"Their second crime was abusing their power to exclude dissidents. I heard that these people took advantage of the emperor's trust and took advantage of the promulgation of the New Deal to patrol various states in the Song Dynasty, appoint and remove officials at will, and dismiss many officials. And these
The officials are all the heroes who followed Taizu Taizong and conquered the Song Dynasty."
"I just don't understand. Our ancestors worked hard and worked hard to achieve great achievements. As descendants, even if they do nothing, even if they are greedy for a small amount of money, even if they just pay attention to the common people, what will happen? As the saying goes, the predecessors planted trees for future generations to enjoy the shade.
, the ancestors have outstanding achievements, such as
Isn't it a matter of course that our descendants will benefit from this for eternity? Why can't Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and the others tolerate this? I think they must be jealous of others, and their own ancestors have left nothing for them, so they are psychologically unbalanced."
Zhao Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Do you have anything else to say?"
Su Jin loudly said: "Of course I do. I don't know what purpose Han Fan had, but he removed all his children and nephews who had not passed the imperial examination. It looked like it was a matter of public and private interests, but in fact it was for the purpose of leaving the country alone."
They wanted to clear themselves up so that no one could find out that they acted unfairly; but Teng Zongliang, the prefect of Jingzhou, was a close friend of Fan Zhongyan in the same year. He used the minister's money to pave roads and build bridges and even used the minister's money to reward people.
Fan Zhongyan invited his subordinates to a banquet, but Fan Zhongyan turned a deaf ear; Yang Jiang, the prefect of Chenzhou, used the official money to build a large villa for the sake of the court's dignity. In order to be healthy and serve the court better, he used the official money to buy some expensive supplements for several years.
, then why can't Fan Zhongyan tolerate it? Even if he uses the minister's money, Fan Zhongyan favors one and favors others. Isn't this an act of forming a gang to eliminate dissidents? "
"Also, when I first went to Weizhou to take up my post, I was robbed by bandits from the West. Fan Zhongyan violated the court regulations and left the Mulangzhai army to suppress the border. Instead, he led two thousand people to travel six to seven hundred miles to compete with me and seize the credit.
I captured hundreds of war horses, and since then I have long disliked him.”[
"In the Battle of Weizhou, he did not send any soldiers to help. He said that Huanqing Yan Road was the direct gateway to the capital and could not allow the traitors to take advantage of it. He ordered people to send 100,000 shi of grain, some armor, arrows, etc.
Later, I learned that Fan Zhongyan had only left 30,000 shi of food for the two routes of Fuyan and Huanqing, which was not enough to support the soldiers of both routes for half a month. Knowing that Fuyan and Huanqing were the key points of the capital,
But why did he only keep food for more than ten days? Don't you know the consequences of doing this? Therefore, I think that Fan Zhongyan is simply joking about the important task entrusted by the imperial court. The purpose of sending me food and weapons is to prepare for the future when the Western thieves break through.
Looking for an excuse for the defense line, he would say that it was because he supported Weizhou that food was available, which led to the defeat of the war. This is really hateful for someone with ulterior motives."
Zhao Zhen said in astonishment: "Are you confused? Is Fan Zhongyan what you think? He cannot bring troops to help. It is indeed because Yanyan Huanqing is a barrier to the capital. He has made this clear to me."
Su Jin sneered and said: "Then he is even more hateful. He is taking advantage of the emperor's ignorance of the situation in the northwest to deceive the emperor. He pretended to send me food and weapons. It is suspected that he has another purpose."
Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "I'm really surprised that you look at him like this. In your opinion, how should we deal with them?"
Su Jin said: "Why don't you think about it? Your Majesty should cut through the mess quickly and kill these guys directly."
Zhao Zhen said: "Do you really think so?"
Su Jin said: "Of course, the emperor should not stick to the constraints of the Imperial Ancestral Temple's instructions. Kill when necessary and do not tolerate it. Otherwise, this group of people will make trouble again, saying that the imperial court has many shortcomings and needs to be reformed, etc. to deceive people's hearts.
"
Zhao Zhen said: "Didn't you once enumerate the ten shortcomings of the imperial court? You also said something about reform, but why have you changed your words now?"
Su Jin said: "Yes, so for the sake of fairness, I ask the emperor to kill me as well. Anyone who wants to implement the New Deal should be killed. We, the Song Dynasty, will bring peace to the country. Where can there be so many abuses and corrupt officials? Where can there be so many
The emperor has not made up his mind because of the difficulties. If he made up his mind to sweep across the Western Liao people with an army, it would definitely not be a problem. Those who say that there are evils in the world are denying the emperor's wisdom. I ask the emperor to immediately issue an order to kill Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Fubi.
I, Su Jin, killed Ouyang Xiu and a bunch of bastards who were chirping at the court saying that this is wrong and that is wrong. I killed all the chickens and dogs, and then the world became quiet, the country became peaceful, and all nations came to court. What a shame.
Your Majesty, what are you still hesitating about?"
Zhao Zhen's expression changed drastically, he looked at Su Jin coldly and said: "I heard it, you are not here to plead for mercy, nor are you here to make trouble, you are here for me, you are not here to scold me.
"
Su Jindao: "How dare I criticize the king? I just feel that it is getting more and more boring. Those who serve the court wholeheartedly are slandered. There is a saying that 'if you don't do it, it will be good, but if you do it more, you will make mistakes.' This is the best way to describe the current situation;
It is true that the New Deal implemented by Han Fan and others was too radical, and there was a suspicion of overcorrecting and killing them with one stroke, but they actually worked hard, but they ended up in trembling and panic all day long. The emperor once said that he was determined to change the status quo of the Song Dynasty and let us in the Song Dynasty.
It is so powerful that the Western thieves dare not look at it, and the Liao people dare not spy on it. According to my opinion, the emperor is just talking empty words."
Zhao Zhen said sternly: "Presumptuous, you are too presumptuous. The country and the country belong to me, don't I want the Song Dynasty to be strong? I am the lord of the world, how can I still talk empty words just to gain fame? I think you, Han Fan and others are
We are the same party, this is the same argument."
Su Jin said: "Your Majesty, let's not mince words. You know that I am not their comrade. The so-called saying that there are cronies in the DPRK is just an excuse. When it comes to cliques, they have existed in all dynasties, and this dynasty has also existed for a long time.
It is disrespectful to the deceased. When Prime Minister Lu was alive, he was surrounded by a group of officials. Isn’t that a group of cronies? Fan Zhongyan’s original presentation of the Hundred Officials Map was to expose Prime Minister Lu’s cronies. How could the emperor be so moved at that time? To put it bluntly,
, The Emperor was disappointed with the implementation of the New Deal and wanted to stop it but was afraid of taking responsibility, so he made a big fuss about the cronies to bring the New Deal to an end."
Zhao Zhen's face turned blue with anger, he pointed at Su Jin and said: "You are too presumptuous, you are simply too presumptuous."
Su Jin cupped his hands and said, "The emperor treats me well so I tell the truth. The emperor can kill me afterwards, but he allows me to finish my words."
Zhao Zhen snorted angrily: "I have been too tolerant to you, and now you are starting to accuse me. You have the heart of a tiger or a wolf. I finally understand."
Su Jindao: "The emperor can say whatever he wants to the humble ministers, but please don't hurt the hearts of the loyal and patriotic people in the world. Han Fan and others are sincere. The emperor doesn't even have to doubt them, let alone use this matter to punish them."
The New Deal can be abolished immediately, but it needs to be so."
Zhao Zhen said: "It's not your turn to teach me what I want to do."
Su Jindao: "How dare I teach you how to do it? I am only exercising the right to give advice. The emperor will not even block the way to speak. That is different from the previous ones...those..." [
Zhao Zhen said angrily: "Do you want to say that you are different from those foolish kings in the past?"
Su Jin said: "I'm just reminding you."
Zhao Zhen reached out and picked up the tea cup on the table and threw it at Su Jin. Su Jin refused to evade and let the tea cup hit his forehead, causing blood to drip from the hit. He looked proud and unyielding.
Zhao Zhen felt a little regretful, but he was also extremely relieved. Su Jin's words were too direct and revealed clearly what he was thinking in his heart. If he hadn't been exposed, how could Zhao Zhen be so embarrassed and angry?
"I originally wanted to spare them, but after what you said today, I feel that I can't spare them. I will issue an order to deal with these people immediately tomorrow morning, put them in jail, and ransack their homes. What can you do?"
Su Jin said: "I would like to be taken down together."
Zhao Zhen was extremely angry and laughed back: "You think I won't take care of you? Don't forget, your pigtails are in my hands."
Su Jin said quietly: "The emperor has the power to take whoever he wants. I have a lot of pigtails. I am not only involved in Yangzhou, I also have liaison with the Western thieves and do business with them. I exchange grain for war horses. I also
I opened a bank to exchange taxes for the imperial court, and I also advanced the salary of the northwest army in exchange for a barren land. What I did was harmful to the Song Dynasty, and I should be punished."
Zhao Zhen said: "You are here to show your merits. Can Su Jin do this without you?"
Su Jin said: "Of course there are a lot of people to do it, so I ask that I be dismissed from my post, my house confiscated and sent to jail."
Zhao Zhen said: "I won't let you get what you want. I will settle accounts with you later. I will deal with Han Fan and others first. What can you do?"
Su Jin stretched out his hand to take off his official hat, held it in his hand and said: "I would like to resign. My mother is very old. I don't want to leave my mother without fulfilling my filial piety. Isn't this request too much?"
Zhao Zhen was so angry that he wanted to grab the guy again. He had the tea cup in his hand, but he put it down slumped, fell into the chair and murmured: "Are you blackmailing me? I'm not good to you? You actually blackmail me like this."
."
Su Jin whispered: "Your Majesty, I just don't want your Majesty to make the wrong decision. This matter can be trivialized without shocking the whole country. Whether Fan Zhongyan and others really have the intention to harm the Song Dynasty, the Emperor knows it well. If so,
Because my attitude makes the emperor feel that the law is out of power, I am willing to accept the punishment, but please do not act out of emotion."
Zhao Zhen seemed to be talking to himself: "Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and the others are as hard as stones in a latrine, you are so aggressive, and Du Yan and the others insist on demanding severe punishment."
There are already hundreds of letters, what should I do? I am angry at the ignorance of Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others, but I also don’t want the ministers to think that I am selfish and make everyone unhappy. Who can tell me what is the best way to get the best of both worlds?"
Su Jin said quietly: "It turned out that the emperor was troubled by the memorials from the ministers demanding severe punishment. I misunderstood the emperor. Tomorrow morning, the emperor can openly consult the ministers. If the crowd is aroused and demands severe punishment for Han Fan and others, he will comply with the majority.
What I want is that I will stop making trouble and go back to the northwest to raise horses for the emperor, and will never embarrass the emperor."
Zhao Zhen raised his head and said, "Really?"
Su Jin said: "Of course it is true. I am an honest man and I keep my word."
Zhao Zhen spat and said: "Are you an honest person?" He reached out and pulled out a colorful sweat towel from his waist and handed it over: "Wipe the blood on my forehead, I just missed it."
Su Jin bowed and took it, wiped the blood off his face, put on his official hat, said goodbye and left the palace.