On the evening of the day when Zhao Xu, Zhang Qi, Xu Jiang, and Cai Bian finished talking, the Privy Council and the Ministry of War jointly drafted a document to prepare to further promote the 'military reform'.

Cai Bian convened a meeting of six ministries to prepare for the election of another 'fifteen governors' to inspect and supervise the localities.

At first glance, the 'governor' is a feudal official, far beyond the current status of the prefecture and county, and is directly the third grade.

The six Shangshu couldn't help but be excited, and they began to recommend them one after another.

Some of them were selected from the six departments of the imperial court and various temples, and some were recommended by the opposition, and they said twenty or thirty people in one breath.

These people, who are either current court officials or former high-ranking officials, are almost all 'new party'.

Cai Bian was also difficult to make a decision for a while, recorded the list, and considered recalling these people back to Beijing to inspect them in person.

The Great Song Dynasty was non-stop and struggled forward.

The progress in other aspects is also very rapid, such as the construction of Dali Temple in the local area, such as the development of the transfer department, such as the reform of Taixue, and so on.

Funing Palace, study.

Zhao Xu finished correcting the 'Royal Ticket Number Development Regulations' sent by Zhao Tong and Zhu Qianzhen, sat on the chair, was quiet for a while, and suddenly took the map again and looked at it carefully.

To the northeast of the Great Song Dynasty is the Liao State, which should be the strongest at present, and the area it occupies is also the largest. Goryeo occupies most of the Korean Peninsula on the border.

The northwest direction of the Great Song Dynasty is the Western Xia, the land area of the Western Xia is very small, the capital Xingqing is very close to the border of the Great Song Dynasty, the national strength is not strong, but the army is reckless.

Further west, there is Tibet, which was severely divided and was suppressed by the Western Xia and lost a lot of places. But it also intrudes on the Great Song Dynasty from time to time, and has a certain strength.

The south is also the 'south of the clouds' in later generations, which is the country of Dali, and the country of Dali is poor and lacking in people, relatively speaking, it is still 'obedient', and the threat is not great.

But strictly speaking, the environment of the Great Song Dynasty is very bad.

"Wolves are around, ......"

Zhao Xu looked at the map and whispered to himself.

After glancing at the map of Xia and Liao, Zhao Xu's eyes slowly turned to Tubo and Dali.

Zhao Xu's eyes narrowed slightly, and said, "Tubo, or Dali?" ”

If the Great Song Dynasty wants to break through and expand its survival and strategic space, it has to go south and then north.

As soon as Zhao Xu's voice fell, Chen Pi's footsteps sounded outside the door, and he said, "Official, it's time to rest." ”

Zhao Xu put the map away and sat quietly for a moment before getting up to leave.

Chen Pi accompanied him back to the palace and said, "Official, it is Liu Meiren who is sleeping tonight." ”

Zhao Xu snorted, stretched his arms, and said, "Let Cai You and Nan Tianyou come to see me in the Vertical Arch Hall tomorrow." ”

Chen Pi said: "Yes." ”

When Zhao Xu pushed open the door and walked into the dormitory, he said: "Send a message to the political affairs hall, give the bandit army a number, and hand it over to Tong Guan to command." ”

Chen Pi was stunned, hurriedly cautious, and said in a low voice: "Yes." ”

Zhao Xu waved his hand, pushed the door and walked in.

……

Early the next morning, when Zhao Xu was still asleep, there was a soft knock on the door suddenly, and Chen Pi called softly: "Official." ”

Liu Meiren let out a lazy snort, and a white arm stretched out to hug Zhao Xu's chest.

Zhao Xu frowned, looked out the window, only to see that it was still a little dark, and he got up angry, and said impatiently: "What's the matter?" ”

Chen Pi hurriedly said carefully: "Back to the official's house, there were suddenly some rumors outside the palace, it was King Yan and Xia Ren. ”

Yan Wang, Zhao Hao.

Zhao Xu was half-asleep, dizzy, and said directly: "Let the political hall deal with it." ”

Chen Pi didn't dare to disturb more, answered softly, and quietly left.

Zhao Xu hugged Liu Meiren and fell asleep again.

Blue tile house.

Zhang Dian was not there, Cai Bian was often on duty all night, listening to the sudden message of the Yellow Gate in front of him, waiting for him to speak, pondering for a moment, and said: "You mean, this rumor came out early in the morning, and, just vaguely, King Yan has something to do with the Xia people, and there are no more?" ”

Huang Men carefully recalled Chen Pi's explanation and said, "It's like Cai Xianggong." ”

Cai Bian looked as usual, was quiet for a moment, turned his head to look at the side, and said, "Wentai, what do you think?" ”

Standing beside Cai Bian was a young man under thirty named Zhou Wentai.

He was also a Jinshi of Yuan You's four years, and he was Cai Bian's protégé, Cai Bian was demoted, so he resigned and followed Cai Bian to be exiled everywhere, very respectful.

Zhou Wentai's face was handsome, calm, thought for a moment, and said: "Teacher, this matter is very strange, if it were those people, they would not be so shallow, and spreading such rumors at such a time would do them no harm." ”

Cai Bian smiled and said, "The focus is on the Xia people." ”

Zhou Wentai suddenly understood and said, "The teacher is saying that it is the envoy of the Xia people?" Is this a warning? They can't wait? ”

Cai Bian smiled and said, "At noon, you can go and meet them on my behalf to see their purpose." ”

Zhou Wentai responded and said, "Yes." I think they just want to gain advantage without a war and prepare for them to go to war again. ”

Cai Bian said lightly: "It's not the same as before. ”

Zhou Wentai raised his head and said, "The student understands. ”

Seeing this, the yellow door hurriedly said goodbye and left, and had to transfer the message to Chen Pi.

After the Yellow Gate left, Zhou Wentai said in a low voice: "Teacher, Zeng Xianggong is about to arrive in Beijing."

"Zengbu?" Cai Bian was a little surprised, and then he was silent again.

Zeng Bu, like Cai Qu, was deliberately blocked from the imperial court by Zhang Dian and was not allowed to return to Beijing.

In this, it was deliberately done by Zhang Bian, and he Cai Bian acquiesced.

Cai is indeed the biggest reformer after Wang Anshi, and he was the ruler of Emperor Shenzong during the Yuanfeng period. But Cai is indeed paranoid and too utilitarian, and he does not have a suitable position for him when he comes back.

As for Zeng Bu, this person is even more complicated.

To say that Zeng Bu is indeed a capable minister, and his background and family are extraordinary.

Zeng Bu's grandfather Zeng Zhiyao was the Jinshi of Li Yushi, the queen of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and the Song Taizong re-examination was the Jinshi of the two Zhejiang.

Zeng Bu's father was a Jinshi of the Renzong Dynasty, and the official was Guangluqing.

In Zeng Bu's generation, the Zeng family has seven jinshi, and they are becoming more and more prominent, not to mention that Zeng Bu once worshipped the prime minister, his brother Zeng Gong is even more of the world, is Ouyang Xiu's protégé, and Su Shi is on a par with Su Shi in terms of literary achievements, and politically he was once Wang Anshi's ally, and the Zeng family and the Wang family are still in-laws!

Zeng's family is prominent, Zeng Bu was Wang Anshi's right and left hand, and the 'New Party' is a well-deserved big man.

But!

Zeng Bu was not a staunch reformer, he swayed left and right in Wang Anshi's time, was deposed by Wang Anshi, and was driven out.

At the beginning of Yuan You, Sima Guang summoned him back, but he was driven out again after a short time.

Now, he is transferred from Yingzhou Mansion to Jiangning Mansion, 'passing by' the capital, and this passing by has been more than half a year.

Cai did die of illness because of Zhang Dun's obstruction, and Zeng Bu came to the capital without an edict.

"There are a lot of people blocking Zhang Xianggong......

Zhou Wentai said suddenly.

In the past six months, there have been many 'new parties' who have entered Beijing for various reasons, but very few have entered the Zhangdun Method, such as Zeng Bu, and Cai has indeed been blocked out.

These people are also a very considerable force.

Cai Bian thought carefully and said, "Find a chance, I'll meet him." ”

Cai Bian also did not want to see Zeng Bu, but this person's sudden escape to the capital may cause an impact and division within the 'New Party'.

Zhou Wentai said: "Okay, I'll let people stare at it." ”

After saying this, Cai Bian picked up the teacup and prepared to rest for a while, it was about to dawn, he had more things to do, and as soon as he took a sip of tea, he said again: "Has the martial arts academy begun to recruit students?" ”

Zhou Wentai said: "Yes, the official family went to unveil it, and sent His Royal Highness Thirteen in." The official family is the president of the martial arts. ”

Cai Bian knew the last sentence, took a sip of tea, and after a while, Cai Bian rubbed his face, swept away some fatigue, and said: "We have four priorities at present, the first is the pilot project of Kaifeng Mansion. Second, it is necessary to determine the candidates for governors from all walks of life as soon as possible. Third, preparations for the reform of the law in the northern routes. Fourth, it is to cooperate with the 'military reform'. These things are very complicated, and there are not enough people in the political hall and the blue tile house, so you can look for some more people, and there are many good ones in the department today, so bring them in first. ”

Zhou Wentai immediately thought of a few people and said, "Yes, I'll go talk to them." ”

Cai Bian snorted, looked at the gradually brightening sky, and started working again.

At this time, the Imperial City Division.

Cai You stared at the few deputy commanders in front of him, his face was ugly, and said, "That Taoist priest still hasn't been found?" ”

Several deputy commanders glanced at each other, and one of them said hesitantly: "Commander, the Taoist priest is easy to find, but there is no way to confirm who came out of that proverb, and can't they all be arrested and tortured?" ”

The other said: "Yes, commander, not to mention whether it is possible to be outside the city, and have already run out of the city, just say that if you catch the wrong one, report it to the official, and come back in the future, we will be bullying the king......"

The last one said: "Moreover, some Taoist priests have a deep relationship with the big people in Beijing, and they live in their mansions. I also heard yesterday that Princess Wei did a ritual. There are a few of them, and they are still going to congratulate the official family on their birthdays before, so they really can't be moved lightly. ”

Cai You's face was gloomy, and he said angrily: "You have made so many excuses for me? When the official asks, I can also make excuses, but, who will resist this crime? ”

The faces of the three of them changed greatly, and they all knelt on one knee and said urgently: "Commander, please give us a little time, we must find out for the commander!" ”

If Cai You pushed them out as substitutes for the dead ghosts, they would have no way at all!

Cai You's eyes were cold, he really had the intention of pushing these people out as substitutes for the dead ghosts, forcibly suppressed his anger, and said, "Bring up the name Ashan." ”

"Yes." The three deputy commanders responded as if they were facing a great enemy, and hurried out.

They have to find out as soon as possible, or they will really die in this prison!

It didn't take long for Weiming Ahsan to be brought out, a fairly clean cell.

He sat opposite Cai You, with an obscure expression, eating the wine and food on the table by himself.

Cai You leaned back in a chair and looked at this person quietly.

This is a Western Xia nobleman who succumbed to torture and wrote a letter of allegiance.