Chapter 405: Grand Secretary

Emperor Zhaowu took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finalize the abolishment of prime minister with unprecedented strength. Even the five cabinet ministers chose it in one go, obviously to make this matter the ironclad fact.

He drafted an order on the spot in the court to announce the first cabinet to the world. The five great scholars were the third prince, the king of Zhe County, Qin Lin, the grandson of Xuanzheng Hall, Qu Yanwu, the grandson of the Ministry of Rites, Tian Minnong, the grandson of the Ministry of Revenue, was the grandson of Wenhua Hall, Wang Anting, the grandson of the Left Censor, was the grandson of Xianzheng Hall, and Zhou Lianben, the grandson of Longdong, was the grandson of Wuying Hall.

The Grand Secretary of the Cabinet is the first rank, and he is in charge of government affairs, commands six ministries, drafts edicts for the emperor and approves memorials. Whether in terms of rank or real power, he can be said to be extremely respected. Although he does not have the name of a prime minister, he is actually a prime minister.

Except for Zhou Lian who was in Longdong and it took some time to come, the other four were all in the Golden Palace and immediately went out to thank him and shouted long live. Emperor Zhaowu was naturally kind and warm and Mian was very enthusiastic. After a lot of encouragement, the four of them returned to the shift and stood up.

Emperor Zhaowu also promulgated three other regulations on the appointment of a Grand Secretary. First, the Grand Secretary shall not serve as other positions, and the children shall not have any military positions. Second, the Grand Secretary shall serve as a seven-year term and may be re-elected for two terms, up to fourteen years. Third, the candidates for a Grand Secretary shall follow the principle of one royal family, two ministers in the current dynasty, and two ministers in the local governors, and shall not exceed the staff.

Among the first Grand Secretary, Qin Lin occupied the position of the prince, Tian Minnong and Wang Anting occupied the position of the ministerial officials, while Qu Yanwu and Zhou Lianben were representatives of the local governors.

No one would think that Qu Yanwu could represent the six ministers as the Minister of Rites for just one month, so he still occupied the quota for governors.

After several imperial edicts, this is extremely commemorative and will be repeatedly touched by historians in later generations, and the court meeting with a special book ended.

Not surprisingly, Emperor Zhaowu left behind four freshly released Grand Secretary, the prince who was completely liberated from behind closed doors, and Qin Xiaowu.

All the officials turned their attention to the four lucky Grand Secretarys. You should know that discussing matters in the imperial study room of the court has always been the privilege of the Prime Minister. Now it seems that in the era without a prime minister in the future, the Grand Secretary is the leader of civil officials, and the essential prime minister. While secretly envious, he quickly calculated that he would be closer to these five people and farther away, so that he could walk around and bring closer together. It is expected that another round of bribery and bribery will be blown up in the court.

As it turned out, the officials turned their heads and forgot the sixteen-character mantra of Emperor Zhaowu to grandma's house.

Not to mention the officials' thoughts of snakes and rats, just talk about the imperial study room, Emperor Zhaowu changed into casual clothes and greeted Qin Ting, Qin Lei, and the four great scholars in a refreshing manner.

The prince and Qin Lei thanked him a little, then sat on Jindun without hesitation and stood for a morning. His legs had been sore and swollen, so he had to take a good rest. The two of them often went in and out of the imperial study room and had long been used to this kind of treatment.

But the four Grand Secretary are not like this. Even if they are occasionally summoned for trouble, they have to stand honestly. The four of them look at me and I look at you, none of them dare to sit down... In fact, Qin Lin dared, but he is still a little dizzy until now, so he doesn't want to stand up.

Emperor Zhaowu did not blame them for being embarrassed, but instead smiled happily and said, "You guys sit down. Since you have become the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, you are qualified to sit in the imperial study." As he said that, he glanced at the third brother and said, "Yu Lin, you can take the lead."

When Qin Lin saw that the old man had named him, he quickly thanked him respectfully and said, "Abide by the order." He put half of his butt on the Jindun where Qin Lei was headed. Although he was older, Qin Lei's title was higher than him, so he had to sit down honestly.

As soon as he sat down, Qu Yanwu, Tian Minnong and Wang Anting also thanked each other and sat down in turn.

Emperor Zhaowu smiled and said, "Put some porridge for a few adults. It's been a while since the morning. I should have been so hungry that my chest is pressed against my back."

Zhuo Yan responded in a soft voice, and soon a group of graceful palace maids came up with sandalwood trays and presented exquisite and luxurious gold-inlaid porcelain bowls. Emperor Zhaowu took the bowl, and the palace maids started with the prince and presented the gold bowls one by one.

Looking at the pair of slender hands... holding the golden bowl, the senior officials burst into tears and almost shed a big snot bubble. After trembling and thanking each other, they started to eat the porridge with small mouthfuls.

While eating, the four great masters looked at Emperor Zhaowu from time to time. When they saw His Majesty put down the bowl, the four of them quickly raised their heads, took a scarf and wiped their mouths, and sat up straight.

Qin Lei and the prince had just eaten half of it, and when they saw that others had stopped eating, they had to put down the bowl in depressed voice. Then Emperor Zhaowu said warmly: "Are you all the beloved ministers ready to eat?"

"Thank you, my majesty, we'll use it." In fact, even the Grand Secretary didn't taste the porridge whether it was sweet or salty.

"That's good," Emperor Zhaowu took the teacup and rinsed his mouth, looked at Qin Ting and Qin Lei sitting in the upper head, and whispered: "Don't think too much about you two. This time the crown prince of a country cannot be a grand senator, nor can the leading prince."

Qin Lei and Qin Ting quickly bowed and said, "Thunder, rain and dew are all the kindness of the Lord. Father, don't worry."

Emperor Zhaowu nodded and smiled, "Okay, my son should have this mind. Although you don't enter the cabinet, you still have to advise on government affairs and not slacken. Have you heard of it?"

The prince and Qin Lei quickly responded respectfully.

Emperor Zhaowu smiled and said, "It's very good." Then he turned his gaze to the four great masters.

His eyes first fell on the third prince Qin Lin, and said with a calm expression: "Don't you always feel that I don't give you the chance to display your strengths?"

Qin Lin quickly stood up and bowed and said, "My son is not afraid. In the past, he was ignorant and would not be able to do so in the future."

Emperor Zhaowu waved his hand and said softly: "Don't mention the past, I want to see your future performance."

Qin Lin responded earnestly and listened to Emperor Zhaowu: "Among the five great scholars, you are the youngest and the worst. You must be modest and cautious, and don't always use your status as a prince. Have you heard?"

Qin Lin responded timidly, and then heard Emperor Zhaowu say lightly: "I won't give you any specific errands. Let's learn from a few adults first." Qin Lin responded again, and then he retired as if he was amnesty.

Emperor Zhaowu turned his gaze to Qu Yanwu again and said with a smile: "Although the five great masters are in charge of the position of prime minister, there is no order to the outside world. But Qu... Zhongtang is the oldest and has the longest qualifications, and is very familiar with both the center and the local area. So if you have any problems, you should take more responsibility and point out any omissions they have, you should also point them out in time."

Everyone thought to themselves: "This is to let Qu Zhongtang take charge." Qu Yanwu quickly said, "I dare not." Emperor Zhaowu persuaded him a few more words, and then he responded with panic.

Emperor Zhaowu turned his gaze to Tian Minnong and said with a playful smile: "Tianzhongtang, you are a model for the head of the department. You must continue to maintain it in the future and don't let me down."

Tian Minnong said with gratitude: "I will devote my humble duties to my entire job until I die..." Everyone understands the so-called "no heavy hammer to the drum" and there are some words that do not need to be said explicitly.

Emperor Zhaowu said with relief: "I can still trust Tian Zhongtang. You have to arrest the national economy and people's livelihood. Originally, a Ministry of Revenue was too small and Wen Yanbo was constrained by it. It would be normal for you to not be able to perform it," he said, touching the jade ring on his thumb and smiling: "From now on, as long as it is a major issue related to finance, taxation and people's livelihood, you will ask about it. Don't let me down."

Tian Minnong took on the job tremblingly and choked and said, "I will dedicate this old life to the Qin Dynasty." Emperor Zhaowu touched his lips and said it very lightly, but whether it was taxation or people's livelihood, that was not a complicated and messy job? Even if he took off a few layers of skin, he might not be able to do it well.

Emperor Zhaowu smiled slightly and said, "Tian Zhongtang should take care of her health." Then he turned his eyes to the last Zhongtang in the house. Wang Anting, the former left-level censor, saw His Majesty's eyes projecting, Wang Zhongtang also stood up and stood up and bowed, saying, "Please give me advice."

Emperor Zhaowu smiled and said, "An Ting, how many years have you been in the Du Yu Envoy?"

Wang Anting sighed and said, "Report to Your Majesty, it has been thirteen years until February this year."

Emperor Zhaowu nodded and smiled, "You have good abilities and character, but you are too square. Therefore, you have been suppressed by someone and pressed to the Censorate for more than ten years. What have you figured out?"

Wang Anting pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice: "I finally know that being a human being is as harmonious as the spring breeze and as solemn as autumn frost; taking the image from money, it is round on the outside and square on the inside."

"Is there any?" Emperor Zhaowu asked without comment.

"And... I have to always forget the kingdom and the world." Wang Anting said with a slight sweat on his forehead.

Emperor Zhaowu nodded with satisfaction and smiled and said, "Yes, "Huainanzi" says: 'Wisdom and desire to be round and action to be square', which means that as an official and a person, one must be smooth and flexible in his heart, and at the same time, one must not lose his righteousness, backbone and morality in his behavior. We must know how to change our minds while being loyal to the emperor and patriotism, and being honest in our country."

"Thank you Your Majesty to teach me. I will keep it in my heart and never forget it." Wang Anting responded respectfully.

Emperor Zhaowu nodded and smiled, "You were originally the censor, and you couldn't rub the sand in your eyes. After you arrived at the cabinet, you still still supervise the center. If you have any violations of the rules and regulations, you can just ask for corrections." Wang Anting quickly responded.

After talking to everyone in the Imperial Study Room, Emperor Zhaowu took a sip of tea and rested for a while and said, "Your Grand Secretary's responsibilities are clear, are you?" The four of them responded in unison: "I understand."

"You have thought about the candidates for each of you to have free positions?" This was the emperor's routine inquiry when the head of the department resigned.

Qu Yanwu said respectfully: "The current inspector of the temple, Li Guangyuan, is both virtuous and talented, and has a deep qualification. He thinks he is worthy of being the Minister of Rites." Tian Minnong recommended his deputy, Qian Weiyong, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue; Wang Anting also no surprise recommended Wang Piyan, the commander of the Right Capital.

As for Qin Lin, his eunuch province is more like a service agency than a judicial organ. Others really don’t have the ability to sort out all the things in an orderly manner, so he still has the position of the chief of the eunuch province.

Emperor Zhaowu nodded without comment and whispered: "Then let's go back to our office to hand over and take office today. As for Zhou Zhongtang, I will talk to him alone after he enters Beijing."

When the Grand Secretary heard that His Majesty had the intention of driving people, he stood up and knelt down, and went to work hard. Only the princes and Qin Lei were left in the imperial study.

Emperor Zhaowu looked at his two sons and said to the prince: "You have been studying at home for some time. Are you feeling comfortable with Maodong?"

The prince smiled bitterly in his heart, stood up and said respectfully: "Reporting to my father, I feel uncomfortable at all. My son's body is almost rusted."

Emperor Zhaowu smiled and said, "Yes, spring is blooming, it's good to come out for breathing." As he said that, he changed his kind smile and said softly: "You did not make any mistakes last year, but I have been locked up for you for several months. You won't blame me, right?"

'No one blames you for blame...' The prince said in his heart. He complained in his heart, but he still had to say nonsense: "The father is far-sighted, and the sons admire him and he is impressed without any complaints."

Emperor Zhaowu chuckled and said, "Very good, this is the crown prince of a country." He said with a gentle smile: "I will give you a good job, which is a small compensation."

The prince was happy and said he didn't dare, but his ears stood up straight. Then he heard Emperor Zhaowu say slowly: "People say that the scenery in Jiangnan is very beautiful. Now it's March again, and it's a good time to ride a crane to the south of Jiangnan..."

The prince immediately saw sweat on his forehead, and he whimpered and said, "Father, are you saying... let me go to Jiangnan?"

Emperor Zhaowu smiled and said, "Yes, what a great job. It's said, 'The sunrise, the flowers are redder than the fire, and the spring comes, the river water is as green as blue. Can you not remember the south of the Yangtze River?' It can be seen that it would be a pity if you haven't been to the south of the Yangtze River in this life."

Qin Lei also smiled and said, "That's my second brother, the beauty in Jiangnan is tender and smooth. You have to live a good life and have some experience."

Prince Bai Qinlei glanced at him and said strangely: "You are so fascinated, why don't you give it to you." As soon as Wen Yanbo fell, a huge vacuum of power appeared in the court. At this critical moment of fighting for power and profit, the old man wanted to send him away. This made the prince very confused.

Qin Lei laughed and said, "I think I have already issued a military order to my father. I have to go to the barren mountains and rivers to train troops and endure hardships, so I can only suffer without any blessing."

The prince felt better when he saw that Qin Lei was about to leave Beijing. He knew that Emperor Zhaowu had always been the only one...at least for his son. He sighed in his heart and lowered his head and said, "Please give me the order."

"Go to the Southern Chu to establish an alliance," Emperor Zhaowu said in a deep voice: "At least, let them not interfere in the war between Daqin and Dongqi. This is an important task for the whole country. If you succeed, your contribution will be no less than winning in the war of Qi."

The prince cursed in his heart: "This sweet date is too fucking high, right?" In the past fifty or sixty years, Qin has been strong and Qi and Chu have weak civilized. But whenever Qin wants to concentrate its efforts to destroy one country, the other country will attack Qin at all costs to maintain this balance of power.

It can be said that the pattern of Qi and Chu joining forces to fight against Qin has been formed. However, now Emperor Zhaowu wants him, the prince, to destroy the Qi and Chu alliance. Isn’t this pushing him into the fire pit? What if someone detains it?

Like Qin Lei, he was sleepy for sixteen years? But he was young and was only sixteen years old. But his prince was not good. If he was imprisoned for sixteen years, he would have to be bald. Not to mention being the emperor, it would be different if he could return to Zhongzhong... Maybe he would die of old age in a foreign land.

The prince was mixed with thoughts, but Emperor Zhaowu had obviously decided and waved his hand to him and said, "You go back first, go to Honglu Temple to learn etiquette first, and then listen to me to give you specific explanation."

The prince knew that the wood had already been completed, so he had to nod his head with a frown and said, "Abide by the order." Then he stepped back slowly.

Emperor Zhaowu looked at the prince's back as he walked away and said lightly: "You can go to train troops with peace of mind now, right?"

Qin Lei smiled hard and said, "What the father said, my son can't understand."

Emperor Zhaowu looked at him and did not continue the topic. Instead, he ordered in a deep voice: "As soon as Li Guangyuan left, he would be completely in name only. I'd better give it to you, and be responsible for military information first... As the war is approaching, the intelligence can no longer be delayed."
Chapter completed!