I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 269: In the Political Hall, Ouyang Xiu goes to war; in the Chuigong Hall, Zhao Zhenxicai protects Su Liang

In Bianjing City, rumors are flying everywhere.

If it was just a matter of disharmony in Su Liang's family or a lapse in words among members of the Jingming Society, the matter would not be too serious.

But suddenly he was involved in a murder case, and the matter suddenly became complicated and confusing.

Some people claim that Su Liang hired a murderer to kill Qi Sanlang; some say that Su Liang's political enemies set a trap for Su Liang; others say that Qi Sanlang was afraid of Su Liang's power and committed suicide in the river...

There are different opinions and no consensus.

Officials from Dali Temple and Kaifeng Mansion worked all night long to investigate the case without stopping for a moment.

Su Liang, Tang Wanmei, and Tang Ze were also summoned to Kaifeng Mansion for questioning.

……

at the same time.

Another large wave of officials began to impeach Su Liang, Kaifeng Mansion, Tai Jian, and even the Reform Department.

Some officials said that Su Liang had made disrespectful remarks that violated the laws of his ancestors.

Now, not only are there crimes of "disharmony in the family" and "privately organizing people to speak nonsense and confuse the public", but they are also involved in a murder case. His whole family must be imprisoned immediately to prevent him from running around and destroying evidence.

Some officials said that Bao Zheng was the officer who recommended Su Liang to come to Taiwan to admonish him, and he had a close personal relationship with Su Liang.

Kaifeng Mansion should avoid suspicion, but it is not appropriate to be involved in Su Liang's case.

Some officials said that when Taiwan's admonishers encountered Su Liang's incident, they avoided the important and took the easy.

He always dared not speak out because of "avoiding suspicion", which was against the duty of Tai Jian. In fact, he and Su Liang had formed a private party, and his public spirit had been lost. It was suggested that the chief officer of Tai Jian should be replaced and the Yushitai and Jian Yuan should be reorganized.

Some officials said that the Reform Department had exceeded the rules of the two governments and had become a harbor of filth.

In the past, there was Wang Anshi's evil statement that "there is no need to fear changes in nature, there is no law in ancestors, and there is no sympathy in people's words". Later, there was Su Liang's statement that "abolition of the national policy of advocating culture and restraining martial arts, and martial arts should give equal emphasis to culture and governance", which should be immediately opposed to the family law. Disband and reorganize the administration of officials.

……

Inside the Chui Gong Hall.

After reading these impeachment memorials, Zhao Zhen looked gloomy and extremely angry.

this moment.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to have returned to the feeling he had when the Qingli New Deal failed.

At that time, he knew that Fu Bi and Shi Jie had no intention of rebellion.

He knew that Fan Zhongyan could not form private parties and disrupt the government in the name of reform.

I know that Ouyang Xiu, Yu Jing, Wang Su, Cai Xiang and other admonishers are all direct ministers who can speak out, rather than a group of party members.

I know that the mistakes Zhang Kang and Teng Zongliang made should be punished lightly.

It is understandable that young talents such as Su Shunqin, Wang Yirou, and Zhou Yanrang complained because they were dissatisfied with the results of the imperial reform.

But Zhao Zhen's ears are soft.

Drive away the talented people, release them, demote them, or remove them from their posts.

Eventually the Qingli New Deal came to an abrupt end.

If Su Liang hadn't stood out in the dull court, Zhao Zhen might have given up on reform in this life.

What causes reforms to fail is often not the reforms themselves, but other trivial matters.

After the failure of the last Qingli New Deal, the Song Dynasty delayed for four years before launching another Song-wide reform.

How many four years can there be in life?

Zhao Zhen knew very well that Su Liang's incident was related to the success or failure of the Song Dynasty's reform.

He must show decisiveness.

If you still think about settling the matter, trying to make things right and make the court a harmonious place, then you are going down the same old path.

Reform is bound to fail.

"If there is no real evidence this time, I will never punish Su Jingming in any way!" Zhao Zhen murmured to himself.

Zhao Zhen knew better than anyone else the value of Su Liang to the current reform movement throughout the Song Dynasty.

Fan Fu is old, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang are young, and Su Liangnai is the backbone of the entire Reform Department.

If Su Liang is dismissed.

I'm afraid the entire Reform Department has lost all its energy and spirit.

It was Su Liang who had been taking risks, risking being scolded, humiliated, and even being infamy in future generations, carrying the Song Dynasty on his shoulders.

Without Su Liang, the reform would have failed.

Zhao Zhen slowed down and said to Zhang Maoze on the side: "These memorials are all being kept and not published. If any ministers come to remonstrate with him on this matter, just tell him directly and wait for the investigation results of Dali Temple and Kaifeng Mansion." !”

"I obey." Zhang Mao held his hands and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Zhang Maoze also followed the Qingli New Deal.

He was afraid that the officials would have no choice but to remove Su Liang or send him away because of the officials' impeachment of Su Liang.

By that time, the whole country will lose its enthusiasm for reform, and I am afraid that the reform will come to an abrupt end again.

……

Zhao Zhen kept the impeachment memorial from the officials and refused to see the officials who had admonished him about Su Liang's case.

As a result, the pressure was put on the Zhongshu Province.

Near noon.

Zhongshu Province, Political Affairs Hall.

Wen Yanbo, Zhang Fangping, Wu Yu, and Song Xiang have been disturbed by the ministers and officials of the Privy Council and are unable to handle official business.

As for Fan Zhongyan, because he was questioned too much, he stayed in the Reform Department.

The answers given by all the ministers are impartial.

The court did not ban Su Liang because Su Liang had not yet been found to be suspected of committing a crime.

The Kaifeng Prefecture was ordered to investigate the case thoroughly with Dali Temple because the investigation level of Dali Temple was difficult to compare with that of the Kaifeng Prefecture. If you wanted to quickly close the case, you had to rely on the Kaifeng Prefecture, and the officials also believed in Bao Zheng's character.

As for the collective silence of Taiwan's admonishers, it is because they are waiting for the results of the investigation.

……

Unfortunately, the ministers were not satisfied with the answers of the ministers in Zhongshu, and felt that they were all favoring Su Liang.

Due to the reform, Su Liang offended too many officials.

When Su Liang was in glory, they remained quiet, but once Su Liang was at a low point, they would attack without hesitation, intending to make Su Liang fall into the abyss and never get out.

After Wen Yanbo sent away a wave of officials, three senior officials came over.

These three people are all over fifty-five years old.

They are Wang You, a direct bachelor of Guange, Xu Liao and Ma Fengchao, who are waiting for Guange.

The three people have average abilities.

Originally, according to their qualifications, Wang You could be promoted to Guange Bachelor last year, and the two candidates could also be promoted to direct bachelors.

But since the introduction of the one-hundred-day official examination method, several government officials who are younger than them have passed the examination and have been promoted.

They didn't move at all.

The positions in the government offices are all good jobs, with little work but good pay.

To enter the pavilion, you need to take an exam, and then you will be promoted based on your performance. Positions are very limited.

If nothing unexpected happens.

It may be difficult for them to get promoted when they reach their official positions.

How could they be polite to Su Liang when Su Liang cut off their career?

These three people are good at writing articles.

Now, seizing the opportunity, each of them wrote two memorials a day to impeach Su Liang.

Wen Yanbo and Zhang Fangping met each other. When they saw the three of them, they all wanted to pee and run away.

These three people submitted six impeachment memorials a day and came to Zhongshu Province twice a day, which was very annoying.

As soon as Wang You, a direct scholar of the Guange, entered the door, he said angrily: "Xiang Wen, the officials favor Su Liang, and the whole court knows it. Now that Su Liang has committed such a serious crime, and the officials don't ban him, won't Zhongshu not Reminder?"

When he proposed reform measures, he did not dare to take a breath, but when he impeached Su Liang, he was eloquent and aggressive.

The other two people immediately echoed.

"Taijian is so inactive, can't Zhongshu take care of it? Just let them degenerate without saying a word, let them become Su Liang's minions?"

"My dear gentlemen, haven't you seen that Su Liang wants to be a powerful minister! Now Taijian is protecting him, and he has the support of the Cao family behind him. If he wants to rebel in the future, who can stop him!"

"The current Song Dynasty is not reforming the law, but completely disrupting the law. Su Liang is excluding dissidents, and those who are not his own party will be suppressed!"

……

The three of them gnashed their teeth and spoke of Su Liang's evil deeds.

If their claims were substantiated, Su Liang would have been beheaded at least ten times.

"Three of you, don't be anxious! Isn't this matter already under investigation? Dali Temple and Kaifeng Mansion will provide the results of the investigation. What's the use of making trouble here?" Zhang Fangping said, stroking his beard.

"With Bao Zheng here, the officials of Dali Temple dare not speak at all. Bao Zheng is Su Liang's close friend, how can he not favor him? Dear Sirs, your loyal words are hard to hear. I request you and I to meet you again to advise Su Liang. Ban the Kaifeng Mansion from participating in this case!"

Prime Minister Wen Yanbo frowned.

"Right and wrong are not determined by what you say. If Su Liang was wronged, wouldn't you be guilty of frame-up? Bachelor Ouyang was framed back then, and his reputation is still damaged to this day. You still want to watch? Can such a tragedy happen?"

"Xianggong Wen, there is no storm without fire. The scandal between Ouyang Xiu and his niece was dismissed as suspicion without finding any evidence. Haven't you heard what the people said, that Ouyang Xiu completely ruined the innocence of his niece and robbed her of her life?" How is a dowry any different from an animal?”

Since ancient times, literati have looked down upon each other.

These three people hang their books all day long, and they are more than ten years older than Ouyang Xiu. They do not recognize Ouyang Xiu's status as the emperor of the dynasty at all.

As they loudly said this.

Ouyang Xiu came to the political hall with several documents and happened to hear these words.

Immediately, Ouyang Xiu's temper rose. "What did you just say, do you dare to say it again in front of me?" Ouyang Xiu glared.

In the past few days, among those who sympathized with Su Liang the most and kept interceding for Su Liang, Ouyang Xiu ranked first.

Because he has had the experience of being wronged.

He felt the same way.

He believed in Su Liang's character and was sure that this was a trick by those who opposed the reform, and they wanted to use this method to destroy the reform throughout the Song Dynasty.

Wang You, the direct bachelor of the pavilion, was not to be outdone and puffed out his chest.

"If you don't want others to know, unless you don't do it yourself, is it a rumor that you, Ouyang Xiu, had an affair with a prostitute when you were young? Is it also a rumor that you wrote erotic lyrics and composed erotic songs? Don't you know what you look like in the hearts of the people?"

Ouyang Xiu snorted coldly.

"I, Ouyang Xiu, do things openly and honestly. When I was young, I went to Goulan Washe and wrote a few short poems, but I never thought of covering it up. What about you?"

"Which of you three has never taken a concubine? Who of you three dares to swear in front of the officials that you have never slept with prostitutes when you were young? Three clowns hanging from your schoolbags, what contribution have you made to the court? You are shouting here. With Compared to Su Jingming, you are just three ignorant women with long tongues!"

"Ouyang Xiu, don't be arrogant! During the Qingli New Deal, you clung to Fan Fu, and now you cling to Su Liang. You can only write a few small articles, what is there to deserve?"

"We are impeaching Su Liang for the sake of the country and the country of the Song Dynasty, and you are defending Su Liang for the sake of your official career. If you, a scholar with a bad record, can still stand in the court today, you can't rely on flattery. Who can Make friends with whomever you like!" Xu Liao, the waiter in the palace, said unceremoniously.

"Sister Ouyang, I suggest you go to the bookstalls in the streets and alleys if you have nothing to do. Your unethical deeds have already spread throughout the Song Dynasty. You and Su Liang are just the same person!" Another scholar said Ma Fengchao, who was waiting in the pavilion, also said sarcastically in a weird voice.

Literary men scolded, poking at people's sore spots and weaknesses.

At this moment, Ouyang Xiu could no longer bear it.

Just when Wang You, the direct bachelor of Guange, was about to speak, Ouyang Xiu punched Wang You in the chest.

After staggering a few steps, the latter sat down on the ground.

"You...you...how dare you do it?"

"You are an old stubborn person who spreads rumors. You are so stupid and shameless. Today, I can only wake you up!"

Xu Liao and Ma Fengchao, who were waiting at the pavilion on the side, saw this and rushed over to fight with Ouyang Xiu.

The four of them were wrestling together, pushing each other.

At this time, Zhang Fangping wanted to start a fight, but Wen Yanbo stopped him.

Zhang Fangping understood immediately.

The average age of these three veterans is nearly sixty, and they are probably no match for the forty-three-year-old Ouyang Xiu.

If they are beaten up, they will not be able to come to Zhongshu to cause trouble in the next few days.

Moreover, these three people really deserve to be beaten.

When literati fight, it's all about underhanded tactics.

Xu Liao and Ma Fengchao were waiting in the pavilion. One of them held Ouyang Xiu's waist, and the other held Ouyang Xiu's arm.

In order to get Wang You, the direct bachelor of Guange, to take revenge, he punched Ouyang Xiu back.

But Wang You was too clumsy. As soon as he raised his fist, Ouyang Xiu used his strength to lean back, and then kicked Wang You in the heart.

"what!"

Wang You fell to the ground after being kicked, panting and unable to stand up again.

Then, Ouyang Xiu first got rid of Xu Liao and punched Ma Fengchao on the chin.

Finally, he kicked Xu Liao in the butt.

The latter suddenly hit the table, holding his waist and could no longer stand up.

At this moment, Ouyang Xiu felt that he was the most brave in the world, and found that fighting was much more enjoyable than writing and scolding people.

Clear away all the gloomy moods of recent days.

Seeing that the three of them had been taught a lesson, Wen Yanbo quickly stopped Ouyang Xiu who was about to take action.

"Stop it, what do you think of the Political Hall?" Fu Bi said loudly.

Wang You rubbed his belly and said reluctantly: "Ouyang Xiu, you dare to hit me, I... I will go to the official to impeach you and let you know how much the price will be paid!"

"If you have the guts, go ahead and slander me in the Political Hall. Are you still justified?" Ouyang Xiu clenched his fists and said angrily.

Fu Bi said coldly: "Do you know what it is to fight each other in the political hall?"

Wang You was stunned, looked at Wen Yanbo, and said: "Wen Xiang, this... this is not a fight, this is Ouyang Xiu beating someone!"

Fighting and hitting each other are not the same concepts.

If you fight each other, both parties are guilty; but if you hit someone, only the one who hits him is guilty.

"Do you think you're blind? The three of you hit each other, but they didn't fight each other. You didn't stretch your fists? Did you move your legs?"

The three people suddenly looked embarrassed. They did take action, but they didn't take advantage.

At this time, Zhang Fangping stood up.

"Four of you, let's end this matter! If the officials are informed and it is handled in accordance with the court laws, you will all be severely punished. It is not worth it. After leaving the political hall, no one should mention the fight. We should also If you didn’t see Tsukuru, please go back!”

The three of them thought for a while, looked at each other, and then supported each other and left the political hall.

Ouyang Xiu was not afraid of being relegated because he was not stingy in his dealings.

But they still hope to have a stable career and receive generous career money!

If you are demoted one level, your remuneration after becoming an official will be greatly reduced.

After the three veterans of the pavilion left, Wen Yanbo looked at Ouyang Xiu.

"Uncle Yong, Jingming is already in crisis, so don't cause any more trouble! Go out less, talk less, and wait for the investigation results of Dali Temple and Kaifeng Mansion."

Ouyang Xiu curled his lips and strode out of the political hall.

The moment he left the house, he murmured again: "You don't understand the pain of being framed and framed. I'll beat anyone who talks nonsense. If Jing Mingruo leaves the court, I won't do it anymore!"

……

This day.

Some officials are busy impeaching Su Liang, some officials are busy investigating Su Liang, and some officials are thinking about how to protect Su Liang.

Fan Zhongyan maintained order in the Reform Department.

At the moment, the officials of the Reform Department only need to focus on the reform. Helping Su Liang is purely adding to the chaos.

Once you get involved, it becomes even more confusing.

Especially Wang Anshi's stubborn temper is particularly easy to poke huge holes.

Fan Zhongyan directly let him eat and live in the Reform Department, and did not even let him go back home.

……

After some persuasion from his father-in-law Tang Ze, Su Liang stayed at home quietly, waiting for the outcome of the case.

He believed that Dali Temple and Kaifeng Mansion would give him justice.

When Su Liang is proven innocent, he will definitely deal with those who framed him one by one.

at this time.

Su Liang suddenly heard a cry from outside the door.

Just when he was about to find out, Uncle Ji ran over quickly.

"Officer, what's wrong is that Qi Sanlang's family members are wearing sackcloth and mourning, scattering paper money, and are shouting at the door to ask you to return Qi Sanlang's life!"

Su Liang couldn't help but frown.

This kind of barbaric approach is extremely despicable, as if it wants to completely destroy Su Liang's reputation among the people.

"Powerful officials murder poor people, and the relatives of the deceased are desperate and cry at the door..."

This kind of plot, if any common people who don't know the inside story hear it, they will be sure that it is true.

Even if the court proves Su Liang's innocence, some people will still think that this is a case of official protection and it is difficult for the people to file their grievances.

Su Liang was about to go out, but was stopped by his father-in-law Tang Ze.

"At this point, they won't believe anything you say. If you go out, there will be another dispute. Just don't ask."

Su Liang thought for a while and nodded slightly.

And just then.

A group of Imperial City soldiers surrounded the mourners.

"Bring everyone to Kaifeng Mansion!" Zhang Mao said coldly.

Zhao Zhen would not allow the people to cause trouble and insult Su Liang without finding him guilty.

At first glance, the mourners were not Kaifeng government officials, but soldiers from the Imperial City Department.

Suddenly I didn't dare to speak.

They are not afraid of the Kaifeng government officials, but the soldiers of the Imperial City Division represent the authority of the official family.

Anyone who resists disrespect can easily be sentenced to two years in prison.

soon.

The door of Su's house became quiet, and no one dared to come and make trouble anymore.

Su Liang felt a little relieved.

In order to drag him down, the man behind the scenes did not hesitate to spread rumors and cause trouble, kill people, and arouse public resentment. His methods were rich and despicable.

When he is found out, Su Liang will not let him go lightly.

……

The next day, it was nearly noon.

Bao Zheng of Kaifeng Prefecture and Zhao Gai, the minister of Dali Temple, rushed to the imperial court and submitted the investigation case to Zhao Zhen.

After the officials learned about this, they couldn't help but become nervous.

(End of this chapter)