Chapter 1795: He went crazy; he was driven crazy by the Emperor

Zhao Jichong firmly refused to admit that he was a loser.

It was not that he was incapable, but that his teammates were too unreliable. If he had known, he should have prepared a few high-quality candidates to run along, just in case.

Over these years, he had done his best to share the Emperor's worries, and even if he had no merit, he had worked hard. How could he be called a loser because of one failure! He felt wronged in his heart!

Emperor Yuanding felt even more wronged!

A sure-fire opportunity had been buried just like that. He would never forget the look in Xie Changling's eyes when he left—sarcastic, mocking, and contemptuous.

Xie Changling:...

The Emperor just loved to imagine things!

He didn't mean anything at all, yet it was interpreted by the Emperor to have so many layers of meaning, which he himself didn't even know.

Emperor Yuanding felt humiliated!

As an emperor, he felt offended and slighted, which he could not tolerate.

"This cannot go on. Minister Zhao, do you have any way to change the current situation?"

Zhao Jichong was a bit dazed; what way could he have?

In the Political Affairs Hall, Xie Changling was the sole power, and the royalist faction occasionally jumped around. Although they could bring trouble to Xie Changling's party and make them restrain themselves a little, they could not truly change the situation.

The main reason lay in the members of the royalist faction, many of whom were low-to-mid-level officials, including some down-and-out officials who were not successful. The high-level officials, especially the top dignitaries, even if they did not support Xie Changling, would not stand with Emperor Yuanding.

The royalist faction seemed to have many people and appeared very large, but in reality, its power was limited.

The Emperor's tentacles had been able to penetrate major government offices in just a few years, planting confidants in major government offices, which had already taken all his effort. It was also because Xie Changling's party had appropriately let go of the water.

One could not force the Emperor to the Liang Mountain and then ask: Your Majesty, why are you rebelling!

Reversing the heavens and the earth.

Only by being loose and tight could the balance of the imperial court be maintained.

Xie Changling played this hand very smoothly.

Zhao Jichong had no good way, but he could not directly admit his incompetence, "Your Majesty, it is not appropriate to take radical actions at the moment. Moreover, Minister Xie is a person who knows his limits."

"Limits? What limits does he know? If he truly knew his limits, he should follow my wishes, cancel the four major auxiliary ministers, and return the government to me. Instead of pressing me step by step, I don't even have room to breathe."

Emperor Yuanding could not listen to persuasion; he was full of anger and just wanted to vent.

It was a pity he had trained for a few years and would no longer hold a sharp sword and slash randomly like when he first became emperor. That was truly a huge scandal.

Zhao Jichong had a headache, "This minister is dull, I ask Your Majesty to clarify."

Emperor Yuanding sneered, then gritted his teeth and said, "Chen Guanfu had to withdraw from the Political Affairs Hall because of his mother's death and mourning. Minister Zhao, in your opinion..."

Zhao Jichong was shocked, feeling only absurdity in his heart, but could only pretend to be stupid on the surface, "Your Majesty's meaning is... but, birth, old age, sickness, and death are not things that can be controlled by human power."

He buried his head, fearing that his eyes would reveal his true thoughts and be seen and resented by the Emperor.

He was also convinced; as a dignified emperor, how could he use underhanded tricks against his own subjects, who were also the prime minister, the head of all officials? If this were to spread, not only would there be no face, but the dignity of the emperor would be trampled underfoot.

From now on, the dignity of the emperor would be lost, he would be spurned by the world, and the Great Gan dynasty would collapse by half directly. The hearts of the people would turn, and in the blink of an eye, it would bring a fatal blow to the Great Gan dynasty.

Even if it were a treacherous official, the emperor should take upright means and punish them in the name of the law. Let the world be convinced.

Not to mention that Xie Changling was not a treacherous official; on the contrary, his reputation among the people was quite good.

Xie Changling had pushed for the end of the war in the Northwest and pushed for the imperial court to reduce taxes and corvee, allowing the people to rest and recuperate. After the treasury had a surplus, he advocated for water conservancy projects and restricted the Emperor from engaging in large-scale construction.

Each and every one of these things, saying he was a treacherous official was indeed a statement against his heart; this was an attack by party strife, with no factual basis.

Emperor Yuanding was very dissatisfied with Zhao Jichong pretending to be stupid, and he scolded sternly, "Minister Zhao, I heard that Minister Xie's two parents are old and their health is not very good. As Minister Xie's colleague, you should occasionally take time to care for them."

Zhao Jichong was shocked; was he being asked to plan this?

This, this, this...

He could accept all kinds of calculations, as long as they were within the scope allowed by the rules of officialdom.

But he could not accept, for the sake of fighting, harming the parents of a political enemy, just to make the political enemy observe mourning. This had already broken the boundary, destroyed the rules, and would be spurned by officials all over the world.

Even if he won in the end, it would be a miserable victory. By then, the court would be ten times more chaotic than it was now.

He didn't even dare to imagine that scene.

In March, the capital occasionally still made people feel the cold wind piercing the bones.

But his forehead was breaking out in fine, dense cold sweat.

He took a deep breath, "Your Majesty, some things must not be rushed; reputation is important!"

"What is the use of just having a reputation!" Emperor Yuanding stared fixedly at the other party, "I not only want a reputation, I want power even more. Minister Zhao, as my pillar, can you share my worries?"

"Minister, minister..." Zhao Jichong was troubled to death, "This minister is willing to share Your Majesty's worries."

Emperor Yuanding smiled with satisfaction; very good.

He knew that Minister Zhao was trustworthy and could be entrusted.

He knew in his heart that Minister Zhao had some thoughts that were inconvenient to speak out. So he took the initiative to make up for it and said, "I don't want to kill them all; I just think that he has worked hard for the Great Gan dynasty for nearly twenty years, and he is old; it is time to stop and rest and adjust. Don't you think so?"

"Your Majesty's words are reasonable." Zhao Jichong could only comply and echo.

He smiled bitterly in his heart.

The Emperor was crazy; it was an active choice.

He was also crazy; he was driven crazy by the Emperor.

The conversation between the monarch and his subject ended.

Zhao Jichong walked out of the main hall full of bitterness, with no sense of direction in his heart.

Eunuch Liu Shun chased after him and reminded, "Minister Zhao, the matter ordered by the Emperor must be kept secret. Also, achieve it as soon as possible. The Emperor hopes to see results as soon as possible."

Zhao Jichong controlled his facial expressions, controlled himself from getting angry at Liu Shun, and tried to be as calm as possible, "Eunuch Liu, some things cannot be rushed. Especially matters concerning Minister Xie. I trouble you to help this minister explain a few words in front of the Emperor; I will not be stingy with my gratitude!"

Having said that, a large-denomination banknote slipped from his hand into Eunuch Liu Shun's hand.

Eunuch Liu Shun received the banknote smoothly and tucked it into his sleeve.

He laughed, "Minister Zhao, rest assured. When the Emperor is in a good mood, I will naturally explain a few words for you. Let the Emperor know your difficulties."

Zhao Jichong was extremely grateful.

If the Emperor could dispel this crazy idea, that would be even better.

"The Emperor said, the Brocade Uniform Guard can be left to your disposal, but the key is to get the matter done. If it cannot be done, you know the consequences." Liu Shun spat out another sentence.

Zhao Jichong frowned subconsciously, cursing the Emperor in his heart for thinking of one thing and then another.

Use the Brocade Uniform Guard?

He would have to be crazy to do that.

Once the Brocade Uniform Guard was used, it meant the matter had to be done. If it couldn't be done, everyone would be unable to eat and walk around.

If the Brocade Uniform Guard was not used, if the matter was not done, there was still room for maneuver. ===== CHAPTER 1796 =====