Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

Wang Dan cupped his hands, "Your Majesty, my lord, I think it's inappropriate."

"Oh? Prime Minister, do you think the Eight Sage King's method won't work?"

"That's not true. The method is feasible, but it's not right."

"Not right? What do you mean by that?"

"Your Majesty, my lord, the memorial table brought by the Liao envoy was submitted in the name of Emperor Liao, and it was clearly stated that he wanted to borrow [-] yuan. If I reply to the exchange, it will be tantamount to changing the request for the memorial table. Emperor Liao will also feel that I have refuted his face, and the intention of the Liao Kingdom is to get something for nothing, and if he is asked to provide an equivalent fur, the minister thinks that the Liao Kingdom will not agree."

Zhenzong snorted, "I asked them to exchange some furs for [-] yuan, which is enough face. How can it be their turn to disagree! My Song Dynasty abides by the covenant, even if I don't borrow it, I will never be wronged. He, Han Derang, dares to really start a war with me, Da Song, for the [-] yuan!"

Wang Qinruo hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, there is no way to start a war. Sixty thousand dollars is small, but abandoning the covenant is big."

"That was also provoked by the Liao Kingdom!" Zhenzong slapped the table and said, "Answer the Liao envoy, only exchange or not, if you don't want to, let's meet with swords! Order the generals of the border town to reorganize the army!"

"Your Majesty!" Wang Dan hurriedly said, "You must not answer like this!"

"Now my Great Song Dynasty has many soldiers and many generals, and the people are rich. I am not afraid of going to war!"

"Your Majesty! I have a solution!"

Upon hearing this, Zhenzong, Defang and Wang Qinruo all looked at Wang Dan, and Wang Dan said, "Your Majesty, my minister's method is to show the benevolence of our dynasty and destroy Han Derang's prestige."

"Oh?" Zhenzong asked, "What is the prime minister's trick?"

"Lend [-] yuan to the Liao Kingdom, but it must be explained that the [-] yuan will be deducted from the next year's money."

"Deduction..." The three of Zhenzong thought about it, and suddenly they all understood, Zhenzong said, "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Defang also nodded with a smile, "In this way, the [-] yuan lent to the Liao Kingdom will not lose my Great Song Weide, nor will I lose a penny. If the [-] yuan is taken to the Liao Kingdom, it will make Han Derang feel ashamed. ,Hahaha"

Wang Qinruo also hurriedly echoed, "Prime Minister is smart! Smart!"

"Okay! Just answer Liao envoy like this!"

"Your Majesty," said Wang Dan, "I still have other options."

"Host move?" Zhenzong looked at Wang Dan, "What does the Prime Minister mean?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, as Lord Wang said, the 30 yuan is nothing more than a piece of snow to my Great Song Dynasty, but it can be used to show the demeanor of my great country. When I deliver the money and silk next year, I can tell the Liao envoy The [-] yuan will still be given to them, and the [-] yuan will not have to be repaid. It will be used to help the people of the northern kingdom, but..." Wang Dan looked at Defang, and Defang smiled and said, "But Just this once, never as an example.”

Zhenzong laughed and said, "The prime minister is brilliant! Hahaha"

After the discussion, Zhenzong sent people to reply that the Liao envoy could borrow 30 yuan, but it would be deducted from the [-] yuan in the next year. The Liao envoy had to return to Liao to answer truthfully.

Zhenzong was in a good mood, drinking tea with Defang, Wang Dan, and Wang Qinruo in the courtyard and asked, "Brother Emperor, how is Changping warehouse doing recently?"

"Return to Your Majesty, everything is going well. So far, 30 dendrobium beans and 30 dendrobium wheat have been collected from various places, and they have all been transported to Beijing warehouse."

"Excellent! Brother Huang has done a great job, and I will definitely reward you!"

"I dare not ask for rewards for what I should do."

"That can't be done, it must be done, hahaha." Zhenzong was very excited, and held a banquet and drinking in the evening, so he had a good time.

In October, Chao Jiong, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, presented the "New Qualifications for Jinshi in the Examination", and the imperial court issued an edict to promulgate it.In the middle of the year, Emperor Yelu Longxu of the Liao Dynasty arrived in Zhongjing.