I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

Chapter 436: The court officials admonished the emperor and recommended Confucian scholars; in order for the family to survive forever, father and son will kill each other! (Please subscribe)

After the small court meeting ended, three ministers gathered together in the main hall of the Shangshu Office.

Although Zhang Anshi is the great general of Sima, Bingji is the chief minister.

So when they arrived at the main hall of Shangshu Office, the positions where the two of them sat changed slightly.

Bingji sat on the middle couch, Zhang Anshi sat on the right couch, and Wei Xian, who was older but a latecomer, sat on the left.

After the three people sat down, Bingji, as the general secretary, immediately got to the main topic of the day without any greetings or concealment.

"Mr. Zhang, please take out the list and show it to Mr. Wei." Bingji said.

"This is natural." After Zhang Anshi said this, he sent the list returned by the emperor to Wei Xian.

"Then let me take a look first." After Wei Xian said that, he took the memorial with trembling hands.

Wei Xian is already in his sixties this year, so he is of the same generation as Yang Chang and Cai Yi.

Like them, Wei Xian was also a Confucian scholar, and he had acquired the "Poems of Lu" passed down by the great Confucian Jiang Gong, and he had profound attainments.

Back then, it was Wei Xian and Cai Yi who went into the palace together to lecture Emperor Xiaozhao on the Book of Songs.

But unlike Cai Yi, Wei Xian's pursuit of fame is much weaker. He has never thought about climbing up before, so he is only a great man after he is in his sixties.

Precisely because he held a sinecure position and did not participate in court disputes, Wei Xian's body was in better shape: he had white hair and a childish face, and a straight waist. If it weren't for his silver hair, his back would be no different from that of a young man.

Cai Yi, who wanted to cling to him, fell ill, but Wei Xian, who was indifferent to worldly affairs, was promoted to the position of censor because of his son Wei Xuancheng.

And soon, Cai Yi will probably follow Emperor Xiaozhao, and by then Wei Xuan will become the best choice for prime minister.

Good fortune and misfortune depend on each other, that's probably the case.

"Wei Gong, do you know all the courtiers on this list?" Bingji said respectfully.

"Most of them are acquaintances, but in the court just now, didn't Mr. Zhang say that he had not shown the list to Mr. Bing, but Mr. Bing said that he had already seen it?" Wei Xian asked with a smile.

Bingji realized that he had made a mistake, so he laughed quickly and found an excuse to excuse himself: "On the way from the Greenhouse Hall to the Shangshu Office, Mr. Zhang showed it to me just now."

Zhang Anshi also explained a few words with some embarrassment, and then he relieved Bingji.

"That's because I'm old-sighted and I'm not afraid of the Second Master's jokes. Although I've been a member of the Nine Ministers for many years, I've never participated in recommending officials..."

"So I don't know how to start. The second master can just make up his mind." Wei Xian smiled and returned the list to Zhang Anshi.

"Wei Gong has a high reputation in the court, and he is like our teacher. I would like to ask Wei Gong to teach me." Zhang Anshi insisted again.

"How about Ziru first tell me why he chose these people, and I'll see if I can give you some humble opinions." Wei Xuancheng asked modestly.

"Being respectful is worse than obeying orders." Zhang Anshi paused and continued, "Although the county magistrate has great talents and great ideas, he is still young after all, and his actions are inevitably inconsistent with the golden mean..."

"So most of the courtiers chosen by me are Confucian scholars who come from aristocratic families. They have both political integrity and talent, and are loyal and pure. They can always use the words of a sage to advise the county magistrate."

Zhang Anshi was very careful in choosing words and sentences, but the meaning he wanted to express was very clear. Wei Xian nodded frequently while listening.

"Zi Ru is very considerate. People like Hou Cang, Du Yannian, Tian Wangsun, Liang Qiuhe, Meng Xi, Xiao Wangzhi, and Zhang Chang are excellent candidates because of their talents and learning..."

"It's just that I have a saying that I don't know whether to say or not."

"Please give me some advice, Duke Wei," Zhang Anshi said.

"Your Majesty seems to prefer to reuse legal officials like Wei Xiang and Huang Ba..."

After Wei Xian said this, Zhang Anshi's expression became a little strange, and then he looked to a place on the right side of the hall.

The two side rooms juxtaposed in that position are the small pavilions of Wei Xiang, the official of the seal, and Huang Ba, the minister of the Ministry of punishment.

"The Qin Dynasty was destroyed by harsh punishments and laws. How could the Han Dynasty follow in its footsteps? Since we only respect Confucianism, we should take Confucianism as our teacher..."

"When the Huo was overthrown, it was understandable to emphasize the use of legal and cruel officials, but now it is necessary to use Confucianism to educate the people, and not to attach too much importance to the law."

"It is precisely because Your Majesty likes to use legal and cruel officials that we recommend Confucian scholars and Xun officials to Your Majesty."

Zhang Anshi spoke righteously and without any hint of shame or cunning - these elected officials did not have much contact with Zhang Anshi, so he naturally had a clear conscience.

"The heart of a Confucian scholar can be learned from the field, and the old man has nothing to say." Wei Xuancheng said.

Next, the three of them made some adjustments to the list. It was not until the noon bell rang that they got up and rushed to their respective government offices with the six ministers and censors.

But Wei Xian did not go back to Honglu Temple directly. Instead, he walked out of Shangshu Office with his son Wei Xuancheng, and then went all the way to Menxia Temple.

When he was still more than ten feet away from the Menxia Temple, Wei Xian stopped and asked Wei Xuancheng to stop together.

"Young Master, has the Emperor ever said what to do with this monastery?"

"After the fall of Huo, the county magistrate has not mentioned the matter with the child, and the child does not know what your Majesty's plans are." Wei Xuancheng said truthfully.

Menxia Temple was the springboard for the emperor to participate in political affairs before he took office. Now the emperor has not only taken office, but also eliminated Huo Guang.

As a result, the Menxia Temple will lose its original role as a cover, and it will only be a matter of time before it is abolished.Today, Wei Xuancheng is the chief historian of Menxia Temple, and also serves as the censor of Dahonglu and the Ministry of Personnel.

Even if Menxia Temple was abolished, Wei Xuancheng would not be without an official position, so he was not worried about his future.

Dahonglu is a piece of cake for Wei Xian, but for Wei Xuancheng, who is only 35 years old, it is an excellent starting point.

You know, he is now the youngest among the Nine Qings.

When serving as an official in the Han Dynasty, once you reach the level of Jiuqing and Sangong, the emphasis is on seniority.

As long as Wei Xuancheng doesn't make mistakes along the way, doesn't get sick and doesn't die early, then it will be just around the corner to outlast his predecessors.

If nothing unexpected happens, Wei Xuancheng may be able to serve as prime minister at the age of 50. This is a future that countless people envy.

"Don't worry. Although you failed to make a contribution in defeating Huo, His Majesty is a nostalgic person and he will not forget you."

"You have already joined the Emperor's service before His Majesty took charge. There will be a time when you will be reused."

Wei Xian looked at the officials who were coming and going not far away, talking nonchalantly, and there seemed to be some hesitation and hesitation in his eyes, as if he was thinking about something important.

"My father has taught me to be loyal to the emperor since I was a child. I dare not forget this." Wei Xuancheng didn't know why his father hesitated, so he could only assure him simply.

"Young man, do you still remember that night when the county magistrate summoned you to Weiyang Palace? What did you say to me when you got home?" Wei Xian asked, stroking his goatee lightly but not smiling.

"Remember, the boy told his father about the blood-written edict, and his father asked him what he would do if his father wanted to go to Huo Guang."

"I remember that night, you didn't say clearly what you would do. Now my father wants to ask you again, how would you make a choice if something similar happened."

After a period of silence, Wei Xuancheng gave the answer that was not stated clearly that night: "Forgive me for being treasonous. I will lead my henchmen to attack and kill my father on the road."

Wei Xuancheng said these shocking words. If these words were heard by the imperial censor or other officials, Wei Xuancheng would probably be impeached and imprisoned immediately.

But just like that night, his father Wei Xian did not feel disobedient, but still smiled and nodded with relief.

"Yes, your character is very similar to that of the county magistrate. You dare to act boldly and do not stick to trivial matters for the sake of loyalty and righteousness."

"Father...why did you tell me these things today..." Wei Xuancheng finally asked the doubts in his heart.

Wei Xian patted Wei Xuancheng's shoulder, then raised his head and glanced at the greenhouse hall not far away. After making sure that no one was around, he continued.

"You know that as a father, I don't want to get involved in the muddy waters of the court. It would be a great blessing to be able to retire from Da Honglu's idle post."

"However, now that my Wei family sect occupies two positions among the three ministers and nine ministers, this is a bit too prominent. It will probably be even more difficult to keep a low profile."

"So, whether it's to live up to the emperor's grace, to make achievements, or to protect ourselves, we have to get involved in this muddy water."

"Father, baby..." Wei Xuan was about to say something grand, but Wei Xian raised his hand to stop him.

"You must remember what my father says next, and you must not forget it."

"No." Wei Xuancheng didn't say anything else.

"From today on, you and I, father and son, are no longer allowed to discuss matters in court in private."

"Why is this?" Wei Xuancheng was even more puzzled.

"No matter what happens, you must follow the magistrate's footsteps in court, and as a father, you will give more advice to the magistrate."

"If one day, my father stands opposite the county magistrate, you must remember what you just said and show the same courage as the blood-written edict that night."

"There are two stoves in the court hall. You have to burn the magistrate's stove, and my father has to burn the other stove."

Wei Xuancheng is so smart. When he heard this, he thought he understood the profound meaning, and his face was immediately filled with astonishment.

Are court matters really that important?To the point where father and son turn against each other?

"But father, the head of the rat is on both sides, and I'm afraid the two ends will not get along well."

"That's wrong. One person bets on both ends, so it's impossible to get back the money."

"But you and I are hedging our bets, and we have to spend all our wealth to decide whether to fight to the death or not. This is no longer about being on both ends, but giving it a try."

Wei Xuancheng listened to Wei Xian's words and finally understood it this time.

"Remember, there are no fathers and sons in the Fighting Cock House. After today, you and I will be enemies in the court."

"I understand, kid!" Wei Xuancheng saluted Wei Xian.

This was not a simple hedging of bets: Wei Xian left him the one with a greater chance of winning.

The Wei family father and son looked at each other in silence, and then they turned around and left: one went to the imperial censor's house, and the other went to Menxia Temple.

From this moment on, the father and son will be just like strangers.

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(End of this chapter)