Prime Minister

Chapter 501 What is the situation?
After the first month, there was a heavy snowfall near the villa.

Zhang Yue wore a coir raincoat and Tang Jiu returned to the villa from Xishan Temple. Zhang Yue walked the mountain road while admiring the snow scene while drinking wine.

After living in the mountains for several months, Zhang Yue also grew a short beard slightly. Being far away from the officialdom, he was a little less restrained and a little more uninhibited.

When they arrived at the manor, they saw a carriage parked outside the door.

Zhang Yue took off his coir raincoat and was about to ask the farmer who the visitor was.

But I saw a middle-aged man in his 50s and [-]s wearing a green robe standing in front of him.

Zhang Yue couldn't help being flattered when he saw the other party, he smiled and went forward to salute and said: "I don't know that Mr. Sima drove to the humble house, it is really a disappointment to welcome him."

The middle-aged man was Sima Guang, who smiled and said, "Du Zhi, this is really a good place."

Zhang Yue said with a smile: "If Sima Gong likes it, he will stay here, but he is afraid of delaying his business."

Sima Guang shook his head.

Zhang Yue asked, "What?"

Sima Guang sighed: "This old man is really hard to describe."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue understood that Sima Guang would go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, so he must have something to say here, so he said with a smile: "Then say it slowly, I have Huangjing wine brewed by a Taoist in the mountains... I almost forgot about Sima Guang. It’s okay if you don’t drink at all, but the chicken, duck and fish here are fresh, please let me do my best as a landlord.”

Sima Guang smiled and said: "Excuse me, but a simple meal is fine, the old man is used to a light diet on weekdays."

Immediately Zhang Yue and Sima Guang sat opposite each other in the house.

After Zhang Yue was dismissed from office, Han Qi used the merits of the Northwest Army to guarantee his return, but the emperor refused. Is there any reward?

Sima Guang spoke up outrightly, and Lu Hui also spoke out, but the officials ignored it for public discussion.

Zhang Yue said: "Sima Gong spoke uprightly before, and I haven't thanked him yet."

Sima Guang waved his hand and said, "Don't thank me, I don't care about these things."

Sima Guang paused and said, "Up to this point, I really want to ask for something."

The big guy doesn't have the habit of going around in circles when he speaks so straight to the point, Zhang Yue said: "Sima Gong, please tell me!"

Sima Guang said: "Do you still remember when I was chatting with you, I wanted to compile a history book?"

Zhang Yuedao: "I remember that at that time, Sima Gong and I were serving the late emperor's Jingyan together. Sima Gong once told me that there are so many historical books, and it is difficult for scholars to read them all. Because they want to extract the key points, they want to write a history book."

Sima Guang smiled slightly and said: "By the way, after Fan Jingren went out before, the old man has also resigned from his post of admonishment. I wanted to plead with His Majesty to leave Bianjing and go to Xijing to spend the rest of my life in peace, but the official's kindness did not agree."

"It just so happens that I have always wanted to write a history book and I will play on it, and the officials allowed me to build a bookstore in Chongwen Academy."

After finishing speaking, Sima Guang smiled and said: "Thinking back to the time when you talked about history with Du, I am still not as good as you. Your profound knowledge is strong and memorized, and no one can match it today. Therefore, I have taken the liberty to come here. How about asking you to help me?"

Zhang Yue suddenly realized that Sima Guang meant this.

It turns out that Sima Guang's current situation is the same as his own, being marginalized by the officials.

But officials like Zhang Yue and Sima Guang who have made decisions, even if they are marginalized, still retain a certain degree of decency and treatment.

For example, Zhang Yue's salary is still paid, and it doesn't matter if you don't come to work.

As for Sima Guang, he was better than himself. After all, his contribution was greater than his own.

Sima Guang was dismissed from his admonishment position, and the officials had to hypocritically keep him. Don't you like to write books?I will let you organize a bureau in Chongwen Academy and concentrate on studying books, but don't bother me about other things.

Zhang Yue couldn't help laughing secretly when he heard Sima Guang's treatment. Unexpectedly, you Sima Guang also sat on the bench with me, and then invited me to study history together today. Later generations called it the Zizhi Tongjian of the emperor's textbook.

Sima Guang took out the draft history book and gave it to him. Zhang Yue immediately admired it and said to Sima Guang, "Okay, okay, Mr. Sima's intentions are really kind."

Sima Guang asked: "Oh, I dare not take it for granted. In fact, the old man came today to hear Du Zhi's great opinion."

Zhang Yue said: "I don't dare to take it for a high opinion. The general history compiled by Sima Gong is recorded year by year. The so-called event is related to the day, the Japanese is used to determine the season, and the time is related to the year."

Sima Guang nodded and said, "Of course. I plan to write a history book from the 23rd year of King Weilie of Zhou Dynasty to the [-]th year of Emperor Shizong Xiande's conquest of Huainan in the later Zhou Dynasty."

Zhang Yue said: "This is the Spring and Autumn Period, the body of Zuo Zhuan."

There are two main types of history books: one is the chronological style, and the other is the biographical style.

For example, the 24 histories we read in later generations are in the biography style, and the Zizhi Tongjian that Sima Guang intends to compile is in the chronicle style.

Zhang Yuedao: "For example, the Han Shu of Shiji uses characters as the space, and talks about emperors, generals, and heroes... Most of the historians in the future write like this, until the new Tang Shu written by Ouyang's participation in politics. Shi Ke learns from personal successes and failures, but it is difficult to see the general situation and see the overall situation."

Sima Guang nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Zhang Yue said: "For example, when we read the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, if we look at Zhuge's Northern Expedition, he came out of Qishan, cultivated for half a year, and then went on the expedition for a few months, then in a year, and then in three years. Why is it so unclear?"

"However, by reading the general history that records the years in this way, it can be seen that the first attack was due to Wei Zhuxin's accession to the throne, the second was due to Cao Xiu's defeat at Shiting, and the third time... If you compare it in this way, you can know the beginning and end of the war. "

"In a word, read history to see people, and read Sima Gong's book to see things. As the saying goes, those who do not plan for the future are not enough to plan for a moment, and those who do not plan for the overall situation are not enough to plan for a city. With this book, future kings will be free. It's on the table."

What Zhang Yue said is why Zizhi Tongjian has the status of an emperor's book.

Just like the handling of information events, one year is very complicated, how to capture the details from so much information to make the right decision.

This has been the case with the political elites who have governed the country for thousands of years. There are countless people who give you advice every day. My suggestion in advance, but there are so many suggestions in advance, no one is sure which one to listen to.

Therefore, after processing all the opinions and information, the final decision must be made by the leader.

This is a strategic question at the highest level.An excellent king's official may not think about details on weekdays, but he never thinks about the strategic aspect in his heart.

Therefore, read the Zizhi Tongjian to learn how the ancestors made decisions in such situations.

Zhang Yuelue talked about his analysis of the wonderful aspects of this history book, but he did not expect Sima Guang to be shocked after he finished speaking.

Zhang Yue himself was taken aback, no way.

What I said was the analysis and evaluation of Zizhi Tongjian by netizens from all walks of life in later generations, saying how powerful this book is, and how well-intentioned Sima Guang compiled this book.

But at this moment Zhang Yue looked at Sima Guang's expression and couldn't help but wonder, what's going on?
Sima Guang didn't seem to think so at all.

(End of this chapter)