Zhang Fangping introduced Sansu and was their benefactor. At the same time, he was on good terms with Wu Yu. To Zhang Yue, he was a senior boss with a friendship score of over 60.
However, Zhang Fangping's personal ethics were not very good. For example, when he was looking for someone to buy a concubine for him, the person paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy a woman, but Zhang Fangping accepted the person without giving him any money. There were many such things.
At the same time, politically Zhang Fangping tended to be conservative in his strategy towards Xixia, which was considered to be part of Lu Yijian's party. However, in the Qingli New Deal, Fan Zhongyan presided over the reform, and many changes were made by Zhang Fangping. At the same time, Zhang Fangping also partially opposed the contents of Fan Zhongyan's reform.
To say that Zhang Fangping's political views tend to be neutral or that they are polar opposites would be an overstatement.
For example, Zhang Yue supports Wang Anshi's reform, but does not fully agree with the content of Wang Anshi's reform. In this case, does Zhang Yue support the reform or oppose the reform, support Wang Anshi or oppose Wang Anshi?
Simply distinguishing an official as a reformer or a conservative is like easily defining a good person or a bad person. It is also very one-sided.
But now the emperor asks himself, how should he answer? Wang Anshi now knew Jiangning Mansion, but he refused the emperor's repeated calls to return to Kyoto. But Wang Anshi kept his son Wang Yu, who had just become a Jinshi, in the capital. He often visited the houses of his good friends Han Wei, Sima Guang, and Lu Gongzhu, so that he could keep in touch with him.
It seems that Lao Wang is not a good person!
Zhang Yue said: "Chen Ping was a gold-thief and his wife was not abandoned by Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty also said that meritocracy should be used. Now is the time when the country has undergone a century-old change. How can you give up your idea just because of a few words?" "
The officials were overjoyed when they heard this.
Zhang Yue added: "However, although Zhang Fangping is an able minister in governing the world, he is not as good as Wang Anshi."
The official nodded and said: "I understand, but it's difficult to know and use people. That's right, Mr. Wang, what do you think?"
Zhang Yue knew that the official was referring to Wang Tao, but he pretended not to know: "Which Mr. Wang is your Majesty asking about?"
The official said: "It's Mr. Yishan Wang who was when I was in the East Palace."
Zhang Yue said: "I have no contact with Wang Zhongcheng on weekdays. I dare not speak about him in front of His Majesty, lest he mislead His Majesty."
The officials knew that Wang Tao had deliberately ridiculed Zhang Yue in front of the palace several times, such as today. But no matter how Zhang Yue felt about Wang Tao in his heart, he did not lose his sense of propriety in front of himself.
The official remembered that he once read a book and couldn't figure it out, so he ordered his servant to summon Zhang Yue to answer it.
Zhang Yue happened to be out for a social event that day, so he entered the palace late. The chamberlain waited for a long time before seeing Zhang Yue.
The chamberlain said to Zhang Yue: "The official will blame me for being too late to tell the truth. What excuse can you think of?"
Zhang Yue said to the chamberlain: "Just report it truthfully."
The chamberlain said: "You were supposed to be serving the emperor in the palace, but you went out to have a banquet, so that the officials were late to summon you. If this happens, the officials will blame you, and if the news spreads, you will be impeached by the censor. Why don't you just find an excuse? ”
Zhang Yue said: "This kind of socializing is human nature, but deceiving the emperor is a serious crime for a minister, so you should tell the truth."
Then when Zhang Yue arrived at the palace with his chamberlain, the official asked why Zhang Yue was late, and the chamberlain told the truth.
The official asked Zhang Yue: "Why did you go out of the palace to drink secretly when you were in power?"
Zhang Yue said: "My student's teacher Chen Xiang has returned from a mission to Khitan. Today it happens that Sun Jue, your classmate and fellow official, is holding a banquet outside the palace to welcome me. I haven't seen my teacher for a long time, so I went to see him."
"I had already changed into my regular clothes when I left. I didn't know anyone in the market. After I arrived, I only stayed for a while, had a glass of water and wine before returning. Unexpectedly, Your Majesty summoned me here. I was negligent."
When the official heard this, he said with relief: "It turns out that you are going to see the teacher, so I don't care about it, but if you are impeached by the censor for this, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you."
Afterwards, the censor did not impeach Zhang Yue. Instead, the officials felt that Zhang Yue was very honest, so they trusted him even more.
He was looking at Wang Tao today to see Zhang Yue's attitude.
In the more than half a year since I took office, as I have become more familiar with the government, officials have become less confused than when I first took the throne. They have gradually gained first-class confidence and the feeling of having power. Just like the saying, armed with sharp weapons, murderous intentions arise. .
Zhang Yue never mentioned the fact that the emperor and his ministers had a teacher-student relationship since before he ascended the throne. Even Han Wei gradually changed his attitude from a teacher to a courtier.
You must know that the official was still afraid of Han Wei before he ascended the throne. Once he was wearing a pair of good-looking boots and Han Wei saw him. Han Wei scolded him in person, "Why is the king wearing dancing shoes?"
Han Wei's implication is, as a prince, are you wearing such beautiful shoes to dance?
The official embarrassedly took off his shoes.
But now Han Wei's attitude has changed. The emperor and his ministers had previously discussed the matter with each other, but now the minister's words are only for your majesty's reference.
However, Wang Tao still regarded himself as the master of the East Palace, expelled Han Qi, and belittled Ouyang Xiu's achievements. The officials felt that they could no longer bear it.
Today, the officials deliberately asked Zhang Yue about Wang Tao to see what his attitude was, but Zhang Yue avoided it, so he felt that this man was honest and trustworthy.
Soon there were some changes in personnel in the court.
The officials first decreed that Sima Guang should be changed to Yushi Zhongcheng, and Wang Tao should be appointed as a Hanlin bachelor.
As a result, the matter was opposed by Zhongshu. Wu Kui and Zhao Gai had no objection to Sima Guang's appointment as censor Zhongcheng, but they had strong objections to Wang Tao's appointment as Hanlin bachelor, and insisted on Wang Tao being appointed externally.
Wu Kui said that Wang Tao maintained the old favor of the East Palace and forced Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu to retreat. Now he has received such a prestigious job as a Hanlin bachelor. There is no such reason in the world.
Wang Tao then impeached Wu Kui. This move to attach the prime minister was ordered by Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang, in order to prevent him from entering Zhongshu through Hanlin bachelor's degree.
The official asked Han Wei how to deal with it. Han Wei had been dissatisfied with Wang Tao for a long time. It is said that Wang Tao previously impeached the prime minister for being domineering. If he is right, then the prime minister should be punished. If he is wrong, Wang Tao should be dismissed from office.
The two sides criticized each other, and in the end the officials each fought twenty big shots. Wang Tao went to Chenzhou and Wu Kui went to Qingzhou.
Wang Tao did not drive Zhang Yue out of the court, but he was known as the domineering censor Zhongcheng, and his trusted student was demoted to a low position.
However, the civil service struggles in the Song Dynasty were all over, and even if Wang Tao and Wu Kui were demoted from the capital, it would be over, and they might come back in what year.
However, after Wang Tao was demoted to Chenzhou, he was still aggrieved and continued to impeach Han Qi. Several Zhongshu thought that you were already in a certain place and you were still acting foolishly, so they demoted you to a farther place. However, this matter was opposed by Sima Guang, the censor Zhongcheng.
After Wu Kui left, the position of political advisor became vacant.
So the officials decided to let Zhang Fangping and Zhao Bian take part in political affairs. As a result, Sima Guang found out about Zhang Fangping's appointment and expressed his opposition, but his opposition was not counted.
The official family still insisted on using Zhang Fangping, but Zhang Fangping was really unlucky. Just a few days after he was appointed as the counselor and governor, Ding You died because of his father's death.
When the official family was about to use Zhang Fangping to preside over national affairs, Zhang Fangping had to leave at this time.
So who will plan for him how to enrich the country and strengthen the army?
What if Xixia comes to attack at this time?
This is inside Han Qi's mansion.
Han Qi, who is at home, is playing chess with others.
The person playing chess is none other than Zhang Maoze, who everyone knows.
Zhang Mao was at a disadvantage in the chess game. Soon he surrendered and said, "My husband has won."
Han Qi put away the chess pieces and said: "In the past, there was a man named Jia Xuan in the capital who could be called a national player. When Emperor Renzong was there, he often played chess with him for a day. At that time, I went to the palace to meet the emperor. I see him from time to time."
"After more than ten years, no one could match Jia Xuan's chess skills. It seems that recently there was a man named Li Hanzi. I heard that his chess skills were unparalleled in the world, but what? He was very ugly and had a muddy appearance. He hasn't taken a bath for months, so he seems to be a mediocre person, not worthy of being a gentleman."
"It's strange for you to say that the way to play chess is easy, but how can an unintelligent person figure it out? But the way to play chess is very difficult. Why can a mediocre person like Li Hanzi be a national player? What’s the point?”
Zhang Mao smiled and said, "My husband seems to have something to say."
Han Qi smiled slightly and said: "As you all know, I have heard rumors that after one day the government retires, the officials will ask Prime Minister Jixian for advice. After Zhang and Wu join politics and leave, who can succeed him? And Prime Minister Jixian Wang Jiefu was recommended."
"The officials said they have planned to let Wang Jiefu return to the court to serve as a Hanlin bachelor."
"Prime Minister Jixian said it's not okay."
"The official asked why?"
"Prime Minister Jixian said that Wang Jiefu and I, Han Qi, are at odds with each other. As long as I am in court, Wang Jiefu will not come back."
Zhang Maoze thought that this rumor was not unfounded, but he still said: "Why did Mr. Han say this..."
Han Qi interrupted Zhang Maoze: "I know that Wang Anshi is indeed talented, but he is too stubborn and unkind. Just like Li Hanzi, who can specialize in one subject but cannot be good at it."
Zhang Maoze said quickly: "My husband misunderstood. Our officials told us that now that Wang Tao has left, it is time to recall our husband to the court. In this way, the king and his ministers can always be together, and write a good story."
"The official also said that both he and the late emperor were supported by their husbands, and now they still need to continue to use their husbands to preside over state affairs."
Han Qi said: "When I reported to Your Majesty, I told you that after Houling was restored, Qi would never be admitted to Zhongshu in this life. If I say this, I will not go back on my word."
Zhang Maoze said: "My lord, now the Xia people are provoking trouble in the west. Apart from my lord, there is no other person in the court who knows about the affairs of the west. It is not easy for me to ask my lord to stay in the country."
Zhang Mao was indeed telling the truth. When the official ascended the throne, Xixia sent envoys to Beijing to tell him that he had ten things to report to the new king in person.
The envoy from the Song Dynasty asked him what was going on? Tell me first.
The Xixia envoy refused and said that he must report it to the new king.
The accompanying envoy then came to ask Han Qi, and Han Qi said what was so difficult about it. Eighty percent of what the Xixia envoy told him was these ten things.
Later, the Xixia envoy reported ten things to the new king, and Han Qi got eight of them right.
When Han Qi heard Zhang Maoze say this, he couldn't help but look far to the west.
Zhang Mao returned from Han Qi's house and reported to the officials that Han Qi had decided to leave.
Therefore, the official decree was to remove Han Qi from Zhen'an, Wu Shengjun as military envoy, Shou Siyi, inspecting the school as a grand master and serving as a minister, and punishing Xiangzhou, allowing him to leave the capital.