Prime Minister

Chapter 1348: Special Advancement, Duke of Wei (Major Update)

Chapter 1348: Special Advancement, Duke of Wei (Major Update)

Behind the curtains of the warm room in Funing Palace.

The sandalwood was as soft as silk, floating slowly in the secluded brocade curtains, and the candlelight was deliberately kept very low.

Half of Empress Dowager Gao's face was hidden in the darkness, with only the agarwood beads on her fingertips reflecting a cold light.

The new emperor has been enthroned, and ministers such as Cai Que are still discussing the emperor's affairs after his death, but Zhang Yue and Empress Dowager Gao are already fighting each other for the power in their hands.

Empress Dowager Gao did not continue Zhang Yue's topic, but said: "The late emperor relied on you as a minister and entrusted him with the task of looking after his son. Now you said that the crown prince will rule the country at the age of fourteen. Is this a plan?"

Facing the majesty of Empress Dowager Gao, Zhang Yue lowered his eyes to avoid her sharp edge, and said in a respectful but subtle tone: "I dare not make a rash judgment. However, the late emperor expected the prince to be like 'Yao and Shun' before his death, which shows that he is very talented."

"If the Empress Dowager gives instructions and the two governments provide support, we will surely be able to inherit the throne in due time."

"As for me, I am only trying to encourage the weak and exhausted, and I am only a minor official."

Empress Dowager Gao clenched her rosary beads and wiped tears from her eyes, saying, "I am just a woman, how can I know how to govern a country? Your family has served three dynasties and was entrusted by the late emperor. The court... still relies on your family."

"The Queen Mother is wise." Zhang Yue whispered, "The late Emperor entrusted me not only to you, but also to Lords Cai, Lu, Sima and my colleagues in the Central Government."

"During the reign of Emperor Renzong, the Eighth King wanted to call himself 'Duke Zhou assisting King Cheng', but was eventually checked. I wish to follow this example - all state affairs must be handled with the Queen Mother's approval and after consultation between the two governments."

Empress Dowager Gao thought that Zhang Yue's words not only reduced his own power, but also brought out Cai Que, Lu Gongzhu, Sima Guang and others to check and balance her.

The Eight Kings mentioned by Zhang Yue were Zhao Yuanyan, the younger brother of Emperor Zhenzong of Song and the eighth son of Emperor Taizong. When Emperor Zhenzong was seriously ill, Zhao Yuanyan found an excuse to stay in the palace, which made Prime Minister Li Di jealous.

After Renzong ascended the throne, he granted Zhao Yuanyan the privilege of not being named when praising or worshipping, not being named in imperial edicts, and being allowed to wear a sword and shoes when entering the palace and not having to bow when entering the court.

Zhao Yuanyan knew that because of his great fame, Empress Zhangxian was jealous of him, so he stayed indoors and pretended to be crazy and stupid.

However, after Empress Zhangxian passed away, it was she who told Emperor Renzong the truth that your biological mother was someone else.

This almost destroyed Emperor Renzong's good impression of Empress Dowager Zhangxian.

The Eighth Prince Zhao Yuanyan was so powerful back then, but he was still suppressed by Empress Dowager Zhangxian in the end, and only survived by pretending to be crazy behind closed doors. If she insists on seizing power now, Zhang Yue may become the next Zhao Yuanyan, or even... more dangerous.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly softened her tone and said with a sigh and a sarcasm, "Emperor Renzong treated Prince Yan with all due respect as a son and nephew. Prince Yan was quite self-respecting and called Emperor Renzong by his rank in the family. Although he only did so in the Forbidden City, Prince Yan still did so and Emperor Renzong dared not say anything."

Empress Dowager Gao thought of Zhao Yuanyan, the dignified and serious man who was kept in the palace by Emperor Renzong. People in the palace said that even the Khitans were afraid of him.

At this point, she looked directly at Zhang Yue and asked, "Do you think... the King of Yan is a smart man?"

Zhang Yue said calmly, "The King of Yan must respect himself before he can have a good ending. However, I think..."

Zhang Yue raised his head and said, "A wise person should know that some roads... cannot be taken."

Empress Dowager Gao said, "I agree. It's too early for the Crown Prince to take power at the age of fourteen. How about fifteen?"

Zhang Yue smiled slightly upon hearing this, and said, "I dare not. The Queen Mother only needs to know about this matter, and there is no need to include it in the will."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Gao was greatly impressed by Zhang Yue.

After a pause, Empress Dowager Gao nodded and said, "I wonder who you think is the envoy to the mountain tomb?"

The system of mountain and mausoleum envoys originated in the Tang Dynasty. When Li Yuan died of illness, Fang Xuanling and Gao Shilian were appointed as mountain and mausoleum envoys, which was originally a grace.

When Emperor Daizong of Tang ascended the throne, he used the mission of the Mountain and Mausoleum Envoy to dismiss the Right Prime Minister Pei Mian and Guo Ziyi from their posts without bloodshed.

During the Song Dynasty, the system of appointing the prime minister as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum was not seriously implemented. It was restored during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, who appointed Ding Wei as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum. During the reigns of Emperor Renzong and Emperor Yingzong, Han Qi served as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum twice.

After Han Qi was appointed as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum for the second time, he was impeached by Wang Tao and dismissed.

What Empress Dowager Gao meant was for her to kill Cai Que while he was serving as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum.

This is a strategy of killing someone with a borrowed knife.

If you want to be in power, your hands must be stained with blood. Otherwise, why should I trust you?

However, it was not Empress Dowager Gao that Zhang Yue admired, but Cai Que... From the time when the emperor entrusted his son to him before his death, to the time when he predicted Empress Dowager Gao's move in less than half an hour, he showed goodwill to her.

Senior brother is worthy of being senior brother, always one step ahead of others.

Half-melted wax tears condensed on the Bronze Sparrow lampstand.

Zhang Yue said calmly: "According to history, the left prime minister Cai Zhizheng should take the position. According to the history of our ancestors, he will resign after the task is completed."

Empress Dowager Gao twirled the rosary beads with her fingertips and said slowly, "After the Yongzhao Mausoleum was covered with earth, Han Weigong did not resign as prime minister because Yingmiao was ill and was taking medicine. It was only after the Yonghou Mausoleum was covered with earth that he resigned as prime minister. You should understand the deep meaning of this."

In fact, after the prime minister was appointed as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum, whether he resigned or not depended on the emperor's wishes. Han Qi did not resign during the reign of Emperor Yingzong because his throne was unstable. However, during the reign of Emperor Shenzong, he felt that Han Qi was a hidden danger, so he removed Han Qi through the emperor's teacher Wang Tao.

Of course, Wang Tao thought he could replace Han Qi. He was so arrogant that he looked down on anyone. But... the last time he went to Beijing, he had to look at Zhang Yue's face.

However, when the other party died of illness in the third year of Yuanfeng, Zhang Yue did not embarrass him and gave him decent treatment.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Yue said solemnly: "The Queen Mother is wise. If there are ministers who do not know the current situation, the court should have ministers who follow Wang Tao's example."

When Empress Dowager Gao heard this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

"Your family has thought it through very carefully." Empress Dowager Gao nodded slightly, "In that case, I will follow your suggestion."

During the time when Cai Que served as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum, Zhang Yue would take over as the left prime minister whenever he ordered Cai Que to abdicate.

Even after agreeing on the salary, Zhang Yue still didn't feel relieved.

A gentleman only seeks his work, not his position.

Zhang Yue straightened his clothes and bowed solemnly, saying, "Please allow me to report to you, Queen Mother. Although I dare not compare myself with Sima Gong, I do have some insights into the classics and history. Sima Gong preferred to resign from his position as deputy minister and stayed in Luoyang to edit books for fifteen years. I really admire his character. However, I believe that the key to governing a country is to adapt to changes."

Empress Dowager Gao twirled her rosary beads with her fingertips and raised her eyes slightly: "Mr. Zhang, please feel free to speak."

"I have observed the rise and fall of dynasties in history," Zhang Yue said in a voice as calm as a deep pool. "The evolution of institutions is like the flow of a river. Most people go downstream, and few go upstream. Although the reign of Jiayou was called peaceful, the times have changed and the system is no longer sustainable. It is like walking on a road. Only by cutting through thorns and building bridges to cross rivers can you open up a new path. If you think of turning back when you encounter a fork in the road, you will never go far."

The rosary in Empress Dowager Gao's hand suddenly paused. She was also moved by Zhang Yue's words. Zhang Maoze, who was standing by, also knew that at this critical juncture, Zhang Yue was the only one who could persuade and move Empress Dowager Gao.

Empress Dowager Gao asked, "Are you asking me to remember the late emperor's will?"

Zhang Yue bowed his head and kowtowed again: "I beg the Queen Mother to take the emperor's will into consideration. One is to pacify Xixia and recover Yanyun, and the other is to continue the new law. These two are indeed long-term plans for the country."

"The new road and the old road." The Queen Mother pondered for a moment, turning the rosary in her palm. "You said that we should move forward bravely on the new road, but I think it is wise to turn back in time if we see the wrong way. The exemption law can be temporarily postponed, and the other new laws can be discussed by the prime minister."

Zhang Yue glanced at the rosary in the Queen Mother's hand, which tightened and loosened, and knew that this was the biggest concession, so he solemnly replied: "Your Highness will obey your order."

……

After Zhang Yue stepped out, he met Cai Que who was guarding the entrance of the palace as expected.

Cai Que glanced at Zhang Yue and turned away. Zhang Yue knew that the other party must have guessed the conversation between him and Empress Dowager Gao.

Cai Que walked up to Zhang Yue and said calmly, "After the death of the emperor, according to the rules, we must express our condolences to the Liao people."

"If the Liao Kingdom knew... about this, they would most likely take advantage of the instability in our court and use the opportunity to blackmail us."

Zhang Yue said: "Chi Zheng is worried that the Liao Kingdom will take advantage of our country's mourning to raise an army?"

Cai Que nodded and said, "The Liao people have been holding back and have not sent troops to the four routes of Hebei. If they threaten us to leave Hedong and go to Hebei in the name of demanding annual tribute, I'm afraid we will end up drinking from the Yellow River."

The two talked slowly. Zhang Yue remembered that in another time and space, the emperor died of illness in March, and Wang Gui was appointed as the envoy to the tombs. As a result, Wang Gui died of illness in May, and Cai Que took over as the envoy to the tombs. But after Cai Que became the envoy to the tombs, he had no intention of resigning.

Therefore, the censors used the tomb incident as an excuse to impeach Cai Que and ordered him to step down. They also pointed out that the prime minister must resign after the tomb was covered. Cai Que was reluctant to leave the position and ignored the old system. Finally, Cai Que was dismissed from his position in the first year of Yuanyou.

In this time and space, will Cai Que follow the story and voluntarily resign as prime minister after serving as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum?

Zhang Yue said: "Sending troops during a national mourning is an act of betrayal. The Liao people will not be so unwise. The court should select a man who is eloquent, smart and resourceful to mourn the Liao country. First use courtesy and then force. If the talks fail, then fight."

Cai Que nodded and asked, "That's right. Who do you think the envoy is?"

Zhang Yue said: "This is the prime minister's business."

Cai certainly understood what he meant.

Cai Que looked at Prince Yong and Prince Cao not far away and said to Zhang Yue: "The Empress Dowager and the late Emperor are mother and son. Her behavior over the past six months seems like a grudge."

Zhang Yue glanced at Prince Yong and Prince Cao, then looked away and said, "Zhizheng is worrying too much."

……

When all the prime ministers gathered together to discuss the revision of the will, Prince Yong and Prince Cao stepped aside.

Zhang Yue also said that he was not the prime minister in office, so he was not in a position to listen and stepped aside. However, Zhang Maoze, as the spokesperson for Empress Dowager Gao, fully participated in the prime minister's discussion.

The edict was read out hastily and only allowed the crown prince to ascend the throne as the new emperor. It was very hasty at that time, and they hurried to make the second kings and three generals recognize the new monarch first.

But there is another version that needs to be announced to the world. It must be a complete version and will be read out in front of all officials tomorrow. Many details have not yet been studied.

Hanlin scholar Zeng Bu unfolded the yellow silk imperial edict and said in a deep voice: "My lords, there are still several points that need to be discussed in the imperial edict to be announced to the world tomorrow."

The candlelight flickered red, and the ministers sat at their respective tables. Zhang Maoze stood beside the screen, holding a whisk, his eyes wandering between Cai Que and Sima Guang.

First of all, no one had any objection to the fact that Empress Dowager Gao was the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Xiang was the Empress Dowager.

But Cai Que said: "Now the Virtuous Consort Zhu has given birth to a holy heir, but there is no ceremony to honor her in the legacy system. We should add Consort Zhu to the throne!"

Everyone knew that Empress Dowager Gao hated Concubine Zhu very much, and the ministers tacitly agreed not to include it in the list.

Han Zhen said: "But this dynasty emphasizes the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and the distinction between patriarchal clan laws."

Zhang Dun said: "When Emperor Xianzong of Tang ascended the throne, his stepmother Empress Dowager Guo and his biological mother Zheng were both honored as Empress Dowagers."

Sima Guang said: "Prince Pu'an Yi is still called the Emperor Father, how can he be called the Empress Dowager?"

Sima Guang also had a point. During the Puyi discussion, Yingzong's biological father was still called Huangkao, but later he was called "Huang" instead of Emperor. The Tang and Song dynasties each had their own systems, and the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was even stricter in the Song dynasty.

Of course, the purpose of fighting for treatment for the emperor's biological mother, Concubine Zhu, was the same as that of Emperor Yingzong fighting for a status for his father.

Cai Que said: "Then she should also be called the Imperial Concubine Dowager."

Upon hearing this, Sima Guang stopped talking and finally wrote in his will that Concubine Zhu was called the Empress Dowager.

Then, Empress Dowager Gao wanted to share the power to deal with military and state affairs. There was no problem with this. It was designated when the emperor was seriously ill. The Song Dynasty also had the tradition of empress dowagers ruling behind the curtain. However, Sima Guang and Han Zhen advocated writing "The Story of Empress Zhangxian Mingsu" in the will.

Cai Que refused to do this.

It was only after Empress Dowager Zhangxianmingsu's death that the power was returned to Emperor Renzong.

The discussion on this matter yielded no results.

Zeng Bu coughed lightly and said, "Should we record the words of the late emperor Zhang Yue before his death?"

Zhang Zhi and Su Song both stood up to advocate this view.

There are also a few words that the emperor said before his death. Should the words of the imperial edict Zhang Yue be included in the will? Even if he was the imperial edict holder, his words about pacifying the Dangxiang, recovering Youyan and continuing the new law should be included in the will.

After discussing for a while, they felt that the Liao Dynasty was still there, and everyone agreed that this statement should not be written. As for the continuation of the new law, Sima Guang also firmly opposed it and did not include it in the will.

Seeing that he had not won the two battles, Zhang Zhi said, "Emperor Zhaolie of Han said in his will, 'The Prime Minister admired your wisdom and ability, which have greatly improved and exceeded my expectations. If you can really do this, I have nothing to worry about! Try your best, try your best!'"

"We should follow this example now and include it in our will."

Su Song nodded: "The emperor entrusted his son to me, and all officials have heard about it. If I don't report it, it will only arouse suspicion."

Sima Guang, who had opposed it before, did not object, because everyone had heard the emperor's words of entrusting his son to the care of others. In the end, no one could reach a consensus, so they asked Zhang Maoze to report this to Empress Dowager Gao.

Zhang Maoze entered with the imperial edict and returned after a moment: "The Empress Dowager's decree - delete 'The Story of Empress Xiao Zhangxian Mingsu' and keep 'Gu Ming Zhang Yue'."

After the will is confirmed, it will be read out tomorrow.

After hearing the will, Zhang Yue stood in the corridor and looked at the interweaving lights and shadows in the hall and whispered to himself: "The Queen Mother... is a man of her word."

The emperor had been ill for more than half a year, and preparations had been made for his funeral.

After the second king and the three yamen military commanders paid homage to the new emperor, the three provinces had already begun to prepare for the emperor's funeral.

For example, arranging reliable personnel to guard the armory and so on must be done in advance.

……

The prime ministers continued to be busy, while Zhang Yue had already said goodbye to the new emperor.

The original bright yellow curtains have been replaced with plain white.

The new emperor looked confused and at a loss. He kept looking at the late emperor's coffin. When he learned from the eunuch that Zhang Yue was leaving, he was a little surprised.

On the left and right of the emperor were Yan Shouqin and Liang Weijian. Yan Shouqin was the personal attendant of Empress Xiang, while Liang Weijian was the servant of Empress Dowager Gao. It was self-evident that they were watching over him.

Zhang Yue also keenly felt that the eunuchs serving the prince had been replaced.

These eunuchs were originally the people of Empress Dowager Gao, but now they are all new faces. Zhang Yue guessed that this must be the work of Cai Que. Cai Que is loyal, but he is too loyal. Doesn't this action clearly mean that the people of Empress Dowager Gao are not trustworthy? It is a naked attempt to sow discord between the grandfather and the grandson.

Empress Dowager Gao must hate Cai Que to the core now.

No wonder you were ranked first in the list of treacherous ministers compiled by later historians.

Zhang Yue straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to the new emperor.

Under the gaze of Yan Shouqin and Liang Weijian, the new emperor asked Zhang Yue with a sad tone: "Jian Gong has a father... the late emperor's guardian, and he is my Marquis, why did he leave me in a hurry?"

Zhang Yue said in a gentle voice: "Your Majesty, I dare not compare myself to Wu Hou. If possible, I would like to compare myself to Wang Meng."

Xin Jun was puzzled: "Wang Meng?"

Zhang Yue smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, do you know what Wang Meng did for a living before he was released from prison?"

The new emperor shook his head, and Zhang Yue said, "Let your majesty know that Wang Meng sold dustpans for a living when he was young."

Zhang Yue knew that Xinjun didn't know what a dustpan was, so he stretched out his hand and made a gesture of shoveling dirt. Yan Shouqin and Liang Weijian both knew that Zhang Yue came from a poor family.

Although Wang Meng was born in a humble family, he assisted Fu Jian in achieving his hegemony. Zhang Yue used this to describe himself, which was both humble and implied with deep meaning.

The new emperor smiled and said, "Don't ask where a hero comes from. Emperor Zhaolie of the Han Dynasty also made a living by weaving mats and selling shoes."

Zhang Yue nodded with a smile and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Whether it's weaving mats and selling shoes or selling dustpans, I have been traveling all over the country to make a living. It has broadened my horizons. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

"The most important thing is to be able to put down your status and interact with people, so as to understand the people's sentiments and know what the people are thinking and worrying about."

"Government should seek the benefit of the people and meet the selfish desires of each individual, so that the public good of the world can be achieved. This is the first time I have spoken to Your Majesty, and I sincerely present this from the bottom of my heart."

The new emperor said, "I have learned from Lord Jian's words."

"I dare not." Zhang Yue immediately stood up and said goodbye.

"Lord Jian, please stay!" the new emperor suddenly said. Zhang Yue asked, "What else does your majesty want to say?"

The new emperor suddenly looked at the coffin and asked, "Will I never see my father again?"

Zhang Yue's heart moved when he heard this. Although the other party was already the emperor, he was still just an eleven-year-old child.

Zhang Yue's eyes blurred when he thought of the twenty years of grace he had received from the late emperor.

Zhang Yue bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences! The spirit of the late emperor will surely bless your majesty to create a prosperous era."

Xinjun nodded with tears in his eyes, and after insisting on watching Zhang Yue leave, his tears finally fell silently.

……

"Disciple:

I have inherited the throne at a young age, and I have been entrusted with the heavy responsibility by the late emperor. I have been vigilant day and night, and I am always afraid of overcoming the difficulties of the country. I am aware that the difficulties of the country must rely on the assistance of the loyal and capable people; the governance of the country is due to the merits of the elders.

Zhang Yue, the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy and the Duke of Jianguo, has a broad vision and outstanding talents. He was favored by the three dynasties and participated in the affairs of state for a long time. He was also in charge of the Yuanfeng period and was able to show his loyalty. When the late emperor was dying, he personally held his hand and entrusted him with his life. Although I am young and immature, how dare I forget his teachings?

Now, I have been specially promoted to the Duke of Wei, and have been given an additional 2,000 households of food and 800 households of actual food, to honor my special merits. "

"Well, I hope you will follow the sincerity of Yi Yin and the prudence of Zhuge Liang, so that I can succeed the ancestors and achieve peace together."

As the sandalwood incense curled up, Zhang Maozhe, the imperial edict announcer, slowly stepped forward holding the yellow silk imperial edict. His posture of holding the edict with both hands was just right, showing both respect and retaining the dignity of a high eunuch in the inner court.

"Congratulations, Duke Wei!" Zhang Maoze bowed slightly. "The imperial edict is of such high standard that I have rarely seen it in my thirty years in the inner court. The Empress Dowager specifically instructed me to come to the palace to announce the edict in person to show her favor."

Zhang Yue thought to himself: That’s right, the edict is of very high standards. Compared with Yi Yin and Zhuge, it emphasizes his status as a minister of state.

The title of Tejin is ranked from the first rank, second only to Kaifu Yitong Sansi among civil officials. Wang Anshi was granted the title of Tejin but was still declining it. Wang Gui was awarded the title of Tejin posthumously.

As for the Duke of Wei… Zhao Pu, Fu Bi, and Han Qi were all Dukes of Wei. They were all important ministers who assisted the country, which was in line with his status as a minister of state. The previously mentioned Zhao Yuanyan was the King of Yan, and they were all the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period.

Whether it is Special Advancement or Duke of Wei, they are both titles conferred on top civil officials.

Zhang Yue was still quite satisfied.

However, the edict did not mention the arrangement of actual positions.

There is no such thing as a regent without a position. They are called advisory ministers, not regents.

Of course, the only position that can be assigned to a minister of state is the left prime minister, who is also the minister of the court. If he is not the left prime minister, how can he be called a minister of state? But Cai Que is still holding the position of the left prime minister.

However, there were workarounds. When Fu Bi returned to the court after mourning for his father during the reign of Emperor Yingzong, Han Qi was already the Prime Minister. Fu Bi could not be inferior to Han Qi, so he temporarily served as the Privy Councilor. Wen Yanbo did the same.

Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi both have more seniority than Han Qi.

In the second year of Xining, the government appointed Chen Shengzhi as prime minister.

The imperial edict said: "Wen Yanbo is a senior official of the imperial court. I order him to be promoted to a position below Yanbo to show my appreciation for his talent."

Wen Yanbo said: "In this dynasty, there has never been a Privy Councilor whose rank is higher than that of the Prime Minister, except that Cao Liyong was above Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai. I am honored to know the rites and morals, and dare not follow Cao Liyong's actions and disrupt the court." Wen Yanbo declined again and again.

So the arrangement can still be made, but Empress Dowager Gao seems to insist on treating Zhang Yue with Cai Que's position as the left prime minister.

Zhang Yue looked at the system of the current dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, both Lu Yijian and Wen Yanbo served as prime ministers and privy councilors.

Of course, in the late Northern Song Dynasty, Cai Jing served as the Grand Tutor and was in charge of the affairs of the three ministries.

The Southern Song Dynasty also had a Pingzhang in charge of important military and national affairs.

The road to power must be gradual!

Now that Cai Que has been sent out as an envoy to the imperial mausoleum, this period of power vacuum is just the right time for Empress Dowager Gao to control the government remotely and place her trusted cronies in her lap.

If Zhang Yue delayed taking action against Cai Que, when he became the left prime minister, he would find that the three ministries and one court, and even the two systems, were all the confidants of Empress Dowager Gao, and he would become a commander without any troops. He even abolished all the new laws.

This is the political wisdom of Empress Dowager Gao.

"The Queen Mother is forcing me to express my opinion..." Zhang Yue thought of this and smiled as he responded to Zhang Maoze, "I have received great favors from Your Majesty and the Queen Mother. How dare I not do my best? Please ask the emissary to report back. I will go to the palace tomorrow to express my gratitude."

Zhang Maoze saw that Zhang Yue looked normal. After a few pleasantries, he changed the subject and said meaningfully, "It's interesting to say that when the Empress Dowager heard that Duke Wei compared himself to Wang Meng in front of Your Majesty, she ordered people to check the history books overnight."

He suddenly lowered his voice, as if to share some secrets: "The Empress Dowager said that Wang Meng met Huan Wen and Fu Jian successively, and finally assisted Fu Jian in achieving hegemony. Wang Meng was granted the title of Marquis of Qinghe County. The Empress Dowager said that 'Wei' and 'Qinghe' belong to the same Hebei province, which is God's will."

Hearing that the title of Duke of Wei was personally chosen by the Empress Dowager, Zhang Yue thought for a moment and said, "It was just a moment of arrogance. I thank the Empress Dowager."

Zhang Maoze smiled, then regained his composure and said, "I am sorry for talking too much. The Empress Dowager is still waiting for my reply. Bye."

Zhang Yue watched Liang Weijian leave, and unknowingly, he had reached the highest position among the officials in the country, truly a veteran minister who had served four dynasties.

Zhang Gen and Zhang Cheng came to congratulate Zhang Yue with happy faces.

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "When a new monarch ascends the throne, it is only natural that all officials will be rewarded."

"Brother Weng, what do you think is the purpose of Zhang Duzhi's words just now?"

Zhang Gen knew that his father was testing him.

Zhang Gen said: "Zhang Duzhi specifically mentioned the Empress Dowager, named Dad the Duke of Wei based on the story of Wang Meng, and also mentioned Huan Wen."

"It reminds me of how Wang Meng persuaded Huan Wen. Perhaps I am using this to warn my father."

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Go on."

Zhang Gen said: "Back then, Huan Wen led an expedition to the north and defeated Guo Jing, the governor of Jingzhou in the Former Qin Dynasty, and his men. He stationed his troops at Bashang. The elders of Guanzhong rushed to entertain him with wine and meat, and men and women lined the streets to watch."

"Wang Meng heard that he had put on a linen short coat and went straight to Huan Wen's camp to ask for an audience. While scratching his lice, he talked about world affairs."

"Han Wen asked, 'I have been ordered by the emperor to lead an army of 100,000 to fight against the rebels and eliminate the remnants for the people, but why have no heroes from the Three Qins come?'"

Zhang Cheng, who was standing by, smiled and said, "Didn't Huan Wen mean by this question that Wang Meng was not a hero of the Three Qins?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gen glared at Zhang Cheng, and Zhang Cheng dared not say anything else.

Zhang Gen said: "Wang Meng said, you did not come thousands of miles deep into the enemy territory. Chang'an is very close, but you did not cross the Ba River. The people did not see your sincerity, so they did not come."

Zhang Yue smiled slightly after hearing this. Yes, Zhang Gen also saw it.

Huan Wen had defeated the main force of the Former Qin in his first northern expedition and stationed his troops at Bashang, but he did not recover Chang'an, which was so close. Wang Meng's implication was that Huan Wen was afraid of losing strength by attacking Chang'an, and was not really recovering territory for Jin, but was just using the northern expedition to gain fame and establish prestige for himself.

That is why the people of Sanqin are unwilling to truly belong to you.

What Empress Dowager Gao meant was, Zhang Yue, why don't you take action and get rid of Cai Que?

You want to be like Huan Wen, right? You want to be in a higher position, but you are not willing to make any sacrifices.

Zhang Yue said to his two sons, "The history of the Jin Dynasty says that when Huan Wen attacked Shu, a young historian from the time of Zhuge Liang was still alive. He was 170 years old at the time. Huan Wen asked, "What is so special about Zhuge Liang?" The historian replied, "He is not so special. Huan Wen then looked proud."

"The historian said after a long while: "Since Zhuge, I have not seen anyone as proper as you." Wen was ashamed. It is difficult to find "proper" in everything. These two words are what Kong Ming knows well."

Zhang Gen, Zhang Cheng said: "I will follow my father's instructions."

……

In addition to promoting Zhang Yue to the rank of special advancement from the first rank, Wang Anshi, who was already a special advancement, was promoted to the rank of Sikong.

Wang Gui, who had passed away due to illness, was also posthumously awarded the title of special advancement.

Lu Gongzhu was promoted to the position of Silver and Gold Guanglu Dafu, a second-rank official.

Cai Que was a senior official of Sima Guang, and his rank was the third grade.

As for Zhang Dun, Zhang Xu, Zhang Zhi, Su Song, Han Zhen and others, they were Tongyi doctors, with the rank of fourth grade.

Li Qingchen, once served as Taizhong Daifu, with a rank of fourth grade.

As for Prince Yong, Prince Cao granted him the honor of praising and worshipping without naming him.

The rest of the officials were rewarded.

Dong Zhan of Qingtang, Cao Zhongshou of Guiyi Army, and Aligu who had obtained the four counties of Hexi were all rewarded. However, Aligu's request to be enthroned as king was not approved.

The living prime ministers Wen Yanbo, Zhang Fangping, Feng Jing, Sun Gu, Lu Huiqing, Wang Anli and others were also given preferential treatment.

After Cai Que was appointed as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum, the highest official in the court was temporarily appointed by the right prime minister, Lu Gongzhu. Empress Dowager Gao also issued an order to allow the Privy Council to communicate with the Secretariat through a side door, allowing the three ministries to go to the capital hall with the Privy Council to discuss matters.

It turned out that the three ministries and the Privy Council each had their own responsibilities, so they had to guard against the possibility of colluding with each other to commit evil.

Empress Dowager Gao issued an edict that it was nonsense to say that they were in league with the evil.

From the previous emperor's three-province council to the Privy Council, more ministers participated in decision-making. The more people there are in the discussion, the lower the efficiency, but it can also prevent some ministers from monopolizing power.

Now all matters of the court, big or small, are decided by Lu Gongzhu and others.

At the same time, Empress Dowager Gao issued three more decrees.

Once the patrol officers in the city are removed, they will become spies of the Imperial City Administration.

The second is to exempt the labor of building Kaifeng City.

The third is to stop the production of some luxurious palace luxury items.

At the same time, some people were exempted from taxes owed

These were all measures taken by Empress Dowager Gao to benefit the people and an effort to restore the customs of Jiayou period.

At this time, Sima Guang once again proposed to open up channels for communication, abolish the labor service system and the baojia system, and at the same time criticized Cai Que, Zhang Dun and others for their policies of "starting with seeking advice and ending with rejecting it."

After Sima Guang submitted the memorial, it immediately aroused Lu Gongzhu's dissatisfaction.

In the capital hall, when Lu Gongzhu saw Sima Guang, he couldn't help but sigh.

Before Lü Gongzhuo spoke, Sima Guang had already started the conversation: "I heard that when Emperor Taizong visited Jinming Lake, he summoned dozens of farm wives to the palace, gave them seats, and asked about the sufferings of the people. Emperor Taizong came from a humble background, but he forgot about wealth and nobility. Whenever he was in court, he would ask about farming and mulberry. Every piece of clothing and food is the result of hardship."

He suddenly changed the subject: "The late emperor left instructions for Zhang Yue to continue to destroy the Dangxiang, take over Youyan, and continue the new law. These three are inappropriate, very inappropriate."

"To destroy the Tanguts and take back Youyan is a waste of money and manpower, and it only consumes the country's strength; the new laws are harmful to the country and the people. If they are not abolished, the world will not tolerate them and the people will be uneasy."

Lü Gongzhu asked, "Does Junshi mean not only to abolish the new law, but also to give in a little on the matter of the Dangxiang Liao Kingdom?"

Sima Guang nodded and said, "That's right."

"When the late emperor first ascended the throne, Prime Minister Fu advised Your Majesty not to talk about military affairs for twenty years. But Your Majesty did not listen, and thus the new law that harms the people and the country was enacted until today."

“The country would not be in this situation.”

Sima Guang understood that the reason why the new law was difficult to abolish was that the imperial court had to use troops in Liangzhou and Shaanxi, and at the same time resist the invasion of the Liao Kingdom from the south. A large amount of money was needed to support the troops and maintain the imperial court's rule in the local area.

Lü Gongzhu sighed and said, "Junshi, the late emperor has passed away. This is not the time to discuss the abolition of the new law. According to history, we should forgive Yin for three years. The son does not change his father's way."

"Before Cai Zhizheng was appointed as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum, the emperor's father and son succeeded each other in succession. Political affairs are bound to change from time to time, but it is not appropriate to listen too much to others' opinions and damage the situation."

Sima Guang immediately retorted: "The Master said, 'If one does not change his father's way for three years, he can be called filial. But the premise is that he will not harm the country or the people. How can we sit idly by and watch the new law?'

Sima Guang said: "Besides, the Queen Mother and Your Majesty are now jointly handling military and national affairs. This is not a son not changing his father's ways, but a mother changing her son's politics."

Upon hearing this, Lu Gongzhu could not help but stand up. Who said Sima Guang was stubborn? When it came to abolishing the new law, he was still very flexible and knew how to adapt.

If a son does not change his father's ways, he will ask his mother to change his son's politics.

Sima Guang said: "If not, I am willing to resign to avoid the pollution of a high position and the loss of an important responsibility."

Lu Gongzhu said, "Junshi, you would rather die with a voice than live in silence. Cheng Hao has repeatedly said that the faults of the new law were caused by our party. We are also at fault for our fierce opposition to the new law. We should share the responsibility with Wang Jiefu."

Cheng Hao's implication is that if you had not opposed too radically at the beginning, Wang Anshi would not have insisted on his own way. Now that you are so stubborn again, aren't you repeating the same mistake?

Seeing that Sima Guang was unmoved, Lu Gongzhu said, "The Queen Mother is planning to severely punish Wu Juhou and Wang Zijing. Except for the exemption law, we can discuss the other new laws. It is not easy to achieve this step."

"Even if we really want to repeal the new law, we should do it step by step and not rush it. Otherwise, disaster will surely come!"

Sima Guang knew that the Queen Mother, Lu Gongzhu, and Zhang Yue might have reached an agreement on the exemption law. The exemption law might not be changed for the time being.

He was different from Wang Anshi, who wanted to achieve 100% of his goals. If he failed to achieve 10%, he would not do it. Sima Guang also insisted on achieving 100% at the beginning, but faced too much resistance, so he would compromise to 90% or 80%.

Sima Guang paused and said, "What good will it do to punish a few cruel officials?"

"The government and the public now call Cai Que, Han Zhen, and Zhang Dun the three traitors. If the three traitors are not removed, the country will not be at peace, and the government will not be able to revive!"

Lu Gongzhu said: "Now that the court is undergoing a political renewal, I intend to recommend Sun Jue, Fan Chunren, Li Chang, Liu Zhi, Su Zhe, and Wang Yansou."

Sima Guang said: "I fully agree with these people. I would like to recommend several more people, in addition to the six people you mentioned, there are Su Shi, Lu Dafang, Zhu Guangting, Fan Zuyu, Guo Lin and others."

Now Shenzong is gone.

Cai Que was appointed as the envoy to the imperial mausoleum, and Lu Gongzhu was in charge of government affairs. It was the time to renew the personnel. If they wanted to abolish the reform, they had to replace them with their own people first.

……

As dusk fell, Sima Guang rode the old mule cart slowly back to his residence, the wheels rolling over the stone pavement of Bianjing.

As the prime minister of the dynasty, he could have ridden in a luxurious carriage, but he always stuck to this simple mule cart, just like the moral integrity he maintained.

After returning home, Sima Guang went straight to the study and, according to what he had discussed with Lu Gongzhu today, wrote a proposal, listing the people he planned to nominate, and planned to recommend them to Empress Dowager Gao during the imperial lecture.

Fan Zuyu and Guo Lin were among them - these two disciples had followed him in compiling "Zizhi Tongjian" for many years, and it was time for them to be of great use.

Sima Guang attached great importance to the "morality" and "integrity" of scholars.

For example, he recommended Liu Anshi, the son of an old friend, to serve as a librarian. Liu Anshi was a very upright person. When Wen Yanbo opposed Wang Anshi's reform, Liu Anshi said to Wen Yanbo that the new law was in line with people's wishes and for their benefit. If the new law was really bad, it would only take a moment to abolish it.

This kind of integrity was exactly the kind of character that Sima Guang admired. Later, Liu Anshi also became Sima Guang's disciple.

When Sima Guang was living in Luoyang, the other party often came to visit him and asked about his affairs during the annual festivals. But after Sima Guang became prime minister, the other party did not send him a single letter.

Sima Guang then put Liu Anshi first on the list of people he recommended.

However, in addition to Liu Anshi, Sima Guang also promoted talented people regardless of their relationship with him, and included Fan Zuyu and Guo Lin among them.

"Teacher, please have some tea."

Guo Lin's voice interrupted his thoughts. Sima Guang took the teacup and suddenly said, "I want to recommend you as the Imperial Censor. Are you willing to take on this important task?"

Guo Lin was surprised and said, "Teacher, I never thought that this day would come. It is enough for me to be in the rear province."

Guo Lin, who is nearly fifty years old, never thought that he would have the opportunity to serve in the government.

"You are a man of great integrity and have worked with me to edit books for many years. It is time for you to contribute to the people of the world." Sima Guang looked at Guo Lin with a gentle gaze, his eyes full of appreciation and love for the younger generation. "Isn't this exactly your ambition?"

"Isn't this also your life's ambition?"

Guo Lin took a deep breath and said, "Teacher, please forgive me for being blunt, but there are indeed some provisions in the new law that should not be completely abolished."

Sima Guang clapped his hands and laughed, "Great! You can still speak frankly in front of me. When you are in the court one day, you will definitely be a loyal minister. This is exactly why I value you!"

Guo Lin choked up when he heard this and bowed down, saying, "Thank you, teacher, for your support!"