Chapter 614: Birthday banquet, turmoil

On the waterside pavilion, after the prince left, the third prince immediately turned back to the central waterside pavilion, and did not try to win over Jia Lian as the prince had guessed.

But as soon as he left, many of his descendants came to establish friendship with Jia Lian.

Among the younger generation of non-clan disciples, if King Beijing were not around, Jia Lian could basically be said to be the leader today.

King Beijing was sent to the capital by Emperor Ningkang half a year ago. It was said that he was on a hunting tour on behalf of the emperor.

But for Jia Lian, it is now difficult for him to truly have a heart-to-heart relationship with these young disciples. This is a matter of mentality. After all, he had talked with many of their fathers and ancestors on an equal footing in the Chongqing Hall before...

On the second day of the fourth lunar month, the birthday banquet was prepared and ready to start.

All the princes, ministers and princes lined up outside the main hall of Chonghua Palace to enter the banquet.

Because there were so many people coming to celebrate the birthday, low-ranking officials could not enter the palace at all and could only enjoy the outdoor banquet outside the palace in the wind and snow.

Jia Lian was lucky and was arranged to enter the palace, and the position was not too far back, in the middle section. As soon as he sat down, he noticed that there was a little boy in his teens next to him, but Jia Lian did not dare to ignore him at all. As soon as he sat down, he clasped his fists and saluted to the person opposite him, who also nodded and smiled very politely.

"Hey, fifth brother, let's change places!"

"This... is not good, Master said: There is order between elders and younger ones. How dare I take the throne of the emperor brother? First..."

"I'll just change it if I ask you to. How can there be so much nonsense."

"He received a loving slap on the head from his elder brother, and the young one The fifth prince had no choice but to raise his buttocks and move forward to a seat.

The fourth prince sat down on the seat he had snatched. When he saw Jia Lian looking at him with a smile, as if he was mocking him for bullying the younger, he said angrily: "This kid just deserves a beating. At a young age, I learned to be sour and rotten, and I am no longer as cute as I was when I was a child. It’s all my fault to those old stubborn guys in the study for teaching my good brother the wrong way. I’ll have to find a way to deal with them when I turn around.”

The fourth prince was just talking nonsense, but when he said this, his eyes suddenly became serious.

Back then, he was also the one who was tortured in the study room. At that time, he was a student and did not dare to make trouble with the bachelors. But now that he has "graduated", can he take revenge...

When Jia Lian saw this, he turned back silently and poured himself a glass of wine. He could already imagine that if this unscrupulous guy really took advantage of the darkness to attack the bachelors who went to the study, he would kneel in the south study room to be criticized the next day.Meet.

"Jia Lian, when will your firearms battalion be established? How about I go to your place and be a deputy general? To be honest, I am particularly interested in the 'Zhenyuan Cannon'. I believe it Me, as long as you let me in, I will definitely be able to improve it and make it more powerful."

"Also, wait until your new warship is built. After that, be sure not to forget me. When the time comes, the two of us will go to sea to kill Japanese pirates. Damn, I have grown so big and I haven’t even gone out to sea on a boat..."

I heard the fourth prince chattering next to me. Jia Lian could tell from his words that the fourth prince seemed to recognize him as the boss. In the past, this guy used to be a little arrogant when talking to him, but since then, it has completely disappeared.

Not only is he gone, but he still likes to cling to him.

After casually dealing with the fourth prince, Jia Lian glanced at the center of the hall. Just because of this, a group of dancers and musicians had already filed into the palace to perform for the officials in the palace before the banquet.

However, after a few glances, Jia Lian's interest was greatly reduced. Without him, the beauty of these palace dancers is much inferior to that of Shen Pan's son and four daughters in his family. They are better than just a large number. After two rounds of performances, there is no repetition.

It seems that those salt merchants did not deceive him at the beginning, and they indeed selected the beauty for him.

"The Emperor and the Queen Mother have arrived."

Following the eunuch Gao Hang's voice, the dancing girl stepped down, and all the princes and ministers in the palace left their seats one after another, neatly and uniformly. Kneeling at the lower left corner of their respective seats, they kowtowed and sang: "I welcome the Holy Master~~"

Hearing the deafening sound echoing in his ears, Jia Lian couldn't help but complain in his heart. He finally understood why the ministers in the previous TV series congratulated the emperor on his birthday, and their speeches were so neat.

Can it be untidy? There is a script for everything. Even before entering the palace, the etiquette eunuchs took turns conveying the agenda and specific arrangements of the birthday banquet to the ministers. Who dares not to remember it carefully? Make a mistake in this scene and the consequences can be serious.

The elegant bird was silent. After a long time, a strong and deep voice was faintly heard from the top: "Everyone, get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I wish the Supreme Emperor a long and prosperous life, good health, and may our country, the Wei Dynasty, be forever solid, and our country long and lasting..."

After a series of praises, nearly a thousand princes and ministers inside and outside the palace stood up one after another and returned. Go to your seat and sit upright.

At this time, Jia Lian had the opportunity to look towards the top of the hall.

Sure enough, right in front of the main hall, one was originally high and one was low, one was upright and the other was empty.There were people sitting on the two dragon chairs.

Emperor Ning Kang didn’t know when he was sitting on the low dragon chair. Next to him, the virtuous empress also sat upright beside him.

And on the large dragon chair directly above, it is obvious that there is also an emperor and a queen sitting. Naturally, the Queen Mother is still as graceful as ever, with no need for extra decorations. She just sits on the pinnacle that represents the highest power, with endless light that makes people dare not look directly at her.

Jia Lian quickly turned her gaze and looked at the... old man next to her?

The old man looks a bit ordinary, with kind eyes and a slightly stooped body. If it weren't for the loose and majestic dragon robe on his body and the relaxed eyes that casually glanced at the countless princes below, no one would believe that he was the current Supreme Emperor and the longest reigning emperor since the founding of the Wei Dynasty. emperor.

The first time I saw the former supreme Jia Lian, his eyes were narrowed, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Suddenly Jia Lian glanced and discovered keenly that there was a short chair clearly placed on the left side of the dragon chairs of the Emperor and the Queen Mother. This short chair is still empty. I don’t know who actually dared to come to the birthday banquet after the Supreme Emperor, Emperor Ningkang and others?

Like many ordinary state banquets, someone needs to give a speech before the banquet begins.

The chief minister of the dynasty clearly shouldered this important task. He stood tremblingly in the middle of the hall, knelt down, took out the manuscript from his sleeve, and began to give an impassioned speech.

First, on behalf of the court and the ministers of civil and military affairs, he expressed congratulations to the Supreme Emperor, and then went on to praise his merits in a long and gorgeous way.

It is no wonder that under the blessing of the Supreme Emperor and the diligence of Emperor Ningkang, the great Wei State was peaceful and peaceful, the people were prosperous, the country was becoming stronger and stronger, and the people's lives were becoming more prosperous and happy.

If that was all, after expressing these, he changed the topic and actually started to report the government affairs to the Supreme Emperor again...

When he got here, Jia Lian was all blur. This chief minister must be mentally ill. The Supreme Emperor got tired of being an emperor, so he abdicated and enjoyed his leisure time behind the scenes. It is rare for people to live a long life these days. Isn't it inappropriate for you to talk about these "bad things"?

But Jia Lian looked around and found that the civil and military ministers present seemed to be used to it. Even Emperor Ning Kang at the front, looking from a distance, Jia Lian couldn't see the change in expression on his face.

But he glanced at the Supreme Emperor, and he showed a look of displeasure on his face. When the first assistant took a breath, he waved his hand and said: "Okay, don't read it anymore, you can step back."

The first assistant blinked, as if he still had some unfinished thoughts, but he did not dare to disobey TaiAs the emperor meant, after bowing, he returned to the first row on the left with the help of the eunuch.

Just when everyone thought that the process had come to this point and it was time to start the banquet, suddenly among the civil officials’ seats, an old man in his sixties suddenly stood up and came to the table with great courage and high spirits. The emperor knelt down and said loudly: "I'd like to report to the Supreme Emperor. I have something to tell you!"

His voice made everyone pay attention. Why do I suddenly feel that I am not here to celebrate my birthday today, but as if I am here to attend the morning ceremony.

Emperor Ning Kang looked at the old ministers in the palace calmly, and said calmly: "Today is the birthday of the Supreme Emperor. Mr. Xiao Ge should not disturb the Supreme Emperor's elegance with government affairs. If there is anything important, , you can come to me in person to discuss it after the banquet. It is the birthday banquet of the Supreme Emperor. As an old minister, Mr. Xiao Ge should not not understand this etiquette."

If it is a normal situation, even if there is It was such a big emergency. When the emperor said this, he must have the wisdom to back down.

But Mr. Xiao Ge seemed to be abnormal. He did not seem to hear the displeasure in Emperor Ning Kang's words, and respectfully replied: "Your Majesty, if it is an ordinary and trivial matter, I naturally dare not disturb it. The Supreme Emperor. But this matter is related to the stability of our country in the Wei Dynasty and the survival of the ancestral temple, so I have to respectfully ask the Supreme Emperor to make a decision."

In the main hall, it became unusually quiet again, quiet. Weird.

Even the most obtuse person wants to be aware of something unusual.

According to logic, the stability of the country and the country, and the survival of the ancestral temple, shouldn't it be a matter of concern for Emperor Kangdi, the current emperor? Why did Xiao Jing say, "I have to respectfully ask the Emperor to make a decision"?

The implication is that Emperor Ning Kang still can’t make the decision? I don’t know how big of a deal this is!

Emperor Ning Kang stared at the man kneeling below him for a long time. He did not speak, but even from a distance, Jia Lian could guess that his big boss was in a bad mood.

But Emperor Ning Kang did not argue with Xiao Jing in the end. He stood up and faced the Supreme Emperor. He raised his hands and asked about another topic: "I dare to ask my father, I wonder why my son, minister, mother and concubine are not here today." Come to attend your father’s birthday banquet?”

As Emperor Ning Kang asked, many ministers noticed this problem.

Yes, why didn’t Mrs. Li show up today? This is indeed a bit strange. Because according to previous practice, Concubine Li would have to attend the Emperor's birthday.

Although Mrs. Li’s name is the concubine, everyone knows that she is actually another queen mother. After all, her biological son ascended the throne and became the emperor.

In previous dynasties, Concubine Li was just the Queen Mother of the West Palace. just seemsThis Concubine Li lacked moral character and was deeply disliked by the Supreme Emperor, so she was never given this title.

The Emperor's eyes were calm, "She is not feeling well, and I asked her to rest well in the palace."

"But my father, I didn't notice when I went to pay my respects last night. What's so strange about my mother and concubine?"

"You mean, I'm lying?"

"I dare not..."

Seeing that Emperor Ningkang relented, the Supreme Emperor was too lazy to argue with him. He looked to the left and right and ordered: "From now on, my birthday banquet only requires the Queen Mother to accompany me. Please withdraw."

　Following the words of the Supreme Emperor, the eunuchs behind him came into battle and carried away the empty short chairs next to them.

Seeing this scene, not to mention Emperor Ning Kang, even many ministers below him trembled in their hearts, and they all guessed in their hearts what the Supreme Emperor meant by this move.

Is it simply that he doesn’t want Mrs. Li to attend his birthday party, or is it something else? If you just don't like her, it's okay. After all, a country's head deserves a country's mother, and the mother is more important than the son. She is not the queen mother after all. Her reputation is not legitimate, so it is normal for her to be removed.

Removing Concubine Li's position seemed to be a trivial matter to the Supreme Emperor, and there was not even a slight change on his face.

When he turned around and saw Emperor Ning Kang still standing in front of him stupidly, he said displeasedly: "Aren't you going to back down?"

"Yes."

Emperor Ning Kang quietly retreated to his seat. The queen next to him saw that he looked bad and quietly stretched out a hand to put on his sleeve.

After this episode, everyone’s eyes returned to the kneeling Xiao Jing again.

The Supreme Emperor also looked at him and said nonchalantly: "Just say what you want to say."

Xiao Jing was not disturbed by what had just happened at all. Just like before, he seemed so upright and upright.

"Reporting to the Supreme Emperor, since Taizu established the Ding Kingdom, he has widely awarded meritorious officials, lightly engaged in corvee and paid little in taxes, in order to consolidate the country. Taizong and Mu Zong followed suit.

After the Supreme Emperor succeeded to the throne , also adhering to Taizu's ambition, caring for the world, treating heroes with kindness, and benefiting the world. As a result, all the capable people in the world rushed to serve the court and be loyal to the Supreme Emperor. In this way, we, the Wei Dynasty, gained decades of stability and border peace. There will be no war, and the people will live and work in peace and contentment.

However, there are some people in the court today who have forgotten the aspirations of their ancestors, belittled the ministers who have made meritorious deeds, slandered and deceived the superiors, and want to take action to shake the foundation of the Wei Dynasty and create chaos!"

Xiao Jing’s voice was high, his tone was full of righteousness, and his words were shocking.

The people who can sit in the Chonghua Hall this time are basically people who are at the center of the Wei Dynasty. As soon as they heard Xiao Jing's words, they immediately realized what Xiao Jing was going to say.

After all, apart from the Emperor’s birthday, the only thing the court has recently decided to do is “clearing the land” which can be regarded as a major national event. Only it can be worthy of Xiao Jing’s words. Wei Genji’s chaotic government!

Emperor Ning Kang’s mood, which had just been comforted by the queen, suddenly became violent. He tightened his eyes and stared at the upright Xiao Jing.

Dog thief, so brave! !

"Xiao Jing, don't be a mouthful. Who is slandering me? Who wants to cause chaos?!"

The Minister of Hubu stood up from his seat and glared at Xiao Jing. .

Xiao Jing snorted and said: "Whoever is in vain to care about Taizu's ambitions, in vain to care about the stability of the country and the country of the Wei Dynasty, and to advocate for the clearing of land and land, is the person who is slandering and deceiving, and wants to disrupt the government!"

"You..."

"Quiet!"

The old eunuch beside the Supreme Emperor keenly observed that the Supreme Emperor frowned and immediately shouted in a sharp voice.

Xiao Jing then ignored the Minister of Household Affairs, and continued to kowtow to the Supreme Emperor: "The Supreme Emperor, since the change of dynasties, the soldiers who fight against the country, and the civil and military officers who patrol the sky for hunting, are The foundation of a country's stability.

Without the bloody battles of border soldiers, the country will be peeped by foreign enemies, and the country will be in danger.

If there are no loyal civil and military officials If the emperor performs his duty and patrols the four directions on behalf of the emperor, if the enemy is not aware of it arising from within, the country will surely perish.

Both of these are the foundation of the stability of the country. And there is no better way to govern a country than 'Every meritorious service must be done' "Rewards must be punished." Today, because the imperial court wants to increase the annual revenue of the state treasury, it has forgotten the ancestral precept of Taizu that it is easy to take corvee lightly and pay little tax, and it is easy to deprive the farm real estate awarded to meritorious ministers.

It is so careless. How can we keep doing things for a long time? Let me ask, if the soldiers who fought with blood cannot hold the land they exchanged for their lives, and the officials who are loyal to their duties do not have farm properties to maintain the livelihood of the tribe, and everyone is in danger, how can the soldiers use their lives, and how can the officials be loyal? Keep it?

Therefore, the old minister implores the Supreme Emperor to issue an edict to cancel the 'field clearing' policy that has not been promulgated by the imperial court, and return the world to a bright and prosperous world!"

"What a good one. The world is bright and clear!"

When Emperor Ning Kang heard this, he simply laughed angrily.

"According to what Mr. Xiao Ge said, if I insist on carrying out the policy of clearing the land, wouldn't I be destroying the foundation of the Wei Dynasty?"

"Old minister and If you don’t have this intention, your Majesty is just mistakenly believing the slander. As long as you cancel the policy of clearing the fields in time, it will not be too late."

Emperor Ning Kang wanted to kill this man in his heart, and he had no intention of quarreling with him. He sneered and said: "Never mind that I have never had any intention of taking back the estate of the meritorious minister. Let's talk about the world. Are those who own a large amount of land all contributors to the country? You said that the soldiers who fought bloody battles and the civil and military personnel who were loyal to their duties, I admit these. Could it be that in the state capitals of the world, besides those gentry members who dominate one area, they also Have they all become the achievements of the country?

Or don’t you know that most of the world is pocketed by these people through various visible and invisible secret means? "

After saying that, Emperor Ning Kang looked at the princes and ministers in the hall and said seriously: "I have never thought about getting anything back from you. As Mr. Xiao Ge said, among you , most of them are meritorious officials of the dynasty, or after becoming meritorious officials, you deserve what the court rewards you.

However, for those who rely on power and buy and sell by force, I will never tolerate the powerful and evil gentry who wantonly annexed the land of the world, displaced the people, and damaged the foundation of the Wei Dynasty. The purpose of the imperial court's land clearing policy is to expose these people for their true colors and no longer have a place to hide!

Do you think this is a policy that benefits the country and the people, or is it a disorder of government?"

Seeing that Emperor Ning Kang's few words tended to convince more people, Xiao Jing hurriedly shouted: "Your Majesty is wrong! Even the local gentry and clans that Your Majesty looks down on are the important foundation of our Wei Dynasty.

Our Wei Dynasty has been cultivating itself for hundreds of years, and has tens of thousands of people. However, If we count the official roster of our great Wei Dynasty, regardless of whether it is outside Beijing or big or small, the total number of civil and military officials is only one hundred thousand! One hundred thousand is compared to ten thousand, how can the disparity be measured in miles? However, all the prefectures and counties in the world can still maintain peace and stability , aren’t these local squires and clans that the imperial court and government rely on?

If there were not these countless local clans in the world, they would strictly abide by the laws of the imperial court and government decrees, govern and restrain their respective tribesmen, I would like to ask how the imperial court can govern tens of thousands of people with tens of thousands of people?

As your Majesty said, the purpose of this land clearing is to find out the powerful and evil gentry in the local area, but how can your Majesty count them from all over the world? Among the endless clans, find out which ones are the powerful and evil gentry causing trouble to the local area, and which ones are loyal to the court?

If not, once the imperial decree is promulgated, it will be easier to find out who are truly loyal to the imperial court. The clan is in danger and disheartened, and may even cause turmoil. How will your majesty deal with it then? Therefore, I ask your majesty to think twice and cancel the policy of clearing the land."

It has to be said that Xiao Jing's behavior is These remarks still made many people who thought the same as him nod secretly.

In fact, ever since the imperial court discussed the matter of clearing the land of the world, the vast majority of people have opposed it. Here, not only because of theto their own interests.

A stable country is a chain of interests from top to bottom. Every time a dynasty changes, it can basically be said that because the stability of this chain is completely broken, it can no longer maintain the sustainable operation of the country.

Now the imperial court suddenly said that the land must be cleared, and everyone must expose the land and property they own, and then pay taxes according to national laws... Even if there are parts with unknown origins, they may be subject to Severe punishment under national law...

How can you bear this?

It is conceivable that once this policy is promulgated, even if it cannot overturn the country of Wei, it will definitely be a complete earthquake from top to bottom for the entire Wei.

Many people can see the risks involved.

Can’t you see Emperor Ning Kang and his supporters? Not necessarily, perhaps what they value more is the achievements that will be of great significance to future generations after the earthquake.

Emperor Ning Kang looked at Xiao Jing with a gloomy look. Xiao Jing did not look at him, but looked earnestly upward at the Supreme Emperor, whose expression did not change much from beginning to end.

Emperor Ning Kang seemed to have reacted, and he also looked at the Supreme Emperor. But what's different from others is that his eyes are more complex and earnest.