Prime Minister

Chapter 1306: The Movement of the Tao

Chapter 1306: The Movement of the Tao

After eating the miscellaneous food with Cai Bian.

Zhang Yue rode back on horseback. In fact, he had faced a lot of criticism over the years.

For example, the monetization of salt notes and Jiaozi and the shareholding system of the Jiaoyin Exchange led to a strong atmosphere of speculation in the entire Bianliang, and even the entire Song Dynasty. It not only caused many people to lose their fortunes, but also supported many people who did not work and spent all day speculating.

There are even quite a few "Capitol Hill stock gods" who blatantly take money from it.

People in the New Party criticized Zhang Yue for failing to break up annexation, but instead encouraging annexation and even nurturing many "parasites of the country."

As for the development of Qinzhou Suyang cotton textile industry, it also produced many consequences of "changing rice to mulberry to cotton", and now there is negative news about the use of child labor.

It has led to a bad reputation of pursuing profit and forgetting morality.

As Cai Bian said, these critics did not think that if there were no salt, banknotes, Jiaozi, cotton cloth and silk, where would the court go to collect taxes, and where would they get the money to support the court in conquering Liangzhou, pacifying Qingtang, and the entire 3,000-li Xihe Road without overly harming people's livelihood.

Fortunately, there was the precedent of Wang Anshi, who was even more bold and radical than Zhang Yue. Zhang Yue himself also promised to step down after five years, which calmed the anger of some people.

Therefore, the criticisms from both the government and the opposition are not that serious.

But that doesn’t mean there are no criticisms.

As the opposition base, the criticism from Wang Gongchen, Sima Guang and others has shifted from Wang Anshi to Zhang Yue.

Doesn’t Zhang Yue have any resentment in his heart?

I have done so many things for the country, but you guys framed me as being worthless, especially Wang Gongchen, this old bastard who is still a thief.

He opposed Fan Zhongyan when Fan Zhongyan was carrying out reforms, opposed Wang Anshi when Wang Anshi was carrying out reforms, and also opposed Zhang Yue when Zhang Yue was in power.

He is simply the reincarnation of ETC and a complete nitpicker.

Anyway, there is not a single good word to say about him, even though he is Ouyang Xiu's brother-in-law.

When the government proposed that Sima Guang return to power, Zhang Yue knew that this was a trend that could not be reversed and the government could not stop it. Even if you have won a lot before, these people in the opposition can always find fault and criticize you.

Zhang Yue also had the thought in his heart that "I'm tired of waiting, let it be destroyed".

In fact, there are many people like Wang Gongchen in the world. No matter what you do, they are not satisfied. The problem is that most people don't know it. They just watch people scolding the court and then follow suit.

It was not until those in the opposition came to power that they suddenly realized who had been protecting them from the wind and rain all these years.

Zhang Yue couldn't help but have such thoughts in his heart, so he simply let Sima Guang and others do it for a few years.

To be honest, you cannot stop the power of the old party. The more you try to stop it, the stronger its accumulated power will become.

Zhang Yue has seen many people solve this problem by killing, killing, killing, but killing can solve people, but it cannot solve the laws of history. The law is not subject to human will, you can delay but cannot prevent its arrival.

Hegel talked about the third law of dialectics, the law of negation of negation.

An affirmation cannot become a true affirmation without being negated.

This is also the meaning of "reversal is the movement of Tao" in Tao Te Ching.

If you keep hammering a nail but it won't go in, hammer it up a few times, and then it will be easier to hammer it down. To solve a problem, you must first start from the opposite side of the problem.

You can't stop the law, but you can choose whether to have a soft landing or a hard landing. The result of the Northern Song Dynasty was mid-air disintegration.

However, many people in power are afraid to take this desperate step and keep dragging their feet until the resistance grows.

But this is true, power is hard to take back once it is lost. But Zhang Yue is not afraid, he is still young. Whether it takes three years, five years, or even ten years, he can afford to wait.

Of course, Zhang Yue would not allow the old party to mess around and destroy his hard work over the years. Fortunately, he had already made plans for so many years. For example, establishing a reserve in advance was a very important step.

Therefore, Zhang Yue should step down first. Later, everyone will naturally know who is the real doer.

Besides, if the new party and the old party get along harmoniously, where is my chance?

Zhang Yue returned home.

Kaifeng Prefecture Governor Cai Jing had already rushed over upon hearing the news.

Zhang Yue also knew that Cai Jing had been getting close to Cai Que recently. The two had a clan bond, and later Cai Que's son Cai Zhuang and Cai Jing's son married Han Cuiyan's daughter together, and the two became even closer.

Although Cai Jing was always wavering in his stance, he had one good point: he was very loyal and humane.

He attaches great importance to relationships with fellow townsmen and clansmen.

When Zhang Yue learned that he had stepped down, he rushed to the mansion from his post as prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture and waited there.

Although Zhang Yue often criticized Cai Jing for his extravagant lifestyle, he was willing to be close to him in his heart.

The two talked for a while, and Cai Jing said, "I heard that Your Majesty intends to let Sima Xueshi return to the court. If he comes back, the court will be in chaos."

"Your Majesty, how could you make such a decision?"

Cai Bian's expression changed when he heard this.

Zhang Yue glanced at Cai Bian and Cai Jing and thought to himself, you don’t know that I also had a hand in this decision.

Zhang Yue said: "Actually it was the Queen Mother's intention."

Cai Jing said: "No wonder. Could it be related to the matter of establishing a crown prince?"

It was well known that Empress Dowager Gao was definitely on the side of the old party. Cai Jing shrewdly guessed that the emperor might have taken the initiative to make some kind of compromise with Empress Dowager Gao in order to entrust the matter of the crown prince.

Cai Bian said: "Your Majesty also said at the beginning that he would return to the court after the scholar Sima finished compiling the Zizhi Tongjian."

Cai Jing said with a look of uneasiness: “I’m afraid I’ll have to enter the three provinces by then.”

Zhang Yue deliberately said: "I have retired and returned to my hometown. I can no longer be involved in the affairs of the court. You can handle it yourselves."

"Don't let Sima Twelve destroy our hard work."

Cai Bian looked solemn. Sima Guang was not only going to destroy their hard work, he was afraid that he would not even be able to preserve his father-in-law's hard work.

Cai Jing looked much more lively, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Zhang Yue saw the expressions of the two men clearly.

Cai Jing stood up and said, "Prime Minister, it won't work if you don't preside over important court affairs in the future!"

Zhang Yue hesitated for a moment and said, "Let's wait and see. It's hard to describe the transition from chaos to order, and from order to chaos. "

"Fortunately, you have never let me down."

"Prime Minister!"

Zhang Yue said to Cai Bian: "I will pass by Jiangning on my way back home this time. I will pay a visit to your honorable father-in-law and listen to his teachings!"

Cai Bian was stunned, and then he heard Zhang Yue's polite words and said, "Prime Minister, you are too polite."

Zhang Yue said with a nostalgic look: "I haven't seen the Prime Minister for seven or eight years, and I miss him very much. To be honest, I have benefited a lot from him in my current administration."

After a pause, Zhang Yue said to Cai Jing and Cai Bian, "Don't see me off when I leave Beijing. Just focus on your work."

Cai Jing and Cai Bian both agreed with what they said.

"If there is any news in the capital, we two brothers will report it to you immediately."

After a while, Su Che came in.

Zhang Yue has always spared no effort to support Su Zhe, and now he has been promoted to the position of Acting Secretary of the Central Secretariat.

In terms of being an official, Su Zhe was better than Su Shi in all aspects, of course, in terms of literature, that is another story. After Su Shi was demoted to Ruzhou, the emperor was seriously ill at the time, and there were rumors that Zhang Yue would break the five-year period and continue to serve as prime minister.

Someone asked Su Shi about this matter.

Su Shi said directly, "No, I guess he always keeps his word. He is a gentleman of virtue and would never do such a thing."

These words were immediately copied down by someone and reported to Zhang Yue, who was so angry at Su Shi that he almost fainted.

So, never talk about your leader behind his back.

Su Che was too cautious in this regard.

Su Che shed tears and said, "I am very sad to see the Prime Minister leave!"

Zhang Yue sighed, "It is hard to find a true friend in life. I have you, Ziyou and Zizhan, which is enough for me."