The first commander of the Fifth Army of Tianwu Left Chamber, Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of Industry of Shangshu Province, was the mission and official position that Zhao Zhen granted Zhao Yang that day.
The former is a dispatch, which can be understood as actual power, while the latter is a salary official, which is mainly used to distribute salaries according to standards, and also facilitates Zhao Yang to tinker with his "Ministry of Works" - in fact, the Ministry of Works did not exist in the Song Dynasty. of institutions.
In addition to "dispatch" and "official position", the official system of the Song Dynasty also included "position" and "jue". The former refers to those who hold positions in Wenzhao Pavilion, Jixian Pavilion and other literary halls, such as bachelor's degree, direct bachelor's degree, etc. It can be said that there are Only with the "position" can one have a political status within the court; and "jue" refers to the title.
Zhao Yang is still far behind these two.
Before evening, the Zhishe Renyuan sent Zhao Yang's appointment letter to Chui Gong Hall.
The Zhishe Renyuan is also sent, and its functions are similar to those of Zhizhigao, but the specifications are slightly lower. It can be understood that Zhizhigao is responsible for drafting the imperial edicts with the above specifications, and most other imperial edicts are drafted by Zhishe Renyuan, including Letter of appointment for official promotion or demotion.
As for the reason why Zhizhi Gao was asked to draft the edict on his behalf when summoning Fan Zhongyan back to the capital, it was mainly to give old Fan face. After all, Lao Fan was regarded as the prime minister, so he couldn't just find someone to draft an edict and recall him.
Of course, even if the specifications of the Zhishe Renyuan are not as good as those of Zhizhigao, it is not something that can be issued casually. Zhao Zhen ordered the Zhishe Renyuan to issue an appointment letter mainly for the appointment of "Shang Shu Provincial Ministry of Works Department Member Wai Lang", if only " The military position "First Commander of the Fifth Army of the Tianwu Left Wing" can only be appointed internally by the Tianqian Commandery Department under which the Tianwu Army is affiliated.
As for the military positions in the Song Dynasty during this period, including battalion-level commanders, all required tattoos on their foreheads, and Zhao Yang naturally did not have to.
While taking a bath in the evening, Zhao Yang and Zhao Zhen chatted about "technology" again.
When Zhao Yang told him that there was a strategic weapon in his "hometown" that could travel thousands of kilometers, and that one ammunition was enough to destroy the entire Bianjing, Zhao Zhen was so shocked that his breathing stopped.
If there is such a thing, why should we fear Liao and Xixia?
He immediately asked: "Do you know how to make this thing?"
Zhao Yang answered him simply: "I don't know."
Zhao Zhen was so angry that he yelled: "What do I need from you!"
Zhao Yang was not angry and said slowly: "But I know how to refine gunpowder so that the artillery of the Song Dynasty can shoot farther and be more powerful."
Yes, at this time, the Song Dynasty, including the Liao Kingdom and Xixia, all had artillery, but the technical content was not very high, and it was only limitedly better than the trebuchet.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen immediately became amiable, and his gesture of wanting to fight turned into a shoulder-stroking gesture of approval.
Well, this is a very practical monarch, and Zhao Yang has gradually mastered the way of getting along with this official.
It must be said that Zhao Zhen's original intention was not to let Zhao Yang leave his sight, at least not so soon, but after this exchange, he completely changed his mind.
After all, in his opinion, even if this boy Zhao Yang is uneducated and incompetent, the technology he knows is enough to greatly enhance the combat power of his army in the Song Dynasty. In this case, he should not continue to tie this boy to his side. .
At midnight the next day, Zhao Yang had breakfast with Zhao Zhen in Funing Hall as he had done yesterday.
After finishing breakfast, Zhao Zhen took Zhao Yang to Chui Gong Hall. At this time, Zhao Zhen asked Zhao Yang about his plan, whether to tinker with the "technical department" first or go to the army to make an appearance first.
In fact, there is no need to ask this matter, because Zhao Zhen authorized Zhao Yang's army, the first command of the Tianwu Zuoxiang Fifth Army, which actually does not exist at the moment.
Because Zhao Yang did not simply want to command an army, but intended to train a new army, or a prototype, without breaking away from the existing military system of the Song Dynasty, so Zhao Zhencai added the Tianwu Left Wing Fifth Army. One command.
Previously, the Tianwu Army only had three standing armies on the left and right sides. The fourth army was used to house the elderly soldiers. There was no fifth army at all. This was newly established by Zhao Zhen for Zhao Yang.
Because it is a new establishment, there are no generals. Although Zhao Zhen yesterday sent an order to the commander in front of the palace to select the best from a total of thirty-four commands (battalions) on the left and right sides of the Tianwu Army to be added to the Fifth Army. One command, but it can't be done in one night, it will take a few days anyway.
Therefore, Zhao Yang could only tinker with his "technical department" first.
As for the specific process, he had reported it to Zhao Zhen yesterday. He first found a few famous craftsmen and inventors who have left their names in history, such as Bi Sheng, and formed a department with these famous craftsmen as the backbone. He was responsible for proposing standards. A craftsman is responsible for the realization, while Zhao Zhen is responsible for providing them with funds.
Sure enough, Zhao Yang thought about it and decided to find someone first.
"Can the officials send me some manpower?"
When Zhao Yang made this request, Zhao Zhen smiled and said nothing.
In fact, even if Zhao Yang didn't mention it, he still had to send someone. After all, this kid was a precious kid, and he couldn't trust him to be alone.
From the side, Wang Shougui's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he hurriedly said: "If you don't want to be an official, I'll take the imperial equipment from the Ministry of Internal Affairs..."
Entering the Internal Affairs Ministry, as the name suggests, is more "internal" than "introspection", and the royal weapon is a kind of honor or privilege. If the imperial guards of the Imperial Palace are qualified to wear the imperial weapon, they are equivalent to the imperial guards, and they are the most qualified. The imperial guards trusted by the officials; and if the eunuchs who entered the Ministry of Internal Affairs were qualified to carry royal weapons, they would be armed eunuchs protecting the deep palaces.
Last year, in the eighth year of Qingli, there was a sudden change in the palace. Four palace guards rebelled, killed people and set fire to the palace. The people who protected Zhao Zhen at that time were the armed eunuchs who entered the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
I don't know if he thought of this, but Zhao Zhen nodded slightly and then ordered: "Just...Wang Zhongzheng."
Wang Shougui, who was interested in promoting his own people, was stunned. He seemed a little reluctant, but he did not dare to disobey the official.
Not long after, a burly young eunuch came to the palace. It was Wang Zhongzheng who had come to the east to worship the official.
In view of the fact that last year's palace incident was undoubtedly a scandal, Zhao Zhen did not intend to go into details. He simply introduced Wang Zhongzheng to Zhao Yang. "Eunuch from generation to generation", he served in the "Qingli Palace Incident" last year and served as an official in Dongtou at the age of only 18. He is brave, loyal and worthy of trust.
Zhao Yang, who did not know much about the palace incident, did not raise any objections. After all, he just needed manpower, and it would be the same for anyone he sent. Since the officials thought it was credible, that would be fine.
It is worth mentioning that under normal circumstances, Zhao Yang's military position is only a commander of a forbidden army battalion. In front of Wang Zhongzheng, the Dongtou enshrinement officer, the latter would not take a serious look at it.
Fortunately, Zhao Zhen also gave Zhao Yang a civil salary official of "Shangshu Provincial Ministry of Industry and Works Department Member Wailang", starting from the seventh rank. Otherwise, the person being protected would not be as high-ranking as the position protecting him. It is really difficult to bring it up now. Embarrassing.
Interestingly, Wang Zhongzheng, who was only 18 years old, seemed to have a rigorous character. After receiving the order, he raised a question that made Zhao Zhen feel a little troublesome: "...Officials and low-ranking officials obey Xiao Langjun's orders. The order, I wonder... are there any restrictions?"
Zhao Yang blinked and looked at Zhao Zhen.
Glancing at Zhao Yang who was causing trouble, Zhao Zhen thought for a moment, then pointed at him and said to Wang Zhongzheng: "Unless this kid rebels and surrenders to the enemy, you will kidnap him and bring him to me, otherwise you will obey his orders." .”
Not to mention Wang Shougui muttering secretly in disbelief, Wang Zhongzheng was even more shocked and turned his head to look at Zhao Yang involuntarily.
Those who rebel and surrender to the enemy can only be captured alive. There are no other taboos. This restriction...
Swallowing secretly, Wang Zhongzheng immediately realized that his opportunity had come.
As he guessed, Zhao Zhen was not worried at all about Zhao Yang rebelling or surrendering to the enemy, because he could feel the boy's affection for the Song Dynasty. After all, the Song Dynasty was considered the boy's "ancestral dynasty". Otherwise, this kid had gone to Xixia and Liao before. Why would he join the Song Dynasty?
The reason why he said this was to set a tone for Wang Zhongzheng so that Zhao Yang could act conveniently.
Otherwise, if Wang Zhongzheng and his entourage come to him for advice on everything, over time, it will inevitably affect the mutual trust that he and that kid have gradually established.
Immediately, Zhao Zhen asked Wang Zhongzheng to select nine imperial guards who had entered the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were basically on good terms with Wang Zhongzheng, knew everything about them, and had even played a protective role in the Qingli Palace Incident. In addition, Wang Zhongzheng Zhongzheng himself has ten royal guards as guards. This scene is no exaggeration compared to that of the emperor's adopted son.
"Go ahead and come back before the palace confinement."
As Zhao Zhen waved away, Zhao Yang led Wang Zhongzheng's ten guards out of the Chui Gong Hall.
As soon as he left the Chui Gong Hall, Wang Zhongzheng respectfully confessed to Zhao Yang: "In the hall just now, I did not mean to offend my husband because of my humble position. Please forgive me."
Hearing a tall eunuch calling him husband, Zhao Yang trembled all over and said repeatedly: "I understand, I understand, uh...Brother Wang?"
"I don't dare." Wang Zhongzheng, who knows how to read people's words, said hurriedly: "You can just call me by your humble name."
"Okay, Zhongzheng." Zhao Yang nodded with a strange expression: "Let's discuss this. When I call you by name, you can call me...Commander, what do you think? Just don't call me Lang Jun, I feel awkward."
Commander?
Wang Zhongzheng and his party looked at each other in confusion, and also looked at Zhao Yang with strange expressions.
I'm afraid they are thinking in their minds at this moment: Your military position as a commander is actually nothing.
After a long while, someone cautiously said, "Can I call... Yuanwailang?"
"Yuanwailang? That's okay." Zhao Yang thought for a while and said.
Hearing this, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, with their status as the commander's followers, it would be really embarrassing if they were misunderstood.
After confirming the names of each other, Wang Zhongzheng respectfully asked Zhao Yang about his arrangements for today.
Zhao Yang thought for a while and said: "Let's go find someone first. Have you heard of Yan Su, Bi Sheng, Shen Kuo... have you heard of them?"
Who are these?
Everyone looked at each other, and one of them wondered: "I'm afraid... it's hard to find just a few names."
Seeing everyone's reaction, Zhao Yang roughly understood what was going on. He murmured a few words in confusion and reassured: "Well, let's go look for it first. I'll invite everyone to a restaurant in the city for a drink at noon. You can choose the location."
Seeing that Zhao Yang did not despise their eunuch background and treated them so generously, Wang Zhongzheng and others immediately felt good about him. They immediately followed Zhao Yangxing and left the palace in a hurry, attracting the guards patrolling in the distance to check their eyes.
