Chapter 30 Section VII

On the second day, the eight ministers of Gu Ming were summoned. First, they delivered the memorial of the Ministry of Rites face to face, and issued an order to the cabinet, which was issued to both China and foreign countries.But this is just the name behind the scenes, the emperor's decree, and the courtiers are still called the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother. From this day on, the empress dowagers of the two palaces became busy.Before the festival, everyone has private affairs to take care of, and those who can be suppressed by official affairs will be suppressed. Once the festival is over, and the day of returning to Luan is approaching, and the funeral ceremony for Zigong to return to Beijing is respectful, there are many clues. If that is the case, there will be endless troubles, all of which can only be properly dealt with by the empress dowagers of the two palaces.In addition, Jiangnan's military has made great progress.It is the details of recovering Anqing on the first day of August, which has been officially reported by Zeng Guofan. Rewards for meritorious deeds cannot be neglected, but to take advantage of victories to attack and teach strategies, we must seize the opportunity. Therefore, the two empress dowagers and Gu Mingba Minister, sometimes I have to meet two or three times a day, and the Empress Dowager Cixi often stays late at night to review chapters.In such a busy and busy life, she still had to spare time to meet Chun Wang Fujin, and even summoned Chun Wang when necessary, so as to discuss their plans and steps more clearly and properly.

After ten days like this, suddenly the Internal Affairs Office came to report to Empress Dowager Ci'an, saying that Sushun wanted to see him alone as a minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.After discussing with Empress Dowager Cixi, she granted his request. After performing the ceremony, Sushun stood up, stood beside the imperial case, looked at the Empress Dowager Ci'an and said: "I will play alone, and there are many things that I should not let others know. Please let the servants avoid it." Empress Dowager Ci'an was surprised when she heard this, and summoned Minister Gu Ming. According to the rule of summoning Ministers of Military Aircraft, eunuchs are never allowed to be present, but why did Sushun say this?So he looked at both sides, only to find the shadow of a palace lady faintly outside the window, and said loudly: "Everyone avoids!"

The slender shadows outside the window disappeared, Sushun took another step, and Su Rong said: "The slave didn't dare to upset the empress dowager, but I have to say that the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs can't cope with it now!" Empress Dowager Ci'an was surprised: "What can't you handle?" Sushun circled his thumb and forefinger and said one word: "Money!" "Oh." The Empress Dowager Ci'an thought for a while and said, "I also know that you are in a dilemma. Of course a big funeral will cost money, and the military expenditure must not be spared."

"Hey!" Sushun made a praising and gratified expression, "Shengming is no better than the empress dowager! If everyone is like the empress dowager, the servant will be able to handle things smoothly." There was something in the words, and of course the Empress Dowager Ci'an could hear this, so she asked calmly: "Is there anything that is not going well? Tell me, and we can discuss it." "The mission of the Empress Dowager, the slave can't handle it." "how?" "I want too many things." As he spoke, Sushun leaned over and took out one of the boot pages and read: "On the second day of August, I need eight porcelain tea bells. On the ninth day of August, I need silver horse scoops." Two handfuls, each weighing twelve taels. On August 12th, I will go... ".

"Okay, okay!" The Empress Dowager Ci'an waved her hand and cut off his words, "It doesn't cost much, and it won't make the House of Internal Affairs poor." Obviously, Sushun's unexpected expression and answer were not just because she spoke for Empress Dowager Cixi, but also because she had never had such a concise and straightforward attitude. However, Sushun is also good at adapting to changes, so although the Empress Dowager Ci'an's words were powerful, he did not stump him. "Just the Empress Dowager Mother came to ask for it, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs can naturally pay for it," he said, "But Even if the Holy Mother and the Empress Dowager started, there was nothing to be done about it for other palaces. Besides, these days, when everyone is going to work hard together to hold the situation, the servants are trying to find a way to supply military expenses, and they have to tighten up in many ways. I don’t know how many scoldings I have received. If the Queen Mother is not considerate, there will be more people who scold the slaves, and the slaves will be even more difficult to do things.”

This is somewhat reasonable, Empress Dowager Ci'an can't give him a soft nail like before, so she can only say: "Your difficulties are also known to you. However, her status is different, and others can't say anything about it. " As soon as he said this, unexpectedly, Sushun immediately said: "Just because other people are talking, the slave feels embarrassed." "Oh?" Empress Dowager Ci'an asked in surprise, "What do others say?" "It is said that the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother can't be compared with the Queen Mother, one is the main palace, and the other is that the mother is more expensive than the son.

"There are no two suns in the sky, and there are no two masters in the country." There should be only one queen mother in the world, and you have to listen to the words of the mother queen and queen mother. After a pause, Sushun said again, "This is all gossip from outside, and my servant dare not report it without telling the truth." " The loyal Empress Dowager Ci'an knew that his words were provocative, but she refused to expose them. She was afraid that he would not be able to step down. After thinking about it for a long time, she came up with a sentence that she had to ask: "That's what the outside world said, so, how about you?" Woolen cloth?"

Sushun lowered his hands, and replied very respectfully and calmly: "The slave respects his mother, the empress dowager, and is no different from the emperor Daxing in Japan." The Emperor Daxing respected the Empress when he lived in Japan, so Sushun also took the will of the Emperor Daxing as his will, and had a very different attitude towards the Empress and Concubine Yi. Now that he expressed his allegiance again, Empress Dowager Ci'an felt even more It's embarrassing, "stretch your hand and don't hit the smiling face", you can't say a word to refute him.

At this time, Sushun spoke again: "The slave was informed by Emperor Daxing Teda, and he entrusted him with his heart. The slave is grateful for the repayment. Often when he wakes up in the middle of the night, his first thought is how to share the worries of the Holy Lord? The slave only knows about the master and does not know anything else. In order to protect Zeng Guofan, Hu Linyi, and Zuo Zongtang for the sake of the slaves, some people are very jealous. Now the brothers of the Zeng family have finally brought down Anqing. Once Anqing is done, Jiangnan will be flattened sooner or later. The slaves are not boasting about their achievements. It can stand criticism forever. We live in the rear, but we also have to think about the suffering ahead. Like Hu Linyi, who sits in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, manages in the middle, and deals with all directions. ...."

At this point, Empress Dowager Ci'an interrupted him again, and said in a very concerned voice: "Didn't you give me a two-month leave?" "That's right! It's a reward, but it's a last resort. We can't let him go. According to his illness, let alone two months, even two years, I'm afraid he won't be able to take care of him." "This is an important person!" The Empress Dowager Ci'an looked worried, "There must be no trouble." "I'm afraid it's unreliable." Sushun replied tragically, "Hu Linyi's health is not good, and he has exhausted his efforts in the past few years, and he has suffered a great loss. In July, he received the news of the death of Emperor Daxing. He was shocked and hurt. Spitting out crazy blood, making things worse, it's very difficult."

Hearing that this is the reason for Hu Linyi's recovery from illness, the Empress Dowager Ci'an was greatly moved, and she felt sad when she thought of the late Emperor. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and kept saying, "Loyal minister, loyal minister!" So Sushun took advantage of the topic again. He said that it is difficult to be a loyal minister. If the imperial court does not reject all opinions and strongly supports it, even if it has a dedicated heart, it will still be of no help to state affairs.Trust requires professionalism, and things can be done smoothly.Then it involved himself, citing many examples, all of which were thorny problems, but with the trust of Emperor Daxing, he was able to show courage and let go, and finally they all went very well. The Empress Dowager Ci'an was listening, but she was wondering what he meant by these words.It was only later that I realized that I still wanted to seize power.However, after the refutation of Dong Yuanchun's memorial, what Minister Gu Ming said was what he said, and he had all the power, so what would Sushun do? With this level of doubt, Empress Dowager Ci'an had no choice but to say: "The way things are handled now is similar to that of Emperor Daxing in Japan. Everything is discussed by you. What to do is up to you. As long as it is right, just let it go." do it." "This, the slave also knows. I'm afraid that if the two queen mothers listen to the outside, if they don't care about hardships and are irresponsible, it will not work if a few slaves do things!" "What's the matter? We sisters don't just listen to the outside world, and we can't hear it either." "This slave can't help but say it." Sushun looked very solemn, "The Holy Mother Empress Dowager summoned foreign ministers, which is not in line with the ancestor's family law, and it is very inappropriate." "You mean the Alcohol King?" "Yes." Sushun said again, "Although King Chun is close relatives and nobles, state affairs are different from family affairs. Even when Emperor Daxing is in Japan, he seldom summons him. Good friendship and friendship are only during festivals and festivals. It is not allowed to talk about current affairs. The days when the Empress Dowager entered the palace are short, and I am afraid that I still don’t understand these rules, so I ask the Empress Dowager to tell the Empress Dowager.” These words were like teaching a lesson, the Empress Dowager Ci'an was quite disgusted, but she really had no way to refute him, she just nodded slightly, with a hint of noncommittal. "Now some people outside are making sarcastic remarks." Sushun added angrily, "It is said that the slaves like to take care of things. The slaves are under the great care of the Emperor Daxing, so they have to be extra dedicated. I didn't expect that there would be no one left." ', but such a sentence fell, which is too sad!" The Empress Dowager Ci'an didn't know who he was talking about?But since there were complaints, it was convenient to comfort them, so they talked about their achievements, and the superiors knew that there was no need to listen to outside gossips, and they still did their best to do things "warmly."Sushun still felt resentful, but it had been a long time, Empress Dowager Ci'an was a little dizzy, and couldn't let him speak freely, so she motioned to kneel down and end this ridicule." Back at the Yanbo Zhishuang Palace, she found the Empress Dowager Cixi, she avoided her eyes and ears, stood under the shade of a tree, and said Sushun's words in depth.The Empress Dowager Cixi was very calm, just listening quietly with a sneer on the corner of her mouth. The saddest thing in her heart was that Sushun wanted to force the division of concubine and concubine, and refused to admit that the two palaces should be respected equally, but she couldn't express her sadness in front of the Empress Dowager Ci'an, which made her feel even more embarrassed.From this moment on, she hated Sushun very much, and swore in her heart: It's fine if you don't hold power in this life, one day when you have power, you must kill this person! She hated it to the extreme, but turned calm, "Sushun's words are also good, and the military expenditure is the most important nowadays." She said, "I'll just let it go. In Rehe, I won't go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ask for things again." The Empress Dowager Ci'an didn't hear the murderous intent of going to Sushun in her words, she just felt that her attitude became so gentle, it was unexpected. "Sister," Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly asked again: "What do you think Sushun meant by saying these words?" "Is that what you said?" "No. Speaking his own words." "It's nothing more than someone outside criticizing them for taking power and complaining." "It's not all about complaining." Empress Dowager Cixi thought for a while and said, "It seems to be an ugly show of merit, which means that we want to give some kind of grace." "Well, I didn't hear it." The Empress Dowager Ci'an then nodded, "It's better not to hear it." Empress Dowager Cixi laughed, thinking that pretending to be deaf and dumb like her is also a kind of knowledge.But the Empress Dowager Ci'an said so, she didn't take what Cixi said in her heart, she thought that her personal feelings were correct, Sushun was just complaining, even though she meant to show her merits, she didn't have the heart to invite rewards. "Personal experience" is not correct. In fact, Cixi's view is correct. Sushun is using his complaints as a test, hoping to get a clear reward, so as to show the trust and support of the two palaces for him and Minister Gu Ming.Because since Dong Yuanchun's last edict was issued, there were naturally many criticisms and speculations, and even disgusted ones. Some people saw that the monarch and his ministers were not in harmony, and they couldn't help but wait and see, and Sushun was quite annoyed by this.If there are warm orders from the two palaces, all the rumors can be swept away, and his authority can be strengthened at the same time, and the command can be satisfactory. Unexpectedly, after waiting for a few days, the queen mothers of the two palaces did not express anything, but the official business became more and more onerous. , overwhelmed.The same is true for Zaiyuan and Duanhua, their talents are much worse than Sushun's, and they feel more and more unable to cope with it, suffering unspeakably.However, none of them intended to let go. They only hoped that the "superior" would know their suffering and give some comfort. Therefore, Sushun's temptation did not respond, and the three of them were greatly disappointed, but at the same time they did not give up. "'Dong Bian' is honest, I must not have heard the words of the sixth child." Duan Hua suggested to Zai Yuan, "How about we retreat to advance?" After discussing with Sushun, Zaiyuan and Sushun thought this method was worth a try, so they "meeted" the next day, and after reporting the preparations for the funeral ceremony in all aspects, they said: "The three ministers are too busy. I'm really too busy, and the secretary always has to wait for the light to be clear when he goes back and forth on business. If you want to invite Yizhi, should you reassign according to your discretion?" When encountering these Chen Zou, it was the Empress Dowager Cixi who spoke as usual, "I haven't sent you any more errands recently!" She said, "Why are you so busy before, why are you not so busy now?" "There is a reason for this. There are some errands, which usually seem to be idle errands, but now they are different." "Oh. Tell me about it!" So Zaiyuan explained the reason. Luan Yiwei originally followed the Ming Dynasty's Jinyiwei system, except that it was not like Jinyiwei, who was responsible for the task of investigating detectives. The taming of elephants is managed by Luan Yiwei.If the emperor lived in the deep palace, he would naturally be free and have nothing to do. Today, the little emperor Fengzi Palace and the two empress dowagers return to Beijing. Although there will be no full ceremonies during the funeral, they are still busy enough.As for the spare place in Shangyu, Zaiyuan will not mention it, because it is purely a kind of errand for the emperor to go hunting and accompany him to play around. They are the ones who catch fish and birds, so the spare place in Shangyu is commonly known as the "sticky pole place".During the reign of Emperor Daxing, Zaiyuan became a close playmate because of this errand, and often used the name of hunting and besieging to find ways for Emperor Daxing. carry. After listening to his Chen Zou, the Empress Dowager Cixi didn't say anything, but only asked Duanhua and Sushun, what's the difficulty?Since Duan Hua came to Chen, after he was ordered by Gu, he worked in the inner court every day, taking into account the task of commanding the infantry, which was very difficult.Sushun asked for an errand to the Lifan Yuanyuan and the guide office. This errand usually has nothing to do. Whenever there is something, it is an opportunity to make a fortune. The distance, the condition of bridges and roads, if you think it is inappropriate, you can immediately order the local officials to repair it.Obviously you can skip this bridge, but say it is the only way to pass, obviously the road is smooth and not hindering the ceremonial driving, but it is bumpy and uneven, which depends on the size of the red envelope.There are also ancestral tombs related to Fengshui of rich families, which can also be said to be passed by on the road, so they must be flattened, and the red envelope will be even bigger.Of course, Sushun would not ask for this kind of money. He meant to let the empress dowagers of the two palaces know that they should not only honor Zigong in the rear, but also serve as guides in the front. When the funeral is approaching, he has to be received by the Li Fan Court, which has to be taken care of by him, and the achievements can be imagined. However, they never thought that after the Empress Dowager Cixi listened to Chen Zou quietly, she said, "Okay!" In the absence of the commander of the Chinese infantry, Sushun's errands in the management of the feudal courtyard and the guide's office all went away.The eight of you should go outside to discuss who should be reassigned, and you will write a decree immediately. " This is an iron case!Sushun was very frustrated, and in his heart he scolded his brother Duanhua for his "bad idea", but it was self-defeating, and the matter came to this point, so he had to follow through.Gu Ming's eight ministers withdrew and had a meeting in the court room outside Yanbo Zhishuang Hall.Naturally, only the three of them spoke, and as a result of the discussion, it was decided not to fall to foreign parties, but these errands were "full of shortages", so Jing Shou was in charge of Luan Yiwei, Mu Yin of the Han Army was in charge of Fan Yuan, Shangyu In the spare part, the brother-in-law of the Daxing emperor, the "four forehead son-in-law" Demu Chukzabu, was drawn up in the spare part. In the guide part, Boyan Namohu, the son of the monk king, was only in command of the infantry. It was more negotiable. After studying it for a long time, I proposed a supplementary award from Shangshu Ruichang of the Ministry of Punishment who once served as the commander of the infantry, stayed in Beijing to handle it, and presided over the patrol. At that time, Cao Yuying wrote the manuscript, which was played repeatedly in the hall.The Empress Dowager Cixi saw that except for Jing Shou and Mu Yin, the other three were Mongolians. Hasten your own death!