Chapter 209: Caged Bird
Yi Yongtang's salt tax reform was implemented as scheduled. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info is to follow the general trend, and the results are naturally good.
However, these are not the most important things.
The most important thing is that the official family took back the power they wanted from him without spending a single soldier.
- "Lord Lu is really far-sighted and discerning. ”
That day, after passing through the Xuande Gate, from a distance, I heard Gong Jianyi flattering Lu Mianzhi.
Because of his meritorious service, the official family gave Lu Mianzhi a Yan.
Compared with the 1,000 taels of silver that the official ordered Yu Jiayu to quietly send to his house, it was just a bit of an inkstone, which was simply shabby. However, what the official family gave him was a disgraceful reward, but what was given to Lu Mianzhi was a public reward.
Lu Mianzhi is inactive and confused, how can the official family not know.
Just like Tang Gaozong, who rewarded the greedy and unscrupulous Li Yifu for "abolishing the king and establishing martial arts", it was just to set an example in front of hundreds of officials.
Over there, Lu Mianzhi listened to Gong Jianyi's praise, and said with a triumphant smile: "Lord Gong has won the award, where can Lu be regarded as a foresight, it's just a coincidence." ”
"Speaking of which, I never expected that the official family and the prime minister would make such an unhappy quarrel, which really scared me that day...... Only Lord Lu is bold enough and is not afraid of losing the prime minister. ”
"The official family is always the official family, and the prime minister is just the prime minister. ”
"Lord Lu is high-eyed, high-eyed!"
"Hahaha......"
……
Pang Ji stood in a trance and waited until they were far away before slowly walking towards the place where the carriage stopped.
The carriage drove out of the palace gate and drove through Qinglong Street.
He was like a paper-tied dummy without a soul, wooden and unconscious.
When he crossed the Bianqiao, he trembled and lifted the curtain and looked back.
The Daqing Hall is no longer visible.
But faintly, you can still see the Shengping Pagoda on the west side of the palace.
It is the tallest building in Bianjing, and standing on the top floor, you can overlook almost the entire scenery of Bianjing.
There are stairs on each floor of the tower, and you can reach the top floor by following the steps.
However, the Tower of Power in the Great Song Dynasty has no stairs, and you must step on someone else's body to have the possibility of climbing up.
And the top part is too narrow to accommodate one person.
Pang Ji did not regret it.
There was no unwillingness.
Whether it is framing Guan Yixing or eradicating relatives for the official family, it is a big gamble he made in order to go to the top of the tower.
If you are willing to gamble, you must admit defeat.
……
- "Prime Minister, what do you think of Jiang Caoqiu's 'reduction of conscription'?"
One day not long after, the official family asked Pang Ji privately again.
It was a rainy afternoon.
It was raining outside the window.
Thin, cold rain.
The damp scent of flowers and plants outside the door embraced the two of them.
The Taishi chair under Pang Ji still had sharp blades that only he could see. However, he gradually got used to sitting, and the tingling sensation that he had at the beginning had now become as painless as acupuncture.
"What do the officials think?"
"I think there's a lot to be done. ”
Then the old minister decided to oppose it. ”
The official laughed: "I love to talk to smart people." ”
Pang Ji gave him a bitter smile.
Fall, as long as it starts, is easier than eating and sleeping.
……
There's nothing wrong with that.
As long as he obediently follows the will of the official family, is obedient, and swallows his anger, he can stay in the position of prime minister until he dies of old age.
Being a puppet is actually much easier than being a human being.
Pang Ji comforted himself like this.
After deceiving oneself for too long, one gradually believes in the truth.
One day a few years later, the official family summoned him to the Wende Hall to discuss.
As we passed through the West Market, the carriage slowed down suddenly.
- "What's the matter?"
He asked the coachman.
"Master, there are servants singing in the street in front of you, passers-by watching, and the street is slightly blocked. ”
It wasn't a big deal, he was about to lower the curtain when the chanting of the servant came faintly from a distance.
- "I am like a caged bird, with wings that cannot be spread......"
Pang Ji's hand holding the curtain was stunned.
- "I am like the tiger who has left the mountain and suffered a lonely ......"
He choked up his voice and told the coachman, "Go and ask what kind of song the servant is singing?"
After a while, the coachman came back and reported: "Master, the song he sang is called "Sitting in the Palace Courtyard and Sighing to Yourself", which is said to be the work of Le Gong. ”
The first generation of Anguo Hou Leshan is a confusing legend, and many ownerless things in the folk will be counted on his head over time.
Some special snacks, some anonymous books, and this strange tune.
If in the past, Pang Ji would only smile disdainfully-how could Le Gong, who was a very popular minister and deeply trusted by Taizu, have such a feeling of "thinking and sighing to himself"?
Having experienced such things, he is now convinced.
Even if you are wise and martial like Le Gong, and you are like a tiger, there will be times when you can't help yourself.
"Stop. ”
He commanded.
The coachman was puzzled, didn't he say that the official family summoned him?
Pang Ji straightened up, sat in the carriage, and said, "Listen to this song before leaving." ”
……
On that day, he arrived at the Wende Hall half an hour late.
The official handed him a recital, which was the advice of Zong Zhengqing Cai Xiang. It is mentioned in the recital that because the imperial court adopted the system of favor and shadow, and pursued the policy of "entrusting hundreds of officials for fear of their insufficiency", redundant officials and redundant personnel, but the effectiveness of handling affairs was low, and people were superficial. He suggested that the imperial court should "suppress luck and pay tribute".
"Prime Minister, what do you think?"
is different from the past words and plans, at this moment, Pang Ji silently did not answer.
The official family didn't feel any difference, and said to himself: "I think Cai Xiang's suggestion is feasible, but now is not the time, but if it is vetoed, I am afraid that it will hurt the hearts of students all over the world......"
"So, what do the officials think should be?" Pang Ji sighed lightly and asked rhetorically.
I allowed him to play, but the prime minister united with the old ministers of the DPRK and China, threatened him with collective resignation, and violently criticized Cai Xiang's words. I had no choice but to give in. ”
The official said, realizing that this plan was seamless, and asked with a smile: "What does the prime minister think?"
"Does the official family want the old ministers to connect with the old ministers in the court and prevent the implementation of the policy of 'suppressing luck and paying tribute'?"
"Exactly. ”
"A courtier who cherishes his reputation and has a conscience will certainly seconded this policy, and those who can be impressed by the authority of the old minister will not want to ...... with his friends."
"It's a difficult thing to do, but I'm sure the Prime Minister will be able to do it. ”
In the past, Pang Ji probably replied like this.
However, just as he was about to open his mouth, the lyrics of Fang Cai suddenly sounded in his ears again.
- "I am like a caged bird, I have wings and I can't spread ......"
Is it that he has been trapped in the cage for too long, and he has forgotten that he still has wings and feathers.
Once, in pursuit of a wider sky, endured loneliness, endured ridicule, endured pain,
Even with his wings tied, he has more important things than foraging foraging.
"Official. ”
He lowered his head and called softly.
"Huh?"
"Can you ...... Leave some for the old ministers, leave some for ...... Dignity?"
……