I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 337: Zoom in! For the posthumous title, Xia Song’s last struggle during his lifetime

August 22nd.

Just when Su Liang thought Xia Song was exhausted.

The latter actually dictated a long article of nearly 3,000 words and ordered his close associates to write it down.

Its title is: "Book of Self-Crime".

This article was not only submitted to Zhongshu, but also had some private booksellers print copies and distribute them to the streets of Bianjing.

Soon, this article spread to the Yushitai.

After Su Liang got this article, he couldn't help but sigh: "When people are about to die, they also speak well. It's surprising that Xia Shuxiang knew that his time had come, but he actually thought of repenting. However, he really should Repent!”

The Qingli New Deal that year and the Song Dynasty Reform in recent years.

If Xia Song hadn't hindered it for personal gain, it would have definitely developed better.

Many people like to have fun and have no ability to distinguish right from wrong.

Say it.

For a while.

Su Liang picked up Xia Song's "Book of Confession" and read it.

Xia Song was his enlightenment teacher.

I have compiled national history, governed local areas, guarded borders...

Xia Song claimed that the main fault lay with him, not Han Qi.

And he also has the merit of promoting talents.

Many people called him a treacherous minister.

After Su Liang read Xia Song's "Book of Confession", he couldn't help but cursed: "This old fox will not forget to toss and torment even before he dies!"

August 25th.

He knew that the curse of "Xia Song never stood up" could not be washed away, so he generously admitted his responsibility and took Han Qi's fault on himself.

……

There are only two items involving "self-guilt".

"When Song was young, he was very studious. He wrote "Ode to the Fanggong Renren" when he was twelve years old, and wrote the poem "The Ferry" when he was seventeen years old. He was well-known."

That is--

After reading this "Book of Confession", some people felt that Xia Song had been wronged, and some discovered that Xia Song worked so hard for the country and the people and made so many achievements.

This is not a confession.

Su Liang looked at it and suddenly felt something was wrong.

The two have been together for more than forty years, and his feelings for Xia Song are very special.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help crying after reading this "Book of Self-Crime".

……

There is culture and martial arts.

This "Book of Self-Crime" quickly spread among the people.

Banned.

In addition, there are many officials in the Privy Council who protect each other and seek personal gain, and Xia Song also has an unshirkable responsibility.

At that time, he should have defended according to the danger instead of taking risks.

Second, Xia Song slandered Fu Bi and Shi Jie for rebellion.

Xia Song counted his achievements in detail since he became an official.

First, it explains the Battle of Haoshuichuan in the Song-Xia war.

He shamelessly said that brothers Fan Zhongyan, Pang Ji, Han Qi, Song Xiang and Song Qi were all promoted by him.

"In the fourth year of Jingde, he took the examination for the system of science and technology, and passed the exam for Xianliangzhengzheng. He was a general judge of Taizhou. He worked conscientiously and never slackened off."

Xia Song's explanation was that he had absolutely no selfish motives and everything he did was for the sake of the court. It was just someone with good intentions who kept slandering and seriously hurting him and ruining his reputation. This made him feel very aggrieved.

If you condense this article into one sentence.

Xia Song's reputation among the people has actually improved a lot.

It was precisely because of this incident that Xia Song's reputation among the people in the court declined.

"I, Xia Song, have been both civilized and martial in my life, with only a few flaws in my white jade."

Su Liang felt that Xia Song should have spent money, otherwise there would not have been so many compliments from the public.

"In the seventh year of Dazhong Xiangfu, I entered Zishan Hall and became the emperor's teacher for the first time. I was very frightened and spared no effort to teach the officials."

It's simply a book of boasts.

"After many years of official career, I have known Dengzhou, Xiangzhou, Shouzhou, Anzhou, Hongzhou, Qingzhou and other places, and served as envoys to appease and recruit people."

Xia Song returned to the Privy Council despite being ill, saying that he needed to wrap up some official business.

Because of his frail health, he moved his bed directly to the Privy Council.

This move attracted high praise from some people for unknown reasons.

Of course, Su Liang, Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie and others had already seen Xia Song's purpose.

……

Afternoon, Yushitai.

Tang Jie, Ouyang Xiu, and Su Liang gathered together.

Ouyang Xiu curled his lips and said: "Shameless! It's really shameless! This is not a confession, it's clearly confusing right and wrong. If he hadn't forged evidence, how could Shi Shoudao have died in depression!"

Ouyang Xiu hates evil as much as he hates it.

He will never forgive Xia Song for Shi Jie's death.

Tang Jie said: "He is just trying to win a good posthumous title."

Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu nodded in approval at the same time.

Xia Song first wrote a "statement of self-incrimination" and then went to the Privy Council to handle official business despite being ill. This had only one purpose.

I want to get a good posthumous title after death.

To a scholar-official.

The greatest honor in life is not to be granted the title of Marquis or Prime Minister, but to receive the posthumous title of "Wen Zheng" after death.

The posthumous title refers to the traces of his career.

It is a summary and evaluation of the life of a scholar-bureaucrat. There are three kinds of posthumous titles: bad, fair, and good.

After the death of officials of third rank and above and princes and nobles, the official family will give them posthumous titles.

The two words "Wenzheng" are the most beautiful part of the posthumous title and cannot be added to it.

The Song Dynasty was founded to this day.

The only person who was awarded "Wenzheng" was the famous Prime Minister Wang Zeng who was ranked third in the Three Yuan Dynasty and used his strategy and wisdom to conquer the power minister Ding Wei.

Ouyang Xiu said: "Although Xia Song is talented, he is treacherous and has evil intentions. He can only get a posthumous title at most. If he gets a good posthumous title, I will file a petition to object!"

"Me too." Tang Jie said directly. Su Liang also nodded.

If Xia Song is given a good posthumous title, it will be unfair to other officials who have made great achievements and have good conduct.

……

At night, in the Privy Council.

Xia Anqi, Xia Song's son, handed a document to Xia Song.

This is the parallel shape of Xia Song's life.

According to the etiquette system, after Xia Song's death, his relatives must first write down his life story and then send it to Taichang Liyuan. The posthumous title will be determined by Taichang Liyuan first. After approval by Zhongshu, he can finally be named the emperor. Named posthumous title.

In order to get a good posthumous title, Xia Song chose to let his son write it in advance, and he reviewed it word for word.

"Cough...cough..."

After Xia Song read it, he coughed for a moment, then pointed at the document and said: "The writing here is too bad! Being a father is not about being a prime minister, but being a prime minister in the Song Dynasty. There is nothing more talented than being a father. Reader. Remember, it’s an exaggeration!”

"The commoner Bi Shengdu made an exception for the third-rank official system, which caused the imperial court to be suspended for a day. Doesn't his father...ahem...ahem...not deserve the posthumous title of 'Wenzheng'?"

"Father, I understand, change it now, change it now!" Xia Anqi said with some fear.

"Cough...cough..."

After Xia Song rested for a while, he said: "Son, if the posthumous title given to my father by the court is not Wenzheng, you must go to 'discuss it in vain', cry more, make more noise, and talk more about your father's political achievements. Do you understand?"

"Yes, father."

In the process of discussing the posthumous title, it is first confirmed by the ceremonial officials, then by the prime minister, and finally by the officials.

When officials have objections and raise objections, it is called "refuting"; while relatives have objections and raise objections, which is called "argument in vain."

In Xia Song's heart, his achievements surpassed Wang Zeng's.

And he also tested the officials, who were willing to give him the posthumous title of "Wen Zheng".

What he has to be wary of is just those Taiwanese admonishers.

……

On the second day of September, at night, the autumn rain fell.

In the Privy Council.

Xia Song's face turned pale and he leaned on a recliner.

He is holding a langhao pen and writing the last memorial in his life.

aside.

Except for his wife and children, they are all his confidants.

At this moment, no one dared to persuade Xia Song to return home.

Xia Song had told these people that he would die in the official office of the Privy Council, in the process of writing a memorial for the imperial court.

He also fought hard for the name of Bo Liangchen.

After a while.

Xia Song put down his pen and said to the people around him: "Cough cough... cough cough... Immediately after my death, I will send this memorial to the officials."

His son Xia Anqi was about to take over this memorial.

Xia Song did not let go, looking straight at Xu Shu.

After pausing for a few breaths.

"Pfft!"

A stream of blood spurted out and splashed on the memorial.

then.

Xia Song looked at the blood-stained memorial with a smile on his face.

His mind twisted and he closed his eyes.

The imperial doctor on the side checked Xia Song's breathing, shook his head helplessly and said, "Xia Shuxiang is dead!"

This was the way Xia Song had arranged for himself to die.

He died on the desk of the Privy Council Office and presented his last memorial with blood.

This way to die.

He was the first in the Song Dynasty.

Because his reputation was so bad in his life, he desperately wanted to be known as "Wen Zheng".

This is his last obsession and last plan.

"Father! Father!"

"Xia Gong! Prime Minister!"

……

For a moment, the sound of crying was loud in the house.

Followed by.

Xia Anqi informed the chamberlain of Xia Song's death and handed his father's last memorial to the chamberlain.

……

Two-quarters of an hour later, he dropped into the hall.

Zhao Zhen learned of Xia Song's death.

He was very sad and immediately announced that he would be absent from court for three days starting from tomorrow, and he would also wear mourning clothes in the palace to mourn Xia Song.

Later, Zhao Zhen opened the last memorial with Xia Song's blood stains on it.

This memorial is called: "Three Thoughts on Government Affairs".

Xia Song raised three of his concerns.

First, at present, all the ministers in the court are recommending military men to serve as generals in the army. If this trend continues, the court may fall into civil and military disputes in the future. He hopes that the officials will take precautions in advance to stabilize the court.

Secondly, he believed that Taiwan’s remonstrance was so powerful that it had to be weakened. Tang Jie, Su Liang, Ouyang Xiu, Fan Zhen and others were like one person, posing a threat to the imperial power and the power of the prime minister. He suggested that some Taiwanese admonishment officials should be released to prevent Taiwanese admonition from becoming a unified force.

Third, the Reform Department relied on the imperial power and had more power than the two governments. He suggested that the power of the Reform Department should be gradually removed to prevent the Reform Department from becoming dominant and controlling government affairs.

From Zhao Zhen's point of view, these "Three Thinkings" are all sincere words of wisdom, and they are indeed worth pondering.

Zhao Zhen was very moved and immediately awarded Xia Song the title of Grand Master.

Then his son Xia Anqi was appointed as the official attendant of the banquet to show the court's favor to Xia Song.

That night.

Xia Song's death spread to the ears of officials in Bianjing.

Officials have different opinions.

Some people are happy, some are sad, some are applauding, and some are crying because they have lost their supporter.

When Su Liang heard the news of Xia Song's death, he couldn't help but sigh and said: "Alas! Prime Minister Xia Shu is really talented as a prime minister, but it's a pity that most of his talents are used in the wrong place."

Ouyang Xiu stood in the courtyard and murmured: "Brother Shoudao, the bad guys are gone. It is really a blessing for the Song Dynasty. The reform of the whole Song Dynasty will be smoother. You can rest in peace!"

(End of this chapter)