Compete for the Song Dynasty

Liang Qichao once said in "The Biography of Wang Anshi": "Since history, China's non-competition has never been greater than that of the Song Dynasty. Song's non-competition, why is it? It started in Taizu. Suspicion, in the middle, can be achieved by the venting of true benevolence, and in the end, it can be ruined by the exclusion of cronies."

Duke Liang's analysis of Taizu's suspicion was very thorough, but it would be somewhat extreme to say that true benevolence is out of control.It is difficult to conquer the country, but it is even more difficult to defend the country.Especially since Taizu, emphasizing literature over military affairs has been a long-standing disadvantage. For Renzong, although the Qingli New Deal ended in failure, he has to admit: Song Renzong is the famous emperor and sage among the emperors of the Song Dynasty. He has reigned for the longest time, with 42 years , During the reign of Song Renzong, the country was stable and peaceful, the economy was prosperous, and science, technology and culture were greatly developed.

However, this does not solve the problem of the increasingly empty treasury and the heir to the throne.Renzong's most optimistic person has repeatedly made Renzong embarrassing. In addition, in recent years, the treasury has been empty, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is in a hurry, the third department is in a hurry, the deficit is flying all over the sky, and there is no countermeasure for a while. All these things are piled up, and Renzong finally fell ill. .

Renzong's illness was caused by heart disease. According to the ancients, it was a rush to attack the heart.If the emperor is in a hurry, it must be a big deal, such as setting up a prince.Ren Zongzi, who was frail and sick in his later years, the selection of an heir became a hot topic in the court. Ministers Sima Guang, Bao Zheng, Han Qi, Fu Bi, etc. all suggested early selection of candidates.

Among the candidates, Zhao Zongshi is the most popular. First, he is the adopted son of Renzong.Second, Zhao Zongshi was intelligent and respectful of his teachers since he was a child. [

Zhao Zongshi does a lot of face-saving things, such as wearing court clothes to meet his teacher; for example, engraving "Six Admonitions of the Clan" on the screen to encourage himself; for example, he usually donates money with a low profile.

However, all these faces are shown to outsiders, except that he does not show Renzong face.The reason for his resignation mentioned earlier was that his biological father was in mourning.What aroused Renzong's anger this time was that the imperial court appointed him as the defense envoy of Qinzhou, Zhizong Zhengsi.The appointment was issued four times, each time Zhao Zongshi shook his head and sent the messenger back for the same reason, during the mourning period.

No matter how good the adopted child is, it is not your own flesh and blood after all. In other words, if you sincerely treat him as a son, it is not certain whether he can sincerely treat you as a father from the bottom of his heart.A concubine of Renzong was about to give birth, and he still had a glimmer of hope, but he still gave birth to a daughter.

Renzong was very sympathetic, and Prime Minister Han Qi took the opportunity to say: "The emperor's heir is the safety of the world. Since ancient times, disasters and chaos have always been caused by not choosing a candidate early. Your Majesty is old. Why don't you choose a worthy person from the clan to stand? This is for the temple and the community." !"

Han Qi looked at the sallow and emaciated Renzong, feeling distressed and anxious. After all, he was an old minister, not to mention that the mother of Prime Minister Fu Bi's family was critically ill. Sincerely to the present and future emperor, when are you waiting.

Han Qi's words reached Zhao Zongshi's ears in a neutral manner. Normally, Zhao Zongshi should thank Han Qi, but Zhao Zongshi was not happy.It's not because this matter is not salty, but the tone of the person who told Zhao Zongshi about it is neither salty nor mild. These days, civil officials in the Northern Song Dynasty can quarrel with goose and goose in the court, arguing with red faces.But there is only one person who talks like this at any time, and he is Sima Guang who is in charge of Emperor Renzong's daily life.

Speaking of this, I have to talk about the official position of "Xiu Daily Note". This official position is the Jilu official of the province under the door. It must be a third-level official.To explain it plainly, it is the person who writes a diary for the emperor.

Both Shen Kuo and Cai Xiang have done this official position, and now it's Sima Guang's turn.If this is done well, it will be a celebrity in the eyes of the emperor.To use a ridiculous sentence on the Internet today: "Yuan Fang, what do you think of this matter?" Of course, the person next to the emperor may not be called Yuan Fang, but it is the same.Emperor Renzong would occasionally ask, "So-and-so, what do you think of this matter?"

This person appeared in Zhao Zongshi's Pu mansion at a critical moment, and then calmly said what Han Qi said. Zhao Zongshi didn't seem to mind how Renzong answered. He looked at Sima Guang, who was not showing any emotion : "Master Han, can you say something else?" He had to ask, because Master Han Qi is too reserved, and the risk of selecting talents from the clan is too great.

Take a look at the candidates for the imperial family: Qing Jun Jiedu Envoy, cousin Zhao Zonger who was in the same office as Zhongshu Menxia; Zhao Conggu, the grandson of Song Taizu whose roots are Zheng Miaohong.Who knew who Han Qi was talking about.

Sima Guang looked at Zhao Zongshi's melancholy face. If this unlucky Xiangzhen can't be the emperor, it would be unwise to get too close to him: "Master Han is the prime minister, so it's not good to talk about the prime minister and the emperor behind his back." When he said this, Sima Guang's expressionless face might not be pretty.

Since Zhao Zongshi invited Sima Guang, he would not let him go easily: "Since the prime minister is on official business with the emperor, Lord Sima also needs to record it. I just knew it in advance because I have a good relationship with him." Before ascending the throne, even the heir to the clan is shit.Sometimes the status is not even as high as the speech officer, at most they are relatives of the emperor, and they have to bear the risk of turning around if they threaten the real heir, so the necessary emotional communication and win-win relationship are still very important.

Sima Guang is not stupid, he will be good when it is time to be good: "I didn't say anything, I just talked about how to appoint the prince, such as the defense envoy of Qinzhou, and the post of Zongzheng Temple. Three or four times." It's not a secret, and it's not enough for people to say that I have a provocative heart.

If the conversation goes on like this, it is estimated that someone will fall asleep if someone eavesdrops on it. Two big men with different thoughts, sitting at the tea table, talking lukewarmly without cadence, let the air float with a dull smell.

Zhao Zongshi wanted to break this dullness, maybe it would be better to change the topic, he added tea to Sima Guang's teacup, and made a "please" gesture: "Junshi (Sima Guang's word is Junshi), this tea is from Zhongzheng. Please have a taste of the new tea that Yunxuan brought back. I don’t know how Lord Sima thinks of this Yunxuan.”

Speaking of Yunxuan, Sima Guang was a bit annoyed, but he was also famous for his literary talents, and even Shen Kuo was invited when Yunxuan was first established, but he didn't receive an invitation. "The tea is good, and Yunxuan's idea is also good, but we often get together like this, and it is inevitable that we will speak the same way when things happen. You must know that everyone can make money..." Sima Guang seemed to remember that Zhongzhen was also one of the shareholders: "But it's good. Now, there is a son who can control the overall situation."

He finally finished a sentence without leaking, and he said the key point, and praised Zhao Zongshi: "Zhongzhen is smart and decent among my children. On the day of birth, the auspicious light room, a group of rats spit out five colors and gathered into clouds .” When Zhao Zongshi said this, his expression was more proud.

Sima Guang finally had some expression on his face. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Ah, this is an auspicious sign. No wonder the emperor and queen like Zhongzhen so much." This added an important weight to the question of candidates.

Zhongzhen was very popular with Emperor Renzong and Empress Cao. Like his father Zhao Zongshi, he was smart, knowledgeable, and courteous. Zhao Zongshi's wife was Gao Shi, the niece of Empress Cao, and was related to the emperor by blood.When Renzong considered the heir to the royal family, the issue of heirs was also an important candidate condition. [

Zhao Zongshi saw that Sima Guang had a little reaction, so he said: "Young Junshi is famous for his literary talents, and his cultivation is famous all over the world. If Ri Zhongzhen can be helped by Junshi, it can be called his blessing." Zhao Zongshi deliberately avoided himself. , and in the name of Zhongzhen, Sima Guang immediately understood the intention of this father-in-law, and made a toast to the father-in-law in front of him with tea instead of wine.

Needless to say, it is not Sima Guang's style to speak out, and he understands very well why Zhao Zongshi refuses to take up the post.Let’s talk about the duties of the Zongzheng Temple first: manage the genealogy of the royal family, clan, and relatives, and guard the royal mausoleum. If you are appointed, you can stay at the imperial mausoleum.

Let's talk about the defense envoy of Qinzhou: Qinzhou is a military center. At the beginning of the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty, Qinzhou was divided into two halves by the Song Dynasty and Tubo, and Qinzhou became a border area.From Xiyang Town (now Xinyang Town, North Road) to the north of the Weihe River is the Tubo area, known as North Qinzhou. There are 29 tribes including Shangbo cadres and Zhelong, with hundreds of thousands of residents.The court of the Northern Song Dynasty placed Qinzhou in the strategic position of the local Song, Tubo, Jin, and Xixia tribes, intending to use Qinzhou as its base camp and move westward and northward.

The important position of Qinzhou is enough to show the court's trust in Zhao Zongshi, but Zhao Zongshi doesn't think so, it is too far away from Feng, if there is a change in the court, it will be too late when he comes back.

Two images flashed through Sima Guang's mind, one was Renzong muttering to himself: "Should we have to choose the sons of the clan as heirs?" The other was Han Qi's fat belly when he saw Sima Guang, He asked arrogantly, "Junshi, did the emperor say anything today?" When Sima Guang answered no, Han Qi said in a slightly threatening tone: "Don't think that there will be more secrets in the palace, Don't try to play tricks!"

The lesser of two evils, the more important of two benefits!As long as Han Qi is on top of him, Sima Guang will never see his day.Having made up his mind, Sima Guang wants to kill two birds with one stone, let Mr. Han stand aside!

"Grandfather, I have a word to ask you to accept the post of Qinzhou Defense Envoy. As for Mr. Han's proposal for the position of Zhizongzhengsi, it is indeed inappropriate. Junshi is willing to invite the Holy Master to let you only serve as the Qinzhou Defense Envoy. This important job!"

Zhao Zongshi's eyes lit up, and Sima Guang looked into his eyes and continued: "Now that the emperor is ill, instead of repeatedly violating the holy will, it is better to serve in Beijing, or to serve at the bedside."

Zhao Zongshi nodded thoughtfully, but he didn't see an imperceptible smile on the corner of Sima Guang's mouth.

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