"This... uh..."
Liu Yuanyu hesitated for a long time and finally failed to answer. He pretended to be angry and said: "Such policies have been a top priority in all dynasties. Zhao Zhengyan wants me to answer hastily. This is obviously forcing someone to do something difficult!"
Zhao Yang snorted coldly and said: "I don't ask you to cover everything, but you can always give me a suggestion, right?"
"Uh..." Liu Yuanyu was speechless.
Seeing this, Zhao Yang opened his eyes wide, raised his voice and pretended to be shocked: "Don't have a suggestion?!"
Liu Yuanyu's face turned red when he heard this, and he hurriedly said: "How can you not have any suggestions?"
"Then you say it."
"Maybe...well, maybe we can issue another tax to raise money for military equipment..."
Zhao Yang raised his eyebrows when he heard this, put his hands on his hands and laughed, "It's a good idea to impose excessive taxes. This is just hating the people but not rebelling against them."
The ministers in the palace wanted to laugh but did not dare to respond.
Liu Yuanyu was shocked and turned pale. He hurriedly bowed to Zhao Zhen and said: "The officials and ministers have no such intention..."
Before he finished speaking, he was pushed aside by Zhao Yang: "Okay, you, a book reader, stand aside. It's useless."
Immediately, Zhao Yang raised his hand and waved to Censor Liu Shi: "Censor Liu, come on, it's your turn... Don't pretend you can't see it. Do you want me to name you?"
Under the various expressions of the officials around him, Liu Shi walked to the palace, bowed to the officials first, and then slowly moved towards Zhao Yang.
Zhao Yang asked Yan Yuese, "What is the name of Liu Yushi? What is his position in the court?"
Looking at Zhao Yang's young and smiling face, Liu Shi felt the strong malice, took a slight breath and said: "I... I am the imperial censor Liu Shi."
"Shi Yushi..."
Zhao Yang muttered it in a low voice, remembering the person's official position, name and appearance, and then smiled and said: "Okay, Liu Yushi, it's your turn to answer. Don't be polite and speak freely."
At this time, Liu Shi raised his head to look at the officials, then looked around at the officials in the palace. He took a deep breath and calmed down: "As Liu Yushi said before, the issue of rectifying sources and opening up flows has been a top priority in all dynasties. , unable to answer in a hurry..."
"Don't have any suggestions?" Zhao Yang asked with a strange expression, winking.
Liu Shi's breath was stagnant, and he argued hard: "This is not my specialty. I used to work in the Court of Judges."
There were several sneers in the hall, but Liu Shi turned a deaf ear and looked at Zhao Yang intently, with an expression that seemed to say: If you have the ability, ask me about it!
Zhao Yang looked at Liu Shi and suddenly asked in confusion: "What is the trial court for?"
Zhao Zhen, who was sitting on the throne, rolled his eyes unconsciously, and there was a burst of chuckles in the hall, including both kind laughter and sneers.
But Liu Shi was secretly happy after hearing this, cheered up, and explained calmly: "Evaluate the top officials in the Beijing Dynasty below the sixth rank, rank their titles and ranks, and propose corresponding internal and external appointments based on this, and report to them Awaiting approval..."
Zhao Yang roughly understood that the so-called trial court had replaced part of the functions of the ministerial staff. Looking at Liu Shi's eager expression, he raised the corner of his mouth and said with malice: "Then talk about Fan. It may be that Xianggong originally proposed 'Ming Dezhi' in "Answering the Imperial Edict and Chen Shi Shi"."
"Ah..." Liu Shi was immediately dumbfounded.
At present, under the Song Dynasty's grinding system, as long as there are suitable recommenders, civil servants are moved every three years and military officers are moved every five years. As long as the grinding period expires, you can be promoted, even if you do nothing; even, as long as you do not commit major crimes , for those with moderate faults or below, their promotions will only be deferred for one or two years.
It can be said that grinding is almost equivalent to working through seniority. Even if you have no talent or merit, you will still be able to reach the top after a long time, but it will only be a few years later than those with talent and merit.
However, Fan Zhongyan's "Ming Dynasty" proposed by the imperial court hoped that the imperial court would remove those officials who had done nothing and had no job. Not only would they be unable to be promoted, but they would also be demoted and dismissed. This would naturally arouse a huge wave of opposition.
But now, Zhao Yang wants Liu Shi to talk about this matter in public. Does Liu Shi dare to talk about this?
After all, everyone knows that the bill proposed by Fan Zhongyan is beneficial to the country and the government. If he and Liu Shi oppose it, he will become a villain; but if he openly agrees, it will be equivalent to standing on the opposite side of certain officials. ——Considering that even Fan Zhongyan was forced to leave Bianjing, this force is not small.
"Ah...this..." Liu Shi opened his mouth for a long time without saying anything, but he was frightened by the cold sweat on his forehead. He wiped the sweat with his sleeve and said in panic: "In fact, before this, I Served as the envoy for the Qian and Silk Cases in the 24th Case of the Third Division..."
Before they finished speaking, there was a burst of mocking laughter in the hall. In fact, they may not all dare to openly talk about Fan Zhongyan's "Ming deposed Zhi" proposal, but this did not prevent them from laughing at Liu Shi.
Among them, Zhao Yang's mocking smile was the most unrestrained. He looked at Liu Shi and sarcastically said: "As a royal censor, you should be upright and upright in admonishing, but you don't even dare to comment on Fan Xianggong's 'Ming deposed' proposal. You have Who are you to judge me?”
Liu Shi was ashamed and angry, and was about to open his mouth to refute, but Zhao Yang said before him: "I dare to say that I support Fan Xianggong's proposal of 'clear depose'! What about you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was nothing unusual in the palace. The officials and courtiers were all surprised: This guy dared to say, "Whoever said that only the person who sings the first prize outside the Donghua Gate is a good boy." So what if he openly supports Fan Zhongyan? As if someone didn't know, Fan Zhongyan was about to return to Beijing with a special order, and it was the official who this boy persuaded.
In comparison, the monarchs and ministers in the palace were more curious about Liu Shi's stance, and took this opportunity to see whether the censor agreed or opposed it.
"I……"
Liu Shi subconsciously looked around, then looked up at the officials' house. He intuitively felt that almost everyone in the palace was looking at him, and he was inevitably panicked. He said intermittently: "I... don't object to Fan Xianggong's proposal. ,only……"
Zhao Yang didn't allow him to argue, so he immediately interrupted pretending to be impatient: "Why talk so much? Either agree, disagree, or stand back!"
As a dignified imperial censor and a high-ranking official in Taiwan, Liu Shi's complexion turned pale for a while. He gritted his teeth several times and wanted to say something, but in the end he lowered his head and took a step back.
This is...the third person...
Looking at Liu Shi who was downcast, and then at Li Dui and Liu Yuanyu who also had their heads lowered and said nothing, the monarchs and ministers in the palace thought in unison.
Immediately, they turned their attention to Zhao Yang, who looked high-spirited, and watched him looking east and west for the next "victim": "Who is next? Not counting Mr. Wen, I remember there are nine people. …”
"..." Wen Yanbo frowned and glanced at Zhao Yang.
At this time, Zhao Yang seemed to notice someone pouting at him, and said with a smile: "Don't be busy, the book reader named Qian and the gentleman thief named Gao can be regarded as old acquaintances of mine after getting along with each other these days. Put them at the end... Where are the remaining four?"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone said: "Is it too much for Zhao Zhengyan to repeatedly humiliate his officials and be aggressive?"
Everyone turned around and saw that the person who spoke was Qian Mingyi's brother, You Si Jian Qian Yanyuan.
However, Zhao Yang did not recognize Qian Yanyuan, so he waved his hand and said, "Comrade, please come closer and talk."
Qian Yanyuan was not afraid. He walked into the palace with his head held high, bowed to the official first, and then turned to face Zhao Yang.
Zhao Yang cupped his hands and said, "What is the name of this minister? Does he have any official position in the court?"
"Secretary of the Ministry of Official Affairs, You Si Jian, Hanlin bachelor, Qian Yanyuan."
"Money?" A subtle smile appeared on Zhao Yang's face, "Qian Mingyi's money?"
Qian Yanyuan did not hide anything and said truthfully: "Yes, I am his brother."
"Oh..." Zhao Yang pretended to be surprised and nodded, then suddenly frowned and said in confusion: "Wait a minute, I just didn't have you."
Everyone in the hall naturally understood what Zhao Yang was referring to, and Qian Yanyuan was no exception. He nodded slightly and said: "If Zhao Zhengyan is referring to a joint impeachment, I am indeed not involved..."
"Then what are you doing here?" Zhao Yang looked Qian Yanyuan up and down in confusion and frowned, "Is it because, as an elder brother, you want to vent your anger on your younger brother? Or... you have changed your mind now and want to get involved?... I It doesn’t matter, I have been impeached by nine people, and you are no less than one more.”
Qian Yanyuan took a breath, frowned and said seriously: "I have heard what Zhao Zhengyan did, but I don't think..."
He paused and continued: "In short, I didn't get involved before, so I won't change my mind now. But is it too much for Zhao Zhengyan to humiliate my younger brother by reading the book one by one?"
"This is how you retaliate." Zhao Yang chuckled.
Everyone in the hall looked sideways, Qian Yanyuan was also stunned, and said with a strange expression: "I saw Zhao Zhengyan publicly confessing for Fan Xianggong before, and I thought Zhao Zhengyan also admired Fan Xianggong's gentlemanly style..."
"You might as well just say that I'm acting like a villain."
"I don't mean that..." Qian Yanyuan said with a strange expression.
"Okay, I believe it." Zhao Yang nodded noncommittally, looked around at the ministers in the palace and said calmly: "I admire Fan Xianggong. Regardless of his style and ideals, he is worthy of my respect. But this does not mean that I want to be him, but this is inconsistent with my character. I believe in repaying an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; no resentment can be repaid!"
"..."
The officials in the palace had different expressions upon hearing this. Among them, Wen Yanbo frowned, Gao Ruona's eyes became more resentful, and Song Xiang raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
At this time, Zhao Yang looked at Qian Yanyuan again and said seriously: "Qian Sijian, I think I am not a gentleman, but I have a clear sense of grudges and disdain to make trouble. If you have not provoked me, I will not offend you; as for me and You must also know about Qian Mingyi's grudges. It was he who provoked me first, and then I retaliated in kind. As for you going too far, that's just what you think... You blame me for retaliating too much, but also blame him for being the first to stir up trouble. ? Such as this time... If you can't persuade him to stop making trouble, how can you persuade me?"
"I..." Qian Yanyuan was speechless and stopped talking.
Seeing this, Zhao Yang raised his hand and said: "Please, Qian Sijian, I know my grudges clearly and don't want to embarrass you."
Qian Yanyuan glanced at Qian Mingyi not far away, then at Zhao Yang, sighed softly, and returned to his original position.
Looking at the back of Qian Sijian, Zhao Yang couldn't help but feel a little surprised: As Qian Mingyi's brother, this man did not help his brother in the end, so he was quite sensible.
After thinking about it, he showed a malicious smile again and asked: "Why don't the remaining four come out and meet?"
The ministers in the palace looked at Jia Jian, the censor, and Wu Shi, Yang Wei and Wang Zhi of the Zhijian Yuan, intentionally or unintentionally.
Perhaps due to bad luck, only Yang Wei of the Zhijian Yuan was noticed by Zhao Yang first. The latter waved to him seemingly kindly: "That minister, come here... stop looking around, it's you."
Yang Wei secretly cursed the officials around him who betrayed him with their eyes. He walked into the palace with a straight face, saluted the officials first, and then glared at Zhao Yang.
"What is the name of this minister? Does he have any official position in the court?"
Yang Wei said in a deep voice: "Yang Wei is a member of the Ministry of War, a member of the Ministry of War, who knows Zhigao, and has the right to know the admonishment court."
Yuanwailang?
Zhao Yang couldn't help but be surprised that Yang Wei, who seemed to be in his early forties, was actually of the same rank as him. He finally understood the concept of what Li Dui, the former minister of the imperial censor, said, "it's worth twenty years of ordinary people's grinding".
However, he slightly misunderstood that although they were both Yuan Wai Lang from the Sixth Department of Shangshu, they were also divided into three, six or nine grades: Yuan Wai Lang from the Li and Bing Departments were collectively called Qian Xing Yuan Wai Lang; members from the Hu and Xing Departments were collectively called Zhong Xing Yuan Wai Lang; Li from the Second Department of Li. , the general name of Houxing Yuanwailang of the Second Ministry of Industry.
Although according to the official rank following the Tang system, they are all in the seventh rank, but if calculated based on the unique official rank of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Yang's Shangshu Gongbu Yuan Wailang ranked at the 22nd rank among the thirty-seven ranks. He is on par with the ministers on the left and right; while Yang Wei's minister, Wai Lang, is two ranks higher than him, at rank 20, and is on an equal footing with the censor.
Depending on the official rank, the salary, corn, cloth, allowances and other benefits will naturally vary.
"Oh." Zhao Yang nodded and said: "Since you are the salary official of Wailang, a member of the Ministry of War, then I will ask Yang Jianyuan about matters related to military affairs. ... What do you think of the external threats to the Song Dynasty?"
Yang Wei frowned and asked, "Zhao Zhengyan is referring to Khitan and Xixia?"
"Otherwise?" Zhao Yang simply pointed out: "If the Song Dynasty uses troops abroad in the future, according to Yang Jianyuan's opinion, who should be put first? Who should be the most important? And roughly what kind of strategy will it be?"
The monarchs and ministers in the palace looked surprised. After all, what they heard from Zhao Yang's words... was he actually advocating the use of troops against Liao and Xixia in the future?
When everyone was surprised, Yang Wei frowned again and asked: "Song and Liao have... an alliance, Xixia surrenders, and we, the Song Dynasty, are harmonious neighbors with them, why do we need to send troops?"
"What alliance does Song and Liao have?" Zhao Yang asked knowingly.
Zhang Wei opened his mouth and secretly looked at the officials' expressions, but never dared to mention it.
Zhao Yang snorted coldly and said: "Let me tell you, the Chanyuan Alliance!...Does Yang Jianyuan think this is really an alliance?"
The expressions of the ministers in the palace changed slightly, and they held their breath and secretly looked at the officials' expressions. At this time, Zhao Zhen frowned and seemed to want to speak to stop him, but for some reason he did not speak in the end.
Under Zhao Yang's questioning, Yang Wei shouted angrily: "Will revealing this matter make Zhao Zhengyan more upright and loyal? Zhao Zhengyan thinks you are the only one in the entire palace who can see clearly?"
Zhao Yang naturally didn't like him either. He glared and yelled, "Then why are you talking about all this nonsense? Do you also want to use your clever words to deceive the officials and lie about the world's peace?!"
"I..." Yang Wei lost his momentum and bowed to the officials: "I just feel that peace is hard-won and we should not rashly provoke war."
"Hmph." Zhao Yang sneered and said sarcastically: "Does Yang Jianyuan not know about the principle of preparing for a rainy day? Could it be that your knowledge has also learned..."
"Zhao Yang!" Yang Wei shouted angrily.
Zhao Yang glared, not giving any face at all: "What? You're such an idiot for reading!"
Yang Wei was so angry that he was shaking all over. He bowed and complained to the officials: "The officials..."
Zhao Zhen secretly sighed helplessly, and was about to express his position when he heard Zhao Yang shout again: "Again?! Everyone knows how to complain to the officials. Are you a three-year-old? Just say it if you have the ability. If you are convinced by me, if you can't stand it, go back to your seat and replace it with the next one!"
Yang Wei was ashamed and angry, and said angrily: "Don't I know how to prepare for a rainy day?! I just feel that Zhao Zhengyan forced me to talk about this matter in public. If the Khitan and Xixia know about it, wouldn't it destroy the hard-won gains?" of peace?”
"Oh, I understand." Zhao Yang nodded pretendingly, raised his hand to signal to the officials in the palace: "Are you saying there are spies in the palace? I wonder which one Yang Jianyuan is referring to? Or are you talking about all of them?"
Seeing that all the officials in the palace looked unkind, Yang Wei panicked and said hurriedly: "That's not what I meant..."
"Then why are you talking about this nonsense?"
"I...I just feel that the hard-won peace should not be destroyed..."
"You want peace?" Zhao Yang sneered, "Surrender, surrender can bring peace; if not, then the surrender is not thorough enough!"
As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the palace.
