I will never be Renzong

Chapter 189
In the fifth year of Tiansheng, on the first day of August, the Xuanzheng Palace will be held.

Lu Zongdao, Minister of the Ministry of Rites and Political Affairs, said: "Report to the officials! According to Zhang Dexiang, the servant of the Ministry of Rites who went to Zhending Mansion to welcome Princess Xingping of the Liao Kingdom, they have given the dowry to the envoys of the Liao Kingdom. I also accepted the dowry from the Liao Kingdom, and according to the plan, I will arrive in Kaifeng around the Mid-Autumn Festival, what I want to ask is, how do the officials plan to confer the title of Princess Xingping of the Liao Kingdom?"

Princess Xingping had a special status, so Zhao Zhen planned to listen to the ministers' suggestions first, and said: "If you have any opinions, please tell me!"

Prime Minister Wang once said: "Officials! Since ancient times, the Central Plains dynasty and the people outside the Great Wall have married princesses. There has never been a princess from outside the Great Wall who married into the Central Plains royal family. Therefore, there is no such case. Although Song and Liao had disputes in the early years, However, since the Tanyuan alliance, the two sides have lived in peace. After the official ascended the throne, he strengthened trade with the Liao Kingdom and disarmed each other on the border. The two countries have a good relationship and the world is peaceful. The court attaches great importance to Princess Xingping, why not confer the title of noble concubine!"

Since ancient times, the affairs of the royal family have been the affairs of the world. Although Zhao Zhen monopolizes the power, the promotion of concubines in the harem cannot be left to him.It is understandable for concubines to conceive and have children to promote their concubine status, but if concubines who have not given birth want to be promoted too quickly, the ministers will have to speak.

In history, because Liu E was childless, the ministers disagreed with life and death to make her queen, and they stuck her in the position of concubine for several years.

Li Di, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, said: "Officials! Although the relationship between Song and Liao is very important, after all, Princess Xingping is not the daughter of Emperor Liao, but a daughter of a clan. If a daughter of a clan enters our Song Dynasty, she will be named a noble concubine. If there is a real princess from the Liao Kingdom who will marry in the future, how should she be conferred? You can't just make her a queen! Moreover, it is unprecedented. Our court is the first marriage policy for a nation outside the Great Wall to marry a princess, and it can be regarded as a precedent in history. , should be a model for future generations, because the old minister thought that being a noble concubine is too much, why not make her a beauty first, and wait for her to spread the branches and leaves for our Great Song Dynasty, and then it is not too late to be promoted!"

Lu Yijian, Minister of the Ministry of Political Affairs and Industry, said: "Officials! The Song and Liao countries have a harmonious relationship, and this time, the Liao Kingdom gave 10 taels of gold, which is far more than the dowry gift given by our dynasty. I think the reason for giving Such a heavy dowry is nothing more than the reason why Princess Xingping was born in the imperial family, so she gave more dowry to show that she valued it. Since the Liao Kingdom attaches great importance to this marriage, I believe that the court should wait for it, and I hope the officials think twice!"

Zhao Zhen thought about it for a while before he said: "According to the palace rules and regulations, concubines in the harem regard having princes and daughters as an important promotion path, so I think that since Princess Xingping of the Liao Kingdom has entered my harem, she should follow the rules of our Song Dynasty. However, considering the friendly diplomatic relationship between Song and Liao, I decided to confer the title of Princess Xingping of Liao Kingdom as Zhaoyi, and it will not be too late for her to be enfeoffed by the Jin Dynasty when she comes out in the future! You think how?"

Lu Zongdao said: "Zhaoyi's position is neither high nor low. It not only follows the rules and etiquette of our court, but also shows the importance attached to this marriage. The officials are wise!"

"The officials are wise!"

Seeing this, all the ministers shouted one after another.

Lu Yi briefly said: "Officials! The concrete road from Kaifeng to Luoyang has been built. The Ministry of Industry was ordered by the official to survey the terrain. On time, two cement roads were built from Luoyang to the north and west at the same time. The manpower, material and financial resources needed, dare to ask when the officials will start construction?"

"Building two at the same time, will the treasury be tight?"

Zhao Zhen said.

Yan Shu, Minister of the Household Department, said: "Go back to the official house! The remaining money of the Household Department can support the construction of two cement roads at the same time!"

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen said: "Since this is the case, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs will implement it as soon as possible, and finally within the next ten years, all the original official roads of the Song Dynasty will be replaced with cement roads!"

"I'm waiting for orders!"

The two hurriedly prayed in unison.

After the two men retreated, Han Yi, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, reported again: "Guan family! Previously, Si Tianjian anchor Miao Shunchen and others reported that Saturn was staying in the Shenxing area, and Taibai Venus appeared day and night, and disasters were bound to happen. Guan family Previously, the imperial edict ordered the Japanese officials to review the results together. The Japanese officials replied: Saturn stayed in the Shenxing sky area, and was safe and peaceful without interfering with each other. Taibai Venus appeared during the day and the sun had not passed noon. Therefore, Miao Shunchen and others were falsely talking about disasters and dared to ask the officials. How should the family be punished!"

Cao Xiu, a Hanlin scholar, said in ancient times: "Officials! The words of the Japanese officials are in line with the holy will and please the officials. They are not worth listening to. Nowadays, Miao Shunchen and others are all speaking out. All court officials fear, avoid, and only seek to flatter and curry favor to win tolerance, and turn disasters into auspicious omens, pointing deer into horses, isn't it making the government into a dilemma!"

Due to the lack of advanced science and technology, the ancient people had the appearance of Taibaijin in the daytime, solar eclipses, lunar eclipses and other natural phenomena, which would turn into theories of disasters and even cause panic. The court's practice is often to offer sacrifices to the heavens and pray for blessings. The emperor issued an imperial edict, regardless of whether it is useful or not, do it first and then talk about it.

Xie Jiang, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, said: "Officials! Last year Kaifeng flooded, destroying people's houses and overflowing rivers and canals. This year, there was a severe drought on Shaanxi Road, and the crops in the fields withered. Relief from work to solve the famine, but it is undeniable that this is a disaster from heaven. In addition to taking measures to solve the problem, the government should also change political education, promulgate imperial edicts condemning itself, revise laws that conform to the weather, and relegate favored people to those close to them. However, the government orders that the Holy Majesty is implementing now are not suitable for Tianxin, so how can it be possible if the weather is smooth?"

What Zhao Zhen hates the most is adding natural disasters to the monarch. Hearing Xie Jiang's words, he couldn't help being a little angry, and said: "Then according to the words of Bachelor Xie, what should I do to be in line with the way of heaven?" ?”

Xie Jiang was originally a doctor of Taichang and an editor of the Academy of National History. He was promoted to a scholar of Hanlin under the recommendation of Prime Minister Wang Zeng.

Since the establishment of the Overwatch Council, the censors of the court were not in the court to speak out, but were sent to various places to inspect local officials. Therefore, there were more pragmatic ministers in the court, and a lot less nonsense ministers. Unexpectedly, they appeared again today. got one.

Seeing this, Xie Jiang said again: "In the past, when solar eclipses, floods and droughts occurred in the Han Dynasty, the Sangongs were often dismissed as a warning. In addition, the ancient emperors would reduce their meals if the grains were not harvested, and they would change to plain clothes when natural disasters came repeatedly. The old officials hope that the officials will reduce their meals, relegate their favorite ministers, stop projects that are not urgently needed, and move the heavens with sincerity, so that the disaster can be eliminated."

(End of this chapter)