The fourth year of Xingchang in the Song Dynasty, July 20th.
It’s almost five o’clock, and the sky is still gray.
Before the start of the court meeting, the period of waiting is called "waiting". Some "waiting courtyards" of different levels were built outside the palace to serve as resting places for officials.
At this time, Ma Tianji was catching up on his sleep in the hospital.
Unlike ordinary officials who would sleep in the hall, leaning against the wall or sitting on a chair, he had a separate room in the courtyard.
Not long ago, Ma Tianji was transferred back to the court from Guangnan East Road and was promoted to Minister of Rites. He also had direct access to the Bachelor's Academy, served as an attendant, and offered wine to the Imperial Academy.
His personal attendant, Ma Mingshi, stood aside, guarding a candle on the table.
When the candles burned out, it was time for Ma Tianji to leave for the palace meeting. It was not too late.
However, on this day, there was still a small part of the candle, and Ma Tianji had already opened his eyes.
Ma Mingdao: "Alang is awake? But it's too noisy outside?"
"Just take a nap for a while." Ma Tianji said, "What are you talking about outside? I seem to hear someone calling my name?"
"A few petty officials were discussing in the courtyard, calling the fourth son of Sun Shaoqing's family in Taichang Temple... They have the same name as Alang."
"Really?" Ma Tianji asked casually: "Has he changed? What is his name now?"
Ma Ming hesitated slightly and said: "It's not that he changed it, but that he was beaten to death in April this year."
"died?"
"Yes, I just heard that there was a lot of excitement outside." Ma Ming said: "Sun Silang was beaten to death in Fenglian Tower because he was jealous of a prostitute and others. It was not good news for this matter to spread, and Sun Shaoqing wanted to cover it up, but then
The prostitute turned out to be Tang An'an. She has become famous recently and is the most beautiful woman in Lin'an, so this matter gradually spread."
Ma Tianji seemed to be distracted and murmured: "Called 'Sun Tianji'? I seem to have heard of him somewhere..."
"Alang is joking." Ma Ming said, "I have heard of it before. After all, it is because of the taboo of Alang."
"No." Ma Tianji narrowed his eyes and suddenly said: "The man who killed Sun Tianji was named 'Li Xia', right?"
"How could Alang know about this case when he had not yet returned to the court?"
"It's not because of this case." Ma Tianji looked thoughtful and whispered to himself: "Where did I hear the name Li Xia..."
Finally, he remembered.
"Huaiyou, Luzhou... Yuan Jie sent the letter to Ding Gong because of this letter... Li Xia... Nie Zhongyou... Oh, a few little minions."
At this point, the candle used for timing went out.
Ma Tianji stood up, straightened his clothes, and took a sedan chair to the palace gate.
Something is also lingering in my mind.
Last year, Ding Gong exiled Dong Huai, the right prime minister, and Cheng Yuanfeng won the position of right prime minister. It seems that Cheng Yuanfeng will be able to catch Cheng Yuanfeng again soon...
No, we should first overthrow Left Prime Minister Xie Fang Shu. This should have been done in July last year, but unfortunately there was less opportunity...
When we arrived in front of the palace gate, we saw a lot of noise in front of us.
Ma Tianji lifted the sedan curtain and asked, "What happened?"
"Alang, wait a moment." Ma Ming responded and hurriedly went to inquire.
Ma Tianji waited for a while and saw that the noise in front of the palace gate became more and more intense.
There were only a few steps left here, so he got off the sedan and walked forward.
Along the way, officials wearing various colors of crimson robes gathered in small groups and talked endlessly.
"Who is so bold?"
"I don't know, you dare to write at the palace gate, you are so arrogant."
"Does this mean "horse jingle"?"
Ma Tianji frowned. He naturally knew that "eaves horse" refers to the wind chimes hanging under the eaves, also called iron horses, which jingle when the wind blows.
But these four words gave him a bad feeling...
Another official said: "Who does this 'Yan Martin Dang' refer to? You really don't know?"
"Shh, don't say more."
"Master Ma is here, give way..."
Ma Tianji slowly walked to the palace gate and raised his head to look.
I saw eight shocking big characters written on the vermilion door.
"If Yan Mingtang is in charge, the country will be destroyed!"
…
Ma Tianji seemed unaware of the whispers around him. He was lost in thought for a long time and finally came back to his senses.
No one knows better than him who the four characters Yan, Ma, Ding and Dang refer to.
Yan refers to Yan Guifei; Ma refers to Ma Tianji; Ding refers to Ding Gong and Ding Daquan; Dang, because eunuchs decorate their hats with 珰, is also called "Da 珰", which refers to the eunuch Dong Songchen.
"If Yan Mingtao is in charge, the country will be destroyed..."
Ma Tianji murmured in a low voice, his eyes flashed with rage and murderous intent, and he quickly calmed down.
He glanced at the officials around him. Some people gathered around him, expressing their indignation and impassioned attitude. Others sneered at him, gloated at his misfortune, and sneered at him.
Ma Tianji was quite well-mannered and didn't say anything in public.
In the end, he still had a calm smile on his face.
"Boom! Boom! Boom..."
The sound of drums came from the direction of Chui Gong Hall.
Many people are already late for today's court meeting.
Ma Tianji straightened his sleeves and entered the palace. In front of the steps, he met Dr. Youjianyi, a bachelor of Duanming Palace, who signed a letter to the Privy Council... Ding Daquan.
Ding Daquan was sixty-five years old at the time. He had a strange appearance when he was born, his face was blue, which made people shudder.
Today, Uncle Xie Fang is appointed as the left prime minister, and Cheng Yuanfeng is appointed as the right prime minister. However, in addition to the left and right prime ministers, what can be counted as a "prime minister" also depends on the ranking in the Privy Council. The prime minister also serves as the privy envoy, and two or three deputy envoys.
Write to the Privy Council.
After Ding Daquan overthrew his right minister Dong Huai, he signed a letter to the Privy Council and became a prime minister with a high status.
For example, Jia Sidao was appointed as the Councilor for Political Affairs, and was called Deputy Prime Minister. He also knew the affairs of the Privy Council, and was only ranked fifth or sixth among the Prime Ministers.
Ding Daquan's status was higher than that of Deputy Prime Minister Jia Sidao.
Perhaps it can be understood from the literal meaning that Ding Daquan can "sign the book", while Jia Sidao can only "know" or "know together".
Moreover, the official system of the Song Dynasty was complicated and chaotic. If coupled with the high trust of the officials, Ding Daquan's power and influence would be no less than that of the left and right ministers.
At this time, Uncle Xie Fang and Cheng Yuanfeng had not yet arrived, and Ding Daquan seemed to be the head of the civil service.
"Ding Gong."
Ma Tianji was afraid that the long wings on his official hat would hit Ding Daquan, so he tilted his head and leaned closer, whispering: "Today's inscription..."
"Dang Yan, how dare you, a 'horse', to line up in front of me."
Ma Tianji was stunned, looking at Ding Daquan's blue face, he felt horrified.
Ding Daquan smiled and moved to the front of the queue without waiting for his answer.
Ma Tianji looked at it and said thank you to Uncle Fang. It's okay that Cheng Yuanfeng came late. Who the hell does Jia Sidao dare to come later than Ding Gong?
…
Outside the palace gate.
The attendant named "Gui He Pu" ran to the sedan chair and whispered: "Alang, we have all entered the palace... As expected, we did not have an attack on the spot."
No one in the sedan answered.
Gui Hepu waited some more, and when he heard the sound of the drums getting more urgent, he couldn't help but lift the sedan curtain and said, "Alang, I'm afraid it's too late to go to court."
Jia Sidao was holding a clay pot and was fascinated, and said: "I'm not the only one who's late. What are you afraid of?"
"But Prime Minister Ding has already entered."
"That's because he can't keep calm today."
Jia Sidao then got up and got off the sedan, and handed the pottery pot in his hand to Guihe Pu.
"Take it."
"yes."
Gui Hepu looked down and saw a small cricket in the jar.
"Alang, this one is a bit small."
"You don't understand." Jia Sidao patted his crimson robe and chanted casually: "You are born with light green teeth but red teeth, a numb head, broad neck and exquisite wings. When you are born again, your flesh and belly are as white as snow, and you can win the solo performance of autumn insects."
Gui Hepu watched Jia Sidao enter the palace, looked at the pottery pot again, and murmured.
"Green...it seems that once the fight started between Prime Minister Zuo and Prime Minister Ding Shu, Alang was betting that Prime Minister Ding Shu would win..."
As Gui Hepu thought, that night, Jia Sidao met many people again, and the things they talked about were indeed related to "Yam Martin is in charge, and the country is about to perish."
"Thanks to Uncle Fang and Ding Daquan, the battle for the position has indeed become tense, and the situation in the court will definitely change..."
"Zhao Kui, I'm afraid Lu Wende's memorial will be handed over soon..."
"In addition, according to reliable information, the Mongolian army has attacked Shu..."
"Uncle Xie Fang wants Yu Hui to lead the army, while Cheng Yuanfeng is paying attention to Zhang Shi. The Privy Council should come up with an idea as soon as possible..."
After hearing the news one after another, Jia Sidao walked around in thought for a while, and finally just waved his hand and dismissed all his confidants.
He then turned to the yard where the crickets were raised, his eyes slid through the clay pots, and he carefully observed each cricket.
Gui Hepu couldn't help but ask: "Why is Alang not anxious about such a big event?"
"Why are you anxious?" Jia Sidao said leisurely: "Be quiet and then you will be at peace. After you are at peace, you will be able to worry. After you are worried, you will be able to gain."
"But Alang was too impatient. The other husbands also took action one after another..."
"Have you found out what happened in the north?"
"Still investigating...This matter is really strange. How did they know about Li Xia? They also blocked our information."
"It's not strange." Jia Sidao said casually: "It can only mean that Li Xia is still talking and has come back with information. It's like a cricket jumping into a chicken coop. How can the chicken not peck at it?"
"Yes." Gui Hepu said, "There are too many chickens in the cage."
"Then let's see which chicken can peck it." Jia Sidao straightened up and said, "It's indestructible. This cricket is truly the best."
"Yes, I will definitely find this cricket."
Jia Sidao nodded, kicked a pebble into the pool, and murmured: "One stone stirs up a thousand waves..."