While the official was thinking carefully, he heard a sound behind him. He turned around and saw a child over six years old walking into the hall.
It was Zhao Mai, the sixth son of the emperor.
"My congratulations to my father for regaining Liangzhou!"
When the official heard this, he smiled happily and said, "Who told you?"
"My mother said so."
"She also asked you to congratulate me?"
Maid Zhao nodded after hearing this.
The official smiled, he liked servant Zhao's sincerity.
Maid Zhao just watched the official smearing vermilion on the wall and said, "Father, you are smearing this painting again."
The official smiled and said: "Yes, have you recited the Analects of Confucius today?"
Zhao servant said: "I have recited it all, please give it a try."
The official said with a smile: "Since you have memorized the Analects, do you know one of the sentences in it? Confucius said, 'I don't try, the old skills are the same'."
Zhao servant said: "I have carried it on my back, but I don't know what it means?"
The official said: "All the knowledge in the world can be used to become an official, but those of us who were born in the royal family do not need to become officials. Therefore, when you seek knowledge, don't learn it just because you need someone to take the exam.
Learn from the heart, understand?”
Zhao servant said: "If you learn from your heart, your son doesn't like to study, but he likes to fight in the army, just like his father."
"But the empress dowager doesn't like her son to read these books on war and battle formations. He only wants to teach me to copy Buddhist scriptures. My mother is very afraid of her and dare not go against his wishes."
When the officials heard that Empress Dowager Gao had done this, they were also a little angry.
However, he still suppressed his emotions and said to servant Zhao with a smile: "Okay, you actually said something against the Queen Mother in front of me."
"Then do you know that the Queen Mother knows that I have anointed you here so that you can clear away future troubles and no longer worry about national affairs like me, so that you can live a peaceful life from now on. Therefore, he wants you to just study Buddhist scriptures and the Analects of Confucius.
Maid Zhao seemed to understand.
The officials also heard that King Yong, Zhao Hao, and King Cao, Zhao Wei, often came to the palace. Among the brothers, he knew that he was not the most loved by his mother. The reason why he could ascend the throne as emperor was because of the eldest son system.
At this time, they heard that Empress Dowager Gao had arrived in front of the palace. The officials were surprised and went to see her immediately.
"If the Queen Mother wants to see me, she can just send someone to summon me. Why should she come here in person?" the official said respectfully.
Empress Dowager Gao heard the faint displeasure in the official's tone and said with a smile: "I heard that the official captured Liangzhou. I am also happy for you, so I came to congratulate your majesty."
The official finally smiled and said, "I just bowed my head and listened. It was Zhang Yue who planned the plan."
Empress Dowager Gao said: "The officials are too humble. If there is a good minister, there must be a wise king."
"Zhang Yue is indeed a capable minister and a famous prime minister, but I heard that he can only serve as prime minister for three more years. After Zhang Xianggong, what prime minister can succeed him?"
The official said: "This... I haven't thought about it yet. I originally wanted to let him serve for a few more years."
Empress Dowager Gao said: "Xianggong Zhang is not only good at planning for the country, but also for his own career. It is rare to find such a minister. However, he is also in charge of this restructuring of the imperial court. I hope that the official family can use both new and old people as promised at the beginning.
Recall Lu Gongzhu and Sima Guang again."
The official said: "Both Lu Gongzhu and Sima Guang are opposed to attacking Dangxiang. Why should I recall them?"
Empress Dowager Gao said: "The officials want to continue fighting? After taking Liangzhou, Dangxiang is already frightened, not to mention the Liao Kingdom on the side. If we continue to fight, what if the Liao Kingdom sends troops?"
The official said: "The Liao Kingdom will not send troops. Even if it sends troops, I believe that with today's national strength, we can refuse it."
Empress Dowager Gao said: "Xianggong Zhang will definitely disagree with this statement."
…
Zhang Yue stepped down from the Golden Palace, and Cai Que said to Zhang Yue: "The capture of Liangzhou this time can be said to be a greater achievement than this."
"Cai is willing to work with Mr. Shi Guan to persuade His Majesty to enshrine Mount Tai!"
"I don't know how?"
Zhang Yue thought to himself that Liangzhou was now enshrined in Zen and Mount Tai, and logically speaking, it was okay.
In terms of merit, the officials were at least ten times better than Emperor Zhenzong.
But you, Cai, really know how to look for opportunities. This idea may have been brewing in your heart for a long time since the capture of Liangzhou.
Zhang Yue said: "This matter needs to be discussed by all officials before discussing it."
Cai Quedao: "Mr. Shi Guan, there are many things to do about the restructuring now. Although there is talk of restoring the system of three provinces and six ministries."
"However, the abolition or merger of various ministries has its own dissatisfaction. How to deal with the redundant officials and redundant personnel?"
Zhang Yue understood what Cai Que meant. Although he said he wanted to flatter the emperor, he wanted to increase the emperor's prestige by capturing Liangzhou and enshrining Mount Tai, and carried out large-scale internal reforms.
This is an option that benefits both parties.
Zhang Yue nodded to Cai Que. Although he was a bit flattering, he also considered himself. For Zhang Yue, the significance of conquering Liangzhou is more importantly to reform the system. This is to circulate from the inside to the outside, and then Circulation from outside to inside.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, Cai indeed is a good calculator.
Zhang Yue said: "However, these redundant personnel cannot be dismissed easily!"
Cai Quedao: "Back then, Mr. Fan Wenzheng made three redundant remarks, and redundant officials were one of them. Back then, Prime Minister Wang laid off many redundant soldiers and redundant officials. Why didn't Mr. Zhang do so?"
Zhang Yue said: "How to eliminate redundant employees?"
"When participating in politics, the various departments within the yamen also understand that if the chief officer is left to make the decision, the redundant staff that will be laid off will only be the children of poor families, but the children of the rich and powerful cannot be laid off."
"What should we do in the end? We must be cautious."
…
While he was talking, the chamberlain suddenly reported that the emperor was holding a banquet in the palace and only invited himself.
After hearing this, Zhang Yue returned to the palace.
But I saw the official family setting up a private banquet to entertain him.
"Sit down, sir!" After the official finished speaking, he personally gave the cup to Zhang Yue to pour wine.
Zhang Yue said quickly: "I don't dare to accept it."
The official stretched out his hand and said, "I know that I am the most successful in attacking Liangqing this time. I am hosting a banquet today to honor your family and thank you for fulfilling my long-cherished wish."
Zhang Yue declined and said: "I will do my best in state affairs and repay Your Majesty's kindness for knowing me. This is reasonable. How dare I express my gratitude to Your Majesty? I don't dare."
After hearing this, the official laughed and said, "Since I entrust you with the management of my family and country, I can treat you as a toast to all the people of the Song Dynasty."
After Zhang Yue accepted the emperor's pouring of wine, he also felt a moment of great kindness, but he understood the principle of good fortune and misfortune. The more at this time, the more cautious he became.
After the official sat down, the two of them ate some side dishes, and Shi Deyi personally poured wine for Zhang Yue.
The official asked casually: "After the restructuring, a new official system will be implemented. Not only will the new system have new people, but also the old people, and the old and new will be used together. At the same time, Sima Guang will return to the court and serve as the imperial censor. This is also the Queen Mother's intention."
As soon as Zhang Yue heard this, Sima Guang returned to the court, and the court would have been completely shut down by him.
I still have three years left to serve as prime minister, why do the officials suddenly make such a motive?
Zhang Yue said: "Sima Guang will definitely oppose the use of military force when he returns to the court. If so, the Northern War will be unsustainable."
The official said: "I think so too, when can Lingwu be conquered?"
Zhang Yue thought to himself, Liangzhou has just been conquered, and your majesty is plotting Lingwu.
So eager again.
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, I think of another matter. How will your Majesty arrange Lu Huiqing's arrangements when she returns to the court?"
"Should he be placed in Fujunzhou as a county guard, or should he be allowed to guard the country's borders? Manage affairs in the northwest."
The official was stunned and thought that he really wanted to reuse Lu Huiqing. This time he was serving as the military envoy in the northwest, and he was quite satisfied.
But Sima Guang and Lu Huiqing were incompatible.
He originally wanted to mention Sima Guang's matter and urge Zhang Yue to attack Lingwu, but he didn't expect that Zhang Yue used Lu Huiqing to block him.