Chapter 1715: A scholar

"Minister Yang is one of the four regents; don't joke."

Sun Daoning thought that Chen Guanlou was truly imaginative. These so-called warning words could also be just for show. He hadn't even figured out the court structure before daring to spout nonsense; he was truly ignorant.

Of course, he didn't blame the other party.

Chen Guanlou was outside the game, didn't understand the situation, and it was understandable that he said the wrong thing.

"Precisely because he is one of the four regents, getting rid of him has the highest cost-effectiveness!" Chen Guanlou wasn't joking; he was seriously offering a suggestion.

Sun Daoning was dumbfounded, his mind unable to turn the corner.

No matter how he thought about it, this idea was terrible.

"Impossible! Stop spouting nonsense." He subconsciously denied it.

Chen Guanlou signaled him not to be in such a hurry to deny it, but to listen to whether the analysis was correct, "With four regents present, the Emperor's power will be restricted. Even if the Emperor kicks you out of the Secretariat and replaces you with his own people, he still won't be able to do as he pleases. The regents are the fence set up by the late Emperor; you know best who it is guarding against."

Sun Daoning frowned.

Emperor Emperor Jian Shi was naturally guarding against his own son, Emperor Yuanding.

Emperor Emperor Jian Shi didn't like Emperor Yuanding, and Emperor Yuanding himself wasn't a clever person, possessing mediocre aptitude. In the end, Emperor Emperor Jian Shi didn't trust his own son to be Emperor, so just in case, he set up four regents to avoid risks.

If Emperor Yuanding was foolish, with the regents present, the country wouldn't have major issues, and there would be no need to worry about constant bad moves or changing orders daily.

If Emperor Yuanding made a fuss, with the regents present, the country still wouldn't have major issues. Things like embarking on major construction projects or engaging in aggressive warfare wouldn't happen.

As for whether Emperor Yuanding was willing, that was not within Emperor Emperor Jian Shi's consideration.

As a monarch, before dying, one only considers the state and the country; personal feelings are not worth mentioning.

"What do you want to do?" Sun Daoning was a bit nervous.

"It's not what I want to do, but what you want. The Emperor cannot refuse the temptation of splitting up the four regents."

"In this way, the Secretariat will also be affected, and the Emperor will press step by step."

"Yes! You are right. This method is a double-edged sword, depending on how each side chooses. With all four regents present, they can effectively and legitimately limit imperial power. If one is gone, leaving a gap, imperial power will be like a flood breaking through a dam; the future will be uncontrollable, and any accident could happen. The benefit is that it can avoid risks in advance and protect your position. Old Sun, do you want to sacrifice yourself or sacrifice your peers?"

Chen Guanlou asked solemnly.

Sun Daoning was lost for a moment, having no answer.

As a scholar, he still had patriotism in his heart. Thinking of the serious consequences that might be triggered if one of the regents were gotten rid of, he shuddered.

Emperor Yuanding acted impatiently and was mean and ungrateful, not a wise monarch. Moreover, everyone vaguely sensed that Emperor Yuanding admired Emperor Taixing and wanted to imitate the Emperor Taixing of his later years who made decisions alone.

Emperor Taixing's later years were a nightmare for court officials.

Emperor Yuanding's ideas were truly terrifying!

For the sake of personal gain, he would let the court fall into endless internal strife. He was dazed for a moment, suddenly realizing that he couldn't bear such a great cause and effect, and couldn't carry such a heavy burden.

He was never an ambitious person.

Finally, he sighed, "No! We cannot divide and disintegrate the four regents; this is the foundation of the court. If the foundation is broken, the consequences will be unimaginable. I don't want to hear similar words again in the future."

Chen Guanlou:...

He felt both disappointed and sincerely admiring.

Old Sun really had feelings; he was a person with ideals.

Worthy of respect!

Although he didn't agree with Old Sun's approach, it didn't hinder his respect for him!

If one doesn't act for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy one!

This applies everywhere!

Now someone was giving up their own interests for the sake of the big picture. He couldn't do this kind of behavior himself, but he couldn't stop it either.

He picked up his wine cup solemnly, "Old Sun, I toast you! You are the best!"

He gave a thumbs up.

Old Sun was a rare official these days with integrity and a bottom line.

Sun Daoning's heart felt empty at this moment.

He had made his choice and didn't regret it, but he couldn't avoid a few sighs and regrets. If one could be an official, who would want to retire!

He sighed and downed the wine in one gulp.

"Are you trying to say I'm stupid?"

"Not at all! You are the truly clever person. Others are wrapped up in desire and might not have a good ending. However, you don't have to be too discouraged; with this big-picture view of yours, Xie Changling shouldn't give up on you."

Sun Daoning just took it as comforting words, "Minister Xie has his own considerations, and I won't make things difficult for him. It's just... once I leave the Ministry of Justice, it won't be as convenient for you as it is now."

"Old Sun, I've already said, you might not leave."

"If I don't leave, who will?" Sun Daoning wasn't that optimistic.

Chen Guanlou dipped his finger in tea and wrote the character "Gong" (Works) on the table.

Then, he asked: "What do you think?"

"Ministry of Works? You said it yourself, the Ministry of Works is the Emperor's purse; who dares to touch it."

"Xie Changling can touch it!" Chen Guanlou whispered, "Zhao Jichong occupies one position, and a clan member occupies another. With the four regents plus one Chen Guanfu, only the last two seats remain. You, and this official from the Ministry of Works! You cannot be moved! But this official from the Ministry of Works might be moved."

"How to move?" Sun Daoning's heart beat fast.

He had already given up, but now hope was reignited.

He repeatedly reminded himself that he shouldn't be like this. It was too unsteady!

Decades of self-cultivation were crumbling in the face of fame and fortune, which was truly damaging to his image and state of mind.

Sure enough, he couldn't avoid being vulgar either; he was ultimately just a vulgar person in the officialdom.

"Change people! Change to someone both sides can accept. You don't need to worry about the candidate; you just need to mention it to Xie Changling. He knows better than you how to operate it specifically."

"Just like that?"

Sun Daoning didn't believe things could be so simple.

It involved the court structure, power struggles, and the game between the Prime Minister's power and imperial power; how could it be such child's play.

"The Emperor wants money!" Chen Guanlou reminded Old Sun, "As long as you give him what he wants, everything can be discussed. Old Sun, you must remember, problems that can be solved with money are not problems. It's only when money can't solve them that it becomes a real problem."

Sun Daoning frowned slightly, pondering in his heart.

The Emperor loves money!

Everyone in the imperial family loves money, especially the emperors of all generations. For money, they can do all kinds of dirty and ugly things.

Last year, because of money, the Emperor and Xie Changling had a row, and many people were implicated and thrown into prison!

The Emperor is now finding ways to get money, taking the opportunity of construction projects to rake in wealth through the Ministry of Works. This matter is an open secret in the Secretariat! It's just that the court officials don't know!

This is also a gap Xie Changling intentionally opened for the Emperor, so the Emperor wouldn't make a fuss and find trouble every day, delaying serious business.

Move the Ministry of Works, move the purse, and then influence the court structure? Break the Emperor's offensive of seizing power? Can this work? ===== CHAPTER 1716 =====