I studied in modern times

Chapter 420 Sima Guang’s final obsession

After sending Xing Shu away, Zhao Xu sat on the mattress and rubbed his hands.

"The punishment is not bad." He said softly.

"Has the potential to become the future Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Song Dynasty."

He knows very well about punishment and forgiveness.

A typical political strategist's style can be seen by watching him move between the new party and the old party with ease.

As for the strategist family, it was Sansu who started the trend.

Follow Zhang Yi and Su Qin as examples, and use political strategists' methods to change the world situation.

However, Sansu forgot that there was room for the strategists of the Warring States Period to develop.

That's because the country behind Zhang Yi and Su Qin has the ability and strength to ensure that the interests negotiated on the negotiation table are implemented. At the same time, it can also ensure that what is lost on the negotiation table can be regained with a knife.

The Song Dynasty obviously did not have such power.

This made Sansu's idea directly become the moon hanging in the sky.

Because, in the past Song Dynasty, there was no room for political advisors to come into play.

Fortunately, Zhao Xu is back.

"General Manager..." Zhao Xu sat on the mattress, thinking about the stories of Zhang Yi, Su Qin and others in the history books.

I also thought about the stories of those Han Dynasty envoys who were tyrannical in various countries in the Western Regions.

I even remembered the stories of Ban Chao and Wang Xuance.

He licked his tongue.

In fact, China also has rich experience when it comes to playing with imperialism.

……

Xing Shu walked out of the Neidong Gate and raised his head. He seemed to be more than ten years younger, and his eyes were full of light.

At this moment, he felt that he was truly 'alive'.

He recalled what he saw in Funing Palace.

Full of power.

Facts have proved that everyone has needs.

Especially when material supplies are no longer lacking, spiritual needs become more prominent.

Scholars in the Wei and Jin Dynasties ate Wu Shi Powder every day. Why?
Because the reality is too hopeless!
Why did the scholar-bureaucrats of the Song Dynasty choose to meditate and practice Taoism in their later years?

The answer is the same.

The cruel reality forces them to find ways to escape.

Similarly, the nobles in Bianjing City are intoxicated every day because their spirits are too empty.

They must find something to stimulate their souls.

And Xingshu has now found the goal of his life.

Is there anything more exciting than overthrowing a big country like Beilu?
there is none left!
So, Xing Shu strode out. When he walked out of Zuo Zhaoqing Gate and arrived in front of the capital hall.

Xing Shu saw a thin old man walking slowly in front of the capital hall.

It's Sima Guang!

When Xing Shu saw Sima Guang's figure, he lowered his head subconsciously.

But Sima Guang had already walked towards him with a smile: "Uncle He, why haven't you come to my house recently?"

Seeing that he couldn't escape, Xing Shu could only step forward and bow his hands to his disciples: "Tell Mr. Sima that I have recently been ordered to serve as the envoy of the embassy. I often stay in the capital post and associate with the northern captives. Therefore, I am afraid of the smell of fish in my body. It has defiled Duke Ming’s mansion, so I dare not come to the door.”

Sima Guang and Xing Shu have a very deep connection.

Back then, when Xing Shu was young, he studied with Er Cheng and was one of Er Cheng's proud disciples. Cheng Hao especially liked him very much and often took him to various banquets in Luoyang and introduced him to the senior ministers in Luoyang.

Naturally, Sima Guang is also one of them.

At that time, Xing Shu even lived and ate at Sima Guang's house for a period of time, and formed a deep friendship with Sima Guang's son Sima Kang.

Therefore, in front of Sima Guang, Xing Shu must perform discipleship.

Sima Guang looked at this young man who was very optimistic about him when he was studying at his home, with some regret in his eyes.

Xing Shu back then was recognized by all the sages in Luoyang as the seed for future study and the person who hoped to inherit Cheng Hao's mantle.

Even Shao Kangjie (Shao Yong) publicly praised this son's article.

Unfortunately, since Xing Shu became an official, he seemed to have given up on the path of literature.

I haven’t seen an article written by Xing Shu for many years.

Suppressing the regret in his eyes, Sima Guang asked: "Uncle He, did you just come out from the meeting?"

Xingshu nodded and said, "That's true."

"Your Majesty, are you free today?"

Xing Shu replied: "When the official was performing business in front of the emperor, there was no one else around His Majesty."

This made Sima Guang's eyes light up: "So good! So good!"

This time he was seriously ill and was bedridden at home, which frightened Sima Guang.

He knew that he might not be able to afford another serious illness.

His body has reached the point where it has run out of fuel.

For Sima Guang, death is not terrible.

The terrible thing is that there is no one to inherit his career.

The heir, Sima Kang, was simple, upright, and lacked flexibility.

It's quite suitable to do academic work, but it's not suitable to become an official.

He was originally very optimistic about Fan Yaofu (Fan Chunren) and Lu Weizhong (Lu Dafang).

But these two people are now slowly changing into Han Jiang's shape.

Every word we speak is about reconciliation and tolerance for the sake of the country.

In turn, he even advised him, "Ming Gong should act as a plan for the world and take the overall situation into consideration" and so on.

Especially Fan Yaofu - he even publicly praised the Qingmiao Law, which had been renamed "Convenient Low-Interest Loan", and he was full of praise for the reform of the Labor Law presided over by Han Jiang.

If Fan Yaofu and he were not already in-laws (Sima Kang married Fan Chunren's daughter), Sima Guang would have publicly criticized him for his betrayal.

What makes Sima Guang even more sad is that one by one his old friends have deviated from the path they originally adhered to.

Let’s not talk about Wen Kuanfu, an old man.

Uncle Lu Hui, it seems, now wants to wait for Han Jiang to step down, and then he will successfully take over Han Jiang's banner and continue to adjust the new law.

What is the new law?
He doesn't admit it now.

Not to mention the duplicitous villain Zhang Andao (Zhang Fangping).

Just like he betrayed the gentlemen of Qingli, he betrayed the gentlemen of the old party again.

He was satisfied with the assignment of editor of "Yuanyou Dictionary" and the title of Jiedushi.

When Han Chiguo and Feng were living, one was in Luoyang and the other was enjoying his time in Daming Mansion.Sima Guang tried to write to them, but the content of their replies was only romantic.

The court did not mention a word.

Now only Sun Yunzhong (Sun Gu) can occasionally sit at his house and talk to him about state affairs.

But Sun Yunzhong's health was worse than him.

All of this left Sima Guang at a loss after recovering from his illness, and also made him increasingly uneasy.

Despair spread in his heart.

Fortunately, he still has the last hope - the Emperor!
The emperor will grow up.

The treacherous ministers who now control the government cannot hide this from the emperor for long.

When the emperor takes charge, as long as things are brought to order, there will still be hope for everything.

Therefore, after Sima Guang returned to the capital hall, he had been waiting for the emperor to summon him.

But he waited and waited, but the emperor did not summon him.

He thought about taking the initiative to write a letter and ask for permission.

However, he was in power, and it was taboo to rashly submit a letter to ask for justice. Ever since Wang Zeng took advantage of the opportunity to be in power, in front of Zhang Xian Mingsu, he vigorously presented Ding Wei's crimes and overthrew Ding Wei, there was an unwritten hidden secret in the Song Dynasty. One of the rules is that the Prime Minister cannot take the initiative to seek justice alone.

Anyone who does this is equivalent to telling others that this guy is telling everyone a story, so everyone should pay attention.

Throughout the ages, no one has dared to touch this red line.

Originally, Sima Guang still had a hidden line that he could use.

When Zhang Maoze and his son were in the inner court, they would always communicate with him about the news in the palace.

Zhang Mao will also speak for him in front of the two palaces.

But since last year, Zhang Maoze suddenly made a request in Yonghou Mausoleum to go to Yongzhao Mausoleum to serve as the guardian of Ci Shengguang.

The imperial court was shaken, and the entire Zhang Maoze line of ministers were either demoted to remote military states or their whereabouts were unknown.

Even his adopted son Zhang Xun's whereabouts are unknown.

The big Diao Dang in the palace were almost all those who controlled the palace during the late emperor's time.

He has lost his internal support.

This made Sima Guang feel even more melancholy.

As a result, he began to seek medical treatment urgently.

Whenever someone enters the palace, he will specially come to wait outside the capital hall.

Unfortunately, the emperor seems to be very busy.

In addition to studying, he also went to Kaifeng Mansion, usually practiced calligraphy, and rarely summoned ministers.

Xingshu was the first minister to enter the palace and meet the emperor after guarding for so many days.

Therefore, Sima Guang excitedly held Xing Shu's hand and said to him, "Can I ask Uncle He for a favor?"

"Ming Gong, please tell me."

"Next time His Majesty summons Uncle He, could Uncle He mention me to Your Majesty and ask Your Majesty to issue an edict to summon me alone?"

He held Xing Shu's hand and said emotionally, "I don't have much time left."

"And His Majesty is still young."

"I'm worried that if Your Majesty cannot summon me, then what I want to say to Your Majesty may have to be put on the suicide note."

Xing Shu looked at Sima Guang, who was already as skinny as firewood, and sighed.

In fact, everyone in the government and the public knew what Sima Guang expected of His Majesty.

But discerning people in both the government and the public also know clearly His Majesty’s true attitude towards the new law.

He even wanted to protect Lu Huiqing!

What's more, those policies and laws that represent the late emperor's hard work?

Looking at the old and skinny Sima Guang in front of him, Xing Shu couldn't bear it.

He sighed in his heart and said: "Next time if your Majesty summons the official again, the official will definitely convey Duke Ming's words to your majesty."

Xing Shu can understand Sima Guang's mentality.

He firmly believed that the emperor would be on his side today, but in fact it was just the old man's last stubbornness.

No one dared to expose Sima Guang's inner fantasies in front of him.

Because this will kill people.

Everyone will just do the same as him, Xing Shu, in front of Sima Guang, pretending that what Sima Guang believes is right.

She coaxed him like a child.

Because everyone who has seen Sima Guang's current appearance knows that this old party leader and a moral model in the world has only a few days left.

After hearing Xing Shu's words, Sima Guang immediately became happy.

"I knew Uncle He would help." He took Xing Shu and sat in a pavilion in the garden in front of the capital hall.

He began to talk to Xing Shu about many things from that year.

Xing Shu patiently sat next to Sima Guang, listening to his rambling memories of the past, and echoing his words from time to time.

But in my heart, Xing Shu felt a little sad.

At this time last year, Sima Guang entered Beijing for the first time, causing a sensation in the entire Bianjing. A large number of people gathered around him, and some even pulled the reins of his horse, hoping to keep him in Bianjing.

The emperor wrote a personal letter with high hopes, and the two palaces sent envoys to express their condolences.

At that time, Sima Guang was the most popular person in the world and was regarded by countless people as the prime minister who saved the country.

And today, one year later, all of Sima Guang's halo has faded.

Although he was worshiped as the ruler, no one regarded him as the prime minister of the time of salvation.

On the contrary, Han Jiang, a veteran minister who was not favored by others before, did countless things in his short term as prime minister and won praise from people all over the world.

In particular, the Labor Law was reformed, the Young Crops Law was adjusted, and the Green Crops Law was changed to a 'convenient low-interest loan', and the convenience of low-interest loans was strictly restricted. Only the people were accepted to apply for loans from the government on their own initiative, and no one was allowed to apportion the money to the people. .

Although it is still unavoidable, local officials in many remote places assess and overcharge interest.

But in the prosperous southeast (the southeast has a large literate population, many common people can read and even write limericks), as well as in western Beijing, eastern Jingdong, northern Beijing and other places where Bianjing can directly influence, almost thousands of families have Buddhas.

Not to mention, under his leadership, the Baojia Law was abolished except for the northern border roads.

As a result, some people now compare Han Jiang to Lu Yijian, the famous prime minister in the Renmiao era.

That is to say, recently, because of the incident involving his grandson Han Jie, his reputation has been somewhat stained.

With these thoughts in mind, he looked at Sima Guang's mental state in front of him.

Xingshu swore in his heart.

He will never be Sima Guang in the future.

As long as he gets old, he will definitely become an official decisively.

(End of this chapter)