Five years of county magistrate, 100 million catties of grain shocked Li Shimin

Chapter 339 Fang Xuanling Objects, Sharp Ma Zhou

It was Fang Xuanling who stood up.

As we all know, Fang Xuanling is a staunch supporter of Li Shimin.

But now, Fang Xuanling actually stood up to oppose it, which really shocked the ministers present.

"Fang Aiqing, do you mean to oppose the agreement between me and Fang Shilang?"

Li Shimin pretended to be indifferent.

He couldn't believe that Fang Xuanling would refute him.

Fang Xuanling has always supported herself, and almost never refuted herself in the court.

Nowadays, it is not a good signal to refute himself in front of the ministers, and it will make some ministers think about it.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I believe that the position of the six ministers should be someone with high morals and high prestige."

"He doesn't need to be very talented, as long as he has enough prestige and can manage the development of this part well."

Fang Xuanling said slowly.

These years, Fang Yuan has risen too fast.

Except for finishing the normal time when the county magistrate, the rest are promoted quickly.

The promotion is okay, but the path you take is cross-level promotion, and it is also not a normal promotion.

This form of promotion is completely messing up the rules of officialdom, how much harm will it do to officialdom in the future?

"Your Majesty, this minister agrees!"

A minister stood up and supported Fang Xuanling's rebuttal.

Cui Zhentang listened on the sidelines, and finally heaved a sigh of relief.

With respectable ministers like Fang Xuanling stepping forward, Fang Yuan probably won't have a chance.

Li Shimin's face was a bit ugly, he looked at Fang Xuanling, and then at the ministers present.

He can still refute, but as an emperor, he can't always speak for Fang Yuan, he also needs a courtier to speak for Fang Yuan.

"Your Majesty, this minister's words are mild, but as the supervisory censor, this minister has something to say!"

Suddenly, there was a voice.

Ma Zhou walked out from the last corner.

"speak!"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up and he asked Ma Zhou to speak.

He remembered Ma Zhou, a man who could speak well and was very capable.

During the period when he was appointed as the supervisory censor, he worked very well and did not form a clique with anyone.

The ministers looked at Ma Zhou one after another, they were quite unfamiliar with Ma Zhou, and they didn't know that there was such a person in the court.

"My minister thinks that what Fang Xiang said is right or wrong."

Ma Zhou said loudly.

After the words fell, the officials were in an uproar.

This is the first person who dares to say that Fang Xuanling is wrong above the court.

Fang Xuanling frowned, but she was not dissatisfied, but looked at Ma Zhou, waiting for Ma Zhou's explanation.

"That's right: Reputation is important and can suppress a lot of people."

"What's wrong is: the noble family is related to living a long time. The longer you live, the more noble family, but you don't know that it is a thief to be old and not die. The old people often lack energy and innovation. If there are too many noble families in a place people, that is, the history of that place goes backwards!"

Ma Zhou spoke sharply.

The officials at the scene listened, and suddenly became restless.

"presumptuous!"

"Who is your shadow?"

"Your Majesty, please punish Ma Zhou for his rampant crime!"

A few old courtiers stepped forward and accused Ma Zhou.

Li Shimin frowned, feeling that what Ma Zhou said was a bit too much.

But Ma Zhou ignored the colleagues who stood up to refute, but continued to speak, his voice became louder.

"To say something that offends others, Tang Jian, Minister of the Household Department, is highly respected, but his ability is well known, and he is too lazy to go to the Household Department for ten days."

"People of such a noble family hold great power. If the Household Department hadn't been supported by two servants, the Household Department would have become a decadent institution, and it would be difficult to pay monthly salaries to everyone present!"

"Furthermore, it has been 15 years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, 37 years after the Sui Dynasty, and going back further, when will the Ministry of Households make more than 300 gold every day like today, and more than [-] million yuan in just over ten days?"

"If the household department is rich, our monthly salary can be higher, and our year-end bonus can also be generous. Whether to choose a highly respected person to sit in the town or choose a talented person to control, I am afraid that you can think clearly with your toes."

Ma Zhou's voice was sonorous and powerful.

When it came to the end, there was almost a feeling of roaring, saliva splashed, and my face was red.

The scene was deadly silent, looking at Ma Zhou like a monster, never expecting that Ma Zhou would dare to say such sharp words in the court.

Not only did he tell Tang Jian's laziness on the spot, but he also refuted Fang Xuanling's respected opinions, and even said that everyone present could think clearly with their toes.

So, if you can't think clearly, if you don't agree with Ma Zhou's opinion, it means that your IQ is not as good as that of your toes?
For a while, no one spoke.

Fang Yuan was also shocked, subconsciously gave Ma Zhou a thumbs up.

But I was also worried that Ma Zhou would be targeted by Tang Jian. After all, Tang Jian was already blushing with anger.

"Your Majesty, Ma Zhou slandered the old minister, please Your Majesty be the master for the old minister!"

Tang Jian stood up and said angrily.

His old background was exposed in public, and he lost all face.

Originally, he was able to become an official in a glorious way, but he was suspended because of this.

Li Shimin did not speak, and the ministers present did not agree with Tang Jian.

Ma Zhou's sharp words have already made everyone jealous, and they don't want to cause trouble for the time being.

"Tang Shangshu, why did the officials slander you?"

"The lower official is the supervisory censor. He has the right to supervise all officials, and he can also gossip about things!"

"Besides, do you really not know what the officer said is true or false, or do you not know the truth?"

Without the slightest bit of fear, Ma Zhou snorted coldly.

"You, you, you are arrogant!"

"Your Majesty, please conduct a thorough investigation and return the old minister justice!"

Tang Jian was so angry that he pointed at Ma Zhou and was speechless.

He was so angry that he forgot for a moment that Ma Zhou was the supervisory censor and had special privileges.

So he understood that it was useless to argue with Ma Zhou, only Li Shimin could give him a face.

"Okay, let's stop here for the time being. After I leave the court, people will investigate clearly."

"Let's go back to the agreement between me and Fang Yuan, the conclusion has not yet come out."

Li Shimin waved his hand, let's leave this matter alone.

He knew Tang Jian's situation well and didn't want to embarrass Tang Jian too much.

I have worked for the country for half my life, so I have to be decent when I become an official.

"Your Majesty, I believe that virtue and prestige are important, but ability is equally important."

"A place, an institution, or a department cannot be raised or lowered only by morality and prestige. Capability is also very important."

"I would like to ask all the ministers present, who can fill the national treasury with more than 300 million yuan in just half a month, and who is the minister?"

Ma Zhou said loudly.

The voice was so loud that it could not stop echoing in the Tai Chi Hall.

The faces of the ministers changed again and again, and finally they all looked at Fang Xuanling and Cui Zhentang.

After all, Fang Xuanling and Cui Zhentang are the protagonists of the incident.

"Your Majesty, roar at the court and fight with ten sticks!"

Cui Zhentang's face was ugly, and he said in a deep voice.

When everyone heard this, they were all taken aback, with strange expressions on their faces.

Indeed, there is such a law that those who roar in court will fight with ten sticks.

But Cui Zhentang said this at this time, why does he feel like he can't afford it?

"Your Majesty, this minister agrees!"

Fang Xuanling said with a blank expression.

Now, the faces of the ministers became even more exciting.

"Your Majesty, this minister agrees!"

Tang Jian also stood up and said loudly.

"Take it down, fight with ten sticks!"

Li Shimin thought for a while, and finally said in a deep voice.

Ma Zhou's face remained the same, he accepted it calmly, and followed the imperial guards out.

Soon, there was a muffled sound of sticks outside, ten times in total.

But Ma Zhou didn't cry out for pain once.

Ma Zhou came back again, and more people were watching him.

"Continue to discuss!"

Li Shimin said calmly.

"Your Majesty, I still feel that ability is more important than virtue, and I support the agreement between Your Majesty and Fang Shilang!"

Ma Zhou was the first to respond, but his voice was still very loud.

"Your Majesty, I want to correct what I just said."

"I feel that morality and prestige are important, and ability is equally important. When selecting officials, it is best to be able to take into account ability while being highly respected."

"In addition, I did not deny Fang Shilang's ability. I just objected to the agreement between His Majesty and Fang Shilang. I feel that there are promotion rules in the officialdom, rather than betting like Your Majesty."

Fang Xuanling stood up again and said loudly.

He didn't want official promotion to become an agreement between the emperor and his courtiers.

Like a bet, it made the court a mess and affected future generations.

"Your Majesty, this minister agrees!"

"We in China have had a complete promotion path for thousands of years."

"This kind of betting-like method not only denies the credit of the ancestors, but may also greatly affect the descendants of future generations."

Cui Zhentang stood up and seconded.

After Ma Zhou's sharp words, it is meaningless to refute Fang Yuan alone.

Then start from the aspect of the general situation, saying that this method is not advisable, and it is not good for the predecessors and future generations.

"Not bad!"

"This kind of agreement is like a bet, how can it be brought into the solemn and sacred court."

Tang Jian supported it.

Li Shimin listened, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

He took the initiative to talk to Fang Yuan about the agreement, not Fang Yuan talking to him.

Hearing Fang Xuanling's and others' objections, Li Shimin felt as if he was being accused by them, and felt uncomfortable.

As the three stood up one after another, many ministers also stood up to oppose and support Fang Xuanling's statement.

Li Shimin looked at it, and his face became even more ugly.

Fang Yuan's face was also not good-looking, his brows were frowning from time to time, thinking about countermeasures.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

Suddenly, someone from the front row of ministers stood up.

When the officials saw the person who stood up, they all became restless.

Because he is Wei Zheng!

It's hard to end well for anything he targets.

Among the officials, if anyone is the most difficult to provoke, it belongs to Wei Zheng, and he is merciless when he sprays others.

"speak."

Li Shimin's face turned dark.

Get ready to be scolded by Wei Zheng on the spot.

But Li Shimin also felt strange, why did Wei Zheng say that he had something to say, instead of opposing or supporting it?

"The first point I want to say: Tang Jian, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, is highly respected, but it is well known that he is lazy and does not do anything. It can be seen that the selection of officials is not enough based on virtue."

Wei Zheng said loudly.

The voice is full of energy and sonorous.

Tang Jian on the side listened, his old face couldn't hold back again.

It's too embarrassing to be singled out in public again for being lazy and not doing anything.

If things go on like this, I'm afraid Zhishi really won't be decent.

"The second point I want to say: Ma Zhou, the supervisory censor, has outstanding abilities, but his position is low and his words are light, and it has nothing to do with his high morals. He still doesn't know the etiquette and roars in court. It can be seen that it is not enough to only promote talent."

Wei Zheng spoke again.

Accused Ma Zhou of being impolite.

Hearing this, Ma Zhou's expression changed, and he didn't dare to refute.

"The third point I want to say: the first time Fang Xiang said, the minister wanted to complain, but later he said that he has both high morality and ability, so I don't agree with it."

"But there is one thing I want to say about Fang Xiang. The agreement between His Majesty and the Household Minister Fang Yuan is not a bet, but a very common appointment and dismissal mechanism."

"It's as if His Majesty usually said to our courtiers, you go and help me with this matter, and I will give you a promotion and a reward. It's the same reason. Don't change the concept secretly!"

Wei Zheng continued to speak.

From accusing Tang Jian and Ma Zhou to Fang Xuanling.

Everyone listened, stunned for a while, and couldn't help admiring it.

As expected of Wei Zheng, after spraying this and that, he can say no to everyone.

Li Shimin blinked even more, he couldn't believe that Wei Zheng was speaking for himself.

"Wei Zheng, don't wrong me, I never thought of changing the concept secretly!"

Fang Xuanling pouted, feeling wronged.

He just said that the agreement between His Majesty and Fang Yuan is similar to a bet.

It was Cui Zhentang and Tang Jian who imposed definitions on his words one by one, making it sound like a bet.

"Am I guilty of wronging you?"

"Fang Shilang is the servant of the household department, and he is qualified to be promoted to the secretary of the household department."

"At this time, His Majesty told Fang Shilang that if you do well in this matter, I will promote you. It is a normal means of appointment and dismissal, but you said it was like a bet. Isn't it a sneaky change of concept?"

Wei Zheng said with a cold snort.

I haven't said that you deliberately distorted His Majesty's meaning.

"Wei Chen agrees!"

"Wei Chen even felt that Fang Xiang deliberately distorted His Majesty's meaning."

Regardless of the risk of being punished, Ma Zhou interjected.

Wei Zheng was dissatisfied with Ma Zhou's sudden interruption.

But I didn't expect that I was surprised to speak my heart out.

"Your Majesty, I don't have any!"

"I'm just saying it's like, I didn't change the concept secretly, and I didn't deliberately distort it!"

Fang Xuanling felt innocent, and was speechless to Wei Zheng and Ma Zhou.

But Wei Zheng knew it, and it didn't make sense to be a dead cow.

So I can only explain the situation to Li Shimin to avoid misunderstanding.

"I understand what you mean, and I won't blame you for this."

"Does anyone have any objections to the agreement between me and Fang Yuan?"

Li Shimin waved his hand and did not pursue Fang Xuanling's responsibility.

Fang Xuanling himself has no responsibility, and Li Shimin also hopes that Fang Xuanling will stop objecting.

Sure enough, after listening to Li Shimin's words, Fang Xuanling opened his mouth, but did not object again.

The ministers looked at each other in blank dismay, and after Ma Zhou and Wei Zheng's sharp words, their opposition weakened a lot.

And what Ma Zhou said just now is very good, that is to fill the national treasury like Fang Yuan, they can not only get a higher monthly salary, but also a bigger year-end bonus.

Now, only Cui Zhentang and the officials of the Qiwang family with five surnames are left uneasy.

"Your Majesty, I have an opinion!"

"You and Fang Shilang agreed to ignore Tang Shangshu's recommendation, which is very unfair to me."

"You are eccentric, unfair, and not beneficial to the unity of officials. It will cause officials to only know how to please their superiors and ignore normal work."

Cui Zhentang said in a deep voice.

Directly pointed out Li Shimin's partiality and unfairness.

When the officials listened, their complexions changed.

(End of this chapter)