Qu Zixi and the others are all ministers in the court, and the little prince of the House of Tien Hou can't see them when they want to see them.
Han Ruzi found an excuse to summon the four people one after another, while Zhao Ruosu stood to observe, apparently packing official documents with the two eunuchs.
The first person to be summoned was Feng Ju. He had just lost his powerful position as Minister of Officials. His chances of becoming prime minister were getting slimmer and he needed a little reassurance.
During the time when the prime minister was vacant, Feng Ju acted on his behalf and presided over the government affairs in Qinzheng Hall. Han Ruzi summoned him to discuss the issue of suppressing bandits in the East China Sea.
Feng Ju was as respectful and respectful as ever, and seemed to have no complaints.
Yunmengze’s suppression of the bandits has not yet been completed, and Han Ruzi is already planning the East China Sea battle. Yunmengze is progressing smoothly and ended relatively early. Therefore, there are two schools of thought in the DPRK: one party believes that they should take advantage of the victory to pursue and immediately start suppressing bandits in the East China Sea, and the other One faction insisted on the original plan, and must wait until the warships are fully built before suppressing the bandits.
The ministers have been arguing about this matter for several days, and the generals have different ideas. Huang Pugong, who will be appointed as the leader of the bandit suppression, has nothing to do with it. You can hit it right."
Han Ruzi therefore called Feng Ju to Lingyun Pavilion to hear his personal thoughts.
In the Qinzheng Hall, Feng Zhi acted as prime minister and could not speak casually.
"The two factions have their own advantages and disadvantages: if you start a war immediately, you will have the most morale, but you will also have the most accidents. You can catch the pirates by surprise, but you can't completely surround the pirates. There will always be fish that slip through the net; It will wipe out the pirates once and for all.”
Feng Ju thought for a while, "According to my minister's opinion, it is better to use both strategies, first send a navy into the sea, one is to repel the pirates, and the enemy's spirit is defeated, the second is to survey the sea situation, prepare for the decisive battle, and the third is to protect Dockyard, so as not to be attacked. For this navy, do not seek great victory, do not ask the number of annihilated enemies, it is all training, and after two years join the army, there will be no doubt of victory.”
This is almost the same as Han Ruzi's thinking. He smiled and said: "Master Feng is very good, there is no need to discuss it, let's just settle it. Lord Lao Feng will notify the Ministry of War and formulate a plan to suppress the bandits accordingly."
Feng Ju resigned.
This meeting was extremely ordinary. Han Ruzi didn't see anything special. He looked at Zhao Ruosu, but the little official didn't speak.
The second is the newly appointed right inspector Shi Zhuo Ruhe. Although most people believe that he is the next prime minister, the emperor never explicitly stated that as a client, Zhuo Ruhe was somewhat expecting and apprehensive. When he met the emperor, he was more than Feng Ju Be more respectful and more serious when answering questions.
"The minister of the frontier country and the governor of the southern county are often controlled by an aristocratic family. I think it's inappropriate, but I don't want to disturb the world. Does Master Zhuo have an idea?"
Zhuo Ruhe bowed and saluted for a long time, thinking for a long time, "It is impossible to generalize, the south is humid and the customs are completely different from the Central Plains. According to past experience, every time the officials are replaced, the indigenous people will be in chaos..."
"Why is this? The local officials are doing too well, the natives want to stay, don't they want to let people go?" Han Ruzi asked. He had never been to the south, and only based on official documents, he didn't know much about there.
Zhuo Ruhe replied: "Not all of them. The indigenous people do not know the written word or make written evidence. All agreements are mainly oral, and many people are often invited to make an oath in public, which will be executed afterwards. As soon as an official is transferred, the natives think it is a breach of contract."
Han Ruzi did not expect such a reason, "Why not send more literary officials to the south to educate them?"
Zhuo Ruhe said: "Since the Great Ancestor Dingding, Da Chu has never stopped educating, and it has become a common practice in Jiangnan, where the number of champions has surpassed that in the north, but in remote places further south, the effect is very small, and the natives despise words and think they are useless. , and even regard it as insidious and despicable, and would rather die than learn. Officials can’t, they can only go with the flow.”
Han Ruzi sighed softly, "Where's the Prime Minister of Frontiers?"
"Emperor Wu also frequently mobilized the prime minister in the early days, but it was difficult for the new prime minister to get along with the princes, causing a lot of confusion. One prince even committed suicide in Beijing, just to sue his own prime minister. Emperor Wu killed that prime minister, and it will be rare since then. To mobilize, I just hope that the prime minister and the feudal lords can live in peace."
"The result of peace and quiet is King Qi's rebellion?" Han Ruzi said.
"It is precisely the original King of Qi who often took the initiative to change the prime minister in order to cover up the rebellion."
"So, these problems can't be solved?"
Zhuo Ruhe bowed and saluted, "If you want to do it once and for all, it is difficult to solve it one by one. There are many ways."
"Well, Lord Laudor has written a countermeasure, and I will read it carefully."
"According to the order, Your Majesty." Zhuo Ruhe ordered to retire.
Zhao Ruosu still didn't speak. In fact, his eyes never turned.
The third is Qu Zixi, the new minister of households.
Among the six departments, the Ministry of Household is in charge of the world's population taxation and has the most meticulous responsibilities. Han Ruzi asked Qu Zixi to go to the Ministry of Household to see if his teacher could calm down.
"The refugees were initially determined. Since the beginning of spring, many places have been short of food and frequently complained to the court. Mr. Qu is the first to take charge of the Ministry of Households, can you have any countermeasures?"
All the questions were raised by Han Ruzi himself, and Zhao Ruosu did not participate.
Qu Zixi saluted in a generous and unrestrained manner, and replied, "It is not the household's responsibility to relieve disasters. If your majesty wants to adjust food, you need to raise it at the Qinzheng Hall, and the ministers will discuss it together. The household will provide figures from various places for reference. After the policy is made, it will be implemented in cooperation with various ministries and departments.”
Han Ruzi smiled and asked in a different way, "I don't ask the Minister of the Household, I only ask Mr. Qu. Is there any countermeasure?"
Qu Zixi replied without thinking: "The people are not living well, this is a fundamental problem, and only the adjustment of various places is not enough to relieve disasters. I hope Your Majesty will reduce the imperial meals, damage luxury, release gardens and forests, and open military warehouses, so as to suppress pirates and destroy the heart of the Xiongnu. Saving the people from the water and fire may be successful."
Han Ruzi smiled again, "The first few items are all right, but it seems inappropriate to open an army warehouse. The internal worries of the Great Chu have not been eliminated, the external troubles are still there, the army warehouse has no food, and morale is low.
"There is no grain in the warehouse, and it can be replenished in the coming year. If one's heart is lost, when will it be available again?"
Han Ruzi laughed, "Allow me to think about it."
The last one is Shen Mingzhi, who has just stepped down as prime minister. He is now a grand master and does not plan to stay in the capital. The whole family is packing up and preparing to return to their hometown. After the news, Shen Mingzhi's status in his hometown will be greatly improved.
Han Ruzi chatted for a few words, and finally asked, "Who does Taishi Shen think can succeed the prime minister?"
Shen Mingzhi was a little surprised. He had already commented on the three most likely people to the emperor, but he did not expect to be asked again. He pondered for a moment, and replied, "Feng is used for governing officials, Zhuo for managing people, and Qu for major events. Only His Majesty decides. "
Shen Mingzhi was equal to repeating the previous answer. After Han Ruzi thanked him, he sent someone to send the old prime minister out.
It took two days to summon the four, and Zhao Ruosu did not say a word during the time. After Shen Mingzhi left, he could no longer be silent.
"Your Majesty can use Lord Zhuo." Zhao Ruosu's conclusion was simple.
"The reason?"
"Your Majesty wants to use Lord Zhuo, and you trust each other. This is the most important reason."
Han Ruzi smiled without saying a word. He had never disclosed his thoughts, but he could no longer hide them.
Zhao Ruosu continued: "Taishi Shen actually gave the answer."
"Let the people use Zhuo." Han Ruzi repeated Shen Mingzhi's words.
"As Qu Shangshu said, refugees are the root of the problem. Therefore, managing the people is a top priority. You must use Zhuo Yushi. There is no major event in the court at the moment, and Qu Shangshu can wait."
"Where's Yushi Feng?"
"Suppressing bandits in the East China Sea is a grand plan that His Majesty has planned for a long time, and all the ministers know it, but Feng Ju did not offer a special plan, but only suggested that the long and short plans should be used together, which seems to be perfunctory. , no need."
Han Ruzi thought for a moment, "That's it."
The next morning, Han Ruzi announced his decision in Qinzheng Hall: the right patrol censor Shi Zhuo Ruhe is an old minister of the late emperor, with outstanding merits, an official and a good chance, and can be a prime minister.
The ministers knelt down to accept the decree, and then went to draw up a formal edict. Only Zhuo Ruhe himself was kneeling in front of the emperor. As usual, he should have declined.
Han Ruzi didn't give him a chance to be humble, he glanced at the minister who walked away, and said to Zhuo Ruhe who was under the steps of the throne: "Jun once said 'the government seems to have food, but it seems that there is no food', you are the minister today, I only have One requirement is that the government must have food and the people must have food.”
Zhuo Ruhe kneeled and thanked.
That afternoon, Han Ruzi summoned Zhuo Ruhe again at Lingyun Pavilion. This time, there were no outsiders present, and the ruler and ministers no longer tried to test each other, but spoke directly.
"The military is in my own hands, and the prime minister is responsible for managing the people. If Chu wants to revitalize, the fundamental technique lies in benefiting the people, and the prime minister's responsibility is the top priority."
Zhuo Ruhe was not polite, "I should be a servant of all my strengths, and I will not disgrace the holy order. There is only one thing, and I must make it clear to Your Majesty first."
"Zhu Xiang, please speak."
"The prime minister is the head of the hundred officials. Therefore, the prime minister first governs the officials and then manages the people. Since your majesty has entrusted the trust to the minister, the minister wants to promote or demote a group of officials, please your majesty's approval."
The King of Donghai once reminded the emperor that Emperor Heng’s reign was short, and his close officials were sent out before they could take power. Zhuo Ruhe was one of them.
Zhuo Ruhe was able to say it bluntly, but Han Ruzi was very happy, "Officials below the third rank can be adjusted by you, and above the third rank, I just need to know."
Zhuo Ruhe thanked him again, and then he talked about the art of rationalizing the people.
Han Ruzi was very satisfied, and even felt that the delay was really unnecessary. He really thought about it too much. Finally, he asked: "The palace sent a few ginseng plants to my aunt the day before yesterday. Is it still good?"
Zhuo Ruhe was stunned for a moment, "The princess has taken it a little, and her body is much better. She has already thanked the queen mother, and did not dare to disturb your majesty."
"That's good. If you don't have it in the future, you can ask for it in the palace."
The King of Donghai once said that someone gave gifts to Zhuo Mansion, and Han Ruzi used this to remind Zhuo Ruhe not to be too greedy.
Zhuo Ruhe didn't expect the emperor to investigate himself so carefully, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his body. After leaving the palace, he felt restless, opened the sedan curtain, and whispered to his entourage: "Go to see the Zhongshu Sheren Nan Zhijin. , ask him when it is convenient to meet again."