I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 440 Father and son! Rich and idle man Yan Tongshu, Su Liang's iron fan Yan Jidao (2 in 1)

In the afternoon, inside the Reform Department.

Su Liang flipped through the seven memorials submitted by Yan Shu.

After reading it, he said to Wang Anshi in front of him: "Gong Yan is still the same Duke Yan, but he doesn't know that the court is no longer the same court!"

Yan Shu's seven memorials actually express one meaning.

"Chaos is easy, but peace is difficult. If the "Song Xingtong" is overhauled, the country will have no roots to rely on!"

This former Prime Minister of Taiping and the emperor's mentor had mixed praise and criticism in the hearts of officials.

Some call him cautious and thoughtful, others call him restrained and tactful.

Some people think that he is good at stabilizing the political situation and is actually a good prime minister in the peaceful period.

Some people think that he can set an example in small things, but when encountering big problems, he always protects himself wisely.

Zhao Zhen and all his ministers were holding back their energy and wanted to create a prosperous age in the Song Dynasty!

Su Liang and Wang Anshi took a long breath.

He hoped that the development of the Song Dynasty would also be stable.

In the early years, Empress Dowager Liu and Zhao Zhen fought for power.

Then, during the Qingli New Deal.

Yan Shu worked hard to stabilize the court and balance the power of the two.

……

But I don’t understand the current situation.

Su Liangdang walked towards Chui Gong Hall together with his chamberlain.

"Su Si admonishes, the king recommends officials, and His Majesty decrees that the Reform Department does not need to reply to Duke Yan's memorial. Duke Yan will return to Beijing in the near future."

In the eyes of all the officials, he was already a "rich and idle man".

Zhao Zhen looked at Su Liang with a smile and said: "Su Qing, sit down! Sit down!"

"I'll give you three days. You can take Mr. Yan around Bianjing City and tell him our goal. If you can't be persuaded after three days, how about I take action again?"

Looking at Yan Shu's official career for most of his life, it can be summed up in one word: seeking stability.

Su Liang stood up and cupped his hands slightly.

The heart is kind.

It is extremely difficult for Yan Shu not to continue to oppose, let alone to agree and support.

At this moment, a chamberlain walked over quickly.

"What warning? What kind of sinner of the Song Dynasty?"

"Guan Jia, what you want me to do is to use the results of the current reforms in the entire Song Dynasty to warn Duke Yan. We in the Song Dynasty do not want to seek peace, but want to create a prosperous world. If Duke Yan stops us, we will be the sinners of the Song Dynasty, right?"

Su Liang also showed a helpless smile.

Su Liang smiled helplessly.

At present, Yan Shu is sixty-three years old.

Since the Reform in the Song Dynasty, he has implemented the reform policy and never stated a word about the pros and cons of the reform in any memorial.

It is safest to leave this matter to the officials to resolve.

Yan Shu's local political achievements were still very outstanding, and Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Cai Xiang and others all shined after being recommended by Yan Shu.

"I originally wanted to persuade Mr. Yan personally, but I know his temperament, and the fact that he can submit seven memorials in a row shows that he has thought enough, but has not yet figured it out. If he refuses to remonstrate, I am really not sure of his persuasion. he."

If Zhao Zhen is so polite to him, usually nothing good will happen.

"Let's write it down!" Su Liang picked up the pen.

"Although Duke Yan is not in court, his influence is still very great. It may be difficult to convince him by replying in writing, so I summoned him back to the capital."

Now, Yan Shu suddenly wrote seven memorials in a row to oppose the overhaul of "Song Xingtong" because he felt that the Song Dynasty might not be peaceful if the law was overhauled.

In addition, he was a teacher in the official family and the father-in-law of Fu Bi, so he had a very high seniority. It was very difficult to persuade him.

Su Liang was slightly confused and sat down slowly.

"Since Yan Gong submitted seven memorials opposing the overhaul of "Song Xingtong", Zhongshu received more than 30 memorials in just one morning, and there were many opponents."

When an official is summoned alone, there must be something important.

Yan Shu was originally Fan Zhongyan's supporter, but when problems arose with the reform, he watched the fire from afar and protected himself wisely, and was impeached by a group of Taiwanese remonstrators.

Inside the Chui Gong Hall.

"Even if I use the power of the emperor to make him silent, it will still have a negative impact on the overhaul of the "Song Xingtong" and delay the progress. What I hope is that Duke Yan can publicly express his support for the imperial court's overhaul of the "Song Xingtong".

Zhao Zhen continued: "Mr. Yan is my teacher. He has watched me grow up. There are some things I cannot say. All the ministers have an old relationship with Mr. Yan. Bao Zheng, Ouyang Xiu, Fan Zhen and others speak too straight. Wang Anshi Your words are too bad. After thinking about it, I think you are the best person to persuade Mr. Yan. "

Wang Anshi scratched his head with his pen and frowned: "Brother Jingming, Mr. Yan is so stubborn. I'm afraid no matter how we reply to him, it will be difficult for him to change his decision. I...I can't even scold him!"

The chamberlain looked at Su Liang and said, "Su Sijian, the officials have summoned you to the palace to discuss matters."

Zhao Zhen curled his lips, then smiled and said: "That's what I mean."

"If Mr. Yan is stubborn, you can also show off your generous attitude and scold him. Then I will protect Mr. Yan on the surface, but I will still be with you in private. I know that Su Jingming has always ignored state affairs. Reputation!"

"Your Majesty, I understand. I will do my best." Su Liang bowed and handed over his hand.

He is the most suitable person to be this bad guy.

"Jingming, you are really my son!" Zhao Zhen had a bright smile on his face.

His praise made Su Liang's heart feel as sweet as honey. He handed over his hand again and said: "I will definitely fulfill my mission!"

Zhao Zhen knew that Su Liang was following this trick and said, "Then I will wait for the good news from Su Qing!"

……

The eighth day of July, afternoon.

Outside Nanxun Gate.

Su Liang and Zhang Maoze, dressed in plain clothes and with several guards, were waiting for Yan Shu to enter the city.

In about a quarter of an hour, Yan Shu will enter Bianjing from Nanxunmen.

After a while.

A carriage arrived outside Nanxun Gate, followed closely by two guards.

Zhang Mao waved and the carriage stopped.

Then, an elegant old man with gray hair came out of the carriage with a handsome young man in a white shirt.

This person is Yan Shu.

And the handsome young man is his fifteen-year-old son, Yan Jidao.

Yan Shu saw Zhang Maoze at a glance, and immediately raised his hands and said: "I'm sorry for you, Zhang Douzhi came to greet me personally, thank you for your hard work!"

Yan Jidao from behind also bowed his hands and saluted.

At present, Zhang Maoze not only promoted the imperial city department, but also appointed him as the internal minister of the province.

He is already the highest official among the banned eunuchs.

Zhang Mao then cupped his hands and said: "Mr. Yan, the officials have always kept you in mind! The officials said there is no need to rush to see you. You have been away from Beijing for several years. You can spend a few days in the city first and then discuss business."

"The government has specially appointed Su Jingming and Su Sijian as your guide. What do you think?"

At this time, Su Liang, who was standing behind, stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "Su Liang, the lower official, comes to see Duke Yan."

Before Su Liang entered the capital, Yan Shu had left the capital, and the two had never met.

Yan Shu was so smart that he understood Zhao Zhen's intention instantly.

He looked at Su Liang and said, "Everyone knows that Su Jingming should be the first contributor to the reform in the Song Dynasty. When I see him today, he is really extraordinary!"

"Mr. Yan, you're welcome!"

At this time.

Yan Jidao behind him excitedly raised his hands to Su Liang and said: "Su Sijian, this junior Yan Jidao, I would like to bow to you. I...have read all your articles, and my...father has also read them..."

"Cough cough... cough cough..." Yan Shu coughed, and Yan Jidao immediately fell silent.

Yan Shu puffed up his chest and said: "Su Sijian's article is indeed excellent, but some of his words are still too extreme and sharp. Running a country is not like doing business. Once you take the wrong path, you may fall into an abyss."

Yan Shu's words naturally alluded to the overhaul of "Song Xingtong".

Su Liang smiled and said: "I will definitely remember what Mr. Yan said. If Mr. Yan has nothing else to do, he can also visit Bianjing City with us."

In the next three days, Su Liang did not intend to argue with Yan Shu, but conquered him with facts.

When Yan Jidao heard this, he looked at Yan Shu excitedly.

Yan Shu's favorite was his seventh son, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Zhang Maoze and Su Liang sent Yan Shu and his son to the official residence.

……

The next day, it was still dark.

Uncle Ji drove the carriage and took Su Liang to the official office.

Yan Shu and his son came to Su Liang in plain clothes. They were also very curious about the current Bianjing city.

Yan Shu looked at Su Liang and said, "Su Sijian, what are the arrangements for the next step?"

"Believe me, then follow me!" Su Liang said with a smile.

Immediately.

Yan Shu and Yan Jidao got on the carriage.

Su Liang also sat on it. Immediately afterwards.

As the carriage headed south, Su Liang, Yan Shu and Yan Jidao talked about some of the popular attractions, delicacies, and interesting things in Bianjing City.

Not a word was mentioned about the overhaul of "Song Xingtong".

Su Liangben knew how to eat and play, and he spoke with a sense of imagery.

Yan Shu and Yan Jidao listened with great interest.

About half an hour later, the carriage stopped, and Uncle Ji outside shouted: "We're here!"

After Yan Shu and Yan Jidao got off the carriage, they couldn't help but be surprised. Su Liang actually led them out of the city and came to a grass market.

At this moment, the grass market is very lively and the cries are endless.

Su Liang said: "Mr. Yan, this is the grass market next to the southern suburbs market. Let's go to have a bowl of vegetable porridge and eat steamed buns first. The vegetable porridge and steamed buns here are really unique and very delicious. Then we will go shopping. How about visiting Nanjiao Market and Nanjiao Jucheng?”

Yan Shu didn't expect Su Liang to be so down-to-earth.

In this life, no one has ever treated him to vegetable porridge and steamed buns.

Yan Jidao was very excited. He was born with a golden key in his mouth and had never had breakfast in a place like this.

After a while.

The three of them sat down at a stall, and Su Liang ordered three bowls of vegetable porridge and twelve steamed buns.

"Mr. Yan, please have a taste."

Yan Shu picked up the spoon, took a small sip, and said with surprise on his face: "Fresh, really fresh, delicious!"

Su Liang smiled and said: "You don't need a spoon, just drink it along the edge of the bowl. It tastes better!"

After saying that, Su Liang picked up the bowl and drank heavily.

Yan Jidao also imitated Su Liang's example, put the spoon aside, picked up a large inferior coarse porcelain bowl that he had never used before, and drank heavily, becoming more and more excited as he drank.

Competition in the grass market here is also very fierce.

If you don't have good cooking skills, you won't be able to gain a foothold here.

In addition, Yan Shu and Yan Jidao have almost never eaten this kind of food from the lower class, so they feel very fresh.

The vegetable porridge is delicious, and the steamed buns are also delicious.

In a short time, the three of them had finished all the twelve steamed buns. Yan Jidao ate six steamed buns alone and drank three bowls of vegetable porridge.

If Yan Shu hadn't stared at him, he would have eaten more.

Subsequently.

Su Liang took the two of them for a walk in the southern suburbs market.

This is the gathering place for the lower class people in Bianjing City. What Su Liang wants Yan Shu to see is not only the prosperity of trade, but also the smiling faces of the people.

As Yan Shu walked, he sighed: "A few years ago, this was a crop field. I didn't expect it to be like this now. The people's pockets have indeed become thicker."

It's approaching noon.

Su Liang took them to Jucheng in the southern suburbs.

Cuju competitions are usually held in the afternoon, but with the recent hot weather, they are held near dusk.

Su Liang showed them a wasted fight inside and treated them to a cold drink made by Jucheng in the southern suburbs.

At Yan Jidao's age, he could eat, drink and play. If Yan Shu hadn't been holding him down, he would have gone crazy playing.

Su Liang didn't mention "Song Xingtong", and Yan Shu didn't mention it either.

He wanted to see what kind of medicine Su Liang was selling in his gourd.

It's almost dusk.

Su Liang took them back to the city, first visiting Zhouqiao and then Daxiangguo Temple.

Go wherever there are people.

However, I did not go to famous but high-cost places like Fan Tower, Qingfeng Tower, and Sangjia Wazi.

At night.

The three of them had a bowl of wontons at a wonton shop in an alley, and then went to a storytelling library and listened to a story about Di Qing's night attack on Kunlun Pass.

Finally, Su Liang sent the two of them back to the official office to rest.

The places I visited in one day were all about shopping and commerce, and the expenses were less than usual.

Su Liang could see from Yan Shu's eyes that he was surprised, shocked, and very satisfied with the current life of the people in Bianjing City.

Late at night, inside the official office.

Yan Jidao said to Yan Shu: "Dad, Su Sijian took us around for a day and never mentioned the practice of law. Does he want us to know that the reform of the Song Dynasty has achieved great results and that this path is correct. The overhaul of "Song Dynasty" "Xingtong" is also an inevitable trend."

Although Yan Jidao is only fifteen years old, he knows everything.

Yan Shu shook his head slightly.

"Reform throughout the Song Dynasty and overhauling the "Song Xingtong" are two different things. Now that the market is prosperous and commerce is prosperous, the court should seek stability. Once the law is changed, there will inevitably be civil strife!"

"Dad, is the civil strife that the officials think is caused by you and the many opponents?" After saying this, Yan Jidao stuck out his tongue and immediately said: "Dad, the child has gone to bed!"

After saying that, Yan Jidao immediately ran to his room.

Yan Shu smiled helplessly and said: "The overhaul of "Song Xingtong" disrupts the foundation of the Song Dynasty. In the current Song Dynasty, it is better to be steady than to take risks. I can't convince myself!"

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Su Liang was still waiting in front of the official office.

When Su Liang saw Yan Shu, he smiled and said, "Mr. Yan, let's just do one thing today. How about visiting the government office?"

"Okay." Yan Shu nodded.

If Su Liangruo took him to eat and drink again, he would feel guilty.

Immediately.

Su Liang led Yan Shu and Yan Jidao to the third division.

Since Yan Jidao was not an official, he was not allowed to enter certain places and could not read certain documents, so he could only stay outside.

Su Liang did not need to remind him of this.

Yan Shu was very measured and did not give his son any privileges.

When Su Liang and the others arrived at the Sansi Yamen, Wang Yaochen, the envoy of the Third Division, was obviously stunned. He was polite to Yan Shu first, and then looked at Su Liang with a glare.

"You kid, you didn't even say anything in advance, you just launched a surprise attack!"

Su Liang smiled slightly and said: "Ji Xiang, this is my mission. You are busy with your work, and we will just look around."

Wang Yaochen was not polite and pretended to be busy. He knew what Su Liang was doing.

then.

Su Liang took Yan Shu to visit.

Then, Su Liang took him to the Yushitai, Privy Council, Guange, Zhongshu Province, Kaifeng Mansion...

Basically, they look at the daily work of officials.

Yan Shu served as the third envoy, censor Zhongcheng, deputy privy envoy, and participated in political affairs.

He knew the daily life of these yamen, but when he saw it today, he was greatly surprised.

There has been almost no change in the official position structure of these yamen, and the number of officials in each yamen has not increased, but the efficiency is amazing.

Things that once took ten days can now be accomplished in one to three days.

What surprised him even more was the enthusiasm of the officials!

In all the government offices he visited, there was a kind of energy bursting out from the officials.

This kind of energy reminded him of himself when he was young.

But now, all the princes in the two houses are all good, and there is no trace of laziness.

In the government office.

He saw things being resolved quickly.

It feels like the entire Song Dynasty is like a bamboo that is rapidly jointing and growing, thriving at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Near dusk.

In a private room of a tavern, Yan Shu and Su Liang were sitting opposite each other. Yan Shu could not help but mention the overhaul of "Song Xingtong".

"Jing Ming, yesterday you showed me the prosperity of Bianjing's business and trade, and today you showed me the diligent and fighting daily life of the officials in the imperial court."

"I recognize the changes brought about by the Reform Movement throughout the Song Dynasty and admire the enterprising and hard work of you officials."

"However, now that the people are gradually living and working in peace and contentment, commerce and trade is becoming more and more prosperous, and the court is gradually becoming more and more stable, shouldn't it be more important to be 'lenient' to the people of the world? Why are there still strict laws and major revisions to the "Song Xingtong", which undermined the order of Taizong, the ancestor of our dynasty? The foundation of the Song Dynasty may be scattered!"

Su Liang thought for a while and said: "Mr. Yan, my explanation to you now is in vain. Tomorrow you will follow me to a place. When you get there, I believe that I can change your point of view without saying much."

Yan Shu nodded.

He didn't like Su Liang at first.

Because Su Liang was too sharp and sharp, he lacked the humility and elegance of traditional scholar-bureaucrats.

But after spending these two days with Su Liang, he finally understood why Su Liang was reused by officials, and his impression of Su Liang also changed.

Especially what Yan Jidao said last night made him feel a little admiration for Su Liang.

"Dad, every young man who knows Su Jingming must want to be like Su Jingming. He lives a true, honest, and interesting life!"

(End of this chapter)