It was already the twelfth day of April in the eighth year of Yuanfeng.
Zhao Xu just had breakfast, which was still a small bowl of prepared milk, two eggs, and a steamed bun.
Empress Dowager Xiang came to Zhao Xu with a prepared edict that would be published in the world.
"This is the plan that was finally come up after Duke Sima wrote to Zhao Xu a few months ago, and the Empress Mother and the Empress Dowager ordered Yousi to discuss it for twenty days..." Empress Dowager Xiang said to Zhao Xu lovingly: "Sixth Brother, please be kind
Take a look and learn from it!"
Zhao Xu nodded, held the straw-made dough in front of him, and looked at it carefully several times.
In fact, as soon as Zhao Xu took it over, he already knew whose handiwork it was?
Zhang Dun, Zhang Zihou!
Not only because the words on this familiar form are upright and every word spoken is high-sounding.
In fact, every sentence contains foreshadowing and mystery.
This is a typical Zhang Dun copywriting!
Zhao Xu is so familiar!
It was also because this imperial edict, which spread throughout the world, had caused great uproar in Zhao Xu's previous life.
It was because of this edict that the name Sima Niu was resounded in Bianjing for the first time.
"The writing is so good!" Zhao Xu put down his familiarity: "Although there are some things that I don't understand, there are also some things that I can't understand..."
"But, I think this is the way it should be for an ancient sage king to seek to open up a way to speak out, right?"
The Queen Mother nodded with satisfaction: "My son is right!"
"The text of this edict is worthy of being the essence of the twenty-thirty-day discussion between the governors of the capital!"
"I asked Academician Deng, and Academician Deng also said that it has always been like this to find a way out for national stories!"
This is a fact!
However, what he met was Sima Guang.
As long as Sima Guang sees this edict, he will jump up immediately!
Push it back at all costs!
Why?
Because in this edict, although I promise that anyone can submit a letter, I will humbly accept the opinions of the people in the world. If what I say is right and contributes to the country and the country, I will not hesitate to be a high official or a generous salary. Even if what I say is wrong, I will not hesitate to do so.
Never blame!
However, the topic changed in the second half: If someone has bad intentions, writes a letter that is not in line with their duties, or makes a rumor-like attack on national policies and national laws, or just caters to the orders that the court has issued without summing up in practice.
Experience, or watching the court atmosphere, hoping to profit from it, or catering to popular people's ideas to gain fame... The above six behaviors will be punished by the court once verified.
Is there anything wrong with this edict?
No, but Sima Guang felt that this was wrong!
If you want people to talk, how can you limit the tone and content of what they say?
Therefore, he resolutely rejected the edict.
The irony is that Sima Guang later insisted on abolishing the Young Crops Law and the Exemption from Service Law.
There was a local petty official named Zhang Xing who wrote an edict based on Sima Guang's request to speak out. He wrote a letter talking about the disadvantages of abolishing the Young Crops Law, especially the Exemption from Service Law.
He said that after the exemption law was repealed, the money that lower-class households now have to pay every year is the amount of money paid in the past few years, and sometimes even decades. It is similar to what Sima Xianggong said after the exemption law was repealed, only the upper-class households had to pay.
The opposite is true of the situation in which a customer may be harmed.
So he asked the court to reconsider.
Then……
What does our request for outspokenness have to do with you?
Tai Jian attacked the low-ranking official wildly, and some even shouted, "Demoting and usurping Lingnan."
Therefore, the imperial court ordered the junior official's superior to severely reprimand him.
He never dared to speak again!
Similar examples abound in the Yuanyou era.
…
On this day, Sima Guang was already in Luoyang City, packing his luggage, books, official uniforms and other necessary gifts.
The officials who came from Chenzhou to Luoyang to take up his post had also arrived in Luoyang City and respectfully handed over documents requesting Sima Xianggong to go to Chenzhou to take care of the people.
Sima Guang looked in the direction of Bianjing, and said worriedly to Shao Bowen who came to see him off: "Since Han Zihua took office as the right servant, even though the emperor has shown favor to the people and the two palaces have repeatedly issued virtuous messages, he has abolished the market changes and changed the embankment department. Return it to the people, and use the Jingdong Ma Ma Law to harm the people...all the discussions on the law are talking about abolishing it..."
"But Han Zihua has selfish motives. He is still reluctant to part with the Labor Exemption Law, the Farmland Water Conservancy Law, and even evil laws such as the Young Crops Law and the Baojia Law may be retained!"
"For the sake of self-interest, regardless of the common people!"
"Han Zihua will inevitably become Wang Jiefu again in the future!"
Shao Bowen looked at Sima Guang's expression and said, "My lord, don't worry. Han Zihua is seventy, how many days can he stay in the capital?"
"After a year and a half, I will ask to go! Let him enjoy the glory of the capital for a few days!"
Sima Guang nodded.
It was precisely for this reason that he did not rush to send people to Yangzhou to discuss with Lu Gongzhu.
It’s already good that Han Jiang and Han Zihua can sit on the stage for a year!
If there are too many, people will be disgusted with them.
Once Han Zihua left, the qualifications and popularity in the capital were gone, and his skills and power were enough to suppress the elders of the old and new parties.
At that time, it will be the end of Wang Anshi’s evil method!
that is……
"I don't know what kind of ecstasy Dr. Wen was fed by Han Zihua. He actually said something with Han Zihua, 'The Emperor Daxing was exempted from military service according to the changes in the military service law initiated by Han Zhongxian...'" Sima Guang frowned: "This matter is unacceptable. What a mistake!"
If it is true that Han Jiang and Wen Yanbo were together, Wang Anshi's exemption law indeed started from Han Qi, was reformed by Wen Yanbo, and then became the Five Rural Household Laws in the hands of Han Jiang, and then passed through it during the peace era. Emperor Daxing and the elders such as Han Jiang, Han Wei, Han Zhen, Wen Yanbo, and Fu Bi discussed with each other, and after mutual confirmation, Emperor Daxing promulgated and implemented it.
No one can change Wang Anshi’s immunity from military service!
The trouble with this matter now is that Han Zhongyan, son of Han Qi and Duke Han Zhongxian, also endorsed it.
Regarding the news from Bianjing City, Han Zhongyan wrote to the imperial court, saying: When my predecessors were in Japan, they once said to me: The Yamen harmed the people, which caused great pain to the country. Renmiao felt sorry for it, and Yingmiao felt ashamed! When Emperor Daxing came to court, Then he invited the ministers to discuss it, and handed them handwritten letters from Taishi Wen, Xianggong Han, Gong Fu Han, etc., talking about the assistance money. The ministers wrote: Your majesty, the Holy Ming Wu, is willing to beg and pay it to the court as soon as possible, and it will be made law!
Nonsense!
How could Lord Han Zhongxian say such a thing?
Now, they are just missing the last link.
Confirmation of Fu Han Gong and his disciples.
If only Mr. Fu Han and his disciples could come forward and say that Mr. Fu Han also participated in the formulation of the exemption law.
Then, no one can overturn the immunity from service law.
The most we can do is delete some regulations and adjust the methods.
Shao Bowen cupped his hands and said, "Otherwise, why don't you go down and meet Fu Shaoting?"
Sima Guang shook his head: "No need!"
"Even if Fu Shaoting can firm up his opinion, it can't be reversed!"
Shao Bowen doesn't understand.
Sima Guang said: "Feng Jingfeng was still in Bianjing when he was alive!"
"That golden-haired squirrel is used to changing its direction according to the wind!"
Feng Jing was not only the son-in-law of the wealthy Han Gong, but also married two rich girls in a row!
He wanted to jump up and say something like, "The rich Han Gong of Mount Tai also said this to his ministers before."
Then, Sima Guang knew that the situation was bad.
Unless Taishi Wen can be persuaded to change his stance!
But is that possible?
Han Jiang used Pingzhang to do important military and state affairs and coaxed the old master into confusion!
Yes!
Sima Guang of Luoyang was too far away from Bianjing, so there was a mistake in the information.
Until now, he still only knew that Wen Yanbo was worshiped as Pingzhang, an important military and state matter. The emperor personally gave him a shoulder carriage, regarded him as the Duke of Zhou, treated him with the courtesy of a child, and promised Wen Yanbo six days to go to court.
But he didn't know the specific details.
Therefore, Sima Guang instinctively thought that this was Han Jiang's idea, and bribed Wen Yanbo with Pingzhang, a military official who was higher than the prime minister.
"What should we do?" Shao Bowen said worriedly.
"For today's plan, I can only talk about it again when I go to Quebianjing and are summoned by the two palaces!"
The story goes that every minister who fulfills his duties must pass through the capital to see the emperor.
Sima Guang could only pray that if he passed the test this time, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager would change their minds because of his advice.
Wang Anshi’s evil methods brought chaos to the world.
The two palaces have also been disgusted with each other for a long time, and the young master is even more kind, pure and filial.
You will definitely listen to his honest words!
…
Bianjing City, Shouchangfang.
The place where Emperor Taizong was born.
It is also a place where dignitaries gather.
Wen Yanbo was lying in the courtyard of Jiadi, enjoying the gentle kneading of his maid.
His son Wen Jifu knelt quietly in front of him.
"Do you know you are wrong?" Wen Yanbo asked leisurely.
"Reporting to your lord, I have already known my mistake!" Wen Jifu, who was in his fifties, said obediently.
He had just been exonerated by the two palaces and was reinstated as Yuanwailang, the Right Secretary.
Wen Yanbo shook his head and waved to the maid beside him.
The maid immediately retreated, and all the servants in the courtyard also retreated respectfully.
Wen Yanbo waited until everyone got down before he sat up.
Under the gray eyebrows, a pair of old eyes looked at Wen Jifu: "I look at you, but I don't know where you are wrong!"
"My son's fault is greed!" Wen Jifu said immediately.
"Wrong!" Wen Yanbo shook his head: "What's wrong with being greedy?"
"Feng Shi's nickname of Golden Mouse is known even in the palace, so what? Does it hinder him from being an important minister of the country now?"
Wen Yanbo was helpless looking at his son who had no political sensitivity.
Because this son is already the most talented among his eight sons.
"If it weren't for me..."
"All ten of your lives are gone!"
This is a fact. At that time, when Wen Jifu and Wu Anzhi formed a clique for personal gain, accepted bribes, and exonerated others, Cai Que caught him and uncovered a corruption gang of more than 20 people at once.
In the Song Dynasty, personal corruption was nothing, and at most it would lead to demotion.
But forming a clique for personal gain is a violation of the laws of our ancestors, and we will never be lenient!
That is to say, Wen Jifu was Wen Yanbo's son, and Wu Anchi was Wu Chong's son and Wang Anshi's son-in-law. The Daxing Emperor was so proud that he did not strip them of their flesh, but demoted them.
But these two bastards don’t know what to do!
Five or six years later, Wen Jifu and Wu Anchi actually joined forces to retaliate. Last year, they accused Cai Que's younger brother Cai Shuo of being corrupt.
However, the Cai family provided conclusive evidence to prove that he had no money and did not even use a copper coin for the minister's money!
Cai Shuo's reputation as an honest official was achieved for no reason.
At the same time, the fact that Wen Jifu and Wu Anchi formed a clique to slander the minister was exposed to the eyes of the government and the public.
Wen Yanbo had no choice but to let his favorite eldest grandson Wen Kangshi marry Cai Shuo's daughter last year, so that the matter could be settled reluctantly.
"Do you know where you went wrong?" Wen Yanbo asked.
Under the pressure of his old father, Wen Jifu could only lower his head and kowtow to apologize: "Please give me some advice!"
"Your mistake is that you cannot see what the Emperor's Sacred Heart sees..."
"Being an official in the court involves ability on one side and skill on the other...but what is really important is the Emperor's Sacred Heart!"
"Do you really think that in the past decades I have been an official, I have been rebelling against the emperor?"
"I always obey the Sacred Heart..."
"Renmiao asks me to do things, so I do them..."
"Emperor Daxing asked me to sing the opposite tune, so I will sing the opposite tune!"
"So even though I am eighty years old, I am still the grand master before the young master, and a figure like the Duke of Zhou in the dynasty!"
"In the future, it will not do you any harm to read the Tao Te Ching more often!"
"The best good is like water, water benefits all things without any struggle!"
"Get out of here!" Wen Yanbo scolded him. He felt much better and waved to Wen Jifu.
Seeing Wen Jifu bowing and kneeling in front of him, he looked trembling.
Wen Yanbo shook his head.
"Will the Wen family's wealth and honor be about to end after my generation?"
The sixth son, the most outstanding among his eight sons, was all like this.
None of my grandchildren are worth cultivating.
Wen Yanbo knew that he had to think about the long term.
"Young master is young..." he said softly, all kinds of calculations flashing through his old eyes.
The transition to home was also flashing in his heart.
Perhaps, the Wen family can also try to take this path.
If you become an official, you will be rich and powerful, but if your descendants have no ability, they can only stare.
When Yan Shu was Prime Minister, he had disciples all over the world and promoted countless people.
What now?
I heard that Yan Jidao, Yan Shu's favorite son during his lifetime, actually had to be favored by the young master to be sent to the Ministry of Civil Service to wait for him, so that he could have the rank of selector.
If Yan Shu knew this, I don’t know what he would think!
The Wen family looks like the Yan family now.
Wen Yanbo knew that once he died, everything would be wiped out.
Therefore, since the descendants will not be blessed, it is better to learn from Minzhong.
Look at Xiang Jia now?!
What did Xiang Zonghui do? He could get a beautiful official who was as good as a civil servant's transporter just by lying down!
I heard that the young master came to the palace to express gratitude a few days ago, and the young master said personally: "Uncle Zong Huiguo!"
In time, I'm afraid Cao Yi will be granted the title of county prince and be worshiped as a military envoy!
Thinking about this, Wen Yanbo remembered what the young master said to him that day in the banquet of Chui Gong Palace.
He slowly lay down.
He is a smart man and has always been very aware of current affairs.
At that time, during the Renmiao era, Queen Wencheng Zhang was favored, and Queen Zhang's father had been a retainer in Wen Yanbo's house.
As soon as Queen Zhang became favored, Wen Yanbo immediately became equal to Queen Zhang's father and brothers.
So Empress Zhang said to Renmiao: Wen Xianggong is my uncle.
Relying on this relationship, Wen Yanbo successfully became the Prime Minister.
During the Renmiao era, Wen Yanbo did far more than this in order to make progress!
That is to say, after Jiayou, he became old and highly respected, so he no longer needed to do these things.
But Wen Yanbo always knew where the bottom line was and what he couldn't touch.
Therefore, in the eyes of the world, he is a veteran of the Four Dynasties, with a bad temper and a tough temper.
Only those who know him well know.
Wen Yanbo and Taishi Wen Kuanfu have always been good at making changes!
Recalling every detail in the palace that day.
Wen Yanbo slowly closed his eyes.
In his mind, the names of his granddaughters and great-granddaughters of the right age popped up one by one.
He also remembered the story of Guochao.
The queen mother, the queen mother, will adopt adopted daughters to prepare for the future of the emperor!
Note: Zhang Xing’s story is recorded in Su Shi’s personal notes.
Note 2: Officials in the Northern Song Dynasty needed to pass through the palace before taking office. Before passing through the palace, local officials would go to greet the person who took office.
I only learned this after reading a book in the past few days.
So I was wrong earlier. Sima Guang went to Beijing to go to the palace and did not take office immediately. Instead, he had to go back to Luoyang and wait for Chenzhou officials to invite him. Then he started to take office and went to the palace before taking office. This is a reasonable procedure and process.
Note 3: Historically, Wen Jifu stabbed the old party in the back after Zhezong came to power, triggering the famous Tongwenguan Prison and sending a group of old party ministers to Lingnan.
