I studied in modern times

Chapter 940 They are all movie kings
After expressing their gratitude, Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang sat back in their chairs.

After they sat down, Zhao Xu said, "These past few days, I have been busy with the Yuanyou Armillary Sphere in the Hanlin Academy with Prime Minister Su, and have no time to take care of the affairs of the court..."

Well, he is indeed innocent.

He was already in the Hanlin Academy before the factional strife in the court began.

After the party struggle began, he simply went to the Hanlin Academy three times a day.

So, the innocent Emperor Zhao started to lie with his eyes open: "Yesterday, I learned from my mother that the two gentlemen had submitted petitions to leave..."

"I was very surprised when I heard it!"

At this point, Zhao Xu pretended to be pitiful and looked at the two ministers: "But what did I do wrong?"

"My two lords, are you going to abandon me?"

"Please, gentlemen, tell me clearly where I am wrong..."

"I will change it!"

"I only hope that you two gentlemen will stay in the court and continue to assist me..."

As he spoke, Zhao Xu stood up and bowed slightly to Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang, a standard textbook gesture of a king treating his ministers with courtesy and seeking to appoint talented people to positions of power.

This is what Zhao Xu learned from watching various movies, TV dramas and short videos in modern times.

However, most of these modern entertainment products are somewhat exaggerated.

But, since they are so popular, it means that these things must have a huge audience.

A wide audience means that these things have a deep social foundation.

In addition, Zhao Xu is a professional historical researcher in modern times.

Therefore, he was very clear about the mentality of the literati.

Arrogant and self-deprecating, rational and emotional.

And such characteristics mean that the scholars and officials will be completely dominated by him!
Just like how [Honest Man] will definitely be controlled by Tea Sister!
Facts proved to be just as Zhao Xu expected.

Ever since he woke up in Qingning Palace, he began to deliberately show his 'humility', 'kindness', 'love for the people', 'ability to correct mistakes' and 'ability to listen to advice' in front of his officials, which was a succubus strategy specially tailored for the literati.

So you can get it right every time!

There is no way. How could the literati in the Middle Ages have ever seen the fighting styles that have been evolved by modern people?
It’s completely a dimensionality reduction attack!

I can't stand it at all!
Even those who can bear it have to pretend that they can't!
After Zhao Xu discovered that his style of play was very useful, he naturally continued to use it.

Even today, we dare not say "not being stuck in things, and having words and deeds that are in line with the teachings of sages and the ways of the Three Kings".

At least it is close to the realm of "unprecedented ingenuity and natural beauty".

In layman's terms, her acting skills are good enough that she can substitute the real people for the succubi of past dynasties such as Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Zhaolie, and laugh, grieve, and get angry naturally, which is more than enough to fool the ministers of the Middle Ages.

Although it was not the first time that Lü Gongzhu and Li Chang encountered Zhao Xu's big move, they still blushed, breathed rapidly, and their eyes were red. They felt even more ashamed in their hearts - such a wise king, I actually wanted to be a deserter? How shameful!

So, they all bowed and said, "How insignificant are we? How could we be so favored by Your Majesty?!"

"I am truly blessed to have lived three lives. I shall die a hundred times to repay your kindness!"

Fortunately, they are all old foxes in the officialdom.

Moreover, he saw with his own eyes how Zhao Xu punished those who offended him - Li Ding was banished to Yingzhou and died, Zhang Zhijian was beheaded, and Zhang Qi's family was wiped out, uprooted.

The imperial consort Zhang Dunli died suddenly in prison.

The most chilling thing is the way his majesty treated the Wu family.

It was a blunt knife cutting flesh, and the Wu family members were cut so hard that they didn't even have the strength to resist!

Unfortunately, the Wu family still has to thank God for his grace.

I am grateful to His Majesty for having some regard for Wu Chong's friendship and not killing him completely, thus leaving some dignity for the Wu family.

Lu Gongzhu was related to the Wu family by marriage - the first wife of his third son Lu Xiji was Wu Chong's youngest daughter.

At the beginning, when the Wu family was in trouble, they came to him for help.

After listening carefully to the Wu family's crying, Lu Gongzhu took a deep breath.

Because the methods used by His Majesty are all within the scope of reasonable and legal procedures.

No one can find fault with it!

The key point is that he pushed Wang Zishao to the front, and hid himself beautifully behind the scenes, not wanting to have any blood splashed on himself and not wanting to have any relationship with him.

Therefore, Lu Gongzhu could only persuade the Wu family to surrender unconditionally.

In order to seek forgiveness and pardon, Wu Mou had to be sent to Jiangning as well.

Sure enough, Wu Mou had just arrived in Jiangning with Wang.

The Ministry of Personnel's restrictions on the Wu family disappeared completely.

In the eyes of outsiders, everything that the Wu family encountered was done by the treacherous minister Wang Zishao in order to curry favor with Wang Anshi.

Only a few people close to the center of power understood that without the emperor's authorization, instruction and connivance, even if Wang Zishao had a hundred times the courage, he would not dare to strangle the former prime minister's sons and nephews.

Despite this, Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang's voices were still choked with sobs.

Of course, at least half of this is a performance that happens naturally.

But it's also half true.

no way!
Since ancient times, how many emperors have been able to be like His Majesty before us, who is willing to show respect for ministers, respect for systems and laws, listen to advice, and be willing to discuss and compromise with everyone to handle state affairs?
So, even though they knew that the young master might be acting for them.

But still have to cooperate with the performance.

Didn’t the saint say that?
If he has been away for a long time and has not returned, how can we know that he does not exist?

Apart from anything else, at least this Majesty truly cares about the world and its people.

We are also willing to spend money and make concessions to the world and the people.

So, although His Majesty likes to come up with new ideas and is fond of some strange and tricky tricks.

However, Lu Gongzhu was still very happy and let him drive him.

Because he knew there was nothing better!
At least he will never meet anyone better in his life.

Then, Lu Gongzhuo choked up, took out the self-defense letter he had written from his bosom, presented it in his hand, and said: "Your Majesty, the reason why I want to leave is because I am ashamed..."

"I am ashamed of your majesty's trust, and I am ashamed of the late emperor's entrustment!"

"My fellow villagers used my name to lend money in the village, and even forced my fellow villagers to death!"

"I am favored by your majesty, but something like this has happened!"

"I really have no face to stand in the court anymore!"

After saying this, Lu Gongzhu bowed deeply. However, he did not mention at all the censors' accusations that he formed a clique for personal gain, abused his title, and was incompetent in office.

No excuses were made for these things.

Not only was he disdainful, but he was also very experienced in politics and knew very well that he could not make excuses for these things, especially not in front of the emperor.

Because once you do that, you will fall into the calculations of others.

By then, yellow mud will fall into your crotch and you won’t be able to explain it!
Because the most popular topics among the public are gossip about the palace and the prime ministers.

Through word of mouth, it is easy for false information to become true.

Because the psychology of the general public is very simple - if you didn't do it, why should you explain?

Explanation is to cover!

Therefore, the most appropriate approach is not to mention it yourself and let others talk about it.

Zhao Xu listened, his expression moved, and asked, "Is this true?"

He ordered Tong Guan to step forward and take the note from Lu Gongzhu.

Tong Guan presented the note written by Lu Gong to Zhao Xu. Zhao Xu took it and looked at it, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Those who lend money in the village are only distant relatives of your husband three generations away..."

"He used my husband's name to cheat people outside and committed a crime. What does that have to do with my husband?"

"Let the officials take him into custody and order the government to deal with him according to the law!"

Of course, Zhao Xu actually didn't believe that Lu Gongzhu had anything to do with the clan member who lent money in the village and forced people to die.

Although the Lu family of Shouzhou has flourished and prospered for a hundred years.

Such a large family is bound to have a mixed bag of good and bad people, and it is inevitable that there will be some unfilial descendants.

What’s more, according to the law of the Song Dynasty, when parents die, their sons shall divide their property!

Therefore, the relationships among the vast majority of ordinary families are within three generations and are considered relatives.

Beyond the three generations, there are just passers-by A, B, C, and D.

Even some small and medium-sized landlord families cannot even survive for three generations and will directly become strangers or even enemies!

This is how money can move people's hearts.

It is also inevitable under the development of commodity economy.

Brothers, uncles and nephews?
Is there any brother Kong Fang?

Therefore, the current mainstream of society is that people outside of three generations are not considered relatives.

But, that's ordinary people.

This is not the case for top families like the Lu family.

However, the Lu family will still follow the practice of dividing the property among the sons after the father's death to ensure the wealth of the main family.

However, as the Lu family continued to expand.

The family's side branches, those members beyond three generations, also became useful talents.

So what is the name of 'fake minister'?
Ha ha!

This is the same operation as modern temporary workers.

Nothing happened—he is my blood nephew!
Something happened - he used my name to do evil things in the countryside, which is really hateful! He should be punished according to the law and will not be forgiven!

The best thing is that the whole process happened naturally.

No matter how hard we search, we cannot find out the role played by Lu Gongzhu and his family members in this.

Because they really weren’t involved.

Just profit from it.

You may ask - why do others have to pay tribute to their family after making money?
He is filial! Is that okay?
Operations like this were very common and popular among the powerful families in the Song Dynasty.

However, this operation will soon be abandoned by the times.

Because now more and more people are beginning to imitate Fan Zhongyan's model of charity estates, charity fields, and charity schools.

By donating their property as clan property after their death and binding the clan together, they realized an alternative clan system of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, which was eventually evolved into a clan society in the Ming and Qing Dynasties that controlled counties and towns, replaced national laws with clan rules, and replaced royal laws with clan rules.

Imperial power will never go to the countryside again!
If local officials want to collect taxes, they have to cooperate with these clan leaders.

Therefore, Zhao Xu has a high tolerance for these actions of the current powerful families.

At least these families are more advanced than clans!
So, I just turned a blind eye and kept to myself.

Lü Gongzhu listened, tears streaming down his face, and choked as he said, "But...after all, the innocent people in that village were persecuted to death by my clansmen in my name..."

"As the saying goes: I didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me..."

"I am truly ashamed!"

As he spoke, tears began to fall from his eyes.

These are crocodile tears!
Seeing this, Zhao Xu sighed, "What does it mean to be a minister of the world? I know now!"

"With your assistance, I will surely be able to bring peace to the world!"

Then, he looked at Li Chang: "Mr. Li, why are you asking to leave?"

Li Chang knelt on the ground, took out a letter from his bosom and presented it in his hand: "Let me tell your majesty why I want to leave..."

"I am a minister of little talent. Since I was favored by Your Majesty, I have made no contribution to state affairs. I have only cared about myself and have always worried about gains and losses. I have never promoted talents for the country or promoted talents for Your Majesty... I don't know the pros and cons of civil affairs. Your Majesty ordered me to manage the cases of all the people, but I failed to clear up the injustices in the world. As a result, natural disasters have occurred repeatedly, and the seasons have changed. So people say: Today, the Minister is in charge of writing, and there is no hope of redressing injustice!"

"The state supports its ministers generously for the benefit of the people!"

"I have failed the world and feel extremely ashamed. I cannot face Your Majesty!"

"I only ask Your Majesty to dismiss me as an official to thank the world!"

Zhao Xu listened and felt very familiar.

I always feel like I have seen these words of Li Chang somewhere before?
After thinking about it, he remembered.

It was Liu Anshi, Liang Tao, Han Chuan and others who attacked Li Chang in these words!
So, Zhao Xu looked at Li Chang.

A thought flashed through his mind: Mr. Li, why are you wearing Pinru's clothes?

So Zhao Xu ordered Tong Guan to go down the stairs and collect Li Chang's self-defense letter.

Then he opened it and took a look. The content was exactly the same as what Li Chang said.

Tea is rampant!

(End of this chapter)