I studied in modern times

Chapter 889: One Loyalty Covers a Hundred Evils
July 28, the second year of Yuanyou.

Lin Xi, the Imperial Court Official and the River Patrol Envoy of the Dahe North Road, was appointed as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat and ordered to return to the court.

This does not really mean to appoint Lin Xi as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat.

It was just a title to make it easier for him to be sent as an envoy to the Liao Kingdom. After the Treaty of Chanyuan, the civil officials sent by the Song Dynasty to the Liao Kingdom had to be Zhongshu Sheren or Hanlin Academician.

Similarly, when the Liao Dynasty sent envoys to the Song Dynasty, they usually sent close relatives of the royal family/relatives as the chief envoys, and high-ranking Han Chinese civil officials (Zhongshu Sheren, Jiujiu Sheren, Hanlin Academicians) as deputy envoys.

There are very few exceptions.

Wu Yong, the attendant of Tianzhang Pavilion and the governor of Xiangzhou, died of illness.

He was one of the few important officials of the Song Dynasty whose native place was Guangnan East Road.

At the same time, he was also one of Zhao Xu's father's confidants during his lifetime.

This can be seen from Wu Yong's resume - after he was discovered in the first year of Yuanfeng, he served successively as the acting Minister of the Sinong Temple, the Inspector of the Household Department of the Central Secretariat, the Left Director of the Ministry of Revenue, the Hebei Transport Commissioner, the Qinfeng Road General Manager, and the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue...

This is being trained to become a future ruler.

Therefore, in the eighth year of Yuanfeng, when Zhao Xu's father had just fallen ill, the ministers of the New Party and the Old Party in the court joined forces and exiled Wu Yong to Xiangzhou - because although Wu Yong was a member of the New Party, he did not belong to any faction and was a typical lone minister or the emperor's party.

He was the type who would do whatever the emperor told him to do.

Therefore, not only do the people of the old party hate him very much, but the people of the new party also find him an eyesore.

Especially the prime ministers such as Wang Gui and Cai Que who were in power at that time.

Those who occupy the same ecological niche as Wu Yong include Wu Juhou, Jian Zhoufu and his son, Wang Zijing, etc.

It’s just that people like Wu Juhou have such a bad reputation, so it only takes a little effort to ruin their reputation.

But Wu Yong was different. He had never had blood on his hands and had a good reputation as an official.

It was then treated cold.

Zhao Xu was also deeply saddened after receiving Wu Yong's obituary.

An imperial decree was issued to bestow upon him the title of Minister of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites was ordered to discuss his posthumous title, and a special decree was issued to grant one of his sons an official posthumous title.

Speaking of which, there were "cruel officials" such as Wu Juhou, Jian Zhoufu and his son, and Wang Zijing.

Now, they have all taken up their new positions.

In April this year, Wu Juhou's term of demotion expired. After an investigation by the Ministry of Personnel headed by Wang Zishao, Wu Juhou's performance was rated as "above average".

Therefore, an imperial decree was issued to reinstate him, and he was appointed as Chaofenglang, editor of Jixian Hall, and acting governor of Hangzhou.

Hangzhou is an important city in the southeast and a commercial and trade center.

What did Zhao Xu want to do by sending Wu Juhou, a typical member of the imperial party who specialized in doing dirty and tiring work and was willing to take the blame, to Hangzhou?
There is no need to say more!

In March, Jian Zhoufu retired as the director of Dongxiao Palace in Hangzhou under the special order of Zhao Xu.

Retire successfully after achieving success.

His son Qian Xuchen, in the same month, reprimanded himself for being appointed as the magistrate of Luzhou and was instead appointed as the magistrate of Chuzhou.

Chuzhou was also an important province in the southeast, roughly corresponding to the modern Bengbu and Huai'an areas.

And Wang Zijing, the cruel official who makes Fujian people grit their teeth to this day, also took up a new post in May this year - he was appointed as an editor in the imperial library and was temporarily sent as the magistrate of Xuzhou.

What is Xuzhou? Zhao Xu's future industrial base.

So, three years ago, all the cruel officials who were wanted by the whole world to be killed came ashore.

Both the Censorate and public opinion were blind to this.

This is very normal in the Song Dynasty!
There are many examples of officials who have gained both praise and criticism from all over the world, but have risen to high positions amid criticism and controversy.

After all, it is not easy for the court to train a scholar-official!
What's more, in Zhao Xu's opinion, these people only made some "minor mistakes".

When it comes to major issues of right and wrong, their stance is firmer than anyone else's!
Each of them is a staunch imperialist! Their loyalty is at the top!
Not to mention anything else, in the past two or three years, public opinion around the world has been criticizing and scolding them every day.

Put all the blame and mistakes on them.

But have they ever argued back? Have they ever defended themselves?
No!

Everyone took responsibility for all the charges that were put upon them.

He frankly took responsibility for everything they had done during their tenure.

It did not cause any trouble to the court, the late emperor and Zhao Xu.

It is very difficult to find such a minister.

As the saying goes, loyal ministers are revealed in times of turmoil, and strong grass is revealed in strong winds.

Therefore, their reinstatement and appointment to new positions are all very normal.

One loyalty can cover a hundred evils!
What's more, these people are actually quite capable.

The next day, July Yiyou (29), Zhao Xu received another piece of bad news.

On the twelfth day of Xinyou in this month, the retired minister, Wang Lin, the attendant of Baowen Pavilion and the supervisor of Chongfu Palace, died of illness in Hezhong Prefecture.

When the obituary arrived, the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang both issued imperial edicts and sent envoys to express their condolences.

The emperor also granted a special decree to allow Meng Qingqing, Lady of Ganquan County, to offer sacrifices in the palace to express her condolences.

Because Wang Lin is Wang Guangyuan's younger brother, and Wang Guangyuan is Meng Qingqing's great-grandfather.

His mother, Wang, was the eldest granddaughter of Wang Guangyuan.

There is no need to say much about the relationship between Wang Guangyuan and Yingmiao.

When Emperor Ying Miao was in the palace, Wang Guangyuan was the most important counselor and think tank around him.

He made great contributions to Yingmiao's ascension to the throne. It is said that when Yingmiao was alive, he listened to Wang Guangyuan's advice.

It is said that Pu Yi was Wang Guangyuan's suggestion.

Therefore, the Empress Dowager attached great importance to the Wang family.

This is the only way Meng Qingqing has the opportunity to enter the palace - otherwise, the opportunity to enter the palace is so precious, how could a poor family like the Meng family have the chance?

When Zhao Xu learned of Wang Lin's death, he also sent envoys to the Wang family in Daming Prefecture to express his condolences and sympathy.

The emperor also issued an imperial decree to posthumously confer the titles of Minister of Rites and Grand Marshal on Wang Lin, and to posthumously confer the title of Jiedushi of Fengguo Army on him. He also granted him a stele with the two characters "忠靖" (loyalty and jing) inscribed on it with his own hand, and promised to allow two of his descendants to hold official positions.

This is a reward for Wang Lin's loyalty and broad-mindedness.

Because Wang Lin was one of the few senior civil servants in the Song Dynasty who voluntarily responded to the emperor's edict and changed from civil rank to military rank. During the Zhiping period, the Ying Temple issued an edict to ask for border generals, intending to promote the change of civil officials to military rank.

But in the Song Dynasty, where civil officials were respected and military officials were despised, one can imagine what kind of situation the imperial edict from the Temple of Emperor Ying would encounter!

Almost no one responded!

At this time, Wang Lin, the younger brother of Wang Guangyuan who was a close minister and confidant of Emperor Ying, took the initiative to volunteer and requested to exchange his military funds.

Therefore, he was appointed as the deputy envoy of Chongyi and the commander of Shun'an Army. Later, he was transferred to the military commander of Hebei. After that, he served as the deputy envoy of pacification along the border and became a general on the front line. It was not until the Xining period that he was exchanged for Wen Zi under the arrangement of Zhao Xu's father.

This one incident alone was enough for Zhao Xu to praise him and give him the highest level of honor.

Not to mention, when the Xining Reforms were carried out, the nobles and relatives of the emperor's wife collectively opposed it, but the Wang Guangyuan brothers firmly supported it and implemented various regulations related to the new law under their own autonomy.

Therefore, the Wang family became an outlier among the noble relatives and was always excluded and suppressed (although Wang Guangyuan and his brothers were both civil officials, they were regarded as noble relatives like Zhang Yaozuo in the court).

It was not until Meng Qingqing entered the palace that the nobles reluctantly resumed their dealings with the Wang family.

(End of this chapter)