Wende Hall.
Wu Ge, Zheng Xian and others lowered their heads. These three eunuchs had just performed meritorious service in protecting the emperor and were waiting for rewards.
"Zheng Xian, I've read your article. It's quite good, you have some ideas. Have you read 'Collection of Case Solvers'?"
Zheng Xian was completely bewildered. "Your Majesty, what kind of book is 'Collection of Case Solving Records'?"
Zhao Huan was shocked. This person had not read the "Collection of Case Solvings" left by Zhan Yunpeng, but his answers coincided with those in Zhan Yunpeng's book. It seemed that this person was a talent.
"I ask you a question, and you must answer truthfully. If you dare to lie, I will chop off your head!" Zhao Huan's tone became stern.
Zheng Xian had been accustomed to servility due to his long career as a eunuch. He knelt hurriedly and said, "I dare not deceive the emperor."
"Why did you enter the palace? Answer me truthfully."
Zheng Xian dared not hide anything, so he immediately told the whole story: "I am originally from Datong, Shanxi. Because my family fell into poverty, I entered the palace when I was thirteen years old."
Zhao Huan's expression suddenly relaxed. "You said you knew Kung Fu, but where did you learn this?"
"Your Majesty, my uncle is a martial arts master from Shanxi. I received his instruction when I was young. I practice martial arts whenever I have free time in the palace."
Zhao Huan was delighted: "If I confer official positions upon you three, will you be willing to pledge your loyalty?"
Zheng Xian and the other three looked at each other in bewilderment. Eunuchs are of low status, so who would treat them as human beings? The emperor actually said he would confer an official title, which would be a great joy for the family. Although there are examples like Tong Guan,
The three of them knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Zheng Xian, Wang Dabao, and Fan Guangtu, the three of you, listen to my orders!"
The three eunuchs knelt hurriedly to receive the imperial edict.
…
Purple Palace.
Today's morning court was different from the previous ones. There were actually three eunuchs attending court in the main hall.
The ministers were whispering to each other, wondering what tricks the emperor would come up with next.
Zhao Ye, the chief eunuch of the Northern Circuit, looked at Lu Pingzhi, a member of the Privy Council, and asked, "Lord Lu, why are these three eunuchs here at court?"
Lu Pingzhi had once served as an envoy to Shanxi, and it was he who found Yue Fei. Lu Pingzhi said mysteriously, "I heard that His Majesty was examining these eunuchs the other day. I think His Majesty wants to use them."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ye approached Zheng Xian, smiling and holding his tablet. He bowed and said, "I'm unfamiliar with this eunuch. May I ask your name?"
Lu Pingzhi sneered in his heart. You are a dignified governor of the Northern Road, but you have to be humble to a dead eunuch. You have lost your status.
Zheng Xian said two words without giving Zhao Ye any face: "Zheng Xian." Then he ignored him, and Zhao Ye got himself into trouble.
Except for Kang Huojian, Wang Zongchu and Wu Ge, Li Gang and others also didn't know what the emperor wanted to do.
"The emperor has arrived!" Cao Dongsheng shouted as he arrived in the hall.
Zhao Huan slowly walked into the Purple Palace through a side door and sat on the dragon throne. The ministers began to pay their respects. He was becoming more and more dignified, his expression expressionless.
"Putting everything else aside for now, I have only one matter to attend to this morning's court. Officials are lax and the people are burdened. I've heard that a large amount of land outside the capital has been taken over by certain officials, leaving the people with no land to till or plant. They are reduced to menial labor, while these officials enrich themselves. If this continues, the country will be ruined. I have decided to establish an organization to rectify the bureaucracy!"
The ministers below were whispering among themselves, but no one responded. The emperor was going to punish the ministers. It seemed that their interests were being affected, and these ministers were not happy.
"What? No one is willing?" Zhao Huan asked coldly.
Meng Gu Rao stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this is a very wise move. This isn't limited to the suburbs of Beijing; it's happening all over the country. Officials are aggressively engaging in other industries, generating a constant stream of hidden income. Some are even seizing large amounts of land. Even more frightening is that some of this land is concealed and unreported, yet the court collects no taxes at all. I believe this should be thoroughly investigated!"
The ministers below did not dare to provoke the emperor, so they all pointed their spearheads at Meng Gurao.
"Lord Meng, you're exaggerating. I do have some land, but I bought it from the people. It's clearly written in black and white. How can you claim it as your own?"
"Master Meng, if you two eat well, the whole family will not be hungry. With only one old woman at home, the expenses are naturally low. I have dozens of people in my family, and they all depend on me to support them. Even the salary from the court is not enough to make a living. How can I support my family if I don't do some side business?"
"That's right, Lord Meng, it's easy for you to talk without any worries. I have an eighty-year-old mother at home and only a three-year-old child to support. How can I survive without money?"
"Enough!" Zhao Huan was furious. "Are you here to pour out your grievances to me? You're crying miserably, but what about the people? Why don't you compare yourself to them when they have no clothes to wear and no food to eat?"
The ministers below immediately fell silent, but they were still dissatisfied in their hearts.
"The Imperial City Bureau of the Great Song Dynasty was originally responsible for supervising officials and gathering intelligence, but now the Imperial City Bureau itself has become corrupt. I have decided to abolish the Imperial City Bureau."
The ministers below were in an uproar. A department was casually abolished by Zhao Huan with just one word, and the ministers naturally refused to accept it.
Zhao Ye jumped out and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial City Bureau was left by Taizu and Taizong. It is the eyes and ears of the emperor. If it is abolished, Your Majesty will not hear what is happening outside the window."
Zhao Huan said, "Abolish the Imperial City Department. I will establish a new department! I will select outstanding officers and soldiers from the Imperial Guards and openly recruit talents from all over the country to establish the Tiger Yamen Department."
The ministers began to discuss again. What was a Tiger Yasi? They had never heard of it.
Zhao Huan continued, "The Tiger Yamen is not under the control of the Three Yamen, nor does it fall under the control of the Privy Council! They can arrest, torture, and execute without the approval of the Ministry of War. I command directly, and this reaches the ears of Heaven!"
The ministers were shocked. Wasn't this the emperor's private army? Li Gang even stood up to object: "Your Majesty, this Hu Yasi can arrest, torture, and execute people on its own without the approval of any other department. Isn't this above the laws of the Song Dynasty?"
Zhao Huan nodded: "That's right!"
Li Gang continued, "Wouldn't this lead to some false and wrongful convictions?"
Zhao Huan sneered, "Without the Tiger Yamen, would there be fewer unjust, false, and wrongful convictions in the Song Dynasty? The Tiger Yamen possesses the power of independent adjudication. Whatever the Kaifeng prefect dares not investigate, the Tiger Yamen will investigate! Whatever the Privy Council dares not transfer, the Prefectural Yamen will transfer! Whatever the Three Yamen dare not move, the Tiger Yamen will move! In short, the Tiger Yamen will handle whatever the various departments can handle, and even what the various departments cannot! Execute first and report later, this is a special permission granted by the emperor. Isn't that clear enough?"
"Your Majesty, this is inconsistent with the way Taizu and Taizong governed!" Chen Guoting stood up and said, "Our Song dynasty governs the world through culture, emphasizing the Three Bonds, Five Constant Virtues, Four Virtues, and Eight Virtues. Your Majesty, by doing this, won't it chill the hearts of scholars throughout the world? Chen Guoting protested!"
"Someone come!" Zhao Huan pointed at Chen Guoting and said, "Drag Chen Guoting out and give him twenty lashes of the cane!"
The ministers' hearts were pounding. Chen Guoting was highly regarded by the emperor. He had been one of the five regents and a representative of the pro-war faction. Zhao Huan actually wanted to beat him with a stick, which clearly showed that the emperor was furious.
Two guards came over to hold Chen Guoting, but he was surprisingly stubborn: "Your Majesty, this is a sign of disaster for the country. The scholars and officials of the Song Dynasty rule the world together! Your Majesty, this move is harmful to the Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Huan's face turned pale with anger. "Remove Chen Guoting's official hat, strip him of his position as Shangshu Youcheng and Zhongshu Shilang, and throw him into the Tianlao (Sky Prison)! Execute him on a certain day!"
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