Kaifeng Mansion in July.

The weather has started to turn cooler from the scorching heat.

Outside the Chongzheng Hall, three people were taking turns waiting for the official's summons. They were none other than Zhang Zhi, Zhang Kai and Cai Que, who had made great achievements in Shaanxi this time.

Although Han Jiang was dismissed as prime minister, he did not forget these three people when he left.

Zhang Zhi and Zhang Kai helped him put down the Qingzhou mutiny, while Cai Que and Zhang Kai were his subordinates and contributed a lot.

Therefore, when Han Jiang was re-elected, Shang Shuji said that the merits of the three of them were his.

As soon as the officials heard this, they summoned the three of them back to the capital to give them a meeting.

This was not the first time for the three of them to meet the saint, but both Zhang Kai and Cai Que were a little excited, but Zhang Zhi was fine.

From time to time, the chamberlain would come down from the steps in front of the palace and give instructions on what to say during the audience, what should be paid attention to, such as which brick to bow to, etc.

Zhang Zhi felt that in the past, there were not so many rules for meeting the emperor, but now there is a lot of red tape... No, it's because the dignity of the official family is getting heavier and heavier.

Thinking back to the days when the two were classmates, their identities were so different that they couldn't be compared to each other.

But he still misses this friendship, but what about the official family?

After a while, the three of them were admitted. Zhang Zhi entered the palace, only to see more than a dozen officials standing in the palace, most of whom were in purple robes.

Zhang Zhi looked inside and saw Wen Yanbo and Wang Anshi.

See After Prostrations.

The official said on the throne: "You are all from Shaanxi. If you have any military or public sentiments, you can report them to me and the ministers for detailed information."

After the official finished speaking, the three of them did not dare to answer for a while.

Wang Anshi said: "There is still a dispute between conquering Hengshan and starting from Qinfeng or Chuhehuang. You should discuss this matter with Your Majesty first."

Zhang Kai came forward and said: "Your Majesty, since Zhao Yuanhao's rebellion, he has repeatedly left Yanyan and Huanqing. The reason for this is that these two places are conducive to Xixia's advance, but not conducive to our defense. On the other hand, our army wants to attack the Xithief

, even if we conquer Hengshan, we still have to face a vast sea of ​​700 miles, and it is difficult to penetrate deeply, so it is really a laborious expedition."

"On the other hand, if Dangxiang goes out to Qinfeng Road to attack me, it will be a waste of troops for the expedition. Therefore, since Zhao Yuanhao arrived at Zhao Liangzuo and launched his army, he has not attacked Qinfeng Road in a large scale once. This is the reason."

"I heard that the two armies are going to fight the enemy at a place that is conducive to our army instead of fighting at a place that is conducive to the enemy's army. If Dangxiang sends troops from Fuyan and Huanqing, and our army also marches from these two armies, wouldn't it mean that Dangxiang's people have been tricked?

On the contrary, our army can manage Lanhui to gain a firm foothold and then cross the Yellow River to advance northward, while Dangxiang will focus on one thing and lose another."

After hearing what Zhang Kai said, the official nodded.

Feng Jing on the side asked: "How is the recruitment law in Shaanxi? I ​​heard that the people's livelihood is difficult? The taxes and contributions for the common people are already heavy. Fangguo households and official households do not increase taxes, but it is feasible to increase the taxes of the common people.

no?"

Cai Que replied: "It is indeed as said, the people's livelihood in Shaanxi is very difficult. If the number of households taxed should not be more but less, this is what it means to facilitate the people."

"But I see that although people's livelihood in Shaanxi is difficult, it is not as difficult as the rumors say. I think the court can collect more taxes in good years to make the remaining money rich, and in bad years, provide more relief to the people

, This is in line with the law of the former king."

"As for whether Shaanxi's taxes are heavy or not, I think they are not heavy, but the annexation is too heavy. In addition, due to the current natural disasters, many annexers have stolen the favor of the court. In fact, based on the kindness of your Majesty and the government to the people,

The kindness is even greater than that of the three generations, but the violence of the powerful now is far greater than that of the Qin Dynasty."

As soon as Cai Que said this, Wen Yanbo, Feng Jing and other officials couldn't help but look askance.

Feng Jing just asked what this meant?

One of the reasons why Han Jiang resigned as prime minister was that he disagreed with Wang Anshi on collecting the money for exemption from service and the remaining money for exemption from service. Han Jiang refused this law without permission in Shaanxi, which made Wang Anshi unhappy.

but?

Cai was indeed recommended by Han Jiang, but now Mianjun helped Wang Anshi speak for him. Wasn't this a stab in the arm to Han Jiang?

However, Cai Que's performance was right, and it was very much in line with the officials' wishes.

Privy Councilor Wen Yanbo, who was the leader of the officials in the right class, said: "I have heard a lot in the capital these days, saying that Dong Zhan, Mu Zheng, Yu Longke and others have always been respectful to our dynasty. Since the time of the late emperor, these people have been paying tribute constantly."

"When Wang Shao arrived in the Qingtang Dynasty, he said that he recovered Yu Longke. It would be better to say that he was a minister of the Song Dynasty. He even forced Dong Xiang and Mu Zheng to rebel. How can we claim the credit for this achievement? In the seventh and eighth years of the ancient Wei Dynasty, he used

Is the imperial court spending so much money just to attack these Tibetan tribes who are loyal to my Song Dynasty?"

"Which one of you three can tell the officials about the situation?"

Zhang Zhi was stunned and immediately said: "This is untrue..."

As soon as Zhang Zhi said this, Wen Yanbo became a little unhappy. Didn't he mean that his dignified privy minister was telling lies? Zhang Zhi calmed down and said: "Your Majesty, although most of the Tibetan tribes in the Qing and Tang Dynasties are of Han ethnicity,

But the Fans have been transformed for a long time and do not know the etiquette of the Chinese, so they are afraid of power and not virtuous."

"Dong Felt, although Mu Zheng was respectful before, he only wanted the rewards from this dynasty and had no true loyalty. I believe that in order to truly take the Qing and Tang Dynasties as the foundation and advance the party's affairs, we must establish local households and integrate the people.

Or in Xizhou, Huizhou, Tongyuan Army, implement the system of government troops..."

Wen Yanbo and Wang Anshi frowned when they heard Zhang Zhi's words.

Wen Yanbo was unhappy. Needless to say, Wang Anshi was also unhappy because Han Qi proposed the establishment of a government-armed system in Shaanxi, while Wang Anshi advocated the Baojia method.

The Baojia Law was implemented in the third year of Xining.

Wang Anshi said: "Since ancient times, soldiers have been recruited for camps, and they have to stop when the military situation is over. This dynasty has so many redundant soldiers and generals that it is impossible to stop. Now the court's implementation of the Baojia Law can get rid of this disadvantage, and it can be combined with the recruitment of soldiers.

, and also save money on raising troops.”

"There is really no need to raise the system of government troops."

Zhang Zhi heard the words and argued that the Jia Bao Law could be implemented in the mainland, but not on Qinfeng Road.

Zhang Zhi was about to speak when he saw the official above him moving...

The several ministers stopped talking, and the eunuch signaled the three of them to finish the performance.

Then Zhang Zhi and the other three resigned from the hall.

Afterwards, the officials retreated to the banquet hall, but Wang Anshi stayed alone to report the matter.

After Wang Anshi stayed behind, he said to the official: "Your Majesty, I beg you to go!"

When the officials heard this, they wondered why Wang Anshi was so angry and came to ask for his resignation.

The official comforted him and said: "Customs are corrupt and difficult to correct. Things are taking the lead. Why do you want to go? You need to understand what I mean and don't listen to what those people say."

Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, I am a minister with weak talents. I am afraid that I might mislead your Majesty. Your Majesty, please look at the masters of the Zhongxing Dynasty in the past. Is it possible that the customs have not changed and the disciplines have not been established for several years? I have been in power for two years and still do not

It’s the same as before, it’s really hard to do the job.”

The official said: "The lords of the previous dynasties were born in decline and were in desperate need, so it is not difficult to solve them. However, the current dynasty has been suffering for hundreds of years, and there is no way to achieve success overnight. Now we must do our best not to change, as long as we do it slowly

, Human feelings gradually change."

Wang Anshi said: "The problem today is that villains are still unwilling to change their minds. If Your Majesty can see through everything and control it based on the interests and harms, how can villains dare to do evil? As long as the people in the court are unwilling to do evil, customs will change."

The officials wondered whether it was because of Han Jiang that Wang Anshi asked to go.

"What's happening in the northwest? How can I meet you, sir?"

"His Majesty promised Han Jiang that all the affairs of one side would fall under his control, so that he could plan for the side affairs without any hindrance, and he could do it in the future. As for the fact that Hengshan has not yet descended, it was because Khitan sent troops in Yin, and it was not a crime of war. What's more, Zhang Yue, Wang

The land of Shaoshoulanhui and the two states is hundreds of miles away. This is an unexpected blessing, and all this depends on the proper arrangement of your majesty's temple."

After a pause, Wang Anshi said again: "I think that your majesty is extremely diligent in doing things. However, everything should be done with virtue, and virtue should be done with the way. Your majesty should have a clear way to control people, and you should not worry about working hard to manage things. If you don't do it rightly,

Although I am worried and diligent, I cannot cure everything."

"Your Majesty and his ministers discuss the way of the emperor, and do nothing, and the feelings of the ministers are fake..."

When the officials heard Wang Anshi's words, they felt deep in their hearts.

All the ministers under his command were more or less ambitious for power, with only two exceptions. One was Wang Anshi, and the other was Zhang...Zhang Zhi. Of course, Sima Guang could also be counted as one, but he

It is not of the same mind as oneself.

These people truly take governance as their own responsibility, and they are dedicated to the benefit of the country and the country, rather than planning for their own power and position.

The longer the officials get along with Wang Anshi, the more they understand this. How rare it is to have such a minister, and how lucky you are to get one.

It seems that what Wang Anshi said to himself was completely out of the way of governing the country, and he would not have said it to him if he had replaced the second minister. Wang Anshi now wants to retreat, but he hopes that as the emperor's officials, he can act on his behalf

He could let go of the reform. For Wang Anshi, he had no desire to gain power.

But now the officials are asking themselves, they really can't live without Wang Anshi, at least they don't have any ministers around them who can stand up to him.

The official asked: "What do you think of the three ministers who came to the palace today? What important tasks should they be entrusted with?"

Wang Anshi thought for a while and said: "Zhang Kai is familiar with local affairs and comes from a prominent family. He can be a commander-in-chief in the future. Now he can be assigned to the Cao Si. He will be used when he conducts military campaigns in Shaanxi in the future."

The officials were pleased to hear what Wang Anshi said and recorded what Wang Anshi said in court.

Wang Anshi said: "As for Cai Que, who is shrewd and capable, although he had some shortcomings as an official at the beginning, it does not hinder his great use. He can be ordered to take charge of Gou's official affairs in Kaifeng Mansion, and his talents will be judged by miscellaneous things. If he has merit, he will be promoted to censor."

The official praised: "I also think that Cai is really smart and can understand what I mean."

Wang Anshi said: "As for Zhang Zhi's loyalty and integrity, without him, Qingzhou will undergo great changes. This person's character can be called a pillar of talent, but he is too upright in his work. Your Majesty can keep him by your side, and it will be easier to use him.

Damage."

The official said: "I asked him to be appointed by his uncle as a storyteller in Chongzheng Palace. It happens that my son is the same official. Isn't this a good thing?"
To be continued...