Ouyang Xiudao: "Since the first year of Jiayou, the imperial court has been constantly undergoing reforms, including horse administration, tea taxation, land equalization, buying methods, imperial examinations, and service laws. There are often endless discussions among the ministers. If there is a slight change, ancient rituals will be adopted. The words of the ancestors' family law push away the evil spirits, and they like to follow the stories."
"What is ancient etiquette? What is ancestral family law? The origin of etiquette must be due to human feelings, and it must be changed due to human feelings. Therefore, if you want to change etiquette, you must trace the source and know the reason for the change. If you know why it was established, you can know why it was changed."
Zhang Yue said: "Today the official family is the head of a promising family, and my uncle is a minister. This is the blessing of the world and the blessing of the country."
Ouyang Xiudao: "I don't dare to take credit. It is Han Xianggong who has the ambition to promote peace, revive the king's culture, and be as prosperous as Zhou and Han Dynasties. He has always followed us, until the time of this modification, he knew the potential and did it, and he can become an official. Show honor and do your best for the common people."
Ouyang Fa also said: "Since Han Xianggong came to the throne, he has restrained the country but only punished him, and evened out the people's wealth but only used strength to relieve him. He is actually the true prime minister."
The more Zhang Yue listened to Ouyang Xiu and Ouyang Fa, he felt that Han Qi really had great ambitions.
The Jiayou period was called the golden age of scholar-bureaucrats for no reason. Officials were busy giving birth to sons and had no time to manage government affairs. Fu Bi and Han Qi held power on behalf of the emperor.
Among the reform initiatives such as the horse administration and the tea tax, it was Han Qi who promoted the reform. Fu Bi also supported the reform, but he was more cautious and slower.
There was a meeting in the political hall. Fu Bi felt that something was difficult to decide, and he pondered over and over again. Han Qi couldn't help but said: "Again!"
When Fu Bi saw that Han Qi was so disrespectful to him in front of many officials, he couldn't help but change his color and said, "What did Xu say?"
However, Zhang Yue knew that history would tell them that Ouyang Xiu, who advocated straightening out regulations and reforming with human feelings, Fu Bi, who was politically prudent, Han Qi, who was bold and courageous, and Han Jiang, the most radical disciple of Han Qi, and Wang Anshi during the Xining period in the future. It's all weak in comparison.
I guess Han Qi would sigh, Damn, this reform can still be done like this?
But it is undeniable that without the paving the way for the scholar-bureaucrats to work hard and eliminate the long-standing abuses during the Qingli Jiayou Period, the vigorous reform in the Xining Period would not have been possible.
The law of land equalization and exemption from labor originated from Ouyang Xiu.
The recruitment law originated from Han Jiang.
As for the compilation of Taichang Yinge Li, it was also one of the preludes to promote the reform movement of Jiayou Zhiping.
Is Taichang Yinge's ceremony important?
It may seem unimportant to laymen, but this is the theoretical basis for change. Just like why Wang Anshi spent so much time writing new meanings of the Three Classics.
But Tai Chang's efforts to reform the reform were in vain, because after Wang Anshi came to power, he overthrew everything before, swept it into the garbage heap with a broom, and then did it himself.
Tai Chang Yin Ge Li is destined to fail, but since it is something he can do and is willing to do, there is no reason not to do it.
When doing something, don’t ask about the reward, ask whether you want to do it!
Do it knowing you can’t do it!
Zhang Yue thought of this and said resolutely: "If uncle has any instructions, my nephew will definitely go all out."
Ouyang Xiu said happily: "I really did not misjudge the person. Come, let's eat first."
When Ouyang Fa heard this, he immediately gave Zhang Yue a bowl of rice.
When Ouyang Xiu and Zhang Yue talked about his intention to repair Taichang Yin's ritual ceremony, he was very serious in his words. This was his political ambition, and he didn't even notice that there were grains of rice on his beard.
Zhang Yue looked at Ouyang Xiuxin and said, compared to Xi Ning's drastic changes, he preferred Jiayou's romantic character!
On the other side, Shi Qi Niang and Mrs. Wu talked for a long time. Mrs. Wu asked so carefully that Shi Qi Niang's face turned red.
Mrs. Wu said: "What's the matter? When my brother-in-law and I were newly married, we came here the same way. There is nothing difficult to say between us sisters."
The seventeenth mother shook her head repeatedly.
At this time, Zhang Yue and Ouyang Fa had arrived outside the door. Ouyang Fa said: "Madam, Du Zhi is going back home."
Mrs. Wu said impatiently: "If you stay here for a moment longer, Shi Qi and I haven't finished talking yet."
Mrs. Wu also felt that her attitude was too bad and she did not save Ouyang Fa's face in front of her sister and brother-in-law. The Seventeenth Niang said: "Sister, you were not like this in the past."
Mrs. Wu sighed: "What else can I do? From the wedding ceremony to the daily necessities, your brother-in-law has never sought advancement. He only plays with antiques, calligraphy and paintings at home. He has no intention of becoming a Jinshi. I asked him to become an official." , he also doesn’t want to be an official, he has said it several times, but now he doesn’t want to say anything anymore.”
The Seventeenth Mother said: "Since my brother-in-law doesn't like being an official, I might as well just do what he wants."
Mrs. Wu smiled bitterly and said: "You don't know my difficulties. Fortunately, now that my father-in-law is in power, everyone sells out three points of my Ouyang family's face. What will happen in the future? How can people who have climbed too high stoop to look at others? Your face?"
Mrs. Wu said: "Every one of the girls in our Wu family hopes that their husband will succeed. I am like this, fifteen is like this, and you will be like this in the future. But it is easy for the prime minister's daughter to do it, but it is difficult for the prime minister's wife to do it. Zhang You must not only support Mr. Sanlang in his future career, but also make him think of our Wu family. I will tell you from my own experience. No matter how good the plan was at the beginning, it will all fall to the ground in the end. Live the life.”
The Seventeenth Mother listened and nodded.
The next day Zhang Yue went to Taichang Liyuan to report.
Taichang Liyuan belongs to the Zhongshu sect and is in charge of ritual affairs. In the Tang Dynasty, there was the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple, which was in charge of rituals.
But in the Song Dynasty, Taichang Rites Temple was established to take charge of etiquette matters together with the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple.
This aspect is also very ‘Song Dynasty’.
Specifically speaking, it is in line with the style of overlapping houses in the official system of the Song Dynasty.
After the establishment of Taichang Liyuan, it usurped the power belonging to the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple. The Ministry of Rites can now also manage the imperial examinations, cashiers and seals, etc., while Taichang Temple is so miserable that it only manages the Wuchengwang Temple and Zhaigong. Things have almost been reduced to a mascot-like existence.
how so?
Because the imperial court wanted to ‘do things forcefully’.
It turns out that the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple were not very obedient and did things too sloppily, so the officials established a new Taichang Liyuan to take over the power of the two yamen.
The Taichang Liyuan has a court of judges and a total of four magistrates. One characteristic of serving as an official in the Taichang Liyuan is that almost all the judges and magistrates of the Taichang Liyuan have personal posts.
The post is an official from Chongwen Guan.
Officials who came from Chongwen Hall were close ministers of the emperor. It turned out that the officials were disobedient and the official family could not be abolished, so they established a new yamen and replaced them with their own confidants.
Taichang Liyuan is responsible for formulating and revising etiquette laws. As long as Confucianism is the mainstream, etiquette is the most important thing for a country.
After Zhang Yue arrived at the hospital, he met with the other three magistrates of the academy and shared the knowledge of the academy.
The current magistrate of the Taichang Liyuan is Chen Jian, who is Han Qi's confidant. Now he is the director of the Secret Pavilion, is appointed to the Wenjian Yuan, and knows the Taichang Liyuan.
One person concurrently served as the highest official of the two yamen, namely the Procuratorate of Justice and the Taichang Liyuan.
This is also a strange thing about the official system of the Song Dynasty. Many officials were appointed to the Ministry of Civil Affairs such as Nahouque, because there were no redundant official positions in the court, but there were many high-ranking officials, each of whom held multiple positions.
The other person was Yan Chengyu of Chongwen Yuan who reviewed the case and also knew Liyuan.
Zhang Yue inquired before coming and found out that Yan Chengyu was the second son of Yan Shu, the elder brother of Yan Jidao, and the brother-in-law of the former prime minister Fu Bi.
The dispute between Han Qi and Fu Bi also affected these two people, and Yan Chengyu and Chen Jian could not deal with each other.
The third person is Lu Xiaqing from Zhimi Pavilion and Tongzhi Liyuan. He was appreciated by Ouyang Xiu and was promoted to Taichang Liyuan for compiling the New Book of Tang Dynasty. He is now responsible for compiling Taichang Yinge Liyuan.
This person can be said to be extremely knowledgeable.
Zhang Yue was a little more enthusiastic when meeting Lu Xiaqing. Lu Xiaqing had obviously received orders from Ouyang Xiu and was very respectful to Zhang Yue.
Chen Jian, the deputy director of the academy, said to Zhang Yue: "According to the system, the four deputy directors of the academy need to take turns. I am the first official, and the second official is Dr. Su (Su Song). Now he has left the post to know Yingzhou, and the second official is Dr. Su.
On the third day it was Dr. Yan, and on the fourth day it was Dr. Lu.”
"How about filling Dr. Su's position?"
Officials of the Taichang Liyuan attacked Dr. Taichang, so they all called each other doctor.
Zhang Yue said: "I will obey the order of the chief ceremony desk."
Chen Jian nodded and said, "Today is Dr. Yan's shift. I'm going to go to the Medical Examination and Procuratorate to sign for custody. It's not the day of rotation. You can just come to the Liyuan every day to sign for custody."
Zhang Yue was dumbfounded when he heard this, which must have made Taichangliyuan so happy.
It’s just a day and a day off. Where can you find such a job? You can do it for free!
After Chen Jian left, Yan Chengyu was on duty today. He said to Lu Xiaqing: "Dr. Lu, I have to go to Chongwen Hall for duty in four days. How about you take over the shift for me?"
Lu Xiaqing said: "Dr. Yan, please forgive me for my incompetence. I am also writing and compiling books, so I really can't get away from it. How can I talk about taking turns?"
Yan Chengyu said: "Can Duzhi help me?"
Zhang Yue said: "I have little qualifications and am new here. I still need to learn more rules."
Yan Chengyu shook his head and said: "That's it, that's it."
Zhang Yue looked at the three of them and understood that it was all fake. Officials in Zhiliyuan and Tongzhiliyuan all had part-time jobs. Wasn't Zhang Yue assigned by Ouyang Xiu to assist Lu Xiaqing in revising books?
After Yan Chengyu left, Lu Xiaqing said: "Dr. Zhang, come with me. Let's talk as we walk."
The two of them were walking in the corridor of the Liyuan. Lu Xiaqing said: "The matter of the book of rites was first initiated by Ou Gong. At that time, Brother Cidao (Song Minqiu), the director of the ceremony, was appointed. Later, Cidao resigned and Dr. Su took over."
"You also know that Mr. Ou is good at writing history, but he doesn't pay much attention to etiquette. He even never read the language of etiquette in his life. Therefore, although Mr. Ou was sentenced to one year in the Liyuan Academy, the compilation was done by Dr. Su. Jing. Dr. Su has been in the library for nine years, and the books he has handled can be said to be in good order. However, Dr. Su later took on other tasks, so the work on the ritual books in the second year of Jiayou came to a halt, and now we have to edit it again."
After speaking, Lu Xiaqing opened the door and saw a large bookroom filled with books and articles for research.
Su Xun, another old man, and two or three clerks were copying and searching for articles.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but said to Lu Xiaqing: "There are hundreds of thousands of research books on ritual books, but these people are afraid they won't be enough."
Lu Xiaqing sighed: "My Taichang Liyuan is not as large as the Third Division. There are only dozens of officials, all of whom are busy with errands."
"Why not hire some people outside to copy?"
Lu Xiaqing said: "Where can I find money? I, the Minister of Taichang Liyuan, only have 10,000 yuan per month!"
Zhang Yue collapsed when he heard this. This yamen must be too shabby.