Prime Minister

In Qingtang City, the elders were arguing endlessly.

An elder said: "The Empress Dowager Liang of Xixia took advantage of the Song people's attack on Hezhou, and already flattened the Uighurs in Shazhou. If the Xia Kingdom calls again without the support of the Song people, Qingtang City may not be safe."

Another elder said: "The purpose of the people of Song Dynasty to take Xihe River was to make summer, not in Qingtang."

The elder from Aligu's side said: "But the Song people have already reached Taoyang, and if they go any further, Bo Jie will die."

"I see it this way. Send an envoy to Hezhou to mediate. If the Song people refuse, we will retreat, and we will send troops to Hezhou."

"That's right, Song people still rely on us. If we cut off contact with him, where will the merchants go to Xihe for business? Two years ago, the soldiers were recruited, and the business route was cut off. Our Qingtang City was also deserted. Before The monks who respect the Dharma also refused to come, but asked Tuolin Monastery to hold several conferences."

Ali was too strong, he didn't expect the elders to be so short-sighted after the Song people broke through Taoyang and talked about Zhucheng.

After talking for a long time, they finally sent envoys to Hezhou to negotiate.

……

A few days later, several Qingtang Tibetan monks came to Hezhou. Instead of entering the city, they first went to the Baojue Wanshou Temple in Hezhou. After meeting the monks here, they met the prefect of Hezhou Zhang Yi under the guidance of the monks.

Zhang Yi grandly received the Tibetan monks from the Qing and Tang Dynasties.

They proposed to stop fighting, otherwise Qingtang City would dispatch [-] elite troops to attack Hezhou.

Zhang Yi listened to the other party's opinion and said that it was the servant Bojie who attacked first without reason, so he had to send troops to punish him, but since you said so, I need to report to the commander before making a decision.

The next day Zhang Wei sent someone to report to Cai Yanqing in Xizhou City.

At the same time, Cai Yanqing and Li Xian, who were in Xizhou City, received the imperial edict.

It turned out that the imperial court got the news that the Khitan wanted to fight for the land of Hebei, and Yang Wenguang, a famous Song Dynasty general guarding Hebei at this time, died of illness.

At the same time, Jiaozhi knew that the Song army was worried about the Liao Kingdom, and at the same time used troops in the northwest, encroaching on the southern border of the Song Dynasty.

The meaning of the second government represented by Wang Anshi is to ask Zhang Yue and Li Xian to stop using troops in the northwest for a while, and not to easily start a war with the Qingtang and Qiang tribes. support.

After Cai Yanqing learned of this, he immediately sent people to cross the exposed bone mountain, and arrived at Taoyang to report to Zhang Yue.

After Zhang Yue learned of this, he also felt that the imperial court was too long-handed, and when he was about to pacify Taozhou with all his strength, he came to hinder him.

However, at this time, there was a sudden blizzard on Xihe Road, which made the Song army's grain road more difficult, and the main force commanded by Zhang Shen was also trapped on the road.

At this time, the reinforcements did not arrive, which is also where Zhang Yueqi missed a move.

Zhang Yue also didn't mean to twist his head and do it. He will wait for the next time if he can't do it next time. He will make a peace with Bian Sibo on the condition that Taoyang will return to the Song Dynasty and let him punish several leaders who sent troops. Zhucheng and Yigongcheng retreated.

At this moment, Bian Si Bojie faced Zhong Er, Mu Zheng, Shen Kuo, and You Shixiong's army in front of him, and the army of Taoyang in the rear was cut off by the Song army. It was a dilemma.

When Bian Si Bojie was about to fight to the death, Zhang Yue sent someone to make peace.

Before Bian Bojie agreed, the leaders under him kept urging him to agree, so the two sides negotiated a peace in a hurry.

Bian Sibo killed three tribal leaders who plundered Minzhou this time, and finally got the opportunity to retreat.

Zhang Yue immediately left Wang Hou to garrison Taoyang, and led a hundred or so cavalry back to Xizhou.

Zhang Yue braved the snow and arrived at the foot of Xizhou City, but saw that firecrackers were set off inside and outside the city, and the leader had no sense of time when he was outside, and before he knew it, it was New Year's Eve.

"Who entered the city late at night?"

The defenders at the top of the city questioned loudly.

"Are you blind? Didn't you see the banner of Mr. Jinglue?"

"Wait for me to tell my superiors..."

Subconsciously listening to the questions and answers from the upper and lower walls, Zhang Yue was stationed under the horse city in a cloak, covered in heavy snow for a moment.He looked at the bright and dark lights on the top of Xizhou City and muttered, it turned out that it has been seven years since Xining!
……

The first month of the seventh year of Xining.

Bianjing is immersed in the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year.

The common people are still enjoying this peaceful and prosperous age.

The emperor accepted the congratulations from all the officials, but he was not in a good mood. Several princes died early, and it was the eighth year of his enthronement, but he still had nothing to say to his ancestors.

At the same time, the flirting of Khitan and Jiaozhi also annoyed him very much.

Even during the Spring Festival, the officials of the two governments did not rest, and the emperor was not idle. Zhang Yue sent a letter to the palace in an urgent manner, asking the emperor to agree to Pingtao.

So the emperor and the officials of the two governments were forced to 'work overtime' by Zhang Yue's letter, and discussed the matter of sending troops.

"Last year he was asked to fight, but he said he couldn't fight, but this year he said he must fight!" The emperor was even annoyed, "Don't the court have a strategy for using troops?"

Wen Yanbo said: "Your Majesty, it's true that we can't fight. The Khitan army is suppressing the border, and Yang Wenguang died of illness. There is one less general on the side. If the Khitan raises troops at this time, the imperial court will have no strength to fight."

Feng Jingdao: "Cai Yanqing said that Qingtang came to mediate this matter, and he was ready to make a move. It is unwise to take the risk of taking a Taozhou at this time. There are too many troops in these years, and there are rumors among the people that His Majesty's heirs are not prosperous. Heavy."

Feng Jing's words just hit the pain in the emperor's heart.

Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yue ruled the Qing and Tang Dynasties in these years, caressed the Fan people, and there are countless living people. How can we talk about killing too much? Last year when we attacked Taozhou, the people did not agree with it, but this year's attack is a matter of course. Pingzhi. At present, the Taozhou border guards have already betrayed their relatives, and it is time to put down Taozhou in one go."

The emperor said: "If you send troops to Taozhou again, how much will you get?"

Xue Xiangdao, the envoy of the Third Division who was still barely in power: "Last year when we attacked Baicheng, Qinfeng Road was already in dire condition, and people's livelihood in the northwest was also difficult. Now, if we want to fight again, it will cost at least 800 million guan!"

Wen Yanbo said: "Your Majesty, Khitan cross-toed peeping, there were many major disasters and minor disasters last year, so many people are still suffering. How many lives can these 800 million people live? Even if Taozhou is conquered, such a barren land, the imperial court will have to How much does it cost to raise?"

Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yue made an account for the minister before. Before Xihe opened the border, it cost the court 400 million guan every year. After the Xihe garrison and the exchange market, it can be reduced to 300 million guan every year. If Then take Taozhou, where there are many gold and silver mines, and Xizhou, Minzhou, does not need to garrison troops, and can use a large amount of land for reclamation, and the most important thing is to surrender Dong Zhan, so as to lay down a lasting foundation for the future summer."

"If Xixia pacification can save a lot of money, the people of Shaanxi will no longer have to suffer. For the country, we should settle a big account, a long-term account, not just a small account, an immediate account."

The Son of Heaven asked, "What does Mr. Xiang mean, do you still want to fight?"

Wang Anshi said: "I still say the same thing, the minister should be let go, and if it doesn't help, he will be punished later."

Hearing Wang Anshi's words, the Son of Heaven nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I'll give you the money."