A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Then he promoted a large number of his cronies, and gave some positions to officials who only knew how to do practical work but did not know how to curry favor.

Among them was a man named Li Shande, who was promoted from a ninth-rank supervisor of the Shanglin Bureau to an eighth-rank assistant in charge of the Shanglin Bureau.

Although Li Shande's purpose was to weaken Zhang Jiuling's power and promote his own officials, he did promote a number of capable people, and his reputation was mixed among the court and the people.

What truly ruined his reputation was the incident of erecting a cane on a horse.

The ceremonial horses were the fine steeds displayed daily at the palace gates and during court assemblies in the Tang Dynasty. They were managed by the Flying Dragon Stable and were used specifically to display royal majesty. They did not need to work. They were treated well, with their fodder supply equivalent to that of a third-rank official, hence the name "third-rank fodder and beans".

The only requirement for this type of horse is that it must remain quiet and not neigh at all. If it makes a sudden noise, it will be immediately removed from the ceremonial procession and abandoned.

Li Linfu led all the remonstrating officials to the stable and pointed to the imperial ceremonial horses, saying...

"Do any of you recognize these horses?"

"If these horses don't neigh at all, they can eat their fill of fine feed."

"If it neighs or cries out without cause, it will be withdrawn from the ceremonial procession and never used again!"

Although he was pointing at the ceremonial horses, his gaze remained fixed on the remonstrating official before him.

The officials who were able to enter the imperial court were not fools; they all understood the implied meaning behind Li Linfu's words.

If they all obediently refrain from impeaching Li Linfu, they can remain secure in their official positions and receive their salaries from the imperial court.

But if they dare to submit a memorial to impeach Li Linfu, then Li Linfu will strip them of their official robes and hats, expel them from the court, and ensure that they never have the chance to enter the court again. At that time, all the enemies they impeached will take revenge on them.

Standing in front of the remonstrating official was a man named Du Jin, who was also a remonstrating official and a censor.

He twice submitted memorials criticizing the abuses of the time and Li Linfu's monopolization of power, which offended Li Linfu.

"Lord Du, is His Majesty truly wise?"

Li Linfu is preparing to make an example of Du Jin as a warning to others!

"Your Majesty is naturally wise."

Du Jin dared not say that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was incompetent in front of so many people.

"Since His Majesty is so wise, why does Lord Du oppose His Majesty's edict?"

"Does Lord Du perhaps consider himself more wise than His Majesty?"

Li Linfu slapped a huge accusation on Du Jin, startling him.

"Your Majesty is wise beyond measure, but sometimes you may be misled by treacherous officials. I will speak out in all my might."

Du Jin quickly replied that he was a remonstrating official in the Secretariat, holding the rank of Remonstrance Official. Although he was only a seventh-rank official, his position was extremely prestigious, being one of the most prestigious official positions in the two departments. He could directly submit memorials to His Majesty, making him a lowly but powerful official.

Therefore, Li Linfu was not to be underestimated.

"A treacherous minister? Are you referring to me?"

"You audacious Du Jin! How dare you defy His Majesty's orders and even insult the Prime Minister! Is this the conduct expected of an advisor?!"

"Guards, strip him of his official hat and demote him to the position of county magistrate in Lingnan. If he fails to achieve top-tier performance in the provincial government's assessment within three years, he will be expelled from the government and never be employed again!"

Li Linfu was furious and immediately ordered Du Jin to be arrested and demoted to a county magistrate, a position thousands of miles away from the capital, Luoyang.

The assessments of the Secretariat were entirely in his hands; if he didn't give his approval, Du Jin would have no chance of achieving top-tier political achievements.

Then, it will be perfectly reasonable to expel him from the court and demote him to a commoner.

"I am merely a remonstrator in the Secretariat; Prime Minister Li, you have no right to punish me!"

Du Jin's expression changed, and he quickly shouted loudly.

"Oh? I have no authority?"

"Does Your Majesty have that authority?"

Li Linfu took out the imperial edict, a cold smile playing on his lips, and looked at Du Jin with the eyes of someone looking at a dead man.

Du Jin repeatedly interfered with the policies issued by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, which greatly annoyed Li Longji.

"The county magistrate and the remonstrator are of the same rank. His Majesty believes that a man of such great talent as Lord Du should naturally go to the local areas to serve the people and accumulate experience as a local official, so that he can be promoted more effectively."

"Your Majesty's sincere kindness is truly appreciated by Lord Du."

Du Jin's face turned pale. Were these two official duties the same?

How can a mere county magistrate be compared to a remonstrating official?

He's not the magistrate of any of the counties surrounding Luoyang.

The position of Buque was one of the most prestigious official positions in the imperial court, with a complete promotion path. Many prime ministers and high-ranking officials of the Six Ministries had held this position.

His daily interactions were with high-ranking officials of the imperial court, and he could even be on equal footing with the ministers of the Six Ministries, who held a position of great respect.

Moreover, they possess the power to attend court assemblies, participate in court discussions, and directly submit memorials to the emperor. If they gain the emperor's favor, they can easily rise to high positions.

What is a county magistrate?

There are countless low-ranking officials across the country who don't even have the qualifications to step into the imperial court.

Many county magistrates never met more than a prefectural governor in their entire lives, and even the governors didn't have the right to meet Du Jin.

Their statuses are worlds apart.

It was impossible for Du Jin to simply give in to Li Linfu. If he did, he would never be able to hold his head high in front of his colleagues again, and his remonstrances would become meaningless.

Not to mention Li Linfu, who would likely not let him go either. He had already seen through Li Linfu's purpose: to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, and he was the chicken to be killed.

"This humble official requests an audience with His Majesty!"

Du Jin wanted to see Li Longji, and persuaded the emperor with his silver tongue.

Li Linfu sneered, "The imperial edict is here, why don't you accept it?"

"Are you going to disobey the imperial decree?"

Du Jin had no choice but to accept the imperial decree first.

"A mere county magistrate dares to presume to have an audience with the Emperor?"

Li Linfu scoffed disdainfully, "What official position do you hold? How dare you reside in this imperial palace? Why don't you hurry back to your own territory?"

After saying this, he waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards took Du Jin away and escorted him out of the palace.

"What do you gentlemen think of this horse?"

Li Linfu pointed to a ceremonial horse that had remained silent and asked the assembled officials.

Having learned from Du Jin's example, the other officials dared not oppose Li Linfu again.

Everyone praised the horse as excellent.

Li Linfu stroked his beard with satisfaction and ordered that the best feed be provided immediately and that the animal be carefully cared for.

The officials who offered their advice felt extremely humiliated, but dared not resist.

From then on, the path of remonstrance in the court was completely cut off. All the officials and courtiers who offered advice kept silent, only receiving their salaries and not correcting mistakes. The court was filled with only the sounds of obedience and agreement.

No one in the court dared to impeach Li Linfu, nor did anyone dare to oppose Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's decrees. The world only heard what was agreeable, and the channels for expressing opinions were blocked. The system of remonstrating officials, which had been established through Wei Zheng since the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, was completely destroyed.

Li Linfu's next step was to take action against the border generals, intending to replace them with Han-Chinese generals from other regions.