Zhang Jun saw that Lu Yihao was walking hard and needed the help of his maid to even sit down. He sat down tremblingly and looked old. He asked with concern: "What's wrong with Mr. Lu's leg?"
Lu Yihao shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "Leg disease is an old problem. The root of the disease started when I was young. Now that I am older, the leg disease will recur from time to time. I can't control it even with medicine. I can only let it go."
Zhang Jun nodded, "The officials are very concerned about Mr. Lu's current situation and specially asked me to visit him at home. If Mr. Lu needs any precious medicinal materials or royal doctors come to visit, you can ask for them and the officials will do their best to satisfy them."
Lu Yihao bowed slightly and said, "Please, my husband, thank the officials for their kindness. I don't need it yet."
After a few words of greeting, Zhang Jun went straight to the topic, "The official family originally wanted to invite Lu Gong to come out again, but now it seems that it is more important for Lu Gong to take care of his health. Lu Gong can recommend talented people. The official family has also said that talents should not be avoided.
Dear, it’s totally fine to recommend a clan member.”
Lu Yihao smiled slightly and said: "There is no one else around now, so Mr. Zhang, just tell me directly! Is it related to Chen Qing?"
Zhang Jun also knew that Lu Yihao was cunning and cunning, and he could not hide it from him, so he simply stopped covering it up and said to Lu Yihao: "I came today because of three things. Visiting Lu Gong's body is a serious matter, and the officials are indeed very concerned about it. Secondly,
Last time I negotiated the Bashu matter with Chen Qing in Jingzhao, the agreement reached included the lifting of restrictions on the Lu family. Since the officials authorized me to sign the negotiation agreement, they will naturally implement the terms. If Lu Gong is not in good health,
OK, I can recommend others.”
"What position did the official promise?" Lu Yihao also asked frankly.
"It depends on who Lu Gong recommends, like my younger brother Lu Datong. He was dismissed after being convicted, so it is probably difficult, but Qingshan can do it. I also know that Qingshan is smart, capable, honest and self-disciplined, so I prefer him."
"Can Qingshan fall in love?"
Zhang Jun also knew that Lu Qingshan's qualifications were sufficient, and it was understandable that Lu Yihao wanted him to become the prime minister. He pondered for a while and said: "The official's intention is that if it is Lu Qingshan, he can be qualified to become the prime minister, but he will not be admitted to the prime minister for the time being. He will take up the post first."
Minister of Household Affairs."
Lu Yihao understood the other party's intention and gave him the qualification to become the prime minister. If he did not become the prime minister for the time being, he would be given the title of Ping Zhangshi under Zhongshu's sect, but he would not serve as a counselor for political affairs.
But now there are only four prime ministers in the Zhizheng Hall: Qin Hui, Zhang Jun, Zhao Ding, and Xu Xiantu. There is still one missing person. Although Zhe Yanzhi was appointed as Tongzhi Privy Councilor, he was not qualified enough, so he did not become a prime minister. Since Qingshan has added Zhongshu
Everything was going smoothly under the family, so why did he have to wait for a while instead of going directly to the prime minister? Lu Yihao looked at Zhang Jun in confusion.
Zhang Jun smiled and said: "This is actually the third thing I want to say. Lu Gong should know about the negotiation between Chen Qing and the Kingdom of Jin in exchange for the former prince!"
Lu Yihao was silent for a moment and said, "I heard, this shouldn't be his original intention."
"The officials were very angry when they heard about this. It can be said that they were furious. However, I explained to them that if we did not go through the court, even if we exchanged the former prince, the court would not recognize it, and the exchange would become meaningless. I
I also believe that Chen Qing is not that stupid. Chen Qing must have other intentions when he does this. The officials want to know, what does Chen Qing mean?"
Lu Yihao sighed and said: "You are right. If the court does not recognize it, it will be meaningless for him to change to the former prince. Instead, it will attract the hostility of the court. With his wisdom, he will not do such a stupid thing. I
I think he had other intentions."
"What does Lu Gong think Chen Qing's intentions are?"
"I think he had two intentions. One was to prepare for the attack on Xixia and prevent the Jin State from sending troops to interfere with Xixia. He may have used negotiations to test how much the Jin State valued the two royal families. If the Jin State attached great importance to it, then the Jin State would
The country will throw a weapon against rats;
Second, if he wanted to exchange property with the Jin Kingdom, Jurchen soldiers would be enough. I think he wanted to use these two Jurchen royals to make a deal with the court. The exchange of the former prince was just to stimulate the court and make the court aware of these two people.
importance.”
Zhang Jun secretly exaggerated. Jiang was indeed a very old man. He only saw the second point, but did not think of the first point. It was indeed to test the Kingdom of Jin. With these two royal families in hand, the Kingdom of Jin would be very cautious in supporting Xixia.
I don't dare to be so public.
"What does Mr. Lu think Chen Qing wants?"
Lu Yihao smiled slightly and said: "When people are in the officialdom, they only want fame, wealth and power. Chen Qing is not short of money, nor is he short of power. What he only lacks is fame. He seized Shaanxi Road and the title should be further improved, but the imperial court
Do you think Mr. Zhang will be satisfied with just changing the position from Duke of Jing to Duke of Qin?"
"Is it too high to be crowned king?"
"But Tong Guan has already set a precedent."
Zhang Jun knew in his heart that Chen Qing should have told Lu Yihao about this matter. Chen Qing's deal was most likely to exchange two members of the Jin Kingdom's royal family for the king's title.
"Actually, this is the reason why Qingshan did not directly become the prime minister. Once the negotiations between the imperial court and Chen Qing are completed and the relationship between the two parties stabilizes, with Qingshan as a stabilizer, perhaps the officials will consider him becoming the prime minister. The officials have decided to send Zheyanzhi to go
Jing Zhao negotiates with Chen Qing."
"I understand, thank you, Mr. Zhang, for announcing it."
Zhang Jun stood up to say goodbye and left. Lu Yihao sat on a chair and pondered silently. At this time, Lu Qingshan walked in quickly and asked in a low voice: "Why is Mr. Zhang here?"
Lu Yihao said for a long time: "The official family has decided to appoint you as the Minister of Household Affairs and add the title of Zhangshi. Whether you can be granted the title of Counselor for Political Affairs depends on the situation in the northwest!"
Zhang Jun rushed back to the palace, but Zhao Gou was still waiting for news from him!
"Want a prince?"
Zhao Gou frowned, "I have made him the Duke of Qin, isn't he still satisfied?"
Of course, Zhang Jun knew that the king was more sensitive, and the emperor was unlikely to agree. The title system of the Song Dynasty was different from that of the Tang Dynasty.
People with different surnames cannot be crowned kings. Generally, they are crowned after death.
However, there are also special cases for those who were granted the title of king during their lifetime. For example, a relative of the Queen Mother was granted the title of king. Xiang Zongliang and Xiang Zonghui, two brothers of the Queen Mother, were granted the title of county king. There was also Qian Chu who was granted the title of Prince of Deng for his contribution to the territory of the Yue Kingdom.
It was Tong Guan, because Song Shenzong had a decree that whoever captured Yanshan Mansion could be crowned king. Tong Guan captured Yanshan Mansion, which had been plundered by the Jin Kingdom, and was named the Prince of Guangyang.
This is a special case so far in the Song Dynasty where four kings with different surnames were granted the title during their lifetime. Chen Qing wants to become the fifth king with different surnames. Will the officials agree? Zhang Jun is really not sure.
Zhao Gou said coldly: "If I make him a county prince, and he wants a prince, and I make him a prince again, and he still wants my throne, should I give it to him too?"
Speaking of this, Zhang Jun was speechless. He suddenly felt that he was tired of being a peacemaker. He might as well be like Qin Hui and follow the official's temper. What did the official want to hear and say? Sheji Jiangshan Pass has nothing to do with itself.
thing.
But since he is the prime minister, he has to say it if there is something. This is his duty. If he doesn't say it, no one will dare to say it.
"Your Majesty, I am definitely not speaking for Chen Qing. All my thoughts and concerns are for the sake of Your Majesty's country. The reason why I advise Your Majesty to consider it is because Chen Qing already has the strength to become a king. I am afraid of him.
If he proclaims himself king and reaches that stage, what should the court do? Should he hold his nose and admit it, or should he declare him a traitor and call on the world to fight against him? Will Chen Qing then declare himself emperor and collude with the Jin Kingdom to carve up the Song Dynasty? "
Zhao Gou was furious and slapped the table, "How outrageous!"
Zhang Jun knelt down and said with tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, if the humble ministers don't tell the interests and consequences of this, no one in the government or the public will dare to speak out."
Zhao Gou stood there for a long time, then finally sat down slumped. After a long time, he waved his hands and said, "That's it. When he destroys Xixia, I will consider making him king again."
That night, Zhao Gou issued an order to appoint Lu Qingshan as Minister of Household Affairs, increase the title of Zhangshi, and promote him to the rank of Ziguanglu. At the same time, he appointed Lu Yihao's eldest son Lu Wen as the general magistrate of Yuezhou.
In addition, Tongzhi Privy Councilor Zhe Yanzhi was appointed as the emperor's special envoy to go to Jingzhao to discuss the plan to jointly attack Xixia.