The next day, Zhao Hongrun was summoned by his father, Emperor Wei, and went into the palace to see him. The father and son took a walk in the garden near Ganlu Hall.
During this period, Emperor Wei asked about the situation of the general examination: "How is the preliminary examination going?"
Zhao Hongrun heard this and replied: "The Ministry of Rites is still reviewing and approving it. However, the questions in the preliminary examination are not difficult. According to Du You, the Minister of Rites, any student who has really studied hard can pass. It is conservatively estimated that this year's examination may be possible."
There will be about three to four thousand more people than in previous years."
After hearing this, even Emperor Wei couldn't help but be a little stunned. After all, in previous years, there were only about 2,000 candidates who passed the provincial examination and qualified for the joint examination. This time, the number of places has tripled.
"In other words, even if it is 'one out of ten', there will still be about 600 shortlisted students this year?" Emperor Wei frowned.
As if he had guessed Emperor Wei's concerns, Zhao Hongrun chuckled and said, "Father, don't worry about this. The 'Military Science' alone can absorb at least more than a hundred students. There is also a shortage of many officials in the 'Five Counties of Hedong'."
, this does not include the Shangshui County of Erchen, perhaps it is not enough to recruit only 600 students."
"That's true." Emperor Wei nodded, and then he seemed to have thought of something and said: "By the way, the imperial court is drafting the division of counties recently, and is preparing to split Hedong County into two counties: "Hedong" and "Hanoi"
, set up a boundary stone between 'Jiguan' and 'Zhi County' as the boundary between the two counties... What do you think?"
Zhao Hongrun was no stranger to the imperial court splitting up the major counties. After all, a few years ago, the imperial court split the largest Yingshui County in Wei into three counties: "Liang County", "Yingshui" and "Shangshui".
county.
Among them, the scope of Liangjun ends at "Nanyan" in the north, "Suanzao" in the northwest, "Yuguan" in the west, "Anling" in the southwest, "Yuxian" in the south, and "Kui" in the southeast.
Qiu', ends at 'Jiyang' in the east, and ends at 'Puyang' in the northeast. The land within this large circle belongs to Liang County and is controlled by Daliang Mansion.
However, the large area of land between Liang County and "Shangshui County", including Yingyang, Anling and other places, still belongs to Yingshui County.
Such a division was conducive to the operation of local governments after the emergence of Shangshuiyi, and "Shangshuiyi" has truly become the key southern defense of the Wei State. This involves some changes and is not just a few sentences.
It can be explained clearly in words. Generally speaking, the biggest change is that "Wei State no longer established defenses against Chu State, but handed over this defense task to Shangshui County."
This measure not only gave Shangshui Yi great freedom, but also reduced the national defense burden of Wei State. Wei no longer needed to deploy garrison troops against Chu State, but transferred this part of the garrison cost to Shangshui Yi.
It's a win-win situation.
For Zhao Hongrun, Shangshui County is no different from a feudal state. At least he doesn't have to worry about some people nagging him about Shangshui County.
Oh, except Fenxing Fortress.
The garrison at Fenxing Fortress remained unchanged. After all, even if Fenxing Fortress was no longer responsible for guarding Chu, they still had the Ba people as a hostile party.
Generally speaking, Zhao Hongrun is quite supportive of the imperial court splitting Hedong County. After all, the current Hedong County is indeed too large. If it is split into "Hedong" and "Hanoi", it can carry out border defense tasks more effectively.
In Zhao Hongrun's idea, he hoped that his younger brother Huan Wang Zhao Hongxuan would lead the First Army of the North to sit in Anyi, and cooperate with Wei Ji, the king of Lintao in Fenyin, and Wen Feng, the former deputy general of the Dangshan Army in Puban. The combined efforts of the three would be enough to build the new Hedong County.
The ground is impregnable; and the border defense on the Hanoi side is left to the Shanyang Army under the command of Zhao Hongjiang, the King of Yan, who is stationed in Shanyang, and the Nanyan Army of Wei Mu currently stationed in Wusui.
Each performs his or her own duties, and together they shoulder the responsibility of Wei's northern defense.
"Where are the candidates for Hedong County Sheriff and Hanoi County Sheriff?" Zhao Hongrun asked.
If Zhao Hongrun had any concerns about splitting up Hedong County, it would be the question of who should be the county governor.
Emperor Wei seemed to have read Zhao Hongrun's thoughts and said with a smile: "The governor of Hedong County remains unchanged. He is still Dong Cheng of Anyi. As for Hanoi... there is still a dispute between the court and the central government."
Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth when he heard this. He originally wanted to recommend his fourth brother, Yan Wang Zhao Hongjiang, but after thinking about it carefully, his fourth brother didn't look like someone who was good at managing people's livelihood, so he gave up.
.
The father and son walked for a while, then found a pavilion in the garden to sit down and rest for a while.
During this period, Emperor Wei said to Zhao Hongrun again: "Two days ago, Han general Lian Pi led 20,000 Korean troops from Lishi to attack Hexi. Have you heard about this?"
Zhao Hongrun nodded and said to himself: The Blue Crows revealed this news to the eunuch, how could I not know about it.
"What do you think of the Korean army's defeat in this battle?" Emperor Wei asked.
Zhao Hongrun thought for a while and said: "If the Taiyuan Shou Lianfu, the Korean general, personally leads the Taiyuan army to the expedition, then the chance of the Korean army winning this time is at least 80%."
"Oh?" Emperor Wei looked at his son in surprise, and asked in surprise: "You have a high opinion of that Lian Pi."
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun said seriously: "Lian Pi is a rare and fierce general. Not only his son, General Shaohu also praised Lian Pi a lot."
"Hmm." Emperor Wei nodded, thinking that Shao Hu also mentioned this matter after returning to Daliang.
Immediately, he said in a deep voice: "I have sent someone to contact Sima An and ordered him to move his army to Hexi..."
"Move the army?" Zhao Hongrun was stunned when he heard this.
As if he had guessed Zhao Hongrun's thoughts, Emperor Wei said with a smile: "Do you expect the Han army to help us guard Hexi for a while after conquering Hexi?...Although Wei Ji, Lord of Lintao, is a handsome man, time is short.
Taicang
Urgently, maybe after Lianpu captured Hexi, Wei Ji still couldn't form a new army in Fenyin. To be on the safe side, he let the Dangshan army move to Hexi. Even if the Qiang and Hu in Hexi or the Qin State counterattacked, Sima An could still defend it.
You can live in it.”
"What should we do about Dang County?... The son-in-law refers to the Suiyang Army." Zhao Hongrun asked with a frown.
He knew very well that the reason why Sima An, one of the best among the six garrison battalions, was always stationed in Dangshan and never left was to guard against the Suiyang army of Song Dynasty's surrendered general Nangong Yao.
"It doesn't matter." Emperor Wei waved his hand and said confidently: "When our Wei Dynasty was not strong, Nangong Yao did not dare to rebel. Now our Wei Dynasty has more than 400,000 soldiers and horses that can be used for war. Nangong Yao
How dare you rebel?...
Furthermore, there are still Bailiba's dredging army in Daliang and Shaohu's Wei Wu army. I am going to let Shaohu move to "Chenliu"." "Note: Chenliu, in real history, was originally a city left by the state of Zheng, and later by the state of Chen.
He annexed the remaining towns, so they were called Chenliu.』
Zhao Hongrun remained silent as he did not agree with his father's judgment.
In his opinion, it was precisely because his country of Wei was not strong yet that Nangong Yao would not rebel.
The reason is very simple. When the Wei court did not pose a threat to Nangong Yao, if Nangong Yao rebelled, he would no longer have a place to stay - the Song people hated him, the Wei people hated him, and the Qi and Lu countries looked down upon him.
Nangong Yao's only way out is to defect to Chu or South Korea, but the question is, will these two countries allow Nangong Yao to still retain the transcendent status he has now?
Not realistic at all.
Therefore, when the Wei State was weak, Nangong Yao was unlikely to think of rebellion; but on the other hand, now that the Wei State is gradually becoming stronger, Nangong Yao's mind may change.
After all, once the Wei State becomes stronger, it means that Nangong Yao will no longer be able to maintain his previous transcendent status, unless the Wei court declares that it will never ban Nangong Yao's rule over the Song Dynasty.
This is not realistic.
Not to mention that when the imperial court became stronger, it would try every means to take back the privileges that Nangong Yao once enjoyed. Even Emperor Wei or Zhao Hongrun would not allow Nangong Yao, a force that was not controlled by the imperial power, to continue to exist out of consideration for imperial power.
Generally speaking, the stronger the Wei State, the more likely it is that Nangong Yao will develop rebellious sentiments. This is a destined result of the difference in stance between him and the Wei State.
However, since Emperor Wei was planning to move Shaohu's Wei Wu army to Chenliu, Zhao Hongrun said nothing more.
After all, in his opinion, Shao Hu's ability to command troops is not inferior to that of Sima An. The only difference between the two generals is that Sima An is murderous and ruthless, which can better deter those who are hostile to Wei.
——This is why Emperor Wei also supported Sima An in taking control of Hexi.
"By the way, Hongrun." As if he suddenly remembered something, Emperor Wei asked: "More than ten days ago, the Second and Third Northern Army withdrew from Taiyuan County in South Korea to Hedong. The troops are currently stationed in Linfen and Pingyang.
"Both places..."
Having said this, Emperor Wei paused, turned to look at Zhao Hongrun and said, "I have decided to move Jiang Bi's Northern Army to Shangdang. What do you think?"
Zhao Hongrun was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly realized that his father was asking for his opinion. After all, he took Shangdang County back from South Korea, so he had some say.
"I think this move is quite appropriate, but... what about the Second Northern Army?" Zhao Hongrun asked.
After hearing this, Emperor Wei pondered for a while and then said: "I am not worried that the Second Army of the North is stationed outside, and I am going to transfer it back to Daliang..."
Zhao Hongrun knew that rather than saying that his father was worried about the Northern Army, it would be better to put it more directly that he was worried about Zhao Yuanzuo, the King of Southern Liang.
"I can't see through that Third Uncle, but... Third Uncle has made outstanding military achievements in the two northern Xinjiang battles. If he is left idle rashly, it may cause rumors."
"..." Wei Tianzi nodded silently.
It has to be said that the current Emperor of Wei is very conflicted. He regrets that he listened to Prince Yan's advice and recalled Zhao Yuanzuo from Nanliang to Daliang. However, thinking about it on the other hand, without Zhao Yuanzuo, the king of Nanliang, his Wei state would not be able to win in these two battles.
South Korea has never been able to win its national war.
Zhao Yuanzuo, King of Nanliang, this is a sharp double-edged sword. If you want to use such a sharp blade well, it will be a great test of the king's strategy.
"For the time being... let's place it in Zhongmou."
In the end, Emperor Wei decided to station the Northern Second Army in Zhongmou, and Zhao Yuanzuo, the king of Southern Liang, recalled Daliang. Emperor Wei did not dare to take this brother of the Third Prince lightly.
Afterwards, the father and son chatted for a while, and inevitably, they talked about Zhao Hongrun's marriage.
During this period, Emperor Wei said that Han Wu, the Marquis of South Korea, wanted to marry a cousin to the Kingdom of Wei, and specified that she should marry Zhao Hongrun. Zhao Hongrun was so frightened that he immediately fled away on the pretext of "saying hello to Concubine Shen Shu", and Emperor Wei shook his head.
In late March, Zhao Hongrun was very busy. He not only had to pay attention to the progress of Han General Lian Bu leading his army to attack the Qiang and Hu in Hexi, but also monitored the construction of four official roads. In addition, there were also examinations. Daliang Bingshu learned many things.
He even had to take time to inspect the Smelting Bureau.
After all, the Smelting Bureau has improved the machinery of "hydraulic rice pounding and shelling" based on the records in "Lu Gong's Secret Records".