However, Zhao Zhen was in an extremely urgent mood. None of the three people he summoned expressed their stance that day. Later, he summoned three more people the next night and asked them to propose reform measures in person, insisting on carrying out changes.
The three of them couldn't resist Zhao Zhen's urging, so they had to write down their thoughts in handwritten edicts and submit them to the public. Zhao Zhen asked again how to make changes, but this time the three people had different opinions.
Fu Bi and Han Qi both said that they should not rush to make changes and wait for the opportunity or choose one or two of them to try out before proceeding. Such an answer certainly did not make Zhao Zhen mny, while Fan Zhongyan put forward a shocking suggestion after a long silence.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the reform should not be carried out too hastily. I have heard about it for a long time. There are discussions about the reform both inside and outside the court. There are few supporters and many opponents among officials, big and small. If the emperor is determined to carry out the reform immediately, I have no choice but to do so.
Put forward conditions, otherwise the reform will fail." Fan Zhongyan said quietly.
Zhao Zhen said: "Say, I just want you to tell the truth. If you have any difficulties, just say it clearly and I will make the decision for you." [
Fan Zhongyan took a breath and said slowly: "If the name is not correct, the words will not be correct. I thought that if we want to lead the reform, we must first be given rights. Mr. Han Qi and I are deputy privy envoys, and we cannot get involved in government affairs."
, the emperor still needs to make adjustments to his position."
Zhao Zhen said: "I have already considered this clearly. I plan to appoint you two as deputy privy envoys, Tong Ping Zhangshi, so that you will both have status in the Privy Council of the Government Affairs Council."
Fan Zhongyan said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am not asking for an official position. I am very clear about being fooled by the emperor, and I am really just discussing the matter. In addition, I believe that changes will affect the overall situation. Once the road back is started, I ask the emperor to resist the rumors."
Rumor has it that if the emperor has any suspicion towards us, the reform will definitely fail."
Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "It's natural. How can you doubt the candidates I propose? You don't doubt the people you employ. As long as you work seriously, I will definitely be your backing."
Fan Zhongyan nodded in thanks and said: "Last point, I want to start with the issue of redundant officials. If you want to change it, you have to deal with the most painful part first. The people involved in this move are all officials, so this is the place that faces the greatest resistance. This ability
If the change is successful, everything else will be easy to do; if it fails, there will be no need to do the rest."
Zhao Zhen frowned and said: "That day I talked to Su Jin about the Ten Disadvantages of his policy. He said that it should be subtle from easy to difficult. Your idea is qgu. It is difficult first and then easy. But I believe you more, and I respect you.
Your opinion, I will give you a new appointment after the year. The edicts submitted by several people may be polished and considered. I will announce it to the world in February after the third year of the Qingli Festival and carry out reforms. During this period, you can consider it first.
Please report to me in detail."
…
In the Qinzhou Post House, Su Jin frowned and listened to what Fu Bi, Han Qi and others said, and remained silent for a long time.
Fu Bi said: "Mr. Su, I came here just to hear your opinion. After all, you were the first to mention the ten disadvantages of policy. It is also because of your ten disadvantages that the emperor has the intention to change. Now,
I'm waiting for orders to act, but I always feel...I always feel like I don't have any confidence in my heart."
Su Jin raised his head and looked at everyone and said: "My lords, I know the purpose of your visit. You all look up to me, Su Jin, and want Su Jin to come forward to help you, but... with all due respect, this move should be done with caution.
Okay, it’s not child’s play.”
Han Qi said: "Mr. Su, we really want to ask for your help. Mr. Su, the most up-and-coming minister in the court, has a lot of weight in his words. It is a good thing that the emperor is determined to reform the Song Dynasty's long-standing shortcomings. Don't you think that Mr. Su
Is this a good thing? So the Ten Disadvantages of the policy you wrote back then were things that went against your will?"
Su Jin smiled and said: "Of course I didn't say anything against my will. I just felt that I shouldn't act too hastily. As far as I know, the ten shortcomings of the original policy were criticized a lot. Privy Minister Lu Xiangdu and others criticized it and said that I was threatening people.
Even Yan Sansi reprimanded me for talking nonsense. The emperor later summoned me and asked me where to start. I replied that we must first start with the easy and then the difficult.
You need to know how strong the medicine is, and how strong the effects will be. Several important ministers in the DPRK are opposed to this. If they come forward to lead officials to oppose it, this reform will inevitably end quickly."
Ouyang Xiu said softly: "To tell you the truth, Mr. Fan has already considered this. So in order to deal with this situation, Mr. Fan suggested that the emperor expand the number of admonishment officials and appoint several admonishers, Mr. Bao and I, to sit on the censor's desk, and there are others.
Jing, Wang Su and Cai Xiang are all appointed as admonishers. When the new law is promulgated and implemented next year, the admonishers can be mobilized at the same time, starting with the Privy Council of the Government Affairs Council. Everyone who opposes needs to be eliminated, and a few important ministers must be brought down. Then the world will be peaceful, and the new law will be implemented.
Then it can be implemented smoothly.”
Cold sweat broke out down Su Jin's spine. He looked at Bao Zheng and asked Bao Zheng if something was wrong with his eyes. Bao Zheng nodded slightly, which was a confirmation.
Su Jin slowly stood up and walked around, and said slowly: "My lords, listen to me, this move is definitely not feasible. Such behavior is irrational. In the final analysis, the reform is for the sake of the country and the country of the Song Dynasty.
To move important ministers of the Song Dynasty for the sake of reform is to shake the foundation of the Song Dynasty. It must not be done, and it is very likely to cause bloodshed. In addition, have you ever thought about bringing down those who oppose the reform for the sake of reform? This move seems like
There are suspicions of partisanship and dissent. Although several adults are aboveboard and think entirely for the sake of the Song Dynasty, some people will definitely make a fuss about this matter. The emperor will inevitably not be affected. Once the emperor thinks so, I don’t need to tell you what the consequences will be.
Bar."
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Su Jin must have thought too much. How could the changes proposed by the emperor change his mind? Could it be that the emperor would go back on his word?
"Mr. Su, your worries are completely unnecessary. Although cliques are the most taboo thing in this dynasty, we are all upright people. The emperor is also a wise king. How can we not see clearly? Mr. Su is an official, and the bolder he is, the more arrogant he will be.
Xiao, this is beyond our expectations." Fu Bi said angrily. He originally thought that Su Jin would definitely agree, but he even broke up with Yan Shu over this reform, but he didn't expect that he would have to do it again because of this.
I fell out with Su Jin.
Su Jin smiled and said: "Brother Rich, it is public opinion whether I am a timid person or not. The reason why I am asking you to think twice is to ask you to think twice. If this reform does not come up with alternative strategies and proceeds slowly, the result will definitely be failure."
In the end, all I can do is give you a piece of advice, either slow down or not, and don't rush forward; no matter what you think of me, time will prove that my considerations are not unnecessary."
Han Qi stood up and rolled his sleeves and said: "I told you not to come to the northwest to talk to our No. 1 Scholar about this matter, but we are afraid that we can't carry out the reform? Look, this is the resourceful and upright man you call
Mr. Su Jinsu, our trip was in vain.”[
Ouyang Xiu and Fu Bi both looked embarrassed. It seemed that they were trying to get them to join the gang. Obviously, their status in their minds was still extremely important. This time, they were heartbroken.
Already.
Su Jin was not angry. He had made it very clear. It was not that Su Jin was not friends enough. Jumping into the quagmire even though he knew it was a stupid move. Su Jin knew that the Qingli Reform ended in failure. He never knew what was going on.
What caused the final failure? It seems now that this failure is almost inevitable, because Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others actually organized remonstrances and impeached officials who opposed the reform for the sake of reform. This is a kind of heavy pressure of white terror.
policy; some things need to be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The greater the pressure, the greater the reaction. It is conceivable that once the reform begins, the game between the two sides will be a life-and-death struggle, no more than a battlefield of swords and swords.
/
Su Jin really wanted to tell them that history has proved that you will definitely fail, so it's better not to mess around. But how can he say such things out loud? He can only give vague opinions, hoping that they can understand what he means and accept them in time.
hand.
"But Mr. Su has decided not to lend a helping hand to me?" Ouyang Xiu asked with a sigh.
Su Jin shook his head and said: "It's not that I don't want to help, but because I can't help in this matter, I still advise you to think twice. No matter what, I, Su Jin, will repay the kindness of these adults, but not today.
That’s not the case.”
"That's it! Mr. Su, please come back. I've waited for this trip in vain. I finally got to see you clearly!" Han Qi's fiery temper could no longer be restrained. He didn't want to see Su Jin anymore. He didn't expect this person to actually
He is such a timid and fearful person.
Su Jin sighed and stood up to say goodbye: "Tomorrow, all of you will return to the capital. I will set up a pavilion outside the city to prepare wine to see you off."
Han Qi sneered and said: "Don't take it seriously. Mr. Su must not come tomorrow. You may be framed as one of our cronies and be implicated in the future."
Su Jin responded and walked out. All the officials saw him off, but Bao Zheng, who remained silent from beginning to end, saw Su Jin out of the hotel gate.
Su Jin stood on the cold street, looking at the stars in the sky, and said softly: "Master Bao, you are my mentor, you won't blame me."
Bao Zheng took a long breath and said, "I understand what you are thinking. In fact, no one is sure about this reform. If not, why would they come here to ask for your help?"
Su Jin was surprised and said: "If my teacher knows this, why do you still come to stir up this muddy water?"
Bao Zheng said: "A real man should do something in life and not do anything in life. I, Bao Zheng, don't care about any cliques or the actions of the party to oppose dissenters. I only act according to my own conscience. Whether this revolution is a success or a failure, Bao Zheng will be involved."
, because the imperial court's long-standing shortcomings have become commonplace, success is of course a great thing, even if it fails, it is still valuable, that is, to let the people of the world pay attention to the long-standing shortcomings, and there will be knowledgeable people in future generations to carry out the work again.
Changes cannot be made twice once, nor ten times, but there will always be a day of success, and then you will know the significance of this reform."
Su Jin was impressed by Bao Zheng's magnanimity and courage. This was a kind of courage that even though thousands of people had tried to do it, but he did it even though he knew it would fail. Although it was a fool's errand, it had to be said that it hid great wisdom.
"Although students cannot participate in this incident, because students are taking another road to strengthen the country, students will never sit back and watch this reform fail. I will always pay attention to it, and I will never let upright ministers like Han Shuai and Fan Shuai be involved in this incident.
Fallen."
Bao Zheng patted Su Jin on the shoulder and said: "You are worthy of me today. You are very good and you will definitely be better than us in the future because you know how to adapt better than us. I won't send you off. I will wait for you tomorrow morning."
When we set off back to Beijing, you don’t have to come to see me off, so as not to be unhappy."
Su Jin lifted up his official robe and knelt on the ground to salute Bao Zheng. Bao Zheng laughed and helped Su Jin up, turned around and entered the gate of the hotel.
Under the dim light, Bao Zheng's back looked heavy and old. Su Jin sighed and silently boarded the car and left.