I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 118 Xia Song made a big fuss in Zhongshu Province, and the waves on the river surged

February [-]th, near noon.

Zhongshu issued an edict: Ouyang Xiu of the Admonition Court, Su Liang, the supervisory censor, and Zhang Maoze, the secretary of the imperial city, were ordered to inspect the Chanzhou River and return to the capital before March [-].

As soon as this edict came out, Xia Song was dissatisfied.

"Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang are really using private interests to abolish public affairs. They are both civil servants. How can they understand water affairs? They are too favored by the officials!"

Immediately, Xia Song ran towards Chui Gong Hall.

But within a quarter of an hour, he walked out with a look of helplessness.

Zhao Zhen said that Tai Jian was originally responsible for supervision and inspection. This mission was to let the two people know more about the river affairs, and there was no conflict with the policy of the river flowing eastward.

Xia Song couldn't defend himself, and with a depressed look on his face, he left Chui Gong Hall and went straight to Zhongshu Provincial Political Affairs Hall.

……

Inside the political hall.

Chen Zhizhong, Wu Yu, and Zhang Fangping are busy.

In fact, it is not easy to be the husband of Zhongshu.

They have to read twice as many memorials as Zhao Zhen every day. They have to be familiar with major events in various state capitals, and they have to communicate with officials from various yamen in Bianjing City at any time.

Xia Song walked into the political hall with a dark face.

Wu Yu had a bad relationship with him and simply chose to ignore him.

Chen Zhizhong smiled and said: "Lao Xia, what is it that makes you so embarrassed?"

Zhang Fangping on the side also put down his pen and looked at Xia Song.

Xia Song's expression was indeed a bit scary.

Xia Song glared and said, "What's going on? I really don't know what you do in Zhongshu Province for food!"

"Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang inspected the Chanzhou River. Isn't this causing trouble? Such a wrong edict, why didn't Zhongshu reject the remonstrance!"

"The officials have been deceived by these two people. They are obviously using private interests to abolish public affairs. If they go to inspect the river, they will definitely propose to ban the Yellow River from flowing eastward when they come back!"

"When the flood season comes in May and June, the Yellow River will flow all the way north to the land of the Khitan people. If the Khitan takes advantage of this to raise troops, who can protect the city of Bianjing? Whose responsibility is this?"

"As the current Prime Minister, can't you hear the voices of the ministers in the court? What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that the officials will be angry and depose you as Prime Minister?"

……

Xia Song scratched his throat and cursed Chen Zhizhong and the other three.

He placed all the blame for Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang's inspection of the Chanzhou River on the three of them.

Its sound is deafening.

The officials outside the palace heard it clearly.

Since this dynasty, there has never been a Privy Councilor scolding the Prime Minister and two deputy ministers like this.

Although the Privy Councilor is also known as the Privy Councilor, his status in the court is far inferior to that of Zhongshu Prime Minister.

But Xia Song was an exception.

He is too old.

Xia Song, 62, is five years older than Chen Zhizhong, the oldest of the three great ministers.

If Du Yan were here, he would never dare to be so arrogant.

He did not completely lose his mind by scolding him like this, but he wanted to encourage Zhongshu to put pressure on Zhao Zhen.

Both Chen Zhizhong and Zhang Fangping looked embarrassed.

They didn't want to scold the furious Xia Song, just when they were thinking about how to reply.

Wu Yu couldn't sit still.

"Xia Shuxiang, don't scream at us!"

"The official family can agree to Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu's request. Firstly, there is nothing wrong with the Taiwan admonishment officer's request. Secondly, because Su Liang has great kindness to the royal family, so the official family is very fond of him. You have the ability. , make noise towards the officials, don’t show off your power here!”

Wu Yu told the truth in one sentence.

Su Liang would agree to whatever officials requested.

The main reason was that Su Liang revealed that there was lead, mercury and cinnabar poison in the palace.

This is a great achievement.

The officials naturally favored him very much.

If Zhongshu tries to refute it, it is just looking for scolding.

Besides, they are just patrolling the river, so there is nothing wrong with being more careful in everything.

Xia Song was speechless immediately.

He snorted coldly and strode out of the political hall.

……

February [-]th, early morning.

Ouyang Xiu, Su Liang, Zhang Maoze, Shen Kuo, Kaifeng Prefecture's river workers, and imperial city officials all gathered at the new Suanzao Gate in the north of the city.

There are a dozen carriages.

Su Liang calculated that Kaifeng Mansion was about three hundred miles away from the Chanzhou River.

In a hurry, it would take at least five days by horse-drawn carriage.

However, if Su Liang and others change horses and ride at the post station, they can reach Chanzhou in three days.

Su Liang decided that he, Shen Kuo, a group of imperial city officials and eight strong river workers would ride ahead on horseback.

Ouyang Xiu, Zhang Maoze and the remaining people can just go forward in a carriage.

Although Shen Kuo is only 16 years old, his equestrian skills are already very good and he can keep up.

Immediately, Su Liang and others rode towards the front.

……

Daming Mansion, inside a mansion.

Jia Changchao also received an order from Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang to inspect the Chanzhou River.

Jia Changchao is a chronic man.

Compared with Xia Song's rage, he didn't have much mood swings.

He is very satisfied with the current strategy of rivers flowing eastward, and is certain that after the old Yellow River channel diverts the Liuta River, it will definitely flow into the old Jingdong channel in the future.

He felt that his article "The Old Road of Junhe River" would be passed down through the ages.Jia Changchao looked at the sky and murmured: "Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang are just clowns in the court."

At this time.

Jia Chang said to Li Zhongchang, the director of the river and canal department on the side: "Mr. Jia, Uncle Ouyang Yong and Su Jingming will definitely look through the canal data after they come to Chanzhou. We are..."

Jia Changchao smiled faintly.

"Don't let them see it if you can. If they insist on seeing it, they will make a fake one. Mislead them as much as possible. If you can't cooperate, don't cooperate. The stupider they behave in front of the officials. The more we can demonstrate our merit!”

"Besides, even if I help them, the officials may not believe it. It's better to create more obstacles."

"I understand, I understand." Li Zhongchang cupped his hands and said.

……

Three days later, near dusk.

Su Liang, Shen Kuo and others rode to the Henglong River in Chanzhou.

When Su Liang saw the Yellow River here, he was shocked.

The turbid waves are rolling like a yellow dragon, majestic and mighty.

The river is high and the houses are more than two feet high.

Once the wind blows, it can cause huge waves.

Although there are embankments and trees on both sides, compared with the mighty momentum of the Yellow River, they are as fragile as a piece of window paper.

Su Liang and Shen Kuo both swallowed.

They thought it was the dry season and the water was not strong, so they could still dive for measurements.

I never thought it would be so turbulent.

Faced with such water conditions, the few people they brought were obviously not enough.

If you want to measure water potential.

Those who enter the river must tie a hemp rope around their waists and have someone pull them on the bank, otherwise they will be easily washed away no matter how good the water quality is.

The eight strong river workers were also a little scared when they saw this scene.

They unloaded the spirit level, driftwood, plumb line and other tools they carried aside.

Su Liang thought for a while and said: "Let's inspect the surroundings first and choose the location for measurement. After Bachelor Ouyang and others arrive, we will act together."

Everyone nodded.

That night.

Su Liang and others settled in Yedian, about five miles away from the river bank.

He and Shen Kuo were mainly responsible for calculating data.

After the data is collected, they will take the sediment and Yellow River water here and return to Bianjing to make a Yellow River sand table.

Although it cannot completely restore the problems that may arise when the river flows eastward.

But it is enough to intuitively inform the court and ministers how harmful it is to forcibly change the course of the Yellow River.

The next day, Ouyang Xiu, Zhang Maoze and others had not yet arrived.

Li Zhongchang, the director of the river canal department, led a group of river officials and river workers to the river bank.

Their eyes are everywhere here.

As soon as Su Liang arrived at the Henglong River Road, they knew about it.

"Li Zhongchang, the director of the river and canal department, met with Su Yushi. He didn't know that Su Yushi came to Henglong River in advance. It's Xianguan's fault. It's Xianguan's fault!" Li Zhongchang smiled warmly, and he looked like a well-rounded person at first glance.

"It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter! We have just arrived, and Bachelor Ouyang is not expected to arrive until tomorrow!"

"Then... I will host a banquet for you all tomorrow. At noon today, I will first ask Su Yushi to taste the carp from the Yellow River. The carp here is neither fishy nor earthy, and the fish meat is very fresh and tender... "

Li Zhongchang was talking, but was interrupted by Su Liang extending his hand.

These local officials' routines are very common.

If you invite someone to a meal first, there will be wine with the meal, and there will be beautiful women or gold and silver after the wine.

Some officials even privately maintain a singing and dancing troupe, each of which is beautiful, charming, and versatile, specially used to entertain superior officials, and has proven successful time and time again.

As long as you jump into a trap, others will immediately catch you.

The local officials have so many tricks, not to mention military ethics, that they are hard to guard against.

The only way not to step into a trap is to say no from the very beginning.

Su Liang smiled and said: "Chief Li, I'm really sorry. I am allergic to fish and cannot eat fish, and Bachelor Ouyang cannot eat fish either. We have our own cooks, so you don't need to worry about it!"

These words immediately stunned Li Zhongchang.

This is the first time he has heard of someone who cannot eat fish.

On the side, Shen Kuo almost laughed out loud.

Last night we stayed at a wild restaurant, and all the food on the menu was Yellow River carp. Su Liang enjoyed eating it, praising the freshness and tenderness of the fish while eating it.

"Then...then I won't eat. I'm busy with official business." Li Zhongchang said with a smile: "Su Yushi, these are the river officials and river workers behind me on the Henglong River. If you need anything, just give your orders and they will do it." I will tell you everything I know.”

Su Liang thought about it.

"Please, Chief Li, please transfer fifty tents. In addition, the daily supply of rice, flour, vegetable oil, and tools for surveying and measuring the river water are ready. Next, we will live on the river bank!"

The river officials and river workers behind Li Zhongchang were stunned. Su Liang actually ignored them.

They worked for two whole nights to make a book of fake data that could be confused with the real thing.

Li Zhongchang was so angry that he wanted to grit his teeth.

Su Liang's move directly caused him to lose the opportunity to find Su Liang's weakness.

"Okay, no problem!" Li Zhongchang said with a smile.

Su Liang looked at Li Zhongchang and said: "Master Li, let me remind you that Bachelor Ouyang's temper is not very good, and my temper is not very good either. Please try your best to do your work and don't make mistakes. If there are some measuring tools It's not so in line with the rules, and it made me two angry. I guarantee that the entire Taiwan remonstrance will impeach you until you lose your official status."

As soon as these words came out, Li Zhongchang couldn't help but shudder.

Su Liang seems to be soft-spoken, but in fact, his words are like a knife.

In the court, no one knows about Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu's ability to impeach. If these two find out, their career will be completely over.

"Understood, I will definitely satisfy you all!" Li Zhongchang said with cupped hands.

At this moment, although he still wouldn't try his best to help Su Liang, he definitely didn't dare to cause trouble.

　Thanks to the book friend Linhuai Jushi for the reward, thank you very much!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)