I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

Chapter 103 An earthquake struck the Bianjing literati circle.

The spring breeze of the third year of Yuanfu seemed to arrive later than in previous years.

It happened in the first month of the lunar calendar, at the turn of winter and spring.

Several imperial edicts from the palace, like boulders thrown into a calm lake, stirred up waves in the scholar-official circles of Bianjing.

The first news that came was about Guan Ping's prospects in the imperial examinations and official career.

The Imperial Academy, the highest institution of learning in the Song Dynasty, saw its annual "Shangshe Shihe" (a selection of students for the Imperial Academy) become a focal point of attention for scholars.

This means that the most outstanding students of the Imperial Academy could obtain official positions and status directly without going through the imperial examinations.

In previous years, the number of students admitted to the Imperial Academy from the upper dormitory ranged from five or six to several dozen.

This year's results are particularly noteworthy, with only Zhao Mingcheng among the winners.

Today, the solemn Chonghua Hall of the Imperial Academy was packed with students.

All the students held their breath, their gazes filled with complex emotions as they looked into the hall.

Inside the hall, an incense table was set up high, and the officials in charge of rites stood solemnly.

The newly appointed Eastern Attendant of the Inner Palace, Liang Shicheng, stood in the hall, holding a bright yellow imperial edict.

Standing before the incense table, dressed in the robes of a student of the Imperial Academy, his posture upright like a pine tree, was none other than Zhao Mingcheng.

"—Zhao Mingcheng, a student of the Imperial Academy, possesses broad vision and profound scholarship. Previously, he governed the Hehuang region, spreading his power and virtue, pacifying the borders, and rendering meritorious service to the nation. Now, returning to the Imperial Academy, he immerses himself in the classics and history, producing outstanding policy essays, worthy of being a model. I commend his talent and remember his hard work, and hereby grant him the title of Senior Scholar, bestowing upon him the title of Senior Scholar and appointing him as a Compiler in the Secretariat, concurrently serving as a Gentleman of the Imperial Library. So be it!"

Liang Shicheng's voice echoed in the silent Chonghua Hall, each word striking a deep chord in the hearts of everyone inside and outside the hall.

To be granted a position in the Imperial Academy is already a great honor; to bestow this favor upon only one person is an extraordinary and exceptional act of grace.

The appointment of the Secretary of the Secretariat as a writer and concurrently a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat caused a great uproar in the hearts of all who understood its implications.

In the Song Dynasty, the "official posts" (such as Zhaowen Hall, History Hall, Jixian Academy, and Secret Pavilion) were places for cultivating talent and prestige, and only those with high literary talent and a distinguished reputation were removed from these posts.

Once admitted, they are considered "prime minister candidates," a shortcut to the two offices (the Secretariat and the Privy Council).

At the young age of twenty, Zhao Mingcheng obtained this important position as a close attendant, which shows that he was favored by the emperor and enjoyed great favor from him. Everyone could see this.

"Your subject Zhao Mingcheng receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude. Your Majesty's kindness is as high as the heavens and as deep as the earth. Even if I were to give my life, I could not repay even a fraction of your kindness!"

'

Zhao Mingcheng adjusted his robes and belt, and respectfully performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows towards the palace.

The ceremony is complete.

Liang Shicheng stepped forward and personally handed the official document to Zhao Mingcheng, his face full of smiles, and said in a low voice.

"Congratulations, Zhao, on your hard work!"

Zhao Mingcheng nodded slightly to Liang Shicheng in greeting.

The students watching outside the hall finally snapped out of their shock and began to discuss amongst themselves.

Envy, jealousy, amazement,感慨, and relief—a mix of emotions.

Li Jiong, standing in the crowd, watched his friend in the hall receive the imperial decree with a genuine and simple joy on his face. He was happy for Zhao Mingcheng and secretly resolved to work even harder.

The news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching every teahouse, tavern, and mansion in Bianjing.

An earthquake struck the scholar-official circle of Bianjing.

"The Emperor has actually bestowed upon me the title of Senior Scholar! I have been appointed as a Secretary in the Secretariat! And concurrently as a Director in the Imperial Library!" A retired Hanlin scholar exclaimed to his students at home, slapping his desk.

"Incredible, truly incredible! In all my decades in court, I have never witnessed such favor! The merits of the Hehuang region are indeed significant, but the speed of his entry into the imperial academy and the swiftness of his selection—this is truly unprecedented in our dynasty! No one can match Zhao Mingcheng's imperial favor!"

Another scholar who had served in the Imperial Academy for many years spoke with a complex tone in private with his colleagues.

"Being granted the title of Assistant Compiler is one thing, but to be appointed to the Secretariat..." — Tsk tsk, back in the day, Yan Yuanxian (Yan Shu) entered officialdom at the age of fourteen as a child prodigy, was granted the title of Jinshi, and appointed as a Corrector in the Secretariat. How remarkable was that? Yet it was only after he was twenty-two that he barely reached a position similar to Zhao Mingcheng's today.

When Wang Anshi was twenty, he was still studying diligently and had not yet taken the imperial examinations. The two Su brothers were renowned throughout the land, but they only entered the Imperial Academy when they were nearly thirty. Su Shi (Su Zizhan) even took the position of Secretary of the Imperial Library in his later years.

This Zhao Mingcheng is barely twenty! The Emperor's high expectations for him are evident. His future is limitless; he truly has the potential to be a prime minister!

"Isn't that right? I heard that he was the most trusted person of the Emperor when he was still a prince. Now it seems that the rumors were true."

Someone added, their tone filled with indescribable emotion.

"Zhao Mingcheng has rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor and has achieved great success in securing the borders. Now he has obtained this prestigious position and will be by the emperor's side all the time. This starting point is already the end point that many people can only dream of in their entire lives. The Zhao family is about to prosper."

Some envied, some felt a pang of jealousy, and others remained cautious and hesitant.

Regardless, a consensus quickly formed among scholars: Zhao Mingcheng's name was no longer that of a student who had rendered meritorious service on the frontier, but had truly entered the vision of the core of imperial power, becoming a dazzling new star of the Song Dynasty that was bound to continue to rise.

When the news reached the Zhao residence, Zhao Tingzhi was reading in his study.

When Afu scrambled in, rambling incoherently as he reported this incredible good news, the book in Zhao Tingzhi's hand—

The roll fell to the ground with a "thud".

He stood there stunned for a long time, seemingly unable to believe his ears.

After repeatedly confirming the keywords "Shangshe Shihe", "Zhuozuo Lang", and "Zhimige", a huge...

An indescribable surge of heat rushed to Zhao Tingzhi's head, instantly bringing tears to his eyes.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhao Tingzhi said "good" three times in a row, his voice trembling.

He suddenly stood up, paced rapidly around the study, then stopped abruptly and addressed the equally agitated old steward, Zhao Zhongdao.

"Quickly! Open the ancestral hall! Prepare incense, candles, and offerings! I must personally go and comfort our ancestors! My Zhao family—my Zhao family has worthy successors! The glory of our family is just around the corner!"

Having said that, Zhao Tingzhi couldn't wait for Zhao Zhong to be fully prepared. He straightened his clothes and hurried towards the ancestral hall.

His back was slightly hunched with excitement, yet it was filled with an unprecedented sense of high spirits.

Meanwhile, at the Li residence, Li Gefei was chatting with his second wife, Lady Wang, when he heard the news.

He was taken aback at first, then suddenly stood up from his chair, the movement so forceful that it almost knocked over the teacups on the table.

"Really? A writer? And concurrently a secretary in the Imperial Library?!" Li Gefei stared at the messenger, his tone urgent.

"Absolutely true, sir! It's all over the place! And it was Liang Gongfeng himself who went to the Imperial Academy to deliver the decree!" the servant replied confidently.

Li Gefei slowly sat back down, remaining silent for a long time. His expression shifted, eventually settling into a mixture of shock and joy.

He let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, or as if he had found a priceless treasure.

"Madam—" he turned to Madam Wang, his voice still a little dry.

"Did you hear that? A Gentleman of the Palace, a Director of the Imperial Library—this is the makings of a future prime minister! I never imagined—the Emperor's favor towards the Zhao family's son would reach such an extent!"

Wang was both surprised and delighted.

"What a joyous occasion! Fortunately, my husband had the foresight to arrange the marriage with the Zhao family so early on. This is truly—truly Qingzhao's blessing, and also the blessing of my Li family!"

"It's more than just good fortune!" Li Gefei clapped his hands, his eyes gleaming.

"With such a fine son-in-law, Qingzhao will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life, and my Li family will have a solid backer in the court!"

Li Gefei became increasingly excited as he thought about it, and immediately gave the order.

"Go and fetch Jiong'er!"

A short while later, Li Jiong arrived at the study.

Li Gefei looked at him and said earnestly.

"Jiong'er, you already know the news of Mingcheng's appointment as an official, don't you?"

Li Jiong nodded, a proud smile on his face.

"Yes, Uncle, Brother Defu deserves this special treatment, and I am happy for him."

"It's not just about being happy!" Li Gefei said seriously.

"You should take Mingcheng as your role model and learn from his virtues! He is skilled in both literature and martial arts, calm and capable, and now he is trusted by the Emperor. His future is limitless."

You are his classmate and will soon become in-laws. You should spend more time with him in the future, humbly learn from him, and strive to improve your knowledge and character.

Remember, don't be impolite just because he's your brother-in-law; on the contrary, you should treat him with extra respect! This is your good fortune, and also the good fortune of the Li family!

"Yes, Uncle's teachings will be kept in mind."

"Li Jiong solemnly replied. He was an honest man and truly admired Zhao Mingcheng. He would keep his uncle's words in mind.

However, along with Zhao Mingcheng's illustrious glory, two other imperial edicts arrived, revealing Zhao Ji's cold and decisive nature to the officials of Bianjing.

The first edict concerned Chancellor Zhang Dun.

The wording of the decree was quite polite.

He praised Zhang Dun for "serving three emperors, working diligently in royal affairs, and making many achievements in the new policies and border affairs," but noted that "he is old and works hard day and night, which I cannot bear to see." Therefore, he was granted the honorary titles of Grand Tutor and Grand Master of the Three Departments, and ordered to return to his hometown with the honor of "Minister of State" to enjoy his old age.

Anyone with eyes can see that.

This is "honorable dismissal," a dignified exile.

The decree was approved by Empress Dowager Xiang and Zeng Bu and was implemented smoothly.

The day Zhang Dun left the capital.

Outside the East Gate of Bianjing, by the long pavilion, many officials and scholars gathered to see him off.

Among them were those who had been promoted by Zhang Dun or shared his political views, as well as those who simply admired his integrity and lamented his fate.

Zhang Dun, dressed in plain clothes, sat in a simple blue-covered carriage. His face seemed to have aged considerably overnight, but his back remained straight and his gaze as sharp as ever.

He didn't say much, but simply cupped his hands to the people seeing him off and then ordered the driver to set off.

Officials from Zhang Dun's faction initially felt that Emperor Huizong was very benevolent and did not severely punish or settle scores with Zhang Dun.

This proved that they, as officials of the Zhang faction, would not be implicated, and they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

What truly chilled the court and the public to the bone, and even terrified them, was the next imperial edict—regarding the punishment of Cai Jing.

The imperial edict was read aloud one morning when palace eunuchs led the imperial guards directly into Cai Jing's residence.

When the eunuch unfolded the imperial edict and read out those cold words in a completely emotionless voice, the color drained from Cai Jing's face instantly.

The imperial edict listed several charges against Cai Jing:

The evidence of his embezzlement and bribery is conclusive; he provided shelter for illegal gambling dens and allowed his relatives and followers to run rampant in the streets; even more serious is that he "colluded with powerful officials, spied on the palace, sowed discord within the imperial family, and harbored treacherous intentions."

Some of the charges may be true, but others seem more like fabricated accusations, clearly a pretext for political purges.

The final decree was even more cruel:

[Cai Jing was stripped of all official titles, ranks, and honors; demoted to commoner status, and immediately escorted to Danzhou for exile; it was specifically noted that "he would never be pardoned, and his descendants would be permanently barred from taking the imperial examinations and never be employed."]

"Never to be pardoned" and "permanent suspension of the imperial examinations"—this was almost the extreme of severe punishment, cutting off all future political hopes for Cai Jing himself and even his family.

"Cai Jing, receive the imperial decree."

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict closed the document and spoke expressionlessly.

Cai Jing stood there, frozen in place, like a clay or wooden sculpture.

He was shrewd and calculating all his life, adept at scheming and maneuvering. He never imagined that the new emperor's revenge would come so swiftly, so cruelly, and without any mercy!

Danzhou is a remote and desolate place overseas, rife with miasma and plague. Going there would almost certainly mean certain death!

And the calamity will extend to one's descendants—

All his ambitions, all his calculations, all his management, collapsed and turned to dust at this moment.

Overwhelming fear, despair, resentment, and regret surged up like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing him.

His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, unable to maintain his usual composure.

In front of a group of eunuchs, imperial guards, and panicked family members, he burst into tears, wailing and stamping his feet, appearing as if he had gone mad.

"Your Majesty! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy! I know I'm guilty! I know I'm guilty! I beg Your Majesty to severely punish me alone! But spare my descendants!"

Cai Jing prostrated himself on the ground, banging his head on the ground, wailing and begging, his voice mournful and shrill.

However, it was all too late.

The eunuch looked at him coldly, and with a wave of his hand, two fierce imperial guards stepped forward, dragged him up from the ground, stripped him of his purple robe that symbolized his official rank, put him in a coarse prison uniform, and put him in shackles.

Cai Jing seemed to have all his energy drained away in an instant, limp as mud, completely at their mercy, only still uttering unconscious sobs.

On the day he was escorted out of the mansion and embarked on his journey into exile, the wind in Bianjing was bitterly cold.

On both sides of the long street, onlookers pointed and whispered, some gloating, others watching indifferently.

Cai Jing's farewell ceremony was completely different from Zhang Dun's.

Only his younger brother, Cai Bian, came to see him off.

Seeing his brother's hair turn white overnight and his body become emaciated and pitiful, Cai Bian was also moved to tears, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He simply slipped some money and clothing to the escorting officers, pleading with them to take care of his brother on the journey.

Cai Jing stared blankly at his younger brother, his eyes now lifeless, devoid of any of the shrewdness and brilliance of the former "Hanlin scholar".

Zhang Dun's "honorable retirement" and Cai Jing's "severe punishment," one gentle and the other firm, one slow and the other fast, clearly convey Zhao Ji's attitude and character:

I am a person who holds grudges.

However, when we look at Zhao Mingcheng's exceptional promotion alongside the fates of these two individuals, it's important to consider their circumstances.

The political signals contained within were extremely strong:

The political landscape of the new dynasty has changed; those who are loyal to the emperor rise to power overnight, while those who have enemies suffer eternal damnation.

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