Prime Minister

Does the fire come from the bottom up or from the top down.

Cai Que suddenly asked such a question, and the officials looked at Yuan Jiang's panicked expression for a moment, and immediately thought a little bit.

When he learned that the third department had been burned, he was shocked and angry, but after being the emperor for so long, he naturally had a reaction, did he get tricked by others?
When Cai Que mentioned this, the officials immediately realized that things might not be as simple as expected.

However, there was no suspicion on the official face. From the fire last night, to Cai Ting's urging that the Privy Council should not send troops to fight the fire, to Zhang Dun's sudden appearance on the scene of the fire, and the third accounting department's sudden fire when it was about to check the accounts. Is it really such a coincidence?

After several years of emperors and emperors, the city government is getting deeper and deeper, and the level of judging affairs and governing affairs has also improved a lot.

After Yuan Jiang finished speaking, but seeing that Han Jiang had already left the class in half of his body, he already planned to admit his mistake to the emperor and take all the fire of the third division on himself.

Seeing Han Jiang like this, Lu Huiqing showed a little joy. As long as Han Jiang can be implicated in this incident, then he, who is the second in Zhongshu, can be successfully replaced as prime minister. Zhao Wenxiang may not be able to do it, but the problem of Shi Guanxiang is not big.

The position of prime minister is what Lu Huiqing has always dreamed of.

Just when Han Jiang was halfway up, Zhang Yue, who was standing behind Han Jiang, suddenly jumped over to the other party and said, "Your Majesty, I moved the Accounting Division of the Third Division into the Third Division to facilitate the checking of the accounts of the past years. In the end, because I read too many old files or cleared out some accounts that should have been burned by moths, they were stacked too much in the warehouse."

"As a result of the fire in the third department, I can't absolve myself of the responsibility for this matter. I implore Your Majesty to take heavy responsibility!"

Zhang Yue's seemingly meaningless but very meaningful words, the ministers understood the strangeness and tricks in it as soon as they heard it.

However, such a thing cannot be put on the table without evidence, and it is easy to be beaten back.

Censor Zhongcheng Deng Wan was motionless at the moment, and had no intention of standing up to speak for Lu Huiqing. In the past, he was the vanguard of the New Party.

But another censor, Deng Runfu, couldn't bear it and said: "Fire is negligence of duty. Is there any other reason to shirk it? It is known that the accounts that have been corrupted for many years are prone to fire. Why didn't we take precautions early so that we only noticed it after the fact."

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, it was because of my negligence, because I didn't expect that there would be a fire in the third department. I didn't take precautions against this in advance, and I am willing to bear the responsibility for the fire in the third department together with Yuan Jiang. I also ask your majesty to issue an order."

Zhang Yue's move is tantamount to taking Han Jiang's part of the responsibility on himself.

Han Jiang glanced at Zhang Yue with great emotion, but he thought to himself, how could Zhang Yue alone be able to recite such a big crime, and was about to speak out to take the blame, but felt his wrist being pulled.

Han Jiang was taken aback for a moment, and turned his head halfway to see that it was Wu Chong who stopped him.

Seeing this, Han Jiang showed a first-class look of helplessness, but still retreated to the class.

Seeing Han Jiang retreating to the class, Lu Huiqing secretly regretted it, but thought that bringing down Zhang Yue would also break Han Jiang's arm, and he went out of the class and said, "Zhang Duanming, why bother to share the responsibility for others, as far as I know, you have been discussing with me these days about the immunity law, so you should have no time to take it away."

The officials were a little suspicious of Lu Huiqing, but they were immediately puzzled after hearing what the other party said.However, the officials could see that it was far-fetched for Zhang Yue to be involved in this matter, but the burning of the third division was such a major event, as long as it was involved, it would not be able to get rid of it.

At this time, someone said: "The person in charge of the accounting division of the third division is the author Zuolang Su Zhe."

The official stared at him and asked, "Where is Su Zhe?"

After a long while, an official said weakly: "Your Majesty, after the fire broke out, Su Zhe tried his best to fight the fire and protect Sili's classics, but was finally attacked by the fire poison and collapsed unconscious!"

After hearing this, Zhang Yue thought, if something happened to Su Zhe, how would he explain it to Su Shi?

Zhang Yue couldn't help but feel a little guilty. If he knew this, he shouldn't have involved Su Zhe in this matter.

When Lu Huiqing heard that Su Zhe had collapsed, she fell into a coma and thought, it's best to be like this, it's better to die.

The official said: "Okay, all the officials involved in this matter will be resigned and go out!"

But see the thunder descend!

In addition to Han Jiang, the three ministers below Yuan Jiang, Yantie Deputy Envoy, Household Deputy Envoy, Duzhi Deputy Envoy, Yantie Judge Song Di, Zhang Yue, and Su Zhe were all dismissed.

At the same time, all the officials of the Mabu Division who failed to rescue were also dismissed.

Only Zhang Dun, who made great contributions to fighting the fire, was greatly appreciated.

Zhang Yue was in the vortex, but he was dismissed from his position as the Accounting Department of the Third Division, and he, Yuan Jiang and others were about to go out.

Zhang Yue walked out of the main hall, but saw that Yuan Jiang had regained his relaxed expression, and saw that he was talking to Lu Huiqing, Deng Wan, and Cai Ting.

Zhang Yue glanced at it from a distance, and then walked away.

He immediately rushed to visit Su Zhe.

Su Zhe is settling in the Su Mansion.

When they arrived at Su Zhe's residence, they saw Su Zhe's wife, Shi Shi, and several of Su Zhe's children lying beside Su Zhe's bed, weeping.

When Shi saw Zhang Yue, he arrived here and was busy paying respects.

Zhang Yue knew that although the Shi family came from an ordinary background, he was also generous and well-managed.Su Zhe had no older brother, no concubine, only his wife.Perhaps because of this, Zhang Yue and Su Zhe hit it off more.

But Shi Shi sent out several children, and then bowed to Zhang Yueyi in front of Su Zhe's bed: "The official just said before he fell into a coma, if something happens to him, he will give it to Zhang Gong, saying that he will be able to uphold justice for him."

Zhang Yue took a note, glanced at it, and placed it in the center of the boot page. It was because of this note that Su Zhe almost died.

Zhang Yue thought to himself, fortunately, he did not relax his audit of Lu Huiqing because of his false peace request.

Su Zhe also first examined the old accounts of Sinong Temple over the years, and found some clues, so he kept the evidence... But he didn't expect the viciousness of the enemy, even the third division envoy Yuan Jiang would set fire to the third division himself.

Thinking of this, Su Zhe on the couch woke up and shouted, "Is it Zhang... Duanming?"

Zhang Yue was overjoyed and held Su Zhe's hand and said, "Ziyou, it's my fault that caused you so far."

Su Zhe said weakly: "Ziyou deeply regrets not being able to repay Mr. Zhang, but fortunately he did not disgrace his life. The evidence is here. But Lu thief is extremely cunning, and now he is gaining power. Even if there is such evidence, he may not be able to bring him down for a while. Zhanggong can keep this as an excuse. With Lu thief as a person, this thing will come in handy sooner or later."

"Actually, it was Su who was negligent this time. Those old officials in the third department were the ones behind the scenes. They were always worried that Su would investigate his account before, so they sent someone to talk about it several times, and even bribed him with a lot of money, but Su didn't accept it."

Zhang Yue suddenly realized that everything was sorted out from the bottom of his heart, and the third division claimed to be the world of public servants.

That is to say, the real power is not in the hands of the officials, but the officials in the yamen, that is, the public.

The officials below have to pay the bills, and if there is any discrepancy in money, they have to give benefits to the public. This is the so-called Great Song Dynasty that "there is nothing in the world that can't be done without money."

That is to say, you need money for everything you do. Just read the Water Margin and you will know that if anything passes through the hands of the public, you must take advantage of them to manage them, otherwise they will use legal power to hurt you.

And Sansili is the place where the world's money comes in and out, so it goes without saying that there are tricks in it.Han Jiang wants to live within her means and re-audit the past accounts, which will inevitably involve a lot of old accounts, so that the small officials in the third division are all in danger.

Because the officials left after working for a year and a half at most, even if there is something unclear about the confession, it is easy to discuss, and those petty officials have worked for more than ten years, have collected money for so many years, and do not have the amulet of civil officials. Once found out, it is a capital offense.

Why was there no problem with previous audits?Because in the past, the third audit department audited itself, but now Han Jiang set up an accounting division of the third division to audit from the outside, and he used Su Zhe, who was not worth it...

In the end, Lu Huiqing took advantage of this situation...

That night Han Jiang's confidant Zhang Duan came to find Zhang Yue and brought a handwritten letter from Han Jiang, with only a few words on it, regretting not listening to the king's words.

Zhang Yue was very speechless to Han Jiang's letter, so what's the point of talking about it at this time.

He didn't listen when he persuaded Han Jiang to fight for "nationality" with Lu Huiqing, and he didn't listen when he persuaded Han Jiang to protect Feng Jing. Now when he thinks that setting up a third accounting department can strangle Lu Huiqing's throat, the other party strikes first.

It's too late to say anything now.

Now that she has taken all the blame for him, what is the use of Han Jiang expressing guilt to herself.

The next day at the Zhengshitang meeting, Han Jiang made an excuse to be absent, and Lu Huiqing presided over it. Compared with the previous Zhengshitang meeting, there was one less Feng Jing and one more Zhang Dun.

Because of Zhang Dun's meritorious service in fighting the fire, the emperor ordered him to send three envoys to replace Yuan Jiang who was dismissed due to the fire.And Lu Huiqing asked Zhang Dun to attend the political affairs hall meeting as the third envoy.

Today's Lu Huiqing sat in the seat where Han Jiang used to sit. In the past, when Han Jiang was away, Lu Huiqing would not dare to sit in this seat.Lu Huiqing was extraordinarily domineering, and looked at everyone coldly, changing her original modesty.

Wang Gui, who had left Feng Jing's participation in politics, became even more lonely and lonely, and even bowed his head to Lu Huiqing, even Zhang Yue, who was sitting in the audience, secretly felt ashamed for his teacher.

However, Wang Gui didn't notice it at all, and looked at Lu Huiqing who was much younger than him with a smile and compliments in his eyes.

A three-division fire changed everything.

Zhang Yue sat aside and watched Lu Huiqing preside over the meeting in an unquestionable tone.

Lu Huiqing was indignant at the burning of the third division: "This time, the third division burned [-] couplets, almost all the documents were burned, and the property lost millions. Now the third division has to work in Shangshu Province. The imperial court plans to transfer wood from Xihe to rebuild the third division. This is another first-class expenditure. The emperor was furious about this, so he sent an order to severely punish it."

"The third envoy of Quan, the scholar of Hanlin and the bachelor of servants, Yuan Jiangluo, the bachelor of servants, dismissed the three envoys, the deputy envoy of Yantie, the doctor of the household department, Zhang Wenzhi, the judge, Li Duanqing, the doctor of the Ministry of Jin, was the general judge of the army, and demoted an official; Li Shiliang, the head of the three supervisors and the head of the palace, also seized two officials and suspended him, and the author Zuo Lang Su Zhe seized one official and suspended him, do you have any objections?"

As expected, Lu Huiqing changed all the forces of the three divisions in a big way.

Lu Huiqing is really cruel.

At this moment, Zhang Yue suddenly remembered a sentence that was circulated on the Internet in later generations.

Never doubt the cruelty of political struggle, never underestimate the shamelessness of intellectuals, and never forget the ignorance of the masses.

Now Zhang Yue deeply agrees with the first two sentences, and this time he finally paid enough tuition fees.

After the meeting of the Political Affairs Hall, Lu Huiqing said to Zhang Yue: "Please wait!"

Zhang Yue stayed, and only he and Lu Huiqing were left in the hall, and all the little officials on the side also left.

She put on a smile for Zhang Yue and Lu Huiqing, but this smile was a little different from the previous one that seemed humble and had a hint of rebelliousness inside. Today, Lu Huiqing's smile looked a little probing, as if she was evaluating how much damage she had caused to herself this time.

Zhang Yue spread his hands to Lu Huiqing and said with a smile: "Brother Jifu, it was your superior move, and you won."

Lu Huiqing smiled, and then said seriously: "I don't understand what Du Zhi said."

Zhang Yue laughed when he heard the words, and then said: "Brother Jifu, are you going to help me arrange a trip to Hezhou this time?"

Lu Huiqing smiled and said: "Duzhi, you and I have known each other for many years, I will speak for you at the official's side, you can rest assured to stay in Beijing. I will need your help in the future."

Zhang Yue said: "Brother Jifu, what are you talking about? If I stay in Beijing, you won't be able to sleep well at night!"

Lu Huiqing smiled and said: "Duzhi, you really know how to joke. Since you plan to go out to relax, it's okay to come back in a few days. In addition to the number of houses in the world, if you want to know any state, I will arrange it for you."

For example, at the level of Zhijiangning Mansion and Daming Mansion, only Prime Ministers Wang Anshi and Han Jiang can concurrently judge or prefect when they go abroad.

It seems that Zhangyue's level is almost like participating in political affairs, and the states below the prefecture can choose at will.

Zhang Yue said with a smile: "That's easy, how about I go back to Jianzhou to know the state?"

After Zhang Yue and Lu Huiqing looked at each other and laughed.

Lu Huiqing smiled and said: "Duzhi still has the leisure to joke around at this time, I really admire it, it seems that you will come back soon."

Zhang Yue said: "It doesn't matter if you come back or not. Let me ask brother Jifu, what about the change of the exemption law that you and I discussed earlier?"

Lu Huiqing lowered her face and said: "I never change my words because of people. In less than a month, the exemption law will be changed. Everything is as you and I discussed before."

Zhang Yue was pleased when he heard the words, he thought that Lu Huiqing would renege on his debt.

"That's great, Mr. Zhang thanked Mr. Lu on behalf of those poor people."

Lu Huiqing sneered and said, "Who is Lu when Duzhi is? Am I a person who does not believe what he says? Besides, you are the one who promoted this matter. At that time, in front of the officials, Lu will fully state your credit."

Zhang Yue said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if you have credit or no credit. Back then, Duke Han and I created the exemption law, but now everyone in the world thinks it belongs to Duke Xiang and Duke Lu. What can I say?"

Lu Huiqing was a little displeased when she heard the words: "Duzhi, you and I won't say such unpleasant things at this time."

"Leaving you here today is to say a few words from the bottom of my heart. Lu has offended too many people these years, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to secure his position. Even after a few days, he will not be able to go out safely, or he will not be able to say that he will eat a sword as you said."

Having said that, Lu Huiqing let out a long sigh.

Zhang Yue said: "Brother Jifu, he is also a dignified participant in politics now, why should he say such despondent words?"

Lu Huiqing said: "Duzhi, I regard you as a confidant, a person who can talk with you, and tell you a few words from the bottom of my heart. What do you mean by laughing at Lu this time?"

confidant?I send you away from your confidant who is thousands of miles away?
"Brother Jifu is serious, so just say it. The word confidant is something Zhang cannot afford. But there is a saying that Mo Chou has no confidant in the road ahead. I believe Brother Jifu will definitely find friends along the way."

Lu Huiqing laughed and said: "Duzhi, you and Zihou are really brothers, and they never forgive others. But Zihou, hehe..."

Lu Huiqing took a look at Zhang Yue, implying that Zhang Dun and I are fellows, but we have a deeper friendship with you.

Speaking of this, Lu Huiqing walked up the hall slowly with her hands behind her back, "But having said that, after Lu, you are the only one who can be a prime minister in this world, Zihou is one, and your nephew is also one."

Zhang Yue thought of this and said: "Brother Jifu, don't involve my nephew in our affairs."

Lu Huiqing said: "Damn it, Lu is not a person who has no sense of propriety, let alone whether I am willing or not? If Zihou knew that I had such a heart, he would not forgive me."

Zhang Yue nodded.

After a pause, Lu Huiqing said: "But having said that, you know that since the Duke of Xun became the prime minister, we Fujian people have worshiped the prime minister, and there have been an endless stream of officials from officials to political participants. What is the reason?"

Zhang Yue said: "The Taizu said that it is not allowed to use southerners as prime ministers. After Wang Qinruo and Xi Guogong, of course the southerners are more appreciated by the emperor."

Lu Huiqing said: "That's right, the so-called ability to know the mind of the emperor, this is the only place where Lu's conceit is better than you and Han Gong."

"In the final analysis, neither you nor Han Gong can do the road that the Son of Heaven wants to take in his heart, only Lu can take it!"

Zhang Yue secretly laughed, Lu Huiqing's words sounded similar to Li Shizhong's "Your Majesty, who else but me".

Zhang Yue smiled and said: "It's really better to listen to Jun's words than to study for ten years. Zhang has been educated. How will Brother Jifu go on this road in the future? Zhang is really willing to wait and see, so I'm leaving!"

Lu Huiqing nodded when she heard the words, and personally sent Zhang Yue out of the political affairs hall. From the eyes of the court officials and outsiders, the two said goodbye as if they were friends.

When parting, Lu Huiqing said to Zhang Yue: "Duzhi, I only share political opinions with you, but it doesn't hinder personal friendship. If Lu can't go on this road in the future, it's time for you to do it."

"But if I see with my own eyes that all these years of hard work have been changed by you, Lu might as well die!"

Zhang Yue said: "Brother Jifu, what are you talking about? Didn't you just change the exemption law? If there is such a day, you and I will discuss the 'national affairs' again."

Lu Huiqing shook her head with a smile and said, "I think I may not have this day."

The two bowed to each other and said goodbye.

At this moment in the bedroom, the emperor, feeling a bit chilly, looked at Li Xian who had just returned to Beijing from Xihe to report on his duties, and said: "You will slowly report to me about Xihe in the future."

"There must be something wrong with the fire in the third division. The first thing you need to do after you return to Beijing is to lead the Imperial City Division to investigate the matter."

"I want to take down the real culprit!"

"promise!"

Li Xian readily agreed.

PS: Historically, the conflagration of the third division was before the establishment of the accounting division of the third division.There are suspicions that the new party deliberately planned this fire, completely abolished the power of the third department, and changed a group of people from top to bottom, so that the financial power belongs to Zhongshu from now on.

Yuan Jiang and Song Di were punished very lightly afterwards, so this book is adapted.