Chapter 320: The Su Family Enters Beijing (Part 2)
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The Yujin Garden outside Nanxun Gate in the south of the city was a summer garden for the officials of the Song Dynasty. The pond in the garden is the sea, the sparse spring is the lake, and the blue waves are like nature. There are winding paths, dense shade, and scattered pavilions.
The flowers are blooming like a brocade. Although the flames of midsummer are rising in the sky, as soon as you enter the garden, you will feel the coolness of the water and the cold moss and talc. It is indeed a summer resort.
Zhao Zhen, a current official, is known as a barefoot immortal who descends to earth without wearing shoes or socks even in winter. In fact, he has a dry constitution and is most afraid of the heat of midsummer. Therefore, he has to spend the hottest part of summer here every year. Ordinarily, he has a dry constitution.
Three hundred miles outside Bianjing City, there is Chongfu Palace, which was the summer resort of Emperor Zhenzong. The conditions were far better than here. When Zhao Zhen was a child, he followed Liu E to spend the summer every year. He was deeply impressed by the huge expenditure and huge expenditure of each military expedition, so he
As an adult, I have never been there once.
During the period when the emperor moved to Yujin Garden, the Fifth Daily Dynasty was held as usual, but it was presided over by the prime minister. The three provincial ministers and the six ministers would go to Yujin Garden to report if they had anything to do, and they would not disturb the official family's summer vacation. However, in the past few days, it has not been until the disarmament plan was announced.
The day is getting closer and closer, the situation in the capital is agitated, and all parties are tense. There are especially many sedan chairs running towards Yujin Garden.
Although this morning was not an ordinary morning, Zhao Zongji got up very early, and it was still dark, so he rushed to Yujin Garden in a sedan chair. Not only him, but also several other clan members came from all over the capital... They all
He was a leader in the clan school. As soon as the lessons in the school were over, the clan disciples with average grades were sent to Zongzheng Temple as errands, and a few of them were lucky enough to observe the government in front of the emperor.
Although this was a last resort move by the officials under the pressure of the ministers... Of course, the ministers only wanted an eldest son to observe the government, but that would acquiesce in that person's identity as heir, which Zhao Zhen could not agree to.
. So Zhao Zhen started playing dirty tricks. Don’t you want someone to watch the government in front of you, but you don’t dare to say who it is? Well, I will let the five eldest sons come to watch the government together. Choose the best among the best?
Who can say no?
In fact, everyone knows that this is the official delaying time, and he still has not given up his hope of having a baby.
But the several selected clans cherish this opportunity. They really hope that a huge prize will be awarded and fall on their heads... If the official family still has to choose one person from the clan to succeed, it will definitely be one of the five of them.
One of the people!
Zhao Zongji arrived at Yujin Garden, revealed his identity, and went straight into the forbidden area. At this time, the sky was just clearing, and the palace lanterns had just been extinguished in the long verandah. It was dark everywhere, and he didn't pay attention. He actually bumped into a eunuch.
"Ouch..." The eunuch seemed to be as timid as a mouse, and he screamed in fright. But he was very bold, bumped into a golden branch, and did not apologize to him, so he hurried away without even raising his head.
"What a rough sound..." Zhao Zongji stopped and rubbed the painful shoulder. He suddenly remembered something and said to Zhang Cong, the young eunuch who was accompanying him: "Follow me and see where you are going to the funeral?"
"Here." Zhang Cong followed him quickly.
Shaking his head, Zhao Zongji went to the Yuning Palace where the official family was located. When he arrived at the duty room in the front hall, he realized that he was the last one.
In the duty room at this time, there were four young men in purple robes sitting or standing. Seeing Zhao Zongji come in, they all smiled and nodded to him. There was no noise in the hall, and no one said goodbye, so Zhao Zongji sat in the corner.
Down.
Next to him sat a handsome young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was the great-grandson of Taizu, General Youwei, the defense envoy of Qizhou, and the Duke of Anguo. Zhao Conggu had always been on good terms with Zhao Zongji in school. The two of them had always been good friends. The person sitting on the right side of the duty room seems to be distinct from the three people on the left.
On the left side, sit Zhao Zongshi and his brother Zhao Zongyou, as well as their uncles and brothers, the defense envoy of Yizhou and the Duke of Guo, Zhao Zonge. Needless to say, Zhao Zongshi and Zhao Zongyou, Zhao Zonge has always been with the two brothers. .
In fact, Zhao Conggu always lived alone in the past, but after Zhao Zongji came back from his mission, he no longer cared about the attitude of the group and firmly sat on his side.
After Zhao Zongji sat down, Zhao Zonge looked at him and said in a strange tone: "Second brother, I haven't congratulated you on your triumphant return and your fame all over the world."
"Seventh brother is joking," Zhao Zongji said with a faint smile: "In the end, if you don't let others take advantage, what kind of victory is that?"
"You can't say that," Zhao Zongyou laughed and said, "When the rich prime minister went on an envoy, he even increased the coin by two hundred thousand taels, but now you can do it without adding a penny. This is a great achievement. The officials recognize it and the people I agree."
"Yes, second brother." Zhao Zongshi smiled and said, "Just now we were discussing how to serve you a drink to celebrate."
"How dare you waste your brother's money?" Zhao Zongji is no longer what he used to be. He had been in intrigues with the officials of the Liao Kingdom. He immediately heard the trap in this and shook his head decisively: "Besides, the situation was different twice. At the time, the west side In the midst of a war to overthrow the country, the imperial court had to spend money to buy tranquility. This time, the Liao people just made a verbal attack, and there was no real threat. How can they be the same?" After a pause, he said solemnly: "So this wine , it is absolutely unacceptable to eat it.”
"Too modest..." Seeing that he didn't fall for the trick, Zhao Zonge, who was deliberately trying to seduce him, said in dismay.
"It seems that the second brother has become a famous person now and has no time to eat our meal." Zhao Zongyou said with a smile: "Second brother, I heard that when you come back, a lot of people who are interested in you will come to join you. You have to bring it with you. You know people with your eyes, don’t go to and fro with everyone and ruin the dignity of our royal family.”
Zhao Zongji sneered in his heart: "You have been in the market for several years, and I have only been busy for a few days, and I can't sit still?" In the more than ten days since he came back, there has been an endless stream of guests in the house, and many scholars and officials have come to pay him a visit. Many people came here to express their respect for this virtuous prince who worked hard for the country and fulfilled his mission, and many wanted to join his family and become his disciples.
Originally, people like Zhao Zongshi were very envious and jealous of his ability to successfully complete the task. Seeing that he now has both fame and wealth, they finally couldn't help but want to beat him up.
It's a pity that Zhao Zongji had a slap on the table with the Emperor of Liao! How could he take this little quarrel to heart? He just smiled lightly and said: "Brothers, don't worry, I never associate with ruffians." This was an insinuation of Zhao Zongshi. His younger brother, his relationship with Wuyoudong.
"There's something wrong with your words..." Zhao Zong'e looked ugly, as if he was scolding his brother.
"Haha, okay, okay, no matter what," Zhao Zongshi has been practicing in the past few years, and he is no longer what he used to be. He speaks calmly, elegantly and noble, making people feel like spring breeze: "Second brother, it's all hard work, brother We should pick up the wind for you, that’s it.”
Zhao Zongji couldn't stand it. He thought he was the boss, but he couldn't hit the smiling man, so he could only accept it.
"This trip is to the barbaric land of Liao Kingdom. Second brother, if you don't eat well and have fun, are you feeling exhausted?" Zhao Zongyou said with a smile.
"I asked Brother Jiu to guess. Youdao is a small world of theater and a big stage of the world. Going out is better than ten years of reading." Zhao Zongji said with a faint smile.
Several people were chatting together, looking at the hourglass on the table from time to time. When they saw that it was almost a quarter of an hour, they got up together, straightened their clothes, and walked to the main hall.
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In front of the main hall, several prime ministers also arrived. The five royal family members were lined up on the right side, and the prime ministers were on the left. The royal family members bowed to the prime ministers first, and then the prime ministers returned the courtesy.
At this time, eunuch Xuan Jin and two groups of people walked lightly into the hall.
In the imperial hall, Zhao Zhen was wearing a scarlet robe and a straight-legged robe. He seemed to be in a good mood. He did not sit on the Xumi Seat, but sat on a simple official hat chair with a single armrest. Behind him were There is a long case covered with yellow silk, which is piled with memorials, documents, eight lines of blank paper, and pens and inkstones. There are several tumblers on the left and right in front of him.
After the ministers saluted, the officials sat down and the princes thanked them for sitting down. As for Zhao Zongshi and others, they could only stand aside and listen.
Zhao Zhen said nothing, just looked at Fu Bi.
Fu Bi naturally knew the emperor's habits very well, so he cleared his throat and said: "Let's discuss the matter." The palace door closed silently.
Fu Bi looked at the ministers around him and said in a deep voice: "Today, the governors of the three provinces and the Minister of War have arrived to discuss the disarmament plan. There are less than ten days left before the deadline, and there is some progress today! "
Mr. Fu's voice was full of determination. He had made too many preparations for this, even sacrificing his reputation in exchange for a piece of paper and a letter from the Song and Liao Dynasties. He also broke the precept of not participating in political struggles and intervened in the appointment of envoys. , so that they can maintain a relative majority. They have personally held countless talks with various parties to exchange for the support of those people... Everything is for today's showdown.
Mr. Han sat opposite him, still smiling and serious, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
"The Xifu did not agree with the previous strategies." Fu Bi took a deep breath and said slowly: "As a last resort, Zhongshu Sheng had to start over. It was delivered to the Xifu yesterday. I wonder if the Prime Minister has seen it?"
"I've seen it." Han Qi nodded and said, "I just don't know, what does it mean to reduce the quota without reducing the number of troops?"
"The Prime Minister asked the question knowingly." Bao Zheng said solemnly: "There is always a gap between the establishment of the army and the actual number of soldiers, ranging from 30% to 10%, which is called 'empty quota'."
"Really?" Han Qi said lightly: "I wonder where this number came from?"
"Everyone knows this." Bao Zheng snorted.
"Anyway, I haven't heard of it." Han Qi shook his head, cupped his fists towards Zhao Zhen and said, "But Wei Chen will investigate strictly when he returns."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said nothing.
"We need to investigate carefully." Bao Zheng said solemnly: "Some officers have become extremely rich on empty pay. I heard that the sky-high price of land in Thirteen Lines Shop was taken away by Jiangmen Xungui's family. .If they relied on the salary from the imperial court, they wouldn’t be able to afford it in a hundred years!”