At the end of Song Dynasty: I want to be the master of ZTE

Chapter 170 The end of the year
When they returned to Lin'an, Yang had been waiting at the city gate for a long time. Zhao Shi immediately ran over and said, "My child is unfilial and I am worried about you."

Yang took a look and saw that he was a bit taller. He smiled and said, "I feel relieved to see that my eldest brother is well."

"The child is sitting safely in the center. There is no danger. There is no need to worry, Madam."

The couple said a few words, and Zhao looked at Zhao Xiaosan and said, "Come here."

Zhao Bing came over slowly and said, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"When did you become so polite?" Zhao helped his younger brother up. Seeing that he was taller and stronger, he couldn't help but praise: "It seems that he has not slacked off."

Zhao Xiaosan pursed his lips, feeling aggrieved and unwilling to speak.

Yang said: "Sanlang studied diligently and worked hard day and night. He has become a lot wiser."

"This time is very different from the past. The son of the Zhao family should cheer up." Zhao Shi continued.

Returning to the palace amid gossip, Yang pulled Zhao Xiaoda into Deoksugong Palace.

This place was originally the residence of Qin Hui. It was moved into the palace because of its royal aura. Zhao Paopao and Xiaozong lived in seclusion here after they abdicated.

In the fourth year of Xianchun, Duzong rebuilt half of the land into a Taoist palace, named Zongyang Palace, and half of it was abandoned as residential buildings. The residential parts were occupied by the Yuan army and were damaged a lot. The Taoist palace lost its valuables, but the overall preservation was better, so It was cleaned up and renamed Deoksugung Palace as the palace of the Queen Mother.

Overall, Deoksugung Palace is superior to Danseongjeon Palace in terms of scale and completeness.

When they arrived at the palace, Yang took out a few pieces of clothing, compared them with Zhao Shi, and said, "I don't want them to be just right."

"The Queen Mother has long expected that everyone will grow taller, so why is it inappropriate?" said the palace maid Xia He.

Zhao Shi didn't speak, and changed into new clothes on the spot, and walked around happily.

"It looks good." Zhao Qingzhi clapped her hands and said.

The family chatted, and Yang added: "When I was living in Wenzhou, I made some clothes. My eldest brother can give them to the important ministers."

Zhao Shi said unceremoniously: "Your Majesty, I'm worried about how to celebrate the New Year."

The family had a meal, and then the days continued as before.

Before we know it, it’s the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. Today’s morning meeting is over. Everyone can take seven days off and resume work on the fifth day of the lunar month.

Of course, this is based on the fact that there is no emergency. If Yuan Jun can't think of it, everyone will have to work overtime.

There is only one main content of today's meeting, and that is to approve next year's salary.

During the Zhao Dynasty, the salary of officials was not high. After successive reforms, due to reasons that everyone understands, the salary is getting higher and higher, but this is only for officials. Subordinate officials, like Song Jiang in Water Margin, have no salary and income. It's all created by oneself, so the inspectors often turn into robbers.

The last reform of the official system not only streamlined job titles, allowed officials to be promoted, and paid salaries to subordinate officials.

It's just that the court's expenses were tight at that time, and the salaries of subordinate officials were not high. Now that the finances have eased, it is necessary to increase the salary to win people's hearts.

Things that have been discussed for a long time are just going over. In short, today's court meeting will end soon.

After the ministers said some auspicious words of congratulations on the New Year, Zhao Shi said: "Thank you for your hard work, sir. I have prepared some gift boxes for everyone to take back."

"I thank your Majesty for the reward." After everyone thanked them, Peng Zhenlong bravely walked in with his bodyguards and handed out the rewards according to the name cards.

Regardless of whether they are clean-blooded or working with a negative salary, they are all willing to accept it.

Year-end bonus, who doesn’t like it?

In Luling, Jizhou, Jiangxi, Wen Tianxiang handled government affairs and was about to go back to reunite with his family when a personal guard came in and said, "Deputy General Manager, Your Majesty has sent an envoy to deliver New Year's gifts."

If you don't say anything, welcome him in immediately.The angel was appointed by the personal guard Jiang Xiangu, who did not pay much attention to formalities and started reading the gift list directly, which included twenty silver coins, two bottles of wine, ten catties of sugar, ten catties of preserved fruits, a stone of salted fish, a set of clothes, and a pair of shoes.

"Marquis Ji." Jiang Xiangu said, "It's nothing else. The clothes and shoes were sewn by the Queen Mother herself."

"Thank you, the Empress Dowager, for your love, thank you for your kindness, and I will repay you with all my heart and soul." Wen Tianxiang immediately expressed his stance.

In terms of market price, clothes and shoes are nothing, but in terms of friendship, you can only repay with your life.

Otherwise, what would Yang do so hard for?Isn't it just the push-up clothes?

The chief, deputy general manager, and the prime minister received clothes and shoes sewn by the Queen Mother herself. The magistrates and military commanders received clothes and shoes that the Queen Mother had participated in sewing.

In short, Yang has indeed been busy for a year.

When it comes to winning people's hearts, both the emperor and the queen mother are doing their best, and Yuanting is not idle either.

In Dadu, Kublai Khan scattered countless money with a wave of his hand.

In the early and middle stages of the rise of Mongolia, officials had no wages and had to rely on robbery to support themselves. It was not until Kublai Khan came to power that a salary system was established. However, officials' wages were not high, and year-end rewards had a strong meaning of year-end bonuses.

The local area is a little better. Officials have jobs and land, and their lives are certainly fine. Don't worry about wealth, so Hu Feng's wine and sugar business is booming.

Ezhou, in the former Jinghu South Road Transfer Envoy Yamen, now in the Jinghu Province Xuanfu Envoy Yamen, the prince sat high in gold, with all the civil and military officials below.

Zhenjin said: "I was ordered to supervise the south of the Yangtze River. I just arrived today, but I didn't want to lose half of the southeast wall."

"I am guilty." Atahai, Li Heng and others bowed down at the same time.

"The general situation is like this, and it is not a crime of war." Zhenjin absolved everyone of their guilt with one sentence, and said: "The climate and soil are not suitable, the army is war-weary, and the cavalry cannot display its power. All these are the only reasons for defeat. Is this what you are doing? Can it be changed?"

"Thank you, Prince." Everyone bowed down and expressed their gratitude from the bottom of their hearts.

After appeasing the generals, Zhenjin asked: "The most urgent task now is to win over the hearts and minds of the military and the people.

Ali Hague, you have [-] households. How about I pay [-] guan to redeem you as a citizen? "

"I obey the prince's order." Ali Hague replied.

The prince should catch him as soon as possible to save his face, otherwise he would not be able to let him go after an order is issued?
Zhen Jin looked around, and said: "Anyone who plunders the people to drive the mouth, the imperial court will pay for the redemption, I hope you will cooperate with each other, and don't delay the imperial court's plan to consolidate the Jinghu province."

"I obey the order." Everyone responded.

This is not the restraint of Boyan's prestige, but it is about to become a system. Along with the real gold comes the Xingyushitai. This is the first time that the Xingyushitai has been set up, which shows the emperor's determination.

"Everyone, the soldiers have been exhausted physically and mentally after many years of fighting. They should be comforted. On New Year's Eve, each of them will be given one catty of meat, three catties of rice and flour, and the same amount of money. Regardless of Han or Mongolian, they will be paid together. If there is any deduction, severe punishment will not be given." Zhenjin said again.

Since you don't have to pay for it yourself, of course no one will refute it. As for whether there will be deductions, it depends on whether the supervision is strict.

"Each general will give you fifty guan of money, three stones of rice, flour, and three bones of sheep."

This is good, everyone thanks immediately.

Zhenjin continued: "It stands to reason that the New Year should be a day of celebration for the whole world, and it is a time for the armies to recuperate. However, if the Song army dares to fight well, it may attack on New Year's Eve. Don't relax too much.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, I set out from Ezhou to inspect various places. Anyone who treats soldiers harshly and abuses the people will be severely punished. "

Everyone was so nervous that they didn't even dare to say anything.

Under the teachings of various Han Confucian scholars, Zhen Jin was indeed a humble gentleman, but if he could whip Ahema in public when he got angry, who would dare to do so in a secretive manner?

(End of this chapter)