bookrandom Chapter 1297 Premeditation
Chapter 1297 Premeditation
Chapter 1297 Premeditation
Although the emperor mentioned the matter of teachers and guardians, Zhang Yue was already 70% certain in his heart that the emperor's health was fine.
So he breathed a sigh of relief.
He mentioned that Han Zhongyan and Lu Gongzhu were his tutors, but Cai Que said, "Your Majesty, you have a long life and good fortune, but you can be safe even if you have a minor illness. No matter how good the tutor is, even if Zhou Gong is resurrected, how can he be as good as Your Majesty who personally teaches the prince."
"I think you should ask Your Majesty to summon Prince Yan'an to serve you medicine. With Prince Yan'an's filial piety, Your Majesty will surely recover without medicine."
After hearing this, Zhang Yue thought to himself that Cai Que was certainly not satisfied with Lu Gongzhu and Han Zhongyan serving as his teachers and mentors.
But Cai Que's words were very loyal, and he was wholeheartedly considering the emperor, while also leaving a way out.
But doesn't this make it seem like you have ulterior motives in making suggestions about the selection of mentors?
Zhang Yue said: "After the crown prince is established, a teacher and guardian should be appointed. What is the point of establishing a crown prince without a teacher and guardian?"
Zhang Yue's implication is that without a teacher, do you really want to treat the prince as a child? You want to manipulate him in your hands.
Cai Que said: "I am only loyal to Your Majesty, and I have no other intentions."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, if you don’t have any second thoughts, it’s me who has second thoughts.
This is why "loyal ministers" like Tsai Que are hated.
Just like a friend who supports you in everything on weekdays, in fact, is not a true friend. When I was young, I also thought that such a friend was very good. No matter what you want to do, he will support you. But in the end, you will fall into a trap every time you do it.
But some friends will stop you and persuade you when you want to do something, or even think that what you are doing is wrong and spoil your fun in person.
It is especially wonderful when the two types of friends are together in a circle.
When you encounter problems, the friend who helps you unconditionally will also help you scold the friend who gives you advice.
In the end, the friend who gave you advice left in disappointment.
Confucius said that the first thing to look for in a friend is a "straightforward friend." Straightforward not only means being upright, but also being able to speak the truth.
I saw Zhang Yue and Cai Que arguing in front of the emperor.
Behind the curtain, Concubine Zhu told the Queen that she had heard Cai Que repeatedly mention that he wanted the Prince of Yan'an to serve the Emperor, and she thought that this man was loyal and could be used.
But Empress Dowager Gao sneered when she heard this, and Concubine Zhu and the Queen didn't dare to say anything.
Empress Dowager Gao said to the Queen: "In ordinary families, couples quarrel fiercely. Smart mothers-in-law either stay out of it or stop their sons. You feel sorry for your son and help him to say something wrong about his wife. Not only will she hate you for the rest of her life, but you will also hurt your son."
"A mother loves her son like this, but why would a minister do this? A loyal person is a traitor! A traitor appears loyal!"
Concubine Zhu and the Queen both nodded in agreement when they heard her words.
Empress Dowager Gao was famous for her domineering behavior. When she was the empress, she even resisted Empress Dowager Cao.
Later, his son became emperor, which was even more amazing.
She criticized Empress Xiang many times even though she chose her own daughter-in-law, not to mention Concubine Zhu who was of humble origin. Empress Dowager Gao often interfered in their affairs with the Emperor. Now she regards herself as an enlightened mother-in-law. I don't know how she can speak so naturally without blushing or getting nervous.
Zhang Yue and Cai Que had an argument in the palace and the discussion ended in a bad mood. The topic of who would be the future tutor of the crown prince was also put on hold for the time being.
However, it was decided that the prime ministers would take turns to stay at the palace, so that they would not have to stay in the palace all the time, in order to avoid causing panic outside the palace.
After Zhang Yue returned to the Secretariat, Zhang Zhi knew that the emperor's condition had improved a little, and he felt a little relieved.
But Zhang Yue said, "After I retire next year, your days as prime minister will be difficult from now on."
Zhang Zhi was stunned and asked, "Uncle San, what does this mean?"
Zhang Yue said: "It's just observing things before they happen, and seeing the big picture from the small details."
……
Zhang Yue was on duty all night, but Wang Gui was able to return home.
As soon as Wang Gui arrived home, Zhang Xu, the secretary of the Central Secretariat, came to see him.
Now, both the Zhongshu and Menxia have rear offices. The Zhongshu rear office is headed by the Zhongshu Sheren, while the Menxia rear office is headed by the Jieshizhong.
However, Zhang Xu was originally a Hanlin scholar. After the Yuanfeng reform, the positions of Hanlin scholars and herdsmen were abolished and replaced by the six ministers.
Zhang Xu now aspired to be the prime minister, so he often came to Wang Gui's house and served him diligently.
Zhang Xu's position is undoubtedly that of the New Party. In the Zheng Xia case, he followed Lu Huiqing in impeaching Feng Jing. In the Wutai Poetry Case, Zhang Xu helped to convict Su Shi and took the initiative to provide many of Su Shi's poems (historically, he participated in the conviction of Su Shi and reprimanded Wang Anli for speaking well of Su Shi. This did not happen because Zhang Yue had already demoted him to a local place).
At that time, Su Shi regarded Zhang Xu as a good friend and even gave him an article "On Farming".
However, Zhang Xu was still cruel and ruthless.
Wang Gui also liked Zhang Xu very much. Now, if the court did not follow Zhang Yue, they would follow Cai Que. There were not many officials who could follow him so hard. Even Li Qingchen, whom he promoted, had been very close to Han Zhongyan recently.
"Is your majesty all right?"
Wang Gui said to Zhang Xu, "It's hard to say."
Zhang Xu bent down and listened attentively. Wang Gui hesitated for a moment and whispered, "It seems like an ominous sign."
Zhang Xu was shocked when he heard this, and then said, "The ministers were on duty last night, and people outside were talking about it. The prime minister led the left minister, and all the civil and military officials were counting on the prime minister."
Wang Gui said, "Nowadays, things are different from those days. When I was a Hanlin scholar, I was on the bench for four years because I hesitated about drafting the edict to appoint a crown prince. Although Ouyang Wenzhong repeatedly argued for me in front of the late emperor, he still could not dispel the doubts in the late emperor's heart. Zhang Gaoqing and Cai Junmo also suffered the same fate as me."
"Hey! They are all loyal subjects of the country!"
Zhang Xu found that what Wang Gui said hit the nail on the head.
He was worried that if Wang Gui was submissive and Cai Que was nodding, all power would be taken over by Zhang Yue, and he would never have a chance to make a breakthrough.
"Zuo Xiang, in times of great difficulty, you must take responsibility and not let those with ulterior motives take advantage of the situation to fish in troubled waters."
Wang Gui knew what Zhang Xu meant, and he was actually worried, but Cai Que had already taken a step ahead, so he didn't need to worry.
Zhang Xu said, "Prime Minister, as far as I know, the Queen has sent people to Zhang Duzhi, and Cai Zhizheng is trying to show goodwill, or to win him over."
Wang Gui's face jumped when he heard this. Zhang Xu looked at him and thought, it's true that the Queen didn't send anyone to look for Wang Gui. The Left Prime Minister, nominally the number one civil official, was ignored like this.
It was totally ignored.
This is because after the reform, the power of the Secretariat surpassed that of the three provinces and one academy.
Wang Gui asked, "What do you think the Queen wants?"
Zhang Xu said: "Perhaps she is on an equal footing with the Empress Dowager!"
Wang Gui said, "Then I need to ask Gao Shichong to see whether the Queen Mother knows or not."
Zhang Xu felt relieved when he heard this. Wang Gui's move undoubtedly revealed the truth to him: Don't panic, the Empress Dowager is behind us.
So it is no wonder that when Wang Gui was discussing with the ministers, he was either undecided or silent. The subtext was "This is his Zhao family's business, we should not interfere."
It is no wonder that when Gao Zunyu was defeated in Xingling, some court officials wanted to punish Gao Zunyu, but they gave Wang Gui an excuse to offset his merits and demerits.
Apart from the emperor, Empress Dowager Gao has the final say on Zhao family affairs.
However, Empress Xiang also coveted power, so when she was suppressed by Empress Dowager Gao in the palace, she secretly sought help from the outer court.
But Zhang Xu immediately added: "But Zhang Duzhi not only has the Queen's contact, but also seems to be valued by the Queen Mother!"
Wang Gui's expression darkened when he heard this, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. He could have forgiven the Queen for not looking for him just now. But now he could no longer bear it.
Wang Gui couldn't help it.
Zhang Xu sighed and said, "I wonder if anyone wants to be Zhao Pu?"
Wang Gui was shocked when he heard this. Everyone knew how important Zhao Pu was in "Axe Sound and Candle Shadow". Would Zhang Yue make a deal with the succession issue in exchange for his continued position as prime minister?
Zhang Xu said: "Although the Right Prime Minister now holds the power, the Left Prime Minister is the head of all officials. Now the whole world depends on the Left Prime Minister."
The power over affairs is the real power, and Zhang Yue holds the power over affairs, so most officials listen to him. But if something happens to the emperor, Zhang Yue still has less say than Wang Gui in the matter of establishing a crown prince.
Wang Gui said, "I have my own ideas."
……
Zhang Yue stayed in the palace for two consecutive nights, although Empress Dowager Gao ordered people to give him this and that, fearing that he would not be comfortable in the palace. But after all, it was not his home, so he was still a little uncomfortable.
Zhang Yue stood behind the window with his hands behind his back, looking towards the direction of Funing Palace for a moment, then glanced at the paper on the table.
This was Shiqi Niang's letter from home, which was sent to the palace along with her spare underwear.
The family letter said that Xiang Zonghui came to visit yesterday. Xiang Zonghui often visited his family in the past and was not shy about his status as a maternal relative. Of course, the other party was not just a simple maternal relative. As the great-grandson of Xiang Minzhong, he was also a member of the scholar-officials.
He is even somewhat of a relative of Zhang Yue.
After Xiang Minzhong, the Xiang family took root in Kaifeng. His five sons set up their own families and had a large population.
In the letter, Shiqi Niang mentioned that Xiang Zong came back home and mentioned to Zhang Cheng that the emperor had done a great favor by enshrining the Empress Xiao Zhang in the Taimiao not long ago.
The third empress of Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, she died suddenly after Emperor Taizong's death. At that time, Empress Xiaozhang ordered the eunuch Wang Jie'en to invite Zhao Kuangyin's fourth son Zhao Defang to enter the palace.
As a result, Wang Jie'en did not invite Zhao Defang, but invited Zhao Kuangyi instead.
Empress Xiaozhang also asked Wang Jie'en: "Is Defang here?"
Wang Jie'en shouted, "It's the Prince of Jin who has arrived."
Empress Xiaozhang was shocked to see Zhao Kuangyi enter the palace without any notice, and she wept and said to him, "The lives of my mother and son are in your hands."
Zhao Kuangyi said: "We can protect our wealth and prosperity together, and have no worries."
Afterwards, Empress Xiaozhang, as the emperor's sister-in-law, was treated harshly by Emperor Taizong. This was the case during her lifetime, and after her death, she was not allowed to be buried with Zhao Kuangyin, and she was not even allowed to have her tablet enshrined in the Taimiao.
Of course, Empress Xiaozhang, or Empress Song, herself had problems. If Empress Song did not like Zhao Kuangyi at the time and wanted to establish a new emperor, then why didn't she find Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother Zhao Guangmei or Zhao Kuangyin's second son Zhao Dezhao, but Zhao Defang, the youngest son, who had the least political experience and the least foundation? Which of these two people had stronger legitimacy than Zhao Defang?
If you were Wang Jie'en, would you go and tell Zhao Kuangyi or Zhao Defang about this situation?
However, it was only recently that the emperor suddenly moved Empress Zhang Xiao's tablet to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
So this is the matter that Xiang Zong mentioned in his reply to Zhang Yue.
Will the queen be the emperor's sister-in-law or the empress dowager in the future?
Now the two younger brothers of the current emperor, Prince Yong and Prince Cao, are openly entering and leaving the palace to pay homage to Empress Dowager Gao.
Now the question is, how should he deal with this situation.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue first threw the family letter into the brazier beside him and watched with his own eyes as the letter was completely burned to ashes.
Zhang Yue had a habit during his years in politics of burning any of his handwritings at any time and anywhere, including family letters.
Burn after reading.
Zhang Yue looked at the Funing Palace in the wind and snow, and recalled many things. On the same night, Emperor Taizu had a great time drinking with Zhao Kuangyi. After getting drunk, he took an axe to poke the snow outside the palace, and finally died suddenly in his sleep.
He thought of Han Qi again. When Emperor Yingzong was about to die, the ministers asked the emperor to ascend the throne, but Emperor Yingzong's fingers suddenly moved.
The ministers were a little panicked when they saw this. At this time, Han Qi said, "Why panic? Even if the late emperor is resurrected, he is still the emperor emeritus!"
Zhang Yue thought of Renzong again, the emperor who had great trust in him.
Zhang Yue said at this moment: "Ren Miao, Ren Miao, have I ever lived up to your kindness today?"
When people reach a certain age, they think of many things in the past in the blink of an eye. At this moment, Zhang Yue's eyes were once again focused on the direction of Funing Palace in the wind and snow. Tonight, Wang Gui and Cai Que were not on duty.
What should I do at this time?
Zhang Yue knew clearly that it was only the sixth year of Yuanfeng. Even if the emperor was temporarily excited, his life span would not end this way.
Zhang Yue thought of this and turned around and opened the door. In the snowy night, several clerks who were serving were half sleepy.
But when they saw Zhang Yue enter, they were startled and stood up.
Zhang Yue said sternly: "Let the Su Zhi officials come here to discuss important matters!"