Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Now, 30%!

The pressure conveyed by the memorials submitted to the emperor alone was enough to cause panic in anyone's heart.

Even the emperor would be alarmed.

"Didn't our students and former officials, Grand Tutor Wang's students and former officials, and Zhao'er's students and former officials all submit some memorials opposing this?" Han Zhang stroked his beard and smiled.

His life was full of ups and downs, including "dismissing four prime ministers with a single memorial", "the Qingli New Deal", "the struggle to enter the cabinet", and "the controversy over the succession". Even the 30% of civil officials could hardly put any pressure on Han Zhang.

"Seventy or eighty people supported the entry of relatives of the empress into the border region, while more than a hundred people opposed it."

Wang Yaochen shook his head: "The implications are completely different."

The 80 or 90 supporters come from several major factions.

The eighty or ninety people who opposed it were only from Han Zhang's faction.

The meaning is different, so the weight is naturally different as well.

Han Zhang remained calm and did not speak.

After about ten breaths, he slowly said:

"To truly understand a person, one must observe not only their words but also their actions."

"The new emperor has ascended the throne. He speaks eloquently and his every word and action is full of great power. He even has the desire to expand the territory and rule the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

Han Zhang said with a serious expression: "We can take advantage of this opportunity to find out whether the new emperor is truly resourceful and brave, or just ambitious but incompetent."

"If the new emperor has any strategy, he will know that I, Han, definitely support Zhao'er. If he can hold out until Zhao'er returns with great power, the victorious officials, the Grand Chancellor, and the Emperor will all support a certain cause—"

Han Zhang squinted and gazed at the palace: "Suppressing the world is not impossible."

Wang Yaochen remained silent, then nodded in agreement.

The emperor has the name, the Grand Chancellor has the power, and Jiang Zhao has the army.

Commanding an army of 300,000 is certainly a form of deterrence.

None of the remaining four Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet were in command of troops.

Without military power, how could they possibly turn the world upside down?

If the new emperor truly possessed immense courage, then the seventy or eighty memorials submitted recommending relatives of the empress to enter the border would be nothing more than useless pieces of paper.

"Not urgent."

Han Zhang waved his hand: "Let's observe the new emperor's words and actions."

"If the new emperor compromises, then it will be as if he has helped Zhao'er understand his true nature."

"On the contrary, if the new emperor can stick to his own opinions, then he is the kind of person who can accomplish great things."

Han Zhang didn't care much.

If the new emperor chooses to compromise, it will simply mean sending his relatives and a group of scholars to the border.

When the imperial relatives and a group of scholars enter the border region, those people will surely be able to eat meat.

But it's just some scraps of meat on the edges and corners.

Some important official positions had already been occupied by Jiang Zhao's protégés and former subordinates.

If someone is appointed to a post in the border region, there's no reason to kick them out, is there?

This action doesn't actually affect anything.

My disciple Jiang Zhao has already presided over the special imperial examination, and has also trained the students in Xihe Road.

The trend is achieved!

Hanlin Academy.

Cai Jing held an article in his hand, squinting as he sketched on it.

"Brother Cai?"

Huang Shang, a court attendant, happened to pass by and glanced at it, somewhat puzzled.

Cai Jing looked up and calmly explained, "It's Ouyang Yongshu's article from more than twenty years ago, 'On Factions'."

Huang Shang understood.

He had read about this article.

"Do gentlemen form cliques, or do petty men form cliques?"

The so-called "On Factions" is an article written by Ouyang Xiu during the Qingli Reforms, which expounds the concept that "a gentleman makes friends but does not form factions".

At that time, the conservatives did not support the reform. Ouyang Xiu wrote this article to criticize the conservatives and thus promote the reform.

A gentleman makes friends with like-minded people, which is called "friends"; a petty person forms cliques to seek personal gain, which is called "a party".

The article was excellent, but the effect was not very good.

The terms "friends" and "party" are essentially the same as forming cliques, and Ouyang Xun's remarks were not accepted by public opinion.

You say you're a gentleman, so you are?

How can you prove that you are a gentleman?

Those who support your reforms are gentlemen, while those who oppose them are villains?

An essay on factionalism not only failed to help promote the reforms, but also produced considerable negative effects.

Furthermore, it has also planted many potential pitfalls.

After all, Ouyang Xiu did not admit to forming factions, but he did admit to forming "friends".

There is almost a consensus on forming factions from top to bottom.

This thing objectively exists; it cannot be destroyed; it truly exists.

However, having a consensus does not mean that it should be publicly acknowledged.

Ouyang Xiu was different; he acknowledged forming friendships.

Making friends is the same as forming a party, and forming a party is the same as making friends!

There's probably no problem with this kind of article if you don't delve into it too deeply.

If someone were to investigate further, Ouyang Xiu would be in deep trouble.

Cai Jing was undoubtedly the one who intended to investigate further!

“There’s no harm in reading Ouyang Yongshu’s ‘absurd’ words,” Cai Jingping said calmly.

Huang Shang understood and joined in to watch and "read".

The young Grand Secretary's triumphant return will surely lead to political infighting and reckoning.

This essay, "On Factions," is enough to denigrate Ouyang Xiu a hundred times over!

Some opinions are astounding as they seem.

Once it's on the scale, it might not even be able to bear a thousand pounds!

Chapter 196 Marching into Lezhou!

November, the fourth year of the Zhiping era.

Lezhou, Leling County.

In the suburbs, in a dried-up river valley.

More than 3,000 Western Xia soldiers temporarily set up camp here.

Of course, while it's called setting up camp, it's really just a few tents that are only a few feet long. It's not a real long-term camp, but more like a temporary resting place.

Hundreds of soldiers took turns patrolling and keeping watch, many of whom were wounded, their limbs covered in bright red blood, and the bleeding had only been stopped with simple measures.

It's not hard to imagine that this was a defeated and remnant army.

Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to have the disabled stand guard.

The autumn wind is chilling, and the sound of wind and cranes is eerie.

Around dusk.

Suddenly, the sound of thunderous hooves echoed through the valley, causing the riverbed to tremble.

A large banner with the character "Zhang" stands tall, fluttering in the wind.

"not good!"

The Western Xia general was startled. He quickly ran out of the tent, grabbed the reins, mounted his horse, and shouted, "Go to meet them!"

Having said that, he rode off in the opposite direction and fled, not daring to linger for even a moment.

Less than thirty breaths.

"call out!"

An arrow was fired, and Zhang Ding, the left-wing general, drew his bow and shot down a man, shouting:

"The commander-in-chief has decreed that anyone who beheads a first-degree enemy will be rewarded with ten strings of cash and five bolts of silk!"

"Those who are beheaded three times will be granted twenty mu of land."

"Whoever captures the enemy chieftain will be promoted to general, and his descendants will be exempt from military service!"

"kill!"

In a single sentence, morale soared.

"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

Infantry and cavalry stretched as far as the eye could see.

The incident happened so suddenly that the Western Xia soldiers had no time to escape.

In an instant, the sounds of battle filled the air, and blood flowed like rivers.

Blood and flesh flew everywhere, limbs and bodies were scattered all over the place.

In the era of cold weapons, if the difference in momentum and weaponry was not significant, the one with more people was destined to win.

About half an hour later, the valley began to tremble again.

A large banner with the character "Jiang" on it was very brightly colored.

Shaanxi Road, Weizhou.

The Chinese military tent.

Supported by pillars, a geomantic map of the Zhou, Western Xia, and Tubo dynasties hangs on a wooden frame about ten feet long, spreading out below.

Gu Tingye, clad in armor and carrying a sword, stood with his hands behind his back, observing the scene.

A few steps away, there were two more people.

The man was broad-shouldered and burly, and appeared to be in his twenties or thirties.

Judging from his age, one can tell that he must be an outstanding figure among the younger generation of noble families.

In fact it is.

This person was actually the eldest son of the Earl of Yongchang, named Liang Zhao.

The remaining person had a scar on his face, was about forty years old, and was in his prime.

This person's name is Jing Sili.

His father, Jingtai, once served as the deputy commander of the Shaanxi Road military forces.

Since Gu Yankai rose to power, Jing Sili has followed Gu Yankai in battles, making him a typical military general who relies on the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion.

Gu Tingye's entry into Shaanxi to command troops not only made it easier to gain the support of the commander-in-chief, Marquis Zhongjing Zheng Shun, but also gave him a significant advantage in inheriting some of the older generation's manpower left by his father, Gu Yankai.

This has always been an advantage for the sons of top noble families.

Once someone truly becomes capable and goes to the border to fight and take power, "wherever they go, there are former officials who all submit to their authority and are subdued by their prestige."