People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 384 You have counter-intentional schemes, and so do I
There were a lot of charcoal fires burning in the tent, and it was as warm as spring.

Fan Zhongyan also followed what Zhao Jun said and opened several windows for ventilation in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Everyone came in one by one and took their seats. After everyone was seated, Fan Zhongyan asked curiously: "Zhongyi, I heard that you just left Bianliang four days ago, why did you come so fast?"

Wang Su smiled and said: "My husband doesn't know, but now the new canal from Bianliang to Hebei Road has been opened to navigation, and it only takes one day from Bianliang to Damingfu."

The straight-line distance from Daming Mansion to Kaifeng Mansion is actually only 170 kilometers. If you hurry up, you can reach it in one day.

However, in ancient times, due to the natural chasm of the Yellow River, it would be much slower. If we traveled by land, it would often take three or four days.

Now that the canal channel has been newly opened, even if the ship sails at a speed of 8 kilometers per hour, twenty-four hours a day can be said to be more than enough when traveling day and night.

Fan Zhongyan said with emotion: "Han Long's words are indeed the truth. If you want to get rich, build the road first. Once the road is clear, many things will be solved."

Wang Su smiled and said: "The Imperial Court is full of praise for the Prime Minister. This time, the government and the public are criticizing. If it were not for the full support of the Imperial Academy, I am afraid that all the officials in the court would now write letters to criticize the Prime Minister."

"Ok?"

"There are rumors about Bianliang recently."

Fan Zhongyan nodded, sat there and cupped his hands and said, "Well, thank you both. Fan Xiwen would like to thank His Majesty, the Supreme Court, and the many ministers of the Constitutional Council for their trust in me. Please rest assured. If he finds out that I have different intentions, even if he kills me on the spot, Fan will deserve it!"

But there is nothing that can be done about it. If we don't do this, we will not be able to block the mouths of all the princes in the court, nor can we calm down possible worries. Therefore, for the sake of stability in the rear, we have to give up part of the military power.

"Is it possible that Xizuo from Liao is spreading rumors?"

really.

Fan Zhongyan's face darkened. The military system of the Song Dynasty was partly inherited from the Tang system, that is, the military supervisory system, with eunuchs serving as supervisors.

If Fan Zhongyan had a bad temper, he would have been very angry when faced with this kind of behavior that was criticized by everyone in the government. He would not think about the pros and cons at all, but would curse these people as a scourge of the country.

In an instant, Fan Zhongyan felt horrified, and he felt like he was being roasted on a fire.

If it was not what he expected, maybe when there were rumors in Bianliang, many officials in the court had already written letters to change him back.

After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunzhong said with a smile: "What my husband doesn't know is that ever since there were rumors in Bianliang, the Imperial Court ordered the Imperial City Department to conduct a thorough investigation. As a result, guess what, my husband?"

Fan Zhongyan sighed: "The Liao people are treacherous. They want to learn from the tactics of the King of Qin."

I heard Wang Su say: "In the past few days, many officials in the court have written to impeach the husband. Even Uncle Ouyang Yong has spoken out and said that even if the commander cannot be changed, at least the supervisory army and two deputy managers must be sent. Checks and balances.”

He had been very careful before. Even when Wei Huanzhi said that he wanted to destroy the Liao Kingdom, he did not respond. In fact, he was deliberately reducing his influence.

Fan Zhongyan frowned and said, "What's going on?"

Therefore, it can be said that Fan Zhongyan was able to command the entire army of Hebei Road because Zhao Zhen gave him great trust. If Fan Zhongyan really wanted to rebel, with his prestige in the military, he could really threaten the imperial power.

Wang Su and Zhu Yunzhong quickly bowed their hands in return.

However, it is understandable. After all, generals lead troops and hold great power. The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms have staged dramas of military generals seizing power every day. Even if the enemy does not spread rumors, those generals with military power will be jealous of the imperial power.

However, the voice of the army in the early and middle Northern Song Dynasty was mainly in the hands of civilian officials. The role of military supervisors was often to monitor the army, but did not directly intervene in military affairs. It was not until the late Northern Song Dynasty that Tong Guan and others became the chief generals of the army.

Wang Su smiled, and then said: "This time Deputy Zhu and I are still responsible for supervising the army, but don't worry, sir, when we came, the Imperial Academy had already ordered us not to interfere in daily military affairs. This is also for the sake of Good luck, Mr.

"Your Majesty's words are serious."

"If your husband thinks this way, it is not in vain that your majesty and the magistrate support your husband so much."

Although doing so is likely to cause him to lose a lot of voice in the army, and there may even be some disagreements. For example, he wants to fight slowly, but some people want quick success and quick gains and force the army to attack, just like the differences between him and Han Qi in history. , one wants to attack and the other wants to defend, causing losses to the army.

"Exactly."

After Zhao Jun reformed the military system, although he still continued the old system in which the army was the unit and generals could only command five thousand people at most on weekdays, he abolished the army supervision system and no longer allowed eunuchs to supervise the army.

This is a very superficial counterintuitive plan, but some people believe it. From the Warring States Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties, and now to the present, such counterintuitive plans have emerged in endlessly throughout the dynasties.

Zhu Yunzhong, the deputy envoy of the imperial guard, said: "It is said that my husband is sitting on the army in Hebei. If he wants to rebel, he will immediately go south to invade Bianliang."

Otherwise, if he speaks big words and threatens to destroy the Liao Kingdom, and this reaches the ears of the court, even if Zhao Zhen and Zhao Jun trust him, the civil and military officials of the court will probably spit in his face and kill him. The whole person is drowned.

Although it is very touching to be able to gain such trust, the attacks from within are still a bit chilling. At least those who wronged him will only think that he holds great power, but will not care whether he is truly loyal to the emperor and patriotic.

Fan Zhongyan nodded with a serious face.

It's okay in peacetime, but once there is a war, the imperial court sends an envoy, who suddenly becomes the supreme commander of the army, and there is no one to supervise it, so the military power will be very powerful.

"Ah."

Zhu Yunzhong said: "The Imperial City Division followed the clues and destroyed several dens carefully built by the Liao people, and captured more than a hundred Liao internal agents, including dozens of Han people who were bribed by them."

But even so, there are already rumors in the government and the public.

"But don't worry, Mr. Magistrate. The Magistrate specially asked us to bring the edict to read it in front of the camp. This is to tell the world that the Magistrate is deeply trusted by the officials and the Magistrate."

Therefore, facing this situation, he could only sigh helplessly: "I understand the concerns of the imperial court, so it would be a good thing if the imperial court sends military supervisors and deputy managers."

This is undoubtedly a very bold change, because even in later generations, our army still needs the commander-in-chief and the main commander to work together to fight. Many things require the cooperation of several major military officers before they can act. It is rare for a commander to have such great power.

Wang Su said: "If the news spreads, it will naturally crush the Liao people's conspiracy."

Isn’t this how Song Taizu released his military power over a glass of wine?

Fan Zhongyan asked.

But at this time, Fan Zhongyan was no longer the stupid young man who wanted to impeach Lu Yijian for promotion. He had already understood the stakes involved. What's more, even Ouyang Xiu had written a letter and knew how much turmoil this matter had caused to the courtiers.

Of course, these are just different positions. Maybe he was in the position of a courtier and had witnessed so many tragedies of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Suddenly seeing someone with military power, he couldn't help but feel the urge to impeach.

Wang Su continued: "Besides coming here to declare to the world the trust the court has in my husband, there is another thing."

"What's the matter?"

Fan Zhongyan was puzzled.

Wang Su pointed at a middle-aged official in the imperial guard wearing a seventh-grade official uniform and said, "My lord, please take a look."

Fan Zhongyan looked over, and the middle-aged official stood up quickly and said in thick Youyan northern dialect: "My lower official Liu Sangu (gu) has met Fan Xianggong."

"Who is this?"

Fan Zhongyan was puzzled.

Wang Su smiled and said: "Liu Fengli is now the Fengli Lang of Taichang Temple, but he also has another identity."

Fan Zhongyan looked at him quietly, waiting for the next step. Wang Su said: "Liu Fengli was born in the Liu family of Changping, and Liu Liufu, the current prime minister of the Northern Prefecture of Liao Kingdom, is his brother."

"Oh?"

Fan Zhongyan looked over in surprise.

Liu Sanguo cupped his hands to him with a wry smile.

Between the Liao and Song Dynasties, many Han people from the border Song state fled to the Liao state because they could not bear the high taxes, but few Liao people fled to the Song state.

This was all because the Liao State was powerful and domestic taxes were not high, and if any Han people from the Liao State fled to the Song State, the Song State would repatriate them. As a result, the Han people in Youyan lost the hearts of the people of the Song State and no longer trusted the Song Dynasty.

Especially Liao officials, basically none of them would come over. Therefore, it is indeed a rare thing for Liao officials to come to the Song Dynasty.

In fact it is.

Liu Sangu fled south because he was persecuted by the powerful.

She was said to be a powerful person, but she was actually his wife.

As a prominent family in Changping, the Liu family often intermarried with the royal family and concubines.

The wives his brothers married were basically girls from the Yelu family or the Xiao family, as a link to their marriage with the royal family.

Liu Sangu's wife, Princess Yelu Bage of Tongchang, was the daughter of Liao Shengzong and the true sister of Yelu Zong.

However, Princess Tongchang was not a direct descendant, but a concubine, and her status was relatively low.

But even if she is a concubine, she is still a princess of the Liao Kingdom, so it is conceivable that Liu Sangu's younger brother's status in the family is high.

Unable to tolerate his wife's fierceness, Liu Sangu secretly took a concubine and gave birth to an illegitimate child.

When Yelu Bage found out, he became furious and threatened to kill his concubine and illegitimate son, so Liu Sangu sneaked away to the Song Dynasty with his concubine and son.

Historically, after Liu Sangu arrived in the Song Dynasty, in order to prove his worth, he leaked many secrets of the Liao Kingdom to the Song Dynasty, including many military secrets, including the situation of the Liao Kingdom's troops stationed in various places.

However, the Song Dynasty was weak and incompetent. Under pressure from the Liao Kingdom, Zhao Zhen took Du Yan's suggestion and sent him back.

"History of the Liao" records that Liu Sangu was killed by Brother Yelu immediately after he was sent back. His concubine and son were also executed, which was quite pitiful.

But the Song Dynasty will no longer be like this.

It was in the Qingli period at this time. Liu Sangu came to the Song Dynasty secretly at the beginning of this year. The Liao Kingdom didn't even know where he went. In the second half of this year, he was imprisoned in the imperial city because he came here secretly and had no ID card. Si caught.

After the Constitutional Yuan learned of his situation, he was asked to follow the imperial guards to the front line.

First, you can obtain some Liao secrets through him.

Secondly, he also said that he could try to instigate rebellion against the Liu family in Changping. If successful, it would be a counter-intentional plan against the Liao Kingdom.

Wang Su briefly explained the situation to Fan Zhongyan, and then said: "The Zhiyuan said that since the Liao people want to use counterintuitive tactics against us, we can also use countermeasures against them. The Liao Kingdom is now in decline. I believe Liu will understand what knowledge means. Those who are in charge of current affairs are heroes.”

"He who knows the current affairs is a hero."

Fan Zhongyan rolled his eyes at him, and then said with a smile: "This is called recognizing one's ancestors and returning to the clan. The Han people in Yanyun have been away from their homeland for too long. This is where I, the Song Dynasty, neglected my duty. Now we should strengthen the righteousness and eliminate evil, regain the lost territory, and let the The Yanyun Han people have returned to the embrace of the Song Dynasty."

Liu Sangu was very moved by these words and looked at Fan Zhongyan gratefully. After all, the Sixteen States of Yanyun were ceded from the Later Jin Dynasty. They have been under the rule of the Liao Kingdom for more than a hundred years, and they are actually Liao people.

Therefore, Liu Sangu's current behavior is no different from treason.

But Fan Zhongyan gave him a reasonable excuse, that is, he was Han Chinese. This suddenly turned into a conflict between the nation and the country, thus covering up his treasonous behavior from the national consciousness, and giving Liu Sangu a step down.

"Yes Yes Yes."

Wang Su realized the problem and quickly changed his words: "If the Liu family can recognize their ancestors and return to the clan, this will be the great justice of the ages."

"Hahahahaha."

Fan Zhongyan laughed and said: "The Imperial Academy has said that the Chinese nation should be united as one. It should not only be open to all rivers, but also tolerant of the world. Han people from all over the world are brothers and sisters. How can we not welcome brothers and sisters home? The reason?”

Liu Sangu's face was full of tears, and he raised his hands and said: "Xiaguan. Xiaguan is so grateful that he is willing to serve the Song Dynasty through fire and water, no matter what."

As he spoke, he took out a letter from his arms, walked to Fan Zhongyan and handed it to him respectfully: "My lord, before I resigned, I sent my servant to secretly return to the territory of Liao Kingdom, went to the mansion of my fourth brother Liu Siduan, and handed in the letter. Later, the fourth brother replied, which was written in his own hand."

"Oh?"

Fan Zhongyan took the letter, opened it and read it.

In addition to daily greetings, the most important thing in the letter is that it contains many military secrets.

For example, while Liu Siduan asked about Liu Sangu's current situation, he told him in a caring tone that the Liao Kingdom had decided to fight to the death with the Song Kingdom and asked him to be careful.

There is a lot of military news in the words and deeds inside. Although it is not said explicitly, it is actually no different from saying it openly.

However, Fan Zhongyan was noncommittal after reading it.

After all, first of all, I don’t know whether the content in the letter is true or false, and secondly, if it is just like this, it is not enough.

If you want to truly surrender to the Song Dynasty, you can't be two-faced and just think of revealing some military secrets as a token of your surrender?

How is that possible?

You still need to show actual sincerity.

Fan Zhongyan said calmly: "Well, that's good, but Yelvzong really wants to fight to the death, which is what we expected, and we have already been prepared."

This means that the value of this letter is not great, and this little information alone is not enough to exchange for the status of the Liu family after they come over.

Liu Sangu naturally understood this and said quickly: "Xiaoguan thinks this is a good start. This proves that our Liu family is willing to recognize our ancestors and return to the ancestral homeland of the Song Dynasty. Please give Xiaguan some more time." I will write to you again."

"That's good."

Fan Zhongyan said with a smile: "If the Liu family can instigate some generals to surrender, that will be the greatest credit. If I, the Song Dynasty, can bleed less and recapture Yanyun without any bloodshed, you Liu family should be credited with the first credit."

"Thank you sir!"

Liu Sangu was very excited and full of energy.

If this is true, after the Liu family took refuge in the Song Dynasty, their status would be as stable as Mount Tai.

And he, Liu Sangu, will also be the biggest contributor to the family.

(End of this chapter)