Compete for the Song Dynasty

Wang Pang and Xue Xiang drank and chatted in the hall, and on the porch outside the hall, Yang Xi, Zhe Kejun, and Zhang Ping also prepared meals on the stone tables and benches in the courtyard.Occasionally they could hear the laughter of Xue Xiang and Wang in the room, Yang Xi turned to look in the direction of the hall, then turned to ask Zhe Kejun: "Hey, you two are more knowledgeable than me, you said that the painting of the young master What kind of talisman is that? Why does it look like a magic trick when he draws it, and the illegal salt seller is gone?" He said with a naive smile.

Zhang Ping looked at Zhe Kejun: "Brother Zhe is more knowledgeable than me, so I'd better let Brother Zhe talk about it."

Both of them are tall men with a height of eight feet. Zhang Ping is 25 and six years old, and Zhe Kejun is in his early thirties. Both of them are Li Dabi.Even when he was sitting there eating, he looked upright and upright.Yang Xi sat with the two of them, looking even more like a little old man.

Zhe Kejun had already finished eating and put down the bowls and chopsticks. He wiped his mouth and said, "Young Master, the drawing is not a spell. I heard you explain it. His is called "trend chart", and those who sell illegal salt are also It hasn’t disappeared. Think about it, the price of our salt is the same as that of Western Xia’s green salt, sometimes even a little lower. People who smuggle green salt can’t make money, so why do they put their heads on their waistbands and do illegal smuggling? About the salt."

Zhang Ping also put down his bowl and chopsticks and said: "Yes, I have also heard that those Xixia people who used to make illegal salt are used to doing jobs that get quick money, and when they can't do the illegal salt, they rob everywhere. The people in the prefectural capitals on the border all ran to Xingqing Mansion to see if they could make a living there. It turned out that rich people hired labor for seven or eight taels of silver a month. Now they only pay five taels and some people are willing to do it. It's worth it."[

While tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, Yang Xi said: "Look, our young master is still smart. I think it would be a waste of talent to let him be a servant. When the young master is promoted, you two will follow suit." He pursed his lips proudly.

Those two people laughed, and Zhang Ping said, "Brother Zhe will be very happy if you lead troops to fight, and you will definitely make great contributions with Brother Zhe." Zhe Kejun patted him on the shoulder: "Don't talk nonsense, let's go!" , let's go for a walk."

Zhang Ping also stood up and muttered: "I'm not talking nonsense. The Zhejia was very powerful back then, and it can still be majestic if we fight again..." Zhang Ping admired this elder brother from the bottom of his heart. You must know that the Zhejia army was at the border back then. People are frightened by the news, not to mention that there is a discounted flower.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a "bang bang" call outside the door.Yang Xi just walked out with the bowl and chopsticks, Zhe Kejun said: "I'll go." While speaking, he strode to the door of the house and asked: "Who is calling the door."

A man's voice outside replied: "Excuse me, is this the residence of Wang Shilang?"

Zhe Kejun opened the gate, and saw a young man standing outside the gate, followed by two attendants, by the light of the lantern on the gate and the moonlight, he could see that he was not dressed like ordinary people.He was holding a small package in his arms, and his clothes were full of holes, making him look extremely embarrassed.

The man who came came opened the door and hurriedly said: "Please tell Wang Shilang, my old friend Li Xili, please see me."

On weekdays, there were occasional people who came to see Wang Pang at night, and Wang Pang always opened the door to meet each other. Seeing that this person came in a hurry, Zhe Kejun must have something urgent to do, so he invited the three of them into the courtyard.It was only after entering that Zhe Kejun saw that the two people following him were even more embarrassed.All three of them seemed to have fought with someone before.

At this moment, Wang Pang is showing Xue Xiang the trend chart drawn by the study, pointing at the same time. In the past period of time, the price of Xixia private salt has fluctuated, and the time corresponding to the high and low points, while combining the laws of the salt production period, to make his own analysis.Xue Xiang was dumbfounded, and Wang Pang's judgment was astonishing. No wonder the emperor regarded Wang Pang so highly, and was about to praise him greatly, when Zhe Kejun came to report that Li Xili had come.

Wang Pang was amused, this is really talking about Cao Cao, Cao Cao is coming!He put away the trend chart and said to Xue Xiang: "Xixia has sent someone, Mr. Xue can meet with you." After that, they came to the hall and asked Li Xili to come in and talk.

Li Xili entered the hall, and the candles in the hall were brightly lit, Wang Pang could see clearly, and saw Li Xili tightly holding a package in his arms, with a tired look on his face, as if he was still in shock.

Wang looked up and down and asked in puzzlement, "What's wrong with Mr. Li?"

Li Xili shook his head. He was depressed this time. This Xixia official was robbed before he left Xixia. The bandits who robbed him only knew he was an official when they saw the document. The two leaders argued about whether to kill or stay some.In the end, Li Xili said that he went to the Song Dynasty to do business, and if the market was successfully established, these bandits could still make a living.After hearing this, the bandits let him go and told him to go to Song State quickly.

Li Xili will definitely be laughed at when he thinks about going back to Xingqing Mansion, and he will not be able to go to Bianjing in Song Dynasty like this.Thinking that Wang Pang was in Yanzhou, he had no choice but to go to Yanzhou to try his luck, and if he couldn't find Wang Pang, he would go to the magistrate Zhongyi again.

He was lucky, there was basically no one in Yanzhou who didn't know Wang Pang Wang Shilang, Li Xili successfully found Wang Pang's mansion after being instructed.This is what happened in the past, but how can this be told to the king?

Wang Bang saw that Li Xili had something to hide, and it seemed that he had been robbed.Wang Pang smiled and stopped asking. He introduced Li Xili and Xue Xiang to each other.

Li Xili explained why he came to the Song Dynasty, and Tianming would continue on his way.The three sat for a while, Xue Xiang got up to say goodbye, and Wang Pang sent him to the door. Xue Xiang stopped and asked, "This Xixia man is still hesitating about his outfit, is there some kind of conspiracy?"

Wang Pang laughed and said: "Master Xue doesn't know something, it seems that this Xixia person is against the sky. Even officials dare to rob."

Seeing Wang Pang's certainty, Xue Xiang asked even more puzzled: "Wang Shilang, if Xixia officials are robbed in Song Dynasty, isn't it another excuse for trouble?" [

Wang Pang knew it well, he said with a smile: "Your Excellency Xue, you have to worry, if this person is robbed in the territory of the Song Dynasty, he will come here confidently."

Xue Xiang nodded his head and exclaimed: "It's reasonable, it's reasonable!" After speaking, he turned and left with a smile.

Wang Pang thought about Li Xili's expression, and thought that an old saying had come true: this is what makes a dumb man eat yellow lotus, and he can't tell if he suffers.Although Wang Pang thought the Xixia people were funny, the next day he still prepared his chariots and horses politely, and gave Li Xili a silver tael to go on the road.

Li Xili was embarrassed to accept, and Wang Pang comforted him: "When I arrived in Xixia, I was entertained by Master Li. Now that you have come to Song Dynasty, I am just doing what the landlord wants. What's more, if this matter is done well, it will benefit everyone. "Wang Pang knew that in the future, he would have to make friends with Xixia, and one more friend would lead to more paths.

Li Xili felt useless in Xixia, and took money from Wang Pang. He only wanted to facilitate this matter, so he hurried to Bianjing, and came to visit Emperor Renzong sincerely to discuss the negotiation between the two countries.After the Xixia envoys withdrew from the court, there was another quarrel in the court of Song Dynasty.

This time the opinions were divided into three factions. One group was Han Qi and others, who suggested taking advantage of the unstable situation in Xixia to march into Xixia, and said indignantly in support of Mr. Han; "The Xixia people have always been cunning. If they can attack Xixia, they can avoid future troubles."

The other faction, headed by the current Prime Minister Zeng Gongliang, suggested that they should take this opportunity to do business with Xixia and abide by the border agreement.

There is another group of people, Lord Sima Guang, the admonisher. He waited until the quarrel between Han Qi and Zeng Gongliang was almost over, and then said unhurriedly: "Master Han advocates fighting, may I ask Lord Han to lead the army?"

"You? Humph!" Han Qiming knew that Sima Guang had led his own army, but he had nothing to say. Han Qi was a military general among civil servants, and a civil servant among military generals. This situation was enough to embarrass him. It's the prime minister of a country. Could it be that he let himself lead the troops himself?

Sima Guang turned his head to look at Zeng Gongliang: "Master Zeng advocates opening up business. If we do business like this, won't the Xixia people think that I, Song, are easy to talk to."

Zeng Gongliang looked at Sima Guang, what was Sima Guang going to do, he didn't like Sima Guang in his heart, Sima Guang belonged to the kind of "bored donkey".But I just sat in the position of prime minister, and my buttocks are not warm yet, so I can't make too many bad karma.

Zeng Gongliang simply turned his attention to Emperor Renzong, who was frowning and looking at the court.When Han Qi became a teacher, Zeng Gongliang talked about opening up business, but there was no countermeasure for how to get out of the school and how to open up business. He looked at Sima Guang and said, "Jun Shi, there are countermeasures for saying so."

Sima Guang looked left and right and said, "Report to the Holy Majesty, I don't have any!"

After he said this, there was an uproar in the court, and Renzong almost lost his temper, but Sima Guang also said: "I think there must be one person who neither fights nor can take advantage of the negotiation issue."

After speaking, he looked at Bao Zheng, and then at Wang Anshi.Everyone followed his gaze to look at the two.Lord Bao and Wang Anshi were stunned for a moment, and they didn't say anything, but they immediately understood when they looked at each other, and both of them cursed Sima Guang in their hearts: "Our Wang Pang has a grudge against you?"

Renzong looked at Sima Guang's eyes and understood Sima Guang's intentions. He was very pleased with his insight recently. Wang Pang managed the salt affairs very well during his stay in Yanzhou.Renzong showed a rare smile since he recovered from his illness, and immediately passed down an edict: "Urgently call Wang Pang back to Beijing!" He didn't know that Wang Pang had already packed his bags in Yanzhou since he sent Li Xili away.

Seeing that Sima Guang had achieved his goal, he stepped back and stood still. Renzong looked around and asked, "Is the prince still not here today?"Just when Renzong was a little happy, he was splashed with cold water again.

After the court was over that day, several ministers came to Pu Mansion to visit Prince Zhao Shu.

Zhao Zongshi officially established the crown prince.The emperor gave him a new name "Zhao Shu".Although his name was Zhao Shu, he didn't seem to see the dawn.He has been tormented mad by the darkness before dawn, and he is entangled in fear every day. His heart is getting more and more afraid, afraid of the feeling of being about to gain and lose again.Renzong's health turned out to be improving day by day, and the identity of the prince was confirmed, but the throne in his hand seemed to be getting farther and farther away.

Zhao Shu was ill: in the words of modern medicine, he suffered from depression.He didn't even want to sell the mansion, so that he didn't even go to court.

His eldest son, Zhao Zhongzhen, learned that several ministers were visiting, so he hurried outside the mansion and welcomed Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, Ouyang Xiu, Liu Chang and other ministers respectfully into the hall of the mansion, invited the adults to sit down, and ordered his servants to serve tea, Then he turned around and entered the inner house to invite his father: the present prince Zhao Shu.