Fireworks bloomed in the night sky. In the study, Shi Miyuan, the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, stood by the window, standing with his hands behind his hands, staring at the night sky.
On New Year's Eve, Lin'an City is brightly lit, a joyful and lively scene.
Shifu is no exception. Since the winter solstice, people have gathered in front of the Shi's Mansion. The gates of Shi's Mansion are crowded with sedans and carriages, and there are endless people of all kinds who come to visit and give gifts. Especially on New Year's Eve, guests gathered even more and the house was overcrowded. It was not until Haishi that the Shifu became slightly quiet.
Eighteen years ago, in the third year of Kaixi, the Kaixi Northern Expedition chaired by the Southern Song Dynasty Prime Minister Han Yuanzhou failed. The Jin Kingdom came to ask for the mastermind and wanted Han Yuanzhou's head before they would stop the army. Shi Miyuan, who was the Minister of Rites and the Yishan of Zishan Hall at that time, conspired with Queen Yang Guizhi and others. He sent Xia Zhen, the official in charge of the front office of the palace, to kill Han Yuzhou in Yujin Garden. He sent a letter to his head to send money to ask for peace, and signed the Jiading Peace Agreement. Song and Jin Dynasties armistice.
Shi Miyuan was promoted to the right prime minister in the year after Han Kanzhou's death. After that, the independent prime minister was in power for fifteen years.
Jiading Peace Negotiation!
Shi Miyuan's brows frowned unconsciously.
It was this "Jiading Peace Agreement" that was considered the most humiliating in the history of peace negotiations between the Song and Jin Dynasties, which earned him a lot of infamy, dissatisfaction between the government and the public, and became a poisonous thorn in his heart.
During the "Jiading Peace Agreement", the country of the Jin and Song Dynasties was changed from the country of uncles and nephews to the country of uncles and nephews, and the annual currency was increased from 200,000 min to 300,000 min; an additional 3 million taels of "silver reward for the army" were added.
But in any case, the current empress Yang Guizhi and his student Prince Jingxian Zhao Xun supported his killing of Han Kunzhou and Jin Qiuhe. This also made his position in the court as stable as Mount Tai, and he monopolized power and was very popular.
It was not until three years ago, in the thirteenth year of Jiading, that his student, the 27-year-old Prince Zhao Xun of Jingxian of the Song Dynasty, died of illness, and Zhao Hong, the heir of King Yi of the clan, was established as the prince, did he feel the threat.
This idiot, a little bullshit prince, dares to criticize himself, the prime minister of the current dynasty. He is really bold and presumptuous!
In addition to the words that he once wrote "I will be matched eight thousand miles away", he also called himself "Xin'en", which means that when he ascends the throne in the future, he will be exiled to Xinzhou or Enzhou.
Does this ignorant and arrogant waste really think that he is like dough and can be kneaded by a powerless prince?
Han Yuzhou was a dignified and important minister of the country, and he was so powerful that the emperor didn't even look down on him, so he killed him at will. He was a powerless prince who dared to shit on his head. He doesn't want to be the prince anymore.
"Dad, why don't you go out front and drink?"
Shi Miyuan's eldest son Shi Zhaizhi entered the study and asked softly.
"Why don't you say hello when you come in? Don't you know the etiquette?"
Shi Miyuan said softly without looking back.
Shi Zhai was shocked and didn't dare to tell the difference. Just as he was about to withdraw, Shi Miyuan turned his head, waved his hand, and walked to the table.
"Forget it! Remember it next time! Close the door!"
"Yes, my child remembers it!"
Shi Zhaizhi said respectfully, closed the door, walked to the desk, and stood with his hands tied.
Although he dared to come in because the study door was open, he didn't dare to tell the difference.
Although he is over thirty years old, Shi Zhaizhi is still respectful and childlike in front of his father who has a strong personality.
Shi Miyuan had three sons and several daughters. Except for the eldest son, Shi Zhaizhi, who was smart, the other two sons had mediocre qualifications. One daughter was married to the Zhao Song clan, and the other daughter was married to Xuan Zhen, Minister of War. Shi Miyuan's family education was very strict, but his children were not out of line.
"Dad, today is New Year's Eve, a happy day. Why do you look a little..."
Shi Zhaizhi observed his words and found clues from his father's frown.
"Look at this!"
Shi Miyuan picked up the paper on the table and handed it to his son.
Shi Zhaizhi took the paper and read it in confusion.
"...I regret that the emperors of Qin and Han were slightly less talented in literature; the ancestors of the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty were slightly less charming. The genius of the generation, Genghis Khan, only knew how to bend a bow and shoot a big eagle..."
Shi Zhaizhi's heart was pounding when he saw it, and he couldn't help but asked in a trembling voice:
"Dad, who wrote this? This man's talent is unpredictable. This is Liu..."
"You can't guess that this is written by Zhao Hong!"
Shi Miyuan interrupted his son's words rudely, his face full of impatience.
"Zhao Hong? That Zhao Hong?"
Shi Zhaizhi was confused and did not think of Zhao Hong.
"The scholars and people in Lin'an City almost all know about the book written by Zhao Hong, Duke of Ji Guo, Fengle Lou!"
Shi Miyuan sat down on the chair with cold eyes.
The good days, the happy days, were all disturbed by this libertine.
"Zhao Hong? That lecherous loser!"
Shi Zhai was surprised and suddenly realized.
It turned out that my father was angry because of Zhao Hong's matter, no wonder he didn't look good all day long.
"Dad, this can't be true, right? Zhao Hongna has such talent! If he had, he would have favored the officials long ago, why wait until now? Is this a true virtue show, or was it done by Wei Liaowen and the others? , let Zhao Hong come out and try to please others?"
Shi Zhaizhi analyzed it and said it.
He still knew how much Zhao Hong weighed. He really didn't believe that he could make such a masterpiece that would be famous throughout the ages with that useless snack.
"Zhen Dexiu and Wei Liaoweng don't have that ability, and even Liu Kezhuang is far behind."
Shi Miyuan shook his head and snorted coldly.
"However, you are right about one thing. The official must have seen these poems, and he must be admiring his prince's masterpiece at this moment!"
Shi Miyuan frowned, Shi Zhaizhi rolled his eyes and comforted Shi Miyuan softly.
"Dad, it won't be a big deal if the officials see it. Apart from cultivating Taoism and nourishing Qi, refining elixirs and meditating, the officials won't care about these things."
In his opinion, it's just a few poems, no matter how well they are done, what's the use?
Don't say that Zhao Hong is just a prince, even if he is the prince or the emperor of this dynasty, what can he do?
"Confused!"
Shi Miyuan glanced at his son with dissatisfaction, and the latter immediately stood up straight and showed respect.
"As an official in the Song Dynasty, no matter how slack we are in government affairs, there is always a group of loyal ministers and filial sons behind us, and their strength cannot be underestimated. The prime ministers of the two dynasties of our Shi family, and the many scholars and officials in the family have already become famous. Do you think that my father will not be hated by others? Won’t the historian be subject to official suspicion?”
He conspired with the empress Yang Guizhi to kill Han Kanzhou under false pretenses; he violated the imperial edict and killed the ministers who assassinated him; not to mention monopolizing power, the official Zhao Kuo of the Song Dynasty was like a puppet.
Even if it is speculated based on common sense, Zhao Kuo probably hates him deeply and wants to get rid of him quickly.
"Dad, if that's the case, why not remove Wu Jing and Wei Liao Weng? In this way, there will be far fewer obstacles in the court!"
Shi Zhaizhi was a little puzzled and said softly.
Zhao Kuo is weak and loves to eat golden elixirs. He doesn't know how long he can live. Wouldn't it be once and for all to depose these cesspit stones like Zhen Dexiu and Wei Liaoweng?
"You are still new to the world, so you need to temper yourself."
Shi Miyuan glanced at his son coldly and said patiently:
"If dad blindly suppresses these great scholars, will dad, as prime minister, still be able to hold his seat? Will there be support from so many scholars? You must use both kindness and power in everything you do. Blindly suppressing will only make yourself more embarrassed."
He advocated Neo-Confucianism, lifted the academic ban, reinstated ministers Zhao Ruyu, Lu Zuqian and others who had been dismissed during the Han Dynasty's reign. He also granted Zhu Xi official titles, summoned Lin Dazhong, Lou Yao and other old elders to the court, and appointed Zhen Dexiu, Wei Liao and others to their posts. Weng, Yang Jian, Li Xinchuan and many other Neo-Confucian figures were simply trying to win the support of Neo-Confucianists.
It was precisely because of his kindness to the Neo-Confucian scholars and to win over people's hearts that his position as prime minister was so secure that even the emperor could not do anything about him.
"What dad said is true, the kid understands!"
Shi Zhaizhi was convinced and quickly responded.
My father has been in charge of the court alone for more than ten years, and his cultivation is so profound that it cannot be compared to him!
"Go down and check carefully whether these poems were written by Zhao Hong. How come Xu Ji never reported this matter?"
Shi Miyuan stroked his beard and started thinking.
"Xu Ji won't be in love with Zhao Hong and sell us out, right?"
Shi Zhaizhi immediately became nervous.
"Absolutely not! If she dares to make a mistake, hum!"
Shi Miyuan raised his head and looked at his son with cold eyes.
"Keep an eye on Xu Ji. Also, don't be tempted by her! If something serious happens, you are the only one to ask!"
"Yes, yes, children don't dare to make mistakes!"
Shi Zhaizhi's face turned red and he quickly agreed.
He had already been salivating over Xu Ji's beauty, and the taste was not ordinary ecstasy. It's just a pity that such a beauty is only available to this guy Zhao Hong.
Seeing that his father was silent, Shi Zhaizhi asked tentatively:
"Dad, the stones in Zhao Hong's latrine are smelly and hard. Why don't we just... kill him!"
There was a hint of ferocity in Shi Zhaizhi's eyes.
"Confused! What the next step!"
Shi Miyuan looked at the door nervously, lowered his voice and yelled.
"If this is really the case, not to mention the official family, even the queen will not be able to get through. There is no need to use such methods to deal with a fool like Zhao Hong!"
"The child is stupid! What dad said is true! However, dad has to be careful in managing Empress Yang's place. Maybe the Yang brothers can use it in the future."
Shi Zhaizhi nodded repeatedly, but still did not forget to remind his father.
Although his father is domineering, if he has good suggestions, he will readily adopt them and even praise them.
"You are right! The Yang brothers are extravagant and spend too much money. This is indeed a good move."
Sure enough, Shi Miyuan said with a gentle tone and relief.
"Dad, do you want Li Quan in Chuzhou to be tougher? Xu Guo is not tactful enough. If he goes to Chuzhou, will he have a quarrel with Li Quan? If that is the case, the Huaidong border will be in chaos."
Shi Zhaizhi returns to the warlord Li Quan on Huainan East Road and returns to the theme.
When Jia She, the former Huainan East Road envoy, resigned from his post and died of illness, Xu Guoben, who was sent to take over as Huainan East Road envoy, was a military general and capable of commanding troops. I just don’t know if there will be a conflict between him and Li Quan?
Li Quan was domineering and shaped like a vassal town, sitting on the border of Chuzhou and Shandong. Li Quan's loyal army was strong and powerful. If there was a break with the imperial court, the finger of blame would be directed at his father.
"Li Quan's side, it's better to appease him. As long as he can't afford to fight, the status quo will be fine. Besides, Shandong is corrupt, and the loyal army must rely on the court's money and food to maintain. Although Li Quan is overbearing, he should know his priorities and will not take it lightly. Rebellious."
When it comes to Li Quan, Shi Miyuan also has a headache.
Shi Miyuan frowned, and Shi Zhaizhi quickly reported another matter.
"Dad, Zheng Sun, the governor of Yangzhou, just came here and gave me two hundred taels of gold and a box of pearls."
"Sichuan Zhizhi envoy Cui Yu is about to step down, let Zheng Sun take over."
Shi Miyuan thought for a moment and spoke softly.
Under Cui Yu's rule, Sichuan's military and political affairs were coordinated, the army was well-equipped, and the local area was prosperous and stable. The new emperor of the Jin Kingdom ascended the throne and made peace with the Song Dynasty. There was no war on the border.
Zheng Sun is diligent and well-rounded, so he should be qualified to serve as the envoy of Sichuan.
In the Song Dynasty, the appointment rules for court officials and above were drafted by the Prime Minister, and could only be officially removed with the consent of the emperor. However, Shi Miyuan was the independent prime minister, the prime minister and the privy envoy. He only had to inform the emperor of the appointment results and never took any edicts to report. The authority to remove Beijing officials and select people originally rested with the Ministry of Personnel, which was known as the Four Selections of the Ministry of Personnel. Only those with special meritorious services could be dispatched directly by the Zhengshitang, and those who were dispatched faster than those selected by the Ministry of Personnel were better, so they were called the officials.
Shi Miyuan controlled the selection of officials in the name of Tang Dynasty. Even the officials of the feudal frontiers, such as the Sichuan Zhizhi Envoy and the Huainan East Road Zhizhi Envoy, were left to him to "make decisions in the room and in the bed." He was the only one who The final say. The strength of his power is evident.
"Dad, tomorrow is the big day, so take a rest early."
After the matter was reported, Shi Zhaizhi quietly withdrew.
Only Shi Miyuan was left in the study. He returned to the table, picked up Zhao Hong's poems on the table, looked at them for a few times, crumpled them into a ball in disgust, and threw them to the ground.
