I studied in modern times

Chapter 1019 Retribution
Sitting upright on his throne, Zhao Xu looked down and took in all the activity at the Zhouqiao Bridge in front of him.

Everything went exactly as he had predicted.

It was worth it for him not to sleep in today, getting up early to watch the show.

"Gentlemen, please rise and speak!" Zhao Xu leaned back on the cushion and said softly, glancing into the distance. "As for whether or not there is a crime, what does that have to do with you two?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lu Dian and Zheng Mu bowed again and rose.

Then the emperor on the throne said, "However, the current state of the scholar-official class must be rectified!"

"I have heard it said: 'Those in a position should fulfill their duties!'"

"Although scholars and officials take the world as their responsibility, since they have not yet shed their official robes and are still commoners, they should study hard!"

"If you truly care about the world and the country, you should study hard, and only submit your petition after you have been appointed to an official position!"

"Whether it's the Censorate or the Office of General Information, the doors are open. Anyone, even those selected from prefectures and counties, can submit a memorial to express their opinions!"

"As long as there is a valid reason, the relevant officials will send their memorials to my desk!"

"If all else fails, Kaifeng Prefecture holds quarterly public examinations to recruit officials, and all students can apply!"

"After passing the exam, you will be granted official rank and be able to submit memorials to the emperor!"

"I am now personally in charge of the Kaifeng Prefecture, and all officials, from top to bottom, are my personal subjects. I will personally review any advice they may offer!"

"Gentlemen..."

Am I right?

Zhao Xu sat up slightly and looked at the two great scholars in front of him.

Lu Dian was the first to reply, "Your Majesty is absolutely right!"

Over the years, Zhao Xu established his authority from the imperial court to the Three Military Offices and the Imperial Academy by winning one victory after another.

In this process, Lu Dian had already become Zhao Xu's shape.

Zheng Mu, however, hesitated for a moment before saying, "This old minister will respectfully obey Your Majesty's teachings!"

Zhao Xu chuckled and stood up: "To be honest, gentlemen, the reason I have invited you here today is to discuss a matter concerning the literati with you!"

Both Lu Dian and Zheng Mu knew before they came that their meeting with the Emperor today was most likely related to the Shilin (a group of scholars).

They all pricked up their ears and listened carefully.

Zhao Xu walked forward to the railing.

Now he has grown a few centimeters taller and can stand in front of the railing, gazing at Bianjing City in the distance.

No longer do we need to stand on tiptoe to see the distant view of Bianjing City, as we did during the New Year.

"The spirit of scholars and the atmosphere of learning are the foundation of the world!" Zhao Xu said softly, "Our ancestors have been diligently working on this since ancient times!"

"Imperial decrees were issued one after another, and virtuous pronouncements were uttered one after another..."

"Unfortunately, most scholars do not take it seriously!"

"I have heard that during the provincial examinations in local prefectures and counties, scholars often gather to discuss and criticize the examiners, and some even speak rudely, cursing and slandering them!"

"As for the provincial examinations administered by the Ministry of Rites..."

"Both gentlemen and I have now witnessed it!"

"Now that the envoy from the Northern Barbarians is in court..." Zhao Xu habitually began his commentary on the astonishment of the friendly nation.

This is really useful!

Because the emperors and ministers of the Song Dynasty were very concerned about saving face.

They were determined not to lose face abroad.

Fortunately, thanks to his modern education abroad, Zhao Xu's skin is now comparable to that of Emperor Gaozu of Han—the Liao people are laughing at him?

If there's something to gain, why shouldn't he laugh a few times?
If the benefits are big enough, Zhao Xu would be shameless enough to even dress as a woman like Sima Yi.

Upon hearing Zhao Xu mention the Liao envoy, both Lu Dian and Zheng Mu perked up.

Unlike Zhao Xu, they are not worried about international perception at all.

It should be noted that the Liao Dynasty, like the Northern Dynasties of that time, also had historians!
If the Liao people were to record this in their national history, and later generations were to unify the world, they would consider the Liao people's records as reliable historical fact...

Do they even want to live?
Then the Emperor said, "My idea is that Mr. Lu should take the lead, and Mr. Zheng should preside over the drafting of a basic code of conduct for scholars of the Great Song Dynasty..."

"All scholars in the world must abide by the rules!"

"If anyone commits a violation, the minor offense will result in a reprimand and an order to write a self-criticism; the serious offense will result in the student being detained by the Imperial Academy... and those who commit particularly egregious offenses will be stripped of their official rank!"

“Of course…” Zhao Xu turned around and looked at the two of them: “Those who are released from their official posts and granted official positions are bound by the laws and regulations of the court, so they are not bound by these rules!”

"I wonder if you two gentlemen would be willing to help me establish this code?" Zhao Xu asked with a smile.

This means bringing the scholar-official class under state control.

Lu Dian and Zheng Mu exchanged a glance, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise! We will obey your decree!"

"Good!" Zhao Xu nodded, looking ahead and quietly waiting for the situation to develop.

It may have been a quarter of an hour, or it may have been a little more than a quarter of an hour.

Zhao Xu saw it; it was on the other side of the Zhou Bridge.

In front of the government offices of Kaifeng Prefecture and the Censorate.

The vast and mighty procession of scholars was collapsing and fleeing as if it had hit an iron plate.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Xu couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "The warm breeze has intoxicated the scholars, making them mistake Bianzhou for Guangzhou!"

As long as scholars dare to cause trouble.

The proud and fierce generals of the First General of the Imperial Dragon are absolutely daring to fight!
Because, in addition to their military pay, the soldiers of the First General of the Imperial Dragon also receive generous benefits.

It covers almost everything from clothing, food, housing, and transportation!

Even the auxiliary soldiers of the top general of the Imperial Guard had cotton-padded clothes to wear in winter and drinks to eat in summer. They were given a pair of shoes every two months and new clothes in all four seasons.

They were given enough to eat every day, and were even given extra rice, oil, and salt.

Every three months, he would personally visit the military camp to inspect the entire army and oversee the distribution of rewards.

They were practically ready to go into the soldiers' tents, lift their blankets, and see what their food was like.

This is practically like using all the young generals to raise empty-handed soldiers, while raising the number one general of the Imperial Dragon Army.

High welfare, high pay, and high-intensity training naturally produce an army as fierce as wolves and tigers!
As a result, the entire army, from top to bottom, obeyed only Zhao Xu's command.

Zhao Xu told them to beat whoever they wanted!

Let alone beating the scholars, even if Zhao Xu ordered them to enter the palace for a purge, they would do it without hesitation.

Because this army was built up from scratch by Zhao Xu himself.

After this ordeal, and after receiving this beating, I believe the scholars will no longer dare to cause trouble so easily.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu's lips curled up slightly.

Why did people always cause trouble after the results of the imperial examinations were announced throughout history?
A: Because most of the time, the imperial court, especially the Zhao Emperor in the palace, actually silently supported their actions.

For Emperor Zhao, there was no cheaper deal than this.

The only ones who were scolded and harmed were the ministers in charge of the imperial examinations.

But it was Emperor Zhao who was praised by scholars and considered benevolent!

In addition, this is also a political maneuver.

A tactic used to manipulate and discipline ministers through psychological manipulation.

It is also part of the ancestral system of "preventing problems and regulating them accordingly".

Think about it carefully and you'll know—

A civil official who is in charge of the imperial examinations can gain hundreds of disciples and followers.

If one encounters a literary master of great renown, such as Ouyang Xiu, a single examination as a candidate for the imperial examination can change the entire literary landscape.

If they live for several more decades, say, to eighty or ninety years old.

Wouldn't all officials in the country have to call him their mentor or benefactor?

The emperors, just thinking about this possibility, would feel a chill run down their spines—could he be the second Sima Yi?
Therefore, allowing failed candidates to attack and spread rumors about the examiners became a means of checks and balances.

You think you're so great?!
Then you'll experience what it's like to be scolded first!

The best part is that this method can also produce a large number of scholar-officials who are hostile to the minister at almost no cost.

If Sima Yi really existed, those scholars who had deeply offended him would be even more anxious than the Emperor Zhao.

Because after the Sima clan usurped the throne of Wei, they did not exterminate their former rulers.

However, those who offended the Sima family were completely eliminated!

Learning from the past is a guide for the future.

How could scholars who are well-versed in history not know this?

So, the Zhao family has truly mastered the art of manipulating people's hearts and using power to the extreme.

In his previous life, Zhao Xu was also this kind of person.

Despite his complete trust in Zhang Dun, he remained unfazed.

But from beginning to end, he was on guard against Zhang Dun.

Otherwise, why would they deliberately leave so many of Zhang Dun's political enemies in the court?

As a result, after his sudden death, Zhang Dun was captured by Zeng Bu and Empress Dowager Xiang.

As a result, the world collapsed, the country split apart, and tens of millions died.

Not only him, but also the coffins and remains of his ancestors were carried away and gnawed by wild dogs!
This is retribution!

Yes, even in modern times, when studying abroad, one receives a science education.

Zhao Xu also always believed that it was retribution!

You reap what you sow!

If he could trust Zhang Dun as much as Liu Shan trusted Zhuge Liang.

What qualifications did Zhao Ji have to rise to power?
Even if Zhao Ji had not ascended the throne, it would have been better if the one who did was Zhao Bi, who had an eye ailment, or Zhao Si, the younger brother of Zhao Xu.

The Song Dynasty probably won't perish.

Even if it eventually perishes, it probably won't be such a miserable one!
Not to mention, as long as Zhao Ji could not ascend the throne, Zhang Dun's proposals were able to be implemented.

Therefore, Zhang Dun would have been credited with supporting the emperor's ascension to the throne.

The new emperor would also trust him, thus giving Zhang Dun the opportunity to continue ruling.

Zhang Dun continued to govern, even if only for two more years.

That would be enough to destroy the Western Xia!
Therefore, in this life, Zhao Xu still instinctively resorts to political maneuvering to restrict and suppress his ministers.

But whether it was the Grand Chancellor or the officials of the Six Ministries.

He can generally trust those he employs and not employ those he doesn't trust.

They hardly ever put any obstacles in their work.

Even if Zeng Bu wanted to do it, and Zhao Xu knew it was beneficial, he would fully support him and completely delegate authority.

This will certainly have various hidden dangers, and will inevitably provide fertile ground for future powerful ministers to survive.

But what does this have to do with Zhao Xu?
He wasn't even afraid of his descendants being sent to the executioner's block, so why would he be afraid of powerful ministers?
joke!

(End of this chapter)