bookrandom Chapter 1218 Autumn
Chapter 1218 Autumn
Chapter 1218 Autumn
After seeing Lu Huiqing off, Zhang Yue returned to the house and wiped his face.
Shiqi Niang walked over to Zhang Yue and brought him a bowl of Poria cocos soup, which Zhang Yue took and drank.
Shiqi Niang said, "It is really gratifying that even someone as proud and arrogant as Lu Jifu would come to ask for favors."
Zhang Yue said: "He is thinking about his future. But His Majesty wants to promote him. If I keep stopping him, His Majesty will think I have selfish motives."
Shiqi Niang said, "It's selfish, but you and Lu Jifu are at odds, and everyone in the court knows it. It would be unreasonable for you to recommend him again."
Zhang Yue said: "That depends on whether it is biased. Everyone knows that I am not on good terms with Lu Jifu. If I continue to suppress him, those officials who are not on good terms with me will not be willing to work sincerely for the court in the future."
“Those officials who have lost their path to advancement will hate me even more.”
Shiqi Niang wanted to say something else, but Zhang Yue asked her, "Do you know why Zhang Yuan joined the Tanguts?"
"I heard that Zhang Yuan won the provincial and county examinations, but when he was in the palace, he needed to find a minister to recommend him. Someone advised Zhang Yuan to give a gift to the chief examiner, but Zhang Yuan was born in a poor family and refused to give it."
"In the end, he failed the palace examination. The chief examiner even hated Zhang Yuan for not giving him a gift, and when Zhang Yuan returned home, he ordered the county magistrate to find trouble and beat him with a stick."
"Of course, this is just street talk and can't necessarily be taken seriously. But after Haoshuichuan and Dingchuanzhai, everyone cursed Zhang Yuan as a traitor, but I think the examiner who asked Zhang Yuan for a bribe was the most hateful person."
"The greatest hatred in this world is blocking the path of advancement for children from poor families."
Shiqi Niang didn't say anything just now.
Zhang Yue thought that struggles at the top of the political ladder were mostly struggles for interests and were rarely mixed with personal emotions.
The same is true for Zhang Yue and Lu Huiqing.
Personal emotions are nothing compared to interests. If Lu Huiqing were in his position, he might have done the same, but he would not have been so blatant.
Zhang Yue could understand Lu Huiqing's motives.
But as the saying goes, understanding is understanding. You need to understand the other party's position, but the purpose of understanding is to prevent emotions from affecting your political judgment.
Shiqi Niang was taking off Zhang Yue's clothes, and Zhang Yue said to her: "If you want to rule the world, your anger is not to take away, and your joy is not to give!"
……
However, the news of Zhang Yue's promotion to Duke has already leaked out through different channels. What is most abundant in this world is people secretly telling you good news.
In the past few days, several eunuchs such as Shi Deyi and Song Yongchen have leaked the news to Zhang Yue through their own channels. In addition, Cai Jing, who serves the emperor and is always well-informed, also reported the matter to Zhang Yue.
There has always been a strict threshold for being conferred the title of Duke, which is that the fiefdom must be more than 10,000 households.
In addition, if the current prime minister or envoy has a fief and actual seal of more than 10,000 households, he can also be a duke.
When Zhang Yue was the chancellor of the Historian Academy, his fiefdom was increased from 4,000 to 5,000 households, and his actual fiefdom was increased from 1,400 to 1,800 households. In total, it was 6,800 households, which still did not reach the standard of 10,000 households.
However, this rigid standard was waived during the reigns of Emperor Zhenzong and Emperor Renzong.
For example, many prime ministers during the reigns of Emperors Renzong and Zhenzong, such as Wang Qinruo and Lu Yijian, were appointed Dukes before they reached the rank of ten thousand households.
Duke of Guo was the highest title for an official during his lifetime. As for the one who was granted the title of a king during his lifetime, there was only one example, the military general Wang Jing. This person was a meritorious official of the previous dynasty, so he was granted the title of a thatched cottage.
Of course, if we add Tong Guan from the time of Huizong, there will be another column.
But generally speaking, the title of Duke is the pinnacle of one's official career.
Many people even took the initiative to think of a title for Zhang Yue, such as Duke of Jianguo or Duke of Liang. Duke of Liang refers to the place of merit in Liangzhou, while Duke of Jianguo refers to Zhang Yue's hometown.
There was also a member of the royal family who wanted to be appreciated by the prime minister, so he praised Zhang Yue in front of him.
"The Big Dipper is high, Geshu carries a sword at night. Even now, I watch the herdsmen, and dare not go to Lintao." However, this flattery hits the horse's leg. The poem is about Geshu Han, a famous general in the Tang Dynasty. Although Geshu Han made great achievements, his later years were not very good.
I don’t know if this person is just a fool or is being sarcastic on purpose.
Be it other people's speculations, reports, flattery, or gossip from the common people, Zhang Yue listened to them but did not take them to heart.
The autumn colors of Bianjing became more and more intense, and the wind from the Bian River blew on the curtains of the carriage. Zhang Yue looked at the prosperous scenery on both sides of the Bian River, which was still the same as before. His eyes were calm and deep, and he only stayed for a moment on the residences left by several famous ministers and generals.
The seven imperial guards were in front, and the soldiers who followed him shouted, "The prime minister's majesty was so great that passers-by dared not raise their heads to look at him."
The emperor's carriage arrived at the imperial city and went straight into the Xuande Gate.
Zhang Yue was supported by his left and right hands and slowly stepped down from the carriage. In the Forbidden Palace surrounded by heavy walls, Zhang Yue took a look at the Golden Palace that seemed to be in the clouds, and immediately stepped onto the steps.
"Your Majesty, I think that as long as the Tanguts are determined to give up their fake titles, our dynasty can still grant Li Deming and Li Yuanhao their former hereditary titles of King of Xiping to negotiate peace. In addition, as long as the Tanguts give up their fake titles, we can grant them money and tea in addition to the annual tribute according to the rules of the King of Xiping."
The official understood that Zhang Yuechang could not kill the other party all at once.
"As for Cao Zhongshou, he will be granted the title of Duke of Qiao County according to the old practice, and in a few years he will be granted the title of Prince of Qiao County, making him equal to the Prince of Xiping."
The emperor was overjoyed to hear that Zhang Yue had not only thought of the terms for peace talks with the Tanguts, but had even thought of an excuse for a future falling out. He said to Zhang Yue, "You are able to make important decisions and are loyal to the country. You are a true minister of the country."
"You have planned a great event for me, and I want to grant you the title of Duke. I wonder what you think of the title?"
Zhang Yue said: "It is a gift from the Lord, I dare not comment on it."
The emperor smiled and said, "You are different from other ministers. I treat you with sincerity and have nothing to hide."
Immediately, the emperor ordered the eunuch to take out the imperial desk, on which there were three notes: Jian, Liang, and Shen.
The emperor said, "I have thought about it and I have proposed the names Liangguo, Jianguo, Shenguo, etc. What do you think?"
Zhang Yue saw that Lu Yijian had been conferred the title of Duke of Shen, and so had Zhang Dun in history. Choosing this might seem like an attempt to seize the Lu family's title.
The Duke of Jianguo is one's hometown and one's return to one's hometown, which can also be understood as the granting of land and territory.
Duke of Liang was the place where he established his career and choosing this place meant that he wanted to boast of his achievements.
So no matter which choice you make, it will be wrong.
Zhang Yue finally said: "I dare not make a decision."
The official said: "Then let him be Duke of Jianguo!"
Zhang Yue thought, are you asking me to return home in glory after three years? If Duke Shen wants me to stay in Beijing, then Wang Anshi was dismissed from his post from the post of prime minister from the second year of Xining to the ninth year of Xining, a total of seven years. And I was in power, but I really started to rule the country from the second year of Yuanfeng.
He had been in power for seven years, resigned from his post as prime minister for one year, and ruled the country for two years.
Zhang Yue stood up from his chair and said, "I thank your Majesty. From ancient times to the present, I have never had such a good relationship with a monarch and a minister. Without your Majesty's kindness, I would not have the title I have today."
The emperor was moved by the scene and said, "It is a rare opportunity for us to meet as a king and a subject."
The emperor held Zhang Yue's arm, and it was a wonderful scene of harmony between the emperor and his subject.
……
After bidding farewell to the government, Zhang Yue returned home.
On the way, Zhang Yue suddenly said to Peng Jingyi: "Let's go to Dingliyuan."
Peng Jingyi agreed, and immediately took Zhang Yue to Dingli Courtyard in a carriage.
Compared to the many large and small temples in Bianjing, Dingliyuan occupies a relatively small area, with only a few houses. However, Dingliyuan is quite special among the temples. Except for a few days when it accepts incense from the people, it is not open to the people on other days.
When they learned that the prime minister's carriage had arrived, there were only two monks in the temple.
They panicked for a moment, then rushed out to greet them.
Zhang Yue said to the monk who greeted him, "I am just taking a look, there is no need to disturb me."
After saying this, Zhang Yue left hundreds of followers and monks outside the temple and walked in alone.
This Dingli Temple is quite legendary. When the Chenqiao Rebellion took place, Empress Dowager Du, her wife Wang and other family members of Zhao Kuangyin held a vegetarian feast at the Dingli Temple.
After the incident, officers and soldiers searched everywhere for Zhao Kuangyin's family. When they arrived at Dingliyuan, the head monk ordered Zhao Kuangyin and his family to hide in the Sutra Library in the courtyard, and told the officers and soldiers that they had all left and were nowhere to be found.
The officers and soldiers did not believe it and entered the temple to search. When they arrived at the Sutra Repository, they saw that it was covered with spider silk and dust. They wondered how there could be someone here, so they left.
Otherwise, Zhao Kuangyin would have followed in the footsteps of Guo Wei and Chai Rong.
Zhang Yue saw two portraits in the backyard of Dingli Temple. One was a portrait of Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, and the other was a portrait of Emperor Taizu Zhu Wen of Liang. Both portraits were painted by the painter Wang Ai.
After looking at the portraits of the two emperors for a while, Zhang Yue strolled around the temple and happened to see the purpose of his visit on a white wall.
These are two poems.
The first one is titled "De Dingliyuanzuo".
There is no one on the leisurely river, and I have been covered in dust and dirt for ten years like a dream.
Work diligently to untie the knots of lilac, so that spring can bloom freely among the branches.
The second poem is titled Dingliyuanbi
The water on the north and south sides of the stream flows secretly, and the setting sun can be seen from afar across the stream.
Thinking about what Zhuge Liang has accomplished, he should have been a Sleeping Dragon all his life.
The author of these two poems is Wang Anshi.
In the past, Wang Anshi lived in Dingliyuan every time he resigned from his position as prime minister. These two poems were written when he was trapped in Dingliyuan.
On the surface, the first poem seems to express Wang Anshi's feeling of being trapped and restricted when he was prime minister, and the second poem seems to mock Zhuge Liang, but in fact it is self-mockery.
Zhang Yue smiled bitterly when he saw this. He did not understand the meaning of these two poems at first, but today he finally understood their meanings.
When people reach his age, it is increasingly difficult to please them. Nothing matters to them and they no longer have the anxiety and worry they had when they were young. They have an urge to remove the shackles and retire, but they also know that they will regret it after leaving and are reluctant to do so.
So it's like being tied up in a cage.
Zhang Yue looked at the wall and said to himself, "Frosty bamboos and snowy bamboos are standing by the Zhongshan Temple. Will I return home to spend my life there?"
"Jing Gong, Jing Gong, when you first became the Vice Minister and recited this poem, did you have the same state of mind as I do?"
When Zhang Yue was young, he liked Wang Anshi's "When I am old I long to see the south of the Yangtze River" the most, and now these words just fit his mood.
Zhang Yue was strolling in the temple, and occasionally looked up to see that Bianjing had entered deep autumn.
When the autumn wind blows, the big trees sway and countless leaves fall.
When Zhang Yue thought of this, he remembered that there was some half-dried ink in the monk's room.
So he took it, added water to dissolve it, and wrote a poem on the wall.
"Young people do not know the taste of sorrow, they love to climb higher floors. They love to climb higher floors, and they force themselves to express sorrow in order to compose new poems."
"Now I know the taste of sorrow, I want to say it but I can't. I want to say it but I can't, so I say the cool weather is a good autumn!"
Zhang Yue looked at the poem, sighed deeply, then turned and left.
(End of this chapter)