If the political affairs hall composed of prime ministers, ministers, and privy envoys is the first obstacle that prevents Zhao Zhen from issuing imperial edicts, then the "zhizhigao" that performs the functions of Zhongshusheren is the second obstacle-the latter has real power. Sent, and the former is just a minister in name only.
Now that the ministers and ministers of the Political Affairs Hall have tacitly summoned Fan Zhongyan back to the capital, all he needs to do is write a hand-written edict and order the officials responsible for making the imperial edict to draft an imperial edict. However, after weighing the matter, Zhao Zhen decided to summon Fan Zhongyan. Come, give me the order face to face.
After all, one of the officials responsible for making imperial edicts cannot be ignored, and that is Lu Gongchuo, the eldest son of the late prime minister Lu Yijian.
Lu Yijian served as prime minister for twenty-one years and had connections all over the world. In addition, he had many children, relatives, friends, disciples and former officials. Although he had been dead for several years, the "Lu family" still had an influence that cannot be underestimated in the government and the public. Slightly inferior to the "Second Song Dynasty" that is currently in the limelight, namely the brothers Song Xiang and Song Qi.
Zhao Zhen was not worried that Lu Gongchuo would defy him face to face. He was worried about the "Lu family" colluding with the "Second Song Dynasty". After all, it was related to Fan Zhongyan. After the Qingli New Deal, not many people in the court who were from noble families could say that Kind words about Fan Zhongyan.
Not long after, four bachelors, Lu Gongchuo, Zhao Gai, Yang Wei, and Hu Su, who were responsible for the imperial examination, were invited to the palace.
After learning the official's purpose of summoning them, the four were surprised.
The political views of these four Zhizhigao were not unified. Among them, Zhao Gai, who was the most praised for his conduct, was secretly surprised that Fan Zhongyan was about to be recalled. Yang Wei and Hu Su did not make any statements about this. The remaining Lu Gongchuo, he was actually Is implicitly opposed to it.
After all, the Lu family has been officials for generations, and it is not an exaggeration to call them a noble and aristocratic family. The new policies proposed by Fan Zhongyan also harmed the interests of the Lu family, not to mention that Lu Gongchuo himself used his influence to make up for his official career. This is It is destined that he will not support Fan Zhongyan's political views.
The reason why he did not openly oppose may be that his father, Lu Yijian, had warned him before he died - anyway, there were people like Xia Song, Jia Changchao, Zhang Dexiang, and Song Xiang who fiercely opposed the New Deal at that time, so there was really no need for him, Lu, to come forward.
But today in the palace, I watched Song Xiang say nothing about recalling Fan Zhongyan. Looking at the officials again, I don't know why the power today is far greater than before. Lu Gongchuo did not dare to refute it face to face. As he and Zhao Gai, Yang Wei, Hu The hostesses all surrendered and obeyed, and the matter of summoning Fan Zhongyan back to Beijing was completely settled.
After a cup of tea, Lu Gongchuo and the other four took the lead to say goodbye and went to draft the imperial edict. Immediately after, Chen Zhizhong, Wen Yanbo, Pang Ji, Song Xiang, Gao Ruona, Ye Qingchen and Mei Zhi also left the official family one after another and walked out in twos and threes. Enter the Chui Gong Hall.
The first was Chen Zhizhong. The poor old prime minister didn't even have the guts to say goodbye to his colleagues. He hid his face and left in a hurry.
Followed by Song Xiang and Gao Ruona.
Compared with the dull and ugly expression, Song Xiang still retained some magnanimity and said goodbye to several colleagues as if nothing had happened before leaving.
Looking at the backs of the three people gradually walking away, Pang Ji sighed with a subtle expression: "It's a pity that Mr. Chen will not be able to survive the rest of the year."
He glanced at Ye Qingchen, who was not far away, and saw the latter holding his hands and saying to him and Wen Yanbo: "You two, take a step forward."
After that, he took Mei Zhi and left.
When he and Mei Zhi walked away, Pang Ji laughed softly and said, "Our Ye Jixiang is still cunning."
Wen Yanbo smiled and said nothing.
Being good friends with Fan Zhongyan and not offending Song Xiang, he also felt that Ye Qingchen was indeed capable, much more capable than an old guy who just couldn't leave.
That's right, it's Chen Zhizhong.
Speaking of which, whether Wen Yanbo or other officials who are qualified to serve as Prime Minister, they themselves do not have much prejudice against Chen Zhizhong, but this old guy refuses to leave, so naturally there will be complaints - you old guy won't quit, How did the people who came later get to the position?
No, Pang Ji congratulated Wen Yanbo with a hint of ridicule: "Congratulations to Mr. Wen in advance?"
Wen Yanbo smiled slightly.
Currently, there are only two people serving as ministers in the court, namely Chen Zhizhong and him.
Today, Chen Zhizhong made a big embarrassment in front of the officials. I think the officials are also dissatisfied with him. If the officials remove him, maybe he will have a chance to be promoted to prime minister.
Of course, other people also have opportunities, such as Qian Mingyi, who knows the Kaifeng Mansion, Song Xiang, and Pang Ji around him. But according to the old rules, he should be more likely to be promoted to prime minister. Song Xiang or Pang Ji can make up for the most. His current "last phase" position.
Of course, there are also surprises in this matter, and the biggest surprise is undoubtedly Fan Zhongyan, who will be recalled to Beijing...
Thinking of this, Wen Yanbo shook his head and said: "It may not be worthy of congratulations."
Pang Ji understood and said, "Does Xianggong Wen refer to Xianggong Fan?"
He glanced at Song Xiang's leaving figure, shook his head and said, "I don't think Mr. Song will give up here."
"Ha." Wen Yanbo smiled but said nothing.
Fan Zhongyan and Song Xiang had many conflicts in the past, not to mention that the New Deal in the Qingli Year was caused by Xia Song and Song Xiang. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the two sides were incompatible with each other. Now that the officials intend to recall Fan Zhongyan, he also I don’t believe Song Xiang will stop here.
"Just wait and see what happens. It has nothing to do with us anyway."
"What Prime Minister Wen said is absolutely true."
As Wen Yanbo and Pang Ji thought, Song Xiang was indeed in a very bad mood at this time.
He originally thought that the "clique theory" back then had made the officials suspicious of Fan Zhongyan. Who would have thought that a kid would appear out of nowhere and somehow gain the officials' trust, causing them to change their minds? Recall Fan Zhongyan.
After thinking for a moment, he said thoughtfully: "I will hold a banquet at my house tonight, and we will discuss it later."
Gao Ruona nodded and said nothing.
At the same time, in the Chui Gong Hall, Zhao Zhen was praising Zhao Yang happily: "...I thought you were going to do something bad, but I never thought you would have such a twist."
To be honest, at that time, Zhao Yang said, "The official family has already made a decision, but I am just informing you all." Not only did all the prime ministers present at the scene change their expressions, Zhao Zhen was also so angry that he cursed in his heart: You are so disrespectful to everyone, When these people get angry, don’t I suffer? !
But who would have thought that this matter was really taken care of by Zhao Yang, and even shocked Song Xiang and others.
Although it is said that the fox is pretending to be the tiger's power, it cannot be denied that it is not easy to do this to make the ministers speechless.
"The officials have given me a reward."
Zhao Yang looked modest and held up his hands to express his thanks, but his eyes drifted towards Zhao Zhen intentionally or unintentionally: "It's just a verbal commendation, isn't there any actual reward?"
Zhao Zhen was slightly stunned, but he didn't care. He smiled and said smoothly: "What reward do you want?"
To his surprise, Zhao Yang suddenly straightened his expression and said, "If there is any reward from the official family, give me an official position. I want to do something."
Hearing this, everyone in the hall had different expressions.
Unlike Wang Shougui and a group of eunuchs who were secretly dumbfounded that Zhao Yang dared to sue for an official position like this relying on the favor of the official family, Zhao Zhen's mood was even more emotional.
As the only person who knows the origin of Zhao Yang, Zhao Zhen certainly understands that Zhao Yang's so-called "want to do something" refers to wanting to do something for the "ancestral dynasty" to help the Song Dynasty eliminate its long-standing shortcomings and enhance its national strength. Restore "Jingkang's Shame".
This assistance is not so much loyalty as it is simply providing help. Just like if Zhao Zhen was lucky enough to be able to go to Taizong's entrepreneurial period, he would also provide assistance without asking for anything in return.
This innocent heart made Zhao Zhen feel quite sad.
He looked at Zhao Yang seriously and asked in an unusually gentle tone: "Then... what do you want to do?"
Zhao Yang thought for a while and said: "I have two ideas at the moment. One is to work as an errand in the Ministry of Industry... I don't ask for the position of minister or minister, just give me a doctor."
"..."
Zhao Zhen's expression was subtle. He knew as soon as he heard this that this boy didn't understand the official system of the Song Dynasty very well.
After all, the ministers, ministers, and doctors of the Song Dynasty were just salary-paying officials in name only, and were mainly used to pay salaries and allowances according to official rank.
In comparison, he was surprised that Zhao Yang chose the Ministry of Works from the very beginning.
Faced with his inquiry, Zhao Yang explained: "As far as I know, technology is under the control of the Ministry of Industry, right? I went to the Ministry of Industry naturally to improve Da Song's technology."
technology?
Zhao Zhen's heart suddenly moved and he immediately agreed: "Yes."
If people weren't talking too much at the moment, he couldn't help but ask this kid. After all, it was a technology that was separated by thousands of years.
Looking back a thousand years, what was the level of pre-Qin technology?
"First, I want to take charge of an army. People say that the Song Dynasty's army is too weak to fight. I want to try to train an army. If it is effective, the armies of the Song Dynasty may use this army as a model in the future."
"..."
Wang Shougui was stunned and looked at Zhao Zhen secretly, only to see Zhao Zhen just looking surprised: "You? Training soldiers? Do you still understand this?"
"Have you never eaten pork and seen pigs running?" Zhao Yang replied: "Although I have never been in charge of an army or practiced military training, I generally know... At the very least, I can be Zhao Kuo. I think I should be able to Play some role.”
"Zhao Kuo?" Zhao Zhen was very interested, but also a little doubtful. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Tell me about your method of running an army."
Are you really planning to agree?
Wang Shougui glanced at Zhao Zhen in disbelief, then turned to look at Zhao Yang, watching the latter talk eloquently: "When you are in charge of an army, the first priority is integrity. Honesty means sincerity, treating the soldiers well, paying them enough, and giving them adequate wages. To be able to empathize with the soldiers, not only to follow Wu Qi's "sucking soldiers' disease", but at least to treat the soldiers as brothers and sisters; trust, that is, to be honest, to practice what one says, to make rewards and punishments clear, and to be fair and just. If you can do these two things, There will be a basis for convincing the soldiers."
"He does look a bit like Zhao Kuo."
Zhao Zhen smiled and expressed his approval, but then shook his head: "But these alone are not enough to manage an army well."
"You still need to run the army strictly and enforce orders and prohibitions. Officials, let me try. If I am not qualified, you can dismiss me."
"..."
Facing Zhao Yang's plea, Zhao Zhen felt a little headache.
After thinking for a while, he nodded and said: "Since you are so confident, I will make you a...commander."
"How many soldiers can you control?" Zhao Yang suppressed his excitement.
Seeing that this boy didn't even know how many soldiers he commanded, Zhao Zhen regretted agreeing and said helplessly: "Command five capitals, one capital has a hundred soldiers."
"It's only five hundred soldiers. ...Okay." Although Zhao Yang was a little disappointed, he was self-aware and did not make any undue demands.
But even so, Wang Shougui who was standing by was already dumbfounded.
The official actually really agreed to the post of commander of five hundred soldiers?
Zhao Zhen naturally noticed the shock on Wang Shougui's face, but said nothing.
It is undeniable that he did set a precedent for this, and I don’t know how many officials in the DPRK and China will raise objections in the future.
But in his opinion, compared to arousing this boy's enthusiasm, what is the military power of a mere five hundred soldiers?
The reason why it was only given to 500 people was because I was afraid that this guy would not be able to convince the crowd and would end up making a joke.
