Li Xun was stunned: "What can you do when you are by my side?"

Fan Zhongyun said dissatisfied: "You look down on me too much."

"That's not what I meant. It's just that for a talented person like you, wouldn't it be too aggrieved to be with an unofficial and powerless person like me?"

Li Xun had already understood at this time that Fan Zhongyun wanted to be his staff.

Fan Zhongyun said with a smile: "You have no official position and power now. That is only temporary. No matter how big a role you play in this Jiangnan dispute, the emperor will reward you heavily. Official positions and power will be at your fingertips."

"It's still not right."

Li Xun shook his head: "You are a Jinshi, and you are also a top student. If you become my staff, won't you be looked down upon by others?"

Fan Zhongyun said silently: "If Xiaoman hadn't been paralyzed in bed and needed money for medical treatment, I would have no longer wanted to be a small official. It is my greatest wish to retire to the mountains and forests with my wife and stay away from disputes."

Li Xun asked in confusion: "Now that my sister-in-law is getting better, isn't it possible that your wish can come true?"

Fan Zhongyun sighed and said: "Debts of favor are the hardest to repay. You have been very kind to me. If I leave and worry about you, I will live an uncomfortable life wherever I go."

"We are friends, there is no need to worry so much."

"Brothers will settle accounts clearly."

Fan Zhongyun smiled, stood up, and said, "I still have to go home and take care of my wife. If you have any questions, we can talk about it later."

Li Xun nodded and sent Fan Zhongyun away.

Taiping five years, September 20th.

Nearly a month has passed since the Battle of Jiangnan ended. The imperial court was discussing the size and number of rewards for meritorious officials. At this time, Li Xun was appointed as the captain of the Yulin Guards, a seventh-grade military officer, and the emperor's personal guard.

,Joined the Imperial City.

On September 28th, Zhao Zhi issued an edict that three days later, on the first day of October, a court meeting would be held to formally reward all meritorious ministers.

In the early morning, before dawn, the rumble of drums suddenly resounded throughout the world, awakening countless sleeping people in Fengjing City. It was time for the morning dynasty.

Today's emperor Zhao Zhi is a hard-working emperor who loves politics. He changed the Pingzong Dynasty's early morning court system on the fifth day of every month to once every five days.

The sky is still dark, but the streets are already very lively. Pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages can be seen everywhere. Officials with low rankings walk to the imperial city, those with better conditions ride horses, and senior officials above fourth rank have

To qualify for riding a carriage, the official title and surname of the owner are written on the right shaft of the carriage on lanterns of different colors, such as Yan, Shaoqing of Dali Temple.

It was not yet midnight, and the square in front of the imperial city gate was filled with officials. They were gathering in twos and threes, talking in low voices.

An ordinary carriage passed by the square. It seemed to be the carriage of an ordinary official. However, when the officials around him saw the carriage, they all moved out of the way and even bowed.

Yang, the Minister of Rites, and the person sitting in this ordinary carriage was Yang Daosi, the head of the hundred officials and the right minister of the court.

Yang Daosi's carriage did not stop at the square, but drove directly to the gate of the imperial city. Yang Daosi got out of the carriage, looked back at the many officials in the square, and then walked directly into the imperial city.

Every cabinet minister can enter the imperial city directly without notification. This is their privilege and the courtesy given to them by Zhao Zhi.

After Yang Daosi, the other six prime ministers also arrived one by one.

Liu Jie was the last to arrive. His style was completely different from that of Yang Daosi. The carriage stopped in the square. Liu Jie got off the carriage and greeted many officials present before slowly walking into the palace.

city.

Not long after Liu Jie entered the imperial city, a strong bell sounded inside the imperial city. An official walked out of the imperial city gate and shouted loudly: "The hour of Mao has arrived, the court has ascended."

All the officials were immediately shocked. They quickly arranged their clothes and appearance, then lined up in two teams and entered the imperial city in an orderly manner.

North Korea can be divided into small court, middle court and large court.

The Xiaochao is mainly for temporary important military and state affairs. Zhao Zhihui summons all cabinet ministers and senior officials from the third rank and above to participate. It is usually held in the Mingzheng Hall.

China and North Korea are held every five days, and all official officials of fifth rank and above must participate. This is the most frequent court meeting in the Jin Dynasty, and it is also held in the Mingzheng Hall. If we follow the past, today is the day of China and North Korea, but today's court meeting

, the official rank has been lowered to the seventh rank or above, regardless of actual or fictitious duties, and it is held in the Dezheng Hall, which means a great dynasty.

The days of the Great Dynasty are fixed. On the first day of May every year, at this time, foreign envoys will come together to meet. Beijing officials of the ninth rank and above, and foreign officials who are in Beijing for some reason, will all be included. The scene is extremely grand, and Li Xun has never been there.

Because of his official position, he was unable to participate, but at this time of year, he would watch from a distance and feel the spectacular and lively scene.

In a square a few hundred meters away from the Hall of Dezheng, the seven ministers of the cabinet stood there, waiting for the arrival of other officials, and then walked together through the stone steps and entered the Hall of Dezheng.

"Hundred officials enter the palace."

A eunuch shouted loudly.

Thousands of officials were divided into two columns, led by Liu Jie, Minister of the Ministry of War of the Left Prime Minister, on the left, and Yang Daosi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Right Prime Minister, led by Yang Daosi, the Minister of Rites of the Right Prime Minister, on the left. They were arranged according to their rank, walked up the high stone steps, and headed towards the majestic palace in front.

The Dezheng Hall filed away.

Dezheng Hall is extremely wide, with a length of more than 500 steps from north to south and more than 600 steps from east to west. It can accommodate ten thousand people at the same time. Due to the high terrain, if you stand on the roof, you can have a panoramic view of the entire Fengjing City streets.

The Dezheng Hall is cleverly designed and has plenty of light, but the strange thing is that as you go inside, it gradually becomes darker. The emperor is sitting on a high dragon couch. He can clearly overlook the ministers, but the ministers cannot see him clearly.

, this shows the emperor’s mystery and majesty.

The ministers are already standing on both sides, ready. At the top of both sides, more than 20 people are qualified to sit. On the right side, Yang Daosi, the leader of the hundred officials, is only in the second position. Above him

At the head, there is an old man with white beard and hair sitting. This person is Duan Wang Zhao Ji. He is over eighty years old. He is the ninth son of Xizong and the younger brother of Pingzong. He is the oldest and oldest among the entire Jin Dynasty royal family.

As an elder, when Zhao Zhi saw him, he would respectfully call him Uncle Jiu.

On the left side, there is also a person sitting above Liu Jie. He is a young man in his twenties. He is handsome and has fair skin, but his eyes are slightly small, his mouth is thin, and he always has a cold face.

It gives people a gloomy and icy feeling. This person is Zhao Shuo, King of Lu, and his mother is Concubine Yang.

On the left side behind the dragon couch, a soldier stood with his back to the stone pillar. He was Li Xun. He had a broadsword tied around his waist, a bright armor, and a red feather on the top of his helmet. He looked quite heroic.

.

Li Xun's eyes kept scanning around the hall, observing with great interest, and finally his eyes rested on Lu Wang Zhao Shuo. Zhao Zhi had more than a dozen sons. The eldest and second sons died early, and the birth of the third and fourth sons

He is humble and not well-known, so he is not valued by Zhao Zhi. The fifth son is Lu Wang Zhao Shuo. This person is even more low-key than Zhao Xun. Even Li Xun has only met him a few times over the years.

It is said that King Zhao Shuo of Lu had a gloomy character and was extremely taciturn. He stayed in his palace all day, rarely went out and did not like to deal with outsiders.

Li Xun had a strange idea in his mind. King of Lu Zhao Shuo and King of Qi Zhao Xun, the two most qualified princes to compete for the throne, usually seemed extremely low-key and did not deal with foreign ministers. They seemed to have no ambitions for the throne.
Chapter completed!