Master Pin said! "That's not it, Zai Zhi discusses military and political affairs, and he is a sullen meeting on time. Meetings are usually held every 10 days. That is, the 10th, 20th, and 30th of each month holds regular meetings of the chief executive.

When there is a special matter that needs to be dealt with in time, a meeting will be held on an impromptu basis. At that time, it was convened by the Prime Minister and notified of such a meeting. It is estimated that some time ago, I was busy with the funeral and the inheritance of the emperor, and there was a backlog of many things to deal with, so I started studying it temporarily. ”

Du Wenhao said: "Oh, what about the early dynasty? When will it be opened? ”

"The morning morning opens every five days, that is, the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth days of the first month, three times a month. If there is a major matter that needs to be discussed, it can also be held at any time. I also need a public card beforehand

"What are the issues discussed by the deacons? I know that it must be a major military and political matter, you have a lot of experience, help me predict, tomorrow when the government is discussed, what may be discussed, I have a good one, psychological preparation

"Well, it's hard to say, because in normal times, the governor discusses politics, and it is generally some major matters that the yamen submit to the governor for decision, and discuss and decide. Listen to the handling of some special assignments and so on. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne and the empress dowager is in charge, it is estimated that the next step will be to listen to reports from all sides in an all-round way, fully understand and grasp the basic situation in all aspects, and may have to make arrangements for these matters. Will the Empress Dowager participate in the Ruling Chamber? ”

"I shouldn't be able to participate, it's a matter of Jaeji. After they have discussed, they will report to the emperor, well, now it is the empress dowager's appointment, if the empress dowager has anything unclear, or has other clear will, she will summon the deacons and ask them in the Wende Palace. ”

Understood that Du Wenhao muttered to Pian Xuan, lowered his voice, and said: "Mr. Shen, you are my most powerful assistant, this time you can successfully recover the military power of Prince Yong and Wei An, and avoid a bloody palace coup, you have helped me come up with a lot of very important ideas, and you have made great contributions."

Master Shen owes a salute: "The general is too modest, the general is a young talent, the future is limitless, and it is an honor to be able to assist the general." ”

"Hehe, don't hide it, the Empress Dowager gave me a very difficult task, let me rectify the Great Song army, and make sure to build the Great Song army into a powerful and invincible army Immediately, she lowered her voice: "The Empress Dowager is very angry about my Great Song Dynasty offering New Year coins to Western Xia and Great Liao, and I will definitely use troops to solve this problem in the future." ”

Master Shen smiled slightly: "The Empress Dowager is really the ambition of the Great Bird. ”

Du Wenhao was stunned for a moment: "Listening to what Mr. said, does Mr. have any opinion on the plan of the Empress Dowager?"

"Don't dare! However, when the new emperor ascended the throne, he was full of ambition, and the empress dowager listened to the government and had the intention to rectify the army, which was very understandable. It's just that the pain of my Great Song Army is not so easy to solve

"Exactly. That's why I asked Mr. for advice. The Empress Dowager asked me to come up with a rectification plan. Report it to her for review, and after agreeing to it, it will be reformed drastically

Master Shen stroked his snow-white beard and bowed slightly, showing his humility, and pondered for a moment before saying, "What are the general's plans?" ”

"On the way back, I kept thinking about where to start. The basic idea is to feel the situation first, and only when we first grasp the actual situation can we put forward a targeted plan to solve the problem and achieve a definite target. Some time ago, I mainly checked the war situation between the Great Song Dynasty and the Great Liao and the Western Xia in the Sanya database, and wanted to use the painful historical facts to make the Empress Dowager wake up suddenly, so that she could truly realize that the Great Song Dynasty and the imperial court literati sang praises and preached virtues from time to time. To the Great Liao and Western Xia "Year Coins." Nor is it a reward, but a tribute, and a money to buy peace. Let her really understand how far my Great Song army has become unbearable. It's just that I don't have a specific impression in my mind about the extent to which the Great Song army is weak and what problems exist there. Therefore, I want to go down and take a walk to really understand whether the army I lead has combat effectiveness and what problems exist. Can we still defend our home and country?"

Master Shen was a little moved, and bowed: "The pragmatic attitude of the general is what is needed to truly govern the army." The first emperor also walked the road of strengthening the army, and the general could reflect on the gains and losses of the first emperor's appointment of Wang Anshi to change the law and strengthen the army, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past and avoid detours

"Well, you said that the cutting is good, in your opinion, what are the gains and losses?"

Master Shen smiled: "It's okay to brush the pen and brush the old man, and governing the army is not the strong point of the old man, but since the general asked, let's talk about some of the old man's humble opinions." For the general's information. Wang Anshi's strategy to strengthen the army has the following items: cutting out redundant soldiers, reorganizing forbidden soldiers and box soldiers, this is one of them; Improving weapon crafting, the second one; Abolish the law of changing arms, implement the law of generals and the law of formation, and strengthen the army, the third; Horse Protection Law, the fourth; Armor protection law, this is the fifth. With all due respect, Wang Anshi is not good at governing the army and strengthening the army, and the idea of changing the law he proposed is simply put: "Shiwu people, train soldiers, accumulate wealth and valleys, and control the generals to listen to the imperial court" His ideas, except for a slight new accident in the armor protection law, the rest are old tunes. And the armor protection law proved to be a failure, and the Empress Dowager will definitely be repealed soon. ”

Du Wenhao said: "Yes, the last time I paid a private visit with the first emperor's microservice, I also had deep feelings about the armor protection law, the system of joint sitting stipulated in this law is much more powerful than that of the previous dynasty, so that everyone is in danger, and the people are not allowed to live in peace, the most important thing in the armor protection system is to train the militia, once the war starts, turn the people into soldiers, and establish a strategic reserve team, this." The idea is very good, it's just that the military is a special profession, and it takes long-term training to be competent, and after a long period of formal training, the second "can only have combat effectiveness, either can shoot arrows and dance knives or be a good soldier, and Sun Zai does not dare to compliment, not much stronger than ordinary people. ”

"In fact, in most parts of the country, the armor guards do not carry out military training, but are used by the local government for free errand service. Contrary to the original intention. In fact, the first four items of Wang Anshi's reform all caught the carbuncle of the army, and the quality of one soldier was weak. All the measures are aimed at this, and the effect is not satisfactory. This can be seen from the results of the two great battles against Western Xia. ”

Du Wenhao said: "In Mr.'s opinion, since the first emperor's strategy to strengthen the army has grasped the key, why is the effect not good?"

Master Shen said apologetically: "General, to be honest, the old man really doesn't have much insight into governing the army, and talking about it behind closed doors can only mislead the general." It is better to ask the general to go down and walk, so that the answers found can be credible and convincing, and only then can we find real measures to solve the problem. ”

"Good! Let's not talk about the emotion first, investigate and understand first. **, "Ahem, there is a great man who said well, there is no right to speak without investigation." The investigation will start tomorrow, starting with the Rongwei Forbidden Army in the capital! The reform of the armed forces is a systematic project, involving all aspects, and it is necessary to have a comprehensive grasp of the situation in all aspects of the country, and to consider the situation as a whole. Master Shen, you are very familiar with the various yamen of the imperial court, and I will hand over all aspects of the data collection work to you for me, and I will investigate the internal situation of the army. Let's do it separately. What do you think, sir? ”

Dealing with various yamen is Master Shen's forte. Naturally, there is no problem, not to mention that there is also an edict from the Queen Mother, which was agreed at the moment. He took the commandment, took his leave, and left.

That night was the rest of the house, Du Wenhao stayed in the palace for days, although the queen mother had a good time, but in the end, she couldn't solve things, she was already hungry and thirsty, and she was the most well-behaved and docile, very understanding, and she had learned the art of the room in the palace (the palace maid must have it, in case the emperor suddenly came to luck, I don't know how to deal with it, so that the emperor is unhappy. Waited for Du Wenhao a few times up and down, and he didn't know where he was in the clouds and mountains. It wasn't until Du Wenhao did his best that the two hugged each other and fell asleep.

The next day before dawn, the whip woke her up. Du Wenhao was sleepy and muttered, "Li'er, what are you doing?" Do you still want it? Come on," hugged Li'er's smooth and delicate body, and got on the horse again

"Sir! No," Li'er smiled and grabbed his hand, among all the ladies and aunts, only Li'er called Du Wenhao is the master. I can't change my mouth. "Sir, you are really a noble person. You said yesterday that you asked Sister Qingdai to teach you how to practice swords, Yingzi called you outside the door, saying that Sister Qingdai must have been waiting outside the door. Hurry up! ”

Du Wenhao fell asleep just now and didn't hear it, so he hurriedly shouted to the window: "Yingzi, is your grandma up?"

Yingzi was a little angry: "Get up early!" Master, I've been waiting for you for a long time. ”

"Oops, I'm sorry!" Du Wenhao got up with a bone, "Come in and help me get dressed!" ”

Yingzi said: "I am Madame's maid, not in this house, and I can't come in according to the rules."

"Trouble! Isn't there no maid, what rules, come in, I'm in a hurry! That's right, last time I asked Yuqin to buy a maid and an old mother, she hasn't bought it yet? ”

"Madame is afraid that the future new lady will not be satisfied with the maid she bought, after all, she is the daughter of the prime minister, so the last time she discussed marriage. I casually asked the prime minister's wife. The old lady was very polite, and told our lady that it was okay for the people in the family to buy chores casually, as long as they were diligent, but the personal maid could not be settled, let alone bought at the people's teeth, so as not to buy what was agreeable. The prime minister's wife said that when her daughter passed the door, she would marry a few personal maids to make a meeting gift for her wife and several aunts. So the lady only bought some miscellaneous mothers-in-law and subordinates. None of the maids in the house have yet to open the door. How do I get in with the door closed. ”

Yingzi pushed the door outside, the door was latched from the inside, Li'er hurriedly got out of bed and ran naked to latch the door, Yingzi came in with a lantern, put the lantern on the table, and helped Li'er dress Du Wenhao.

On the first night, Li'er had prepared a short set of arrow sleeves for Du Wenhao, and after wearing it, she looked very energetic, Li'er was going to fetch water to help Du Wenhao wash the autumn, Du Wenhao said: "It's too late, go to practice the sword first, and then wash it when you come back!" "Anyway, there is a mess of floating hair, and the unkempt ones are about to go out.

Yingzi said: "My lord, if you go out like this, this black rumbling will scare people to death, besides, it will delay the practice of martial arts." It's better to help you tie up your bun and go again, I can't delay

Yingzi pulled him down in a daze, combed his hair with Li'er, and hurriedly pulled his bun under Du Wenhao's continuous urging: "That's it, let's do it first, when you come back from practice, I'll help you recomb it." ”

Du Wenhao hurriedly walked out of the small courtyard, and when Lin Qingdai saw her at the door, she laughed: "Look at your sloppy appearance!" Yingzi is just waiting for you?.

"No, no, don't blame Yingzi, I got up late, and I was afraid that you would be in a hurry, so I pulled it around. Hehe, by the light of the lantern hanging at the door, Du Wenhao saw that Lin Qingdai had a slight sweat on her forehead, and said strangely: "Could it be that you have finished practicing?" ”

"Well, I've been practicing for a while, and I usually get up to practice in the fourth shift

"Huh? You've been practicing for an hour? I can't get up so early.

"What are you doing getting up so early? I'm used to it, and I've been like this since I was a child. Anyway, you only practice swords, Xiaohui is early. It's almost the same after the fifth watch. Practice for half an hour. Wash! Xin Weichuan went to the office

Du Wenhao nodded and said: "Five watches, I don't need you to call me in the future, you can practice in the bamboo forest in the back garden, and I will come over when I get up." ”

"Good. Let's go".

The two came to the bamboo forest in the back garden, and Du Wenhao began to teach her swordsmanship.

Du Wenhao has the foundation of the previous credits. The physical fitness is also good, and the comprehension is also fast, and in half an hour, I have learned a set of swordsmanship and swallowing dates, and I will practice it slowly in the future.

Du Wenhao returned to the house, Yingzi helped to wash again, changed into official robes, ate breakfast, Yingzi sent Du Wenhao out of the yard and came to the main gate of Sweetwater Lane, where the pro-soldier escort team was already waiting.

Du Wenhao glanced at the sedan chair parked at the door, frowned and said to the captain Xu Huaqiang: "I am now a military general, not a civil official, so I will not sit in a sedan chair. After that I went out. There is no special explanation, all horses are prepared, and horses are changed! ”

"Yes!" Xu Huaqiang bowed down and agreed, and hurriedly ordered to prepare the horse.

Soon Du Wenhao's war horse saddle came. Du Wenhao looked at the official robe on his body, and felt awkward, the official robe was still a civilian robe, and he couldn't ride a horse, but it was too late to change it now, so he turned back to Yingzi and said: "Remember, young master, I will be a general in the future, and I will wear a military uniform, not a civilian official robe."

Yingzi hurriedly agreed.

Du Wenhao flew on his horse, shook the reins, rode his horse on the bluestone road, and went straight to the prime minister's yamen in the palace, that is, the yamen of Zhongshu Province.

Although the Song Dynasty also had three provinces, it was no longer the three provinces of the Tang Dynasty, Zhongshu Province was a standout, located in the imperial palace, and the two provinces of Menxia and Shangshu had left the scope of the decision-making center and were moved to work outside the palace.

Du Wenhao stopped at the entrance of the prime minister's office with his personal guards, kicked off the saddle and dismounted, and the soldiers on duty at the door saluted.

Du Wenhao looked up and saw that this prime minister's yamen was really not very good, although the gate was still mighty, but it was too old, and the paint on the door was recorded some, which was not much better than Chenglong Temple.

The usher led him in respectfully, bypassed the wall, and passed the weeping flower gate, and it was one. The courtyard in the form of a courtyard has three bright buildings in the middle, and one of the halls is hung with a plaque, and the black background eats Jin Dazhuo's "Political Affairs Hall."

The courtyard is surrounded by a verandah, and on the left and right are two long rows of office rooms. Although the houses inside are carved and painted, they are all old. Compared with the magnificent decoration of high-rise buildings in modern society, it is a world of difference.

In a sense, the "servants" of ancient officials. Consciousness is stronger than the modern one, at least in the office can be reflected, the ancient pay attention to "officials do not repair the yamen" first, there is no special fund, second, the iron of the yamen flowing officials, the ancient officials are very diligent in rotation, especially the middle and high-level officials, according to the system is generally transferred once every three years, in fact, most of them are lower than this number, one or two years on the change of guards, like a marquee, play the yamen beautifully, without waiting for the repair, just raise the butt and leave, so no one is willing to pay the waist including infamy for future generations to plant trees to enjoy the shade.

Walking through the hall and going up the steps to the front of the political hall, the two soldiers on duty saluted, lifted the curtains, and Du Wenhao stepped into the hall.

In the middle of the lobby, there is a painting of a crane and auspicious clouds, and the two compartments are hung with fierce couplets. In the middle of the hall, there are two ebony chairs. One of the square tables, also ebony.

On both sides of the lobby, there are three ebony chairs, and between the chairs, there are rectangular ebony coffee tables.

On the left and right sides of the entrance, a long table and two chairs were placed on each side. On the right side sat two people, covered with pen, ink, paper and inkstone, who seemed to be the minutes of the meeting. The other side is empty, which should be for the reporter.

Under the windows on both sides of the main hall, there were also two rows of chairs, presumably for the people who listened. This rush is empty. The windows on three sides are closed, and there are more windows, and the light in the room is bright.

On the left side of the two chairs in the middle of the lobby, sat Xiang Wangjia. The chair on the right is empty, and the master has not yet come, so it should be the right prime minister, Cai Qu.

On the chairs on both sides, the left row, the position of the head is vacant, the middle is sitting Shangshu Zuocheng Cai Bian, and the last one is sitting Shangshu Zuocheng Huang Shoes.

On the right side of the front chair sat the Privy Counsellor Han Jin, in the middle one was empty, and the last one sat the Privy Council Deputy Envoy Lin Xi.

When Wang Hang saw Du Wenhao come in, Wang Fa stood up and arched his waist slightly, and said, "General Du is here!" ”

Du Wenhao hurriedly stepped forward and saluted deeply: "Prime Minister, morning." ”

"Hehe, general, please sit down, Wang Hang motioned for Du Wenhao to sit in the middle of the right row.

The first one in the right row is Han Jin, he is a privy envoy, from the first product, Du Wenhao is the second grade, one level shorter, although the Privy Council and the third government are both military leadership organs, but the level is different. The Privy Council is one level higher than the Sanya, this is still Du Wenhao's inspection, and the Queen Mother has raised him by one level for the sake of her lover, otherwise it will be two levels worse. Lin Xi is the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, although he is the same as Du Wenhao, he is the second grade, but Du Wenhao is the chief officer, he is the adjutant, and he is naturally ranked behind.

Du Wenhao gave Shangshu Cai Bian on the left, and Shangshu on the right to Huang Xu, and then sat down.

No one in the hall spoke, and Du Wenhao was naturally dumb. Waited another moment. The servant Zhang came to the door, and then, the right prime minister Cai did also arrive.