Chapter 0685 Knowing today, why was it in the first place
"Is there any chance of survival?"
Xia Anqi grimaced and said in a low voice: "With Kou Ji's character, he will never return to the court if Xixia is not destroyed."
Xia Song said painfully: "The great revenge has not been avenged, and I am unwilling to be a father!"
Xia Anqi looked at Xia Song and lamented: "It's useless to be unwilling. Li Deming will never let us father and son go. We father and son have no chance of revenge."
"Heaven! Don't you open your eyes!"
"..."
Xia Song roared hysterically in prison.
It's hard to speak in Xia'an period, I can only look up to the sky and sigh.
Their father and son made mistakes in the Song Dynasty and escaped a knife attack.
After several years of wandering, he fell under the sword of the Song Dynasty again.
It's like retribution.
Xia Song and his son loved and pitied themselves in prison, with no one paying attention.
The envoys of the Song Dynasty arrived at Xingqing Mansion on the third day after Xia Song and his son were imprisoned.
Li Deming led the welcoming team of Xixia and personally welcomed the envoys from ten miles away, and respectfully welcomed the envoys of the Song Dynasty back to Xingqing Mansion.
After entering Xingqing Mansion, Li Deming held a grand banquet to entertain envoys from the Song Dynasty.
During the banquet.
Li Deming very generously gave the envoys of the Song Dynasty a lot of money and beauties.
The envoys of the Song Dynasty did not refuse and accepted them all.
Before the officials of the envoy went out, Zhao Zhen specifically explained that the purpose of their trip was to extract some money from Xixia. The more they extracted, the greater the credit.
It is precisely because of this that when the officials of the mission faced bribes from Xixia, they accepted them all without any scruples.
After Li Deming sent money and beauties, he immediately told the officials of the envoy that Xixia had no intention of going to war with the Song Dynasty.
As a vassal of the Song Dynasty, Xixia was willing to rely on the Song Dynasty forever and obey the orders of the Song Dynasty.
All the wrong things that Xixia had committed before were not his original intentions, but were secretly done by Xia Song and Xia Anqi and his son.
He also gave some explanations on how Xia Song and Xia Anqi could serve as high-ranking officials in Xixia.
He claimed that after Xia Song and Xia Anqi, father and son, fled from the Song Dynasty to Xixia, they changed their identities, concealed their past, used their talents to defraud his trust, and gained an official position in the Xixia court.
He was deceived by Xia Song and Xia Anqi's father and son.
The officials of the Song Dynasty envoy were also shocked when they heard that Xia Song and Xia Anqi and his son were in Xixia and served as high-ranking officials in Xixia.
Xia Song, during the Song Dynasty, was one of the prime ministers and a big shot.
Many officials in the mission lowered their heads and spoke when they saw Xia Song.
Such a person defected to Xixia and helped Xixia plot against the Song Dynasty.
No wonder the Song Dynasty suffered a big loss in the northwest.
However, no matter how powerful Xia Song was, he still couldn't defeat Kou Ji.
When he was in the Great Song Dynasty, his status was higher than Kou Ji's, so he could not fight against Kou Ji.
After leaving the Song Dynasty and joining Xixia, he was still defeated by Kou Ji.
The officials of the mission had complained about Kou Ji because Kou Ji tricked Zhao Zhen into leaving Bianjing.
Now we know that everything in the northwest was planned by Xia Song. Thanks to Kou Jicai, we defeated Xia Song.
Their resentment towards Kou Ji dissipated a lot.
In the process of talking with Li Deming, the officials of the mission learned that Li Deming intended to hand over Xia Song and his son to the Song Dynasty. Even if someone expressed his position and claimed that he had returned to Yinzhou and met Zhao Zhen, he would definitely do it for Li Deming.
Deming said good things.
There were also some people who revealed to Li Deming openly and secretly that it was not enough to hire people, but also to use money.
Although Li Deming was crying about poverty, he still ordered someone to prepare a sum of money and delivered it to the officials of the mission.
After the officials saw the money, their attitude changed instantly.
One by one, they swore to Li Deming and claimed that after returning to Yinzhou and meeting Zhao Zhen, they would speak for Xixia and stop Zhao Zhen from invading Xixia, even if they risked their lives.
Faced with such "strong" mission officials.
Li Deming had no choice but to take out another sum of money and give it to them as a private gift.
The officials of the mission stayed in Xingqing Mansion for a long time and tried their best to squeeze money from Li Deming.
While squeezing Li Deming's money, they also squeezed the money from the Xixia nobles.
He claimed that he could use his connections to help them buy a house in Bianjing City. Regardless of whether the Song Dynasty conquered Xixia or not, and whether Xixia would perish or not, the Xixia nobles could move to Bianjing City. As a Song person,
Continue to live the life of a rich man.
The officials of the mission said this, but the nobles of Xixia did not believe it, but the wealthy merchants of Xixia did. They raided their properties one by one and gave the officials of the mission a generous gift.
They didn't care whether the officials of the mission could help them buy a house in Bianjing City.
They only asked the officials of the envoy to help them use their strength during the war between Xixia and Song Dynasty, so that they would not be hurt by the hilt of the sword.
The officials of the Song Dynasty envoy were almost blatantly trying to make money.
Li Deming pretended not to see it.
Officials from the Song Dynasty envoy were allowed to search the Xingqing Mansion.
Officials from the Song Dynasty envoy searched Xingqing Mansion for eight days.
Eight days later.
Officials from the Song Dynasty envoy, carrying Li Deming's credentials begging for mercy, escorted Xia Song and his son out of Xingqing Mansion.
Officials from the Song Dynasty envoy have just left.
Li Deming ordered his soldiers and horses to arrest the wealthy merchants who had donated money to the officials of the Song Dynasty envoy and confiscated all their property.
After Li Deming donated a large sum of money to the Song Dynasty, there was not much money left in the treasury.
After confiscating the money of those wealthy merchants, not only the money dedicated to the Song Dynasty was replenished, but also a lot more.
Li Deming had long been determined to confiscate the money from wealthy merchants and use it for military expenses.
It's just that the wealthy merchants in Xingqing Mansion have contacts with most of the nobles in Xixia, and their relationships are intricate and complicated, so it's hard for him to take action.
The wealthy merchants donated money to the Song envoy, which gave him a reasonable excuse.
The reason why he didn't stop the officials from the Song Dynasty Envoy when they were searching for money in Xingqing Mansion was because he wanted to wait for the officials from the Song Dynasty Envoy to leave and make a good harvest.
The envoys of the Song Dynasty are on their way to Yinzhou.
Zhao Zhen, who was based in Yinzhou, received the news.
Inside Yinzhou City.
On the school grounds, inside the Chinese army tent.
Zhao Zhen sat at the top with a golden sword, looking at the documents in his hand, feeling a little dazed.
Kou Ji was sitting not far from Zhao Zhen. Seeing Zhao Zhen's expression was different, he hurriedly asked: "But the officials of the mission encountered trouble in Xingqing Mansion?"
Kou Ji proposed that Zhao Zhen send people to extract money from Li Deming, which was actually a very risky move.
If Li Deming made up his mind to fight to the death with the Song Dynasty, he would definitely kill the officials of the Song Dynasty envoy.
It is impossible for the two countries to communicate without cutting off envoys in Xixia.
The reason why the Song Dynasty was able to seize the territory south of the Great Wall from Xixia was because the Xixia people plundered the Liao envoys and angered Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu, who personally led an army to conquer Xixia.
The Song Dynasty took the opportunity to raise troops and gained some advantages.
Therefore, sending an envoy to Xixia is definitely a dangerous job.
The Xixia people really dared to kill the envoys.
Zhao Zhen heard Kou Ji's question, put down the document in his hand, and said with a very strange expression: "Xia Song is in Xixia!"
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, with a look of astonishment on his face.
Zhao Zhen continued: "Not only Xia Song, but also Xia Song's son Xia Anqi, who was also in Xixia. Previously, he provoked war between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom, and allowed the Liao people to cross the border from Xixia and invade the territory of the Song Dynasty.
It was the plan of their father and son.
The assassination of you was also planned by their father and son."
When Kou Ji heard this, his face darkened, "Xia Song is really a scourge! The trouble they and their son caused to me in the Song Dynasty was far greater than the tens of millions of people who had taken refuge in Xixia before.
They father and son deserve to be cut into pieces by a thousand cuts."
Zhao Zhen nodded slowly, "He should be cut into pieces, and his deeds should be recorded and passed down to future generations, so that they can be reviled by future generations."
Kou Ji thought about it: "Is there any way to get Li Deming to hand over his father and son?"
Zhao Zhen picked up the document and ordered Chen Lin to hand it to Kou Ji.
When Chen Lin walked towards Kou Ji with the document, Zhao Zhen sighed: "Li Deming is very sensible and has handed over Xia Song and his son to the envoys we sent. Now the envoys are escorting them back to Yinzhou."
Zhao Zhen looked at Kou Ji and said, "Li Deming is very sincere in begging for mercy."
While listening to Zhao Zhen's words, Kou Ji looked through the documents that Chen Lin handed him. After carefully reviewing the documents, he said to Zhao Zhen: "I had known about this, why did I do it in the first place."
Zhao Zhen nodded slowly, "Father is not a heartless person, and neither am I. If Xixia is dependent on the Song Dynasty and treats the Song Dynasty with this attitude, it is impossible for the Song Dynasty to raise troops against Xixia
.”
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen paused deliberately, and then said: "Maybe when Xixia is in crisis, I can send a large army and spare no effort to help them."
Zhao Zhen looked at Kou Ji and said quietly: "But now they have offended me, the Song Dynasty, to death. Is it useful to show weakness and beg for mercy? Although I am kind, I also have a temper.
I led the army here just to destroy it.
If I don't destroy it, the energy in my chest will not flow smoothly."
Kou Ji put down the documents in his hand and said: "We have reached a consensus on the conquest of Xixia. Now hundreds of thousands of troops are waiting in formation. As long as you give an order, they can all march out and invade Xixia.
When we reach Xingqing Mansion and capture Li Deming alive, the official's tone will be fine."
Zhao Zhen smiled and nodded.
Kou Ji continued: "The people sent by the government to extract money were a bit unbearable. They stayed in Xingqing Mansion for eight days and only plundered less than 300,000 yuan of money."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen sighed: "Xixia is too poor..."
Today, Zhao Zhen has abundant money in his hands, his heart is high, and his horizons are also high.
You must know that at the beginning of Zhao Zhen's accession to the throne, when he was in poverty, all the civil and military officials in the dynasty could quarrel for a whole day over 300,000 yuan.
It's possible that the quarrel won't end in one day.
Kou Ji pondered: "It is true that Xixia is poor, but not that poor. I guess they pocketed most of the money in the name of private gifts."
Receiving private gifts was a common thing in the Song Dynasty.
Some vassals requested help from the Song Dynasty. After sending people to Bianjing, they would send large private gifts to various high-ranking officials of the Song Dynasty.
Sometimes the private gifts sent by the vassal were more generous than the tribute presented to the court.
When Song Dynasty officials went on missions to their vassals, they would also accept private gifts, and some even blatantly asked for them.
This matter has formed a trend in the Song Dynasty.
At the end of each year, the officials of Honglu Temple would even get together to compare the private gifts they received with each other.
So after Zhao Zhen heard Kou Ji's words, he did not get angry, but hesitantly asked: "How much can they pocket?"
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "When they arrive in Yinzhou, I will send someone to ask them and we will find out."
Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment and sighed: "If they don't receive many private gifts, let them take them."
Kou Ji pouted and said, "I'm afraid there are quite a few..."
Zhao Zhen opened his mouth but said nothing.
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "This wind must not rise!"
Zhao Zhen hesitated and said: "After all, it is not the money I gave you, nor is it the people's anointing of my Song Dynasty that was plundered..."
Halfway through Zhao Zhen's words, Kou Ji said earnestly: "But they relied on the majesty of the Song Dynasty to receive so many private gifts. Although we don't care about the money, we still have to follow the rules.
.
The Song Dynasty is more powerful than the Xixia Dynasty, so it’s okay to take some private gifts.
But for a powerful country that is more powerful than our Song Dynasty and can rival my Song Dynasty, if you give them a private gift and they accept it in full, wouldn’t you feel intimidated?”
Zhao Zhen instantly understood the meaning of Kou Ji's words.
The Song Dynasty was more powerful than the Xixia Dynasty, so it was nothing for officials of the Song Dynasty envoy to take some private gifts.
The officials of the envoy took money from Xixia, just to say a few more good things to Xixia in the court.
But if a powerful country comparable to the Song Dynasty sends a private gift, it will not be dealt with simply by saying a few nice words. Ninety-nine percent of the time, some information about the Song Dynasty will have to be sold and the benefits will be paid out to satisfy others' appetites.
Kou Ji saw Zhao Zhen frowning and lost in thought, so he continued: "What's more important is that the officials left this matter alone, and they acted insatiably.
They are sent by the government to extract money, and most of what they get should be turned over to the state treasury, and the remaining small portion can be shared as profit.
But now they have profited from the big part, and instead handed it over to the treasury for the small part.
They regard their own interests as greater than the interests of the imperial court.
In the long run, it will be fine."
Zhao Zhen frowned and asked in a deep voice: "Why is Fourth Brother so sure that the money they extracted from Xixia is much more than what they reported?"
Kou Jidao: "Do the officials still remember that when I returned from Hexi, I sent a sum of money to the inner treasury?"
Zhao Zhen was stunned and looked at Chen Lin.
Chen Lin hurriedly said: "But a sum of gold and silver jewelry worth 300,000 yuan has been put into the inner treasury."
Zhao Zhen nodded and looked at Kou Ji, waiting for Kou Ji to answer his questions.
Kou Ji let out a sigh of relief, "That is a private gift from Qingtang to me, totaling 400,000 guan. I took 100,000 guan, and sent someone to deliver the remaining 300,000 guan to the official's inner treasury."
When Zhao Zhen heard this, he roughly understood what Kou Ji was going to say.
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "Fourth brother wants to tell me that Qingtang's private gift to fourth brother is as much as 400,000 yuan. When Xixia presented me with a national gift, it must be even more?"