Daming Super Dimension Company, President Zhu Yuanzhang!

Xiao Ran and little Princess Li Lizhi played happily for several days, then stayed at home and watched TV.

By the time Xiao Ran remembered to visit Zhao Xu, seven or eight days had passed.

"According to the time, the Ministry of Revenue should be cleared up."

Xiao Ran said this, and then teleported directly to Zhao Xu's side.

The first year of Xining
Funing Hall

Zhao Xu was busy reviewing memorials, his face full of fatigue.

"Mr. Xiao, you are here." Seeing Xiao Ran appear, Zhao Xu smiled sincerely and put down the memorial in his hand.

He finally had an excuse to take a break.

"This major change in the Ministry of Revenue officials was fiercely opposed by ministers in the court, led by Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang."

Without waiting for Xiao Ran to ask, Zhao Xu took the initiative to tell him the current situation, with annoyance showing between his brows.

With his ancestors Zhao Kuangyin and Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin behind him, he was not afraid of the ministers in the court. However, the quarrels in the morning court every day and nine out of ten memorials were against were really annoying.

Xiao Ran raised his eyebrows, "Ouyang Xiu can be summoned to the palace for a good talk. As for Sima Guang, it would be better to let him leave the capital and serve as an official first."

Given Ouyang Xiu's temperament, he must have had his reasons for opposing it; perhaps the reforms that had been modified still had problems.

However, Sima Guang was against Wang Anshi's reforms when his good friend was implicated. Later, when he was reinstated, he directly abolished all the new laws.

"I understand. I'll do as Mr. Xiao said."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu nodded slightly, thinking that what Xiao Ran said made sense.

But he thought of something, and asked, "Since Mr. Xiao knows the future, can Sima Guang be reused? Please tell me in detail, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Ran said, "This is another price."

Last time, I was in a good mood and didn’t charge any money. Now Xiao Ran doesn’t want to do business at a loss.

Zhao Xu was shocked for a moment, "Mr. Xiao, I am short of money now, why don't I wait until the treasury is full, and I will give you double the amount."

"Okay, is there anyone else besides Sima Guang who wants to ask? We can write an IOU together." Xiao Ran said with a smile.

Embarrassed, Zhao Xu pulled off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Xiao Ran. He tried to maintain his dignity as an emperor and said, "This will be used as collateral."

Xiao Ran coughed lightly to stop himself from laughing.

"Sima Guang was very knowledgeable when he was young. The story of Sima Guang smashing the jar is still circulated in later generations. Sima Guang's father was an official and carefully trained Sima Guang and kept him by his side all the time, which was largely responsible for his erudition."

"In the first year of Baoyuan, Sima Guang, 20 years old, passed the first-class imperial examination and was appointed as the magistrate of Huazhou, and later changed to the magistrate of Suzhou. With the death of Sima Guang's mother, he had to resign and mourn for three years. It happened that the Western Xia was established and the Song-Xia War broke out. The Song Dynasty suffered a series of defeats. Song Renzong asked Liangzhe to recruit archers and set up additional commanders. Sima and his son disagreed and drafted a "Statement on the Inappropriateness of Recruiting Archers in Liangzhe."

"In the first year of the Qingli reign, Sima Guang's father died of illness in Jinzhou, which made Sima Guang extremely sad. He wrote many articles, which were later mentioned in the Zizhi Tongjian. After the mourning period ended, Sima Guang became an official again, and achieved political achievements in a short period of time, and was promoted to Dali Pingshi."

"In the seventh year of the Qingli reign, Wang Ze of Beizhou revolted. Sima Guang offered advice to Pang Ji, but it was not put into practice. The leader of the rebellion was killed, and the rest were burned to death. Afterwards, Sima Guang's official position did not change much until Pang Ji was dismissed and he was promoted." Zhao Xu suddenly spoke up, "I have heard a little about this. Sima Guang served as an official with Pang Ji, and the two became close friends regardless of age. During this period, Sima Guang defended Pang Ji and was almost implicated."

"Yes, it can be said that in terms of experience, Sima Guang is probably better than most officials in the court."

Xiao Ran continued, "During the Jiayou period, Sima Guang returned to the court and was responsible for compiling the daily records. Sima Guang thought he was not good at it, but Song Renzong did not withdraw his order. Soon after, Sima Guang was transferred to be the daily attendant and the co-director of the Censorate. In five years, Sima Guang submitted more than 170 memorials to the emperor."

"In the seventh year of Jiayou, Dong died, and Song Renzong posthumously conferred a title on her, and also gave her a funeral procession. Sima Guang immediately wrote a letter to refute it, saying that the funeral procession was originally used to commend military merits, and should not be used on women, so of course it was useless."

"When Emperor Renzong of Song died and Emperor Yingzong of Song ascended the throne, Sima Guang played his role as a censor very well. During his five-year career as a censor, he persuaded the emperor, reprimanded officials, and cared about the people. He spoke sharply on various government issues and put forward many suggestions that benefited the country and the people."

"Then you ascended the throne."

Recalling for a moment, Zhao Xu said, "I remember that it was Ouyang Xiu who recommended Sima Guang. Since he ascended the throne, Sima Guang has not made any major moves. He is no different from other censors on weekdays."

"Sima Guang is a relatively upright official. He wouldn't show up unless there was something big going on." Xiao Ran told the truth.

After Song Shenzong Zhao Xu ascended the throne, he was determined to revive his ancestral heritage and initially trusted Wang Anshi. Sima Guang did not stand up and strongly oppose it.

Xiao Ran looked at Zhao Xu, "Did Sima Guang really object?"

"He often argued with Wang Anshi in the morning court." After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Xu said uncertainly.

Xiao Ran was speechless, "Maybe he doesn't really object."

"In the second year of Xining, you appointed Wang Anshi to lead the reform. Wang Anshi advocated increasing revenue, while Sima Guang advocated saving. Due to their different political views, they often argued fiercely, but Sima Guang did not oppose Wang Anshi's reforms in general. Especially when there were no problems with the reforms, he did not oppose them publicly and even persuaded the ministers to impeach Wang Anshi. Until the Qingmiao Law came out, Sima Guang believed that the county officials who relied on their power to lend money and collect interest were more harmful than ordinary people who lent money and collected interest."

"So that's it, I misunderstood." Zhao Xu suddenly realized, and the heavy stone in his heart was finally put down.

He smiled and said, "I wanted to use him, but I mistakenly thought he was against this reform and was worried that there would be problems."

"No, but he may not be willing to your arrangement."

Xiao Ran poured cold water on him directly, "If I hadn't shown up, you would have also promoted Sima Guang. In the third year of Xining, Sima Guang was promoted to Deputy Privy Councilor, but he declined the position on the grounds that he was not familiar with finance and military affairs, and asked to leave the capital."

"Later, in the fourth year of Xining, he saw his good friend Fan Zhen dismissed from office for speaking out against Wang Anshi's cruel tactics against the people. Sima Guang was furious and stopped talking about politics from then on. He continued to compile the Tongjian for 15 years."

"Sima Guang completed the Zizhi Tongjian at the age of 66 and presented it to you."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu suddenly didn't know what to say. After a moment of silence, he asked again, "Shouldn't I use him?"

"Sima Guang is a censor himself. We can discuss the changes to the new law together. He doesn't necessarily need to be reused or transferred." Xiao Ran expressed his opinion.

What's more, most of Sima Guang's achievements were in literature, and financial management was not really his forte.

Zhao Xu felt a little regretful. "In that case, I will summon him and Ouyang Xiu to the palace together."

"Not reusing him was good for both sides. After all, he later abolished all the new laws." (End of this chapter)