Aspiring to the Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 226 Set the Northern Expedition

Sanhe County, Youzhou.

At the foot of Jiangfu Mountain, there is a quiet small village called Qingniu Village.

The village is not very eye-catching, but it is known by the Youyan family because there is a person living in seclusion in the village.

It is Song Xiong, one of the Yanji and Song Dynasties.

Youzhou is originally located in the northwest. This land of Yanzhao is a martial arts place, and there have been many generous and tragic heroes since ancient times.

There are very few celebrities who are familiar with a subset of classics and history, but the Second Song Dynasty is an exception.

The prosperity of talent and fame is like no other at any time.

When Song Qi participated in the imperial examination and won the first prize in one fell swoop, the examiner did not dare to write a comment on the splendid essay, ashamed of herself, and immediately became the attendant of Yelujing, the eldest son of Emperor Taizong of Liao and the current emperor of Khitan.

Someone once said that if it wasn't for Song Qi's short-sightedness, she left Yelvjing's servant inappropriate and went to serve as Zhao Yanshou's aide, and now she is an important minister of the Liao Kingdom, how could she have entered the Central Plains, and there was no news at all.

Today, only one of the second Song Dynasty remains.

Song Xiong's reputation became more and more famous.

Many people said that if he was willing to take part in the imperial examination, he would win the first prize in one fell swoop just like Song Qi did back then.

But also because of this attitude of not seeking fame and fame, Song Xiong is even more noble and famous.

Song Xiong strolled along the country road with three packs of potions, feeling really good.

I got together with some old friends today and got some news from the Central Plains.

Guo Tianzi compiled the "Equal Field Map", sent envoys to various places to equalize the land rent, and also gave the official land to the people. He was really happy from the bottom of his heart.

I only hope that Wang Shi can make a northern expedition and regain his homeland as soon as possible.

At this time, a person came towards him, and Song Xiong leaned to the side.

The country road is not wide, so make room for the other party.

Unexpectedly, the two collided into one place, and then something was stuffed in the chest.

Song Xiong was about to speak, but the other party quickly walked away.

Song Xiong was vigilant, and hurried home. After reporting the safety of his mother who was spinning in the house, he just returned to the house and took out the foreign object in his arms.

a letter.

"Brother Song kisses"

These familiar four words, Song Xiong couldn't help moistening his eyes.

At that time, she was young and thought that Song Qi's participation in the Khitan imperial examination was a kind of betrayal, so she cut off her robes fiercely.

After more than ten years, Song Xiong's character became more and more stable, and he gradually understood Song Qi's difficulties back then.

What is the difference between myself now and Xiao Si, Wen Xu and Wei Snake?

"I know, I know!"

Song Xiong said to himself tremblingly: "Everyone says you are short-sighted, but I know that you must be living the most yearning life somewhere in the Central Plains."

He opened the letter tremblingly.

In addition to the similar handwriting, there is also a little content in the letter, and the private matter between the two further proves their identity.

Looking at the scene of the Central Plains described in the letter, and seeing that my best friend has now become Luo Youdu's right-hand man, I am really happy for this friend from the bottom of my heart, and a little bit envious.

Looking at the proposal at the end of the letter to invite himself to the Central Plains, his expression was even more lonely.

"Young brother also wants to!"

"This mother is still here, how can I stay away?"

"But you and my brother, there will be a day when we will meet again."

Song Xiong said with emotion, and tore the letter into several pieces, just in time to make medicine for his mother, just as a fire starter.

In fact, he already had a plan in mind, to serve his mother for a hundred years first.Then he went out to serve in Khitan, and waited for the king's master to go north to cater to the king's master.

Historically, in the third year of Yongxi's reign, during Zhao Kuangyi's Northern Expedition, he persuaded Ai Zheng, the deputy envoy of Yingzhou Jiedu, to give the land of Yingzhou as a congratulatory gift to the king of the Song Dynasty, and thus returned to the Central Plains that he had been thinking about.

Song Xiong concealed it very well, but knowing his son is like his mother.

Mrs. Song still saw a clue.

"Is there something on my mind?"

Song Xiong smiled, surprised and said: "Not yet."

Mrs. Song coughed, her body is still healthy, but she has a persistent heart and lung disease, and she can't stop coughing. She looked at her son quietly and didn't speak.

It's not that Song Xiong can't tell lies, but he can't lie in front of his mother.

Unable to stop his mother's gaze, he explained Song Qi's letter in detail.

A trace of reluctance flashed in Mrs. Song's eyes, but she still said: "Go, my son, don't worry about being a mother. Mother knows you are filial, and you want to wait for mother's hundred years before showing your ambitions. But mother's body can eat and sleep Yes, it’s just that my throat is a little uncomfortable. I have to live for more than ten or twenty years. Could it be that when you are over fifty years old, you want to go to the Central Plains to show your ambitions? Or do you want to be your mother, and now I will fulfill you?"

As soon as Mrs. Song said these words, Song Xiong's face changed drastically, and he quickly knelt down on the ground, saying: "My child never thinks about it."

Mrs. Song helped Song Xiong up, and said: "A good man has ambitions everywhere, as long as he doesn't work for the Khitan thieves. How can mother block your future? If it wasn't for the chaos at the border, it would be too dangerous for you, a scholar, to go south rashly. Mother has already thought about it." I advise you to go south. Now that I have this opportunity, my son must not hesitate."

Song Xiong knew that his mother was strong, if he refused, he might really risk killing her, so he gritted his teeth and said, "After my son establishes a foothold in the Central Plains, I will find a way to bring my mother to the Central Plains."

**********
Kaifeng Imperial Palace side courtyard waterside pavilion.

It is rare for Guo Rong to have time to play chess with Wang Pu.

On the chessboard, the black and white pieces are fighting against each other, and the fight is extremely fierce.

Wang Pu's expression was relaxed, and Guo Rong frowned from time to time, obviously not optimistic enough.

"Losing, losing!"

Guo Rong threw the chess piece in his hand on the chessboard, and said, "Uncle Wen doesn't know how to let me play."

Wang Pu smiled and said: "This is a game of chess, how can there be any reason to give in?"

Guo Rong smiled, chess quality is a human being.

Wang Pu and Xiaqi will give up their pieces quietly, and Fan Zhi will also give up their pieces, but they will leave a small loophole for people to see.Wang Pu just refused to give up, and went all out.

Therefore, Wang Pu is generous and sophisticated.

Although Fan Zhi is honest and upright, he likes to argue for a moment.

Wang Puze has an upright character and is decisive in dealing with things, but he is too rigid in dealing with things, showing his sharp edge, and no one dares to touch him.

As for Luo Youdu.

Guo Rong couldn't see it. After all, he could win with his feet, so there was nothing to say.

"Taxes seem to be doing well this year!"

After Guo Rong was idle for a while, he talked about state affairs again.

Now Wang Pu's position is the third envoy.

The Three Division Envoys were founded after the mid-Tang Dynasty, when the financial administration became more and more complex. The special ministers divided the Duzhi, the Household Department, and served as the salt and iron transfer envoys, respectively managing financial revenue and expenditure, rent and tax, and salt and iron monopoly affairs. .

But in the first year of Changxing, the three envoys were combined into one envoy, called the three envoys, who took charge of financial revenue and expenditure, rent and tax, and salt and iron monopoly affairs.

At this time, the Third Secretary has replaced the Ministry of Households as the cashier of the country's money and valleys, balanced fiscal revenue and expenditure, and became the highest financial officer of the imperial court.

Wang Pu is now Da Zhou's pocketbook.

Wang Pu smiled and said: "After the capture of Huainan, the salt tea in Huainan brought us a lot of tax revenue. Especially for tea, it is even more profitable. In addition to the New Year's coin gifts in Jiangnan, Shu, and Wuping, compared with In previous years, there was a lot more income, and the treasury was indeed much richer."

Guo Rong's eyes sparkled, and he said: "There is also news from the Ministry of Household Affairs that there will be no major disasters in the four directions this year, especially in the Jianghuai area. The weather is good, and it is likely to be a good harvest year."

We have all the money and food.

Wang Pu followed Guo Rong the longest, how could he not know the holy will, and said: "If your majesty wants to make a northern expedition, you have to make preparations after the autumn harvest."

Guo Rong said duplicity: "I'm not in a hurry, it's Youdu who is in a hurry. As early as a few months ago, he secretly planned to take back the land of Yanyou."

Wang Pu laughed secretly in his heart, he couldn't see that the Emperor of the Great Zhou was standing in line.

To go to war, you have to convince the prime ministers in the council hall.

For such a major event, Guo Rong can indeed go his own way and decide with one vote.But if you do this kind of thing too much, you will feel embarrassed.

If it makes sense, let’s say it, and if it’s really not possible, let’s settle it with one word.

Wang Pu Zhengrong said: "I have been paying attention to the Khitan's movements these years. I found that the Khitan's situation is just like what Mr. Youdu said back then. The Khitan is far from being comparable to the powerful enemies of the Central Plains. They are more like the Northern Wei Dynasty and the extremely victorious period. Tubo, but the difference is that the system is more clear, absorbing the strengths of our Central Plains, and retaining their traditions."

"Govern the Khitan with the Khitan, and rule the Han with the Han people. Today's Youyun Land is completely governed in the same way we govern the people, and it has achieved very good results."

"Two years ago, there was a heavy snowfall in Shangjing in Khitan, and many cattle and sheep died. According to the situation in previous years, their strength would be greatly affected. But Youyan transported a large amount of corn, wheat, and rice to Shangjing to help Khitan has overcome this difficulty."

"After this incident, Khitan paid more attention to farming, encouraged the development of wasteland in the territory, and promised that the successful development of agricultural land would be free of rent and tax for ten years."

"Now the Khitan have overcome the environmental enemy that has troubled them for thousands of years with the land of Yanyun."

"Their policies are extremely favorable to the Han people in the territory, even surpassing our own. I am worried that one day, the land of Yanyun will be like the Hexi Corridor occupied by Tubo in the past. The people only have Khitan in their hearts, not the Central Plains. "

"Fortunately, the current Khitan emperor is quite incompetent, and many systems have not been implemented in place."

"If Khitan has a master, there is no need to innovate, just put the current system in place. Within ten years, this terrible situation will appear."

This is the first time Guo Rong heard about it, and said in a deep voice, "Khitan's policy is better than ours?"

Wang Pu smiled wryly and said: "Yes, there is more than one point. We still can't solve this problem. They have a vast land and few people, and they can promise all kinds of preferential treatment, but I, Da Zhou, can't do it. Once we follow suit, the world will be in chaos. Minister It can be foreseen that this system of Khitan has great hidden dangers. Once the population increases in a hundred years, various problems will arise. But within a hundred years, it will indeed have miraculous effects."

"In order to prevent the night from having many dreams, the minister supports sending troops, and we cannot repeat the mistakes of the Tang Dynasty who lost the Hexi Corridor."

"Besides, Datang can bear the loss of the Hexi Corridor, but we cannot bear the terrible consequences of losing the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun for a long time."

Guo Rong was already ready to tell Luo Youdu, but now he heard what Wang Pu said, and immediately said: "Then there is nothing more to say, let's prepare for the Northern Expedition."

Wang Pu said: "Before we prepare, we can create some conflicts with Liu Han in the south and make a false appearance of going south to confuse Khitan..."

　Thank you book friend Qi Shanhai for your reward, thank you for your support!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)