"If I recruit you to join the Imperial City Division, will you be willing?"
"Imperial City Secretary?"
Li Yong's heart moved. In fact, with his current white body, he had no hope of reaching the sky in one step.
He had no intention of taking the imperial examination. In fact, it was not only because he was tired of his previous studies and wanted to find another way, but also because he couldn't bear to deal with those civil servants.
Fortunately, at this time, it was not like later, when the government was controlled by the civil servants. As a military general, you would have to face Di Qing's dilemma. His hands were tied and it was difficult to use his fists.
But he didn't intend to start as a military general. In fact, in his mind, the most ideal thing was to start from the Imperial City Division.
The Imperial City Department of the Song Dynasty was actually similar to the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty and the Niangan Department of the Qing Dynasty. It was a secret service agency directly under the emperor.
Even in terms of duties, they are similar to the Jin Yiwei of the Ming Dynasty, responsible for palace confinement, Zhou Lu residence guard, and spying on intelligence.
The imperial eunuch of the emperor's side serves as the supreme commander of the imperial city, and there are two agencies under it: the detective department and the ice well service.
In the TV series, the male protagonist Gu Qianfan is actually equivalent to the position of the Chief of the Detective Department. To do this for someone with a Jinshi background seems a bit overqualified.
However, as a close official of the emperor, the Imperial City Secretary was the one who had the most trust from the emperor. Qi Mu arranged for Gu Qianfan to come here, possibly using him to control the Imperial City Secretary and then the emperor's thoughts.
At the end of the play, Gu Qianfan enters the palace and threatens the queen. It seems outrageous, but it is not unworkable. However, the ending is safe and sound, which seems a bit ridiculous. No matter how kind Zhao Heng is, he cannot tolerate this.
After all, if he could threaten the queen's personal safety, he would most likely threaten himself, and thus the imperial power. Even if his life was spared, he would have to be deprived of all his positions and personal relationships, and become a commoner.
Do you really think that feudal emperors are just playing house?
It is not surprising that Zhao Heng would think of arranging Li Yong to be the Imperial City Secretary. After all, although Li Yong has shown certain talents now, he is not good at literature and military. If he wants to be better used by himself, he really can only do it in the Imperial City. Only in this organization that belongs directly to you can you make full use of your strengths.
As Li Yong himself said, he is just talking on paper and has no actual practice. In this case, he can simply be placed in the Imperial City Department. On the one hand, he can be summoned into the palace at any time to discuss suggestions with him; Put him in this position and let him get more involved in things. The so-called sword is sharpened. If it can be used seriously, he will have accumulated some merits and qualifications by then, and it will be reasonable to make other arrangements.
"How?" After Li Shenfu told Li Yong about the duties of the Imperial City Department, Zhao Heng looked at the young man in front of him with interest, but also wondered what choice he would make.
Speaking of which, Li Shenfu is now the Imperial City Secretary of the Imperial City Division. He is nominally in charge of the entire Imperial City Division. Of course, in fact, he only represents Emperor Zhao Heng's control over the Imperial City Division. He represents the emperor on behalf of the Imperial City Division. The Imperial City Secretary issued an order.
Li Yong actually knew what the Imperial City Division was doing, but here, there are still many differences between the Imperial City Division and what can be traced back to history. The large organizational framework is similar, but some small details in the name are different.
However, even though I had already made up my mind and had an idea, on the surface, I still had to reject it.
In fact, the emperor was very faithful to his words, and after saying this, he could no longer tolerate Li Yong's refusal. But since he asked this, of course Li Yong could take the opportunity to reveal some "real thoughts."
"The official family, the Imperial City Division, seems to have a bad reputation among the people. Common people..."
"Why, you're still disgusted?" Zhao Heng was not angry because Li Yong started to be picky, but found it a bit funny.
Because what he said is also true. Not to mention among the people, even among the ministers of the court, the reputation of the Imperial City Division is by no means good.
This is normal. For a violent power organization in the hands of an emperor, it would be strange for it to have a good reputation.
For example, what does the ideal saintly king look like among those civil servants?
He is aloof and governs from a low position. He does not care about trivial matters, but he can accept advice with an open mind, and he will not be punished for his words.
Even better, what the emperor can hear is what they say, not what the emperor himself wants to hear.
But because of the existence of institutions like the Imperial City Department, the emperor could know everything he wanted to know, including their private pursuits and contacts. Isn't this a burden?
Moreover, the hands of the Imperial City Division are always stained with blood, but their powers have no limited scope. It all depends on the emperor's own considerations. If he feels that it should be dispatched, he will give the order.
Matters such as official confiscation of homes are all handled by the Imperial City Division. Over time, the reputation of the Imperial City Division in the court will naturally become bad. After all, contact with them is likely to be one's own disaster, and no one wants to It makes you feel unlucky.
It can even be said that the public discussion and demonization of the Imperial City Division itself originated from the deliberate promotion of civil servants and scholars. Who knows that they have the right to speak and can guide or even dominate public opinion.
Just like the debate between clear and turbid water, in fact, most officials may not want to participate at all, but if you don't speak up, others will find their own way to drag you down. In the end, no one can survive alone.
Li Yong smiled sheepishly, scratched his head and said: "The officials and ordinary people are not afraid of themselves. To be appreciated by the officials, you have to have a chance to show your talents. The so-called reputation is just a passing smoke. As long as you are innocent in your heart, you just want to look back. If my father finds out, I'm afraid he will get some misunderstanding."
Of course, Zhao Heng also knew something about the situation of the Li family. Li Yong's father, Li Yuan, doted on him even more, so he could understand what Li Yong said.
Nodding, Zhao Heng pointed at Li Yong and said with a smile: "What you said is not unreasonable, but you don't know that although the Imperial City Division has a great reputation outside, you see no one talking about the Imperial City Division. Who specifically?”
Li Yong suddenly realized it and immediately laughed and said: "The common people are confused for a while. In this case, the common people will naturally let the officials arrange it!"
Although the confidentiality of the Imperial City Division was limited to that, even if the courtiers knew their identities, they would not dare to publicize them. This was also a tacit understanding.
As for the people, it is naturally impossible for them to know too much about the Imperial City Division. As long as they don't publicize it in a high-profile manner, it won't make everyone aware of it.
Of course, Li Yong originally just said this, how could he not know these things himself.
But in front of the emperor, you can be smarter when you should be smarter, but sometimes you are not that smarter, which is rare.
Zhao Heng called Li Shenfu, and then smiled at Li Yong and said, "You can talk to him about the rest of the matter. If you need anything, you can come to him. If I remember correctly, you live there now. In the Gao Family Fort?"
Li Yong immediately nodded in agreement, and then heard him say: "If you are serving in the Imperial City Division, but it is difficult to live too far away, I will arrange a residence with you outside Donghua Gate, and you will move into the inner city. Come—Li Shenfu, I’ll leave this matter to you.”
Li Shenfu nodded in response, then went over to greet Li Yong and said, "Master Li, come with me..."
When Li Yong followed Li Shenfu down, Zhao Heng smiled and shook his head and said: "This young man is really interesting... I hope you don't disappoint me."
Immediately, he thought that the affairs of Liao and Xia that Li Yong mentioned before were the two foreign troubles of the Song Dynasty, and he couldn't help but frown and think.
】
After a while, he called for someone to come and said: "Let Li Hang come into the palace. I have something to talk to him about..."
