The Yan family! The rich family! Wow. In ancient times, the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law was also so clear.
Zhang Fei couldn't help but look at Fu Bi in surprise, and thought to himself, yes! Yan Jidao is his brother-in-law, and he didn't promote him.
Fu Bi suddenly asked, "I heard that recently many ministers in the court have recommended you to try the Suizhou case?"
Zhang Fei just nodded slightly and said, "I have heard a little bit about it, but I haven't received any imperial edict, so I am not very clear about it."
At present, it is still in the stage of building momentum. It is still uncertain whether Zhang Fei will be sent. If the emperor makes a decision immediately, then everyone will know that it is you, the emperor, who is causing trouble.
For the time being, Zhao Xu did not pay any attention to them.
Fu Bi was clear-headed. He had seen this kind of trick too many times. He asked again, "If the government asked you to go, would you go?"
Zhang Fei pretended to hesitate and said, "I dare not disobey the emperor's order."
Fu Bi said: "If you don't want to go, I can say a few words for you."
Is he testing me, or does he really think I'm not capable? Zhang Fei had some doubts in his heart.
...
...
Fu Bi seemed to see through his thoughts and said frankly, "It was me who suggested to the government that the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs be used to eliminate the malpractices of the salt administration, and Sima Junshi suggested letting you go. But afterwards, I felt that if you really went, it might be counterproductive and disadvantageous to you."
Zhang Fei also asked directly: "Mr. Fu thinks that the younger generation can't do it?"
Fu Bi sighed, "The Northwest region is of utmost importance. There are no trivial matters there. Even if you have talent, you may not be able to think things through and it is easy to get stuck in that quagmire. There are no officials who do not make mistakes in important positions there, but it is not necessarily because of their mistakes in administration, but because what they see is different from what the court thinks. You are so young and have made many enemies in the court. If you go there, it will be extremely dangerous, not in the local area, but in the court."
That's how politics works. If you do a good job at the local level, it doesn't necessarily mean you have made a contribution. You may also have made a mistake.
For example, Fan Xiang, Xue Xiang and others, who were all very capable officials, were impeached all the time. If they made a small mistake, they might be dismissed from office. On the contrary, those officials who were mediocre were leisurely and might even be promoted.
In official circles, most people do not seek to achieve anything but to avoid making mistakes.
Only fools like Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi would throw themselves into the fire.
Of course, he said this to Zhang Fei because he was optimistic about Zhang Fei, but he still supported Zhang Fei to go to Jiangnan first. The Northwest was too complicated and it was very easy to make mistakes. Even he couldn't do everything.
Zhang Fei heard his sincere tone, and it didn't seem like he was testing him. He also knew that he must have guessed that the emperor intended to send him to the northwest to build the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, so he didn't hide it and said, "Thank you, Mr. Fu, for your advice. I also know that this trip will be dangerous. If I were asked to govern, I would not dare to go, but if I were asked to build the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, I would have some confidence."
Fu Bi asked: "If the interests of the country conflict with the law, how will you decide?"
Zhang Fei said: "Of course, national interests come first."
Fu Bi was startled and said, "If that's the case, how can you build a good public security, procuratorial and judicial system?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "The first principle of the rule of law is to defend the interests of the country and the monarch. As long as I make good use of this, I believe I will have a chance to succeed, because if they want to deal with me, they will definitely use this as well."
Fu Bi nodded slightly. Yes, he was different from the iron-faced and impartial officials like Bao Xianggong in the past and Zhao Xianggong now. He was more flexible and more skilled in playing tricks. He said, "So you are fully prepared."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "To be honest with you, Mr. Fu, there is no way to prepare for this. If I really go, I will take it one step at a time. If it really doesn't work, I will get out as soon as possible. I will never act on impulse. Anyway, I am still young. Success is a miracle, and failure is justified."
Fu Bi laughed out loud, "I feel relieved that you think so."
After a pause, he continued, "To be honest, I just don't agree with you going to the northwest. But if you go somewhere else, I still agree. I want to see how you judge the case, so that it can give us some inspiration for amending the law."
Zhang Fei was confused and asked, "Did Lord Fu encounter any problems in amending the law?"
Fu Bi said with emotion: "It is easy to know but difficult to practice! Every time I listen to your lectures, I always feel enlightened and full of hope, but when it comes to applying it, I always feel that it is difficult to master it. This revision of the law is a long road, and I estimate that it will take many years."
“I see!”
Zhang Fei couldn't help but frown.
Fu Bi asked, "Why? Are you planning to bring the new law with you?"
"No."
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "I originally thought that if I were to go, I would select a few students to go with me. Mr. Fu also knows that with my background and age, I can only control those few students."
Fu Bi said hurriedly, "That's fine, you can choose whatever you want. Alas, they are still too young to help much in amending the law. The ones who are really amending it are me, Kuanfu, Junshi and others, and they can only raise questions."
"Yeah?"
"Um."
"I wonder which of those students Mr. Fu thinks can go with me?" Zhang Fei asked again.
Fu Bi thought for a moment and said, "Cai Bian and Shangguan Jun are the most suitable. Although Ye Zuqia is talented, he is also quite arrogant. If you take him with you, I'm afraid he will cause you trouble. Although Cai Jing is thoughtful, he is too smooth and good at taking advantage of opportunities. His mind is not on the judiciary, but on his career."
Zhang Fei said thoughtfully: "This is a good candidate."
Fu Bi frowned and asked, "What did you say?"
Zhang Fei was startled. He glanced at Fu Bi awkwardly, then said, "If you go to the northwest, you still have to be flexible. If I'm surrounded by a bunch of rigid people, it won't be easy! If these four people really go with me, the one who might cause me the least trouble is Cai Jing. After all, he is very nervous about his career."
Fu Bi said: "But it is also possible that he will betray you."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "It could be anyone. Some do it for justice, some for career advancement. This cannot be prevented."
Fu Bi stroked his beard and suddenly asked, "What if Xu Zhongtu betrayed you?"
"My father-in-law?" Zhang Fei asked in surprise.
Fu Bi nodded and said, "Suppose your father-in-law supports Wang Jiefu, and you support Sima Junshi, what will you do?"
Wow. How can we talk about such a complicated issue? Zhang Fei was sweating a little and said, "I really haven't thought about this, but my father-in-law and I rarely talk about official matters. Even if this happens, I don't think it will affect the relationship between us."
"How easy is that!" A bitter smile appeared on Fu Bi's lips.
Just at this time, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang and Lu Gong came over.
"Rich man."
“You guys are here too.”
Fu Bi glanced at the three of them with a little surprise.
Wen Yanbo chuckled and said, "I'm curious, so I came to see it for myself."
Zhang Fei quickly bowed and said, "I, Zhang San, greet Duke Wen, Prime Minister Ji, and Scholar Sima."
Wen Yanbo and Lu Gongzhe nodded slightly, while Sima Guang turned his face away.
Lu Gong glanced at Sima Guang, then laughed at Zhang Fei and said, "Zhang San, I didn't expect you to have such a high reputation in the court. All the civil and military officials in the court are very fond of you!"
Zhang Fei smiled bitterly and said, "Perhaps it won't be long before the Northwest officials will favor me and recommend me to return to the court to be the prime minister."
After these words were spoken, Wen Yanbo, Lu Gongzhuo and Fu Bi could not help but burst into laughter.
The corners of Sima Guang's mouth twitched, but he tried hard not to laugh.
It was about the same time, so they walked inside. Zhang Fei deliberately stayed beside Sima Guang and whispered, "Master Sima, this matter has nothing to do with me. I didn't betray you."
Sima Guang deliberately slowed down his pace and snorted, "If you don't tell me, who will know?"
Wen Yanbo, Lu Gongzhe and the others also noticed it, but they pretended not to see it and walked straight inside.
"Officials!"
Zhang Fei said.
"Official family?"
Sima Guang frowned slightly.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Mr. Sima, you don't know that the emperor has also noticed this matter. Moreover, the emperor seems to have planned to send me to the northwest to build the public security, procuratorial and judicial system. At the same time, he hopes that I can solve this matter for Zhong Yan so that he can concentrate on fighting the enemy on the border."
Sima Guang panicked and asked, "Are they going to sacrifice Lu Shen?"
Zhang Fei hurriedly said, "Absolutely not! Please rest assured, Master Sima."
Sima Guang nodded slightly, glanced at Zhang Fei again, and sighed: "Actually, this is not your fault. I recommended you to go to the northwest, and I was the one who took the case to you. But now it's done, you have to go, so you have to be careful!"
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "To be honest with you, Scholar Sima, the person I am most worried about this time is Scholar Sima."
Sima Guang bulged his eyes and asked, "Are you still worried about me?"
Zhang Fei said: "Sima Xueshi, the judicial reform is in your hands. If something happens to you, then I will be finished! When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. You are my towering tree!"
"Stop flattering me!" Sima Guang waved his sleeves and said, "What can happen to me?"
Zhang Fei said: "Well, um, what do you mean?"
Seeing that he was hesitant to speak, Sima Guang hesitated for a moment, then pointed at Zhang Fei and said, "Wait a minute! Explain it to me clearly. Are you worried that I will lose to Wang Jiefu?"
Zhang Fei hurriedly said, "That's not what I meant. I'm afraid that Scholar Sima and Scholar Wang will get into a fight and quit."
"Give up the stall?" Sima Guang blew his beard and glared, "Am I that kind of person?"
Zhang Fei said, "Master Sima, please calm down and listen to what I have to say."
"you say!"
Sima Guang said: "I really want to know why you think so."
Seriously! Seriously!
Zhang Fei whispered, "I'm just afraid that Scholar Sima will pay too much attention to Scholar Wang's new policies and ignore judicial reform, but in fact, judicial reform is more important than the new policies. Moreover, many officials in the court are also afraid of judicial reform. If Scholar Sima is not careful, he will be tricked by villains and lose sight of the main goal, so that the judicial reform will fail at the last minute."
Sima Guang said: "Don't worry about it. How could I do such a stupid thing?"
Zhang Fei asked, "If Wang Xueshi wants to compete with the people for profit and plunder their wealth, what will Sima Xueshi do?"
Sima Guang said: "Then I will certainly not let him succeed."
Zhang Fei asked again: "If the emperor supports Wang Xueshi and does not listen to Sima Xueshi, how will Sima Xueshi respond?"
Sima Guang said: "Since the emperor doesn't trust me, then I will!"
Zhang Fei asked: "What?"
Sima Guang blinked and said weakly, "Are you going to let Wang Jiefu do whatever he wants?"
Zhang Fei said: "This is what I am worried about. I have been working hard in the northwest, but in the end, the judicial reform is gone. Isn't this just a waste of time? And I may also be implicated!"
He was really worried about this. In the past one or two years, he had been acting as a lubricant between Wang and Sima, and with the trust of Zhao Xu, he tried his best to maintain the situation of fighting but not breaking. This was most beneficial to him. If one party dominated the market, it would be difficult to build the judicial system.
He was afraid that if he withdrew, Sima Guang and Wang Anshi would immediately start fighting.
Sima Guang was silent for a while, and suddenly felt that Zhang Fei's worries seemed to have some reason. If he quit, it would be like selling him out. He suddenly said, "Okay! I promise you that I will preserve this judicial reform no matter what."
Zhang Fei breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I feel relieved."
Sima Guang felt uncomfortable when he saw his expression, and said unconvincedly: "Why do you want Wang Jiefu to talk to him and ask him not to compete with the people for profit?"
Zhang Fei said: "Master Wang has such a stubborn character, how can I persuade him?"
Sima Guang nodded and said, "Yes! If he could persuade him, he would not be Wang Jiefu. You are right to come to me and talk to me. Okay, I will stay away from you until you return to the court."
Wow. How can you be better than him? You are not of the same character. I came to you only because I know that if we fight, you will be the one to go, not him. Zhang Fei said insincerely: "This is really unfair to Sima Xueshi."
Sima Guang said: "Then you have to do something good."
"Of course, of course!"
After the chat, the two entered the building, which was already crowded with people and every seat was occupied. However, surprisingly, the first and second floors were full of white-haired scholars, while the young people were all driven to the third floor. The old man didn't want to climb the stairs.
In the poetry world of the Northern Song Dynasty, Yan Shu was absolutely a leading figure. From the elderly in their seventies to the young men in their twenties, all of them admired his poetry.
Nowadays, he is definitely a top star.
Coupled with the emergence of drama, it attracted another wave of traffic.
Fu Bi was seen standing in front with a cane. Sima Guang and Zhang Fei walked over and took a sidelong glance, only to see Fu Bi looking up blankly with his cloudy eyes slightly moist.
I looked up following his gaze.
But I saw two red silk ribbons falling down from the third floor, and on them were written:
A new song and a glass of wine, the same weather and pavilion as last year. When will the setting sun return?
The flowers fall helplessly, and the familiar swallows return. I wander alone in the fragrant path of the small garden.
(End of this chapter)
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