Chen Lin soon passed Zhao Zhen's will to the ears of the civil and military officials.
The civil and military officials wailed.
As Kou Ji expected, when choosing between actual and false positions, the civil and military officials decisively chose actual positions.
They handed over some weak children and young children in the house to the women of the house to look after them. With the help of their strong children at home, they quickly rushed to the place where the altar was.
For this sacrifice, the auspicious time selected by the Qin Tianjian was in the afternoon, so there was plenty of time for the civil and military officials to hurry.
Some young officials will be able to arrive within the stipulated time after a bit of hardship and gritted teeth.
Some old people, with the support of strong offspring, can also arrive within the specified time.
After all, Zhao Zhen is still a benevolent emperor, and he does not treat his officials harshly.
If it were replaced by Liu Che, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, most of the officials who participated in the sacrifice this time would be abolished by him.
If Han Wudi Liu Che was determined to abolish some corrupt officials and nobles, he would definitely play the role of sacrifice to the extreme.
He might move the time to noon after the Qin Tianjian gave the afternoon sacrificial hour, or even in the morning, he might send close supervisors to the civil and military officials on the way.
Unfortunately, Zhao Zhen is not Liu Che, he does not have the courage to abolish half of the civil and military officials in one go.
Kou Ji didn't have that courage, so even if he knew that half of the civil and military officials could be abolished by sacrifice, he did not dare to encourage Zhao Zhen to do it.
It's auspicious time.
Among the hundreds of civil and military officials, nearly 80% of them arrived at the place where the altar was.
Zhao Zhen lay down in the gap between the curtain of the tent and took a closer look. He found that most of the important officials in the court were present, and he let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng, and Zhang Zhibai sitting on the ground, they were panting with sweat.
Zhao Zhen sighed: "I'm really afraid that the three of them will delay the hour..."
Kou Ji stood behind Zhao Zhen, staring calmly at the panting officials outside the tent, and said: "The three of them know the importance of the gift of the suburbs, so even if they climb, they will climb within the prescribed time. Here."
This remark is somewhat unkind, but it is true.
The will passed down by Zhao Zhen might not make the three of Lu Yijian feel scared.
But those big Confucians who regard sacrifice as their life are different.
They will definitely try their best to make everyone aware of the importance of sacrifice.
"They moved..."
Kou Ji whispered.
Zhao Zhen looked out of the tent and saw the great Confucian scholars who came to the altar with the support of the disciples of the doormen gathered together, blocked the road leading to the altar, and drove the officials, Wuxun, and concubines who followed. Blocked out of the avenue.
After the officials, Wuxuns, and concubines who came afterwards were stopped by the great scholars, they all wanted to force their way through their identities.
Some people push the great Confucianists backwards through the crowd.
Some great scholars accidentally fell to the ground.
His disciples immediately crowded up and knocked the people headed by him to the ground.
The other great scholars sternly shouted.
Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng, and Zhang Zhibai all looked at the tent where Zhao Zhen was in, and saw that Zhao Zhen was not moving.
Lu Yijian gasped and stood up, "The official is determined to punish these disobedient guys, so he will definitely not come forward. If we don't come forward, once those big Confucianists are hurt, we will have to do so. Follow the infamy."
By now, Lu Yijian had guessed the purpose of Zhao Zhen's decree.
Those great Confucian scholars were clearly toward Zhao Zhen, and Lu Yijian couldn't find Zhao Zhen and let Zhao Zhen take his life back.
Once he finds Zhao Zhen, those great Confucians will definitely blame him for destroying the sacrificial ceremony.
In the early Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin simplified some etiquette to a certain extent in order to make things easier for officials from both the ruling and the opposition.
The tedious etiquette has been removed, and the essence of it has been retained.
None of the etiquette left today is superfluous.
It is impossible for the Confucian scholars to sit back and watch Lu Yijian destroy only the few etiquettes left.
Lu Yijian didn't want to bear bad reputation, so he could only silently cooperate with Zhao Zhen's will.
Lu Yijian got up and used the order to mobilize a team of hundreds of soldiers and horses to stand in front of the Confucian scholars and officials. He also captured all the officials who had collided with the Confucian scholars and twisted them to Zhao Zhen's tent.
Zhao Zhen appeared outside the tent by chance.
In Lu Yijian’s complex expression, in the spirit of the great Confucian expectations, Zhao Zhen coldly snorted: “It is the famous great Confucian in the city of Bianjing who presided over this ceremony. I still have to respect them. Points, how dare you run into them
Many people in the middle of you and others still took advantage of their commentary to get the scholars in the middle.
After entering official careers, some people have not less learned the articles and classics that they have spread.
They are eager to enlighten you, but you don't respect them.
There is no room for ruthless people in my court. "
"Chen Lin?"
"Slaves are here!"
"Dismissal, dismissal, and stabbing thousands of miles!"
"Hey..."
Chen Lin took the Yu Qianwei and dragged the officials who had collided with the Confucian scholars out of the altar.
The great Confucianists saluted Zhao Zhen with excitement.
"Official Shengming!"
Zhao Zhen gave them enough respect, so they paid Zhao Zhen their most sincere respect.
It is impossible for Lu Yijian and others to pretend to be deaf and dumb. They can only follow the Confucian scholars and praise Zhao Zhen Shengming.
The extremely sage Zhao Zhen, after they gave the salute, continued to speak, "Those officials and nobles who did not arrive here in auspicious time will all be demoted to six ranks... and the concubines in the palace will be demoted to three ranks..."
As soon as Zhao Zhen said this, the great Confucians agreed without hesitation.
Lu Yijian and the others whispered heartachely, but they couldn't say anything against it.
The nobility they had finally won for the little boys in the family is now gone.
When the imperial court was an heir in the official family of Meng Yin, the official title given was not high.
All down to six levels, it can drop them to a negative number all at once.
There are naturally no negative numbers on officials, so they are equivalent to dismissing officials.
Of course, when old officials like Lv Yijian and Wang Zeng resigned or passed away, the officials in the family who were descendants of Beng Yin said otherwise, and they were not included in it.
When they were in the center, the imperial court would not bestow officials with too high heirs in their family, and they were basically below the seventh rank.
Heirs in their family who want to get a higher official title can only wait until they reach adulthood, enter the official career, take up real positions, and get promoted on the basis of their own merits.
Or wait for them to pass away or resign from office, and take advantage of the shadow to go further.
This is not difficult to see from Kou Tianci.
Zhao Zhen loved Kou Tianci very much, but even so, he only used Kou Ji's credit to bestow Kou Tianci with an official position as a prince.
After Kou Ji made meritorious service in the northwest and returned to the imperial court, Zhao Zhen did not give Kou Tianci an official title.
Instead, part of the grace was assigned to Xiang Yan and Kou Li.
After Zhao Zhen's will was passed outside the altar, there was a wailing voice.
But no one in the altar cared.
The minister of rites stood on the stone steps of the altar at the admiration.
The great Confucian scholars were holding the ceremonies that had already been prepared, and standing under the altar respectfully welcoming Zhao Zhen.
The ministers of civil and military affairs were divided into three groups, followed by Lu Yijian, Kou Ji, and a royal clan.
Zhao Zhen stood in the forefront wearing a uniform.
"Ritual Ji Kai..."
When the minister of rites announced these three words.
Zhao Zhen led civil and military officials and relatives of the emperor to the altar.
Zhao Zhen entered the incense, civil and military officials and relatives of the imperial family bowed.
Zhao Zhen presented the three animals and grains, and the civil and military officials and relatives of the emperor paid respects again.
Afterwards, Zhao Zhen took Lu Yijian and Kou Ji to the altar.
The great scholars followed up to the second stage of the altar.
The great Confucian scholars stood on the second step of the altar, reading the sacrificial texts they had prepared.
After the great Confucian scholars finished reading the sacrificial texts, the civil and military officials and relatives of the emperor would pay respects.
Zhao Zhen took Lu Yijian and Kou Ji to the top of the altar.
Zhao Zhen stood at the top and read the sacrificial text prepared for him by the Ministry of Rites, and threw the sacrificial text into the cauldron on the top of the altar.
When the paper ash rose with wisps of blue smoke, he brought Kou Ji and Lu Yijian to worship the sky three times.
The sacrifice did not end.
To show his sincerity, Zhao Zhen had to take the civil and military officials to live for seven days at the altar.
Of course, the real food and drink are officials.
Zhao Zhen has a tent and eats.
Zhao Zhen gave the big Confucians enough face, and the big Confucians are not easy to care about this matter.
The great scholars just stared at the civil and military officials.
Seven days later.
Civil and military officials, relatives and relatives of the emperor, all hungry and straightened up.
Finally, with the support of the soldiers of the imperial army and the imperial guards, they got into the carriage.
Of course, the Kou Ji family of three is not included in this list.
Xiang Yan was pregnant, so she received special care from Zhao Zhen. Zhao Zhen secretly sent someone to invite Xiang Yan to live with her two pregnant concubines and eat and drink together.
Before starting from Bianjing City, Zhao Zhen couldn't maintain Xiang Yan in full view.
But taking care of Xiang Yan in private, no one can say anything.
Even if the ministers of civil and military affairs are unbearable, they will have some face, and they will not care about with a pregnant woman.
Kou Tianci didn't worry about eating and drinking.
He slipped into Zhao Zhen's tent to eat and drink when he was okay.
He has a special status, and the ministers of civil and military affairs are not easy to care about.
Kou Ji transmitted from it through Kou Tianci, and got some food from Zhao Zhen, so he was not hungry.
After Zhao Zhen sat Long Hu, led the civil and military officials and the emperor's relatives back to the city of Bianjing, he declared a dismissal.
Civil and military officials, relatives and relatives of the emperor, drove directly to the most famous restaurants in Bianjing, obviously starving.
Kou Ji originally wanted to return to the mansion, but was stopped by Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng, and Zhang Zhibai. They found a restaurant and invited Kou Ji in.
After sitting down.
Lu Yijian said to Kou Ji with a complicated expression: "The three of us will stare at you, and no one will impeach you anymore, so stop making monsters."
Kou Ji heard the words and said with a weird expression: "Co-authoring the ceremony of the suburbs, in the eyes of the three of you, is a demon? If this is heard in the ears of those big scholars who have just received official rewards, they may be able to scold you. Ancestors."
Without waiting for the three of them to speak, Kou Ji said again: "Although I proposed the ceremony of the Jiaotian, it was the official who made the final decision. The three of you suffered this time, it was also given by the official. Follow me It doesn't matter much.
I proposed to hold the ceremonies of the suburbs, it is purely a public heart. "
"Pooh!"
Wang Zeng took a sip, and said angrily: "Who is your kid, the old man knows exactly. You just don't see anyone impeach you, so that's why you came up with such a bad idea, which made everyone toss everyone.
Your kid proposes to hold the ceremony of the suburbs. If it is a public heart, the old man will take his head off and give it to you. "
Kou Ji said unwillingly: "I don't like to hear what the prince said. Is Kou Ji such a domineering person? Is Kou Ji the kind of person who will avenge me? If someone impeaches me, I will take revenge. Who have you become? People in this world, who doesn't know that I Kou Jile is kind and generous."
Zhang Zhibai sighed and said something fair, "You kid is kind and good, but he is not broad-minded."
Kou Ji questioned: "When I went to the northwest, the memorials of impeaching me were almost full of hanging arches. Who am I taking revenge? No one of me taking revenge. This alone shows that I am broad-minded.
When I went to the northwest, the people in Princess Deng’s mansion still held my wife behind her back and asked my wife to hand over the members of the steel forging workshop and the textile workshop.
But did I retaliate against her
I do not have? "
When the three of Lu Yijian heard Kou Ji's words, their mouths twitched.
You didn't retaliate
How did you die of the Chai Family without revenge
How did Princess Deng Guoda be imprisoned to the house
You did not retaliate, you did not retaliate to death.
Kou Ji saw the three of Lu Yijian staring at him without speaking, and said with certainty: "This shows that I am definitely a broad-minded person."
Lu Yijian was too lazy to talk to Kou Ji anymore. He stared at Kou Ji and said solemnly, "Don't tell the old man three of those lie, give me a correct sentence, can you agree?"
"Promise what?"
"The old man and three help you stop those impeachments, so don't make a demon from now on."
"..."
Kou Ji glared at the three of Lu Yijian, and shouted: "Who do you think of me Kou Ji? From my official career to the present, Kou Ji has done everything for the court, and has never been selfish..."
"In the end what you want?"
Wang Zeng shouted angrily.
Kou Ji said without hesitation: "I also want the three interpreters of Honghu Temple who can eat and write."
When the three of Lu Yijian heard this, they almost didn't vomit a mouthful of old blood.
Lu Yijian glared at Kou Ji fiercely, "Here it is!"
Kou Ji asked, "When can I arrive?"
"Tomorrow..."
"Huh..."
Kou Ji let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Actually, I am still very good at talking, you said..."
"roll!"
Wang Zeng couldn't help it anymore, pointing to the outside of the wine shop and shouting.
Kou Ji got up, flicked his sleeves, and hummed: "I'm in the public to know political affairs, and it's not proper to say such vulgar words in the public, some are out of style..."
Before Wang Zeng broke out again, Kou Ji had left the wine shop.
"Zhuzi! Zhuzi!"
Wang Zeng yelled angrily.
Lu Yijian sighed. After Wang Zeng had enough cursed, he looked at Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai and said, "You said, are he and the officials going to attack the civil servants?"
Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai frowned.
Zhang Zhibai hesitated and said: "Will it be too early? Through this suburban festival, the officials have attracted a group of famous scholars, but it is not enough to support them in completing the cultural reform.
Regardless of those famous Confucian scholars who are now supporting the official family, once the official family moves their interests, they will definitely stand opposite the official family without hesitation. "
Lu Yijian said solemnly: "Then how did the officials who were dismissed at the suburban festival explain it? I checked carefully afterwards. In this suburban festival, most of the dismissed officials were civilian officials because of the delay."
Wang Zeng said with some doubts: "Do the officials and Kou Ji really want to fight Wen?"
Zhang Zhibai questioned: "It's like dealing with Wu Xun, find a reason to dismiss many officials who are not needed in the court?"
Lu Yijian glanced at the two of them, lowered his voice and said, "The greatest harm in the cultural system of the Song Dynasty is not the officials of the court chief, but the land. Most of the land in the Song Dynasty is controlled by officials and local powers. .
The reason why the people everywhere are in chaos is because the land in their hands is occupied by local tycoons or officials. They have no land to grow and can only serve as tenant tenants.
They are squeezed out of existence and will inevitably cause chaos.
If this problem is not solved, even if the officials and Kou Ji play out the cultural system, it will not have much effect. "
Zhang Zhibai said solemnly: "No one in the court knows about this, I am afraid that the officials also know the harm. But this matter is so extensive that the officials dare not act rashly."
When Zhang Zhibai said this, he glanced at Lu and Wang, and said, "The two mansions also have a lot of land. If the official wants to distribute it to the people, would the two of you be willing?"
Wang Zeng looked at Zhang Zhibai and said solemnly: "It's not a question of whether we are willing or not. What if we donate the land from the mansion? The officials are unwilling, and they will inevitably join forces with local powers to cause chaos.
At that time, we will become targets of public criticism. "
Lu Yijian frowned and said, "This matter is extremely harmful. You can't act rashly until you have come up with a proper method."
Wang Zeng said in a deep voice: "But the minds of the official family and Kou Ji are beyond our control. They will not discuss with us what they want to do behind their backs."
Lu Yijian pondered for a while, and said, "You have to find a way to find out the thoughts of the officials."
Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai nodded together.
Just as the three of Lu Yijian were trying to figure out Zhao Zhen's mind, Kou Ji had already left Bianjing in a carriage.
After returning to the mansion, Kou Ji stayed in the study and worked out his plan for a crash course in food and literature, and did not leave the mansion again.
There was an uproar in Bianjing City about the turmoil about the Jiaoji Festival.
Many officials were dismissed from office at the suburban festival, and many officials were demoted as a result.
There was almost a wailing in the official residences.
The same is true in the palace.
Those concubines struggled to get promoted to one or two ranks, and a suburban sacrifice brought them back to their original positions.
Some people even fell out of the concubine and became Gong E in the palace.
However, no one has pity on them.
There are great Confucian scholars who endorse it, and the civil servants should not trouble Zhao Zhen on this matter.
Although Wuxun and the relatives of the imperial family were injured in the outskirts, their injuries were minimal compared to their civil servants.
They saw the bad luck of the minister, and it was too late to be happy. How could they help the minister to speak.
In the end, the ending of the suburban festival was that, amidst the applause and praise, Zhao Zhen ousted nearly 70% of the false position in the court.
…
The next day.
The three officials of Honghe Temple who knew great food and literature came to Kou Ji's mansion.
Kou Ji ordered the steward of the mansion to arrange for them to stay first, and then ordered them to teach themselves to learn food.
Kou Ji plunged into the study of Da Shiwen, which lasted more than a month.
Kou Ji didn't break away from studying until Chunwei approached.
Kou Ji went out of the study door, stretched his waist, glanced left and right, and noticed that no one was paying attention, so he stretched out his tongue subconsciously.
After studying the food for more than a month, Kou Ji felt that his tongue was knotted. He stretched out his tongue naturally to relieve the pressure on the tongue.
However, this scene was seen.
"Sir... You... You..."
Fan Zhongyan quietly appeared next to Kou Ji, and looked astonished as he watched Kou Ji stick his tongue out.
Kou Ji stared at Fan Zhongyan with a slightly darkened expression: "When did you arrive?"
Fan Zhongyan was taken aback, and said frankly: "I have been waiting in the side room. Hearing your footsteps, he hurried over."
"Something?"
"Have… "
Fan Zhongyan looked a little solemnly and said, "The rumors in Bianjing City are even better."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment.
Fan Zhongyan reminded: "The rumors about your scheduled scholarship... Some scholars are running in the dark, planning to stop taking the exam on the day of the opening of the course."
"Stop the exam?"
Kou Ji looked stunned.
Fan Zhongyan nodded solemnly.
Kou Ji smiled. He stared at Fan Zhongyan and reminded: "Don't tell the story of the official meeting in the meeting hall. If they want to stop the exam, just let them.
When the officials came to the examination hall in person, and saw no one, they would surely be rewarded. "
Fan Zhongyan smiled bitterly when he heard this, "Aren't you harming others?"
Kou Ji smiled and said: "Am I going to kill them? It's their own bad intentions. In previous years, scientific examinations were popular, and there were so many frauds, and they didn't stop the exam.
The reason for their strike this time is to think that I have brought some of the talented scholars to the mansion as a handle, and they can use this to get some of the talented scholars down and reduce competition.
The most important thing is for them to harm themselves, not for me to harm them. "
Fan Zhongyan said in a dubious voice: "If you reveal the fact that officials will visit the examination room in person, they will definitely not..."
Before Fan Zhongyan finished speaking, he was interrupted by Kou Ji. Kou Ji said sternly: "They have learned to frame others and profit for themselves before they even enter the officialdom.
If they are allowed to succeed, they will not continue to intensify in the future
If I let them into the officialdom, I might have to send them to death by myself.
I did not hide the fact that the officials would visit the examination room in person, not to harm them, but to save them. "