Do you know: I am the crown prince

Chapter 418: Angry and Raising an Army

Sheng Changbai sighed and said, "Mother, father did this to protect you."

"What protects me?"

Madam Wang pointed at Hai and said, "The government has no intention of pursuing the matter, but your father insisted that I go to Yuyang, and you said so too. People say that a man forgets his mother after marrying a wife. I didn't believe it at first, but now it seems that it is so true. Did she tell you that I was making things difficult for her?"

"Mother, I have kept all the letters between my wife and me. If you suspect her, I can show them to you. In her heart, my wife has never said anything bad about you." Sheng Changbai said.

Madam Wang also knew that she had just spoken out of turn. It was not that she believed in Hai, but she believed in Sheng Changbai.

It is unfilial for younger generations to point out the mistakes of their elders.

If Hai did this, Sheng Changbai would not tolerate it given his personality.

But when she thought about going to Youyang, Mrs. Wang became overwhelmed with grief, sat down, covered her face and cried.

Sheng Changbai sighed and said, "Mother, although the government has no intention of pursuing the matter, and this matter is being investigated by the Imperial City Division and outsiders do not know about it, what if the news leaks out and someone holds on to this matter? Father asked mother to return to Youyang, not to punish you, but to let you stay out of the spotlight."

"The emperor values ​​you so much, you go and plead for mercy. As long as he pardons me, naturally no one will be able to use this matter to make trouble in the future." Madam Wang said anxiously.

"What mother said makes sense."

Sheng Changbai was silent for a while and then said.

Madam Wang was delighted when she heard this. Just as she was about to speak, Sheng Changbai continued, "You are my mother, and it is my duty for me to plead for you. However, since my mother has made a mistake, I am too ashamed to be an official. So I will resign from Your Majesty and serve her at home."

"No, you can't resign!"

When Madam Wang heard that Sheng Changbai wanted to resign, she immediately became anxious.

Sheng Changbai was her pride. He had studied hard since childhood and she didn't have to worry about him. He finally passed the imperial examination and had a bright future. How could she be willing to let Sheng Changbai resign from his official position?

But Madam Wang was not stupid. After she finished her talk, she slowly came to her senses and glared at Sheng Changbai and said, "Okay, you just want to force me to go back to Youyang, so I'll go back!"

After saying that, he walked away angrily.

…………

After the Liao envoy arrived in Bian Jing, he submitted a letter and requested a meeting with Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing kept them exposed for two days, and only summoned the Liao envoys after Yelu Chongyuan's son arrived.

The Liao Kingdom sent three envoys this time, and the chief envoy was a Khitan man in his thirties named Yelu Xiu.

After the ceremony, Yelu Xiu asked, "The Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom have an alliance, and the two countries have been at peace for many years. The Song Dynasty suddenly sent troops to invade the border. Shouldn't the Liao Kingdom be given an explanation?"

"presumptuous!"

An official from the Ministry of Rites shouted, "Although you are on a diplomatic mission on behalf of the Liao Emperor, you are only a minister after all. How dare you speak to our Emperor like this!"

Zhao Xing waved his hand, looked at Yelu Xiu, and said calmly: "Duke Ying should have told you that the soldiers of the Song Dynasty encountered heavy snow during the exercise and had to stop to rest temporarily. They had no intention of violating the border."

Although Yelu Xiu had been scolded by the Song officials before, he remained undeterred and continued to question: "The place where the Song army camped is only more than ten miles away from the Liao city, which is already within the territory of my Liao. The Song army conducted exercises and even stationed in my Liao territory for several days, but the Emperor of Song wanted to cover it up lightly. Don't you think it's ridiculous?"

Zhao Xing said with a gloomy face: "I explained to you because you represent the Liao emperor, but you repeatedly question me. Do you think I dare not kill you?"

"Emperor Song calm down!"

The two deputy envoys of the Liao Kingdom changed their expressions. One of them held Yelu Xiu, and the other stepped forward and bowed, saying, "We just want to ask for the reason. After all, the Song Dynasty troops entered the territory of the Liao Kingdom, which was wrong first..."

"Are you Han Chinese?" Zhao Xing interrupted the man.

"The foreign minister is indeed a Han Chinese, and also a Liao minister," the man replied.

"I have no intention of winning you over." Zhao Xing said calmly, "When two countries are at war, they do not kill envoys. But the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty are not at war, so killing you is nothing. Do you think that if I kill you, will the Liao Dynasty go to war with the Song Dynasty because of you?"

"Emperor Song is joking. We..."

"I am a member of the Liao royal family..."

Yelu Xiu broke free from the official who was holding him back and said fearlessly, "If the Emperor of Song kills me, it will inevitably lead to a war between the two countries!"

"Really?" Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Come here, drag this man out and kill him!"

"you…"

As soon as Zhao Xing finished speaking, several ferocious imperial guards walked in from outside the palace.

Yelu Xiu didn't expect that Zhao Xing would really want to kill him if they disagreed with him. He looked at Zhao Xing with a pale face.

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

At this time, Han Zhang stepped out and said, "It is not a pity for this man to die, but it is not worth it for Your Majesty to tarnish his reputation."

"Your Excellency's words make sense." Zhao Xing nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Retreat!"

The imperial guards who were about to arrest someone bowed and retreated after hearing this.

"Aren't you asking me for an explanation?"

Zhao Xing looked at Yelu Xiu and smiled, "I wonder what the Liao Kingdom wants to explain?"

"My... my emperor said that the Song Kingdom should increase its annual payment by 100,000 taels of silver and 100,000 rolls of silk as compensation..."

Perhaps Yelu Xiu was frightened, and his voice became lower and lower as he spoke.

In fact, when he came, Yelu Yixin mentioned 200,000 taels of silver and 200,000 pieces of silk.

The so-called compensation was just an excuse, and Yelu Yixin never thought that the Song Dynasty would give it.

Of course, if the Song Dynasty gave it to him, he would not refuse.

Yelu Yixin's main purpose was actually to test the Song Dynasty.

However, Yelu Xiu was frightened by the shock Zhao Xing had just given him, so he cut the amount he reported in half.

He was afraid that he would really anger Zhao Xing and kill him.

"boom!"

Zhao Xing slammed the table and stood up, shouting angrily: "The Liao Kingdom is bullying us too much, where is Zeng Gongliang!"

"I'm here!" Zeng Gongliang hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"I order you to build weapons and prepare the army for war. In the spring of next year, I will mobilize 400,000 troops to the north to attack Liao. I want to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in one fell swoop!" Zhao Xing said coldly.

"I obey your order!" Zeng Gongliang replied.

"Your Majesty, calm down!"

As soon as Zhao Xing said this, many ministers stood up to dissuade him.

Yelu Xiu almost cried when he saw the chaos in the Song Dynasty court.

He didn't expect that Zhao Xing would send troops just because of a disagreement.

If the Song Dynasty really sent troops, Yelu Yixin would not let him go even if he returned alive.

Zhao Xing listened to the officials' argument with a cold face, saying nothing, but his eyes were paying attention to Yelu Xiu's expression.

Seeing Yelu Xiu looking like his father had died, Zhao Xing laughed inwardly.

The so-called sending troops to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun was naturally false.

Given the current situation of the Song Dynasty, even with the money he had saved in previous years, it would not be enough to support the dispatch of an army of 400,000.

When a cannon is fired, it's worth a fortune. It may seem like it's just the shells, but in fact it's worth the war expenses.

Wars are fought for money, and this statement is absolutely true.

(End of this chapter)