Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 431 81 The Emperor's Son Xu Zhuanzheng-4

"The state of Song has been at odds with this dynasty for hundreds of years, and the Lishe and the 'treacherous' party have also been fighting fiercely for ten years. Chen Dong and others are unwilling to submit to the Cai party, and they also have doubts about our dynasty. This is a natural thing. However, the southeast is in chaos, but relatives are hurt and enemies are happy. I heard that in the land of Hebei, Han clothing was banned and the people were forced to shave their hair, so that the Khitan soldiers on the road killed anyone who had not shaved their hair. They also plundered People in Hebei, tattooed on their faces as marks, were taken to the north as slaves. Because too many Han people were expelled, the price of slaves on Nanjing Road and Jing Road dropped sharply. Kill. The Liao army kills people like cutting hemp. The countryside is barren, the corpses are intertwined everywhere, and the smoke from the cooking is cut off. Even in autumn and winter, the smell is still hundreds of miles away. General Zhao should know that the most important thing now is to prevent the Liao army from going south and sweeping the southeast. Scholars Discussing and criticizing the 'treacherous' party will not make the Liao army retreat. Blindly guarding against our dynasty will not make the Liao army retreat."

Chen Qianli sighed, his words changed from dignified to painful, and continued: "I hope General Zhao will tell Chen Dong and others that there are priorities. The Khitan invasion will not end with the destruction of the Zhao and Song Dynasties, but with the destruction of my Huaxia clothes. Our dynasty It is a sincere helping hand, only to save the people and stop the killing, and has no intention of getting involved, let go of the old grievances between Song and Xia for the time being, and don't let the tragic scene reappear in the southeast."

Zhao Xingde nodded, took a deep breath, and asked, "When are you leaving?"

Wu Jie said in a deep voice: "The Liao army is approaching Jinling. It is not too late. General Zhao will go to Ezhou first and discuss the alliance with Chen Dong. The Eastern Expeditionary Army will be transferred to Shuzhong, just wait for everything to be done. Prepare, the army will start from Baidi City and go down the river to Ezhou." Zhao Xingde didn't have many soldiers accompanying him, only Du Chuijiao and other ten or so old troops.Although it is possible to sneak across Hangu Pass, and then rush all the way to Ezhou, but the northern part of the Song Dynasty is in chaos. In order to prevent mistakes, the General's Mansion arranged for Zhao Xingde to go south to Bashu first, and then head to Ezhou by water. It can avoid the threat of the Liao army to the greatest extent.

After explaining everything, Chen Qianli and Zhao Xingde retreated together, and the two rode slowly.The White Feather Army was stationed on the outskirts of Chang'an City, and as far as the eye could see, farmers were busy everywhere in the fields, driving their horses to plow the fields and sowing seeds in spring.The air is filled with a unique fragrance of the soil in Guanzhong, a scene of serenity, peace and vitality.Thinking of the life and death under the iron hooves of the Liao army, Zhao Xingde was so worried that he just walked with his head down.Chen Qianli frowned thoughtfully.

"Xing Zhi thinks, how is the government of the Kanto compared to the government of our dynasty?" He asked suddenly.

Zhao Xingde was silent for a moment, shook his head, and said in a low voice: "It's quite worse."

Chen Qianli nodded, and added: "Kandong Zhao Song, in terms of population wealth, is unmatched in the world, and it is several times that of Liao. But such a court, how can it talk about benevolence, justice and morality? It even owns No matter how many reasons there are, this court can be regarded as dereliction of duty. Let’s go straight, don’t you think so?” He said in a rather heavy tone.

Zhao Xingde sighed, nodded and did not speak.

Chen Qianli said again: "During the regiment training, there were many refugees from the Kanto region. I was the regiment's envoy and talked with these soldiers from the Kanto region. Only then did I know what it means to be poor and have nowhere to go. Farming My husband can't guarantee two meals a day, and in times of famine, he has to sell his land to borrow money to survive. I heard that rural customers in the Kanto region can rent as much as [-]% of the land if they borrow cattle and farm tools. Zhenzhengu has not left the field , The silk has not been off the plane, it is no longer owned by the hunger and cold, and it is precarious. It is heartbreaking to hear. It is not just the rich in Lianzhou County. As for the land in a county, [-]% to [-]% of the land property does not pay taxes. The so-called scholar-bureaucrats, not only ignore them, but are complacent, thinking that they are benevolent, and the benefits are for the people. On the contrary, the court law has since become "chaos" Furthermore, when the Guandong court proposed to re-measure the acres of land for taxation, the powerful would obstruct it from many sources. From this, it can be seen who gained the benefits of its "chaotic" laws. Farming is the foundation of the country, and the Kanto is based on people. The abolition of the law can be seen from this. If the government is poor and weak, the imperial court has necessary expenses, and those who use the affairs dare not provoke the powerful scholars and bureaucrats. The burden is even heavier. Coupled with all kinds of levy, transfer and apportionment, the ruined and loyal family is like a war. Straightforward, is this the so-called benevolent government?"

Zhao Xingde sighed heavily.He also heard and witnessed what Chen Qianli said, but he always thought that he was weak and unable to change these things, so he gradually became numb.Hearing Chen Qianli mention it today, Zhao Xingde was amazed that Chen Qianli, a native of the Xia Kingdom, knew so much about the bad government in the Kanto region, and felt very worried.The imminent danger is the invasion of the Liao invaders, but the law of the Kanto is lax, and the accumulated evils are like the valley of Taicang.Sima Wenzheng once said that governing the world is like a living room, if it is poor, it should be repaired, and it must be repaired if it is not bad.But now it is like a magnificent palace, the pillars and beams of the corridors have long been eaten away by moths.It has reached the point where the building is about to collapse and must be rebuilt.

"Xingzhi probably doesn't think so. In terms of taxation, my dynasty is far more important than the Kanto. Our dynasty was established in the land of the Fourth World War. There are Ross and Lumei in the west, Dashi and Turkic princes in the south, and Mobei barbarians in the north. , there are Song and Khitan in the east. Since the founding of the country, there has been no war every year. Although the population of our dynasty is only half of that of Kanto, the cost of the state is no less than that of Kanto. But because the law is strictly enforced, the tax burden is even, The lives of ordinary people are better than those in Kanto."

There was no look of self-respect on Chen Qianli's face, and he murmured: "It is said in the Guandong that the scholar-officials and the emperor rule the world together, but Huangzhou Mountain in the Guandong once said that the world is ruled by the people of the world. One person governs the world. Let me add another sentence to him, the world governs the people, and it is not the world governed by scholar-officials. You can bring this sentence to Chen Dong."

Chen Qianli said in a deep voice: "If they can't save the people in Guandong, I will save them with a sword." He paused, and then said, "You just need to know this sentence." He looked at Zhao Xingde and asked , "Whether you are Xingzhi or Yuanzhi, when the day comes, for a better world, I hope you can stand on the side of the people in Kanto."

Zhao Xingde's heart was touched, he looked at Chen Qianli, but Chen Qianli didn't wait for him to speak, he patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "The gathering is short, but we will meet later." He pointed to Zhao Xingde's house in front of him, "Tomorrow morning we will go to war , let’s make arrangements at home first.”

Zhao Xingde nodded, and said goodbye to Chen Qianli, "We will meet later."

Chen Qianli's speech and behavior were very unusual, which made Zhao Xingde feel that he might not be as simple as a simple Chang'an regiment practitioner.Maybe he was just like Wang Yan back then, on the surface he was just an officer of the Hebei Camp, but underneath he controlled the detailed operations of the Imperial City Division in the entire Hebei and even the Liao Kingdom.It's just that Chen Qianli didn't say anything clearly, and Zhao Xingde naturally didn't want to get to the bottom of it, and quickly put this matter behind him.

Zhao Zhuo and Zhao Yong were playing in the courtyard, when he saw Zhao Xingde, Zhao Zhuo threw himself into his arms first, asking his father to lift him up, Zhao Yong also stood aside and yelled.Zhao Xingde satisfied the children's demands one by one, and then let them go.Feeling guilty in his heart, he stepped into the back kitchen.

Li Ruoxue was lifting the lid of the pot with one hand, and picked up the white jade cake that had been steamed in the pot with the other hand, cut it into pieces, and put it in a celadon plate, layer upon layer like a white jade pagoda.White jade cake is the flavor of Bianliang. It is ground into flour, sesame, pine nuts, walnuts, and dill, mixed with sugar and red yeast rice, rolled into rolls, steamed in a pan, and then cut into pieces. 'It's white and delicious, and it's the children's favorite snack.These are the tastes of Bianliang and Luoyang hometown.

In the steaming white mist, Li Ruoxue wore an orchid sarong around her waist, and she had a graceful figure. She heard the sound of the door, and turned around to see Xingde, and smiled sweetly, looking beautiful.Zhao Xingde walked behind her, hugged his wife lightly, did not speak, but tenderness and reluctance constantly surged in his heart.Li Ruoxue seemed to have sensed it, she stopped the man in her hand, and asked in a low voice: "Is your husband going to war again?"

"No," Zhao Xingde said in a low voice, "I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I'll go to Shuzhong first, and then go down to Ezhou by water to meet Chen Shaoyang. After everything is arranged, Madam will take the child and go with the Eastern Expedition Army come over."

"Well," Li Ruoxue's nose was slightly sore, but the corners of her mouth smiled, "Then we will be together soon after we part." Her mind is dexterous, and Zhao Xingde usually explains the situation in Kanto to her, so she guessed Zhao Xingde immediately The intention to find Chen Dong.She whispered: "My husband is going on this trip, don't think about being a concubine." Her heart was turning, but the corners of her eyes felt wet.

The two breathed each other's scent quietly, the boiling water in the iron pot was gurgling, and the white mist filled the room.

............

The south wind was getting warmer, but the Liao army camp was still bone-piercingly cold.The captured monarchs and ministers were held in a row of wooden houses. Song Dynasty officials in Bianliang City sent people to bring food and clothing, and the guards of the Liao Army also gave permission.Although he didn't suffer much humiliation, Zhao Ke's life in this kind of imprisonment was miserable.Knowing that Cai Jing and the others supported King Jing Zhao Qi as emperor, and that many winds in Yingzhou and counties fell to Zhao Qi, he was even more like falling into an ice valley, with bitter wind and rain every day.

On this day, the news came that Chen Dong and Yue Fei first advocated respecting the emperor and not obeying the order of chaos, and encouraged the kings of Qin to welcome back the emperor. Zhao Ke couldn't help being greatly moved, and cried: "Now the country is in a difficult situation. Loyal ministers, only Chen Yue and the two love ministers are just. Hateful, I can't reuse them as soon as possible." He felt that his life was in danger, and he might be killed by Yelu Dashi at any time. After death, the throne would hang in jeopardy, so he bit his middle finger and wrote on the waistband of his underwear. "Chen Dong was appointed as the prime minister and the crown prince and grand teacher, and Yue Fei was appointed as the general of the world's soldiers and horses and the crown prince and Taibao. I hope that the two ministers will work together to expel the northern captives and restore the old mountains and rivers of the Song Dynasty. If I am not lucky, in order to avoid the ancestral temple. The two assistant ministers, Chen and Yue, can choose a worthy person from the Zhao clan to succeed to the throne."

Zhao Ke was in agitated mood, so he wrote this edict.Looking at the bloodstains on the silk belt, his fingertips were tingling, but Zhao Ke felt a little scared.He didn't dare to give it to others easily, he just tied the silk belt inside and never left his side.If you don't wait until you are about to die, or meet a courtier who can be entrusted to you, you will never dare to be seen easily.