end song

Chapter 670 Song Kou
It wasn't until late in the evening that the dishes on the table had been removed, and Li Xia returned to the hall.

Yuan Congzheng was already sitting there alone, taking care of the several official affairs discussed in the morning, marking the official documents clearly one by one.

Li Xia took a look and was quite satisfied.

"Having Heyi's help, I feel a lot easier. There are so many things that ordinary people can't do, but I never thought I could meet such a talent as Heyi."

"Student leader Da Shuai Mi, it should be done."

"Okay, then these, these... and these, please Heyi also do it for you."

Yuan Congzheng took the account books, and said: "It's an honor for the students to share the worries of the commander-in-chief."

He glanced at the documents on the table about the negotiated affairs again, and asked casually: "I wonder how long the commander will stay in Tongguan before these government affairs can be carried out?"

"I will send a fast horse to Chang'an tonight, and it will be implemented soon." Li Xia said: "Tongguan still has to wait. When our army arrives, we will deploy the Yellow River defense."

"Students have heard that the Mongolian army is also on the defensive in Shanxi."

"After all, Lian Xixian transferred a lot of manpower and material resources there." Li Xia asked, "I have actually mentioned him many times today, does He Yi recognize him?"

Yuan Congzheng said: "I heard that Jiufeng Academy was founded by him."

"Have you seen it?"

"Never, but I have heard of his reputation since I was young, so I must be an old master."

"No." Li Xia said, "He's only 29 years old."

Yuan Congzheng was surprised.

"I never thought of it."

"The one I went to interrogate today was one of his confidants. They hid an ambush and planned to ambush me in Mount Hua. In the end, Lian Xixian threw himself into the fire and died. It's a pity."

"What a pity?" Yuan Congzheng asked, "Isn't he the enemy of the commander in chief?"

"He is my enemy, but there should be a difference between the enemy and the enemy. A Uighur, who changed the Han surname, inherited Confucianism, established the Han system, eliminated tyranny, and comforted the poor... Looking at the Uighurs in the world, who else can Doing this for Sinicization? If I can’t stand Lian Xixian, a Uyghur who has become a Han Chinese, should I kill all the Uyghurs in the world, and then kill all other races?”

"But...he wants to ambush the commander-in-chief."

"He threatened me, so I'll kill him. It's just doing something, and everyone does what they are supposed to do. I will never resent each other for doing what they are supposed to do. If you don't even have this kind of tolerance? Why bother?" Talk about ambition?"

Yuan Congzheng said: "The commander-in-chief has a mind that embraces all rivers and rivers, and the students admire him."

"What do you mean by the surname and name 'Lian Xixian'?"

"As the name suggests, it's not difficult to understand."

"At a time when the world is in turmoil, officials are honest and uphold the common people with the constitution and laws. Isn't it the hope of all people?"

"Yes."

"Isn't Lian Xixian's ambition also my ambition? He thought Kublai Khan could do it, and I thought I could do it. That's the difference, isn't it?"

Yuan Congzheng said: "Yes, it's a pity that he is dead, otherwise the commander may try to persuade him."

"That's why I say it's a pity."

"He died by throwing himself into the fire, did the commander ever think that he was not dead?"

"No, he's dead." Li Xia said, "I've already sent out the body, so he's dead."

"That's right." Yuan Congzheng seemed not interested in these things, and the conversation was not happy.

"You go." Li Xia pointed to the account book in his hand, and said: "Don't worry, you can think about it slowly, Liu Yuanli will not return to the teacher so soon, I will stay in Tongguan for a while."

"Students like to do things, so let's do it as soon as possible."

Yuan Cong responded, saluted, turned around and walked out.

He turned his back to Li Xia, his gaze changed from doubt to surprise...

~~
Changan.

Fearing that the banknotes in their hands would be abolished, many people gathered a crowd to loot the shops on August [-]. Now there are few shops on Chang'an Avenue.

In the next two days, the atmosphere in Chang'an City became uneasy...

In this case, the government responded quickly.

At the beginning, a list was issued to announce the distribution of land and the cancellation of the additional distribution of autumn grain.

On the 23rd, the Chang'an Bell Tower rang one after another. As the bells spread, soldiers with loud voices began to preach loudly.

"Registration and distribution of land, no tax..."

So many people rushed to the street.

And beside the official road outside Nancheng, Yelu Youshang also stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the notice posted on the side of the road.

Behind him stood a group of people, all of whom were grateful to him in the past.

"Engong, what are you talking about?" Lu Ada asked.

"Song Kou wants to buy people's hearts." Yelu Youshang pondered for a while, and said: "It is said that they are going to divide the land, but in fact they want to collect their food."

Lu Ada was puzzled, and asked again: "But listen to what they say, no more money."

"Of course there will be no additional factions. Song Kou has always been a peacemaker."

"What is this 'He Zhen'?"

"Hebu means that Song Kou pays for your food."

"Pay?" Lu Ada turned his head to look at the crowd, but seeing that no one said anything, he had no choice but to say: "That seems to be okay."

"It looks pretty good." Yelu Youshang said, "But Song Kou is here to buy food for you to support your family."

"What is this 'huizi'?"

"The banknotes from Song Kou." Yelu Youshang tried to use words that they could understand, and said, "But Song Kou's coins are issued indiscriminately, and one hundred coins can't be exchanged for sixteen coins. I understand. Is it? They will use less than two pennies to buy your grain worth ten pennies."

"Really?"

"If I exaggerate a sentence, I will die badly."

Yelu Youshang vowed firmly.

He didn't know that this happened the year before last, and in the Song Dynasty, this year's one hundred guan will be exchanged for less than thirteen guan copper coins.

But the surrounding Chang'an people have been frightened.

"How can this work?!"

"That's not enough." Yelu Youshang sneered, and said, "Except for the fact that the meeting is worthless, the Song Kou also had officials who were greedy for ink, layer after layer, and their official documents all said 'all opinions are lost in vain', which means The so-called buying grain for the Song Kou is actually an open robbery. If you don’t believe me, ask those people who fled from Sichuan before.”

"This, this... this..."

Lu Ada was so frightened that he didn't believe it, and murmured: "How can it be done? Then what do they want this and... and what? How much food do they want to 'buy'?"

"Buy as much as you have. How many troops do you think they have, and how many troops do they need to support? When Prime Minister Lian was there, they supplied the two armies of the Northern Expedition and the Western Expedition to defend the Guanzhong. What about them?"

"It can't be true, right? Then how do people in Song Dynasty live?"

"It's just waiting to destroy the country."

Someone yelled: "Lu Ada, don't ask, Engong and Lianxiang are great officials. If you don't believe them, you will not believe Song Kou."

Lu Ada was very anxious, and shouted: "No! Of course I don't believe in Song Kou, I'm just asking what to do!"

"..."

Everyone chattered for a while, and then looked at Yelu Youshang.

Yelu Youshang said: "Recently, the city has been strictly inspected, I have to withdraw my staff, and I beg the villagers to take one in and hide it temporarily. After that, I will look for opportunities to do a big one..."

At this point, a group of Song soldiers came from afar, and they dispersed quickly.

Yelu Youshang supported Lu Ada's burden and walked a few steps, seeing the Song soldiers posting another notice, he went down the official road.He couldn't help turning back to take another look.

"Grandpa, what is this talking about?"

Yelu Youshang was silent, thinking about it, if he didn't say anything today, these people would hear about it sooner or later.

"Song Kou said that if the report is detailed, once it is verified, you will be rewarded with fifty copper coins."

"So many?!" Lu Ada exclaimed.

Yelu Youshang was startled, and subconsciously took two steps back.

"Benefactor... um no... no, don't worry, I will definitely not betray you..."

This night, the interrogation in the city was even stricter.

Yelu Youshang lived in Lu Ada's family outside the city, thinking about it, feeling uneasy, took out a fifty-coin note from his sleeve and gave it to Lu Ada.

"You take these first, and when Prime Minister Lian recovers Jingzhao, there will be a big reward..."

"Engong, it's not what you think, it's the first time I've heard so much money, it's shocking, but I never thought of betraying Engong."

"I know." Yelu Youshang said, "This is thanks to you for hiding my whereabouts for me during this time."

"It's really unacceptable."

"Received……"

The two refused for a long time, Yelu Youshang pretended to be angry, and Lu Ada accepted it timidly.

Yelu Youshang looked into Lu Ada's eyes, and felt the simplicity and sincerity of this plain-headed commoner, and felt relieved.

……

And these days, Yelu Youshang also has a lot of insights in learning the way of "country".

The hearts of the people are in His Majesty and in the integrity of the Prime Minister. Therefore, although Chang'an has temporarily succumbed to the power of the Song Kou soldiers, the hearts of the people are still available. As long as he continues, Li Xia will be in trouble in governing.

He only needs to wait until His Majesty returns to the division after the Northern Expedition, and he will be able to lead the internal response...

What Lian Xixian assigned to Yelu Youshang at the beginning was not these things, but like Hu Zhiyu, assassinate Li Xia, and then throw out clues about the girl from the Zhang family in Lianpingguan.

It's a pity that Yeluyou hasn't found the opportunity yet.

Maybe Lian Xixian didn't expect that he could escape the pursuit.

Now that Yelu Youshang also got the news of Lian Xixian's death, he was sad, but then became more determined.

"Mr. Lian, you must have never thought that I would be able to do this. It's a pity that I can't save you, but when Master Wang returns to Guanlong, I must confess your painstaking efforts to His Majesty!"

Yelu Youshang secretly swore in his heart.

However, in the next few days, the situation in Chang'an gradually exceeded his expectations.

On the 24th, he went to the city to see that there were still many landless people who had settled down to divide the land. After the news spread, more and more people flocked to it.Some landowners also worried that their fields would eventually become unowned, and rushed to lose their registration. Of course, many people were dissatisfied.

But on the next day, the heads of several Semu merchants were hung on the clock tower, shops in the city were opened one after another, and officers and soldiers were added to patrol the streets.Afterwards, the bank posted a notice ordering the people to exchange their banknotes for copper coins within a time limit.Although it can only exchange [-]% of the previous amount, many people are worried that the Song Dynasty will occupy Guanlong, and the coins in their hands will become waste paper...

On the 26th, officials and squires went door-to-door asking the people to register and exchange coins as soon as possible.

This is just the beginning, but Yeluyou has already felt the changes.

In two days, those people who have been favored by Lian Xixian's administration have begun to go to register.

Yelu Youshang was very puzzled, and asked, "Have you forgotten the great kindness of Prime Minister Lian?"

"Abolish the lamb benefit, isn't this what the government should do?!"

Yelu Youshang was taken aback for a moment, not understanding where these simple people heard such absurd remarks.

He walked through the streets of Chang'an, and gradually heard the origin of these remarks everywhere.

"The criminal code of the Song Dynasty stipulates that the monthly interest shall not exceed six cents. Although the accumulated days are many, it shall not exceed double. The stick reprimands those who plunder the people, and returns the unlawful benefits to show the king of the Song Dynasty..."

Yelu Youshang cursed inwardly.

"Fart, you are the most powerful person in Zhao and Song Dynasties who used loans to plunder people's wealth."

Having said that, it is obviously not the case in Guanzhong under Li Xia's current rule.

Li Xia conveyed only one meaning, no matter how good Lian Xixian did, it was not good enough.

"Mongolia has no kingly law, just burn the coupon book of the lamb, and you will be grateful to Dade? Mongolia has no kingly law, just rent your land, and you will be grateful to Dade? If you don't see it, that's your money, it's you The land of the ancestors! The Mongols robbed them with butcher knives, but recently someone told them to take less, and then they will call the sky..."

In such an atmosphere, Yelu Youshang became more and more panicked as each day passed.

He found out that Lu Ada, who protected him, secretly went to lose his registration, and even exchanged the fifty bills for less than forty copper coins...

"what are you doing?"

"Eh, I just feel..." Lu Ada was not good at words and couldn't speak.

Yelu Youshang became more and more furious, raised his hand and pointed at Lu Ada, picked up his burden, and strode out.

He no longer planned to hide in this dilapidated house, and cursed again before leaving.

"The ungrateful thing!"

As if being shocked by an electric shock, Lu Ada strode out.

"I'm not ungrateful...No! But I don't owe anyone. I borrowed eight dynasties that year... I worked hard to farm the land year after year, and I paid back more than 30 dongs. I still owe someone! I always say you It's a good official... Now the government wants to pay back Grandpa Er's land, why don't you want it? Benefactor... Er no..."

As he was talking, seeing Yelu Youshang not turning his head back, Lu Ada chased him again, yelling.

Gradually, Yelu Youshang ran past the entrance of the village and disappeared.

Instead, Lu Ada couldn't help crying.

"What do I owe you... Break it down..."

~~
Yelu Youshang walked for a long time, but he was still angry.

What is angry is that Sui Lianxiang has devoted himself to asking about the sufferings of the people for six years, only to get treated like this in the end.

He hid in the bushes, wanted to change his clothes and unpack his bag, but was stunned for a moment.

I saw that there were forty pennies in it.

Looking back again, I saw a vast expanse of fields, and I didn't know where else to go...

~~
Tongguan.

Several letters were delivered to Li Xia.

Lin Zi grinned, and said, "Recently, we have caught a lot of spy work in Chang'an."

"It can only be regarded as the initial decision of the people."

"Now we can send more people to Shanxi to find a girl from Zhang's family for the commander-in-chief."

"Then I thank you, let's go."

Li Xia sorted out the information for a while, thought about it, and asked someone to find Yuan Congzheng again.

"I have some news for Heyi to see..."

Yuan Congzheng saw it, and replied: "It seems that things in Chang'an are gradually going smoothly?"

"The secret work left by the enemy...is more like a test of whether I can control the pass. I should thank you for the method."

"Even if there are no students, the commander-in-chief can still come up with a way to exchange money and stabilize the hearts of the people."

Li Xia asked: "Are you sincere?"

"Yes." Yuan Congzheng said sincerely, "In the final analysis, the commander in chief governs Guanzhong better than Lian Xixian."

"Where's the good?"

"Fortunately, there are no arrogant, extravagant, domineering Mongolian princes and nobles on the head of the commander-in-chief. What the commander-in-chief can do, Lian Xixian can't do it even if he wants to."

Li Xia thought for a while and said, "You are not sincere."

"Students speak from the bottom of their hearts."

"But it's not finished. You still have a turning point later, so you haven't said it yet."

Yuan Congzheng said: "The students don't understand what the commander-in-chief means."

"Forget it if you don't understand, let's talk about it later." Li Xia said, "How about drafting a few more letters for me?"

"To whom?"

"Whether it is sent to Luoyang, whether it is for Zhao Bi or Shang Ting, the content is also simple... I don't plan to take advantage of Kublai Khan's battle with Ali Buge to start a war with the Central Plains, lest a bad Kublai Khan lose For Brother Alibu, a civilized Mongol is better than a barbaric Mongol. In short, that’s what it means, after He Yi writes it, just show it to me, and the tone needs to be more majestic.”

"Yes."

Yuan Congzheng sat down, spread his pen and ink, and began to write. While writing, he asked casually: "Dare to ask the commander-in-chief, what does the commander-in-chief think about the meticulous work in Chang'an?"

"Lian Xixian learned my methods." Li Xia reviewed the documents on his own, and said casually: "The learning...is too rough."

"Rough?"

"How did he do it? He only gave an order to Hu Zhiyu and Yelu Youshang, 'You go to assassinate Li Xia, and if you lose, send information to lure him to Huashan'. Let's wait for Li Xia to attack and ambush him', this is the best strategy."

"Is there another way?"

"It's the worst strategy, so how can it be useful?"

Yuan Congzheng wrote quickly, and asked again: "If you were a general, what would you do?"

"I will not withdraw from Guanzhong, and I will defend it to the death. It may not be impossible to defend it."

"Students don't understand the military situation, and they don't understand it."

"That's fine." Li Xia said, "To put it simply, Lian Xixian wanted to imitate me, but from the very beginning, his situation in guarding the pass was too small. How should I put it... I used to break the situation by trying to use my momentum Overwhelm the opponent, or take a higher position than the opponent."

"A higher stand?"

"In the past when I went north, some people wanted to catch me. What did they do? To make meritorious deeds. I am different. I am trying to survive, and I am desperate. And desperation is more willing than meritorious deeds. If I can be as fierce as a wolf, they will become sheep."

It's hard for Li Xia to describe it in specific words, so he said casually: "In short, you can't lose in momentum. For example, in Lin'an, Jia Sidao wanted to deal with me. He was stronger than me, but I took the emperor he feared the most. , he was in a mess."

Yuan Cong shook his forehand, and the ink stained half of the written letter.

This time, it happened so suddenly that he was caught off guard and didn't know how to respond.

Li Xia didn't even raise his head, as if he didn't see it, his tone was casual.

"Liu Heima surrendered to Kublai Khan and refused to surrender me. First of all, I have to tell him that I will be a more orthodox and stalwart emperor than Kublai Khan. Being able to hold him is the foundation of everything, and other means are just to prove it."

Yuan Congzheng picked up another piece of letter paper, but did not write, only thinking.

Li Xia waited for a while, did not hear his answer, and continued to chat.

"If Lian Xixian wants to guard Guanzhong, he must first have more courage than me. It's not difficult, as long as he proves that Kublai Khan is better than me. But you see, while he said that Kublai Khan is good, he also said that Kublai Khan was in Bei Zheng couldn’t make a move. It seemed that even he knew that Kublai Khan’s good friends were mainly those soldiers and horses. What about the others? What about Kublai Khan? What about loving the people like a son? Can the people in Guanzhong fight to defend it?

Why does Lian Xixian want to guard the pass?In order to make money and food for Kublai Khan, he started a war... petty.If you really stand on the righteous standpoint of the people in Guanzhong, you only need to raise your arms, and the people in Guanzhong will gather to respond, win food and follow, why are you afraid to fight me to the death? "

"This..." Yuan Congzheng said: "I'm afraid this will leave a broken pass..."

"If it were me, I wouldn't be afraid." Li Xia said, "I'm sure that what I can give to the people in Guanzhong is better than anyone else in the world. Chang'an's careful work this time proves it. Lay him down."

Yuan Congzheng tried his best to smile, and then wrote, it was not as calm as before.

"It's a pity that Lian Xixian, who only wanted to get money and food for Kublai Khan, didn't learn these things. He only learned my espionage methods, but forgot what my methods are for and why I can win. It is hard work, but self-confidence, and self-discernment, so that you have the confidence to win your opponent. How can people who are used to compromise and compromise have the purest self-confidence and self-discernment?"

(End of this chapter)