In the East Hall of Jinxiang Palace, several people were busy formulating national policies, including Wang Pu, Wei Renpu, Zuo You, Huang Binglian and others.
Huang Binglian now serves as the assistant minister of the cabinet. He was originally the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture and still receives the salary of a magistrate.
The rank of the Procurator also served as the Cabinet's assistant, indicating that this newly emerged institution was of a very low level. Therefore, after the emergence of the Cabinet, there was almost no problem. First, no one opposed it, and second, its level was too low and there was no need to maintain its authority. The prime ministers in the Council of State also believed that the two people in the cabinet were only there to help the emperor deal with miscellaneous matters and fill in the gaps.
But in fact the cabinet is slowly changing, and now they are also eligible to participate in the formulation of military and national policies.
Huang Binglian, a prosecutor in Kaifeng Prefecture, received a promise from Guo Shao because of his participation in the case of Zhao Guangyi humiliating his brother and sister-in-law: There are rules in the world, and the rules are made by people; a fair and upright heart is more useful in participating in the formulation of human rules, but being too particular about details will not allow you to gain the power of human rules.
Guo Shao did not speak nonsense. Now that Guo Shao has ascended the throne as emperor, Huang Binglian has also seen his sincerity in keeping his promise.
In the center of the capital of the Great Zhou, this small study room was well-lit and clean. The emperor was behind a thin screen, so no one was making noise. It was very quiet, and the rustling of paper could be heard occasionally. People's words were carefully chosen. The air was filled with the fragrance of ink, and the breeze blew in from the window from time to time.
Huang Binglian is very conscientious and even takes writing as seriously as calligraphy.
This place where people speak softly and politely makes Huang Binglian, who has worked in criminal law for many years, smell the breath of power. The soft brush in his hand is more powerful than a sword.
It is like a case, who is right and who is wrong, black and white, the one who has the final say is the powerful official; even those who have connections with the bureaucracy can be more powerful and more feared in disputes. However, the official who judges the case has to take into account the court laws on the one hand, and on the other hand, he has to worry about being punished by higher-level superiors and the rules of the officialdom.
This small study is the most powerful place and the place where all kinds of rules are made. Huang Binglian is in this circle. Not only can he interfere in many things through his colleagues, but he is also involved in major events that affect hundreds of millions of people. His power is so great that it can affect the fate of countless people.
Men always think that they are very capable rather than thinking that anyone can make them surrender helplessly. Huang Binglian tasted this feeling here. This feeling can easily make people obsessed.
At this moment, an eunuch carefully brought in a stack of memorials. Zuo You, who was sitting behind the desk, looked sideways and said, "Huang Fuzheng, let's do this first."
Huang Binglian quickly put down his pen and clasped his fists in response.
The two of them dealt with the memorials separately. After a while, Huang Binglian found a memorial from Prime Minister Fan Zhi, and he immediately took it seriously and read it carefully.
This memorial quoted many classics and made many points, but it only had one content: to advise the emperor not to let the harem take charge of state affairs. This harem woman, of course, refers to Empress Duanci Fu Jinzhan.
Huang Binglian realized that the matter was a bit serious, and after a moment's hesitation, he passed the memorial to Zuo You. Zuo You first calmly put down his pen, then took it and read it. Huang Binglian saw Zuo You's expression change slightly, and after a while, Zuo You passed the memorial back: Since Huang Fuzheng has it, you can do it.
Huang Binglian picked up a piece of yellow paper, picked up a pen and thought for a long time, but he couldn't put pen to paper. It was not difficult to summarize the content, but the wording could not be casual.
He stretched out his left hand and stroked his beard for a long time. Finally, he put down the brush, picked up the memorial, stood up, walked behind the screen, bowed and said: Your Majesty, Prime Minister Fan has a copy of the memorial, please take a look at it personally.
Bring it here, Guo Shao said. Next to him stood the eunuch Cao Tai, who came forward to take the memorial because Huang Binglian did not dare to get too close to the emperor.
Huang Binglian did not dare to observe the emperor's expression, and immediately bowed and said: "I will take my leave first."
Huang Binglian took a few steps back, then walked back to his office carefully. Zuo You looked up at him and said nothing. Huang Binglian nodded slightly, then sat back down and continued to pick up a memorial and open it.
As a regent, he had no right to deal with the memorials of a prime minister, and even his comments had to be cautious. But he knew what was going on in his heart.
When the emperor saw the memorial, he must have been unhappy about the rumors about his relationship with his eldest sister-in-law. Huang Binglian didn't know whether it was true or not, but he was sure that Guo Shao favored Empress Duanci because he let her take charge of state affairs in the West Palace. It was Guo Shao's idea and what he was willing to do.
Now Fan Zhi doesn't let Guo Shao do what he wants, can Guo Shao be happy
However, Huang Binglian thought again: This matter is not that simple.
The new national policy is not only about forming a local militia, but will also involve many aspects such as military system, corvee labor, and taxation. The emperor certainly wants the officials to support him wholeheartedly rather than just get by.
Was Fan Zhi's memorial just his personal opinion, or was it expressing the thoughts of a group of people? If it was the latter, Guo Shao had to give it more consideration.
Huang Binglian said nothing, but could not help turning his head to look at Zuo You again, but Zuo You was also looking at him, and the two looked at each other. This action made Huang Binglian feel a little puzzled.
At the hour of You, the bells and drums on the Xuande Gate began to ring, and could be clearly heard in the Jinxiang Hall. Guo Shao stood up and said, "My dear ministers, please finish your work today and leave your post."
Zuo You and others stood up and bowed, saying in unison: "Farewell, Your Majesty."
Everyone waited for Guo Shao and the palace servants to leave the East Palace. Then Wang Pu, the highest-ranking Privy Councilor here, said: Pack up and do it tomorrow.
The East Hall gradually became lively, with everyone exchanging pleasantries and sometimes even making jokes.
Zuo You also left Jinxiang Hall with a few people. After walking out of Donghua Gate, he said goodbye to his colleagues and went home in carriages or on horses. But Zuo You couldn't go home tonight because he had to go to the home of Luo Yanhuan, the general of the imperial army.
Luo Yanhuan’s birthday is today.
There are rules for holding banquets, and only people over 60 can hold birthday banquets. Even if Luo Yanhuan is a middle-aged man with status, he cannot hold a banquet in Tokyo. On his birthday, he only invited old friends in Tokyo to have a meal at his home.
Zuo You and he were not only officials in the same dynasty, but also good friends. So Zuo You had to go.
The two had a good personal relationship, because the person who led Luo Yanhuan to where he is today was Zuo You.
At that time, the privy councilor Wang Jun was purged of his followers because of his arrogance and attempt to blackmail Emperor Taizu Guo Wei, and Luo Yanhuan was implicated and demoted. When Luo Yanhuan met Zuo You, he was holding a position in an idle government office and went to the government to eat every day; it was because of Zuo You's recommendation that Luo Yanhuan joined Guo Shao's account and was quickly promoted.
Later, when Guo Shao proclaimed himself emperor, Luo Yanhuan's surrender to him had a significant impact on his future. Of course, he was grateful to Zuo You from the bottom of his heart.