Xianggong Shi was not an ordinary person. He had been in charge of the Song Dynasty for more than 20 years.
During the reign of the late emperor Ningzong Zhao Kuo of the Song Dynasty, Han Yuzhou's Northern Expedition failed, and the Kingdom of Jin came to ask for the mastermind.
At that time, Shi Xianggong, who was just the minister of the Ministry of Rites, conspired with Empress Yang and others to kill the prime minister Han Yuanzhou and sent a letter to his head to send him money to invite peace.
After this incident, he was quickly promoted to the right prime minister, and he was in charge of Ningzong of Song Dynasty for seventeen years.
Because he formed cliques for personal gain and excluded dissidents while in power, Ning Zong's crown prince Zhao Hong was dissatisfied. He often told his left and right officials that when he succeeded to the throne, he would be exiled eight thousand miles away from Shi Mi.
Xianggong Shi had already placed a secret agent around Zhao Hong. After learning about Zhao Hong's thoughts, Xianggong Shi was horrified and wanted to abolish the establishment.
He obtained the royal family members Zhao and Ju from Yuezhou, bestowed them with honor and sincerity, established them as King Yi, and worked hard to support them.
In August of the 17th year of Jiading, Emperor Ningzong of the Song Dynasty passed away. Xianggong Shi issued an imperial edict to support Guicheng and changed his name to Yun, which is now Lizong of the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Yun was established by Prime Minister Shi, and Prime Minister Shi's power in the Lizong Dynasty was naturally further consolidated, and he became even more unequivocal in the court.
Over the years, Xianggong Shi has controlled the government, turning the political affairs hall into his own hall, and expelled officials who did not deal with him from the court one by one.
Therefore, what the coachman said is right. When asking for help in the Song Dynasty, you had to go to Xianggong Shi.
However, regarding the matter of Zhao Tai, we could not go to him, we could only go to Deputy Prime Minister Zheng Qingzhi.
Zheng Qingzhi, who was involved in political affairs, was able to stay in the court and serve as deputy prime minister. He was not kicked out of the court by Shi Miyuan because he also participated in the establishment of Zhao Yun as emperor and also made great achievements in supporting him.
Of course, in addition to this, he never openly opposed Shi Xianggong in the court, which was also the reason why he was able to enter the Zhongshu Province.
Therefore, Shi Miyuan regarded him as one of his own, and the ruling and opposition parties also regarded him as a Shi Dang, so he could sit safely in the seat of Zhongshu Provincial Counselor on political affairs.
His relationship with Shi Miyuan is like that of Yan Song and Xu Jie of Ming Dynasty.
Ever since he entered Zhongshu Provincial Department, he has not been very involved in things. He has made all kinds of decisions based on Shi Xiang's guidance, and even simply asked for leave and did not come to work.
Naturally, Shi Miyuan was satisfied with this, and he was happy to be the authoritarian in Zhongshu Province. However, as Shi Miyuan got older and his health made it impossible for him to handle the affairs of Zhongshu Province, he began to actively urge Zheng Qingzhi to come to Zhongshu Province to handle it. Government affairs.
At this time, in the Zhongshu Provincial Office, an official placed several memorials in front of Zheng Qing's case, "Participating in politics, this is today's memorial."
Zheng Qingzhi raised his head and asked, "Did the Prime Minister give any instructions?"
"Reporting to Zhengzheng, Xianggong took a brief look at it and said there was no problem and let you handle it," the official replied.
Zheng Qingzhi said: "Then let's do it according to the wishes of the Prime Minister!"
As he spoke, he took a sip of tea and looked at the hourglass in the public room. "Hey, it's time. I'm off work."
After finishing speaking, he packed up a little after a day of fishing, left Zhongshu Province, and rushed home in an official sedan, as if he didn't want to stay any longer.
At this time, Zhao Tai had arrived in front of Zheng Qing's mansion. In front of the gate of Tongding, a pair of stone lions showed off their power. Two soldiers stood at the door, and all the people passing by walked around.
Zhao Tai paid the fare and led Cheng Hu forward. Before he could get close, he was scolded by the soldiers, "No one can get close to the deputy prime minister's residence."
Zhao Tai asked Cheng Hu to stand where he was, and he stepped forward with a smile, "Brother, I am a distant relative who participates in politics. This time I came to Xingzai, and I came here to pay my respects."
However, the soldier turned his nostrils upward and sneered, "Anyone dares to say that they are relatives of my husband. You should stay away. My husband has no time to talk to you!"
Seeing this, Zhao Tai could only use his money-making ability, "This is a brother. I am really a relative involved in politics. I hope you will be accommodating and help report."
The soldier was stunned when he saw the jiaozi handed over by Zhao Tai. He looked around and nervously put it into his sleeve. His attitude immediately changed, "My husband is going to the Zhongshu Provincial Office for work. He will not be in the mansion at the moment. Please leave your name." , I’ll tell you when my husband comes back. But it’s hard to say whether my husband can see you or not.”
Zhao Tai was overjoyed and took out a letter, "Then please help me forward it, brother."
The soldier nodded slightly, "You go back first and come here tomorrow morning. Don't stand in front of the mansion and let me be scolded by my husband."
Zhao Tai originally wanted to stand and wait, but after hearing the words, he could only leave.
At this time, as soon as he returned to the donkey cart, he saw an official sedan approaching. It was Zheng Qingzhi who had returned from Zhongshu Province.
When he was in the sedan, he saw a car parked outside the house, and his face immediately showed an unhappy look.
As a deputy to a powerful minister like Shi Miyuan, Zheng Qingzhi was actually walking on thin ice.
Shi Miyuan was able to control the government for more than 20 years and remained standing. In addition to being favored by the emperor, the most important thing was that he was very capable.
During his tenure as prime minister, whenever someone in the court was favored by the emperor, he would look for opportunities to bring him down and then drive him out of the central government to ensure that the emperor favored him alone.
In addition, Shi Miyuan was also wary of the officials under him. If he found out that there were people who were forming cliques behind his back and wanted to replace him with a hilltop within the faction, he would ruthlessly take action and demote them and send them into exile. combo.
Therefore, Zheng Qingzhi was very vigilant. After entering Zhongshu Province, he stopped making friends with other officials. Anyone who came to visit him was sent away by him.
In Lin'an City, a high-ranking official like him has a bustling crowd in front of his house, with long queues of people giving gifts, but the front door of his house is deserted. Even the coachmen in the city know that when asking for help, they have to go to the Prime Minister. Zheng's participation in politics is useless.
At this time, he saw the donkey cart in front of the door, and said to an old servant who was following him: "Go! Drive the people away."
After giving the instructions, Zheng Qingzhi sat in the sedan chair to rest and relax. Shi Miyuan was old. He had only been retired for the past two years. He was about to get on well and would never allow any mistakes to be made.
At this time, Zhao Tai saw that the sedan did not stop in front of the mansion, but was carried directly into the mansion. He realized that it was Zheng Qingzhi who was coming back, so he quickly stepped forward and said, "Ms. Zheng!"
As soon as he opened his mouth, he saw an old servant leading two people to stop him, "Who are you? You must not act wild before joining the government. Leave immediately, otherwise I will bring you before the official."
Zhao Tai was blocked by them, and Zheng Qingzhi's sedan chair was carried directly into the mansion.
Seeing this, Zhao Tai could only place his hope in the letter he gave to the soldiers, and said to the old servant: "Old housekeeper, please calm down. I have no ill intentions. I just need to see my husband for something. I will leave now."
When Zheng Qingzhi returned to the mansion, he went to the study. Not long after, someone came in and said, "Ms. sir, just now someone claimed to be a distant relative of yours and sent this letter."
Zheng Qingzhi frowned, "Is it someone from outside the house just now?"
The visitor nodded and handed over the letter, "The other party will come again tomorrow morning."
Zheng Qingzhi took it in confusion, opened the letter and read it, but his expression changed drastically. He stood up, paced back and forth in the study, and suddenly ordered in a deep voice, "Tell me, if the other party comes again, I will blow him away immediately."
