Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

Lu Ci was working in the Eastern Palace, and his news channels were limited. He still didn't know the seriousness of the series of chain consequences caused by Kou Zhun's incisive and incisive criticism of the emperor.

Compared with Yan Shu, Kou Zhun and others who reacted fiercely and regarded Empress Wu's coming to power as a great shame, Lu Ci not only did not feel bad for that strange woman Liu E, but even admired him somewhat.

In all fairness, even Liu E's background, which is despised by many people, cannot be described with the word "humble" - as far as Lu Ci heard, Liu E's grandfather was an official from the Later Han Dynasty to the General of the Right Xiaowei, His father, Liu Tong, served as the commander of Hujiedu during Song Taizu's time, but he died early in the battle, which led to the downfall of the Liu family.

Orphaned and widowed, life is inevitably difficult, but Liu E's mother never neglected her daughter's education because of this.

It made Liu E not only outstanding in appearance, but also knowledgeable and reasonable, which made Zhao Heng, the king of Xiang at that time, fall in love with him at first sight, to the point of being "thin and barren".

At this time, Zhao Heng irresponsibly dismissed the memorial, and Liu E quietly reviewed the memorial, but it was too 'normal' to be seen by others, which is not ironic.

Seeing that Yan Shu was almost nervous, Lu Ci smiled helplessly.

If this is not a huge country, but just a company, and employees can choose their own bosses, Lu Ci would be more willing to choose Liu E, who is ambitious, but Zhao Heng, who has good times and bad times, and an unstable mental state. I also know how to lead step by step and step by step.

Of course, Lu Ci is more optimistic about Zhao Zhen's future performance - there is nothing more satisfying than a boss trained by himself.

But letting Liu E hold power, even if it is actually more conducive to the stability of the Song Dynasty, is contrary to the secular concept, which makes the ministers extremely conflicted, and the people are not necessarily happy to see the results.

Moreover, even if Zhao Zhen didn't know it, there was indeed no blood relationship between him and Liu E: once Liu E gained a firm foothold, became interested in power, or intended to become emperor , then could she still be happy to see the growing Zhao Zhen come to take the throne?

Or, trying to give birth to his own offspring?

If this happens, one can imagine how much bloodshed there will be.

As the prince Zuo Yude, Lu Ci was destined to grow up with the East Palace, and Liu E's political stance with this thought became very delicate.

——It is not obvious at the moment, but it is destined to be a hostile relationship in the future.

Lu Ci's thoughts turned, and after reaching a conclusion, he couldn't help but sighed softly.

Although it was a pity, compared to the infinite risks brought by Liu E's choice, it would be better to wait for Zhao Heng to persist for a few more years, allow Zhao Zhen to learn and grow up, and succeed to the throne naturally and smoothly.

In this way, he also reached agreement with the ideas that his friends who received Confucian education would have.

"Uncle Tong," Lu Ci euphemistically reminded, "If you want to start with His Majesty, it may be in vain."

Yan Shu was not surprised at all that Lu Ci saw through his thoughts, and only frowned: "Why?"

Lu Ci calmly asked back: "At the beginning, Taizong separated the two of them for ten years, and it was difficult to achieve this goal. Why do you think you can achieve it?"

Yan Shu was silent.

In fact, he did not fully believe Lu Ci's advice.

At this time and at that time, it was decades ago: back then Liu E was still a beauty with a "glorious look and a bright smile", coupled with her dexterous mind, she won Zhao Heng's endless favor.

But now, no matter how well maintained she is, Liu E can't escape her old age, and the official family can easily have countless beauties.

If it is true that love is so deep, how did the many beauties and concubines in the palace come about?

Lu Ci saw that Yan Shu was dubious, and he didn't say anything, but accepted it as soon as he saw it, and stopped here.

Yan Shu was so preoccupied that he had no intention of chatting and joking with Lu Ci, so he left soon and went home to concentrate on planning.

On the other hand, Kou Zhun, although he didn't rush into the palace impulsively, and gave a "faithful advice" to the utterly confused emperor to reprimand him, but the thunderous anger was always suppressed in his heart.

There is actually one person who sees all this in his eyes and is anxious in his heart.

——Zhou Huaizheng.

Zhou Huaizheng was the deputy capital of the emperor, and he was the head of the courtiers around the emperor. He had always been on good terms with Kou Zhun, and he did not hesitate to expel Wang Qinruo.

Now that Wang Qinruo seems to be returning, not only Kou Zhun is furious, but he is also terrified.

In addition, Queen Liu has always been hostile to him, and now that Zhao Heng has become more lazy and the queen's power is becoming clearer, he can see that he can't sit still earlier than Kou Zhun.

Just when Zhou Huaizheng, who was feeling threatened, began to plot secretly and was about to conspire with Kou Zhun, Yan Shu finally listened to Lu Ci's advice, and stayed put for the past few days.

After the morning break, a group of important officials headed by Kou Zhun asked to see Zhao Heng as usual, and reported the progress of some important government affairs.

Zhao Heng's eyes were empty, obviously wandering away, and he only answered a few words perfunctorily from time to time.

If it was normal, Kou Zhun would turn a blind eye and continue to do what he should do.

But when he remembered that he had failed to achieve what he wanted, and the officials kept making trouble, and even wanted to recall Wang Qinruo to the capital, just to suppress his behavior, he suddenly got angry and asked in a deep voice: "Is the official really serious?" Do you think this is appropriate?"

Only then did Zhao Heng come back to his senses, and looked at him indifferently: "I said yes or no, isn't Mr. Kou also able to make it sure? If that's the case, then it's all right."

When Kou Zhun questioned, he wanted to arouse the shame of the officials, but he never dreamed that the emperor would speak so bluntly, almost pointing at the prime minister's nose, and satirizing him in front of a group of important officials. His power overlords the Lord.

Even though Kou Zhun had the guts to suppress the officials, he also had the guts to put Zhao Heng on the throne and not allow him to leave the army and escape, but at this moment, facing Zhao Heng's condescending contempt, he felt in his heart at this moment , but only disheartened.

Bathed in the different gazes of other ministers, Kou Zhun's face was flushed red, and the beard on his lips trembled, but in the end he didn't say anything, only said "don't dare" and looked deeply at Zhao Heng. After bowing, he asked himself to step back.

Zhao Heng, who had thought that he would be furious on the spot, was a little taken aback by his act of giving up the fight simply and neatly.

Zhao Heng looked around the group of officials, more or less seeing a bit of sadness in their eyes, and his face suddenly became uncomfortable.

He secretly scolded Kou Zhun for playing cards unreasonably, but he said: "What else, let's talk."

The stagnant air began to flow slowly, but after the sudden outburst just now and Kou Zhun's inexplicable retreat, everyone, including Zhao Heng, was a little absent-minded and didn't want to listen at all.

After the report was finally finished, when the ministers began to resign, Zhao Heng, who had been immersed in his own world, let out an unpleasant "hum" and said something nonsensical: "Last night, everyone below the queen went to Liu I went there, leaving me alone in the palace."

This is like a child's play, but full of complaints, everyone is shocked.

The line of ministers who were slowly withdrawing was even more startled and stagnated immediately.

Is this Zhao Heng's nonsense for a while, or is he feeling unhappy from the bottom of his heart?

Yan Shu realized that this might be his long-awaited opportunity to leave the empress.

It's just that he was cautious by nature, and he remembered Lu Ci's persuasion in time, so the words were almost on his lips, but he couldn't say them.

—Wait a little longer.

Yan Shu thought.

One step ahead of him was Li Di, who was also deeply disturbed by Liu Shengren's desire to seize power and successfully persuaded the emperor.

After hearing this arrangement, he did not hesitate to regard this as an opportunity to "take the world as his own responsibility", stepped forward, and responded loudly: "If so, why not rule it by law?"

There was a sudden silence in the hall.

Zhao Heng was stunned for a moment before waking up like a dream. He understood what Li Di said, and waved his hand embarrassingly: "You're joking. Don't take it seriously."

Now everyone came back to it.

The casual complaint just now was obviously not true.

After such a clear denial, it can be seen that the emperor not only has no dissatisfaction with the empress who is in power, but is even full of love.

After realizing this, the ministers couldn't help but feel a sinking heart, and when they looked at Li Di with a snow-white face, they were full of sympathy.

The moment Li Di heard Zhao Heng's denial, he felt a basin of cold water pouring down his head.

I'm afraid it will be bad.

To make matters worse, when the ministers participating in politics left the hall, Yan Shu suddenly felt something and looked back.

Seeing a brightly colored skirt swaying behind the screen, she walked slowly into the hall.

A drop of cold sweat quietly slipped from Yan Shu's forehead, which was as heavy as water.

At this moment, except for one woman who can easily enter and leave the palace where His Majesty is, and who is dressed so gorgeously, she doesn't think about it at all.

——Liu E.

Yan Shu knew that he escaped the catastrophe because of a mistake in his mind.

He immediately thought of the friend who gave this advice, and after spending the day with a confused mind for the first time, he couldn't wait to talk to Lu Ci.

It's just that when he rode to Lu Ci's house on horseback, he missed it unexpectedly.

Yan Shu was very surprised, and asked the healthy servant guarding the gate, "When is this? Has your master not come back yet?"

Because he is a frequent visitor to the house and has a good relationship with the master of the land, and he has not received any other orders from the master of the land. Therefore, the servant did not hesitate to answer his question: "I have already answered it, but I have time to change it in the future." Clothes, he got on his horse and left again."

Yan Shu frowned: "Where did he go?"

The healthy servant shook his head: "Master Lang never explained."

Yan Shu was disappointed in every way, but returned home in defeat.

——Little did he know that Lu Ci, who he wanted to see so much, had already ridden alone at the gate of Kou Zhun's prime minister's mansion.

The author has something to say: Notes:

1. Regarding this complaint, it is real.

(After the locust plague) Zhenzong Zhao Heng probably suffered from a mental illness.It is said in history that "long time without hesitation, language or confusion", and often amnesia.

One day, he actually said bad things about Empress Liu in front of the minister: "Last night, all the empress and her descendants went to Mrs. Liu, leaving me alone in the palace! Hmph!"

This meant that Empress Liu was about to have something to do. As soon as she greeted her, all the women in the palace passed by, leaving the emperor alone to guard the big empty house, lonely.That's a pitiful thing to say.However, it is said in history that "everyone should not speak falsely and falsely." All the ministers knew that the emperor was dizzy and mentally disturbed for a while. This must not be the case, so no one responded to him.

But Li Di was feeling uneasy about Empress Liu's "taking power".Zhenzong is seriously ill, and many military and political punishments have to be decided by the central palace. Although there are ministers guarding him, there have been more and more discussions inside and outside the court recently.The history of "beauties intervening in politics" and "confusing the court" made the new prime minister worry.

Li Di probably has the responsibility of "Qutu Migration".The logic of his guess is not difficult to deduce: Zhenzong is seriously ill and will die sooner or later, and the prince is young, Empress Liu will inevitably "listen to politics behind the curtain".At that time, if this woman named Liu E became ambitious and proclaimed herself emperor, how great would it be?Li Di's prediction is not without reason.If the hidden dangers cannot be eliminated before they happen, this Empress Liu of the Song Dynasty named Liu E will be the third in history with the Empress Lu of the Han Dynasty named Lu Pheasant and Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty named Wu Zhao. The most authoritative and powerful female stream.History Jian here, have to worry.So, when he heard the emperor suddenly making up the queen's story, Li Di had the courage to "take the world as his own responsibility" and rashly responded:

"If so, why not rule it by law?"

What Li Di meant was to depose the queen and set up another person.

Zhenzong looked at Li Di in confusion, and after a while, he seemed to wake up, and answered him:

"It's nothing." There is no such thing.

Empress Liu happened to be behind the screen in the main hall at this time, and when she heard Li Di's words, the little anger of the woman's family burst out.From then on, she hated Li Di.In the later days, Li Di failed to stay in Zhongshu for a long time, not only because of Ding's so-called "matchmaker", but also because of Empress Liu's intentions.

2. Liu E's life experience (Of course, some books say that her background is actually very humble, because Zhao Heng tried every means to give her money because he loved her so much, and built a prominent family): the following is just a family story, don't believe it all oh.

——Liu E, born in Taiyuan, in 968 A.D., on the eighth day of the first month of the first year of Kaibao, and Zhao Heng was born on the second day of December in the first year of Kaibao.Counting it, Liu E is almost one year older than Zhao Heng.

Liu E's grandfather, Liu Yanqing, served as General Youxiaowei in the Later Jin and Later Han Dynasties, and his father, Liu Tong, served as the commander of Hujiedu during Song Taizu's time.But later, Liu Tong became the governor of Jiazhou (now Leshan, Sichuan) because of his meritorious service, so the young Liu E moved from Taiyuan to Sichuan with his family.Liu Tong died in battle not long after, and had no children, and his family fell from prosperity to poverty.Mother Pang Zi took her daughter to live in her natal family.Under the education of her mother, Liu E was well educated, but she also learned a craft: dialing a door.The so-called "drum drum" is to hold a rattle drum, control the rhythm and shake it from side to side, and the beads hit the leather surface to make a pleasant sound.

After this, there is a history, the record is unknown.It is generally believed that Ponzi betrothed his daughter to Gong Mei, a silversmith; another theory is that Gong Mei is Liu E's cousin or relative.I am more inclined to the latter statement.Liu E and Gong Mei do not necessarily have an affair.What happened later was that Gong Mei took Liu E from Bashu to Bianliang, the capital, and continued to forge silver as a career.At this time, Zhao Heng had just been conferred the title of King Xiang and was working as Kaifeng Yin. Gong Mei was able to meet Zhao Heng because of making silverware.The young Zhao Heng heard that the women in Sichuan were excellent, so he said to Gong Mei: "Shu women are so talented, please ask for a Shu concubine for me." Gong Mei then introduced Liu E to Zhao Heng.

When Liu E first entered Prince Xiang's Mansion, both of them were 20 years old (one said 15 years old), and it was the season of love. In Chinese, "like glue like paint" refers to the degree of "stickiness" between a man and a woman, and it is just right for them at this time.The record even said that Zhao Heng was "thin and barren" because he was with Liu E every day.Taizong saw this sign, so he asked the wet nurse: "The prince has seen such a scene recently, who is around?"Taizong ordered Liu E to leave Zhao Heng.Zhao Heng had no choice but to hide Liu E in the house of Zhang Qi, the servant of the palace.

More than ten years later, Taizong Yanjia and Zhao Hengjian Zuo immediately introduced Liu E into the palace.

Liu E's cousin (more books say her husband) Gong Mei, who was given the surname Liu, was called Liu Mei in history, and became Liu E's official elder brother, inheriting the incense of the Liu family.Liu Mei lived and worked abroad. Except for the case of "snatching people's salt wells" in her family, she saw no good, evil, beauty or ugliness. She lived a peaceful life without merit or demerit. ("Song Empire 300 Years 7 Zhenzong Zhao Heng")

3. The plot of Zhou Huaizheng and Kou Zhun will be mentioned later in the chapter.I won't go into details here.