Compared with the smooth improvement of gunpowder bombs, Zhao Yang's order to the Technology Department to suspend the purchase of land still caused a big impact in the southern part of the outer city. The ordinary and honest local people just regretted that they did not get the opportunity to demolish, even if they were slightly greedy It's not like anything would cause trouble, but those scoundrels saw that they had lost the opportunity to make a fortune overnight, so they took the risk and committed an act of intimidation.
This group of people seems to be on their own, but there seems to be a looser group, and there may even be a few leaders.
At the beginning of the month, Zhang Yaozuo ordered the arrest of a group of about a dozen people, that is, the group of people who took over the fields and houses of the common people in the south of the outer city in a clever and violent way. It is ridiculous that these people were still guarding the occupied fields and houses, waiting for the Ministry of Works office Officials from the hospital came to negotiate. As a result, Zhang Yaozuo, after receiving reports from local people, immediately sent people to arrest the group of people and took them to Kaifeng Mansion. Those who were not caught also ran away after hearing the news.
The result of this incident was that this group of scoundrels competed with the technical department. They went out every once in a while at night, brought some poisonous snakes and pickled things and threw them in the new government office that was still under construction. Even on the night of February 9th, , and seven or eight people came to the Xinya construction site carrying several bundles of firewood and tried to burn the wood piled there. Fortunately, they were discovered by the Kaifeng Prefecture Army patrol officers who were training at night, and they dispersed in panic.
The next day, Kaifeng Prefecture Army Inspector Sun Cheng reported the matter to Zhao Yang and Kaifeng Prefecture chief Zhang Yaozuo respectively. Both of them were shocked and angry. After all, intentional arson was considered an extremely serious official case in the Song Dynasty. It is no longer a civil dispute.
So Zhang Yaozuo ordered to set up an additional military patrol shop near the new office of the Technical Department, and at the same time sent more military patrol officers to the government. At the same time, Zhang Yaozuo escorted the dozens of local ruffians captured earlier to Dali Temple for trial, hoping that Dali Temple would rebel. The death penalty is thought to scare the monkeys.
However, Dali Temple returned his request on the grounds that the dozen or so gangsters Zhang Yaozuo had previously sent to arrest were only guilty of seizing other people's fields and houses, but had no evidence of threatening the Technical Department or even conspiring to set fires. They were not guilty. to death.
Zhang Yaozuo was afraid that something would really happen in the new office of the Technical Department, so he wrote a note to the officials that day, trying to persuade them to impose the death penalty. Although the officials were quite shocked and angry after reading this, they still did not convict them of death, and the final verdict was He got an assassin and was sent to the army.
When Zhang Yaozuo told Zhao Yang about this, Zhao Yang didn't have any opinions on the verdict of Dali Temple. After all, the verdict of Dali Temple was indeed conclusive. There was currently no evidence to prove that the group was connected with the group who intended to set the fire. It was indeed inappropriate. The sentence was too harsh - not because of ethical public opinion, but because of the strict rule of law in the court, so as to prevent others from following suit in the future, resulting in the abuse of criminal law and harm to innocent people.
What Zhao Yang really has an opinion on is the official's verdict.
After all, he and Cao Yi were trying every means to improve the reputation and treatment of the Song Dynasty sergeants, but he didn't expect that the officials were still used to sending criminals into the army. Could it be that the army was a place for filth and evil?
Zhao Yang originally wanted to ask Cao Yi to submit a memorial, but Cao Yi did not dare, so Zhao Yang submitted a memorial himself, stating the reason why the old system should not be used to convict prisoners into the army. The army is an army, not a place to contain dirt.
After reading this, the officials felt that it was reasonable and invited the prime ministers and ministers to discuss the matter. The ministers also knew that Zhao Yang was working hard to improve the public opinion and status of the army, so they were not surprised. After some discussion, they agreed to the matter. .
After all, it's not a big deal. Even if those felons don't get drafted into the army, they'll find a place to go. If nothing else, the hundreds of mines under the jurisdiction of Sansi Yamen are short of manpower for mining.
Therefore, with the unanimous approval of the Political Affairs Hall, the officials immediately issued an edict to cancel the old system of "prison punishment" from now on. Repeat offenders in the future will no longer be sent to the army, but will be selected to "serve their sentences" after being judged by Dali Temple.
This edict can be regarded as Zhao Yang's influence on the Song Dynasty, but because the response was too small, it did not attract much attention in both the government and the public.
In mid-February, Zhao Yang led people to test a gunpowder bomb the size of a millstone outside the city. Because the explosion sounded like thunder in the sky, throwing up earth and flying rocks, it was so powerful that Shen Tuo, who had been the envoy of the gunpowder case, named it It is called "Thunder".
After testing, only one thunderbolt can blow up an ordinary mud-roofed house and collapse it. The power is really not small. If iron pellets, iron caltrops and other objects are added to it, there is no doubt that it can be of great use on the battlefield.
Although the cost of a gunpowder bomb is only tens of thousands of dollars, it still makes Fan Chunren, Qian Gongfu, Lu Dafang and others shake their heads. They feel that sending this gunpowder bullet worth tens of thousands of dollars to the battlefield for the army is better than paying an equal amount. Wouldn't it be more of a reward to boost morale?
But Shen Tuo disagreed and retorted: "You can win the war if you have morale?"
Indeed, the current situation of the Song army, including the Forbidden Army, is that even if it has morale, it is difficult to defeat the Liao and Xixia armies.
As a result, only a few Jinshi talents hired by the Technology Department were divided into two groups on this matter: among them, Fan Chunren, Qian Gongfu, and Lu Dafang paid more attention to practicality. Although they did not think that gunpowder ammunition was useless, it depended on the cost. , they felt that it was difficult to expand their armaments, and they could only use them as auxiliaries on the battlefield; while Shen Yu felt that most of the Song army was unable to fight, and they must adopt new tactics and new methods of warfare.
On this point, Shen Yu coincides with Zhao Yang.
Seeing that Fan Chunren and others were worried about the cost of gunpowder bombs, Zhao Yang smiled and said: "The reason why a thunderbolt currently costs tens of thousands is that the cost of gunpowder is high. If the imperial court can add a corresponding case department, it will be dedicated to The cost of producing gunpowder has also been reduced, at least it is much cheaper than buying gunpowder from the market. I personally estimate that it can be at least half cheaper."
Qian Gongfu whispered beside him: "Even so, one pill costs twenty thousand..."
Zhao Yang did not explain any more. After all, he also knew that most emerging things were difficult to accept for a while, but as long as one day the gunpowder bombs developed by his technology department would shine on the battlefields of Song and Xia, like Fan Chunren, Qian Gongfu, Lu Dafang, etc. Literati with conservative tendencies will naturally gradually accept it and become accustomed to it.
"If this is the case, Jing Xing should report to the court as soon as possible. Yesterday, Mr. Song told me that the market where he went to buy fireworks was said to have increased the price. Although it is not much at the moment, less than half, but if it is like me If the Technology Department purchases gunpowder so frequently, sooner or later the price of gunpowder in Bianjing will rise sharply." Fan Chunren said quite forward-looking.
"Hmm." Zhao Yang also nodded in agreement and said to Fan Chunren: "Have the account books of recent expenses been sorted out? I will take them to the officials for review."
"Give me a night to sort it out."
"There's no rush. Since we have to report this matter, we naturally have to be fully prepared and ask the officials and ministers to witness the power of gunpowder bombs with their own eyes."
So Zhao Yang asked Shen Tao and Song Yang to go to Fang City in the city to purchase several carts of gunpowder and make various types of gunpowder bombs. They must be careful to make sure there are no mistakes.
Song Yang and other gunpowder case craftsmen were even more excited when they heard that they wanted to ask officials and ministers to inspect and use it.
Two days later, on February 19, around Chen hour, Zhao Yang led Wang Zhongzheng and others to the palace with the expense account book of the Technology Department compiled by Fan Chunren.
After entering the palace, he first went to the Privy Council.
When he learned that Zhao Yang was coming, Song Xiang, the privy envoy, was quite surprised. He walked out of the privy hall and personally invited Zhao Yang in who was waiting outside. After ordering the officials to serve tea, he smiled and said: "Since last time, the three of us have been discussing the strategy for Xia. , but I haven’t seen Zhao Zhengyan for some time.”
Regarding Zhao Yang's current interactions with the court, they can be roughly divided into three categories: good, medium, and bad. Among them, the censor Liu Shi, the imperial censor Liu Yuanyu, and the Zhijianyuan Wu Shi are considered to be enemies of each other. They usually say hello to the people they bump into most. , most of them pretend not to see; the relationship with Song Xiang can be classified as medium, at least both parties are willing to exchange a few words; as for the friendly ones, namely Chen Zhizhong, Zhang Yaozuo, Cao Yi, etc., Wang Zhi of Zhijian Yuan also counts.
Since the relationship was still good, Zhao Yang was happy to chat with Song Xiang and ask the Privy Council how they were doing in redrafting the Xia strategy.
Song Xiang shook his head and said: "It's early. ... The main strategy has been submitted to the officials before, but the detailed strategy... The officials sent by the Privy Council to conduct field surveys on Shaanxi Fourth Road are probably still on the way... How did Zhao Zhengyan get it today? Come to my Privy Council for free?"
Zhao Yang was not surprised by what Song Xiang said. When the other party asked about it, he told the truth: "I have been tinkering with gunpowder bombs recently. I have some results and ideas for the time being, so I went to the palace today to report to the officials. I stopped by. A trip to the Privy Council. Mr. Song, if I intend to transfer the First Battalion of the Fifth Tianwu Army under my command to be stationed near the new office of our Technical Department, how should I report it to the Privy Council?"
"Is it for those rogues?" Song Xiang also heard about this, thought for a while and said: "Although our Privy Council has the power to mobilize troops, it also has its own time. If there is a war, our Privy Council can take full power, but right now Well, it’s better to report it to the Political Affairs Hall first and get the official’s approval... Then I’ll just ask the front secretary to cooperate.”
"Thank you." Zhao Yang bowed his hands to Song Xiang, then looked around and joked about Gao Ruona: "After a while, Xiao Gao became more and more unruly. I sat there for a long time, but he didn't come to greet me. , Tsk!”
"Ha." Song Xiang chuckled, and his expression changed slightly: "Little...I mean Bachelor Gao, he was no longer in our Privy Council a few days ago, and was transferred to the Political Affairs Hall to serve as the Councilor for Political Affairs..."
Zhao Yang was stunned for a moment, with a strange expression on his face: "Did you commit a crime?"
The deputy minister of political affairs was also known as the deputy prime minister. In terms of status, he was equivalent to the deputy privy envoy, but in terms of actual power, it was slightly insufficient. Therefore, Zhao Yang was not sure whether Gao Ruona was promoted or demoted.
As if he had guessed what he was thinking, Song Xiang shook his head and said: "It's considered a peaceful relocation...just a routine rotation. Since the official took office, officials from the two governments have been dismissed within a few months without mentioning it, probably every one or two years. It’s not convenient for me to explain the reason for the replacement, but it shouldn’t be difficult to guess based on Zhao Zhengyan’s talent.”
After that, he looked around the Privy Council and sighed softly: "My time here is probably not long, and I will probably be transferred to the Political Hall. At that time, either Pang Xianggong will take over as Privy Councilor, or Zhao Zhengyan once met Wang Yiyong has passed... Oh, by the way, Mr. Pang is currently the Deputy Privy Envoy, and he works in the former privy chamber of Mr. Gao. Did Zhao Zhengyan go over and say hello? "
"There's no rush." Zhao Yang waved his hand, then frowned and said, "With all this exchange... what should I do about Xia's strategy?"
"We can only let Mr. Pang or Wang Yiyong take over." Song Xiang made a helpless gesture.
Also, for some reason, the officials did not want them to serve for too long, so what could they do.
After chatting for a while, Zhao Yang said goodbye to Song Xiang and went to say hello to Pang Ji not far from the next door.
Although he knew that the officials would summon the princes of both houses later, but he did not greet Pang Ji when he came to the Privy Council, wouldn't this mean that he was not giving Pang Ji face?
In short, Zhao Yang sat at Pang Ji's place for a while, exchanged a few words, drank half a bowl of tea, and then said goodbye to Pang Ji and went to Chui Gong Hall.
When he arrived outside the Chui Gong Hall, Zhao Yang saw Yuan Zheng, the Chongban of the Inner Hall, who was standing outside the hall chatting with people.
"Isn't this little Mr. Zhao?"
As soon as he saw Zhao Yang, Yuan Chongban led the man he was talking to to greet him. Zhao Yang was no stranger to him either. He was the Li family member who had been demoted to the Chongban of the Inner Palace after being demoted from the Western Shangmen Envoy three times in five days. Sanlang Li Ju.
"Zhao Zhengyan."
Compared with Yuan Chongban's attitude, as if he saw an acquaintance, Li Ju looked very reserved and saluted with clasped fists. He was far less confident than when he faced a group of Kaifeng officials in Fanlou that day - not because he was demoted, but because he already knew. , the person in front of me can't even afford to offend their Li family.
Zhao Yang did not embarrass Li Ju in line with the idea that water in a well should not interfere with the water in the river. He nodded slightly and said to Yuan Zheng: "I want to see an official, and I would like to ask Yuan Chongban to inform me."
Yuan Zheng secretly looked at Li Ju with amusement, and I'm afraid there was a lot of gloating among them. Hearing Zhao Yang's words, his face showed a look of astonishment. You must know that Zhao Yang rarely asked anyone to report when he came in and out of Chui Gong Hall before.
"Are you still upset?" Yuan Chongban asked in a low voice.
Zhao Yang rolled his eyes, and before he could speak, Yuan Chongban laughed and said: "Anyway, don't take your anger out on me, I will go and report it."
After saying that, he turned around and walked into the palace, leaving Zhao Yang and Li Ju subconsciously looking at each other, looking at each other in silence, and the atmosphere was slightly awkward.
Fortunately, within just a moment, an official's angry voice came from the palace: "Tell him to come into the palace."
Zhao Yang straightened his clothes, walked into the side hall, bowed his hands and saluted the person sitting behind the imperial table: "Your Majesty, Zhao Yang, pays homage to the official family."
Looking at the serious Zhao Yang, the anger in the official's heart surged again, and he said in a strange way: "Isn't this Zhao Zhengyan... Zhao Zhengyan has been in the limelight recently. He doesn't show up, directs Zhang Yaozuo to do things, and even Chen Zhizhong also goes to you for you. I recommend a failed student named Su Xun..."
From the side, Wang Shougui saw that one of the two men had a sullen face and the other had a sinister look on his face. He smiled bitterly in his heart and hurriedly said, "I haven't seen Mr. Zhao for a long time. Does Mr. Zhao have something to report?"
Zhao Yang ignored Zhao Zhen's yin and yang anger, took out the account book in his hand and handed it to Wang Shourui: "My technical department has made some small progress in the gunpowder case, so I came to report to the officials and discuss some ideas with the officials and other prime ministers." Let’s discuss, this is the ledger of recent expenditures of our Technology Department, Wang Duzhi, please hand it over to the officials for review first.”
"Hey." Wang Shougui agreed repeatedly, took the account book and handed it to Zhao Zhen in a small step.
Seeing that Zhao Yang was talking about business as soon as they met, Zhao Zhen was angry, but he didn't want to get angry again. After taking the account book, he glanced at it and said casually: "I heard that you have been practicing calligraphy and painting whenever you have free time recently. , are there any results you can show me?"
"Nothing has been achieved. The officials should quickly look at the account books." Zhao Yang said calmly.
Isn’t this just saying something to death...
While Wang Shougui secretly smiled bitterly, Zhao Zhen was so angry that he wanted to throw the account book in his hand at the boy's face. After giving him a fierce look, he finally opened the account book and read the expenditure data on the account book with a frown.
Fan Chunren is a careful person, and the expenses listed in the account book are also clear, which made Zhao Zhen nod slightly.
Until Zhao Zhenfan saw the recent expenses of the Gunpowder Case, a look of shock appeared on his face, and he said in horror: "The cost of your technical department's purchase of nearly thirty hectares of land, not including relocation compensation, is only five or six thousand yuan. Your Gunpowder Case Why is it so expensive, four thousand guan was spent on just the 20th day?"
Zhao Yang held up his hands and explained: "It's just that when our technical department's gunpowder department was refining gunpowder bombs recently, the material department of the Ministry of Industry did not have gunpowder in stock, so we could only ask craftsmen to purchase it in Fangshi, the city where fireworks are made in Bianjing." There are not many craftsmen, so the price is high... I came here to report today. I also hope that the officials can order the Privy Council or the Third Department to add several official workshops to be responsible for supervising the manufacture of gunpowder. If this can be done, our Technical Department will develop gunpowder in the future. , which can also reduce some costs.”
Zhao Zhen nodded repeatedly after hearing this: "It must be built! It must be built!"
Four thousand guan was spent in just the 20th day. Can't we spend more than 100,000 guan in a year?
If Zhao Yang, who came from a later generation, had not insisted on developing gunpowder, otherwise he would not have been willing to continue to spend money to improve gunpowder with his habit of advocating frugality.
After taking a few deep breaths to relieve the heartache, Zhao Zhen said sternly to Zhao Yang: "No matter what, I hope you know what you are doing."
Zhao Yang was stunned for a moment, then said seriously: "Don't worry, officials, this money will not be spent in vain. In fact, when I come here today, I also want to invite officials and other ministers to come out of the city to test the recent results of my gunpowder case. I believe that after reading this, the officials and all the gentlemen will feel that the money was well spent."
"Has the result been achieved?" Zhao Zhen looked surprised. Then he looked at Zhao Yang again, and he suddenly felt enlightened. He nodded and said, "Since you are so sure, there is no harm in going and taking a look."
After that, he sent people to invite the ministers Chen Zhizhong, Wen Yanbo, Gao Ruona, Song Xiang and Pang Ji, as well as the third envoy Ye Qingchen.
About half an hour later, Ye Qingchen finally arrived at Chui Gong Hall, and was quite surprised to see the officials summoning him and all the other ministers.
At this time, Zhao Zhen was fair to all of you: "A month ago, I appropriated funds from the internal treasury and ordered Zhao Yang to build a technical department. Today, the gunpowder case in his department has achieved some results. I and you are invited to go outside the city for inspection and inspection. What do you think? ?”
Although Song Xiang, Wen Yanbo, Gao Ruona, and Pang Ji had paid a little attention to Zhao Yang's technical department recently, they only knew that Zhao Yang had recently frequently asked people to purchase fireworks, gunpowder and other items from the market, but they did not know Zhao Yang's specific details. What he was doing, the Third Chief of Staff Ye Qingchen was even more busy with matters in Hebei and knew nothing about it. Hearing what the official said, he suddenly became curious.
So the officials immediately ordered Zhang Yaozuo, the official of the Kaifeng Prefecture, and Cao Yan, the chief minister in front of the palace, to take charge of the defense, and then led the ministers and assistants to the western suburbs outside the city.
