People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1456: Political Affairs Hall, final selection of Minister of Rites

In the right guard office, Li Xuan sat calmly behind the desk.

After quickly handling all official duties, he kicked everyone out.

Taking a deep breath, Li Xuan's face became solemn.

Today, the Cui family is recommending candidates for the position of Minister of Rites. The Cui family wants to assassinate the East Palace and recommend the Minister of Hubu. Shi Doulu, the prime minister, hopes to take over.

Once this result comes out, everyone will understand that Cui, Lu and Zheng's family finally chose the Prime Minister between the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister.

Li Xuan sneered slightly, and then Li Xuan took out two memorials from under the desk and placed them on the desk.

Impeachment of Cui Zhiwen, the minister of Huangmen, and Cui Zhidi, the minister of household affairs, for violating the regulations on their parents' graves.

At the beginning of the year, the Cui family repaired their ancestral tombs, and for some unknown reason, built a cemetery for the parents of brothers Cui Zhiwen and Cui Zhidi. The shape used exceeded the limit of the Prime Minister's kindness.

Impeachment of Cui Jiguan, the nephew of Cui Mi, the imperial censor, for speaking out about the bribery case.

Although Cui Mi is the imperial censor, all the impeachment officials in the imperial censor station are sealed and closed, and even the censor has no right to open them.

Now an official who was impeached by the censor suddenly found the censor who impeached him...

This is interesting.

Two memorials, one for the prime minister, one for the minister, and one for the imperial censor, were all included in Li Xuan's impeachment.

Even after today's incident, everyone in the East Palace would madly agree with Li Xuan's playing.

Everyone associated with the East Palace will also play along.

Today's matter, once Doulu Qinwang is appointed as the Minister of Rites, Cui Zhiwen, the prime minister, Cui Zhiti, the household minister, and Cui Mi, the imperial censor, will no longer need to do anything.

Once Dong Palace takes full action on this matter, not many people will stand in the way. Even Pei Yan will help in turn.

The reason why the Cui family can have a prime minister, a minister, and a third-rank censor is because although Cui Zhiti is the minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he is much older than Cui Zhiwen.

There is also Cui Mi, the imperial censor, who is from Empress Wu, and his relationship with Cui Zhiwen and Cui Zhiti is not harmonious.

But now, Cui Zhiwen and Cui Zhiti have come together with King Xiang and Bachelor Beimen, which means they have come together with Cui Mi.

They have broken the tacit understanding in the political arena, and many people will draw a clear line with them even if they do not attack them.

"If you want to survive until you are enshrined, you are overthinking it." Li Xuan's eyes were cold.

What the Cui family and the Prime Minister's Mansion want is that the emperor cannot survive this time, so that even if the government and the opposition attack, they can still resist.

After all, it was now the time of the Feng Chan period and the emperor was in poor health. Even if they suffered a blow, as long as the final imperial edict was not issued, nothing would happen to them.

But Li Xuan, who had planned all this for a long time, would let them know what offensive explosion meant.

……

In the political hall, Cui Zhiwen felt inexplicably uneasy.

Li Xuan's figure suddenly broke into his mind, but Cui Zhiwen immediately erased Li Xuan's figure from his mind.

Of course he knew that Li Xuan was ruthless.

Not to mention anything else, just the accuracy of his vision and the speed of his actions were not inferior to any prime minister.

But after thinking for a long time, Cui Zhiwen made a decision, not only because his brother Cui Zhiti would beg for his body to become an official in the next year, but also because he believed that Empress Wu would help with Cui Mi's matter.

Because Cui Mi is a descendant of the Cui family, and he is more of a descendant of Empress Wu.

A censor who could directly impeach the prime minister and the six ministers had a great effect on Empress Wu, so Empress Wu would definitely try her best to protect him.

Finally, there was the Prime Minister's side. After Cui Zhiwen thought about it carefully, he found that the Prime Minister's side really had a good chance, and it was quite big.

Don't even have to wait too long.

Because he holds a huge murder weapon in his hand, which is the "Book of Han".

As long as Han Shu is compiled, there is a high chance that the prince will be deposed.

Even the deposed emperor.

Cui Zhiwen raised his head and looked at Li Xian and Liu Rengui, but they didn't notice the strange look in Cui Zhiwen's eyes.

They didn't even realize that Cui Zhiwen would do something strange today.

Cui Zhiwen's eyes fell on other colleagues, Pei Yan, Wang Dezhen, Li Yiyan, and Cui Zhiwen didn't know who among them Li Dan had convinced.

Whoever supports Doulu Chinwang will abstain from voting.

Cui Zhiwen finally looked at Xue Yuanchao and Liu Rengui. There were only two votes for the crown prince.

Cui Zhiwen knew that Li Dan and the Zheng family had approached Li Yiyan, and Li Yiyan had decided to vote for Doulu Qinwang.

So, he already has two votes on his side, two votes against two votes.

The only remaining ones are Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen who remained neutral and abstained from voting, so that was enough.

As for Tianhou, it is a matter for the North Gate bachelor.

Cui Zhiwen had just settled down and glanced at Pei Yan. Pei Yan happened to look over and smiled meaningfully at Cui Zhiwen.

……

"Everyone." Li Xian was sitting in the hall, looking at everyone calmly and said: "The Minister of Rites is responsible for the etiquette of the world. It has been half a year since Duke Zhou died of illness in western Liaoning, which has hindered the government's affairs a lot. Today, I am following the decree of my father, queen and mother. When deciding on the position of Minister of Rites, I also hope that the ministers will serve the country and the court, and decide from their hearts."

"I obey the order." The six prime ministers sitting on both sides cupped their hands.

Li Xian glanced at Liu Rengui, who was sitting at the top on the left. Liu Rengui was a first-class prince and tutor. Although he was not a full-time prime minister, his official position was higher than that of others. In addition, he had been serving as minister Zuopushe for many years, so he had great prestige. He sat on the throne. No one doubted it.

"Then just follow the rules." Li Xian smiled and looked sideways.

Six cabinet ministers walked in from the door, each holding a silver plate covered with red cloth, walked to the side of each prime minister, and then placed the silver plate in front of each person.

Cui Zhiwen opened a corner of the red cloth and saw ten red beans, ten white beans, and ten black beans placed on a silver plate.

Red beans represent approval, white beans represent abstention, and black beans represent opposition. Generally speaking, unless there are special circumstances, it is enough to abstain from white beans, while black beans indicate a big problem.

Cui Zhiwen reached out and mixed all the beans into a ball, so that no one could peek at how much he had left.

Cui Zhiwen looked up and saw everyone looking like this, and then looked at Li Xian again.

Li Xian's face became solemn, he took out the memorial and put it in front of his eyes, then looked at the crowd and said: "The Ministry of Officials has submitted that there are three candidates recommended by the Minister of Rites, Li Huaiyan, the Minister of Rites, Wei Beiji, the Minister of Hubu, and Douluqin, the Minister of Hubu. see."

Liu Rengui nodded, looked at the crowd and said: "According to the rules, in the first round of three-person voting, the person with the most votes will be recommended by the Political Affairs Hall; if there is a tie, in the second round of voting, the person with the most votes will be recommended by the Political Affairs Hall; if there is a tie, the person with the most votes will be recommended by the Political Affairs Hall; With the same vote, His Royal Highness sits in the Political Hall and casts his own vote in the third round. The person with the most votes will recommend the queen to the Political Hall.”

After a slight pause, Liu Rengui asked, "Do you have any objections?"

"Nothing!" Everyone nodded at the same time.

Logically speaking, although Li Xian was the prince and was ordered to sit in the political hall, he was not of the third rank of Tong Zhongshu, so he was not qualified to have this vote.

But after all, he sits in the political hall and is the prince, so by default, he has this vote.

This is the preferential treatment given to the prince by the political hall, and it is also a face given to him.

Of course, this is just for face, this vote actually does not exist, and Li Xian is only useful as the icing on the cake.

When there is a tie, as long as someone refuses to give Li Xian the face and asks the queen to make a decision, Li Xian won't be able to refute him.

The emperor asked the prince to sit in the political hall, just to let him study, but not to really give him the power to control the political hall.

At most, it can be regarded as having supervisory power.

Li Xian didn't seem to understand this, because he had never encountered such a humiliation during the years he had been sitting in the political hall.

Li Xian looked at the crowd solemnly and said: "Let's get started. Those who are willing to vote for Li Huaiyan, the Minister of Rites, and the Minister of Rites, vote red beans; those who abstain from voting, vote white beans; those who oppose it, vote black beans."

A scholar came to Liu Rengui carrying a silver plate covered with red cloth. Liu Rengui grabbed one from under his silver plate and threw it into the silver plate in the hands of the scholar under the red cloth. The silver plate gave out a sober sound. With the sound of red beans rolling, Liu Rengui had already retracted his hand in an instant.

Everyone's vote must have a sound, and only one sound.

If it is too much, it is suspected of cheating.

Soon, the family members took turns walking in front of Liu Rengui, Xue Yuanchao, Li Yiyan, Pei Yan, Cui Zhiwen and Wang Dezhen.

The silver plate was finally placed in front of Li Xian.

Everyone was staring straight at Li Xian. In front of these experienced officials, even Li Xian could not do anything.

Li Xian smiled faintly, then reached out and lifted the red cloth directly.

Five white beans and one red bean.

Someone voted for Li Huaiyan, and many people's eyes fell on Li Yiyan.

Li Yiyan's expression was calm, as if the red bean was really not his own.

Li Xian looked to the side with a calm expression. The master stepped forward, took away the silver plate, and then placed a new silver plate.

Li Xian raised his head and looked at the crowd and said: "Those who are willing to vote for Doulu Qin, Minister of Household Affairs, and Minister of Rites of Jin, vote red beans; those who abstain from voting, vote white beans; and those who oppose, vote black beans."

"Here!" The ministers bowed.

Toneri took the silver plate and started walking past one by one. No one made any unnecessary movements.

Firstly, it’s not easy to cheat in front of everyone, and secondly, no one knows whether others are waiting for you to cheat.

Once caught cheating, no matter who it is, they will be kicked out of the political hall immediately.

These people here are all old foxes. It’s hard to say how they calculated.

Cui Zhiwen looked at Li Xian and the silver plate under Li Xian. He didn't know whether Li Yiyan would really do what Yuan Wanqing said, or whether Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen would really choose neutrality.

If he failed in the end to get Doulu Qinwang to be appointed Minister of Rites, and Cui Zhiwen was discovered stabbing the prince in the back, then he would have failed completely.

The only good thing is that no one knows who voted for what, so there is room for maneuver.

Cui Zhiwen watched Li Xian lift the red cloth little by little, but he was screaming in his heart.

Two, at least two red beans, or three, the worst he can do is vote for Wei in the next round.

In this way, there are three votes to three, and the rest is left to the Queen of Heaven.

The red cloth was lifted, and four red beans and two white beans appeared in front of everyone's eyes instantly.

Everyone was stunned.

Li Xian, Liu Rengui, and Xue Yuanchao's expressions immediately darkened.

Four red beans, which means that except for Liu Rengui and Xue Yuancao who voted for white beans, the other four people all voted for Doulu Qinwang.

The three people looked up at the same time and looked at the other four people. However, at this time, the other four people all looked confused, even Cui Zhiwen was the same.

Cui Zhiwen really didn't know that Pei Yan and Wang Dezhen would really vote in favor at the same time.

In this way, there are four votes supporting Doulu Qinwang.

There is still one round left. If Wei Daiqi cannot get four votes, then one round will become the last round, and Doulu Qinwang will be the Minister of Rites.

Pei Yan looked at the other three people with cold eyes. At the critical moment, his mind suddenly changed, and then he voted in favor.

He just wanted to sell Li Dan, sell Beimen Bachelor, and sell Wu Hou to save face. Who would have thought that except Liu Rengui and Xue Yuanchao, everyone else would vote for Doulu Qinwang.

Pei Yan was sensitively aware of a problem. Cui Zhiwen, Wang Dezhen, and Li Yiyan actually came together.

Turning sideways, Pei Yan looked at Li Xian.

Li Xian took a deep look at Cui Zhiwen, and then said: "Those who are willing to vote for Wei Beiji, the Minister of Household Affairs, and the Minister of Rites, vote red beans; those who abstain from voting, vote white beans; those who oppose it, vote black beans."

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)