I will never be Renzong

Chapter 134 The Queen Is Sick
In the spring of the fourth year of Tiansheng, Kuiwei in the first month, the Xuanzheng Palace court meeting.

Jia Changchao, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, said: "Officials! The envoy of the Liao Kingdom, Xiao Dili, has entered the Daming Mansion and is expected to arrive in Kaifeng City in more than ten days, but the Emperor of the Liao Kingdom suddenly sent someone to bring wine and fruit to Xiao Dili. There are more than 30 envoys from the Liao Kingdom to send wine and fruit, and they have already arrived in Mozhou. I would like to ask the officials if they should come?"

Zhao Zhen asked, "What's your opinion?"

The Second Prime Minister Wang once said: "Officials! I think they should be prevented from coming. We will use ships to transport them instead, and just transfer the wine and fruits to Xiao Dili!"

Seeing this, Lu Yijian hurriedly said: "Guan! Previously, the Liao Kingdom sold [-] good horses to our country at a fair price. The border between the two sides also abolished their garrisons as agreed, and our country added another five or six troops on the border. At the time of discussion, the border between Song and Liao is now stable and there is no war. This is actually caused by the good relations between the two countries. Previously, the Liao State sent envoys to congratulate Zhengdan, and now they have also sent people to send wine and fruits. With such sincerity, if we keep people outside the door , I’m afraid it’s inappropriate, I hope the officials will think twice!”

Lu Zongdao, a political adviser, said: "Officials, if you don't follow the rules, you can't achieve success. Although the Liao Kingdom has good intentions, they should also abide by our rules."

Zhao Zhen pondered for a while. If he directly rejected the envoy of the Liao Kingdom, he might arouse the suspicion of the Liao Shengzong. When the two countries re-garrisoned heavy troops on the border, it would not be worth the loss. After thinking for a long time, he replied: "Let the Liao people who came to deliver the fruit wine choose a representative to come. As for the others, let the Zhizhou of Mozhou treat them well and send them back!"

"The officials are wise!"

The courtiers below immediately worshiped.

Yan Shu, Shangshu of the Household Department, said: "Officials! Earlier, the imperial court sent officials from the Household Department to Zhongzhou to deal with the well salt issue. Recently, the minister received news that most of the salt fields in Zhongzhou are in the hands of wealthy merchants. Paying the salt tax, thus instigating the salt farmers to strike and cause trouble, etc., I believe that the court should severely punish these unscrupulous merchants!"

Zhao Zhen replied: "I will send special personnel to investigate the crimes committed by the wealthy families in these places. If it is true, they will be severely punished. However, the well salt matter must be resolved. Many salt merchants in Zhongzhou and even Shu are expressing their disapproval of the imperial court." There are many opinions on the salt tax. In this case, I have decided to hand over the well salt to the Royal Chamber of Commerce for exclusive trading. Salt merchants in Shu can join the Chamber of Commerce, and then a relatively appropriate salt tax policy will be formulated!"

Yan Shu said: "Officials! The wells in Shu are divided into big wells and small wells. The big wells are monopolized by the government, and the small wells are allowed to be traded freely by the local people, but they are ordered to prohibit the sale of Sichuan. Does the official mean that the small wells will be handed over to the Royal Chamber of Commerce in Dali?" ? I’m afraid the local salt merchants might not agree to it!”

Zhao Zhen replied: "What I mean is to hand over all the well salt in Shu to the Royal Chamber of Commerce, regardless of whether it is a big well or a small well."

As soon as Zhao Zhen's words fell, Wang Zeng said: "Officials! Since Guan Zhong of the Qi State established that the government monopolizes the management of mountains and seas, the salt tax has become a vital source of fiscal revenue in all dynasties. In our dynasty, the salt tax It is also the second largest source of income after the land tax. If the well salt will be managed by the Royal Chamber of Commerce, I think it is extremely inappropriate, and the flow of well salt to the inland will definitely have a certain impact on other things such as sea salt and solution salt, and then affect the imperial court. I hope officials will think twice about taxes!”

Zhang Zhibai said: "Officials! Most of the well salt in Shu is in the hands of the imperial court. No matter how much trouble the salt merchants in Zhongzhou make, it's just a small matter of one state. If Zhongzhou lacks salt, just let other states send them there. It will not affect the lives of the local people at all, if a businessman violates the law, he will be punished severely by the laws of the Song Dynasty, and I think that what should be solved right now is not the problem of well salt in Sichuan, but the problem of salt solution!"

Seeing this, Wang Zeng hurriedly said: "Mr. Zhang, the salt tax is a matter for my Zhongshu sect and the household department. As the deputy envoy of the privy, you can manage your own one-acre three-point land. Why worry about it?" !"

Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "The king's words are different. The court's political affairs, regardless of civil or military affairs, as long as an official of the court has opinions or opinions on any resolutions or political affairs of the court, he can tell them directly. I will listen attentively. You are right, I will still accept and reward you! Zhang Qing, keep talking!"

Seeing this, Zhang Zhibai continued: "."

Half an hour later, the legs of the court ministers were a little numb, and Zhang Zhibai finally finished his thoughts, and he still had something to say.

Zhao Zhen also understood.

Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted Sang Hongyang's suggestion and implemented official management of salt, iron, and wine, salt lessons have become an important source of fiscal revenue in all dynasties. From Han to Tang, salt was monopolized by the government, but in the Song Dynasty there were changed slightly.

The salt in the Song Dynasty was mainly divided into three categories according to the source and place of production, and the management system was also different.

The first category is sea salt, which is extracted from seawater and mainly produced in the southeastern coastal areas. Sea salt implements a certain degree of trade system, allowing free trade among the people, and the government only collects salt tax.

The second category is well salt, which is extracted from underground brine and mainly produced in Sichuan. Well salt is divided into large wells and small wells. Large wells are controlled by the imperial court and subject to official discussion, while small wells allow local people to trade freely. However, the order prohibits sales out of Shu, otherwise it will be punished as smuggling.

The third category is pond salt, which is produced in a place called Jiezhou on Shaanxi Road, also known as Jieyan. Jieyan adopts a system similar to that of tea officials. To complete the task of growing salt according to the government's quota, each household is about 2300 shi.

According to Zhang Zhibai’s account, Zhao Zhen also knew that understanding salt had similar disadvantages as the previous tea officials. It was difficult to transport and the people were only growing salt for business purposes and had no enthusiasm, so they often mixed it with sediment and saltpeter, and the quality was poor. However, because it was The government has a monopoly and controls pricing power, so prices have remained high for a long time.

"Zhang Qing, do you want me to promote salt trade?"

Zhao Zhen asked.

Zhang Zhibai responded: "Go back to the official house! Well salt is related to the people's livelihood in Shu and the court's salt department. It is not appropriate to hand it over to the Royal Chamber of Commerce. If the operation of the Royal Chamber of Commerce fails, the imperial court will suffer a great loss, and Jieyan is only a state. The government can hand over the well salt to the Royal Chamber of Commerce. If the annual profit is more than in previous years, and the common people can eat good salt, then it will not be too late to hand over the well salt to the Royal Chamber of Commerce! "

Lu Yijian glanced at Wang Zeng, who was silent, and then at Zhang Zhibai, who was talking eloquently. He thought that the position of Prime Minister and Assistant Secretary might fall into the hands of others. Wang Zeng bluntly opposed the official's proposal, but Zhang Zhibai although I also opposed it, but I changed it to a euphemistic way of saying it, that is, let the officials first experiment with salt solution, and if it succeeds, then promote it. This will solve the current problem without causing the officials to lose. face.

"Well! Zhang Qing's words are very sound, so I will act according to Qing's opinion, but it is a bit of a shame for you to be the deputy envoy of the Privy Council!"

Zhao Zhen praised.

"It is the duty of the minister to eat the king's salary and share the worries for the king. It should not be praised by the officials like this!"

Zhang Zhibai said modestly.

Zhao Zhen said: "Drafting under the Zhongshumen: Zhang Zhibai, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, was promoted to Pingzhangshi with Zhongshumenxia, ​​a bachelor of Zhaowenguan, and was named Duke of Anping County.

Half a year after Wang Qinruo's death, Zhao Zhen just decided on the candidate for prime minister.

"Prince Prime Minister! The matter in Zhongzhou requires a capable official to go and investigate. I have ordered you to be the imperial envoy, along with Ren Shouzhong, a well-known minister in the chamber of commerce, and Li Ping'an, a member of the Imperial Guard Qianhu, to set out today to investigate the matter for me."

Zhao Zhen said to Wang Zeng.

"The king once took orders!"

Wang Zeng worshiped with some disappointment. Originally, Feng Zheng died, and the phase should belong to him. As a result, Wang Qinruo was killed halfway. As a result, Wang Qinruo's life was not good, and he was assassinated every two years when he became the prime minister. It stands to reason that this time The position should fall on his head, but for some reason, the officials have not appointed a new prime minister for more than half a year.

But now the position was snatched away by Zhang Zhibai, and in order for Zhang Zhibai to ascend to the throne, the officials even sent him to Zhongzhou, and he couldn't help but sigh.

After the dynasty was dispersed, Zhao Zhen summoned Zhang Zhibai to the Chongzheng Hall, listened to his views on the court's salt class in detail, and then let him go.

"Thrush! What is Danshu doing today?"

After Zhang Zhibai left, Zhao Zhen looked at Zhazi for a while, then suddenly asked Thrush.

"Go back to the official's house! The queen is not feeling well today, and she is resting in the Kunning Hall!"

Huamei replied.

"What? Danshu is sick?"

Zhao Zhen hurriedly stood up after hearing this, and walked out in a panic.

In the Kunning Hall, Cao Danshu was lying on the bed with a pale face, but she was looking at it seriously with a portrait in her hand.

"Dan Shu!"

Before Zhao Zhen arrived, the anxious voice had already arrived.

After Cao Danshu heard about it, she hurriedly put away the portrait and hid it under the pillow.

"do not move!"

Cao Danshu just wanted to get up and salute Zhao Zhen, but was pinned down on the bed by Zhao Zhen who walked in quickly.

"I heard that you are unwell? So I came over immediately, what's wrong? Did you invite the imperial physician? What did the imperial physician say?"

Zhao Zhen asked with concern.

"Guan Jia! I'm just a little tired, it's okay!"

A smile appeared on Cao Danshu's pale face.

"If you don't feel well, take a good rest! As for the affairs in the palace, it doesn't matter at all. It's the same as leaving them to others. I don't want to tire you out!"

Zhao Zhen exhorted.

"Official! Wait a moment, I will show you something."

With that said, Cao Danshu took out the painting from under the pillow and handed it to Zhao Zhen.

"what is this?"

Zhao Zhen asked curiously.

"The official will know when you open it!"

Cao Danshu said softly.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen unfolded the scroll, and saw a handsome young man in military uniform riding a white horse, smiling at a little girl not far away.

"Danshu, is this painting on me?"

Zhao Zhen asked with a smile.

"Well! I remember the night of the big wedding. The official family told the story of Snow White to the slave family. The slave family was very envious that Snow White finally lived happily with the prince. The slave family also hoped to be able to live happily with the official family forever. , so I drew this painting at my slave’s house, how about it, does the official house look good?”

Cao Danshu asked with a smile.

"It looks good! It's just that I'm too handsome! But I like it!"

Zhao Zhen smiled and thought: It seems that the person riding the white horse is not necessarily a prince, nor is it necessarily a Tang monk, it is very likely to be the emperor.

"What does it mean to be handsome among officials?"

Cao Danshu asked, blinking her big bright eyes.

"It means handsome and extraordinary!"

Zhao Zhen replied.

"Cough, cough, cough~"

Cao Danshu suddenly covered her mouth and coughed loudly. Seeing this, Zhao Zhen hurriedly stepped forward and patted her on the back gently.

"The official family! The slave family is fine! It's just a little sleepy! It's also a little cold!"

Cao Danshu said weakly with her eyes drooped.

Zhao Zhen put the painting aside, then sat on the bed, held Cao Danshu in his arms, and put his hands on Cao Danshu's head, feeling hot all of a sudden.

"What's wrong! The fever is so severe, please call the doctor quickly!"

Not a moment later, Wang Taiyi hurried in under the guidance of Thrush, and the harem maid brought a red thread and just wanted to tie it to Cao Danshu's wrist.

"Whoa!"

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen became very angry. After putting Cao Danshu down and laying down, he kicked the screen down. It was all burned like this, and it was so frustrating. No wonder the concubines of the ancient emperors were mostly concubines. Misfortune.

"The queen's fever is so high, you, as the maids of the Kunning Palace, wait by the queen's side day and night, and you don't even know, what use are you for!"

Zhao Zhen yelled at the maids.

"The servant is guilty! Please punish the official!"

The maids of the Kunning Palace all knelt on the ground and pleaded guilty tremblingly. It was the first time they had seen an official lose such a temper after being in the palace for so long.

"Doctor! Go get a diagnosis! What are you doing standing there?"

Zhao Zhen said to Physician Wang who was kneeling beside him.

Upon seeing this, Imperial Physician Wang hurried forward, and with the help of the female doctor in the palace, he felt Cao Danshu's pulse through the gauze.

Zhao Zhen wanted to say something else, but he endured it. After all, even if he is the emperor, he has to follow some rules.

After a long time, Imperial Physician Wang just finished his diagnosis.

"Doctor! What's wrong with the queen?"

Zhao Zhen hurriedly stepped forward and asked.

"Go back to the official's house! The empress must have suffered from the wind and cold at night recently, and during the arrival of Tiankui, her body will inevitably suffer some losses, which caused the fever. I will first prescribe a prescription for reducing fever, and then a prescription for tonic. After the fever subsides, take the decoction and you will be cured in three or two days!"

Physician Wang hurriedly paid homage.

"Since that's the case! Go down and write a prescription, and let someone decoct the medicine."

The imperial physician prescribed the prescription, and the palace staff decocted the medicine very quickly. Zhao Zhen personally administered the decoction to Cao Danshu, and did not get up until Cao Danshu's fever subsided.

"Thrush! How come I don't know when the queen will come to menstruate?"

Zhao Zhen asked the thrush at the side.

"Returning to the official family, except for the big wedding, the official family has never stayed in the Kunning Palace, nor has it summoned the empress, so there is no record of the empress's menstruation time. The slave family just asked the maids of the Kunning Palace. The first genitalia was about the beginning of last month!"

Thrush replied cautiously.

"The Queen's illness this time has something to do with the maids of the Kunning Palace. According to my decree, all the maids will be punished for half a year. I will send all the maids who are close to me to the Shangyi Bureau. In addition, my nanny Xu will be transferred here. Take care of the Queen’s daily life!”

"That's right! If there are any ministers who have an audience today, they will all be stopped. If there are any papers left behind, they will be sent to the Kunning Palace. Go and send someone to bring a small table and put it next to the bed. Wake up the queen, I will be here with the queen tonight!"

Zhao Zhen gave instructions one after another.

(End of this chapter)