At this moment, Ma Zhou's mind was full of the person who answered this question at this time. If Li Mu would answer it in what tone and angle he would answer. How would he imitate and express his meaning?

Ma Zhou took a deep breath and said, "I ordered the royal family and meritorious officials to guard and enfeoff the country. This method has been in ancient times. It is not necessary for Your Majesty to follow the previous dynasty. But I ask Your Majesty to think twice. Is there any disadvantage in the previous dynasty? Isn't it too much for the riots caused by the excessive power of the vassal kings? Isn't it enough to be deafening?"

Ma Zhou seemed to have found the rhythm and his voice became louder: "Your Majesty wants to grant the cultivation of people, the ones His Majesty must be the ones His Majesty trusted and loved, and wants their descendants to inherit their duties and protect the Tang Dynasty for generations. This idea is good, but it may not be effective when implemented. If Your Majesty wants to reward these people, you can consider how to make them safe and make them rich, and it is not necessary to replace them with official positions."

Li Shimin's face looked a little ugly, but he did not interrupt Ma Zhou.

"Official positions are important tools for the country to govern the country and ensure peace, and should not be easily treated with them. A wise king should appoint virtuous people rather than be nepotist. Even a virtuous father like Yao and Shun will give birth to a son like Danzhu and Shangjun. The ministers rewarded by Your Majesty may not be virtuous."

Li Shimin's face changed from ugly to deep thought, listening quietly.

"If you inherit your father's position when you are still promoted, the situation will be even worse. Without the teaching and constraints of your father, you will easily become arrogant and extravagant. If you do whatever you want, the people will suffer disasters and the country will be destroyed. It will be too late to take back their official positions and the harm caused to the people cannot be compensated. Instead of letting such people poison the surviving people, there is such possibility, it is better not to do such things."

"I believe that there are many situations of rewards, and it is not necessary to grant official positions. Talent is the only standard for granting official positions. Only in this way can people who are in corpses and eat at home to steal high positions. I know that Your Majesty is their loyalty. But I think that loyalty cannot protect the Tang Dynasty for generations, and only talented people can create the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty. If all talents are appointed for generations, why worry that the Tang Dynasty cannot be for generations. If only those who are loyal but without talented people can enjoy the blessings of their predecessors for generations, the Han and Sui Dynasty are the lessons of the past."

After Ma Zhou finished speaking in anger, he was already sweating profusely. He had never said so many things in front of Li Shimin, and he dared to say them this year. First, Li Shimin said that he would not be guilty of his words, and then he thought of Li Mu's words and confronted him with his words. But after he finished speaking, he remembered that he was just Ma Zhou, not Li Mu, and Li Shimin's kindness to Li Mu might not be imposed on him.

Thinking of this, Ma Zhou felt a chill on the back of his neck. He said so many heart-wrenching words, even if Li Shimin killed him, he wouldn't say anything.

Li Shimin was indeed confused. There were no five people who dared to talk to him. Li Mu calculated one, Wei Zheng calculated one, and then the Ma Zhou in front of him. The difference was from Wei Zheng's "racefulness" and Li Mu's "smartness". When Ma Zhou talked about things, he was the easiest to accept. Li Shimin chewed Ma Zhou's words and had to admit that he made a lot of sense.

The reason is not difficult, it is clear at all. Li Shimin is not a fool. He would want to do this because he thought of Li You. Li You wanted to go overseas and stay in Linyi and Zhenla. Li Shimin agreed to him and based on this, he thought of something he had talked with Li Mu before.

What he talked with Li Mu was about how to govern the country. Li Shimin always had the intention to expand territory and wanted to take all the land to the point where he could take it. But Li Mu had the opposite opinion of this, and Li Mu gave the reason. If the territory was too large, how should he be governed?

At present, the Tang Dynasty's government orders are greatly reduced when implemented in the Guanzhong area. The reason is that in the local area, the influence of aristocratic families is still far beyond that of the imperial court. If the Tang Dynasty expands infinitely, what can it be even if it destroys the surrounding countries? It can be destroyed, cannot be cured, and it will waste people and cause money, but it will not get anything. What is the significance of such a war?

So Li Mu's opinion is that unless the problem of effective governance can be solved, he does not recommend unlimited expansion. If you have the energy and money, it is better to vigorously develop people's livelihood and make the people live a better life.

At that time, Li Shimin didn't think of how to refute it. But after returning to Chang'an, he thought about these things. Li Shimin felt that the feudal system seemed to solve this problem. If his son and his loyal ministers were divided into various places, wouldn't it be much smoother to implement his own decrees?

Just like Li Mu was in Yangzhou, it turned out that Yangzhou was also pushing against the implementation of the new policy, but after Li Mu took charge, Yangzhou became the most thorough place to implement the new policy except Chang'an and Luoyang.

When a man was stuck in a horn, even eight cows couldn't get it back. The more Li Shimin thought about it, the more he felt that this matter could work, so he asked all officials to discuss it in court. But as soon as he started, he was criticized by Wei Zheng. But Wei Zheng just said it was no, but did not say why. When he returned to Tai Chi Hall, Ma Zhou's report explained in detail why this was not possible. Only then did Li Shimin suddenly realized how ridiculous the matter he had thought of was.

Yes, the loyalty of the ministers who were granted by themselves does not mean that their descendants are loyal. The capable ministers who were granted by themselves does not mean that their descendants are also capable. Perhaps in their lifetime, they can achieve some results. But what is left to the Tang Dynasty in the end is an infinite hidden danger.

If these people were stationed in a certain place in the era, they might still be extremely loyal when they were alive. But if they died, they and their descendants would definitely become warlords who dominated the land during the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty.

By that time, will this country still belong to Li Tang?

Li Shimin sighed and said, "Your dear is very reasonable, but I have thought it a little wrong. I will give up this matter, so I will not mention it anymore." Li Shimin is open-minded and said he would not mention it anymore. This matter was over. He looked at Ma Zhou and said, "Your dear talent is what I want to look at. I want to change the Secretary-General to the Secretary-General, and to place a number of ninth-rank scholars, pick up the vacancy and assist in government affairs. I wonder if you are willing to let go of Luoyang and come to serve in the position?"

Ma Zhou was stunned, Li Tai and Changsun Chong were also stunned.

They were stunned. It was not because the secretary-general was changed to a secretary-general, nor because Li Shimin wanted to ask someone to help assist in government affairs. Their surprise came from the fact that the bachelor's grade was only nine-grade!

Ninth rank! Compared with the minor officials, the lowest rank of the Tang Dynasty, there is nothing more than an official position and a little more monthly salary. The small official with sesame and mung beans can hit Chang'an City, which can fall into the fourth-rank minister, even in the local area, no one takes him seriously.

Ma Zhou was the chief minister of the Marquis' Mansion in Luoyang, and he was also a fifth-rank official. Why did he return to Chang'an to work but become a ninth-rank? How could this happen?

Before the two of them could react, Ma Zhou understood, looked happy, and bowed and said, "Your Majesty is very kind, even if I die, I will never repay you. I am willing to be a ninth-rank scholar and do my best to serve Your Majesty."

"It's true that they are smart people!" Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction and said to Li Tai and Changsun: "You two, you are hesitant and hesitant. I will remember you. The Bachelor of the Secretary-General, you don't have the share of you, what should you do, what should you do!"

The two of them were still a little confused and dared not ask. After bowing and bowing, they stepped down.

Li Shimin raised his hand, and Eunuch Gao came to Ma Zhou with a tray. On the tray was a goldfish bag, a jade pendant, and a seal.

Eunuch Gao smiled and explained to Ma Zhou: "This is a goldfish bag that is qualified to wear only in the third-grade purple robe. Your Majesty has given him a special gift to Ma Xuexue. With this goldfish bag, Ma Xuexue can enjoy the right to enter and exit the palace."

Ma Zhou said, took it with both hands and wore it on his waist. The so-called fish bag is actually a container for placing fish talismans. In the words of later generations, the fish talisman can be regarded as an ID card. It is made of wood or metal. It is shaped like a fish, divided into two pieces, with the name of an official engraved in it, where he served, what rank he holds, what salary he has, what kind of treatment he enjoys when he travels, etc., when he goes to and from various confidential places, he must check it.

"This jade pendant represents the identity of a bachelor of the Secretary-General. It must be kept well and must not be lost. If the pendant is present, the pendant will be lost and the pendant will be killed. If you catch up with urgent use, you can get a thousand guan of money from the Datang Bank in any place at any time and record it in the account of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Of course, it will be reported later."

Ma Zhou thanked him for your gratitude, and Eunuch Gao handed him the seal again.

"Your future duty is to assist Your Majesty in reviewing memorials from all over the country, and provide advice for consultants when your Majesty needs it. All memorials you have read must be used with this seal. All memorials are confidential and must not be disclosed. Therefore, if the content of the memorial with a seal is leaked, you will not escape the blame. Do you understand the benefits and disadvantages?"

Ma Zhou hurriedly said, "I understand."

When Li Shimin saw that Ma Zhou was polite, he was happy and said, "Do you have a mansion in Chang'an? Where are your relatives now?"

"Go back to Your Majesty, I have no mansion in Chang'an. I have been living in Chang He's mansion before. The Later Minister followed the Marquis to Luoyang, and his family also received it from Luoyang."

"Since there is no mansion in Chang'an, I will give you a mansion." Li Shimin looked at Eunuch Gao, and Eunuch Gao said with emotion: "I will do this within three days. Please wait for Mr. Ma for a few days."

"Thank you, my father-in-law."

Ma Zhou knew in his heart that Li Shimin was asking him to participate in the confidentiality. In such an important position, it was impossible to be a little guarded. His family must stay in Chang'an as a hostage. The mansion given to him must be inseparable from the East and West Factory's eyeliner. Although he was reluctant in his heart, he also knew that it was impossible to avoid this. If he wanted to show off his heart and take revenge, it was impossible not to pay some price, so he could only grit his teeth and admit it.

Suddenly, Ma Zhou remembered that Li Mu asked him to burn the letter, and couldn't help but admire Li Mu's foresight. With his future position, it is unlikely that he would have close contact with Li Mu anymore. If so, he and Li Mu would have trouble.

Ma Zhou thanked him for his gratitude and gave him a leave. Eunuch Gao sent a young eunuch to take him to his place to stay. He came back and stood beside Li Shimin with his hands.

"Ma Zhou is a talented person." Li Shimin exclaimed: "I haven't been in contact with this person, but I haven't seen him for a year. He has a lot of training in his work. It seems that he has been under Li Mu."

Eunuch Gao smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard of some things."

"Huh?" Li Shimin looked at Eunuch Gao, and Eunuch Gao explained: "According to the fans' rewards, Ma Zhou complained all day long when he first arrived in Luoyang. He thought that the Marquis brought him to Luoyang to revenge him, and he was very resentful for a while. But later, the Marquis destroyed locusts and built roads, and more and more things were handed over to him. Somehow, he stopped complaining and began to work hard. When the Marquis left Luoyang, the two had a deep conversation. In the few words of the Monk's return, it seemed that if Ma Zhou was unwilling to be in Luoyang, he would let him go back to Chang'an. But it has been more than half a year since the two talks, and Ma Zhou had never mentioned it once until His Majesty summoned him. It seems that if His Majesty had not summoned him, Ma Zhou would probably have wanted to do it wholeheartedly."

"Li Mu has always been so good at regulating people. The three who came today have all been his means. It seems that I have to send more people to him in the future..." Li Shimin laughed twice and stood up and said, "I should rest too. Let's go to Yin Fei's place today. You're sending another letter. What did he say?"

"No," Eunuch Gao responded and arranged for the car arrangement.

...

There is no airtight wall in the world. Soon, the secretary's supervisor was changed to a secretary's pavilion, and Ma Zhou was named a ninth-rank bachelor, and all the civil and military officials in the court knew about it.

There was an uproar.

The Secretary-General is a very special place. Before the Tang Dynasty, the Secretary-General had two bureaus, "Writings" and "Taishi", which was responsible for writing books and history, and was a very important organization. However, when the Tang Dynasty was established, these two important responsibilities were divided. The Secretary-General was only the responsibility of proofreading, which was a idle position. Although it was a idle position, the level of the secretary-General was very high, and he was from the third rank. Before Wei Zheng became the censor, he was a secretary-General.

But now the Secretary-General was changed to the Secretary-General, and the person in charge became a ninth-rank bachelor. What kind of signal does this strange operation reveal is puzzled.

After the Secretary-General was changed to the Secretary-General, is his responsibility still only proofreading? If it were just proofreading, what was his proofreading? And why have he been a secretary-general of high-quality dynasties all over the ages turned into an almost inequality ninth rank? What is the profound meaning of His Majesty's move? What are the precautions for?

The court officials were talking about it, but they couldn't guess what was so.

Only a few people probably guessed what Li Shimin meant, and Changsun Wuji was naturally one of them.
Chapter completed!