Chapter 489 Gao Gong's Ambition to Become a Noble Emperor

The Prime Minister was very sad.

On the way back to Wenyuan Pavilion, the Prime Minister's usually tall and straight figure and back were bent deeply as if a huge weight was pressing on him, so that he could not stand up straight.

After passing through Zuoshun Gate, Wenyuan Pavilion is right in front of you.

Gao Gong stopped and looked to the left towards the Wenhua Hall and the East Palace in the north.

"We all fell into the trap today."

Gao Gong's voice sounded extremely solemn and angry.

The wind pushed the heat wave in, and the ornamental trees planted between Wenhua Hall and Wenyuan Pavilion made a rustling sound.

Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang were shocked by the Prime Minister's words.

The two of them looked around timidly. The sinister looks of the two cabinet ministers frightened several eunuchs and palace maids who were about to approach from a distance, so that they stopped immediately.

"Yuan... Yuanfu..."

"Don't scare me..."

Yuan Wei had a sad face, fearing that Gao Gong, who had been provoked many times today, would say something bold again.

Li Chunfang even wanted to knock Gao Gong unconscious, then escape from the imperial city and go home to submit his resignation.

I can't live this day!
Gao Gong was suppressing his unhappiness. "Everything that happened today was within the expectations of the Emperor. Since the beginning of the year, the Grand Tutor has resigned and petitioned for a new policy, and the Emperor has approved the discussion. It was inevitable that the officials would kneel down and protest at the palace gates today. The Emperor has been waiting for this! He has been waiting for this to happen!"

This is where the conspiracy theories begin.

Especially the conspiracy theory started by the Prime Minister.

Although it was a hot summer day, Yuan Wei couldn't help but shiver.

It's so fucking scary.

Lord Yuan's face turned pale.

Gao Gong continued, "If the emperor had issued an edict to suppress the voices of opposition or taken measures, even if there were still officials in the court who were dissatisfied with the new policy, it would not have caused such a big incident today. Even if there were more officials kneeling to protest, there would not be so many as today!"

He seemed to be telling a story.

A plot that had been designed long ago.

Gao Gong turned around and looked at Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang.

His expression was filled with conviction: "This is a trap! A trap set up by the Emperor!"

The wind stopped.

The heat wave is coming.

Sweat continued to seep out of Yuan Wei's forehead and flow down his cheeks.

Li Chunfang also felt uncomfortable and kept looking around.

It took half a while.

Li Chunfang then said cautiously: "Prime Minister, how can you make irresponsible remarks about the emperor? This is what a minister does."

"Why can't I say it?"

Gao Gong did not hold back and directly refuted.

Li Chunfang shut his mouth.

Gao Gong still looked gloomy as he said, "Everything that happened today was condoned by the emperor. This is indisputable!"

Yuan Wei pondered for a long time, and finally whispered: "Prince, even if what happened today was caused by the emperor's connivance, if Yan Ne and others really looked at the emperor's heart and the people, they should know that it is time to implement the new policy. How could they be like them, who failed to oppose and then made such a scene of kneeling at the palace gate to make a protest? Can all the faults really be attributed to the emperor? This is not entirely true. Just like today, most of the faults should fall on those who oppose the new policy."

Li Chunfang couldn't help but nod in agreement with Yuan Wei's words.

This is actually fair.

No matter what the emperor was like in the past, it is a good thing that he wants to implement new policies now.

Although he and Yuan Wei are both ministers of the Qingci Pavilion, who wouldn't want to make a difference when they reach this position?

Saying that he wanted to go home and submit his resignation was all false. He just wanted to avoid being bothered by trouble.

If there is a chance.

He, Gao Gong, is now able to take charge of the court and implement new policies.

Why can't I, Li Chunfang, do that?
Li Chunfang felt that Gao Gong now cared too much about trivial matters.

But Gao Gong didn't think so.

He said with a sullen face: "Even if it is as you said, this is the fault of the ministers. Even so, we can investigate and deal with it according to the law. How come the elite cavalry of the Dragon and Tiger Army entered the city today, and now the army is stationed at Xi'an Gate? Don't you understand the deep meaning of this?"

Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang fell silent.

Because they really understood.

Gao Gong snorted twice: "The emperor wants to launch a new policy, but he has already made plans and allowed Yan Ne and others to oppose the new policy, causing the incident of kneeling and remonstrating at the palace gate today. In this way, the emperor can take advantage of the situation to let the Dragon and Tiger Army enter the city. Now the emperor does not dismiss the kneeling officials and still keeps them outside the Xi'an Gate. In this way, the Dragon and Tiger Army can be stationed at the Xi'an Gate. This is as if it was planned long ago, and we cannot have any objections. But why does the emperor do this? You two are also cabinet ministers, don't you know the emperor's intention in this move?"

Everyone knows this.

Yuan Wei had a strange look on his face, and he had a lot to say.

Li Chunfang looked up at the sky.

Knowing is one thing, but being able to say it and whether you dare to say it is another.

They dare not say.

"You dare not say it, but I dare to say it!"

Gao Gong looked gloomy as he stared at the two men. He said what they had seen through: "The Emperor doesn't trust his subjects!"

If the emperor really trusted his subjects, he would believe that the officials in the court could handle the beginning of the new policy and be able to rest assured that the palace would be safe, instead of setting up a trap himself to lure his opponents into the trap step by step, nor would he transfer 3,000 elite cavalry into the city under the pretext of something to garrison the Western Garden.

But Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang couldn't bear it any longer.

Yuan Wei frowned even more: "Prime Minister! You and I are both subordinates, how can you say such words! You are not afraid, you dare, but don't involve us!"

Li Chunfang even moved his feet silently.

Today's Gao Gong is too scary, even scarier than the emperor who set up the trap.

What does it mean that the emperor does not trust his subjects?

This clearly means that the emperor no longer trusts his officials, and there is a growing disunity between the emperor and his officials.

This is a huge matter.

Gao Gong's words were almost like pointing at the emperor and calling him a tyrant.

After all, if he was not a tyrant, how could he be alienated from his subjects?

Faced with the fact that Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang were clearly trying to draw a line between themselves and him.

Gao Gong just sneered. He did not go towards Wenyuan Pavilion, but approached the Jinshui River in front of Wenhua Palace.

"Fan Zhong, Zi Shi, you two are in the same cabinet as me, and we are both ministers."

"Do you really think that you two can avoid me and have nothing to do with the affairs of the court now?"

"Or do you think that if I am dismissed for some reason, you can still stay in the duty room of Wenyuan Pavilion and enjoy tea?"

Gao Gong walked to the bank of the Jinshui River and pointed to Wenyuan Pavilion in the south.

But his eyes were fixed on Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang.

This is the fact.

Since entering the cabinet, Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang have basically done very little, let alone taken any responsibility.

In the past, there were Yan Song and Xu Jie in the cabinet, and there were people like Gao Gong who were determined to get things done, so the presence of these two people would not appear too prominent.

But it's different now.

There are only three of them left in the cabinet. Gao Gong is the prime minister and in charge of the government, but what will Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang do?

There are only three of them, and all the eyes of the civil and military officials in the court are on them.

Seeing that both of them were silent.

Gao Gong snorted, "Now that the emperor wants to implement a new policy, it is also in line with the times. I have been wanting to accomplish this for many years, and this time I will overcome all difficulties and implement the new policy. What about you? Don't forget that the emperor has issued an oral order today, asking people inside and outside the court to make suggestions on the new policy. By then, there will be countless memorials discussing the new policy, how should we decide? When will the cabinet compile a new policy and submit it to the emperor for his review? Today, the emperor also said that the vacancies in various ministries should be filled, and the cabinet should also recruit two or three more people. Until then..."

Gao Gong had a melancholy look in his eyes, with an expression of watching the fun on his face.

"When that time comes, Fan Zhong, Zi Shi, how will you two handle yourselves in this cabinet?"

at last.

This question stumped Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang.

Seeing the two people's faces turn ugly, Gao Gong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face.

The reason why he said so much today.

There is a reason to vent.

But when he knew that the emperor was going to add new members to the cabinet, he tried to win over Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang.

After all, it was the emperor who said that new people should be admitted to the cabinet. Although the emperor wanted the cabinet and the court to recommend new people, it was the emperor's decision who would eventually enter the cabinet.

If the cabinet and the court do not recommend the emperor the right person, it is likely that the person will never be approved.

The end result will be that only those favored by the emperor can enter the cabinet.

By that time.

God knows who will be the new people entering the cabinet and what impact they will have on me.

He is the prime minister.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

The cabinet room must be firmly under your control!
Instead of worrying about how to resolve the division of power in the cabinet later, it is better to put pressure on Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang now and pull them to your side.

Even if they are really useless, they still occupy two shares in the cabinet.

If there are disputes in the cabinet at that time, in addition to using his authority as the Prime Minister to have the final say, he can also let Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang cooperate with him so as not to appear too arbitrary.

calculating.

It's all a calculation.

The emperor has calculated against everyone today, so why can't he calculate against others as well?

No matter what Gao Gong planned.

But his words really scared Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang.

Yuan Wei narrowed his eyes and asked deeply, "What does Yuan Fu want to do?"

Li Chunfang and Yuan Wei also took a few steps towards Gao Gong.

See the two people's expressions change.

Gao Gong smiled in his heart and whispered: "The holy king does nothing, and the wise ministers are in the court!"

A buzzing sound.

Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang suddenly felt dizzy and looked at Gao Gong with wide eyes, wondering if they had heard it wrongly.

But Gao Gong didn't care at all.

"The new national policy is urgent. There are two capitals, thirteen provinces, nine states, hundreds of prefectures, and more than a thousand counties. My Ming Dynasty has 30,000 civil officials, 70,000 military generals, and a total of 100,000 civil and military officials."

"There are millions of people in this magnificent country, with a wise ruler and wise ministers. Only when the ruler does nothing and the wise ministers are loyal can the country be prosperous from beginning to end."

Gao Gong spoke silently as he took a few steps towards Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang until he stood in front of them.

He had a smile on his face, without any of the anger and dissatisfaction he had just shown.

"Fan Zhong, Zi Shi."

"The court is about to launch a new policy. You and I are all in the cabinet. We are ministers, in charge of the center, and in charge of civil and military affairs. How can we retreat and not move forward? How can we stay still?"

"Now is the time for us to make great plans, exert our talents and ambitions, and revive our dynasty!"

East side of Zuoshun Gate.

On the banks of the Jinshui River.

A silence.

Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang wished they could strangle Gao Gong to death at this moment, but they knew very well that they had been forced into a desperate situation by Gao Gong.

Gao Gong's words were very obscure, but they made people understand them after thinking about them.

He Gao Gong advocated the system of a figurehead monarch!
this moment.

The two finally understood what the true face of Gao Suqing, who used to be stubborn and hot-tempered, was like, and how horrifying his inner conspiracy was.

A wise king does nothing, and wise ministers are in the court.

These eight words spoken by Gao Gong are enough to explain Gao Gong's political ambitions.

He had already determined that the emperor's greatest role was to sit high above the temple, be supported by the people of the world, and rule the country without any effort.

And what about everything in the world?

There should be wise ministers in the court, that is, the cabinet headed by him, Gao Gong, who should lead all officials in the court and govern the world!
True.

Since Emperor Xianzong of the Chenghua Dynasty appointed Li Xian, he truly established the title and power of the cabinet's chief minister after the Three Yangs. Then, Emperor Xiaozong of the Hongzhi Dynasty appointed ministers, including Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian, who were called "sirs" by Xiaozong.

The imperial power of the Ming Dynasty was constantly being eroded.

The power belonging to cabinet ministers is becoming increasingly stronger.

Although there were some changes in the first twenty years of this dynasty due to various events, in the later years, it was irreversible because the emperor lived in the Western Garden, which led to the transfer of power in the court to the cabinet.

now.

Gao Gong obviously wanted to go further on this basis.

Explain it in words that ordinary people can understand.

Gao Gong wanted to make the emperor a mere decoration!
Rebel!

He, Gao Gong, actually wanted to be a traitor who wanted to usurp power!

Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang looked at each other, and both of them understood the deep meaning of Gao Gong's words today.

Fear and anxiety instantly swept over the two of them, lingering in their hearts.

The pressure made it hard for the two to breathe.

As long as the two of them reported what Gao Gong had just said to the emperor truthfully.

Lu Fang could immediately bring the East Factory's men to jail and punish Gao Gong.

But why was Gao Gong so fearless?

Just when the two of them were feeling strange.

Gao Gong took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to the two of them.

Yuan Wei took the paper, opened it and looked at it with Li Chunfang.

Gao Gong explained, "Since last year, Xiyuan has repeatedly summoned Li Shizhen to take his pulse. There is a lot of herbal scent in Wanshou Palace, and the medicines used are all grown by the Changping Academy Medical College."

He summed it up succinctly.

Yuan Wei trembled all over, and the paper in his hand immediately fell to the ground.

Li Chunfang hurriedly bent down to pick up the paper on the ground, walked quickly to the bank of the Jinshui River, tore the paper into pieces with both hands, then crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the water.

He didn't feel relieved until he saw the paper ball spread out in the water and then drift downstream along the current.

Gao Gong smiled and said, "I am not a treacherous person, nor do I have the intention to tamper with the government. I am fifty-five years old this year. How many more years do I have left to live? My current wish is to reform the country and make the people live and work in peace and contentment. You two can report all the words I spoke to Fan Zhong and Zi Shi today to His Majesty..."

Speaking of which.

Gao Gong paused and looked at the two people in front of him.

Was Gao Gong a treacherous person? Or did he have the intention to tamper with the government?
After a moment of silence, Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang both came to a negative conclusion in their hearts.

So, Gao Gong was just an extreme minister who wanted to do something, but his ideas might be too radical and scary.

But for Yuan Wei and Li Chunfang.

If the emperor will not live long in this world.

Then the new king ascends the throne.

do not forget.

Gao Gong was the teacher of the basically undisputed crown prince.

Then his vision of a wise ruler doing nothing and wise ministers in power might come true.

Yuan Wei immediately shook his head and said, "The Prime Minister is sincere in his reforms. I already know this intention."

Li Chunfang also spoke up: "The relationship between a ruler and his subjects is ethical. As subjects, we should only think about building a prosperous country and ensuring its security..."

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　There is one more chapter today, I will update it later

　　
　
(End of this chapter)