Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 211 What is Fairness?

The court system is a political system that is used to demonstrate the strength of the country, the supremacy of imperial power, and to display solemn etiquette. It is quite distinctive in ancient Chinese political life.

Negotiating important matters itself is secondary and often just a formality.

The Tang Dynasty was the period when the court system (also called chao congratulations) was at its peak, and its ritual system was quite complete.

Both "The Kaiyuan Rites of the Tang Dynasty" and "Tongdian" divide the Great Court Meeting into Jia Li, which belongs to the Jia Li part of the Five Rites.

There were five greetings in the Tang Dynasty: New Year's Day greetings, Winter Solstice greetings, Qianqiu Festival birthday greetings and May New Year's greetings.

However, the "chaohui" that Ji Ge refers to is just a common name, and is not the official court meeting or congratulations of the Tang Dynasty.

Rather, the emperor himself would attend, and the meeting of senior court officials held in the Zichen Hall of the Daming Palace was regarded as a "private meeting."

There was no way around it. The court meetings in the Tang Dynasty were all non-working events and were purely celebrations.Even if Brother Ji wants to cause trouble at the court meeting, the court meeting procedures will not allow him to do so.

The operating model of the Tang Dynasty during the Kaiyuan period was completely different from that of the previous dynasties, and even that of the Taizong period.

Ordinary affairs are handled by the Yi Zheng Hall, where the left and right ministers all work, gathering the best of Zhongshu's disciples.Major events were reported to the emperor, and after going through a series of procedures, they were promulgated in the form of decrees.

The small matters are handled internally in the Council Hall, and this is the daily life of Li Linfu and others.

When something needs to be discussed and dealt with, usually the prime minister or the third rank of Tong Zhongshu, as well as officials closely related to the incident, gather in the study room of the Qin Government Affairs Building of Xingqing Palace to discuss with Brother Ji.

If there is a crucial matter that needs to be dealt with, it will be resolved in the Zichen Hall of the Daming Palace, and the number of courtiers involved will also increase.

Tai Chi Palace, which is the core area of ​​Chang'an Imperial City, Ji Ge generally does not go to, unless it is for a court meeting, which is the kind of congratulation that is only held five times a year.

In the early morning of this day, many officials had already gathered in Zichen Hall.

There are generals from the Longwu Army, such as Fang Youde, who was just appointed as the General of the Longwu Army, and General Zhang Lingxin of the Youlongwu Army; there are also major generals from the Nanya Forbidden Army, such as Youjinwu Guard Zhonglang General Pei Min; there are also senior officials at the center of the imperial court, such as Yushi Zhongcheng Zhang Yi, Jingzhao Prefecture Yin Zheng Shuqing, Liubu Shangshu, Shilang, etc.

As for the Prime Minister on the left and the Prime Minister on the right, it is even more impossible.

No one is allowed to take leave or be late for this court meeting!

Fang Chongyong was promoted to the rank of Longwu Army Division Chief (in charge of [-] troops, one battalion), and was specifically responsible for the security work around Brother Ji, following him wherever he went.At this moment, he was also patrolling the Daming Palace and setting up defenses, and was not qualified to enter the Zichen Palace.

"If you have anything to do, tell me."

Li Longji sat on the dragon chair and spoke calmly to the ministers.

There is no need to pay too much attention to formal etiquette here. The main function is to discuss things or announce important events.

Brother Ji didn't want to waste time in boring places, so he also asked the ministers to speak up if they had something to say and not to be pragmatic.

"Sage, I have my own memorial."

Fang Youde stood up, crossed his hands and saluted.

"What's important, my dear?"

Li Longji asked with a puzzled look.In his opinion, Fang Youde should not stand up and speak now.

"Back to the saint, Li Heng's rebellion was definitely not a temporary act.

The magistrates of Chang'an County and Wannian County were completely unaware of this.There were twelve county captains in Chang'an City, but no one reported this matter.

When Wei Chen came to the outskirts of Chang'an, Zheng Shuqing, the Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture, was still asking for help from the Nanya Imperial Army to mobilize troops.

Therefore, Wei Chen suggested that the two county magistrates of Chang'an and Wannian be beheaded, as well as the twelve county captains in Chang'an City to serve as a warning to others.

Let the officials of the central court know that they are loyal to their duties. Please see the saint! "

Fang Youde bowed in salute, bowed his head and said.

Shocking!

How many years have it been since I heard such idiotic suggestions?
Two capital county magistrates and twelve county captains were all killed in one breath. This horse-riding man really knew how to play!
Everyone present, including Li Linfu, was shocked into a cold sweat by Fang Youde's arrogant proposal!
I've seen some stupid people, but I've never seen anyone so unreasonable.If two county magistrates and twelve county captains were really killed, it would be the biggest political change since Kaiyuan!
"Sage, this must never be done."

Before Li Linfu could say anything, Zhang Yi, the censor Zhongcheng, took the lead and saluted Li Longji.

Why was Fang Youde's move so cruel?Why can't officials like Zhang Yi be restrained?
Aren't there just two county magistrates and twelve county captains?

During the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, there were a total of 1607 counties.Even at this moment, there is no doubt that more than [-] counties are certain.

If we include capital cities like Chang'an that require twelve county captains, and super state capitals like Luoyang in Henan and Wuwei in Liangzhou that require more than four county captains, then at least more than 400 county captains are needed to complete the establishment. .

Killing twelve in one go would amount to less than one percent of the total number of county captains, so it doesn’t seem to be too many.

Outsiders who don’t understand the politics of the Tang Dynasty must see it this way.

However, there is another term for the county lieutenants and magistrates of Chang'an City, which is called the "Central Senior Officials Reserve Team"!
For those who serve as county magistrates here, in many cases, their next promotion is to the rank of Sixth Division Secretary or even the Sixth Division Minister.And for those who serve as county captains here, the next promotion step is to be the supervisory censor or the imperial censor!

Killing these fourteen people is equivalent to killing all the reserve groups of the existing political forces!It will greatly affect the central political structure of the imperial court in the next three to five years!

Fang Zhongyong's move made Fang Youde draw a clear line between him and the civil service group. The move was quick and accurate!He has nothing to do to study the various systems and unspoken rules of the Tang Dynasty's officialdom. He has been doing so for more than five years. In this regard, it can be said that Fang Youde is completely a "younger brother".

The current proposal can be described as "little noise", just killing a few seventh- and eighth-rank officials; "effective", it will offend the entire civil service, at least on the surface.

Not to mention the Chang'an County Magistrate, who is regarded as a "half-step official of the Six Ministries", so why is the Chang'an County Lieutenant also restless?

Because the county captain of Chang'an City is a very strange position.Not only is the position itself a pitfall, but there is also the problem of "six monks with no water to drink."

To put it in simple and clear terms, it is the relationship between an unlucky guy who works hard and cannot get a promotion, and five people who are not doing anything but have risen through the ranks.

In Chang'an County, only the Chang'an County Lieutenant, also known as the "Thief Cao Lieutenant", who was in charge of public security and military affairs, really did practical things.The other five county captains are all bastards.These people will become prime ministers in the future.Qingliu officials like them, due to their different backgrounds and education, have little practical ability to be a seemingly inconspicuous county captain.

The same is true for Wannian County.

However, what is even more frightening is that the thieves Cao Wei generally cannot be promoted, and there is no position for them in the center of the court. They are the real "officers of no benefit."

This is like Zhang Jiuling becoming a county captain. Of course he has the ability to write poems, articles, and even give advice to the emperor.

But he certainly doesn't have the ability to resolve cases, deal with grassroots people, or collect taxes, and he doesn't even bother to do so.Therefore, if Zhang Jiuling were in the position of Chang'an County Lieutenant, he would be a "transparent person", or to put it worse, he would be a bastard.

This time Li Heng rebelled, the two counties of Chang'an and Wannian did not respond at all. It was not as good as Zheng Shuqing who got the news in advance. In fact, this is the key reason.It's not that they don't want to move, it's that "Datang has its own national conditions."

These related households all regard Chang'an County Captain as a springboard. This position is a "clean and noble official" in the eyes of many bureaucrats.

In view of this, who will actually do anything?

And the one who really did things, because he had not been promoted for a long time, so he just lay down and stopped taking care of things!
In fact, there are so many powerful people in Chang'an that even Zheng Shuqing, the governor of Jingzhao Prefecture, calls everyone "godfather" to everyone.So what can small grassroots officials like Chang'an County Captain and Wannian County Lieutenant do?

King Xue's family is going to rebel. Even if the Wannian County Lieutenant within his jurisdiction, that is, the thief Captain Cao, hears a little bit of news, will he dare to investigate?Does he dare to report it?
If it is fake, killing his whole family is not enough to fill the hole, so why not turn a blind eye?
Therefore, what Fang Youde said about "killing one person to serve as a warning to hundreds", from this perspective, does not mean that those people were wronged.

There are many "bastard officials" like this in the Chang'an Center. For example, the "School Secretary" is the envy of everyone. Bai Juyi once laughed at himself that when he was this official, he was a very professional gangster, and he did nothing for nothing. take money.

Brother Ji no longer had the energy to deal with the various systemic shortcomings in the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty, so when he heard Fang Youde's words, he just shook his head slowly.

"The magistrates of two counties in Chang'an Wannian have been dismissed from office."

Li Longji continued slowly:
"Among the twelve county captains, many are in charge of warehouses. It is none of their business if Li Heng rebels. Just dismiss these people.

The remaining two thieves, Captain Cao, who were in charge of arresting them, could just be killed as a warning to others.

The other ten county captains will be dismissed from office and will not be renewed within five years.

That's all for now. "

Brother Ji raised his board high and put it down gently, only killing two front-line workers, and there was no backstage thief Cao Wei.

"Ge Nu, if you have anything to say, just say it."

Seeing Li Linfu folding his hands and bowing in salute, Li Longji said slowly.

"Weak minister, please abolish the ten princes' residences and send the prince to the surrounding counties of Chang'an to prevent him from getting sick!"

Li Linfu bowed deeply to Brother Ji and said.

Release the prince!

The hall fell into a deathly calm.

This topic is a taboo.

Once upon a time, when Ji Ge had not yet established a firm foothold, close relatives within the clan, such as Ji Ge's brothers, were once appointed as governors.However, after Ji Ge completely consolidated his power, he successively built the Huae Xianghui Tower, Qi Wang Xue Wang and other residences, "Ten Kings Residence", "Baisun Courtyard", etc., and "captive" the clan's close branches in Chang'an.

The treatment is not even as good as that of distant clan members.

For example, Xin'an King Li Yi, Li Shizhi or even Li Linfu, these distant branches of the clan are far more carefree and happy than the princes who bear the title of "king".

Therefore, Li Linfu's proposal can be regarded as a kind of "rectifying chaos" to a certain extent.

But this is a taboo thing to say, unless Brother Ji himself thinks so.At this moment, except for a few people who knew the inside story, everyone in Zichen Hall was waiting for Brother Ji's answer.

"What do you think?"

Brother Ji looked back at everyone and asked.

"Sage, the Ten Kings' House is custom-made. If it is abolished, what will happen if the princes rebel in the future?"

Left Prime Minister Zhang Shougui stood up and said.

Why should he object?
Because, if there are no accidents, whatever Li Linfu agrees with, then he will firmly oppose it!Besides, it is indeed inappropriate to release the princes from the Ten Kings' House!The first point is that the impact on the existing system is too great!
"This matter is not trivial. I think we can discuss it later."

Li Longji nodded slightly and said.

Hearing this, Zhang Shougui's pupils suddenly shrank!
Many times, "let's discuss it later" itself is a compromising attitude.Otherwise, just scold Li Linfu casually. If he didn't want to release the princes, why would Li Longji talk so much nonsense?
The prince actually wants to be released!
Who would believe this kind of thing if told!
Zhang Shougui slowly returned to his original position, lowering his head and saying nothing.

"I am deeply saddened by Li Heng's rebellion. But after thinking about it, I feel that this is partly due to the fact that the crown prince's position has been vacant for a long time, and it is my fault.

So I want to establish a prince, what do you think?Who can be the prince? "

Li Longji raised his second topic, which was also jaw-dropping.

Who can be the prince?

It seems that among the many princes, many have the opportunity to become princes!

Because Li Longji's royal queen has been deposed and no new queen has been established since then, there is no so-called "legitimate son".

Since there are no legitimate sons, then all bastards are acceptable, right?

King Di, Li Yan, King Rong, Li Wan, King Yi, Li Can, King Ying, Li Xuan, King Yong, Li Lin, King Shou, Li Xuan, King Yan, Li Bin, King Sheng, etc., are all adults. Who should be the crown prince?

In fact, most of Brother Ji's children are adults, and the youngest son, King Bian Li Tao, is more than ten years old.

These people can theoretically become the prince, but the prince can only choose one person.

So who should we choose?

The amount of information in today's court meeting was too large. Zhang Shougui found that many people, including himself, couldn't grasp it!

"Sage, I suggest that the longevity king Li Xuan be made the crown prince!"

It was Li Linfu who stood up again and made the first suggestion!
Well, yes, many years ago, when Concubine Wu Hui was still there, Li Linfu proposed that Prince Shou be the crown prince.Now that Li Linfu is on the side of King Shou, doesn’t it seem strange?
For a time, many people in the Zichen Palace fell into doubts and thoughts. They were quickly calculating in their minds who to choose better.

In the past, Li Heng must have had the best conditions and the widest connections.

But now Li Heng has rebelled and died!
"It is a good idea to choose King Shou as the crown prince. Do you have any other candidates?"

Li Longji asked with a smile.

Zichen Palace fell into deathly silence.

(End of this chapter)