"Yan Guo, I have no intention of getting involved in court affairs. I just want to concentrate on compiling history. The reason why I presented those piles of old papers to the officials is not to criticize the court's decision."
"In the State of Yan, just observing the government officials since they came to the throne, I know very well what the officials are thinking...~"
Regardless of whether he really understands the officials or not, Sima Guang said this anyway.
"Officials want to be sage kings, and all the behaviors of the officials also reflect the sage way of the officials. This is deeply believed by Guang."
"It's just that the reality is like this. The so-called external and internal troubles are born in peace and happiness and die in sorrow. Guang also understands and knows that the officials are right and the current government is also right."
"But, Guang can't blend in...~Brother Yan Guo may understand? Knowing is one thing, seeing the past is another. Guang admits that the current dynasty does have signs of resurgence, but Guang is also dissatisfied with many of the court's practices.
Approved!”
"My colleagues all say that Jiefu is a stubborn man, so why not Guang? I am stubborn and know that it is difficult to adapt to the current court. Therefore, I want to concentrate on studying history."
"I understand the purpose of Brother Yan Guo's visit. It's a taboo for His Majesty, and Guang understands it. At the same time, Guang is also the cabinet of the dynasty...~although he is very incompetent."
"Now that Brother Yan Guo is here, Guang intends to resign from the cabinet, and I sincerely ask the court to allow Guang to concentrate on writing history... I think the official family also has this intention!"
Sima Guang was very honest. When he saw Fu Bi coming to Gongyuan, he received Fu Bi casually where he was working at his desk.
What he said was sincere.
Fu Bi could feel the loneliness in Sima's heart. There was reluctance, shame, and even a lot of entanglements mixed in. The feeling was very complicated and could not be explained.
Every scholar has an ambition, let alone a minister who can reach the first level of the Song Dynasty.
Fu Bi could understand Sima Guang's state of mind. So why couldn't he? The difference was that he had been trying to understand the officials' practices, to verify the court's new policies, and to adapt to the court's environment.
Regarding the expectations of the official family, Fu Bi planted the seeds when he was a child in the official family. Therefore, he had more contact and communication with the official family, and was able to truly understand the official family in depth.
Isn't it because today's imperial courts mostly use former ministers from Qiandi because they understand the governing philosophy of the official family better?
People need to change, things are developing and changing, and people, especially courtiers, also need to change in order to adapt to the development and changes of the court.
Sima Junshi has always closed his ideas, immersed in himself and history, and has not experienced the many changes in the country.
What you see and what you feel with your heart are two different things.
Fu Bi originally had thousands of words to say, but in the end he still didn't open his mouth... From the very beginning, Sima Junshi blocked his mouth.
No matter what, at least Sima Junshi still knows his identity and understands his responsibilities. That's enough!
Sima Jun really wanted to retire, and Fu Bi was almost seventy years old, but he had no idea of becoming an official for the time being. At the very least, he hoped that Fu Bi and Fu Yan would be part of the story of the resurgence of the Song Dynasty.
Some of the meaning can be understood even without saying it.
When Fu Bi was leaving, Sima Guang stood at the door of his mansion and watched Fu Bi walk away, never calming down.
It seemed as if he saw Fu Bi reporting to the officials...
"Prime Minister, I have no intention of adjusting the cabinet members now. It won't be timely. If the first cabinet ministers are suspected of making up the numbers, I have indeed tried to balance them."
"I hope to replace the cabinet only after we win Xixia, that is, towards the end of the next term."
"When the time comes, whether it is Wang Shao, Zhang Dun or Su Che, or Lu Huiqing, Lu Gongzhu, Han Zhen, Su Song, etc., they will all be the immediate choices. But I require the court to be stable, especially after major events. When it comes to time, stability must be the main priority.”
Fu Bi told the officials what Sima Guang wanted, but Zhao Xi refused.
Nothing is appropriate for Sima Guang at this time. This Sima... is really too mean-spirited! Will he risk death and then live? There is no place for him to die here.
Not to mention just some kind reminders, but also face-to-face accusations... It seems that no minister in the court has such courage now. Even if there were, it would be difficult for Zhao Xi to care about it, after all, they are all for public service.
"Prime Minister, I know that all of you cabinet ministers are quite old. It is precisely because of your existence that you can remind me that I will not make a mistake soon."
"I feel relieved to have you presiding over the government!"
"Sima Junshi... I allow him to concentrate on studying history, and let him know about the government affairs of the imperial court as a matter of routine. However, you can divide Sima Junshi's duties in detail."
"The cabinet is still a cabinet. Even if the cabinet is adjusted in the future, I will not reduce the relevant treatment of cabinet ministers. Prime Minister, I have an idea. The imperial court will set up a cabinet to provide consultation for decision-making. That is, after the cabinet ministers take office, Continue to use your remaining energy for the imperial court..."
Zhao Xi may have misunderstood Fu Bi's meaning, but his last few words have only advantages and no disadvantages.
It is a fact that the current cabinet ministers are relatively older, and the country does not have a specific age requirement for taking office.
When Zhao Xi revealed that he had candidates for the next cabinet, having such extra words could be regarded as comforting the members of this cabinet.
Regardless of whether he is just making up the numbers or is actually doing something, now that he is at the cabinet level, as long as he does things with his heart, Zhao Xi will not treat him badly.
Zhao Xi hopes that Fu Bi can spread the word...~
After all, a session of the imperial court is coming to an end soon. The ministers who are in office and those who are preparing to take office will participate in the political affairs, including the cabinet. Different roles have different ideas.
Alas, this is really troublesome! No information has been sent from the Pathfinder team yet...
In the first group, that is, Wang Shunchen's group, Zhao Xi indeed did not arrange anyone from the Imperial City Division. But the next four teams all had intelligence from the Imperial City Division.
Their duty is to pass information back, just like a relay, one team passes it to the other, and the last team passes it back.
The whole process, by the time we get to the last team, should be an easy march.
The horse bandits and road thieves should be basically eliminated with the four teams fighting in front.
The first four teams should also complete the tasks of the transfer station and water source investigation.
As for the communication between the four teams, they have independent communication methods.
There is no contradiction between no contact before departure and contact after entering the mission area. I believe they understand.
Fu Bi understood what the official meant, and the minister also wanted to find a way out. Fu Bi was hardly an exception.
The official idea of the so-called Pavilion Lao Yuan was to allow the pavilion elders who became official to continue to serve as counselors. This is undoubtedly a good way out for senior ministers at the pavilion level.
Fu Bi easily talked to the officials about the exploration team, comforted each other, cheered each other up, and left with satisfaction.
He would hint the official's intention to the cabinet ministers, and he also needed to clearly tell Sima Guang the official's intention.
Fu Bi also understood that he had asked the honest Sima Guang to borrow the message this time.
But it doesn't matter, the prime minister has the duty to mediate between the ministers and the king and the ministers.