nashuaworldcup Chapter 83: Reconciliation Failed
Chapter 83: Reconciliation Failed
Lin Ke didn't really understand why the political struggles in the Song court gradually deteriorated into a bad situation. Even the stubborn Sima Guang in the old party didn't completely deny the feasibility of the new laws!
She rested her chin on her hand, sighed for a moment, and then continued to describe the political situation of the Song court.
"Liu Zhi, in his early years, was highly regarded by Han Qi for his outstanding local political achievements, which led to his entry into the imperial academy. He even gained the favor of Wang Anshi and was selected to serve in the censorate."
"Unfortunately, Liu Zhi's true love was Sima Guang, so he did not agree with Wang's reforms and began to oppose Wang on everything, including the talents Wang recommended!"
Wang Anshi of the Northern Song Dynasty: ...To hell with true love!
Sima Guang of the Northern Song Dynasty: What's with that regretful look on your face, little girl?
"Not long after, Old Wang probably felt uncomfortable too. 'I was the one who recommended you, how did you become that Sima Guang's lackey!' So Liu Zhi was unfortunately sent to a post outside the capital."
"After a long tenure in officialdom, Liu Zhi gradually developed a cunning and shrewd personality, hiding his political views deep within his heart, to the point that some members of the New Party mistakenly believed he was a potential collaborator."
"Therefore, after Sima Guang returned to court, Liu Zhi seemed to feel the time was right, and decisively raised the sign of opposition to the new laws in front of Sima Guang, becoming the leader of the censors."
"Unlike Sima Guang, Liu Zhi not only had extensive experience as a local official, but was also extremely adept at political maneuvering and knew how to cultivate power, which made him even more successful in politics."
"However, Liu Zhi, who inherited Sima Guang's power, still faces two formidable obstacles—Lü Gongzhe and Fan Chunren."
"These two men share a common goal: they both hope to reconcile the strained relationship between the old and new parties."
A scion of a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: So it's not surprising that he later became so extreme!
A Tang Dynasty official: It seems the reconciliation has failed!
"In fact, after Zhang Dun and Cai Que were demoted and sent away from the capital, Empress Dowager Gao also tried to ease the atmosphere in the court by promoting Li Qingchen and An Tao of the New Party."
"Although these two are relatively composed in their dealings, An Tao has more disagreements with the old party. The old party strongly dislikes the new party's expansionist attitude, so Huang Yansou, who is in charge of reviewing documents in the Ministry of Personnel, is particularly opposed to An Tao's promotion, even bluntly criticizing it as a waste of national resources!"
A scion of a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: Western Xia: Thank you, old party!
A certain former official of the Song Dynasty: ? !@you&…
……
"Wang Yansou was a good friend of Liu Zhi. Upon seeing him speak, Liu Zhi immediately led the censors in a tirade, and within a short time, most of the court officials submitted memorials impeaching him."
"The censors are already implying that they want Empress Dowager Gao to dismiss An Tao. So, is An Tao really not a good minister?"
"Actually, that's not the case. An Tao was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) during the reign of Emperor Renzong. During the Xining Reforms, he was still serving as a local official. He was the kind of official who worked diligently and would offer suggestions for amendments when he encountered problems with the laws."
"Especially when the Song Dynasty was betrayed by the Liao Dynasty and demanded border territories, he went to negotiate and persuaded the Liao envoys to remain silent."
"With such political achievements, several Wang Yansous can't compare to him. His dislike for An Tao is most likely due to factional conflicts."
"At this point, An Tao had already realized the seriousness of the problem, so he refused the court's appointment. Empress Dowager Gao's good intentions backfired this time; she not only failed to ease the relationship between the two factions, but may have even led to a worse situation."
A Ming Dynasty soldier: Judging from this, An Tao is quite a talent!
A butcher from the Ming Dynasty: So what are you all arguing about! You don't do anything, all you do is criticize others!
……
"At that time, Fan Chunren, like An Tao, held a position in the Privy Council. Seeing Empress Dowager Gao suffer a setback, he was somewhat resentful and submitted a memorial hoping that Empress Dowager Gao's demotion would express her leniency towards the reform forces and thus resolve the conflict."
"When Empress Dowager Gao saw that someone was supporting her, she immediately gained confidence. Later, when the old party criticized Deng Wan, who belonged to the new party, she stepped in to protect him."
"Deng Wan managed to make both the old and new parties think he wasn't a good person, yet Empress Dowager Gao still stepped in to protect him. That shows that the two of them genuinely extended goodwill to the new party and made a show of it."
A纨绔 (playboy) from the Ming Dynasty: I want to know what he actually did to be recognized as such!?
A farmer from the Ming Dynasty: Don't tell me, I want to know too!
……
"But the censors' words were so harsh that Empress Dowager Gao was still wary. In the same month that Fan Chunren made his remonstrance, Empress Dowager Gao succumbed to the pressure and agreed to dismiss Chancellor Han Zhen, who had already pledged his allegiance to her, while simultaneously appointing Han Wei, who had better ties with the old party, to succeed her as regent."
"Empress Dowager Gao understood that she lacked the ability to control the court, and Fan Chunren's influence in the court was not yet significant enough that joining forces with him might not be enough to influence the court. It was at this time that someone extended an olive branch to her."
"This person is Lü Gongzhe, the other formidable obstacle blocking Liu Zhi's path mentioned above."
"Cai Que once tried to frame Lü Gongzhe, but now the tables have turned, and perhaps even he never imagined things would turn out this way!"
"It's important to note that Sima Guang was still ill at this time, and Lü Gong's decision to join forces with Empress Dowager Kai to express goodwill towards the New Party may have been approved by Sima Guang."
"But no one expected that this time, Old Madam Gao would become her own unhelpful ally. After all, the old lady had been in the palace for too long, and coupled with her lack of political talent and acumen, things were prone to going wrong."
Gao Taotao of the Northern Song Dynasty: ...
Emperor Zhezong of Song: ……
Lu Gong of the Northern Song Dynasty wrote: ...