Chapter 61 Section five

The nerve center of the Tang Dynasty was the Zhengshitang located in the Zhongshu Province of the Daming Palace. The Daming Palace was built on the high-lying Longshou Mountain in the northeast of the palace city. It was specially built by Emperor Taizong in the eighth year of Zhenguan to provide for the elderly.This site was chosen because Chang'an City was originally built on Longshou Mountain, with undulating terrain, and the palace city where the emperor lived happened to be built on a low-lying place where the Qingming Canal and Longshou Canal pass. The summer is humid and hot, and the winter is very cold.

After the Supreme Emperor took the throne, he did not give up the power to deal with military and state affairs, so he temporarily moved to the Baifu Hall in the palace city; the emperor also moved out of the East Palace at that time to live with the Supreme Emperor in the palace city.After the death of Princess Taiping, all power was transferred to the emperor, but the Taishang Emperor unexpectedly did not move to Daming Palace, but let the emperor move there.In the eyes of the emperor, this is not a good sign, but the emperor has nowhere to complain about this kind of suffering. The location of the emperor's daily court was also changed from the Wude Hall in the palace city to the Xuanzheng Hall behind the Hanyuan Hall, the main hall of the Daming Palace.

This is indifferent to the ministers, but it is a convenient thing for the prime ministers.Because the political affairs hall where the prime minister discusses matters is in the Daming Palace, which saves them a lot of time on the road. Outside the Jianfu Gate on the west side of the Daming Palace, Yao Chong, as usual, left his impressive ceremonial servants and his strong guards outside the Xiama Bridge, and sat alone on the chariot bestowed by the emperor who had been waiting there for a long time. A guard named Qianniuwei carried it into the Daming Palace. Yao Chong didn't give in and went straight north to the Zhengshitang, but went east to Hanyuan Hall.Everything is still the same, the left and right Jinwuzhangyuan, the east and west court halls, the lung stone for admonishment to the emperor, the Dengwen drum, and the two exquisite bell towers supervised by Jiang Jiao’s grandfather. and Drum Tower.The only thing that has changed is the people. There is no longer the horrible atmosphere of the empress dowager, when everyone was in danger, and the courtiers were pale because of insomnia; Bold, rich, high-ranking officials can easily get impetuous.

However, Yao Chong also keenly noticed that the hundreds of ministers in purple and scarlet clothes gathered in front of the court hall were like swarms of aimless mayflies, lifeless. Yao Chong secretly said: Your Majesty has no experience, so he doesn't know how to deal with the current chaotic situation.But the custodians cannot shirk their responsibility, and the prime ministers of the current dynasty made Datang lose the direction of his efforts, which is really intolerable.However, I am back.With me here, I don't have to worry about not having your business to do.Of course, mediocre people who live here, I will drive you out of the capital.

"Old Yao, please sit down." Led by Zhongshu Ling Zhang Shuo, all the prime ministers warmly welcomed Yao Chong. "How is this possible?" Yao Chong crossed his hands in salute to everyone, and said, "We are closed by the imperial court system, and none of us should be polite. According to the etiquette, Mr. Zhang will take the seat." The rules in the Zhengshitang were a little strange.Under normal circumstances, Shang Shuling, the leader of Zaifu, should sit on the top and preside over the discussion.However, because Emperor Taizong had served as Minister of Shangshuling, the servants of the second rank became the chiefs of Shangshu Province. In terms of official rank, they were one level behind Zhongshuling and Shizhong.For this reason, since Emperor Gaozong, the deliberations of Zaifu have always been led by Zhongshuling.

However, this does not mean that Zhongshuling has the greatest power, because in the Zhengshitang, Wei Weiqing from the fourth rank and Zhongshuling from the second rank have the same right to speak when discussing matters.In this circle, the factor that can form the so-called minister leader is not the official position, but the degree of closeness and trust of the emperor to someone, and the ability to handle political affairs.Therefore, before Yao Chong stepped into the political affairs hall, he seemed to have the status of the leader of the ministers. In Chang'an in the twelfth lunar month, the weather is very cold.At this time, the prime ministers have always moved their seats to the hearth in the middle of the political affairs hall and sat in groups.At this time, due to the physical proximity of the important ministers, it is also the time of the year when there are the least conflicts among the ministers.Just as everyone was sitting down, they suddenly saw a heavy kapok curtain being raised, and a handsome eunuch with quick hands came in.All the prime ministers knew this man, he was another close person of the emperor - Gao Lishi.This person killed the famous Shangguan Wan'er in the battle of punishing Wei Shi.

"The emperor has a decree." Seeing everyone kneeling on the ground. "Pass down the emperor's oral decree, and Yao Chong will also serve as the Zhongshu order. The Zhongshu and the disciples will immediately write the decree." "Thank you, sir." This is not surprising, the emperor will not let Yao Chong be inferior to Zhang Shuo, who is still junior and ten years younger than him. "Yao Xianggong, congratulations." Although Gao Lishi is young, he is very good at socializing. "Thank you, I'm afraid there will be a lot of hard work for Neixiang in the future." Yao Chong and Gao Lishi have dealt with each other several times, and they have a deep impression of each other.

"Yao's old words are serious, villains should serve." Yao Chong and Gao Lishi's meaningful response made Zhang Shuo very uncomfortable.In the past, Zhang said that he entertained Gao Lishi a lot, but Gao Lishi never had such a respectful demeanor. At this time, Liu Youqiu grabbed Gao Lishi's arm, pulled him aside, and said softly: "A few days ago, a group of Persian Hus came to the west market, and the illusion became really magical. Xiumu the day after tomorrow, my brothers Go and see?" Gao Lishi carefully glanced at Yao Chong who was sitting on the side reading official documents, then looked at Zhang who was thinking about his thoughts with his head down, and said in his mouth: "Of course, if the emperor has nothing to do, I will definitely accompany him."

Gao Lishi's voice was much higher than Liu Youqiu's, at least Yao Chong and Zhang Shuo could hear clearly.