Early morning in Bianjing.
Thick fog fell on the Bian River, and many canoe boats floated on the water. Occasionally, a boat sailed by, and the tall colorful building hung out of the heavy fog, making it look ethereal and misty, like a fairy pavilion in the heavenly palace.
The rooster crowed several times, and there was light in the sky. The lamp that had not been turned off last night was still bright at the end of the alley.
In the courtyards with overlapping lanes, the sounds of old people coughing when they get up, the sounds of women banging cooking utensils while cooking, and many other rustling sounds are mixed together, making this place full of familiar market atmosphere.
The hustle and bustle of horses was gone, and the fighting was far away. Zhang Yue looked at the beautiful woman sleeping on the pillow. Zhang Gen in the study had already started to get up early and recite books.
With his wife and children by his side and no official documents, it had been a long time since Zhang Yue had slept like this until dawn.
After getting up, the maid had prepared face wash. Zhang Yue took a towel and washed it on his face, then rinsed his mouth with fragrant tea, and then Mother Chen personally brought a table of eucalyptus food.
The Seventeenth Mother has the habit of getting up late and often waits for Zhang Gen to finish reading before having breakfast together. As for Zhang Yue's habit of leading troops in the northwest in recent years, he must eat at this point, otherwise he will be hungry.
A bowl of well-cooked porridge and a few delicious side dishes whetted my appetite just right.
When Zhang Yue was about to eat, he saw Mother Chen staring at him.
It turns out that Zhang Yue eats very quickly because he is busy with official duties in the northwest. But Chen’s mother said that this is not a good way to maintain health, so she must watch him eat slowly.
Zhang Yue smiled and had no choice but to listen.
"Sir, there is a person outside the door who claims to be Wang Hefu and wants to see him!"
Zhang Yue heard that Wang Anli had arrived and said, "Ask him to wait in the living room."
Wang Anli is already sitting in the hall.
Wang Anli was the same year as Zhang Yue. He was now the school secretary of Chongwen Hall and went directly to Jixian Academy.
"Save it."
Zhang Yue said: "Hefu, I know your purpose of coming."
Wang Anli said: "I really don't want you to disagree with my brother on this matter. He didn't ask you what you meant in advance. I am here to apologize for him."
Zhang Yue said: "Hefu's matter has nothing to do with you. It's just a matter of disagreement between my husband and I. I made it clear to my hostage (Zhang Kai) when he came a few days ago."
Wang Anli said: "Is it true that I won't give it to you?"
Zhang Yue said: "I have worked hard these years and my body is really tired. This place can be regarded as a place to rest and recuperate. If my husband still has a place of use in a few years, I will come back at that time."
A few years later…
Wang Anli knew that Zhang Yue's words were not sincere at all, but he was just trying to help him out on old friendship.
Zhang Yue resigned as a bachelor of Hanlin, Zhang Kai and Wang Anguo all came to persuade him, but now Wang Anli also wants to return without success.
Wang Anli said: "Look, my brother is so stubborn that there will never be any change in the things he decides. For the present plan, you have granted him a bachelor's degree. There may not be no chance in the future."
The implication of Wang Anli's words was also very clear. Even if Zhang Yue resigned as a Hanlin scholar, Wang Anshi would not be able to change his decision and let him return to the northwest to command the army. Instead of doing this, it would be better to accept the benefits or compensation he gave.
Zhang Yue smiled and said instead: "I heard about Qian Mufu (Qian Xie)'s incident, and it was you who came to persuade me. Everyone in the government and the public praised your magnanimity for this matter."
During Xining's three-year examination, Qian Xie won second place, but was dismissed for criticizing the new law. Qian Xie's political achievements were very good and famous, and he was praised by the officials.
At the end of last year, Wang Anshi sent Wang Anli to ask Qian Xie if he wanted to be the censor. Qian Xie refused.
Wang Anshi knew that the other party was unwilling to rely on him, so he still appointed him as the judge of salt and iron.
Zhang Yue expressed his decision by praising Qian Xie.
Wang Anli heard this and knew that Zhang Yue's ambition could not be shaken, so he had to go back and report to Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi had just come down from the court. He had disagreements with Wen Yanbo, Feng Jing, and Wu Chong because of the favors extended by his clan and descendants, and they had quite a dispute.
Wang Anshi wants to drastically reduce the rewards of the clan, queen, and empress dowager clan.
However, the move was unanimously opposed by the ruling ministers.
At the same time, Wang Anshi refused the reward requested by internal official Li Ruoyu and impeached his relative Li Ping for his illegal activities.
These two things made Wang Anshi immediately offend a large number of people inside and outside.
Wang Anshi got out of the car and thought to himself, neither government was willing to reduce the reward, and now he is the only one to take responsibility for this evil man.
What is a reform? It means both increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. The favor of the clan and descendants here has not been reduced. How can we legitimately reduce the favor of the two governors and officials in the future? Everyone is dissatisfied from the bottom of their hearts.
As for Wen Yanbo, Wu Chong also opposed his decision based on such considerations.
Wang Anshi returned home and saw Wang Anli. He had something on his mind and did not say anything.
After walking for a while, he turned back and asked, "I heard that you went to Zhang Mansion this morning?"
Wang Anli said: "Yes, I saw it, but his intention is very firm."
Wang Anshi said: "If you don't worship me, you won't worship me. The imperial court is not short of Hanlin scholars now."
After Wang Anshi was about to leave, he saw Wang Anli hesitated and said, "Go ahead."
Wang Anli said: "Brother, I think Duzhi still wants to go to the northwest to command the army."
Wang Anshi said sadly: "There is no room for negotiation on this matter. If his wishes are followed, any official can resign and threaten him, instead of listening to the central committee's own arrangements?"
Wang Anli also knew that there was no room for negotiation with his brother on this matter. He risked being scolded by his brother and deliberately mentioned it like this to end his friendship with Zhang Yue.
Wang Anli immediately stepped back and said, "Brother, I don't mean to save him. But brother, this matter depends on the official's view of you. Didn't you also help Qian Mufu in the end?"
Wang Anshi was silent.
Qian Xie openly criticized the New Deal in the policymaking examination, which offended Wang Anshi.
Later, Qian Xie was appointed as the chief bookkeeper of Liu Neiquan. Chen Xiang, who was the judge of Liu Neiquan at that time, presented the class book. The officials said that the class book was well made.
Chen Xiang said it was not me who did it, but Qian Xie.
After this incident, Wang Anshi immediately promoted Qian Xie. Qian Xie did not want to be the censor because he was not attached to himself, but for the sake of the officialdom, he had to give Yantie the post of judge, otherwise Wang Anshi, who was known to exclude dissidents, would be confirmed.
The same thing happened with Zhang Yue and Qian Xie. Both of them were appreciated by the officials.
Zhang Yue has made great achievements in the northwest, but now he has resigned from the Imperial Academy. Officials will definitely ask what the reason is and why Zhang Yue is not accepted.
Back then, Li Linfu squeezed out the people who were admired by Tang Minghuang but did not depend on him one by one, leaving behind the idiom of "talking sweetly but being secretive".
Therefore, this lesson is very profound, and it was done by the prime minister who was the most taboo among emperors of all dynasties.
Zhang Yue is now a nine-term Hanlin bachelor. Not only is he rumored to be a good talker in official circles, Wang Anshi also wants to figure out how to explain this matter to the officials.
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Otherwise, the emperor would definitely have a crisis of trust in himself after seeing his confidant Zhang Yue demoted to the imperial court.
In Wang Anshi's heart, if one day the emperor's trust in him ends, the worst he can do is return to Jiangning.
But he was thinking about flattening the clan and exchanging favors with his descendants, and he needed the official's strong support in this matter.
He, Wang Anshi, was not one to give up halfway. He felt the difficulty of the matter and finally said: "Let's put it aside first."
