bookrandom Chapter 1212: Blockage
Chapter 1212: Blockage
Chapter 1212 Back Block
As the official was thinking carefully, he heard a sound behind him. He turned around and saw a child around six years old walking into the hall.
It was the sixth prince, Zhao Yong.
"I congratulate you, father, on recovering Liangzhou!"
The official was overjoyed when he heard this and asked with a smile, "Who told you that?"
"That's what mother said."
"She also asked you to congratulate me?"
Zhao Yong nodded after hearing this.
The official smiled. He liked Zhao Yong's honesty.
Zhao Yong just watched the emperor paint the wall in red and said, "Father, you are painting again."
The official smiled and said, "Yes, have you recited all the Analects today?"
Zhao Yong said, "I have recited them all. Please test them, Father."
The official laughed and said, "Since you have memorized the Analects, there is a sentence in it that you must know: Confucius said, 'I do not try, so I am an artist.'"
Zhao Yong said, "I have recited it before, but I don't know what it means."
The official said, "All knowledge in the world can be used to become an official or a government official, but we, who are born in the royal family, do not need to become officials. Therefore, when you seek knowledge, do not study for the sake of being tested by others, but study from the heart. Do you understand?"
Zhao Yong said: "If you learn from your heart, it is because I don't like studying. I like military service and want to learn from my father."
"But the Queen Mother doesn't like me to read these books on military tactics. She only wants to teach me how to copy Buddhist scriptures. Mother is very afraid of her and dares not go against her wishes."
When the emperor heard what Empress Dowager Gao did, he was also a little angry.
However, he still suppressed his emotions and said to Zhao Yong with a smile: "Well, you actually said something bad about the Queen Mother in front of me."
"Then you know that the Queen Mother knows that I have done this so that you can get rid of future troubles, so that you will no longer have to worry about state affairs like me, and live a peaceful life from now on. Therefore, she wants you to only study Buddhist scriptures and the Analects.
Zhao Yong seemed to understand what he heard.
The emperor also heard that Prince Yong Zhao Hao and Prince Cao Zhao Yu often came to the palace. Among the brothers, he knew that he was not the most loved by his mother, and the reason he was able to ascend the throne was because of the eldest son system.
At this time, when the emperor heard that Empress Dowager Gao had arrived at the palace, he was surprised and went to see her immediately.
"If the Queen Mother wants to see me, she can just send someone to summon me. Why come here in person?" the emperor said respectfully.
Empress Dowager Gao sensed the slight displeasure in the emperor's tone and said with a smile, "I heard that the emperor has conquered Liangzhou. I am happy for you, so I came to congratulate Your Majesty."
The emperor finally smiled and said, "I was just sitting back and listening, it was Zhang Yue who was in charge."
Empress Dowager Gao said: "Your Majesty is too modest. A good minister must have a wise ruler."
"Zhang Yue is indeed a capable minister and a famous prime minister, but I heard that he can only serve as prime minister for another three years. Who can succeed Prime Minister Zhang?"
The emperor said, "This... I haven't thought about it yet. I wanted to let him serve for a few more years."
Empress Dowager Gao said: "Prime Minister Zhang is not only good at planning for the country, but also good at planning for himself. Such a minister is rare. But this time the court reform is also presided over by him. I hope that the emperor can use both new and old people as he promised at the beginning, and recall Lu Gongzhu and Sima Guang."
The emperor said, "Lü Gongzhu and Sima Guang both opposed attacking the Tanguts. Why should I recall them?"
Empress Dowager Gao said, "Your Majesty, do you want to continue fighting? We have already captured Liangzhou, and the Tanguts are already terrified. What's more, there is the Liao Kingdom beside us. If we continue fighting, what will happen if the Liao Kingdom sends troops?"
The emperor said: "Liao will not send troops. Even if it does, I believe that we can resist it with our current national strength."
Empress Dowager Gao said, "Prince Zhang will certainly not agree with this."
……
Zhang Yue stepped down from the Golden Palace, and Cai Que said to him, "The capture of Liangzhou this time can be regarded as a greater achievement than this."
"Cai is willing to work with the historian to persuade His Majesty to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai when the time comes!"
"I don't know how?"
Zhang Yue thought to himself that it was reasonable for Liangzhou to offer sacrifices to the gods on Mount Tai.
In terms of achievements, Guan Yu is at least ten times better than Emperor Zhenzong.
But you, Cai Que, really know how to find an opportunity. This idea must have been brewing in your mind for a long time, perhaps since you captured Liangzhou.
Zhang Yue said: "This matter needs to be discussed by all officials before it can be discussed."
Cai Que said: "Mr. Historian, there are many things to do with the reform now, even though the system of three provinces and six ministries is being restored."
"But there are dissatisfactions among the various ministries when they are abolished or merged. What will be done with the redundant officials and staff afterwards?"
Zhang Yue understood Cai Que's intention. Although it was to flatter the emperor, by conquering Liangzhou and offering sacrifices to the gods on Mount Tai, he could enhance the emperor's prestige and carry out major internal reforms.
This is an option that is beneficial to both parties.
Zhang Yue nodded to Cai Que. Although there was some flattery in his words, he also considered it for his own benefit. For Zhang Yue, the significance of conquering Liangzhou was more important for reform. This was a cycle from the inside to the outside, and then from the outside to the inside.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, Cai Que is really good at calculating.
Zhang Yue said: "But these redundant staff cannot be easily dismissed!"
Cai Que said: "Back then, Mr. Fan Wencheng mentioned three kinds of redundancy, and redundant officials were one of them. Back then, Prime Minister Wang cut many redundant soldiers and officials, but why didn't Prime Minister Zhang cut any?"
Zhang Yue asked: "How do we cut redundant staff?"
"The councillors also understand the various departments of the yamen. If the chief official makes the decision, the redundant staff who are laid off are only the children of poor families, but the children of the powerful and wealthy cannot be laid off."
"How do we do it in the end? We still have to be cautious."
……
As they were talking, a eunuch suddenly reported that the emperor had held a banquet in the palace and invited only him.
After hearing this, Zhang Yue turned around and returned to the hall.
But I saw that the government had set up a private banquet to entertain them.
"Please sit down!" After the official said this, he personally poured wine for Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue quickly said, "I don't deserve it."
The emperor held out his hand and said, "Your contribution in this attack on Liang is the greatest. I know this very well. I am hosting a banquet today to entertain your family and thank you for fulfilling my long-cherished wish."
Zhang Yue declined, saying, "I have done my best for the state, and I want to repay your majesty for your kindness. This is reasonable. How dare I thank you in person? I dare not."
The emperor laughed and said, "Since I have entrusted my country to you, I will offer you a glass of wine for the sake of the people of Song Dynasty."
After Zhang Yue accepted the emperor's offer of wine, he felt that he was being favored, but he understood the principle that fortune and disaster can come with it. The more he was at this moment, the more cautious he became.
After the official sat down, the two of them had some light dishes, and Shi Deyi personally poured wine for Zhang Yue.
The emperor asked casually: "After the reform, a new official system will be implemented. It will have both new and old people. Sima Guang will be allowed to return to the court to serve as the Imperial Censor. This is also what the Queen Mother wants."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue thought to himself that if Sima Guang returned, the court would be completely shut down by him.
I still have three years left in my term as prime minister. Why did the emperor suddenly bring up such a thing?
Zhang Yue said: "If Sima Guang returns to the court, he will definitely strongly oppose the use of troops in Lingwu. If this happens, the northern affairs will be difficult to continue."
The emperor said, "I think so too. When can we conquer Lingwu?"
Zhang Yue thought to himself, Your Majesty, we have just conquered Liangzhou and you are already plotting against Lingwu.
So anxious again.
Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, I have another thought. How do you plan to deal with Lu Huiqing when he returns to the court?"
"Should I place him in a wealthy military state as a county governor, or let him guard the border for the country? Manage the affairs of the northwest."
The emperor was stunned and thought to himself that he really wanted to use Lu Huiqing. This time he was in the northwest as the governor, and he was quite satisfied.
But Sima Guang and Lu Huiqing were incompatible.
He originally wanted to bring up Sima Guang's matter and urge Zhang Yue to attack Lingwu, but he didn't expect that Zhang Yue would use Lu Huiqing to block him.
(End of this chapter)