Zhao Xu took the initiative to invite the two palaces to come out for fun, and the two palaces happily agreed.
Soon they arrived at the imperial garden.
Zhao Xu, on the other hand, had already ordered people to prepare.
Two specially selected flowers were wrapped in silk cloth and turned into hairpins in the dexterous hands of the female officials.
Zhao Xu took the two silk flowers and tied them to the hairpins of the two palaces with his own hands, then clapped his hands and praised them.
The Queen Mother and Queen Mother Xiang were very satisfied with this little surprise.
"The official family..." The Queen Mother took Zhao Xu's hand and said, "My mother-in-law is already fifty... I still give my mother-in-law a hairpin..."
Zhao Xu smiled and said: "But my grandson thinks this flower is very suitable for my mother-in-law..."
He asked Queen Mother Xiang: "Look, Queen Mother, does she look several years younger when she wears flowers?"
He smiled at the Queen Mother and said, "My dear, Brother Six is right!"
"The empress does look several years younger when she wears this flower!"
Then, she gently reached out and touched the silk flower on her head.
She felt as if she was several years younger!
The Queen Mother listened with a smile on her face.
Facts have proved that no matter how old a woman is, she loves beauty.
So, the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Xiang took Zhao Xu to visit the imperial garden.
After a while, there was only laughter in the imperial garden.
When the two palaces started to play together, they took Zhao Xu to play the grass-fighting game that has been popular among women since the Han and Tang Dynasties.
I have to say that fighting grass is really a good way to kill time.
When both palaces had finished weaving a flower basket, it was already noon.
The two palaces took Zhao Xu back to Funing Palace with the flower baskets, had a meal in Funing Palace, and waited for Zhao Xu to take a nap and fall asleep.
Queen Mother Xiang was in front of the royal couch, looking at the child sleeping on the bed, her eyes full of love.
"The Queen Mother is so lucky!" The Queen Mother was also very envious when she saw it.
All three of her sons are biological.
But all together, none of them are as sensible, smart, and filial as Sixth Brother.
The Queen Mother smiled and replied: "Your Majesty, you are also very lucky!"
The Empress Dowager nodded: "This is the blessing of our ancestors and the blessing of Bodhisattva!"
"That's right!" The Empress Dowager suddenly said: "In a few days, the wives of the relatives of Xunchen's family will enter the palace..."
"Your Majesty, please stay with me!"
He replied to the Queen Mother: "The bride will obey your Majesty's will!"
She knew what to do.
Except for the Gao family and the Xiang family, the remaining married women of the Xunchen family will bring girls of the right age selected by their families into the palace.
I came here to choose between the two palaces.
Keep whoever you like.
"Have you chosen a date?" asked the Queen Mother.
The Empress Dowager replied: "I have been optimistic that Gengwu Day in June will be a good day..."
Empress Dowager Xiang calculated in her mind that Geng Wu was the eighth day of the lunar month, which seemed like a good day indeed, so she nodded: "The bride will remember it!"
…
When Zhao Xu fell asleep in Funing Hall.
On the far north bank of the Yellow River, in Jialu Village.
Lu Huiqing finally received the report: the main force of the Western bandits had withdrawn from the Mingtang River area.
Before that, news continued to come from various Qiang tribes at the eastern foot of Hengshan Mountain.
The Western bandit cavalry were identified and were plundering and requisitioning grain and grass from various departments in Hengshan.
This triggered resistance from various Qiang tribes, but was severely suppressed. Several tribal leaders were killed, hundreds of people were executed, and two to three thousand people were subjected to various punishments.
As a result, each tribe of the Qiang people sent envoys to Jialu Village to ask for help.
I beg the King of the Song Dynasty to be a teacher of benevolence and righteousness, and to save the people who are hanging upside down.
There was even a powerful Qiang chief who had read a few books and performed a scene in front of Lu Huiqing like Shen Baoxu crying at the Qin court.
But Lu Huiqing remained on hold.
This is because he has a hard heart and doesn't care about the life and death of the Qiang tribe in Hengshan!
It was also because Lu Huiqing smelled something wrong.
The West Thief's reaction was so strange!
Generally speaking, the Western bandits would collect grain from the Hengshan Qiang tribe, but they would not go to this extent.
They used knives to force the Qiang tribe to provide food.
If you don’t give it, kill him!
Doesn’t this force the Qiang people to seek refuge with the Song Dynasty?
Lu Huiqing wondered if there was any fraud involved?
Could it be a plot by the Western thieves?
Therefore, he just comforted the Qiang people while actively preparing food and grass.
Now, at least 100,000 shi of grain and millions of bundles of fodder have been transported from Changping Granary at the rear.
This food was enough to feed Lu Huiqing's army for several months.
Anyway, Lu Huiqing made up her mind.
Just spend it here. If the main force of the Western thieves doesn't leave, he won't move. Let's see who has more food! Let’s see who can’t hold on first!
Now, we finally got the news that the main force of the Western Bandits has withdrawn westward!
Lu Huiqing no longer hesitates!
Once the main force of the Western thieves withdraws, it will not be so easy to come back!
Now, the vast Hengshan Mountains west of Ningxifeng, north of Jialu River, and east of Wuding River are all his hunting grounds, Lu Huiqing!
Dozens of large and small Qiang tribes and even Dangxiang tribes living in this area are all his prey!
Ten years of disturbing farming is not as good as one attack this year!
As long as there are no people around, the movements of the Western Bandits throughout the eastern foothills of Hengshan Mountain will be restricted!
Therefore, Lu Huiqing immediately summoned the Qiang chiefs who were crying in Jialu Village and asked them to put their blood seals on a written blood letter asking for help.
Then he immediately ordered people to deliver the blood letter asking for help and Lu Huiqing's personal memorial to Bianjing by horseback.
Before attacking, he needed authorization from Bianjing.
After all, this is not a small fight, but a battle involving twenty to thirty thousand troops, including the entire Hedong Army to select the front!
There was no decree, and there was no emergency such as the invasion of Western bandits. If he attacked rashly, he would be sure of what he said and give others a handle.
Lu Huiqing knew that the present was completely different from the past.
…
When Zhao Xu woke up, he saw the two palaces, both sitting in front of his bed, looking at him kindly.
"Sixth brother, after you wash up, you have to go to Yanhe Hall..." Xiang said to the Queen Mother, "Xueshi Lu is waiting!"
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Why don't you wake me up, Queen Mother?"
"It would be bad if we kept the bachelor waiting for too long!"
The Empress Dowager smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, the officials don't have to worry!"
However, Zhao Xu still urged Feng Jing seriously to wash up and change clothes.
When the two palaces saw each other, they both laughed.
Xiang Taihou said: "Sixth brother, don't worry, it's still early..."
But he didn't really dissuade him, he just watched with a smile, Zhao Xu washed himself under the service of the female officer, and then dressed neatly.
The two palaces took Zhao Xu and drove from Funing Hall to Yanhe Hall.
…
Duke Lu was led again to the front of the Yanhe Hall, holding the Chao Hut.
All the details of yesterday's meeting were constantly going over in my mind.
He knew that according to the procedure, this was his last visit before taking office.
The next time he comes here, he will be a courtier, not a senator.
Therefore, Lu Gongzhu knew the importance of this visit!
It is no exaggeration to say that whether his future governance can gain the support of the two palaces and the young master will all depend on this time.
"Bachelor..." General Shiren said in a low voice from the front: "Please come with me!"
Mr. Lu walked forward with his fluorine in hand and entered the palace.
Just like yesterday, the young master was still sitting in the hall, and the two palaces were also sitting behind the curtain.
But the weather is a little hot today.
Therefore, there are a few more ice mirrors in the hall. The ice mirrors are filled with ice cubes, and the slightest coolness overflows from them.
"This is written by a scholar from Zizhengdian University. I would like to express my sincere greetings to His Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor."
"My blessing!" The young master's voice was still calm: "Come here, give the bachelor a seat and a drink!"
Mr. Lu thanked him again and then sat on the chair.
A bowl of cold drink was also delivered to him.
Lu Gongzhu lowered his head and saw that it was Zisu drink, one of his favorite drinks.
So I thanked him again with gratitude in my heart.
Then I heard the Empress Dowager inside the curtain ask: "Yesterday in the Bachelor's Hall, I spoke frankly about the affairs inside and outside the country, and listed the 'Ten Matters' to help the country... I, the Empress Dowager, and the officials all discussed it, and felt that what the Bachelor said This statement is very consistent with the shortcomings of the current government..."
"Today I specially summoned the bachelor to the palace again. I want to invite the bachelor to explain in detail to me, the empress dowager, and the officials..."
"How to do these ten things?"
Lu Gongzhu held the phoenix in his hand and bowed to him: "The old minister was frightened and begged to write in writing before the emperor for the judgment of His Majesty the Emperor Sheng Cong..."
As he spoke, he took out the memorial from his sleeve that he had been writing on the way to Beijing, constantly revising and deleting, and finally the final draft was presented in his hands respectfully.
The Empress Dowager immediately ordered Liang Weijian: "Get the letter from the bachelor!"
"only!"
Liang Weijian followed the order and walked out of the curtain, bent down to the palace, took the memorial from Lu Gong respectfully, and then sent it to the two palaces.
The Empress Dowager took the memorial and was surprised: "It's so thick?"
"Is it a book of ten thousand words?"
Queen Mother Xiang also had a strange look in her eyes.
Since Wang Anshi wrote his Ten Thousand Character Letters, ministers have chosen to use such a genre to reveal their political intentions and ambitions to the public.
Gradually, the form of writing thousands of words in the court became the default way for a minister to give advice to the emperor at the highest level.
Since the two palaces took charge of the government, this was the first time that a minister had written a letter to express his opinions in the style of a thousand-character letter.
So they couldn't help but become serious.
The Empress Dowager opened it and looked at it, and her expression gradually became serious.
She read it once and handed it to the Empress Dowager: "The Empress Dowager should also take a look..."
Empress Dowager Xiang took it, read it carefully, and then handed it to Shi Deyi: "Give it to the officials to take a look at!"
Mr. Lu in the palace suddenly became anxious.
Zhao Xu took the memorial written by Mr. Lu and read it carefully.
I have to say that Lu Gong’s writing is very comfortable to read.
Although the whole article is about the old events of Xia, Shang, Zhou, Han and Tang Dynasties.
But anyone with a discerning eye can see at a glance that this is borrowing from the past to explain the present.
In the memorial, he also fully disclosed what Lu Gongzhu would do after entering the court.
A simple summary is: recuperate and recuperate, fight less wars, recruit more gentlemen, and use less villains.
His attitude towards the people is similar: don't bother! The people can no longer bear the torment!
Regarding Xinfa and Wang Anshi, not a word was mentioned.
He doesn’t need to mention it!
Because, in Lu Gong's eyes, everything can fall into place.
Zhao Xu closed the memorial and said with a smile: "Xueshi Lu's writing is excellent!"
"I will definitely ask the bachelor for more advice in the future!"
Lu Gongzhu quickly bowed: "I don't dare!"
The two palaces inside the curtain also laughed, and the Empress Dowager said: "The Ying Temple also praised the bachelor's article back then. The officials should really consult the bachelor for advice!"
Queen Mother Xiang said: "Emperor Daxing made an excellent choice to have a bachelor as his teacher!"
"From now on, Sixth Brother, if you encounter something you don't understand, you can directly ask the bachelor in the court...the bachelor will definitely tell you everything!"
Lu Gongzhu immediately expressed his position: "I am afraid, but I am willing to devote myself to your majesty!"
In fact, what he wants to know most at this moment is - what does the young master think of his letter?
Lu Gongzhu believed that the young master should understand.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have said those words.
But what about attitude?
This made him anxious!
Fortunately, at this time, he asked the Queen Mother for him.
"What do Sixth Brother think of what the bachelor said in his letter?"
Then I heard the young master reply: "There are some things that I don't understand yet... After returning to the palace, I still need to ask my mother-in-law and queen mother for advice..."
Mr. Lu swallowed his saliva. He really wanted to say: Your Majesty, why don't you ask me now... to see where you are dissatisfied? Sir, let me change!
But he didn't have the courage, and he didn't dare to transcend his identity, so he could only stand there obediently, with his head lowered.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager in the curtain were both happy.
This is the time they enjoy most now.
none of them!
Because the officials are so smart, they can master it as soon as they are taught, and they hardly need too much reminding!
Moreover, officials have very good memories and can always remember clearly what they have been taught! They never need extra reminders!
Then I heard the Empress Dowager say from inside the curtain: "I and the Empress Dowager both thought it was very good after reading what the bachelor wrote to me!"
"Today, the country is in difficulty and the world is in trouble..."
"This court still needs the help of veterans like the bachelor..."
"I don't know. Is Master Lu willing to join the court and temporarily assume the ruling position?"
Although Lu Gongzhu really wanted to ask: Madam, when will the officials give me an answer?
However, in the face of the Empress Dowager's inquiry, he could only follow the procedure and say thank you: "The old minister is scared... There are all famous ministers and elders in the world, how dare they hope to be in power?"
"I hope that the two palaces will be kind to the saints and choose a wise minister!"
"For example..." Lu Gongzhu boldly said tentatively: "Sima Guang, bachelor of Zizheng Palace, is well-known in the world..."
The curtain fell into a brief silence at this moment.
Lu Gongzhu quickly apologized with fluorene: "I am scared..."
The Empress Dowager in the curtain laughed, and did not comment on Sima Guang who was mentioned by Lu Gongzhu. She just said: "The national situation is difficult. I still hope that the bachelor will read the earnest wishes of the Emperor Daxing, as well as the officials, the old man, and the Empress Dowager." ...Don’t refuse!”
Mr. Lu raised his head and looked at the young master sitting on the throne in the palace, who seemed to be still looking down at his memorial.
He knew that he had no choice.
We can only agree first and then talk.
So, holding the fluorine in his hand, he bowed and said, "How lucky is this old minister? Since I have received so much love from the benevolent saints of the two palaces, how dare I not be loyal to the country?!"
This is a promise.
Did not decline again according to the story.
It's not that he doesn't want to, but he doesn't dare to gamble anymore. If he offends the two palaces, the gain outweighs the loss!
Enter the court first and then talk, enter the bureau first and then talk!
The two palaces inside the curtain seemed to have discussed for a while, and then the Empress Dowager asked: "Unknown Bachelor, would you like to temporarily assume the position of Privy Councilor?"
Mr. Lu's eyes widened.
Privy Councilor? !
The chief of Xifu?
He realized almost immediately that someone had a bad idea in front of the two palaces!
However, he had no good excuse or reason to refuse.
Can he say: The old minister looks down on the Privy Councilor?
There was no other way, so he could only hold the fluorine in his hand and say, "I'm scared, the Privy Councilor Daxing, the Emperor is gone..."
"If it is reset, it may disrupt the administration of the Daxing Emperor..."
"The loving kindness of the two palaces is appreciated by the old minister..."
"The old minister is satisfied to learn about the Privy Council!"
As soon as Zhao Xu heard Lu Gongzhu's words, he knew that he was taking retreat as an opportunity to advance.
Because Mr. Lu had served as Privy Councilor, if he returned to the court, he would be appointed to a position that was not as good as that of Privy Councilor.
That would be considered a deformed punishment.
Generally, it is impossible to have such personnel arrangements!
But... can the two palaces understand it? Zhao Xu expressed doubts.
However, Zhao Xu still gave him a hand because Lu Gongzhu just mentioned "terrorizing the emperor's government".
"Mother, Queen..." Zhao Xu spoke up before the two palaces could say anything: "I see that the bachelor has reported himself. During the Yuanfeng period, he seemed to have served as a privy envoy..."
"If you are asked to know the affairs of the Privy Council, this is not the way our ancestors treated Confucian ministers kindly!"
After hearing this, the two palaces seemed to react.
The Empress Dowager immediately said: "The bachelor is loyal to the country, how can I wrong the bachelor?"
She is very face-saving.
Since Mr. Lu was willing to give her face, he was willing to condescend to accept the appointment of Privy Councilor.
Naturally, she couldn't wrong this old minister!
So, after discussing with Empress Dowager Xiang in the curtain for a while, she said to Lu Gong: "The bachelor is in the capital for a few more days, and I will make a decision after discussing with the governor of the capital..."
If you just want to be the privy envoy to Duke Lu, there is no need to discuss it with the capital, because this is recommended by Han Jiang.
But if the Dongfu is changed to be in charge, it will have to communicate with the capital!
In particular, we must discuss it with Han Jiang!
This is the most basic respect for the prime minister!
I don’t know why tonight, my stomach has been feeling uncomfortable and my stomach hurts. I have run to the toilet five or six times!
Could it be that the food has damaged the intestines?
Well, there will be more later!
But it’s probably going to be a little later!
(End of chapter)
