I studied in modern times

Chapter 770 Crow: Confucius said to sacrifice for benevolence, Mencius said to pursue righteousness!

After seeing Princess Shoukang off, Empress Dowager Xiang smiled and asked Zhao Xu, "Sixth brother, why did the Censorate impeach the prince consort?"

Zhao Xu laughed and answered truthfully: "It's not a big deal to report it to the Queen Mother...it's just some financial matters!"

"Oh!" Empress Dowager Xiang was relieved and no longer concerned about the matter.

For the Song Dynasty's relatives by marriage, financial problems were never a problem.

Relatives in law who have problems with money can be forgiven, no matter how big the mistake they make.

……

When Princess Shoukang returned home, Zhang Dunli immediately came out to greet her and asked anxiously, "How did your Highness's visit to the palace turn out?"

Princess Shoukang did not answer immediately. Instead, she waited until she entered the inner palace before she said to Zhang Dunli, "Mr. Zhang... The emperor's grace is so great, and the emperor has spoken with all his might, so he can be pardoned from this crime..."

Zhang Dunli's worries disappeared instantly, and his face lit up with joy: "I knew it... I knew it..."

"I am the son-in-law of the current Empress Dowager and the uncle of the current Emperor!"

"How can you bear to punish the two palaces and the emperor?!"

Princess Shoukang looked at Zhang Dunli and shook her head in her heart, somewhat disappointed - this is the husband I'm going to marry? The one the late emperor carefully selected for me?
But on her face, Princess Shoukang still looks like a gentle and considerate wife.

She gently held her husband's hand and said softly, "My dear..."

"This time the government has shown us mercy and will forgive the past... Sir, you should take this opportunity to cut off all ties with those people in the market and never have any more dealings with them!"

"From now on, you and I will stay in this house together, husband and wife... whatever Mr. Zhang likes, I will prepare for him... How do you think?"

As she spoke, Princess Shoukang looked at Zhang Dunli with anticipation, praying for the Buddha's blessing in her heart.

From now on, her husband will stay with her in this princess residence until they grow old!

Zhang Dunli naturally agreed very well.

But in my heart, I had another thought.

This time, he almost fell into trouble!
If he really fails here, he will probably be sent to the Imperial College, right?

Imperial College...

Just think about the legendary life of Guo Xianqing and Wu Anchi in the Imperial College.

Zhang Dunli shuddered all over!
That is a more desolate life than living with green lamps and ancient Buddhas!

then……

The prince consort thought fiercely in his heart: "Chang Shan, Wang Jing..."

"Don't think I don't know it was you guys who did this?"

"Isn't it that the pawnshop's shares are unwilling to be shared with you?"

"You treat me like this!?"

"It would be unworthy of a gentleman not to avenge this!"

Chang Shan and Wang Jing were both Zhang Dunli's former "friends".

He was the "Yanei" whom Zhang Dunli met in the theater.

His father and grandfather were both officials in the capital or generals of the imperial guards, and they had many connections.

These connections are what Zhang Dunli needs, but also what he lacks.

It is indeed the system of the Song Dynasty, with various systems checking and balancing each other, big and small restraining each other, and different opinions interfering with each other, which can be seen everywhere.

Even the supreme imperial power was subject to three levels of checks and balances: the Censors, the Secretariat, and the Secretaries, who could revoke laws, return imperial edicts, and reject imperial edicts.

Therefore, there are restrictions everywhere in the city of Bianjing.

Even the powerful governor of Kaifeng Prefecture, who sat in the government office, was subject to restrictions and controls from the officials of Kaifeng Prefecture, the Kaifeng Prefecture prosecutor and the Kaifeng Prefecture magistrate, and could not have the final say.

However, these big figures were also restrained by middle and low-level officials such as the Kongmu official, the Judicial Officer, and the Household Officer.

This is especially true for more basic and trivial matters.

Therefore, in this capital city, if you want to get things done and gain benefits, you must build up a network of relationships with these middle and low-level civil and military officials.

Otherwise, you will feel uncomfortable if someone chokes you by the neck.

Various lawsuits will follow.

Therefore, after Zhang Dunli and Xiu Zai and the monk got together, they pulled these two people and their relatives in for the convenience of doing things. Over the years, they also shared a lot of dividends with them, so the relationship between the two sides was once as good as honey.

However, starting last year, the imperial court forcibly separated the pawnshops of major temples and merged them into pawnshops.

Zhang Dunli had a falling out with these two people.

The reason for the falling out was the uneven distribution of the spoils.

Zhang Dunli felt that he had helped these two people become wealthy over the years and had allowed them to earn back their investment with interest.

I have done them justice!

Therefore, he didn't owe these two guys anything. On the contrary, these two guys should thank him and be grateful to him!
As for the share of the pawnshop in the pawnshop?
Naturally it has nothing to do with these two people!

These two guys don't think so.

Instead, he repeatedly asked Zhang Dunli for the shares in the pawnshop, saying shamelessly that "it is what we deserve".

But he didn't even take a piss or look in the mirror!
Therefore, Zhang Dunli simply ignored them - anyway, the pawnshop was gone, so his connections were no longer needed.

But he didn't expect that these two bastards would actually dare to harm him!

How ungrateful!
Extremely hateful!

……

It was already dusk in the Censorate in early summer.

Flocks of crows returned from all directions to the lush pine and cypress trees in the Censorate, chirping and making a lot of noise in the crow's nests.

The noise inside the Censorate was even louder than the clamour of a flock of crows.

This morning, the Communications Department sent over documents and everyone has been informed - all their impeachment letters have been kept here.

But it was different from the past - this time, the government did not make any explanation for staying in the court, nor did it send any internal text to encourage them.

This had already made the crows very dissatisfied!

Since the emperor took the throne, when large-scale collective impeachments like this were kept in the court, the emperor would usually send a letter to explain why they were kept in the court. Sometimes, he would even write an imperial letter to encourage them.

This is very useful to the crows!
I deeply feel that I have the heavy responsibility of monitoring the twenty-four routes of the Song Dynasty on my shoulders!
But when they impeached the royal family, not only did the palace not explain why they wanted to keep them, but there wasn't even a word of encouragement? !

What do you mean?
Are relatives by marriage naturally more noble than us scholars and officials?!
Impeachment is a big deal? The Crows were already furious at the time and reacted violently.

Unfortunately, there is no Zhongsi in charge of the Censorate now, and all the censors have no leader who can suppress and organize them.

Therefore, the Censorate now has seven or eight heads.

Every head has its own ideas.

Some people wanted to quit while they were ahead, some were unwilling to give up and wanted to continue impeaching, and some even colluded with both inside and outside the court, intending to follow the example of Fan Wencheng and collectively go to the inner east gate to knock on the door.

After arguing for a whole day, the crows still couldn't reach a consensus.

However, as the news just came out from the palace and reached the Censorate, everyone instantly came to the same conclusion.

"According to the news from the palace, Princess Shoukang entered the palace today to meet the Queen Mother and the Emperor..." Supervisory Censor Wang Di said to his colleagues angrily, "The Emperor said that he has not seen our impeachment against the Prince Consort!"

"We have clearly written an impeachment letter, strongly arguing the prince consort's crimes!"

"The palace said they had not seen our impeachment letter!"

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!"

"Our ancestors raised scholars and officials of our generation and established the Censorate, so that we could correct the mistakes of the emperor and correct the faults of the ministers!"

"Today... the villain is rampant, using slanderous words to disrupt the emperor's way!"

The only way for the emperor to say "I haven't seen any impeachment" is that some villain has made slanderous remarks before him.

And this villain, no matter who he is, must be found out and severely whipped!

"Foreign relatives are rampant, using favors to bring disaster to the country!"

"Can we just sit back and watch?"

"Confucius said it was benevolence, Mencius said it was righteousness!"

"Gentlemen, the time has come to serve your king and father!"

As Wang Di shouted passionately, the crows shouted excitedly: "Confucius said to sacrifice one's life for the sake of benevolence, Mencius said to pursue righteousness!"

This means mobilizing all the officials of the Censorate to fight the prince consort to the end.

Even if it means risking demotion, he would not hesitate to do so.

There is no way if they dare not continue impeachment because they are afraid of the honor and favor that the son-in-law has with the emperor.

Then, they are all finished!
The label of being afraid of the powerful will definitely be put on their heads!
As for crows, everything can be rotten.

The only thing that must not be ruined is your reputation!

Therefore, in the Song Dynasty, the crows in the Censorate would often go crazy or even walk alone.

Crows get particularly excited, especially when facing their in-laws.

Because they know they are righteous.

Also because they know that behind them is the entire scholar-official group!

Moreover, they knew that the more aggressive they were against the in-laws, the brighter their image would be in the eyes of the emperor!

Even if I was demoted, it was just for show.

And you will definitely be reused afterwards, and may even be promoted!

……

"This old man Wang Ming wants to emulate Fan Wencheng..." Zhu Guangting pushed open the doors and windows of his official residence and looked at Wang Di, who was colluding with the censors and encouraging him to continue impeaching and even detaining officials in the official residence opposite him. He sneered.

Wang Di was a student of Hu Yuan. Since he entered the officialdom, he has been known for his integrity and uprightness.

He and Zhu Guangting are competitors in an ecological niche.

"Humph!" The Censor Lu Tao, who was sitting opposite Zhu Guangting, sneered, "Wang Mingsou is just putting on an act!"

"It sounds better when spoken than when sung!"

"He wants to learn from Wen Zhenggong? I'm afraid he doesn't have Wen Zhenggong's character!"

Zhu Guangting nodded: "Yes... Everyone in the world regards Fan Wenzhenggong as a role model, but how many people can have the character of Wenzhenggong?"

At least, Wang Di didn’t!
Others don’t know Wang Mingsou’s background, but Zhu Guangting doesn’t know it?

In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Liu Zhi, Wang Yansou and Wang Di were recommended by Sima Wengong to serve as censors.

At that time, these three famous upright officials were of the same spirit and were wholeheartedly committed to rectifying the government!
But now, Liu Zhi and Wang Yansou were both convicted and demoted.

However, Wang Di was not affected and was even reused!
This made many gentlemen and upright people suspect that it was Wang Di who betrayed Liu Zhi and Wang Yansou.

Although Wang Di had no motive, it was possible for him to do this.

Because Wang Di and Wang Mingsou had an older brother named Wang Guan.

This man is a disciple of Wang Anshi, and also a die-hard member of the New Party!
Wang Guan is now in Jiangning. It is said that he was invited by Wang Anshi through a letter to teach in Wang Anshi's academy.

At Wang Anshi's move, Wang Guan happily ran from Yangzhou to Jiangning.

This is an obvious diehard of the New Party!
And with Wang Di having a brother like this, who would dare to really believe that he had no private connections with the villains and treacherous officials of the New Party?
Just like the brothers Lin Dan and Lin Xi!
Anyway, when Zhu Guangting looked at Wang Di, he always felt that he was an undercover agent sent by Wang Anshi to infiltrate the old party gentlemen.

At the very least, they are speculators at both ends of the snake's head with an unsteady stance.

"Let's not talk about Wang Mingsou for now!" Zhu Guangting turned around and looked at Lu Tao: "Mr. Yuan Jun, what are your plans for this matter?"

Lu Tao smiled lightly: "Wang Mingsou is just seeking fame and reputation!"

"But he's right!"

"Confucius said it was benevolence, Mencius said it was righteousness!"

"Now is the time to serve our king and father!"

Zhu Guangting smiled and nodded: "I have the same idea!"

The limelight cannot be snatched away by Wang Di, a fickle traitor!

We must let gentlemen like them come!
"However, even if Wang Mingsou succeeds in impeaching the son-in-law, I'm afraid he will only be fined some salary or demoted at most..." Lu Tao said: "If this is the case, the arrogance of the foreign relatives will become more rampant, and it will be difficult to make the government realize the evil of the foreign relatives and the evil of the villains!"

"That's why I want to go to Yongningfang and follow the prince consort day and night!" Lu Tao said softly.

Lu Tao is the inventor of the "Twelve-Hour Surveillance Method" which is popular in the Censorate today. Relying on this trick, Lu Tao has repeatedly caught the weak spots of many people since the first year of Yuanyou. He has severely impeached several officials who were in office but did nothing and were incompetent, and kicked these mediocre officials to remote military states.

Zhu Guangting nodded: "Then we'll go down to Fayun Temple and keep an eye on it!"

"Good!" Lu Tao nodded.

(End of this chapter)