Zhao Yingfu got up and sent Fan Zhongyan out of the door, and then went to the Vertical Arch Palace.

In the Vertical Arch Hall, Song Zhenzong and Kou Zhun were discussing the Royal Academy. Song Zhenzong and Kou Zhun's one-day trip to the Royal Academy was a great shock to them.

"Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that the prince is the blessing of my Great Song Dynasty! The emperor and the emperor have worked hard to govern the Great Song Dynasty to have the glory of my Great Song Dynasty today, although there are still barbarian peeps on the frontier now, and the old minister believes that my Great Song Dynasty will become stronger and stronger in the future. "Kou Zhun told Song Zhenzong about this heart-wrenching words.

"Well, it's a pity we're all old. I used to think that the crown prince was still too young, and I was worried that in the future, I would be gone, and he would not be able to support the country. Now I just want to save some money for him while I can still move. "Pity the hearts of parents in the world, although they are emperors, they are old after all, and this mind is heavy.

"Yes, the old minister is not good anymore, an old bone. Your Majesty, to put it mildly, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is really a genius, and the old minister really wants to see what my Great Song Dynasty will become under his governance. It's a pity that the old minister can't see that day. At this moment, the two old men let go of the relationship between the monarch and the minister, just like the two ordinary old men, chattering, and they didn't feel tears stained with their eyes.

The two old men were chatting vigorously, and Zhao Ying, a guy with no eyesight, came to interrupt.

"Your Majesty, the prince is asking to see you outside the palace." Wu Cheng carefully reported to Song Zhenzong.

"Uh, I really said that Cao Cao is here, Kou Lao, let's see what this little guy wants to do again." Song Zhenzong said to Kou Zhun with a smile.

"Then the old minister is better to be respectful, and the old minister is also very curious about what the prince is going to do." Kou Zhun stroked his beard and laughed.

"The son knocked to see his father and the emperor, and visited the teacher. Father, did the retainers disturb you and your teacher to discuss state affairs? "Zhao Yingying's age is a hard injury, and everyone who sees the older ones suffers.

Song Zhenzong waved his hand and said: "No, there is no ......, my father is talking to Kou Lao about the emperor!" What's the matter with finding my father today? ”

"Father, my son saw a person today, his name is Fan Zhongyan, and he is now the official of the Jiqing Military Festival. Erchen talked with him for a long time, and found that although he was still young, he was very knowledgeable, and he had a wide range of knowledge, and he had in-depth research in literature, politics, education, and military affairs, and was a rare talent. Zhao Yingfu gave the two old men a general introduction to Fan Zhongyan, and winked at Kou Zhun.

Kou Zhun said that he understood, and Zhao Yingcai continued: "Erchen feels that Fan Zhongyan's talent and character are beyond doubt, and he has been poor since he was a child, and he knows the suffering of the people, and he is a good official who worries about the country and the people. Therefore, Erchen wanted him to serve as the superintendent of the Great Song Dynasty Royal Academy, hoping that his father would be successful. ”

Kou Zhun saw Zhao Yingying looking at him, and after thinking for a while, he said to Song Zhenzong: "Your Majesty, the old minister has also heard of the name of this son. It is an eight-year jinshi of Dazhong Xiangfu, who has studied hard in Yingtianfu Academy and enjoys a good reputation. ”

"Oh?"

"The old minister once heard a story about him! said that his family was poor, and because Yingtian Academy could study for free, he went there to study. He also cherishes this hard-won learning environment very much, after coming here, he is very happy, so he cherishes this heavenly palace of knowledge, and does not think about day and night, and studies hard. One of his classmates was the son of a left-behind man in Nanjing, and when he saw that he was eating porridge all the year round, living a hard life and being thin, he sent him some delicacies. He didn't taste a bite, but let the food get moldy and rotten. It wasn't until they were blamed that he thanked him and said, 'I am content with a life of porridge and bread, and I am afraid that once I enjoy delicious food, I will not be able to swallow porridge and pickles.' Kou Zhun helped Zhao benefit to vigorously promote Fan Zhongyan to Song Zhenzong.

Zhao Yingyi said: "In order to confirm his ability, Erchen also specially reviewed his experience as an official. When he joined the army as the manager of the Guangde Army, he was in charge of litigation and prisons, and he was fair and strict in adjudicating cases, which was praised by all. Later, he was promoted to the commander of the Jiqing Army, and he had an in-depth understanding of the situation of our Great Song army, and once pointed out the shortcomings and improvement measures of our army in a book, but unfortunately it was not adopted. Later, Erchen came to him to take a look at the chapter, and found that what he said was true, and now that the shortcomings of our army have begun to appear, Erchen hopes that his father will pay attention. ”

"Really? The problem is so serious, I really didn't realize it. It's going to be winter, and the barbarians from the north are coming to knock and loot again, and if there is a problem with the army, it will be troublesome. It seems that I must give an order urging the border generals to get ready. "Song Zhenzong said that he would do it, and found Wu Cheng to pass on the decree.

"Father, my son thinks that we are always passive and defensive and can't completely solve the problem, we have to teach those barbarians a lesson, so that they don't dare to offend my Great Song Dynasty!"

"Hey, that's easier said than done! The barbarian people are fierce and good at riding and shooting, and our army is not good at fighting, and lacks horses, and is unable to form cavalry, so it is impossible to deal with the barbarian cavalry that comes and goes like the wind, so we can only defend the city! This is also what my father can't let go. Song Zhenzong showed a helpless expression.

"Father, you don't have to worry, although our army is at a disadvantage now, it is because you and your lords' vision is limited by fixed thinking, in fact, we have a very advantage." Zhao said he didn't care about Song Zhenzong's worries.

"Uh......, what does the emperor think, tell me and Kou Lao to listen." Zhao Yingying's words aroused the interest of the two old men, and although Kou Zhun knew the origin of Zhao Yingying, he didn't know what he would propose.

"Everything has its two sides, everyone only sees the ferocity of the barbarians, but they don't know that the uneducated barbarians are just imaginary. Erchen believes that due to the difference in living environment, the barbarian's single force value is much higher than that of my Great Song, but why don't we use our strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses? ”

"The emperor might as well talk about it in detail."

"Erchen now analyzes the situation of the enemy and the teacher for his father and teacher. The advantages of the Northern Barbarians are mainly reflected in two aspects: first, they have a large number of horses and can form highly mobile cavalry; Second, their children have lived in a harsh environment since childhood, making a living from hunting, and have developed good riding and archery skills. Although the advantages are obvious, there are also many weaknesses, one is that the culture is backward, and the common people are almost illiterate, let alone generally illiterate; Second, the state power is not perfect, and the centripetal force of the people is insufficient; Third, the foundation of agriculture is weak, and grain is insufficient all year round; Fourth, the industry is backward, or there is none, and even the weapons are not fully equipped; Fifth, commerce is backward and the economy is not circulating. To be honest, my Great Song Dynasty was very puzzled by the fact that such a barbarian country that did not even have a sense of national consciousness had lost one after another. ”

Zhao benefited from it for a long time, felt thirsty, poured himself a glass of water to drink, moistened his throat and continued: "Next, let's analyze my Da Song, let's talk about the disadvantages first!" Compared with the nomadic northern barbarians, most people think that our disadvantage is that we have no horses, no strong soldiers, and no brave generals. But Erchen doesn't think so, these disadvantages are not a big deal in Erchen's opinion, and Erchen thinks that the problem of my Great Song Dynasty is still in the imperial court. ”

Song Zhenzong was very surprised by Zhao Yingying, but he didn't expect that the well-known question had a new answer, and hurriedly asked, "Emperor, what you said is reconciliation?" Are all our ministers incompetent? Or is the father mediocre? ”

"Father misunderstood, you are the most industrious, for my great Song Dynasty has not been slack at all times, and it is not an exaggeration to call the eternal emperor. As for the ministers of the DPRK and China, Erchen believes that most of them are still very talented, just like Kou Lao, who has done his best for my Great Song Dynasty all his life. Of course, there are also some people who are sanctimonious on the surface, but in fact they are full of male thieves and prostitutes. There are some birds in the forest, and there are all kinds of people in the hundred, and it is inevitable that there will be all kinds of birds. ”

Song Zhenzong nodded at Zhao Ying's explanation and accepted it.

"Erchen said so much, in fact, he wanted to say that there was a serious mistake in the current national policy of my dynasty, of course, the consequences of this mistake are not obvious now, so few people see it, and Fan Zhongyan is the one who sees the consequences. When I founded the Song Dynasty, Taizu vigorously supported the scholar group in order to obtain the support of scholars. Now it seems that this national policy is not wrong, and it is this national policy that has made my Great Song Dynasty prosperous today. ”

"However, the times are changing, and the rules set by our ancestors may not be able to adapt now, so we should also make some improvements according to the development of the times. Of course, as long as there is a change, the interests of some people will be violated, and these people will jump out and say that the law of the ancestors is immutable, and if it changes, it will not be filial piety or something. We should be filial, the question is what is filial piety? I think my ancestors also want my Great Song Dynasty to be prosperous and strong forever, so should our filial piety satisfy the wishes of our ancestors! Erchen wants to keep my Great Song Dynasty forever strong, which is the greatest filial piety! ”

Song Zhenzong also nodded subconsciously and continued to ponder.

Erchen thinks that the reason why the reform of the law in various dynasties has always failed is not the problem of the reform itself, but in fact, it is the content of the reform that is worthy of affirmation for the strength of the country. The crux of this lies in the fact that the reform of the law infringed on the interests of many forces in the DPRK and China, which led to the premature death of the reform. It is precisely these forces that satisfy themselves at the expense of national interests. There are two main reasons why the monarchs who have implemented the reform of the law in ancient times finally gave up, one is that the monarch himself gave up, but was forced by the forces of the DPRK and China. ”

The two old men are both Bogu Tongjin, and they deeply agree with Zhao Yingying's words.

"Erchen has been thinking about it for a long time, watching my Great Song Dynasty become more and more prosperous, but the hidden crisis will also follow. Erchen thinks that it is time for my Great Song Dynasty to change the law, and if it does not change, the contradiction will become deeper, and if it changes, it will create brilliance. Zhao Yingyi revealed his heart to Song Zhenzong for the first time, and he was still quite apprehensive.

Song Zhenzong let out a long sigh and said: "It's not that my father didn't think about making some changes, but it involves a wide range of things, and the forces in the DPRK and China are intertwined, and it will affect the whole body, and besides, my father is old, and he doesn't have so much energy to toss." ”

"Father, don't worry about it, leave these questions to your sons! God gave me thaumaturgy, the main content of which lies in the method of enriching the country and strengthening the army, presumably God also wants to help me in the Great Song Dynasty! ”

Zhao Yingying saw that Song Zhenzong's consciousness was a little shaken, and took out the killer weapon of this era, and did not hesitate to pull out God to help.