The dream of a lonely hero

Zhao Guangyi was demoted to the ninth rank and was no longer a prince. He could not call himself "the lonely prince, the lonely family"; his attendants could no longer call him "Your Highness", but could only call him "Master, Lord".

Zhao Guangyi's staff saw that their master and Chai Yuxi were crazy, and Jia Su was also talking nonsense, and they didn't know what to do. Jia Su smiled and said, "Congratulations! Congratulations! We have met the true master, a master whose will cannot be taken away by a diamond!"

Chai Yuxi said, "Ju Ping's words are very true! Only when the sea is turbulent can we see the means of heroes. When the Taishan collapses in front of us, we can remain calm. There are only a few people in the past and present who can do this except our master."

Everyone was enlightened by him, and they stood up one after another. Zhao Guangyi talked and laughed with his staff about the past and the present. They were impressed by Zhao Guangyi's indomitable spirit and cheered up again. Zhao Guangyi chatted with his staff for a while, and the staff left one after another. Zhao Guangyi was the only one left in the hall, pacing slowly, with the rosary in his hand slowly turning. Since his brother ascended the throne, he had been on a smooth and prosperous career, and then he fought openly and secretly with his brother Zhao Guangmei. He suffered many setbacks and almost lost his life several times. This time, the Xishan military visit was no less than the previous setback. The key point was that he angered his brother, and it would be very difficult for him to make a comeback. After suffering setbacks, he was certainly more resilient than before, but he was not yet as tough as steel. Guo Jin's death made the emperor furious, so he was demoted 30 levels, and if he was demoted again, he would be a commoner without a job or rank, which was really a small official; Wang Renshan attacked Shu, seized beautiful women and jade, robbed the treasury, killed surrendered soldiers, and allowed soldiers to plunder, which led to mutiny and civil unrest in Shu, causing the people of Shu to be resentful and fighting again, but he was only demoted three levels; how could he not be worried and depressed, but he had to play a tough and unyielding image in front of his subordinates. He was demoted to Dingzhou, a ninth-rank Beijia, and had no power and influence far away from the capital. How could his increasingly powerful opponent, Fu Wang Zhao Guangmei, sit idly by and not add insult to injury? This would be an extremely unequal competition, like a duel between a rabbit and a tiger. The future was dangerous, how could he not worry a lot. Who could help him? He thought of his childhood teacher, the current prime minister Zhao Pu. So he changed into casual clothes and took his followers Yan Yun, Yuan Da, and Ma Yan out of the back door of the mansion to the prime minister's residence. He was thinking about something and walked slowly. Yan Yun, Yuan Da, and Ma Yan did not dare to disturb him and followed him from a distance.

Zhao Guangyi walked to Xinsongmen Street unconsciously, thinking: The emperor has already issued the imperial decree, can the prime minister move here even if he wants to? Is he desperate? He looked up to the sky and sighed, "Why did the heaven abandon me!" Suddenly he saw a gatehouse on the street, and in the moonlight he saw the four words "Luguogong Mansion" written on the gate plaque. It reminded him that this was the mansion of Fan Zhi, the prime minister of the previous dynasty and the first prime minister of the founding of the Song Dynasty. He suddenly recalled the past ten years. When his brother ascended the throne, Fan Zhi had reported to him, "Since ancient times, emperors have established their foundations by enfeoffing their sons and daughters as kings to establish a barrier. Once the clans and relatives prosper, the country can be consolidated for a long time. My brother, Zhao Guangyi, the governor of Taining Army, has emerged as a rising star. He is both civil and military. He has been busy with military affairs and worked hard for the royal family. I beg you to issue a title and grant him the title of prince." He also recommended his brother's former shogunate "Eight Wings" Liu Xigu, Zhao Pu, Shen Shunyi, Lu Yuqing, Chu Zhaopu, etc. Soon Fan Zhi was dismissed from his position as prime minister and was given the title of Duke of Lu, a title without power. Fan Zhi had no contact with me before and after, so why did he recommend me as a prince and touched the emperor's face? I owed him a favor. Since I came to his house tonight, why not pay a visit? After thinking about it, I walked to the gate and explained my purpose to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper went into the house to report. After a while, an old man in his seventies came out with a cane, his beard and hair were all white, and he was old and frail. He smiled and said, "I didn't know that Your Highness was coming. I didn't welcome you from afar. Please forgive me!"

Zhao Guangyi bowed and said, "I am so embarrassed to welcome you with such respect! "After exchanging pleasantries, Fan Zhi welcomed him into the back hall of the mansion, and Yan Yun, Yuan Da, and Ma Yin followed him in and stood outside the back hall door.

Fan Zhi and Zhao Guangyi sat down, and the servants of Fan's mansion prepared famous tea, fruits and snacks and left. Fan Zhi said: "Your Highness, you came to my humble home late at night, and you must have something to teach me."

Zhao Guangyi said: "Old Prime Minister, don't call me that. I am neither a prince nor a prince now. I am just a low-ranking official in Dingzhou who has been exiled thousands of miles away. How dare I teach you? I just want to pay my respects to you before leaving Beijing, and wish you good health and longevity!"

Fan Zhi said: "Thank you, sir! What old prime minister? I have been unemployed for many years, and I am just an idler waiting to be buried. ”

“Idle man” made Zhao Guangyi suddenly sober up. An idle prime minister who had experienced the change of dynasties and had seen many hardships would not be disturbed by various forces in his views on the court. He saw it more deeply and accurately than the authorities. Why not ask him for some advice? He changed his words and used the title of Duke of Lu to address Fan Zhi, saying: “Old Duke, a veteran of two dynasties and three generations, a minister relied on by the emperor! I will trouble you to guide me.”

Fan Zhi shook his hand ashamedly and said: “Venerable—shame on me! I can’t be loyal to the previous dynasty—I am a monster that the old temple does not keep and the new temple does not accept. What else can I guide you!”

Zhao Guangyi said: “Old Duke is wrong! He who knows the times is a hero. He has experienced two dynasties to protect the glory of his family. He sits on the fishing boat steadily despite the wind and waves. It shows that the old Duke is not an ordinary person. ” He inadvertently hit the nail on the head.

Fan Zhi said: “I have selfish motives. I became the first prime minister of the new dynasty to protect my Fan family from annihilation. However, the old master Zhou Shizong died young. How could the seven-year-old young master Chai Zongxun complete the great cause of unifying the country? The country will change sooner or later.”

Zhao Guangyi said: “Yes! The fate of the Great Zhou has ended. The wise ministers protect the wise master. The old Duke first saved the people of the world from suffering and secondly, the incense of the Fan family will not be extinguished. It is indeed a wise man’s action. I dare to ask, when the old Duke strongly recommended Xiao Ke to be a prince and touched the emperor’s face, it was out of public interest, right!”

Fan Zhi said: “Both public and private interests.”

Zhao Guangyi said: “Oh! I would like to hear more about it.”

Fan Zhi said: “Privately, I want the descendants of the Fan family to have noble people to take care of them after I die.” ”

Zhao Guangyi said: "The Duke bet on Xiaoke, and Xiaoke disappointed the Duke."

Fan Zhi said: "No, the master has already come."

Zhao Guangyi said: "Xiaoke came too late."

Fan Zhi said: "Not too late, earlier than I expected."

Zhao Guangyi said: "How could the Duke have expected that Xiao Ke would come to ask for advice."

Fan Zhi thought for a while and did not answer him directly, saying: "What happened to the founding emperors and successors of the Sui and Tang dynasties when the imperial power was transferred? You must know that Emperor Yang of Sui and Emperor Taizong of Tang sat on the throne by stepping on the blood of their flesh and blood. Why is that?"

Zhao Guangyi said: "The founding emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties, Emperor Wen of Sui and Emperor Gaozu of Tang, failed to choose a good crown prince."

Fan Zhi said: "I don't think so. If Emperor Wen of Sui had appointed a crown prince who was his successor, Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, , Tang Gaozu established Tang Taizong Li Shimin, they can't sit on the throne without a bloody storm, what's the reason? "

Zhao Guangyi said: "I would like to hear the Duke's opinion."

Fan Zhi said: "Generally speaking, the first two generations of the throne at the beginning of the founding of the dynasty are mostly inevitable with a major political crisis. The founding of the country is often the result of the concerted efforts of the royal family members. The traditional system of establishing the eldest son is no longer convincing. Any member of the royal family can compete for the imperial power with their own abilities and achievements. It is natural that the struggle for the throne is bloody in the palace."

Fan Zhi's profound knowledge and unique insights made Zhao Guangyi amazed. Zhao Guangyi said: "The old Duke has a far-sighted vision and is so insightful that I am in awe! Will the handover of the throne between the first two generations of our dynasty cause any disturbance? Please enlighten me, Duke." He had no suspicion of this old man from the previous dynasty who was not well-received. After a conversation, he inferred that Fan Zhi was not lying about befriending him for the sake of the prosperity and wealth of Fan's descendants, so he dared to deepen the topic.

Fan Zhi thought for a while and said: "Sir! How dare I discuss this topic?" He paused and said, "I did not offend the emperor and strongly recommended you to be promoted to the prince out of selfishness. May I ask who among the royal family members can compare with you in terms of ability, qualifications, achievements, and prestige?"

Zhao Guangyi heard the hidden meaning. The second generation of the founding emperor was a member of the royal family, but he was not the legitimate prince but based on ability, qualifications, achievements, and prestige. His public spirit was to push himself to the throne of the second generation of the emperor. This was really too implicit. , when masters fight, they speak with their hearts instead of their mouths, so how could he be too straightforward? He said, "Old Duke, you are always careless, you made a mistake this time." He smiled bitterly and said, "Look at how I have fallen, Ninth Rank Biejia."

Fan Zhi was no longer polite, and said, "Forgive me for speaking frankly, it's not me who made a mistake, it's you who made a mistake."

Zhao Guangyi said, "Old Duke, you hit the nail on the head, your teachings are very true. If I had asked for your advice earlier, I wouldn't have returned in defeat." He stood up and bowed to him.

Fan Zhi hurriedly stood up and trembled to return the greeting, saying: "Sir! I don't deserve it. At my age, even if I want to be Fang Du (Tang Taizong's think tank when he was a prince), I am too old to do it!"

Zhao Guangyi originally thought that he had accidentally planted willows and willows became shades. He begged him to give him advice to defeat Fu Wang Zhao Guangmei and remove all stumbling blocks to ascending to the throne. He never thought that he would politely decline. He was not testing his sincerity; then he knelt down and cried: "If the old Duke does not help, Xiao Keke will die of old age on the frontier. Please help me, old Duke.Duke, please be merciful and save Xiaoke!"

Fan Zhi knelt down with his cane and said, "Sir, please stand up, please stand up!"

Zhao Guangyi still cried, "If the Duke doesn't respond, Xiaoke can only kneel down and die at the Duke's feet!"

Fan Zhi said, "Sir! I am like a candle in front of the wind, and the days are short and the days are long. I am of no use to you."

Zhao Guangyi thought: I didn't mean to visit you tonight, but he wanted to help me when I got there, but now he has to refuse in every possible way. This shouldn't be his true intention; he said, "That's right! Xiaoke has no contact with the old Duke on weekdays, and it is reasonable for the old Duke not to help. I don't blame Xiaoke for not recognizing the great man, and I deserve it now." Then he stood up and helped him sit on the chair, bowed three times, and said, "I wish the old Duke peace and safety, Xiaoke bids farewell! "He turned around and walked away slowly.

Fan Zhi sat on the chair and accepted his three bows without hesitation. He watched him go. When he stepped out of the door, he said, "Sir, please stay." Zhao Guangyi turned around quickly and walked towards him quickly. He knelt down and bowed again, and said excitedly, "Please don't abandon me, old Duke! I hope you will come out to help me!"

Fan Zhi looked down at him and said, "I really can't leave the mountain, but I recommend someone to you. This person is ten times more talented than me, and he can ensure that you don't have to worry about anything."

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