Naturally, the matter that Sima Guang and Xing Shu had discussed in the capital hall quickly reached Zhao Xu’s ears.

"What did Sima Gong and Xing Shu talk about?" Zhao Xu asked Feng Jing who came to report.

"I don't know." Feng Jing shook his head.

"Oh!" Zhao Xu nodded and didn't take it to heart.

He won't care about such small things.

"By the way." Zhao Xu suddenly remembered something. He looked at Feng Jing and asked, "Is there any news from Jiangning Mansion?"

Feng Jing was stunned for a moment, lowered his head, walked up to Zhao Xu and whispered: "Let me tell you, I heard someone in the imperial kitchen said that a few days ago, Jiangning Mansion was reported to the former prime minister, Sikong, for taking over official affairs. Duke Jing and his younger brother, the prefect of Jiangning, went out for an outing together during the Cold Food Festival, worshiped their ancestors, and convened a poetry meeting in Jiangning."

Zhao Xu's eyebrows twitched.

its not right!

In his previous life, Wang Anshi would have been bedridden at this time, and his life was not long.

what's the situation?

After thinking about it carefully, Zhao Xu felt relieved.

In his previous life, after entering the first year of Yuanyou, Wang Anshi fell into the darkest moment of his life.

First, the imperial examination in the eighth year of Yuanfeng abolished the policy of selecting scholars based on the "New Meanings of the Three Classics".

In the first year of Yuanyou, Sima Guang and Lu Gongzu began to advocate the restoration of poetry and poetry to recruit scholars.

In the court, all ministers who supported the new law, even the neutral ones, were expelled from the court (internal strife in the new party was one of the reasons).

Even people like Cai Jing, who saw that the wind was going in the wrong direction and wanted to change their affiliation and actively move closer to Sima Guang, were labeled countless by the old party ministers and kicked out of the court.

The most fatal blow came in leap February.

The Removal from Service Law was abolished and the Service Service Law was restored.

It is said that Wang Anshi collapsed after hearing the news.

After he and the people around him repeatedly confirmed the accuracy of the news, they became extremely frustrated and asked themselves repeatedly: Should this even be abolished?

His will quickly collapsed and he fell into bed more than a month later.

He died in Jiangning on the sixth day of April in the first year of Yuanyou, at the age of sixty-four.

but now?

I'm afraid people can still have the leisure and elegance to sit and watch the jokes in the Bianjing court.

Sixty-four-year-old Wang Anshi, as long as his willpower persists, given his physical condition, he might not be able to survive until Zhao Xu takes over.

This makes Zhao Xu feel a little like a Muggle.

Because, he originally thought that after Wang Anshi passed away, he would also have the right to interpret Jing Gong's new learning.

Now, I'm afraid this plan will have to be pushed back indefinitely.

no way!

This is what Confucian thought is like.

As long as we are alive, we cannot distort or take things out of context.

Because others may jump up and refute.

Zhao Xu can't say shamelessly: What does Wang Anshi know about Jing Gong's new learning?

Feng Jing observed Zhao Xu's expression and continued cautiously: "In addition, I heard from someone in the imperial kitchen that it seems that Duke Jing's eldest grandson has been conscripted by Zhang Xianggong as the capital manager of the Guangxi Economic and Strategic Envoy Si Yamen."

Zhao Xu's eyes lit up as he listened.

Wang Anshi had two sons and two daughters. Unfortunately, his most favored eldest son, Wang Yu, died young. Although his second son, Wang Pang, was still alive, he was a walking corpse - he suffered from severe mental illness, and his condition waxed and waned.

Wang Yu had only one daughter, who was married to Lu Jiawen's son.

Wang Yu had no heirs after his death, so he adopted Wang Anli's grandson as his son and inherited the incense of the Wang family.

"Is it Wang Di?" Zhao Xu murmured to himself.

Feng Jing's heart skipped a beat and he immediately lowered his head: "Yes."

In my heart, countless waves are rolling.

Do you all know the name of Wang Anshi’s grandson?

Who told him?

There can only be one answer - the late emperor!

hiss!

Feng Jing took a breath of cold air.

Think about it, since the late Emperor has entrusted you with so many things.

How could you not explain the arrangements for Wang Anshi, the veteran prime minister?

There must be, and there must be.

The late emperor's entrustment, instructions and arrangements, coupled with the young man's early maturity, intelligence and calm temperament.

Feng Jing no longer dared to think any more.

He raised his head slightly, and all he saw was the young emperor looking at him with a smile.

As if to say: Feng Jing, can I trust you?

Feng Jing's expression suddenly became extremely exciting. He quickly lowered his head and said, "Everyone, I'll go to the imperial kitchen to get you some snacks."

Zhao Xu smiled and nodded.

He trusted Feng Jing's loyalty.

What is being tested now is his courage.

The closest officials around him must have excellent psychological quality. They cannot expose their flaws by just bluffing.

…

The next day, Xinwei (fourteenth).

Zhao Xu came to Baoci Palace early in the morning and greeted Empress Dowager Xiang. Empress Dowager Xiang was very happy to see Zhao Xu. She pulled him to sit down and ordered some snacks to be brought to her.

Mother and son ate snacks and talked about trivial matters in the palace.

When the time was almost ripe, Zhao Xu said: "Mother, my son came to Baoci Palace today because I want to borrow someone from my mother."

When Queen Mother Xiang heard this, she asked gently: "Who does Sixth Brother want to borrow?"

"The water mill workers in Bianjing must be strict and diligent!" Zhao Xu replied softly.

Yan Shouqin was originally a minister around the Queen Mother. After Zhao Xu came to the throne, he was rewarded based on his merits and was promoted to serve as a minister in charge of water milling in Bianjing.

Now, I have been working in the water mill service for almost a year.

At the same time, this person was deeply involved in many things involving Zhao Xu.

He has established good relationships with Shi Deyi, Li Xian, and Liang Congzheng.

When Queen Mother Xiang heard this, she immediately became curious: "Why does Sixth Brother want to be strict and diligent?"

Zhao Xu said: "There are problems with tea and salt in all the states in the Chengdu Prefecture. I want to select a shrewd and capable minister from among the ministers to go there and take charge of the salt and tea affairs of Chengdu Prefecture and rectify the local tea and tea." , discuss salt.”

"After much thought, I feel that the person next to my mother is the most suitable person."

In the Song Dynasty, ministers often served as local supervisors, especially economic and military advisors.

Emperors also generally trusted their ministers more in this regard.

Because the emperor can decide the life and death of his ministers with just one word.

In the Song Dynasty, the state and county supervisors (mines, capitals, weavings, and local officials) were basically divided in half between internal ministers and civil servants.

Many important positions and positions are held by ministers for a long time.

Empress Dowager Xiang smiled: "Isn't Yan Shouqin's qualifications enough?"

"It's enough to send Quan." Zhao Xu said: "Besides, he is only going to quell the scandal in Chengdu Fulu."

"After a year and a half, you can return to Beijing. Other matters should be left to civil servants."

Queen Mother Xiang nodded and said: "Since Sixth Brother has thought about it, let's do it according to Sixth Brother's wishes."

"The Queen Mother will issue an order to Yan Shouqin, asking him to offload the duties of Bianjing Water Mill Service. After the handover is completed, he will come to Sixth Brother to ask for orders and listen to instructions."

"Thank you, Queen Mother!" Zhao Xu became happy.

Yan Shouqin, now nominally the Empress Dowager's ally, has actually taken the initiative to get closer to him.

It can be said that Zhao Xu is someone who is relatively easy to use now.

The most important thing is that Yan Shoiqin understands technology, especially hydraulic and tea-related technologies.

His work at the Water Mill Service proves this.
To be continued...