I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 157: The cheeky censor Su Jingming, the king of the pissing table Li Liangzuo (please vote for me)
Cancel the annual gift to Xixia.

Not to start a fight but not afraid of it, focusing on defensive warfare.

Su Liang put forward this relatively neutral suggestion not because he didn't want to destroy Xia.

But the current combat effectiveness of the soldiers of the Song Dynasty is really not allowed.

In a war between one country, all interests must be considered.

It would be a waste if Hebei was lost in order to occupy a few hard-to-find places in Xixia.

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly after hearing Su Liang's suggestion.

Canceling annual gifts is the biggest step the Song Dynasty can take at the moment.

Zhao Zhen is not afraid of Xixia sending troops at the moment.

Xixia was like a hyena, good at barking, but could not cause substantial harm to the Song Dynasty.

The Liao Kingdom, like a wolf, was the real opponent of the Song Dynasty.

Other ministers also nodded in agreement with Su Liang's intention.

At this time.

Zhang Fangping, the political advisor, said: "Guan family, we have to have a name for canceling annual gifts, right?"

Zhao Zhen frowned slightly.

"Indeed, we must find a reason that Xixia cannot refute, and we must be reasonable."

Su Liang stood up with a smile.

"Official family, Xixia is still our vassal state at present. According to the usual practice, the new ruler of Xixia needs to be canonized by the official family!"

"Yuan Hao robbed his wife, and his son Ning Lingge assassinated his biological father. They were all acts of cruelty and debauchery. Xixia is a minister, and the official family is the king. If the minister did such a dirty thing, the official family criticized him several times in the canonization ceremony. Sentence, and exempting from annual gifts as a punishment, shouldn’t be too much!”

Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie, Wang Yaochen and others nodded like chickens pecking at rice, and all agreed: "Not too much, not too much, not too much at all!"

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but feel happy.

To scold Xixia and use this as an excuse to cancel the annual gift is completely justified as long as you are a little thicker-skinned.

When it comes to ghost ideas, it really depends on Su Jingming.

Su Liang continued: "We cancel the annual gift, but the settlement of the northwest border can still continue. If Xixia does not accept this canonization letter, they will be the first to destroy the peace agreement in the fourth year of Qingli, and they want to claim the emperor. This is entirely their fault. We are a country of etiquette and there is nothing wrong with us!"

As soon as these words were said, all the ministers couldn't help laughing.

Wu Yu, Ouyang Xiu, Bao Zheng, Wang Yaochen, Tang Jie and others looked at Su Liang with admiration.

The Song Dynasty court lacked such talents with thick skin and many evil ideas.

The market was also beneficial to the Song Dynasty, so it was normal to retain it.

Zhao Zhen couldn't help but laugh.

"It's feasible, it's feasible, just do it!" Zhao Zhen looked down and said, "I wonder who among you is willing to write this canonization letter?"

Swish!
Almost instantly.

Except for Su Liang, all the ministers took a big step forward, and some even took two or three steps.

He was afraid that Zhao Zhen wouldn't be able to see him.

This canonization letter was so easy to write.

What seems to be a canonization ceremony is actually a document reprimanding Yuan Hao and canceling the annual gift.

The so-called annual gift.

It was actually an elegant way of saying that the Song Dynasty wanted to lose face, but it was actually just paying money to ensure safety.

Now that the annual gift is cancelled, this book of canonization will be passed down to future generations, and the author can also leave his name.

Naturally, everyone is willing to write such a proud gift letter.

Su Liang looked at Zhao Zhen.

He expected that Zhao Zhen would choose one from Ding Du, Zhang Fangping, Bao Zheng, Tang Jie, and Ouyang Xiu.

If Ding Du and Zhang Fangping are selected, it means that the attitude towards Xixia may be softer.

If you choose Ouyang Xiu, Tang Jie, or Bao Zheng, you will definitely need to speak sharply and scold Yuan Hao.

This may not seem like a big deal.

In fact, it reflects Zhao Zhen's attitude towards Xixia at this time, and whether Zhao Zhen would advocate fighting with all his strength if a war really broke out because of this letter of ceremony.

The reason why the Northwest Forbidden Army has been on the defensive is because the imperial court is unwilling to fight.

So many small frictions were tolerated.

Zhao Zhen looked down, thought for a while and said, "Leave this matter to Bachelor Ouyang!"

Su Liang was immediately overjoyed.

Hearing this, Ouyang Xiu puffed up his chest and strode out.

Like a cockfighting cock that has just won a victory.

When walking, both arms are crossed.

"I obey, this article will definitely not lose the prestige of our country, the Song Dynasty!" Ouyang Xiu said solemnly, cupping his hands.

The other ministers bowed their heads helplessly and sighed.

If it were someone else, they could still grab it.

But facing Ouyang Xiu, who can defeat him? He is the recognized leader of the literary world in the Song Dynasty.

Subsequently.

Wen Yanbo, the newly promoted political advisor, spoke again: "Guan family, once this book of canonization is sent to Xixia, the northwest border and the trade market, conflicts are very likely to occur. In addition, the Liao Kingdom will definitely think that we are killing chickens to scare monkeys, so we must not Don’t be defensive.”

Zhao Zhen nodded.

Although it is unlikely that the Liao Kingdom will send troops, it is still necessary to take precautions in advance.

"Zhongshu drafted an edict to order the chief officers of the Northwest Forbidden Army and the Hebei Forbidden Army to take more precautions. If there is a conflict, as long as we are reasonable, the local chief officers can take advantage of it."

"I obey," Chen Zhizhong cupped his hands and said.

And this moment.

Chen Zhizhong, Xia Song, Wu Yu, and Zhang Fangping all looked at Wen Yanbo.

Wen Yanbo usually keeps things quiet, but what he said today was quite a bit cynical.

If they don't work harder on political affairs, they may be the ones who are squeezed out of the two governments next.

The position of the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty has always been unstable.

……

On the 25rd of the first month.

The news that Yuan Hao died and that the Song Dynasty would cancel the Xixia annual gifts reached the streets of Bianjing.

The people rushed around telling each other, killing pigs and sheep, setting off firecrackers, and were very happy.

Near Zhouqiao.

Two businessmen even hired several porters to fill bamboo baskets with copper coins and scatter them as they walked.

The reason why they were so happy was because they could finally raise their heads in front of the Xixia people.In the past, every time I did business with Xixia people.

Some Xixia people always like to say: "You officials all bow their heads to me, Xixia, and it is your honor to do business with us!"

These words almost made the merchants of the Song Dynasty speechless.

If a country is in a weak position, no matter how strong its people are, they will not be able to lift their heads.

Now that the annual gift has been cancelled, many people who have been bullied feel that they are finally proud and proud.

……

On the 28rd of the first month.

Copies of the canonization ceremony and the edict of Zhongshu spread to the northwest.

Near dusk.

In an official office with an open door.

A middle-aged man with an elegant temperament wearing a blue robe, carrying a wolf-brush pen, was correcting official business.

His handwriting is meaningful and his expression is serious.

Incense is burning on the side of the table, tea is brewing in front of the table, and the fragrance lingers.

It is in sharp contrast with the antlers, bows and arrows, farm tools and other items hanging on the walls inside the house.

This person is none other than the current commander-in-chief of the Northwest Forbidden Army and the pacification envoy of the Fourth Road of Shaanxi, Fan Zhongyan.

At this time.

A rough shout came from outside.

"Mr. Fan, good news, good news!"

A burly man with a handsome face but a tattoo on his face strode in.

He is the deputy capital commander of the infantry, the military envoy of Changhua Army, and Di Qing and Di Hanchen who know Yanzhou.

Di Qing held the transcript of the canonization ceremony and the edict of Zhongshu, and said excitedly: "Fan Gong is really a god. The officials have issued an edict to cancel the annual gift and allow us to do things easily if there is a conflict with the Xixia people!"

After saying that, Di Qing sat across from Fan Zhongyan and handed over the document.

Fan Zhongyan looked happy, poured a cup of tea for Di Qing, and looked at it carefully.

Di Qing looked at the small teacup and curled his lips.

He took out a large celadon bowl that belonged to him from the table stand nearby.

Carrying a teapot, he poured himself a large bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and said cheerfully: "Good tea! Good tea!"

Fan Zhongyan was not surprised by this.

After reading the canonization ceremony and the edict of Zhongshu, he murmured: "Don't start a war, but don't be afraid of it. If you encounter a conflict, you can act cheaply. Okay!"

"Mr. Fan, how did you guess that the officials would not take the initiative and choose defensive warfare?"

Fan Zhongyan smiled slightly.

"The current court is different from previous years. In the past two years, due to the strategy of recruiting officials and merchants, the court has become much richer and is not afraid of war at all. As for the choice of defensive war, it is because Ouyang Xiu, Wen Yanbo, Tang Jie, Su Liang They are all good at judging the situation and know how to fight in a way that is more beneficial to us."

"The imperial court's proposition is the courage of our Western Army!"

Di Qing nodded in approval.

In the past few years, the Northwest Forbidden Army has been holding back.

Because everyone knows that if they lose the battle, the court will despise them for being incompetent; if they win, they will despise them for causing trouble and have to bend down to apologize to Xixia.

But it is different now.

The imperial court has given the Northwest Forbidden Army the power to act expediently. As long as they are reasonable and start a fight, the imperial court will back them up!

……

Xixia, inside the palace.

A nearly two-year-old child was sitting on a large table filled with memorials and playing with a writing brush in his hand.

This childish boy is none other than Li Liangzuo, the new ruler of Xixia.

Yuan Hao changed his surname many times and finally returned to Li, while Liang Zuo adopted Li's surname.

Beside, stood a man and a woman.

The woman is the Empress Dowager of Xixia, Wu Zang's family, and the man is Wu Zang's brother, who was recently appointed as the Prime Minister.

The two are the actual leaders of Xixia at the moment.

At this moment, Wu Zangyu Pang was very angry as he was holding the canonization letter sent by Song Dynasty.

They didn't care about the insults in the ritual book about Yuan Haohuang's lewdness and incest.

But when I saw that the annual gift was to be cancelled, I couldn't help but get angry.

"The Song people are really taking advantage of others' danger. Sui coins are a lot of money to us. Should we send more troops to scare the Song people?"

After thinking for a while, Meizang shook his head.

"Inappropriate. In the past two years, Fan Zhongyan has been overhauling the castle on the border. The Song people's defense is like an iron wall. If they only fight defensive wars, we can't afford it!"

Every family has its cupboard.

Xixia is also very chaotic right now.

Due to Yuan Hao's maneuvering, Xixia almost became a "domestic slave with two surnames" in Song and Liao.

Some of the party nobles were pro-Liao and some were pro-Song, so they all needed to be checked and balanced.

Moreover, the people of Xixia are also very tough, and small-scale rebellions occur almost every month.

then.

Although Xixia won the three battles of Sanchuankou, Haoshuichuan and Dingchuanzhai, it consumed a lot of national power.

So at the end of the fight, Yuan Hao had no choice but to make peace and cancel the imperial title.

War is a great test of financial resources.

The Song Dynasty may be able to consume it, but Xixia cannot afford it.

Mu Zangshi knew very well that according to the current situation in Xixia, if there was a fight, they might even be sidelined.

"Then...then...should you suffer such a big humiliation? Don't want such a huge sum of money? Without the gift, how about we...let's restore our imperial title again!"

Mu Zangshi glanced at Xiao Liang Zuo not far away and shook his head again.

"No, if we restore the imperial title, Song Dynasty will definitely close down the foraging field. Now we need the forging field at the border more than Song Dynasty."

Wu Zangying had a depressed look on his face, but he didn't expect that his life would become even more aggrieved after he became the Prime Minister.

at this time.

The attendant on the side suddenly shouted: "Oh no, the king peed on the table!"

Immediately, Wu Zang ignored Wu Zang Yipang and went to change the diaper of the little country leader.

Wu Zangyao Pang glanced at the orphan and widowed couple and walked out angrily.

(End of this chapter)