strictlysupreme Chapter 330 Internal turmoil
Chapter 330 Internal turmoil
Xue Zhicheng rewrote the content of the front page of tomorrow's newspaper, corresponding to the slanderous and defamatory remarks in the "Beijing Evening News", and refuted them one by one.
He quoted facts and selected a few articles sent back by reporters from the front lines of Shu and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to report the benefits of the new policy to the people. When drawing the figures with fine charcoal pencils, Xue Zhicheng's lips curled up. This was the idea of the Regent Princess. The newspaper would be more vivid, attractive and convincing if it was accompanied by illustrations. ...
Luo Li was giving advice to the Regent Zhao Defang and the little emperor again, "Your Majesty, Zhao Defang, we need to organize some wild opera troupes to help us perform operas. The scripts should be used to publicize the disadvantages of the old policy and the advantages of the new policy. Then we can bribe the storytellers in the teahouses and restaurants and let them tell the stories according to the stories we give.
In this way, even the illiterate people can understand the benefits of the new policy to them. Why worry that the people will not support it? "
"Good idea! Li'er, you are so smart!" Zhao Defang praised with a smile.
The little emperor, who was playing with Lin'er in his arms, also praised his aunt, "Aunt, your head is full of wonderful ideas, and your heart is smart and cunning. When Xiao Wubing grows up, he will definitely be a smart and good emperor."
Luo Li was shocked! "Your Majesty, be careful with your words! What are you talking about? Do you want to scare me to death or kill Lin'er?"
The young emperor Zhao Wuji stuck out his tongue mischievously, thinking in his mind: [Aunt, you are only interested in your own freedom and happiness and don't want to be the queen, so Uncle will force the throne under my ass. When your son grows up, I will not issue an order to abdicate, and you can leave the palace and go home at will, go wherever you want to play, and seek a free and happy life?
Wubing, grow up quickly, and I will pass on this most difficult job of being an emperor to you as soon as possible. 】
Luo Li didn't know what the little emperor was thinking, so she just thought it was a joke. Looking at the little emperor holding Lin'er and smiling, she thought that they would still be brothers in this way in the future.
The Empress Dowager Song, the Empress Dowager Zhaoning, and Princess Yongqing heard that the Regent Princess had entered the palace with the young prince. After waiting for a long time and seeing no sign of her, they anxiously went to the Chuigong Palace.
"Oh, my dear grandson, come here, let your grandmother hold you." The Empress Dowager didn't bother to pay attention to her son and daughter-in-law, and went straight to her lovely grandson.
Lin'er, who was held by the Empress Dowager, giggled happily and touched the face of his great-grandmother with his two chubby little hands.
The Empress Dowager's face was full of smiles, and her eyes were filled with doting, love and joy.
After Empress Dowager Zhaoning and Princess Yongqing greeted Luo Li, they went straight to Lin'er, smiling all over and making him laugh.
This imperial study in the Chuigong Palace had turned out to be a place where the Empress Dowager played with her grandchildren. Well, since the business was over, Luo Li quickly suggested going to the Cining Palace to feed Lin'er. …
Gu Pingzhou was so angry that he tore up the "Da Song Daily". He didn't know where the Regent had found these dozen scholars, who were full of ideas, eloquent, and full of tricks. The "Jinghua Evening News" was obviously at a disadvantage in this drama.
Even more insidious and cunning was the Regent Zhao Defang, who actually bribed all the storytellers in the capital to make a lot of nonsense to promote his new policies. It was said that he also found some owners of wild opera troupes to perform new plays in various places, which must be to speak well of his new policies.
I am so angry! Prime Minister Xue Juzheng and Vice Minister Shen Lun promised to persuade the Regent not to act on his own, but nothing happened.
Those students of the Imperial Academy who were finally persuaded and knelt down in front of the palace to petition yesterday were persuaded to go back by Xue Juzheng and Luo Ji.
All the means of literary struggle were used, but only a few small waves were stirred up in the capital, far from reaching the point where the people were boiling with resentment. Seeing those ordinary people discussing the new policy, their faces were full of joy and excitement, which was really stupid!
Since fighting with words doesn’t work, let’s fight with force!
There are tens of thousands of imperial guards in the capital, and the regent holds the military power, so it is not easy for him to start a rebellion. So, let him cause chaos throughout the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Defang, I wonder if you can cover the sky with one hand?
If the Song Dynasty is destroyed and your Zhao royal family is perished, don't blame us aristocratic families for our ruthless actions. It's all because of you, Zhao Defang, who has angered heaven and people and caused this disaster!
Gu Pingzhou made up his mind in anger and resentment, and immediately ordered the housekeeper to invite Cui Zhengqing and Lu Qian, his most trusted people, to his house.
The three of them conspired in the study of the Gu Mansion for a whole night and finally worked out a detailed fighting plan.
They each went home to write letters to the head of their family, reporting the detailed fighting plans one by one and waiting for a reply.
Regent Zhao Defang incorporated the Imperial City Division and merged it with the Eagle Division under his command. The new yamen’s plaque read "Supervision Division."
Mo Yan and six shadow guards were transferred here. Mo Yan, who was extremely meticulous, became the chief director. Xue Bin, the former chief of the Eagle Department, was transferred back to the capital to serve as the deputy director. The six shadow guards all served as inspectors of the Supervisory Department.
In the main office of the Supervisory Department, Regent Zhao Defang, who was sitting in the main seat, put down the teacup in his hand and glanced at a few of his trusted subordinates.
"Those officials who were dismissed because of the strike must be watched closely. After all means have been exhausted, they will definitely fight back desperately!
This king has already sharpened his knife, just waiting to find a few to cut into."
"Yes, sir!" Everyone clasped their fists and accepted the order.
Mo Yan said, "Your Highness, the Feiyun Cavalry transferred from Shu will arrive in the capital tomorrow. Nine thousand Feiyun Cavalry plus six thousand Moyun Cavalry, let's see who will run into the edge of the knife without any eyes."
Xue Bin said with some worry, "Your Highness, I'm afraid that the rebels are not in the same place, but they are acting separately. The 15,000 troops of the Moyun Cavalry and the Feiyun Cavalry may be exhausted and unable to reach the enemy!"
Regent Zhao Defang smiled calmly, "It doesn't matter. The 30,000 militias trained in Shu have also been transferred out of Shu by me and dispatched to several directions.
There is no need to worry about the north, with Sima Qingyun's army of more than 60,000 in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, those aristocratic families dare not move.
Mainly in the south and west, we need to be on guard.”
Xue Bin asked cautiously again, "Does the Zhe family, who have their own army, need to take precautions in advance?"
Regent Zhao Defang replied without hesitation: "No need! The Zhe family has made great contributions to the Song Dynasty and is loyal to the Song Dynasty. They have troops in the prefectures and states for self-protection. The head of the family, Zhe Dejian, is a wise man and will not commit treason."
Xue Bin smiled and said, "It's interesting to say that Lady She was the daughter of Zhe Dejian, but after she married Yang Ye, the seal was changed to Yangshi She Saihua."
Regent Zhao Defang also laughed, "Madam She has a similar temperament to the princess, so it's not surprising that she would do something very different from ordinary people."
The children of the aristocratic families in the capital were at a disadvantage in their literary struggle against the new policy, because His Royal Highness the Regent had a very high prestige in the army and among the people. No matter how many conspiracies and tricks Gu Pingzhou and others used, they could only cause small waves that could not cause a big wave.
However, a month later, uprisings against the imperial court's "tyranny" broke out in succession in Jiangnan West Road, Jinghu North Road, Liangzhe Road, Shaanxi East Road, and Hedong Road.
Civil unrest breaks out in the Song Dynasty!