When Song Zhenzong first ascended the throne, he extensively listened to opinions, actively built water conservancy projects, intensified national reform, worked diligently and loved the people, and governed the country, which made the social economy develop steadily and rapidly, and a well-off situation of "ruling by salt and peace" appeared. However, since he established the "Yuan Tan Alliance" with Liao, he also paid taxes and coins every year to make a living and get peace. Since then, his enterprising spirit has disappeared. From the aspect of managing government affairs, his thoughts are increasingly conservative and enterprising, and he is very fond of Buddhism and Taoism, which wastes people's money, and the country is increasingly weak. During this period, many things happened, which put the whole country in danger.
Song Taizong's eighth son is his younger brother Zhao. At that time, Song Zhenzong was still in office. One day, Zhao's house caught fire, and the fire was fierce, which soon spread to the emperor's palace, the attic of concubines and the national treasury. The minister in charge revealed it to the emperor. It was the negligence of his staff at that time that caused the disaster. The perpetrators should be put to death, and many people are implicated. Even maids and eunuchs serving in hospitals may be put to death.
There was a minister in Song Zhenzong named Wang Dan. He was an honest official, and he dared to say and do it. When he heard about it, he said to your majesty, your majesty, didn't you send a letter saying that the responsibility lies with you? Is it wrong to want to kill many people involved now? Besides, the cause of the fire is traceable, but it is their negligence after all. How do we know that God is not punishing us? Song Zhenzong listened to and accepted his suggestion. As a result, hundreds of people were pardoned and executed. This man's words saved many people.
On another occasion, Song Zhenzong sent people to the suburbs to inspect the pest disaster. These people found some dead locusts to show him, and he showed them to the ministers. The next day, the prime minister put the dead locusts in his sleeve and went to see the emperor, saying that "all locusts are completely dead" and showed them to his ministers, leading hundreds of officials to congratulate the emperor. At this time, Minister Wang Dan stood up, and she insisted on not congratulating, claiming that the plague and elimination of locusts were fortunate and the duty of the minister, and there was nothing to celebrate. A few days later, an official told the emperor that locusts had covered the sky. The emperor said to Wang Dan, I just want my officials to celebrate the extermination of locusts, but locusts are so rampant. Don't you want to be laughed at by the world?
It can be seen from these things that Wang Dan is really a good minister who dares to speak and make suggestions. Without such a minister, Song Zhenzong should feel lucky.