Prime Minister

Chapter 1191 Distinguishing Loyalty from Treachery

Chapter 1191 Distinguishing Loyalty from Treachery

There were two green-feathered parrots on the windowsill, jumping and pecking at food.

Li Ding heard that after Cai Que came to Beijing, he got a concubine named Pipa, and he doted on her.

This green-feathered parrot is the one raised by Pipa.

Li Ding was very interested in this matter. It was surprising that Cai Que, a man who was so cruel and ruthless as to run a large-scale prison, had such a beloved woman.

After a while, Li Ding saw Cai Que's expression and understood something and asked, "So, my husband knew about this a long time ago? I wonder when?"

Cai Que said: "It's earlier than you think."

"In this case, why didn't you report it to His Majesty earlier? Where does this put the law of the country?" Li Ding asked seriously.

Cai Que said: "Because the time is not right."

Li Ding said, "Sir, at first glance, Prime Minister Zhang seems to be favored by the emperor, but he displeased the emperor because of the exemption from military service. Now, he has changed the Baojia system and last year's salt business operation, abolished the local salt revenue and returned it to the Jiaoyin Office, which has displeased the local officials."

"I heard that Prime Minister Zhang always uses the name of destroying the Tanguts in everything he does. There are also rumors that he wants to abolish the market exchange law and change it to the Qingmiao law. I think if Zhang San is not stopped now, he will definitely be the one to change the Xining New Law in the future."

Cai Que said: "When the outcome of the battle between our dynasty and the Tanguts was still undecided, Zhang Sanlang's position as prime minister was as stable as Mount Tai."

"The power of affairs is the real power! Now the country is decided by him, Zhang Sanlang! His position as prime minister is even more stable than that of Wang Jinggong during the Xining period! But he is not impatient and impetuous in his actions. Until now, he still takes one step and stops to look three steps ahead."

Li Ding was silent for a while after hearing this, and then said, "It is indeed so!"

After a pause, Li Ding said, "My husband, I still want to give it a try."

Cai Que said: "Is it because I didn't understand what I said?"

"I see."

"Then why are you still like this!"

Li Ding said: "To repay Jing Gong's kindness in cultivating me!"

Facing Li Ding's righteous expression, Cai Que couldn't help but sneer: "Li Fengshi (Li Chengzhi) and Zhang Zihou said the same thing back then, but they were demoted to another state by Zhang Sanlang."

Li Ding said: "But today is different. Since ancient times, ministers have been most afraid of having the greatest achievements and the highest contributions, and also of trying to influence their masters in the name of national affairs. Zhang Sanlang has both of these."

"Even if it doesn't work today, Your Majesty will know my loyalty in the future!"

Cai Que said, "Your impeachment of Zhang San is like hitting a rock with an egg. Even His Majesty knows this today, but he just gave a few words of warning. What can you do?"

Li Ding said: "How do you know it's not a targeted move?"

Cai Que said: "If you insist on thinking so, I have nothing to say. But Zhang Sanlang did accept money from Yelu Yixin, but he was not a traitor."

"Why do you insist on doing this?"

Li Ding said: "Jing Gong worked hard for the reform, and every sentence he got was not a fluke. Now Jing Gong is still alive, and Zhang Duzhi still dares to do this. What if he passes away one day?"

"How could I not know the lessons of Zhang Zihou and Li Fengshi? Wang Jinggong has repeatedly said that we should break up annexation and suppress the powerful. Nowadays, the rich are more likely to annex than the kings. Jinggong's policy of managing finances to break up annexation is the way to rule the world."

"But Zhang Duzhi said that he wanted to boost industry and commerce and to work with the merchants, the last of the four classes. He said that the problems of the world today are not only the imbalance between the rich and the poor, but also the powerlessness of those who pay taxes and the power of those who receive taxes."

"Prime Minister Zhang's words are just like Sima Guang's words about helping the rich and the poor. They are just like the pot calling the kettle black when one is fifty steps away."

"How can I let Lord Jing's hard work go to waste!"

Cai Que thought that the reason why Li Ding did this again and again might be related to Zhang Yue's heavy reliance on Su Song.

Two months ago, Su Song was recommended by Zhang Yue as the acting governor of Kaifeng Prefecture, and it was at this time that Chen Shiru's iron nail case happened. Li Ding pursued the case and wanted to prove the relationship between Su Song and Lu Gongzhu.

At that time, Su Song believed that Chen Shiru was not involved in the murder.

Li Ding reported this to the emperor privately. The emperor angrily scolded Su Song, saying, "You have not even interrogated Chen Shiru yet and you're closing the case?"

The government wanted to (not let the guilty go) but Su Song said that good people should not be wrongly accused.

Huang Yan, the censor who was a member of Cai Que's faction, said that Su Song must have been asked by Lu Gongzhu to try to make a big event small.

Li Ding advocated arresting Su Song and getting to the bottom of the case, but Zhang Yue refuted Li Ding's words on the spot, saying that Su Song had not been asked to do so.

Therefore, the government let Su Song go.

Therefore, Li Ding was extremely dissatisfied with Zhang Yue.

The feud between Li Ding and Su Song started with the incident of the three secretaries. Wang Anshi appointed Li Ding as the Chief Censor, but was opposed by the three secretaries headed by Su Song, who revoked his appointment.

Su Song became famous because of this incident, and Zhang Yue supported Su Song's idea at that time.

Cai Que guessed that when Li Ding saw that Zhang Yue was defending Su Song, he simply moved Zhang Yue away as well.

But speculation is just speculation. Cai Que stood up and said, "I can't stop you from doing what you want. Just let it go."

Li Ding stood up and said, "I was helped by my husband, and I am afraid that I will bring trouble to him."

Cai Que sneered, "Since you have already made your own decision, why are you still worrying about me? What's the point of saying these things?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ding said solemnly: "Everything I did was out of self-righteousness, history will bear witness to this!"

After saying this, Li Ding strode away.

……

"So Li Ding is going to harm me?"

Zhang Yue said while looking at the full moon outside the window.

The Imperial Censor Chen Mu reported to Zhang Yue: "Li Ding's confidants have long been bribed by me, so I learned about this overnight and came to report it to the Prime Minister."

Zhang Yue turned around, and the bright light of the full moon shone on him. He said to Chen Mu, "Very good. After Li Ding, I will definitely recommend you as the Minister of State."

Chen Mu was overjoyed, and calmed himself down, saying, "People like Li Ding are just like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, how can they shake the prime minister?"

Zhang Yue smiled and motioned Chen Mu to go back first, while he stared at the table in a daze.

The lights in the corridor in the distance were brightly on. The Official System Detailed Planning Office and its staff were compiling regulations and studying changes to systems and laws in the corridor.

Hundreds of young talents are working for me.

As for Zhang Yue, these were not what he was worried about. It was an extremely difficult task to revise the new law without causing displeasure among the emperor and arousing fierce opposition from the New Party.

But before that, there is one more thing I need to do.

Zhang Yue rang the bell on the table, and a moment later Peng Jingyi pushed the door open.

Zhang Yue said to Peng Jingyi: "The emperor has learned his lesson this time, but there are always people who don't know how to live or die and come out to oppose me."

Peng Jingyi said: "Isn't it the prime minister's prudent behavior to distinguish between loyalty and treachery before launching a major event?"

Zhang Yue said: "It's not me who is cautious, but my father-in-law who is cautious."

"His words kept me from acting rashly."

"Ever since you spread the news that I had received a box of Northern Pearls from Yelu Yixin, I have seen everyone's attitudes and actions. Some believed in me, some doubted me, some wanted to harm me, I have told you all."

Peng Jingyi said: "Prime Minister, now the traitor has jumped out on his own. If we punish him this time, more people will learn their lesson next time."

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "That's not necessarily true. But what is coming will still come."

"But doing it a little at a time is what I want."

"Distinguishing between loyalty and treachery is like achieving success in life. It requires one step at a time."

"Too hasty, too fast, too much is not good."

"You need to take longer and do it one by one."