A group of officials came to pay tribute to Zhao Hong. Wei Liaoweng, the Minister of War, looked at the fierce competition in the field with great interest.
"Your Majesty is here in person at Yujin Garden. The soldiers are in great spirits!"
In fact, he was very suspicious. Is it necessary to have such a big fanfare when holding a military competition?
Young people, just coming into power, are still a little too impulsive.
"Your Majesty is talented in martial arts and is full of energy, which is beyond the reach of my veterans!"
Zhao Shanxiang, the envoy of the coastal system, the prefect of Qingyuan Prefecture, and the royal family member of the Song Dynasty, stroked his white beard, smiled and flattered.
Zhao Shanxiang is the eighth grandson of Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi, and Zhao Hong is the tenth grandson of Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin. Calculated by seniority, Zhao Hong still has to call Zhao Shanxiang "Master".
However, "Master" now has to pretend to be a grandson in front of his "grandson".
He didn't understand. Why did the emperor come to him?
There are three things a new official should do when he takes office. Could it be said that the emperor wants to rectify the coastal defense armaments?
"Zhao Qing, you are in charge of the Coastal Construction Department. Do you feel that something is better than nothing?"
Zhao Hong looked at the Zhao Song royal family and spoke frankly.
When the Song Dynasty moved to the south, Song Gaozong Zhao Gou established a coastal system establishment department to defend against Jin people's sneak attacks from the sea. The Coastal Construction and Construction Department initially had only one official office. Later, it was divided into the Eastern Zhejiang Coastal Construction and Construction Department and the Western Zhejiang Coastal Construction and Construction Department. They were stationed in Xupu Town, Pingjiang Prefecture and Dinghai County, Qingyuan Prefecture respectively. The two departments were infrequently abandoned, and in the end there was only The East Zhejiang Coastal Construction Department was retained.
The coastal system envoy is located in Qingyuan Prefecture. For example, the prefect of Qingyuan Prefecture concurrently serves as the coastal system envoy, and the deputy envoy is responsible for daily government affairs. The Coastal Establishment Department was originally a military department, but for many years there were no naval battles. Most of the wars took place in the Jianghuai River, so it was in name only and focused on civil affairs.
The majestic Coastal Planning Department had jurisdiction over thousands of miles of coastline in the Southern Song Dynasty, but it only had 6,000 naval troops. It is not known whether the number of soldiers was full.
Navy, that is the foundation for opening up territories and colonizing immigrants.
The most important thing is that as the emperor of the Song Dynasty, he not only had to rectify the military equipment and strengthen the army and the country, but also hold the military power in his hands like an arm and a finger.
The old history of scholar-bureaucrats controlling military power will never be repeated.
And this was also his other original intention in establishing the Martial Arts Hall.
"Your Majesty, our navy of the Song Dynasty is mostly stationed in the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers. There is no war at sea, so naturally it is worthless and tasteless. It would be a pity to abandon it."
Zhao Shanxiang laughed awkwardly and replied softly.
For the Southern Song Dynasty, in terms of the national defense layout and situation when fighting the Jin people, Jiang defense was always the first priority, followed by border defense and finally coastal defense. In all the wars between the Jin and Song Dynasties, the Yangtze River was the focus of attack and defense for both sides, and it also ran through the three major defense zones of the Southern Song Dynasty: Lianghuai, Jingxiang, and Sichuan. Therefore, Jiang defense was the most important focus of national defense for the Song Dynasty.
"It's useless?"
Zhao Hong glanced at Zhao Shanxiang and frowned slightly.
"I heard that pirates are rampant along the southeast coast. Is this a waste of food and a pity to abandon?"
"Your Majesty, this is not what I meant!"
Zhao Shanxiang was shocked and quickly bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, pirates have been rampant along the coast of our country for a long time. Although Dinghai is located at the mouth of the sea, it protects the capital and controls pirates. However, due to the lack of coastal defense, weak armaments, lack of naval forces, and worrying about combat effectiveness. Pirates are familiar with the sea, and there are many people. The power of the people has become a climate. The major general of Dinghaihai army is weak and has no intention. Please give your Majesty a holy judgment."
"Why don't you say that the government is corrupt and officials are like wolves and tigers, so that the people can't bear it and take risks?"
Zhao Hong said sternly without any politeness.
The reasons are always attributed to objective reasons. Even if there is no navy, as long as the officials are clear and honest, the people will not go to the sea to commit robberies, let alone create a climate.
"Your Majesty, I am incompetent, please punish me!"
Zhao Shanxiang's body was trembling, and he was about to kneel down and kowtow to "grandson" to plead guilty.
The new emperor is not like the previous emperor who fooled around at will.
"Forgive me. I don't want to blame anyone. I just want to organize the navy and prepare for a rainy day. Do you have any suggestions?"
Zhao Hong said warmly, signaling with his eyes that the guard quickly straightened Zhao Shanxiang, who was pretending and his knees were slightly bent.
In the late Southern Song Dynasty, there was political corruption and many evils. Living in it, one could only follow the trend and stick to the old ways. Improving coastal defense is not something Zhao Shanxiang can do alone.
"Your Majesty, the affairs of the navy have always been handled by Wu Qian, the judge of the Qingyuan Prefecture. Wu Qian was once the number one scholar in the Ding Chou Department of Jiading in the 10th year. He is smart and capable, and he is young and powerful. I would like to ask your Majesty to appoint Wu Qian as the deputy envoy of the coastal system and summon him to the front. Come and play it right.”
Zhao Shanxiangsu bowed and said, it seemed that he had no choice but to give up.
"The number one scholar in the imperial examination? Wu Qian? Where is he now?"
Zhao Hong couldn't help being stunned. This Zhao Shanxiang is a very open-minded person.
Can the top scholar in the imperial examination be qualified for the military?
"Your Majesty, Wu Qian's father Wu Rousheng passed away in May this year. He was just buried in November in winter, and Wu Qian lives at home to look after his father Ding You. I have asked someone to summon him, and he is now in Yujin Garden. Please summon him to meet the saint."
Zhao Shanxiang quickly played. It seems that he has made preparations.
"Zhao Qing, you are really dedicated and well-prepared! I am very pleased that you do not avoid relatives when you promote talents. Good!"
Zhao Hong nodded, and the guard understood and left the high platform.
Seize the face of love! It can be seen that Wu Qian still has some abilities. Otherwise, Zhao Shanxiang would not be so unkind.
Zhao Shanxiang, a member of the Song Dynasty clan, still has some integrity and is the kind of official who does things to the point. Unlike Zhao Rushu, the Minister of Justice, who was a piece of shit.
"Thank you for your false compliments, Your Majesty, I am terrified!"
Zhao Shanxiang thanked him repeatedly and wiped his sweat secretly.
The new emperor knew everything. Fortunately, he was well prepared, otherwise he would have left a bad reputation in the emperor's heart.
Zhao Shanxiang was sweating profusely and felt relieved. Zhao Hong laughed.
"Zhao Qing, relax, you are good. In my Great Song Dynasty clan, you are already an official who is willing to do things. Unlike that Zhao Rushu, who is useless, succeeds more than fails, I feel sick just thinking about it! "
It is a huge irony that a person like Zhao Rushu pretends to be a fox and a tiger, but is willing to be a hawk and a dog. With such a high salary, he does not do human affairs.
Zhao Shanxiang and Wei Liaowen looked at each other, both smiling.
The new emperor’s hurtful words are quite direct!
"Wei Qing, you're not bad either. You're repairing Yujin Garden, organizing and selecting the Imperial Army, and everything is in good order. I saw you right."
Zhao Hong changed his words and turned to the smiling Wei Liaoweng.
"Wei Qing, has the Ministry of War calculated the names of the officers and soldiers in the Front Division and the Infantry Division?"
He returned to the chair and sat down, his eyes still scanning the field.
The reason why he came here and chose Yujin Garden was to promote the practice of martial arts in the army, and the other was to rearrange Lin'an City's forbidden troops, including infantry and naval forces.
"Your Majesty, this is the roster of the Imperial Guards of the Palace Front Division and the Infantry Guard Division. Your Majesty, please read it."
Wei Liaowen respectfully placed the roster on the table.
Zhao Hong picked up the roster of forbidden troops and read it carefully.
The three divisions of the Forbidden Army, the Palace Front Division and the Infantry Guard Division are in Lin'an City, but the Horse Guards Division is in Jiankang Mansion. Jinling City is close to the river and is already the front line. The guard Ma Junsi is placed in Jinling City to ensure the safety of the Jinling front line garrison.
"Your Majesty, there are more than 29,000 soldiers in the Front Division and Infantry Division on the two Zhejiang Roads, more than 16,000 soldiers on the Jiangnan East Road, more than 15,000 soldiers on the Fujian Road, and 6,000 soldiers on the South Beijing Road. There are more than 11,000 people in Huai, about 10,000 people in Jinghu Road, and about 7,000 people in Guangdong and Guangxi..."
Wei Liaoweng came one by one and showed all the family treasures. It seemed that he had put in a lot of effort.
As expected, the majority are from Zhejiang, accounting for more than 30%.
With strong branches and weak branches, I don’t know what the purpose of placing the most elite 100,000 forbidden troops around Lin’an City is? what's the effect?
Is it to protect the common people?
"If you exclude the naval forces in front of the palace, how many infantry are there?"
Zhao Hong thought about it and continued to ask.
"Your Majesty, the Xupu Navy and Kanpu Navy in Lin'an Mansion total 13,000 people. They belong to the Navy of the Dianqian Division. Most of them are descendants of Liangzhe Road and Jiangnan East Road. Excluding the Navy, the Dianqian Division and the Infantry Army There are still 81,000 people in the company."
Zhao Shanxiang then replied.
What is the emperor going to do? Don’t we need to adjust the infantry and naval forces together?
The navy in front of the palace consists of Xupu Navy and Kanpu Navy. The Xupu Navy is located in Suzhou, and the Kanpu Navy is located on the north shore of Hangzhou Bay, close to the outlet. In addition, there are 6,000 Dinghai Navy troops, which are under the Coastal Planning Department and are located along the rivers of Ningbo and Guangdong and Fujian, which is already on the sea.
The 6,000-strong Haihai Army was assigned to the Coastal Construction Department under Zhao Shanxiang.
Six thousand navy!
Zhao Hong shook his head slightly, thought for a moment, and then said:
"Wei Qing, Zhao Qing, you said that the officers and soldiers in the front department of the palace will be stationed in their original hometowns, and their salaries will remain unchanged. What do you think?"
Huaidong and Jinghu are the front lines and need elite troops and strong generals. Let the soldiers return to their places of origin so that they can better protect their families and the country.
"Your Majesty, if you return to your place of origin, the soldiers below will not complain. The key is the mid-level and senior generals in the army. I am afraid it will be more difficult for them."
"Your Majesty, what Duke Wei said is absolutely true. Those generals are used to the comfort of Lin'an City, and many of them have land and property in Lin'an City. I'm afraid it won't be that easy to persuade them."
Wei Liaoweng and Zhao Shanxiang spoke out one after another.
Intermediate and senior generals!
Zhao Hong smiled coldly, thought for a moment, and then said:
"Dong Songchen, drafted a decree to transfer 11,000 soldiers from Huaihe and Huaihe, 10,000 from Jinghu Road, and 16,000 soldiers from Jiangnan East Road to Yangzhou in Huaidong, Zaoyang in Jinghu, Xiangyang, and East Jiangnan respectively. Lu Jiankang Mansion, return to the place of origin. The soldiers' pay and silver will remain unchanged."
Mid-level and senior generals are used to being comfortable.
It is to break their altars and let all the incompetent go away.
Zhao Hong's words surprised both Wei Liaoweng and Zhao Shanxiang.
According to this rough calculation, there were 94,000 people in the Palace Front Division and Infantry Division, of which 37,000 were gone at once, leaving only 57,000.
If we exclude the 13,000 naval troops in front of the palace, there are only 44,000 infantry troops.
"Your Majesty, if this is the case, will the imperial army guarding the capital be too few?"
Wei Liaoweng was a little worried.
Since the Song Dynasty moved south, the imperial army around Lin'an City has been maintained at about 100,000. Suddenly reduced by 40%, the safety of the capital seems to be worrying.
"What is there to worry about? Could it be that the 40,000 to 50,000 elite Forbidden Army cannot protect Lin'an City, which is located in the hinterland of the Song Dynasty?"
Zhao Hong said coldly and put the roster on the table.
"Not only are these 37,000 people put back on their original path, but all the forbidden troops in the Palace Front Department and the Infantry Department must also be screened. Those bullshit things like eating empty pay and drinking soldiers' blood must not happen in this dynasty. . There are many dangers on the border, and soldiers always have to fight. Are soldiers who don’t fight considered soldiers? What is the use of the country in supporting them? "
It’s hard to leave your homeland. These 37,000 forbidden troops are all registered in the border areas, and it is only natural that they return to their hometowns and serve in the border areas.
Moreover, in a time of great strife, can the Forbidden Army still be considered an army if it does not fight?
"Your Majesty, your Majesty is wise! It is time for a detailed investigation to prevent someone in the army from deceiving the superiors and betraying the Holy Grace."
Wei Liaoweng nodded repeatedly and agreed with the emperor.
Although it is said that the front department and the infantry department are at the feet of the emperor, they are subject to too many restrictions. But there are always people who take desperate risks. In the final analysis, it is profit.
"Wei Qing, you go back and discuss with Xuan Zeng. He is the Minister of War. Now that Feng Shu, Li Tang, Xu Sheng and others are in charge of the Lin'an Forbidden Army, they can reorganize the military equipment and eliminate the accumulated shortcomings in the army."
From the renovation of Yujin Garden and the selection and deployment of the Imperial Guards in front of the palace, we can see that Wei Liaoweng was worthy of reuse. The reason why Wei Liaoweng was not allowed to handle this matter in person was because Wei Liaoweng had other uses. Under the current situation, he was not at ease leaving it to others.
Wei Liaoweng and Zhao Shanxiang received the decree together, and they both secretly admired him.
The new emperor is resolute and bold, which is eye-catching and worth looking forward to. This is a good opportunity to rectify the military equipment and eliminate the accumulated shortcomings in the army in front of the palace.
It must be said that Zhao Hong's tactics were decisive and ruthless.
