I studied in modern times

Chapter 1073 The Competition of Fear of Wives in Bianjing

As Zhao Xu was lost in thought, the figure of a civil official appeared before him.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully inquire after Your Majesty's health and well-being..."

Zhao Xu looked up and saw Cai Mao's face.

After returning to the capital, this fellow was appointed as a junior official in the Imperial Ancestral Temple (a ninth-rank official) by Zhao Xu due to his father's influence.

The position of Taimiao Zhailang, since the Tang Dynasty, has been the exclusive official position of the second generation of officials.

It is the best of all the hereditary official positions.

none of them!

Because there is no age limit for this official position!
Yes!

No age limit!

This was unique among all official positions in the entire Song Dynasty.

Originally, there were restrictions—one had to be at least fifteen years old, of good character and appearance, talented, and whose father or grandfather was an official of the fifth rank or above.

However, when Bao Zheng passed away, Emperor Renzong personally went to pay his respects and saw Bao Shou, who was only eight years old at the time, at the funeral.

He immediately shed tears and was specially granted the title of Imperial Ancestral Temple Attendant by imperial decree.

This allowed Bao Shou to start eating the imperial grain from the Zhao family when he was eight years old.

From then on, there was no age limit for the Imperial Ancestral Temple Attendants.

Even if someone can't speak, the Emperor Zhao can grant them a gift if he likes them.

Most importantly, according to the system, the rank of the Imperial Ancestral Temple Attendant could be calculated by comparing it with that of the county clerks and county lieutenants in lower-level counties.

It's like having this privilege means you're officially employed.

This is something that many other hereditary official positions cannot match.

no way!
The name itself tells you what this official position is—it's in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, where one serves the ancestors of the Zhao family.

A seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister!
Isn't it normal for the sons of high-ranking officials who serve the emperors and their ancestors to receive better treatment?
Thus, the position of Taimiao Zhailang became the necessary path for almost all the top-ranking officials in the Song Dynasty to enter officialdom.

In the eyes of many, a young master who has never served as a shrine attendant at the Imperial Ancestral Temple is not considered a true young master.

He's just a nouveau riche at best!
As a result, the sons of officials became increasingly envious of this position.

The officials, however, treated this as a carrot, rewarding only the most obedient among them.

Cai Mao was able to obtain the position of Imperial Ancestral Temple Attendant because Cai Que's work in Fujian pleased Zhao Xu.

Quanzhou Port alone can bring Zhao Xu's sealed-off warehouse a monthly income of 10,000 to 20,000 guan!
As time goes on, this number will increase.

In the future, earning millions or even tens of millions of dollars a year is possible!

With his official position, Cai Mao's career began.

Now he works as a probationary proofreader at the Yuanyou Grand Ceremony Bookstore, following in his father-in-law's footsteps.

Once the Yuan You Grand Ceremony is completed, he can use this resume to successfully cross the boundaries between being selected as a candidate for official position in the capital.

This is the composure of a top-tier high-ranking official!

Zhao Xu looked at Cai Mao's face and smiled, "Minister Cai, no need for formalities!"

"Did you come here today with Minister Cai or Commander Feng?" Zhao Xu teased.

Cai Mao looked embarrassed and replied softly, "Your Majesty, I am now serving Lord Taishan on my father's orders..."

Zhao Xu chuckled.

It's unclear when it started, but the "henpecked" persona began to become popular among the young masters of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

Anyway, nowadays a lot of privileged kids are vying to claim they are 'henpecked'.

This trend may have been started by Shen Kuo.

Thanks to Su Shi, the nicknames of Shen Kuo and Shen Jichang are now known throughout the world.

Along with his reputation for being henpecked, a similar uproar arose regarding the Empress Dowager's favoritism towards Shen Kuo's wife, Zhang.

Because of this favor, Zhang rose from a lowly concubine to the current title of Lady of Yuhang County in just three years.

In the eyes of many, Shen Kuo's current status and power are largely due to his wife.

Shen Kuo himself did not deny these rumors after hearing them, which amplified their influence.

As a result, the sons of high-ranking officials began to compete in showing their fear of their wives.

Cai Mao, a man obsessed with officialdom, was deeply engrossed in it.

Since returning to Beijing, he has begun to portray himself as a "loving husband" and "fearful husband" in every situation.

Empress Dowager Xiang was quite interesting; after hearing about this matter, she intentionally began to cooperate with public opinion.

They frequently summoned Zhang to the palace, and each time she entered, she received a reward.

This further fueled the gossip among the public.

It is precisely for this reason that public opinion among scholars has been able to tolerate Shen Kuo and his advocacy of "investigation of things." Otherwise, people would have long ago labeled Shen Kuo as "the 'Young and Arrogant Scholar'!"

Just as they now refer to Pu Zongmeng as the 'contemporary Shao Zhengmao'.

Pu Zongmeng, as prime minister, had his own base of support (the wealthy merchants and relatives of the emperor in Bianjing), as well as the support of Wang Anshi and Zhang Dun, and the protection of Zhao Xu.

What did Shen Kuo have?
He only had one department under him dedicated to manufacturing ordnance, and within that department, there were mostly technical bureaucrats.

Many of them were transferred from the ranks of court entertainers.

In the imperial court, they had virtually no influence or power.

Is there a powerful and stable interest group behind him?

This means that if he is surrounded and attacked, he will be beaten up by a mob.

Zhao Xu's support, at most, would only allow him to protect himself.

However, when a technical official is besieged by both the court and the public, the emperor's support is actually of little use.

Because this person will not have the energy or time to do other things.

At this moment, it was quite appropriate for Empress Dowager Xiang to step forward, deliberately draw attention to Zhang's favor, and demonstrate her affection for her.

Because history has proven time and time again—don't argue with the Empress Dowager!

In particular, do not argue with a powerful empress dowager!

If you mess with her, you won't be able to handle it!
Because only emperors consider the big picture.

And the Empress Dowager?
Whether it was Empress Lü or Empress Wu, whether it was Empress Zhangxian Mingsu or Empress Cisheng Guangxian.

If you anger them, and they really lose their temper, a single decree could cost someone their life!

Moreover, dying was pointless!
Filial piety is of paramount importance!
Even the emperor couldn't protect those whom the empress dowager wanted to kill.

Therefore, when Empress Dowager Xiang stepped in and became close to Zhang, the criticisms leveled against Shen Kuo in public opinion remained unchanged.

But in the end, no one dared to label Shen Kuo as "Shao Zhengmao".

At most, they might curse him a few times as a "cunning scoundrel" or a "master of gimmicks."

At the same time, both the Censorate and the remonstrance officials of the Censorate.

The impeachments and attacks against Shen Kuo have always been within reasonable limits.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that Shen Kuo and the "investigation of things to acquire knowledge" he advocated have very limited influence at present.

otherwise……

I'm afraid neither the new party nor the old party would tolerate it.

It was for this reason that Zhao Xu often cooperated with Empress Dowager Xiang, and would intentionally or unintentionally bring up the matter of "being afraid of one's wife" in front of those ministers who were putting on a "henpecked" persona.

The intention was to tell the court and the public – the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have seen your underhanded tactics!

This makes these people perform more actively and proactively.

As a result, those who were eager to attack Shen Kuo, both inside and outside the court, naturally retreated.

After all, everyone traveled thousands of miles to Bianjing in order to get promoted, make money, and secure a good position for their wives and children.

Instead of coming here to be a strong point officer, to be a self-destructing truck.

Moreover, compared to Shen Kuo and his science of investigating things.

Undoubtedly, Pu Zongmeng and his "trickle-down finance" theory are more hateful and more heretical!
With these thoughts in mind, Zhao Xu asked, "Commander Feng, how have you been lately?"

"Your Majesty, Lord Taishan, though old, is still vigorous. Since being ordered to compile the Yuan You Grand Encyclopedia, he has been deeply grateful for the Emperor's great favor. Every day, he gets up before dawn and goes to the Yuan You Grand Encyclopedia publishing house... only returning home at dusk..."

Zhao Xu laughed: "Elder, you are loyal to the country and a true role model for the world!"

He knew that what Cai Mao said was true.

Both Feng Jing and Zhang Fangping, after receiving the imperial decree, began to prepare and establish the Yuanyou Grand Ceremony Book Bureau.

They immediately got into work mode!
Even people look more than ten years younger!

Feng Jing, in particular, is always full of energy, looking like he could still dedicate another thirty years to the Song Dynasty!

This is simply a medical miracle!

But that's just the nature of power-driven beings!
Power is life!

Back when Han Jiang was still the prime minister, even though his health was failing, he would always ride a horse into the imperial city to attend to official business.

Less than half a month after he resigned as prime minister, his health collapsed, and he entered a vicious cycle of illness, treatment, worsening of his condition, treatment, bedriddenness, and inability to get up again.

Zhao Xu could naturally understand this.

He said to Cai Mao, "Since you are serving Governor Feng, then please deliver this letter to the governor for me!"

As he spoke, Tong Guan, who was standing next to Zhao Xu, handed a copied document to Cai Mao.

(End of this chapter)