The struggle of the reborn prince

Compared with the previous days, the first court meeting after the new year was less impassioned and more dull. After reporting the things accumulated during this period, everyone anxiously waited for the emperor to speak, but it was just quietly Sitting on the throne and scanning the officials, no one dared to look at him wherever he looked.

"I mean the Grand Master. The Grand Tutor, as an advisor to political affairs, joins the Chancellor's Left and Right Prime Ministers and the Privy Council envoys to discuss state affairs together. All ministers and workers may have any objections!" Zhao Tun said in a deep voice after a while.

"Your Majesty is holy, and the ministers are waiting for you!" Everyone said in unison, and everyone understood that the emperor added the Zhongshu Menxia Province, which was equivalent to concentrating the power of the Shangshu Province in the Zhengshitang to become the highest authority in the Song Dynasty, but it also dispersed the power. In the hands of five people, they were unable to exercise power, but the Zhengshitang became the emperor's office, and the imperial power was not weakened but strengthened, but what they were concerned about at the moment was who could fill the vacant position.

"Well, I want Xu Jingheng, Minister Zuocheng, to enter the political affairs hall, Zhao Ren, the envoy of the Privy Council, will be appointed as Zuocheng, Minister of the Privy Council, and Zhao Yong, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, will be promoted to envoy of the Privy Council; Chen Gongbo, Minister of the Right, will be appointed as Zhongcheng Yushi, and Chen Wei, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, will be appointed The right minister of Shangshu Province; Zhao Yi, Minister of the Ministry of War, is the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, and Zhao Zhong, the minister of the Privy Council, is also the governor of Jingji Road. Lei Zhenshan, the deputy commander of the Guards, was promoted to the commander of the Guards. Can the ministers have something to say!" Seeing that the ministers agreed, Zhao Tuan announced some of the candidates.

"Om..." As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the hall was like a beehive suddenly turned over, causing a commotion. This list made people's imagination run wild.It can be said that Zhao Ren has always been the emperor's right-hand man, in charge of military power, but now he has been transferred to Shangshu Province.Although flat.But it is very meaningful, which shows that the emperor has become wary of the scholars.And Zhao Zhong has always been the leader of the emperor's pro-army.Sending him to be in charge of the Gyeonggi Forbidden Army at this moment also wants to strengthen power.It seems that the previous actions were too reckless.But fortunately, scholars still accounted for the majority in the Zhengshitang.

"Your Majesty is wise, and I obey the order!" Chen Gongbo saluted first out of class.

"I have no objection!" It stands to reason that Xu Jingheng was promoted, and Chen Gongbo should succeed him as prime minister, but he was cut off by Zhao Ren halfway.But he, who has always been known for his outspokenness, agreed, and the sufferer didn't say a word, so everyone has nothing to say.Qi claims to be Tao.

The seats of the prime ministers were all filled, and the rest should be to adjust the officials of the various ministries, but the emperor didn't say anything, and made everyone wait with their ears blank for a long time, and waited for a further discussion. The position of Minister of the Ministry is a lucrative position, and the power can be as high as half of the prime minister, but I don't know who will get it.

Three days later, the matter came to fruition, and Zhao Nai was promoted to Shangshu by the Examiner's Court of the Ministry of Officials.This person can be regarded as a veteran of the three dynasties. He was a Jinshi during the Chongning period. He once served as Luoyang Ling and Kaifeng Shicao.Because of his meritorious service in governing the region, he was transferred to Beijing to work in the Ministry of Officials. He knew people and made good use of them, and he was not afraid of the powerful, and his official reputation was good.It is said that the emperor personally recommended him to be the Minister of the Ministry of Officials.

Hu Quan, a young man who had just turned 30, took over as the minister of the household department, and Zheng Qiao, a young man who was also the minister of the Ministry of industry, took over.The censor Shi is younger than Li Mengbo, who is only [-] years old.It was the first time for the emperor to open a scientific research after he succeeded to the throne. After studying in Taixue for a year, he went to a local office.Starting from a criminal Cao, he served successively as the county magistrate, county magistrate, prefectural magistrate, and Jiangsu-Zhejiang Road transfer deputy envoy in seven or eight years. He was promoted almost every year. This is a special case in this dynasty...

After finishing the adjustment of the officials, it entered February, and it was time for Zhao Tang to have the most headache.According to the system of the Song Dynasty, from February to May every year, and from August to the winter solstice, a Sutra banquet is held on a single day, and the lecturers take turns to attend the lectures and read, which are called spring lectures and autumn lectures.There are two main aspects to holding a sutra banquet: one is to "study the scriptures with taste", to explore the subtle words and great meanings in the scriptures;

Zhao Tong didn't like classics and history since he was a child. He would rather review memorials than participate in this banquet. However, there is a system that stipulates that the emperor, six ministers, Yushi Zhongcheng and courtiers with titles must participate, and they are not allowed to be absent at will. However, he had to sit in front as a benchmark, so every Sutra banquet was like a punishment, he wished he could drag the lecturer down from the door and give them a commentary on the book.

In fact, this is not a good lecture. The focus of Jingyan is to develop the essence of the scriptures and point out the lessons of history, but it must be attributed to the reality, so that the past can be used for the present. For a task, if it is only perfunctory according to the chapters and sentences or flattering and flattering with sycophants, it is undoubtedly a dereliction of duty. In the past, several lecturers were dismissed by the emperor because of this, which made it difficult to continue the sutra feast intermittently.

This year, Zhao Tun changed from his normal routine and personally appointed Yang Shi, Hu Anguo, Zhou Xingji and other great Confucian scholars as lecturers, and asked them to take turns to give speeches on stage.The lectures of several great Confucian scholars, Bo Gu Tong, are naturally good, and he is not like in the past, he only listens and does not speak, but actively speaks, taking the lead in reviewing the gains and losses of the dynasty, and without hesitation, he has the courage to point out the mistakes of his ancestors, especially the harm caused by the party struggle after Shenzong .

This year, several lecturers also focused on Confucius' "inner sage and outer king" as the main content of their lectures, and their theme reflected the direct unity of morality and politics.It is advocated that Confucianism is all about morality and politics, and believes that politics can only have the right direction if it is guided by morality; only when morality is implemented in politics can it have a universal impact.Politics without moral guidance is hegemony and tyranny. This kind of politics is unpopular and cannot last long.

Politicians are required to come from moralists first, and rulers can only become the beloved lords of the world only if they first devote themselves to the way of sages and become "benevolent people".How can one become a moralist?According to Confucius' remarks, one must achieve 'benevolence' and 'propriety', and achieve inner sage, in order to become a qualified ruler.The inner sage is the premise and foundation of the outer king, and the outer king is the natural extension and inevitable result of the inner sage.Self-cultivation can naturally govern others, and to govern others must first cultivate oneself.Only the unity of morality and politics can complete the transformation from "inner sage" to "outer king".

In fact, everyone here has learned these things, and now repeating the same old tune is not only to deepen the memory, but Zhao Tuo wants to use this to rectify the official style, unify the thinking, and avoid the recurrence of the tragedy of party struggle.Of course, loyalty to the emperor and patriotism must be repeatedly emphasized, so that they always remember to be a loyal minister for the country and the people.Don't fight with yourself for foolish things, and "fight bravely and wits" with the emperor. There are powerful enemies at home and abroad, and the most important thing is to make the country rich and the army strong...

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The emperor on the central side of the court began to rectify the wind, and the Western Expeditionary Army was not idle.After Gao Chong captured Beiting, Zhao Li, who had defeated the Xiliao army, also led his troops to join him.After a year of joy and joy, the two divided their forces to take Tingzhou and Yizhou, and took all the northern foothills of Tianshan Mountain into their hands. When the ice and snow melted a little in April, Gao Chong led an army across Tianshan Mountain to take Gaochang.

The Gaochang Uyghurs were named after Gaochang City, and also became powerful because of the city.Occupying an important geographical position on the Silk Road, this city became a hub connecting the Central Plains, Central Asia, and Europe. It was the window of the Northwest region to foreign countries at that time, and developed into the most prosperous city and commodity trading place in the west.After years of management by the Uighurs, the economic prosperity made Gaochang the political and cultural center of Northwest China.Merchants from Persia and other places brought alfalfa, grapes, spices, pepper, precious stones and horses to Gaochang City, and from here they took away silk, porcelain and tea from the Central Plains.

Wealth did not bring peace to Gaochang, but attracted countless people to covet it. Therefore, for hundreds of years of continuous wars, Gaochang people built a city to resist the invasion. After a hundred years of expansion and renovation, it became a strong city in the Western Regions.The Western Expeditionary Army set up camp five miles outside the city, and the news of the Song Army's arrival had already spread to the city. At this time, the four gates were closed, and the Gaochang people wanted to rely on the high walls and deep trenches to hold on.

After camping, Gao Chong and Zhao Li went to the city to reconnaissance in person. They were not ignorant, but they were still shocked by the majesty and might of Gaochang City.The entire city presents an irregular square shape, with a circumference of twelve miles, a height of more than five feet, and a thickness of more than four feet. They are all built of rammed earth.According to the captured locals, each layer of rammed earth is only three inches thick, dense and firm, impenetrable with knives, hacks and guns.In order to enhance the firmness of the city wall, a small amount of adobe is mixed between each layer of rammed earth.What is even more unbelievable is that the city gates are all made of steel, and the Bianjing city gates are just wooden doors covered with iron sheets.

The layout of the city is similar to the capital city in the Central Plains. It is divided into three parts: the outer field, the inner city and the palace city. The inner city is located in the middle of the city, and the palace city is located in the north of the inner city. To peel layer by layer.As the capital city, there are tens of thousands of people, half of the country's population is concentrated, and the grain and grass reserves must be sufficient, so it can be used for a long time.Moreover, the buildings in the city are tall and the streets are vertical and horizontal, and the terrain is complex. Even if the city is breached, if a street battle occurs, it will inevitably be a fierce battle.

Gao Chong felt heavy after exploring the city and returning to the camp. The artillerymen they carried on this expedition were all light artillery, and Gaochang City had deep trenches, and the weakest city gates were all made of iron, which made it difficult for them to attack the city brought great difficulty.What is even more worrying is that the food and grass consumed by the army every day is astronomical. Now they are thousands of miles away from the country and it is unrealistic to rely solely on domestic supplies.Although Xixia has sent troops, it is fighting fiercely with the Xiliao army in the area of ​​the Qaidam River.

It would not be difficult for the Western Expeditionary Army to simply capture Gaochang City. However, if the casualties are too heavy and the troops are short of troops, they will not be able to divide the troops to garrison them. ... (To be continued..)