Long live Emperor Wu!

This is the last forbidden gate of the Royal Tianque, Tai Chi Gate.

Passing from here is the place with the highest power in the world, and it is difficult for those who can walk through this door not to feel a sense of awe and responsibility in their hearts.

With the cooperation of several guards, the door slowly opened in front of everyone.

What comes into view is the majestic palace in the distance, four arch bridges, and two rows of three sections in the middle, a wide area of ​​​​white jade stairs, which look like a ladder leading to the heavenly palace.

Pei Xingjian couldn't hide his excitement, adjusted his hat again, and then went inside.

……

……

Pei Xingjian stood at the back and watched the emperor enter from the side behind the Taiji Hall. Wearing the emperor's crown and black imperial uniform with wide sleeves, he walked up to the throne in a dignified manner.

The huge ceremonial fans on both sides were lowered and closed, just covering the emperor's seated figure. When they were raised again, he was already sitting majestically.

Li Shan glanced at the ministers below through the gap in his crown. When he saw Pei Xingjian standing in line at the end, he nodded to the chamberlain beside him.

Today, Xu Huaian was specially asked to perform the singing ceremony. Xu Huaian looked at the emperor's signal, shook off the dust, and sang loudly:
  "Go to court."

"Long live my emperor." All the courtiers bowed and saluted.

The sound rang out in the vast hall, and the volume was amplified by the special structure in the hall. It was a slightly vibrating sound, which was quite refreshing.

"Today, I will talk about two things. One is that Gao Jifu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was dismissed from office. Who will hold the post of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?

Master Gao recommended Chu Suiliang, but Chu Suiliang was a convicted felon and was still serving as the governor of a state. I have a candidate in mind, the former Chang'an County Magistrate, Pei Xingjian. "

Li Shan's voice was gentle and had the same magnetism as the lingering sound of the strings. It sounded majestic and steady in the spacious hall.

As soon as he finished speaking, not only Pei Xingjian was frightened, but also all the ministers in the court were frightened. They all looked at the green official robe behind them and whispered loudly.

Pei Xingjian really didn't expect that the emperor would promote him to an official position. He thought it was just because his advice was useful that he was asked to come and argue with the objections in the court.

Minister of official affairs? Genuine second grade? Be obedient...

Just when his bright round eyes were open, his thick lips were slightly open, showing a silly expression, Changsun Wuji stood up first.

He raised his arms towards the emperor, cupped his hands and said:
  "Your Majesty, if you use talents eclectically, there must be a good reason. The magistrate of Chang'an has jumped from the seventh rank to the second rank. Unless he has great talents in the world, how can he convince the public?"

Li Shan had long expected that they would object, so he said calmly and steadily:

"This is the second thing. Pei Aiqing has dedicated a national policy to the Tang Dynasty. I think that he is talented enough to benefit future generations."

He was not stingy with compliments at all.

After Pei Xingjian heard this, his knees felt weak and his face turned red.

He has never been that arrogant, and he doesn't think he is very talented. At this moment, he wanted to rush out, kneel down and shout, "Your Majesty is ridiculously complimenting me. I don't dare to accept it!"

However, he also remembered what he came to do, and he held it back forcibly.

I saw the emperor sitting there, half of his face covered by his crown, turned slightly, as if revealing an unreachable mystery and alienation, and said softly:

"read."

The chamberlain standing next to him picked up a memorial from the side of the emperor's desk, stood a step forward, and began to read loudly.

The book was so thick that Pei Xingjian didn't know how many times he touched it, but he could tell at a glance that it was his memorial.

...It’s so long, when should I read it? Pei Xingjian even murmured in his heart.

Xu Huaian read the memorial from beginning to end with clear words and a majestic voice.

The people at the bottom of the court, although several officials from the Shangshu Province had read it, no one dared to interrupt, and they all stood and listened peacefully.

When Xu Huaian closed the memorial, his voice was obviously a little hoarse.

He stretched out his hand and pinched his throat, then respectfully handed the memorial to the emperor and placed it on the desk.

Li Shan stretched out his hand to pull the memorial over, raised his arm slightly, flattened the wide sleeves and put them away, and said gently yet majestically:

"The memorial is too long. Thank you for your hard work, Master Xu. Please give me tea."

The little chamberlain who was waiting below listened to the order, turned around and went to the side hall to bring tea.

Li Shan glanced at the people under the imperial steps and said:

"After listening to this, dear friends, you can feel free to tell me what you think."

Zhongshu ordered Liu Shi to come out first and said:

"Your Majesty...the details may seem detailed, but in fact they are just old wine in a new gourd. Needless to say, we do the same thing. Why do you think your Majesty is regarded as a great talent?"

When Li Shan heard this, he raised his eyebrows and said:

"Oh?... In that case, the imperial court must have already had a detailed list of alternate officials? Let me have a look."

"This..." Liu Shi paused, thought for a while and said, "The rankings in the imperial examinations over the years are enough to qualify for the job. I still think that Magistrate Pei is making a fuss. If he is promoted to the second rank for this reason, wouldn't it be a bad attitude in the future? It’s chaos.”

Li Shan said softly, "Hmm" without getting annoyed, and said:
  "Then there is still no more... If the list of rankings in the imperial examinations over the years is so easy to use, why do I still need to listen to your recommendations? Can't I just appoint officials based on the rankings?"

Changsun Wuji stood up again and said:

"Your Majesty, the appointment of officials is a top priority. How can there be a way to rank them once and for all? This may seem convenient, but in fact it is lazy administration and is not conducive to selecting truly usable talents. Your Majesty, please think again."

"I didn't say anything. If I use his method, I will no longer have to ask questions from ministers. Everyone can speak freely.

It's not useful, but it doesn't mean that you can't be removed from office... I won't abolish the system of recommending talents, don't worry. "

After he finished speaking, he looked down with penetrating eyes.

Since the recommendation system is not abolished, from the perspective of Changsun Wuji and others, then these detailed rules are dispensable.

This promise can be regarded as taking a step back to make progress and reduce their opposition.

Sure enough, Changsun Wuji stopped talking.

Under the crown of his head, Li Shan pursed his lips gently to hide his disappointed expression, then looked at King Wu and Li Ji on the other side and said:
  "Now that the disadvantages have been mentioned, you can have something to say about the merits of this article."

Wu Wang Li Ke naturally understood the reasons why Changsun Wuji and Liu Shi were opposed. In order to support the emperor, he clearly expressed his support.

Li Ji also said simply: Magistrate Pei's memorial has many merits.

Then the court was divided into two groups, those who opposed and those who supported, each accounting for half.

When Changsun Wuji saw this, he said:
  "Your Majesty, since Your Majesty admires County Magistrate Pei very much, and colleagues have said that his statement has merit, I suggest that it is more appropriate for him to be sent to the province first and become a fifth-grade minister."