Tiantang Splendid

Li Chengqian had extremely complicated feelings towards Li Ji, the number one person of the time.

On the one hand, as the head of the prime minister, he resisted government affairs and just sat in office for nothing, which was an extremely irresponsible behavior, causing complaints from both the court and the public and dissatisfaction among the people; on the other hand, for the emperor who had just ascended the throne and had a shallow foundation, it was a great benefit for such a super boss with unparalleled prestige in both the military and the political to not take power and stay out of it, which allowed him to consolidate his imperial power.

But now, Li Chengqian vaguely felt that Li Ji's mentality seemed to have some subtle changes. Although he still did not seek power, he had become more proactive.

For example, recommending Cui Dunli.

Of course, there was the idea that I was being lazy and letting Cui Dunli do more work, but was there no other thought?
The words "Fang Jun" were clearly written on Cui Dunli's forehead.

The Ministry of War has always been Fang Jun's territory. Even though he has long since resigned as the Minister of War, everyone still obeys his orders and follows his lead. This institution, which was established to reform the military system, is under the Ministry of War. In the future, Cui Dunli will actually be in charge of affairs. Zheng Rentai and Pei Huaijie are afraid that they will be suppressed to death...

Perhaps, Li Ji and Fang Jun reached some kind of tacit understanding in private?
Li Chengqian felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

The foundation of whether the imperial power is stable comes from the army. People like Liu Li can never affect the ownership of the imperial power. But if Li Ji and Fang Jun, the two military giants, work together and advance and retreat together, they can not only instantly undermine the imperial power, but even dominate the ownership of the imperial power.

It is difficult to say that "deposing and enthroning an emperor" is difficult, but it is also not difficult to say that it is not difficult...

Therefore, Li Chengqian thought that he had no right to resist, and nodded with a smile: "My dear minister, you are both civil and military, loyal to the country, and have the ability to judge people. Since you have recommended me, I will approve it."

Li Ji seemed to sense the fear and dissatisfaction in Li Chengqian's heart. He stood up and bowed to the ground: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

He had to express his loyalty to His Majesty and the Empire, but if Li Chengqian was suspicious and self-righteous, then he could do nothing...

……

Later, many ministers realized that the so-called "recommendation by the Emperor" was just a formality. The candidates for the additional institutions of the Ministry of War had already been decided and divided among His Majesty, Liu Li, and Fang Jun. It would be extremely difficult for others to participate.

Everyone knows that this newly established institution will play a huge role in the future. Once the "Privy Council" is established, these people will fill in and take power.

In short, the future military structure is established...

Li Chengqian could naturally see the disappointment in many people's hearts, but he didn't care. At any time and in any matter, there would be favoritism. It was impossible to treat everyone equally. Otherwise, how could one motivate people and strive to be the best?
He looked at Fang Jun and said, "Although this newly established institution is under the Ministry of War, it should also have a name. Does Duke Yue have any suggestions?"

Fang Jun smiled and said, "How about calling it the 'Military Preparation Committee'? Its functions are self-explanatory. This 'committee' will be very large, with Duke Ying as the head and the other ministers as 'committees', the core figures of this organization. In addition, we need to select some people who are familiar with military affairs and have outstanding military strategies to fill in the committee. From top to bottom, each person will perform their duties, so that we can gather the wisdom of all parties and leave nothing out."

Li Chengqian was not surprised. Military reform was a matter of great importance, so the entire army had to be involved. Otherwise, it would be nonsense if only a few ministers sat in a room to discuss and make a decision...

But the name...

Although it is a bit simpler and not as elegant as "Privy Council", it is indeed "self-explanatory and clear at a glance".

Li Xiaogong, the Prince of Hejian and the Minister of Personnel, looked at the expressions of the people and said, "Your Majesty, now that Pei Huaijie has resigned and returned to the capital, I wonder how we should arrange his placement and what official position we should give him? In addition, although His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei is in Luoyang to build the Eastern Capital, the post of the Governor of Henan cannot be left vacant for a long time. We should select a suitable person to take up the post, so as to stabilize the situation in Henan and better cooperate with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei."

Although Pei Huaijie entered the "committee", he was not given his main position, which was inconsistent with the system.

Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Jian stroked his beard and said slowly: "The Duke of Yue will naturally be on this 'committee'."

It was Fang Jun who proposed the military reform, and it was also Fang Jun who suggested setting up this "committee". However, until now, everyone has been nominating this and that, either intentionally or unintentionally, but no one has mentioned Fang Jun...

Fang Jun smiled and nodded to Tang Jian.

Tang Jian drooped his eyelids, looked at no one, and lowered his head to drink tea.

Li Chengqian said: "This is beyond doubt. Even if we don't talk about it, Duke Yue is indispensable."

But if no one really mentions it, Fang Jun can't recommend himself, right?

After the court meeting, will Fang Jun be excluded from the "committee" on the grounds that "everything has been decided"?
What surprised Li Chengqian was that the person who mentioned Fang Jun was not Cui Dunli, not Ma Zhou, not even Li Xiaogong, not Li Ji, but Tang Jian...

Looking at Tang Jian, who was very old and had age spots all over his face, white hair and beard, Li Chengqian sighed.

Li Chengqian calmed down, thought for a moment, and continued the previous topic: "Although Pei Huaijie has received a lot of criticism during his time in Luoyang, he has made great contributions after all. What do you think of granting him the title of 'Shangshu You Pushe'?"

Many official positions in the Tang Dynasty can be granted separately, which is equivalent to an honorary title. For example, the current Shangshu You Pushe is Fang Jun. If Pei Huaijie is granted this position, it will be an honorary title. He does not have the powers of Shangshu You Pushe, but only enjoys the treatment of Shangshu You Pushe.

Of course, if Fang Jun resigns for various reasons and the Shangshu You Pushe position becomes vacant, then Pei Huaijie will be the first in line to succeed him. Although this is not a rule, it is also equivalent to an unspoken rule in the officialdom...

Li Xiaogong naturally had no objection: "Your Majesty is wise."

Liu Li did not speak either. This arrangement was determined after he had discussed with Li Chengqian in advance, and it was very appropriate for Pei Huaijie. In any case, Pei Huaijie returned to Chang'an from Luoyang in disgrace, and he was considered a "guilty man". Not pursuing his faults did not mean that he had no faults. Such an arrangement with a high title but little power was an explanation to both the superiors and the subordinates.

Otherwise, if one of the six ministries were given real power, the censors at the Censorate would be in chaos...

Fang Jun suddenly said, "Your Majesty, the 'committee' is newly established, but we don't know who should be the main and who should be the assistant among the members. If there is no clear hierarchy, I'm afraid there will be countless arguments in the future. By then, it will become a place for power struggles and neglect important matters, which goes against the original intention."

Li Chengqian asked, "What do you think, my dear ministers?"

Li Xiaogong stroked his shiny black and neatly trimmed beard and said, "How about we follow the old example of the 'Military Affairs Council'?"

The other ministers all looked at him sideways. If not for this, no one could remember for the moment that Fang Erlang seemed to be keen on establishing new institutions. For example, he had reorganized the navy, established the foundry, and set up the Military Affairs Office. Now he has added the "Military Reform Committee" and the future "Privy Council"...

It's really troublesome.

But every time he struggled, he could benefit greatly from it, improving his status and gaining power...

There is a way to do this, I have to admit it.

Fang Jun calmly refuted: "The rules of the 'Military Affairs Council' are almost perfect, but they are not suitable for mechanically applying to the 'Committee'. After all, even Lord Ying cannot have the supreme authority of Your Majesty. The 'veto power' means using power to suppress others, which will only arouse others' resentment. Why not set the seats in front of the emperor right now? Lord Ying, Cui Dunli, Liu Rengui, Zheng Rentai, Pei Huaijie, and I, a total of six people, one main, one deputy, and four assistants, with clear division of superiors and subordinates, and orderly responsibilities and powers. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

The so-called "Military Council" mentioned by Li Xiaogong is that whenever there is a disagreement, the five "Military Council ministers" will vote, and the minority will obey the majority. If there is a huge dispute, the emperor will have a "veto power"...

Fang Jun's words also make sense. The monarch's power is supreme, and the "veto power" sounds like something that means supreme authority, which is indeed not suitable for a minister to have. But if there is no veto power, and the powers of several "committees" are equal, then wait and see, who can convince whom?
The idea of ​​"minority obeys majority" must be abandoned and we must return to the "chief officer is responsible system".

But the so-called one main, one deputy and four auxiliary seating arrangements...is it necessary to arrange them?

The chief officer must be Li Ji, the Duke of Ying, and the deputy must be Fang Jun himself. The other four people, in no particular order, are assistants...

Unconsciously, Fang Jun elevated himself to a position second only to the emperor and above everyone else. However, with his qualifications, merits, and the fact that the Ministry of War was his territory, others had nothing to say.

Li Ji is notorious for ignoring government affairs and "sitting in office without doing anything", so there is no doubt that this "committee" will be firmly controlled by Fang Jun.

But even Liu Li couldn't say that any of Liu Rengui, Pei Huaijie, Zheng Rentai, and Cui Dunli were superior to Fang Jun... But if they were on par with Fang Jun, perhaps he could.

Liu Li said, "The Duke of Tongan was a famous minister during the Zhenguan period. He served under Emperor Taizong and established the country and intimidated all directions. He has rich experience. If he is only an assistant, would it be considered as disrespecting a meritorious official? Perhaps he can be promoted to the same level as the Duke of Yue, with the first chief and the second deputy, and placed below the Duke of Ying."

Although it seemed like a small promotion in status, it enabled Zheng Rentai to rise from a subordinate to one of the assistant officers, and he had a certain degree of power.

Besides, everyone in the court and the country knows that Zheng Rentai is Fang Jun's man. He even sent his eldest son Zheng Xuanguo to be by Fang Jun's side to obey his orders. Fang Jun can't suppress his own people, right?
Fang Jun pondered for a moment.

Li Ji lowered his head and said nothing.

Li Chengqian was afraid that Fang Jun would refute him, so he was a little impatient: "The Duke of Tongan has made outstanding contributions and was a trusted minister of Emperor Taizong in the past. He has the ability and deserves this treatment."

Liu Li sighed slightly. Why was he so anxious? If he revealed his actions like this, wouldn't it be a clear signal to others that Zheng Rentai was on His Majesty's side?
As expected, as soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, Fang Jun said, "I think it's inappropriate!"