The fourth year of Jianwu in the Song Dynasty, AD 1233, was the third day of the first lunar month.
It was early in the morning, the winter rain was like smoke, the cold wind was blowing, and it was chilly to the heart.
In Lin'an Palace, in the imperial study, Zhao Hong was listening to Zhou Ping and Xu Liang's report.
"Your Majesty, we have visited the counties around Lin'an City in the past few days, and it turns out that many schools are cheating on military physical education classes, and the military physical examinations are also perfunctory. This is what Qiantang County Middle School and Renhe County Middle School have told all universities this year. Your Majesty, please take a look at the recommended quota."
Zhou Ping placed the list in front of Zhao Hong.
"you say."
Zhao Hong picked up the list.
"Your Majesty, the two counties of Zhejiang recommended a total of 300 recommended students to the universities in Jinling and Lin'an. The two counties accounted for almost half, accounting for almost 30% of the students recommended by the two Zhejiang roads. And these two middle schools are also the most serious in cheating in military physical examinations. Yes, military physical education classes are almost useless.”
Zhou Ping explained softly, and Zhao Hong nodded slightly.
The smartest people are those who read books, and they only focus on being an official and engaging in politics. They work in secret and deceive others, and deceive superiors and deceive subordinates. The Song Dynasty may have to go back to the old path of using culture to control military force.
These are all done by the smartest people in the world, and most of them are trained by smart people who want to get promoted and make a fortune.
"Zhou Ping, thank you for your hard work!"
It only took a few days, and it was still a holiday. The efficiency of the Intelligence Department was indeed high enough.
"All recommended students in Qiantang County and Renhetang will be cancelled, and all the principals of the two schools will be punished! Investigations will continue in other places. Education is not a trivial matter. All schools in the Song Dynasty must be strictly investigated. Anyone who violates the rules will be severely punished."
Zhao Hong made a decision immediately.
Shi Yanzhi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, was also in charge of the Education Department. It was a stupid decision. I don’t know what the ruling ministers think?
"Your Majesty, how should we deal with the recruitment of students in various universities?"
"All the assessors in the admissions offices of each university have been replaced, and everyone will conduct strict inspections. Starting from this year, in the assessment of each university, the proportion of military sports assessment results will increase to 40% of the total score."
Originally, the military sports assessment score accounted for 30%, but now it is raised to 40% to warn the world that those who ignore military sports subjects will be severely punished.
"Your Majesty, improving the proportion of military sports assessment scores ultimately depends on people. What will happen when Shi Yanzhi resigns? Has Your Majesty made a decision on the candidate to replace him as the head of the Education Department?"
"Shi Yanzhi, let him serve. Do you have a suitable candidate for the position of director of the Department of Education?"
When Shi Yanzhi resigned, he originally wanted to deal with him severely, but Shi Songzhi, Shi Yanzhi's brother, was imprisoned again and wanted to be executed. After weighing the situation, it was better to let Shi Yan go, lest he be slandered by both the government and the public to eradicate him.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, unless you are an enlightened scholar-bureaucrat, you must be a new generation of officials. Otherwise, as the old saying goes, things like this will still happen."
Zhou Ping's words were filled with emotion.
The old-school scholar-bureaucrats studied the Four Books and Five Classics and cultivated Chengzhu etiquette. They were deeply influenced by the idea of using culture to control military affairs, and believed in the rule of the world by the king and the scholar-bureaucrats. It is indeed a bit taken for granted to ask them to advocate military training and martial arts.
New official?
Zhao Hong hesitated for a moment and suddenly asked:
"Xuan Yuehua, a teacher at Jinling Martial Arts Hall, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, Xuan Yuehua is good, but she is a woman, will she..."
Zhou Ping was shocked. The emperor is going to let female officials ascend to the throne.
"That's fine! It's Xuan Yuehua!"
Zhao Hong laughed heartlessly.
Wouldn't it be a waste of time if some shocking things didn't happen under his rule?
Zhou Ping and Xu Liang looked at each other and shook their heads secretly.
The emperor was unconventional and deviant, yet he was not criticized by those stubborn scholars and officials?
"Your Majesty, officials are corrupt and commit crimes. I am guilty and Your Majesty will punish you! I will investigate thoroughly and give an explanation to Your Majesty and everyone in the world!"
Xu Liang reported the report and felt uneasy.
For example, some bad apples in the Anti-Corruption Department colluded with local officials and businessmen, causing great harm. As the de facto head of the Anti-Corruption Department, he cannot escape responsibility.
"Anti-corruption, clarification of officialdom, there is a long way to go, there is no need to rush. If you find the shortcomings, find out the countermeasures, and just do your job well."
After Zhao Hong finished speaking, he nodded lightly towards Dong Songchen.
Dong Songchen understood the situation and went out. Soon, several bald and braided Khitan envoys came in and saluted Zhao Hong together.
"The envoys Yelu Aigu and Yelu Shange under the command of King Yelu Xue of the Liao Dynasty came to visit the Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"
"Both envoys, please take your seats."
Zhao Hong whispered and nodded slightly.
The King of Liao, Yelu Xuejun, was the son of Yelvliu Ge, a member of the Khitan royal family. He was a vassal of Mongolia in Liaodong. He had a hundred thousand people and his power should not be underestimated.
Wokuotai's subordinates came to envoy, one from Gaochang Kingdom and the other from Dongliao Kingdom, and they secretly communicated with the Song Dynasty. It seems that the slightest disturbance has already caused these vassals to become disloyal.
"The Emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Queen and the King of Liao congratulate the Emperor of the Song Dynasty! I wish the Emperor of the Song Dynasty to restore his homeland as soon as possible and conquer the world with military force!"
Yelu Aigu continued to play with a smile on his face. Like his nephew Yelu Shan, he was carefully observing Emperor Song.
Young, ambitious, and sharp-eyed, he seems to have the world under his control...
How could such an emperor of the Song Dynasty, even the mighty Mongolia, compete with the Song Dynasty!
The army is coming to the world!
Zhao Hong laughed softly and said with a smile.
"Messenger of the King of Liao, Liaodong is the old land of our Central Plains Dynasty. We, the Song Dynasty, are about to make a Northern Expedition at the end of the day. What decision will Dong Liao make then?"
"Your Majesty, the Song Dynasty has strong soldiers and horses, and the King of Liao will definitely not intervene in the Northern Expedition of the Song Dynasty. As for whether the King of Liao wants to submit to the Song Dynasty, the foreign ministers must go back and report to the Queen and the King of Liao."
Yelu Aigu said bravely.
Along the way, you can see the Song people's tiger and wolf divisions, their warriors are fierce and powerful, and their firearms are sharp. Not to mention, there are now steam warships.
The Song army was able to defeat 70,000 Mongolian elites and kill the Mongolian war god Torre, which shows the great power of its military.
How could Liaodong, which had only a few hundred thousand people, compete with the Song Dynasty, which had 70 million people?
"Yelu Aigu, since you are here, I will not use troops lightly against Liaodong. Queen Yaoli and the King of Liao are working hard to govern Liaodong, and I admire them very much. Go back and tell the Queen and the King of Liao not to attack Goryeo and Dongxia again. , appease the people, everyone is in peace, and live a good life. At that time, I will ask the Navy of the Song Dynasty to send you to the sea to avoid passing through Hebei and causing unnecessary trouble."
Zhao Hong said warmly, humans and animals are harmless.
"I would like to thank the Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"
The envoys from the King of Liao saluted Zhao Hong together, feeling relieved.
The Song Dynasty was indeed a country of etiquette, unlike Mongolia, which only used power to bully, coerce and intimidate.
Yelu's ancient uncle and nephew retreated, and Zhao Hong also became angry.
There are no constraints in Liaodong, and there is no excuse for delay in the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains.
Of course, even if Dongliao is constrained, he doesn't care. The land and water army will just go northward and crush it.
Now, we need to plan carefully to prepare for the Northern Expedition.
"Your Majesty, do you really want to be so polite to these Khitans?"
Dong Songchen couldn't help but asked softly from the side.
"The land of Liaodong is my homeland of China. Once the two rivers are recovered, Liaodong will naturally be recovered. If you still want to be the king of Liao by then, huh..."
Zhao Hong snorted coldly, his eyes were cold, and Dong Songchen felt a chill in his heart.
The emperor's prestige is now increasing, and his actions are thunderous, which makes him feel a little scared.
"Your Majesty, the envoy from Gaochang Kingdom has arrived."
Dong Songchen's voice came, and Zhao Hong smiled slightly.
After you sing, I will appear. The Song army defeated the Mongolian army in Hanzhong, and demons, monsters, ghosts and snake gods appeared one after another and caused trouble. The world simply couldn't be too exciting.
"The envoy of Gaochang State pays homage to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"
Several Gaochang envoys dressed as Western Regions came in, wearing black hats and long skirts, with high noses and deep eyes, full of exotic charm, and saluted Zhao Hong together.
Zhao Hong glanced at several envoys in surprise. One of them was tall and slender, with fair complexion, a straight nose, long eyelashes and big eyes, which was obviously different from the Han people.
She turned out to be a complete beauty!
In contrast, although men's facial features are three-dimensional, they are much darker and rougher.
"Prince Yugu Longchi of Gaochang Kingdom, Princess Ana'er, first-class envoys of Gaochang Kingdom, have met the Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"
Ana'er stepped forward to greet her. She had a slender waist, white complexion, and was full of exotic charm.
All the ministers opened their eyes wide, attracted by the beauty of Gaochang.
"You are the children of Vughul and Protector Balshu. Please sit down."
The Gaochang Kingdom was called Uighur by Mongolia, and I don’t know if it has anything to do with Balshu being the fifth son of Genghis Khan.
The capital of Gaochang Kingdom should not be lost for eight miles. Later, Urumqi was a little north of Urumqi, which was at the throat of the Western Regions. The Mongol army must pass through in the western expedition, and of course it was also an important town for him to regain the Western Regions.
However, Beishebali is nearly two thousand miles away from Yumen Pass, and there is Gobi desert all the way, so it is not so easy to recover.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, Aiwu'er is the Tatar name for our country of Gaochang. Our country is Gaochang. It has had good relations with the Song Dynasty since ancient times and has had contacts with each other. The emperor is aware of this!"
Anal said crisply, looking a little dissatisfied.
"Okay, envoys of the Gaochang Kingdom, in the spring of last year, your Gaochang Kingdom invaded our Hexi area, burned, killed, looted, and committed many crimes. Are you here today to plead guilty or to surrender?"
Seeing Zhao Hong's sneer, Ana'er and Jade Bone Longchi both blushed. The two murmured a few words in a low voice before Anal continued:
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, I, the Gaochang State, had no choice but to send troops to the Song Dynasty. We were forced by the Tatars. Besides, the bodies of Ma Mula and others were also hung on the wall of Yumen Pass, so the merits and demerits are equal to each other."
"The merits are equal to the faults?"
Zhao Hong sneered and retorted, seemingly without any sympathy for her.
"Fighting on the battlefield is about life and death. Killing unarmed people is like a beast! Why, if I kill your Mamula, do I, the Song Dynasty, have to apologize to you? What are you doing here? You'd better go back early!"
Zhao Hong waved his hand impatiently and made a sweeping motion to go out.
Under the rule of these slave owners, the people suffered, but they were intoxicated, extravagant and licentious. When they had nothing to do, they followed the Mongolian army to bully other countries, and their lives were not very comfortable.
The general interpreter, the brother and sister murmured a few words, Jade Bone Dragon stood up with red face and ears, and walked away, but Ana'er held him behind.
The brother and sister argued for a few more words, and Jade Bone Longchi came back and sat down, with a dark face and said nothing.
"Leave quickly! Do you really think I, the Song Dynasty, care about your worship?"
Zhao Hong snorted coldly, stood up, and was about to leave with a flick of his sleeves.
I have been in a bad mood these days, and my mood is even worse when I see these unrepentant, fearless and unethical slave owners.
As for the beauty, she is just a pink skull, just for looking at, how can she affect everything in the world?
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty, I, the Kingdom of Gaochang, have come all the way here just to meet the Emperor of the Song Dynasty and express the goodwill of our Kingdom of Gaochang. The Tatar army is the most powerful in the world, do we, the Kingdom of Gaochang, have a choice? My people have gone on many expeditions with the Tatars. , all the food, cattle and sheep were given to the Tatars, and countless young men of Gaochang were killed and injured, are we willing?"
Ana'er shouted hurriedly, causing Zhao Hong to stop involuntarily. He turned his head and looked at Anal. He didn't speak until the other person was flustered.
"You are a pretty beauty. If you were the queen of Gaochang, the lives of the people might be much easier. You have come all the way to Lin'an City to have some fun and relax. If you need anything, just ask me."
We are just guests, there is no need to get angry with the two teenagers. There are so many injustices in this world, how many can he take care of?
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Ana'er changed her smile. She looked at the old man, still a little shy.
"Your Majesty, after visiting Lin'an City, we would like to visit the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall. I wonder if your Majesty would allow us to go together?"
Emperor Song called her "Beauty", which shows that he had a good impression of her.
"Going to Jinling? Let me think about it."
Zhao Hong nodded, noncommittal.
He indeed has many things to do in Jinling City. However, he was not in the mood to travel specifically with this beautiful woman from the Western Regions.
He can't control himself in front of beauty, and he has suffered greatly from it. His harem duo are examples. He is already past that age when he is attracted by lust and confused by love.
