Eagle-eyed and wolf-watching

Chapter 1640: Daqian Qingliu!

July 27

Yijing, the Imperial Palace

Ye Mingsheng, Ye Cui, An Miaoyi, and other concubines and female relatives all came to the east side of the imperial palace. Looking at the magnificent palace in front of them, Ye Cui couldn't help but smile.

Seeing Ye Cui smile, An Miaoyi felt relieved, and asked knowingly:

"Mother, what do you think of this Furen Palace?"

"Good! Very good! I like it very much!"

"Miaoyi, you are really my good daughter-in-law!"

"Oh! I, an old woman, never thought that I would be able to live in a palace one day. May Amitabha and the Bodhisattva bless me!"

An Miaoyi, who was supporting Ye Cui, smiled and said:

"Mom! Your blessings are still to come!"

After saying that, An Miaoyi looked at Ye Mingsheng meaningfully, and then introduced Furen Palace to Ye Cui, talking about the advantages of this layout, what materials were used, etc. Listening to An Miaoyi's introduction, Ye Cui was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling!

After all these were introduced, Ye Cui, who was very satisfied with the palace, patted An Miaoyi and said:
"Miaoyi, you've worked so hard to build this Furen Palace!"

"Mom, what's the meaning of good or bad? This is what a daughter-in-law should do!"

"This Furen Palace is good, but I heard that many places in the north are suffering from drought and floods. I heard that the court asked the Dadongsheng Bank to raise 1 million taels of silver. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for me to live in this new palace at this time?"

Upon hearing this, An Miaoyi quickly advised:

"Don't think too much, mother! Those places in the north will be handled by the local government, and the disaster victims will be properly dealt with..."

"Besides, the construction of Furen Palace did not involve any money from the Ministry of Revenue. This is a small token of appreciation from your Majesty and me to you. Your Majesty, don't you agree?"

Seeing that An Miaoyi had thrown the topic to him, Ye Mingsheng smiled and nodded:
"Mother, Miaoyi is right. The money used to build Furen Palace was from the imperial treasury, not from the Ministry of Revenue. Don't feel any burden! The disaster will be handled by the imperial court!"

"That being said, I still feel a little guilty!"

Seeing Ye Cui's moved expression, An Miaoyi knew that Ye Cui was not really embarrassed by the disaster, but was just pretending to be reserved.

After understanding this, An Miaoyi sneered in her heart, but on the surface she continued to persuade:

"Mom, today is your sixty-third birthday. You are a birthday star and a blessed person. You are living in Furen Palace today, which is a blessing on top of a blessing. It can be said that you are suppressing the luck of our Daqian Dynasty!"

"With your blessing, our Daqian Dynasty will surely be smoother and more prosperous. This is not only our expectation, but also the expectation of the people of the world. The people of the world know that you are kind-hearted, and everyone is looking forward to you bringing more blessings to our Daqian Dynasty!"

After saying this, An Miaoyi gave Jingren behind her a look, and Jingren immediately understood what she meant. He knelt on the ground and said loudly the words he had memorized in the morning:

"We respectfully invite the Queen Mother to move to Furen Palace, and may the house be filled with blessings and good fortune!"

After Jingren finished speaking, the concubines following behind him also realized it later and bowed one after another:
"We respectfully invite the Queen Mother to move to Furen Palace, and may the house be filled with blessings and good fortune!"

Ye Cui, who was already very satisfied with the Furen Palace, said these things not because she really cared about the victims, but just pretended to do so. So now that she had a chance, she took advantage of the situation and said:

"Since they are all people in the world, I will do my best to help them..."

After Ye Cui finished speaking, the concubines began to say auspicious words one after another. At this time, Zhang Yufeng walked over quickly.

Seeing Zhang Yufeng coming, Ye Mingsheng knew that something was up. He had almost finished looking at Furen Palace, so he intended to go back to the Imperial Study to work. When Ye Mingsheng was about to resign from Ye Cuishi, Ye Cuishi noticed Zhang Yufeng's arrival and took the initiative to speak:

"Your Majesty, if you have something to do, please go back to work! National affairs are more important!"

"Yes!"

After saying goodbye and leaving, Ye Mingsheng walked towards Zhang Yufeng, who immediately whispered:

"Your Majesty, two things! News has come from the north that General Xun Ke led his troops and Darachi's troops into the Turt Steppe of the Golden Horde. They are currently heading towards Lesa, the capital of the Golden Horde. So far, no trace of the main force of the Golden Horde has been found!"

Ye Mingsheng frowned slightly when he heard this. This news did not contain much information, but considering the lag in news, Xun Ke and Dari Achi's troops should have entered the central part of the Turt grassland, which is also the heartland of the Golden Horde!

Even if the Golden Horde was slow to react, it should have reacted by now. Therefore, it was highly likely that Xun Ke and Darachi's troops had already engaged the main force of the Golden Horde. Thinking of this, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help but look to the north, with a hint of worry in his eyes...

At this time, Zhang Yufeng continued:
"Your Majesty, those people from the Censorate are carrying Zeng Yang's coffin and blocking the door of the Central Coordination Office again!"

Ye Mingsheng couldn't help but look back at Zhang Yufeng when he heard this, and Zhang Yufeng continued:
"Those people in the Censorate demand that the murderers including Ji Xian be severely punished, the Coordination Office be disbanded, and the loyal officials of the court who were persecuted by the Coordination Office be released!" After hearing these three requests, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help but sneer.

After the Zeng Yang incident, Ye Mingsheng realized that someone would definitely take advantage of this incident to attack the Coordination Office, himself, and the reforms he initiated!

Those people in the Censorate and the Hanlin Academy have been holding back for a long time, always looking for an opportunity to counterattack, and now Zeng Yang's death is a good opportunity for them, they will definitely escalate this matter!

The GLs controlled the operation of the court, especially the middle and lower levels, many of whom were secretly disobeying the orders. The Coordination Office was a sharp weapon for them to push forward reforms. If they suppressed the Coordination Office, it would be difficult for their own reforms to be effectively implemented!
Honestly speaking, there is a war going on outside and a serious disaster in the north. At this critical juncture, Ye Mingsheng intends to slow down the reforms so as not to stimulate the GLs, so that these GLs can help him maintain the operation of the court and help him deal with the disaster!

However, it seems that these people are not satisfied with their slowdown. They want to take advantage of this opportunity to completely get rid of the Coordination Office and seize the sharp weapon that they use to promote reform...
Ye Mingsheng pondered for a while and asked:
"Who's taking the lead this time?"

"Your Majesty, this is Xuan Yifeng, Fang Shi!"

"What is Wang Huaiyi doing?"

"Lord Wang tried to dissuade them, but the imperial censors refused to listen to him and followed Xuan Yifeng and Fang Shi to block the gate of the General Coordination Office!"

Hearing this answer, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

After Chu Zhiyi was dismissed, Ye Mingsheng chose Wang Huaiyi, who came from the Internal Guard, to be parachuted into the position of Left Censor-in-Chief. To be honest, Ye Mingsheng also knew that the upright people in the Censorate might not obey Wang Huaiyi, but the reason why Ye Mingsheng still did this was largely because Ye Mingsheng believed that Wang Huaiyi was good at interpersonal relationships, so Ye Mingsheng wanted to use this characteristic of Wang Huaiyi to influence the upright people!

To be honest, Ye Mingsheng has complicated feelings towards the censors in the Censorate!

These censors in the Censorate did not have real power like the prefects, county magistrates, and provincial governors, so no one gave them money. This also led to the fact that the censors could be said to be the most honest and moral group in the Daqian Dynasty!

These people can be said to be a group of people with more character in the Daqian Dynasty. What they advocate is high moral character and the courage to impeach the powerful. Ye Mingsheng is the most powerful person in Daqian, so these people criticize Ye Mingsheng every other day and criticize the reforms promoted by Ye Mingsheng...

To be honest, anyone who is criticized every other day will definitely feel uncomfortable, and the same is true for Emperor Ye Mingsheng.

Ye Mingsheng really considered disbanding the Censorate, but this idea was just a thought in his mind at most!

After all, although the upright people in the Censorate and the Hanlin Academy may be a little too idealistic, even nitpicking, and defenders of traditional ideas, they are also the ones who dare to speak out most in the Daqian Dynasty!

Ye Mingsheng has been emperor for a short time, but including the period when he was a vassal of the Fengwu Army, Ye Mingsheng has been the lord for more than ten years. The longer he sits in this position, the more Ye Mingsheng feels how important the four words "speak frankly and give advice" are!
As a lord and a leader, it is very easy for you to hear flattery. There is nothing they can't say as long as you can think of it!

But can these flatteries help the country develop?
As an emperor, although Ye Mingsheng was immersed in the pleasure brought by his final say, he also felt a great sense of responsibility and sometimes asked himself whether his decision was correct.
Ye Mingsheng knew that he was a human being, not a god. He would make mistakes and had the limits of cognition. So deep down in his heart, Ye Mingsheng was walking on thin ice, worried that one of his decisions was wrong and would cause a major disaster to Daqian!

Ye Mingsheng has read quite a few history books. He knows what kind of disasters the wrong decisions made by the monarchs in history would bring to the people, especially those monarchs who were once wise and powerful, who left behind countless painful lessons in their later years.

For some people, it can be said that one misstep leads to eternal regret. Not only does their reputation disappear, but they also commit heinous crimes that are difficult to describe!

So deep down in his heart, Ye Mingsheng was also a little worried and afraid. Just as Ye Mingsheng said, Ye Mingsheng did not want to be the greatest emperor of all time or the most wise ruler, but at the same time, Ye Mingsheng also did not want to be a foolish ruler, a tyrant, or an incompetent ruler!
So in order to prevent himself from being carried away by the flattery and immersed in a world of giddy pleasure, Ye Mingsheng acquiesced to the character of the Censorate and acquiesced to the criticism of himself by Xuan Yifeng, Fang Shi and others!

But at the same time, Ye Mingsheng did not want these moralists in the Censorate to become a hindrance to his reforms, so Ye Mingsheng wanted to smooth things over by letting Wang Huaiyi parachute into the Censorate and take up a position as the Left Censor-in-Chief, a high-ranking position in the Censorate!
He wanted to use Wang Huaiyi's ability to build interpersonal relationships to guide the Censorate in the direction he wanted!
But the current facts show that Ye Mingsheng’s idea has failed!

Ye Mingsheng can use his power to force Wang Huaiyi to serve as the Left Censor-in-Chief and become the leader of the Censors!
But Ye Mingsheng couldn't make the censors in the Censorate recognize Wang Huaiyi from the bottom of their hearts!
In the eyes of these censors, there was no difference between Wang Huaiyi, who came from the Internal Security Bureau, and Ji Xian and other spy chiefs from the General Coordination Office. They were the objects of their contempt and exclusion!

However, people like Xuan Yifeng and Fang Shi, who have high moral character, are not afraid of the powerful and have the courage to speak out and make suggestions, are the ones they truly recognize in their hearts and are the ones they are willing to follow!
Thinking of this, Ye Mingsheng also had a headache. Ye Mingsheng could be ruthless to corruption, but as for the Qingliu group, Ye Mingsheng really didn't know what to do. After all, in Ye Mingsheng's view, in a sense, having such a group of people was Daqian's wealth and luck...

So Ye Mingsheng really didn't want to do anything cruel to these people!
But these people are really going too far. I didn't say anything when they besieged the Coordination Office last time, but they did the same thing this time. If I don't teach them a lesson, they might really become an obstacle to reform!
While thinking about this question, Ye Mingsheng also returned to the imperial study. However, before Ye Mingsheng could even sit down, Ye Cheng hurriedly walked into the room and reported to Ye Mingsheng:

"Your Majesty, the Coordination Office just opened fire! An imperial censor was hit, and the imperial censors became even more angry and rushed directly into the Coordination Office. Fortunately, Minister Cui and Minister Gu showed up in time to persuade them, and Xuan Yifeng and the others were able to withdraw!"

"Did the Central Coordination Office open fire?"

"It seems so. Anyway, one of the imperial censors was hit by a musket and fell down!"

"This matter cannot be just a seeming one. We must find out whether the Coordination Office actually opened fire!"

"Yes! I will arrange for someone to investigate right away!"

"Forget it! Go get him for me!"

Although Ye Mingsheng only mentioned him and did not say who he was, Ye Cheng immediately understood what he meant and left.

After Ye Cheng left, Ye Mingsheng, who was sitting alone in the imperial study, couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Ye Mingsheng actually had some doubts about the fact that Zeng Yang died in the prison of the United Coordination Office. However, considering Zeng Yang's previous impeachment of the United Coordination Office and the office's style, Ye Mingsheng felt that the most likely possibility was that those people in the United Coordination Office retaliated against Zeng Yang!

But this time it’s different. Ji Xian was promoted by Ye Mingsheng, so Ye Mingsheng knows Ji Xian!

Ji Xian comes from the Internal Security Department, so he may not be very good at the work of the Coordination Office, but this guy is a smart guy!
At this critical juncture, he is very clear that the overall coordination is a loss, and I have helped him to make a big deal out of a small matter and a small matter out of nothing. How could he dare to start a fire and intensify the conflict?