Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Today's court meeting is not called a court meeting at all, it is the entire Yicaotai team.

Zhu and his son were not emperors, and many officials had no positions. They just gathered together for meetings.

There are no rituals and music either, because they cannot be used indiscriminately.

The father and son came, Zhu Guoxiang was on top of the throne, and Zhu Ming moved a high chair to sit at the bottom. Then the guards called all the officials to come to the palace.

"Greetings to the Grand Manager and Grand Marshal!"

Zhang Gen and Gao Jingshan took the lead in saluting, and everyone followed and bowed.

Zhu Guoxiang glanced around and could only see clearly the two or three rows in front, while those behind were reduced to background. He opened his mouth and said: "The Song Dynasty was unruly, so my father and son raised an army to rectify the situation. Now that the Emperor of Song Dynasty has been captured, the treacherous ministers followed Zhao Ji to the southeast. It is the time when the world is in ruins and waiting for prosperity. We still need to rely on all the talents to govern... …”

Perhaps due to the special space, Zhu Guoxiang's voice was not loud but traveled far.

Compared with Zhu Ming who killed people and ransacked homes in Tokyo, Zhu Guoxiang seemed much gentler and kinder. All the old ministers of Zhao and Song Dynasty believed that he must be a virtuous king.

After the opening remarks, it’s time to get down to business.

The ministers have already discussed it, and one civil, one military, and one clan will serve as representatives to persuade them to join.

Zhai Ruwen, a Hanlin scholar, was the first to appear. He was Ju Ming's examiner during the imperial examination. At that time, only Zhai Ruwen was still alive among the examiners who tried to protect Ju Ming. Therefore, he had a very special status and could be called Ju Ming's tutor.

"If the name is incorrect, then the words will not be correct. If the name is correct, the position must be correct. Please ask Zhu Jinglue to ascend to the imperial palace!" Zhai Ruwen said it simply and neatly, without any detours.

Qian Chen was the son of a princess of the old Song Dynasty. Although his military position was fictitious, he had a good personal relationship with Zhu Ming, so he was represented as a military attache: "The world cannot be without a master. Please ask Zhu Jinglue to ascend to the imperial palace!"

Zhao Yu is the representative of the clan: "Zhu Jinglue can take the title of King of Han first, and ask the old Song emperor to choose an auspicious day to abdicate."

To be crowned king first and then to abdicate is the most standard procedure for ascending the throne.

"Please invite Zhu Jinglue to ascend to the throne of Yuyu!"

Everyone who had just bowed before him now all knelt down.

Zhu Guoxiang asked according to the written script: "What is my son's plan?"

Ju Ming said: "My father can be king or emperor, but he cannot abdicate."

Everyone was stunned for a moment.

In the traditional concept, there is a "mandate of destiny".

The Mandate of Heaven recognized the Zhao family, so the Mandate of Heaven returned to the Song Dynasty, and the emperor ruled the country as the Son of Heaven. Dynasties change, destiny shifts, and abdication is the key step for the new emperor and dynasty to have legal authority.

A civil servant stood up behind Zhai Ruwen and said: "When dynasties change, destiny changes. You must be cautious and observe etiquette."

Ju Ming asked: "Who are you?"

The civil servant said: "In the old Song Dynasty, he lived in the country of Lang Huan."

"Hou Kanghou is also in Tokyo." Ju Ming smiled, and the smile was a little strange.

In the history of the development of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, Zhu Xi naturally had the greatest influence, while Huan Guo was a key figure in connecting the past and the future, and his attainments in "Spring and Autumn" are recognized as the first person in the two Song Dynasties.

This person's personal ethics are perfect, there are no loopholes for political opponents to attack, and he has never even been greedy for half a penny in his many years as an official. However, he was the driving force behind Qin Hui's two bids to become prime minister. He helped Qin Hui frantically eliminate dissidents and was regarded by people at the time as the "leader of the Qin Party."

Huan Guo advocated the concept of "great unification and great revenge".

In view of the chaos in the country in the early Southern Song Dynasty and the generals showing signs of becoming warlords, the State of Hu advocated strengthening the centralization of power, gathering the power of commanders and generals, and abolishing those troops that had no combat effectiveness. Since they want to consolidate military power, they cannot fight for the time being and must negotiate peace with the Jin State. Therefore, the Huan State and Qin Hui reached an agreement on the policy of governing the country. This is "grand unification."

But at the same time, Huan Guo advocated respecting the king and resisting the barbarians, clamoring to avenge his father, and firmly opposed "ceding territory and seeking peace." At two critical moments, he actively supported the main militant faction, wanting to promote peace through war without ceding territory. He also tried to let Zhao Gou take over power, run the country, train troops, and then launch a counterattack. This is "The Great Revenge".

Moreover, Huan Guo was not just talking nonsense. He had his own ideas for governing the country. The twenty-one chapter of his "Treatise on Current Affairs" is a plan for the development of a strong country.

Seeing that Zhu Ming had also heard about him, Huan Guo was very excited and said: "The emperor's destiny lies in the hearts of the people. The duty of a ruler is to support the people. If a country has a country, it must first consolidate its foundation, and the people are the foundation of the country. The ministers are responsible for governing the country and bringing peace to the people. Along the way, the thieves coincided with the general. If the people are happy, then all the people will return to their hearts, and they will respect the king and drive away the barbarians. However, the people are the foundation of the country, and the king is also the guide of his ministers. Only when the king is upright and observes etiquette, the ministers will not Confused. The gift of surrender must never be abandoned!"

Ju Ming asked: "Where is the destiny?"

Huan Guo said: "You cannot presume on the destiny, you can only sense it. The transfer of destiny should be based on the people's hearts and minds. Those who win the hearts of the people will get the destiny, just like the managers and marshals."

Ju Ming asked again: "Since my destiny comes from the hearts of the people, why do we need Emperor Zhao and Song to abdicate?"

Huan Guo said: "It's natural. Now the people's hearts have been decided. All they need is the gift of abdication. Once the gift of abdication is completed, the destiny will be transferred."

"If I don't make concessions, will the destiny be gone? Will the people's hearts long for the old Song Dynasty?" Zhu Ming asked.

"this……"

Huan Guo organized his words and said: "Etiquette has its origin and end. Managing people with integrity is the foundation of etiquette; majestic etiquette and diction are the end of etiquette. Now that the foundation of etiquette has been obtained, why should we abandon the end of etiquette? Abandoning the end will not hurt the end. , but it has not done its full work.”

As soon as these words came out, the officials couldn't help but nod. The great Confucian of the time really spoke with a high standard.

What Huan Guo means is that red tape is the appearance of etiquette, and the connotation of etiquette is to treat others with integrity. Since it already has connotation, why abandon the appearance? A major event like enthroning the throne must be perfect both externally and internally. His support for abdication is not about sacrificing the basics for the sake of the bottom, but that he wants both the basics and the bottom!

Ju Ming smiled and did not immediately refute.

Huan Guo continued: "Etiquette is the foundation of a country. Respect is the foundation of etiquette. If you don't respect etiquette, you won't be able to do it. If you don't do it, you will be dizzy. How can you live forever?"

This is a reference to "Zuo Zhuan", which says that etiquette (including national institutions) is the backbone of the country, and respect is the carriage and horse leading to etiquette. While sincerity is important, red tape must also be observed. If etiquette is not observed, there will be a lack of standards for doing things, and the whole country will be in chaos.

Ju Ming suddenly said: "The profit and loss of Yin due to Xia Li can be known... It may be possible to know that it may have succeeded the Zhou Dynasty for hundreds of generations. In this passage of Confucius, I pay more attention to the three words 'profit and loss'."

The Shang rites were formulated by modifying the Xia rites, and the Zhou rites were formulated by modifying the Shang rites. The forms of the rites are constantly changing, but the connotation of the rites remains unchanged throughout the ages.

What Ju Ming means is that everyone is focusing on "unchanged", but he is focused on "change."

Huan Guo was shocked. Not only him, but also many officials began to feel uneasy.

Ju Ming is not discussing with everyone at all, but making a declaration: I want to change the rules!

What has been changed is not only the rules of destiny transfer, there must be many other rules.

What ancestral law cannot be abolished?

Confucius' three words "profit and loss" provided ammunition for the reformists. Just keep the connotation of etiquette unchanged, and the remaining specific expressions can be improved with the changes of the times.

The spiritual connotation is immutable and is the foundation and constancy of etiquette.

Red tape can be changed, which is the end of etiquette and the change of etiquette.

This is in line with Confucian classics.

Zhu Ming said: "The destiny is for me and my son to bring peace to the troubled times and help the people. It circulates on its own through the influence of heaven and man. What does it have to do with Zhao Song? Doesn't giving Zhao Huan the Zen throne look like begging? It can't be said to be begging, more like forcing him. Handing over the treasure is like snatching it from his hand. If you want to honor God and tell the people, the enthronement ceremony is enough, why bother with the extravagant gift of surrender?"

Ju Ming stared at Huan Guo and said: "Tell me, among the three generations below, which emperor abdicated voluntarily? Forcing the old emperor to abdicate and then asked him to resign three times, does this mean the slightest bit of respect? Not only is it disrespectful, but it also deceives the heaven and fools the people! You yourself If you think you know the root and bottom of etiquette, you are actually abandoning the basics and seeking the bottom!”

"Don't dare!"

Huan Guo quickly lowered his head and denied it. He knew that Ju Ming was sophistry, but his sophistry was also somewhat arrogant. And with the current status of the two of them, there are some things that cannot be said nonsense, and Ju Ming will definitely be able to win the debate.

Everyone looked at Zhu Guoxiang, wanting to hear his reaction.

Unfortunately, there was no response. Zhu Guoxiang sat on it with a smile, like a clay sculpture of Maitreya Buddha.

All the old ministers of Zhao and Song Dynasty were shocked. It turned out that the real person in charge was Marshal Zhu, and Zhu Jinglue did not express his opinion at this time.

The Xuanwumen Incident won’t happen in the future, right?

The underlying reason for the Xuanwumen incident was the conflict between Li Yuan and Li Shimin.

Zhu Guoxiang finally spoke, and said in a gentle voice: "The ceremony of abdication does not need to be used, as long as there is a grand ceremony. Now that the country is not at peace, you can not proclaim the emperor first, but will proclaim the king on New Year's Day next year. The official system established is also It is different from the old Song Dynasty. The old Song Dynasty first used the system of three provinces and six ministries, then changed it to the Zhongshu Menxia system, and reused the system of three provinces and six ministries. It was changed over and over again without understanding what it was, and instead it caused many ills. My son, let me tell you."

Ju Ming took over: "The new system is called the cabinet system."

"When the great scholars of each palace form a cabinet, they are all cabinet ministers. The head of the cabinet ministers is the chief assistant, and can also be regarded as the grand prime minister, left prime minister, and prime minister. The next cabinet minister is the second assistant, and can also be regarded as the young prime minister, right prime minister, and right minister. Prime Minister, Secondary Prime Minister. The rest of the cabinet ministers are equivalent to deputy prime ministers."

"The Yushitai was changed to the Inspectorate."

"The Department of Banking and Finance was changed to the Tongzhengyuan."

"Privy Council, remain unchanged."

"One pavilion, three courtyards and six departments, this is the center of the new dynasty."

The father and son did not increase the number of ministerial-level institutions. There are still six ministries, and financial power belongs to the Ministry of Household Affairs.

In the Song Dynasty, there was a third minister, also known as "Ji Xiang", who was the chief minister of finance. Soon it transformed into a behemoth, bullying the prime minister at the top and suppressing the six ministries at the bottom. Even the military was able to intervene, and financial gains and losses were considered before going to war. This also resulted in large-scale overlapping of powers, which Yuanfeng focused on abolishing during the restructuring.

With this lesson in mind, Ju Ming will naturally not set it up again.

As for the Tongzhengyuan, it was the General Affairs Department of the Ming Dynasty. This thing had great power in the early Ming Dynasty. It was the emperor's main agency for handling government affairs and communicating with internal and external affairs. The Sixth Section was just a subordinate department of the General Affairs Department.

After the emergence of the cabinet, the first thing it did was to usurp the power of the General Affairs Department, then incorporate the Hanlin Academy, and then control the six subjects - the whole process took hundreds of years, and the cabinet finally gave birth to a powerful minister.

If the General Administration Department operates normally, there will be no need for a Supervisor of Ceremonies.

Zhu Ming then explained in detail the division of powers and responsibilities of "one pavilion, three courtyards and six departments". The ministers were shocked, even Zhang Gen and Gao Jingshan were shocked.

Once this central structure is implemented, the imperial power will reach its peak, and the power of the prime minister will be greatly restricted.

This is different from Song Huizong's willful behavior. Song Huizong relied on destroying the system to establish a single party, while Zhu and his son institutionalized the emperor's centralization of power.

At the same time, Zhao Song's central weaknesses were eliminated.

The central agencies are no longer redundant and the division of responsibilities is clearer. The six ministries are no longer the yes-men of the prime minister.

Under the normal operation of the cabinet system, the six ministers can rely on the Tongzhengyuan to compete with the ministers and ministers of the cabinet.