I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 63: Hunger strike?I would like to write an epitaph for him

The next day.

The court became lively again.

Jia Changchao, Wang Gongchen, and Li Ding seemed to feel that they had not performed well yesterday and submitted another memorial, stating the benefits of not suppressing the merger.

Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie, Su Liang and others also submitted memorials again, continuing to force Emperor Zhao Zhen to change his policy of annexing land and acres.

at the same time.

The courtiers also stood in line, and the memorials on the imperial court were once again as high as a hill.

Every court meeting was as noisy as the Wanxing Trading Market in Daxiangguo Temple.

The ministers debated and vomited, but there was no result.

Five days later.

Zhao Zhen finally got tired of the argument and summoned Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie, and Su Liang to Tianzhang Pavilion.

Tianzhang Pavilion is based on the meaning of heaven.

It was originally a place where royal portraits, royal books and items of emperors of the Song Dynasty were stored.

But since Renzong, this place has become a place to preserve the "ancestral laws".

All major events in the court are played out here.

Fan Zhongyan's Ten Things was born here.

This can be said to be the highest level place for monarchs and ministers to discuss government affairs.

After a while.

The four monarchs and ministers sat opposite each other.

Zhao Zhen sighed: "Two years ago, around this time, Fan Xiren and Fu Yanguo signed a letter stating ten things, and the New Deal began."

"I am dedicated to reforming the long-standing abuses and enriching the country and strengthening the army, but...but you have all seen the result!"

"The court is full of resentment, there are those who form cliques for personal gain, there are those who are greedy and do nothing, and there are those who talk about reform and harm the country. The effect of the reform is very little, and there are shackles everywhere. I, the Song Dynasty, cannot withstand such torment!"

"Perhaps Fan Xiren and Fu Yan have the talents of Shang Yang, but the Song Dynasty is not Qin, and I am not Qin Xiaogong. It is the ancestral policy not to suppress annexation. If we don't change it, everything will be as usual. If we change it, it is very likely that something will happen, causing the officials to be divided and the people to complain. , I am powerless!"

The sentence "I am powerless" expresses Zhao Zhen's sadness as an emperor.

He was telling Su Liang and the others that in the current Song Dynasty, everything seeks stability rather than change.

From Su Liang's perspective.

Zhao Zhen's feeling of powerlessness actually comes from the benevolence in his heart, or it may be better called: cowardice.

This official is not a heroic leader, but he can be considered a wise ruler.

If he does not have the determination to reform and does not dare to scrape his bones to heal his wounds, no matter how he reforms, he will ultimately end in failure.

Ouyang Xiu stood up first.

"The concerns of the officials are all clear to the ministers. Although our country in the Song Dynasty is stable at the moment, it is full of hidden dangers. Outside, there are Xixia and Liao kingdoms eyeing us. Internally, the treasury is empty, the soldiers have redundant salaries, and the people often rebel."

"I believe that now is the best time to seek change!"

After saying that, Ouyang Xiu looked at Su Liang.

Su Liang immediately stood up and took out a memorial from his arms.

"Officials, in recent days, I have been thinking over and over again. I also believe that if the policy of suppressing land annexation is implemented rashly across the country, it will cause turmoil. Therefore, I think that we can transform a state first, and then transform it into a country!"

"Change a state first?" Zhao Zhen murmured.

He took the memorial from Zhang Maoze and read it carefully.

This memorial is titled: On the Transformation of a State.

It was written jointly by Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie and Su Liang.

It mainly talks about three contents.

First, one state will be used as a pilot, with the main strategy of suppressing land annexation, and other strategies will be supplemented.

Second, for a period of three years, select the right state and the right people, and make many trials and errors to find ways to enrich the country and strengthen the people.

Thirdly, if one state is established, it will become a whole country; if one state is established, it will become a country.

Su Liang and the others looked at Zhao Zhen's excited expression and couldn't help but let out a long breath.

After a while.

Zhao Zhen said: "This strategy is feasible, but if you want to do it, the difficulty lies in choosing which state and who to do it!" Hearing this, Su Liang and the others were very happy.

This shows that officials accept this strategy.

"For officials, which state to choose and who to choose can be recommended by the ministers. There are many young officials in our dynasty, so we can definitely choose the right person!" Tang Jie said.

Zhao Zhen hesitated for a moment and said: "Okay, I will try it again with you all!"

Hear this.

Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie, and Su Liang stood up one after another.

Ouyang Xiudao: "In the official family, it takes three years to change a state, and it may take another three years to change a whole country, and it takes even longer to change the whole country."

"I beg the officials that if this policy is decided, no matter what happens, at least one state's three-year period cannot be revoked. Even if we bump our heads against the south wall, we will never look back!"

After saying that, the three of them bowed their hands heavily towards Zhao Zhen with serious expressions on their faces.

Zhao Zhen's ears are very soft.

The biggest concern of Su Liang and the others is that the new law was suddenly stopped by Zhao Zhen due to some negative effects.

This will be fatal to the reform.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but roll his eyes at the three of them.

"Hey, you three! You think my will is not strong enough, don't you?"

Su Liang lowered his head and remained silent, which was regarded as acquiescence.

Tang Jie and Ouyang Xiu raised their heads, clearly saying: Isn't it?
Zhao Zhen couldn't help but feel angry. He immediately walked to the royal portraits of Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong, and solemnly said: "I swear in front of my ancestors today that I will abide by the three-year agreement during this reform. The state reform is going smoothly!”

"Official Shengming!"

Su Liang and the three of them spoke in a long voice, and the stone in their hearts finally fell to the ground.

That is to say, if the kind-hearted Zhao Zhen were replaced by another emperor, which minister could force him to swear an oath in front of his ancestors!
……

The next day.

Zhao Zhen summoned the princes of the two mansions and the three princes into the Chui Gong Hall.

Subsequently, the Zhongshu Province distributed the "Book on the Changes in a Prefecture" to all yamen.

The ministers are required to work together to select states suitable for reform and reform officials who can serve as chief officials.

This means that the ministers of the two governments and three departments all agreed to the contents of the "Book on the Change of One State".

At this time, Li Ding, the supervisory censor, came to play again.

He stated in the memorial that this move was intended to destroy the people of one state and would cause unrest in many states. It must not be done!
Li Ding submitted three memorials in succession, but Zhao Zhen rejected them all.

He is a stubborn person.

Subconsciously reject all new things.

Li Ding was so angry that he declared that he would go on a hunger strike to remonstrate with the emperor until the official changed his mind.

Hunger strike.

This move was very cruel, and he saw that "kindness" was the official's weakness.

Su Liang suddenly became angry!

The reason why the Song Dynasty is becoming more and more cowardly is because people like this are desperately holding them back.

Immediately, Su Liang submitted another memorial.

He stated in his memorial: Since ancient times, reforms have always started with bloodshed. Today, Li Ding, the supervisory censor, went on a hunger strike to admonish the emperor, and he was actually the number one person who wanted to die as a result of the reform.

Su Liang asked the court to give him a generous burial, and he was willing to write an epitaph for Li Ding.

This is not a memorial at all, it is clearly disgusting Li Ding!
at the same time.

Zhao Zhen also became tougher.

When Jia Changchao and Wang Gongchen said that Li Ding, the supervisory censor, had not eaten for three days and was unable to get up.

Zhao Zhen said directly: "If he dies on hunger strike, just give him a generous burial!"

This sentence made Jia Changchao and Wang Gongchen dare not speak any more.

As for Li Ding.

After holding on for four days, he hurriedly submitted an apology letter and did not dare to go on a hunger strike again.

(End of this chapter)