For example, the Tang Dynasty, which had most of its systems similar to those of the Song Dynasty, had relatively large powers of prime ministers. The Song Dynasty learned from the lessons of the Tang Dynasty, divided the power of the prime ministers, and strengthened the imperial autocracy.
Now Lu Yijian asked to set up a new department, isn’t that the same as the prime minister system in the Tang Dynasty?
Could it be that Prime Minister Lu wants to restore the Tang system?
Wouldn’t the official be furious?
Thinking of this, the officials from Lu Yijian's faction were extremely worried.
Officials from other factions, however, were secretly delighted and gloating over the other's misfortune.
Even many imperial censors and censors were eager to try.
As soon as the emperor refused, they immediately attacked and impeached Lu Yijian for deceiving the emperor and having evil intentions.
"Yes, it's allowed!"
Zhao Zhen agreed without hesitation, as if he was afraid that Lu Yijian would regret it if he was a second late.
"Your Majesty, I impeach you."
Almost at the moment Zhao Zhen agreed, an imperial censor came out.
But just as he opened his mouth, he suddenly felt something was wrong. He looked up at Zhao Zhen with a look of surprise and said, "Wait a minute. Your Majesty, is my hearing broken? What did you just say?"
"I say it's approved!"
Zhao Zhen repeated it again, and then said, "From now on, the Political System Council will be established. It will be above the Political Affairs Hall, the Three Departments Office, and the Privy Council, and will coordinate all affairs of the Song Dynasty."
"How can the government approve this?"
"Isn't the Constitutional Council a restoration of the Tang Dynasty system?"
"If someone has the right to know the Constitutional Court, their power would probably be no different from that of the Prime Minister."
All the officials below were in an uproar and were extremely shocked.
The newly established Political System Council coordinated all national affairs, which was similar to the Tang Dynasty system. It even had more power than the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty and was comparable to the prime minister of the Han Dynasty.
Isn’t this a dispersion of imperial power?
How could the government agree?
Someone immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this absolutely cannot happen. During the Tang Dynasty, the Prime Minister's power came from the State Affairs Hall, which led to chaos in the country. Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong, Lu Qi and others were detrimental to the government. We must not allow the Prime Minister to monopolize power."
"The Political System Council is no longer distinct from the Political Affairs Hall, and its power even surpasses theirs. How is this any different from the prime ministers of ancient times? If a treacherous prime minister emerges, wouldn't it be devastating to the Song Dynasty?"
"Nonsense! Prime Minister Lu has been working diligently and tirelessly since taking office. How can he not be appointed to the Council of State?"
"The Song Dynasty is facing internal and external troubles, and we need Prime Minister Lu to make the final decision!"
"Haha, Fan Xiwen is right. Lu Yijian is a treacherous prime minister. In the past, he simply promoted his disciples and filled the court with his children. Now, he is deceiving the emperor and trying to seize power. What is his intention?"
"Du Yan, what do you mean?"
"What do I mean? You know it well!"
The officials below were in chaos, and the different factions were fighting and cursing each other.
Although the Lu Party had considerable power in the court, it could not cover the sky with one hand after all, and it had many political enemies within the party. Therefore, Lu Yijian's suggestion was quickly criticized by all officials. Even if the Lu Party defended it, it could not stop the gossip.
“Ding ding ding ding!”
Wang Shouzhong struck the bronze bell, and the crisp sound echoed throughout the Chuigong Hall.
The officials gradually quieted down.
"alright."
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice, "How can it be proper for everyone to quarrel endlessly in the court?"
Du Yan, the Minister of Works, said, "Your Majesty, the appointment of a Prime Minister is a disaster, and it must never be done again!"
"The affairs of the Constitutional Council were established after consultation between me and the ministers. It is for the purpose of coordinating national affairs. There is no need for you to argue."
Zhao Zhen looked around at everyone and said, "I have made up my mind."
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
Wang Zeng, Wang Sui, Song Shou, Cai Qi, Sheng Du, and even Yan Shu and Fan Zhongyan all stood up and agreed.
This made all the officials even more dumbfounded.
Because Wang Zeng and Lu Yijian had always been at odds, Wang Sui and Shengdu were not members of Lu's party, and Fan Zhongyan was even a sworn enemy of Lu Yijian.
Why did they all suddenly stand up to support Lu Yijian today? What's going on?
In the court, Chen Yaozuo, Jia Changchao, Wang Gongchen, Zhang Dexiang, Chen Zhizhong, Liu Yuanyu, Li Zi, Wang Deyong, Cheng Lin and other high-ranking officials from the Three Departments, the Privy Council, the Censorate, the Six Ministries, etc. looked at each other.
In fact, they were not necessarily in the same group as the prime minister, and some of them were even political enemies. But at this moment, they all looked at each other and could see the doubt in each other's eyes.
These people are not stupid. As senior officials at the time, some of them will serve as prime ministers or deputy prime ministers in the next few years. They must be old foxes with a keen sense of smell.
The emperor and the ministers have been acting very abnormally in recent months, which is something they have noticed a long time ago.
There were some things they wanted to ask, but Lu Yijian and his men closed the door to visitors. Even if they could see them occasionally, they would not tell them anything, which made them very worried.
Now, seeing the current situation, they were even more puzzled. Therefore, everyone kept silent, waiting to see what would happen.
Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Issue an imperial decree: From today on, a Political System Council will be established. There will be one Director, whose rank is above that of the prime ministers. There will be six Associate Directors, whose rank is comparable to that of the prime ministers, and two Alternate Associate Directors, whose rank is comparable to that of vice-prime ministers."
"Six ministers, Lü Yijian, Wang Zeng, Wang Sui, Song Shou, Cai Qi, and Sheng Du, will serve as co-directors of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and concurrently serve as ministers of state and vice-chancellor of government. Yan Shu will serve as alternate co-director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and concurrently as minister of the Ministry of Revenue and deputy envoy of the Three Departments. Fan Zhongyan will serve as alternate co-director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and concurrently as acting judge of Kaifeng Prefecture!"
"As for the prefect."
Zhao Zhen paused and looked around. He saw that everyone was craning their necks to look at him.
Some were surprised, some were puzzled, some were ecstatic, and some were looking forward to it.
Because none of them had expected that the person in charge of the Ministry of Political Affairs was not Lu Yijian, but someone else.
If even Lu Yijian and other ministers cannot take charge of the Political System Council, does it mean that the person in charge of the Political System Council will be chosen from the following people?
For a moment, all the ministers, deputy ministers, chancellors, and deputy chancellors below became excited.
After all, the Three Commissioners and the Privy Councilors are officials second only to the Prime Minister and the Vice Prime Minister. If there is no Prime Minister in the Council of Political Affairs, who else could it be besides them?
"Zhao Jun, the governor of the Imperial City, was granted the title of Duke of Song and appointed to lead the Political System Council, overseeing national affairs!"
Zhao Zhen said calmly.
In an instant, all the officials below were in an uproar again.
(End of this chapter)
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