Bianjing City, Daqing Palace, Manchu Dynasty civil and military, silent, eyebrows and eyes lowered.

Zhao Yangao sat on the throne of the main hall, with a tense expression on his face.

After scanning the ministers in the palace back and forth, he asked again: "Which Aiqing is willing to go to Taiyuan Mansion and serve as a pacification envoy in Hedong?" ”

There was still no one in the temple to speak.

After a long time, Shi Hao, who was nearly sixty years old, stood up and only listened to him: "Your Majesty, the northeast of the river reaches Yunzhong, the east is bordered by Youyan, the west is connected to the Yellow River, and the south is Guanzhong. Xin Qiji is still young and can manage the affairs of the army, but he looks south to the officials and people in Hedong, and in the long run, regardless of it, it is definitely not a good thing for the imperial court. The ministers invited themselves to Hedong to share the worries of the emperor and appease the people for the Jingbian of the Great Song Dynasty. ”

As soon as Shi Hao's words came out, all the ministers in the palace raised their eyes to peek at Shi Hao and Zhao Yan.

I saw Zhao Yan's face soften, and then said: "Shi Xiang is worried about the Great Song Dynasty, and his loyalty can be learned, but it is a critical period of the Northern Expedition, and it is an eventful autumn, Bianjing can't do without you, you have to live in Bianjing to coordinate and manage the three provinces and six departments, Hedong doesn't need you to go, or send another important minister." ”

When Shi Hao heard this, he no longer insisted, and then replied: "Your Majesty, since your ministers are unwilling to recommend themselves, the ministers want to recommend a few candidates for the emperor's reference and selection. ”

"Who does Shi Xiang want to recommend?" The expression on Zhao Yan's face eased again.

Shi Hao turned his head and glanced at many colleagues in the palace, only to hear him say: "The old minister of Hanlin Bachelor Mo Ji is respectful, and he has been in the court for many years, whether he is a local official or in Bianjing, he is very honest and honest, and he can be a model for a hundred officials. At the same time, he recommended Haizhou to judge Zhu Xi to enter Hedong and know Pingyang Mansion, and recommended Yang Jian, the secretary of Beiding and Guide Mansion for three years, to enter Hedong and know Xinzhou affairs. ”

When Zhao Yan heard this, he frowned slightly, and couldn't help asking: "Why did Shi Hao recommend Mo Aiqing and Zhu Xi, as far as I know, they have always been at odds with you, Zhu Xi openly slandered you, didn't Mo Aiqing also impeach you a few days ago, Shi Xiang is repaying his grievances with virtue?" ”

When Mo Ji, a scholar of Hanlin standing in the hall, heard this, his face changed greatly, and Shi Hao's face did not change, and he replied respectfully: "The minister does not know that there is a grievance, if he repays it with grievances, he has a heart." Moreover, when it is still unstable today, the frontier is newly restored, and there is an urgent need for capable ministers, and the ministers are the prime ministers of the Great Song Dynasty, and they dare not harm the public with their own interests. ”

Zhao Yan looked at Shi Hao quietly for a while, then raised his eyes to look at Mo Ji in the crowd, and asked, "Mo Aiqing, Shi Xiang recommended you to enter Hedong and serve as a feudal official, how does Aiqing feel?" ”

Hanlin Scholar Mo Ji hurriedly stepped out of the ranks, raised his hand and saluted: "Back to the emperor, the frontier has not been appeased, and the ministers are sparse and shallow, I am afraid it will be difficult to do it!" ”

"If Mo Aiqing is not competent, can Aiqing recommend a competent person for the Great Song Dynasty?" Zhao Yan didn't like this answer.

The Northern Expeditionary Army of all walks of life has regained many old places one after another, and it is up to the cadres to take over and pacify, but the important ministers of the court and the central government are hiding in Bianjing one by one and do not want to move, staring at the position of the prime minister, and they are afraid that others will rob them of their current position, which really makes Zhao Yan angry.

If it weren't for the urgent need for cadres now, Zhao Yan would have been eager to directly let them go home to retire.

"This ...... The emperor forgives the sin, and the minister has no suitable candidate to recommend! Mo Ji was speechless, and his heart was very empty.

"Since Mo Aiqing has no one to recommend, then Aiqing will go to Hedong to pacify the subjects of Hedong on behalf of the imperial court." Hedong Guanzhong urgently needs officials to fill the position, and Zhao Yan is unwilling to prevaricate with them anymore.

Mo Ji thought for a moment, and saw that Shi Hao and the emperor seemed to have made up their minds, so he could only raise his hand and salute: "The minister obeys the order." ”

Although Mo Ji was a little afraid of the unknown Hedong frontier and was very uneasy, he finally accepted the emperor's arrangement.

"Okay, Hedong will be handed over to Mo Aiqing. As for Zhu Xi and Yang Jian, there is no need to ask their opinions, they immediately draft an edict, promote them to Hedong, and share the frontier with Mo Aiqing to comfort the people. The candidate for Hedong was confirmed, and Zhao Yan's mood finally improved.

But then there are more important and troublesome Guanzhong, northern Shaanxi and Sichuan Shu, these places have a vast area, mountains and mountains, and the situation is complicated, which is even more worrying.

"It is reported that Yu Qing is busy all day in Jingzhao Mansion in the dark, he can't take care of eating, he can't take care of rest, dozens of state capitals in Sichuan and Shaanxi want him to rule, and the supply of grain and grass for hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Guanzhong and Northern Shaanxi also needs to be borne by him, Guanzhong and Northern Shaanxi have just been recovered, and they urgently need to stabilize the people's hearts and supply grain and grass to stabilize the army's hearts, which Aiqing is willing to go to Sichuan and Guanzhong to assist Yu Qing?" Zhao Yan looked at the ministers.

The Chinese Wu Minister of the Palace was silent.

As long as you stay in Bianjing, stay in the imperial court, stay with the emperor, and stay in front of the emperor, you will have a chance to become a success.

Although Guanzhong is not far from Bianjing, once you leave Bianjing, it is not so easy to come back, and it may not be forgotten by the imperial court in a few years.

Standing on top of the court, who doesn't want to be a prime minister?

"Your Majesty, the minister will recommend two more people."

The front line worked desperately, what a price to pay, to drive the Jin people away, to recover the Jin people occupied by the old land of the Great Song Dynasty for more than 40 years, and the attitude of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military colleagues to defend Bianjing is quite disappointing, Shi Hao, as the prime minister, had to stand up at this time, otherwise it would be really tired of the loyal soldiers of the border pass, and the efforts of the court for decades were in vain.

"Who does Shi Xiang recommend?" Zhao Yan's face turned gloomy again, recovering the lost land, what a great merit and what a good thing, and the important ministers of the country in front of him seemed to be eager to throw the recovered land out again, just like having a grudge against Hedong, Guanzhong, and northern Shaanxi.

Shi Hao said: "The minister recommended the secretary and young eunuch Zhou Bida to know Jingzhao Mansion, and also served as the envoy of Quan Qingyuan Road, Jingzhaofu Road, and Xiqin Road. Fan Cheng, a member of the Recommendation Department, is a member of the Xingyuan Mansion and a strategic envoy of the right state road. Both of them have been officials in the local area and the capital for nearly 20 years, and they are familiar with local affairs, and they have also had contact with various ministries and departments. ”

After hearing Shi Hao's words, Zhao Yan raised his eyes and looked at the ministers, and among the hundred officials, he didn't see where the person recommended by Shi Hao was standing, so he said: "Where are Zhou Bida and Fan Chengda?" ”

As soon as the words fell, two red-clothed officials came out and replied one after another: "The minister is here." ”

Zhao Yan saw that the two of them had black hair and were indeed in the prime of life, so he immediately asked: "Shi Xiang recommended you to enter Sichuan and Shaanxi, how do you feel about yourself?" ”

The two paused for a moment, thinking for a moment, and Zhou Bida replied: "Although the minister has been an official for 20 years, he has been running back and forth, and his political achievements in various places are lackluster. Guanzhong and northern Shaanxi have just been recovered, and all the ruins are waiting to be rebuilt, the hearts of the people and the army need to be appeased, and the remnants of the Jin people are also in urgent need of clearance, and they should be the important ministers of the country. Compared with many colleagues, the minister's official position is low, the qualifications are not deep, and he does not dare to live in Jingzhao Mansion, let alone lead the three-way economic envoy. ”

Zhao Yan's brows moved slightly.

There was silence in the hall for a moment, and then Zhao Yan said: "If you can calm the Quartet for the imperial court, you will be the cadres and pillars of the country." Shi Xiang recommended you, did he insult you? ”

Zhou Bida heard Zhao Yan's tone was not good, and hurriedly raised his hand and saluted: "Your Majesty, the minister didn't mean this, the minister was just worried that it would be difficult to shoulder the heavy responsibility and live up to the trust of the emperor and Shi Xiang!" ”

"Yu Xiang is still in Guanzhong, Sichuan and Shaanxi are uneven, even if I give an edict, he will not return to Bianjing, with Yu Xiang, why do you need to take on the heavy responsibility alone!" Zhao Yan's tone was quite serious.

Hearing this, Zhou Bi hurriedly said: "The minister receives the order!" ”

"Fan Chengda, what about you?" Seeing that Zhou Bida received the order, Zhao Yan immediately turned to another person.

"Command!" Fan Chengda raised his hand and saluted, without saying much.

"Good. Ordered the secretary and young eunuch Zhou Bi to know Jingzhao Mansion, and also the envoy of Quanqingyuan Road, Jingzhaofu Road, and Xiqin Road, and ordered Fan Chengdazhi, a member of the Ministry of Rites, to know Xingyuan Mansion, and to assist Yu Yunwen to manage the military and politics of Sichuan and Shaanxi, and to comfort the hearts of the army, the people, and the generals and ministers on behalf of the imperial court! Leave Beijing within three days to take up a post! Seeing that the two received the order, Zhao Yan immediately issued an edict.

"Obey the order!"

Zhou Bida and Fan Chengda received the order in unison, and then retreated into the queue.

Zhao Yan pondered for a moment, and then said: "As for the lack of officials in the prefectures and counties of Hedong and Sichuan, after you take up your post, you will report to the Ministry of Officials after the statistics are clear, and the imperial court will send them separately." ”

"Obey the order!"

Mo Ji, Zhou Bida, and Fan Chengda came out to respond.

After the chief officials of Hedong and Sichuan-Shaanxi were confirmed, Zhao Yan breathed a sigh of relief slightly, and then asked: "Regarding the collection and transportation of military grain and grass in Sichuan-Shaanxi and Hedong, do you have any suggestions?" ”

When it came to grain and grass, the household servant had to bite the bullet and said: "Your Majesty, the imperial court has only moved north for eight years, and three years ago, the treasury began to have some surpluses, and Bianjing is in ruins, and money must be used everywhere. A few months ago, Hedong and Sichuan suddenly launched a northern expedition to fight with the Jin State, and we were not prepared at all, and we never thought that this battle would be on such a large scale. In the past few months, the cost of grain, grass and materials has been huge, and the state treasury was empty last month, and hundreds of officials from various ministries and departments in Bianjing could not pay this month's salary, let alone winter subsidies. The treasury is out of money, and the collection of taxes in various places this year has also been completed, and the household department really can't think of a way. ”

The squire of the military department continued: "The east and west workshops are working day and night to make swords, guns, bows, crossbows, armor and other ordnance and munitions, and the recently made batch has been shipped to Jingzhao Mansion five days ago. But now although there are soldiers and craftsmen in the east and west workshops, all kinds of materials are empty, there is no money to buy materials, they can't make things, and no matter how urgent the border soldiers are, we can't get the ordnance. ”

When this matter was mentioned, the household department and the military department began to complain, Zhao Yan was a little weak-hearted, although he was unhappy in his heart, but he was not angry.

On the occasion of the summer and autumn of Sichuan and Hedong, the Northern Expedition was suddenly launched, and it was Zhao Yan who bypassed the three provinces and six departments, and even Shi Hao concealed it together, and issued a separate edict to Yu Yunwen of Xingyuan Mansion and Yang Congyi of Jinan Prefecture.

Zhao Yan was at a loss, so it was not good to blame the household department and the military department for not preparing food, grass and military supplies.