Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 365 Undercurrent
The continuous tolling of bells came from the depths of the palace, followed by the creaking sound of the palace gates opening one after another.

Before dawn, the figures of officials filing into Xuande Gate flickered in the swaying light of the palace lanterns.

Lu Beigu walked at the very back of the line.

The route to the palace for the morning court session was to first pass through the Xuande Gate on the central axis, but then instead of going through the second gate on the central axis, the Daqing Gate, one would turn left and go through the Duanli Gate.

As he passed through the Duanli Gate, he could clearly hear the echo of the black leather boots of the officials in front of him hitting the ground, dull and orderly, with a strange sense of ceremony.

Entering through the Duanli Gate and then the Wende Gate, you'll find the renowned Zhengshi Hall behind it, and further back, the Bell Tower where the hundredth bell tolled just now.

The time system in the Forbidden City during the Song Dynasty was very strict. While the people were waiting for the court in the Waiting-for-the-Dawn Courtyard, the Inner Palace Attendants' Office had already begun to sign and issue "Stop the Drum Contracts" to prepare for the end of the nighttime timekeeping.

Meanwhile, since raising chickens was not allowed in the Forbidden City, there was a special timekeeper called "Chicken Man" who would imitate the crowing of a chicken as a signal for the start of daytime. When the "Chicken Man" crowing, the bell tower would hear the noise and start ringing its bell. As the sound of the bell from the Forbidden City spread, all the bell towers in Kaifeng would gradually ring their own bells, like beacon towers receiving a signal.

Thanks to the fact that there was no one behind him, Lu Beigu was able to openly raise his head and look at the Wende Hall in front of him.

The sky was already showing a very faint light, and he could see that the roof of the Wende Hall was covered with dark green glazed tiles, and the eaves were perched with chiwen (mythical beasts), which formed a dark silhouette in the dim light.

Looking down, the eaves are layered with brackets and painted with various colors. The pillars are all made of whole logs and covered with vermilion lacquer. The bases of the pillars are carved with lotus patterns. The vermilion palace gate is more than 30 feet high. There are nine door nails in each direction, gilded and raised. A huge gilded plaque hangs above the gate, with the three large characters "Wende Hall" written on it.

As Lu Beigu walked further along with the procession, he saw the three-tiered steps in front of the palace. On both sides of the steps stood gilded bronze cranes. The palace base was five feet above the ground and surrounded by carved railings with cloud dragons and phoenixes carved on the railing panels. At the four corners of the base were dragon heads that would drain water, so that rainwater would pour out from the dragon heads during rainy seasons.

Upon entering the Wende Hall, Lu Beigu discovered that the hall was very deep and spacious, likely designed specifically to accommodate a large number of court officials.

He stood with his hands at his sides at the end of the eastern section of the civil service, the position closest to the door, surrounded by high-ranking officials dressed in purple and crimson robes with gold and jade pendants hanging from their waists.

With a slight lift of his eyes, he could see the coiled dragon painted on the dome ceiling, seemingly about to rise into the clouds under the swaying light, while cloud patterns and stars were painted around the dragon.

Because he still had his own duties to perform, Lu Beigu couldn't observe too much. He started to stare at the civil and military officials in front of him from behind.

During court assemblies, his primary duty was to use a small notebook—no, a tablet—to record the misconduct of court officials, including but not limited to talking and laughing loudly, improper handling of the tablet, disorderly bowing, slow walking or standing, improper bowing, and leaving one's seat without cause.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Three sharp cracks of the whip echoed through the air, and outside the palace, guards with halberds stood like a forest, their feathered banners trembling slightly in the morning breeze.

Upon hearing the noise, the civil and military officials immediately held their breath and lowered their heads.

Emperor Zhao Zhen arrived at the palace gate in his imperial carriage, dismounted, and slowly ascended the throne.

The tassels swayed gently, obscuring his face. As he sat down, the master of ceremonies, Zhang Shizhong, began to guide the officials in performing their rites.

"bye--"

The ministers bowed in unison, their crimson and purple robes billowing like waves, and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times.

With the ceremony concluded, the court assembly officially began.

As Prime Minister, Wen Yanbo, holding a tablet, steadily stepped out of the hall, his voice echoing in the silent palace.

"Your Majesty, the Secretariat has recently received a series of urgent reports from Hebei Province. The various prefectures in Hebei have been struck by frequent earthquakes, resulting in the collapse of city walls, the destruction of houses, and the displacement of people. In order to bring peace to the people, understand their plight, and secure the borders, I, along with Minister Fu and other officials, have discussed the matter and earnestly request Your Majesty to dispatch a high-ranking official as the Pacification Commissioner to Hebei to provide disaster relief and comfort to the people, thus demonstrating the benevolence of the court."

On the throne, Zhao Zhen's voice came through the tassel beads.

"Is there a specific candidate for the position of Zhongshu?"

"We, your humble servants, believe that Lu Jingchu, the Right Censor, is upright, outspoken, and insightful; and Li Shou, the Left Deputy Envoy of the Treasury, is skilled in finance and efficient in handling affairs. Appointing these two as Pacification Commissioners of Hebei Circuit, to inspect Hebei with imperial authority, will surely enable them to properly handle the disaster situation and appease the people. Furthermore, Peng Shixi, the chieftain of the barbarian tribes of Xiaxi Prefecture in Jinghu North Circuit, is unruly and has long refused to submit, causing unrest on the border. Zhu Chuyue, the Left Censor, is calm, resourceful, and capable of undertaking this important task; appointing him as Pacification Commissioner of Jinghu North Circuit is appropriate to send him to pacify the region and quell the border unrest."

Wen Yanbo's suggestion seemed to be entirely out of public interest.

However, many discerning people in the hall understood that transferring the two chief ministers of the Censorate was ostensibly to send capable officials to local posts, but in reality, it was to further weaken the Censorate system, which had already impeached two prime ministers and two privy councilors in the past two years.

Lü Jingchu and Zhu Chuyue of the Censorate were also court officials. Although they appeared calm, they knew all too well that this seemingly promotion and assignment was actually a way of "politely sending" them out of the capital and away from the imperial court.

However, they had actually anticipated this day.

The Censorate and the Censorate were inseparable.

After Liu Hang's "self-destruction" before his dismissal as prime minister, the Censorate had been purged and its core members reassigned. Now, it was finally the turn of the Remonstrance Bureau.

Lu Beigu was also pondering this on his own.

At first, when Wen Yanbo talked about the disaster in Hebei, he didn't immediately realize that the essence of the matter was aimed at people. But when Wen Yanbo brought up the mountain barbarians of Xiaxi Prefecture, he understood that this was using different events to transfer people away.

So why did Wen Yanbo, or rather the ministers, do this?

Why is it that in today's court meeting, this matter has been brought up as the most important topic first?

Lu Beigu thought for a moment and then understood.

"As expected, one's position determines one's perspective. Even policies left behind by Liu Hang, a former ally with whom he has already broken ties, Wen Yanbo is determined to implement them. I'm afraid these high-ranking officials are also frightened by the astonishing fighting power of the censors and remonstrators, fearing that they will be impeached."

Emperor Zhao Zhen on the throne remained silent for a moment. He may not have been unaware of this intention, but the earthquake in Hebei and the lack of submission from the barbarians were facts, and sending officials to appease them was a common practice.

Moreover, this would also be a good opportunity to balance the increasingly powerful censorate forces in recent years, which suits his purposes perfectly.

Zhao Zhen then slowly spoke: "Your suggestion is approved. An imperial edict shall be issued immediately, appointing Lü Jingchu and Li Shou as Pacification Commissioners of Hebei, and Zhu Chuyue as Pacification Commissioner of Jinghu North Circuit, to depart at an early date."

"Your Majesty, I also have a memorial to present."

After Prime Minister Moon Yen-po finished his report, Vice Prime Minister Fu Bi, holding a tablet, stepped forward steadily and spoke.

"Wang Anshi, the Prefect of Kaifeng, has been assisting Bao Zheng in reforming the administration of Kaifeng Prefecture. Through his thorough investigations, both overt and covert, he has eradicated long-standing abuses, bringing order to the clerks and ensuring the people's disputes are resolved. He is a capable and insightful official, truly a rare and invaluable minister. Now, the Department of Revenue oversees the nation's finances, a task of great complexity. Although Vice Commissioner Zhou Zhan is diligent, he is getting old and needs capable assistants to share the burden. I earnestly request that Wang Anshi be promoted to Judge of the Department of Revenue to assist Zhou Zhan, so that the national treasury may be abundant and the finances transparent."

"Ah."

Zhao Zhen did not object, but instead asked, "Is there anyone suitable to be in charge of the affairs of the counties and towns within the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture? This post is related to the security of the capital region, taxation, and criminal matters, and cannot be left unattended for even a day. If there is no suitable candidate, I think Lu Shen, the Taichang Doctor and Jixian Compiler, is of upright character and has a good reputation in his previous positions in prefectures and counties, and is qualified for this post."

Fu Bi was slightly taken aback. Of course, they had their own candidates, but since the Emperor had spoken, it was not appropriate to say anything at this point.

Moreover, it must be said that the candidates proposed by the government were extremely appropriate.

Lu Shen, courtesy name Jiefu, was a native of Yuhang, Hangzhou. He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the first year of the Jingyou era. In the seventh year of the Qingli era, he participated in the suppression of the Beizhou mutiny. Later, he served as the Tongpan (assistant prefect) of Qinzhou and the Shaanxi Criminal Justice Bureau. He was very experienced in maintaining public order and stability and was a ruthless character who remained calm in the face of danger.

Fu Bi could only say, "Your Majesty is wise; Lu Shen will surely be able to continue Wang Anshi's work and bring peace to the capital region."

Lu Beigu listened quietly, but he couldn't figure out the second thing yet.

Wang Anshi's promotion seemed more like the result of a compromise after a power struggle among various factions in the court, but why was it proposed by Fu Bi? As far as he knew, Wang Anshi seemed to have little connection with the chief ministers in the Council of State Affairs.

The only person who could be considered related was Han Qi, who had been Wang Anshi's superior, but they didn't seem to be very close.

“But Fu Bi just mentioned that Wang Anshi should be promoted because of his merits in assisting Bao Zheng in governing Kaifeng Prefecture. So, this is something Wen Yanbo couldn't say, but he had Fu Bi say it to further promote Bao Zheng? According to Bao Zheng's resume, reaching the position of acting prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture is indeed an extraordinary promotion, and even with achievements in a short period of time, he cannot be promoted further.” With too little known information, this speculation flashed through Lu Beigu's mind, but he couldn't be sure.

"Wang Anshi is hereby promoted to the position of Revenue Judge to assist Zhou Zhan in managing the Revenue affairs. Lu Shen is to be appointed immediately to oversee the affairs of the counties and towns within the Kaifeng Prefecture and to assist Bao Zheng in governing the Kaifeng Prefecture."

"The minister obeys the order."

Fu Bi bowed and accepted the order, then returned to the train.

After the two prime ministers finished their reports, it was Grand Chancellor Jia Changchao's turn to report, following the established order.

Jia Changchao, holding a jade tablet, stepped forward a few paces and said, “Your Majesty, I have recently consulted ancient records and heard a report from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau that suggests there may be something wrong with the current system of the altar of fertility.”

He paused briefly, not looking up but secretly glancing up, and saw that although the Emperor's face was covered by tassels and pearls, his body was leaning slightly forward. He knew that his words had touched the Emperor's heart, so he continued.

"According to the Book of Rites, the God of Fertility is the one who prays for the continuation of the family line, and the state holds a major sacrifice for this purpose. In the past, during the Han and Jin dynasties, the altar for the God of Fertility was set up in the south of the city to correspond to the yang position. During the Qi and Sui dynasties, the sacrifice was moved to the southwest of the altar in the southern suburbs. However, the altar for the God of Fertility today is not only low and simple in its design, but it is also located in a low-lying and damp place, which is not in accordance with the rites and is not solemn in the ceremony. In my humble opinion, we should follow the ancient rites and move the altar for the God of Fertility to a high and sunny place on the east side of the Circular Mound Altar, in the Zhen direction, which symbolizes the eldest son. In this way, the yin and yang will be in harmony, in accordance with the will of Heaven above and in accordance with the wishes of the people below."

These remarks drew surprised expressions from many officials in the hall.

Although the sacrifice at the altar of fertility was a ritual, it was not an urgent matter of military or national importance. It was quite strange that Jia Changchao, as the prime minister, would suddenly bring up this matter after discussing the earthquake in Hebei, the barbarian affairs in Jinghu, and even the transfer of officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue.

However, some astute individuals have already sensed something amiss; Jia Changchao's actions are quite meaningful.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen, who was on the throne, became even more invigorated.

He was nearly fifty years old and still childless; the question of an heir to the throne was always the heaviest burden on his mind.

In recent years, his ministers have repeatedly urged him to establish an heir apparent. Although their pleas were well-intentioned, they often reminded him of the deep pain of having no son.

Although Jia Changchao did not explicitly oppose the establishment of an heir, his proposal to repair and relocate the altar for praying for a son at this moment implied that although the emperor was in poor health, he was not old and should pray to heaven for a biological prince, rather than rushing to choose someone else from the imperial clan.

This touched upon Zhao Zhen's deepest, most secret desires.

"Jia Qing is mindful of etiquette and prays for the country's well-being; his loyalty is commendable!"

Zhao Zhen's voice carried a rare hint of pleasure, and he even raised his hand to gently stroke his short beard.

"The worship of the goddess is a major national event, concerning the continuation of the ancestral temples and the state. How can it be done in a simple and inadequate manner? The Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices shall be ordered to work together with the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to conduct a thorough survey of the terrain and select an auspicious day to move the altar of the goddess to the east of the Circular Mound Altar, ensuring that the regulations are strict and the sacrificial rites are solemn."

This praise, given in front of all the civil and military officials, carried considerable weight.

Jia Changchao bowed in gratitude and returned to the train. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, and others had calm expressions, while Han Qi frowned almost imperceptibly.

Most of the court officials in the hall, especially those who had strongly advocated for establishing the foundation of the nation as soon as possible, had a look of worry in their eyes.

Clearly, Jia Changchao's "catering to the emperor's preferences" not only further solidified his favor with the emperor but also stirred up the controversy over the succession even more.

However, Jia Changchao chose a very tricky angle; he didn't mention the matter of establishing an heir at all, but only said that the position of the altar should be adjusted.

So even if someone wanted to refute it, they couldn't find a way to do so for a while.

Lu Beigu stood at the end of the class, taking in all of this.

Through this small incident, he also realized more deeply that Jia Changchao was indeed a very difficult enemy to deal with.

This person is cunning and calculating. No matter what he does, he will do it in a way that leaves no room for doubt. Even if everyone knows that he is the one manipulating things behind the scenes, they can never find any evidence against him.

Of course, in the power struggles of the court, if you want to bring someone down, sometimes you don't even need evidence; all you need is for the officials to dislike him.

But Jia Changchao was a man who had no bottom line and knew how to please the officials.

Therefore, he was able to remain standing amidst the increasingly fierce power struggles at court after the Qingli Reforms.

Just as Lu Beigu was deep in thought, Han Qi stepped forward with a frown, and what Han Qi said immediately made Lu Beigu concentrate on listening.

"Your Majesty, I recently reviewed the criminal and prison documents of the Three Military Commands and found that although the cases of the various armies under the jurisdiction of the Palace Guard, the Cavalry Command, and the Infantry Command have detailed laws and regulations, the trial and judgment are mostly entrusted to clerks and officials, and the scholars and officials rarely participate. This system has been followed for a long time, but there are many hidden dangers."

Han Qi paused briefly before continuing, “Although clerks are familiar with the laws, they may not understand the profound meaning of the classics. If they encounter cunning officials who exploit the situation to manipulate the law, injustices may be inevitable. Military punishments concern the lives of soldiers; how can they be left entirely to clerks? I have observed that in the old systems of the Han and Tang dynasties, the General's headquarters had officials such as the Consultant, the Registrar, and the Military Officer, who were responsible for different duties and tasks. Currently, the Rear Division of the Three Armies is in charge of all military cases, but the system is too simplistic. In my humble opinion, a scholar-official should be added to the Rear Division of the Three Armies to be specifically in charge of investigations. In addition, I request that the Deputy Privy Councilor, Tian Kuang, be put in charge of compiling the penal laws and regulations of the Palace Guard, the Cavalry Command, and the Infantry Command. In this way, legal cases can be made clear and just, and punishments can be prevented from being erroneous, which is also in line with Your Majesty's benevolent intentions.”

This proposal seemed to be merely a reform of the military criminal justice system, but Lu Beigu had already discerned the underlying meaning.

Not long ago, the case of Jia Yan was a miscarriage of justice because the Sanya Housi was influenced by Jia Changchao. If it weren't for Lu Beigu and Wang Anshi's discussion and the "empty city strategy" that made Pei Degu unable to restrain himself and walk into the trap, thus making a major breakthrough in Pei Degu's case, Jia Yan would not know how long he would have been imprisoned by the Sanya Housi!
Therefore, when Han Qi proposed this suggestion at this time, it was ostensibly out of a desire to improve the system and entirely out of public interest, but in reality, it was an implicit criticism of the Privy Council under Jia Changchao's control for its ineffective supervision of military prisons and its abuse of power.

Those familiar with the Jia Yan case can easily discern its hidden meaning.

Jia Changchao stood in the middle of the class, his expression normal, but his lowered eyelids concealed the fierce glint that flashed in his eyes.

How could he not know that Han Qi was using this as an excuse to make a fuss? If this move succeeded, Han Qi could use the opportunity of placing scholars and prison officials to extend his reach to the three military commands and further erode his influence in the army.

What made him extremely uncomfortable was that the emperor, who had just praised him, agreed to Han Qi's proposal almost without thinking.

"What Han Qing said is quite reasonable."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, “Military criminal cases certainly require the participation of scholars to ensure fairness. As requested, the Privy Council, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Court of Judicial Review should discuss the regulations in detail and appoint one scholar-official prison officer in each of the three military departments to be in charge of criminal investigations. The person selected should be well-versed in the law and upright in conduct. In the past, the laws and regulations in the military were complicated, and only someone like Minister Tian could sort them out clearly. So, Minister Tian, ​​please take on this task.”

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Han Qi bowed and accepted the order. As he returned to the train, he exchanged a knowing glance with Wen Yanbo.

Clearly, the Emperor was aware that this move would weaken Jia Changchao's influence over the Three Military Offices, but he still readily agreed.

This shows that the Emperor was dissatisfied with Jia Changchao, who had previously served as Privy Councilor and was now the Grand Chancellor, for monopolizing power in the Privy Council.

Or rather, in the case of Jia Yan, Jia Changchao overstepped his bounds. Although he was not punished and the investigation continued up to Pei Degu, this incident served as a warning to Jia Changchao from the authorities.

Jia Changchao's expression remained unchanged, but he felt somewhat helpless inside.

The emperor is such a person who loves the art of checks and balances. Is it useful to flatter him? Yes, it is. Of course, the emperor likes ministers who conform to his wishes, but he will still give them a warning when necessary.

In just a quarter of an hour, the two prime ministers and the two privy councilors reported four matters in succession.

These four things may seem like trivial matters, but behind them lie countless compromises and exchanges of interests, as well as fierce but understated factional struggles. It is no exaggeration to describe them as "undercurrents".

All of this was silently remembered by Lu Beigu, who stood at the end of the class.

He realized that he was no longer a scholar whose sole purpose was to pass the exams.

In this imperial court, in this game played by the most brilliant minds of the Song Dynasty, if he cannot grow and adapt quickly, he may be plotted against and brought to his doom at any time.

(End of this chapter)