I studied in modern times

Chapter 348 Handover

Zhao Xu met with the officials of Kaifeng Prefecture one by one in the lobby of the government office.

Li Shiliang, the promotion officer, Hu Ji, the judge, Wang Wenxuan, the inspector of the left capital, Guo Wenliang, the inspector of the right capital, Zhao Shi'an, a member of the Lu Department, and the official officials of the left and right chambers.

He speaks softly, comforts and cares.

But in fact, Zhao Xu has already made a decision in his heart.

Most of the officials present today will be gradually replaced in the coming months.

Those who cannot keep up with the rhythm and are not suitable will be eliminated.

Only those who are truly willing to do things, willing to do things, and smart enough can stay.

I sat in the government office for more than a quarter of an hour.

Zhao Xu, accompanied by Cai Jing, inspected other official houses in Kaifeng Mansion.

He went to the Plum Blossom Hall and saw the place where Kaifeng Prefecture officials usually read and rested.

In the meeting hall, I checked some documents from Kaifeng Mansion.

In Mingli Garden, I read the books preserved here.

Then he inspected the arithmetic of the Kaifeng Fuxue affiliated school.

Here, he smiled happily.

"You've done a good job in arithmetic!" Before leaving Kaifeng Mansion, Zhao Xu called Cai Jing to the imperial chariot and praised him for the first time: "The country is in short supply of people who are wise in arithmetic! You should do more in this regard." Pay attention to cultivating talented people with clear calculations!”

Cai Jing now expressed his position: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I must bear in mind the holy teachings and run the arithmetic school well!"

Zhao Xu nodded, then lowered the curtain of the royal chariot, looked at the sword that Zhenzong had used in the past, which he had personally and respectfully invited back from the Qianlong Palace, and then told Yan Yuan: "Leave it to me! "

Yan Yuan respectfully accepted the order.

The chariot driver, escorted by Yulong Zhuzhi, changed his route to the east, heading towards Dutingyi.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of Bianjing Jiaoziwu.

Li Xian, who had already received the decree and was about to arrive today, had already brought the civil servants, military officers and ministers who had been entrusted with Ziwu to greet him early.

"Old minister, I respectfully wish you all holy greetings!"

Long time no see, Li Xian seems to be a little older.

There were signs of graying on his temples.

This is normal!

A year ago, Li Xian was still the unrivaled commander in Xihe Road, with tens of thousands of powerful soldiers under his command, rampaging across the northwest and arrogant to all countries!

The Tubo people respected and feared him, while the Western thieves feared and feared him.

The military ministers beside him were as docile as kittens in front of him.

When he was at his most majestic, he could even get military officials from remote counties like Peng Sun to wash his feet.

Peng Sun had to smile and cater to him.

But after returning to Beijing, the power he once had suddenly disappeared.

He was even close to being impeached by the civil servants, and he would not even be able to keep his job.

Although his status is still very high now, he has even reached the top of the chamberlain rank - everyone in the chamberlain knows about it!
But the actual power is not much anymore.

What's more, he can only deal with the craftsmen, the Xiaohuang Sect, and two ninth-grade Beijing officials in this job.

Therefore, it is normal for him to age faster.

Zhao Xu looked at the veteran minister who was respectful in front of him and encouraged him softly: "Li Douzhi should cheer up!"

"In the future, I will have to rely on Du Zhi's wisdom to assist me!"

Li Xian burst into tears immediately: "Everyone..."

Zhao Xu nodded. He had seen some people similar to Li Xian in modern times.

A high-spirited big shot who once guided the world on stage will turn gray in a few months once he retires, and may even be unrecognizable.

"Designing the sub-committee is just the beginning..." Zhao Xu could only draw a conclusion: "When this is over, you know I still have important things to entrust you with!"

Li Xian is a useful minister.

He is still young!

He is only in his 50s now. As long as he can maintain a good attitude and fighting spirit, he can at least serve Zhao Xu for more than ten years!

Of course, he can no longer be allowed to directly touch the military power - if Li Xian touches the military power again, the scholar-bureaucrats will go crazy.

Li Xian listened, wiped his tears, and said with a smile: "The old minister's ugly behavior made everyone laugh!"

Zhao Xu smiled and took a deep look at the former general.

Zhao Xu knew very well that the cautious Li Xian who was beside his father in Bianjing City had died after going to Xihe Road.

The Li Xian standing in front of him now is an old man who has been tempered by officialdom and war.

He is also a qualified general who dares to change his ways and refuses to obey imperial orders, and has learned to tactfully deal with unreasonable instructions from Bianjing!

So, how much truth and how much falsehood is Li Xian’s statement?

Then only he himself knows.

Fortunately, Zhao Xu doesn't care about this.

As long as he can get things done, he doesn't bother to care about what the ministers think!
So, surrounded by Jiaoziwu officials led by Li Xian, and escorted by Yulongzhi led by Yan Yuan, he entered the official office of Jiaoziwu.

Compared with Kaifeng Fufu, Jiaoziwu is much shabby.

The paint on the door has almost worn off.

The lobby inside Jiaoziwu looked like it was in disrepair.

Zhao Xu walked among them, glanced at it, and called Li Xian over: "Everyone knows that Jiaozi Affairs will mainly issue Jiaozi and deal with the cashing of merchants from all over the world..."

"Let's change this lobby..."

Li Xian immediately said: "Old minister, I respectfully listen to everyone's instructions!"

Zhao Xu hummed, ordered someone to get paper and pen, and then directly drew a picture on the desk in the courtroom and gave it to Li Xian: "Let's create relevant windows in order..." "In the future, merchants will come to hand over the sub-committee and exchange the payment." To buy or buy Jiaozi, use this window to conduct internal and external transactions..."

Li Xian took the piece of paper, took a look at it, and immediately flattered him: "Everyone is wise!"

"With this imperial map, merchants will have much convenience in the future!"

Zhao Xu chuckled and did not answer Li Xian's words. Instead, he asked: "How is Shen Kuo making the plates made by Song and Liao Jiao Ziwu now?"

Li Xian replied: "For your information, Shen Tiju is in the weapons manufacturing bureau, working day and night on plate making..."

"I just went to see it yesterday..."

"The three editions were all produced by national masters such as Guo Xi, and the engravings produced are extremely exquisite..."

"Now only some details are left to be repaired. About tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest, the veteran and Shen Tiju will personally present the plate to the emperor!"

Zhao Xu listened and nodded: "Good!"

Guo Xi is a master of art in painting and sculpture in the Song Dynasty today, and his achievements in sculpture in particular are unmatched by anyone.

All the wall photos in the central government offices in Bianjing are his works.

Almost all the wall photos in the Prime Minister's home are also his handiwork.

From here, we can know how high his artistic achievements are.

And how did Shen Kuo invite Guo Xi?

Quite simply, Guo Xi was a member of the Imperial Academy of Painting in the Song Dynasty.

It is his duty to serve the royal family.

Moreover, listening to Li Xian's words, it seems that in addition to Guo Xi, there are also painters from other art academies involved in plate making and design.

This made Zhao Xu full of expectations for Song Liao Jiaozi, who was about to start printing.

A currency with beautiful patterns and value.

So, Zhao Xu asked: "So, are you ready with the paper for handing over the sub-committee?"

Li Xian replied: "I want to inform you that since last autumn, the Wensi Academy has been preparing for the new Jiaozi paper..."

"Today, tens of thousands of new papers have been prepared, and the technology and feel are different from the old paper!"

"I have seen it personally...it is indeed good paper and can be used very well!"

With that said, Li Xian asked someone to bring a brand new piece of paper to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu took it and touched it in the palm of his hand. It felt soft and hard to the touch, and it felt slightly rough when he rubbed it in his palm.

At the same time, the color of the paper is slightly gray.

Zhao Xu guessed that it might be due to certain techniques used in the process of drying the paper.

Then, he dipped his pen in some ink and drew a heavy line of ink on the paper. After watching the ink soak into the paper quickly, he tore off the piece of paper, and the paper made a loud tearing sound.

Zhao Xu nodded. As long as the production process of such paper is not leaked, it will take a long time for outsiders to imitate it.

Considering that Jiaozi is recycled every three years, it would take counterfeiters almost a year just to copy the paper.

Then various anti-counterfeiting methods and printing will become obstacles in front of forgers.

In this way, it can basically be guaranteed that during the issuance period of this issue, there will not be too many counterfeits.

A year later, the new technology iteration should be complete.

By then, it will even be possible to make paper from cotton, and at the same time, breakthroughs will be made in dyeing technology.

Such continuous technological iteration can almost guarantee that fake Jiaozi will never reach the technical level of real Jiaozi.

This is also the best anti-counterfeiting method.

Putting down the paper in his hand, Zhao Xu told Li Xian: "Everyone knows that confidentiality must be kept confidential!"

"Relevant participants are not allowed to leave the Academy of Arts and Sciences in the next three years!"

"Old minister knows!"

It’s about 300 million yuan of Jiaozi!
And it's 300 million yuan every year. Li Xian knows that there are people who will spy on the information and craftsmanship at any cost.

There were many such things in the past, and there are certainly many of them now.

Therefore, the only option is to put the relevant craftsmen under semi-house arrest in Wensi Yuan and other places during the period of Jiaozi's release.

As long as the printing, paper and ink are not leaked.

Jiaozi is safe.

……

After leaving his duties, Zhao Xu was sent off by Li Xiangong, got into the royal chariot, and under the guard of Yu Longzhi, returned to the imperial city in a grand manner.

In front of Xuande Gate, Left Prime Minister Han Jiang and other prime ministers were already waiting here.

They greeted Zhao Xu respectfully into the imperial city, and then sent him to the Neidong Gate before worshiping him again.

The imperial driver walked straight ahead from the inner east gate and soon arrived at the Qingshou Palace.

The closing doors in front of the Qingshou Palace had already learned that Zhao Xu had returned to the two palaces, and were already waiting for them.

Seeing Zhao Xu coming down from the royal chariot, the two palaces led the female officials and ministers to greet him.

Zhao Xu saw the figures of the two palaces from afar.

Naturally, as soon as he got off the car, he walked forward and bowed respectfully: "Mother, Queen... I am back!"

Naturally, the two palaces have heard about Zhao Xu's stay in Kaifeng Mansion.

They were both happy and relieved, and quickly stepped forward to help Zhao Xu up.

"The Guan family is the true emperor... Both the government and the public have expressed their congratulations for this good fortune... They all say that the Guan family is as powerful as the king of the Song Dynasty..." The Empress Dowager said with excitement on her face.

Empress Dowager Xiang just hugged Zhao Xu and said nothing.

The child travels thousands of miles and the mother is worried.

(End of this chapter)