Song Gexing

Chapter 226 Zhao Fang’s suspicion

"My emperor is benevolent and people-oriented. This is why Duke Zhou is a saint!"

It was rare for Sima Guang not to object to Zhao Fang's remarks today, but to praise him instead. While this was surprising, everyone also understood that what he said was true.

King Wu's destruction of the Shang Dynasty has no historical merit, it is just an iteration of the dynasty. However, Duke Zhou abolished the burial of human beings, which is a great merit of countless living people.

This is also why Confucius, who was clearly a descendant of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, said that I followed the Zhou Dynasty, because Zhou culture created humanistic thinking and rescued the Chinese nation from the ignorant idea of ​​supremacy of gods.

Confucius did not deny the existence of ghosts and gods, but he ignored them and kept a distance from them. He believed that since the human world is a human world, it should not be dominated by gods.

Confucianism considers itself to be the inheritor of Zhou culture. It is precisely based on this simple value system that Mencius became the second sage because of his people-centered thinking.

Minben is a step forward on the basis of humanism, because people are divided into hierarchies, but people do not. Therefore, Mencius was not liked by the rulers for a long time.

The Mohists also had people-oriented ideas, but compared to Mencius, they were too radical and were completely Utopian-like ideas of later generations.

However, the Mohist school was still integrated into the genes of the Chinese people. Even if the Baijia were deposed, its influence could not be erased. It became the chivalrous spirit of the lower class society and merged with Confucianism.

Therefore, the so-called democracy and freedom are actually leftovers from the Chinese nation. Westerners learned the advanced ideas of the East in the Middle Ages and broke away from the theocratic rule of the ignorant people.

Getting back to the topic, after Sima Guang praised Zhao Fang, he changed the subject and said: "However, your Majesty said that the emperor is unrighteous, and the subjects can oppose it. If the minister does not agree, the emperor and the father have made mistakes, and the ministers should remonstrate with them. How dare you take this as an excuse?" It’s an excuse to do something without a king or a father!”

"Well, although this old man is stubborn, his words are beneficial to me, so I'd better bear with him."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Fang quickly comforted himself. Although he did not agree with this view in his heart, he was a vested interest and it would be hypocritical to object.

After nodding and admitting his mistake, he said: "What you said is reasonable, but you must also use those examples to warn the monarch not to act rashly. What Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty said is that water can carry a boat and also capsize it. You must remember it."

This was a high-sounding truth that no one could object to, and the matter was over soon. It was considered an advantage for Li Liangzuo, and he was not allowed to die without a burial place.

This was actually Zhao Fang's selfish motives. Since the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty, on the surface, the rulers of the subjugated country were given generous rewards and burials, and he did not want to make an exception in his own hands.

Even if Li Yu was poisoned to death by Zhao Guangyi, it is still a folk legend. At least he was made a prince during his lifetime and was buried with the rites of a prince after his death.

The record of Li Yu being poisoned comes from the notebook "Mo Ji" written by Wang Zhi of the Southern Song Dynasty. There is no record in the history of the Song Dynasty. It is difficult to distinguish the authenticity from the isolated evidence.

Later generations are willing to believe that human nature likes darkness, especially those involving the secret history of the palace. People like to use conspiracy theories to infer, maybe they will feel more pleasure that way.

However, Li Yu's descendants all served as officials in the Song Dynasty. His son Li Zhongyu succeeded Duke Qingyuan and served as governor of Yingzhou. Later, Li Mian and Li Renhou were both Jinshi.

Li Ji even studied macro-ci in high school during the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. Li Zongmian, the famous Prime Minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, was also a descendant of Li Yu. This shows that the old Zhao family did not suppress Li Yu's descendants.

"The Liang family is granted the title of Jieyu, and Liang Yi's merits will be rewarded after the Xia Kingdom is settled. I grant Fu Zang Derong the command of the Zuoxiang Shengyong Army Commander..."

Later, no one questioned Liang Luoyao's arrangements, and I'm afraid the courtiers didn't care either. The appointment of Wu Zang Derong was controversial for a while, but it was settled.

The Wu Zang family was not a member of the Party, but a Tubo family. Their power was at the junction of Sichuan and Tibet and the Hengshan area. Although Zhao Fang's appointment gave him military power, it was far away from the Wu Zang family's inherent territory.

The Godly Army Division in the left wing is at the junction of Xia and Liao, where northern Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia meet, and it is now the front line of the confrontation between Song and Liao.

Therefore, the opponents did not have many reasons and were quickly convinced.That night, Zhao Fang saw Liang Luoyao for the first time in person. He was really surprised, but no matter how beautiful she was, Zhao Pan'er couldn't be more beautiful. It was impossible to charm him right now.

As for what will happen in the future, no one dares to guarantee. After all, whether a woman can charm a man depends on more than appearance alone, unless the man is of a very low level, that is another matter.

For example, Yang Yuhuan fell in love with Li Longji. Do you think it was just because of his appearance? Don't forget that these two people have common interests and hobbies. They are both music enthusiasts and have high musical attainments.

Liang Luoyao was married for the third time. Although she was young, she was not lacking in experience. Coupled with her flattery, Zhao Fang was still very satisfied.

But Liang Luoyao was disappointed. She originally wanted to enter the Song Dynasty harem by her own means and be successful, but after visiting the queen and others the next day, she realized that it would be difficult.

The queen Meng Xin, who is as beautiful as a fairy, is like a sister to the other concubines. If you want to defeat such a queen, you will have to make enemies of the entire harem.

Moreover, the second in line after the queen is the third lady. Xiao Guanyin's appearance, temperament, dignified and majestic, and a wealth of poems and books make it clear at a glance that she is not someone who wants to win favor through petty tactics.

What makes her even more desperate is that Zhao Pan'er, who is like a fairy, will not compete with her. How capable she must be to stand out from all these beauties.

She finally understood that even if her mother-in-law didn't hide the dark clouds here, she might not be able to stir up a storm, so she had to force herself to restrain her thoughts and get a firm foothold first.

"By the way, Luo Yao, I've always been puzzled. Is your ex-mother-in-law really dead?"

A few days later, Zhao Fang had free time to relax in the harem, surrounded by beauties, ordering tea and listening to music. Liang Luoyao was learning how to order tea with Zhao Pan'er, when Zhao Fang suddenly asked.

Liang Luoyao was stunned when asked, and asked in confusion: "What did the officials say?"

Zhao Fang laughed when he heard this and said, "I forgot that you have two ex-mothers-in-law. I'm talking about the one whose Chinese name is Li Qiushui."

"Li Qiushui! The officials actually know her alias?"

Liang Luoyao looked at him curiously. This name was used outside by Wu Zang Heiyun when he was young. Even in Xixia, few people knew it.

Seeing Zhao Fang nodding, she quickly replied, "He is indeed dead, he died of serious injuries after being ambushed."

Song Yinzhang smiled and said: "Why do you ask me so politely? Didn't Xia Guo report it at the beginning? Besides, if she hadn't died, how could Li Liangzuo dare to kill his uncle's whole family?"

Zhao Fang nodded and sighed: "Her martial arts skills are extremely high. I thought she would be able to escape from an assassination like that. After all, she is the direct disciple of the Lord of the Lingjiu Palace."

Liang Luoyao's eyes widened in surprise: "Do the officials even know this?"

Zhao Fang looked at her and smiled: "If I guess correctly, you are also a disciple of Lingjiu Palace, right?"

"Official!"

Liang Luoyao's expression changed and she exclaimed in surprise. She was about to kneel down when Zhao Fang held her arm up: "What are you worried about? It's not that my woman can't practice martial arts. I'm just curious."

As he said this, he silently added in his mind: "I suspect that you are responsible for disturbing Wu Zang's entry into the palace."

(End of this chapter)