"Disband."
Zhao Yang gave an order and dismissed the formation of the 500 forbidden troops under his command, and the 500 forbidden troops surrounded him one after another.
Compared with the previous indifference, the eyes of these five hundred forbidden troops looked at Zhao Yang with a little more eagerness, expectation, trust and support.
How could anyone not recognize a commander who was deeply trusted by officials and promised to bring them money, respect, status, and honor?
The only embarrassing thing was that Commander Zhao was so young that even the Imperial Guards felt a little embarrassed even if they wanted to curry favor with him.
Zhao Yang also saw that he was still a little unfamiliar with the 500 forbidden troops under his command, so he smiled and said: "I will not appoint the captain, captain, etc. today. I will come over with wine and food in a day or two. I will wait for the introduction." Let’s have a good wrestling competition, make it a lively event, and use wrestling to select the captain, team leader and other positions. I hope you can build up your strength.”
Use wrestling to select captains and generals?
Are there any food and drinks during the introduction?
The five hundred imperial guards applauded and treated Zhao Yang with increasing enthusiasm.
"Wang Ming, Chen Li, I will leave the salary matter to you two. You will meet me back at the palace later."
"yes!"
After handing over the matter of three months' extra salary to Wang Ming and Chen Li, Zhao Yang returned to Cao Yi with Wang Zhongzheng and other eight people.
Cao Yi glanced at the 500 forbidden troops with high morale, and sincerely praised: "Commander Zhao's performance was even better than Cao expected..."
"Where." Zhao Yang said humbly: "In the final analysis, I still took advantage of the official family."
Cao Yi smiled slightly and changed the subject: "Commander Zhao is planning to return to the palace now?"
Zhao Yang thought for a while and said: "Let's go back first and tell the officials about Zhong'e, and then invite him and the other two..."
Cao Yi nodded slightly, and without saying anything else, he sent Zhao Yang and others away from the military camp together with the military commander Chen Xu, who had a strange look on his face.
A moment later, outside the main gate of the military camp, watching Zhao Yang and his entourage leave, military commander Chen Xu couldn't help but ask Cao Yi: "Marquis Du Yu, do you want to order the sergeants not to talk about today's events?"
"That's too late."
Cao Yi shook his head and said: "We couldn't stop it just now, how can we control it now? You also heard what Commander Zhao said. If it were you, how could you resist talking to others in private?"
Chen Xu was speechless. After all, even he was excited by Zhao Yang's words, especially the sentence "Who said that only those who sing the number one song outside Donghua Gate are good?"
Even he couldn't help it, let alone those ordinary Imperial Guards.
If nothing else goes wrong, this talk will spread throughout the entire military camp before tomorrow. After all, what Commander Zhao talked about was exactly what their warriors and sergeants longed for most.
If the sergeants are strictly ordered to discuss it in private, regardless of whether it can prevent its spread or whether it will offend Commander Zhao, the more than 200,000 forbidden troops in the military camp will probably have some opinions on them.
Cao Yi also knew this.
After a while, Cao Yi returned to the west room of the office in front of the palace and sat at the desk in the side room, meditating.
After pondering for a long time, in view of the official's prior instructions, he finally wrote a note, detailing his views and evaluation of Zhao Yang, as well as Zhao Yang's performance during the lecture. Especially the last item, he described it objectively throughout the article without any subjective opinions.
After a while, he put down his pen and read it carefully again to see if there were any errors of omission. After several confirmations, he sighed with a wry smile: "I have been careful in my words and actions for a long time, but I still can't escape being impeached... that's all!"
After sealing the letter, he summoned an official and solemnly instructed: "Send this letter to Da Nei in my name."
"Yes." The government official followed the order and left.
At the same time, Zhao Yang had returned to the palace and came to Chui Gong Hall.
At Wang Shougui's reminder, Zhao Zhen noticed Zhao Yang returning, raised his head in surprise, and asked, "Have you been to the Dianqian Division? How was it?"
Zhao Yang said hello to Zeng Gongliang, who was also in the hall, and replied to Zhao Zhen: "How is it? Well, Uncle Guo is a very nice person. I hit it off with him and we had a great conversation."
Zhao Zhen was happy and said angrily: "What I'm asking is, how are the five hundred forbidden troops under your command? Are you satisfied?"
"Satisfied, satisfied." Zhao Yang praised sincerely: "Uncle Guo and Chen Xu, the commander of Tianwu's First Army, are very conscientious and carefully selected. They are all elite men."
Zhao Zhen was not surprised by this. He nodded and asked, "Then have you obtained the approval of these people?"
"That's natural." Zhao Yang raised his eyebrows: "After I spoke before the battle, everyone was obedient to me."
"really?"
Zhao Zhen was doubtful, but thinking that Cao Yi would either come to report the matter to him in person or submit a letter, he did not continue to ask, and asked casually: "Then why did you come back so soon?"
So Zhao Yang told Zhao Zhen about the affairs of Zhongcun, Zhongju and Zhonge, and said: "...Zhongcun and Zhongwei are okay. I can just go see them directly, but Zhonge is the third team." If you are on duty, you don’t have to ask the official for instructions first.”
"Seed diagnosis, seed consultation, seed consultation?" Zhao Zhen recalled, stroking the short beard on his chin.
He knew about Zhong Shiheng, but he really didn't know much about Zhong Shiheng's sons. He only vaguely remembered that they seemed to have some excuses to make up for their careers.
In comparison, he was even more surprised that this kid actually knew to ask him for instructions in advance.
"It's rare that you can think of this..." he said sarcastically.
Zhao Yang exclaimed: "What you said...does it mean that in the eyes of officials, I am the kind of person who doesn't understand the rules?"
"You are!" Zhao Zhen sneered again and again: "Ignore everything else for now, you did not ask me for permission before impeaching Qian Mingyi."
"Aren't you afraid that the officials won't agree..." Zhao Yang said with a sneer on his face: "Also, who said you didn't tell the officials in advance...didn't you tell me?"
"Is that called advance?"
He was furious when he thought that Zhao Yang had told him this only a few moments before the morning meeting.
"Why not call it beforehand..."
"Okay, okay, I'm too lazy to argue with you. In short, I will do as you say. As long as they are willing, I agree."
"Thank you, officials." Zhao Zhen cupped his hands in thanks, and then spread his right hand.
Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"
Zhao Yang said matter-of-factly: "I'm going to invite the three of them, so I can't just sit there, right? Can't I find a restaurant to treat them to a meal? Isn't that expensive?"
"..."
Zhao Zhen was so angry that his anger surged.
This was the first time since he became governor that someone asked him for money, and they were so confident.
After a while, he turned to Wang Shougui and said, "Send someone to go to the inner treasury to get thirty strings for him."
"Yes." Wang Shougui sent someone to get the money as ordered.
While waiting, Zhao Yang wandered around the hall with nothing to do. Sometimes he walked to Zhao Zhen and secretly looked at the papers that the latter was reading, which made Zhao Zhen's forehead throbbing with blue veins. Sometimes he walked to Zeng Gongliang. Next to him, he peeked at the daily notes that the latter was recording. He was so shocked that Zeng Gongliang quickly covered it with his hands. He wanted to scold him but didn't dare. He could only glare with a straight face to show his anger.
After finally getting thirty strings of money, Zhao Zhen quickly sent the boy away.
As soon as Zhao Yang left, Cao Yi sent someone to bring Zha Zi.
Zhao Zhen opened it and looked at it carefully, with a hint of surprise and surprise on his face. The reason was that Cao Yan's evaluation of Zhao Yang was mainly positive.
Later, Zhao Zhen also saw the paragraph where Cao Yi objectively described Zhao Yang's training in front of the battle, and frowned slightly.
Especially that sentence - Who said that only the person who sings the first prize outside Donghua Gate is a good person? Those who defend their homeland and are willing to shed blood and die are heroes worthy of praise!
From the standpoint of a monarch, Zhao Zhen naturally would not be dissatisfied with these words. On the contrary, he quite recognized it in his heart, but at the same time he also understood that this argument was destined not to be accepted by many literati in both the government and the public.
I believe that within a few days, these words will be widely circulated in the government and the public.
Thinking of this, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but curse: "If you speak without restraint, you will cause trouble for me!"
"Official?" Wang Shougui looked surprised.
"Nothing." Zhao Zhen shook his head slightly, and then said after pondering for a while: "I ordered Zhongshushe Renyuan to draft an imperial edict and confer Zhao Yang Youzhengyan the post."
Wang Shougui looked surprised.
The admonishment officers in the court can currently be divided into two provincial officials and the admonition court, the left and right casual cavalry, the left and right admonishment officials, the left and right admonitions, and the left and right Zhengyan are called the two provincial officials, because they are attached to the two provinces: those with the left are subordinate Menxia Province, those with the right belong to Zhongshu Province.
To put it simply, Youzhengyan is an admonishment officer under Zhongshu Province. He is the lowest rank, but he also has the power to speak out and impeach.
What puzzled Wang Shugui was that Zhao Yang had begged the official for a long time before but the official didn't agree. Why did the official suddenly change his mind after reading Du Yuhou Cao Ji's letter today?
"Go quickly." Zhao Zhen urged seriously.
"Yes, yes." Wang Shougui obeyed and quickly sent someone to deliver the order.
Watching Wang Shougui leave, Zhao Zhen looked down at the Zazi in his hand and shook his head helplessly with a smile: If he doesn't give that boy the power to speak as an official now, he will be the one to suffer.
Going back to a moment ago, Zhao Yang still didn't know that his unintentional words and deeds would lead to him getting another official position, and he would also be the admonisher he never forgot.
At that time, he was standing on the wide straight road outside the Chuigong Hall, waiting for Yuan Zheng, the Chongban of the inner hall, to find Zhong'e who would serve as the third class.
The so-called three-class military positions refer to the military positions of the East, West and Horizontal Classes. Their status is only higher than that of the three-class borrowing positions. They are considered to be military positions that have just entered the rank. Generally, they are filled by children of good families or filled by the nephews of court officials. , his main duty is to guard the front court of the palace. In addition to getting promoted through qualifications, if he doesn't have other connections, he can't talk about a promising position.
Therefore, Yuan Zheng, Chongban of the Inner Palace, came to him in person today, which really shocked Zhonge. He thought he had done something to offend him. It was not until Yuan Chongban explained the reason that he suppressed his uneasiness and followed Yuan Zheng. Chongban came to see Zhao Yang.
"Zhong Fengzhi, this is Mr. Zhao Xiaolang, the foreign minister of the Ministry of Industry... Xiaolangjun, this is Zhong E, Zhong Fengzhi."
After Yuan Chongban introduced him, Zhong E quickly took the lead in saluting Zhao Yang: "Zhong E has met Zhao Yuanwai Lang."
"You are so polite."
Zhao Yang returned the greeting while looking at Zhong E in front of him.
I saw that Zhong'e was about twenty years old. He was not very tall, but he looked very strong. This was probably because he had been in the military camp of his father Zhong Shiheng when he was young.
When Zhao Yang was looking at Zhong E, Zhong E was also secretly observing Zhao Yang.
As a member of the third class serving in the palace, Zhong E naturally knew the "whereabouts" of this young man. He knew that this young man was deeply trusted by the officials. Even though he made a big fuss in Kaifeng Mansion and went to court meetings, The power of impeachment for violating the rules was known to Kaifeng government official Qian Mingyi and other things that would cause a normal person to lose his official position, but the officials did not blame him.
He couldn't afford to offend people like this.
Therefore, he acted extremely cautiously: "Young Master, please ask Yuan Chong to come here. What are your instructions?"
"Let's not talk about it for now." Zhao Yang held Zhong'e's wrist and said with a smile: "Let's find a place to drink outside the palace first, and we will discuss it later."
While Zhong E was flattered, he was also shocked and said hurriedly: "I am still on duty at this humble position..."
"It's okay, I asked the official for leave on your behalf."
"Ah?" Zhong E was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Yuan Chongban, only to see the latter nodding.
"Let's go... Yuan Chongban, I'll treat you to a drink next time I have time."
Leaving a polite word behind, while Yuan Chongban shook his head and smiled bitterly, Zhao Yang took Zhong E to the outside of the palace, and then picked an ordinary restaurant nearby at the north end of Royal Street.
"How about serving here?"
"Uh, okay...ok..." Zhong E nodded repeatedly.
So Zhao Yang dragged Zhong E into the restaurant, and at the same time motioned to Wei Tao and Bao Rong to ask for Zhong's diagnosis and consultation.
The area at the north end of Royal Street is full of rich people. Even if the restaurant located here is not as good as Fanlou, it is better than that in Xiaotianshui Lane. The foreman in the restaurant, or Dr. Jiu, also knows how to observe people's emotions at a glance. He saw the identities of Zhao Yang and his entourage, and hurriedly came forward to greet them: "Guys, what are your orders?"
Zhao Yang said: "There are two elegant rooms. Please prepare good wine and food. When all the guests arrive, they will be delivered to you."
A trace of surprise flashed in Dr. Jiu's eyes, and he couldn't help but probe: "Is it possible that the junior official..."
"Don't ask any more questions." Wang Zhongzheng said in a deep voice.
"Yes, yes." Dr. Jiu didn't dare to ask any more, and immediately led everyone to the private room on the third floor, offering tea, fresh fruits, preserved fruits and other items.
"Please take a seat because of your duties."
"Thank you, Mr. Lang."
After being invited to sit down, Zhonge took a sip of tea out of courtesy and finally couldn't help but asked: "Young Master and I have never met, and I really can't afford to be treated so politely by you. Please tell me the truth." , otherwise I will feel uneasy about my humble position."
Seeing Zhong E's anxious and uneasy expression, Zhao Yang smiled and comforted him, "Zhong is at ease with his duties. It's nothing serious."
With that, he informed Zhong E of his uncle Cao Yi's recommendation: "... I don't know what Zhong's job is. Although I have the intention to take charge of an army, I have to prepare a new department under the Ministry of Industry. I learned that the three brothers Zhong Fengzhi happened to be serving in the capital, so I invited a few of them to see if I could persuade them to help me."
Zhong E suddenly realized it, and after feeling a little relieved, he couldn't help but start weighing things in his mind.
Not long after, Wei Tao and Bao Rong invited Zhong E and Zhong E to the private room. Zhong E stood up and greeted: "Second brother, third brother."
"Fifth brother is here too?"
Zhong Di and Zhong Consultation looked surprised and responded to Zhong E with the custom of the Song Dynasty. Then they saluted Zhao Yang in unison: "This must be Zhao Yuanwailang who asked me to wait here."
"I'm Zhao Yang."
Zhao Yang returned the gift with his hand. After inviting the two of them to the table, he sent someone to order Dr. Jiu to serve the dishes.
After a while, the food and wine were served one after another, twelve cold dishes and twelve hot dishes, so rich that the doctor frowned slightly.
After the waiter left, Zhong Sheng couldn't help but said: "No merit, no banquet. My brothers and Mr. Zhao are strangers to each other. We cannot afford Mr. Zhao's hospitality. I beg Mr. Zhao to speak frankly about the reason." "
From the side, Zhong E was afraid that his two elder brothers would not understand the importance of the situation and offend the young man, so he quickly said: "Second brother, the young man is inviting a few of my brothers to a banquet this time..."
"Let me tell you." Zhao Yang interrupted with a smile and told Zhong E again what he had just told him: "My respected father is a famous general of the Song Dynasty. I have heard about this for a long time, but it is a pity that I never met him. Later. I also heard Uncle Cao Guo say that your brothers grew up in the military camp of their respected father and are familiar with military affairs. As the saying goes, a tiger father has no dog son..."
Only then did they feel relieved: it turned out that the young gentleman wanted to ask them to serve as deputy commanders of the First Battalion of his Fifth Army.
Feeling relieved, Zhong Zhen asked suspiciously: "Young Master Xiaolang, do you want one of my three brothers to be chosen as the deputy commander?"
"Yes and no." Zhao Yang said with a smile: "The new army I led was a new army authorized by the government. Because the government did not believe in my ability to lead the army, they only allowed me one battalion, but I I believe that I will command more than just one battalion in the future, so...if I see a good talent, I will naturally not miss it, lest I have soldiers but no generals in the future, wouldn't it be embarrassing?
"I can't be called a good young man." Zhongcian shook his head and said.
Zhong Zhen also smiled and said: "Among my brothers, the fifth brother is the bravest. He looks exactly like my father. From the look on his face, I am afraid that he has already been moved. As for the two of us, I can only say that the young man is probably mistaken. I will wait." Although he was born in the army, he has never learned anything. He is incompetent in writing and martial arts..."
"As the third brother said, I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed." The second doctor nodded in agreement.
"Second brother, third brother." Zhong E looked anxious and seemed to want to say something, but Zhong E stopped him with his gaze and had no choice but to give up.
Zhao Yang saw this scene in his eyes and said without comment: "How about we drink and eat first?"
Zhong Di and Zhong Consultation looked at each other, cupped their hands and said, "It is better to obey orders than to be respectful."
"please."
Zhao Yang greeted the two of them with a smile, and glanced at Zhong E, who nodded imperceptibly in response.
