The second day after the end of the Heavenly Scroll happened to be the Great Dynasty, but Song Renzong claimed to be ill and postponed the Great Dynasty for three days. Three days later, the dynasty officially began.
Just as Song Renzong expected. This time, the DPRK was far from just going through the motions and discussing a few matters that had already been reported to the officials to discuss countermeasures. Instead, tit-for-tat began as soon as the DPRK meeting began.
The old and new parties are at loggerheads with each other and have their own opinions. Even the old Prime Minister Lu Yijian, who has been claiming to be ill at home since the beginning of the New Deal and has now retired, actually went to court today to express his attitude.
Obviously, they also support the remonstrance officer's impeachment of Fan Zhongyan, who formed a party for personal gain, abused power, harbored treachery and was disloyal, and intended to commit rebellion.
The so-called evidence is the "secret letter" submitted to Song Renzong.
The secret letter was written by Shi Jie to Fan Zhongyan, but it was a prepared edict to depose Song Renzong.
This move of the old party can be described as insidious, and it is even said that it has reached the point where it wants to put Fan Zhongyan to death.
If Song Renzong believed it, Fan Zhongyan would definitely be imprisoned and charged with treason, which would be a serious crime against the nine tribes.
Even if Renzong doesn't believe it... As mentioned before, rebellion, whether true or false, cannot be underestimated. It will definitely plant a nail in the relationship between the monarch and his ministers.
As long as Song Renzong does not trust Fan Zhongyan, the New Deal will naturally not be implemented.
Historically, the old party did succeed in this matter. Not only was Fan Zhongyan exiled and never returned to Beijing, but other officials who supported the New Deal were also denounced. Ouyang Xiu also returned to the capital after more than ten years.
The Imperial Academy Master Shi Jie, who was once known as one of the "Three Gentlemen of the Early Song Dynasty", also died in the process of being demoted. Even after his death, the old party could not forgive its hatred. I want to open his coffin to see if he is dead.
Obviously, I already hate the New Party to the core.
But this time, now that Song Renzong had made up his mind, he was no longer as wavering as before, and decided to leave a stable Song Dynasty for future generations.
Just when the veteran Xia Taiwei came out more and more, he must let Renzong deal with Fan Zhongyan, Shi Jie and others. Before he could speak, Renzong issued an edict.
Except for Shi Jie, the other ministers who maintained the New Deal were promoted to higher levels, and they even stated that they would thoroughly investigate the origin of this secret letter.
Once found out, those who framed the minister and had evil intentions will be punished with serious crimes.
Not only that, we will continue to hold the culprit accountable. At that time, officials and titles will be seized, and three generations will not be allowed to return to the court.
Renzong has always been at odds with ministers. When did he use such thunderous methods? For a time, the courtiers who opposed the New Deal were fooled.
Originally they thought that regardless of whether the officials believed this matter or not, Fan Zhongyan and others would no longer be able to gain a foothold in the court, and would eventually be demoted from the capital, and the New Deal would naturally come to nothing.
Looking at the shocked ministers below, Renzong sneered: "My dear sirs. I would like to ask, how can Shi Jie, a scholar, and Xi Wen, a civil servant, make me abdicate?
They want to let the Imperial College. The students broke open the gate of the imperial city and captured me alive, but they still led a group to prepare for the New Deal. The ministers rushed forward and pulled me from the throne.
Or, watching their mischief, all the ministers looked on with cold eyes, waiting for them to change the dynasty, and then install an emperor to implement the new policy? "
His words made the ministers present speechless.
That's right, Fan Zhongyan didn't have a single soldier in his hands, and Shi Jie didn't have the power to restrain a chicken. It's okay to let them write articles, but let them plot to usurp the throne? First ask them if they dare to kill one!
"I don't need to investigate this matter carefully to conclude that it is false. And the person who forged this secret letter has even more ulterior motives. He just wants you and me to alienate the monarch and his ministers."
"Are you really so stupid? Do you think this is true?"
As he spoke, he looked at his hands. Make a joint impeachment memorial and remember the names on it one by one: "Even a three-year-old child knows something that is impossible. How do you think it is true? Are you not as good as a child in distinguishing right from wrong?"
Renzong's words made the officials' cheeks turn red and they were ashamed. But Fan Zhongyan and others were very moved. For the first time in more than a year since the reform, they felt what it means to be blessed by the Holy Family.
“Since you can’t even distinguish this little thing, then let’s downgrade all the year-end assessments to the second grade. It will also save the corpses and vegetarian meals, and delay the state affairs of the Song Dynasty.”
Class B?
The old ministers who signed the memorial all regretted it. If they had known this, they would not have gone into this muddy water. I thought I was foolproof and could sell him to Captain Xia and the old Prime Minister. Why did I get a second grade in the assessment?
You must know that there is an unwritten rule in the court, which requires three consecutive years of Class A before being promoted. If they are demoted to Class B, wouldn't they have to wait three years at the earliest before they can be promoted? And in the past three years, no one knows how many rising stars have entered the court.
By that time, I am afraid that the officials will even forget their names.
I regret my mistake, I regret my mistake!
Lieutenant Xia also didn't expect that the officials would protect the New Party so much today. I was surprised when I saw the officials who had signed the petition looking at me frequently, and I felt a thump in my heart.
He immediately stood out from the crowd, held his head high and said: "Even if Fan Zhongyan and Shi Jijiu are not capable of rebellion, the evidence is conclusive and their intentions are clear. Officials, you turn a blind eye and you will Where do I put the laws and regulations of the Song Dynasty? "
Yes! yes!
Other officials were immediately awakened.
The laws and regulations of the Song Dynasty are there, and the evidence cannot be proven to be false, so it must be counted. Nowadays, instead of punishing these people, the officials promote them. How can this be justified?
Even if we can't be sure whether this matter is true or not, we can just put it aside. Why punish the ministers who signed it?
Thinking of this, the censors and admonishers became eager to try again.
Song Renzong sat upright, looking at the officials below who were about to move, and said coldly: "Has any of you seen the heavenly scrolls that often appear in the sky in recent times?"
Xia Taiwei 1 Stunned, his eyes flickered.
It is true that not everyone can see this heavenly scroll, but he has seen it, and he is deeply convinced of the national sentiments of the Song Dynasty depicted in it. Especially when he recently took stock of this dynasty, he paid great attention to the officials. praise.
Moreover, Tianjuan also said that the new policy of the government will definitely fail. This is why he decided to take action in advance.
In fact, no matter what Tianjuan said, he would never allow him to succeed in this new policy. It is a pity that when Fan Zhongyan first entered the court, he gave him a lot of support, but he did not expect that this man was ambitious and wanted to overthrow him. Taizu's regulations were intended to change the world.
How could he make him succeed?
So he said: "In the official family, I have heard about the Heavenly Scroll. It is just some strange power that disturbs the gods, so don't mention it."
Song Renzong looked down. Some of the ministers were confused, some shook their heads, and some nodded slightly, knowing that not everyone could see and hear the heavenly scroll.
Although he didn't know who would have this opportunity, it was easy to say that Captain Xia had obviously seen the Heavenly Scroll.
“Don’t I know that it is a strange force and chaos of gods?” Song Renzong said seriously, “However, seeing the ruins of mountains and rivers in our Song Dynasty in the prophecy of Tianjuan, the decline of the royal family, the displacement of the people, and the bloody trampling of Bianjing by the people from the north, How can I turn a blind eye? "
Of course Taiwei Xia also knows about the tragic situation described in the Tianjuan, but knowing it is completely different from personal experience. Moreover, the way of heaven has its own destiny. If this calamity is in his fate in the Song Dynasty, no one can avoid it.
But now, if the New Deal is really implemented, it will be a real disaster for these ministers. Naturally, being an official was to protect his wife and his son. Even he himself got the protection of his father's die-hard loyalty and became an official in the court. His children and grandchildren will naturally do the same.
But Fan Zhongyan and others actually wanted to cut off the future of his children and grandchildren, and even cut official salaries, cutting off their livelihood to support their families. That means they will starve to death now. How could he bear it?
"The officials have peace of mind. Since they know that it is a strange force that confuses the gods, why should they believe it to be true? Our Song Dynasty has a long national destiny, and the officials are wise. If our monarchs and ministers work together, it will not be the same as what is said in the scroll of that day."
This At that time, the old prime minister Lu Yijian also stood up and comforted him.
His health has been deteriorating in the past two years and he is already old. It was Renzong who persuaded him to stay and did not return home. However, he rarely goes to court anymore, and various tasks of the prime minister have been handed over to the current prime minister Zhang Dexiang.
He was also carried to the court today by his family members. This shows how important today's court will be to him.
His prime minister has come to an end, but he still has sons and grandsons. At this juncture, if the new party succeeds. For the Lu family, wouldn't it be a drain on the fire?
The Lu family had been officials for three generations, and his uncle also achieved the position of prime minister. Although he could enjoy the shelter, he was also a Jinshi and was awarded the title of prime minister, and he has been serving as the prime minister. The Lu family has one family and two talents, and it has long been a good story.
Now he is about to retire, but there is no successor among his children and grandchildren. Whether he should be prime minister or not is a secondary matter, but if he dies, his children and grandchildren will no longer be able to receive shelter, and they will all starve to death.
So, he had to come to today’s meeting even if he risked his life!
Song Renzong heard Lu Yijian speak, glanced at him, and asked as if he had just discovered that he was there, "The old prime minister is here today, is he feeling better?"
" Thanks to the concern of the officials, the old minister is doing much better.”
"That's good." Song Renzong nodded, "Does the old prime minister think that my previous decision was inappropriate?"
Lv Yijian was stunned for a moment, then pondered for a moment and said: "In the official family, the minister has aged, so it is said that No one should comment on the affairs of the court anymore. However, Taiwei Xia was right, the laws of the Song Dynasty cannot be abolished. . Everything must follow the law, otherwise how can we convince the public?"
"The old prime minister is right," Song Renzong nodded, but then said loudly, "That's why I want to implement the new policy."
"The official..." Lu Yijian was stunned, with his mouth open, and no words came out for a long time.
“Since the New Deal has been formulated, it is also the law of the Song Dynasty. Why can’t it be implemented?”
Song Renzong had already stood up and looked down at the ministers:
"Since I ascended the throne, I have relied on the assistance of all my ministers and ministers to achieve the national peace and prosperity of the Song Dynasty. Now I want to implement new policies and eliminate bad policies, but Even though some laws have been slightly changed, why do you block it everywhere and even stage such a farce?
< br>Everyone, are you doing it for me, the Song Dynasty, for the people of Li, or for your own high officials and wealth, for your prosperity and wealth from generation to generation? "
Song Renzong's words were extremely straightforward, The ministers who opposed the New Deal were all silent, or they didn't know how to answer.
"Anyone who has seen Tianjuan must know how miserable our Song Dynasty will be in the future. I didn't believe it at first, but these days, I thought about it again and again. What if our bad government is really bad? If this delay continues, I am afraid that the Song Dynasty will suffer such a dismal outcome in the future. "Official!" Captain Xia gritted his teeth and said again, "Even if what the scroll said is true, it will happen in a hundred years, but if our government indulges in rebellion, it will happen." , wouldn’t it be a disaster in an instant?”
"Bold!" At this moment, Song Renzong was heard yelling, "Xia Song, the disaster you are talking about is the destruction of the Song Dynasty, or the destruction of the Song Dynasty, or the destruction of the loyal and good people. You Where does this put the destiny of the Song Dynasty? You are so bold!"
Xia Song was shocked. He had never seen Renzong lose his temper in the court since he became an official. Angry, he immediately knelt down and said: "Guan, my country is prospering in the Song Dynasty, but I was just out of anger and said something nonsense!"
Xia Song admitted his mistake in time, which made Song Renzong's expression soften slightly, but then He looked at the ministers again and said coldly: "Do you also have this idea?"
"I don't dare!" A large number of ministers knelt down and apologized to Renzong together.
However, after pleading guilty, a Tai official kneeling at the front raised his head and said: "Officials, Mr. Xia only spoke nonsense when he was anxious. He was also worried about me, the Song Dynasty. The laws of our ancestors cannot be abolished. If they are abolished, they will definitely be punished by the court." The hall is in turmoil and people's hearts are uncertain. The most dangerous.
Now that the rebellion has been put down, our Song Dynasty has signed a contract with Xixia, and the Khitan people have not invaded our Song Dynasty for a long time. It is a time when the people of our dynasty are living and working in peace and contentment, recuperating and recuperating. How can we implement the New Deal at this time? Don't cause another incident Turbulence. Changes in people's minds are not a good thing!"
"As the leader of the Taiwan government, it is rare for you to say good things to others." Looking at Wang Gongchen, Song Renzong smiled and said, "I remember. You impeached Xia Da some time ago People are supporting him now."
Wang Gongchen was shocked and immediately said: "I am just discussing the matter, not targeting anyone."
"That's the best!" Song Renzong snorted heavily.
"Originally, I didn't want to say this kind of thing in the court, and wanted to save some face for you. But now that all the ministers and ministers have said this, and even the old prime minister has come forward, I have some words and some things that I have to say in the court. Said.”
"Mr. Ouyang, bring her up."
As soon as Renzong finished speaking, he saw Ouyang Xiu, who had not appeared in the court just now, walked in from the outside. Followed by a woman.
Seeing that Ouyang Xiu actually brought the woman over, many of the admonishing officers squeezed the wat boards in their hands.
This Mr. Ouyang, who is usually ridiculous at home, today actually brought a woman to the court. This is no place for a woman to come.
The censors were eager to come out to impeach, but Xia Song was kneeling on the ground and could not see the people coming behind him. He only knew that Ouyang Xiu was coming.
However, as Ouyang Xiu brought the woman to him, he turned his head to look, and his face turned pale in an instant.
"You...she..."
Seeing his look, Song Renzong understood and hummed: "Xia Taiwei knows this woman."
Xia Song's face turned pale: "I don't know her."
"How is that possible?" Ouyang Xiu said with a smile, "This girl ran out of the back door of your house, and many people saw it. Isn't it unreasonable that you don't recognize her in your house?"
Xia Song didn't know who the "many people" he mentioned were referring to, but he still said: "My servants There are so many maids, how can I know them all?"
After hearing this, Ouyang Xiu did not refute him, but looked at the woman: "Young lady with a green waist, you heard that, your master has turned against you. I recognize you."
Lv Yao's face changed, he murmured "Sir" and couldn't say any more.
Seeing this, Renzong asked someone to take her down again, and placed her in a side hall, accompanied by female officials.
After Lu Yao went down, Ouyang Xiu looked at Xia Song and snorted coldly, then handed over a stack of papers. After Renzong flipped through them one by one, his expression changed drastically. Then he threw the papers filled with words in front of Xia Song. He yelled angrily: "Xia Song, what else do you have to say?"
"You were once my tutor, and I have great trust in you. This is how you fooled me, and framed the court officials. You are so bold!”
Xia Song immediately looked at the papers and recognized the handwriting on those papers as those of Shi Jie.
"This is Master Shi's calligraphy..." His face darkened: "Guan family, how can you believe the words of a servant? Now that I think about it, this servant is indeed a slave of my family.
No However, because she was clinging to her, I had already sent her to Zhuangzi in the suburbs. Only then did I become resentful and framed Wei Chen. I also wanted to know who brought her back with ulterior motives. "< br>
After saying that, he looked at Ouyang Xiu angrily: "Mr. Ouyang, what do you want to do when you take this maid out of Zhuangzi?"
Ouyang Xiu coughed lightly: "Master Xia, you have already Did you admit that you framed Xiwen?"
"Admit it? When did I frame Xiwen?" Xia Song said angrily.
"Then let me ask you, how do you think this maid framed you, and how did she do it?"
"How do I know..." After saying this, Xia Song His voice paused, and he suddenly looked at the paper in front of him, then picked up a piece of paper and looked at it carefully, and murmured, "This...this is indeed written by Shi Jie."
"Otherwise, what do you think?" Seeing his look, Song Renzong still didn't understand anything, and hummed, "You thought it was the paper used by the slave called Luyao for practice? Didn't you burn all those papers? Already?”
"But even so, you still don't believe this woman. When you see her coming to the palace and seeing these papers, the first thing that comes to your mind is that she confessed to you, right?"
"Chen...chen... ..." Xia Song felt that he was speechless.
At this time Ouyang Xiu also said: "Fortunately, a friend told me that a girl named Luyao was good at calligraphy and was the best at imitating other people's handwriting, so she was picked up by a husband. That's when I thought of this Festival. Found her in your house."
"When I went there, she was being dragged into the carriage by your family. She was crying so hard that she didn't know where to take her. Then I intercepted her and brought her back. But even so, she refused. Tell her what you asked her to do, but I didn’t expect you to do it yourself!”
Xia Song regretted that it was too late, he only wished that Lu Yao had left too late. As soon as the Heavenly Scroll came out, he was afraid of changes, so he prepared the impeachment package in advance and attached the fabricated "edict". The recipient of the letter was also changed from Fu Bi to Fan Zhongyan, just to hit the target.
But on the day when he had someone send the edict, the Heavenly Scroll was about to begin. After that, the imperial meeting that was supposed to be held the next day was postponed, and he felt something was not good, so he decided to send Lu Yao away. Unexpectedly, it was too late and Ouyang Xiu found him and intercepted him.
He suddenly understood why the officials had postponed the court meeting. It turned out to be to find evidence that he forged handwritten letters.
Xia Song couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.
How could he forget that although this saint has a generous personality, he is extremely intelligent and nothing can be hidden from his eyes.
He knew from the beginning that he would not believe the forged edict. But what he was betting on was the saint's intolerance. After all, he had once been his tutor.
But now, the saint no longer wanted to pretend to be confused, and even lied out the truth on the basis of being unable to produce any personal or material evidence.
Is this saint the same saint he knew before?
"Xia Song, do you know your guilt?" At this moment, a sharp shout sounded like thunder above his head.
Xia Song was so excited that he immediately knelt down on the ground, trembling: "I... I know my guilt! But, I am doing it for the peace of the Song Dynasty and the stability of the Song Dynasty court!"
"For the peace of our Song Dynasty, for the stability of our Song Dynasty?" Song Renzong sneered, looking around the court, "How dare you say that. I think it is for your Xia family to enjoy glory and wealth from generation to generation, and to protect their descendants. ! ”
“I think the Song Dynasty is the most lenient towards officials. , even if there are three or four of you holding an official position, your salary will not be reduced. But who would have thought that after a few years, we in the Song Dynasty would have no one to fight for, and no official to use.
< br>The people in the court are all rats who only care about protecting themselves and will run away when trouble comes. . What is the use of the Song Dynasty keeping you here?”
“Think of the Ming Dynasty in later generations. Even if the Wara people came to the city, they would still fight to the death and eventually push the Northerners back. But we, the Song Dynasty, would fight against the enemy when they came to the city. At that time, the king would go to the enemy camp alone to surrender! "< br>
"It's sad and hateful. How can an opponent you can't defeat respect you? This led to the overthrow of the Song Dynasty Palace, and the capture of all the concubines, palace people, craftsmen and royal family. What a shame and humiliation, How tragic! ”
"As for you, you will only surrender after being captured. Surrendering does not count. The most abominable Qin Hui of later generations turned around, framed Zhongliang, killed loyal ministers, and finally plunged our Song Dynasty into eternal disaster!"
"I have been dreaming these days and nights that Emperor Taizong came to see me and asked me how I managed the great rivers and mountains he left behind and how I taught my children and grandchildren. I am speechless."
"I used to think that as long as all the people under my rule are safe and the weather is smooth, I have fulfilled the important task entrusted to me by my ancestors."
"But now I have figured it out, how can I do anything that I can't accomplish? I want to be fulfilled by future generations. Will I be able to have a clear conscience? "
"The answer is of course no!"
Song Renzong looked at the sky: "Of course I need to do my own things. If I can't do it, only the descendants of my Zhao family can do it. The Foolish Old Man moved the mountains, and the Foolish Old Man also took his descendants to dig for a lifetime before letting the descendants continue his work. "Unfinished business."
"If so. Foolish Old Man only talks but doesn’t do anything. How can he be a role model for future generations if he doesn’t rely on himself alone?
(End of this chapter)