The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

The demotion of Teng Zongliang was a heavy blow to Fan Zhongyan. From Zhao Zhen's eyes and tone, Fan Zhongyan clearly felt distrust. Fan Zhongyan knew that the emperor was doubting his own impartiality, and he had offended many people by rectifying the officials. people.

When he and Han Qi inspected the state capitals that day, all the officials who had heard of it were mercilessly written off; Fu Bi, who was not yet hard-hearted at the time, once said to himself: "Mr. , can make the whole family cry." At that time, I also said righteously: "The country is itchy. Pardon!

This incident was regarded as a good talk in the court at that time, and even Zhao Zhen praised his classic saying that "one family cry is better than all the way".

But now, his good friend is misusing public funds under his nose. Although he doesn't know it, Zhao Zhen doesn't think so, and other people who hate him to the bone don't think so. They think they are turning a blind eye to cover up Teng Zijing.

It's nothing to poke the backbone of the ministers. Fan Zhongyan has expected such a day since the implementation of the New Deal, and he has long been mentally prepared, but Fan Zhongyan's doubts about Zhao Zhen are absolutely unacceptable. I am afraid that the New Deal will be aborted.But the good news is that although Zhao Zhen was a little alienated from himself, Zhao Zhen still accepted all the memorials for the New Deal and hesitated, which more or less made Fan Zhongyan feel at ease. [

The days passed peacefully, and the New Year of the fourth year of Qingli also passed bustlingly. On the first day after the annual holiday, Fan Zhongyan felt that Zhao Zhen's face became more gloomy. The emperor is always amiable and amiable, and rarely gets angry , and rarely show embarrassment to others, but that morning, the emperor was friendly with Yan Shu, Du Yan and others, but stern and cold to himself and Han Qi Fubi and others, which made Fan Zhongyan feel that something was wrong.

After the early court, Zhao Zhen left Yan Shu and Du Yan alone to summon him, which made Fan Zhongyan feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. In the past few months, it was his own privilege to summon him alone. He left the hall as if fleeing, he didn't want to say anything at all, and Zhao Zhen didn't communicate with them much, but on the morning of the first day of the new year, Yan Shu and Du Yan were left behind, but he was not among them, Fan Zhongyan felt inexplicable panic.

In the Chongzheng Hall, Zhao Zhenci sat with Yan Shu and Du Yan, and warmly asked them how the New Year was going and how their families were doing. Yan Shu and Du Yan were suddenly summoned for some reason, so they had to answer one by one carefully.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Zhen suddenly fell silent and stared at Daliang in a daze.

Yan Shu and Du Yan looked at each other, most likely Yan Shu couldn't bear it, and asked softly: "Does the Emperor have something to discuss with the ministers?"

Zhao Zhen looked back at Du Yan and Yan Shu and said, "I've been on the throne for 20 years."

Yan Shu and Du Yan looked at each other, not understanding why Zhao Zhen made such a statement. Yan Shu nodded and said, "It's been 22 years. The emperor was enthroned in the first year of Qianxing, and he was in charge in the second year of Ming Dao. So far it has been exactly 22 years."

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly and said: "It's so fast, it's been 22 years in a flash. I was only 13 years old when I became the throne. At that time, Lu Xiang and the Queen Mother helped me. Now Lu Xiang and the Queen Mother are both dead. Time really flies Time is not forgiving."

Zhao Zhenduan sighed, Yan Shu and Du Yan couldn't pick up the conversation, so they could only nod in agreement.

"You are the veterans who have followed me for the longest time. Tell me, how have I been the emperor in the past 22 years? Is there any place where I have humiliated my ancestors?"

Yan Shu was startled, got up and fell to his knees, and said, "The emperor is the emperor of heaven, and there are only a handful of emperors in the past and present who are merciful and compassionate. My Song Dynasty has gradually become stronger and stronger in the past 22 years. It is a prosperous country. How can the emperor be humiliated?" Where the ancestors belong, even if the Taizu Taizong is alive, he will never blame the emperor."

Du Yan also said: "Yan Xiang is right, my Great Song Dynasty is unprecedentedly strong, all of this is due to the emperor's ability to govern the country, the emperor is the number one sage in ancient and modern China and abroad."

Zhao Zhen smiled slightly and said, "I don't dare to be the number one sage king in China and abroad. Even compared to Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, I don't think I am as talented as them."

Yan Shu said: "The emperor is the king who maintains success, and the Taizu and Taizong are the king who founded the country. There is no comparison between the two. The Taizu and Taizong who opened up the territory and created the foundation are naturally both ancient and modern, but when it comes to governing the country, you are better than the emperor." .”

Zhao Zhen laughed loudly, raised his thick eyebrows and waved his hands: "Get up and sit down, I'll chat with you casually, why should it be so serious."

Yan Shu and Du Yanxie got up, returned to the chairs and sat down, but just as their buttocks landed on the chairs, they were startled by Zhao Zhen's next words and fell to their knees again.

"However, some people say that I am unqualified, and they are plotting to make me abdicate, saying that I am not suitable to be the emperor."

"This... this... who dares to speak such nonsense, the emperor should not listen to hearsay, such words are not acceptable." Yan Shu kowtowed anxiously.

Zhao Zhen sneered and said: "Are you hearing it? If I heard it, it would be great. Here is a letter that was sent to me yesterday. Both of you should take a look." [

Yan Shu was surprised, Du Yan was delighted, Yan Shu was so surprised that someone dared to write such a letter in private, Du Yan was delighted that the letter finally arrived in Zhao Zhen's hands smoothly, and it was inconvenient for him to come forward after deliberation, so he asked Huang Peisheng helped forward the letter to the palace, and it was delivered to Zhao Zhen smoothly.

"Look at it, look at it all, there was an extra letter in Huang Peisheng's residence yesterday, Huang Peisheng was terrified when he read the letter, and handed it to me overnight, only then did I know that I was actually like this in the eyes of everyone, I I stayed up all night, and today I summoned the two of you to show you what the letter said."

/>

Yan Shu tremblingly pulled up the letter paper, pulled out the letter paper inside, and unfolded it. Seeing the first sentence on the head, Yan Shu quickly kowtowed: "The emperor forgives the crime, the emperor forgives the crime. The old minister doesn't know about this. Although Fu Bi is the old minister's son-in-law, the minister I really don’t know what’s on my mind…”

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said: "Look, he is him and you are you, you don't have to be afraid."

Yan Shu rubbed his eyes, and opened the letter to read: "My younger brother Yanguo, I have read the manuscript I sent. My younger brother is very talented, learned and rich, and has knowledge of the world and the world. I am ashamed of myself. This time, the rhyme and a gift from the Prime Minister , Brother, don’t laugh at me.”

"...Jindi and Fan Gonghan's new policy made the treacherous and evil in the court flee, and all the people supported it. Advocate and shout for the king, cheer up;...My brother’s last reply letter expressed frustration, saying that there are frequent treacherous people in the capital, trying to kill the New Deal, and also saying that because of Teng Zijing’s incident, the emperor seems suspicious of you, and I’m afraid The New Deal is hard to come true; I would like to comfort my younger brother, those who do great things will have great difficulties, and the easy things can be done by everyone in the world, so how can I let my younger brother bear this burden? The emperor was deceived by the villain when he saw the suspicion, and the three The trip to the position is for the sake of my great foundation of the Song Dynasty, when the sea is going through the sea, how can I not be the mainstay?"

"...The sages and sages should be the first in the world. The lords of Yao and Shun also had a precedent of giving up their high positions to sages. Today's sages can be called Mingjun, but if it is not good for the ancestors, why not follow the example of the ancient sages and choose Ming to stand, but with The three gentlemen have stood up to do things that are beneficial to my Great Song Dynasty. This is an act of living up to the emperor's grace and the common people..."

The eloquent letter with hundreds of words, in addition to praising Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Fu Bi, implicitly expressed dissatisfaction with Zhao Zhen in the letter, and implicitly encouraged Fu Bi to join forces with Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others to abolish Zhao Zhen. It is an out-and-out letter of conspiracy to rebel.

Yan Shu's legs and feet were weak, and he collapsed on the ground. He murmured, "How is it possible? How is it possible? Although Yan Guo is stupid, he is never so stupid. There must be something hidden in it."

Zhao Zhen sighed and said: "Look at whose handwriting it is. This person has written a lot of poems recently, most of which are about government affairs. I know that he and Fu Bi are very close, but I didn't expect that he had already talked about it in private. I am very saddened by this.”

Du Yan said slowly: "Your Majesty, at the back of this letter is the signature of Shi Jie from the Guozijian. This font...is indeed Shi Jie's font. His characters are unique and different from others. I never expected that Old Shi Jie would dare to write this letter." Such a rebellion, this Fu Bi is also audacious, conspiring against others, the emperor please issue an order, I will immediately arrest the two men for questioning, dig out the accomplices, and severely punish them."

Yan Shu's eyes were straightened, he had no idea in his mind, his mind was full of thoughts about the impossibility of this matter, and he thought, if Fu Bi was unlucky, his father-in-law might not have a good life; Naturally, Fu Bi's family is not safe, and he himself cannot escape being implicated. The sky is about to fall, and this kind of thing is taboo in the royal family, and it is hard to say clearly.

(ps: In order to oppose the New Deal, Xia Song asked the maid at home to copy Shi Jie’s handwriting and forged a letter to Fu Bi, which implied the abolition of Zhao Zhen; To get to the bottom of it, I made this explanation, of course, the content of the letter is nonsense.)