Prime Minister

Chapter 499 The Great Victory in the Northwest
Inside the Chongzheng Hall, all the officials were beaming, even Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, Ouyang Xiu and other ministers, and Wen Yanbo and other shufu officials also wore auspicious clothes to the hall to congratulate the officials.

It has been a long time since the Song army lost to Xixia in a row, and it has been a long time since they won such a big victory.

The officials sat on the Chongzheng Hall and accepted the congratulations from the officials without expression.

All the officials admired him sincerely from the bottom of their hearts. This is the appearance of a gentleman, and he does not show emotion.In the past, the officials did not cry when Emperor Renzong had a great funeral, but now they are not happy when the Song army is victorious. It can be seen that the officials' effort in nourishing Qi has gone to the extreme.

However, there are also some officials who are strange. It is understandable for the officials to be unsmiling, but why do they look a little sullen?This is too strange. The Song army finally won a big victory in the northwest and saved the country's face of repeated defeats against Xixia. But shouldn't the officials react to this kind of unhappiness and worry?

Of course, some officials have seen the third layer. Is this what Fan Wenzheng said, "worry about the world's worries first, and enjoy the world's joy later"?

Sure enough, compared with the realm of the officials, I am still far from enough.

Of course, there are some officials who believe that the victory this time was entirely due to the deliberate defeat of the frontier ministers. In fact, the Song army was defeated by Xixia, so the officials had no choice but to pretend to be victorious and accept the congratulations from all the officials. secretly worried.

This wave of officials can be said to stand in the atmosphere.

No matter how you say it, the officials are like this, and they accepted the congratulations from all the officials without expression.

When they arrived at the apse, Han Qi, Wen Yanbo and other two governors took their seats to discuss the follow-up of the great victory.

Wen Yanbo first told the officials about the battle.

In August, Li Liangzuo, the lord of Xia, invaded Dashun City and Rouyuan Village with [-] troops to avenge the humiliation of Xia Envoy by Zhang Yue and others.

Cai Ting, the governor of Huanqing Road, divided his troops to garrison. He believed that Dashun City was strong, so he did not send heavy troops to defend it, but ordered his soldiers to spread barbed wire outside the city.However, the defense of the Rouyuan Walled City was not strong, so Zhang Yu, the deputy commander, was sent to defend with heavy troops.

Li Liangzuo failed to attack Dashun City repeatedly, so he personally went to the edge of the city to supervise the battle, but was shot through by the Song Army's powerful crossbow. Seeing that Dashun City could not be defeated, Li Liangzuo turned to attack Rouyuan Village. Qianye attacked Xia's army, and Xia's army was defeated.

However, the defeat of the Xia army shook the northwest, and Qinzhou signed Wang Shao. Taking advantage of the retreat of Xixia, he defeated the Qingtang Fans, and his reputation was greatly shocked, and he won [-] Fans.

Therefore, Xue Xiang, the transshipment envoy of Shaanxi, wrote the two things together and wrote that Lubu had won the victory of entering Beijing, announcing the victory of the battle of Dashun City.

Han Qi and Wen Yanbo have been in the court for many years, and they are all old foxes. They can see that although the battle of Dashun City reported by Cai Ting is a victory, it is not enough to be called a big victory.

However, the Song army has been suppressed and beaten by the Xixia people for more than ten years, and finally won a defensive counterattack. It is not an exaggeration to call it a big victory.

At the same time, it is also an old routine for Xixia to make peace.

Han Qi and Wen Yanbo both expressed their opinions: "The Xia people's request for peace is just an old trick, so don't take it seriously."

Ouyang Xiu also said: "Your Majesty, I think that Xia people are cunning, cunning and scheming. When they are strong, they will rebel. When they are weak, they will make peace. When they are rebellious, they will benefit from plunder and invade the border. When they make peace, they will ask for more coins and open the salt ban." Therefore, since the Qingli period, the troops have been directed towards the west, and the Xixia people have not often rebelled, and the defenders have not yet grasped the essentials."

The official asked: "Then should we continue fighting?"

Ouyang Xiudao: "Song and Xia had a bad relationship, and the song was in Yuanhao. The disaster of using troops was the last resort of the imperial court. The people all over the world support the imperial court to use troops against Xixia."

The official shook his head and said: "I think it's better to take advantage of this great victory to discuss peace with the Xixia people first."

For the officials, it is enough to repel Xixia, so there are more important things to do in the court.

Deputy Privy Envoy Chen Shengshang said: "If you want to negotiate a peace, you must at least let the Xia people send the hostages to the court and return them to Lingzhou. Only in this way can you agree."

However, the officials were still eager to take advantage of the victory to negotiate a peace, so all the ministers had no choice but to agree.

Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, the battle of Dashun City is due to the wise strategy of the defender Cai Ting, and he should be rewarded heavily, and Wang Shao's contribution to surrendering [-] people by surprise should be even more rewarding than Cai Ting's. "

"I still remember that it was Zhang Yue who recommended Wang Shao as a border minister, and this recommendation should also be rewarded."

After Han Qi finished speaking, the official's face suddenly became ugly.

All the prime ministers present knew who Cai Ting was?The younger brother of Cai Kang, the admonisher who had just been demoted from Beijing.

And Zhang Yue who recommended Wang Shao...

How should this reward be given?

At this moment, Zhang Yue was walking on the streets of Bianjing with more than 30 people from his family, not far from him was the city gate.

Zhang Yue rode on the horse and watched the familiar scenes, while Shi Qi Niang's mother and son stayed in the carriage.

The bustling crowds, the torrential rain in August made Bianjing a country of Ze, but now that all the disasters have passed, Bianjing City is the bustling and lively Bianjing City that it was back then.

Zhang Yue was walking on horseback when he suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats behind him.

"Give it up, save it!"

Zhang Yue turned his head and saw that it was Han Zhongyan.

Zhang Yuele stopped his horse.

Han Zhongyan reprimanded: "Duzhi, why don't you leave without saying goodbye?"

Zhang Yue said: "It doesn't count as leaving without saying goodbye. I live in the suburbs of Bianjing. You can come to see me whenever you are free. I'm just afraid that you will be so busy in the future that you will look down on me, a grass-roots person."

Han Zhongyan glanced at Zhang Yue up and down, laughed and cursed: "Who are you beating around the bush? Am I, Han Da, the kind of villain who flatters the high and tramples the low? Apologize to me, or I will make you look good."

Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Okay, Mr. Han, it's because I'm out of control. I'm sorry, but I came here to see me off."

Han Zhongyan smiled and said: "Who sent you here? Yes, I just heard about the Northwest Victory Report. Wang Shao recruited [-] people in the ancient Weizhai. Now he has asked the imperial court to change the ancient Weizhai to set up a village. military."

"Duzhi, do you know how many years the imperial court has not expanded its borders? If the establishment of an army is successful, this matter is worthy of special credit. Not only did Wang Shao receive a reward, but you recommended Wang Shaozhi People also have merit, and once the officials are happy, they don’t have to dismiss them.”

"I have come to tell you this in a hurry."

Zhang Yue smiled when he heard this, not for himself, but for Wang Shao.This person really came out this time, and made such a great contribution, there must be a reward.

Zhang Yue said: "I told you that Wang Shao looks like Ban Dingyuan, but now you believe me, right?"

Han Zhongyan laughed loudly and said: "I believe it, I believe it, Duzhi, you are really discerning. Where did you find such a powerful person, who can make such contributions in both literature and martial arts."

Zhang Yue said: "How can I teach you the ability to know people?"

The two chatted and laughed, Han Zhongyan said: "Daddy said that he will recommend you to the officials for reinstatement, you don't have to go first, just wait here for a while, maybe there will be a decree."

After hearing this, Zhang Yue thought to himself, what if the emperor uses himself again at this time?
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue looked in the direction of the palace.

At the moment, among the three divisions, Han Jiang and Cai Jing are talking.

Cai Jing reported the operation of the Exchange to Han Jiang one by one. In fact, in the past few years, Zhang Yue has almost been a hands-off shopkeeper, and Cai Jing has single-handedly handled all matters in the Exchange.

After Cai Jing finished speaking, Han Jiang admired his shrewdness and ability and said, "Yuan Chang is really a genius. I really wish I knew Yuan Chang three years earlier."

Cai Jing was overjoyed from the bottom of his heart, and said modestly on his face: "What skills do you have as a subordinate, all of this was taught by Zhang Panjian."

Seeing that Cai Jing didn't take the credit for himself, Han Jiang admired Cai Jing even more for his own initiative.

Han Jiang immediately asked Cai Jing to sit next to her and said, "Do you intend to make further progress in your career?"

Cai Jing lowered his head to hide the ecstasy in his heart and said: "From now on, Yuan Chang will only follow the orders of the Prime Minister."

Han Jiang nodded and said, "Then I will be your host from now on."

Cai Jing was so excited that he almost trembled all over. He knew that because of Zhang Yue's recommendation, he had gained Han Jiang's appreciation and trust, and a road to success was slowly unfolding in front of him.

And at the moment in the palace.

After hearing Han Qi's words, the officials said: "At present, peace talks are still the most important thing. If we exaggerate the side's merits, it will make the side generals have the desire to provoke. The establishment of the army in the ancient Weizhai is also temporarily let go."

"From my point of view, it's just the two of you, Wang and Wang, who are the ones to praise Cai."

Both Han and Wen were taken aback. Such a great contribution is just to write an imperial edict to reward them?

Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, if this is the case, I'm afraid it will chill the hearts of the border ministers to serve the country."

The official said: "I understand what Han Qing said, and I didn't say that I won't reward it now. I will find another reason to reward it later. Now it is necessary to negotiate peace with the Xia people as soon as possible."

Having said that, the officials waved their hands and said that there is no need to discuss any more.

Han Qi insisted: "The two kings and kings can be rewarded slowly, but His Majesty, with Zhang Yue's talent, let him be dismissed like this. Is the court probably losing a talent?"

The official said: "Talent? The most indispensable thing in this dynasty is talent. According to my opinion, Su Shi's talent is better than Zhang Yue, and Fan Bailu and Li Qingchen who made the election this time are also talents."

……

After Zhang Yue looked back from the palace, he said to Han Zhongyan: "Shi Pu, do you read too many dramas and think that every emperor can distinguish between loyalty and treachery at the last moment and repent?"

"Maybe they also know who is a traitor, but even if they know that they are wrong, they will not change it, because they think that there are so many talents, and the lack of one of you is just a drop in taicang. Since I want to be an official, I will start from the first. Tell yourself from day one, don't take yourself seriously."

Han Zhongyan said anxiously: "Duzhi...are you really not going to wait?"

Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Master and servant, thank you for your kindness. With my current temperament, I will never be called back."

After speaking, Zhang Yue immediately clasped his fists at Han Zhongyan and rode away.

Han Zhongyan heard Zhang Yue suddenly let out a long chant: "If you want to cross the Yellow River, it will be blocked by ice, and you will climb the snow-covered Taihang Mountains."

"I came to fish on Bixi in my spare time, and suddenly I dreamed of riding a boat to the horizon."

"It is difficult to travel, it is difficult to travel, and there are many wrong roads, where are you now?"

Han Zhongyan watched Zhang Yue's back go away immediately, and after an unknown amount of time, a servant sent a letter.

After reading the letter, Han Zhongyan whipped his horsewhip vigorously in the air and said, "It's amazing, it's exactly as he expected."

Ps: Historically, the Battle of Dashun City was fought in April of the third year of Zhiping, about half a year earlier.

(End of this chapter)