Chapter 725: Offering soil (two updates combined into one)
June of the fifth year of Xining.
Bianjing City.
Cai Tianshen, the visiting envoy to Shaanxi Province, has returned to the capital. He met his father Cai Ting, who is the Deputy Privy Envoy, and his brother Cai Meng.
Many wood and stone bonsais brought from the south of the Yangtze River were planted in the courtyard.
Cai Ting asked slowly and calmly: "Is Shaanxi's deficit really as big as you said in your letter?"
Cai Tianshen said: "It is indeed not small. Zhang Muzhi said that the total deficit in purchasing grain, military horses, and salt fields is more than three million."
Cai Ting said: "If the superiors do something good, the subordinates must follow suit. If there are masters above who are fond of great achievements, there must be ministers below who are eager for quick success."
Cai Meng said: "It is just a land of battlefield size, but it is often called the homeland of the Han and Tang Dynasties. In fact, it has been occupied by the Tibetan people for a long time. The people's customs and customs are different from those in China. It is unknown how much manpower and material resources will be spent to manage these places.
"
Cai Meng sneered and said: "I heard that Zhang Jing's plan to govern Lintao was not to buy grain from the private sector at market prices. I don't know how much it cost. Now the price of grain in Lintao has risen to three to four hundred cents a dou, which is worth ten times to Bianjing! This is not a waste of the imperial court.
Money and food?”
After a pause, he added: "Now the Liao Kingdom knows that our dynasty has sent troops to the northwest and is at odds with Dangxiang. It has repeatedly sent troops to cross the border river, plunder our people, and kill and wound our soldiers. But now the whole court has not heard of it, and only boasts about the recovery."
The martial arts of Xizhou and Hezhou are weak on one side and tough on the other, which is really ridiculous."
Cai Tianshen said: "How is Xihe now?"
Cai Mengdao: "Xiangzi City was lost more than ten days ago, and there was no news about Wang Shao and Zhang Yue's army. Gao Zunyu reported to the Privy Council that Wang Shao and Zhang Yue's army had been completely wiped out. The Xia Kingdom also sent troops from Tiandu Mountain, and asked the Privy Council to dispatch troops and horses from Jingyuan Road.
aid."
Cai Tianshen changed his expression and said: "How could it be so? I also thought that although Zhang and Wang were good at seizing power, they could at least defeat Mu Zheng and take Hezhou, but now their entire army has been wiped out?"
Cai Ting sighed silently after hearing this.
To be honest, Cai Ting admired Zhang Yue and Wang Shao quite a lot. Both of them, like him, were scholars who knew military affairs. Especially since they established themselves in the ancient Wei Dynasty, they were sure to win every battle and capture every attack.
Cai Ting felt sympathy for the two of them.
Cai Ting is very scheming. It seems that he was favored by the officials because of his poem "Yuguan Renlao" and he was appointed as Privy Deputy Envoy. In fact, he deliberately let people publicize it, but the most important thing was the help of his in-law Zeng Gongliang.
.
Zeng Gongliang and many court officials opposed Xihe's use of troops, so Cai Ting had to follow Zeng Gongliang's advice on this point, but his own advice was more inclined to go out of Jingyuan.
Cai Ting said with a straight face: "Since the establishment of the Xihe Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department, Your Majesty has successively spent thirty million dollars. This has been criticized numerous times by the imperial court, but because of the official wishes, it has to be done like this."
"If Hezhou is defeated now, Wang Shao and Zhang Yue will be guilty of a big crime!"
…
Li Xian was walking in the palace at this moment. Because of his contribution to the capture of Xizhou, he was named the envoy of the Dongran Academy and the official of the Imperial Medicine Academy.
Now Li Xian has returned to Bianjing.
Li Xian really wanted to stay in Xihe and continue to make military exploits with Wang Shao and Zhang Yue. Unfortunately, the term of office for a zuma was usually only one year, and then he had to return to Beijing to report his duties to the emperor.
So Li Xian had to return to Beijing early.
Of course, Li Xian also gained the reputation of being a wise soldier among the eunuchs due to his military exploits in Xizhou.
Officials also admired Li Xian very much and often asked him to accompany them. If there was a battle report in the Western Xia, Liao and Qing Tang Dynasties that was difficult to judge, they would call Li Xian for discussion.
However, Li Xian was very cautious. After all, the eunuch Zhijun would be criticized by the civil servants. What he often said in his memorials was to let the officials trust the generals at the front and delegate power to them to achieve success.
Therefore, Li Xian has a good reputation among civil servants.
Li Xian came to the official's bedroom and saw that the royal meal had just been brought out. The chamberlain on the side said to Li Xian: "Your Majesty has not eaten much all day."
Li Xian heard this and said: "Go to the imperial kitchen and cook the sheep's heart again!"
The other party said: "Your Majesty may not be able to use it."
Li Xiandao: "You just go and take care of it."
The other party said that he was leaving, and Li Xianju stepped into the palace. At this moment, he saw the official holding a candle and illuminating the map of Qin Feng and Xihe Road on the wall. If the place the official is most familiar with at the moment is not Bianjing City, nor is it the inner city.
Palace, but Xihe Road.
Your Majesty might be able to shout out the names of the places on Xihe Road even when he is talking in his sleep.
When the official saw Li Xian, he immediately said: "Li Xian, please come and show me quickly. If Xiangzi City falls, will there be any chance for Wang Shao of Zhangyue to turn around?"
But Li Xian said categorically: "Your Majesty, I guarantee with my head that King Shao of Zhang Yue and his 20,000 troops will be safe and sound."
The official asked: "How can we see it?"
Li Xiandao: "Your Majesty, I have always known the temperament of the border commander when I was supervising the army in Xihe. General Gao Zunyu is cautious and thorough, and he is not willing to take risks easily. He was hesitant to build the Malle Fort before, and there was news of Xia Guo's gathering on the border. He
He must be holding on to Lintao and not leaving."
"Now that there is no news in Xiangzi City, he is worried that your majesty will blame him for not saving him. Therefore, he sent a message to Zhang Yue in Lintao City and on the border that Wang Shao's entire army has been wiped out, so as not to lead his troops to rush for reinforcements and be in danger."
The official nodded.
Li Xiandao: "Gao Zunyu knew about Xixia Dianji. Why did Zhang Yue and Wang Shao not know? Zhang Yue and Wang Shao attacked Hezhou because they expected Xixia to be unable to come. That's why Gao Zunyu..."
The official nodded and said: "I already understand. When I reported that the Xia Kingdom's Dian gathering was very prosperous, Lintao City was shocked overnight. Gao Zunyu rode alone outside the city, and Lintao City was safe. I returned to Gao Zunyu
It’s the style of being an ancestor! No wonder, no wonder!”
After the official finished speaking, he felt a little relieved.
But that's how people's suspicions are. Although he doesn't believe that Zhang Yue and Wang Shaozhi can be defeated by Mu Zheng, he still has such a worry about gains and losses.
Both Wang Anshi and Wu Chong said that Your Majesty should not worry and leave it to the frontline soldiers. However, another privy councilor, Cai Ting, objected. Many courtiers who were originally opposed to the invasion said all day long that Wang Shao of Zhangyue was finished.
, tens of thousands of troops have been lost, and perhaps even the newly defeated Xizhou, Tongyuan Army, and Huizhou will be lost.
People in the court were talking like this all day long, and the officials themselves were upset, and they were muttering in their hearts whether they should stop for a while.
After Li Xian's explanation, the officials understood that Gao Zunyu had indeed exaggerated, but they still hung on there and couldn't let go.
The official sat on the royal couch, and at this time the eunuch beside him served him boiled sheep heart.
Officials in the Song Dynasty liked to eat sheep. Emperor Taizu ate several bowls of sheep soup every day. Emperor Renzong wanted to eat sheep soup when he woke up in the middle of the night from hunger. Today's officials also like to eat it.
The royal meal's boiled lamb heart contains tempeh, green onions, tangerine peel, grass fruits, pepper, and long pepper. It is so fragrant that people on the side can't help but move their index fingers and want to try it impatiently. As for the officials, they also have an appetite.
Pick up the chopsticks.
The chamberlain on the side looked at Li Xian with great admiration, and with a few words he relieved the official's worries.
The officials and Li Xian were talking about the war in Xihe and eating sheep hearts.
Li Xian secretly lamented the frugality of the official family. Although it was not as frugal as the original Emperor Renzong, the official family really did not like fine clothing, fine food, fine food, and did not like to play. He could hide tens of millions in money without blinking an eye.
Zhang Yue and Wang Shao were asked to go to Xihe to fight, but their food and clothing were very simple.
Nowadays, many courtiers say that the official family and Wang Anshi worked hard to amass money, but it is true that they amassed money, but not half of it was used for the king's pomp and enjoyment.
Li Xian answered the official's memorial, and the official stopped his chopsticks and looked attentively. Li Xian said: "However, Gao Zunyu's caution is justified. Back then, Fan Zhongyan proposed a shallow attack method, and Qingli's defeat came from this.
."
The official said: "That makes sense."
Li Xiandao: "However, I watched Zhang Yue and Wang Shao used his troops to form a camp step by step. Although the Fan army was more numerous, they chose key places to defend them. When the Fan army was exhausted and the people were hungry, they would be invincible. Therefore, there was no way to defeat what Gao Zunyu said.
trouble."
The official said: "This is also the art of war. The most important thing is to attack the mind."
While he was talking, the chamberlain reported that the princes were here.
The official said to Li Xian: "You are familiar with the military affairs of Xihe, so please come with me to meet the ministers."
The official immediately put down the sheep's heart that he had only eaten a few mouthfuls of, and immediately came to the front hall.
At this time, Wang Anshi, Wen Yanbo and other prime ministers arrived, and they all said to the officials: "I congratulate your Majesty, there is good news ahead!"
The official Li Xian's words had already eased Cai Cai's emotions. He smiled as if he had a well-thought-out plan and said, "Really? I have already expected it."
Wang Anshi said: "Previously, Gao Zunyu reported to Zhang Yue that Wang Shao's entire army had been wiped out, which was not true. Now the two of them captured Xiangzi City, regained control of Hezhou, defeated the enemy army in Jingniu Valley, and then took advantage of the victory to attack An."
In Xinjiang Village, Dong Yu was provoked, and Wu Chila and Mu Zheng fought fiercely. When our army attacked, Mu Zheng was defeated and escaped and fled to Dong Xiang. His younger brothers Ba Xiangjiao and Ba Xiangmo were both captured alive and were sacrificed.
On the way to capture the palace, now Zhang Yue Wang Shao has captured the entire territory of Hezhou for His Majesty!"
Wu Chong said: "This matter should have been successful early, but King Shao of Zhangyue painted a map of the mountains, rivers, and country of Xizhou and Hezhou and presented it to His Majesty along with the report of success, so it was delayed for several days."
The official asked excitedly: "What is the map of mountains and rivers and the country, I want to see it?"
Soon the waiter brought a table, and saw that the sand and soil on the table were piled up to look like mountains and rivers, and mercury was used to imitate the shapes of rivers. The entire landscape of Xizhou and Hezhou was displayed on the table.
Wu Chong said: "The sand and soil here are all collected from Xizhou and Hezhou. King Shao of Zhangyue will present the soil to His Majesty!"
Accepting soil and offering soil is a sign of submission. In the past, when the Tibetan tribes surrendered to the Central Plains Dynasty, offering a handful of soil represented submission.
And the map of mountains, rivers and the country presented by Zhang Yue and Wang Shao already indicates that the entire territory of Xizhou and Hezhou has become the territory of our Song Dynasty!
The official's excitement gradually calmed down and he said: "It's so exquisite. The mountains and rivers of Xihe River seem to be in my eyes. Even if I am in Bianjing, I can enjoy the mountains and rivers of Xizhou and Hezhou here. This is such a generous gift.
I accepted it!"
Wang Anshi said: "In the beginning, Ma Yuan gathered rice to form valleys and mapped out the situation. Now, the map of mountains and rivers presented by Zhang Yue Wang Shao can also help the soldiers at the front to attack the city and evict the stronghold. I think this method can be implemented among the generals in the army."
Wen Yanbo looked at Wang Anshi. The official family was excited and happy. You insisted on bringing this matter up to the official family for decision. It seems that you have something new and novel. You didn't discuss it with us, and you just wanted to implement it in the world immediately.
"I'm sure!"
Officials deserve to be in harmony with Wang Anshi.
At this time, Cai Ting, the deputy privy envoy standing by, said: "Your Majesty, I have this report. Gao Zunyu impeached Zhang Yueyan. When there was no news from Xiangzicheng, Cai Yanqing, the transfer envoy, went to appease Guan Lu Shengqing, and Xizhou judge Wenji
At the same time, Zhang Shouyue, the governor of Xizhou, was ordered to send troops to rescue Xiangzi City."
"But Zhang Shouyue only had 3,000 soldiers and did not obey his wishes. But Cai Yanqing forced Zhang Shouyue to go to war. Cai Yanqing was not a commander and had no power to control his troops. Zhang Shouyue originally listened to Gao Zunyu
It is a violation of the system to exercise restraint but not give orders."
Wang Anshi said: "Zhang Yue, Wang Shao's tens of thousands of troops are still trapped by thieves. Zhang Shou can only manage 3,000 troops. He is not afraid of the enemy but cautious. It's not that he doesn't go but he is worried about the lack of troops. Later, Cai Yanqing promised him five
With thousands of troops and horses, Zhang kept his promise and just left, so it was a matter of course."
Cai Ting said: "Gao Zunyu also reported that when Zhang Yue was stationed in Xiangzi City, he first stamped an empty official document with a big seal, and then asked the commander of Xizhou to arrange bows, horses, arrows, and food supplies. However, the seal was left in Lintao City and was used by his confidants.
I am in charge of Gou. This seal comes out twice, which is not in line with the system. Please make a decision and go beyond the scope of the crime!"
After hearing what Cai Ting said, the official seemed unhappy. He was happy that he had captured Hezhou, but Cai Ting came to hold Zhang Yue accountable.
Wen Yanbo asked: "Didn't Cai Yanqing discuss this matter with Gao Zunyu?"
Cai Ting said: "Although it was a discussion, it was not a request for an ultimatum. Zhang Shouyue sent troops on his own."
Wen Yanbo frowned and said: "In strategic planning, the general manager of the capital should control the troops and horses. However, if the general manager of the capital does not control the troops and horses, he issues an ultimatum to send out troops. It is indeed against the system."
Wu Chong said: "The deputy general envoy and deputy general envoy were besieged in Hezhou, so Lu Shengqing acted falsely. If Zhang Yue and Wang Shao were in Lintao, Lu Shengqing would not dare to do it."
Cai Ting said: "Lu Shengqing is only the manager of the Ministry of Finance, Gou Yan dares to forge seals and execute documents. This is interference with authority."
Wen Yanbo said: "This is all Gao Zunyu's ulterior motives. If Xizhou is really empty due to sending troops to Xiangzi City and is invaded by Xia's soldiers, then all the blame can be placed on Cai Yanqing."
The official family and other officials were astonished. This approach was really very accommodating.
As expected, Wen Yanbo was really good, and he could see Gao Zunyu's intentions at a glance.
The official said: "Gao Zunyu did not foresee the military, so he repeatedly obstructed the Hezhou campaign. I have heard the report and learned about this matter. Zhang Yue and Lu Shengqing's actions were also to prevent unexpected events, so as to prevent the army from going deep into danger, but they were
It’s because support is cut off.”
Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty, the distance from Hezhou to Xiangzi City and then to Lintao is nearly two hundred miles, and we have to cross the Tao River. The places we pass through are all unaffiliated people. If Wang Shao attacks Hezhou, Zhang Yue will be in the middle.
Contact Xiangzi City and Gao Zunyu to guard the rear, so we can keep everything safe."
"But Gao Zunyu, Zhang Yue, and Wang Shao had different intentions, so they did this. Although it is not a system, it is also a policy of obeying power."
The official nodded.
Feng Jing said: "Your Majesty, although Hezhou is a great victory this time, the misconduct of the frontline commanders must be corrected. In addition to Zhang Yue, Yuan Zhongtong has also confessed, admitting that Wang Shao helped him change his name, and cooperated with Huang Cha and Wang Junwanyou."
An act of greed."
The official said: "With Zhang Yue, Wang Shaozhi's contribution to regaining Hezhou is not worth it. This matter ends here and there is no need to investigate further!"
Cai Ting and Feng Jing both retreated.
As the saying goes, different opinions confuse each other. As prime ministers, the two of them said what they should say. Anyway, they are just to express their stance that I, Wang Anshi, Wu Chong and others are not on the same side.
This is also the purpose of officials promoting them as prime ministers.
In the eyes of those in power, people should be able to be employed up or down. If you blindly show off your merits for Zhang Yue or Wang Shao, it will be like a meteoric rise. This will make people jealous and jealous, and will also make those who have meritorious deeds feel arrogant and proud, and they will not let you go as emperor right away.
In front of my eyes, it seems that all the rewards and promotions are based on my own ability, and I don't know how to express gratitude to the officials.
Therefore, if you have merit, you should be rewarded, and at the same time, you should also have some pigtails in your hands.
Of course, people who didn't know the truth thought that there was a traitor in the imperial court. Why did villains come to stop the emperor whenever he wanted to reward Zhang Yue and Wang Shao for their contributions?
The official said: "This time we defeated Zhang Yue, Wang Shao and Cai Yanqing in Hezhou with the greatest achievements!"
Officials decide everything with just one word, so they should quickly set the tone first, otherwise the governors would rank Gao Zunyu first. Wouldn't this embarrass him?
"How to reward the three of them, and how to reward the other meritorious soldiers, the ministers will discuss it before reporting."
After a pause, the official said: "But there is one thing. I want to make my own opinion. Gao Zunyu is sitting in Xizhou this time to protect Lintao. It is because of his hard work that he should be promoted to a higher position..."
Gao Zunyu must have been very moved after hearing what the official said. He didn't do anything in Lintao, but his hard work actually paid off.
Wang Anshi said: "Gao Zunyu can join the regiment and train as an envoy!"
The official happily said: "I will follow your advice, but since I am the regiment training envoy, it is difficult to hold the post of general manager of the capital again, so I will retire as deputy general manager and let Zhang Yue also take the post of general manager of the military and horse capital at Xihe Road!"
Wang Anshi agreed on the spot, and Cai Yanqing wrote to him every letter with Zhang Yue's words, how to implement the general's art of war in Xihe effectively.
Zhang Yue supported his reform with practical actions, so Wang Anshi would definitely reciprocate.
If you oppose the reform, let alone the commander-in-chief of military affairs, you will also have to suppress the general manager.
Wu Chong then made a speech on the spot: "Gao Zunyu was always slow in giving orders to the Economic and Strategic Affairs Department. This is a fact. I thought that if the reputation of a border commander is not established in the country, how can he inflict it on an enemy country and lead troops to fight with the most powerful people?"
, so it is extremely appropriate for Zhang Yue to also serve as the general manager."
The official nodded and walked down the steps to Wang Anshi and Wu Chong, who quickly saluted.
The official said to Wang Anshi and Wu Chong: "When the news from Xiangzi City was cut off, there was constant suspicion among the courtiers. I tried to terminate the plan many times, but the two beloved ministers remained consistent. If there was no temple plot, how could Zhang Yue be there?"
Wang Shao’s merit as a general. If it weren’t for the two Qing family members, how could he have such great merit?”
After saying this, the official held the hands of Wang Anshi and Wu Chong, and both of them were extremely moved.
…
After the princes left, the officials returned to the back hall.
Li Xian followed behind him without saying a word, and the emperor and his ministers felt different when they saw the map of Xihe on the wall again.
The map of Jiangshan and Sheji presented by Zhang Yue Wang Shao is also placed in the palace.
The official took a look at the map of the country and the country, picked up the imperial pen on the imperial desk and gave instructions to Li Xian.
"Bring me the cinnabar!"
"Bring me another ladder!"
The official dipped his pen in cinnabar, and then climbed up the ladder himself to swipe the brush.
Li Xian carefully held the candlestick in his hand to illuminate the map, but he saw that the officials painted the Hezhou land on the map with the vermilion color representing the scorching Song Dynasty in one stroke!
