Prime Minister

Chapter 1193 Impeachment of the Prime Minister

Chapter 1193 Impeachment of the Prime Minister

The kind of friends a person makes and the people he or she interacts with in his or her life are all determined.

The so-called similar personalities are not just talk.

Li Ding admired officials like Wang Anshi, Zhang Dun and Cai Que, who were bold and resourceful and dared to be the first in the world.

There are two types of people in officialdom. The first type is conservative, honest and obedient, trying to get along with the superiors in everything, and finally waiting for a meal from them.

Another type is the troublemakers.

The officialdom is a place where individuality is suppressed.

But a troublemaker is someone who doesn't obey the rules, and even dares to challenge the existing rules. And those who can be troublemakers are generally very capable. It just gives the leader a headache, and many colleagues hate him.

Although troublemakers have always been suppressed by official rules, the common people still have a good impression of them.

Moreover, it is not that the troublemakers have no chance to rise to the top. They have the psychological quality of being able to withstand pressure and oppression, which is a major characteristic of officialdom. Therefore, once the troublemakers are appreciated or subdued, they will often become a general who expands the territory.

There were many officials who were appreciated and promoted for taking a rebellious approach, such as Wang Anshi, Zhang Dun, and Li Ding. Some even deliberately went along with the trend, which gave rise to the saying "selling integrity for fame."

Li Ding was despised and looked down upon by scholars and officials all over the world because of the incident of San Sheren, and even broke out about the scandal of concealing the death of the deceased. If it were an ordinary person with poor psychological quality, he would have been doomed long ago.

However, Li Ding was promoted all the way with the attitude of "let him laugh and scold, I will find a good official myself", and he was actually appointed as the Chief Censor, one of the four top officials, and even handled the Wudai Poetry Case.

As a student of Wang Anshi, Li Ding was not as famous as students like Cai Bian, Lu Dian and Zhang Zhi when he was in Jiangning, but he completely inherited Wang Anshi's political ideas.

At the same time, he also inherited Wang Anshi's dissatisfaction with Zhang Yue, believing that he was fussy and did not dare to take the lead in the world.

He likes to do small favors but does not know the greater righteousness.

Now that Yelu Hong is under control and his identity has been confirmed, Li Ding has also written a letter of impeachment against Zhang Yue and put it in his sleeve.

Today he will impeach Zhang Yue in the Golden Palace.

Li Ding knew that he had to strike a minister like Zhang Yue right away, so he couldn't give him any time to prepare or react. He wanted to see the other party's panicked and stunned expression in the Golden Palace, in front of everyone and in front of the emperor.

Today, the two governments were discussing matters. Cai Que, Wang Gui and others all looked relaxed, talking and laughing, as if everything was calm.

Li Ding glanced at Zhang Yue who was walking slowly.

Zhang Yue was talking to Huang Lu, the Third Secretary.

In Li Ding's opinion, Huang Lu was a nonchalant person. Li Ding believed that he was an official who just lay back and did nothing, which complemented Zhang Yue.

At this time, Zhang Yue saw Li Ding and said, "Zhongcheng is here too!"

Li Ding couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart when he saw Zhang Yue asking him questions. Could it be that he had seen through him?

However, Li Ding felt that it would not affect the overall situation, so he smiled indifferently and said, "Meet the Prime Minister."

Zhang Yue said gently: "The new Baojia Law has been drafted almost completely. I will ask the Minister to take a look at it later."

Li Ding said modestly: "As an imperial censor, this matter is not within my job scope. The Prime Minister can decide for himself."

Zhang Yue said: "Let's not talk about the stones from other mountains, which can be used to polish jade. I must do everything I am good at to perfection. You are Jing Gong's disciple, how can I not listen to your advice?"

Li Ding smiled. He didn't think Zhang Yue could turn defeat into victory today. Could it be that Zhang Yue knew he was powerless to save the situation today, so he lowered himself to show his good will to me?

But nothing can be concluded until the last moment.

Although Li Ding was confident, he was also prepared for the failure of impeaching Zhang Yue this time. However, he still negotiated with Zhang Yue and said, "The Prime Minister's words really made Ding think deeply."

Zhang Yue looked at Li Ding and nodded. Li Ding felt that the other party's gaze was a little far-reaching. At this moment, there were still some officials coming and going in the square. He couldn't help but want to change the subject.

But Zhang Yue continued: "Senior, let me ask you a question. What is the most important thing if we want to reform the law?"

Li Ding was stunned for a moment, then said, "I think it takes great determination and perseverance."

Zhang Yue nodded and said, "Anything else?"

Li Ding said: "To accomplish great things, one must be skillful and good at political schemes."

Zhang Yue continued: "What else?"

Li Ding said: "I don't know what's going on. May I ask the Prime Minister for his opinion?"

Zhang Yue and Li Ding walked up the stairs together and slowly walked towards the hall.

Zhang Yue said: "What the senior said is correct, but this alone is not enough."

Li Ding said: "Prime Minister, please enlighten me."

Zhang Yue said: "First of all, it takes the right time and the will of the people to change, so that the court and the people can have the motivation. It is not enough for you alone. Without the right time and the will of the people, and without going with the flow, nothing can be accomplished."

Li Ding thought that this was a very true saying, so he said sincerely: "The Prime Minister is right."

"Secondly, we need people who can formulate the 'national policy' of reform and establish a clear ideology to guide the reform. Otherwise, we will act based on short-term benefits, treating the symptoms without any program. In the end, we will find that we have gone through a circle but have not made any progress at all."

"There are not many saints like him. In the past few thousand years, Jing Gong is one of them."

Li Ding thought to himself, "Zhang Yue wants to make his own decisions on state affairs. Aren't you secretly claiming to be a saint?" However, ideology is a word created by Zhang Yue and mentioned many times. Now it is well known in the court.

Including using ideology to guide national affairs.

Li Ding said: "This outline is for both purposes."

Zhang Yue said happily: "Senior people are indeed people with whom we can talk. Too many people have no purpose and end up just doing things randomly."

"The third is the new vested interests. Without the replacement of the old with the new, the reform cannot continue."

"Otherwise, Your Majesty, it won't be possible just relying on you and me. Fourthly..."

Li Ding agreed with Zhang Yue's words, but he didn't expect there was a fourth one.

Zhang Yue said: "The fourth is that there are people like you and me in the court who are willing to do it. These people cannot be recruited by benefits. Only those who truly take the world as their responsibility can do it."

"In fact, what I said is the most important thing for reform. The great determination and perseverance you mentioned are certainly necessary, but they are not that important. As for political tactics, they are the lowest of the low. Only those who are not up to standard become increasingly obsessed with them, treating them like jade and eventually corrupting people's hearts and minds."

Li Ding was furious when he heard this. You, Zhang San, are mocking me for saying that impeachment is a method that is not presentable. Am I, Li Ding, not a presentable person?

You, Zhang San, are a gentleman. Try to keep this position for me without any conspiracy. How can an honest man become the prime minister? Who are you trying to fool?

Although he thought so in his heart, Li Ding couldn't show it on his face, and finally he forced himself to hold back his anger.

Li Ding asked: "Doesn't the Prime Minister suppress annexation?"

Zhang Yue said: "Of course it should be suppressed, but it does not hinder Guan Zhong's method of carving wood and painting eggs."

"Where is the new interest group that the Prime Minister mentioned?"

"It's in the poor family!"

When Zhang Yue uttered these two words, the door of the palace was in front of Zhang Yue and Li Ding. Under the gaze of Yulong, who held the golden bone flower in his left and right hands, Zhang Yue stepped over the high threshold and entered the palace first.

This was the end point of their journey, and the hall was filled with waiting gentlemen.

Li Ding looked at Zhang Yue's back and said with his head lowered, "I will definitely learn from the Prime Minister's words."

The gentlemen in the hall looked at Li Ding and Zhang Yue entering the hall. It was as if two scholars were discussing the meaning of scriptures and exchanging knowledge.

Li Ding stood in the hall.

Poor family?

Li Dingcai was a real poor man. His father Li Wen was a professor, and he, Li Ding, was the son of a concubine.

Li Ding's mother, Qiu, married three times in her life and gave birth to two sons and one daughter. Li Ding was born to Qiu as a concubine of Li Wen, and then Qiu remarried again.

Li Ding later found out that Qiu was his biological mother. When the old party was attacking him, they also found out his background and made it public.

Later, Li Ding learned that Qiu had a son with her first husband, who later became a monk with the Buddhist name Foyin. When Li Ding learned that the other party was actually Su Shi's good friend, he thought to himself, this is really out of line.

Who represents the real poor family: Wang Anshi, Zhang Dun, Li Ding, or Zhang Yue?

Li Ding stood in the hall and admired the majesty of the officials.

The Chief Censor, also known as the Chief Censor, was the deputy of the Chief Censor during the Qin and Han dynasties. However, the Chief Censor was almost non-existent in the Song Dynasty, and the Chief Censor was the head of the Censorate.

As the Chief Censor, it is his duty to correct the whole country and all officials.

When Bao Zheng was the Chief Censor, the nobles and eunuchs kept their hands off him, and everyone who heard about it was afraid of him.

Li Ding considered himself incompetent and had this idea, but his goal was to clear all obstacles to the new law. In his view, anyone who opposed the new law was a powerful person or a lackey of the powerful.

As the whip sounded, the official came into the hall and took his seat, surrounded by ceremonial guards.

"Hail, holy bow!"

After everyone has kowtowed, today's agenda will begin.

At this moment, Li Ding's heart seemed to be surging with a huge wave, and he was a little nervous and uneasy. Zhang Yue's words just now really touched him, but he didn't have time to think about it carefully.

Now the arrow is on the string, and He Zhengchen is outside to support him.

So at this moment, Li Ding had no hesitation.

Li Ding jumped out, and several ministers showed surprised expressions.

But Li Ding stood at the head of the class and kowtowed again.

"Your Majesty, I, Li Ding, impeach Zhang Yue, the Minister of State Affairs and the Editor of the History Museum, for secretly communicating with the Prime Minister of the Liao Kingdom, Yelu Yixin!"

After saying this, Li Ding took out the memorial and presented it to him.

Impeach the Prime Minister!

Everyone was in an uproar.

The last time someone openly impeached a prime minister in front of the emperor was when Tang Ting impeached Wang Anshi. That was a slap in the face during the morning court session.

And now is the time for the two governments to discuss together.

Li Ding, the Chief Censor, actually impeached Zhang Yue in public.

Li Ding had a calm expression on his face. The moment he submitted the memorial, he felt relieved. There was no turning back at this moment.

It's done, and we can't regret it.

The emperor at the top looked at Zhang Yue, then at Li Ding and said, "Li Qing, do you know what you are doing?"

Li Ding said: "I know. I am impeaching the prime minister. After I read the impeachment letter, I will confront Zhang Yue in front of the emperor!"

At this moment, there was some reluctance on the official's face. He seemed to have known what Li Ding was going to impeach, but he did not want to make things so awkward.

After what happened today, Zhang Yue and Li Ding had no choice but to leave and one to stay.

Zhang Yue definitely couldn't leave, but Li Ding was also very useful now. He definitely didn't want to see this situation, and he had a rough idea of ​​Li Ding's impeachment of Zhang Yue.

It is too late to back down now.

Ps: Some of the opinions in this chapter are referenced from Zhihu user Wan Naishi.