Prime Minister

Chapter 522
When Zhang Yue met Ouyang Xiu in the past, although the other party could not be said to have a flushed face and an excellent temperament, he was also naturally humorous and often laughed at himself in front of him.

Zhang Yue was dismissed from office last year, and he visited Ouyang Xiu on his way back to Bianjing.

Ouyang Xiu was being impeached by Lu Hui, Lu Dafang, Fan Chunren and others at that time.

Ouyang Xiu had long since thought of retiring, but he talked to himself about Jiayou's eighth year of Shangyuan Night.

During the Shangyuan Festival, the emperor will give a royal banquet in the Arhat Court of Xiangguo Temple as usual. On that night, Zhongshu and the Privy Council will be in charge of attending.

Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, and Zhang Sheng didn't come that night, but Ouyang Xiu, Zhao Gai, Hu Su, and Wu Kui had a feast.

The four of them ate and ate, and suddenly discovered that the four of them had become Hanlin scholars at the same time, and they had entered the second mansion one after another, which was unprecedented.

Ouyang Xiu was very happy for this night's imperial banquet, everyone talked and laughed with each other about the old affairs of the academy, and finally drank a lot of wine, and everyone left exhausted.

Ouyang Xiu was in high spirits, he even laughed out loud while talking, and even shed tears.

Zhang Yue wondered why it was so easy for him to come to see Ouyang Xiu. Ouyang Xiu repeatedly just said why he was drinking and chatting during Jiayou's eighth year Shangyuan banquet?
Zhang Yue listened and listened to Ouyang Fa who suddenly saw him wipe away his tears in secret.

Zhang Yue suddenly remembered that Emperor Renzong died of illness after the eighth year of Jiayou's Shangyuan night.

Ouyang Xiu thought of his days in the Renzong Dynasty, and at the same time thought of the Emperor Renzong who was so kind to him.After Zhiping, although Ouyang Xiu was in power, he received the most scolding.All the officials attributed Pu Yi's crimes to Ouyang Xiu.

So Ouyang Xiu missed the days when he was in the Renzong Dynasty, feasting and singing every day.

When he was leaving that day, Ouyang Xiu personally sent himself out. He said to himself: "Before Su Zizhan returned to Shu, he visited my court. But Qian is not my disciple."

After Zhang Yue heard this sentence, he understood that Ouyang Xiu regarded Su Shi as the successor of his article.

Su Shi is Ouyang Xiu's most proud student. He inherited his articles and held high the banner of retro.Ouyang Xiu's evaluation of Su Shi' I read his article, I can't feel sweating.The old man should avoid the road and let him go. '

Because of this sentence, scholars all over the world know Su Shi because of Ouyang Xiu.

At that time Zhang Yue heard that Ouyang Xiu praised Su Shi so much, and sighed in his heart, the person who really valued most in Ouyang Xiu's heart was Su Shi.

But Ouyang Xiu ordered Ouyang Fa to fetch an old book to give to himself.

Zhang Yue saw that the book was called "The Collection of Mr. Changli".

Ouyang Xiu said to Zhang Yue: "When I was ten years old, I was playing at the neighbor's house. I saw this six volumes of Mr. Changli's collection. Read "Miscellaneous Comments", "Teacher's Comments", "Send the Poor Wen", "The Biography of Mao Ying", "Winning "Lin Jie" but I feel that its writing is profound and magnificent, vast and boundless, and cute. The old man couldn't put it down and borrowed it for more than ten days, and determined to be Mr. Changli in the future!"

"Mr. Changli used his writings to clarify Taoism throughout his life, and revived my Confucian orthodoxy with his articles. I have scratched the surface of the meaning of the articles, but the revitalization of my Confucian orthodoxy has not yet been completed. Now I entrust this book to you."

Zhang Yue was shocked when he heard this, he knew that Ouyang Xiu had a collection of thousands of volumes, collected and recorded for three generations, only this old book was unique to Mr. Chang Li, it was kept by his side, and now he gave it to himself.

Zhang Yue hurriedly said: "This book is my uncle's heart's love, my nephew dare not accept it."

Ouyang Xiudao: "After thinking about it, there is no other person besides you to revitalize the orthodoxy."

Zhang Yue looked at Ouyang Xiu when he heard the words, but it was not that there was no second person.

At that time, Ouyang Xiu wrote poems for Wang Anshiyan, three thousand poems of Hanlin Fengyue, and 200 years of official articles.

In this official article 200 years ago, Ouyang Xiu first compared Wang Anshi to Han Yu, meaning that he can inherit Han Yu's orthodoxy.

But later Ouyang revised his words, saying that the Han official department was not Han Yu, but another official official secretary Xie Tiao.

At that time, Wang Anshi and Ouyang Xiu had disagreements over the use of Xue Xiang, and they fell out.

Ouyang Xiu withdrew his evaluation of Wang Anshi, but now he gave himself this collection of Mr. Changli, not Wang Anshi, whom he had placed high hopes on at the beginning.

After Zhang Yue bowed to the collar, Ouyang Xiu said to himself: "You and I may never see each other again, so I will give this book as a souvenir. I don't know when the old man will leave the capital, and you don't have to come here to send it off Me, lest the old man be very embarrassed on the spot!"

Hearing what Ouyang Xiu said, Zhang Yue was both funny and sad.

But a year later, although Ouyang Xiu was reprimanded, he still did a good job in politics. Han Qi wanted to recommend him as a privy envoy, but Ouyang Xiu also knew that he had a bad reputation, so he declined.

Zhang Yue thought that this was the end of the story, but he didn't expect that he would bid farewell to Ouyang Xiu on the first day of his reinstatement.

Zhang Yue said: "Uncle, if you think about it carefully, you will know that this kind of family affairs is the most private, and where did a censor hear it? Uncle defended himself by saying that he heard it from whom. I think this It will be self-defeating."

After listening to Zhang Yue's suggestion, Ouyang Xiu thought for a while and said, "But, you still understand the situation, the old man is in a mess, and you accidentally overlooked it, ashamed, ashamed."

Zhang Yue said to Ouyang Xiu: "Jiang Zhiqi was recommended by his uncle. If no one provokes him behind his back, he would not dare to do this. Who is behind this?"

Ouyang Xiu took a look at Zhang Yue and said: "Wang Tao has only been the censor Zhongcheng for a few days, and Jiang Zhiqi, the servant of the imperial censor in the palace, went to the old man. In the story of Yushitai, the censor of the third courtyard must first whiten the censor Zhongcheng or Zaduan. This method Although it will be abolished in the future, I don't believe that Wang Tao didn't know about Jiang Zhiqi's performance in advance."

"On the day when Wang Tao became the Prime Minister of Quan Yushi, the official handwritten the four characters 'Xian Yide' to Wang Tao, and then told him that I and Qing are of one mind and cannot be changed. Wang Tao wants to clarify rewards and punishments, and reprimands sycophants."

Zhang Yue was secretly startled when he heard that, Jiang Zhiqi's impeachment of Ouyang Xiu was probably ordered by Wang Tao, and Wang Tao's move must have been tacitly approved by the officials...

The official's further intention was not to deal with Ouyang Xiu, but Han Qi behind him.

In other words, no matter how Ouyang Xiu tried to defend, it was useless.

Because the emperor wants you to leave!
Ouyang Xiu looked at Tianzhang Pavilion and Zhang Yue and said: "The first thing you do when you become an official servant today is to remember not to speak for me. If the official wants to reprimand me Ouyang Xiu and at the same time use you, it means that he is not Trust Wang Tao completely."

Zhang Yue took a step back and said, "My nephew remembers it."

Ouyang Xiu showed relief, and said to Zhang Yue: "Go, go!"

Zhang Yue nodded to Ouyang Xiu, and said goodbye.

Zhang Yue walked a few steps, couldn't help turning around, but seeing Ouyang Xiu still watching him off, seeing himself turning around and smiling, he waved his hand to signal that he didn't need to be delayed because of him.

Zhang Yue remembered what Ouyang Xiu told him not to send him off, maybe today is the last time we meet.Thinking of Ouyang Xiu's kindness to him after he went to Beijing, Zhang Yue felt really sad in his heart at the moment.

Zhang Yue ran to Ouyang Xiu, and bowed.

Ouyang Xiu helped Zhang Yue up, took his hand and said, "Don't worry that you and I won't have a chance to meet each other. The West Lake in Yingzhou is very beautiful. You may wish to visit it if you have time in the future. If you see a gray hair Old man, your head is full of seasonal flowers, don’t laugh at others, that’s old man drunk with others.”

"Actually, all partings in life are like getting drunk, don't you think you can save them?"

Zhang Yue nodded and looked at Ouyang Xiu.

I'm just as drunk as usual, and don't teach the orchestra to be separated.

……

Zhang Yue didn't expect to bid farewell to Ouyang Xiu on the first day of his reinstatement.

The next day the chapter became more formal.

The emperor was discussing matters with all the officials in the big living room, and Zhang Yue waited quietly in the side hall.

Soon the official family also arrived at the side hall, followed by Han Wei, a direct scholar of Longtu Pavilion.

Zhang Yue paid homage to the official family in the hall, and the official family smiled and said to Zhang Yue: "Zhang Qing is finally here, I am short of people who can be used by my side. Only in this way can I rectify my gains and losses and benefit the king's virtue."

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty will be holy tomorrow, how dare a foolish minister speak falsely, but what you hope for can be beneficial to Your Majesty."

The official smiled.

Immediately, the official family went to the throne in the main hall, and Han Wei and Zhang Yue accompanied him.

At this time, the ministers took turns to perform affairs in the palace. Han Qi was not present because he was the envoy of the mountain mausoleum, and he had been handling the tomb of the late emperor. After Ouyang Xiu was impeached, he also stayed at home and resigned at the same time to avoid suspicion.

The ministers who entered the palace were Zeng Gongliang and Wu Kui.

Wu Kui said to the officials: "I would like to report to Your Majesty that Wang Anshi said he was ill and refused to go to the palace, and the Shangshu asked to keep the place. I don't know how to deal with it?"

The officials were dissatisfied with the words and said to Zeng Gongliang: "When the late emperor was in power, he repeatedly called Wang Anshi, but Wang Anshi repeatedly refused to come back. Is this disrespectful? Or is there something hidden?"

Zeng Gongliang said: "Wang Anshi is a great Confucian in the world. He can be used in a big way, and he is no exaggeration compared to a sage. Now that he can't be summoned repeatedly, he must be ill, and there is no other reason."

After Zeng Gongliang finished speaking, the officials looked at Wu Kui again.

Wu Kui said: "In the seventh year of Jiayou, Wang Anshi had a conflict with the Kaifeng government because of a criminal name. In the end, a judge ruled that Wang Anshi was rude. Wang Anshi should have apologized to Emperor Renzong for this matter, but Wang Anshi insisted on not going. "

"The court should have accused Wang Anshi of this matter, and it was Han Xiang who pardoned him. But Wang Anshi repeatedly thought that Han Xiang was suppressing himself, so that he was angry, so he resolutely refused to enter the court."

Zhang Yue knew that Wu Kui was talking about the quail case.

Anyway, according to Wu Kui's description, Wang Anshi, a narrow-minded and vindictive prime minister, expressed it in front of the officials.

The officials were also skeptical after hearing this. Why did Zhang Yue and Han Wei recommend Wang Anshi at the same time, which seemed a bit awkward.

Seeing the faces of the officials, Zeng Gongliang quit. He said: "Your Majesty, Wang Anshi has the talent to assist the prime minister. Wu Kui's words confuse the saints."

Hearing Zeng Gongliang's accusation against him, Wu Kui said without hesitation: "Your Majesty, when I led the shepherd envoys with Wang Anshi, I saw that he was extremely pedantic in his affairs. In addition to all the mistakes in the past, if you use this person, It must be chaos in the court. It was Zeng Gongliang who confused Shengting, not the ministers who confused Shengting."

The officials saw that Zeng Gongliang and Wu Kui held their own opinions, and they withdrew.

The official said to Han Wei: "Since Wang Anshi is unwilling to go to the palace, it is better to follow his request and let Wang Anshi know Jiangning Mansion first."

Han Wei said: "If your majesty is like this, Wang Anshi will not be willing to take up the post?"

"Why?" asked the officer.

Han Weidao: "Since Wang Anshi claimed to be sick, if he was appointed as a sheriff, it would prove that his spirit is competent. It is not human nature to refuse to serve His Majesty in the place where he is taught. Wang Anshi is not a hypocrite like this. Or what."

Zhang Yue glanced at Han Wei, are you helping Wang Anshi or cheating Wang Anshi, if the emperor really ordered, Wang Anshi accepted the edict of Zhijiang Ning Mansion, wouldn't he really become a treacherous person?
Han Wei resolutely said: "Your Majesty, at the beginning of practicing Zuo, if you want to recruit a group of sages and work together to promote the prosperity of the world, which minister is not willing to be loyal to His Majesty and do what you have learned in your life. Now that Wang Anshi is not willing to go to the palace, I think he is hesitant. Therefore, I do not know the sincerity of Your Majesty's courtesy and virtuousness."

The official asked again: "Han Qing, Zhang Qing is fine, so why did Mr. Zeng recommend Wang Anshi repeatedly?"

Han Wei said: "Your Majesty, Zeng Gongliang recommended Wang Anshi because he intended to overthrow Han Qi."

Only then did the officials suddenly realize that it was no wonder that Zeng Gongliang wanted Wang Anshi to enter the court, and Wu Kui was recommended by Han Qi as the prime minister, so he persistently opposed Wang Anshi's entry into the court.

There are interests behind this.

For the first time, Zhang Yue's attendants felt that they had benefited a lot from hearing a few words, and the officials were willing to let him participate in discussing such a major matter, obviously they regarded themselves as their confidants.

But Zhang Yue entered straight for the first time, and if the emperor didn't ask, he wouldn't say anything, just serve as a good background board over there.

After Zeng Gongliang and Wu Kui left, His Royal Highness asked Han Jiang, the envoy of the third division, and Zhang Fangping, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, to ask to enter.

As soon as Han Jiang came in, she cried to the officials.

First, when Emperor Renzong held a funeral, he rewarded all the officials and the imperial army, and there was not a single sheep left near the capital.

Now that the officials have to grant rewards for enthroning, there is no money left.

In the end, Han Jiang summed up her speech in one sentence, that is, "the accumulation of a hundred years, but only an empty book".

The Song Dynasty has been established for more than a hundred years, and now there is nothing left in the treasury except a pile of account books for the emperor.

Zhang Yue has always heard that the country has no money and no money, and always feels that the Song Dynasty family has a big business, so how can they raise some funds to tide over the difficulties.But after listening to Han Jiang's words, I realized that there was really no other way, and the country was at the end of its rope.

Listening to what Han Jiang and Zhang Fangping said, the officials kept biting their lips with their teeth.

Zhang Fangping said: "The country has been in poverty since the Qing Dynasty. Now the national treasury is not as good as Emperor Renzong's later years. In addition, His Majesty enthroned and granted rewards, so there is really no money to spend. Now I hope His Majesty will save money..."

After Han Jiang and Zhang Fangping said something unnutritious and stepped back, the officials were in a bad mood.

Han Wei said in relief: "Your Majesty, this matter cannot be rushed, it needs to be done slowly."

The official nodded, and then reported to Peng Siyong, the former imperial censor, that Jiang Zhiqi, the envoy of the palace, asked to see him.

Zhang Yue couldn't help clenching his fists.

But seeing Peng Siyong, what Jiang Zhiqi said in the hall was only one thing, which was Ouyang Xiu's crime of indecent.

Jiang Zhiqi knelt in the hall and made an impassioned speech, saying that he wanted to kill Ouyang Xiu in the abandoned city!
Zhang Yue looked at Jiang Zhiqi, but he seemed extremely indignant when he saw what he said.

After the other party saw him staring at him, Jiang Zhiqi glanced at him. The other party seemed to know his identity, but he didn't avoid his eyes at all, and he didn't look guilty at all.

(End of this chapter)