Chapter 64 Peoples hearts change

PreviousBack to directoryNext
Zhao Xu returned to Funing Hall from the Yingyang Gate where he listened to politics.

Today's hearing is the Privy Council's hearing. It's not a big deal. It's just that the Privy Council asked the story of Renmiao to give money and silk to people in the clan who have been transferred to foreign officials.

This matter was slapped by the two palaces and dragged off.

After all, the two palaces just issued an edict yesterday, asking the three provinces to have their own affairs ministers agree on the rules for the use of the emperor's sealing money.

Today, we will use the sealing money to reward those so-called clan members who have left the clan and are outside the fifth server?

Isn’t that a slap in the face?

Both the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager Xiang are both face-saving people.

I would never do something like this.

In addition, Zhao Xu was beside him with a questioning look on his face, which also prevented the two palaces from acting rashly with the money for sealing the piles.

Therefore, Zhao Xu was very happy when he returned to Funing Hall.

Because in his previous life, the Empress Dowager was always willing to spend money to win people's hearts.

It was especially generous in giving money and silk to relatives who had been excommunicated by Wang Anshi.

In just four years and one year of Yuanyou, hundreds of thousands of coins were given!

It's like the money is blown by the strong wind.

Now, such things may still happen, but they are unlikely to be so frequent and simple.

Zhao Xu, who was in a good mood, drank a cup of honey water brought by Feng Jing from the imperial kitchen after returning to Funing Palace.

Well, yesterday, Feng Jing had been officially dismissed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and received his latest assignment.

Waiting in the emperor's palace.

From then on, he officially continued to serve as a close minister around Zhao Xu, and continued to take care of Zhao Xu's food and daily life.

In a previous life, this mission belonged to Lao Zongyuan, the minister of Baoci Palace.

"Everyone..." Watching Zhao Xu finish drinking the honey water, Feng Jing lowered his head and reported in a low voice: "I was in the imperial kitchen just now. I heard from people that Sima Xianggong seems to have arrived in Bianjing!"

"Oh..." Zhao Xu nodded, indicating that he understood.

Feng Jing continued to report carefully: "It is said that Sima Xianggong was surrounded by soldiers and civilians on the official road outside Jinmingchi..."

"The people in Bianjing all shouted: If you don't belong to the public, please return to Luo. You should stay as the emperor and live for the common people!"

"It is said that in the end, thousands of people even gathered to watch, and the scene was so noisy that it alerted the soldiers of Kaifeng Mansion..."

"Good!" Zhao Xu smiled and nodded.

Sima Guang studied in Luoyang for fifteen years.

In the past fifteen years, apart from revising books, he only did one thing - criticize the new law and advocate for its repeal.

Apart from this, nothing else is discussed and everything else is declined.

So far, Sima Guang has declined at least six or seven political appointments from Zhao Xu's father.

And every time he published a book, Bianjing's tabloids reported it, and every time he refused an appointment from the emperor, Bianjing became boiling.

Over the past fifteen years, Sima Guang's popularity has grown to the point where he is noticed all over the world and admired by all parties.

Apart from the monarchy, there is no power that can shut him out anymore.

This is the general trend!

It’s also what people want!

Since the first year of Xining, when Wang Anshi wrote "A Hundred Years of Nothing Happened in This Dynasty" and sounded the clarion call for reform, Wang Anshi and his new law group have occupied the imperial court for nineteen years.

Fifteen years have passed since all the opponents were driven out of the court.

In the past fifteen years, the new law has certainly achieved remarkable results.

Especially in terms of finance, it completely reversed the fiscal deficit of the Song Dynasty.

The treasury has a large surplus every year.

The fifty-two sealed pile warehouses built by Zhao Xu's father in the palace are the best evidence.

However, every advantage has its disadvantages.

Not all new laws are good.

Many laws and policies are hastily introduced without comprehensive discussion and argumentation, and are implemented in a hurry.

During the implementation process, many simple and crude cases occurred.

Therefore, the opinions of many opponents are not without reason.

For example, the Qingmiao method has become a kind of apportionment in many places.

People have to borrow even if they want to, and they have to borrow even if they don’t.

Naturally, there are complaints and resentments soaring to the sky!

The Baojia Law caused a great stir in Jiangnan, a place where peace had lasted for a long time.

The Baoma Law was implemented on Jingxi East Road, causing large numbers of local people to go bankrupt.

But these are actually fine.

Because, as long as Bianjing does not move, no matter how uproar there is in the local area.

As long as the court has money and the treasury is full, there will be no big problem.

After all, as long as the main customers everywhere can still have enough to eat.

They can't change the world!

But the problem is that the market change law, the uniform loss law and the exemption law have a direct impact on the entire Bianjing.

Up and down, no one is untouched and affected.

These three laws are a combined punch.

The central idea is: If you (the nobles and merchants) can’t control this money, it’s me (the imperial court) who will do it!

The idea is good, but it will inevitably become distorted during execution.

In particular, the market exchange method and the equalization method, like the green crop method, have changed from solving problems as originally envisioned to creating problems.

Soon there were officials who were not only taking food from the mouths of big merchants and nobles.

They also snatched food from the mouths of small businessmen and small workshop owners from the middle and lower classes.

Some officials even forcibly apportioned money for political performance.

Merchants have to borrow loans with 20% interest, and they have to borrow them even if they don't. This has happened countless times.

In major businesses in Bianjing, it often happened that merchants were forced to rent government shops and warehouses, and were even forced to buy government raw materials and goods.

Who can bear this?

You know, Bianjing is a citizen city.

A super city that is completely separated from agricultural production and relies entirely on citizen economy and handicraft manufacturing.

Now, the imperial court is cutting down one blow after another, each blow hitting the arteries of countless people.

These people are not birds in the trees who dare not resist even if their nests are poked.

Even if it is a bird in the tree, if someone pokes its nest with a bamboo pole, it will fly around, chirp and curse, and even flutter above people's heads in protest.

Studying abroad in modern times for ten years.

Zhao Xu followed his teacher, read and verified countless historical materials, and also read countless cases of private notes and research by later generations.

Therefore, Zhao Xu knows.

Sima Guang entered the court and the old party came to power. This was the aspiration of the people and the general trend.

Even the Xinfa generals currently in the capital are well aware of this.

Feng Jing looked at the smiling face of the emperor in front of him.

He knew that the young master had his own ideas.

Moreover, it was difficult for him to guess what this young master was thinking.

He could only lower his head and ask in a low voice: "Everyone, does this mean that Sima Xianggong will be able to enter the capital hall soon?"

Zhao Xu smiled and shook his head: "Very early!"

Although the Qingli Literary Movement and the accompanying ancient prose revival movement caused the literary world of the Song Dynasty to completely abandon the exegesis, commentaries and classic meanings of the old Confucian scholars of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

But the core of Confucianism has not changed.

Even if Zhao Xu ascends the throne, won't he still have to give in three times?

Not to mention a minister like Sima Guang?

Besides, Sima Guang is not qualified enough!

Although his salary officer has been promoted to Taizhong Dafu, his official rank is entirely because he worked in Luoyang for fifteen years to stay at the Xijing Yushitai and promoted Chongfu Palace.

Want to be worshiped as a ruler or even a prime minister.

Sima Guang still lacked a crucial qualification to know the state.

He needs to be a governor of the state.

At least in name only, he was granted the title of magistrate of an important place.

Only in this way can he be qualified to be worshiped and controlled!

Feng Jing swallowed and asked: "Will Sima Xianggong enter the court immediately?"

"Who knows?" Zhao Xu glanced at Feng Jing meaningfully: "Sima Gong is the guardian entrusted by Emperor Daxing to protect his life!"

"He is one of the few liberal arts majors in the country and a model for scholars all over the world!"

"Even I have to treat you with courtesy!"

"If such a person cannot enter the capital hall and become the Prime Minister, the people of the world will definitely be disappointed!"

Feng Jing lowered his head deeply and never dared to test Zhao Xu's tone again.

Zhao Xu laughed in his heart.

For these ministers, who are always thinking about testing the direction of the wind and always thinking about speculation, Zhao Xu's heart is as bright as a mirror.

and……

It’s not just the ministers who are like this!

Zhao Xu turned his head and looked in the direction of the Yushitai in Xuanpingfang.

He knows it!

It is very likely that at this very moment, right now, the crows in the Censorship Terrace should have flown to the treetops and are watching the wind direction.

Speculation!

The nature of officials is also human nature.

Just like Deng Wan, who was criticized by people all over the world during the Xining Reform period, said: Let him laugh and scold, and I will be a good official.



Shangshu Xinsheng, in the Imperial Palace.

The cheerful atmosphere of yesterday has disappeared without a trace.

Now, from Zhang Dun to Li Qingchen to Zhang Hong, the faces of the three governors of the three provinces are full of uneasiness.

Sima Guang has entered Beijing!

This news was like a bolt from the blue, hitting the entire capital.

Every government is beaten and shaken.

Sima Guang! Sima Junshi! Sima Twelve!

A person’s name is like a tree’s shadow!

No one has seen it yet, but the shock wave of just the news of his arrival in the capital has already made people tremble and feel uneasy.

That's Sima Guang!

Sima Guang who wrote Zizhi Tongjian!

Sima Guang has been consistent in opposing the new law for fifteen years in Luoyang!

Sima Guang's moral character is unparalleled in the world, and his talents and knowledge are almost unmatched by Sima Guang!

He has always been able to rival Sima Guang.

Only Duke Jing is now living in seclusion in Jiangning!

Now sitting in power, in front of Sima Guang, he is just a junior, a descendant, a lucky young man!

Not enough to watch at all!

What's more, along with the news of Sima Guang's arrival in Beijing.

There is another piece of news that makes everyone restless.

When Sima Guang arrived in Beijing, he was surrounded by thousands of people on the official road before entering the city.

According to reports from the Kaifeng Mansion, countless people were on the official road, surrounding Sima Guang's horse, crying and shouting that they wanted him to stay and not allow him to return to Luoyang.

It is said that Sima Xianggong's shouts continued from Jinmingchi to Xinzheng Gate in the outer city of Bianjing.

Along the way, Sima Guang was surrounded and supported by thousands of people.

It is said that after entering the city, even the city gate guards, Kaifeng Mansion's soldiers, and subordinate officials on patrol on both sides came to watch and support him.

This is what people hope for!

It’s also what people want!

Under this trend, every ruler in the capital knew about it.

They are powerless to fight!

Because this kind of situation has happened in history.

Xie An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty!

If Anshi refuses to come out, what will happen to the common people?

When people's hearts began to shift, when the people of Bianjing began to support an old party minister.

Now, even the staunchest supporters of the new law are beginning to feel disheartened and depressed.


This chapter has been completed!
PreviousBack to directoryNext