"How does the Master of Guards say?" Guo Zhuang frowned and stared at the yellow door.
The yellow door hesitated, wanting to say something, but first reached into his sleeve and pulled out a document: "This is the letter that the Master of Guards had me write while waiting outside, it is a congratulatory statement for the Empress Dowager."
"What use would Empress Dowager Guo have for congratulations?" Guo Zhuang felt speechless but still accepted the congratulatory statement, read it through, and returned it to the yellow door: "Today Su Fair is giving birth, since only the Regent of Ancestral Temple has come, prepare some rewards for him later. Don't lose manners."
"Yes," the yellow door replied, taking the congratulatory statement and speaking in a low voice, "Master of Guards also said that after the Crown Prince is born, please inform the outer court promptly so that he can report the joy to Your Majesty in time. As for naming, it is necessary for Your Majesty to decide personally..."
Guo Zhuang nodded, "Go down, Your Majesty has understood."
"Yes."
......
"At this time, Yi Zhen is in the State Secretariat, worriedly circling around the Central Palace in the highest-level Political Consultative Hall."
It's not that Yi Zhen is deliberately unwilling to come to the palace, but his troubles are indeed too many. Today there are two major problems that need to be resolved.
One of them had just been delivered by the Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat, Wang Ji, and was prominently displayed on Yi Zhen's desk.
Wang Ji stood with hands folded respectfully at the door, watching Yi Zhen who had been turning around for nearly half an hour, and couldn't help but ask:
"I don't know what the Master of Guards is worried about? The subject is willing to serve for the Master of Guards."
"It's none of your business," Yi Zhen was about to wave Wang Ji away, but after a moment's thought, since this matter would eventually be made public, it wouldn't harm to let Wang Ji know about it first.
Yi Zhen sighed and pointed to the document on the table with his finger: "The document was sent by Bo Yifang just now. Let him read it himself."
"Yes." Wang Ji nodded calmly and walked quickly to the desk, opened the memo with the signature 'Governor of Yuzhou State, Minister of Power', and couldn't help but draw a deep breath.
The emperor has been waging war abroad for many years. According to the agreement between the emperor and Master of Guards himself, as long as it is a memorial about state affairs submitted by a subject of a state or county to Luoyang, Yi Zhen can independently review and approve it.
The officials also know this. Any memorial sent to Luoyang is clearly meant for Yi Zhen to handle on behalf of the emperor. If it involves something extremely important, they will send a message to Yan City or the camp in the north.
Wang Ji had only read through it once, then closed the memo, looking at Yi Zhen with a serious expression: "This matter is of great importance. I hope the Master of Guards can think carefully about this, in order to avoid another dispute in the court."
Yi Zhen sighed again, "What Bo Yifang said, I know all too well. It's just that this matter is indeed complex."
"Yellow Prefect is from the return of Shu country and has long followed only the emperor, with no connection to the rest of the officials. Adding to this, the political reputation of Houcbutai in Yingchuan is poor, he was already given grace last year a few times. This time Huang Gongheng accuses Dong Bokun, it should be true. But Dong Bokun's father is Dongyi, who is also one of my colleagues in holding office in Luoyang. I'm afraid that the people in the court and world will suspect me of excluding him unjustly, which will just cause suspicion!"
Wang Ji reminded from the side, "Although it is true, the appointment of prefects of states has always been the responsibility of the Secretariat. If we say that this matter was solely done by Yellow Prefect, it might be hard for Marquis Dong to believe."
Yi Zhen nodded, "This is the right idea! There are so many urgent matters! Let's put this matter aside for now, and discuss it again after the rain stops."
Wang Ji shook his head, "The subject thinks it's not right."
"Unsuitable?" Yi Zhen furrowed his brows and looked at Wang Ji, "How is it unsuitable?"
Wang Ji bowed his hands and said, "The subject dares to ask the Master of Guards, does the Master of Guards and Dongyi Marquis know each other well?"
Yi Zhen thought for a moment: "It's not considered to be friends, but just for public matters they often discuss in the same hall. Currently, I am in the State Secretariat and Marquis Dong is in the Palace of Secretariats, and we have not spoken much."
Wang Ji said, "Since there aren't many occasions for you two to speak, why not invite Marquis Dong to your home for a few banquets? It's hard to discuss such matters at the Secretariat, but one can certainly talk privately."
"In summary, this matter is a problem within the family of Marquis Dong, not the Master of Guards. Why should the Master of Guards be worried about this? Discussing it candidly would be better."
Yi Zhen thought for a while: "It's acceptable to invite Marquis Dong to a banquet, but not at home. I and the Marquis are entrusted with overseeing affairs in Luoyang. How can we have private banquets?"
"Bo Yifang, go to the Palace of Secretariats for me! Tell Marquis Dong that I'm inviting him to a banquet at the Secretariat this evening!"
"The subject has understood, I will go to the Palace of Secretariats and find Marquis Dong." Wang Ji bowed respectfully and then turned to leave.
At dusk, Dong Shao arrived as scheduled at the State Secretariat.
Inside the Central Political Consultative Hall, two dining tables were set up face to face, each with six dishes, which was considered very thrifty for high-ranking officials in the court.
However, the most important thing about banquets is not the specifications of the food and drink, but rather who is setting the banquet and who is attending it.
"Old Man Dong, why do you have the leisure to host an old man today?" Dong Shao smiled as he entered the hall.
Yi Zhen laughed, "It's been a long time since I've had a drink with Marquis Dong. Today, since I have some free time, I'd like to invite Marquis Dong to the Secretariat for a brief talk."
"Please!"
"Good, we haven't shared a meal together in a long time." Dong Shao nodded, "Today is free, take your time to drink and talk!"
Yi Zhen nodded.
"As the two of them were toasting and chatting about the emperor's great victory and some small matters in Luoyang, Wang Ji knocked softly on the door from outside."
"The subject has an urgent matter to report to the Master of Guards."
Dong Shao glanced at Yi Zhen, "It sounds like Wang Bo Yu?"
"It's him," Yi Zhen replied loudly, "Boyu, come in."
Wang Ji pushed open the door and entered, first bowing to Dong Shao and then to Yi Zhen, "Reporting to the Master of Guards, a yellow door messenger has arrived from the palace with news that Su Fair has given birth to a Prince for Your Majesty at Changling Palace!"
Yi Zhen nodded, "I know. Bo Yu, go ahead and send this message to Yecheng immediately with all due haste."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
As soon as Wang Ji had closed the door, Dong Shao raised his wine goblet and smiled again, "The emperor's offspring is flourishing, a truly happy event!"
"Yes, Marquis Dong is right," Yi Zhen said with a sense of melancholy: "Having many descendants is indeed a good thing, but there are also hidden concerns. It all depends on how the emperor arranges it."
"The august king is in the palace, this matter naturally does not concern us. Even if it does concern us, it should be Marquis Dong who should worry about it. I fear that I may not live to see that day."
"Ah." Yi Zhen sighed, "If we talk about troublesome matters, I actually have one right now, and I hope Marquis Dong can give me some advice."
Dong Shao was a person of great importance, with his entire being filled with caution. This time, he had come to the banquet specifically waiting for Yi Zhen to say that line.
Dong Shao nodded and said, "Marquis Dong, please say, what troublesome matter is it?"
Yi Zhen said, "Marquis Dong knows about this heavy rain, right? It has been raining intermittently in Luoyang for seven or eight days, while the news from Xu Change shows that it has been raining for nearly ten days. Although there were also times when it stopped raining in between, there were few sunny days."
Dong Shao also shook his head, "It's quite strange to say. Previously, when the Secretariat in Yan City sent messages to Luoyang asking for attention to the summer and autumn rainfall, I was puzzled about the reason for this matter. But I never thought that by August, it would start raining with such force, just like during the fourth year of Huangchu."
Yi Zhen said, "The four states of Liangwei, Yuzhou, Yanzhou and Jiangling have been continuously developing water conservancy this summer. We have done everything within our power and left the rest to heaven. The court has done everything it can."
Dong Shao took over the conversation, "National affairs are numerous, and I also have something to add. Zhao Yan sent a message back from Xiangyang, saying that Wen Pin in Jiangxia is seriously ill and his time may be short. I suggest that the court send someone to Jiangxia to take over his post."
"Marquis Dong, have you thought about this matter?"
Yi Zhen was slightly startled: "How old is Wen Pin this year? Just over sixty, right?"
"Sixty-five," Dong Shao said. "As is common, there are few elderly generals. It's time to send someone to Jiangxia. However, at the moment, all important officials of the court are in Hebei, and I don't have anyone to send just yet."
"Then let Zhao Yan pay more attention to it. Send a fast messenger to Yan City, let the emperor choose someone himself." Yi Zhen said: "I also have something else that requires your assistance, Marquis Dong."
"Today morning, Huang Gongheng, who used the excuse of inadequate efforts in water conservation projects, sent a memorandum to the court to impeach the governor of Yingchuan. I have no idea how to handle this matter at the moment, and I sincerely hope Marquis Dong can give me some guidance."
Dong Shao looked at Yi Zhen with a surprised expression, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "When did you find out about this matter, Marquis Dong?"
Yi Zhen laughed bitterly and spread his hands: "Marquis Dong, you don't have to suspect me. I found out about this today as well. The impeachment of Dong Bokun by Huang Gongheng has absolutely nothing to do with me!"
"Dong Shao is also aware that Huang Gongheng has always been a solitary man and I..."
"Marquis Dong doesn't need to explain, I know your character," Dong Shao raised his hand to stop Yi Zhen. "Dong Bokun is my only son, and his faults are my faults. There's no way to evade it."
"Marquis Dong, do you know how Dong Bokun became the governor of Yingchuan?"
Yi Zhen shook his head hurriedly, pretending to be unaware.
Dong Shao sighed heavily: "Previously, the emperor wanted to bestow a favor upon me for my advice, but I declined it on the grounds of my advanced age. Therefore, the emperor assigned the important post of governor of Yingchuan to Bokun as a reward for my services."
"How did Huang Gongheng specifically put it?"
Yi Zhen thought for a moment and said, "The project of channeling water through Jiahouqiu and the other rivers, as well as the construction of dams, has not reached the expected results. It is much slower than in nearby Chen Prefecture."
Dong Shao nodded: "I am aware of this matter. Marquis Dong is a man of understanding and reason, so there is no need for you to worry about it. I will send a letter to Xu Chang, asking Bokun to request a demotion. Then I will submit a memorial to Yan City, requesting that the emperor appoint a virtuous and capable person to take the post in Yingchuan."
Yi Zhen sighed and said, "Marquis Dong, do not worry. An impeachment of a governor of a state is something that cannot be covered up no matter how hard one tries. I am sure that with your status and honor, the emperor will certainly have arrangements. Perhaps it will be the State Secretariat or..."
Yi Zhen had not finished speaking when Dong Shao stood up and slightly bowed, "Old Man Dong feels unwell and will leave first."
"Farewell."
Yi Zhen looked surprised and stood up to ask Dong Shao, "They haven't finished eating yet, Marquis Dong. Why not come back later?"
Dong Shao sighed bitterly, "I have been clever all my life, but my son is a fool who doesn't know what he's doing. He always leaves me to worry about everything. Marquis Dong is still young, so he should pay more attention to his children in the future to avoid being as troublesome as me when I am old and always worrying about my son!"
Dong Shao walked out of the hall slowly, his back casting an unexpectedly melancholic figure, which even brought a sense of sadness to Yi Zhen.
How did we end up here? (This chapter ends)
