A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 120: Results-oriented (Update )
Seeing Song Xuan's suspicious expression, Liu Sanbian asked, "Why are you asking this, Twelve-year-old?"

"The first floor lobby is quite spacious, and I have a few employees to support, so I'm thinking of investing some money and opening a bookstore as a livelihood. I can't let it go to waste."

Shi Yannian nodded slightly. They all knew that Song Xuan's family background was very bad.

But he was able to buy such a big house as soon as he came to Songcheng, and he has also been doing business in his hometown for these years.

Many curious people asked Song Xuan's elder brother Song Hao about how rich he was. Song Hao then revealed that Song Xuan opened a cold paste shop in his hometown and made some money.

In addition, after Song Xuan wrote that poem, it further proved that the poem about frogs written by his elder brother was a fake, stolen from his younger brother.

At the same time, it also proved that Han Zhixuan did not lie, but it was Song Xuan who took the initiative to cover up for his brother Song Hao. In this way, Song Xuan's evaluation really went up a level.

Similarly, when Han Zhixuan led Song Xuan to settle the score with Dou Chou, he was also whitewashing himself in disguise.

In addition, with Dou Chou's death, only Han Zhixuan knew the plan between them, and a dead person cannot refute it.

"Shi Erlang, my father is a doctor of the Imperial Academy and he often uses mulberry paper. However, this kind of Chengdu mulberry paper is still too expensive for students like us on a daily basis."

In addition to attending various ceremonial halls, Taichang Doctors, such as Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang, also held this position and participated in the compilation of the New Book of Tang and Zizhi Tongjian.

They mostly use mulberry paper.

"If Shi Erlang wants to sell this kind of paper, I'm afraid it will be difficult to sustain. Many students still use hemp paper."

There are many types of hemp paper. It originated in the Western Han Dynasty, flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, declined in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and ceased to exist in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Parchment paper such as mulberry paper had not yet completely replaced hemp paper in the Song Dynasty. It would take at least several decades for parchment paper to sweep across the Song Dynasty and exceed the usage of hemp paper for the first time.

"Brother Shi, do you have any channels to purchase large quantities of mulberry paper?"

Song Xuan poured them some cold soup:

"The main reason is that I want to stock up on some goods. Even if I can't sell them, Brother Liu just mentioned that every year before taking the imperial examination, there will always be people who buy some to try."

"I don't need to make a quick profit, I just need to find something for my men to do."

"You all know they don't like to study. If they were to idle away their time every day, who knows what kind of trouble they would cause."

Liu Sanbian agreed with Song Xuan's words. Once people are too idle, they are likely to go astray.

Dou Han is a clear example.

He didn't study hard on weekdays, and just wanted to wait for his father's help to become an official. He was used to bullying his classmates on weekdays, otherwise he would not be so rampant when taking the college entrance examination.

Shi Yannian nodded slightly and said, "I will ask someone to find out a little bit about what Shi Erlang said."

"Thank you very much."

Liu Qian, who had been silent all this time, smiled.

"Shi Er Lang's cold drink is really delicious. Now I really believe that you have accumulated a lot of wealth by selling cold drinks. Why don't you continue to run this business? Your employees will be familiar with it and it will be easier for them to get started."

Song Xuan nodded slightly. "I've thought about this question, but there are many shops selling cold soup in Songcheng, and many of them are sold on the streets. The competition is too fierce. They will have to close down when the weather gets cold, and I don't want to worry about it."

"But a bookstore can be open year-round, and selling brushes, inkstones, and books is no problem. After all, this place is next to Yingtian Academy, so it's a good idea to be close to the water and get the moon first."

"Actually, I have another little idea. I'm somewhat well-known in Song City. If I open a bookstore, those who want their children to read might come and buy some books from me, right?"

"a ha ha ha."

Shi Yannian burst into laughter immediately and wished he could have a few drinks with Song Xuan on the spot.

"Shi Er Lang is really open-minded. He even didn't hide this little thought from me."

"It's a money-making idea. Twelve Lang is more than just a little famous, he's incredibly famous."

Liu Sanbian also agreed repeatedly.

He was good at exchanging fame for money, otherwise he would have become a beggar in Tokyo long ago.

He had been taking exams without preparation for so many years, and his family had not provided much support to the three brothers. His eldest brother passed the imperial examination but was only a minor official with a low salary, and he was promoted slightly by flattering his superiors because he was good at playing Cuju.

In addition, the cost of living in Tokyo was high, so Liu Sanbian often exchanged his poems for money and also took advantage of the prostitutes.

"But you still have to be careful, lest you end up like me and ruin your reputation."

Liu Sanbian thought of his own experience again. He was disheartened by the imperial examination and it was difficult for him to change his mentality easily.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Liu. I will pay more attention to it."

……

Tongpan Gu Zimo only dared to pay tribute to his old mentor at home, but after going out he went to work as usual and did not cause trouble for Song Xuan.

Because he knew that Song Xuan had even defeated his teacher. If he went to cause trouble for Song Xuan without doing any investigation, he would definitely put himself in a disadvantageous position.

Gu Zimo even knew that his immediate superior, Yan Shu, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, was very optimistic about Song Xuan.

Otherwise, without Yan Shu's quick handling, the affairs of his old mentor would not have reached the emperor's ears in a short period of time, catching his mentor off guard and putting him in a completely passive position.

Gu Zimo certainly wanted to avenge his old mentor, but he must not be impatient, as it was too easy to make mistakes.

He wanted to investigate Song Xuan's background carefully and find out any clues so that he could deal with him later.

Therefore, today Gu Zimo found a confidant and asked him to go to Lema Town, Song Xuan’s hometown, to find out more about Song Xuan’s background.

Only by knowing his background, Gu Zimo would be more confident in stepping on Song Xuan and avenging his old mentor!
Just as Gu Zimo closed his eyes and thought, the eldest son of his mentor Dou Chou secretly sent someone to deliver a letter to him.

Gu Zimo quickly opened the letter and read it carefully.

The elder brother said in his heart that someone in the palace was paying attention to this matter and asked him to find evidence of collusion between Song Xuan and Cao Liyong.

In this way, the Dou family will have the opportunity to use the enemy's strength to avenge my father.

After reading the letter again and again, Gu Zimo memorized the contents and burned it immediately after reading it as his brother requested.

It seems that the struggle in the court has affected here.

Some people wanted to bring down Cao Liyong, as he had never caused any trouble in the capital. So they had to look for him locally, especially since he was involved in a murder case.

This kind of thing seemed very normal to Gu Zimo.

The prime ministers who mingled in the court fought fiercely with each other.

It doesn’t matter whether you have committed a crime or have been wrongly accused. They are just using your case to bring down their opponents in the party.

It’s just that you happened to be wronged in the case, so it can be said that your injustice has been redressed!

The Lord of Heaven will make the decision for you!
There are so many unjust cases in the world. Do you really think that the masters of the Song Dynasty are so idle that they can clear your case like Bao Zheng did?
Even Bao Zheng was serious and responsible in clearing up unjust cases within his authority. As for unjust cases elsewhere, it would be useless even if you called out to him, "Judge Bao."

This is Bao Zheng’s principle.

This is also one of the reasons why most of his colleagues can tolerate him.

Otherwise, how could Bao Zheng, who didn't give face to anyone and spit in the emperor's face, have a good ending?
Gu Zimo watched the flames engulf the letter and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

You, Song Xuan, are allowed to climb the ladder, but you don't know that climbing the ladder always comes with a price! In order to avenge his old mentor, Gu Zimo is not afraid of being involved in the factional struggle in the court.

He urgently hoped that the party struggle would become more intense.

By then, someone will overturn the verdict for his old mentor. Can Song Xuan still get off the boat safely?
As usual, Tokyo's official gazette and tabloids were delivered to Song Xuan.

He looked from beginning to end and found that the position of Hanlin Bachelor vacated by Dou Chou was taken by Ding Du.

Song Xuan heard Cao Liyong mention his two deputies, one of whom was recommended by Wang Zeng and the other by Lu Yijian.

This Ding Du was Lu Yijian's man.

Song Xuan knew how powerful Lü Yijian was. He had risen and fallen from the position of prime minister three times.

Only Lü Yijian, Wang Zeng and Cao Wei were worthy of being enshrined in the temple of Emperor Renzong of Song.

Among so many prime ministers at that time, only Lu Yijian did not rely on Empress Dowager Liu and devoted himself to assisting Zhao Zhen.

Song Xuan put the official gazette in his hand aside and took a look at the tabloid written based on rumors.

His eyes widened immediately.

Okay, okay, it turns out that the second and third injuries can really kill people.

Dou Chou has turned his fucking love into hatred for himself. If he can't get me, he will destroy me!

"Who the hell spread these rumors?"

Song Xuan threw the tabloid to the ground angrily.

I really can’t stand the author crawling in the dark behind me and writing such shocking words!

Just as he was getting angry, Yan Shu's servant came over and said that the prefect wanted him to go to the academy and talk about something.

Song Xuan took a deep breath, picked up his folding fan, and followed the servant to the academy.

Inside Yingtian Academy.

Yan Shu, Fan Zhongyan, Song Shou, Zhang Shide, Yang Zijin and others were all drinking tea and chatting.

Now the news has been sent back from the court that the Dou Chou incident has been settled.

Not only was he stripped of his position and demoted to a commoner, but his son was also stripped of his official position and ordered to return home to observe mourning for him and bear the punishment on behalf of his father.

Neither the Empress Dowager nor the Emperor would allow their subordinates to act on their own before their orders were issued.

How can such acts of disobedience be tolerated?
If you, Dou Chou, died on the battlefield, that would be a different matter.

This matter was obviously caused by you. You caused such a big disturbance, but you just wanted to die. If the court does not resolve the matter, won't the ministers behind you follow suit?
Therefore, this kind of trend must be suppressed severely!

"Song Twelve will be here soon, and we must put down his arrogance."

Song Shou has always been brooding over the fact that he abducted Zhang Fangping and sent him to jail.

Such a good child, but he was led astray by Song Xuan.

If these people had not argued for their rights and continuously submitted petitions to the court, who knows how the outcome would have been.
If Song Xuan just relied on such bold behavior, it would cause unpredictable consequences, and it would be too late to regret it then.

Yan Shu laughed and stroked his beard:
"Song Twelve did a good job this time. If he admits his mistake, it will be useless for us to uphold justice in the court."

"Ah."

Zhang Shide also agreed with Yan Shu's words. If Song Xuan's knees were too weak and he knelt down directly, no matter how hard they tried, it would be useless.

Such students are not worth cultivating.

"Your words are somewhat biased." Zhang Shide disagreed with this communication with Song Xuan:

"Of course we should encourage him. He's a child from a commoner family, yet he's so fearless and unafraid of power. Yet you're suppressing him like this. Even if it's the right thing to do, you're still suppressing him."

"In the end, they can only discipline someone who only obeys orders. What good will this do for the Song Dynasty court?"

"What benefits will it bring to the people of the Song Dynasty?"

"Since Yingtian Academy is going to reform, it is necessary to let the students have a strong spirit."

Zhang Shide kept talking on and on, leaving Song Shou speechless.

Fan Zhongyan took over the conversation and took the initiative to explain: "Actually, I have an idea, but I don't know if it's appropriate."

"Xiwen is the new headmaster of the academy, so he should speak freely if he has anything to say."

Yang Zijin encouraged Fan Zhongyan.

When Fan Zhongyan came to Yingtian Academy to study for the first time, he studied hard for five years and finally passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi.

Yang Zijin highly values ​​this unique student and has always known his tenacity.

He will definitely do a great job if we leave this matter to him.

Now this is his second time to teach at Yingtian Academy. Yang Zijin hopes that he can lead the academy to a higher level.

Some time ago, Fan Zhongyan formally petitioned Yan Shu to upgrade Yingtian Academy to a provincial school.

This move set a precedent for official schools in the Northern Song Dynasty. Moving from private colleges to official colleges made many things much easier.

In order to push Yingtianfu Academy to a higher level, Yan Shu always wanted to raise funds, build more schools and expand its scale.

We will admit more students to the college next year.

"I would like to hold an opening ceremony and announce that the academy's motto will be changed from 'One Culture Under Heaven' to 'Take the World as Our Own Responsibility'."

"We should curb the students' pursuit of fame and fortune and make them learn to apply their knowledge to society. Otherwise, even if they pass the imperial examinations, they will not be able to provide better support to the court and the people as officials in the future."

"At that time, we can invite Song Xuan as a representative of outstanding students to share his experience with everyone and encourage everyone not to bow to the powerful."

Fan Zhongyan's words suddenly made everyone silent.

Because many people come to the academy to study in order to systematically learn Confucian classics and achieve a thorough understanding of them.

In the hope of achieving good results in the prefectural examinations, provincial examinations and palace examinations in the future.

As for other goals, they should come second.

Once the admission rate of Yingtian Academy fails to increase, it will continue to decline.

Then will there be students willing to study here?

"Xiwen's words make sense." Yan Shu first gave his approval, then said thoughtfully:

"However, not many students from Yingtian Academy passed the imperial examinations in the past two years. We still need to proceed slowly. The most important thing is to allow more students to pass the imperial examinations."

Yan Shu's words were recognized by Zhang Shide and others. It was not because they were result-oriented, but because this was the state of the world today!

(End of this chapter)