Chapter 54
As soon as Zhang Yan's memorial was submitted, the atmosphere in the court changed suddenly.
The Qingliu faction was immediately in an uproar, and the court was in an uproar, like pouring oil on boiling water.
Zhang Yan's superior, Xu Ang, the Prince's Secretary, reacted most strongly.
After Song Qianzhaotai learned of Zhang Yan's memorial, she hadn't been idle either, and had been urging the Crown Prince to bring her to the Emperor frequently. Today's "chance encounter" with the ministers was more like waiting for them to arrive.
But surprisingly, the person walking in front was not Xu Ang, but the Minister of Revenue Song Jian - her grandfather!
"Your Majesty, your servants, may you live long, long, and long live His Majesty! Your Majesty, your Majesty, may you live a thousand years, a thousand years, and a thousand thousand years!"
Led by Song Jian and Xu Ang, followed by the six assistant ministers of the ministries, there were about eight or nine people in total.
The other heavenly officials did not dare to come, as they were all more or less involved with Li Shufeng.
Song Qianzhao glanced over and found that the emperor's face was slightly stiff, especially when he saw Song Jian, a trace of helplessness and boredom flashed in his eyes.
This grandfather was a downplayed version of Hai Rui. From relatives of the emperor to eunuchs and ministers, even the then-crown prince, Emperor Yongshou, was not spared; he attacked them all.
Song Jian, the highest-ranking minister present and renowned for his integrity, spoke frankly, "Your Majesty, we are here to discuss Zhang Yan's recommendation of Lü Jian for the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Three Frontiers."
"Lü Jian is arrogant and conceited. He was in cahoots with Jiang Feng during the previous emperor's reign, and now he's colluding with Li Shufeng."
"If such a shameless person is given important positions again, how will the people of the world discuss our Dasui court? And how will they view Your Majesty's wisdom and wisdom?"
"There is indeed disagreement within the court on this matter. Minister Song's words are reasonable, but Zhang Yan's memorial on the selection of generals is also quite insightful."
"Your Majesty!" Song Jian said excitedly, "I truly do not understand. How can someone who colluded with evil be considered insightful? This is known to everyone in the court and the country. Please explain, Your Majesty, why you must appoint Lü Jian?"
Emperor Yongshou turned his gaze to Song Qianzhao. He was truly troubled by this upright minister. Since Song Qianzhao had previously stated that he was confident in persuading the ministers, why not let him handle the situation? Besides, a confrontation between grandfather and grandson was quite interesting.
"This question..." The emperor paused meaningfully, "How about letting Little Lord Song answer it for you?"
Song Qianzhao stepped forward, bowed to his grandfather, and said, "Grandson, I'd like to ask you first, grandfather, why do you insist on opposing this matter?"
Song Jian was stunned and only then noticed Song Qianzhao's presence, and his face changed.
His graying beard trembled with anger. "I've made it very clear just now! Lü Jian is a man of poor character, colluding with the likes of Li Shufeng. How can such a sycophant be entrusted with such an important task?"
Song Qianzhao took a deep breath. With the border in danger, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and argue with her elders.
"Are you really incapable of the task?" She looked directly at her grandfather. "I remember that Lü Jian made numerous military achievements in Liaodong. Grandfather was also in the imperial court back then, so he should know more about it than I do."
The hall fell silent for a moment. This statement truly hit home—Lü Jian's military achievements were a fact that no one could deny.
Song Jian hesitated for a moment, and Xu Ang spoke up for him, saying, "Although Lü Jian had some military achievements, they were merely his duty as a minister. Furthermore, the great victory in Liaodong was a testament to the late emperor's prestige and the sacrifices of his officers and men. How could it have been Lü Jian's achievement alone?"
Song Qianzhao raised his eyebrows when he heard this. "From what Lord Xu said, you think the current emperor is not as wise as the late emperor, and the soldiers are no longer as brave as they used to be?"
Xu Ang's face changed. He hadn't expected Song Jian, his grandson, to be so sharp-tongued. He hurriedly defended himself, "I never said anything so outrageous!"
"What exactly does that mean? Lü Jian is still the same Lü Jian; it's only the Emperor and the soldiers who have changed. They were victorious back then, but now they can't? Could it be that in Lord Xu's eyes, the Emperor's benevolence and virtue aren't enough to support Lü Jian's further military exploits?"
These heart-piercing remarks came so quickly and harshly that Xu Ang was speechless for a moment.
This young man is really good at putting scary compliments on people.
"This..." Song Jian was about to speak, but Song Qianzhao raised his hand to stop him.
"Grandfather, please wait a moment." Song Qianzhao seized the opportunity, not giving the other party any chance to interrupt. "Everything else can be put aside for now, but this concerns Your Majesty's reputation. Lord Xu must give a clear answer! Your Majesty is a wise and enlightened monarch. With Your Majesty's divine power and virtue, isn't that enough to protect Lü Jian's triumphant return to the throne?!"
Xu Ang was forced into a corner and could only say, "Your Majesty's holy virtue will surely protect our Da Sui soldiers and ensure victory in every battle, not just Lu Jian!"
Song Qianzhao immediately seized on the topic, "So, you all agree that General Lü Jian can lead the troops to victory. Grandfather, did you hear clearly? Lord Xu has already answered your questions for me."
This statement has been made firmly - if we refute it further, wouldn't it be questioning the emperor's lack of virtue?
Song Jian finally lost his patience and said in a deep voice, "Border military affairs concern the foundation of the nation. How can they be decided by mere rhetoric? Generals fighting abroad certainly rely on the emperor's blessing, but why must they employ such a person of unethical conduct? Can't the court find a loyal and capable minister?"
Song Qianzhao looked at his grandfather's stubbornness and shook his head. "Grandfather, your words are too scholarly. If good generals were easy to find, why would Your Majesty and the other lords be arguing here?"
"Lü Jian is well-versed in military affairs and is the most suitable candidate at this moment. Just like my grandfather was upright and incorruptible, which is why he was appointed to the important position of the Ministry of Revenue. Why shouldn't I recommend him to be the Chief of the Three Borders? It's because each of us has his own strengths."
At this point, Song Qianzhao's tone turned serious: "Grandson, I dare to ask: Which is more important, upholding your own so-called justice and righteousness, or the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians?"
"In the name of 'purifying the imperial system,' how many more orphans and widows have been left at the border? Are those corpses the price of upholding the righteous path?"
"You've been arguing so far, entangled in the distinction between noble men and villains. Have you ever thought about the soldiers who shed blood on the border? Or about the civilians who have suffered so much from the ravages of war?"
"Lü Jian's military prowess is rare in the world. Only with him in command can we minimize the casualties among our Dasui people and soldiers. Have you considered this?"
Xu Ang frowned slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes, "Then how do you know that Lü Jian can minimize the casualties of our Dasui people and soldiers?"
"Then how would Lord Xu know?" Song Qianzhao asked, "Isn't this based on past battle records? Lü Jian rarely lost against the Di people. He's the most likely person to have done this!"
Without waiting for a response, Song Qianzhao continued, "Lord Xu and my grandfather are arguing here, naturally out of the public interest. But how many officials in the court, knowing full well what Lü Jian is capable of, dare not speak out for fear of being implicated in Li Shufeng's case?"
"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened. How could there be so many villains in the court as you say?" Xu Ang retorted.
"Lord Xu, please don't talk to me about the wise and the villain! Everyone here knows very well whether there are such people in the court!"
She looked around at the ministers in the hall. "Let's discuss the matter at hand. Everyone here knows clearly that we have a famous general like Lü Jian, but we can't use him. Why is that? Isn't it because the disputes between the nobles and the villains are too intense?"
"Previously, the censors made wild guesses and slandered even a loyal minister like my grandfather as a villain. Wouldn't this be a joke if it were recorded in history?"
"If you win today and are happy, the Di people will be happier than you!"
…
Xu Ang said in a deep voice, "From what you're saying, are you saying that the court doesn't consider virtue when hiring people, but only talent? If someone has outstanding talent, they should be given a high position even if their virtue is lacking?"
"Even if this can temporarily alleviate an urgent need, if this precedent is set and the court no longer selects officials based on virtue, won't the court be filled with treacherous and corrupt officials in the future?"
"When did this humble servant ever say that talent is more important than virtue?" Song Qianzhao retorted, "Master Xu has not yet grasped my true meaning."
"Let me put it this way... If Li Shufeng were still alive, why would there be any controversy over Lü Jian's expedition? But now that Li Shufeng has been executed, Lü Jian is finding it difficult to use him. Is this really a dispute between gentlemen and villains? No, it's the result of factional strife within the court. It's precisely these factional divisions that have ossified the court's personnel selection process."
"Why? Because too many people like you, my lords, always regard 'Lü Jian's being Li Shufeng's man' as the most important thing about him, while deliberately ignoring his talent as a general. You call him a villain, but you all know in your hearts that this man can truly defeat the enemy!"
"At this critical juncture, following the advice of the gentlemen may not lead to any major disaster. Factional struggles in the court will replace the proper use of personnel. As long as they are not our own, even if they are extremely talented, they will be of no use. If this continues, what will be the result?"
Song Qianzhao saluted the emperor and said, "What I really want to protect today is not just Lü Jian, but my Da Sui's way of employing people!"
"Governing a country and maintaining its security depends first on finding the right people. Although Lu Jian is not a perfect man, he is the best candidate for the current crisis at the border. If this reputation is not preserved, many talented people will be ruined by factionalism and unable to serve the country!"
This passage is like a rushing river, endless, every word is sonorous, and it is so heart-wrenching!
Xu Ang and Song Jian were speechless for a moment, feeling vaguely shocked.
Xuan Shu's eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of his lips unconsciously lifted up - it was a genuine, undisguised smile of admiration. He looked at Song Qianzhao with a burning gaze, as if admiring a piece of jade that had suddenly burst into light.
The emperor stroked his beard and smiled. "I have promised you a generous reward if you can persuade the ministers. I now promote you to the position of Chief Justice of the Silver Bureau and grant you a thousand taels of silver."
"I thank you for your grace, my lord." Song Qianzhao kowtowed respectfully.
After the ministers left one after another, Song Qianzhao quickly caught up with Song Jian and said loudly, "Grandfather, please stay."
Song Jian paused slightly, but did not turn around. He only said in a deep voice: "In the court, you are quite impressive."
Song Qianzhao took a deep breath and bowed, "Grandson dare not contradict grandfather, but the border is in danger. If the opportunity to fight is lost due to factional disputes, the people will suffer."
Song Jian snorted coldly, "Lü Jian once clung to a treacherous party, so the upright people's accusations of his lack of moral integrity are not necessarily unjust."
Song Qianzhao shook his head. "Although General Lu once clung to a treacherous party, he never harmed loyal officials. He was also very skilled in border defense. If we abandon him because of a past incident, wouldn't that be disheartening to the soldiers?"
Song Jian was silent for a long time, and finally sighed: "Forget it... You argued for your rights in the court, not for your own selfish interests, but for the country and the people. It is me... who is too pedantic."
As he spoke, Song Jian caught a glimpse of the Crown Prince standing in the corridor not far away, his hands behind his back, his eyes vaguely looking over his shoulder. His expression straightened and he patted his grandson's shoulder: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for you, go quickly."
Song Qianzhao followed his grandfather's gaze and saw that the prince was indeed waiting in the corridor, so he decided to go over. Before leaving, he bowed deeply to his grandfather and said, "Grandson, take your leave."
…
On the vermilion palace wall, two long, oblique shadows moved slowly with each step. The prince walked in front, and Song Qianzhao behind him was half a step behind. Sometimes the shadow overlapped with the prince's, and sometimes it separated.
The Crown Prince walked forward, his sleeves rustling in the wind, his voice like a clear spring washing over stones. "What you said today in Chongming Palace was very well said. If the court is unable to send a suitable candidate due to the current situation and the struggle, it will be like what happened with Jia Chu."
"Jia Chu?"
…
Cabinet duty room.
Cui Qun, Su Jian, and Zheng Heren carefully examined the imperial edict and could not help but sigh at Song Qianzhao's sharp words. The appointment of Lü Jian was being described as "breaking down partisanship and selecting talents for the country." This, in turn, branded those who opposed it as "narrow-minded and disregarding the interests of the nation."
"Do you all still remember the story of Jia Chu, the Liaodong General in the tenth year of the Gan Ning era (Taizu's reign)?"
Cui Qun's words brought back everyone's memories.
By now, Zhang Yan's memorial had been submitted, and Song Qianzhao had argued with his grandfather, but the cabinet and the six ministries remained strangely silent. Why?
Because Cui, Su, and Zheng didn't want to be the next Jia Chu, and the ministers in the court didn't want to either. Except for the upright Song Jian and Xu Ang, the others were secretly weighing their options. After all, the current situation was exactly the same as it was back then.
During the tenth year of the Qianning reign, Jiang Feng served as the eunuch garrisoning Liaodong, while Lü Jian was appointed commander-in-chief. Their shared duties at the border caused concern among court officials: if Lü Jian achieved further success, Jiang Feng would surely capitalize on this opportunity to rise again.
The ministers then submitted a petition to Taizu, requesting that Jia Chu, the garrison commander of Jiangling, replace Lü Jian in Liaodong, while Lü Jian himself was transferred to Jiangling. With this divided rule, the officials in the court finally felt at ease.
Lü Jian once commented on Jia Chu: "Though a seasoned warrior and a conscientious man, he lacks the talent to lead a general." This was later confirmed. In order to distance himself from the corrupt eunuch Jiang Feng, Jia Chu constantly opposed him and became stubborn and self-willed.
In the twelfth year of the reign of Emperor Qianning, Jiang Feng was finally defeated by the court officials and banished to Heishui Cliff. Soon after, Jia Chu was defeated miserably by the Di people in Liaodong.
The court officials were well aware of the reasons: Lü Jian and Jiang Feng had previously worked in perfect harmony, achieving numerous remarkable feats and even earning a civil official a title. This defeat was caused by factional strife that had distracted talented generals. However, fearing accountability from Emperor Taizu, the officials colluded with the censors to conceal the defeat. It wasn't until a year later that a conscientious individual secretly reported the matter to Emperor Taizu.
Song Qianzhao said that the court should not neglect border affairs due to party disputes, which would only leave a laughing stock in history. Many people believed that he was alluding to the old incident of Jia Chu.
"Brother Cui, do you agree to appoint Lu Jian?" Zheng Heren's face looked unhappy. The poison of Li Shufeng had not yet been cleared, and the court could not be called clear and bright.
Cui Qun sighed, "I tossed and turned last night. This kind of thing shouldn't happen under a wise ruler and wise ministers. If it weren't for Song Sizhi's strong opposition, wouldn't we have repeated the same mistakes? We hold important positions and believe we are loyal to our country. We don't want to be called treacherous."
"The ministers of the Qianning Dynasty were jealous of Lü Jian's achievements. Are we jealous of him too? He is already seventy-two years old, and he is still willing to fight for his country. Even if he has some selfish motives, such a veteran general is hard to find."
…
Listening to the prince's talk about Jia Chu, she felt a little emotional.
She wanted to prevent this kind of thing from happening, but she didn't expect it to have already happened.
Then he looked at Xuan Shu and said with some admiration, "Your Highness used to be in Yanyang, yet you are well-informed about all the affairs of the imperial court, even such little-known old stories. You are truly knowledgeable."
Hearing his sudden praise, Xuan Shu cleared his throat uncomfortably and said, "That's nothing."
He never missed out on anything others needed to learn, and he would thoroughly study even what others didn't need to learn. He had been like this since childhood.
He felt aggrieved about this when he was young - when other children were playing and having fun, he was either studying poetry and books, practicing swordsmanship, or studying history books and playing chess with his teachers.
His mother said he had cried and raged about this several times, but when he saw it was no use, he stopped and started to find ways to slack off. One day he'd accidentally knock over a candlestick and burn his books, and the next day he'd have a sudden stomachache and couldn't practice martial arts.
It wasn't until he was seven or eight that he truly found peace of mind. It was then that he finally understood that he was different from others. As the crown prince of Dasui, he enjoyed unparalleled honors and, consequently, shouldered burdens not often borne by ordinary people.
…
In the Eastern Palace, because Song Qianzhao had defeated all the ministers in the court today, the two men were still in high spirits, so the prince ordered someone to warm up the wine and drink together.
The aroma of wine was wafting over the small red clay stove. After a few drinks, I felt warm all over, but also a little hot.
Song Qianzhao pushed open the carved window lattice, and a cool breeze blew towards him, making him feel refreshed.
It was during the Little Ice Age, and in early spring, heavy snow fell. Looking around, palaces and buildings were all covered in silver, and the sky and the earth were a vast expanse of white, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other.
Song Qianzhao stood by the window, looking at the scenery of beautiful trees and jade branches, and was mesmerized for a moment.
"Your Highness, I want to go to the other courtyard to enjoy the snow." Song Qianzhao suddenly turned his head, very excited.
Xuan Shu laughed: "You are not a three-year-old child, why do you need to ask for instructions on everything?"
"This is His Highness's residence. How can you move around without the owner's permission?" After saying this, he walked out of the hall.
The snow was very thick. Song Qianzhao lifted the hem of his brocade robe and walked down the stairs. Every step he took sank into the crystal-clear and soft snow, and the crisp sound of "crunching" under his feet made him feel happy just by listening to it.
Xuan Shu leaned against the window, watching the figure walking in the snow. Although he couldn't see the other person's face clearly, he could sense their joy. The corners of his lips curled up slightly, and his eyes followed the figure.
Soon, Song Qianzhao stopped in front of a rockery, leaned over to a crevice, and seemed to have discovered something. Before he knew it, snowflakes had already fallen into his hair.
Xuan Shu then came to his senses, caught a glimpse of the fox fur cloak hanging on the screen, and immediately stood up to take it off.
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