I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

Two days later, at dawn, the first rays of sunlight began to appear.

Zhao Mingcheng changed into his neatest imperial student robe and wore a square scarf on his head. Led by an eunuch, he stepped into the Chuigong Hall once again.

He's here today to receive the imperial decree.

An incense table had been set up inside, burning a light incense stick called ambergris.

Zhao Mingcheng stepped inside, knelt down in front of the designated prayer mat, and performed the three bows and nine kowtows ceremony.

"Your student Zhao Mingcheng kowtows to Your Majesty and respectfully wishes you good health."

"Rise," Zhao Xu's voice came steadily.

Zhao Mingcheng thanked the emperor and rose to stand respectfully with his hands at his sides.

The eunuch Hao stepped forward, unfurled a bright yellow scroll in his hand, and proclaimed in a loud voice.

"The Secretariat has approved: Zhao Mingcheng, a student of the Imperial Academy, is intelligent and knowledgeable. His previous report on border affairs was quite appropriate."

He was specially authorized to dispatch an envoy to the Hehuang region, bestowed with scarlet robes, and given a rank equivalent to that of a court attendant. He was permitted to submit memorials directly to the emperor and to report to the emperor in secret.

You are hereby ordered to appease the newly submitted peoples, understand their situation, consult on their interests and disadvantages, and assist in managing border affairs, so as to ensure that the distant peoples are grateful and that the borders are stable.

Furthermore, Liu Zhongwu, the deputy general of Jingyuan Road, is appointed to lead a hundred elite cavalrymen to accompany the emperor; since the former Tibetan ruler, Xia Zheng, has already submitted to the Tang dynasty, he is hereby appointed to accompany the emperor as an advisor and is under your command. You must strive diligently and not fail my expectations. Therefore, this edict is hereby issued, and I hope you are aware of it.”

The term "temporary dispatch" in the imperial edict refers to a temporary assignment, and the title "pacification envoy" sounds like someone going to conduct ethnic unity propaganda and research, which is politically correct.

But the eight characters "memorials should be delivered directly, and secret reports should be submitted" carry immense weight.

This means that Zhao Mingcheng had the special authority to bypass all bureaucratic levels and report directly to the emperor.

This was both an immense trust and a means of placing him under the scrutiny and even hostility of all the generals and officials on the front lines.

"Your subject, Zhao Mingcheng, receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude. Your Majesty's grace is boundless; I will repay it with my utmost loyalty and devotion!"

Zhao Mingcheng bowed deeply once more, raising his hands high to receive the heavy imperial edict.

After the imperial edict was read, the atmosphere shifted from solemn and dignified to relaxed.

Zhao Xu gestured for Hao Sui to move a screen closer to slightly block the view before looking at Zhao Mingcheng, who was holding the imperial edict and standing respectfully, and slowly spoke.

"Mingcheng, the words in the imperial edict are for outsiders to hear. Today I have summoned you to say a few more words that you must keep in mind."

"Please give me your instructions, Your Majesty. I will remember them."

Zhao Mingcheng bowed.

Zhao Xu leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp.

"You have two important matters to attend to on your journey to the Hehuang region."

First, see clearly for me what the situation is like on the Qinghai-Tibet front. Who among Wang Shan, Wang Min, and Sun Lu is right and wrong, who has merit and who has demerit? I want to hear the most truthful accounts. Are the generals arrogant and corrupt? Are the soldiers resentful of food shortages? Have the tribes truly surrendered or feigned allegiance? How difficult is the transport of supplies?

"I want you to see and hear all of this with your own eyes and ears, and then, using your authority to submit reports directly to me, report it to me in secret."

Zhao Xu paused, then emphasized.

"Secondly, there are the border stabilization strategies you previously presented. These strategies are ultimately superficial when discussed on paper."

I want you to go and try it out in practice, to see if it can be implemented, what obstacles you will encounter, and how to overcome them. As for the Tibetan invasion, I have already ordered him to accompany you. He is a pawn for you. How you use him to pacify the Tibetan tribes and stabilize the people's hearts is up to you.

Liu Zhongwu is knowledgeable about the situation of the barbarians and skilled in horsemanship, archery, and barbarian affairs. He can be of assistance to you. Remember, your mission is not only to observe, but also to act.

"By giving you the title of 'Pacification Envoy,' I empower you to intervene in local affairs, mediate between various parties, and truly ensure border stability. The responsibility on your shoulders is heavy."

This explanation clearly revealed Zhao Mingcheng's core mission and immense authority during this trip.

He was not only the emperor's eyes and ears, but also a tentative executor of the emperor's intentions.

We must not only investigate the truth and distinguish right from wrong, but also try to implement new policies and reconcile conflicts.

This essentially placed a young student of the Imperial Academy at a delicate political juncture in the Hehuang region, and the difficulty and risks involved were considerable.

Zhao Mingcheng felt a chill in his heart, and a deeper sense of responsibility.

He responded in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty's trust in me is deeply appreciated. I will uphold impartiality, act prudently, strive for leniency and understanding with the barbarians, plan meticulously for provisions, and maintain harmony and balance with the generals. I will exert all my strength to stabilize Qinghai and live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

"Very well, I am relieved that you have this intention."

A look of weariness mixed with relief crossed Zhao Xu's face. He leaned back in his chair, pondered for a moment, and then said...

"Your journey to the frontier and into the barren lands is for the service of the country, and I cannot treat you unfairly."

"Alright then, once you return to the capital after your successful mission, I will issue a special decree granting you the title of Senior Scholar, exempting you from the civil service examination, and directly appointing you to a substantive official position in the capital. With your talent, your future prospects are limitless."

Being granted official rank and becoming a government official was the highest honor and a shortcut for students of the Imperial Academy in the Song Dynasty.

This means that one can be granted an official position directly by imperial decree without having to go through the brutal imperial examination or selection process.

This was an absolute blessing that countless scholars who had studied diligently for years had longed for.

Zhao Xu made this promise not only as a reward for Zhao Mingcheng's achievements, but also as a way to further win him over and pave the way for his future promotion.

However, Zhao Mingcheng's first reaction upon hearing this was that things were not going well.

The upper-level monk Shihe followed the path of becoming a disciple of the emperor.

This means he will be labeled as a "Tenetist" and a "Koshin".

At that time, the source of his political life and his greatest reliance will be directly tied to the ailing Zhao Xu on the throne.

This fundamentally conflicted with Zhao Mingcheng's long-chosen path of becoming a "minister who follows the emperor."

Zhao Mingcheng knew Zhao Xu's physical condition better than anyone else in this era.

History had little time left for this ambitious young emperor.

It is unwise to tie one's political life to a seemingly magnificent but actually leaky behemoth.

Zhao Mingcheng's foundation and future do not lie with Zhao Xu, but with the Prince Duan's mansion.

Emperor Huizong's love of fun and pleasure might have been seen as a flaw by politicians like Zhang Dun.

But in Zhao Mingcheng's view, it was a controllable advantage that could even be exploited.

What he needed to do was become Zhao Ji's absolute "one of his own," a minister who had served Zhao Ji since his time as a prince, and the most trusted advisor to the emperor in the future new dynasty.

Zhao Mingcheng already had a plan.

His face showed a timely expression of excitement, gratitude, and even a hint of fear and unease.

Then, Zhao Mingcheng took a step back, lifted his robe again, and solemnly knelt down, touching the ground with his head.

"Your Majesty's grace is as vast as the sea! Your subject... Your subject is moved to tears, and has no way to repay it!"

Zhao Mingcheng's voice was tinged with just the right amount of emotion and choking back sobs. He looked up, his eyes already slightly red.

"However, Your Majesty, I...I have something to say, something that's stuck in my throat, and I must say it. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission!"

Zhao Xu raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh? Please speak freely."

Zhao Mingcheng took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, to clearly express these "heartfelt words".

"Your Majesty, you have been granted a position in the Imperial Academy and given a real post. This is something that all scholars in the land dream of. How could I possibly refuse?"

However, I believe that the selection of officials by the state has its own rules and regulations. The purpose of the imperial examination is to select virtuous and capable individuals for the country, which is the essence of fairness and the foundation of the court's prestige.

"Your Majesty has shown me great favor, elevating me from humble origins to be entrusted with border affairs. This is already an extraordinary act of kindness. If, for any minor merit, I were to be promoted beyond my station and appointed without examination, such a precedent would likely… be neither a blessing for the court nor something I would desire."

He paused, his tone becoming even more earnest.

"I wish to use my knowledge to participate in the civil service examination with other students in a dignified manner."

If I am fortunate enough to pass the exam, it will be a sign of my academic achievement, and I will be satisfied. If I fail due to my lack of talent, it will be a sign of my inadequacy, and I will have no regrets.

Only in this way can I live up to the Emperor's expectations of cultivating me, and also to my own diligent studies. I humbly beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!

After saying this, Zhao Mingcheng prostrated himself on the ground again and remained kneeling for a long time.

The hall was completely silent.

Even Hao Sui, the eunuch standing to the side, was surprised.

Zhao Mingcheng actually turned down the easy path to a better career.

Do we still have to squeeze onto that single-plank bridge of the imperial examination with scholars from all over the country?

Zhao Xu, sitting on the throne, was clearly stunned.

He anticipated that Zhao Mingcheng would be grateful and thankful, perhaps even so excited that he would become incoherent.

But to my utter surprise, I received such a "selfless," even somewhat "pedantic," rejection.

He stared at the young yet composed figure kneeling below, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

After a moment, Zhao Xu understood.

Yes, Zhao Mingcheng is definitely different.

His rebuttal of the idea that opening up borders would deplete the country was not empty talk about benevolence and righteousness, but a calculation of advantages and disadvantages; his suggestions for the strategy of Qinghai were not unrealistic, but closely based on reality.

Now, faced with an exceptional promotion that most people would find hard to resist, he thinks of the court's laws and the fairness of talent selection!

All these things combined made Zhao Xu look at Zhao Mingcheng with new respect.

Such character and perseverance are extremely rare in the Bianjing officialdom, where people are keen on scheming and vying for power.

Zhao Xu was somewhat moved by what he heard.

Zhao Mingcheng is not only talented, but also virtuous and principled!

"You...get up."

Zhao Xu's voice softened considerably, tinged with obvious emotion.

"How rare, how rare indeed! The entire court is filled with officials, so many scheming and currying favor, all for the sake of advancement. Yet you, you have personally returned the path to your own success. This ambition, this spirit, I... am deeply gratified."

Zhao Mingcheng then stood up, his hands at his sides, his face still showing sincerity.

"Your Majesty, I am merely following my heart. I hope Your Majesty will understand."

"I will naturally understand."

Zhao Xu smiled, a truly relaxed and hearty smile, as if the gloom that had been troubled by illness and border affairs in recent days had dissipated considerably.

"Since you are unwilling to be promoted, I will not force you. However, you have worked hard for the country and ventured into dangerous places. If I do not reward you with something, wouldn't I discourage the loyalty of my ministers? Tell me, what is your wish? As long as I can do it, I will grant it."

With his mind made up, Zhao Mingcheng cupped his hands in greeting again. This time, his request sounded reasonable, even somewhat insignificant.

"Your Majesty has inquired, and I dare not conceal the truth. I do indeed have a wish. I... I am grateful to His Highness Prince Duan for not disliking me and for frequently summoning me to his residence to organize books, paintings, and classics, and to discuss art and literature."

His Highness Prince Duan is exceptionally intelligent and treats me with utmost sincerity, for which I am deeply grateful.

However, the Imperial Academy has strict rules, and my access to the Prince's residence is often restricted. I can only see him once every ten days, which has caused many delays in organizing the classics and assisting Your Highness.

Your Majesty humbly requests that you grant me special permission to freely enter and leave the Prince Duan's residence outside of my studies at the Imperial Academy, without being subject to the ten-day limit.

In this way, I can wholeheartedly serve His Highness Prince Duan, complete the compilation of classics, and not neglect my studies at the Imperial Academy, so I can still advance in the future through the imperial examinations. This is my only request, and I hope Your Majesty will grant it.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu not only had no doubts, but also felt that Zhao Mingcheng was even more reliable and sincere.

Zhao Mingcheng was neither greedy for official positions nor for wealth.

He only wanted to make it easier for his eleventh brother to do some "organizing calligraphy and paintings" chores, while not giving up his own path of taking the imperial examinations.

This request, though simple to the point of being somewhat "foolish," only highlights his pure character and gratitude.

"What can I say about you?"

Zhao Xu shook his head and chuckled, his tone relaxed.

"Very well, this is a minor matter, granted! After you return from this trip, I will issue an edict to the Imperial Academy and the Prince Duan's residence, granting you permission to enter and leave the Prince Duan's residence at any time to assist with its maintenance. You must not neglect your studies at the Imperial Academy either; I still want to see you pass the imperial examination with flying colors!"

"Your Majesty, I kowtow and express my gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace!"

Zhao Mingcheng was genuinely and sincerely expressing his gratitude with a grand gesture.

With this special decree, his relationship with Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, will become closer and freer.

This is a hundred times more important than a single dose of brown sugar.

Zhao Mingcheng's path to becoming a powerful figure is now completely secure.

"Alright, the decree has been issued, and you bear a heavy responsibility. I will give you two days to pack your belongings, bid farewell to your family and friends, and two days later, someone will guide you to join Liu Zhongwu's troops and travel west together."

Zhao Xu's smile faded, and he solemnly gave his instructions.

"The journey to the Hehuang region is long and the border is treacherous. Be careful in everything you do. I await your triumphant return in Bianjing."

"Your subject obeys! I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

Holding his official robes and seal, Zhao Mingcheng bowed deeply twice, then steadily retreated step by step until he reached the palace gate, where he turned and left.