Kou Ji still frowned, "But how can you be sure that after you are overthrown, Lu Gong and the prince will continue to move forward along the steps you built?"
Notice.
When Wang Anshi was enacting the reform, Sima Guang shouted, "The new law established by Wang Anshi and others will be better than the old one." However, after he came to power, he immediately deposed Wang Anshi's new law.
Li Di was determined to revise the law and set up a platform for Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng.
But how could he guarantee that Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng would follow his wishes and continue walking on the steps he built after entering the inner court?
What if one of the two of them was frightened by Li Di's fate and chose to give up?
Li Di looked at Kou Ji with a bright smile, "Isn't there still you?"
Kou Ji was stunned.
Li Di said with a smile: "The reason why your grandfather was able to depose the Criminal Division, depose the Third Division, and streamline the armies in various places, you have a lot of credit behind the scenes. You two, grandfather and grandson, have unknowingly transformed the Song Dynasty."
The situation of the government has changed.
In the past, the inner court participated in, managed and presided over the affairs of state, and the three departments, the criminal department and other yamen discussed and administered the affairs.
Liubu Yamen is just an empty frame.
But what about now?
The third division has been deposed, as has the punishment division.
The six-bu yamen, unknowingly, have turned into yamen with real power.
In various places, the implementation of the punishment department and the three administration departments has long ceased.
Instead, the chief officials from each region will lead the six Cao Cao from each region to carry out administration.
Your ancestors and grandchildren have already done part of it, and we are just continuing to move forward along the path that your ancestors and grandchildren have taken.
If we fall, you guys will continue to walk along our path."
After a pause, Li Di said seriously: "I can't see through Lu Yijian. Although he proposed the amendment of the law, I can't guarantee that he will continue to follow it after he is overthrown.
own opinion.
But I can guarantee that Wang Zeng will definitely follow the path I have walked.
Therefore, if I am overthrown by those who oppose me, I will definitely advise the officials and ask Wang Zeng to serve as counselor for political affairs again.
I will tell Wang Zeng when he returns to the post of governor.
If he is overthrown by others, he will recommend you to the inner court.
With the efforts of the three of us, we will always achieve something."
Kou Ji was silent for a moment and asked, "Can you trust me so much?"
Li Di smiled and said: "I naturally trust you, because you and your grandfather have made great achievements together. If you were not too young, I would definitely recommend you to the inner court.
If you come forward to amend the law, you will definitely achieve results."
"It's just a small fuss..."
Koji is humble.
Li Di laughed and said, "If what you and your grandfather did is just a small fight, then what I'm about to do probably won't even be considered a small fight."
Li Di looked at Kou Ji and said, "You don't have to be overly humble. Your grandfather was regarded as a sage by both the government and the public. Your official position as Cao Shangshu is the biggest proof.
If the government and the public do not recognize your grandfather and your achievements.
How did your grandfather become a sage?
How can you be the official Cao Shangshu?
Do you think that just by retiring, your grandfather will be regarded as a sage by both the government and the public?
It should be noted that there is still work to be done before retreating."
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said, "The boy has learned a lesson."
Li Di smiled and nodded, "Once I start revising the laws related to corruption, I will definitely be impeached by many people. You will have to help me speak up."
"must……"
"..."
An old man and a young man made a small agreement in private.
Look at each other and smile.
While talking about business, Kou Ji did not forget the purpose of his trip. He took out the invitation and handed it to Li Di, inviting Li Di to attend the ceremony in seven days.
Li Di agreed wholeheartedly.
On the occasion of parting.
Li Di smiled and asked Kou Ji to help him find a house in Ruian Town, and planned to move there to be Kou Ji's neighbor.
Kou Ji also agreed wholeheartedly.
After leaving Li Mansion.
The smile on Kou Ji's face slowly faded.
"Why……"
Kou Zhun retired with great achievements, and once he was canonized, he was destined to be famous all over the world and his name would last forever.
This move gave the officialdom of the Song Dynasty a good start.
His successor, after taking up the post of Tong Zhongshu, will definitely try his best to do many things for the people and the world.
Then, at the most glorious moment, he chose to retire after success and become a sage comparable to Kou Zhun, famous all over the world and famous throughout the ages.
After Lu Yijian visited the world and saw the suffering of the people, he proposed to amend the law. This should be his intention.
From a long time ago, Kou Ji knew that Lu Yijian was a very purposeful person.
After Lu Yijian became an official, everything he did had a strong purpose.
The purpose of taking refuge in Liu E was to take advantage of Liu E's rise to power and gain power.
After seeing that Liu E was not worthy of his help, he decisively withdrew and chose to patrol the world to raise his reputation. By virtue of the accumulated merits of patrolling the world, he gained a position.
Now he has fulfilled his wish and sat in the position of participating in political affairs.
After he took the position of participating in political affairs, he chose to revise the laws of the Song Dynasty, and his purpose was self-evident.
For great merit.
For the sake of great achievements, retreat after success.
In order to become a sage.
Otherwise, why would he do such a thankless and offending thing?
He is now involved in political affairs. He only needs to endure it. After seven or eight years, Li Di will retire from his position as a subordinate of Tong Zhongshu.
As long as nothing unexpected happens, after Li Di retires, he will take over Li Di's position and serve as the subordinate of Tong Zhongshu.
Given his age and position, it would be a matter of time.
If he does not seek fame or merit, there is no need to offend others.
only.
Lu Yijian did not wait until Tong Zhongshu, who was in his position, was in charge of the affairs, to implement the revision of the law. Instead, he promoted the revision of the law when Li Di was in charge of the affairs of Tong Zhongshu.
There is a sense of using Li Di as a gunman.
After all, when Li Di served as Tong Zhongshu's subordinate, he began to promote the revision of the law. Those opposing voices would focus their fire on Li Di.
Lu Yijian, the instigator, only had to bear a little artillery fire.
Lu Yijian's move was a little unreasonable.
Li Di obviously knew what Lu Yijian was thinking.
But he was still willing to serve as a gun for Lu Yijian.
That's why he showed a trace of pessimism when talking to Kou Ji.
"The purpose is the same, both for the good of the people... It's just that what they want is different... Li Di just wants to benefit the people, but Lu Yijian wants to gain fame... One is willing to fight, the other is willing to suffer... But I am not qualified to comment
…”
"I have the same purpose as them... My purpose is far more profound than theirs... In order to achieve the goal, more people may be sacrificed..."
Kou Ji walked on the road, thinking a lot in his mind and sighing a lot.
When he arrived at the gate of the palace, he slowly came back to his senses.
Entered the palace.
Wang Zeng was not at the palace, so Kou Ji handed the invitation to the man of the Wang family who received him, chatted for a few words, drank two sips of tea, and left the palace.
All the way to Lu Mansion.
Lu Yijian is not at home either.
Lu Yijian's uncle warmly entertained Kou Ji, and invited Kou Ji to his study room where he collected books. He visited his collection of books and talked with Kou Ji for a long time, citing classics.
Kou Ji could not resist the enthusiasm of his uncle Lu Yijian. When Lu Yijian's uncle proposed to invite his granddaughter to meet Kou Ji, Kou Ji stood up and resigned.
Kou Ji left the Lu Mansion and went to the Zhang Mansion one after another, where he visited Zhang Zhibai, the Minister of Rites.
Zhang Zhibai was an upright man, about the same age as Kou Zhun. Kou Ji visited many mansions, and his was the shabbiest.
A house with two entrances.
There are not many gorgeous decorations. The only redeeming feature is the abundance of trees and flowers.
They probably used trees, flowers and plants instead of rockeries and flowing water to decorate the mansion.
The door is marked by an old servant with two missing teeth.
Although the old servant was old, he still had an aura of unwillingness to admit defeat. Even when facing Kou Ji, he only bent down slightly and spoke to him in a neither humble nor overbearing manner.
"Is Zhang Libu here?"
Kou Ji arrived at the door of Zhang's Mansion, asked, and was led into Zhang's Mansion by an old servant of Zhang's Mansion.
The furnishings in Zhang's mansion are very simple, shockingly simple.
There are very few servants.
After Kou Ji entered Zhang's house, he vaguely saw the servants, there were only two or three, each one was older than the last.
After arriving at the main hall.
The tea served by Zhang's old servant was the kind of crude tea found in street snacks.
When tasting the tea, there is no taste at all.
Under the arrangement of Zhang's old servant, Kou Ji sat in the main hall and waited for a while.
Zhang Zhibai appeared in the main hall wearing a patched green shirt.
The clothes were a little loose and looked more like a robe on him.
Zhang Zhibai is only three or four years younger than Kou Zhun, but he looks older than Kou Zhun. He is slightly thinner and has a hint of dishevelment.
Apparently it was caused by long-term malnutrition.
After Kou Ji saw Zhang Zhibai appear, he stood up and came forward, "Junior Kou Ji, you are polite..."
Zhang Zhibai stepped forward to help Kou Ji up and said with a smile: "You and I are officials in the same dynasty and are the chief officers of the six ministries. There is no need to salute me."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "You are an elder, so I naturally have to give you a courtesy."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhibai nodded with satisfaction and asked Kou Ji to sit down.
After sitting down, Zhang Zhibai smiled and said: "Is the academy founded by your grandfather about to open?"
Kou Ji said with a smile: "Zhang Shibo is really good at predicting events."
Zhang Zhibai laughed in a low voice and said, "It's not that I know things well, but if the academy founded by your grandfather doesn't open, you won't enter the gate of my Zhang Mansion."
Kou Ji hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "I will definitely come here often in the future..."
Zhang Zhibai smiled calmly and said, "You can come here often, but I won't go to your house often."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "Why?"
Zhang Zhibai shook his patched sleeves and said with a smile: "I am short of money... I can't bring out the gifts, so I simply don't go..."
Kou Ji laughed and said: "You are joking... with your rank..."
Before Kou Ji finished speaking, Zhang Zhibai waved his hand, interrupted Kou Ji and said, "Although I have been an official for many years, I have not accumulated any money. So I am really short of money and embarrassed to visit him.
"
Kou Ji looked confused.
Zhang Zhibai smiled and said: "Everyone who first enters my Zhang Mansion has a look like yours, with doubts on their faces. They think that I, a high-ranking minister with a high salary from the court, but poor as a servant, must be trying to gain fame. I
I’m too lazy to explain.”
Kou Ji shook his head and said, "I don't think so."
Zhang Zhibai was stunned and asked with a smile: "Oh? Why?"
Kou Ji sighed: "The look on your face cannot be faked. If you are really trying to gain fame, you will definitely not have this look on your face."
Zhang Zhibai was stunned for a moment, then laughed dryly and said, "You, a junior like you, are just kidding."
Kou Ji asked: "I'm very curious, where did all your salary go?"
Zhang Zhibai sighed: "Every time I go back to my hometown, I always feel unhappy when I see those children who have no books to read. So every time I go back to my hometown, I will support them."
As time went on, all my salary was covered."
Kou Ji pondered and said: "You have been an official for many years and have supported many scholars. Are there not one or two who have achieved great results and come to repay you?"
Zhang Zhibai shook his head and said: "I support those children to study, and I don't need them to repay me. If they really have the intention and achieve something, they can just help those children who have no books to study."
After a pause, Zhang Zhibai sighed, "It's a pity. When they grow up and achieve success, they would rather give me generous gifts than give more money to those children who have no books to read."
Kou Ji asked: "Do you regret it?"
Zhang Zhibai smiled and shook his head, "I don't regret it!"
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Shi Bo is so righteous..."
Zhang Zhibai shook his head and said with a smile: "I am not being righteous. I am just returning the wealth and anointment I took from the people to them."
Kou Ji pondered: "But you shouldn't be too harsh on yourself. You have been too harsh on yourself for a long time and have already caused certain damage to your body."
Zhang Zhibai was stunned, stared at Kou Ji with a half-smile, and said, "Are you trying to teach me a lesson?"
Kou Ji quickly said: "I don't dare!"
Zhang Zhibai laughed loudly and said, "You are a good boy. Stay for a meal."
Kou Ji was stunned and said, "I'm here to deliver invitations, so there's no need to eat the food, right?"
Zhang Zhibai suddenly turned serious, "Do you think my house is too shabby to entertain a noble person like you?"
Kou Ji said dumbfounded: "Then I will be disrespectful."
Zhang Zhibai's face showed a smile again.
"Uncle Jian, give the order and serve the food."
The old servant standing at the door agreed and quickly went to deliver the message.
After a while.
Kou Ji accompanied Zhang Zhibai to the dinner table.
Also sitting at the dinner table were Zhang Zhibai's sons and grandsons.
The female family members were eating in the kitchen without serving food.
The meal served on the table is simple.
Green vegetables, pickles, pancakes, porridge.
Not much oil and water.
But the people in Zhang's house ate delicious food.
Kou Ji also ate some.
After eating.
Zhang Zhibai brought Kou Ji into the study.
I am determined to test the knowledge of the school leader Ji.
Kou Ji has no knowledge.
He could only leave the invitation and escape from the Zhang Mansion with an excuse.
After watching Kou Ji escape, Zhang Zhibai stood at the door, shook his head and sighed, "Kou family boy, I'm afraid he doesn't have much ink in his stomach. This autumn, I am very busy."