Prime Minister

Zhang Yue looked at Sima Guang in front of him, his eyes were dim and his beard was turning white.

In fact, Sima Guang is not old, he is only 53 years old now, compared to Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo is still young.

Zhang Yue feels that the evaluation from another angle is true. The Zizhi Tongjian he wrote when he was dormant in Luoyang is a work that can be remembered in history, but in fact, for Sima Guang, it is actually a political achievement in his life. The most frustrating moment.

Although Sima Guang was frustrated, he did not lose his fighting spirit. Judging from his self-reported "Solitary Paradise", it meant that he was fighting Wang Anshi.

You can see how humble and small the [-]-acre Duyuan is, the courtyard is too small, and the study hall is too small.You, Wang Anshi, thought it was miserable for me to be demoted to Luoyang, right? That's right.

Even in Luoyang, Sima Guang occupied the high ground of public opinion by writing Zizhitongjian to criticize Wang Anshi's new law.

Sima Guang and Zhang Yue sat opposite each other, and Sima Guang said to Zhang Yue: "Duzhi, I am not someone who can't let go. After I left Bianjing, I told everyone that I will never talk about new laws from now on. I will return to Lao Lin." , Anxin to write a book. But one day Xianke (Lu Hui)'s servants came to me and said that Xianke was dying, but he hoped to see me for the last time when he was dying."

"When I rushed to his house in a hurry, he was unconscious and only breathed his last breath."

Lu Heo and Sima Guang were close friends. Pu Yishi and Sima Guang fought against Yingzong together, and then fought against Wang Anshi together. They can be called teammates in the same trench.

And Zhang Yue and Lu Hui are also old friends, and it was thanks to his help that they brought down Ren Shouzhong.

In addition to Lu Hui's vision of picking a son-in-law, he is commendable regardless of his character and integrity.

Speaking of this, Sima Guang sighed: "At that time I... Finally, when he woke up, he grabbed my hand, forced his eyes open and said reluctantly, 'There is still something to do in the world, and Junshi will try his best to do it'... After saying this sentence, he died..."

Zhang Yue sighed when he thought of his relationship with Lu He, but before he died, Lu He told Sima Guang that he would continue to fight Wang Anshi...

"Duzhi, if I were you, would you let go of everything?" Sima Guang asked.

Zhang Yuedao: "The grievances and grievances between the scholar and Wang Xianggong, the lower officials dare not comment, but the lower officials believe that the aspirations of the bachelor and Wang Xianggong are for the sake of the community and the common people in the world, but the paths they take are different."

Sima Guang said: "For the common people in the world? I deeply hate that when I was with Han, Lv Ergong recommended Jiefu to Beijing without knowing anyone."

When Wang Anshi first entered Beijing and was used by the emperor, he could not do without the recommendation of the other three of Jiayou's four friends, but in the end he fell out with the three of them one after another.

Zhang Yuedao: "Dare to ask a scholar, if there is no Wang Xianggong, no one will implement the new law? This dynasty has accumulated evils for a long time. At the beginning, Han Gong and Lu Gong kindly invited Wang Xianggong to enter the court. The Duke also wanted to do it, but it was only because he made such a mess and embarrassment that everyone went to attack him."

"Whether there is Wang Xianggong or not, the new law wants to be implemented. This is actually the public's plan. The scholars think that although Wang Xianggong's actions are wrong, the reform is also in line with the current situation!"

"According to the current situation?" Sima Guang chewed on these words.

Zhang Yuedao: "The lower officials heard that the bachelor was the epitaph of Lu Gongli, and his words were often critical of the current affairs and Wang Xianggong's words. At that time, everyone was worried about the safety of the bachelor. After Cai Tianshen visited Luoyang, he spent [-] pieces to buy the bachelor. This inscription was secretly sent to Wang Xianggong for review."

"But Wang Xianggong was not angry at all after reading it. Instead, he framed the scholar's essay and hung it in the study."

When Sima Guang was in Luoyang, he offended Cai Tianshen by reprimanding him, so Cai Tianshen held a grudge, and wanted to harm Sima Guang, so he came up with the idea of ​​killing with a knife.Wang Anshi was also a sensible person, so instead he hung the inscription written by Sima Guang to Lu Hui in his study.

But Zhang Yue continued to insist on the principle of saying good things behind others, and never slandered another person in front of others.

Sima Guang smiled and said: "I still say the same thing about Jiefu, the whole world thinks he is treacherous, but in fact it is too much to destroy, he is just ignorant and too stubborn."

Zhang Yue said with a smile: "The scholar said that Wang Xianggong is ignorant of things. It reminds me of the scholar's teaching that officials should be close to human feelings and understand human feelings. If they don't understand human feelings, they don't understand things."

Sima Guang couldn't help laughing when he heard the words, and then he stroked his white beard and said slowly: "Thinking about it until now, what I said may not be all right."

The old and the young were relatively smiling when they heard the words.

I thought I had reached this point, but Sima Guang suddenly asked: "Duzhi, now that the government and the public are discussing the new law, how long do you think Jiefu will be in the phase?"

Zhang Yue's heart shuddered, thinking about Sima Guang purely as an academic and moral figure, Wang Anshi was wrong.

Officials can achieve the position of prime minister, and there is absolutely no good thing.

Zhang Yue asked back: "This official dare not speculate. In fact, the bachelor wants to ask Wang Xianggong, who can replace him?"

Sima Guang asked: "Oh? Who can replace him? Who does Du Zhi think it is from the current Second Mansion?"

Zhang Yuedao: "From the point of view of the lower officials, it will not be any minister in the Second Mansion. The officials are more likely to pick people from outside to build a team of prime ministers instead of building a team from the existing candidates."

Sima Guang asked: "Choose from the foreign court? Who would it be?"

Zhang Yue said: "Wang Xianggong's resignation is a mistake in the current new law. Perhaps most people are thinking that when the time comes, the government will definitely choose the most prestigious official from the opposition ministers who opposed the reform at the time. Set things right, but I don't think so."

Sima Guang's expression remained motionless.

Zhang Yuedao: "If Wang Xianggong really dismissed the prime minister, it doesn't mean that the reform will stop, because some people will think that the reason why the reform failed is because of the obstruction of the old party like the bachelor, so that it was delayed, so some It is not certain that another person may be more radical than when Wang Xianggong was in power."

Sima Guang pondered Zhang Yue's words.

The two sides had just fought hand to hand in a short period of time, and they attacked and defended each other many times in just a few words.

At this moment, Sima Guang realized that the Zhang Yue in front of him was no longer the younger brother who just foolishly followed behind him and waved flags and shouted for Emperor Yingzong.

Sima Guang said: "Duzhi means that a country is like a huge ship, and the ship turns around in a catastrophe. The new law cannot be abolished by Jiefu's presence or absence."

Zhang Yue said, "It's just as the scholar said."

"At the beginning, Jiayou's four friends all had the world in their hearts, and the common people of the country wanted to solve the difficulties of the time and get rid of the long-standing evils. In the end, they elected the most courageous and thoughtful Wang Xianggong among the four to help the world."

"But after Wang Xianggong came to power, the three scholars opposed the new law one after another. No matter what the new law is, the country's long-standing problems have not been solved. This is actually the original ambition of the princes, so we still have to take the road of getting rid of the current problems."

Sima Guang sighed: "The duty of the Son of Heaven is greater than propriety. Propriety is used to determine points, and it is good to keep it difficult. You see, there are so many state affairs in today's state, all because desires are hard to fill. From ancient times to the present, when a country is about to perish, there must be too much control!"

Zhang Yue smiled slightly. The two sides have differences in this point of view. It is good for gentlemen to be in harmony but not to be different.

Zhang Yue turned to ask about the compilation of Zi Zhi Tong Jian, and he could also report this matter to the officials when he came to Beijing.

Speaking of this, Sima Guang talked with Zhang Yue about his experience of cultivating Zizhi Tongjian with great interest.

The history books and unofficial history compiled by Zizhi Tongjian have 8000 to [-] million characters. For this reason, Sima Guang filled his bookstore, and then he edited the manuscripts written by Guo Lin and Fan Zuyu.

Every word written is not written on paper but on silk. Needless to say how expensive silk is, because it is for the emperor to read.Moreover, Sima Guang himself was very rich. He ate poor food all his life and lived a frugal life, but he could spend a lot of money where he should spend it.

Moreover, Zi Zhi Tong Jian has several million words, and Sima Guang writes it every day, and he writes very seriously.Zhang Yue looked at the words written on the silk, each one was meticulous, and there was often clear water next to the desk.

Sima Guang washed his hands before writing, and was extremely careful when flipping through the books.

Whenever he was exhausted from writing, Sima Guang would sleep for a while on the bed with round wooden pillows beside him.But he didn't sleep for a long time, because as soon as a person fell asleep, the log pillow would roll, and people would wake up from a deep sleep.

Seeing Sima Guang doing this with such great strength at his age, Zhang Yue admired him very much.

It seems that many scholars who have lived a poor life are also doing such things, but Sima Guang is not only a scholar, but also an official, and he almost became a senior official in power of the two governments.

Can retreat from the high position of sensuality, live in this cool cave, be willing to be poor and lonely, and write books for several years, Zhang Yue has nothing but heartfelt admiration for Sima Guangwei
When it was time to say goodbye, Sima Guang got up to send Zhang Yue off.

Sima Guang bowed, holding a bamboo stick, his eyesight was already very bad, Zhang Yue said: "It's better for the bachelor to stay."

Sima Guang shook his head and said, "Duzhi is a soldier of the world, let me give you a gift."

"Ashamed."

After Zhang Yue and Sima Guang walked out of the cool cave, Fan Zuyu and Guo Lin were waiting outside, watching Sima Guang chatting with Zhang Yue and coming out with a smile, they were all happy.

Sima Guang sent Zhang Yue all the way to the gate of the mansion, talking to him about the scenery of his own paradise.

Zhang Yue repeatedly urged Sima Guang to stay, but Sima Guang insisted on refusing.

At the final parting, Sima Guang said to Zhang Yue: "Duzhi, I have thought a lot about what you said just now."

Guo Lin and Fan Zuyu stepped aside knowingly.

Zhang Yue said: "I don't know what the bachelor is thinking?"

Sima Guangdao: "If Jiefu is dismissed, only Han Zihua (Han Jiang), Lu Jifu (Lv Huiqing) and Zeng Zixuan (Zeng Bu) will be the only ones who can succeed him in implementing the new law. In order to participate in politics, a bachelor's assistant."

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "Maybe."

Sima Guang pondered for a while and said, "Duzhi, you are a loyal person. We officials in Luoyang all knew about Lu Jifu's rejection of you back then."

"The reason why a gentleman does not fight is because there is no one in the world to fight with him, but when it is time to fight, he still has to do his part!"

Zhang Yue was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "Bachelor, don't worry, Zhang will remember."

Sima Guang nodded and smiled, "That's good."