Bianjing.
Imperial Palace, Chengqian Palace.
"The Holy One has arrived!"
"My son has visited my father, and my father has paid his respects?"
"I'm fine! The prince is seated."
"Thank you, Father!"
Zhao Ming was surprised when his father, who had not been to Chengqian Palace for a long time, suddenly came to him, but he did not ask any questions and followed Zhao Duan's words and sat on the chair next to him.
The palace servants brought tea, and the father and son each held a cup and gently skimmed off the foam with the same movement, then took a sip together.
Zhao Duan slowly placed the teacup in his hand on the table beside him, rolled up his sleeves and said, "Prince, it's getting colder and colder these days!"
"Father, it's already autumn, and the weather is naturally getting colder and colder."
Zhao Ming answered respectfully while holding a tea cup.
"Oh...yes!"
Zhao Duan closed his hands again, looked up at the ginkgo tree with yellowing branches and leaves standing outside the palace gate, and felt a little emotional.
After a while, he slowly said: "This year's situation is average. Although the people have not suffered any major disasters, they are still having a hard time. The natural disasters the year before last made the people's life worse than death. In addition, some people's "Man-made disasters" have made it even more difficult for the people who were already living a difficult life.
According to Qin Tianjian's observation, there may still be many major disasters next year. With this year's food, I don't know how many families will have to sell their sons and daughters next year.
well……
Prince, do you think I have failed as an emperor? I am unable to stabilize the government and comfort the people.
Just a mediocre person. "
Zhao Ming was shocked when he heard this, and naturally he did not dare to follow these words, but said: "When my father came to power, the situation in the Song Dynasty was much worse than it was now. There were barbarians outside and treacherous officials inside waiting for opportunities to cause trouble. The mercenaries of the Ding family are also waiting for action.
My father spent more than twenty years fighting against the Huns and Tatars in the north, stabilizing the internal affairs and balancing the court, and secretly undermining the military power of the Ding family to strengthen the royal family's military power. Since ancient times, how many emperors have been able to achieve the level of my father under such circumstances? indivual?
Why should my father belittle himself? "
Zhao Duan smiled, but his eyelids still drooped, and he said in a low voice: "But in the end, it's just barely enough.
The Xiongnu blocked the border, but kept the border closed year after year. The people on the border left their homes every year and had to suffer from the Huns' ravages from time to time.
Inside, the court is not as balanced as it seems, and everyone has their own thoughts secretly. I clearly understand what they have done, but I can only turn a blind eye.
Because the royal family cannot touch them now, nor can they touch them!
Even more so with the Ding family. Although I have repeatedly reduced their military power over the years, the Ding family's prestige in the military is deeply rooted. How could it be eradicated in just more than 20 years? Even now, I still occasionally have to endure the stupidity of that idiot Ding Nie. Behavior!
Last time Lao Liu came back, he even dared to snatch Lao Liu's horse in public!
Lao Liu is the vassal king!
He is a descendant of the royal family! The sky is full of nobles!
What does he mean? He clearly didn't take the Zhao Song royal family or me seriously!
But in the end, I could only find reasons to turn this matter into a trivial matter. What a humiliation!
If an ordinary Taiwei dared to do this, I would have killed all nine of his clans long ago!
Lao Liu is very disappointed in me, I can see it.
But what can I do? I can't move!
We can't move. Now we don't have enough strength to overturn the chessboard, so we can only endure a little and continue to accumulate.
…”
Zhao Duan was chattering away, as if he was venting. Zhao Ming lowered his head and listened silently without saying a word.
Shao Qing, maybe because he was tired, maybe because after finishing speaking, Zhao Duan stopped.
He picked up the cold tea on the side and drank it in one gulp, then said: "I originally wanted the people from Lao Liu to train a group of new soldiers for me in Northern Jiangsu.
But he seemed to have other plans for his people. After our people passed, the 20,000 people left by boat. I don’t know where they went?
Tell me, why did Laoliu send them there? "
Zhao Duan asked an unexpected question, which immediately confused Zhao Ming.
It took him a while to come back to his senses, and after thinking about it, he told some of the news he had gotten.
"I heard that Feiyun Trading Company recently purchased ships in the four southeastern counties to do maritime trade business."
"Sea trade business? What are you doing sending away 20,000 troops?"
Zhao Duan naturally got the news earlier than Zhao Ming, but now he pretended not to know and asked.
"I don't know, maybe the sixth brother's business encountered some obstacles overseas. With the sixth brother's temper, the 20,000 people are probably going to cause trouble." Zhao Ming guessed.
"Destroy the place?"
Zhao Duan was a little confused about this word.
Zhao Ming smiled and explained: "I learned this from my sixth brother. It seems to mean that it is similar to kicking a tavern or causing trouble in a restaurant."
"Is that so? That's quite appropriate."
Zhao Duan smiled and then said: "Although his army left, it left behind a teaching team in Wusu County. These people are very good at training troops. Although there are only a few dozen people, the 50,000 newly recruited in Wusu County Now people have already begun to take shape.
This training speed is terrifying, but the generals I sent said that they were just running around and standing still all day long. How could they train troops like this? "
After saying this, Zhao Duan's expression suddenly became serious. He took his hands back from the opposite sleeves, patted the armrest of the chair and said slowly: "But I heard from the generals that there are some problems with these recruits."
"some problems?"
Zhao Ming is confused?
Zhao Duan nodded, and then said slowly: "Although they listen to the words of the generals I sent, their ability to act is even higher when it comes to the words of the teaching team!"
Zhao Ming seemed to understand something and asked: "Father, are you saying that Lao Liu has tampered with these new troops?"
Zhao Duan nodded and said: "Although I don't know what he did.
But the abnormality of the new army is certain. If we continue to practice like this, I might end up making a wedding dress for your sixth brother! "
"What do you mean, Father?"
Zhao Ming asked.
Zhao Duan smiled slightly, tapped the armrest with his fingers and said with a smile: "Keep practicing, if he has the ability, just take it!
There is such a long distance between Su Bei and Yunzhou, and he may not be able to grasp it! "
Zhao Ming looked at Zhao Duan's expression and immediately understood that his father was at odds with Lao Liu, which aroused his father's desire to win.
He shook his head helplessly, but said nothing more.
"Oh, right!"
At this moment, Zhao Duan suddenly said.
"What?"
Zhao Ming was puzzled.
But I heard Zhao Duan continue: "This year's harvest in our pass is okay, and there should be no major events in the country. Outside the pass, the old Chan died of illness last winter, and now the Huns are fighting with each other for the position of the new Chanyu. Fighting, it is estimated that there will be no time to invade the border again this year.
Generally speaking, the situation in the Song Dynasty should be relatively calm this year, so after the autumn harvest, I decided to let you supervise the country for a period of time. I retreated behind the scenes on the grounds of physical discomfort and took this opportunity to go to Yunzhou County.
Do you have any objection? "
"What?"
Zhao Ming was stunned. What did he hear?
Does his father want to leave all the work to him and run away to be cool?
He wanted to object, but looking at his father's eyes that looked like he was not smiling, he knew that he had no choice to object.
He had no choice but to nod his head and agree.
"My son, I have no objection. My father met with my sixth brother and asked him to say hello on my behalf.
When will father come back? "
"After the New Year, I want to spend the New Year with Lao Liu this year."
"Well, how should the courtiers explain this?"
"You have to figure this out yourself. The Song Dynasty belongs to me now, but after all, he belongs to you, the prince. It's time for you to take some responsibilities. I believe you can do it.
My father is old and lacks energy, so it’s time to rest. "
With that said, Zhao Duan stood up, patted Zhao Ming on the shoulder, showed a kind smile, and then turned around and left with a relaxed look.
"Time is running out, Prince, please get ready as soon as possible!
Don't wait until I'm leaving and tell me you're not ready yet.
I won’t agree to it then! "
Seeing his father's footsteps and back leaving briskly, Zhao Ming couldn't help but slap himself in the face.
Good guy!
This old man, is he ready to ruin it?
Do you want to be a hands-off shopkeeper?
Can……
Thinking of this, Zhao Ming couldn't help but frown deeply, stood up and walked outside the palace gate.
Looking at the huge ginkgo tree, nearly half of its leaves have turned golden, and some of the leaves on the branches have begun to fall.
Autumn is here, and the old ones can no longer hang on the trees for too long. Next spring, new leaves will hang on the branches.
Can I really hold on to the Song Dynasty, a big ship that has been repaired and repaired before it can barely continue to operate?
…
(End of chapter)
