Prime Minister

Chapter 1170: Reopening the Western Regions after the Han and Tang Dynasties

Chapter 1170: Reopening the Western Regions after the Han and Tang Dynasties

On top of the Golden Palace.

The emperor said to Zhang Yue, "The matter of salt and banknotes depends entirely on your planning and coordination."

Zhang Yue said: "I don't deserve it. It's all the credit of Huang Lu, Ye Zuqia and Cai Jing. I don't dare to take credit for it."

Wang Gui, who was standing by, frowned when he heard Cai Jing's name.

The official said, "So that's how it is."

Zhang Yue said: "These three people are all in your palace. Your Majesty, please summon them to the palace to congratulate them for their contribution."

"Okay, Xuan Huanglu, Ye Zuqia, and Cai Jing come to the audience!"

The three of them went up to the palace.

After listening to the reports of Huang Lu, Ye Zuqia, and Cai Jing, the emperor was overjoyed and said, "The stability of the salt and banknotes is all due to the efforts of the three ministers!"

Huang Lu, Ye Zuqia and Cai Jing all expressed their gratitude for the grace of God.

Especially someone like Ye Zuqia who was extremely ambitious, he was overjoyed.

Originally Cai Jing was also happy, but today he kept his head down and remained silent, appearing to be very humble.

The emperor asked, "I heard that someone took advantage of the news of the sharp drop in the price of salt notes to sell short in advance. Who did this? Can you find out?"

All the ministers were silent.

The official said: "These people are the parasites of the country. I only learned about the flooding of the salt pond half a day in advance, but these people took advantage of this news to make a fortune. I want to catch these people and enforce the law!"

Wang Gui said, "Your Majesty, it is not uncommon for someone to be able to predict the future of events in the world. The location of the salt pond is originally low-lying. If it had normal rainfall, it would have been beneficial to the production of salt. But once a heavy rain causes a disaster, it would have been difficult."

"The flood this time was so severe that the Heihe River overflowed and was in danger of bursting its banks. Some people knew about this and sold the salt notes before the local government reported it."

After Wang Gui finished speaking, the emperor looked at Zhang Yue and said, "I heard that Prime Minister Wu's son Wu Anshi came to your house and made a fuss for a whole day."

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, this is just a family matter. I dare not insult your Majesty."

The official was skeptical when he heard this.

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, I want to say that it is not someone's fault. As long as the people below can give an explanation, it will be fine. I will secretly investigate what your Majesty said."

"Whether the exchange has suffered losses in recent years, or whether the officials in charge have abused their power for personal gain or violated the law. I will investigate carefully and reorganize the exchange, and I will give you an answer next year."

The emperor had a rough idea of ​​why Wu Anshi was making trouble, and after hearing what Zhang Yue said, he felt that she was loyal.

In fact, as a superior who is pragmatic in everything, he does not need his subordinates to flatter him or show their loyalty.

These are all very low-level techniques.

As the emperor, he was used to those who flattered him. What he really wanted were officials who could take on responsibilities for him and offend people for him.

Wang Gui's words were very beautiful and general, but in fact he was covering up for those people. Those who knew about the flooding of Jiechi at about the same time as the emperor himself must be extremely valuable.

Zhang Yue is the prime minister that the government wants because he can deal with these people without avoiding grudges. Only then can the government be more confident in handing over power to him.

But Wang Gui didn't think so. Zhang Yue was very cunning in this matter. He could attack or defend.

He didn't say that the matter would just end there, but he also didn't say how to investigate it. He just left it hanging, leaving the option for me to take action or not.

Wang Gui was just hung there.

He knew that in this battle for power with Zhang Yue, he was completely at a disadvantage.

The emperor said, "I will never forget the contributions of you all in stabilizing the price of salt. I will promote Huang Lu to be a Hanlin scholar, and Ye Zuqia to be a doctor in the Ministry of Rites. Cai Jing will be removed from his post as a censor in the Secretariat and will be in charge of compiling the daily records."

Cai Jing thought that compiling the daily records was an honorable position, which allowed him to be close to the emperor and hear confidential matters. His younger brother Cai Bian was also a compileer of the daily records.

It is a great honor for two brothers to hold the same position.

Of course, Cai Jing was recommended by Zhang Yue because of his stance this time, but the price he paid was betraying Wang Gui.

Cai Jing's vacillation between Zhang Yue and Wang Gui ruined his reputation in official circles.

However, Cai Jing was helpless. Zhang Yue was younger than Wang Gui and had more power than Wang Gui. So what was the use of him and Wang Gui being in-laws?

The recovery of the salt money made the emperor in a good mood. At this time, Wang Hou, the deputy envoy of Lanhui Xihe Road, sent an urgent report.

The official read it in the palace.

After Aligu arrived in Qingtang City last year, he was assassinated by Wen Xixin, but he escaped with the protection of his trusted warriors and fled to the foot of Qilian Mountain to take shelter.

But just like the story of a hero falling into trouble, although Aligu was persecuted, he survived the disaster and will have good fortune in the future.

Aligu started his business in Qilian Mountains with dozens of his trusted men.

He first used his former status as a nobleman of Khotan to coerce or bribe the Yellow-headed Uighurs and Grass-headed Tatars. However, after only half a year, he had married into several tribes and successively suppressed several tribes that disobeyed him.

In addition, Zhang Yue ordered Xihe Road to continuously send him money and food, which made Aligu gradually gain more troops and horses.

After some planning, Aligu selected the best and strongest men from the Yellow-headed Uighurs and Grass-headed Tatars as his trusted soldiers and trained several thousand elite soldiers.

By eating, living and training together every day, Aligu trained this scattered army into one that was extremely brave.

Later, in June, he attacked Guazhou and annihilated 3,000 soldiers of the Dangxiang tribe.

This time, Aligu once again sent troops to Guazhou and Shazhou, captured more than ten Dangxiang forts, gained a lot of territory, and also obtained the surrender of some Ganzhou Uighurs.

Now Aligu was very powerful, with a strong army and horses, and he submitted a petition to the emperor requesting him to be appointed as a military governor.

However, Wang Hou learned another piece of news from Wen Xixin. Aligu secretly wrote to Li Qing, the king of Dangxiang, asking him to marry the Dangxiang princess so that he could rebel against Song.

It can be seen that the letter that Aligu wrote to the Song Dynasty this time asking for the governor was written in a very defiant tone, as if to imply that if you don't give me the governor, I will do this and that.

The emperor was furious and said, "This Aligu is too despicable. He is a barbarian who does not know how to be grateful. I gave him so much food, fodder, and weapons, but he secretly colluded with the Tanguts and even turned around to threaten me."

Wang Gui said, "Your Majesty, Dong Jian is only a military governor. If you grant Aligu the title of military governor, the people of Qingtang will surely be divided and think that we are partial to one and not to the other."

"This Jiedushi must not be given."

Zhang Yue secretly admired Aligu.

Aligu's experience is so exciting that one can write a novel about a prince restoring his country, with both beauties and heroes in abundance, and a counterattack from a prisoner to a local lord.

The decision to let Aligu go back was made by Zhang Yue. If Aligu had really rebelled against the Song Dynasty, Zhang Yue would have been the foolish and ignorant prime minister in this novel. He knew that Aligu was a hero, but still made such a foolish decision to let the tiger go back to the mountains, and became a laughing stock of others.

Zhang Yue said: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty."

The emperor was angry, but Zhang Yue congratulated him.

"Why are you so happy?"

Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty, Aligu has captured Shazhou and part of Guazhou!"

"The opportunity has come for me to go west along the Xihe Road and seize Liangzhou! Therefore, I would like to congratulate Your Majesty on regaining Liangzhou and opening up the Western Regions again after the Han and Tang Dynasties!"

Zhang Yue thought to himself that the government still didn’t understand.

Anyone who wants to achieve great things must always keep his eyes firmly on his goal, like Aligu, who jumped back and forth between the Song Dynasty and the Dangxiang without affecting the overall situation.

This is what it means when a deer appears on the left and does not blink, it can then control the benefits and harm and wait for the enemy.