Song Gexing

Chapter 20
Everyone in the Chongzheng Hall was confused. Pang Ji, who had the best relationship with Zhao Fang, asked in shock: "What is Dalang doing?"

Zhao Fang did not answer him, but looked at Zhao Zhen and said seriously: "I heard that your majesty wanted to change the law. I was worried and had to explain how powerful it was, so I came to see your majesty."

Fan Zhongyan was startled and said anxiously: "Does the eldest prince want to object?"

"How dare you do that! Don't you know that the court is in trouble, the people are in trouble, and if things don't change, catastrophe is imminent?"

"Dalang, you..."

Han Qi and Pang Ji both spoke up. Han Qi scolded him angrily, but Pang Ji's eyes were full of anxiety. Lu Yijian and others looked at him with eyes full of scrutiny.

"Reforms in the past dynasties were not without success. Qin had Shang Jun's reform, Qi had Guan Zhong and strengthened the country, Zheng had Zichan, and Zhao had King Wuling. These were all successful precedents. They indeed enriched the country and strengthened the army."

Zhao Fang answered seriously and began to enumerate successful examples in history. Everyone who listened nodded frequently, but their eyes became more confused.

Why is this guy talking about this? Aren’t these examples only given by those who support the reform?

But he changed the subject and continued: "But why did Wang Mang's new system in the Han Dynasty and Yongzhen's reform in Tang Dynasty fail? Have you ever explored the reason?"

Everyone was startled and frowned. Wang Mang was indeed a reformer of the Han Dynasty. It was when he saw that the Han Dynasty was terminally ill and his reforms were resisted by the ministers that he started the mode of seizing the throne.

I thought that no one would object to the reform after becoming emperor, but I didn't expect that I would be boycotted just like that after becoming emperor. In the end, I would die and my family would be exterminated, and even my skull would not be allowed to be buried.

Although the Yongzhen Revolution in the Tang Dynasty is not famous, the famous Eight Sima Incident was caused by this incident. Liu Zongyuan was demoted to Liuzhou and Liu Yuxi was demoted to Langzhou.

Han Yu even wrote an article "Yongzhen Xing" to mock the changes in Yongzhen.

"The eldest prince feels that the timing of the reform is not right, right?"

Zhang Dexiang, who had never commented on this matter, suddenly spoke.

This old man had a high prestige. Historically, he did not oppose or approve of the Qingli New Deal. Lu Yijian was already seriously ill when the reform began, so he did not participate.

But now that both of them were here, Zhang Dexiang opened his mouth. Zhao Fang looked at him in surprise, remembering that this old man was not against the reform, but that he didn't like what Fan Zhongyan and others were doing.

After realizing that this person might be his helper, he immediately increased his confidence and said: "The younger generation is not against the reform, but against the reform for the sake of the reform. As for the timing, we have to investigate before we have the right to speak."

"Oh! How do you say it?"

It was Lu Yijian who spoke now. He was actually opposed to it, but if Renzong wanted to change, he could only support it, because he was the emperor who he supported, and he could not oppose him.

Zhao Fang looked around at everyone. At this time, Fan Zhongyan and others were looking at him seriously. Even Han Qi was attentive. It seemed that he felt that what he said was meaningful.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Fang continued to explain: "Anyone who changes the law will definitely touch the vested interest groups. If you think you have the ability to forcibly suppress them, you will eventually be backlashed. Therefore, you cannot be impatient. You must make them feel that the threat is not great. Wen Shui You have to boil the frog to succeed.”

"Vested interests?"

This is a new term, but everyone here is an elite, and they will understand what it means in a flash.

Zhao Zhen also became serious this time. What his son said made sense, so he hurriedly asked, "Then what should I do?"

Zhao Fang smiled slightly, stretched out a finger and said: "First survey the public opinion. The people most want the court to change or something. Where do we start? Kidnapping public opinion and forcing vested interest groups to make concessions, but we cannot make them feel pain all at once. A dull knife cuts best.”

"How to kidnap public opinion?" Han Qi followed up and asked, Zhao Fang turned to look at him and replied, "run a newspaper and grasp the direction of public opinion."

"newspaper???"

Another new term, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, Zhao Fang did not hide it at this time, explaining what a newspaper is, how to grasp public opinion and other things.

"This is the official version of Di's newspaper becoming popular among the people. The eldest prince is so wise!"

Zhang Dexiang, Lu Yijian and others all praised Zhao Fang. Even Fan Zhongyan praised Zhao Fang for his wisdom. Han Qi's eyes changed when he looked at him, with a hint of relief in his appreciation.

"I congratulate my emperor! My successor in the Song Dynasty is so smart, so why worry about the world being unrest and the world being unstable."

Lu Yijian was the best at flattering him, but this time Pang Ji got the better of him. Depressed, he glared at Pang Ji and said a few perfunctory words in agreement.

After Zhao Fang quietly rolled his eyes, he hurriedly shouted: "Gentlemen, please don't say this, my brother is more like my father, he will be a kind person, I am a bad person!"

He didn't want to be crowned a prince at this time. According to history, his father still had more than 20 years to live. Who wouldn't be bothered by being a prince for more than 20 years?

Unexpectedly, his words did not attract everyone's praise, but instead attracted Zhao Zhen's dissatisfaction, "Humph" and spat: "Second brother is only four years old, what can you tell, as an elder brother, he doesn't want to shield his younger brother from the wind and rain, but instead Push him out, believe it or not, I will let your queen mother beat you up."

"Ah, no, Dad!"

Zhao Fang hurriedly begged for mercy, joking, although Empress Cao doted on him, she was very strict with herself, spanking her palms and butt.

Lu Yijian looked at it and said jokingly: "Why don't the officials beat you up yourself? I think Dalang is so good at jumping, so he should be beaten up."

"This old man is dead."

Zhao Fang rolled his eyes and cursed, and heard Zhao Zhen's laughter in his ears: "I can't do it, so I'll let the queen educate him."

Everyone smiled. This emperor indeed had this temperament. It was exactly like this. Regardless of whether he was loyal or traitorous, basically all the ministers in the Renzong Dynasty loved him.

"Let's get back to the original topic, who is responsible for the newspaper? And what does the eldest prince think is the most urgent task right now?"

Fan Zhongyan pulled back the topic, asked about this important matter first, and then asked Zhao Fang a question. It could be seen that he meant to test his teaching.

Immediately everyone started to discuss it heatedly. Now they all understand the importance of newspapers. Who should give it to them is naturally very important.

Lu Yijian didn't care. He was the privy envoy and was in charge of military affairs.

But Jia Changchao is now involved in political affairs, and he is also in charge of the Ministry of Etiquette. How can he let this good thing happen to others.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, Han Qi immediately objected: "How can I dare to act as the mouthpiece of the country? It should be left to the emperor. I suggest that the officials let the eldest prince be responsible for this matter."

Zhao Fang was startled, looked at him and wondered, didn't this guy always think that I was a little brat, unworthy of taking on big responsibilities? What's going on now?
Zhao Zhen didn't care what he thought. He looked at his son expectantly when he heard this and said, "How do you feel, big brother? Do you dare to take what Privy Han said?"

"Why don't you dare!"

Zhao Fang straightened his body loudly, his childish voice resounded throughout the hall, and his aura that stood out even though tens of thousands of people were there, made people's eyes brighten.

(End of this chapter)