Princess Consort of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 113 The Prime Minister Measuring His Confidence as a Loyal Official Reenters the Court

"Mr. Lou is worried about state affairs. I am very grateful for coming here in person today. Now that the country is peaceful and the people are safe, the king's governor has contributed a lot. Of course, there should be no embarrassment. What does the son-in-law think?"

Shen Sanwen must feel bad, but there is no need to tell the truth in front of outsiders.

"The princess is right."

Princess: "Mr. Lou, can you rest assured?"

Lou Shide bowed slightly, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."

Princess: "Mr. Lou, please go back."

Shen San asked but was puzzled, "Could it be that Wang Fangyi really has a different intention?"

Princess: "Whether he has a different heart or not, I will protect him this time."

After Lou Shide returned home, his son saw him looking depressed, so he hurriedly came to inquire, "My lord, but the matter failed."

Lou Shide: "It's done. It's just that Shen Sanwen didn't let go. This matter is up to Princess Taiping. In this way, the father owes the princess a favor, and it's not good to embarrass her anymore."

"Father and Wang Dudu are brothers and sisters. The princess understands righteousness. Now that the matter is done, why should father care about it?"

Lou Shide: "If the son-in-law agrees, we will serve as ministers in the same hall. This is his duty as an official. But if it is a princess, she and Wang Fangyi also have some disagreements. It's just because of the father's thin face. How can it be the same. You have been to the school run by the son-in-law."

"My child has already been to the school. The school is taught by a woman from the Shen family. She teaches some basic characters, teaches people to understand some notices, signs, and numbers, and is quite respected by the people. School-age children who are eager to learn and work hard can enter the school. Jie Xuetang, many rhetorical articles about women's suffrage are also very reasonable. No one stopped and interrogated the child when he went, and I heard that anyone can go."

Lou Shide: "The literati attach great importance to the inheritance of teachers, and the officialdom attaches great importance to the grace of referrals. Now Shangguan Wan'er recruits talents and leads the style of writing. The son-in-law uses women as teachers to defend the harem's participation in politics. The holy will is biased towards Princess Taiping. This world really wants It has changed. I, Mrs. Lou, must not get involved in the royal disputes. You pass on the orders of your father to restrain the clansmen. Think twice before doing anything. Don’t let misfortunes come out of your mouth, offend the powerful, and offend people who can’t do it.”

On the other side, Shen Sanwen discussed with the princess about exonerating Wang Fangyi.

The most important point of Lai Junchen's criticism of Wang Fangyi is that he has won the hearts of the people, so he is a threat. As long as this point is resolved, it will be easy to say.

The next day, Shen Sanwen read Wang Fangyi's book.When Wang Fangyi was the governor of Xiazhou, under the reputation of Qinggui, he was actually greedy for money and profit, and he was arbitrary. He complained many times that he had made great achievements but had been guarding outside for many years, but the court rarely rewarded him.The soil in Xiazhou is hard, and it is difficult to cultivate land. The people who have been working for generations made new farm tools. Wang Fangyi took it for himself and forcibly took the credit, and did not allow the people to criticize it.Anyone who complained about the hardships of life was charged with criticizing the government and severely beaten.Therefore, some people traveled thousands of miles to the capital to complain.When Di Renjie was the county magistrate, in order to maintain his reputation, he acted recklessly, did not observe the order of superiority and inferiority, forced the officials to change the edict and obey Di Renjie, he was really a flatterer.

Many people in the court seconded the proposal, Wang Fangyi is trying to gain fame, I don't know if Lou Shide manipulated it secretly, or the princess gave the order.

After hearing this, Emperor Wu didn't say anything, and this matter can only be discussed later.

After coming down to court, Lou Shide received a message from Emperor Wu.

Emperor Wu: "Wang Fangyi is a talented person who has made great contributions to the society, but he is stubborn and has many dissatisfaction with me. How should Lou Qing deal with it?"

Lou Shide: "Wang Fangyi is a layman, how dare he be dissatisfied with His Majesty. Your Majesty makes his own decision, and I will listen with all ears."

Emperor Wu: "I gave him a thousand taels of silver and a thousand bolts of brocade as a token of condolences. You can send them to him."

Lou Shide burst into tears, "Your Majesty is wise, reward the frontier generals, and the frontier soldiers will definitely be grateful for your majesty's kindness, everyone is brave."

Emperor Wu: "I only hope that he will cause less trouble, don't challenge my tolerance limit."

Emperor Wu wrote a hand letter, thinking of him for his meritorious service in guarding the frontier, and gave him some money, and blamed Wang Fangyi for not being able to stick to his heart, not to be harsh on the people, not to be greedy for money and flatter and lose his character.When Wang Fangyi saw the messenger, he was sure that Emperor Wu had no intention of killing him.

Lai Junchen traveled between the two places, unwilling to ruin his hard work in the past few days, he still carefully prepared evidence and presented it to the Emperor Wu.Emperor Wu thought he was loyal and rewarded him, but he did not punish Wang Fangyi.

This matter was passed in peace.

Shen Sanwen discussed this matter with the princess again, "Lou Shide is not a simple person, and the princess also likes him very much."

Princess: "Of the generals guarding the border, he is the only one who can make the empress feel at ease."

Shen San asked: "During the morning court today, some ministers called him a funny walker and a country bumpkin, but he didn't care."

The princess smiled, "He was born as a civil servant. He has been in the military for many years. He is always different from the nobles in Luoyang City. However, he has a good temper that is not easy to offend. When we really think about it, this Luoyang is able to have both sides in the officialdom. He's the only one left."

Shen San asked: "The prime minister can hold a boat in his stomach, and if he changes someone, no one would dare to say such a thing. I heard that His Majesty has already taken a fancy to this person in the early years, and his vision of knowing people is really not to be underestimated."

Princess: "A thousand-mile horse needs to be appreciated by Bole, and the name of Bole also needs to be fulfilled by a thousand-mile horse. To be able to sit firmly in the country, the Queen Mother must have the true ability to know people and employ people."

Yes, Your Majesty has a good eye, especially when it comes to choosing a son-in-law.

Shen San asked: "Princess, I'm going to change the way about the school."

Princess: "I would like to hear more about it."

Shen San asked: "The scope of the current publicity is too small. It only exposes our ideas and attracts criticism. If it really wants to work, it needs to be widely and deeply publicized."

Princess: "Do you want to do it all over the country?"

Shen San asked: "That's not necessary, it can be done among scholars.

Shangguan Wan'er's poems gave me a lot of inspiration. They participated in the poetry meeting just to attract Shangguan Wan'er's attention and win His Majesty's favor.

In today's imperial examinations, people who are good at learning are selected as officials.

If you choose a person with new and correct ideas to be an official, then all the literati in the world will change their previous ideas. "

Princess: "The Empress will not agree to this matter."

Shen San asked: "If you just support the harem's participation in politics, His Majesty will definitely not agree. If you put it another way, look for the rationality and inevitability of Your Majesty's proclaiming emperor, your contribution to the world, and Your Majesty's philosophy of governing the country, so what?
His Majesty was already annoyed that some old ministers held the idea that His Majesty's theft of the country should belong to the King of Luling.His Majesty will definitely agree to add this subject.

Now it is the state of Zhou, these scholars should naturally have the idea of ​​being loyal to His Majesty. If it is about this matter, they still can't figure out how they can be worthy of a big responsibility if they follow the old ways.

Does the princess think this is feasible?If it is feasible, tomorrow I will advise His Majesty to strengthen the centralization of power, select scholars with reasonable political thoughts, and take additional political examinations. "

The princess thought for a moment, "Three questions, you are not only a person trusted by the queen mother, but also my son-in-law. As long as it is beneficial to the queen mother, you can do whatever you want."

Shen San asked: "Is there anything wrong with this?"

Princess: "Not all literati have a strong character. If these people make some duplicity and grandstanding, which will cause dissatisfaction among the government and the public, it will inevitably make people laugh. In addition, there are also people who stick to their hearts, and many talents will be lost in this way."

Shen San asked: "It's just a matter of correcting your mentality and being loyal to the emperor. If you find it difficult, why take the imperial examination. A pedantic and stubborn person is useless."

The princess reminded him, "I am Li Tang's princess after all."

Shen San asked: "Princess, don't worry about this matter. Your Majesty will definitely agree to the restoration of Li Tang in the future. Does the princess want to see that the people of the world are not grateful for your majesty's reign these years, and they still think that she has ulterior motives to steal the country?" "

Princess: "I hope that people in the world will appreciate the kindness of the mother emperor, and I also hope that people in the world will not forget the kindness of Li Tang's royal family."

Shen San asked immediately changed his words, "That's right, if you forget the goodness of the old people because of the second of today's people, you are also a wolf-hearted person. Then define it more clearly. Compared with the previous emperor's governance, what can be improved? Analyzing the concept of governing the country, whether His Majesty has become more prosperous after taking the throne."

How can there be a more prosperous way of asking. The princess was amused by him, "In the future, I will write a poem praising the mother when I take the imperial examination. How do these scholars think?"

Shen San asked: "When the poems and essays of these scholars are published, they will be printed into volumes and shipped to the whole country for the reading of the world. Scholars, farmers, businessmen, and scholars are the most superior people in the eyes of the world. Their ideas can naturally influence people. More people. With the paperwork, it will be difficult for them to change their words in the future."

Although the idea of ​​adding these to the imperial examinations seemed deviant and restrictive in the Tang Dynasty, it was part of politics. In addition to military power, centralization of power and central decision-making must also include ideological control. It is not included today, and it will be included in the future. .

Shen Sanwen returned home and wrote an analysis of the content of the imperial examination.

Since the implementation of the imperial examination, the system of selecting officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty, I have been familiar with the classics and history, and have used the past to inspire the present.However, at the beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the people's nostalgia for the previous dynasty has not changed, and the people's hearts are simple, which is a blessing.But some mediocre people who don't understand the truth and don't know the general trend of the world slander Shengming.The late emperor was a sage, and passed on the government to His Majesty. Before Li Chunfeng knew the pearl with his eyes, His Majesty Daoming should be the Lord of the world. Later, there was the Dayun Sutra and many holy monks who received my Buddha's instructions to defy the world. Come into the world, descend into the mortal world, and protect the world.Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, all auspiciousness has come out, the weather has been smooth, and the country is peaceful and the people are safe.Your Majesty has been on the throne for several years, diligently governing, and appointing virtuous ministers. There are Liu Rengui, Lou Shide, Di Renjie, Yao Chong, Song Jing, Wu Sansi and others in the court successively. They can distinguish right from wrong and can be a model for all generations. Li Xiaojie and Wang Fangyi's generation made Tubo surrender and Turks bowed their heads. Their merits are not inferior to those of Qin Emperor and Hanwu, and their benevolence is not inferior to that of Wenjing.However, the Confucian classics are broad and profound, but obscure and boring, and it is difficult for non-intelligent and pragmatic people to understand.In addition, the sages of Confucianism may not be able to understand today's prosperous times, and scholars who study empty theories may not be practical.

I would like to discuss the politics of the Zhou Dynasty. If you can understand the heart of heaven, understand the way of governing the world, and know how difficult the current political situation is, you can become an official.

When Emperor Wu saw this memorial, he was in a happy mood, and he wrote it down with a wonderful pen.If people in the world can have such an idea, less criticism, more understanding and praise, why should she worry about treason, appoint cruel officials, guard against important officials, severely punish thieves, and use cruel punishments.

When Shangguan Wan'er saw this memorial, she was also stunned. She had a lot of brains to come up with such a bad idea to torment the literati, and she said it sounded high-sounding and one-on-one.

Soon, the imperial list was posted all over the world, and the imperial examination was announced.

This is equivalent to a sub-question, and scholars are full of worries and joys, and it is certainly impossible to ignore it.

Although everyone knows the topic, those who write well still have an advantage, so many literati began to write vigorously.

For a time, the voice of praising the Emperor Wu was endless in the Tianxia Academy.When literati compose poems and compositions, they will read them and comment on each other. Whether it is a masterpiece through the ages or whether it is patchwork or not, you can tell it by listening.If you don’t do well, you can still listen to the opinions of the audience and correct your words. If you are doing something wrong, you can seize the opportunity to start over.

Well-done articles will naturally be respected and circulated locally.

The effect of doing this is much better than simply opening a primary school in the son-in-law's mansion.

After one month, Shen Sanwen came to Shen's Academy again and asked about women's participation in politics, the answer was completely different.

So, Shen Sanwen began to ask the princess for credit.

Shen San asked: "How is it?"

Princess: "Not bad."

Wow, so cold.

However, it is said that Di Renjie was demoted because of a serious crime, and when he found out about it, he went to play Emperor Wu again. Once this example begins, it will be even more difficult for literati to maintain their conscience, so it must not be done.

It can only be said to be pedantic. If it weren't for the reputation he earned in his early years, it would be very difficult for him to be successful in official career.

During the third month of the court, two prime ministers had been changed, and Lou Shide recommended Di Renjie to Emperor Wu.

Emperor Wu: "Di Renjie advised me to withdraw from the Western Regions in the past, but now he is obstructing the imperial examination. His vision is limited, and his behavior is inappropriate."

Lou Shide: "Your Majesty, no one is perfect. Although Di Renjie has shortcomings, he can maintain his heart for ten years. The current imperial examinations will indeed cause flattery to rise. If there are no loyal ministers in the court, the people in the prosperous age Your Majesty, I don’t know how many rotten moths there will be, and I don’t know how many innocent people will suffer wrongfully. Taizong and Wei Zheng, just like Your Majesty and Di Renjie, want to honor His Majesty’s name, so I hope Your Majesty will approve this remonstrance.”

Emperor Wu: "You know what Di Renjie thinks of you."

Lou Shide: "I know that Di Renjie is not a person who talks about right and wrong behind his back. He is frank and frank, and never hides it from me. He thinks that my minister is too strict with the way of a monarch and a minister. He is obedient and incompetent."

Emperor Wu nodded, "Lou Aiqing is still the same as before, she can do things on her own, and the prime minister can hold a boat in her belly. It is really true."

Lou Shide smiled wretchedly, "Your Majesty's absurd praise, I'm not as far behind as Your Majesty."

Since Shen Sanwen said that the prime minister can punt in his stomach, which has been widely spread in Luoyang, Lou Shide's reputation has been much less affected by Di Renjie, and has improved a lot.

The encounters between people are always different.Di Renjie's official career has always been escorted by someone, no wonder he was able to pay homage to the Prime Minister twice and sit firmly in court for decades.Shen Sanwen sighed for a while.

　Four thousand words big change.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)