Reborn in the late Northern Wei Dynasty

Chapter 237 Ai Rong and Gian Shan
Chen Qingzhi's worries were not unreasonable. He was guarding the border between Wei and Liang, and he was far more sensitive to news from the north than Jiankang.

In the past year, the Eastern and Western Weis had many actions, imitating and plagiarizing each other.

For the reason of connecting the weak against the strong, Chen Qingzhi is happy to see the success of the reform of the Western Wei Dynasty, but due to the size gap between the two Weis, it is destined to only widen the gap in strength between the two.

The starting point of any political reform promoted by the ruling class is to stabilize its own rule.

There is no doubt that Gao Cheng, who has temporarily stopped reforming due to preparations for the imperial examination, has done a good job, at least for now.

If it is said that Gao’s rule in Kanto in the past was a bit extensive, the specific performance is that Gao Huan has a large army in Jinyang to deter him and appoints his confidantes to serve as prefects and counties, but how much control can he really have over the local area?
Gao Cheng implemented reforms with the goal of strengthening the country. His series of decrees did not show much increase in national strength for the time being in less than a year, but they did realize Gao's intensive cultivation of Kanto's rule.

When the Gao family completely integrated the national power of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, Chen Qingzhi could imagine the explosive energy of the Eastern Wei regime with a population of more than 2000 million in the Sanhe area.

The dignitaries in Jiankang were content with having fun, but Chen Qingzhi, who was sitting in Jiangling, felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He asked Xiao Yan several times for orders for the Northern Expedition.

As for the consumption of the large-scale Northern Expedition, this is not what I should pay attention to, and I will deal with it by the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty in Jiankang City.

However, when the Western Wei was blocked in Kansai, Xiao Yan was not willing to challenge the Eastern Wei alone.

If he had this spirit, he would not let go of the Heyin Incident, Er Zhurong's death, Gao's Jianyi, and the opportunity of three power changes in the north within four years.

To describe Xiao Yan's state of mind in one word, it's muddling along.

There was Yu Wentai attracting hatred in the north, and he couldn't hold on anymore. He transfused some more blood, supplied a wave, and made some noise on the border between Liang and Wei, so that the Eastern Wei did not dare to go westward with all its strength.

How could Xiao Yan, who had made up his mind to sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight in the south of the Yangtze River, agree to Chen Qingzhi's request.

Aspirations are hard to repay, Chen Qingzhi sighed and sighed, and finally got the good news that Yuan Zigong, the governor of Southern Jingzhou, died of illness in Luoyang.

Chen Qingzhi didn't know much about Zhang Liang. According to the intelligence sent back by the northern spies, the most important reason why this man was trusted by Gao Huan, Gao Cheng and his son was that he was loyal to the victim.

Er Zhuzhao was cast aside in the north, but this did not prevent the world from admiring Zhang Liang's loyalty.

Chen Qingzhi didn't know Zhang Liang's ability, he only knew that Zhang Liang was ordered by Gao Cheng to form [-] salt soldiers, and now he was being trained by Lou Zhao in Jizhou.

But in his opinion, no matter what, Zhang Liang is no match for the veteran Yuan Zigong.

Yuan Zigong fought all his life, whether it was the suppression of the Qiang and Di rebellions and civil uprisings in various places, he made many meritorious deeds.

After guarding the border between Liang and Wei, he repelled the famous Nanliang general Xia Houdan twice, and Hu Zhida and other Nanliang eight generals were ordered to commit crimes. It was also Yuan Zigong who led the army to kill Hu Zhida and captured the supervisor Yan Cihong alive.

Gao Cheng placed such an outstanding veteran general in Southern Jingzhou, and together with Hou Jing to defend Chen Qingzhi, so that Chen Qingzhi could only find a breakthrough in Yuzhou, but he did not expect Yaoxiong to be a stubborn stubble. During the Western Expedition of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, Chen Qingzhi was in Yuzhou Under the city of Xuanhu (Runan, Henan Province), the city of Zhisuo lost soldiers and generals, and their heads were broken and bloody.

Now that Yuan Zigong died of illness, Chen Qingzhi also turned his attention from Yuzhou to Southern Jingzhou.

Xiao Yan's approval is required for the whole-line linkage, but if it's just a small disturbance against Southern Jingzhou, Chen Qingzhi can do it independently.

He was not in a hurry to invade Southern Jingzhou, but chose to wait for the opportunity. At the same time, he sent secret spies to listen to Zhang Liang's news and try to find out his opponent.

When Yuan Zigong was dying, Gao Cheng heard the news and went to Yuan Mansion to meet him for the last time.

Even though he had been mentally prepared, Gao Cheng still acted hard to let go when the day came and Yuan Zigong was sent away.

He personally presided over the funeral for Yuan Zigong, and asked the emperor to send him a posthumous gift from the governors of Sanjing and Eryu, the generals of Hushi, Zuo Pushe, and the governor of Jingzhou.

Yuan Zigong's 17-year-old eldest son, Yuan Biao, inherited the founding marquis of Linying County, and recruited Yuan Biao into the General's Mansion as an aide.

There are also many rewards for Yuan Zigong and the other sons, such as Yuan Wenyao, who was awarded to a man from Xiangcheng County; Yuan Wensheng, who was awarded to a man from Xincheng County.

Do Gao Cheng and Yuan Zigong really have such a deep relationship?
To be honest, no, after the change in Luoyang, Yuan Zigong returned to Gao Cheng, and immediately sent troops with him to attack Hu Sichun and Dugu Xin who occupied Sanjing, and has been guarding Southern Jingzhou since then. With a pair of hemp shoes, the two rarely communicate.

Most of Gao Cheng's sorrows and rewards are for his cronies:
Yuan Zigong can get such honor, let alone them.

After the funeral was held, Gao Cheng was not in a hurry to re-engage in official duties, but sent someone to Hulao Pass to send a message, ordering Duan Shao to arrange the military and political affairs of Northern Yuzhou and return to Luo as soon as possible.

As time entered April, Zhongshu Ling Duan Rong's physical condition became worse and worse.

When Gao Cheng came to visit, Duan Rong, who used to be a majestic figure in his memory, was already haggard.

Perhaps, just like history, Duan Rong couldn't make it through May, so Gao Cheng hurriedly recalled Duan Shao.

Letting him accompany Duan Rong through the final journey is the only thing Gao Cheng can do for his uncle and cousin.

The imperial examination that Xiao Gaowang was most concerned about, the first phase of the county examination was held at the end of March, and the results were announced in early April. By mid-April, after Duan Shao returned to Luo, all the county school admissions in various places were also presented to Gao Cheng.

Just as he had expected, it was also preparing for the state examination at the end of September, and the children of wealthy families disdained to enter the county school, and most of the students who entered the school were poor students.

The reason why Gao Cheng wanted to collect the enrollment lists from all over the country was to distribute granary meals to the students of prefectural and county government schools.

But his rice grains were not brought by the strong wind. The imperial government decree clearly stipulated that only the first year of school can receive granary meals.

Gao Cheng didn't need to please these scholars. His original intention of distributing granary meals was to ease the livelihood of impoverished students entering county and state schools so that they could concentrate on preparing for the exam.

After all, there is only half a year between the county test and the state test, and only half a year between the state test and the Beijing test.

Supporting them for one year is enough for these people to support the Beijing test at the end of March next year.

If they fail, no matter whether they are stuck in the state examination or the Beijing examination, there will be three years until the next one. The pressure on these scholars and candidates is not as heavy as during the scientific examination. They should also support themselves by finding jobs to support themselves.

It is worth mentioning that Gao Cheng let go of the behavior of officials to participate in the scientific examination. Only this time, the imperial examination will not allow officials to abandon their posts and take the examination again.

The defense is that after the candidate fails the Beijing examination, he immediately applies for an official position, and then resigns before the examination.

　There's more in the evening, let's have dinner first.

　　Thanks to book friend Deng Binyi for the reward.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)