Promotion and fortune in Song Dynasty

After finishing the meal in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Lu Ci's greatest feeling was that Wang Xiang was really a real person, without any lies.

In the selection of ingredients, it is undoubtedly ordinary that can be seen everywhere.But with the cook's superb skills alone, Lu Ci, who has a picky tongue, is still satisfied.

Recently, there are a lot of things to worry about, and because of getting older, Wang Dan's appetite is not very good. Often, only a bowl of rice porridge and two small dishes of vegetarian dishes are enough.

When he asked the cook to prepare the meal, he naturally didn't forget to take Lu Ci's age and preferences into consideration, so he specially made one more vegetarian, two meat and one soup, and also prepared an extra dessert.

Originally, I thought there would be some left over, but when I watched Lu Ci move gracefully, but incomparably efficiently wiped out the dishes on the plate one by one...

Wang Dan was calm on the face, but in his heart he was surprised to think that although he had expected something, it was still not enough.

He calmly winked at the servant who was standing beside him, and the other party quickly understood, and hurried down to tell the cook to prepare a few more dishes.

Just when Lu Ci was about to touch the small and exquisite snack, the three new dishes that the cook hurriedly made were finally delivered.

Lu Ci politely invited Wang Dan to use his chopsticks, but after he had to decline, he quickly gave up the dessert and turned to the main course.

Wang Dan looked at him with a slight smile, but just looking at him, he was also aroused by long-lost gluttons, so he couldn't help adding an extra bowl of porridge with his own hands, and slowly swallowed down the meat dishes.

When the two of them had enough food and tea, they put down the chopsticks contentedly, and Wang Dan suddenly realized that he had unknowingly eaten and his belly was swollen.

While sighing in his heart, he stood up and invited, "Would you like to go for a walk in the courtyard with me, just to digest food?"

Lu Ci knew that the topic was coming, so he also got up without hesitation, and happily went with him.

As the prime minister, Wang Dan lived in the most spacious and comfortable official house among the eight, and it was also Yan Shu's dream.

There are not only rockery pavilions in the courtyard, but also a quiet bamboo garden surrounding the pool.

Wang Dan led Lu Ci into the path, and after sitting in the gazebo, he withdrew the people, leaving only the two of them in the pavilion.

Lu Ci helped Wang Dan to sit down. After Wang Dan breathed a long sigh of relief, he called him to sit beside him, and said with a smile, "In your opinion, what about Kou Mishi?"

Although his tone is casual, but for a person who has just entered the official career, even if he has been promoted repeatedly, he is currently only evaluating the dignified privy envoy from the rank of the sixth grade official. Hesitant again and again.

In particular, although Kou Zhun hadn't had much face-to-face contact with Lu Ci, and he had little contact with him in private, his public support for Lu Ci, or his frequent praise, was well known even if it made everyone criticize him.

If Lu Ci wanted to evaluate the other party fairly, he had to include the shortcomings, and he might be suspected of being unkind; if he ignorantly praised the other party's advantages, he would be flattering, dishonest, and concealed.

Lu Ci only smiled slightly when faced with this question that seemed to contain countless traps, and said humorously: "The talent and temperament of Kou Secret Envoy are rare in the world."

Wang Dan didn't expect that Lu Ci would answer in this way, he was stunned for a while, and then he came back to his senses and burst out laughing.

While laughing, he couldn't stop nodding in agreement: "That's a good statement, isn't Mr. Kou Xier just because he has great skills and a bad temper?"

It was not suitable for Lu Ci to answer these words, so he only kept smiling, but did not speak.

When Wang Dan got over his laughter, he asked again: "Although you have been serving in the pavilion before, you are not ignorant of the situation in the court, right?"

Lu Ciqian said: "I have heard a little bit about important events in the court."

Wang Dan said: "How much do you know about what Zhong Fang did?"

Lu Ci said without any hesitation: "Picking fame, flattering superiors and bullying inferiors, you can do all sorts of evil."

"That's right." Wang Dan smiled: "Although the fire was a man-made disaster, it spread so quickly, it can also be said to be a natural disaster. When His Majesty issued an edict to sin against himself, he also vaguely regretted the matter of building the palace, which made the court officials I also have some reflections..."

After all, natural disasters are a warning from the heavens. The officials have recently ordered the construction of palaces and temples, and the vigorous consecration of Zen and auspiciousness.

Speaking of this, Wang Dan changed the subject, frowned slightly, showing an unconcealable disgust: "However, the villain is contemptuous and good at slander, and I will not be willing to let this evil trend dissipate. death, rebirth right and wrong."

If it is said that Kou Zhun, who has a small virtue, but has no hindrance to his great talent, and the gentle and elegant Wang Dan have always been tolerant, they are extremely disgusted with these despicable villains who instigate His Majesty to "leave shame on future generations".

Lu Ci'an listened quietly, without interrupting or asking questions.

"And Privy Councilor Kou is used to being fierce and paranoid," Wang Dan said helplessly, "The two sides are confronting each other now, but conflict will break out sooner or later."

Lu Ci was thoughtful.

Why is it just a confrontation now?

Of course, he is afraid of Wang Dan, who has devoted himself to peacekeeping, sat in court for many years, and is deeply trusted by officials.

Of course Lu Ci also knew that Kou Zhun had held a grudge against the gang led by Wang Qinruo for a long time, and now that there was an opportunity to take advantage of him, he would never let it go.

However, Kou Zhun hated them so deeply, not because the northern officials felt contemptuous and superior to the southern officials, nor because Wang Dan resented them for instigating the emperor to make gods. The main reason was his previous years. The reason for being dismissed from office lies with Wang Qinruo.

At present, the officials are not so enthusiastic about making gods and auspicious things, which makes it difficult for Wang Qinruo and others to make further progress.

In addition, the sudden passing of the core species that was fueling the flames as an expert outside the world, further proves that whether it is cultivating immortals or playing gods, it is impossible to make fakes come true and live forever.

Officials who know their own details best are also lacking in confidence.

After Wang Dan said this, he stopped quietly and looked at Lu Ci gently.

Lu Ci sighed softly: "However, the two sides are evenly matched. If we really fight, it will be difficult to tell the winner for a while, but in the end, most of them will lose."

Wang Dan nodded: "Not bad."

If Wang Dan was willing to intervene and stand completely on Kou Zhun's side, the advantage would be overwhelming.

But Wang Dan has known Kou Zhun for many years, and he knows that after this period of ups and downs, the other party's temper has not been tempered, and even worsened, and he gradually developed a desire for quick success.

It is difficult to say whether it is good or bad for a person with talent but no ministerial status to take up a confidential post again.

Wang Dan has been supporting the overall situation for many years, but he also feels powerless, and he can't hide his sadness: "They failed, and there is still time to recover. But the people of the Great Song Dynasty, they can't stand the test of heaven."

The peaceful period brought by the Chanyuan Alliance was originally a good time to recuperate, but the years-long construction of palaces, Mount Tai's enshrining of Zen, rewarding officials, and greatly increasing monkhood...

Not only did it fail to increase the national strength, but even lost a lot of wealth left by the previous two dynasties due to the increasing burden.

Lu Ci savored Wang Dan's words over and over for a long time, and combined with the situation in the court...

Even though he knew little about the historical process, after being silent for a long time, he still fully understood the true intention of the other party that had not been announced.

"If you are rash, please forgive me." He cut to the chase and said, "I don't know where Wang Xiang wants me to be an official?"

He skipped all the process and went straight to the result, which made Wang Dan surprised again, and at the same time couldn't help laughing in relief.

"I thought Kou Xi'er was getting more and more confused," he said with emotion, "but when it comes to you, he must have read it right."

Lu Ci laughed and said: "The king's reputation is too high, and I dare not be the king."

If Kou Zhun wants to fight against Wang Qinruo and others, he must feel that his power is weak, and he probably wants to strengthen his own cronies.

In this way, Lu Ci, who has always been highly expected by him, will inevitably be tried to win him in and get involved in the chaos.

Wang Dan did not want to see this scene.

He also had great expectations for Lu Ci, and he knew that once he entered the muddy water with unknown results and faced with the chaos of mad dogs biting him, the first to fall would be the weaker official and the sooner the target. Lu Ci.

Once there are some flaws in the resume, it will be difficult to keep the job of the prince's sacrifice, even if the prince is established in the future.

Wang Dan knew that his health was not good, and he didn't know how long he could maintain the overall situation. He just wanted to keep the new force he was optimistic about as much as possible.

The best and only way is to make arrangements as soon as possible before Kou Zhun thinks of this and wins over Lu Ci, so that Lu Ci will leave the imperial court who does not know when a big change will happen.

Otherwise, Lu Ci has a lot of kindness towards Kou Zhun. If he wants to turn down this request, even if he is firm, he will inevitably be criticized by others and Kou Zhun will hate him. There is absolutely no possibility of having both.

If he worked in a remote place, both sides would be out of reach, and Kou Zhun would not have moved his mind at the beginning.

When the dust settles, it will take at least four or five years.

During this period, the East Palace Ding had been established, and it was time for the prince to be surrounded by capable people to assist and teach him. It would be perfectly logical for Lu Ci, who had accumulated good qualifications in the local area, to return.

After making up his mind, Wang Dan immediately asked Lu Ci to come over.

He wanted to test Lu Ci's attitude again, examine the other party's personality, and then decide whether to speak.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ci had guessed his thoughts, and even took the initiative to speak up and brought it up.

Wang Dan smiled, and said frankly: "The crown prince gave up others to be the sixth grade. This is your duty, but because the East Palace has not yet been established, we have made some changes and moved to Zhizhou. Others can't find any faults."

Even though the two are at the same level, they were transferred from Bianjing to the local government. At best, it is to accumulate seniority. At worst, it is clearly a mediocrity, but in fact it is secretly demoted.

In this way, the possibility of being opposed and obstructed will be greatly increased.

On the contrary, Kou Zhun, who has always valued Lu Ci very much, might be furious, and he still bears a grudge against Wang Dan who proposed this idea, thinking that he is uneasy and well-intentioned.

Wang Dan had expected this, but he was still calm-even if he did good deeds in the past, even if he did good deeds, Kou Zhun often held grudges against him, and he was used to it.

As long as you have a clear conscience, you can ignore the other party's unreasonable troubles.

The only thing he was worried about was that Lu Ci would be distracted, and he wanted to comfort him, so he said with all his heart: "Although you are temporarily away from the capital, if it goes well, it will only be a few years. When the crown prince gets older, he will definitely be transferred back. Besides, your age He is still young, and promoted quickly, so it is easy to have Su Song's affairs again, why not take this opportunity to gain more experience, and also know the difficulties of people's livelihood."

He paused, and then added: "When he was an official in the local area, if his grades were outstanding and he could come back without any work, then he would talk about promotion later on, that would be a good fortune."

Moved to the place?

To know the state?

What Wang Dan didn't know was that Lu Ci's eyes lit up as soon as he said those words.

When participating in the tribute examination, what he wanted most was to be transferred to a local county magistrate, and he had good food and drink. Of course, he didn't feel any grievances or pity.

Not only was he left in Beijing, but he was also promoted to an official position by chance. Lu Ciyuan was about to die.

Unexpectedly, in a twist of fate, Dang Dang offered to the Zaizhi, and directly took over the hard work of turning over for him!

Hearing what Wang Dan said, Lu Ci, who had his wish fulfilled, cupped his hands and said sonorously: "Although I am young, I know the truth of never forgetting my original aspirations, and only then can I get what I have always done. Prime Minister Wang considers the destiny of the country in everything, and works for the people." I spare no effort, devote all my energy, and do my best. I can be a model for scholars. Although I have little strength, I am willing to do my best for the country. I just need to trouble the king to help me. I feel very ashamed, and I can only take care of the people wholeheartedly as a reward."

Wang Dan was moved, Lao Huai stroked his beard gratifyingly, nodded his head, and said softly: "Okay."

The author has something to say: Notes:

1. The Zhizhou of the upper state is the Zhengliupin, and the Zhizhou of the middle and lower states is the Congliupin.

2. The prince sacrifices people to be the sixth grade.

3. The ranks of the ministerial officer and rank officer can be different (and most of the cases are also different). If there is a big difference between the two, the word "trial" should be added in front of it, and the salary will also be reduced accordingly.

Lu Ci's rank official is Yuanwailang from the sixth rank.

4. In history, Kou Zhun and the five ghosts fought each other and ended up dying together. If you are interested in details, you can read "Political History of the Song Dynasty".It will also be briefly mentioned later.