Prime Minister

Chapter 1366 Artemisia and Tall Tree

Chapter 1366 Artemisia and Tall Tree

Compared to Empress Dowager Gao, Empress Dowager Xiang could almost be described as a laid-back, Buddhist-like figure. Apart from the mistake of installing Emperor Huizong as emperor, Empress Dowager Xiang handled everything else with great skill.

Compared to Zhang Yue, Empress Dowager Xiang naturally relied more on Han Zhongyan and Cai Bian, who had instigated the military remonstrance.

Meanwhile, Zhong Yanbo and Feng Jing were kept in check.

The emperor now spends more time attending ceremonies, already showing signs of becoming a wise ruler. Although he is still young, he is becoming increasingly mature in his role as an observer of state affairs.

Zhang Yue practically monopolized the government, but he didn't give the Empress Dowager and the Emperor the feeling that their power was out of control.

For the past six months since arriving at the court, Zhang Yue has focused all his efforts on attacking Lingzhou, temporarily setting aside all other matters. Outside the court, he maintains a facade of harmony with the old faction figures such as Wen Yanbo, Feng Jing, and Lü Gongzhu.

Now that Lingzhou has been captured and the Dangxiang have ceded three prefectures, Zhang Yue has begun to fully implement his governance strategy.

Reform was also an important way for them to seize power.

When someone is parachuted into a new place as the top leader and faces unfamiliar local officials, the following steps are generally followed.

Newcomers don't talk about change or are eager to seize power.

You need to get down to the grassroots level, spend some time understanding the specific situation, and then propose a 'vision'.

This vision usually needs to be approved by the superior department (often the reason for your transfer here), and then a change plan should be proposed based on the current situation.

Through a vision, you can project your political ideas and establish a new ideology.

Reforming existing departments through a new ideology is crucial. This ideology must be justified, not hasty, and based on objective reality. Failure to implement it effectively could easily provoke opposition from vested interests, leading to the loss of power or being sidelined.

In the actual implementation process, the content of the reform itself is not the key. The most important thing is to identify and evaluate the existing personnel through the reform process.

Then, you need to distinguish who actively aligns themselves with you, who opposes you, and who "lie flat." Finally, promote your supporters and place them in important positions; marginalize or even suppress your opponents—it sounds easy, but striking the right balance is difficult.

Of course, the carrot and stick approach is the traditional method.

Of course, this is only the first step. After screening, the second step is to make an unreasonable or even excessive request, and then conduct a second round of differentiation and screening.

In this way, power was gradually seized.

At this moment, Zhang Yue was simply proposing a vision.

Zhang Yue's vision was to accomplish what his predecessor, the prime minister, had not yet done: to evaluate and assess the current officials through the evaluation and assessment method.

When the late emperor was in power, Zhang Yue's position was not yet secure, and he dared not go all out, for fear that if he made too many changes, he would displease the emperor and give his political enemies an excuse to criticize him.

Now, the time is ripe.

Only after the performance evaluation system was implemented could the "Equal Taxation of Fields" system be truly put into practice.

Otherwise, if local powerful families resist and officials shirk responsibility, the implementers will be helpless.

Historically, the Fangtian Equal Tax Law had already stagnated during the Yuanfeng era, and Sima Guang simply abolished it during the Yuanyou era.

However, in Zhang Yue's view, the Fangtian Equal Tax Law was the second best law after the Exemption from Service Law in the Xining Reform.

Zhang Yue had always consulted with Feng Jing, Wen Yanbo, and Lü Gongzhu, but now he feared such good days would not last.

Reaching Zhang Yue's position requires even greater caution and trepidation.

Zhang Yue knew that the Song Dynasty's officialdom did not follow the principle of eliminating the bottom performers, but rather the principle of eliminating the top performers—the tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind.

……

At this moment, it is the residence of Lü Gongzhu.

At the residence of Lü Gongzhu, a man wearing a bamboo hat quietly entered the Lü residence, led by a servant.

After dismissing everyone around him, the man removed his covering, revealing himself to be Liang Weijian, the trusted eunuch of Empress Dowager Gao.

Liang Weijian asked, "Right Chancellor, what has your decision been regarding the matter the Empress Dowager has asked you about?"

Lu Gongzhu said, "I'm afraid this is difficult to agree to."

Liang Weijian said, "The Right Chancellor and the Left Chancellor want to use the victory of destroying Xia to seize power. Now they want to reform the system. If this continues, it will not be a blessing for the country."

"The Empress Dowager was worried that his power would become too great to control... that he might one day usurp power and abuse his authority."

Lu Gongzhu asked, "Hasn't the Empress Dowager devoted herself to vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting?"

"Now that the Empress Dowager is in power, the country is peaceful and prosperous. At this time, any rash actions will not win the hearts of the people."

Liang Weijian said, "But the Empress Dowager entrusted all power to Zhang Yue, and he made all the decisions."

"In the end, the current emperor and the empress dowager are not biological mother and son, but the grand empress dowager and the emperor are biological grandmother and granddaughter!"

Lu Gongzhu frowned, and Liang Weijian said, "Back then, Empress Dowager Zhangxian Mingsu also had to keep the fact that she was not Emperor Renzong's biological mother before she dared to seize power."

Lu Gongzhu stroked his beard and pondered: "You say that the Left Chancellor is arrogant, but he is the one who bears the weight of the world. He is deeply trusted by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and he has the merit of breaking through Lingzhou and forcing the Dangxiang to surrender. If he takes any extraordinary measures, it may cause turmoil in the court and the country."

Liang Weijian took out a secret letter from his sleeve: "Officials from the Western Prefecture have jointly impeached Zhang Yue for arbitrarily mobilizing the Imperial Guards. Those auxiliary troops were also implicated in the previous military remonstrance. This time, they sent eight thousand soldiers to garrison Waqiao Pass, but did not send a single soldier to rescue them. I'm afraid they intend to silence them."

"If the Right Chancellor is willing to take the lead and join forces with the Censorate to conduct a thorough investigation, then only one prison guard will be needed..."

Lu Gongzhu's expression suddenly changed: "This is not the behavior of a gentleman!"

“We should regulate this through public discussion in the court; how can we imitate this behavior?”

Liang Weijian said indignantly, "Actually, there is no need for the Right Chancellor to do it personally. In the past, Empress Lü executed Han Xin and Emperor Xiaozhuang eliminated Erzhu Rong, both of which were done within the palace, seemingly easy tasks."

Lu Gong's expression changed, and he said, "Why don't you mention the Ten Attendants killing He Jin?"

"How dare you kill a dignified Left Prime Minister as you please? You will only bring chaos to the court!"

Lu Gongzhu thought to himself that Liang Weijian was truly foolish. It was still possible for him to kill relatives of the empress, nobles, or eunuchs in the palace.

However, if this method is used to execute scholar-officials and important officials, it will inevitably destroy the court's discipline and power structure.

Liang Weijian actually wanted to kill Zhang Yue, which would throw the entire court into chaos.

Liang Weijian said, "Prime Minister, I am only mentioning it, I may not necessarily follow it."

"But Lingzhou has fallen, and the Left Chancellor wants to implement 'performance evaluation,' dismissing twenty-seven incompetent officials overnight. Isn't his method equally ruthless?"

“He is purging dissidents; one day it will be your turn, Right Chancellor.”

"That's right, you all say that the Left Prime Minister is the one who safeguards the country. Even if that's true, isn't this medicine just as potent as a poison for the tiger and wolf? The Right Prime Minister cares about the common people. How can he watch the Left Prime Minister continue to cause trouble like this? Even if he holds absolute power, it won't be a blessing for the people!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Gongzhu fell silent, and Liang Weijian, seeing that he could not persuade him, had no choice but to get up.

"No need to see me off!" Lü Gongzhu said calmly.

……

The streets and alleys of Bianjing were shrouded in a thin mist, and the dim yellow lanterns swayed in the wind. Liang Weijian quietly slipped out of the side gate of Lü Gongzhu's mansion, his brocade robes already replaced with coarse cloth official robes.

He walked quickly through the deep alley, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible. He quietly left Lü Gongzhu's residence, where a palace attendant was already waiting to greet him.

It was getting dark, and although there were some idlers around, they had all been sent away or dismissed by his men.

This night trip was still safe.

At the alley entrance, an inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage had been waiting for some time. A meek servant sat on the carriage shaft. Seeing Liang Weijian approach, he immediately jumped off the shaft and silently lifted the curtain. Liang Weijian climbed into the carriage, and only when the curtain fell did his tense shoulders relax slightly.

Lu Gongzhu's attitude made him dare not take out the token hidden in his sleeve.

He intended to emulate the story of "the imperial edict in the belt to punish the traitor," secretly working on behalf of the Empress Dowager to assassinate this powerful minister comparable to Cao Cao. Unfortunately, Lü Gongzhu and many court officials did not support his plan, which prevented him from secretly sending the token to the other party.

In the distance, the watchman's clapper sounded. Liang Weijian opened a corner of the car window and glimpsed patrolling soldiers carrying torches as they passed by.

He was about to close the curtain when he suddenly felt the carriage stop.

"What's going on?" he asked in a low voice, but no one answered.

A muffled thud suddenly came from outside the carriage, followed by the dull thud of a heavy object falling to the ground. Liang Weijian's heart tightened, and he saw a drunkard slumped on the carriage.

"What bad luck!" Liang Weijian spat, about to scold the driver to drive him away, when the drunkard suddenly sprang up.

The other person's iron-like hand tightly covered his mouth and nose, while another figure darted out from the side, a flash of cold light, and a dagger was plunged into the neck of the horse-driving servant.

Liang Weijian's pupils contracted sharply, and in his desperate struggle, his embroidered shoes shattered the wooden planks of the carriage wall. The drunkard's palms reeked of sweat and alcohol, making Liang Weijian almost vomit.

Liang Weijian's mouth was covered, while in the distance, another assassin was dragging the coachman's body into the shadows of the alley.

"Ugh—!" He hissed, his nails digging deep into the assassin's hand, but this only earned him more ruthless suppression.

"Behave yourself!" the drunkard said.

Footsteps echoed from the alley entrance—it was the night patrol soldiers! Hope ignited in Liang Weijian's eyes. He twisted his body with all his might and kicked the cart shaft hard, making a dull thud.

"Boss, there's movement over there!" The soldier's shouts immediately approached the carriage.

Liang Weijian felt a sense of relief, but then he saw another assassin calmly pull out an ebony waist token from his pocket and wave it at the approaching torch.

"This is an investigation by the Imperial City Guard." The man's voice was hoarse. "Anyone else—get out of the way!"

The torchlight flickered suddenly. The leading soldier's eyes widened.

"I'm being disrespectful!" With that, the soldier waved his hand and led his men away.

After the soldiers left, Liang Weijian's last hope vanished.

A person emerged from the darkness, smiling, and said, "Your journey through the night has been quite arduous."

Liang Weijian's eyes were bloodshot, and he made a "hoarse" sound in his throat.

"Put them in sacks and throw them into the Bian River!"

The other person waved.

Not long after, this favored eunuch of the Empress Dowager, a once-popular figure in the palace, was quietly fed to the fish and shrimp.

The next morning, the letter announcing Liang Weijian's death reached Shi Deyi, who was in charge of the Imperial City Guard, and Zhang Yue, who was currently in the Prime Minister's residence.

……

Zhang Yue put the letter aside and said to Zhang Shi beside him, "Brother, I told you not to put sugar in the porridge... not to put sugar in it..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shi said somewhat apologetically, "Yes, I put in some rock honey. It was a tribute from Jiaozhi. The envoy brought some to my residence, and I put some in."

Zhang Yue said, "Don't add rock candy either."

"I'll go get a different bowl."

"That's all."

Zhang Yue put down the porridge he had eaten halfway through, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said, "Brother, you put rock candy in this porridge. Is there some family matter you need me to handle?"

Zhang Shi quickly replied, "It's just a change of pace, Third Brother, you're overthinking it."

"But since Third Brother asked, there is indeed such a thing."

Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Shi, the children playing in the hall, and Lu Shi talking to Shiqi Niang in the back hall, and knew exactly what was going on.

Even after the two families separated, Zhang Shi would still come over from time to time to stay, preparing food and taking care of Zhang Yue's daily life.

Although servants would always take care of these things, Zhang Shi was always uneasy and insisted on doing them himself.

However, Zhang Shi's ulterior motives are too obvious.

Zhang Yue said, "Brother, let's talk. We're family, so let's not be formal."

Seeing Zhang Yue set the bowl aside with such a casual gesture, moving his eyes but not his head, Zhang Shi was somewhat speechless, unable to utter the words he wanted to say.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Shi said, "With Jie'er gone, will the position of the Sixth Circuit Military Commissioner of Shaanxi also become vacant?"

"I think Axi is now the prefect of Heyang, isn't she?"

Zhang Yue rinsed his mouth with tea and said, "You've certainly made arrangements for me."

"Isn't Axi doing well in Heyang?"

Zhang Shi said, "It's good, but it's a bit too leisurely."

Zhang Yue chuckled and said, "People need to be able to endure cold and hardship, as well as hard work and leisure."

“Axi has only been in Heyang for nine months, and he can’t sit still? Before, when he was the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, you often complained to me that Axi was busy with official duties and had grown a lot of white hair. Now he seems to be enjoying his leisure time.”

Zhang Shi said, "You are in a high place with unlimited views, but you don't know what it's like down below."

"Now the hall is full of crows and sparrows, and there is not a single carriage or horse in sight. It is really deserted."

How can one bear it?

Zhang Yue chuckled again, "Brother, you seem to enjoy a lively atmosphere."

“How could I not know what it's like to be down on your luck? Back then, he and I both came from humble beginnings. When you're down on your luck, materialism is rampant, and you're bound by all sorts of worldly rules and regulations. At that time, you shouldn't compromise easily or conform to them for the sake of temporary comfort. Don't be afraid of being suppressed. Even when you're down on your luck, you should always look up and have lofty aspirations. Sooner or later, you'll turn things around.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shi said, "Third Brother, you are now the Prime Minister, and Axi has been forced to go out to fight. But I think that brothers should fight side by side, and fathers and sons should fight together. We should support each other both inside and outside the court."

Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Shi and said, "Brother, you're treating state affairs like family matters. The prime minister in the court is surnamed Zhang, and the generals leading troops outside the court are also surnamed Zhang. You haven't forgotten to give our Zhang family control over the government, gathering talents without regard to kinship."

“I’m afraid people will point fingers and criticize me behind my back, saying I’m nepotistic.”

Zhang Shi said, "If Third Brother is in trouble, that's fine. I was just mentioning it."

Upon hearing Zhang Shi's words, Zhang Yue laughed and said, "Very well, brother misses Axi. I'll have him come to the capital to report on his duties later this month, and we'll talk about it then."

Zhang Shi was overjoyed.

Zhang Yue glanced at his elder brother and asked, "How are A-Xi's wives and concubines at home?"

Zhang Shi smiled and said, "Everything is harmonious. Mainly because my mother-in-law is virtuous!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue chuckled and said, "Brother, you can't help but flatter yourself, but then again, a virtuous wife can bring prosperity to three generations."

"Thanks to my brother for marrying me such a good sister-in-law."

Zhang Shi said, "You're being too polite by saying that."

……

A few days later, Zhang Zhi went to the capital.

Zhang Zhi's departure from the capital was also Zhang Yue's way of avoiding suspicion. He had a very close relationship with Lü Gongzhu and his political views in the court were wavering, putting him in a difficult position.

When Zhang Zhi arrived in Beijing, Zhang Yue was claiming illness, but it was nothing more than a minor ailment.

Zhang Yue had a consistent habit of slacking off whenever he was slightly ill, but as the emperor grew older, his ambitious nature began to emerge.

When Zhang Yue thought that Shi Deyi was behind the killing of Liang Weijian, he realized that Shi Deyi might not have dared to do it without Shi Deyi's authorization.

Could it be the Emperor or the Empress Dowager's intention? This made Zhang Yue realize something about this young Emperor or Empress Dowager.

Indeed, the forbearance and decisiveness of imperial families are lessons every ruler must learn. Otherwise, how can an orphan and widow sit securely in power?

The emperor learned this very quickly, only a little over a year after he ascended the throne.

He should yield some power to avoid repeating the mistakes of powerful ministers in history. He wanted the emperor and his ministers to have a sense of participation in the power struggle. Therefore, Zhang Yue took leave due to a minor illness, but the emperor and his ministers all sent official documents to Zhang Yue's residence for processing.

Important official documents must be approved by Zhang Yue before they can be submitted.

When Zhang Zhi arrived at the residence, Zhang Yue was taking his medicine.

His illness had actually been cured long ago; it was all due to medications that helped regulate his body.

Zhang Yue was somewhat surprised to see Zhang Zhi. The other party had been in Heyang for less than a year, yet he already looked quite old, with graying temples, making him look several years older than his uncle.

Zhang Yue felt a pang of pity in his heart, thinking that being sidelined was truly unpleasant.

On the night of the coup against Empress Dowager Gao, Li Qingchen and Zhang Zao both arrived, but Zhang Zhi remained neutral along with his father-in-law, Lü Gongzhu. This greatly displeased Zhang Yue, who afterwards ordered him to leave the capital with Han Wei, a situation that continues to this day.

However, Zhang Yue said nonchalantly, "Axi, you're getting old."

Zhang Zhi smiled bitterly and said, "Third Uncle, I am truly unfit to be an official."

Zhang Yue said, "No matter how much people say they are indifferent to fame and fortune, they will still find it difficult to adapt when they suddenly step down from a high position."

“For example, when Cai Chizheng was exiled to Anzhou, he wrote several poems and lyrics. Wu Chuhou, the military governor of Hanyang, learned of this and secretly copied them down and sent them to him.”

"Look at it."

Zhang Zhi felt a chill run down his spine and took the letter.

Before Zhang Yue and Cai Que fell out, Zhang Zhi and Cai Que had a good relationship. Even after Zhang Yue left, their political views differed, leading to Chen Mu's death, which caused a rift between them. However, privately, Cai Que never made things difficult for Zhang Zhi.

After reading Cai Que's poems, he was indeed full of complaints.

After reading it, Zhang Zhi said, "I heard Su Zizhan say that Wu Chuhou is a villain, and that's no exaggeration. How can we do something like this regarding the poetry case?"

"This is a sin that will harm future generations."

Zhang Yue said, "Didn't Cai Chizheng handle this matter quite a few times back then?"

Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Zhi, wanting to mention the poem, but quickly stopped himself from speaking.

To everyone's surprise, Zhang Zhi suddenly asked, "Third Uncle, do you remember? That poem about six-petaled snowflakes?"

Zhang Yue glanced at Zhang Zhi and said:

"Of course I remember that poem. I burned it after we talked about it years ago."

Zhang Zhidao said, "Later, because I liked this poem, I secretly made a copy, but Cai Que got his hands on it."

Zhang Yue said, "You knew all along that Cai Que had received it?"

Zhang Zhi said, "I deliberately left it in the Secretariat. At that time, Cai Chizheng had placed a confidant next to me. I knew this person's background, so I deliberately left it to him."

Zhang Yue sighed, "What is the reason for your actions?"

Zhang Zhi said, "Third Uncle, I don't like being in the central government, caught between you and my father-in-law."

"I wanted to say that I wrote the poem and use Cai Chizheng to dismiss me from my official post. I didn't expect that he would never make things difficult for me."

Zhang Yue said, "That's why I thought that with your personality, you shouldn't make such a mistake no matter what."

Zhang Zhi lowered his head and said, "Third Uncle, could you spare Cai Chizheng this time for the sake of this matter?"

Zhang Yue said, "Even without this incident, I don't intend to pursue Cai Chizheng's matter. I also intend to promote Wu Chuhou."

Zhang Zhi said, "Why would Third Uncle promote such a despicable person?"

Zhang Yue said, "Wu Chuhou is a villain, but he sent the letter to me and did not make it public in the court."

"At the same time, Cai Chizheng was indeed unkind. If he hadn't been the prime minister and hadn't been so indifferent to past relationships, Wu Chuhou wouldn't have been demoted to Hanyang Army this time."

"And Wu Chuhou is talented. Have you read his book, 'Qingxiang Zaji'? It's definitely worth reading. Promoting him will shut him up from now on."

Zhang Zhi said, "It's a pity that Wu Chuhou is talented but lacks virtue."

Zhang Yue said, “When you are an official, remember three things: the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and most importantly, after I die, even if the world is flooded!”

"Wu Chuhou is good at making trouble. But he can't go too far."

Zhang Zhi said, "Is Third Uncle definitely not that 'flood-like' person?"

Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Zhi and said, "It has indeed put you in a difficult position, caught between me and Lord Lü."

“But you know, it doesn’t matter if other people have different political views from me, but you are my nephew, which makes you different from others. Sending you to Heyang is something I need to explain to my subordinates.”

After a moment of silence, Zhang Yue said, "Alright, all of this is in the past."

"Let's eat first, then we can talk."

……

During the meal, everyone talked about family matters.

Zhang Yue drank several cups and then rested.

After the banquet, the Zhang brothers, Zhang Geng and Zhang Cheng, accompanied Zhang Zhi on a stroll around Bianjing City.

Standing outside the theater, the three brothers were overwhelmed by the cheers for "Breaking Lingzhou".

The drumbeats of "Breaking Lingzhou" are thunderous, and the actors, clad in armor and wielding halberds, recreate the magnificent scene of the Song army's great victory over the Dangxiang.

Many people were moved to tears when they saw the Song army beheading generals and seizing flags.

Looking at the audience throwing money like rain, Zhang Gen said in a low voice, "In the past, most of the zaju plays were about encouraging farming and praising the virtues of the emperor, and they were mostly Buddhist scriptures. But now, when they play border wars, they still draw crowds to the streets."

Zhang Cheng picked up a new copper coin that had fallen to the ground, and stroked the inscription on it, saying, "Brother, look, this is a new Yuan You coin that we minted using the 'copper extraction method'."

Zhang Zhi glanced at the Yuan You Tong Bao coin; it was customary for a new emperor to mint coins upon ascending the throne. This coin was of excellent quality and of substantial weight.

Zhang Zhidao said, "Compared to the iron coins minted during the Xining era and the coins worth two, three, or even five cash, the Yuanyou era, when the Minister of Works was in charge, saw the court giving back to the people, rather than simply squeezing money from them."

"It truly has the feel of a prosperous era," Zhang Geng said with a smile.

Zhang Zhi remained noncommittal.

After saying this, the three of them went to find a place to drink.

The music from the upper floor of the Panjialou tavern drifted to the street corner, where patrolling officials were seen helping vendors straighten their crooked lanterns.

Zhang Gen chuckled: "Last year, these public servants were upsetting people's stalls, but now they've learned to collect money for maintaining order."

Zhang Zhi nodded and said, "When officials do not disturb the people and the people do not fear the officials, this is a prosperous age!"

Zhang Cheng raised his cup and said, "Brother is absolutely right!"

The wine reflected the lights of countless homes. Zhang Zhi finished his cup and looked towards the Bian River—tens of thousands of small sheepskin lanterns dotted the dozens of miles of river surface like stars, their light shimmering and flickering in the thin blue mist.

Zhang Zhi sighed, “The vitality of Bianjing comes precisely from those trivial professions that were once scorned by the literati.”

Inside the tavern, merchants dressed in fine silks and satins loudly discussed the prices of salt certificates, cotton cloth, and silk fabrics to be exchanged the next day.

Many vendors from various places are also prepared to try their luck in this world.

The main gate of the shop, adorned with colorful decorations, was filled with luxury cars and fine horses. The tavern was brightly lit and bustling with people, all of whom were young and energetic, as if money could be picked up everywhere in Bianjing.

There are no barriers to entry; anyone with money can participate in this game.

Zhang Zhi suddenly remembered what Zhang Yue had once said: "Power is generally difficult to open up to those from poor families, but there is at least a little bit of opportunity in terms of money."

Zhang Zhi once criticized this statement as an attempt to vindicate gamblers.

These young merchants harbored speculative intentions, but their boldness in spending money and their confidence in tomorrow deeply moved Zhang Zhi.

In most parts of the country, scholars would not associate with merchants, but in Bianjing they could sit together.

The group sat together, drinking wine from Liangzhou, with a plate of mutton as an appetizer, and some seasonal side dishes.

Zhang Gen said to Zhang Zhi, "My elder brother once taught my brother and me: 'Scholars should stay away from the stench of money.'"

"But this year, when the Maritime Trade Office was established in Quanzhou, all the officials in the court vied to write inscriptions for the office."

"Now, the plaque with the words 'annual income of three million strings of cash' hangs under the Jiaoyin Office, which was written by the Emperor. I think this prosperous age should not be just words in the books of sages, but should make the people's pockets heavy with money. It should give people confidence. These are the things that Father Yuanyou accomplished."

Zhang Gen and Zhang Cheng took turns speaking.

Zhang Zhi said, “When I arrived in Bianjing today, I saw that the Yuan You era under the leadership of the Minister of Works had a completely new look, and it was a prosperous age with peace throughout the country and thriving commerce.”

"But right now, this is just the situation in Bianjing, or Hangzhou, Luoyang, or even Qinzhou and Liangzhou. The lives of most people in the world are not yet considered prosperous."

Zhang Gen laughed and said, "So what? Things will get better sooner or later. Look at these businessmen."

"Nowadays, studying to become an official is no longer the only way for people from poor families to rise above their circumstances."

“Brother, I have read through all the history books. Why does the world, after a long period of division, inevitably unite, and after a long period of unity, inevitably divide again? It is because those in power have blocked the path for the poor, so those who have no way to advance have no choice but to turn to the common people who come from humble backgrounds to rebel!”

Zhang Zhi felt that this statement was debatable, but after pondering for a moment, he said, "What you said makes sense. Wasn't Huang Chao of the previous dynasty just like that?"

"If the Tang Dynasty had liberalized salt permits as it does today, giving people a way to make a living by selling salt, there would be no more crime of selling smuggled salt, and there would have been no disasters like those of Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao."

Zhang Cheng said, "That's right! Since the imperial court lifted the salt ban and changed to the salt certificate system for profit, private salt dealers have almost disappeared from the country!"

“In the past, tens of thousands of salt smugglers were imprisoned along the Jianghuai Road alone, but now the prisons are almost half empty.”

Zhang Zhi thought to himself, "My third uncle came from a poor family, but he never forgot to pave a way for those from poor families."

He did not disappoint his original aspirations.

On their way back, the three passed by the Ordnance Factory and were deeply moved by the sight of the towering flames inside and the craftsmen working day and night to forge military weapons.

……

The next day, Zhang Zhi arrived at Zhang Yue's residence early in the morning.

Zhang Yue still drinks porridge and a few side dishes every morning, a meal he has had for decades.

Zhang Zhi felt that someone like Zhang Yue must be high and mighty, but such people are often extremely simple and down-to-earth in their daily lives.

Various tabloids were laid out in front of him.

When Zhang Yue saw Zhang Zhi arrive, he smiled and said, "Axi, storytellers used to tell very short stories, only a few performances were enough."

"But now the story is quite long, enough to tell dozens of stories."

"Do you know that the reputation of storytellers in the capital these days is no less than that of popular lyricists? I listened to several performances at Panjialou a few days ago and was completely captivated. But who has the leisure to go there every day to listen to storytelling?"

"So I ordered someone to buy the storyteller's scripts."

"It cost a full five strings of cash. This reminds me of the predicament I faced when I was a student, when I could only copy books but couldn't afford to buy them."

"Reading a novel of two or three hundred thousand words would cost an ordinary person a month's wages, and only today can we afford such a luxury."

Zhang Zhi thought to himself, what is this? Compared to the extravagance of the Lü family, Zhang Yue's expenses are just a drop in the ocean.

Zhang Zhi said, "That's why storytelling is better. We're just afraid we don't have the time."

Zhang Yue said wearily, "Everyone in the world envies us, but no amount of money or status can replace the regret of passing years."

"Flowers will bloom again, and people will never be young again."

"If I could, I would still prefer the Zhang Sanlang who worked as a scribe at Zhoujintang back then."

Zhang Yue put down his storybook, and the two began to discuss serious matters.

Zhang Yue said, "My elder brother mentioned the matter of the acting Privy Councilor to me before."

"Now that the Tanguts have ceded three prefectures and our army has also subdued Lingzhou, I plan to abolish the Privy Council."

Zhang Zhi asked, "Abolish the Privy Council? Third Uncle, are you no longer going to exterminate the Tanguts?"

Zhang Yue then said, "The Dangxiang have already surrendered, and half of the late emperor's last wish has been fulfilled. I intend to reorganize the country."

"The Western Regions Control Office was established to govern Xihe Road and Qinfeng Road, with its capital in Lanzhou, for the purpose of expanding into the Western Regions."

"The military commissioners of Jingyuan Road, Huanqing Road, Fuyan Road, and Hedong Road remain as before..."

Zhang Zhi asked, "Third Uncle, what I admire most about the Records of the Three Kingdoms is Prime Minister Zhuge Liang's 'leading the three armies to pacify the Central Plains, eliminate the treacherous and wicked, restore the Han Dynasty, and return to the old capital.'"

"Now that the task is not yet completed, does Third Uncle intend to give up halfway?"

"So you want to replace him with the hostage?" Zhang Yue asked casually.

Zhang Zhi said, "I dare not, I am merely completing an unfinished task."

"My third uncle turned the tide, captured Lanzhou, took Liangzhou, and broke Lingzhou. Now he has gone even further... securing at least twenty years of national prosperity for the country."

"Why fear the rumors circulating in the court? Is Uncle worried that once the Dangxiang are wiped out, he will have to relinquish the throne?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue said, "Axi, when a person is in a low position, they should assert their righteous cause to gain the support of the people."

"But once you reach a high position, you must be pragmatic and seek substantial benefits."

“Those who do not follow the people are lacking in benevolence. And those who follow the people but do not govern are lacking in righteousness. Today, I must govern the country with righteousness; this is the most urgent task.”

Zhang Zhi said, "Third Uncle, these are the words of Kuai Liang and Liu Biao. At that time, he also said that those who govern chaos should first use strategy and tactics, and those who govern peace should first use benevolence and righteousness."

"The world today must be brought to order by those who are in chaos!"

Zhang Yue continued earnestly to Zhang Zhi, "Axi, there are many other things to do for the country; destroying the Tanguts is just one of them. Besides..."

"Furthermore, before Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, he also crossed the Lu River in May and ventured deep into the barren lands... to stabilize the rear and reorganize the troops."

Zhang Zhi's eyes lit up and he asked, "Is Third Uncle talking about Jiaozhi?"

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "That's right. Jiaozhi broke into my Yongzhou and massacred 50,000 soldiers and civilians, including Prefect Su Jian. The late emperor ordered Guo Kui to lead an army of 300,000 south. Although he won a great victory at Fuliang River, he suffered more than half of his troops casualties due to the epidemic and had to return to the capital in the end."

“Now Jiaozhi is still eyeing my southern border. I am planning to send a general south to lead an army to pacify Jiaozhi and take back its old counties. However, the south is barren and there is also an epidemic.”

Zhang Zhi stood up and said, "Nephew is willing to go."

Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Zhi and nodded. "Lingzhou has fallen, the Dangxiang forces are exhausted, and they can barely hold on in the country. We should have taken it in one fell swoop."

“But since he has already ceded three states, I cannot take action.”

"However, I have already ordered Li Bingchang to attack Aligu. This strategy of two tigers fighting over food must still be used to weaken its national strength. Besides, now that we have annexed the Dangxiang, Hexi, and Shanyin, Aligu will benefit from these as well. I will bring all of these under the control of the Song Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhi was overjoyed and said, "I knew that Third Uncle had already planned this all along."

Zhang Yue said, "I will not follow the example of Xiang Yu in seeking fame. Throughout history, many have started well, but few have finished well. When it comes to the final step, I cannot panic."

"After you pacify Jiaozhi and return to the capital, the final task of destroying the country will fall on your shoulders."

"It's just a pity... that Zhifu is gone."

Zhang Yue recalled the time when he took Zhang Jie to meet the emperor during the snowstorm; those days were now just a dream.

"I have never forgotten the task entrusted to me by the late emperor. I am of shallow talent and meager virtue, and my only wish in life is to devote myself to the cause." Zhang Yue seemed to be talking to himself, but also seemed to be speaking to Zhang Zhi.

Mentioning the late Emperor, Zhang Zhi's eyes reddened slightly as he said, "Third Uncle, our Zhang family has received the Emperor's favor for generations, and we should emulate Ma Fubo, who died on the battlefield to repay the country!"

On that day, Zhang Yue hosted a banquet for Zhang Zhi at his home. Among Zhang Jie's sons, besides Zhang Zai, were Zhang Zong, Zhang Cai, and others. Zhang Jie's sons were all exceptionally talented.

Zhang Jie was extremely strict in educating his children. In his spare time, he would lock them in a room to study, and all his children became accomplished individuals.

After posthumously honoring Zhang Jie, Zhang Yue also granted official titles to several of his sons.

However, how many trials and tribulations will they have to endure before they can shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the nation for their uncles?

Seeing the younger generation of the Zhang family gathered together, Zhang Yue suddenly thought of Liu Bang's "Song of the Great Wind".

"A strong wind rises, and the clouds fly high."

"My might extends throughout the land, yet I return to my homeland."

Where can I find brave warriors to guard the four directions?

After saying this, Zhang Yue was moved by the scene and drank several more cups before leaving the table.

……

October.

The Tanguts resented Aligu's repeated invasions of their territory during their wars with the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, after ceding three prefectures to the Song Dynasty, Li Bingchang, the leader of the Tanguts, led 30,000 cavalry to fight Aligu in a major battle at Yinshan and won.

After his defeat, Aligu withdrew his troops and ceded the Yinshan region, which he had annexed.

However, the Tanguts refused to give up, and Li Bingchang raised another 100,000 troops to join forces with the Uyghurs to attack Hexi and fight a major battle with Aligu.

At the same time, just after autumn, Jiaozhi (Vietnam) began to stir, and Zhang Yue immediately appointed Zhang Zhi as the military commissioner of Annam and ordered him to lead 100,000 troops to attack Jiaozhi.

In one battle, Zhang Zhi captured several prefectures, including Guangyuan Prefecture, and then his army besieged the capital of Jiaozhi, Thang Long Prefecture, forcing the King of Jiaozhi to sue for peace.

Zhang Zhi submitted a memorial to the court, requesting to personally guard the borders of the country in order to prevent Jiaozhi from reclaiming the territory. He proposed to gradually transform the barbarians into Han Chinese and integrate them into the Chinese territory. He also attached a poem to Zhang Yue: "People say that Luoyang is as beautiful as brocade, but when I arrived, it was not spring."

So Zhang Zhi led his troops to guard the wild land of Guangyuan Prefecture, pacified the barbarians, and built water conservancy projects. He remained in office for five years before returning to Bianjing.

The local people, grateful for his kindness, built shrines and temples to commemorate him for generations.

……

Spring, the second year of Yuanyou.

When spring arrives and flowers bloom.

Side hall.

The Emperor said, "Zhang Dun submitted a memorial to the court to support the grand plan of expanding into Huguang. He offered his advice to the court."

"We will recruit and appease the chieftain of the Shu barbarians, Fu, and grant him hereditary local official positions to assist the Song army as guides."

"Following the strategy of 'shallow attack and advance' in the Northwest, I ordered my soldiers to build thirty-six forts along the Yuan River, advancing step by step."

“By opening up trade markets and profiting from salt and iron, and by exchanging tea and silk for barbarian mountain lands, we can undermine their foundation for self-sufficiency.”

"He also established a 'Man School' in Chenzhou to teach Chinese language and agriculture; and petitioned the court to exempt the newly attached areas of Huguang from taxes for three years."

Zhang Yue said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Jiaozhi is not yet pacified, and the malaria-ridden lands of Huguang are plagued by frequent rebellions by barbarians. Zhang Dun is known for his courage and strategic acumen; appointing him to lead the nation in expanding its territory is a wise move!"

The Emperor smiled and said, "Your Excellency serves the country without regard for personal grudges; you truly have a broad mind."

Empress Dowager Xiang, who was behind the curtain, said, "Then arrange a job for Zhang Dun."

Zhang Yue said, "I will be appointed as the Military Commissioner of Huguang Circuit."

The Empress Dowager, behind the curtain, said, "Let's do it this way."

Zhang Yue thought to himself, Zhang Dun could be reinstated, but Cai could never be reinstated. He should let him settle down in Anzhou and then transfer him to a place closer to Chenzhou to live out his days in a few years.

The Empress Dowager added, "The performance evaluation system has been criticized in the court, as it is considered harsh on officials and common people."

"The Ministry of Personnel keeps the Ministry of Personnel's register; the Secretariat and the Chancellery keep the audit register; and the Six Ministries keep the base register. The method of auditing the registers requires officials to report the progress. Although it has the effect of supervision, it also encourages officials to falsify information, be eager for quick success and instant benefits, and even blindly follow their superiors."

"The two Grand Councilors also have differing opinions on matters of great importance to the nation."

Zhang Yue said, "What the Empress Dowager said is absolutely right. The articles and regulations are only used to communicate and prevent forgetting, and are not reliable."

"Therefore, it is said that there are those in the world who are governed and those who are not, and that governance is achieved through substance, but not through rhetoric."

"Like the Liao dynasty, which imitated our dynasty's method of making coins and paper money, thinking that they could make countless amounts of money every year, they ended up shooting themselves in the foot. This is what it means to grasp the form but not the substance."

When Zhang Yue finished speaking, both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor smiled.

Liao politics had become a classic anecdote and joke in the Song Dynasty court.

Since Yelü Hongji's reforms, the Liao Dynasty has been trying to learn from the Song Dynasty. Yelü Hongji tried to imitate Wang Anshi, but in the end, he could never quite replicate it.

The Liao Dynasty's attack on the Song Dynasty this time did not yield any significant results, which was also related to the fact that Yelü Hongji's reforms had caused widespread resentment among the Liao people.

Zhang Yue said, "The key to the success of Jinggong's reforms lay in first changing customs and establishing laws and regulations."

"When I submitted my policy proposal to Emperor Renzong, I argued that if we wanted to implement reforms, we must first strengthen the foundation, and the key to strengthening the foundation lies in centralized power."

"Over the years, the court has consistently followed this path. I foresee that five hundred years from now, centralized power will only be more concentrated than it is today."

The emperor said, "The Liao Kingdom's failure lies in its system's inability to centralize power."

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, the reason why the system is still superficial is that the system comes from ideology, and ideology comes from culture."

"The barbarians do not have a hundred-year reign. The Liao Dynasty lasted for two hundred years, and although it adopted Han customs to govern its country, it only ever achieved the form."

"However, while the current system can centralize power, it also has its drawbacks."

The emperor said, "I wish to hear the details. Please speak frankly about the principles of order, chaos, rise, and fall."

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, the rise and fall of a nation depends first and foremost on the governance of its officials; the prosperity and decline of the court depends on its finances."

"The key to governing officials lies in impartiality and integrity. Officials will not fear my severity, but my integrity; the people will not admire my ability, but my impartiality. As long as the world is not governed by corrupt officials, there will be no harm."

"Secondly, the court should impose its laws, and even those of high rank and close proximity should not be pardoned, so that officials can govern effectively."

The emperor nodded slowly, and the empress dowager behind the curtain was also satisfied.

"As for finance, the court should live within its means. The reason why the late emperor reformed the laws was ultimately because of insufficient revenue and expenditure. This revenue all comes from the people. Guanzi took over the mountains and seas as state property, but aren't the mountains and seas also owned by the people? But I have only seen the money taken from the people, and rarely seen it used for the people."

"The way to reform is to proceed from both subjective and objective perspectives."

“Lord Jing is a man of great talent, but no matter how good my initial intentions were, if they cannot be implemented and the people do not find them convenient, they will ultimately be difficult to sustain.”

"While Wen Gong was able to keep the people's sentiments in mind, he was undoubtedly like the blind men touching an elephant, taking whatever he touched as the whole picture and failing to understand the deepest hopes of the people."

"Both of them have their strengths and weaknesses. I hope that the Empress Dowager and His Majesty will take this as a lesson and set an example for future generations."

The Empress Dowager nodded again and said, "My lord, this is the great principle of governing a country. But Minister Zhang has not yet explained how to avoid the abuse of performance evaluation methods that prioritize form over substance."

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, as I just said, reform requires strong leadership, but supervision requires the separation of powers."

"I have divided the government into four departments: the Secretariat, the Chancellery, the Imperial Secretariat, and the Censorate, to check and balance each other, so as to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the examination system to make arbitrary decisions and avoid the abuses of rule by man."

"At the same time, after setting time limits for the examination, we cannot simply apply the same approach to everything... We must both unite and separate."

As Zhang Yue spoke, she watched as the Emperor under the curtain nodded repeatedly.

Empress Dowager Xiang withdrew her gaze, but a sudden thought arose in her heart. She raised her hand and gently lifted the curtain to look outside, and the eunuchs beside her hurriedly lowered their heads.

The Empress Dowager removed the tassels from her crown, revealing Zhang Yue, dressed in a purple robe and jade belt, sitting in the center of the hall. Zhang Qing was about the same age as the late Emperor. If only my father had had the foresight of Wu Chong back then! I was there when he paraded through the imperial streets after becoming the top scholar…

Zhang Yue wiped the sweat from his forehead, knowing that neither the emperor nor the empress dowager were people who could be easily fooled.

At that moment, he saw the gaze cast from behind the beaded curtain by phoenix eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.

The beaded curtain was immediately lowered, and the Empress Dowager couldn't help but sigh deeply. The girlish feelings of her youth welled up in her heart, but she quickly suppressed them again.

……

Zhang Yue stepped out of the side hall. The wind in Bianjing was strong today, making his purple robe and jade belt flutter.

Suddenly, he saw several eunuchs busy working in a flower garden, so he stopped to watch.

The morning light shone through the gaps in the clouds onto that small patch of land, making the newly sprouted buds glow.

Zhang Yue stared blankly into space.

At first, the eunuchs did not notice, but then one of them, with sharp eyes, saw that it was Zhang Yue and immediately bowed and paid his respects.

"Greetings, Minister!" A sharp-eyed eunuch hurriedly knelt down, and the others were startled, putting down their flower hoes and bowing in return.

Zhang Yue gestured for everyone to rise, then strolled to the flowerbed. There, amidst the newly sprouted greenery, were a few weeds, which the eunuchs were about to uproot.

He bent down and picked up a seedling, its verdant veins unfolding in his palm.

“Reporting to the Minister of Works,” the head eunuch bowed and explained, “the spring banquet is approaching, and we servants have been ordered to clear away these weeds and wormwood so that we can replace them with peonies and peonies.”

Suddenly feeling the dew dampening the cuffs of his court robes, Zhang Yue glanced at a few plants and said:

"What are weeds and wormwood today may one day become towering trees that reach for the clouds."

"They are all materials born of heaven and earth, so let's not distinguish them by their value. Let them grow!"

The eunuchs looked at each other in bewilderment, only to see that Zhang Yue had already walked away with his hands behind his back.