The court meeting was uneventful, and Zhao Hong had enough time. He opened his mouth when he needed to say something, and kept silent when it was not helpful. He did not hesitate to spit when proving his existence and the maturity of his thoughts.
For example, the replacement of Zheng Sun, the envoy of Sichuan, and Xu Guo, the envoy of Huaidong. These things that I had been anxious about before, I knew it was just a waste of words, so I simply said nothing.
The predecessor, Zhao Hong, fought against heaven and earth. After four years as a prince, he failed to become a prince. In the end, he was deposed and forced to commit suicide. As the only prince of Zhao Kuo, an official family of the Song Dynasty, he failed as many times as he wanted.
Isn't this just a common man who will die if he doesn't commit suicide?
Now he is running rampant and seems reckless, but he knows in his heart how to take his own path.
By writing books and establishing theories, he has become famous in the Southern Song Dynasty, which was rich in literary style. Imperial students often used the contents of his two books to discuss debate topics, and the entire Lin'an city read his articles.
In terms of making a name for himself, he has succeeded.
"Your Highness, there will be a poetry gathering on the West Lake in the next few days. They are all scholars from Lin'an Prefecture. But they are all waiting for Your Highness to come in person!"
Sure enough, Ge Hong, the Minister of Punishment, had a smile on his wrinkled face.
"Ms. Ge, please let me go back and make arrangements. I've been really busy lately!"
Zhao Hong said with a smile, without comment.
"Your Highness's articles are the best in the country. Many students at Taixue are looking forward to you to clarify their doubts. I want you to give some insights on the many doubts in "Selected Poems" and "Tatar Policy"."
"Your Highness, please go there when you have time. I'll be waiting for you."
Chen Shifa, bachelor of Guanwen Palace, and several other academic officials came over and also invited Zhao Hong with a smile.
"Everyone, I will definitely go when I have time! I will definitely go!"
The imperial student couldn't afford to offend, and Zhao Hong's answer showed his helplessness.
If this were left to future generations, he would be an Internet celebrity, the little prince of Douyin, the king of goods delivery, with full traffic, weak advertising, and tax evasion and tax evasion, and he would be fined at least hundreds of millions.
Slowly moving forward, I saw the fat black man Liang Chengda hurriedly passing by, alone.
I heard that this man had a sinister mind and was ruthless, and would do anything to achieve his goals. Even Shi Miyuan's other eagle dog, Li Zhixiao, looked down on him and said, "The most embarrassing thing is that one day he and Liang will become the same brother." pass."
It seems that this lonely person is not in vain.
"Ms. Liang, my books are sold at Chen's Bookstore. If you like them, I can give you two signed books without charging you any extra fees!"
Zhao Hong shouted at Liang Chengda's back and laughed.
"Grandstanding and fame-seeking! I have no time!"
Liang Chengda turned around, said with a dark face, and strode away without waiting for Zhao Hong to speak.
Zhao Hong shook his head. This fat black man must have bought his own book and looked for his faults in it.
Catching rumors, slandering and framing, these people are the best at this, it is the foundation of their lives, and ordinary people cannot do it.
Shi Miyuan was surrounded by a large group of officials. Shi Miyuan was full of majesty. He talked as he walked. All the officials, regardless of their official position, nodded and bowed respectfully. He just took out his small notebook and took notes as he walked.
Seeing Zhao Hong, Shi Miyuan paused and then walked away.
Zhao Hong withdrew his eyes from Shi Miyuan and others, and saw the white-bearded old man Xue Ji coming alone, saluting him, and leaving in a hurry.
"Xiangong Xue, if one day I ascend the throne of Dabao, Xianggong Xue will be the prime minister of the dynasty."
When Xue Ji passed by, Zhao Hong smiled and whispered.
Xue Ji stumbled and almost fell, but Zhao Hong quickly caught him with a smile on his face.
"Xue Xiang be careful, Xue Xiang is careful!"
"Thank you, Your Highness, please take care of yourself!"
Xue Ji whispered, said goodbye and left.
Do you want to take care of yourself?
Zhao Hong smiled slightly. He looked back and saw a young eunuch walking over quickly.
"Your Highness, there is an official order asking you to go to the back garden."
The little eunuch stood behind the pillar outside the hall, whispered to Zhao Hong, and then stood up straight, looking serious.
What a smart boy!
Zhao Hong glanced around and saw that almost all the people were gone and no one was paying attention.
Zhao Kuo, a great official in the Song Dynasty, was really a loser.
Officials are as unpleasant as they sound. If he can really ascend to the top of the Ninth Five-Year Plan, he must abolish this title.
"Your Highness, the officials are inside."
When they arrived at the gate of the back garden, Li Gu's face was still expressionless when he reported.
"Eunuch Li, I have offended you many times in the past, don't blame me!"
Zhao Hong took out a bag of things from his arms and stuffed it into Li Gu's hands calmly.
Inside the bag were two 50-tael gold collars, part of a gift from his mother-in-law Zhou Gao. Those belongings have been consumed by him as gifts and guests, and they are almost gone.
What kind of gift is a jade pendant or a gold hairpin? It is better to give hard currency to save others the trouble and thought of exchanging it.
It's good to give gold collars as gifts. Two gold collars cost 100 taels, which can be exchanged for about ten thousand guan. It's simple, straightforward and clear at a glance.
"Your Highness... Your Majesty!"
The tentacles were heavy, and Li Gu took a sneak look, a smile immediately appeared on his face, and his lips trembled a little.
"Your Highness, the Prime Minister has reported that Zhao Guicheng, the heir of King Yi, should be promoted to the Imperial City Division, but the officials seem to be reluctant."
Li Gu pulled Zhao Hong and whispered.
Zhao Guicheng promoted the Imperial City Division? It’s strange that the father is willing!
Zhao Hong was startled, and then nodded slightly.
"Thank you Eunuch Li!"
Recalling that he didn't give gifts and acted arrogant in front of others, which was exactly the way he used to teach, Zhao Hong felt ridiculous and a little sad.
I am no longer the same person I used to be.
Zhao Hong came to the back garden, and Zhao Kuo was practicing Tai Chi in style.
However, looking at him panting and sweating profusely, he still seemed to be very weak.
Zhao Kuo stumbled, and Zhao Hong quickly stepped forward to help him.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
"My child, help me sit down!"
Zhao Hong helped Zhao Kuo sit down on the chair. The palace maid came up to wipe Zhao Kuo's sweat, but he stopped him.
Seeing how Zhao Kuo was trembling and struggling while holding the handkerchief, Zhao Hong quickly took the handkerchief and wiped it for Zhao Kuo.
"My child, I heard that you made new iron and the weapons you made are extremely sharp. Let me hear about it."
Zhao Kuo seemed to have recovered a lot at this time.
He waved his hand, and the eunuchs and maids around him all retreated.
"Your Majesty, why are you so capricious in your body?"
Zhao Hong asked suspiciously.
The last time he saw Zhao Kuo, Zhao Kuo looked good. It's only been ten days and a half, so why is it so much worse?
"It's an old illness, not worth the fuss."
There was a hint of uneasiness in Zhao Kuo's eyes and he immediately changed the topic.
"Tell me about iron smelting."
"Your Majesty, let the children come one by one."
Zhao Kuo didn't say anything, and Zhao Hong had no choice but to talk about iron-making without asking. From the regenerator, to coking, to adding limestone and fluorspar, it is all explained in detail.
"Well done, kid! Well done!"
As the only prince of Song Guangzong, Zhao Kuo was talented, received a good royal education, and had extraordinary vision and knowledge.
He understood the principles of iron smelting that Zhao Hong said.
"This law benefits the country and the people. It is an important weapon for the military and the state. You must be careful. You must use both kindness and power. Thunderous methods must not be leaked to others!"
Zhao Kuo smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. The Ministry of Industry has taken over. I will be extra cautious to prevent this law from being leaked."
Zhao Hong was shocked. Don't underestimate the ancients.
"It's not about being cautious, but it's about not having the kindness of a woman. Some things cannot be handled with common sense and require prompt decision-making."
Zhao Kuo whispered, and Zhao Hong was startled.
Cruel and decisive in killing, it seems that this official of the Song Dynasty is not as cowardly as he appears.
That's fine, the tougher Zhao Kuo is, the more benefits he will get.
"I heard that you are still developing some new gunpowder, but what are the gains?"
Zhao Kuo asked softly.
"Back to Your Majesty, new gunpowder is still being developed. It is close to success and its power has been greatly increased. However, many attempts must be made, possibly hundreds or thousands of times. Gunpowder is the most important weapon of the country and is the foundation of the success of firearms. It may take several months. , or even longer.”
Zhao Hong was half-truth and half-false. Although Gunpowder is close to success, or has already succeeded, he needs buffering time.
To his relief, his gunpowder smelting of iron was successful, and his "father" Zhao Kuo was still alive.
This is the greatest help!
"Nearly successful?"
Zhao Kuo looked at Zhao Hong with a trace of curiosity in his eyes.
"That gunpowder of yours blew up everyone. Is it really useful?"
The Song Dynasty invented gunpowder, but it could only burn. If gunpowder was really that powerful, how could there be such disgrace to Jingkang? Why did the Song Dynasty go south?
"Your Majesty, according to my estimation, it only takes half a year or a year for me to introduce gunpowder to the world. By then, various firearms will be cast one after another, or they will be the natural enemies of the powerful northern cavalry. The new gunpowder firearms will Change the way war is fought so that the Song Dynasty can at least protect itself and remain invincible!"
Zhao Hong said firmly, with hope in his heart.
Being able to change the direction of history and recreate a unified China made him feel excited and itchy just thinking about it.
I just don’t know if Zhao Kuo can survive until that time, can he successfully become the prince and ascend the throne naturally?
"Very good! I have confidence in you!"
A blush appeared on Zhao Kuo's calm and pale face.
"I will fine you half a year's salary and demote Tian Yi. You won't have any ideas, right?"
Finally, Zhao Kuo's words mentioned the matter of gunpowder explosion.
There seemed to be a trace of apology in his eyes.
"Your Majesty is wise, I have no objections. Your Majesty's incompetence in doing things has made things difficult for Your Majesty. I just feel that it is a pity that the development of gunpowder has reached a critical juncture. When Tian Yi resigned, things stopped again."
Zhao Hong's words are half true and half false.
In fact, he felt that Tian Yi's gunpowder development was too fast and too relaxed.
Perhaps slower to show the hard work of development and the efforts of these people.
"I know that you are working hard, and that you want to do things for the court and share my worries. There is no harm in taking this opportunity to stop. Only those who do things will make mistakes. Those who are idle and do nothing will not even have the opportunity to make mistakes. How could something happen?"
Zhao Kuo spoke softly, seeming to comfort him.
"Your Majesty is wise! Thank you for your teaching!"
Zhao Hong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that Zhao Kuo understands everything in his heart, but is suppressed by reality and inner demons.
"My child, go back and tell that Tian Yi, he will be reactivated after a while. This is a game in the court, it is none of his business. Tian Yi may not understand, but you have to know it in your heart."
Some people just don't want to see Zhao Hong in the limelight and always want to suppress them as much as possible. What he can do is extremely limited.
"Thank you, Your Majesty for your grace!"
Zhao Hong thanked him, still half-truth and half-false.
"With just smelting iron and gunpowder, you have done a great job. This is a major event that benefits the country and the people. The imperial court will promote it in the arsenal and all prefectures."
Zhao Kuo looked at Zhao Hong with a soft expression.
"Zhao Hong, do you want any reward?"
After working hard, being fined for half a year, and dealing with other people's subordinates, there must be some consolation prize.
"Your Majesty, I have done my best to serve the imperial court. This is my duty as a minister. What reward do I need? Isn't this making everyone in the world laugh at me?"
Zhao Hong muttered secretly in his heart. Zhao Kuo's move will not allow him to promote the Imperial City Division, right?
"You are open-minded. But there are people who are willing to ask for help without merit, thinking that they can get what they want by copying a few pieces of the "Book of Filial Piety" written by Emperor Gaozong, copying a few pieces of the "Tao Te Ching", and flattering and sweet-talking. I really think I can be deceived. ?"
Zhao Kuo's voice was soft and he couldn't understand what he meant.
Zhao Hong listened carefully and understood seven or eight points in his heart.
Needless to say, this guy Zhao Guicheng is playing the emotional card again.
People like Shi Miyuan and Zheng Qingzhi can be said to have worked very hard!
