Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

"This is Bianjing!"

Bai Qi stood on the bow of the boat and looked at the city in the distance.

He listened to his grandmother's teachings since he was a child, and he should study hard and study hard. When he grew up, he went to Tokyo to obtain fame.

Now he is finally here, but his identity is not a son, but the dignified Duke of Shu.

His wife, Mrs. Zhang, was also very excited. She was born in the Zhang family in Chengdu. She could only be considered a wealthy local family and her main business was business. She could not be compared with those prominent families in Chengdu.

The couple looked at the city walls. As the ships approached slowly, the city walls became increasingly clear.

The fleet passed Yujin Garden and even heard the cry of elephants.

Then passing through the streets outside the south city, the people along the way saw the words "Gong of Shu" and stopped to pay attention to the fleet.

When we arrived at Guangli Water Gate, officers and soldiers came over to check, and after verifying their waist tags and official documents, they were quickly released.

The fleet sailed all the way into the outer city of Tokyo and stopped west of Longjin Bridge, and carriages were prepared in advance.

Bai Qi and his wife disembarked from the boat, followed by a hundred guards.

Lin Chong also returned to Beijing with him.

"The Duke of Shu is so young!"

"I heard that he was the prince's brother. He led the army to kill Prime Minister Zhong last year."

"Exceptionally handsome!"

"..."

The people near Longjin Bridge were talking a lot as they watched Bai Qi getting off the boat.

Bai Qi smiled and waved to everyone. His wife Zhang and Yourong Yan straightened their backs and followed her husband to the carriage.

If the people who come to Beijing to receive the reward this time do not have a residence in Kaifeng, they will be temporarily arranged to live in the Sifang Pavilion.

In the Northern Song Dynasty, the Sifang Pavilion was the collective name for the four major reception halls for foreign guests: Duting Post received envoys from the Liao and Jin Dynasties, Duting Xi Post received the Xixia envoys, Huaiyuan Post received the Jiaozhi envoys, and Tongwen Post received the Koryo and Tubo tribes.

If an envoy from the Western Regions comes, they will be treated like Xixia.

If he is an envoy from the Nanyang vassal state, he will be treated the same as Jiaozhi.

Last year, the four hotels were merged to streamline the reception facilities for foreign guests, and all envoys stayed at Dutingyi. If you can't live there for a while, we will arrange to stay in the Daxiangguo Temple next door.

Hearing that Bai Qi was coming, Zhang Guangdao, Li Bao, Yang Zhi, Deng Chun, Guan Sheng, Li Jinyi and others who had returned to Beijing came to see him with their families.

Not only them, but also many generals.

Those who were about to be ennobled as earls and above were all recalled to the capital. As for the viscounts and barons, they will remain in the army, and the court will send passers-by to unify and confer them.

Yue Fei returned to the Ming Dynasty too late, and he never fought in any major battles. However, in the past two years, there have been constant small victories, and the success of breaking through the camp and seizing Zhending, coupled with Ju Ming's great appreciation, this time he barely managed to get a baron.

The title of knighthood is not easy to come by. Wang De won the title first at critical moments in two consecutive battles, but he did not even get the title of baron.

Because Wang De's qualifications and position were not enough, the first thing he would be promoted to was his military rank and position. When Ju Ming learned of Wang De's achievements, he ordered him to train a thousand warriors, and was given the title "Yaksha Camp" by his ministry.

Han Shizhong defected to the Ming Dynasty relatively early. He first trained his troops in Jingxiang and led his troops to seize Zhijiang in a surprise attack. He followed Ju Ming to attack Kaifeng in the north, and then went to Shanxi and Shandong to train troops. During the Hebei War last year, although Han Shizhong only acquired a large area of ​​the city for free, his qualifications and prestige were enough to be crowned an earl.

"Hey, everyone is here," Han Shizhong and his wife ran over to join in the fun with a smile, and said with cupped hands, "Greetings to the Duke of Shu!"

Bai Qi cupped his hands and returned the greeting: "General Han, I have long admired your name."

Liang Hongyu didn't come, she was just a concubine for the time being, and accompanying Han Shizhong was his first wife Bai.

The generals gathered together to chat, and the female relatives also ran to the next room to communicate with each other.

The next day, the prince summoned them and invited them to drink in the East Palace, but they could bring their female relatives with them.

More people came this time. Of the twelve brothers Yang Zhi had sworn to, there were now only eleven left - Zhang Qing died of illness last year and was given the posthumous title of viscount, which was passed on to his youngest son.

"Ninth Brother, what's going on?" Lin Chong asked in shock.

The sleeve on Li Ying's right arm was empty, and he said with a wry smile: "Last year, he accompanied the prince to attack the city. When he climbed the city, his arm was broken by an iron rod, and he was pushed by two spears and fell to the bottom of the city. Just as he turned over and tried to get up, a piece of iron barred his arm. The wood rolled down again and hit the arm again. The medic couldn't save it, so he saw it off."

Li Jinyi said: "The ninth brother's right arm is gone. He will no longer fight in the future and will be transferred to Huaixi as an inspection envoy."

"It's okay not to fight, live a stable life." Sun Li comforted.

Li Ying sighed and said, "Hey, brothers, please help me kill a few more gold thieves from now on. This arm is really unlucky."

Yang Zhi changed the subject and asked Lin Chong: "How are you in the south?"

"It's okay. I have been following the Duke of Shu. I have been promoted to the deputy commander-in-chief of Hunan. The Duke of Shu himself will serve as the commander-in-chief." Lin Chong replied.

These sworn brothers have become somewhat unfamiliar due to long separation.

Zhang Guangdao, Chen Ziyi, Gu San, Deng Chun, Deng Xia, Shi Biao, Gong Xiu and other generals formed another circle and chatted lively. They were all from Yangzhou, so they naturally formed a faction. Gu San and Shi Biao were particularly close - Gu San commanded the heavily armored pro-army, and Shi Biao commanded the imperial guards.

Generals such as Wang Yuan, Han Shizhong, and Yao Pingzhong were from the Western Army.

Li Bao, Zhang Bor, and the Xuzhou blacksmiths who migrated to Jinzhou were all from Shandong.

"The prince has arrived!"

Everyone sat down in silence, and when Ju Ming appeared, they all stood up and performed a military salute.

Zhu Ming smiled and nodded: "Everyone, please sit down."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Zhu Ming glanced at the generals and said with emotion: "Some brothers have not seen each other for two or three years. I think back to when we raised the army in Hanzhong, as if it was just yesterday. In the blink of an eye, the Ming Dynasty has become the world, and you have all become generals. I first respect you all. One cup, thank you all for fighting bravely and serving the country!"

"It's our turn to respect the prince," Shi Biao said.

"Yes, respect the prince!" Lin Chong agreed.

Ju Ming said to Bai Sheng, "Sit over and don't stand behind me."

"Yes." Bai Sheng smiled and ran to sit down and raise a toast.

Ju Ming said: "I plan to build a martial arts school, just like the Taixue, you can understand it as the Wutai School. For the time being, only two types of students are recruited, one is those who have the reputation of being a scholar, and the other is the warrior recommended by each army. The academic system is three In the year, those with excellent results can be promoted to 100-man generals. Those with qualified results can be promoted to 10-man generals."

Li Bao said in surprise: "Will the promotion system in the military be changed?"

"It doesn't change," Ju Ming said. "The students who are talented scholars and join the army are allowed to learn combat techniques and martial arts. The warrior students recommended by the army are allowed to learn cultural strategies. Those who graduate from martial arts are all good at both civil and military skills. No matter what Whether it is a hundred-man general or a ten-man general, after they graduate and join the army, they must be promoted according to the rules of the army."

The generals began to seriously think about it. If this system continues to be implemented, there will definitely be a large number of martial arts graduates among generals at all levels in the army in a few decades.

Zhang Boring asked: "Is there only one martial arts school?"

"For the time being, there is only one in Tokyo. My future plan is to open ten across the country. In addition, three naval schools will be built."

Ju Ming explained to the generals in detail: "In the late Tang and Five Dynasties, the vassal towns were separated and the military men were tyrannical and lawless. The former Song Dynasty learned its lesson, but it overcorrected. Not only did it use civility to control military affairs, it also dispersed the troops and transferred generals here and there. As a result. If the generals don't know the soldiers, and the soldiers don't know the generals, fighting will be a mess. It was not advisable in the Five Dynasties, nor was it advisable in the former Song Dynasty, so I established martial arts."

"The martial arts of the Ming Dynasty is different from the martial arts of the Song Dynasty. In the future, ten schools will be opened across the country, and graduation examinations can be held in various places, and those who pass the exam will be selected and sent to the army as ten generals. Those with outstanding results will be gathered in the capital and handed over to the emperor by the emperor. Personally preside over the re-examination. Firstly, to prevent fraud in local martial arts examinations, and secondly, the emperor personally bestows martial arts status."

"In other words, Jinshi Wu, like Jinshi Wen, will both be disciples of the emperor from now on!"

Zhang Bor was the most knowledgeable among these people. He immediately understood Ju Ming's true intention. The emperor wanted to keep the army firmly in his hands.

Warlords like the Zhe family and the Liu family will never exist again.

In the future, the soldiers who perform meritorious service may not want to be promoted the most, but to be recommended to study martial arts due to their meritorious service.

Ju Ming suddenly named him: "Yang Zhi."

"Here!" Yang Zhi stood up quickly.

Ju Ming said: "You are transferred back to Tokyo. You will no longer be commanding troops abroad. I will give you the positions of the Generalissimo and the Privy Council. Together with Zhang Bor, you will establish the Kaifeng Military Academy." Based on the combat experience of the Jin Kingdom and Xixia, we will add and delete the contents of the "General Military Classics". We will also compile the "Infantry Drill Code", "Cavalry Drill Code", "Firearms Drill Code" and "Naval Drill Code"."

Yang Zhi's head was as big as a bucket after hearing this: "I...I can't compile a book."

Ju Ming said: "Let the generals at all levels in the army take the time to summarize their combat experience and compile and compare these combat experiences. The veteran central generals can also help. Yang Weizhong and Yao Gu will soon be transferred back to the Privy Council and the Ministry of War. Even Liu Yanqing can also Just help, as long as you don't imitate how he escapes."

"Hahahaha!" The generals burst into laughter.

Ju Ming said: "Zhang Boring, as the editor-in-chief of these military books, you can listen to the opinions of veterans like Zhong Shidao. After the first draft is compiled, I will send it to the generals of each army and let them check for omissions and make suggestions."

"As you command!"

Zhang Boring was overjoyed. He preferred writing military books to fighting.

Ju Ming said: "After all kinds of military books have been compiled, Kaifeng Military Academy will actually recruit students. By then, it is estimated that the Jin Kingdom has been driven back to Liaodong. Before the school starts, some more generals will be recruited back to serve in the center and as military school teachers."

When Li Bao saw the prince looking at him, he quickly said, "I'm not a teacher. It's better to fight outside."

Ju Ming gave Li Bao a roll of his eyes: "Whatever you want."

Ju Ming added: "The Confucian Temple in Kaifeng has been renovated. From now on, scribes will worship the Confucian Temple when studying, and warriors will worship the Martial Arts Temple when studying. But which sages the Ming Martial Temple needs to enshrine, you can discuss privately, and then write a list and submit it to the Generalissimo's Mansion."

Throughout the dynasties, what was enshrined in the martial arts temple was different, and a lot of political factors were involved.

For example, in the Tang Dynasty Martial Arts Temple, in order to make Guo Ziyi less obtrusive and conspicuous, parallel imports like Zhang Qiqiu were thrown in at the bottom.

Another example is that in order to correct the bad atmosphere, Zhao Kuangyin kicked Han Xin out of the martial arts temple on the grounds that Han Xin had rebellious intentions. Others who were similarly kicked include Wu Qi, Bai Qi, Sun Bin, etc. For example, Wu Qi defected to other countries many times, and Bai Qi killed and surrendered and disobeyed the emperor's orders.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were also kicked by Zhao Kuangyin because Guan Yu lost Jingzhou because of his arrogance and rudeness, and Zhang Fei was not strict in running the army and even beat and scolded his subordinates...

It is estimated that the emperors and ministers of the Song Dynasty also felt that this was outrageous, and gradually brought back the martial arts temples, and restored them in large numbers during the Huizong Dynasty.

But the ranking of Huizong Chaowu Temple is very strange. Bai Qi, Sun Bin, Huo Qubing, Zhang Fei, Deng Ai, Lu Meng, and Lu Kang belong to the third tier, and Zhou Yafu, Wei Qing, Guan Yu, Zhou Yu, Lu Xun, and Zhang Liao are in the fourth tier.

Hmm...Ju Ming couldn't figure it out anyway.

(Wu Qi made a mistake and was ranked fourth.)