Who is Liu Jian? One of the compilers of "Records of Yingzong" and the teacher of Emperor Xiaozong, he joined the cabinet as the right minister of the Ministry of Rites after Xiaozong succeeded to the throne, and served in the cabinet throughout the Hongzhi period.
In the first year of Zhengde's reign, he failed to defeat Liu Jin and other Eight Tigers and became an official. He even reinstated his post after Liu Jin executed him.
Now twenty-two years have passed and he is still alive.
This year is the 94th, Xuande, Zhengtong, Jingtai, Tianshun, Chenghua, Hongzhi, Zhengde, Jiajing... The elder of the Eight Dynasties, the chief minister of the cabinet, a lonely and important minister, a long-lived Renrui, Liu Jian has unparalleled prestige among the veterans who are still alive today. Second, he is stronger than Xie Qian.
Especially after serving as the chief assistant of the cabinet during the Hongzhi period, he presided over the reforms during the Hongzhi period.
There were three main measures at that time.
Streamlining the organization and eliminating redundant officials: Now the new law has greatly increased the number of official positions and improved the salaries of officials.
Suppressing monks and Taoism and stopping the construction of temples: Nowadays, Zhu Houcong spends time with Taoist priests every day, and there are "real people" in the Qin'an Palace of the Forbidden Palace. How many people outside know what the emperor and Taoist priests are doing when they are so close?
Opening the Sutra Feast and restoring three dynasties a day: Now Zhu Houcong "loves to be a teacher" and is the master of the new school, the Sutra Feast? It's open as usual, but I'm afraid sometimes it's the other way around. As for three mornings a day...sorry, it's twice a month.
During the Hongzhi Dynasty, Liu Jian proposed and specifically organized and implemented many of the major political policies such as the selection or dismissal of civil and military ministers, taxation and farming, and taxation and horse administration. Otherwise, how would the terms "Li Gongmou and Liu Gongjuan" come about?
The "Hongzhi ZTE" created by Liu Jian throughout the Hongzhi dynasty was nothing to Zhu Houcong. These comments were no secret for a long time.
Ironically, when Zhu Houcong took over the throne, he sent people from the Department of Human Resources to express condolences to his old ministers as usual.
Yang Tinghe was in charge of these little things at that time. The words of condolences compared Liu Jian to the famous officials of the Northern Song Dynasty, Sima Guang and Wen Yanbo.
What roles did these two people play in Xining's reform?
Today, Yang Tinghe has become the leader of the New Law Party, and Liu Jian's suicide note was submitted to the capital at the end of August.
Thousands of words.
Liu Jian passed away at the age of ninety-four.
"...On the first day of the lunar month, we will leave the court."
Zhu Houcong gave the order first, and then asked Zhang Zuo: "Although Mr. Liu is old, I heard that he has always been in good health. What is going on this time? What did Henan Prefecture say?"
Can someone who is not in good health live to be ninety-four?
Liu Jian's death was sudden, and he had never heard of any illness before.
Huang Jin was a little uneasy: "There is no other report."
After saying that, he looked at Fei Hong and the others expectantly: Although Liu Jian has high prestige, after all, he only has a son of a fifth-grade doctor who is still serving. The factory guard was in Luoyang County, Henan Province, and he would not always pay attention to what was going on in the home of a ninety-year-old man there. But since he died suddenly, Henan Mansion still wants to inquire about the situation and submit a report, right?
In the year when Fei Hongzhong became a Jinshi, Xianzong died, Xiaozong succeeded to the throne, and Liu Jian entered the cabinet.
At that time, Liu Jian was the elder of the court, and Fei Hong was just a new scholar.
Today, Fei Hong is the Prime Minister and Minister of State, and the emperor's question is to explore Liu Jian's purpose in writing this ten-thousand-word testament.
"Henan reported that Liu Gong contracted the disease during the scorching summer heat. He is too old and the disease comes like a mountain."
After Fei Hong finished speaking, he bowed: "Your Majesty, Liu Gong's political views are impossible to be consistent with today's new laws. When you are seriously ill, you are worried about your king and the country. It is an act of loyalty for a minister to express his loyalty to others. Now , it is better to decide on the posthumous title first and send personnel to offer sacrifices and attend to the funeral."
Zhu Houcong pondered for a while and nodded: "Then the State Council and the Ministry of Rites should come up with a charter as soon as possible."
Because there was an interesting and even sensitive testament, Fei Hong and the others had to first determine the emperor's attitude.
Now that the emperor was not too worried, Fei Hong and others breathed a sigh of relief and said goodbye.
After all, he was a very popular minister. Even if he has different political views, don't send any bad signals at this time.
Death is the most important thing.
Zhu Houcong still knows this. No matter what Liu Jian says, it will not affect the overall trend of the new law.
But according to Liu Jian's own words, he could no longer write and could only dictate it intermittently and have others write for him.
The content of something like this will spread sooner or later. Zhu Houcong and Fei Hong were very cautious, naturally because of Liu Jian's influence in the government and the public.
After Fei Hong and others left the Yangxin Hall, Zhu Houcong looked at the suicide note again.
Huang Jin was still on the side and asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, would you like me to have someone check it out?"
"I didn't pay attention before, so there's no need now." Zhu Houcong didn't even raise his head. "There's no need to send more manpower to pay attention to other important ministers who may cause trouble because they didn't pay attention this time."
"...This slave knows."
Huang Jin finally felt relieved after confirming that the emperor had no intention of blaming him.
Seeing the emperor frowning and reading the suicide note carefully, Huang Jinxian left quietly to arrange drinks and snacks.
In August, the weather is still very hot.
Huang Jin looked up at the sky and sighed softly.
Even if he has a high prestige and is about to die, with Liu Jian's wisdom, doesn't he understand that the current general trend of the world cannot be changed because of his suicide note? Why add to this mess?
…
Since the news of Liu Jian's death had spread from Luoyang to Beijing, it also reached Nanjing soon after.
It is said that Liu Dong vomited blood and fainted after hearing the news. When he woke up and cried incessantly, he naturally asked for leave and went home to attend the funeral.
After being relieved, Xia Congshou just asked: "Now that there is a decree, does Mr. Liu want to abide by the rules, or do you want me to submit a letter to the Ministry of Officials to appeal for favor?"
"How can you be unfilial?" Liu Dong looked pale, "Officials must abide by the system, not to mention that after the Beijing inspection, it is very likely that they will be transferred to another position. The household department has important matters, so Si Nong should fill the vacancy as soon as possible. "
"...My condolences to Dr. Liu."
Liu Dong left the Hubu Yamen in a daze, and in the sedan chair on his way home, his eyes were filled with shame and sadness.
Liu Jian fell ill first and then died.
Why did he get sick? Liu Dong first received Liu Jian's family letter.
Liu Dong was so angry that he fell down and even felt paralyzed by wind.
But why did he go to Hexi again in just a few days?
He vaguely knew that there might be something else going on, but the words Liu Jian scolded him in the letter still lingered in Liu Dong's mind.
[Five years after the new law, why did my father say a word? You are in a low position and have little talent. How can you dare to make arbitrary comments on national policy? You are already old and your body is blocked by the car. Do you want to cut off the Liu family? For now, the only way is to become an official, go into seclusion, and educate your children and grandchildren! 】
To sum it up in one sentence: Why do you want to cheat your father?
Liu Dong still didn't know that his father had left a suicide note with ten thousand words, in which he also expressed his own opinions and said many words that His Majesty and the princes in the court did not like to hear.
Even if he knew it, he still couldn't understand his father's intention.
The letter was short and rushed. It seemed that his father had no time to analyze him too much and was only rushing to ask him to resign as soon as possible.
Liu Dong was still hesitating, his father was gone.
At this moment, Zhan Rong and others from the Nanjing Household Department had already come to report.
In the past half month, they were just getting familiar with the department's affairs and handing over to the colleagues who were originally in charge of Huangceku in the Household Department.
After Xia Congshou hosted a banquet for those "yellow-registered inspectors", they had already set off for various prefectures on August 23rd.
Now that Liu Dong had gone to attend the funeral, Zhan Rong looked at the person in charge of the yellow register at the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs.
"Mr. Luo, Mr. Liu has returned to his hometown. Now you can take the final decision and sort out the official documents of Huang Ceku over the years and leave them to me, right?"
"...How did I get such authority? First, Langzhong Liu heard that Duke Xixian was ill and took a few days off to complain about illness. Now he has returned to his hometown Dingyou. For this matter, it is better to wait for the person selected by the Ministry of Civil Affairs to take office. How about Chief Zhan asking Sinong?"
Zhan Rong looked at him and then saluted: "I've been taught."
What a coincidence.
The newly established Department of Land and Cleansing had to hand over the affairs and files related to the Yellow Register from the Nanjing Household Department, but it encountered so many twists and turns.
How long will it take until the person who replaces Liu Dong takes office?
Chief Luo is pushing back and forth, does he have the approval of Xia Congshou and Tong Rui?
Zhan Rong came to Xia Congshou's official hall, and after being informed, he sat outside and waited for an interview.
After sitting and drinking a cup of tea, Xia Congshou's secretary came out to greet him with a smile and invited him in.
Zhan Rong saluted, and Xia Congshou warmly asked him to do well. Zhan Rongcai said: "Master Si Nong, I will be appointed as the head of the Department of Land and Cleansing and in charge of Huang Ceku. I dare not slack off at all. But now that Liu Langzhong has returned to his hometown, Ding You, Director Luo said that many official documents and old files still need to be signed by the doctor before they can be checked and handed over. It would only take a few months until the new doctor Zhongquan was elected. The lower official was afraid that he would miss the opportunity to re-create a major event, so he came to ask Si Nong for instructions. "
"No rush, no rush." Xia Congshou sighed, "Who would have expected that Duke Xixian would pass away suddenly? Renfu, this Huangshu library has been piled up like a mountain of official documents and old files over the years, and it involves a wide range of things. Not to mention Luo Zhongyu I am afraid of taking responsibility, and I am also afraid of the fallacy of handing over. Everything has rules and procedures, and procedures are indispensable. When inspecting the capital, it is better to be safe. This matter is extremely important, and I know it. You can rest assured, I was just doing the official work Ministry, please select the right person in Nanjing to take office as soon as possible. If you hurry up, you can take office in just ten months!"
After Zhan Rong heard the meaning of his words, he was silent for a while and could only salute: "I understand."
Xia Congshou said that he would not intervene and directly arrange the handover beyond the due procedures. He would rather follow the process and select the new official first, and he would be responsible after he takes office.
But when a new official takes office and doesn't know anything about the situation, can he dare to sign a big name casually and handle this matter clearly?
Zhan Rong only felt that Xia Congshou was clearly trying to push back, but he had no choice. Xia Congshou was the Minister of Household Affairs, and he was just following the rules.
Xia Congshou's smile faded as he watched Zhan Rong leave silently.
Naturally, the Nanjing Household Department had to make some gestures to paralyze the vigilance of many people outside.
At least the arrival of more than a hundred yellow officials in Nanjing, which shocked Nanjing and Jiangnan before, now seems to be in a quagmire. The news that things were progressing very slowly would naturally be spread by people in the Nanjing Department of Revenue, a government office that Yang Tinghe said was "not much better than a sieve."
Next, it just depends on who will try to win over and corrupt people like Zhan Rong through who in the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs.
How many of the new scholars sent here have experienced these tests?
Xia Congshou also needs to take a look, and then based on the information he got from Yang Tinghe, he can be sure who he can cooperate with to push things in the expected direction.
…
The news of Liu Jian's death was published in Ming Pao on September 1.
But what sparked people's discussion was Liu Jian's posthumous title.
Among the three people who were equally famous in the past, Li Dongyang died the earliest, and his posthumous title was Wenzheng - a posthumous title coveted by all civil servants.
However, the posthumous title given to Liu Jian by the emperor after the Ministry of Rites came out was Wenduan.
Observing etiquette and adhering to righteousness is called Duan; practicing sagely practice is called Duan; being strict and respectful is called Duan; being respectful to oneself and showing dignity is called Duan; being pure and quiet with a heart is called Duan; observing etiquette and respecting oneself is called Duan.
This word is not a bad word.
But posthumous titles that are better than Wen Duan, if we exclude the best single posthumous title "Wen" that is no longer given now, and the "Wenzheng" that Li Dongyang received, then there are also posthumous titles such as Wencheng and Wenzhong.
It is said that peace of the people and the establishment of the government have been achieved, but His Majesty did not give it, which means that he does not agree that Liu Jian's political achievements in his life can be called the establishment of the peace of the people and the establishment of the government.
Not to Wenzhong either.
Thinking back to the meaning of the word Duan, this posthumous title can only be said to be very polite and polite with a lot of distance.
Li Dongyang, the planner, was posthumously named Wenzheng; Liu Jian, the judge, was posthumously named Wenduan.
Although it is true that Li Dongyang died during the reign of Emperor Zhengde and had a closer friendship with Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jian's posthumous name has still aroused many people's discussions.
"In the general examination, I got one thousand and fifty for the first and second place, so why bother with just one essay?"
"How can these two things be generalized?"
"...I heard that Mr. Liu also wrote a ten thousand words testament and gave his loyal advice. Is Wen Zhong all right?"
"Perhaps it was the Yi Biao who caused the problem."
"Shh-"
The capital is the most well-informed and has the clearest direction.
With the current situation, the officials, gentry, and even ordinary people in the capital have reached a consensus: Unless there is another big trouble, the new law will be unstoppable.
Many people know how much Liu Jian admires the ancestral system.
However, it has been five years since the trial of the new law. Liu Jian, who had never expressed any opinions before, wrote a suicide note before his death. This move can only make many people sigh.
"You know what you can't do, but you do it. Mr. Wen Duan is indeed abiding by etiquette and justice. I have thousands of words in my heart, but I don't know what I said. I don't know if His Majesty, the chief minister and the counselors will choose to express their gratitude. Nowadays, the land of Qingzhang is heavy. I heard that there are piles of complaints on the desks of various prefectures and counties, all of which are cases over land. Alas..."
Those who had time to discuss these matters were generally gentry and scholars.
Most of their families have more fields than ordinary farm families.
Now Liu Jian's "righteous words" can be thought of with his toes. Is there anything else that requires thousands of words to explain? That is naturally the new law and national policy today.
"What a pity, Mr. Wen Duan! Li Mou and Liu Duan are both immortals, but Xie You talks about enjoying the world."
"Fine words from brother!"
"Mild praise, ridiculous praise."
The news of Liu Jian's death and his posthumous title were the talk of the town after dinner. Some of them talked about the new law, but most of them just expressed emotion and thought about "what if".
In this process, Liu Jian's reputation is deepening.
Amidst the torrent of new laws, the gentry who were "holding back" and wanted to spit out their benefits packaged their emotions towards the new laws into sympathy and memory for Liu Jian.
Within a few days, Zhu Houcong heard several poems in memory of Liu Jian.
He had already figured it out, so the posthumous title was Wen Duan, not Wen Zhong as suggested by Fei Hong and others.
There is no such thing as a veteran of the Eight Dynasties, who is still worried about the king and the country for a while, and who has not blocked new laws for several years, that is loyalty. Liu Jian's move is nothing more than that.
News from Nanjing had already spread. During the inspection period in Beijing, his son Liu Dong skipped work and went to Zhejiang to visit Xie Qian.
Zhu Houcong is now so determined, and Yang Tinghe and Fei Hong are all enthusiastic about the power that the Ancestral Temple and Zhu Houcong have relinquished. The conservative officials and gentry with interests in the world can only suppress their emotions first.
But in thirty years in Hedong and in thirty years in Hexi, who can predict what will happen in the future?
Liu Dong was not a good man, so Liu Jian's legacy was to use his life to change the reputation of the Liu family and protect his descendants.
The reason why Shengxu Shihua is praised is because according to the traditional Neo-Confucian view, it is.
But now that practical studies and dialectics emphasize that everything is changing all the time, can this formalization of holy cultivation still be called it?
Many people will figure out the meaning.
So what? No one can say anything about Zhu Houcong. After all, he gave a posthumous title to Liu Jian, who had never served under him. The posthumous title of Wen Duan is also a rare and beautiful title.
"Those yellow-registered inspectors have already set off from Nanjing on August 23rd?"
When the emperor asked, Huang Jin respectfully replied: "The news from Nanjing is like this."
Zhu Houcong nodded: "When they arrive in various places, they will start to harvest the autumn grains one after another. Don't worry, we will still collect grains according to the old rules this year, but please continue to explain and keep track of this year's accounts."
After Huang Jin received the order, Zhu Houcong asked again: "How is the preparation of the palace at the Fifth Army Camp?"
"Back to Your Majesty, according to the order, I just ordered the general station to be slightly modified. It has already been prepared."
Zhu Houcong nodded, and his attention on this matter was much more obvious: "Who are the people who have the highest voices calling for the No. 1 Scholarship now?"
Huang Jin couldn't help but admire: "Lu Bing will not say it. I really admire you. Your Majesty, how can Yu Dayou from Fujian, whom you were so casual about last year, be an unparalleled military general with extraordinary martial arts?"
Zhu Houcong was looking forward to it.
Ashamed, ashamed, just cheating.
(End of chapter)
