This morning Wang Anshi and his son-in-law Cai Bian were looking at the scenery beside Xuanwu Lake.
At this time, there was a drought and water shortages. Most of the lotus fields in the lake were withered, and the surrounding areas were mostly yellow muddy fields.
Wang Yu fell seriously ill while in Bianjing. After returning to Jiangning, although he was nursed back to health by famous doctors, he died of the illness after more than a month without support.
His son-in-law Cai Bian, who had been promoted to the position of supervisory censor, had always been with Wang Anshi. Facing the invitation from the imperial court, Cai Bian declined the invitation and asked to stay with his father-in-law.
After Wang Yu died of illness, his second son Wang Pang also suffered from hysteria and abused his wife Xiao. When Wang Anshi saw this, he made up his mind to let his daughter-in-law Xiao remarry someone else.
People in Bianjing heard this and said, "Wang Taizhu married his wife during his lifetime, but Hou Gongbu divorced her after his death."
The previous sentence talks about Wang Anshi divorcing his wife for his second son Wang Pang and letting his daughter-in-law marry another.
In the last sentence, Hou Gongbu refers to Hou Shuxian, a student of Wang Anshi.
Before Zhang Yue promulgated the governorship of Hebei Province, he heard a joke in front of the emperor about "Hou Shuxian went to control the floods in the underworld after his death", and it was this person who was mentioned.
This man worked hard to manage the Bianhe River and could be said to be a member of the new party. Unfortunately, he died of illness due to overwork. After Hou Shuxian's death, he married his second wife, the Wei family, who was not a good woman. She not only abused the son of his first wife, but also blatantly committed adultery.
Wang Anshi was very angry when he learned about this. He immediately decided to divorce the Wei family for the deceased student and took good care of the children born to his ex-wife.
These are two things Wang Anshi did.
Many people have changed their views on Wang Anshi and think that although he is stubborn, he is also very reasonable.
But there is no point in mentioning it now. Wang Anshi has left the prime minister at home for the second time.
Wang Anshi is now staying in Jiangning and has been staying at home. When the emperor asked him to sentence Jiangning Mansion, he still refused. Although some old friends came to visit him, Wang Anshi remained silent and did not mention anything about the affairs of the court.
Only Cai Bian stayed with him all the time, telling Wang Anshi the latest situation in the court that he knew.
"Half a month ago, Shen Cunzhong spoke of reforming the military service law, and Cai Zhizheng impeached him for his turbulent times, with the intention of being the prime minister. It is known that what he meant was Han Zihua, Zhang Duzhi..."
Wang Anshi nodded slowly when he heard this. He also knew Shen Kuo was a good person. As for Han Jiang, Zhang Yue did not want to change the draft law into a draft exemption law in one or two days.
Wang Anshi's face looked a little ugly when he heard this.
Cai Bian guessed that Wang Anshi was very dissatisfied with Han Jiang and Zhang Yue's eagerness to change the military service.
"Some people say that this is Sima Zhao's intention and everyone knows it." After Deng Wan learned about this, he sent someone to deliver an urgent letter.
However, Cai Bian concealed Deng Wan's name and continued: "But later Shen Cunzhong went to the palace to defend the matter. He reported the matter to Han Zihua, but not to Zhang Duzhi. Han Zihua came to the palace and requested that the service law be changed."
"After retiring from the court, Xi Zhangduzhi discussed it with the officials again, and the officials asked Cai Que to discuss the renewal of the law with Sinong Temple and Zhongshu."
After Cai Bian explained the whole story, Wang Anshi said: "Now that I have thanked the government and will not say a word about the government, what Han Zihua and Zhang Duzhi want to do is their business and I have no control over it."
A gentleman is cautious in his independence, just as he is before others and behind others.
After Wang Anshi said he was prime minister, he did not comment on the affairs of the government. Even his son-in-law, who was as close as a son, did not say a word.
Wang Anshi continued to look at Xuanwu Lake, which was listless due to dry water. Cai Bian followed Wang Anshi's gaze towards Xuanwu Lake. This Xuanwu Lake was originally a scenic spot in the southeast, but now due to drought and siltation, not only the scenery is not as good as before, but the area is also much smaller.
Cai Bian said: "This Xuanwu Lake was a place for royals to visit during the Six Dynasties. During the Liu and Song Dynasties, someone saw two 'black dragons' on the lake and named it after them. They didn't expect it to become like this."
Wang Anshi said to Cai Bian: "Yuandu, this Xuanwu Lake has been silted up for a long time. If we dig out the silt and dredge this lake, I don't know how much people and material resources will be spent. Instead of doing this, it is better to fill up this Xuanwu Lake. I think at least a hundred can be opened."
An acre of land can be used to facilitate people’s livelihood and kill two birds with one stone.”
Cai Bian was surprised. The scenery of Xuanwu Lake was so good that Feng Mi, a minister of the Southern Tang Dynasty, was so fond of the lake's "famous scenery and picturesque scenery" that he asked the emperor to donate the lake to him as a private garden.
If the lake is turned into farmland in this way, wouldn’t it mean that the world is missing a scenic spot?
But Cai Bian then thought about it and said: "What Lao Taishan said is absolutely true. This Xuanwu Lake is just beautiful for those dignitaries to enjoy. If the lake is turned into fields, how much food can be harvested and how many people can live."
Wang Anshi nodded and said: "Yes, breaking mergers and benefiting the people is the foundation of my study."
"What's more, in my opinion, the green scenery of the fields is no less than the misty clouds and vast water. What's more important is to give the people a livelihood."
"Exactly. It looks better than it tastes."
Wang Anshi said with a smile: "If I go to Shuguan's house to handle this matter, I don't know how many literati and poets will scold me for destroying such a scenic spot for a mere hundred acres of land."
Weng and son-in-law took a walk around Xuanwu Lake. Wang Anshi said to Cai Bian: "I heard that the imperial court has appointed you as a minister."
Cai Bian was surprised and said: "Old Taishan already knows."
Wang Anshi said: "Although I don't leave the house these days, I am not blind to what is happening outside the window."
"Zhang Duzhi wrote twice, asking me when will you leave for Beijing?"
Cai Bian was surprised when he heard this.
Wang Anshi said: "Even if you are a minister, you can see the officials all the time and you can talk to them."
"You go to Beijing, I am envoy in Jiangning."
Cai Bian repeatedly begged to stay.
Others saw that it was the position of minister, so they had already rushed to it. Cai Bian was a Jinshi in the third year of Xining. He was promoted from selecting people to supervising censor in one go, and now he is also serving as minister.
However, Cai Bian remained unmoved and kept thinking about Wang Anshi.
Seeing this, Wang Anshi criticized: "If you advance before you can, the officials will doubt your intentions; if you don't advance, if things are slow, it will be too late, and the emperor will be resentful of you."
Cai Bian suddenly understood and agreed immediately.
Cai Bian asked: "What message does Lao Taishan want my son-in-law to bring to the official family?"
Wang Anshi thought for a while and said: "I didn't bring it to the officials, but I told you."
"People in both the government and the public today say that I, Wang Anshi, have exhausted all his work and knowledge, but they don't know why. However, all of my physical and functional methods are recorded in the new meanings of the Three Classics."
"As your minister, Tian is going to tell His Majesty the New Meanings of the Three Classics. Every sentence and every word of this scripture has been corrected by me, and I have devoted my whole life to it."
"Yes. My son-in-law will definitely do it!"
After Wang Anshi finished speaking, he looked at the Xuanwu Lake in front of him and stretched out his hand: "You said that if you want to control this lake, should you move mountains and fill the sea? Or should you channel the water? The merits and demerits of this will be left to future generations to comment."
Cai Bian said: "Old Taishan, no matter what he is, he is totally dedicated to the people, isn't he?"
The lake breeze blew through Wang Anshi's white hair, and he nodded slowly and said, "Yes."
…
Cai Bianhuai set out overnight and took a boat to Beijing with more than ten volumes of "New Meanings of the Three Classics" in his arms.
During the boat ride, he sometimes thought of Lao Taishan sitting by Xuanwu Lake, and felt very sad in his heart. At the same time, he also felt the joy of having achieved great success and the longing for an official career.
He was overjoyed to be granted the title of Supervisor and Censor before, and now he is also serving as a lecturer, which is a blessing from heaven.
After entering Beijing, Cai Bian was directly received by officials.
The officials were very happy to see Cai Bian and repeatedly asked Wang Anshi about his current health and whether he had any intention of serving as Zhennan Jiedushi.
Cai Bian said that Wang Anshi did not want to be the military envoy, but only wanted to be the imperial envoy of the First Palace. The officials were very sorry to hear this, but they still asked Wang Anshi to accept the post, and then encouraged Cai Bian and asked him to do his best.
Cai Bian was happy and touched at the same time. He just wanted to think about how to repay the kindness of the king.
After Cai Bian left the palace, he went to see Zhang's family.
Cai Bian arrived at Zhang's house. Zhang Yue had just finished bathing and came to see Cai Bian almost holding his hair.
Cai Bian was naturally happy to see Zhang Yue receiving him in this way, but at the same time, he unconsciously compared Zhang Yue with his father-in-law.
Zhang Yue was only thirty-two years old, and he was in the prime of life. Everyone knew that he was full of energy. When Cai Bian was in Xihe, he saw him presiding over the battle and stayed awake for three days and three nights.
He is in the center handling official affairs and can cut through more than a hundred files a day.
He has an extraordinary memory and can remember any text after reading it. It can be called a photographic memory.
The so-called black-haired prime minister is right. He is a high-ranking official at this age. Although he is capable of doing things, he is not cautious and lacks tact and sophistication.
For example, Su Yijian also worshiped his husband in his thirties, but he was a drunkard and greedy and got into trouble, and was eventually dismissed from participating in politics.
But Zhang Yue is very cautious. He also drinks alcohol on weekdays, but it is rare to hear that he is drunk. Moreover, his food and clothing are simple. He works hard and treats his subordinates with leniency. Officials once praised him for being as cautious and meticulous as 'Tao Kan'
.
Now he is discussing the "service law" with Cai Que.
The two sat down to chat, and Zhang Yue asked: "How is your health after Pu She Xie Zheng?"
Cai Bian said: "Mr. Lao is worried about me. Pushe is not in good health. He has been recuperating at home and does not care about worldly affairs. Mr. Zhang wrote a letter and did not have time to answer it."
Zhang Yue said: "It doesn't matter, Pu She will have a good life in Jiangning. Do you have any new poems from Pu She? I might as well read a few of them."
Cai Bian thought for a while and then said a poem: "The rain and the wind blow in the spring, and the mountains are red and green.
Who is following me in my clothes and clothes in the distant fields? I am scattering my clothes and I suddenly see you in the sky.
Blue eyes sit and drink New Year's wine, and old heads recite juvenile literature.
Because I lamented that my experience in the world was of no use, I have been hearing about it for a long time."
After listening to this, Zhang Yue asked Wang Anshi a few more poems. As the saying goes, listening to poems can tell one's will. It seemed that Wang Anshi really wanted to retire to Zhongshan and not care about worldly affairs, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Zhang Yue, who is familiar with history, knew that Wang Anshi would not come out after resigning this time, things are unpredictable, and there is no certainty that there will be any changes. It is better to confirm with Cai Bian in person.
Otherwise Wang Anshi
Cai Bian saw Zhang Yue's expression of confirming that Wang Anshi was recuperating in Jiangning and not interested in worldly affairs.
Cai Bian couldn't help but feel proud in his heart. Although Jia Yue had retired to the mountains and forests, Zhang Yue, the prime minister of the dynasty, was so afraid.
Cai Bian then asked: "Xiaguan comes in and out of the palace and participates in the sutra banquet as a lecturer. I wonder what topic he should talk about? I hope Xianggong Jun can tell me!"
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "What's the question for Yuandu?"
Cai Biandao: "After the Han Dynasty, the Six Dynasties and the Tang Dynasty were all good at literary expressions, not Confucianism. In this dynasty, only the Three Classics had new meanings, supported the law, and entered Confucianism. The elimination of the new and the old has been a practice since ancient times. This book has the meaning of forging the Three Dynasties. I am willing to be in front of the emperor.
Let’s talk about it in detail in front of you!”
After Cai Bian finished speaking, he looked at Zhang Yue's expression.
Zhang Yue heard this and said without hesitation: "The new meaning of the Three Classics is the result of Pu She's hard work. I said at the beginning that I would inherit the new law, so of course I want Yuan Du to continue to speak of the new meaning of the Three Classics in front of the emperor."
Cai Bian was a little surprised and almost asked Zhang Yue on the spot, is this true?
