My father is Emperor Wu of Han, how can I be different from him?

Chapter 238 Who can escape the word "private"

The next day.

Xuanshi Hall, where the inner court held court meetings.

Crown Prince Liu Ju submitted a memorial proposing the implementation of an official avoidance system and the establishment of a local supervisory agency.

During the last grand court meeting, the Crown Prince refuted the Chief Censor in court, during which he mentioned these two matters. Afterwards, the Crown Prince was summoned away by the Emperor alone. All the officials who saw that scene had some guesses.

really.

Isn't it coming today?

There was no doubt about the official avoidance. The emperor had already had this intention many years ago, and now it was like boiling a frog in warm water. Apart from secretly sighing that the prince was tough, the important officials had no other objections.

But the latter one came out...

"Your Majesty, it is right to crack down on local officials who abuse their power for personal gain, but isn't it a bit harsh to also take action to promote those who are close to you?" General Li Guang asked in confusion.

"Are we just going to watch helplessly as the children of our same clan and family are so outstanding that we don't promote them?"

He just finished speaking.

"The clause about combating 'unequal elections' requires that the people selected are just mediocre and have no real talent or ability to work!" General Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows and explained:

"If your son or grandson is really talented, and you promote them, can anyone say anything wrong?"

What you said is indeed good, and the logic is the same.

But when it came out of Huo Qubing's mouth and Li Guang heard it, why did old man Li feel so aggressive?
Hey!
Just before Li Guang blew his beard and glared, the emperor on the dragon couch waved his hand and said, "Okay, I and the prince have discussed the six items of supervision, and there is nothing wrong with it."

"I am informing you today so that you can discuss the division of supervision."

While talking.

The emperor waved his hand and the eunuch understood. After a while, several eunuchs carried a huge feng shui map from the side hall.

Starting from Jiuquan County in the west, to Jiaodong State in the east, to Youbeiping County in the north and Jiaozhi County in the south, the map covers nearly one hundred counties and kingdoms in the entire Han Dynasty.

"I intend to integrate the various counties and kingdoms into the Supervisory Department, naming them after the division of states by Dayu as recorded in the Book of History, and further adjust them based on the territory and population of the Han Dynasty."

The emperor stood up and walked down the stairs, and a group of close ministers gathered in front of the map.

Listen.

Sang Hongyang asked: "Following the ancient name of the Book of Documents, Your Majesty is also planning to divide the world into nine continents?"

"No!" The emperor looked at the huge geomancy map with his hands behind his back, his expression proud, "When Dayu divided the states, how big was the world? How big is the territory of the Han Dynasty now?"

"Nine Continents are far from enough!"

As soon as the words fell, several generals in the hall burst into laughter, and Sang Hongyang also shook his head and laughed...

The inner court brings together civil and military officials, who serve as the emperor's think tank. It is not difficult to divide the court into several provinces and regions. The only thing that requires some thought is how to divide it appropriately.

Don't underestimate the word "suitable".

Directly dividing according to topography is "convenient". When the court considers the region, it also needs to take "constraints" into consideration. Only with the latter can it be considered appropriate.

Take a simple example.

State A has many counties and is short of food, while State B is located in the hinterland and is barely self-sufficient. There is a piece of grain-producing land in between the two. Who should it be given to?

Give it to B!
Since the border counties have strong military power, weapons and food, what else can we do?

This seemingly ridiculous logic has actually never disappeared in the past few thousand years. For this kind of phenomenon, we can only say one thing: existence is reasonable...

With the nine continents divided by Dayu as the foundation, the emperor and his ministers combined the actual situation of the Han Dynasty and made slight adjustments, and a regional division that had a profound impact on later generations came into being:
Thirteen Provincial Inspectors' Offices!
It can also be called the Thirteen States!

In addition to the seven counties in the capital, the world was divided into: Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Jizhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Yuzhou, Liangzhou, Yizhou, Youzhou, Bingzhou, Shuofang, and Jiaozhi.

The Yanzhou Provincial Administration, with its seat in Puyang, had jurisdiction over six counties and prefectures: Dongjun, Chenliu, Jiyang, Taishan, and Dongping.

The seat of Qingzhou was Guang County, and under its jurisdiction were Qi County, Le'an County, Zhichuan State, Qiancheng County...Donglai County, Jiaodong State, etc.

Xuzhou seat...

Jizhou...

"The Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Department, with its seat in Guangxin County, Cangwu Prefecture, governs seven prefectures and fifty-six counties, including Cangwu, Nanhai, Yulin, Hepu, Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, and Rinnan!"

In the West Market Teahouse, the hustle and bustle of the past was gone. The shop was filled with people standing all around, inside and outside, all of them concentrating with concentration and tense expressions.

Even if the people of Chang'an were slow-witted, they could sense from today's court report that -

Something big happened in the court!

"On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the Crown Prince drafted a draft, and the Emperor issued an edict, initially dividing the states into thirteen, granting the governor seals and ribbons, and following the edict, inspecting the states in six sections!"

After reading this, the shopkeeper who was reading it himself suddenly raised his voice:

"First, the powerful and wealthy have excessive land and property, and use their strength to bully the weak and their numbers to oppress the few. That is, we will strictly investigate the powerful and wealthy families that have annexed land and are rampant in the countryside!"

hum-

There was a buzz in the store, but it quickly died down.

"Second, the children of officials who rely on their status and position to ask for favors from the prison. That is, we will strictly investigate the children of officials who rely on their family background to indulge in illegal activities!"

wow——

An uproar broke out among the huge crowd of tea drinkers. This time, it did not die down quickly. Instead, someone shouted, "If you don't understand the first part, just read the second part!"

"Correct!"

After the two shouts, the teahouse once again fell into a pin drop scene. The shopkeeper swallowed his saliva, accepted the advice readily, skipped the complicated formalities of the imperial edict, and said loudly:
"Third, strictly investigate local high-ranking officials for nepotism, fourth, strictly investigate officials who collude with local nobles, and fifth, strictly investigate officials who abuse their power for personal gain."

"Sixth, strictly investigate officials who enforce the law unfairly!"

boom--

The teahouse was in a frenzy, and as the imperial edict was issued and official reports were disseminated to various places, the whole world was in an uproar as well.

The people who used to half-believe and half-doubt the emperor's cutting off of hair to replace his head and punishing corrupt officials now believed it without a doubt. Some even couldn't help but shout:

"Alas! The emperor has shown the legacy of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing!"

Judging from the decades of ruling career of the current emperor, to say that he has a hint of the shadow of Emperor Jing and Emperor Wen is undoubtedly a compliment to him.

While people all over the world were cheering, there were some people who were not so happy. Who were they?

The person being monitored.

Just think about it, a county governor, a high-ranking official with a salary of 2,000 stones, used to be in charge of all the civil, financial, legal, and military affairs in the county, even more like a local emperor.

Now the imperial court has sent down a governor who is riding on his head, and he is a governor with a salary of 600 stones. Anyone would be emotional, right?
however.

If you have emotions, hold them in!

The court report clearly states that the Crown Prince drafted it, the Emperor issued an edict, and it was the national policy that was finalized by the most powerful people of the present and the most powerful people of the future in the Han Dynasty. Who dares to object?

Those who have opinions will either disappear from the world immediately or be held accountable in the future.

No one is stupid.

Then, no one wanted to be a warrior anymore. The local bureaucracy was shaken, but all they could do was let it be.

Under the tsunami caused by the division of states and the establishment of provincial governors, the official avoidance system promulgated at the same time seemed insignificant and no one cared about it...

Even during the period of the major reshuffle of local power, a storm was brewing in the capital, the kind of storm that could blow, stir up, and cause a stir.

Officials in Beijing are completely different from local officials.

North.

Muqiu Marquis Mansion.

On this day, a group of people came to visit, and there were many of them, all of whom were of high status. Shi Qing received them in the main hall. The teacups were emitting white steam, and no one moved or spoke in the hall. They did not speak, and neither did the old man sitting in the main seat.

The atmosphere was somewhat depressing.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Zhongju, the Minister of Rites, looked at Shi Qing and said in a hoarse voice, "Prime Minister, I am the head of the Nine Ministers. There is a lot of discussion going on here, so I have to step in."

Zhou Zhongju sighed heavily.

The day before yesterday, His Majesty summoned the eunuchs to discuss changing the functions of the Nine Ministers. Coincidentally, yesterday, news came from the residence of Grand Eunuch Dongfang Shuo that the one leading the reform was the Crown Prince...

Ugh.

Why is he the prince again?
Why is the prince so troublesome?
"Old Prime Minister, the people below are in chaos, you have to say something." The person who said this was Liu Shouyan, the new Chief of the Imperial Clan who had just taken office.

From his surname, we can tell that he is a member of the royal family. He is Liu Shouyan, Marquis of Taoyang, the fifteenth son of Liu Fa, King Ding of Changsha. He is also the nephew of the current emperor and the cousin of Liu Ju.

After Liu Shouyan finished speaking, Shi Qing looked up at him and said, "Let me speak? Then let me ask you, is it the people below who are making a scene, or are you deliberately letting them make a scene?"

"This……"

The newly appointed Zong Zheng was speechless for a moment when his thoughts were exposed.

Fortunately, others immediately resolved his embarrassment. Zhou Zhongju sighed and said, "Whether we indulge ourselves or not, it is a fact that our subordinates are worried."

"Besides, to be honest with you, Prime Minister, several of you are indeed feeling uneasy, that's why... Ugh!"

The old hand who has been in the officialdom for many years speaks differently. He is much gentler than Zong Zheng, and appears to be much weaker and helpless.

Upon hearing this, all the nine ministers present nodded and looked worried.

See this.

Shi Qing nodded, the wrinkles on his face moved, and he said in a hoarse voice: "I know about your anxiety, and now what?"

Everyone in the hall exchanged glances. Zhang Ba, the Minister of the Imperial Household, bowed and said, "Prime Minister, the imperial system has a long history and was established by Emperor Gao himself."

"Don't move lightly."

Liu Shouyan, the chief of the imperial clan, sighed and said, "Besides, the three dukes and nine ministers have always been one. If the nine ministers are attacked, who knows when the three dukes will be attacked?"

Zhou Zhongju, the Minister of Rites, had a gloomy expression on his face and said something even more sensitive, "When the Crown Prince's Palace suppressed Li Guangli's faction, it was very ruthless, and we were also wary of it."

"The newly established provincial governors and the recusation system were all proposed by the crown prince. Due to the crown prince's face, we have received countless complaints from local officials in recent days, but we have suppressed them all!"

"Can……"

Zhou Zhongju was embarrassed. "But this time, the nine ministers were changed. It was the Crown Prince who proposed it. It's happened once or twice. Your Majesty and the Crown Prince should at least understand us, right?"

"The royal family also needs people to govern the country, right?"

The words were very euphemistic and obscure, but Shi Qing understood them. He stared at the teacup in his hand and said bluntly: "You are worried that the higher-ups will take away your power."

Liu Shouyan was about to explain, but he heard the Prime Minister say, "You want to drag the three ministers to put pressure on us. Did someone go to Bu Shi's house today?"

Zhou Zhongju's face changed color and he opened his mouth to speak.

But Shi Qing interrupted him again and said, "You want to use your power to repay me. Well... I can hear some threats in your words."

The royal family also needs people to govern the country. When the Inspectors were first established to supervise the local counties and kingdoms, the documents of officials making trouble and complaining were suppressed by these ministers.

Are you not afraid that the local authorities won't be able to control them if you attack them again now?

Aren’t you afraid that the court will be paralyzed?
This is what it meant. When the Prime Minister pointed it out, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Religion and others all looked gloomy and said nothing, which was tantamount to... agreeing.

There was deathly silence in the main hall.

After a while, Shi Qing put down his teacup, looked around, and said calmly: "Today, let's not discuss whether you can negotiate with His Majesty and the Crown Prince, or whether the court will be paralyzed without you."

"At this moment, I will only discuss one thing with you, selfishly."

The old man first looked at Taichang, his cloudy eyes carrying a hint of clarity and honesty, "Zhongju, when we are governing and ruling our people, we can always talk about the court, the royal family, us, and them, but in private, you have to be sober, you can't fool yourself, and you can't fool me."

"The court, the royal family, us, them, in the end, aren't they all for themselves? You entered the government as an official, is it really to serve the court? To benefit the people?"

Without waiting for Zhou Zhongju, whose face was tense, to answer, Shi Qing shook his head.

"No, Nakai."

"You are doing this for your own power and status, for your descendants and family, but not for the court, the people, or justice."

Zhou Zhongju clenched his teeth. When the old man looked at him, he was too embarrassed to look at him for a moment and instinctively turned to the side.

Shi Qing looked at the chief of the imperial clan Liu Shouyan again and sighed, "Marquis Taoyang, you have only been in the court for a short time. You don't know how to speak in an official language, and you can't speak in an official language well."

"Let's talk straight."

Liu Shouyan fidgeted and swayed his body.

Shi Qing said softly: "You are a royal family member and have always been on good terms with the princes. Others should not be able to make comments, but now you are an official appointed by the court and a high official."

"How can you still have such close contacts with the kings?"

"Marquis Taoyang, you came here today because you heard that the Crown Prince is leading the reform of the Nine Ministers, and that you will be involved in it, right?"

There is no need for Shi Qing to say what happened next.

It’s not convenient to say.

You not only enjoy the power that comes with your official position in the imperial court, but you also want to establish good relations with the princes and gain their support. You are playing on both ends. If the Weiyang Palace and the Crown Prince's Palace don't move against you, who will they move?

Subsequently.

Shi Qing looked at the other nine ministers and said, "You all came to see me because you heard that this reform would affect your power."

"It has nothing to do with the imperial court, the emperor, or the local area. It's all about selfishness and desires. Is that right or not?"

Yes!
It was because they heard the news and knew that they would be affected that they came together. Otherwise, why were Taichang and Zongzheng leading the group?
The hall was quiet for a moment.

Then, Liu Shouyan's angry growl came: "Prime Minister! We are motivated by selfish desires. We are uneasy."

“Why should we be frightened and have our power taken away?”

"That's because we are not old friends of His Majesty's palace, nor are we henchmen of the Crown Prince's palace. We don't even have any generals or generals behind us!"

It is extremely rude to say such things in front of the prince's teacher.

Taichang wanted to scold.

But he opened his mouth several times, but in the end no words came out.

After hearing this, Shi Qing's expression did not change at all. He looked outside the hall, as if talking to himself: "You all come here with selfish motives and desires."

"You are using this to counter the national policy above. Do you think that if you do this and spread the news, His Majesty will bow to you?"

"Besides, I know my disciples better than you do. They look kind on the outside, but they are still cold in their bones. Sometimes, they are even more ruthless than Your Majesty."

"Even if you suppress the crown prince like this today, will you have a good ending in the future?"

Shi Qing shook his head.

He sighed softly and continued, "If you want to go against your majesty and the prince out of selfishness and desire, it won't work."

"In the future, it will only bring you trouble..."

Done.

Shi Qing slowly closed his eyes and said no more. His intention to send the guest away and refuse was obvious. He had reminded those who needed to be reminded, and he could do nothing to help others.

Soon, the quiet hall was filled with footsteps. No one knew who they were. Before leaving, they left a message:
"Kings fight for the world, princes fight for territory, ministers fight for power, and common people fight for food and oil, all for selfish desires."

"Who can escape the word 'private'?"

(End of this chapter)