Song Gexing

Chapter 59 Something Happened

Yan Shu had a very good relationship with Fan Zhongyan. It was he who invited the down-and-out Fan Zhongyan to become a professor in Yingtian Mansion.

Now that the two are implementers of the New Deal, their relationship is even better, but their personalities are completely different. Yan Shu likes a luxurious life, while Fan Zhongyan is diligent and frugal.

Today's joke reminded Yan Shu, and when he got home, he called his son Yan Jidao to ask about Han Qi's daughter being with Zhao Fang.

"Why did daddy ask about this today?"

Naturally, Yan Jidao would not hide anything from his father, and it was not something that had to be kept secret. After he finished speaking, he asked curiously.

Yan Shu pondered for a while and said: "The King of Wei is so outstanding and very independent. When he ascends the throne, my father will be afraid that there will be big changes in the government. He should have our talents by his side."

"Father is confused! How can you hide a secret behind your Majesty!"

Although Yan Jidao was young, he understood the principles very well. The Confucian principles of monarchs and ministers were deeply rooted in his heart, and he quickly opposed his father.

Yan Shu saw that he was anxious, laughed loudly, rubbed his little head and said, "Where are you thinking, seventh brother? Is being a father so miserable?"

"Then what did dad mean by what he just said?"

"Han Zhigui can give birth to a daughter, why can't he be a father? Not to find out secrets, but we can have someone who can speak for us!"

Only then did Yan Jidao understand what his father meant. He thought about it and shook his head and said, "There are no sisters in our family who are suitable. Our sisters are either married or engaged. My sister is still young, so she is not suitable at all."

Yan Shu did have several daughters, but the older ones were all betrothed to others. There was only one younger one, Yan Jidao's sister, who was only three years old this year.

"It doesn't have to be your sister. King Wei is not suitable to get married now. Just serve his close relatives."

Yan Jidao's eyes lit up at these words, and he nodded and said: "If there is anyone close to King Wei, apart from Privy Han's daughter, it is his maid Zhao Pan'er. My son thinks that this daughter will be another Concubine Zhang in the future."

Yan Shu was shocked and frowned: "What's going on? Concubine Zhang is not a virtuous person. How can there be such a scheming woman around King Wei."

Yan Jidao quickly explained: "Dad, don't worry. My son is talking about how favored she is, not about her scheming. She is actually a very good person, dignified and virtuous, and she always advises the King of Wei."

"So this is ah!"

Yan Shu breathed a sigh of relief and joked, Zhao Fang was his most fervent hope for the Song Dynasty. If there was another Concubine Zhang around him, it would be lively in the future.

Renzong had a gentle temperament, and Concubine Zhang could be suppressed by the ministers when she was favored. However, Zhao Fang's temperament was not gentle. If there was Concubine Zhang, it would be difficult for the courtiers to deal with it.

Renzong's favorite person in his life was Concubine Zhang. For her, who never opposed his ministers, he even made exceptions several times to give generous salaries to high-ranking officials of the Zhang family.

Yan Shu, who was more relieved, was still not at ease, and then asked about Zhao Pan'er in detail. This time he found out that Zhao Fang had let the women around him practice martial arts, and even his own son now followed suit.

He couldn't help but stare and said: "How could this be? I have heard that King Wei likes to practice martial arts, but now even people close to him like martial arts. What should I do?"

"No, daddy, the King of Wei asked everyone to practice martial arts, and at the same time he did not relax in studying. The four Zhejia and Zhong families were also forced to study. He said that wen can stabilize the country, and martial arts can rule the country. Any one of them is indispensable. A paranoid person can walk on one leg, but can run on only two legs."

Yan Jidao quickly explained that he was persuaded by Zhao Fang, and he did not want to be misunderstood by his father.

"Is that so..."

Yan Shu pondered and nodded slightly, and after a long while he smiled bitterly and said: "The truth is correct, but since the founding of the Song Dynasty, they have been used to suppressing warriors. To change this is beyond the current New Deal, it will be truly earth-shaking." "Forget it, let's take a look now. Brother Qi, let's go first and let my father think about it carefully."

Yan Jidao left, a little confused. After all, he was only eight years old, and there were many twists and turns that he didn't understand.

At the same time, Zhao Zhen and his son were also having a conversation in the palace. Zhao Zhen got news about the success of cement today.

But the conversation between his father and son was much simpler, without any scheming and they were having fun.

"Officials, please report urgently to the Imperial City Secretary!"

The father and son raised their heads at the same time and looked at Lu Shouqin who hurried in.

"Lao Lu, don't worry, speak slowly."

Zhao Fang came forward to speak first, and motioned for the maid to bring tea, but Lu Shouqin didn't have time to drink, and opened his mouth and said, "The two craftsmen were hijacked on the way home. Fortunately, someone from the Imperial City Division was secretly watching. But the person who kidnapped him ran away."

"What's going on? Why did they kidnap the craftsmen?"

Zhao Zhen asked in surprise, but Zhao Fang was startled and said in surprise: "It's impossible to spread it so quickly, unless there is a mole in the Imperial City Secretary."

"What did brother say? Why is dad so confused?"

Zhao Zhen was puzzled, but he immediately realized it and exclaimed: "It's a formula!"

Lu Shouqin nodded solemnly, looked at Zhao Fang and said, "Why does your Majesty think it is the Imperial City Department and not the Ministry of Works that has the problem?"

Zhao Fang said sternly: "The officials and craftsmen involved in the Ministry of Industry have all experienced it first-hand. There is no need to pretend to be kidnapped. If they want to leak the secret and secretly send the formula out, they only know the news and do not know the formula. Only a talented person would hijack the craftsman who is the easiest to obtain."

He didn't need to say the next words. Lu Shouqin understood it at once: "Imperial City Division, only the insiders of the Imperial City Division know that there is a formula, but they don't know the specific information of the formula."

"Investigate! Investigate everyone in the Imperial City Department. We must catch the insider."

Zhao Zhen was angry, even if he didn't care about the formula, he was angry. Where is the Imperial City Division? It is a secret service agency that is only loyal to the emperor, and there is an inner ghost.

This is the most fatal thing for the emperor.

The Imperial City Department of the Northern Song Dynasty gradually declined after Renzong's later years, but before that it was very powerful, similar to the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty, and was only responsible to the emperor.

Usually the person in charge of the Imperial City Department is a eunuch, or a trusted person among the nobles. Lu Shouqin served as the Imperial City Secretary. Before him, he was Lei Jing, a confidant of Zhenzong, who later worked with Ding Wei and was eliminated.

The current person in power is Cao Quan, who is the queen's cousin. He is not an eunuch but is highly trusted by Renzong.

"Father, don't worry. Leave this matter to your son. Uncle is trustworthy. My son will help him watch over and frighten those people."

Zhao Zhen hesitated for a moment and said: "It's not that dad doesn't believe in your ability, but it's a mixed bag of good and bad people there. There are a few special people. If they have evil intentions, it will be very dangerous."

Zhao Fang was startled. This was the first time he heard his father talk about a dangerous person. He couldn't help but look at Lu Shouqin. He knew this was a great master.

Seeing him looking at him, Lu Shouqin smiled bitterly and said, "Brother, do you know the origin of the Imperial City Division? When Taizu founded the Imperial City Division, in addition to converting the Imperial Army into one, he also recruited many talents from the world, including many martial arts masters. , the martial arts training of our imperial guards originated from this, especially when Lei Jing created a martial arts suitable for the training of the inner guards, using embroidery needles as weapons to kill people invisible. Now there are two people in the Imperial City Division His disciples back then..."

(End of this chapter)