"I"
Wang Zeng was stunned and didn't know how to answer.
Fan Zhongyan looked at Wang Zeng and said, "Prince, do not waver. You must hold fast to your original intention!"
He then turned to Lu Yijian and said, "Even if all the officials in the world are arrested, as long as they are corrupt officials, they should be punished. This is the law of the country!"
"If the world is in turmoil, should we also follow the laws of the country?"
Lu Yijian retorted.
Seeing the two arguing, Wang Zeng smiled bitterly.
His son was not implicated, but the problem was that many of his students and former officials suffered.
Although he had spread the word long ago, asking his disciples to do their part and not to be lazy and idle as before.
But they did get the job done and their efficiency improved, but there were still some officials who did evil things.
In addition, after the new law was implemented, those officials who were not corrupt officials were also exhausted and felt that the new law was a hassle, and they opposed it one after another, which made Wang Zeng feel caught in a dilemma.
And it's not just him.
In the Constitutional Council, except for Fan Zhongyan who withstood the pressure and insisted on his own opinion no matter who came to him, the other prime ministers were affected to varying degrees.
Lu Yijian and Sheng Du didn't say much, their sons were all arrested.
Song Shou and Jia Changchao would certainly support Lu Yijian, and Zhang Shixun would definitely speak up for his old friend.
Yan Shu, Jiang Tang, Li Di and Cai Qi also had their students and former officials involved.
The only difference was that Jiang Tang was fair and did not accept the pleas of his students and former officials, and remained neutral.
Li Di looked at Zhao Jun's expression. He would not say anything until Zhao Jun came back.
Yan Shu was in a difficult position to speak on this matter. He could only support Lu Yijian in his heart, but did not dare to express his opinion openly.
Cai Qi was waiting for Wang Zeng's opinion.
For a time, a group of people including Lu Yijian, Sheng Du, Jia Changchao, Song Shou, and Zhang Shixun in the Constitutional Court put pressure on Fan Zhongyan.
Wang Zeng was in a dilemma.
Although the others did not speak, they did not speak up for Fan Zhongyan either.
It has a bit of the meaning of Fan Zhongyan's single-handed efforts.
It is true that before people's own interests are harmed, they can make objective comments and express the benefits of the performance evaluation system to the country and support the continued implementation of the new policy.
But once the performance evaluation system harms their interests, even if they know they should not oppose it, they will have no choice but to speak out against it.
It’s like if someone asks you if you would donate 10 million yuan, you would think, I don’t have 10 million yuan anyway, so it doesn’t matter if I donate it, so you decisively answer that you would donate it.
But if you are asked if you would donate a cow, you have to consider how to refuse to donate, because you really have a cow.
Everyone knows that donating money is a good thing, but it will hurt if you cut your own flesh.
"What's going on?"
At this moment, Zhao Zhen stood at the door and listened for a moment. Seeing them arguing, he walked in with a frown.
He actually didn't want to come in, and he was really in a difficult situation.
The palms and backs of the hands are all flesh.
But continuing to argue like this was not a solution, so Zhao Zhen had no choice but to go in.
Seeing Zhao Zhen come in, everyone finally stopped arguing and all bowed to Zhao Zhen and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"alright."
Zhao Zhen walked to the main seat in the conference room, where Zhao Jun usually sat.
After he sat down, he wanted to say something harsh to Lü Yijian Shengdu, but when he got to his lips, he couldn't bring himself to say it, so he said, "Sit down first."
"Thank you, sir!"
Everyone sat down separately. Lu Yijian and Sheng Du looked sad, as if they had aged ten years, which was very unbearable to watch.
Zhao Zhen couldn't bear to say anything harsh, so he just said, "Lord Lu Xu and Lord Sheng, you are so confused."
"minister"
Lu Yijian was stunned, and then his expression became even more sad.
This means that Zhao Zhen may be on Fan Zhongyan's side, and his hope of rescuing his two sons is even slimmer.
Sheng Du burst into tears and could not help but say, "Your Majesty, I only have this one son."
"Forehead"
Zhao Zhen suddenly didn't know what to say.
He is too soft-hearted.
Lu Yijian was his most trusted minister, whom he treated like a teacher. When he was young, Lu Yijian fought for him against Liu E and protected him throughout his reign, and they had a deep relationship.
Although Sheng Du did not have such a deep relationship with him, Zhao Zhen really couldn't bear to see such a sixty-year-old man crying bitterly.
So Zhao Zhen looked at Fan Zhongyan and said hesitantly, "Duke Xiwen, how about this? Let's give Lü Gongchuo, Lü Gongbi, Sheng Shenfu, and Zhang Yuxi a light sentence, so they won't be convicted. Just demote them."
Fan Zhongyan frowned and said, "Your Majesty, please think carefully. Lü Gongchuo committed the crime of selling official positions and titles. He openly used the name of Prime Minister Lü to accept bribes and help others get promoted. If such a serious offense cannot be convicted, then where is the dignity and law of the court?"
"this"
Zhao Zhen felt a terrible headache and was really in trouble.
Fan Zhongyan continued, "Your Majesty, the new policy is not to eliminate officials, but to make them do their job well. Officials all over the world are incompetent and can't even do their job well. Some even take bribes and pervert the law, harming the people. This is destroying the foundation of the Song Dynasty. If this continues, the Jingkang shame will be..."
Talking about the Jingkang Incident, Zhao Zhen didn't feel alarmed or worried about the future, but rather more hesitant. Initially, he still felt a sense of crisis, but as the Song Dynasty defeated the Western Xia and the Liao, this sense of crisis gradually diminished.
After all, a sense of crisis only exists when there is a crisis, but now the crisis has been resolved and the Jingkang Shame is too far away, which naturally makes him feel more secure.
So Zhao Zhen looked at Lü Yijian and Sheng Du, who were both filled with hope and tears, and could only bite the bullet and say to Fan Zhongyan, "It's not that serious, is it? The new policy will continue to be implemented, and the court's laws will still be in place. But can you show some leniency to Lü Gongchuo and the others?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
