"I reviewed the appearance of the Forbidden Army yesterday and was very pleased. Especially the Xiaoxiong, Xiongwu, and Cavalry and Archery armies made me very satisfied, Master."
"I'm here."
"I will confer you the title of Grand Master of this dynasty and bestow upon you thousands of dollars to honor your merits."
In ancient times, the post of Grand Master was one of the "Three Dukes" and had no real power. It was mostly given to important ministers as the highest honor to show the emperor's favor, similar to the rank of marshal in the army. Jia Sidao was a highly respected minister.
Listing the three princes again now is enough to show the emperor's great love for him.
Jia Sidao was stunned for a moment, then stood up and said: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Fan Wenhuan, Fan Wenhu and Jia Sidao's party all looked happy, but Liao Yingzhong's face remained as usual.
Could it be that the deterrence of the forbidden army yesterday had an effect? Zhao Fu should have been frightened at that time, but he would not have reacted so quickly, Jia Sidao thought.
I saw Jia Sidao sit down and called out: "Ma Aiqing, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Jiang Wanli, the Minister of Commerce, received the order."
"I submit to Ma Guangzu, and I submit to Jiang Wanli to await His Majesty's will."
Xiao Qi walked to the court and handed the two volumes of manuscripts to Ma Guangzu and Jiang Wanli who were standing in the center.
"Ma Aiqing, Jiang Aiqing, this is the Xie family notation compiled by the Queen Mother. I have learned it and it is very convenient to use. Now we will start to promote it from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce, and then it will be promoted to the whole country in a month."
"I obey the decree." The two men took the manuscript and said.
"Tang Aiqing, Minister of the Ministry of Industry."
"I'm here."
"It has been raining for days. The Ministry of Industry and Engineering should be careful about the safety of flood control canals in various places. It has allocated special funds and dedicated personnel to strengthen the dams, and has provided all the assistance from the government agencies of various states. If there is any danger, rescue immediately."
"Your Majesty Tang Han received the decree."
"Ma Aiqing, Minister of Rites."
"I'm here."
"April 28 is the Queen Mother's birthday. This day is honored as the Longevity Festival. The whole world celebrates it. The Ministry of Rites writes about it."
"Your Majesty Ma Tingluan obeys the order."
"Chen Aiqing, Minister of Criminal Affairs."
"I'm here."
"Chen Aiqing, the matter of Young Guards going to Jinhua to suppress bandits has been concluded a few days ago. However, the bandit leader Gai Jingtian died unexpectedly in Jinhua Prison. This matter is quite strange. The Ministry of Punishments will immediately send people to investigate and deal with it, and report the progress to me at any time."
"My lord, Chen Zongli, obeys the decree."
"Xiaoqi, pass."
Xiaoqi heard this and shouted loudly: "It is said that Xie Daolin, the commander of the imperial guard, and Wen Zhang, the commander of the young guard, came into the palace to see him."
Xie and Wen are not among the ministers who discussed matters in the previous court. They will only wait outside when summoned.
"I thank you, Daolin, and I, Wenzhang, see the emperor."
"My two dear friends, this trip to Jinhua was completed quickly with very few casualties. I am very satisfied. In accordance with the Queen Mother's decree, the Youth Guard has been expanded to a thousand people. They are still among the imperial guards. It will be completed within a few months."
"I obey your orders."
After I finished arranging the affairs of various ministries, Ye Mengding, the Minister of Civil Affairs, came out and said: "Your Majesty, all the red-listed scholars in the current imperial examination have been released. Please review them."
I took the memorial forwarded by Xiaoqi and said, "Ye Aiqing, I will review it today, and I will approve it to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty Ma Tingluan has written a memorial."
"Ma Aiqing, please speak."
"Your Majesty, after the imperial examination and literary examination, in accordance with the usual practice, the military examination will be held tomorrow. Your Majesty, please designate the examiner."
In ancient times, the imperial examination was divided into two categories: civil and military examinations. However, the military examination examination has never been taken seriously, especially in the Song Dynasty, which emphasized literature over martial arts. Over the past dynasties, the military examination examination has not produced many famous generals, except for Guo Ziyi in the Tang Dynasty, who was born in the military examination and became an official.
Except for the prime minister, the others seem to be missing from historical records.
I thought for a while and said: "Fan Wenhuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Ma Tingluan, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, you two will serve as the chief and deputy examiners of this martial arts examination respectively. The content of the examination is still the same, divided into bow and horse martial arts, strategy and art of war."
The military examination system that followed the Tang Dynasty had already gone out of shape by the time of Lizong in the Southern Song Dynasty. Since there were very few people participating, Emperor Lizong omitted all the provincial examinations, provincial examinations, etc., and held the joint examinations and palace examinations directly in the capital. Its influence was similar to that of cultural examinations.
Compared to taking exams, there is a world of difference.
"Yes, I obey your order."
"Retreat from the court."
Inside the secret room of Yanfu Temple in the north of Lin'an.
Yunze said to a masked man: "Nanfeng, don't worry, your brother's family is fine in the north. This is your brother's letter."
The masked man known as Nanfeng took the letter, and after reading it, he hummed in a low voice and said: "That's the best. Here are the identity documents of the person you want and some information about the emperor. In recent years,
This month, the DPRK is still investigating the Kuaiji assassination case, so be careful in everything you do."
Yunze smiled and said, "The poor monk knows."
"Yunze, why do you want me to come in person today?"
"It's nothing serious. It's just that I haven't seen you for a long time and I miss you a little."
"Huh, what do you think? It's full of nonsense. If there's nothing serious, let Nanfeng 2 make contact."
"Nanfeng, every time I come here, you always complain. Even if we don't count the old nostalgia, we have known each other for ten years, so we can be considered old friends."
"Old friend? If you hadn't threatened me with the lives of my brother's family, would we have been in contact?"
"Nan Feng, who knows the current affairs is a talented person. The poor monk also wants to give you a hand for the sake of fellow villagers. Think about it, only half of the Song Dynasty is left today. I, the Mongol Khan, am wise and powerful. In a few years, I will be able to do it."
Send your troops south, and you will be considered a hero by then, and will you be rich and powerful?"
"Yunze, don't get too proud too early, I don't think so."
"Really? Do you think the Zhao family can be saved?"
"Now that the new emperor has come to power and the atmosphere in the DPRK is gradually becoming more enlightened, we may not necessarily lose to Mongolia."
"Nanfeng, you serve the old and new emperors. You should know the bad habits of the Song Dynasty better than I do. Since ancient times, dynasties have changed and military strength has come first. Our Mongolian war cavalry is invincible. How can it be compared to the weak Song army? Besides, Jia Sidao
In terms of exercising power, the Song Dynasty is getting worse day by day. On the other hand, Mongolia is prospering day by day. With one thing going down and the other going up, the outcome has already been determined. Even if you take office as the new emperor, what will happen?"
"Yunze, you are also Han, don't call me Mongolian."
"Haha, Nanfeng, you don't understand the principle of good birds choosing trees to roost, don't you? Besides, you are also one of my special agents stationed in Mongolia during the Song Dynasty."
Nanfeng was about to get angry, but when he heard this last sentence, he had nothing to say. After a while, he sighed: "One wrong step, one wrong step, goodbye." After saying this, he turned around and left.
There was a "squeak" on the wall of the secret room, and a secret door opened from the ink painting on the wall. Yang Lianzhenjia walked out of it and said gloomily: "This south wind doesn't know the current affairs. When the Great Khan goes south,
It’s time to send him underground to reunite with his brother and his family.”
Yunze shuddered: "Master Priest, I understand."
Yang Lianzhenjia's face turned dark in an instant, and he said with a smile: "Yunze, you are different from him. Your loyalty is known to everyone in my world. Even the Lord God has mentioned you."
Yunze suddenly looked flattered and said, "Really, even the Lord God said that? Don't worry, Lord Priest, Yunze is loyal to Mongolia."
"Yunze, since the beginning of last month, the Great Khan moved his capital to Zhongdu, and the situation in the DPRK and Central China is prosperous. The Great Khan has secretly prepared to build an army to conquer the south. He appointed A Shu as the marshal of the southern expedition, Shi Tianze, and Ali Hague as the deputy marshals of the southern expedition. He is preparing to build a southern expedition within three years.
Send your troops south to wipe out the Zhao Dynasty in one fell swoop. The day when Mongolia will dominate the world is not far away. In addition, Lord Shenzun promises that when our Mongolian cavalry defeats the Southern Dynasty, you, Yunze, will be the chief photographer of Jiangnan Buddhism."
"General Photographer of Buddhism? Then those old bald donkeys in Lingyin Temple are also under my control?" Yunze said excitedly, not caring that he was a bald donkey.
Yang Lianzhenjia nodded and said, "Well, Lord God indeed said that."
"Yunze thanks the Lord God and the priest for cultivating me." Yunze hurriedly knelt down and prostrated.
Yang Lianzhenjia helped Yunze up and said: "Yunze doesn't need to be polite. Now you and I are on the same boat. We should work together and we will be prosperous."
"Yes, Lord Priest. Yunze must take your Lord's lead as yours."
"Well, Yunze, go and call Mr. Shi Yuqi here, let him memorize his new identity, and let's discuss tomorrow's martial arts exam together."