The eleventh night of the first month of the third year of Song and Yuan Dynasties

Most of the yamen of various ministries in the Song Dynasty were located in the imperial palace.

At this time, Emperor Zhao Xu of the Song Dynasty was critically ill and his life was on the line. Officials such as Zai, Zhi, the ministers of the two palaces, and the ministers of the three provinces did not return to the palace. They all gathered in the palace, in the ministries of the ministries, or took a nap.

Or get together and discuss quietly.

Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, Xu Jiang, Zeng Bu and others gathered in Menxia Province to discuss countermeasures. However, they went back and forth, but they were all in the opposite direction, and they were all duplicitous. The discussions could not produce any results.

So all the governors stopped talking, and lay on the couch with their eyes closed, each thinking about his or her own thoughts.

The same was true for Zhang Dun, who was leaning on a bamboo couch with a stove under his feet and a thin fur quilt covering his body. The temperature in the room was also relatively suitable, neither cold nor hot.

Zhang Dun wanted to take a nap, but he couldn't fall asleep despite tossing and turning. His mind was racing and he felt extremely irritable.

Zhang Dun is already sixty-five years old this year, and has been serving as prime minister for six years. According to ancient customs and the practice of the Song Dynasty, Zhang Dun will have five years at most before he can become an official, and he will have to resign and return to his hometown to retire.

But even if there is only a year and a half left, who would be willing to give up the phase and go back to their hometown?

You must know that in terms of phase, in addition to being able to express your ambitions and achieve good things in the world, your identity and status are also unparalleled.

The prime minister is responsible for assisting the emperor in regulating yin and yang, following the four seasons, and adjusting all things accordingly. Externally, he is responsible for pacifying the foreign princes, and internally, he is close to the people, so that the ministers and officials can fulfill their duties.

When he is in a high position, flatterers are like the ministers crossing the river, and his family is like a city. Once he is deposed, people are like tea, and his family is empty...Such a huge contrast, almost no one can bear it.

The status of the prime minister is that one person is below and above ten thousand people! But the incident happened because of this one person.

In the fourth year of Emperor Jiayou of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, Zhang Dun, who was only 25 years old, was promoted to Jinshi. In the fourth year of Emperor Yingzong's reign, Ouyang Xiu recommended Zhang Dun to Zuo Lang and other positions. When Wang Anshi was in power, he was pleased with his talent.

He recommended Zhang Dun to be the official of the Third Department of Compilation and Editing, to collect talents as a school administrator, and to be a reviewer of Zhongshu. He officially entered the center of the imperial court, and from then on he emerged as a prominent figure in the imperial court.

Later Wang Anshi dismissed the prime minister. After he dismissed the prime minister, Wang Anshi recommended Zhang Dun as the "jixiang", that is, the third envoy, whose status is second only to the ruling position.

During this period, Zeng Bu impeached Zhang Dun on the charge of "defrauding the truth", so Zhang Dun was removed from office and demoted to Raozhou, where he was appointed as the governor of Raozhou.

Later, Zhang Dun was recalled to the imperial court, and was later demoted to Huzhou. He was recalled only in the third year of Yuanfeng, and was appointed Hanlin bachelor, You Yanzheng.

Entered the ranks of government.

In the fourth year of Yuanfeng, Zhang Dun was demoted to Caizhou again. In the fifth year of Yuanfeng, he was recalled and assumed the position of power again.

In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Emperor Shenzong died, and Zhao Xu, who was only nine years old, succeeded to the throne. Empress Dowager Gao served as regent, Yuan You was promoted, and Zhang Dun was demoted to Ruzhou, Lingnan and other places.

Until Zhao Xu came to power and Shaosheng Shaoshu, Zhang Dun, an important figure in charge of the reform in the Shenzong Dynasty and a tough opponent of the Yuanyou party, was appointed as the official Zuo Zhengyi, and Zuopushe, the minister and minister, was the prime minister.

Zhang Dun's life can be said to be full of ups and downs, ups and downs, ups and downs. It can be said to be thrilling, with a narrow escape from death.

How could Zhang Dun give up the hard-won phase so easily?

Zhang Dun had been in the position for six years, which was inseparable from the favor and trust of Song Emperor Zhao Xu. At this time, Zhao Xu was critically ill and his life was on the line. The situation in the court was bound to change suddenly, and Zhang Dun's position was already in a precarious state. among.

If Zhang Dun wants to continue to hold a high position, he must make a decisive decision to win the favor of the new king.

The current situation is that if Zhao Xu dies, the throne will definitely fall to one of the nine sons of Shenzong, Shen Wang Zhao Ji, the eleventh son Duan Wang Zhao Ji, and the thirteenth son Jian Wang Zhao Si.

Zhang Dun was the one who advocated for the oldest Shen king Zhao Ji to inherit the throne. The next choice was Jian Wang Zhao Si. In any case, Duan Wang Zhao Ji could not inherit the throne. The reason was that the Queen Mother Xiang Shi behind Duan Wang had different ideas. Therefore, the Empress Dowager and the Gao family are almost unanimous in opposing the reform and are extremely sympathetic to Yuanyou's people. If Zhao Ji succeeds to the throne, it is very likely that the many years of efforts of Yuanfeng's people will be in vain. Zhang Dun and others Maybe they will all be expelled from the court.

But among the current imperial officials, only Zhang Dun supports Zhao Bian. Although Cai Bian is obedient to him, he is obedient to him. At the same time, Cai Bian has been deputy prime minister for a long time and has been peeking at his position for too long. He wants to drive Zhang Dun away immediately. , so that you can replace it yourself.

Not to mention Zeng Bu, who was a mortal enemy of Zhang Dun, and it was impossible for him to side with Zhang Dun at this time.

The other rulers are just grassroots. If they see which side is weak, they will attack them in groups and add insult to injury.

"Mr. Zhang, you are old, why don't you go back home to rest?" Cai Bian saw Zhang Dun's face turning red and white, and his expression was extremely anxious, so he said to Zhang Dun: "When there is news, I will inform you immediately. "

At this time, the situation in the court is very turbulent. No one knows what the final result will be. Any of the three princes may succeed to the throne. Zhang Dun supports Zhao Bai. Cai Bian knows this well. It is clear that if Zhao Bai really ascends to the throne, then Zhang Dun will continue to be in high position. At this time, Cai Bian relies on Zhang Dun, leaving himself a way out to keep his position as deputy prime minister.

Therefore, at least on the surface, Cai Bian really cares about Zhang Dun.

"I don't need to worry about Mr. Cai." When Zhang Dun was feeling annoyed, Cai Bian suddenly said this, which immediately made Zhang Dun unable to help himself. Zhang Dun was extremely disgusted with Cai Bian, so he said with a gloomy face. : "Although I am old, I am in good health. You should still worry about yourself."

This is a critical moment, how can we leave the palace? If they want to drive him back to the palace, and then they take advantage of the opportunity, wouldn't it be a big deal? Humph, there is no door, Zhang Dun thought to himself.

When Cai Bian heard this, his face turned as red as a monkey's ass. How could this person be so ignorant? He was indeed a little worried about his health, but Zhang Dun retorted, and in front of everyone, Cai Bian couldn't come to the stage...

Cai Bian's face turned red and he held it in for a long time before he said: "So, this is a low-ranking official who is troubled."

Cai Bian then sat aside angrily, and finally muttered: "Humph, Sima Zhao's heart."

"Hmph, you said I am Sima Zhao's heart?" Zhang Dun was so angry that he couldn't hold it back at all. He stood up and walked to Cai Bian, pointed at Cai Bian's nose and said angrily: "Then you Who is it again? It's just a cough. Why don't you go home now? Why

Stay here?"

Cai Bian was Wang Anshi's son-in-law, and his wife, Wang, was well-educated, good at poetry, and quite knowledgeable about state affairs.

When Cai Bian had something to do, he first planned it in private and then announced it to the court. He was a typical henpecker and had already become the laughing stock of the court. People in the world once ridiculed Cai Bian, but those who followed it every day were left speechless.

..

Zhang Dun exposed his ugliness in public, and Cai Bian was "young and vigorous". Cai Bian was more than ten years younger than Zhang Dun, and he was about fifty this year. So Cai Bian couldn't contain his anger and stood up and got angry.

Said: "It's a hundred times more powerful than having a cough and still loving Shuiyun Township."

As soon as Cai Bian said this, all the ministers around him couldn't help laughing.

The Immortal Abbot came out of Miaomang, and his love for Shuiyun Township was as high as ever. Whoever achieves three consecutive successes in fame and fame, how can he forget his life experience twice?

This was a farewell poem given by Su Shi to Zhang Dun, but it was interpreted by Zhang Dun as an insinuation of his family scandal. As a result, there was a rift between the two of them, and they became inseparable from then on.

"How dare you, Shuzi?" This is Zhang Dun's reverse scale, which no one can touch. At this time, Cai Bian was humiliated in public, which made Zhang Dun furious. The anger in his heart could not be contained at all, so he grabbed Cai Bian.

, and with another hard push, Cai Bian fell onto the bamboo collapse.

Cai Bian exclaimed and fell down on the bamboo raft. The bamboo raft was not strong and was relatively soft, so he made a crash and was crushed away. Minister Youcheng and the dignified deputy minister of the imperial court sat down on the ground, shocked.

He looked at Zhang Dun fearfully.

Zhang Dun was tall and distinguished in appearance. Although he was old, his majesty was still the same as before. At this time, he suddenly went berserk. He was really majestic and worthy of being a great uncle. Cai Bian was immediately frightened and did not dare to speak anymore.

Although Cai Bian is much younger than Zhang Dun, he is much shorter than Zhang Dun and his body is not as strong as Zhang Dun.

As the saying goes, a good man never suffers immediate losses, and he has to give in when he has to...

"Your Majesty is in critical condition. How can you be like this at this time? How can you behave like this?" Zeng Bu shook his head when he saw this.

Who doesn't know this truth? Is there any need for you to make sarcastic comments? Zhang Dun turned his head and glared at Zeng Bu after hearing this, but he secretly regretted it in his heart.

Zhang Dun has a hot temper, and he doesn't care when his temper comes up. However, after losing his temper, he usually regrets it.

This was a critical moment when help was needed. Didn't Zhang Dun's move directly push Cai Bian to the opposite side?

"Why are you here?" General Xu, Youcheng of Shangshu, quickly helped Cai Bian and said: "Mr. Zhang is busy with state affairs day and night. At this time, His Majesty is in critical condition and is inevitably a little impatient. Please bear with me."

After Zhang Dun heard this, his anger subsided for a while and he nodded to General Xu to express his thanks.

If anyone among these people would stand on his side? Then it would be General Xu, Zhang Dun thought to himself.

Who is General Xu? In the eighth year of Jiayou's reign, he became the number one scholar in the Guimao Examination. He was admitted at the age of 26. He was the youngest number one scholar in Fujian Road. He was erudite and talented, and he was relatively loyal and upright. At this time, he had experienced the four dynasties of Renzong, Yingzong, Shenzong and Zhao Xu.

, is a veteran of the Four Dynasties.

General Xu attached himself to Zhang Dun, and Zhang Dun recommended him to join the ranks of chief ministers and executive officers. General Xu rewarded him with Li, and recommended Zhang Dun's brother Zhang Kai to Zhilong Tuge to serve as the envoy of the Huanqing Road Economic Strategy.

He commanded the northwest army, marched through the northwest, fought against Xixia, and achieved impressive results.
Chapter completed!