Although Su Jin regretted it, things had reached this point and he could only continue to act.
But Su Jin decided to give Xia Song a big warning later, telling him clearly that if he still took human lives as a trifling matter and killed whenever he wanted without caring about anything else, his endurance would be limited.
Although Su Jin is not full of loyalty to the emperor and the country like many people in this era, he does not want to live in an era where there is too much bloodshed. After all, he is one of them.
Although he hated Xia Song's vicious methods, he had to admire Xia Song's clever methods. In this way, it met the two requirements put forward by Su Jin. One was to wash away the grievances of Fu Bi, Shi Jie and others, and the other was to completely
The relationship between Xia Song and this matter has been clarified; if you want to make this matter more perfect, you only need to conceal the confessions of the six captured thugs, and only present the confessions of Brother Jin and him, and it will be perfect.
Brother Jin didn't know who was behind the scenes. He only knew that a group of people killed Lao Gu and gave him money. As for the identity and background of this group of people, he had no idea. He said that this group of people was
The person hired by Xiong Dekang can also make sense.[
Next, the Kaifeng Prefecture's Criminal Division searched the guest room where Xiong Dekang lived and found several copied letters. The content was the content of the framed letter. However, there were errors in several copied letters, so they were discarded; and
The search for Shi Jie's autographed letter and several blank stamped letterheads further confirmed the authenticity of the content of Xiong Dekang's suicide note. At this point, the evidence can be regarded as conclusive, and Xiong Dekang has naturally become the suspected mastermind.
In the afternoon of the same day, Su Jin went to the palace to meet the emperor with these evidences and narrated the case one by one. Zhao Zhen was surprised after hearing this. The whole thing was like a twists and turns in a drama. No one expected that the murderer was dormant in the capital.
A deposed official could actually plan such a good show, but in the end his conscience found that he committed suicide out of fear of crime.
Zhao Zhen lamented for a long time, and immediately issued an edict to clarify the case and release Shi Jie immediately. Fu Biye, who had been suspended from his post at home, was reinstated and was to be comforted by the court the next day.
Su Jin did not want to stay too long in the capital. His errands had been completed, so he said goodbye to Zhao Zhen on the grounds that Qinzhou was busy with affairs. Unexpectedly, Zhao Zhen refused to let him leave and instead invited him to sit down.
"Su Jin, you and I haven't had a long talk with each other for a long time. When you came back to the capital recently, if I didn't call you to the palace, you just avoided seeing me. What's the point?"
Su Jin said: "I'm hiding from the emperor. Sometimes I come to the capital for private matters. I'm afraid that the emperor will scold me for neglecting the public affairs. Sometimes it's for official matters. But I can get it done in one day in the capital, so I can't just come and bother me when I have nothing to do."
Your Majesty, I have never stopped meeting with you once a month to discuss matters."
Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said: "Don't give me any reasons. I know that you don't want to get into trouble with the New Deal. Originally, I decided to change the policy because of the ten disadvantages of your imperial examination. Now it has been almost a year since the New Deal was implemented.
, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Fu Bi and others also tried their best, but the results did not seem to be great. On the contrary, the opposition became more and more intense. You are the initiator, so you should know the reason for this. "
Su Jin shook his head and said, "I don't know the reason."
Zhao Zhen said displeased: "Is it because I don't know or because I don't want to talk about it?"
Su Jindao: "Your Majesty, don't embarrass me. I made my position clear at the beginning of the New Deal and neither participated nor opposed it. Now, what does it mean for me to jump out and make irresponsible remarks?"
Zhao Zhen said: "If you talk to me in private, who will talk to you?"
Su Jin said: "The emperor should ask Mr. Fan, Mr. Han, Mr. Fu and others. Of course they are knowledgeable. But the emperor asked me instead. With all due respect, this is a distrust of them."
Zhao Zhen glanced at Su Jin and sighed: "You better understand my thoughts. I really don't believe that they can complete this matter. Look, the New Deal has been implemented for almost a year. Although the official administration has been a little slow,
There was a clarification, but the opposition from various places became more and more fierce. My original intention was to hope that they would use mild methods, but they made people angry. In the capital city alone, deposed officials gathered to cause trouble, crying and hanging themselves.
, making people panic; take this matter as an example, a small county magistrate actually said that they would die to remonstrate with them, saying that they are "treacherous" parties to blind my eyes, and can "force" people to remonstrate to death. This new policy
Is it really unbearable?”
Su Jin said quietly: "Your Majesty, don't say that. The new policy will naturally offend many people. People will die for wealth and birds will die for food. It is not surprising that their interests are touched and they are threatened with death. If the Emperor does not believe in the abilities of these few people, he would have
Why do we need to issue an edict to implement the New Deal?"
Zhao Zhen stood up slowly and said: "Having said that, I am not an omnipotent person. How could I have known that the situation has developed to such an extent. Most of the ministers in the DPRK and China do not support the New Deal. This makes me feel very surprised. Do you think
I think, Prime Minister Yan, Privy Du, Prime Minister Chen, and three of the Six Ministers, these people all turn a blind eye to the New Deal. Although I have explicitly ordered them not to participate in this matter, I can still see their attitude, especially called
What surprised me was you. I originally thought you would definitely support it, but I didn’t expect that you were the first to propose it but then refused to participate. This is even more confusing to me."
Su Jin smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, I just proposed these shortcomings and countermeasures that day, but it does not mean that they can be implemented immediately. With the power of a humble minister, it is in vain to participate; the reputation of Fan Shuai, Han Shuai and others can rise up and call the world to respond.
If I am still being resisted in this way, what is the use of joining? Moreover, the affairs in the northwest are complicated, and the eating, drinking, and drinking of hundreds of thousands of people has already made me very worried, so how can I spare the time to get involved in other matters?"
Zhao Zhen murmured: "Climb high and shout...the world will respond. Is this how you see Han Qi, Fan Zhongyan and the others?"
Su Jin was startled, and keenly felt something was wrong, and hurriedly said: "What I mean is that both Han and Fan are famous ministers in the world. Everyone knows that they are loyal ministers who serve the country and the people. Their reputation is naturally better than that of the minister."
Be high..."
Zhao Zhen interrupted Su Jin's words and asked abruptly: "Have you heard the clique discussions among the people in the imperial court?" [
Su Jin was dumbfounded and thought to himself: "Finally we are here. Zhao Zhen is already wary of Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others."
Zhao Zhen slowly turned his head, pointed at the pile of memorials on the desk and said: "I have received memorials from many people in the past few days, including Qian Mingyi, Wang Gongchen, the envoy of Jinghu North Road, Li Yaocheng, the prefect of Jiangning Prefecture, Cheng Suihuan,
As well as the central admonishers, more than a dozen officials from the six ministries have submitted reports, saying that Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Fu Bi, Ouyang Xiu and others have formed cliques and used my trust to form cliques for personal gain and exclude dissidents. Some people even said that even the people around me,
Some of the servants in the harem were also roped in by them, do you think this is true or false?"
Su Jin's heart was pounding, and he calmed down and said, "I don't dare to talk nonsense whether it's true or false, but with my understanding of these adults, I shouldn't be like this."
Zhao Zhen sneered and said: "You are too slippery to offend both sides. That morning at the court, I asked Fan Zhongyan his opinion on the matter of cliques. He actually said that in the court, if there are good and evil parties, it is not surprising.
. He said that as long as I observe carefully, I can tell the difference between loyal and traitor. He also said that if we form a party and do good things, it will be harmful to the country. Listen to his argument. This is blatantly excusing cliques. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, we have
The three dynasties of Taizu, Taizong and Zhenzong all left their ancestral precepts that no cliques should be allowed to exist in the court. The danger of the previous dynasty's destruction is still in front of us. Now, Fan Zhongyan is actually talking about what is wrong even if there are cliques. Isn't it ridiculous?
?”
Su Jin stood up hurriedly and said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. None of this proves that Mr. Fan, Mr. Han and others are indeed forming a clique. Your Majesty must not believe it just because of one-sided remarks. You still need to investigate qnghu. Maybe... maybe...
It’s because of the New Deal, so I don’t know if I’m being falsely accused.”
Zhao Zhen looked at Su Jin coldly and said, "You seem to be defending them. Are you among them?"
Su Jin said seriously: "Your Majesty, I just suggested that the Emperor should be careful. Since the Emperor asked, I had to answer, and even after I answered, I was doubtful. What else can I say? I just don't want to cause more trouble in the court.
I will return to the northwest today, and the emperor can decide on matters at court. On this matter, I have decided not to say a word."
Zhao Zhen looked at the red-faced Su Jin, suddenly smiled, and said warmly: "You are still so bold, I just said a few words to you, but you refuted me dumbly; you really don't know the trouble this matter has caused in my heart,
Although I am not a promising king, I do not want to be a weak king. I do not want to see someone forming a clique under my eyes and causing trouble. Once the country is in turmoil, how can I be worthy of my ancestors and the people of the Song Dynasty?
"
Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief and said: "I understand the emperor's thoughts, but I can't help you with this matter. The only advice I can give you is to check the qnghu first. It is inconvenient for other ministers to say more."
Zhao Zhen sighed and sat on the chair to meditate. Su Jin did not want to stay for a long time, so he stood up and said goodbye and left the palace. Zhao Zhen seemed unaware. When Su Jin left, he was still sitting and meditating like a clay sculpture with a watery face.
…
Su Jin had a vague premonition of the coming storm. Although he disagreed with Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others' eagerness for quick success, it was obvious that Zhao Zhen's attitude had changed. As a result, the status of Han Fan and others was in jeopardy.
Already.
The New Deal was difficult to implement, leading to repeated opposition, and strange things happened frequently inside and outside the court. Zhao Zhen could still tolerate these things, because no matter what Zhao Zhen's true attitude was, he publicly expressed his support for the New Deal, so if the New Deal failed, it would mean
Zhao Zhen’s decision-making was wrong.
Zhao Zhen naturally did not want to bear the reputation of this wrong decision, but he could not publicly express his retreat. At this moment, the clique argument was raised, which just gave Zhao Zhen a reason. If Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others were proven
If they really became cronies, Zhao Zhen would be able to demote and remove them as a matter of course, and the New Deal would naturally go away. However, the crime would be due to cliques, not Zhao Zhen's fault.
Moreover, cronyism was the bottom line of the Song Dynasty. Once the important ministers in the court formed a clique, it was obviously a threat to the imperial power. Important ministers controlled the government, and there were countless cases of deposing the emperor and establishing a new one. Zhao Zhen's worries are not unnecessary, and it is no wonder
He dealt with them cautiously, treating them like tigers and wolves.
Su Jin, who returned to Suzhai to pack his bags and prepare to return to Qinzhou, felt uncomfortable no matter what he thought. He increasingly felt the cruelty of this era. In the position of a minister, no matter how loyal you are, you must serve the court and the emperor wholeheartedly.
, the end is not that good either.
Although Su Jin knew that the failure of this reform was inevitable, Su Jin still wanted to do something for Fan Zhongyan and others. When the storm was about to come, he could not remain indifferent, but there was indeed a limit to what he could do.
After much deliberation, Su Jin wrote an unsigned and unsigned letter. The letter roughly listed the contents of today's conversation between Zhao Zhen and himself, pointing out that the emperor had already seen suspicions about cronyism, and hoped that someone could come forward to clarify this matter quickly.
thing.
After writing the letter, Su Jin originally wanted to send someone to Fan Zhongyan or Han Qi's house, but he thought that the two adults might not care at all because of their arrogance, so he wasted his efforts. Fu Bi was not suitable, and only Ouyang Xiu
Most suitable, Ouyang Xiu is a cunning old man. When he saw this anonymous letter, he naturally understood its power.
After making the decision, Su Jin sealed the envelope and asked the servant to send the letter to Lord Ouyang's house and hand it over to his housekeeper after he left tomorrow. He could not reveal his identity.
Early the next morning, Su Jin only said goodbye to Yan Shu, and hurriedly set off on the road with his family. When leaving the capital, Su Jin turned around and looked back. I don't know if it was a psychological effect or if there was indeed a sign from the sky, but he saw gloomy clouds over Bianliang City.
The desolate and lonely "color" made people feel uncomfortable. Su Jin quickly turned away, unwilling to have any idealistic thoughts, and hurriedly left the capital.