Prime Minister

Chapter 512 Unavailable
Facing the official's question, Han Wei did not reply immediately: "Your Majesty, please meet Sima Guang, a direct scholar of Longtuge, before we speak."

The official didn't know what Han Wei was trying to trick and asked, "Mr. Han, why do you want me to meet Empress Sima Guang first?"

Han Wei said: "Your Majesty, it is best to use one person for each task, as Mr. Wang said."

The officials thought that Sima Guang was recommended by Wang Tao, maybe Mr. Han meant to let me respect Mr. Wang.

The officials had also heard of Sima Guang's real name. In Puyi, the Emperor Daxing and several ministers failed to win against Sima Guang. Now, although he was sent to the bookstore to edit the Tongzhi, the treatment was not bad at all.

The bookstore uses imperial pens, ink and silk for imperial use, meals are the same as imperial meals, and there are dozens of eunuchs serving them. Every person who compiles books can receive a salary from the royal family. No.

All this is because Sima Guang is kind to their father and son.

The officials wanted to grant Sima Guang a Hanlin Bachelor first, but Sima Guang refused, saying that the position of the Hanlin Bachelor was more important than the responsibility of knowing the edict that he had held at the beginning, and the minister could not take it.

Sima Guang refused several times, and finally the official ordered the eunuch to stuff the imperial decree into Sima Guang's hands.

Sima Guang had no choice but to go to the palace to return the imperial edict.

For the meeting with Sima Guang, the officials are looking forward to it. The other party's loyalty and knowledge can be called a model of Confucian officials.

Sima Guang still wanted to resign after meeting the official.

The official said to Sima Guang: "A gentleman in ancient times was either learning but not writing, or writing but not learning, but Dong Jiangdu and Yang Ziyun had both. Today, Aiqing has both Dong and Yang's strengths, so you can't refuse."

Sima Guang said: "Of course, I don't write four or six words."

The official said with a smile: "Qing is the sixth Jinshi, why can't he write four or six essays."

Sima Guang said: "This is indeed not the director of the minister, and it is certainly not something that a foolish minister can do. Please also cover up the shortcomings of the minister, and the director of the whole minister."

The officials have high hopes for Sima Guangzheng, so how can they agree.

The official said next: "I have just ascended the throne, and I will visit all the important ministers. Sima Qing's family is all good at self-cultivation and governance. I don't know what to teach me?"

Sima Guang thought for a while and said: "I think that the rule of the country depends entirely on the ruler, and self-cultivation is the foundation of governing the country."

"I think there are three things in self-cultivation, benevolence, enlightenment, and martial arts. There are three things in governing a country. Officials, people, believe in rewards, and must be punished. I used to dedicate these six characters to Emperor Renzong as an admonisher, and then to the late emperor. Now I dedicate To His Majesty."

Then Sima Guang said how benevolence, Ming, Wu...

After this long speech, the officials were full of joy and said: "How can I compare with Emperor Renzong and the late emperor, I can only apply what I have learned diligently. To be honest, I became the emperor, and it can be said that I am trembling..."

Speaking of this, the official said: "Nowadays, the country's annual revenue is not insufficient. It is actually several times that of the Tang Dynasty. However, the taxes and taxes of the people are already high, and there is really no way to levy more. However, redundant soldiers, redundant officials, and redundant expenses still exist today. , I heard from Mr. Wang (Wang Tao) that the cost should be reduced. Mr. Wang recommended Sima Qing’s family.”

"I would like to invite Qing's family to set up a bureau to see the reduction of the national use system in detail, take the number of the second year of Qingli, compare the difference in today's expenditure, and analyze it to hear."

Sima Guang said: "Your Majesty's move is really a great kindness. Today's national use is insufficient because the expenditure is too extravagant, the rewards are inappropriate, there are many clans, official positions are redundant, and the army is not good. These are the three redundancy that Your Majesty said."

After hearing this, the officials were overjoyed and thought Sima Guang had agreed.

But Sima Guang then said: "However, your majesty should discuss this matter with the ministers of the two governments and the officials of the third division. It is not something that foolish officials can cut overnight. Please your majesty choose another talented person."

Sima Guang's words seemed to cast a chill on the official's heart.

Don't you agree with this matter, but why do you refuse to do it?

The officials wanted to persuade him again, but Sima Guang said: "This minister is too old to be employed, so please let your majesty let me continue to work in the bookstore."

Sima Guang's words were bleak, the officials looked carefully and saw that he was only 40 years old, but at this time his beard and hair were all white.

Sima Guang doesn't even want this Hanlin scholar now.

After Sima Guang left... the official's face was full of depression.

At this moment Sima Guang went out of the palace gate and saw Wang Tao, the envoy of the herdsmen.

Wang Tao was originally going to be Yushi Zhongcheng, but some officials stood up against him, so he was changed to be a group shepherd envoy.

Seeing Sima Guang, Wang Tao asked, "Can your majesty use the king's truth?"

Sima Guang said: "I am ashamed of brother Le Dao's recommendation, I have resigned."

Wang Tao was surprised and said: "Why is Junshi not willing to cut down the waste?"

Sima Guang said: "Your Majesty is really too eager to seek governance... Self-cultivation is the foundation of governing the country. If there is no specific matter for self-cultivation, how can we talk about governing the country. Besides, I am not suitable to talk about reducing unnecessary expenses."

"Then did you really dispute this matter with His Majesty?"

Sima Guang said: "I've always put my strengths to the test, and stopped if I can't. Since the officials are not interested in self-cultivation, no matter how much I talk about governing the country, it's useless."

Sima Guang still had another worry in his heart. If he cut down the expenses in various aspects, he would encounter great resistance.

Fan Zhongyan couldn't do it after a year, and he was afraid that he would not be able to do it.

Wang Tao said: "I'll talk to you about the official family."

Wang Tao went straight into the hall, and the officials were discussing matters with Han Wei. When Wang Tao saw it, he asked aggressively: "Your Majesty, Liu Xiang, the supervisory censor, impeached Ouyang Xiu and wore a purple robe in mourning. This is a crime of disrespect. Why don't you take it seriously?" On it?"

The official explained: "Mr. Wang, I heard that after Ouyang came into power and entered the palace, he suddenly heard that Emperor Daxing had returned. He didn't have time to change his clothes, so he had to take it seriously. This was not intentional."

Wang Taodao: "This is Ouyang Xiu's sophistry. Your Majesty, Ouyang Xiu offended many ministers in the matter of Pu Yi before, and now he just uses it to let it go. Once this person leaves, it will be like breaking Han Qi's arm. Please also give your Majesty a lesson."

The official was embarrassed when he heard the words, and he looked at Han Wei again.

Han Wei has been persuading him to respect the minister in power, but Wang Tao asked him to suppress the minister in power, who should he listen to the two opinions.

The official felt like a puppet on a string, being dragged left and right by Wang Tao and Han Wei, and he had no idea.

Wang Tao said again: "Then why does Your Majesty refuse to use Sima Guang?"

The officials thought that it was Sima Guang who couldn't do it, but Wang Tao said: "Your Majesty should confide in such a minister, so that the other party will be dedicated."

The official comforted Wang Tao with gentle words, and then said: "The imperial court's expenses are tight, and Sima Guang refuses to cut expenses. I plan to find a way to raise money. Can the two gentlemen have any suitable ministers to recommend?"

Wang Tao sat aside angrily and did not speak.

Han Weidao: "I recommend two people to Your Majesty. They are Wang Anshi who is now living in Jiangning, and Taichang Cheng Zhangyue who was dismissed in the second year of Zhiping."

After finishing speaking, Han Wei presented a book to the officials and said: "This was written by Zhang Taichang after he dismissed from office. After reading it, I and my elder brother thought that I could present it to Your Majesty..."

The official is overjoyed to take the book.

But Wang Tao said suddenly: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yue is not available."

The official asked doubtfully: "Zhang Yue is the title and imperial title hand-picked by Emperor Renzong, why can't they be used?"

Wang Tao said loudly: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yue got the title because of Ouyang Xiu, and got the title because of Han Qi. This person is attached to Han Qi. Ouyang Xiu is not suitable for flatterers!"

(End of this chapter)