The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Bianliang City seems to be calm on the surface, the lingering charm of the festival has not dissipated, and the colorful lights all over the street are still radiant, but all this can't dispel the haze in people's hearts, especially for Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu and others. The situation that was once completely controlled has now become out of control.

The two major events that happened one after another, like two saps, made them dizzy and at a loss.

Guozijian directly said that the so-called treason letter written by Shi Jie to Fu Bi was sent to Zhao Zhen. At the same time, Qian Mingyi, an admonisher who had always expressed his support for the reform, suddenly launched an attack. Officials of the court formed cronies in an attempt to control the government and disrupt the court; echoing Qian Mingyi, Yushitai Wang Gongchen, Liang Jian and others suddenly claimed that Fan Zhongyan and others were persecuted because of Teng Zijing's demotion. old.

For a while there was a public outcry in the imperial court. Some of the officials were supporters of the reform. At the beginning of the reform, they also expressed their support for the new policy, but at this time, they couldn't help but feel anxious; It is possible to be classified as cronies, so a large number of officials began to intentionally alienate the new coup faction; and many officials who were originally opposed to the new deal, naturally contributed to the flames at the moment, fearing that the world would not be chaotic, and they all echoed the papers , Some people even demanded that Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi be dismissed immediately.

Similarly, for Shi Jie's instigation of Fu Bi's rebellion and the establishment of a new monarch, everyone spared no effort to add insult to injury. Although everyone knew in their hearts that this kind of thing was probably false, but at this time, who would care about him True or false?The New Deal has greatly damaged the interests of officials. Some officials’ nephews and brothers have been deposed one after another, and their farmland has been greatly reduced. They have scolded the sky behind their backs. Once there is such an opportunity, how can they not help the flames? . [

In Zhao Zhen's heart, he didn't really believe that Fu Bi would conspire against him, but he still decided to take the Imperial College to speak directly to Shi Jie. In Zhao Zhen's view, no matter whether there was any other hidden truth in the matter, he had to express his attitude. That is, my position can be shaken, and I will deal a merciless blow to anyone who has the slightest sign in their minds; if it is said that Fu Bi was wronged this time, before clarifying the facts, I still have to act cautiously. With a right attitude, let the officials know their attitude towards similar incidents.

Zhao Zhen is also extremely vigilant about Qian Mingyi's performance of Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi forming a party for private interests to control the government.Regarding the reform and the new policy, Zhao Zhen has always kept a back hand. Zhao Zhen himself is also very contradictory about this. On the one hand, he hopes that the new policy can make the Song Dynasty government harmonious, and on the other hand, he has a swaying attitude of waiting for opportunities to advance and retreat. Of course Zhao Zhen knew that Fan Zhongyan and others had offended many officials because of the New Deal, and it was inevitable that they would be criticized. How terrible the consequences are.

If [-]% of Fu Bi's rebellion is false, but if Fan Zhongyan really forms a party, then the authenticity will suddenly increase to [-]% to [-]%, because once Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu and others participate in it, once these people With all his strength, his throne is really not that safe, even a little precarious.

Therefore, the crux of the problem is not whether Fu Bi really wants to seek rebellion, but whether Fan Zhongyan is really secretly forming gangs and cliques for personal gain. Compared with the slightly unreliable theory of conspiracy, the authenticity of cronies seems to be true. more important.

Zhao Zhen didn't intend to make a detour either. In the early morning of the nineteenth day of the first lunar month, regarding Qian Mingyi's memorial, Zhao Zhen bluntly initiated a big discussion in the court.

"Dear dear ones, some unpleasant things have happened inside and outside the imperial court after the year. All the lords must have heard about it. I have private letters to Shi Jie and Fu Bi about the abolition of the establishment. I feel that before the truth of the matter is unknown, we should not be rash. In conclusion, I have ordered the three yamen of the Criminal Department of the Yushitai of Dali Temple to jointly investigate this matter thoroughly, please respect your identities for the rumors you have heard recently, and don't disturb people's hearts with false rumors."

The ministers stood in awe, and no one dared to talk nonsense on this matter. Excusing them might be regarded as an accomplice, and it would be even worse to add insult to injury. What the emperor meant was that he himself didn't really believe it. .

"But there is another matter that I think it is quite necessary to listen to everyone's opinions. I heard that in all dynasties, there have been people who are engaged in business and have formed cronies with evil intentions. The admonisher Qian Mingyi gave me a memorial, and bluntly said that some of you In my heart, the person accused is a loyal gentleman. I really don’t understand that forming a faction is a villain’s business. Do gentlemen also form factions for personal gain? Don’t you hear that the friendship between gentlemen is like water, Did I see the wrong person, or did I hear the wrong words?"

The ministers were even more silent. The matter of Qian Mingyi's performance was actually no secret, and everyone knew that the gentleman in Zhao Zhen's mouth was Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others. This matter seemed to be highly valued by the emperor. There will be a good show to watch today.

"Yan Xiang, what's your opinion on this matter? Recently, I heard that you are in poor health. You have recuperated for a few days. Is your health better now?" Zhao Zhen began to ask by name.

Yan Shu clutched his chest and coughed, with a tired face on his face, he said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. The old minister suffered from the wind and cold, and he is much better now."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "Don't take some things too seriously, I still have judgment. Besides, even if others are wrong, I will forgive you Yan. You don't have to worry too much. The court needs you, you can't collapsed."

Everyone understands Zhao Zhen's implication. Zhao Zhen is reassuring Yan Shu: Even if Fu Bi's rebellion is true, I believe it has nothing to do with you. As long as you do it, you will not be involved. You can do business at ease , don't be scared.

Of course Yan Shu understood, with a little look on his face, he cupped his hands and thanked him: "Thank you for your magnanimity, this veteran is ashamed; the old minister has heard a little about the clique that the emperor said, and on this matter, the veteran's attitude is consistent." Yes, there have been many disasters caused by cliques in the past dynasties. Taizu Taizong and the first emperor asked my latecomers in the Song Dynasty to learn from history and put an end to the source of this man-made disaster. Therefore, the veterans believe that if there are cliques, they must be severely reprimanded and ordered to disband. Otherwise, they will be severely punished; we must not lay the groundwork for Chao Gang's disturbance."

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly, Yan Shu's words came to his heart, if there were cronies in the court, he would never be soft on his hands, and there was no reason to say on this point.

"Your Majesty, the old ministers agree, what Yan Xiang said is golden and jade good words, the emperor must not allow Xiaoxiao's generation to form a party in the court to persecute dissidents. Our Song Dynasty has a clear and clear plan, how can it cause party disasters like Li and Tang's previous dynasties." Du Yan couldn't wait, and took the initiative to express his opinion before Zhao Zhen asked.

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly, and turned his gaze to Fan Zhongyan who was standing on the left. The opinions of everyone in front were just a foil. Zhao Zhen really seemed to hear what Fan Zhongyan was going to say. If today's court is a big drama, Fan Zhongyan is the one real protagonist.

"Fan Aiqing, what do you think about this matter?" Zhao Zhen looked at Fan Zhongyan expectantly. He still trusted Fan Zhongyan. Zhao Zhen had a bad record in his life and was praised by everyone in terms of being an official and a person. Zhao Zhen looked forward to Qian Mingyi's performance. It is a false accusation, and I hope that Fan Zhongyan can defend himself and tell himself that he has not formed a party.

Fan Zhongyan bowed his body and stepped forward to salute. The hair exposed outside the official hat was even more gray under the black Pu head. Since the beginning of the New Deal, Fan Zhongyan has been under tremendous pressure. Although he can't see his anxiety on the outside, he His hair is graying faster and more than before, and the sharp wrinkles on his face are also thicker. He looks like a weather-beaten old man, but his hunched body does not have a sense of decadence. An infection of unyielding strength. [

"Show the emperor." Fan Zhongyan said with a hoarse throat: "I dare not make a judgment about whether there are cronies in the court; but I think that even if there are cronies, I don't need to care too much. There are also some soldiers who reject others. Soldiers who are brave in battle always like to make friends together, and those who are greedy for life and fear of death will gather together to say some negative words. From the perspective of the ministers, they are friends with each other. There is an old proverb: Things of a feather flock together and people are divided into groups, even if there is, it needs to be fussed."

Zhao Zhen frowned, Fan Zhongyan neither denied nor admitted, but gave an ambiguous answer. This answer seemed reasonable, but it was definitely not what Zhao Zhen wanted. ,

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"Fan Aiqing, according to what you said, the imperial court will naturally 'divide people into groups', but cliques will definitely exist, right?"

Fan Zhongyan said slowly: "Your Majesty, I think that the key to the problem is not whether the Pengclique exists, but if it does exist, what is the purpose of their clique formation; If you form a faction to be a traitor, it will do great harm to the society. If you form a faction to be loyal, it is good for the society, so what is wrong? Your Majesty only needs to carefully observe and distinguish between loyal and traitorous, and you can eliminate the worries of cronies and eliminate traitors. Loyalty is enough."

Zhao Zhen was deeply disappointed. Although what Fan Zhongyan said was unreasonable, in Zhao Zhen's view, it was just to defend his faction. It was He Zhaozhen's bottom line that violated. As the supreme ruler, he must not allow officials to hug each other and get angry. That would be a great damage to his authority. Many emperors were abolished, and the government was controlled and seized. It was done by a group of so-called loyal ministers who formed a crony.

Zhao Zhen would never allow such a thing to happen, even Fan Zhongyan.