Tibet

More than twenty days have passed since Li Ye ascended the throne, and the government has always been operating normally. The structure, system, and personnel have not changed. Only some titles and document formats have changed, which has minimal impact on the court.

That morning, Duan Xiushi, the Privy Councilor, hurriedly walked towards the Wensi Courtyard. When he walked into the Wensi Courtyard, he happened to see Wei Gao, the general secretary. Wei Gao hurriedly stepped forward to greet him and said, "See the Privy Councilor!"

Duan Xiushi asked: "Is Your Majesty free now?"

"Reporting to the Privy Envoy, Your Majesty is currently discussing the imperial examination with the left and right prime ministers and Pei Shangshu."

Duan Xiu thought about it anxiously and said, "Please report to Your Majesty for me, saying that I have something urgent to see you for!"

"Privy Councilor, I'm sorry, I'll report it right away!"

Wei Gao hurried into the imperial study.

At this time, Li Ye was discussing this year's imperial examination with Wei Jiansu, Zhang Li and Pei Zunqing.

Li Ye thought for a long time and said: "Although the number of students enrolled in mathematics has increased a lot in the past two years, the foundation is still too weak. This year we still need to expand the number of students admitted. Now we are training technical officials on the one hand, and teachers on the other hand to prepare for future openings in various states. Official mathematics subjects create conditions.”

Wei Jiansu said: "Your Majesty, there is a not very good phenomenon now. Because the conditions for mathematics subjects are low and it is easy to get admitted, many people take this shortcut. After being admitted, they work as technical officers for a few years and then try their best to find other ways to do it. Although it is only an accidental phenomenon now that people are transferred to local officials, it is indeed a loophole, and we must plug this loophole in advance. "

Li Ye looked at Zhang Li and said with a smile: "Zhang Xiangguo is good at fixing leaks. Is there any good way?"

Zhang Li also smiled slightly and said: "To report back to Your Majesty, there is a way. Is it to make those who take advantage of the loopholes feel that it is not cost-effective and naturally give up the idea?"

"Tell me more specifically!"

Zhang Li leaned forward and said, "Actually, the most ruthless move is to create another official system for technical officers. It will be difficult for those who are not particularly outstanding to cross over, just like military attachés and civil servants."

Pei Zunqing opposed Zhang Li's plan. He stood up and said: "Zhang Xiangguo's plan is inappropriate. I'm afraid it will be detrimental to local governance. The county magistrate will not be able to call technical officials. Because there is not one system, there will even be two systems." There is a team for civil servants and another team for technical officers.”

Zhang Li hurriedly said: "Pei Shangshu misunderstood, I just said that he should be changed to a civil official, because his official name is different, and the officials can easily identify him. If he wants to have a relationship, there are too many links involved. , the price is too high.”

Li Ye nodded, "Zhang Xiangguo's idea is right. It will make it more difficult for those who take advantage of loopholes, but the specific plan must be carefully considered and not made too big. After all, this kind of exploiting loopholes is only a trivial matter. There is no need to use a bull's-eye to kill a chicken. It would be better to use a small trick, such as giving all technical officials a brand name, and keeping everything else unchanged. If officials with this brand name cross the border and become civilian officials, they must be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Personnel. "

Wei Jiansu said with a smile: "Your Majesty is right. To put it simply, give each technical officer a title of Fortress Lang. Now all official transfers require the approval of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. If there is a title of Engineering Lang in the resume bag, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will be cautious. ”

Ginger is still old and spicy, this trick is powerful.

At this time, Wei Gao reported in the hall, "Your Majesty, the Privy Councilor Duan Shijun has something urgent to see you!"

Li Ye nodded, "Announce his appearance!"

Not long after, Duan Xiushi hurriedly walked into the hall, bowed and saluted, "I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"

Li Ye smiled slightly and said, "Privy Councilor, please take a seat. Let's sit down and talk!"

The several prime ministers and ministers next to him were sitting, so it would not be good for Duan Xiushi to stand and report.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Duan Xiushi sat down and said: "Wei Chen received an urgent report from the Jiannan Governor's Mansion. The Dizhou prospecting team was attacked by the Nanzhao and Tubo coalition forces. All three hundred escort soldiers were killed, and more than a dozen officials and miners were captured by the other side. ”

Li Ye's face darkened, "When did it happen?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it was just half a month ago, but Weichen received a flying pigeon message from Qu Huan, the Governor of Jiannan, and the Governor's Mansion of Jiannan also received a report from the two soldiers who escaped."

Li Ye immediately said to Wei Gao: "Bring the sand table from Jiannan!"

Wei Gao rushed away, and Li Ye said to Wei Jiansu and the others: "This matter is of great importance, you should also participate together!"

Not long after, several officials brought in the Jiannan sand tray and quickly put it together.

Xizhou is today's Xichang. Since the Han Dynasty, Xizhou has been an important place rich in copper and iron. The imperial court set up a large money casting center there.

It was once occupied by Nanzhao during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, and was later recovered by the Tang army.

During the Tianbao period, the Tang army was defeated by Nanzhao twice, and the Tang Dynasty's forces had to retreat. Dizhou was occupied by Nanzhao again, and Nanzhao's state name Jianchangfu was restored.

After two major defeats of the Tang army during the Tianbao period, Nanzhao was also afraid of Tang Dynasty's revenge, so he surrendered to Tubo. With the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, Nanzhao was completely separated from the Tang Dynasty.

Five years ago, Nanzhao could not bear the heavy taxes imposed by Tubo. At that time, Li Ye came to power again, and Nanzhao had the idea of ​​using the Tang Dynasty to get rid of Tubo. To show its sincerity, Nanzhao settled the northern Han people in Jianchang Prefecture. The area was returned to the Jiannan Governor's Mansion.

Three months ago, the Ministry of Industry sent a prospecting team of five officials and a dozen miners to northern Dizhou to search for copper and iron deposits.

Unexpectedly, Nanzhao betrayed his trust and jointly attacked the prospecting team with Tibet and killed Tang soldiers. The nature was so bad that Li Ye would never tolerate it.

Wei Jiansu said quickly: "Your Majesty, please calm down and listen to me!"

"Wei Xiangguo, please speak!"

"When His Majesty ascended the throne, King Geluofeng of Nanzhao also sent an envoy to celebrate. We did not underestimate the envoy. It was impossible for the envoy to fall out as soon as he returned to Nanzhao. Wei Chen thought that this must be related to Tubo, and the Prime Minister of Nanzhao Zheng Hui also repeatedly stated that Nanzhao was willing to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, but Nanzhao was suppressed by Tubo, and sometimes they had to submit to Tubo! "

At this time, Zhang Li said from the side: "What a coincidence, Wei Chen happens to know something about Nanzhao."

Li Ye looked back at Zhang Li, "How does Zhang Xiangguo know?"

Zhang Li leaned over and said: "Weichen has a manor in Yizhou, which is dedicated to growing sugar cane. Weichen sent a staff to manage this sugarcane plantation. It happened to be the Chinese New Year. The staff just came back a few days ago and talked to Weichen about Nanzhao. He is the nephew of Nanzhao Prime Minister Zheng Hui. Last year he was invited by Zheng Hui to visit Taihe City, the capital of Nanzhao, for several months. He is very aware of the situation in Nanzhao. "

Li Ye nodded and said: "Can you please invite the Prime Minister's staff to the Daming Palace? I want to know about the situation in Nanzhao."

"Of course there is no problem. His name is Zheng Xu. I beg your Majesty to give him white clothes. I can bring him to see you at any time."

Li Ye immediately ordered: "This afternoon there will be a military and political discussion in the Zhengshi Hall. The scholar Zheng Xu, in white clothes, will go to the Zhengshi Hall to explain the situation in Nanzhao!"

In the afternoon, Zhang Li came to Daming Palace with his staff Zheng Xu.

Zheng Xu is the nephew of Zheng Hui, a Qingping official in Nanzhao. Zheng Hui was born in the Ming Dynasty and served as the magistrate of Xilu County. He was captured by Nanzhao after the Eighth Year of Tianbao War, but he was highly appreciated by Nanzhao Wangge Luofeng, and gradually He became a senior official in Nanzhao and was the master of several princes. Nanzhao was eventually destroyed by Zheng Hui's descendants.

Zheng Xunian was about thirty years old. He was very thin and quite smart and capable. He took a shower and changed into white clothes. He was led to the rotunda of the Political Affairs Hall by officials.

At this time, a military and political discussion was being held in the Zhengshi Hall, which was personally presided over by Emperor Li Ye to discuss the attack by the Nanzhao and Tubo coalition forces on the prospector.

Zheng Xu was brought there. Wei Jiansu stepped forward and whispered to Li Ye: "Your Majesty, Zheng Xu has been brought!"

Li Ye nodded, "Let him speak first!"

Wei Jiansu softly spoke to the senior officials of the Political Affairs Hall and several attending ministers: "Zhang Xiangguo's staff has just returned from Nanzhao. This person is the nephew of Nanzhao Prime Minister Zheng Hui. He knows the situation in Nanzhao better. Please ask him. Let me introduce the situation in Nanzhao to you first, and then we will discuss it."

Wei Jiansu waved, and several officials brought Zheng Xu into the rotunda.

Zheng Xu knelt down and paid homage to Li Ye, "Old citizen Zheng Xu, I wish His Majesty the Emperor long live, long live!"

Li Ye waved his hand, "Pingsheng!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zheng Xu stood up and greeted the senior officials again. Wei Jiansu said: "Master Zheng will first introduce to you the real situation in Nanzhao, and then answer some of your questions."

Zheng Xu was taken to the middle of the round hall, where he was speaking. He took a deep breath to calm down, and then slowly said to everyone: "Now we are called Nanzhao. That is actually just our wishful thinking. They have already Claiming to be the Mongolian Kingdom, Ge Luofeng had proclaimed himself emperor, and established his eldest son Feng Jiayi as the deputy king, that is, the prince. Feng Jiayi pacified the east of Dianchi Lake and claimed to be the emperor of Shangyuan.

Ge Luofeng was extremely arrogant and feared power rather than virtue. After Tianbao defeated the Tang army, he despised the Tang Dynasty from the bottom of his heart. He currently just wanted to use the Tang Dynasty to contain Tubo and reduce Tubo's pressure on Nanzhao. If the Tang Dynasty wanted to gain Nanzhao, To surrender to the imperial edict, only by using force to hurt and frighten them will Nanzhao be afraid and surrender to the Tang Dynasty again. These are the original words of my uncle Zheng Hui. I will relay them to your majesty and all your lords. "