In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 431: Should you praise me or scold me?

The person who presented the memorial was the new Minister of Rites, Liu Kezhuang, and there were a bunch of people following him. The most conspicuous ones were Empress Xie's uncle, Xie Caibo, the chief minister of Dali Temple, her uncle, Xie Huibo, a doctor in the Ministry of Household Affairs, and her eldest brother, Xie Yichang, who was promoted to Lin'an Prefecture.

Liu Kezhuang wrote a lot eloquently. The general meaning is that he must learn from the lessons of the previous dynasty and establish a prince early. He even directly stated that Song Taizu did not establish a prince and let his younger brother Taizong become the emperor.

This guy is also very bold, and then he said that Ning Zong didn't establish a prince, so your majesty had the chance to become the emperor. Our Song Dynasty is now prosperous, and your majesty is indispensable.

Therefore, this prince must be established early.

Zhao Yurui was stunned for a moment. Was Liu Kezhuang scolding me or praising me?

Zhao Yurui also knew Liu Kezhuang well. He was obsessed with literature and did not want to be an official in his early days. He was willing to come back only after Lizong came to power.

Zhao Yurui's imperial examination suppressed Confucian classics, and he had nowhere to put what he had learned into practice. In recent years, he has stopped writing poems and essays because it was not popular in the Song Dynasty.

He has an indifferent attitude towards being an official, so he is not afraid of contradicting the emperor and speaks boldly.

In fact, ministers have often raised the matter of establishing a prince in recent years. Ge Hong has already died, and Yang Changru also raised it when he was in office.

Zhao and Rui both said that they were young and it was too early for them to reject the offer.

But these ministers got along very well with Zhao Yurui, and they did not make formal memorials. They all talked to Zhao Yurui privately.

Liu Kezhuang, who had been an official outside before, had just returned to the capital and entered the cabinet, and he immediately raised it in the form of a memorial.

And the key is that there is a large group of people following suit.

There were also some members of the Xie family in this group of people.

The meaning is obvious, I want the emperor to establish a direct line.

Usually, in ancient times, there was a saying for setting up a prince, and there was a direct line of succession, but there was no direct line of succession.

Empress Xie's son Zhao Yu is the legitimate son, while Jia Yuhua's son Zhao Qi is the eldest son.

Zhao Fu was only nine years old, and the Xie family couldn't wait to make him the prince.

Liu Kezhuang is very talented and writes a lot of words. There is no printer at this time, so it is not easy to write so many words.

Zhao Yurui still looked at it very carefully and seriously. This guy quoted scriptures and said that the emperor has an older brother and you have to establish a prince early.

Zhao Yurui's eldest brother Zhao Yuju is now a marquis and enjoys the benefits, but he is only the magistrate of a certain county in Zhejiang.

Zhao and Ju county magistrates have been working for seven or eight years. After a few years of working and changing places, Zhao Yurui never promoted him.

He knew his brother's ability, but he could barely be a county magistrate.

Now Liu Kezhuang is bold and says that no matter whether he is the county magistrate or not, he will always be your brother. If His Majesty is in poor health and the princes are young, it is not certain who will become the emperor.

Damn it, Zhao Yurui couldn't help cursing secretly when he saw this, was Liu Kezhuang cursing me? I can live to be over eighty or ninety years old.

These memorials are supposed to have been reviewed by those on duty in the cabinet today.

Deng Ruoshui, Cheng Gongxu and Huang Zhen all signed it.

Deng Ruoshui was more tactful. He wrote what he had read and didn't write a word more.

Cheng Gong may also be famous for his talent, and he must have a good relationship with Liu Kezhuang. He approved: "Qirui Duan urgently issues an edict to rectify the state and extend the country." In other words, he agrees with Liu Kezhuang's statement that the prince should be established as early as possible. Of course, Cheng Gong Xu didn't say who he wanted to appoint. He definitely didn't dare to participate in this. After all, he had just joined the cabinet and didn't understand the emperor's thoughts.

Huang Zhen was carefully trained by Zhao Yurui, so of course he would not get involved. Although he was the youngest, he could easily be deceived. He followed Deng Ruoshui and wrote the words "read".

At this moment, Huang Zhen was quietly looking at Zhao Yurui from the side.

He saw Zhao Yurui looking at the memorial with a blank expression and a thoughtful look on his face. He couldn't guess what Zhao Yurui was thinking.

Is it important to establish a prince?

Of course it matters.

Zhao and Ruineng didn't know the key.

However, setting up a prince early can also lead to the formation of princeling factions in the court. If one of them is not good, it will harm the sons.

After Zhao Yurui thought about it, he decided to leave it alone and did not respond.

When Liu Kezhuang arrived at the cabinet, Zhao Yurui decided to give him a face. In fact, it was to remind him to stop messing around.

But these civil servants didn't talk about this. Liu Kezhuang was very unhappy when Zhao Yurui didn't respond.

Go to court on the second day.

The Daqing Hall was overcrowded, with civil and military officials standing in two piles on the left and right.

Zhao and Rui sat on the throne, looking thoughtfully at the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, and suddenly wanted to reform the system.

Zhao Yurui has restructured the system several times since he ascended the throne, and the government also changed it to have one day off every six days in office. However, he recently felt that there were still too many officials in the government.

In the Tang Dynasty, all officials in Beijing were required to go to court. By the Northern Song Dynasty, it was stipulated that those with six or above grades had to go to court. Later, it was changed to seven ranks for civil servants, and those with five ranks for military attaches. In the Ming Dynasty, those with six ranks or above had to go to court. By the Qing Dynasty, At that time, people of rank four or above should go to court.

Therefore, Zhao Yurui believes that although the Manchu Tatars are very annoying, many systems are relatively complete, including their training of princes, which is at the leading level in all dynasties and generations, so there are few mediocre kings.

Just when Zhao and Rui were deep in thought, Huang Shang shouted out of habit: "If there is something to do, we will start, but if there is nothing, we will retreat."

Zhao Yurui couldn't help but glance at Huang Shang and thought that this sentence was a bit redundant. I wonder why all dynasties and generations have to say this?

Because basically as long as you go to court, something will happen.

However, he had restructured the system at that time. Now the military issues of the imperial court were not discussed when he was in court. The appointment and dismissal of personnel above the fourth rank were not discussed. The financial expenditures above 100,000 yuan were not discussed. These matters were discussed by Zhao and Rui alone with the cabinet after they came down from the court. , otherwise what is the point of the existence of the cabinet? Otherwise, why would everyone in the civil and military dynasties want to join the cabinet? This represents the core of the Song Dynasty court.

At this moment, someone below mentioned that some houses in Zongzheng Temple needed repairs and wanted the court to allocate twelve thousand guan.

Qin Zhuo, the new Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, immediately said: "You will list the items and houses that need to be repaired, and wait until the Ministry of Household Affairs sends someone to check them before determining how much they will cost."

This is the new routine of the court. In the past, all provinces and departments would ask the court for how much money they wanted. Now, Zhao and Rui have to review it first before giving money.

For example, if Zongzheng Temple wants to repair a house this time, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Works, and the Jinyiwei from the Imperial City Department will come to the house to check the places to be repaired, then compare the private costs, and finally determine how much money to give to Zongzheng Temple.

Emperor Zhao and Rui did not participate in any matter where the imperial court spent less than 100,000 yuan. He sat silently and listened.

The scene was quite lively, and there were various things happening one after another. Some officials needed to be evaluated and promoted, some needed to be paid, and some needed to be transferred.

Anyway, Zhao Yurui doesn't need to come forward, the ministers of the cabinet can handle it on the spot.

It will be a bit noisy because there are many things going on. You say something and I say something.

Not long after, the chief assistant, Wei Liaoweng, said loudly: "Don't make any noise, come one by one, according to the official rank, the matter will be taken seriously."

Things like disaster relief can be brought up first.

When Zhao and Rui first restructured the system, everyone was not used to it, because the emperor was like a spectator, sitting on top and watching, while the cabinet members handled matters.

Now more than ten years have passed, and everyone is used to it. Many people think that the emperor does not exist.

Zhao Yurui listened to it for a while and felt that it needed to be changed.

If there are too many things going on, the person talking will look like a vegetable market.

Thinking about future generations, many things should be handled internally by various departments without going to court.

In other words, he must continue to delegate power.

He is not afraid of delegating power, as long as he seizes important personnel power, financial power and military power.

There were many things going on that day, and after talking for nearly an hour, almost everything was settled. Zhao Yurui coughed a few times and prepared to speak. "I have this memorial." At this moment, Liu Kezhuang, the Minister of Rites, spoke.

Liu Kezhuang stood up, knelt in front of the emperor, and said loudly: "The throne in the East Palace is empty, and the world is worried. I sincerely request your majesty to establish a prince as soon as possible to stabilize the country and the people of the world."

As soon as he finished speaking, ministers Wang Mai, Qian Hongzu and others knelt down one after another: "I second my opinion."

A large number of people knelt down at the scene.

Zhao Yurui narrowed his eyes and looked over. There were several people kneeling in the cabinet. Most of them were civil servants, and many seventh-grade Beijing officials were also joining in the fun.

Zhao Yurui then smiled and said, "What if I don't agree?"

Liu Kezhuang was not polite: "If your Majesty doesn't agree today, I will kneel down and not get up."

Zhao and Rui stood up from the dragon chair in a swish and ran straight down.

There was a commotion all around, and some people looked frightened.

Even though Zhao and Rui were always smiling, everyone clearly remembered the massacre of those kneeling civil servants outside the palace gate.

Liu Kezhuang was not afraid and still knelt on the ground.

But he saw Zhao and Rui coming to him in three steps and two steps at a time. They helped Liu Kezhuang up and said in a good voice: "Ai Qing is as old as my father. He has been hurt by kneeling for a long time. Get up quickly."

After that, he helped Qian Hongzu and others.

After hearing this, the older ministers all showed moved expressions on their faces.

Qian Hongzu was more discerning about images. He quickly stood up and then helped Liu Kezhuang up.

Liu Kezhuang refused, but was pulled up directly by Qian Hongzu.

"Your Majesty agreed?" Liu Kezhuang could only say.

"My crown prince has been established a long time ago." Zhao Yurui said with a smile.

Everyone looked puzzled.

I saw Zhao Yurui pointing to the plaque in Daqing Palace: "I have placed the crown prince's position and the edict of passing the throne behind the plaque in Daqing Palace."

"If something unexpected happens to me, all the ministers in the cabinet can summon the officials of the fifth rank and above in the capital and the clan members to open it together."

"Ah" everyone was surprised.

Everyone couldn't help but look back at the plaque of Daqing Hall. No one expected that the emperor would come like this.

Zhao Yurui returned to his seat and said loudly: "I was just planning to talk to Zhu Aiqing about this today."

"The crown prince is a matter of national importance, and I already have a candidate."

"I have left an edict behind the plaque. While I am still alive, no one is allowed to read it. Anyone who dares to read it without permission will be punished by the nine tribes."

"If I am not here, the cabinet must summon officials of fifth rank and above and clan members to take it down together, open it in public, and circulate it to everyone."

This is the first time everyone has heard of this method, but many people subconsciously feel that this method is good.

No one knows who the prince is, and those in the court who want to speculate cannot do so.

Then Zhao Yurui said that from now on, under the Daqing Hall plaque, there will be Imperial City Guards guarding it at twelve hours every day, and the Daqing Hall plaque is relatively high. If you want to go up to get things, you must have a ladder, so I want to go up secretly. The possibility is almost non-existent.

Now Liu Kezhuang had nothing to say, and it was even more inconvenient to ask who the prince was.

The official's intention is very obvious, that is, they won't tell you who the prince is and won't give you a chance to speculate.

Now whoever asks the prince means that he wants to speculate.

So the matter of establishing the crown prince was settled by Zhao Yurui.

But the emperor now has four sons in total, which means that the prince must be one of these four sons.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yurui said again that the position of the prince is not fixed and may be changed by my queen at any time.

The ministers immediately understood that since ancient times, princes have always been direct descendants. Only those who have no direct descendants can establish their elders. How can they be changed at will?

"What does it mean since ancient times?" Zhao Yurui said sternly: "In ancient times, Yao was passed down to Shun, and Shun was passed down to Yu. The so-called country, country, country, has virtues. I don't care about the direct descendants, and will only pass the throne to the most virtuous. son."

If these words had been said in the Ming Dynasty, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty would have killed the Cambodian emperor, just like Wanli who made his favorite son the prince and fought against the ministers for decades without success.

But the problem in the Song Dynasty was not that big because the emperors in the Song Dynasty often changed.

Ningzong's princes changed a few times. Lizong was later passed to his younger brother's son. Taizu was also succeeded by Taizong. None of Taizu's sons got the throne.

So now Zhao Yurui's talk about establishing virtuous people is still tenable.

Among the civil servants, Xie Huibo, a doctor in the household department, looked a little ugly.

This time, the Xie family wanted to force the official family to establish a direct heir.

Unexpectedly, the official came to Lixian.

And they didn’t say who was virtuous.

Xie Huibo quietly looked at Liu Kezhuang at this time. In fact, he still hoped that Liu Kezhuang would fight for the establishment of a direct heir again.

But Li Xian was so firm that there was no way to refute it.

Since ancient times, emperors must be wise and talented.

Liu Kezhuang ignored Xie Huibo because he really couldn't find any reason or excuse to refute.

After talking about the matter of establishing a prince, Zhao Yurui said again, I just watched your meeting, it was like a vegetable market, it was very noisy, and there were many people talking.

This is despite a large number of matters being dealt with by the cabinet.

Therefore, Zhao Yurui decided that in the future, those who go to court will be changed to those above the fifth rank, and those below the fifth rank will no longer need to go to court.

The crowd below suddenly burst into an uproar. If this were the case, it is estimated that more than half of the people present today would not have to go to court in the future.

In fact, going to court in ancient times was quite uncomfortable, as you had to get up early in the morning.

Zhao Yurui also did it for their own good.

But many people don't accept it. This means that he is no longer an important member of the imperial court.

Zhao Yurui ignored them and continued, from now on, each ministry will handle the matters within itself first, and don't have to discuss all the trivial matters at the court.

For example, the Ministry of Personnel, below the fourth rank, except for the chief officials (i.e., county magistrates and prefects), are all handled by the Ministry of Personnel themselves.

The Minister of Civil Service's eyes lit up when he heard this, and his authority became larger.

But this matter is also decided by the Minister of Civil Affairs alone. For example, the county magistrate has the right to recommend, and the prefect has the right to object. The main purpose of Zhao Yurui is to let the local affairs be handled by the local government as much as possible. All small matters were discussed in court.

In some dynasties, a small official of seventh or eighth grade, such as a local lord, could speak at court meetings for a long time.

After the morning court was dismissed, Zhao Yurui called the cabinet members to the Chui Gong Hall at the back.

(End of this chapter)