Theoretically, the country's finances will gradually improve. In seven or eight years, the country will recover to 80% of the level of its former heyday. By then, it will be able to support 300,000 elite troops while meeting other daily expenses, and then accumulate large amounts of precious metals and food in preparation for the Northern Expedition.
This is exactly what many conservative ministers expected, and it is also the plan that Zhao Jiu had rejected long ago... Instead of choosing this, it is better to choose to go to Yangzhou from the beginning, which is safer!
Why did you stay in Huaishang that day? It was because you couldn't bear to abandon the Central Plains!
Why are you so anxious today? It's because you can't bear to abandon the two rivers!
Some things cannot be solved by simply taking out an abacus and calculating what is the most reasonable way to do them... The national spirit and the driving force of national integration are all things that need to be considered.
But if he didn't wait that long, how could he save enough food, horse feed, cloth, and precious metals for the Northern Expedition for 300,000 people while maintaining the army? Could he just rely on reducing the expenses of the harem?
You must know that at this point in time, we can no longer save money on civil servants' salaries and other expenses. Doing so will instead limit the country's recovery, which will be detrimental to long-term plans and is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.
And this is another dead end.
Perhaps it was because of this that Zhao Jiu, after learning about Zhang Jun's business, chose to try to get involved regardless of the risks and public opinion.
This official is so hungry that he has no choice but to eat.
Not to mention how Emperor Zhao was so worried about the Northern Expedition that he did not return to the capital for most of the winter, and after returning to the capital he also revealed his worries in the political discussions at the Imperial Academy. It can be said that the fact that the emperor finally returned to the capital did ease the political atmosphere in the entire capital a little.
On the second day, the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, after a hastily dealt with the government affairs of the Imperial College, the college became lively instead... because this day was the beginning of the New Year holiday, and according to the practice of the past few years, students who lived close to home in the Imperial College usually had to wait until this day to return home, while students who lived far away from home usually had to prepare for various matters related to staying in the capital to celebrate the New Year.
Of course, under the current special system of the three-house method plus the palace examination, which is held once a year, the value of Taixue students is self-evident. Therefore, in the past few days, not only will the palace summon some outstanding Taixue students, but many dignitaries, such as the Wu family, the Lu family, and important officials including the current prime minister, will also specifically ask their children to invite some good Taixue students to their homes to celebrate the New Year. Even the lowest-ranking ones who stay in the Taixue will have wealthy merchants, nobles, and temples and monasteries come to sponsor meat, vegetables, rice and noodles.
There is no need to learn from Fan Zhongyan who carved porridge while reading.
"That seems to be the son of Prime Minister Zhao?"
In a window-side restaurant box on the north bank of the Cai River, Chao Gongwu, a direct official who had just had a bowl of ginger soup to ward off the cold, blurted out while staring out the window at the other side of the river without even putting the bowl down.
"It should be."
The good friend who was sitting at the same table, and the object of the welcoming banquet - Yu Yunwen, looked through the window for a moment and immediately nodded in agreement. His eyesight and physique have always been recognized as excellent, and it was precisely because of this that he was able to return early with the emperor this time.
The elderly Ren Baozhong and the frail Fan Zongyin and Lu Benzhong were still riding on their horses on their way back to Tokyo to celebrate the New Year.
"The son of the Prime Minister also comes to a place like this to eat mutton?" Chao Gongwu couldn't help but sigh.
"What is this?"
The elder brother who had been drinking soup with his head down, Hu Quan who was in charge of the official report, looked up and faced each other calmly. "Not only the prime minister's son, it is said that Zhao Xianggong also often comes to Caihe to drink mutton soup, and the emperor has also ordered takeout here for this purpose... Zhao Xianggong is recognized as the most virtuous person in the court. He does not build private property and does not make private friends. In addition, his family fled from Hedong, and even his ancestors did not have an acre of land. He lived only on salary and rewards. It is normal for him to come here for a simple meal."
"Not only that?" Yu Yunwen also laughed. "Even Young Master Zhao hasn't found a wife yet, it's said that it's because of his father..."
"What do you mean?" Chao Gongwu asked curiously. "The son of the prime minister is worried about marriage?"
"What can I say? It's because Mr. Zhao is the Prime Minister, so Mr. Zhao can't easily take the writing test to participate in the joint examination and the palace examination, so as not to arouse suspicion. And since he doesn't take the writing test, it will be difficult for him to graduate from the Imperial Academy. If he doesn't graduate from the Imperial Academy and has no fame, it will be difficult for him to get married..." Hu Quan on the opposite side explained casually.
“That’s true…” Chao Gongwu was speechless for a moment.
"However, even so, he is still the eldest son of the Prime Minister. If you don't believe me, go and ask these students below, would they rather follow Master Zhao to the south of Caihe River to drink mutton soup and eat sheepskin, or would they rather follow Uncle Wu to the father-in-law's house to drink Lanqiao Fengyue?" Hu Quan continued to ask with a smile.
The answer was self-evident, but Chao Gongwu only nodded when he heard it, and his words were still cautious: "Now is the time for a wise king and a virtuous minister."
These words caused everyone present to nod their heads, but Hu Bianxiu, who was sitting opposite him, shook his head and said nothing.
By the way, Hu Quan shook his head not because he had any opinion about Zhao Ding. Although they had different political views, the gap between their levels was too big to the point where they could compete with each other. Besides, Zhao Ding's talents and virtues were recognized as good, and no one in the court was dissatisfied... The reason why he shook his head was just because he felt that everyone has different aspirations and things have changed.
The seven or eight classmates present here today are no longer the Tai students they were three or four years ago.
At that time, we were roommates, classmates, and scholars of the same imperial examination. Even though we had different positions and thoughts, it did not prevent us from being friends. But now, after only three years of being assigned to different posts, our political status, political positions, and various mentalities have become completely different.
Among them, the most obvious one is Chao Gongwu. This person has ability, better knowledge, and is famous for his encyclopedia and strong memory. He is undoubtedly a more outstanding one among his peers, and his career is also very serious. However, he has gradually become estranged from the others in terms of political stance.
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