King of Song

Chapter 327 The raccoon dog on a hill

Monarchy and prime ministership are very important parts of ancient politics.

Since Qin Shihuang ruled the world, the emperors all wanted to monopolize power and be arbitrary, at least most of the emperors were like this.However, the emperor's abilities and energy were limited after all, and he couldn't take care of the entire huge empire, let alone cover everything, so he was doomed to need some help.

So there was a bureaucratic system, and the most important of these was the prime minister, and the power of the prime minister came into being.Especially after Qin Shihuang established the system of Sangong and Jiuqing, the prime minister became an existence under one person and above ten thousand people.

The existence of the prime minister is to help the emperor share and handle government affairs, and is the emperor's helper, complementing each other.Of course, there are pros and cons.The power of the prime minister, to be precise, is the power of all officials including the prime minister, and there is a natural contradiction between the power of the monarch and the power of the monarch to some extent.

Promising monarchs all tried to weaken the power of the prime minister and strengthen the power of the monarch. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, three provinces and six ministries were established, and the prime minister of the Zhengshitang changed from one to several, with the purpose of centralizing power through decentralization.

In the later Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang directly abolished the prime minister system, but has the power of prime minister really disappeared?A king as energetic and majestic as Zhu Yuanzhang might be able to control the situation, but not every emperor could.

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, their descendants couldn't do it anymore. The establishment of a cabinet was actually the operating organization of the prime minister, and the power of the cabinet scholars was no less than that of the previous prime ministers.Therefore, in a feudal society with centralized monarchy, the contradiction between monarchy and phase power cannot be completely resolved.

There are advantages and disadvantages in this way, and it may be a hindrance for a promising king.But for those mediocre monarchs, it is of great benefit to limit their willful behavior, cause major problems in the country, and ensure the stability of the regime.

Therefore, if the power of the monarchy and the power of the prime minister are handled well, they will complement each other, and if they are not handled properly, they will be more restrictive.

Relatively speaking, the system of prime ministers in the Song Dynasty was very complete.There are eight princes from the two prefectures, the prime minister of Zhongshu, the political adviser, and the principal and deputy envoys of the Privy Council of the Western Mansion, a total of eight.Of course, there are still some people who are nominally under the Zhongshu sect, but they are just honorary titles.

Such a setting also reflects the essence of the political system of the Northern Song Dynasty, which is checks and balances.Although administrative efficiency has declined, a relatively balanced system has been formed through decentralization to achieve centralization.Although if things go on like this, the disadvantages will increase more and more, but it is better than nonsense.

Taizu Taizong can be regarded as far-sighted, but the current emperor Zhao Xu seems to be very dissatisfied with such a system, and is trying to break and rebuild...

There is also an order among the two governments and eight princes, and among the many prime ministers, there are masters and assistants.For example, it is already an unwritten practice that a scholar from Jixiandian is the prime minister, and a scholar from Zhaowenguan is the second chancellor.

However, this is not static. There are special circumstances as to which prime minister plays the main role.For example, in the current Xining Dynasty, the first three divisions were established to replace Zhongshu.Now that it has been abolished, the emperor's favorite Wang Xianggong, who presided over the reform, has naturally become the leader among the prime ministers, with a posture of monopolizing power.On the contrary, Zeng Gongliang, a scholar of Jixian Temple, was in a relatively awkward position.

Fortunately, Zeng Gongliang is kind and has a good mentality. As a veteran of the three dynasties, he has already seen it. Of course, he is also good at making peace.It's not that Zeng Xianggong is two-faced and three-faced, trying to please all parties, but because of his nature, he is more easy-going.Moreover, sometimes reality forces, and there are many helpless.

When Wen Yanbo dismissed him and went out to know the place, Sima Guang left Beijing, and Fu Bi was also silent, Zeng Xianggong still stood firm.In fact, Emperor Zhao Xu really needed such a person in the court to coordinate the contradictions between reformers and conservatives and maintain the operation of Zhongshu.

Zeng Xianggong is very clear about his position, and he is comfortable and comfortable on weekdays, and he only listens to many things but does not talk about them.

Naturally, he had also heard about Lin Zhao's case. Although he didn't know the specific ins and outs of the case, Emperor Zhao Xu's abnormal behavior made Zeng Xianggong feel a little unusual.

Because he was not familiar with Lin Zhao and had such an awkward competitive relationship with Wang Anshi, Zeng Xianggong really couldn't say anything, so he could only pretend that he didn't see it.It's a pity that today, if he wanted to stand by and watch, he might not be able to pretend to be deaf and dumb.

problem occurs!
When the servant came to deliver the Empress Dowager's order, he happened to be in Zhongshu Province, and he heard the matter clearly.Major injustice?What happened in the Northwest?Zeng Gongliang shook his head secretly. If it was a normal day, he, the prime minister, must take responsibility and participate in the handling as soon as possible.

But today, with Wang Anshi standing in front of him, he originally wanted to continue watching from the sidelines.It's a pity that Emperor Zhao Xu didn't give him this leisure, so he dragged Mr. Zeng in!

The errand is playing nice, which Zeng Xianggong has always been good at!
The empress dowager got angry at the execution ground and asked the emperor, the prime minister and all the officials involved to go. Is it possible?That was in front of many people, and it would undoubtedly discredit many people, including the emperor, and cause very bad consequences.

Naturally, this was something Zhao Xu didn't want to see. If he really went at this moment, he might be even more passive.Furthermore, on-site security issues also need to be considered.

Therefore, you must never go to the execution ground!
Zhao Xu really didn't understand what happened to the old grandmother today. For a Chai Minyan, she condescended to go to the ominous place of the execution ground.To defend Lin Zhao so hard, even to dare to do justice and government affairs, is this "pro-grandson" not as important as an inexplicable niece and son-in-law?

But things have come to this, what can he do?Grandma spoke, he dared not listen!The charge of unfilial piety will have a very bad influence on him, and may even leave a bad mark in the history books...

On balance, the "farce" on the execution ground must be terminated as soon as possible, and the Empress Dowager must be appeased.Even if it is to deal with things, you have to change the place!
It stands to reason that the old grandmother spoke and waited there. Out of filial piety, he should invite him himself, but he can't go now, so he had to send a minister to go.

Only the Prime Minister can invite the courtiers of the Empress Dowager.

Wang Anshi is going to add fuel to the fire now, and he will not give up if he is stubborn. If he angers the Cao family with a few words, the consequences will soon be more serious, so the most suitable candidate is undoubtedly Zeng Gongliang.

To be honest, Zeng Gongliang was unwilling to intervene in such a drudgery, but the emperor had spoken, and he had to obey the order.Of course, Zeng Xianggong also understood that today he was completely helping the officials and Wang Xianggong clean up the mess, and going to the execution ground would inevitably make him embarrassing and lose face.

Forget it, I have been wronged for you today, and I will naturally have to make up for it in the future!Zeng Xianggong also has ideas, sometimes he has to do it out of necessity, as the minister of Zaifu, who would be willing to just treat it as a decoration?To put it bluntly, Zeng Xianggong is also a person with ambition and ideals.In the past, it was forced by the situation. Once there is an opportunity, who would have no idea?

When Zeng Gongliang came to the execution ground in a hurry, the Empress Dowager Cao was still waiting here. The overall situation was settled, so he was not in a hurry.The masters of the Forbidden Army have already guarded the left and right to ensure the safety of the Cao family. There are still many people onlookers, curious about how the matter will be resolved in the end.

The atmosphere at the scene was a bit weird. Li Han and Wang Dongjian knelt down on the ground, trembling, not daring to raise their heads for a long time.Lin Zhao, who was originally a prisoner on death row, was surrounded by several beauties, giving people the feeling of being surrounded by stars.

Ugh!
Mr. Zeng let out a long sigh, walked over bravely, and said politely: "Mr. Zeng pays homage to the Empress Dowager!"

"Zeng Xianggong? Are you here?" In the Renzong era, Zeng Gongliang used to be a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and the Cao family was quite familiar with him.

"It's the minister, the empress dowager ordered, and the minister came here!" Zeng Gongliang replied in a deep voice: "When something like this happened, the minister is the head of all the officials, and he is heartbroken. I have come to plead guilty to the empress dowager!"

Persuasion requires strategy. Under Cao's rage, he had to admit his mistake first, and then talk about other things.What's more, no matter what, Zeng Gongliang is the prime minister in name, and this leadership responsibility must be assumed.

Cao's impression of Zeng Gongliang is not bad, and he also knows that Zeng Xianggong is innocent, so he doesn't want to embarrass him.In fact, there is still a little selfishness in my heart, the child has been found, and I don't know what will happen in the future, no matter what the result is, the help of the Ministers of Zaifu is indispensable, it is right to have a good relationship today.

"Mr. Zeng doesn't need to plead guilty. Although I live in the palace and don't ask about political affairs, it doesn't mean I'm deaf and blind, and I don't know anything." The implication is that this matter has nothing to do with you, Zeng Gongliang.

"The Empress Dowager speaks too seriously, and I'm terrified!"

Mrs. Cao shook her head and said, "Mr. Zeng, don't feel guilty. By the way, what about the officials and others? Why did you only see Mr. Zeng coming here?"

"This..." Zeng Gongliang said: "I came here to respectfully ask the empress dowager to move... As for the official family, it stands to reason that the empress dowager is here, and the official family should come to serve, but there is a way that the emperor does not Standing in a dangerous place, for the sake of the country, I implore the empress dowager for understanding, and at the same time respect the empress dowager for moving..."

The reason is quite sufficient. Although the Cao family has issued a decree, they don't think that Zhao Xu will really come.It's just to escalate this matter and attract enough attention. At the same time, why not give Zhao Xu a step down?
"Really?" Cao said: "Where are the officials going to meet me? How should this matter be settled?" This is Cao's principle that things must be settled today.

"Kaifeng Mansion!" Zeng Gongliang replied: "The government will meet the Empress Dowager in Kaifeng Mansion, and this case will also be tried in Kaifeng Mansion."

This was also an expedient measure for Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi. It would be unreasonable to make a fuss out of a molehill by bringing all of them to the court for trial.The three legal departments are all involved now, but the Kaifeng government stays out of the matter and can fully participate in handling this matter.

"Kaifeng mansion?" Mrs. Cao nodded lightly: "It's a good place. When Bao Zheng sat in the court, he was known as Qingtian, fair and honest, and it was a clean and good place. But who should try this case? If it is like They are so careless about human life, don't tarnish Bao Zheng's heroic spirit..."

Both Li Han and Wang Dongjian knelt down on the ground, and when they heard such accusations, they were silent and speechless.Today's situation is already very unfavorable to them. Although they are only two small people in charge of adjudicating and executing cases, they are destined to become scapegoats if something like this happens. I don't know what will happen?

To be honest, Zhao Xu really didn't say who was the candidate for the trial. He planned to discuss it after meeting, or the current Kaifeng Governor Wang Gui would be the one.

But don't forget that Wang Gui and Lin Zhao had a feud, and his personal reputation was not very good, at least he couldn't win the trust of the Empress Dowager Cao.

Cao said directly: "Can you find a fair and honest person to preside over the trial?"

"Yes!" Zeng Gongliang thought for a while, and replied in a deep voice: "I recommend someone, and I guarantee that the Empress Dowager will be satisfied!"

"Who is it?" Even though the matter has reached this point, the person who is trying the case is also very important.After all, some of these things still need to be thoughtful, such as the two thousand war horses purchased by Zhejia...

Zeng Gongliang said in a deep voice: "Zhao Bian, the prefect of Hangzhou, has just returned to Bianjing..."

"Okay! It's him!" The empress dowager was naturally satisfied with Zhao Yan, who was known as the iron-faced censor without avoiding the powerful.What's more, this person is Bao Zheng's friend, and he seems to have been involved in some of the events back then.

The iron-faced suzerain also laughed when he heard this suggestion, and Zhao Bian presided over the trial, and the matter will definitely be resolved smoothly.

"Well, please respectfully invite the Empress Dowager to move to Kaifeng Mansion!" Zeng Gongliang secretly heaved a sigh of relief, today's affairs can finally be settled.

"Okay! I'll walk with you to Kaifeng Mansion!" Mrs. Cao agreed, and the soldiers of the forbidden army immediately set off to escort.The lives related to this case were also taken to Kaifeng Mansion, where the most sensational case during the Xining years will be tried soon.The onlookers also consciously dispersed. Of course, they were still looking forward to the final result of the case.

Wang Yu looked at the gradually leaving crowd, feeling very anxious in his heart.

Zhao Yan tried the case, which proves that the case is at least procedurally settled, and there is no way to intervene.Father should be in the palace at this moment, whether there is any countermeasure is unknown, or even what the reaction will be.

Wang Yu was really worried, he knew very well that Li Fugui was doomed, but who was the one who made it happen in Bianjing?There must be a responsible person, there must be a scapegoat.

But can this person be the emperor?So there must be someone else, and Wang Anshi's suspicion is undoubtedly the biggest.It is self-evident what the consequences will be if this is the case, if it is serious, it may directly stop the relationship...

This is not the same as the struggle between reformists and conservatives. The emperor used to do everything possible to defend his father.But this time it was a principled mistake. Even if you want to maintain it, where should you start?

Who should be the scapegoat?
Li Han?Wang Dongjian?Or is it Yushi Zhongcheng, or the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment?
It is completely impossible, let alone whether anyone will believe it, those parties alone are not willing to take the blame.This scapegoat may mean death...unless it is a dead person...

correct!

Thinking of this, an idea flashed in Wang Yu's mind. Looking at Lu Huiqing beside him, he seemed to have figured out a way...

"Brother Jifu, I have something to trouble you, I hope you can help!" Wang Yu was much more sincere, and communicated with Lu Huiqing.

"What's the matter?" For some reason, when Wang Yu opened his mouth, Lu Huiqing had an ominous premonition.

"You have also seen that the matter has reached this point. According to this situation, my father will inevitably be impacted. In this way, it will not be of any benefit to Brother Jifu!" Wang Yu said: "If someone can bear the responsibility, then my father will be implicated. It will be much less..."

"What does Yuanze mean?" Sure enough, Lu Huiqing was thinking, Wang Yu didn't want to be a scapegoat, did he?
"Erlang!" Wang Yu said in a deep voice, "Can Erlang bear this responsibility first..."

Erlang Lu Heqing, a dead man!
Lu Huiqing's heart moved, she had fully understood what Wang Yu meant, and she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.No matter what, my younger brother is already dead. Although the dead don't matter, it is disrespectful to the dead to have such a bad reputation after death.How could Lu Huiqing be willing to let her younger brother, who had just entered the land and was not yet safe, have such an experience?

Emotionally speaking, he was a little unbearable.At the same time, there was some unreasonable hatred for Wang Yu in my heart, this guy was too much, too sinister and mean.Although it was an expedient measure, if he was someone else, he might still admire Wang Yu's quick wit, but once things happened to him, it would completely change.

Perhaps it was because Wang Yu took advantage of their previous convictions, which naturally made Lu Huiqing a little disgusted.

Seeing this, Wang Yu said: "Brother Jifu, I know this is very difficult for you, and I'm sorry for Erlang. But the matter has come to this point, there must be a countermeasure. Anyway, Erlang is already... still alive. important.

In this way, my father's reputation can be preserved, and at the same time, it is helping the official family to get out of the siege.This time, brother Jifu may be involved a little bit, and the officials and my father will keep this kindness in mind, and there will be benefits in the future..."

Lu Huiqing thought about it again, and it was indeed the case.Wang Anshi's downfall would not do him any good, not to mention that he was also involved in this matter, so it would be bad if it hurt him.

The most important thing, taking the blame at this moment is not only helping Wang Anshi, but also helping Emperor Zhao Xu.Let the emperor owe himself a favor, and there will always be a chance to use it in the future.After all, my younger brother is dead, so it would be good to let him play a role in the end, I can only feel sorry for my younger brother for the time being...

In the blink of an eye, Lu Huiqing's mind changed.In the final analysis, he and Wang Yu are of the same breed.In comparison, Wang Yu was younger, arrogant and mean, while Lu Huiqing was more scheming, more tolerant, and more terrifying...

"Okay!" Lu Huiqing sighed and agreed.I thought to myself: Erlang, in the future, my brother will definitely help you regain your dignity...

Wang Yu also heaved a sigh of relief, and hurriedly prepared related matters.Therefore, I didn't notice Lu Huiqing's cold eyes, and I didn't think that he would pay a heavy price for this deal in the future...

At this time, Zhao Xu in the palace also happened to leave for Kaifeng Mansion to deal with the mess caused by his willful actions...

(End of this chapter)