Side reports from Shaanxi and Hedong reached the capital one after another.
The cavalrymen galloped through the streets in a hurry, and passersby ducked out of the way.
The envoy, holding a military report, detained the palace late at night and rode straight into the palace gate.
Wang Gui and Cai Que both stayed in the palace and stayed there.
After all, Wang Gui is getting old, so resting in Zhongshu is not as good as resting in his own palace. Moreover, in the palace, he can't have a grand banquet for guests like in the palace, with "slow singing, dancing, silk and bamboo".
But even in the mansion, Wang Gui was inevitably shocked.
Wang Gui said to Cai Que, who was also staying at Zhongshu on duty: "The Khitan army in Hebei is pressing down on the border, and the military situation in Shaanxi is like a fire. The truth is now like being roasted on a stove!"
In the east hall of Zhongshu, officials from various rooms kept going back and forth, and a group of officials were waiting outside.
Cai Que raised his head and said, "The lights in Zizheng Hall are still on all night long."
"Your Majesty, this is also difficult."
At this time, Wang Zhichen, the official of Zhongshu Lifang, came and brought another stack of official documents.
Wang Zhichen, like Chen Mu, was the same year as Zhang Yue in the sixth year of Jiayou. However, because he almost had an in-law marriage with Qi Niang, he always had some troubles with Zhang Yue.
Later Wang Zhichen also wanted to make amends with Zhang Yue.
But after all, there was a gap between them, and the two could never be honest with each other. In the end, he chose Wang Gui between Zhang Yue and Wang Gui.
However, Wang Zhichen was recommended by Wang Gui as the official secretary of the Zhongshu Lifang Office, and he was considered to be an outstanding person in that subject in the same year.
Wang Gui said to Wang Zhichen: "Have these been shown to the history museum?"
Wang Zhichen said: "It was sent to the prime minister's office, but no instructions were given."
Wang Gui said: "You were also a Jinshi in the sixth year of Jiayou, and you were still second in the list. Why can't you say that the history museum has seen it?"
Wang Zhichen said: "I told you, but people in the Prime Minister's Mansion reported that the Prime Minister was dizzy and couldn't see."
Wang Gui said: "The truth is that even a person who is seventy years old can see with blurred eyes. How can a historian become dizzy before he is even forty?"
Wang Zhichen was hard to answer.
Wang Gui could only signal Wang Zhichen to step back, and then said to Cai Que: "How should we deal with this?"
"Sun Yunzhong is not here anymore, and he is still in charge of the Xifu."
Privy Councilor Sun Gu was actually dismissed from his actual post even though he was still in office due to his weak attitude towards the Liao Kingdom.
At present, Zhang Yue is in charge, and Zhongshu is in charge of the Privy Council.
Now Zhang Yue is recuperating from illness, so the affairs of the East and West mansions have been shouldered by Wang Gui.
In ordinary times, Wang Gui would have been a dream come true, but now hundreds of military states of the Song Dynasty were weighing on his shoulders, as well as the Khitan party, which added up to internal and external troubles.
Wang Gui, the old man, can't bear it alone.
Cai Que took the time to give instructions and then said: "I have been waiting in Zhongshu for many years, and it's not like I don't know the methods of the history library. He has always used non-dispute to fight. It seems that he does not take the power of affairs. Those who are good at it are those who are not good at it."
"Let us clean up the mess and remnants."
Wang Gui said: "But Shi Guan is really sick this time."
Cai Quedao said: "No matter how serious your illness is, you must be willing to handle official matters."
"He's just holding you and I can't do anything to the Khitan and Dangxiang."
Wang Gui said: "There is really nothing we can do! I think you want to fight for the 'right to request an order', and the Prime Minister knows about it."
Cai Que laughed angrily and said, "Zhang San is still like this after so many years."
"Well, since you want it, I'll give it to you. He looks so generous. I just can't stand his hypocrisy."
Wang Gui said: "Based on the truth, I will still be in the middle of the book. I'll ask each of my disciples for orders! Don't fight anymore."
Cai Que said: "Gong Zhaowen thought twice. If you give up your power and position, it will be difficult to take it back."
"When Zhang San lived in Dingli Temple before, we had great difficulty in convincing His Majesty when he stayed. From now on, Zhongshu will come to request the order. How can the order be changed overnight?"
"Your Majesty, what will you think of me?"
Wang Gui heard this and said: "The third chapter is the minister of Zhongshu, and I am the minister of the disciples! If you step aside, your majesty will know how generous you and I are."
Cai Que was moved when he heard the words. He moved his lips twice and said, "Okay. Duke Zhaowen insists on this!"
Wang Gui said: "Don't worry, if Mr. Zhang takes my place one day, then you can take over as his right minister and become the Minister of Zhongshu! Even if this day does not happen, Zhang San will retire two years later, and you will also be the right minister."
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"This is the way to advance to attack, and to retreat to defend."
"You fight for power and position. The truth is, I just want everything to be safe and secure in your old age."
Cai Que moved the jade pendant in his hand, which was given to him by Zhang Yue. Cai Que used this as an encouragement to the two of them to reach greater heights in their rise to power.
Cai Que looked far away, looking at the bright lights of the Forbidden Palace outside the window, and then said: "Xiangong Zhaowen is really leisurely and relaxed."
"That's it."
Wang Gui said: "If he doesn't fight, I won't fight either. When the country's affairs are critical, fighting for these things is inferior."
"As long as Liao and Xixia can withdraw their troops, even this prime minister can resign!"
"If you don't object, I'll send my confidant to talk to him Zhang San."
Cai Que asked: "Who is this confidant?"
"Cai Jing!"
"I think since we have reached this point, it would be best for the Prime Minister to go to the history museum in person to discuss the matter."
After hearing this, Wang Gui scolded: "I think you are still spying on the right minister, so you want to hurt my face."
After saying this, Wang Gui walked away with a puff of his sleeves.
——
The next day Wang Gui's carriage arrived at Zhang Yue's mansion.
Wang Gui's face had been charred these past few days, and he had been so confused by state and side affairs. At this stage, he really wished he could go directly to Zhang Yue's house with wings on his back.
When Wang Gui arrived at the gate of the mansion, he asked the servants of Zhang's mansion: "Have you informed me?"
"When Prime Minister Zhaowen comes to visit, why do we need to inform him? Just invite him in."
Wang Gui waved his hand and said: "Although I am the chief minister, I am the prime minister of the auxiliary country together with Zhang Gong. There is no distinction between superior and inferior."
Wang Gui simply stood in front of the mansion and waited.
After a while, Peng Jingyi came out of the house and said: "The Prime Minister has known it for a long time. He is ill and cannot welcome him in person. Please ask Mr. Zhaowen to come in."
Only then did Wang Gui step inside.
Arriving at Zhang Yue's bed, Zhang Yue struggled to get up and salute, but Wang Gui refused and said, "Mr. Zhang, there is no need for you and me to see each other."
Zhang Yue was indeed still ill. After learning that Wang Gui was coming, he applied some ginger water to his face to look more realistic.
Zhang Yue simply sat on the bed and said, "Lao Zhaowengong came to visit in person."
Wang Gui said: "My husband, are you feeling better these days? If you don't come and take a look, I won't be at ease."
"Over the years, hundreds of officials have relied on the History Museum to take care of state affairs. It's really hard work!"
Wang Gui sighed as he spoke, looking very worried about Zhang Yue's health. Zhang Yue said: "Serving the country, I dare not mention the hard work. Fortunately, Duke Zhaowen has taken care of me these years."
Wang Gui said: "There is no such thing as taking care of others and not taking care of them. You and I are two different things. It makes sense for us to help each other when we have something to do."
After a pause, Wang Gui said: "When you were staying at Dingli Temple, Cai Chizheng had a discussion with me to ask Zhongshu to request the order. I felt that this was inappropriate and did not agree."
"When Chizheng was staying one day, Your Majesty mentioned this matter when discussing it, and His Majesty was actually very interested in it."
"So I think it's settled. What do you think?"
Zhang Yue said: "Since both Zhaowen and Shenzheng have made up their minds, let's do it this way. Zhang has no objection."
Wang Gui smiled and said: "Zhongshu has requested edicts since ancient times. In the Tang Dynasty, whenever there were political affairs, Zhongshu would first obtain the edicts and draft the edicts, send them to the subordinates for review, and then the ministers would implement them. The steps were precise."
"Only the division of power can avoid disputes among the three provinces. So Wang wanted to ask Mr. Zhang to do more work, so he simply took over the Zhongshu Province as well."