Zhao Jiu was too weak to complain, and there was no way to complain.

Whether Yue Fei was a ragtag soldier and should be looked down upon by Li Yanxian, who was indeed the most capable and outstanding general on the front line at this time, was another matter. Li Yanxian's attitude was actually very direct... His meaning was very clear, please don't treat him as an outsider, that kind of position of Pacification Commissioner sounds a bit like arranging a local warlord and is an insult to his personality.

Moreover, there was another layer of meaning in this, that is, generals on the front line like Li Yanxian, who had not been in contact with Zhao Jiu, still didn't believe that Zhao Guan's family was really delegating power.

Of course, it must be said the other way around, Li Yanxian's strange temper was more like showing loyalty and seeking recognition, rather than deliberately making trouble.

So what could he do?

"In this way, this matter can be considered that Prime Minister Lü has taken care of it." Zhao Guan's family thought for a long time, and after figuring out the logic, he simply issued an order. "If he wants a proper official position, then give him a proper official position... Let Li Yanxian be the Prefect of Shaanxi!"

"Your Majesty is wise." After arriving in Nanyang, Lü Haowen behaved more and more kindly, I don't know if he still dares to get drunk and touch the head of Zhao Guan's family.

"What about the matter of the Bureau of Military Equipment?" With one thing roughly resolved, Zhao Jiu continued to ask solemnly.

"Reporting to Your Majesty." Wang Boyan stepped forward and cupped his hands, seemingly quite ashamed, but no matter what, it was obvious that Lü Haowen had handed him the note for this matter. "Your Majesty, my humble servant and the members of the Privy Council have discussed in many ways, and have personally gone to investigate the local area and inquire about manpower, but they all feel that there are some difficulties... First, it is difficult to choose a location; second, it is difficult to find craftsmen."

"Speak in detail, take your time."

"Yes... To let Your Majesty know, to set up the Bureau of Military Equipment, you must first set up a furnace to produce iron, and in theory, there is the Baihe River around Nanyang, and there is no shortage of coal, which is just right for setting up a furnace." Wang Boyan said solemnly. "However, there is no danger to defend around Nanyang. Previously, Wanyan Yinshu could easily break through from Xijing Luoyang to here. If the Bureau of Military Equipment is placed outside the city, once the war starts again, and the Jin people come here again with the advantage of cavalry, the Bureau of Military Equipment will inevitably be easily destroyed; but if it is placed in the city, Nanyang City is already very crowded due to the new construction of the palace, the Imperial Academy, and the yamen."

Zhao Jiu was thoughtful.

"As for the matter of craftsmen, it is simpler." Wang Boyan continued. "It is nothing more than that most of the craftsmen in Tokyo City were captured by the Jin people, and the craftsmen gathered here in Nanyang are mostly gathered from Ba Shu and Jing Xiang. They have not returned to their hometowns for many days in order to build palaces, and they do not want to stay in Nanyang for a long time."

Hearing this, Zhao Jiu only felt strange... Because according to Wang Boyan's description, these problems were actually not problems at all. After all, when the country has reached this point, the weapons and armor of the Bureau of Military Equipment are the most deadly things, and they must be done at all costs.

And under this guiding idea, not to mention the absurd words of crowding and the craftsmen's homesickness, even in the most extreme case, that is, it was really destroyed by the Jin people in just a few months, wouldn't it be done?

At this time, one more set of armor is good!

With this thought, Zhao Guan's family thought for a moment, and was too lazy to play the political game of "you guess I guess you guess again" with Wang Boyan, but went straight to the point: "Then where does Qing Wang think the Bureau of Military Equipment should be placed?"

Wang Boyan cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I believe that it is better to put it in Xiangyang, settle down in Xiangyang, and the craftsmen will be able to feel at ease."

Zhao Jiu suddenly realized... That's what he meant, Wang Boyan, or rather the Privy Council, or rather the hundreds of officials, how could they not understand the priorities and waste time on this kind of thing? It turned out that they were waiting for him to take down Xiangyang from the beginning, and those reasons were more like specially thought out to ensure that the Bureau of Military Equipment moved to the south bank of the Hanshui River.

Of course, putting it in Xiangyang is indeed a good thing. Zhao Jiu could think of several advantages with his eyes closed. The transportation of materials is convenient there, the exchange of personnel is convenient, and it is indeed safe... However, behind this matter is a large group of officials represented by Wang Boyan who are not confident enough in the outcome of the war that may break out.

Of course, Zhao Guan's family doesn't trust the outcome of the war too much, because people always have to face reality.

"Then let it be Xiangyang." Zhao Jiu thought for a while, hesitated for a moment, and still expressed his agreement.

Wang Boyan immediately accepted the order.

However, this matter was of great importance, and Zhao Jiu was quite unwilling, so the two sides discussed it for a long time... Moreover, this Zhao Guan's family is indeed an engineering dog, although what he learned is mostly circuits and the like, and the so-called engineering practice is at most soldering circuit boards, but after all, he is an engineering dog, and he still has ideas.

In his mind, after the establishment of the Bureau of Military Equipment, as a time-traveler, even if he can't engage in any earth-shattering inventions and creations, but promoting assembly lines and standard weights and measures in high-end online novels, experimenting with the best ratio of gunpowder, motivating craftsmen, laying a legendary wooden track and opening a donkey-powered train, making some big news, wouldn't it be beneficial to the country and the people in addition to being taken for granted?

However, Zhao Guan's family said again and again, but the more he said, the more he felt that his words were clichés, even if Wang Boyan agreed very readily... To put it bluntly, after yesterday's farce on the riverside, Zhao Jiu had great doubts about the quality and execution ability of the Song Dynasty bureaucrats.

Therefore, after saying some of these empty things, Zhao Guan's family stopped himself.

"What about Guanzhong?" With another topic put down, this time without Lü Haowen's guidance, Zhao Jiu directly looked at Yuwen Xuzhong.

"Because Shaanxi has been recovered, and Grand Commandant Han is confronting Wanyan Gushen and Yelu Yudu in Xijing, coupled with the passage of Wuguan and Yangzhou (eastern part of Hanzhong), I have roughly learned about the situation in Guanzhong." Yuwen Xuzhong quickly replied. "On the Guanzhong side, enemy chief Wanyan Loushi continued westward after breaking Chang'an, sweeping the Wei River, but ran out of strength in Gongzhou (now Longxi), so he withdrew his troops to Hedong..."

"It's not that he ran out of strength," Zhao Jiu sighed when he heard this. "It's still Li Yanxian. If Li Yanxian hadn't recovered Shaanxi at this time, why would Wanyan Loushi have withdrawn to Hedong in one breath? If we talk about saving the world and military merits, Li Yanxian's strength alone is almost no weaker than the tens of thousands of Zong Liushou, nor is it weaker than the combined efforts of Han Zhang and Ji Zhou Yue Zhang's four generals on the Huai River... No wonder people will be moody... When appointing him as the Prefect of Shaanxi, additionally transfer one level of military merit."

"Yes." Yuwen Xuzhong cupped his hands in response, but continued to introduce.

And Zhao Guan's family also heard about it... It turned out that after Wanyan Loushi swept the Guanzhong Plain and withdrew, the local area was also a mess, and everywhere was in the same situation as Jingxi before. It was impossible to distinguish between righteous soldiers and bandits, and they almost occupied the entire Guanzhong Plain. And the good news is that due to the rapid retreat, most of the remaining military strength of the Western Army was preserved in the mountainous part of Guanzhong. Moreover, there are also high-level officials and generals such as Wang Shu, the Pacification Commissioner of Fuyan Road and concurrently the Prefect of Yan'an Prefecture, Xi Gong, the Pacification Commissioner of Huanqing Road, and Wang Xie, the Observer of Wenzhou, who survived.

As for the major generals at the commander level, it is currently confirmed that there are seven or eight troops including Qu Duan, Xin Qizong (Xin's second son), Liu Xi, Zhao Zhe, and Liu Xiliang who have survived and still have soldiers... However, they are scattered everywhere, and there is only news of activities.

"Forgive me for speaking frankly." Yuwen Xuzhong said seriously. "The Guanzhong Plain is still out of control, and the imperial court's reach is too far. Unless the various troops recover Fengxiang and Chang'an, there is no way to gather them. But once Chang'an is recovered, a senior official should be sent to Shaanxi immediately to appease the people."

Zhao Jiu knew that this matter was indeed helpless, so he could only encourage Yuwen Xuzhong and then skip over this matter.

Next was the issue of the Yuanyou partisans, which was the responsibility of Xu Jingheng... This matter involved too many personnel, and the 'unsatisfactory' places were self-evident. It was nothing more than the conflict between the official's political stance and the universal political understanding of the bureaucrats.

However, just as Prime Minister Xu was preparing to persuade Zhao Guan's family, Zhao Guan's family suddenly skipped over this matter, only exchanged some information about the local registration system with Xu Jingheng, and then discussed with everyone about summoning those talents to the palace for the palace examination in a few days. In a daze, the sun was already setting in the west... Then Zhao Guan's family no longer hesitated, directly used the excuse of time to let the prime ministers disperse, and then called Lin the Academician to follow, and then turned into the back palace himself.

It was common practice for Hanlin Academicians to be on duty in the palace, so although this move made the new academicians a little jealous, they all had nothing to say, especially since this Lin Academician, who was extremely sophisticated, had just made great contributions.

However, just as the prime ministers and others respectfully sent Zhao Guan's family away, bowed to each other, exchanged pleasantries and invitations, and tossed for a while, just as they were preparing to return to their respective homes, suddenly, Lin the Academician actually returned in the company of Yang Yizhong and Liu Yan.

"Please stay, you four prime ministers." Lin the Academician shouted to several of them from a distance.

When Lü Haowen and others heard this, their hearts tightened, and when they turned their heads, their scalps went numb... It turned out that Lin the Academician was actually holding four pieces of paper with ink still wet. At the same time, everyone around, from Zhang Jun down, was stunned when they saw the situation, but instead quickened their pace and left the palace one after another.

It can only be said that this method of forcing people to work is really frightening... Of course, there must be someone who can't wait to enjoy this kind of note treatment.

But no matter what, the four had already returned helplessly, and Prime Minister Lü braced himself to take those notes from Lin Jingmo's hand.

But Lin the Academician smiled slightly, but spoke first: "Your Majesty has said in advance that these are all small matters, not for the prime ministers to do. After the prime ministers discuss them, they can be handed over to others for quick disposal."

This was just to give the four notes legitimacy. Lü Haowen's heart moved, and he naturally became calm.

And when the first note was opened, the words 'Gunpowder Workshop' were written on it.

Before the Prime Minister Lü, who was puzzled, took the initiative to ask, Lin Jingmo simply explained: "Your Majesty has said that a special gunpowder workshop should be set up in Nanyang. It is just a gunpowder workshop, independent of the Bureau of Military Equipment. There is no need to discuss it much. It will be set up near Nanyang, and it must be done quickly."

Lü Haowen nodded slightly, and also felt that this matter was indeed simple, so simple that he wanted to hold this note and do it himself, because the Great Song Dynasty had a special gunpowder workshop many years ago... But in full view of the public, and with the oral instructions of Zhao Guan's family, it was impossible for him to forcibly do this simple thing to show his ability, but he could only turn around and ask Wang Boyan, who was related to this matter... This is also the boredom and helplessness of the prime minister's life:

"Prime Minister Wang, who do you think it should be handed over to?"

Wang Boyan thought for a moment, only glanced at one person who followed Lin the Academician back, and simply responded: "It concerns military secrets, how about letting the Imperial Guards do it, Commander Yang?"

Yang Yizhong's expression remained unchanged, and he stepped forward and cupped his hands in response. Lü Haowen asked himself to be confused, and immediately handed the note to Yang Yizhong, who was waiting calmly, and then went to open the second one.

The second note opened, with the three words 'Hu Hongxiu'.

Prime Minister Lü did not know who Hu Hongxiu was, but Lin Jingmo immediately spoke in a timely manner: "Your Majesty has said that this is a person who has recently made suggestions on military strategies, probably in the army of the two Commanders Xin. Please find this person, and it is best to bring him to the palace together in a few days for the palace examination."

Lü Haowen suddenly realized, and felt that this matter was not worth mentioning. He even wanted to hand it over to Liu Yan directly. But after all, this matter involved the military, so it was not good not to let Yuwen Xuzhong handle it. Yuwen Xuzhong was also straightforward, he just took it casually and handed it over to Liu Yan without the slightest delay.

Probably because the first two things were too simple, Prime Minister Lü had already opened the third note on his own.

And sure enough, the matter on this third note was not worth mentioning, and was even expected. It was the three words 'Wang Shuzhan'... Without Lin the Academician explaining, it was known that Zhao Guan's family wanted Wang Shuzhan, who had caused such a thing yesterday, to look good!

However, Prime Minister Lü had always been kind to people, even if Wang Shuzhan himself guessed that he was going to be unlucky, he did not want to take over this matter. Moreover, considering that Xu Jingheng, Prime Minister Xu, had publicly scolded Wang Taichang yesterday and was firm in his attitude on this matter, Lü Haowen naturally looked at Xu Jingheng.

Of course, Prime Minister Xu did not take it seriously, only glanced at it, and simply pointed out a person: "The Palace Censor Hu Yin has always intended to impeach Wang Shuzhan, but he has been restrained because of tomorrow's talent selection. Give it to him, let him discuss a crime and report it!"

Bypassing the Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun and directly naming Hu Yin, Lü Haowen was slightly hesitant in his heart, but since Xu Jingheng had already spoken, he could not say much, so he could only call a eunuch and ask him to hand this note to Hu Yin, who had just left the palace not long ago.

This matter was thus skipped over.

And perhaps the simplicity of the first three things greatly increased Prime Minister Lü's confidence, and he directly took the fourth note and opened it in his own hand, with the two words 'City Defense'.

"Your Majesty said that the expansion of Nanyang was hasty, the city defense is unstable, and it is probably not enough to deal with the war." Lin Jingmo said seriously. "Your Majesty wants to rebuild the city defense."

Lü Haowen sighed, how could he not understand? These notes were simply the credit Zhao Guan's family gave to those confidants, just because he was afraid that they would be snatched away by others if they were publicly proposed at the previous court meeting, so he specifically asked the chief executives to stay here and take the blame.

However, understanding is understanding, Prime Minister Lü did not hesitate at all, and blurted out directly: "Let Yan Xiaozhong do it, I will go out and find him to do it."

Lin the Academician did not take it seriously, and did not comment, but just nodded slightly, and then directly retreated.

In this way, on this day, Zhao Guan's family shirked the responsibility cleanly like assigning homework, and went to enjoy himself.

However, late that night, Zhao Guan's family was awakened from his gentle embrace and learned a great news - just a few days ago, Li Yanxian, after recovering Shaanxi, took advantage of the victory and crossed the Yellow River, occupied Zhongtiao Mountain, and sent troops north to attack, successively conquering Anyi, Jie County, and Wenxi, and almost the entire territory of Jie Prefecture was recovered by him! And with the restoration of Jie Prefecture, the road to Taihang Mountain was also open!

Zhao Jiu was stunned, and then ecstatic... What palace infighting, what alchemists, what assembly line gunpowder workshops, what rehabilitation of the Yuanyou partisans, are all bullshit?

Where did this Li Yanxian come from? Why haven't I heard of him?!

And just as Zhao Guan's family returned to the quilt and was almost too excited to sleep, suddenly, another urgent military situation was sent - Han Shizhong was defeated in Xijing.

Zhao Guan's family really couldn't sleep this time.

ps: I was wrong, I reviewed Northern Tang all night... without stopping.