Chapter 0842 Laws of the Prairie (I wish everyone a healthy Dragon Boat Festival!)
Seeing the smile on Zhao Zhen's face, Chen Lin also laughed, "As a servant who is close to the official, if I can't make the official happy, then I should be pulled out and killed with a cane."
Zhao Zhen said a lot just now, but Chen Lin only stared at Zhao Zhen's first sentence in response.
He turned a deaf ear to what Zhao Zhen said next.
Zhao Zhen heard Chen Lin's witty words and glared at Chen Lin.
The smile on Chen Lin's face became even brighter.
Zhao Zhen said nothing and slowly sat down, ready to pick up the tea cup and take a swig. However, after picking up the tea cup, he seemed to have remembered something, and the expression on his face changed a little.
"Damn Cao Wei, I almost missed my business when he collided with me."
Zhao Zhen cursed in a low voice and turned to tell Chen Lin, "Go and call that guy Cao Wei back to me."
Chen Lin was stunned, nodded in response, and was about to go out to invite Cao Wei.
He had just walked two steps when he heard Zhao Zhen's helpless voice behind him, "Forget it... let me go see him... He has a weak body and cannot withstand the tossing. If he falls apart, Yelu Longxu
I’m afraid I’ll die laughing.”
Chen Lin quickly stopped and complimented: "The officials are kind..."
Zhao Zhen curled his lips in dissatisfaction, "You're so kind, since I dealt with the emperor's relatives and Wu Xun, some people have been spreading rumors among the wealthy families in Bianjing City, saying that I am overbearing."
Zhao Zhen snorted, stared at Chen Lin and asked, "Am I overbearing?"
Chen Lin smiled bitterly and had no words.
In his eyes, Zhao Zhen was domineering as well as domineering, and kind as well as kind.
The difference lies in the person.
Facing the humerus minister who worked for the Song Dynasty, Zhao Zhen was really kind. Even if the other party bumped into him, he pretended not to know.
Faced with the corrupt officials who were lying on the Song Dynasty to break the bones and suck the marrow, Zhao Zhen was really domineering, killing at will, and no one could persuade him to do anything.
For example, some of the relatives of the concubines in the palace, relying on their status, acted recklessly outside, and Zhao Zhen would kill them one by one on sight.
Whether it was the concubines whispering to him or Empress Dowager Li nagging in his ear, he turned a deaf ear.
Nowadays, there is a saying circulating among the royal family and relatives.
Rumor has it that you should never be the emperor's brother-in-law. The emperor always used his brother-in-law to perform surgery. The emperor was in conflict with all the brothers-in-law and was their nemesis.
After this word spread, the emperor's brothers-in-law were pitiful and well-behaved.
Nowadays, the emperor's brothers-in-law can no longer be seen in the ranks of bullying men and women. On the contrary, we can often see the emperor's brother-in-law in some good deeds.
Under the dual control of the emperor and his family, the former hegemon in Bianjing became the benevolent person in Bianjing.
This matter has become a topic of conversation among the people and has been widely publicized.
Seeing that Chen Lin was speechless, Zhao Zhen didn't bother to ask Chen Lin. He walked towards the outside of the Golden Pagoda Temple, with Chen Lin following cautiously behind him.
Cao Wei still didn't know that Zhao Zhen had something to say and was rushing to where he was.
Cao Wei left the Jinta Temple, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A bright smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he muttered in a low voice, "The official is a good official..."
A simple sentence contains something that outsiders cannot guess.
Today, he contradicted Zhao Zhen and Zhao Zhen scolded him. Instead of being angry or scared, he became happy.
If anyone knew about this, they would definitely wonder if Cao Wei was a lunatic.
After all, people who can laugh even after being scolded are either madmen or conspirators.
Cao Wei was not a qualified conspirator, otherwise he would not have been suppressed by civil servants when Zhao Heng was in power.
Cao Wei was able to command hundreds of thousands of troops with ease, so he certainly couldn't be a lunatic.
The reason why he can laugh out loud is because he has gained a lot today.
He took the risk of offending Zhao Zhen today and said those taboo words. His main purpose was for Di Qing and Zhao Run.
If Di Qing has nothing to do with him or the Cao family, he doesn't care what happens to Di Qing in the future.
However, Di Qing now has a deep relationship with the Cao family.
Not only is he his apprentice, he is also his niece-in-law.
He is half of the Cao family.
If Cao Wei dies, if Di Qing is willing, he can take advantage of the situation and gather the strength of the Cao family in the army.
There are even some people who will join Di Qing, the son-in-law of the Cao family, without Di Qing deliberately recruiting them.
Di Qing is likely to become the third military representative of the Cao family after Cao Wei.
If in the past, Di Qing had replaced Cao Wei as the third military representative of the Cao family, it would have been of great benefit to both Di Qing and the Cao family.
But it's different now.
Now the daughter of the Cao family is the queen, and the nephew of the Cao family is the prince. He will become the crown prince immediately when he comes back.
A crown prince and a military boss.
It's easy to be spotted.
If Zhao Zhen is old and frail, then that's it.
But now that Zhao Zhen is strong and strong, can he tolerate a crown prince and a military boss slowly growing up under his nose?
For any emperor who is ambitious and values imperial power, adding the crown prince to a military boss is equivalent to usurping the throne.
Cao Wei was afraid that after his death, Zhao Zhen would be afraid of Di Qing and the crown prince and would suppress Di Qing and the crown prince.
That's why today I took the risk and tested Zhao Zhen.
Cao Wei knew Di Qing well.
Di Qing is a real handsome man.
Even without Cao Wei's guidance, as long as Di Qing got involved in the army, he would be able to get ahead in no time.
Cao Wei did not dare to say whether he could represent the military ministers and appear in the court.
But it is still very possible to sit on one side and become a pillar of the Song Dynasty.
Such talents should not be buried, let alone hidden.
Especially when generals in the Song Dynasty are very scarce nowadays, it is even more inappropriate to cut off one's arm.
Cao Wei saw clearly that under the pressure of Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi, and Emperor Zhenzong Zhao Heng, the military officials were already in a precarious situation.
Not only that, but there are still some problems.
Nowadays, the civil and military officials in the court can coexist peacefully, not because the military officials are powerful enough to be equal to the civil servants.
It was because the leader of the military ministers was Kou Ji.
Kou Ji protected the military officials, and the civil servants could not defeat Kou Ji, so they could not attack the military officials under Kou Ji's protection.
In the final analysis, that is the power of Kou Ji, not the power of the military ministers.
Kou Ji is still young now, and it's hard to say where he will go in the future.
Once Kou Ji leaves the Privy Council, the Privy Council will immediately decline.
Regardless of what Zhong Shiheng said in the court, he could fight and had some means, but he could not intimidate the civil servants.
Zhu Neng has never liked being the first person, so once a military official is on the weak side, he will definitely shrink back and protect himself.
Therefore, military ministers in the court can easily fall into the situation of being attacked.
More importantly, there are few handsome men and few generals. Once the old batch of handsome men and generals pass away, the court is likely to be left with no one available.
If the court has no generals available, it is not far from being beaten.
Don't look at the fact that the imperial court's troops are now so sharp that they are almost invincible.
But when it comes to being a handsome general, you will always fall into a dilemma.
This time Kou Ji rushed to Hexi and took away Di Qing and Zhong Shiheng. When the court dealt with the Liao Kingdom, there were almost no commanders available. This is an example.
Once Cao Wei, Zhong Shiheng, and Zhu Neng died, Di Qing would be suppressed again.
Wang Kai, Yang Wenguang, and Li Zhaoliang could not hold up half of the Song Dynasty.
It's not that Cao Wei looks down on them, it's that they are really bad.
Cao Wei felt that since the Song Dynasty finally stood up, it should guard its current dominance and not kneel down again.
Therefore, Di Qing had to be protected both in public and private matters.
After some testing, Cao Wei was really happy to know that Zhao Zhen was tolerant.
He was happy that Zhao Zhen was a wise emperor, and he was also happy that Di Qing could meet a wise master.
As long as Zhao Zhen can reuse Di Qing, Cao Wei can guarantee that Di Qing can keep the Song Dynasty peaceful for decades.
He taught people, and he knows how capable they are.
While he was happy, he also had some sighs. If he had met Zhao Zhen earlier, why would he not have been able to achieve the feat of destroying the country? Why would he have been included in the Zhaoxun Chongde Pavilion? He was criticized as relying on nepotism.
It's related.
In addition to helping Di Qing test Zhao Zhen, Cao Wei also helped his nephew test Zhao Zhen.
Let’s see what Zhao Zhen thinks of Li Chu.
Let's see if his nephew can be a peaceful prince in peace.
He was very satisfied with the answer Zhao Zhen told him.
Either be established as the crown prince, or go to Kou Ji's side as a long-term attendant.
No matter which one, Cao Wei was very satisfied.
If Zhao Zhen appoints Zhao Run as the crown prince, Zhao Zhen will definitely favor Zhao Run because of his meritorious service and his old love.
If Zhao Zhen does not appoint Zhao Run as the crown prince, but instead sends Zhao Run to serve as Kou Ji's attendant.
That's better.
The Queen and Cao Yi tried their best to tie Zhao Run to the Kou Mansion.
But Kou Ji never agreed.
If Zhao Zhen took action and forced Zhao Run to Kou Ji, then the queen and Cao Yi's intentions would be achieved easily.
With Zhao Run's identity, if Zhao Zhen really forced him to compete with Kou Ji, Kou Ji would not be able to let him be a long-term follower.
If you want Zhao Run to stay with Kou Ji reasonably, the best excuse is to be a teacher and a student.
If you can't be a son-in-law, you can be a teacher and a student.
Sometimes the role of teachers and students in politics is far greater than that of a son-in-law.
There are many disciples under Kou Ji's sect, and all of them have now shown their prominence and are destined to become figures in the future.
If Zhao Run becomes Kou Ji's student, then he and Kou Ji's other disciples will be brothers.
Whether it's to get close or to win over, it's very easy.
At that time, there will be a group of powerful brothers to help, plus Queen Cao and the Cao family will work behind the scenes.
Zhao Run's position as crown prince will be more stable and easier.
As long as Zhao Zhen arranges Zhao Run to be with Kou Ji, it doesn't matter when Zhao Zhen makes the crown prince or who he makes the crown prince.
Because Kou Ji didn't speak up, Zhao Zhen wanted to make another prince the crown prince, but the civil and military officials in the court would not agree.
Civil servants have always adhered to the system of ordering elders and younger ones.
Therefore, as long as Zhao Run does not make a big mistake, if Zhao Zhen wants to make another prince a prince, the civil servants will not agree.
As for those few ambitious people, it is impossible to achieve anything.
In the face of absolute strength and absolute power, careerists can only despair.
Therefore, when Zhao Zhen established other princes as princes, the attitude of the military officials played a key role.
Kou Ji nodded, and the military officials nodded.
Kou Ji didn't nod, and the military officials didn't nod.
As a teacher, Kou Ji can't possibly push his disciple's position as prince, right?
Obviously not.
Because Kou Ji doesn't like giving good things to others.
Although Kou Ji himself didn't like the throne.
But if the decision-making power is really left in his hands, he will definitely push someone close to him.
It was precisely because Cao Wei got a satisfactory answer from Zhao Zhen that even when he was scolded by Zhao Zhen, he still smiled.
Cao Wei got on the sedan chair and ordered the bearer with a smile to carry him to the city lord's mansion.
On the way, Cao Wei hummed an unknown ditty leisurely and contentedly.
After humming halfway, I couldn’t hum anymore.
Because a faint voice sounded outside Cao Wei's sedan, Cao Wei almost fell out of the sedan.
"Cao Aiqing...it makes you so happy to contradict me?!"
Cao Wei froze, quickly opened the curtain, looked out, and saw a familiar face staring at him through the carriage window, half-smiling.
Cao Wei gave a bitter smile and prepared to tell the bearer to stop the sedan chair.
Zhao Zhen took the lead and told the bearers carelessly: "Don't stop..."
Zhao Zhen withdrew his gaze, fell on Cao Wei, and said with a smile: "Cao Aiqing, don't stop, keep singing. I haven't heard a ditty full of Bianjing flavor for a long time since I left Bianjing City."
Cao Wei said with a bitter face: "Chen...chen..."
Cao Wei hesitated twice in a row.
Zhao Zhen glanced at him and said, "Sing! Do you want to resist the decree?"
Cao Wei's expression became even more bitter, "I only know a few words like that."
Zhao Zhen snorted, "When you, Cao Wei, were young, you were not only a tyrant in the military camp, but also a tyrant in Bianjing City. The things that the dandy boys in Bianjing City are playing now are the things that you, Cao Wei, played in the past.
The rest.
When it comes to familiarity with Fireworks and Willow Alley, all the old guys in the court who claim to be romantic may not be as good as you.
Flowers, birds, fish and insects, simple singing and low humming, there is nothing that you, Cao Wei, are not proficient in.
So, you not only want to resist the decree, but also want to deceive the emperor?"
When Cao Wei heard this, he understood what Zhao Zhen was thinking.
He had just made Zhao Zhen uncomfortable in Jinta Temple, and now Zhao Zhen came back with decisive revenge.
Big hats were put on his head one by one.
Although it is impossible for Zhao Zhen to kill him.
But Zhao Zhen's face still needs to be given, and Zhao Zhen's royal authority also needs to be maintained.
Cao Wei bit the bullet and said: "I...sing..."
After saying this, Cao Wei started singing a little tune in a state of laughter and tears.
I'm just forced to sing little songs, but I can't sing them as well as I can when I express my feelings.
Zhao Zhen just leaned on the window of the carriage with his elbow and listened all the way.
If Cao Wei hadn't accidentally seen the earplugs in Zhao Zhen's ears, he might have really thought that Zhao Zhen was his close friend.
Zhao Zhen accompanied Cao Wei all the way to the city lord's mansion.
After getting off the carriage, without waiting for Cao Wei to get off the sedan, he walked openly into the city lord's mansion, as if he was strolling through the back garden of his own home.
Cao Wei has no opinion on this.
For Zhao Zhen, going anywhere in the world is almost like visiting his own back garden.
Even if you go to other countries, it is the same.
Because if Zhao Zhen dares to visit other countries, it means that those countries have been controlled by the Song Dynasty and can be regarded as the back garden of the Song Dynasty.
The back garden of the Song Dynasty was Zhao Zhen’s back garden.
After Zhao Zhen entered the City Lord's Mansion, he was not polite. He ordered Chen Lin and directed the servants in the City Lord's Mansion to work around.
When Cao Wei found Zhao Zhen, Zhao Zhen had already sat down in an attic of the city lord's mansion, holding a copy of "The Chronicles of the Liao Dynasty" in his hand and refreshments in front of him.
Cao Wei came forward, sat opposite Zhao Zhen, took the initiative to pour tea for Zhao Zhen, and then asked softly: "The official came to see me, I'm afraid it's not just as simple as wanting me to sing a ditty, right?"
Zhao Zhen pretended to be stunned, put down the book in his hand, curled his lips and said: "If you don't tell me, I almost forgot. But I have doubts that I need you to answer."
Cao Wei bowed his hands and made a gesture that he was willing to hear more details.
Zhao Zhen sighed and said: "Tell me, if Yang Wenguang cannot stop the Liao soldiers in the north, will the Liao soldiers in the north reach Bianjing City?"
Cao Wei was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a smile and said: "No... let alone Bianjing City, if they can pass Xingqing Mansion, they are considered powerful."
"oh?!"
Zhao Zhen looked confused, "Yang Wenguang only has one army in the north. If he loses, there will be no soldiers and horses to stop the Liao soldiers."
Cao Wei smiled and said: "Have the officials forgotten that the northern border is a place under military control, and almost all the people are soldiers. The people who migrated there during the Song Dynasty, and the Xixia people who have been naturalized in recent years, add up to a large number.
Numbers in the millions.
Almost all the people who moved there got their start through military exploits.
Their desire for military glory is like their desire for land, which has no end.
Those Xixia people who have been naturalized need to use their military exploits to prove their loyalty to the Song Dynasty, so that the Song Dynasty can recognize them as people of the Song Dynasty and give them land and cattle and sheep.
The Xixia people who were not naturalized needed to use their military exploits to wash away their sins.
Therefore, the millions of people living in the entire northern border are all people who are eager to gain military glory.
None of them are good people.
If Liao soldiers want to pass in front of them, they have to leave their heads behind."
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "Those Xixia people have caused me a lot of trouble in recent years."
Cao Wei said frankly: "It was only a small number of the former Xixia nobles who caused trouble. The people of Xixia have rarely caused trouble in recent years. Although I, the Song Dynasty, were harsh to the people of Xixia, I never deducted their rations.
And when they were under Li Deming, many people actually didn't have enough to eat.
Who is good and who is bad? People have a strong balance in their minds.
The reason why they made trouble was because Kou Ji's sentence was too long.
Some of them saw no hope of being released after serving their sentences, so they had no choice but to cause trouble.
Now that there is a quick way to atone, how could they miss it?
After all, except for a few ambitious people, most people still hope to have their own land, their own cattle and sheep, and then work as obedient citizens for the officials."
After Zhao Zhen finished listening to Cao Wei's words, he nodded thoughtfully.
The reform-through-labor sentences that Kou Ji set for those people were indeed too long.
Some military leaders who controlled the area couldn't stand those guys, so they would always find excuses to increase the sentences for those tough guys.
Before the Song Dynasty, there was no such thing as life imprisonment.
But since the Song Dynasty captured Xixia and placed it under military control, talk of life imprisonment appeared.
If Wang Sui hadn't formulated some regular management rules after arriving at Xingqing Mansion, I'm afraid it won't be long before you get life sentences for three generations.
Under such circumstances, some people undergoing reform through labor would naturally not agree and would naturally cause trouble.
Because they see no hope of turning around.
Nowadays, in Xingqing Mansion and other places, there are only two ways to turn over in addition to labor reform.
One is reading.
One is military merit.
The former is more uncomfortable for adult prisoners undergoing reform through labor than life imprisonment.
The latter is more acceptable to those adult prisoners undergoing reform through labor.
Because they are not good people.
In the past, when struggling for life in Li Deming's hands, kind people would be bullied to death.
So they had to pick up swords, guns and clubs, arm themselves, and try to become like a jackal.
This way you won't be bullied.
Only in this way can we barely survive.
Now that they have returned to the Song Dynasty, and their lives have become easier, they naturally want to live better.
The poor soldiers of the Song Dynasty were able to seek wealth and honor with their lives.
So can they.
They could even do more ruthlessly than the poor soldiers of the Song Dynasty.
The poor soldiers of the Song Dynasty would only do their best on their own.
But they dared to go into battle as a whole family.
As long as the most valued person in the family can survive, they don't care if everyone else dies.
This is the law of survival on the grassland.
When there is food, young people eat first, children follow closely, and women and the elderly eat last.
If there is nothing to eat, you will be hungry.
When there is a natural disaster and someone needs to die, the old man dies first, then the woman, then the child, and finally the young man.
When Zhao Zhen attacked Xixia, it happened to be winter.
When he marched, he encountered such a tribe.
A very poor tribe.
If there was no cow dung or other materials to protect against wind and frost, human walls were used to keep out the cold.
The old people are on the outermost layer, followed by women, then children, and in the middle are young adults.
Therefore, before those people who accepted the labor reform were completely integrated into the Song Dynasty.
This law will continue to exist in that land.
When they need to fight hard, the young and strong can give up, so why can’t the old, weak, women and children give up?
So it is absolutely the most common thing for the whole family to go to battle.
After Zhao Zhen analyzed Cao Wei's words thoroughly, he couldn't help but sigh, "They are just ordinary people..."
Cao Wei said seriously: "But there are many of them..."
Zhao Zhen sighed and nodded.
Cao Wei is right.
There are many of them.
Too many ants can kill an elephant, not to mention a group of wolves that are used to hunting on the grassland.
If they were to take action, many people might die.
But it was very difficult for the Liao people to cross under their noses.
Zhao Zhen's eyes fell on Cao Wei and he mused: "After this battle, they may have a greater sense of belonging to the Song Dynasty."
Cao Wei stared at Zhao Zhen and said seriously: "Didn't the officials say that? You will not treat anyone harshly who contributes to our Song Dynasty. They work hard for our Song Dynasty, shouldn't we, the Song Dynasty, give them a
identity?"
Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said: "That's right!"
…
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(ps: Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. I had a meeting with people from the company. I came back late. Sorry! I’ll just update it today! I’m on vacation tomorrow and will make up for everyone tomorrow!)