Chapter 12 third quarter

In the seventeenth year of Xining, winter, Funing Hall. After the imperial physicians tried their best, the emperor's condition was finally brought under control.The emperor was still unable to speak, and his right hand could not be controlled very well, but he could already get out of bed and walk up a few steps.However, people seemed to have a premonition that the emperor's life was not long, and the atmosphere in the forbidden area was very dignified and solemn. At this time, apart from the Imperial Medical Bureau of the Imperial Academy, the most stressed person is Ban Zhi, who is in charge of the guards in the forbidden center.

According to the system of the Song Dynasty, those who are in charge of guarding the ban on weekdays are divided into five levels.The outermost layer is the personal servants in charge of the Imperial City Division. They control all the gates of the palace and are responsible for patrolling and guarding the inside and outside of the palace city. Then there is the Tianwu Army, the infantry unit of the imperial army, responsible for guarding the palace. The walls of the city guard the safety of the Imperial Palace and the Forbidden City.In the real sense, the security of the royal family is in charge of the guards of the class.The third layer is guarded by the infantry forces of Yulong Nuzhi and Yulong Bow and Arrow Guards, a total of ten commanders; Yulong's left and right guards are also the infantry forces of the two commanders. They directly protect the safety of the emperor.In the Xining Dynasty, this system changed. After the reform of the military system, the three horse army squads that the emperor trusted the most were the commander squad in front of the palace, the squadron in the inner palace, and the squad in front of the palace guards. The former Commander Squad and the Inner Hall Squad were also in the same round as Yulongzhi and Yulongguduozhi.And Yang Shifang, as the commander of Yulong Zuozhi, was ordered to protect the safety of the prince, not to follow the emperor.

To the surprise of many people, after Di Yong, the most trusted bodyguard of the emperor turned out to be the commander of the newly established Xixia squad, Shouyihou Renduo Baozhong! In the minds of many people, the existence of the Xixia class was just set up by the emperor to show off his martial arts.The Xixia class is only 300 people, and it is composed of descendants of Xixia generals and children of powerful nobles. In any case, they cannot be regarded as representatives of loyalty. But Shouyi Hou Renduobaozhong changed all of this. He was different from other Banzhi guards because he was born in Xixia. Apart from the emperor, Renduobaozhong went up to the queen mother, queen, down to the prince, left and right servants, and privy envoys. They are not in his eyes - this is a matter of course in Xixia, but it is very rare in the Song Dynasty - in the Song Dynasty, no matter whether it is a servant or a class straight, few people dare not be afraid of the prestige of the Empress Dowager Gao, and few people will Don't be afraid of the authority of the two governors.In addition, Ren Duo Bao Zhong has an incomparable advantage. He has no complicated personnel relations in Bianjing, and the emperor can safely believe that he does not belong to any faction in the court. Yu the emperor alone.Ren Duobao's dual identities as a surrendered general and a hostage, as well as his innate conditions of being born in a great Xixia aristocrat, allowed him to be cautious and decent when dealing with affairs.Therefore, in the emperor's mind, Ren Duo Bao Zhong seemed to be the Jin Ridun of the Song Dynasty.Although he can't command Yulong Zhi and the envoy squad in front of the hall like Di Yong, he does not leave the police station for a moment.In the seventeenth year of Xining, everyone knew that as long as there was an emperor, there would be Hou Yi Ren Duo Bao Zhong.

This even made many squad commanders feel aggrieved.But at the end of the 17th year of Xining, which was full of disasters and disasters, the guard outside the Funing Hall is still Shouyi Hou Renduo Baozhong. "Have you heard of it? Chen Duzhi was reprimanded by the Queen Mother..." "Don't talk nonsense, who doesn't know that Chen Duzhi is the most favored by the Queen Mother? He is such a cautious person..." Wearing a red military uniform, standing outside Funing Hall like a sculpture, watching the snowflakes falling from the sky, Ren Duo Baozhong couldn't help thinking of the whispers he heard between the servants a few days ago.

The Chen Duzhi that the servants spoke of was Chen Yan, the most trusted eunuch around Empress Dowager Gao.Chen Yan had been serving the Empress Dowager Gao for decades, and had never been reprimanded so severely by the Empress Dowager Gao. Therefore, within a few days, this rumor spread throughout the palace, and even the emperor knew about it—— When the two little yellow men were chewing their tongues desperately, they probably couldn't think of anything. At this time, the emperor happened to be on a whim and asked Li Xiang'an and Ren Duobaozhong to quietly help him out to have a look at the snow scene in Bianjing.

The reason why Chen Yan was reprimanded by the Queen Mother is said to be that one day the Queen Mother Gao summoned a literary attendant and talked about the events of Huo Guang and Wang Mang in the Western Han Dynasty. What has never happened before is that the power belongs to the subordinates, and the emperor is emptied. He even insinuated that since the emperor fell ill, the three princes, big and small, did not ask for it.Today, the son is still alive, and the third father is already like this; if the emperor makes a big move, the orphans and widows will be even more unimaginable.Therefore, he denounced the powerful ministers in the court.

This kind of discussion among scholars is normal.The scholar-bureaucrats in the Song Dynasty had no scruples when they spoke. Shi Yue, Sima Guang, and Wang Anshi are now arousing resentment. Some people call them powerful ministers with excuses.I don't know how many are worse than this.But this attendant had always had a close relationship with King Yong.And during this period of time, there were always people speaking ill of Shi, Ma, and Wang in front of Empress Dowager Gao, so Chen Yan said a few more words, persuading Empress Dowager Gao to expel this person, as a warning to those who came.

Unexpectedly, although Chen Yan had good intentions, Empress Dowager Gao had always been taboo about internal servants talking about politics, and because his words were vaguely related to King Yong, Empress Dowager Gao, who had always loved this son, was even more unhappy, and she became furious, and used her internal servants to make improper speeches about politics. In the name of Chen Yan, he scolded Chen Yan bloody. Because King Yong was very popular in the palace, and Chen Yan was cautious and disciplined all his life, so he would inevitably offend many people. After the news spread, the servants in the palace whispered to each other, and there was no misfortune.Most of the servants and maids felt that Empress Dowager Gao just wanted her sons to live in harmony, but Chen Yan caused trouble for nothing, and a servant who dared to make irresponsible remarks on political affairs was really to blame...

However, with Ren Duo Baozhong's understanding of court struggles, he knew very well in his heart that Chen Yan's speculation was not wrong, and the accusations made by the attendant against Shi, Ma, and Wang were mostly instigated by others.And Empress Dowager Gao must also know it well. As for why she reprimanded Chen Yan, Ren Duo Bao Zhong couldn't understand-in the concept of Ren Duo Bao Zhong, the only possibility for Empress Dowager Gao to do so was because she Partial to King Yong.In Ren Duo Baozhong's view, the thoughts of those servants and maids can only be described as absurd.

However, what surprised Ren Duo Baozhong was the emperor's reaction.If it was the king of Xixia, the Lord of Xia would definitely execute the two servants first, and then bestow death on his younger brother. If he was more kind, he would find an excuse to send him to a distant military commander, and order the local officials to confine him.But the officials of the Song Dynasty just listened silently and endured all this. He even stopped Li Xiangan from scolding the two servants. Although he yearned for the culture of the Great Song Dynasty in Xixia, after arriving at the center of the Great Song Dynasty, Ren Duo Baozhong found that the real Song Dynasty was more difficult to understand than the imaginary Song Dynasty.

Thinking of this, Ren Duo Baozhong couldn't help but clenched the hilt of his sword tightly. People in Song Dynasty regarded him as Jin Rijun and the loyal and generous Hun prince, but he knew in his heart that he was just benevolent and loyal.He is cautious, and his loyalty to the Song Dynasty officials is only out of survival.Ren Duo Bao Zhong will always only stand on the side of the winner. When the Song Dynasty officials were alive, he could entrust himself to the Song Dynasty officials; but unfortunately, this situation could no longer last, and Ren Duo Baozhong had to consider his own way of survival after the Song Dynasty officials died. Within the forbidden area of ​​Bianjing, the only one who is most similar to his situation is the Concubine Wangxian from Korea.Concubine Wang Xian is extremely favored by the emperor, but seeing that the emperor is about to make a big move, this Concubine Wang Xian has to think twice about every word she says.Because she knew that for any of her actions that aroused hatred, after the death of the emperor, when the backer fell, she would inevitably be retaliated against.So she carefully avoided all right and wrong.Ren Duo Bao Zhong is also facing the reality that his backer will fall.However, unlike Concubine Wang Xian, as long as Concubine Wang Xian is careful, she doesn't have to worry about wealth, while he is benevolent and loyal, but he has to choose a new master, otherwise, he will be forgotten soon. A few days ago, there were already people who went round and round to please him, giving him things, but the more this happened, the more fearful Ren Duo Bao Zhong became.He paid more attention to keeping a distance from those Song people, never dared to accept any gifts, and did not participate in any banquets.He also heard some rumors, knowing that King Yong was secretly buying Banzhi's guards and commanders, but he neither dared to report to the emperor, nor dared to join it, so he could only keep silent, pretend to be deaf and dumb, and kept his distance from everything .Ren Duo Baozhong used the image of Jin Ridun to protect himself, but he knew in his heart that he was actually unwilling to do so.He hopes to be on the side of the winner, but for the time being he doesn't know who will be the winner.Song people's way of doing things is often beyond his expectations.The law of Xixia is so simple, the one with strong soldiers and horses is the winner; but this is not the case in the Song Dynasty.Of course, here also does not mean that those who are highly respected, courteous and benevolent are equal to the winners, let alone those who are powerful and important can be said to be indistinguishable... Here, Ren Duo Baozhong can only take one step carefully, for fear that if he is not careful, he will be involved in the torrent of court struggle in the Song Dynasty, and he will never recover. "General Rendo..." "Ah! Li Duzhi." Ren Duobaozhong looked at Li Xiang'an who came out of Funing Hall, hurriedly collected his thoughts, and bowed to salute. But Li Xiang'an was holding a jade ruyi in his hand, handed it to him, and said softly: "Congratulations, general, this ruyi was given to the general by the sage." "Ah?!" Ren Duo Baozhong hastily knelt down and took Ruyi, "Thank you saint for your kindness." He looked up at Li Xiang'an, but he heard Li Xiang'an whisper: "The sage has ordered, the general does not need to go in to thank you." "Yes." Ren Duo Baozhong answered quickly. Inside Funing Hall. Queen Xiang sat beside Zhao Xu's bed, sobbing softly.Zhao Xu closed his eyes and leaned on the bed, upset for a while. The relationship between him and Queen Xiang can't be said to be good, nor can it be said to be bad, just the words "respect each other as guests".But at this point, in the palace, the only person he can trust is Queen Xiang.Whether Concubine Zhu or Concubine Wang, no matter how favored she is on weekdays, without the status of a queen, when something really important happens, she doesn't even have a place to speak.In terms of law, the queen has the power to discuss politics and even make decisions; and if the concubines make irresponsible remarks, it is "the harem meddling in politics", and the ministers stand upright and push back. say go. Because of this, even though Empress Dowager Gao usually lives in Jiuchong and does not care about political affairs, if she is determined to intervene in state affairs, even the emperor will find it difficult.This is a political tradition left over from the Han Dynasty, called "governing the world with filial piety"!What's more, Zhao Xu knew that his empress mother had a very high prestige among the people and among the scholar-bureaucrats.And he also knew that for a long time, his mother's empress, the most beloved son, was his younger brother Zhao Hao. Although the sixth brother's position is fixed, he is too young after all.The situation in the country is like this—he has asked someone to read the newspaper to him every day these days—some people in the scholastic community have begun to reflect, from Zhao Xu’s expansionary policy and efforts to govern, to Wang Anshi, Lu Huiqing, and Shi Yue, have all been criticized.There was a problem with the payment of banknotes with a total amount of more than 30 to 40 million guan, which affected everyone's interests, and the literati were even more victims-a large part of their salaries were paid in banknotes. Nothing can be done.Whether it is from a personal standpoint or for the sake of the country, seeing that the country's finances are almost collapsed, the Yizhou rebellion is still pending, and the southeast is raging, people's evaluation of the politics of the Xining Dynasty has begun to change. It was not an easy task for the reform of Xining to gradually gain the approval of most scholar-bureaucrats from being questioned.However, after the victory of the Song Xia War in the 14th year of Xining, the spirit of the whole country was completely opposite. Now, among the literati and bureaucrats, voices of retreat and conservativeness have begun to appear again.In the fourteenth year of Xining, even the most conservative scholar-officials did not dare to openly question the achievements of the Xining Reform!But now, Zhao Xu is sensitive to changes in the political climate. Zhao Xu is worried these days. He hated that he would actually suffer from wind disease. Compared with half of his body being paralyzed and unable to speak, the pain caused him more torment.But what he was more worried about was what would happen after his death. After all the calculations, he didn't consider that the political climate might reverse. In the imperial court, the old party is too powerful... If the suspicion spreads, maybe the Xining Reform will come to naught!This is absolutely unacceptable to Zhao Xu, but there is nothing he can do.His son is still young, crying to the queen by the bedside, not only lacks political ambition, but also lacks political skills, so after his death, even if there is no accident, it will be Queen Mother Gao who will rule. An Empress Dowager Gao who was originally inclined to the old party, coupled with the power of the old party in the current government... Zhao Xu even began to feel that his suspicion and precautions against Shi Yue were a bit unfounded. But this is not the worst outcome. Sima Guang may be trustworthy, but if someone is greedy for wealth and honor, and proposes that when the country is troubled, it is necessary to establish an elder king—Zhao Xu is not sure whether those old party officials will maintain the eldest son inheritance system, or will they use a more grandiose banner , to accept an emperor they prefer.The so-called "gentlemen" are not so trustworthy.If you want to change Zhao Xu's policy, it is much more convenient for his younger brother to be emperor than his son.After all, the sage's teaching of "three years without changing his father's way" concerns his son, not his younger brother.Besides, in comparison, everyone knows that Zhao Hao is a "virtuous king", while the sixth brother bears the reputation of being "tough"... Besides, there is a precedent in the Song Dynasty where brothers end up with brothers... Thinking of this precedent, Zhao Xu shuddered. Fearing and crying to the queen... Isn't it also because of this precedent? But Qing Yi is already singing the hymn of brotherhood!However, he still can't stop it, and he can't punish those rebellious officials and thieves... Could it be that he wants to tell the people all over the world that it is a crime to praise Taizu and Emperor Taizong? But what is brotherhood? !The foreign ministers couldn't understand, but the emperors of the Great Song Dynasty, the descendants of Emperor Taizong, lived in the shadow of "brothers end up with brothers" for generations.This is a huge shadow that hangs over every descendant of Emperor Taizong. On the surface, they sing praises of this event, portraying it as a wise move that established the foundation of the Great Song Dynasty. A symbol of brotherly love... However, in private, none of the clan surnamed Zhao would be willing to take the initiative to mention this matter. The more they whitewash it, it is precisely because they feel ashamed!This is a scar carved in the bones of the Song royal family! What brothers and sisters!Even if it's just to save the lives of his wife and children, Zhao Xu must not let this happen.But he knew that he couldn't simply deal with his younger brother.It's not because this younger brother has a good reputation as a "virtuous king", nor is it because he is afraid of the opposition of the officials and the evaluation of the historian-if he wants to protect his wife and children, he will do anything.However, although Zhao Xu couldn't speak, he was very clear-headed. He knew very well what the so-called "emperor" authority was all about.With his current situation, with the authority of the Empress Dowager Gao, and the cowardice of the Empress Xiang, if his mother wants to control the palace, it is really easy.At that time, he, Zhao Xu, will be just a puppet at the mercy of others.If he wants to deal with his own younger brother, there is no guarantee that Empress Dowager Gao will not be desperate to protect her most beloved son.One side is the biological son who is most favored by Empress Dowager Gao, while the other is the grandson who is often scolded. Which side will Empress Dowager Gao stand on? Maybe Empress Dowager Gao is still hesitating. In any case, Zhao Xu will not force his mother to make a choice.Because he knew that he would not like that choice.Even if Empress Dowager Gao did not support Zhao Hao as emperor, she would definitely not want his life. Zhao Xu also knew in his heart that as long as he was alive, as long as he didn't push people too far, no one would dare to act rashly.But if he dies, everything will be unpredictable... He may not be able to control people's death, but no matter what, he will definitely find a way to let the sixth brother succeed to the throne firmly. The key lies in the Queen Mother.Zhao Xu knew very well in his heart that the role of a prince in the Great Song Dynasty was limited, and Zhao Hao's painstaking efforts to achieve this point was quite surprising to him. Empress Dowager Gao's support will definitely not be a big deal.Therefore, the attitude of Empress Dowager Gao is very important. However... Zhao Xu thought of Chen Yan being reprimanded again, and couldn't help feeling depressed again. Queen Xiang, who had been sobbing softly, didn't know what Zhao Xu was thinking.Her worries and fears are purely out of a woman's intuition.The official family is her backing, and now the backing is about to fall, the sixth and seventh brothers are still young, inside and outside the palace, there are already rumors everywhere, all nonsense that is not good for the sixth brother, and the Queen Mother prefers King Yong, it is also true She had already seen it in her eyes and remembered it in her heart.Although Sixth Brother and Seventh Brother were not born to her, they were brought up by her own hands. She was considered their aunt and treated them as her own. what.If the younger uncle succeeds to the throne, the other concubines may be safe and sound, but what will happen to her sister-in-law "Queen Dowager"? On the one hand, it is fear, but on the other hand, it is the cowardice in character - Queen Xiang never dared to say no to Empress Dowager Gao - knowing this weakness in her character made Queen Xiang even more worried.In the past few days, she sent people to guard the sixth and seventh brothers every day. Except for visiting the official's condition every day, they were not even allowed to run around in the palace, let alone let them eat indiscriminately.Not only that, she also had a long meal by herself, prayed to gods and Buddha, prayed for the speedy recovery of the official family, and took care of the official family with care every day. She had to taste all the soups and medicines before she was willing to give the official family a drink... … But the fear in her heart could not be weakened by this. She gently held the official's still inflexible right hand, rubbing it gently, trying to draw some strength and courage from it.But her mind was still confused, she just kept thinking about the conversation with Eleven Niang yesterday. "Does the sage still remember what happened in April of the first year of Zhiping?" Qinghe answered her in this way. What happened in April of the first year of Zhiping...Of course Queen Xiang remembered.At that time, she was only a princess, but the officials had told her more than once about what happened in that month—in that month, Han Qi skillfully forced the Merciful Sage to withdraw the curtain and return to the late emperor... Eleven Niang said again: "Today, the sages of the Sangong may not necessarily be under Han Qi." She understood what Eleven Niang meant to tell her not to worry.However, whether Wang, Ma, and Shi Zhixian are comparable to Han Qi, she does not have the confidence of Qinghe—at that time, there were Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, and Zeng Gongliang in the two mansions, which one was not good?But in the end, only Han Qi can uphold justice.Today's Sangong, is it true that he is better than the Wen, Fu, and Zeng of that day?Besides, Cisheng is no better than Empress Dowager Gao, Cisheng does not have a biological son, and raised the first emperor as his own son; but Empress Dowager Gao still has a biological son that he loves the most! However, when she carefully expressed her worry about Sangong, Eleven Niang remained silent, and no matter how much she asked, she refused to answer.After Qinghe resigned and returned to Jingyuan Manor, she still refused to give up, and sent her trusted servant to ask. The servant reported back, but Dao Shiniang still refused to answer, and just read the book silently.She felt strange, and asked Eleven Niang about the title of the book in detail, only to find out that it was Volume 68 of "Hanshu".Empress Xiang didn't read history books on weekdays, but at this time she went to "Hanshu" to look it up, and found out that Volume 68 was the biography of Huo Guang and Jin Ridun.She read it carefully again, and a sentence in the book caught her attention—"Shang Yiguang is the Great Sima General, Ri Li is the Chariot General...they all lie down on the inner bed, and are ordered to assist the young master." This sentence made her suddenly enlightened. Among the clan, Eleven Niang is the most knowledgeable.Empress Xiang had a reason to trust Eleven Niang—it was the benefit of her speaking directly to Empress Xiang that Chen Sangchong and Cheng Yi were Zishantang, and this recommendation finally paid off.In today's "Bianjing News", Sang Chongguo personally wrote an article, criticizing the short-sighted view of praising brothers and brothers, praising Emperor Taizong's wisdom of passing on his sons but not his younger brothers, and pointed out that the eldest son inheritance system originated from Zhou Li, which is The foundation of a country must not be changed easily; and based on personal experience, he praised the sixth and seventh brothers for their intelligence, benevolence and filial piety, and they are the "successors" of the country, and refuted the rumors about the sixth brother's "stubbornness and morality" as "unbelievable", "Unpredictable intentions". Sang Chongguo's public support is a timely help to Queen Xiang and Maid Zhao.And Empress Xiang was even more grateful for Qinghe's foresight, so, for Qinghe's hint, Empress Xiang really regarded it as a golden prescription. If the emperor imitated the story of Han Wu and ordered Sima Guang, Shi Yue and others to assist the young master, under this level of status, Sima Guang, Shi Yue and others would do their best. She knew that these scholar-bureaucrats cherished fame and integrity. , with this level of identity, they will be able to check and balance Empress Dowager Gao more effectively... Because of this idea, Queen Xiang even specially rewarded Ren Duo Baozhong, known as "Jin Ridun". But in the end this is a major event, a major event that has never happened since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty.The practice of the Song Dynasty was that when the young master came to the throne, the queen mother listened to the government behind the curtain.Zaizhi have never had such a title.So Queen Xiang hesitated to speak. What if the officials refuse?Even such a simple question is extremely difficult for the Queen. "The official family..." After hesitating for an unknown amount of time, seeing that the official family was really about to fall asleep, Empress Xiang finally mustered up the courage, wiped away her tears, and called out softly. Zhao Xu opened his eyes and looked at his queen quietly.