Zhao Xu, who was familiar with history, knew very well that in the Song Dynasty before he transmigrated, the reform was mainly stopped by the Empress Dowager of the two palaces and the Empress Dowager, forcing Song Shenzong to depose Wang Anshi and stop the reform.
Zhao Xu didn't want to repeat the same mistake. How could a country's important matter be controlled by a woman?
It was very worthwhile to put them under house arrest in exchange for the smooth implementation of the reform. Moreover, it had to be so. Otherwise, in the long run, they would definitely be restricted.
If you hesitate, you'll be in trouble.
As for Wang Yong, Zhao Xu immediately rewarded him. His performance today was not bad. He had seen the situation clearly and made an appropriate performance.
The two palaces were under house arrest, and Zhao Xu was handed over to Wang Yong.
The one who was most shocked by the Empress Dowager's house arrest was Empress Xiang. This woman had also come to plead for mercy. Her father's family had also lost tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in this reform.
However, since the Empress Dowager was like this, she was afraid and did not dare to go to the Hall of Heroes anymore. She knew that the Emperor hated her and it was only a matter of time before he deposed the Empress.
In the court, there were suddenly many people missing. The position of Prime Minister Sima Guang had been occupied by Wang Anshi, and the position of censor was still vacant. The Emperor had not appointed a new censor.
After the Prime Minister was abolished and the Empress Dowager was placed under house arrest, the conservative ministers in the court were silent out of fear, even though the conservative faction still held the absolute majority in the court.
However, the absolute majority of them could not withstand a single word from Emperor Zhao Xu.
……
The Spring Festival soon arrived, and Kaifeng City welcomed a festive atmosphere in the cold. Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and it was a joyous occasion.
The liveliness of the Imperial Palace was incomparable to that of the commoners. Eunuchs hung palace lanterns on every bare tree, and red couplets were pasted on both sides of every palace gate.
The capital and every city in the Great Song welcomed the new year. In this year, the empire had undergone earth-shattering changes.
The destruction of the Western Xia was a great joy to the people. The empire's military strength was growing by the day, and even the annual coins were gone. The annual coins tax had become history, and the people were celebrating that the Song Dynasty finally had an iron-blooded ruler.
On the streets, in the houses, Zhao Xu's great achievements were written into a drama, and the storytellers were praising him day and night.
In prison, Sima Guang was wearing an iron chain as he tidied up his Zizhi Tongjian. At this moment, he felt that he was Sima Qian.
Although they weren't castrated, they were all sinners.
However, Sima Qian's crime was the rage of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, while he himself had it coming. Who asked him to say something wrong and violate the laws of the Great Song? The current emperor was already showing mercy to him.
The reform was quietly entering the hearts of the people. The Baojia Law, the Qingmiao Law, the Equal Loss Law, the Trade Law, and the farmland irrigation law were displaying great potential.
The commoners were truly enjoying the tangible benefits brought about by the reform.
Because of the Baojia Law, the public security was improving day by day. Thieves and thieves were no longer rampant, and those lazy refugees were swept away.
The despots and landowners were living in fear, and the land they had seized by trickery might become the property of the Zhao family as the land measurement began.
In contrast to this harmonious atmosphere was the Song and Liao frontlines. The Liao people also celebrated the Spring Festival. They learned everything from the Song Dynasty and their customs had long been Chinese. They celebrated whatever festivals the Song people celebrated.
The Khitans also had the Dragon Boat Festival, although Qu Yuan had nothing to do with them.
However, under Ye Lui Hongji's orders, the Song and Liao borders were in a state of war every day, and the generals of both sides could not slack off for even a moment.
Although they had obtained hundreds of thousands of warhorses from the Western Xia, the Liao Kingdom had millions of warhorses, and all their troops were cavalry. They had carried out many blitzkrieg battles against the border cities of the Song Dynasty, robbing them and then leaving, leaving the Song army unable to take care of themselves.
Zhao Xu was very clear about this situation. Yue Fei and Qi Jiguang's battle report, combined with the system's mini-map, the situation of the small scale war between the two countries was clear at a glance.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month in the first year of Xining, Shen Kuo was seen. In the Hall of Heroes, Zhao Xu said to the kneeling Shen Kuo,""How many tasks have you completed?”
Shen Kuo said seriously," Your Majesty, the development of the muskets has been ongoing. Your Majesty gave me the task of completing 10,000 muskets by the end of the year. I have already exceeded my quota. As of today, there are already 30,000 muskets in the warehouse of the Ministry of Works.”
Zhao Xu was delighted to hear this. He smiled and said," It seems that I didn't choose the wrong person to appoint you as the Minister of War. How about this? The Minister of Works, Yu Li Chao, is getting old. You will be the one to take over the Ministry of War after the new year. The capable will do more work."”
Shen Kuo knelt down and bowed." Your Majesty, I am only in charge of the Bureau of Personnel. Minister Yu is the Minister of the Bureau of Personnel. If I were to shoulder the responsibility alone, I am afraid that I would have to run around. I am afraid that I would not be able to do the job. If I were to delay Your Majesty's important matters, I would not be able to atone for my sins!”
Zhao Xu said loudly," Shen Kuo, next year, I will recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. The Song army needs a lot of muskets, at least 200,000. I will give you as many craftsmen as you need and train you to make them. There are gunpowder and refined iron. Shanxi Road has rich coal, and Jingdong Road and Jingxi Road have high-quality refined iron. I will give them all to you.”
After Shen Kuo heard this, he hurriedly said," Your Majesty is wise. In this case, even if I have to vomit blood, it will be worth it. I guarantee that I will complete the decree Your Majesty has given me. If I don't, I will have my head on my neck. I can make a military pledge!”
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