Rebirth: Overthrow Song Dynasty

In the early morning of May 23rd, when the sky was getting dark, a small group of people came to the south gate of Yanjing City.

The soldiers guarding the gate froze when they saw this group of people!

The leaders are Li Gang and Li Ruoshui!

The two of them retired and returned to their hometowns yesterday, and they are leaving Yanjing City today, and they don't want to stay longer for a moment! As for Li Chuwen, he was originally from Yanjing, and he still stays in Yanjing.

"My lords, what are you doing?" The soldiers guarding the gate hurried forward to salute. They saw family members and servants behind Li Gang and Li Ruoshui. These family members and servants were carrying things in their hands, as if they wanted to Like moving, they were all surprised.

"When will the city gate open?" Li Gang said with a slight sigh.

"There is a rooster crowing outside, it's time to open the city gate." A soldier hurriedly said.

"Then open the city gate, we are leaving Yanjing City." Li Gang said.

The soldiers guarding the gate opened the city gate, and Li Gang and Li Ruoshui led a dozen family members and servants out of the city gate and came outside.

Both of them were riding on donkeys, looking back at Yanjing City, with a hint of sadness in their eyes.

"Bo Ji, do you regret it?" Li Ruoshui looked at Li Gang and said. Bo Ji is Li Gang's character.

"No regrets! You and I grew up studying the knowledge of sages and governed the country with the knowledge of sages all our lives. Naturally, we should defend the knowledge of sages! In fact, we also have a deep relationship with the emperor. We are also loyal to the emperor, but we are even more loyal to the studies of sages. Therefore, I cannot tolerate His Majesty changing the teachings of saints!" Li Gang said.

"That's right, the loyal people of my generation should be like this." Li Ruoshui nodded.

"It's a pity that there are fewer and fewer loyal people in this world, and most people follow the crowd! I'm afraid that most people in the world will not object to your majesty's reform of the education examination. I don't know what the world will be like by then." Li Gang smiled wryly.

"You and I have already resigned from the official position, and we don't have to worry about these things anymore! No matter what, you and I have assisted His Majesty for many years. Now that Song Dynasty has expelled the Tartars and unified the world, our mission has been completed! How can the world now It is much stronger than alien rule! Or, your Majesty's changes can make our Song Dynasty stronger, you and I will wait and see." Li Ruoshui said.

"That's the truth." Li Gang nodded.

The two headed forward with their family and servants. Li Gang's hometown is in the Fujian area. He needs to go to Tianjin Wei and then return to his hometown by boat. Li Ruoshui's hometown is in the Hebei area, but Li Ruoshui decided to take Li Gang Send it to Tianjin Wei.

The two of them are not young anymore. Walking on the road, both of them have lonely expressions on their faces, and they look older and older.

They were sad in their hearts, and they didn't have much to say along the way.

After walking for about ten miles, there was an intersection in front of them. They turned around the intersection and suddenly found that there was a group of people waiting for them.

Seeing this group of people, Li Gang and Li Ruoshui stayed there.

"Your Majesty, why are you here? Please see Your Majesty!" Li Gang immediately got off his horse and knelt down on the ground.

Li Ruoshui had already knelt down on the ground at this moment, and the family members and servants behind them also knelt down on the ground one after another.

"Teachers, please get up quickly! I came here specially to see you off." Zhao Chen helped the two of them up and said.

"Your Majesty, you are the king, we are just your subjects, you don't have to do this." Li Gang said with emotion.

"I have stayed with the two teachers for so many years. I have been with you since I was ten years old. Now that you are going to say goodbye, how can I not see you off?" Zhao Chen said.

"Bosses, why don't you stay in Yanjing, neither His Majesty nor we want you to leave!" At this moment, another person behind Zhao Chen said.

This person is Wang Shu! Behind Wang Shu are Qu Duan, Hu Quan, Wang Shipeng and others.

"No need! We really want to go home and have a look." Li Gang smiled.

The two of them were very persistent, no matter how much Wang Shu and others persuaded, they were unwilling to stay.

In the end, Zhao Chen and others could only go forward with Li Gang and Li Ruoshui. Li Gang and Li Ruoshui had already sat in the carriage, and Zhao Chen also sat with them.

"Teacher, after you return to your hometown, if you have any suggestions for government affairs, you can also write to me! You can also participate in local political affairs." Zhao Chen said.

"We are already ordinary people and should not participate in political affairs." Li Gang shook his head.

"Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world! Even the common people can participate in political affairs. If the common people are dissatisfied with an official, they can even remove him. It is not impossible for the common people to elect officials!" Zhao Chen said.

"Your Majesty, do you have any other reform ideas in your mind?" Li Gang said.

"That's right, I want to transform Song Dynasty step by step to make it stronger." Zhao Chen said.

"Your Majesty's ambitions, we can't participate, but I would like to advise His Majesty, everything should be done slowly, not too hastily." Li Gang said.

"I know this. The education and imperial examination reforms alone may last for a long time! I will not implement the next reform until the education and imperial examinations are stable! I will consider the interests of everything I do, and I will not act recklessly! If a certain thing does not meet the conditions for realization, I will not implement it, and keep it as it is, and stability is the first thing I consider." Zhao Chen said.

"Your Majesty has been in power for many years, and his skills are brilliant. I trust His Majesty! I hope that Song Dynasty will get better and better." Li Gang nodded and said.

After walking for a full morning, Zhao Chen, Li Gang, Li Ruoshui and others talked non-stop in the carriage. They stopped talking about political affairs, but talked about some trivial matters at home, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.

"Your Majesty, you have sent us off for such a long time, don't send us any more, go back!" Li Gang said.

"Teacher, I am reluctant to leave you! Hey, since Kaifeng, you and I have been together most of the time. Even if we are separated, I know it is a temporary separation, but this time, I really don't know when I will see you. " Zhao Chen said.

"Your Majesty, go back! Even if the old minister returns to his hometown, he will continue to be loyal to Song Dynasty and His Majesty!" Li Gang said.

"Your Majesty, please go back! Since ancient times, there is no reason for an emperor to send a courtier like this. The two of us can't bear it." Li Ruoshui also said.

"Okay, then I will go back, and I will let the local officials take care of your family! You have made contributions to the country and the country, and the imperial court will compensate the two teachers in the future." Zhao Chen said.

"Your Majesty, the country has a lot of money to spend, so don't spend it on us two dying people." Li Gang said hastily.

"Naturally, reward those who have contributed to the court after they have money! In this case, I won't give it away any more. The two teachers cherish it all the way!" Zhao Chen said.

He got off the carriage, and then watched Li Gang and Li Ruoshui leave with Wang Shu and others. When the figures of the two gradually disappeared, Zhao Chen felt his eyes were wet.

He wiped away his tears, rode on the horse, and said with a big smile, "I'll return to Yanjing too! From now on, there will be no old people in the court, only us young people are left! We must make some achievements Come, let them rest assured!"

After Li Gang, Li Ruoshui and others left, there were basically no ministers over the age of 50 in the court, and the remaining Zhao Chen, Wang Shu, Yue Fei, Qu Duan, etc. were all in their 20s and 30s, at most forty or so. People who are 10 years old are all in the prime of life, and not many people are as stubborn as Li Gang and Li Ruoshui, which is of great benefit to Zhao Chen's governance of the country.

He rode his horse towards Yanjing City, and his mood gradually improved. He believed that with the efforts of his group of people, the changes in the Great Song Dynasty would definitely be fully implemented.

*****

On May 25th, Zhao Chen issued an order to appoint Wang Shu as prime minister, with full authority to deal with education and imperial examination reform matters!

Li Gang, Li Ruoshui and others left, and there was no resistance from the court.

Wang Shu was extremely efficient. By June 10th, Wang Shu had already drawn up the first plan, and he handed over the reform plan to Zhao Chen.

"Your Majesty, education and the reform of imperial examinations are first of all education! And the first thing in education reform is to run a large school! Your Majesty said that day, the youth is strong, the country is strong, and the youth is wise, the country is wise. This is a famous saying, so education There is no need to delay! From this year onwards, the imperial court will spend 10% of the tax revenue on education every year, and strive to have public schools in all states and counties across the country within three years, and the number of public schools in all states and counties within ten years should reach Three! In addition to public schools, we also need to support excellent private schools! We will reward those public schools and private schools that run well.” Zhao Chen watched from the side, while Wang Shu explained.

"Not bad." Zhao Chen nodded.

"The second is to formulate textbooks! Confucianism is a must-learn book for private schools in all dynasties, and we must not give up! Confucianism textbooks should account for half, and the remaining half should be practical studies. Practical studies are divided into four parts: mathematics, agriculture, engineering, and business." Wang Shu said.

"As for Confucianism textbooks, we should also review and adapt them," said Zhao Chen.

"Review and adaptation?" Wang Shu was taken aback.

"Many Confucian classics misinterpret the meaning of the sage, we must take the essence and discard the dross." Zhao Chen said flatly.