I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 20: A little trick for the court: pretending to be miserable and giving up the choice (begging for a monthly pass)

late at night.

Su Liang's home.

In the study room, candlelight is bright.

Tang Wanmei, who was wearing a red tulle skirt, walked up to Su Liang with a plate of chestnut cakes and said, "Are you really not going to sleep tonight?"

"Yeah, I won't sleep anymore."

Su Liang pulled Tang Wanmei into his arms, kissed her fair forehead, and said, "Go and have a rest!"

Tang Wanmei curled her lips and hooked Su Liang's chin.

"Then I'll make fish soup for you tomorrow morning, okay?"

While talking, Tang Wanmei fed a piece of chestnut cake into Su Liang's mouth.

"Okay!" Su Liang smiled slightly, pinched Tang Wanmei's fair and translucent face, and then pointed to his own face.

Tang Wanmei smiled sweetly, kissed Su Liang on the cheek, and then left the study.

Tonight, Su Liang was going to sit in the study and stare until dawn.

The first little trick Bao Zheng taught him was called: pretending to be miserable.

Sincerity is important, but routines are also necessary.

Zhao Zhen is kind-hearted.

If Su Liangming went to see you in the morning with dark circles under his eyes and a haggard face, all he had to do was take out the tabloid and stand there.

Zhao Zhen could sense Su Liang's grievance.

Immediately, Su Liang began to think about what he should say tomorrow so that Zhao Zhen could completely believe that he had no intention of forming a private party.

The next day, the fourth watch.

Su Liang looked at the bronze mirror and couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

He looked depressed, with obvious dark circles under his eyes, and looked miserable.

He washed his face, drank a bowl of warm fish soup, and ran to the palace.

There will be no court meeting today.

But at dawn, Zhao Zhen was basically sitting in Chui Gong Hall reviewing memorials.

Half an hour later, the sky was slightly bright.

Su Liang had been waiting outside Chui Gong Hall for a long time.

After half a cup of tea.

Su Liang was called in.

Zhao Zhen raised his head and looked at Su Liang, and couldn't help but be stunned.

"Su Liang, I see that you don't look well, but are you sick?" Zhao Zhen asked with concern.

Su Liang raised the tabloid in his hand and said: "I'm not sick, I just saw a piece of folk tabloid yesterday. The content in it is almost going to kill me. I don't want to sleep, I want to have a deep chat with the officials." .”

The chamberlain on the side immediately presented the tabloid to Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen took the tabloid and read it carefully.

Leaning slightly, Zhao Zhen frowned slightly and said to the chamberlain on the side: "Give me a seat!"

If this tabloid is presented to him by another minister.

He will definitely be furious.

Because the above accusations against Su Liang for forming a clique were very specific and detailed, not to mention that Ouyang Xiu, Shi Jie and others also praised Su Liang a few days ago.

But Su Liang presented it in person, with a haggard face.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but feel that there might be something behind this matter.

Immediately, Su Liang sat down.

"Officials, what the tabloids say, I don't want to make too many excuses, and excuses are useless. Today, I just want to talk about my views on the new policies of the past two years."

"First of all, I have full respect for the reformers such as Fan Xianggong and Fu Xianggong. Among the good men of the Song Dynasty, who doesn't want the Song Dynasty to be strong, who doesn't want Xixia to become a minister, and who doesn't want to regain the sixteen states of Yanyun. This is why many people initially supported it. The reasons for reform. But the actual situation is that we think things too simply. The "Ten Things to Answer the Imperial Edict" is indeed a good policy, but it does not fully consider the actual situation. Facts have proved that this reform policy is it is wrong!"

Su Liang finished speaking.

Zhang Mao, the chamberlain standing nearby, couldn't help but trembled violently.Zhao Zhen's expression also became serious.

Since the implementation of the New Deal program "Ten Matters in Replying to the Imperial Edict" in September last year, the most common opponents have been to impeach Fan Zhongyan and others for forming secret parties, being suspected of rebellion, and using the New Deal to exclude dissidents.

But no one dares to say that the New Deal has failed.

Because the New Deal was approved by Zhao Zhen.

Before he declared the failure of the New Deal, who would dare to say such words against the imperial court's general program.

But not only did Su Liang say it, he also had sufficient reasons.

"I benefited from the right of Taiwan's admonishers to browse the information of various yamen, and reviewed the implementation of the "Ten Things to Answer the Imperial Edict" in detail. I found that the implementation of this policy was too hasty, too violent, and excessive, and there were many problems. The problem is that failure is inevitable. Next, I will use specific examples from several aspects to discuss why the New Deal is destined to fail."

"First, it is not advisable to use strong medicines for serious illnesses. The most taboo thing about reform is to rush for success and be forced to achieve it overnight. However, the New Deal wants to change a century-old situation in one or two years..."

"Secondly, there is serious internal friction and endless debates. The reformers are too noble and the conservatives are too profit-oriented...

Third, officials cannot be united in their efforts, making it difficult for them to achieve effective results.Since the reform of officialdom, the imperial court has not considered the cognitive status of local officials..."

……

Su Liang almost said all the shortcomings of the New Deal that he saw with some examples in one breath.

"I believe that everything Fan Xianggong, Fu Xianggong and others did was for the imperial court. Prime Minister Lu and Zhang Xiang also opposed the reform for the imperial court, but they had different cognitions and different stances. I believe that our dynasty still needs reforms. , but it must be implemented slowly, and the current New Deal has been proven to be a failure."

After Zhao Zhen heard this, he couldn't help but let out a long breath.

"Good sentence: Our government still needs reform, but we must do it slowly!"

He agreed very much with Su Liang's statement.

In Zhao Zhen's eyes, Fan Zhongyan, Fu Bi and others just did things badly with good intentions.

In addition, the reformists are indeed too popular and are suspected of forming a party.

Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the power of the prime minister has been divided into three yamen: Zhongshu, Sansi, and Privy Council. Government, finance, and military affairs are completely separated.

At the same time, the status of Taiwanese admonishers responsible for supervision continues to improve.

It is to curb the power of the prime minister.

But once there is a tendency to form a party, and everyone in the court is talking about one family, it will be a great threat to the monarchy.

This is what Zhao Zhen is afraid of.

At this time.

Su Liang stood up.

"In the official family, everything I do comes from my heart. As for forming a party, I really want to argue without saying anything. If the official family has any doubts, I request to leave the capital and be released!"

This is the second trick Bao Zheng taught Su Liang: drop the pick.

The key to this technique is to show your abilities before giving up your options.

Hear this.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but laugh.

He never doubted Su Liang's integrity and sincerity.

It's just that many young officials were enthusiastic, and when they heard Fan Zhongyan and others proposed to enrich the Song Dynasty and strengthen the army, they became enthusiastic and supported it frantically.

He regarded any opponent as a traitor and had no idea of ​​the damage the New Deal would do to the court.

Only then did he have some doubts about Su Liang.

And now.

Su Liang explained the various shortcomings of the New Deal in a clear and well-founded way.

Zhao Zhen naturally no longer believed that Su Liang was a brainless braggadocio of the New Deal faction.

The content in this tabloid is naturally that the conservatives are worried about the comeback of the reformists, so they deliberately suppress Su Liang.

Regarding matters in the court, Zhao Zhen felt like a bright mirror in his heart.

How could this Taiwanese admonisher who dared to speak out against others be released?

He directly tore the tabloid into two, then looked at Su Liang and said: "I naturally don't believe this kind of folk tabloid that talks nonsense for profit."

Su Liang couldn't help but let out a long breath. He finally escaped the suspicion of forming a private party again.

(End of this chapter)