People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 32 Ginger is still old and spicy

While Fan Zhongyan and others were discussing matters, at the beginning of the afternoon, Lu Yijian's sedan slowly left the Donghua Gate and headed towards Ma Xing Street in the inner city.

Everyone knows that the Lu family has a prominent family and has been a high official for generations since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. But they don't know that in addition to being prominent, they are also very wealthy.

Lu Yijian's uncle, Lu Mengzheng, was the prime minister of the Zhao Guangyi and Zhao Heng dynasties. He was an honest official, upright and rigorous. In addition to Wang Anshi, he was also the prototype of the allusion that the prime minister could punt a boat.

But this great sage likes to eat chicken tongue soup for breakfast and kills dozens or hundreds of chickens every day.

Although he later changed his habit of eating chicken tongue soup after learning that the kitchen was going to waste so many chickens, this was enough to prove how rich the Lu family really was.

Moreover, this wealth does not come from corruption, but from family inheritance.For example, the Lu family owned numerous fields in their ancestral homeland of Shouzhou, and also owned a large number of shops, industries, etc. in various cities and towns in Shouzhou and Bianliang. They could be said to have a great wealth.

Therefore, the Lu family is not like Fan Zhongyan, a high-ranking official from a poor family who can only buy an ordinary mansion in Daguan Lane in the outer city.But relying on the family background, Lu's house is located on Maxing Street, where land is very valuable, very close to the palace.

Maxing Street is much more prosperous than Daguan Lane. The west side of the street is mostly residential, while the east side is crowded with shops, most of which are drugstores.The streets are more than dozens of miles long, filled with shops and shops, mixed with official residences, and crowded with cars and horses. Its night market is a hundred times more prosperous than that of Zhouqiao.

In addition to the bustling streets, there are countless alleys of various sizes along both sides of the street.

The most famous one is Washe, commonly known as Wazi and Goulan.High-rise buildings are connected one after another, like a large number of courtyards gathered together, forming a complex terrain like alleys.

There are brothels, teahouses, restaurants, inns, theaters, elegant gardens, pubs, etc.Especially during the Tiansheng period, Zhao Zhen completely canceled the curfew, and Washe and Fang City became completely prosperous and lively.

There are countless people who get drunk, play, stay in hotels, and visit prostitutes at night. It is said that there is a black market, where you can buy many things that cannot be seen outside. The grand occasion is really like "when you look up, you can see brothels and pavilions, embroidered bead curtains, and car-carving competitions". Stationed in Tianjie."

Lu Yijian's sedan chair, surrounded by guard servants, shuttled through the crowded streets outside Donghua Gate. In front of it was Livazi. He heard the servants outside say: "My lord, the guards of Xianggong Song came here just now and said that Song Xianggong Your Majesty, I am waiting for you in the east building of Wazi in front."

"Ah."

Lu Yijian said in a deep voice: "I know, let's go."

The sedan continued forward.

After a while, I arrived outside Rivazi. I turned around and no longer walked straight to Ma Xing Street, but entered Rivazi.

Vashene is a straight street with various shops on the left and right sides.

The East Building is a large restaurant, and those who can open a restaurant in the inner city always have a great background. As far as Lu Yijian knows, there should be a general behind him.

Because of this, it is safe to meet in the East Building.

At least the Imperial City Department is now controlled by the Cao family. The current Imperial City Envoy Cao Xiu is the cousin of Empress Cao. He will probably give him Lu Yijian and Song Shou. When presented to the officials afterwards, at most they will be Lu Xiang and Song Shou. Just having a casual meal together.

Lu Yijian got off the sedan and was greeted by the shopkeeper of the east building and went up to the third floor. The first and second floors were the lobby, which was crowded with guests during the meal.The third floor is much quieter, and the corridor is still burning with a faint scent of Funan sandalwood.

The shopkeeper was very sensible and didn't ask any questions. He respectfully led Lu Yijian all the way to the innermost room. Song Shou and Lu Yijian's escort servants were guarding the outside to eliminate any possibility of eavesdropping.

The door creaked open, and there was another room inside. The shopkeeper Shiqu stepped away, Lu Yijian opened the bead curtain, and saw Song Shou making tea for herself in the back room.

"Mr. Tanfu."

Seeing Lu Yijian come in, Song Shou stood up and pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Please sit down quickly."

"Gong Chui."

Lu Yijian came over, sat on the chair, and said, "Didn't we agree not to meet in private as much as possible?"

Song Shou also sat down. The food on the table had just been delivered and was still hot. He raised his chopsticks and said with a smile: "Isn't it okay to have a light meal together on the way home from duty?"

"Haha, tell me something."

When Lu Yijian saw that the dishes on the table were all his favorite dishes, he said to himself that he was really interested, so he also raised his chopsticks. Thinking that he was busy with official documents in the afternoon and forgot about time, he was really hungry, so he just ate in the east building. Some, I won’t eat when I get home at night.

"What's the matter? It's because the government affairs have been complicated recently, and I feel a little depressed."

Song Shou personally poured a glass of wine for Lu Yijian.

Although tea is good, when talking about business, you still need a glass or two of sake to cheer you up.

"We talk about business when we are on duty, and we always have some leisure time after we are off duty."

Lu Yijian smiled, picked up the wine glass and took a sip.

The two chatted for a while, and after two or three glasses of wine, they finally got to the point.

Song Shou took a piece of chicken with chopsticks and chewed it for a while. After swallowing it, he hesitated a little, put his head next to Lu Yijian, and whispered: "My lord, to tell you the truth, there is indeed something important."

"You say it."

Lu Yijian probably understood what he was going to say.

Song Shou said: "We haven't seen any guests recently. Zi Qiao and Zi Ming are very worried."

He said that Zi Qiao and Zi Ming were actually Xia Song, Jia Changchao and others. Most of the former disciples and former officials promoted by Lu Yijian were middle and lower-level officials. Except for Song Shou, who was promoted by him, the other senior officials were basically the same as him. Belong to an alliance of interests.

In fact, Song Shou and he were not completely superiors and subordinates, let alone Lu Yijian's obedient slaves, but an alliance with more kindness than a political alliance.

At first, Song Shou disobeyed the old witch Liu E and was demoted to Yingtian Prefecture Yin. It was Lu Yijian who recommended Zhao Zhen after Liu E's death and supported Zhao Zhen's pro-government, and then he returned to the court and was reused as deputy prime minister.

It was precisely because of this kindness that Song Shou always supported him.

Otherwise, with the current system of the Song Dynasty, unless he was an independent prime minister, Lu Yijian would not be able to dominate the government and make everyone in the Lu Party obey his orders.

It's just that now Lu Yijian is the leader of the Lu Party after all. The Fan Party has been making a big fuss recently and has eliminated many forces in their middle and lower classes.

At this juncture, Lu Yijian closed the door to thank guests again, and did not talk to anyone except going to the palace to stay until coming back in the afternoon, which made other senior officials of the Lu Party very worried.

Could it be that the officials really planned to let Fan Zhongyan and others launch a purge against them?

"I know what they're worried about."

Lu Yijian put down the chopsticks in his hand, tapped the table with his right index finger, and then said in a deep voice: "But you should understand what is the most important thing now. In comparison, even though Xia Song, Jia Chang and the others were all driven out of the court , it’s not so serious.”

Song Shou understood what he meant and frowned: "Of course I understand this truth, but Fan Xiwen has a bad temper. He is as smelly and hard as the stones in the pit. He has repeatedly tried to kill us."

"The officials really mistrusted this man. Fan Xiwen's low profile is disgusting. When we should be united as one, he single-mindedly provokes party strife. It's really abominable."

Thinking of this, Lu Yijian couldn't help but get angry.

The word "pattern" existed in the Song Dynasty, but in Lu Yijian's mind, Fan Zhongyan's pattern was really low. With Zhao Jun here, he actually wanted to use Zhao Jun to engage in party strife, rather than make the country rich and powerful with Zhao Jun's help. In fact, It made him angry.

But he also understood that maybe in Fan Zhongyan's heart, he looked different.

After all, Lu Yijian has indeed been somewhat arbitrary in recent years. Among the three prime ministers and three ministers, Wang Zeng has been very dissatisfied with him for monopolizing power many times. Zhao Jun said that he will be dismissed from the prime minister next year because of this. This is the reason.

But this is not the reason for Fan Zhongyan's repeated criticism.Because both Lu Yijian and Fan Zhongyan knew very well that under the current system of the Song Dynasty, no matter how powerful the prime minister was, he could not threaten the imperial power.Fan Zhongyan's impeachment of Lu Yijian for manipulating government affairs and causing chaos was nothing more than finding a high-sounding reason.

In the final analysis, this battle is still a battle between positions and interests. First, Lu Dang holds a high position, while Fan Dang mostly has young talents. If he wants to get the upper hand, he must use the gold coins of these old people.

Second, Fan Party members are basically New Deal reformers, and Fan Zhongyan focuses on reforming the issue of redundant officials.

Lu Dang is mostly a child of a wealthy family. Fan Dang plans to launch reforms and solve the problem of redundant officials. Lu Dang is naturally the biggest obstacle in their way.Therefore, Fan Zhongyan pointed the finger at Lu Yijian, and his intention is naturally self-evident.

A dispute over positions is inevitable, but what makes Lu Yijian angry is that Fan Zhongyan actually cleverly used Zhao Jun as a tool for party struggle, making him the target of public criticism.

Moreover, Lu Yijian was too passive.

Zhao Jun said that Fan Zhongyan was the initiator of the Qingli New Deal in the future, and the Qingli New Deal was the correct path that the Song Dynasty should take under the current situation. Therefore, in the eyes of officials, Fan Zhongyan became a good minister in governing the world.

On the contrary, it was Lu Yijian who became the main culprit in blocking the New Deal. In the hearts of officials, Fan Zhongyan's weight increased greatly and his status rose steadily.

In this way, Fan Zhongyan can remain invincible just by relying on his status as reform minister.

He can continue to suppress Lu Dang, stand on the moral high ground, and say that they are a conservative interest group, just like how they were portrayed in later movies, novels, and TV series, turning Lu Dang into the role of a villain and a traitor.

What should Lu Yijian do?
It's hard to refute.

So Lu Yijian feels very headache now.

Fan Zhongyan will not give up. He only needs to make good use of his status as a reform pioneer, and sooner or later he will pull himself down.

Song Shou said: "If Fan Xiwen continues to make such a fuss, I'm afraid it won't be good for anyone."

"Fan Zhongyan took advantage of the kind words he received from that person, and no longer took anyone else seriously. He spent all day arranging our rights and wrongs in front of that person."

Lu Yijian looked ugly and unhappy.

Song Shou frowned and said: "If many admonishers and censors under the Prime Minister's sect have been eliminated, there should also be many under other people's sects. Using the power of the admonishment platform, there are countless people who have impeached him. But if we take forceful action now But he can't move, and the officials can't let go."

Lu Yijian thought for a moment and said, "What can you do?"

"Forehead."

Song Shou hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said: "If I had the law, I wouldn't come to see my husband."

"For the sake of the official family and the great Song Dynasty, I don't want to do anything to Fan Zhongyan after I learn that he will be useful to the country in the future."

Lu Yijian touched his beard, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said softly: "But if he still doesn't know how to advance or retreat, or how to restrain himself, I will find a way to beat him."

"Oh?"

Song Shou was surprised and said, "Could it be that Mr. Lu has a plan?"

Lu Yijian said: "If the methods on the surface don't work, we can only use other methods. Let's see first. If Fan Xiwen stops, then I will give in. If he still insists on making things difficult for me, I will have to use this trick. .”

Song Shou asked: "Please tell Mr. Lu, so that we can be mentally prepared."

Lu Yijian asked: "Do you know why I have cut off all contact and declined visitors during this period?"

Song Shou said: "Of course I know that not only Lu Gong, but also me, the two Wang Xianggong, Sheng Xianggong and Cai Xianggong also live in seclusion. This time it was Zi Qiao who asked someone to come to the house, otherwise I wouldn't have done it." Come to Mr. Lu."

"Ha ha."

Lu Yijian smiled and said, "But I heard recently that Fan Xiwen's house is very lively. Ouyang Xiu, Yu Jing, Cai Xiang and others have gathered at his house many times."

Song Shou opened his eyes wide and then said, "Is Mr. Lu worried about Fan Xiwen?"

"He probably can't be that stupid."

Lu Yijian shook his head: "But who can say for sure about this kind of thing? Even if he doesn't tell the person's name and origin, Bao Buqi will reveal something else. If something is spread in Bianliang, haha."

"Something is spreading?"

Song Shou wondered: "What's the matter?"

"Someone told the officials that Zhao Yuanhao was plotting rebellion."

Lu Yijian said calmly.

"Zhao Yuanhao is plotting rebellion? Who doesn't know about this? Wait a minute."

Song Shou didn't understand it at first. After thinking about it for a while, he suddenly became shocked and looked at Lu Yijian in shock.

Zhao Jun's matter is already the top secret of the Song Dynasty.They could not bring out the old woman and children who were sent to the palace, and now they all live in the back garden.

Even the three ministers such as Lu Yijian Wang Zeng and others lived in seclusion and did not even dare to mention Zhao Jun's name.

The power of the Imperial City Division is indeed subject to some restrictions, but this is Bianliang, where the Imperial City Division has the greatest power. It is impossible for the officials to not know how cautious Lu Yijian and the others are.

Only Fan Zhongyan kept having parties, in groups, shouting and drinking, as if they were afraid that others would not know that they were having a party in the mansion.

Even though Fan Zhongyan didn't reveal anything, once something spread in Bianliang City.

For example, the officials of the Song Dynasty already knew that Zhao Yuanhao had objections, and someone told him about it.Even if there is no trouble in Bianliang, there will probably be a storm in the hearts of the officials.

After all, Zhao Yuanhao had already rebelled. In fact, many people knew that Zhao Yuanhao once threatened to establish a country in front of Yang Gao, the doctor of the Ministry of Industry, and Zhu Yunzhong, the deputy protocol officer.

If this matter spreads among the people, it is estimated that it will not cause much sensation.

Because there are so many true and false news these days, and judging from Zhao Yuanhao's attitude that has been known to everyone in the past few years, it is not that there is no news among the people that Zhao Yuanhao wants to establish a country.

So in fact, if Zhao Jun hadn't appeared, this matter would probably have been an insignificant matter.

But the key is that Zhao Jun appears.

At this juncture, the matter of Zhao Yuanhao's rebellion suddenly became aroused, and it was also pointed out that someone told the officials about it. What would they think if it was heard in their ears?
Naturally, one would think that the news about Zhao Jun had been leaked.

So who leaked it?

Is it San Xiang San Shen, who lives in seclusion and rarely talks to others or has guests, or is it Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu and others who often gather together?

Song Shou was shocked for a moment. After he came to his senses, he gave a thumbs up.

"Older gingers are more spicy."

(End of this chapter)