Song Gexing

Chapter 233 Two major events while talking and laughing

Ten days later, a tea banquet was held in Daqing Hall, which attracted attention from all quarters. People speculated whether the officials were crazy and held a tea banquet in Daqing Hall.

You must know that Daqing Hall is the most important palace in the Imperial City of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is only used for grand celebrations and the great court gatherings on the first day of the first lunar month every year.

But this time, a fun banquet like a tea banquet was held here, and the students of Taixue and Guozijian were so angry that they were going to convict the palace.

But after the news came out during the tea banquet, everyone looked at each other in confusion, "The most expensive tea appeared in our Song Dynasty again? Is it because of the auspiciousness from heaven, that's why the officials are thanking God?"

The only ones who knew the inside story were the important figures in the cabinet and the Privy Council. At this time, they were admiring, not for the good tea, but for Zhao Paner's skill in ordering tea.

"I've heard for a long time that Zhao Zhaorong's tea-ordering skills are superb, and now I know that what the official said is true!"

Zhao Pan'er resumed her surname as Zhao, and no one would pursue her for not marrying someone with the same surname, because everyone knew that her ancestor's original surname was Liu.

As soon as Fu Bi's admiration stopped, Ouyang Xiu said with a smile: "Zhao Zhaorong is not only capable of this, I heard that she is good at calligraphy and painting, and her dancing is very beautiful, Zhigui, don't you think so?"

The last question was Han Qi, Han Qi rolled his eyes and said: "You ask me who I ask, that is the official's beloved, can I see it?"

Fu Bi laughed and said, "Zhigui's words are so false. I don't believe that Concubine Xian never said that they are good sisters!"

Han Qi really knew that although Han Xue could not return to her natal family, the female family members of the Han family could enter the palace to visit their daughter, and Zhao Fang was very kind to his wife and would not prohibit the concubine's female family members from entering the palace.

Han Xue, Zhao Pan'er, Song Yinzhang, and Li Yuhu grew up together, and they were indeed like sisters. When the female family members of the Han family entered the palace, they would also go to greet them.

In particular, Han Qi's wife Cui was very fond of the three girls. It must be that these three girls have lost their natal family, so the old lady naturally cherishes them.

"Everyone, this man is a man of both civil and military skills. Please keep your voice down."

Wang Yaochen turned around and whispered, and then everyone remembered that Zhao Paner was very skilled in martial arts.

At this time, Zhao Paner's face was veiled, and she was concentrating on making tea in a dignified and elegant manner. The corners of her mouth were slightly raised. It seemed that she had heard it. After all, these important ministers were sitting in the front row.

Zhao Fang's ears became sharper and he glanced at Wang Yaochen with a smile: "Boyong, I have seen the folds of the provinces. Why did you ignore the Qingtang area? I think a Qinghai Province can be set up there."

Zhao Fang wanted to change the road-level units of the Song Dynasty into provinces. In fact, it was an idea a long time ago. It was formally proposed during the reform of the reward system.

But the preparation work has been going on for two years, and it was only submitted by the cabinet a few days ago. The person in charge of this matter is Wang Yaochen.

As for the reason for changing the province, it is actually very simple. In the Northern Song Dynasty, 24 routes were set up in a small area, which was actually redundant officials.

There was nothing that could be done in the early Song Dynasty. Too many heroes needed to be appeased by high-ranking officials and generous salaries, but now that it has been a hundred years, unnecessary positions can be reduced.

Moreover, Xixia was conquered last year, which requires centralized departments to handle emergencies. If it is still at the road level, cooperation will be a big problem.

Therefore, the governor system was once again brought to the forefront last year, and with the addition of Lu Jujian, the guinea pig, who successfully completed the inspection mission, the official position of governor became even more important.

"The officials want to merge Qingtang into the Song Dynasty. Can Tubo agree? After all, Zunsiluo has been loyal for many years. Isn't it a good idea to abolish his hereditary status?" Sima Guang stood up and asked. This was really not his unnecessary worry. , Zusisiluo is just surrender, not an unconditional willingness to be annexed.

Zhao Fang raised his hand to let him sit down, and said with a smile: "Junshi doesn't have to worry, he has already sent someone to discuss this matter with him, we can't be ruthless, I understand the truth."

Sima Guang was puzzled and asked curiously: "Could he agree?"

Without waiting for Zhao Fang to answer, Han Qi smiled and said: "Don't worry, Junshi. He is old. The biggest problem he faces is that none of the three sons can support themselves independently. The three sons have been fighting with each other for a long time. He I’m so fed up, but there’s nothing I can do about it, the palms and backs of my hands are full of flesh.”

Zu Siluo has more than three sons, but there are only three capable sons, and they don't deal with each other. Everyone wants to succeed their father's position, which is a typical example of great ambition but little talent.

In history, the great situation created by Giusiluo was wasted away in the hands of these three brothers to make wedding clothes for others.

Moreover, two of them colluded with Xixia to oppose the Song Dynasty, but Wang Shao and Li Xian were shortchanged. This problem was actually known to Zusiluo when he was alive, but he just couldn't deal with it.

As his designated heir, Dong Felt, without his talent, could not convince the public, resulting in the two younger brothers each having their own power.

This was actually a headache for the Song Dynasty. Until the Xixia annihilation last year, the Song Dynasty eliminated the biggest threat to the west, freeing up its hands to deal with the Tubo forces.

However, Zhao Fang could not forget the outstanding contributions he had made to the Song Dynasty over the past 30 years, and he did not dare to forget him. He did not want to be remembered in the history books as a person who repaid kindness with hatred.

Therefore, he sent someone to Huangzhou to meet with Xisiluo, and told him the truth and allowed him to make a decision while he still had the ability to restrain his sons.

Fully surrendering to the Song Dynasty, making Tubo a province, giving up political power in exchange for a hereditary title and salary, Zhao Fang changed the rule that the title of the Song Dynasty cannot be permanently hereditary for him.

Zusiluo was tempted. His title was Wangjue, the King of Xiping conferred by the Song Dynasty. Zhao Fang also promised that he could keep a thousand guards in the palace.

There is another place that is treated in the same way, and that is the Yang family of Bozhou. However, the title of the Yang family is not that of king, but that they are canonized as Dukes of the country.

Zong Siluo agreed, and is currently handing over to the Song Army, but it has not been completed yet, and the court has not received a clear report.

The same goes for Bozhou. Yang Tian rushed to Bozhou himself. It would have been better for Yang Wenguang to go, but Yang Wenguang led his army to confront the Khitan and could not escape.

As mentioned above, the current head of the Yang family in Bozhou is the son of Yang Yanzhao, who was adopted by the Yang family in Bozhou. He is actually the biological brother of Yang Wenguang.

The Yang family of Bozhou, which has been hereditary for 200 years, is actually more difficult to hand over power than Xisiluo, but the general trend is such that anyone who is not stupid will understand that this is an irresistible trend.

The Song Dynasty had pacified Jiaozhi for many years, and only the Dali Kingdom was left in the southwest, and Dali Kingdom would never want to fall out with the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, Bozhou's position is not as important as before. Instead, it is surrounded by the Song army. If it resists, it may not be able to fight at all.

Yang Guiqian, the contemporary leader of Bozhou, was persuaded by Yang Tian and agreed to give up power in exchange for the hereditary and irreplaceable title of duke.

Although he can no longer be a local emperor, his glory and wealth have not been lost, and it is acceptable. Who made the Song Dynasty too strong?

(End of this chapter)