With his thoughts on his mind, Xiao Tang and Han Cunbao came to a reserved room on the second floor of the Eight Immortals Building. After an hour and a half, several elders of the Han family also arrived. Xiao Tang stood up hurriedly and greeted him one by one.
For example, Han Duanyan, Han Jiayan and others were all mature and prudent. When they saw Xiao Tang, they all smiled and greeted Xiao Tang. After saying a few words of greetings, they took their seats.
Han Duanyan, the second younger brother of Wen Dinggong Han Zhongyan, was the leader of the Han family. He smiled and said to Xiao Tang: "Haha, today I invited all of you, Supervisor Xiao, to a banquet, but you came late. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Xiao Tang hurriedly bowed and replied: "Doctor Han said humbly, I will be a junior, so how can I ask the elders to wait for me? I will be grateful to you for hosting a banquet today."
Several members of the Han family looked at each other and nodded secretly. They have had a very good impression of Xiao Tang since they were in Anyang. Not only did Xiao Tang save the lives of the entire Han family from Zhang Xiong, but Superintendent Xiao did not seek reward for his credit.
He treated them with courtesy and courtesy, neither humble nor overbearing. Based on this, Han Duanyan and others were willing to help Xiao Tang in the court.
At this time, I heard Han Cuiyan say to Xiao Tang: "Prisoner Xiao, it is a great opportunity for you to enter the palace to meet the saint this time. In the future, I will be here in Bianliang City, Tokyo, when the prisoner is highly regarded by the officials.
Maybe you and I can still be ministers in the same palace. If you have any concerns or doubts, feel free to consult with us."
Xiao Tang smiled calmly and said: "Since you all know that the official announcement of my visit is true, you must also know the reason. No matter what, I will do my best to 'do my best for the country'."
It is difficult to say clearly. Song Huizong Zhao Ji summoned Xiao Tang, which was not a major personnel change in the court. Han Duanyan and others also saw that Xiao Tang had moved his music studio in Daming Mansion here before he left for the capital.
Of course, they all understood that it was just because the frivolous emperor was having fun again, and Han Duanyan and others could also understand the meaning from Xiao Tang's words: This boy is not willing to just cater to the officials and rise to power.
At this time, candied dried fruits and seasonal fruits and vegetables had been presented to the banquet by the waiters. Han Duanyan saw that the banquet had not yet started, so he looked at Han Cunbao. Han Cunbao saw it and laughed and said: "Uncles, we are not the only ones here today.
I also invited an important official to come to the banquet, please wait for a while."
Han Duanyan frowned and said to himself that the people sitting with Xiao Tang today are all members of the Han clan. You don't know why Xiao Tang was invited to the banquet. When is it not okay to introduce Supervisor Xiao Tang to others? And invite outsiders to come.
Why didn't you tell me that you knew it?
But after a while, when the person Han Cunbao said entered the wing, the expressions of Han Duanyan and others changed, and they all saluted the person who entered.
Xiao Tang saw Han Duanyan, Han Chunyan, Han Cuiyan and other fourth- and fifth-rank court officials. The elders of the Han family in Xiangzhou had such an attitude towards the person who came, which meant that this person must have a great background. The person also smiled back and said
: "Everyone, please be polite. Zheng is late. Don't blame me."
When the man saw Xiao Tang, he was slightly startled and asked, "I know it's just that the ministers of the Han family invited me to the banquet, but this one is so shy that I don't know how to address him?"
Han Cunbao said to the man: "Privacy Zheng, he is Xiao Tang, the prisoner of Daming Mansion, who rescued my Han family at Zhoujin Hall in Anyang. He will arrive in the capital today, so we are hosting a banquet in honor of him."
Then Han Cunbao winked at Xiao Tang and said to him: "My dear nephew, this is Privy Privy Zheng Dafu Zheng." As soon as Han Cunbao introduced him, the smile on Privy Zheng's face froze, and he looked towards
Xiao Tang's eyes were a little colder.
As soon as Xiao Tang heard that it was him, he understood why the Han family was so respectful to this person. Zheng Juzhong, also known as Dafu, is currently a member of the Privy Council of the second rank. His sister is a noble concubine in the palace. She is not only a relative, but also a relative.
A famous minister of the Song Dynasty, he was the son-in-law of Wang Gui, the Prime Minister of the Three Kingdoms, and a protégé of Han Zhongyan, the Duke of Wen Ding. According to the official history, he later added Shaoshi and was granted the title of Duke of Chong, Su, and Yan. When he passed away, he was granted the posthumous title of Prince of Huayuan County and was given the posthumous title of Wenzheng.
He can also be regarded as a very human minister and a giant figure in the court.
Han Jiedu really appreciates my kindness, but the political consciousness of a veteran in the army... is too low, Xiao Tang secretly sighed in his heart. If we say that Zheng Juzhong is upright and dedicated to eradicating the country,
He was not a treacherous one. First, he attacked Zhang Shangying, Liu Kui and others in order to cater to the emperor's will and fight for power. Then he became an ally with Cai Jing to help him regain his prime ministership, and fought for power with his political enemy Zhao Tingzhi. However, Zheng Juzhong later broke with Cai Jing and withdrew from him.
Hostility and fighting. Everything is for the purpose of seeking one's own power**.
But this Zheng’s political energy and power skills really made Cai Jing, who was very proficient in power fighting, extremely headache. Most of those who once dared to quarrel with Cai Jing in the court ended up in disgrace, died in depression, and later died in mysterious circumstances. This Zheng
In the middle, he could still bring Tong Guan to confront the powerful Prime Minister Cai Jing. Tong Guan openly challenged him. After the Song and Jin Dynasties signed the maritime alliance, he stated one after another: "The Duke alone does not think about the cost of using troops in the Han Dynasty and the Rong Dynasty? It makes Bai Bai
All sentient beings are in trouble, and it is fair and honest." "It is not advisable to take advantage of the disaster, but wait until it kills itself."...
At that time, Cai Jing, Tong Guan and others were at the peak of their power in the court and their arrogance was at its most arrogant. Zheng Juzhong was favored by scholars for a while and became the leading figure in the court against the treacherous Prime Minister Cai Jing. He was indeed the most powerful figure in the court.
An important minister who has the ability to compete with Cai Jing.
It's just that now is not the right time to be friends with Zheng Juzhong. Xiao Tang is working under Liang Shijie, the left-behind prime minister of Daming Mansion, and Liang Shijie is Cai Jing's son-in-law. Regardless of whether Xiao Tang wants it or not, whenever he learns that the official calls him
Ministers who came to Beijing would label Xiao Tang as "Cai Party".
Since Han Zhongyan was admitted to the Yuanyou Party, although the influence of the Han family in Xiangzhou is still deep-rooted in the court, it is difficult for them to make greater progress in politics. Therefore, they have personal friendship with Xiao Tang and it is not a big deal.
. But no matter how harmonious Zheng Juzhong was with the Han family in Xiangzhou, now was the time when he was fighting with Cai Jing. Should he ask him to take care of and promote Xiao Tang? If he didn't take the opportunity to step on him, Cai Jing's influence in Song Huizong was cut off.
If Zhao Ji has another "fool" next to him who wants to be favored by the saint, then he, Xiao Tang, should be thankful to God!
To put it bluntly, in the power game between Cai Jing and Zheng Juzhong, Xiao Tang is just regarded as a chess piece that can be used. It depends on whether Zheng Juzhong wants to kill Xiao Tang, a pawn, before he crosses the river.
Eat.
When Zheng Juzhong calmly entered the table, and when the delicacies were served, he only talked with Han Duanyan and others. Han Cunbao was glared at by Han Chunyan, Han Cuiyan and other clan uncles. Monk Wu Zi Zhanger was confused, Zheng Juzhong
The Privy Council knows everything about the Privy Council, the deployment of soldiers and horses, military and military affairs, and other important military matters. He is responsible for the affairs of the Privy Council. Since nephew Xiao Xian is a general in the army, it is a great good thing to introduce him to get acquainted with Privy Council Zheng. But why is this atmosphere so strange?
tight?
Xiao Tang was left alone, but he was happy to be alone. While he was picking up vegetables and pouring himself a drink, he suddenly heard Zheng Juzhong say leisurely: "Prisoner Xiao, the Holy Father has announced that you will come to Beijing, are you ready?"
Seeing that Zheng Juzhong's eyes were cold and he was looking at him silently. Xiao Tang smiled slightly and said, "Your Excellency, the Privy Councilor, knows that he is not going to Beijing according to the official order, but he has not yet heard the announcement."
Zheng Juzhong shook his head and said: "Although the Holy One has not announced you, have you ever gone to visit Mr. Cai at his residence?"
Xiao Tang replied: "Not yet."
"Oh?" Zheng Juzhong put down his wine cup, stared at Xiao Tang and said: "Since Supervisor Xiao is the general who Liang Zhongshu left behind in charge of the office, he did not go to the capital to pay homage to Cai Gongxiang first, but sat here with me.
I’m afraid this is inappropriate?”
Xiao Tang listened to Zheng Juzhong's question and replied calmly: "Weijiang doesn't know what the Privy Council meant. Since Weijiang has been summoned by the official family and is not a general of Cai Gongxiang, why should he go to pay homage to Cai Gongxiang first?"
Zheng Juzhong frowned, thought for a moment, and then asked: "Although it is official business, I have heard that Superintendent Xiao had been jailed in Daming Mansion. If it were not for the help of noble people, he would not have been in this situation. Superintendent Xiao was so unhappy.
Say, isn't it too much to ignore the favor of Mr. Cai?"
Xiaotang Shi Shiran puffed up his chest and said with a smile: "Although Wei Jiang committed a life-threatening crime back then, he was pardoned by the king's law and received an edict from the official Zhu Biao before he could serve the country with this sinful body. Although Liang Zhongshu had
Liang Enxiang mediated, and he also understood the case of the last general in accordance with the laws of the Song Dynasty. Now that the last general is in prison, he will be promoted by superiors. But the last general also knows that he is serving the country, and he should follow the law and be loyal.
As a public servant, you should not neglect your words because of others, or neglect your public affairs because of private matters."
A flash of light flashed in Zheng Juzhong's eyes, and there was something in his words. This sentence is an allusion from the Analects of Confucius. The last time he was mentioned in court by Fan Zhongyan's second son, Zhongxuan Gong Fan Chunren, who was known as the commoner prime minister, it was Wang Anshi.
The period when the party struggle between the new faction and Sima Guang's old faction was most intense.
Although Fan Chunren was a conservative with Sima Guang's political views at that time, he wrote to Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty to publicly accuse Wang Anshi of raking in financial gain. He was later demoted for opposing Wang Anshi's reform. However, after the conservative Sima Guang returned to the prime minister, he immediately wanted to abolish Wang Anshi's "green seedlings"
Law" and other new laws. However, Fan Chunren and the great writer Su Shi jumped out to advise Sima Guang: "The laws and decrees made by Prime Minister Ao also have their merits, and there is no need to waste words based on others."
According to Fan Chunren's idea, even if both the DPRK and China are responsible for the Song Dynasty, how can they ignore the country just because of personal emotions and partisanship? When parties are fighting, their opponents have merits, and they should try to adopt them. But even if Fan Chunren deeply
His father Fan Wenzhenggong and Fan Zhongyan's ideals and ambitions of "worrying about the world first, and rejoicing after the world's happiness" and putting the national interests first were still criticized after the New Party fully seized power in the Yuanyou period.
He was demoted. Later, when he was still in Song Huizong's reign, he was relegated to the Yuanyou Party.
Zheng Juzhong naturally knows everything about this matter, but what does this guy want to tell me that although he has been favored by Cai Jing's son-in-law Liang Shijie, he is definitely not a member of Cai Jing's party? But listening to his words, he is not trying to show his loyalty to me.