In the Great Song Xuanhe Realm, within the Gen Yue Palace Gardens.
Zhao Ji, clad in dragon robes, was amidst his ministers, exchanging toasts and enjoying the beauty of the palace gardens, when he suddenly widened his eyes, rising to his feet with a jolt!
The suddenness and force of his movement even knocked over the dragon throne behind him!
Initially, Emperor Zhao Ji and his ministers were admiring the flowers and rocks in the gardens. Suddenly, a Golden Tablet descended from the heavens, shocking the world. Zhao Ji then ordered his palace servants to prepare food and drink, and together with his ministers, they enjoyed the Golden Tablet while partaking in the feast.
Everything was fine until they saw his ascension to the throne, the historical record calling him Song Huizong, which left him stunned, frozen in place!
The Golden Tablet had clearly stated that during the reigns of Huizong and Qinzong, the Great Song suffered a major upheaval, splitting the empire into two halves, a disgrace that could not be overstated!
However, Zhao Ji was not angry. Under his leadership, the Great Song flourished, and the so-called Huizong and Qinzong must have been some foolish descendants of his, nothing to do with him!
But now, the Golden Tablet clearly stated that Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, was the future Song Huizong, leaving Zhao Ji utterly bewildered!
His ministers were equally shocked!
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could the Great Song fall during my reign?!”
Zhao Ji shouted hysterically, his eyes blazing, as he stared fixedly at the Golden Tablet in the sky.
Tong Guan, a favored minister, stepped forward and echoed his sentiment:
“Indeed! There’s something wrong with this Golden Tablet!”
“Your Majesty’s achievements in culture and military prowess surpass all previous emperors. Since ascending the throne, you have successively pacified Fang La, destroyed Tubo, won a decisive victory against Western Xia, and even allied with Jin to destroy Liao, reclaiming the ancestral land of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan Yun!”
“With such accomplishments, Your Majesty could never be a ruler who brings ruin to his nation. Please, Your Majesty, do not be upset!”
Zhao Ji’s heart calmed slightly at Tong Guan’s words, but his worry remained etched on his face.
At this moment, Cai Jing, the Prime Minister, also stepped forward, smiling:
“Your Majesty need not worry. As the Golden Tablet stated, the Great Song dynasty has lasted for three hundred and twenty years, yet it is only a hundred years since the founding Emperor. How could it possibly fall?”
“Therefore, Your Majesty is absolutely not a ruler who brings ruin to his nation!”
Zhao Ji’s worry vanished instantly, replaced by boundless joy.
“Yes, yes, yes! My esteemed ministers are right, let us continue our drinking!”
Zhao Ji sat down excitedly, shouting loudly. The palace servants promptly brought more wine.
Ridiculous! Even the New and Old Party Strife mentioned in the Golden Tablet had ended under his reign. How could he, Zhao Ji, be a ruler who brings ruin to his nation?
As for the great upheaval, it must have been the fault of his son, the so-called “Qinzong.” What did that have to do with him?
He was still a wise ruler of the Great Song Dynasty!
…
Meanwhile, in the Kaibao Realm, Zhao Kuangyin’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot!
The reason was simple: Zhao Kuangyin had seen the final mention of Huizong!
Huizong was ascending the throne, and the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty was not far behind!
“Prince Duan, Zhao Ji? I remember you. I shall see how you destroy the Great Song!”
Zhao Kuangyin clenched his fists, his eyes like torches, glaring fiercely at the Golden Tablet in the sky!
Meanwhile, the words on the Golden Tablet continued to scroll:
【Although Cai Jing strongly supported the New Policies, the New and Old Party Strife of this era was no longer the party strife of the Xi NIng and Yuan You eras. Instead, it had become a tool for personal gain and a struggle for power among those involved!】
【During Zhang Dun’s tenure as Prime Minister, he had suppressed and demoted many Old Party officials, and upon Cai Jing’s ascent to power, his actions surpassed even Zhang Dun’s. His methods of suppression were even more ruthless, and his scope of targeting was broader!】
【Under the guise of the New Policies, Cai Jing engaged in all manner of evil, bribing officials, selling offices and titles. Anyone who opposed him or was deemed unfavorable, regardless of reason, was demoted from office under the pretense of opposing the New Policies. A bribe of 3,000 silks could secure a position as a secretary, while 500 strings of cash could earn one the office of a prefectural judge!】
【He also invented various pretexts to increase taxes and levies, siphoning off the people’s wealth and squeezing the populace. Later, at the behest of Huizong, he embarked on a grand scale of construction projects, casting nine tripods, building the Mingtang Hall, repairing the Fang Ze Garden, and establishing Daoist temples. All imperial decrees were exempt from review by the Zhongshu and Menxia departments, making Cai Jing effectively a "sole minister"!】
【In the first year of Chong Ning, he had the names of one hundred and twenty officials who had opposed the reformist policies during the Yuan You era, including Sima Guang and Su Shi, engraved on stone tablets and erected throughout the country as a public humiliation. These tablets were known as the “Yuan You Party List Tablets.” Anyone listed on these tablets was prohibited from holding official positions!】
【He then instigated another book-burning campaign, destroying all the collected works of Su Shi and others!】
【Thus, the New and Old Party Strife that had lasted for over fifty years across the Shenzong, Zhezong, and Huizong eras came to an end at the hands of Cai Jing. While the party strife had officially ended, the Northern Song court had fallen into a state of chaos. The years of party strife had left the officials exhausted, and many talented and ambitious officials were forced out of court and deprived of the opportunity to serve. 】
【Subsequently, during Huizong’s reign, with Cai Jing’s thorough purging and arbitrary suppression, the party strife was ostensibly over, yet the court had actually entered a state of imminent peril!】
【This also laid the foundation for the “Jingkang Incident” that erupted later!】
…
In the Realm of the First Emperor of Qin, outside Xianyang Palace.
“So, it was all because of a reform policy that led to party strife, and it ended so dramatically?”
Ying Zheng’s eyes gleamed with shock.
It seemed that these civil officials wielded considerable power!
Once they united, they could indeed wreak havoc on the court and overturn the dynasty!
Could it be that there were also factions of civil officials within the court of the Great Qin?
With this thought, Ying Zheng’s tiger-like gaze swept across the crowd, causing the ministers to tremble in unison.
Li Si and Feng Quji exchanged glances, quickly deciphering the worry in Ying Zheng’s eyes. Li Si bowed, then stood up and said:
“Your Majesty, there is absolutely no party strife in the Great Qin!”
Ying Zheng was taken aback, and raising his gaze, he asked coldly:
“Why do you say that?”
“Firstly, the Great Qin is based on Shang Yang’s law, and our national strength is prosperous, so there is no need for reforms. Secondly, Legalism is the dominant school of thought in the court, and political views are harmonious, eliminating the need for faction formation. Thirdly, Your Majesty is wise and martial, discerning and skillful in selecting individuals, and therefore, factions would be impossible among the ministers!”
These words were eloquent, eliciting nods of approval and admiration from the ministers behind them!
Li Si’s words were indeed truthful. Who in the Great Qin court didn’t know that Legalism was paramount? Even if the other hundred schools of thought were more powerful, they couldn’t challenge the authority of Legalism. How could they instigate party strife?
Furthermore, Ying Zheng, with his forceful personality and skillful methods, would never allow officials to form factions and threaten his imperial power!
After listening to Li Si’s answer, Ying Zheng nodded slightly and smiled:
“Li Si is right, but while the Great Qin court does not have it now, it doesn’t mean that future rulers will not encounter it!”
“Your Majesty, as long as we uphold Shang Yang’s Law, the Great Qin will never face party strife!”
Li Si suddenly shouted loudly, his gaze piercing.
“Hmm, you are right. Shang Yang’s Law is a law for all ages. As long as this law remains unchanged, even the future civil officials will not be able to create any trouble!”
Ying Zheng waved his hand, his sleeves fluttering.
The ministers all shouted:
“Your Majesty is wise!”
…
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