Prime Minister

Chapter 848 Questioning
Now Lu Huiqing is almost in charge of Zhongshu Province alone.

One of Wang Gui and Feng Jing was unwilling to fight, and the other couldn't. Such a day of monopolizing power was exactly what Lu Huiqing and many officials in the world dreamed of.

At this moment, Lu Huiqing said to Lu Wenqing: "According to what is said in the letter, Zhang Duzhi doesn't like the market to change the law. If he is allowed to return to the court, he may be Zeng Zixuan's second, or even worse."

"If the officials let Zhang Yue come to try the Shi Yisi case, then everything will be over!"

The case of Shiyi Division is the key point of Lu Huiqing. It is related to Lu Huiqing's status and the survival of the new party.

Therefore, Lu Huiqing was absolutely unwilling to let people like Zhang Yue who opposed the Market Change Law and were trusted by the officials enter Beijing.

Lu Wenqing said: "Brother, in the past when Lu Yijian was in the court, all the officials would stay if they agreed with it, and leave if they didn't agree with it. Like Fan Zhongyan, Kong Daofu was demoted far away, and everyone in the government and the public respect Lu Gong's methods."

"The only way to get Zhang Yue out now is to exaggerate the power of the Khitan army. This is not my lie. The Lord of Liao built his teeth in the clouds and sent his envoys to the south at the same time. Everyone in Bianjing was puzzled."

"Let's exaggerate some words, saying that the Khitan is afraid of Zhangyue, and the officials will have to push Zhangyue to Hebei to guard it."

Lu Huiqing nodded and said, "It's not that I'm good at playing tricks. In the past, everyone respected Fan Gong and derogated Lu Gong. Lu Gong flexed his muscles in the world, and he was very skillful. How can his achievements be known by rotten scholars."

Speaking of this, Lu Huiqing said: "The case of the Shiyi Division must be turned into an iron case. Who do you think is the best person to try this matter?"

Lu Wenqing said: "It's better to let Zhang Zihou come for trial!"

Lu Huiqing's eyes brightened. Zhang Dun is the prefect of Yingzhou and also the backup candidate for Gaoyangguan Road Economic Strategy Appeasement Envoy. If Zhang Dun is allowed to investigate this matter, then... Zhang Yue will have a greater chance of leaving Yingzhou.

Lu Wenqing said: "It's just that Zhang Zihou is unpredictable, his likes and dislikes are unpredictable, and he is arrogant and unruly. I'm afraid it will be difficult to control in the future. But Zhang Zihou and his elder brother are at least from the same hometown."

Lu Huiqing said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if you are from the same village or not. Zhang Zihou and I don't speculate. Would you speculate with Zeng Zixuan and Zhang Duzhi instead?"

After a pause, Lu Huiqing said: "In addition to the case of Shi Yisi, there is also the traitor Zheng Xia, who must be dealt with seriously!"

Both Zeng Bu and Zheng Xia came from Wang Anshi's sect. Both of them 'betrayed' Wang Anshi, which led to the other party's resignation. The new law was almost abolished, so he must enforce discipline and be severely punished!
This is the superficial reason. At the same time, dealing with a person externally can also improve cohesion internally.

This is what he must do now as the leader of the new party, and Lu Huiqing must do it whether he wants to or not.

In the past, when Lu Huiqing saw why Wang Anshi was prime minister, he offended so many people, and even turned against almost all his good friends.

But now he understands that as long as you are in this position, you have no choice!You do not represent your own wishes, but the wishes of a group of people.

Just like the scene where the yellow robe was added to the Chen Qiao Mutiny, many people researched whether Taizu had this idea.In fact, it doesn’t matter, because when you get to that seat, the brothers below are all waiting there, what should you do?Does it matter whether you want it or not?
……

After discussing matters with Wu Chong and Lu Huiqing that day, the officials heard that the hearts of the people in Beijing were not stable. It was rumored that the Khitan's million-strong army was pressing down on the border and would go south at any time.Now that Han Jiang was transferred back to the capital as chancellor, although Wen Yanbo judged the Daming Mansion, and the other party also had experience in the Pingbei Prefecture Rebellion, but after all, he was too old and needed a young and powerful person to assist him.

All in all, there are no virtuous ministers and famous generals in charge, and Hebei is now unstable.

The officials were worried when they heard the news from Shi Deyi.

Today, in the palace of Empress Dowager Cao, I met Empress Dowager Gao and Empress Dowager Cao.

The two empress dowagers also heard the rumors, and asked the emperor, the Khitan envoy Xiao Xi asked the Song Dynasty to transform the land, and whether the Khitan stationed heavily on the territory, intending to raise troops?
The official said: "This minister's crime has alarmed the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Cao said: "It's useless to say these things now, how did the ministers in the court discuss it?"

The officials talked about it in general, and then said that Lu Huiqing wanted Zhang Yue to go to Yingzhou to serve as a conciliator for Gaoyangguan Road.

Yingzhou is also the later Hejian Mansion. It arches Youyan in the north and Qingji in the east. It is the hub of the waterway and the only way for Khitan to go south to the Central Plains.

Putting Zhang Yue here can make the emperor sleep a little more peacefully at night.

Empress Dowager Cao said: "But the Lord of Liao built his teeth in the clouds, so he may not have passed through Yingzhou, but he may have gone to fight Hedong."

The official said: "Yes, in Hedong, Yanyan should also choose to defend."

Empress Dowager Cao shook her head inwardly, the official defense against the enemy was almost useless.

Empress Dowager Cao said: "It was Lu Huiqing who wanted to place Zhang Yue here?"

The official said: "It is Lu Huiqing's intention to report back to the Empress Dowager. My son speculates that he is worried that Zhang Yue will oppose the Shi Yi Law when he returns to the court."

Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao nodded happily when they heard the words. The officials still see things clearly.

"But I'm worried that no one can deal with Khitan in Yingzhou except Zhang Yue Chaozhong." The official almost wrote the word 'counseling' on his forehead at this moment.

Empress Dowager Cao said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I think this chapter is not about being a general, but good at economic and strategic planning. I read his Pinghehuang Policy, which is comparable to the Pingbian Policy. Since then, Hehuang has been collected successively, and the Qingtang Dynasty has also returned to our Great Song Dynasty, so we can know that his temple calculations are correct, and everything is in the painting."

After hearing this, the officials said again and again: "What the Empress Dowager meant, but let the ministers issue an edict to inquire about how to deal with Khitan?"

Empress Dowager Cao said: "Zhang Yue is a scholar of the state. If the lord issued an imperial edict, he could not be polite. He should send important ministers to interrogate him. Zhang Mao is now in Yongxing mansion. Your majesty can order him to interrogate the lord on his behalf."

After a pause, Empress Dowager Cao said: "Ask Zhang Yue's strategy first, and then ask him if he would like to go to Yingzhou to take up his post?"

The official heard the words and said: "Go to Yingzhou? But I still want to transfer Zhang Yue back to Beijing!"

Empress Dowager Cao said with a smile: "What is your majesty anxious about? If you want to enter people, you must first observe their ambitions."

……

Zhang Yue and his entourage have already stayed in the post house of Yongxing Mansion, this time when he returned to Beijing, apart from Peng Jingyi and Huang Haoyi, he only brought a dozen or so entourages with him, and he did not look like a feudal official at all.

After Zhang Yue stayed in the post house, he learned that Zhang Mao, who is known to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, came to see him.

In the past, Zhang Yue and Zhang Mao were old friends. When they attacked Ren Shouzhong, they were on the same front.

After the new king ascended the throne, according to the law of one emperor and one courtier, Zhang Mao retreated to the second line, and only worked for Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao.

In order to avoid suspicion, Zhang Yue also cut off contact with him.

On the Shangyuan Festival in the sixth year of Xining, Wang Anshi rode a horse into the palace and was beaten. Zhang Mao instructed others to do it, and Zhang Mao scolded Wang Anshi face to face, saying that the prime minister is also a minister, and riding a horse into the forbidden palace is to be Wang Mang ?
Now Zhang Mao and Zhang Yue meet in the posthouse.

After a few pleasantries, Zhang Mao revealed his intention to consult the state affairs on behalf of the emperor. He asked, "What is the intention of the Lord Liao to build Yayunzhong Mansion?"

The Liao Kingdom had two routes to attack the Song Dynasty. The west route was to send troops from Yunzhong Mansion to attack the direction of Taiyuan in Hedong. The terrain here is quite dangerous and can be defended.

The other is the east road. Because of the loss of Yanyun sixteen prefectures, there is almost no danger here, and it is all plains.If the field battle cannot be fought, the cavalry of the Liao Kingdom can fight to the edge of the Yellow River and reach Bianjing in one go.

Zhang Yue said directly: "Khitan did not dare to raise troops, they were just drawing borders. The imperial court can answer slowly but firmly. As for Liao Lord Jian Yayunzhong, he just saw that I took back Hehuang, so it was just a lip-to-mouth plan. my territory."

"Ceding the land is just for a moment of peace. The Liao Kingdom is insatiable, gaining an inch in the morning and a foot in the evening."

Zhang Mao nodded, feeling a little relieved.

Zhang Yue continued: "Now that the Xihe war has just come to an end, it will take three to five years for the dynasty to restore its national power. At this time, it is necessary to recuperate and recuperate. Do not engage in trouble."

Zhang Mao said: "But now the difficulty is how to coexist peacefully with Khitan Xixia within three to five years without fighting each other?"

Zhang Yue said: "The Xixia country is exhausted and unable to make progress for the time being, and the Khitans are clamoring to send troops for a while, how can they come here early if they want to fight? In fact, the Khitans are more afraid of fighting with me, so they are bluffing, but many people can't see it, just Fear of Khitan's power."

Zhang Mao then asked: "According to Zhang Jinglue, can peace really be maintained in the next three to five years?"

Zhang Yue said: "We can re-discuss the matter of drawing borders with the Liao State. It has been 20 years since the Chanyuan alliance and Fu Gong made the Liao State again. The Liao Lord should also re-deduce the alliance agreement in order to seek greater benefits. "

"If you don't give out real money, you can't deceive Khitan with lip service. But once we show weakness, Xia Guo will also be eager to make progress, and will take advantage of the situation to propose an increase in annual tribute."

Zhang Mao was sweating and said: "Our family is a little confused, why did you just say that the Khitans don't want to fight, it's just a bluff, but here they say they want to redefine the alliance?"

Zhang Yuedao: "Because the troubles of the Liao Kingdom lie in the country and not in the dynasty, that's why they provoked the matter of drawing borders with the Song Dynasty. Mencius said that if you enter, you will be unable to beat the family, and if you leave, you will be invincible to foreign patients, and the country will perish."

"So the Liao Kingdom is well aware of this, so they won't really fight, but they want to provoke Song to consolidate their power."

What Zhang Yue talked about was the issue of the main contradiction and the secondary contradiction.

The biggest problem of the Liao Kingdom is to deal with domestic conflicts, and the problem of painting borders in the Song Dynasty is a secondary conflict.However, if the two countries do not handle this matter well, then the secondary conflict will rise to the main one.

After what Zhang Yue said, Zhang Mao was immediately enlightened.

Zhang Mao thought to himself, no wonder the officials value him so much, the empress dowagers of the two palaces wanted me to consult Zhang Yue personally, this man has clear insights and clear judgments, if he is the prime minister, he must be called by his name.

Zhang Mao asked again: "Now that there is a vacancy in Yingzhou, I wonder if Zhang Jinglue intends to go out to know Yingzhou?"

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "I would like to be ordered by Your Majesty."

Zhang Mao then asked, "Oh, in case the Khitans invade the south and Yingzhou will bear the brunt, isn't Jinglue worried?"

Zhang Yue thought to himself that the Song Dynasty in Yingzhou had been in business for a long time. In history, when the Jin soldiers went south twice, they did not break the Hejian Mansion. Bianjing fell, and the Hejian Mansion was safe and sound.

Zhang Yue said: "If the Khitans really dare to invade south, I will defend Yingzhou to the death! Make the Khitans dare not go deep!"

Zhang Mao said with a smile: "Our family knows."

(End of this chapter)