Chapter 268: Instructing Sheng Changbai

Rather than saying how mysterious and important the initiation ceremony is, it is better to say that this is the future Lord of Tibet showing his goodwill to Wei Yuan.

Once Wei Yuan accepted the initiation, it meant that a certain relationship was established between him and Dong Zhan.

And this relationship cannot be known to others.

After all, in the court hall, Dong Fei had already said that he would give initiation to the crown prince, and now he was giving initiation to Wei Yuan. Once word got out, even rumors would engulf Wei Yuan.

"why me?"

As he approached the inn, Wei Yuan asked.

Dong Felt said bluntly: "You are the prince's young master and will be the assistant minister of the future country. The emperor is old and the prince is young, so we need help."

"You will be in charge of the major military and state affairs of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the future, and diplomatic matters have always been inseparable from military and state affairs. Both I and Tubo need a potential ally."

Wei Yuan was relieved, "What benefits can I get?"

Dong Fei said: "Whenever you need me to do something, I will fully support you."

Wei Yuan sneered: "Anyone can say empty words."

Dong Xiang opened the car curtain, looked at the bustling streets outside, and murmured:

"General Wei, after you have been here in Bianjing for so long, do you no longer dare to trust others?"

Wei Yuan was stunned for a moment. After a moment, he recovered, nodded slightly and said, "The word "dare not" is very appropriate."

Dong Xiang smiled and said, "General Wei, I'm not in Bianjing, you can trust me."

Wei Yuan did not respond.

After sending him to the inn, Dong Xiang looked around and saw that there were few people around, so he whispered again,

"General Wei, think carefully. In this world, there are not only intrigues and intrigues. When I first met you in Bianjing today, I felt like old friends at the first sight. I hope you will be the same."

Wei Yuan asked curiously: "You trust others so easily?"

Dong Felt said: "You have no intention of harming me, why can't I trust you?"

Wei Yuan thought for a moment and said solemnly: "Two days later, how about I invite the governor to be a guest at my house?"

Dong Xiang cupped his hands and said, "Very good."

The two of them said goodbye for now.

Later, Wei Yuan took a chariot back to the Hou Mansion alone. Along the way, he was thinking about a question.

It was the first time that he met Dong Zang.

Why can the other party trust me so unhesitatingly?

In other words, why do you choose to trust yourself?

What do you want?

Wei Yuan was puzzled, but he knew that this might be an opportunity.

After returning to the Hou Mansion, he specially called Sheng Changbai and asked with a smile: "Since you took the imperial examination and became an official, you and I have not had a good chat."

It just so happened that Miss Zhao, who had been teaching Zhang Guifen tea art, was here today.

Simply, Wei Yuan asked her to make tea.

Sheng Changbai was a little restrained, because this was the first time Wei Yuan asked him to come to the Hou Mansion alone, and he felt vaguely in his heart that something had happened.

"I wonder what uncle wants to talk to my nephew today?"

Wei Yuan got straight to the point: "Have you gone to see your teacher these days?"

Sheng Changbai shook his head, "More than half a month ago, I learned some strategies for governing the world at the teacher's house. The teacher said that the recent critical moment of reforming the government makes it difficult for me to find him."

crucial moment?

Wei Yuan asked curiously: "To what extent has it been changed?"

Sheng Changbai said: "According to my teacher, one-quarter of the civil servants have been laid off. My ultimate goal is to cut one-third of the staff."

Wei Yuan nodded, "Now, all offices in the Wen Division have been abolished. Isn't it the turn of the Wu Division?"

Sheng Changbai shook his head and said, "My nephew has never heard of this."

Wei Yuan said 'hmm' and said, "Have you gone to the Marquis Yongyi Mansion?"

Sheng Changbai said: "My eldest sister and the others have gone, so there is no need for my nephew to go."

Wei Yuan took a sip of tea and said, "Have you heard any rumors recently?"

Sheng Changbai asked curiously: "What is uncle referring to?"

Wei Yuan said: "Your eldest cousin, Xu Changqing."

Sheng Changbai said thoughtfully, "I've heard a little bit about it. What my cousin did is really annoying, but it's not as serious as the rumors say. He's said to be unfilial."

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "It's not important. After you go back, tell Wang Shangshu what I said today."

Sheng Changbai frowned and said, "But my teacher said that if nothing happens these days, I will not be able to look for him."

Wei Yuan said: "Tell Wang Anshi everything I said in detail, and he won't blame you."

Sheng Changbai was puzzled, but he didn't dare to go against what Wei Yuan said.

After he left the Zhongyonghou Mansion, he went to the Minister of Civil Affairs and asked to see Wang Anshi.

Wu Qiong told Sheng Changbai that the official office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs has not yet been closed. In the past few days, Wang Anshi has always left early and returned late. He doesn't know when he will come back today.

Sheng Changbai was worried about missing Wei Yuan's important event, so he simply stayed at Wang Anshi's home and waited quietly.

This was the first time that Wei Yuan took the initiative to talk to him about something. Although he heard it in confusion, he also vaguely felt that the matter was serious and he did not dare to slack off at all.

It was already three o'clock in the morning when Wang Anshi returned home.

At this time, Sheng Changbai had not left yet.

I heard from the servants in the mansion that he sat in the main hall for half a day and drank several cups of tea alone.

Wang Anshi thought he had something important to do, so he hurried to the main hall. When he saw him, he asked, "You came here today to be my teacher. Do you have something to do?"

Sheng Changbai stood up quickly, bowed deeply to Wang Anshi and said, "The student has met the teacher. The student went to my uncle's place as a guest today."

"Oh?" Wang Anshi sat on the chair and asked curiously: "What did you say?"

Sheng Changbai told Wang Anshi in detail about his conversation with Wei Yuan.

When the latter heard this, he immediately smiled and said, "Tell your uncle tomorrow and tell him that I will submit a letter to the official."

Sheng Changbai was stunned for a moment, his eyes full of confusion, and he obviously didn't understand.

"My uncle asked you, teacher, to teach you Zazi?"

Wang Anshi smiled and said, "What? You don't understand?"

Sheng Changbai shook his head, "Students really don't understand."

Wang Anshi took a sip of tea and stroked his beard and said, "Well, since you've been waiting here for a long time, I can't let you wait in vain, so I'll talk to you."

After a pause, he began to talk at length,

"Everyone knows that the reform of civil service is carried out by teachers. Even the imperial examinations have been postponed because of this."

"Last year and this year, many scholars criticized Wei Shi in the literary world, saying that Wei Shi ignored the country's hard work in raising scholars for many years and was the sinner of getting an official position through the imperial examination."

"Today, the reform of the civil service has begun to bear fruit, and it is at the critical moment of its conclusion. Since all the officials in each department, such as the Palace Department, the Infantry Department and even the Ministry of War, have been cut to serve as civil servants, there has been no reduction in the number of officials."

"The various civil servants who were cut off as teachers, such as many civil servants in the original Ministry of Civil Affairs, are cursing their teachers all the time."

"But cutting off military officials requires opportunities. If we insist on cutting them off, I'm afraid it will cause a civil-military confrontation and make the situation between the DPRK and China more complicated. By then, there may be chaos in the court."

"Your uncle is in charge of the Palace Department. If he takes the lead and cooperates, he will be able to effectively cut the staff of the Wu Department. However, your uncle needs me to help Commander Xu inherit the Marquis in a reasonable manner."

Hearing this, Sheng Changbai suddenly realized.

No wonder, Wei Yuan first asked about the reform of official administration.

Sheng Changbai was a little confused at that time. Does Wei Yuan, the central minister, know what is going on in the Ministry of Personnel now?

Later, they successively talked about the situation at the ‘Wu Si’ and Yongyi Hou Mansion.

He wanted Sheng Changbai to retell the conversation to Wang Anshi exactly as it was.

In short, if Wang Anshi wrote a letter to the officials and said that Xu Changqing was unfilial, then Xu Changqing would not be able to seize the title. If he helped Xu Changzhi say a few words, everything would fall into place.

But if Wang Anshi didn't say anything, it would be impossible to cut down the situation of Wu Division officials.

In the entire imperial court, there were only a few offices in the Wu Department, such as the Infantry Department, the Horse Army Department, the Palace Front Department, etc.

Wang Anshi didn't have to cut off Wu Si, but if he didn't cut off San Yamen, the scholars all over the world would poke their spines.

There was a political exchange between Wei Yuan and him. He helped Xu Changzhi seek a title, and Wei Yuan asked Wu Si to let go.

Sheng Changbai is a smart man. After hearing what Wang Anshi said, how can he still be unclear at this moment?

For a moment, he broke into a cold sweat and murmured: "The student was still thinking just now that my uncle would never just invite me to drink a few cups of tea."

"It's just this kind of thing. Why didn't my uncle tell you directly, teacher? Why did he have to let the students tell it on his behalf?"

Wang Anshi smiled and said: "Your cheap uncle treats you well. He asked you to tell him. According to my teacher's guess, there are two reasons."

"First, there are many officials in the capital. If Wei Yuan sees me and I happen to be in Zhazi, the officials will be suspicious of cliques between civil and military officials. This is a taboo in the court."

"Secondly, your uncle also wants to use my words to tell you a truth. As an official in the capital, you must think twice about anything anyone says or does to you."

Hearing this, Sheng Changbai couldn't help but smile bitterly,

"If the teacher and uncle want to deal with the students, I'm afraid the students won't even know how they died."

Wang Anshi laughed and said: "It's not that serious. Both my teacher and your uncle are officials and pay attention to the rules. Otherwise, your uncle doesn't need you to tell my teacher."

Wei Yuan asked him to write notes because, in the eyes of officials, his words had weight.

In fact, it is most appropriate to leave this task to the censor.

However, Wei Yuan and the censors did not deal with each other and could not get along, so they were worried that something would go wrong.

After thinking about it, Wang Anshi is the most suitable person to do this without owing any favors and increasing the relationship between them.

If Wei Yuan goes to Zha Zi himself, he will inevitably be suspected of being close to the gang.

In the sixth year of Jiayou's reign, December 26th.

Wang Anshi went to Zhazi and accused Xu Changqing, the eldest son of Yongyi Hou Mansion, of being unfilial.

The officials were furious and expelled the prince of the Hou family from the capital and sent him back to his place of origin.

The title of Marquis Yongyi belongs to one of the princes. Then Wang Anshi went to Zha Zi again and said that the princes cannot live without a heir apparent, just like a dynasty cannot live without a heir apparent.

Only when the state has a crown prince can the country be settled.

If a prince has no heir apparent, his family will be restless and it will be difficult to serve the country.

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment and then appointed Xu Changzhi as the heir apparent of the Yongyi Hou Mansion.

At this point, through Wei Yuan's planning, the battle between the concubine and the concubine ended in Xu Changzhi's overall victory.

When Xu Changqing returned to his hometown, Xu Changzhi did not see him off.

Later, I heard that Xu Changqing was seriously ill due to vomiting blood due to the pent-up energy during the journey.

December 27th, the sixth year of Jiayou year.

Dong Fei came to visit Zhongyonghou Mansion.

Wei Yuan invited him to the Chunyi Pavilion, and sent all the servants and maids outside the courtyard, leaving them to Xiao Yuming to guard personally, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting.

now.

In the courtyard of Chunyi Pavilion, Dong Xiang was performing mysterious rituals for Wei Yuan.

Dong Felt first used a special handprint and muttered something while walking around Wei Yuan.

Then a special kind of butter was used to drip it on Wei Yuan's forehead using a magic weapon.

It also went through some unspeakable tedious processes.

The entire initiation ceremony is considered over.

Wei Yuan didn't feel much, but he felt his forehead was very cool, and his head, which was originally a little groggy, suddenly became much clearer.

This kind of perception can only be understood, not expressed in words, difficult to describe, mysterious and mysterious.

It was as if he remembered something in his mind and suddenly became very thoughtful, or there was a psychological reason at work. In short, it made Wei Yuan feel a little strange.

Dong Felt helped Wei Yuan up and said earnestly:

"General Wei, I don't know, have you thought of a good name for me?"

Hearing this, Wei Yuan held his wrist, and the two of them immediately came to a pavilion.

I saw that the four treasures of the study had been prepared on the stone table in the pavilion.

Wei Yuan wrote the word "Tianjue".

"Tianjue?"

Dong Felt murmured and asked curiously: "Why are these two words?"

Wei Yuan said seriously: "The Tubo people regard your father as the son of Buddha, and you are also the next son of Buddha. In the culture of our country, Buddha and God both represent the will of 'Heaven'."

"As for the word awakening, it means awakening. Enlightenment. You gave me the initiation, or you were initiated by your father. It can be understood as a kind of awakening."

Tianjue

Dong Felt smiled and said: "The word Tianjue is very good. Thank you General Wei for giving me the word."

Wei Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Prince Wang, for the initiation."

Dong Felt did not stay in the Hou Mansion. He had been here for a long time. It would be unsightly if Zhao Zhen knew about it.

After he left, Zhang Guifen came over and asked, "Well done, why does the Tubo Crown Prince want to give you the initiation?"

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "Whether it's me giving him a cousin name or him giving me an initiation, it's actually just a ceremony."

"The ultimate purpose of the ceremony is to achieve a silent alliance."

alliance?

Zhang Guifen was very curious, but she felt that she should not continue to ask.

Jiayou's sixth year, December 28th.

Dong Zhan initiated the crown prince in the East Palace.

All officials came to watch the ceremony.

As for the emperor and Xisiluo, they had a long talk in a large hall.

At this moment, the East Palace.

The prince sat cross-legged in the center of the hall.

Dong Zhan is preparing the tools needed for the initiation of the prince.

Officials from various departments stood not far away and watched.

For many people, they have never seen the initiation, so before the ceremony even started, they were already talking about it:

"Have you ever seen an initiation?"

"No, it is said that after initiation, people suddenly become wise?"

"Isn't it also said that one must have great wisdom and perseverance, and only after passing the initiation ceremony can one inherit wisdom?"

"If you say you don't feel it, then you don't have wisdom or perseverance."

"Hush! Be careful, do you dare to say this? Are you afraid of being blamed by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas?"

"What are you afraid of? I don't believe in Buddhism."

"."

Saying something wrong about an initiation in Tubo is like saying bad things about a saint in Zhou Dynasty.

Wei Yuan ignored those voices, but stood beside Wang Anshi and whispered:

"Brother Wang, thank you very much for that."

Wang Anshi shook his head, "It's my turn to thank you. At the very least, some scholars have felt better after seeing that I deliberately cut off the military officials, and they stopped scolding me so much."

Wei Yuan smiled and said: "I have been scolded a few times and have a lot of flesh on my body. Brother Wang still cares about this?"

Wang Anshi said helplessly: "I'm not afraid of being scolded. What I'm afraid of is that it's like a dog-skin plaster. I get scolded every day and can't get rid of it."

Wei Yuan said thoughtfully, "It makes sense."