With the peace talks between the two countries, the news of the emperor's return to the court came from the south, and hundreds of thousands of people inside and outside Tokyo fell into jubilation. Bureaucrats rejoice in outstanding achievements, and Li Shu rejoices in the end of the war.
In the nearly half a year since the war started, life has not been easy for ordinary soldiers and civilians. Everything is mainly supplied to the Huainan army and sent to the front line. The rise in food prices and the shortage of materials have made the lower-level officials and ordinary people very miserable. They also have to worry about the safety of Zheng Erlang at home.
Fortunately, the war is finally over, and in this year, late spring is a glorious time. Without the waste of war, the Tokyo government could also take out more corn and cloth from the warehouses to stabilize prices.
Before the emperor returned to Beijing, the civil and military bureaucrats in Tokyo were also immersed in busyness and complexity. For ministers, especially ministers who hold the central position, the presence or absence of the emperor are completely different concepts.
The most important thing is that before returning to Beijing, Liu Chengyou sent an edict early to the relevant offices of the three departments in Tokyo, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of War, the Privy Council and the Imperial Army, to prepare for the implementation of the aftermath of Huainan and the summary of merits and rewards for the soldiers who conquered Huaihe. pull.
In the political affairs hall, Feng Dao, Fan Zhi, Li Tao, and Xue Juzheng, several ministers in charge of government affairs, gathered together to discuss the matter. The main problem is still the issue of sending officials to Huainan.
"To win fourteen states at once, there are too many vacancies that need to be filled up and down!" Feng Dao took a sip of tea in the middle and said: "Huainan is in a hurry. Many states and counties have nothing to do with their government. As time goes by, chaos will inevitably arise!”
"After receiving the imperial edict in the previous period, more than fifty state and county officials were transferred from the two capitals. In the early years of Qianyou's reign, Jinshi was promoted, and those who could be transferred were sent to the two majors! No matter how many more, we can't get them together at one time There are so many people!" Li Tao, who was in charge of the Ministry of Official Affairs, responded. He looked like he had a headache, but his tone was very relaxed. After all, this was probably a worry about happiness.
As far as Huaidong and Huaixi are concerned, it is easy to find the appointments of feudal officials and senior generals. Could it be that they are officials at the state and county level. As early as the beginning of Shouchun, Liu Chengyou asked Tokyo to prepare a group of middle- and lower-level officials to fill the positions in Guang, Shou, Hao, and Si states. However, it was far from enough. In Huainan, although many Tang officials were surrendered and many local officials were appointed, the Northern Han Dynasty still had a large gap that needed to be dispatched to strengthen control.
After saying that, Li Tao suggested: "Should we send all the Jinshi who have been selected from the regular and institutional examinations in the past two years to Huainan?"
"No!" After saying that, Fan Zhi said directly with a straight face: "These Jinshi have little experience in governing politics and controlling the people, and they need more experience in their jobs. Huainan Prefecture and counties are all new places. The situation is unknown and complicated. , there are many official and urgent tasks that need to be handled, and they need to be filled by people with political qualifications! However, among the Jinshi, the elderly and elite can be selected for special appointment! "
Li Tao added: "There are still many honorable ministers and officials in the two capitals. They have received many favors from the country and are worthy of trust. They can be entrusted to them!"
Fan Zhi still objected: "They have no political talent and even less knowledge. How can they be officials?"
"What should I do according to Fan Xiang's opinion?" Seeing Fan Zhi repeatedly slapping him in the face without giving him any face, Li Tao felt unhappy and asked instead.
Fan Zhi thought for a moment, then looked at Feng and said, "What does Mr. Feng think of selecting officials from Hedong, Henan, and Hebei towns?"
Following Fan Zhi's suggestion, Feng Dao glanced at Fan Zhi subconsciously, stroking his white beard, thinking for a while, and nodded: "Very good! The military and political stability in various vassal towns are stable, and some manpower will be transferred to support Huainan. It will not affect the overall situation!" "
"As for the vacancies in various local towns, the imperial court can gradually replenish them!" Fan Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly.
The few husbands present present did not know what Fan Zhizhi's thoughts were at this time. Feng Dao couldn't help but glance at Fan Zhi, and thought to himself, could it be that the emperor had some secret edict for him?
Putting away his distracting thoughts, Feng Dao looked at Xue Juzheng, the deputy envoy of the Third Division, and asked: "How are you preparing to reward the three armies with money, silk, grain and rice?"
Mentioning this, Xue Juzheng had a grimace on his face, shook his head and said: "Not half!"
Liu Chengyou issued an edict, asking Tokyo to prepare five thousand catties of gold, 150,000 pieces of silver, 100,000 bolts of silk, and 200,000 shi of corn to prepare tributes and rewards for the officers and soldiers of the three armies.
This is not a small amount of money, and it has caused hardships to all officials in the three departments. Seemingly understanding Xue Juzheng's difficulties, Feng Dao simply reminded: "Your Majesty is about to return to the imperial court, and the Imperial Army is also returning to Beijing. We cannot afford to delay this matter!"
Xue Juzheng nodded and said: "When the Sigong part of the Southern Tang Dynasty returns, we will allocate them from the local warehouses and seize and sell off the army. There will not be much difference!"
The Third Division of the Han Dynasty is in charge of the country's finances. Although it has a lot of power, it is the most difficult official in the entire court. After all, it is the entire country. Although the emperor Liu Chengyou was diligent and frugal, he always spent a lot of money on every major undertaking. Take this southern expedition as an example. Most of the three years of savings were really consumed.
While the ministers in the political hall were discussing matters, a high-level military affairs meeting was also held in the Privy Council. This was the third time in this period. In addition to the privy envoys, Wei Renpu, the Minister of War, and Shang Hongqian, the palace commander.
Shang Hongqian picked up the list of rewards and promotions jointly compiled by the Ministry of War and the Privy Council, glanced at it briefly, and said with great emotion: "After this battle, the Forbidden Army has undergone major changes! Rising stars such as The clouds are billowing, I think it won’t be long before I get out of the army again, I’m afraid all the faces will be unfamiliar!”
"The Commander-in-Chief is joking!" Guo Wei said calmly: "In this southern expedition, there are countless heroes in the army who actively performed meritorious services and performed outstandingly. It is only right that the imperial court rewards people with their hard work because of their meritorious deeds. Again. Moreover, the result of this battle also proves that Your Majesty and the princes have a remarkable effect in rectifying the imperial army!"
Guo Wei's words are becoming more and more shrewd.
"The military defenses in the two provinces of Huainan still need some adjustments!" Wei Renpu, whose mind was entirely on official matters, said: "Your Majesty has set up a capital command department to govern the garrison in one province. This is the first example of the Han Dynasty. We need to be cautious. The ban on the army External garrison also needs to be controlled by the Privy Council!"
"What Xianggong Wei said is true!" Zheng Renjie took the initiative to speak, bowed to several people, and said: "The urgent task at the moment, in addition to rewarding merits and punishments, and adjusting defenses and garrison, is to adjust the Tokyo Forbidden Army. The original garrison The guard horse infantry in Xijing, Hua, Chan, and Weibo should take the opportunity to change their defenses. The troops in the conquest have suffered a lot of losses at the front and rear, and they need to be replenished!"
"Your Majesty's edict mentioned this matter!" Wei Renpu nodded, thought for a while, and said: "The establishment, official titles, and salaries of the two imperial armies need to be further adjusted. As for the number of troops that are lacking, based on my opinion, it may be possible Select the best from Hedong, Weibo, Chengde and other towns to join the Forbidden Army!"
Glancing at Wei Renpu, Guo Wei nodded and said: "Soldiers guarding the border can also be recruited!"
From the civil and military affairs in Tokyo, we can basically see where the Northern Han Dynasty's next goal will be. Before Liu Chengyou returned to the capital, an edict had been issued, and the imperial court was going to intervene heavily in the military and political affairs of Fang Zhen!
After the meeting ended, Guo Wei summoned Zheng Renjie and asked him, "Is there any new news from Guanzhong?"
Zheng Renjie shook his head, causing Prime Minister Guo to frown. Seeing this, Zheng Renjie said: "The imperial court has 20,000 troops in Jingzhao and Fengxiang. With Zhao Shijun's ability, the attack may not be enough, but the defenders are safe. Prime Minister, don't worry!"
"Based on the terrain, the Shu army occupying Qin Feng is always unfavorable to our court!" Guo Wei thought for a while and ordered: "We must pay more attention to the military affairs in Guanzhong. If my guess is correct, the emperor will never allow Meng The control of Shu. Now we are taking all the land north of the Yangtze River in the Southern Tang Dynasty. Once we free up our hands, we will definitely solve the troubles on the southwest frontier!"
Zheng Renjie was also a knowledgeable person. He nodded to express his approval. With a little excitement in his eyes between his brows, he said to Guo Wei: "Prime Minister, with the development of the current situation in the world, I am afraid that the time when the world will be restored to unity is not far away." !”
Hearing this, Guo Wei thought about it seriously, his expression became serious, and he suddenly raised his head and said to Zheng Renjie: "Rixin, have you ever thought about releasing the provinces and counties?"
Upon hearing his words, Zheng Renjie was stunned for a moment, but after thinking about it, he somewhat understood Guo Wei's concerns. Although part of the power of the Privy Council was taken away by the soldiers, it still controlled the country's military orders and had great power. The close relationship between Guo Wei and Zheng Renjie, the two envoys, was well known to everyone in the court.
After thinking for a moment, Zheng Ren taught: "I am old and frail, and I can only be promoted to the position of Cardinal upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister has arrangements, I have no objection!"
"Mr. Zheng knows the general situation!" Seeing his reaction, Guo Wei said with emotion: "Your Majesty's newly established Inspectorate Department has not yet been arranged. I would like to recommend Rixin to be appointed as Inspectorate of Huaidong Road!"
