Chapter 15 first quarter

Xining eighteen years, New Year's Day, heavy snow. Every New Year's Day, as usual, a grand court meeting is held.After the emperor offered incense and prayed to heaven for the common people, he drove to the Daqing Hall, where he received congratulations from civil and military officials and envoys from various countries, and then rewarded him with a banquet.But this year's New Year's Day Grand Court Meeting was forced to be canceled because the emperor's health was not optimistic.Instead, Prince Zhao servant, accompanied by Empress Dowager Gao, accepted congratulations from ministers and foreign envoys on his behalf in Jiying Hall.

After participating in various ceremonial activities of the imperial court, Shi Yue, who returned to the mansion, saw Pan Zhaolin who was playing chess with Chen Liang, and said with a smile: "Brother Qianguang, you lost." "Oh?" Pan Zhaolin gently pushed the chessboard away, squinting at Shi Yue.While packing up the chess pieces, Chen Liang asked with a smile, "Why did you lose, Mister?" "Zi Rou, do you still remember what Brother Qianguang said more than ten days ago? It is rumored that King Yong was active everywhere, and even the Queen Mother secretly supported King Yong. At that time, Brother Qianguang said that King Yong might follow the example of the Eight Sage Kings. Illness, I can't stay here, and the Empress Dowager will cooperate with him from the inside out, so this matter must be guarded against..."

"It turns out that this is the case. Am I wrong?" Shi Yue nodded with a smile, and said, "Brother Qianguang, do you know what happened in Jiying Hall today? Today, the queen mother praised the prince's solemnity, wisdom, and pure filial piety in front of all the officials, and she also showed a copy of the crown prince to the officials." Hand-copied Buddhist scriptures!" "Buddhist scriptures?" "Exactly, the queen mother told all the officials that the prince began to copy Buddhist scriptures to pray for the emperor since the emperor took medicine. The queen mother specially issued this Buddhist scriptures to the ministers and circulated them."

When Pan Zhaolin heard what Shi Yue said, he couldn't help laughing: "Buddhist scriptures? Sixth brother is not yet nine years old, right?" Thinking of this, Shi Yue couldn't help laughing: "Who would be as ignorant of current affairs as Brother Qianguang, and come to ask such a disastrous matter? I've seen the handwriting, it's upright and respectful, it's really good calligraphy. So The chancellors also paid homage and praised the land's winners." Chen Liang smiled and said: "In this way, the Empress Dowager personally promulgated this Buddhist scriptures in order to declare to all the officials that she is very satisfied with the Crown Prince. Mister really lost."

"My princes and I are also relieved." Shi Yue said with a smile, "Because there is no real evidence for those rumors before, although everyone didn't say it, they were always worried in their hearts. Sure enough, the queen mother has other ideas. Let alone other things, it is not a blessing for the country if the officials are split into two factions because of this incident. King Yong really wants to learn from the Eight Sage Kings. He has a very prestigious queen mother in him. The government doesn't know who to be Li Di yet." "What's the point of Li Di?!" Pan Zhaolin said disdainfully, "In this way, I underestimated the Queen Mother. I always thought that the Queen Mother Cao was the real heroine. She has knowledge. She scolded Chen Yan and showed the Buddhist scriptures because she wanted to save both her son and her grandson."

Shi Yue nodded and said: "King Yong is also a smart person, so he knows it's time to stop." "That's not necessarily the case." Pan Zhaolin said surprisingly, "Do you know, my lord, that the world often benefits the foolish?" Shi Yue laughed disapprovingly and said, "Even if you are blinded by profit, you still need capital. A prince with no soldiers and no power, and without the support of the queen mother, is not as good as a county captain of Xiangfu." "But I'm afraid that he doesn't believe that the Queen Mother doesn't support him, or he simply wants to force the Queen Mother to support him. Do you still remember what Li Dunmin said? There are rumors that King Yong is secretly wooing Banzhi's guards..."

"Brother Qianguang, do you mean that King Yong wants to rebel?" Shi Yue couldn't help laughing, "If he really has the ability to launch a rebellion, will the queen mother stand by him in order to save her son's life? It's really hard to say. After all, everyone knows that the Queen Mother loves this son. But, what capital does he have to mutiny? Since the emperor became seriously ill, the ministers have taken turns to guard every day. Once there is a change, the Tianwu army and the imperial city can be mobilized cheaply. He is in charge of emergency; the rotation of the class guards is also arranged by the two governments themselves, there is no fixed rule. If there is no support from the queen mother, it will be considered that he has recruited some class guards, so is he going to take these people to attack the imperial city?"

"What I was most worried about in the past was that he would live in the palace in the name of the queen mother and not come out. When the time comes, he will be in the middle of the house, and it will be difficult to deal with the urgency. So I discussed it with Mr. Jing and Mr. Junshi. , we are going to ask for an order to lead the soldiers and guards, and go directly to Funing Palace for rotation. Then try to transfer the untrustworthy class guards to study in the martial arts school, so as to be safe. But today, there is no need to worry about this matter. Even today's New Year's Day, the Empress Dowager does not allow the princes and county kings to stay in the palace, and expressly orders that in the future, when they ask for their health, they only need to express their care and do not need to enter the palace; Fasting for the emperor, copying Buddhist scriptures..."

After Shi Yue finished speaking, Chen Liang couldn't help laughing and said: "The method of 'safety' in this dynasty can be said to be meticulous. The students thought it was absolutely impossible for the mutiny to seize the throne. Besides, even if King Yong controlled a little class As a guard, he is not so confused. The queen mother has clearly expressed her attitude in front of all the officials. Without the queen mother's acquiescence, how can he bet on whether the queen mother will help her son or her grandson? Although the queen mother loves him, the palm of his hand and the back of his hand , and it’s just a matter of thought. Isn’t this a joke with the lives of the three clans?”

Everything the two said was reasonable, and even Pan Zhaolin felt that he was suspicious and worried too much.He couldn't help laughing and said: "Young Master and Zi Rou are right, it was the Queen Mother who was worried at first, and indeed the Queen Mother has made up her mind, so don't worry about him being a king." What Pan Zhaolin said, Shi Yue deeply believed in it.Empress Dowager Gao is not an ordinary concubine; she grew up in the palace since she was a child, and after being a founding father, her background is extraordinary.The prestige accumulated over decades has actually inherited the political legacy of Empress Dowager Cao—in the minds of most subjects, Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao are basically one—so her influence is truly extraordinary.

Empress Dowager Gao has an influence second only to the emperor in the guards of Banzhi, and even in the imperial guards in front of the palace; and many ministers in the court, especially the officials of the old party, are also close to Empress Dowager Gao from the heart; The prestige among the clan and subjects, if the Empress Dowager Gao wants to help King Yong, it will really become a heartache.Not to mention anything else, the officials in the DPRK will immediately split into two factions.At a time when the domestic situation is in chaos, if such a thing is really going to happen, it is by no means alarmist to say that 15 or 16 years of efforts to govern the country will be destroyed in one go. Therefore, although Shi Yue discussed countermeasures with Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, in his heart, he couldn't even trust Sima Guang.In Shi Yue's view, every old party official may turn into a supporter of Empress Dowager Gao.Although he also knew in his heart that this kind of suspicion was very fatal. Therefore, the Empress Dowager Gao's statement at the New Year's Day meeting really made Shi Yue completely relieved.As for King Yong, Shi Yue never took it to heart.What political strength can a prince have?There are so many things to worry about, Shi Yue really can't put Zhao Hao on the agenda. After a year of ups and downs, on the first day of the new year, there is finally a good sign.At this time, the laughter of Shi Rui and the maidservants was faintly heard from outside the house: "Throw Madou! Throw Madou!" Shi Yue walked to the door with a smile, and looked at his daughter and maidservants from afar. Beside the well, pockmarks and red beans were happily thrown into the well one by one, and everyone cheered every time they threw one.Shi Yue couldn't help but be infected by this cheerful emotion, and said to himself: "This plague god should go too." Looking at Shi Yue's back, Pan Zhaolin and Chen Liang couldn't help smiling.Chen Liang smiled and said to Pan Zhaolin: "I also have a hunch, whether this year will be extremely peaceful." Pan Zhaolin just smiled and said nothing.He actually felt very sorry for what Empress Dowager Gao did at the New Year's Day meeting.He managed to find out about the emperor's condition, and it was almost certain that the emperor would not survive this spring.According to the current situation, after the death of the emperor, Shi Yue's power will increase even more, but there will always be Empress Dowager Gao, Wang Anshi, Sima Guang and others constraining him.It would be great if Empress Dowager Gao was really on the side of King Yong. In that case, Shi Yue could take the opportunity to assist the prince to succeed to the throne. After their defeat, even the power of the old party will be severely hit.This is extremely beneficial to helping Shi Yue reach the peak of power as soon as possible.It's a pity that Empress Dowager Gao seems to be more powerful than he imagined.Her actions at the New Year's Day meeting may even ease her relationship with the emperor.Earlier, Li Xiang'an sent word that Emperor Dao had ordered Li Qingchen and An Tao to write the will. Although the specific content was not known, according to rumors in the palace, the emperor had appointed ministers to assist the government in the will.Although the rumors may not be credible, it also revealed that the emperor probably wanted to strengthen the power of the Zaizhi, so as to check and balance the idea of ​​Empress Dowager Gao after his death.This is undoubtedly beneficial to Shi Yue.However, if the relationship between the empress dowager and the emperor eases, this rumor is likely to completely become a rumor. However, Pan Zhaolin would never reveal these thoughts to anyone. In his opinion, there are great flaws in Shi Yue's character.Shi Yue's biggest advantage is that he is good at compromise and seeking cooperation with people from different factions, but Pan Zhaolin believes that this is also Shi Yue's biggest shortcoming.In the fledgling period, compromise and cooperation are necessary means.But now that Shi Yue's wings are gradually full, Shi Yue is more than ever before cooperating with the old and new parties, even willing to let Sima Guang be the prime minister.This was something Pan Zhaolin could not tolerate. But Pan Zhaolin has been with Shi Yue for more than ten years, and he also knows that he cannot persuade Shi Yue on this point.He knows Shi Yue too well. In Shi Yue's character, there is more than gentleness but not enough ruthlessness. Even with political enemies, he can't be decisive and ruthless, let alone his allies and subordinates.For an ordinary person, this may not be considered a shortcoming, but for a leader, it is a major shortcoming.Pan Zhaolin felt that this kind of personality was where Shi Yue was most inferior to Wang Anshi and Sima Guang. Whether Wang Anshi or Sima Guang, they are not just ordinary prime ministers. They have a clear stand and are full of confidence in their decisions, and they can also make people around them feel this confidence, which stems from this strong confidence in their own beliefs , when necessary, they will not hesitate to take decisive measures to deal with opponents.No matter what position they occupy, they will be regarded as leaders and ministers.These two people are like two red flags, wherever they are inserted, people will consciously gather there. As for Shi Yue, Pan Zhaolin believes that he does not lack this kind of potential, and besides Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, he is the only one who has this kind of potential.But his character restrained him, making him unable to become a character like the red flag. When Shi Yue was visiting Shaanxi, Pan Zhaolin once discovered that Shi Yue once had such strong confidence in his own beliefs, so when he was in Shaanxi, Shi Yueduo acted arbitrarily.That was also an important reason why Shi Yue was able to establish his prestige in the Western Army.But after returning to Bianjing, the confident Shi Yue gradually disappeared.There are naturally many reasons, the most important being that Shi Yue's character lacks that kind of natural self-confidence.When he was in Shaanxi, because Shi Yue was the highest official along the way, everyone was his subordinate. He had the highest power and assumed the greatest responsibility. In fact, that kind of strong self-belief is actually created by the environment.And once he returned to Bianjing, in this completely different environment, Shi Yue would naturally respond based on his past experience.Moreover, Pan Zhaolin discovered that, for some reason, in Shaanxi, Shi Yue could not care about the factions of his subordinate officials, but in Bianjing, he was extremely sensitive to party struggles, and he could even be said to be disgusted. Shi Yue's status is quite different, but he is still unconsciously playing the role of a mediator.He tried his best to get along well with Sima Guang and Wang Anshi and cooperate with each other.When dealing with the crisis, he looked forward and backward, too much introspection, lack of confidence, and always scrupulous about the ideas of Sima Guang and others, and could not come up with a clear solution.Although Pan Zhaolin was helpless in dealing with troubles such as the banknote delivery crisis, it did not prevent him from being keenly aware of Shi Yue's mentality problems.Pan Zhaolin believed that it was this mentality that restricted Shi Yue's talent and his ambition. Therefore, Pan Zhaolin knew that his responsibility was to assist Shi Yue to become a real leader, not just an ordinary prime minister.But these things can only be done step by step and quietly. "Xianggong." At some point, Shi Jian appeared beside Shi Yue. "Have all the New Year's greetings flyers been delivered?" Shi Yue asked. "All the houses have sent it." Shi Jian replied with a smile.It was the habit of officials and eunuchs at that time to send flying posts for New Year greetings. At that time, the families of officials with status and status did not visit each other to pay New Year greetings, but only sent servants to send famous New Year greetings to the homes of relatives and friends.With the development of this custom, sending New Year's greeting flyers has become a status symbol. Walking around to pay New Year's greetings in person will appear humiliating.At that time, there was a joke circulating that a gentleman’s family was poor and couldn’t afford servants. On New Year’s Day, he saw a lot of New Year’s greeting flyers and no one sent them, so he had to sigh and be helpless. At this time, a friend of his The servant of the old man sent a New Year's greeting flyer, he invited the servant of that friend to drink, secretly checked the New Year's greeting flyer brought by the servant, and found that most of the relatives and friends to be sent were the same as himself. Those flyers for New Year's greetings were secretly transferred, and all the flyers sent by the friend's servants became his family's.This matter was exposed later, and it became a big joke in Bianjing.Whenever Kaifeng people come to celebrate the New Year, when they mention the New Year greeting flyer, they will bring up this incident and regard it as a New Year's joke. This New Year's Day is the first New Year after Shi Yue paid his respects to the prime minister. The New Year's greeting flyers that Shifu received in one day almost filled a hut. The manservant was exhausted.But as Shi Jian, there are not too many people who can meet him to send the New Year's greeting flyer, so he came back very early. Shi Jian paid New Year's greetings to Pan Zhaolin and Chen Liang, and said with a smile, "When I went to Sang Mansion, I passed by Daxiangguo Temple, but I heard some interesting things." "Over the Daxiangguo Temple, many people are saying that the Crown Prince's East Palace often has a red light shining. Many people swear there and swear that they have heard it with their own eyes." Shi Jian pretended to be casual and said with a smile: " This fact is so strange that the little ones want to find a spare time to run over and see for themselves.” Shi Yue couldn't help but shook his head with a smile, turned his head to look at Chen Liang, and said with a smile: "It seems that Zirou's friendship with the commoner is not easy." Pan Zhaolin also cocked his lips, and said with a half-smile: "The Cao family's small house is indeed an extraordinary businessman. In the past few days, people everywhere in the streets and alleys, restaurants and teahouses are talking about how benevolent, filial, and smart the prince is; look at this For a few days, the major newspapers, with their anecdotal articles, were all praising Taizong and Zhao Pu, saying how wise they were, and that the wrong things Taizu did could never be corrected by monarchs and ministers like Taizong and Zhao Pu... Compliments over there Taizu's elder brother and younger brother, he praised Taizong for being able to inherit the throne as his son, correcting his mistakes. Hehe, at this moment, the East Palace is actually glowing red... This dynasty is King Huode, the one who inherits the throne, of course It must be protected by the red light." Shi Yue nodded slightly, and said: "What's even more rare is that the timing is very ingenious." "Timing?" Chen Liang heard that Shi Yue and Pan Zhaolin praised Cao Youwen, and was about to say a few more good things about Cao Youwen, so that Shi Yue could see him, but when he heard Shi Yue's words, he became confused. Cao Youwen did these things , what chance can there be?He couldn't help asking Pan Zhaolin with his eyes. Seeing that Shi Yue was also looking at him, Pan Zhaolin obviously wanted to see if he could understand the meaning of his words, because he squinted his eyes, he said with a faint smile: "Zi Rou knows that anyone who can achieve a great career must be able to adapt. Heroes of the people. The so-called heroes follow the trend of the times, and the times make heroes. No matter how capable you are, if you were born without the situation, you can only sigh in vain. The situation is plain, it is the people's hearts. Tian Liewu, Cao You Wen Yao What they do seems simple, but it is actually subtle. If they are incompetent people, they will inevitably have an idea in their hearts, wanting to manipulate people's hearts. place, to conform to the people's hearts, then you can receive the effect of four or two thousand catties." Speaking of this, he glanced at Shi Yue, saw that there was a sense of appreciation in Shi Yue's eyes, and smiled again: "What are the people in the world thinking in their hearts today? Since the fourteenth year of Xining, the lives of the people have become more and more difficult, especially It was last year, and there were even more complaints. The people originally complained about the officials, and their dissatisfaction was concentrated in their hearts. At this time, they spread remarks that are not good for the prince. People have resentment in their hearts and want to vent it, so it is easy to believe these rumors. But since last year Since the twelfth lunar month, subtle changes have gradually taken place in people's hearts. Because the emperor's illness has been reported, even the ordinary people in Bianjing know that the official may soon pass away." "Ordinary people usually don't have much knowledge, but even so, they don't believe that everything will be better if they change the government. On the contrary, although the people are dissatisfied on the one hand, they trust the emperor very much in their hearts— This is very easy to be overlooked - this kind of trust is engraved in people's hearts unconsciously by the emperor with 18 years of hard work, and it is by no means easy to wear off. People complain and complain, dissatisfaction is dissatisfaction , but once they realize that they are going to change the official family, I am afraid that they will be more confused and worried. The people are only afraid that the future official family will not be as good as the emperor. At this time, no one wants to hear bad things about the prince. Even if the prince's good words are not credible, they are still a kind of comfort to the common people, and they are more willing to believe them. "Therefore, the timing of the Xiaosheren of the Cao family was very ingenious. And by coincidence, the Empress Dowager presented Buddhist scriptures at the court meeting today. In this way, the crown prince's reputation among the people will be even better. If I were Cao You, I would We must grasp the word "filial piety" to make a fuss—you must know that ordinary people don't care much about whether the prince is smart or not, but they care about whether the prince is filial. You can ask the people in the market, and they will all say that filial piety comes first. A filial official family, no matter how bad it is, can’t go bad. Therefore, all dynasties and dynasties have said to rule the world with filial piety. This is the reason.” Speaking of this, Pan Zhaolin was even more disappointed in his heart, but he said with a smile: "With Cao Youwen and the queen mother 'cooperating internally and externally', the crown prince can rest easy. King Yong's party members used to say that the crown prince is immoral, but now But they don’t even have this excuse. The only thing they can do now is the prince’s age.” Chen Liang couldn't help laughing and said: "The situation has changed, even if you are stupid, you should know to stop." He looked at Shi Yue, and was about to take the opportunity to recommend Cao Youwen, but he heard Shi Yue calmly ask: "How about you?" A few days ago, I heard from Zhang Zihou that there are rumors everywhere in Bianjing that Sanfoqi is going to rebel. I'm afraid this is also Cao Youwen's idea?" Chen Liang was startled, and quickly said: "The students don't know about this matter. I heard that it was the news from a few South China Sea merchants." Shi Yue snorted softly, and said: "Wen Huan mentioned this before. But I asked Duan Zijie, and Duan Zijie said that Xue Yi knew about it, so he thought it was unbelievable. Zirou has been to the South China Sea, what do you think? " Chen Liang wanted to say a few words for Cao Youwen, but he knew that Shi Yue and Pan Zhaolin were extremely smart people, so he finally shook his head and said honestly: "Military affairs are not the students' expertise." Shi Yue nodded, but neither joy nor anger could be seen on his face.Chen Liang thought that there was no chance to recommend Cao Youwen again, and he gave up the idea in his heart, but Shi Yue said again: "If it is convenient, Zirou will ask Cao Youwen to come over in a few days, I have something to ask him." Chen Liang couldn't help being surprised and delighted: "Sister?" Shi Yue knew what he meant, and said: "Zeng Bu, Cai Jing, and Li Xiuwen came up with an idea together. I want to ask Cao Youwen about Nanhai." Shi Yue turned to Pan Zhaolin again, and said with a smile, "Brother Qianguang's words just now touched me a lot." "Brother Qianguang said just now that the people know that the emperor is critically ill, and they are more worried about the future and feel more at a loss. It's true!" Shi Yue sighed, "However, it is the prime minister's fault that the people are worried. If the people are worried , if the emperor is honest, it will be hard to feel at ease. How can I be worthy of the emperor's kindness?" "No matter what, I must be worthy of the people and the emperor." Shi Yue said resolutely. Pan Zhaolin was overjoyed, but unexpectedly, he heard Shi Yue say again: "Shi Jian, you have to work hard again, and go to Junshi's mansion to hand over a letter, and tomorrow I will go to pay him a New Year's greeting in person." He couldn't help but secretly sighed in his heart, Shi Yue's single-minded desire to bridge the party struggle and work together with Sima Guang and Wang Anshi to cope with the predicament, in Pan Zhaolin's view, is really like a dose of poison.It is not necessary to fight Sima Guang and Wang Anshi to the death, but like Shi Yue, it seems too low-key to respect Sima Guang and Wang Anshi too much.Shang Shu You Pu She is not Zuo Pu She's subordinate!But Shi Yue was very firm in this regard, as if it was a matter of course.