I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 281 Good temper has been exhausted! Su Jingming makes a fuss in the Privy Council

August 22nd, afternoon.

Yushitaiyuan.

Su Liang looked at the document approved by the officials regarding his application to be seconded to the Fourth Army's 500 elite soldiers and 500 heavy cavalry for training, and he couldn't laugh or cry.

I agree.

However, Su Liang was required to go to the Privy Council in person with the document to find Xia Song to use the seal.

The Privy Council is in charge of military aircraft, and troops and generals must go through the Privy Council.

Only with the seal of the Privy Council affixed can Su Liang go to Sanya to secondment soldiers.

Originally, the official could have accomplished this by sending his servants, or by Su Liang going to find Fu Bi, Zeng Gongliang, and Liang Shi.

But Zhao Zhen asked Su Liang to find Xia Song in person.

Not long ago.

Su Liang's "suspended death plan" caused Xia Song to become seriously ill.

Three days ago, Xia Song returned to the Privy Council and began to handle government affairs normally.

Zhao Zhen’s starting point is good.

For the sake of harmony and stability in the court, Su Liang was deliberately asked to apologize to Xia Song in person, so that the two of them would not be so tense.

But Su Liang understood that it was impossible to ease the conflict between the two.

Because they are not the same kind of people.

Su Liang looked down on Xia Song, and Xia Song also regarded Su Liang as a thorn in his side.

Xia Song always believed that if Su Liang hadn't interfered and isolated him with the courtiers, he would have been the prime minister long ago.

Xia Song is especially strong.

Until now, I still dream that I can become prime minister again at the age of sixty-six.

"That's all, lowering your head and apologizing won't save you a piece of flesh. He's mostly buried in the loess, why should I be on the same level with him?"

Su Liang thought for a while, picked up the document and rushed to the Privy Council.

Privy Council, also known as Xifu.

It is responsible for the military talisman, the selection and removal of military attachés, the military defense and border preparations, and the military advisors and garrison orders.

Under the Privy Council.

There are deputy envoys, direct bachelors, Du Chengzhi and other officials, about thirty people.

There are five rooms under the courtyard: soldiers, officials, households, rituals, and punishments, as well as the Department of Purposes, the Department of Editing, the Department of Soldiers and Horses, and the Information Storehouse.

There are nearly a thousand official staff on daily basis, which is roughly equivalent to the staffing of Zhongshu Province.

However, under the influence of Su Liang's article "On the Disconnection between the Privy Council and the Three Yamen", the current Privy Council is more deserted than in the past.

Su Liang strode into the Privy Council under the guidance of an official.

Some officials turned around and left after seeing Su Liang, and several others also left quickly after seeing Su Liang and saying hello.

Su Liang was not surprised.

Taijian has the responsibility of supervision and has the right to go to any yamen for interviews and discussions, and then directly report impeachment to the official or Zhongshu.

Officials would avoid it at first sight.

not to mention.

Su Liang's impeachment not long ago directly affected the vitality of the Privy Council. Even the Privy Councilor Xia Song was ill for a long time.

Naturally, the officials in the Privy Council did not welcome Su Liang very much.

After an official led Su Liang to the front hall, a goat-bearded man of medium build and about forty years old came out.

"Su Yushi, which gust of wind brought you here? Welcome to the Privy Council Supervision."

This person's name is Wang Songcai, who is currently the editor of the Privy Council.

He has been with Xia Song for three years, and what he is best at is talking to people and telling ghosts.

Su Liang smiled and said: "Editor Wang, I am not here to give advice, but to ask Prime Minister Xia to approve something."

After saying that, Su Liang took out the document.

This document has been approved by the official and stamped by the Privy Council. It is actually a process.

"So that's what happened! Su Yushi, you just need to send a small official to deliver it. Why don't you come in person!"

Su Liang smiled helplessly and said: "A few days ago, Mr. Xia and I had some friction. Today, I would like to apologize in person. Could you please spread the word to Editor Wang?"

Wang Songcai rolled his eyes and returned the document to Su Liang first, and then said: "Su Yushi, wait a moment, I will report it right away."

Su Liang nodded.

……

Inside Xia Song's house.

Wang Songcai informed Xia Song of Su Liang's purpose of coming here.

"Hmph! Apologize? I don't accept his apology!" Xia Song snorted coldly and said, "Let him dry out first!"

"My subordinate understands."

Wang Songcai handed over his hand and then withdrew.

……

Lean slightly.

Wang Songcai quickly walked up to Su Liang and said apologetically: "Su Yushi, I'm really sorry. Due to the backlog of official documents in the past few days, Xia Shuxiang is dealing with them. I really can't make time at the moment. Otherwise, Why don't you have a cup of tea in the tea room next door first, wait a minute?"

Hearing this, Su Liang understood immediately.

Xia Song wanted to show him off.

Xia Song would naturally not object to something that everyone agreed to, but he could give Su Liang some time to show off and regain his lost face.

This kind of official of the older generation likes to do this.

Put on someone else's shoes.

This proves that one's authority cannot be offended.

Su Liang smiled slightly and said, "No problem, I'm not in a hurry."

Next, Su Liang went to the tea room to drink tea.

One cup, two cups, three cups...

One pot, two pots, three pots...

After Su Liang went to the hut three times, it was almost time to leave the office.

At this time, Wang Song came to Su Liang again.

"Su Yushi, I'm really sorry. Prime Minister Xia was feeling unwell just now and returned home early. Why don't you hand over the documents to me, or come back tomorrow morning?"

If it were Su Liang in the past, he would definitely turn his face and leave after hearing this.

When I get back, I will write an impeachment memorial to impeach Xia Song for his lazy government.

But Su Liang was indeed wrong about the matter of fake death. After thinking about it, he said: "Then... then I'll come back tomorrow!"

Su Liang planned the battle between soldiers in early September.

Therefore, he is not in a hurry.

Immediately, Su Liang left.

After a while.

Xia Song walked out of the room, looked at Wang Songcai and said, "Let him dry for two more days. Then you take his documents to me and have them stamped. I don't accept his apology and don't want to see him."

"Two days? Mr. Xia, is there something wrong? The officials have approved it. Will Su Liang go to impeach you in anger?"

A sneer appeared on Xia Song's face.

"Do you think he sincerely came to apologize? The officials must have asked him to come. Why don't I make things difficult for him? If he wants to impeach me, let him go. Can the officials still remove me from my job?"

After saying that, Xia Song rolled up his sleeves and left.

"What Mr. Xia said is absolutely true! What Mr. Xia said is true!" Wang Songcai quickly agreed.

For nearly a year.

Wang Songcai only felt that Xia Song's temper was getting bigger and bigger, and he would get angry if he was slightly dissatisfied.

……

The next morning, it was just dawn.

Su Liang appeared in the Privy Council.

Wang Songcai still greeted him with a smile and said he would report to Prime Minister Xia Shu immediately.

About half an hour later.

Wang Songcai still used the reason that Prime Minister Xia Shu was busy and asked Su Liang to wait for a while.

Su Liang sat in the tea room and waited until noon.

At this moment, Su Liang had no patience and didn't even want to apologize.

If this was not the official arrangement, he would have left long ago.

Su Liang murmured: "If I wait until today to be released from office, if he still doesn't see me, then don't blame me for rectifying this unhealthy habit in officialdom!"

Half an hour later. Several officials passed by Su Liang holding stacks of documents, pretending to be very busy.

Wang Songcai, who was following behind, explained to Su Liang: "Su Yushi, you see, Prime Minister Xia Shu is indeed very busy. Please wait a moment!"

Su Liang smiled and said: "It's okay, it's okay."

In the afternoon, Su Liang opened an idle book and still sat in the tea room waiting quietly.

It wasn't until he was released from office that he saw Wang Songcai again.

"Ouch! Su Yushi, look, look, I was too busy. Prime Minister Xia had already finished his work just now. I thought you had gone back, so I didn't report it. It's my fault, my fault, Make time another day, Pan Lou, I’ll treat you to a meal and make amends!”

Wang Songcai smiled.

Not a single word of truth was spoken from beginning to end.

Su Liang said calmly: "Okay, I'll come back tomorrow morning!"

Su Liang had been waiting for a day and a half to get a Privy Council Seal.

This is already his limit.

He had already given enough face to Xia Song and to the officials.

Since Xia Song doesn't want to save face, Su Liang won't be polite.

When he comes back tomorrow, he will find something to do.

Su Liang's good temper has been exhausted.

Wang Songcai looked at Su Liang's leaving figure and showed a contemptuous smile.

"Isn't it very embarrassing? The official asked you to apologize to the Prime Minister, so you can only do it obediently. So what if I let you hang out for another day tomorrow!"

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Su Liang came to the Privy Council again.

But the difference this time was that there were four officials from the Yushitai standing behind him.

Wang Songcai was a little surprised and asked: "Su Yushi, what is this?"

Su Liang smiled and said: "Editor Wang, I know that Prime Minister Xia is still very busy today, so I am going to handle official business in the Privy Council. They will come to help me do some chores. I will handle my own business while waiting for Prime Minister Xia. You What do you think?"

Wang Song was stunned.

I didn't expect Su Liang to be so forbearing.

This is obviously to lower his posture to the lowest level and bow his head to Xia Shuxiang.

He immediately said with a smile: "Su Yushi, I'm really sorry. I will come to invite you as soon as Xia Shu is finished. There is an idle room over there for you to use as you wish."

Su Liang nodded.

……

After a while.

Wang Songcai informed Xia Song that Su Liang was handling official business in the Privy Council while waiting for the seal to be stamped.

"It's just pretentious, just for the sake of Bo Liang's reputation."

Xia Song stroked his beard and said: "If I see him, it will make the officials of the court look more sincere and open-minded. Let him hang out for a day tomorrow, then leave the documents and drive him away! If I When you see him, you just do as he wants!”

……

Soon, the news that Su Liang was handling official business in the Privy Council in order to admit his mistake to Xia Song reached Zhao Zhen's ears.

Inside the Chui Gong Hall.

Zhao Zhen showed a warm smile and said to Zhang Mao on the side: "Su Jingming, you have matured a lot! If Prime Minister Xia still doesn't accept the apology tomorrow, tell him for me that everything is in moderation. Su Liang will do it for him If you save enough face, if he doesn’t accept it, it will be his fault!”

"I obey," Zhang Mao said, cupping his hands.

And this moment.

The Taiwanese admonishers also learned that Su Liang went to the Privy Council to handle official business in order to apologize to Xia Song.

Xia Song is very likely not to come back if he doesn't accept the apology!

Tang Jie said with some disbelief: "Jingming, when did you become so good-tempered? After waiting for Xia Shuxiang for a day and a half in vain, you can still wait. This is not like the Su Jingming we know!"

Ouyang Xiu thought for a while.

"I don't think Jing Ming will admit his mistake so honestly. He is probably holding back his bad feelings. There will definitely be something good to watch next."

Hearing this, Lu Jie, Zhou Yuan, Zhao Bian and others on the side all nodded in approval.

What Ouyang Xiu said was the Su Jingming they were familiar with.

……

Privy Council, Department of Purposes.

Su Liang stood in a room stacked with many documents, looking back and forth.

The four officials he brought were carefully reading various documents.

At the door, two officials from the Chengzhi Department stood nervously.

The Chengzhi Division was directly under the jurisdiction of Privy Councilor Xia Song.

The Privy Council's regulations and dispatch texts are placed here. The rewards, favors, dispatches, and ultimatums of military officers on the outside, as well as some announcements, letters, and orders are all stored here.

As a censor, Su Liang also knew miscellaneous matters.

The authority has the right to randomly inspect all official documents of various yamen.

Less than an hour.

The officials he brought discovered seventeen errors in the documents of the Chengzhi Division.

Some have formatting errors, some have errors in the accounting details, some have unclear reasons for rewards and punishments, and some documents have incomplete graffiti...

The Privy Council often dealt with generals.

The documents submitted by the local military commanders were very rough and prone to errors. If the Privy Council officials did not correct them carefully, they would be full of errors.

These faults are not serious.

But if taken together, it is enough for Taiwan's remonstrators to impeach Xia Song once.

Moreover, you might even find surprising content in the text!

Xia Song arranged the score and wanted to show off Su Liang.

Then Su Liang fulfilled his duty of admonition and carefully monitored the Privy Council.

He wanted to see who was in a hurry first.

Su Liang randomly checked the documents in Chengzhiyuan and found some problems. Wang Songcai knew about it immediately.

He suddenly became nervous and quickly reported to Xia Song.

Xia Song didn't expect Su Liang to do this.

If a large number of errors are found, Xia Song will be the most embarrassed.

Xia Song thought for a while and said with some annoyance: "In the afternoon, you find an opportunity to get the document. After I stamp it, quickly drive away this disaster star!"

"I obey," Wang Songcai nodded.

……

Before noon, Wang Songcai hurriedly came to Su Liang.

Because Su Liang has arrived at the editing department under his jurisdiction.

If there is a big problem in the editing department, then Wang Songcai will be punished.

Wang Song smiled first when he saw someone.

He looked at Su Liang who was looking through the documents and said: "Su Yushi, it's already noon, let's get busy after dinner!"

"Just now, I reported this matter to Xia Shuxiang again. Xia Shuxiang is indeed very busy. He said that he has received your apology and that the matter has been closed for a long time. He will not pursue it any further. Please give the document to I, in a quarter of an hour at most, I can stamp the Privy Council Seal for you, what do you think?"

When Su Liang heard this, he was not in a hurry.

"No, I must apologize to Prime Minister Xia in person, otherwise I will feel so guilty that I won't be able to sleep at night!"

"I can wait. It's okay to wait for ten days and a half. Taking this opportunity, I will also help the Privy Council sort out the official articles. If there are any, I will correct them and if there are none, I will encourage them!"

now.

Only then did Wang Song realize how terrifying Su Liang was.

Once Su Liang sorted out the faults of various yamen under the Privy Council and submitted them to the ban, it would be too late.

Prime Minister Xia may not be punished, but his official position is definitely not guaranteed.

Wang Songcai was very aware of the problems in the Editorial Department and could not withstand careful investigation.

Many of them are holes from the past.

Although he did not commit the crime again, he did not mend the hole he had made.

He bowed and said: "How can I make you wait! You have important matters in the Yushitai and the Reform Department. They are important matters for the family and the country, and we cannot afford to delay them!"

Su Liang put down the book in his hand, stopped talking to Wang Songcai, and asked directly: "Can I see Prime Minister Xia Shu today?"

Wang Songcai hesitated.

"Xiaguan...Xiaguan...go and ask again." After saying that, Wang Songcai trotted away.

He knew very well that if Xia Shuxiang did not see Su Liang, the latter would definitely not leave, so he had to ask for instructions again.

(End of this chapter)