Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 579 Hanlin Bachelor Ludoxun

After nightfall, the city of Kaifeng, which had been bustling for a day, gradually calmed down.For more than ten consecutive years of stability and peace, Kaifeng City has become unprecedentedly prosperous, with customers gathering, merchants flocking, restaurants, teahouses, shops, and singing houses lined up.
Both sides of the street.On weekdays, as soon as the sky is bright, people flock to the streets and alleys, men and women, shoulder to shoulder, and the flow of people is like a flood. Every day is like a market.All kinds of businessmen from all over the Song Dynasty, those who practice medicine, performers, matchmakers, fortune-tellers, jugglers, and all kinds of people speak different accents, hawking loudly, making loud noises, just like boiling a pot.It wasn't until the red sun fell to the west and the jade rabbit rose to the east did it quiet down all of a sudden.

Now, the bright moon is in the sky, the cold wind is blowing, and the stars in the sky are blinking and blinking, peeping at this ancient city that has been noisy and excited all day, and looks a little tired.

There are very few pedestrians on the street. Occasionally, there are a few hawkers selling supper, carrying food boxes and lanterns, lazily shouting: "Selling cooking cakes, sesame seeds are delicious and hot." Make cakes." After shouting, he walked forward slowly.

At this time, a small blue sedan chair, carried by four people, hurried towards the mansion of Kaifeng Governor Zhao Guangyi.Jinwang Mansion is located on the north side of Yujie Dongshou Street. The gate is majestic and open, and a big stone lion crouches majestically on both sides, baring its teeth.On the top of the seven-step stone steps are two vermilion gates, with orange round copper nails the size of bottle caps, sparkling under the light of the swaying red lanterns.

The sedan chair dropped in front of the door, and a middle-aged man in his 40s waited for the curtain of the sedan chair to be raised, and then walked out.He is tall and tall in a white scarf and Chinese shirt, with three beautiful beards blowing gently in the night wind.

He went up the stairs and patted the vermilion gate lightly.The door opened with a "squeak", and an old butler seemed to be waiting there, and quickly took him in, walked around the corridor, and walked straight to the living room.

The living room was brightly lit with candles, and there were two large round-backed chairs on both sides of an Eight Immortals table in the north, all of which were carefully crafted from expensive mahogany and were polished to a glossy shine.Further to the east is a rosewood flower stand, on which is placed a huge ancient porcelain vase, a bouquet of purple flowers that have bloomed in spring stands proudly in the vase, swaying in a graceful manner.

When someone came into the living room, he saw the Governor of Kaifeng——Jin Wang Zhao Guangyi sitting on a big chair with his eyes closed and resting his mind, he hurried forward to salute and greet him.

Zhao Guangyi suddenly opened his eyes, stood up hastily, supported him with both hands, and said: "Why should Xueshi Lu be so formal, please sit down."

The person who came was Lu Duoxun, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. These days, he often came to the Prince Jin Mansion, and he was already a frequent visitor to the Prince Jin Mansion.

Zhao Guangyi was determined to bring down Zhao Pu in order to clear away a major obstacle to his changing the world. These days, he and Zhao Pu suffered from both defeats. Realizing that he could no longer show up in person, he chose Lu Duoxun as his right-hand man. Xun secretly met at his house to discuss the plan of "downfall".

Zhao Guangyi's selection of Lu Duoji as the best candidate for his "reverse" helper naturally has a certain reason.

Lu Duoxun was born in a scholarly family of great Confucians for generations.His father, Lu Yi, served as a writer in the late Jin Dynasty, and in the Later Zhou Dynasty, he served as the master guest Duzhi doctor and a direct bachelor of Hongwenguan.

Lu Duoxun himself was a Jinshi in the reign of Zhou Shizong Xiande, and he was an official in Zhongshusheren in the early Song Dynasty.In the second year of Qiande and the fourth year of Qiande, he served twice as Zhigongju, that is, the chief examiner who presided over the examination.In the sixth year of Qiande, the official history office was added to compile and judge the affairs of the official history, specializing in time records.

Lu Duoxun was a famous Confucian of the dynasty who was rich in learning and well-known all over the world. "History of the Song Dynasty" introduced him: "He has extensive knowledge of classics and history, is smart and powerful, sensitive to diction, good at numbers, has strategies, and has a lot of wonderful ideas." Lu Duoxun When he was in charge of the affairs of the history museum, Song Emperor Zhao Kuangyin often sent people to fetch books for reading. When he encountered something he didn't understand, he called Lu Duoxun to go and ask him.Lu Duoxun was very shrewd and very good at catering to his master. Every time Zhao Kuangyin picked up a book, he would quietly write down the bibliography and read it all night after returning home.Therefore, every time Zhao Kuangyin had any questions, he could answer them fluently and insightfully, often making the officials in the court dumbfounded and impressed.

Lu Duoxun was often summoned by Zhao Kuangyin to ask questions in the palace, and many edicts of the emperor were often drafted by him. To a certain extent, Zhao Kuangyin often respected Lu Duoxun as a teacher and friend.

Therefore, Lu Duoxun has always looked down upon Zhao Pu, who doesn't read much and is only good at playing tricks.Seeing that Zhao Pu has been sitting on the throne for more than ten years, but he doesn't know how to restrain himself, he is addicted to power, bossy, embezzlement and bribery, he hates it very much.Zhao Guangyi was sure of this point, and saw that his words in front of the emperor were very important, so he was selected.

At the moment when Lu Duoxun sat down, Zhao Guangyi ordered someone to put out dishes and preserved fruits, and turned back to the left and right. The two were discussing the matter while drinking slowly.

Zhao Guangyi raised his wine glass to touch Lu Duoxun, and the two took a sip each. Zhao Guangyi said: "Zhao Pu's counterattack was so fierce and fierce, this king underestimated the enemy beforehand. Up to now, both this king and him have suffered losses. If we continue to Even if Zhao Pu can be brought down by throwing dirty water at each other, I am afraid that I will lose trust with His Majesty. Therefore, I decided to suspend the matter of throwing dirty water at each other. Based on what I know about Zhao Pu, as long as we stop, Zhao Pu will stop on his own."

Lu Duosun nodded and said: "Your Majesty's words are justified, and the next official is about to talk about it. Our side is indeed a little too hasty."

Zhao Guangyi sighed in his heart, thinking that when Pan Mei brought down Nantang, the army would all return to the establishment. At that time, if he wanted to succeed, he would have to take risks. Even if the success rate dropped a lot, could he not be in a hurry?Thinking this way, he would not reveal the slightest bit on his face. Ludoxun was just an ally he had drawn over, not a real confidant, so naturally he couldn't talk about major events.

Without waiting for Zhao Guangyi to say anything, Lu Duoxun continued: "Today, Your Majesty called the officials into the palace to discuss the meaning of the "Spring and Autumn", and the officials got some information from His Majesty. In fact, Your Majesty already has the intention to remove Zhao Pu from the position of Prime Minister. Thoughts, but His Majesty has always valued love, after all Zhao Pu has the merit of being a dragon, and the status in His Majesty's heart is both a minister and a friend, His Majesty just can't let go of this face, what is missing is only an opportunity."

Zhao Guangyi expressed his deep opinion, nodded slightly and said: "The bachelor's words are reasonable! It's just that this opportunity must be subtle and must be something that His Majesty attaches great importance to, otherwise it may be self-defeating."

Lu Duosun said: "What the prince said is very true."

At this moment, the steward of Jin Wangfu came to report that Xu Xuan, the deputy envoy of the Southern Tang Dynasty, was asking to see him.

Zhao Guangyi and Lu Duoxun looked at each other, a little puzzled, but without hesitating for a long time, Zhao Guangyi said, "Bring him here?"

The butler respectfully led away, and Lu Duoxun said, "Your servant, go behind the screen and avoid it for a while."

Zhao Guangyi said: "Alright, the bachelor will sit behind the screen for a while."

Not long after, Xu Xuan was led here by the housekeeper.

After meeting each other, Zhao Guangyi said: "Master Xu, what is the purpose of coming to see this king?"

Xu Xuan said: "Xu Xuan knows that the prince wants to bring down Zhao Pu these days, Xu Xuan has a handle on Zhao Pu here, maybe he can help the prince."

When Zhao Guangyi heard the words, his eyes lit up immediately, he took a deep look at Xu Xuan, and said, "Xu Xuan, what do you want me to do for you?"

Xu Xuan said: "The Southern Tang Dynasty will definitely be destroyed by the Great Song Dynasty. Xu Xuan only hopes that after the Southern Tang Dynasty is destroyed, the prince can help Xu Xuan find a good position in the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Guangyi said without hesitation: "Okay! This king promises you, as long as what you said about Zhao Pu is true and can be used by this king. After the Southern Tang Dynasty was destroyed by my Great Song Dynasty, as long as you take the initiative to surrender, this king will protect you It is a fourth-rank official position."

Xu Xuan was shocked, and his expression was ecstatic, and said: "Thank you, my lord, it's just that this matter is very important, and I ask my lord to swear to the sky."

Seeing that Xu Xuan attached so much importance to it, Zhao Guangyi dissipated most of the last trace of doubts about Xu Xuan's intentions, and became more curious about what Xu Xuan said about Zhao Pu. After a little hesitation, he swore an oath to God.

Only now did Xu Xuan say: "I, the prime minister of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Han Xizai, the envoy of the mission, just secretly went to see Zhao Pu and gave Zhao Pu 5 taels of silver."

Xu Xuan had already left for half a stick of incense, Zhao Guangyi raised his wine glass to touch Lu Duoxun, and the two took a sip each.Zhao Guangyi said: "Nowadays Zhao Pu's family is declining, His Majesty has endured the corruption and perverting the law one after another. Now at this juncture, he dared to accept the 5 taels of silver from the envoys of the Southern Tang Dynasty, but it is His Majesty's last something that cannot be tolerated."

Lu Duosun said excitedly: "That's true. Last year, the emperor appointed two new political advisers to divide his power. This has already sounded the alarm for Zhao Pu. But this donkey's head is blinded by his profits and he does his own way. He is doomed to be unlucky. Originally Well, the sun can't just turn around in Zhao Pu's courtyard."

Zhao Guangyi drank the wine in the glass, and said with a serious face: "It's the right time to knock out Zhao Pu. Now everything is ready, and the east wind is blowing again, and we are the only fire. Now Xu Xuan is just right. Sending this fire is God helping me."

Lu Duosun said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will go back overnight and make arrangements for setting fire to the wasteland tomorrow morning. The fire will be one after another, and it will burn more and more vigorously, until it burns him into a daze, dizzy, and see if Zhao Pu is still alive." Can be arrogant for a few days!"

"Okay!" Zhao Guangyi was so excited that his eyes lit up, and he personally filled the cup for Lu Duoxun. The two jade cups touched each other and raised them to his lips at the same time. When it becomes clear!"

Early the next day, Zhao Pu was in trouble.As soon as he got off his horse in Chongzheng Hall, a young low-ranking official rushed over diagonally, stopped his horse's head, and shouted loudly: "Are you Prime Minister Zhao Pu?"

Zhao Pu was stunned for a moment, and said seriously: "The truth is right, who are you, you dare to stop the truth, and bluntly say the name of the truth, how courageous."

(End of this chapter)