Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 111 The treacherous minister has jumped out on his own!

Of course, don’t be fooled by Lu Zhi’s calm and composed appearance despite the fact that his clothes were slightly dirty. In fact, Lu Zhi was stunned when he was looking through the account books of the mansion the day before yesterday.

Lu Zhi was shocked to find that there were inexplicably 2,364 dan of millet and 348,000 coins in the warehouse. He mistakenly thought that his mother and wife had accepted bribes from others while he was away.

When he found out that all the money and grain were his salary from last year, Lu Zhi's expression was the same as that of his court colleagues at that moment.

Today's Han Dynasty abandoned the monthly salary system implemented by Empress Dowager Deng and restored the annual salary system. Due to financial pressure, it implemented a half-money and half-grain system. At the end of the year, the Shangshu Pushe calculated the salaries of officials across the country, and the officials sent people to the county granary where they were located to collect the salaries with documents issued by the Shangshu Tai.

However, under the annual salary system, even if an official has served for less than a year, he will still be paid his full annual salary at the end of the year.

If an official is promoted or demoted while in office, his annual salary will be paid according to his latest official salary on the day before the salary is paid.

Officials in Beijing had to go to Taicang to collect their salaries. Of course, for high-ranking officials such as the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, the Taicang Order would take the initiative to send someone to deliver the annual salary to their homes.

In order to avoid causing a commotion, Lu Zhi's salary was quietly delivered to his house at dawn. When it was deposited into the warehouse, Lu Zhi's mother and wives and concubines were all shocked.

Liu Bian remained silent, waiting for the Imperial Censor to restore order. After all the officials had quieted down, he looked at Lu Zhi with a gentle smile on his face and said slowly, "Lu Zhi, the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, will be appointed Governor of Jizhou, General of the Northern Army, Palace Attendant, and Minister of State, and will also receive the power of the Imperial Guard."

"General Jin Hou, appointed as the Recorder of the Secretariat, granted the title of Marquis of Dukangting, and granted a fief of one thousand households!"

There was nothing wrong with removing Lu Zhi from his post as Governor of Jizhou. Lu Zhi had taken up the post of Governor of Jizhou to deal with the three Zhang Jiao brothers.

The Shizhong was an attendant official of the emperor, so naturally he should be removed.

The power of the temporary jiyue is also granted by extraordinary means.

However, as the prince finished speaking, all the court officials widened their eyes. Even Lu Zhi looked at the prince in shock, and the tablet in his hand suddenly slipped from his hand.

The position of Rear General is certainly enviable, but the contribution Lu Zhi made this time is not inferior to Huangfu Song in terms of the overall situation. Moreover, his official position is higher than Huangfu Song. He also holds the position of Prince Taifu, which is at the same level as the Nine Ministers. It is not surprising that his position after being granted is higher than Huangfu Song.

Du Kang Ting Hou, a Ting belonging to Zhuo County, is a well-known fertile land. It is nothing more than a courtesy of being conferred a title of marquis for the Ting in his hometown, and it is not worth being so surprised.

What really shocked all the officials was the matter of appointing the Minister of the Secretariat.

"No!"

Yuan Wei's reaction was extremely intense. He even directly opposed the prince's decision with the word "no" during the court meeting.

Lu means to take charge of the affairs of the Shangshu Tai.

This is an infringement of the interests of the three officials!

Since Emperor Xiaozhang of the Later Han Dynasty, the Three Dukes, the Generalissimo, and the Grand Tutor were in charge of recording the affairs of the Secretariat. It was precisely because they had the power to record the affairs of the Secretariat that the Three Dukes were no longer empty positions serving as mascots.

He had the power to record the affairs of the Shangshu, and even the Shangshu Ling had to obey his orders.

Yuan Wei's reaction was so intense not only because Lu Zhi's appointment as the Recorder of the Secretariat had divided his power, but also because if the Crown Prince could appoint Lu Zhi as the Recorder of the Secretariat today, he could appoint other ministers other than the Three Dukes as the Recorder of the Secretariat tomorrow. Then the power in his hands would gradually be diluted and become worthless.

This is something Yuan Wei cannot accept!
Moreover, the person who recorded the affairs of the Secretariat was Lu Zhi, a giant of the ancient literature school!

After finally becoming the Minister of Education, the Crown Prince refuted the theory of the correspondence between heaven and man, and no longer dismissed the three highest officials for disasters. Perhaps he could sit on the position of Minister of Education until his death.

But the reason why the Three Dukes were admired by scholars all over the world was not only because serving as one of the Three Dukes meant that they were the most talented and virtuous ministers in the Han Dynasty, but also because of the power to record the affairs of the Secretariat.

"Since Emperor Xiaozhang, only the Three Dukes, the Grand General, and the Grand Tutor have been allowed to hold official positions in the Secretariat. Lu Zigan doesn't hold any of these positions, so how could he be appointed to the position? This is a violation of the imperial system!"

Yuan Wei strongly opposed the prince's granting of Lu Zhi the power to record the affairs of the Secretariat, but he found that he could not give any suitable reasons and could only use the excuse that it was not in line with the court system.

"I have heard that: 'If the benefits are less than ten times, the career should not be changed; if the achievements are less than a hundred, the status quo should not be changed.' How can we plan the government affairs without referring to the system left by our ancestors and easily change it? Is this the way of governing?" Yuan Wei quietly looked at his political allies, hoping that they would immediately stand up to help.

However, He Jin was really hoping that the prince would add a few more positions for the position of Recorder of the Secretariat, perhaps one of which would be for him, so he naturally would not ask for help from Yuan Wei.

Taiwei Yang Ci, Shangshu Ling Liu Tao, and Sikong Zhang Ji, who shared common interests, all remained silent.

After noticing this strange situation, Yuan Wei glared at Yang Ci beside him, his eyes filled with questioning and confusion. Not only were the two of them both giants of the Modern Literature School, they were also related by marriage.

The Yuan family of Runan has three dukes for four generations, and the Yang family of Hongnong has three dukes for three generations. Even if it is just to maintain the family lineage of three dukes, the two families should advance and retreat together!
But at this moment, Yang Ci lowered his head slightly, his eyes evasive, and his left hand gently stroked the court tablet, as if he was in deep thought.

He still feels resentful about how Yuan Wei set up such a dangerous situation to frame Lu Zhi, and how he had to clean up the mess for the entire Modern Literature School after the failure.

Moreover, he is old and fell ill during the cold winter of last year. He finally managed to survive until the spring.

Perhaps it was because of the life-and-death experience that some things became clear to me.

The ship of the Modern Literature School is about to sink. Although he is unwilling to jump off the ship to survive and be infamously criticized, it is time to plan for the future of his children and grandchildren.

Even if the Hongnong Yang family is still a modern literary aristocratic family, they must never oppose the prince again.

In fact, Yang Ci didn’t understand why the Modern Literature School had to stand against the prince?

The prince supports the ancient literature school. Does that mean he is suppressing the modern literature school?

If this were the case, why did the Crown Prince appoint the scholar Wang Yun as the Governor of Yuzhou, and why did he not investigate the crimes of Chief Censor Han Fu, Assistant Censor Hu Wuban and others?

If his school of ancient literature can please the prince, why can't my school of modern literature please the prince?

However, Shangshu Ling Liu Tao had already broken with Yuan Wei long ago.

Ever since Yuan Wei sent He Yong to commit suicide by disembowelment to impeach Lu Zhi, Liu Tao and Yuan Wei had a fierce quarrel.

After a big quarrel, the two of them broke off all contact in anger. Liu Tao now even stopped attending the classics meetings of the Modern Literature School.

Yuan Wei thought that Liu Tao just had a different idea from him temporarily, but the contradiction was not irreconcilable, and he was just angry for a while.

But he forgot that although Liu Tao was a scholar of the Modern Literature School, his surname was Liu and he was a relative of the Han Dynasty!
The Crown Prince and Lu Zhi were suppressing the rebellion on the front line, and you, Yuan Ci Yang, were framing Lu Zhi in the rear. How could a Han minister do this?
However, Yuan Wei had no idea that his political alliance had been gradually falling apart quietly, and turned to look at Zhang Ji.

But there is no need to mention Zhang Ji, he still knows how much he weighs.

He was originally a member of the emperor and eunuch faction, and after the eunuch faction was controlled by the prince, his backing also changed from the emperor to the prince.

A hunting dog is trying to bite its master. Can it survive?

There are definitely many officials who want to kill him because of old grudges. Without the crown prince's protection, it would not be as simple as just sharing the power.

You might as well lose your life!
He didn't believe that Yuan Wei would protect him at that time, nor did he believe that Yuan Wei could protect him!
At this moment, one of the officials in the Crown Prince's residence suddenly stood up and left the table, his face flushed red. He angrily shouted, "The position of Recorder of the Secretariat was first created by Emperor Xiaozhang a hundred years ago. At that time, there was no system in place that only the Three Dukes, the Grand General, and the Grand Tutor could be granted the power of Recorder of the Secretariat. Can't Your Highness add another Recorder of the Secretariat beyond the existing rules?"

"Emperor Xiaozhang is a virtuous ruler, so he can do it, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cannot. Could it be that Ci Yanggong believes that His Royal Highness is not a virtuous ruler?"

Yuan Wei's face turned pale with anger. He pointed his tablet at the man who had suddenly spoken and retorted, "Mr. Guo, stop talking nonsense. I never said that!"

"Then may I ask what exactly Lord Ci Yang meant?"

Guo Tu added fuel to the fire and simply tore off Yuan Wei's veil, angrily scolding, "Is it that Lord Ciyang is greedy for power and worried about sharing it with others, or does Lord Ciyang think that Your Highness is not a virtuous ruler?"

"You... I have a good reputation throughout my life, how can I tolerate your nonsense!"

Yuan Wei was so angry that he could hardly speak. The political environment of the Han Dynasty was that court officials with different political views should traditionally debate in the court to explain their respective reasons and the basis of their political views. Why did this guy attack him directly with one move after another?

Guo Tu sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

How can I, a Legalist scholar, debate with you, a Confucian scholar?
Seeing that Yuan Wei was at a loss for words, Guo Tu simply pointed his tablet at Yuan Wei, disregarding the dignity of the Three Dukes, and sternly said, "Your Highness, the treacherous minister has already jumped out!"

(2887 words)
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PS: "Tongdian, Volume 19": "In the Later Han Dynasty, the generals and the three dukes received a monthly salary of 350 hu. All other salaries were paid in half money and half grain. During the Yanping period, the regulations were set as follows: the middle 2,000 dan (9,000 dan per month and 72 hu of rice), the 2,000 dan (6,500 dan per month and 36 hu of rice), the 2,000 dan (5,000 dan per month and 34 hu of rice), the 1,000 dan (4,000 dan per month and 30 hu of rice), the 600 dan (3,500 dan per month and 21 hu of rice), the 400 dan (2,500 dan per month and 15 hu of rice), the 300 dan (2,000 dan per month and 12 hu of rice), the 200 dan (1,000 dan per month and 9 hu of rice), and the 100 dan (800 dan per month and 4 hu and 8 dou of rice). The salaries were changed during the twelfth month and the beginning of spring."

(End of this chapter)