novelAbuy Chapter 24: How to arrange things for Wang Jun and his son?
Chapter 24: How to arrange things for Wang Jun and his son?
Inside the alchemy room, Wang Jun toiled for most of the night, producing a large bottle of ephedrine, which gave him dark circles under his eyes.
They hadn't made any medicine for almost half a year, but if it was for treating Empress Dowager Du, then they would naturally have to refine it properly.
"This bottle contains ephedrine. I also made some glycyrrhizic acid and some salicylic acid using the same acid-base dialysis principle. Go to the palace and send them to them in a bit."
"You also know that they've moved into the palace now?"
"You're delivering medicine to the Empress Dowager, who can stop you?"
"Why don't you go and deliver it? This is a great opportunity for you to show off your talents. Dad, you're not going to run away from your mission again, are you?"
"What do you mean by shirking my mission? I've been making medicine all night, I'm so tired, shouldn't I get some sleep? What if I say something wrong in this mental state?"
Besides, there's a ton of work to do at the brick factory, and you have nothing to do. Are you going to go play with your sister Ling's dolls again?"
Wang Lu had no choice but to put away the bottles of medicine and accept the task with a pout. Although he felt that Wang Jun's arrangement was deliberately intended to make him show off in front of Zhao Kuangyin, he couldn't really refute it.
In fact, Wang Lu wasn't really content to lie low and not even want to be an official. It was just that he felt he was too young, and the key to getting the father and son into the highest ranks should be Wang Jun. So, the limited resources should be poured into Wang Jun.
Moreover, he was destined to become a civil official, so becoming a high-ranking official was not a good choice. During the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Northern Song Dynasty, there was already an unspoken rule that no one who had passed the imperial examination could become prime minister.
During Emperor Taizong's reign, it was very difficult for a civil official to rise to a high position without a proper degree in the imperial examinations.
Therefore, in Wang Lu's view, he should not think about advancement, but should study hard and take the imperial examination properly.
In the early Northern Song Dynasty, taking the imperial examinations was actually not difficult. Just like the first two years after the resumption of the college entrance examination in 78, they were all super easy. Zhao Pu even claimed to have "governed the world with half of the Analects".
Wang Lu had said these words to Wang Jun, but unfortunately Wang Jun did not think so. Ever since he learned that Zhao Kuangzan had become an official at the age of seven, was now a military governor, and would soon become a duke, he had been disappointed.
They completely ignored Wang Lu's explanation, convinced that if Zhao Kuangzan could do it, there was no reason why Wang Lu couldn't.
Old Wang refused to shoulder the mountain of pressure alone as a father, insisting on dragging his son, Xiao Wang, along with him.
"Ephedrine can relax the upper respiratory tract, so it is very useful for conditions like asthma. In addition, its stimulating effect, similar to ice, will reduce the Empress Dowager's cough symptoms and make her feel very healthy after taking it."
"However, this stuff is still made from ice, and the essence of stimulants is to overdraw on the body. Although the addictive potential is small, it is indeed possible."
So you have to tell them that this stuff is okay to take, but not too much. They can take one pill when their cough is really bad, but taking too much can lead to drug dependence and is extremely harmful to their health.
"Licorice is acidic and warm in nature, and doesn't have much effect, but it can promote gastrointestinal digestion and nutrient absorption. At the Empress Dowager's age, eating and drinking well is more important than anything else. This stuff can be taken as a health supplement. Eating more or less won't have any side effects on the human body."
"Finally, there's salicylic acid. It's an antipyretic and also has some anti-inflammatory effects. Didn't you tell me that Empress Dowager Du would die this year? If it's not a serious illness, it might be somewhat effective."
Wang Lu carefully put the medicine away and said sincerely, "Dad, you're really amazing. I didn't even know you knew about traditional Chinese medicine."
"I don't understand, but when we were young, Western medicine was in short supply. If we had a headache or fever, we would take Chinese medicine. Over time, we learned about the pharmacology of some commonly used Chinese medicines."
Since we understand pharmacology, as long as the active ingredient is a bioacid or biobase, it can be extracted using the same method.
"You kids of this generation are full of knowledge, but most of it is useless. You always say that traditional Chinese medicine is useless and unscientific. Humph."
"Alright, alright, here we go again. You're amazing, you're amazing. I'm leaving now. By the way, what official position does Zhao Kuangyin intend to give you? If it's too low, I'll have my cheap grandfather cause trouble for him."
"By the way, ask him when he'll regain his prodigy status."
"understood."
………………
Inside the palace, Zhao Kuangyin, who was only on his first day as emperor, had little experience and was still quite inexperienced. He didn't seem to have much imperial majesty, and he even seemed uncomfortable sitting on the dragon throne.
While chatting and discussing matters with Zhao Pu, he ended up sitting down on the table, discussing with him how to reward those who had contributed after the founding of the country.
The regional military governors in various regions needed to be appeased. Although Chai Rong carried out a round of reforms to the imperial guards, the regional military governors in various regions were still very powerful.
Those within the Imperial Guard who are your own people need to be promoted and given titles; isn't that what they want from having the imperial robes draped over your body?
Soldiers also need rewards, since everyone was obedient and did not massacre the city, so the court can only compensate them.
The veteran generals also need to be reassigned; they must be given high positions, but they cannot be given actual military power.
The civil service bureaucracy cannot be drastically changed; at least for the time being, the three prime ministers, Fan, Wang, and Wei, will continue to lead the civil service bureaucracy.
However, we cannot leave him alone. Those who are on good terms with him should be promoted, and his subordinate officials must be assigned to key positions.
One thing after another, just the distribution of rewards for merits and personnel transfers, left Zhao Kuangyin overwhelmed and extremely busy. Many people were unsure of what to do.
Although Zhao Pu was a man of great talent, he was, after all, only serving as an official in the imperial court for the first time, and he still needed a period of learning.
They wrote the names of meritorious veterans on wooden plaques and arranged them like playing cards, dividing them into sections.
"Your Majesty, young master Wang Lu has arrived, saying he is bringing medicine for the Empress Dowager."
"Well, take him directly to see the Empress Dowager. I won't go."
"Here you are."
After the eunuch withdrew, Zhao Kuangyin asked Zhao Pu, "Secretary Zhao, what do you think should be done to reward Wang Jun and Wang Lu, and what positions should they be given?"
"Wang Jun, you could send him to the Ministry of Works or the Arsenal. He's skilled in craftsmanship, and he's also Han Dengyan's son-in-law. Because of his expertise in brick-making, he's quite respected in the Imperial Guard."
Furthermore, he had the merit of capturing Han Tong on the battlefield and saving the Empress Dowager. Although the story of a son-in-law capturing his father-in-law seemed somewhat staged, it didn't matter. Appointing him as the Junior Assistant Director of the Ordnance Bureau, or even a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, should be enough to convince the people.
"But he himself doesn't want to be a civil official; he wants to be a military general."
"A military general?" Zhao Pu was taken aback.
"Isn't this ridiculous? He doesn't seem like it... and it's a bit wasteful too."
"Yes, but he insists on becoming a military officer. What can we do? Are there any suitable military positions for him?"
Zhao Pu was both amused and exasperated. He said, "He's never been on the battlefield. If we're talking about going to a workshop, giving him a fourth or fifth-rank official position would be enough to convince the people. But as a military general... I think there's a place where he can try."
"where?"
"How about making him a clerk in the Palace Guard Commandery? Let him gain some experience in the army first. If he's not suited for it, he can become a civil official later."
"You want him to go with the second son?"
The position of Gouyaguan is a very minor official, only a ninth-rank official. However, in officialdom, one cannot judge things solely by rank. This position is actually the private scribe of the Palace Guard Commander. And the Palace Guard Commander and his brother have just decided to appoint Zhao Kuangyi to the position.
He should be called Zhao Guangyi now.
Honestly, most people wouldn't trade this official position for a regular fifth or sixth rank official.
The official rank isn't high, so there's no need to worry about not gaining the respect of the troops. Although he's a civil servant, a clerical secretary, he's still a clerical secretary in the military.
If you're really talented, you can easily become a military officer; if you're not, you won't make any mistakes or cause any trouble, and it's easy to switch back to a civilian position at any time.
More importantly, he also controls the brick and tile factory, which is going to build dormitories for the Imperial Guards. Previously, this favor was done by Han Tong, but now that Wang Jun is Zhao Guangyi's liaison, this favor can be easily transferred to him.
This was very beneficial for the second son to quickly establish himself in the military.
perfect.
"What about his son? Secretary Zhao, do you think we should reopen the prodigy program for him?"
"Reopening the prodigy program... seems pointless. If this person is truly intelligent, why not leave him with Sanlang or the young master to keep them company while they study?"
Zhao Kuangyin thought for a moment and said, "Okay, this is a good idea. Let's do it this way."