On May 24, 320, the plum rain season began. Every time it was the plum rain season, Zhao Jiaren wanted to move the capital. The rain seemed to never stop, and the air humidity was basically saturated. If it was in the 21st century, high-rise buildings above the 8th floor could eliminate the moisture and enjoy the feeling of moisture. However, in this era, there was no need to consider residential buildings above the eighth floor.

Just as Zhao Jiaren was daydreaming about living conditions, the secretary of the General Office reported: "The official family, Wen Zhizhou and others have already taken office."

"Well. I know," Zhao Jiaren responded. His thoughts quickly returned to reality from enjoyment. The latest group of people sent out was not only Wen Zhang responsible for land reform. The four roads south of the Huaihe River north of the Yangtze River, Jiangxi, a major grain-producing province, and the two roads north and south of Jinghu, which have the potential of "Huguang and Guangxi, the world is sufficient" in the future. At least in Zhao Jiaren's view, the importance of land reform in the Song Dynasty was much better than that of the Northern Expedition. If Zhao Jiaren really believed that the elimination of Mongolia was the highest principle, he would not have taken action against the Three Buddhas now.

The secretary knew how much effort the Zhao Guan family had spent on land reform. He thought the official family would care a lot about this matter. However, he didn't expect that the Zhao Guan family's reaction was so cold. He couldn't help but ask again, "The official family, do you have any special explanations to those people?"

"There is nothing to explain to them. But call the captain Dong of the guard regiment." Zhao Jiaren said in his mind.

Not long after, Captain Dong rushed over. After saluting Zhao Jiaren, Captain Dong said: "Officials, the internal learning of the Guard Corps has been strengthened."

"Oh? Do you know I want to ask you this?" Zhao Jiaren said with a smile.

"The official has always been concerned about the commanders and fighters in the regiment. And after our regiment retires, we will arrange to work in the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice. If everyone's academic performance is not good, it will be embarrassing to say it out. Everyone knows that, so they are very enthusiastic about studying now."

Everyone has the desire to make progress. When Zhao Jiaren saw that the study was going well, he went to another question, "How is the recruitment of the school members going?"

"The officials, I have something unknown. Why do the officials care so much about the school?" asked the head of the group.

"I've always cared about the society."

"Now many people say that the members of the society give more opportunities. If the officials really care, why are they not recruiting those great literati?" asked the guard commander.

"You want to recruit great scholars instead of recruiting commanders and fighters from the Guard Corps?"

After hearing Zhao Jiaren's question, the head of the guard regiment shook like a rattle, "Of course I don't have this intention. If I had such intentions, I would have been scolded to death by the commanders and soldiers of the guard regiment. It's just that the official treats us so well, and we always want to know what the reason is."

"Those people are unreliable. In the crisis of the Song Dynasty, few so-called great literati stood up. Why do you think it is?"

"They are afraid of death?"

"No, no, no. They are unreliable because they are incompetent. Leader Dong, in your opinion, how many of those literati know how to fight?"

“…Not one.”

"In your opinion, do they understand science and can do a good job in workers and peasants?"

“…It seems that there is no one.”

"As the books you read in the exam now, do you think they can really be better than the students today?"

"Compared with those top students, they may not be able to pass the exam."

"Give it style and dominate it. Can anyone compare them to the guard regiment?"

"Haha. Officials, this is really not as good as them." Captain Dong was amused.

"On Loyalty, I think the commanders and fighters of the Guard Corps are extremely loyal."

"yes."

"Those comrades who work are also extremely loyal."

"yes."

"Then why should I find the so-called great scholar?"

"The key, I understand!" Captain Dong's voice was already trembling.

"Continue to arrange your daily work well. Although studying is important, you also need to use the study time you arrange every day and your remaining time. In addition, tell comrades that I have to take regular exams. Also, are the time to visit relatives ready?"

After seeing off the head of the guard regiment, Zhao Jiaren felt that a small matter was solved. As soon as he stood up and did a few squats, the secretary came in to report, "Shangshu Xiong came as the appointment."

"Let him come in." Zhao Jiaren said intently. Then he turned the squat into swinging his body left and right.

When Xiong Shang came in, Zhao Jiaren had finished the simple exercise and sat back in the chair. Xiong Shang sat down and quickly began to report: "Official family, this time Mongolia proposed to return the late emperor, the queen mother and others. I think they would ask us to sign a permanent peace agreement with them."

"You send someone to negotiate with the Mongolians. Find out their bottom line."

"Since you must have a Northern Expedition, just do it perfunctorily?" Xiong Shang first tested Zhao Jiaren's trump card.

"I don't have any expectations for the Mongols. I'm wondering if we can make better use of this opportunity."

"Please let the official explain it clearly."

"Shangshu Xiong, did you love fighting when you were a child?"

...

Half an hour later, Xiong Shang left Zhao Jiaren. He sat in the carriage and frowned, recalling the views of Zhao Guanjia in public opinion manipulation. Returning to the Ministry of Rites, Xiong Shang immediately convened a meeting of the Ministry of Rites. Xiong Shang asked the staff straightforwardly, "If you are beaten, will you want to take revenge?"

Everyone looked at me, I saw you, and I didn’t know how to answer such a question. Seeing that these people were so thoughtful, Xiong Shang said unhappily: “Then let’s vote for it.”

The result of the voting was that 30% clearly stated that they had been beaten and they had to take revenge. 10% said that they would not take revenge. 60% thought it depends on the situation.

"We were beaten by Mongolia once. Do you think we want to take revenge?" Xiong Shang continued to the next question.

The answer this time was completely different. Ninety percent of them expressed their desire to retaliate. The remaining 10 percent saw that everyone was so firm in their attitude, and they also expressed their need to retaliate.

Xiong Shang sat back in his seat and said loudly: "We all eat the food of the court, which is related to the country's affairs. Of course, we cannot admit defeat. But when we think so, what do ordinary people think about it? I am very interested in this."

Song Gongming is now one of the supervisors of the Ministry of Rites. After hearing this question, he immediately remembered what happened recently. He asked: "Does he want to incite revenge among the people through Mongolia's proposal to exchange the empress dowager?"

Xiong Shang looked at the bureaucrats who put his interests first and couldn't help but sigh, "If you are like this, the people are afraid that they will be fine."

When Zhao Guan’s family was testing problems before, Xiong Shang himself showed his timidity in front of Zhao Guan’s family and had a very "cautious" attitude towards war. After testing in the Ministry of Rites, Xiong Shang found that his colleagues were actually not much better.

"The officials probably want to do patriotic education?" asked Song Gongming.

"Uh?" Xiong Shang frowned, "Why do you think so?"

"I, the Song Dynasty, can't win a battle without inciting the people? Of course not. So the officials said this, probably to change my Song Dynasty's mentality. In the past, when the Song Dynasty was invaded by barbarians, they always thought they could endure it. Or some people deliberately wanted to fight for their own official positions. Both of these were not right. The officials hated the Waste Chi Qiaomu so much and were still disgusted with military words. Of course, he hoped that the Song Dynasty would be able to firmly defeat the enemy when facing the invasion of foreign enemies."

"Well." Xiong Shang felt that Song Gongming's words made some sense, but this was too reasonable and had no practicality. Xiong Shang always felt that Song Gongming was his challenger to a certain extent and was taken over by Song Gongming, so he felt that he was not very happy. So Xiong Shang asked the others, "What do you think?"

"Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the Ministry of War." Another supervisor, Sima Rong, who was about to retire, replied.

Xiong Shang could only admit that it was better to have less than more things than more things. These guys who were about to retire did not like to have troubles. If you follow the old ways in the last stage of your life, you can at most say a few words, but it will not affect your personal retirement. The officialdom of the Song Dynasty would not be able to hold back someone who was about to retire.

However, for Xiong Shang, the inaction of these people highlighted Song Gongming's great achievements. This is a situation that Xiong Shang didn't like very much. So Xiong Shang turned to the others, "Do you think you should face it like this?"

Since the establishment of the Department of Rites, the Ministry of Rites has become a cold yamen day by day. If it is only responsible for some celebration work, the future of the Ministry of Rites is very limited. Therefore, the officials who stayed here either have special responsibility like Song Gongming. Or they are just scattered here, working as monks and beating the bells for a day. When Xiong Shang asked so seriously, everyone didn't know how to answer.

At this time, Song Gongming said: "Shangshu Xiong, can the official family say that who will negotiate with Mongolia this time?"

"The official did not say this. This is naturally the decision of our Ministry of Rites."

"Oh?" Song Gongming was a little surprised after hearing this.

"I want to find some young comrades to negotiate with Mongolia this time. The Zhao Guanjia said before that we should give young comrades a chance. Now is this time. If young comrades keep watching, when will they truly grow up? When should they be allowed to work, they have to work." Xiong Shang started an official voice.

Song Gongming was not a fool either. Of course he knew Xiong Shang’s feelings towards him. However, Song Gongming did not expect Xiong Shang to deprive Song Gongming of his work for such a reason. Who in the Ministry of Rites knew that Song Gongming had always been responsible for negotiating with Mongolia.

"Shangshu Xiong. If there are some problems with young comrades, what should I do?"

Xiong Shang shook his head slightly, "Even if there is a problem in the middle, they can still let them know their shortcomings. I think the Zhao Guan family was right in class. No one came out of a stone. Has anyone made a mistake? Besides, with the level of our Ministry of Rites and the current relationship between the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty, if something goes wrong, it is only possible that someone in the Ministry of Rites wants to be a traitor to the Song Dynasty. In addition, there are really some great mistakes that can be made."
Chapter completed!