On the official road of Maxing Street, Bianjing. The long ceremonial guard procession walked to the official road, and its scale was not inferior to that of the prime minister's ceremonial guard.
One of the people in the team was a middle-aged man riding a strong horse, wearing a black gauze turban, a purple robe, and a gold fish hanging from his waist.
It was Lu Huiqing who returned to Beijing. Lu Huiqing received the appointment to go directly from Chenzhou to Yanzhou to serve as magistrate. The emperor did not want to see him, so he just took office directly without going to Beijing to report on his duties.
But when he was halfway there, he forced himself to go to Beijing to perform, so he turned here. Lu Huiqing looked at the familiar scenery on Maxing Street in Bianjing with a slightly sad look.
But after not seeing each other for two years, it feels a bit more strange. All this is quite regretful that the romantic lover secretly changes, and the old travel is like a dream and the heart is broken.
After twenty years of ups and downs in officialdom, Lu Huiqing thought she was calm enough, but at this moment, she felt unnatural again.
Yes, although the prime minister of the Song Dynasty was not in danger of overthrowing, how could he feel better sitting on the bench in Chenzhou?
When he was in Bianjing, as a prime minister, he was very majestic and powerful, supported by many Zi Zhu officials. To be honest, things just happened over time. Lu Huiqing didn't take it that seriously, but as he said, climbing up may not be satisfactory, but falling down will definitely be painful.
When Lu Huiqing was in Chenzhou, he did not cut off contact with Zhang Dun, Li Ding, Zeng Min, Liu Jing, Ye Tangyi, Zhou Chang, Xu Shen, etc. At the same time, he always tried to figure out the emperor's intentions, and finally allowed him to find an opportunity.
Looking back on the year and a half since he left Bianjing, he felt extremely tormented. Returning to Beijing this time, Lu Huiqing wanted to see if he could persuade the emperor with his sharp tongue and ability to penetrate the sacred heart.
Lu Huiqing's horse arrived directly in front of the palace gate, but was stopped by the palace guards. Lu Huiqing was tempted, but Lu Huiqing knew that her status was no better than before, so she entered the palace gate on foot.
Finally Lu Huiqing met the emperor. Seeing the emperor Lu Huiqing suddenly burst into tears: "I have been away for many years, and I almost thought I would not be able to return to the palace alive. I will see your majesty again!" Lu Huiqing shed tears after saying this, and the officials were a little unhappy that Lu Huiqing was so insistent on meeting the emperor, but Seeing him showing his emotions so openly, he probably wanted to go to Beijing specifically because he was afraid that he would not be able to see him again after he went to Yanzhou to take up his post.
...Zhongshu Province. Bianjing still looks chilly in spring. In front of the capital hall, several strong horses for the chiefs to ride were so cold that they smelled sweet.
At this moment, in the political hall, three prime ministers, Wang Gui, Yuan Jiang, and Zhang Yue, were sitting on their respective seats. Outside the political hall, the officials received the ministers who came to see them one by one.
Just now, the official's servant came to send a message and asked the three ministers to discuss Lu Huiqing's new life. Zhang Yue saw what the official meant and found it funny. Isn't Lu Huiqing's new destiny to know Yanzhou?
Where is the new life? Lu Huiqing must have begged after entering the palace, and the officials softened their hearts when they remembered it, so they issued a decree to ask several Zhongshu prime ministers if they wanted Lu Huiqing to come back?
Zhang Yue looked at the faces of Yuan Jiang and Wang Gui. They were also afraid of Lu Huiqing's fierce reputation and did not dare to let him come back.
The emperor's chamberlain looked on. Zhang Yue pretended not to know and asked, "Didn't Lu Huiqing go to Yanzhou to take up his post? Why did he come to the capital?" Yuan Jiang said, "I'm afraid he wants to return to the capital again."
"In fact, Yanzhou has a heavy responsibility and is the front line of Xixia. If you are not an important minister, you can't advocate it." Zhang Yue said: "How can Lu Huiqing be called an important minister? This person has Zhang Tang's ability to detect deceit and Lu Qi's treachery. He is actually a treacherous minister."
"It is already a kindness for an official to not remember his past, so what else can he say about his new life?"
"It's really shameless to beg for a job so shamelessly." Yuan Jiang smiled. After Lu Huiqing resigned as prime minister, it was Yuan Jiang who stepped in.
The first thing Yuan Jiang did after writing the supplementary book was to formally abolish the manual law and the land collection law to express his sincerity to Wang Anshi.
Zhang Yue reprimanded Lu Huiqing so angrily that he raised his hands in agreement. Wang Gui said: "In this case, it is better to report back to the official and not give him a new life."
"Exactly." Zhang Yue and Yuan Jiang said. There are also conflicts within Zhongshu, but the opinions on Lu Huiqing not being included in Zhongshu are surprisingly unanimous.
... Zhang Yue returned home the next day and learned from Huang Haoyi that Lu Huiqing had come to see him. Lu Huiqing was demoted from the capital by him, but he still came to see him?
I guess he knew that he was still going to Yanzhou for appointment, so he had no choice but to do so. Zhang Yue didn't refuse, he wanted to give face to others.
Zhang Yue asked: "How many people did Lu Jifu bring?" Huang Haoyi said: "Only one attendant and a few baskets of tea!" In the living room, Zhang Yue was stunned when he saw Lu Huiqing, who had a lot more white hair. Then he said: "Brother Jifu, you are well." When Lu Huiqing saw Zhang Yue, he crossed his hands and saluted, and said respectfully: "Lu has met Zhang Xianggong!"
"Don't be too polite!" Lu Huiqing sighed: "I am a body to treat sins now, no better than I was then." A body to treat sins?
You marched into Beijing with hundreds of followers today. Is this called a body to be punished? Zhang Yue smiled, but quickly supported Lu Huiqing and said, "You and I have been friends for more than ten years, so we don't talk about this." Lu Huiqing has a very strong self-esteem, and if you are disrespectful in your words, he will immediately remember it in his heart.
That's the saying when dealing with Lu Huiqing: speak softly and have a big stick in your hand. Zhang Yue and Lu Huiqing sat down side by side.
Thinking of the two of them having been friends and foes for so many years, I couldn't help but feel emotional seeing each other again after such a long time. They chatted about the past for a long time.
"Now my body is not as strong as it was then. How is brother Jifu?" Lu Huiqing said: "It's not bad, but in the past six months, I have often suffered from insomnia all night long." Zhang Yue said: "I have been like this recently, here. There are some potions for treating insomnia, so I’ll give you some." After saying this, Zhang Yue winked at Peng Jingyi, and he immediately went to prepare the potions.
Lu Huiqing said: "Thank you sir, I still miss you so much after so many years." Zhang Yue smiled and waved his hand and said: "Brother Jifu, let's not talk about this now. You can play a game of chess with me." The two of them said. Put down the cavalry and cannon.
Zhang Yue said: "I remember that when I was a banquet official, Zhang, Jifu, and Zixuan often sat together and played chess together." Lu Huiqing seemed to be remembering the past and said: "Yes, in those days, the whole battle Zhang Gong recommended him as a storyteller in Chongzheng Palace. Those were also the most comfortable and happy days for Lu during his official career." You still have the nerve to mention this matter... Zhang Yue smiled slightly and said: "I won't mention it before, come and eat the horse. !" After the meal was over, the two of them drank tea separately.
Lu Huiqing put down the tea cup and said, "Lu is going to Yanzhou to take up his post soon. Today, I would like to ask my husband to give me some advice. I will not hesitate to give you some advice."
Therefore, although Lu Huiqing knew Yanzhou, he had no military power and was not the official envoy of Yanzhou Road. This arrangement shows that Lu Huiqing is still awaiting trial.
Zhang Yue asked: "I don't dare to take it seriously, but why did your majesty write a letter and arrange for Brother Jifu to be the magistrate of Yanzhou?" Lu Huiqing said: "Is it Lu who suggested that your majesty capture Yin and Xia Shuzhou?" Zhang Yue weighed the chessboard. , I don’t know why I think of the allusion about Emperor Jing of Han Dynasty smashing people to death with a chessboard.
Lu Huiqing was also a very perceptive person, and immediately said: "Xiangong Zhang, Lu had no other reason to go there. He just wanted a place to live, hoping to do his best for the country." Zhang Yue did not answer.
Lu Huiqing continued: "Lu still regards Mr. Zhang as a close friend in his heart!"
"Mencius said, there was a man in the past, and the people of Yue State bent their bows and shot him. He could laugh and talk about it, but if his brother bent his bows and shot him, he would cry. Because it is okay to slander someone who is estranged from him, but it is different if he is close, so This is where the hatred comes from." Zhang Yue heard what Lu Huiqing said, saying that I regarded you as a friend, Zhang San, but you instigated Su Zhe to collect my evidence and wanted to impeach me, so I hate you.
Zhang Yue was also moved when he heard this and said: "In the past, I was an official in the same court as my brother. Although we had disputes over state affairs, we never had any personal grudges. If it hadn't been for Feng's time, how could I have said anything to let him take the sword? Feng and I Isn't it true that our closeness is better than that of a brother?"
"As for me letting Su Ziyou return to Beijing, I did have the intention of kidnapping brother, but I didn't mean to impeach brother Jifu." Lu Huiqing sighed after hearing this, and the two of them were silent for a while.
Lu Huiqing said to Zhang Yue: "Xiangong Zhang, although Lv is the superior of the two states of Xia in taking silver this time, if we want to destroy Xia, how can we succeed only by going all the way out of Xihe? No matter whether we are the leader or the assistant, We must send another army from Hengshan."
"Even if Lv doesn't say anything, some people will. Lv has selfish motives, but he also has public intentions. If you are lucky enough to carry a group of soldiers and horses across the Hengshan Mountains and go deep into Yinxia, even if you die on the battlefield, you will be considered to have repaid your majesty's kindness. "Yeah." Zhang Yue laughed to himself after hearing Lu Huiqing's words, but Lu Huiqing was right about one thing. Even if Lu Huiqing didn't mention it or Xu Xi didn't mention it, he would still mention it.
Even if no one mentions it, the officials will send troops from Hengshan to attack Xia, because this is the fastest and most effective way.
At the beginning, Su Shi criticized the government officials for being "too eager to seek governance, too wide-ranging, and too quick to recruit people." Now, after so many years, the officials are still like this.
I don't know whether it was Su Shi who was smart or the officials didn't change at all. I know I can't persuade you, so I won't persuade you. After being demoted once by the late emperor, he would no longer try his best to remonstrate with the emperor. He would just give the emperor a few words of advice and forget it if he could not persuade him.
There is no need to verify your foresight, so what if it turns out you were right afterwards? He was full of complaints and boasted about how clever he was, and in the end the love between king and subject was gone.
Tian Feng’s example is alive and well. And I don't agree with the emperor's attack on Hengshan. The final result is that the emperor puts other people in charge of the matter. Once defeated, he will suffer huge losses. This is the worst thing.
He had gained fame, but the court had lost tens of thousands of soldiers' lives and the emperor's years of hard work.
Now that he is watching, Xu Xi and Lu Huiqing are in front of him. Do they dare not listen to him? When the emperor knows that this road will not work in the future, and he comes to advocate it, others will have a way out.
The most soft in the world is the most strong. Thinking of this, Zhang Yue suppressed his smile. Lu Huiqing also sat down to treat each other.
Zhang Yue said: "Jifu, you need to do two things first when you go to Yanzhou!"
"Please tell me, Mr. Zhang!" Zhang Yue said: "The group of cultivators practiced painting according to the pattern of Xihe Road, and combined the soldiers and horses of the Han Dynasty into an army. They imitated the general's art of war. The most important thing is that the five thousand If a man sets up a farm, he needs to be able to provide himself with food for the army at 50%."
"Secondly, Shaanxi has promoted kapok and made cotton cloth for trade with the northwest Tibetans. When you go to Yanzhou, you need to focus on promoting this and use cotton cloth for military supplies in the future."
"If we can accomplish these two things, we will go to Yanzhou tonight. If we can't, we should go back to Chenzhou!" Lu Huiqing said: "Don't you know about Lu yet? If Lu doesn't do it, then he will try his best."
