I studied in modern times

Chapter 979: The New Use of Yang Family Generals

The fourth day of the second month of the third year of Yuanyou.

After Empress Dowager Xiang left the court, she returned to Baoci Palace and began to review today's memorials.

As the empress dowager in charge of government affairs, she has been gradually transferring the power in her hands to the Funing Palace since last year.

First, an imperial decree was issued in October, ordering that all military and national affairs should be reported to the Funing Palace for approval.

In the first month of this year, he also used the excuse that it was snowy, cold and cloudy for a long time and that his own virtue was low, so he issued an edict that all civil officials from the rank of Daizhi and above, and military officials from remote prefectures and above, should first seek the emperor's permission for transfers and appointments.

The ministers naturally praised the Queen for her wisdom.

Therefore, she, the empress dowager who ruled the country from behind the curtain, now only retains the power to attend court and review daily memorials.

The rest have basically been returned to the emperor or handed over to the prime ministers in the capital for disposal.

This is due to her personality - she is not a power-loving or power-obsessed person.

It was also due to her ability - in the past, when the two palaces were behind the scenes, the Empress Dowager could still make decisions and she only needed to assist.

Now that she is in charge of government affairs alone, there are many things she does not understand, especially those concerning people's livelihood, economy, and criminal justice.

Fortunately, she is not power-hungry.

She gave up all the power that could be taken over by Funing Palace.

She handed over all the things that Funing Palace could not accept for the time being to the prime minister of the capital to deal with.

In this way, the Song Dynasty was stabilized peacefully.

Since taking over the throne alone, I have encountered various problems.

But with the assistance of the prime minister and the decision of the emperor in the Funing Palace, everything went smoothly.

Even the snowstorm that just stopped last year did not cause any trouble.

Everything is in good order.

There was praise both inside and outside.

When the ladies of the Xiang family entered the palace, they all said that people now compared her to the Empress Dowager Mingde of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiang was overjoyed.

Because, this Empress Dowager Mingde was regarded as "the most virtuous empress dowager in the Han Dynasty".

She was also the first empress dowager to be honored with the title of Female Yao and Shun.

What made Empress Dowager Xiang happiest was that Empress Dowager Mingde, like her, had no son of her own.

The reason why Empress Dowager Mingde was able to leave her name in history and be praised throughout the ages was because she raised and educated a wise ruler, Emperor Zhang of Han.

Nowadays, people compare her to Empress Dowager Mingde.

Naturally, the person she raised and educated should be Emperor Zhang of Han of the Song Dynasty.

From then on, his words and deeds imitated those of Empress Dowager Mingde.

On several occasions, he openly told the ministers in the court: "When my sixth brother grows up, I will retire to the harem, enjoy the company of my grandchildren, and no longer attend government affairs. This is my wish!"

So, I really just became a ruthless memorial reviewing machine.

Normally, when the ministers in the capital handed in a memorial, she would write a comment saying "OK, your idea is very good" and then hand it over to the Ministry of Personnel for review.

If the Jieshizhong rejected it, she would send it back to the capital. If it was not rejected, it would become a law or policy.

The ministers were overjoyed!
Never before had the prime ministers of the Song Dynasty had such great power and political freedom.

Therefore, everyone wants to spend every day in the capital as 007, just to take every possible opportunity to promote the ideas in their hearts.

Today, it's the same as usual.

Empress Dowager Xiang wrote "OK" on each and every letter from the capital.

Soon, all the notes from the capital were reviewed.

The Tongjiansi also sent in letters from local prefectures and counties as well as the Censorate.

There are not many of these notes, only about ten or so.

Empress Dowager Xiang did not plan to take a rest. She just picked it up and started reviewing it.

The first one came from Jiang Zhiqi, the transport commissioner of Guangnan East Road.

Jiang Zhiqi wrote a note asking for instructions on how to deal with the guilty garrison commanders in Guangnan East Road regarding the rebellion led by Cen Tan.

After reading the letter, Empress Dowager Xiang pondered for a moment and then ordered someone to fetch the results of the discussion on this matter in the capital hall not long ago.

Then, she wrote on it according to the discussion of the capital: Tong Zheng, Chongban of the Inner Palace, Dihou of the Gate of He, Military Commander of Guangnan East Road, and the 11th General of Southeast, allowed his soldiers to harm the people and should be executed!
Guo Zhao, the inspector of Feng, Kang, He and Xinzhou, was sentenced to death, but was pardoned and exiled to Shamen Island after being caned on the back.

The reason why these two people were regarded as examples.

It’s not because they ran away when they saw thieves - at the beginning of last year, when Tan Cen started the rebellion, many people ran away.

There is only one reason why the two of them deserved to die - killing innocent people to gain credit.

And it wasn't just one that was killed, but sixty-three!

Sixty-three lives are more than enough to exchange for their two lives.

The Empress Dowager Xiang thought for a while, then picked up her pen to continue her instructions: Jiang Zhiqi, the transport commissioner of Guangnan East Road, has made meritorious contributions and is promoted to the position of attendant of Baowen Pavilion.

Huang Jie, the governor of Xinzhou, remained calm in the face of danger and defeated Tan Cen, so he was specially appointed as an official in the capital.

Yang Congxian, the military commander, was promoted to a higher rank.

This ended the civil unrest that occurred in Guangnan East Road.

Following Jiang Zhiqi’s memorial was a note from Cai Jing from Guangnan West Road.

Empress Dowager Xiang did not even look at it, but put it aside, planning to take it to Funing Palace later.

As someone who was determined to become the Empress Dowager Mingde of the Song Dynasty, she had become increasingly adept at copying the Empress Dowager Mingde's homework.

Cai Jing is Sixth Brother's trusted henchman.

Guangxi is a place that Sixth Brother cares about.

Naturally, no matter how big or small the matter is, it is up to Sixth Brother to make the decision.

If you continue reading, you will see that they are all matters of varying sizes concerning states and counties.

There was a patrol officer of Yuanzhou in Jinghu North Road who encountered a rebellion by mountain barbarians. He killed them and obtained forty-eight heads.

What Zizhou Road requested to increase the number of garrison troops.

The Empress Dowager Xiang's comments on these notes were no different from the past - they should be forwarded to the capital and handed over to the prime minister for discussion.

Of course, these notes are not all reports on the situation in local states and counties.

There are also obituaries from old officials.

On the Jiangnan West Road, it was reported that the former Hanlin scholar, Longtu Pavilion attendant, Taizhong doctor, and former governor of Guangzhou Chen Yi died at the age of 68.

When Empress Dowager Xiang saw Chen Yi's obituary, she was also deeply saddened.

During the Xining period, this scholar Chen was in the limelight and was a candidate for the future prime minister that attracted much attention from both the government and the public.

However, a murder case directly interrupted his career - his son and daughter-in-law were killed by a soldier who had committed adultery with his maid.

The reason was that the soldier's adultery was discovered by his son and daughter-in-law.

Got it!
It is a big taboo for scholars and officials to keep the boudoir in a disrespectful manner.

After all, if you can’t even manage your family, how can we expect you to assist the emperor and govern the country?
and so……

He handed down the obituary to the Empress Dowager and only wrote a note: Just like the story.

He was not given a posthumous title nor an official title.

Who asked this former Hanlin scholar to fail to manage even his own maid?
Not only did it lead to the death of his son and daughter-in-law, but it also affected his own career.

After Chen Yi’s obituary, there came the notice from the Censorate.

There are three memorials from the Censorate today.

The first two are insignificant.

But this last one made Empress Dowager Xiang not want to put it down after picking it up.

Because this impeachment is not against anyone else.

It was the late emperor’s younger brother, the current Prince of Yang—Zhao Hao!
The one who impeached Prince Yang was the Censor Feng Ji!

The charge for his impeachment was that Prince Yang secretly instructed others to ask for 3,000 pieces of cotton cloth from workshops in Beijing for his own use. And Feng Ji's impeachment was not just hearsay!
On the contrary, Feng Ji had a complete chain of evidence and caught Prince Yang's chicken feet!

Empress Dowager Xiang just took one look and her heart leaped with joy.

Of course, she still looked surprised.

"Prince Yang is the brother of the late emperor, the uncle of my sixth brother, a wise king of the country, and a pillar of the nation. How could he do such a thing?"

As she spoke, Empress Dowager Xiang made a comment on Feng Ji's impeachment without much thought: Prince Yang is the emperor's closest relative, and the censors must not impeach him at will, so as not to damage the grace and harmony of the royal family!
It seems like he is taking sides and defending Prince Yang, but in fact he is putting Prince Yang Hao on the fire!

Even be nailed to the pillar of shame!

Because this was tantamount to directly admitting that Prince Yang really had instructed others to ask for cotton cloth from the Bian Jing workshop, and the quantity reached as much as 3,000 pieces!
At the current market price, it is worth more than 30,000 strings of cash!

Although, such things were not uncommon in the early days of the country or even during the Ren Temple period.

In those days, there were many royal relatives who relied on their status and privileges to bully the market and force purchases and sales.

Even though the way they eat is not pretty, no one dares to stop them!

But things are different now!
Empress Dowager Xiang remembered very clearly that her biological father, Xiang Jing, was impeached by the censor for shadowing passers-by during the Xining period and was punished by the late emperor. He was forced to be the governor of Qingzhou and died on the way to Qingzhou!

The empress's biological father was convicted and expelled for a mere crime of 'shadowing a passerby'.

The prince of the country instructs the scoundrels to extort money from merchants?

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Xiang asked the palace attendant Zhang, "Madam, where is Sixth Brother now?"

Zhang bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the emperor got up early this morning and went to the Imperial Garden to bask in the sun..."

"Oh!" nodded to the Queen Mother.

It is no longer a secret in the palace that Sixth Brother likes to bask in the sun.

The continuous rain and snow in Bianjing City over the past two months must have made him feel suffocated!
Now that the weather is sunny, Sixth Brother will naturally take advantage of the sun.

He smiled and said, "Come with me to see Sixth Brother!"

So, he picked up the memorial from Cai Jing of Guangnan West Road and the impeachment from Feng Ji, and stood up with the help of Zhang.

……

Behind the Funing Palace, in the Imperial Garden.

Zhao Xu lay on a specially made beach chair. The warm spring sun fell on his body, making him turn over comfortably.

It has been a long time since I had a good morning and slept in the sun.

So, Zhao Xu slept soundly.

In his dream, he felt as if he was back in the modern home in the imperial capital, lying on the balcony and sunbathing.

There is a lot of traffic outside the window, and the sun is shining brightly in front of me, with spring flowers blooming.

I really don’t want to wake up!

I don’t want to wake up!
Until, he heard Tong Guan's voice in his ears: "Everyone...Everyone..."

"The Queen is here..."

Zhao Xu then opened his eyes dazedly.

He was somewhat disappointed when he saw the familiar face of Tong Guan in front of him.

Although, he was the emperor in the Song Dynasty.

But he still misses the convenient and comfortable modern life.

Then, Zhao Xu saw the figure of Empress Dowager Xiang appearing in the corridor of the Imperial Garden.

"Mother!" He sat up quickly: "Why are you here?"

"I came to see Sixth Brother..." Empress Dowager Xiang seemed to be in a very good mood. She smiled gently, came to Zhao Xu and sat down.

Then he looked at Zhao Xu's face, his eyes full of smiles and kindness.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu asked, "Is there anything happy today, mother?"

Empress Dowager Xiang quickly suppressed her smile and replied, "No, I just wanted to come and see Sixth Brother!"

"Oh!"

"Oh, right..." Empress Dowager Xiang took out Cai Jing's note from her bosom and handed it to Zhao Xu: "Sixth brother, take a look at the latest report from Guangnan West Road!"

"Oh!"

Zhao Xu took it, held it in his hand, and looked at it in the sunlight.

Cai Jing's familiar handwriting came into view: I have learned from visits to Chengzhou's Yang Changxing and other local officials of the Dong ethnic group, and they seem to be making a big move, perhaps seeking revenge on their arch-enemy the Liang family. I beg for your guidance!
Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes as he looked at it.

In fact, there is a deep blood feud between the chieftains of ethnic minorities such as the Dong, Yue, and Miao in the south.

For example, the Shidong chieftain of Chengzhou where Yang Changxing was reported by Cai Jing was a sworn enemy of the Liang chieftain in Yuanzhou, Jinghu North Road.

The Yang family and the Liang family would have a big fight every once in a while.

Once the two families really start fighting, they will fight to the death.

The place was in chaos.

It would be bad for the Song Dynasty government to intervene or not intervene!
Zhao Xu put down the note, looked at Empress Dowager Xiang, and asked, "Mother, have there been any unusual changes in the local officials in Jinghu North Road recently?"

A slap cannot make a sound.

In Zhao Xu's opinion, the Yang family in Chengzhou was so angry that it must be the ridicule from their arch-enemies in Yuanzhou.

Because the chieftain of Chengzhou, the Yang family, has always been a loyal subject of the Zhao family.

Not only in Zhao Xu's previous life, the Yang family had sent troops many times to assist Zhao Xu in suppressing the Xidong rebellion.

In this life, Zhang Dun led an expedition to the south, and the Yang family of Chengzhou and their relatives, the Yang chieftains of Huizhou, also sent troops to join the war.

And afterwards they opened a branch base in Jiaozhou.

More importantly, when Zhao Xu was studying abroad in modern times, he knew that the Yang chieftains of Chengzhou and Huizhou continued until the Qing Dynasty.

And they once launched a massive anti-Qing uprising.

In fact, the banner raised by the rebels was the current chieftains of the Yang clan - they were revered as gods by later generations and were the White Emperor Heavenly King worshipped by the Miao people in western Hunan.

So, Zhao Xu would naturally stand on the side of the Yang family and take sides.

They would conclude that the Liang family must have taken the first action - if that wasn't the case, why would Yang Aiqing be so furious?
Empress Dowager Xiang recalled the note from Jinghu North Road and said, "This morning, there was indeed a report from Yuanzhou in Jinghu North Road, saying that forty-eight rebellious barbarians were captured and killed..."

"That's right!" Zhao Xu clapped his hands and said, "It must be the Liang family from Yuanzhou who are causing trouble!"

"We have to ask Cai Jing to mediate properly..."

"What's the point of being a bully in your own home?"

"If you have this energy, you should go develop Jiaozhou!"

At this point, Zhao Xu turned his head to look at Tong Guan, waved at him, and said, "Tong, please wait for me. Take my token and go to Yang's house..."

Tong Guan was stunned for a moment, and asked: "Excuse me, is it that Yang's house?"

"Of course..." Zhao Xu smiled, "Of course I gave it to Yang Wenguang, the governor of Tongzhou and the commander of the infantry!"

"Give my token to the current head of the Yang family, Yang Wenhuai, and order him to immediately prepare to go south to Guangnan West Road to mediate the conflict between the chieftains of the Yang family and the Liang family of Yuanzhou!"

"Wait a moment, I will order the Secretary of the Central Secretariat to draft an imperial edict, appointing him as the Secretary of the Imperial Court and the Ambassador of Chengzhou, Huizhou, and Yuanzhou!"

"With Yang Aiqing stepping forward, I think everything will be solved!"

The influence of the Yang family generals on the southern chieftains is terrifying!
Especially those with the surname Yang, there is no one who does not curry favor with the Yang Family Generals.

For example, in the first year of Yuanyou, the chieftain of the Yang family in Bozhou paid tribute and directly stated in the memorial that he was the authentic descendant of the Yang family!
But they made random claims and ended up recognizing the wrong ancestors.

It was Zhao Xu who patched them up, corrected their mistakes in clinging to others, and made them descendants of Yang Wenguang.

At that time, Yang Wenhuai behaved very well and directly acknowledged this half-brother from the Yang family of Bozhou.

Since it works well, use it to the fullest!
It just so happened that the chieftains of the Yang clan in Chengzhou and Huizhou, like the Yang clan in Bozhou, considered themselves to be descendants of Yang Ye.

Therefore, there was no better mediator than Yang Wenhuai.

I’m afraid the late Yang Wenguang will have to work harder.

He had to climb out of the coffin again, and then traveled back to decades ago, where he fell in love with a Chengzhou girl...

(End of this chapter)