Prime Minister

Chapter 1055 The final remonstrance

Chapter 1055 The final remonstrance

Han Jiang was seriously ill and could not govern.

The emperor personally went to his mansion to see the disease.

When the prime minister was seriously ill, it was also a first-class grace for the emperor to go to his residence to see the illness in person.

When Lu Yijian was seriously ill, Emperor Renzong personally cut off his beard and treated him. Moreover, when a prime minister dies of illness, the emperor usually does not pay homage to him, but when Zhang Dexiang died of illness, Emperor Renzong actually came to express his condolences in person.

But Han Jiang was seriously ill, and the official actually came to see him in person... In the eyes of all the officials, it was really a great grace.

But while the Han Mansion may appear to be prosperous on the surface, Han Jiang's eldest son Han Zongshi and his uncle Han Zhen are uneasy.

Because Han Zhen followed Zhang Yue and successfully negotiated with the Liao State to demarcate the border, after returning to the court, he paid homage to the Privy Council and accepted the decree. However, because his brother Han Jiang was the prime minister, although Han Zhen accepted the official position, he only lived in the capital and never went to the Privy Council to sign a warrant.

The same was true for Master Han. When Han Jiang led his army to conquer Xixia in the third year of Xining, he was left in the capital.

The officials summoned him from time to time, and the golden palace gift was indeed a favor to ordinary ministers, but when his father was leading the army, it was hard to say.

The officials promised Grandmaster Han an official position several times, but Grandmaster Han did not dare to accept the promise and would serve his father and did not dare to stay away. The officials praised Grandmaster Han for his filial piety to the ministers.

Today, Han Jiang is seriously ill and has resigned. Officials came to see his illness. The uncle and nephew looked at each other.

Master Han said: "It's not a lie that my uncle's father is ill. The imperial doctor has diagnosed and treated it over and over again. Why does Your Majesty still come in person?"

Han Zhen said: "Master, you remember that Sima Yi faked his illness, but Cao Shuang ordered Li Sheng to see it. How did Sima Yi pretend to be sick?"

"So your Majesty, if you don't trust the imperial doctor's report, you must see it in person."

Grandmaster Han said: "Is Your Majesty so suspicious?"

Han Zhen sneered and said, "You have forgotten that I was ordered to demarcate the border with the Liao people. I didn't want to go, but the emperor had to obey."

"On the night before departure, Liu Ji and I drank in the house until dawn. A few days after departure, the government actually sent troops to send Liu Ji to my mission. Even the poems I wrote with Liu Ji that night were He became known to everyone in Beijing overnight."

"I'm really lucky that I didn't say anything crazy at that time, otherwise I wouldn't be alive today."

Master Han felt pity when he heard this. Officials spy on every word and deed of ministers to this extent.

At this time, the emperor's imperial chariot was reported to have left the palace, and the two of them hurriedly went out to greet him.

But seeing that the imperial chariot had not yet come, he saw that there were many armored cavalry, and the imperial squadron was armed with spears, and the inner and outer alleys were completely blocked.

Within a few miles of the Han Mansion, there were three posts, one post, five steps, and one sentry, and they were trapped.

Those who knew knew that the emperor came to the prime minister's residence to check on the sick, but those who didn't knew thought he was here to ransack the house.

Han Zhen smiled bitterly. As a top powerful family like them, they looked good, but they were actually sweet on the outside but bitter on the inside.

Soon the emperor's chariot arrived, and Han Zhen felt relieved when he saw Zhang Yue standing beside him.

Immediately Han Zhen and Master Han respectfully welcomed the emperor into the palace.

The official looked at Han Zhen and said, "How is Han Qing's illness?"

Han Zhen said: "I'm awake now, but I still can't get out of bed."

The officials clearly didn't believe Han Zhen's words. There was no such coincidence in the world. Only a few days ago, he revealed his dissatisfaction with Han Jiang's excuse for attacking Xia Kingdom.

Therefore, the examples of Wang Meng and Tang Xuanzong were used to stimulate the other party.

Not long after this, Han Jiang fell ill.

This is not pretending to be ill, who would believe it?

The official sighed: "I said in front of the emperor that if Wang Meng assisted Fu Jian, the attack on Jin would be undefeated. Today Han Qing fell ill. Is it really my intention to die?"

Han Zhen, Grandmaster Han was horrified after hearing this.

Officials used Wang Meng as a metaphor. Regarding the attack on Xia, should they either obey obediently or have a dead prime minister?

Han Zhen glanced at Zhang Yue, who was standing beside Guan Jia, and the other party also exchanged a look with him at this time.

The official came to the inner hall. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he saw Han Jiang lying stiffly on the bed.

The maids on the left and right reminded Han Jiang that when he saw the official, he would immediately struggle to get out of bed and kneel down. When the officials saw it, they immediately stepped forward to support him. Han Jiang cried and said: "Your Majesty, I have been struck by wind and cannot salute Your Majesty. It is a death penalty!"

When the officials saw Han Jiang being so ill, they were still doubtful.

The official said: "There is no need for you to be polite. You want to have a good life and maintain a good health. I will ask you to assist in state affairs in the future."

The official told the imperial doctor standing next to him: "Any good medicinal materials in the palace should be sent to Han Qing."

The imperial doctor on the side said yes, and the official ordered the imperial doctor to check Han Jiang's pulse. Zhang Yue recognized the imperial doctor's name as Zhu Youzhang. The last time Feng Jing was ill, the emperor sent this person to diagnose and treat him.

At that time, Feng Jing was seriously ill, so the officials ordered him to stay with Feng Jing day and night. After Feng Jing recovered, the officials rewarded Zhu Youzhang heavily and made one of his sons a Hanlin medical officer.

Zhu Youzhang also confirmed to the officials again that Han Jiang was indeed Fengxuan, and he would indeed be unable to handle political affairs in the future.

After speaking, the officials fell into silence.

Han Jiang's fake illness was fine, but the problem was that the real illness made the officials very angry.

How can you be really sick? How can you be really sick?

Under the pressure of the Emperor's Wrath, Han Zhen and Grandmaster Han's expressions suddenly changed. At this moment, Han Zhen was feeling better, but Grandmaster Han was not. His hands under his sleeves were shaking continuously.

At this time, Zhang Yue silently walked up to Grandmaster Han and blocked him with his body.

Grandmaster Han and Han Zhen secretly thanked Zhang Yue in their hearts when they saw this scene. If they weren't one of their own, who would be so dedicated to blocking them.

Zhang Yue stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, take care."

The officials suddenly realized that Han Jiang was sick. As long as it was an infectious disease, the emperor should stay away. Zhang Yue's move was of course a minister's concern for the emperor, which diverted the officials' thoughts, but they didn't feel anything strange.

As expected of Mr. Zhang, he really responded quickly!

The official said to Han Jiang: "Han Qing likes to be healthy and well, but I will not allow you to resign."

It's hard to live without waiting.

A hundred people died, but the officials were different. The Song Dynasty did not kill scholar-officials, so the most severe way to deal with guilty officials was to demote them.

If you want to retire and leave, how can it be so easy for you not to retreat?

In another history of time and space, how did Song Huizong punish Zhang Dun after he came to power? Zhang Dun knew that he was on the wrong side and Huizong didn't want to see him, so he resigned five times as soon as he ascended the throne.

But Huizong refused. While trying to persuade him to stay, he also instructed his officials and censors to find trouble.

Zhang Dun was impeached and dismissed from office.

Seeing the official's behavior, Han Jiang said: "Old minister, please show mercy to your majesty."

The official frowned and said, "Han Qing, I still rely on you to preside over state affairs. You can't leave me at this time."

Speaking of this, the official said: "At the beginning of my reform, I put on my military uniform and begged the queen mothers of the two palaces to allow me to personally lead the army to regain the homeland of the Qing and Tang Dynasties, return the mountains and rivers of my Han family, and strive to avert the shame of several generations."

"Today's Xixia is just a small country with one woman and one child, and Liao is just a divided country."

"If Han Qing wants to help me, why don't you leave me?"

When the officials said this, they almost categorically refused to allow Han Jiang to resign.

Han Jiang's face looked a little different at this moment. Comparing his feelings, he was already so sick and the officials were still not allowing him to leave. Do they really want him to serve as prime minister?

No matter how kind a person is, he will get angry at this time.

But when Han Jiang smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, when will I be able to enjoy the joy of the countryside and sleep until the food in the world is ready? This is my current wish!"

"But after more than ten years as a monarch and a minister, I have a few things I have to say."

The official looked moved and said: "Han Qing, please speak!"

But when Han Jiang braced himself and said: "Your Majesty, in ancient times, an army of 100,000 troops cost thousands of gold a day. Therefore, if the army has no baggage, it will perish, if there is no accumulation, it will perish, and if there is no food, it will perish."

"In the fourth year of Zhiping, His Majesty ordered Zhong'e to recapture Suizhou and spent six million dollars!"

"In the third year of Xining, Your Majesty used his ministers to attack Luowu City and spent 16 million yuan!"

"Later, Zhang Yue and Wang Shao regained Xihe Road. In six years, they spent 18 million guan. After seven years in Xining, they have spent another 2 million guan this year!"

"In the ninth year of Xining, His Majesty spent another 5.19 million yuan on the conquest of Jiaozhou, and the rest of the gold, silver, food and grass were not counted!"

"Wealth is the destiny of the country, the foundation of all things, the reason why the country survives and the reason why things succeed or fail. I ask your Majesty to take into account the heavy burden on the country's power and the suffering of the people."

The official said sternly: "I know Han Qing's love for the people. I have already agreed to waive the payment for the fifth-class household service, and let the remaining payment for the exemption be 20%. I have already done this, and I will not regret it. .”

The immunity from military service law is what Han Jiang is most concerned about, and it will also be his political legacy in the future.

The officials once again reiterated to Han Jiang that they would never use the exemption law, hoping to make him change his mind and try their best to retain him.

Han Jiang said: "I thank your Majesty, but I still think that the expedition against Xia should not be done too hastily."

The official said angrily: "I have made up my mind to take Xihe first to cut off the right arm of Xixia, and then take Lingwu to inherit the right arm of Daliao."

"When I said in the palace, for the sake of the world, how can there be no order? I already had a comprehensive strategy in mind."

"You will follow my strategy and do it."

Han Jiang said: "Your Majesty adopted Wang Anshi's strategy of "regulating the whole country and controlling the Di Yi". Your Majesty thought that by destroying Xixia, the country's power would be reversed and the people would be able to solve the problem of hanging. But I thought that if we did not show kindness and righteousness first, To relieve the people's urgent need, even if Xixia is captured, the country's situation will remain the same and will not improve!"

After Han Jiang said this, the official's face turned extremely ugly.

When Han Jiang said this, he said with a faint breath: "Your Majesty, the current situation in the world is that the people are plundered by the people if they spend extravagantly, and the merchants are plundered when the people are in trouble!"

After Han Jiang finished speaking, the officials' expressions changed, and so did Han Zhen and Grand Master Han's expressions.

Zhang Yue was the only one who remained silent. From the beginning to the end when the officials spoke to Han Jiang, he did not say a word.

When the official heard this, he glanced at Zhang Yue. He guessed that Zhang Yue said this to Han Jiang. In fact, the official was not wrong.

Han Jiang's attitude was also Zhang Yue's.

The official said: "How about plundering the merchants? Wasn't it like this when Zhuge Liang governed Shu?"

"The Kingdom of Shu has a monopoly on the sale of Shu brocade. It buys it from weavers at a low price and then sells it at a high price. Isn't that what it is? Liu Bei also used Li Yan to kill the local wealthy people, plunder their minerals and run them as government officials. What's wrong with that?"

Han Jiang was very ill. After saying this long speech, he held his forehead and said: "Your Majesty, I only know one thing, if benevolence and righteousness are not applied, the offensive and defensive momentum will be different!"

The official heard this and said: "I care about the people, so I can't bear to do anything to them. I am extremely sad after hearing what the prime minister said, and I will say no more."

"Even though I am alone, I still have to get things done!"

After leaving these words, the official stood up and left, looking very lonely and lonely. Han Zhen, Master Han and others hurriedly sent the officials away.

After Han Jiang's three resignations, the officials still refused.

The next month, Han Jiang died of illness while taking office as prime minister!

(End of this chapter)