After several female students left, Liu Kezhuang and others shook their heads and resumed the conversation.
"It's unprecedented for women to enter school and run wild with swords in hand!"
Liu Kezhuang speaks quickly and without hesitation.
In the Song Dynasty, there were "three obediences and four virtues", "the main gate should not go out, and the second gate should not be stepped forward". Women regarded "Shun De" as their beauty. These women traveling with swords in their hands can be described as deviant.
"Whatever, it's better than bound feet with three-inch golden lotus. As for a woman carrying a sword, it shows the martial arts style of the Song Dynasty. Why not?"
Dai Fuxu gave Liu Kezhuang a hard blow.
He has gone through many vicissitudes of life and is well aware of the sufferings of the people. In addition, he has an upright temper and is outspoken.
"That's what Brother Dai said. However, the Jiangnan East Road Production and Construction Department issued a decree that anyone who wants to buy swords and guns can go to government-run shops to buy them as long as they register with the government. I don't know if this is a disadvantage or a benefit?"
Liu Kezhuang continued without any dissatisfaction.
In fact, several of them now wear swords. In addition to self-defense, they can also keep fit by dancing with swords in their spare time.
"The emperor's move is just to promote the practice of martial arts among the people. Those who need it will buy it, and those who don't need it will naturally not ask. As for worrying about someone committing crimes with a sharp knife, it is really because of choking. If you really want to commit a crime, a kitchen knife , a wood-chopping knife is enough.”
Zeng Ji stroked his beard and said thoughtfully.
Among those powerful officials, none of them had swords, guns, swords and halberds, and some even had standard bows and crossbows. Those wood-chopping knives are much shorter than waist knives?
"What my dear brother said is true. Now that the emperor has established the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall, organized and trained the new army, and reorganized the military equipment, within five years, the Song Dynasty will have a new situation. We still have to publicize the benefits of the New Deal and inspire the hearts of the world. That’s it.”
Liu Kezhuang also became excited.
The benefits of the New Deal are obvious. Just with the implementation of the Jingjie Law, taxes have increased by 20%, which has also led to the gradual elimination of the "personality tax" on the people of Jiangnan East Road.
"The hidden fields that were inspected were not only distributed to the landless people, but also allowed the laid-off sergeants to have fields to cultivate, thus avoiding military chaos. The emperor's thunderous methods and Qiankun's arbitrary decisions are really impressive!"
Zeng Ji shook his head, feeling a little emotional.
All the things that the previous kings of the Song Dynasty had failed to accomplish were all undone by Zhao Hong.
He pointed to the ships carrying ore, coal, and wood coming along the river, and said loudly:
"Just say how many industries a weapons manufacturing company has prospered. How much iron ore is needed, how much coal is needed, how much sulfur ore is needed, how much saltpeter and charcoal is needed? How much manpower is needed, transportation along the way, food, clothing, housing and transportation, and support How many people are there? Not to mention anything else, just the west dock of Jinling City requires more than a thousand manpower."
Jiangnan Ordnance Manufacturing Division is divided into two departments: military and civilian. Not to mention the military, it mainly produces artillery, grenades, armor, swords and guns. As for civilian use, they range from plows, hoes, knives, iron pots, shovels, as well as scissors, needles and other daily necessities.
"The steel smelted by the Weapons Manufacturing Department is cast into iron pots, iron kettles, farm tools and farming tools, as well as the swords and guns sold to the public. This is also the source of support for the Weapons Manufacturing Department. But the biggest benefit lies in the production of firearms, armors, etc. . The emperor used foreign troops to restore his old territory, saying that it released the population crisis of the Song Dynasty. It is really wonderful!"
Zeng Ji's words made Liu Kezhuang stunned and blurted out.
"Brother Xian, how do you say this?"
"Brother Liu, it seems that you still know very little about today's world."
Zeng Ji smiled slightly and Liu Kezhuang bowed his hand.
"Please give me some advice, my dear brother!"
"Brother Liu, the emperor of Qin and Han, and the ancestor of the Tang and Song Dynasties. From the emperor's poems, we can know his ambition. To be the emperor of Qin and Han, he must recover the lost territory. Now the Northland is devastated, and there are not even ten people left. If the Northland is regained , not only is there no longer a land crisis, but it can also pass on the population crisis and greatly expand the national power. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established four counties in Hexi and opened the Western Region Protectorate. Today, in addition to restoring the lost land of the Song Dynasty, Xixia and the Western Regions are also his ambitions. "
Zeng Ji's words made Liu Kezhuang stunned for a long time before he murmured them.
"Does this emperor really have such ambitions?"
The remaining people shed tears in the dust and looked south to see Wang Shi for another year. It has been a hundred years since the Northland fell, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are even more devastated. All Northern Expeditions in the Song Dynasty resulted in the loss of troops and generals and returned without success.
If one day he could stand on the top of Yanshan Mountain and look at the inside and outside of the Great Wall, Liu Kezhuang would die with peace of mind.
"Brother Liu, his poems are like his own person. The emperor's ambitions are all in his poems and songs. Brother Yu is still looking forward to one day going to the Western Regions, walking with Brother Liu, and visiting the ruins of the Western Regions Protectorate."
Zeng Ji comforted Liu Kezhuang and laughed.
During the Han and Tang Dynasties, the country was strong and its military frontiers were directed towards Congling, the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. In this dynasty, not to mention the Western Regions, even the Hexi Corridor can only be vaguely dreamed about.
"Brother, what is the emperor going to do next? How should we shout in the newspapers?"
Liu Kezhuang calmed down and continued to ask.
"I heard that the first batch of graduates from the Navy Department of Jinling Lecture Hall are going to Champa. From my point of view, the emperor is planning to establish a presence in Nanyang. And there are a group of students from Jinling Lecture Hall going to the northwest frontier fortress. The emperor will definitely want to Use troops abroad.”
Zeng Ji's words made Liu Kezhuang stunned.
"Brother Xian is talking about the defense of Shukou? Haven't the graduates of Jiangwu Hall already sent 300 people to the northwest? Why do we still need to send more people? Is the emperor going to make a big move?"
Following Zhao Hong's rhythm all year round, many new words came out of everyone's mouths, which were not new at all.
"The progress of the students at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall is either fast or slow. Of the nearly 600 people who graduated early this time, half are going to Shukou. The emperor must have his reasons for planning ahead."
Zeng Ji said slowly, but actually he didn't quite understand in his heart.
There is no war in the northwest now. I wonder why the emperor sent so many students to the northwest border?
"My dear brother, you are right. The emperor must have his reasons for doing this. Just like the navy going to capture the city, maybe it is a precautionary measure. We don't know yet."
Dai Fushi nodded and agreed with Zeng Ji's statement.
Sending the navy overseas to show off one's power outside the country is always exciting news for the country's people.
"I heard that the emperor went to the southeast, conducting overt and covert visits for several months. Even New Year's Day was spent in Guangzhou. The emperor's diligence was really a blessing to the Song Dynasty!"
The emperor inspected the naval academy and the shipping departments of various coastal cities, conducting overt and covert inspections. His footprints were all over the southeastern coast. He must be rectifying the navy.
Going north and south, navy and infantry, the emperor's appetite is really big!
"I heard that after the festival, the emperor will go to Sichuan. Then there will be some ups and downs in Shu!"
There was a lot of expectation in Ye Shaoweng's eyes.
"It's not just going to be ups and downs, I'm afraid it's going to be bloody. There are so many corrupt officials in the world, and with the emperor's temperament, he will definitely use thunder and lightning to make drastic measures. When the time comes... hmph!"
Dai Fuzhu hesitated to speak and snorted coldly. Liu Kezhuang nodded and intervened.
"Everyone, Jiangnan East Road has successfully implemented the New Deal. The next step is Liangzhe West Road, Jiangnan West Road and Sichuan Road. We will also set up propaganda branches in these places to ensure the success of the New Deal. According to you, how many of us should How to divide the work?”
Now that he understood the emperor's general intention, Liu Kezhuang gradually gained some insights in his mind.
The emperor had great ambitions to restore the Han Dynasty to its former glory. As the head of the Propaganda Department of the Song Dynasty, of course he had to cheer for the emperor.
"Brother Liu, the two West Zhejiang Roads and Sichuan Road are both strong points. One is where the capital is, and the other is as far away as the sky is high and the emperor is far away. In my opinion, Brother Liu and Lu Ziyu will stay in West Zhejiang, while Wu Wenying and I will go to Sichuan. Brother Dai and Brother Ye are going to Jiangnan West Road. What do you think?"
"That's what Brother Liu Xian said."
"Brother Liu Xian has the final say."
Everyone nodded and agreed with Liu Kezhuang's suggestion.
Although they were only guest-starring in the Propaganda Department's errands, after all, they had to get their salaries from the Propaganda Department, so they already had some sense of superiority and inferiority towards Liu Kezhuang.
"In this case, we will each perform our duties, conduct overt and covert inspections, and prepare for the implementation of new policies in various places."
Liu Kezhuang's eyes were full of expectation.
"The emperor is planning to fight in the northwest border. This is a big event. To be honest, I am excited and a little scared at the same time!"
Dai Fuxu said quietly, finally speaking his mind.
When Zhao Kuo, Ningzong of the Song Dynasty, came to power, Han Yuanzhou's Northern Expedition was completely defeated. Han Yuanzhou himself was killed. The Song Dynasty lost troops and generals, and the Northern Expedition became a joke.
The emperor of this dynasty wants to strengthen his troops, but he doesn't know whether it will be a blessing or a curse.
"The emperor founded the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall, organized and trained the new army, and implemented the New Deal. He used thunderous methods and worked step by step. What the emperor did was in line with the essence of making the country rich and powerful. The emperor was the chosen one, and the future of the Song Dynasty was promising."
Manufacturing firearms, training new armies, fighting corruption and upholding integrity, abolishing exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, prospering all industries,...
Every decision the emperor makes brings surprises and expectations.
In particular, Emperor Qiankun's arbitrary actions to curb the dominance of the scholar-bureaucrats' family and restore the martial style of the Song Dynasty seemed to have had an effect.
“I don’t know what the Song Dynasty will look like in the future.”
Zeng Ji's words made everyone nod in agreement.
In the Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, there were ministers of restoration, but no king of restoration. In the Xiaozong Dynasty of Song Dynasty, there was a restoration king but no restoration ministers. The emperor of this dynasty had great talent and strategy, and established a martial arts hall. He had both a restoration king and a restoration minister.
The new emperor was ambitious, and the future of the Song Dynasty seemed promising.
"If our Song Dynasty border army encounters the Tatar cavalry, I wonder what the scene will be like?"
Liu Kezhuang patted the railing and suddenly said something.
"We have tens of millions of people in the Song Dynasty. As long as everyone is united, why should we fear the Tatars?"
"That's right! As long as we in the Song Dynasty strengthen our troops and promote martial arts, what's the use of millions of Tatars?"
Several people were very excited and looked into the distance together, watching the rolling river eastward and the waves rolling in. They were all filled with excitement.
The Song Dynasty was changing with each passing day, just like the changes in Jinling City. The sight of the future fills everyone's hearts with expectations and hopes.
