- "The reason why this situation occurs is because the cost of redundant soldiers and redundant officials in our dynasty is more than ten times that of the Tang Dynasty." Chen Ke said in a deep voice: "Although this has long been the consensus of the government and the opposition, but there are strong enemies waiting outside, and there is the national policy of the ancestors inside, who dares to attack the redundant soldiers and redundant officials?" ”

Zhao Zongji nodded silently, in the past few years, he is no longer the stunned young man who always thinks that there is nothing difficult in the world. Know that many problems, like Taihang and Wangwu, are clearly placed in front of you, but you can't solve them. If we want to deal with a strong enemy on both sides, we must adopt a policy of lean troops, which will inevitably improve the strength and status of the army and officers, and have an impact on the 'national policy' of using civility to protect the military and respect the military with civility.

The reason why this 'national policy' should be put in quotation marks is because it was not formulated by Taizu. According to Zhao Da's vision, the Great Song Dynasty should be a state of civil and military balance. In fact, the Taizu Dynasty was also the period when the balance between civil and military was the best, when the national strength of the Great Song Dynasty was thriving, and the army maintained its combat effectiveness without any disobedience.

The turning point came after Zhao Er's usurpation of the throne.

The reason why Zhao Er succeeded in usurping the throne after killing the monarch had a lot to do with the support he received from a large number of civil officials. However, he has never had the opportunity to intervene in the army, so his influence on the army is really limited. Most of the people of that era were born in five generations, and they have not forgotten that 'the position of the Son of Heaven is the residence of the powerful', in other words, whoever controls the army, who is the emperor's idea, there is still a big market.

Zhao Guangyi knew that without the absolute allegiance of the army, the throne would not be stable. On the one hand, he changed the blood of the top brass of the army, and forcibly put a large number of people who were loyal to him, but who were neither talented, but also greedy and cowardly. On the one hand, the Northern Expedition was poured into the strength of the country.

If the Northern Expedition is victorious, Zhao Guangyi will establish absolute prestige in the army, and there will be no need to worry about the loyalty of the army. However, war is never wishful thinking, and its victory or defeat must be based on strength, and it must also be constrained by the right time, place, and people. As a result, Zhao Er made two northern expeditions. They were all defeated, and even he himself was shot in the ass, and he was tormented by illness ever since.

It's worse than physical pain. It was mental torture, and Zhao Guangyi was always worried that those generals and soldiers had developed contempt and disobedience to him. A coup d'état could be staged at any time. The inability to obtain the loyalty of the army from the battlefield was Zhao Guangyi's greatest sorrow and the greatest misfortune of the Song Dynasty.

In order to consolidate his rule, Zhao Guangyi began to continuously increase the weight of the civilian bureaucracy, and at the same time spared no effort to weaken the power of the army. Whoever dares to raise the status of the army will inevitably be opposed by the civilian clique, and even the emperor will be suspicious......

But do not raise the status of the military. It will be impossible to improve the combat effectiveness of the armed forces, and it will be impossible to implement the policy of lean troops, let alone disarmament...... Half a year ago, the army was inventoried. Identified vacancies. Most of them were not canceled, but were made up. Military spending has been cut by several million yuan. It's just a drop in the bucket for throttling.

As for the redundant officials, needless to say, the Great Song Dynasty has long been kidnapped by the civilian clique. The imperial examination is held every few years, and only a few hundred people are among the jinshi, which will not cause redundant officials. The real redundant officials come from all kinds of favors, and if one person becomes an official, his son or even a nephew will have the opportunity to become an official. The court's grace is too indiscriminate, which is the fundamental reason for redundant officials. However, the scholars and doctors who are full of 'the world is for the public' have always been strict with others and lenient with themselves, who would dare to touch their cake, believe it or not, you will be bombarded into slag by them?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"These questions, just think about it," Zhao Zongji smiled bitterly: "It makes people's brains hurt." ”

"But I can't help but solve it," Chen Ke said coldly: "The Great Song Dynasty has not had problems in the past few years, it's really a matter of luck." There was no war between Yilai and Liaoxia. Second, since the flood in the first year of Jiayou, the country has been smooth and rainy, and there has been no locust plague. But luck can't always be so good, sooner or later there will be wars and disasters. Once something happens, it is the original form! ”

"Hmm." Zhao Zongji nodded and said, "The official family must know this. ”

"So he has to choose someone with courage, ability, and conviction to take over," Chen Ke said word by word: "Never want to be a master of success like himself!" ”

Chen Ke's words made Zhao Zongji's heartbeat suddenly quicken, and his heart was about to jump out of his throat...... Yes, if the official family wants to be the master of success, Zhao Zongshi is the best candidate, why bother? ! So it is very likely that the official family did not fancy Zhao Zongshi!

Zhao Zongji drank a few sips of wine in a row, calmed down his excitement, but his voice was still trembling: "You say, will others think of it?" ”

"The most important thing in the Great Song Dynasty is to understand people." Chen Ke said lightly: "Maybe now the fire is cooking oil, and the authorities are fascinated, but it won't be long before it comes back." ”

"Once you understand it." Zhao Zongji said: "We must work hard." ”

"How can you say that you can change it?" Chen Ke sneered: "From the very beginning, we have established an image of daring to act and not afraid of offending people. They blindly take the road of honesty, pure filial piety, and exquisite in all directions, which is the foundation of everyone's life, and they can't learn it, and they can't pretend to be like it! ”

Taking a sip of tea, he continued: "It's still the same sentence, if people change their ways, they will either die of illness." If you find that the official family is determined to set up a British lord, you want to cheer yourself up, how easy is it to talk about it? The reason why the affairs of the Great Song Dynasty could not be done was because it touched the interests of the powerful. If you want to get things done, you have to offend people! He said with a smile: "They want to learn from us, yes, but you have to ask first, their supporters, do they agree...... If you insist on learning, I think most of it will have to be a big cold and a summer, nondescript. ”

"Let you say that," Zhao Zongji smiled, "I seem to be full of confidence." ”

"Don't be too happy." Chen Ke said lightly: "Zhao Yunrang's biggest legacy to Zhao Zongshi is to tie all forces to his chariot, and it has long been a situation of both glory and loss. Many people got on the thief ship, and they couldn't come down again, so they could only go all the way to the dark and help Zhao Zongshi to the position of prince. This is the only way for them to get out of their way, and it is also the way for their family to be prosperous and wealthy, and they will not change their ways unless they have to. After a pause, he said: "After Zhao Yunrang's death, Zhao Zongshi's momentum has not decreased but increased, that is, they are showing the government and the opposition that this ship will not only not sink, but will sprint to the finish line." ”

"Hmm." Zhao Zongji looked at Chen Ke with admiration and said: "Although I have said it many times, let me say it again, I really admire the five-body throw, you can be regarded as thinking through these people." ”

Chen Ke was modest on his lips, but he was ashamed in his heart, if he talked about the grasp of people's hearts, he was far from being hot enough, it was Su Xiaomei who was a bystander, and she was extremely smart, and she led the outline for herself, so that she could see the chaotic situation clearly.

"There is a saying that 'there are people in the court who are good officials', and the same is true for you." Zhao Zongji was already completely in a state of leaning over to be taught, so he listened to Chen Ke's earnest teaching: "Zhao Zongshi has countless people waving their flags and shouting, and if they make a contribution, they will also be blown into ten." And if you lack an echo, if you don't have a point, it will be said to be ten points. As the days go by, the water drops wear through the stones, and the official's ears grind out cocoons, which will naturally change their opinion of Zhao Zongshi, and their good impression of you will also turn into a bad feeling. So it's imperative that someone speak for you. ”

"It's too hard." Zhao Zongji smiled bitterly: "It is taboo for the clan to interact with ministers, and the reason why there are so many people who speak for Zhao Zongshi is because of the friends he made when he was young, just like us." If you want to make up for this lesson, you can't just cram. ”

"It's difficult, but it's not impossible." Chen Ke said: "Wang Xianggong, my teacher, and Master Bao, these are all things that can speak in front of the emperor, plus the rich Xianggong and Zeng Xianggong have always been fair and have a good impression of you, so in terms of high-level aspects, we are not at a loss." The most troublesome thing is the supporters of Zhao Zongshi of Qingyishui, we must mix sand into it. In the coming year, when the term of office of my gang expired at the beginning of the same year, most of them had to return to Beijing to participate in the museum examination. It's a place where you don't look at official positions than your voice, and if you count one as one, it should make the situation much better. ”

"Also, I heard that the imperial court is looking for someone to repair the living note, although this official position is not conspicuous, but getting along with the Son of Heaven day and night is extremely important, and we are determined to win." Chen Ke continued: "As for the candidates, Sima Guang and Wang Anshi can be. We don't have to come forward in this matter, let Wang Yan push it. The strength of the new school is unfathomable, and it can definitely be done. ”

"Hmm." Zhao Zongji thought about it for a moment and said with a smile: "And the newspaper you once said, isn't it time to show up." ”

"The time is not ripe," Chen Ke shook his head, "This thing is too sensitive, and it will cause trouble if it suddenly appears." I'm going to start next spring, and when the ball market opens, I'll publish a Keju newspaper dedicated to promoting ball events. When everyone is accustomed to the form of newspapers, it is not too late to publish new newspapers. ”

"This kind of thing, you are an expert, I don't have to worry about it." Zhao Zongji smiled: "By the way, how is your book printed?" ”

"It's already printed." Chen Ke said, took out a new book with a blue cover from the bag he was carrying, handed it to him and said, "The first printing of 5,000 copies, I don't know if I will die." ”

"Haha, it won't." Zhao Zongji said with a smile: "It's really not good, mobilize your relatives and friends, and you can also wrap it up." As he spoke, he turned the pages of the book, and suddenly his eyes froze, and he found that there was a mystery in this book.

The first is the punctuation marks that Chen Ke once said, and the second is that in addition to the "Examination of the Apocrypha of Shangshu", at the back of the book, there is also a "University" and a "The Mean......