armyinform Chapter 1328 Zizhi Tongjian
Chapter 1328 Zizhi Tongjian
Chapter 1328 Zizhi Tongjian
November of the seventh year of Yuanfeng.
There was still some snow on the eaves of Luoyang Duleyuan. Sima Guang's hand holding the silver knife trembled slightly. The blade hung on the silk rope of the last volume of "Kao Yi" for a long time.
"Feng Jing, a scholar at the Guanwen Hall, was transferred to Heyang." Guo Lin read the court report.
Fan Zuyu looked at his teacher's hunched back. After so many years of editing books in Luoyang, Sima Guang became increasingly thin.
Guo Lin continued reading.
"Wang Anli, the Minister of the Left, was dismissed by the censor Zhang Ruxian because of his discord with Wang Gui. He was sent out to be a scholar of the Duanming Palace and the governor of Jiangning Prefecture."
"Han Zhongyan is the Minister of the Left."
"The government sent the Imperial Censor Jian Xuchen and the Right Secretary Lu Changheng to review Wang Hou's memorial on his plan to govern Hehuang."
"Cai Bian was promoted to the position of Imperial Secretary and Imperial Tutor."
"Wu Juhou was again summoned by the government to serve as the transport commissioner of Jingdong Road."
None of these affected Sima Guang's action of cutting the silk rope, only the last sentence made Sima Guang stop.
Sima Kang came in with a cup of hot tea and saw his father staring at the last volume of "Tang Chronicles".
The fallen leaves of ginkgo trees outside the courtyard float in the inkstone pool.
Sima Guang, who was wearing a tattered robe, rubbed his knees.
"Father, the emperor's decree this time is different from the past." Sima Kang knew that Sima Guang was not feeling well in the cold weather, so he immediately put on the silver mouse cloak bestowed by the emperor on him.
"I heard from your majesty that you want to use both the old and new people."
"Then he said: The Imperial Censor must be Sima Guang."
"Later, the Deputy Privy Councilor said that Your Majesty would be the fourth person to take charge of Chongfu Palace in addition to my father."
"The eight characters in the imperial edict, 'Do not wait for a replacement, and rush to the imperial court', are truly earnest."
Sima Guang said nothing. The imperial edict which read 'Sima Guang, the supervisor of Chongfu Palace, has waited for thirty months and must go to the palace without waiting for a replacement' was still before his eyes.
Sima Guang slowly opened his eyes and said, "Wang Jiefu once criticized me for writing history like an old woman spinning, but I said that writing history should be like a doctor observing the weather.
"You say that editing a book should be like minting coins, but I say that writing history should be like polishing a mirror."
"I'm sorry for the hardship you've endured over the years as I've been repairing books."
Sima Kang, Fan Zuyu and Guo Lin all hung their hands and sighed in silence. From the time they first joined the bookstore, they were full of enthusiasm, but now all their energy was buried in those volumes of Zizhi Tongjian.
"Since the third year of Zhiping, the book bureau has started to compile. I requested Liu Shu, the magistrate of Wengyuan County in Shaozhou, and Zhao Junxi, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Works, to work together. Zhao Junxi was unable to take up the post due to his father's death, so Liu Jun, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites and the lecturer of the Imperial College, took over."
Sima Guang spoke slowly, and Fan Zuyu's throat moved slightly. He remembered the appearance of Liu Shu walking on the snow holding the "Records of the Five Dynasties" when the bookstore was first established in the third year of Xining.
I remember the day when Liu Xun left Beijing in the first year of Yuanfeng, he held the unfinished manuscript of "Tang Ji" tightly against his chest.
I also remember that when he received the obituary of Liu Shu in the winter of that year, Sima Gong bowed deeply to the ground towards the direction of Taihang Mountains, and the manuscript paper of "Tongjian" on his desk was wet with tears.
"…The green lamp is still on the desk, but the proofreaders have scattered all over the place." Sima Guang sighed.
Sima Kang suddenly knelt down and said, "Father, the battle of Yongle City was won at first but then lost, costing 3.5 million. Your Majesty has reflected on himself and decided to stop the Western Expedition from now on."
"You demoted Cai Que, Xu Xi, and Shen Kuo. You made Zhang Yue the governor of Jianzhou, which really blocked his intention to return to the court. Now your majesty has the intention to make changes."
"When the Emperor rebuked Cai Que, he asked Lü Huishu, 'Does Sima Guang really refuse to see me?'"
Sima Kang spoke sharply, and Fan Zuyu and Guo Lin both looked at Sima Guang.
"I would also like to safeguard the country for another peaceful spring and autumn with my frail body. But does state affairs depend on the change of personnel?" Sima Guang walked to the window and pulled his cloak tightly together.
"Father, do you really want to see the country destroyed by people like Cai Que and Wang Gui?"
Sima Guang said slowly: "Today the last volume of the book has been completed, and I will present it to Your Majesty."
"Pack up...pack up the bookcase."
……
On this day, the emperor summoned Xuan Delang and Imperial College Doctor Shao Cai to the Jiying Hall.
After Yongle City won and then lost, the government was eager to recruit talents and summoned many talented people to the Jiying Palace.
However, the emperor was quite solemn when he attended court. As his prestige had grown over the years, people who met him for the first time were often very frightened and too nervous to say a word, which was very much not to the emperor's liking.
However, Shao Cai spoke eloquently and was not at all stage-frightened.
The official was pleased to see Shao Cai like this.
However, Shao Cai said, "Last year, when the Southern Suburbs Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony was held, I participated in the sacrifice as a doctor of the Imperial Academy. Your Majesty was solemn and dignified when performing the rituals at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Circular Mound. Your Majesty has governed the country for nearly twenty years, but your heart has become smaller and smaller, and you have become more respectful in worshipping the Heaven, Earth and the ancestral temples. This is truly a great virtue."
"However, the key to achieving great things in the world lies in perseverance and perseverance..."
The official was very pleased with what he heard at first, but he couldn't help frowning when he heard the eight words "perseverance" and "dedication". He was even more displeased when he heard the eight words "perseverance" and "dedication".
The official asked, "What does it mean that your heart is getting smaller?"
Shao Cai said: "The book says that human heart is dangerous and the heart of Tao is subtle. The small one is restrained and not complacent."
Not only did the emperor's attendants also think that this statement was a bit too much, but they also thought that what it meant to be restrained and not complacent was what the emperor was unrestrained and complacent when he first ascended the throne.
Seeing Shao Cai still unaware of what was happening, the official thought to himself that this man was a loyal and upright person and should not be frightened.
The official said: "The new system of the Yuanfeng period allows civil officials of the fifth rank and above to be worshipped together, and the doctors of the Imperial College from the eighth rank can participate. This is also my intention. The artifact is not about splendor, but sincerity and respect. The same is true for officials."
"I always say 'laws cannot be changed lightly, they should be maintained forever', so what you said 'perseverance and diligence' is in line with my opinion. The position of Supervisory Censor has been vacant for three months, so you can go to the Censorate to take up the post tomorrow. But...but in the future, don't quote the Book of Shangshu again."
After listening to the emperor's words, Shao Cai realized that he had said the wrong thing. However, he did not blame him and appointed him as the Censor-in-Chief, which was really unexpected.
Shao Cai said: "Your Majesty is so magnanimous and generous. I am deeply grateful."
After Shao Cai thanked him and left, the emperor slowly walked to the mica screen. This five-foot plain screen was covered with tiny red inscriptions, and all the important officials of the Xining and Yuanfeng dynasties were on it.
Talents were assessed at any time, and talents were added and deleted accordingly. For the past twenty years, the government has been governing the country with such diligence. There are countless names of officials written on the screen in this hall. The names of all officials from the Xining and Yuanfeng periods and above have appeared on this screen.
At this time, Shi Deyi bowed and reported: "The Chongfu Palace Supervisor Sima Guang presented the complete 300 volumes of Zizhi Tongjian."
Before he finished speaking, sixteen purple-robed eunuchs filed in, carrying with them piles of nanmu book boxes as heavy as Akagi Castle.
Shi De came forward with a copy of the book. The official flipped open the first scroll and was moved by the number "the 23rd year of King Welie of Zhou".
The emperor looked at the newly compiled Zizhi Tongjian filling the hall, feeling mixed emotions.
At the same time, I also had a thought: why did it take Sima Guang twenty years to compile this Zizhi Tongjian? Why didn't he compile it earlier or later, but had to complete it at this time?
In the past, officials would hold the Zizhi Tongjian and read it for a whole hour.
Just when Zhang Gen came to serve Wang Zhen, the emperor smiled and said to him, "You've come just in time. Sima Xueshi's Zizhi Tongjian has just been completed. You may want to take a look at it."
Sima Guang was editing books in Luoyang, and all the dignitaries knew about it. The wealthy families sent people to Sima Guang's house to borrow books, take a look, and copy them down, so Zhang Gen had also read them.
Zhang Gen said: "My mother has always admired the writing of Wen Gong, and once asked someone to copy the drafts from the Jianlong to Kaibao years."
"but……"
The official looked at Zhang Zhi and asked, "But what?"
Zhang Gen said: "However, in my humble opinion, Niu Sengru's proposal to abandon Weizhou is indeed debatable."
In history, the Tubo general Xida wanted to surrender the city to the Tang Dynasty and suggested taking the opportunity to send troops to make great achievements. At that time, the Tang Dynasty and Tubo had an alliance, and Niu Sengru opposed Li Deyu's proposal that "China should defend itself against the enemy and keep its promises first."
However, in the fourth year of the Yamato era, Tubo had violated the treaty and attacked the Tang Dynasty. At this time, the Tang Dynasty was no longer bound by the treaty.
But Niu Sengru still decided to return Yanzhou to Tubo.
The emperor was very pleased to hear Zhang Gen's words. In the first year of Xining, he ordered Zhong Yan to accept the surrender of the Tangut commander of Suizhou, which caused an uproar in the court. Sima Guang also clearly opposed it at the time, believing that it would continue to cause hostility between the Song Dynasty and the Tangut.
The official praised: "You are right."
The emperor was even more fond of Zhang Gen.
The emperor said, "Although there are minor flaws, it cannot hide the beauty of the jade pendant. When I was the Prince of Ying, I gave all the books in the treasury to Sima Junshi. This Tongjian is displayed between the windows. Compared with Xun Yue's Han Ji, it shows more talent in governing the world."
When the official thought of this, he suddenly remembered.
In the third year of Xining, the government wanted to appoint Sima Guang as Privy Councilor.
Sima Guang declined, saying, "Your Majesty, if you can abolish the Regulations Department, recall the officials in charge, and not implement the Green Seedlings and Auxiliary Labor Laws, even if you don't use me, I will be greatly rewarded. If Your Majesty doesn't do that, I will never dare to accept the order."
When Sima Guang and Wang Anshi retired to Xijing due to their political differences, Sima Guang advised him that the further the merits would be and the greater the benefits would be for the affairs of the world.
The words are still fresh in my mind, and fifteen years have passed in a flash. The 49-year-old minister with gray hair has now become an old man with loose teeth and falling hair.
"Shi Deyi, pass the order to the government hall." The emperor stood up and said, "This book starts from the division of Jin by the three families and ends with the disputes of the Five Dynasties. It is not comparable to Xun Yue's "Han Ji". The Imperial College is ordered to proofread and print it carefully, and distribute it to the state schools throughout the country. Sima Guang is promoted to a scholar of the Zizheng Hall, and is awarded a thousand pieces of silver and silk, a gold belt, and a jade horse. The rest of the officials of the book office are ordered to quickly formulate titles and rewards."
Zhang Gen listened to the imperial edict, and in the seventh year of Yuanfeng, the court restored some of the titles, and the academician of the Zizheng Hall was the one who took the post when he left office. In other words, once Sima Guang returned to the court, he would be the prime minister.
However, the emperor mentioned the reward, but still did not say whether to summon Sima Guang back to the capital. It seemed that he really had to wait until his term as the supervisor of Chongfu Palace was over.
Whether it was appointing his father Zhang Yue as Jiedushi, or appointing Sima Guang as a scholar of Zizhengdian, these were all the same political tactics, and the emperor still wanted to keep the power firmly in his own hands.
……
The first month of the eighth year of Yuanfeng.
The emperor held a grand banquet for all his ministers in the Jiying Hall.
The nine connected copper lamps in the Jiying Hall cast a brilliant light on the gilded throne.
The official raised his cup to drink, but the sleeves of his bright yellow robe suddenly trembled violently.
Shi Deyi, who was standing behind the throne, was about to support the official, but he saw that the official's back was still straight, with only beads of sweat on his forehead shining coldly under the candlelight.
Three-tenths of the nectar in the cup spilled out, and the cup overturned, soaking the dragon robe.
The music and ceremony at the steps suddenly stopped, and the prime ministers Wang Gui, Cai Que, Lu Gongzhu, Zhang Dun, Zhang Zhi and others were all caught off guard.
All the important ministers in red robes in the hall have now become clay sculptures.