Heavy snow fell, and the inside and outside of the imperial city became a blur.
Su Shi originally thanked Zhang Yue and thanked him for his many protective measures. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yue said in advance that the world can be without me Zhang Yue, but it cannot be without Su Zizhan.
Zhang Yue blocked Su Shi's words of thanks.
I saved you not just because you and I are friends and the same age, but for the sake of the world and the sake of preserving a great talent for the country.
When Wang Anshi said that talented people should not be killed in prosperous times, he meant it literally, but Zhang Yue meant the same thing in another way.
Although it was a snowy day, Su Shi felt as warm as spring in his heart.
Su Shi recalled what the fortune-teller said when he came to Beijing, saying that Zhang Yue was really a noble person of their Su family, which was indeed true.
"Su cherishes this life and wanted to do something more for the country, but he hesitated again and again before setting off. He still couldn't help but be afraid in his heart."
Zhang Yue said: "Zizhan, how can you change your ambition lightly?"
Su Shi shook his head: "I remembered a joke. Two people expressed their ambitions, and one person said that all I have in my life are eating and sleeping. If I succeed in my future, I will eat when I am full, sleep when I am full, and eat when I am full of sleep."
"Another person said that I am a little different. I eat and eat, so why do I need to sleep?"
"The so-called ambition in life is nothing more than this."
Zhang Yue shook his head with a smile, and Su Shi still didn't forget to complain.
However, Zhang Yue thought that historically Su Shi had been awaiting punishment in Huangzhou, and it was not until the seventh year of Yuanfeng that the emperor asked him to change his name to Ruzhou.
Zhang Yue reinstated Su Shi to his post before the fifth year of Yuanfeng. Wouldn't it be possible that famous works such as Chibi Fu and Travel Notes on Chengtian Temple would have to be written by me... I'm afraid I would have to write them for him.
Zhang Yue thought of this.
Zhang Yue said to Su Shi: "Let's talk business first."
…
After the two sat down in the middle study hall, Su Shi sat at the bottom and Zhang Yue sat at the desk.
When officials enter the Zhongshu to perform affairs, they always sit facing north, and the prime ministers sit facing the south according to the desk. Only when the two houses enter the Zhongshu, the desks and desks are removed, and the prime ministers sit opposite the guests and hosts in the east and west. This is called setting up the table.
Su Shi's Zhi Zhongshu must abide by this rule.
Su Shi looked at Zhang Yue's current situation and knew that he could no longer talk to Zhang Yue in the same tone as before.
Zhang Yue said: "It is up to you to send Zizhan as an envoy to Goryeo and then contact the Jurchens. The leader of Goryeo admires the culture of this dynasty. Your literary name has already spread far and wide in Goryeo, so it is best for you to go here. I heard
Previously, Jin Jin, a civil servant of Goryeo, accompanied Liu Hong and Pu Yinliang as envoys to the Song Dynasty. After returning to China, he named his two sons "Fu Shi" and "Fu Che" respectively, which is interesting."
Zhang Yue was joking, and Su Shi said solemnly: "I don't know something about this official. Goryeo must obey the orders of the Khitan, and will eventually be used by the Northern invaders. The Khitan army is enough to kill him, but this dynasty cannot do the same. Why should Goryeo take orders from me?"
, and not obey the orders of Khitan?"
"If the alliance with Goryeo is really successful and the Khitan is offended, wouldn't it mean another military disaster?"
What Su Shi said makes sense. Most of the territories of Khitan and Goryeo are separated by the Yalu River. Moreover, the Liao Kingdom still has troops stationed in Baozhou and Dingzhou to the east of the Yalu River. They can attack Goryeo's Xijing (Pyongyang) at any time. However, the Song Dynasty is so far away from Goryeo.
Far away, there are almost no means to control Goryeo. Goryeo just listens to you.
Zhang Yue said: "That's a good question. This matter begins in the seventh year of Xining. At that time, due to the demarcation of the border between our dynasty and the Liao Kingdom, I, as the Deputy Privy Envoy, led the army to confront the Liao Kingdom on the front line."
"In order to break the deadlock, the imperial court at that time asked An Tao and Chen Mu to go to Korea to establish contact."
"Previously, the sea route from this Dynasty to Korea was from Dengzhou to Ongjin on the west coast of Korea, but this time, this Dynasty went from Myeongzhou (Ningbo, Zhejiang) to Bilantinge, which is located on the Licheng River in Korea."
"Why change the post road?"
"Due to the sea ban in Dengzhou, this dynasty prohibited merchants from trading privately with the Liao Kingdom, so this road was cut off, and we went from Mingzhou instead of Dengzhou, just to avoid offending the Khitans."
"This road is not that far. Depending on the monsoon, it can be reached in five or six days, but the risk is not small. Lin Xi was originally asked to go as an envoy, but he heard that the risk was higher, so he decided not to go. As a result
I’m going to die after eating it.”
"However, although Mingzhou is far away, it cannot help the businessmen's desire to make huge profits. In recent years, Fujian merchants who have been seeking wealth and wealth can still go to Korea by sailing from Quanzhou Port."
"Therefore, I plan to crack down on private trade and allow imperial merchants with imperial signs to go directly to the sea from Dengzhou to trade with Goryeo. This time I plan to load the beji cloth on the envoy ship and transport it to Goryeo. In the future, there will be huge profits from trade, so why worry?
Gao Li refused."
Historically, the sea trade from Mingzhou and Quanzhou to Korea was very developed, and the profits were considerable. Especially in the Southern Song Dynasty, Korea built many embassies in Korea to receive Southern Song merchants. For example, Shen Wansan also became rich through this route.
Doing business with Goryeo can not only be a source of wealth, but also a way to tie the other party together. In fact, Zhang Yue has an idea. Whether he captures Liangzhou and opens up the Western Silk Road or this Maritime Silk Road, what matters is
.To Liao and Dangxiang, it is only incidental, only trade and commerce are the top priority.
Zhang Yue paused and said: "Of course, the most important position is the Fangsi. The relationship between Goryeo and Liao is not harmonious now."
"The Liao Kingdom has been trying to set up a market place for mutual transactions between Liao and Li in the Yalu River, but the leader of Gaoli said that as long as the Liao Dynasty does not withdraw from Baozhou and other cities, he will not agree to open a market place. There are some frictions on the border between the two countries.
Otherwise, Goryeo would not take the initiative to show kindness."
"In addition, Goryeo has always wanted to annex some Jurchens, but due to the obstacles of the Liao Kingdom, it has not dared to act rashly. Of course, the most important thing is to contact the Jurchens through Goryeo."
When Su Shi heard about it, he said, "I understand."
Zhang Yue discussed some details with Su Shi again.
After that, Su Shi stood up and said goodbye. Zhang Yue stood up to see him off. Su Shi said, "Prime Minister, this time I went to Jiangning to pay homage to Wang Jinggong, and he said something to me."
At that time, Su Shi told Zhang Yue what Wang Anshi said and expressed the hope that Zhang Yue could resolve future party disasters.
"That's what Wang Jinggong said at that time. He had high expectations for the Prime Minister!" Su Shi looked at Zhang Yue's expression after finishing speaking.
Zhang Yue was lost in thought while looking out the window at the heavy snowfall. Su Shi and Wang Anshi both saw that the Northern Song Dynasty was in danger of being destroyed by the party.
The history of the Northern Song Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty are somewhat similar. They both passed through the small sect into the large sect, and then there were the Dali Conference and the Pu Conference, this kind of large-scale alignment of courtiers. Finally, serious party disputes broke out in the last years, and in the end the party disaster became the inducement for the country's collapse.
After a moment Zhang Yue said: "Mr. Jing's words are serious. I'm afraid I won't be able to stop this party from fighting."
Su Shi said: "Prime Minister, I think that except for the exemption law, all other new laws can be abolished. In addition, scoundrels like Lu Huiqing should never be hired."
Zhang Yue said: "If all the other new laws are dismissed, the imperial court will definitely be short of money."
Su Shi said: "We should live within our means, eliminate redundant officials and soldiers, and reduce the number of subordinates. At the same time, we should manage the Yellow River well and alleviate the sufferings of the people's livelihood."
Zhang Yue said: "I can take care of Liangzhou and Lingzhou, which is a half-effort. How can I take over Fuxingzhou and curb the party's disasters?"
Su Shi was stunned for a moment, looking for an opportunity and asked with a wry smile: "Prime Minister, taking back Xingzhou and Lingzhou is more important than the party's destruction of the country? When Su said that he wanted to put his head on his head, that was not what he meant! Capture Liangzhou and then give it to your majesty.
Honorable titles, and finally the conferment on Mount Tai, these are just ways to quench thirst by drinking poison, but they cannot finally eliminate the party's disaster!"
Zhang Yue looked at Su Shi and smiled bitterly: "Brother Zizhan, let me ask you, among the new and old parties today, how many people are like you and Jing Guogong who can say right and wrong without asking about their stance?
"
"How many people hope that everyone can sit down calmly, eliminate arguments, and finally seek common ground while reserving differences?"
"Who can see the danger of the party ruining the country? Even if there are knowledgeable people, they only know how to use the party's disputes to fight for power and gain for their own selfish purposes!"
Su Shi was stunned by Zhang Yue's words.
Zhang Yue glanced at Su Shi and said: "Brother Zizhan, you don't necessarily have to have the right means to achieve the right goal. Han Feizi once said that doing politics is like a piece of cake. Even if you abandon your hair, you must do it."
"Those who love to waste the cost of hair but forget the benefits of long hair are those who do not know their rights."
Han Feizi said that governing a country is like washing your hair. Even if you lose some hair, you still have to wash it clean. If you take good care of your hair but forget that it will grow back, you are a person who does not know how to adapt."
When Zhang Yue said this, he thought of the TV series where Sun proposed that everyone should obey the party leader, but Huang Xing objected and thought this was wrong. Sun was also helpless. At that time, everything was scattered from top to bottom, and he had to use this method to strengthen cohesion.
Of course, Su Shi was firmly opposed to Zhang Yue's methods of attacking party items for the emperor, conferring honorary titles, and enshrining them on Mount Tai as a way to eliminate party troubles in the future.
But Su Shi didn't think carefully about why Wang Anshi changed his mind about Zhang Yue this time? There was a loose tone in his tone.
It was not because the imperial court captured Liangzhou this time and opened up the Hexi Corridor.
Having facts before your eyes is a hundred times better than reasoning. Now, except for some who still insist on speaking their minds, most of the new party members also accept it.
This is a way to convince everyone. You want me to "convince people with virtue" and use other methods to convince the old and new parties. Sorry, I really don't know how to do this.
Su Shi still said to himself: "In this fight for Liangzhou, the price of rice in Sichuan and Sichuan has increased. Although the prime minister has repeatedly exempted the people from taxes, there are still scholars. If we take back Xingling, the cost will be twice as much as that of Xingzhou and Lingzhou!"
"In the past few years, I have seen the elders in my hometown acting like this in my letters, and it really makes my heart ache. What this official does is not able to help the world, and relieve the people. This official is really meaningless."
Zhang Yue said: "Brother Zizhan, if you say that, you are really sorry for the hard work I have to do."
"You don't want to dominate others, and you don't want to be dominated by others. Seeing that all living beings are equal in your eyes, this is the character of a scholar. It is similar to the saying of "looking at thousands of people with cold eyebrows, bowing your head and willing to be a coward". This is also why I protect you.
That’s why.”
"With a cold brow, you can look down upon a thousand men, but you can bow your head and be willing to be a bully!" Su Shi commented on Zhang Yue's words. He could be humble to those who were inferior to him, but he would not show any pretense to those who were above him.
Su Shi said: "Prime Minister, these are excellent words, but Su is too embarrassed to accept them."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Whatever you can't stand, I'll talk about the rest later when you come back from Goryeo!"
