The place where the prime ministers of the Song Dynasty worked on a daily basis was called the Zhengshi Hall, which was located in the southwest corner of the imperial city and opposite to the Privy Council to the west. Therefore, it is known as the East Palace and the West Palace.

The area of ​​the east and west governments is similar, each composed of more than twenty pavilions and halls, which is the political and military center of the Song Empire. Although the power of the Song Dynasty has declined to a certain extent compared to the previous dynasty, no matter how wise the emperor is, he is only one person, and no matter how diligent he is, he will be difficult to manage all things every day. Without the priest and the assistant government, he will not be able to control the vast family, country and the world.

Moreover, how many major events can the young emperor who grew up in the palace of the Deep Palace know? If the emperor really relies on the experience and wisdom to govern the country, the country will definitely not be able to do so. Therefore, choosing the right prime minister and Privy Council for the east and west palaces in the southwest corner of the imperial city is the emperor's top priority.

In the past Zhezong Dynasty, although the party and government were fierce, and the new and old parties were ups and downs, many people were demoted to the ends of the world. However, it is undeniable that whether it was the years when Empress Dowager Gao was in charge of the dynasty or the seven years when Zhezong took power, the prime ministers in charge of the two governments were famous officials. Moreover, although the party and government were fierce, the Zhezong Dynasty implemented the "two parties took turns to govern."

In the early days, Empress Dowager Gao was in charge of the dynasty, and the two governments were famous officials, such as Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo, Lu Gongzhu, Fan Chunren, Lu Dafang, Liu Zhi, Su Song, An Tao, Han Zhongyan, etc. In the second half, the rule of Zhezong was unquestionable. Zhang Dun and Zeng Bu were in charge of the east and west governments respectively, and worked for seven years.

This method of "revolving governance" seems to be fierce in the party and government on the surface, and one rotation will change the entire court to the forefront. But in fact, it makes the "ruling party" no longer have any control and can implement their policies.

Therefore, although Zhezong's reputation was very poor in history and was recognized as frequent tyrants and treacherous parties, his economy was prosperous during the early period of Empress Dowager Gao's rule and the world was well-off. In the later period of Zhezong's rule, he made great achievements in military affairs and his economic situation was still acceptable.

However, this kind of "party politics" does not conform to the traditional Chinese concept of "the monarch is proud but not fighting, and the group is not a party". Even when Zhezong was alive, he was also looked down upon by knowledgeable people in the world. The so-called "new party" and "old party" actually mean that the other party is a traitor who becomes a clique, and he is a non-party gentleman... In the Song Dynasty, "joining the party" itself was a sin and he was impeached by the censor, so they were all "underground parties".

When the throne was passed to Zhao Ji, who was determined to be a saint, eliminated his clichés and used the old and new to make it disturb each other, it became politically correct.

Looking out from the General Office of the Left Pushe, the Minister of the Sect, and the Minister of the Inspector, the snow outside the window seemed to freeze the entire Kaifeng Prefecture. Seeing that the cold weather in this school was like a scene, Han Zhongyan, who was the prime minister, couldn't help but think of the late emperor who died in the first month of this year. The weather was as cold as it is now. He thought of Zhang Dun, who assisted the emperor for seven years. At this time last year, Zhang Dun was still sitting in this General Office, a powerful minister, and I don't know how proud he was.

But now it's my turn to be the prime minister, why can't I be proud at all? Even better than when I was in charge of the Privy Council during the Yuanyou period. At that time, Empress Dowager Xuanren was in charge of the government, and the court was full of "non-party gentlemen", so it was very easy to do things. However, no matter what I proposed, the right prime minister Zeng Bu must have opposed it. Even the matter of opening a school in Yuntai Mountain and appointing Su Dongpo in charge of the official's instructor was blocked by Zeng Bu. Su Dongpo was a "non-party gentlemen"! Zeng Bu wanted members of the treacherous party to take charge of the Yuntai Academy...

If the officials hadn't gotten angry in Chongzheng Hall, Su Dongpo's recommendation of Yuntai Academy has not come down until now!

Except for Su Dongpo who almost won the Yuntai Academy, the old party leaders Su Che and Fan Chuncui (the son of Fan Zhongyan) were not able to recover successfully. They were both 61 and 55, both in good health and sufficient qualifications. Su Che was the prime minister and Fan Chuncui was the commander. If they could recover, they could enter the center.

But one of these two people was promoted to the Taiping Palace of Shangqing, and the other just retired at the age of 55 after being appointed as the Huiyou Pavilion. How could those who were promoted to the court at the age of 60 and passed away?

As for Fan Chuncui's brother Fan Chunren, he gave it to the Grand Secretary of Guanwen Hall, but Fan Chunren was blind and could not even be the prime minister.

So now Han Zhongyan, the "non-party" prime minister, has a little bit of a bare commander!

However, the "non-party gentlemen" did not have any strength to resist. After the incident of the former emperor, they began to impeach Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, Cai Jing, Zhang Shangying and other traitors.

Now that Zhang Dun and Cai Bian have been driven out of Kaifeng Prefecture, Cai Jing has also been demoted from Jiangning (has not taken office yet), Zhang Shangying's Hebei East Road Transport Author is also in danger, and it seems that he will be finished soon.

However, this level of derogatory reprimand is still not enough to wipe out the treacherous officials of the new party that are spread throughout the court...

What is even more worrying is that Empress Dowager Xiang is now ill. If there is anything, the gentleman and righteous minister in the court will have no support!

When Han Zhongyan thought of the sick empress dowager, he could only sigh.

After all, Empress Dowager Xiang is not Empress Dowager Gao! This old lady does not have such a strong fist to eliminate the traitor. However, the traitor in the court is powerful, but the upright gentleman is weak. If there is any way to wipe out the traitor.

After thinking about it, Han Zhongyan didn't expect any tricks. It was getting late and the evening drum was about to ring soon. Han Zhongyan was about to pack up and go home tonight in the mansion. There were also some officials who were newly rated Jinshi to meet. Of course, those people were "non-party" upright gentlemen, all of whom Han Zhongyan wanted to use great things or discuss major events with them.

Just as I was about to pack up the copywriting I wanted to take home, I saw my son-in-law Wu Haowen walk in.

Wu Haowen's office is in the Secretariat, not far from the two palaces, so he often comes and walks around to contact him. However, today he has something to talk to his father-in-law Taishan.

"Brother-in-law, someone from the family just said that my elder brother has returned from Haizhou and wants to visit your old man tonight."

Han Zhongyan smiled clearly. Wu Haogu is a good official, and he should not look down on him, but he doesn't really appreciate this lucky person.

And I must meet him tonight! Because the focus of the discussion in Chongzheng Hall these days is "the matter to the north". This is a chain reaction caused by the news that the Liao Kingdom suppressed the Mogus Rebellion in the Song Dynasty.

It seems that Zhang Dun's judgment on the chaos in Liao Kingdom had failed, so the court should adjust the national policy of military preparation for Liao as set by the late emperor. The Military and Academic Division of the Privy Council and Jiehe Shangshi, the two "Preparation for Liao" projects, should we reconsider the value of existence? These two projects were all under Zhang Dun's strong initiative... Several upright censors and righteous decrees, have been thinking about making a fuss about the Military and Academic Division and the Shangshi these days!

However, Han Zhongyan was full of concerns and did not dare to act decisively. On the one hand, he was a little cowardly; on the other hand, he also knew that Wu Haogu was the confidant of the official family, and many Kaifeng Prefecture generals invested money in Jiehe Shangshi.

So we have to discuss this with Wu Haogu first, and then we can get the medicine after we have figured out the government’s thoughts!

...

"The great official, Wudongmen arrived and entered the city with the Goryeo delegation. Some people saw Wudongmen having a great chat with a Goryeo official."

Ji Yi had already returned to her home in Kaifeng Prefecture at this time and was playing backgammon with Zhang Yuan in the attic.

Zhang Dun has now been appointed as the governor of Yuezhou and is on his way to his post. However, Zhang Yuan has not been implicated for the time being. He was promoted to the seventh rank of Xuan Fenglang not long ago, and was considered a court official. However, he did not give him a real position and was also exempted from the proofreader, allowing him to be elected in Kaifeng Prefecture.

He originally wanted to accompany Zhang Dun to Yuezhou, but Zhang Dun stopped him and asked him to stay in Kaifeng Prefecture to see the limelight and keep in touch with Ji Yi.

So after Ji Yi returned to Beijing under the imperial edict, Zhang Yuan went to Ji Yi's mansion every few days to meet him.

"Reminiscing about this, how did Wu Haogu talk to a Goryeo official?"

After listening to the Ji family's notice, Zhang Yuan frowned and asked Ji Yi, "Gali Tong".

"That Goryeo official should be Wu Yanchong. He is from Haizhou from our dynasty. His family is a sea merchant and he has a good idea in Goryeo."

"Oh." Zhang Yuan nodded, "Yizhi, who do you think Wu Haogu will be the first to visit after returning to Beijing?"

"Then you have to ask?" Ji Yi snorted and said, "Of course it's Han Zhongyan."

"He is optimistic about the old party?"

Ji Yi shook her head and smiled, "He is a son of Bianliang, a son-in-law, and a scholar and a businessman. Such people naturally tend to be the traitor of the Yuanyou Party."

"But the Yuanyou Party members wanted to demolish the Military Academy and Jiehe Market... Both of these have something to do with him, right?"

Ji Yi smiled, "It is true that I want to demolish the Military and Education Department. Are the Yuanyou Party members who are afraid of Liao and like tigers dare to move?"

"That's right." Zhang Yuan also smiled, "Yizhi, do you think the government wants to demolish the Military and Education Department?"

"This..." Ji Yi thought, "I'm afraid it will!"

"Oh? How do you see it?"

"The Military and Education Department has several elite soldiers," Ji Yi said, "and it is also in the hands of civil officials of the two prefectures... This is a matter of destroying the family law of the ancestors.

But whoever proposes to abolish the Military and Education Department will be not far from falling!"

“Why?”
Chapter completed!