Whether it was the inquiries of the Xixia people or Huangtou Huihe's first visit, they did not change the progress of the imperial court in planning Xixia.
After several inquiries but no specific information could be obtained, we sent a detailed investigation to cross over from Dangjin Mountain or go west from Qingtang, but there was no reply.
There was no movement in the Song Dynasty for a whole year, and they didn't understand what the Song Dynasty was going to do. At this time, rumors suddenly spread in the market, saying that the emperor of the Song Dynasty was seeking immortality, and the alchemists suggested building an altar in the Peacock Sea.
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Zhao Xi was really speechless. Regardless of whether this was true or not, there might really be a story about his pursuit of immortality in future unofficial records.
"Guan family, do you want to check it out?"
If Wang Zhongzheng didn't know what the officials were planning, he would have believed it.
"You idiot! What are you checking? Who is spreading rumors? Or is it building an altar? You're free! Just do what you have to do."
Zhao Xi was a little dumbfounded, but he was not going to get into a big fight because of it. It was just a rumor. If his rumor could make Xixia relax his vigilance, he really didn't care.
The more people believe it, the more effective it will be.
No, even the ministers began to believe it. If it was a plan for Xixia, why didn't the imperial court send troops in the past year? Since there was a direct road to the sandbank, why didn't the imperial court send troops or generals?
"The officials, the scholars who wrote these articles, I have sent people to monitor them!"
Only then did Wang Zhongzheng stop his thoughts on investigating people. As a result, the uncle of the Gao family became more enthusiastic again. It was probably not just him, but probably the Cao family as well.
"No, it's just for correcting the king's gains and losses. "Shi Lun" is originally an unofficial platform for criticizing the government. Let it be as it should be."
"Guan Jia, is that going to be published or will it be left unpublished?"
"Publish it without encouraging it or restricting it."
I don’t know who came up with this weird idea. Now that there is such momentum, Zhao Xi does not need to force it to be suppressed, just let it take its course. Besides, it is also a good opportunity to let everyone understand that "Shi Lun" is really not
He is controlled by Zhao Xi... Hehe, that's what he said.
"Xi'er, the art of immortality has been around since Emperor Qin. Every king who has indulged in this technique will never end well. It will be a disaster not only for the palace, but also for the entire dynasty!"
This rumor spread so violently that even the Queen Mother, who had been living in the palace for a long time and had no knowledge of world affairs, was alarmed. She had to wait in Yanqing Palace (Zhao Xi's newly built inner garden palace) for Zhao Xi to go to court, specifically to persuade the officials to die.
The desire for eternal life.
Also, according to historical records, most emperors who pursued immortality would disown all their relatives, be cruel and violent, kill their sons and their fathers, and let blood flow all over the inner garden. Empress Dowager Cao was very worried.
I thought that having such a king was a blessing to the Song Dynasty, and this has been proven over the years. All I heard was the rumor that Xi'er made the country change with each passing day.
Okay, why do you have such thoughts? This will be a disaster for the country! Empress Dowager Cao can't help it. She also knows that Xi'er's power in the court is now as powerful as that of Taizu, and is not the former emperor at all.
Comparably, the ministers and servants of the court might not even dare to persuade them, right?
What's more, Empress Dowager Cao has seen the various systems of the current dynasty. On the surface, they are dispersing the power of the official family. In fact, they are indeed consolidating the power of the court to the king. She has lived in the palace for so many years, and Empress Dowager Liu has been in power.
Later, the late emperor saw some things more clearly than the court officials.
In the past, if the king had acted improperly, the court would have been in a quarrel, but now? Xi'er directly asked the censor Yanguan to change the situation. Although he was given another position, he was bound to be controlled by the king.
Empress Dowager Cao was really worried, worried that Xi'er would be willful, worried that he would be self-centered and arbitrary, worried that he would be blinded by immortality and lead to disaster in the Song Dynasty!
So Mrs. Cao came later. Even if Tao Niang didn't come to her, she still needed to persuade Xi'er.
However, Empress Dowager Cao had always had some doubts. She knew very well what was going on with her son and felt that he should not be so dim. But after those articles of advice were published in "Shi Lun", she lost her composure.
What is the relationship between the Lao Liu family and Xi'er? It is impossible to break up in extraordinary circumstances. And now, the "Shi Lun" led by the Gao family has actually begun to dissuade. In other words, Xi'er's desire to seek immortality has made him
The strongest alliances are beginning to split. Very serious!
In addition, Empress Dowager Cao was even more worried that doing so in the Gao family's "Shi Lun" would cause instability in the inner garden... Tao Niang would be very embarrassed. This was also the reason why Tao Niang came to her in a hurry.
This is a big deal!
Zhao Xi followed his own habit and did not bring work into his life. Although it was a bit difficult, he still tried his best to do it. Therefore, everyone in the inner garden, whether they were concubines or maids, including the eunuchs, knew about the important affairs of the court.
Very rarely, even the Imperial City Department performs its duties and strictly enforces confidentiality laws.
However, Zhao Xi did not expect that this time it would cause such a big commotion.
"Zhongzheng, send the people out and watch the palace gate."
In Zhao Xi's case, it is absolutely forbidden for the inner court to interfere with political affairs. But today's situation, he needs to let his own people know. But those servants still have to avoid it. I think back then, King Pu could make the entire palace riddled with holes.
, he was not sure that his inner garden was infallible.
"Your Majesty, the imperial court is planning for Xixia. Last year, I summoned the guards of the Jiangwu Hall to open another passage in the Hexi Corridor. This year, I plan to build twelve military stations in this passage to prepare for the transportation of partial troops through this passage."
"Now, this passage has been proven and can lead directly to the Xixia sandbank and the Suzhou area. In the coming year, the state will send out a partial force to directly take the sandbank, which will form an overall outflanking trend against Xixia. I want to take back the entire Xixia in one fell swoop.
The Hexi Corridor opens up the trade routes of the Western Regions."
"Last year, there were not many people marching westward, and they had not attracted the attention of the party members. But this year, whether it is the mobilization of troops or the number of engineering troops, it is not easy to hide it from Western Xia. Therefore, there is a technique for children to seek immortality.
Rumor."
"Although this rumor was not led by Ha'er, nor did it add fuel to the flames. However, Ha'er also did not stop it. As for "Shi Lun", it was Ha'er who approved it... This will increase its credibility."
"Although this may not dispel the doubts of the Xixia people, it is better than nothing. It is a serious matter, and only the cabinet ministers and some of the government officials in the court know about it. Therefore, the child did not report to the empress, which made the empress worried."
What caused this incident... Empress Dowager Cao also wanted to feel this way, and Tao Niang also wanted to feel this way.
"I won't get involved in military and state affairs. Women should not get involved either. As long as the officials remain clean, I can live a few more years."
Empress Dowager Cao also glanced at Tao Niang... This girl, why are you so anxious?