After Sima Guang finished speaking, most of the officials agreed.
The Confucian idea is to have a close relationship.
If the emperor cancels the preferential treatment for the clan, how can the scholar-bureaucrats legitimately take care of their relatives?
When Zhang Yue dared to let his brother go to the reference office, he was so confident.
Therefore, for officials, if you suggest that the emperor cancel the preferential treatment for the clan today, someone will accuse you of nepotism tomorrow.
Therefore, Sima Guang once again stood for political correctness on behalf of officials.
But what to do about the country’s chronic abuses?
At this time, Wu Kui, who was the deputy envoy to the Privy Council, said: "In our ancestors' time, all the clan members were close relatives of the official family. However, in the beginning, the awards were limited to those directly in the palace, serving the ban, and serving the officials. But now the rewards are too much. The imperial court must have endless plans for the descendants, and there should be some Damage caused by cutting.”
Wu Kui also spoke politely and politely.
Originally, all members of the clan were close relatives of Taizu and Emperor Taizong, and their official positions were limited to conferring direct positions in the palace, serving as ministers, and serving as officials. But now these people are three or four generations away from the official family, and each of them is a military envoy. The rewards for the positions of Observer and Team Training Envoy are thicker than before.
If the clan continues to multiply, where will the imperial court have so much money?
So cuts are necessary.
Obviously Wu Kui's statement is closer to the thoughts of the officials.
This echoes the idea of carrying out reforms after the officials take over the government...
But Sima Guang said: "Your Majesty, there is nothing better than filial piety in governing one's life. Ministers listen to the king on state affairs, and family affairs listen to relatives. The clan is your majesty's family affairs. No matter how big or small you choose to give rewards, it is better to report them to the queen mother before proceeding. Your majesty Don’t have any specialties with the Central Palace.”
Sima Guang said this to refute Wu Kui's words and oppose the idea of eliminating the clan's long-standing abuses.
When the officials saw Sima Guang's objection, they also withdrew the idea of reforming the clan, and instead said: "Exactly, I came to the throne thanks to the advice of the Queen Mother, Han Xianggong, Fu Xianggong and others. Now that I am personally in charge, I should do something about the several xianggongs again." It is my intention to award you a reward, and I cannot deny it to you."
Fu Bi came out and said: "At the time of Jiayou, I had discussed the matter of recommending a reserve. Although Renzong accepted his invitation, he did not see the image. Ande and Han Xianggong later proved to be effective..."
When Han Qi heard this, he couldn't help but glance at Fu Bi.
"... I chose your Majesty as his heir without any premeditation, and it was all based on the Empress Dowager's secret edict. At that time, Renzong was choosing an heir who was close to him, and there were many people who were the same as Your Majesty, so the Empress Dowager singled out His Majesty as his heir among many. "His Majesty was suffering from depression and illness when he ascended the throne. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager closed the curtain and His Majesty recovered and returned the throne to His Majesty..."
"...I would like your Majesty to offer sacrifices to Renzong in a respectful and courteous manner, to serve the Empress Dowager, and to be extremely honest..."
Today, the official wanted to use the Xixia invasion of the northwest to talk about the reform of the clan and the threat of invasion from foreign enemies to get the courtiers to accept his reform ideas, but Fu Bi and Sima Guang overpowered him.
Fu Bi means to put it more bluntly, you are not the biological son of Emperor Renzong, you are from a small sect who joined a large sect, and you reformed the clan as soon as you ascended the throne. Do you have the qualifications?
The royal family affairs must be left to the Queen Mother. At the same time, you must fulfill your filial piety and be respectful to the Queen Mother in everything.
After listening to Fu Bi and Sima Guang's words, the officials felt that they were very boring.
Han Qi informed him of the current crisis that the country was in, and he was fully aware of it. As an official of the Song Dynasty, he also wanted to solve this problem.
But what Fu Bi and Sima Guang mean is that this world belongs to Emperor Renzong after all. He is just holding the throne, so where does he have any power? His task as emperor is to be obedient and repay the Empress Dowager's great kindness. Don't
I want to change my ancestral family law.
The officials immediately stopped talking, feeling unable to extend their efforts, so the court discussion returned to the affairs of Xixia. The opinions of Han Qi and others were naturally suppressed by the opinions of the prudent and conservative Fu Bi and Sima Guang.
While guarding the border of Shaanxi, Wang Wuji, the deputy envoy of Wensi, was sent to Xixia in the name of questioning the Xixia leader, but in fact it was to conduct negotiations.
Hu Su added: "In the three dynasties, Han and Tang Dynasties, all civilians served as soldiers. Although there were many of them, their support was very small. In order to eliminate the harm of redundant soldiers in modern times, I think we can choose one from Sanding, Shaanxi, who will be twenty-five years old."
With fifty talents and bravery, he will not stab the face but only the back of the hand. In this way, more than one hundred thousand troops can be gathered, and he can be mobilized for defense when encountering the enemy."
Han Qi greatly agreed upon hearing this.
Officials also agreed: "This is indeed the method of the Han and Tang Dynasties!"
However, the opinions of Han Qi and the officials were once again opposed by Sima Guang: "I think this is inappropriate. Privy Hu said that one of the three people should choose one. I don't know that among the people of Shaanxi, one of the three has already joined the Baojie Army. Why?
Let’s recruit volunteers and bravery from the people. Besides, since the Western Revolution, the people’s strength in Shaanxi has been depleted, and they have suffered many disasters in recent years.”
"Once they are recruited into the army, the government will recruit strong men from the people to serve as soldiers. Don't you hear about Du Fu's stone trench officials? From this, we know that the government soldiers are actually a corrupt move, which is harmful to the state and does not benefit the people at all."
Han Qi heard this and said to Sima Guang: "Soldiers are valued first and then solid. Now I forgive Zuo for being unruly. Wouldn't you be afraid when you hear that Shaanxi has added 200,000 troops?"
Sima Guang said: "The soldiers use advance warning, but it is not real. How can these two hundred thousand soldiers get into the formation? Will the Westerners be afraid after hearing this?"
Han Qi held back his anger and said: "You are worried that the people of Shaanxi will stab their faces and hands and march into the army. I promise you will never guard the border and march into the army."
Sima Guang said: "Although there are words from Mr. Xiang Gong, Guang is still doubtful."
Han Qi said: "How can Junshi not believe it in front of officials?"
Sima Guang said: "It's not that I don't believe it, but that my husband cannot be confident."
Han Qi said angrily: "Why do you underestimate me again and again?"
Sima Guang said leisurely: "If my husband has been in this position for a long time, Guang will certainly trust him. Once my husband leaves the position, someone else will take his place. He will be sent to the army to guard the border."
Han Qi and Sima Guang argued for a while, which made them lose all face, and finally fell silent.
In the end, the imperial court punished the two Song Dynasty escorts who were rude to the Xixia envoys. As for Zhang Yue, he did not say how to deal with it. However, Han Qi, Fu Bi, and Sima Guang all bypassed this issue in a tacit understanding and did not discuss it.
.
Afterwards, everyone dispersed, and Han Qi went inside to play the duel. The official took Han Qi's sleeve and said, "My lord, you have seen that even though I am the emperor, I cannot do anything that pleases me. I should not be so serious about it."
Whoever the Queen Mother likes can be appointed as the emperor."
Han Qi was also very angry. Fu Bi and Sima Guang opposed him in everything.
But he said to the officials: "Your Majesty, don't be discouraged. When your Majesty came to the throne, your power was not yet solid, your holiness was not demonstrated, and the ministers had some doubts. As long as your Majesty has been in power for a long time and allowed loyal ministers to serve as important officials, this will not happen."
It’s gradually becoming possible.”
"Now we must recruit government soldiers. This is the only way to resist the Xixia people when the national treasury is empty. At the same time, we are also negotiating with the Xia people. We can secretly give him more benefits."
The official said: "Yes, Han Qing, it is true that the envoys were not at fault for what happened in Xixia, but I can only punish them against their will, otherwise I will not be able to explain to the leader of Xixia."
Han Qi was silent for a moment and then said: "That's fine, it's just a matter of punishment, which really chilled the morale of the soldiers. Those two envoys who insulted the Xia people should be dismissed from their official positions! As for Zhang Du, it must be the one appointed by the late emperor.
Your Majesty, whether you want to punish me or not depends on your Majesty’s decision.”
The official said: "My lord, you just said that I have just ascended the throne, I have not yet established my power, and I have no loyal ministers around me. This chapter was praised by the late emperor many times, and I also appreciate his talents. But before, I asked Ren Shouzhong to ask him
I asked for 20,000 yuan, but he refused to give it. Do you think he can use it or not?"
