Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

Because it was Wang Dan's instructions when he was rarely sober, as soon as Lu Cifu stepped into the prime minister's mansion, he was surrounded by his servants and entered the backyard, and arrived at the door of the bedroom where the seriously ill Wang Xiang lay.

Lu Ci took a deep breath, pushed the door open with his own hands and entered.

Wang Dan was a little thinner than when he went to Zhongshu Province a few days ago, almost only the skeleton remained in his whole body, and he was lying on the bed weakly at this time.

Only the eyes were piercing, as bright as in Lu Ci's memory.

He was talking warmly to the servant who was feeding him ginseng, when the door was pushed open suddenly, and the bright sunlight came in, which made his eyes, who had been living in the dark bedroom, very uncomfortable for a moment, so he couldn't help squinting, then Looked over slowly.

"Prince Wang."

Lu Ci walked in unhurriedly, and bowed to Wang Xiang sincerely.

Wang Dan was obviously extremely weak. After hearing Lu Ci's voice, he was still groggy. It took him a long time to digest the words, and he also recognized Lu Ci. He couldn't help but smiled slightly: "I'm finally back."

Lu Ci smiled, just like when he was summoned for the first time: "The king has summoned me, and I will definitely return."

Wang Dan smiled, and just about to speak, he was interrupted by a series of intense coughing, and he calmed down after a long time, joking intermittently: "I see you are flourishing in Fenzhou, I'm afraid you don't want to leave .”

Lu Ci blinked, did not deny it, but smiled very lightly.

Since he entered the door, he discovered that the room didn't smell much of medicine, but the unique fragrance of ginseng soup lingered.

Because of this, the last trace of luck in his heart was also shattered.

If you still boil medicine and drink medicine, even if there is little hope, it symbolizes a first-line turning point; now you only cook ginseng soup, even the emperor who is the most unwilling about it will acquiesce that there is no cure, and only try to make the patient's last life Take a longer breath before swallowing.

Lu Ci felt infinitely sad in his heart, but he held back on his face, his brows and eyes were lightly drawn, and he didn't look too sad.

This is almost a cold-blooded and ruthless reaction in the eyes of others, but after being seen by Wang Dan, he is even more satisfied.

He would rather endure this unspeakable pain than cling to the purpose of holding on to his breath, not to hear people cry for him.

Instead, he passed away in a hurry. There were too many things he was worried about. Only by doing his best to make up for one or two, can he talk about peace.

Wang Dan's eyes were filled with regret.

——Why didn't God give him a little more time!

"You, sit down."

After Wang Dan struggled to squeeze out such a sentence, he half-closed his eyes, breathed rapidly, and tried his best to recover some vitality.

Lu Ci sat down on the wooden chair beside the bed according to his words, leaned forward, stared carefully at the paper-like pale aging face, and gently held the paper-like old face, which was as dry as wood, only bony Thin hands.

He believed that no matter how hard-hearted a person is, after witnessing the scene in front of him, it is impossible not to be shocked by it.

People with a strong will to survive abound, but it is the common people, not blood relatives, who can support Wang Dan to this point.

In this way, there are very few people who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

Lu Ci's heart was unprecedentedly peaceful, and he said seriously: "Please give orders, Prime Minister Wang."

In order to save the strength to speak, Wang Dan simply didn't open his eyes, and said softly in a barely audible voice: "If Wang Qin can't come back, there is still Ding Wei."

No matter how much promotion there is, it will be vulnerable before the conflict of interests continues.

In particular, Kou Zhun has always disdained hypocrisy and submissiveness, and made enemies everywhere. It is impossible for Ding Wei to make friends with him.

However, the national strength of the Song Dynasty could not stand the toss.

Lu Ci said calmly, "I understand."

Wang Dan hooked the corners of his lips silently, and continued to speak out word by word slowly: "Kou Zhun...is not his opponent."

Lu Ci also understood this point.

He was silent for a moment, but asked in a low voice: "Will Wang Xiang ask me to help him, or let me replace him?"

To help, naturally form a party with Kou Zhun to clear the way for him.

Instead, it is to keep a low profile, not to participate in the struggle of cronies, and to catch everything at the critical moment.

This question is an understatement, but the real meaning is obvious.

If it were the usual Lu Ci, no matter what, he would never ask.

If it were the usual Wang Dan, it would be absolutely impossible for him to accept this unmistakable ambition.

But when Zaifu was about to die and the court was about to be shaken by wind and rain, Wang Dan couldn't help being stunned when he heard this bold question.

He unexpectedly looked at Lu Ci with a calm face, with obvious surprise in his eyes.

The strangest thing was that after hearing these words, the boulder in his heart that had been hanging in the air for a long time fell unexpectedly for the first time.

——Even if it’s just one, it’s rare and precious.

Wang Dan smiled from the bottom of his heart.

Even though he coughed continuously, he still uttered words clearly; just as he was running out of fuel, his heart was still like a mirror: "If you don't ask, you will help; if you ask, you will take the place."

He naturally understands that people who don't ask often will choose to replace without hesitation; only those who ask will really choose to help.

Kou Zhun is no longer the high-spirited and heroic Kou Laoxi of the past: Years of setbacks have tormented some of his vigor and sharpness, and also blinded the will of the prime minister due to his obsession with power.

To recommend him to His Majesty is no one with the same prestige and qualifications, but Wang Dan really can no longer trust him.

Even if he reluctantly helped Kou Zhun and allowed him to completely overwhelm Ding Wei, the gains would be mixed, and it might even cause future troubles.

It's better to take a gamble and trust Lu Ci in front of him.

Without batting an eye or saying a word of nonsense, Lu Ci responded directly: "Since the king entrusted me, I will do my best."

Wang Dan breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "I thought, Your Majesty, and I, have overestimated you enough...I just realized...not, not enough."

It's a pity, a pity...

It's a pity that he has been too careless for so long, and he only discovered it before he died.

It's a pity that we can't take care of it for a few more years.

Lu Ci sighed, pretending to be helpless, and said, "I just hope that when the king arrives, don't blame me for only talking big."

A sly light that Lu Ci was familiar with flashed across Wang Dan's eyes, and he cunningly avoided the words without replying, but continued to babble: "East Palace...you should also watch more."

Lu Ci would never remind the other party that he was nothing more than an insignificant Zuo Yude's big truth. To Wang Dan's 'making progress', he just nodded straightforwardly: "I will do my best."

Anyway, if it really doesn't work, there are Yan Shu, Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu and other famous national scholars who have been passed down through the ages.

Wang Dan stared at him with satisfaction for a while, then suddenly said, "You can go."

Lu Ci had a vague premonition, so he was not unhappy with this almost abrupt and rude request, and just stood up quickly.

The strength of holding Wang Dan's hand, but before finally letting go, it tightened slightly.

Wang Dan opened his eyes with difficulty, and stared at Lu Ci with his usual gentleness.

"Prince Wang."

Knowing that this was probably the last farewell, Lu Ci closed his eyes and finally couldn't hold it back. He leaned over to Wang Dan's ear and said very clearly: "On behalf of the people of the Great Song Dynasty, thank you for your dedication to suppress evil with righteousness... And the matter of the heavenly scriptures is none of your fault."

Wang Dan listened, and unconsciously closed his eyes again, breathing weakly and gently, as if he had no reaction to it.

But Lu Ci knew that he had listened.

The remaining thousands of thoughts in my heart, after wandering for a long time, all turned into a light pat on the back of Wang Dan's hand.

Turning around again means really leaving.

In fact, even he himself didn't know why he insisted on adding such a sentence.

Perhaps, I just want to stand up for myself at this time. The dynasty that was once glorious in history but ended in tragedy once had a courtier with perfect virtue like Wang Dan, who wanted to turn the tide at the risk of his life...

In the end, he witnessed the death of the other party with his own eyes, and felt melancholy.

It really counts that he and Wang Dan actually met each other, but this is actually the second time, so there is not much understanding at all.

However, Lu Ci inexplicably felt that, apart from the never-ending state affairs, the most regretful thing that could make this venerable and perfect prime minister brood, I am afraid, is the unstoppable farce of the heavenly book. .

After Lu Ci left, it took a full cup of tea, and Wang Dan, who seemed to be asleep, opened his slightly red eyes.

His voice was hoarse, so he ordered his servants to call all his family members to explain the funeral.

There is only one requirement: keep it simple, keep it simple, keep it simple.

——The matter has come to this point, even if you don't feel relieved, you can only let go.

At three o'clock on the tenth day of the ninth lunar month in the first year of Tianxi, Wang Dan passed away.

Emperor Zhao Heng was mourning at the funeral, and bestowed Wang Dan with the title of Taishi, Shangshuling, and Duke of Wei, posthumously titled Wenzheng.

In addition, for the sake of stopping the court for three days, the imperial edict ordered that there should be no joy in the capital for ten days, and even Wang Dan's blood relatives were severely canonized.

Because Wang Dan had been coveting the position of prime minister for a long time, the courtiers who were ready to move at this moment, seeing the emperor was so sad, had no choice but to curb the greed on their faces, and one by one pretended to come to the door to express their condolences.

Kou Zhun, who was supposed to be the happiest, was also in a complicated mood, and unexpectedly went there the day before.

After going there, he rode on a tall horse and looked at the people who were crying after learning that Wang Xiang had died along the way, and he was inevitably infected with a bit of sadness.

Even a few days later, when he was reluctantly appointed as the prime minister by the listless emperor, he was not at all proud of his long-cherished wish being fulfilled.

——To be honest, Wang Dan is only four years older than him.

The author has something to say: Notes:

Between Kou Zhun and Ding Wei, apart from the beard wiping incident I mentioned earlier, there is another grievance.

When Kou Zhun was demoted to Shaanxi to guard the gates of the country, singing and dancing and banquets continued as usual. One day, the banquet was held outdoors.At that time, the autumn water was the same color as the sky, and the sunset and the crows flew together.Then Kou Zhun sighed suddenly: "Hey, everyone, please look at that group of crows. If Ding Wei was here, he would definitely say that it was a group of...'Xuanhe'."

To tell the truth, Ding said that all these years, he has been promoted step by step, relying on constant auspicious auspiciousness, and then trying his best to build a palace for the emperor.

("If This Is Song History 2")