I studied in modern times

Chapter 950: Enthusiastic people shared the evidence of treason with you

After appeasing Empress Dowager Xiang, Zhao Xu returned to Funing Palace.

Guo Zhongxiao was already waiting for him here.

"Your Majesty, this is my speech. I hope you will grant my approval!" As soon as they met, Guo Zhongxiao, after paying his respects as usual, took out the written letter requesting the title of county from his bosom and presented it in his hand.

Zhao Xu was not surprised by this.

Because, in the past half month, Guo Zhongxiao has submitted three resignation letters in a row.

This is the fourth time.

And his reason was very strong - my father is old, and I beg to serve him to observe filial piety.

Of course, this is just a superficial reason.

The actual reason is that he is Lu Gongzhu's son-in-law.

It is customary to avoid suspicion.

In the past, Zhao Xu was in control and no one broke the window paper, so both he and Lu Gongzhu could play ostrich.

But now, following the pace set by Kong Wenzhong, Liu Anshi and others last month.

The ostrich can't pretend anymore.

So, it’s not just him.

Li Chang, a student of Lu Gongzhu, has also submitted petitions to be the county governor over the past half month.

Empress Dowager Xiang naturally tried to persuade him to stay but refused.

But Li Chang was determined to invite the county governor to the border.

After several rounds of persuasion, Empress Dowager Xiang knew that Li Chang was determined to leave.

In addition, according to the system of the imperial court, it is very rare for a master and his apprentice, a father and his son, an uncle and his nephew, or a father-in-law and his son-in-law to serve as ministers in the same palace.

Not to mention those who are in the capital.

So, I stopped trying to keep him.

At today's morning court session, he requested the county's memorial and brought it down to the court hall, where the officials were ordered to discuss it.

In fact, his request was approved.

Naturally, after knowing this, Guo Zhongxiao could no longer sit still.

He went directly to Zhao Xu to resign.

Zhao Xu smiled and ordered Tong Guan to take Guo Zhongxiao's resignation letter and open it.

It’s still the same old tune - my father is old, and as a son, I cannot bear the hardship of my old father working at the office all year round, so I beg to resign from all assignments and return home to take care of my old father and fulfill my filial duty as a son.

This is politically correct.

After reading it, Zhao Xu knew that he could not keep Guo Zhongxiao, so he said: "Mr. Guo is so filial and sincere, I am really impressed!"

“But I’m really reluctant to give up!”

Guo Zhongxiao bowed his head and cried, "Your Majesty, I and your son are so grateful for your kindness!"

"My father is old, and it is inconvenient for him to travel between martial arts all year round. As a son, I cannot bear it..."

"I only beg Your Majesty to show mercy..."

Zhao Xu nodded: "If that's the case, I will do my best to fulfill it!"

In fact, even if Guo Zhongxiao had not resigned on his own initiative, Zhao Xu would have adjusted the personnel of the Tongjiansi after the new year. At the beginning, Zhao Xu appointed Guo Zhongxiao to be in charge of the Tongjiansi in order to make peace with the old party and show his sincerity.

Guo Zhongxiao was the son of Guo Kui, the son-in-law of Lu Gongzhu, a student of Cheng Hao, and a junior admired by Wen Yanbo, Feng Jing, Han Wei and others.

Naturally, he was a recognized leader among the old party factions.

At the same time, he has a very good character!
Zhao Xu had already verified this in his previous life.

In modern times, Zhao Xu has seen the ending of Guo Zhongxiao - in the second year of Jianyan, the Jin army invaded the south, and Guo Zhongxiao defended Yongxing Army. He, as the military commander of Yongxing Army, died in battle along with civil and military officials such as Tang Chong, the general manager of Yongxing Army.

He was willing to fight to the death for a monarch like Wanyan Gou, which shows that he was indeed a loyal minister!
Therefore, Zhao Xu chose Guo Zhongxiao as a transitional figure.

Now, the transition period is over.

Naturally, it's time to replace them with our own people.

Zhao Xu has already selected the candidate - of course, on the surface Zhao Xu still has to pretend to test him.

He then asked Guo Zhongxiao, "Since you have resigned, do you have any good officials to recommend as your successor?"

Guo Zhongxiao bowed his head and said, "I am a dull and incompetent person, how can I know the people in the court?"

"I only hope that Your Majesty will have a wise heart and choose good ministers to serve you!"

Zhao Xu hummed and said, "In that case..."

"I agree to your request!"

"After the Xinglong Festival, I will appoint a successor, and you will take over the position!"

"Yes!" Guo Zhongxiao fell to the ground: "I respectfully obey your orders!"

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "You have served me for nearly three years. In the past three years, you have served me loyally, regardless of the cold or heat, day or night, and have always been consistent!"

"I appreciate it very much!"

"Now, you have returned home to take care of your father, and have become a model of filial piety for the world. I will voluntarily reward you to show the world..."

"How about this!" Zhao Xu thought for a moment and said, "After you resign, I will allow you to remain in the palace and report any problems directly to me!"

"In addition, after you resign, you can promote the deputy envoy of Youshen Temple to be used for examination and promotion!"

This means that they were allowed to retain their professional titles and even their salaries, but they were cut in half again and again (originally the salaries of palace and temple officials were to be cut in half, but Wang Anshi's reforms cut them in half again).

But this is still the emperor’s great grace.

Guo Zhongxiao immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude.

After seeing Guo Zhongxiao off, Zhao Xu also sighed twice.

He walked to the study, took the latest copy of Li Chang's resignation in his hand, and read it while whispering the words on it: "In the past, the previous emperor worked hard for many years to save money for border defense. Now we are fortunate to have the Empress Dowager behind the curtain, Your Majesty seeks to govern, and the treasury of the country is full. The various grain reserves, exemptions, and surpluses are more than 57 million strings of cash. The total amount of gold, silver, grain, and silk in the capital's rice, salt, sugar, cotton, and Yuanfeng Fengzhuang Treasury money exceeds the treasury. There is no need to worry about the border. This is why I dare to resign the responsibility of the major plan and am willing to guard the border!"

Li Chang's request for a county had a clear purpose - to request to guard the border.

Go to the northwest to take charge of the defense along the way. Moreover, judging from the text, he planned to prepare troops and fight against the Xixia people after taking office.

"This Li Gongze... I didn't realize he's such a hawk!" Zhao Xu took Li Chang's note, leaned on the cushion in the study, squinted his eyes and murmured, "He has the ambition to become a general and a prime minister like the Han and Tang dynasties!"

However, it seems that every scholar-official in the Song Dynasty wants to become a general or a prime minister.

Although, most of these people looked down on Wu Chen.

He even looked down upon military officials!

To normal people, this may seem contradictory.

How can you despise military officials while at the same time dream of making great achievements and becoming a noble or prime minister?

But for the literati, there is no contradiction at all.

It is even a logically closed loop - I am well-read, familiar with ancient and modern affairs, and I also dabble in military tactics, know how to use troops, and understand astronomy and geography.

You warriors, what else do you know except fighting?

Those who work hard govern others, and those who work hard govern others!

If you warriors can obey my orders and follow my strategies, how can you be defeated?
You will surely win every battle!
Therefore, for the literati, if they failed to lead the troops, it must be because the military officials were domineering and failed to use our good strategies!

Once it succeeds, it will naturally be - this is all the result of my planning!

It was driven by this mentality that when Yuan Hao rebelled against the Song Dynasty, many people in the court celebrated - Great! Finally, we have the opportunity to display our talents and make achievements!

And then...then he was hung up and beaten.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu could not help but recite the poem left by the failed scholar of the Song Dynasty on the battlefield of Haoshuichuan: "When has Xia Song ever stood tall? Han Qi is not surprising enough! The river is full of dragon and tiger chariots, and they are still talking about military affairs!"

This first war turned many of the top civil officials of the Renmiao era from pro-war factions into pro-peace factions.

The failed scholar named Zhang Yuan was indeed proud, but also resentful—what kind of insects were those who competed with me in the imperial examination? ?
However, every generation has its own dream of becoming a general or a prime minister.

Especially in the current situation.

Last year's war can be said to have completely awakened the hawkish factions in the Song Dynasty government and the public.

A large number of peace advocates changed their stance in an instant, from being fearful of the enemy in the past to being extremely impatient now.

For many people, if Lu Jifu, Zhao Gongcai (Zhao Xie), and Zhang Zhifu (Zhang Xie) can do it, then of course I can do it too!

This is especially true for Li Chang.

Zhao Xu could probably guess what Li Chang was thinking - it was very likely that Li Gongze felt that he was definitely better than Lu Huiqing and the others.

why?

Because his imperial examination ranking was higher than Lu Huiqing, Zhang Yu and Zhao Xie!

This reason is enough for the literati of the Song Dynasty!
Holding Li Chang's memorial in his hand, Zhao Xu thought: "Should I appoint him as the General Manager and Pacifier of Huanqing Road? Or should I appoint him as the General Manager and Pacifier of Fuyan Road?"

"Let's wait until Zhang Yu and Liu Changzuo return to the court before we talk about this!"

Li Chang wanted to pursue military merit, so Zhao Xu was naturally happy to see it happen.

They are even willing to portray it as a typical example.

The reason is not that Zhao Xu has confidence in Li Chang.

Rather, Zhao Xu had confidence in Lu Gongzhu - Li Chang might be as childish and naive as other literati in military affairs.

However, as a student of Lu Gongzhu, Li Chang must be an expert in logistics - during the Five-Way Campaign against Xia and the subsequent Battle of Yongle City, it was Lu Gongzhu who actually presided over the logistics work in the court.

As Lu Gongzhu's favorite student, Li Chang naturally knew the business.

This can be seen from Li Chang's personal works - last year he was ordered by Zhao Xu to compile a programmatic guiding document for court officials to use for accounting and recording.

It took Li Chang more than a year to present a 13-volume "Yuanyou Accounting Records".

Zhao Xu read the "Yuanyou Accounting Records" and not only absorbed and learned from the experience and knowledge of his predecessors in accounting.

It also directly introduced the numbers and symbols promoted by Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu was overjoyed when he received it, and used it as a guiding document, first distributing it to Kaifeng Prefecture, the Military Equipment Manufacturing Bureau, various special departments, and the Ministry of Revenue for promotion and trial use.

According to Li Chang's own report, there are still more than 20 volumes of "Yuanyou Accounting Records" waiting to be compiled in the future.

Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether Li Chang knows the military skills or not.

At worst, he could be assigned a military general who was knowledgeable about military affairs and good at fighting. He would just have to sit in the rear, coordinate the transportation of food and fodder, and manage the logistics supply.

Zhao Xu was not afraid that he would act alone - in terms of micro-management, no one could beat Emperor Zhao.

Do you know the power of the twelve golden medals?

Therefore, if a war breaks out, Zhao Xu can just control Li Chang in the city of Bianjing.

As long as Zhao Xu's micro-management can tie Li Chang's hands and feet, he will not be able to make decisions on the army's operations like those civil officials who like to give random orders.

With the current equipment and treatment level of the Song army, it can only be said that it is difficult to lose!
However, Li Chang asked for the county this time.

It's not just about avoiding suspicion.

Zhao Xu knew that the day when Li Chang was appointed was the time when Lu Gongzhu and other ministers attacked the Censorate.

Then, Zhao Xu sat up, called Tong Guan to his side, and told him: "Tong Guan, go and quietly deliver to the residences of Prime Minister Lu and Prime Minister Li what the Investigation Department has found out about Liu Anshi's purchase of gardens and houses in Luoyang and land in Xiangzhou..."

"Don't alarm others!"

Well, last time Zhao Xu sent people to Luoyang and Xiangzhou to investigate the properties of Liu Anshi and his close relatives in Luoyang and Xiangzhou.

As expected, it turned out just as Zhao Xu had expected.

Liu Anshi owned three houses of different sizes in Luoyang, one of which even had a small garden.

He also owned a large amount of land in Xiangzhou.

All we can say is that people really cannot imagine things beyond their own cognition.

"Yes!" Tong Guan took the order and left.

Zhao Xu changed his posture, continued to lean on the cushion, and then looked in the direction of Yulin Lane.

"Mr. Lu...you don't have to thank me..."

"These are the evidences of treason shared with my husband by enthusiastic people!"

(End of this chapter)