Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Yes, my lord." Bai Xiaopeng smiled and cupped his hands, and Defang turned around and said, "Nenger, you and Nangong continue to discuss the matter of collecting grain, and then go to the third department and the household department to check the amount of money and grain carefully. error."

Wei Neng handed it over, "Yes, father, the child will remember."

Defang went out of the mansion and entered the palace in a sedan chair. In the Chongzheng Hall, Prime Minister Wang Dan and Privy Councilor Wang Qinruo had already arrived. Zhenzong said, "Brother Huang, sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," De Fang asked after sitting down, "Your Majesty hastily summoned the ministers to wait. I don't know what request the Liao envoy made when he came to Beijing to make His Majesty so embarrassed?"

Zhenzong patted the paper on the imperial case and said, "The envoy of Liao brought a memorial, saying that the people in the north are poor, but the treasury is not rich, so he wants to borrow money from our court in addition to the 30 yuan given this year. I don’t know whether to agree to their request, but I’m worried that if we don’t agree, the Liao people will use the excuse that we are not a friendly brother country, so as to intensify the hatred of the people of Song and Liao; But if I lend them [-] yuan, I am worried that it will become a custom for them to increase their requirements year by year, so today I invite the three of you to discuss and see how we can answer the Liao envoy."

Hearing this, Wang Qinruo said, "Your Majesty, [-] yuan is nothing more than a piece of snow to my Song Dynasty, and it is nothing at all. I think that you might as well lend it to them, just write an IOU."

"Master Wang," Wang Dan said, "This is a matter of diplomatic relations between the two countries, how can it be decided hastily like ordinary people."

"Prime Minister, what do you mean you don't want to borrow? It's only [-] yuan. If the Liao Kingdom uses this to stir up trouble, the loss will be tens of thousands."

"Yes," Defang said, "the [-] yuan is really nothing, but Mr. Wang, has he ever thought about why the Liao people would send envoys to formally explain this matter for a mere [-] yuan? They definitely didn't do it for this. .”

Wang Qinruo looked at Defang, "No? Dare I ask you, what do you think the Liao people are for?"

Defang ignored Wang Qinruo, turned to Zhenzong and said, "Your Majesty, after hearing that Song and Liao signed the covenant, the generals of the Liao Kingdom were dissatisfied. One of them is that he has recently been asking to send troops to attack Goryeo. He also said that the amount of money and silk given to us by the court is too small and should be increased. If he succeeds, the Liao Kingdom will benefit, and his prestige will double, and even if he fails, his request will be supported by all the generals."

Zhenzong nodded, "This Han Derang is really shrewd, he can benefit anyway."

Wang Dan cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, according to the report from the Ministry of War, the Liao Kingdom has begun to gather troops in the east, and it will be a matter of time before the battle of Koryo. It is a matter of course to increase the money and food, so Han Derang's approach will definitely get the support of the generals." , but the Empress Dowager Xiao and Emperor Liao have to get by, not too much, so as not to fall into the trap, so he will provoke us with a mere [-] yuan."

"Han Derang wants to show off and send envoys to play the watch, but now it is really embarrassing for me, borrow? Don't borrow? How can I take care of my Song Dynasty's face, and let the people of Liao know my benevolence, and even destroy it once. Han Derang's arrogance?"

"Your Majesty," Defang said, "it's better to let the Liao Kingdom exchange [-] yuan for [-] yuan with fur and fur. In this way, the loan can be exchanged, so that the three can be considered."

"Well," Zhenzong nodded, "Brother Huang, this is a good way, so my Great Song Dynasty will not suffer, and the Liao Kingdom will also get [-] yuan."