Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The Empress Dowager Withdrew the Curtain

Regarding the withdrawal of the curtain by Empress Dowager Cao, there are three versions: official history and notes.Let me talk about the notes first. The most popular and dramatic statement comes from "Tieweishan Congtan", in which Han Qi became the most incredible strongman in the history of the Song Dynasty, such as Zhao Pu, Lu Yijian, Wang Anshi, Zhang Dun, Cai Jing, Qin Hui, Jia Sidao They are all little ants. May I ask which of them dares to pass on the imperial decree, force the palace with the golden palace, and do not communicate with any ministers in advance, and do what they dare to say?

Han Qi dared. At a certain court meeting, the ministers gathered outside the curtain of Empress Dowager Cao, and Han Qi suddenly came to speak in front of the curtain: "The empress dowager is virtuous, and the emperor Xu Guizheng, here is an edict, please implement it immediately." The Empress Dowager Cao inside the curtain was shocked, and before she could reply, Han Qi had already stood up and ordered the servants on the left and right: "Remove the curtain!" You can only see men with a curtain behind you.At this time, Empress Dowager Cao jumped up like a conditioned reflex, and hid in the inner palace.The curtain removal operation was successful.

In fact, she missed another opportunity.As she ducked back, her savior appeared.Privy envoy Fu Bi.Fu Bi's mother's funeral is over, and she has returned to the court, but due to various reasons, she has not been able to resume her post as prime minister.The reasons for this will be described in detail later. When Han Qi ordered to withdraw the curtain, Fu Bi had already climbed the steps and was about to speak.But the curtain was rolled up suddenly, and Zhao Shu was the only one sitting in the hall.Fu Bi's reaction was to immediately turn around and go down to the palace, without any expression to the emperor.

Han Qi chased him out, and explained with a smile: "I didn't communicate with Fu Gong in advance, because I was afraid that there would be disagreements and delay the return date." Fu Bi ignored him at all, and left the hall angrily. This is the end of this version.There are some truths and some falsehoods. The real aspect is Fu Bi's anger towards Han Qi. The two of them had become enemies long before Renzong's death, so it was reasonable for Han Qi to keep Fu Bi a secret in advance. On the fake side, it's just too much fun.Who issued the edict Han Qi mentioned?It can only be Zhao Shu or Empress Dowager Cao herself.If it's Zhao Shu's, I'm sorry, but his order will not take effect now during the curtain-down period.Then it belonged to Empress Dowager Cao, that is to say, the suicide was finally successful, and it was completely funny, so why was she so surprised?

Especially Fu Bi couldn't bear it long ago with Han Qi. Whether it was during the mourning period or the upcoming court battle, the two of them were fighting to the death, how could they not even say a word, and were so angry How about going directly to the palace?All he needs to do is reach out to Han Qi for the edict, show me who wrote it, and everything will be settled. So this version cannot be trusted. Looking at the second type in the notebook version, Han Qi has become a thief.This version is much more shrewd than the previous one, and it points out the key point of the problem from the very beginning - the emperor's seal.

The reason why the empress dowagers who listen to politics behind the curtain can command the whole country is because they take the imperial seal as their own.In this version, Han Qi thought twice and couldn't get the queen mother to take the initiative to hand over to the government.So I did some tricks in the process of praying for rain.While the queen mother and the emperor were out of the palace, he quietly got the imperial seal.As for how to do it, the wording is very subtle, called "stay". I don't know how to "stay". With Yuxi in hand, Han Qi became more courageous. He first praised the queen mother in front of the curtain, and then changed the conversation, talking about Yushitai and Zhijianyuan, saying that the admonition officials collectively asked the queen mother to withdraw the curtain.Empress Dowager Cao was furious (finally), and said: "Teaching to do is also a husband, and not teaching to do is also a husband. Isn't it too much for you to persecute me like this!"

Han Qi ignored it and ordered Yiluan to withdraw the curtain.This is the case with the second version, with a newer conception and greater flaws.First, the Empress Dowager was not present when praying for rain. It was a pure emperor show, so how could the enemy interfere?Second, the Imperial Seal of the Emperor is very important, and the Empress Dowager Cao knows it better.So she stayed with her all the time, and didn't hand it over after the curtain was withdrawn. So there are other stories behind. The process of removing the curtain in the official historical records is very simple, full of hints and self-cultivation in the upper class.First of all, Han Qi chose an opportunity to face alone, so that everything went on quietly.

It was after a routine work report, the other ministers left, Han Qi stayed and applied to the queen mother to leave the capital and go to other places to be a state official. The Empress Dowager Cao understood as soon as she heard it, she said: "Can the Prime Minister ask for a retreat? I should be the one to retire. The old man lives together in the deep palace, and here every day, it is not his own thing, and let the old man retire first." Han Qi was very moved. He counted the faults of the former empress dowagers and praised the benevolence of the current empress dowager. He praised the empress dowager for not enjoying himself. After kneeling down and dancing, he stood up and continued to praise.Until the Empress Dowager stood up inside the curtain, as if she didn't want to hear it anymore, and was about to go back to the palace.Han Qi seized the opportunity and immediately ordered Yiluan to roll up the blinds.

The movement was quick, the curtain was rolled up, and the shadow of the Queen Mother's clothes could still be seen passing by on the screen. This process is relatively credible. Urgent matters are postponed, and the more important issues are, the easier it is to achieve them in a relaxed atmosphere.And Empress Dowager Cao's behavior is more in line with her usual disposition.She didn't want to seize power, she had no choice but to draw down the curtain, and she wouldn't go to great lengths to withdraw the curtain.The only move was that she kept a backhand and kept the emperor's seal.

This soon proved to be very wise. Empress Dowager Cao withdrew the curtain and Zhao Shu took charge. This moment was what he had been waiting for.It is clearly recorded in the official history of the Song Dynasty that he showed a heroic spirit that has never been seen before.As for the role of this kind of heroism, it is a pity that this is the only time this person has been in office for three and a half years since he proclaimed himself emperor. As for the achievements, it is just a few conversations with ministers. He asked Fu Bi, Wu Kui, Han Qi and others about commonplaces such as "There are so many evils in the country, how can we save them?" meaningless words.In addition, it is to recruit Tang Jie back to the capital and let him be the censor Zhongcheng, showing that the atmosphere is enlightened.

Everything else is gone, and the person's energy begins to divert to do what he most wants to do, but was afraid to do before. Zhao Shu ordered Renzong's daughters to move out of the palace and vacate the house for his own daughters.Then add officials and ranks to one's own children, one time is not enough, and continue to add up, until the children of idle clans become princes and princesses.As for Empress Dowager Cao, he never went to invite Ann to visit as if he had no such person. This is really depressing. There are many injustices, injustices, and unfilial behaviors in the world, but few people do it so narrowly and darkly.As the emperor, he can completely let the unfilial conduct go unnoticed, or everyone knows but can't do anything about him, that's what a character does.But he is dirty and vulgar, making people tired and annoying. May I ask that all the famous and nobles in the world come from him, why can't they give a little to Renzong's orphans, will there be a big loss?And Empress Dowager Cao, even if there are thousands of resentments, for the sake of Yuxi and his own reputation, he should do some face-saving projects. He doesn't, because he cares too much. Only when a person cares too much and values ​​something too much can he rush to fight for it without any scruples.Think about how different he was when he first entered the palace, and how different he was when he refused in every possible way. Zhao Shu's true face was gradually revealed, and was clearly seen by the ministers, who shunted them away.Some people choose to support, like Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu, who serve the leader unconditionally; more people become silent, have nothing to do with themselves, and hang on high; , such as Sima Guang.Sima Guang has a deep knowledge of history, and knows that such a person can't get along with him at all. If a filial son is not a loyal minister, this also applies to the emperor. A person doesn't even have the minimum bottom line, so he must stay away.