In the middle of the tenth year of Xining.
Several months after Wang Anshi resigned as prime minister, the personnel in the court have been changing.
First, Deng Wan and Lu Jiawen were demoted to local positions at the same time. One was the imperial censor, Zhongcheng, and the other was the censor. Both of them had official status second only to those in power.
The two went out at the same time, causing shock.
After Deng Wan and Lu Jiawen, Zhongshu inspected Zhang Anguo, an official in the execution room, and Hengfu, an official in the household, was demoted the next day. Both of them were also students of Wang Anshi.
After the next day, more than ten officials, including Zhang Hong and Xiang Zongru, were sent abroad or transferred away from Bianjing.
In addition, Zhang Ruoji, who had bribed Lu Huiqing in the first place, was deprived of his writing since birth, and was charged with stabbing his face with the spine of a staff, and was exiled to Salmon Island. This was already a capital crime.
After being convicted of this serious crime, it seemed to cut off Lu Huiqing's last possibility of returning to Beijing. However, none of Lu Huiqing's brothers were demoted.
The movements in the officialdom made the government and the public watch and watch. The tabloids in Bianjing, who were worried about the chaos in the world, were spreading rumors, and Zhongshu's theory that he wanted to abolish the new law was widely circulated.
At this time, Sima Guang, who was in Luoyang, promoted the Chongfu Palace in Xijing with the bachelor of Duanming Palace.
Sima Guang still actively opposed the new law. After Wang Anshi resigned as prime minister again, his good friend Lu Gongzhu paid homage to Hanlin scholars to accept the decree. He once again went to Shu Han Jiang, Zhang Yue, and Lu Gong to request the removal of the Green Crops Law, the Free Service Law, the Farmland Water Conservancy Law, the Baojia Law, the Market Change Law, etc.
The letter stated that since the country adopted its own new law, people at home and abroad have been in distress, and people are not stupid enough to know what is wrong. ...However, today, my husband is saving the world and protecting the security of the country, and there is nothing more he can do than make concessions. The way to rescue and protect people's safety is to use all methods of young seedlings...
However, Zhongshu did not respond to this.
Looking inside and outside, we can see where the great affairs of the temple will go from here.
…
Dingzhou City.
An old man in his fifties was reading the memorial in the dusk, with a look of disbelief on his face.
The chamberlain on the side said: "Mr. Xue congratulates you!"
The old man glanced at the other party and said with regret: "I didn't expect that your majesty could still remember me, an old minister."
The chamberlain said: "Now that the prime minister has just retired, it is time for Duke Xue to return to the court to take charge. The last time the Liao Dynasty negotiated, it was thanks to Duke Xue taking charge of Gaoyang Pass that the Liao people did not dare to go south."
The old man said: "Hey, this is all the work of Mr. Zhang who is in charge of Hebei. How dare I take credit for it?"
The chamberlain secretly smiled, the other party was one of those officials who strives for merit and is greedy for merit.
Now he would be so humble and withdrawn.
It seems that his career in officialdom has given him a taste of life and death. He also knows who is in charge of the court and must not offend anyone.
The old man said to the chamberlain: "After I have settled my affairs, I will enter the capital now."
The chamberlain left happily.
When he knew Dingzhou, he served as the military envoy of Gaoyang Pass, and Xue Xiang, the direct scholar of the privy council, paid homage to the deputy privy envoy.
…
On the same day, he was in Yushitai.
All the censors and officials were congratulating Deng Runfu and Cai Que.
Deng Runfu had already expected his promotion, while Cai Que was smiling all over his face. Cai Que used to be serious about his words, but today he changed his usual attitude and smiled.
After the people who greeted him retreated, Deng Runfu said to Cai Que: "How can Xue Xiang be promoted to Deputy Privy Councilor if he returns to the capital to know about the affairs of the Privy Council?"
Cai Que said with a smile: "Xue Xiang is indeed talented, but in the past he left the capital because he opposed Lu Wangzhi and the City Change Law. Now that he has returned to the court, it seems that the court will make some changes in major political affairs."
Deng Runfu said: "What idea did Han Gong and Zhang Gong have? Do they want to change the law? Or do they want to abolish the new law?"
Seeing that Cai Zhen didn't answer, Deng Runfu asked, "Don't you have any news about Zizheng?"
Cai Que said slowly: "I haven't been to Zhang Gong's mansion for a long time."
Cai Que didn't tell the truth. He hadn't been to Zhang Yue's house for a long time, but Zhang Yue went to Cai Que's house in person.
However, Han Jiang has recently alienated him intentionally or unintentionally, because his younger brother Han Zhen said that Cai Zhen was not the one, but Cai Zhen suspected that Zhang Yue did it.
After listening to Cai Que's words, Deng Runfu was thoughtful.
Cai Que said: "Zhongcheng is a member of the official family. He should act according to the owner's wishes!"
Deng Runfu said: "That's right."
On the same day, Deng Runfu, who served as the censor's miscellaneous officer, was promoted to censor Zhongcheng.
Cai Que, the Shi Yushi, was promoted to Shi Yushi and knew miscellaneous affairs.
…
In a mansion in Bianjing.
Cai Jing took the Di newspaper and was a little excited at the moment. His younger brother Cai Bian was promoted to the supervisory censor.
Cai Bian had never been a capital official before, not because Zhang Yue refused to grant him the title, but because Wang Anshi didn't want his son-in-law to get a high-ranking official when he was in power, so he deliberately suppressed Cai Bian and prevented him from being promoted.
But after Wang Anshi became official, Deng Wan said that the emperor would reuse Wang Anshi's younger brother and son-in-law. Zhang Yue dismissed Deng Wan, but adopted his wishes and promoted Cai Bian.
Like Li Ding, Cai Bian skipped the capital official position and was directly appointed as the censor.
Cai Jing is a very keen person, and he seems to have noticed that Zhang Yue appreciates Cai Bian more than he does.
Cai Jing thought about the cold reception he received when he went to Wang Anshi's house, and then thought about Wang Anshi's comments about him to others afterwards.
Cai Jing had mixed feelings in his heart.
However, Cai Jing was quite eager in his heart when he thought of Zhang Yue's promotion from Zhongshujianzhengkongmufang to Zhongshujianzhenghufang.
The official power of the household house is second only to that of the official house. Cai Jing is the inspector of the household house in Zhongshu. Under Wang Anshi's policy of "sparing the details and talking about the general", the fifth house inspector is responsible for a large number of detailed tasks. Generally, there are documented details. Cai Jing can handle the affairs on his own, and even if the prime minister fails to do so, he can give [Zazi] to the Sinong Temple, the Third Division and the Second Yamen in the name of Zhongshu.
Zhongshu Zazi was a Tang Dynasty official post. In the eyes of scholar-bureaucrats, it was more useful than an imperial edict. Some officials even dared to disobey the decree, but they did not dare to disobey Zhazi Zhongshu.
Cai Jing was overwhelmed by the number of officials who visited his residence every day.
Cai Jing wrote a letter to Cai Bian to congratulate him on this matter.
Under the decree of that day, Cai Jing was promoted to the post of Secretary of the Central Committee and responsible for the official affairs of the household.
Cai Bian was promoted to censor.
…
In a Buddhist temple in Bianjing.
A follower was searching in the temple and found Huang Lu sitting cross-legged under the pagoda.
Sui Ren usually disturbed Huang Lu's meditation, but at this moment he couldn't help but said: "Master, the imperial decree to appoint an official has arrived at home."
When Huang Lu heard this, he opened his eyes and said, "I have the nature of an elk and have been living in the mountains and forests for a long time. What good can I do even if I get promoted?"
The followers heard Huang Lu say many times that he had the nature of an elk, roaming freely in the mountains and forests without being restrained.
Sui Ren smiled and said: "The official family is very kind, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to be at ease in the future."
Huang Lu said: "Vulgar things restrain people!"
After speaking, Huang Lu walked aside and lit three sticks of incense and placed them on the incense burner. The memorial tablet of his wife who died before he died was enshrined behind the incense burner.
Huang Lu stood in front of the tablet for a moment and said, "I'm afraid I won't have time to spare in the future, so I'll have to come less often!"
After saying that, Huang Lu turned around and left, followed closely by the others.
After leaving the temple, Huang Lu mounted his horse and rode forward.
On that day, it was ordered that Huang Luzhi make the imperial edict and send him to the hospital.
…
Xihe Road Minzhou under the sunset.
The Ban and Han people were cultivating the paddy fields, and He Guan, the prefect of Minzhou in the mountains of the river valley, was urging the people to dig canals.
At this time, a fast horse was galloping, and He Guan, who received Ren's letter, was surprised and happy.
He Guan looked at the fertile fields and repaired canals in the valley, and choked up in the wind: "Xiangong Zhang has really not forgotten me, He Guan!"
He Guan, who had been supervising the fields in Xihe Road for eight years, was promoted to Qinfeng Road and was appointed as a prisoner.
…
In addition, Wang Anli knew how to make the imperial edict, and fellow practitioners made daily notes.
Chen Mu moved to Zhijianyuan and served as a lecturer at the banquet.
General Xu knows how to make imperial edicts, knows the Western Academy of the Inquisitor, and directs the Academy of Academic Affairs.
An Tao was promoted to Zhongshu Dujianzheng.
Fan Chunchun was promoted to Zhongshu, Inspector of Criminal Affairs.
Li Qingchen was promoted to Zhongshujianzhenglifanggongfu.
Zhang Zai also knew Taichang Liyuan. After his death, Zhang Zai became seriously ill and died of illness a few months later.
…
In the Zhongshu Dutang Hall.
Han Jiang frowned, Yuan Jiang and Wang Gui were fanning themselves hotly, while Zhang Yue was drinking tea leisurely.
Han Jiang said to several prime ministers and assistants: "I didn't expect that the situation in the world would be so endangered."
"There is a severe drought in Bianjing, a severe famine in Huaihe and Zhejiang, and thieves from all walks of life in Hebei, Jingdong, and Fujian have sprung up, with tens of thousands of them..."
Yuan Jiang said: "Prime Minister, are you pretending to be threatening?"
Han Jiang shook his head and said: "It's an exaggeration, but it's not much different! It's difficult!"
Wang Gui said: "Yes. Look at the refugees fleeing from the famine outside the city these days. Although Kaifeng Mansion has been ordered to resettle them, more and more people are gathering..."
"Even in Bianjing City, dozens of poor people starve to death every day..."
Zhang Yue put down the tea soup and said: "Prime Minister, we seem to be on a cross street. We must think twice about where we go from now on."
Yuan Jiang and Wang Gui were silent when they heard this.
Zhang Yue glanced at the two of them and thought, just pretend I didn't say anything.
Han Jiang retreated to the hall, followed by Zhang Yue.
After some personnel changes, Han Jiang has initially consolidated her position. In addition to personnel adjustments and arrangements, the most important thing is to choose a path.
It was like standing in front of a crossroads. They had three options before them: to completely inherit Wang Anshi's new law, to change the new law, or even to abolish the new law.
Zhang Yue recommended Han Jiang as prime minister to let him deal with the emperor. Compared with Zhang Yue, Han Jiang has more experience and is more prudent in governing.
Zhang Yue was too young, and he could only claim credit for recovering Xihe Road and getting the Liao troops to withdraw, but he was the least qualified and least popular among the prime ministers.
Most officials are not convinced about their ability to handle politics.
At the same time, Zhang Yue was not experienced enough in the confrontation between phase and imperial power.
Han Jiang is much more skilled in dealing with officials.
In addition to the previous Prime Minister's participation in political discussions.
Han Jiang also strictly enforced the form of Zhazi in Zhongshu. For example, every Zhazi must have the three words "Following the Imperial Edict" on its head, instead of most of the past.
Although Zhongshu's side has been retreating, the problem is that the officials are pushing further and further.
After Wang Anshi resigned as prime minister, officials were accustomed to a bad habit, which was to often bypass the Zhongshu and issue orders directly to officials or even individuals.
Officials themselves are impatient, so they actively seek treatment, but sometimes they are very impatient. They often ask the officials several times to speed up the progress of a matter.
Zhang Yue had a deep understanding of this back then.
Wang Anshi was still restrained when he was there, but now that Wang Anshi is gone, the officials can be said to be unscrupulous and unscrupulous.
The emperor bypassed Zhongshu to direct various departments, which would inevitably make the people below at a loss what to do, and also cause a conflict between the imperial power and the prime minister's power.
Zhang Yue said to Han Jiang: "Prime Minister, in August the Ministry of Punishment will issue a general amnesty to the whole country. Can you ask Zheng Xia if he would hesitate? Let's find out what your Majesty wants."
Han Jiang nodded when he heard this.
ps: There will be more updates tomorrow!
