Wuchen (the sixth day of the lunar month) in the sixth month of the eighth year of Yuanfeng.
The imperial edict: Fan Chunren, the direct bachelor and minister of Longtuge, was appointed as the minister of the Ministry of War, and Fan Chunren, the deputy envoy of Shaanxi transfer, was the direct bachelor of Longtuge and knew Qingzhou.
The two brothers were promoted on the same day and became a favorite story in both the government and the public.
But there were also some inappropriate sounds that emerged in the court.
"This Sima Guang!" The Empress Dowager slammed the memorial in her hand onto the desk.
"How dare he?"
"How dare he do this?!"
Even Queen Mother Xiang, who was always known for her good temper in the palace, was livid.
She had seen with her own eyes what the Miying Pavilion was like.
It was a narrow, cramped palace with few windows.
The interior furnishings are also very shabby!
In Bianjing City, even the children of wealthy families would not study in that place!
But this Sima Guang wrote a letter saying, "As the emperor newly ascends the throne, he should detract from the palace and set an example for the world."
Now he heard that the two palaces believed that the Miying Pavilion was too dilapidated and could not be used as the emperor's feasting hall, so he was 'very puzzled'! I think there must be a "treacherous and sycophantic minister who confuses the two palaces" and "intends to be a subordinate". This person should be expelled from the palace!
If it was just like this, Queen Mother Xiang wouldn't be so angry.
After all, it was common practice in the Song Dynasty for civil servants and officials to express their opinions in a long-winded manner, and it was a normal part of the political ecology.
Although Queen Mother Xiang was unhappy, she was not angry yet.
However, what Sima Guang wrote later in the memorial really stimulated Empress Dowager Xiang!
He directly interfered with Ouchi!
Sima Guang said: The emperor's study is a major plan for the world. After the banquet, it should be kept in the official ban of the banquet, ready for the emperor's inquiry at any time.
He also carefully proposed a plan for the two palaces: two during the day and one at night, following the emperor day and night.
This is quite normal, and I can still admit it even if I hold my nose.
But then, Sima Guang reached out to the people around Emperor Jinzhong.
He believed that the emperor was wise, handsome and benevolent, which was rare throughout the ages, so he should not get too close to the sensuality of dogs and horses.
Therefore, Sima Guang requested that all the maids and ministers around the emperor be replaced!
It is best to replace them with elderly people who are over forty-five years old, careful, mature and stable.
In addition, the expenses in the palace should also be "simplicity" and should not contain extravagant things, lest the emperor's holy heart be "swayed by material desires".
When Empress Dowager Xiang saw this, she couldn't help but get angry. After years of chanting sutras and meditating, her mind had become peaceful enough.
However, no matter how calm she was, she finally exploded after seeing Sima Guang's subsequent remarks.
Sima Guang actually said that he wanted to select 'ten loyal ministers who will serve the Holy Gong and record the words and deeds of the Holy Gong'!
What is he going to do?
Monitor the emperor?
As a result, even the Queen Mother was angered!
She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. Then she looked at the Empress Dowager and asked, "Your Majesty, how do you reply?"
The Queen Mother said with a cold face: "How else can I reply?"
"Sima Guang is so powerful, why not just invite him to the palace and personally teach me and the Queen Mother how to handle politics and how to take care of and raise officials' families!"
Empress Dowager Xiang was also frightened when she heard this, and quickly advised: "My Lady, it's not like this!"
It really follows the way the Queen Mother handles things.
Sima Guang has to wipe his neck tonight.
"Even for the sake of the Emperor Daxing and the officials, you should have some dignity!"
Although Queen Mother Xiang was also very angry.
But, she knows the importance!
The royal family would never give such a simple and crude reply to such a matter.
Sima Guang was not just the 'shibao' personally named by Emperor Daxing during his lifetime.
At the same time, the Red Flag of the old party has a high prestige in the hearts of scholars all over the world!
Therefore, it must not be treated like this.
The Empress Dowager sneered and stopped talking.
She already had a strong opinion of Sima Guang!
Just relying on the filter of the past, I barely maintained my last bit of affection for Sima Guang.
Nowadays, not only the filters of the past are completely shattered.
Even the remaining goodwill was completely wiped away!
In the eyes of the Empress Dowager, Sima Guang not only failed to give her any face in this matter.
Still directly challenging her authority!
It is tolerable, but what is unbearable!
Empress Dowager Xiang looked at the expression on the Empress Dowager's face, sighed, and quickly winked at Shi Deyi next to her.
She knew that the only one who could persuade the Empress Dowager now was Sixth Brother.
…
Zhao Xu was sitting in a pavilion in a secluded corner of the imperial garden, enjoying the midsummer morning sunshine.
The pavilion he chose was surrounded by several trees, and the breeze blew the leaves, allowing rays of sunlight to fall on him. In this way, he could bask in the sun without having to face the scorching sun in midsummer.
Zhao Xu knew that proper exposure to the sun was beneficial to health.
Especially a kid like him!
The breeze blew slowly, and Zhao Xu slowly leaned on the stone bench of the pavilion, dozing off and resting.
"Everyone……"
He didn't know how long it had passed before Shi Deyi's low call came to his ears.
Zhao Xu slowly opened his eyes and looked at Shi Deyi who appeared respectfully outside the pavilion.
After waving to Shi De, the loyal soldiers guarding the entrance of the pavilion moved out of the way.
Shi De walked up to Zhao Xu and said hello.
Then she whispered: "The Queen Mother, please come to Baoci Palace immediately..."
"Oh!" Zhao Xu nodded and asked, "Who made my mother unhappy?"
Shi Deyi whispered: "It's Mr. Sima..."
"He wrote a letter about everyone changing the sutra banquet...The Empress Dowager was furious! The Queen Mother asked everyone to go over and give advice..."
Zhao Xu was not surprised!
Sima Guang studied in Luoyang for fifteen years. During these fifteen years, he continued to write letters to Zhao Xu's father.
And every time he took pleasure in challenging Zhao Xu's father's bottom line.
Because he has no actual official position or power, and he is good at occupying the moral high ground.
Therefore, Zhao Xu's father left him alone.
After all, it is impossible for an old minister in Luoyang to have any influence on state affairs by making a few babbles on state affairs.
On the contrary, you can also get a good reputation through it, so why not?
As a result, Sima Guang's temper became more and more stubborn in these fifteen years.
At the same time, because he has been writing letters talking about the harm of new laws, almost all laws are involved.
Therefore, no one pays attention to the things he said wrong.
But what he said and predicted would be quickly spread throughout the country.
This, in turn, strengthened Sima Guang's understanding of himself - everything I said was right!
Therefore, Zhao Xu knew that if Sima Guang knew about the replacement of Jingyan Hall, he would definitely jump up.
Because Sima Guang is convinced that he is right!
Also because Sima Guang is good at occupying the moral high ground!
Therefore, Zhao Xu asked calmly: "Tell me, what did Sima Gong say in the letter?"
Shi Deyi hurriedly told Zhao Xu exactly what he knew.
After hearing this, Zhao Xu smiled: "Let's go!"
He stood up, surrounded by Yulong Zhimen, and headed towards Baoci Palace.
When Zhao Xu arrived at Baoci Palace, the Empress Dowager's face was still a little ugly.
He walked forward with a smile, greeted the two palaces, then sat down next to the Queen Mother, and asked softly: "Who made the Mother unhappy?"
"My grandson, please order someone to pick this guy up and spank him hard!"
Listening to the childlike voice of the grandson, he also looked at the serious look on the child's face.
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but hold Zhao Xu's hand and said: "Official family! In the future, you will be in charge, but you must remember it!"
"A minister with such a high reputation must be used with caution!"
"Otherwise they will override the officials!"
Zhao Xu nodded seriously: "My grandson will remember it!"
Then he asked again: "Which minister made my mother unhappy?"
The Empress Dowager ordered Liang Weijian to pick up the letter addressed to Sima Guang, and then said: "The officials should read it themselves!"
"Some veterans, relying on their high reputation and prestige, even dare to interfere in matters surrounding the official family! We must also intervene!"
Zhao Xu took the memorial, opened it and read it again.
I couldn't help but sneered in my heart!
what is this?
In the previous life, during the Yuanyou era, this could only be regarded as an appetizer.
Zhao Xu remembered clearly that until he took office, there was not even a single colored porcelain in the huge Funing Palace.
The bead curtains used for curtains are all made of the simplest materials!
The people who serve him are all carefully selected old maids.
As for surveillance?
Zhao Xu could even count ants in the garden, but Cheng Yi knew about it.
Even Cheng Yi, the lowest-ranking official among the officials, knows what he is doing in private, and others can imagine!
For nine years, Zhao Xu had no personal secrets or privacy at all.
Therefore, Zhao Xu was taciturn, so Zhao Xu just watched the performances in the court and the public quietly, only keeping each thing firmly in his heart.
And all of that was approved by the empress dowager who was furious in front of him.
But now, the same people, making the same request for the same thing, get completely opposite results.
This made Zhao Xu sigh that human nature is indeed complex and subtle.
After reading Sima Guang's memorial, Zhao Xu looked at the Empress Dowager, pretended to think seriously, and said: "Mother, although my grandson did not fully understand it, he also roughly understood it..."
"Sima Gong seems to be talking about the Sutra Banquet?"
"It seems that you also talked about some things in the palace?"
Queen Mother Xiang took the opportunity to ask, "What do you think, Brother Six?"
Zhao Xu shook his head: "It's hard to say..."
"But it feels like something is not quite right!"
Zhao Xu is very clear about the role he has to play now.
You can act silly and sweet when it comes to the affairs of the two palaces and relatives.
But in national affairs, he must show sensitivity and decisiveness that can be seen by both the government and the opposition.
Only in this way can those who are loyal to him continue to remain loyal, while at the same time frightening those rebellious officials and traitors!
The human heart is a very strange thing.
Many times, confidence is the human heart!
As an emperor, Zhao Xu had known in his previous life that he must always send a signal to the people around him, especially the ministers: I can control everything!
After being hammered and honed and learned in modern times.
Today's Zhao Xu is not only more mature than his previous life, but also has a better understanding of people's hearts.
Schools, offices, and even archaeological sites are all places where he learns and practices!
So, Zhao Xu asked the two palaces calmly: "What does Jing Yan have to do with the people around him?"
He thought, thought, and reflected, and said, "Does it mean that you spend a lot of money on daily basis? Is it very extravagant?"
"Liang Duzhi..." Zhao Xu looked at the big mink beside the Queen Mother and asked, "Can you send someone to check the expenses since I took the throne..."
"If it's really a lot, just cut off all the unnecessary ones!"
Liang Weijian was stunned for a moment and looked at the Empress Dowager.
At this time, the Queen Mother nodded, and then seemed to remember something, and said to Zhao Xu: "That's what the official said!"
"It's time to check it out!"
"Then, publish all the food consumption of the official family in the palace since they came to the throne, let the governor of the capital and everyone in the world come and see!"
"Is this old man pampering his grandson, or is there someone who wants to prevent the emperor from even eating an ordinary meal?"
She knew that before and after the official ascended the throne, he had always maintained a very frugal style in food!
A meal of four dishes and three soups is already a lot. Usually it is three dishes and one soup, and they are all small portions.
Most of the time, the official breakfast meal is just a bowl of milk, two steamed buns, and an egg.
At noon and evening, although there is some meat and fish flavor, it is nothing more than the dishes of Zhongshangjia in Bianjing City.
There are no delicacies from mountains and seas, and no expensive spices are used.
These were all chosen by the officials themselves, and then the minister around them, Feng Jing, watched them personally.
She, the mother-in-law, asked several times: Why is there so little food in the official family?
The answer I got was: The government has a decree, don’t be extravagant and wasteful, eat as much as you want, do as much as you want!
This makes the Queen Mother both happy and proud!
Now, didn’t Sima Guang say that we should be frugal and simple?
Then let him see it!
How simple and frugal can an official family be?
Hungry? !
…
Liang Weijian took the order and left, then went to the imperial kitchen and prepared the food expenses and recipes for Zhao Xu and the others.
Then, the big mink was shocked!
It doesn’t matter if there are not many dishes!
Most of the dishes have basically not been changed.
The milk and eggs for breakfast are the same, the only difference is whether you eat steamed buns, steamed buns or pasta.
Most lunches include a bowl of bone broth and at least a plate of vegetables.
Dinner is about the same, with the occasional addition of a fish or some river shrimp.
After Liang Weijian read all the menus, he lowered his head in shame.
The food of several nephews and nephews in his family is countless times better than that of the official family!
Liang Weijian did a simple calculation, and found out that the total expenses for the official family's food would not even amount to thirty guan in a month!
But how did Liang Weijian know that Zhao Xu's menu was designed by him himself.
Taking into account health and nutrition, the main focus is less oil and less salt.
Because, although Zhao Xu is only eight years old.
But we are already preparing to resist the invasion of cerebrovascular diseases after the age of 30.
So, when Liang Weijian found out the menus since March and the expenses of Funing Palace, he sent them to the two palaces.
Not only did I feel sorry for the Queen Mother, but I also felt pity for the Queen Mother!
The official family is not only economical in food!
Funing Palace saves more on daily expenses!
Funing Palace will have to spend it after March, and the main goal is a sharp drop!
In terms of expenses, the official family almost never spent anything other than pens, ink, paper and inkstones! !
"Delivery! Go to the capital hall immediately!" The Empress Dowager held up the details of the expenses and became excited: "Let the ministers and the scholar-bureaucrats from all over the world come and take a look!"
"After all, I want to indulge the officials!"
"There are still people who maliciously slander you!"
Even Queen Mother Xiang hugged Zhao Xu and no longer wanted to speak to Sima Guang after seeing these expenditures written in black and white.
The real numbers are enough to crush everything!
The emperor has saved money to this extent!
If the scholar-officials and ministers still refuse to give in, then don’t blame her for not showing dignity to the scholar-officials!
The author still has stomach pain after the injection today, so he probably needs to make an appointment for a gastroscopy!
There should be another chapter later!
(End of chapter)
