When the morning bell rang, the night had just begun.

Lu Huiqing looked in front of him, there were only two people - Feng Jing and Wang Qi, Wang Anshi, who was supposed to be standing at the front, did not go to court today.

The prime minister in the government hall has been on leave for four or five days. It was the Son of Heaven who specially issued an edict to give Wang Anshi a leave of absence because Wang Yan was seriously ill, so that he could caress at home. The Chang Dynasty for several days in a row was escorted by Feng Jing in the Wende Palace.

Lu Huiqing also heard about the edict issued in the palace overnight last night. Promoting Wang Yan to be a straight bachelor of Tianzhang Pavilion is a joy from the mind of the Son of Heaven, but no matter how you look at it, it looks like a posthumous gift, and Wang Yan is also reluctant to accept it.

Wang Yan's illness has been delayed for several days, and from the gossip coming from the Imperial Medical Bureau, Lu Huiqing originally estimated that it would be almost a few days. However, just now, Lu Huiqing heard that Han Gang had arrived in Beijing yesterday, but he didn't see Han Gang among the ministers, and he shouldn't be reasonable, unless there was something important to make him take leave.

‘…… It seems that in the afternoon, I will change my clothes and go to the Prime Minister's Mansion. Lu Huiqing thought so.

Feng Jing and Wang Qi must have thought of it, but there was nothing unusual in their expressions. Lu Huiqing's gaze swept to Xiban. Wu Chong doesn't have to think about it, no matter how he says it, he is a family member, if there is something, he must send someone to inform him, and his son Wu Anzhi will definitely go to Wang Anshi's house. The atmosphere in the train was a little weird, and everyone who heard the news would understand what was happening.

As Wang Anshi's long-time confidant, Lu Huiqing is very clear about Wang Yan's status in Wang Anshi's heart, and also knows that Wang Yan's insistence on the new law and new learning is an important reason why Wang Anshi has always insisted on implementing the new law. And Wang Yan's position is the key to convincing the Son of Heaven in many cases, and he can't be moved lightly - otherwise he should have let go of his post a long time ago, and he would not be the crown prince Zhongyun, who is still the lowest level of court officials.

Wang Yan's departure can be said to be a loss both inside and outside. However, it is not the new law that will be affected, but the ......

The sound of the whip suddenly sounded, and Lu Huiqing hurriedly put away the thoughts in her heart and focused her attention.

In today's Chang Dynasty, the Son of Heaven does not sit as usual. Feng Jing took the civil and military officials to salute the empty couch in the Wende Palace, and the hundred officials dispersed, while the important ministers went to the Chongzheng Palace.

In the apse of the Chongzheng Palace, Zhao Ji had been waiting for a long time, looking down at an urgent report that had just been delivered, and was silent.

Wang Yan has been telling stories in the Chongzheng Palace for a few years, and then he is a direct talker, he has always been a close minister of the Son of Heaven, often following him, and he is also a young courtier that Zhao Ji admires very much, so he didn't expect to go like this.

Zhao Ji sighed, the lifespan of a person is really uncertain. Wang Yan was a hero, only thirty-three years old, and then some famous talents in the world, such as Yang Yi and Su Yijian, were only in their thirties and forties.

Speaking of himself, he is almost thirty years old, and his health has never been good, Zhao Ji looked up at the mottled red paint on the top of the hall, and he didn't know how many years he could sit in this hall. And being an emperor has never been long, in the past few generations, the Zhao family has never produced a son of heaven who is over sixty, and Zhao Ji does not expect that he can really live for tens of millions.

The bigger problem is the heirs. Wang Yan heard that he also had a son. On his side, his sons and daughters were born and died, adding up to nine, leaving only one son and one daughter. And this only son has not been in good health since he was born, and he had a convulsion two days ago, and I don't know if he can grow up.

Zhao Ji gritted his teeth, did he want to find another person from the clan as his adopted son like Emperor Renzong?

Speaking of which, he was able to become an emperor because of this luck, but once Emperor Renzong's situation fell on him, it made Zhao Ji feel unbearable. How his father was a 'filial son' at the beginning, Zhao Ji saw it in his eyes. I heard that when Emperor Renzong reached his old age, he often cried in the palace, all of which were comforted by the Empress Dowager. The thought of what he would become like that made Zhao Ji shudder.

But to say that the yin qi in the palace is too strong, which is not good for longevity and heirs, it is not right. Miyagi has a long lifespan, and Zhao Ji has not seen it. Emperor Zhenzong's Shen Guifei is still living in the palace, she is eighty years old, and her body can still be called healthy. During the New Year's holidays, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager have to go over to visit. If you talk about palace maids and eunuchs, in several temples and nunnery attached to the palace, there are even people who are over 100 years old and have served Emperor Taizong. If you really don't live long and can't raise much, you are the heirs of their family these days.

"Official, the two mansions have arrived in the palace." Shi Deyi, who was on duty, quietly walked over and reminded.

Zhao Ji's head moved up and down, signaling that he had heard, but he was still stunned and did not move.

After waiting for a while, Shi Deyi couldn't help but urge again, "Official! ”

Zhao Ji's body was shocked, and he came back to his senses, "Ah, I know it." ”

The Son of Heaven finally got up, which made Shi Deyi breathe a sigh of relief. Busy leading the way, he passed to the front hall where the important ministers were listed.

After sitting on the imperial couch and bowing to the ministers, Zhao Ji gave the seats of the Zaifu.

No one mentioned Wang Anshi, who was not in the train, and no one mentioned Wang Yan. Zhao Ji glanced at Lu Huiqing, and didn't even mention a word to him. For the major state events discussed in this hall, the death of a Tianzhang Pavilion servant system is just a trivial matter.

"Guo Kui wrote from Taiyuan, but said that the soldiers and horses in Hedong were ready, and they could send troops to recover Fengzhou just by waiting for the order of the imperial court."

"Fengzhou has fallen into the hands of thieves for more than half a year, and the people in the state are miserable, and the officials and soldiers are like children looking at their parents, and they can't delay for a while."

"The matter of Jiaozhi cannot be ignored, and the elite should be selected from the western army and go south to attack the enemy."

"The Western Army must not be moved lightly. For the sake of Maozhou, thousands of troops have been transferred in Xihe, and the defenders of Xihe Road cannot be less. At present, when the autumn is high and the horses are fat, all the roads on the edge of the border must guard against autumn in the old years, and now we must beware of the reckless and risky actions of the Western Xia, where can we still transfer troops. ”

"Jiaozhi burned and plundered Sanzhou in Guangxi, killed 100,000 people, and plundered tens of thousands of Chinese people into the country, how can we turn a blind eye?"

"The Khitan country is unstable and has no time to take care of itself. Elite troops can be mobilized from Hebei to go south. ”

"The Khitan has many eyes and ears in Hebei, and if there is a change in the road, it will arouse its suspicions, and the troops cannot be mobilized too much."

"The Jingnan army can break 100,000 with 1,000. Hebei's elite soldiers are far superior to Jingnan. Even just in case, 20,000 is enough. ”

"Although there are 100,000 clouds, the army is only tired. If the official army enters Jiaozhi, it will be a thief who waits for work, and there are few soldiers who are afraid that they will not be enough. ”

The arguments of the ministers, Zhao Ji did not interject. Just like in the past month, there is no way to reach a common opinion. The days dragged on little by little, and there was not much time left for Zhao Ji.

The recovery of Fengzhou is on the way, and it has to be sent. And as Wu Chong and Cai Ting said, in such a situation, it is impossible to easily mobilize the troops of the Guanxi Zhulu. The only Xihe Road that was under little pressure, and the available garrison was transferred to suppress the Maozhou rebellion. The attack on Lanzhou has been talked about for several years, and it is obviously easy to do something, but it has been delayed because of various things. After the fall of Luowucheng, the garrison sent by the party to Lanzhou increased by 4,000, and Yu Zang Huama probably did not dare to act rashly.

But Jiaozhi can't be ignored, through the battle reports sent by Zhang Dian and Han Gang, as well as the conversation with Su Ziyuan a few days ago, Zhao Ji has almost understood the before and after of the Battle of Yongzhou. And the four words of the Yi clan to destroy the country tempted Zhao Ji, and insisted that his monarch ask the guilt in front of him, which was the glory that Zhao Ji looked forward to day and night after ascending the throne. It is necessary to decide where to transfer troops from within these days, and send them within this month, otherwise it will be too late.

Fortunately, Han Gang had just entered Beijing, so he still recruited Han Gang into the palace to ask, because of Wang Yan's matter, he should be at Wang Anshi's house now.

Thinking of Wang Yan from Han Gang, Zhao Yan asked, "Wang Yan died of illness last night, how should this matter be handled?" ”

Zhao Ji suddenly spoke, which made the hall cold for a while. Even if he is the son of the prime minister and a close minister of the Son of Heaven, he is not qualified to let the ministers discuss, and the court has its own system. If the Son of Heaven is a grace, he can just issue an edict.

Feng Jing, as the prime minister, took the lead in speaking: "Wang Yanguan to the prince Zhongyun and Tianzhang Pavilion serve the system, and according to the system, they should be punished by the Taichang Rite Academy." can wait for his legacy to be played, and follow the story. ”

Since Feng Jing spoke like this, it was not good for Lu Huiqing not to speak: "Wang Yanming has the scriptures, understands state affairs, cherishes the death of his prime, and the court should be given a pension." ”

No one objected to this, anyway, even the gift was not qualified, even if there were old grudges, there was no need to add to the blockage at this time. Zhao Ji glanced at the ministers below: "Give the left advice to the doctor, the official and his young son, and the rest will be handed over to the Taichang Rite Court for punishment." ”

……………………

Wang Yan still couldn't survive one more night, and swallowed his last breath when he was about to pass away.

The person is gone, and the rest is etiquette.

Everything was prepared more than a month ago. In less than an hour, the mourning hall was set up, the lanterns in front of the house and the door were replaced with white, and the white tents were hung inside and outside the prime minister's house.

The guest standing outside the gate was next to the king, while Han Gang changed into a plain white turban, standing in the mourning hall without a crown, squinting his eyes in the smoke and fire, and greeting the relatives and friends who came in to pay tribute to Wang Yan. Standing opposite Han Gang, it was his brother-in-law Wu Anzhi.

For Han Gang, Wang Yan is a relative, but also a friend, and he can give Wang Yan the last ride, Han Gang is very glad that he did not delay time on the road. It's just that when it comes to sadness, it's not much. But he really felt sorry for Wang Yan, no matter whether the goals of the two conflicted or not, but it was always regrettable that his ambition died before he was rewarded.

A tent blocked the inside and outside of the mourning hall, and the ladies and dependents were inside. Wang Yan's only son knelt outside the tent and threw paper into the brazier, from which fireworks rose from the flames. Wang Anguo and the descendants of Wang An's family were accompanied by him. Wu Anzhi's son and Han Gang's two sons also knelt together.

Wang Yi is a married daughter, and her five costumes are considered a great achievement[Note 1], and she has to mourn for her brother, and she accompanies her mother in mourning clothes made of cooked linen. Han Gang's children, whether they are Wang Yi's own children or not, are all Wang Anshi's grandsons and Wang Yan's nephews, and they are also wearing filial piety clothes, but they are sewn with slightly finer cooked hemp than Wang Yi.

Han Gang looked inside with some worry, Wang Yi was pregnant, and he cried into tears at the same time as he gave Wang Yan, and it was not good to be sad and overmoved.

"Yukun, don't worry, someone inside will take care of you." It was Wu Anzhi, who was standing opposite, who was speaking.

Indeed, the daughters of Wang Anguo and Wang An's family will not be confused, and Han Ah Li is also staying inside, so there will be no trouble. Han Gang nodded and thanked his brother-in-law. Because of Wu Chong, and Wu Anzhi had been working abroad all the year round, Han Gang didn't have much contact with him, but after all, they were relatives, and it was unnecessary to get along with each other when they were old and dead, let alone become enemies.

It was a commotion outside, and it was the envoy sent by the palace who came to the door.

Wang Anshi was dressed in sackcloth, was supported by someone, and staggered out on crutches. Sadness carved deep lines on his face, his beard turned white again, and he would not bend his back in the face of many strong enemies and obstacles in the court, and at this time he was rickety, and he seemed to be ten years old in one day.

Listening to the grace of the Son of Heaven conveyed by the envoy, Wang Yan became a doctor from the crown prince Zhongyun in one fell swoop, and there were many rewards far beyond ordinary courtiers, but no one liked such grace.

After Wang Anshi numbly thanked him according to the routine, next, another lieutenant envoy came over, not to Wang Anshi, but to Han Gang, "The emperor dictated, Zhaolong Tuge Zhi Bachelor, Guangxi transfer envoy Han Gang immediately entered the palace to see His Majesty." ”

“…… Obey the order. Standing up, Han Gang turned around and said goodbye to Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi nodded: "State affairs are important, Yukun, you go." ”

After saluting Wang Anshi, entering the mourning hall and bowing again, Han Gang went to the funeral, changed into a purple robe and rhino belt, got on his horse and galloped towards the imperial city.

Note 1: The five costumes are the five levels of mourning for relatives. From heavy to light, they are chopping decay, Qi decay, big gong, small gong and hemp. In addition, there are lighter exemptions for relatives or friends who are not in the five suits. Different grades, different times of mourning, and different grades of mourning clothes worn, coarse linen, fine linen, raw linen, cooked linen, and even whether the edge is closed are customized