Chapter 201 Although the night is long, the bright moon follows (here it comes!)

Zhao Zhen's expression became solemn.

"Is this true?"

Zhang Heng smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, how dare I lie about this kind of thing? This is a serious crime of deceiving the emperor, and it is also a crime of slandering the minister. How dare I tell such lies?"

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "I will send someone to investigate."

Hearing this, Zhang Heng handed over his hands and stopped talking.

Zhao Zhen had a headache: "What should we do about disaster relief?"

Zhang Heng said solemnly: "The current situation is not that there are no grain reserves in the local area. The Minister of Grain Reserves started preparations a few months ago. As long as the stored grains are released, grain prices can be suppressed.

In fact, the central bank can fully bear the high interest rates that have hurt farmers so much, so that farmers do not need to be exploited by large local households, let alone be forced to sell their fields and homes and become refugees.

Now these two problems are one problem, because ministers like Xia Song and Song Xiang colluded with the prefectures and counties to hinder disaster relief. As long as these people are eliminated, the grain loans can smoothly reach the hands of farmers and the disaster will be solved.

At that time, we can persuade the refugees to return to their hometowns, then investigate the forced acquisition of farmers' fields and houses, and return the fields and houses to farmers, so that the situation of the refugees can be solved."

Zhao Zhen took a deep look at Zhang Heng again. There was nothing wrong with the measures Zhang Heng said to solve the disaster, but every sentence was closely related to Xia Song, Song Xiang and others, placing the key to solving the problem on this, which made Zhao Zhen unable to help himself.

Somewhat angry.

Zhao Zhen snorted and said, "Zhang Heng, do you know what I dislike the most?"

Zhang Heng thought for a moment and said: "Your Majesty dislikes chaos in the world the most. Your Majesty likes the world to be peaceful, the people live and work in peace and contentment, the generals are not afraid of death, the civil servants are not greedy for money, and you like all civil and military officials to be loyal to Your Majesty."

Zhao Zhen shook his head and said: "I do hope that the world will be peaceful and the people can live and work in peace and contentment, but I have never expected that civil servants will not be greedy for money and generals will not be afraid of death. Greed of money is human nature, and fear of death is also human nature. I am sure of human nature.

not good.

What I don’t like the most is when some people collude with cliques and oppose dissidents. This is especially detrimental to the court and the people of the world, and will ultimately harm the entire country.”

Zhao Zhen stared deeply into Zhang Heng's eyes, hoping to see uneasiness in Zhang Heng's eyes.

But Zhang Heng looked at Zhao Zhen frankly, and then sighed: "Your Majesty, I have a lot of feelings about what you said this time.

Xia Song, Song Xiang, and Ding Du are colluding with cliques, manipulating power, and are extremely greedy. They simply want to break the bones of farmers and incite refugees to come to Beijing. I don't know what they are going to do.

But I know that this matter is extremely dangerous. If I am not careful, a prairie fire will spread all over the place.

Your Majesty, please order us to send out capable ministers to thoroughly investigate this matter immediately and clear up the joints so that disaster relief can be carried out quickly.

If it continues like this, things may change drastically, and the situation will no longer be under the control of the court!"

Zhao Zhen lowered his eyes and seemed a little disappointed. He waved his hand and said, "Okay, Zhang Qing, you can go out. I will think about this matter carefully."

Zhang Heng exited the Chongzheng Hall, looked up at the clear sky, and felt a sense of suppressed anger.

That night, Zhang Heng and his wife came to Zeng Mansion.

The mother-in-law was very happy and prepared a sumptuous dinner for Zhang Heng and his wife. However, Zeng Gongliang was unable to make it in time for the dinner. When the genius returned in the middle of the moon, he looked very tired.

"Teacher?" Zhang Heng shouted.

Zeng Gongliang grinned: "It's stable."

Zhang Heng, however, gave a wry smile and told him about his meeting with Zhao Zhen today. Zeng Gongliang also became serious and asked carefully. He closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before slowly opening his eyes.

Zeng Gongliang said: "Today, Your Majesty summoned me, Wang Shenzheng, Privy Envoy Chen, Deputy Privy Privy Wu, Zhang Jixiang, Yang Zhijian and others to discuss the investigation of the Haizhou rebellion case. The final result of the deliberations was that the Privy Council had ordered the soldier Ning to

, Bao Zheng, the judge of the Household Department of the Third Division, and Han Qi, the bachelor of the Zizheng Palace, jointly handled the case."

Zhang Heng was immediately keenly aware: "Neither Song Xiang nor Ding Du attended this meeting? This investigation team only has three divisions, the Privy Council and Han Qi from the Xuanfu area to supervise this matter? In addition, the Yushitai was also excluded.

Are you out?"

Zeng Gongliang nodded and said: "In the principle of avoiding suspicion, Song Xiang, Ding Du, Jia Xianggong, and you will not participate because they are all involved. Yushitai has been involved this time, so I probably can't believe it."

Zhang Heng thought for a while and said: "So, the Zhongshu and Yushitai were excluded this time, for the sake of fairness and to prevent anyone from tampering with the investigation.

Soldier Ning has never taken sides and is a person your Majesty can trust. As for Bao Zheng, he has always been known for being fair and honest. As for Han Qi..."

Zhang Heng hesitated.

Han Qi was a member of the Qingli New Deal Party and was closely related to him. However, Han Qi had a deeper relationship with Xia Song. When Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan were under Xia Song, Han Qi made a big mistake in the Battle of Shuichuan.

, if Xia Song hadn't defended him, I'm afraid Han Qi wouldn't have been able to wade through the water so easily.

It can be seen from this that Zhao Zhen's attitude is still somewhat ambiguous.

Zhang Heng said with a serious look on his face: "Teacher, we need to make more preparations for this matter. Something is still wrong."

Zeng Gongliang's face became heavy when he heard this, and he nodded and said: "It is indeed necessary to make more preparations. This time it was Xia Song and others who started the party struggle first. They colluded to become cronies, and we became cronies too.

The officials are probably frightened by the party struggle, and Xia Song and the others can't escape this time, but we are expected to be beaten dozens of times, so it is probably necessary to make more preparations."

Zhang Heng thought for a while and said: "Teacher, Mr. Jia is unlikely to be spared this time. You are not qualified enough to be the prime minister, but we must keep the job of participating in political affairs. In this matter,

Please don't interfere.

In addition, please tell Master Wu that he should not interfere and wait for changes with peace of mind."

Zeng Gongliang nodded and said: "If Mr. Jia is dismissed as prime minister, who do you think is likely to become the prime minister?"

Zhang Heng thought for a while and said slowly: "Teacher, prepare to let Master Wu become the Privy Councilor."

Zeng Gongliang was surprised and said: "You mean, Chen Zhizhong will pay homage to the Prime Minister? This time His Majesty asked Han Qi to participate in the investigation. Doesn't Han Qi have no chance?"

Zhang Heng shook his head and said: "Firstly, Han Qi is not qualified enough, and secondly, Han Qi is a member of the Qingli New Party. This matter is not over yet. Now that he comes back, will the New Deal be abolished or will it continue?"

The officials haven't figured out this matter, so they probably won't let Han Qi go up easily, but a third envoy is still willing to give it.

It is estimated that Ding Du and Song Xiang will not be able to stay. When the time comes, Chen Zhizhong will be in power in the Zhongshu. Teacher, Wang Gongchen will be the counselor of political affairs. His Majesty will probably add one or two more..."

Zhang Heng hesitated.

Zeng Gongliang said: "Wen Yanbo, is it time for Fu Bi to come back?"

Zhang Heng said with some hesitation: "I was thinking about this just now. Fu Bi is a member of the Qingli New Party. If Han Qi comes back, then Fu Bi will probably not be able to come back. He will probably have to stay in Jingdong.

Wen Yanbo..."

Zhang Heng smiled bitterly: "... I guess not. It's not because of his lack of qualifications, but because we, Wen Yanbo, are the eldest brother's father-in-law and are too close to us. If we are together with Teacher Wu and you, the two of us are in political affairs

Hall, one is in charge of the Privy Council... the officials may have some considerations."

Zeng Gongliang said with some regret: "What a pity."

Seeing that Zeng Gongliang looked too tired, Zhang Heng didn't bother him much, said goodbye and went home with his wife Zeng Youwei, but he felt unhappy after all.

Zhao Zhen was too defensive. Zhang Heng did have the idea to use the topic to his advantage this time, but after all, Xia Song and the others went too far. They directly forced the palace Jia Chang to challenge him at the court meeting. How could Zhang Heng let them succeed?

?

Since they provoked trouble, Zhang Heng had no choice but to fight back. However, Zhao Zhen thought that Zhang Heng was forming a clique and was trying to work with the same party to defeat the dissenters. During the investigation, he directly stuffed Han Qi into it, which was quite involved with Xia Song.

If there are many people, it is inevitable that they will want to protect you.

And with Han Qi's long-sleeved and skillful way of doing things, it is estimated that this matter will eventually end in peace.

It was late at night, but Zhang Heng was still angry and couldn't sleep, so he could only get up quietly and walk back and forth in the yard.

The night is as cool as water and the moonlight is clear.

Feeling inspired by the scenery.

Zhang Heng muttered in a low voice: "On the night of October 12th, the sixth year of Yuanfeng, I took off my clothes and was about to fall asleep. When the moonlight came into my house, I happily set off.

Thinking of nothing and being happy, I went to Chengtian Temple to look for Zhang Huaimin.

Huai Min also stayed up and walked with each other in the courtyard.

Under the courtyard, the sky looks like accumulated water, with algae and waterlilies intersecting in the water, covered with bamboo and cypress shadows.

Where is the moonless night? Where is there no bamboo and cypress? But there are few idle people like the two of us..."

After reading this, Zhang Heng suddenly smiled: "... Mr. Dongpo is really lucky to have a friend like Zhang Huaimin."

Looking at the moon, which was as bright as a silver plate, the smile on Zhang Heng's face gradually disappeared.

"There are always moonlit nights, there are always bamboos and cypresses, but there are not many idle people in the world. In the final analysis, carnivores are too greedy, and exploitation is like breaking bones and sucking out marrow. Naturally, there are no such idle people.

If we let him off lightly this time, where would there be any room for reason in the world?

Even though it is a long night, there should be a bright moon to prop up the darkness!"

"Sanlang, it's time to rest."

Zeng Youwei's soft voice woke up Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng turned around and said with a smile: "Okay, here we come."
Chapter completed!