Volume 3 Chapter 6: The Boat May Be Lost (Part 2)
What these smart people in the court think is absolutely correct.
In fact, Zhao Jiu didn't care about the Pseudo-Qi at all. He had "expected" the emergence of this clown from the beginning. He was not willing to make any unnecessary political and military responses to such things. He even felt that such things were not as important as the project of fortifying Tokyo.
However, since no one agrees with him, and this issue is currently the number one hot topic in the country, don't blame him for taking advantage of the popularity and doing what he wants.
After all, both for public and private reasons, Zhao Jiu had already decided to put that period of "history" to rest, and this was an opportunity that came to him.
Hu Yin's sincere performance did not seem to stop Emperor Zhao from issuing a self-criticism edict... In fact, when Zhao Jiu had made up his mind and put himself, the emperor who was in a sense a victim, in the position of a sinner, as long as he was ruthless enough, no one could stop him.
In fact, he couldn't think of anyone who could stop him.
"His Majesty!"
Just as everyone was looking at Hu Yin with emotion, things seemed to be going according to the official's wishes and making big news, but suddenly, Prime Minister Lu Haowen did something that no one expected. He knelt down in front of the throne in public and bowed deeply.
The whole audience was stunned, and this move made Zhao Jiu, who had been indifferent today, gasp on the spot... After all, a prime minister of the Song Dynasty, in theory, did not need to perform such etiquette except for kneeling as a superficial gesture at the special ceremony of Xuanma's appointment as prime minister at the beginning.
Historically, Wang Anshi rode a horse into the palace but was stopped by eunuchs at the door. He had to dismount, which announced that his relationship with Emperor Shenzong was unstable. He was then soon dismissed from his position as prime minister. This shows how important the position of prime minister was. Why was he in such a position?
To put it bluntly, you forced the prime minister to kneel down. How willful must you be as an official?
In fact, Zhao Jiu didn't expect that the other party had such a trick... As the saying goes, you can blame yourself, and I can kneel down... Who will heaven let go?
"Mr. Lu..."
Coming back to his senses, the chief escort Lan Gui almost jumped up and dodged directly, while Zhao Jiu also quickly stood up from the throne and stood to one side with a complicated expression.
"I am guilty!"
Without waiting for Zhao Jiu to speak, Lu Haowen buried his head in the ground.
Zhao Jiu was furious: "What crime have you committed?"
"I am indeed guilty!"
Lü Haowen did not hesitate, but did not stop for a moment, and raised his voice to confront him. "When the Great Dao Emperor was in power, he appointed six thieves, and the country was in turmoil. When the country was prosperous and peaceful, the people were at ease and the military was idle. As a minister, I was unable to recognize the crisis, unable to die for the sake of admonition, but only to cultivate my reputation and seek fame, which has already failed the duty of a minister!
"During the reign of the Holy Emperor, I was suddenly promoted to a close official, and held important positions in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War. However, I was only confined to party disputes, arguing about the past affairs of the Yuanyou and Yuanfeng periods. When it came to war, I did not understand the general situation of military affairs, which led to the collapse of the front line... During the Jingkang Incident, I was the Minister of War, and my crime was the greatest!
"When the disaster of Jingkang was already complete, the two emperors were controlled by the Jin people, and Zhang Bangchang usurped the throne. I, who was proud of my reputation as a Taoist scholar, could not die for my loyalty, but instead lingered with them. My crime is unforgivable! If I had listened to what Li Gong said in Nanjing, I should have been executed long ago!
“However, my crime, which cannot be added, is that after Your Majesty ascended the throne during the Jianyan period, I failed to recognize Your Majesty’s divine power. After only a few months of setbacks, I wanted to retire and die… If this were the case, how could I return to the old capital today and see the country’s Jianshao period again?
"Today, the Pseudo-Qi Dynasty is using the twists and turns of the past chaos to speculate on your Majesty's state of mind. If your Majesty really thinks that he is guilty and wants to issue an edict of self-blame to set the record straight, why not first execute the guilty ministers to correct the government? Otherwise, I will not be convinced!"
The whole hall was in a state of solemnity, and just when all the other ministers were hesitating whether to follow, Zhao Jiu was the first to wake up, and then stood beside the throne and shook his head repeatedly:
"Why did Lord Lu come to this?"
"Your Majesty, do you think I am defending someone? Am I fighting for someone's dignity?" Lu Haowen raised his head, and it was rare for him to lose his composure. " What I said today is all from the bottom of my heart. It is all the unbearable words that have been in my heart for the past two years, and it is also the words that have jumped into my heart after returning to the old capital... In the past, I witnessed the Jingkang Incident with my own eyes, and watched the building collapse in an instant. There was nothing to think about, and it was nothing more than doing our best and leaving it to fate. Who could have thought that in just two years, we would return to the old capital again? If I must say what I am angry about today, there is only one sentence - Your Majesty has the appearance of revival, and you should do the things of revival. Why do you keep arguing about a few unreasonable ministers and nonsense? Are those old things so important?!"
Zhao Jiu stood there for a long while before he sighed, "If that's the case, why should Mr. Lu be so hung up on the past? When the disaster happened suddenly, who was clean?"
"Your Majesty, that's exactly what I said." Wang Boyan bowed and hurriedly came forward when he heard this. "In fact, before entering Nanyang, at the foot of Fangcheng Mountain, Your Majesty had already pardoned all of my previous sins. The past should not be mentioned again. Since my sins can be pardoned, why do you want to talk about your Majesty's sins again?"
"Are the emperor and his subjects the same thing?" Zhao Jiu laughed again. " Isn't what the Analects said just now clear enough? The emperor can pardon his subjects, but who can pardon the emperor?"
Wang Boyan broke out in a cold sweat, but didn't know what to say.
"Your Majesty, times have changed." Xu Jingheng finally knelt down. "Since you have pardoned me, God should also pardon you!"
"What can Heaven rely on to pardon you?" Zhao Jiu was still not satisfied, but seeing that all the civil and military officials in the court were about to kneel, he decided to keep the peace for the time being. "Forget it, I will not issue an edict of guilt for the time being."
All the officials in the palace were relieved, but they all bowed and saluted, but did not kneel down together... in order to avoid the appearance of forcing the emperor to abdicate.
"But I still have one or two words to say to you today..."
Zhao Jiu's eyes swept over the four people with the highest status in the court, namely the three prime ministers and the tearful Chief Censor, and finally showed a stern attitude. "I will not care about it today, not because you are right and have convinced me. But because I am not as sincere as Prime Minister Lu, I am a hypocritical person, so for the sake of your dignity, I have to pretend... As for the guilt of the emperor, it has been set in stone and recorded in history. There will always be a time in the future when I can't escape it!"
Hu Yin, who was standing behind the three ministers, lowered his head even deeper when he heard this.
"As for the reason why some people have been making a fuss recently, I would like to remind you that the court is short of resources and strength. Things cannot be done in a hurry. You are ministers. What's the point of imitating me and pretending to be so ignorant of the importance of things? Can you turn money and food into something to solve the problem by shouting a few words?" Zhao Jiu continued to speak sternly. "Also, the prime minister kneeling is a once-and-for-all! Let's make a rule from now on: purple-robed people are not allowed to kneel casually in the palace!"
Having said this, Zhao Jiu finally became resentful and left in anger.
Today's victory or defeat turned out to be a loss for both sides?
