Chapter 364 Everyone has their own plans
When Ke Anran's voice of self-recommendation came out at the end of all the officials, all the officials sighed in their hearts. Sure enough, there were other variables in today's political situation.

As a blue-robed Confucian scholar and a representative of this generation of Confucianists, even though Ke Anran was driven out of Tianjing by the Minister of Justice Dong Xingshu because of political differences and only held a nominal position, his prestige among the younger generation of Confucianists did not diminish. Instead, he felt that he had won honor in defeat.

Therefore, in the novelists' "World Affairs" over the years, Ke Anran has always been one of the best on the list of potential leaders.

Today's court celebration and Ke Anran's visit to Beijing was a big event, and it was worth it for all officials to think about whether the older generation of Confucianists had reconciled with Ke Anran because of Zhou Tieyi's matter and wanted to use Ke Anran to suppress Zhou Tieyi.

But at the beginning, the discussion between Mohism and Confucianism on "Should People in the World Wear Twelve Chapters" was so exciting that everyone ignored Ke Anran who was coming to the emperor for an audience.

At this moment, Ke Anran suddenly spoke up, with a feeling that "so that's how it is".

But it was strange that Ke spoke in an unnatural way.

Logically speaking, with his status, if he really reconciled with Dong Xingshu, then in today's matter, with just a little hint from Dong Xingshu, a Confucian official would naturally recommend Ke Anran, and Ke Anran would not have to recommend himself.

Although self-recommendation seems courageous, it is actually not highly respected in court politics and has only a very small chance of success. The biggest reason is that when you recommend yourself, it means that no one will support you.

As everyone's eyes fell on Ke Anran, the Legalist officials reacted the fastest. A fourth-rank Legalist official stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, Editor Ke has been away from the capital for a long time and is not familiar with everything in Tianjing. The newspaper is a new variable and difficult to grasp. It would be better to hand it over to Mei Fengbi, who has managed the newspaper before and has now raised the issue of newspaper malpractices."

The military heroes looked at Chang Sun Dan slightly. They didn't know whether they should speak up to help Mei Juncang at this time.

This is why many people accepted this self-torture tactic even though they knew that Zhou Tieyi and Mei Juncang might be using it as a trick.

Because it involves power struggles, fake plays can become real.

Previously, the Emperor of Great Xia let Mei Juncang take charge of the Supervisory Office. Now, if the Newspaper Department is established, then Mei Juncang will supervise the Newspaper Department, which means he will really control the Tianjing Newspaper. And the Tianjing Newspaper is an important part of the Supervisory Office's authority. With this power, Zhou Tieyi and Mei Juncang will no longer have political power passed from master to disciple, but the disciple will control the master.

Throughout the dynasties, most of the masters and apprentices in the court turned against each other. Even if the apprentice was originally chosen by the master as the successor, he would gradually drift apart through repeated power decisions.

Chang Sun Dan remained silent, because he was not sure what Mei Juncang was thinking at the moment.
He looked at Mei Juncang who was standing there happily. Mei Juncang sensed Chang Sun Dan's gaze and turned his head slightly. Chang Sun Dan could only see a pair of deep and dark eyes.

Not only Wu Xun was confused, but the Confucian officials also looked at Dong Xingshu in confusion. Dong Xingshu had never discussed the matter of re-accepting Ke Anran in private. After Ke Anran came to Tianjing, he did not visit other Confucianists, so that everyone now didn't understand whether Ke Anran had reconciled with Dong Xingshu, or was Ke Anran just taking advantage of the opportunity?
No, it is definitely not as simple as taking advantage of every opportunity.

Most officials quickly judged this in their minds.

Ke Anran had not entered the palace to pay homage for so many years. Why did he choose to enter the palace to pay homage after the Mid-Autumn Festival this year? There must have been some kind of communication before this.

However, the result of this communication did not allow both parties to reach a satisfactory conclusion, so Ke Anran recommended himself alone today.

But what is his confidence in recommending himself?
Everyone's eyes turned to Ke Anran, who was wearing a green official uniform. Ke Anran was now over 40 years old, with slightly graying temples, but his eyebrows were like swords, making the gaze beneath his eyebrows as sharp as an eagle.

Twenty years ago, Ke Anran was an editor of the academic department with the sixth rank. Twenty years later, he was still an editor of the academic department because he had a conflict with the chief editor Dong Xingshu when they were editing the book. Everyone only knew that the conflict was big, but the cause of the conflict was only known by the two people who were in the study late at night.

From then on, Ke Anran, who was originally the top scholar, took the title of editor of the department and went around the country to read news and edit classics.

The Great Xia Emperor sat high on the throne, looking at Ke Anran who was standing outside the Golden Throne Hall, and asked, "Why do you recommend yourself?"

When His Majesty the Great Xia asked this question, all the officials knew where Ke Anran's confidence came from.

Ke Anran's confidence lies in the Emperor of Daxia.

Ke Anran did not completely follow Dong Xingshu's path, perhaps because of the conflict twenty years ago. To this day, Ke Anran still does not think he is wrong and does not want to bow to Simin Dong Xingshu, so he took another path.

Ke waved his sleeves sadly, and outside the Golden Throne Hall, the surrounding sunlight suddenly became less dazzling. Instead, there was a hazy and misty feeling, like a flowing mountain spring.

"I saw the celestial phenomena, so I recommended myself."

Astronomy!

This is the reason Ke Anran gave.

At that time, Zhou Yulong saw the celestial phenomena, so he didn't need to care about the questioning of the Queen Mother. Now that Ke Anran has seen the celestial phenomena, he also has the confidence to take charge of the newspaper department.

Daxia treats the top three ranks of cultivators with preferential treatment, not to mention the top three ranks of the Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian traditions. Each and every one of them is the foundation of Daxia and can meet the saint without kneeling and be given a seat in front of the emperor.

Ke Anran was originally a top scholar, and he had been an editor in the academic department for twenty years. Now he had met the third-rank Taoist 'Tian Xiang'. Whether in terms of qualifications, ability, or strength, he could secure the position of director of the newspaper department.

Moreover, before this, he might have reached an agreement with His Majesty the Great Xia through some means. His Majesty the Great Xia smiled warmly for the first time in today's court meeting, "Yes, being able to see the celestial phenomena is indeed a great talent of our Great Xia country. What do you think, my dear ministers?"

Up to now, all the officials sighed in their hearts. Although the Emperor of Great Xia has not attended court for three years, it does not mean that his ability to control government affairs has declined. After resuming government affairs and regaining power, the true ruler of power in Great Xia will take back power more quickly than expected.

He exploited the excess power obtained by Zhou Tieyi through the exploitation of Confucianism, exploited Zhou Tieyi's power through Mei Juncang, and then restricted Mei Juncang's power through Ke Anran, who had a falling out with Confucianism.

This combination of punches perfectly explained that the whole thing was seen by the Emperor of Daxia. He knew what everyone below was thinking, and ultimately he was the one who allocated power.

Just like everyone could not find any reason to oppose Zhou Tieyi's title of nobility, now Ke Anran has enough qualifications, ability and strength. In such a weak and strange court, they cannot find anyone who can replace Ke Anran as the head of the newspaper department.

"Ke Anran is both virtuous and talented, and can be in charge of the newspaper department."

Right General Yuchi Pojun stepped out first and spoke.

In this matter, their military honors will definitely not be able to control the newspaper department. In the past, Yuchi Pojun would have considered letting Zhou Tieyi come out, but Zhou Tieyi is not in Tianjing now, and no one can be chosen. It would be better to go with the flow and do a "favor" to the Emperor of Daxia.

Right General Yuchi Pojun admitted it. After quickly calculating in his mind, Si Lu Qingkonggui said, "I second the motion. At the same time, I suggest that Mei Juncang has made meritorious contributions in discussing the shortcomings of newspapers. He has also managed the Tianjing Daily and the Legal Daily. He has rich experience and can be the deputy director to assist in the management of newspapers."

Dong Xingshu glanced at Ke Anran outside the palace with a deep gaze, then bowed and said, "I second the motion."

The three courts quickly reached an opinion. Under the leadership of the Great Xia Emperor, they selected two people who were most favorable to him, one chief and one deputy. They restricted the newspaper where Zhou Tieyi started, restricted the speech of various schools of thought, and returned the right to speech to the Great Xia Emperor.

Because of the two people he chose, one has betrayed his mentor for power, and the other has deviated from the orthodoxy for power.

A thrilling political struggle ended with the establishment of the Newspaper Department and Ke's sad return to government affairs. Of course, this process left many doubts for the officials to think about.

"I have something to report."

The right general Yuchi Pojun stepped out of the line.

"What's the matter?"

Having just concluded a political struggle and obtained the desired result, the Emperor of Daxia naturally sounded relieved when he heard Yuchi Pojun had something to report.

"I would like to report the incident of 'ghost soldiers patrolling the capital' last time."

The slightly lazy gaze of the Great Xia Emperor became sharp again. He glanced at the Queen Mother who was hanging the curtain beside him. The Queen Mother remained silent. She had not said a word in today's court meeting until just now.

"Present the memorial."

Taking Yuchi Pojun's memorial from the chief eunuch, the Emperor of Daxia opened it and read it carefully.

Ever since Zhou Tieyi left Beijing last time and mentioned the matter of 'ghost soldiers patrolling Beijing', Zhou Tieyi's people have not taken any other actions, because the core interests of this matter belong to the Queen Mother.

Zhou Tieyi did not make any other moves, so everyone interpreted it as the last time he mentioned "ghost soldiers patrolling the capital", on the one hand to show his loyalty to the emperor and the country in the political situation at that time, and on the other hand to show his favor to the Queen Mother and let her speak up for him.

Zhou Tieyi did a good job in these two aspects, so there was naturally no additional reason to mention the matter of 'ghost soldiers patrolling the capital'.

But once this seed is planted, it will naturally fall into the hearts of those who care about it.

Whoever is interested is naturally the Queen of Heaven and the Right General.

The authority of the Yin soldiers to patrol the capital has the greatest impact on them. Apart from them, even Confucianism and Legalism cannot interfere in this matter.

The memorials also discuss the issues at hand.

This is also what the Right General and the Empress have proposed to discuss through various memorials in the past ten days.

The biggest purpose of the ghost soldiers patrolling the capital is to guard against evil spirits, so they should cooperate with the God-Slaying Department. Moreover, it is not appropriate to place the stable entrance between the underworld and the world of the living in other places, so placing it in the God-Slaying Department can also avoid disturbing the people.

Finally, a separate 'Night Patrol Office' was set up within the God-Slaying Division to be in charge of the ghost soldiers patrolling the capital.

The director of the Night Patrol Court, the Right General, directly recommended his grandson Yuchi Jing in his memorial!

(End of this chapter)