I studied in modern times

Chapter 970: Famous Generals
Zhao Xu stood at the door of the palace for a while, and then Guo Zhongxiao came.

"Your Majesty, I am here to recommend this year's newly appointed Gatekeeper to meet your Majesty!"

"Yes!" Zhao Xu nodded: "Bring them all in!"

The Hemen Tongshi Sheren was a noble choice among military officials who was comparable to the Zhongshu Sheren.

Because they were close to the emperor and accompanied him on tours to various places.

Therefore, once you are sent out, unless there are any unexpected events, you will be promoted as easily as diabetes insipidus.

You can easily be promoted to Yaojun.

Therefore, the 4+4 of the Song Dynasty became the hardest hit area of ​​inbreeding.

More than 95% of the secretaries of the imperial court throughout the dynasties were second-generation yamen officials.

The few remaining ones who have climbed up from the grassroots are basically people with connections - either the son-in-law or nephew of a general.

There isn’t even a single one from a truly poor family!
The Gatekeepers selected this time were no exception.

They are all second generation yamen!

Of course, the second-generation yanei is the second-generation yanei, and Zhao Xu still screened them as much as possible.

After all, this group of secretaries may stay by his side for several years or even more than ten years in the future, and become the tool for him to control the army in the future.

Therefore, we must choose the best from the best!

A quarter of an hour later, five men in purple robes, official uniforms of military officials, were brought to the Funing Palace.

Zhao Xu sat upright on the throne, accepting their worship.

"The Minister Jianzhong, the official in charge of the Imperial Court..."

"The gatekeeper, the attendant, the minister, the teacher..."

Yes, Zhao Xu recalled the brothers Zhong Jianzhong and Zhong Shizhong, and then stuffed them into the latest list of Hemen Tongshi Sheren.

It makes total sense.

Just asking, are the Zhong family members considered the second generation of yamen?
"I am the official in charge of the gate!"

A strong and tall young military official stepped forward and bowed his head.

When Zhao Xu saw this person, he couldn't help but smile: "Good!"

"You are worthy of being the general I loved in my previous life!"

"Now he has some of the demeanor of a famous general!"

This person was Yao Gu, the youngest son of Yao Si, a famous general of the Western Army.

During the Jingkang Incident, he and Zhong Shizhong were ordered to lead the Western Army to relieve the siege of Taiyuan.

One died in battle, the other was defeated and retreated.

Yao Gu was the one who was defeated.

But this does not mean that Yao Gu is a coward or a waste.

After all, even if Han Xin and Li Ji were reborn under the command of Zhao Ji and his son, they would probably not be able to win a battle.

Reality has also proved this point irrefutably - what if God sent a Yue Wumu to Wanyan Gou?

Anyway, in Zhao Xu's memory, the Yao brothers served him wholeheartedly, charged into battle, and made many military achievements. They were rare and good generals!

He is also a loyal and devoted minister!

Those who have withstood the test of history did not rebel when faced with incompetent rulers like Zhao Ji and his sons who made blind and chaotic decisions.

If this isn’t loyalty, then what is?
"The minister Shuye, the messenger of the gate..."

After Yao Gu was a very young military official.

He looks to be only in his twenties, and his physique is not as tall and strong as the Zhong brothers and Yao Gu.

But he has a heroic spirit.

And this one is also a heavyweight!

When his name appeared in the list of candidates for the position of Jiemen Tongshi Sheren, everyone in the court and the country was stunned.

Because...

He is the nephew of Zhang Chengyi who has now been beheaded.

He is the cousin of Zhang Ji, whose writings since birth were destroyed, he was exiled to Shamen Island, and all his property was confiscated. Even his ancestral home has been converted into low-rent housing for officials in Beijing.

This person's name is: Zhang Shuye.

The great-grandson of the late Zhang Qi, who was posthumously awarded the title of Shizhong and Duke of Xu.

In the seventh year of Yuanfeng, he entered the officialdom in Xihe Road by virtue of imperial favor, and was initially appointed as the registrar and military officer of Lanzhou. After the case of Zhang Ji and Zhang Cheng, the entire Zhang family was put on a blacklist.

Zhang Shuye was no exception. In Xihe, he was stripped of all power.

Every day when I go on duty, I just show up.

After completing his term of office in October last year, he returned directly to Beijing and started the waiting process.

In theory, a member of a noble family who has committed a crime against God.

Even if he served in the Ministry of Personnel and the Privy Council for ten thousand years, he probably wouldn't get a new assignment.

No one expected that just over a month after he returned to Beijing, the imperial edict in the palace would appoint this evil grandson of Zhang Qi as the Secretary of the Imperial Court.

This is a step to heaven!

Zhang Shuye himself didn't expect this.

So even when he arrived before the emperor, he was still confused.

But Zhao Xu looked at him eagerly.

This is another loyal minister who has withstood the test of the Jingkang Shame!

Moreover, for the sake of the Zhao family's kingdom, he was willing to sacrifice his life and die to show his determination.

Even Wanyan Gou was moved to tears when he heard about it.

I can only say that he is indeed a die-hard fan of the Zhao family!

At the beginning, when Zhao Xu took action against Zhang Ji and Zhang Chengyi, he also considered Zhang Shuye's feelings to some extent.

So they were not completely wiped out.

Zhang Ji simply destroyed all the writings he had written since his birth and exiled him to Shamen Island.

But only he himself, his wife, daughter and family were not implicated.

He even left them the property that belonged to them.

Although Zhang Chengyi was beheaded.

It also did not implicate his family members, wife and children, and did not even affect the promotions of his sons and nephews.

After Zhang Shuye was a young man who looked a little frail.

"The minister Zong Min, the official in charge of the Imperial Court..."

This one is even more heavyweight!
Of course, few people know his power now.

He is unknown, with neither a prominent family background nor a powerful background.

He was able to be selected as the Secretary of the Imperial Court thanks to the recommendation of the newly appointed governor Fan Chunren.

Fan Chunren recommended him because of the recommendation of his younger brother, Fan Chuncui, the Shaanxi Transport Commissioner.

The reason why Fan Chuncui recommended him was because his family had a close relationship with Fan Zhongyan.

At that time, Fan Zhongyan was stationed at the border and brought about a wave of education development in the local area.

Many military generals who were illiterate before also began to read.

As for the local scholars, they read poetry and books in one hand and use swords in the other.

Therefore, most of the Jinshi from Shaanxi were proficient in archery and horse riding, and were skilled in riding and shooting.

And this person's family happens to be full of scholars for generations.

Therefore, they reaped the dividends of the times and became the pigs in the wind.

In just a few decades, it has become a well-known home of Confucian masters in the border areas.

So, he married into the Zhe family. The current head of the Zhe family, Zhe Kexing, is a cousin of this man.

That's why he was included in the list.

His surname is Yang, his name is Zongmin, and his courtesy name is Jingxian!
His grandson should be well-known to many people today - Yang Yizhong!

Zhao Xu selected Yang Yizhong on the list of the gatekeepers purely for the dumplings. Of course, this guy is quite capable.

According to historical records, he was also a loyal minister of the Zhao family - he died in battle in Chang'an together with Tang Chong.

His son Yang Zhen and two grandsons had died in the defense of Linzhou before that.

Therefore, in Zhao Xu's view, this person is his Wei Qing - not only is he capable, but he is also loyal and reliable.

The descendants are all loyal and brave, and their military strategies are unparalleled!
The five newly appointed gatekeepers faced Zhao Xu who was sitting on the throne, bowed four times, and then said, "We respectfully wish His Majesty the Emperor the best of health!"

Looking at the five gatekeepers prostrating themselves before him, Zhao Xu was filled with pride and said in a deep voice, "Long live my life!"

"No need to be polite!"

"Give me a seat!"

At this moment, he finally understood why Emperor Taizong of Tang sighed when he saw the scholars filing in: "All the heroes in the world are in my jar!"

At this moment, the five people crawling in front of him are all future famous generals.

Everyone can stand on their own!
Loyalty is not an issue at all.

Each of them is a die-hard Zhao family member who has withstood the test of history - they are willing to serve even useless people like Zhao Ji and his son, or even precious people like Wanyan Gou!
Zhao Xu thought that no matter how bad he was, he was still a hundred times better than Zhao Ji's family.

After the five people trembled in thanks and sat on the porcelain stools that Tong Guan and his men had brought for them, Zhao Xu said to them, "During these days, you should make good use of the time to familiarize yourself with the situation in the Tongjian Division and the Neidongmen Division..."

"Mr. Guo, I will do everything I can to help you and assist you, my dear ministers, and familiarize you with the various rules and regulations of the Tongjian Division and the Neidongmen Division!"

Guo Zhongxiao bowed beside him and said, "It is my duty!"

But, he was shocked in his heart.

Because the emperor's decree meant that the five new Gemen Tongshi Sheren this time would all be real appointments, unlike his batch of Gemen Tongshi Sheren, who, except for him, only drank tea and reported for duty in the yamen.

This is incredible!

This is because, once the powerful officials around the emperor were sent out to other places, they would at least be appointed as ambassadors to govern a certain army or a certain camp.

Because they came from the official family, their status in the local area could even be higher than that of civil officials of the same level.

This is unprecedented.

Zhao Xu ignored Guo Zhongxiao's thoughts and looked at the other five people. He continued, "Mr. Guo, after some time, you will have to resign from your post as the gatekeeper and return home to take care of your father!"

"My father is a famous general of our dynasty, the military governor of Xiongwu Army, Lord Guo!"

"Mr. Guo has been entrusted by me to take charge of the martial arts. You are all sons of military officials and relatives of the imperial court!"

"From now on, if you have a day off, you can often go to the martial arts school and receive the teachings of Mr. Guo!"

"promise!"

The five newly appointed secretaries bowed their heads and said, "We will follow your instructions!"

"Good!" Zhao Xu nodded: "Let's stop here today. You can follow Sheren Guo and get familiar with the situation of the Inner East Gate Division and the Tongjian Division!"

"only!"

……

An hour later, under the guidance of Guo Zhongxiao, Zhong Jianzhong, Zhong Shizhong, Yao Gu, Zhang Shuye, Yang Zongmin and other five people finished their familiarity with the official residences of Neidongmensi and Tongjiansi, and arrived at the official residences where they lived, worked and rested in the palace.

This official residence is close to Donghuamen, so people can go through Donghuamen to and from get off work, instead of having to go to Xuandemen to queue up with civil and military officials to enter the palace.

This can be considered as a benefit for the officials in charge of the imperial court.

After settling the five people down and assigning them their respective official residences, Guo Zhongxiao gave them his final instructions: "My fellow servants, when you live here, remember to pay attention to the palace restrictions and do not cross the palace walls without permission. If you are not familiar with the palace taboos, you can ask the eunuchs in the official residence..."

As Guo Zhongxiao was speaking, a few yellow-haired boys came out with a faint smile and bowed to the five new gatekeepers.

They all know the importance of things.

It is known that the secretaries of the imperial court in all dynasties were either noble relatives or nephews of generals who held military power.

These are the people they cannot afford to offend.

Zhong Jianzhong and others nodded slightly to these eunuchs.

Guo Zhongxiao continued, "In addition, there are two taboos in the palace inside Donghua Gate that must not be crossed!"

"Once anyone is found to have violated the rules, they will be demoted at the least and executed at the worst!"

"One is the imperial kitchen near the inner medicine storehouse!"

"Although, nowadays, the emperor's daily meals are mostly prepared by the Empress Dowager and the three county ladies in Baoci Palace for the emperor!"

"But the whereabouts of the imperial chef is related to the safety of the emperor!"

"Still be extremely careful!"

"This is another taboo place..." Guo Zhongxiao looked towards the palace opposite their official residence, under the palace wall, which was now covered with thick snow.

"That's it!"

"Qingning Palace!" Guo Zhongxiao bowed in the direction of Funing Palace and said, "It is the place where the current emperor lives in secret, the place called Longyuan!"

"It is also the place of Longyuan, the hidden residence of Yingmiao!"

The hidden residence of two generations of officials before they ascended the throne.

Its sacredness can be imagined!

Moreover, before the current emperor ascended the throne, there was almost a fight in the palace.

The late emperor once secretly issued a decree to Yan Da, the commander-in-chief of the Palace Guard, ordering him to select loyal and good people to guard the imperial heir!

This matter is no longer a secret in the eyes of those who are interested in the palace.

After all, Yan Da’s three sons are now in charge of the dragon taming officers.

The third squad of the Imperial Dragon Guards, who were responsible for accompanying the emperor on his official trips and guarding the emperor's left and right sides when he summoned ministers, to keep him out of the way of prying eyes from both inside and outside, were composed entirely of the same Imperial Dragon Guards who had guarded the Qingning Palace in the past.

As long as you stay in this palace long enough and pay more attention, you will naturally discover these things.

Then, with a quick check, all the situations will become clear at a glance.

Of course, Guo Zhongxiao knew that he could only keep these things in his heart.

I can’t even tell my children and grandchildren!
If you say it, it could lead to the destruction of your entire family!
Therefore, he just mentioned it casually and bowed to the five juniors in front of him: "Everyone, please rest here first..."

"I will go to the emperor first to report!"

"Yes!" Zhong Jianzhong and the other five bowed their hands, "Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Among these five people, except Yang Zongmin, they all knew Guo Zhongxiao.

The Zhong Jianzhong brothers simply studied in the same school as Guo Zhongxiaozeng - they all studied under Cheng Hao.

When Zhang Shuye was a child, he followed his father to Guo Zhongxiao's home.

As for Yao Gu?

His father Yao Si and Guo Zhongxiao's father Guo Kui were friends of the same generation.

The two families are close friends!

There was even a discussion about in-laws.

Even Yang Zongmin could actually establish a friendship with Guo Zhongxiao - Guo Zhongxiao was Fan Chunren's son-in-law (the previous article mistakenly recorded it as Lu Gongzhu's son-in-law, Fan Chunren was Lu Gongzhu's son-in-law).

Yang Zongmin was sponsored by Fan Chunren and recommended by Fan Chuncui.

All we can say is that the network of in-laws/fellow students in the Song Dynasty was incredibly powerful.

……

Guo Zhongxiao came before Zhao Xu and reported on the situation of the newly appointed gatekeepers.

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work, my dear!"

"During these days, the officials should hurry up and explain the situation and rules of the Tongshisi and Neidongmensi to the newly appointed officials!"

"I understand!" Guo Zhongxiao bowed again.

Now his Taishan is in power.

If he doesn't step down, people will really gossip about him and even impeach him.

"My dear!" Zhao Xu stood up and looked at Guo Zhongxiao affectionately: "Tell me the truth..."

"I really can't bear to let you leave!"

As he spoke, his eyes turned slightly red.

Suddenly, Guo Zhongxiao was so moved that he cried out loud.

(End of this chapter)