Two old men walked side by side on Kaifeng Street. Song
They also had their hands behind their backs, bent over, and walked slowly.
"If everything goes well, I would like to retire before the New Year and return to my old home in time to worship my ancestors."
"We old guys will quit as soon as we quit. Don't let your little girl resign too."
"Don't worry, she won't resign. His Majesty has always said recently that he needs to be different from Meng Yuan and do better than Kublai Khan. I don't understand why he has such worries, and I am too old to help.
If you are busy, at least let these brothers and sisters assist His Majesty."
"In our eyes, Your Majesty has done a lot better."
Yang Guo stopped and turned around to look at the long street.
Kaifeng has restored some prosperity. Perhaps it is not as prosperous as the Imperial Street in Bianjing a hundred or two hundred years ago. At least it is more vibrant than during the reign of Meng Yuan... He knew this best. Song Dynasty
He could see that the people's clothes and appearance were different.
There are also some details, such as the number of hawking calls on the streets, and the vegetable farmers who dare to shout louder. The common people are no longer trapped in lambs, can breathe a little more in life, and are willing to go to the streets to buy some melons and fruits for refreshments.
It is only said that Kublai Khan needed to protect the interests of the Mongolian nobles, but he does not need to do so today. This may be just a few policy differences, but for ordinary people, it makes the difference between heaven and earth.
"Having been with His Majesty for more than ten years, sometimes I still can't understand how far he wants to go."
"If I could live another ten years, maybe you and I could see it."
"My body and bones are failing, and I have always felt weak in recent years. Let alone ten years, I am often afraid that I will not be able to survive the day when the world will be unified."
"Soon." Song
While talking, the two of them had arrived at the bank of Longting Lake, and the palace was not far away.
"Judging from the battle reports received recently," Han Chengxu said, "If it weren't for the prefectures and counties along the river and the large number of prisoners who had to be resettled and prepared, it would be easy to attack Lin'an directly."
"Having said that, you can't skip what you need to do. His Majesty also said that the Southern Expedition is not afraid of being late, but it is afraid of swallowing up the Song Dynasty's filth too quickly."
"The truth is naturally like this. After a month or two of preparation, it is not us who are really panicking, but the Zhao family court."
"With the blade on your neck, you can only wait for it to chop down. How can you not panic?"
Both of them stroked their beards and smiled.
This area is where the Henan Economic Strategy Office is located. When you walk here, you can already see many officials rushing back and forth, and the atmosphere of the conversation is not as leisurely as before. Song
Occasionally, I would meet some ministers and talk to them about state affairs.
"Prime Minister Zuo, good news. I just met with Your Majesty and he has agreed to open a new school to recruit scholars."
"That's good. Can we agree on the form of the imperial examination? Should it be current policy, scriptures, essays, or meaning, theory, and policy?"
"It has not been decided yet, but it can be seen that His Majesty attaches great importance to this, and I will definitely summon all the princes to discuss it."
Xi Jihu was also very busy. As he said, he bowed his head and hurried off to another place.
Han Chengxu and Yang Guo helped each other and continued walking forward.
"His Majesty originally wanted to open a subject to obtain scholars, but the wars in the past few years have been delayed," Han Chengxu said, "I just said that your Majesty wants to do better than Kublai Khan. This is another matter. It shows that he is worried.
"Song
"It's good to open a new subject to get scholars." Yang Guo said, "The people in the north have been waiting for it for decades, but they still have to rely on their own kings to develop culture and education. However, the north has been in decline for hundreds to hundreds of years, and once the imperial examination is opened,
Is it possible that all members of the imperial court will be Southerners?"
"His Majesty has mentioned this matter to me a long time ago. He once said that the Arakan imperial examination should be divided into northern and southern rankings. It was a foresight."
Yang Guo felt relieved and said: "This matter will be of great use in winning over the hearts of the people in the south. I think the news will spread to the south and more people will surrender."
"The husband of the Gao family can save a lot of energy."
Today, only Han Chengxu still calls Gao Changshou like this.
This represents their relationship that went through life and death together.
There will be high-ranking officials and nobles in the future, but the memories of sharing life and death together are irreplaceable. Song Dynasty
"Marshal Gao's prisoners from the Battle of Wuhu will be able to arrive in Kaifeng in the next two days, right?"
"Counting the time, it's almost time..."
The two of them arrived at the public room and sat down. Over there, Guan De had already brought the chariot over and greeted them with a smile.
"Your Majesty summoned the two old husbands and said that he had something good for you to see."
Han Chengxu couldn't help but be curious and asked: "Is it possible that a large amount of gold and silver was seized and the national treasury finally has no worries about spending it?"
The smile on Guan De's face froze slightly, and he said with an apologetic smile: "Old Mr. Han is joking again, there is no such treasury in the world. Unless I go to Hara and Lin to take a look..."
Yang Guo thought to himself, now even the eunuchs from the south can talk about Hara and Lin. Ten years ago, which southerner could be so crazy? Song Dynasty
~~
Li Xia summoned not many ministers that day, only a few confidants...not including Lu Wenhuan.
As soon as Han Chengxu and Yang Guo entered the palace, Guan De greeted them and asked them to sit down.
"His Majesty will come over in a while and tell your gentlemen to sit down."
Han Chengxu looked around and saw that there was no map in the palace. He couldn't help but be surprised and asked Li Ye, who had arrived earlier: "Isn't there a meeting today?"
"I don't know, I'm very busy. Your Majesty insisted on summoning me, and he didn't tell me why."
Li Ye has always had a bad temper, and he sat there with a reluctant look on his face. Song
After a while, it was Huo Xiaolian who personally led a few elite soldiers and carried a box into the palace.
Li Xia hasn't arrived yet, and only the box is placed in the center of the hall.
Li Ye became increasingly impatient, twirling his long beard and constantly looking up at the sky.
"Your Majesty has arrived."
"Gentlemen, there is no need to get up."
Li Xia entered the hall, and before several senior ministers could stand up, he raised his hand to tell them to sit down.
He came late because there was some minor matter in the harem. But the Nine-Fifth Lord did not need to explain to his ministers. Song Dynasty
"Open it and take a look, be gentle."
"Here."
Huo Xiaolian was about to step forward to open the box, but was stopped again.
Guan De hurried over in small steps and said: "General Huo, please slow down, Your Majesty asked us to come."
He walked to the box, held a small key in his orchid fingers and opened the gilt copper lock with a click. He turned his eyes left and right and carefully took out a scroll wrapped in red cloth.
"How about asking Li Jixiang to take a look at it first?"
In the palace, Li Ye was the most impatient, so Guan De brought the scroll to him first. Song
"Your Majesty called me here for important matters, but it was just to look at some calligraphy and paintings..."
Li Ye complained, squinting his old eyes and already saw a few words on the scroll.
He couldn't help but lean forward.
What was framed on it was just a letter.
There are very few words on the letter, only three or four columns.
"Xizhi bowed his head, and soon it snowed and then it cleared up, and he wanted peace and good. But the result was not enough. Wang Xizhi bowed his head. Shanyin Zhanghou."
Li Ye quickly covered his mouth and leaned back, fearing that his saliva would splash on the letter paper. Song
"This...authentic work?!"
Li Xia said: "I don't understand, it must be an authentic work."
Han Chengxu and Yang Guo had already stood up and came forward, half-bent.
Who would have imagined that if you live to the age of being buried, you will still be able to see Wang Xizhi's "Quick Snow and Clear Tie".
Thinking back to the hard days of those years, Han Chengxu felt like crying again.
"Don't worry, old husbands, there are still many treasures in this box."
Guan De carefully put away the scroll in his hand and leaned over to pick up another one. Song
Everyone held their breath and looked around, seeing a painting of a lady.
Then two, three...
""Lady with Hairpin Flowers", excellent painting skills."
"..."
I have to say, that box is really full of treasures.
Several important ministers looked at it for a long time and only saw four or five items, and they were still exchanging praises.
"This life is not in vain." Li Ye completely forgot about his complaint just now and said with emotion, "This life is not in vain." Song
Instead, Li Xia became a little impatient. He looked at the sky and coughed twice.
"His Majesty."
Han Xucheng reacted first and asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, where did you get these treasures?"
"Captured by Gao Changshou." Li Xia said, "Jia Sidao's collection."
"What a great Jia Sidao!"
Li Ye raised his hand, pointed at the box, and wanted to scold Jia Sidao, but for a moment he felt admired.
Thinking about it again, if a person lives his whole life and lives to the point like Jia Sidao, he takes possession of all the rare treasures in the world as his own, so what if he is scolded? He scolded him, but he seemed jealous. Song
"Bring the people."
"Here."
Not long after, Weng Yinglong and Huang Gongshao led someone into the palace.
This person's clothes were relatively clean, but he had a sad look on his face. He was Liao Yingzhong.
Liao Yingzhong raised her head and looked at Li Xia. She was stunned for a while and then came to her senses without losing her grace.
"Farewell to Ezhou, we haven't seen each other for many years."
Li Xia nodded and said, "Tell us about these paintings and calligraphy." Song
"There is nothing much to say. Duke Pingzhang loves treasures so much that he built a Duobao Pavilion in his mansion. When he was in Lin'an, he would visit them every day. I only brought a small part of them with me on this expedition..."
Li Ye, Yang Guo, and Han Chengxu all took a deep breath.
"Is this Duobao Pavilion...still in Lin'an?"
This is nonsense, and Liao Yingzhong does not answer such nonsense.
Although he was defeated and captured, he still had a noble aura standing here.
Compared with him, several of Li Xia's important ministers looked like country bumpkins who had never seen the world.
"I heard that Jia Sidao did whatever it took to collect these treasures." Li Xia said: "Zongli Zong once gave Yu Jie a jade belt, and Yu Jie was buried as a sacrifice after his death. Jia Sidao did not hesitate to dig up Yu Jie's tomb for this?" Song Dynasty
This was an extremely disgraceful thing. Liao Ying lowered her head and remained silent again.
He glanced at Weng Yinglong and Huang Gongshao, and saw that they looked surprised. This was the first time he heard about this.
Then I don’t know who told Li Xia.
Others in the palace did not know Jia Sidao at first, but they finally understood him now.
For example, I didn't understand why Jia Sidao didn't want to submit.
Today I found out that just one Duobao Pavilion is so impressive, so how extravagant should the mansion in Lin'an be? And although he was not the Lord of the Song Dynasty, his authority was still higher than that of the Lord of the Song Dynasty.
Who would want to give up living such a magical life? Song
"Jia Sidao was talented and interesting, but he had done a lot of bad things in his life. Even if he died badly, it was his retribution... Is he dead?"
Li Xia said casually to distract Liao Yingzhong's attention, and suddenly asked.
Several important officials in the palace also knew Li Xia's intention, and they were all observing Liao Yingzhong's expression.
"I have no idea."
Liao Yingzhong was stunned for a moment, and then said sadly: "I asked people to wear Ping Zhanggong's official uniform to attract attention, and Ping Zhanggong took four guards and took a boat away... It was you who said the boat was destroyed and people were killed.
, it was you who asked if Mr. Ping Zhang was alive. I was on the boat all the time, how could I know?"