Chapter 939 The World Changes Color

He Ji's pork shop hadn't opened this month, and the pork lard mixed rice stall run by He's daughter-in-law had also been closed for several days.

Ever since the news of the emperor's serious illness and the appointment of the Prince of Pingxi as Grand Regent of the Great Yan to entrust the government to him spread among the people, the old He family had stopped slaughtering pigs.

Without slaughtering pigs, naturally there was no pork to sell, let alone the lard they rendered themselves.

Not only that,

Old He, He Chu, and grandson He Fu, the three men of the family, weren't doing anything else all day long. They invited a statue of the Medicine King Bodhisattva and hung it in their home, and the three of them began to eat vegetarian food and pray for blessings.

In fact, the old Yan people have a lot of affection for the Ji family;

The royal family of the Great Yan, whether it was leading the Yan people in bloody battles in the past, or the late emperor commanding the Yan army to expand the territory, aside from the power struggles within the royal family that the people at the bottom were unaware of, at least in the hearts of the Yan people, their emperor, the Ji family royal family, had always been the sky above their heads.

But… Bihe didn't think it was necessary to go this far, right?

You should know,

The only one in the family with the surname Ji was her.

Today, Bihe's grandfather, Old Guang, came.

He knocked on the door,

And his granddaughter opened it.

Walking into the courtyard and seeing the arrangement, and then seeing his grandson-in-law kneeling there with his father, his great-grandson sleeping beside the two of them, the offering table in the courtyard, and incense burning in front of the hanging portrait of the Medicine King Bodhisattva.

"This is…"

Old Guang didn't understand what was going on. He had gone to the shop to find someone and found it was closed. He originally thought something had happened at home, but who knew it had been closed for so long, so he had no choice but to come and see for himself.

After all, he was a generation older. He usually drank a little wine with Old He outside and chatted. The two of them were fine with that, and they were both quite comfortable, but when he entered someone else's home, he was a generation younger than Old He, so he wasn't willing to visit unless it was absolutely necessary.

"They said they're praying for blessings for His Majesty," Bihe replied.

"Ah…"

Old Guang stammered, and tears immediately began to drip down.

"Slap, slap!"

He slapped himself twice, startling Bihe beside him.

"Granddaughter, your husband's family may have come from butchers, but they know etiquette better than noble families. This old man has lived to be a dog."

Greatly moved, Old Guang also knelt down and joined the prayer team.

He was a member of the royal clan, unlike his granddaughter. When his granddaughter was growing up, she was just carrying the name of a member of the royal clan. When Old Guang was a child, his family still had some royal aura;

Moreover, his eldest son was an official outside, and his youngest son, Bihe's father, had been doing better and better in the palace these past two years. These were all real imperial favors.

Old He and He Chu turned their heads to look at Old Guang kneeling on the side. The two of them didn't have the strength to speak anymore;

The children of butchers would never be without meat as long as their livelihood was still there, so eating vegetarian food for so long had given both of them a distinctly pale complexion.

But what could they do? Who knew that their son-in-law's (brother-in-law's) body would suddenly collapse?

All they could do was this.

Compared to ordinary families, the real high-level figures could do a lot more.

However, because the Prince of Pingxi was appointed as the Regent, like a divine needle that steadies the sea, he stood here, which also made most people have to hold back because of fear of harming the mouse near the valuable vase.

There were movements, but they were all very restrained.

The Great Yan was at the beginning of a new round of changes, and the collision of the power center was imminent. Even the most loyal ministers would find it difficult to just sit there and do nothing.

Some were doing it to cater to the Regent's rule for their own positions;

Some were doing it for the safety of the Crown Prince, to get through the turbulent period after His Majesty's death;

Some were doing it out of consideration for the Ji family's dynasty, hoping to compress the Regent's reach as much as possible in the midst of the changes and establish some soft rules early on;

For themselves, for the country, for the Ji family, all of them;

There were very few who were just rushing to their deaths; most of them were just moving their bodies within the rules.

But these were actually meaningless.

A new round of cleansing had actually begun.

During this month, whether you did it or not, whether you did it excessively or properly, wisely or impulsively, it didn't matter.

Not every emperor could have a sensitive period of his own impending "death." Most emperors actually had a vacuum of power before their impending death. This was also the case when the late emperor was recuperating in the rear garden at the end of his reign; otherwise, there wouldn't have been a full-scale war between the Crown Prince's faction and the Sixth Prince's faction.

Of course, no emperor would be willing to use his own "death" to create a pit, and this pit wasn't meant to be a trap to lure people into, but to stand next to it and call out names. If you were called, that meant you, and if you were said to be in the pit, you had to jump in yourself;

You don't want to jump?

Fine,

Then I'll let your whole family accompany you into the pit.

This period was too sensitive, so sensitive that whether it was to the people of the world or to the history books, the emperor and the court could have sufficient reasons to explain it.

When he was "worthy" of the people's customs and then "worthy" of the history books, the power of the human emperor could truly… be used arbitrarily.

During this period, Lu Bing transformed into a living Yama (God of Death), and the Zhaoyu (Imperial Prison) was opened wide. The *fanzi* (secret agents) began to break into the homes of officials and arrest them. The same scene was being staged all over the Great Yan.

The Secret Intelligence Division, which had always been criticized for being inferior to the Silver Armored Guards and the Phoenix Nest Inner Guards, finally revealed its ferocious fangs this time, although it was internally.

…

In the rear garden,

Blindy made tea and handed a teacup to his lord.

"Does my lord know that the capital has been very lively these days?"

"I know," Zheng Fan nodded.

"Some things, this subordinate shouldn't say."

"If anyone else said that to me, I would probably reply, 'Then don't say it.' But since it's you, Blindy, speak your mind."

"Thank you, my lord."

Blindy straightened his sleeves,

And said;

"When the emperor first ascended the throne, his main goal was to maintain stability, to make his dragon throne sit as firmly as possible. At the same time, he began to implement his new policies.

Although the war in Liang Province almost disrupted the rhythm in the middle, because of your coming forward, my lord, the situation was finally calmed down.

Now, the emperor has been on the throne for more than two years, almost three years. In fact, looking around, apart from you and our Jindong, my lord, there are no other forces in the Great Yan that dare to band together to resist the emperor's will;

But the emperor is still not satisfied. This storm, stirred up by Lu Bing, is a factional struggle personally stirred up by the emperor himself.

He wants to install his favorite officials, so he needs to free up a lot of positions. He needs to implement his own will, and he needs the entire country to be as easy to command as his own arm.

A normal emperor can already be called a very skillful emperor if he can sit on the fishing platform and watch the factions below fight, acting as a referee.

But our emperor is obviously not enough. He wants to be a referee, and he also wants to play in the game.

This is excluding dissidents, and this circle is the emperor's own. He not only wants to be a high and mighty emperor, but also wants to be his own prime minister."

Zheng Fan reached out and gently turned the edge of the teacup,

And said:

"Is there any problem with these things? In order to fight the war in the future, only in this way can the Yan Kingdom accumulate enough power in the next few years."

In fact, recuperation, especially for a country, has always been a false proposition, because it also involves efficiency.

An efficient bureaucracy can transport resources to the places that need them most to achieve results. On the other hand, it's like a long-disused ditch. No matter how much water comes in, it will be scattered along the way.

Jindong's development from a blank slate to being able to single-handedly field more than 100,000 iron cavalry to resist the Chu Kingdom was largely due to the system that Blindy and Si Niang began to build from Shengle City.

Now, Ji Chengjue also wants to improve and evolve the efficiency of the state machine on this basis. Zheng Fan knew this.

"What this subordinate wants to say to you, my lord, is not these general strategies, because this subordinate knows that you are actually very clear about these things."

"Then what do you want to say?"

"The capital is the dragon eye of the Great Yan. Why is Lu Bing able to act so recklessly, so openly, and not suffer any resistance?"

"Because I'm here."

"Yes, but it's not just that, because to the outside world, the emperor may have already died. Lu Bing is not listening to the emperor's orders, but to… you, my lord, the Grand Regent of the Great Yan, and clearing out dissidents."

Zheng Fan frowned slightly.

"You took Tiantian to worship the Tian family's ancestral grave a while ago, my lord. As a member of the family, this subordinate naturally knows that your worship, my lord, must be true worship, to give Tiantian a sense of belonging and achieve a complete life.

But the actions of superiors, even if they are true emotions, are seen as political signals by the people below, just like the emperor's worship of heaven.

The King of Jingnan once destroyed his entire family to promote the overthrow of the Great Yan's aristocratic families.

What is the Regent trying to express by worshiping at this time?

Those who follow me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish.

He will take the King of Jingnan as an example. Whoever blocks my path, I will destroy him, at all costs.

With your current stature, my lord,

The loyalty of the Jindong iron cavalry, the reputation of the Great Yan's military god, the political halo of the 'late emperor's' personally appointed Grand Regent, and the label of the King of Jingnan from back then…

Is enough to make the entire Great Yan officialdom tremble.

With the emperor avoiding the key positions at the top, especially after the establishment of the cabinet, the emperor is already in complete control. It is equivalent to this snake being strangled at the head and scared to tremble. What you want to paint on the snake scales next is just a matter of mood."

Zheng Fan took another sip of tea.

"My lord, you are being used as a knife."

"Is that so?"

"This is standing on the opposite side of the entire Yan Kingdom's bureaucracy in your name, my lord. In short, what you're losing is the large group of people who might have been eating melons and watching the show when you rebel in the future.

In front of you, the emperor is Ji Lao Liu;

But the emperor is, after all, the emperor.

In comparison, the late emperor's crushing of the aristocratic families was too direct and too cruel. This one's methods can be said to be extremely clever and artistic. The work is done, but the infamy has nothing to do with him."

Blindy stood up,

And said;

"This subordinate is saying these things not to sow discord between you and the emperor, my lord. In fact, this subordinate doesn't think the emperor is deliberately using you as a knife.

Just as sheep have to eat grass and fish have to swim in the water, the emperor is this kind of… this kind of creature. He does things based on an instinct, a matter of course. The more excellent the emperor is, the more truly a lonely person he is.

This lonely person is an adjective.

This subordinate is also clear that what you and the emperor are thinking now is to unify the Xia; this subordinate believes that if the emperor can do this, in another three or four years, the Yan Kingdom's war preparations should be able to accumulate to a satisfactory level.

But,

This subordinate also has a request."

Zheng Fan looked at Blindy;

Blindy smiled,

"Actually, you know what this subordinate's request is, my lord, because this subordinate knows that you have never forgotten the basic rules you need to pay attention to when being friends with this kind of creature, the emperor."

"I know."

"Then this subordinate is finished."

Blindy bowed down.

If this is a game, in the first half, it might be unifying the Xia. In the second half, if you're tired of playing, you still have a son. I can take your son and continue playing;

The premise is that,

You can't ruin the game.

"A while ago, Ji Lao Liu was pulling me to sit on the dragon throne and risking his life to let me open his skull. The wind was a bit too noisy.

Going to the Tian family's ancestral grave and looking at that field of graves;

It was refreshing."

Saying that,

Zheng Fan also stood up,

And smiled:

"In the end, many of those who scold Cao Mengde want to be Cao Mengde; of those who admire the King of Jingnan, how many are truly willing to be the King of Jingnan?"

…

When Zheng Fan saw the emperor, the emperor had already put on a wig and was sitting properly in a wheelchair.

"Going out?" Zheng Fan asked.

"Bored," the emperor said, playing with a snuff bottle in his hand.

"You're not suitable to use this now," Zheng Fan reminded him.

"It's empty."

"Oh."

"Zheng, please do me a favor and push me out for a walk."

Zheng Fan walked over and pushed the wheelchair.

"Actually, there's nothing comfortable about sitting in a wheelchair. The person pushing the wheelchair sees a better view. The wheelchair itself is the scenery, along with the person on it."

Zheng Fan shook his head: "That's not necessarily true."

"Think about it carefully."

Zheng Fan closed his eyes and, after a while, said; "I still think it's far from it."

The emperor was a little puzzled at first, then he understood and cursed:

"Damn it, you're pushing me, who are you comparing me to!"

"Heh heh."

"Zheng, you're too lewd."

"This isn't called lewd, it's called refined. It's like being at a busy street corner, wearing brocade clothes, sitting in front of a small stall while listening to the noise and eating small wontons;

Pushing the emperor and thinking about the women in the red tents, this contrast isn't vulgar, but elegant."

"Like in the group portrait of beauties Yuan Tu painted for you?"

"You still remember?"

"I had a copy made and brought it back to the capital."

"Your waist doesn't hurt anymore? Your legs aren't sore? You're not wailing anymore?"

"Tch, I'm just tired, not castrated. Even if I was castrated, it doesn't mean I can't look."

Wei Gonggong, who was accompanying him, smiled in agreement.

The rear garden was very large. The really airtightly protected area was the core area of the rear garden. It was difficult to cover all aspects of the surrounding beautiful gardens, unless a large number of soldiers were mobilized to surround the place like a military fortress. But in that case, what scenery would there be?

"Zheng Fan, is the title of Grand Regent going to be taken away?" the emperor asked.

"Don't rush, right?" Zheng Fan smiled, "Maybe there will be some other accident."

"Beast."

"You should pay attention to your body and try to live a little longer. Although the tumor in your head has been removed, you should still do some health preservation on weekdays. Without me, you wouldn't be a long-lived person."

Wei Gonggong and Zhang Banban on the other side had long been numb to the "childish words" between the prince and the emperor.

"I know, I want to live well. I used to complain that my father was in a hurry to do everything, but now it's my turn. To be honest, even if you manage and prepare well, just to pave the way for the next one, even if it's paving the way for my own son, I'm still reluctant. Why?"

Zheng Fan nodded and said, "So, you have two sons now. Take it easy in the future."

"You, a person with four wives, are advising a person with only two wives to take it easy?"

"We're different."

"It's hard for you to put honey on your little mouth every time you talk to me."

"The proper etiquette is necessary."

At this time,

Zheng Fan, pushing the wheelchair, came to a small bridge and stopped.

There were people on the bridge. Naturally, it couldn't be assassins, but a group of cabinet ministers led by Mao, plus… the six ministers and other high-ranking officials.

They must have received instructions in advance to be called here;

Originally, they thought the Grand Regent had called them to discuss… the emperor's funeral arrangements;

As a result,

They saw the emperor sitting in a wheelchair, looking very healthy, a world of difference from the banquet!

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

Everyone was in tears, after all, they had been prepared to face the "dark" years of the Grand Regent's rule.

The tears were real.

However, after all, they were all true elite figures of the country, and they immediately thought of a question. If His Majesty's health was restored, then who ordered Lu Bing to send the secret agents to arrest people so wantonly these days?

The emperor put his hands on his knees,

Looked at his core ministers in front of him,

Smiled,

And said:

"I apologize to everyone. I thought I wouldn't be able to make it, but who knew the Grand Regent invited a divine doctor who cured me and made you worry."

"We dare not!"

"We are terrified!"

"Heaven blesses Your Majesty, Heaven blesses the Great Yan!"

"Originally, I wanted to rest more in this rear garden after my illness improved, but the Grand Regent told me that Lu Bing had been forming factions and using his power for personal gain during this time, and that he was doing more and more excessively.

Wei Zhonghe."

"This servant is here."

"Pass on my decree, Lu Bing is guilty of manipulating power. Immediately strip Lu Bing of all positions and confiscate the Lu family's property. The Lu family's ancestor will be properly taken care of, and the rest of the Lu family will be imprisoned under the system of joint liability."

"This servant obeys the decree."

"In addition, pass on another decree to tell the officials in the capital and local areas who were arrested and imprisoned by the Secret Intelligence Division during this time that it was the Grand Regent who pleaded for them to be spared from Lu Bing's black hand.

I am mindful that they have been frightened, so I allow them to stay at home and recuperate. Their salaries will be paid as usual. They should rest well for three months. Lu Bing's matter was my negligence, and I have to compensate them well."

Three months of being idle at home, even if they were reinstated after three months, they wouldn't have a place in the yamen.

This was also why many officials hoped to be "stripped of their grief" and not return to their hometowns for "mourning leave" even if their parents died;

When people leave, they are bound to be neglected. It is too difficult to come back after leaving the position.

The ministers said in unison;

"Your Majesty is benevolent!"

"Your Majesty is benevolent!"

"Grand Regent, push me around again."

Zheng Fan pushed the emperor and walked along the river.

"Are you moved?" the emperor asked.

"Heh."

"If I didn't say anything or do anything, these debts would all be counted on your head. At that time, it would be me recovering from a serious illness and stopping the Grand Regent who was out of his mind in time.

Then,

The Grand Regent would be driven back to Jindong. Tsk tsk tsk, what a great show.

Actually, I thought about doing this, but I felt like I was losing out. Zheng, you're good this time. You're really planning to say nothing and take the blame for me?"

"Too lazy to say anything."

"Alright."

The emperor stretched out his palm, five fingers;

Then,

He bent one of his fingers, turning it into four.

"Back then, before the late emperor died, he ordered the King of Zhenbei and the King of Jingnan to break the barbarian's spine for another hundred years.

Four years,

Four years,

Give me another four years.

Zheng Fan,

Let's,

Let the entire Xia change color!

You come,

Choose a color, which one do you think looks good?"

"Black."

End of this volume.