Song Yi

Chapter 414

After taking their seats, Wang Gui glanced at him, bowed his hands in the direction of the palace, and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Everyone, yesterday the new emperor succeeded to the throne, and the empress dowager listened to the government behind the curtain. After his death, to deal with the funeral, the Empress Dowager ordered Mrs. Cai and the real minister to deal with government affairs and military affairs together with the two lords. For the sake of rights and interests, many things were not handled in time, so many things were delayed. So this meeting was held temporarily, and the last one was dealt with first. Urgent matters, the rest will be dealt with in the regular meeting later. Today’s agenda..." He picked up a piece of paper from the table next to him and glanced at it, and said, "There are six items in total."

The first issue was proposed by the Ministry of Household Affairs. The new emperor ascended the throne and proposed to exempt the taxes owed by Yuanfeng six years ago to show the emperor's favor.The second item is also a proposal from the Ministry of Household Affairs, so let's discuss it together. At the end of last year, the famine in Hedong and the flood in Hebei destroyed countless houses of people in Mingzhou and other places.There is not enough food for disaster relief, and the Ministry of Households proposed to add more money for disaster relief. ——Let the people from the household department come in! "

The recorder at the door hurriedly agreed, got up and went out. After a while, the Minister of the Household Department came in with two officials, and sat down after saluting.

It is a common practice for the new emperor to grant amnesty to the world. The content of amnesty includes not only pardoning or mitigating the guilt of certain criminals, but also pardoning taxes and corvees.Therefore, the first item, which had no research, was passed unanimously soon.

Then, Minister of the Ministry of Finance briefly described the situation of the disaster, and then the two officials read the plan to add money for this year's disaster relief.

After reading, Wang Gui asked, "Please express your opinions."

According to the rules, except for the two prime ministers, the other six spoke first, in an unlimited order. After Cai Que finally spoke, Wang Gui made a summary.Du Wenhao wasn't going to start, he wanted to hear what others had to say first.

Lin Xi, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, was the first to speak, and after expressing his emotions, he agreed.Later, Shangshu Zuo Cheng Cai Bian and You Cheng Huang Lu both spoke.It is also the first to speak in an official language, and then express agreement with the Ministry of Households to formulate opinions.Only then did Du Wenhao speak. To put it simply, if farmers who rely on the sky for food encounter major disasters, they will be delayed for at least a year, so additional disaster relief should be added. Then agree.In the end, Cai Que spoke, and Wang Gui concluded that they unanimously agreed with the additional disaster relief plan drawn up by the Ministry of Household Affairs.

The third item was reported by the Ministry of Rites, and the birthday of Empress Dowager Gao Taotao was proposed to be "Kuncheng Festival".Naturally, there was no objection to this issue, and it was passed unanimously.

The fourth item is the motion proposed by the Ministry of Officials to select two senior officials who are vacant, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment and the Minister of the Ministry of Industry.This is a big controversy, Du Wenhao watched with cold eyes, Wang Gui was on one side, and Cai was indeed on the other.It's just that Cai Que's side has to be in the majority, and the candidates nominated by the Ministry of Officials are approved by Cai Que. In the end, the minority obeys the majority and agrees to the candidates for senior officials proposed by the Ministry of Officials.

The fifth item is military. The Huanqing Economic and Strategy Department reported military intelligence reports, saying that Xixia cavalry repeatedly invaded the Huanqing border, burning, killing and looting, killing and injuring thousands of border people within a month.Although they were repelled by the Song army, they went back and forth, most of them were cavalry, and the Song army chased and set up an ambush several times, but they were unable to destroy them.Please send an army to conquer.

When it comes to military affairs, the chief ministers are all silent, which is the complete opposite of the two candidates for the minister just now who were red-faced when they were arguing.They all held tea and sipped it slowly, as if they were pondering, but they were actually looking at the direction of the wind.

Wang Gui said twice, please express your opinion, but no one spoke, so he had no choice but to say: "Master Han, your Privy Council is in charge of military affairs, so you can talk about your opinions first."

Only then did Han Zhen cough lightly, and said: "It is not uncommon for Xixia to repeatedly invade our border, but this time the scale is relatively large and the harm is serious. Thousands of people on our border were killed and injured within a month. The common people could not live and work in peace and contentment, which also made Xixia underestimate our Great Song Dynasty. However, the battle of Yongle City severely damaged our army’s vitality and has not recovered. Knowing that my army is coming, they will run away, and when I retreat, they will attack again. It goes on and on again, it is inexhaustible."

Lin Xi, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, also echoed: "Soldiers are fierce. Unless it is absolutely necessary, it is not advisable to go to war rashly. We have fought against Xixia for more than ten years, and our army has been defeated repeatedly, especially the battle of Yongle City. I think that the current situation in Song Dynasty makes it impossible for me to fight any more."

Cai Que showed displeasure on his face: "You two mean to let the Xixia army burn, kill and loot our border people regardless?"

Han Zhen and Lin Xi looked at each other, and Han Zhen smiled and said, "The lower ranks don't mean that."

"In your opinion, what should we do?"

"I think that at the beginning of the founding of the Song Dynasty, I fought against the Daliao for more than 20 years, but failed to defeat the enemy. The Chanyuan alliance of Emperor Zhenzong, with a mere 40-year-old coin, exchanged the peace of the border for hundreds of years. Saved a lot of military expenses. 20 years ago, the Great Song Dynasty and Xixia had formed a good relationship between Qin and Jin, and the old currency was exchanged for more than [-] years of peace and tranquility on the border. If the war started again, why not negotiate with Xixia and exchange the old currency for peace. "

Cai Que glanced at the civil officials on the left with a gloomy face: "What do you mean by the three?"

The servant Zhang Dun cupped his hands and said: "I think that what Privy Secretary Han and Deputy Envoy Lin said, even though I was aggrieved after hearing it, it was a helpless move. If we can exchange a few tens of thousands of live coins for border security, we will avoid the pain of swords and soldiers. , is really the best policy!"

"The humble official also thinks what the three adults said is very true!" Shangshu Zuocheng Cai Bian glanced at Du Wenhao, and said indifferently: "Our army is weak and invincible, what can we do? I only blame myself for not being capable. The army is not well trained, it can only eat without knowing how to fight, and raising such a large and useless army is useless except to waste the blood and sweat of the people!"

Huang Lu said: "Exactly, seven or eight out of the national treasury is spent on military funds. It is a huge monster that looks useless. Alas! The disaster of redundant troops is also the source of poverty and weakness!"

Cai Que frowned and said, "It's too far away! Let's talk about the facts, whether it is about the use of troops in Xixia, what are you talking about?"

Huang Lu hurriedly said: "Yes, I also agree with the high opinions of the previous adults. It is good to surrender the soldiers without fighting. It is a good idea to exchange the old coins for Xixia's retreat. If Xixia is not satisfied with tens of thousands The number, plus 20 million, I think, as long as it can be exchanged for Xixia’s retreat and the people to live and work in peace and contentment again, that’s not a bad idea. Anyway, hundreds of thousands are just a fraction of a drop in the bucket for my Song Dynasty. The annual war supplies consume [-] It’s far more than that, haha.”

Cai Que turned to Wang Gui and said, "Prime Minister Wang, the intention of the prime minister is the same. Otherwise..., I will advise the emperor, ah no, the empress dowager, send envoys to negotiate peace, and give them three or two million years old coins in exchange for it." Soldiers?"

Wang Gui glanced at him and smiled faintly: "It seems that General Du hasn't expressed his opinion yet."

Cai Que was taken aback for a moment, as if he just remembered that there was one more officer in charge, and he was a little embarrassed. He smiled apologetically, and looked at Du Wenhao: "General Du, what's your opinion? Cough cough , By the way, you are new to Zaizhi, and you are only a weaker crown. I am afraid that you don’t know much about the ten-year battle between the Song Dynasty and Xixia. I think you have understood the analysis of the previous adults. I hope you will carefully consider it , don’t be arrogant. ——The general thinks, what is the strategy of the Great Song Dynasty to exchange Xixia’s retreat with old coins?"

"It's too much money!" Du Wenhao snorted coldly.

Everyone in the field was taken aback suddenly, and their faces were full of displeasure.

The privy envoy Han Zhen took the lead in attacking: "I'm afraid that General Du's words are inappropriate. The exchange of yearly coins for peace is an initiative of Emperor Zhenzong, which has been used to maintain peace on the border between Song and Liao for a hundred years. Emperor Renzong also followed the example of Emperor Zhenzong by exchanging yearly coins for Song The border of Xia has been safe for decades, so from what the general has seen, could it be that the two emperors were burnt with too much money?"

Du Wenhao sneered and said: "The day before yesterday, the Empress Dowager asked the humble official about the Battle of Song-Liao and the Battle of Song-Xia, and commented on exchanging coins for peace, calling it an act of losing power and humiliating the country. The Empress Dowager once questioned: The two countries are at war, and everyone needs peace , Why is it that I, Da Song, come out with money every time to beg the other party to strike? Why don’t they use money to buy us a retreat? At least it should be an equal strike on both sides, right? We give them three 20-year-old coins every year. What is it if there is too much money to burn? Can such a treaty be considered equal? ​​What is it if it is not the loss of power and humiliation of the country?"

"You!" Zhang Dun stood up, pointing at Du Wenhao, and said, "You actually slandered Zhenzong and Renzong for forming an alliance with Liaoxia, which is a loss of power and humiliation of the country? Well, I must take part in your big disrespect. !"

Du Wenhao laughed loudly: "I thought that the prime minister would be able to speak freely and express his views freely when he was in charge of politics, but it turns out that there are still people hiding here to beat sticks, button hats, pull braids, and pack bags! Haha, it's really an eye-opener! Hahaha"

Zhang Dun took a step forward, pointed at Du Wenhao and said sharply: "The prime minister can speak freely when he is in charge of politics, but he can't insult the late emperor! What is it if you are not disrespectful?"

Du Wenhao sat there and calmed down and said: "Master Zhang, please be safe and don't be impatient! You understand, I didn't say this, but the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager only said that the content of these two alliances is a loss of power and humiliation to the country. How about the first emperor. I just conveyed the words of the empress dowager, if you are not convinced, why don't you question the empress dowager?"

Zhang Dun suddenly became dumb. After thinking about it, Du Wenhao did say what the Empress Dowager said just now, but he relayed it in his own words. It sounded like it was his words. Zhang Dun didn't listen carefully in a hurry. Then he suddenly launched an attack, and at this time, he was a little bit hard to get off.

"My lord Zhang, please calm down and speak up if you have something to say." Shangshu Youcheng Huang Lu got up and pulled Zhang Dun back to sit down. He looked at Du Wenhao and said, "Of course what the Empress Dowager said makes sense. Whether or not it insults the country is debatable." , but everyone also understands in their hearts that exchanging old coins for strikes will indeed damage my Song Dynasty’s prestige to a certain extent. But what can I do? You let Daliao and Xixia take the money? The two barbarians of Daliao and Xixia Zhibang sent troops to the south to plunder because they were so poor and crazy that they were jealous of the world. They were willing to be brothers and ministers. It would be fine for us to give some money. Why bother? How about losing power and humiliating the country?"

Shangshu Zuocheng Cai Bian sneered at the side and said: "Exchanging the old coins for peace is indeed an insult to my Song Guowei! But, alas! Our army of millions can't beat them, so what can we do without spending money? Continue to fight ? Put all the revenue of the treasury into it and drag it down? Fill all the hard-earned money of the people into this bottomless pit?"

Du Wenhao said with a smile: "I have heard a lot about the two countries who were defeated and surrendered at war, and I have heard a lot about the ceding of land and compensation. I think everyone knows very well whether the old currency is compensation. The peace gained by humiliating the country, It is not much better than the destruction of the country and the death of the people! I think, for the majority of the thousands of people in the Song Dynasty, they would rather die standing than live on their knees! I just don’t know if it includes Don't you?"

"You! You little brat, how dare you speak disrespectfully?!" Cai Bian, Huang Lu and the others were furious, and suddenly stood up to attack.

Prime Minister Wang Gui slapped the table: "Okay! Why are you arguing!"

He is the prime minister, who dared not listen, everyone was dumb all of a sudden, each sat back in their chairs resentfully, sneered and pretended to be indifferent while holding tea.

Wang Gui glanced at the crowd and said, "Let's not talk about whether exchanging New Year's coins for peace is a loss of power and humiliating the country. Since the Empress Dowager said this, it would be disrespectful for us to talk about its right or wrong!"

As soon as Wang Gui said this, the expressions on the faces of Cai Bian, Huang Lu and others changed.

Wang Gui coughed twice, turned to Cai and said, "Prime Minister Cai, since General Du thinks it's not appropriate to make peace with Suibi, why not listen to his opinion?"

Cai Que said: "Exactly. Since General Du disagrees with our discussion, let's talk about your high intentions."

Du Wenhao was tepid, cupped his hands and said: "Is there a high opinion, it's a low opinion. I won't talk about the big truth. Anyway, since my Song Dynasty is a big country, I shouldn't take the initiative to negotiate peace with Xixia! He is not a guerrilla warfare. Mobile warfare." How to deal with guerrilla warfare? We are not helpless. What I want to say is that our Song Dynasty is rich and strong, and it is not a problem to deal with such small-scale border conflicts. What about Xixia? What is his national strength, talent and manpower? , I’m not sure, but I’m sure it’s definitely far inferior to us, and if we drag it on, we’ll definitely drag them down, so the final victory must belong to us! This is called a protracted war!”

It was the first time they heard the word protracted war, and they not only looked at each other in blank dismay.

Cai Bian coughed lightly, and said, "General Du wants to use the wars in the next few decades and the mass casualties of border residents to prove that the Great Song Dynasty will definitely defeat Xixia?"

Du Wenhao said: "We don't choose war, but we must not be afraid of war. If others impose war on us, we can only fight it! We must never bow our knees and surrender, and we must not cede land, pay compensation, lose power and humiliate the country! There is one thing I can reveal in advance To my lords, ——The Empress Dowager authorized the humble officers yesterday to conduct a detailed investigation of our Great Song Army and formulate reorganization measures. The Empress Dowager is very disappointed with the current situation of our army and has made up her mind to rectify it!"

Lin Xi, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, chuckled and muttered in a low voice: "The rectification of the army did not start today."

Du Wenhao stared at Lin Xi with lightning eyes and said, "Master Lin has different opinions on the Empress Dowager's idea of ​​rectifying the army?"

"Don't dare!" Lin Xi was a little embarrassed, and cupped his hands and said: "The lowly position is just a matter of fact. Our army has a lot of problems, which should be rectified. The first emperor did this, and the empress dowager continued to do this. This is Good thing. What can I say. I'm just saying..."

Wang Gui said: "Let's do it this way, please ask Mr. Du to finish his thoughts first, and then others will express their opinions."

Du Wenhao said: "Okay, my opinion is very simple, the enemy is riding on our necks and shit, we can bear it, so we can't call people! This battle must be fought! At least this is an attitude!"

Han Zhen said coldly: "After repeated battles and repeated defeats, still fighting? It's just a matter of humiliation!"

Du Wenhao's words were even more icy: "As a soldier, it is not terrible to be defeated repeatedly. The fear is that you will not dare to fight again if you are defeated! Since ancient times, there have been no generals who are always victorious! It is only an ideal to be victorious in every battle. It is important to know that victory and defeat are commonplace in military affairs. .Only those who have repeated defeats and battles with tenacious fighting spirit can win the final victory! This is where Liu Bang beats Xiang Yu!"

"That's enough, brother!" Han Zhen stroked his gray beard and said lightly: "You are still young, and you are full of youthful vigor, so you will inevitably be impulsive. When you are my age..."

Du Wenhao slapped the table, stood up suddenly, and said sharply: "If you don't work hard, I'm afraid we won't wait for the day when you have a white beard, and the Song Dynasty will perish!"

This sentence was like a thunderclap, and everyone was stunned. Who would dare to say the word "subjugation"?
But Du Wenhao knew that the Northern Song Dynasty would be destroyed by the Dajin Kingdom 40 years later, and there was not much time left for the Northern Song Dynasty. Now seeing this group of literati, facing a medium-scale conflict on the border, they are timid, just want to spend Money buys peace, I can't help it, and finally broke out.Lianzhu said like a cannon: "If you kill 20 enemies, you will lose [-]. In the battle of Yongle City, our army was defeated and [-] people were killed or injured. Everyone knows this, but what about Xixia? Who knows about them?"

Han Zhen sneered and said, "They? They won, so they are naturally proud."

"Wrong! They are also licking the blood from their wounds! As far as I know, the total number of casualties among Xixia soldiers and civilians in the battle of Yongle City is no less than 20! Because there are many people who went west to Xixia by my side." The soldiers, including General Li Pu, the deputy commander of Sanya, was the one who was the vanguard and led the troops all the way to the capital of Xixia! Do you know? Our army used weapons that could spread plague! This weapon can cause A large-scale epidemic spread. Therefore, countless soldiers and civilians in Xixia died, and corpses littered the fields. This is why the Xia army avoided fighting in the later period! Our army was able to drive straight into the capital of Xixia! Wherever our army went, no matter the town In the villages, the materials and equipment that can be transported back will be transported back, and those that cannot be transported will be destroyed, and countless towns will be burned! Half of the Western Xia Dynasty has been devastated by this battle! Do you all know this?"

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay again. These were all literati, including Han Zhen, the envoy of the Privy Council, and Lin Xi, the deputy envoy. Apart from the disaster of the country, one does not delve into the mystery of it, so of course he is ignorant of it.

(End of this chapter)