Yisi (the eleventh day) of March in the eighth year of Yuanfeng.
After drifting on the Luo and Bian rivers for several days, Sima Guang and his party finally arrived at a Bianhe stacking yard in the west of Bianjing City.
As soon as he got off the boat, Sima Guang frowned.
Fan Zuyu, who was traveling with him, couldn't help but frown.
Because they saw it, on the high embankment of Bianhe River.
Rows of elm and willow trees were not planted along the river embankment according to the ancestral system.
Instead, open-air cargo stacking yards were built here.
Behind the stacking yard, there are rows of warehouses and warehouses.
Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu even saw with their own eyes the ministers in mourning clothes riding horses through the stacking yard in a majestic manner.
Along the way, countless businessmen nodded and knelt before the minister, trying to please him!
"You eunuch villain, bah!" What Fan Zuyu despised the most was this kind of internal minister who pretended to be powerful and acted recklessly outside by relying on his royal power.
Sima Guang did not speak.
Because he knew that the minister showing off his power on the stacking yard on the Bianhe River embankment was just a fly, an insignificant insect.
The person who truly harms the country and disrupts the laws of the world is the powerful official standing behind him!
Song Yongchen!
The big Diao Dang beside Emperor Daxing served as the imperial guard, Zhao Xuan envoy, Dengzhou defense envoy, promoted the Bianhe River Embankment Department, promoted the Imperial City Department...
A powerful eunuch whose status and harmfulness are similar to those of Gao Lishi in the Tang Dynasty.
He was also someone Sima Guang wanted to get rid of quickly.
"Chunfu, there is no need to argue with this generation of eunuch villains, just watch him fail!" Sima Guang said to Fan Zuyu in a low voice: "You and I will go to the capital first and hand over the congratulatory form in the capital hall before we talk!"
"Wei!" Fan Zuyu bowed his hands.
My husband is right!
Now, as I follow my husband to Beijing, I should put the overall situation first!
Just wait and see how this generation of eunuchs will fail!
Just like in the past fifteen years, Xianggong was in Luoyang revising books, allowing those who were lucky enough to enter the new law to show their teeth and claws in the court.
Now that the Second Saint is in charge of the government, the self-defeat of this generation is about to happen!
At this time, the servants accompanying Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu had already moved their luggage, horses and other related items from the canal boat.
Sima Guang then rode an old horse - he was a bit old and had been seriously ill last year. His physical strength and energy were not as good as before, and he could no longer control his favorite tall horse in the past.
As a young man, Fan Zuyu was of course still the knight's favorite tall horse.
This kind of horse was a status symbol in the Song Dynasty, which was short of horses.
Ordinary Beijing officials cannot buy it even if they have money.
Only court officials, and those with a certain status level, can buy it.
And each one is worth a lot of money, often costing more than 200 pieces.
Of course Fan Zuyu couldn't afford this horse with his salary.
But when Taishi Wen heard that he was going to Beijing with Sima Guang to wait for him, he sent the horse from Taishi's residence without saying a word.
Fan Zuyu didn't refuse and accepted it directly.
The two mounted their horses and, surrounded by their servants, left the Bianhe stacking yard and descended the wide Bianhe river embankment.
Bianjing City is already in sight!
The towering city wall is four feet high, with horse faces protruding from the thick city wall.
Under the city wall is a moat that sparkles in the sun.
That is the Dragon River, the moat of Bianjing City.
Looking from a distance, one can still see willow trees planted on both sides of the Hulong River.
This is Bianjing!
The divine capital of the Song Dynasty, the capital of the emperor, the most virtuous place!
At the same time, it is also a city that has almost changed its appearance compared to fifteen years ago!
Only when Fan Zuyu saw the Jinming Pond in the outer city of Bianjing in the distance and the buildings in Xiyuan facing Jinming Pond in the distance did he remember what he had done when he was studying in Bianjing and taking the exam.
Bit by bit.
Sima Guang also looked at the one in the distance and the Bianjing that had changed in his memory, and sighed slightly: "Things are different and people are different!"
Fifteen years ago, when he left Bianjing and invited himself out of the county, he seemed to have stood in this place, looking back at the towers of Bianjing.
But what I saw at that moment was not what I saw at this moment.
Sima Guang patted the horse's butt gently and said to Fan Zuyu: "Let's go!"
"Enter the city as soon as possible while it's still early!"
The two then rode down and reached the official road.
Their servants and servants were walking slowly, carrying large and small bags of luggage behind them. They could not keep up with Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu on horseback.
Because those luggages were very heavy, and most of them contained books and copper coins!
Among them, books are the most numerous.
Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu did not wait for them. They rode their horses directly and walked forward along the spacious and neat official road. They soon left the servants far and far behind.
But there is no need to worry about these servants getting lost or escaping with their luggage. These people are all Yuan followers assigned to Sima Guang by the imperial court.
Sima Guang's salary official was a Taizhong doctor, and his literary post was a bachelor of Zizhengdian.
According to the system, the imperial court allocated ten people to Yuan Sui for preparation.
After the Zizhi Tongjian was completed, Emperor Daxing, in order to reward him, allocated ten more Yuansui to him, and promoted Sima Guang's treatment in Yuansui to the level of a bachelor of Zizhengdian.
These Yuan followers were all paid by the imperial court.
You can get two stone lumi or 600 cash every month, and in addition, you will be given clothes every quarter.
Therefore, Sima Guang could not be more at ease with these people.
Unless there is a decree from the imperial court, the Yuan Sui people are the most loyal to him - their parents, wives and children are all clearly registered with the government.
All three generations of his father and ancestors were investigated.
If they make the slightest mistake, Sima Guang doesn't even need to say anything, Yousi will punish them severely.
…
Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu rode their horses and soon arrived at one of the most memorable places for them in Bianjing City: Jinming Pond!
Today is the eleventh day of March Yisi.
Jinmyeongchi is a national forbidden garden and a place for the royal family to enjoy.
Still in accordance with the ancestral system, the door is open to visitors from all over the world.
In the vast Jinming Pond, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, colorful and purple.
Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu were riding their horses outside Jinming Pool, looking at the endless stream of tourists inside, rubbing shoulders, and they were a little crazy for a moment.
"If Emperor Daxing is still here, in ten days, the emperor will come here to have fun with the people!" Sima Guang looked at the water in Jinming Pool and said: "By then, hundreds of thousands of Bianjing soldiers and civilians will be here.
You will see the official’s holy face here!”
"The officials will also order the imperial army to bid for victory in this Jinming Pond... The spectators were like rain for a while..."
As if recalling past events, Sima Guang's skinny cheeks became rosy.
He turned to look at Xiyuan opposite Jinmingchi.
Pointing to the attic of the palace in the Xiyuan, hidden among the trees and palace walls, he said to Fan Zuyu: "I still remember that in the first year of Baoyuan, I participated in the imperial examination. Mengren Temple did not abandon it, and the point was Jia.
Ke Jinshi, was selected as the most beautiful young man of that year..."
"According to the regulations, Tanhua Lang is responsible for hairpins and picking flowers for the Number One Scholar..."
"I don't like hairpins, so I begged the Ren Temple not to wear hairpins... Renmiao insisted on it, so I just got a hairpin and pinned it on my head..."
Listening to Sima Guang's words, Fan Zuyu also remembered the Ren Temple in his memory.
In the last years of Jiayou's reign, Fan Zuyu also became a Jinshi and was able to see His Majesty's holy face at the Qionglin Banquet in Xiyuan.
At that time, although Renmiao was old and staggered when walking, he was still smiling and kind, just like his great-uncle now.
So, he couldn't help but sigh, he had only met that Majesty once.
After being awarded the Jinshi title, Renmiao had already given up on the world before he was awarded the title.
It was Fan Zuyu's eternal regret in his life that he had never served as an official under that Majesty and had never experienced the administration of that benevolent Lord.
but……
Fan Zuyu turned his head and looked at Bianjing City.
Now that the young master is in court, many, many people have written to him and told him.
The young master has a lot of ancestral laws!
The official family has the legacy of Ren Temple!
The emperor is generous and loving, and his kindness comes from his heart!
Thinking about everyone's comments and the discussions among the government and the public.
Fan Zuyu suddenly cheered up and his spirits were high.
"You gave birth to me before you were born, and you gave birth to me and I am already old!" He whispered a poem from the Tang Dynasty.
This can be understood as the personal regret between men and women, or as the regret of the monarch and his ministers.
Just like him and Renmiao.
He was only twenty years old, but Renmiao was already late.
His Majesty had abandoned the world before he had even eaten his salary.
Fortunately, fortunately, fate still gave him a chance.
Let him assist and serve a benevolent young master and a benevolent emperor in this golden age of his life!
No regrets in life!
Fan Zuyu was full of ambition.
A horseman galloped past on the left side of the road.
The man on horseback seemed to have glanced in the direction of Fan Zuyu at the intersection. Then he turned back in disbelief, reined in the horse, and rubbed his eyes, as if he couldn't believe it.
Then, he widened his eyes and carefully identified it again.
Finally, the man jumped off his horse and came to Fan Zuyu. He bowed with his long body and bowed his hands: "Student Yang Zhi, pay your respects to Sima Xianggong!"
Sima Guang looked at the person in front of him.
After looking carefully for a while, I didn't recognize him, but he was wearing mourning clothes that only scholar-bureaucrats would wear.
So, he is an official?
Look at the color of the inner garment under his mourning clothes. It seems to be green?
So, he is still a Beijing official?
An official of a certain department or government office?
However, he is only in his twenties, where can he possibly meet me?
Yang Zhi had already grown up and bowed again: "My lord, my student once had the honor to see my lord's portrait in Yan's study room at home!"
"Jia Yan once personally pointed to the portrait of Xianggong to teach his students: This is the elder of the country, a loyal minister of the country, and a man of culture in the world. Therefore, the Prime Minister Magong in the imperial censor should not be exposed! You should respect him as you respect your master and your father!"
"Who is your father?" Sima Guang almost knew that he was the son of an old friend, so he got off his horse.
"My family is strict, Yang Gong has kept tabs on the scenery, and now he is occupying the position of Zhongshusheren!"
"Oh..." Sima Guang remembered, he was indeed an old friend!
Yang Jinglue was Han Wei's son-in-law.
As for Han Wei, he and Lü Gong, Wang Anshi’s old title was Jiayou Four Friends!
"It turns out he is Kang Gong's son!" Sima Guang said: "Since he is the son of an old friend, please get up!"
Sima Guang and others were dressed in mourning clothes and riding horses, typical of scholar-bureaucrats.
They stood on the left side of the road and saluted each other.
Especially Yang Zhi's etiquette was very grand.
However, the official road in front of Jinming Lake is originally the main road leading from Bianjing in the west. It has always been crowded with people, and cars and horses never stop.
Naturally, their conversation aroused the interest of passers-by.
Then passers-by came over and listened.
Sima Xianggong?
Zhongshu Sheren?
The man seemed to have remembered something and shouted: "Xiangong Sima has entered the capital! Xianggong Sima has entered the capital!"
Suddenly, countless pedestrians and merchants on the entire road were alarmed.
People looked sideways at Sima Guang, Fan Zuyu and Yang Zhi who were on the roadside.
Then, a swarm of bees swarmed up.
The place where Sima Guang was was soon surrounded by water!
"Is it Sima Xianggong?"
"Is this Mr. Sima of Luoyang?"
Many people are asking each other, but they are not sure.
Sima Guang, Fan Zuyu, and Yang Zhi were all shocked by this scene.
In order not to cause trouble, in order not to cause trouble on the first day in Beijing.
Both Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu chose silence.
But at this time, the Forbidden Army guarding outside Jinming Pool was alerted, and a Forbidden Army commander came over with people.
They pushed through the crowd, and the conductor in Zhenjia walked up to the crowd and took a closer look at Sima Guang, who was standing next to an old horse.
Then he covered his forehead with his hands in excitement and said to everyone: "It's Sima Xianggong! It's Sima Xianggong from Luoyang! It's Sima Xianggong who wrote Zizhi Tongjian!"
After being identified by a Forbidden Army commander.
The situation was no longer under control, and even the tourists in Jinmingchi heard the news and came one after another to join the encirclement.
In the encirclement, Sima Guang, who was surrounded by people, could only bow his hands and salute: "Everyone... everyone..."
I just wanted to advise the people not to block the road here, so as not to affect the traffic.
But he didn't have time to say it yet.
There were already excited merchants who stepped forward and grabbed the reins of the horse Sima Guang was riding. He asked excitedly: "Sima Xianggong, you will not return to Luoyang this time when you enter Beijing, right?"
With the leader taking the lead, others naturally rushed forward.
Everyone asked with tears in their eyes: "Sima Xianggong, are you here to assist the emperor when you come to Beijing this time?"
"Sima Xianggong, please stay in Bianjing and keep me and other people alive!"
Some people even shouted outside: "Please also ask Sima Xianggong to stay in the capital to assist the emperor and bring order to the world!"
Note: According to historical records, Sima Guang entered Beijing around March 12th and was surrounded by people at the city gate.
Just like the plot in the book, it is slightly adapted here.
In addition, I personally believe that this is not the result of Sima Guang's personal power manipulation. There is no need for him to do this, let alone such taboo things.
This can only be the natural release of accumulated resentment after so many years of implementation of the new law when it encounters a bottleneck to vent.
