On the second day after seeing Su Zhe, Zhao Xu still didn't have an early dynasty. Almost all the officials in the court have written letters of condolence and sent them to the palace, and Murong Fu is naturally no exception. A comforting piece of music is written with sincerity, it is really sad for those who see it, and tears for those who hear it, if you teach people who don't know, they will definitely feel Murong Fu's brave and loyal when they see it. Of course, what is the effect of this letter sent to Zhao Xu, Murong Fu is too lazy to worry about it.

Taking advantage of the absence of an early dynasty, Murong Fu soon went out of the city to meet the soldiers of the Western Army who were still stationed outside the city waiting for the imperial court's reward. Seeing Murong Fu appear, the leader of the army, Zhi Keshi and the Seed Master Dao sighed at the same time. These two men have been in the army for a long time, and they may have seen more dead people than they had eaten. Now that Zhao Xu has been frightened by two heads and has been sick for several days, Wenchen may believe that Zhao Xu is really sick, but he may not believe it for Zhe Keshi and Seed Master Dao, who have been waiting for a reward.

The three sighed, and Murong Fu revealed Zhao Xu's current situation to the two. "I think the official's illness will have to wait for a while to get better."

In other words, it will take some time for the reward to be heard. Realizing this, Seed Master Dao couldn't help but complain in a low voice: "Recently, there has been a lot of restlessness in the army. ”

Since ancient times, military generals have often been suspicious. If you lead more troops, everyone should suspect you of "self-respect"; If you stay in one place for a long time, everyone will suspect you of "separating the place"; If you have made greater achievements, everyone will still suspect you of "high merit"; If you are a little dissatisfied with the decree of the imperial court and say two crooked sentences, it will be even more remarkable, obviously "resentful and plotting"! Migrant workers who petition for wages will receive social attention and sympathy; But if these soldiers who were born and died were restless and begged for money, I am afraid that they would be charged with rebellion at any time. Murong Fu knew the way of the door, and when he heard the seed master Dao say this, he hurriedly sat up straight and said: "The official family is sick, and the army must be stable at this time!" ”

"I've ordered an increase in the amount of training every day," Zhi Keshi obviously understood this reason, and hurriedly explained his own solution. "But it's not a long-term solution." Most of the soldiers who served as soldiers were rude and unliterate warriors, and they were born and died in exchange for their lives, if the court did not admit it, then they could really fight with the court.

Murong Fu was silent for a while, and suddenly said, "Daily training is boring, why don't you let them out of the camp to do something?" ”

Hearing what Murong Fu said, Zhe Keshi and the seed master couldn't help but have a deep understanding of Murong Fu's military qualities again. I saw that the two of them were silent for a while, and then the seed master Dao, who had a deeper friendship with Murong Fu, explained: "Let them out of the camp, either gambling or drinking, or *, sooner or later, something will happen!" ”

"Aren't there some healthy and uplifting activities?" Murong Fu was also a little desperate for the enlightenment of Keshi and Seed Master Dao, "For example...... Serve? ”

Zhi Keshi and Seed Master Dao glanced at each other, and asked in unison: "What do you mean?" ”

As a result, the 3,000 meritorious soldiers who accompanied Murong Fu back to Beijing to ask for rewards had an activity with the theme of "serving the people". For three days, 3,000 soldiers plowed all the farmland in the suburbs of Bianjing, repaired houses for the people, erected siphons, and finally leveled roads. The officers and men of the army acted like this, and the people were naturally a little panicked at first, but in the end, when they saw the real benefits, they still praised them. Even the "Bianjing Times" wrote an editorial for the soldiers, praising "this military and civilian situation is a symbol of the benevolence of the officials and the great rule of the world."

After many years, the credibility of the "Bianjing Times" has long been incomparable, and with this editorial and the touring performance of Jinle Fang, the people's attention was quickly drawn back to the imperial court's reward for these meritorious soldiers. At this time, everyone realized that these soldiers had made great contributions, but the court had not rewarded them so far. When the court acted like this, the people naturally disagreed, and soon shouted for the soldiers. However, after a few days, this wave of asking for rewards for meritorious heroes has become stronger and stronger, and many students have even signed a petition to petition, which has made the ministers in the political hall anxious.

In the midst of this discussion, Murong Fu's teacher Su Shi finally returned to the capital.

Murong Fu and Su Shi hadn't seen each other for many years, so they naturally had to go out of the city to greet them in person. Unbeknownst to him, this time the master and apprentice met, but Su Shi's big mouth suddenly changed his sex, like a saw-mouthed gourd, he refused to say anything, and insisted on entering the palace to face the saint. Murong Fu was helpless to see Su Shi's awe-inspiring appearance, so he had to send him to the palace in confusion to wait for the summons.

This time, the Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Xu, who was still ill, summoned Su Shi in the Vertical Arch Palace.

After Su Shi saw the two saints, he calmly said his intention. "Wechen asked to see the official family this time in order to resign."

Su Shi's writing was very good, and in his private letter to Zhao Xu, he earnestly recalled the good feelings of their master and apprentice, which moved Zhao Xu to call him back to Beijing. Now Zhao Xu is anxious about government affairs, and when he heard that Su Shi rushed back from thousands of miles just to resign, he was already angry, and he said impatiently: "The bachelor wants to resign, and the upper sparse is, why ...... it"

Before Zhao Xu finished speaking, the Empress Dowager Xiang couldn't help but reach out and press the back of his hand, shaking her head gently at him. Zhao Xu was ill for a few days, and the Queen Mother came to ask for warmth every day, doing her mother's duty. Zhao Xu thought of her affection, so he naturally wanted to give the Empress Dowager Xiang this thin face, so she didn't speak again.

Empress Dowager Xiang turned her head to Su Shi and said: "The bachelor is talented and has outstanding political achievements in Hangzhou for three years, why do you suddenly want to resign?" ”

Su Shi couldn't help but be silent for a while, and after a long time, he said in a deep voice: "Weichen returned to Beijing all the way, and the people of the world praised the soldiers of the Western Army. ”

Speaking of this, Zhao Xu was even more furious. "The Western Army is using public opinion to hold me hostage, which is really disloyal!"

Su Shi saw Zhao Xu's reaction like this, and couldn't help exchanging a helpless look with the Empress Dowager Xiang, who was sitting on the side. Noticing that Zhao Xu's breath gradually calmed down, Su Shi said again: "The Western Army pacified the destruction of the Xia Kingdom, this is a great achievement, and the officials can't help but reward it!" ”

Such a simple truth, of course Zhao Xu understands, but it is difficult to calm down after all.

"The official family is young and vigorous, and cannot be wronged, but the government must know how to compromise appropriately." Su Shi saw Zhao Xu's negative look, but he couldn't help laughing. "Rather than procrastinating for a long time, in the end, it is still rewarded; It's better to reward the people of the world to know the benevolence of the official family. ”

Su Shi's character and knowledge have long been certified by the gold medal, but Zhao Xu was not very angry when he heard his words, but said with an unpredictable expression: "Now that the DPRK is the dominant party of Shu, I can't imagine that the bachelor would dare to say such a thing to me." ”

Su Shi's expression remained unchanged, and he only said in a deep voice: "It's just because there is no one in the court except for Wei Chen, who is suitable to say such things to the officials." ”

Zhao Xu recalled that when Su Shi was serving as a scholar in Hanlin, the two of them got along with each other, and they were also silent for a while. Zhao Xu hated Murong Fu and didn't like the old party even more, but he also knew that Su Shi was indeed a selfless good man. "It's not a problem to reward the Western Army, but the beloved apprentice of the bachelor ......"

"Weichen's resignation is to let the official family rest assured to reward him." Su Shi said busily.

Before Su Shi's words fell, Zhao Xu had already laughed and mocked: "It is rumored that the bachelor and Murong Qing are like father and son, and today I know that this is true!" "The rules of officialdom, the performance of meritorious work is low, and the reward of officials is high. This so-called, grace comes from above. Su Zhe's recital was originally built to build Murong Fu of Jin as the privy envoy, but during the Renzong Dynasty, Di Qing and the military general quelled Nong Zhigao's rebellion and the deputy envoy of the Jin privy council, not to mention that Murong Fu was a civil servant, and his credit was far greater than Di Qing's? Su Shi wanted to resign himself in exchange for Zhao Xu's reassuring reward, and Murong Fu's official position would not stop at the privy envoy.

Su Shi saw Zhao Xu's unswerving face, immediately knelt on the ground, and said earnestly: "The people's hearts are like water, and water can carry a boat and overturn a boat." Please think twice! "With Murong Fu's * momentum, whether or not to reward the heroes and how to reward the heroes has been the attention of the whole country, and Zhao Xu has long had no room for turnaround.

After Su Shi retreated, the Queen Mother couldn't help but persuade: "The official family, just follow the will of Master Su!" After a pause, she added. Now that the whole country is boiling, if you don't reward the heroes, I'm afraid it will cause a big disaster! ”

This is similar words, Zhao Xu came to listen to the political hall today, and his ears were calloused. Now seeing that the Empress Dowager Xiang is also playing the same old tune, he finally can't bear it anymore, and can't help but shout out of control: "I am the emperor!" Isn't it up to you whether you want a reward or not? ”

The Empress Dowager looked at him with pity and calmness, and said slowly: "How many things could your father and emperor make their own decisions back then?" ”

Empress Dowager's sentence finally broke Zhao Xu's last psychological defense, only to see him suddenly hold his head and moan, and fall down.

It wasn't until Murong Fu accompanied Su Shi back to Su Zhe's prime minister's mansion that he knew the real reason why Su Shi was facing the saint. When Su Shi personally said his resignation in front of everyone, the whole Shu Party had a look of "sure enough". Only Murong Fu was dumbfounded, as if he had been punched inexplicably, and he couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.

Su Shi saw that it was rare for his disciples to be stupid, but he was a little embarrassed, and he twisted for a while and said: "After resigning, the division will stay in the capital and continue to preside over the 'Dongpo Poetry Club'." Thinking of the happiness of talking about state affairs and meeting friends with literature when he presided over the poetry meeting, his eyebrows couldn't help but show a little nostalgia, and his expression was also very content.

Murong Fu still couldn't come back to his senses, and looked at Su Shi for a long time before squeezing out a sentence with difficulty: "Teacher, this is ...... It was so sudden! ”

Su Shi saw that Murong Fu still needed time to recover his feelings, so he didn't pay attention to him, and instead smiled with his remaining three students: "You also have to come often at this 'Dongpo Poetry Club'!" ”

When Qin Guan and the others heard this, they immediately smiled and said yes. Among the three bachelors, Qin Guan is the most clever, and when he heard that Su Shi was going to settle down in the capital, he was busy saying: "The teacher's mansion in the capital is still preserved, as long as you send someone to repair it, you can live there." I don't know when my wife, uncle, and shun'er will return to Beijing? ”

Murong Fu still couldn't accept it, and immediately grabbed Su Shi's arm and stubbornly asked, "But why is this, teacher?" "The pacification of the Xia State was a great achievement of the Shu Party when it was in power, and Zhang Dian knew that he was invincible to the Shu Party and had already rejected the imperial edict. At this time, it should be the best time for Su Shi to work hard to become prime minister.

Su Shi saw that Murong Fu couldn't figure it out, so he couldn't help but sigh lightly and said in a low voice: "Mingshi, with your talents, you should be more than a privy envoy. ”

Murong Fu nodded and replied: "Come to Japan, ......" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stopped talking, raised his head and glared at Su Shi like a ghost.

I saw Su Shi looking at Murong Fu gently and smiling softly. "It's better to deserve your credit than to let the teacher occupy the phase, so it is better to deserve it."

As soon as Su Shi's voice fell, Murong Fu stood stunned on the spot, unable to spit out a word.

On the contrary, Chao Buzhi said: "Now that the court is the dominant Shu party, if the teacher is appointed as the left minister and Akashi is appointed as the privy secretary again, it will inevitably attract the attention of the government and the opposition, and the palace will also be uneasy." Akashi, you've always had a vision, why did you neglect it this time? ”

"I ...... I ......" Murong Fu opened his mouth and stammered, so flustered that he couldn't even speak clearly. "Teacher, I didn't expect it...... I...... Students can resign! "The period when the Empress Dowager became ill was the most difficult period in Murong Fu's life, whether it was official or private. The destruction of the Xia State was the only opportunity he could seize to preserve the Shu Party and suppress Zhao Xu after the death of the Empress Dowager. Before the big thing was accomplished, Murong Fu really didn't have the heart to think about how to divide the pork afterwards.

"Confused!" Murong Fu said so much, Su Shi suddenly felt heartbroken, if he didn't still care about the relationship between master and apprentice, he was afraid that he would start beating people. "I have also seen the joint name between you and the husband, and it is indeed a refreshing thing for the old Chengmou country. Now although the Great Song Dynasty has destroyed the Xia Kingdom, there are Great Liao and Tubo outside, and there are redundant officials and redundant expenses inside, which makes it difficult for the imperial court. At this time, you should face the difficulties and be excited, and resign from the official position in a good manner? ”

"But the teacher ......"

"The teacher is old, of course the disciple will do his job if there is something!" Without waiting for Murong Fu to finish speaking, Su Shi immediately grabbed the white. Noticing that Murong Fu was still looking at him with blank eyes, and the sincere attachment in his eyes was the same as many years ago, Su Shi's heart instantly softened. I saw him sigh and said slowly, "Akashi...... As a teacher, I still remember that year you came to Huangzhou and set up a night outside the 'Dongpo School'. It snowed heavily that night, and you were only seventeen...... If you weren't really stubborn, your teacher would never have taken you as an apprentice. After so many years, I really can't imagine that our Great Song Dynasty can have such a big change! As a teacher in Hangzhou for three years, Hangzhou's literary style is prosperous, and everyone envies the teacher for accepting a good student. I can't teach you anything as a teacher, but at least I can't get in your way. Your talents are far better than being a teacher, and this phase should belong to you! Speaking of this, Su Shi couldn't help but smile, patted the back of Murong Fu's hand and finally added a sentence. As a teacher, this decision is not made out of personal feelings, but for the sake of the world. Akashi, do you understand? ”

Su Shi is so honest, what else does Murong Fu not understand? After all, the world of the Great Song Dynasty is still surnamed Zhao, and now the Shu Party lacks nothing in its cultural and martial arts, how can it not make the royal family restless? Su Shi chose to resign and stay in Beijing at this time, firstly, to give him the phase, and secondly, to win the trust of the royal family as a hostage. In today's era, master and apprentice are like father and son, and Murong Fu must not betray Su Shi no matter how unscrupulous he is. Therefore, as long as Su Shi is still loyal to the Great Song Dynasty, even if Murong Fu is the prime minister for ten or twenty years, the military and political power are concentrated in one, and the world is in the heart, he will never be able to rebel.

"Teacher...... "I don't know why, how many misunderstandings, hardships, storms and sinister Murong Fu gritted his teeth and carried them one by one, but today he saw that Su Shi was willing to give up his career to break the situation for him, but he cried bitterly with mixed feelings.

Five days later, on the twentieth day of the first month of the first year of Shaosheng, the imperial court finally issued a clear decree to reward the meritorious ministers who destroyed the Xia Kingdom. The original Huanqing Road was slightly pacified to make Zhang Qi a young guarantee, the original Yanyan Road was slightly pacified to make a kind of Yan for the Shaanxi Festival, and the original Chengzhou regiment was suitable for the Gansu Festival, and the rest of the meritorious soldiers were not mentioned. In addition, since Fan Chunren Zhishi, the position of the left minister has always been vacant, in view of the fact that Murong Fu presided over the battle of Pingxia in the four products, and his merits were outstanding, and Murong Fu was the left servant of Shangshu and the servant of the door.

Since then, Murong Fu has finally become an official residence. And this year, he had just turned thirty.