I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 239 Saving Wang Anshi, Su Liang’s trick

"There is no fear of changes in the sky, no law of the ancestors, and no sympathy for people's words!"

These words were like a huge wave rising into the sky.

It quickly hit the streets, alleys, tea shops and taverns of Bianjing City, and the ears of countless people.

In the eyes of today's people, this statement is simply treason.

The Analects of Confucius says: A gentleman has three fears: fear of destiny, fear of great people, and fear of the words of saints.

And these words are clearly anti-sage words. If you look closely, they are even more deviant.

If you are not afraid of changes in the sky, you are provoking God.

Since the Qin Dynasty, the power of kings has been granted by gods, and emperors are all sons of heaven. Such provocations are more serious than insulting the emperor.

The ancestors are not in compliance with the law, and are even suspected of being disrespectful, and are disrespectful to Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong.

Zhao Zhen often read his ancestors' articles in Tianzhang Pavilion and regarded them as "stories" about governing the country. However, these words ruined the law.

As for the insufficiency of people's words, they ignore the people's will and public opinion, and tend to deceive the saints.

Referring to the autumn of the fourth year of Qingli, Wang Yirou took advantage of his drunkenness and wrote "I was lying drunk in the North Pole and sent the emperor to help me, and Zhou Gong Confucius drove me into a slave."

Wang Anshi's words have greater influence, and he may even be deprived of his citizenship.

……

Wang Yaochen, the third envoy, wanted Wang Anshi to go to the prison immediately to admit his mistake.

However, Wang Anshi said that although he said this out of anger at the time, he did not regret it.

Su Liang didn't think this was wrong either.

In desperation, Wang Yaochen had no choice but to take the two men back to the Reform Department.

Within the Reform Department.

Fan Zhongyan and Liang Shi were shocked when they heard this.

Sima Guang's expression remained as before.

He knew Wang Anshi best, and no matter what outrageous words the latter said, he would not be surprised.

The second year of Qingli.

Wang Anshi took part in the joint examination and his score was originally the first.

However, because there was a sentence in the examination poem "A child has its own friends", Zhao Zhen ranked him fourth and missed out on being the number one scholar.

He has always been an unconventional person.

"Jiefu, you are too arrogant. How can you say such things in public? Come with me and meet the officials quickly!" Fan Zhongyan said.

Wang Anshi shook his head.

"Mr. Fan, I did speak out of anger at that time, but this was what I was thinking. It was just a lightning strike on a tree. It actually caused merchants to go on strike and workers to go on strike, all demanding the abolition of the market trade law. Such unhealthy trends, It must not go up!”

"Xunzi said: Use it to control the destiny of heaven. Most of the celestial phenomena are natural principles and are by no means warnings from heaven. And the laws of the ancestors are both right and wrong. The saints are not perfect, let alone the words of the ancestors. As for human words, they are often wrong. It was three people who became a tiger and spread lies. If we had listened to what others said, the Song Dynasty's reform would not have reached today."

"In my opinion, the so-called changes of heaven, the so-called laws of the ancestors, and the so-called opinions of the people of the world are the biggest obstacles to the current reform. I am willing to sacrifice my career in this life to warn the people of the world what is truth and what is true, even if no one in the world I agree with my thoughts, but a hundred years later, I believe someone will understand that what I said is true!"

"I will submit a memorial to the officials to express my thoughts. This matter has nothing to do with the Reform Department. Although there are tens of thousands of people, I am leaving. Even if I, Wang Anshi, are deprived of my status as a citizen, I will never admit my mistake!"

……

Hearing this, Fan Zhongyan couldn't help but look helpless. It was harder to shake Wang Anshi's idea than to shake Mount Tai.

He turned to look at Su Liang.

The only person in the current court who might be able to persuade Wang Anshi is Su Liang.

Su Liang touched his nose and said, "Mr. Fan, I'm so sorry. I think what Jiefu said is very reasonable."

Fan Zhongyan, who has always been good-tempered, was so angry that his beard stood up.

He thought for a while and said: "Jiefu, put the overall situation first and apologize to the officials, and then talk about other things."

Wang Anshi shook his head.

"Fan Gong, I think that insisting on this matter is changing the law, and it is still changing a very important law!"

These words made Fan Zhongyan speechless.

The meeting hall suddenly became quiet.

At this time.

Sima Guang said: "Fan Gong, once Jiefu decides something, even ten cows can't bring him back. He values ​​principles more important than life. What we have to consider now is how to save Jiefu under such circumstances." just."

"How to save it? It is estimated that the impeachment memorials on the official court cases have piled up into a hill. The civil scholars will definitely protest when they hear this, let alone those who have always opposed the reform!" Liang Shi Frowning.

Fan Zhongyan murmured: "I estimate that the officials must have known about this matter by now, and they are just waiting for Jiefu to explain. Jiefu, from your current point of view, you are just going to make the officials angry!" "I, Wang Anshi, I am not afraid of popular customs, not afraid of destiny, not afraid of being demoted or removed from office. I am responsible for all my work, so I will write a memorial!"

After that, Wang Anshi strode away.

Fan Zhongyan and Wang Yaochen were so angry that they were helpless.

At this time.

Su Liangdao: "I think it's not a bad thing that Jiefu refuses to admit his mistakes. The more he insists, the louder the discussion in the world becomes, and the more people will think about it. There should be no one answer to anything in the world. Jiefu said It’s worth sacrificing your career for the truth!”

"What's it worth? Jing Ming, there's something wrong with your thinking. You must never speak openly or unblocked in the future. The consequences of this are too bad!" Wang Yaochen said with eyes wide open.

Without Wang Anshi, the Reform Department would be like losing an arm; without Su Liang, it would be completely paralyzed.

Su Liang paused.

"At the moment, Jiefu is already writing a memorial in order to reduce his position to serve the people. His memorial to the officials should not be good. However, we still have to save him and cannot let him be released or removed from office."

Hearing this, Fan Zhongyan's eyes lit up.

"How to save?"

Su Liang continued: "Make this matter a big deal!"

"This...isn't this big enough?" Wang Yaochen said angrily.

Su Liang shook his head.

"Everyone, please come here." Su Liang looked confident, giving everyone hope again.

……

It's almost dusk, inside the Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen was so angry that he was pacing back and forth. He was worrying about the affairs of the Municipal Yiwu Yamen. He didn't expect Wang Anshi to suddenly say such a rebellious word.

The memorials on the imperial court have piled up like a mountain.

At this time, a Xiaohuangmen came to report, and Su Liang, who was the censor and also knew the miscellaneous affairs, asked to see him.

"Let him in!" Zhao Zhen said angrily.

Soon, Su Liang came over with a smile on his face.

Zhao Zhen's face was ashen and he threw Wang Anshi's memorial in front of Su Liang.

"Five of you can't stop him alone? This Wang Anshi is a deviant, refuses to admit his mistakes, and has submitted this memorial to both governments. What does he want to do? Chastise the world or seek death?"

"If he admits his mistake, I can give him a light punishment. But now, how should I deal with it?"

……

Su Liang silently picked up Wang Anshi's memorial, and after Zhao Zhen finished venting, he slowly said: "Guan, what do you think of this, is it right or wrong?

Zhao Zhen's eyes widened and he said: "It goes without saying, Da Miao! These are not words from a scholar-bureaucrat!"

Su Liang took two steps forward and raised his hands solemnly.

"Officials, these words are indeed a bit deviant and contrary to the destiny of heaven. However, I believe that if these words were said at other times, it would be a serious crime; if they were said during the reform period and refused to admit their mistakes, they should only be punished lightly, not severely!"

At the moment, it is naturally impossible for Su Liang to overturn the theory of destiny.

Taizu Taizong worshiped heaven every year, and Emperor Zhenzong consecrated Mount Tai to Zen. In fact, they all used "the destiny of destiny" to prove the correctness of the Zhao and Song dynasties.

Su Liang's talk of science and breaking superstition at this time would not work at all.

Zhao Zhen frowned and said with a gloomy expression: "Show me your reasons, otherwise I will punish you severely!"

Su Liang calmed down and continued: "Both the officials and the reform department have been constrained by the laws of the ancestors, the theory of natural change, and folk rumors. Sometimes they even do things that are against their will. Can the officials approve it?"

Zhao Zhen nodded.

Before he took office, the laws of his ancestors suppressed him without any freedom. As for the changes in nature and folk rumors, he also forced him to do many things he did not want to do.

"Jiefu's words are indeed wrong, but he insisted on his own opinion at the expense of his career, all for the sake of reform. If Jiefu admits his mistake, the market reform law will definitely be terminated, and the subsequent reform will inevitably suffer more Jiefu simply chose to sacrifice himself for the sake of the Song Dynasty's reform..."

Su Liang firmly bound Wang Anshi's words to the reform of the entire Song Dynasty, which directly made Zhao Zhen one of his own.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but think deeply.

Wang Anshi understood the importance of reform better than anyone else.

After leaning a little, Zhao Zhen said again: "Jingming, what you said does have some truth, but Wang Anshi went against the words of the saints, destroyed the established law, violated the way of heaven, and disobeyed the laws of the ancestors. Here are the charges one by one. How can you give me a light punishment?" he?"

Hearing this, Su Liang knew that the plan was half successful, and he felt very happy.

"Guan Jia, I have already thought of a countermeasure, but I need you to be a little more selfish and partial."

"Speak quickly!" Zhao Zhen said eagerly.

(End of this chapter)