The sun never sets in America

Chapter 417 Minister and Lord

Xijing Imperial Palace——
"Please, Mr. Hu——"

"Master Wen, please first--"

In a corridor that is more than a dozen people wide and wrapped in red walls outside the palace, Wen Ting, Liu Peng's female official for more than ten years, is leading the way for Hu Junding, his veteran prime minister for nearly twenty years who has also been in charge of the cabinet for more than ten years. It's just that the familiarity between the two can be found in the excuses between the two.

In fact, in a strict sense, both of them are "exceeding" products under the Han system. Under the current situation where the Han Dynasty continues to promote the retirement system, a person like Hu Junding who has been in charge of the Han Empire for more than ten years will be retired next year. Such a person for twenty years has actually been constantly questioned, even more criticized than Wen Ting, who violated the inner court's replacement regulations.

So in the eyes of outsiders, especially those ministers of the same period as him, Prime Minister Hu was simply a "lone man" and an out-and-out "people thief".

Even in recent years, some people have been writing letters to thoroughly investigate the "Hu Party". Regarding these officials who have had contact with Hu Junding or had direct relationships, those people basically have the same view of "forming a party for personal gain" and have no other ideas.

In other words, for those who aspire to reach the top of power, even if the current cabinet is constrained by the Imperial Parliament, everyone understands that it is just an illusion. After all, the cabinet is the place where the real orders are given, and the Han Empire’s Power basically flows between imperial power, cabinet power, and parliamentary power.

No one doesn't like power, even if he is a "eunuch".

This sentence was originally said by a corrupt official in Hanzhou before his death.

Liu Peng, who was taking a nap on the soft couch, squinted his eyes, looked at Hu Junding standing outside, and whispered: "Let him in!!"

The twenty-four years since the founding of the Han Dynasty were not all smooth sailing as imagined by outsiders. At least in Hu Junding's eyes, the four words "difficult national affairs" were fully understood.

"Afraid of life-threatening danger??"

Liu Peng looked very happy, but only Hu Junding understood him, and everything depended on what he said next.

"No, no, no, I never meant this!!"

"Tell me, is it a problem with the navy??"

"Your Majesty Hu Jun is scheduled to pay homage to His Majesty——"

For those people, this is simply an unforgivable "crime", but just like what Liu Peng said when he faced criticism from the DPRK and China: "Everyone says that Prime Minister Hu is an independent prime minister and a treacherous prime minister, but I ask you, who of you can achieve what he has achieved in these twenty years??"

As the "independent prime minister" for nearly two decades, Hu Junding has always had high demands on himself. Even though he is now over 50 years old, he still handles official documents with vigor every day and coordinates the current affairs between the army and the navy. and even conflicts between the military and the cabinet.

"Well, you are right, the war is urgent and cannot be delayed..."

After the two sat down, Liu Peng looked at Prime Minister Hu and said with a smile: "The affairs of the cabinet are so complicated. Why should Prime Minister Hu come to my palace again? I'm afraid it's not a good thing or a good news." ??”

(The number of the Han Marine Corps is not too large, less than 50,000 at present, but they are all elites)
"But the question is, will the navy participate in the war as the main force, or as an auxiliary force??"

He looks like an honest and honest "pragmatic official", which is essentially different from the rumored old and cunning official.

"sit--"

Embarrassment flashed across Hu Junding's face, and then he replied seriously: "Your Majesty, the war in Youzhou has reached a critical moment. Dong Ziqin sent a report this morning, saying that it is basically ready. The cavalry army in Louisiana, It has also occupied cities along the border near the inland areas, and is planning to attack in the direction of the Atlantic——"

"Since they won't obey anyone, then I will let someone who can suppress them..."

"Oh, isn't this a good thing??"

But even so, in the eyes of those people, what is the prime minister? It is a "storm" and a moon that they have to look up to for a lifetime. But there is a person who has been doing phase for nearly twenty years. It ends this year and ends in the first half of next year. It will be two full years. Ten years.

Hu Junding first explained the previous causes and consequences, and then reminded Liu Peng that the current conflicts between sea and land, and the steps of speaking, are very sophisticated! !
Sure enough, after hearing this, Liu Peng's expression changed instantly, and then he snorted coldly:

"Your Majesty, I think that the Crown Prince is a family matter, so I have no right to discuss it!!"

"Hu Xiang, what do you think of the prince??"

Liu Peng nodded first, and then said with his "insightful" eyes:

"Your Majesty, people from the navy and the army are already quarreling over this matter!!"

Looking at Hu Junding kneeling at his feet and his white-haired temples, a soft color flashed across Liu Peng's majestic eyes.

"If it is the main force, will it participate in the command and participation of other wars??"

Hu Junding did not respond to the comments and smears from the outside world, just as he believed what Liu Peng said to him in private:
"You are Xiao He, and I am Liu Bang!!"
-
"Your Majesty, Mr. Hu is here——"

"Someone is trying to kill someone??"

Then he added: "Brew a pot of spring tea sent from China and bring it up. The cup should be a Yunhe cup."

"Forehead……"

After Liu Peng scolded him, his words immediately changed, catching Hu Junding off guard.

Hu Junding was indeed a little panicked this time. According to his thoughts, regarding this kind of thing, and based on his view of Emperor Longwu, he would probably play thirty cards each, and finally choose a highly respected person from the navy and army. Solving this matter seems simple, but in fact it involves the key to military power.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"

[The official kilns of the Han Dynasty improved the blue and white porcelain technology, using green glaze as the surface, and using basket colors mixed with volcanic ash to depict various patterns. Among them, clouds and cranes have the meaning of ascending to the blue sky, and good fortune will rise. 】

As a human being among the best, Hu Junding's way of speaking was impeccable. He did not talk about the problem first, but explained to Liu Peng the current war situation in Youzhou and the problems encountered in Louisiana, as well as the differences between the two. connect.

"If it is an auxiliary army, does it mean that the army commands the navy??"

Hu Junding immediately made a "shocked" expression, then flattered "His Majesty the Holy Ming", and then said:
"What your Majesty said is absolutely true. It is indeed a problem between the Navy and the Army. Currently, the Army and the Navy are sending troops to occupy Louisiana coastal port cities before the Army comes over, reducing the Army's combat intensity. The Army even wants the Marine Corps to , also participate in this war..."

After Hu Junding calmed down, he immediately adopted a "no participation" attitude, and then changed his tone and said:

"Why do you have to come all the way to report??"

"The prince is the crown prince and the foundation of the country. If the prince is allowed to supervise the army, I'm afraid..."

"Get up!!"

"Your Majesty, the thing is like this. It takes time to attack Louisiana, especially to attack coastal cities. Our army is currently in a critical period of encircling the enemy's southern army. If we rely solely on the army, it will be too slow. If you really delay it, I’m afraid it won’t help things later…”

Hu Junding was so frightened by the last sentence that he could no longer hold the tea cup in his hand, and there was a slight drop of sweat on his forehead. It was obvious that those two sentences just now were so scary! !
"What I mean is that since ancient times, the crown prince has lived in the East Palace and taken control of all directions. Our dynasty has already had two generations of emperors. These three generations naturally have to be more prudent..."

"Oh, steady, another Emperor Wen of Han??"

Liu Peng raised his eyebrows and asked, which made Hu Junding, an experienced man, a little panicked, because at this time, it was really difficult for him to guess the true thoughts of this "holy king".

Seeing Hu Junding who was unwilling to answer such a sensitive question, Liu Peng sighed in his heart and already understood what the other party meant.

After working for nearly twenty years, Hu Junding has reached the stage of "protecting himself and retiring safely", and is no longer as decisive as before! !

"Hu Xiang, I think, since they are both dissatisfied with each other, let the prince go!!"

"After all, millions of soldiers on the front line fought all night, their armor was stained with blood, their heads were thrown, and their blood was shed..."

"As the Crown Prince, there is no reason not to go!!"

Liu Peng used a tone that left no room for doubt, and in Hu Junding's surprised eyes, he decided on the prince's plan to supervise the army.

Seeing this, Hu Junding could only agree: "Your Majesty is wise, and I am not as good as me!!"

Liu Peng's complicated expression disappeared momentarily, and then he laughed and said:
"I'll be 20 years old next year. Does Mr. Hu plan to work for 30 years?"

Hu Junding just put down his hand on the "Yunhe Cup" and trembled several times involuntarily, and finally replied respectfully:

"I have been walking on thin ice for the past twenty years, like a thorn in my back. If I work for another ten years, I am afraid that my life will be short-lived and I will give up halfway..."

"I am not the only outstanding figure in the cabinet and local area. Not to mention others, among the ministers in the cabinet, none of them is better than me..." "I am just a craftsman. I am a big man who repairs and repairs to the limit. If I continue to do it, I will be powerless!!"

Hu Junding gave a series of reasons why he couldn't do it, and then he handed it over and said:

"Twenty years as prime minister has served me well. Please resign and go home to retire!!"

After that, kneel down and kowtow! !

Liu Peng sighed heavily and then said:
"The situation in America has not been settled yet, why did you abandon me!!"

"That's all, since you want to leave, I won't stay, but you can't do it now. You have to wait until I, the great man, can conquer the thousands of miles of rivers and mountains in America!!"

"At that time, the monarch and his ministers have joined hands for twenty years to build an eternal foundation, and future generations will also write a biography for you!!"

Liu Peng's words were "sincere", without the temptation and hypocrisy just now.

Hu Junding, who was kneeling on the ground, was shocked when he heard the word "establish a biography". Finally, with tears streaming down his face, he said: "How dare I set up a biography? I think in the future, in the history of the Han Dynasty, it is enough for the ministers to have their names and surnames. How dare you do it again?" Asking for such an excessive act..."

Liu Peng didn't say anything, he just waved Hu Junding back and said before leaving:
"Whether it is established or not is not decided by you or me, nor by the current dynasty, but by future generations!!"

Hu Junding, who had just left the house, immediately understood Liu Peng's words. His hands hidden in his sleeves kept trembling, and he finally left the magnificent palace unsteadily.

After Hu Junding left, Liu Yu came out from behind, looked at his father, and asked: "Father, why do you have to continue to use Hu Xiang? In fact, he is not that clean??"

Thinking of the "flies and dogs" tricks he knew Hu Junding had done in private, Liu Yu was actually very dissatisfied. After all, he was dating other vassals behind his back. No matter how he looked at it, he was not "loyal" to his highness, the future prince. emperor! !

"Prince, what do you think is a good minister??"

Liu Peng suddenly asked Liu Yu a relatively sensitive question.

Liu Yu frowned and replied:

"Loyal to the king, reliable, not greedy, not occupying, and not engaging in petty tricks, especially for someone like Hu Xiang who sent his son to power. I think it's better to be careful..."

The "high position" in Liu Yu's words was actually the back door Hu Junding used for his two sons. He forced his son, who was second-class in the imperial examination, to rush to a local big city to become a powerful figure because of his performance. This kind of behavior was not seen in Liu Yu. In his eyes, he was simply poaching the big man and the foundation of the Liu family! !
Therefore, Liu Yu, who had been in close contact with Hu Junding since childhood, has become worse and worse in his attitude towards Hu Junding in recent years. From the earliest days of correspondence and frequent visits to the cabinet, to the current "ignorance".

After all, if you look at it from Liu Yu's position as a prince, the things Hu Junding did are simply "bastards". In Liu Yu's words: "Is it so easy to be an official of the Han Dynasty??"

"Ha ha……"

Hearing this, Liu Peng burst out laughing, which puzzled Liu Yu, who was furious, as he didn't understand what it meant.

"Prince, let me ask you, apart from what you just mentioned, has Hu Junding made any other mistakes in these years?"

“Did you make a big mistake??”

"Did you use your power to conquer cholera?"

"Did you stop me when I opened the Imperial Council?"

"Did you take the opportunity to seize power? Did you interfere with military power??"

Liu Peng's several consecutive questions made Liu Yu not sure how to answer them. Even when he thought about these questions carefully, he found that this Hu Xiang really did not put himself first at all. The court followed the emperor closely.

"But he deceived the emperor. His two sons were investigated by the officials. Although they did not do any bad things in the local area, the local officials gave them everything they wanted. If things continue like this, what should we do..."

"Isn't it true that as a minister, with a little power, he can engage in such activities as sharing national wealth and power among relatives and friends, such as achieving enlightenment and raising chickens and dogs to heaven?"

"Therefore, I believe that the past is the past and the present is the present. The merits and demerits cannot be compared with each other. The merits cannot be outweighed!!"

Liu Yu's attitude was unusually firm this time, even firmer than before, which even surprised Liu Peng.

After all, in his eyes, Liu Yu had always been the "submissive" good son, or his imitator and admirer. This was the first time that he was so opposed to his wishes this time.

"Prince, do you really think Hu Jun is guilty?"

Liu Peng looked at his son with complicated eyes, who had suddenly grown up a lot and had real opinions. He knew very well what his son was going to do! !

He wanted to use Hu Junding to establish his authority, to establish his authority as the prince and show it to his brothers.

Let them know that some thoughts cannot be moved, and let them know what "eldest brother's authority" is and what "eldest king" is.

"Father, it's not that I want to deal with this Prime Minister Hu, but that he has committed a big taboo. Normally, if a court official does something, I will tolerate it, but he can't tolerate it, because he is the prime minister, and he has been in power for twenty years. Prime Minister, if he does it and there is no punishment, then everyone will follow suit, what should we do??"

"How to control it in the future??"

Liu Yu's words are like a steel plate, giving people a "hard" feeling.

Liu Peng, who was opposite him, said:
"Prince, Hu Junding is wrong, I know it, but I will tell you something today, no one is perfect, and his deeds do not care about his heart..."

"There is no such thing as a perfect person!!"

In Liu Peng's view, the things Hu Junding did were actually normal operations "within the rules." Even if he was not satisfied, he could just conduct an investigation after Hu Junding resigned.

And we can also take this opportunity to warn some people, so that they can be less "greedy" and more "benevolent".

But like Liu Yu, Liu Peng would not allow Hu Jun to be directly convicted on a large scale.

Regardless of whether it is for the sake of "unity" or the "overall situation" in the future, Liu Peng is completely opposed to killing donkeys.

After all, this kind of thing is easy to do, but not easy to end. If everyone does this, then all the big guys will be "smart to protect themselves".

At that time, will there still be "officials" and "capable ministers"? ?
Liu Peng supported Liu Yu's idea, but he disagreed. After all, Liu Yu was right. It would be easy to break the rules if people like Hu Junding were allowed to do the trick of one person being able to achieve enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascending to heaven.

But Liu Peng has never considered these things. In his opinion, these things can actually be "renovated" later, not now.

Even for Hu Junding's sons who used the back door, Liu Peng did not intend to directly list them as "targets."

But when the time comes to deal with it, it should be mixed in and passed over in one stroke, without giving those people a chance to make precise guesses.

"Prince, you have to know that sometimes when you look at a person, you don't necessarily have to look at his shortcomings, and they are not even his strengths..."

"It depends on his attitude towards you!!"

Liu Peng looked at Liu Yu and said.

"Don't think that by killing Hu Junding, you can clean up the court and establish prestige in the world. Let me tell you, killing a person, especially a minister, also has to be divided into targets!!"

"For an important minister like Hu Junding, you can beat him, reprimand him, or even kill his two sons directly, but you can't go too far and kill him!!"

"You need to know that you will also have to do business in the future!!"

Liu Peng's words made Liu Yu understand the meaning at once.

Then replied:

"What about Father, where are his two sons??"

Liu Peng looked at Liu Yu who still didn't forget this, nodded with satisfaction, and then said:
"Let the local guys prepare a memorial, impeach a few times, and finally leave it to Hu Junding to handle it himself..."

"Other than that, you don't have to get involved or interfere with anything. It's like it didn't happen. Do you understand?"

Liu Yu met Liu Peng's suggestive gaze and nodded heavily.

(End of this chapter)