Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 265 0260 [Eight thousand dowry is ready]

There are many celebrities in this year's imperial examination. Apart from Jiawang Zhao Kai, Zhang Jun and Zhu Song are the most well-known.

Zhang Jun was a civil servant and commander in chief against Jin.Zhang Jun is a military attache and one of the four generals of ZTE.The radicals are different, the two should not be confused.

He Su, the champion of the previous session, is hosting a banquet for everyone, and the invitees include Zhu Song, Zhang Jun, Fan Jun, Chen Dong, Li Hanzhang, Ling Guxu and others.

Fan Jun is a descendant of Fan Zhongyan's family, and Zhang Jun's family and Fan Zhongyan's family are related by marriage.

Zhu Song and Fan Jun are good friends, and through Fan Jun's recommendation, they also become best friends with Zhang Jun.Later, Zhu Xi, Zhu Song's son, and Zhang Shi, Zhang Jun's son, were also close friends and often debated.

Zhang Jun is not yet married, his first wife is Le Shi.As for the middle-aged continuation, becoming a "brother-in-law" with his son is another case (the wives of the father and son are sisters of the Yuwen family).

Zhu Song was very successful in Taixue. When Zhu Ming was in Taixue, he had just entered school, but now he has graduated and was awarded an official position.

On the other hand, the unlucky Chen Dong, although he was handpicked by Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty to be promoted to Shangshe because of his outstanding talents, he has been stuck in Shangshe and unable to graduate.

He Su knew everyone. He and Zhang Jun had been friends for many years, and Zhang Jun was later promoted thanks to He Su's recommendation.

Everyone was having a feast when they suddenly heard noises coming from outside.

Li Hanzhang pushed open the window and looked out, but saw a lot of people crying in the street in the distance, dragging their families and their mouths out of the city.

"Why is this?" Fan Jun also walked behind the window.

He Su sighed and said, "Well, there is a messy and dilapidated Xiangfang in the outer city. Liang Shicheng forcibly demolished the land and sold it. The money obtained is said to be used for Huashigang."

Chen Dong yelled: "The traitor is harming the people again!"

Liang Shicheng is engaged in the renovation of shantytowns, he will give a few demolition fees, and then sell the land at a high price to build houses.

Not many people were forced to be demolished, mainly low-grade tiled houses, and some shantytown dwellings along the way.

"Does His Majesty not care about such disabled people in Tokyo?" Ling Guxu asked.

He Su smiled coldly and did not answer.

He works in the imperial city, and the office building of the Secretary's Province has been demolished, so what if the people in the outer city are demolished?

Zhu Song said: "At least I let a county lieutenant out, stay away from the capital, and keep out of sight."

"I really envy you for letting go," He Su said with emotion, "I heard that brother Chenggong went to the local government as an official, rectified the powerful, and helped the people. He really did a lot. What's the use of me staying in the secretary's office? I'm just an answering person every day."

Li Hanzhang said: "Successful brother is also difficult. He has made meritorious service in Puzhou, but transferred to Jinzhou. It is like demoting an official."

Chen Dong said: "It's the same inside and outside the government and the public. If the traitorous party is not eliminated, the country will not be peaceful."

Zhu Song persuaded: "Brother Chen, let's not say a few words. I have already become an official, but you are still in Taixue. If you keep speaking freely, I'm afraid you will be trapped in Taixue for a lifetime."

"It's as sweet as a candy." Chen Dong said with his head held high.

……

But Zhang Gen, the father of Xinke Tanhua, returned to Beijing this year to report on his work, and was transferred to Zhejiang and Zhejiang as a transshipment envoy.

This is a fat job, and you can get countless oil and water.

However, Zhang Gen was unwilling to go to Liangzhe to take up his post, especially after witnessing Liang Shicheng's shantytown renovation, he wrote a memorial to the emperor in outrage.

The approximate content is:
"The states and counties in the world do not have a full-month reserve. Taicang, the country, does not have a full-year savings. Military expenditures are scarce, and frontier defenses are in disrepair. Floods and droughts occur frequently, bandits are everywhere, and foreign troubles have not subsided. Your Majesty should make plans early."

"Now we can't start big construction projects. Your Majesty, you bestowed a house on your favorite minister. A house is worth tens of millions. I was in charge of 30 states before, and I only handed over [-] yuan to the central government a year, which is not enough to give my favorite minister a house." A mansion."

"In the Zhejiang and Zhejiang regions, Huashigang is the most harmful to the people. Your Majesty, if you buy a rare bamboo, you will spend 50 guan. The money did not go into the pockets of the people, because the local officials always take it by chance. Huashigang also occupies more tank boats. , causing the price of rice in the capital to skyrocket... Let me be a transshipment envoy between Zhejiang and Zhejiang, please stop Huashigang first, Your Majesty!"

This memorial was not blocked by anything, but was sent to the emperor quickly.

Song Huizong was furious after reading it: "This Zhang Gen, his son was admitted to Tanhualang, so can he criticize the government like this? I think highly of him, so I let him be a transshipment envoy between Zhejiang and Zhejiang. When he asked to stop the Qiantang Manufacturing Bureau, I gave him His face has stopped, and he loses a lot of tribute every year. Now he is gaining an inch, regardless of the friendship between the monarch and his ministers. The decree was drafted, and Zhang Gen, who was transferred to Huainan, spoke lightly and impetuously, and was relegated to prison wine tax!"

Zhang Tao, Tanhualang, has already been an official with grace, and this kind of person is called "a man with an official".

He was also admitted as a Jinshi, and he was a Tanhua, so he was awarded the official Wen Linlang and Piyong Xuelu (the director of discipline and teaching assistant of Taixue Preparatory School).

After reading the edict, Zhang Tao sighed and said, "Father, don't offend the officials anymore."

"Flowers and stones don't stop, the Song Dynasty is in danger!" Zhang Gen began to study ink, "Compared with the world, what is my personal career?"

Zhang Tao asked in surprise, "Father wants to write memorials again?"

Zhang Gen said: "In his position, he seeks his own government. Let me be a transshipment envoy between Zhejiang and Zhejiang, and I will talk about Hua Shigang. Now let me collect the wine tax, and I will talk about the law of Changping!"

Zhang Tao was speechless, he had just passed the exam, Tanhua, his father was so wild.

Zhang Gen asked: "Are you afraid of being implicated?"

Zhang Tao shook his head helplessly: "Father is angry, let the child write for him."

In fact, father and son have the same temper.

In history, when Zhao Gou traveled south, someone recommended Zhang Tao to the court as an official.

Zhang Tao took the opportunity to make a suggestion, denouncing Jiang Fang's illegal construction, which was a waste of money and people's strength.He also complained about Zhao Gou's close ministers, talking about trivial matters all day long, but not saying a word about state affairs.He also said that when Zhao Gou went to Hangzhou, he should not rush to build a palace.

Zhao Gou was so angry that he almost tore up the memorial!
At this moment, Zhang Tao ghostwritten for his father, and very euphemistically sprayed it out, lamenting the deeds of various Changping divisions.

Ask for the hammer, and the imperial decree will come down soon.

Zhang Gen lost his official position of collecting wine tax, and was thrown by Song Huizong to be the deputy envoy of regiment training.

Song Huizong's central purpose only said what officials were demoted, and did not arrange a specific location.

Cai You called the Minister of the Ministry of Officials: "Transfer this root to Jinzhou, so as not to cause any trouble to him."

Cai Jing, Cai You and his son have completely abandoned Jinzhou, treating it as a trash can.Anyway, if you don't like it, just throw it over, and do whatever Zhu Ming, Zhang Gen and others do.

When Zhang Gen learned of his new official position, he slumped on the chair.

When Song Huizong first ascended the throne, the Queen Mother was still in power.Zhang Gen got the opportunity to face the saint, the monarch and his ministers chatted happily, and Song Huizong looked like he was working hard to rule.

At that time, Song Huizong adopted and implemented all the suggestions for governing the country given by Zhang Gen.

How did the emperor become like this after more than ten years?
Zhang Gen thought he had won the emperor's trust, and it was true, otherwise he would not have been transferred to the Liangzhe transshipment envoy.But when the two memorials went up, they were turned into scattered officials with no real power.

"Father, don't worry, this is expected." Zhang Tao advised.

Zhang Gen shook his head and said, "I'm not worried about myself, but about the country. You and I have been in Huainan for several years, and you know what the people are like. I heard that the two Zhejiang provinces were more harassed by Hua Shigang, and now they are imposing wine and vinegar taxes." Taxes. The imperial court raised taxes, merchants raised prices, and people’s lives became more difficult. If things go on like this, there may be chaos between Chen and Wu.”

While the father and son were talking, Zhang Gen's son-in-law Li Gang came.

Li Gang is also a dog-tempered man. Three years ago, he served as a censor in the palace, and was demoted to Yuanwailang because he offended the treacherous party.This year he was finally promoted to the rank of living man, and next year he will be thrown by the emperor to work as a tax officer in Sha County because of discussing government affairs.

"Father-in-law is too impulsive." Li Gang sighed when they met.

Zhang Gen asked back: "Then how did you offend the powerful?"

Li Gang said: "As the censor in the palace, my son-in-law's job is to impeach evildoers. And my father-in-law moved to the two Zhejiang provinces to transfer envoys, just to use his usefulness to prevent Zhu Mian from using Hua Shigang to harm the people. The father-in-law's two memorials are quite enjoyable. , but the newly-appointed transfer envoy from Zhejiang and Zhejiang will join forces with Zhu Mang to fish and meat Southeast, and it will be the people in Southeast who will suffer in the end!"

Zhang Gen was silent when he heard the words, and it took him a long time to hold back a sentence: "It's a bit reckless, but I can't vomit quickly."

Li Gang said: "Father-in-law will stay dormant in Jinzhou for two or three years. During this period, he can no longer offend the officials. He will recover after the officials calm down."

"Oh." Zhang Gen could only sigh.

Just like what his son-in-law Li Gang said, as long as he is honest for two or three years, he will definitely be able to re-employ.The Zhang family has countless in-laws and disciples, and they can recommend reinstatement whenever they find an opportunity. Song Huizong will not insist on it.

The ancestors of the Zhang family moved to Dexing County, Raozhou in the early Song Dynasty, worked hard for decades by opening up wasteland and farming, and later operated the newly discovered mines on a small scale.

After having a small family business, he began to train his children to study.

Zhang Kai's five sons were successively admitted to four Jinshi.The remaining son, Zhang Qian, didn't take the exam at all. He stayed at home to take care of the business, and invented and improved bile alum and copper smelting by the way, which directly made the Zhang family a huge fortune.

Kang Guogong and Prime Minister Liu Zhengfu who just passed away were Zhang Gen's father's youngest son, and were taken care of by Zhang Qian when he was studying.

There are several similar officials, and the group of young classmates produced five Jinshi in a row, and they married each other by the way.

Several of Zhang Gen's uncles were either benevolent, recommended, or Jinshi, and there were also a lot of officials.

Although this kind of family is not comparable to the Wang family in Sichuan, it should not be underestimated.

Moreover, from the family's first Jinshi to today's Tanhualang Zhang Tao, it has only gone through four generations.

After talking for a while, Zhang Gen stayed with his son-in-law for dinner, talked about Hua Shigang, and mentioned Jinzhou Zhizhou Zhu Ming.

Li Gang said: "Zhu Chenggong, the prefect of Jinzhou, seems to have made a lot of achievements. However, his political performance is not good. Last year's taxes were not paid enough, and it was only because of the drought that he did not convict him."

Zhang Gen said with a smile: "If there is a disaster and you can still collect taxes in full, I will despise him instead. It is because the tax amount is insufficient that he appears to be a good official."

"That's true." Li Gang nodded.

Zhang Gen said: "If there are many thieves in Jinzhou, I can be the deputy envoy of the regiment training, and I can go to suppress the thieves and calm the people. But if Zhu successfully governs Jinzhou, there may not be many thieves. I can only drink tea and wine every day."

Li Gang said: "The seventh younger sister is not yet married, and Zhu Chenggong has not married a wife. The two of them are similar in age and may be married. By then, Zhu Chenggong will be the last Tanhualang, and the eldest brother (Zhang Tao) will This year's Tanhua Lang, brother-in-law, wife and brother will be a good story for a while."

Zhang Gen suddenly laughed, seeming quite moved.

He has seven daughters, six of whom are married, and Li Gang is his second son-in-law.

That Zhu Chenggong is a young talent, so it's great to be recruited as a son-in-law.

Zhang Gen's family is a rich thief, who runs a mine, and it's a copper mine, and he knows how to smelt copper.He has no pursuit of money, and he is not greedy for a penny when he is an official. His lifelong aspirations are nothing more than reporting to the country, bringing peace to the people, and revitalizing the family in the middle.

Recruiting more good sons-in-law is also a means to revitalize the family.

He has already thought about his daughter's dowry, and the value cannot be lower than eight thousand guan.

The son-in-law must be rich, so that the son-in-law will not be corrupt and can be an official with peace of mind.

(End of this chapter)