I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 515: The Great Song Dynasty is busy! Eating steamed buns, drinking cold water, and chewing pickled cabbage
All the ministers gathered in the government hall.

They were all waiting for Zhao Zhen's edict to appoint the Crown Prince's guests.

Wu Yu looked at Ouyang Xiu and said with a smile: "Mr. Ouyang, in terms of talent and knowledge, you are the most suitable to be the prince's guest!"

"You're welcome, you're welcome! Prime Minister Wu is diligent and steady, a role model for the scholars and officials of the dynasty, and is more suitable to be the prince's guest. Of course, it could also be Prime Minister Zhang or Deputy Envoy Zeng. I'm still far from them!" Ouyang Xiu stroked his beard and said with a smile.

Zeng Gongliang smiled and shook his head.

"I am old now, and there are only so many things I can teach the prince. Prime Minister Ji and Ouyang are more promising."

Wang Yaochen hurriedly said modestly, "No, no, there are Prime Minister Zhang and Deputy Envoy Zeng here. I am too inexperienced to take on this responsibility. I cannot take on this responsibility, I cannot take on this responsibility!"

"Prime Minister Ji, if you can't bear it, then I can't bear it even more!" Zhang Fangping also spoke.

……

not far away.

Prime Minister Wen Yanbo and Deputy Prime Minister Fu Bi curled their lips when they heard this.

This group of "deputy prime ministers" seemed humble, but in fact, everyone wanted to become the prince's guest.

The prince's guests are of the third rank.

But he is indeed the future imperial teacher.

Teach the prince how to be a human being and a king, and you will have unlimited glory in the future.

Not only will the treatment after retirement be extraordinary, but the reputation left behind in the future will also be different.

If the eldest prince Zhao Yan becomes more outstanding than the current emperor in the future, he will be even more famous in history.

At this time.

Wang Yaochen, the Third Secretary, suddenly asked, "Everyone, is it possible that Jingming could be the candidate for the Crown Prince's guest?"

Swish!
The government hall fell silent in an instant, and all the vice prime ministers were dumbfounded.

How could I forget him!

According to common practice, the deputy prime minister of the dynasty would also serve as the prince's guest. As the Chief Censor, Su Liang was one level lower than the deputy prime minister.

But if the emperor personally chooses Su Liang, they will have nothing to say and they will not be able to argue with him.

"It's possible, very likely, and I think if it happens, it will be a blessing for the country!" Wen Yanbo spoke first.

The other husbands nodded.

If one of them wins the position, the others might not be convinced.

But if it was Su Liang, no one would disobey them.

His political achievements and military merits are all there, and in terms of hard power, no one can compare to Su Liang.

at this time.

The eunuchs conveyed Zhao Zhen’s decree.

The Chief Censor Su Liang also served as the Prince's Guest, and the Salt and Iron Procurator Wang Anshi also served as the Prince's Secretary.

Also.

The prince's officials, including the left and right concubines, the tutor, the lecturer, the middle secretary, and the secretary, were also decided.

All of them are young and middle-aged.

None of them were over forty-five years old.

Su Liang's son Su Zimu also had the official title of "Prince's Tutor".

Su Zimu obtained this position not by relying on Su Liang's merit, but by relying on his own ability.

Wen Yanbo looked at the list and said, "From this list, we can see the emperor's expectations for the prince! Jingming and Jiefu are both pioneers of the Song Dynasty's reforms, and the other officials are also the best young people in the court. In the future, these people will be the pillars of the court!"

The other husbands nodded.

If nothing unexpected happens, Su Liang and Wang Anshi will be the prime minister and deputy prime minister of the Song Dynasty in the next dynasty.

……

After the ceremony of enthroning the crown prince, the court declared a general amnesty.

The whole nation was excited and celebrated.

As the saying goes: When a crown prince is appointed, the country is stable and the world is at peace.

The appointment of the crown prince this time meant that the Song Dynasty had taken another big step towards a "prosperous era".

……

into the night.

The Prince of Runan's Mansion is extremely bustling.

To celebrate the court's appointment of a crown prince, Zhao Yunrang gathered his entire family together and set up several banquet tables.

He is happy.

His son Zhao Zongshi was even happier.

This father and son, successively serving as backup candidates for the throne, lived in fear and trepidation for the first ten years of their lives.

It is extremely hard to be this kind of spare tire with no legitimate reason.

Be careful and cautious when eating, sleeping, talking and doing things.

He must neither show any desire for the throne, nor should he fail to work hard and diligently to prepare to become a virtuous monarch.

If you are not careful, you will be impeached and invited into the palace for a lecture.

Now that the crown prince has been appointed, they can finally put their minds at ease and enjoy life to the fullest.

……

at the same time.

The surrounding countries also sent congratulatory messages to congratulate the Song Dynasty on its establishment of a crown prince. Even the Liao Kingdom and Japan expressed their congratulations to the Song Dynasty.

The Song Dynasty responded to each gift one by one, fully demonstrating the demeanor of a great country.

……

In the blink of an eye, it was May.

The weather is getting hotter.

The Song Dynasty's campaign to conquer the Xia Dynasty was progressing very smoothly, with reports of victory coming in every three days.

The Longyu Army is chasing after the Xixia Iron Harrier Army. Currently, there is only a group of 600 Iron Harriers left that has not yet been destroyed.

The maritime trade in the east of the Song Dynasty and the operations in the northwestern Hehuang region were also very smooth.

All the best.

……

May 8th, afternoon, Chuigong Hall.

The ministers of the two ministries and three departments, the chief censor Su Liang, as well as Bao Zheng of Kaifeng Prefecture, and the chief officials of the Academy of Scholars, the Imperial Library, and the Imperial College were all called into the hall.

After entering the hall, all the ministers were confused and looked at Prime Minister Wen Yanbo and Deputy Prime Minister Fu Bi.

However, the two of them were also confused and didn't know why the government had called them here.

The current government has become more and more assertive, from being passive in the past to being in control of everything today.

Lean slightly.

Zhao Zhen walked into the hall with a smile on his face.

The ministers could tell from his expression that he was in a good mood. Calling all the ministers here was probably not to announce bad news, but more likely good news.

Zhao Zhen looked around and said with a smile, "My lords, I called you here for the upcoming harvest season."

Mai busy?

One official was stunned and repeated it silently several times before he understood.

May is the time for harvesting wheat. Farmers are very busy, so it is called the wheat harvest season.

But the officials had lived in the city for so long that they had no idea that it was time to harvest the wheat.

"In May, the wheat harvest is in full swing, and the farmers are working very hard. I plan to take the officials of Bianjing City, as well as the students and teachers of the Imperial Academy, to the wheat fields around Bianjing City to help the people harvest wheat for five days. On the one hand, it is to strengthen our bodies, and on the other hand, I want everyone to experience the hard work of the people and understand that every meal should be appreciated. What do you think?"

When Su Liang heard this idea, he immediately laughed.

Since the reform of the whole Song Dynasty, officials have been particularly fond of physical exercise.

In other words, they like to suffer even when there is no hardship.

Last year, the Double Ninth Festival outing turned into a hiking competition between the emperor and his ministers; this year, the emperor is thinking of going to the fields with all the officials to harvest wheat.

Su Liang liked this experience, but some officials frowned.

In such hot weather, harvesting wheat was very hard work, not to mention that it had to take five days. Some officials had no idea how to harvest or bundle the wheat.

Zhao Zhen looked serious and continued, "Officials over the age of 60 do not need to participate in this matter, but those under the age of 60 cannot take leave without illness, and cannot pretend to be sick. This matter will be recorded in the official performance evaluation."

"When harvesting wheat, no one, including me, should be accompanied by servants. All of you must bring your own clothes, hats, farm tools, water bottles, and dry food. You must eat and rest in the fields at noon. You must not leave the fields until you have completed your mission by dark..."

"All officials in the government offices must participate. They stay indoors all day and their bodies are getting weaker and weaker. It's time to get some sun!"

……

After Zhao Zhen finished speaking in one breath, he looked around and said, "Do you have any objections? If not, this matter will be handed over to Kaifeng Prefecture to arrange!"

Seeing that Zhao Zhenxing's tone was quite tough, the officials dared not refute.

And there is no reason to refute this kind of help for the people.

"I have no objection!"

Wen Yanbo was the first to express his opinion that he has always liked sports, often jogging in the morning, and is not afraid of this kind of physical work.

"I have no objection!" Other officials also bowed.

At last.

Bao Zheng cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, Kaifeng Prefecture will definitely make proper arrangements for this matter!"

…On May 13th, before dawn, the stars were bright.

Inside the Su residence.

Su Liang and his son Su Zimu were both wearing thin black and gray silk shirts, thin trousers, straw hats, and a kettle hanging around their waists. Su Liang also carried a small bamboo basket with steamed buns and cakes in it.

Tang Wanmei looked at the father and son's outfits and couldn't help but laugh.

"Pay attention to the insects in the fields, be careful not to get scratched by the sickle, don't try too hard, especially you, Su Zimu, don't try too hard, don't always think about surpassing the Crown Prince and the Second Prince..."

Tang Wanmei explained seriously.

Su Liang and Su Zimu looked at each other from time to time and did not take it to heart at all.

Before Tang Wanmei opened her mouth, the father and son guessed what she was going to say.

After a while, the father and son got on the carriage. As required, they were to meet outside the city and then go to the wheat fields together.

Su Zimu was very excited.

He had experienced wheat harvesting at Baijia Academy and had gone through the entire process of turning a wheat stalk into steamed buns, so he had a basic understanding of farming.

About half an hour later, everyone gathered outside the city gate.

The officials of the capital, the students and teachers of the Imperial Academy all came.

A large crowd of people lined up according to the arrangement of Kaifeng Prefecture.

Bao Zheng arranged this matter very carefully according to Zhao Zhen's request.

Regardless of the rank of the official, one could only bring steamed buns and cakes, plus a pot of water as food. Otherwise, it would be easy to compare with others and turn wheat harvesting into camping in the wild.

Another half hour passed.

At daybreak, all the ministers, officials above the fifth rank, led by Zhao Zhen, together with the three boys, the eldest prince, the second prince and Su Zimu, all came to a golden wheat field.

Bao Zheng had already made arrangements for everyone.

The amount of wheat harvested by each person is equivalent to 70% of that of an ordinary citizen. After harvesting, they can sit in the fields to rest and go home when dark.

If you can't finish mowing, just keep mowing.

This rule takes into account the vast majority of people.

First of all.

Several farmers came to Su Liang and others and taught them how to harvest and bundle wheat, and how to work together to transport the wheat from the fields to the edge of the field.

It seems simple, but in fact many officials had to listen to it three times before they understood it.

Zhao Zhen held the sickle and learned seriously, and other officials naturally did not dare to neglect him.

Also.

Many officials from Kaifeng Prefecture and the Censorate were patrolling and supervising the area, and anyone who was lazy would be recorded.

About half a quarter of an hour later, everyone entered the wheat field.

There were imperial guards and medical officers standing around the wheat fields to prevent any accidents.

Zhao Zhen, Wen Yanbo, Wu Yu and Zhang Fangping were responsible for a wheat field.

Next to them were Crown Prince Zhao Xun, Second Prince Zhao Han and Su Zimu.

Fu Bi, Su Liang, Ouyang Xiu and Wang Yaochen were grouped together.

Ouyang Xiu walked into the wheat field and could not help but sigh: "The wheat waves are golden, and the wheat is as heavy as gold. It is another good year. I should recite a poem!"

Ouyang Xiu turned his head and looked.

Fu Bi, Su Liang and Wang Yaochen on the side had already bent over and started cutting, and he also hurriedly swung his sickle.

It would be quite embarrassing to be last.

Initially, officials were mostly excited.

Because this is very new.

But in less than half an hour, some people were so tired that they felt dizzy and their delicate white hands were covered with blisters.

Reaping wheat is very tiring.

Especially in such hot weather.

Zhao Zhen was also sweating profusely, but seeing the three children next to him still bending over to cut wheat, he naturally could not stop.

The officials around him were also looking at him!

And at this moment, in a wheat field.

Several officials in the government looked at the back of a man who was nearly twice their size. They wiped the sweat off their faces and cursed, "He is the only one who is good at harvesting wheat. Doesn't he make us look even more clumsy? Bao Xiren is really good at planning!"

After cursing a few words, the officials in the imperial court had no choice but to continue harvesting wheat with their heads down.

The figure who was nearly twice as tall as them was none other than Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi was in his prime at the time.

And he really enjoyed farming.

When he was the governor of Qizhou, he would go to the fields with a sickle during the wheat harvest, and he even competed with Sima Guang.

When it comes to harvesting wheat, I'm afraid even the Privy Councilor Di Qing might not be his match.

He was simply out of this world.

The officials behind him scolded him for being ignorant of the ways of the world while keeping their heads down and moving forward.

It was Zhao Zhen's idea to list the ministers in the imperial court together with Wang Anshi.

These officials in the imperial court who are often busy with their pens and desks, often fall ill, and frequently submit memorials that are ignorant of the sufferings of the people, are the officials who should experience this kind of hard work the most.

As for the group of spoiled students in the Imperial College, they are supervised by soldiers from the Imperial City Bureau, and they absolutely dare not be lazy.

Soon, it was noon.

An official shouted, "It's noon, take a half-hour break!"

When the officials heard this, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Then they went in groups of three or four, holding their waists, and returned to the shade of the trees at the edge of the fields.

Some people leaned against trees, some lay on the ground, and some went to the roadside to scoop up freshly drawn well water and drank it down in gulps.

Some of them took steamed buns and ate them with the pickled vegetables provided by Kaifeng Prefecture.

Some were so tired that they just lay down and fell asleep.

This half hour is used for eating and resting, after which they will work until the sun sets.

Everyone is in pain and happy.

This is the daily life of the lower class people. They dare not complain, nor should they complain.

Under the shade of a tree.

Wang Yaochen looked at Ouyang Xiu who was drinking cold water in big gulps, and said with a smile: "Sir Ouyang, have you come up with any new poems after spending half a day in the wheat field?"

Ouyang Xiu rolled his eyes at him.

"I am almost dying of exhaustion. My brain is like paste. There is no poetry in my heart. No poetry at all!"

After this was said, Su Liang and others couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This is the reality of the world.

Some officials in the imperial court and some students in the Imperial Academy initially also had the idea of ​​writing poems in the wheat fields.

But when I really start working, my body is exhausted and I have no energy to write poetry, and I can no longer find any trace of poetry.

……

After dark.

In less than half an hour, except for some who were too clumsy, the officials had basically completed the harvesting task.

Then, with trembling hands and legs, he got into the carriage to go home.

Tomorrow will seem like a nightmare to most people.

After Su Liang and Su Zimu returned home, they quickly washed, ate and drank, then lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

The next day, everything was the same as before.

The officials gradually adapted to the situation and their performance was much better than yesterday.

However, there were also three officials in the imperial court who fainted, either due to overwork and heatstroke or because they were angered by Wang Anshi's excellent performance. They were treated by the medical officer in the field for a long time before they gradually recovered.

……

Five days later, near dusk,
The emperor and his ministers' wheat-harvesting trip was declared over.

The officials' faces were covered in dust, but they were very excited because the hard days were finally over.

at the same time.

Zhao Zhen ordered people to steam a lot of steamed buns by the field, intending to eat the buns by the field as a conclusion to this experience.

These steamed buns are made from this year’s new wheat. They have a strong wheat aroma and are very delicious.

Everyone was hungry.

Zhao Zhen sat on the ground, shooing away mosquitoes and eating steamed buns in big mouthfuls.

After doing physical work, food tastes better.

He ate four pickled cabbage dumplings in one go and drank three large bowls of well water.

The eldest prince Zhao Xun, the second prince Zhao Han, and Su Zimu were sitting in the fields, their faces covered with dust, only their hands were clean.

The three of them held a big steamed bun in one hand and a pickled vegetable lump in the other, with a kettle beside them, and ate with relish.

This experience is enough for them to remember for a lifetime.

Finally, Zhao Zhen also told the Secretariat that the court should hold such activities every year during the busy wheat season, and local officials should follow suit and work for the people for free.

Such activities not only save money, but are also of great significance and are worth holding every year to let officials know the sufferings of the people and the difficulty of growing grain.

(End of this chapter)