Nearly a hundred officials set off from Chang'an City to Xianyang. Then the Xianyang County Magistrate looked at this group of court bosses, faced their questions and glares, and had no choice but to smile with a smile and tell His Highness the Crown Prince who had just returned to Chang'an City. The news was told to everyone.
When the officials headed by Zhongshu, Menxia and Shangshu asked the Crown Prince of Xianyang County why he came and why he returned in such a hurry, they did not dare to say anything more than shaking their heads and smiling bitterly.
The Prime Minister of Xianyang County on the side was facing these court bosses and questioning the Xianyang County Magistrate with his heart in his throat. He was deeply afraid that the county magistrate would not be able to withstand the pressure of so many court bosses. Tell me what happened in the underground palace today.
Fortunately, when he felt that his back was soaked with sweat, the court officials did not get any useful information from the county magistrate.
"His Royal Highness, have you mentioned how we will arrange things when we arrive?" Shangguan Yi, the minister of Zhongshu Province, majestically looked at the ministers, and then asked the Xianyang County Magistrate.
"Your Highness never mentioned it." Facing these big guys with a wry smile, the Xianyang County Magistrate somewhat admired his determination. Today's performance was much better than his usual performance when he went to Chang'an.
Finally, after a group of ownerless ministers discussed in low voices with four big bosses from three provinces, for the sake of safety, they immediately sent people to chase after His Highness the Crown Prince and asked these courtiers what to do.
But no matter what, they had to spend the night in Xianyang anyway.
The curious ministers spent the whole night talking about what happened in Xianyang and why His Royal Highness suddenly came alone and hurried back without waiting for them to arrive.
But no matter how they whispered, no one could guess the true story of the matter.
Even the Minister of Zongzheng Temple and the Minister of Taichang Temple did not figure out the abnormal behavior of His Highness the Crown Prince in the past two days, and did not even realize that something was wrong with their subordinates.
Xianyang is still more than a hundred miles away from Chang'an, so after dinner, the ministers who usually move around a lot will gather together and quietly talk about the reasons for His Highness the Crown Prince's abnormal behavior today.
Fortunately, at the morning court meeting two days later, all the officials rushed back from Xianyang. Every official who went to court was still thinking about His Highness the Crown Prince's abnormal behavior in Xianyang the day before yesterday.
Therefore, the atmosphere of this morning court meeting was much more solemn than the previous more relaxed court meetings. Before the first day of the morning, it was still the same as before every first day of the year. There were not many major things in the court that needed to be handled by the prince.
In addition to this year's Yuan Day court meeting, which has been listed as the top priority of the Yuan Day court meeting by His Royal Highness, various relevant government offices are preparing for all government affairs for this year's court meeting.
In order to show the country's wealth to foreign countries, the former Sui Dynasty provided all free treatment to the envoys from foreign countries after they arrived in Chang'an, whether it was food or accommodation. Former Sui Emperor Yang Guangda waved his hand and all free.
Even after the court meeting, the gifts given to others were several times more expensive than the congratulatory gifts converted into silver coins.
At the end of today's court meeting, someone made a similar proposal to Li Hong, who was sitting next to the dragon throne. After all, the wealth of the Tang Dynasty has far exceeded that of the Sui Dynasty.
The late emperor's long-cherished wish was fulfilled ten years ago in the Tang Dynasty, which was far ahead of the previous Sui Dynasty, and helped the late emperor realize it.
Therefore, some people began to suggest that this court meeting could show the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty to the envoys from foreign countries and provide them with free food and accommodation.
Li Hong didn't even raise his eyebrows. He called the minister a prodigal son, and then asked the ministers of Zongzheng Temple and Taichang Temple to summon Hou Sixhi and Wang Hongyi into the palace.
Li Qiao walked up behind the courtier who just proposed, kicked his knee socket, then leaned forward slightly and said, "Do you think the salary is too much, or does your family have too much money to spend? If you think it’s a lot of money and you don’t have anywhere to spend it, give it to me and I’ll spend it for you.”
Li Qiao's voice was not quiet, and the courtiers on both sides could hear it clearly, so they couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter.
"Master Li was joking. The salary of a lower official is not much, and the household expenses are not small. It all depends on the salary of a lower official. However, it is enough to support a family, but if you want to take in a few more concubines, , It's a bit stretched, haha. "It's normal for officials in the Tang Dynasty to have concubines. Even when Li Zhi was in court, he would ask courtiers who liked concubines from time to time if they had found any beauties in their families recently.
Therefore, in the court, facing colleagues, it is normal to say such words, and no one will think that this is personal misconduct.
"Then you have the nerve to ask His Highness to pay for this money? I don't have enough money at home to take concubines. Let me give you an idea. During the Yuan Dynasty meeting, envoys from various countries came to congratulate me in the Tang Dynasty. I guess the inn in Chang'an, The inn may not be enough, you can rent out your unused house to supplement your family income," Li Qiao said with a smile.
Di Renjie walked up behind Li Qiao and pushed Li Qiao gently: "Master Li, the salary of Yushitai is the highest among all the officials in the court. Naturally, your money is flowing out. Shouldn't you provide some financial support? Those of us who receive low salaries? Also, as a Yushitai official, you know that the laws of the Tang Dynasty strictly prohibit officials from doing business, and you actually encourage your colleagues who are ministers to violate the laws of the Tang Dynasty. "
Li Qiao looked at Di Renjie with a pockmarked smile on his face, and said seriously: "Master Di is right, I am just waiting for him to start doing business, and then I can impeach him in front of His Highness. Such an official who can only turn his elbows outward, Having too many people around Your Highness is a waste, and the prosperity of our Tang Dynasty may not last long. Do you know why? Because he doesn't know how to save money for our Tang Dynasty, and he doesn't know that our soldiers on the frontier are fighting with foreign countries. Countries are engaged in confrontational wars, and they don't care about their own soldiers, but they still use their hot face to stick to others' cold ass, and want to provide them with free accommodation! Lord Di, do you think such a courtier is in his heart? Showing servility? Is this the tragedy of the Tang Dynasty? If all the civil and military colleagues in the court are like His Highness, what kind of rewards will the Tang Dynasty give us? Soldiers who have made meritorious deeds? Although the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple have budgets for the etiquette of envoys from various countries, Master Di must also understand that this is not how to spend money to please foreign envoys, right? "
Di Renjie was not angry in the face of Li Qiao's quarrels. He still had a faint smile on his face, waved his hand and said: "This trend cannot naturally rise, but Your Highness has inherited His Majesty's system of spreading opinions. You can't help but let people It’s not like you’re putting forward your own ideas. This person is the new young minister of Dali Temple. He will inevitably deal with your Yushitai in the future. I hope Master Li Qiao will give you some advice."
"Isn't it possible that you climbed to such a high position through Di Mazi's back door?" Li Qiao asked teasingly.
As for Dali Temple Shaoqing, after hearing Li Qiao's words, his face showed a relaxed expression. Compared with Li Qiao's words just now, this sentence made him feel less harsh.
After all, he was able to reach the position of Shaoqing of Dali Temple, but he relied on his true talent and knowledge, not because of Master Di's support alone, but because of the insight of His Highness the Crown Prince.
As the few people continued chatting, some words were naturally heard clearly by Li Hong who was sitting on the high platform, but Li Hong had no time to pay attention to them deserting the court.
Wang Lou, the empress's personal eunuch, quietly sent a memorial that he had just finished reading. In the main hall of the court, Hou Sizhi and Wang Hongyi had also arrived.
"Who is Hou Sizhi and who is Wang Hongyi?" Li Hong raised his head and glanced at the two people below. He couldn't tell who was who, so he asked lightly.
Both of them are in their forties, around fifty, and they both have fair faces and beardless faces, and look elegant and indifferent.
"Your Highness, Marquis Sizhi and Wang Hongyi, have met." They saluted Li Hong respectively.
At this time, the two of them didn't know that their official career had come to an end. Even on the way here, they felt a little excited and excited, wondering if their proposal had received His Majesty's support. Today His Highness the Crown Prince summoned them. When the two go to court, will they be rewarded and promoted
Since the two entered the court, they felt the relaxed atmosphere, which was completely different from the solemn and solemn situation they imagined, and their hearts amplified the good hope that they would be promoted to official careers today.
"Did you two submit a memorial to His Majesty a few days ago?" Li Hong lowered his head and searched on the desk, then handed a memorial to Hua Meng and asked him to pass it to the two of them for inspection.
After hearing this, Hou Sizhi and Wang Hongyi immediately showed understanding smiles to Li Hong who bowed his head. Then they looked at each other and said loudly: "Back to Your Majesty, the two of you were the ones who served your Majesty a few days ago." memorial."
"Let's see if it's this memorial. Look carefully." After finishing speaking, the brush in Li Hong's hand snapped and was crushed in his hand.
Vermilion ink splashed on several other messy memorials on the table. Even the back of his hand was stained with dots of vermilion ink, as coquettish as blood.
And as the fault made a snapping sound, the whole Xuanzheng Hall, which was still a little noisy, suddenly became silent, and the atmosphere instantly became solemn.
"Yes, Your Highness, it is indeed the memorial personally written by the two ministers presented to Your Majesty. There is absolutely no error." Hou Sizhi and Wang Hongyi said in unison.
There was a determined look on the two people's faces, as well as a trace of excitement and a sense of taking credit that could not be concealed.
(End of chapter)