Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

There are many celebrities in this imperial examination. Apart from King Zhao Kai, Zhang Jun and Zhu Song are undoubtedly the most well-known.

Zhang Jun was a civilian official and the commander-in-chief of the Anti-Jin Dynasty. Zhang Jun is a military attache and one of the four ZTE generals. The radicals are different, so the two should not be confused.

He Su, the previous top scholar, was entertaining everyone. The invitees included Zhu Song, Zhang Jun, Fan Jun, Chen Dong, Li Hanzhang, Ling Guxu and others.

Fan Jun is a descendant of Fan Zhongyan's family, and Zhang Jun's family and Fan Zhongyan's family are related by marriage.

Zhu Song and Fan Jun were good friends, and through Fan Jun's introduction, they became close friends with Zhang Jun. Later, Zhu Song's son Zhu Xi and Zhang Jun's son Zhang Shi became close friends and often argued with each other.

Zhang Jun is not married yet, his first wife is Leshi. As for the middle-aged marriage and becoming a "brother-in-law" with his son, that is another case (the wives of the father and son are sisters of the Yuwen family).

Zhu Song prospered in Taixue. When Zhu Ming became the official of Taixue, he had just entered the school, but now he has graduated and been appointed an official.

On the other hand, the unlucky Chen Dong was promoted to the upper house by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty because of his talent and academic skills, but he was stuck in the upper house and could not graduate.

He Su knew everyone. He and Zhang Jun had been friends for many years. Zhang Jun was later promoted thanks to He Su's recommendation.

Everyone was having a feast when they suddenly heard noise coming from outside.

Li Hanzhang opened the window and looked out, only to see many people crying in the streets in the distance, dragging their families and families out of the city.

"Why is this?" Fan Jun also walked behind the window.

He Su sighed and said, "Alas, there was a messy and dilapidated building in the outer city. Liang Shicheng forcibly demolished the land and sold it. The money obtained was said to be used for Huashi Gang."

Chen Dong yelled: "The traitor is harming the people again!"

Liang Shicheng is renovating shantytowns, paying random demolition fees, and then selling the land at a high price to build residences.

Not many people were forced to be demolished. They were mainly demolishing low-level houses and incidentally demolishing some shanty towns.

"Does Your Majesty just don't care about the remnants of the people in Tokyo?" Ling Guxu asked.

He Su smiled coldly and did not answer.

He works in the imperial city, and the office building of the Secretariat Department has been demolished. What does it matter if the people in the outer city are demolished?

Zhu Song said: "At least I will send a county captain away, far away from the capital, out of sight."

"I envy you for being outside," He Su said with emotion. "I heard that Brother Chenggong went to the local government to serve as an official, rectifying the powerful and relieving the people. He has really accomplished a lot. What's the use of me staying in the Secretariat? I'm just a yes man every day."

Li Hanzhang said: "It is difficult to be a successful and good brother. Having meritorious service in Puzhou, but being transferred to Jinzhou is like being demoted."

Chen Dong said: "It is the same inside and outside the government. As long as the traitors are not eliminated, the country will not be in peace."

Zhu Song advised: "Brother Chen, it's better to say less. I've already become an official, but you are still in Taixue. If you keep speaking out, you may be trapped in Taixue for the rest of your life."

"I'm so happy with it." Chen Dong said with his head held high.

…

However, Zhang Gen, the father of Xinke Tanhua, returned to Beijing this year to report on his work and was transferred to two Zhejiang provinces as a transfer envoy.

This is a good job, and you can make a lot of money.

However, Zhang Gen was unwilling to go to Zhejiang and Zhejiang to take up his post, especially after witnessing Liang Shicheng's shantytown renovation, he wrote a memorial to the emperor out of righteous indignation.

The approximate content is:

"The prefectures and counties in the world do not have full-month reserves. The country in Taicang does not have full-year savings. Military expenditures are scarce and border defenses are in disrepair. Floods and droughts occur frequently, thieves are everywhere, and foreign invasions have not subsided. Your Majesty should have made plans in advance."

"We can't carry out large-scale construction now. Your Majesty, you gave your favorite a house, and each house is worth tens or millions. I used to be in charge of twenty states, and I only handed over 300,000 yuan to the central government a year, which was not enough to give to my favorite. Give me a mansion."

"In the two Zhejiang areas, Hua Shi Gang is the most harmful to the people. Your Majesty, if you buy a rare bamboo, it will cost you 50 yuan. But this money does not go into the pockets of the people, because the local officials always take advantage of it. Hua Shi Gang also takes over many water boats. , causing the price of rice in the capital to skyrocket... I can be the transshipment envoy between Zhejiang and Zhejiang, but your Majesty, please stop the Huashi Gang first!"

This memorial was not blocked by any means and was quickly delivered to the emperor.

Song Huizong was furious after reading this: "This Zhang Gen, can his son criticize the government so much when he is admitted as a Tanhualang? I think highly of him, so I let him be the transfer envoy between Zhejiang and Zhejiang. When he asked to stop the Qiantang Manufacturing Bureau, I gave him Face has stopped, and he loses a lot of tribute every year. Now he is pushing the envelope, without any regard for the friendship between the emperor and his subjects. In the draft of the decree, Huainan transfer envoy Zhang Gen made rash remarks and was demoted to the supervisor of the wine tax!"

Zhang Tao, Tanhualang, had already served as an official thanks to his kindness. This kind of person is called an "official person".

He was also admitted to Jinshi and was ranked among the top three, so he was promoted to the official Wen Linlang and Piyong Xuelu (the discipline director and teaching assistant of Taixue Preparatory School).

After reading the imperial edict, Zhang Tao sighed and said, "Father, it's better not to offend the officials again."

"If the outline of flowers and stones does not stop, the state of the Song Dynasty is in danger!" Zhang Gen began to study ink, "Compared to the world, what does my personal career mean?"

Zhang Tao asked in surprise: "Father wants to write a memorial again?"

Zhang Gen said: "In his position, he plans his political affairs. If you ask me to be the transfer envoy between Zhejiang and Zhejiang, I will discuss the Huashi Gang. Now if you ask me to collect the wine tax, I will discuss the laws of Changping!"

Zhang Tao was speechless. He had just passed the exam and his father was so wild.

Zhang Gen asked: "Are you afraid of being implicated?"

Zhang Tao shook his head helplessly: "If my father is angry, he should let his children do the writing for him."

In fact, father and son have the same temper.

In history, when Zhao Gou was crossing south, someone recommended Zhang Tao to become an official in the court.

Zhang Tao took the opportunity to make a speech and denounced the illegal construction of Jiang defense, which was a waste of money and people's power. He also criticized the ministers around Zhao Gou who talked about trivial matters all day long but said nothing about important national affairs. He also said that Zhao Gou had gone to Hangzhou and should not be in a hurry to build a palace.

Zhao Gou was so angry that he almost tore up the memorial!

At this moment, Zhang Tao was ghostwriting for his father, and he complained very tactfully about the cruel deeds of the Changping Division.

If you ask for a hammer, you will get a hammer, and soon the imperial edict will be issued.

Zhang Gen didn't even have the official position of collecting wine taxes, so he was thrown into the position of deputy envoy for regiment training by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.

The central edict of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty only stated what official he would be demoted to, but did not arrange the specific location.

Cai You called the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and said, "Transfer this root to Jinzhou to prevent him from getting into trouble again."

Cai Jing and Cai You, father and son, have completely given up on Jinzhou and regard it as a trash can. Anyway, if you don't like it, just throw it away, and let Zhu Ming, Zhang Gen and others do whatever they want.

When Zhang Gen learned about his new official position, he slumped in his chair.

When Song Huizong first ascended the throne, the Queen Mother was still in power. Zhang Gen got the opportunity to meet the emperor, the emperor and his ministers chatted happily, and Song Huizong looked like he was working hard to govern.

At that time, Song Huizong adopted and implemented all the suggestions for governing the country given by Zhang Gen.

How did the emperor become like this after more than ten years?

Zhang Gen believed that he had the emperor's trust, and this was indeed the case, otherwise he would not have been transferred to Zhejiang Province as the transfer envoy. However, after the two memorials were sent out, they were completely wiped out and turned into a scattered official with no real power.

"Father, don't worry, this is expected." Zhang Tao advised.

Zhang Gen shook his head and said: "I am not worried about myself, but worried about the country. You and I have been in Huainan for several years, and you know what the people are like. I heard that Hua Shigang harassed Zhejiang and Zhejiang even more seriously, and now they have imposed wine taxes and vinegar Taxes. The imperial court increased taxes, merchants raised prices, and the people's lives became more difficult. If things go on like this, there may be chaos between Chen and Wu."

While the father and son were talking, Zhang Gen's son-in-law Li Gang arrived.

Li Gang also had a bad temper. He became a royal censor three years ago, but was demoted to a foreign minister because he offended a traitor. This year he was finally promoted to the rank of Julang, and next year he will be sent to Sha County as a tax collector by the emperor for discussing government affairs.

"Father-in-law is too impulsive." Li Gang sighed when he saw him.

Zhang Gen asked back: "Then how did you offend the powerful?"

Li Gang said: "My son-in-law, as a royal censor in the palace, is responsible for impeaching evildoers. My father-in-law transferred the envoys of Zhejiang and Zhejiang provinces, just to use his usefulness to prevent Zhu Meng from using Hua Shi Gang to harm the people. My father-in-law's two memorials were quite satisfying." , but the newly appointed transfer envoy between Zhejiang and Zhejiang will team up with Zhu Meng to fish Southeast, and it is the people of Southeast who will suffer in the end!"

Zhang Gen was silent after hearing this, and it took him a long time to hold back a sentence: "It's a bit reckless, but I won't be happy if I don't say it."

Li Gang said: "My father-in-law has been dormant in Jinzhou for two or three years. During this period, he can no longer anger the officials. He will definitely make a comeback after the officials calm down."

"Alas." Zhang Gen could only sigh.

Just like what my son-in-law Li Gang said, as long as he is honest for two or three years, he will definitely be able to serve again. The Zhang family has countless in-laws, disciples and former officials. If they find an opportunity, they can recommend them for reinstatement. Song Huizong will not insist on them.

The ancestors of the Zhang family moved to Dexing County, Raozhou in the early Song Dynasty. They worked hard for decades by opening up wasteland and farming, and later operated newly discovered mines on a small scale.

After having a small family business, I began to train my children to study.

Zhang Kai's five sons were successively admitted to four Jinshi examinations. The remaining son, Zhang Qian, did not take the exam at all and stayed at home to take care of the business. He also invented and improved gallbladder and copper smelting, which directly made the Zhang family extremely wealthy.

The recently deceased Duke Kang and Prime Minister Liu Zhengfu were the children of Zhang Gen's father and were taken care of by Zhang Qian when he was studying.

There are several similar officials. The group of young classmates produced five Jinshis in a row, and they married each other by the way.

Several of Zhang Gen's uncles were either favored, recommended, or Jinshi, and they were also many officials.

Although such a family is not as good as the Wang family in Shuzhong, it should not be underestimated.

Moreover, it only took four generations from the first Jinshi in the family to the current Tanhualang Zhang Tao.

After talking for a while, Zhang Gen stayed with his son-in-law to eat, talked about Hua Shigang, and even mentioned Ju Ming, the magistrate of Jinzhou.

Li Gang said: "Zhu Chenggong, the governor of Jinzhou, seems to have made great achievements. However, his political performance is not good. Last year's tax payment was insufficient. It was only because of the drought that he was not punished."

Zhang Gen said with a smile: "If he was hit by a disaster and could still collect taxes in full, I would despise him. It is precisely because of the insufficient amount of taxes that he appears to be a good official."

"That's true." Li Gang nodded and said.

Zhang Gen said: "If there are many thieves in Jinzhou, I will be the deputy envoy of the regiment, and I can go to suppress the thieves and bring peace to the people. But if Zhu successfully governs Jinzhou, I am afraid there will be no thieves. I can only drink tea and drink every day."

Li Gang said: "Seventh sister is not married yet, and Zhu Chenggong is not married either. They are similar in age, and they may be able to get married. By then, Zhu Chenggong will be the last flower hunter, and the eldest brother (Zhang Tao) will be In this year's edition, the best couple, the brother-in-law, the wife and the brother-in-law will surely become a good story."

Zhang Gen suddenly laughed, seeming quite moved.

He had seven daughters, six of whom were married, and Li Gang was his second son-in-law.

Zhu Chenggong is a young talent, so it would be great to recruit him as his son-in-law.

Zhang Gen's family is rich. They mine mines, and they also mine copper. They also know how to smelt copper by hydrometallurgy. He has no pursuit of money, and he is not greedy for anything as an official. His lifelong ambition is nothing more than to report to the country, bring peace to the people, and revitalize the family in the meantime.

Recruiting more good sons-in-law is also a way to revitalize the family.

He has thought about his daughter's dowry, and the value cannot be less than eight thousand guan.

You must make your son-in-law rich so that he will not be corrupt and can be an official with peace of mind.