Ouyang Xiu was still waiting to defend himself, but Fan Zhongyan was as clear as a mirror. He knew that Zhao Zhen's purpose of summoning ministers tonight was to refute this article. The tone had already been set. If Ouyang Xiu argued again, things would get out of hand.
At this moment, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others suddenly became discouraged, especially those who had gone to Qinzhou to ask Su Jin to co-chair the New Deal reforms. At this time, they couldn't help but think of what Su Jin said that day.
Su Jin had said at the beginning: "To overthrow those who oppose the reform for the sake of the reform seems to be a partisan attack. Although several adults are aboveboard and purely for the sake of the Song Dynasty, some people will definitely make a fuss about this matter.
, the emperor will inevitably not be affected."
At that time, I thought it was Su Jin's prevarication, but now it seems that Su Jin's original words were good advice. What happened today is not so much that Ouyang Xiu's clique theory caused trouble, but that someone was secretly stirring up trouble and forcing
Ouyang Xiu was so angry that he wrote this article.
Ouyang Xiu was also confused. When he wrote this article, he admitted that there were cliques in the court, and that what Wang Gongchen, Qian Mingyi and others wrote was true. Moreover, the article's intention to defend the cliques would become a
The death certificate of a party.[
"Lord Ouyang, stop talking." Fan Zhongyan said softly: "Your Majesty is right. On this matter, maybe... maybe our knowledge is wrong."
Ouyang Xiu sighed and had to shut his mouth. He regretted that he should not have embarked on the New Deal ship, and he should not have written this article in a fit of passion. He should not have overestimated the emperor's trust and determination. He thought that the emperor had been
He had almost figured out what he was thinking, but at this moment he realized that the emperor's thoughts were like a sea, and he actually had no grasp of his intentions at all.
Zhao Zhen said quietly: "Ouyang Xiu, for what purpose you wrote this essay about cronyism and who ordered you to do so, this matter must be made clear. If you say that you don't understand the harm of cronyism, I will not believe it; and since you know it,
There must be a motive for doing harm, but you defend it vigorously. I hope you can be honest about your thoughts. After you go back, write a memorial to explain the matter clearly within three days."
Ouyang Xiu kowtowed: "I obey your decree!"
Zhao Zhen turned his eyes to the ministers and said coldly: "As for today's matter, all my beloved ministers also want to express their opinions. Starting from today, I will not discuss other matters in the morning for three consecutive days. I will only talk about the affairs of my friends and factions without discerning the truth."
, this matter must have a result, otherwise there is no need to talk about other matters."
The ministers said: "I obey the order!"
Zhao Zhen stood up, sighed with relief and said with his hands behind his back: "My lords, please go back. I'm tired too. Let's see you in the morning."
Everyone respectfully sent Zhao Zhen's tired figure away from the side hall, and then quietly exited one after another.
Ouyang Xiu exerted all his strength. If Han Qi Fubi hadn't pulled him up, he wouldn't have been able to stand up.
The ministers dispersed, and Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Fu Bi, Ouyang Xiu and others were left at the end. They left the hall. The cold wind outside made all four of them shiver. They looked up at the sky and saw the waning moon falling in the western sky.
There was a faint clear glow in the air. Although the night wind was cold, the hearts of the four of them were even colder than the north wind on this cold night, and they were all frozen.
After tonight, the fate of the four people will take a turn for the worse. Soon there will be a snowstorm of criticism on Zhao Zhen's desk. Naturally, his official position will not be guaranteed, and the half-implemented New Deal will also die prematurely, and even his life will be in danger.
Although the emperor did not say who the cronies are tonight and how to deal with the cronies in the DPRK and China, anyone with a heart knows that this is just Zhao Zhen's usual method. He does not want to be known as having a bad relationship, and he needs to listen to the opinions of the ministers.
, act with the help of the ministers who jumped out.
The four of them walked outside the palace in silence. Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Fubi did not say anything to blame Ouyang Xiu for being reckless. In fact, they were together every day and were de facto friends. Ouyang Xiu just told the truth. Ouyang Xiu was wrong.
The mistake was that I was too naive and actually wrote a serious article to defend these people.
The four of them came out of the palace, found a tavern that was open all night, ordered a few side dishes, warmed two pots of wine and sat around to relieve their worries.
Ouyang Xiu drank the strong wine in the glass in one gulp and said hoarsely: "Brother Xiwen, Brother Zhigui, Brother Yanguo, I, Ouyang Xiu, acted carelessly and implicated these three adults. But I, Ouyang Xiu, am determined to bear the responsibility for today's matter. Where is your Majesty?"
I will plead guilty myself, and the three gentlemen must not admit to being a clique to avoid being too implicated."
Fan Zhongyan smiled bitterly and said: "Uncle Yong, you are still too naive. How can you alone handle this matter? The emperor's article criticizing you is not just for you, but for all of us. In the end, the emperor
You are suspicious of me. In fact, even without your article, something like this would have happened sooner or later. You don’t have to blame yourself. We are aboveboard and have no regrets. The only regret is this new policy.
It’s going to give up halfway.”
Fu Bi sighed: "As Su Jin said, the difficulty of the New Deal is as difficult as reaching the sky. I thought the emperor had made up his mind, but now it seems that everything is in vain."
Han Qi said: "How should we deal with it now? Do we need to confess our feelings to the emperor again? Even if we are suspected of forming a party, we have never done anything to harm the government. Will the emperor take this seriously?"
Fan Zhongyan shook his head and said: "We don't have to do anything now. The more we confess, the darker it will become. Let's just wait and see what happens and wait for the judgment of the Holy Will. Tomorrow morning, I will resign from the official position and stay in the capital to wait for the verdict. In this regard
I must never lie again; I am also tired. I hope that the Holy Grace will allow me to return to the countryside, and I will be a fisherman and a woodcutter from now on. I will be very grateful." [
Han Qi said anxiously: "How can Mr. Fan think like this? Are we going to give up on the New Deal? Are we going to stop fighting for being a clique? If we resign for no apparent reason, people will say that we are running away out of fear of crime."
Fan Zhongyan patted Han Qi on the shoulder and said: "Han Shuai, why do you still look down upon these things? At our age, do we still care about achievements and reputation? But it is enough to be ashamed of your heart and to be ashamed of heaven and earth.
, it is a pity that Mr. Ouyang and Mr. Fu are in the prime of life, but Mr. Fu is the son-in-law of Prime Minister Yan. It is impossible for the emperor not to take care of Prime Minister Yan's face, and Mr. Ouyang and Su Jin have a very good relationship. Su Jin may be concerned about this matter.
I think Mr. Ouyang should immediately send someone to tell Su Jin the whole story and ask for his help."
Han Qi stared at him and said, "Begging him? This kid is not honest, why should I beg him?"
Fan Zhongyan shook his head and said: "Han Shuai must not be biased against him. Now we should admire his vision. When you went to Qinzhou, he also advised that the new policy needs to be implemented slowly. At that time, we all turned a deaf ear.
I thought that with the emperor's support and everyone's concerted efforts, this matter would be very promising, but in fact, our judgments were all wrong. Su Jin refused to come out to preside over the new deal, and persuaded us earnestly. He has done what he should do, but we
Some are determined to have their own way.”
Everyone said that Fan Zhongyan was telling the truth. Su Jin had predicted that there would be great resistance. Since the implementation of the New Deal, all kinds of slander and frame-up remarks have not stopped, and many people have died unexpectedly. There are people behind all this.
Manipulation, and the emperor finally, as Su Jin said, could not withstand the constant impeachment and false accusations, and began to doubt everyone. Now that things have reached such a stage, it cannot but be said that he and others failed to see this clearly.
Ouyang Xiu said: "I won't beg him. These few times he has returned to the capital, we have been very polite to him and have never entertained him. However, every time he comes back, he brings some specialties from the northwest to us.
At home, Mr. Han also threw his gifts on the street, humiliating him so much, how could I have the face to beg him at this time?"
Fan Zhongyan said: "I'm here to beg him. If he is a chicken-hearted person, then we will think that we have misjudged the person. Besides, we have been humiliated for a long time, so even if we are treated coldly by him, it will be even, so it doesn't matter.
"
Fu Bi said softly: "Su Jin is not such a person. I also offended him. But this time when I was falsely accused of treason, he did his best to clear my name. I am ashamed to say that.
I didn’t have time to thank him. Sometimes I wonder, have we all become a little unreasonable? After the promulgation of the New Deal, I often felt that the people around me seemed to have become unrecognizable. Now it seems that they have become a bit unreasonable.
Be yourself, not others.”
The four of them drank one glass at a time, each one a glass at a time. The wine made them sad, and they made them even more sad. They drank until dawn, and they were all drunk. Then they were helped by their respective servants to get into the car and go back home.
Fan Zhongyan did not fall asleep when he returned to his home. Instead, he immediately wrote a letter in his own hand and ordered it to be sent to Su Jin in Qinzhou. But what he didn't know was that before he wrote this letter, a letter from someone had already been sent to him.
On the way to Qinzhou, it was a letter from Bao Zheng.