Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 364 The first confrontation
Lu Bei Gu Yin Chu woke up at the beginning of the night, when the night outside the window was still dark.

He got up quietly, afraid of disturbing Shen Kuo who was fast asleep.

He washed himself briefly with water from a copper basin in the room, then walked out of Chengmingzhai wearing a slightly worn blue cloth robe.

The morning breeze was chilly, and the long street was deserted, with only the sound of the night watchman's clapper coming from afar.

Turning the corner, you'll see a breakfast stall with its lights twinkling, the rising steam standing out against the cool air.

The stall owner was a nimble old man. Seeing a customer arrive, he hurriedly greeted him: "What would you like, sir? We have soft mutton noodles, tung bark noodles, as well as finely sliced ​​soft mutton, roasted delicacies, and blood tripe soup. For drinks, we have rice water, ginger honey water, and agarwood water."

"A bowl of soft mutton noodles, with extra coriander."

Lu Beigu took out a copper coin from his pocket and placed it on the table: "I'd like another dish of blood tripe soup."

The old man responded loudly and worked tirelessly. In no time, he scooped noodles out of the boiling soup, topped them with a few thinly sliced ​​pieces of tender mutton, sprinkled them with chopped bright green coriander, and then drizzled a spoonful of hot oil over them.

With a sizzling sound, the aroma filled the air.

The noodles were served quickly; the soup in the blue-and-white ceramic bowl was milky white, the noodles were chewy, and the mutton was tender.

He ate slowly with his chopsticks, and before long, a dish of blood tripe soup was served.

Blood and tripe soup is made by simmering sheep's blood and tripe together. The sheep's blood is tender and smooth, while the tripe is crisp and chewy. It is sprinkled with dogwood oil and Sichuan peppercorns, making it hot, spicy, and fragrant. In the chilly morning air, eating it warms you up from head to toe.

There were already a few early risers at the next table, eating breakfast and chatting quietly about local gossip.

Lu Beigu listened quietly, ate for a while, and occasionally looked up at the sky.

After finishing breakfast, he got up, paid the bill, and headed back to Chengmingzhai.

Back in the shop, Shen Kuo was still fast asleep. Lu Beigu quietly put on his full set of clothes, then carefully examined himself in front of the polished bronze mirror in the shop.

The person in the mirror is tall and upright, with a calm demeanor, but there is a hint of sharpness between his brows, just like a sword in its sheath, which has not yet been drawn but whose cold gleam is already visible.

After fastening his official tablet to his waist and making sure he was properly dressed and hadn't forgotten anything, he headed to the carriage shop.

There was already a carriage he had booked waiting there. The driver was a quiet young man who jumped off the carriage shaft as he saw him coming and offered to help him up.

"No need." Lu Beigu waved his hand and got into the car by himself.

The carriage was dimly lit, with only the rumbling sound of wheels rolling over the cobblestone road.

He sat upright in the car, closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully going through the known information and possible scenarios in his mind.

Today is my first time visiting the Waiting-for-Leaks Courtyard as a court official, and I must not make the slightest mistake.

Moreover, although I am new to the Censorate and may not need to report to the emperor immediately, I must pay attention to everything and be conscientious in all matters since I am in this position.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Street, the carriage curtains swayed, revealing a number of official carriages and horses already heading towards Xuande Gate.

When we arrived at Xuande Gate, it was still pitch black.

At this time, the palace gates were not open. As was customary, he got off the carriage at the end of the Imperial Street, straightened his robes in front of the carriage, and then walked to the right. There was no way to take a carriage in this direction, so he had to walk.

Lu Beigu's destination was the Waiting-for-Leak Courtyard, located next to the Left Gate of the Forbidden City.

The Waiting-for-Lunch Courtyard was a place where officials of the fifth rank and above would rest before attending court. They would tidy their appearance and exchange ideas here, while the chief ministers had separate rooms and would usually discuss matters to be discussed before meeting the emperor.

In addition, the restaurant also offers a variety of pastries made in the imperial court, as well as hot drinks such as tribute tea.

Officials who didn't have time to eat breakfast at home or in their carriages can also eat and drink here, all of which are provided free of charge.

You asked what happens to officials below the fifth rank?
Generally speaking, there are no officials below the fifth rank in the imperial court. If there really is one, then you'd better stand outside and wait, since you're not qualified to wear a scarlet robe.
Therefore, Lu Beigu was actually not allowed to enter the Waiting-for-Leaks Courtyard.

But Lu Beigu had to go there. It wasn't that he wanted to experience what it felt like to be "eighteen years old and standing like a lackey," but rather that as the Palace Attendant Censor, his most important duty was to supervise the civil and military officials standing in line in front of the waiting hall before the morning court session began.

He was to assist the Palace Attendant Censor in ensuring that the order of the ranks was correct, and if anyone engaged in improper behavior such as whispering, coughing, or spitting, it had to be recorded on the tablet.

In addition, if an official who should attend court requests leave due to illness, the censor in charge of the "attendance officer" on that day will tell him who it is. He must go to the official's home after court to verify. If the official is faking illness, then he needs to impeach him.

Well, the reason there is this job is that many officials who attend court every day can't stand getting up before dawn every day for years. There are always times when they want to sleep in because they drank too much the night before, so some people will pretend to be sick and ask for leave.
However, the emperor couldn't possibly distinguish who was genuinely ill and who was faking it based on leave slips, so the Palace Attendant Censor had to make the arduous trip.

Waiting at the entrance of the courtyard.

As the officials entered, their gazes invariably fell upon the newly appointed top scholar who was guarding the entrance.

Lu Beigu wasn't embarrassed at all; instead, he politely bowed and greeted them first.

Even if the court officials had never met him, they could guess who he was just by looking at his age, and the vast majority of them would return the greeting.

He hadn't been there long when he suddenly felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.

Turning his head, he saw that Ouyang Xiu had come to his side at some point. He guessed that Ouyang Xiu had heard that he had come from the waiting courtyard and had come out on his own.

Ouyang Xiu glanced around, then turned his head slightly, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

"Let's move out to the next station. I'll introduce each person standing in the yard to you through the door. Take good care of them and try to recognize them. Otherwise, if a problem arises, you won't be able to correct the order of the shifts."

Lu Beigu felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that Ouyang Xiu was giving him special advice to help him quickly familiarize himself with the court's structure and identify the various factions.

The two stepped outwards, their gazes passing through the gate, allowing them to see most of the court officials standing in the courtyard of the Waiting-for-Leaks Courtyard, but not those inside the rooms.

"Look at the man under the east corridor, wearing a purple robe and jade belt, with a slender figure. That is Wang Yaochen, the Vice Chancellor. The man opposite him, with a robust figure, is Han Qi, the Privy Councilor. When you are standing in the guard post later, if Wang Yaochen coughs improperly, do not write it on his tablet. It is an old habit of his, and His Majesty has specifically instructed you about this beforehand."

Wang Yaochen was talking to Han Qi at this moment, and every now and then he would cough rapidly. It wasn't an ordinary cough, but a cough that would make his whole upper body hunch over, sounding quite painful, and he looked like he wasn't in good health.

Wang Yaochen was promoted from Deputy Privy Councilor to Vice Chancellor last year because Liu Hang was dismissed from his post. His entry into the Council of State Affairs was the result of Wen Yanbo's strong recommendation.

In fact, it was Wen Yanbo's doing that Bao Zheng and Han Qi were transferred back to the central government from other places and promoted to key positions.

The core of the small circle during the fifth year of the Tiansheng era was Wen Yanbo.

Unfortunately, Wen Yanbo did not appear in the courtyard, and Lu Beigu did not see what he looked like. However, according to Ouyang Xiu, Wen Yanbo was staying with Fu Bi in the private room of the prime ministers.

At this moment, another person passed by them without greeting Ouyang Xiu and went straight into the waiting room.

"This is Cheng Kan, the Vice Privy Councilor, and the relative by marriage of Minister Wen."

Listening to Ouyang Xiu's introduction, Lu Beigu thought to himself, "Looking at it this way, Wen Yanbo's power is really great. He is the prime minister in the Council of State Affairs, and he also has Wang Yaochen, the Vice Minister of State Affairs, as his assistant. In the Privy Council, he also has Han Qi and Cheng Kan, his allies. It is almost equivalent to controlling half of the Council of State Affairs and half of the Privy Council."

Just as he was pondering, a well-to-do elderly man in a purple robe stopped in front of them. The man was over sixty years old, with gray hair and beard, a protruding belly bound by a jade belt, and a very gentle smile on his wrinkled face.

"Uncle Yong, why are you standing here instead of going in?"

"Oh, have a chat with our new Censor Lu from the Censorate."

Ouyang Xiu and Jia Changchao did not have a good relationship. He introduced Jia Changchao to Lu Beigu with a forced smile: "This is Prime Minister Jia. Shouldn't you pay your respects?"

Jia Changchao?
Lu Beigu's eyes narrowed slightly. In this official setting, he couldn't say anything, so he simply bowed and said, "Lu Beigu, the newly appointed Palace Attendant Censor of the Censorate, greets Chancellor Jia Shu."

"Oh?"

Jia Changchao's smile deepened on his chubby face. He was completely unaware of Ouyang Xiu's gaze, focusing intently on Lu Beigu before suddenly realizing something.

"I suppose this is the famous Scholar Lu, who achieved the highest honors in four consecutive imperial examinations and became renowned throughout the land? I've heard of your name before, but I didn't expect you to be so young... You look about the same age as my grandson."

Before he finished speaking, he naturally reached out and patted Lu Beigu's shoulder twice, like an elder encouraging his grandson.

Seeing that Jia Changchao still wanted to take advantage of him and verbally suppressed him, Lu Beigu did not tolerate it.

"Prime Minister Jia has worked tirelessly for the country, and his hair has turned white. Seeing him makes my heart ache, and I can't help but think of my late ancestors. Alas, Prime Minister Jia, you must take good care of your health. My late ancestors passed away when they were over sixty years old."

He didn't dodge; he just stood there, looking coldly at Jia Changchao.

Jia Changchao was more than half a head shorter than him, and it was already quite difficult for him to reach out and touch Jia Changchao's shoulder from a distance. When their eyes met, Lu Beigu actually had the advantage of being taller.

"Don't worry, I've always been in very good health."

Jia Changchao chuckled and withdrew his hand.

His gray beard rustled slightly in the morning breeze as he turned his gaze to Ouyang Xiu: "Such a talented man, Yongshu, you must protect him well."

Ouyang Xiu's bulbous nose turned a little red at this moment. Instead of agreeing with Jia Changchao's words, he said, "The censor upholds the law for the country, how can he be afraid of losing his life? There is no need to protect him. If a young man like Censor Lu can impeach one or two important figures, then he can be considered tempered."

"Haha, just don't let yourself be used as a fragile knife."

Jia Changchao said with a smile, and then walked into the waiting courtyard.

After Jia Changchao's plump figure disappeared into the gate of the waiting courtyard, Ouyang Xiu turned to look at Lu Beigu and said in a low voice, "This is a person like Li Yifu."

After the brief incident, Ouyang Xiu continued to introduce Lu Beigu.

"The old man leaning against the pillar under the corridor, resting with his eyes closed, is Sun Bian, a Hanlin Academician and Imperial Secretary. He is from Meizhou, a man of great age and virtue, and is in charge of drafting imperial edicts. Since we are both from Sichuan, you can try to visit him when you have time."

"You know Zhang Fangping, the Commissioner of the Three Departments. The man next to him, wearing a scarlet robe and with a short beard, is Guo Shenxi, the Vice Commissioner of the Ministry of Revenue."

Lu Beigu's gaze followed the movement, noting down the people and locations mentioned by Ouyang Xiu one by one, but soon, he had doubts.

"Where are Zeng Gongliang, the Vice Minister of State Affairs, Tian Kuang, the Vice Minister of the Privy Council, and Zhou Zhan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue? Are they all in their rooms?"

Ouyang Xiu replied, "Because the Eastern and Western Offices and the Three Departments always have people on duty even when they are in court, so that if there is an emergency, someone can handle it. Usually, the deputies take turns on duty."

"I see."

Ouyang Xiu's gaze suddenly turned towards the courtyard gate, and his voice lowered even further.

"Remember what these people look like, and when you stand guard later, you and Imperial Censor Wu will stand here."

Ouyang Xiu pointed to the ground not far away: "It's your first day in court. Just follow Censor Wu and learn as much as you can. But you still have to walk back and forth between the civil and military ranks. It's your duty to correct discipline. Even if no one is afraid of you, you still have to set an example."

"What if someone actually behaves rudely in person?"

"Normally not. But if someone deliberately provokes you, go to Censor Wu. Censor Wu is the 'official in charge of class' and he will teach you how to handle it."

He paused, and seeing Lu Beigu's focused expression, he continued.

"Today is your first time in court. Observe more and speak less. Pay attention to the expressions and mannerisms of the officials when they present their reports, especially that one."

Ouyang Xiu subtly gestured with his chin toward the figure in the courtyard, surrounded by several people and dressed in a purple robe.

Just then, the copper bell hanging on the eaves of the waiting courtyard was rung.

"Dingling bell~"

This is a signal that preparations are being made to attend court.

Wu Zhongfu, the Imperial Censor and Censor in Charge of Remonstrance, was the first to walk out of the waiting room. He nodded slightly to Lu Beigu, signaling him to follow.

Seeing that some court officials had already come out to line up, Ouyang Xiu stopped talking to Lu Beigu and went to find his own place. As the Vice Censor-in-Chief, he was not responsible for the order of the order of the officials; that was the task of Wu Zhongfu and Lu Beigu.

Before long, civil and military officials stood in order in front of the gate of the waiting courtyard.

His gaze moved slowly, etching this scene into his heart.

This is the group of people who hold the central power of the Song Dynasty!
Wu Zhongfu's voice rang in Lu Beigu's ears. His voice was low, but every word was clear: "Civil officials in the east and military officials in the west, prime ministers and privy councilors, the order must not be disordered."

Lu Beigu memorized it well, knowing that this position was not only related to etiquette, but also to the power structure of the court.

—The prime minister commands the Eastern Palace, the Privy Councilor governs the Western Palace, the Vice Chancellor is next, the Deputy Privy Councilor is next, and the military officials are the most honored among the three military commanders, standing at the head of the military ranks.

Subsequently, Lu Beigu and Wu Zhongfu began to patrol and correct discipline, one on the left and one on the right.

Wu Zhongfu walked to the right, which is the east side, and was in charge of inspecting the civil officials. He took the initiative to undertake the heaviest task, even though he had been inspecting alone before.

But now that he has a new colleague, Lu Beigu, he intends to hand over the task of inspecting the military officials, who are better suited for the task, to Lu Beigu.

Lu Beigu was not intimidated by the fact that his official rank was the lowest among these court officials.

His sharp gaze swept over the military officials.

However, since these military officials were able to attend court, their ranks were naturally all high, and the vast majority were descendants of founding heroes. Therefore, they were not afraid of Lu Beigu.

Fortunately, no one really went out of their way to make things difficult for Lu Beigu, so he quickly completed his shift and patrol duties.

Wu Zhongfu was also very meticulous in his work. Fearing that Lu Beigu might not understand the military officers' standing order and that someone might stand in the wrong position, causing Lu Beigu to take responsibility, he led Lu Beigu through the order from behind again.

Only after confirming that the civil and military officials were in their assigned posts correctly did the two separate and escort the procession to Xuande Gate.

(End of this chapter)