Chapter 304 Overt and covert fighting
Outside the Golden Palace, the morning sun leaped into the sky with its brilliant light.

In the Golden Palace, when Li Jianhu reported what he had reported, the court officials in red and purple robes looked at each other with their eyes and noses, as if they were pondering how to report the matter in front of the emperor later.

With their political wisdom, they could of course see that there was someone behind Li Jianhu and the other two.

But even if there is someone behind this, it seems a little unreasonable to interfere with Zhou Tieyi on such a happy day.

Isn't this obviously embarrassing His Majesty?

Of course, this is also in line with the consistent style of Confucianism. Especially during the war three days ago, the emperor stayed in the palace and did not go out. Today, there are two emperors in the court. It would be strange if Confucianism did not make a fuss.

But politics is not just about making a fuss.

Any political action, no matter how absurd its cause, will inevitably express political intentions in the process of promotion as long as it is taken to a higher level.

Take the Dengwen Drum as an example. When Taizu first established the Dengwen Drum, the people did not dare to complain.

So one day, a businessman named Shi beat drums to appeal for justice, and all he had to do was lose a pig.

When all the civil and military officials in the court heard this report in the Golden Palace, they all felt it was extremely absurd.

But in the end, Taizu not only did not blame him, but instead rewarded the merchant named Shi with ten gold coins to compensate for his lost pig money.

Afterwards, he summoned the three officials to give them a lecture, and again emphasized the importance of the Dengwen Drum, saying that no matter how important the people's affairs were, they were all important. After that, all officials took the matter of Dengwen Drum seriously, and the Ministry of Prosecutions set up a special Dengwen Drum Court to review and handle the matter. The people believed in the Dengwen Drum method of complaining about their grievances.

Therefore, no matter how ridiculous the political reasons are, once they are taken to the extreme, they will definitely reveal the subsequent political intentions.

But after three hundred years of evolution, even the best system will have flaws or artificial obstacles.

After the Dengwen Drum was struck many times, a lot of trivial incidents occurred, and the Dengwen Drum Court also severely punished those people, so the Dengwen Drum gradually became difficult to be struck.

There is a saying that "bones freeze under the drums of the emperor" and "there are no common people in front of the Ministry of Public Security".

Today, the drum for hearing the news sounded again. It is obvious that Confucianism wants to express certain political intentions. If we express our views before clarifying these political intentions, we will most likely become fools in political sacrifice and die without knowing how we died.

The Emperor of Daxia and the Queen Mother sat on the throne in silence. The silence that lasted for nearly thirty breaths made the atmosphere in the Golden Palace more solemn than ever before.

In the invisible spiritual confrontation of the upper three ranks, Li Jianhu felt that he was being scrutinized over and over again inside and out. If it weren't for the Confucian tradition that was like a pillar, supporting Li Jianhu tightly, this kind of scrutiny alone would be enough to cause Li Jianhu, who was only at the eighth rank, to have a mental collapse.

Thirty breaths later, at the end of the hundred officials, a man in red stepped out, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

The Great Xia Emperor looked at the man in red clothes - Jiao Guoping, the director of the treasury of the God-Slaying Department.

The Great Xia Saint had no expression on his face. "What's the matter?"

Jiao Guoping said loudly, "I am in charge of the files of the God Punishment Department. As far as I know, this Li Jianhu is one of the three fugitives reported by the Tangzhou Prefecture's Pacification Department for colluding with the evil gods. If these three people are really fugitives, why did they accuse our Great Xia country's talents! Your Majesty, please first investigate the matter of these three people being involved in the evil gods! If it is true, the nine clans should be killed to serve as a warning to others!"

Jiao Guoping's last sentence was almost spoken with gritted teeth, and Li Jianhu could feel the chill even though he was several feet away.

He looked in disbelief at this stranger official. He had no idea what deep hatred he had with the other party that made the other party want to kill all nine generations of his clan right away.

At this moment he deeply understood why bones were cold under the drums of Dengwen and why there were no common people in front of the Tongzhengsi.

Li Jianhu's face flushed, and just as he was about to speak, Cui Yu beside him gently pulled Li Jianhu's sleeve. At this point, the fight in the court was no longer something they could decide.

If they talk too much now, they might make a big mistake. What they really want to say will naturally be said by the people behind them.

Zhou Tieyi looked at the scene in front of him, smiling, and stood quietly in place.

It's not just because he had complete control over the complaint against Li Jianhu and the other two.

It is also because of what Jiao Guoping said.

Zhou Tieyi is no longer the general commander of the God-Slaying Division who had to carry a knife and kill people three months ago. Even if he stands still, the interest groups behind him will not let anything happen to him easily.

A fifth-rank imperial censor from the Ministry of Justice said, "Dean Jiao's words are inappropriate."

The imperial envoy bowed to the emperor again.

This is the privilege of the imperial envoy. Even in front of the emperor, he can speak first and then speak politely, which symbolizes that the emperor of Daxia is open to all opinions.

This is also one of the reasons why the Ministry of Speech is so noble.

"The matter of Lake Heart Academy is full of doubts. The Minister of Law and the Minister of Citizens have already reported it to His Majesty. Because of the impediment of His Majesty's physical condition before, the case has not been tried. Now it is a good opportunity to try the two cases together, and the Minister of Citizens will personally preside over it to clear the name of the people of the world."

The head of Zhou's disciples and former officials, the Minister of Justice, Chang Sun Dan, came out and bowed to the emperor. He sneered and said, "Envoy Qin, what you said is not appropriate. According to the rules of Daxia, the Lake Heart Academy colluded with the gods. It should be handed over to the God Punishment Department for trial first. If there are any doubts, it should be submitted to the Ministry of Justice, and finally to the Three Departments. Why did Envoy Qin want the people to personally try it right away? This is not only inconsistent with the ancestral system, but also inconsistent with etiquette."

"Or is it that the so-called Confucian etiquette can be privileged and overstepped at certain times? After all, Huxin Academy is a Confucian academy. If this is true, how can we reassure the hundreds of schools? How can we reassure His Majesty?"

Chang Sun Dan used an emphasis, which made the matter more complicated.

After Tang Anshi, the Minister of Education, bowed, he said, "Since Minister Changsun feels that the people of the world cannot be reassured by our Confucian school's trial of this case, how about letting the Minister of Law personally try it?"

The Confucians themselves were aware of the affairs of Huxin Academy. Some local clans were indeed practicing the method of deifying their ancestors, so they were involved. However, to say that Huxin Academy was colluding with the evil gods was a bit far-fetched.

Therefore, for Confucianism, it is at least much better for Si Lu Qing Kong Gui to judge this matter than for Zhu Shen Si to judge it first.

After all, the initial confession submitted by the local pacification office was almost enough to point fingers at Confucianism and say that Confucianism had the intention of rebellion!
There was also a debate in the court about how to conduct the trial.

If Zhou Tieyi had not been assassinated and then the incident of the divine evil at the Bingzhong had not occurred, I am afraid that with Zhou Tieyi's methods, the God-Slaying Department would have taken over the case long ago.

What is the current situation?
What was going to be discussed at today's court meeting?
Zhou Tieyi was conferred the title of Marquis!

If Zhou Tieyi were really granted the title of marquis today, then Zhou Tieyi would be extremely powerful and Jian would be in the emperor's heart. How could the Confucians fight for the right to try the Huxin Academy case?
So even though he knew that today was not the right time to bring up this case, it would be almost impossible to bring down Zhou Tieyi through this case, and it would even be difficult to shake the Zhou family now.

But the Confucians have to play this card today, because if they don’t play this card today, once Zhou Tieyi is really conferred the title of Marquis, there will be no way to save the situation!

Thinking of this, the officials finally figured out some of the political intentions of the Confucianists in the court today. If the Si Lu tried this matter, it would also indicate one thing.

That is to say, Zhou Tieyi's title was 'not justified and not reasonable'!
How can an official involved in a major case be awarded a title?
This prevented Zhou Tieyi from being conferred a title today, and temporarily broke Zhou Tieyi's unrivaled power!

In an instant, all attention was focused on Si Lu Qingkonggui.

The officials in the court were like a pair, from a fifth-rank warehouse director to the imperial envoy, then to the minister, and finally to the Si Lu, allowing the current holder of the "Daxia Tianxian" to once again establish the laws.

Qingkong Gui sighed in his heart, today the Confucians wanted to roast him on the fire!
He pondered for a moment and was about to speak when the Queen of Heaven spoke from behind the pearl curtain with a clear voice, like the sound of a phoenix.

"Your Majesty, everything has a first come, first served order. Since this lawsuit seems to be a confusing matter now, and even the person who filed the lawsuit is suspicious, why not deal with the business first and then discuss this matter."

As soon as the Queen spoke, the three officials' faces changed slightly.

The thing they were most worried about happened!

The Queen Mother was going to make an enemy with Zhou Tieyi because of the issue of Yulin Army power, but Zhou Tieyi not only kept his position as the commander-in-chief of the Yulin Army, drove Zhao Taisui and Shenxiu out of Tianjing, but also formed a temporary political alliance with the Queen Mother beyond everyone's expectations.

After the recent incident at the Bingzhong, the political alliance between the Queen Mother and Zhou Tieyi can be said to be in a honeymoon period.

When someone attacked Zhou Tieyi at this time, it was the Queen Mother who spoke up for Zhou Tieyi and suppressed Si Lu, one of the three officials.

This is the exchange of political interests!
The political combination of the Queen Mother and Zhou Tieyi has made all three officials uneasy!
Minister of Public Relations Xu Ningzong's face changed slightly. He no longer cared about the hierarchy and stepped out of the crowd, saying, "Your Majesty, the matter of conferring a title is a serious matter, so it is reviewed by all officials..."

The Queen Mother did not tolerate Xu Ningzong interrupting, "Hasn't the officials reviewed it?"

Xu Ningzong frowned, "But the officials have not received any accurate information before. Li Jianhu's complaint today does indicate that Zhou Tieyi's title of marquis needs to be considered."

Originally, Zhou Tieyi should have been blocked during the review by all officials, but unfortunately, Li Jianhu and the other two were lost in the wilderness at that time, and they, the Confucian school, could not even find the plaintiff, so how could they block him?
The Queen sneered, "Master Xu, do you not understand what I said? The identities of these three people are questionable, and the cases they have are complicated and confusing. We don't know whether their crimes are true or false, but Master Zhou is loyal to the country and has made great contributions. This is witnessed by all the officials and the people of the world. If you don't reward him today, when will you reward him? Reward him after three times! By then, I will doubt what your intentions are!"

The Queen Mother spoke the last sentence in a voice as sharp as thunder.

At this time, the fifth-rank, fourth-rank, and a small number of third-rank people finally understood the hidden killer moves in today's Confucian game!

Today Zhou Tieyi is participating in the second ceremony of giving way!

Rather than during the review process of all officials before the second ceremony of resignation.

If you give in again today.

Even if Zhou Tieyi is later proven innocent, he will definitely not be rewarded!

The princes gave way twice, the emperor gave way three times!
A group of fourth and fifth rank officials looked at the silent Simin Dong Xingshu with horror. This killing was really bloodless. His rank was really high.

In other words, Zhou Tieyi can hold on now.

Otherwise, if it were anyone else who was awarded the title, even if he was a general who had made military achievements, he would be skinned alive if he didn't die today.

Because there was no Queen Mother to help speak, the three judges were vaguely integrated, and at this time, self-defense would not be able to explain certain situations.

For example, Zhou Tieyi couldn't say it out loud. Did he really have to give up the title three times before being given the title?

This statement can only be made by His Majesty, or by the Queen Mother who is one with His Majesty.

Anyone else who dares to say it would be considered extremely disrespectful and a crime of deceiving the emperor!

At this time, after all the civil and military officials in the court, and even the Empress, had expressed their opinions, the Emperor paused for a moment and said, "Since ancient times, wise rulers have rewarded merits and punished faults, and only then has the world been governed well. Does Lord Zhou have anything to say?"

Hearing the emperor's words "Rewards for merit and punishments for faults", the three officials remained expressionless, but they all knew that Zhou Tieyi's title conferment today could not be stopped.

Zhou Tieyi bowed and said, "I am a humble person, lingering in the alleys and enjoying the pleasures of life in Tianjin. I only want to live in peace and contentment in this prosperous era. Fortunately, my ancestors have blessed me and promoted me to a general with the military merits of three generations. The emperor has heard of me and the emperor has not thought I was absurd. He has promoted me and entrusted me with important tasks. It has been more than three months, and I have only three merits to boast about."

"My first achievement was to write the "Please Ask the Emperor to Give You a Policy" and "Please Ask the People to Give You a Policy", and to establish the "Tianjing Newspaper", so that the Emperor could have sharp eyes and ears and listen to the voices of the people, and the people could speak clearly and express their concerns. After that, hundreds of schools of thought would follow suit, and educate the people of Daxia, so that the Emperor's morality could benefit all the people."

"My second achievement is to establish the Chamber of Commerce and offer the train and ship as two auspicious signs, so that all officials can personally verify the auspicious signs. Now, more than 3,000 workers have been hired, all of which have brought peace and prosperity to the people. I have also discussed with the fourth son of the emperor, Prince Ning, to promote this method. It is estimated that more than 100,000 workers will be hired by the end of the year."

"My third achievement was to obey the imperial edict, open the soldiers' tomb, awaken the will of the White Emperor, and destroy the conspiracy of the evil gods in Tianjing. I dealt a heavy blow to the remaining evil gods. Thanks to the power of the emperor and the queen, I was able to protect the people of Tianjing."

Finally, Zhou Tieyi looked around and sighed, "Other than that, I have done nothing else. I am ashamed of your majesty's trust."

Zhou Tieyi's sigh made all the officials look very excited.

If this is not a credit, then these people are really good-for-nothings who are just occupying their positions without doing any work!
Let alone the three merits, any one of these merits is enough to be awarded a title of nobility.

Let’s take the first achievement, publishing a newspaper, as an example. This was also what Zhou Tieyi did at the beginning, and it is now producing the fastest results.

Regardless of the religion, the most important thing is education!
Military achievements have to take a back seat to the merits of education.

The emergence of newspapers did indeed open up the channels for people to express their opinions. Not only that, it also allowed various schools of thought to imitate them.

If one can inspire all the philosophers to imitate one's ideas, then it is naturally a result of education.

If this is not considered the achievement of education, then doesn't it mean that all the schools of thought have done something wrong and are blind?

If a Confucianist had accomplished this, he would probably not be seeking to be granted a title of nobility, but would be considering how to become a sage!
As for the other two and three merits, there are things to say and things to complain about, and each merit is not a trivial matter!
The Great Xia Emperor looked at Dong Xingshu and said with a smile, "Simin, how about this general I promoted? Can he be conferred a title of nobility for these three merits?"

Dong Xingshu, the minister in purple, remained silent for three breaths, in sharp contrast to Zhou Tieyi.

Finally, Dong Xingshu said, "These three achievements are enough to make you a marquis. Your Majesty is wise."

The extremely rich expressions on the officials' faces all turned into long sighs in their hearts.

When the time comes, heaven and earth all work together, and the heroes are not free!
(End of this chapter)