Chapter 466 The Unexplainable Emperor
The news of the death of the old general Fang Daye first came, and Han Ruzi had not yet entered the city, so he mourned in the suburbs.
Fang Daye wrote a private letter to the emperor. There was no personal request in it, but he elaborated on his strategy outside the Great Wall, thinking that the Great Wall was like a soldier's armor, which could block a deadly attack, but it was not enough to win. The armor must also have offensive knives and guns, and must maintain the offensive against the outside of the fortress.
Everyone understands the truth, but the strength of Da Chu has declined, and it has been difficult to maintain a large area of territory outside the Great Wall. Fang Daye also understands this. He just hopes that the emperor will maintain an enterprising spirit and not retreat blindly.
When the army is insufficient, it is even more necessary to rely on good generals. Fang Daye has been in the army for many years and knows a lot of people. He recommended more than 50 generals to the emperor in one breath.
After reading the letter, Han Ruzi sighed with emotion. These are the ministers and generals he needs most. He thinks long-term and is willing to contribute real good strategies. However, in the capital dozens of miles away, the ministers just want to keep the imperial court—this The court has accumulated hundreds of years of conventions and rules, and it is stable, but there is not much left.
Han Ruzi refused to enter the city for a long time. A few days later, news from the Western Regions also came that Deng Cui actually took the initiative to attack the god and ghost Da Chanyu. Han Ruzi was also surprised when he heard the news. It was too late to stop him. Choi stationed the army at the designated location, and was not allowed to act rashly without an order from the imperial court.
Deng Yun greatly admired her brother's behavior, "Yes, why does Da Chu have to defend and not attack? God and ghost Dachan has a big tone, maybe he is just an ignorant madman."
"The war is not if you want to fight and stop if you want. Deng Cui is defeated, the enemy army takes advantage of the situation, and Da Chu needs to send troops to resist. If Deng Cui wins, if you want to keep the territory of the extreme west, you need to send troops, but Da Chu still has to send troops. If you are not prepared, there are very few troops stationed in the Western Regions. The countries in the Western Regions are currently under the control of the Great Chu. Once you see the weakness of the Great Chu, it is likely to fall to the enemy, no matter what the gain is not worth the loss." Han Ruzi really hoped to pull Deng Cui over. Say these words to your face.
"Is it too late to prepare now?"
"Even if the Great Chu was still in its prime, it would take a year to prepare to send troops to the Western Regions." Han Ruzi picked up the written imperial decree and read it again, put it aside, and picked up a pen to write a new copy.
In the new imperial decree, the emperor no longer asked Deng Cui to return to defense immediately, but encouraged him to return to Beijing to receive a reward after winning.
Deng Yun watched from the side and smiled: "Your Majesty has changed his mind, and I think my brother did the right thing."
Han Ruzi's decree is for the countries in the Western Regions. Deng Cui has already led his army on an expedition, and he is leading an allied army of the countries. The kings must think that Deng Cui has the support of the Emperor of Chu and the court, and it must not be revealed at such a time. Discord between monarchs and ministers.
"Deng Cui this guy..." Han Ruzi really didn't know what to say.
The officials were too conservative and Deng Cui was too radical, but they were equally unruly.
The imperial edict was sent out. Deng Cui had been in the Western Regions for more than two years, and it was time to come back. Han Ruzi decided to personally supervise this often unexpected general.
It is a major event for a general to go on an expedition without authorization. The emperor directly issued the imperial decree without consulting the ministers. The ministers in the city could no longer remain indifferent and send a representative to "negotiate" with the emperor.
Qu Zixi had been the minister of households for a period of time. He had considerable political achievements and was a minister trusted by the emperor. Therefore, he was entrusted by his colleagues to come and trust the emperor.
In the eyes of the ministers, the emperor was playing with the temper of a child again and needed to be coaxed.
When Qu Zixi entered the tent, the emperor was reading an urgent letter.
Qu Zixi used to be the emperor's teacher, so he could be informal, but he still saluted extremely formally. The emperor also treated each other politely, put down the urgent letter, and bowed slightly, "Master Qu is here, give me a seat."
Immediately, the eunuch moved to the stool, Qu Zixi thanked him and sat down, pondered for a moment, and said, "When does Your Majesty plan to return to the palace to meet the Queen Mother?"
"Wait until the next hunting patrol plan is confirmed." Han Ruzi did not hide it.
Qu Zixi stared at the emperor for a while. In name, the two were in a teacher-student relationship, but he hadn't taught a few classes, and had never fully figured out the student's thoughts.
"The capital and even the most important places have always been heard of guarding the capital to govern the world, but not the road to govern the world."
"The ancient emperors spent their entire lives patrolling the four directions. Didn't Emperor Shun die on the way? Lord Qu, who has read the scriptures a lot, doesn't he know?"
"In ancient times, the land was narrow, and the officials were incomplete. The emperors could patrol the world. The land of Chu was several times larger than in ancient times, and the officials were complete. Why should Your Majesty abandon the near and seek the distance, abandon the basics and chase the bottom, and insist on patrolling? What is your Majesty's dissatisfaction with the capital? Say it. That is, all the ministers in the DPRK and China are willing to obey."
Han Ruzi smiled and said, "Master Qu is not what he looked like when he was studying."
Qu Zixi didn't change much. He was the youngest among the six books. He touched his face and got up and said, "Is Your Majesty dissatisfied with the Zhongshu Province?"
"What's wrong with me?" Han Ruzi motioned for Qu Zixi to sit down.
"Your Majesty suspects that Zhongshu Province has been listening to His Majesty's secrets, leaked it to the minister, colluded with the minister, and deceived His Majesty together, right?"
"Master Qu continues."
"Hey, there's nothing to say, Zhongshuxing is too stupid. Zhongshuling and Zhongshujian have already resigned, and Zhongshusheren Nanzhi is waiting outside the crime camp and will be dealt with by His Majesty."
Zhao Ruosu had already been sent back to the Marquis Mansion in the city. No matter what he said or not, Zhongshu Province would understand that the matter had been exposed, and the reaction was slow, and a strong man broke his wrist.
Han Ruzi shook his head, "Zhongshusheng is not stupid, but very smart. It has always been their duty to figure out the holy will. They have done a good job. Since there is no fault, why do you resign and apologize?"
Qu Zixi couldn't guess the emperor's mind even more, and stood up again, "Your Majesty does not believe in any ministers, and the ministers have nothing to say, just ask Your Majesty to think about the world, don't bother with the ministers, the ministers retire, the minister will come out of the city tomorrow to see you. His Majesty."
Qu Zixi walked to the door, and Han Ruzi stopped him, "Mr. Qu, what kind of emperor do you think of?"
Qu Zixi was stunned. He hadn't heard the title "Mr. Qu" from the emperor for a long time, and replied, "I have the world in my heart, that's all."
Probably feeling that the situation was urgent, Zhuo Ruhe came to see the emperor that night.
He was not as magnanimous as Qu Zixi. As soon as he entered the tent, he knelt down to the emperor and called him "criminal minister".
Han Ruzi still ordered people to give him a stool, and said with a smile, "Why is Zhuo Xiang so panicked? I have no intention of asking for guilt."
Zhuo Ruhe couldn't help but panic, "This minister is not careful as an official, colluded with Zhongshu Province, and guessed His Majesty's mind, which is a heinous crime."
Han Ruzi put away his smile and asked, "Zhuo Xiang asked himself how his political achievements were?"
Qu Zixi was just a little bit clueless about the emperor, but Zhuo Ruhe couldn't at all, looked at the emperor in amazement, couldn't remember, wanted to kneel or not. When it comes to governing officials, ministers do not seek merit but seek faultlessness. In exchange for support, they appoint some mediocre officials. Speaking of governing the people, the wasteland is decreasing and the bandits are fewer, but the world is still exhausted and the treasury is still empty. Pass."
"When I appointed Zhuo Prime Minister, someone told me that you are good at managing the people, not good at governing officials, and it is difficult to resolve major issues, but I still use you, why? The people are the foundation of the world, and managing the people is the top priority. Zhuo. Why don’t you focus on the people? Major matters are up to me, and the governance of officials—leave it to me. From now on, the appointment and removal of officials above the fifth rank will be decided by me, but don’t worry, as long as they are normal appointments and dismissals, I will not reject them.”
Zhuo Ruhe knelt down and kowtowed again and again, still unsure of the emperor's intentions.
Han Ruzi couldn't explain it more clearly. He picked up a memorial on the table, "News from the East China Sea, Huang Pugong led the army to suppress the bandits, and he didn't return after the deadline. I'm afraid of accidents."
Zhuo Ruhe got up, still in despair, "Yes, the Ministry of War has sent someone to inquire about the details. What I have learned so far is that General Huang may have fallen into the ambush of pirates."
"The East China Sea is far away. I don't know how long it will take to go back and forth. I will go and see for myself. Please make arrangements with Zhuo Xiang. The sooner the better."
Zhuo Ruhe was stunned, "But Your Majesty..."
"There is Lau Zhuo Xiang guarding the capital."
Zhuo Ruhe didn't react for a long time. Originally, the ministers were opposed to the emperor staying away from the capital, but now this is not the most important issue. "Yes, Your Majesty, the minister... The minister will arrange it as soon as possible."
Zhuo Ruhe resigned, and things were clearly revealed. The emperor took back several extremely important powers, but he still believed in himself, and even let the prime minister stay in the capital, Zhuo Ruhe couldn't understand the meaning of it.
Han Ruzi's original plan was to go outside the Great Wall. After seeing the memorial of the East Sea Kingdom, he decided to go and find out. He always felt that Huang Pugong was not the kind of general who easily fell into a trap, and he was afraid that things would be deceitful.
The next morning, Cui Teng came to see the emperor. He didn't care if there were any conflicts between the ruler and his ministers. , a small official from Zhongshu Province is still kneeling outside the camp, do you want me to beat him up?"
"Nan Zhijin? Just in time, announce him to come in."
"Hey, Your Majesty won't be moved so easily, right? You have to kneel for three days and three nights at least."
Han Ruzi knocked on the table, Cui Teng had to step back, and muttered, "If I knew this, I wouldn't mention him..."
Nan Zhijin was very old. He knelt outside for a day and a night, and his body would be overwhelmed. If he was not summoned by the emperor, he would have to die outside.
To him, the emperor did not smile.
The official position of Zhongshusheren was too small, and Han Ruzi didn't want to care about him, but he didn't want to forgive him casually.
Nan Zhijin was crawling on the ground, constantly blaming himself and begging for guilt.
When he was almost done talking, Han Ruzi asked, "You are also a veteran of several dynasties, and you did the same to the previous emperor?"
Nan Zhijin blushed, "Emperor Wu, Emperor Huan, and Emperor Si are none of your Majesty... It's so hard to guess, Wei Chen does not ask for forgiveness, but just wants to say a word to His Majesty: What Wei Chen does is for the stability of the court, and there is absolutely no way Malicious."
"Of course, everyone is not malicious, just a little bit of 'selfishness'. Nan Zhijin, you want to maintain the stability of the court so much, don't be a zhongshuren, go to the Ministry of War, and find out one thing for me, and find out the general of the building ship. Is Huang Pugong alive or dead, and how did he fall into the trap?"
Nan Zhijin was even more surprised than Zhuo Ruhe. What surprised him the most was that he really knew something about Huang Pugong's affairs. If the matter was investigated, the court would not be "stable".