I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 177 Grand Duke Tutor

Others don't know whether he is good or bad today. He, Lu Zhi, has been spending almost every day with Liu Bian in recent years. How could he not know?

Liu Bian cares about the people, is willing to do good, and always listens to advice.

But Lu Zhi didn't know that Liu Bian also had a stubborn side.

Liu Bian did not continue to do what Emperor Xiaoxian had done, just because he considered the cost.

But today we are young and energetic, and if we can't suppress our anger, we will suffer the consequences of the party's imprisonment again.

It is bound to bring indelible harm to the Han Dynasty again.

Once local governance gets out of control again, natural and man-made disasters will strike again...

The most important thing is that the new dynasty and new atmosphere they have worked so hard to create will be gone.

After all, what Yuan Wei said in his memorial was in line with the teachings of the sage.

Its supporters also support the words of justice.

If word spreads, people will only say that there are traitors around the emperor, which prevents the emperor from accepting good advice.

Now it seems that Liu Bian has endured it, but Lu Zhi knows that there will be revenge afterwards.

Regarding Liu Bian's governance after he ascended the throne, they tacitly chose a gradual and moderate approach.

This is especially true on the issue of farming. Use farming to add new cultivated land, rather than using the annual calendar test to pressure the chief officials to continue to increase the number of acres of land.

As for the officials who govern the Qingming Festival... various places will originally withhold a fixed amount of taxes for public use by the government. The county can also sell salt and iron, and the profits from the operation can be used for personal use.

In this way, the imperial court still spends so much salary every year, can't it ask for official governance?

But there are always people who are not satisfied.

Lu Zhi saw that Yuan Wei was gambling.

But what is his back-up plan?

Just one house damage and a memorial?

Can we recall the imperial censor and school minister who were sent out for inspection?

Absolutely not enough.

There must be something else.

While he was thinking, Lu Zhi saw a little Huangmen coming to Zhang Rang and saying something. Zhang Rang's expression changed and he quickly said something to Liu Bian.

When Lu Zhi saw Liu Bian finished listening, the expression on his face became colder.

"The imperial edict comes in!"

Lu Zhi felt something in his heart. The Chancellery had received something major enough to interrupt the agenda of the court meeting?

The Shangshu Desk handles many documents every day and provides corresponding suggestions to the emperor. Among them, the Sixth Cao Shangshu has a special status as the emperor's minister.

In order to isolate the exchanges and collusion between the outer court and the internal ministers, unless there is a meeting of the great court or a special order from the emperor, generally only the minister Ling and the minister Pushe can participate in the meeting of the outer court.

There was even an edict at one time that the children of ministers were not allowed to be promoted as filial and honest by senior officials.

Lu Zhijiu was at the Shangshu table and immediately recognized the Shangshu who came in - Zhou Ao.

Zhou Ao was a native of Hanyang County, Liangzhou, and was the son of the former general Zhou Shen. Zhou Shen was initially defeated in Liangzhou, but was later demoted to Chencang Ling and worked with Sun Jian to guard Chencang. He was cleared of all his culpability. Due to his old age and illness, Zhou Ao was demoted to Chencang. After the war, he resigned and returned to his hometown.

In Lu Zhi's impression, Zhou Ao had real talent and knowledge, and was quite famous himself. However, Lu Zhi thought about it and concluded that Zhou Ao had nothing to do with the Yuan family.

Moreover, the scholars in the court who were born in Liangzhou should be more welcoming to the court's new policies.

Zhou Ao hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we have an urgent report from Qingzhou. The state-owned officials in Beihai are afraid of the school affairs office and are inciting the people to cause rebellion and attack and plunder the county."

Lu Zhi frowned, the time was really just right, not bad at all.

He guessed that the appearance of this military information today was probably arranged, and the appearance at this moment was probably just a coincidence.

But this coincidence...

He looked at Liu Bian. At this time, he had to stay calm.

Lu Zhi had been paying attention to Liu Bian's reaction. Once this farce showed signs of getting out of control, he would stand up and forcibly stop the court meeting as his grand master.

Until then, the more people who reveal their preferences, the better.

He believed that Liu Bian could do this, and Liu Bian did not disappoint him.

As for what’s next…

Lu Zhi knew that he had to find a solution that could solve the problem with minimal consequences.

And use this to convince the emperor.

Otherwise, I am afraid that the Zhongchangshi will have power over the government again.

The meeting is still going on.

Of course, Yuan Wei knew that a beautiful tree would be destroyed by Lin Feng, but with Yuan's body size here, who could he hide behind?

He reported again: "The school affairs department oppressed the junior officials and frequently killed people and ransacked their homes, which led to today's chaos. Chengyi recalled them and sent virtuous people as chief officials to appease the place. I thought that the official administration was a result of many years of malpractice, and the ministers were under the emperor's feet. It is different from other places. To rectify the administration of officials, we should do it slowly and not in a hurry."

"I think this is not possible!" Dong Zhuo stood up and retorted.

Some courtiers looked at him in shock, not only that Dong Zhuo was an old official of Yuan Wei, but Da Honglu was also led by Situ.

Yuan Wei knew that he had supporters and opponents, but he just didn't expect it would be Dong Zhuo.

He was usually very respectful, but at this moment he jumped out.

Dong Zhuo turned a deaf ear to the murderous eyes around him. As the first Gai Xun in Luoyang, he immediately cited the example of Gai Xun rectifying the official administration: "I saw with my own eyes that Gai Xun rectified the official administration and did it personally, inspecting the counties and villages in Hedong. After doing this twice, Hedong Province was able to be cured. If there were help from the school affairs department at that time, we would be able to get twice the result with half the effort."

"The rebellion of the small officials in the county can be put down by the county soldiers. If the county soldiers cannot stop it, it must be the incompetence of the senior officials! I am willing to put down the rebels for your majesty!"

After Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shu added: "Since the rectification of officialdom in Luoyang County, the government in Henan has been harmonious and people-friendly, and everything is waiting for improvement. The people in the thirteen states of the Han Dynasty are all the people of the emperor, how can we favor one and favor one over the other? If it is abandoned halfway, what will happen to people outside Henan? How cruel are the people?"

Yesterday, Yuan Shu received news from Yuan Wei's messengers, telling him to refute him in court today.

At first Yuan Shu was a little confused, but as the court meeting progressed, he understood everything.

Yuan Wei's initial petition was all politically correct and hard to refute, but it's different now.

Although today's emperor has not explicitly stated that reforms will be carried out, among the people, some people have already called the establishment of the School Affairs Department as the Guangxi New Deal.

The previous three auxiliary farms and the Jingyang and Erzhou farms that had been discussed as feasibility plans were also classified as part of the New Deal.

The New Deal has its disadvantages and advantages, which leaves room for discussion.

As the predecessor of the school affairs department, Guan Yu certainly had to stand up and say a few words.

Xun Shuang, who hoped to realize his ideals through the New Deal and at the same time gain some influence for the Xun family, stood up to argue.

Yang Xu, including Huang Wan who just supported Yuan Wei, also held objections.

At this time, there were actually many people who changed their stance like Huang Wan.

More people continue to support Yuan Wei.

For a time, the entire court turned into a mess.

School Secretary Sima Wufu was uneasy because Jia Xu, the school official sitting in front of him, had not spoken.

During the process of working together, he knew that Jia Xu had always been rough-minded. He thought that the old god Jia Xu had already planned it, so he didn't say anything. But after waiting for a long time, Jia Xu still made no move.

He couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Jia, this matter involves the school affairs department. Don't you have something to defend us?"

Jia Xu glanced at Wu Fu and said, "Whatever Mr. Wu wants to say, don't worry about me."

Wu Fu saw that Jia Xu was acting wisely, and knew that he could not count on him, so he stood up and shouted: "Your Majesty, the petty officials are causing trouble just because their crimes have not been punished. The court upholds righteousness, how can we show weakness! Once this precedent is set, the world will be affected." It is inevitable that the official system will collapse, so I ask you to dismiss Situ to bring peace to the world!"

As Wu Fu put forward new ideas, courtiers gradually agreed with him.

How could the Han Dynasty compromise with criminal officials? The reputation of righteousness is too important in the dispute. Wu Fu was the only one who called out to remove Situ.

Not long after, Yuan Wei defended himself and said: "What I am worried about is that morality cannot be practiced in the world. How can I oppose quelling the chaos? What I said is out of public intention, and it is in line with His Majesty's decree."

At this time, Lu Zhi, who had been silent for a long time, stood up and bowed to Liu Bian: "Your Majesty, rectifying the administration of officials is a virtue left by the late emperor, and I believe it can never be abolished."

Then he turned to the ministers and shouted: "I have been entrusted by the late emperor, and I am considered the master, so I dare not slack off! I see the princes of the Manchu Dynasty arguing here, but does anyone think that the people of Qingzhou are being humiliated by thieves at this moment? Empty talk will harm the country! Si Where are the Li Xiaowei and Tingwei?"

Zhang Wen and Yang Xu stood up to respond.

"All the courtiers will return to their seats. If anyone behaves disrespectfully in front of the king again today, he will be charged with disrespect. Anyone who makes irrelevant remarks will be expelled from the court!"

Both Zhang and Yang responded.

All the officials returned to their seats.

This is the authority Lu Zhi should have as a Grand Duke and Tutor above the third degree.

Later, Lu Zhi turned back to Liu Bian and continued: "Your Majesty, I believe that there were remnants of the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou in the past. In the current rebellion, we must be careful to prevent them from colluding with the remnants of the Yellow Turbans and take countermeasures as soon as possible."

"The Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou have repeatedly suppressed them, and the county soldiers may not be able to use them. It is better to send troops down the river by boat to Qingzhou to put down the rebellion."

"In order to prevent the criminal officials in various counties from imitating Qingzhou, the leaders of the three tribes must be punished without mercy!"

"Those who follow him must do what he did before, and those who surround him and surrender will not be pardoned."

"The governors of various states and counties, and the two thousand stones, should be investigated and reported quickly under the control. Those who are late will be punished for evasion."

When Lu Zhi finished speaking, Liu Bian said: "Just follow what the Taifu said. Do you have anything to say?"

Zhu Jun paid his respects and said: "In the past, when the late emperor visited the Hejian Kingdom in the east, the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou caused chaos, so he dismissed Zhao Yan, the governor of Qingzhou. When the later ministers went to Qingzhou to quell the chaos, they found that the governor Jiao He was a man who didn't know how to fight."

……

After deciding on the solution to the Qingzhou rebellion, the court meeting dispersed.

After Liu Bian left first, Ma Rixi stopped Lu Zhi and asked: "It is easiest for small officials to coerce the people. When Ziqian did this, I don't know how many innocent people died."

"But it can also save more people!" Lu Zhi was about to chase Liu Bian, but Ma Rixi held him back.

Lu Zhi felt helpless for a while, but Ma Rixi didn't understand. If he didn't act more aggressive today, I'm afraid the emperor would become even more aggressive.

But he couldn't say it directly, so he added: "The rectification of officialdom must not stop, and this is for the sake of the people of the world!"

After that, he took Ma Rixi's hand and chased Liu Bian.

After the court meeting, on the way back to Yuntai Hall, Zhang Rang and Liu Bian shared the same hatred - "Yuan Kai was personally worshiped as a Situ by His Majesty, but now he dares to oppose His Majesty's decree. How ungrateful!"

"Yes, would he dare to do such a thing when my father is here?"

Why didn't Liu Bian understand that if what Guan Yu led his people to do was repeated now, it would also lead to a counterattack.

The reason why it went smoothly at that time was because Emperor Xian was still there at that time.

Zhang Rang saw that Liu Bian was dissatisfied with Yuan Wei and continued: "Yuan Wei dared to look at your majesty today. It shows that he lacks the awe of a minister. There is nothing Yuan Wei can do in the future! Your majesty should not be underestimated. !”

"I am willing to share your worries for Your Majesty!"

"It's not the time yet!" Liu Bian had long heard that Zhang Rang wanted to take this opportunity to attack Yuan Wei, but he did not expose this.

"Wei!" Zhang Rang was excited when he heard that the emperor did not refuse.

He looked forward to Yuan Wei continuing his efforts.

In this way, the first person he wants to deal with in the new dynasty is Yuan Wei, one of the three princes. Use Yuan Wei to tell the scholars that Zhang Rang is back!

"Your Majesty, do you want to tell Captain Jia to pay more attention to what's happening in the Situ Mansion?"

"Let him be careful and not be exploited by Yuan Wei."

"Your Majesty!" Lu Zhi finally caught up with Liu Bian as he walked into Weixing Gate.

Then he admonished Zhang Rang in front of him: "You can't rely on eunuchs!"

Zhang Rang felt secretly resentful after hearing this, but there was nothing he could do.

He dared to request action against Yuan Wei, but he did not dare to speak ill of Lu Zhi. There was a huge difference between the two in the emperor's mind.

Liu Bian did not comment on Lu Zhi's words and asked: "Master Lu, what do you think will happen next? Will Qingzhou be the only place where petty officials rebel?"

Lu Zhi didn't expect that the first question Liu Bian asked was this, not about Yuan Wei.

But this was also what he was worried about, so he made the absolutely lenient proposal.

But he couldn't give a definite answer, because Yuan Wei's statement today reminded him of the large-scale rebellions in many places triggered by Du Tian during the Guangwu period.

Although the two are actually difficult to compare.

In the Thirteen Prefectures of the Han Dynasty, would it be true that once the imperial censor and the school official appeared, all the corrupt officials would no longer be able to survive?

How could one state's censor and a team of school ministers travel to every county in the world?

The governance under Ying Shao is definitely not as good as the governance in Luoyang Township. It can only be said to be reasonable. Even if he is as upright as Tian Feng, he still has to turn a blind eye.

Because it is unrealistic to require rural officials to generally reach the level of a college student.

After killing everyone and deposing them, where can we find so many literate people to serve as village officials?

"Your Majesty, rectifying the administration of officials is a matter of one go and taking advantage of the situation. If we give up today, it will be difficult to restart it in the future." Lu Zhi knew that he must not back down at this time, and he also felt that Liu Bian still had to let Liu Bian do it. After a little bit of mental preparation, he said, "When the soldiers come, the water will be blocked and the earth will cover it. Your Majesty, don't worry. There are veterans, Luoyang soldiers, and loyal ministers and lofty ideals from all over the world. Your Majesty cares about the people and upholds righteousness. Even if there is chaos for a while, there will be peace in the end!" "

"Master Lu, don't worry, I have no intention of backing down."

When they came to Yuntai Hall, Lu Zhi saw that Liu Bian had not mentioned Yuan Wei's matter, so he took the initiative and said: "Today Yuan Situ suddenly submitted a letter..."

Liu Biandao: "Master Lu, don't worry, the Yuan family has a good reputation all over the world and should not be tampered with."

Lu Zhi thought Liu Bian was mature at first, but then——

"Without real evidence, it will only make the world's scholars uneasy."

Lu Zhi felt no surprise.

Liu Bian did not say much on this issue and continued: "Send Xuande to lead the troops to Qingzhou and appoint him as Zhonglang General to take charge of the counter-insurgency affairs."

(End of this chapter)