The Wei Dynasty, since the establishment of the cabinet.

According to the ancestral system, the number of members has always been strictly controlled at five.

Nowadays, in addition to Zhang Zhengming, the well-deserved first and assistant minister.

Ranking second is Li Fang, a bachelor of the cabinet and minister of household affairs.

Although he is not as good as Zhang Zhengming, he has unmatched prestige.

But he was also the number one scholar in the previous dynasty and a famous Confucian master in the world.

This day.

To the east of the capital city, in the Li Mansion.

"Dad, what's wrong with you?"

Li Fang's son Li Lin returned from playing in the countryside.

As soon as I walked into the inner hall, I saw my father with an angry face.

"Isn't she your mother? She allowed your aunt and her family in Longyang Mansion to run rampant, occupy fields, and dominate the countryside!" Li Fang said: "If I hadn't suppressed her strongly, I would have handed the petition to the cabinet by now."

"And your mother actually didn't repent, favored her relatives, and even had a big quarrel with me."

Having said this, Li Fang raised her head, glanced at her son, and said coldly.

"Tell me, are you involved in this?"

These words.

Li Lin trembled all over and quickly lowered his head.

Drops of cold sweat broke out on his forehead: "Father, I just had a name, I didn't do anything."

Sure enough, he has a son.

Hearing this, Li Fang took a deep breath with an angry look on her face.

Although he was not an honest official throughout his life, he still knew what to do and what not to do.

Running rampant in local areas and domineering others is not a serious matter. It can invade fields, but it is more serious and endangers the country.

As the deputy minister of the cabinet, I naturally know this better than anyone else, and I also understand that if word spreads, it may endanger the entire Li family.

However, this involves his wife and son.

There was nothing Li Fang could do. Even if he was angry again, he would have to use means to suppress it.

However, this warning is still needed.

Immediately, he looked at his son and said with a serious face: "Well, you just happened to be back. You go to see your mother now and let her persuade your aunt to return the occupied fields, make compensation at the same time, and also give yourself

Wipe it clean."

"Dad, is it not that serious?" Li Lin was a little reluctant and continued: "You are the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and a bachelor of the cabinet."

"It's just usurping some land. So what if the petition is handed over to the cabinet? Will it still be suppressed?"

In his eyes, his father was already one of the highest-ranking officials in the imperial court.

Those who complained were nothing more than a group of powerless and unscrupulous people.

Is it possible to overthrow the second minister in the cabinet?

"Some fields?"

Li Fang got angry again and scolded: "You think I don't know? It's nearly 80,000 acres. Is this some of the land you talk about?"

"Also, what if the pleadings are delivered to the cabinet? Let me tell you, the cabinet decision maker now is Zhang Zhengming."

"If Zhang Zhengming knew about it, given his character, I would have to step down tomorrow!"

If it were anyone else, Li Fang would naturally not be afraid.

But Zhang Zhengming is too strong and upright.

He was completely merciless to anyone who violated the laws of the Wei Dynasty.

He also served as the chief minister of the cabinet for decades.

Great power and prestige.

He is completely inferior.

The other party knew that his Li family was behind the scenes and instigated his relatives to occupy the land.

Official careers are all light in the end, and I'm afraid they will all be sent to Dali Temple.

Sure enough, Li Lin panicked when he heard his father's words.

But soon, he calmed down and said, "What if Zhang Zhengming steps down and you take over as the chief minister of the cabinet?"

"As long as you become the chief minister, those unruly people's petitions will be submitted to the cabinet. You can deal with them how you want."

As soon as these words came out, Li Fang, who had been angry just now, suddenly changed his expression, narrowed his eyes and said: "What do you mean by this? Zhang Zhengming was the imperial tutor of the dynasty and the late emperor's trusted minister. How could he step down?"

?”

"Dad, I heard recently that there is a lot of trouble in the court because of King Yan's vassal dispute."

"For this reason, His Majesty the Emperor not only angrily rebuked the Censor, but also directly scolded Zhang Zhengming."

"Those words almost meant that Zhang Zhengming had lost power."

Li Linda said: "It can be seen that His Majesty has been extremely dissatisfied with him for a long time, and this is your opportunity."

When Li Fang heard this, she said nothing and lowered her head in deep thought.

This sentence is absolutely correct.

If you think about it for a moment.

As the emperor of Wei Dynasty.

What would the emperor think if he had a minister who was extremely powerful, full of peaches and plums, and extremely prestigious? Wouldn't the emperor be on guard against him?

Seeing that his father was persuaded by him, Li Lin continued to speak: "Dad, no matter what happens these years, Zhang Zhengming has always suppressed you."

"He has been the chief minister for many years. Your Majesty happens to have opinions about him. Don't you want to replace him?"

Yes, the current cabinet is said to be composed of a chief minister and four secondary ministers working together.

But in reality? It’s exactly what Zhang Zhengming said.

Although Li Fang has great power.

But in front of the other party, it's not enough.

You know, he was the number one scholar in the previous dynasty, but what about Zhang Zhengming? He had no fame at all. He was just a countryman back then.

After being suppressed by such people for decades, Li Fang was naturally extremely dissatisfied.

It is completely impossible to say that there are no ideas to replace it.

Who doesn’t want to be the chief minister of the cabinet and have power over everything?

Li Fang wanted to do it very much.

However, he did not express his position.

Instead, he looked at his son and said in a deep voice: "Then what do you mean by opportunity?"

"Of course it's about King Yan's proposal to vassalage!" Li Lin said: "Now the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty are admonishing Your Majesty on this matter, but they have not succeeded. But if you succeed in admonishing Your Majesty in this regard, you will be able to do what you want."

What about the things that Zhengming didn’t even do?”

"This will not only show your face in front of His Majesty, but also the civil and military officials in the court will definitely look at you with admiration at this time."

"By then, Zhang Zhengming's prestige will be greatly reduced. If you contact your colleagues again, won't you be able to seize the position of chief assistant?"

"No, no, your Majesty has made up his mind. I want to oppose King Yan's request for vassalage, which will undoubtedly make Your Majesty very angry."

Li Fang shook his head, feeling that it was completely impossible to successfully persuade him.

Who doesn't know now that as long as he opposes King Yan, he will become a vassal state.

His Majesty the Emperor will definitely be furious.

"Dad, you are wrong."

"Why did Your Majesty let King Yan become a vassal? The reason is very simple. It must be because of the pressure from the Queen Mother."

Li Lin smiled and said: "What we have to do is not to create a vassal state if we oppose it. We only need to advise His Majesty to station troops in Yan and monitor the King of Yan. Which emperor is not afraid of the rebellion of the vassal king? Your Majesty must be afraid too, otherwise why?

Will he be detained in the capital for three years?"

"In this way, not only will your Majesty be able to explain to the Queen Mother, but also your Majesty will be freed from worries. It kills two birds with one stone."

These words made Li Fang's eyes light up, because he thought about it and felt that this plan was feasible.

Immediately, he said with a face full of joy: "I didn't expect you to have such a mind, you are worthy of being my son."

"Okay, I'll write the memorial now."
To be continued...