It's hard to imagine that the person who stabbed Zhang Dian in the back turned out to be Cai Bian.

And Cai Bian has always been Zhang Dan's deputy, and he doesn't even have any requirements for official positions and power, he works hard and pays for all of Zhang Dan's decisions.

Such a person would rebel, which made Zhang Dian's heart very heavy.

The court hall is the court hall.

It's not a place to be emotionally connected.

At this time, Cai Bian was talking to the emperor. Cai Bian is not like the imperial historians of the Yuanfeng and Yuanyou periods, and the impeachment of officials is just a matter of chasing after the wind. And the evidence that Sima Guang has no king and no father is conclusive, and almost all the courtiers know that this is Sima Guang's act of venting his personal anger.

This is the Ayun case that happened in Dengzhou, Jingdong Road, more than 20 years ago.

The case is very simple, Ah Yun is a poor girl, her father died early, her mother died of illness a year ago, and she was married (sold) by her uncle to an old, ugly and poor man in the village during her mourning. Of course, the person concerned will say that he will marry Ah Yun to this old man. Anyone with a discerning eye can see what Ah Yun's uncle is planning?

It's not a lot of dowry, what else can it be?

Is it a good character?

The grief-stricken Ah Yun was unwilling to be affected by his fate in life, and decided to resist and wanted to kill the man. The assassination did not go well, not only did it not succeed, but it was discovered and arrested by the government. The case was convicted of murdering her husband and should be beheaded according to the law. reported to Zhizhou Xu Zun, but Xu Zun thought it was inappropriate, how could Ah Yun marry during the mourning?

The death penalty was dismissed and changed to wounding.

The case was reported to the Criminal Department, the Criminal Court, and the Dali Temple, and the sentence of hanging was made. It is equivalent to Ah Yun's death.

But the case took a turn for the better after that, Xu Zun was promoted, he returned to the capital to serve as the secretary of Dali Temple, and then the case continued to be dismissed. So the verdict was overturned, all the way to the emperor. The emperor was also not easy to judge, so he asked Sima Guang and Wang Anshi, the Hanlin scholars around him, to inquire and put forward the final opinion. Two men also made diametrically opposed decisions.

Wang Anshi believes that it is necessary to be lenient, Ah Yun has a voluntary surrender, and during his mother's funeral, the marriage is unreasonable, so he should not be convicted. Sima Guang believes that Ah Yun has the determination to kill, and according to the criminal law, killing and injuring the body is not within the scope of leniency, and he must kill according to the law. Prime Minister Chen Shengzhi, Han Jiang, and Lu Gongbi went down to support Wang Anshi; The privy envoy Wen Yanbo, the imperial historian Cheng Tengfu, and the criminal department supported Sima Guang. Then the ministers quarreled over the case for more than a year......

Combined with the preliminary trial and overturn, the continued trial and overturn, the case has gone through a total of five or six years. dragged a young girl alive to the age of a wife.

Emperor Shenzong was already preparing to change the law at that time, and he couldn't let the case continue to drag on and disrupt the change. So, he stood up and finally made a decision, and Ah Yun changed the sentence and was not convicted of murdering his husband. It is also found that in such cases in the future, where there are circumstances of voluntary surrender, the sentence may be commuted to two crimes. As long as Da Song is not a death penalty, the punishment for other crimes is not serious, and soon Ah Yun will go back.

It seems that this matter has ended, but sixteen years later, Sima Guang was appointed as the prime minister, and the first thing he did when he came to power was to arrest Ayun, who was already married, to completely overturn the ruling of Emperor Shenzong, and use the death of a woman to protect his face.

After the case was over, Cai Bian said angrily to the emperor: "Sima Guang will be in charge of Zhongshumen for the next year, and he will be guilty of defecting to the enemy, slandering the king, and disrupting the government, and his crime is no less than plotting rebellion and rebellion, please make a decision on it!" ”

Zhao Xu was silent for a long time, and he was not easy to convict of this crime. But the anger in his chest still burned, after all, his father, Emperor Shenzong, was provoked by Sima Guang to the imperial power, and this crime was unforgivable.

In the court, Su Zhe just wanted to speak, but was stopped by Liu Anshi. After Liu Anshi came out of the class and stood still, he pointed at Cai Bian and said angrily: "The change of government is the reform of the mother of the Empress Dowager Xuanren, what does it have to do with Sima Gong?" ”

Speaking of mother-to-child politics, Zhao Xu's anger has increased a lot. If others don't know, can he not understand? This was Sima Guang's bad idea for his grandmother. A fluttering sentence wasted Emperor Shenzong's efforts for more than ten years.

This is like scolding the emperor's father, unforgivable.

The new hatred and old hatred were added together, and Zhao Xu couldn't bear it anymore, so he immediately patted the gentian and said in a deep voice: "Sima Guang steals the phase, and his selfish intentions are inescapable. Still have comments? ”

Zhao Xu's eyes fell on Su Zhe, what else did Su Zhe not understand at this time, Liu Anshi was determined to sacrifice himself to protect the other Yuanyou ministers. This includes him and Lu Dafang.

After all, there are not many incidents involving Su Zhe and Lu Dafang.

There is every chance to keep it, but it will be difficult for Liu Anshi. He is a disciple of Sima Guang, and it is difficult to shirk it at all.

There is a way to pull a cushion on the verge of death, it is impossible to pull Cai Bian, Zhang Dian has no chance, and Zeng Bu is not slippery and difficult to start. Liu Anshi's gaze fell on Xing Shu.

This guy didn't like him when he saw him, so he immediately chose Xing Shu.

Liu Anshi immediately informed: "Your Majesty, many of the suggestions were suggested by Cheng Hao as a family teacher, and the ministers did not dare to hide their secrets. For example, avoiding war, that's it. ”

"Cheng Hao?"

"That's right, it's Cheng Hao. However, the minister thought that Cheng Hao was a moral scholar and couldn't do such a bad thing. Liu Anshi knew that Sima Guang's reputation could not be guaranteed, so he simply put all the responsibility on his talent. Of course, Sima Guang's talent is no problem to be a Hanlin bachelor, but being a prime minister is indeed a bit difficult for a strong man: "Your Majesty, you also know that the family teacher is not good at governance, basically whatever the people below say, he thinks it makes sense." Cheng Hao's suggestion was quickly adopted by the tutor, and there were many mistakes. ”

"I think that someone else should be behind it. This person must be someone close to Cheng Hao. ”

Emperor Zhao Xu remembered that it seemed that the topic discussed in the court was to incite public opinion against Ercheng Lixue, and the court needed to use thunderous means to suppress Lixue. Why did he suddenly stab Sima Guang's grave with a rod?

For Sima Guang, the emperor was also very helpless. This guy is dead, and it is certainly not appropriate to dig a grave. It is not painful or itchy to degrade a dead person, and it is of no great use. The key is that I don't understand the hatred, I can't see Sima Guang's bad luck at all, how to make the enemy feel relieved?

This guy is already dead, unless he really dug Sima Guang's grave as Cai Bian and Zhang Dian suggested at the beginning, otherwise he will be degraded, and he will not be able to help Sima Guang.

Especially Sima Guang did not take concubines, and after he and his wife Zhang's two sons died early, he succeeded his brother Sima Dan's son Sima Kang as an adopted son.

It's a pity that Sima Kang is not in good health and has been dead for several years.

It seems that the revenge against Sima Guang can only be done by digging a grave. The dignified emperor, how could he do such an unbearable thing?

Even if the courtiers had such a suggestion, they should not have supported it.

The appearance of Cheng Hao just made up for the problem of punishing people, but there were no criminals. Although Cheng Hao is dead, after all, he has a younger brother Cheng Yi, who is now the world-famous Mr. Yichuan. Of course, there was another person who was very frightened, and this person was Xing Shu. Liu Anshi, as a member of the imperial history, has rich experience in handling cases. How could he give Xing Shu a chance to get away with his crimes, and he simply came to death without proof. In fact, Cheng Yi had a closer relationship than Cheng Hao and Sima Guang at the beginning, even if he slandered, it should be Cheng Yi, not Cheng Hao.

At that time, Xing Shu was not degraded. is still an official in the capital. His official position is not big, and he is not a big man in the law-changing faction, at most he can only be a person who helps wave the flag and shout.

In the early years of Yuanyou, Xing Shu also took refuge in the Gao brothers, who were the nephews of the Empress Dowager Xuanren, and they were also able to listen to the eyes and ears of the courtiers after the Empress Dowager took power.

At that time, Xing Shu helped the two of them come up with ideas every day, and even the music was written by him.

For the sake of the two straw bale relatives, Xing Shu was heartbroken at that time.

It's a pity that later, his good intentions were not only not appreciated by the Empress Dowager Gao, but also treated as a villain and degraded out of Beijing.

He never told outsiders about this past. But the Gao brothers couldn't stand it, and the last one to say it was out.

Emperor Zhao Xu admired Xing Shu very much before, after all, it was really rare for the ministers around him to be as good at things as Xing Shu. Speak well and be considerate. If it's a eunuch, it's even better......

But this appreciation, when Liu Anshi said: "In order to please the Empress Dowager Xuanren, the Gao brothers deliberately slandered the Empress Dowager Zhu and took the title of the concubine as Your Majesty's biological mother, which humiliated Your Majesty!" ”

Zhu is the emperor's biological mother, and after Zhao Xu ascended the throne, she was given the title of concubine. It was the widow who was bullied, but she slapped her son Zhao Xu in the face.

Xing Shu jumped out and pointed at Liu Anshi and said angrily: "Liu Anshi, don't talk nonsense, Xing is sitting at the end and doing right, when did he make such a flattering act?" ”

Even Yang Wei on the side couldn't listen to these words, frowning and shaking his head. The heart said: If you act rightly and sit upright, there will probably be no serious people in this world.

Of course, Liu Anshi would not let Xing Shu go like this, and pulled and twisted Xing Shu and said: "Since Xing Shangshu said that he is decent, it is better to let the Manchu Dynasty civil and military talk about it, where are you decent?" ”

"Lin Shangshu, look at ......"

Lin Xi turned his head and didn't speak, this witness is not easy to be.

"Bachelor Yang......"

Yang Wei arched his hand and said with a smile: "Lord Xing, you and I are just ministers in the same hall, so don't embarrass the official." ”

"Wang Shangshu ......"

Xing Shu was desperate and found that his personnel seemed to be really poor. In the end, it fell on Zeng Bu. Zeng Buduo's treacherous people, how could they come up with this for Xing Shu?

Moreover, Cheng Hao is Xing Shu's teacher again, this guy has a mess, so he doesn't have a chance to help if he wants to!

Zeng Bu sneered and turned his head, not looking at Xing Shu.

Up to now, how could the emperor still not understand the treachery of Xing Shu's gang, and blame him for believing in the traitor.

However, Emperor Zhao Xu couldn't make his own decision, after all, if he made a wrong decision, he wouldn't even have a chance to remedy it. simply said to Zhang Dan: "Zhang Xiang, after you go to find out about this matter, draw up the list and submit it to the court for discussion." ”

After retreating from the dynasty, Zhang Dian stopped Cai Bian.

Cai Bian smiled bitterly, and only after a long time did he speak: "Zhang Xiang, I must give Wang Justice a name, even if he is spurned by the world, I will not hesitate to do it." ”

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Dian was speechless.

Cai Bian is Wang Anshi's son-in-law, if he doesn't stand up, completely suppress Yuan You, and let them steal a high position, this shows that in the emperor's mind, Wang Anshi is also not right.

They were all angry, and it was not good to say much, Cai Bian bowed and said, "The lower official retired." ”

On the other side, Lu Dafang and Su Zhe invited Liu Anshi to talk, and Liu Anshi also understood that after Cai Bian threw out the Ayun case, he and his teacher Sima Guang would have no way to retreat.

At this point, any sacrifice is worthless. But some things, done, are done, even if they are wrong, someone needs to bear it. And this person is undoubtedly the most suitable Liu Anshi. He had no choice. As for why he pulled Xing Shu to be unlucky, he was just disgusted with Xing Shu. Especially this guy is full of flaws and is easy to deal with. It's still from the enemy camp, so it's even better. If you don't choose Xing Shu, who else can you choose?

The court discussion of Zichen Hall swept through the entire capital like a gust of wind.

Even the Military Command Bureau, which usually doesn't care much about the government, seems to sense that the wind direction in the capital is about to change.

Cai Jing hurriedly came back from outside, walked through the corridor, ran to the back office, rushed to Li Kui's official residence, and said, "My lord, the opportunity has come!" ”

Li Kui now has to go to court twice in three days. Cai Bian stabbed Zhang Dian in the back, and when he attacked the Yuanyou party, Li Kui was on the Zichen Palace, but he was a small official, so he could only stand behind and watch the excitement. As soon as Cai Bian's twist and turn comes out, party strife will inevitably arise. This has little impact on the Military Command Bureau, but it is a good opportunity for Cai Jing.

He leaned closer and said, "My lord, in the humble opinion of the lower officials, after this incident, there will be many official positions vacant in the capital. Now it is unknown whether the head of the household department and the provincial magistrate will be affected. But Liu Anshi, the imperial historian of Taiji, is destined to leave the capital, and once he leaves, the vacated imperial historian Zhongcheng is a good choice. ”

Li Kui raised his eyes and looked at Cai Jing, feeling that this old guy had bad intentions and wanted him to go, and then occupy the Military Control Bureau. Then, occupy the small treasury of the Military Command Bureau.

Especially Cai Jing's appearance of pretending to be nervous, it was not enough, and he could see at a glance that this old boy must have known in advance. Li Kui said with a smile: "I have just been promoted to the fourth grade, and it is not appropriate to be promoted at this time, I am afraid of criticism." ”

"Don't miss the opportunity, you won't come again!"

Cai Jing seems to be very interested in Li Kui, his reputation has been damaged, and he is still in dormancy. You have to wait until the officials in the capital have almost forgotten about it before you have a chance. Of course, he also fought for it, but unfortunately he was ruthlessly rejected. This person is still his younger brother, which makes Cai Jing very hurt.

"Yuan Chang, it was your brother Cai Bian who started the party rebellion. Why, you didn't get the news in advance? Li Kui asked.

Cai Jing patted his thigh angrily and said angrily: "My brother has a stubborn personality, since he came out of Qin Fenglu's incident, he has looked at me everywhere I don't like it. I don't want to be so mediocre, but he won't even give me a chance to perform, hateful. ”

"Oh, you're saying you knew that Cai Bian was going to do something to the Yuanyou party?" Li Kui asked.

Cai Jing stroked his beard and said leisurely: "Back then, in the first year of Shaosheng, I was summoned to the capital earlier than him. When he first came to the capital, he lived in my house, can I not know his thoughts? He is the son-in-law of the prince and wants to make a name for the king, but unfortunately the conditions for launching it were not very good. In the Northwest War, the 200,000 army was dragged down by the Western Xia, and neither the court nor the emperor had the heart to raise party disputes. ”

"This forbearance is more than two years. This guy is also able to endure enough. I knew that he was holding back bad water, but unfortunately, such an upright character as mine was regarded as a traitor. And the world treats him as a good person, is there any heavenly reason! Cai Jing said with annoyance: "But my lord, this official in the imperial history is more decent than ordinary Shangshu, and it is really a good opportunity." ”

Cai Jing further said: "Zhang Xiang should not have this idea, he must have been coerced by my brother. ”

Li Kui was curious: "What kind of coercion law?" ”

"It's simple, as long as it's in the court, after causing the emperor's anger. Zhang Xiang is the person who implements the law change now, if he doesn't support the name of the king, what qualifications does he have to be the person who presides over the law change? At that time, the post of prime minister will be suspended. The reformers will complain about each other. But as long as Zhang Xiang nodded and admitted, he fell into my brother's trap. I had to go all the way to the dark. Speaking of which, it's pitiful, but the dignified prime minister was kidnapped by his deputy Daodao. If I were the prime minister, I would be absolutely mad. ”

For conspiracy, Cai Jing's level is not worse than that of a first-class master.

However, his methods are too direct, and it is easy to give people the discomfort of being aggressive.

Imperial History?

Li Kui had never thought of this official position. The high-ranking officials of the third grade are more majestic than the Shangshu. It is even more important than the ordinary criminal department, the engineering department, and the military department. He is also the most important yamen chief official in Menxia Province.

Whoever disagrees, he will be impeached! Just ask if you're afraid!

In the afternoon, Li Kui went to the capital hall with a shift in class.

Zhang Dian was in a very bad mood, and the moment he saw Li Kui, the old man asked Li Kui in a bad mood: "Do you have something important to do?" ”

The simple meaning is that if nothing happens, you can go.

Li Kui approached and said, "Zhang Xiang, I heard that the position of the middle prince in the imperial history ......."

"Get out!"

Zhang Dian was worried that there was nowhere to vent the depression in his heart, and pointed at Li Kui and scolded angrily.