I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 82 Zhao Zhen’s three consecutive surrender edicts made Long Yan furious!
March 27.

There are still two days left before the palace examination.

At around noon, Zhao Zhen suddenly felt pain in his heart and fainted in Chui Gong Hall.

For a time, the entire ban was in chaos.

The official family suddenly contracted an illness, and it was still a childless official family.

This is a major event.

Empress Cao immediately summoned the imperial doctor for diagnosis and treatment, and ordered people to quickly seal the palace to prevent anyone from spreading false news and causing trouble.

When the ministers of the previous dynasty heard the news, their reaction was wonderful.

Du Yan, Wu Yu, Ouyang Xiu and others rushed to Chui Gong Hall in grief, intending to be the first to learn about the official's condition and make plans for various situations.

Xia Song, Wang Gongchen and others submitted a memorial to Zhongshu and Empress Cao, requesting that Zhao Zongshi, the royal family member, be summoned to the harem immediately to prevent official mishaps.

Others submitted memorials, requesting that Zhao Zongshi be crowned prince as soon as possible.

Many ministers did not care about Zhao Zhen.

What they care about is whether they can become the new ministers of the dragon.

But submitting the memorial at this time is a bit too eager.

The imperial doctor has not yet said that Zhao Zhen is seriously ill, and Zhao Zhen is only 36 years old.

Zhao Zongshi was the son of Zhao Zhen's cousin Zhao Yunrang, the military governor of Jiangning (later named King Pu'an Yi).

He was adopted by Empress Cao as an adopted son since he was a child, and was chosen as a candidate for the prince.

In the second year of Baoyuan (1039), Zhao Zhen had a son, Zhao Xin, and asked Zhao Zongshi to return to his father.

However, in the first year of Qingli (1041), Zhao Xin died early and Zhao Zongshi became his successor.

However, Zhao Zhen always believed that he could still have a son, so he did not bring Zhao Zongshi into the palace.

If Zhao Zhen really died suddenly, then the throne must belong to Zhao Zongshi.

At this time, Zhao Zongshi was only 14 years old.

Because he was tossed back and forth, he already had doubts about being an emperor.

He must not show that he is very studious and has the desire to become an emperor, but he must also be polite and follow the rules of a prince to prevent him from being completely abandoned.

If Zhao Zongshi becomes emperor, he may be even more cowardly than Zhao Zhen.

After hearing the news, Su Liang also looked nervous.

If Zhao Zhen died suddenly, the Song Dynasty would probably have to go downhill for a long time.

In the vertical arch hall.

After Du Yan saw the memorials submitted by many ministers to establish Zhao Zongshi as the prince, he directly ordered them to be burned.

Just now, news came from the imperial doctor.

Zhao Zhen was filled with anger, and at this time he no longer feared for his life.

If Zhao Zhen woke up and saw these memorials, he might be so angry that he fainted again.

About an hour later.

Zhao Zhen finally woke up and slowly regained some of his complexion.

After he regained consciousness, he directly summoned Du Yan into the palace and ordered Zhongshu to draw up an edict to remove Yang Riyan from his post in Kaifeng Mansion and detain him at home without being allowed to go out.

Du Yan was very puzzled. When asked about the reason, Zhao Zhen said that he would inform the ministers after the palace examination.

The next day, around noon.

Zhao Zhen once again ordered Zhongshu to draw up an edict to remove Yang Riyan as a bachelor of Longtuge and give him a post in Shizhong.

All the ministers could not help but be dumbfounded.

This is to remove all Yang Riyan's officials and dispatches.

What a crime Yang Riyan has committed!
As dusk approached, Zhao Zhen made another decree in his book.

Yang Riyan was removed from his official position, detained in Dali Temple, and no one was allowed to visit him.

Du Yan and others didn't dare to ask, for fear that the official would faint again.

And this moment.

Su Liang guessed that Yang Riyan was probably the reason why the official fainted this time.

The Imperial City Department must have found out something, and the evil deeds Yang Riyan committed may be more serious than Su Liang imagined.

The next day, the palace examination was conducted normally.

This time, Zhao Zhen personally sat in the battle as the examiner.

Du Yan, Wu Yu, Chen Zhizhong and others were all waiting outside Chui Gong Hall.They were eager to know what crime Yang Riyan had committed, which caused the officials to impose such a punishment.

After the palace examination, Zhao Zhen did not go to Chui Gong Palace.

He used fatigue as an excuse and told the ministers: All matters will be discussed tomorrow.

……

In the afternoon of the second day, Zhao Zhen appeared in Chui Gong Hall.

Xianggong, Ouyang Xiu, Ding Du, Wang Gongchen, etc. from the two prefectures and three divisions all appeared in the hall.

At this time, Zhao Zhen was still a little weak.

He looked at the small Huangmen on the side and said: "Give the ministers a look at the information investigated by the Imperial City Division."

Immediately, Xiao Huangmen handed a document to Prime Minister Du Yan.

The ministers began to read one by one.

After everyone saw it, the expressions on their faces were very solemn.

Even Xia Song, who originally wanted to plead for Yang Riyan, turned pale and silent after reading this document.

This document lists Yang Riyan's four major crimes.

First, they are so happy with their achievements that they sacrifice human lives for the sake of performance appraisal.

Incomplete statistics show that in the more than a year since Yang Riyan took charge of Kaifeng Mansion, he made 27 unjust, false and wrongful cases, directly or indirectly destroying [-] lives.

Second, they form parties for private gain and set up "strict societies" privately.

There was freedom of association in the Song Dynasty. Yang Riyan secretly summoned the officials under the Kaifeng Prefecture into the Yan Society under the guise of a wine club.Among them, there are 87 members of Yanshe, subordinates and 23 officials. They have already become a force. Although some officials have not joined, they do not report the knowledge.

Third, he deceived his superiors and deceived his subordinates, acted domineeringly, and ignored the laws of the court.

Kaifeng Mansion has become Yang Riyan's Kaifeng Mansion. All cases are based on his preferences, focusing on human relations rather than laws. A typical case is the case of Ma Hong's land invasion.

Fourth, there is suspicion of rebellion.

In the city of Bianjing, people gathered together to form a force and ignored the imperial court. If they rebelled, it would be very harmful and might overturn the country.

……

Du Yan, Chen Zhizhong, and Wu Yu couldn't help but lower their heads after reading it.

Kaifeng Mansion is right under their noses.

Unexpectedly, a hypocritical official like Yang Riyan would appear.

Wang Yaochen murmured in disbelief: "He...he...is really good at pretending. I've always thought he was a capable minister!"

At this point, the ministers finally understood why the officials were so angry that they fainted.

Zhao Zhen has a kind heart.

Even if there is a prisoner who has been sentenced to death, if he feels that there are extenuating circumstances, he will try his best to exempt him from the crime.

Who would have thought that Yang Riyan would kill 12 people in one fell swoop.

In addition, Yang Riyan touched Zhao Zhen's bottom line.

They formed cliques for personal gain under the eyes of the emperor, and they ignored the laws and acted arbitrarily.

This is almost the greatest sin besides rebellion.

Du Yan was the first to speak: "Officials, I didn't expect such a polite scum to be mixed into the court. For such crimes, without a heavy sentence, it will not be enough for the people!"

"Yes, I suggest that once all the circumstances are found out, they will immediately flee for three thousand miles and never be returned!" Chen Zhizhong also agreed.

At this time, Xia Song stood up and said: "Guan Jing, I think this case needs to be investigated in detail. The top priority is to conceal the matter first. If the people of Bianjing know that Yang Riyan is this kind of person, I am afraid there will be consequences." Civil uprising!”

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Xiu stood up dissatisfied.

"Xia Shuxiang, such bad deeds should be reported to the world as early as possible to alert all officials. You are hiding it like this, maybe there is something wrong in your heart. When people see corrupt officials being severely punished, they will only praise the officials for their wisdom. How can the people be born? Change!"

Xia Song retorted: "I just want to avoid the negative impact of this matter as much as possible. Wouldn't it be better to comfort the victim first and then tell the world? If the people are full of grievances, then let the officials get sick. , can you afford it?"

……

Just when Ouyang Xiu and Xia Song were debating, Zhao Zhen suddenly said: "I want to sentence Yang Riyan to death!"

As soon as these words came out, the court fell silent instantly.

Even Ouyang Xiu didn't expect Zhao Zhen to say this.

The laws of our ancestors are clear, and we do not kill scholar-bureaucrats or those who write letters to us.

This idea has been deeply ingrained in the minds of these officials.

(End of this chapter)