I studied in modern times

Chapter 753 Zhang Dun has to observe mourning
Lu Gongzhu spoke until his mouth was dry before he finally finished listing the evidence of Yang and Cui's crimes.

He could not help but pick up the teacup, took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and then continued: "Your Majesty, as I said, these two ministers are both villains without virtue. How can they be used as ministers of the country?"

"Appointing me as the governor of a state is already a great favor from your majesty..."

Zhao Xu hummed: "If what you said is true, I have not considered it carefully enough..."

"It's just..." He looked at Lu Gongzhu: "My father once said that these two ministers are worthy of serving the country..."

"Could it be that the Emperor has made a mistake?"

"These two ministers must have some skills and talents, right?"

"How about this, I will call him back to the capital first, and then I will ask him in person, and then I will make a decision!"

Lu Gongzhu suddenly became anxious!

He quickly stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty..."

"These two ministers are both people with little talent but no moral integrity..."

"If Your Majesty recalls me and gives me important positions, I am afraid that the world will think that Your Majesty loves me..."

Still playing the moral card.

If this card was played in front of Zhao Xu in his previous life, he would still have concerns.

After all, the entire social system constructed by Confucianism revolves around virtue and Tao.

In his previous life, Zhao Xu was smart, patient, and precocious because of his experiences in his youth.

But after all, he was born in the deep palace, raised by women, and lived in an environment surrounded by Confucian principles and moral ethics since childhood.

He truly believes in many of the things that Confucianism advocates!

However, Zhao Xu has been studying in modern times for ten years.

The society he lived in was still an extremely realistic commodity economy society.

In that society, only successful people can be praised.

The only measure of success is how much money you make!

The general public doesn't even care how this person makes his money.

Especially at the point in time when he had just been reborn in modern times.

That was when the son of a wealthy businessman was called the national husband by countless people simply because he was rich.

A certain wealthy businessman was even honored with the title of "Dad".

In this environment, Zhao Xu, who had studied abroad for ten years, was inevitably influenced and reshaped by that society.

It has already become a moral vacuum.

In his previous life, he would even issue an imperial decree to stop the Western Army from killing innocent people for credit. In order to prevent the Western Army from continuing to kill innocent people for credit, he issued an imperial decree to the Western Army to increase the reward for captured old, weak, women and children to a level equivalent to beheading.

But now, he is the biggest backer of Xihe Cotton Farm and Jiaozhou Sugarcane Farm.

He did his best for one purpose only - success!
In order to succeed, Zhao Xu, like modern people, can do whatever it takes and ignore his conscience.

Of course, his experience of studying abroad in modern times also taught him that disguise and performance are also very important.

So Zhao Xu pretended to be humble and said, "I will carefully consider what you said, sir!"

Lu Gongzhu showed some joy, but before he could be happy, Zhao Xu continued: "However, I will also send people to investigate and see what the people are saying about these two ministers, to see if they are really as talented but without moral integrity as you said..."

Lu Gongzhu's color changed instantly!
because……

Although Yang Ji and Cui Taifu are two villains, in the eyes of the literati, they are bastards who have done all kinds of bad things and gave birth to sons without anus!
But in the eyes of ordinary people, this is not the case.

Even, maybe the image will be completely reversed!
Especially in Yang Ji, this characteristic will be extremely obvious!

Lu Gongzhu could only bite the bullet and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty... Fools and fools among the people do not know the teachings of the sages, nor do they understand loyalty, forgiveness, benevolence and righteousness... What they say may not be credible!"

Zhao Xu chuckled: "Why do you say that, sir?"

"Since I ascended the throne, I have read the Book of Documents, the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the Book of Rites..."

"Learn the teachings of the saints and observe the policies of the previous kings!"

"The Book of Documents says: Heaven hears as the people hear, Heaven sees as the people see!"

"The Spring and Autumn Annals teaches: When a country is about to rise, it should listen to the people. It also teaches: The ruler is the master of the gods and the teacher of the people!"

"The Book of Rites also teaches: The people are the foundation of the state; if the foundation is solid, the state will be at peace!"

As he said this, Zhao Xu looked at Lu Gongzhu and said, "Sir, why do you advise me not to listen to the people?"

Lu Gongzhu was speechless and could only bow and say, "Your Majesty is wise, I have spoken out of turn!"

After all, he was still not as thick-skinned as Wen Yanbo, and could not go against the teachings of those politically correct saints and ancient kings and shout out what was in his heart: Your Majesty, you rule the world with the scholars and officials, not with the people! Why should you listen to the people?

Of course, in addition to not being thick-skinned enough, Lu Gongzhu had another concern - before Zhao Xu went to take a bath, he deliberately called someone behind the screen in the East Hall Quiet Room.

When Lu Gongzhu came in, he saw the figure behind the screen.

It was Huang Shi who succeeded Fan Bailu as the recorder and co-editor of the daily records this year.

This man is Zhang Dun’s nephew. His father, Huang Haoqian, is now the governor of Yingzhou as a court official.

Huang Shi and his son were close friends with the two Su brothers, and their relationship was unimaginably good.

Back then, when Su Shi and his brothers were demoted, everyone was busy cutting ties with them.

Huang Haoqian and his son still have close contacts with him.

In order to prove the strength of their relationship, Huang Shi even took a huge risk and married his two daughters to Su Zhe's two sons, Su Shi and Su Yuan.

Therefore, before Su Che became the magistrate, he recommended Huang Shi to the government and specifically stated that Huang Shi was Zhang Dun's nephew.

When the emperor heard about it, he recommended Su Che and gave the reason that "Shi is the nephew of Prime Minister Zhang, and I should commend him", and appointed him as the recorder and co-editor of the record.

It was precisely because of the discovery of Huang Shi that Lu Gongzhu became wary.

There are so many things that are hard to say.

I’m afraid it will be recorded and written into the national history.

……

After seeing Lu Gongzhu off, Zhao Xu pursed his lips and sat on the cushion.

Wait until Huang Shi’s figure disappears from behind the screen.

Zhao Xucai sighed: "Alas..."

The literati of the Song Dynasty may talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality all the time, but when it comes to the critical moment, they can clearly distinguish their own class.

This is true for both the new and old parties.

When faced with the problem, all scholars and officials would make the following choice: Let the people suffer a little more and I will bear the blame!
Moreover, they will not have any hesitation in this process.

The so-called benevolence, righteousness, and morality are limited to themselves.

To be precise, it is a group of people with the same origin and the same class as them.

The double standard of being strict with others and lenient with oneself is demonstrated to the fullest.

At that time, Di Qing was the Privy Councilor.

Why was the reaction so strong both inside and outside the government?

It’s because Di Qing is not one of theirs.

He was just a soldier! Moreover, even though he was appointed as a privy councilor, he refused to remove his tattoos.

So, Di Qing was besieged by everyone.

Including Wu Chen!

The reason why Yang Ji and Cui Taifu were hostile and isolated.

The reason is similar to Di Qing.

Yang Ji was a technocrat who started out as a judiciary officer and joined the army. He worked his way up the career ladder in engineering and technical positions.

They are completely different from those scholars and officials who wear wide robes and talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality.

Cui Taifu is even more powerful.

He was not even a genuine Jinshi, but a Jinshi of Ming Fa. Under normal circumstances, it would be almost impossible for these two people to be promoted like normal civil officials through examinations.

Their ceiling is nailed down at the level of selecting people.

Therefore, these people can only look for every opportunity to cling to the imperial power in order to gain prominence.

However, the civil officials and literati would naturally feel disgusted when they saw these people start to rise after combining with the imperial power.

……

Lu Gongzhu returned to the capital.

Li Chang came to the door soon, and the master and disciple closed the door and began to discuss.

After Li Chang finished listening to Lü Gongzhu's introduction of the meeting with the emperor in the palace, he sighed and said, "How could the emperor think of sending people to the people to find out the reputation of these two villains?"

"What a good thing!"

"If the messenger sent by the government to investigate reports back, I'm afraid it will be impossible to stop these two villains from returning to the capital!"

"Especially Yang Qiangu!"

Li Chang knew that the image of these two villains, Yang Ji and Cui Taifu, in the eyes of the ignorant and foolish people might be completely opposite to their image in the literati circle.

Especially Yang Ji and Yang Qiangu!

In the eyes of those ignorant people, this villain is almost his reborn parent!
Lu Gongzhu also said leisurely: "Yang Qiangu has returned to the capital and is appointed as the Water Conservancy Commissioner. I am afraid that we cannot stop him..."

"But no matter what, Cui Pingshu cannot be the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Supreme Court!"

If that villain returns to the court again.

He will definitely collude with Shi Deyi, the powerful eunuch, again.

In addition, the newsboys of the Bianjing Newspaper roamed the streets as the emperor's eyes and ears.

By then, the judiciary, prisons, and intelligence will become a trinity.

Imperial power will inevitably expand uncontrollably!

"For now, we can only choose the lesser of two evils!" Li Chang nodded: "That's a good deal for Yang Qiangu!"

Although, he was somewhat unwilling.

However, the government had already decided to send people to investigate the reputation of Yang Ji and Cui Taifu among the people.

Then, all attacks and slanders against Yang Ji's personal morality will be rendered invisible amid the voices of thousands or even tens of thousands of people!
the reason is simple.

This is Bian Jing, Kaifeng Prefecture!

And it was here that Yang Ji started his career!
From the second year to the sixth year of Xining, Yang Ji served as the official of Kaifeng Prefecture and concurrently as the acting water minister.

At that time, his immediate superior was Hou Shuxian, the Du Shuijian!
At that time, he and Hou Shuxian formed a team and were jointly responsible for the construction and implementation of the Bianshui siltation method.

This project completely reshaped the agricultural ecology of Kaifeng Prefecture.

Thirty-six ponds and lakes were dug, dozens of branch canals were built, hundreds of miles of new dams were built, and the water of the Bian River was diverted to flush and irrigate more than 20,000 hectares of saline-alkali land.

It even led to the first appearance of paddy fields in Kaifeng Prefecture, and rice was then grown in the northern counties of Kaifeng Prefecture.

Now that Hou Shuxian has passed away, Yang Ji has become the one who receives all the gratitude.

This is why Yang Ji can always stand firm no matter how much he is attacked.

He was in Kaifeng Prefecture, and he was not the only one who brought Buddha to every household.

At least, people all praise and are grateful.

All the attacks and criticisms against Yang Ji seemed so insignificant in the face of the huge project of diverting the Bian River to silt the fields, then diverting the Fan River to flush them, washing away the salt and alkali in the silt, and turning the saline-alkali land into usable fields and even paddy fields!
For those ignorant fools among the people.

They don't care whether Yang Ji is greedy or not, how many concubines he has, or how decadent his private life is.

All they know is that in the past, they didn't have enough to eat.

But after Hou Dushui and Yang Shuicheng arrived, they were able to eat their fill.

This is enough!

All I can say is that these people are ignorant, have no sense of justice, and are short-sighted. That's all they can do!
"En Xiang..." Li Chang said, "Luzhou is only three days away from Bianjing by fast horse..."

"Now, I'm afraid the imperial edict from the palace will arrive in Luzhou..."

"Then Uncle Cui Ping may be ordered to return to the capital in a few days..."

Lu Gongzhu nodded: "The imperial edict was issued on Dinghai day, and it can reach Luzhou on Yicho day at the earliest..."

"It will only take a few days to change the Holy Will..."

Once Cui Taifu arrived in Beijing and took office in the Ministry of Justice, the matter would have been a fait accompli.

Nothing can be changed!

"Then..." Li Chang asked, "En Xiang, what are you going to do?"

Lu Gongzhu let out a sigh of relief: "Let's take a look first!"

"I have fulfilled my duty as Prime Minister."

"Next, it is the turn of the elders, especially the Grand Master, to serve the country with loyalty!"

"Then, there are those gentlemen in the capital hall!"

"If I remember correctly, the person who wrote the imperial edict to move Cuitai Fu out of the city was Lord Deng Wen!"

At that time, there was only Deng Runfu in the Academy of Bachelors.

The new Hanlin scholar Zeng Bu had just finished his mourning period and had not yet had time to take office.

And Lu Gongzhu remembered that, when Deng Runfu wrote the imperial edict to Cui Taifu, his words were not very good!
Now, Cui Taifu is going back to Beijing.

Can Deng Runfu still sit still?

……

The next day was the ninth day of the fourth month of the second year of Yuanyou.

In the morning, Zhao Xu was sleeping soundly.

He heard a low voice calling: "Everyone...everyone..."

Zhao Xu opened his eyes and saw Feng Jing.

And outside the curtain, there is the figure of Guo Zhongxiao.

Zhao Xu immediately realized that something urgent might have happened.

So he asked, “What happened?”

Guo Zhongxiao, who was outside the curtain, immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty..."

"Just now, a messenger from Suzhou was sent to Beijing with the seal of Ma You, the official in charge of Suzhou, and it was delivered to the Tongjian Division..."

"I dare not delay. Now that I have come to see Your Majesty, I will present my report to you!"

Zhao Xu immediately sat up: "Suzhou? Are you going to accept Ma You's seal?"

He sighed, having guessed something, and said, "Show it to me..."

"Yes!" Guo Zhongxiao bowed again and handed over a letter sealed tightly with wax.

Feng Jing walked out, took the sealed letter and handed it to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu took it and looked at it, then sighed: "Alas..."

"Unexpectedly, the country lost an elder today!"

Then, he called Feng Jing to him and said, "Feng Jing, you will go to the residence of Mr. Zhang in person to express your condolences and comfort to his family, and express your condolences on my behalf!"

"Let the Academy of Scholars write a poem to posthumously confer an official title on your father according to history!"

What Guo Zhongxiao brought was an obituary from Suzhou.

According to the report of Ma You, the official in charge of Suzhou, Zhang Yu, the retired Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, passed away on Gengchen day of March in the second year of Yuanyou (28) in the mansion purchased for him by Zhang Dun and his brothers in Suzhou at the age of .

The death of Zhang Yu meant that Zhang Dun had to immediately resign from his post in Guangxi and return home to guard the city and mourn.

These are the obligations and responsibilities of the scholar-officials.

(End of this chapter)