At the beginning of the founding of the Song Dynasty, there was no official position to participate in political affairs. Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu of the Song Dynasty, established himself on behalf of the Zhou Dynasty and established three prime ministers instead of deputy prime ministers. Later, due to the complicated affairs, officials were set up to assist the prime minister in political affairs.
In the second year of Emperor Qiande's reign (964), Song Zhizhi was appointed deputy prime minister. In the sixth year of Kaibao (973), those who participated in political affairs could discuss political affairs with the prime minister in the political hall. Their powers and courtesy were roughly equal to those of the prime minister. When the prime minister is vacant, he will act as prime minister.
In the third year of Jianyan of the Southern Song Dynasty (1129), the second minister of Zhongshu was appointed as the minister to participate in political affairs. In the eighth year of Qiandao (1172), the left and right servants were changed to the left and right prime ministers. Their participation in political affairs remained the same, and they were filled with senior officials or above. The number of posts was usually two or one person. In the third year of Jiatai (1203), it was set to three.
After Zhao Hong ascended the throne, his relatives and friends who had made meritorious deeds were rewarded, and naturally they became the ministers in power. This was also the basis for the stability of the court.
Shi Miyuan's position as prime minister was replaced by Xue Ji, the former political advisor. And a new position of participating in political affairs was left to Zhen Dexiu, the Minister of Household Affairs.
Prime Minister Xue Ji, Privy Council Envoy Xuan Zhen, the special case of Prime Minister and Privy Council Envoy in the Shi Miyuan era was finally abolished in the Zhao Hong Dynasty.
A prime minister, Xue Ji, a privy council member, Xuan Zhen, plus two political advisors, Hu Ju and Zhen Dexiu, formed the central team of the Zhao Hong Dynasty.
Zhen Dexiu was the emperor's teacher and the minister of household affairs. He had a high and powerful position, and it was natural for him to occupy a position where he could participate in political affairs.
Xuan Zhen has a straightforward temperament. Although he is the son and daughter of Shi Miyuan, he seems to be able to be reused. Since he is the Minister of the Ministry of War, it is more suitable to serve as the Privy Envoy.
Xue Ji and Hu Ju both belong to the "wood" generation of Shi Miyuan's "string puppets", and they are both smart people who are good at dancing. Compared with Zhen Dexiu and Hu Ju, Xue Ji was mature and prudent, more familiar with government affairs and easier to control, so it seemed more appropriate to be listed as prime minister.
These four people are the ruling ministers, and they are also the products of Zhao Hong's repeated weighing.
As for the censor Zhongcheng, Liang Chengda was naturally deposed and replaced by Chen Duanchang, another clear figure in the court. On the day when the crown prince was established and the palace changed, this prince performed well and openly argued with Shi Miyuan, which impressed Zhao Hong deeply.
In the Song Dynasty, most officials were appointed from the three ministers, Hanlin bachelors, Kaifeng government officials, and Yushi Zhongcheng. They were commonly known as Siruitou. The four of them, Xue Ji, were all well-educated men with sufficient qualifications, so they were appointed as governors.
To strengthen the monarch's power, the prime minister must not be strong. However, the scholar-bureaucrats in the Song Dynasty were too powerful and had to be suppressed ruthlessly to prevent the monarchy from weakening.
Zhao Hong was also thinking secretly. Xue Ji became prime minister and Chen Duan became censor Zhongcheng. They just said a word and stamped a jade seal. None of the officials in the court dared to object.
If the king wants his minister to die, he must die. His father, Zhao Kuo, was too cowardly and was manipulated by Shi Miyuan and Yang Guizhi. People can only lament his misfortune and be angry at him for not fighting.
The most important thing is that he wants this ruling team to be easy to control and reform according to his will.
Coming from hundreds of years later, no one knows the shortcomings of this era better than him.
Several gifts were placed on the desk. Zhao Hong looked at them carefully, and his eyes were attracted by the two crystal walls on the table.
These are all treasures of the late emperor Zhao Kuo. According to the royal practice of the Song Dynasty, when the emperor dies, the emperor's relics will also be distributed to the ministers to show the emperor's kindness.
The crystal wall is as big as a small bowl and crystal clear, no different from the transparent glass of later generations.
"Dong Songchen, are there many such objects in the palace?"
Zhao Hong really didn't understand. When the emperor dies, the emperor's relics must be distributed to the ministers. What kind of logic is this?
When a new emperor ascends the throne, it stands to reason that the scholar-bureaucrats should give him gifts because he is their boss. Is there any reason for a boss to pay his employees and curry favor with them?
According to folk customs, when someone dies in the family, relatives and friends who come to express condolences must give gifts, and some will take them instead.
What's more, these relatives and friends are still his subordinates.
What were the kings of the Song Dynasty worried about? Is the dragon chair under your butt unstable?
When they arrived at Zhao Hong's place, in addition to a few ruling ministers, there were also a few close ministers who each gave him a small reward to show their intention, and ignored the rest.
It's not that he is stingy, it's just that he thinks it's weird and can't understand it.
Wouldn't it be more useful if these things were exchanged for gold, silver and grain and given to border troops and poor people?
"Your Majesty, I know that Jiangxi is rich in crystal. It has been polished into crystal walls or crystal ornaments. There are many such objects in the palace. The general also has many unpolished objects. If you must use it, just send someone to get it."
Dong Songchen is very knowledgeable about crystals.
"Very good! Then you send someone to supervise the general to retrieve the crystal, and call two craftsmen who know how to polish it. I have another important use."
These natural crystals are excellent items for making telescopes. The structure of the telescope is too simple. Two convex lenses, or one convex lens and one concave lens, can form a telescope.
In this day and age, let’s call it a telescope.
In later generations, telescopes were all over the streets, but in this era, this simple telescope was very helpful for battlefield observation.
He returned to the chair and sat down, picked up the memorial on the table and flipped through it. After turning it into two copies, Zhao Hong couldn't help but frown.
Several ministers participating in the political affairs jointly submitted a petition to confer the title of Yu's parents on his stepmother, Princess Yi. Yu's father, Yu Zhi, would be the observer of Tanzhou, and Yu's mother, Liu, would be the wife of Huiguo.
And his mother-in-law, Zhou Gao, will be named Mrs. Yanguo.
Everyone carries the sedan chair. Is this to seal the world and live happily?
Without any merit, there is harmony, one person attains enlightenment, and chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. How do the people of the world view him as the new emperor?
With kindness everywhere, when will the shortcomings of "redundant officials" in the Song Dynasty be solved?
Even if the court wants to employ people, it must be people who do things. Those dandy boys, drunkards and rice bags, what use are they, are they going to cause trouble for him?
"See Your Majesty!"
Prime Minister Xue Ji, Privy Councilor Xuan Zhen, two governors Hu Ju and Zhen Dexiu, and four ministers who participated in the political affairs entered the imperial study and paid tribute to Zhao Hong together.
Xue Ji was the prime minister and Xuan Zhen was the privy envoy. The custom of prime minister and privy envoy in Shi Miyuan's era is gone forever.
Xue Ji's eyes secretly glanced at Zhao Hong's waist, and the "Sword of Song Dynasty" was clearly visible.
"Guys, please take a seat."
Zhao Hong nodded slightly and pointed to the chairs in front of the table.
"I don't dare!"
The four ruling ministers saluted together, but no one dared to sit down.
Even the emperor's master Zhendexiu bowed respectfully and pointed there.
Before Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats sat and discussed Taoism. During the Zhao Kuangyin dynasty and all subsequent dynasties in the Song Dynasty, they all discussed matters from a standing point.
There is no reason to sit in front of the emperor.
"To sit down and talk about the Tao is called a prince; to practice it is called a scholar-official; to judge the situation, order the five materials, and distinguish the folk implements is called a hundred craftsmen. The ministers are in charge of national affairs, and compared with the princes, they are all better than the princes. And. Gentlemen, there is no need to be frightened. Just sit down."
Zhao Hong waved his hands, his expression gentle but unquestionable.
"Xue Xiang, next time you go to court, all princes, political advisors, and ministers who are old and infirm can sit in the front row. This is a common practice and can be included in the daily rituals of the court. This is also humane and makes the crowd more comfortable. I hope you are in good health and can serve the country well. My decision has been made and there is no need to discuss this matter further."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Xue Ji and the others bowed to the ground and sat down on the chairs in fear.
Sitting and talking is not only physically comfortable, but also psychologically satisfying.
Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin took away the chair from under the Prime Minister's buttocks and stood up to talk instead, which made the scholar-bureaucrats feel disappointed and their servility increased greatly. Unexpectedly, his tenth grandson Zhao Hong would change this again.
Speaking of which, except for Zhen Dexiu who is still "young", the other people are all "old men" in their fifties and sixties. Sitting and talking, their waist and legs feel much better.
"The late Emperor Yan Jia, you all have worked hard on the funeral, the elimination of Shi Miyuan's party, and other political affairs."
Zhao Hong smiled slightly, and the eunuch served tea. It was steaming hot, and everyone had a cup.
"Your Majesty, this is the way things should be done among ministers!"
Xue Ji, on behalf of the four people, answered respectfully.
Although this new emperor is simple and rough, he is also frank and kind, and does not seem to be a rough and violent man.
"Your Majesty has just ascended to the great throne. I would like to express my congratulations to you. I wish your Majesty a great success in civil administration and martial arts, and that our country, the Song Dynasty, will be peaceful and the people are safe, and that our country will last forever."
Zhen Dexiu stood up and stepped forward, holding a congratulatory form in both hands, solemnly and solemnly.
The congratulatory form is usually a congratulatory form. It means that the new emperor has ascended the throne, or the emperor has celebrated martial arts and other events, and the ministers have written congratulations. Now that Zhao Hong has ascended the throne, Zhen Dexiu, as the emperor's master and the leader of the imperial court, naturally has to express himself.
"My dear, thank you for your trouble."
Zhao Hong nodded slightly, and Zhen Dexiu opened the congratulatory form and read it.
"My true virtue and beautiful words: On November 29th, Zhundu went to the Memorial Courtyard to hand over a letter of pardon. He respectfully saw His Majesty the Emperor on his enthronement, and congratulated everyone from home and abroad. The Holy Spirit has done something, and he has been in the heart of God; he returned from the pilgrimage... The prosperity of Gu Yan's fortune has lasted for hundreds of years; and the return of Zhi Fang's hometown will be almost thousands of miles away. How should we cherish it only in serving the jade... To succeed the saint with the saint, it will benefit the entrusted father. The minister is obscene and desecrate... ..The opening of the sky and the closing of the earth can predict the period of peace and prosperity; the sun and the moon will be generals, and I am willing to offer my sacrifice..."
After Zhen Dexiu finished reading the congratulatory form, Zhao Hong took it and pretended to look at it for a moment, then closed it and put it away solemnly.
This "Table of Congratulations on the Enthronement of Today's Emperor" published in Zhendexiu believes that Zhao Hong, who has outstanding talents, inherits the throne. It is destiny, the people's aspiration, and a great event celebrated by the whole world. Therefore, he should inherit the destiny of heaven and display his grand ambitions. . It also traces the establishment of the Southern Song Dynasty and the changes in territory. The emperor has a long way to go and must inherit the teachings of his ancestors, keep improving, and achieve peace in the world.
"Your Majesty, sincerity and morality come first, and no one in our court can rival you. This congratulation is solemn and elegant, in line with your Majesty's current situation, and I would like to congratulate your Majesty."
Xue Ji stood up, and a small flattery made Zhen Dexiu unconsciously smile on his face.
"Xue Xiang is too praised!"
Zhen Dexiu bowed to Xue Ji, and the two worshiped each other. There was a peaceful atmosphere in the imperial study.
"A few days ago, Zhenqing was promoted to the ruling minister, and he also expressed his gratitude. He raised the dogs and horses selflessly, but only loved the righteousness of the king. Although the world is far away, do you dare to forget your heart? Zhenqing is loyal and upright, I am familiar with it. .”
As the sedan chair was being carried by everyone, Zhao Hong endured his impatience, laughed and complimented his teacher.
In fact, he only understood about half of Teacher Zhen's congratulations. However, the praises were sung and the flowers were in full bloom, which made him feel too high-minded and down to earth.
The people of Qin have no time to mourn for themselves, and others will mourn for them. Future generations will mourn without taking note of it, which will also make future generations mourn for future generations again.
Compared with these concise and comprehensive famous articles through the ages, Zhen Dexiu's articles were too gorgeous and difficult for him to resonate with.
The Song Dynasty suffered from internal and external troubles, lack of national power, and poor people's livelihood. It was far from being as calm as Zhen Dexiu described.
"I thank your Majesty for your compliment."
Zhen Dexiu said loudly, and then went straight to the topic.
"Your Majesty, the commander-in-chief in front of the palace and the military generals who have close ties with Shi Miyuan and Xia Zhen have all been arrested and brought to justice. The Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment are currently investigating. The conclusion will be reached in the next few days."
Sure enough, as the emperor said, the king is the king and the minister is the minister. Following the imperial court's decree, Shi Miyuan's party members, including the troublemaking officers in the Palace Front Division, still obeyed and were captured without even a small splash.
"The real Lord will take care of this matter. I can rest assured that the True Lord will do what he does."
Zhao Hong nodded to express his support for Zhen Dexiu.
Zhen Dexiu was resolute and never minced his words, which he admired very much. This is how things should be done.
I can rest assured that you will do the work!
Zhen Dexiu's heart trembled slightly, and he quickly accepted the order to thank him.
The emperor's simple words of praise spoke to his heart.
