The envoy suddenly knocked on the door of Zeng Bu's house at night.
Zeng Bu read an official's handwriting, "I heard that the recent purchase of goods in the market is contrary to the original intention of the imperial court's legislation in the early Yuan Dynasty, and it is quite harmful to the people's business. People are talking noisily and do not take it for granted. If there is anyone who speaks rudely, you must know it." It can be detailed and detailed'.
It was profound that the officials issued such a memorial to Zeng unexpectedly.
Zeng Bu thought for a while and said, "Let Wei Jizong come over to see you."
Who is Wei Jizong?
This market change law came from his suggestion. Later, when the City Yisi was established, although Wei Jizong served as an official in the City Yisi, he was directly ignored by Lu Jiawen who promoted him to the City Yisi. Wei Jizong was not discussed with any content of the City Yisi.
This made Wei Jizong very dissatisfied.
Zeng Bu was familiar with Wei Jizong. Before he took up the post of Third Secretary, he visited Hedong and recruited Wei Jizong as his subordinate.
When Wei Jizong arrived, he heard Zeng Bu asking about the market change law, so he criticized Lu Jiawen for what he had done. It is said that the Yisi is now in charge of its own interests, consolidating its city and plundering people's wealth, which has already violated the original purpose of the imperial court.
Zeng Bu thought a little after listening to Wei Jizong's words.
When Lu Jiawen was in Yisi, he relied on Wang Anshi's power and ignored Xue Xiang, the envoy of the third division. Lu Jiawen told Wang Anshi several times that Xue Xiang hindered the City Yi Division, which indirectly led to the other party's resignation.
Now that Zeng Bu himself was appointed as the Third Secretary Envoy, he knew that Lu Jiawen was extremely arrogant. This city's Yi Division was originally affiliated with the Third Division, but Lu Jiawen instead rode on the head of the Third Division and lorded it over him.
Now that Zeng Bu is serving as the third envoy, it is only a matter of time before he conflicts with Lu Jiawen.
At this moment, the officials issued an edict to consult him again. Zeng Bu knew that the officials had already questioned Wang Anshi several times about the market change law.
Zeng Bu thought that the officials must have intended to change the market and laws, but they just didn't get the chance.
Thinking of this, Zeng Bu said to Wei Jizong: "Follow me to the Prime Minister's Mansion!"
Immediately Zeng Bu and Wei Jizong went to Wang Anshi's mansion overnight. The official wanted Zeng Bu to reply immediately, but Zeng Bu decided to go to Wang Anshi's house to inform him first.
When the two arrived at Wang Anshi's house, Wang Anshi was about to lie down and rest.
Wang Anshi knew that Zeng Bu had come overnight for something important, so he immediately got up to meet him.
Zeng Bu told Wang Anshi everything about the edict issued by the officials to inquire about the market changes.
Wang Anshi met Wei Jizong again, and the other party stated the problem of Shi Yi truthfully: "My lord, if anyone in the city of Bianjing who is a charlatan in the market dares to compete with Shi Yi for business, he must follow Lu Jia's instructions, otherwise he will be punished for minor offenses." , the big one is in charge!"
Wang Anshi was surprised when he heard this. His original intention was to set up a market to get rid of the mergers and acquisitions that dominated the industry in the capital.
Unexpectedly, all the annexers ran away, and as a result, the government itself turned into an evil dragon, and whatever line the city officials entered, it destroyed that line. Any merchant who dares to compete with the company will be punished if it is small, and it will be regulated if it is large.
Wang Anshi said to Wei Jizong: "You knew this, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Wang Anshi immediately thought, yes, someone had told him a long time ago. Wen Yanbo and Zhang Yue had both opposed it. But Wang Anshi didn't listen at the time and thought it was a dispute over political opinions.
The dispute over political opinions is a struggle for power, and Wang Anshi was right for the sake of being right.
Zeng Bu looked at Wang Anshi's expression and asked, "Your Majesty will ask Bu tomorrow about this matter. Can you answer with what you said today?"
Wang Anshi nodded and said: "Yes!"
Zeng Bu said happily after hearing this: "Bu thank you sir!"
…
The next day, the officials met with Zeng Bu in Chongzheng Hall. Zeng Bu told the officials exactly what he said, and finally said: "What Lu Jiawen did was to coerce the government into annexation."
The officials were overjoyed when they heard this and asked, "Does Mr. Wang know this?"
Zeng preached: "I know."
"What do you think?"
Zeng Bu thought for a while and said, "My husband said that I haven't looked into it, and I haven't seen the truth."
The official shook his head and said, "I've heard about it for a long time. Even if I haven't checked back, I'm afraid it's already halfway through."
The official immediately placed the zhazi presented by Zeng Bu beside the imperial cave. Seeing the official's haggard appearance, Zeng Bu quickly comforted him and said, "Your Majesty is so worried about the people, and the sky will surely rain down nectar."
The official smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. It's because of your presence that I know the true situation among the people."
Zeng Bu lowered his head and said, "Although I am weak, I dare not not try my best to serve you."
After Zeng Bu left, the officials looked at Zeng Bu's back and thought, this man is really a loyal and upright person.
…
Afterwards, Wang Anshi went inside to report. The officials asked Wang Anshi, "Zeng Bu said that it is inconvenient to change the market law. Do you know?"
Wang Anshi said: "I know."
The official's words were also used to test the two of them with words to see if they had anything to hide.
The official picked up the zhazi presented by Zeng Bu and asked, "What do you think Zeng Bu said?"
Wang Anshi said: "The ministers of Yisi in this city conduct daily inspections. I'm afraid it's not as good as what they said. Your Majesty, please don't rush. I'll allow you to investigate carefully so that Zhongliang won't be wronged."
The officials were not happy after hearing this and thought to themselves, "Wang Anshi, if you still don't admit your mistake, you are extremely stubborn."
The official asked: "If this is the case, how could Zeng Bu say this?"
Wang Anshi said: "Zeng Bu and Lu Jia have a problem."
"But, but... Zeng Bu and Qing are so close that they will never be slandered!"
Wang Anshi said: "I dare not go against the will of others, I only know the facts."
After a pause, Wang Anshi said again: "I have been in office for a long time and it is not helpful to current affairs. Please change it."
The official thought, Wang Anshi is doing this again, you doubt me, right? I won't do it anymore.
The official became immune to this for a long time and said: "You don't have to say such things. One thing comes down to the other. I think it was Lu Jia who deceived others and did not express any personal grudges."
Wang Anshi said: "If your majesty suspects that Lu Jiawen is cheating, you can ask Lu Huiqing to supervise the Yi Department."
Seeing that Wang Anshi finally "compromised", the officials felt helpless.
A few days later, the Khitan envoy Xiao Xilai came to deliver his credentials, and the officials met him in Chongzheng Hall.
Xiao Xi first expressed the dissatisfaction of the Liao State with Zhang Yue's attack on the northwest, saying that the Qingtang Dynasty was the in-law country of the Khitan (Dong Felt's wife was the daughter of Yelu Zongzhen, Xingzong of Liao Dynasty), and the Song Dynasty, for the sake of the eldest brother of the Liao State, The advance of troops must be stopped.
Xiao Xi didn't know that Zhang Yue had already attacked Qingtang City, and thought Zhang Yue was just attacking Taozhou.
】
Later, Xiao Xi made a request from the leader of the Liao Kingdom to reorganize the land in the three prefectures of Wei, Ying, and Shuo, and asked for the land in Guannan.
The official asked Wang Anshi, and Wang Anshi said: "The Liao Kingdom saw that I was deploying troops in the northwest, so they wanted to test my true strength. They did not dare to ask for more land for fear of angering the dynasty."
The officials felt a little relieved after hearing Wang Anshi's analysis.
However, Wen Yanbo took the initiative to fight back hard against Liao, so that the other party did not dare to underestimate Zhongyuan.
Wang Anshi objected, believing that Wen Yanbo was "pretending to be loyal" and that his intention was to prevent the imperial court from using troops in the northwest. Now the priority should be not to anger the Khitan.
Wen Yanbo was furious and asked the emperor to resign from the post of Privy Councilor.
Wang Anshi also announced his resignation.
The officials comforted the two and returned to the palace upset. At this time, Empress Dowager Gao and her younger brother King Qi were about to meet Empress Dowager Cao, so the officials went with them.
The empress dowagers of the two palaces talked about the new law for a while, saying that Wang Anshi should not be the prime minister, and the officials only responded: "Besides Wang Anshi, I don't know who else can replace him."
At this time, Empress Dowager Cao said: "Emperor Renzong has already left a prime minister for your majesty, why don't you use him?"
