I studied in modern times

Chapter 941: Prohibition without Order [Reporting on Rumors]

After reading Li Chang's self-defense note, Zhao Xu put it aside and coughed lightly.

Tong Guan, who was standing by, immediately became alert and whispered, "Everyone, the queen just ordered someone to send over the copies of the imperial edicts that the Tongjian Division received in the past few days..."

"Bring it here and let me see it!" Zhao Xu ordered casually.

"promise!"

Therefore, the letters that Zhao Xu had ordered others to hand over to Tong Guan were handed back to him by Tong Guan.

Zhao Xu pretended to pick up the notes and looked at them one by one.

Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang, bowed their bodies, stood in the hall and waited quietly.

Although, they knew that Zhao Xu had actually seen it a long time ago.

Zhao Xu also knew that they knew he had seen it.

But, I still have to pretend.

That's what politics is like.

There is a world of difference between doing some polite words and doing some polite things.

Just like now, Zhao Xu pretends, and Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang cooperate with him in performing.

For Zhao Xu, Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang, this gave them a lot more room for maneuver.

You can give an explanation both to the outside world and to yourself.

Zhao Xu pretended to be serious and spent about a quarter of an hour quickly browsing through the notes that he had personally selected.

They are all 'selected' bullet chapters.

kindness……

He filtered out the most absurd and unscrupulous criticisms.

This is the essence of journalism.

So he watched and showed anger at the same time.

After reading the last impeachment letter, Zhao Xu snorted coldly and threw it on the table in front of him: "What nonsense!"

"Our ancestor Xu Xiansi, who heard rumors and reported things, was the eyes and ears of the court and the tongue of the people!"

"They are to assist me, to make up for the shortcomings, to correct the officials, and to investigate the malpractices!"

"We shouldn't let them stay here, spreading rumors and spreading rumors to confuse the world, and then attack the prime ministers and elders, and shake the stability of the country!"

As he said this, Zhao Xu ordered Tong Guan: "Tong, please go get some writing brush and ink!"

"promise!"

Tong Guan immediately took the order and quickly fetched the red brush and inkstone.

Zhao Xu directly picked up the note that he had thrown on the table - that is, the note written by Liu Anshi saying that Li Chang bought a garden house in Luoyang and land in Xiangzhou, and believed that this must be "the treacherous people obeyed the orders of the powerful prime minister, formed a group of small people outside, and secretly supported the nest of treacherous people."

To put it simply, it is a hint - Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang, are playing the Elders' Association in Luoyang, and forming a real team in Xiangzhou!
This is most likely because Sima Guang and Fu Bi once established the Elders' Association in Luoyang. After Fu Bi's death, he formed the Zhenlu Society with Sima Dan and others.

Therefore, in Liu Anshi's opinion, other people's political conspiracies should also be carried out in this way.

But he didn't think about the fact that Lu Gongzhu was the left prime minister of the current dynasty and Li Chang was the ruling ruler.

Cheng Yi and his students were mostly in Bian Jing.

Even if these people wanted to form a small political team, they should do it in Bian Jing.

What's the point of going to Luoyang or Xiangzhou?
Figure 160?
However, this also reminded Zhao Xu that Luoyang and Xiangzhou might really be a naturally suitable place for conspiracy.

I have to find an opportunity in the future to carefully investigate Luoyang, Xiangzhou and other places. Maybe I can gain something!

He picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote directly on the note: The Censor is an official who upholds the rules and regulations and is responsible for observing the constitution. Although he can report things based on hearsay, his words must be based on evidence. Even if his words are without evidence, they must still be reasonable!
Now you have neither evidence nor reason, but you only suspect that the ministers are flattering you and you accuse the prime minister and his cronies without any reason.

Are you taking advantage of my young age and imagining that I am ignorant?

He was dismissed from his post as Censor and demoted to a remote military prefecture!

After giving the instructions, Zhao Xu ordered Tong Guan to take the impeachment and instructions to Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang to read.

After reading it, both of them were deeply awed and stood up to bow again.

Lü Gongzhu choked up and said, "Your Majesty the Emperor trusts me and grants me a title. His grace is endless... I am grateful to you and want to repay your kindness..."

"But... I humbly believe that the reason why a country can be prosperous and peaceful is because it has established laws and regulations and strengthened disciplines!"

"The censors were appointed by our ancestors to report on rumors, to correct all officials, to accuse those who break the law and to perform their duties!"

"Even if Your Majesty has made a mistake, we should speak out the truth, and we should not hesitate to speak out. How much more so when we, the ministers, have made mistakes?"

"I am terrified. I believe that the censor's comments on our mistakes are the public opinion of the world! Even if his words are wrong and his arguments are wrong..."

"I dare not ruin the great affairs of the world for my own selfish interests, and I dare not let my own honor and disgrace override the public opinion of the world!"

"I beg Your Majesty to revoke your order!"

After saying this, he bowed deeply.

Li Chang, who was standing behind him, also bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I beg you to take back your order!"

Zhao Xu saw this and smiled, thinking, "How cruel!"

"Are they going to settle accounts with me and implicate everyone according to the household registration book?!"

The rules of the game in the political arena of the Song Dynasty have always been: when people leave, debts are settled, and it’s time to stop.

Generally speaking, if someone has been convicted, his political opponents will not let him go and will continue to pursue the matter.

Then both public opinion and discussions within the court would be seriously disadvantageous to the retaliator.

Labels such as domineering, arrogant, and narrow-minded will be immediately put on.

However, if someone is not guilty, he will remain in the court.

Then, it is completely in line with the rules of the game to retaliate in kind or raise the level by one or two levels.

Therefore, Zhao Xu stopped submitting the memorial to report rumors and even attacked and slandered the censors Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang in an unscrupulous and idealistic way of convicting.

In fact, it was protecting him.

However, Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang seemed to be righteous and selfless.

In fact, he was sharpening his knife, wanting to track down all the relatives and friends and catch them all in one fell swoop.

Maybe he has even thought of a revenge plan.

This is really not Zhao Xu trying to guess other people's intentions by assuming the intentions of a villain.

But the Lu family had a previous record - during the Jingyou factional struggle, Lu Yijian was furious and directly banished all those who had a relationship with Fan Zhongyan, even those who had just sympathized with Fan Zhongyan, out of the capital!

As a result, on the day when Fan Zhongyan left Beijing, the only people who dared to see him off were two stubborn guys.

One was Li Hong, a direct scholar of Longtu Pavilion, and the other was Wang Zhi, a proofreader of Jixian Academy.

These two people dared to go because they had strong backgrounds and extensive connections (Li Hong was the grandson of Li Changling, and Wang Zhi was the nephew of Wang Dan).

As the saying goes, like father, like son!

It was hard for Zhao Xu not to suspect that Lu Gongzhu would follow his father's example.

In theory, the censors are actually the henchmen of Emperor Zhao.

Although, since the Ren Temple, these lackeys seem to have their own ideas.

He often walks alone and often gets crazy.

But, as a master, you still have to protect your calf!
At least their basic personal safety must be guaranteed, and they cannot be easily dealt with by others.

Otherwise, it will be very demoralizing!
If something really happens, who will charge into battle for Emperor Zhao?
Therefore, it was really happy to be a censor in the Song Dynasty.

As long as you don't make any mistakes in principle, under normal circumstances, the most you will suffer is a demotion.

Therefore, Zhao Xu said leisurely: "What the two gentlemen said makes sense!"

"However……"

"Although the censors have the right to report on rumors, they must at least have reasons and evidence to support their reports!"

"If all the censors are like this, without any support, they will stir up trouble, criticize the prime minister, spread rumors to confuse the elders, and cause chaos with their opinions, but they will not be punished. I am afraid that if this continues, the country will no longer be a country and the people will be in turmoil!"

It seems as if they are determined to demote the relevant censors!
However, both Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang knew very well that it was normal for the emperor of the Song Dynasty to demote the censors.

In fact, in a sense, this is the tragedy of the Song Dynasty’s politics.

Since the Renmiao Temple, the losers in the political struggles of the Song Dynasty not only would not die physically, but their punishment would generally be demotion.

Such a system is tantamount to encouraging factional struggles! As a result, factional struggles have become increasingly fierce and frequent since the Ren Temple.

The censors became the fuse and vanguard of every party struggle.

The reason is very simple - even if I offend the prime minister and important officials, my life will not be in danger. At most I can stay in the local area for a few years.

So why should I be afraid of them?
What's more, the benefits and costs are completely disproportionate!
If you win, you will rise to the top and become famous all over the world.

Even if you lose, there is still a chance waiting for the future.

What if the prime minister I attacked was convicted and stepped down?

As an oppositionist, I have certainly made contributions! At the same time, I am also an upright and loyal minister who is not afraid of the powerful and dares to fight against the powerful!

Naturally, promotion is like diabetes insipidus.

So, for the officials of the Censorate in the court.

If the prime ministers and ministers-in-waiting are to their liking, then wise ministers are in office and the country has found the right people.

If you don't meet their wishes, they will treat you as an enemy and want to get rid of you as soon as possible!
Lu Gongzhu sighed in his heart: "It's bitter!"

Naturally, he hoped to take this opportunity to establish his authority.

In a sense, he submitted the petition to leave and to retreat in order to advance, just to kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

Borrow the heads of one or two censors to intimidate dissidents.

but……

But the government doesn’t allow it!

This made Lu Gongzhu very disappointed!

It’s not that Lu Gongzhu is a vengeful person.

He really had no choice!

At this time, Lu Gongzhu couldn't help but think of his old friend Wang Anshi.

During the Xining Reforms, Wang Anshi came to power.

In order to promote the reform, a large-scale purge of censors was launched!
At the beginning, Wang Anshi could tolerate criticism and was even willing to debate with critics about right and wrong.

But soon, he changed.

Start suppressing critics and start retaliation.

Then, he began to use all his prime ministers to demote and dismiss opponents from the imperial court on a large scale.

No matter who it is, as long as they dare to criticize the reform, or even simply think that a new law is worth discussing, they will be demoted!
Almost the entire censor system was purged, and all of them were replaced by people who supported the reform.

At that time, Lu Gongzhu was very disappointed when he heard it.

But now, Lu Gongzhu somewhat understood Wang Anshi's helplessness.

The prime minister’s authority is his lifeblood.

If you don't have authority, others won't listen to you.

Just like his current situation.

If someone rides on my head, I will remain indifferent.

Then who will listen to him?
Who would follow him?

You have to strike hard!
Thinking of this, Lu Gongzhu sighed sadly in his heart.

Because he knew that if he wanted to continue in the court and realize his political ambitions.

Then he can only learn from Wang Anshi!
At least in this matter, he must learn from Wang Anshi.

I must be a stubborn husband for once!

Then Lu Gongzhu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the rules of our ancestors cannot be violated, and the public opinion of the world cannot be disturbed!"

"I hope Your Majesty will think twice!" As he said this, Lu Gongzhu bowed down.

"I hope Your Majesty will reconsider!" Li Chang also bowed.

When Zhao Xu saw this, he smiled.

In fact, he just wanted to show his attitude and pretend that he was protecting the censor.

As for the rest?
He really doesn't care.

Now, seeing that Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang repeatedly requested, citing ancestral rules and using public discussion as a signboard, he compromised at the right time.

"My two lords, you are truly loyal to your country!" Zhao Xu stood up and ordered Tong Guan to take back the letter and then throw it into the brazier.

"Since you two gentlemen are so magnanimous!"

"I will give you two gentlemen some face!"

"only……"

He looked at the burning note in the brazier: "Things like today..."

"I don't want to see it again!"

"My two gentlemen, do you know..." He turned around and picked up the notes that he had 'selected'.

I took the books one by one.

"In recent days, the imperial censors in the court have not only impeached the two ministers, but also impeached many things of Li Xianggong of the West Palace... So much so that Liu Cizhuang, the imperial censor in the palace, said: Once an honest minister appears, it can be used to punish greed, to discourage flattery, and to warn the corrupt..."

"I didn't know that Lord Li has become a scourge to the world and a disaster to the country!"

Having said that, Zhao Xu sneered.

The reason why Li Qingchen was besieged was simple - people within the New Party felt that this guy was occupying the toilet but not doing anything.

Instead of actively promoting the new law, he colluded with the treacherous officials of the old party.

At the same time, there are too many old party colors in his background.

As the saying goes, if loyalty is not absolute, it is absolutely not loyal!

So, they took advantage of the situation and framed Li Qingchen with a bunch of false charges.

"What's worse..."

Zhao Xu picked up the note that was the culprit that triggered the party dispute.

A memorial written by Kong Wenzhong.

"Spread rumors to confuse the elders, slander the Grand Tutor, appoint people based on personal connections, and privately grant the country's famous weapons!"

Is Wen Yanbo someone that ordinary people can touch?

The last time the old man was touched, he immediately fell down and claimed to be sick.

In the end, it was Zhao Xu who went there in person and finally coaxed the old man back.

Now, someone is impeaching him again!
Wen Yanbo did not fall to the ground. Instead, he claimed to be ill and begged to return to Luoyang.

To be honest, I have given Zhao Xu enough face!

When Lu Gongzhu and Li Chang heard this, they both lowered their heads.

Wen Yanbo's reaction this time really surprised them.

He didn't take advantage of his age and seniority like he did in the past!
It's really rare!

Zhao Xu gathered all the notes in his hand together, and then said to Lü Gongzhu and Li Chang: "After this incident, I think that the censors should no longer rely on hearsay to impeach the prime minister and elders!"

"There must be actual evidence! At least the reason must be clearly stated!"

"After you two return, summon all the other ministers in the capital to discuss this matter carefully, come up with the rules and regulations, and report them to me!"

When Lü Gongzhu and Li Chang heard this, they both bowed their heads and said, "Yes!"

"Your subjects obey your orders!"

Limiting the power of censors to report rumors is naturally a good thing for these prime ministers.

The only thing to worry about is public opinion.

But, as long as it’s not a bird, it’s fine!
But he didn't notice the smile on Zhao Xu's lips.

Because what Zhao Xu wanted to restrict were the censors who made random reports based on rumors without his approval.

From now on, the censors must obtain his approval when they impeach the prime minister or discuss laws and policies through the method of "reporting things based on hearsay".

Anything without his permission is illegal!
They are all destroying unity and affecting stability!
(End of this chapter)