Snowflakes began to fall again in Lin'an at night. The snowflakes were not big and sparsely sprinkled on the ground. Then they turned into snow and flowed on the ground.
Except for Jia Sidao's insect boat, there are no other boats on the West Lake.
The lanterns were still hanging high on the insect boat, and it looked brightly lit in this quiet and dim night. What was very different from usual was that there was no sound of singing or dancing, nor noisy drinking. From a distance, it seemed like a lifeless ghost ship.
The boat is parked in the lake.
In the room in the center of the ship were sitting Jia Sidao and a middle-aged scholar in his forties wearing a light blue gown. This middle-aged scholar had a dark face, a tall appearance, an upright look on his brows, and exuded a military uniqueness all over his body.
Some are murderous.
The middle-aged scholar was Li Tingzhi, the Yangzhou envoy who came to Beijing to report on his duties.
Li Tingzhi was good at both civil and military affairs. He was once a Jinshi, and was later appreciated by Meng Gong. He served as a counselor in his account and was in charge of confidential writing. After Meng Gong died, he left a will to recommend Jia Sidao to replace him, and recommended Tingzhi to Jia Sidao.
It seems that Li Tingzhi, in order to express his gratitude to Meng Gong for his kindness, personally escorted his coffin for burial in Xingguo (now part of Jiangxi). Regardless of everyone's attempts to stay, Li Tingzhi immediately resigned and returned to his hometown to mourn for Meng Gong for three years. Later, Jia Jia
Sidao guarded Jinghu and appointed Li Tingzhi as the counselor of the Zhizhi Department. Five years ago, Li Tingzhi was recommended by Jia Sidao to be in charge of the Lianghuai Zhizhi Secretary, and served as the Yangzhou Zhizhi Envoy and concurrently as the Minister of War.
Meng Gong was kind to Li Tingzhi, and Jia Sidao was kind to Li Tingzhi.
Li Tingzhi came to Beijing to report on his work. After reporting to the Ministry of Personnel, he first went to Jia's Mansion.
The two of them sat opposite each other at a wine table.
Jia Sidao personally filled a glass of wine for Li Tingzhi and said, "Xiangfu (Li Tingzhi's courtesy name), you and I have grown a lot older since we said goodbye five years ago."
Li Tingzhi raised his glass and said: "Xiangfu, since the commander-in-chief left, if Xiangfu hadn't been promoted by the prime minister, Xiangfu would still be in white cloth today. This glass of wine will first be a tribute to the favor of the prime minister for promoting him, and I will do it first."
Jia Sidao also drank it all in one gulp and said: "Xiangfu, there's no need to be so polite. Tell me the truth. It's only with you that I can completely relax my mind over the years. On weekdays, this big ship is very lively."
, the smoky air is so pure today only because of your arrival today."
Li Tingzhi picked up the jug, filled Jia Sidao with wine and said, "Master Xiang, you are too flattering to Xiangfu."
Jia Sidao drank another gulp and said: "It's not a compliment, Xiangfu, you are qualified. We are the only two tonight, so you don't have to be humble and come and do it."
"Yes, Mr. Xiang."
"Brother Xiangfu, please don't call me Xiangye tonight. I am six years older than you, so I asked you to call me brother. It's just like when you were listening to orders under the commander's tent."
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"Okay, Brother Xian Xian, then Xiangfu would rather be respectful than obey your orders."
"Well, it's almost twenty years ago. When we were under the Marshal's tent, you and I were in high spirits. Alas, time flies so fast. It's gone by in a flash. Brother, let's drink and eat."
"Brother Shi Xian, please."
Both of them drank well, drinking one glass after another.
"Brother, in the past five years, you have always made various excuses for not wanting to go to Beijing to report on your work. Why did you suddenly think of going to Beijing this year?"
"Brother Xian, the new emperor has just ascended the throne this year, and Yu Li should also come to see His Majesty. This is one of the reasons."
"Is there another one?"
"Secondly, I came here specifically to talk to you, Brother Xian."
"Haha, it's rare. If you have anything to say, brother, just say it."
"Then forgive Xiangfu for speaking bluntly. Brother Xian, our Song Dynasty is currently in internal and external troubles. The Mongols have long wanted to destroy us. Although their cavalry cannot be said to be invincible, they are far better than our army. Three years ago, Liu
The enemy has been completely surrendered, and most of central Sichuan has been lost, and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which our country relies on, has also been lost. However, our country is not incapable of fighting. The key lies in the middle of the court. When the commander-in-chief left, he left this burden to the division.
Brother Xian, in the past twenty years, alas, it’s just...it’s just that Brother Xian has become Mr. Jia Shixian...and is no longer the respectable and admirable Jia Shixian he was before." Li Tingzhi said hesitantly.
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After hearing this, Jia Sidao didn't say anything. He only drank three glasses of wine before sighing and saying: "Brother, I understand what you mean. When Wu Qian and Ding Daquan were the prime ministers of the left and right, the late emperor
The emperor was dissatisfied with all their measures, so he named me a young master and called me to the court. I was ambitious at the time and hoped to make a difference and become a famous minister. Alas, after I entered the court, I realized that the court was failing.
It's scary, there are traps everywhere. Sometimes Yan, Ma, Ding, and Dong collude with each other internally and externally, and are good at wielding power. The late emperor was indecisive, used people without trusting them, wanted to get rid of them, but didn't directly issue orders, so he thought I was the leader.
After spearing through Wu, Ding and others, he asked me to forbid eunuchs from interfering in politics and relatives from exercising power. Therefore, I offended many ministers in the court and people in the harem. Although I was awe-inspiring both inside and outside, I also became the target of public criticism. Brother,
You know that I come from the command of General Meng Gong, and there are many factions of generals in the court. Although the General has repeatedly performed extraordinary feats, he has also made many generals unhappy. And I am also young and energetic, and I cannot tolerate anyone who is disrespectful to the General, so
These generals also opposed me. Five years ago, when the national treasury was empty and a large amount of land was concentrated in the hands of landlords, the late emperor ordered me to implement the public land law, using the price limit to purchase the excess land in the hands of large landowners, abolishing the peace buying system, and using it as land rent.
We increased military pay and replenished the national treasury. We also issued the narrow-mouthed and wide-bottomed Dendrobium style across the country to reduce the super-exploitation of the poor. These measures were originally beneficial to the national economy and people's livelihood, but they caused dissatisfaction from the bureaucratic landlords. These people are already at odds with me.
Then he hated me even more."
Jia Sidao paused for a moment, seeming to have recalled a lot of past events. He drank another glass of wine and continued: "At this time, I can only follow the late emperor closely. I know that only the late emperor can protect me, and the late emperor also
He gradually became inseparable from me and constantly gave me power, such as Young Master, Young Master, Privy Council History, Prime Minister and other positions."
"Then Brother Xian Xian should use the power in his hands to make more speeches before the emperor and revive our dynasty."
"Brother Xiangfu, you don't understand what it means to accompany a king like a tiger. The late emperor gave me so much power, but he started to distrust me again."
"Why is this?"
"In his later years, the late emperor not only became more indecisive, but also became suspicious. After Kublai Khan of Mongolia withdrew to the north, the late emperor thought that he would divide the river and rule like he did during Gaozong's time, so he only read the books of Neo-Confucianism and ignored the government affairs. There was no way to revive our government.
I have no interest anymore.”
"The late emperor is like this, Brother Xian should give you more advice."
"Brother, I'm not telling you. Although you are talented in civil and military affairs, you don't understand the emperor's heart. The way to be a minister is to figure out the emperor's heart in order to remain invincible. From ancient times to the present, there have been several emperors
Like the previous Emperor Taizong, he could tolerate Wei Zheng's advice. Come on, let's continue drinking."
Li Tingzhi has been out fighting enemies all year round. How could he know that the court was so complicated? While he was thinking about it, he heard Jia Sidao continue to say: "Xiangfu, do you know about Wu Shi San?"
"Of course I know that."
"People are subject to change. This power is like taking Five Stone Powder, it's addictive."