After Cai Jing's explanation, Zhao Ji suddenly understood. They were all intellectuals and were very familiar with interpreting texts. No matter how difficult the sentences were, they would not be a problem for them.
"I understand!" Zhao Ji stood up and paced around the study with his hands behind his back. "It's hard to defy fate, but that doesn't mean it can't be defied. As long as people are 'determined' and work hard, they can change their fate."
"Well said!" Zhang Shixun applauded.
Zhao Ji stopped and said to Cai Jing, "Yuan Chang, it's time for you to come out of retirement. I can only feel at ease if you are in charge of the court affairs."
"Your Majesty, I am too old to be of such a high rank."
Cai Jing hurriedly stood up and declined, but he was very happy in his heart.
He served as prime minister four times for a total of seventeen years, experiencing four ups and downs, and can be said to be the first person in ancient and modern times.
Ever since the emperor ordered him to resign and retire in the second year of Xuanhe, he has been unemployed at home. He originally thought that he would never have the chance to become the prime minister in this lifetime. Unexpectedly, a pie fell from the sky today and he once again reached the pinnacle of power. How could he not be overjoyed?
"Even an old horse in the stable still has ambitions to run a thousand miles. Yuan Chang, despite being in his seventies, is still vigorous and energetic. The Song Dynasty has reached a critical juncture, and I need veteran ministers like Yuan Chang to offer my advice... You are old now, so there is no need to attend court unless there are important matters. You can stay home and handle state affairs."
When these words were spoken, even Zhang Shixun who was standing next to him was a little surprised.
It is a great thing for the prime minister to handle state affairs at home.
"Official, absolutely not."
Cai Jing had been in power for a long time and had reached the point where he was not easily surprised by either honor or disgrace. However, he felt a little overwhelmed by the emperor's favor today.
"Yuan Chang, don't refuse. It's settled." Zhao Ji pointed at Zhang Shixun and said to Cai Jing, "Shixun is a loyal man, but he has a request. Please take care of it for me."
Cai Jing bowed and accepted the order, and the matter was settled.
After talking for a while, Zhao Ji calmed down and returned to the palace.
After seeing the emperor off, Cai Jing specially asked Zhang Shixun to stay, saying that he had made new crab roe buns in his mansion today and asked Zhang Shixun to taste them.
Zhang Shixun was a person who could not resist the temptation of his taste buds. Cai Jing's crab roe buns were so famous that people in later generations knew about his crab roe buns.
It is said that once Cai Jing entertained guests and the meal was crab roe buns. Someone roughly calculated the bill after the meal and found that the crab roe buns cost more than 1,300 strings of cash.
Later generations calculated for Cai Jing, assuming the price of rice at the time was 1,200 wen per dan (a dan of rice weighed approximately 60 kilograms). This suggests that the purchasing power of one guan (a string of copper coins) was equivalent to 200 to 300 yuan (approximately US$400). Therefore, over 1,300 guan (a string of copper coins) would be equivalent to over 300,000 yuan (approximately US$500,000).
Cai Jing’s extravagance is astonishing!
In the living room, Cai Jing put down his chopsticks after eating a bun and advised: "Shixun, I am old, and crab roe is cold in nature, so I dare not eat too much. You don't have to be taboo, just eat as much as you can."
"In that case, I won't be polite."
Zhang Shixun was conquered by the deliciousness after just one bite, and he ate more than ten in a row.
Seeing his good appetite, Cai Jing envied him, "When I was young, although I didn't have as big an appetite as you, my appetite wasn't bad either. I could eat five or six crab roe buns in one meal. Haha! It's still good to be young."
"If Heaven had feelings, it would also age, let alone humans. This is the law of nature." Zhang Shixun rubbed his stomach and said contentedly, "I've heard about the crab roe buns at the Cai Mansion for a long time, but I've never had the chance to try them. Today, I finally got my wish. This trip was worthwhile."
"Haha! It's just a meal of buns, no need to make such a fuss." Cai Jing stood up with a smile and said, "Let's go to the study and talk."
Zhang Shixun knew he had something to say, so he followed him to the study.
Cai Xiu brewed a pot of tea and brought it over, then tactfully left the study.
"Shixun, what are you doing for?" Cai Jing went straight to the point.
"For the Great Song, for the people of the world." Zhang Shixun picked up the teapot, refilled Cai Jing's cup first, then poured himself a cup. He spoke slowly, "It's truly painful to be sober while everyone else is drunk. I'm not talented, but I don't have the ability to change the world, but I do have the determination to serve my country with all my heart."
"Serve the country with loyalty?"
Cai Jing smiled, a gleam of light flashing in his half-open eyes.
Zhang Shixun said fervently, "Yes, serving the country with all one's heart and soul, in a broad sense, refers to the country of China, not just the Song Dynasty."
"Haha! Using the name of the Heavenly Book to act is a minor practice, and it actually puts you in a lower position... Stop making excuses, and listen to me." Cai Jing took a sip of tea and continued, "Although I don't know where your Heavenly Book came from, or how you summoned the heavenly thunder, I must advise you on one thing: unorthodox practices may work for a while, but they won't last forever. Especially when it comes to national affairs, you must follow the path of justice."
The words sounded very high-sounding.
If it were someone else, they would definitely be confused by his words, but in front of Zhang Shixun, this trick didn't work.
He has a golden finger, and he knows everything about people and events over thousands of years. It's useless for Cai Jing to play tricks in front of him!
"Prime Minister Cai! With all due respect, although what you said makes sense, there is one thing you may not have heard of."
"What?"
“It doesn’t matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it’s a good cat.”
Cai Jing was stunned. He was discussing the philosophy of governing the country with this guy, but he brought out a piece of vulgar slang. What did he mean?
"Prime Minister Cai, I don't have any lofty ambitions or aspirations, nor do I want to pursue a so-called official career. Fame, wealth, and power hold no allure to me." Zhang Shixun felt he had to make things clear with this old man; he couldn't let him see him as someone like Wang Laozhi or Li Lingsu. "Prime Minister Cai, I don't believe in Taoism or Buddhism. I only believe in my ancestors."
Cai Jing was a little confused by his words.
It's no wonder that he was like that. Due to the limitations of the times, even if Zhang Shixun told him his true origins, he would not be able to understand such a strange thing as time travel, nor would he be able to understand the technology of later generations.
"Whether you believe the Heavenly Book and the Heavenly Thunder or not, let's put it aside for now. There are some things you won't understand even if I tell you." Zhang Shixun was unusually frank. He said, "My origins are vague and mysterious, and it's difficult to explain them clearly in words. But I can clearly tell Prime Minister Cai the purpose of my coming here."
"You tell me now." Cai Jing became more and more confused. He had wanted to give a long speech, but now he couldn't continue. He was talking at cross purposes and wasting his time.
"I've already revealed the secret, so I don't mind revealing more." Zhang Shixun sat up straight, stared at him, and said, "In a few years, the Jurchens will invade the Song Dynasty. Tokyo will fall, and thousands of people will be displaced and corpses will be scattered all over the land. And you, Prime Minister Cai..."
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