Frost for a Thousand Years

The last time Song Shi'an visited the Situ residence was the last time.

But this time, things were completely different from before.

He and Grand Tutor Sun alighted from the carriage, where the old Grand Tutor personally took his hand and led him into the main hall.

Before he entered the mansion, the servants and maids had already made preparations.

Because when he made the appointment with Minister Sun outside the palace, he had already sent his servants to make arrangements.

There was no seat of honor or seat of second rank in the main hall.

There is only one pair of tables, placed facing each other on the left and right.

"The dinner was a bit rushed, please forgive me."

After the two were seated, the food was served separately, along with warm plum wine.

"I came in a hurry and empty-handed. I am already quite nervous that Lord Situ would invite me to stay for a meal," Song Shi'an joked.

“How could Shi An see me as such a stingy old man?” After saying that, Sun Situ seemed to suddenly remember something and said self-deprecatingly, “Maybe before, but not anymore.”

“Situ, please don’t flatter me,” Song Shi’an said quickly. “I was young and ignorant back then. In order to become famous, I spoke recklessly while drunk and took advantage of Lord Situ’s fame. Now that I think about it, I am truly ashamed.”

"Hahaha." Sun Situ raised his finger and shook it gently. "You were young then, but are you old now? I'm old now, but back then I wasn't just taking advantage of my age?"

The two turned their past conflicts into a lighthearted topic of conversation at the dinner table.

In reality, that incident wasn't a deep-seated issue for either of them.

It can't hurt anyone's feelings.

But to talk things out, it starts with self-deconstruction.

“The late emperor needed a sword back then, but Shi An was unknown and naturally did not qualify,” Song Shi An said. “Lord Situ is a prominent figure in the court. Shi An’s ability to attend the banquet and gain this reputation for being ‘arrogant’ will be a great help for future matters.”

Song Shi'an had to admit that the reason he was noticed by those important figures was because of his pretentious behavior at the Three Dukes' Mansion this time.

It can be said that when he went to the Situ residence and saw the small table set up, he had already come up with a whole plan to make himself famous in Sheng'an.

“You have the magnanimity of a prime minister.” Sun Situ didn’t back down so easily. He genuinely felt that he had provided him with a platform to take off, and frankly said, “But at that time, I was indeed after your ‘military agricultural settlement strategy,’ and I was quite hostile.”

Song Shi'an returned to seriousness, extended his hand, and asked, "Minister, please speak."

Sun Situ looked at the young talent opposite him, then a smile appeared on his lips as he asked, "Does Shi An think my Great Yu Dynasty has a long future?"

"May the Great Yu last ten thousand years," Song Shi'an said.

“That’s right, you want the Great Yu Dynasty to last for ten thousand years. And you are capable of doing so, propelling the Great Yu Dynasty to a level of prosperity that can endure for millennia,” said Sun Situ. “But setting aside our expectations and wishes, what do you think of this world if you were an outsider looking at it from the sidelines?”

The two men's statement about the Great Yu lasting ten thousand years did not mean that they believed a dynasty could last for ten thousand years.

Anyone with a brain knows that recorded history is less than two thousand years old, so how could there be a dynasty that never perished?

The concept of "ten thousand years" that the two of them were referring to was "ten thousand years".

It was a unified, powerful, and mighty empire that stood firm in the world.

When Sun Situ brought this up, Song Shi'an no longer concealed anything and said, "A country that is surrounded by enemies on all sides, without thinking of expansion, is large but not strong, and will inevitably be gradually devoured. The people are impoverished, while the nobles are extravagant and the powerful families are rampant. If there are natural disasters or man-made calamities, great disasters will surely come. My Great Yu is a towering building that is about to collapse. It looks huge and powerful, but its lifespan cannot compare to that of a simple, low thatched hut."

The situation in Dayu is far too awkward.

It is the center of the world, and only it deserves the title of "China".

However, precisely because it was situated within a region that was not unified and had entered the corrupt and weakened period of the dynasty, it was almost an empty shell, all show and no substance.

Over the years, the story of Dayu resisting foreign tribes and defending its territory has been told repeatedly.

When have I ever heard of the Great Yu taking the initiative to attack Qi and capturing half a province and a prefecture?

This is where the problem lies.

Why were the Three Kingdoms periods at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty quite different?
Because every ruler after Cao Cao made unifying the country a strategic goal, and they pursued this goal generation after generation.

This long-term project cannot be stopped; once it is stopped, it will be very difficult to resume.

“Shi An, you actually know very well, right?” Sun Situ looked into his eyes and asked.

Is there a solution?

Song Shi'an asked questions actively.

Then, Minister Sun said quite frankly, “Of course there is a way to do this. There are nine noble families in Qinzhou and five prominent families in the capital, including your maternal grandfather, the Cui family. The gentry in Jiangnan are led by the Sun family of Yangzhou. Don’t these great families and powerful clans have enough land? Don’t they have enough wealth? If each of them could donate a portion of their wealth, and not only them, but all the noble families in the world would give away a significant portion of their property to the people and the court, wouldn’t the Great Yu Dynasty survive? Wouldn’t the people be able to breathe and live on?”

Sun Situ's words are very well said.

All the important figures know that the Great Yu is not safe right now.

Neither foreign oppression nor domestic corruption has guided this country in a positive direction.

In order to consolidate his imperial power, the old emperor was even able to reach an agreement with the number one traitor who colluded with the enemy country, ceding the entire Northern Liang.

Ultimately, this is just a game of musical chairs.

No one felt a sense of mission to revive Dayu.

All they care about is that the mistakes didn't happen on their part, and the power didn't slip through their fingers.

This is why Song Shi'an was able to control Xiao Qun.

Because he also carries a certain invisible pressure.

Wei Ye's idea was to strengthen centralized power.

Wu Qing's intention was to ensure the privileged status of the nobility and the leadership position of the Wu family among them.

They're all planning for future generations.

Xiao Qun was even more selfish.

He simply didn't want to be a defeated general, disgraced and ruined in history.

"If that's the case, isn't the revitalization of the Great Yu just around the corner?" Song Shi'an picked up a glass of wine and took a small sip.

Sun Situ smiled.

He knew this kid wasn't naive and lucky; he was just testing him.

Therefore, he accepted the test: "Shi'an, if other families in the world can contribute, then my Sun family will also fulfill our duty and generously contribute."

Herein lies the paradox.

It is known that there is a huge wealth gap, but the wealth of the top tier is overflowing.

If those who have benefited from the surplus can collectively relinquish some of their wealth, a socialized welfare system can be achieved.

If you want to get all the vested interests to give up their benefits, it is not impossible.

The key point is that if you want to unite the majority and suppress the minority when it comes to wealth, and keep doing so without fail until you've amassed all the wealth, then you can't achieve that.

Because the minority you are targeting will gradually combine with the remaining majority to form an even larger number.

In the end, you became one of the minority.

Congratulations on your failed attempt to reform the law. Your ultimate fate is imprisonment and execution in the autumn.

Going back to the original question, they are willing to contribute money together.

But the willingness they expressed was all in the style of Sun Situ.

If everyone else is betting, I'll bet too.

“Lord Situ.” But Song Shi’an clearly had another interpretation: “The land reform, once it is to be carried out, will benefit all the people. I am very grateful that you are willing to contribute. Because I can then focus more of my energy on those officials who are unwilling to contribute.”

Song Shi'an's words made Sun Situ's expression freeze.

This kid certainly didn't disappoint me.

Sun Situ wanted to tell him that it was impossible to get everyone to contribute.

Song Shi'an's response was that he insisted that everyone pay.

What is the methodology?
Give me 95 out of 100. You know my methods.

Of course, it won't be as low as ninety-five.

But fifty was enough for the Great Yu to unify the world.

“My family, the Sun family of Yangzhou, fully supports you.”

Sun Situ raised his wine cup and offered a toast to Song Shi'an from afar.

No matter how you do it, as long as you can win over everyone, I'll vote for you.

"Thank you, esteemed Minister Sun."

Song Shi'an's words alone are enough.

It used to be very difficult to get things done because there were too many opponents and sharp voices everywhere. Among them, this Sun Situ caused him the most trouble.

Now that they are willing to refrain from causing trouble and are actively cooperating with national policies, what more can we ask for?

Could it be that, Lord Situ, you should be more aware and take the lead in donating money and people?

There is no such obligation.

First, settle things with your family in Huai County, and win over your ally Ouyang Ke. At least make sure there are no dissenting voices in the court before you talk to me about patriotism. "That Chen Ling," Sun Situ said casually after finishing his drink, "he made a mistake, but not a big one. Please be lenient with him."

Today, Song Shi'an relieved Han of his military power and expressed his approval of Ran Mu's son, Ran Jin. He has already done a lot.

The task now is to resolve the political situation in Liangzhou.

“Lord Situ, he is one of your students, so I will naturally give him face for your sake,” Song Shi’an said. “However, the impeachment of Zhu Qing and Qin Kuo has caused too much of a stir. Even their families have been imprisoned. If this matter is handled lightly, I’m afraid it will not be able to silence public opinion.”

“The Prefect of Qinzhou is a first-rank official in the imperial court,” said Minister Sun. “To demote him by several ranks is not a light punishment.”

“Then we must ask Lord Situ to speak to him about this matter,” Song Shi’an said. “The matter in Liangzhou has been settled; it was all Wu Qing’s fault. Lord Chen Ling made mistakes, but not enough to warrant a crime. As long as he returns to Sheng’an, everything can be discussed.”

"Then you have to tell me the truth, how serious your mistake was," Sun Situ said.

"No matter what, he'll at least have the rank of a third-grade official," Song Shi'an said.

The previous governor of Liangzhou was demoted from a high-ranking official to a third-rank official.

Chen Ling didn't work for very long, and he ended up like this.

Provinces designated for military preparedness are indeed a sensitive topic.

“Okay, I’ll talk to him,” Sun Situ agreed.

"Thank you very much." Song Shi'an bowed gratefully, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "How old is Lord Sun Heng of the Dali Temple this year?"

“My son is forty-seven,” Sun Situ said with a smile.

"At this age..." Song Shi'an pondered for a moment, then said curiously, "Shouldn't you be entering the imperial court by now?"

"This... there's no such thing as 'should' or 'shouldn't'."

Looking at Song Shi'an, who was pretending to be 'natural,' Old Qian laughed heartily.

Return the peach.

Mutually beneficial and win-win political outcomes.

Sun Situ had actually wanted to do this for a long time.

However, his previous idea was to let Sun Qian inherit the family's glory.

However, the incident in Huai County completely ruined his career. Sun Heng's abilities were truly lacking, and his own political influence was gradually diminishing, so it was always difficult to arrange a promotion for him.

It's true that getting a sinecure of the fourth rank isn't that difficult.

However, he started in a sinecure upon entering the imperial court and never made any further progress.

“Shi’an, I know my son well.” After laughing, Sun Situ said, “He is straightforward and dull, almost single-minded. It’s not very appropriate to put him in charge of any department. The only thing he’s good at is handling criminal cases in the Dali Temple. Over the years, he hasn’t had any major problems.”

“Then let’s promote Dali Zheng,” Song Shi’an said. “Based on seniority, it would be appropriate to promote him accordingly.”

The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review (Dali Zheng) was the chief secretary of the Minister of Justice.

They can be said to be cultivated as core officials, and they will definitely be able to take charge of things independently in the future.

Even if you can't become the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, as long as you don't make any mistakes and outlast the Vice Minister, you can still get promoted.

"Shi'an." Sun Situ took the initiative to raise his wine cup to Song Shi'an, "You've given me a very big surprise."

"No, it was given by His Majesty."

Song Shi'an responded amiably, using the name of the new emperor who had not yet returned to the capital to build connections everywhere.

As the two were drinking together so affectionately, the pretty young woman Sun Jinhua entered the lobby carrying a plate of pastries.

She walked up to Song Shi'an, bent down, crossed her legs, and placed the plate of pastries in front of him: "Young Master Shi'an, please enjoy."

This was also arranged by Sun Situ.

He just stared at Song Shi'an sideways, watching for his every reaction.

No one dislikes beautiful women, especially stunningly beautiful ones.

Sun Jinhua lowered her eyes, a strand of her black hair falling down her delicate and slender face. Her soft, pink cheeks were full of collagen, giving her the image of a school beauty's personal bodyguard...

But in terms of personality, she is much gentler.

This old man is using his daughter to make a nest here again.

"Thank you, Miss Jinhua," Song Shi'an replied with a smile.

Sun Jinhua stood up and nodded to him subtly, her eyes filled with tranquility and beauty: "Young Master Shi'an, please forgive me for the poor hospitality."

"No way, it's all very thorough," Song Shi'an said awkwardly.

"Jinhua, please offer a toast to Lord Song." At this moment, Minister Sun requested.

Sun Jinhua was a little reserved, but she still chose to do as instructed.

"Oh dear, I won't drink this wine. Please allow me to pay my debt first," Song Shi'an said hastily. "I have to pay my respects to some officials later, and I'm afraid I might make a mistake after drinking. I'm sorry, Your Majesty."

"Do we still need to pay our respects to certain officials?"

Seizing on this key phrase, Sun Situ asked with some skepticism, "Shi An, is this just an excuse to avoid drinking, or is there really an appointment?"

"Lord Situ, there was no agreement."

In response, Song Shi'an replied, "This time, it was still an abrupt arrival."

.........

Inside the Qi Prince's residence, the five princes were all extremely angry about what had happened that day.

Prince Wei Xin of Jinyang was the first to speak out: "Let's not talk about the Empress Dowager's affairs. She was a woman with no brains, so I have no objection to what she did. But when the late Emperor passed away, such an important event, the court did not invite us. When he gave his instructions before his death, no member of the imperial clan was there to represent him."

“Yes, Prince Qi,” Wei Jiong, the Prince of Dai, interjected. “The Imperial Clan Court Official, what is the Imperial Clan Court Official? You are in charge of all the important affairs of the ancestral temple. Yet, you were not even allowed to be present at the Emperor’s deathbed. What does this mean?”

Wei Xin said, "In my opinion, Song Shi'an just wants to seize all the power and become the sole regent. He didn't even let Ouyang Ke in. Isn't that just hogging the benefits?"

“But Ouyang Ke is not someone who can be used.” Prince Qi was the most composed among them. He was the one who interrogated Wei Wusheng earlier, so he responded to everyone’s thoughts with a very rational attitude. “If he and Song Shi’an had a rift today, we could support him with all our might and let him check and balance Song Shi’an. But it is clear that he does not have that much ambition.”

“The balance has been broken, and he will soon seize power,” Wei Xin said. “Right now, the knife isn’t on our heads. But in the future, it’s inevitable that he will rebel against his superiors.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Jiong became somewhat angry and said, "He is merely a subject. Although we hold no official positions in the court, we are not without anything. Our land is exempt from taxes, and our soldiers are utterly loyal. All of this was bestowed upon us by the late emperor, and he cannot take it away, nor could he possibly do so."

These princes' actual power was indeed inferior to that of the nobles.

For example, they did not actually own fiefdoms.

The nobility actually control over their own territory.

However, their wealth, land, and private armies of nearly a thousand men per person all fall within the scope of 'rites'.

It is completely legal and compliant.

More importantly, the status of a vassal king was extremely prestigious.

Zhang Juzheng was an extremely domineering and cunning man. During his reforms, he also had a lot of trouble dealing with his relatives. Although he weakened them to some extent, he still suffered fierce retaliation from his relatives after his death.

If he hadn't targeted his own relatives, Zhang Juzheng wouldn't have met such a tragic end; almost all of his sons were killed.

“These are all secondary,” said Prince Qi. “The most important thing is still what we discussed at the beginning: the succession to the throne.”

“Yes, Song Shi’an can intervene, but he cannot trample on us,” Wei Jiong said.

“His Majesty should return to Sheng’an with the officials tomorrow,” said Prince Qi. “We can use the late Emperor’s funeral as an excuse to meet with him. Song Shi’an must not obstruct this.”

The dead should be respected.

How could the emperor's funeral be held without the presiding official of the Imperial Clan Court?
Everything was reasonable and compliant.

"What about Song Shi'an?" Wei Jiong asked. "We should at least see him."

"See His Majesty first, then go see him."

Prince Qi made this decision.

A subject is a subject, and a ruler is a ruler.

They had to acknowledge the ruler first before going to see the subjects.

No matter how high an official position Song Shi'an held, he was still a subject of the Wei family.

Just then, a eunuch entered and hurriedly reported, "Your Highnesses, Song Shi'an has sent someone to request a meeting."

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

Prince Qi asked sternly, "Why are you so nervous?"

“Your Highness,” the eunuch said, “Song Shi’an said he requests an audience with the Prince of Dai, the Prince of Qi, the Prince of Jinyang, the Prince of Nanyang, and the Prince of Guangling.”

Upon hearing this, all five people except for Prince Qi stood up.

Several of them angrily slammed their hands on the handrail, making a loud thud.

Their gathering of five was impromptu.

Although there was no deliberate attempt to hide it, no one would find out so quickly.

"How dare you, Song Shi'an, send people to keep an eye on us!"
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