Chapter 988 The Queen Mother and the Officials (two updates combined into one)
After Zhang Yue arrived in Heyang, he was very close to the capital.
Here he took a short rest.
At the time when the confrontation between Song and Liao was at its most critical, Shen Kuo suggested to the officials that once the front line was defeated, to prevent the Liao army from going south, it was necessary to defend Heyang and prevent Liao cavalry from crossing the river.
Some people suggested that the Third Heyang Bridge should be demolished immediately.
Now these crises have long since disappeared, and the Heyang Bridge is bustling with businessmen and travelers traveling from north to south.
However, when Zhang Yue arrived, the river bridge had been blocked an hour in advance, and merchants were crowded to both sides of the river and could not pass. Heyang officials went to the bridge in person to greet him.
When the prime minister's guard of honor arrived at the river bridge.
"Yes, Mr. Zhang has returned to the court!"
Along the way, people rushed to tell each other.
Under the Qingluo umbrella, Zhang Yue looked at the people following him, raised his hands and clasped his fists.
The turbid waves of the Yellow River lap at the river bridge.
…
After crossing the river bridge, Zhang Yue arrived at the post station to rest. Cai Jing took care of everything along the way.
For example, official reception, accommodation, etc.
With Cai Jing by his side, Zhang Yue felt satisfied all the time. What does it mean to "think one more step in everything and take the superiors into account"? Cai Jing was the same.
Welcoming officials from prefectures and counties, informing the station chiefs about the route, making plans, and receiving guests at the station, etc.
Cai Jing will send someone to the front station to tell him exactly where to get off, where to sit, what to eat when he arrives, what Zhang Yue's taboos are, and his daily preferences for tea and food.
Cai Jing is really good at figuring out what he means.
Zhang Yue felt that it was too much to mobilize the troops. He usually liked to go out incognito and socialize with people as a commoner, but now as a prime minister, he had to accept this, so that outsiders would not know the respect of his father-in-law.
This is the respect the prime minister should have, not himself.
Most people don't know how to be respectful to their husband, so they must be taught.
Reflecting the power of the prime minister through red tape, Zhang Yue always acted respectfully and respectfully, no matter the officials or handymen.
This has to be said to be Cai Jing’s ability.
After entering the post station, the post chief greeted Zhang Yue. When Zhang Yue returned to the post house, the guards immediately opened the door and there were people waiting beside him to attend to every move.
After sitting down, there are pears, chestnuts and other seasonal fruits on the left side of the table, and dried fruits and vegetarian wine are on the right side.
Zhang Yue slowly sat down and straightened his clothes. Now that he has entered the capital, every move he makes must be consistent with his appearance, unlike when he was really calm, wearing loose clothes and walking around.
In a place like the inn, there are many eyes and ears, so it is easy for people to gossip.
"You can go down first! I'll give you instructions if you need anything."
After Zhang Yue said this, dozens of officials and attendants retreated silently.
There was no sound at all.
It seems that Cai Jing has already made arrangements not to allow any noise in the station to disturb his rest.
Before traveling through time, Zhang Yue heard a story about a leader who didn't like the smell of mosquito coils, so his men led a group of people in advance to manually eliminate mosquitoes throughout the process.
Seeing that there was no one around, Zhang Yue was half-lying on the couch to rest. He first picked up the Di Bao and then read the Chao Bao. The Di Bao was issued by the Jinzou Courtyard, and most officials wanted to learn about the imperial government's affairs from the Di Bao. However,
The imperial newspapers were all published by Zhongshu in the Memorial Hall, and contained only edicts and memorials from courtiers.
As for the Chao Bao, it is also an official media, and its content is much wider than that of the Di Bao. The editor of the Chao Bao is from the province, and sometimes adds or deletes memorials selectively.
Wang Anshi hated it when the court newspapers added or deleted his words or memorials, which resulted in the first-class effect of taking them out of context.
Wang Anshi once compared it to "Spring and Autumn" being nothing more than a broken imperial newspaper.
Zhang Yue briefly glanced at the Di and Chao newspapers, and finally picked up the tabloid and read it with relish.
Tabloids are private newspapers. To put it bluntly, they are produced by roadside news agencies and are not responsible for the content. As "journalists" of roadside news agencies, just like today's self-media, for the sake of "100,000 plus", they often go to death without saying anything shocking.
However, some of them may seem outrageous, but they are really inside information. Even the unreliable information can still make you laugh.
Zhang Yue glanced at a line with several words written on it. Empress Dowager Gao scolded Zhu Jieyu for a trivial matter, and Concubine Zhu burst into tears on the spot.
There was a conversation between Empress Dowager Gao and Zhu Jieyu in the tabloid, which was written vividly. Not only the conversation between the two at the time, but also the description of their respective psychological activities, which is simply amazing.
Just like the quarrel between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law, and it involves the royal family, it is the most popular joke among ordinary people.
Zhang Yue looked at it and smiled, feeling that it was not groundless.
Why did Empress Dowager Gao scold Zhu Jieyu?
Zhu Jieyu came from a humble background, but she gave birth to the sixth son of the emperor at the end of last year. Zhang Yue was not sure whether the sixth son of the emperor was Song Zhezong in history. After all, his birthday was one year earlier than the historical birth date.
Zhu Jieyu is indeed her biological mother.
It was said that the official family loved the sixth son of the emperor very much. But at this time, Empress Dowager Gao criticized Zhu Jieyu who gave birth to the sixth son of the emperor.
The content of the tabloid may be false, but Empress Dowager Gao's criticism of Zhu Jieyu is true.
After Zhang Yue turned over the newspaper from his residence, Tang Jiu came inside and said, "Please tell me that you have a family letter from your prime minister."
Zhang Yue read the letter from home and found that it was from the Seventeenth Mother.
The letter naturally talked about some family matters. The letter mentioned that on the Queen's birthday a month ago, he went to the palace to congratulate him. The Queen specially pulled him to say something.
Although it was ordinary words, Shi Qi Niang wrote every word and sentence in the letter, and appended the sentence "It seems to have a profound meaning" at the end.
Seeing this, Zhang Yue became alert.
One thing is okay, two things are a coincidence, three things are not.
Tianjia's selfless affairs, now that he is involved, it is inevitable that he will be involved in it.
"Ms. sir, it's time for some snacks!"
Zhang Yue heard the words, but saw a maid of fifteen or sixteen years old coming in with a bowl of mutton soup. This bowl of mutton had obviously been cooked with a lot of effort. There was golden fat mutton floating on it, and there were wolfberry and Codonopsis pilosula inside.
When the aroma of the medicinal herbs is fragrant, two pieces of green onions are garnished on top.
As for the maid who brought the soup, she was fifteen or sixteen years old. She was very beautiful and had the innocence and shyness of her age.
Zhang Yue saw that the jade wrist of the maid serving soup was almost the same color as the white porcelain on the wall of the bowl, and he couldn't help but feel something move in his heart.
Seeing the maid put down the soup bowl and not leaving, Zhang Yue suddenly realized, you Cai Jing, you have even considered this.
…
The next day, Zhang Yue entered Beijing from Heyang.
The information was obtained all the way from the Imperial City Department and reported to the officials at any time.
The Imperial City Department consists of the Detective Department and the Ice and Well Affairs Department.
Since the Reform, the scale of the Imperial City Department has continued to expand. In the fifth year of Xining, the capital Luozu was established. There were 70 soldiers in the Imperial City and dozens of casual officials in Kaifeng Prefecture.
Sin.
Sima Guang said in his diary that Wang Anshi sent 7,000 people from the Imperial City Department to inspect the capital, and that anyone who heard someone slandering the proposal would be punished immediately.
This is untrue, because the Imperial City Department only has more than 3,000 people, and the Detective Department responsible for spying is only a part of them.
And the most important thing is that the Imperial City Secretary did not listen to Wang Anshi at all, but listened to the official edicts.
However, since the fifth year of Xining to the present, the Imperial City Division has continued to expand. This is an indisputable fact.
The officials looked at the secret report sent by the Imperial City Inspector and had a clear insight into the big and small matters in the capital. They even knew when Zhang Yue arrived in Heyang, where he stayed at the post station, who he met, and even how many dishes he ate.
He knew everything clearly. He even knew how long the maid who had been serving Zhang Yue mutton soup in the middle of the night had been.
Eleven years after he ascended the throne, he is no longer an emperor who relies on his ministers for everything.
The ears and eyes are the Imperial City Division, and the generals are Li Xian and Wang Zhongzheng.
At this moment, in the back hall, on the official side is a map of the entire Shaanxi Road and Xixia.
Dozens of giant candles illuminated the hall brightly, and the most conspicuous place where the candlelight gathered was Xihe Road.
The official has long been familiar with this map. Every city and every mountain and river is engraved in his heart. He can even see the tall Helan Mountain in his dreams.
When Zhang Yue regained Xihe, a very grand and grand plan was brewing in his mind, and he was excited every time he thought about it.
However, he kept telling himself repeatedly in his heart to be patient and not to rush.
But when the Taoshui victory and Zhang Yue finally forced the 300,000 Liao army to retreat, he felt that this matter could be put on the agenda.
This grand plan was, of course, entirely led and planned by him, the emperor, and it was something he cared about deeply.
"When I think about it, Zhang Yue will be here soon. What will happen when he hears my plan?"
The official smiled, of course besides this there was another very important thing.
…
In Baoci Palace.
The Queen Mother Gao Taotao was sitting there.
Zhang Mao on the side had already informed her of Zhang Yue's return to Beijing.
Gao Taotao moved the Buddhist beads in his hand thoughtfully and sighed: "I don't like Zhu Jieyu, but why don't I like my grandson? People in the market are good at making arrangements. Find out who in the palace leaked it.
The news is intended to drive a wedge between our mother and son."
Zhang Maoze said: "The saint and the official are like mother and son. Their blood is thicker than water. How can they be separated by others?"
Gao Tao gushed: "But the officials decided on their own to decide Princess Yanxi's marriage, and they also wanted to marry the Zhang family. Aren't they dissatisfied with the second brother's long stay in the palace?"
Princess Yanxi is the legitimate daughter and eldest daughter of the official family and Empress Xiang.
Gao Taotao and Guan Jia are mother and son, but when it comes to choosing a prince-in-law, Guan Jia did not listen to his mother and made his own decision.
Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty once said, I have tried to tell you that today's marriages are all in the homes of generals, prime ministers, and ministers.
In fact, most princesses marry military generals. For example, the three daughters of Empress Dowager Gao all married military officials, but some also married civil servants. For example, the third daughter of Emperor Shenzong married Han Jiayan, the sixth son of Han Qi.
His grandson is Han Yuzhou.
As for the officials who thought what they were doing was hidden, didn't they know that a chamberlain had already secretly reported what he had said to Empress Xiang to Empress Dowager Gao?
In Gao Taotao's eyes, the official ordered a husband who had served in the military to marry him without consulting him in advance, knowing that it was just for him.
Zhang Maoze said: "Reporting to the sage, I think the officials want to name Zhang Yue as Duke of Han and Wei, and not for any other purpose. Besides, Zhang Xianggong may not agree."
Hearing this, Gao Taotao recalled the scene when Emperor Yingzong was still in his dormitory, Zhang Yue came to their house to persuade them. Later, when Yingzong ascended the throne and the emperor ascended the throne, Zhang Yue played an important role.
Gao Taotao has always had a good impression of Zhang Yue.
Gao Tao said: "Do you think Zhang Yue will agree?"
Zhang Maoze said: "I don't know, but Mr. Zhang should be a smart man and understand things."
Gao Tao said: "I told Xianggong Zhang in the palace that with this kind of kindness (for establishing the crown prince), the relationship between the king and his ministers can last forever."
"So later when Zhang Xianggong contradicted the late emperor in front of the emperor, I used the story of Empress Changsun to help him excuse himself. After the official came to power, it was I who persuaded him to choose Zhang Yue as the prime minister."
"I always remember the love back then, but now that he is in a high position, I wonder if I have forgotten it!"
Having said this, Gao Taotao's eyes revealed a sharp color.
Having served Empress Dowager Cao and Gao Taotao, Zhang Mao knew Gao Taotao's temperament very well.
Once Zhang Yue loses his mind on this matter, he will be punished by the wrath of thunder.
Don’t mention any favors from now on.
Zhang Maoze said: "Old minister, are you going to order some of this Zhang Yue?"
"No need!" Gao Taotao said with arrogance.
…
Participate in politics and go to Beijing.
There were more than a hundred ceremonial attendants.
Under the green umbrella, Zhang Yue, wearing a purple robe with a gold belt and a goldfish bag hanging on his waist, rode a maroon Hexi horse, riding proudly on the spacious street.
When Zhang Yue set foot in the capital, the people in Bianjing told each other early.
Many people came here to see Zhang Xianggong's grace.
Zhang Yue has lived in Bianjing for many years. Although he is now the father-in-law, the people in Bianjing are still accustomed to calling him "Zhang Lang".
This is what the people of Bianjing have called me since I was the top scholar in junior high school. Now, after so many years, no one can change their saying.
The common people spoke of each other as if they were watching their neighbor's boy finally grow up. It seemed very affectionate to call him this.
Then parents educate their children, do you see that? This is what a man should do.
In addition to common people and scholars, there are also many officials and dignitaries.
Compared with Gao Taotao and the official family who were always paying attention to Zhang Yue's itinerary, as well as the common people who had just learned the news, the officials and dignitaries all knew about Zhang Yue's itinerary.
They sat in restaurants or on the watchtowers of their homes and watched Zhang Yue enter the city. At the same time, they evaluated from the bottom of their hearts how Zhang Yue's entry into the capital would bring about changes in the struggle between the old and new parties in the entire capital and the high-level political structure.
At this moment, both the new party and the old party were watching Zhang Yue enter the city with complicated emotions.
Needless to say, the next day's Di Bao, Chao Bao and tabloids all published Zhang Yue's return to Beijing to serve as the governor of political affairs.
After Zhang Yue entered the palace, he met Li Qingchen at the palace gate. Li Qingchen was sent by the officials to bring him into the palace.
When Han Qi died of illness, Zhang Yue and Li Qingchen went to visit him. Zhang Yue said many good things about Han Qi in his memorial to the officials afterwards, and wrote an epitaph for Han Qi as promised.
Li Qingchen, who is Han Qi's niece and son-in-law, has long regarded Zhang Yue as one of his own.
In fact, Zhang Yue also admired Li Qingchen. Not only did he, Wang Anshi and the official family also admire him, but now they are very close because of Han Qi's incident.
Zhang Yue also felt in his heart that this person could be cultivated well.
Zhang Yue and Li Qingchen chatted for a while and then went to the palace.
Li Qingchen made an invitation gesture to the hall and stood aside.
"Bachelor of Xuanduan Ming Palace, Doctor Yinqing Guanglu, Minister of Rites, involved in political affairs, Zhang Yue, the founding lord of Hejian County, comes to see you!"
Xuan Zan announced Zhang Yue's long list of official titles. Of course, the name could not be omitted, otherwise it would be like worshiping without a name, and he would soon be treated like Jiuxi.
After Zhang Yue entered the palace, he met officials he had not seen for more than a year.
At the end of the ninth year of Xining, the monarch and his ministers reunited.