Mr. Lu carefully sat down and took a sip of the tea soup given by the emperor. The spicy ginger lingered in his mouth, which cheered him up a little.
Behind the curtain, the Empress Dowager had already begun to ask questions: "Scholar Lu came to Beijing from Yangzhou. Did he hear about the opinions of the scholar-bureaucrats in the local prefectures and counties on the government affairs in the prefectures and counties he passed through?"
Hearing this, Mr. Lu took his eyes and quietly observed the young master on the throne.
Seeing that the other party was motionless and silent, he replied: "I am telling the Empress Dowager that from Yangzhou to Beijing, when I passed through the prefectures, counties and passes along the way, all the scholars and officials I met said: The two palaces are kind and sage, industrious to the world, and bless the world." Holy bow, extend grace to all people..."
Lu Gongzhu paused for a moment before continuing: "And His Majesty, the Emperor, is benevolent, saintly, pure and filial, intelligent and wise..."
The Empress Dowager behind the curtain glanced at the Empress Dowager. The two palaces nodded slightly, and then asked: "I and the Empress Dowager, what are the laws and edicts issued by me and the Empress Dowager in the past two months... What do the scholar-bureaucrats from various places think?"
This is what the Queen Mother is most concerned about now.
Lu Gongzhu took a deep breath and bowed: "I went north from Yangzhou. I passed through the passes and markets, and met the common people and scholar-bureaucrats. All of them were because of the great empress dowager, the empress dowager, and the emperor who showed kindness to all the people and abolished the market changes. Rejoice in the Dharma!”
This is true!
The Market Change Law is actually a government-run monopoly economic law.
In essence, it is a game between merchants and consumers.
Merchants don’t like it, and neither do the people!
Now that the abolition is under way, almost no one except the former officials of the Municipal Affairs Bureau does not welcome it!
Lu Gongzhu continued: "I heard again that His Majesty the Emperor has carried out the Emperor's decree, extended his kindness to the people of Bianjing, and sent down his virtues to the people of the capital of Jingdong..."
"Since I entered the capital, everyone I have met has praised me..."
"Everyone says: The two palaces are blessed by the benevolent and merciful Lord, whose virtuous voice spreads throughout the world, and the people are very lucky!"
The Empress Dowager inside the curtain listened and said happily: "As the bachelor said, I can rest assured!"
The Empress Dowager, who had been silent all this time, also said at this time: "Emperor Daxing entrusted the country and the country to the officials, and asked me and the Empress Dowager to assist the officials in handling government affairs and handling military and state affairs. In the past two months, I have been here to Both the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager worked hard in the palace, fearing that the legacy of Emperor Daxing would be damaged... and also fearing that the officials below would not be able to understand Emperor Daxing's legacy... Now that I have heard the report from the bachelor, I feel at ease. …”
Mr. Lu's eyelids twitched as he listened.
The words of the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother may seem to be the same, but in fact they are completely different.
The Empress Dowager was only paying attention to the reactions below.
The Empress Dowager emphasized that Emperor Daxing entrusted the country and the country to the government, and let me and the Empress Dowager assist!
Lu Gongzhu couldn't help but take another sip of the tea soup, letting the spicy taste of the tea soup reverberate between his mouth and tongue.
He then held the fluorine and bowed again: "It is the blessing of the world to be protected and supported by the two benevolent saints..."
The young master on the throne remained silent.
But Lu Gongzhu could feel that he had been observing him.
Therefore, Lu Gongzhu couldn't help but adjust his sitting posture to make it easier for the young master to observe him carefully.
This is a silent bowing and a silent surrender.
The two palaces behind the curtain were both happy.
The Empress Dowager's tone became much more relaxed: "To be fair to the bachelor, before I heard these words from the bachelor... I was still worried about whether there would be mistakes in laws and policies..."
"Even...will it be discussed...I and the Empress Dowager are nepotistic...ignoring the country..."
Mr. Lu lowered his head.
He could tell that the Empress Dowager was still aggrieved by Sima Guang's last letter.
He could only close his mouth tightly and not speak on this topic.
Because he knew that as long as he didn't mention it, the Empress Dowager wouldn't pursue her anyway given her temperament.
Sure enough, the Empress Dowager just said something casually like she was venting her anger and changed the subject.
"Xueshi Lu is an important official appointed by Emperor Daxing..."
"I am in Beijing this time. I don't know anything about national and court affairs. Is there anything I can say?"
"If so, please speak out, bachelor! I, the empress dowager, and the officials will all listen attentively!"
Mr. Lu quickly stood up and first observed the young master on the throne.
Finding that he was still sitting in the same posture, he bowed to the manuscript he had already typed and reported: "The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, Your Majesty the Emperor..."
"I came to the capital from afar and obeyed the imperial edict. I saw His Majesty the Emperor in the palace and listened respectfully to the Holy Instructions of the Merciful Saint of the Two Palaces..."
"I secretly believe that when His Majesty the Emperor first ascends to the throne, he should focus on cultivating virtue!"
"Furthermore, although His Majesty the Emperor is divine and wise, he must also take academic matters seriously..."
"I heard that Marquis Wu said: "To be close to villains is to stay away from virtuous ministers. This is why the Han Dynasty declined after that. To be close to virtuous ministers and to stay away from villains is why the Han Dynasty prospered in the past!"
"My lord, I am sincerely afraid..."
"Begging the two benevolent sages of the two palaces to select gentlemen and upright men, who will be close to His Majesty the Emperor, to read and give lectures to help His Majesty to practice the meaning of the saints' scriptures..."
After hearing this, the two palaces nodded in agreement.
Especially the Empress Dowager, who was busy with government affairs and could not spare much time to teach officials how to read.
I have always wanted to let the officials of the Sutra Festival enter the palace and give lectures to the officials.
However, looking at the banquet officials... Cai Bian, Lu Dian, Xu Jiang, Zhu Fu... they were either Wang Anshi's sons-in-law or Wang Anshi's disciples.
Although Zeng Bu, a Hanlin scholar, had good knowledge and a good character, he was just a human being.
Besides, this man also had some relationship with Wang Anshi, and the Empress Dowager was actually not willing to let Zeng Bu directly enter the palace to give lectures in front of the king.
Sima Guang did recommend a few people before, and the Empress Dowager also thought they were good.
But didn't Sima Guang piss her off now?
If someone directly recommended by Sima Guang is used, wouldn't that be tantamount to giving in to Sima Guang? It's tantamount to saying: Is I wrong?
How can this be?
So, it has been postponed until now.
Now, when she heard Mr. Lu mention this matter, the Empress Dowager glanced at the Empress Dowager Xiang, and after seeing the Empress Dowager Xiang nodding, she said: "I and the Empress Dowager also agree with what the bachelor said!"
"To be honest, bachelor, although the official family is young, they are very smart!"
"I and the Queen Mother have been in the palace for more than two months, teaching the officials to read. Now the officials have almost read the entire Spring and Autumn Annals!"
"The Hanlin scholars also said: I heard that Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty understood the Spring and Autumn Period at the age of eight, and now the officials also understand the Spring and Autumn Period at the age of eight. We can look forward to the rule of our dynasty!"
Although Lu Gong's work has long been heard of, the young master, with the help of the two palaces, read through the Spring and Autumn Period.
But being confirmed by the two palaces in person still shocked him.
So, he hurriedly congratulated: "His Majesty the Emperor Shenrui had known earlier, and I would like to congratulate the world..."
Just listen to the Empress Dowager saying: "Scholar Lu, a famous official in the world, must know where the gentlemen in the world are..."
"I would also like to ask the bachelor to recommend one or two..."
Duke Lu held the imperial hut, bowed again and said: "I am very frightened. Your Majesty should not interfere with your studies... but for the sake of the country..."
"I dare you, old minister, to try to be a benevolent sage to the two palaces..."
"I agree with you that your minister Cheng Hao is a great Confucian in the world and a famous figure in the country..."
Both palaces nodded when they heard this.
This man was also recommended by Sima Guang and Taishi Wen. The important thing is that the officials had a good impression of him. After hearing that he was ill a few days ago, they even rushed to deliver medicine and comfort.
When the people in Bianjing heard about it, they all said that it was a blessing for the world that officials respected teachers and respected morality!
Lu Gongzhu continued: "In addition, I heard that Zhilong Tuge knew that Lu Dafang, the minister of Chengdu, was a son of a great Confucian. His literary talent was amazing, and he had been in the local states and counties for a long time. He was really the best choice for the banquet..."
The two palaces looked at each other and were very satisfied with this choice.
Lu Dafang and the others were still impressed, especially those four sentences by his teacher Zhang Zai, which were deeply remembered by the two palaces.
"Furthermore, in Zhilong Tuge, it is newly known that Fan Chunren, a minister of Qingzhou, is the son of a famous official from the past, and he once studied with a great scholar of the country..."
Mr. Lu recommended seven or eight people in succession.
Except for the overlap in candidates recommended by Cheng Hao, Fan Chunren and Sima Guang.
All other candidates have changed.
For example, Sima Guang recommended Su Shi, but Lu Gongzhu recommended Su Che, Su Shi's younger brother.
In addition, names familiar to Zhao Xu such as Wang Yansou, Liu Zhi, Fan Bailu, etc. also appear in it.
From here we can see the difference between Sima Guang's and Lu Gong's works.
The people recommended by Sima Guang were almost all celebrities he knew and met.
But the people Lu Gongzhu recommended were all local officials.
Of course, Lu Gongzhu and Sima Guang are the same.
Everyone they recommend is a die hard oldie!
Especially among the people recommended by Lu Gongzhu, people like Su Che and Liu Zhi are all radicals in the old party.
What is a radical?
Those who are not as radical as me are all villains of the evil party!
In Zhao Xu's previous life, after entering the court, no one dared to scold anyone and no one dared to complain.
Including the work of Lu Gong who recommended them!
How is this possible?
Zhao Xu thought about it and decided to add some ingredients to Lu Gong's clothes.
So, he turned his head, looked at the two palaces in the curtain, and said: "Mother, Queen Mother, I heard that famous officials in ancient times had the virtue of not avoiding relatives when they were in favor of the virtuous!"
"Xueshi Lu is the minister who was left behind by my father... and is also a well-known Confucian official in the dynasty..."
"I also heard that the academic background of the bachelor's family can be said to be the first among generations of scholars..."
Mr. Lu's eyelids began to twitch wildly.
He raised his head and saw the young master who was twisting his head on the throne and the empress dowager inside the curtain, who was speaking softly.
"Nowadays, scholars promote talents, but they avoid talking about their relatives..."
"I really admire you for your high moral integrity..."
"However, I heard that in the Spring and Autumn Period, Zigong redeemed people, and the sages punished him. Zilu accepted cattle, and the sages were happy..."
"Nowadays, if even an important minister like a bachelor avoids other people's comments and does not recommend the talents around him..."
"I'm worried that in the future, people all over the world will avoid talking about the virtuous people around them... As a result, the country's virtuous people will have no way to use it..."
"Isn't this another tragedy where Zigong redeems people?"
When Lu Gong listened to the young master's words, his heart fell toward the bottom of the valley.
He has only two sons.
A person who is an official abroad cannot return to Bianjing in a short time.
The remaining traitor is Wang Anshi’s supporter! He is die-hard!
He was about to think of a way to deal with this matter.
The two palaces inside the curtain have already spoken.
"The officials are right!" said the Empress Dowager: "Lv Xueshi's family origin is from the Confucian family of our dynasty. They have been important ministers of the country for generations... How can a bachelor not have talented people around him?"
He also said to the Queen Mother: "What Sixth Brother said is really true!"
She said directly to Lu Gong: "I have also heard that the eldest son of a bachelor is filial and observant of etiquette. In order to be able to serve the bachelor, he voluntarily gave up his imperial examination status..."
"How can we not praise and reward such a filial son?"
When Lu Gongzhu heard this, he lowered his head.
My great empress dowager, empress dowager!
You don’t know that traitor, he is Wang Anshi’s man!
But what can he do?
Should I directly tell Ergong the true face of that traitor?
Can?
unable!
Moreover, he only has two sons, and the eldest son has been following him all these years, serving him in daily life and food.
He took it all into consideration.
Could he just cut off his son's official career just because he and his son had different political views?
Tiger poison doesn’t even eat seeds!
Besides, now that the Lu family has reached this point, among the rising stars, there are actually only two people who can be considered figures.
One was asked by Lu Jia, and the other was Lu Xizhe who had been following him.
Others...seem to be really useless.
Even after cultivating it several times, it can’t be cultivated!
Therefore, there was no other way. Lu Gongzhu could only lower his head and bowed with the fluorine in his hand: "The dog is naughty and naughty, I'm afraid it will disappoint His Majesty... I beg Your Majesty to take back my life..."
His polite tone of refusal was more of a recommendation than a rejection.
Zhao Xu sat on the throne and looked at Duke Lu.
He laughed in his heart.
In his previous life, he had nothing to do with these senior officials.
But now...
The weaknesses of these people are all in his hands.
