manynovel Chapter 1127 Good Minister and Good Doctor
Chapter 1127 Good Minister and Good Doctor
Chapter 1127 Good Minister and Good Doctor
The emperor was in high spirits. He placed the Lanzhou victory report in his hand next to the cotton pad and smiled as he watched Zhang Yue walk into the imperial garden.
At this time, the deputy mayor Shi Deyi carefully led Zhang Yue to the arch bridge of the Imperial Garden. Zhang Yue was slightly surprised when he saw the official fishing.
"The government doesn't like fishing!"
Zhang Yue knew that the emperor was very diligent in his work. He usually met with ministers in the palace, and was so busy that he often postponed the time for meals. He rarely had time to rest. However, Emperor Renzong liked fishing and fished with ministers. Wang Anshi once made a joke by eating the bait by mistake.
Hearing Zhang Yue's words, Shi De smiled and said, "The emperor is in a good mood today and has been here since early in the morning."
Zhang Yue nodded, walked up the arch bridge and came to the emperor's side. The eunuchs beside him all bowed to Zhang Yue when they saw him.
The official moved his fishing rod, and when he saw Zhang Yue approaching him, he deliberately asked, "What are you doing here, Mr. Zhang?"
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, I heard that Princess Shushou has been ill for many days, so I would like to recommend a miracle doctor to Your Majesty."
As he spoke, Shi Deyi had already respectfully brought a cotton pad for Zhang Yue to sit on. Compared with the official cotton pad, this pad was slightly plainer.
Then Shi Deyi stood beside Zhang Yue and the emperor with a smile on his face. This made Zhang Yue, the second most important eunuch in the palace, the only one who was so respectful to him.
After Zhang Yue pulled his purple robe and sat down, the emperor asked in surprise, "Princess Shushou had a diagnosis from the imperial physician. Who is the miracle doctor you mentioned?"
Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, this man's surname is Qian Yi, he is good at treating pediatrics and can bring people back to health, so I recommend him to Your Majesty."
If it were an ordinary family, they would be happy to hear that there was a miracle doctor who could cure diseases, but the official looked very solemn, as if he was unwilling to mention this matter. However, since Zhang Yue personally recommended him, he had to give him enough face.
The emperor said, "Since you have recommended him, I will appoint him as the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital and summon him to the palace for a trial."
Zhang Yue did not want Qian Yi to join the Imperial Hospital, but said, "Your Majesty, this man does not care about fame and honor. He should treat the princess first and then discuss his official position."
"It will be as you say."
After a pause, the official said, "Come fishing with me!"
After saying that, the eunuch beside him brought out a fishing rod. Shi Deyi personally put the bait on the hook and handed it to Zhang Yue.
The emperor and his minister were fishing by the pond, when the emperor suddenly said, "I heard that when you were selected as the third-rank candidate and paid homage to the Emperor, you also held a fish by the pond and presented an imperial poem."
Zhang Yue was stunned, while Shi Deyi and the eunuchs on his left and right smiled slightly.
Zhang Yue recalled that he had also composed a poem by the pond to "save the honor" of Emperor Renzong, "Mortal fish dare not approach the emperor, His Majesty the Long Lived King only fishes for dragons."
As a result, Emperor Renzong caught a fish a moment later and slapped Zhang Yue in the face. Of course, some officials said that Zhang Yue's poem was flattering and toadying.
Zhang Yue thought to himself that the emperor must be in a good mood today and was playing a joke on him.
Zhang Yue swung his fishing rod and said calmly, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the case."
Zhang Yue looked and saw a number of beautifully dressed young palace maids walking around the pond under the willow trees in the distance. They took flower petals from the flower baskets and scatter them with a wave of their hands.
Flower petals float on the pond, ripples on the water, and countless koi appear and disappear in the pond.
Zhang Yue said: "Back then, Ren Miao talked to me by the pond, using the fish in the pond as a metaphor for the people of the world. We need to curb annexation and focus on one source of benefits, otherwise it will not be enough to change the world. Ren Miao said that he was old and soft-hearted, and could not use this method, so we can only wait for a wise ruler in the future."
"I have never said this to anyone before, but since the Xining and Yuanfeng years, the world is well governed today, and Your Majesty has lived up to the emperor's kindness."
The emperor was delighted to hear this, and then said: "Since ancient times, wise rulers must have wise ministers to assist them, so that the country and the people can live and work in peace. Wang Anshi has the country and the people in his heart, and you have the people in your heart."
"Your Majesty..." Zhang Yue was a little surprised.
The official continued, "It is said that Ren Miao is good at judging people and being an official! He told the late emperor that he would find a prime minister for the descendants of the Zhao family. Now you have lived up to Ren Miao's ability to judge people."
Zhang Yue was moved by what he said, and hurriedly covered up, "Your Majesty... the fish has taken the bait."
The emperor smiled when he heard this and picked up the catch immediately. Shi Deyi and other palace maids all praised the emperor's extraordinary fishing skills.
The official smiled, and then ordered his men to release the fish back into the pond.
The official continued to fish, saying, "Back then, Ren Miao used the fish in the pond to represent the people of the world. Now, the pond in front of me is also the world. No matter what I have done right or wrong since I came to power, just like Ren Miao, it was all for this country and the people!"
"Did you predict the victory in Lanzhou?"
Zhang Yue said truthfully: "Your Majesty, please allow me to speak the truth. I really don't know..."
The official was surprised and asked, "Really don't know?"
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty... it's not true to say that I didn't expect it at all. In this world, it's not the case that you plant flowers intentionally but they don't bloom, or you plant willows unintentionally but they grow into shade trees."
"There is a story behind this."
The official asked, "How do you say that?"
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, sometimes things succeed not because we deliberately do something right, but because we accidentally do something right. Later generations often say that this is an accidental achievement."
"Rather than being unintentional, it is actually intentional. Just like Qian Yi whom I recommended, he was devoted to medicine, but because of his superb medical skills, Your Majesty wanted to confer him fame. If he had only sought fame, would his achievements in medicine still be so high?"
……
"I have read the victory report of the Lanzhou Campaign. Although it was due to Wang Wenyu's bravery, our army had already set up defenses in Lanzhou to guard the place that Xixia must attack, and Li Xian's timely rescue, it was also because the Tanguts underestimated the enemy. To be fair, our army's luck was slightly better this time, and I don't think there was any merit in planning and strategizing."
"In fact, since Mingsha City was captured, I have not taken any active actions because in the past, it was a common practice in the officialdom that when a superior scolded someone, the subordinates would often work hard to do something."
"Of course I know that Your Majesty wants me to 'turn the tide and save the collapsing building', but this is not in accordance with the rules. There are priorities and there is no need to rush. The more you do this, the more you are using tactical diligence to cover up strategic incompetence."
"With the series of defeats, the morale of the troops is low. We should keep our footing at this time instead of actively taking any action."
"I always believe that we should not do things that are unsustainable."
The emperor pondered and said, "The court officials said that Xixia attacked Lanzhou while the peace talks were going on. So what do you think about suspending the peace talks or making the terms more stringent?"
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, not only should you not be too harsh, but you should also be lenient so that the Tanguts will think that Your Majesty is wholeheartedly seeking peace."
The emperor shook his head and said, "This strategy is too crude. How can you ask for peace after a great victory? I don't believe that Xixia can't see through it. Anyone with a little ability can see through your plan."
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, I have always been a simple-minded person. What Xixia thinks is their business."
At this time, Zhang Yue's fishing rod moved.
Zhang Yue picked up the fish easily without even getting the bottom of his robe wet.
The official asked, "What if Xixia agrees to negotiate peace?"
Zhang Yue said: "If this is true, within three years, Xixia will be destroyed."
"Lanzhou, Xi'anzhou, and Huaidejun are the three places that Xixia must obtain, and they are also the places that our dynasty must defend. If our dynasty obtains them, Xixia will decline, and we will prosper!"
"Although the current Xixia ruler Li Bingchang is young, he is still quite capable. The Queen Mother Liang is a heroine, and the Prime Minister Liang Yimei is also an ambitious minister who likes to manipulate power."
"As long as there are still wise men in Xixia, they will continue to attack our Lanzhou, Huizhou, and Tiandu Mountain. They will not only penetrate deep into our territory to plunder and strengthen their troops, but also destroy our farmlands. They will never give me the opportunity to build forts and slowly approach us."
"This time, the Western Xia destroyed the seven-level canal of the Yellow River, flooded countless fields, and implemented the policy of fortifying the city and clearing the fields in the five states of Dingnan. The people in the country have long been boiling with resentment."
"The two countries have won and lost in attack and defense, but these wins and losses are not important, as long as we can continue to consume the national strength of Xixia. When Xixia is exhausted, Your Majesty can order a general to lead the troops of Xihe and Qingtang to the north to attack Liangzhou and Ganzhou."
"As long as we cut off the trade route between Xixia and the Western Regions, the offensive and defensive positions will change from now on!"
The emperor agreed and said, "Zhang Qing's plan is correct but also surprising. I understand. We should plan everything with Liangzhou in mind."
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, from my observation of Western Xia, the most important places are Lingzhou and Xingzhou under the Helan Mountains. These two places must not be lost. In terms of importance, Liangzhou may not even be among the top three."
"But Liangzhou is the source of Xixia's money and grain. Although our dynasty is now managing Lanzhou, it seems that we have built a high-rise building and built an upper reaches, and we can attack Lingzhou downstream, but the Yellow River waterway is not as good as the Yangtze River waterway after all, and there are still many variables."
"Taking Liangzhou will be much smoother. Xingling is the heartland of Western Xia, and they will definitely fight for every inch of our territory. On the other hand, Liangzhou is beyond the reach of both Western Xia and us. Our army has been operating in Lanhui and Xihe for a long time, so it will not be difficult to take it."
"The success or failure of Liangzhou does not lie in a city or a place, but in stabilizing the Qingtang and Ganzhou Uighurs so that they are not used by Xixia but by us."
"At this point, I believe that those who achieve great things should have the spirit of 'holding on to a green mountain and not letting go', identify a goal and persevere in achieving it."
"One should be diligent in learning the art, not in learning the truth. If a person can barely manage a family, then don't try. If a person can barely manage a country, then don't try."
"Always do things with ease, this is what I really think."
The emperor nodded slowly and said, "I am so lucky to have you as my assistant. The achievements of Han Wu and Tang Zong are not far away!"
……
The next day.
Within the palace.
The emperor was staring at the third daughter, Princess Shushou, who was lying on the sickbed.
Soon after, Princess Shushou slowly woke up and came over. The maids on both sides laughed and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the princess is awake."
Seeing Zhaorong Zhu, who was sitting next to him, burst into laughter after hearing this, the emperor also breathed a sigh of relief.
A palace servant nearby said, "The divine doctor Qian recommended by Prime Minister Zhang is truly amazing. The princess's illness had been beyond the reach of several imperial doctors, but he cured her in one stroke. It's really a cure!"
Another palace servant said, "I have heard of Divine Doctor Qian before, but I didn't expect him to be as miraculous as the rumors say."
Zhaorong Zhu said: "Prime Minister Zhang is really good at judging people. None of those imperial doctors are useful."
The emperor originally wanted to give Qian Yi a try, but he didn't expect that he was so capable.
The emperor saw that Zhu was so happy and said with a smile, "I understand. I will reward this divine doctor Qian handsomely."
Zhu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so lucky to have both a good prime minister and a good doctor."