freenovelworld Chapter 198 It’s done!
Chapter 198 It’s done!
In early October of the first year of Yongxing in the Song Dynasty, a sensational "dispute between the emperor and his ministers" came to an end.
The new emperor Zhao Zonghao was not immediately deposed as most people thought. Instead, due to domestic and international situations, he temporarily became a "puppet emperor."
Taking a half step forward, Prince Pu Zhao Zongquan, who held the power of regent in the court, became the new leader of the Song Dynasty.
In mid-October, except for Zhao Ceying, Gu Tingye and others who continued to inspect salt throughout the country, Wang Jiefu, Sima Junshi, Pang Yuanlu, Bao Yu and others headed by the Han Party all resumed their posts one after another.
All those who belonged to Zhao Zonghao in the court were replaced, and a large number of old ministers who were idle at home were reinstated.
For a moment, the court was full of vitality, which made people feel that it had been a long time since they saw it.
In early November, after half a month of confrontation with the Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty's Nanjing Road troops finally retreated after failing to find any weaknesses in the Song Dynasty's border troops.
At this moment, the dark cloud hanging over the Song Dynasty completely dissipated.
At the end of November, after weighing the interests of all parties in the government, the court officials headed by Han Zhang wrote a letter to the emperor, requesting that the regent, Prince Pu, Zhao Zongquan, ascend the throne.
In order to choose an auspicious day, and as the first year of Yongxing (the eighth year of Jiayou) was already the end of the year, Zhao Zongquan finally chose to officially ascend the throne on the first day of January in the second year of Yongxing.
This way, there will be more time to better prepare for the coronation ceremony.
This time, Sheng Hong, as the master of the coronation ceremony, stole the limelight.
Firstly, he had experience in the former King Yong's enthronement of the Crown Prince.
Secondly, his father Changbai, son-in-law Liang Han, future son-in-law Gu Tingye and others now support Zhao Ceying, so Zhao Zongquan is also quite satisfied with the Sheng family.
Because of this, the reputation of the Sheng family in the capital city has skyrocketed. Many people secretly hate themselves for not being as cunning as Gu Tingye and taking away the last girl of the Sheng family!
Among them was the Duke of Qi's Mansion, which had previously obstructed the Sheng family and looked down upon them.
Speaking of the Duke of Qi, the big boss in charge of salt affairs, due to issues such as his family background, he did not participate too much in the struggles among various parties during the reign of Prince Yong Zhao Zonghao, which led to his lukewarm status.
Even during this thorough investigation of the salt business, Zhao Ceying promoted Liang Han, an official from the Ministry of Revenue, to be his deputy, and did not lend a hand to the Duke of Qi.
Even Sheng Changbai, who was not affiliated with the Sansi Yamen, was transferred from the Taichang Liyuan to assist Zhao Ceying.
It can be seen that the Duke of Qi is well versed in the ways of being an official. He does not offend anyone, does not get involved in anything, and lives a leisurely life.
Even the young master Qi Heng suffered a bad fate. According to the original plot, he could only become a counselor, a position that was neither high nor low.
This also gradually reduced the Qi family's reputation in Tokyo Prefecture.
After all, you didn't lend a hand during Zhao Zonghao's time, and you didn't help during Zhao Zongquan's time. Although you didn't offend either side, there was no need to move up.
Let’s talk about Prince Pu Zhao Zongquan. After he decided to ascend the throne on the first day of the first lunar month of the following year, he also issued an edict for the spring examination.
After all, every emperor would hold an imperial examination upon ascending the throne to select talented people and promote them to demonstrate the emperor's emphasis on talent.
Originally, Zhao Zonghao had the same idea and was planning to hold an autumn examination this year or a spring examination in the second year of Yongxing.
After all, Emperor Renzong passed away around April this year, which canceled the special examination in the spring.
Around September, he was unable to take the Autumn Examination because of his hedging against Han Ming's group.
In the end, he was driven off the throne by Han Ming and didn't even have the chance to hold an imperial examination.
Zhao Zongquan's order to supervise the country was issued, and all the candidates in the Song Dynasty began their final sprint.
As for Han Ming, after fighting against Prince Yan and Prince Yong in succession, he finally had some free time to rest for a while.
After all, according to his plan, when the new emperor Zhao Zongquan ascends the throne next year, the whole country will launch unprecedented reforms.
This job is not easy. If you are not careful, you may end up dead and your government will be destroyed, which would be a waste of time.
Therefore, Han Ming specifically greeted his superior, Privy Councilor Zhang Sheng, and Regent Zhao Zongquan, and took a paid leave to go home and see his children.
Privy Councilor Zhang Sheng naturally had no objection. After all, this gentleman was still waiting to follow the example of his old predecessor Zeng Mingzhong and use Han Ming to achieve some achievements so that he could move to the Secretariat.
Zhao Zongquan looked at the written report printed by Han Ming helplessly and speechlessly, with a look of being at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Princess Pu Shen Congying is very popular in Tokyo Prefecture now. After all, she is the future queen, which makes many interested people busy trying to curry favor with her.
Now she lives in Prince Pu's Mansion outside the palace and can be seen from time to time. But when she returns to the palace, she will be the queen, so how can she have nothing to do but visit?
And people related to him, such as Shen, Terracotta Warriors, Congxing, and Xiao Shen, were also promoted to royal relatives in a blink of an eye.
Old Shen, the future uncle of the emperor, was dragged out by the sons of nobles in Tokyo Prefecture to spend every day in a life of debauchery.
This made Mrs. Zou very angry. This "virtuous wife" did not let Old Shen into the house for three days and three nights.
Let him stay alone in his empty bed and think carefully about whether he wants a wife or some slutty bitch outside.
After all, Old Shen is a man who loves his wife, commonly known as a "henpecked husband". He almost knelt down before Mrs. Zou before he could persuade her to stop.
As for the Zou family's previous involvement in murder lawsuits, after Zhao Zonghao's downfall, all of these issues disappeared without a trace.
Xiao Duan and Lao Geng were even more embarrassed, thinking that the militia they followed, Prince Pu, would soon become the emperor, and they could at least get the merit of following the emperor, and get titles for their wives and children!
In short, the Yuzhou family has completely established itself in Tokyo Prefecture, and even gained the popularity unique to upstarts.
Everyone who sees him will be respectful on the surface, but secretly curse: You are so damn unlucky!
Anyway, the peaceful atmosphere in Tokyo Prefecture became more and more lively with the arrival of the second year of Yongxing.
. . . . . .
On the first day of the first lunar month in the second year of Yongxing in the Song Dynasty (1063), seven months after taking the throne, Emperor Zhao Zonghao announced his abdication, stripped him of his former title of Prince Yong, and changed his title to "Prince Liang", known in history as the "Deposed Emperor of Song".
On the same day, Empress Dowager Cao issued Renzong's edict for the second time, announcing the enthronement of Zhao Zongquan as the crown prince.
Prince Pu Zhao Zongquan formally accepted the imperial seal, inherited the throne, became emperor, changed the reign title to Zhiping, and became Emperor Yingzong of Song.
On the second day of the first lunar month, a general amnesty was declared, all officials were given a higher rank in rank, and the armies were rewarded.
On the third day of the first lunar month, Shen Congying, wife of Prince Pu, was canonized as empress, and the eldest son of the emperor, Zhao Ceying, was appointed governor of Anzhou and given the title of "Prince Huan".
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Zhao Shu fell ill and sent Han Zhi and others to report to the Khitan the news that Yingzong had ascended the throne.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Empress Cao was honored as the Empress Dowager.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, an imperial edict was issued requesting the Empress Dowager to jointly handle important military and national affairs. On the same day, Empress Dowager Cao rejected this request, agreeing that Emperor Yingzong had full authority to assist in the government affairs, and stated that the harem should not interfere in politics.
On the ninth day of the first lunar month, the road to promotion for the Yuzhou faction and the Han Party faction began.
"Deputy Privy Councilor, Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Palace, Acting Minister of the Six Departments and Vice Minister of War, Remote Jiedushi of Xiangzhou, Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, Guide General, Guard General, Anyang Marquis Han Ming..."
"He was loyal to his country, diligent in his work, saved the late emperor from danger, and maintained peace in the country..."
"..."
"Appointed as a loyal and helpful official, given the title of Vice-Minister of State Affairs, and promoted to Grand Secretary of the Wendian Hall, with a fief of 1,800 households (actual fief of 400 households)."
There are not many changes in the positions. The only important one is the Vice Prime Minister.
Now, anyone who sees Han Ming, a dissolute young man in his twenties, will call him "husband"!