bookrandom Chapter 1235 Xiao He Chases Han Xin
Chapter 1235 Xiao He Chases Han Xin
Chapter 1235 Xiao He Chases Han Xin
Although it was a bit doggerel, the emperor was very pleased to hear Zhang Yue's words. He and Zhang Yue had always been of the same mind in this matter.
However, the emperor asked again: "What will be the reply if the Liao envoy comes? I can agree to return Yelu Yixin to the Khitan, but why can't we discuss the matter of Liangzhou?"
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, the affairs of the world are divided into dare or not and do or not. This matter is about dare or not, not do or not."
"Withdrawing from Liangzhou is the bottom line of our dynasty. The Liao Kingdom wants to give up Liangzhou, which they fought so hard for, just by talking. This is absolutely unacceptable."
"But we cannot easily agree to return Yelu Yixin."
Zhang Yue talked with the official for a while and could see that the other party still had doubts.
Eighty years had passed since the Treaty of Chanyuan, but the Song Dynasty was still afraid of the Liao Dynasty like a tiger. Facing the Liao Dynasty's two currency increases during the Qingli period and the military intimidation during the Xining period of demarcation of boundaries, the Song Dynasty maintained a conciliatory attitude.
Of course, in the history of another time and space, during the Xining Demarcation, the Song Dynasty was forced to cede five or six hundred miles of land.
When Zhang Yue negotiated with Liao, he also made some concessions.
Even the emperor is like this in this matter, so I'm afraid there will be many opponents among the ministers below.
……
Outside Gyeongju City.
Han Zhen, dressed in a plain robe, was accompanied by three hundred soldiers, preparing to set off for Bian Jing.
The six military commanders who were once so powerful were a little lonely today. The only person who saw them off in Qingzhou City was Xu Xi, who was under his command.
Xu Xi held Han Zhen's horse and said with tears in his eyes: "Your Majesty is unaware of your loyalty and transferred you to the capital? I really regret it."
Han Zhen said: "It's okay, as long as you and I have the ambition to repay the country, the defeat of Weizhou was unexpected, but it was also reasonable."
Han Zhen sighed, "I am not good at being an official, but you two are even worse. You are in the Executive Privy Council and will be under the command of Shen Cunzhong. Why are you here to see me off? Isn't this provoking his anger?"
Xu Xi said: "I am not afraid."
Han Zhen laughed and said, "I was not wrong about you. You are really a real man. Could it be that His Majesty and Zhang Xiang appreciate you so much?"
As he was speaking, several riders came galloping over, and the leader was Zhang Gen.
Han Zhen was a little surprised to see Zhang Gen. After he dismounted and saluted, he asked with a sullen face, "What are you doing here?"
Zhang Gen said: "I have been working under Lord Han for two years. I am grateful to Lord Han for his care, so I came to see you off in person!"
Han Zhen sneered and asked, "You ordered someone to secretly send the news of my defeat in Weizhou to the capital."
Zhang Gen said: "Yes."
Han Zhen sneered, "I knew it. Otherwise, if I had covered it up, how could the court have ordered Shen Kuo to take over my military power in less than 20 days? It really caught me off guard."
"Good Zhang Eryanei, you have been very good at pretending to be submissive in front of me in the past six months."
It was indeed Zhang Gen who reported the news of Han Zhen's defeat in Weizhou to the capital in a timely manner. Otherwise, if it was half a month later, allowing Han Zhen to prepare his excuses and communicate with powerful figures in the court, the result might not have been this.
Zhang Gen heard this and said sadly: "Gen has received a lot of teachings from the Prime Minister in the past two years, and I have learned a lot. I am sending you off today to express my gratitude."
Han Zhen waved his hand and said, "That's nothing. I didn't really teach you."
After saying this, Han Zhen led the cavalry towards Bian Jing.
Zhang Gen and Xu Xi both watched Han Zhen go away. Xu Xi said to Zhang Gen, "Second Master Zhang is really amazing. I have seen you become more decisive and sharp in the past six months. This time, you helped your father get rid of Han Shuxiang."
"It's rare for someone of your age to be so patient and decisive. Prime Minister Han Shu is such a meticulous person, and you were able to pass on the message right under his nose."
Zhang Gen said, "Uncle Xu, you are too kind."
"During the past two years, I have often thought about whether to return to Bianjing. Fortunately, Uncle Xu took care of me and gave me guidance, otherwise I would have collapsed long ago."
Zhang Gen said this with emotion, Xu Xi was indeed very good to him.
Xu Xi said calmly: "Your father is my benefactor, it is only natural for me to take care of you, you don't need to thank me."
Zhang Gen smiled bitterly and said, "So I impeached Han Shuxiang and had him dismissed from office. As for Uncle Xu, you also blame me and father, right?"
Xu Xi said: "Your father has been very kind to me, and I dare not complain. As for Han Gong's defeat in Weizhou, it was because he ignored my advice and acted on his own."
"It has been my long-cherished wish to wipe out the Tanguts from Hengshan, but your father has always refused, so I had no choice but to ask Han Xianggong for help. Forget it, there is no point in saying more. Tomorrow, I will bid farewell to Shen Xianggong and return to the Central Government."
Zhang Gen said, "Why should Uncle Xu leave? I think after the defeat in Weizhou, the Liao Kingdom is ready to make a big comeback. Mr. Shen needs someone like you who is familiar with military affairs to be by his side."
Xu Xi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Shen Cunzhong and I are not on good terms."
Xu Xi did look down on Shen Kuo, thinking that he was a bit cowardly and had no stance.
"Uncle Xu... I have something to ask you?" Zhang Gen asked, "If the Tanguts come back, where will they attack?"
Xu Xi heard this and said, "If the Dangxiang come back, I predict they will definitely attack Pingxia, then Lanzhou, and then Liangzhou!"
Zhang Gen said, "Since Uncle Xu has this opinion, why don't you go with me to Huanzhou to talk to Minister Shen about it?"
"This……"
Zhang Gen saw Xu Xi's intention and immediately ordered his attendants, "Prepare the horses! Let's go to Huanzhou immediately!"
Turning to Zhang Gen, he said, "Uncle Xu, state affairs are the most important thing."
The two of them traveled together for a day and a night and arrived in Huanzhou.
Shen Kuo was annoyed. After he took over the Privy Council, all the other officials were there except Xu Xi.
I found out that Xu Xi actually went to Qingzhou in person to see Han Zhen off.
Shen Kuo was furious when he heard this. Han Zhen went to the capital without handing over the matter to him, which made him very angry. Xu Xi went to Qingzhou to see Han Zhen off without even saying hello, which showed that he did not take the newly appointed Privy Councilor seriously.
Although Shen Kuo handled things in the style of an engineering tycoon, he also had the petty side of a scholar when dealing with people.
When Shen Kuo heard his subordinates report that Xu Xi had returned, he was about to charge him with acting without notification.
The subordinate whispered, "It was Zhang Eryanei who accompanied Xu Xi back."
Shen Kuo was stunned when he heard this, thinking, what is this play? Is it Xiao He chasing Han Xin under the moonlight?
At this time, Zhang Gen had already arrived at the hall first. Shen Kuo saw Zhang Gen's smiling face, looking like a gentle and loving elder.
After Zhang Gen entered and talked to Shen Kuo for a few words, Shen Kuo was overjoyed. He immediately summoned Xu Xi and treated him very warmly.
……
New Year of the fifth year of Yuanfeng.
As usual, the Liao Kingdom and the Dangxiang would send envoys to the Song Dynasty to celebrate the New Year and pay tribute to the emperor.
However, this time, both the Liao Kingdom and the Dangxiang did not send envoys to celebrate the New Year. It was not surprising that the Dangxiang did not send envoys to celebrate the New Year many times due to the uncertainty of war and peace with the Song Dynasty, but it was the first time in more than a year that the Liao Kingdom did not send envoys to celebrate the New Year.
Unexpectedly, Aligu sent envoys to the Song Dynasty to pay tribute and ask the Song Dynasty to confer him the title of King of Liangzhou.
On the contrary, more than ten days later, Xiao Derang arrived in Bian Jing again with a letter from the Liao Kingdom.
The current dynasty proposed that the Song Dynasty give up Liangzhou, Lanzhou and other territories that had invaded the Dangxiang, and return Yelu Yixin, otherwise the alliance between the two countries would be broken.
At this time, the newly appointed Privy Councilors Shen Kuo and Xu Xi jointly submitted a memorial.
There are recent rumors among the Dangxiang that the Han people have occupied the Huluchuan area of Tiandu Mountain, and all the land for singing and entertainment has been taken away by the Han people. They also say that they are taking away our jobs. Judging from the situation, they will surely fight for this power with all their might.
After Liangzhou, I observed that although the Western bandits were so weak, they still had more than 100,000 elite soldiers in the battle of Weizhou. They rushed in in different directions, with sharp armor and sticks and strict discipline. We must not regard them as weak and incompetent.
I am afraid that I have made some mistakes, so I will report them in advance. If we wait for two years, when the grains on the border are ripe and the border cities are well built, we will not be afraid of the Dangxiang coming to attack us. Please send troops from Xihe Road to support Jingyuan Road at any time. At the same time, Hedong and Hebei should also be prepared for attacks from the Liao Kingdom.
Hearing that Liao and Tangut were planning to attack China, the court officials were terrified. Most of them advocated peace talks and planned to return Liangzhou to Tangut and return Yelu Yixin to Liao.