As for Yue Fei and Qu Duan of the same period, it is better not to mention them.

Mei Maoxiu, who ranked second in the second class, was certainly one of the best as he was a lifelong friend of Academician Lin. He started out as a military judge in Wuwei. Later, due to problems with manpower and expertise, he was directly recommended by Minister Lin, who was formerly Academician Xiao Lin, to be the director of the Maritime Customs during the period when Lu Yihao was in charge of the affairs of Liangzhe. He was transferred to the position of Supervisor of the Maritime Customs. Now, after three years of serving in an external post, he was personally named by Emperor Zhao and transferred back to the capital after this major personnel transfer.

Of course, I'm afraid that Minister Lin is still involved in this... So, from the perspective of secular officialdom, this person can be regarded as a person brought in by Minister Lin, or a kind of political resource for each other.

It was normal for this person to come to Beijing, complete the official procedures, and then visit Lin Jingmo.

Without further ado, the two sides met in the hall, were served hot tea with ginger juice and milk, and sat down. Mei Tiju was indeed young and promising, with the temperament of a scholarly family, but Shangshu Lin had many years of experience in internal affairs and had also served as a military governor, so he was more dignified... The two chatted for a while, without any vulgar words, just talking about the scenery of their hometown, local anecdotes, weather and seasons, literature and poetry.

However, no matter what, the two are typical bureaucrats, and they are in the same political party, so they cannot avoid doing business.

"Public opinion in the South is quite different from that in the Central Plains. Is there anything to say about the country's political situation?" Minister Lin, who was sitting in the main seat and holding a cup of hot milk tea, asked casually.

Mei Tiju thought for a moment and laughed, "Let my uncle know that Li Xianggong (Li Gang) can't control his mouth when he's there. What's more, most of the Taoists now go to the famous mountains and rivers in the south to establish themselves. After the White Horse Shaoxing incident, the officials who returned to their hometowns are mostly from the south... Even Lu Xianggong (Lv Yihao) can't control so many people. How can he not talk about the country and the political situation?"

"What did you say?"

"After borrowing money from temples, wealthy merchants, and relatives and nobles to expand the Jiaozi business, people in the south immediately said that this was actually Wang Shuwang's Qingmiao loan, but the government knew that the officials were unreliable, so they selected the original loan sharks from the people to work together to issue Qingmiao loans... It's still taking away the benefits of the people, and there is still a suspicion of getting out of control and causing harm." Mei Tiju quickly responded. "But..."

"What do you think, nephew?" Minister Lin suddenly interrupted him, then sat down to sip his tea. "What do you think of their discussion, nephew?"

Mei Maoxiu hesitated for a moment, but finally said seriously: "My nephew's view is actually similar to theirs. It's still Qingmiao Loan, but the government has some new ideas. Knowing that it won't work if the government is the only one, they want the government to supervise the people. And since it's supervision, then this kind of thing, if the supervision is a little weak, or if the government and the people collude, it is bound to be out of control... However, my nephew thinks that even so, it still needs to be done. We can't throw the baby out with the bathwater, especially when the country needs to do things, and there is no lack of financial needs."

Minister Lin nodded, without making any comment. The important official became more dignified and asked, "Besides this matter, what other major issues are there in the South?"

"Besides this, of course, there is the great debate that was triggered by the extermination of Western Xia by the imperial court." Mei Maoxiu responded immediately. "As for this matter, the discussion in the south was divided into three parts due to the news from the front..."

Minister Lin smiled when he heard this, as if he understood it instantly.

Mei Li knew that his uncle was a talented person and had come to his senses, but he still had to smile and continue speaking:

"At first, the imperial court suddenly mobilized troops in the northwest, and naturally the whole of Jiangnan was worried. The academies everywhere were beating their chests and stamping their feet, just worried that the government would lose the victory at Yaoshan in one day; then, the imperial court suddenly swept across the northwest, not only taking all of Xixia, but also forming an alliance with Jinhepo, which made people speechless. Many people directly changed their minds according to the court reports, saying that the government and the imperial court were scheming and planning, but the tricks were not good, and the imperial camp soldiers were so elite that they could be compared with the Jurchen cavalry; but later, the three routes in the northwest were reorganized, and there was no The figures of over 3 million people and 60,000 to 70,000 standing troops were published in the court newspapers, plus... plus the later Shanghe incident and Yang Zheng's case... but they said that Xixia was not as strong as Qi, and when the Jin people retreated to accumulate strength, the court took advantage of the opportunity to attack and succeeded. This does not mean that the military of our dynasty is strong enough to be compared with the Jin people, but this statement itself is actually weak... because the posters in their own academy all said that if Xixia was so weak, how could it have been unconquered for a hundred years before? "

"These people!" Lin Jingmo shook his head and laughed after listening. "They are not stupid, disloyal, or without moral integrity. They just don't understand military affairs and think that fighting is as ridiculous as they think... But it's not their fault. How can you understand war without experiencing it? Who dares to say that Minister Hu doesn't know military affairs? The key is that these people are timid and unwilling to follow the government to face difficulties at the beginning. This is why they gradually drift away and finally become ridiculous."

"Uncle, what you said is very true." Mei Li responded, but he was serious. "However, these discussions have given rise to some things... It is said that Li Xianggong took the lead and hoped to start a folk newspaper in the south, but it was under the banner of exchanging Taoism, but was suppressed by Lu Xianggong... However, Li Xianggong persevered and was said to be writing directly to the court to ask for the lifting of the national newspaper ban so that he could establish a southern newspaper system."

Lin Jingmo hesitated for a moment, then smiled again, but changed the subject directly: "Do you know that Yuan Sheng sent a congratulatory letter to the emperor from Dongxiao Palace in Hangzhou?"

"Of course I know. Yuan Sheng is young after all... He has endured two years in Dongxiao Palace, and finally he can't stand it anymore." Mei Li forced a smile. "Even the royal relatives in Nanyang and Yangzhou are making a fuss and asking to return to Tokyo, right?"

Lin Jingmo laughed: "The emperor returned them as they were, as did the one from Nanyang. The emperor from Yangzhou said a few good words and gave Empress Dowager Yuanyou a lot of face."

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