Thief Emperor

Chapter 972 Cleaning up the old dust

Yao Zhong also bowed his head and said, "Prime Minister Du and I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

The two prime ministers have been following the emperor for more than ten years. They naturally know the emperor's temper and why he is angry.

His Majesty the Emperor wants to be more decent and does not intend to punish the emperor himself. As prime ministers, they must of course be considerate of the emperor and do what they should do for him.

Afterwards, the emperor discussed the flood in detail and finally came to a conclusion: "This is the biggest disaster since the establishment of the new dynasty. Our court must let the people of the world, especially those in the disaster-stricken areas, see that the current court is completely different from the old Zhou court."

The emperor said slowly: "I have asked people to try their best to transfer food to the disaster area, and let Zhuo Guangrui go to the disaster area in person to preside over this disaster relief."

At this point, he thought for a moment and continued, "The court must also do its best to help, at least to prevent people from starving to death."

His Majesty the Emperor looked at the two prime ministers and knocked on the table with his hand: "After the disaster relief, when I have time, I will leave Luoyang and go to the disaster-stricken areas to take a look in person."

After hearing these words, the two prime ministers were slightly stunned, but neither of them said anything.

The emperor was going to go on a tour, and to visit the disaster area, which was undoubtedly a big event.

Even if the people below originally wanted to enrich themselves from this natural disaster, after hearing this news, they probably wouldn't dare to make any small moves.

The emperor might also want to use these two prime ministers to reveal the news that he might go to the disaster area.

The news leaked out, but it was actually nothing.

After all, Emperor Li's purpose was to provide disaster relief, not to catch corrupt officials.

The three of them chatted for a long time until it was almost dark. Emperor Li ended the three-person meeting. He stood up, looked at the sky outside, stretched his waist, and said, "Let's stop here today. Prime Minister Yao can go back first."

"Brother Shouyi, please stay and have a meal with me."

Upon hearing this, Yao Zhong immediately bowed his head, then said goodbye and left.

Du Qian stayed where he was, not surprised.

The relationship between him and the emperor was not simply that of a monarch and his subject, but more like that of friends.

During these seven or eight years, the emperor and his minister had drunk together in private quite a few times.

Following the Emperor's order, palace servants quickly began to prepare wine and food. In just half an hour, more than ten dishes were served.

His Majesty the Emperor had a low table carried into the Ganlu Hall, and he and Du Qian sat on each side, facing each other.

This is actually against the rules of etiquette.

Because the emperor is unique, according to the rules, he should eat alone, that is, sit at a table by himself.

When the emperor invites people to dinner, each person should have his own table. On the one hand, it is to show his status, and on the other hand, it is also for safety reasons.

However, Emperor Li did not have these taboos. When the two jugs of wine were brought up, he picked up the jug and personally poured a glass of wine for Du Qian. Du Qian quickly picked up the glass with both hands and took the wine.

After the two men clinked their glasses, Li Yun smiled and said to Du Qian, "Throughout history, there have probably not been many monarchs and ministers who drink together like you and I."

Du Qian toasted Li Yun and said with a smile, "Since ancient times, emperors have always been arrogant. There are few emperors as approachable as Your Majesty."

Li Yun clinked his glass with his, raised his head and drank it all, then put the glass on the table and said with a smile: "I just think we are all human beings, and it is really inappropriate to suddenly act high and mighty just because you have accomplished something."

"But everyone has their own ideas."

Emperor Li looked at Lord Du who was pouring wine for him and said with a smile: "Perhaps, in the eyes of aristocratic family like Brother Shouyi, my style is unethical and I am a country bumpkin emperor."

If an ordinary minister heard such heart-piercing words, he would have knelt on the ground and apologized. However, Du Qian was different. He just poured wine for Li Yun calmly and said with a smile: "I will tell you the truth."

"If Your Majesty did not take your status too seriously and treated everyone like this, I might really think so of Your Majesty, but Your Majesty has been on the throne for more than seven years, and until now..."

He looked down and said with a smile, "There are not many people who can drink with Your Majesty like me."

"In this case, Your Majesty is not ignorant of etiquette, but is just nostalgic."

Authority generally comes from mystery and strangeness.

If Emperor Li could really sit down and drink with everyone, no matter how great his martial arts skills were, he would not be able to remain emperor for long.

He must maintain a certain distance from his subordinates and subjects. Only by maintaining a distance can he exert authority.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Li smiled dumbly: "Brother Shouyi, you are still pleasing to the ear."

The two men clinked their glasses again. Li Yun looked at him and said with a smile, "Yesterday, a military report was sent from the front line. My Erlang was at the front line and killed three Khitan soldiers by himself."

There was a hint of boasting in his words.

Du Qian heard this and looked up at Li Yun, a little stunned: "Did His Royal Highness the King of Yue lead the troops?" "He didn't lead the troops."

Emperor Li was somewhat pleased and said with a smile, "He joined the army under a false name and served as a scout under Meng Qing. He encountered the Khitans at Bailang Mountain in Yingzhou."

His Majesty the Emperor was in high spirits and told Du Qian in detail about what was happening on the front line. After listening, Du Xianggong couldn't help but sighed: "One person killed three Khitan soldiers. The Second Prince is really brave."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Li smiled even more brightly, clinked glasses with Du Qian and said, "Come, let's have a drink."

The two of them exchanged cups and talked for a long time. After three rounds of drinking, Emperor Li raised his head and drank a glass of wine. Suddenly, he slammed the table hard and shouted angrily: "It's been seven years!"

"For seven whole years, I was trapped in Luoyang City. Every day, I was either dealing with government affairs or handling government affairs. I think I worked diligently and never slacked off for a single day."

"Damn, these bastards!"

Li Yun was very annoyed: "The river burst and they actually blamed it on me."

"There's more than one person who said that!"

In the past two days, many people have submitted letters to the emperor, most of which say the same thing as Doctor Lu, meaning that the emperor has angered God by launching a war.

Although no one asked the emperor to issue an edict of repentance, the general meaning was to request His Majesty the Emperor to give the people a rest and to stop fighting.

Du Qian stood up, walked to Li Yun, patted Li Yun on the back, and said in a consoling voice: "Your Majesty, the theory of the connection between heaven and man has a long history. It has been used for many dynasties."

"This argument has its advantages and disadvantages."

The benefit of the unity of nature and man is that it strengthens the legitimacy of the emperor's regime and sanctifies the emperor's position and identity.

Let the people of the world feel that this is the son chosen by God.

In this way, not many people will rebel.

The disadvantage is that there will always be some scholars who will take this opportunity to find fault with the emperor.

Of course, some of these scholars were bad people, and they deliberately used this statement to attack the emperor.

But there are also some stupid people who really believe in the theory of the connection between heaven and man.

Li Yun looked up at Du Qian and shook his head slightly to indicate that he was fine.

Du Qian sat back in his seat and said, "After the river burst, there were many memorials submitted to the court using the excuse of heavenly connection. Your Majesty has seen more than these. I have seen many more."

"Most of these are officials of the old Zhou Dynasty. They don't understand the 'pragmatism' and 'achievements' of our new dynasty, and their ideas are still stuck in the past dynasty."

"Most of the people here don't have any bad intentions. Your Majesty doesn't need to be on the same page with them."

Li Yun lowered his head, took a sip of wine, and said, "I really want to have a fight with them."

Du Qian was stunned when he heard this. He looked up at Li Yun and immediately understood what the emperor meant.

"Your Majesty, the time is not yet ripe?"

"I think that's about right."

Emperor Li exhaled a breath of alcohol and said, "After seven years, the court has been on the right track. Next, we need to gradually eliminate the officials of the old Zhou Dynasty and leave behind a complete and pure new Tang Dynasty."

"Brother Shouyi, this matter certainly cannot be accomplished overnight, but there must be a beginning."

"I have wanted to do this for a long time, but I have never had a reason or a start. Today's event is a good reason and a good start."

He looked at Du Qian and said seriously, "Brother Shouyi."

Du Qian was silent for a while after hearing this, then smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty has said so, I will do as you say."

At this point, he poured a glass of wine for Li Yun and asked, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask, are you really angry these past two days?"

"Or are you pretending to be angry?"

Li Yun looked at him with a calm expression.

"Of course I'm really angry."

"I am an upright person."

Emperor Li raised his glass, clinked it with Prime Minister Du, and drank it all in one gulp.

“Never lie.”

(End of this chapter)