The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

The two entered Yidemen and went forward. Led by the servants who came to welcome them, they turned right in front of the Daqing Hall facing the court and then went north. They went straight to the back garden through the wide avenue between the halls and pavilions.

This time, Zhao Zhen's banquet was held in Yanfu Palace. Yanfu Palace is located in the north of Chongzheng Hall where the Imperial Study Room is located. Treat this banquet as a family banquet, and it will look more casual and comfortable in the harem.

Pang Ji strode ahead, and Yan Shu followed behind, out of breath, and said repeatedly: "Pang Dao, Da Dao, why are you walking so fast? It's time to eat in the palace, what are you in a hurry for?"

Pang Ji said without turning his head: "Go early and come back early, so as not to see you angry."

Yan Shu smiled wryly, "Why did I offend you again?"

Pang Ji stopped and turned around and said: "Tell me, how did I, Pang Ji, offend you? The emperor wanted to transfer me back to Beijing several times, and you made trouble for it. Don't think that the old man doesn't know. I know your deeds very well. .”

Yan Shu caught up and said with a smile: "You have done so well in the northwest, why do you want to go back to the capital to suffer? Foreign officials don't have to be officials in Beijing to feel at ease?"

Pang Ji spat and said angrily: "You shit is free, why don't you go to the northwest to be an official? Every day, the cold wind is biting, and the yellow sand is smashed down with hailstones. Do you know what the first thing I do when I wake up every day? ?”

Yan Shu said, "What is it?"

"It's his mother who picked out half a tael of sand from his nostrils! It's all thanks to you."

Yan Shu sneered and said, "What you said is unreasonable. The northwest is also the territory of our Great Song Dynasty, and it is the gateway to the south of Xixia. Once the roads in the northwest are lost, the gate of the capital will be opened. Such a strategic and dangerous place, as you say So you don’t need someone to guard it?”

Pang Ji said angrily, "But why me?"

Yan Shu said: "Why can't it be you? Aren't Lord Xia, Lord Fan, and Lord Han all in the northwest? Why can't you go?"

Pang Ji said: "I don't care about other people, but this old man is caused by you making things difficult in every possible way. I know why you obstructed me from returning to Beijing. Isn't it because the marriage contract between my Pang family and your niece and daughter has not been dissolved according to your wishes?" ? Tell you old boy, this old man has a crush on you, don’t even think about breaking the engagement between your niece and my poor child.”

Yan Shu was so angry that he wanted to turn his back on him, but remembering what Su Jin had warned him, he had no choice but to hold back his breath; he knew this Pang Ji very well, and although he had some abilities, he was extremely despicable, capricious and cunning. .

At first, Yan Shu’s impression of Pang Ji was not that bad. Pang Ji was still an unknown person at that time, and he was cute after Yan Shu; in the third year of Jingyou, Fan Zhongyan, the prefect of Tianzhang Pavilion, impeached Lu Yi, and drew the bamboo slips with his own hands. When Lu Yijian dedicated the "Picture of Hundred Officials" with the exclusive power of a private party to Zhao Zhen, Pang Ji's true nature was revealed, and he secretly tipped Lu Yijian.

After Lu Yijian made preparations, he easily resolved the impeachment in the hall, and instead demoted Fan Zhongyan, who had impeached him, from the imperial court. He stayed in the northwest for more than ten years, complaining about Fan Zhongyan's complaints Yu Jing, Yin Zhu and others He was also demoted out at the same time, which can be described as a shock to the ruling and opposition parties.

Because of this, Pang Ji was promoted and was rewarded by Lu Yijian for his meritorious deeds, and he established himself in the court; Fan Zhongyan was recommended by Yan Shu. As a result, Yan Shu's position as deputy prime minister was also lost. He was promoted as the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, and later was honored as the envoy of the third division.

At the beginning, the marriage of the children of the Yan family and the Pang family was arranged early, but by this time, the situation was already in full swing. Pang Ji had Lu Yijian backing him, so of course he ignored Yan Shu's complaints. After his son's death, he refused Yan Shu's request to terminate the contract several times. It was to disgust Yan Shu and make Yan Shu unhappy.

Yan Shu is not a fuel-efficient lamp. Although he is suppressed by Lu Yijian, he has his own way. Especially in front of the emperor, Yan Shu's words are even more effective than Lu Yijian; Ji got to go to the northwest front to eat the wind and sand.

Pang Ji asked Lu Yijian to help him transfer back to the capital several times, but at the court meeting, Yan Shu rejected them all.

Now Yan Shu couldn't get angry. Since the emperor had agreed to intervene, for the sake of Yan Biyun's happiness, he couldn't quarrel with Pang Ji at this time. On the contrary, he wanted to give Pang Ji some benefits to make him submit.

"Pang Da, is there such a big enmity between you and me? Leaving aside who is right and wrong, the old man just asks you, do you want to go back to the capital?"

Pang Ji looked at Yan Shu suspiciously, wondering if he was teasing himself, did this old man ask me to go back to the capital?No, he was never that kind.

"The capital, I wanted to come back before, but now I have worked in the Northwest for several years, and I have adapted to everything. It doesn't matter if I come back or not." Pang Ji didn't want to let himself fall into a passive position, so he could only force himself to say some scene words .

Yan Shu couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes, and sighed: "So that's how it is. That day when the old man went to the palace to have an interview, the emperor inadvertently asked about the candidate for the missing privy envoy, and asked the old man to consider it and report it to him. They are all considering that the position of Deputy Privy Envoy should be familiar with military affairs, and the best candidates are people in the Northwest; you, Lord Xia, Han and Fan, and Han Fan may not be suitable candidates at present, so they are basically ruled out; Lord Xia chooses among others, since you have no intention of doing so, then the old man has no choice but to recommend Lord Xia Song."

Pang Ji's heart skipped a beat, and he almost slapped himself a few times in regret; originally he would never believe Yan Shu's words, but after returning to Beijing in the past few days, he also got news from the Political Affairs Hall that the deputy envoy of the Privy Council really planned to add One person, the emperor and the two governments are considering it; he originally planned to communicate with Lu Xiang, but unexpectedly learned from Du Yan that Lu Xiang had already favored Xia Song for this position.

Pang Ji knew that the relationship between Xia Song and Lu Yijian was far stronger than his own. Xia Song had always been an important minister in the court, and he came from Lu Yijian's sect. Not as good as him, let alone himself; now that Yan Shu mentioned this matter, Pang Ji's cold heart warmed up again.

If Yan Shu really wanted to let him take up this position, with Yan Shu behind him, although he might not be able to defeat Xiang Lu, the chances would be greatly increased.

But why does this person support himself?What I have done in the past has made the two of them seem to be inseparable, and they attack each other in private; on the surface it is for the sake of the marriage contract, but in fact everyone knows the reason behind it; under such circumstances, how could Yan Shu support him? It's just a joke to say so; but what if it's true?If I make a wrong judgment, wouldn't I waste this great opportunity for nothing? Wouldn't I have to spend the rest of my life eating sand and drinking wind in the northwest?

"Master Yan, don't tease me. The post of deputy privy envoy is never my turn. Lord Xia is the best candidate. Regardless of his official position, connections or ability, he is above this old man; I have no intention of arguing with him."

Yan Shu said solemnly: "What is contention? The imperial court's selection of officials adheres to the principle of meritocracy. Lord Xia can indeed take on the responsibility, but the two recent defeats in the Northwest were related to him. The emperor was extremely annoyed and did not trust him very much; You still remember that in the last court meeting, your official position was demoted the least. You were transferred from the transfer envoy of the Northwest Four Routes to the recruitment envoy. You will know the rank of the envoy of the Yongxing Army, but the official position is lowered from above you, have you not considered the difference between this?"

Pang Ji opened his eyes wide and said: "It turns out that since then, the emperor has been dissatisfied with Lord Xia."

Yan Shu nodded and said, "It's more than just dissatisfaction. If it wasn't for Xiang Lu's request, Master Xia would be dismissed and left idle. The old man thinks that the emperor actually prefers you, but the candidate Lu Xiang reported was Xia Song, so he was a little hesitant." Otherwise, Lu Xiang and Du Shumi both recommended Xia Song, why would the emperor ask for my opinion? It is because the emperor thinks that Xia Song is not suitable."

Pang Ji nodded secretly, this analysis is absolutely reasonable, if it was really as Yan Shu said, his righteous words just now would have become a joke, and directly ruined his future; brain.

"That...Master Yan, since the emperor doesn't like Lord Xia Songxia, you still recommended him. Didn't you live up to the emperor's expectations?"

Yan Shu smiled and said, "What's the matter? It's not that Mr. Xia is incompetent, it's just that after the new defeat, the emperor has a pimple in his heart. If there is really only one candidate, the emperor will think too much about his personal preferences for the sake of the country." ? Hey, it's a pity that you are so big, the old man didn't expect you to be so indifferent to fame and fortune, but it's really admirable."

"Indifferent to fame and wealth! Damn it, I'm a two hundred and five!" Pang Ji scolded himself several times in his stomach, with an embarrassed smile on his face, and couldn't stop thinking about how to redeem what he said just now.

After thinking about it for a long time, Pang Ji decided to get straight to the point with an old face. Such an opportunity is hard to find in a thousand years.

Yan Shu walked forward, but this time it was Pang Ji who ran after him.

"Yan Sansi, Lord Yan, I still have a few words to talk to you. It's still early in the day. I went to Yanfu Palace or have to wait outside. What are you in such a hurry for?" It was originally what Yan Shu said, Now it was Pang Ji's turn to ask for permission.

Yan Shu smiled slightly, and said in his heart: "I'm not afraid that you won't take the bait, how can there be a reason why cats don't eat fish and dogs don't eat shit?"