I studied in modern times

Chapter 867: The Opportunity Seen by Xing Shu

Xue Zhanshe's letter of apology was soon delivered to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu picked it up, scanned it, and nodded: "Not bad!"

"I know how to reflect on myself now!"

“But the reflection is in the wrong direction!”

It can be seen from Xue Zhanshe's apology that it was written under the guidance of an expert.

His words were humble, his attitude was sincere, and his personal attitude was even more humble.

He directly said that he was "unfilial" and failed to abide by his father's last wishes.

He also said that his past behavior was dissolute and "contrary to the holy teachings of the Son of Heaven and the classics of the sages", so he asked to enter the Imperial College to be further influenced and educated by the classics of the sages.

pity……

His reflection is inadequate.

Did Zhao Xu want to punish him because of his dissolute behavior?

wrong!
It was because he had nothing to do, so he extended his hands to the counties in the prefecture!
He just wanted to live a life of debauchery and pleasure in the city of Bianjing.

Zhao Xu was too lazy to care about him!

But he insisted on going to the county towns within the prefecture to show off his power.

However, Zhao Xu had already regarded all the counties within the prefecture as forbidden meat.

Therefore, Xue Zhanshe's behavior was like him picking up food when the leader raised his glass, or turning the table when the emperor gave him wine.

Must hit hard!
Fortunately, Xue Zhanshe has a good fortune.

Not only did he have a brother-in-law named Ouyang Xiu, he also had a good father named Xue Kui.

Even though Xue Kui has been dead for more than fifty years.

But he still left him a letter that could save his life.

This time, the Censorate confiscated the Xue family's letters and found the original manuscript of the memorial that Xue Kui submitted to the Ren Temple in the first year of Jingyou.

Xue Kui's memorial only talked about one thing.

The emperor is old, please appoint an heir to ensure the stability of the country!
Moreover, in his memorial, he openly recommended a person - the thirteenth son of Yunrang, the governor of Jiangning, who was only three years old and had a kind, filial and intelligent nature. He begged Your Majesty to follow the example of the previous emperor (Zhenzong was also unable to give birth to a son, so he sent people to bring in his cousin Zhao Yuanfen's third son Zhao Yunrang with a green carriage and flags to raise as a quasi-prince. After Renzong was born, he was sent back to the Shangwang Mansion with Xiao Shao music. This is the cause and effect entanglement of Yingzong's lineage and Zhenzong's lineage)
This was the earliest memorial that clearly proposed the establishment of an imperial heir in the Ying Temple.

Moreover, in the second year after this memorial was submitted, Renmiao took Yingmiao into the palace with a green carriage and flags to raise her. She was not sent back until the Baoyuan period, when she gave birth to a prince.

This was the key reason why Yingmiao was later named heir to the throne.

Otherwise, why would Emperor Renmiao, in his later years, have to establish a prince who was already an adult and had an heir?

Wouldn't it be better to choose a child from the royal family who is a close relative and bring him up from an early age?
However, because Yingmiao was sent to the palace in the second year of Jingyou, and was personally raised by Cisi Guangxian for several years as a future prince, he had already occupied the righteous status!

Therefore, when the Jiayou period came to discuss the succession, this righteous cause played a crucial role.

Almost everyone inside and outside the government supported Ying Miao.

Therefore, even though Ren Miao was extremely reluctant, he still wanted to have a son until his death.

In the end, he had no choice but to hold his nose and be forced by the court officials to establish Ying Miao as the heir to the throne.

So, when Xue Kui's memorial was found.

In fact, Xue Zhanshe had already obtained a golden ticket to avoid death - even if he really participated in the rebellion, Zhao Xu had to spare his life to show his mercy because of his father's merit in initiating the succession.

What's more, Xue Zhanshe actually did not participate in any rebellion at all.

He was implicated in this case and it was a complete injustice.

It was Zhao Xu who hinted to Zeng Bu, and then Zeng Bu instigated Shu Tan to do it.

That's politics.

If I say you are guilty, then you are guilty, even if you are innocent.

If I say you are innocent, then you are innocent. Even if you kill people, commit fires, bully men and women, and exploit the people in the local area, you are still my good son-in-law/brother-in-law/nephew.

This kind of thing is not the first time that it has happened in the Song Dynasty, nor will it be the last.

By now, Xue Zhanshe had almost finished beating him.

Zhao Xu felt that it was time to stop.

So he picked up a pen, circled some content in Xue Zhanshe's letter of apology, and then wrote a note next to it: I am very pleased that you can reflect on yourself. You can be admitted to the Imperial Academy to be influenced by the sages' classics for three years.

As for whether Xue Zhanshe can understand Zhao Xu’s good intentions?
Then Zhao Xu couldn't do anything about it.

But Zhao Xu believed that any smart person would go to Xue Zhanshe to see his instructions.

These people will definitely be able to see something.

As long as they can see the reason why Xue Zhanshe was unlucky this time.

Then Zhao Xu’s goal was achieved.

It really doesn’t work!

Next time, if any young master goes to the prefecture to show off his power, we will take action against him.

In this way, no matter how stupid the yamen are, they should know one truth - if you want to have fun, play in Bian Jing! Go to the prefecture to show off your abilities, and you will definitely get the Iron Fist!

……

Zhao Xu's instructions were delivered to the Xue family in less than half an hour.

This is naturally because Lady Renshou is too prestigious.

After reading the official's imperial edict, Xue Zhanshe let out a long sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

Finally... I passed!

God have mercy on him. He has been really distracted and restless these days.

He often had nightmares in the middle of the night, dreaming that an imperial envoy was sent from the palace to feed him poison.

I dreamed that blood was coming out of all my orifices and my internal organs were eroded.

He also dreamed that officials rushed into his house, put his wife and children in shackles, and exiled them to a distant place.

He also dreamed that his father's tomb was destroyed by the government, the stele was pushed down, and the ancestral tablet was thrown into the fire and burned.

As a result, I am often awakened by nightmares and feel at a loss as to what to do after waking up.

Now, it's all over.

He didn't have to be forced to drink poison, and his wife and children didn't have to be shackled and exiled to a distant place.

My father’s grave and stele were finally saved.

"Sir, what happened?" asked his wife, Mrs. Xie, anxiously.

Xue Zhanshe let out a sigh of relief and said, "The emperor allowed me to enter the Imperial College..."

Xie's expression suddenly became extremely wonderful.

She put her hands together and thanked the gods and Buddhas: "Amitabha, may the Bodhisattva bless you, may the Three Pure Ones bless you..."

"Finally, I got through this disaster safely!"

Although the current emperor has been mainly lenient and benevolent in his administration since he ascended the throne, there are times when he becomes furious.

Once you offend him, he will start to attack you without showing any mercy!
From Zhang Zhijian to Zhang Chengyi and then to Zhang Dunli...

No matter you are a general with great military achievements, a noble with outstanding merits, or a relative.

Kill them all!

No mercy!
Even if he kills you, you still have to thank him.

Because at least he didn't implicate three generations of your clan and delete your entire household registration book.

"Mr. Xue, may I see the imperial edict?" a scholar in brown clothes asked with a bow.

This man's name was Shang Zhu, and he was a famous scholar in the city of Bianliang.

He had served as an aide to Gao Zunyu and Guo Kui, offered many suggestions, and enjoyed a reputation as a think tank in the capital.

At the same time, he has been friends with the now popular Hanlin scholar Xing Shu and his uncle for more than 20 years - when Xing Shu was studying in Luoyang, Shang Zhu, Wang Yu and others became friends with him.

However, among my friends back then, only I passed the criminal justice and imperial examinations.

Others failed in the exams repeatedly, so they just stayed in the capital, working as guests and aides for the powerful and wealthy to make a living.

This time when the Xue family was in trouble, Xie paid a large sum of money to invite him to be their advisor, because they valued his relationship with Xing Shu.

Therefore, Xue Zhanshe's apology letter was written by him.

"Shang Gong, please look..."

Xue Zhanshe naturally would not refuse the request of this meritorious official, and handed the copy sent back from the palace to him.

Shang Zhu took the memorial and quickly saw the places circled in red and the words written by the emperor.

"I am very pleased that you can reflect on yourself... Yes, you can be admitted to the Imperial College..."

Sang-soo chewed on the words, his eyes rolling around.

"Mr. Shang...what's wrong?" Xie became nervous when she saw Shang Zhu's expression.

Sang-soo opened his mouth, but ultimately did not say what was in his mind.

Because he remembered the "chicken ribs" incident in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" that he had read in the Bian Jing Xin Bao.

He doesn't want to be Yang Xiu!
It is not only annoying, but also hateful!

Then he shook his head and said, "Nothing!"

Then he bowed and congratulated: "Congratulations, Master and Madam..."

"Since the Emperor has granted you the right to enter the Imperial Academy to be nurtured and educated by the sages..."

"If my guess is correct, when your three-year term is up, perhaps the government will offer you a reward!"

"Why?" Xue Zhanshe was puzzled.

Shang Zhu said: "Because you are the first person who took the initiative to enter the Imperial Academy to be influenced by the teachings of the sages!"

"That's because you are the first person to be admitted to the Imperial Academy by the emperor's imperial gift to be nurtured and educated by the sages' teachings!"

That’s enough for now.

Xue Zhanshe and Xie soon understood what was going on.

Yup!

Thousands of gold to buy horse bones!
The couple immediately smiled happily, and Xie not only gave Shang Zhu 500 strings of Jiaozi as promised, but also gave him an extra 100 strings of Jiaozi as a reward.

Sang-soo took the money and said goodbye before leaving.

After he left Xue's house, he thought for a while and then turned to Xing Shu's house.

Although he was a Hanlin scholar, Xing Shu did not have a house in Bianjing, so he rented a house like everyone else. However, the house he rented was not an ordinary house.

Instead, it is a mansion with dozens of rooms, its own garden and pavilions.

Such a luxury house naturally costs a lot to rent!

A month would cost at least three to five hundred strings of cash!
Even though Xing Shu was a Hanlin scholar, he could not afford such expensive rent.

But what can we do? He is the emperor's trusted confidant!
Therefore, the government specially ordered that the store and house be rented to him at a price of less than twenty strings of cash per month.

It is said that when Xing Shu enters the two governments in the future, this mansion may even be directly given to him!
It's really enviable!
Sang-soo always had mixed feelings whenever he came to Xingshu's house.

Because he knew very well that he would never be able to afford a house in Bianjing City in his lifetime!
I couldn’t afford it in the past!
I can’t even afford it now!

Because the housing prices in Bianjing have generally increased by 30% to 50% compared to last year!
In some places, the price has even more than doubled!
This is also something that cannot be done.

Who said that now, the fight to secure what you have bought is in full swing.

Rich merchants from all the prefectures and counties in the world have flocked to the capital.

The people of Bian Jing even joked that if someone threw a stone down from Fan Tower, the people who would be hit would most likely be wealthy people with assets worth hundreds of thousands of taels.

After these people arrived in Beijing, they would first be taken by Jia Zhongmin from the Street Office to visit the Bian Jing Academy and learn about its admission policy.

then……

After seeing the Bian Jing Academy, these wealthy businessmen and powerful merchants from the prefectures and counties could not resist the urge to buy houses!

They shouted that even if they lost everything they had, they would buy a house in the Bian Jing school and send their children to study in the capital.

Stimulated by these people, the wealthy businessmen in Bianliang also began to feel a sense of crisis.

After all, there are only so many houses, if someone else buys them, you will have none left! They all started preparing to buy houses in Bian Jing Academy!
As a result, the price of housing in the Bian Jing Academy skyrocketed!

Nowadays, the market price of a standard thousand-square-foot second-hand house in the first phase has soared to more than 70,000 strings of cash!

Compared to last year's 50,000 guan per set, the price has increased by almost 20,000 guan!

Even this, people who want to buy it can’t buy it!

I heard that there are so many buyers for the second phase of houses that the street department is planning to use drawing lots to decide who to sell the houses to.

As a result of what they did, housing prices in other parts of Bianjing City also began to rise.

Thinking of this, Sang-soo sighed and became more envious of Xing-shu.

Tuk-tuk-tuk...

After the knock on the door, someone came soon.

"Mr. Shang is here?" The one who opened the door was the doorman hired by Xing Shu. When he saw Shang Zhu, he immediately smiled and said, "My boss has ordered that if Mr. Shang comes, you can take him directly to see him..."

"Thank you!" Shang Zhu was very sensible and took out a five-guan Jiaozi from his sleeve and stuffed it into the other person's hand.

The other party immediately took Shangzhu to see Xingshu with a smile on his face.

Today is Xing Shu's day off, so he is staying at home to rest - he has been too busy these past few days!
Spending every day in brothels, even if it's just to listen to music, you can't get enough nutrition.

I really can’t stand it!

He had no choice but to hide at home and take Liuwei Dihuang Pills prescribed by the imperial physician Qian Yi.

Even so, Xing Shu still felt very weak and even shaky when he walked.

But there is no way!

The country is in a difficult situation. If he doesn't sacrifice for the country, who will? !

So when Shangzhu saw Xingshu, he also found that his good friend's face was a little pale and he was not in a good spirit.

"Uncle He, what happened?" Shang Zhu asked hurriedly.

Xing Shu smiled bitterly and said, "I have been too busy lately, so much so that the imperial physician came to check my pulse several times..."

"Uncle He, you'd better take care of your health!" Sang Zhu said with some concern.

Xing Shu nodded: "Thank you for your concern, Brother Shang!"

Then he asked, "Brother, are you coming from Xue's Mansion?"

"Ok!"

"The government has received the imperial decree?"

"Ok!"

"how?"

Shang Zhu then whispered to Xing Shu the imperial edict he saw in Xue's mansion.

Xing Shu narrowed his eyes after hearing this.

Does he know what the government means?

"From now on, Lord Shang and the others should not go to the counties in the prefecture casually..."

"If you go, it's best not to get involved with the officials of the prefecture or the local gentry!"

Sang-soo listened and nodded: "I understand!"

Xing Shu hummed and said, "The emperor today is wise and benevolent..."

"One thing is unique..."

"I don't like people who don't listen!"

"If I offend the emperor, I will be demoted!"

Xing Shu was very clear about this.

That's why he specifically pointed it out and told his old friend Shangzhu - don't cause trouble. If you get into trouble, I can't save you!

"As for the Xue family?" Xing Shu thought for a moment and said, "That's it!"

"In the next three years, Xue Zhanshe will not appear in public again... In three years, he will be nearly sixty years old. Even if he wants to be happy, he won't be able to be happy!"

"It's really a learning thing..." Xing Shu laughed, "I'm afraid it will get more and more lively in the future!"

Sang-soo listened, thoughtful.

indeed!

The Imperial Academy now has a son of a former prime minister and the son-in-law of the Emperor Renmiao who is being influenced and educated by the teachings of the sages.

Now, another brother-in-law of the former Emperor Wenzong has entered.

It can be seen that this is not the end, but the beginning.

Maybe, in the future, the son of the current prime minister will go in to receive the influence and education of the sages’ teachings!

Xing Shu looked at Shang Zhu and naturally knew what Shang Zhu was thinking.
However, he didn't say much.

After all, Shangzhu was an opposition scholar, so he didn't need to know too much about the affairs of the court.

Knowing too much may even be a disaster!
As they were talking, the gatekeeper of Xing Shu's family came to report: "My lord, the capital has just sent someone to deliver today's personnel list..."

"Yes!" Xing Shu nodded and took the court report from the gatekeeper.

He just took a look and sat up.

Because a line of text at the end of the official report caught his attention: Shen Zhu, the former lecturer of the Imperial College and the chief clerk of the Court of Examiners, was reinstated as Xuan De Lang and the magistrate of Chenliu County.

Nowadays, the appointment and dismissal of officials in the seventeen counties within the prefecture are all done by the emperor himself.

What’s more, he was sent by the magistrate of Chenliu County?
So, this was done by the emperor himself!

And he is the first major official appointed in the prefecture!
Shen Zhu?!
It sounds a little strange.

Xing Shu frowned.

Shangzhu looked at him and asked cautiously, "What's your problem, sir?"

Xing Shu looked at the other person, and then said, "The emperor personally removed the magistrate of Chenliu County today..."

"Reinstate Shen Zhu, former lecturer at the Imperial College and chief clerk at the Court of Examiners, as Xuande Lang and magistrate of Chenliu County!"

"Brother Shang, do you know Shen Zhu?!"

Sang-soo listened, thought for a moment, and then asked Xing-shu, "Shen-soo?"

"But the one with the courtesy name Zi Ping?"

Xing Shu nodded: "Maybe? There is no courtesy name in the official newspaper... How come, Brother Shang knows?"

Shang Zhu nodded and said to Xing Shu meaningfully, "Do you know about the Wutai School case?"

Xing Shu pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and thought of the case that was far more tragic than the Wudai Poetry Case.

A vice-chancellor, dozens of court officials, and hundreds of well-known scholars were involved.

Finally, the incident affected all states and counties, and thousands of people were convicted and imprisoned.

After this case, Wang Anshi’s influence in the court could be said to have completely disappeared!
After this case, Wang Gui, Cai Que and others truly took control of power.

This case marks the dividing line between Xining politics and Yuanfeng politics!
Before this case, the reform was still being promoted based on Wang Anshi's ideas at the time.

After this case, the reform truly began to be carried out according to the will of the previous emperor.

and so……

"Who is this Shen Zhu?" Xing Shu asked.

When the Wutai Case broke out, although he was in the capital, he was still a kid. He had just clung to Wu Chong's thigh and had not had the chance to change his allegiance and cling to Cai Que's thigh - even if he wanted to, he couldn't, because Cai Que at that time was just an ordinary person.

Tsai Que began to rise only after the Wutai Academic Case and the Wutai Poetry Case.

Sang-soo replied, "Nephew of Wang Sikong, son of Shen Daoyuan..."

hiss!
Xing Shu took a breath of cold air!
Shen Jichang, also known as Shen Daoyuan, was the number one blowhard of Wang Anshi in the court at that time.

Wang Anshi is recognized as a die-hard bootlicker!
In order to promote Wang Anshi's new learning, he taught it directly in the Imperial College without even teaching the Analects, Mencius, and the Book of History!

Simply replace it with new books such as New Interpretations of the Three Classics and Explanations of Characters!
This is how he died!
How could the late emperor tolerate him? !
As a result, the Wutai Incident brought down countless followers of Wang Anshi both inside and outside the court.

After this case, Wang Anshi of Jiangning became a lonely man!
It can even be said that he is a political futures dead!

It was not until the current emperor ascended the throne that the situation began to improve slowly.

Now, the government has employed this person and directly appointed him as the magistrate of Chenliu County, the county closest to Bianliang.

What does the government want to do?
Considering that next year, the three-year mourning period will expire.

and so……

Does the government want to redress the Wutai school case?
Just thinking about this, Xing Shu's heart started beating wildly.

He saw an opportunity!

An opportunity to enter both palaces!

(End of this chapter)