Jiuxi

Chapter 988 986 [The Way of the Monarch and His Subjects]

In March of the first year of Jianwu, Qin Zheng was ordered to rebuild the Weaving Bureau.

In May, Xue Nanting was promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

In February of the following year, Xu Zuo was transferred to the Censorate as Supervisory Censor.

In April of the third year of Jianwu, Xu Zuo was promoted to Imperial Censor.

In July of the same year, the Weaving Bureau planned to build the Huaizhou Bureau and the Jingzhou Bureau, gradually extending its tentacles to the north of the Yangtze River.

In June of the fifth year of Jianwu, Xue Nanting was promoted to Minister of Rites.

In June of the seventh year of Jianwu, Xu Zuo was promoted to the position of Right Censor-in-Chief.

In September of the same year, Xue Nanting entered the Secretariat as the right prime minister.

In February of the ninth year of Jianwu, Xu Zuo was promoted to the position of Left Chief Censor. Because the Chief Censor Chu Huaizhong was ill and had been on leave for many years, Xu Zuo became the de facto chief of the Censorate.

At this point, the three-horse team under Li Duan was officially formed.

From the 9th year of Jianwu to the outbreak of the Battle of Huaizhou in the 12th year of Jianwu, Li Duan gradually completed the suppression of the Jiangnan clans during these three years. With Qin Zhengtong as his spies outside and Xue Nanting presiding over the government and Xu Zuo supervising the officials inside, he finally waited for the opportunity to launch a northern expedition.

During more than ten years of fighting side by side, Xue Nanting and Xu Zuo developed an extremely deep friendship, and they knew each other's personalities inside out.

Therefore, when Xue Nanting asked that question, Xu Zuo fell into silence, which was somewhat rare.

It’s not that he feels guilty or is afraid to take responsibility, but that even he himself doesn’t have a definite answer until now.

Xue Nanting did not urge her, and said as if to himself: "The Queen Mother is the smartest woman I have ever seen in my life. Although she didn't say anything, I know she must have some regrets in her heart."

Xu Zuo asked, "Why do you regret it?"

"I regret sending you to see Lu Chen."

Xue Nanting simply broke the window paper directly, and then said calmly: "You have never been afraid of power in your life, and you are so strong that nothing can take away your will. Not to mention that Lu Chen is still maintaining superficial peace, even if he really raises the banner of rebellion and intends to overthrow the imperial power, would you be afraid of his blade? The Xu Yanbi I know would only stick his head forward and let him sharpen his knife a little sharper."

Xu Zuo looked solemn and did not deny this statement.

In fact, they all knew that this situation was unlikely to happen. Xu Zuo was not an overly selfish official like Ding Hui. His reputation in the court and the country was even better than Li Daoyan.

He came from a poor family and was an upright official who was dedicated to the country and had no integrity. All the upright people in the world regarded him as a role model. During his years as an official in the Censorate, he impeached countless important officials, but no one could ever criticize his character.

If he had not behaved properly, he would have been torn to pieces by those officials who came from Jiangnan aristocratic families.

It is not an exaggeration to say that if Lu Chen suddenly went mad and killed Xu Zuo, he would become a complete traitor.

After a brief silence, Xu Zuo suddenly raised his eyebrows and asked, "In Brother Zhang Xian's opinion, why did the Queen Mother send me north this time?"

Xue Nanting's eyes narrowed slightly, and then he said decisively: "The Queen Mother will not force you to die, because Lu Chen is not that stupid. Even if the Queen Mother really has such a plan, won't she make a backup plan? As long as you die in Lu Chen's territory, the anger of the world will be enough to drown the young prince. You must know that the Queen Mother is not a weak person who can be bullied. Isn't Qu Hongyi's end enough to prove her decisiveness?"

Xu Zuo shook his head and said, "I don't doubt that the Queen Mother used me to test whether Lu Chen's knife is sharp, but you and I can't deny that based on the character I have shown in the past, it is indeed very likely that I will conflict with Lu Chen. From the perspective of the monarch, this arrangement is reasonable."

"You still underestimate the Queen Mother."

Xue Nanting said seriously, "Early when you were appointed as the governor of Dingzhou, you and Lu Chen got along very well. This is an open fact. This does not mean that you will lose your principles because of this. At least you can communicate calmly and will not easily create discord."

"It makes sense."

Xu Zuo stopped arguing and said seriously, "Then, Brother Zhang Xian, have you ever thought about why I have never had a conflict with Lu Chen?"

Xue Nanting remained silent.

After a moment, he said calmly: "Because of the many plans in that county town?"

Now, more than three months have passed since Xu Zuo's trip to the north. Lu Chen has submitted several lengthy memorials. In addition to the policy of determining the land tax that the court is promoting, his series of ideas have also been made public. People inside and outside the court are talking about the unfamiliar new government offices such as the Bureau of Works, the Medical Bureau, and the Agricultural Affairs Bureau. Xu Zuo took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and then asked, "Brother Zhang Xian, do you think his plans are too ambitious and unrealistic?"

"No, of course not."

Xue Nanting shook his head decisively and said frankly: "Those are long-term plans that benefit the country and the people. Lu Chen is indeed a man of great talent, and no one can deny that."

Xu Zuo said no more.

His attitude has been expressed very clearly. If Lu Chen is the kind of powerful official with only evil ambitions, he will step forward without hesitation even at the risk of his life - regardless of whether he can stop the other party or not. This is his code of conduct and the ethics of a minister.

But now Lu Chen has not revealed any ambition to usurp power. Although he already has such ability, he still thinks about governing the country and benefiting the people, and hopes that the people on this land can live a better life.

We don’t care about everyone being rich, we just want to have enough food and warm clothing.

Faced with such a simple and precious vision, Xu Zuo really didn't want to let the other party fall into a cruel power struggle.

Xue Nanting saw this and asked, "May I ask Brother Yanbi, what is the way of the emperor?"

Xu Zuo was well-read and knowledgeable, and he immediately replied: "Selecting people based on their talents, abilities, and virtues is the best way."

"In a nutshell, it is the duty of the monarch to select the virtuous and capable and to appoint them to positions based on their merits."

Xue Nanting took over the conversation and said sincerely: "Isn't the Queen Mother's various actions in the past two years enough to make Brother Yanbi believe that she can do these things? As soon as she came to power, she handed over all the military power in Jiangbei to Lu Chen, and she never thought of interfering afterwards. Maybe some people will say that the Queen Mother was forced to do so, but I have to say that no one in the world is perfect, right?"

This time it was Xu Zuo's turn to be silent.

Xue Nanting continued, "During the more than one year that Lu Chen led the army in Jiangbei, the Queen Mother gave him whatever he wanted, and even when Lu Chen took away the military power of Zhang Xu and Chen Lanyu, the Queen Mother did not interfere. After the Battle of Lei Ze and the Battle of Pingyang, the court was at the end of its rope. In order to support the Jiangbei army to continue its march north, the Queen Mother took out the only two million taels of silver in the inner treasury, and you and I also borrowed money from the market in the name of the prime minister."

"Don't we know that doing this will make Lu Chen's prestige soar to the peak? Don't we know that he will take full control of the military power?"

"But we still did it. Why? Because the overall situation is important."

"Now, in order to avoid unrest between the north and the south, the Queen Mother has taken the initiative to propose moving the capital northward. Doesn't she really know that those officials who advocated for the move of the capital have secretly benefited from the Lu family? From the beginning to the end, the Queen Mother and the court have been giving in step by step. Have they ever done anything to let down the people?"

"At this point, Lu Chen is the only saint who cares about the people, and we have become the shameless villains who go against the trend?"

"This...what's the logic behind this?"

Listening to the old friend's slightly trembling voice and looking at his somewhat sad face, Xu Zuo felt very depressed.

"I don't understand." Xue Nanting shook his head, and then said: "I don't understand why many people now think that the court is forcing Lu Chen. It is obvious that the Ming family is already at an absolute disadvantage. This time, moving the capital to the north has put its fate in Lu Chen's hands. Maybe some people will talk about Shen Yulai's 20,000 imperial guards, but let Shen Yulai say for himself, does he have the confidence to rely on these 20,000 imperial guards to protect the empress dowager and the emperor? In the final analysis, what can barely play a role now is the righteousness and the heads of people like us."

Flesh and blood cannot stop the butcher's knife, but as long as enough people stand up, even the sharpest butcher's knife will hesitate.

Xu Zuo sighed, "Throughout history, situations like Lu Chen's seem to be extremely prosperous, but if he takes a wrong step, he will be doomed."

"joke!"

Xue Nanting said solemnly, "As long as he doesn't give up his military power, who can threaten the safety of even a servant of the Lu family? Don't forget that Lu Chen is only 27 years old this year. With the scheming and ability he has shown, it is easy for him to protect everyone under his command. Not only that, you and I both know that his martial arts have reached perfection. He has at least 50 to 60 years of life left. Isn't this enough for him to make thorough arrangements for his afterlife?"

Xu Zuo held the teacup and remained silent.

Xue Nanting sighed and said in a slow tone, "Brother Yanbi, I know why you hesitate. I also admit that Lu Chen's plan will create an extremely powerful Da Qi. I also hope that the people on this land can have enough food and clothing. If I were really the kind of villain who only cares about power, I would have had countless opportunities to change my ways over the past few decades. Even when I was surrounded by enemies and besieged by others, I never betrayed my beliefs. I am not bragging, but I want to tell you that this is because from the moment I decided to follow Emperor Gaozong, I threw my life and property behind me."

Hearing those four words, Xu Zuo raised his head slightly, a hint of pain appearing in his eyes.

"Back then, Qin Zheng, you and I followed Emperor Gaozong and endured for more than ten years before we could see a glimmer of hope. During this difficult process, we never wavered. Even Lu Chen himself, his rise was inseparable from the appreciation and support of Emperor Gaozong. I am not denying Lu Chen's own efforts. He deserves his current status. I have never thought of doing anything bad to him. I just can't convince myself, because a person must have a beginning and an end."

Xue Nanting looked at Xu Zuo steadily, his old eyes slightly red, and said, "Do you also want me to betray Emperor Gaozong and become a traitor, helping the powerful officials to bully the orphans and widows in the palace, and then force them to hand over the throne passed down by Emperor Gaozong?"

"I, Xue Nanting, would rather die than do such a thing!"

(End of this chapter)