The three members of the Zhengshitang have expressed their stance, and naturally other civil servants have also followed suit.

The military officials hesitated for a long time, and finally expressed their stance.

In the end, nearly 80% of the civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty supported Li Zhaoliang's appointment as king.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen thought about it and said, "Even so, I'll let Li Aiqing go to the Western Regions."

What can Li Zhaoliang say?

Can you refuse?

Can't refuse.

Because he will be granted the title of king sooner or later, and now that he has refused, Zhao Zhen is concerned about him. The next time he is granted the title, the realm may be even worse.

It is not that there were no places in the Song Dynasty with worse environment than the intersection of Qingtang and Yuanshan.

For example, the location in the far east of the Song Dynasty, outside the territory where the Wei Dynasty once occupied, was a place with a very harsh environment.

"My minister, Li Zhaoliang, is willing to die for the officialdom."

Li Zhaoliang bowed solemnly.

Since I have to agree, I have to say it beautifully.

Zhao Zhen nodded with satisfaction and ordered: "Zhongshu Sheren, Cao Zhao, made Li Zhaoliang the king of Xishan County, and the fiefdom was Nagqu..."

Naqu is the place name of a Qingtang territory at the intersection of Qingtang and Yuanshan.

After Li Zhaoliang heard Zhao Zhen's words, he said respectfully: "Your Majesty, Li Zhaoliang, accept the order to express my gratitude..."

Zhao Zhen stroked his hands and said, "Pingshen..."

After Li Zhaoliang straightened up, Zhao Zhen said again: "Zhongshu Sheren, Cao Zhao, moved Yongning Army General Chen Yaozi to the Ministry of War, and was granted the title of Duke of Qin, with a first-class title..."

Chen Yaozuo thanked him on behalf of Chen Yaozi.

Zhao Zhen announced the dismissal of the court.

Added another sentence.

"Fourth brother stays..."

Seeing that Zhao Zhen had left Kou Ji behind and had something to say, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty left the Chui Gong Hall one by one.

When only Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji were left in the Chuigong Hall, as well as Chen Lin who was waiting on the side, Zhao Zhen asked Chen Lin to get a stool for Kou Ji. After Kou Ji sat down, Zhao Zhen spoke slowly.

"Fourth brother, I originally decided on Chen Yaozi, and fourth brother knows this. Why did fourth brother propose in court today that Li Zhaoliang go to Nagqu?"

Kou Ji said frankly: "I didn't think anything was wrong at first, but after thinking about it carefully, I realized something was wrong.

Although Chen Yaozi had the ability to cross Yang Yang with a hundred steps, the Chen family was from a scholarly family.

Most of the children in the family study literature and less martial arts.

If he were alive, it would be okay to sit in Nagqu.

If he dies, the scholars of the Chen family may not be able to keep the music.

The Li family is different.

The Li family is a family of generals, and many of their children practice martial arts and are proficient in the art of war.

Most of the people in the clan also have some martial arts skills.

If they guard Nagqu, they can ensure the stability of our Song Dynasty border."

Zhao Zhen thought about Kou Ji's words, nodded and said: "The Yuanshan tribe has absorbed the Qingtang and Heihan people, and its strength will inevitably increase dramatically. It is indeed necessary to send someone who is good at fighting to guard the Yuanshan tribe.

Fourth brother is still thoughtful."

Kou Ji smiled and said: "The official's words are serious."

Zhao Zhen slapped his thigh and said: "Then the matter is settled. But I see that Li Zhaoliang seems a little reluctant, and he will definitely come to you in private. Then you can talk to him carefully."

Kou Ji nodded and said, "I understand."

Zhao Zhen continued: "It has been more than three months since the fourth brother took up the post of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Ping Zhangshi. Within three months, there has been no movement at all, and the people are now talking about it.

When is Fourth Brother going to take action?"

Kou Ji said with a smile: "I am waiting for the recruitment of troops by the Privy Council and the local selection to be completed, and I am also waiting for Liu Heng to return to the capital. If I take action now, it will be difficult for the Privy Council to recruit troops and the local selection.

Liu Heng returned to Beijing and brought back bad news.

The imperial court was bound to have a battle with Jiaozhi.

We will definitely have to prepare for the war by then.

In terms of government affairs, I'm afraid it will be abandoned halfway."

Zhao Zhen nodded slowly and said: "I have been keeping an eye on the Taxation Department recently. After Fan Zhongyan's unremitting efforts, the Taxation Department has won the tax collection rights of four more prefectures.

Now it has reached ten prefectures.

Then as long as you figure it out slowly, you should be able to win more."

Kou Ji pondered and said: "It's less than half. Fan Zhongyan still has a long way to go."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "There is no way to bring this matter to light, we can only do it secretly, and time naturally slows down."

Kou Jidao: "When we turn around and have our hands free, we can focus on dealing with this matter."

Zhao Zhen nodded in agreement.

The monarch and his ministers chatted for a while, and then Kou Ji left the palace.

After returning to the political hall, as soon as he entered the public room and lay down like a salted fish, Wang Zeng came to the door again.

"Mr. Kou plans to work hard today again?"

Wang Zeng was very dissatisfied with Kou Ji's current way of running errands.

Kou Ji glanced at Wang Zeng and said in a neutral tone: "Didn't you see my role in the court today? If you can't solve the problem, I will come forward.

If you can solve it, what else should I do?"

Wang Zeng glared at Kou Ji, "You have so many big things to do. If you don't do it now, why don't you wait until you get older? I'm afraid you will be powerless by then."

Kou Ji raised his eyebrows and said, "Does everyone think that I will do big things after taking up the post of Ping Zhangshi under Tong Zhongshu? Can't I stay in this position for retirement?"

Wang Zeng said angrily: "I'm not an outsider, do you need to use such words to prevaricate me?"

Seeing that Wang Zeng was angry, Kou Ji smiled dryly and said: "When it's time to take action, I will naturally take action. But now is not the time."

Wang Zeng glared fiercely and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to wait until that time."

Kou Ji smiled and said: "It's coming soon..."

Wang Zeng snorted coldly, took out a memorial from his sleeve, handed it to Kou Ji, and said angrily: "What Li Di handed over, Xiang Cai and I can't solve it, take a look."

Kou Ji took the memorial, glanced at it briefly, and said in astonishment: "The officials that Hexi Prefecture needs have not been solved yet?"

Wang Zeng said: "All the people who can be transferred from the government and the public have been transferred to Liao. There are still nearly 3,000 official positions vacant in Liao, so we can still mobilize people for Li Di."

Kou Ji knew some things, so Wang Zeng didn't say them.

Today in the Song Dynasty, there is really a shortage of officials.

Nearly half of the places in the Liao region are under military control, and the demand for officials has plummeted. As a result, there are still more than 3,000 vacancies for officials in the Liao region.

Kou Ji pondered for a while and said: "After you go to court, go to each government to see the disciples and disciples of each government, see if there are any who can serve as deacons, and persuade them to let each government release people to Hexi and Liao.

.”

Wang Zeng sighed and said: "I have tried to persuade him before, but it has no effect at all."

Kou Ji snorted coldly and said, "There are talented people in the house, but they are unwilling to be used by the country. Each one of them still claims to be loyal and brave in front of the officials. How can they be considered loyal and brave?"

Wang Zeng said in a deep voice: "The reason they keep those people is to allow them to take part in the imperial examination and take the official path to become officials."

Kou Ji said calmly: "Then go and tell them that if they don't come up with half of them, then their family's retainers and disciples will never even think about taking part in the imperial examination.

Let them stay in their respective mansions and waste their time."

Wang Zeng stared at Kou Ji in astonishment and asked, "Do you still dare to suspend the imperial examination? I have a shortage of officials in the Song Dynasty. If you suspend the imperial examination, it will be terrible."

Kou Ji said calmly: "Suspending the imperial examination is the authority of the officials. I don't dare to overstep the authority. But I will ask the officials to serve as the chief examiner of the four or five imperial examinations, right?"

If their children take part in the imperial examination, I won’t admit any of them, that’s fine.”

Wang Zeng said in a deep voice: "If you really do this, you will offend all the civil servants of the dynasty."

Kou Ji asked: "Can they take away my Kou family's throne?"

Wang Zeng shook his head, "Can't..."

"Then what am I afraid of them for?"

Kou Ji asked again.

Wang Zeng had nothing to say.

Kou Ji continued: "I am the head of civil servants. They should be afraid of me, not me afraid of them."
To be continued...