Prime Minister of Great Qin

Chapter 187 Happy Funeral! (Second update of [-] words)

Ji Heng glanced at Hu Hai, sat himself upright, and said slowly, "The changes in Ting Wei's Mansion do not lie in the appointment and dismissal of officials, but in the appearance of inappropriate officials."

"You think the change is not big, but it's just the beginning."

"Don't really listen to other people's words, thinking that the First Emperor wanted to kick those officials out of the Tingwei Mansion. There are hundreds of officials in the Tingwei Mansion. How can it be so easy to dismiss them all?"

"This move focuses on screening!"

"Screening?" Hu Hai frowned.

He was a little confused as to where this 'screening' came from.

Ji Heng chuckled lightly, leaned on the left side of the reclining chair, and said, "It's screening, to reveal the officials who have corpses and vegetarian meals, and who keep their lives. You may think that it is only a step down, so there is such a great use? "

"There is, and it will be obvious."

"A high-ranking official crushes people to death."

"There will be more deaths in matters dealt with at the official and junior levels."

"Because if things are added layer by layer, the original small things will become big, important, and important things, and many officials who originally served in the Tingwei Mansion all went from being a Langguan to being an official."

"What is Lang Guan?"

"Beginning in the Warring States period, he was an official of the monarch's attendant, responsible for the palace guard."

"Daqin mostly serves young talents."

"This kind of people are basically the children of the courtiers, and they mostly want to get acquainted with the emperor. When the time comes, they will be assigned to serve in various official offices in the court. In fact, they are not proficient in handling political affairs, so many of them are in the courtroom. When being assigned a position, they all have priority to be assigned to some stable positions with less trouble."

"Tingwei Mansion is the most suitable place right now."

"After Li Si, the powers of Ting Wei's Mansion were greatly reduced, and now it is basically planning to amend laws and regulations, and political affairs related to law revisions. If this kind of thing hadn't been promulgated this time, the "Law of Business" and "Law of Industry", I am afraid that it would not be possible for a few years. It can’t be busy a few times, so it’s most suitable for some officials’ children to spend their experience and spend time in it.”

"A lot of people are basically just dawdling."

"But Ting Wei's Mansion is the imperial court's most important place after all. In the future, when all the old officials retire, most of these people will be promoted. How can such an official with wine bags, rice bags, and dead meals be able to take on the world's great responsibilities?"

"So there has to be a cleanup."

"It is not appropriate to be too blatant, because it will cause strong opposition from the courtiers. Even the first emperor must sometimes consider the attitude of the courtiers."

"After all, the world depends on courtiers to implement government orders."

"This time it's a test."

"It's also an intentional screening."

"Many officials in Tingwei's Mansion are not serious about doing things, and most of them are mediocre talents. Once they are demoted by one level, it means that their functions in Tingwei's Mansion have changed."

"Once there is a change, there will be variables."

"And the variable lies in the ability!"

"If they are capable, they will naturally be able to handle the political affairs in their positions well. If they are not capable, they will be in a hurry and even make mistakes when they suddenly take over new political affairs. Wouldn't this clearly tell the court that he is not capable of taking on this position? ?”

"At that time, it will be justified to demote him from Tingwei Mansion."

heard.

Hu Hai suddenly realized.

After listening to Ji Heng's explanation, he already understood.

This time the Tingwei Mansion is not aimed at the upper-level officials, but the middle and lower-level officials. Most of these people are the children of meritorious officials. They entered the Tingwei Mansion relying on their family relationships, and they don't usually deal with too many political affairs. , It is even very likely that political affairs are handed over to other people.

But with the reduction of official positions, everything is different.

Because the political affairs that took over have changed.

If you can't take over quickly and deal with it quickly, people will definitely notice the problem, and it will be reasonable to be dealt with by the government at that time.

Hu Hai nodded again and again.

He was also amazed by this.

He looked at Ji Heng, but he was very curious, how did Ji Heng grow his head, and how could he think of such a good way?There is no need for the first emperor to take action, just changing the official position in this way has exposed many people's true colors, and it is impossible to argue.

high!
It's really high!

"Ji Heng, your method is really amazing." Hu Hai praised.

Ji Heng shook his head.

He sighed softly: "Don't be too optimistic. As the saying goes, there are policies at the top and countermeasures at the bottom. It is unrealistic to use this method to wipe out the incompetent officials in Tingwei's Mansion."

"Ah?" Hu Hai was taken aback for a moment, and asked in surprise, "Why is this?"

Ji Heng glanced at Hu Hai, and said helplessly: "Because it can't be done, the Tingwei Mansion needs to run, and officials are needed to run it, and officials are needed to do it, so it is doomed not to be perfect. In addition to being demoted, some of the Weifu's treatment was reduced from 'true' to 'false'."

"You understand now."

"These 'false', that is, acting officials, are specially reserved for the children of meritorious officials. These people still stay in their original positions and deal with past political affairs on a daily basis. The impact on them is actually not great."

"Even if some people are demoted, if his father is very powerful in the court, do you think there will be no officials to help him deal with it?"

"This kind of thing will probably happen."

"So the rectification of Tingwei's Mansion this time is mainly to clean up people who are not well-connected, have a strong background, and occupy the latrines and do not shit. Most of these people can enter the Tingwei's Mansion through their connections and through the door. Yes, the number is often not small, and this time there will be basically no one to protect."

"Most of them are cleaned up."

"In general."

"The rectification of Ting Wei's Mansion this time can achieve results."

"It's just that it can't be so clean, but at least it can free up some positions for those who are really capable."

"What's more, we have to plan the "Law of Business" and "Law of Industry" this time. They all need to talk to merchants and craftsmen, and they all have to do things on the ground. This is also a kind of exercise. After this, Tingwei Mansion At least there will be a significant improvement in the capabilities of officials."

"The first emperor will also have a preliminary judgment on the abilities of those heroes' children."

"I will be entrusted with a post in the future, I will know how much I know, and I won't be completely smeared."

Hu Hai looked serious.

After listening to Ji Heng's explanation, he realized that there are so many ways. If he did it, he would never have thought of so many, let alone such a deep thought. If someone played tricks on him, he would directly send someone to chop it up.

That's a lot of trouble.

Ji Heng didn't know what Hu Hai was thinking.

If he knew what Hu Hai was thinking, he would probably roll his eyes.

Killing people is certainly refreshing.

But it doesn't solve any problem.

If the imperial court wanted to operate, it had to rely on the courtiers to do things. If all the courtiers were offended, the imperial court would basically stop functioning.

How can there be no chaos in the world?

The way of governance is to focus on games, the game between the local government and the court, the game between the king and his ministers, the game between the generals, etc., almost throughout the long history.

No one can stay out of it.

It's just that some people have clever means, and they can kill three people with two peaches in a few words, while others lose everything by tricks and calculations, and this is not the fun of those in high positions.

power.

It is always the most difficult thing in the world to refuse.

This is true of the ancients, and so is the present.

Hu Hai looked up at the sky, his eyes were full of sadness.

He felt that he was not suitable to be an emperor. There were too many ways in it, and he couldn't even notice it, and he couldn't realize it. In the past, he thought about leaving everything to Zhao Gao, but after Ji Heng said so, he He is also full of doubts about Zhao Gao's ability.

He rested his head on his hands, his mind gradually drifting away.

Ji Heng also looked up at the sky.

in his eyes.

The clouds above are so white.

A quiet house in the east of the city is bustling after a long absence.

Feng Zhen and others were released by the government today.

back home.

Feng Wen and others couldn't help crying.

He couldn't bear to think about what happened over the past month.

So miserable.

Feng Zhen's body is very thin, his cheeks were still fleshy, but now there is only a layer of skin left, and he is almost out of shape.

Hearing that Feng Zhen and the others came back, Feng Dong also hurried over.

Seeing Feng Dong, Feng Zhen hurriedly said: "The child is unfilial, and my father is worried."

Seeing Feng Zhen's miserable appearance, Feng Dong couldn't help crying, but he still smiled and said, "It's good to be back, it's good to be back."

Feng Ce couldn't believe it when he saw Feng Zhen's miserable appearance.

This is completely different from the elder brother in his memory.

too skinny.

Not at all like a person.

If the voice hadn't changed and the skeletons were somewhat similar, he might not dare to recognize each other.

Feng Ce asked: "Brother, what did you experience in prison? Why did you end up like this?"

Feng Zhen gave a wry smile, looked around, and said, "Second brother, don't worry too much, the government didn't try to force a confession, it's just that I'm in prison after all, and Daqin has always been strict with prisoners, so we won't waste money The rations are on us, and we can only go to work by ourselves."

He looked at the tattered clothes on his body, and said with a sad smile: "For more than a month, the government has arranged to serve more than a month of corvee, and Wen'er, Wu'er and others are the same."

Feng Ce said: "If brother is short of money, why didn't you sue the family?"

Feng Zhen looked away, shook his head and said: "The family has encountered such an accident, and Qin Ting is trying its best to collect evidence of my Feng family's crimes. How dare I lead the family into the fire again?"

Looking at Feng Zhen's dodging gaze, Feng Dong seemed to have guessed something, and stopped Feng Ce from continuing to speak, but said: "Just came back, let Lichen go to boil some hot water, to get rid of bad luck."

Done.

Feng Dong went to the lobby.

Soon.

Feng Zhen had already washed up, and put on a set of clean and tidy clothes again, but he could still see his thin body, but his spirit was much better than before.

Feng Dong said: "You have returned from prison, there are some things I should tell you."

"I, Mrs. Feng, have compromised with the government."

A word fell.

Feng Zhen couldn't believe it.

He stared straight at Feng Dong, as if doubting his own ears, and after a long time, he smiled and said, "Father, what did you just say?"

Feng Dong nodded.

"Why?" Feng Zhen's voice suddenly increased.

Feng Dong sighed, and said: "I know you have suffered a lot in prison, and you are full of resentment towards Qin Ting, and you even wish to destroy Qin Ting, but the truth is what you heard."

"I, Mrs. Feng, have bowed to the government."

"And it's lower than you think."

"All the salt and iron that we conspired to hide at the beginning were taken by the government, and all of them were used to help the people in the pass. Our major merchants even didn't take any money."

"In addition, for more than a month, my Feng's salt shop has not been opened, and I have been watched by the government for various safety inspections. It was only a few days ago that I was let go by the government."

"Father, why?" Feng Zhen's eyes were red, he couldn't believe it at all, didn't their Feng family just want to force the government to back down?Why did Feng's lose so much when the government didn't retreat in the end?

He didn't say anything in prison.

He suffered so much grievance and endured so much torture, and this is the result?
He can't take it.

I can't accept it anyway.

Feng Dong looked at Feng Zhen, whose eyes were full of collapse, and his heart was also full of sentimentality. How could he want this?But do they have a choice?

Did the government give them a choice?
No!

Never have.

The government has always only given them a way out.

If you don't obey, you die!
"Father, why did you agree?" Feng Zhen's eyes were filled with grief and indignation.

Feng Dong slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again, and said in a deep voice: "You want to know the reason, I will tell you the reason, because the government's methods are more ruthless than you imagined, you think you will not recruit in prison, The government has nothing to do with me, Mrs. Feng?"

"Qin Law is made by the government."

"Is the eldest son really following the Qin law when he convicts us?"

"As long as they want to convict, they can just write a random one. Meng Yi, the chief official of the Tingwei Mansion, is there. Even if they write a random one, it is the law!"

"Just to convict us."

"That means it can kill our entire clan!"

"This is Qin Fa!!!"

A fierce light appeared in Feng Dong's eyes, and his whole body suddenly became fierce. He said coldly, "You think I want to agree? Dare I not agree?"

"The lives of hundreds of members of the Feng family are in my hands."

"If I dare to say no, you will never see me, and you will die in prison!"

"Do you remember Cao Bingshi and Deng Shi?"

"They were exterminated a few days after you were caught!"

"If I hadn't promised, I would have been exterminated, Mr. Feng. Do you think I want to hand over those salt and iron? That's my hard work, Mr. Feng's hard work. When you tell the black government the address where you hide it, my Mrs. Isn’t the heart bleeding? For us, taking money from someone is tantamount to harming someone’s parents.”

"But what about parental hatred?"

"Is life important?"

"You are my eldest son, and you are also the parent of Feng's family. You must understand that nothing can be solved with emotion. In front of the government, I, Feng's family, are like ants on the ground. You can trample to death at will. The only thing you can do is to avoid the government from time to time. feet!"

"I'll tell you."

"After you were arrested, five or six of our families confessed all the officials who have been recruited by the government over the years. Now these officials have been arrested, killed, and sentenced. None of them escaped."

Hearing Feng Dong's words, Feng Zhen trembled.

His eyes were full of fear.

He never imagined that while he was in prison, so many things happened outside, and their Feng family fell so quickly and so hard.

Feng Dong snorted coldly, struck the bamboo stick vigorously, and continued: "Are you afraid?"

"What's that worth?"

"How many storms can we merchants create?"

"This matter is not worth mentioning anywhere in the government."

"The government is even more ruthless!"

"During the time you were in prison, the government posted several notices one after another. At the beginning, all the officials involved were punished. Excluding those who were beheaded and cut in half, nearly hundreds of people were exiled. This is just the surface. The Tingwei Mansion has been questioned."

"The Ting Wei Meng Yi was even dismissed, and now he is still staying at home."

"As well as the relevant salt officials and iron officials, all of them have been dismissed. Now you know why I have to bow my head. Don't you dare not bow your head?"

"Do I dare not bow my head?"

"Even an official like Meng Yi, Qin Ting said he would deal with it, and the entire Tingwei Mansion was demoted. What is a mere Feng family like? In Qin Ting's eyes, it is not even the size of an ant."

"You still want to bargain with the court?"

"Are you qualified for this?"

Feng Dong raised his eyebrows coldly.

Feng Zhen was so shocked that he was speechless.

All the anger in front of him was replaced by fear, and his already emaciated body couldn't help shaking.

He was really frightened.

He thought that this time it was just like that, but it turned out that it was all involved in Ting Wei's Mansion.

What kind of official office is Tingwei Mansion?That is the real authority of Daqin, and even Ting Wei was dismissed because of this, so what happened to their Feng family?It is a blessing not to be wiped out.

Feng Dong's momentum gradually dissipated.

He said in a deep voice: "My Feng family has lived so smoothly these years, everyone in the family thinks highly of themselves, takes themselves too seriously, and is too self-righteous."

"My Feng family is just a merchant, but I am so bold as to try to threaten the government? It is a blessing in misfortune to be lenient by the government this time. This time it should be taken as a warning."

"Businessmen cannot shake this day."

"One must be self-aware."

Feng Zhen has completely calmed down now.

His forehead was dripping with cold sweat.

Feng Dong took a few glances, his expression softened, and he said, "It's good if you understand it. Under the current government rule, I, the Feng family, are not qualified to engage in petty tricks. Then Mr. Zhong is very scheming towards my merchants. Next time, I'm afraid even surviving will be an extravagant hope."

"Besides, since you're back, it's time to understand a reality."

"Now it is us merchants who need to rely on the imperial court, not the imperial court who needs to borrow our business channels. Daqin's "Law of Commerce" will be announced in less than two months. Once it is announced, we will be spared in this incident. The six families that are in trouble are destined to become the target of public criticism."

"Only by completely surrendering to the government can our Feng family survive."

"This is reality!"

"I, Feng Shi, have no chance to stand up."

"Don't think about it anymore."

"As long as we dare to act recklessly, our secret acquisition of land, loans and other things will become the evidence of the government demanding our lives. Only when we are honest and honest as an 'official business', the government will choose to turn a blind eye to these things. one eye."

"I, Mrs. Feng, have no choice!"

When Feng Dong said these words, it was as if his energy had been sucked in, and his whole body was quite sluggish.

Feng Zhen's heart trembled.

He never imagined that after he had been imprisoned for a month or so, the clan would have fallen into such a situation. Not only did he not dare to make any changes, but now he even had to rely on the government to breathe.

Thinking back half a year ago, who would have expected that the Feng family would fall to this point?
No one dared to believe it.

"Father." Feng Zhen was full of self-blame when he thought of his previous overreaction.

Feng Dong patted Feng Zhen on the shoulder, and said earnestly: "You are more capable than me, and you will think about family affection in your heart. I am old, and I will rely on you to take care of the affairs of the family from now on."

"My Feng family has fallen to the current situation, so why am I not a sinner, Feng Dong?"

Feng Zhen shook his head with sorrowful eyes.

Feng Dong looked at Feng Zhen, sighed a long time, and said: "Although the government is more desperate than us, they haven't been tightening the reins all the time. Wait a few days for the salt shops in various places to open, and I will wait for the merchants' business tax. The tax will be reduced from more than half of the past to half of the tax."

"Rare is a good thing."

"My Feng family can also rest for a while."

A bleak smile appeared on Feng Dong's face, but he didn't want to speak any more, and waved his hand with great effort, telling Feng Zhen to go down and rest.

Feng Zhen's eyes were full of worry.

But he didn't dare to disobey Feng Dong, so he could only bow and retreat slowly.

outside the house.

Feng Ce, Feng Wen and others stood outside the door.

Feng Zhen took a few glances, heaved a long sigh, and squeezed out a smile on his face. He looked at Feng Ce and said, "A lot of things have happened in the clan during this period, thanks to the care of the second brother in the clan, there are no more problems. , now my father has told me all about the situation in the clan."

"It's nothing serious."

"It's just that the imperial court is very hostile to merchants now, and my Feng family has gone through this catastrophe again. It's really inappropriate and I can't do anything rashly. During this period of time, the family's priority is security and stability."

"in addition."

"When the salt shops in various places reopen, my Feng's business tax will also be reduced."

"It's all due to my Feng family's children."

"Congratulations!"

Feng Zhenchao ordered Feng Ce to go to the treasury to get some money and buy some wine and meat. He was going to reward the clan tonight.

Feng Ce hesitated to speak.

It's just that under Feng Zhen's sharp gaze, he didn't dare to speak.

Just do it.

The Feng clan was filled with joyful atmosphere.

Especially Feng Wen, Feng Wu and other disciples were even more excited. They all thought that Qin Ting finally made concessions because they kept the secret.

Looking at the happy scene in the courtyard, Feng Zhen felt panicked.

He didn't even know how to tell the clan.

I really can't say it.

Soon.

Feng Ce came back with wine and meat.

At the same time, it also brought back the latest news in the city.

The army sent by the imperial court to suppress the rebellion in Qi has returned, the number is less than [-], but the record is extremely outstanding, beheading tens of thousands of rebels, including hundreds of merchants in Qi.

The amount of money and food confiscated is even greater.

Hearing this news, Feng Zhen was afraid for a while.

The status of merchants in Qi is far higher than that of other places, and they have more serious connections with local powerful officials. As a result, they still have no resistance to the Qin army, and they are vulnerable, as if they are hitting a stone with an egg.

If Qi Shang is like this, they are afraid that it will be even worse.

They actually tried to force Qin Ting to make concessions before, but now they think it is absurd and ridiculous.

He is also lucky that Feng Shi was able to survive the disaster.

If Feng's family was exiled because of this, he was afraid that he would never forgive himself until he died, and he would feel extremely guilty when he died.

Think of this.

Feng Zhen couldn't help but feel his heart tighten.

Just thinking about it all, I still feel dizzy.

The price they paid this time was too heavy.

Too heavy to breathe.

Feng Zhen sat in the room, his eyes lost for a long time.

(End of this chapter)