Prime Minister

Chapter 1063: A minister should be loyal to his duty (2 chapters combined into 1 chapter)

Chapter 1063: A minister should be loyal to his duty (two chapters combined into one)

"So a wise general will try to get food from the enemy. One catty of enemy food is equivalent to twenty catties of our own; one shi of enemy straw is equivalent to twenty shi of our own. So to kill the enemy is to anger; to take the enemy's profit is to gain goods."

The emperor immediately recited Sun Tzu's Art of War to Wang Zhongzheng, and then said to him: "If you can really get food from the enemy during this attack on Xia, it will be a great achievement for you!"

Wang Zhongzheng was overjoyed when he heard this. He was suppressed by Zhang Yue and had to be demoted to Shaanxi. He was said to be a military supervisor, but it was no different from exile. He dreamed of returning to Bianjing. This time, thanks to his friendship with Lu Huiqing, if he could get his help to return to the capital, it would be considered as fulfilling his wish.

At this time, a eunuch came in and whispered something to the emperor. It turned out that Zhang Yue had just reported his illness to the Secretariat, and someone immediately reported it to the emperor.

When the emperor heard Zhang Yue's behavior, he could not help but feel angry.

The emperor thought for a while and said, "I have always felt that I am not as good as my ancestors. Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang both fought against the Xiongnu and the Turks. Although I have reformed for ten years and conquered the Qing Tang, the Western Xia has not yet submitted. I feel ashamed of my ancestors day and night."

After a pause, the official said to Wang Zhongzheng, "Do you think the Xia bandits can be defeated?"

Wang Zhongzheng gritted his teeth and said, "I think it's possible! I am willing to fulfill your majesty's long-cherished wish!"

As soon as these words came out, Wang Zhongzheng knew that he had gambled his entire future on it. If he won the bet, he could regain the emperor's favor.

The emperor was delighted when he heard this and said, "You are my confidant. This time I let you go to Shaanxi for training. You have really broadened your horizons."

"Shen Kuo is indeed pedantic, but he has real talent. You should go to Jingyuan Road to sign the book and manage the affairs together, and assist him well!"

Wang Zhongzheng was overjoyed when he heard this. As long as he agreed to attack Xia, he would be promoted immediately. This official title was too easy to obtain.

Although Shen Kuo was the official governor of Jingyuan Road, he was also the military supervisor of the emperor. How could Shen Kuo dare to disobey the order? At that time, he still had the final say in Jingyuan Road.

This time, betting on Lu Huiqing was a good bet.

With Wang Zhongzheng's words, the emperor's confidence in the attack on Xia increased a bit.

In the past, he used Li Xian to supervise the military affairs of Xihe Road, but he was only a military inspector after all, and he did not dare to give him the position of commanding troops.

But now the eunuchs are in charge of the military and political power of a province, and if Wang Anshi, Han Jiang, or Zhang Yue were in power, they would certainly oppose it. Now Wang Gui is just a mouthpiece and they would not dare to disobey.

Didn't you, Zhang Yue, report your illness? It's just right, I can make the decision myself without consulting you.

Although he trusted Wang Zhongzheng and was annoyed by Zhang Yue's illness, he changed his mind and thought that without Zhang Yue's assistance, he would not be confident in this attack on Xia. Why not follow his wishes and send troops from Jingyuan Road to give it a try?

Then the emperor thought again, even if I don't have your assistance, Zhang Yue, can I still accomplish great things?

However, Mr. Zhang repeatedly advised me that I should trust one side but not listen to one side, which makes sense.

The emperor thought of this and then ordered: "Order Xu Xi to come to the palace to see the emperor!"

Xu Xi was a minister trusted by the emperor. On the contrary, he did not trust Privy Councilor Feng Jing, Deputy Privy Councilor Zeng Xiaokuan, Xue Xiang, and Secretary of the Privy Council Zhang Qie.

All important matters will be decided later. You just wait for me to notify you.

The emperor often bypassed the Privy Council to discuss the plan of attacking Xia with Xu Xi, and then bypassed the Privy Council to directly issue orders to front-line generals such as Lu Huiqing, Shen Kuo, Yu Chong, Cai Yanqing, and Zhang Zhi.

This is the emperor's daily practice and the ministers are used to it.

When the eunuchs saw Xu Xi, they all smiled and were enthusiastic. They all knew that Xu Xi was now a favorite of the emperor, so they were all very respectful to him and served him attentively.

Xu Xi was just an ordinary scholar in Bianjing City. When he saw an official, he took the initiative to sell his knowledge. Xu Xi was ridiculed and mocked by countless people for showing off.

Although Xu Xi was annoyed, he said in his heart countless times that he would change these people's expressions when he presented all his literary and martial arts to the imperial family one day.

Now that he has become the emperor's trusted adviser, he can see the emperor at any time and make reports to him in private.

Even the prime minister would not be able to receive such treatment.

Xu Xi knew this very well. This was where the emperor's favor was. Even though Xu Xi was only the head of the Censorate (a new promotion), the prime minister still had to show some respect to him when he met him.

But without the emperor's favor, even the prime minister's position is unstable.

In the past, Xu Xi would feel relieved when facing people who used to ridicule him and look down on him. This was all thanks to Zhang Yue's strict instructions and strict requirements when he was in the court.

Zhang Yue often told him that when you put all your heart into something, your personal honor and disgrace, gains and losses, are just like that.

Xu Xi still feels greatly benefited from these words.

Xu Xi arrived at the main hall first. When the emperor saw Xu Xi, he said anxiously, "Mr. Xu, come and see."

When the emperor saw Xu Xi, he immediately took his hand and led him to the map. Xu Xi was touched by the emperor's respect. The emperor was the kind of emperor who gave him clothes and food. This made him want to repay him with all his heart.

Xu Xi followed the emperor to the side of the map, and the emperor said, "Look, this is Zhenrong Army! Seventy miles south of Zhenrong Army is Han Xiaoguan. In ancient times, the four major passes into Guanzhong were Hangu Pass in the east, Xiaowu Pass in the south, Sanguan Pass in the west, and Xiaoguan Pass in the north."

Xu Xi said, "Your Majesty is right. Xiaoguan has been a place of war since ancient times. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the Xiongnu invaded and burned the imperial palace. During the Tang Dynasty, the Tubo and Uighurs often took this road to the Weishui floating bridge and invaded Chang'an. So once Xiaoguan was lost, Guanzhong would be shaken, so we built a garrison 70 miles north of Xiaoguan."

"Your Majesty, do you want to cultivate land in Jingyuan Road? I have been to the Jinghe and Weihe Rivers. The river valley here is wide and the terrain is flat. It is the most fertile land among the five roads in Shaanxi. When Cai Ting was in charge of Jingyuan, he cultivated land here to the south of Zhenrong Army!"

When the emperor heard Xu Xi say that the land in Jingyuan Road was fertile and suitable for military farming, he thought that this theory was consistent with Zhang Yue's.

The emperor said to Xu Xi, "I am not planning to establish military farms. Once Xiaoguan Road is lost, the western bandit cavalry can split Xihe Road, Qinfeng Road, Fuyan Road, and Huanqing Road into two."

"The western bandits used to march to Jingyuan along the Hulu River Valley. The road from here is wide and has abundant water and grass, which is a real threat."

Seeing that Xu Xi did not understand the emperor's question, the emperor could not help but smile. It seemed that Xu Xi did not know that Zhang Yue had proposed to send troops to Jingyuan Road.

The emperor said to Xu Xi, "Some people have suggested that we send troops from the Zhenrong Army in Jingyuan Road and build forts all the way to Mingsha City. What do you think?"

After looking at the map, Xu Xi first saw densely packed Song army strongholds in Zhenrong Army, Deshun Army and Yuanzhou.

Xu Xi said: "Your Majesty, this place is very close to the Meiyan Gorge and Shimen Pass where the Westerners are stationed. There is also the Westerners' Tiandu Mountain Military Supervision Office nearby. In the past, the Western bandits would gather at Tiandu Mountain. If our army goes out of the border from here, we will enter the heart of the Westerners. We must be careful about the defeat of Dingchuan Village, but..."

"But what?"

The official asked.

Xu Xi said: "The Westerners are advancing along the Jingyuan Road because they value the abundant water and grass in the Hulu River Valley. If we take advantage of this, the Westerners will gather at Tiandu Mountain in the future, and all their food and supplies will be insufficient, and we will not be able to supply the army."

"But it will be very difficult for Your Majesty to build a city from now on. The Western bandits will definitely counterattack at all costs."

The emperor's eyes sparkled when he heard this. He was a very suspicious person, and had just used words to test whether Xu Xi had communicated with Zhang Yue in advance.

But now it seems that the two had not discussed it beforehand, and after listening to Xu Xi's remarks on the pros and cons of sending troops through Jingyuan Road, he immediately saw all the conveniences he mentioned.

Xu Xi shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, from now on, we will have to build all the way to Mingsha City. The food route is also difficult and dangerous. The Western bandits will definitely send cavalry to plunder from behind. We must build at least ten forts. Ten is not enough. Fifteen or more forts are needed to defend it. This will consume too much resources."

The emperor heard Xu Xi mention fifteen forts, which coincided with what Zhang Yue said.

It seems that Xu Xi has been in Zhang Yue's staff for many years and has learned all his military strategies.

"But once it is completed, we can not only occupy Mingsha, but also look north to Xingling and border the Western Bandit Weizhou. We can use it as a springboard to use light troops and cavalry to attack the Western Bandit's heartland."

"We can also attack Tiandu Mountain to the west and connect it with Huizhou on Xihe Road, and fully occupy the area along Tiandu Mountain."

The emperor couldn't help but look relaxed as he listened to Xu Xi's analysis.

Opening up the Xihe Road and Jingyuan Road traffic lines from the east and west has a natural attraction for officials.

Capturing this place would not only serve as a barrier on three sides for the Qinfeng Road, Xihe Road, and Jingyuan Road, but would also destroy the supply bases of the Western Xia moving southwards, and take control of the foreign tribes in the area.

Finally, he used the point to lead the whole and completely threatened Xixia.

The emperor asked Xu Xi, "How are the troops in Jingyuan Road?"

Xu Xi said: "Since the Qingli period, the troops in Jingyuan Road have been mostly cavalry. Among them, the Zhenrong Army is at the forefront of the border counties of Xixia. They have the best troops, but the main force is in Weizhou. After the military tactics were implemented, there were a total of nine generals stationed in various places."

"This is a strategy to defend the interior and weaken the exterior! I will increase the nine generals to eleven!"

Xu Xi hesitated after hearing what the emperor said. Seeing Xu Xi's expression, the emperor said, "You can say whatever you want to say."

Xu Xi said cautiously: "Your Majesty, please think twice about the matter of Jingyuan Road. After all, the previous discussion was to send troops from Fuyan Road and Huanqing Road to seize Hengshan and recover the three states of Yin, Xia, and You."

Xu Xi's intention to send troops from Jingyuan Road was tantamount to shaking the previous decision. Considering the government's habit of wavering, this was obviously not a good thing.

Unexpectedly, the emperor was not angry but delighted. Instead, he smiled and praised: "Xu Qing is truly a loyal man!"

Xu Xi was at a loss for words by the emperor's sudden praise.

Xu Xi said: "I am reckless."

After Xu Xi left.

The emperor thought carefully that although Zhang Yue's opinion of slow attack was contrary to his own opinion of all-out attack on Xia, when it came to the skillful use of troops, neither Xu Xi nor Lu Huiqing was as good as him.

It seems that Jingyuan Road is indeed feasible.

At this moment he thought of Zhang Yue's story about the ball in the bucket.

Although the official did not know what Bayes' theorem was, nor did he know what Zhang Yue meant by prior probability, he continued to add new information, derive a posterior probability, and constantly correct his judgment.

But the officials understand what "the more you practice, the more you will know; the deeper your knowledge, the more you will be able to practice."

If you want to know whether something is right or not, you must do it first, then constantly use new information to correct old cognition, and then use new cognition to guide the next action.

As for new information, one part comes from what we hear and the other part comes from correct understanding of practice.

In fact, if we dig deeper, Zhang Yue's theory is not that mysterious. I have understood all the principles. That's all. If you want to take sick leave, then go. I don't ask you to force yourself to take over. I can still control the overall situation.

Thinking of this, the emperor placed his eyes on the map of Shaanxi Road, picked up the imperial pen, and searched along the Jingyuan Road in the direction of the Jingshui River Valley, and finally headed north in the direction of Zhenrong Army.

Finally, the imperial pen in the official's hand paused at Meiyan Gorge and Shimen Pass, and then made a circle.

After this round, hundreds of thousands of civilians were mobilized and conscripted, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers were ready to march north.

The emperor’s wrath will result in thousands of corpses!

……

Within the Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Yue was recovering peacefully.

Although he is not yet forty years old, everyone has caught a cold and a fever from time to time.

Zhang Yue was not worried at all that he would lose power in the Secretariat. He had always been content with his position. A real man should be able to rise and fall. It was common for him to have ups and downs.

If the official is making a mistake, there is no need to indulge him.

A person must have the courage to turn against others. If a person lives cautiously and does not dare to have conflicts, he will still offend those he deserves to offend.

But then again, there is a skill to turning against someone.

Remember one thing: you can express anger, but you cannot express it in anger.

The reason why some people's interpersonal relationships are a mess is that they cannot find a balance between expressing anger and expressing anger.

Especially speaking without thinking is the most harmful. Before you say something hurtful, you are his master. After you say it, you will be his slave for life.

To confront the emperor in the court and embarrass him in front of all the officials was to fail to find the right balance between the emperor and his subjects, so Zhang Yue chose to report his illness, both to express his dissatisfaction and to save the emperor's face.

Those in power are also human beings. Even if they are officials, don't choose to obey them easily.

Zhang Yue lay on the couch, looking at the map of Shaanxi in front of him.

This was painted by him personally when he was the governor of Xihe Road.

Zhang Yue was not in a hurry as to whether the government would accept the plan to send troops through Jingyuan Road. History had proven that this route was the only feasible route to attack Xia, and no matter who it was, they would eventually have to take this route.

After completely occupying Tiandu Mountain and reaching the Mingsha line, they finally assembled their best soldiers and generals to directly attack the two prefectures of Xingling and complete the unprecedented feat of destroying Xia.

Ever since Zhang Yue took command of his troops in Xihe, he has been thinking about this great ambition!

Hold the sword in your hand to recover the old land for China and bring eternal peace to our descendants!

When I was young and read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I also admired Zhuge Liang's seven expeditions to Qishan, and I knew the previous and subsequent expeditions by heart.

The Prime Minister has been practicing throughout his life what it means to be 'the Han and the traitors cannot coexist, and the kingdom cannot be half-hearted'!

Zhang Yue dared to say that his inner desire was no less than that of the officials in the court.

Unfortunately, after he was appointed as the ruler due to his military merits, he no longer had this opportunity. However, he was unwilling to see the hard work of several generations destroyed by the hasty actions of the government.

Therefore, he was willing to bear the infamy and lose the emperor's favor in order to resolutely oppose the government's plan to attack Xia in one fell swoop.

It’s a pity that no one knows what’s going on in my heart.

As a councilor, the most important thing for him was not to destroy the country and eliminate the bandits, but the people's livelihood and the well-being of the people.

As a minister, you should be loyal to one thing at a time!

Now Zhang Yue had no choice but to hold an oil lamp and sketch with a pen in front of the hand-drawn map of Western Xia in Shaanxi, planning his own expedition against Xia and putting everything he imagined on paper.

(End of this chapter)