Fragrance of Laurel Branch

Chapter 2: Snowing of Chrysanthemums

Wang Anshi returned to the prime minister's mansion, but he couldn't calm down for a long time.

He remembered the day when he participated in the imperial examination in the second year of the Qingli period. He opened the exam paper and wrote:

"In Song Empire, there are imperial examinations to select loyal and excellent officials, who will devote themselves to the empire until their death. However, its hierarchy is strict. Among scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants, Confucian scholars are on the highest authority. It provokes the inequality between society. If everyone wants to pass the exam and return hometown in glory, it is easy for the upper class to engage in private corruption, a***e of power, and embezzlement; however, the lower class will be internally competitive and utilitarian. Then all Confucian scholars will only study and become officials in order to pass the exam, and no one will really care about the people, and the empire will not be at peace. This rigid system restricts thoughts and consciousness, and is even more fettered by the old and deep-rooted principles.

However, even if you were poor, you should think of change. Think about the imperial examination supervision system: Officials and civilians can supervise and inspect each other; at the same time, set up a Jiying system, so that the children of businessmen can be qualified for the imperial examinations after being reviewed. Reforming the inappropriate contents of Four Books and Five Classics, and flexibly changing the eight-part essay system for selecting officials; and allow women to have the opportunity to participate the political world through imperial examinations, have the same rights as men, and no longer be restricted by the feudal ethics of Three Obediences and Four Virtues.

Besides, the supervision and review system is easily obscured by the evil part of human nature: Officials and civilians at all levels might slander and defame each other in order to compete for rewards and reputations, and falsely accuse others, so it is difficult to appeal grievances.

Therefore, regulations should be adjusted at any time in order to understand the public opinion. At the end of Zhou Gongdan's life, he told Ji Song, young King of Zhou, that even though he is a young child, he should communicate friendly with the ministers and govern the country well. As now, officials and civilians need to be united and not be blinded by greed..."

Unexpectedly, when Zhao Zhen, Emperor Renzong of Song, was reviewing the exam papers, he was angry after seeing the phrase "young child", thinking that he was impetuous and arrogant and could not be listed as the top scholar, because he might hint that the emperor is too young to rule the empire. So, Wang Anshi lost the place of Number One Scholar, then became the number fourth.

The high-spirited proofreader in those days did not care about his ranking and reputation, but was only concerned about the people. Now, he has become Prime Minister of Song Dynasty. His professor Ouyang Xiu appreciated and called him "as Li Bai, the author of 3,000 poems in the Hanlin Academy; and as Han Yu, wrote 200 years of articles in the Ministry of Administration. Wang Anshi and Sima Guang were best friends, but they went their separate ways in the turbulent political party struggles.

"Huan Lang, are you worried about the reforms again?" His wife, Wu Qiong, was preparing ink for him. "It's probably because Sir Sima is upright and stubborn, and he has a quarrel with you in the court again."

"Qiong'er guessed right. I often think, if I could go back to the past with Junshi, when we were students of Professor Ouyang, how great it would be!"

"Yes, at that time, you two discussed classics and talked about everything. You were really best friends who could talk about anything. Do you regret your choice now?"

"No, I have never given up the reform. Even if Junshi and I are strangers now, it can't stop my determination to reform!" Wang Anshi looked out the window. He remembered that in late autumn of last year, the west wind blew the chrysanthemums that were proud of the cold and frost into the snowing of broken gold and jade.

He was filled with mixed feelings. Reforming was imminent, but Conservative Party still slander and insult him, and his friendship with Junshi came to an end; just like the golden chrysanthemums in late autumn. They should have been proud of the frost branches, but were blown off by the wind of Hujia and scattered all over the ground.

So he suddenly took his pen brush and wrote a line of poetry:

"The west wind passed through the garden last night, blowing down the yellow flowers and making the ground golden."

Northern Song Dynasty used gold to seek peace with Liao and Western Xia as appeasement. The heavy taxes and levies were increasing day by day; the civilians of different countries hated each other, and there was a deep hatred in the sea of ​​blood. No one knew when there would be peace. The refugees were separated from their family members, but the officials of court took advantage of the chaos to rob, disregard the lives of the civilians, and assassinate the other loyal officials! What was the reason for this? Generation after generation of the people were despised, used, deceived, and abandoned by the aristocracy; and the emperor, at a young age, had never seen how the people outside the palace were in danger of losing their lives, how the world was changing, and how the battlefield was full of blood. Civil and military officials were fighting only for power and profit, but was this what he wanted to see? Wang Anshi wanted to reform, but there were always people stopping him from it. Although Zhao Xu tried to persuade them to make peace on the surface, he hoped to use the struggle between Reformist Party and Conservative Party to avoid the situation where Wang Anshi, who was powerful enough to dominate the court, had never controlled all the empire. Is a person innocent, but guilty of possessing a treasure? If you were poor, you should take care of yourself; and if you were rich, you should help the world. However, if everyone avoids rumors and gossips out of fear, who will help the people? Who else can see the tears of the people, the water that overturns the boat, and the sea of ​​suffering!

"Now Three-department Regulations Department has been established to coordinate the national fiscal budget. The problem is not that there is not enough money, but that it is not impartially distributed. However, after supervision and regulation, the problem will become inverse. I don't know when this deadlock can be resolved." Wang Anshi wanted to continue writing the poem, but he felt frustrated in his heart and could not write to finish the poem.

"Don't be anxious, Huan Lang. The implementation of new laws will benefit generations in the future. Don't be anxious about the unclear moment and put yourself in danger!"

As they were talking, blue-shirted servant Fan Qingchen came to report: "Sir, Sima Gong wants to see you."

Wang Anshi was discontent: "No!"

"Sima Gong said that it is extremely urgent and he must see you."

"Let he come."

Sima Guang walked quickly, "Jiefu, this is not the place to talk, come with me! It is related to the safety of Your Majesty! Extremely urgent!"

Wang Anshi was shocked when he heard this, and let Sima Guang guide him to the Liunan Hall where they were lecturing and discussing before.

It is difficult to make all sentient beings, and it is also difficult to get what they want; it is difficult to be safe and happy, and it is also difficult to return hometown in glory; it is difficult to help the world, and it is also difficult to be good to oneself. This hall is called Liunan, meaning that life is short with six large problems, and all living beings are suffering.

Sima Guang unfolded a script of Seven Medicine Buddhas of Dunhuang: "This is a sample script copied by a detective in my mansion."

Seven Medicine Buddhas are vivid, with brilliant lotus flowers in all five colors. The dancers and musicians are dressed in green and orange clothes with gold ribbons. They are in different shapes, creating a peaceful and prosperous scene.

Wang Anshi was amazed at the unique style of Dunhuang, and suddenly saw a strange mark on the lotus seat of Golden Light Wonderful Actions Accomplishment Tathagata that should not have existed.

"Western Xia's symbol?"

"That's right. Cutting Lotus Roots Symbol is located on the lotus throne, which is a bad omen. The lotus root is cut and the silk is connected. It has exhausted the destiny of Emperor of Song Dynasty. He might be killed suddenly, and his soul will never be at peace! He will wander in the chaotic world to see the destruction of empire and family's ruin for a thousand years!"

"Is there anyone who intend to rebel?"

"Not only that. This person might have already infiltrated the court of Song Dynasty."

"Who?"

"Look," Sima Guang circled Cutting Lotus Roots Symbol, "The detective reported that this symbol..."

He lowered his voice and said solemnly near to Wang Anshi's ear: "It was Western Xia officials who tortured a Song person to death and put his mincemeat on the wall. They mashed his flesh and blood into mud, dipped a wolf hair brush in it, and smeared it on the paintings. They burned his bones into ashes and used them to make a ground. Their sinister intentions are obvious."

Thundering.

Wang Anshi was so frightened that he has a cold sweat. In a split second, he whispered, "This criminal case is quite strange. I must go to Dunhuang and find out the truth."

"Dunhuang is so far away from here! And there are Western Xia forces entrenched there. How can you go alone?"

"I already made the decision. You don't need to intervene!"

Sima Guang said angrily, "Stubborn Prime Minister! Don't you understand? I came here to inform you, that I will go with you."

Wang Anshi looked at Sima Guang in shock, "Nonsense! Two important officials in the court went to Dunhuang one after another. Are the others blind and unable to see it?"

"At this time, the contradictions between Conservative Party and Reformist Party are intensifying. It is necessary for you and me to leave the court for a while, so that the conspiracy can surface."

Wang Anshi thought for a long time, "Let Lü Huiqing and Han Jiang continue to preside over the new laws." He picked up the pen brush and wrote a name on his hand.

"This person must be demoted to a place in order to avoid the limelight first, so as not to be destroyed by the wind when the excellent tree stands out in the forest."

He showed Sima Guang his palm. The latter took out another piece of rice paper with the same name written on it:

Su Shi.