter the Shangshutai, but he could become the prime minister, which was beyond his expectations.

"Peng Aiqing, what's wrong?

Peng Zhu was startled, looked up at the emperor excitedly, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, minister, do your best, even if you are crushed, you will not give up!"

"Okay, our monarchs and ministers, work together to stir up this pool of stagnant water, and stir up a peaceful world for the people of the world!" The emperor was very excited, for many days, he wanted to reorganize Shangshutai, and today he finally got his wish.

Gonggong Mu stood in the corner, looking at it without changing his face, Pan Lian Zuochen withdrew from the imperial study gloomily, however, the two of them were in a different mood, Zuo Chen frowned and worried, while Pan Lian looked gloomy and worried.

"Peng Aiqing, you have to have confidence, I chose you to be the prime minister, you must do a good job, let those people see, hum, Lao Cheng is serious, Lao Cheng is serious, what the court wants now is to forge ahead, not to be serious!"

The emperor's anger has not completely disappeared, and the grievances that have been held in his heart in the past few years have all been vented, and Peng Zhu nodded: "The minister understands, the minister is still the same sentence, and he will not give up! ”

The emperor nodded: "Your first task is to draw up a reform outline and spread the experience of land reform in Chen State and salt tax reform in Yangzhou to the whole country." ”

"Minister, Commander!" Peng Zhu did not hesitate and replied in a deep voice.

The emperor nodded, Pengzhu got up and exited the imperial study, and when he got to the door, Pengzhu looked up at the sky, the sky was blue, and a touch of white clouds crossed the blue sky, like a beautiful picture, the courtyard was full of flowers, and his eyes were full of vibrant green.

Peng Zhu was very excited, the adjustment of Shangshutai was planned by the emperor a long time ago, but it was not possible to advance for a long time, even he thought that the time was not ripe, but he did not expect that the emperor took this opportunity to resolutely order, not only to reorganize Shangshutai, but also to drive Gan Tang home.

He actually took over as prime minister, which he didn't expect, not that he didn't want to be prime minister, but he also felt that his prestige was insufficient, if five or ten years later, he would not hesitate to agree.

In the study, Zhang Meng breathed a sigh of relief and reorganized Shangshutai, he had discussed with the emperor many times, but today's emperor's actions were also unexpected, but the effect was good, thunderous, forcing Pan Lian to agree.

"Your Majesty has done a good job," Zhang Meng said with a smile: "A long-standing wish has finally come true, and it can be regarded as the fulfillment of a wish." ”

"The hundred-mile journey has just begun, and there is nothing to celebrate," the emperor sighed softly, and his eyes fell on the recital of the Imperial Governor's Mansion, which was the interrogation process and the cause of the crime in the case of the grain depot, as well as the decision on the sentence of the criminal.

"Look at the verdict drawn up by the Tingwei Mansion. ”

Zhang Meng went over to pick up the song, he looked at it at a glance, the cause of the case is not complicated, that is, colluding up and down, inside and outside, stealing and selling the imperial court treasury grain, there are hundreds of people involved in the case, including mainly the grain depot Kuding and Duzhi Cao to Tian Ning headed by officials.

But the disposal method is a bit strange, the three kiln guards were all beheaded, all the kiln Ding was assigned to Liangzhou to serve hard labor for ten years, Tian Ning copied no family wealth, Du Zhi Cao left ordered Cheng Wang Xun to be dismissed from the official, and he was not allowed to enter the office within ten years, and the right ordered Cheng Wuwei to be assigned to Liangzhou to serve hard labor for five years, and several suicide Lang officials all copied their family wealth, and their families were assigned to Liangzhou to serve hard labor for ten years, and some officials were only fined silver.

Zhang Meng couldn't help but shake his head after seeing it: "What is this Liang Qi doing, such a verdict has come out, Wang Xun is actually just a distribution, Ding Cong is Ding Xuan's brother, and a fine of 10,000 taels of silver is awarded, isn't this ridiculous!"

In the past ten years, all the officials who have served in Duzhi Cao, whether in the court or in the locality, have all been arrested, Ding Cong is the original Du Zhi Cao Langzhong, and was later promoted to the civil Cao Zuo Lingcheng, but this time he was also dismissed.

"The people arrested by the local state and county have not yet arrived in Beijing, and this Liang Qi dares to be sentenced, alas. Zhang Meng sighed without being salty.

When the emperor heard this, his anger rose again, and when he looked at the song, he wanted to tear it up.

"The case of the silver treasury has not yet been decided, and the grass people estimate that it is probably the same. ”

"Xuan, Xue Mi, Mai Xiaonian is driving!" The emperor turned his head and shouted, Huang Gonggong hurriedly passed the decree, the emperor glared at Mu Gonggong, Mu Gonggong lowered his head and said nothing.

"Grandpa Mu, what do you say?" the emperor couldn't help but ask coldly.

"Back to Your Majesty," Gonggong Mu bowed his hand and replied calmly: "This case, according to the old slave, is too smooth." ”

"What do you mean?" the emperor was a little puzzled, frowned, and shouted impatiently: "If you have something to say, don't play dumb riddles!"

"Your Majesty, the old slave has no evidence, and some things dare not be said too clearly, but judging from the experience of the old slave, this case was solved too smoothly. Mu Gonggong explained: "Your Majesty, you think, the king of Yanping County casually sent someone to check the grain depot, and found out such a big case, after the Tingwei Mansion took over, all the criminals spoke, everything was ordered by Tian Ning, it seems that Tian Ning is covering the sky with one hand in Duzhi Cao, and no one can interfere, which is unreasonable." ”

The emperor frowned, this time the theft of the grain depot and the theft of the silver depot of Du Zhicao were unexpectedly smooth, but this is also reasonable, the grain depot and the silver depot have people in the handle, and there are accounts to check in and out.

"Also, who has sold so much grain to?" Father-in-law Mu asked again: "This is not in Liang Qi's music at all. ”

The emperor watched Liang Qi's recital again, suddenly realized, and became even more resentful, gritting his teeth and saying: "Okay, good, good court captain, good Liang Qi." ”

Zhang Meng had actually seen the problem a long time ago, he sighed softly, and persuaded: "Your Majesty, according to the grass people's eyes, this matter is not suitable for a big prison, Your Majesty just knows it in your heart." ”

"It's not advisable to go to prison!" The emperor was very angry, he wanted to investigate this big case, stir up this lifeless court situation, and inspire the hearts of the people in the world, but he didn't expect that the strategist he relied on the most thought that it was not appropriate to investigate it at this time.

"The battle out of the fortress is imminent, and the situation in the DPRK should remain stable. Zhang Meng reminded calmly.

Father-in-law Mu nodded secretly, Zhang Meng was much more stable than the pengzhu, this case seems simple, but after careful study, there are layers of black fog that cannot be seen clearly, covering up the real truth.

The emperor slowly calmed down, yes, the battle out of the fortress is imminent, at this time, the rise of the prison, the hundred officials are panicked, and it will inevitably affect the front battle.

The emperor was very unwilling, but he had to admit that Zhang Meng was right, now was not the time to investigate this case, but he was very unwilling to let go of these moths like this.

"Your Majesty, endure the calm for a while, take a step back and open the sky; the revitalization of the court situation is not an overnight thing. Zhang Meng's tone was also very regretful, to be honest, this opportunity is very rare, if it weren't for the imminent battle outside the Saiwai, chasing this case, it could be inspiring and refreshing the atmosphere of the imperial court.

"However, His Majesty still rejected Liang Qi's remarks, and asked him to strictly investigate the whereabouts of the grain, as well as the proposed disposition!" Zhang Meng added.

The emperor was silent and did not answer, and after a while, he said, "You go down and rest first, and wait for me to think about it." ”

Zhang Meng didn't argue when he heard this, and only after saluting the emperor did he turn around and go out.

The emperor looked out the window, and before he knew it, the sky was approaching sunset, the window lattice was dyed with a layer of red rouge, and there were birds in the courtyard that were jumping and chirping.

Gonggong Mu looked at the emperor's back, and the layer of rouge was also dyed on the emperor's hair and robe, which made people feel extremely heavy.

"What did Liang Qi do?"

"Back to Your Majesty, no. Father-in-law Mu immediately replied: "However, Liang Qi's brother-in-law has been to Liang Qi's mansion quite frequently recently. ”

"What else did the guards find?"

"The other party did it very skillfully, half of the jailers in the Tingwei Mansion were transferred in three months ago, and they hid everyone, and in addition, the assassin who shot and killed the kiln guard in Pingding was not caught, so this time the other party's layout was clever and the action was sudden. ”

At the same time as it was handed over to the Imperial Governor's Mansion for strict interrogation, the emperor also ordered that the internal guards be secretly investigated.

It's a pity that these layouts are not needed now.

"How much silver do you estimate this time you can recover?" the Emperor asked again.

Gonggong Mu thought for a moment and replied: "If you follow Liang Qi's recital, the old slave is estimated to be able to recover about 800,000 taels of silver." ”

"800,000 taels!" The emperor began to get angry again, at least three million taels of silver stolen from the imperial court, but only 800,000 taels could be recovered, and he immediately felt that he had suffered a big loss.

"The old slave is just an estimate, maybe it can be more, but it is definitely impossible to exceed a million. Mu Gonggong's tone was very sure, these silvers were mainly the property of Tian Ning Pan Yan and other gate lords, and how much silver could those kiln keepers have, even if they all raided the house, I am afraid they would not be able to get 100,000 silver.

"Find someone and secretly inform Liang Qi that the silver recovered this time is less than three million, and I will treat him for the crime of covering up. The emperor gritted his teeth and said, he had to give in and get some silver back, to meet the shortfall in military salaries, and to come out.

"The old slave understands. "Father-in-law Mu bowed down to receive the order.

As soon as dinner came, Father-in-law Qi of Xiayang Palace swayed over, and when he saw the dinner of the bookcase, he persuaded: "The emperor is too bitter." ”

Dinner is very simple, two seasonal side dishes, a shredded bamboo shoot and pork, plus a lotus seed and red date soup.

The emperor picked up the bowl and ate a few bites before asking, "What does the Queen Mother command?"

"Back to Your Majesty, the Queen Mother misses Your Majesty, and wants to invite Your Majesty to come over and chat. Father-in-law Qi replied respectfully.

The emperor sneered without thinking about it: "Did the Taishi go to the Queen Mother again?"

"It turns out that His Majesty knows. Father-in-law Qi grinned.

The emperor said in his heart that there was still a need to think about it, such a big event, how could Pan Lian not cry to the Queen Mother.

Thinking of the Queen Mother, the emperor felt a burst of trouble for no reason, but he had to deal with it, hurriedly shaving two bowls of rice, put down the dishes and chopsticks and went to Xiayang Palace.