Chapter 268: Fried chestnuts (2 in 1 debt repayment)
After an inspection, Zhao Jiu had an idea in his mind.
Although Wu Jie had good intentions, most of the young men he sent were sons of Western Army officers and officials. The future of these people lay in the army, and sending them to meet him as an official was better than anything else. People like Wang Zhongfu were still a minority.
Of course, this is also expected and reasonable.
To put it bluntly, a young man with excellent moral character, intelligence and sharpness, even if he is from a good family, would naturally go to school if he can, so why would he choose to learn martial arts? Just like in later generations, high school students with similar grades would naturally go to the college entrance examination if they can, so who would drop out of school to write online novels or play e-sports?
Unless one is really not good at studying, or is really gifted like Wang Zhongfu.
This is a concept that has existed for hundreds of years. Even though the Jingkang Rebellion objectively improved the status of military men, it was not enough to shake this deep-rooted concept. In history, Yue Fei was at the top of the military ranks. When his son was given a patronage by the emperor, he was too embarrassed to accept the civil official position offered to him by his superiors. He openly said that civil officials are more valuable than military officials, and in exchange for a military official position, he specifically asked for a civil official position for the son of his benefactor Zhang Suo... In other words, even the military men themselves looked down on themselves.
As an aside, although Zhao Jiu worked hard for four or five years to lead a group of civil and military officials to keep the war between the Yellow River and the Huai River, as if it was a great achievement, in fact, this achievement may have made the status of military officials lower than in history... because many places were just experiencing turmoil, and the abuse of force during the turmoil would only make them hate military men more, rather than fully realizing the necessity of force.
Of course, even though he knew some things, Emperor Zhao still had to pretend not to know.
Not only that, the official also spent a long time saying things like the Northern Expedition has not yet succeeded and you all still need to work hard. He also personally wrote a couplet for the military academy hall, which is said to be a paraphrase of the words of Yue Fei, a famous general of this dynasty, which is "If you want to get promoted and make money, please go elsewhere. If you are afraid of death, don't enter this door."
Then?
And then nothing happened.
It's funny to say that Zhao Jiu clearly wrote down these words and said these words, but he knew in his heart that not only other martial arts students, but even people like Wang Zhongfu came here for promotion and wealth... and if you want to change this situation, you must let these people get promoted and get rich first. Because only when martial artists can get promoted and get rich, and no longer be the lower class in society, can they truly establish a strong sense of honor in the army.
In fact, this was also the reason why he established martial arts behind the palace, just to make it convenient for him to move in and out. In the era of imperial power, being close to the emperor was the best way to get promoted and make money.
It's a bit like the dissolute Emperor Zhengde.
But if you think about it this way, compared with them, Yue Fei, Zhang Yongzhen, and Hou Dan, whose name he could never remember but only one ear impressed him, that is, those who inspired the concept of home and country and the honor and disgrace mentality of soldiers, are even more precious. But behind this preciousness is the background of the collapse of the Jingkang Incident, when the northern scholars and civilians were broken up and displaced, which was exchanged for countless deaths and humiliations, which seems heavy.
However, two days later, that is, when Emperor Zhao changed the daily shooting location to the third day of martial arts training and changed it to the morning, he was about to go shooting with those officers in training when he suddenly received a request for an audience from the provincial governor Zhao Ding. He naturally agreed, but changed the venue of the interview to the martial arts shooting range.
However, after a while, when the two sides met, Zhao Ding was very polite, but he only came to deliver a note. Not only that, Yang Yi Zhong stepped forward to take it, but was politely rejected by this gentleman, who publicly proposed that according to the system, he should ask Lan Gui, the chief escort of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to present it on his behalf.
Just these two words made the atmosphere at the martial arts shooting range become serious.
"Since you are so serious, could it be that you are resigning from your post?"
When Zhao Jiu saw Zhao Ding's attitude, instead of being alert, he made a joke... He did not specifically call Lan Gui, but put down his bow and arrow himself and went forward to receive it.
But as the official said this, many military officers who had just demonstrated their archery skills became a little timid.
"The official is joking." Zhao Ding's face tightened, but he still lowered his head and handed over the note.
However, Zhao Jiu took the note but did not open it. Instead, he held the note beside the shooting range, thinking: "Prime Minister Zhao, do you know why I appointed you as the Prime Minister of the capital province?"
Zhao Ding was so smart that he realized after a slight shock that his actions had caused dissatisfaction from the emperor in front of him... This kind of large-scale joint memorial from colleagues could not be concealed from everyone even if the Imperial City Bureau did not specifically investigate... Not only that, he had originally invited Minister Lu Haowen, Prime Minister Zhang Jun and others to come together, but the two of them just declined. It seemed that they might have received instructions from the emperor, or they might have guessed the emperor's intention.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yuanzhen couldn't help but feel heavy-hearted, but he suppressed his uneasiness and stood there with a serious face: "I am ashamed. Sometimes I do have doubts. With my ordinary qualifications, how could I be blessed by Your Majesty so deeply that I could rise from a ceremonial officer of Kaifeng Prefecture to the prime minister of the capital province in just four or five years?"
"If Mr. Zhao was just an average person, there would be few capable people in this world." Zhao Jiu sighed while holding the note with his hands behind his back and looking up. "When you moved the people of Shunchang Prefecture across the Huai River, you performed outstandingly. Although I didn't say anything, I knew you were a capable person. Then in the Battle of Xiacai, you defended the city with Zhang Jun as an envoy of the court, appeased the army, and also made great contributions. Later, you were appointed to Huainan, the transportation of military supplies between Huaizuo and Huaixi, and the livelihood of Huainan, and you did a first-class job. After taking office as the governor of the capital, you did not engage in private interests or form cliques, and your style was simple and your actions were measured... I have to say bluntly that among the important officials I have experienced, in terms of ability, only the previous Minister Xu Jingheng can be compared with you, and in terms of virtue, you are just like Yue Pengju among the military officials among the civil officials, both of you stand out! Even if Minister Lu and Minister Zhang were in person, I would not hide these words. As for the leap up in four or five years, the Jingkang Change was like the destruction of a country. Is Zhao Qing the only one who leaped up in four or five years?"
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