Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

He held no official position.

They should not interfere in politics.

Dedicated to serving the royal family.

However, he was, after all, the emperor's personal attendant.

The ministers still held him in high esteem.

Zhao De naturally knew that the ministers revered the emperor, not him.

Therefore, they were very careful.

They dared not take the opportunity to act arrogantly or domineeringly.

To avoid the Emperor finding out and replacing him.

Zhao De also inquired a lot about the affairs of the Great Liang in private.

However, they knew that the most prestigious person in the Great Liang was the King.

It can be said that the entire Liang dynasty was conquered by Your Majesty.

Therefore, upon seeing Zhao Yuan return...

He immediately came to pay his respects.

After a while,

Xu Guanzhong, Zhao Mingcheng, and Zhang Shuye also came out to pay their respects.

"Your Majesty, what about the Western Army..."

Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I've already persuaded General Zhong Shidao."

"He will help us persuade the northwestern prefectures to submit to our Great Liang."

The three heard that Zhao Yuan had persuaded the most prestigious military strategist, General Zhong.

Naturally, everyone was overjoyed.

Zhao Yuan then recounted everything that had happened to him in the Northwest.

"In that case, the Western Xia might invade at any time,"

Xu Guanzhong pondered for a moment and said,

"Your Majesty, you must still order the army to rush to the Northwest."

"Then he gave Li Congji and Lu Zhishen 20,000 men,"

"Plus the newly reorganized 30,000 men under Li Ying, Sun Li, and Yang Zhi,"

"To fulfill the promise that my Great Liang made to General Zhong."

Zhao Yuan pondered,

"These 50,000 men were sent to the Northwest,"

"How many troops are left in Tokyo?"

Chapter 1743 Training the New Army

Xu Guanzhong laughed,

"Instructor Lin reorganized 60,000 new troops,"

"After sending out 50,000 men,"

"There are still 30,000 new soldiers and 10,000 veterans under Instructor Lin remaining,"

"That's enough to defend the capital."

"I see," Zhao Yuan nodded and said to Wu Song.

"You're a commander of ten thousand now. Go to the Ministry of War and get the official documents done."

Wu Song clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Xu Guanzhong asked in surprise, "Then who are the other two commanders of ten thousand?"

Zhao Yuan said, "Hua Rong and Shi Bao."

“Oh, right,” Zhao Yuan remembered something else, “I also promised General Zhong the position of Grand Commandant, so I need to issue another imperial edict.”

Xu Guanzhong nodded and said, "With the prestige of General Zhong, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he is qualified to be the Privy Councilor."

"By the way, Your Majesty, there is also this Instructor Wang Jin. I have also heard Instructor Lin say that you are skilled in training troops."

Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "Instructor Wang does have unique methods for training troops."

"It's just that I wasn't valued before and couldn't use my skills,"

"I have already accepted his position as head coach,"

"With his help, we will definitely be able to have more strong soldiers and generals."

After discussing military matters, Zhao Yuan looked at the three men with a puzzled expression.

"You three important ministers are all here. Is there some pressing matter at hand?"

Xu Guanzhong shook his head and said,

"Your Majesty, the main problem is that our Great Liang lacks civil officials,"

"The three armies previously dispatched by His Majesty, plus Zhao Ji's imperial edict,"

"Many states simply submitted,"

"Two prefectures put up a stubborn resistance, but they were both successfully captured."

"Now, my Great Liang Dynasty governs more than fifty states,"

"Although His Majesty has already tried his best to show mercy,"

"But in the Song Dynasty, almost nine out of ten officials were corrupt."

"They weren't beheaded,"

"They should no longer be appointed as officials."

"This will further exacerbate the shortage of local officials."

Although Zhao Yuan also hated corrupt officials,

However, he is not as idealistic as Hsu Kuan-chung.

Even a single penny of greed will result in execution.

He came from later generations.

Those who understand this in their hearts will be remembered by posterity.

If you want to get things done, you have to bribe many officials with silver.

You have to bribe people at all levels before you can do anything.

Not to mention the Song Dynasty.

If beheading is truly the only option...

It's likely that over 90% of those who had previously served as officials would be executed.

"Well then, I remember there are many scholars in Tokyo who are taking the imperial examinations, right?"

Zhao Yuan pondered,

"We can hold an imperial examination as soon as possible,"

“Select some scholars and send them to the local areas,”

"Furthermore, with the cooperation of some experienced officials,"

"That should be enough to handle things for now."

Upon hearing this, Xu Guanzhong smiled and said,

"Your Majesty, we were discussing the imperial examinations earlier,"

"Although some scholars resist our Liang Dynasty's imperial examinations,"

"However, quite a few scholars are still preparing to participate."

These scholars were preparing to participate in the Song Dynasty's imperial examinations.

As a result, Zhao Ji faced a threat to the capital from the Liang army.

The imperial examination was postponed.

Therefore, scholars from various places stayed in Tokyo.

Zhao Yuan frowned and said,

Why are you resisting the imperial examination system of our dynasty?

Uncle Zhang said helplessly from the side.

"Because the King falsely accused Li Gang of being one of the Seven Traitors,"

"Li Gang was very famous among scholars."

Zhang Shuye was also a man of integrity.

Although they did not form a faction,

However, Cai Jing and his associates wielded considerable power.

These upright individuals often unite against external forces.

Moreover, it is easier for people of pure character to become close friends.

Therefore, after Zhang Shuye followed Zhao Yuan to Tokyo,

I heard that Zhao Yuan ordered the execution of Li Gang, Cai Jing, and others.

They protested to Zhao Yuan for a long time.

However, Zhao Yuan did not take his advice.

Zhao Yuan looked at Zhang Shuye and smiled.

"I killed Li Gang to protect more loyal officials,"

"If I were to make Li Gang die for the Song Dynasty,"

"I'm afraid there will be other people who want to be remembered in history or who consider themselves utterly loyal who will be buried with the Song Dynasty?"

"Although treacherous officials were in power during the Song Dynasty,"

"But there must be more than one loyal minister, right?"

Zhang Shuye remained unmoved.

"Does Your Majesty have no other way?"

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "This is the only simple and effective method I can think of."

"Those who consider themselves utterly loyal,"

"They're all stubborn and won't give up until they hit a brick wall."

"I can't persuade them to change,"

"This has already been proven with Lord Zhang."

Zhang Shuye watched as Zhao Yuan recounted the reasons why he hadn't been able to persuade him in the past.

He couldn't say that Zhao Yuan couldn't persuade him.

That way you can persuade others.

That would undoubtedly imply that others are not as loyal as he is.

Zhao Yuan saw that Zhang Shuye was no longer speaking.

He said to Zhao Mingcheng and Xu Guanzhong,