Jiangnan East Road, Jinling City, southeast of the city, the original Jinling Palace.
Outside the huge red gate, the two huge stone lions are still intimidating, and there are even armor-clad Imperial Guards standing solemnly with their swords in hand, adding a bit of murderous aura. Above the red gate, the original signboard of "Jinling Palace" has been removed, and the new "Jinling Lecture Hall" with gold characters and red plaques is clearly visible, which is eye-catching.
Entering the gate of the "Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall", there is a lively scene inside, with countless craftsmen and civilians sweating, and even officials with sweating faces, rushing about.
Since the twelfth lunar month of last year, the Jinling Palace has been extremely busy, but it is not considered a major construction project. It is just the destruction and expansion of the teaching field and partial renovation.
"Remember, we need to lay all the bricks and stones in the corridor today!"
Zhang Zhongshu, the gray-haired general and young eunuch, was sweating profusely and directed the craftsmen to work.
It is already early February, and there are only more than twenty days until the martial arts hall starts.
A group of peasants came over carrying two wooden signs several meters long. On them were eye-catching red letters: "If you are greedy for life or afraid of death, don't enter this door" and "If you want to get promoted and get rich, please go elsewhere."
"Mr. Zhang, how should I hang this sign and where should I hang it?"
A craftsman asked loudly.
"Go outside the gate and follow me!"
Another official quickly waved his hand and left with the craftsmen and peasants.
Zhang Zhongshu looked at the two huge wooden signs and couldn't help frowning and shaking his head.
With this sign hanging outside the door, is anyone still coming to apply for the martial arts hall?
"Ms. Wei, you are here too."
Looking back, he saw Wei Liaoweng coming with a group of officials, and Zhang Zhongshu rushed to greet him.
"I just came from Jinling University Hall. Mr. Zhang, how is the paving of the cloister?"
Wei Liaoweng looked at the busy construction site with concern evident in his words.
After working hard in Jinling City for two months, his face looked haggard and he had lost a lot of weight.
"Wei Gong, it will take about three days to complete the paving."
Zhang Zhongshu nodded to Wei Liaoweng and then asked:
"Mr. Wei, how are the wooden targets, horizontal bars, parallel bars, dumbbells, and wooden horses prepared?"
The strange-looking instruments mentioned by the emperor were all supervised by craftsmen from the Imperial Ministry of Industry, then transported to Jinling and installed.
"Back to my husband, part of the equipment has just been delivered. It will be installed tomorrow. It will take about two to three days to complete. The rest is intermittent and should be delivered in the next few days."
Zhang Zhongshu's words made Wei Liaowen nodded slightly and solemnly warned:
"Mr. Zhang, remember, you must pretend to be strong, and you must not be perfunctory! Our new emperor cannot tolerate sand in his eyes!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Wei! The new emperor values so much, and the recruitment of the martial arts hall is announced to the world, and you, Mr. Wei, are in charge, how dare I be vague!"
Zhang Zhongshu put away his smile and looked serious.
The Jinling Lecture Hall was only renovated and there were many palaces and houses, but even so, it cost 300,000 yuan. The students’ school uniforms, dormitory supplies, etc. alone account for nearly half of the total.
As for the Jinling University Hall, because some additional buildings need to be built, the progress will be slower, and of course the cost will be doubled several times.
The first fire of the new emperor's new policy cannot be extinguished.
"With more than a thousand people, this teaching venue seems not big enough..."
Wei Liaoweng looked at the teaching field, stroking his beard and thinking deeply.
Initially, there will be more than a thousand students. If the enrollment is expanded, or a large number of outsiders come to study and observe, the teaching field will be smaller.
"Wei Gong, if we expand the teaching field, the palace in front will have to be demolished."
Zhang Zhongshu's words made Wei Liaoweng's eyes light up.
This front hall is located exactly on the north-south central axis, with no side halls on either side. If the front hall is demolished, the teaching hall will be twice as big.
Half a day of study and half a day of practice. The teaching venue is very important and must accommodate the activities of one or two thousand people.
Wei Liaoweng made a decision immediately. He pointed at the front hall and his expression became solemn.
"Mr. Qiao, if we demolish the front hall, tidy up the ground, and pave the straight road, can it be completed before the end of the month?"
"Wei Gong, it's slow to build but quick to demolish. If we work overnight, twenty days should be enough."
Qiao Xingjian, the equally gray-haired minister of the Ministry of Industry, calculated on his fingers and quickly replied.
During the renovation and construction of Jinling University Hall and Jinling Martial Arts Hall, he was Wei Liaoweng's named partner and assisted Wei Liaoweng in completing the "mission." After more than two months of busy work, I have already gained experience.
He is already sixty-nine years old, but he has a clean spirit, has always been in good health, is well-informed, and has rich experience, which is why he was transferred here.
"Okay! Don't waste the dismantled doors and windows, including the wall tiles. Move them all to the Jinling University Hall. We need to build a house there, don't waste it!"
Wei Liaoweng warned solemnly.
The recruitment list for the martial arts hall has been posted, announcing to the world that many young people who have applied for the exam have come to Jinling City. If the construction is not completed by then and the martial arts hall cannot open on time, then the joke will be big.
"Mr. Wei, if the construction period is a few days later, it shouldn't be a big deal, right? Look at you, this is too much work!"
Zhang Zhongshu looked at Wei Liaoweng's serious face and said with a smile.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his temples seemed to have turned white. This hard work and vigorous spirit are really admirable.
"The Jinling University Hall will be fine for a few days. Those young masters can come at any time. The Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall is not OK. According to the emperor's decree, if the school cannot be opened by then, the emperor's face will be tarnished and the court will lose all its majesty. Our The sin is huge."
Wei Liaoweng shook his head, his face darkened and haggard, and he looked really stressed.
The first fire of the Emperor's New Deal cannot be allowed to go out or fail to burn.
"Ms. Qiao, over at Jinling University, hurry up and don't be too late. When the emperor lectures in the martial arts hall in Jinling, it is best that Jinling University can open the school. If it is not possible, you can rent part of the student dormitory in Jinling University first. , ensuring that schools can reopen at the end of March or early April."
It would be best if the two schools could start at the same time while the emperor is around.
"Mr. Wei, I will go to Jinling University Hall immediately to supervise the progress."
Qiao Xingjian nodded, took a few officials, and left shakily.
"Wei Gong, where the emperor stays..."
Zhang Zhongshu said softly, with some hesitation.
"The emperor personally confessed that his residence is in the martial arts hall. Put the emperor's room together with the instructors' rooms and choose the largest and brightest room. In addition, leave a room for me next to the emperor's room. , quite satisfactory, just like other teaching instructors."
Wei Liaoweng explained it carefully.
The emperor was young and vigorous and liked to keep everything simple, but the face of the Song Dynasty royal family and the Song Dynasty court was still important.
"Wei Gong, I heard that your Majesty will serve as the principal of the Martial Arts Hall. In this case, your Majesty may stay here for many days. I wonder if you should leave a side hall in the back garden as a place for your Majesty to handle political affairs."
Zhang Zhongshu's words made Wei Liaoweng's eyes light up and he nodded appreciatively.
"Mr. Zhang, you should think carefully!"
The majestic Jinling Military Lecture Hall, the national capital, and the ancient capital of six dynasties, would be ridiculous if there was no place for the emperor to handle government affairs.
"Wei Gong, the Humble Administrator's Garden in the back garden is neither big nor small. It has ponds, flowers, grass and bamboo bushes, well-proportioned halls and willows. It is exquisite and simple. It can be a place for His Majesty to manage his affairs."
Zhang Zhongshu had obviously considered it and immediately proposed a backup plan.
"Firing the garden and growing vegetables to provide food for the day and night, this is also the administration of a clumsy person." It is called a place of clumsy administration. Mr. Zhang, you are mature and prudent, but you have been a great help to me! "
Wei Liaoweng felt happy and laughed.
The old minister was still thoughtful and prepared.
"Wei Gong, I heard that your son and the real government are planning to apply for the martial arts hall. You have a successor!"
Zhang Zhongshu asked softly with a smile on his face.
"The dog is naughty, but both he and Zhen Zhidao came to Aurous Hill, and now the bodyguard Ma Junsi is practicing riding and shooting. I hope they can be successful and serve the country."
Speaking of his son, Wei Liaoweng is also very affectionate.
"Your Majesty taught him personally, Duke Wei... ahem..."
Zhang Zhongshu started coughing as he spoke.
"Mr. Zhang, I heard that you were ill in bed a few days ago. Can you hold on?"
Wei Liaoweng looked at Zhang Zhongshu and asked with concern.
Both of them were from the same hometown in Sichuan, and both were from well-known families in Sichuan. Wei Liaoweng was from the Wei Gao family in Pujiang, and Zhang Zhongshu was the grandson of Zhang Jun, the famous Prime Minister of the Southern Song Dynasty. They were from the same hometown and the same dynasty, and they had a good relationship. Zhang Zhongshu is a few years older, but he looks much older.
"To be honest with Mr. Wei, Shi Miyuan is in power, the government is declining day by day, and national affairs are difficult. I always feel unhappy. Shi Miyuan is gone, my heart disease is gone, and I feel that my body and bones are getting better too!"
Zhang Zhongshu's face was radiant, his face was red, and his complexion was indeed much better than before.
"Mr. Zhang, then you have to thank the emperor. If he hadn't brought order to the chaos and killed the evil thieves, you would have continued to be tortured!"
Wei Liaowen laughed.
He always felt a little regretful that he could not see Shi Miyuan being tortured by Ming Zhengdian in person.
"Shi Miyuan, this old thief, once he leaves, the clouds will clear and the sun will rise, the world will be at peace, and the Song Dynasty will also have hope. I hope that I can see the revival of the Song Dynasty in my lifetime."
Seeing Zhang Zhongshu's emotion in his eyes, Wei Liaoweng nodded repeatedly.
"Mr. Zhang, the new emperor is a genius with extraordinary talents, literary skills and martial arts. You will definitely see the day when the Song Dynasty will be rejuvenated!"
Just because of Zhao Hong's drive to defy everyone's opinions, he felt that the Song Dynasty was full of hope and had a promising future.
"Wei Gong, you are only in your forties, and the Spring and Autumn Period is in your prime. Xue Ji and Xuan Zhen are both in their sixties, and Hu Ju is greedy and despicable. In less than three to five years, you, Zhen Dexiu, Hu Mengyu and others will rule the world. You But hold on, don’t be confused!”
Zhang Zhongshu said meaningfully.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Zhang, for your advice! I will keep it in my heart and I won't dare to forget it!"
Wei Liaoweng responded solemnly and bowed.
He is only forty-six this year. Zhen Dexiu is the same age as him. They are both young and powerful. Compared with the current ruling ministers Xue Ji, Xuan Zhen and others, they do have an obvious age advantage.
Hu Ju is greedy?
Wei Liaoweng and Zhang Zhongshu looked at each other, and Zhang Zhongshu nodded slightly.
Wei Liaoweng nodded slightly, secretly shocked.
Hu Ju was disgraced and the new emperor was left in power. Could it be said that the anti-corruption fire of the New Deal will be burned on the bodies of ruling ministers like Hu Ju, killing chickens, scaring monkeys, and shocking the world?
The new emperor’s scheming is extremely deep!
