Live History Broadcast: Opening Ceremony Spoilers - Our Ancestor Was Enraged

Chapter 80 Yuan You's Transformation

Lin Ke paused for a moment, recalling the numerous female politicians who emerged during this period. She thought that talking about one or two would be pointless, so she might as well introduce one of them as well.

"Before discussing the Yuan You era, I'd like to introduce the Empress Dowager Regent of that period."

"During the Song Dynasty, the Liao and Western Xia dynasties coexisted. In this era, numerous regent empresses dowager emerged, holding high positions and having a profound influence on later generations."

A princess from the Tang Dynasty: In what way are women inferior to men? Women are just as capable!

A peasant girl from the Song Dynasty: Exactly! Exactly!

……

"For example, Empress Dowager Shulu of the Liao Dynasty assisted her husband Yelü Abaoji in establishing the Great Khitan, which is the foundation of the Liao Dynasty for two hundred years."

"Empress Dowager Meicang and the two Liang empresses held power in Western Xia during a period when three consecutive generations of young emperors ascended the throne."

"Finally, there is Empress Dowager Liu of the Song Dynasty. After Emperor Zhenzong's death, she took over the administration and nurtured Emperor Renzong, making significant contributions to the internal affairs of the early Song Dynasty."

"There are other women, whose names are unknown or who have left their mark on history, who have also played a significant role in the course of history."

Upon hearing this, the pedantic scholars in Wanchaozhong were the first to disagree, arguing that women couldn't possibly do anything!

Making achievements and establishing a career—that's something men do!

The moment that thought crossed their minds, the small light screens in their hands disappeared, only to reappear in the hands of some women in the next instant.

999 System: Damn it! Confiscated!

Although 999 is a system, it is not lacking in outstanding female scientists in its time and space. They can also create extremely great inventions, so it does not think that women are inferior to men.

As for the pedantic scholars whose screens were confiscated, they could only be ridiculed and ostracized, while cursing and swearing as they fled in disarray.

……

"As we mentioned today, before Emperor Zhezong assumed personal rule, the court was managed by the Empress Dowager Gao. Her given name was Taotao, and she came from the Gao family, a top military family in the Northern Song Dynasty. Her father's life can be summed up in one sentence: he was very lucky."

"In comparison, Gao Taotao and her husband, Emperor Yingzong of Song, were not so fortunate. They both had similar opportunities, which led to a good relationship between them."

"However, Emperor Yingzong's reign was short-lived, and the events of Emperor Shenzong's reign will not be detailed here. Empress Dowager Gao became the third woman in the Song Dynasty to act as regent."

"Her son left her with the key figures of the New Party who had risen to power since the Xining Reforms. As mentioned earlier, she didn't understand the New Laws or know them well. For her, nothing was more important than whether she could smoothly transition to supreme power."

"The funeral of Emperor Shenzong was also entrusted to the newly appointed Prime Minister Cai Que, who was required to leave the center of power—Tokyo—for six months."

A scion of a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: Ah! Isn't this equivalent to being sent to a remote post?

A spoiled brat from the Tang Dynasty: Is it really a good thing to keep getting the New Party into trouble?

"Now, the New Party has lost two powerful allies. However, the situation is far from dire. According to custom, the Prime Minister is required to resign as a sign of mourning after presiding over the Emperor's funeral."

"It was mentioned above that Cai Que did a lot of dirty work to climb to this position, and you're telling him his contract expires in a few months?!"

"Cai Que himself was a little unwilling, but Han Zhen was still waiting in line behind him, and their relationship wasn't good."

"Han Zhen also comes from a top-tier family in the early Song Dynasty and has always looked down on Cai Que. Now that he sees Cai Que trying to renege on his promises, he won't stand for it and immediately finds a reason to dig up dirt on him."

"Even someone as respected as a veteran of three reigns would go to Empress Dowager Gao to report on Cai Que. I'd like to ask, is this also part of a political struggle?"

"This also foreshadows the fact that the Yuanfeng era placed too much emphasis on talent while neglecting character and morality, a problem that has finally come to light."

"As for Cai Que, he's still lost in his dream of being prime minister, completely oblivious to what's about to happen."

A romantic scholar from the Tang Dynasty: He's been busy for so long, but in the end he got nothing!?

A Ming Dynasty soldier: It all started with tattling?!

A certain troublesome kid from the Song Dynasty: Snitching is shameful, but it's useful!

……

"Let me first give you some background information. After Emperor Shenzong of Song implemented the Yuanfeng reforms, the prime ministers reported to the emperor in three separate groups: the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the Department of State Affairs."

"Among them, the Prime Minister served as a Vice Minister under the Chancellor, which can be summarized as high in status but low in power."

"The one in charge of specific policy matters is the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, who is also the second-in-command."

"Emperor Shenzong's initial intention in implementing this reform was simply to diminish the power of the prime minister and reclaim imperial authority. However, this reminds me of Zhu Yuanzhang, who abolished the prime ministership. I think their intentions were probably similar."

"Under the old system, even if these two groups wanted to cause trouble, it wouldn't be legally permissible. The reason for their failure was that Tsai Ing-wen wanted to be prime minister while also wanting to control the power of the vice prime minister."

"The simplest solution he could think of was to merge the classes, making the Secretariat attend meetings with him, so that he could use his authority to influence the court."

"He never imagined that Empress Dowager Gao and the old faction were just waiting for this, and Han Zhen also wanted to deal with Cai Que, so Cai Que's defeat was, in a way, his own doing."

Liu Zhuzhu (Big Han): The Ming Dynasty actually abolished the position of prime minister!

First Emperor: This is something I never expected!

Zhu Bajie of the Ming Dynasty: What's wrong?!

An official from the Tang Dynasty: There was no chance originally, but his actions played right into our hands!

"Shortly afterward, Han Wei, a member of the old faction, was appointed as Emperor Zhezong's tutor, and Sima Guang and Lü Gongzhe compiled a list of officials to be allowed to speak out for the Empress Dowager, including figures such as Su Zhe and Fan Chunren."

"Empress Dowager Gao, fearing trouble, simply bypassed the New Party members in both the Imperial Household Department and appointed five of them by imperial decree."

"Amidst the continued attacks from the old party and the internal strife within the new party, one person stood up to protest: Zhang Dun."

"Compared to Cai Que and Han Zhen's group, Zhang Dun's political abilities are far superior!"

He bluntly stated that Fan Chunren and Fan Zuyu, whom Sima Guang had recommended, were related to Han Zhen, who had served as chancellor during the same period, which was against the system; furthermore, he questioned why Sima Guang had bypassed the New Party in his recommendations.

"Sima Guang, seeing that the young man had hit the nail on the head, had no choice but to retort that if these two were suspected, then he would take responsibility and request to resign from his post!"

"At this stage, Zhang Dun still hoped to reconcile the relationship between the two parties, so he gave both sides a way out and did not want the conflict to escalate too much."

"It's just a pity that his kindness was ultimately just wishful thinking."

"Later events proved that the old party, whom he hoped to ease tensions with, turned around and impeached him, a Privy Councilor, for interfering in the affairs of censors—this was overstepping his authority and causing trouble!"

A poor scholar from the Song Dynasty: What a pity for Lord Zhang!

A young man from a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: You may be kind-hearted, but they won't be so lenient!