HLnovel Chapter 325: Autocratic and Domineering
Chapter 325: Autocratic and Domineering
The team rushed back to the capital, and received the second secret report from the capital in Jizhou. After seeing the content that the situation was stabilized, Regent Zhao Defang ordered the team to set up camp and rest for a night.
At dusk on the second day, he met Cheng Haonan, who was demoted from the capital and exiled to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.
Cheng Haonan stepped forward with a guilty look on his face to pay his respects to His Royal Highness the Regent. Zhao Defang did not blame him, but instead encouraged him with a few words and asked him to go to Youzhou to report to Sima Qingyun, who would arrange his specific duties.
Cheng Haonan asked with a bit of trepidation, "May I ask, Your Majesty, what is Mr. Sima Qingyun's position? How should I address this superior?"
Regent Zhao Defang smiled. The title of the highest local official suggested by the princess was indeed a bit strange, so much so that he was not used to it.
"The land of Western Shu and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun have been changed from provinces. The highest officials of these two provinces are of the second rank and are called governors."
Governor? Cheng Haonan repeated it silently in his mind, but it still didn't sound right. Calling him Jiedushi or Zhuanyunshi sounded more impressive and more comfortable, but the title of Governor lacked a sense of majesty and authority. Why did we change the word "Road" to "Province"? Calling him "Road Chief" is also... Road Chief sounds worse.
While Cheng Haonan was secretly complaining in his heart, he clasped his fists, bowed, said goodbye to His Royal Highness the Regent, and went to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.
Luo Li didn't expect that the Regent King Zhao Defang took her joke seriously, which made the officials in Western Shu and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun feel extremely awkward. They could only address them as briefly as possible, namely Lord Luo and Lord Sima.
His Royal Highness the Regent has returned to the capital. Having just experienced a palace coup, the capital's frightened people are now telling others the news with joy, and the people are now calmed down.
After entering the city gate, Zhao Defang did not immediately go to the palace to report to the emperor. He wanted to relieve the pain of missing his wife first before doing his business, and rode his horse straight to the Regent's Palace.
A short separation is better than a new marriage. The couple has been apart for nearly three months and they miss each other so much. They are as sweet and sticky as ever.
Luo Li's face was still full of spring, she was breathing heavily, and her fingers stroked Zhao Defang's strong chest, "Zhao Defang, my husband, my husband, I love you so much!"
Zhao Defang's heart was moved again by her teasing, "Li'er, I love you too!" He lowered his head and kissed her.
Luo Li smiled sweetly and pushed him away, "Enough! We haven't finished our daytime indulgence yet. Lin'er must be hungry. Mother has to feed him."
Zhao Defang refused to move and acted like a spoiled brat, "Lin'er, just starve for a while. I'm hungry too. Eat a few more bites to satisfy your craving."
Luo Li pushed him away with a smile, got up, dressed, took a warm shower, and went to the west room to feed her son.
In the broad daylight, the princess drove them out and was intimate with the prince. The two hours were enough to make the little prince cry with hunger. Yingchun handed the little prince to the princess with a blushing face, and waited on the princess to feed her son.
Ruhua was busy with a pile of account books that was more than a foot high at the table. Suddenly, she felt nauseous and got up, ran to the spittoon in the corner of the room, squatted down and started to dry heave.
Yingchun hurried over to take care of her. While helping Ruhua with her back, she asked with concern, "Sister Ruhua, what's wrong with you? Did you catch a cold? Do you want to see a doctor?"
Luo Li, who was feeding her son, looked up and saw Ruhua's appearance. She asked in surprise, "Ruhua, are you pregnant? How long has it been since you had your period?"
Ruhua stood up with a red face and replied shyly: "Miss, I haven't had my period for two months. I might be pregnant."
"Congratulations! Sister Ruhua, you will soon be a mother, Luo Cong is really capable..." Yingchun covered her mouth with her hand, her pretty face flushed with embarrassment. It was all the princess' fault, she made the people around her often say shocking things without thinking.
"Hahahaha..." Luo Li burst into laughter. Seeing his mother laughing happily, Lin'er also threw down his "rice bowl" and laughed happily, "Hahahaha..."
Ruhua, who was already a married woman, had a much thicker skin. Although her face was blushing with embarrassment, she kept laughing, making Yingchun so embarrassed that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Luo Li wiped the tears from her laughter and told Ruhua: "Ruhua, you should pay attention to increasing your nutrition while you are pregnant, and don't get too tired. You should try to give these account books to Mu Xiu, and Yingchun can also help you. Making money is important, but taking care of the baby is more important."
Ruhua sat down at the table again, picked up the account book, and said perfunctorily: "I know, Miss, I can still do it. When I feel tired after the month, I will hand it over to them and let it go."
On the day of the grand court, civil and military officials were divided into two groups, and the young emperor sat high on the dragon throne with a serious look on his face. Regent Zhao Defang sat next to the emperor, scanning the ministers below.
The officials who were thinking about how to compete for the more than 30 vacant positions were startled when they were swept by the eyes of His Royal Highness the Regent. They quickly stood up straight and suppressed their thoughts for the time being.
Regent Zhao Defang still maintained his authoritarian and domineering attitude. He did not give the civil and military officials any chance to dispute or scramble for positions. He took out the list of names passed at the small court meeting and read it out himself. The 36 vacant positions were filled by a group of young officials who were promoted out of turn.
There was a commotion among the civil and military officials, and they all spoke out in dissatisfaction and opposition.
Chen Fang, the secretary of the Central Secretariat who had long been eyeing the post of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, angrily protested: "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Regent, I object to this decision that has not been discussed by all the civil and military officials. These more than 30 vacant positions are extremely important and should be promoted to experienced and qualified officials. How can we let some young men take up these important positions?
I strongly object to this and I beg His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Regent to revoke their decision!"
Lu Mingde, a fourth-rank Imperial College chief academic officer who had his eyes on the post of Vice Minister of Rites and had already spent 30,000 taels of silver on the event, was eager to step forward.
"I strongly object! Your Majesty, Your Highness the Regent, the appointment and promotion of officials has always been recommended by the Ministry of Personnel and discussed by all officials. How can it be decided so hastily?
It is a tragedy for the Song Dynasty court that some young men who have no experience in handling government affairs and are incompetent are promoted to these important positions!
I beg the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Regent to revoke their decision, and have the Ministry of Personnel recommend new names, and have all officials discuss and re-appoint officials to these important positions!"
The ministers who were unwilling to accept the result came out one after another to express their strong opposition and begged the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Regent to revoke their decision!
Kou Zhun, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stood up, his young face showing a calm and steady expression. "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Regent, I oppose the opposition of these ministers. I am also a young man with no hair on his mouth, but I am very capable. I would like to ask Lord Chen and Lord Lu, when it comes to the ability to handle government affairs, which of you two old men with hair on your mouth dares to compete with me, Kou Zhun?"
The little emperor sitting on the dragon throne could not help but chuckle. This Kou Zhun had a very serious face, but the words he said were frivolous, domineering and hurtful.
Chen Fang and Lu Mingde were immediately speechless. When it comes to the ability to handle government affairs, how many officials in the court dare to compete with the young, promising and talented Kou Zhun?
Regent Zhao Defang waved his hand and said, "Since no one dares to compete with Kou Zhun, then it's settled! A new dynasty brings a new atmosphere. This dynasty should recruit talents regardless of their background and promote more young people with good moral character, talent, ability and vigor."