Chapter 290 Cabinet Discussions
Chapter 290 Cabinet Discussions
There is a three-story attic in the Ganquan Hall, called Longyin Pavilion, which is the pavilion within the hall, commonly known as the cabinet. The emperor held important meetings here, so when the court mentioned cabinet meetings, it must be referring to the discussion of major military and national affairs.
Early in the morning, the two prime ministers Gao Jiongyang and Su Wei, the two deputy prime ministers Yang Su and Liu Shu, and the emperor's five sons also attended the meeting. Xiao Xia was also specifically asked to attend as he was closely related to today's topic.
Today we will specifically discuss the attempted rebellion in Wei County.
The reason why it was called an attempted uprising was that Xiao Xia led the warriors to kill Gao Shukang, the leader of the uprising, and his seven subordinates, disrupting the deployment of the National Protection Association, and the National Protection Association had to suspend the uprising.
But the court had no choice but to take action.
In the cabinet meeting hall, Emperor Yang Jian said sadly: "It has been more than 40 years since the fall of Northern Qi, and the remnants are still active and can even mobilize hundreds of people in Hebei. People say that Guanlong and Shandong are in opposition. I don't believe it. Since I ascended the throne, I have always treated the people of Shandong and Hebei well. Even a piece of stone should be warmed up. In the end, so many people want to participate in the rebellion. I am really disappointed. Prime Minister Gao, what do you think is the reason?"
Gao Jiong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, don't blame yourself. Things are not as bad as you think. I have also learned some of the situation. The lower-class people are not loyal to Qi, but they will participate if there is profit to be made. Once they can't get any benefit, they will immediately quit.
The real supporters of Northern Qi were a small number of landlords. They had been holding a grudge against the Sui Dynasty because their interests had been damaged, so they supported the Baohui. It was not that I looked down on the Baohui, but they were just in name only and could only make small moves at most. If they were asked to rebel on a large scale, they would not be able to do so. Otherwise, they would have rebelled long ago in the past forty years. "
Yang Jian nodded and asked Xiao Xia, "General Xiao, is this also what you saw and heard in Wei County?"
Xiao Xia bowed and said, "Your Majesty, what Prime Minister Gao said is true. According to my understanding, the main means of protecting the country is still to buy people off, not to rely on their so-called belief in restoring the country. They are recruiting farmers in various places in Wei County under various pretexts, such as recruiting laborers for house building at 100 coins per day, recruiting laborers for canal digging at 80 coins per day, and recruiting craftsmen, recruiting warriors, etc.
Moreover, after tens of thousands of people were recruited, they never received centralized training. They also knew that once they were given military training, they would be exposed and the people would not stand for it. Therefore, if they dared to really rebel, they would be nothing more than a mob. "
Xiao Xia's words made Yang Jian feel much more comfortable. He nodded and asked Crown Prince Yang Yong, "What suggestions do you have, Crown Prince?"
Yang Yong pondered for a moment and said, "I think that we need to consider the long-term in dealing with this matter. The court needs to adjust its tax and military policies towards Hebei and Shandong, crack down on the landlords who support the Baohui, and eradicate the soil for the Baohui to survive. Without support, the Baohui will eventually disappear."
Xiao Xia nodded secretly. The prince's words were quite insightful. Instead of attacking the Baohui Society, it would be better to cut off the source of the problem and eliminate the soil for the Baohui Society's survival. Without the soil for survival, the Baohui Society would be annihilated.
Yang Jian also nodded slightly. He agreed with the prince's words. He then asked his second son Yang Guang, "What is the suggestion of the Prince of Jin?"
Yang Guang's original plan was to eradicate the soil in which Baoguo would survive, but the crown prince beat him to the punch. He was a little helpless and could only bow and say, "I agree with the crown prince's opinion. In terms of specific measures, I would like to make two more suggestions."
Yang Jian happily said: "You say!"
Yang Guang bowed and said calmly: "First, pardon the 35,000 peasants on the military rolls, but require each of them to put their fingerprints on the guarantee and hand over all the weapons in their homes; second, I suggest upgrading the Weijun Military Office to the Grand General Office to deter and monitor all parts of Hebei."
The General Administration Office was a military organization set up in various places during the Sui Dynasty. It was divided into three levels: large, medium and small. Currently, there are four major General Administration Offices, namely Yili, Jing, Yang and Bing, which are remotely led by the royal family.
Yang Jian also consulted several other prime ministers, and they all agreed with Yang Guang's plan.
Yang Jian said happily: "I approve the proposal of the Prince of Jin. I appoint Prime Minister Yang Su as the pacification envoy of Hebei to deal with the peasants in Weizhou who participated in the rebellion. Wei County is upgraded to the Weizhou General Administration Office. The crown prince will be the general administrator of Weizhou. The governor of Weizhou, Li Xingjian, is promoted to the chief secretary of the Weizhou General Administration Office."
..........
Xiao Xia left Ganquan Hall, but heard someone calling him from behind. When he turned around, he saw that it was his father waving at him from behind.
"Didn't father get left behind by the royal grandfather?" Xiao Xia asked.
"Your royal grandfather just gave a few simple instructions. It's nothing serious!"
Yang Guang walked up and said with a smile: "Yesterday your elder brother told me about you. Xiaoqing's parents and brother have been converted to civilians. I heard that you have a good relationship with the daughter of the Cui family. Do you want your father to propose to you?"
It was rare for his father to care about him so much, Xiao Xia felt much more comfortable. He quickly said, "Thank you for your concern, father. The Cui family has told me that they will not consider their daughter's marriage for the next two years."
Yang Guang sighed and said, "You have been implicated by your father. Even your life-long affairs are tied to your father's fate!"
Xiao Xia shook her head. "Father, don't say that. The point is that I don't want to get married too early either."
"Okay! Treat Xiaoqing well and give her a name in the future."
Xiao Xia nodded silently. At this moment, he suddenly remembered something and said to his father, "The five major general offices are now remotely led by the prince. Can you convince the royal grandfather to change the remote leadership to a real title? In this way, even if the prince ascends the throne, everyone will have a way out."
Yang Guang sighed and said, "Yang Su also proposed this suggestion last year. The emperor did not express his opinion, but Prime Minister Gao firmly disagreed. Prime Minister Gao believed that the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion in the early Han Dynasty would occur. In fact, the key lies in the attitude of the crown prince. If the crown prince agrees, then Prime Minister Gao's opposition will be useless. Later, the crown prince also expressed his opposition, and the matter was finally left unresolved."
Xiao Xia thought to herself that the prince was the key. ………
Yang Guang had other things to do in the Ministry of Revenue, so he left first, and Xiao Xia also returned to the mansion.
As soon as I entered the door, I saw Xiaoqing and three other people standing under the jujube tree. They were looking up at the tree full of jujubes.
When Xiao Qing saw Xiao Xia, she quickly stepped forward with a red face and whispered, "Master, my parents and eldest brother are here!"
It turned out that Xiaoqing's parents and brother came.
Xiaoqing's father is called Zhuang Yuan. He used to be the manager of the manor in Prince Jin's Mansion. Later he was squeezed out and now does odd jobs in Prince Jin's Mansion.
Zhuang Yuan was very perceptive and quickly brought his wife and children to kneel down and pay their respects to Xiao Xia.
Xiao Xia quickly asked them to stand up and said with a smile: "We are all family from now on, no need to be so polite."
When Xiaoqing heard this from behind, she was extremely happy. It was like the young master admitted in front of her father that she was his concubine. Her father still didn't quite believe it, but now he had nothing to say.
Seeing that Xiaoqing's brother was tall and strong, with a simple and honest face, Xiao Xia liked him and said to Xiaoqing with a smile: "Take the family to eat first. After dinner, I will talk to your father."
Xiaoqing nodded and quickly called her parents and brothers to have dinner with her.
When Xiao Xia returned to the backyard, Ah Chu brought the food. She said to Xiao Xia helplessly, "Sir, my mother has made up her mind. She accepts your proposal."
Xiao Xia nodded, "Okay, I'll ask Manager Ma to make the arrangements later. Tell your mother not to be too anxious and to take it step by step!"
"I understand, sir. My mother is really stubborn and I can't persuade her."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Most people are profit-seeking. Your mother is just an ordinary person. It is normal for her to have such thoughts. Not everyone values righteousness like you, so I don't blame your mother. I will cooperate with her and make her craftsmanship a major selling point of my restaurant."
Achu was unwilling in her heart, but had no choice but to sigh and go to find her mother, who was still eagerly waiting for her news.
At this time, Xiao Qing came in. Xiao Xia held her in her arms and asked with a smile, "Are you happy?"
Xiaoqing nodded gently and said, "My father bought a two-acre yard in Shengdaofang, and they moved there this morning. My father said that he never thought that this day would come. My mother was also so happy that she cried. In fact, it is because of your magnanimity that they are where they are today."
Xiao Xia smiled slightly and said, "Everyone has their own destiny. Their destiny is to have a daughter like you. Your father and I plan to let him be the shopkeeper of the cloth shop next door to us. I plan to open a secret passage in the cloth shop. I don't feel comfortable letting outsiders manage the cloth shop."
"What about Shopkeeper Tian? He was very nice the last time we bought clothes!"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "I have more than 180 stores, and I can place him anywhere. Shopkeeper Tian is from Luoyang, and his wife and children are all in Luoyang. Isn't it just right for him to be the shopkeeper in Luoyang? I guarantee he will be happy, because he is a big shopkeeper."
"What about my brother?"
"Your brother should first go to the martial arts hall to learn martial arts for a year, and read some books when he has time. At least he should be able to read. Then Manager Ma will arrange for him to go to the freight department."
"Why don't we change it to tomorrow? They're moving today and haven't sorted out their things yet!"
Xiao Xia nodded, "I'll give a heads-up to Manager Ma, and have them go directly to Xihai Trading Company to find Manager Ma tomorrow morning."
Xiaoqing and Xiaoxia were affectionate for a moment before going to see their parents off.
Xiao Xia suddenly realized that he needed to find a housekeeper, as well as a cook and other servants. He couldn't run errands for everything himself.
There was no other way, Xiao Xia could only ask A Chu to go to the East Market to find the steward Ma.
(End of this chapter)