Chapter 169 Junior Master and Junior Tutor, Future Minister

"If the so-called big exam is not carried out properly, what will be the consequences? Has Minister Wang thought about it?"

Han Zhang's attitude was relatively gentle.

In the final analysis, no one knew what Wang Anshi and Zhao Zhen talked about that night.

Everyone was scared. Was this what His Majesty meant?

Wang Anshi was just a knife holder?

If that was the case, no one would dare to oppose it.

After all, Zhao Zhen, who never easily set up a prison, made all the officials tremble with fear this year.

In the past, the emperor who was known as benevolent and righteous in their impression, once he took action, it was like thunder!

In addition, when Wang Anshi entered the capital, it was Wei Yuan who personally welcomed him.

Wei Yuan was also the chief judge of the two kings' case.

For these reasons, Han Zhang did not dare to be too tough.

Zhao Zhen had begun to arrange his funeral, and he should find an opportunity to go ashore.

For the complicated government affairs, he really did not have the energy to toss around, not to mention that he could not toss around Wang Anshi who had just arrived in the capital.

"If you consider the consequences of everything, you will not be able to accomplish anything in the end."

"If you are afraid of offending people when you are an official, in my opinion, you might as well quit your job and go home to farm."

Wang Anshi still made shocking remarks.

Han Zhang's face was calm, "After listening to what Minister Wang said, why do I feel that all the civil and military officials in the court are treacherous and flattering?"

Wang Anshi said directly, "Minister Han, you heard it wrong. I did not say who is a flatterer. I just talked about the facts."

"Minister Han has been in charge of the central government for many years. Can he guarantee that there are no flatterers or useless officials in the court?"

"Instead of offending the people of the world and bringing disaster to the country, it is better for me to be the bad guy."

His meaning is very clear.

The big test must be done.

Wei Yuan's intuitive feeling about Wang Anshi is eight words, 'skilled in planning for the country but poor in planning for himself'.

Imagine if Wang Anshi in the past history had really succeeded in his reform, it would be no less than founding a dynasty and rebuilding the Song Dynasty.

Unfortunately, he failed at the last moment.

Having said that, it was Zhao Zhen's turn to express his opinion. He slowly opened his eyes and said solemnly:

"Wang Qing is right. If we don't offend certain officials and nobles, we will offend the people of the world. Which is more important? I hope you can handle it."

"In this case, the exam will be handed over to Wang Qing. I will wait and see what you can do."

Wang Anshi bowed solemnly, "Yes."

The officials of Han Zhang's party were all looking at him at this moment.

As if to say, why don't you express your opinion?

Han Zhang ignored those people at all.

He had a clear understanding of the situation in front of him.

Without Zhao Zhen's support, how could Wang Anshi dare to say such a thing in such an occasion as the Great Court?

After the Ministry of Personnel finished its work, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of Rites and other departments spoke one after another.

Under the discussion of the ministers, some difficult problems were also solved.

It took nearly two hours to discuss the affairs of the central departments in the court.

The last department to report was the Imperial City Department.

"Your Majesty, my Imperial City Department is the same as in previous years, and there is no difficult matter."

"However, I received a letter from the officials of the Imperial City Department in the southeast some time ago, saying that Japanese pirates are prevalent along the coast this year, and a total of about a thousand people have been killed in my Great Zhou!"

Japanese pirates along the coast? About a thousand?

After hearing Yan Da's voice, all officials were shocked.

"A mere pirate dares to kill my people?"

"Interesting, in previous years, I have never heard that the Imperial City Department cares about the Japanese pirates!"

"Is the sudden report of the Japanese pirates by the Imperial City Department related to the maritime ban?"

"."

There are all kinds of speculations and discussions.

Wei Yuan looked at Yan Da deeply.

He suddenly remembered the words Yan Da said to him during the investigation, "I can help you."

The Imperial City Division exposed the Japanese pirates, isn't it helping him?

The new army needs to sharpen its sword, and it is reasonable for him to lead the troops.

The Imperial City Division belongs to the military.

Zhang Fu said: "Nearly a thousand people were killed? I'm afraid that the number of people harmed by the Japanese pirates is more than a thousand. It's time to deal with this group of jumping clowns who are afraid of chaos in the world."

Han Zhang suddenly interrupted and asked: "About a thousand? When did the Imperial City Division do things so carelessly? How many people are there?"

Yan Da frowned.

This stumped him.

In fact, there were not many casualties

Because the Japanese pirates only robbed money and rarely hurt people's lives.

Even if they kidnapped women, they only humiliated and played with them, and rarely killed people.

At most, there were only about six or seven hundred people?

Anyway, it was nearly a thousand.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Zhao Zhen slowly say:

"The Japanese pirates' rebellion must be observed."

"Even if they only hurt one citizen of the Great Zhou, they must be completely eradicated!"

"Speaking of the Japanese pirates, I want to discuss with all the ministers whether the maritime ban should be lifted."

After the emperor finished speaking.

Let's not talk about what the officials think.

Hai Zhong, the Minister of Works who had been drowsy, suddenly spoke up:

"Your Majesty, I think the maritime ban should be lifted! There are three reasons."

"First, the salt law is at a critical stage of reform, and it is difficult to see benefits in the short term. The court has a lot of expenses every year, and it needs to borrow maritime tax revenue to fill the treasury;"

"Second, the people along the southeast coast have no other way to make a living except fishing. If the maritime ban is lifted, we can take the opportunity to encourage the people to go out to sea to do business, so that some people can get rich first."

"Third, it can also enhance the prestige of our country and make the four seas submit. Why not do it?"

This Minister Hai is the father of Hai Zhou, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

This person lives up to his name and can be regarded as a model of loyalty to the emperor and the country, and never participates in party disputes.

But because of this, it is difficult for him to hold an important position in the court.

Although the Ministry of Works is also a large department, it is still controlled by the Ministry of Revenue.

After listening to what Minister Hai said,

Many officials and nobles felt that the maritime ban needed to be lifted.

"What Minister Hai said is right. Lifting the maritime ban is indeed a win-win for our dynasty."

"It's okay to lift the maritime ban, but how to deal with the Japanese pirates along the coast?"

"It's not that the court hasn't sent troops to encircle and suppress them, but every time they go, the Japanese pirates will hide and it's hard to find their traces!"

"It's hard to open up maritime transport if the Japanese pirate problem is not solved!"

"."

Why do they support it?

The reason is very simple.

They all want to get involved after the maritime ban is lifted.

Who has a grudge against money?

At worst, after something goes wrong, they can just ban maritime transport.

Isn't it the same in all dynasties?

Zhao Zhen looked at Han Zhang: "Han Qing, tell me, what do you think about this?"

The latter responded: "There are pros and cons to opening and closing sea transportation. As long as the Maritime Customs can play a role, I think it can be opened."

"What I am worried about is that overseas countries will take the opportunity to grow stronger because of the opening of sea transportation in our Celestial Empire, which will harm future generations."

"The Maritime Customs or the court must strictly control the goods that can be sold to overseas countries."

"Otherwise, this sea transportation is better off not opening!"

After hearing what Han Zhang said, Wei Yuan instantly had the illusion of meeting a "soulmate".

This old man is usually annoying, but when it comes to major issues, he is never vague.

From a horizontal perspective, compared with the overseas countries at this time, the culture of the Great Zhou is indeed stronger.

The culture here includes the way of military strategy.

If we open sea transportation at this time, we are afraid that the overseas countries will learn something and turn their backs on us.

This is also why Wei Yuan firmly opposes doing arms business with Japan.

Zhao Zhen asked loudly: "Have the Maritime Customs Envoys from the southeast, Liangzhe, and Lianghuai areas arrived?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Seeing that no one responded in the hall.

Zhu Zongguan said loudly: "Send the Maritime Customs Envoys from Liangzhe, Lianghuai, Fujian, Guangnan, and Guangxi."

Then, the same voice was heard outside the hall.

After a while, the envoys of Liangzhe and Fujian Road Maritime Customs quickly came to the hall, knelt down and kowtowed, and said one after another:

"I, the envoy of Liangzhe Road (Fujian Road) Maritime Customs, pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor and wish His Majesty a long life!"

Zhao Zhen said: "Let me ask you, if we open sea transportation, how sure are you that we can prevent the military and political secrets of our Great Zhou from being leaked to prevent the overseas countries from growing stronger?"

The two gave a pertinent answer,

"If the court supports it, I will be very sure!"

"So do I!"

"."

Zhao Zhen smiled, "Han Qing, did you hear it?"

"Since the Maritime Customs has this confidence, of course I will support it."

"Draft an edict, open sea transportation on the Flower Festival next year, and announce it to the world so that everyone will know it."

The Flower Festival is commonly known as "Dragon Raising its Head" among the people.

In this way, the sea ban will be lifted.

"Sea transportation must be opened, and the Japanese pirates must be suppressed."

"Otherwise, the merchant ships of our Great Zhou will be occupied by the Japanese pirates along the coast before they go out to sea. In the long run, whether sea transportation is opened or not will become meaningless."

"I wonder which of you, my dear minister, is willing to go to the southeast for me to solve the problem of the Japanese pirates?"

As he said this, he also set his eyes on Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan thought that it was finally his turn to perform.

Without saying anything, he immediately recommended himself,

"Your Majesty, the new army has been trained for a while. In the spring of next year, I am willing to lead the new army to the southeast to suppress the Japanese pirates!"

Zhang Fu said: "I second the motion!"

Gu Yan said: "I second the motion!"

Fuguo Gong said: "I second the motion!"

Han Guogong, An Guogong, the commander of the infantry division, and the commanders of the various military divisions said one after another:

"I second the motion!"

Half of the military generals stood up to agree with this matter.

Wei Yuan suddenly realized why it was easier to get things done by banding together.

The civil officials had no say in who would lead the army to wipe out the Japanese pirates.

If anyone dared to say anything, all the military generals would give up under Zhang Fu's instruction.

If we don't go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, then you will go.

Let's see if you have mastered the six arts of a gentleman.

With the support of Zhang Fu and others, this matter has been finalized.

Zhao Zhen smiled and nodded and said, "Since all of you are optimistic about Wei Qing and the new army, then in March next year, I will trouble Wei Qing to take the new army to the southeast to eliminate the Japanese pirates."

Wei Yuan bowed and said, "I will obey your order."

After the matter of the sea ban was finalized.

It was time for local officials and frontier officials to report on the matter.

It was the same as in previous years.

Either there was some riot in this place, or there was a need for relief in that place.

Or a certain state or county wanted to reform agriculture and water, for example, some people planted land last year, but the harvest was not good, so they wanted to change to planting vegetables and mulberry, etc.

These matters can be discussed by the Ministry of Revenue and others.

It lasted until the afternoon, and everything was settled.

It should also be the end of this year.

Before the court was dismissed.

Zhao Zhen finally announced the last appointment of the year,

"Wang Anshi is the Prince's Junior Tutor, Wei Yuan is the Prince's Junior Preceptor."

The two will teach the Prince both civil and military.

All officials were shocked.

Prince's Junior Tutor and Junior Preceptor.

This means that after the new monarch ascends the throne in the future, these two will be the new monarch's closest ministers.

One civil and one military, future assistant ministers!