Chapter 90 New Year and New Scenery

In Bianjing, the palace is brightly lit and shining like daytime. Palace maids, eunuchs, and servants are busy, because the dynasty meeting is about to begin.

The Zhengdan Grand Court Meeting is the first court meeting of the New Year. Although it does not discuss state affairs or deal with military and political affairs, it is full of festive atmosphere and is one of the most important court meetings of the year.

Therefore, the dynasty meeting must be grand and festive. With the busyness of palace maids, eunuchs and servants, the entire palace is decorated with joy. When you are in it, you are like being in a sea of ​​joy.

There were many ministers gathered outside the palace with the five drums of heaven, and they all had smiles on their faces. When they met each other, they would say a few words of blessing and congratulations.

"Woooo!" The cold wind as cold as a scimitar made people feel cold in their hearts, but it could not stop the joyful atmosphere of the ministers. They gathered in front of the palace, and this was a sea of ​​joy.

The palace gate opened, and a team of imperial guards came out in the wind and snow, standing on both sides of the palace gate.

The ministers entered one after another according to their official positions, and their faces were filled with joy.

As soon as the ministers entered the palace, they felt the joy of joy coming to their faces. They were so happy that they couldn't stop. Under the guidance of the eunuch, the ministers came to Daqing Hall and entered one after another.

The Daqing Hall covers a very wide area and can accommodate thousands of people. It is usually used when holding a grand dynasty meeting. The place where the Northern Song Dynasty court discussed was Yanhe Hall, which is usually the place where court discussions are held at ordinary times. Although it is the center of the empire, it is not large and has a limited capacity.

For such a grand ceremonial meeting as today, so many people can only be held in the Daqing Hall.

The Daqing Hall is filled with tables and chairs, pastries and fruits, and various decorations. The entire Daqing Hall is a sea of ​​joy. If you are in it, you will inevitably be infinite joy.

The ministers took their seats according to their official positions and under the guidance of eunuchs. Today is a festive time. Although the hierarchy is still very strict, it is not as particular as usual. The ministers sat down, drank tea, ate pastries, spoke, and blessed each other.

"Junshi is here!"

Just as the ministers congratulated each other, Sima Guang appeared at the gate of the hall. Sima Guang lived in seclusion in Henan Prefecture and wrote "Zizhi Tongjian". He did not care about the government affairs, and this matter was known to everyone in the world. However, he was still here for the annual Zhengdan Grand Court Meeting.

When they saw Sima Guang's face, the opposition ministers seemed to see a savior and rushed forward in a swarm. Sima Guang was the leader of the opposition and the banner of the opposition. His arrival caused a sensation, which was inevitable.

However, what these opposition ministers did not expect was that Sima Guang just put his fists on his face and bowed: "Sima Guang has met all the sirs! Sima Guang wishes all the wishes come true in the New Year!"

Then he shook his sleeves, regardless of the reactions of the opposition ministers, left on his own, and under the guidance of the eunuch, he came to his seat and sat down.

If Sima Guang had arrived in previous years and these opposition ministers surrounded him, he would have been full of spring breeze and told the ministers for half a day, giving them hints and cheering them up and carrying out the matter of opposing the new law to the end. Like today, there was no such thing as this, which was too abnormal. The opposition ministers were stunned for a long time before accepting this fact.

However, they did not surround him anymore. They knew Sima Guang, and he had to do this, so he shook his head and returned to his respective seats and sat down.

The sensation caused by Sima Guang's arrival had just calmed down, and another minister with gray hair arrived. This man was tall and extremely strong. Although he was not young, he was not old and walked with great vigor and powerful.

"It's Zhigui! It's Zhigui!" The ministers were very surprised and exclaimed.

This person is another member of the opposition. Han Qi, whose courtesy name is Zhigui. Han Qi is a famous general, highly respected and has great prestige among ministers. Although his good Shuichuan defeat allowed Xixia to establish the country, he retained his position and had a great influence in the court. Although he had not been planning things in the court for a long time and returned to his hometown to live in seclusion, his influence in the court is still there.

As soon as he appeared, it caused another sensation. His disciples and former officials rushed up to surround him and congratulate him, and could not stop paying respects.

Han Qi was like a loud bell, and he was dealing with the ministers. Then he strides away. When he arrived at Sima Guang’s table, he was about to speak, but Sima Guang flashed at him. Han Qi understood it, but he just politely treated him, and then walked to his seat and sat down.

There are constant heavyweight ministers coming, and whenever such ministers arrive, they will cause a sensation.

"It's in existence!"

"Saving, what new skills do you have?"

When a middle-aged minister appeared at the entrance of the hall, it caused another sensation, and many ministers surrounded him and greeted him.

This minister has a low status in the court, but he is very famous because he is a great scientist Shen Kuo, whose courtesy name is Cunzhong. He is curious and skillful, and he always makes unexpected inventions and creations. His official position is not high, but he is very famous among all officials. It is reasonable that his arrival caused a sensation in the ministers.

Shen Kuo had a cheerful personality and spoke to the ministers for a while before he walked to his seat and sat down.

"It's Dongpo!"

"Three father and son of the Su family!"

"It's Su Da Talent!"

Suddenly, the entire Daqing Hall buzzed, and the ministers stood up together, looking at the door of the hall with a look of enthusiasm. Even Sima Guang and Han Qi and other important officials also stood up and looked at the door of the hall.

"Haha!" A hearty laughter came, and a middle-aged man strode forward. Before the person arrived, a gentle and elegant spirit arrived first. It was Su Shi and Su Dongpo, a talented man who had been famous throughout the ages.

Su Dongpo is generous by nature, and this can be savored from his poems, and his laughter is particularly cheerful.

"Su Shi has met you all!" Su Shi bowed in a row, raised his eyebrows and said, "Sir, you guys are really early! You have taken this lead for you!"

"Haha!" This was a joke, which attracted a burst of laughter from all the ministers.

The two people following Su Shi were Su Xun, Su Che, and Su Dongpo, who were famous for all ages. The father and son came together, causing a sensation far exceeding Sima Guang, Han Qi and the others.

The three father and son did not have very high positions and were not very powerful, but their fame was unmatched in the court. The three great talents gathered together, and the sensational effect was imaginable. If Su Xun and Su Che were not allowed to speak, the ministers surrounded the three father and son, asking for calligraphy and poetry from the three.

The father and son are so famous. If they can get their poems and calligraphy, which are more valuable than ten thousand taels of gold, who would not think about it?

As a result, the father and son fell into trouble. They could not deal with this and that, they were so busy that they were sweating and couldn't do it.

"Silent!" Just as the father and son were complaining, the eunuch's sharp screams rang out. The ministers knew that the emperor was coming and hurried back to their seats. Su Shi and his son were relieved and quickly walked to their seats.

"The Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, the official, and the Empress arrive!"

Shao Jiu's roar was very sharp and very harsh.

As he finished speaking, Empress Dowager Cao, supported by Empress Dowager Gao and Song Shenzong, walked quickly. Empress Xiang walked behind Empress Dowager Cao, and the four of them came in a harmonious way.

Empress Dowager Cao had a happy smile on her face and looked good. It seemed that she was really happy.

The Grand Chancellor's Day celebration is called "New Year's Tea Party" in modern terms. The king and his ministers gather together, talk, eat some pastries, drink tea, and look forward to the New Year. Therefore, the Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, and Empress Dowager can come.

"It's the official today, don't give a big tribute!" Empress Dowager Cao did not allow all the ministers to greet him. She waved her hand and set the tone first: "For the New Year, you must be happy, and there is no need to be restrained in the etiquette."

Because of her words, the ministers were exempted from the great gifts and thanked them in unison.

Empress Dowager Cao sat on the throne in the middle, Empress Dowager Gao sat on the side seat, and Emperor Shenzong of Song and Empress Xiang stood left and right. Although Emperor Shenzong of Song was the supreme, he was a junior at home. Standing next to Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao was what he should do.

Empress Dowager Cao first looked at the ministers, nodded, and said, "My dear friends, I am happy to see you, and I am happy! Today is the first day of the New Year, and I am the main dynasty, so I should have said something nice. However, I have to remind you that this year is extraordinary. You all know that there is still a big battle to fight in the north. I just hope that you will work diligently and assist the officials in fighting this battle well, so as not to lose the prestige of the Song Dynasty!"

The war in the north will soon come, and the joy on the faces of the ministers froze and they can't help but suck in the cold air.

Empress Dowager Cao changed her words and then said, "You must think that it is difficult for the Khitans to fight, right? In fact, as long as China is determined, how can the Khitans run rampant? The reincarnation army robbed annual monies, and the 80,000 troops of the Song Dynasty went deep into the Liao territory to plunder and gain a lot. Isn't this telling me? Finally, I remind you, the Liao people are not scary! What's scary is ourselves. There are always some people who think that our orphans and widows are easy to bully! Hum!"

He glanced at Sima Guang intentionally and undecidedly. Sima Guang felt like a knife was cutting out flesh. He wrote a letter to Empress Dowager Cao last time, but it was really a mistake.

"Official family, please say a few words." Empress Dowager Cao called and beat him, which was very shocking, and the ministers did not dare to say anything. After she finished speaking, she was about to ask Song Shenzong to say a few words. However, she found that Song Shenzong was absent-minded and looked north, with her brows furrowed together: "Official family, official family..."

As if Song Shenzong didn't hear it, he only thought of one thing: "Has Zhuozhou been conquered?"

At this moment, Zhuozhou has changed its appearance. The whole city is filled with Song army flags, roaring in the morning breeze, stretching like a painting.

"Haohu!" Listening to the sound of flags fluttering in the wind, the people of Zhuozhou were so happy that they hugged each other and cried: "The king is here! For more than a hundred years, the flag of China has finally been planted on the top of Zhuozhou city!"

Since the loss of Zhuozhou, the flag of China has been planted all over the city for the first time. This is a great joy for the people, and they all cried with joy.

"Zhuozhou has been recovered!"

I don’t know who started roaring first, but then there was a roar like a tsunami that collapsed and tsunami, rising to the sky.

For more than a hundred years, countless people of lofty ideals have worked hard to recover the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun, but have not made any contributions. Now, the city of Zhuozhou is filled with the flags of the Song army, which means that Zhuozhou has been recovered!

This is a great moment!

Significant!
Chapter completed!