manynovel Chapter 1296 Zhang Qing Can Be a Teacher's Protector
Chapter 1296 Zhang Qing Can Be a Teacher's Protector
Chapter 1296 Zhang Qing Can Be a Teacher's Protector
Zhang Yue returned to Dutang (formerly the Political Affairs Hall) to discuss matters with the prime ministers.
After Zhang Yue sent someone to inform his family that they would have to stay overnight in the palace, Shiqi Niang couldn't help but worry.
Shiqi Niang immediately ordered someone to call back Zhang Cheng, who was studying at the Imperial College.
After Zhang Cheng returned home and saw Shiqi Niang, he found that she was sitting in the back hall of the house as usual, listening to the housekeeper's affairs and the nanny's accounts.
Shiqi Niang once said that the mistress of a family is in charge of accounting, just like a general inspecting his troops in the tent, and there can be no mistakes. Therefore, whenever the Zhang Mansion counted the accounts, the people below would be very alert.
Zhang Cheng waited for half an hour, and when he saw Shiqi Niang stop what she was doing, he went into the back hall and said, "Mother."
Shiqi Niang looked at the accounts and said without raising her head, "It's good that you're back. You can stay at home for the next few days."
"What about the child's homework?"
Shiqi Niang said, "You can study at home, too."
"It is not appropriate to worry about this matter now. Your father and your elder brother are both on duty tonight. Brother Guang is in the northwest. Someone needs to take charge of the family."
"After all, my mother is a woman, it is not convenient for her to show her face in public."
Zhang Cheng was surprised and asked, "What happened?"
Shiqi Niang said: "It's nothing that we don't worry about, but you need to take responsibility."
At this point, Shiqi Niang slowed down her tone and said, "Let me see that you have lost a lot of weight these days."
"It must be more comfortable in the Imperial College than at home."
Zhang Cheng said naively: "The child can endure hardships and has made many friends in the Imperial College."
Shiqi Niang frowned and said, "Although it is an imperial academy, the people there are mixed. Stay away from those who are not worthy, lest they try to get close to you after knowing your identity in the future."
"I won't acknowledge you at all then!"
Zhang Cheng lowered his head when he heard that. Zhang Gen had complained to him more than once that their mother was quite snobbish and would always treat people differently based on their taste.
Zhang Cheng once asked Zhang Yue about this question, but Zhang Yue just laughed, not knowing what the man was up to.
While speaking.
Suddenly someone reported that Xiang Zong, the son of the emperor's father-in-law and the current empress's brother-in-law, had come to visit.
Shiqi Niang frowned.
"What's wrong, mother?"
Shiqi Niang said, "The Xiang family has been trying to make friends with your father for many years. His brother Xiang Zongliang often visits Cai Jing's mansion. I am worried that it is related to the succession to the throne of the court. I didn't want to tell you these things in the past, but you have to make a plan now."
Zhang Cheng was suddenly faced with a major event and was somewhat flustered and frightened.
He said, "Mother, this is a matter of the inner court, we can't get involved."
Shiqi Niang first praised: "It's a good idea for you to have this idea."
Then he said solemnly: "It's a pity that you have no say in what has happened!"
"Go meet Xiang Zonghui! Don't promise anything, just report back to me."
Zhang Cheng said: "Yes."
……
Several ministers in the capital are here.
Wang Gui and Zhang Yue were both sitting in the hall, while Cai Que, Zhang Zhi, Su Song, Lu Gongzhu, Wang Anli and other ministers were sitting below the hall.
The clerks in the hall served tea one after another, but the ministers remained silent.
If something unexpected happened to the emperor and he said something wrong at this time, not only would it be recorded in history books, but all his achievements and fortune would be ruined.
Everyone present is qualified to sit at the negotiating table, but sometimes the cruelty of political struggle will force them to voluntarily surrender their power in order to avoid wrongdoing and maintain safety.
Often at this time, it is easy for others to take advantage of the situation, and after being intimidated or bribed, they hand over power without thinking.
When Cai Que thought of this, his eyes fixed.
Yes, this ambitious person is Zhang Yue. And Cai Que is not the only official who holds the same idea.
Everyone looked at Wang Gui. Although Zhang Yue was a powerful minister, everyone was pointing at him more at this time because he was the first minister in name only.
Wang Gui said, "Your Majesty has not been ill for a long time since the second year of Yuanfeng. I don't think it's serious."
"But even if this happens, we must be prepared. Everything in the palace is decided by the Empress Dowager, and we will just follow her orders."
The ministers thought to themselves that Wang Gui did not disappoint them and continued to be his hands-off boss.
Xun also thought that Wang Gui might have had some ideas or received some hints from others, so he didn't tell them.
But Wang Gui was not wrong to say so. Cai Que was very dissatisfied in his heart, but he did not show it on his face. The ministers had different thoughts, but at this time, no one expressed their thoughts verbally.
Exposing any thoughts at this time may become an excuse for others to attack you in the future.
After a discussion, everyone immediately asked Wang Gui, Zhang Yue and Cai Que to guard the capital hall, while the rest of the people returned to their own rooms and would return to the capital hall to gather if there was any news.
At this time, an official came in and reported: "Prince Yong, Prince Cao has entered the palace."
Cai Que's expression changed drastically as he asked, "Did he enter the palace on his own, or was he summoned by the Queen Mother?"
The official stood there in a daze and said, "I don't know."
Cai Que stood with his hands behind his back for a while, then said to Wang Gui, "Left Prime Minister, please dismiss your attendants!"
Wang Gui nodded.
The officials withdrew.
Cai Que asked: "Why is the Prince of Yan'an not by the emperor's side, but the Prince of Yong and the Prince of Cao can enter and leave the palace?"
Wang Gui bowed his head and said nothing.
Cai Que said seriously, "Have you two forgotten Li Si's Yellow Dog Sigh?"
Li Si was killed because of Zhao Gao's slander. When he was executed, Li Si said to his second son with great sorrow: "I want to lead the yellow dog with you to chase the cunning rabbit out of the east gate of Shangcai, but is it possible?"
What Li Si meant was that he was saying to his second son, I will never have the chance to go with you, taking the yellow dog to hunt hares outside the east gate of Shangcai.
Li Si was obsessed with the art of being an emperor all his life, and ended up like this.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, Cai Que, are you playing tricks on me and Wang Gui?
Cai Que said: "Li Si's defeat was due to his conspiracy with Zhao Gao to establish Hu Hai. Of course, if Li Si had his own ideas, how could the government fall into Zhao Gao's hands? And if we have no ideas today, a piece of yellow paper will come out of the palace, and all officials in the world will scold us."
What Cai Que said does make sense.
Zhang Yue recalled that when he was with Sima Guang, the other party had also used these words to persuade Han Qi and other prime ministers.
Now more than 20 years have passed.
That’s right, inaction is wrong. Waiting like Wang Gui is absolutely unacceptable.
What does it mean that the emperor and the literati jointly rule the world? If there is no influence in this link, wouldn't it be just nonsense?
Why Han Qi deserves special mention!
Because he played a pivotal role in the succession of Emperor Yingzong and Emperor Shenzong. If you had a prime minister like Li Si... Li Si's crime in the collapse of the Qin Empire would have been even worse than Zhao Gao's. You still have the nerve to sigh like a yellow dog.
Zhang Yue said: "We don't know how seriously the emperor is ill. If the emperor's illness is just temporary, and you guys act too aggressively, then we will be guilty of plotting to make him emperor again."
The biggest problem now is the emperor's illness. No one knows how serious his illness is. If it is only a minor illness, and they make a big move, then nothing good will happen to them.
Cai Que asked anxiously, "What if the emperor is seriously ill and the disaster of Shaqiu occurs?"
Wang Gui heard this and said as if repeating a sentence on repeat: "Everything is decided by the inner court, and it has nothing to do with us in the outer court."
Cai Que saw through Wang Gui's thoughts and sneered, "I'm afraid the Queen Mother is not the only one who wants to make a claim in the palace!"
Zhang Yue and Wang Gui were surprised after hearing what Cai Que said. Could it be that the other party had received some further information?
Zhang Yue thought, who is that person that Cai Que is talking about? Besides Empress Dowager Gao, is it Concubine Zhu or Empress Xiang? Or Zhang Maize, or one of the powerful eunuchs.
Zhang Yue suddenly thought of Queen Xiang.
This woman was described as virtuous in history books, but in fact she was quite ambitious. Otherwise, why did the other party insist on the later Song Huizong when Prime Minister Zhang Dun proposed two candidates for the throne after Zhezong's death?
What if the official really falls ill and cannot get up?
Wang Gui said, "It's too late today. Let's talk about it tomorrow."
When it came to the critical moment, Wang Gui continued to delay as much as possible.
Zhang Yue and Cai Que are used to it.
Zhang Yue looked at Cai Que with burning eyes and sneered in his heart. He knew what Cai Que was thinking.
Cai Que was worried that he would follow the example of Li Si and reach some kind of agreement with a powerful figure in the palace regarding the position of crown prince, using some form of concession in exchange for his continued rule.
Of course it is not impossible. Empress Dowager Gao and the Queen have, to some extent, shown some kind of winning over her.
At the same time, he also has a good relationship with Zhang Maze and Shi Deyi.
In the past few years, he has been the prime minister, and the whole country is at peace. Soon, he settled the internal dispute between the old and new parties, defended against the Khitan and defeated the Dangxiang, thus avenging the century-old shame of his ancestors. Even if he continues to govern, he will still shoulder the expectations of the whole world.
It’s not that Zhang Yue didn’t think of this.
If something happens to the emperor, can I continue to rule?
He thought of the deputy commander of the palace guards who was promoted to Yan Da, who was a general under Zhong Yan, and it was well known that he and Zhong Yan were not on good terms.
There are so many generals in the Western Army, most of whom are related to Zhang Yue, but the emperor only chose Yan Da.
At the critical moment, I can't control Yan Da.
Zhang Yue said to Cai Que, "Brother, you are now extremely famous and wealthy, why don't you change your ways?"
Cai Que was stunned. Zhang Yue hadn't called him "senior brother" for several years.
"I don't know this, what advice do you have for me, Prime Minister?"
Zhang Yue said: "You have already achieved great power, wealth and honor, but you still dare not move forward. This is what a fool does, not a wise man."
"You have reached a high position today. Although you have made friends with the emperor and have been appointed as a prime minister, there are still many things that are not in line with public opinion. If you continue like this, you will be doing the opposite of the way things are. I don't know where you will end up when you die."
"After I retire, I'm afraid no one will tell you this. So I'm telling you from the bottom of my heart!"
Cai Que was stunned. Zhang Yue was once again expressing to him his firm determination to retire, which would not change because of anything.
Upon hearing this, Cai Que knew that every word Zhang Yue said made sense, and thought that he was judging a gentleman by his own mean character. Then he thought that something was wrong, and that this guy knew that I had something on his nephew, so he pretended to retreat.
Cai Que pretended to test him: "The emperor is seriously ill. If there is no prime minister to lead the country, what will happen to the people?"
Zhang Yue said: "I never take myself too seriously. If you want to change my policies in the future, I also have ways to make you feel uneasy in your position as prime minister!"
After saying this, Zhang Yue turned away.
The three of them rested in the capital hall for the night, and early the next morning they went to the government residence with the ministers.
However, only Wang Gui, Zhang Yue and Cai Que were allowed to see the emperor in the palace.
The three men came to the bedside and were overjoyed to see that the emperor had woken up.
The emperor said, "I am sorry to have kept you here all night. Last night, when I was ill, I was thinking about something: who will be the teacher and guardian when the crown prince is established?"
"After much thought, I think Zhang Qing is the right person!"
Zhang Yue was stunned when he heard this.
The tutor is not only the teacher who guides the prince, but also the minister who assists the prince after he ascends the throne. In the case of a serious illness, the emperor may even designate a minister to take care of the affairs after his death.
In history, other teachers and mentors designated by Emperor Shenzong were Lü Gongzhu and Sima Guang (Sima Guang had doubts because Lü Dafang said that Lü Gongzhu was the only teacher and mentor designated by Emperor Shenzong).
Therefore, in history, it can be said that it was not only the intention of Empress Dowager Gao that Lu Gongzhu and Sima Guang succeeded to assist Zhezong. They were also the ministers of state appointed by Shenzong.
Being appointed as a regent by the previous emperor is a sign of extraordinary trust and respect.
Just like Renzong and Yingzong trusted Han Qi.
Is the emperor going to appoint me as the advisor? It is logical. However, from ancient times to the present, the relationship between advisors and new emperors has never been good.
When Zhang Yue thought of this, he suddenly woke up. Yes, the emperor's words today seemed to be two or three points more powerful than yesterday!
Zhang Yue heard this and said firmly: "Your Majesty, I will retire next year, and I dare not entrust you with the important task of being a teacher and guardian. Please choose someone else who is wise and capable!"
Cai Que on the side kept looking at Zhang Yue from the side, not missing any of his expressions or movements.
Zhang Yue noticed that the curtain in the east room of the hall was shaking slightly, as if there was someone nearby.
Zhang Yue thought that this person was most likely Empress Dowager Gao or Queen Xiang.
The most important thing for Zhang Yue at this moment is to confess his true intentions. Of course, no one will believe him if he just says verbally that he doesn't want it.
Zhang Yue continued, "If Your Majesty wishes to appoint a mentor, I would like to recommend Lü Gongzhu and Han Zhongyan, and to assist them with Cai Bian and Cheng Yi."
When these words were spoken, the curtain on the east side moved slightly.
Sitting behind the curtain were not only Empress Dowager Gao, but also Empress Xiang and Concubine Zhu.
Empress Dowager Gao nodded and whispered to Empress Xiang and Concubine Zhu beside her: "Zhang Qing is truly a loyal minister!"
"You are worthy of being the Prime Minister entrusted by the Emperor Ren Miao!"
He nodded to the Queen and Concubine Zhu.
Empress Dowager Gao seemed a little sad after she said this. In terms of judging people, no one was better than Renzong, but there were not many ministers left from Renzong's reign.
The official listened to what Zhang Yue said and said slowly: "Han Zhongyan!"
Zhang Yue looked at the official reading Han Zhongyan's name and fell into deep thought.
Of the two teachers and guardians, Lu Gong was a man of character and morality, respected by the world, and was also the Privy Councilor.
As for Han Zhongyan, it was of course because of Han Qi.
As the saying goes, when the country is in trouble, loyal people are needed. At this point, the emperor naturally thought of Han Qi's kindness. Without Han Qi's protection, the throne would not have been so smoothly transferred to the emperor. Of course, it was the emperor himself who was suspicious of Han Qi before.