Volume 2 Chapter 30: Outing (Continued)
"This is just writing, but the great scholar Su Shi is more than just writing." The emperor seemed to be completely overwhelmed by Mr. Xu, and he really just sat there and talked about literature and romance, which was a good sign. "It is said that Tang poetry and Song lyrics, Li Bai of Tang poetry and Su Shi of Song lyrics are all like gods; even if it is just poetry, the great scholar Su Shi is also the best in this dynasty; in addition, there are paintings and calligraphy. Among Su, Huang, Mi, and Cai, I learned from Su and Huang... Throughout the ages, there have been many saints and famous ministers, but only a few have made great achievements. However, it does not prevent the great scholar Su from making words. Su Shi has only been gone for a few years? But the three words "Su Dongpo" are probably enough to be immortal, right?"
Everyone naturally sighed.
"Bring it here." Zhao Jiu sighed for a while, and seeing that the atmosphere was good, he waved his hand again.
As everyone was astonished, Feng Yi respectfully held something over. It was a scroll of calligraphy. As Feng Yi and Yang Yizhong carefully opened the scroll, everyone was even more excited as Emperor Zhao said, "Come and see, gentlemen. This is the authentic work of Master Dongpo, 'Preface to the Red Cliff'..."
Everyone could no longer restrain themselves, even Xu Jingheng could no longer stand still, and hurried forward to take a look, all of them were just amazed. The four gentlemen only watched for a moment, and several scholars and ministers became impatient, wishing they could immediately drive the four people away and take a look themselves.
However, Zhao Jiu didn't seem to notice these people's attitude at all. Instead, he suddenly asked a strange question: "Is Ma Xingzu okay?"
Everyone was puzzled, but then they saw the escort Feng Yi shouting to a eunuch beside him to carefully take the original copy of "Preface to the Red Cliff", and then he ran away himself. A moment later, he came over from the hill in the distance with several people. The leader was none other than the famous court painter who had recently arrived in Nanyang, Ma Xingzu, the so-called youngest of the big ponies. Everyone was shocked.
"How is the painting?" Zhao Jiu asked with a smile from afar.
"Your Majesty, I have done my job well." Ma Xingzu came up to him, bowed his head, and spoke with a slightly excited tone. "It's roughly finished, just waiting to be framed."
As they were talking, several more eunuchs came over carefully carrying a long table. On top of it was a long scroll with ink that had not yet completely dried up… The ministers on the riverbank could not help but stamp their feet. How could they not know that the ugly way they ate the fish just now was a trick by the emperor, and Ma Xingzu had it painted into the scroll!
In fact, this was because they did not understand the good intentions of Emperor Zhao. At this time, the sun was setting, and the light was coming from the west, illuminating the river bank cleanly and neatly. As the saying goes, when the lighting is good, everything looks good. Ma Xingzu was sitting west facing east at this time, and it was the perfect time for him to paint this picture.
Of course, Emperor Zhao wouldn't care if someone was painted ugly... He hurried to look at the painting, and first saw that his posture was quite neat and prominent, so he put his mind at ease and appreciated it carefully... However, Zhao Jiu looked at it for a long time and couldn't tell whether it was good or bad. He just thought it was quite interesting, especially the misty White River and the lot of white space in the distance, which contrasted with the tiny figures with different postures on the river bank.
While the others were feeling uneasy, Emperor Zhao looked at it for who knows how long, and suddenly he picked up a pen on the table, and then directly wrote a paragraph in the blank space at the corner of the scroll using the Su-style calligraphy that his body was accustomed to.
It is just like this: the river flows with a sound, the cliffs are thousands of feet high; the mountain is high and the moon is small, the water is clear and the truth is revealed. How many days and months have passed, and the mountains and rivers are no longer recognizable.
The four gentlemen around watched quietly and remained silent.
After the official finished writing, he called another person over: "Is it Su Tan?"
"Your humble servant greets the emperor!" Su Shi's eldest grandson hurried forward and knelt on the ground.
"Get up, you are the guest of honor today." Zhao Jiu chuckled and sighed, then pointed to the table. "You gave me the "First Red Cliff Fu", I am very grateful, but I have no way to repay you, so I can only give you this "Baihe Country Tour Picture" and write "Second Red Cliff Fu" as a return gift."
Su Dan was very nervous and seemed to have no idea what the emperor meant.
However, Lu Haowen could not bear to watch it any longer, so he quickly reminded him: "Thank you quickly. With this painting and this calligraphy, and the discussion of the Eight Great Masters by the government today, are you still afraid that the great scholar Su cannot be vindicated?"
Su Dan suddenly understood, and bowed again, tears streaming down his face.
Zhao Jiu sighed when he saw this, and turned his head and forced a smile, saying, "Mr. Lu, I will not pass you a note today. I will issue an edict to abolish the ban on the Yuanyou Party!"
"I thank the emperor for his great grace." Upon hearing this, Lu Haowen actually knelt down to express his gratitude, and no one around him expressed any objection. On the contrary, Ye Mengde and others also followed suit and paid their respects with great ceremony.
Zhao Jiu did not panic, but easily helped Lu Haowen up... He knew that Lu Xianggong's ancestors were also on the Yuanyou Party Member Monument.
However, after helping his own prime minister to stand up and carrying the painting to the Su brothers, Emperor Zhao shook his head and laughed: "I still don't understand. My prime ministers are all Yuanyou party members, and the Yuanyou party ban is only in name only. Why are you still pressing us so hard?"
"Your Majesty!" Seeing that Lu Haowen was satisfied and still unwilling to say more, Xu Jingheng hesitated again and again, and finally bowed solemnly again. "In the court, the words right and wrong are of great importance. As the saying goes, if the name is not right, the words will not flow..."
Zhao Jiu forced another smile: "This is what I'm afraid of... Lord Xu, do we have to distinguish right from wrong? If according to your opinion, the ban on Yuanyou Party members is lifted, does that mean the Yuanfeng Party members should be banned again? If so, Lord Li Gang's biological father and Lord Zong Zezong were both promoted by Lu Huiqing, should they be expelled together?"
Xu Jingheng looked embarrassed and could only bow his head and say: "I have absolutely no such intention. As long as the government can posthumously confer titles on the Yuanyou Party and clarify the right and wrong, the Yuanfeng Party will be forgiven for what happened."
Lu Haowen, who was standing beside him, hesitated for a moment and also bowed his hands in response: "I think what Mr. Xu said is very true."
Zhao Jiu almost stopped laughing, but still forced a smile: "My two husbands, I fished for you today, painted for you, and even borrowed the calligraphy from the great scholar Su, but can't I make you be confused for once? The country is in such a crisis, why can't you two husbands give in a little?"
Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng looked at each other and said nothing.
At this time, Zhang Jun, who was sitting under a nearby tree, took advantage of his drunkenness and suddenly said, "Your Majesty, they are not trying to fight for the court, but for the school. Luo School and New School cannot coexist... During the Jingkang period, the country was in great danger, but they still wanted Yuan Sheng (Song Qinzong) to lift the Yuanyou Party Ban and stir up disputes. Today, the Jin people have retreated a little, so why don't they take the opportunity to ask your Majesty to establish Luo School as the prominent school and abolish New School as a heresy? In my opinion, the two ministers have been respectful enough to your Majesty, because during the Jingkang period, even the amiable Prime Minister Lu would not let Yuan Sheng eat because of these things. Today, even Prime Minister Xu allowed your Majesty to eat and write an inscription. Isn't that a lot of concessions?"
Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng both felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
As expected, the official sneered, "Is that so?"
"I have no intention of neglecting state affairs." Xu Jingheng took off his soft hat before Lu Haowen and said solemnly. "Your Majesty, I believe that only by determining right and wrong can state affairs be properly handled... As for the censor's accusation that I have forced you too much, I am willing to follow the precedent and resign to prove my innocence!"
"Zhang Que is dying." Zhao Jiu suddenly said. "I called off the court meeting early today because of this matter, and summoned you here for this reason... Why do you think I softened my attitude today? Isn't it because I want you to tolerate each other for the sake of the country and maintain stability in the court?"
Liu Ziyu, who was still having a headache, reluctantly glanced at Zhang Jun, but the latter had already regretted his impulsive behavior under the influence of alcohol. As for Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng... Mr. Lu was fine, but Xu Jingheng, who was almost a life-and-death friend of Zhang Que, suddenly looked up.
"Don't you want me to give you an explanation?" Zhao Jiu said with a forced smile. "I will give you one today... Just now, Minister Ye asked me why I ranked Wang Shu Wang before Ouyang Xiu, because in my personal opinion, Wang Shu Wang is the best person in this dynasty!"
Lu Haowen also raised his head.
"It's not about learning, but about politics and being a prime minister. The great scholar Su made a name for himself, while Prime Minister Wang made both achievements and words." Zhao Jiu continued to laugh. "If it weren't for the rebellion of the old party, the chronic disease of Xixia would have been eliminated long ago, and there would be no disaster today. As for the thieves like Cai Jing, they pretended to be the new party, and on the surface they implemented new policies, but in fact they were cruel and plundering the people. Such people would also harm people in the old party, so what does it have to do with Wang Shu? Although I am young, I can distinguish the source of right and wrong... So, I will speak frankly today. I can pardon the old party and use them, but if you want me to disparage the new party and respect the old party to decide what is right and wrong, I will definitely not follow it!"
Lu Haowen closed his eyes and sighed, while Xu Jingheng looked puzzled.
"Officials!"
At this moment, someone who had been silent for a long time suddenly raised his voice to remind him, "Your Majesty! You were appointed by Empress Dowager Yuanyou!"
After hearing this, countless people took a deep breath, but said in unison in their hearts - someone finally said this!
You know, if it weren't for this sentence, those cronies of Emperor Zhao would have jumped out to beat up Mr. Xu long ago, how could the situation deteriorate to this extent?
"Finally someone has said this." Emperor Zhao was not angry when he heard Ye Mengde's words. "I know what you are thinking! When I was exiled, I drove the people who proposed to deprive Wang Anshi of his title to Lingnan, but you all kept coming... You think I was established by Empress Dowager Yuanyou, and Empress Dowager Yuanyou was established by Empress Dowager Xuanren (Gao Taotao). So, you think I will figure it out sooner or later. If I can't carry on the same lineage and promote the old party, I will be rebellious and unqualified to rule the country... Is that right?"
"I have absolutely no such intention." Ye Mengde fought hard but did not achieve the expected results. He was already panicking, and when he heard the official's harsh words, he quickly took off his hat and bowed his head.
"What do you mean by absolutely not having such intention?" Zhao Jiu laughed again. "Mr. Lu and Mr. Xu just didn't give me face today, but Minister Ye has stripped me of my face, how can I not have such intention?"
"Minister Ye spoke without thinking..." Lu Haowen tried his best to plead for mercy.
"Let Minister Ye go to Yangzhou." Zhao Jiu said disapprovingly. "Let Yangzhou Governor Lu Yihao come here to serve as Minister of Works... When Minister Ye arrives in Yangzhou, why not ask the Queen Mother in person, since I don't respect the old party, can I depose him?"
Ye Mengde's face turned pale and he could not even stand. He could only bow and kowtow. Lu Haowen could only follow Xu Jingheng's example and take off his soft hat to show his gesture.
But Emperor Zhao continued: "Why do you think I should promote Wang Shu? Why can't I bring out the old party?! Isn't it because I want to resist the Jin?! According to your opinion, to respect Sima Guang and Su Shi... should we respect Sima Guang and return the land of Western Xia, or should we respect Su Shi, 'Wei Qing's slave'?"
"Your Majesty." Xu Jingheng also turned pale, but he was the last person on the river bank who tried his best. "Master Su was not mocking Wei Qing, he was mocking the people who were lucky enough to get promoted at that time."
"I know!" Zhao Jiu sneered. "And I think that with the kindness of the great scholar Su Shi, if he could see the Jingkang Shame with his own eyes and live again, he might become a military official to open up the border in Hehuang! But didn't he see the Jingkang Shame? Can't he live again? If I greatly honor Su Shi and posthumously confer him the title of Grand Master, when Han Shizhong and others see 'Wei Qing slaves', will they think that the emperor calls them confidants on the surface, but actually regards them as slaves?! Lord Xu, how many times do you want me to tell you that the world is united in resisting the Jin... I don't want you to prosper if you obey me and perish if you disobey me, I just want you to rise if you obey me and fall if you disobey me, but you can't do it!"
"We saw that the Jin army had retreated a little, so we took this opportunity to discuss this matter. We have no ill intentions..." Xu Jingheng was already exhausted. "The Old Party and Luo School are not stupid enough to deliberately ignore military preparations and belittle military strategies."
"You have no ill intentions, nor are you stupid, you just get used to it." Zhao Jiu laughed and said, "I will teach you one more thing... In the first year of Jingkang, the Jin army went south for the first time, and withdrew in February. The two emperors in the court had a dispute, and the Jin army came back in August. In April of the second year, the Jin army abducted the two emperors. I ascended the throne in Nanjing in June, and Huang Qianshan and Li Gang had another dispute. As a result, the Jin army went south for the third time in October. Now it is the second year of Jianyan. Jingdong, Jingxi, and Guanzhong have all collapsed, and the Jin army also retreated in April... I only ask you, ministers, scholars, and ministers, when do you think they will come this year? Why do you insist on making trouble at this time? What are you trying to do?"
Lu Haowen, Xu Jingheng and others all felt a tightness in their chests.
"I have said directly today that you are not allowed to resign, quit without reason, claim illness without permission, or ask for leave without permission, and you are not allowed to discuss the dispute between the old and the new..." Zhao Jiu rarely frowned. "This is because the state affairs are difficult. Jin and Song are still at war. The Jin people may go south in two months. I have gone through so much trouble today, and finally I was forced to say these unpleasant words. If anyone stirs up trouble at this time, in my eyes, he will be as betraying the country as Liu Guangshi. If anyone refuses to accept it, please go find Ye Dayin and sign a petition with him to ask the Queen Mother to depose me. Then you can do whatever you want. That's all!"
Lu Haowen and Xu Jingheng looked at each other, and put on their hats in shame, but Ye Mengde completely collapsed.
"Your Majesty, I request that Ye Mengde be demoted to Linggao in Qiongzhou for his unauthorized remarks on the matter of deposing and enthroning the emperor." At this moment, Hu Yin, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stepped forward to impeach.
Hearing this, Lu, Xu, Wang, Yuwen, as well as the Chief Censor Zhang Jun and many other ministers, all reacted at the same time, and almost jumped up from the embankment at the same time, facing each other, expressing their agreement.
Zhao Jiu looked at Hu Yin, then at the ministers who were rarely in agreement, and suddenly laughed: "That's it!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Mengde was completely relieved and couldn't help but burst into tears of gratitude towards Hu Yin... If it weren't for Hu Yin, his only way out would be to jump into the Baihe River and commit suicide tonight, and go to Linggao, and he wouldn't know when he would come back.
As it got darker, everyone dispersed with their own thoughts.
Let's not talk about what those officials thought. It was rare that Emperor Zhao didn't ride a horse, but took a carriage with Madam Wu back to the city. On the way, Madam Wu saw that Emperor Zhao was frowning, and she wanted to comfort him, but she couldn't touch on the political affairs. After thinking about it, she suddenly leaned on his shoulder and asked with a smile:
"Sir, you said before that if the great scholar Su could see today and be reborn, he might go to Hehuang to open up the frontier?"
"good."
"If the emperor is Emperor Shenzong, how will he deal with the great scholar Su?" Mrs. Wu asked curiously. "Will he also be allowed to open up the border in Hehuang?"
"Of course not." Zhao Jiu blurted out while thinking. "Instead, he should be banished a few years earlier... As the saying goes, writing hates life, if he hadn't been banished for half his life, how could he have written such good articles and poems? As for letting him go to the frontier, he might die in battle."
Mrs. Wu was stunned for a moment.
" parking."
Emperor Zhao did not say any more to Madam Wu, but suddenly gave an order, and when the car stopped in the middle of the road, he got out directly and asked someone to open the scroll of "Preface to the Red Cliff".
Mrs. Wu understood and immediately helped to hold the lamp, and Feng Yi also hurried forward to offer pen and ink.
Zhao Jiu took the pen and ink, and with the help of the light from the lamp, he wrote a paragraph directly on the back of "Preface to the Red Cliff".
"Give it to Prime Minister Xu in the back, and ask him to reward it to Prime Minister Zhang Que's family on my behalf." After Zhao Jiu finished writing this, he threw the pen to the ground, gave only one instruction to Feng Yi, and got into the car.
Feng Yi did not dare to delay. He carefully held the precious scroll and came to the carriage of Prime Minister Xu, which was not far behind the official carriage, and explained it.
Xu Jingheng was originally full of worries, but after hearing this, he cheered up a little, got out of the car in person to pick him up, and thanked Zhang Que on his behalf.
The carriages of Lu, Wang, Yuwen, and Zhang Jun were all nearby. When they heard that the emperor had bestowed the "Preface to the Red Cliff" on Zhang Que and that there was an inscription on it, they hurried over and each held a lantern to read the content of the emperor's inscription.
However, after several people looked at it one by one, they all fell silent. Not only that, the official carriage had already gone far away, and later countless scholars, ministers, and officials came to look at it one by one, but most of them were speechless.
It turns out that these few lines of small characters have clear handwriting, which is exactly the Su style learned by the official, but the content comes from the famous work "Travels to Baochan Mountain" by Wang Shuwang (Wang Anshi), which is highly controversial today.
As the saying goes:
However, if one has the strength to achieve a goal, he may be ridiculed by others and will regret it himself; if one has done his best but cannot achieve it, he will have no regrets, for who can ridicule him?
