Faced with the official's question, Han Wei did not answer immediately: "Your Majesty, please first meet Sima Guang, the direct bachelor of Longtuge, before speaking."
The official didn't know what Han Wei was trying to do and asked: "Mr. Han, why do you want me to see Sima Guang first?"
Han Wei said: "Your Majesty, if you use one person for each task, it is best if you follow what Mr. Wang said."
The official thought that Sima Guang was recommended by Wang Tao. Maybe Mr. Han meant that I should respect Mr. Wang.
Officials have also heard of Sima Guang's first name. In the original Pu discussion, Emperor Daxing and several ministers failed to defeat Sima Guang. Now, although he is sent to a bookstore to compile general records, his treatment is not bad at all.
The bookstore uses royal pens, ink and silk silk for writing, and the meals are the same as the royal ones. There are dozens of eunuchs to serve them. Every person who compiles books can receive a salary from the royal family. This kind of treatment can be enjoyed by book editors throughout the ages.
No.
All this was because Sima Guang was kind to his father and son.
The official wanted to confer Sima Guang a Hanlin bachelor degree first, but Sima Guang refused, saying that the post of a Hanlin bachelor degree was more important than his original responsibilities of Zhizhigao, and I could not take up the post.
Sima Guang declined several times, and finally the officials ordered the eunuch to put the imperial edict into Sima Guang's hands.
Sima Guang had no choice but to go to the palace to return the edict.
The officials were looking forward to their meeting with Sima Guang. The man's loyalty and knowledge could be regarded as a model for Confucian ministers. His reputation was more important than a moment, and he was also the benefactor who helped them ascend to the throne.
Sima Guang still wanted to resign after meeting with the officials.
The official said to Sima Guang: "The gentlemen of ancient times were either learned but not literary, or were literary but not learned. However, Dong Jiangdu and Yang Ziyun were both. Nowadays, if you love your ministers, you have both Dong and Yang. You cannot reject them."
Sima Guang said: "However, I am not interested in four or six articles."
The official laughed and said, "You are the sixth person to be a Jinshi. Why can't you be the fourth or sixth scholar?"
Sima Guang said: "This is indeed not what I am good at. It is definitely not what a foolish minister can do. Please, Your Majesty, please cover up the shortcomings of me and the strengths of all the ministers."
The officials had high hopes for Sima Guangzheng, but they were not willing to agree.
The official then said: "I have just ascended the throne and I have to visit all the important ministers. Sima Qing's family is very good at cultivating their moral character and governing the country. I don't know what you want to teach me?"
Sima Guang thought for a while and said: "I believe that the governance of the country depends entirely on the ruler, and self-cultivation is the foundation of governing the country."
"I believe that there are three essentials for self-cultivation, benevolence, Ming, and martial arts. There are three essentials for governing a country: officials, trust, rewards, and punishments. When I was an admonisher in the past, I dedicated these six words to Emperor Renzong, and later to the late emperor. Now I dedicate them to him.
To His Majesty."
Then Sima Guang said how to be benevolent, Ming and Wu...
After finishing this long speech, the official was filled with joy and said: "How can I compare with Emperor Renzong and the late emperor? I can only apply my knowledge diligently and diligently. To be honest, I became this emperor with great trepidation..."
Speaking of this, the official said: "Nowadays, the country's annual revenue is not insufficient. In fact, it is several times that of the Tang Dynasty. However, the taxes on the people are already too high and there is no way to levy more. However, redundant soldiers, redundant officials, and redundant expenses are still there today.
, I listened to Mr. Wang (Wang Tao) and wanted to reduce expenses. Mr. Wang recommended the Sima Qing family."
"I would like to ask your family to set up a bureau to look into the details of the state-use reduction system. Take the number of the second year of Qingli and compare it with the differences in today's expenditures and analyze them."
Sima Guang said: "Your Majesty's move is indeed a great kindness. The current shortage of state resources lies in excessive extravagant spending, unscrupulous rewards, too many clans, redundant official positions, and poor military skills. These are the three redundancies mentioned by Your Majesty."
The officials were overjoyed after hearing this and thought Sima Guang had agreed.
But Sima Guang then said: "But your Majesty can discuss this matter with the ministers of the two governments and the officials of the third department. It cannot be reduced by foolish ministers overnight. Please choose another talented person."
Sima Guang's words were like pouring a chill into the hearts of the officials.
Don’t you agree with this matter, but why are you unwilling to do it?
The officials wanted to persuade me again, but Sima Guang said: "I am too old and too old to be used. I would like to ask your Majesty to let me continue to edit books in the bookstore."
There was a desolation in Sima Guang's words. The officials carefully looked at him and saw that he was only forty years old, but his beard and hair were all white at this time.
Sima Guang now doesn't even want this Hanlin bachelor.
After Sima Guang left... the official family was full of depression.
At this moment, Sima Guang came out of the palace and saw Wang Tao, the herdsman.
Wang Tao was originally going to be the Censor Zhongcheng, but some officials stood up and opposed it, so he was appointed Qun Mu Envoy instead.
Wang Tao saw Sima Guang and asked, "Your Majesty, can you use your Majesty as your Majesty?"
Sima Guang said: "I am ashamed to recommend Brother Le Dao, I have resigned."
Wang Tao was surprised and said: "Why is Junshi unwilling to cut redundant expenses?"
Sima Guang said: "Your Majesty is really too eager to seek governance... Self-cultivation is the foundation of governing the country. If self-cultivation is not specific, how can we talk about governing the country? Besides, it is not appropriate for me to talk about cutting redundant expenses."
"Then you have actually argued this matter with Your Majesty?"
Sima Guang said: "I have always done my best and stopped when I can't. Since the officials are not interested in self-cultivation, no matter how much I say about governing the country, it will be useless."
Sima Guang also has a concern in his heart. If he cuts the expenses in various aspects, he will encounter great resistance.
Fan Zhongyan couldn't continue it after a year, and he was afraid that he was not qualified for it.
Wang Tao said: "I'll go talk to you about the official affairs."
Wang Tao went straight into the palace, where officials were discussing matters with Han Wei. When he saw it, Wang Tao asked aggressively: "Your Majesty, the supervisory censor Liu Xiang impeached the ruling Ouyang Xiu for wearing a purple robe. This is a crime of great disrespect. Why not take it seriously?
Discuss it?"
The official explained: "Mr. Wang, I heard that after Ouyang entered the palace, he suddenly heard that Emperor Daxing had returned. He didn't have time to change his clothes, so he had to dress again. This was not intentional."
Wang Taodao said: "This is Ouyang Xiu's sophistry. Your Majesty, Ouyang Xiu has offended many people during Pu's discussion before, so now it is time to stop it. If this person goes away, it will be like cutting off Han Qi's arm. Please give your Majesty a clear warning."
The official looked embarrassed when he heard this, and looked at Han Wei again.
Han Wei kept urging him to respect the ruling ministers, but Wang Tao asked him to suppress the ruling ministers. Who should he listen to?
The official felt like a puppet on strings, being pulled left and right by Wang Tao and Han Wei, without any idea of his own.
Wang Tao asked again: "Then why does your Majesty refuse to use Sima Guang?"
The officials thought that Sima Guang was clearly out of the question, so Wang Tao said: "Your Majesty should treat such a minister with the utmost sincerity, so that he will be willing to do his best."
The official's gentle words appeased Wang Tao and then said: "The imperial court's expenses are tight, and Sima Guang is unwilling to cut expenses. I plan to find ways to increase the income and manage the finances. Do you two gentlemen have any suitable ministers to recommend?"
Wang Tao sat aside angrily and said nothing.
Han Wei said: "I recommend two people to your Majesty. They are Wang Anshi, who is currently living in Jiangning, and Taichang Cheng Zhangyue, who was dismissed from office in the second year of Zhiping."
After speaking, Han Wei presented a book to the official and said: "This was written by Zhang Taichang after he resigned from office. After I and my brother read it, I thought it could be presented to your Majesty..."
The official was overjoyed and took the book.
But Wang Tao suddenly said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yue is not available."
The official asked in confusion: "Zhang Yue was appointed by Emperor Renzong to be the head of state and the imperial edict. Why can't he use it?"
Wang Tao said loudly: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yue got the title because of Ouyang Xiu, and he got the imperial title because of Han Qi. This person is affiliated with Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu. Flatterers cannot use him!"
