Song Yi

Chapter 449 tit for tat
All the civil servants were a little puzzled, just now there was a lot of talk about raising the status and treatment of generals, why did the Empress Dowager suddenly change the subject and want to confer Du Wenhao an official position?Besides, Du Wenhao has already become the Duke of Zhen Guo, and then he is the prince, so why are you planning to seal him?

Only Sima Guang, Cai Que and a few veteran ministers secretly realized that it was not good. The Empress Dowager would never come here for no reason at this time, and she definitely had her purpose.

Before they came back to their senses, Du Wenhao had already stepped out of the line and fell to his knees.

Gao Tao said loudly: "The traitors such as Baiyishe are plotting to rebel, and Xixia and others are constantly dispatching spies to sneak into our court to spy and collect information, to win over and corrupt our court officials, to conspire to subvert and instigate rebellion, and all kinds of rebellious officials and thieves with ulterior motives are also ready to move. To protect my Great Song Dynasty for thousands of years, the Ai family decided to set up the National Security Bureau, and you will be promoted to the National Security Bureau!"

Du Wenhao hurriedly kowtowed to thank Gao Taotao, Du Wenhao taught her what Gao Taotao said with modern vocabulary, and Gao Taotao had a good memory, so he was right.

All the civil and military ministers didn't understand what kind of institution this National Security Bureau was, let alone Gao Taotao's intention of announcing the establishment of such an institution at this time.Looking at her together.

Gao Taotao went on to say: "Your National Security Bureau is responsible for the investigation of heinous crimes such as treason and disrespect, leaking state secrets, intelligence, and other crimes that endanger the country and the country, as well as those sent by Xixia, Daliao and other countries to infiltrate into our Song Dynasty. Acting as spies to conduct arrests and interrogations, etc. In short, all crimes that may endanger the safety of our country, as well as ordinary cases that the National Security Bureau believes should be under your jurisdiction, are under the jurisdiction of your National Security Bureau. One person commits crimes that endanger national security and corruption, For other crimes such as dereliction of duty, the National Security Bureau is responsible for handling the entire case. You can independently investigate, arrest, interrogate, and judge and execute. The Criminal Ministry, Dali Temple, and Yushitai no longer have jurisdiction over the above cases, and they must not intervene!"

As soon as this remark came out, the officials were shocked, and they all discussed in low voices.

The National Security Bureau established by Gao Taotao is not only responsible for treason cases and criminal cases that intersect with ordinary cases, but even authorizes cases that the National Security Bureau believes should be under their jurisdiction. and interrogation, as well as the power to directly make and execute judgments.This power is so great that it is terrifying!

Yushi Zhongcheng Li Chang's face changed color first, and he stepped out of the line, sternly said: "Empress Dowager, this must not be done! If the new bureau is granted this great power, I am afraid that it will surpass the six departments of the three provinces, and even surpass the prime minister." If you do not exercise power, it will even endanger the imperial power!"

All the ministers also nodded one after another, and several ministers also wanted to follow Gao Taotao to dissuade Gao Taotao. Unexpectedly, Gao Taotao continued coldly: "Du Aiqing, the Ai family will give you a Shangfang sword. For those who dare to resist arrest while performing their duties, It doesn't matter if you kill the officials below the third rank, after checking, you can directly kill them first and then play them! From the second rank and above officials and princes, after the conviction, report to the Ai family for decision."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Eunuch Jiao, who was at the side, held a sword, walked down, held it in both hands, and handed it to Du Wenhao.

After Du Wenhao kowtowed, he took the sword.

Gao Taotao added: "In addition, the Ai family authorizes you to form a quick-response special force to take on special operations missions, and at the same time be responsible for maintaining the emergencies that occur in the capital. You will be the commander of this special force."

"My minister obeys the order!" Du Wenhao said loudly.

"Be flat!"

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

Du Wenhao stood up, held the sword in his arms, and went back to the general.

Now, the ministers who were originally talking about it were talking like a frying pan.

Gao Taotao listened silently.

The voice of discussion became louder and louder. Gao Taotao winked at Mr. Jiao. Mr. Jiao understood. He walked to the front of the hall and said in a high-pitched voice: "My lords, you have something to say one by one. This is the court hall. Not a wet market!"

The Song Dynasty was relatively democratic in public opinion, and ministers and emperors often argued and quarreled, and it was not uncommon for things to turn upside down.It's just that one by one said that it should be natural, so all the officials shut up.

Yushi Zhongcheng Li Changlang said: "I am deeply saddened by the empress dowager's insistence on setting up a national security bureau to override all yamen. I respectfully ask the empress dowager to take back her order! If not, I have no choice but to resign and return home." .Please give permission to the Empress Dowager!"

Li Chang was a veteran of the three dynasties, and now he used his retirement as an excuse, the atmosphere in the field suddenly froze, and the two sides had already fired their bayonets to see who would back down.All the ministers watched silently.

Right Prime Minister Cai Que glanced at Left Prime Minister Wang Gui beside him.Seeing Wang Gui squinting his old eyes and holding an ivory wat with his sleeves covered, he looked like an old monk in meditation.Cai Que had already thought about it many times in his heart. From Gao Taotao's resolute attitude just now, he had already smelled a hint of it. He knew that this decision was definitely not Gao Taotao's whim. It is definitely not a coincidence, but conscious and purposeful.

The Empress Dowager established a department with independent judicial power beyond other yamen at this moment, and authorized this department with great power to Du Wenhao, the most trusted minister around her. Well, the inspector at Sanyadu also authorized him to form a special force with an obvious purpose——to escort the reform of the army!

Under such circumstances, it is absolutely impossible to be tough with the empress dowager later, so Cai decided to sit back and watch the tiger fight, and respond to all changes with the same. At this time, being able to keep his position as the chief executive is the first priority.Therefore, he also imitated old monk Wang Gui to enter meditation.

Sima Guang is not a person who is wise and protects himself. He deeply believes that if the road is uneven, someone will shovel it, especially for Gao Taotao who wants to set up such an organization, which is above all the yamen, and there is a special force as a strong backing. The idea of ​​separation of powers pursued by the emperor since the beginning runs counter to the establishment of such an institution with too much power, which is definitely not a good thing for the court.

Now Li Chang, the elder of the three dynasties, is forcing remonstrance by retreating. Sima Guang felt his heart tremble, his blood surged up, he coughed heavily, and was about to go out to persuade him, when suddenly he heard the empress dowager Gao Taotao softly say: "Li Aiqing, Aijia Let me ask you, do you really want to retire?"

Li Chang shook his heart, and said in an old-fashioned and deep voice: "Yes! Please grant the empress dowager!"

"Okay! Aijia allows you to return to your hometown and resign with immediate effect! The handover and resignation will be completed within today!"

The Song Dynasty paid great attention to etiquette. When accepting the canonization and returning home, three invitations and three stays were required. That is, when the court canonized someone to hold a certain position, it generally required three invitations. The official refused twice in a row. After three times, he reluctantly agreed.This is a customary form, just to show the modesty of being an official.For those returning home.The imperial court also had to persuade the old man to stay three times, and the old man asked to retire for the third time in a row before he reluctantly agreed, showing that the court attached great importance to the old man.

It is precisely because of this rule that Li Chang dared to ask to leave so bluntly.I thought that the Empress Dowager would stay for three times according to the rules, but I didn't expect that the first invitation was granted, and she was asked to resign immediately, and she was suddenly dumbfounded.

The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were also stunned, everyone could see that Li Chang was just relying on the old to sell the old, and used retirement to force the Empress Dowager to take back her life, but she did not expect that Gao Taotao would disregard the previous practice and directly approve his resignation Retire and return home!
Li Chang shivered for a moment. He didn't intend to retire. Although he was the elder of the three dynasties, he was several years younger than Wang Gui. , just using this as a bargaining chip. Hearing Gao Taotao's words, he panicked a little. He hurriedly stepped forward, hugged the ivory wat and bowed: "Empress Dowager, the old minister means..."

Gao Taotao ignored him at all, and said coldly: "Sima Aiqing stepped forward to listen to the letter!"

Sima Guang was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect Gao Taotao to confer himself at this moment, but he didn't know what official position he was going to confer.

After Wang Anshi's reform, Sima Guang was a representative of the conservative faction. He was demoted because he opposed the reform, and only retained his position as a scholar in Zizhengdian.He also knew that the empress dowager, as the leader of the conservative faction of the reform movement, would definitely reuse conservative figures once she came to power, but she didn't know how to use herself.Now, after hearing what the Empress Dowager said, she was both surprised and happy, and immediately put aside the matter of helping Li Chang just now, stepped out of the line, knelt down and kowtowed.

Gao Taotao did not directly announce the appointment, but said loudly: "Cai Aiqing stepped forward to accept the appointment!"

Hearing this, Cai Que's heart sank. He has already become the Prime Minister of the Right, second only to the Prime Minister of the Left, Wang Gui. The empress dowager asked him to come forward to accept the appointment, so this position can only be demoted or not promoted.In ancient times, even if an official was demoted, it was called Tingfeng, and he had to kowtow to thank him.

Cai Que stepped forward and knelt down with a mournful face.

Gao Taotao said: "Censor Zhongcheng Li Chang told his old age to return to his hometown. Cai Aiqing is a loyal person and speaks uprightly. He is worthy of this job. You will replace Li Chang and Li Aiqing and be transferred to the post of Yushi Zhongcheng!"

Although Yushi Zhongcheng was also an important minister of the court, he was not among the prime ministers. Cai was transferred from the right prime minister to Yushi Zhongcheng, which was obviously demoted.

Cai Que felt very uncomfortable, knowing that he supported Wang Anshi's reform at the beginning, and after the Empress Dowager came to power, all the new laws were abolished. At that time, he knew that this day would come for him, but he didn't expect it to come so hard.Although my heart is sore, I still have to kowtow to thank you.

Gao Taotao said again: "Sima Aiqing, the Ai family has appointed you as the right prime minister, and also serves as the emperor's attendant!"

Everyone was taken aback again. Unexpectedly, Yu Shi Zhongcheng, because he was dissatisfied with the empress dowager's edict, forced him to retire, but the empress dowager agreed immediately, and immediately removed his official position!This move killed chickens and monkeys, knocked mountains and shook tigers, and immediately silenced all the civil and military officials in the hall!
(End of this chapter)