Prime Minister

Chapter 1307 Already a Mountain Guest

Chapter 1307 Already a Mountain Guest

Zhang Mansion.

Su Che said: "Luoyang has been a place of great talent since ancient times. It is also the best garden in the world. If the Prime Minister wants to retire and live in seclusion, why not Luoyang instead of going to the wilderness?"

"So Scholar Sima sincerely wants to invite the Prime Minister to live in seclusion in Luoyang, which can be regarded as a place to escape from the world."

Zhang Yue smiled after hearing Su Che's words and said, "I appreciate Sima Xueshi's kindness."

"Luoyang has been the imperial capital since ancient times. It has inherited the customs of the Han and Tang dynasties. It is the home of the royal family, the wealthy merchants and the big names. I am afraid I am not used to living here. I am not a guest in the hall, but just a swallow in front of the hall."

"Where you came from, there you go."

Su Che was very regretful when he heard this and said, "Fujian is a place that is not well-informed, so it is inconvenient for the news to travel back and forth to the capital."

"But Luoyang is different. Thanks to the Prime Minister's postal service, news from Bianjing can arrive in one day and one night."

"Even news from the northwest can be grasped at any time."

Zhang Yue knew Su Che had good intentions, but since he was retiring in a fake way, he had to make it look real. Once he went to Luoyang, everyone would know that he, Zhang Yue, was planning to make a comeback.

Besides, Luoyang is the old party’s base camp, so why would you go there?

Even if Senior Brother Guo was there, I wouldn't want to go. No place is better than my hometown.

"Thank you for your kindness, Ziyou. I have always kept Zizhan's matter in mind. I will ask the emperor to reinstate me in the future."

Su Che said, "How can my brother trouble the Prime Minister again? Ruzhou is much better than Huangzhou, and the prefect's dignity is not comparable to that of the former governor."

Zhang Yue nodded. It seemed that Su Shi was living well in Ruzhou. No wonder he started to tell the 'truth' again.

In fact, no matter how good Luoyang is, after Jing Kang, Luoyang never regained the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

Zhang Yue said to Su Che: "Happiness should be enjoyed in youth, as a hundred years of life is often too late."

"What's the use of wealth and honor in old age? Worry and hard work will only weaken your energy."

Su Che knew that what Zhang Yue chanted was Wang Anshi's poetic inspiration, and that the Prime Minister's move must have some deep meaning.

"I wish to be a frivolous boy of Wuling, born in the Zhenguan and Kaiyuan eras. I will spend my life fighting cocks and running dogs, and I don't know the safety of the world."

When reading this sentence, Su Che tried to guess what Zhang Yue meant. Could it be that the Prime Minister was comparing the Xining and Yuanfeng periods to the Zhenguan and Kaiyuan periods?

Will the imperial court face a catastrophe as tragic as the An-Shi Rebellion in the future?

Yes, Prime Minister Zhang is hinting that I should learn from history and negotiate peace with the Liao Kingdom as soon as possible and not provoke the Dangxiang again. If a war breaks out, we will surely repeat the mistakes of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The imperial court now values ​​military achievements, which is following the old path of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

Su Che stood up and said solemnly, "I understand what the Prime Minister meant."

Zhang Yue was stunned and thought, what did Su Zhe understand?

But after thinking about it, I decided to just let them be.

Just as I was thinking carefully, Han Zhongyan came.

After the two sat down, Zhang Yue spoke first: "I was just talking with Ziyou, and the most exciting thing is that the postal route from Bianjing to Luoyang, from Luoyang to Chang'an, and then from Chang'an to Xizhou, and Xizhou to Liangzhou is now open."

Han Zhongyan was stunned for a moment, then said, "Yes, the Prime Minister has put a lot of effort into this matter."

Zhang Yue said, "Master Pu, you see, the prices of salt notes, Jiaozi and cotton cloth are constantly updated every day in the exchange office. If there is a price difference between Liangzhou's salt notes and Jiaozi and Bianjing's salt notes and Jiaozi, sharp merchants will immediately catch the news and sell or buy in large quantities in the market."

“People who are well-informed can always make money first.”

This is just like someone in the future who spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy a dedicated fiber optic cable next to an exchange. If your internet speed is a few tenths of a second faster than others, this is a business opportunity.

"So the exchanges in Liangzhou, Xizhou, Chang'an, Luoyang, and Bianjing are also the places with the most developed information and the places with the most business opportunities."

"In this way, the military information from Liangzhou and Xizhou can be delivered to Bianjing at the fastest speed."

"If the imperial court really spent money to build this post road, I don't know how much money and grain it would cost. Commercial support for the military is a way to save effort."

"For me, the most important purpose of Pingxihe Road is to open up the Silk Road, and the Dangxiang are just a matter of convenience."

"Besides war, there is only one way to reform the internal system: business."

“You have to remember that no matter what you do, why do you always give up halfway? It’s because you are not oriented towards results and there is no positive feedback in your persistence. This is unsustainable.”

“It’s like you have an outstanding skill, but you can’t get money for it, so you can only call it a hobby. Not only is it difficult to sustain, but it’s also difficult to improve your skills. This is the benefit of positive feedback.”

Zhang Yue was talking to himself, becoming happier and happier as he spoke. Then he looked over at Han Zhongyan and saw that he was listening to him very seriously.

"So, Prime Minister, you use war to promote trade, and then use trade to feed the war. After all, it is difficult for the people of the world to open up the Western Regions purely based on their passion to recover the homeland of the Han and Tang dynasties. Am I right, Prime Minister?" Han Zhongyan said in a deep voice.

Zhang Yue was stunned, then nodded.

Han Zhongyan stood up and bowed to Zhang Yue, saying, "Prime Minister, you have found the right path for our Song Dynasty!"

Zhang Yue stood up and helped him up, saying, "Master Pu, let's not talk about this."

Han Zhongyan raised his head and said, "I am not only thanking the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of the world, but also on behalf of my late father. The Prime Minister lived up to his vision of people."

Zhang Yue thought to himself that in addition to Emperor Renzong, Ouyang Xiu and Han Qi were also his mentors.

Zhang Yue sat down with a nostalgic look on his face. Han Zhongyan said, "My late father once told me that the only one who can inherit the world in the future is Zhang Gong, not Anshi."

"Now that the Prime Minister has done it, you can return home with peace of mind, and my father can rest in peace in his grave."

Zhang Yue heard this and said happily: "This is just the beginning of something big. From now on..."

Han Zhongyan said: "Prime Minister, rest assured. Leave the future matters to us."

Zhang Yue's smile froze on his face for a moment, then he said with a smile: "Shi Pu, it's a good idea that you have!"

Zhang Yue was a little unhappy, but he thought about it and realized that he had nothing to be unhappy about. He was already a retired prime minister. It was reasonable for Han Zhongyan to take over your banner and continue to work. Wasn't this something he had arranged in advance?

Zhang Yue said, "Master Pu, when Lord Han was here, you were in the Zhangtai Palace, and everyone thought you were a playboy. Now you are really impressive."

"Sanlang..."

Zhang Yue thought to himself, this is Sanlang, I have only been out of office for less than two minutes.

Han Zhongyan said: "Sanlang, this is what I liked when I was young, and I couldn't help but indulge in sensual pleasures to protect myself. But if I hadn't been so unruly when I was young, I wouldn't have the enlightenment I have today."

Zhang Yue thought about it carefully and said, "Master Pu, your family has a long history of learning. You have been exposed to officialdom since childhood. The Han family has many students and former officials all over the world. This is beyond the reach of a poor boy like me. You are more suitable for this officialdom than me. It is not a bad idea for you to take on the responsibility of the world."

Han Zhongyan nodded and said, "Sanlang, your words show that I have made friends with you and our decades of friendship are worth it. I know you think highly of me, Han Da!"

Zhang Yue said: "Master Pu, I will always remember the kindness you and An Zhong have shown me over the years."

"But Shi Pu's maneuvering in officialdom is different from governing a country. It is not difficult to be a powerful official, but it is difficult to be an able official."

Han Zhongyan smiled and said, "Sanlang, I will fully carry out your proposal. Whoever dares to oppose your administration in the future is opposing me, Han Da. Just follow this."

Zhang Yue said: "Master Pu, for the same thing, the experts are different from others."

“Even if you tell me the method, the depth of understanding of the truth and the execution of the matter by the master are the fundamentals.”

Han Zhongyan's smile faded a little, and he said, "It's a good thing the Prime Minister mentioned this. Can you write to me and give me some advice?"

Zhang Yue laughed and said, "I was just joking. Master Pu, you have your mind set on your own, so it doesn't matter if I'm there or not."

"I am now a mountain dweller."

Han Zhongyan said sternly: "Prime Minister, if you were still in office, it would be great. The three of us, Anzhong and I, would work together to rebuild the Song Dynasty."

Zhang Yue said: "Although An Zhong and I are gone, your teacher Pu is also gone. Let go and the roc will spread its wings and fly high!"

Although Zhang Yue said this, he felt a little bitter in his heart. It is a common human problem to cling to power.

I, Zhang Yue, thought I was superior to others and took these things lightly, just like floating clouds. But when I lost something, it was still difficult to let go.

I am also a vulgar person, so I should not make fun of others anymore.

Zhang Yue put aside his grudges and said, "Master Pu, let's drink and have fun tonight, and we won't go home until we are drunk."

"That's right." Han Zhongyan said with a smile: "Although Anzhong is not here, let's set a wine glass for him."

"I don't like what you said." Zhang Yue scolded with a smile.