Zhao Xi handled the matter very casually, but the cabinet cannot be so casual or haphazard.
After the prince brought Zongze's article to the meeting hall and asked the clerk to copy it, each cabinet member passed a copy.
After a while, the cabinet concentrated on discussing matters again.
Not only that, Wang Anshi also asked people to summon Zeng Bu...~
"Zixuan, do you know the origin of this person?"
Zeng Bu rarely participated in cabinet discussions. This was Fan Chunren's job. He was not like Cai Que. Therefore, compared to Cai Que, Zeng Bu's popularity in the cabinet was pretty good.
He was a little surprised to be suddenly summoned for a meeting...after all, there had been no reports involving courtiers of third rank or above in the internal affairs department recently.
I didn't expect this to happen...
"Back to the Prime Minister, Zong Zezong Rulin is from Wuzhou. Although his father is a scholar, he has never taken the major examination."
"Zong Rulin went out to travel when he was sixteen, and wrote some articles about local customs and customs in various state capitals, and he was self-sufficient in this way."
Since the newspaper allowed private organizations to undertake the work, writers have also been able to earn royalties in recent years.
Officials have issued special instructions for this purpose, believing that writing articles for newspapers is also a form of intellectual preaching. Since studying is bound to study, the authors should also be paid for their contributions.
"Zong Rulin wrote this article when he arrived in Jingzhao Mansion some time ago."
"Zeng Bu thought that based on this article, he was quite talented, and he had a lot of literary skills and military skills..."
Zeng Bu indeed valued Zongze from this article, otherwise he would not have directly submitted the article to the officials.
"Zixuan, I would like to ask, is this Zong Rulin still in Jingzhao Mansion?"
Wang Anshi seemed a little anxious.
"Back to the Prime Minister, after seeing this article, my subordinates knew that the inspector of Jingzhao Mansion was paying attention to it. He should still be in Jingzhao Mansion at this time, otherwise Jingzhao Mansion would report it."
Zeng Bu still took this into consideration. Although Zeng Bu had never participated in cabinet deliberations, the General Inspectorate still had relevant records, and he had the right to read them.
"There's no need to be so cautious, right? It's just a way a scholar chooses to seek luck."
In Zhang Dun's view, even if what Zongze said in his article was true, there would be no surprise to the country. With the current military strength of the country, even if there are some small-scale rebellions in the northwest and southwest, it would not be surprising at all. It will affect the court's decision-making.
Besides, Zongze is probably only a young man in his twenties or thirties. As Mr. Ge and others, there is absolutely no need for them to pay so much attention to this person.
The more attention the imperial court pays attention to, it proves that this road is feasible. If this trend is established, scholars all over the world will find a shortcut, and they will make irresponsible remarks on the border situation, and there will be no borders.
To convene the cabinet to discuss a scholar's article in this way was regarded as an honor in Zhang Dun's eyes.
"Mr. Zhangge, that's not the case. If it is really a scholar's pursuit of advancement, it would be easy to say. Reading this article, I should know something about the Northern Liao Dynasty, the northwest and the southwest, and what it states is also true."
"No matter what, we should pay attention to the plan to ensure the safety of the country. In my opinion, once this article is published and seen by interested people, there will inevitably be chaos within the country before the court is complete, and it is more likely to be... Some forces are accumulating strength and waiting for the war between Guochao and Bei Liao to start."
"No matter what form it takes, it is not a good thing for the country and the dynasty."
From the perspective of looking at the problem, Wang Anshi's point of view is truly from the standpoint of the imperial court, and it is quite stable and a responsible attitude.
This is not to say that Zhang Dun is irresponsible, but Zhang Dun is a cabinet member who has a good understanding of the military power of Guochao. He knows that the firearms of Guochao are two ways ahead of the armaments of other dynasties.
Not to mention that after these years, the southwest and northwest were all at peace, the local people had accepted the fact that the Song Dynasty was respected to a certain extent. Even if there was real rebellion in the northwest and southwest, it would be a disease of scabies and Fei for the country.
Zhang Dun did not argue with Wang Anshi about this. In fact, he also admitted that what Wang Anshi said was safer...it could minimize the court's wartime troubles, which was of course the best.
"What does the Prime Minister think?"
Zeng Bu didn't have much to do with this matter, but because he actually became Zongze's recommender, it did. Zeng Bu didn't understand how the officials could hand this matter over to the cabinet...
"I think the imperial court should take Zongze back to Bianliang at this time, and let the officials decide how to deal with it."
This brings back... How should I put it? It depends on the intention of the specific executor.
"Prime Minister Wang, he just wrote an article, and the article was submitted for internal reference review through formal procedures. I think it is too harsh. If the court needs it, I can just notify Zong Rulin to come to Beijing through the reporting channel."
It's just an article. Although the article involves government affairs, or the planning and deployment of the imperial court, it is not so grand.
"Prime Minister Wang, Hui Qing feels that what Supervisor Zeng said is true. The writing of the article was not made public. It is a reasonable and compliant report. There is no need to arrest it. It is more appropriate to continue to use internal reference channels."
"I don't want to arrest you. If that's the case, then let's invite Zong Rulin to the capital...Do you have any other opinions?"
This is the procedure for the cabinet to unify its opinions.
It was unprecedented that one article and one scholar could make the cabinet discuss and make decisions. Naturally, no one raised any opinions.
Although the elders have different starting points after reading the article, they are unanimous in attaching importance to Zongze who wrote the article, and they all agree with Zongze's point of view.
It's just that Zongze is still a white body... he has already passed the exam, and the cabinet is like this. Even if he is the leader, it will be a long time ago, and it is not relevant to them.
"Prime Minister, all the ministers, do you know if you can bear the responsibility of inviting Zong Rulin to the capital?"
When the prince is in the cabinet, he listens to and manages the government. He does not speak most of the time, and the cabinet rarely specifically seeks his opinions.
This is also a rule. When the official is in office, no important minister will flatter the prince, and it is taboo to even get close to the prince. Regardless of whether the official family cares about it or not, the important officials in the court care about it.
"Your Highness, this matter..."
Wang Anshi didn't know how to reply to the prince. If he could convene the cabinet to discuss a person, it would be normal for the prince to pay attention to it. The problem is, where the officials...
"Prime Minister Wang, Zong Rulin's article was submitted to the official by Chief Inspector Zeng, and Gu also obtained it from the official. The official asked Gu to meet this person first..."
I should have told you earlier. If the official family had already asked the prince to meet Zongze, why would the cabinet bother to do so?
Obviously, the official family is looking for a future governor for the prince... Judging from the depth of the article, Zong Zong Rulin does have the talent to govern, at least in terms of military strategy, he is comparable to
Members of the Cabinet present.
This is based on the fact that the article was written by Zongze himself.
It is estimated that the official wanted the prince to see him in order to avoid unnecessary trouble after the court took him seriously.