Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5106 Prime Minister Crisis
Princess Gaoyang saw Xiao Shu'er was embarrassed, so she took her hand and said to Fang Jun, "My dear, why do you deliberately humiliate Shu'er? As a husband, you should satisfy your wife's wish for offspring. You can't be so generous outside and be stingy at home, right?"

They shared the same husband and had a close relationship, so she naturally understood Xiao Shuer's concerns about having children. Having children is not only a woman's greatest confidence, but also a guarantee for her future, which is something that no matter how outstanding a daughter is, she cannot fill.

Fang Jun was speechless: "What do you mean by 'spreading rain and dew'? Your Highness, what you said is too harsh."

Princess Gaoyang snorted, "You can do ugly things, but I can't say ugly words? That doesn't make sense!"

Fang Jun felt guilty. Qiao'er had just washed his feet and dried them with a towel. He stood up and took Xiao Shu'er's hand. "Since Her Royal Highness the Princess has some complaints about me, Madam, please come with me to the bedroom. I will devote myself to you until my death!"

Xiao Shu'er was embarrassed. Although she had many wishes in her heart, her feet were too shy to move.

Now, even Qiao'er smiled...

Princess Gaoyang said angrily, "Hurry up and follow him. If you don't hurry up, are you really going to the Western Regions with him?"

"Oh."

Xiao Shu'er then lowered her head, held her husband's hand tightly, and followed him to the bedroom.

……

The next day, in the Government Hall.

The prime ministers arrived at the Political Affairs Hall of the Central Secretariat one after another. As soon as they entered the hall, they saw Li Chengqian, who was dressed in a bright yellow robe and had rarely arrived. He sat in the middle and greeted them with a smile. Fang Jun even sat next to His Majesty...

While quickly tidying up my clothes and returning the greeting, I couldn't help but wonder in my heart: What big thing has happened?

Although the Council of State is where the prime ministers work, the rules are not strict. For example, Fang Jun is no longer a prime minister, but he is not unqualified to enter the Council of State. Moreover, he came here together with His Majesty, so who would dare to drive him out?
After a while, all the ministers arrived.

Li Chengqian put down his teacup and got straight to the point: "The war with Tubo has been going on for a long time and there may be changes. The Arabs are ready to make a move and are eyeing us covetously. The situation in the entire Hexi and Western Regions is critical. Therefore, I intend to appoint Duke Yue as the 'General Manager of the Gongyue Road' to command the Hexi garrison and the Anxi army, and be fully responsible for the situation in Hexi and the Western Regions, to end the war with Tubo as soon as possible and prepare for the military in the Western Regions. What do you think, my dear ministers?"

"Gongyue Road" is a military area in the Western Regions, located in the Ili River Valley. It is the strategic center of the entire Western Regions. Its influence can control the entire Western Regions internally and radiate outward to the Turkic, Tokharistan, Bukhara, Shiguo, Kangguo and other regions. Its strategic location is very important.

The "General Manager of the Gongyue Road" has almost all the areas outside the Yumen Pass...

Cui Dunli was the first to agree: "Your Majesty has a far-sighted vision. Duke Yue has outstanding strategies and outstanding military achievements. He is indeed the best choice to stabilize the situation in Hexi. He will surely be able to overcome the crisis and support the country!"

Shizhong Ma Zhou: "I second the motion!"

Dali Temple Minister Dai Zhou: "I second the motion!"

Imperial Censor Liu Xiangdao looked around and said, "I second the motion!"

Tang Jian, the Minister of Civil Affairs, stroked his beard and said, "The only person in the court who can handle such a great responsibility is Duke Yue. Your Majesty's decision is very wise."

Pei Huaijie pondered for a moment but said nothing.

Seeing that there was no way to change it, Liu Li felt helpless and could only nod his head: "I have no objection."

Li Chengqian frowned and looked at Pei Huaijie: "Does the Right Prime Minister have any different opinions? Why don't you tell us so that we can discuss it together."

Pei Huaijie hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and your light shines thousands of miles away. How dare this humble servant have any objection? But I am thinking that this time when Duke Yue goes west, he will definitely face many difficulties and crises. Even if he has three heads and six arms, it will be difficult to take care of everything. I am willing to follow Duke Yue to stabilize Hexi and prepare for the Western Regions. Please grant me your approval!"

The atmosphere suddenly became weird.

Liu Li frowned and looked at Pei Huaijie, wondering if this guy was going to join Fang Jun's camp?
Li Chengqian was hesitant and should not have agreed to it. Military operations were different from other operations. Orders must be issued from a unified source and implemented from top to bottom. The commander-in-chief's authority must be unshakable. Once other people get involved, there will only be disadvantages and no benefits.

However, the reason why Pei Huaijie was able to serve as the Minister of State and join the Council of Ministers was actually the result of a balance of power among various parties. He himself had no real power. Under such circumstances, it was understandable that he was willing to go to the border and establish military exploits.

If I reject it outright, it would be inhumane...

He turned his head and looked at Fang Jun: "What do you think, Erlang?"

Fang Jun glanced at Pei Huaijie with a smile and said calmly: "You Pushe is proficient in internal affairs and good at planning. He should play his strengths and take on important responsibilities in the government hall. As for the war in Hexi and the Western Regions, you don't need to worry about it."

He slapped Pei Huaijie's face back almost with one slap.

Want to hang out with me?

Sorry, I don't like you.

Pei Huaijie's old face was visibly red and bloodshot, his hair and beard were disheveled, and he was filled with shame and indignation. If Your Majesty had not been present, he would have stormed out on the spot.

He used to be a high-ranking official at a frontier province and now he is the Minister of the Secretariat. How could he have ever suffered such humiliation?

My teeth are almost broken, Fang Er is not a human being!

Although Liu Li was angry that Pei Huaijie had taken the initiative to curry favor with Fang Jun, he felt embarrassed as his "benefactor" to be humiliated by Fang Jun. The talent he had worked so hard to attract was ignored by the other party. Didn't this show that he, as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, was not good at judging people?
"Whether it's the war in Tubo or the war in the Western Regions, they are both related to the foundation of the empire. This matter is of great importance and cannot be lost. No matter how arrogant the Duke of Yue is, he should also be aware of the dangers involved. He must not be careless because of greed for power."

"Don't worry, Minister Zhongshu. Whether this trip to the west is successful or not, I will shoulder the responsibility."

Liu Li sneered: "The success or failure of the empire, the rise and fall of the country, what do you have to bear? Can you afford it?"

Fang Jun sighed and turned to look at Li Chengqian: "So I still say the same thing, the position of Zhongshu Ling is not something that everyone can take. If a virtuous person takes it, he can assist Your Majesty in carrying forward the past and creating a prosperous era together. But if an incompetent person usurps it, it will only hinder Your Majesty's great ambitions."

Li Chengqian remained silent, but recalled the memorial that Fang Xuanling had suddenly entered the palace and presented to him in the morning.

"I have never served in a prefecture or county, nor have I been appointed as a provincial governor"...

Such remarks have existed for a long time, but it was the first time in history that they were written into a memorial and presented to the king, because most people would not do so, nor did they dare to do so.

This means that the promotion path for children of aristocratic families has undergone a radical change from ancient times to the present. Although family background is still important and can accumulate resources on the road to promotion, in the final analysis, to move from a county to a province, one must rely on political achievements.

Political achievements cannot be achieved by simply piling up resources, so once this memorial is implemented, the "road to Taiwan" for many children of aristocratic families will be immediately cut off.

I have offended too many people...

But it is an extremely correct path.

For example, Liu Li, as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, was now the head of the Prime Minister, but why did he fail repeatedly and become disgraced in the struggle with the military forces represented by Fang Jun? It was because he lacked experience in grassroots governance, was full of empty talk and lacked practice, and was floating on the court without a solid foundation.

He looked at Ma Zhou again. If the court really implemented Fang Xuanling's advice, then there was no doubt that after Liu Li, the person who would be promoted to prime minister would be Ma Zhou, who had the qualifications of Jingzhao Yin...

The atmosphere in the government hall suddenly became silent, and everyone looked at each other.

Everyone naturally didn't know what was going on in His Majesty's mind, but when Fang Jun reported Liu Li, His Majesty remained silent and thought, as if he had some intention... Could it be that he was really dissatisfied with Liu Li and wanted to depose him and choose someone more capable? !
Liu Li was also a little confused. It was impossible that Your Majesty would "accept the advice" just because Fang Jun muttered a few words and made a complaint, right?
That is the style of a foolish monarch and treacherous ministers!
He quickly shouted, "Duke Yue, be careful with your words! I am the Minister of the Central Secretariat, selected by Your Majesty and recommended by the court officials. It is recognized by the whole court and the people. How can I deny it just because you, a villain, confuse right and wrong and turn black and white upside down? Don't do such a treacherous thing, it will only make people laugh!"

After these words were spoken, everyone looked at him with amusement.

You are panicking!

If you weren't frightened, why would you say such words?

What are the words "recommended by court officials" and "recognized by the court and the public"? Aren't they telling Your Majesty that you, the Minister of the Secretariat, are highly trusted by the people and cannot be dismissed by Your Majesty with just a word?
From this we can see that the position of the Minister of the Secretariat is unstable!
In the officialdom, there is naturally a role for everyone, and when someone goes down, someone else will naturally come up...

As if sensing some kind of opportunity, Cui Dunli straightened his back and retorted in public: "What does the Minister of the Central Secretariat mean by this? Your Majesty is wise and the court is full of righteousness. This is why the Tang Dynasty dominates the world and creates a prosperous era unprecedented in history! But I don't know who the Minister of the Central Secretariat is referring to as confusing right and wrong, and who is turning black into white? In the Minister of the Central Secretariat's mind, is Your Majesty the kind of foolish and stupid monarch who listens to slander?"

Tang Jian stroked his beard, his eyes burning, "The Minister of the Central Secretariat is the head of the Prime Minister, in charge of all the ministers, so he should have a broad mind and a broad mind. Even if the Duke of Yue's words are slightly inappropriate, why should he describe every word as a flatterer or a tyrant? That would be unrighteous."

Although he is the oldest among those present, he also has the most seniority. He has served as the Minister of Civil Affairs for many years and has made outstanding political achievements and rich contributions. It is not impossible for him to covet the position of the prime minister.

Who can say "Lian Po is old, can he still eat?"

Pei Huaijie would naturally not miss this opportunity and echoed, "What the Duke of Ju said makes sense. Colleagues should accept each other's different political views. How can they blow things up and destroy people's innocence every time there is a difference of opinion? Calling them traitors and sycophants is really confusing and chilling."

At this point, Liu Li suddenly realized that he was being attacked by a concentrated fire, and the most fatal thing was that none of the nobles in the hall stood up for him...

How come the Imperial Secretary-General, the head of the Prime Minister and the chief minister in charge of all the ministers, has become a lonely man?
What kind of breadth of mind and magnanimity are they? Compared with “inability to unite colleagues”, they are simply not worth mentioning!
Liu Li was sweating profusely.