"The world does not belong to your Majesty alone... I am tired of hearing this, and you don't know how to change it." Zhao Jiu sneered with his hands behind his back. "Also, just because Zhang Xianggong's wife Yuwen is Yuwen Xianggong's niece, they say that their influence is all over Guanxi and they are suspected of being affiliated with a party. What about the people who caught the son-in-law under the list? So Xianggong Wang caught my first champion, is it considered a party? What about the fact that Xianggong Lu's family has been married to Meihua Han for generations? What about the two generals, Zhe and Yang? They are also military generals with heavy troops. Aren't they more sinister?"
After Zhao Jiu finished speaking, Zhang Deyuan immediately came out and made the necessary explanation: "To let the emperor know, I was not a prime minister when I married into the Yuwen family. It was just that I was handling affairs in Guanxi a few years ago, and I had to communicate with Minister Yuwen, so naturally there was some friendship between us. Minister Yuwen knew that I had not had a wife since the Jingkang Rebellion, so he took me in as his nephew's son-in-law... I only thought it was a good thing at the time, but I forgot that it is the duty of a minister to avoid suspicion."
Zhang Jun had to explain - as a prime minister, this incident was mentioned in the impeachment memorial against him. According to political rules, he had to explain it in front of the emperor, and he might have to write a written defense when he returned.
But Lü Benzhong who was standing aside, Zhe Yanzhi who was called to participate in the martial arts deduction this time, and Yang Yizhong who did not say a word were all innocent victims… The three of them had no choice but to step out when Emperor Zhao mentioned the affairs of their own in-laws, but today's matter happened to be Zhang Shuxiang's, which essentially had nothing to do with them, so they could not even interrupt to apologize, and could only stand around the four prime ministers.
Let's not talk about how embarrassed these three people were, and how the others hurried to pass on the memorial. On the other side, after listening to this explanation, Emperor Zhao walked forward with his hands behind his back, and stopped just one step in front of Zhang Jun:
"Deyuan, do you know what I am going to say?"
Even if Zhang Jun knew, he could only say he didn't know at this moment, not to mention that he didn't know in the first place... So the prime minister of the current dynasty quickly shook his head.
At this time, Emperor Zhao put one hand behind his back and suddenly stretched out the other hand to hold Zhang Jun's already wet shoulder: "I want to tell Mr. Zhang...I'm sorry for wronging you today!"
Zhang Jun was a sentimental person to begin with. Even at the age of sixty, he still fantasized about becoming like Zhuge Liang. When he heard this, he raised his head, his eyes turned red, and he opened his mouth to speak, but was choked with sobs and was about to kneel down on the spot.
Of course, how could Emperor Zhao let him kneel down? He used force with his hands and spoke to stop the other party's actions:
"Deyuan, it's not just you, there are also Mr. Zhao, Mr. Liu, Mr. Chen..."
The other three ministers hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to each other.
"I want to tell you that what we have to do in the next few years is not just about having an unstoppable momentum. There are countless things that we have to do one by one despite the resistance."
Zhao Jiu replied with a sigh. "As the prime minister of the country, you will definitely bear the brunt of the burden. Not only will you be attacked directly and without reason like today, you will also face a real dilemma, and there will be eight out of ten problems and mistakes... What I want to say today is that when you encounter difficult matters, please do not give up and abandon the stall just because of a momentary anger or grievance... If you don't care, what should I do?"
The four ministers were all stunned, and then bowed their heads.
However, the civil and military officials around them were shocked and their thoughts slightly deviated.
Some people immediately realized that Emperor Zhao was not only going to take over the memorial for Prime Minister Zhang... this was expected... but he also semi-publicly made long-term political commitments to the four prime ministers.
Others, such as Ren Baozhong, instinctively thought that the famous Li Gongxiang was only in his fifties and might never be able to serve as prime minister again in his lifetime. Not only that, this wave of people had angered Emperor Zhao. Although they would not be killed directly like the Tanguts, they would definitely be driven to Hainan according to Han Chinese rules.
Sure enough, the next moment, when Emperor Zhao put his hands behind his back again, he suddenly raised his voice: "Li Boji not only impeached Prime Minister Zhang, but also reprimanded me... As for impeaching Prime Minister Zhang, Prime Minister Zhang has already explained and resigned, but I just didn't allow it; as for reprimanding me, I am thick-skinned and will not reply to him; but he also said that he couldn't understand whether the court was suppressing the South and humiliating the two emperors in order to march north, or raising the banner of the Northern Expedition in order to suppress the South and humiliate the two emperors. You are all important officials of the court, and you all participated in the public discussion at the first day of this month. What do you think?"
Zhao Ding had been waiting for his own appearance. When he heard this, he took a step forward without hesitation under everyone's attention, standing side by side with Zhang Jun, and then bowed to the emperor and said, "I think that Prime Minister Li is making a sophistry! There is no need for the emperor and the prime minister to explain such a statement!"
"I think so too."
"I agree with what Prime Minister Zhao said." Liu Ji and Chen Gui followed closely.
"I also think that what Li Xianggong said is ridiculous." Wang Yan came to his senses and followed suit, but he couldn't help but say one more thing. "In the final analysis, Li Xianggong's argument is not about whether it can be argued or not. As long as the country is wholeheartedly preparing for the Northern Expedition, his argument will be defeated."
After Wang Yan, Zhe Yanzhi, Fan Zongyin, Yang Yizhong, Lu Benzhong, Liu Yan, Ren Baozhong and others quickly raised their hands to express their opinions. For a moment, only Lan Gui, the chief guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, stood at the side of Emperor Zhao without moving.
Emperor Zhao, whose shoulders and wingless hat were soaked, sneered when he heard this. "Well said, that's the truth. As long as we take the first step, these words will be as insignificant as the raindrops in our ears today... I will take this opportunity to formally decide on the expansion of the army, and follow the latest plan from yesterday... Adjust it back and forth, it's always the same... Publish it directly! The imperial edict, the official documents of the provincial Privy Council, and the official report, publish them together as a response to Minister Li!"
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