Fenghou

Chapter 267 Exchange
Chen Qing's job report took a whole morning, and even most of the time was spent on questions and answers between Emperor Zhao Gou and Chen Qing.

But from the questions and answers here, the ministers also basically understood the current situation in the Northwest. Chen Qing's answer was even more profound than Zhang Jun's report last year. At least Zhang Jun never mentioned the factor of Xixia people.

In the imperial study room, Zhao Gou stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, staring at the clouds gathering and dispersing in the sky. Today, from Chen Qing, he learned about the complicated situation in the Northwest, and also learned about the fragility of the Song Dynasty’s rule in the Northwest. With the strong penetration in the northwest region, it is too difficult for Da Song to regain the northwest.

At this moment, Zhao Gou even had the idea of ​​completely abandoning the Northwest. As long as Sichuan can be kept, it doesn't matter whether he wants the arid and bitter cold land in the Northwest.

But if he gave up, how should he explain to his ancestors?
On one side is the cruelty of reality, and on the other side is the inheritance of his ancestors. Two contradictory decisions are intertwined in his heart, making him upset for a while.

"Does Zhang Xianggong think there is still hope in the Northwest?" Zhao Gou asked in a low mood.

Zhang Jun bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I have also talked to Your Majesty before that the northwest is actually a protracted battle. We will take the opportunity of defending Dashan Pass. Every victory will enable us to expand one step to the northwest. , Qinzhou is the result of the big Sanguan victory at the beginning of the year.

It's a pity that Zhu Shengfei was hit by the golden soldiers, who used retreat as a strategy to advance, blindly expanded, and cut off the money and food supply of the front army on his own initiative, resulting in a series of disastrous subsequent defeats. Even Hanzhong was broken by the golden soldiers. Chen Qing rushed to help, he Not only was he not grateful, but he accused Chen Qing of not obeying the military order to go south, which is simply pedantic and incompetent. The minister was very worried that he would lose Bashu. "

Zhao Gou didn't want to talk about Zhu Shengfei's matter. Zhu Shengfei cut off the money and food supply in front of him, but he was actually carrying out his order. It's just that Zhao Gou didn't expect the consequences to be so serious, but he couldn't blame Zhu Shengfei for this incident.

"Chen Qing moved the Qinzhou government to the north to Ganquanbao, what does Zhang Xianggong think?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Chengji County is the place where the Fourth World War was fought. It is a traffic hub and is easily breached by the enemy. Now that the Song army is weak, it can be transferred to a place that is difficult for the enemy to attack. At the same time, it can defend against the invasion of Xixia from the south. It is undoubtedly the most suitable choice.

Wei Chen agrees with what Chen Qing said. There is no supply place within a radius of [-] miles of Ganquan Fort, and there are no trees within a radius of [-] miles. If the enemy troops attack Ganquan Fort, a long supply line must be established. It will lead to the defeat of the enemy army. Such a high cost of war can guarantee the safety of Ganquan Fort. I believe that Ganquan Fort will become the starting point for the Song army to regain the Northwest. "

Zhao Gou nodded, "Ai Qing is right, Zhu Shengfei is indeed a little short-sighted in the case of Fort Ganquan, and I don't support him."

"Your Majesty, there is another important point, that is, Chen Qing's promotion as soon as possible is not for his personal benefit, but for the sake of the situation in the entire Northwest. Only when he is promoted to the capital can he take on greater responsibilities. For example, Xi Only when Helu soldiers and horses are envoys can he lead the army to take back Xihe Road in a legitimate way."

"I understand what Aiqing means, and I'll think about it a little more."

Zhang Jun secretly sighed in his heart, Chen Qing's promotion has become the key to defending the Northwest, and the officials are still hesitating, which shows how strong the force behind him is to stop Chen Qing's promotion.

"Wei Chen retire!"

Zhang Jun bid farewell and left, Zhao Gou walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, and immediately ordered: "Let's go to Funing Palace!"

Zhao Gou had no heirs, and his only blood relatives were his two daughters and his mother, Queen Mother Wei, so he was extremely filial to Queen Mother Wei, obeyed her words, and visited his mother every day.

Empress Dowager Wei lives in Funing Palace, which occupies a small area, only about [-] acres, but it is quite exquisitely built. This is the characteristic of Song Dynasty palaces, which do not pursue grandeur, but pursue refinement and comfort.

It is midsummer now, Empress Dowager Wei lives in Qingliang Pavilion, surrounded by hundreds of court ladies and eunuchs.

"My son kowtowed to the queen mother, wishing the queen mother a holy body and good health!"

Zhao Gou knelt in front of the gauze curtain, bowing his head respectfully.

After a long while, a soft voice came from behind the curtain, "Ai's family is still in good health, so you don't have to worry about the emperor. What's the matter?"

"Reporting to my mother, the batch of old palace items presented by my son yesterday, can my mother use them well?"

"It's not bad. Although it's a little bit of thinking about others, but at last I have some comfort. The emperor has a heart."

"Today, Zhang Jun specially presented a white jade Guanyin statue to the Queen Mother. It was an offering to the Queen Mother back then. Does the Queen Mother still remember?"

Empress Dowager Wei thought for a while, and suddenly said: "The Ai family remembered, it seems that the late emperor gave it to Cai Jing!"

"Exactly, after Cai Jing's home was confiscated, the white jade Guanyin was exiled among the people. It was bought by Chen Qing, the governor of Qinzhou, in Jingzhao. Yesterday, Zhang Jun's mother's [-]th birthday, Chen Qing gave it to Zhang Jun as a gift. Zhang Jun felt that the Queen Mother was more If needed, it will be dedicated to the Queen Mother."

After finishing speaking, Zhao Gou turned his head and winked, and an eunuch carefully brought in the white jade Guanyin and presented it to Empress Dowager Wei, who believed in Buddhism. She had seen this white jade Guanyin before, and now she likes it even more.

"Are the officials going to intercede with Chen Qing?"

"Mother, Chen Qing defeated the [-] Xixia army in Fort Ganquan, conquered Jingzhao, captured the puppet Qin King and sent him to Lin'an for execution, which greatly dealt a blow to the arrogance of the puppet Qi. He captured it from the Mansion of the Puppet King of Qi, although his qualifications are relatively low, but his achievements are very great, if he is not promoted, I am afraid that the Western Army will not be convinced, which is not conducive to the stability of the situation in the Northwest."

"But the conflict between him and Zhu Shengfei is so deep, and Zhu Shengfei can't even control a single one. How can he be the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan and Shaanxi? The officials don't consider the mood of the coach, but go to appease the generals below. It's not appropriate!"

"After I reported to my mother, Chen Qing reported on his duties today, and the son-in-law knew about the misunderstanding. As Chen Qing was in charge, his boss was not Zhu Shengfei, but Wu Ling. He could not report to Zhu Shengfei by leapfrogging. The two sides did not communicate well on this point. In addition, The long distance and lack of information led to deep misunderstandings."

"So Zhu Shengfei is looking for trouble?"

"Zhu Shengfei has only been in office for a short time, and it is normal for him not to understand the situation."

"Then he has repeatedly applied for the power of imperial edict from the government, but the government really refuses to give him?"

Empress Dowager Wei's intentions were obvious. It was fine to ask Chen Qing to be promoted, but in exchange for Zhu Shengfei's imperial power.

Zhao Gou was silent for a while. He didn't give Zhu Shengfei the power to act because he didn't want to lose his direct control over Sichuan and Shanxi. Before he gave the power to Zhang Jun, he regretted it all the time. He finally took it back. How could he let it go again? go out.

When Queen Mother Wei saw that the officials responded to her with silence, she knew that this power would be difficult to win for Zhu Shengfei. It seemed that Zhu Shengfei still had something to hide from her.

Well, let's put Zhu Shengfei aside for now, and talk about the real business is the key.

Empress Dowager Wei took a sip of tea and said: "Ai's family in the deep palace also knows that monthly piles of money are very harmful, the people's tax burden is heavy, all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes are overwhelming, and the people's grievances are boiling. Haven't the officials considered how to appease the people?"

"This is required for military expenses. There is really no other way. We can only abolish it gradually after defeating the Kingdom of Jin. I know that the burden on the people is heavy, so I can only save money as much as possible."

"When Aijia was young, he heard a story from a market storyteller. It said that Cao Cao and Yuan Shao had a confrontation at Guandu. Cao Cao's army was short of rations. He secretly ordered the army ration officer to use small buckets to release food. The result aroused the anger of the soldiers. Cao Cao said that the army ration officer was greedy for the army ration. Killing the military ration officer calmed down the anger of the soldiers, and the Ai family quoted this story, do the officials understand?"

Of course, Zhao Gou understood that this was the mother's request to dismiss Lu Yihao as Prime Minister, and let Lu Yihao bear the responsibility of the monthly pile of money.

He kowtowed and said: "I understand the teachings of my mother, and I am also considering this matter, but I need an opportunity."

Empress Dowager Wei said indifferently: "If the officials finish this matter well, the Ai family also thinks that Chen Qing can be promoted as the deputy governor, so let's do it! The Ai family is tired."

"The queen mother is resting, and the son is leaving!"

Zhao Gou kowtowed again and got up to leave.

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(End of this chapter)