Chapter 203: Mongol Invasion of the South?

Since my accession to the throne, the content and form of the court meeting have gradually been fixed. As all courtiers knew, under normal circumstances, it was first the emperor who issued directives and instructions, then the ministers sent a book or the emperor asked about the latest situation in the departments, and finally the emperor summoned a small number of ministers or departments to meet separately.

"All Aiqing, don't be polite."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Ladies and gentlemen, you have all studied my "Code of Conduct for Officials". This code is a trial version, and has been implemented in Fujian Road first, after reading what suggestions on this code can be reported to the Government Council Zhao Shunsun Zhao Aiqing within this month or directly played in me, the official text will be released at the end of this month, and on the first day of the next month in the territory of our country. ”

I looked at the silent courtiers and said, "Regulating the rules of conduct for officials is an important part of the fight against corruption, and it is also the key to the success of our government's fight against corruption." Ladies and gentlemen, your every move represents the imperial court, represents my Great Song Dynasty, and even represents me, in the eyes of the people of my dynasty, your integrity is the government, the court, and my integrity. I hope you can all bring glory to me, not to discredit me. As I have said, the anti-corruption matter is a long-term matter for our dynasty, no matter how difficult it is, I will persevere, and I hope that all of you can cooperate well, and do not think of luck, let alone challenge my surname. ”

"Your Majesty, the minister resolutely supports." Ye Mengding should admit when he came out of class, "Anti-corruption is not a one-time achievement, but it is a major event related to the fate of our dynasty." ”

"Well, about the anti-corruption matter, I often say it, even every day, you need to remind yourself in your heart at all times, warn yourself, don't defy the law. I give you the opportunity to make a choice, and you will all have the right to choose whether to stay or leave until the official guidelines are formally implemented early next month. Ladies and gentlemen, before the Office of Inspectors spreads throughout the country, your main task will be shifted to the fight against corruption. ”

"Yes, your ministers obey." Several inspectors responded in unison.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I once said that a clean official is not necessarily a good official, and to be a good official, the premise is to maintain one's own integrity. In the current situation, I first need clean officials, and I must let the people of the world re-establish their confidence in our government, otherwise any policy, even if it is effective, will be rejected by the people, thinking that there is something wrong with it. Only by keeping the people united in harmony with the imperial court can we ensure that the various directives of our court can be carried out smoothly and can we effectively ensure that they are carried out in place. Of course, clean and good officials are the most welcome, and this is also the only criterion for me to select and promote officials in the future. ”

I paused and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please play if you have a book." ”

"Your Majesty, the old minister has a book." Jia Rudao, who has rarely taken the initiative to speak recently, played first.

"Master, please speak."

Jia Rudao got up and said: "Your Majesty, from this month, the Government Council will carry out changes in the administrative region of our dynasty, the old minister thought that the government affairs Yuan was still short when it was built, and Lord Wen Tianxiangwen, Lord Lu Xiufu, Lord Lu, and Lord Zhao Shunsun Zhao also held other positions, although there were departments such as the Ministry of Zhongshu, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of Officials from the side, but the manpower was still clumsy, so the old minister suggested that the Government Council be expanded so that the implementation of the provincial system could be carried out smoothly. ”

I nodded and said, "Well, what the master said is very agreeable, and it will be played." Master, do you have any candidates to recommend? ”

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that there are two ways to start, one is to select outstanding officials from the court and join the Government Council, and the minister recommends Liu Mengyan and Chen Yizhong. Second, His Majesty can be selected by the people. ”

I didn't react at once: "Folk? ”

Most of the officials in the Song Dynasty were selected through the imperial examination, and many of them were enthroned, but the practice of selecting officials directly from the people was very rare, not to mention the important departments of the imperial court such as the Government Affairs Yuan.

"Exactly. In the past, when the first emperor was there, he advocated science, why didn't His Majesty search for the descendants of Zhang Jiucheng, Zhu Xi, Lu Jiuyuan and others to become officials in the court? First, most of the descendants of these predecessors are full of poetry and books, and they have this ability; Second, it can also let the world know His Majesty's thirst for talent. ”

Jia Rudao knew that Zhao Yu had studied science under the influence of Li Zong since he was a child, so he made this proposal. However, of course, Jia Yidao didn't know that I was no longer the prince of Zhao Yu back then.

There are many people in the DPRK and China, such as He Ji and Jiang Wanli, who are all famous scholars of science, and if I can find the descendants of those who are famous in science to become officials in the court, it can also represent my affirmation and attention to this group of officials.

"Master, this second suggestion is that I should be allowed to play, and this matter will be handled by the household department immediately. As for the first point, I will also play it, but I will carefully consider it, and I will give priority to the people recommended by the master, and I will reply after thinking about it for a while. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty should think deeply."

"Well, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Liu Mengyan recommended by Jia Yidao and Chen Yizhong were both prime ministers after Song Duzong's death, but in my memory, the character of these two people is not very good. Among the other courtiers, Wang Yao, Wu Jian, Zhang Jian and others also served as the last prime minister. Among these people, apart from knowing that Wang Yao is a person of pure cultivation and strength, I have no impression of the others. But since you can worship the prime minister, you must have some ability.

"Your Majesty, the minister Ma Tingluan has a book."

"Aiqing, please speak."

"Your Majesty, according to my courtesy system, half a year after Your Majesty ascended the throne, the main hall of the Imperial Palace and His Majesty's bedroom will be renamed.

Since the time of Taizu, the palace hall was called the Daqing Palace, and later many emperors took Daqing as the name of the main hall, which is both easy to remember and auspicious. And Ning Kun Palace, Ning Qian Palace, it does sound a little inappropriate. The names of these two palaces are the palace names of the emperor and the empress during the period of the first emperor, and the name of the current queen can not be confirmed until three years after the death of the first emperor, and Ningkun Palace is the dormitory of the empress dowager Xie Daoqing, so it is naturally inconvenient to change the name. So the palace where I live should be renamed.

In history, Zhao Yu's palace was called Funing Palace, and I continued to use this name.

"Ma Aiqing, this matter is on track. My dormitory is called Funing Palace, and the main hall is called Daqing Hall according to the name of Taizu. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. The ministers will lead the Ministry of Rites to handle relevant matters. ”

"Well, I am very relieved that the etiquette system will be handled by Ma Aiqing."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

I was about to ask about something else when I heard a hurried voice outside the main hall.

The shrill voice of the eunuch on duty sounded: "Your Majesty, the commander of the Privy Council Lang Zhong and the former deputy commander of the palace has an important matter to ask for a meeting, and he will report the battle for eight hundred miles in the border pass." ”

"Biography." I was suddenly stunned in my heart, in my memory, there seemed to be no war before the Battle of Xiangyang.

During the court, no one will usually be disturbed by non-emergency situations, and this is the first time I have encountered it in the past six months.

"See Your Majesty." Xia Gui hurriedly entered and bowed to the ground.

I hurriedly said, "Tell me quickly, what's the matter?" ”

"Your Majesty, the Luzhou Mansion on Huainan West Road has reported urgently, the Mongolian Marshal Ashu led a large army to attack Luzhou, and the general Meng Xing, the deputy general, was killed."

"Huh?" The ministers of the DPRK and China were all disgraced when they heard this, and even Jia Nidao got up from his seat, and the Mongols began to invade the south again?

I was shocked, after all, the new army had not yet been trained at this time, and I was not prepared for the Mongol invasion, so I panicked and said, "What? Urgent report will be submitted. ”

Humans have a fear of the unknown. I had read the history of the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty, so I was subconsciously prepared for the events I knew. My greatest fear is that because of my arrival, the course of history will be altered, and thus contrary to my known consciousness.

The mediocre and incompetent Zhao Yu can be transformed into a "god man", then anything may change the original trajectory, and it is not impossible for the Mongols to invade in advance.

Did my worst fears happen?