Prime Minister

Chapter 970 I'll Take It

After not seeing each other for several years, Zhang Zhi grew a slight beard on his lips, making him look even more mature.

Zhang Yue felt happy when he saw Zhang Zhi. He always felt that Zhang Zhi was the innocent and lively nephew in his impression.

But after entering politics, the political differences between the uncle and nephew have become apparent.

Zhang Zhi's temperament was fond of causing trouble, but his route transcended the political spectrum. Like Cai Que, he defended the people and firmly stood on the side of the officials.

Because of this, Zhang Zhi was greatly appreciated by the official family and his father-in-law Lu Gongzhu, as well as his own help.

Zhang Zhi is now a member of Longtuge, and his official position has been promoted to wailang, a member of the ancestral hall.

It should be noted that after Su Shi learned about Mizhou, his official position was moved to the position of Wailang, a member of the ancestral hall. Su Shi was a Jinshi in the second year of Jiayou's reign, with a third-class academic qualification. Now their official talents are average.

As for his position in the library, Su Shi is still the director of the History Museum, and he has not changed since he was elected to the third level. Even Zhang Kai is now the director of the Longtuge.

It can be said that Zhang Zhi's official career has been smooth, as the saying goes, "Happy people don't have to be busy."

Zhang Yue wondered if one day he would have to carry shoes for his good nephew.

Seeing Zhang Zhi running toward Zhang Yue with his true feelings revealed, Zhang Yue and Lu Gongru dismounted at the same time.Zhang Zhi paid homage to Lu Gongru and Zhang Yue respectively.

Lu Gongru said with a smile: "This is not an official place, just family etiquette."

After speaking, Lu Gongru smiled and said to Zhang Yue: "A few days ago, the third brother praised this child in his letter. Unexpectedly, I saw him today."

Among Lu Gongzhu's sons-in-law, he loved Zhang Zhi the most, far more than his other son-in-law Fan Zuyu.

Zhang Yue also admired how Zhang Zhi was able to be appreciated by officials, Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, Lu Gongzhu, and Cai Que, who were all unrelated to each other at the same time.But having said that, in recent years, Cai has indeed taught Zhang outspokenly and personally, and he has become more mature politically.

Zhang Zhi may not listen to what his uncle says, but he really obeys Cai Quena's words.

After Lu Gongru finished speaking, he made a glib look and said to the two of them: "You must not mention these words to the third brother, otherwise he will be unhappy."

Zhang Yue and Zhang Zhi both laughed.

After laughing, Zhang Yue suppressed his smile and said: "This is the boundary of Zhending. As a magistrate, how can you cross the boundary here without the imperial decree?"

Although Zhang Yue's words were normal, people around him shuddered. As the highest military officer in Hedong and Hebei provinces, and a frontier official with the power to act expeditiously, such words could not be considered trivial.

Lu Gongru suppressed his smile and said bluntly: "I have reported to Prime Minister Xuan that just now a Liao cavalry invaded the border and refused to leave. I heard from the front that a prince of the Liao Kingdom was among them. I did not dare to make a mistake and personally led the troops to drive across the border. Li, I happened to know that Prime Minister Xuan was patrolling here, so I couldn't think of a few miles away, so I came to inquire in person."

Zhang Yue said: "Just send someone who is familiar with the matter to inform you. Why come in person? As a county guard, you don't know the importance."

The crime of leaving one's place of trust without permission can actually lead to Zhang Zhi being dismissed from office!

Zhang Zhi looked aggrieved. He wanted to come and see Zhang Yue in person after not seeing him for several years, and report the military situation.

Lu Gongru immediately made peace with Zhang Yuecai and did not deal with Zhang Zhi.

Immediately, Lu Gongru said: "The dignified prince of the Liao Kingdom actually dares to enter the territory of Daizhou as if there is no one around. This act is like treating our court as if there is no one around."

Zhang Yue knew that the officials bypassed him and issued an order to the border states and counties. When Khitan soldiers and horses entered the country, they would first send people to stop them with justice. If it didn't work, they would send troops to drive them away. No trouble would be caused.

After the edict, the soldiers and horses of the Liao Kingdom became more confident. When the Song Dynasty was just like their own home, hundreds or thousands of horses would be sent in from time to time for a stroll.

Even the prince of the Liao Kingdom did not worry about safety at all. He crossed the border in person to observe the situation of the Song Army. When the Song Army sent troops to drive them away, he reluctantly left, almost hanging a sign saying that the Song Army would not be sent away.

When Zhang Yue heard this, he felt that his face was swollen by the Khitan people.If the Khitans could do this, wouldn't they just bully no one in the Song Dynasty?

Zhang Yue secretly kept this grudge in his heart.

Zhang Yue said to Zhang Zhi: "Tell Zhong Shidao and You Shixiong that if the Khitan people can come, we can also go. You ask him to lead the elite cavalry and enter the Khitan territory every two days and then return."

"But don't go deep. You will return within ten miles."

Zhang Zhi immediately said excitedly after hearing this: "I have wanted to do this for a long time, but..."

"how?"

Zhang Yue knew that Zhang Zhi had something to say, so Zhang Zhi immediately whispered a few words to Zhang Yue.Zhang Yue heard this and said, "Are you sure about this? The most important thing is not to let the Khitan people talk about it."

Zhang Zhi said: "This matter is on my shoulders. If anything happens, I will bear the responsibility alone."

Zhang Yue thought to himself that Zhang Zhi was indeed a thief, and the imperial edict told his ministers and generals not to cause trouble, so he bypassed these and came to ask Zhang Yue about the matter in person, so as not to let others blame him.

Zhang Yue said: "Alright."

After talking about business, Zhang Zhiyi was reluctant to leave, and Zhang Yue said to him: "Since we are here, let's go and see the border between Song and Liao."

Zhang Yue, Zhang Zhi, and Lu Gongru led hundreds of cavalry to patrol the border. Song and Liao Zhen decided that a section of the border was bounded by Damao Mountain and Taihang Mountain. The south of Damao Mountain was the Song Dynasty and the north was the Khitan.

Taimao Mountain is the ancient Heng Mountain, also known as Beiyue. Later, after the Ming Dynasty established its capital in Beijing, the latitude was further north than Beiyue, so Beiyue was moved to near Datong.

Today, Taimao Mountain covers Hedong very well, and the two Hebei roads are a natural line of defense. As for Taihang Mountain, which is connected to Taimao Mountain, it was also the boundary between Hedong Road and Hebei Road in the Song Dynasty.

At the foothills of the Taihang Mountains, the Song army built many military forts along this route to prevent the Liao Kingdom from moving south.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Yue said to Zhang Zhi, Lu Gongru said: "Hebei is the only place where Zhending, Hejian, Zhending, and Dingzhou can resist the Khitans. Once this line is abandoned, the Khitans can march straight in."

Zhang Zhi, Lu Gongru and others all said so.

Zhang Yue knew that the officials had been thinking all day about negotiating peace with the Liao State first, and after destroying Xixia, they could then fall out with the Liao State.

But the question is, everyone in the Liao Kingdom is not a fool. Won’t they guess what your officials are thinking in their hearts?

The Liao Kingdom has now caught your mentality and bullied you.

How did the Jin Kingdom destroy the Northern Song Dynasty in its history?The Kingdom of Jin always made the Northern Song Dynasty monarchs and ministers feel that they could negotiate. They just wanted money and land, and the barbarians just grabbed it and left, without any foresight or long-term strategy.

Every time the Jin soldiers broke their alliance and attacked the Song Dynasty, the monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty would review whether they had done something wrong and made the Jin soldiers unhappy.

When the Jin soldiers attacked Bianjing for the first time, they were clearly repelled by Li Gang and could not capture Bianjing. However, they agreed to negotiate a peace and left with the benefits. When they left, they wrote a farewell letter to the Song Dynasty. I am going to the court to give a speech, and I rarely talk about my blessings. Since I can't do what I want in the army, I would like to send a certain person to act as deputy envoy and deputy, with some small gifts and special paintings.

You think others are barbarians, but you are being played around by others.The golden man always gives you hope in negotiations and never gives you a chance to defeat the enemy.

Until the end when the Jin soldiers went south to Bianjing for the second time, the two emperors still thought of negotiating and giving money and women to redeem their lives. In the end, they were captured and sent to the Five Kingdoms City. What a ridiculous end.

History is too terrible to watch. Things are accomplished with secrets, and failures are revealed with words. We must not be careless.

Zhang Yue thought of this and said to Zhang Zhi: "Just do it. If something happens, I will take care of it!"