The ground paved with fine bluestone shimmers with an icy cold light, the phoenix spreads its wings on the cornices carved from pine wood, the floating windows carved with blue tiles, and the palace walls made of marble.

At the end of a straight avenue, the mist lingers, and a huge palace is vaguely exposed, embodying the style of "family world" all the time.

Xuan Mian is facing the Yuan Dynasty and the green ai is flowing, and the inner door is opening when the chicken sings in the sky.

The clouds are rising, five phoenixes are rising, and the sun is surrounding the dragons.

Those who came to pay homage brought Ban Lianbao with them, and they were honored by the public with the Golden Cup of Longevity and Advancement.

After ringing the bell to announce the end of the palace, people pointed out that the Confucian crown and tin banquet were coming back.

On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, there will be a great meeting.

In the Daqing Hall, Zhao Ji, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, wears a crown that reaches the sky, with twenty-four rolled beams on the crown, guided by jade rhinoceros hairpins. He wears a crimson gauze robe, a gold and jade belt around his waist, white socks and black shoes, and a gold and jade pendant.

Shou, sitting high on a dragon chair facing the ministers.

In the palace, the civil and military officers stood in separate classes, with clear distinctions. At the forefront of the civil officials stood the prime minister Cai Jing, and the two brothers Cai Bian, the school's chief security officer. At the forefront of the military generals stood Zheng Juzhong, a minister of the Privy Council, and Tong Guan, a minister of the Privy Council, dressed in civilian attire.

Two people.

The Song Dynasty's system of using civil servants to control military forces made many famous generals feel aggrieved and miserable.

"What's your official memorial?" Song Huizong said calmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Tong Guan, who was at the forefront of the military generals, bowed and came out, cupped his hands and said: "I would like to inform the officials that our army of the Song Dynasty has invaded the hinterland of Xixia. I would like to ask the officials to issue an order to mobilize all the Western armies and fight in a battle."

Destroy Xixia."

"The officials, please stop attacking Xixia."

A veteran among the military generals couldn't help it, and was the first to object: "Today's Xixia is no longer the Xixia where Empress Dowager Xiaoliang is in power. The Xia Emperor Li Qianshun is quite talented, and now he has integrated Xixia into one."

, Although our Song army fought consecutively and successfully in the previous round, the Xixia army was still intact. If we attack Xia rashly again, we will definitely be attacked by them."

"In the way of masters, do you think that the official family is not as capable as Li Qian Shunxiong?"

When Tong Guan heard this, he was not in a hurry to refute. He only caught the loopholes in the veteran's words and shouted loudly.

This veteran is none other than the current Western Front Barrier of the Great Song Dynasty, the commander-in-chief of the elite Zhong Family Army of the Western Army, and a famous general of the generation - Zhong Shidao.

When Master Zhong heard these heart-wrenching words, he was filled with rage. He wished he could cut this traitor into pieces, but he had to kneel down in a hurry and cried out sadly: "Guanjia, I have no such intention.

The hero's talent and strategy are certainly not comparable to those of Li Qianshun, but now Xixia cannot be attacked by force anymore."

"Old general, get up. All members of the Zhong family are loyal ministers and good generals. How can I be guilty of your words?"

Song Huizong said with a caring look, but he was unhappy in his heart. He was a prodigal emperor who was used to hearing flattery, so how could he listen to the unfavorable advice of a veteran like Jinzhong Shidao?

"Where is Liu Fa, the commander of Xihe Jinglue?" Song Huizong glanced at the ranks of generals and asked.

I saw a strong-looking general wearing armor, with sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes, a tiger's back and a wolf's waist, stepping out, and said in a deep voice: "I'm here."

"General Liu is also a veteran who has fought with Xixia for many years. It's up to you to tell me who I should listen to." Song Huizong glanced at Liu Fa incomprehensibly and asked meaningfully.

Liu Fa lowered his head, not knowing what the officials meant when they looked at him just now. They clearly wanted him to support Tong Guan in sending troops to Xixia, but he didn't know that he had the same idea.

"I agree with what Privy Tong said." Liu Fa bowed and said.

Hearing this, Zhong Shidao looked at Liu Fa in disbelief, but he never thought that the general who was in the same army as him in the Western Army would actually agree with Tong Guan, a traitor who was so happy with his achievements.

He only cultivated the way of teaching, but he would never have thought that at this time, Liu Fa also had the idea of ​​​​exterminating Xixia, making him a marquis and worshiping the prime minister.

Zhongshi Dao was about to speak again, but he saw Cai Jing, Gao Qiu and others all coming out, and they all agreed with Tong Guan. How could Zhongshi Dao not understand that it was true that Tong Guan wanted to destroy Xixia? The one sitting on the dragon throne

It is true that this official wants to destroy Xixia.

"Okay, let's play."

Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Longyan Dayue, said loudly: "I will let Tong Guan, the minister of Privy Council Tongzhi, command the troops, and Liu Fa, the military envoy of Xihe, will be the commander of the capital. I will ask you two to return to the border of Song and Xia as soon as possible and wait for an opportunity to send troops to attack Xia."

When Tong Guan and Liu Fa heard this, they both looked happy and bowed in response.

"Do you still have this memorial, sir?" Song Huizong asked again.

Cai Bian, who was in the front row of civil servants, glanced at Cai Jing who was preparing to go out of the queue beside him, took the lead, and walked out of the queue tremblingly.

"The official, veteran Cai Bian, is begging for the bones."

After Cai Bian finished speaking, there was a commotion in Daqing Hall. Cai Jing behind him frowned and looked at his brother with a complicated expression, but he didn't know what he meant by this move.

After hearing this, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty also stood up from the dragon chair, looked at Cai Bian with concern, and said directly.

"Why is Cai Shaobao? Neither I nor the Song Dynasty can do without Mr. Lao."

"I'm already in my twilight years and can't help the officials any more. I ask the officials to take pity on me so that I can become an official." Cai Bian sighed and cupped his hands.

"That being the case, I'm sure."

Song Huizong pondered for a moment, with a smile on his face, and said: "I have worked hard for my Song Dynasty all my life, but now I still have some wishes. I will help you fulfill them."

"The old minister has one more unkind request. I hope the official will grant it."

"My lord, it's okay to say it."

"I have been busy with state affairs for decades and have no children in my life. I have only one disciple, Wu Zhi, the magistrate of Yanggu County on the East and West Road of Beijing. I know that my time is short, so I hope that the official family will give me permission to let Wu Zhi protect me and return."

My ancestral home is Fujian.”

"This is human nature, I..."

"Not for officialdom."

Song Huizong was about to agree when he heard Cai Jing hurriedly come out and say.

After hearing this, Cai Jing could not understand what his brother was planning. He must have loved talents again and wanted to protect him. He took advantage of his opportunity to become an official and put forward conditions to the officials.

It would be fine if it were someone else. After all, they have been brothers for decades and although they have different political opinions, it doesn't matter if they help him now. But Wu Zhi, the magistrate of Yanggu County, has long been valued by him, and he is about to take advantage of this opportunity.

Next, he went to Beijing to report on his work, so that he could be recruited into his employ.

"Officers, Na Wu Zhi was the top official in the state and county assessment last year. He took office in Yanggu County and made Yanggu County prosperous. He never picked up things on the road or closed his house at night. How could such a pillar of the country be promoted to an official position because of Cai Shaobao?

If you don't make appointments, wouldn't this mean that the world is talking about how officials don't know how to use people?"

Cai Jing bowed and held up his hands, looking distressed, and said as if he was serving the country and the people.

When Huizong of the Song Dynasty heard this, he looked happy. When Cai Jing saw this, he spoke again.

"As an official, it is better to leave Wu Zhi as an official in the capital and serve Cai Shaobao. This will not only enable Wu Zhi to contribute to the country, but also save Cai Shaobao from the long journey, but it is not better."

As soon as Cai Jing finished speaking, he saw Cai Bian looking at him with a look of despair: "Brother, my time is running out now, so you are not willing to fulfill my wish to return to my roots."

?”

Only this "brother" that he had not heard in twenty years, Cai Jing was stunned on the spot. Cai Jing looked at Cai Bian with a miserable look on his face, but his heart also felt sour. All the past things came to his mind. After a while,

Sighing heavily, he bowed to Song Huizong and returned to the ranks.

I just thought in my heart: Just call me brother and I will help you.

Seeing this, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty no longer hesitated and immediately said: "Cai Shaobao has made great contributions to the state throughout his life. He was named Taifu and allowed to return to his hometown. Wu Zhi, the magistrate of Yanggu County, had outstanding political achievements and was granted the title of Imperial Doctor. He was given a silver fish bag and was renewed.

Yanggu County Magistrate, and protect Mr. Cai from returning to his hometown in Fujian."

...

The sun was at the top of the sky, the court meeting that lasted all morning ended, and all the civil and military officials retired one after another.

In front of Xuande Gate, Cai Jing and Cai Bian appeared one after another. When the two were about to disperse, Cai Bian looked at Cai Jing's back and said meaningfully.

"Brother, Bian will say goodbye to you this time. I just hope that you will think twice before you act in the future, think more about what will happen after you, and don't take the road to death."

When Cai Jing heard this, he stagnated for a moment, then walked quickly and got into a luxurious carriage; Cai Bian sighed heavily and walked towards his own carriage.

In front of the Xuande Gate in the imperial palace, just like that noon twenty years ago, there were two brothers and two carriages running in opposite directions.
Chapter completed!