Chapter 36: Secret discussion on warm cabinet

West Warm Pavilion.

Emperor Qiyuan leaned leaning against the soft pillow, and a person was kneeling in front of him. The tea on the table next to him was not hot and it was already cold.

Emperor Qiyuan looked at Li Donglu and said, "I know that you are an old minister of two dynasties. When the late emperor was there, he commented that you were cautious and dedicated to your work. In addition, he was quite chivalrous. Why... I look at it today and don't seem to dare to speak? Don't worry, everyone here has been driven out by me today. If you have anything to say, it's okay."

Grand Secretary Li Donglu picked up the herbal tea and took a sip, hesitated and said: "Your Majesty, I dare not speak, but... I think this matter...ah!"

"Can't do it?" Emperor Qi Yuan raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Donglu.

Li Donglu still lowered his head, pondered for a moment and said, "This matter can be done, but it is necessary to do it for the long-term plan. But the emperor summoned me to discuss matters, which was quite anxious. I was afraid..."

"Haha!" Emperor Qi Yuan smiled with his lips pursed, reached out and grabbed a brocade mat from the side, and threw it to Li Donglu: "Don't kneel down, sit down and talk!"

"Thank you, the emperor." Li Donglu took the brocade drift and sat down again and said, "I am afraid that the emperor will devote himself to the country and the people, but he is too hasty and causes some other changes..."

"Any other change?" Emperor Qi Yuan seemed to have expected him to say this, and smiled and said, "You don't have to beat around the bush, just say it directly. Isn't it just that when my order to withdraw the vassal states arrives, those wealthy princes will refuse to obey, and will they rebel if they are forced into a hurry?"

Li Donglu suddenly looked up at Emperor Qiyuan when he heard this, and then quickly lowered his head: "The emperor is wise and wise... This matter is indeed necessary. This act of withdrawing the vassal state has existed in ancient times. It has been divided since the Xia and Shang dynasties, and it was even more powerful in the Han Dynasty. It was not a problem at first, but after several generations, the number of descendants gradually increased and the salary was not reduced. Over time, it became a burden to the court. It was only after Emperor Jing that he had withdrawn the vassal state, but he had improper employment and misleading several vassal states..."

Li Donglu took another sip of tea and continued, "Although this is how he finally successfully withdrew the vassals, which laid the foundation for the prosperity of the future generations. The emperor, I dared to say that using the ancients as a lesson, we can know the rise and fall of Emperor Jing. The worries of Emperor Jing of the past are the sufferings of His Majesty today. The situation of the emperor is somewhat similar to that of Emperor Jing of Han. Although the vassal kings are powerful, no matter how big they are, they are not as great as the court. Emperor Jing of Han had Zhou Yafu and Xiliuying, but the emperor had more than one Zhou Yafu and more than one Xiliuying today... It is because the minister said that this act of withdrawing the vassals... can be done."

"Yeah, um..." Emperor Qiyuan breathed soothingly and nodded repeatedly: "Well, right! You continue!"

"But Emperor Jing of Han used Chao Cuo in the wrong way back then. This person was too eager to do things, knowing the principles of nature but not human feelings. He just wanted to cut it with one piece of cake, and then he got the water clear and turbid. But he forgot that if people were too close to each other, not only could others not breathe, but he could not breathe... In the end, he would not say that he died, but also caused half of the country to be in chaos. If Emperor Jing had not been wise and had no idea about Zhou Yafu and Li Guangcheng, the consequences would be difficult to predict... Therefore, the second sentence I want to say is, please be sure to slow down and learn from Emperor Jing's affairs, and do not be impatient!"

"Well..." Emperor Qiyuan nodded, and after a long time he stopped talking. He did not listen to Du Ning's words, but Li Donglu's words forced him to think carefully. "Li Qing..." Emperor Qiyuan sighed: "What you said makes sense, very reasonable, and I listen to them too. But I also want to say a few words..."

"Your Majesty, listen."

"Well, someone said this to me a few days ago. It's similar to your idea. I'm afraid that the removal of the vassal state will cause turmoil in the world. Now the north of the court is still threatened by the Beirong. If the action is not appropriate, I'm afraid that my throne will not be stable, haha!" Emperor Qiyuan smiled and said, "I have been sitting in this seat for decades and have never been worried about this. I will just say this today. Even so, I have to take this risk! As I said, I don't have much time... Now I'm getting old day by day. If I sit in this seat for a day, I have to finish what I should do! I'm not afraid of suffering alone, but I can't give a mess to my son!"

Emperor Qiyuan said again: "You said that my situation is very similar to Emperor Jing of Han. The situation of the court and my situation are indeed very similar to him. But don't forget that Emperor Jing of Han had a Queen Mother Dou suppressed him and even caused a farce of brothers passing the throne. There was no Queen Mother Dou in my palace! Emperor Jing of Han valued Chao Cuo and forced several vassal kings to rebel, but I am not using Chao Cuo now, but you... You are not Chao Cuo! Even so, Emperor Jing of Han relied on Zhou Yafu and Li Guang and others to quell the rebellion. He had Zhou Yafu and I also had! More than one! Compared with this, my situation was much better than Emperor Jing of Han... don't you?"

Li Donglu bent down and said, "The emperor is wise! The emperor is so proud of his old minister, and he is so ashamed of being accused of taking responsibility!"

"This is wrong. I just said that I will use you as Chao Cuo. You can't be ashamed of you. You have to really... carry this burden..." Emperor Qi Yuan looked at Li Donglu seriously: "I looked at this burden among all the civil and military officials in the court. Only you can bear it, it's yours!"

"Your Majesty is so kind to me... I will devote myself to my whole life, and after my death... I will..." Li Donglu's voice was a little trembling.

"Okay, okay, it's all you need to do your best... The second half of the sentence must be taken back!" Emperor Qiyuan smiled, and then said earnestly: "You are afraid that you have misunderstood me. I am not asking you to sacrifice your life for the country. I want you to do what Chao Cuo did back then, but I am not Chao Cuo, and you will not make the mistakes he had back then. Even if Chao Cuo did not make those mistakes back then, those vassal kings may not be rebellious. It would be a bit untrue to attribute all the mistakes to Chao Cuo in the future. Therefore, what you have to do is to comfort them as much as possible to avoid them confronting the court head-on. If they really have the intention of being unjust, you have to make plans early..."

"Emperor! This... I'm afraid I can't do anything to do it..."

"Um?"

"Emperor, it is the rule of the ancestors to set up vassals in the court, and the vassal kings in various places are blood relatives of the royal family. If the vassal is removed, the old minister can still reluctantly share the worries of the emperor, but if... in all, it is all about the emperor's family affairs. The old minister... the old minister dares not overcome it even if he dies!"

"Hmph!" Emperor Qi Yuan snorted and said, "Of course I know this, but it is related to the state's system. How can I ignore it? Don't worry, since I asked you to take on this mission, I will not let you make any mistakes. It would be fine if I withdraw the vassal safely. If they do not obey the court's orders, they will be rebels. At that time, they will not be royal relatives, and they will all... act according to the court's laws, that is..."

"emperor……"

Emperor Qiyuan looked at Li Donglu with understanding and said calmly: "Don't worry, I have a sense of responsibility. This matter is a little anxious, but I don't have to worry about it in the past few days. I will definitely say hello to the Empress Dowager before, and I will discuss it in the court. I came to you today, just to discuss it with you and find a suitable opportunity. Then you will make a move in the court to see the movements of all officials..."

After saying this, Li Donglu knew that the emperor had made up his mind, and the rest was useless, so he had to follow the emperor's wishes and try his best to delay the matter and do it more carefully. Therefore, he lowered his head and thought about it, and said, "Your Majesty, I think this matter is not to be mentioned in the court in advance."

"Oh?" Emperor Qi Yuan owed his body and leaned towards Li Donglu: "Does Li Qing have any good ideas?"

Li Donglu smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, I think that since I have made up my mind, this matter is to go through the situation in the court's public discussion, but once it is revealed, many people will inevitably oppose it. The crowd is angry, and it is probably difficult to block their mouths by me alone. Therefore, this first point is to slowly reveal some news and give some time to those who support the emperor's withdrawal of the vassal. Then, in the court, those who oppose it will be caught off guard and will inevitably be defeated. The emperor is determined by the court, and this matter... is decided."

"Well, it makes sense!" Emperor Qi Yuan smiled: "This is the first point, there must be a second point, right?"

"Yes." Li Donglu moved and continued: "This withdrawal of the vassal state, whether successful or not, is closely related to the royal family. I think the emperor must talk to the empress dowager carefully and understand the interests of the empress dowager. The empress dowager is quite sensible. If the emperor makes it clearer... this matter will be much easier..."

"Didn't I say that, the Queen Mother's side is not a problem."

"Emperor, what I want to say is..." Li Donglu lowered his voice and said carefully: "The withdrawal of the vassal state is an unprecedented event in this dynasty. The emperor must be careful about everything and must not be careless. The empress dowager is the lord of the harem, and he has a lot of relatives with all the vassal kings. If the empress dowager follows it... I beg your Majesty to obey the advice of the old minister! If the empress dowager agrees, the old minister will be careless. If the empress dowager refuses, the old minister... I am afraid that he will die and it will be difficult to fulfill the emperor's wish!"

Emperor Qiyuan didn't say anything, but just looked at Li Donglu silently. After a while, he sighed and said, "Okay, I promised you this one. I will say it in advance on the Empress Dowager's side, but I still say the same thing. Remember for me, this dynasty is not the Han Dynasty, I am not Emperor Jing of Han, the Empress Dowager... not the Empress Dowager Dou!"

Li Donglu was in panic and lay down on the ground: "I will die and refuse his crime!"

In the West Warehouse, the atmosphere suddenly became stiff. The two of them didn't speak for a long time, but the sound of breathing was heavy. After a while, Li Donglu said tentatively: "Your Majesty, this matter... the old minister has another idea."

"Tell me!"
Chapter completed!