After the New Year's Day court meeting, officials could take a day off until the Lantern Festival on the 15th before returning to work. But on the night of the 30th, His Majesty came with a high-temperature oil tank and said that he would give everyone overtime pay. Who could refuse this?
Your Majesty sets an example by taking the lead in the 007 work system. The court and the people at large have changed their lazy, slack and responsibility-fearing work style. They dare to make decisions on matters within their authority and responsibilities without pushing or delegating them, and take the initiative to help coordinate matters outside their authority and responsibilities.
Zhao Huan assured that this was all voluntary and had absolutely nothing to do with the quartering, beheading and boiling alive that took place outside the Bianjing Palace at 3:30 PM on the first day of the lunar year.
For a moment, the atmosphere of the entire Song Dynasty court was refreshed.
In Funing Palace, Zhao Huan was reading the memorials sent from the Council of State, which showed the revenue and expenditure of the Song Dynasty over the past twenty years.
Zhao Huan, who was accustomed to Arabic numerals and financial statements, found it very tiring to read a long list of text, and promoting a new counting method was also an urgent matter.
Zhao Huan tapped his fingers. Should he start with the Ministry of Revenue, which governed the finances? Or the Imperial College, which governed education? Or perhaps he should simply use double-entry bookkeeping and Benford's law to catch a few corrupt officials and use them as a deterrent?
"Your Majesty, the Privy Council sent a memorial stating that someone is impeaching Li Gang?"
"Impeach Li Gang? Are there still people who are so fearless? Are they conservatives or peacemakers?"
"Neither. They belong to the war faction."
"A proponent of war? That's strange! Bring me the memorial."
"Who is this Li Xiaozhong? It's a nice name, it embodies both loyalty and filial piety."
"Your Majesty, this Li Xiaozhong is a god-like man."
"Oh?" Zhao Huan became interested: "Tell me about it."
"Li Xiaozhong, a native of Gongzhou (now Longxi, Gansu), had great ambitions from a young age, and from a young age he vowed to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun."
"Li Xiaozhong was very courageous. In his spare time, when he wasn't practicing horseback archery, he would go to the enemy's border to record the terrain. He would even often take good horses from the enemy while they were grazing and take them home."
"Not bad! Not bad! You're actually a practical person." Zhao Huan nodded. "You need a mind that doesn't stick to the old ways."
"There's a local anecdote about Li Xiaozhong, saying he was resourceful and adaptable. Once, he and a few of his soldiers were on a reconnaissance mission when they suddenly encountered a Jin army of a hundred men. Everyone else was stunned, not knowing what to do."
"Li Xiaozhong was on a nearby hill, hanging a Song Dynasty flag. He took off his armor in the woods, looking very calm. The Jin troops thought they were ambushed and left."
"Logically, at this critical moment, the empty city plan was enough to make people nervous, but Li Xiaozhong dared to lead a few people in pursuit. The Jin army retreated in panic, and many people were killed."
"The Jin army invaded the Song Dynasty from two directions, and especially after that bastard Guo Yaoshi defected to the enemy, Bianliang was directly exposed to the Jin's iron hoof. Counties and prefectures rushed to recruit soldiers to support the emperor. Li Xiaozhong was well-known in the local area, and he raised his banner and recruited around 3,000 men. He marched south and arrived at the capital yesterday."
"You're quite courageous! You just arrived yesterday, and today you've already submitted an impeachment memorial. The person impeached is Li Gang, who is in charge of the anti-Jin campaign."
"Summon Li Zhongxiao to the palace. I want to see this god-like man in person. Please ask Zong Lao Marshal and Li Gang to come as well."
"Yes!" Wang Huaiji took the order and went out to do the work.
Soon, Wang Huaiji led Li Xiaozhong, Zong Ze and Li Gang into the Funing Palace.
"I greet your majesty. Long live the emperor."
"Raise your head and let me take a good look at you."
"good!"
Li Xiaozhong stood in front of Zhao Huan with confidence, without any shyness or affectation, not at all like someone who was entering the palace to see the emperor for the first time.
"Good face!"
Zhao Huan admired in his heart, only to see Li Zhongxiao:
He has white teeth, red lips, handsome eyes, a thin waist and broad shoulders, like an ape.
The battle robe he wore was embroidered with gold and emerald, and the jade belt around his waist was inlaid with mountain rhinoceros.
The double rings of the green scarf are small, and the flowery boots of the civil and military officials are low and smeared with green.
"Come here, please take a seat and serve tea."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"You're a brave boy! The memorial actually said that Li Gang was ignorant of military affairs and would ruin the country. Tell me the loopholes in the capital's defense. If you talk nonsense, I will definitely punish you."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"There are still many loopholes in the defense inside and outside the capital."
"First, the defenses of Jinshui Gate are weak. If the Jin navy takes advantage of the north wind and blows south, they can reach Jinshui Gate via the Jinshui River in an instant. Once they break through Jinshui Gate, they can directly attack the palace. The current defense will be too late to make up for it."
"As for the Jinshui River, it leads directly to the Imperial Palace and should be a key defensive point. However, there are very few defenses along the Jinshui River. Military bridges in and out of the city are few and far between, and the few remaining bridges are extremely high, allowing any ship to pass through, providing no barrier or protection at all. This poses a hidden danger to the defense of the Jinshui Gate."
"Such a huge defensive loophole is invisible. To say that he is ignorant of military affairs and will harm the country is an understatement..."
“Cough cough cough!”
After these words were spoken, there was silence in Funing Palace for a moment. The defense of Jinshui River was very complete before.
At the beginning, the retired emperor transported granite almost all by boat. Since the Jinshui River could directly reach the imperial palace, it became the main channel. It is conceivable how big the ships that transported granite were. As a result, all the defensive facilities were abolished.
"I understand. Please tell me the next one."
"Secondly, as the Jin army marched south, they recruited many surrendered Song troops along the way. These people were very familiar with the Song Dynasty and were able to sneak into the capital unnoticed. When I entered Bianliang City, the guards let me in without any inspection or registration. I think this is extremely inappropriate. If these people caused trouble within the city during the Jin army's attack, Bianliang would be in great danger."
"third,……"
"Your Majesty, Marshal Zong Lao and Envoy Li Shouyu have arrived."
"Please come in!"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, is greeted by your servant Zongze (Li Gang)."
"I'd like to introduce you to a talented person. He's young, but he's got a lot of courage and strategy."
"I greet the Grand Marshal and the Lord Protector."
Li Zhongxiao saluted respectfully.
"Please take a look at this memorial first."
Wang Huaiji handed the memorial to Zong Ze. Zong Ze took it in his hand and read it word by word. His expression was first horrified, then calm, and finally turned to relief.
"It was my negligence. If it weren't for this little brother's timely reminder, I would have made a big mistake."
"Old Marshal, Old Marshal, let me see what is written on this memorial."
Zong Ze handed the memorial to Li Gang and patted him on the shoulder: "Bo Ji, it's a relief to have such a talented person. You must make good use of him."
Li Gang took the memorial and read it carefully several times. A look of shame appeared on his face. He knelt on the ground and choked with sobs: "Thank you for your reminder, little brother. Otherwise, it would be too late to regret it. Please punish me, Your Majesty..."
"To save a building from collapse, even if my heart is not in danger and my strength is not enough, what is the crime? Never say such words again."
"Li Zhongxiao, you have recruited soldiers to defend the king and offered valuable advice. I appoint you as the vanguard officer of the left wing of the anti-Jin army. You will serve under the command of the garrison commander. If you perform meritorious service in the future, you will receive additional rewards."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
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