He just ascended the throne and started a large-scale construction project before the late emperor was buried. This is the act of a foolish ruler!
The court officials were instantly excited, spitting out saliva from their mouths.
There was no room for them to play in the struggle for the throne. They were absolutely indispensable in the impeachment of the new emperor.
No matter what, Emperor Jingming must be persuaded to return to the right path.
This is the duty of a subject.
It is also a great opportunity for them to leave their names in history.
He started building large-scale projects right after ascending the throne, which would definitely be recorded in history books.
Anyone who strongly advises Your Majesty will also be recorded in history books and praised by future generations.
The ministers were ready to fight and were heartbroken.
"Your Majesty, please repent!"
"There's still fighting going on at the border, and it's costing a lot of money and food."
"The snowstorm has left many people homeless, and the court needs to provide them with money and food."
"What virtue and ability has the Empress possessed? She's already embarking on a massive construction project, freshly crowned. Is she trying to trick Your Majesty into becoming a tyrant?"
"Please kill the queen!"
"Who just said to execute the queen? Get out here!"
Liu Zhao, who had been silent all this time, suddenly became angry.
All the ministers took a step back.
Everyone was smart, and they only impeached His Majesty and resolutely refused to impeach Queen Gu as well.
Queen Gu is too powerful in combat and no one can match her, so it’s better not to provoke her.
Anyone who dares to say that the Queen should be executed must be a foolish young man who wants to step on the Queen to ascend to the throne. He is so young and cute, so ridiculous, so pathetic and so pitiful.
As soon as the ministers retreated, an official who was still confused suddenly stood out.
Liu Zhao was furious and said, "He is trying to sow discord between me and the Empress. He deserves death. Strip him of his official hat and drag him away to be beaten with a stick!"
The Han general rushed into the Golden Palace and dragged the confused officials away.
Soon, there were banging noises outside the hall.
The court officials remained expressionless and unmoved.
Bang!
Liu Zhao picked up the gavel and slammed it on the table.
He specially asked Lin Shuping to prepare the gavel.
The court officials were too talkative and noisy.
He can't deal with hundreds of mouths with just one.
If you want to silence the ministers, the gavel is a great tool.
As expected, when the gavel sounded, all the ministers were startled and looked at each other in confusion.
Liu Zhao stood up, walked down the steps, and pointed at the ministers. "Every one of you is talking nonsense. Without any thorough investigation, you dare to slander me and the queen."
"Your Majesty, please tell me clearly where I and others have gone wrong."
Liu Zhao glared, "You are all wrong. Lin Shuping, tell us what is going on."
Lin Shuping bowed and replied, "I obey your command. You gentlemen have completely misunderstood Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is accustomed to living in Weiyang Palace and says she is not used to living in another palace and is feeling unwell. Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are so filial that they cannot force the Empress Dowager to move out of Weiyang Palace. However, the Empress Dowager must have a place to live. No other palace is suitable for her status, so we have no choice but to build another one."
"It is an indisputable fact that large-scale construction projects have wasted money and grain." The court officials continued to resist and were determined not to be fooled by the illusion.
Liu Zhao sneered, "Who told you that the palace's massive construction projects were financed by the imperial court? All expenses were covered by the Empress's dowry, and the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance didn't have to contribute a penny."
The ministers were dumbfounded and confused.
They had actually forgotten that Empress Gu was arguably the richest woman in the world, probably even richer than the Emperor's private treasury.
Oh, oh, oh!
What a slap in the face!
This is a blatant slap in the face.
Are we just going to give up now?
The court officials exchanged glances with each other, refusing to admit defeat.
After finally getting a chance to show their presence, they had to make a big deal out of this matter, so big that it could be recorded in history books.
Of course, this is also a struggle for power.
This is a struggle between the civil service group and the military group and the imperial power.
Whether the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind, all will be revealed in the first two years of the new emperor's reign.
So you must never retreat.
Once they retreat, what qualifications will they have to interfere with imperial power and influence the emperor's decisions in the future?
"It's against the rules for the Empress to use her private money to build the palace."
Liu Zhao sneered, "Which rule is violated? Liu family rules or imperial laws? Why don't I remember a rule that the empress can't use her own private funds to build a palace?"
This, this, this...
"It goes against our ancestral rules! The Imperial Palace is a symbol of imperial power. How can we start construction so easily?"
"Bullshit!" Liu Zhao was furious.
"Your Majesty's words are not in accordance with the rules. Please correct them."
"I said you're talking nonsense! According to what you said, where does the Queen live? Am I going to be an unfilial son and drive the Queen Mother out of Weiyang Palace? Come, you ask the Queen Mother to leave Weiyang Palace for me."
Liu Zhao pointed at the courtier who was always following the rules and said, "If you have the ability, go and convince the Queen Mother."
The minister immediately admitted defeat.
Liu Zhao snorted coldly, "Just pointing out problems without proposing solutions, in my opinion, is all just empty talk and a waste of court money. Also, don't talk about rules with me. I have been copying the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the rules of our ancestors since I was a child. I am more familiar with the court rules than any of you. Those who don't even memorize the entire "Great Zhou Law" have no right to discuss rules in front of me. Before discussing rules, think clearly about which rules of which dynasty you are talking about, otherwise I will accuse you of deceiving the emperor."
Tyranny!
Which law stipulates that officials must memorize the "Great Zhou Law" before they are qualified to discuss rules?
This is clearly the logic of a robber.
"Your Majesty, please revoke your order! The Censor has the right to report on matters he has heard."
Liu Zhao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "From now on, all censors must take an examination on the Great Zhou Law, every two years. Only those who pass the examination are qualified to serve as censors and can report on matters. I will issue a decree to announce this to the world."
"I object!"
"The Ministry of Personnel objects!"
"The Ministry of Rites objects!"
The heads of several departments all stood up and openly opposed it.
Liu Zhao said, "I have made up my mind on this matter. I want to prevent anyone from filling the position and using public resources for personal gain."
"Even if His Majesty issues a decree, the Secretariat has the right to reject it."
Liu Zhao looked at Lord Lu.
As the Minister of the Central Secretariat, Lord Lu should stand up and suppress the court officials at this time.
Lord Lu sighed inwardly, standing out at this moment was like being roasted on a fire.
But we have to stand up.
He pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, could this matter be postponed? Allow me to discuss this matter with you gentlemen and consider the pros and cons of this matter comprehensively."
Liu Zhao gave Lord Lu a favor and said, "Okay! I'll give you half a month. It's best if you can come up with a comprehensive plan. If you can't, I will take the final decision."
Crazy!
Tyrant ruler!
tyrant!
The courtiers were furious.
Compared with the conciliatory approach adopted by Emperor Wende when he first ascended the throne, his mature methods of gently handling all state affairs and appeasing various forces, Liu Zhao's methods seemed fierce and direct, like a young man who did not understand politics.
"Withdraw from the court!"
Liu Zhao was too lazy to talk nonsense and left the Golden Palace in a huff.
The court officials did not leave. They surrounded Lord Lu and talked about it.
Lord Lu broke through the siege and returned to the Council Hall.
Several other bigwigs also came to the government hall one after another.
The adults were all silent.
It was Master Chen who spoke first, "What is the purpose of your Majesty's action?"
"Master Chen, don't you understand? Your Majesty's move is clearly an attempt to divert attention."
"Your Majesty is really fighting for the Empress!"
Lord Chen suddenly understood.
It turns out that the so-called censors had to take the "Great Zhou Law" exam, the main purpose of which was to divert the attention of court officials from the large-scale construction projects in the palace.
Obviously, the effect is very obvious.
Now no one cares about the large-scale construction projects in the palace, and everyone is focusing on the censor's examination of the "Great Zhou Law".
"Your Majesty, are you serious? Will all censors be tested on the Great Zhou Code from now on?"
"Looks like it's for real."
Several officials were secretly complaining, wondering how did Lord Chen, with his political acumen, get into the political affairs hall? Did he just flatter others and act as a mouthpiece?
What a weirdo!
Lord Lu knocked on the table and said, "Everyone, think carefully about how to implement this matter. In half a month, His Majesty requires us to come up with a feasible plan. I don't want to see His Majesty empty-handed."
"Lord Lu, do you wholeheartedly support His Majesty's decision?"
Lord Lu sneered, "Lord Liu, are you planning to contradict His Majesty? All right, go and make your case. As long as you can convince His Majesty to change his decision, you'll have the final say in the Council of State from now on."
Lord Liu snorted coldly, "Your Majesty's actions are clearly intended to cover up the Queen's massive construction projects. You and I both know this. To indulge Your Majesty is tantamount to tolerating the Queen's interference in government."
"If we talk about the Empress interfering in government, we can trace it back to Emperor Wuzong Kaiyao. Sir Liu, would you like to go to Fengxian Hall to pay your respects?"
"absurd!"
"Don't forget who resettled the hundreds of thousands of refugees north of the city? Who built the cement roads from the capital to Luozhou, the capital to the northwest, and the capital to Hexi? Who resettled all those veterans? The Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War took dividends from Huanyu Transport. Doesn't this count as interference in government affairs?"
"But this is no reason for the Empress to undertake large-scale construction projects during her mourning period, nor is it a reason for Your Majesty to request the Imperial Censor to examine the Great Zhou Code."
"I do think it's very necessary for the censors to study the Great Zhou Code. It's true that censors report things based on hearsay, but if they knew a little bit about the law, they would be able to have a more reasonable and well-founded case when impeaching an official."
"Lord Lu, are you determined to help His Majesty implement this system?"
"As the Minister of the Central Secretariat, I have every reason to implement any good system." Lord Lu spoke in a resolute voice.
"I'm sorry, I can't accompany you on this matter!" Lord Liu turned away.
Lord Lu looked at the others and said, "Any Lord who disagrees with this matter? You may step forward and leave now."
Two more adults stood up and left in anger.
"Anything else?"
Obviously gone.
Lord Lu smiled and said, "Then let's discuss how to implement the Imperial Censor's examination of the Great Zhou Law."
"Do we really want to discuss this?" Lord Chen was a little confused.
"Is it fake?"
Lord Lu also began to doubt Lord Chen, wondering if he really got into the Council of State by flattering others.
In fact, Lord Chen had made great achievements in local affairs. Emperor Wende transferred him to the Council of State Affairs because he was impressed by his understanding of local government and his ability to get things done.
However, although Lord Chen understood local government affairs, he did not understand court politics.
The way he speaks and acts is very confusing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
