That year, that cicada, that sword

Chapter 277

Jiangnan, which has been bustling for a long time, finally calmed down at last.The eyes of many caring people returned to the imperial capital. After all, with Han Xuan returning to the temple, the situation of the court became delicate.

Purely from the strength of the two temples, Han Xuan was not able to fight against Sapphire when he was in full swing, and it is even more impossible to be Sapphire's opponent now, but Han Xuan also has a great advantage, that is, standing behind him His Majesty the Emperor.

Emperor Xiao wants to use Han Xuan's hand to make his teacher Lan Yu withdraw from the temple.

Wenyuan Pavilion is not only the royal library, but also the cabinet.According to the rules, the cabinet members have to take turns to stay here overnight, even the chief and second assistants of the cabinet are no exception.

Tonight is Lan Yu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, who is on duty at night, accompanied by his favorite student, Liu Zuo Liu Mengfu, Minister of the Household Department, and they sit opposite each other across a kang table, with a bright lamp in the middle.

Lan Yu's appearance is clear and elegant, and his manner is elegant, and he has the demeanor of a famous Confucianist. However, his disciple Liu Zuo has a square face and a tall stature, which is completely different from him.

At this time, the two of them were flipping through a heavy classic, which was a few volumes of the "Taiping Canon" that had just been compiled.

"Taiping Grand Ceremony" was personally presided over by Lan Yu as the chief executive officer. It took six years from the 15th year of Taiping, and it was just completed in July this year. The book has a total of 2 volumes, and the table of contents alone accounts for sixty volumes. Either two volumes, one volume, or three volumes, totaling 930 volumes.Among them are not only the collection of Confucian classics, but also the classics of Buddhism, Taoism and other schools of thought.

This can also be said to be Lan Yu's proud work, not to mention his founding feats and his status as the chief minister of the dynasty, just compiling a "Taiping Canon" is enough to make him famous in history.

Liu Zuo closed the classics in his hand and complimented: "Master has compiled such a magnificent masterpiece, and it can be said that his merits are immeasurable."

Lan Yu raised her head and asked lightly: "Meng Fu, do you know why His Majesty asked me to be the chief executive?"

Seeing that the teacher's tone was a bit wrong, Liu Zuo couldn't help but be a little more careful, and said carefully, "After all, the minister is the chief assistant of the cabinet, and he is also the emperor's teacher of the dynasty. It seems that His Majesty thinks highly of you."

Lan Yu shook her head and said: "It is the most difficult thing to be the emperor teacher of the dynasty. There can only be one piece of sky above the head of the court, and that is the emperor. Therefore, there has never been an emperor teacher in the past. .”

Liu Zuo said with a smile: "Master, I forgot. Zhang Jiangling, the chief assistant of the cabinet during the reign of Shenzong in the previous dynasty, was conferred the title of Grand Master during his lifetime, and you are also the master..."

Liu Zuo suddenly stopped talking, with a look of surprise on his face.

Lan Yu said flatly: "But what happened to Zhang Jiangling? He died for no apparent reason, and after his death, he was settled by Emperor Shenzong of Zheng. All his family property was confiscated, his titles, titles, and posthumous titles were all taken back, and he also listed several serious crimes. The eldest son of Zhang Jiangling was forced to death, all the old disciples were relegated, and all the family members were exiled, so the coffin was almost whipped open."

Liu Zuo's face was pale, and he murmured: "Zhang Jiangling's lessons learned from others' mistakes... But why is the teacher like this?"

"Of course not." Lan Yu said softly, "When Emperor Shenzong was young, Zhang Jiangling was just an official in the Ministry of War, but before His Majesty was born, I was already the late Emperor's right-hand man. I followed the late Emperor to conquer the world for ten years. I was the chief minister of the cabinet in the first year, and I was still the chief minister of the cabinet in the 20th year of Taiping. Now it is the 21st year of Taiping, and I have been the chief minister for 51 years. If he falls, his fate will be even more miserable than that of Zhang Jiangling."

After all, Liu Zuo is a dignified second-rank official, after he calmed down, he said in a low voice: "With the affection of my teacher and Your Majesty, how could this be the case."

Lan Yu waved her hand and said: "Your Majesty's meaning has long been revealed. He made me the chief executive officer to give me a big gift. He just wanted me to take the initiative to resign from the position of chief assistant, so that I, the emperor's teacher, can start well and end well. .”

He got up, went to the reclining chair next to him and lay down, and then said: "But I can't retire. I have been in charge of the government for 50 years. How many people have I ruled, and how many people have been ruled? People say that I am a protégé, but I am also an enemy. All over the world, when I'm here, the wind and sea are calm, but after I leave, the wind and rain come naturally, how about you? I can't resist it."

Liu Zuo got up and said shamelessly, "It's useless for students."

Sapphire closed her eyes and meditated, and said slowly: "President is a great gift, but I did not do anything after receiving the gift. Since I am unkind, I can't blame His Majesty for being unrighteous, so His Majesty recruited Han Xuan back into the temple and assigned me as the prime minister." Supplementary power, I did not speak."

Liu Zuo said cautiously: "Master is tolerant, but Han Xuan is ignorant of current affairs, aggressive, and dare not hide from master. Since Han Xuan became the master of the household department, the student of the household department Shang Shu's life is getting more and more difficult day by day."

Lan Yu stretched out her hand with her eyes closed, and nodded her protégé falsely, "Han Xuan came from a poor family, and he is also a person who never forgets his original aspirations. I have no enmity with him, it's just that we have different positions. You don’t have to gossip in front of me, just feel free to be your household official.”

Liu Zuo kept silent, even though he was already at the second rank, he didn't dare to show presumptuousness in front of this master. This was not only because of the dignity of the teacher, but more because of Lan Yu's majesty in ruling the world for 50 years.

Lan Yu lightly tapped the armrest of the reclining chair, and said softly: "Six ministers, three of them are my disciples, nine ministers, four are my juniors, four are in nineteen states, and there are twelve ministers. Even if I personally vote for the appointment, which yamen does not have my people? It's not that His Majesty doesn't want to drive me away, but that the Daqi court cannot do without me."

——The night was dark, and Han Xuan's study was still brightly lit.

As the second assistant of the current dynasty, Han Xuan's study room is very majestic and majestic. The first thing that catches the eye is the word "Zhengxin" with vigorous brushwork, and then there are all red sandalwood tables and chairs. On the desk are lake brushes, Hui ink, Duan inkstone, and rice paper , There are three red candles burning brightly on each of the two bronze lampstands as high as a person.

Han Xuan has never bothered to pretend to be clean and honest. The salaries given by the Daqi court to officials at all levels are the highest in all dynasties. The monthly salary of a first-rank university scholar is 300 taels of silver, one hundred shi of corn, and twenty bolts of silk for spring and winter clothes. , thirty pieces of silk, and one hundred taels of cotton, plus mansions and servants. Emperor Xiao also specially gave him two Zhuangzi and a thousand acres of land, so even if Han Xuan had never been greedy for ink and accepted half a cent of money, he could still maintain his position as the second assistant of the court. decent.

At this time, Han Xuan was sitting behind the desk looking through a heavy classic, which was the "Taiping Canon" compiled by Lan Yu as the chief executive officer, and there was a late-night visitor sitting on the guest seat beside him.

Even though the room was brightly lit, the elderly Han Xuan still had a hard time watching. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Ping An, I know why you came, but now is not the time. Back then, the Queen Mother had not yet married into the Xiao family. He is already the left chancellor of Wang Xiangfu, to put it bluntly, Lan Xiang has been rooted in the temple for a long time, pulling up carrots with mud, if he is really to be brought down, most of the court will be implicated."

The visitor was none other than the eunuch in charge of the chief inspector of ceremonies, and only Zhang Baisui was able to sneak into Han Xuan's mansion without any notice from the many eyes and ears in the imperial capital.

Han Xuan turned a page of the book, and continued: "The current imperial court wants to use Prime Minister Lan to rule the local area, to manage government affairs, to earn money for the treasury, and even to use Prime Minister Lan to manage the government. The Prime Minister is guarding the border, and our Great Qi Dynasty cannot do without this current Emperor Teacher for the time being."

Zhang Baisui said softly, "Mr. Wenbi, how long do you have to wait?"

Han Xuan raised his head and said: "This time is not about you and me, but about Your Majesty and Prime Minister Lan. Although His Majesty intends to make a move on Prime Minister Lan, he has yet to make a final decision. Your Majesty is waiting for Prime Minister Lan to make mistakes. At that time, as long as Lan Xiang made a mistake, His Majesty would have a reason to fight Lan."

Zhang Baisui said softly: "The 51-year-old chief assistant has plenty of excuses, so why wait?"

Han Xuan smiled and asked back: "Ping An, you are an old man beside His Majesty, do you know His Majesty's thoughts?"

Zhang Baisui said in a deep voice: "Of course I know. After all, Lan Xiang is Your Majesty's enlightenment teacher, and also a teacher who has taught you since he was a child. One, His Majesty does not want to leave a reputation for being harsh on his teacher and old ministers. It's just that there are some things that His Majesty is not easy to do, and we ministers must understand the upper body and the sacred heart."

Han Xuan put together the Taiping Grand Ceremony in front of him, and said flatly: "Then tell me, what do you plan to do."

(End of this chapter)