Zhou Ping, Tian Yi, Xu Liang, and Zheng Tu entered the imperial study and knelt down together. They were all frightened and uneasy.
In the past, we might have been able to call each other brothers and sisters, casually. But time has passed, Zhao Hong has become the emperor of the Song Dynasty, and everyone's hierarchy is clear at a glance.
"When you become an emperor, your brothers are all gone. It's really not worth it."
Zhao Hong said loudly and shook his head helplessly.
The eagle strikes the sky, overlooking everything, but it is lonely and lonely. Once you ascend the throne, you will be alone and lonely for the rest of your life.
"Your Majesty, ordinary people don't dare!"
Like Jiang Wanzai and Zhen Dexiu, Zhou Ping, Tian Yi and others were also cautious and sweaty.
At this moment and that moment, it was a good thing that Zhao Hong did not have a high-sounding position above the main hall, otherwise these people would not know how to be at a loss.
Zhao Hong shook his head secretly. Whatever is gained must be lost, and the law of conservation of energy also applies to the emotional heart.
"Tian Yi, you were originally in charge of the Ordnance Department. Later, due to an accident, you were implicated. There is no further explanation. Today I am giving you the responsibility of being in charge of the Ordnance Department and in charge of firearms casting. You will take office soon. Do you have any objection?"
Zhao Hong looked at Tian Yi with a smile on his face and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
The most important weapon of the firearms country, with Tian Yi as his confidant in charge of the weapons institute, he can really rest assured.
"I obey the decree and thank you for your grace!"
Tian Yi quickly knelt down and kowtowed to receive the order.
He didn't care what official title Zhao Hong awarded him. He only knew that Zhao Hong would definitely not treat him badly.
"Go back and tell your father. He said it himself. Once I ascend the throne, he will come to the Palace Front Department to be the spear and stick instructor of the imperial army. You must not default on the payment, otherwise I will never be done with him!"
Zhao Hong laughed, and Tian Yi also smiled happily.
It shouldn't be difficult to get my father to come to the palace.
"Zheng Tu, you are very good at making firearms. I give you the jurisdiction of the Ordnance Institute, assist Tian Yi in casting firearms, and run the errands of the Ordnance Institute."
Zhao Hong looked at Zheng Tu with a gentle expression.
"The Ordnance Institute will be separated from the Ministry of Industry in the future and will be directly under my jurisdiction. The country is in dire need, and you must shoulder the heavy responsibility. Zheng Tu, you need to reduce your belly."
Zheng's Ironworks at the foot of Kuaiji Mountain, as well as the craftsmen in the ironworks, have been taken over by the Ministry of Industry ordnance. Naturally, Zhao Hong would not let go of a talent like Zheng Tu easily.
"I accept the order and thank you for your kindness. I will definitely lose weight!"
Zheng Tu also knelt down, kowtowed and thanked him, trembling with fear.
The emperor was already concerned about himself, so of course he had to lose weight.
"Everyone, get up."
Zhao Hong looked at the two of them getting up with a smile on his face.
With these two people, he didn't have to worry about making firearms.
Zhou Ping's heart sank and he was very disappointed.
It seems that today's appointment does not seem to have anything to do with him.
On the day of the palace coup, he and his men hid outside the south gate of the palace city, ready to intercept and kill the troops who came to aid the government at any time, causing bloodshed in the streets. Fortunately, everything was calm. Although they returned without success, fortunately the overall situation was decided.
After doing so many things, he was not rewarded or appointed at all when he was granted the title of minister, which really made him a little frustrated.
"Zhou Ping, you can recruit some honest and reliable people from the people, which will be of great use to me. This matter is related to the foundation of the country, so we must not take it lightly. Those with bad conduct must not make up for it!"
Zhao Hong's face was solemn and serious.
In the Song Dynasty, corruption was common and official administration was corrupt. There were three priorities for new officials when they took office. The first priority was to clarify official administration. While the Yushitai is being purged, no one dares to object, so we must first prop up the anti-corruption campaign.
"I obey your decree, and I thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
Zhou Ping's heart trembled, and he solemnly bowed his fists.
It seemed that the emperor did not ignore his brother-in-law, but entrusted him with important responsibilities.
"Xu Liang, please wait patiently and don't be impatient. Go down and assist Zhou Ping in his work. The future fate of the Song Dynasty depends on you two."
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness!"
Xu Liang stood up and bowed respectfully.
He is now the father of two children and is no longer the carefree boy he was when he was a teenager. Both starting a family and building a successful career must be taken into consideration.
If it weren't for Zhao Hong, he might have been buried in the grass for the rest of his life.
"I have something to say, please listen carefully!"
Zhao Hong said seriously, and everyone cheered up and pricked up their ears.
"I want to change the appearance of the Song Dynasty, and I need you to shoulder the heavy responsibility and fight for me and the Song Dynasty. I have spoken first. Your glory, wealth, wife, and children are all on me. You just serve the country and the people, and go ahead and do it. . But remember, you must never commit adultery or commit corruption or bend the law. Otherwise, I will be merciless and punish you severely!"
Everyone was solemn and knelt down to thank him.
Having all the glory and wealth, it seems a little unreasonable to not do anything at a young age.
"Your Majesty, there are more than 100,000 people in the Imperial Palace Division and the Infantry Division, including many members of Shi Miyuan's party. As a minister, it is better to transfer some of the Forbidden Army generals and Imperial Army troops away from the capital and disperse them into various groups. The Imperial Palace Division Secretary Rang The Minister of Humerus is in command to prepare for any eventuality.”
Zhou Ping's words moved Zhao Hong's heart.
He was already preparing to reorganize his military equipment, but he just wanted to eliminate Shi Miyuan's gang members as a way to remove the fuel from the cauldron.
"Are the officers and soldiers of the Dianqian Division all natives of Zhejiang and Zhejiang?"
Zhao Hong asked subconsciously.
"Your Majesty, I have talked with Li Tang and others. The officers and soldiers in front of the palace are all elite soldiers in the army. Although they are mostly from Zhejiang and Zhejiang, they must be from all walks of life in the Song Dynasty."
Tian Yi's answer made Zhao Hong nod and have some thoughts in his mind.
"Your Majesty, I have one more thing to ask for your permission!"
Tian Yi said it mysteriously with a smile on his face.
"What's the matter? Just tell me!"
"Your Majesty, please order me to let Guard Li bring the sword in."
Xu Liang said bravely.
"Sword? What sword?"
Zhao Hongmei couldn't help being stunned and nodded slightly.
This guy seems to be loyal and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
"Guard Li, His Majesty asked you to come in with your sword!"
Xu Liang turned his head and shouted quickly.
Li Tang came in, holding a simple and heavy sword in both hands, and knelt down in front of the imperial case.
"Your Majesty, when you were at the Shaoxing Iron Workshop, you asked me to make some short swords, and I specifically asked the craftsmen to make this long sword. I wonder if your Majesty likes it?"
Tian Yi nodded and bowed, and said with a playful smile.
"Li Tang, get up! Am I still afraid that you, Jing Ke, will assassinate the King of Qin?"
Zhao Hong waited for the giggling Li Tang to stand up, and then turned to look at Xu Liang.
"Xu Liang, needless to say, this was your idea."
Tian Yi and Li Tang are both upright men. It is impossible for Zhou Ping to have such an idea. It must be Xu Liang's handiwork.
Zhao Hong waved his hand, and Li Tang quickly handed over the long sword.
"Your Majesty, this is really not my idea. When the craftsmen were making the dagger, Zheng Yuanwai had someone make it. He said that one day, your Majesty might be able to use this imperial sword."
Xu Liang's words made Zhao Hong stunned again. After a long time, he shook his head and sighed.
"He who understands men will always be a man!"
Unexpectedly, the person who understands him best is the greasy middle-aged man with a big belly!
"The black hair is tied to the horse's tail, and the gold is tied to the horse's head; the windlass sword in the waist is worth more than ten million. What a sword of the King of Qin!"
Zhao Hong sighed in his heart and chanted it involuntarily.
The windlass sword is the sword of the King of Qin. It has been the standard weapon of all kings of Qin since Qin Mu Gong during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Qin Shihuang used the "King of Qin Sword" to kill Jing Ke, thus defeating the assassination that has been passed down through the ages.
Zhao Hong gently drew out his sword and looked at it.
The sword was about four feet long, simple and heavy, and obviously extremely sharp.
With the long sword in his hand, Zhao Hong felt heroic in his heart.
"Li Tang, give the sword to the craftsman from the Ministry of Industry and ask him to engrave the words "Sword of the King of Song" on the handle. I will take it to court in the future."
Some things would fall into place, and there was no need for him to refuse.
"The Sword of the King of Song", like the "Sword of the King of Qin", symbolizes the supreme power of the king. Let him be the king of everything and help him do what he wants.
Let this "Sword of the King of Song" give him the courage to run rampant.
"The king of Qin swept Liuhe, how majestic it is to look at him! He wielded his sword to cut through the floating clouds, and all the princes came to the west. Your Majesty, wearing this "Sword of the Song Dynasty" to the court, will definitely inspire our subjects of the Song Dynasty, and work together to revive the Song Dynasty. Xu Liang congratulates your majesty! "
Xu Liangsu bowed and said it loudly.
"Your Majesty, starting from Qin Hui, passing through Han Guanzhou, and then to Shi Miyuan, the state was in chaos due to the strength of each other and the weakness of the king. Your Majesty wears this "Sword of the King of Song", which indicates that your Majesty will regain the power of the king and no longer be controlled by others. Our Song Dynasty is weak and difficult to recover. We need your Majesty. Only when a sage like the First Emperor rules the world can we cope with the difficulties faced by the Song Dynasty from internal and external troubles! I congratulate Your Majesty!"
Zhou Ping also said solemnly and bowed respectfully.
"Okay, okay! Well said!"
Zhao Hong couldn't help but nodded and applauded.
These guys understood him and spoke to his heart.
When the opponent is strong but the king is weak, regaining the king's power is exactly what he wants.
The biggest crisis in the Song Dynasty was not that the scholar-officials were in power, but that the kings of the Zhao and Song Dynasties were too lackadaisical and took themselves too seriously, thus falling into the cage woven by the scholar-officials.
The king is the king, and the minister is the minister. There is a distinction between the king and his ministers. Otherwise, there will be constraints everywhere. How can the king control and manage the world?
"Everyone, our dynasty has gone through wars, years of political chaos, internal and external troubles, and people's livelihood has been in decline. I want to work hard with you to recreate a prosperous and powerful Song Dynasty, a Song Dynasty that will not be insulted by others, and will not bow to others. The Great Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Hong pointed at the "Song King Sword" with a solemn expression.
"Everyone, today we have the "Sword of the Song Dynasty" as evidence. Let us monarchs and ministers work together as brothers to fight for a powerful Central Plains dynasty!"
"Your Majesty is wise and wise, and I hope that your Majesty will obey you!"
"I am willing to share your Majesty's worries and go through fire and water, even to the death!"
Everyone said solemnly, all with red faces.
Zhao Hong nodded, stood up, and walked down. He seemed to think of something and stopped.
"Dong Songchen, please pass on my decree. From now on, the word "official" will be banned in both titles and documents and newspapers. I don't want to hear this title again!"
Emperor, Your Majesty, Son of Heaven, and Long Live all mean the king of a country. The word "official" sounds a bit petty, like a housekeeper from a wealthy family. It is even more disgusting when used on such unkind kings as "big coward".
Although it is his family's opinion, he is the emperor, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, so he can't be allowed to make his own decisions?
"I'm happy that you all are here today. I've ordered people to prepare wine and food. Let's have a good meal and talk about what's on our mind!"
Zhao Hong laughed and stood up.
To show closeness, the word "朜" in his words was changed to the word "I".
Although he tried to be cordial and close the distance between the two parties. But he could also feel that everyone was in awe of him.
Being alone, perhaps this is the helplessness of being an emperor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Everyone worshiped and thanked each other together, which was extremely solemn.
"Dong Songchen, send someone to give Zhang San official uniforms and rewards, and give him a good horse. Call Zhang San too, let's be happy together!"
He has his own people in front of him, and he must rely on these confidants, this radical stream of clean water, to cleanse the turbid current and compete with all enemies.
If you want to implement the New Deal and eliminate the long-standing abuses, how can you do it without your own confidants?
