Chapter 373: Wang Sheren, You Didn’t Tell Me the Truth
[Touring? Chang'an Jun is going to be the regent? No wonder Your Majesty is making such a fuss today. ]
The court officials looked at each other, their eyes full of question marks. They were caught off guard by the news.
Right Prime Minister Wang Wan looked at Li Si, and saw an expression that showed that the time had finally come, and his face had a complicated expression.
He served Ying Zheng, who was a prince and later a king, and then the First Emperor. He also rose from a mere servant to the right prime minister of the Qin Dynasty.
The young man who had returned from Zhao and would consult him about everything, once again did not consult him when making an important decision.
Wang Wan, who served as prime minister from the time he rose through the ranks during Ying Zheng's reign, could not remember the last time Ying Zheng took the initiative to summon him into the palace.
The old prime minister glanced at his old friend Feng Quji, who had disobeyed the First Emperor but was still safe and sound, and sat down slowly beside him. This imperial censor, whom he had looked down upon, now seemed to be just like the high and mighty Majesty, and he was a little confused.
It seems that everyone is changing, but he is the only one standing still...
Feng Quji, who had just sat down, could not calm down for a moment. Under Wang Wan's gaze, he stood up suddenly, bowed his head and said in a high voice:
"This is a great move! Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang all toured the country and spread their prestige far and wide. Afterwards, the barbarians submitted and the government became wise and virtuous. This is in accordance with the will of heaven and in line with tradition. Your Majesty is wise!"
In the ancient era of Yao, Shun and Yu, top-down inspections appeared, forming the prototype of the later inspection system.
Yao ordered Shun to act as the emperor, and Shun began to tour the four directions of southeast, northwest, northeast and southwest, and established the system of "touring once every five years".
The Book of Documents - Shun Canon records Shun's inspection of the four directions - in the second month of the year, he went on an inspection tour to the east, and when he reached Mount Tai, he offered firewood.
Thereafter, the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties all followed this system, but the times of the tours varied.
In the Western Zhou Dynasty, the position of Supervisory Censor was set up, but it was only an official who was responsible for drafting documents and keeping books for the emperor. At that time, there were officials called "Fangbo" to supervise the princes of different surnames who paid tribute and the princes of the same surname who were granted fiefs.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, inspections were still mainly carried out by the monarch, who had a "system of inspecting counties". The monarch, the prime minister, and the county magistrate could all inspect local areas, and the censors also began to exercise supervisory functions.
Guan Zhong, the prime minister of Qi, believed that the Censors played a proactive role in the monarch's rule - one was to have long eyes, two was to have sharp ears, and three was to establish wisdom.
"Your Majesty's prestige should have spread thousands of miles long ago. The people of the four seas are all eager for your Majesty to come. Your Majesty, regardless of fatigue, is always busy and toiling, and is concerned about the people. There are not many saintly kings in ancient times who can compare to you!"
The first person in favor was Feng Quji. Doctor Zhou Qingchen was afraid that he would not even be able to catch up with the second person, so he jumped up and spoke loudly as if to compete with others.
Dancing and singing with passion.
Afterwards, supporters emerged in an endless stream, and the court was filled with the voices of His Majesty's wisdom.
The First Emperor said "I want you to know" instead of "I want you to discuss". This is a notification rather than an inquiry. You only need to comply and do not need to have other opinions.
Without knowing why Feng Quji opposed the First Emperor's decision and remained safe and sound, no smart person would follow his example - Yao Jia had just been dismissed from his position as prime minister.
"Wait until March, when I start my tour, all matters concerning Xianyang will be handled..."
The First Emperor looked at Ying Chengjiao tentatively, and Ying Chengjiao responded with an eager look.
Just now he wanted Meng Ao to be conferred a title of nobility, so he stood up and did not refuse.
He didn't want to be the regent, and if Ying Zheng dared to say so, he would refuse on the spot.
"No matter how big or small, the Queen has the final say."
The First Emperor looked away. He would not compete with such a boy. It was so childish!
The ministers looked at each other in surprise.
There was no saying in the Qin Dynasty that the harem was not allowed to interfere in government affairs. The tradition of the Qin Dynasty was that whoever was capable could take the throne, including women. This was the case with Mi Bazi, the Queen Mother Huayang, and the Queen Mother Zhao.
The ministers were surprised that the regent was not Ying Chengjiao.
The First Emperor personally created such a big fuss today, but it turned out to be much ado about nothing.
Although it was unexpected, it was common sense for the Queen to be the regent, and there were few opponents. The ministers bowed again, saying, "We must obey the Queen's orders," "We should serve the Queen as we would Your Majesty," and "This is a great move."
The two major tasks were completed, and the merits were fulfilled. The First Emperor listened to the flattery with pleasure, clapped his hands, and said with a smile:
"Everything is done, retreat..."
"His Majesty!"
Before the word "Chao" was called out, an old man in the front row stood up and interrupted the First Emperor.
"Your servant Wang Wan, please resign."
The old prime minister lowered his head and said respectfully.
Ying Chengjiao looked at him in surprise, Li Si looked at him in surprise, Feng Quji looked at him in surprise, and all the court officials looked at him in surprise.
The First Emperor sat back down after raising his butt, and the joy on his face slowly faded away.
"Why?"
"I am old now. Your Majesty, please allow me to return to the countryside, as I have worked diligently for ten years without slacking off."
The First Emperor looked at Wang Wan for a long while. The figure with his head lowered and white hair standing under the high platform seemed very lonely and a little desolate standing among the crowd.
"Can."
The First Emperor said softly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wang Wan felt relieved and smiled for the first time that day.
"Feng Quji."
The First Emperor rubbed his eyebrows.
"I am here!"
Feng Quji stood up for the third time and responded in a deep voice.
"Would you like to be the right chancellor?"
Feng Quji was stunned, and all the ministers were stunned.
This is different from the change of the position of Left Prime Minister.
In the debate between the feudal system and the county system, during the final debate, Li Si mentioned more than once that he wanted the position of prime minister, openly challenging the two prime ministers.
Wei Zhuang broke the unspoken rules and opened the curtain, but in the end he lost to Li Si and failed in the political struggle. Everyone knew that Li Si would take over as the left prime minister.
This time, the old Prime Minister Wang Wan and the Imperial Censor Feng Quji were in the same camp. They were not competitors and did not start a political struggle.
For unknown reasons, Feng Quji changed his personality, for unknown reasons, Wang Wan resigned, and for unknown reasons, Feng Quji was arranged by His Majesty to take over as the Right Prime Minister.
Everything that happened today, including Meng Ao being conferred the title of marquis and His Majesty's sudden announcement of a tour, was very puzzling.
Before the others could react, Feng Quji, who was at least half the protagonist of today's meeting, said in a deep voice:
"I will not let your majesty down! I will not disappoint your majesty!"
"Then you take charge."
The First Emperor put his four fingers together and waved them outwards twice.
"The court is dismissed."
After the court meeting, various government offices began to get busy.
When the king goes on a tour, it is not like ordinary people going out. There are so many things that need to be prepared.
The ceremonial carriage had to ensure the safety of the First Emperor while also bringing out the highest level of dignity possible, ideally so that all witnesses in the world would see him as a god.
The Shaofu prepared weapons, the Prime Minister's Office planned the route, and the Zhisu Neishi Office prepared money and grain...
As soon as the First Emperor said a word, his subordinates started running around and everyone started to get busy.
…
"When did you join the army of Lord Chang'an?"
In the Prime Minister's Mansion, in a room used to store completed memorials, Wang Wan sat on a hardwood chair with a relaxed look on his face and spoke softly.
Besides him, there was only one other person in the room - Feng Quji, who came to hand over the position of Right Prime Minister to him.
All the minor officials were called out by Wang Wan. As for Lu Buwei, who was qualified to come here, Li Si also gave the old prime minister some courtesy before leaving and did not come here to disrupt the situation.
This was not the first time Feng Quji had come to this place, but this time he came as the chief officer and the feeling was completely different.
The bamboo slips piled up on the square bookshelves, the ink stains on the desk that had been stained over the years and could not be washed off, and the mixed fragrance of bamboo, wood and ink floating in the air all made Feng Quji feel as if he was meeting them for the first time.
"If you don't want to talk about it, don't talk about it."
Wang Wan stood up and hunched his back, so that he would feel more comfortable.
"This place is yours."
He walked towards the door, his steps brisk and accelerating.
It was as if the place where he was was not the Prime Minister's Mansion where everyone wanted to be, but a den of dragons and tigers!
"Right Prime Minister!"
The clattering sound of footsteps woke Feng Quji up, as if he had just woken up from a dream.
"Now you are the right prime minister, and Wan is just a commoner."
As Wang Wan said this, his steps slowed down. He walked away, and he wanted to walk away clearly.
When did Feng Quji, the Imperial Censor who had always stood on the same side with him and was the second-in-command of his camp, start to side with that brat?
"When did you contact Chang'an Jun? Was it when Meng Xibai's family was exterminated, or during the wax festival, or was it when the new manager of the tower was replaced?"
Wang Wan said in a deep voice.
He didn't know the reason for Feng Quji's actions today, but based on the result that Ying Chengjiao was the biggest beneficiary, he concluded that Feng Quji was working for Ying Chengjiao.
If there had not been the new Right Prime Minister in the room today, Ying Chengjiao would not have been so in awe of the court, and there was a faint voice calling for Qin II.
Feng Quji shook his head and chuckled.
"Qu Ji is not Chang'an Jun's man."
"Do you think I will believe you if you say that?"
"Qu Ji is the Imperial Censor. What I did today was just to perform the duties of the Imperial Censor."
Feng Quji said sincerely.
Wang Wan pondered for a moment, his body unstable, and he suddenly slapped the table to steady himself, knocking over the inkstone, and the ink in the inkstone flowed all over his hands.
"I see. That's how it is..."
His last doubts also dissipated.
…
"Feng Quji, you underestimated him."
Li Si said with a little dissatisfaction.
In the back hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, only Lu Buwei and Li Si were there.
Upon hearing this, Lu Buwei shook his head and smiled.
"Are you dissatisfied because Feng Quji's official position suddenly became higher than yours?"
"That's right."
Li Si admitted it readily.
The Qin Dynasty respected the right, and although he, the left prime minister, was nominally on the same level as the right prime minister, he was actually half a level lower than the right prime minister in the eyes of the ministers.
“Take a long-term view. No matter if he is the left prime minister or the right prime minister, he is still the prime minister after all.
"You were dissatisfied with my being the Prime Minister in the beginning, and you should continue to be dissatisfied in the future."
Lu Buwei looked through the recent repairs on the Chidao Road.
"But Feng Quji is not just you. I was also wrong. I didn't expect that this fence-sitter would eventually wake up. I thought that he would be removed from his post by Your Majesty soon, but I didn't expect that he could make further progress."
The duties of the Imperial Censor were, first, to assist the Prime Minister in handling government affairs, and therefore he was privately called the Deputy Prime Minister. Second, he was the head of the supervisory agency, the Imperial Censorate, and was responsible for supervising all officials.
The general way of promotion is that if the position of prime minister is vacant, the chief censor who has been working with the prime minister can take over the position.
"So many people failed to figure out your Majesty's personality, but he actually guessed it. He is not as lucky as you to have the reminder from your Majesty. In terms of assessing the situation, Feng Quji is better than you and me."
Li Si nodded dejectedly.
"I don't know how this fence-sitter knew that Your Majesty wished to fulfill his duties. Today, his actions were completely in line with the Imperial Censor, neither humble nor arrogant, and he did not compromise even though the king opposed it, which was exactly what Your Majesty wanted."
Lu Buwei pointed out:
"Your Majesty once said that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, and you have to figure out what he wants. But your Majesty doesn't want your officials to figure out what he wants. What your Majesty wants is for all the officials to do their job well and not to have wild thoughts.
"You suffered this loss in the beginning. Think about it carefully. Even if you wanted to kill Han Fei, didn't His Majesty give clear instructions? Our Majesty doesn't care about conspiracies and tricks.
"Don't worry about any clues in the court, who is summoned by His Majesty, who is suddenly favored. As long as you continue to do your job as the Left Prime Minister, I will step down and you will take over."
The hand that was flipping through the bamboo slips suddenly stopped, and Lu Buwei looked up and said:
"No, now Feng Quji also has hope."
…
"Your Majesty, please invite Prince Wan to the palace for an audience."
At the gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, the royal carriage with four horses stopped here, and an eunuch came in to make an announcement.
Wang Wan had a complicated expression.
His Majesty finally summoned him, but only after he had lost his position as Right Prime Minister.
The old man followed the eunuch and got on the royal carriage with ease.
"Come and sit down, and eat with me."
The First Emperor sat in front of a table of delicious dishes and patted the chair beside him to greet Wang Wan.
Wang Wan was a little dazed.
Many years ago, the stubborn young man who came back from the State of Zhao had no gold, silver, treasures, high positions or generous salaries. He only knew how to show sincerity, but was unable to win over anyone.
Those cunning old foxes only care about profits and completely ignore these false courtesies.
Only he, an unsuccessful minor official, was moved to tears for being able to eat side by side with Master Zheng and share the same dishes in this era of separate dining.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wang Wan didn't hesitate to sit down and eat, even though the First Emperor hadn't picked up his chopsticks yet.
The First Emperor held up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of venison and put it in Wang Wan's bowl.
"Cheng Jiao said that the elderly should eat less meat to prolong their lives. I have always sneered at this. Lian Po was a hundred years old, and it was no problem for him to eat two kilograms of meat. Only by eating can the body be healthy. As you grow older, you should also eat more meat."
"only."
Wang Wan ate the meat in the bowl.
The two of them ate in silence for a while, and their chopsticks dropped into the plate dozens of times.
"Why do you want to resign suddenly?"
The First Emperor said this suddenly, just as suddenly as Wang Wan resigned from office.
“I can’t do it anymore.”
Wang Wan kept using her chopsticks and talking while eating.
"You are old, and it is time to give way to the young. If you continue to occupy the position of Prime Minister, you will be hated by others."
"Wang Sheren, you didn't tell me the truth."
Wang Wan paused for a moment and continued eating.
When he first joined the First Emperor's army, his official position was Sheren.
"The Wang Wan I know is a lunatic who dares to ask me to aspire to the throne even though he is only a servant."
"Your Majesty, I am old now and don't have that much ambition anymore. Wan's family is prosperous, with a concubine and eight concubines, who gave Wan six sons and three daughters. Wan is no longer alone..."
"Eat, I'm full."
The First Emperor put down his chopsticks and left the table in disappointment.
Wang Wan ate in silence, bite by bite, with utmost seriousness. This was the last meal that Master Zheng invited him to.
