I studied in modern times

Chapter 744: The tacit understanding between Zhao Xu and Wen Yanbo

Renshen (20) in March of the second year of Yuanyou.

Duan Feng, a doctor of the imperial court, officially retired as the director of Chongxi Temple in Jiangning.

This man is a tragedy in the officialdom of the Song Dynasty!
As early as five years ago, Duan Feng had already requested to retire.

I hope to get some salary so that I can support my family.

However, the imperial court resolutely refused!

Therefore, this Jinshi who was a Jinshi in the Qingli period and an official with outstanding political achievements in the past could only wait in line from the age of 69 until now.

Because there was no assignment, he could only receive the salary of an official or an honorary official.

Moreover, he could only receive half of the salary, and his salary was also reduced.

But she has to support a large family and save dowries for her granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

He was an honest official who had been in office for decades but had little savings. His life could be said to be quite poor (considering his status!).

And the reason why Duan Feng ended up in this situation.

The main reason is that he offended two people who should not have been offended.

The first person you should not offend is Wang Anshi when he was young.

It’s not that he offended Wang Anshi himself - Wang Anshi was very magnanimous in his early years, and was far from the stubborn prime minister he later became.

The key point is that he offended Zeng Gong, Wang Anshi's close friend and brother-like person!

In modern times, some people jokingly call Yinxiang, the younger brother of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, the executive vice emperor.

If you offend Yongzheng, you may still have a way out.

But if he offended Yinxiang, even if Yinxiang was magnanimous, Yongzheng would definitely cut him into pieces.

And Zeng Gong is Wang Anshi's Yinxiang.

Unfortunately, during the Huangyou period, Duan Feng tried his best to belittle Zeng Gong.

This made Wang Anshi furious, and he directly wrote an article "Reply to Duan Fengshu" to curse him by name.

We can tell how angry Wang Anshi was from the name - Reply to Duan Feng's Letter, rather than Reply to Duan Jun's Letter.

This is really unbecoming of a scholar-official!

The content was even more explosive, and included some rude threats - Please respect yourself and don't talk about Gong lightly!
Don't be so shameless!

If I see you criticizing my Uncle Zeng again, I will slap you in the face!
The bond between Zeng Gong and Wang Anshi is more than you can imagine.

They were relatives - the grandmother of Wang Anshi's wife, Wu, was Zeng Gong's aunt.

Therefore, in terms of seniority, Wang Anshi is Zeng Gong's nephew-in-law.

At the same time, the first wife of Wang Anshi's younger brother Wang Anguo was Zeng Gong's sister.

So, they are still relatives.

They were also old friends - Wang Anshi's father Wang Yi and Zeng Gong's father Zeng Yizhan were lifelong friends.

They were also classmates and confidants - it was Zeng Gong who recommended Wang Anshi to Ouyang Xiu.

How close is their relationship?
When Wang Anshi's grandmother, parents, and father-in-law passed away, he asked Zeng Gong to write their epitaphs!
Duan Feng offended Zeng Gong, which was even worse than offending Wang Anshi!

When Wang Anshi became a prominent figure, Duan Feng immediately encountered suppression from all sides.

Although he had outstanding political achievements, he remained an official in Beijing.

Everyone around him got promoted, but he was still standing still.

Fortunately, he was lucky.

In the third year of Xining, Ouyang Xiu was appointed as the governor of Caizhou. It happened that Duan Feng was the magistrate of Baoxin County under Caizhou at that time.

What Ouyang Xiu liked most was promoting young people.

So we quickly discovered Duan Xi and strongly supported him in doing his work.

With the support of Ouyang Xiu, Duan Feng cut off the water of the Lu River in Baoxin County and diverted the river water eastward according to the terrain. He also built and dredged twenty ditches to divert the water of the Donglu River to irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland. There has been no famine in Baoxin County since then.

Wang Anshi had to give face to Ouyang Xiu.

So he was promoted to a court official and given power to govern the Xingguo Army.

While serving in the Xingguo Army, Duan Feng continued to achieve outstanding political achievements.

However, soon after, Wang Anshi was dismissed from his post for the second time.

Duan Feng was caught up in a new vortex, and because of his reckless behavior, he offended an enemy who was countless times more terrifying than Wang Anshi - Cai Que!
Wang Anshi was an upright person, but he had a stubborn temper.

But, we can still distinguish right from wrong.

As long as you don't go against him, even if you oppose the new law, Wang Anshi will still promote you as long as you have political achievements.

But Tsai is different.

Cai Que's mind is full of political schemes and intrigues.

If you offend him, don't expect to have a peaceful life.

Unfortunately, Duan Feng was involved in the struggle between the new and old parties in the early Yuanfeng period.

And became a pawn in Wu Chong's hands.

But he was still unaware of it and just rushed forward recklessly.

When Wu Chong was dismissed from his post and the old party was completely defeated, Cai Que began to settle scores.

Cai Que used a bloodless tactic to kill Duan Feng, a pawn crossing the river.

He was first appointed as the acting governor of Taizhou.

This is a good assignment!

Just as Duan Feng happily arrived in Taizhou with his family and was preparing to take up his post.

Cai Que instructed the officials to transfer him to another position - Tongpan of Langzhou!

Taizhou, located in the southeast, is a land of fish and rice.

Langzhou, located in Shu, is surrounded by mountains on four sides and water on three sides.

The most terrible thing was the long journey from Taizhou in the southeast to Langzhou in Shu.

It's obvious that they are here to take people's lives.

Duan Feng also knows how powerful he is.

He immediately wrote a letter, requesting to go to Nanjing Yingtian Prefecture for recuperation on the grounds of illness.

Thus, this official who once had a promising future and outstanding political achievements had his career interrupted.

For so many years, he has been living in Yingtian Prefecture.

Want to retire? No!

Want to send someone on a quest? Then I'll tease you! I'll tease you to death!
It's obvious that they want to play with him within the rules!

This time, Duan Feng was able to successfully retire and even got the coveted position of a palace official in the Chongxi Temple in his hometown of Jiangning Prefecture. He could return to his hometown openly, which was naturally due to his connections with Zhang Fangping.

Zhang Fangping wrote a letter to Zhao Xu and explained the matter of Duan Feng to Zhao Xu.

The person who helped Duan Feng to establish connections with Zhang Fangping was Su Shi's good friend, Zhang Fangping's son-in-law, Wang Gong, the Minister of the Imperial Clan.

How did Duan Feng get connected to Wang Gong?
Because of Su Da Huzi!
From the seventh to the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Su Da Huzi wandered between Jiangning and Yingtian Prefecture, making friends everywhere.

Through an introduction, he met Duan Feng, and then introduced Duan Feng to Wang Gong.

Wang Gong and Duan Feng quickly became familiar with each other. After Zhang Fangping entered the court, he kept speaking well of Duan Feng and asking for policies.

After doing this, Zhao Xu felt helpless.

Because Duan Feng's resume is almost perfect and his ability to do things is also outstanding.

Even among the Jinshi candidates in the Qingli period, he would be ranked among the top 20.

At least his ability in civil affairs is very strong.

But such an official was turned into a useless person because of party struggles.

And, that’s politics.

Zhao Xu could only sigh.

After doing this, Zhao Xu thought of Cai Que in Fujian.

After March, memorials from Fujian began to increase.

Especially after Cai Mao returned to Beijing, Zhao Xu often heard people mention Cai Que.

Obviously, the former prime minister missed Bianliang a little.

Zhao Xu turned a deaf ear and never expressed his opinion.

He didn't want Cai Que to return to Beijing and become prime minister again.

For someone like Cai Que who is obsessed with power, it would be better for him to stay in the local area for a few more years to temper his temper.

Just as he was thinking about it, Guo Zhongxiao's voice came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty..."

"What's the matter?" Zhao Xu asked.

"The Grand Tutor handed over the letter and sent it to the Tongjiansi!" Guo Zhongxiao replied.

"Present it here quickly!" Zhao Xu said happily.

Now, he and Wen Yanbo have developed a very good tacit understanding.

Basically, for many things, Zhao Xu would often give a slight hint, and Wen Yanbo would immediately write a letter to express his suggestions in line with Zhao Xu's intentions.

Then, Zhao Xu followed suit and put pressure on Du Tang.

Force Dutang to do things.

Just like last year, sea salt flooded the city of Bianjing.

The Ministry of Revenue was about to curse, but a letter from Wen Yanbo was sent to the palace, which made the Ministry shut up.

Wen Yanbo did not discuss the abolition of the ban on salt monopoly.

He made only a few minor suggestions.

He said - I have heard that the Rizhao Salt Field in Mizhou, the Penglai Xianquan Salt Field in Dengzhou, the Yinxian Salt Field in Mingzhou, etc. have been producing more and more salt recently. I think that the court should pay attention to this and set up supervisory offices, build cities and towns near these salt fields to facilitate merchants to travel and for the court to manage and collect taxes.

Zhao Xu liked it and forwarded it to Du Tang.

The officials in the capital had no choice but to set up markets in these salt fields.

City has been a commercial concept since ancient times.

In the countryside it is called Caoshi, and in the city it is called Shijing.

After the Song Dynasty, with the development of commodity economy, administrative units such as cities and towns emerged in large numbers.

In addition, people living in cities, towns and towns also have a new identity - city residents.

Households in cities and those in rural areas began to separate.

A clear distinction began to emerge between the two.

For example, households living in urban areas did not pay the two taxes or rent.

They paid commercial taxes and deed taxes (property taxes) - yes, urban residents in the Song Dynasty had to pay property taxes every year.

Therefore, in the Song Dynasty, there was a saying that a thousand-year-old field had eight hundred owners.

The mansions in the city also have no fixed owner.

Once the children are unfilial, even the richest family will fall into poverty.

For example, when Zhao Xu just ascended the throne, didn’t the officials say that they had found the descendants of Empress Dowager Du Zhaoxian?
The direct descendant of the biological mother of Taizu and Taizong.

Decades ago, he left Bian Jing and went to the frontier to make a living.

If it weren't for the new emperor Zhao Xu ascending the throne, the officials would have thought of finding the family of the founding empress dowager to serve as mascots.

In another generation, the Du family will be no different from common people.

Far away.

Back to the issue of salt, after Zhao Xu, through Wen Yanbo's mouth, forced Du Tang to set up newly opened salt-producing areas in Mizhou, Dengzhou, Haizhou, Mingzhou, etc., or those that existed in the past but have now expanded their production scale and adopted the salt-drying method, as "cities".

This is equivalent to officially recognizing the legitimacy of these salt fields.

The salt from these salt fields is allowed to legally enter the market.

At the same time, it was also acknowledged that the local salt workers and salt merchants were city households, and the salt fields were commercial properties such as houses, shops and workshops.

This will separate them from the rural households.

However, there was no designated sales area, nor was there any regulation on the government's salt monopoly policy.

According to the understanding of the Song Dynasty society, as long as the imperial court does not prohibit it, it can be sold freely!

As a result, the officers and soldiers of the grain transport administration and the private salt dealers in the southeast and east of Beijing, who had previously been operating in secret, now openly smuggled sea salt and dried fish to various places and sold them openly.

After seeing these situations, the Ministry of Revenue just lay down.

There is no dispute about whether to monopolize salt or not.

Of course, this was also because Zhao Xu released something that made the Ministry of Revenue salivate - sugar monopoly!
Compared to salt, sugar is undoubtedly more profitable and easier to control.

As long as you catch the upstream, you can collect money without doing anything, and you don’t have to worry about being stabbed in the back and causing social conflicts - no one can live without salt.

But you don’t have to eat sugar.

Does this seem like a disadvantage?

But it is actually an advantage.

Because the commodity economy of the Song Dynasty was well developed, there were many people in cities with purchasing power.

And sugar is addictive.

Once you eat it, you will want to eat it a second and third time.

Since the first month of this year, the hot sales of Bian Jing sugar and frosted sugar have proved the bright future of sugar and its financial contribution.

Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue no longer takes charge of the salt monopoly.

Zhang Heng, with the Ministry of Revenue and the Department of Finance, plunged directly into the sugar industry.

Now it is competing with Kaifeng Prefecture for the jurisdiction of the sugar sales office in Bian Jing.

At the same time, he was also engaged in verbal battles with his relatives by marriage, trying to enact a law to bring the sale of sugar under the monopoly and supervision of the Ministry of Revenue.

……

Guo Zhongxiao came before Zhao Xu and presented the note written by Wen Yanbo to the emperor.

Zhao Xu took it and just glanced at it before he started laughing: "As the saying goes, having an old person in the family is like having a treasure!"

"The Grand Master is truly a pillar of the country and a pillar of the state!"

So, he picked up a pen and wrote a note on Wen Yanbo's note: The Grand Tutor's suggestion is very good. Please ask Duke Shen to convene the ministers to discuss and come up with a specific strategy!

Then he handed the letter back to Guo Zhongxiao, ordering him to copy it and distribute it to the two palaces and the capital.

The main point of Wen Yanbo's note is one thing.

The management problem of the soldiers!
In his notes, Wen Yanbo first reviewed the management history of the Song Dynasty's garrison troops and praised the wise insights of his ancestors.

But at the same time, it was also pointed out that the current garrison troops were in a state of disarray and orders were issued from multiple sources, which was very detrimental to the country and the court.

He then cited his own experience in suppressing the rebellion of Wang Ze in Beizhou.

I believe that if the management of the Song Dynasty’s wing army continues to be in such chaos, something big will happen sooner or later!

Therefore, he asked the court to pay attention to this matter.

The Xiang army can't go on like this!

No longer can anyone be commanded or dispatched at will.

This is exactly what Zhao Xu wants.

He had long wanted to reform the management system of the Xiang Army.

Take back the jurisdiction and management rights of the local garrison troops from those mother-in-law and establish a unified, independent garrison army management organization.

In the past, the timing was not right for various reasons.

But now, with two new economic pillars, one in the south and one in the north, are rising rapidly.

At the same time, Song Yongchen led the imperial guards to scavenge everywhere, allowing the imperial guards in Beijing to smoothly transform into a civil engineering army.

Zhao Xu felt that the time was almost ripe, so he hinted to Wen Yanbo through Wen Yiqing - the country's Xiang army problem is quite serious now! I am very worried! You are the son of the Grand Tutor, can you ask the Grand Tutor on my behalf?
Wen Yanbo submitted the letter within less than three days.

Of course, this old fox is no pushover.

He took the opportunity to ask Zhao Xu for some benefits.

This old fellow is worthy of being called an unshakable figure that has gone through four dynasties and remains standing no matter what the situation is!

This move alone, directly asking for benefits, shows his political wisdom.

Asking for benefits on the spot is equivalent to cutting off the possibility of future rewards.

At the same time, this is also a means of self-pollution to some extent.

This was considered as actively handing Zhao Xu an advantage.

If he doesn't obey in the future, these texts asking for benefits today will be the best evidence of his crime.

Zhao Xu could use this to accuse him of different levels of crimes depending on the situation.

No ministerial etiquette!

Threatening the master!

Not a minister of the country!

Since he was so sensible, Zhao Xu naturally couldn't refuse him.

So, after sending Guo Zhongxiao away, Zhao Xu picked up his pen and started writing the note.

The first note was sent to the Academy.

The former Grand Secretary of Zhaowenguan, Co-Prime Minister of the Secretariat, Sikong, Duke of Korea Fu Wenzhong Gongbi, a veteran of the previous dynasty, served three dynasties, assisted Injo, Yeongjo, and my royal father, and made great contributions to the country and his virtue was known to the world!
My intention is to praise the virtues of the elders and promote the achievements of the veterans.

He bestowed a stele on the spirit road of Duke Fu Wen Zhong with the inscription "Xuan Zhong Shang De" and ordered the person in charge to carry it out, and posthumously bestowed the title of Grand Tutor on Duke Fu Wen Zhong.

This was the first benefit Wen Yanbo requested.

Give old friends praise and treatment.

This allowed Fu Bi to compete for the position of minister in the Xuanguang Hall to worship the late emperor.

This is very competitive.

Because after Wang Anshi's death, someone will definitely be chosen internally - this is now obvious!
So, Lao Wen is indeed a person who can get along with others!

Even though Fu Bi had not gotten along well with him during his lifetime.

But now, the only one who is willing to stand up for Fu Bi and fight for his treatment and policies is Wen Yanbo.

After writing the note, Zhao Xu put it aside.

Go ahead and start writing notes.

This is for the Ministry of Personnel under the Dutang.

Doctor Lu Dalin of the Imperial Academy and Doctor Yang Guobao of the Imperial Rites were both virtuous ministers of the state and famous figures of the country. The Shangshu Province was ordered to record their names in the hall book.

Lu Dalin, needless to say.

He has a very good relationship with Wen Yanbo.

Yang Guobao was a student of Shao Yong. When Shao Yong was dying, he entrusted him to the care of Wen Yanbo.

Over the years, Wen Yanbo has been busy paving the way for Yang Guobao's career.

Now he even put aside his old pride and asked for the grace of exorcism for him.

This was not the first time that Wen Yanbo had demanded policies and treatment for Shao Yong's followers.

Last year, he recommended a large number of mathematicians who had followed Shao Yong in the past to serve as officials in various ministries.

Even for those who were old and unable to work, he asked for grace and stuffed them into mathematics to become teachers.

It has to be said that Wen Yanbo is a person who always likes to take advantage of his seniority and act superior.

But in fact, he is a warm-hearted person.

Of course, his warmth is only directed towards those friends and relatives who are related to him.

Wen Yanbo never shows mercy when dealing with political enemies!
……

Zhao Xu's notes were quickly delivered to where they should go.

The first thing delivered was, naturally, Wen Yanbo's memorial and instructions on the issue of the Xiang army.

Lu Gongzhu took the note and read its contents.

His face turned like bitter gourd.

He has been really busy recently.

I had to rush to prepare for the pawnshop, check the accounts, sort the books, calculate...

He was also busy going to Taoist temples in the capital to pray for rain with the ministers.

It hasn’t rained for twenty days!

Not to mention the ministers, even the common people in Bianjing City felt scared when they saw the water level of the Bian River continue to drop.

In addition to these things, he also had a heavy burden on his shoulders - the portrait of the late emperor in Jingling Palace, although it had been moved from Wende Hall to Xuanguang Hall.

But there is still a grand ceremony that needs to be held - the Shinto ceremony.

So, he had to organize himself and keep an eye on the procedures of the Ministry of Rites.

According to the results of divination by the Ministry of Rites in front of the spirits of ancestors and the previous emperor.

The auspicious day for the sacrifice had already been chosen - the first day of the fourth month.

As the prime minister, he needed to sit with the emperor and participate in the offerings.

There were so many complicated things going on that he was overwhelmed and didn't even have time to breathe.

Now, another task was thrown from the palace.

Moreover, it is an extremely complicated task.

Lu Gongzhu was completely numb!
But, there is no way!

He is the prime minister!

It is his duty to give the emperor 007!
He could only muster up his courage, issue an official letter, and summon the ministers of the two governments to his office to discuss the matter.

……

Wenfu.

In the evening, Wen Yanbo received news from the palace.

The emperor issued an edict to posthumously confer the title of Taifu on Fu Bi, and also gave him a stele with the inscription "Reveal loyalty and value virtue" written in his own handwriting.

At the same time, the emperor also issued an edict, ordering the clerk of the capital hall to record the names of Lü Dalin and Yang Guobao in the hall list.

The old teacher suddenly couldn't stop laughing.

He looked at Fu Shaoting who was beside him.

"Dexian..."

"I have already done what I promised Dexian..."

"You should also keep in mind what Dexian promised me!"

Fu Shaoting immediately bowed and said, "Don't worry, Grand Master!"

"My nephew is already in Luoyang, and has prepared gold, silver, copper coins, and cloth worth millions of strings of cash for the Grand Master!"

"If the Grand Master needs it, I can sell my land, shops, and houses, and raise at least 500,000 strings of cash!"

"Also, I can also borrow from the gentlemen in Luoyang..."

"We should be able to raise hundreds of thousands of guan..."

Wen Yanbo listened and smiled with satisfaction: "Don't worry, my nephew!"

"As long as Shisan Niang can be enthroned as the empress, then I will definitely help you get Fu Wenzhong enshrined in the late emperor's temple!"

Fu Shaoting is a filial son, and this is what he pursues.

The current emperor bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Grand Master!"

……

Yitian opened the window of the meditation room and looked toward the towering iron tower of Kaibao Temple.

His heart felt a little heavy.

It has been nearly two months since I left the country.

It has been nearly a month since I came to Bian Jing.

But he only met the Emperor of Song Ting once, and it was a ceremonial visit!

There was no response to his letter, which made Yi Tian extremely anxious and he felt very uncomfortable in Kaibao Temple.

However, Song Ting has strengthened his control over him this year.

He is not allowed to leave Kaibao Temple!

Even in Kaibao Temple, activities were restricted to this "Zen courtyard".

As for the reason?

No reason!

He couldn't even meet with senior officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple.

In the past ten days or so, he has even been forgotten.

There was not even an official to question him.

This made him even more impatient!

It is already the end of March. The ice and snow in Goryeo should have melted long ago, and even the roads should have been hardened by the sun.

And since he entered Bian Jing, it has been sunny.

I imagine the same would be true for Goryeo.

Therefore, it is estimated that they cannot rely on the floods in Goryeo in spring and summer to use water instead of soldiers to delay the Liao army's attack.

Therefore, Kaifeng must have been surrounded.

Although the walls of Kaifeng City were strong, the food reserves in the city were enough to feed the defenders for two years.

However, this time when the Liao people attacked, they mobilized a large number of Han craftsmen.

Pyongyang fell under the bombardment of hundreds of catapults day and night.

Can Kaifeng withstand it?

If Kaifeng fell, they would have no choice but to continue retreating southward to Nanjing and Hanyang.

If Hanyang fell again, they would have no choice but to continue heading towards Tokyo Gyeongju (now North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea).

Thinking of this, Yitian couldn't help but put his hands together and sighed: "Amitabha, may the Buddha bless you!"

At this time, the voice of the young monk who came with him came from outside the door: "Master, the Hanlin scholar of the Song Dynasty, Xing Shu, wants to see you."

Yitian was immediately excited, with a look of joy in his eyes, and he quickly said, "Please come in!"

Since arriving in Bian Jing, his activities have been restricted.

However, relying on the gold, silver and other valuables he brought with him, as well as his title as the chief monk and prince of Goryeo, he was able to learn a lot about the inside story of the Song Dynasty court from the monks of Kaibao Temple.

Among them, the most crucial one is that the current diplomatic affairs of the Song Dynasty are basically under the charge of Hanlin Academician Xing Shu.

Especially negotiations!
This Hanlin scholar has enormous power!
Because he could directly ask for and receive orders from the Emperor of Song Dynasty.

……

Xing Shu hummed a little tune and slowly came to a Zen temple south of Kaibao Temple.

As the saying goes, the spring breeze brings joy to horses' hoofs.

Xing Shu is very proud now.

Not only did they achieve a breakthrough in diplomacy with Liao, but the two countries reached an agreement to exchange silver for Jiaozi, and the hundreds of thousands of pieces of old cloth stored in the Fengzhuang warehouse were expected to be sold out at once!
He also achieved results in diplomacy with Tubo.

Not long ago, Xihe reported that Jie Wagou, the son of Gui Zhang who had fled to the West Sea, had agreed to bring his more than 100,000 young and strong men down the mountain and submit to the Song Dynasty.

And Jie Wa's surrender letter was officially sent to the capital yesterday.

The people who facilitated Jie Wachu's surrender were Xing Shu and the abbot of Kaibao Temple, Jin Zongchi, the master of translating Buddhist scriptures of the Song Dynasty.

In the first month of this year, after returning to Beijing from Huainan, General Jin began to cooperate with Xing Shu to persuade Qing Yi to surrender and form a ghost chapter.

This monk is really powerful!
He is indeed a great Tantric monk from India!
After meeting Qing Yi Jie Gui Zhang, within a few days, he successfully persuaded Qing Yi Jie Gui Zhang to become his disciple and insisted on following him to practice.

Then, everything fell into place.

Qing Yi Jie Guizhang immediately wrote a letter to persuade his son to surrender - My son! Stop fighting! Surrender! The Song Dynasty is giving money, food, and temples!

Yes!

The Song Dynasty promised that as long as more than 100,000 young and strong men from the Guizhang tribe surrendered.

Then, the Song Dynasty allowed them to return to Hezhou to live.

And allocated money for them to build a large temple for worshiping Buddha.

However, this temple was not built in vain. In exchange, the Guizhang tribe had to accept the registration of citizens of the Song Dynasty and be managed by itinerant officials.

Of course, the Song Dynasty will also respect the customs of the Guizhang tribe.

Within their tribes, they are still allowed to manage according to Tibetan customs and habits.

Only when conflicts or problems arise between the Guizhang Department and the outside world will the officials intervene.

If he can get the Koreans...

Xing Shu felt that it was not impossible for him to be admitted into both governments.

The status of minister of the two governments is more solid than the iron certificate of immunity from death.

after all……

The iron certificate of immunity from death is just for fun.

The safety of the two government officials of the Song Dynasty was guaranteed by the oath made by the emperor before the previous emperor.

In other words, as long as he is appointed as the prime minister of the two governments, all the past will disappear into thin air.

With such a mood, Xing Shu walked into the Zen temple, and under the guidance of the Korean people, he came to a secluded Zen room in the temple.

In the Zen room, a monk wearing a purple robe and looking solemn and dignified was sitting upright on a cushion and looking at him with a smile on his face.

"Amitabha!"

"I, the humble monk Yitian, pay my respects to the Imperial Secretary of the Song Dynasty!"

As he said this, the monk saluted eleven times.

Xing Shu also clasped his hands together in greeting, "Xing Shu greets the Master."

This monk is no simple person.

Xing Shu had already done his homework before coming here——Master Yi Tian

In addition to being a monk, he is also a Goryeo prince.

He is also the younger brother of the contemporary Goryeo King Wang Yun.

"Please take a seat, Neihan!" Yitian clasped his hands together and bowed again, then invited Xing Shu to sit at the top of the table.

Xing Shu sat down and asked Yi Tian, ​​"Master, are you still used to living in Kaibao Temple?"

Yi Tian chanted a Buddhist name and put his hands together: "Thanks to Neihan's care, I am here, everything is fine!"

"That's good!" Xing Shu nodded: "To be honest, Master, I have been ordered by the government to be in charge of the Ministry of Rites, the Honglu Temple, the Chuanyuan Court, the Sutra Translation Institute and other foreign affairs as a Hanlin scholar..."

"I have been busy with other things these past few months and have neglected you, Master... I hope you will forgive me!"

"Amitabha!" Yi Tian bowed eleven times, and regardless of Xing Shu's excuse, he just asked, "So, Nei Han came to see me today because of some happy event?"

Xing Shu smiled and nodded: "To be honest, Master, your country's letter has been read by our Prime Minister and the two Empresses in the Palace..."

Yitian's mood suddenly became tense.

Xing Shu looked at his expression, chuckled and continued: "The ministers in the capital all said: Goryeo is a country in the east of the sea, facing us across the sea. Since the last emperor, we have been on good terms. Now that the Khitans are attacking them rudely, it is only right for us to rescue them. However, the Khitans have a million soldiers, and if we rashly go to war, I am afraid that there will be great loss of lives..."

"Therefore, all the ministers think that our dynasty should send envoys to persuade for peace..."

"The two Holy Lords both agree with this..."

Yitian listened, his heart sinking uncontrollably.

Although he had been prepared for this - the Song court was unlikely to go to war with Liao for the survival of Goryeo.

After sorting out his feelings, Yitian chanted a Buddhist name and said, "Your country is worried, and I can understand it!"

"I only beg the great nation to show mercy and move a large army to the border to contain the enemy..."

Xing Shu shook his head: "To be honest, Master, this is impossible."

"When the army moves, there will be a fortune in gold!"

"Last year, our dynasty attacked Jiaozhi, and we are also fighting with Tubo and Dangxiang in the northwest... We really have no spare energy..."

This is a fact!

Last year's war almost emptied the Ministry of Revenue.

Until now, the hole in Shaanxi has not been filled yet!
The Ministry of Revenue will have to wait until tax revenue arrives this summer before it will have money to fill the holes in Shaanxi's various routes.

At the same time, the severe drought in Huainan almost emptied the money and grain in the southeast.

If it weren't for Mingzhou's ships, hundreds of thousands of dan of life-saving grain would have been transported by sea to Haizhou, Mizhou, Jiaozhou and other places.

It could be even worse.

If Huainan is not properly managed, there will be millions of refugees.

Therefore, the current Song Dynasty really has no strategic offensive capabilities.

Even if he wanted to sell his liver and kidneys to rescue Goryeo, he would be unable to do so.

What's more, it is impossible for the Song Dynasty to fall out with the Liao people over the sake of Goryeo.

In the court, most of the officials had an ostrich mentality - they did not dare to offend the Liao Kingdom, nor did they want the Liao Kingdom to destroy Goryeo.

Just as the government said - they can provide all support to Goryeo except help!
Yi Tian saw this and said the Buddha's name in disappointment: "Amitabha!"

"Last year, when I met the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, he promised to send armor and weapons to aid Goryeo... He also sent a navy to deliver hundreds of armors, bows and crossbows to our country..."

"Unknown Great Song, are you willing to continue to provide me with armor and bows and crossbows?"

Last year, the armor and weapons delivered to Goryeo played a role in the defense of Pyongyang.

But the quantity is too small!

It's of no use at all!

Almost in an instant, it was swallowed up by the Liao people's powerful bows and crossbows.

Xing Shu chuckled: "Your Majesty, the Emperor of our dynasty always keeps his word!"

"But it seems that none of the conditions that Master promised on behalf of your country in front of the Emperor have been implemented!"

Yi Tian bowed eleven times and said, "At that time, His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty promised to send an envoy to mediate..."

Xing Shu smiled and said, "My lord did send an envoy to the north to explain the situation to the Liao lord and persuade him to withdraw his troops with benevolence and righteousness..."

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "What can I do if the Liao Lord won't listen?"

The subtext is - anyway, the Song Dynasty did it.

Now it was the Koreans' turn to fulfill their promise.

As for the Liao people not listening to advice?
That’s the Liao people’s problem!
It has nothing to do with the Song Dynasty!

Yitian looked at Xing Shu's smiling face, and anger suddenly rose in his heart.

He suppressed the urge to beat up this shameless Song court official and said helplessly, "If that's the case, then my country is willing to agree to all the conditions we had in the past!"

Open the ports to facilitate the travel of Song Dynasty merchant ships.

Laws were established requiring officials to increase the intensity and speed of rescue efforts when Song Dynasty ships encountered shipwrecks.

At the same time, it provided convenience for Song merchants to enter and exit Goryeo ports and cities.

They also ceded an uninhabited deserted island on the sea, which was used by Song Dynasty merchant ships and merchants to dry their goods and avoid storms.

Xing Shu smiled, looked at Yi Tian, ​​and said, "In that case, our dynasty wants to be your vassal state..."

"Tamra Kingdom!"

Tamluo, also known as Danluo, once paid tribute to the emperor of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty.

Later it was conquered by Silla, which named its king Star Lord.

At this moment, Yitian looked a little flustered.

Because he could never have imagined that the Song State in the Central Plains actually knew that Tamra was a vassal state of Goryeo.

And this is a very taboo thing.

because……

There is only one sun in the sky!

Goryeo, as a vassal state of Song and Liao, was quietly establishing its own tribute system.

This is equivalent to a concubine being caught cheating by her husband.

The adulterer was caught red-handed!

Fortunately, Yi Tian is an eminent monk, and eminent monks are people with profound Buddhist knowledge.

Therefore, after a moment of panic, he immediately bowed his head and said without changing his expression: "Amitabha!"

"Goryeo is willing to cede Tamra to the Song Dynasty as a place for Song merchant ships to dry their goods and take shelter from the rain!"

Although he doesn't know.

What use would the State of Song in the Central Plains have for an island in the sea far away in the southwest of Goryeo?

Logically speaking, it should provide a place to dry goods and shelter from storms for ships traveling between Goryeo and Central Plains.

Shouldn't we choose Baiyi Island, which is across the sea from Dengzhou, or one of the islands off the coast of Kaifeng?

Why did you choose Tamra in the southwest sea area?

But never mind!

If Zhongyuan likes it, give it to them!
Anyway, the island is no longer in the hands of the Koreans.

Yitian looked at Xing Shu and said, "There is just one thing I need to tell Neihan."

"Ok?"

"To be honest, Neihan, Tamra is no longer ours!" Yi Tian bowed his head and said, "Last year in August or September, the Khitans broke into Pyongyang. Their Pyongyang Recruiting Envoy Xiaobudaya led his ships to plunder southwest along the coast and seized Tamra..."

"Although our navy tried its best to fight, because the main force of the Liao army was approaching Kaifeng at that time, our navy had no choice but to defend Kaifeng..."

This is exactly the background in which Xiao Budaye can run rampant in Japan with impunity.

The main force of the Goryeo navy was pinned down by the Liao army in Ganghwa Bay near Kaesong.

To ensure water and land connections between Kaesong and Hanyang.

The Koreans could only hide in the waters near Kaesong and defend themselves strictly to prevent the Liao navy from landing from the sea.

As a result, they handed over control of the sea.

Xiao Budaya suddenly felt like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, completely free.

In just half a month, it swept across the entire southwestern waters of Goryeo and opened up a route to Japan.

Then they chased the fleeing Goryeo army and Jurchen mercenaries all the way to Japan.

This marked the beginning of Japan’s nightmare.

"What?" Xing Shu exclaimed.

This was something he had never expected.

"Your country's navy just let the Liao people go?" Xing Shu's eyes were full of disbelief and shock.

Because, in the eyes of the Song Dynasty, the Goryeo Navy was actually a very strong navy.

Otherwise, the late emperor would not have decided to build the two unprecedented giant ships, Lingxu Zhiyuan Anji and Lingfei Shunji.

The purpose was to subdue Goryeo and let the Goryeo people know that the Song Dynasty navy was also very strong.

In the past, the Liao people were always considered to be not good at sailing.

As a result, reality turned upside down.

The seemingly powerful Goryeo navy was actually suppressed by the Liao people on the battlefield?!

If so...

So……

Xing Shu's heart was suddenly no longer filled with frost.

Suppose the Liao navy suppressed the Goryeo navy in Goryeo.

So……

This means that the Liao navy can cross the sea to attack Hebei and Jingdong of the Song Dynasty...

You know, when the Song Dynasty was first established, it was harassed by Jurchen pirates.

For example, the Rushan Stronghold in Dengzhou was established to guard against Jurchen pirates.

The reason why the Jurchen pirates were later pacified was not because the Song Dynasty navy wiped them out.

Instead, the Song Dynasty used diplomatic means to make the Jurchens promise not to invade again.

And the Jurchens kept their promise.

Now, with the new situation of the Goryeo War developing.

The Liao Kingdom actually had a naval fleet that could suppress the Goryeo navy!
Xing Shu's fear of Liao quickly broke out.

And soon he fell into an irremediable situation.

He looked at Yi Tian anxiously: "Master, please tell me the details of this matter!"

terrible!

The Liao people, this landlubber actually went to the sea.

Not only did they go to sea, they were also able to suppress the Goryeo navy, which was considered quite powerful in the eyes of the Song Dynasty!

terrible!
terrible!
If we had not learned this from Yi Tian, ​​the Song Dynasty would probably have to wait for the Liao navy fleet to arrive at the Song Dynasty’s sea borders, and only then would the Liao iron hooves step onto the Song Dynasty’s land from the sea before they would suddenly wake up!
And this scene is more deadly than anything else!

It should be noted that ever since the Yellow River changed its course, the Song Dynasty has been living in fear.

They were afraid that if the natural barrier in the north was gone, the Liao cavalry would be able to march straight to Bianliang.

just now……

The Liao Kingdom had a powerful navy.

Perhaps they don't even need to attack the strong cities and fortresses in Hebei and Hedong.

They crossed the sea and landed directly in Dengzhou, Laizhou, Mizhou of the Song Dynasty, or even went around to Haizhou.

Just thinking about it makes me shudder.

When Yitian saw Xing Shu's appearance, he sighed in his heart, feeling somewhat disappointed.

But he still explained to Xing Shu in detail the battle process between the Liao Kingdom and the Goryeo Navy.

In fact, the Koreans did not lose in the naval battle.

But the Koreans suffered a crushing defeat on land!

Moreover, the Goryeo navy never really defeated the Liao navy.

This is mainly because the main force of the Liao Dynasty’s naval fleet was composed mainly of sailors from the Bohai, Jurchen and other ethnic groups.

The Khitans are not good at sailing.

But Bohai and Jurchen are maritime peoples in East Asia.

Their ancestors have been making a living as pirates for generations.

Now they follow the Liao people to fight against Goryeo, make money from Goryeo, and even go to Japan to make money.

Not to mention how happy I am.

However, Yitian omitted this section.

At the same time, it also elevated the results of the Goryeo naval battle.

It said something like, "We fought several battles with the Northern Barbarians and won every battle. Hundreds of the Northern Barbarians' ships capsized."

However, Xing Shu didn't believe a single word of it.

Because the fact is, despite Yi Tian's praise for the Goryeo navy, it has been winning.

But its main force has been retreating continuously.

Now, they have retreated from Pyongyang to the sea off Kaesong.

Even many islands in its southwestern waters were lost.

Therefore, even if Yi Tian did not lie.

But strategically, the Goryeo navy had lost the initiative.

They were forced to defend and could not attack.

On the contrary, according to Yitian's introduction, the Liao navy was just like Nezha who caused trouble in the sea in the folk legend, stirring up trouble in the Goryeo Sea.

……

Coming out of Kaibao Temple.

Xing Shu was completely confused.

As soon as he returned to the imperial city, he immediately handed in a letter asking for an audience.

When Zhao Xu received the note of pardon, he frowned when he read the contents.

"Military and national affairs?"

"Xing Shu went to see Yi Tian once, and he was so anxious to see him, and he even talked about military and national affairs?"

"Could it be that the war between Goryeo and Liao has come up with new tricks?"

So Zhao Xu immediately ordered Feng Jing to take Xing Shu to the quiet room in the east hall.

He slowly drank a cup of honey drink cooked by Wenxunniang, and then walked to the quiet room.

A quarter of an hour later, Xing Shu was taken to the quiet room.

As soon as Zhao Xu saw him, he sensed the objection and asked, "What's wrong, Master?"

Xing Shu fell to his knees in front of Zhao Xu with a thud: "Sir, something terrible has happened!"

"The Northern Tartars now have a capable navy!"

As he spoke, he told Zhao Xu the explosive news he had learned from Yi Tian.

After hearing this, Zhao Xu was completely stunned.

Liao Dynasty?

Khitan?!
You tell me, they went into the sea?!
This completely goes against common sense!
It is also something that breaks cognition!
This was something Zhao Xu had never expected!
But all this was actually done by Zhao Xu himself!

Originally, the Liao Kingdom could not even think of attacking Goryeo, let alone organizing a navy.

After experiencing the roars of Yelu Chongyuan and Yelu Yixin.

The internal contradictions in Liao became increasingly serious, and the ruling class was at odds with each other and increasingly divided.

The old emperor Yelu Hongji is already old and just wants to smooth things over.

The Crown Prince Yelu Yanxi was too young, and because his father Yelu Jun and grandmother Xiao Guanyin both died at the hands of Yelu Yixin, his existence was simply a nightmare for those people promoted by Yelu Yixin within the Liao Kingdom!
With a Liao Kingdom like this, let alone expansion.

Even the ability to organize and mobilize may have been lost.

but……

Unable to resist the great man Zhao Xu who came from heaven, he gave three million strings of Jiaozi to the Liao Kingdom!
These three million Jiaozi immediately activated the entire Liao Kingdom.

At the same time, it also solved the problem of internal cohesion of the Liao Kingdom.

What’s even worse is that Zhao Xu also sold a large number of cheap basic commodities, including old tea and inferior tea, to the Liao people.

Even during this process, Yelu Ju and others took a lot of kickbacks.

But these commercial goods were actually injected into the body of the Liao Kingdom.

This is equivalent to a patient with hypoglycemia being given a bottle of glucose.

All of a sudden, the Liao Kingdom became vibrant.

But Yelu Hongji's personality made him a generous king who loved to spend money.

He took the Jiaozi given to him by Zhao Xu, bought commercial goods, and spent money lavishly on the Bohai and Jurchen tribes.

Hundreds of years later, Chiang Kai-shek's silver bullet magic was used by him in the Middle Ages.

Under Yelu Hongji's lavish spending, the Bohai and Jurchen tribes all had doubts.

But he couldn't help but board the Liao ship.

Then he followed the Liao people to fight against Goryeo.

A series of chain reactions are thus unlocked.

In the end, before and after the Battle of Pyongyang, the Liao people relied on their original navy and the surrender of sailors from Bohai and Jurchen tribes, and managed to piece together a usable navy!

I can only say that it’s fate!

(End of this chapter)