Prime Minister

Chapter 1344 Confrontation with the Queen Mother

Chapter 1344 Confrontation with the Queen Mother

The red lacquered gate of the Zhang Mansion was closed for three days.

Zhang Yue was copying calligraphy in his study when he heard his old servant report that Zhang Duzhi was coming to visit.

But a rare visitor came.

That is Zhang Maozhe.

Zhang Maoze and Zhang Yue have known each other for decades. When Zhang Maoze was serving Emperor Renzong, Zhang Yue was not even born yet.

When Zhang Yue entered the court as an official, he was already a prominent official.

After the emperor ascended the throne, Zhang Maoze served the two Empress Dowagers Cao and Gao.

Over the years, Zhang Yue has always been polite to Zhang Maze.

In front of the bluestone steps, Zhang Yue looked at the black sedan chair. He watched Zhang Maozhe lift the curtain and come out, his old face still as calm as an ancient pond.

"How are you, Mr. Jian?"

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Okay, I know you are in good health."

Zhang Maoze said: "I still only eat a bowl of coarse rice every day, and never eat anything greasy, so I am at peace with myself as I grow old."

"It is better to eat less than to be full. Duzhi advised me this when I first became an official, and I have always remembered it. I still remember the way Duzhi used a whisk to brush away the remaining snow in front of the steps when I presided over my first imperial lecture in the Temple of Benevolence. I was still nervous at that time, and it was thanks to Duzhi's advice along the way."

Zhang Yue also used the phrase "It is better to eat less than to be overfed" to make it clear that he had no other ambitions when he returned to the court this time.

Zhang Maoze said, "I am just a veteran minister of three dynasties."

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "More than three dynasties, half of the secret history of the Song Dynasty is in Du Zhi's mind."

The two laughed together, and Zhang Yue and Zhang Maize walked into the lobby together.

After sitting down, Zhang Yue asked, "How is your Majesty's health compared to last month?"

Zhang Maoze thought of the emperor who was getting thinner and thinner on the dragon bed. After a moment, he shook his head.

Zhang Maoze said, "The Empress Dowager sent me here to listen to Lord Zhang's opinion. It is almost June now, and the court's preparations for autumn are of utmost importance."

"After the defeat at Yongle City last year, the Liao Kingdom once again made a huge demand for 700,000 yuan in tribute from the imperial court. The country has been at war for so many years, and it seems to be getting harder than ever before."

Zhang Yue said: "Difficult? It is difficult for our dynasty, but isn't it difficult for the Tanguts? It is also difficult for the Liao Kingdom."

“If the system is not reformed, if the law is not changed, the court will be ten times more difficult than it is today.”

"He who cannot plan for eternity cannot plan for the moment either."

Zhang Maoze said, "To be honest, the Empress Dowager likes the Jiayou reign of the Ren Temple the most. There is no trouble in the world, and the Holy Lord is in power. Lord Zhang, do you know that the Empress Dowager prepared two edicts for your visit to the capital this time?"

Zhang Yue said: "I don't know."

Zhang Maoze said: "In theory, since His Majesty is seriously ill, it would be safer for the court to ask Lord Zhang to preside over state affairs. But if Lord Zhang continues to be stubborn, the capital will also be in trouble."

Zhang Yue said: "The world is so big, there is no place I cannot go."

"But things have come to this point. The most important thing in my eyes is the prince."

The officials promoted by the emperor in recent years all supported the new law, so the empress dowager wanted to confirm her power by abolishing the new law.

At the same time, the Queen Mother herself was opposed to the new law.

There was no way to resist the imperial power, so Zhang Dun came up with the idea of ​​having the empress and the queen mother share the power to rule the country.

Used to fight against imperial power.

However, it was a pure joke for both palaces to listen to the proposal, which was easily suppressed by Empress Dowager Gao. Zhang Dun was defeated miserably, and even Zhang Shangying, who submitted a memorial, was happily exiled to Lingnan.

But there is another way, which is also the most direct way.

That means the crown prince will take power ahead of schedule and succeed to the throne ahead of schedule.

That is to say, the Crown Prince was in hand, and Han Zhongyan, Cai Bian and Cheng Yi were all lecturers of the Crown Prince.

Han Zhongyan was the son of Han Qi, Cai Bian was the son-in-law of Wang Anshi, and Cheng Yi was a lecturer at the Imperial College.

The emperor had long anticipated that the lineup of teachers and assistants arranged for the crown prince would be very powerful.

Zhang Yue's routine remained the same as before. First he established a crown prince, and now he was promoting the crown prince to divide the imperial power.

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty is still here... The Crown Prince certainly has no other ideas, he serves the medicine to fulfill his filial duty. But there is one thing I want to say, the Crown Prince is eleven years old this year, if he can personally handle state affairs at the age of fourteen, it is not too early."

Zhang Maze was shocked when he heard this. Three years!

Zhang Yue actually only gave Empress Dowager Gao three years.

Zhang Maoze sat there in silence and thought to himself, Zhang Yue is still the most powerful one. The contradiction between reform and abolition of reform is really about the struggle for imperial power.

I allow your old party to restore, but only for three years.

Three years later, the crown prince, who would become the emperor, would take power, and then everything would naturally change back.

As long as this constraint exists, you, the old party, will not be able to do things too drastically as you did in history.

This is exchanging time for space.

There is a way out for everything. Time cannot solve problems, but the solution to problems must be in time.

Slow things down.

Of course, these words could not be discussed directly between Zhang Yue and Empress Dowager Gao when they met the emperor. Instead, they had to pass the words to the palace through Zhang Maze.

"Fourteen……"

Zhang Yue said, "It's not too late. Please tell the Queen Mother that three years is enough time for the young phoenix to give birth to a beautiful bird."

"The Empress Dowager Zhangxian returned power too late. Fortunately, the Emperor was lenient."

Zhang Yue was representing himself, the civil service group, and the Crown Prince to negotiate terms with Zhang Maoze and the Empress Dowager Gao behind him.

The crown prince took power at the age of fourteen, and Empress Dowager Gao ruled for only three years.

The solution to break the impasse is, as always, to find a solution from the prince.

"I will convey Lord Jian's words to the Queen Mother." Zhang Maoze said slowly.

Zhang Yue said: "The future of the world depends on you."

……

"The Empress Dowager is only allowed to rule for three years! Zhang Yue is so arrogant." Chen Yan laughed after listening to Zhang Maze's words.

"A retired prime minister, does he think he is still the Prime Minister Zhang who is in charge of military and state affairs? How can he talk about these with the Empress Dowager!" Liang Weijian said.

Zhang Maoze said: "He was the one who initiated the establishment of the crown prince, and was later forced to leave the court."

Chen Yan said: "I think Lord Zhang Jiangong was already a powerful minister, so I dare not let him return to the court to govern."

The three powerful eunuchs chatted for a while, and suddenly a eunuch came over. Zhang Maoze asked, "Has the Queen Mother decided where to receive Lord Zhang?"

"The Empress Dowager's decree is in the Chuigong Palace!"

The three of them looked at each other.

Liang Weijian and Chen Yan both looked happy, but Zhang Maze's eyes dimmed.

It was held in Chuigong Hall instead of Funing Hall because the Empress Dowager did not want Zhang Yue to see the Emperor for the last time.

……

At this moment, Zhang Yue was wearing a purple robe and walked straight into the Chuigong Hall with a court tablet in his hand.

As he walked, he saw Sima Guang in the distance on the corridor.

Next to Sima Guang was Xing Shu.

Xing Shu was chasing Sima Guang and saying something.

Zhang Yue knew that Xing Shu was once a student of Sima Guang. When he came all the way to Xihe Road to report, it was Sima Guang who wrote the letter of recommendation.

Now Xingshu represents the reconciliation between Cai Que and Sima Guang.

Zhang Yue, dressed in a purple robe and jade belt, stood on the long bluestone steps in front of the Chuigong Hall with a tablet in his hand.

Sima Guang had poor eyesight, and it took him a long time before he saw Zhang Yue beside the pillars of the hall.

Zhang Yue heard Xing Shu's words from afar.

"Master, you are wise! Although Minister Zhizheng advocates the new law, he often tells me, 'If Sima Gong is in charge of the capital, there is no need to worry about unrest in the court. Master, if you are willing to delay the "petition to abolish the new law", it will be convenient for the whole world."

Zhang Yue raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and the two of them greeted each other.

"Lord Jian!" Sima Guang saw Zhang Yue and Xing Shu stepped aside.

Sima Guang said, "I have heard that the tea merchants in Jianzhou carved the words 'free from military service forever' on the cliffs of Wuyi in order to welcome you back to the court."

Zhang Yue said: "I also remembered what Sima Gong said, that in times of chaos, heavy punishments should be used, and in times of peace, old rules should be followed. I suddenly felt that the word 'old rules' could not be the labor law of the Jiayou reign."

Sima Guang said: "Lü Gong advised me a long time ago, Junshi should know that the exemption law that Zhangdu revised is no longer the old system of Jiefu. It's a pity... The exemption law is the head of the new law. If the head is not cut off, the rest will be discussed."

"Sima Gong, do you know how the county clerks exploited the people during the Jiayou period? Nine out of ten carriage shops and footpaths in Bianjing sold their wives and children to avoid the government service!"

"I personally saw an old farmer in Jiannan crying as he handed over the exemption money, saying it was his life-saving money."

Sima Guang clenched his tablet tightly with his dry fingers: "Didn't Lord Jian hear the teachings of the Zhou Li about 'collecting wealth through nine taxes'? The ways of merchants are destroying the order of our dynasty——"

The way of businessmen? "Zhang Yue said loudly, "Xihe Jianzhou's annual income from tea, horses and salt is millions, and the Western Army's armor is all made of this silver! Do you want to cut off the food and wages of 300,000 border troops and follow Li Deyu's old practice of withdrawing all of Weizhou?"

Sima Guang said sternly: "The new law collects money——"

"Sima Gong compiled a thousand volumes of Tongjian. Has he ever calculated how many families were ruined by the police during the Jiayou period? On my desk is a report from the Ministry of Justice in the seventh year of Yuanfeng - the number of murders by police officers has dropped by 70% compared to the Zhiping period!"

Zhang Yue listed the data one by one, but Sima Guang also quoted from classics.

However, Sima Guang had no experience in local governance, and was unable to hold his ground under Zhang Yue's analysis. However, Sima Guang was stubborn and did not lose the upper hand.

The eunuch beside him did not expect that Zhang Yue would meet Sima Guang as soon as he entered the palace. As soon as they met Sima Guang, the two of them started arguing.

The eunuch hurriedly said, "Lord Jian, the Queen Mother is waiting in the palace. It would be disrespectful to keep her waiting for too long."

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "If you execute this method today, it will be recorded in history: In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Sima Junshi killed a million people."

"Sima Gong resigned!"

Sima Guang sighed and said, "I will resign!"

The two men greeted each other and parted unhappily.

Zhang Yue immediately climbed the stairs to the hall, while Sima Guang and Xing Shu left.

The Empress Dowager had been governing the country on behalf of the Emperor in the Funing Hall, and had only met with ministers two or three times behind a curtain in the Chuigong Hall.

Zhang Yue arrived at the Chuigong Hall, but saw countless candles lit on both sides of the hall, and a curtain in the east room separating the inside and the outside.

After a while, Zhang Yue bowed and paid his respects, and the eunuchs quickly brought a chair and waited for him.

The sound of rosary beads being peeled could be heard from behind the curtain, and the voice that sounded like that of Empress Dowager Gao slowly said, "Duke Jianguo, it has been many years since we last met. I still remember the first time you came to the late emperor's residence. Do you still remember what I said to you at that time?"

Zhang Yue said: "I remember that the Queen Mother also said to me from behind the curtain that I have made such a great contribution and the relationship between the monarch and the minister will surely last long in the future."

Empress Dowager Gao said with a little sadness: "It's a pity that the late emperor was so unlucky that he only reigned for four years, and now the emperor is like this again."

Zhang Yue said: "Don't worry, Queen Mother. Your Majesty will be able to turn danger into safety this time."

Zhang Yue exchanged greetings with Empress Dowager Gao and then pulled each other.

Zhang Yue suddenly changed the subject and said, "Today, I dare to ask the Queen Mother a favor!"

"You can say whatever you want!"

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty is seriously ill, please ask the Second King to go out!"

Empress Dowager Gao was shocked when she heard this. No minister in the court dared to mention this matter, but Zhang Yue actually mentioned it.

The King of Yong served medicine in the inner chamber, which was originally a means for her to control the ministers. Although she had no such intention, this was like a nuclear weapon, you don't need it, but you can't live without it.

Otherwise, the New Party would really dare to stand on the side of the Crown Prince and Queen Xiang.

But Zhang Yue said, "I heard that your majesty's illness is getting worse day by day. It is enough to have the crown prince by your side to serve you medicine!"

PS: I have been dealing with household chores these past two days, so I am a little tired from updating. Please forgive me.