Zhao Xu met with officials from the Kaifeng Prefecture's Department one by one in the lobby of the government office.

Li Shiliang, the recommendation officer, Hu Ji, the judge, Wang Wenxuan, the inspector of the left capital, Guo Wenliang, the inspector of the right capital, Zhao Shi'an, a member of the Lu Department, and the official officials of the left and right chambers.

He speaks softly, comforts and cares.

But in fact, Zhao Xu has already made a decision in his heart.

Most of the officials present today will be gradually replaced in the coming months.

Those who cannot keep up with the rhythm and are not suitable will be eliminated.

Only those who are truly willing to do things, willing to do things, and smart enough can stay.

I sat in the government office for more than a quarter of an hour.

Zhao Xu, accompanied by Cai Jing, inspected other official houses in Kaifeng Mansion.

He went to the Plum Blossom Hall and saw the place where Kaifeng Prefecture officials usually read and rest.

In the meeting hall, I checked some documents from Kaifeng Mansion.

In Mingli Garden, I read the books preserved here.

Then he inspected the arithmetic of the Kaifeng Fu School affiliated school.

Here, he showed a happy smile.

"You did a good job in arithmetic!" Before leaving Kaifeng Mansion, Zhao Xu called Cai Jing to the imperial chariot and praised him for the first time: "The country is in short supply of people with clear arithmetic! You should do more in this regard."

Pay attention to cultivating talented people with clear calculations!”

Cai Jing now expressed his position: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I must bear in mind the holy teachings and run the arithmetic school well!"

Zhao Xu nodded, then lowered the curtain of the chariot, looked at the sword that Zhenzong had used in the past, which he had personally and respectfully invited back from the Qianlong Palace, and told Yan Yuan: "Leave the chariot to your duties!

"

Yan Yuan respectfully accepted the order.

The chariot driver, escorted by Yulong Zhuzhi, changed his route to the east, heading towards Dutingyi.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of Bianjing Jiaoziwu.

Li Xian, who had already received the decree that the imperial chariot was coming today, had already brought the civil servants, military officers and ministers who had been in charge of his affairs to greet him.

"I respectfully wish you all a holy greeting!"

Long time no see, Li Xian seems to be a little older.

There were signs of graying on his temples.

This is normal!

A year ago, Li Xian was still the unrivaled commander in Xihe Road, with tens of thousands of powerful soldiers under his command, rampaging across the northwest and arrogant to all other countries!

The Tubo people respect him and fear him, while the Western thieves fear him and fear him.

The military ministers beside him were as docile as kittens in front of him.

When he was at his most majestic, he could even get military officials from distant counties like Peng Sun to wash his feet.

Peng Sun had to smile and cater to him.

But after returning to Beijing, the power he once had suddenly disappeared.

He was even close to being impeached by the civil servants and would not even be able to retain his position.

Although his status is still very high now, he has even reached the top of the rank of chamberlain—everyone in the chamber of commerce knows about it!

But the actual power is no longer much.

What's more, he can only deal with craftsmen, the Xiaohuang Sect, and two ninth-grade Beijing officials in this Jiaoziwu.

Therefore, it is normal for him to age faster.

Zhao Xu looked at the veteran minister who was respectful in front of him and encouraged him softly: "Li Douzhi should cheer up!"

"In the future, I will have to rely on Douzhi's wisdom to help me!"

Li Xian burst into tears immediately: "Everyone..."

Zhao Xu nodded. He had seen some people similar to Li Xian in modern times.

A high-spirited big shot who once guided the world on stage will turn gray in a few months once he retires, and may even be unrecognizable.

"Designing the sub-committee is just the beginning..." Zhao Xu could only draw a conclusion: "When things are done here, you know I still have important things to entrust you with!"

Li Xian is a useful minister.

He is still young!

He is only in his fifties now. As long as he can maintain a good attitude and fighting spirit, he can at least serve Zhao Xu for more than ten years!

Of course, he can no longer be allowed to directly touch the military power - if Li Xian touches the military power again, the scholar-bureaucrats will go crazy.

Li Xian listened, wiped his tears, and said with a smile: "The old minister's ugly behavior made everyone laugh!"

Zhao Xu smiled and took a deep look at the former general.

Zhao Xu knew very well that the cautious Li Xian who was beside his father in Bianjing City had died after going to Xihe Road.

The Li Xian standing in front of him now is an old man who has been tempered by officialdom and war.

He is also a qualified general who dares to change the law and does not listen to imperial orders, and has learned to respond tactfully to unreasonable instructions from Bianjing!

So, how much of Li Xian’s statement is true and how much is false?

Then only he himself knows.

Fortunately, Zhao Xu doesn't care about this.

As long as he can get things done, he doesn't bother to care about what the ministers think!

So, surrounded by Jiaoziwu officials led by Li Xian, and escorted by Yulongzhi led by Yan Yuan, he entered the official office of Jiaoziwu.

Compared with Kaifeng Fuyamen, Jiaoziwu is much shabby.

The paint on the door has almost worn off.

The lobby inside Jiaoziwu looks like it has been in disrepair.

Zhao Xu walked among them, glanced at it, and called Li Xian over: "As you all know, Jiaozi Wu will mainly issue Jiaozi and deal with the cashing of merchants from all over the world..."

"Let's change this lobby..."

Li Xian immediately said: "Old minister, I respectfully listen to everyone's instructions!"

Zhao Xu hummed, ordered someone to get pen and paper, and then directly drew a picture on the desk in the courtroom and gave it to Li Xian: "Let's create relevant windows in sequence..."

"In the future, merchants will use this window to conduct internal and external transactions..."

Li Xian took the piece of paper, took a look at it, and immediately began to flatter him: "Everyone is wise!"

"With this imperial map, merchants will have much convenience in the future!"

Zhao Xu chuckled and did not answer Li Xian's words. Instead, he asked: "How is Shen Kuo doing the version made by Song and Liao Jiao Ziwu now?"

Li Xian replied: "For your information, Shen Tiju is in the arms manufacturing bureau, working day and night on plate making..."

"I just went to see it yesterday..."

"All three editions were made by national masters such as Guo Xi, and the engravings produced are extremely exquisite..."

"Now only some details are left to be repaired. About tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest, the veteran and Shen Tiju will personally present the plate to the emperor!"

Zhao Xu listened and nodded: "Good!"

Guo Xi is a great artist in painting and sculpture in the Song Dynasty today, and his achievements in sculpture in particular are unparalleled.

All the wall photos in the central government offices in Bianjing City are his works.

Almost all the wall photos in the Prime Minister's home are also his handiwork.

From here, we can know how high his artistic achievements are.

And how did Shen Kuo invite Guo Xi?

Quite simply, Guo Xi was a member of the Imperial Academy of Painting in the Song Dynasty.

It is his duty to serve the royal family.

Moreover, from what Li Xian said, it seems that in addition to Guo Xi, there were also painters from other art academies involved in plate making and design.

This made Zhao Xu full of expectations for Song Liao Jiaozi, which was about to start printing.

A currency with beautiful patterns is also where its value lies.

So, Zhao Xu asked: "So, are the papers for handing in sub-committee ready?"

Li Xian replied: "I want to inform you that since last autumn, the Wensi Academy has been preparing for the new Jiaozi paper..."

"Today, tens of thousands of new papers have been prepared. The technology used and the feel are different from the old paper!"

"I have seen it personally...it is indeed good paper and can be used very well!"
To be continued...