A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 304 Three Points
At this moment, Zhao Zhen felt extremely lost and helpless.

He couldn't even make the right judgment on his own when faced with Song Xuan's proposal.

The truth of that story was too shocking for him!

Zhao Zhen's emotions fluctuated greatly.

He couldn't control himself and buried his face in his arms, crying.

Zhao Zhen has figured out many things he couldn't understand before!

Even mothers from ordinary families hope their sons will be better off and marry a kind and considerate wife.

Even when her daughter-in-law is being unreasonable, the mother will try to mediate.

Even if they have been married for so long without having children, they will still ask about it with care.

However, Empress Guo was extremely unreasonable, and her own mother pretended not to see it and was unaware of it.

It's as if she has no eyes or ears in the palace!
The root of the problem lies here.

How could Zhao Zhen not be heartbroken?

Now, even during sexual intercourse, his heart skips a beat.

The reason he carefully checked whether the doors and windows were locked was because Empress Guo had suddenly pushed the door open and entered while he was having sex, and not just once, which had left him with psychological trauma.

Therefore, Zhao Zhen was filled with resentment!

It turns out that I've been believing everything I was taught to believe since childhood, and it was all a lie.

No one ever told them the truth!
Every single one of them had ill intentions!

Zhao Zhen suppressed his tears.

Song Xuan moved a little closer:
"Hey Xiao Zhao, what's this all about?"

"It's nothing more than a lie that's been kept secret for almost eighteen years."

"For an emperor, being deceived is a common occurrence."

"Besides, this is not something you can control, so take it as a profound lesson."

“When you can’t sleep, take it out and remind yourself.”

"Look at me, I'm in a much worse situation than you!"

“My father, Song Xuan, was a gambler, and my mother remarried.”

“I started working on my own when I was eight years old. I won’t go into detail about how many unruly people there are in the countryside.”

"I suffered a lot just to avoid going hungry. Did you really think I wanted to learn martial arts? I learned it through real street fights."

"If we're talking about who's worse off, I'm worse off."

“My dad still expects me to give him money because of my connections. Bah, he’s dreaming.”

"When I passed the imperial examination with top honors, my mother, who had never visited me in many years, brought her son and wanted to reunite with me. I refused her outright."

"Back then, I was so poor that I had to beg on the streets and live among beggars. When I was being bullied on the streets, she didn't even glance at me or care about me."

"She only found out I was her son after I achieved fame and success!"

"She came to my house, and she wanted to put on a show of motherly love and have a happy reunion with her son?"

"I'll go straight to her mother!"

"I'm not going to play the mother-son bond game with her or repay evil with good, and let them gain any benefit from me for nothing!"

"I'm better off without them."

"Look at me, Song Xuan! I've achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations, becoming the youngest top scholar in the Song Dynasty!"

"I also have many good brothers I made when I was in humble circumstances. I have married a beautiful and wealthy woman, and my father-in-law is the current Privy Councilor."

"They are still bragging to the emperor and reminiscing about the past."

Who can compare?

As Zhao Zhen listened to Song Xuan's words, he realized that he already knew about Song Xuan's tragic past.

Hearing Song Xuan say it now, Zhao Zhen was indeed comforted.

To talk about tragedy

I really can't compare to Twelfth Brother.

At least his biological mother is still alive.

It was Empress Liu who forcibly separated the mother and child!
It is precisely because of the power she wields that the current situation has arisen.

Twelfth Brother did not give up on himself; instead, he made a name for himself at a young age.

Since she doesn't treat me like her son, why should I keep thinking about the bond between mother and son?

Should I just let her hurt me?
"I also want to follow my twelfth brother's example and make my own way in the world!"

Zhao Zhen quietly wiped away his tears and secretly resolved to assume personal rule as soon as possible.

“Once you, Zhao, get through this hurdle, settle down, and take charge of the government, then with a little effort from both sides, we might be able to reclaim the Hexi Corridor.”

"Then we will recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and fulfill the ambition that our ancestors could not accomplish."

"Go to hell with your second-in-command, go to hell with your brother's country."

"Go to hell with your country of uncles and nephews!"

Song Xuan patted Zhao Zhen:
"After all, we are still young, and the future is promising."

Zhao Zhen raised his head.

He didn't feel there was anything wrong with Song Xuan calling him Xiao Zhao and using foul language!

Listening to Song Xuan's explanations and descriptions, he became completely absorbed.

Because Song Xuan's words really did inspire him.

Song Xuan did not stop using PUA tactics:
"My master once said that becoming an official is one of the most difficult things in the world!"

"But to become emperor, that is even rarer and more unique!"

"So, Xiao Zhao, no matter what happens, never bow your head, or your crown will fall off."

"I'm telling you, you absolutely cannot let those who have never loved you laugh at you!"

"You're so heartbroken, they might just have to drink and celebrate."

"Liu Congde, who was so arrogant in the palace today, will surely drink to celebrate."

"Even if we have enough evidence today, we can't do anything to him."

"Who can blame them when they have the powerful empress backing them up!"

"So from now on we must become stronger and prove that we can still live better without them!"

"Let's see who truly has the last laugh tomorrow!"

Zhao Zhen lacked love from childhood to adulthood.

Or many people think that the one thing an emperor has in abundance is love.

Many people flocked to the emperor in pursuit of power.

You can have whatever you want.

But of all those emperors, how many of them were truly unhappy with their positions?
Even an emperor can never do whatever he wants.

You can also be a wise ruler for a day, a month, or even a year.

However, Song Xuan could count on his fingers very few instances of consistently upholding the conduct of a wise ruler throughout history.

Many people are diligent and hardworking in their early years, but become very incompetent in their later years, and engaging in feudal superstitions to seek immortality is their basic practice.

Even Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, dared not lose his temper, even though he suffocated his beloved eagle to death to avoid Wei Zheng's nagging.

Even Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, who lived a carefree life, could not do whatever he wanted after becoming emperor.

Not to mention the other ordinary emperors.

Zhao Zhen's current situation is that he lacks love.

He never experienced any maternal love from a young age.

How to grow up under a mother's care.

What woman could fall in love with a "tool"?
At this moment, Zhao Zhen finally cheered up after listening to the chicken soup that Song Xuan had poured into his mouth.

"Twelfth Brother, what do you suggest we do next?"

"What should we do?"

Song Xuan didn't hesitate and extended his finger:
"I think it will ultimately be a three-step process."

"Okay, three steps it is."

Zhao Zhen felt that it was good that Song Xuan had a plan.

Seeing Liu Congde and the Empress Dowager colluding so shamelessly today, Zhao Zhen believed that even his twelfth brother, Zhao Zhen, would find it unbearable.

Song Xuan nodded, feeling that he could only control three steps.

Otherwise, an overly elaborate scheme cannot be implemented through many steps.

Because there are too many uncontrollable factors.

Whether it's your teammates or your enemies, how can everything possibly go according to your plan?

Someone will always make a mistake.

Therefore, the more elaborate a scheme is, the more likely it is to fail over seemingly insignificant matters.

Examples include Yuwen Hu being killed by the emperor while reading the imperial edict.

Who the hell would wear a helmet when reading an article in the main hall advising others to drink less?
Zhao Zhen, his eyes red and swollen, said:

"Today in the Golden Hall, I saw Liu Congde was extremely arrogant and did not take me seriously at all."

"Since the Emperor intends to deal with Liu Congde first, this matter cannot be accomplished by the ministers alone; public opinion must also be stirred up."

Song Xuan briefly explained his thoughts.

That is to use public opinion.

He revealed everything, including his theft of royal Phoebe zhennan wood and matters related to the Yellow River project.

The first issue is the golden nanmu wood. Besides attacking Liu Congde, people also attacked Liu E.

It would be best to label them as "rebels".

As for the embezzled funds from the Yellow River project, they used cheap, low-quality materials to cover it up.

When floods occur, the imperial court simply continues to repair the rivers, making money every year.

This matter concerns the interests of all the people in Tokyo, and everyone will be talking about it.

"But what's the use of just talking about it?"

Zhao Zhen was puzzled.

If we rely solely on the people, how can we accomplish anything?
"Have you not heard Emperor Taizong of Tang's famous saying, 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it'?"

Zhao Zhen still didn't understand after hearing Song Xuan's answer.

In his understanding, ordinary people are generally useful at the end of a dynasty; if they can't survive, they will join the rebels, strengthen their forces, and thus overthrow the old dynasty.

However, the Song Dynasty is not yet at that point, and he does not want to gather the people together to overthrow the Song Dynasty's rule.

I am the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty. I only want to rule personally and keep power in my own hands. I do not want to overthrow the rule of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Song Xuan coughed:
"It all boils down to one word: anger."

"anger?"

Zhao Zhen was puzzled.

Song Xuan snapped his fingers:
"We will ignite the anger in the hearts of the people, make the Liu family a rat that everyone hates, and hopefully force Empress Dowager Liu to sever ties with Liu Congde in a just manner."

"Or she may continue to protect the Liu family's wealth as she does today."

"In either case, it will be extremely advantageous for us."

Song Xuan didn't mention anything about the Xuanwu Gate inheritance law.

This does not apply to the Song Dynasty.

Despite his father-in-law being the most powerful man in the Song Dynasty, he didn't have a single ounce of military power.

Even the emperor didn't have eight hundred men under his command.

He couldn't even control the Imperial Guards within the palace. The Imperial City Guards were nominally under the emperor's command, but in reality, they only had a very small number of secret guards operating behind the scenes.

In any case, Zhao Zhen would not take the heavy crime of "matricide" to regain power.

Since Emperor Taizu of Song released his generals from their military power over a cup of wine, it has become very difficult for the Song Dynasty to experience a sudden change of dynasty.

However, Emperor Taizu of Song died suddenly, and after Emperor Taizong of Song ascended the throne, the donkey cart drifting incident occurred.

After that, the only option left was to continue to strengthen the policy of emphasizing civil administration and suppressing military power in order to consolidate his regime.

"We've only stirred up some discussion among the public; I don't understand what the point is!"

"Your Majesty should prepare for the possibility that Tokyo will be flooded again this year."

Song Xuan had great faith in the Yellow River works that Liu Congde had built last year.

Without even checking, it's clear that it will be destroyed this year.

He's stuck in a path of making money, so it's hard for him to innovate anymore.

He wouldn't stoop to doing it.

"In this way, more officials will gather under Your Majesty's banner."

Song Xuan did not explain this in too much detail, but only mentioned it briefly.

In Song Xuan's view, how could there be so many interconnected schemes and counter-strategies in political maneuvering?
A makeshift team is the norm!

Today in the Golden Hall, he didn't see any brilliant counterattacks, only the result of Liu E's forced bias.

Therefore, of the political struggle experience that Song Xuan himself summarized, only three points were most useful.

The first point is—a sneak attack!

The second point is to act like a subservient grandson.

The third point is to act submissive first, then launch a sneak attack!
They're basically luring you to dinner so they can ambush you.

They tricked you into coming to the meeting, then launched a sneak attack.

They'll lure you out fishing, then ambush you.

These three points of political struggle experience were summarized by Song Xuan himself, and he would never tell Zhao Zhen them.

After all, Zhao Zhen was the emperor.

The emperor is naturally meant to be a solitary ruler.

They do not trust their ministers, nor do they trust their children.

I don't trust anyone.

Even if Zhao Zhen did not want to walk down this path of loneliness, power would turn him into that person; it was only a matter of time.

Therefore, there are some tasks that can be done for the emperor.

However, there were some things that Song Xuan couldn't say to the emperor directly, and he didn't care about anything.

The indifference you feel now will not become the indifference you feel later.

Who can say for sure what power is like, whether they are controlled by power or control power?

"The cat taught the tiger a trick up its sleeve!"

Song Xuan snapped out of his thoughts, only to see Zhao Zhen waiting for the next part to continue.

His eyes were red and swollen when he asked:

"Twelfth Brother, what happens after you take the first step?"

"We'll just wait."

"Wait?"

Song Xuan poured tea for Zhao Zhen:

"Yes, Liu Congde is a very foolish and arrogant person. As the Tao Te Ching says, 'If Heaven wants to destroy someone, it first makes them mad.' He will make mistakes in this process and become known to the world for all the crimes he has committed."

"But the Empress Dowager has an extreme desire for power. When she tries to emulate Lü Wu's methods, that will be the time for us to launch a fatal attack."

Zhao Zhen nodded.

Because he had figured it out, even Song Xuan, this "country bumpkin" from out of town, knew the mystery of his origins.

These were important officials in the court, such as Lü Yijian and Wang Zeng.

Don't they understand at all?

Which one of them wasn't a loyal minister of the Emperor?

Before his death, the emperor wrote Lü Yijian's name on the screen.

Zhao Zhen couldn't believe that they didn't know.

They only pretended to be deaf and dumb because they were afraid of the Empress Dowager's power, and cooperated with them to deceive me!

Therefore, Zhao Zhen believed that the officials in the court were currently able to stand by his side.

Too few.

Who wouldn't fear the Empress Dowager's power?
Even those prime ministers didn't have the courage to confront the Empress Dowager head-on.

Zhao Zhen had seen through it all.

He only truly relied on people like Song Xuan, whom he personally selected as a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), as they were his core support and people he could trust.

"Twelfth Brother is right. Shall we take the first step?"

"Okay, let's take the first step."

After Song Xuan took a sip of tea:

"The Emperor should first find a few trustworthy secret guards to spread the word about these two things, and at the same time, spread nursery rhymes to cooperate with each other."

"What nursery rhyme?"

Zhao Zhen did not expect that Song Xuan would come up with a nursery rhyme in such a short time.

"When the Yellow River runs clear, a sage will appear; when the curtain is rolled up, a true dragon will emerge."

Zhao Zhen recited it to himself three times before he finally memorized it.

He already understood that Song Xuan wanted to spread this nursery rhyme along with the corruption case involving the Yellow River project.

This is the only way to increase its reach.

"We'll have the Imperial Observatory take action before the Yellow River floods and destroys the area."

Zhao Zhen looked at Song Xuan:

"What do you mean?"

"Back then, the Imperial Observatory reported that the sun was visible in broad daylight, and that the female emperor abdicated to force Wu Zetian, who was plotting to usurp the throne, to step down."

When Song Xuan mentioned Wu Zetian, Zhao Zhen's heart skipped a beat.

He used to disbelieve that his mother would emulate Wu Zetian.

But today, he knows that he is nothing more than a small tool for the Empress Dowager to wield power, and is not his biological mother at all.

Even Wu Zetian didn't consider the feelings of her own son before ascending the throne.

Would the Empress Dowager care about the feelings of her adopted son and thus refuse to ascend the throne?

This matter lingered in Zhao Zhen's mind, and his desire to rule personally grew stronger.

"Twelfth Brother, I will make Geng Fu fully cooperate with you."

"Is he also a secret guard?"

Others don't know.

Song Xuan nodded, patted the emperor on the shoulder again, and stood up:
"Your Majesty, cheer up! We have a long road ahead, and the difficulties are only temporary."

"it is good."

Zhao Zhen also stood up, his fighting spirit rekindled!

Song Xuan lowered his voice again and said, "Your Majesty still needs to find a way to keep the Imperial City Guard under your control."

Zhao Zhen used to think that he had all the power to command the Imperial City Guard, but after the Empress Dowager took Ding Yan and the other two away yesterday, he realized that the Imperial City Guard might not necessarily obey his orders.

"Okay, I'll find a way to replace the key personnel."

"Your Majesty need not do this."

Song Xuan thought for a moment:
"Let's start by targeting the people within the Imperial City Guard, making them the emperor's confidants so they can replace the current ones when the time is right."

"Ah."

Zhao Zhen coughed a few times:
"I am so anxious today that I have become ill. Let's wait and see how things develop."

"Very good."

Song Xuan did not linger; after comforting the emperor, he left.

Meanwhile, Liu Congde lay on his bed as the imperial physician took his pulse.

Liu E was very displeased by Liu Congde's exclamations of "Oh my god!"

Who on earth dared to kick someone in the main hall?

Liu Congde really didn't see who kicked him from behind, and he fell flat on his face.

He wanted to grab Fan Zhongyan in front of him, but Fan Zhongyan's instinctive step back tripped him.

Only after Liu Congde fell to the ground did Fan Zhongyan come to his senses and try to reach out his hands to catch him.

But there wasn't enough time.

Liu Congde said bitterly, "It's all because of that guy surnamed Fan. If he had helped me up, I wouldn't have fallen so badly!"

Liu E ignored Liu Congde; she simply found the matter extremely strange.

This is not just about targeting the Liu family.

What threat does Liu Congde pose?

Just a kid who likes money!
Just give him some.

Therefore, Liu E was already convinced that Liu Congde was using this incident to try and force her to return power to herself!

This is absolutely impossible.

When the imperial physician said there was nothing seriously wrong and that he only needed to rest in bed for two days and apply some medicine to reduce the swelling, he was fine.

Liu E then dismissed everyone else.

"Your Majesty, you must do me justice!"

"Shut up."

Liu E's face showed anger. She sat in her chair, looking at Liu Congde, who immediately fell silent.

"Did you really embezzle funds from the Yellow River repair project?"

Liu Congde's eyes widened in terror, and he quickly waved his hands:

"Your Majesty, I dare not, I dare not!"

Liu E simply gave him a look and said nothing.

Liu Congde stopped crying out in pain; instead, he broke out in a cold sweat. He didn't dare lie down anymore and instead knelt on the bed.

"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. I did indeed embezzle some silver."

"I think the money spent on repairing the Yellow River every year is wasted. It would be better not to repair it at all, but to use the money to build the Longevity Palace for the Empress Dowager."

"So, you embezzled the money because of me?"

“Your Majesty, yes.” Liu Congde raised his head:

"That's really what I think."

Snapped.

Liu E slapped Liu Congde across the face.

"If I hadn't risked my reputation, do you really think you would have just tripped and fallen out of the Golden Palace?"

Hearing Liu E's reprimand, Liu Congde subconsciously covered his cheek.

In his memory, the eldest aunt treated him even better than her own son!

Why did you lose your temper so badly today?

Liu Congde's face was full of astonishment.

"You may have embezzled the Phoebe zhennan wood, but how could you possibly touch the funds for repairing the Yellow River?"

Liu E pointed at Liu Congde, who was kneeling on the bed: "You still dare to lie to me now!"

"Please forgive me this time, Your Majesty."

Liu Congde immediately bowed:
“My nephew really wants to make the Wanshou Palace more magnificent, that’s why he’s been trying to raise money everywhere.”

Although Liu E was not yet sixty years old, according to custom, a grand celebration was held for her sixtieth birthday.

Liu Congde's family is not short of money, but he does not want to use his own money to "fulfill his filial duty".

That's why I'm thinking of making money everywhere.

Using the pretense of preparing for the Empress Dowager's 60th birthday celebration is the best way to rake in money!

Who would complain about having too much money that they got for free?

After Liu E slapped him, she felt much better and then reached out to help him up.
"Congde, I've watched you grow up since you were a child. How can you just reach out and do this to me like this?"

“Your aunt knows how filial you are. If you need money, you can just tell your aunt. How can you do such a thing?”

"Do you really think the laws of the Song Dynasty can't reach your head?"

Liu Congde breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the aunt was just angry and that he could easily coax her back.

“Your Majesty, I truly wish to surprise you. Moreover, Your Majesty works tirelessly day and night to attend to state affairs. How could I dare to trouble Your Majesty with such trivial matters?”

Although Liu E didn't quite believe Liu Congde's words, she was still satisfied with the emotional value he provided.

This is also why, although Song Xuan's words were unpleasant, he did "praise" her in his speech, citing a joke she didn't believe—that a beggar could become emperor.

This still made Liu E very happy.

Zhao Zhen was too honest. Under Liu E's "strict" upbringing, he didn't even dare to act coquettishly with her, nor would he say such "coaxing" words.

"They'll keep harping on these two things. If there's anything else you're hiding from me, tell me right now."

Liu E sat in the chair and looked at Liu Congde:
"If I were to remain in such a passive position as I am today, I truly might not be able to protect you."

Liu Congde wiped the sweat from his brow. He knew there were many things he couldn't tell the Empress Dowager.

But if you don't say anything, mistakes are bound to happen, and then you won't have a chance to explain yourself.

So Liu Congde gritted his teeth and said, "Let the Empress Dowager know that I have sold twenty pieces of Phoebe zhennan wood to the north."

Liu E was stunned when she heard the news, but quickly composed herself.

She tucked her hands into her sleeves and gently pinched herself, trying to keep her tone steady.

"Any more?"

“Lu Gongchuo helped me collect pine timber, and I gave him a price higher than the market price. In exchange, he handed over the dike construction project in Chenliu County to me, which was a complete mess.”

"If there is another heavy rain this year, it may be washed away."

"Lü Gongchuo?"

Empress Liu E had no idea that Lü Gongchuo was involved.

My good nephew not only tricks me, but he's also ruthless in tricking others.

Liu E nodded: "Anything else?"

"Gone."

Liu Congde bowed again, not daring to meet Liu E's eyes.

"Didn't you lie to me?"

"Your nephew wouldn't dare."

Liu E nodded and gave Liu Congde some more instructions.

Tell him to stay home and recover from his injury, and not to do anything.

Furthermore, she shouldn't return to her jurisdiction, as she wouldn't be able to notify or handle any disturbances there.

After Liu Congde left, Liu E called Lü Yijian over.

"Forget the formalities, I just want to ask you, what exactly happened today?"

"Your Majesty, compared to Liu Congde, the court officials are more willing to believe Fan Zhongyan's words."

Hearing Lü Yijian speak so slowly and deliberately, Liu E was puzzled:
"why?"

"Because Fan Zhongyan's reputation is much better than Liu Congde's."

Lü Yijian was very puzzled by Liu E's situation.

Do I need to repeat how awful your nephew is?

He used to be a pampered son of a wealthy family, and after becoming an official, he didn't restrain himself; on the contrary, he became even more unruly.

Now everyone in the court believes that Liu Congde embezzled the funds for the Yellow River repair project, and some people are even pressuring Zhang Shixun to immediately inspect the quality of the project.

Otherwise, if a heavy rain comes in a few days and Tokyo is flooded again, it will lead to even more intense impeachments and attacks.

Under these circumstances, Lü Yijian could not possibly go against the majority of his ministers and openly support the Empress Dowager's favoritism.

“Lord Lü, I remember your eldest son Lü Gongchuo did a good job in Chenliu County last year, which is why he was transferred to Tokyo.”

Lü Yijian was an extremely shrewd and astute person.

He knew immediately that the Empress Dowager wouldn't say such a thing without reason.

Could it be that his own son was also involved with Liu Congde?

After the floodwaters were released in Chenliu County, did the dikes built with funds from the imperial court also suffer from shoddy workmanship?

Thinking of this, Lü Yijian nodded slightly.

This kind of thing can't be hidden; it seems I need to investigate further.

“I asked my nephew, and he said that your eldest son, Lü Gongchuo, put in a lot of effort to replace the Phoebe zhennan wood with qualified pine wood.”

"It's because he couldn't find that many pine trees that the actual number of pine trees that should be one hundred became thirty."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yijian looked at Liu E.

According to the Empress Dowager, her eldest son had become an "accomplice" with Liu Congde!
Lu Yijian couldn't believe his son had such audacity, showing absolutely no fear of the royal family.

"Your Majesty, there must be some misunderstanding in this matter."

Lü Yijian first argued in defense of his son, then slowly said:
“My eldest son has always been timid and would never openly steal and sell Phoebe zhennan wood. He didn’t even see a single piece of Phoebe zhennan wood.”

"I know."

Empress Liu gave Lü Yijian a few words of advice: "But if these words come from my nephew's mouth, will others believe that Lord Lü's eldest son is innocent?"

Those people were eager for Lü Yijian to step down, so that a large number of positions would be made available.

Lu Yijian was also sweating profusely.

Because if his son's affair were to be exposed, regardless of whether others believed it or not, he, as the prime minister, would have to pretend to resign in order to show his true intentions.

However, Lü Yijian did not want to take that risk.

Because there are too many uncontrollable factors!
“What Your Majesty says is true, but I still believe what Your Majesty said: ‘The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty.’”

When Liu E heard this, she thought that even Lü Yijian himself didn't believe it, so how could he expect others to believe it?

If this is the case even at such an important court assembly in the Golden Hall today, one can only imagine how it is at other times!

Liu E also sighed softly:
"I believe that with Prime Minister Lü's reputation and power, he must be superior to Fan Zhongyan. Today's matter still requires Prime Minister Lü's help."

Lü Yijian naturally understood the threatening meaning in Empress Dowager Liu's words, which meant that he was to handle the matter.

"I will certainly explain this clearly to my colleagues and the people of the world. I hope Your Majesty can give me more time."

"Okay."

Empress Liu sighed, "It's not that I don't care about you working day and night to handle state affairs, but the truth is, we don't know when the Yellow River will flood down."

"If we rush in early, we might be able to find some strong evidence before many people realize what's happening."

"But if you rush in too late, everything will be exposed and spread to you."

"We can't control the timing of events, so let's try our best to control the latter."

"I understand."

Liu E pinched the corner of her eye, looking quite tired.

Although she enjoyed the feeling of power, she was getting old and her energy was not keeping up.

Some judgments regarding these perilous situations are out of touch with reality.

But that didn't stop her from clinging tightly to power.

"Go down."

After Lü Yijian left, Liu E had a new bed made, and then lay down on it to doze off.

After comforting the Emperor of Song, Song Xuan saw Fan Zhongyan and Yan Shu.

Song Xuan could tell that Yan Shu's expression was not good.

He was instructing Fan Zhongyan that the waters of Tokyo were too deep for someone as small as you or me to navigate.

Yan Shu believed that Fan Zhongyan's current task was to accumulate experience as a government official in the capital and then climb the ranks step by step.

This way, I can put on the purple robe more quickly.

Fan Zhongyan was even older than Yan Shu, the "recommendation sponsor".

It is evident how outstanding Yan Shu was in his official career, and how he was able to climb to the position of a high-ranking official in a short period of time, which shows that he had considerable experience.

However, Fan Zhongyan's reckless behavior today makes it impossible for Yan Shu to remain low-key.

Yan Shu had planned to have a heart-to-heart talk with Fan Zhongyan after the event and offer him some advice.

Unexpectedly, Fan Zhongyan was once again used as a pawn by others, openly exchanging insults with Liu Congde.

What kind of person is Liu Congde?
Yan Shu had seen this kind of spoiled brat before.

In Yan Shu’s view, Fan Zhongyan’s interaction with Liu Congde was a degrading act on Fan Zhongyan’s part!
Does Liu Congde even deserve to be called one?

"Lord Yan, Dean Fan."

Song Xuan bowed first, and then Yan Shu couldn't help but complain:

"Twelfth Brother, you should have a good talk with Master Fan in your spare time, and don't let him go down a dead end on his own!"

"how?"

"Through today's events, I have realized that your master is too rash. This will not only hinder his own career but also give his enemies something to do."

Hearing Yan Shu's words, Song Xuan nodded, confirming that it was indeed as Yan Shu had said.

He also understood the second half of Yan Shu's sentence, which meant that it would also implicate him, the person in charge of the selection.

After all, it's hard for anyone to guess what Empress Dowager Liu is thinking.

"But."

Yan Shu waved his hand directly:

"Dean Fan, don't explain to me. You should listen to what Song Xuan has to say. He was also notified at the last minute to participate. How did he manage to hold back?"

"I asked my father-in-law to find someone to impeach me so I could watch the show."

Song Xuan directly admitted to the matter:

"I just wanted to watch the excitement; I didn't intend to do anything."

"Moreover, Liu Congde's two actions, to put it bluntly, constitute the crime of deceiving the emperor and plotting rebellion."

Yan Shu's lips twitched slightly.

Your judgment would be overturned by Empress Dowager Liu in court, and you wouldn't even have a chance to see the outcome of the next matter.

"Don't always think that getting rid of Liu Congde will make the Song Dynasty peaceful and the world clear and bright. That's simply impossible."

"I'm not saying that there are no people in the world who are not greedy, but that many people cannot control themselves, and most people simply don't have the right to be greedy."

Song Xuan actually understood what Yan Shu was saying.

That is, in the midst of political struggle, try your best to preserve yourself, and whatever else matters, just finish your job.

Even if you reach Yan Shu's position, so what?

Although the salary in the Song Dynasty was not a few hundred dollars a month for someone who was willing to risk their life.

In reality, many scholars and officials changed their views.

There's no need for everyone to be so serious about serving the Song Dynasty; they should think more about their own families instead.

Yan Shu noticed that Song Xuan also seemed eager to try:
"Now that the Empress Dowager is openly defending Liu Congde in this situation, what good is all the evidence you can find?"

"Lord Yan, justice resides in the hearts of the people."

Fan Zhongyan said with a serious expression:
"This empire belongs to the Song dynasty, not the Liu dynasty!"

"If Your Majesty continues to favor Liu Congde in this way, it may cause trouble. In that case, I will not be the only one who will petition Your Majesty to return power to the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shu was so shocked he almost jumped up.

Can you say such things casually?

Even if you, Fan Zhongyan, really wrote this memorial, it would surely be lost without a trace.

If the master and apprentice in front of them didn't understand Empress Dowager Liu, how could Yan Shu not understand her?
"Xiwen, don't be so impulsive. A moment of patience will bring peace, and taking a step back will open up a vast sky."

Yan Shu grabbed Fan Zhongyan's arm and said, "You must think twice before you act, or you'll suffer too easily!"

"Old Fan, what Prime Minister Yan said is right."

Song Xuan also offered a perfunctory piece of advice:
"Some things can't be accomplished by mutual destruction; you can't be sentimental!"

"Yes, yes, Xiwen, you should be careful. The Liu family will never let this go and will definitely retaliate against you."

Yan Shu gave Fan Zhongyan another reminder.

Fan Zhongyan was not afraid of this; he simply snorted.

"Since he will retaliate, we might as well take the initiative."

Song Xuan looked at Fan Zhongyan and said, "Dean Fan has experience in building seawalls. I wonder how many of those people in the Ministry of Works have been bribed by the Liu family."

"Dean Fan, why don't you ask Minister Wang and the Emperor for an imperial decree to investigate whether the project is as shoddy as tofu, crumbling at the slightest touch?"

"Ah."

Fan Zhongyan nodded repeatedly: "That's a good idea."

Then, without pausing, he turned around and left.

Now that he's encountered this matter, he's determined to get to the bottom of it.

Yan Shu watched Fan Zhongyan depart, then glanced at Song Xuan:
"Can't you just behave yourself for a while?"

"Is this the kind of idea that can be come up with so easily?"

Song Xuan was indeed completely unconcerned:

"Lord Yan, we have gone through countless hardships to become officials through the imperial examinations, yet we cannot act as we please, and we cannot even stand up for the people?"

"No, you're too young and don't know how to be an official."

Yan Shu said very seriously, "In officialdom, one must never act on a whim."

"Without any planning, it's easy to jump into a pit and not be able to climb out."

"I know."

Song Xuan invited Yan Shu to continue forward, ignoring Fan Zhongyan:
"But Lord Yan, some people just don't like following the rules, like me."

"If the court were filled with people like me, that would truly be a cause for despair!"

"Stop talking nonsense every day."

Yan Shu truly couldn't control this master and disciple duo.

The key point is that I had recommended both of them.

“We’ll deal with Liu Congde. Even if we can’t, at least we’ll make sure he won’t be so arrogant from now on.”

Song Xuan patted the dust off his official robes: "At least the Song Dynasty is truly not surnamed Liu."

Yan Shu didn't say anything more.

As the emperor's personal secretary, Fan Zhongyan was present at this grand court assembly, which was arranged in advance by the emperor.

Does that mean the Emperor wants to assume personal rule sooner?

After Yan Shu understood the reasoning behind it, he glanced at Song Xuan again.

He must have come from the direction of the emperor's residence; perhaps the emperor and his minister were indeed plotting something.

Thinking of this, Yan Shu felt a pang of regret.

His mind told him to stay away from the two of them, lest he get provoked into a bloody mess.

However, when it actually happened, Yan Shu did not completely avoid the risks and seek the benefits:

“Song Twelve, just causing trouble for that person isn’t very effective. Tell me about any follow-up plans you have, and I’ll give you some advice.”

"Lord Yan is joking."

Song Xuan waved his hand and said:
"I have neither an imperial edict nor a secret edict stamped by the Emperor. How could I possibly invite trouble upon myself?"

"In the room, the Emperor was just a little angry, wondering why the Empress Dowager favored Liu Congde so much."

"The Emperor is so anxious that he may be on the verge of falling ill."

Upon hearing that Zhao Zhen was ill, Yan Shu disregarded Song Xuan and rushed back to see Zhao Zhen.

After all, Yan Shu and Zhao Zhen were childhood friends!
Song Xuan watched Yan Shu walk away.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Yan Shu; it was simply that Yan Shu was a clever man with too many thoughts, and also a moderate.

They only need to reach a certain agreement with the moderates, and then work together to fight the opposition.

Seeing that no one was in front of Song Xuan, Geng Fu quickly walked over and bowed, saying:
"Scholar Song, the Emperor has instructed me to follow your orders during this period. Is there any urgent matter that requires my attention?"

(End of this chapter)