Son of Song Dynasty

Chapter 99 Dali Temple Minister
"My surname is Zhou, are you trying to entertain me?!"

In the private room above Fan Tower, Zhao Dezhao stared with anger on his face.

He reserved an entire floor of Fanlou, and hosted a secret banquet for Dali Temple Minister Zhou Ziming, but he didn't know that when this person arrived, his buttocks were just touching the chair, and he immediately returned the gift list that Zhao Dezhao sent someone to secretly send to the mansion. back.

Since you don't want to hook up with me, as long as you refuse to accept the gift and then decline the banquet, I can't bite you, right? But after you accept it, you come over and return it face to face. Is this a fucking person?
Therefore, Zhao Dezhao was very angry.

"Your Highness, don't be upset. I accepted His Highness's generous gift earlier to make His Highness feel at ease. Now, returning the gift list to His Highness is to show your sincerity. In the end, it is also to make Your Highness feel at ease. How could it be to entertain His Highness?" Woolen cloth."

Dali Temple Minister Zhou Ziming, who was not involved in personnel affairs, did not show any embarrassment, and had a fat smile on his face when he spoke.

He immediately coughed and said seriously:

"This gift list is unnecessary. I think His Highness must have been misled by the rumors. In fact, this official is not a person who is greedy for wealth."

When Zhao Dezhao heard this unexpectedly, a mouthful of tea soup stuck in his throat and he coughed violently.

The custom of drinking tea at this time was not brewing tea, which was popular in later generations, but crushing tea leaves and drinking them together with tea, which was no different from drinking medicinal soup, so it was called "tea soup".

Zhao Dezhao choked on this sip and felt that some of the tea had not adhered to his throat. It was itchy and uncomfortable, and he couldn't cough it out for a while.

Because it was a confidential conversation, no one was left to serve him. On the contrary, Zhou Ziming was very fawning. He quickly got up and poured a glass of water and handed it to Zhao Dezhao. He then stood behind him and stroked his back, without stopping to talk. Down:

"As a minister of Dali Temple, I have always been notorious for being corrupt and bending the law. I claim that I am not greedy for money. Your Highness should find it ridiculous."

"But think about it, Your Highness, how many of the cases that can be sent to my Dali Temple beyond the local government and Kaifeng mansion are not related to the illegal affairs of relatives, generals and ministers? A minister from the Dali Temple in Xiaguan District , are you really capable of convicting them? After all, it doesn’t come down to just four words: trying to figure out the holy will!”

"Those lower officials feel that the Lord does not mind cases that are dealt with strictly according to the law. No matter how generous the gifts are given to the people involved, the lower officials will say that they cannot handle it even if they can handle it, and will never accept a copper penny; conversely, those lower officials feel that the Lord I hope the lower officials will accept the cases that I hope will be spared, otherwise the Dali Temple Minister will not be able to do it for a day!"

"The Holy Majesty advocates generosity and benevolence in government, so that in recent years, there are very few illegal things committed by relatives, nobles, and important ministers in Dali Temple according to the law, and a lot of high-ranking hands are raised. Notoriety."

"Not to mention anything else, let's just talk about that cannibal country uncle, cutting up people alive, roasting and eating meat, what absurd and brutal evil deeds? Dozens of victimized servants escaped covered in blood, and beat the court to express their grievances , which caused an uproar in the government and the public. What was the result? He was just dismissed from office and stayed idle for three years, and then he came out to serve again, and he was promoted even more than before!"

Zhao Dezhao stopped coughing slowly, closed his eyes slightly, and sighed softly. The emperor's father has always been lenient to his old brothers and his team members who had made great contributions in the past, as well as those relatives and honored relatives. This was also the thing he disapproved of the emperor's father the most, especially the cannibal uncle, who he vowed to kill.

Although he understood that what Zhou Ziming said was generally correct and reasonable, Zhao Dezhao did not intend to listen to him keep nagging and blaming others. He turned his head and stared at his fat face and said coldly: "According to your words, everything is the fault of others." , it’s just you, Zhou Ziming, who has been wronged and innocent? Don’t you dare to think that millions of dollars of wealth are being enjoyed by others?!”

Zhou Ziming seemed to have expected that Zhao Dezhao would ask this question, so he took out a booklet from his arms with a smile, and put his hands lightly on the table in front of him.

"Your Highness, this is the list of Xianguan's family property. Almost all the bribes and gifts that Xianguan has accepted during his years as Minister of Dali Temple are here."

"The lower official ordered someone to estimate the price, and the total price will not be less than 300 million guan. Please accept it with a smile. Since the lower official said that he is not greedy for money, he will not be lying to His Highness."

Zhao Dezhao was confused by his unexpected coquettish operation, and was stunned for a moment. Then he slammed the table with a dark face, stood up suddenly and shouted: "Zhou Ziming, what do you mean? What do you think of me as king?" ? You also said that you are not entertaining me!"

"Don't be annoyed, Your Highness. This move is the same as returning the gift list. It's to show your sincerity and reassure His Highness. In addition, it is also a way to buy a way of life from His Highness in advance."

Zhou Ziming's words became more and more outrageous, but his expression and tone really didn't look like a joke, so Zhao Dezhao could only listen patiently.

Soon, Zhou Ziming changed the subject and got to the point:
"...The lower officials have the guts to say that the Holy Majesty is still a little lenient in his administration. He treats those relatives, nobles, and important ministers with too little restraint. They wantonly do evil, which has caused a lot of resentment among the government and the people."

"Although King Jin is sympathizing with His Majesty at the moment, if he ascends the throne in the future, he will definitely turn him over."

"For one thing, King Jin has his own team and party members, and has less involvement with the old group of people. He doesn't need to care about favors or scruples. He can also clear out the radish pit to accommodate his own people. Why not do it? ?Secondly, punishing a group of relatives and nobles who wantonly do evil is to conform to the people's hearts, gain popular popularity, and alleviate public grievances. ?”

Zhao Dezhao glanced at Zhou Ziming in surprise, this big fat man can do it, it seems that he didn't use all his brains on how to gain weight!

He remembered very clearly that in the original history, the notorious and vicious man-eating Uncle Guo was not killed until after Zhao Guangyi came to the throne. layer, you can do it.This matter can prove from the side that Zhou Ziming's prediction is generally not bad.

Zhou Ziming continued with a bitter face: "When these things are reversed, the official, as the Minister of Dali Temple who has repeatedly shielded these vicious people, will definitely not be able to escape the disaster, and will definitely be thrown out to appease public grievances. At present, officials must be criticized by thousands of people, and the government and the public will scold them, and no one will stand up to speak for them. After careful consideration, the officials should not be killed, but it must be a trip to the southern miasma."

When Zhao Dezhao heard this, he almost understood everything, and said with a smile: "It's just a trip to the southern miasma, it's worth your fear and worry, so that you want to use your family property to pre-buy a way of life from the king? "

"Your Highness!" Zhou Ziming raised his hand and wiped sweat on his fat face like a steamed bun, and said with a wry smile, "Look at your physique, the weather in early spring is full of sweat, how can you bear it?" Suffering from the hot and humid weather of the miasma in the south? If I were to be exiled there, I would definitely not be able to live in exile."

Zhao Dezhao was stunned and burst out laughing.

(End of this chapter)