I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 351 Su Liang jumped into the Bian River in anger, and the truth emerged!
After a while.

Groups of officials who opposed the policy of cutting officials walked out of Daqing Hall like eggplants beaten by frost.

They did not expect that the official attitude would be so tough and decisive.

The policy of cutting off officials is imperative.

However, the officials also gave them a last chance.

Before noon the day after tomorrow, you can go to the Yintai Department to pick up a memorial opposing the policy of reducing officials.

And this moment.

What the officials were confused about was what exactly the officials from the Zhongshu Provincial Department and the Reform Department would talk to them about.

"No, it can't be... they want to persuade us to retreat! It's true that my redundant officials are here. I'm afraid I'm going to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys this time!" said a timid official.

aside.

It is not difficult to pick out such people.

That's right.

at this time.

soon.

This battle.

More than a thousand officials who opposed the reform policy were worried.

"How is it possible to persuade them to quit? If more than a thousand officials are dismissed at the same time, the court will be completely paralyzed! If local officials follow our example, the entire Song Dynasty will be in chaos!"

"Zongzi studied as a doctor, Cheng Feizhong."

Cui Hong was very confident when he said it, but he was actually very uneasy inside.

Like the prey meeting the hunter.

All the officials stopped one after another.

The officials were taken to different rooms and questioned.

And behind them.

Prime Minister Wen Yanbo strode out and said loudly: "My colleagues, the Central Secretary and the Reform Department are ordered by the officials to ask you about some information. Those whose names are called, please follow the officials of the Imperial City Department to the designated place."

After a while.

Some officials even had the idea that "those people opposite are the pillars of the court, and as long as they are there, the court will never be in chaos."

Sitting opposite him.

The imperial city official stopped after reading more than two hundred names.

not far away.

Wen Yanbo said: "The rest of the officials will go back to the Yamen. If you have any questions, the Imperial City Department will inform you!"

The official of the Taishi Bureau found Liu Yian sitting on a big chair, his heart pounding.

Cui Hong, the judge of the Ministry of Finance, couldn't help but become anxious when he heard this.

These more than 200 officials were taken away.

……

immediately.

It was Wang Anshi, the god of political reform.

If the officials are really not afraid that the fish will die and the net will be broken, and they forcefully lay off officials on a large scale, it is not certain whether the net will be broken, but his fish will definitely die.

This wave of people were summoned for the first time.

"The Taishi Bureau knew that Liu Yian was created."

"Dali Temple sentenced the prime minister Bai Qishan."

"What kind of intention does the sexton of Sinong Temple have?

In order to draw up the list of officials to be laid off, officials from the Reform Department reviewed the performance documents of officials in Beijing and the results of several hundred-day examinations.

"My guess is that we should continue to comfort us. Officials are actually afraid that we will cause trouble. At this time, we should insist on opposing the policy of cutting officials. Once we bow our heads, our career will really be over!"

Inside a house.

It was those officials whose political performance was not very bad, but who had always opposed the reforms throughout the Song Dynasty or who liked to follow the crowd.

The remaining officials were a little confused.

Then there was an imperial city official, holding a document in his hand, and read out his name.

"I'm in Beijing to assess Zhou Yu, the official of Ma Siyuan."

Officials from the Zhongshu Province and the Reform Department, headed by Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, Zhang Fangping, Fan Zhongyan and other ministers, stood upright opposite.

There were also dozens of imperial city officials wearing black round-collared narrow-sleeved robes.

Because most people clearly felt that the more than 200 officials who were called away were less likely to be laid off than themselves.

Behind Wang Anshi sat two imperial city officials responsible for recording.

This made Liu Yian feel like he was on trial.

Wang Anshi looked at Liu Yian and asked expressionlessly: "Why do you oppose the imperial court's dismissal of officials?"

Liu Yian's mouth trembled and he said: "I... our dynasty has always treated scholar-bureaucrats favorably. This move is... against the ancestral system..."

"Okay, I know!"

Wang Anshi interrupted Liu Yian's words and continued: "If the court deposes you, what will your career be?"

"what?"

Hearing this, Liu Yian suddenly became excited.

"Wang Tuiguan, I...my political performance is not bad. Does the court want...to depose me?"

"What I'm talking about is hypothetical. As for whether I should depose you, I don't know yet." Wang Anshi continued: "You... have average literary talent, and your level of history editing is much worse than Sima Junshi. I suggest that if you are deposed, You can write storybooks or be a ghostwriter, you’ll never die of hunger. Don’t go into business, you’ll lose money easily!”

Just when Liu Yian was at a loss.

Wang Anshi gave Liu Yian a scornful look and said, "Next."

"Wang Tuiguan, are you done with this question? I...I haven't said anything yet!"

Wang Anshi ignored him at all, and the officials on the side invited him out.

……

And this moment.

Similar situations occurred in other rooms in Zhongshu Province.

The questioner had an expressionless face and simply asked a few questions before driving the person being questioned out.

The person being questioned looked confused.

I only know that the other party understands me very well, but I don’t know what the words of the inquiry mean.

……

Near noon.

All inquiries of more than 200 officials have been completed.

In turn, these individuals informed others of the information they were being questioned about.

The situation of these more than 200 officials is almost the same.

I didn't hear any explanation or get any consolation.

And there is a saying: If the court deposes you, what will your career be? "

For a time, many officials panicked.

They feel that the government may really want to fire all officials who insist on opposing the policy of reducing officials.

at the same time.

The second wave of officials were notified and were interviewed in the afternoon.

This wave of people is also more than 200 people.

These people also have a common characteristic: they have decent political abilities, but they are opposed to reform policies because they are worried about the safety of the country.

Officials from the Zhongshu Provincial Department and the Reform Department were much more tolerant in questioning these people.

It mainly highlights one feature: Please believe in the imperial court!
……

It's almost dusk.

After the second wave of official inquiries, the specific situation reached the ears of many people.

Officials were confused.

The imperial court's attitude towards the wave of officials in the morning was: do it if you like it or not.

The attitude of the officials in the afternoon was: trust the court.

These two completely different attitudes made the officials who were not questioned feel very uneasy.

at the same time.

The number of memorials from Yintai officials opposing the policy of cutting officials gradually decreased.

……

At night, the reform department.

Fu Bi, Zeng Gongliang, Fan Zhongyan, Su Liang, Wang Anshi and others never left.

At this time.

An official ran over and said: "As of a quarter of an hour ago, there were still 928 memorials opposing the policy of reducing officials."

call!
Everyone let out a long breath at the same time.

Su Liang also had a smile on his face, and his strategy began to work.

As long as there are less than 336 memorials, the "Provincial Officials List·Bianjing Chapter" can be issued.

The core of Su Liang's plan is to apply pressure layer by layer and divide it.

First, use the official power to scare these opponents and let them know that it is absolutely impossible for the court to compromise.

Then the Ministry of Education and the Department of Reform adopted the right medicine according to different types of opponents and applied pressure one by one.

These opponents have discord and weak will.

Just like a grassroots team, most of them are motivated by personal interests and can easily split.

Also.

Su Liang is still waiting for news from Bao Zheng.

If it can be confirmed that Wu Guan's drowning in the river is a conspiracy, then it will be easier to defeat them.

……

late at night.

In a dark alleyway in the south of the city, there was a carriage parked.

Inside the carriage.

Cui Hong, the judge of the Household Department, and Qiu Yu, the prime minister in the palace, sat opposite each other.

Qiu Yu frowned and said: "Brother Cui, you are too cautious! Can't we meet in the courtyard in the south of the city?"

"What a house in the south of the city, you can't mention it outside, you forgot!" Cui Hong said sternly.

Qiu Yu curled his lips and said: "Brother Cui, I was wrong, I was wrong, let's get down to business!"

Cui Hong calmly said: "It seems that the officials are determined to lay off officials! Some cowards have gone to the Yintai Department to take away the objections. They are really stupid. The more we retreat, the more passive we become. We must take the initiative!" "

"How to attack?" Qiu Yu asked.

Cui Hongdao: "Let the family members of the five officials who drowned themselves go to Xuandemen to cry. The more miserable they are, the better. The more miserable they are, the easier it will be for the lower-level officials to resonate. Tomorrow morning, I will be responsible for three, you will be responsible for two, and Zhou Youxiang Just treat it as dead!"

"How can we let their family members go to Xuandemen?" Qiu Yu asked again.

"I... How did I get to know you, an idiot? Will it be possible to stir up trouble? If the officials withdraw the policy of dismissing officials, these five people will be the pride of the scholar-bureaucrats in the world, and they will be loyal ministers who have made their determination clear with death! If the officials insist on carrying out the policy of dismissing officials, Ce, these people are the sinners who undermined the reform of the entire Song Dynasty. Not only will their families not get any benefits, they will even be imprisoned..."

"I understand, I know what to do!" Qiu Yu nodded.

……

The questioning continued early the next morning.

The third wave of officials are the remaining officials who feel they will be laid off but do not meet the criteria for layoffs.

There are more than 400 officials in total.

To deal with this wave of officials, the Central Secretariat and the Reform Department still adopted the same approach as they did to the first wave of officials.

Whether you like it or not, I will never give you any advice.

Near noon.

After more than 400 officials completed their inquiries, Wen Yanbo announced that the inquiry was completed.

As soon as this news came out.

The remaining more than a hundred officials who had not been questioned were dumbfounded.

They were all officials who would be laid off, and Zhongshu and the Reform Department simply gave up on them.

these people.

Knowing that his political performance was not good, he suddenly became nervous.

They had a hunch that the court seemed to be giving up on them.

Cui Hong, the judge of the household department, and Qiu Yu, the chief minister of the palace, were among the interrogators in the morning, and the latter was among the people who were abandoned.

For a while.

These officials were also divided into factions.

Discussing what the court is going to do and what they should do next.

……

Noon.

There are still 342 memorials opposing the policy of reducing officials.

There is still one full day until the deadline.

Some people are afraid, some are panicked, some are following the crowd, and some are regretful.

The officials of the Reform Department couldn't help but be overjoyed.

In one day, it is easy to reduce six portions.

These officials are far more susceptible to compromise than imagined.

Just when Su Liang and others felt that the plan was about to succeed, something happened in front of Xuande's gate.

The wives, children, and parents of the five officials who threw themselves into the river, dressed in plain clothes and with hemp ropes tied around their waists, cried and cried in front of Xuande Gate. They were distraught. They believed that these five people were trying to remonstrate with the emperor for important matters of the imperial court.

He is truly a loyal and good official.

But the court didn't say anything, so they came to cry in protest.

The relatives of Dr. Zhou Youxiang of the Imperial Academy believed that he had drowned, but their body had not yet been found.

"My husband! You died so miserably. For the great cause of the imperial court, you died to remonstrate with the emperor. I didn't expect that some people would accuse you of sabotaging the imperial court's reform. Is there any fairness in this world?"

"My son, after you left, my mother's eyes were almost blinded by crying. If Sanlang hadn't been so young, my mother would have wanted to jump into the Bian River with you to accompany your father who died long ago!"

"Husband! I believe that the court will definitely give an explanation for your death. Officials are kind and will not treat loyal ministers poorly!"

……

The white-haired old woman, the widowed young woman, and the three- and four-year-old children cried so hard that their hearts were broken, and it was very miserable.

Not long after.

A large group of people gathered in front of Xuande Gate.

The people all felt that the government should provide these five families with generous pensions to comfort these five officials who died to realize their ambitions.

In the Song Dynasty.

Regardless of whether the political views are right or wrong.

Any official who dares to "died to express his will" will be respected.

Soon, Zhao Zhen learned the news.

He also felt sorry for these women and children, but there was nothing he could do.

Once a favor is given.

That means he is delaying the decision to lay off officials.

If we ignore it, I'm afraid it will be called "hard-hearted" in the hearts of the people.

Zhao Zhen thought for a while and said to the chamberlain on the side: "Instruct the Kaifeng government officials to send these people home. Isn't it a place to cry in front of Xuande Gate!"

After a while.

The relatives of these officials who threw themselves into the river were driven away.

After they were sent home, they ran out again and cried directly on Nanmen Street, where there was the largest flow of people.

For a time, countless people stopped to watch, and there were more and more discussions in the streets.

……

It's almost dusk, inside the Reform Department.

Fu Bi, Fan Zhongyan, Su Liang and others all frowned.

They just got the news.

The number of memorials to the Yintai Department increased again, and some officials returned their memorials.

Currently there are 478 copies.

Instead of falling, it rises.

It was entirely the result of the relatives and relatives of the five officials who threw themselves into the river crying bitterly in front of Xuande Tower.

Many lower-level officials feel the same way.

In addition, some officials who are "brainless but compassionate" stubbornly believe that those who dare to die wisely are good officials.

Not surprisingly, memorials will continue to grow.

……

into the night.

The last moment when the Bank of China closed its doors.

There are still 526 memorials opposing the policy of reducing officials.

Everyone was depressed.

There is no other solution at the moment, and it seems impossible to rely on half a day tomorrow morning to make changes.

And Su Liang pinned his last hope on Bao Zheng.

After leaving the Reform Department.

He went to Kaifeng Mansion, but found nothing.

Late at night, Su Zhai.

After Tang Wanmei placed Su Liang's feet in the wooden basin, she gently kneaded his shoulders.

She could feel that Su Liang had been very hard these past two days.

at this time.

Uncle Ji's voice came from outside the door.

"Officer, there is a letter from Bachelor Bao of Kaifeng Prefecture!"

Su Liang instantly became energetic.

He immediately stood up barefoot, without even having time to put on his shoes, and ran out of the door.

Su Liang took the envelope, opened it, and couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Bao Zheng said in the letter: Dr. Zhou Youxiang of the Imperial College has been found, and the night trial will be held tonight. Su Liang can go to Kaifeng Mansion tomorrow morning to check the confession.

At this moment, Su Liang was still sleepy.

He said to Tang Wanmei: "Mei'er, change your clothes quickly. I'm going to Kaifeng Mansion. I won't be back tonight!"

"Sit down first and wash your feet before leaving!" Tang Wanmei said softly.

Su Liang looked down and realized that he had just gone out barefoot.

The feet are covered with dust.

Immediately.

Tang Wanmei knelt down and washed Su Liang's feet carefully again.

Then dress him.

Just when Su Liang was about to leave, he suddenly grabbed Tang Wanmei's waist, kissed her forehead, and said, "Mei'er, thank you for your hard work!"

After saying that, Su Liang left quickly.

A sweet smile appeared on Tang Wanmei's face.

……

Half an hour later.

Kaifeng Fu Lao.

Bao Zheng and several government officials were interrogating the ministers at night.

this moment.

Bao Zheng also knew that whether Zhou Youxiang was instigated by others was related to the success or failure of the policy of dismissing officials, so he did not waste any time.

Su Liang sat in a nearby room and listened.

Bao Zheng is far better at judging cases than Su Liang.

There is no need for Su Liang to overstep his authority. If he goes in to join the trial, he will not only break the official rules, but it may not be useful.

After a while.

Su Liang also learned some information.

Traveling around the country, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the river that day. He was lucky enough to survive and hid in a house.

He felt that he was the only one among the five who did not drown, which was a bit embarrassing. He was also worried that the officials would not regard them as loyal and brave officials, but as saboteurs of the reform, so he did not dare to show their faces.

He was feeling really uncomfortable tonight, so he came out to inquire about the situation, and was caught by the Kaifeng government officials.

Bao Zheng had a dark face.

"Prime Minister Zhou You, you'd better tell the truth. You originally wanted to commit suicide by drowning yourself in the river and opposed the policy of cutting officials. Why are you so afraid of punishment from the court that you don't dare to show up? You're not even afraid of death, but you're still afraid of punishment?"

"I...I...regret it. Only after I jumped into the water did I realize that living is better."

"Regret it? Then do you regret opposing the policy of cutting officials?"

"Well, I don't regret it. Bachelor Bao, what I told is the truth. No one really ordered me, I did it voluntarily. I threw myself into the river because I thought that the current large-scale reduction of officials would destabilize the court and cause big trouble." Yes, I am doing it for the Song Dynasty and for the people of the world..."

"You are not acquainted with the other four people. How did you get together and how did you plan to jump into the river?"

"We...we...met at a tea party. We were talking about the review of writings by Si Duongguan. Qian Fu proposed to die for the Song Dynasty, and we all responded one after another."

……

Su Liang frowned slightly as he listened to Zhou Youxiang's words.

Even if the other party is being instigated by others, they will never tell the truth.

Because once it is confirmed that he committed suicide, his reputation will be ruined and his career will be completely ruined.

Now, the other four people are dead, and the person behind it has not been found.

It is impossible to tell the authenticity of what Zhou Youxiang said, and it is difficult to open the gap from other places.

……

Soon, it was getting light.

Bao Zheng and others interrogated him for nearly two hours, but Zhou Youxiang still insisted that he was not instigated by anyone.

He threw himself into the river and died to express his ambition, for the sake of the harmony and stability of the Song Dynasty.

Su Liang suddenly became anxious.

If the number of memorials falls below 336 before noon, the decision to dismiss officials will be postponed indefinitely.

at this time.

Bao Zheng, who had obvious dark circles under his eyes, walked up to Su Liang.

His face looked haggard and very tired.

"Slow down, let me try again!" Bao Zheng picked up the teacup on the side and said while drinking tea.

Su Liang thought for a while and said: "Brother Xiren, can you break the rules of Kaifeng Mansion once and hand him over to me? It's too late and I want to try other methods!"

Bao Zheng hesitated.

"Row!"

Bao Zheng knew that Kaifeng Mansion had never broken the rules in the past few years, but this time he chose to make an exception for the sake of the Song Dynasty's reform.

……

About half an hour later.

Two Kaifeng government officials drove a carriage on the street.

Su Liang and Zhou Youxiang were sitting in the carriage.

Su Liang told Zhou Youxiang all the current situation.

Zhou Youxiang explained again: "Su Yushi, I really volunteered and was not ordered by anyone!"

Su Liang's face was gloomy.

"Okay, I will treat you as voluntary. Now, you can jump into the Bian River again and prove your ambition by dying. After you die, I will abandon the policy of dismissal of officials. I will ask Fan Xianggong to write a eulogy for you. I applied to the imperial court to take care of your family, and I, Su Liang, keep my word, do you dare?"

"You...you are a madman, I won't jump! I definitely won't jump!"

……

Half an hour later, by the Bianhe River.

Two government officials took Zhou Youxiang to the bank of the Bian River, where he threw himself into the river.

Su Liang looked at Zhou Youxiang and glared: "Don't you claim that for the stability of the Song Dynasty and for the people of the world, you can die wisely? Jump!"

Zhou Youxiang looked sad, and while he backed away hard, he said: "I...I won't jump, I won't jump!"

this moment.

Su Liang was certain that Zhou Youxiang was lying.

If he really firmly believes that cutting officials will lead to chaos in the court, and he is loyal and patriotic, he will definitely jump down without hesitation.

Su Liang's promise will be fulfilled.

"You know, if the policy of cutting officials fails because of you, resulting in a large number of mediocre and corrupt officials remaining in various state capitals, countless families and wives will be separated in the world, and the entire Song Dynasty's reform may also collapse because of this flaw. You will If you become a sinner of our Song Dynasty's reform, people will scold you in the next one hundred, five hundred, or one thousand years!"

"But...I...don't...don't want to die!"

Zhou Youxiang suddenly broke away from the restraints of the two government officials and ran away as hard as he could.

Su Liang rushed forward, grabbed Zhou Youxiang by the collar, pulled hard, and threw him less than three feet away from the water of the Bian River.

Zhou Youxiang stood up in embarrassment and was about to escape when Su Liang pounced on him again.

He hugged Zhou Youxiang and jumped directly into the Bian River.

"Pfft!"

They both fell into the water at the same time.

The two Kaifeng government officials were shocked and hurriedly ran to a fishing boat parked not far away.

In the water of Bianhe River.

Zhou Youxiang was about to swim forward, but was grabbed by Su Liang.

Su Liang looked angry and continued: "Prime Minister Zhou You, you are in vain to serve as the imperial edict. As a teacher, you have no virtue and no backbone. I want you to sober up!"

After saying that, Su Liang pushed Zhou Youxiang's head underwater.

"Are you awake?"

"Are you awake?"

"Are you awake?"

After Zhou Youxiang was pushed into the water of the Bian River three times, he shouted: "I tell the truth! I tell the truth!"

"We did not throw ourselves into the river voluntarily. It was Cui Hong, the judge of the Ministry of Revenue, and Qiu Yu, the prime minister in the palace, who asked us to pretend to throw ourselves into the river to protest against the imperial court's dismissal of officials. But they had murderous intentions against us. I... I was lucky enough to escape!"

Hear this.

Su Liang couldn't help but take a long breath and let go of Zhou Youxiang.

Zhou Youxiang was instantly relieved. He held the cold Bianhe River water in his hands and kept slapping it on his face. He murmured: "I was wrong, I was wrong. I was selfish. I was doing it all for my own career. I'm a bastard." , I am a rogue..."

this moment.

The sun rose high into the sky and shone brightly and warmly on the Bianhe River. A fishing boat sailed up to the two of them.

(End of this chapter)