I studied in modern times

Chapter 63 Sima Guang Enters Beijing

Yisi ([-]th) in March of the eighth year of Yuanfeng.

Sima Guang and his entourage, who drifted for several days on the Luohe and Bianhe rivers, finally arrived at a Bianhe stacking yard in the west of Bianjing City.

After getting off the boat, Sima Guang frowned.

Fan Zuyu, who was walking with him, couldn't help frowning too.

Because they saw it, on the high embankment of the Bian River.

Instead of following the ancestral system, rows of elms and willows were planted along the embankment.

Instead, they are built here, open-air cargo stacking yards.

Behind the stacking yard, there are rows of Langfang and warehouses.

Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu even saw with their own eyes, the courtiers in mourning clothes rode past the stackyard swaggeringly.

Along the way, countless merchants bowed their heads and bowed their knees in front of this minister, trying to please him!
"Eunuch villain, bah!" What Fan Zuyu despises the most is this kind of courtier who pretends to be a tiger and relies on the power of the monarch to act mischievously outside.

Sima Guang did not speak.

Because he knew that the courtier who was showing off his power in the stacking yard on the Bian River embankment was just a fly, an insignificant bug.

It is the powerful official standing behind him who really harms the country and disrupts the laws of the world!
Song Yongchen!
The big Diao Dang next to the Emperor Daxing, who entered the interior to serve as the escort, the Zhaoxuan envoy, the Dengzhou defense envoy, the promotion of the Bianhe embankment department, the promotion of the imperial city department...

A power eunuch whose status and danger are almost the same as Gao Lishi in the Tang Dynasty.

He was also the one Sima Guang wished he could get rid of quickly.

"Chunfu, don't worry about this generation of eunuchs, just watch him defeat himself!" Sima Guang said to Fan Zuyu in a low voice: "You and I will go to the capital and hand over the congratulatory form at the capital hall first!"

"Wei!" Fan Zuyu bowed his hands.

Mr. Xiang is right!
Now, when I come to Beijing with my minister, I should focus on the overall situation!

This generation of eunuch children, just watch them self-defeating!

Just like in the past 15 years, Xianggong was studying books in Luoyang, and let those lucky ones with the new law show their teeth and claws in the court.

Now that the second sage is in charge of the government, the self-defeat of this generation is just around the corner!

It was also at this time that Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu's servants had already moved their luggage, horses and other related items from the water boat.

So Sima Guang rode on an old horse—he was a bit old, and he had suffered a serious illness last year. His physical strength and energy were not as good as before, and it was difficult to control the tall horse he used to love.

Fan Zuyu, as a young man, is of course the knight doctor's favorite tall horse.

This kind of horse is a symbol of status in the Song Dynasty where there is a lack of horses.

Ordinary Beijing officials, even if they have money, can't buy them.

Only court officials, and those whose status has reached a certain level, can buy it.

And each horse is very valuable, often costing more than two hundred guan.

Of course Fan Zuyu couldn't afford this horse with his salary.

But Grand Master Wen heard that he was going to accompany Sima Guang to Beijing to wait for the palace, so without saying a word, he sent the BMW from the Grand Master's mansion.

Fan Zuyu didn't refuse and accepted it directly.

The two rode on their horses, and surrounded by the servants, they left the Bianhe stacking yard and stepped down the wide embankment of the Bianhe River.

The city of Bianjing is already in sight!

The majestic city wall is four feet high, with horse faces protruding from the thick city wall.

Under the city wall is a moat shimmering in the sun.

That is the Hulong River, the moat of Bianjing City.

Looking from a distance, you can still see willows planted all over the banks of the Hulong River.

This is Bianjing!
The capital of the gods of the Song Dynasty, the capital of the emperor, and the land of the best!

At the same time, it is also a city that has almost changed its appearance compared with 15 years ago!
Only when Fan Zuyu saw the Jinming Pond in the outer city of Bianjing and the buildings in Xiyuan facing Jinming Pond in the distance, did he remember the details of his study and exams in Bianjing in the past.

Sima Guang also looked at the Bianjing in the distance and the changed appearance in his memory, and sighed slightly: "Things are not people!"

Fifteen years ago, he left Bianjing and invited himself out of the county. It seems that he once stood at this place, looking back at the city tower of Bianjing.

But what you saw at that moment is not what you see at this moment.

Sima Guang patted the horse's butt lightly, and said to Fan Zuyu, "Let's go!"

"Get into the city as soon as possible while it's still early!"

The two rode their horses down to the official road.

Their servants and servants walked slowly with heavy bags behind them, they couldn't keep up with Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu who were riding horses.

Because those bags are very heavy, most of them are books and copper coins!
Among them, books are the most.

Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu didn't wait for them, they directly rode their horses along the spacious and neat official road, and quickly left those servants far, far behind.

However, there is no need to worry about these servants getting lost or fleeing with their bags. These people are the Yuan Sui assigned to Sima Guang by the court.

Sima Guang's salary official was a doctor of Taizhong, and his literary post was a bachelor of Zizhengdian.

According to the system, the imperial court allocated Yuan Sui ten people to prepare for driving.

In order to reward him, Emperor Daxing granted him ten more people from Yuansui after the completion of the Zizhi Tongjian book, and promoted Sima Guang's treatment in Yuansui to the level of a bachelor in the Zizheng Palace.

And these Yuan Sui were hired by the imperial court.

You can get two stones of Lumi or 600 Wen per month, and there are also clothes given every season.

Therefore, Sima Guang was most at ease with these people.

Unless there is a decree from the imperial court, the Yuan followers are the most loyal people to him—their parents, wives and children are clearly registered with the government.

All three generations of his father and grandparents were checked.

If there was a slight mistake, Sima Guang didn't need to speak, and Yousi would punish them severely.

……

Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu rode their horses, and soon arrived at one of the most memorable and impressive places in Bianjing City: Jinming Pool!

Today is the eleventh day of Otomi in March.

Jinmingchi, a national forbidden garden, is a playground for the royal family.

Still in accordance with the ancestral system, the door is opened to visitors from all over the world.

Inside the Haohao Jinming Pool, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, colorful.

Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu rode their horses outside Jinming Pond and watched the endless stream of tourists inside, rubbing shoulders against each other, and they were a little crazy for a while.

"If Emperor Daxing is still here, in ten days, Shengjia will come here to have fun with the people!" Sima Guang looked at the lake in Jinming Lake and said, "At that time, tens of thousands of Bianjing soldiers and civilians will all be here to see the official face!"

"The officials will also order the Imperial Army to bid for victory in this Jinming Pool... The audience is like rain for a while..."

As if recalling the past, Sima Guang's skinny cheeks turned rosy.

He turned his head to look at Xiyuan opposite Jin Mingchi.

Pointing to the attic of the palace hidden in the trees and palace walls in the West Garden, he said to Fan Zuyu: "I still remember that in the first year of Baoyuan, I took part in the imperial examination, Mengren Temple did not abandon it, was selected as a Jinshi of Jiake, and was selected as the Tanhualang of that year..."

"According to the system, Tanhualang will be the hairpin and pick flowers for the champion..."

"I don't like hairpins at all, so I begged Ren Temple not to wear them at that time... Ren Temple insisted on persuading me, and I just put a hairpin on my head..."

Listening to what Sima Guang said, Fan Zuyu also remembered the Temple of Ren in his memory.

In the last years of Jiayou's reign, Fan Zuyu was also selected as a Jinshi, and was able to see His Majesty's holy face once at the Qionglin Banquet in Xiyuan.

At that time, Renmiao was old and staggered a little when he walked, but he was still smiling and kind, just like his current uncle.

So, he couldn't help sighing, and he only met that majesty once.

After winning the Jinshi, Renmiao abandoned the world before he was awarded an official.

Fan Zuyu has never been an official under that Majesty, and he has never experienced the government of that lenient lord, which is Fan Zuyu's eternal regret in his life.

but……

Fan Zuyu turned his head to look at Bianjing City.

Now that the young master is in court, many, many people have written to him and told him.

The young master is quite ancestral!

The official family has a legacy of benevolence temple!

The son of heaven is generous and loving, and the kindness of nature comes from the heart!
Thinking of everyone's evaluation, thinking of the discussions of the ruling and opposition parties.

Fan Zuyu suddenly cheered up, and his spirit was surging.

"I am not born when you were born, but I am already old when you are born!" He whispered the poems of Tang people.

This can be understood not only as the personal hatred between men and women, but also as the regret of the monarch and his ministers.

Just like him and Renmiao.

He was only in his late twenties, but Renmiao was already late.

Before eating his salary, that majesty has abandoned the world.

Fortunately, fortunately, fate still gave him a chance.

Let him be able to assist and serve a benevolent young master and a benevolent emperor in this golden age of his life!
Life has no regrets!
Fan Zuyu was full of ambition.

Daozuo Yiqi galloped past.

The man on horseback seemed to glance at Fan Zuyu's direction when he was at the intersection, and then he turned his head in disbelief, reined in the horse, and rubbed his eyes, as if he couldn't believe it.

Immediately afterwards, he widened his eyes and carefully identified it again and again.

Finally, this man jumped off his horse, came to Fan Zuyu, bowed his body, bowed his hands and bowed: "Student Yang Zhi, pay homage to Mr. Sima!"

Sima Guang looked at the person in front of him.

After looking carefully for a while, I didn't recognize him, but he was wearing mourning clothes that only scholar-bureaucrats and officials would wear.

So, he is an official?
Looking at the color of the inner garment under his mourning clothes, it seems to be green?
So, he is still a Beijing court official?

An official of a certain department or a certain yamen?

However, he is only in his twenties, where might he meet the old man?

Yang Zhi has already grown up and bowed again: "Master, the student used to be in the strict study room at home, and I am fortunate to have seen the portrait of Master!"

"Jia Yan once personally pointed at the statue of Xianggong to teach students: this country's elders, loyal ministers of the country, and scholars of culture in the world, so Sima Gong, the prime minister of the imperial censor, should respect him! You should respect him, just like respecting your master and father!"

"Who is your father?" Sima Guang almost knew that this was the son of an old friend, so he got off his horse.

"The family is strict, Mr. Yang, who forbids Jinglue, is now in the position of a scholar in Zhongshushe!"

"Oh..." Sima Guang remembered that he was indeed an old friend!
Yang Jinglue is Han Wei's son-in-law.

And Han Wei and he also have Lu Gong's work, and Wang Anshi's old title is Jiayou Four Friends!

"So it's the son of Kang Gong!" Sima Guang said, "Since you are the son of an old friend, please get up!"

Sima Guang and others, wearing mourning clothes and riding a horse, are typical scholar-official officials.

They saluted each other on the left side of the road.

In particular, Yang Zhi's courtesy was very generous.

However, the official road in front of Jinming Lake was originally the main road going west out of Bianjing, and there has always been a dense flow of people and cars and horses.

Naturally, their conversation aroused the interest of passers-by.

Then passers-by leaned over and listened.

Sima Xianggong?

Zhongshu Sheren?

This person seemed to remember something, and shouted: "Mr. Sima has entered Beijing! Mr. Sima has entered Beijing!"

Immediately, countless pedestrians and merchants on the entire road were alarmed.

People looked sideways at Sima Guang, Fan Zuyu and Yang Zhi who were on the side of the road.

Then, a swarm of bees rushed up.

Soon the place where Sima Guang was located was completely surrounded!
"Is it Sima Xianggong?"

"Is Mr. Sima from Luoyang?"

Many people have asked each other, but they are not sure.

Whether it was Sima Guang, Fan Zuyu or Yang Zhi, they were all shocked by this scene.

In order not to cause trouble, in order not to cause trouble on the first day in Beijing.

Both Sima Guang and Fan Zuyu chose to remain silent.

But at this moment, the imperial guards guarding outside Jinming Lake were alarmed, and a commander of the imperial guards came over with someone.

They pushed through the crowd, and the commander in Zhongjia walked up to them and took a closer look at Sima Guang who was standing beside an old horse.

Then he covered his forehead with his hands excitedly.He said to everyone: "It's Mr. Sima! It's Mr. Sima from Luoyang! It's Mr. Sima who wrote the general mirror of Zizhi!"

After being identified by a forbidden army commander.

The scene was no longer under control, and even the tourists in Jinming Pond rushed to join the encirclement after hearing the news.

But in the encirclement, Sima Guang, who was tightly surrounded by people, could only bow his hands: "Everyone...Everyone..."

I just want to persuade the people not to block the road here, so as not to affect the traffic.

But he hadn't had time to say it yet.

There were already excited merchants who stepped forward and took the reins of Sima Guang's horse. He asked excitedly: "Mr. Sima, you will not return to Luoyang after you enter Beijing this time, will you?"

With the leader, others naturally rushed forward.

All of them asked with tears in their eyes: "Mr. Sima, you came to Beijing this time to assist the emperor?"

"Sima Xianggong, please stay in Bianjing, let me wait for the common people!"

Some people even shouted outside: "Please also invite Mr. Sima to stay in the capital, assist the emperor, and rectify the world!"

　Note: According to historical records, Sima Guang entered Beijing around March [-]th, and was surrounded by people at the gate of the city.

　　Just like the plot in the book, here is a slight adaptation.

　　In addition, I personally think that this is not the result of Sima Guang's personal manipulation, and he has no need to do this, and it is even more impossible for him to do such a taboo thing.

　　This can only be the natural release of the grievances accumulated after the new law has been implemented for so many years when it encounters a bottleneck of venting.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)