Privy council.

The two brothers of the Zhang family were drinking tea in a remote place, and the small officials not far away came and went, watching and listening.

In the past few days, Zhang Qi is a privy envoy, so it can be said that the two brothers of the Zhang family have mastered the military and political affairs of the Great Song Dynasty for two terms!

In the past, maybe no one noticed it, but now it seems that it is really shocking, this kind of thing, let alone the Great Song Dynasty, has never happened in all dynasties, right?

I don't know what the officials think? Someone muttered to himself.

The tempers of the two brothers of the Zhang family are very prominent, and Zhang Dian is upright, straightforward, and would rather bend than bend. Zhang Kai is determined, and it is difficult for ordinary people to make him turn.

These two are in the center, controlling everything in the court, and if they are not careful, something big may happen!

Zhang Duan and Zhang Qi sit opposite each other, with a chessboard in the middle.

Zhang Qi had gray hair on his temples and bright eyes, and said, "You should avoid suspicion now, especially the Privy Council, which is not the place you should come to." ”

Zhang Dian held the teacup, his expression was as serious as ever, and said: "If the official family can hand over the court to me, they will not be suspicious of these." Let me ask you, what is the Privy Council going to do to Li Xia? ”

Zhang Qi frowned and said, "Su Xianggong just left, did you stretch your hand too fast?" ”

Zhang Duan looked at the chessboard and said, "Li Xia is vain, and his strength is not lasting. The cultivated land is small and concentrated, and the field battle is certainly stronger than that of our Great Song Dynasty, but it is not good at attacking the city, and it cannot break through our fortresses. The official family asked you to harass and force Li Xia to fight a decisive battle, I want to know your specific strategy. ”

Zhang Qi looked at Zhang Dian and knew that if he didn't say anything today, Zhang Dian would not give up, and said, "Go to the Vertical Arch Palace." ”

Zhang Dian shook his head and said: "I've been here for half an hour, and the officials haven't reacted at all, which means that the officials let us do it, don't forget, I'm the ruler." ”

Zaizhi is the prime minister, the meaning of governance.

Zhang Qi looked at Zhang Dian, groaned for a while, and said: "What you just said is right, in view of the weakness of the Xia people, the Privy Council and the Ministry of War have formulated a strategy of 'shallow attack and disturbing cultivation'. The cultivated land of the Xia people is scarce, and most of them are concentrated on the border of our country, and the enemy advances and retreats. or out of the back, or in the valley, or in the water poison, cut off its way back. Win with shape and force the Xia people to fight a decisive battle. ”

Zhang Dian listened, thought silently in his heart, nodded secretly, and said, "The decisive battle, are you sure?" ”

Zhang Qi fell and said: "You also said just now, Li Xia is vain, and now our army has a terrain, the time and place are favorable, and they are all in my Great Song Dynasty, and there is absolutely no possibility of defeat." ”

To put it simply, this time, they occupied many fortresses, and the Western Xia was not good at attacking cities, and the Great Song Dynasty was strong, both offensive and defensive, and they were simply invincible!

Zhang Dian nodded and said, "Well, then go ahead and do it." If there's anything you want me to do, just say it. What I want to tell you is that Li Xia, not the point, my target is in Qingtang. ”

Zhang Qi's hand was stunned, and he looked up at Zhang Dian.

Qingtang is a key place in the northwest, commonly known as the right. There are two major characteristics here, one is a horse-producing land; Another, here is the only way to go through the Silk Road!

However, Qingtang is now in the hands of Tubo.

Zhangdun's meaning is very simple, take Qingtang, obtain horse-producing land, make up for the shortcomings of the Great Song Dynasty field war, and at the same time open up the Silk Road again and encircle Western Xia on both sides!

Zhang Qi put down the chess pieces, his expression did not move, he secretly admired the eloquence of this clan brother in his heart, his eyes were lofty, and then he pondered, and said: "The first emperor supported An Shigong's Xihe River, but it was a failure, are you sure?" ”

The so-called opening of the Xihe River refers to the six northwestern states of 'Tang, Die, Tao, Min, He, Xi', etc., where Emperor Shenzong and Wang Anshi were determined to take back the old frontier of the Han and Tang dynasties and change the status quo of poverty and weakness in the Great Song Dynasty.

But the fiasco of Yuanfeng in five years forced Xihe Kaibian to stop.

When it came to Yuanyou, the imperial court headed by Empress Dowager Gao, Sima Guang, Lu Dafang, etc., abandoned the new law, and naturally gave up 'opening the border'.

Zhang Dian calmly fell, and said: "It is precisely because of the pioneering of the sages that we will have more opportunities." If they can defeat Li Xia this time, then they will not be afraid, Qingtang's strength is not good, and they can recover it in three battles at most, and at that time, Xia will only be destroyed between the backhand. ”

Seeing that Zhang Qi was full of confidence, Zhang Qi couldn't help but remind: "Li Xia, Qingtang is not to worry, but don't forget, there is Liao." ”

Although the Western Xia was stronger in field battles than the Great Song Dynasty, the Great Song Dynasty held the fortress, and the Western Xia was helpless, as long as they could defeat them again, there was nothing to worry about.

The Tubo of Qingtang was not the Tubo of the Tang Dynasty, it was a local separatist force, the strength was not strong, and it was not difficult to recover it if it was operated properly.

On the contrary, it is Liao, this is the henchman of the Great Song Dynasty!

Many Liao countries have millions of troops and are powerful, just saying that they hold the sixteen states of Youyun, and they may send heavy troops to the south at any time, and the Great Song Dynasty, which has no danger to defend, is definitely a disaster!

There may not be a second time in the alliance of the abyss!

Zhang Dian glanced up at him and said, "I have my own arrangements for this, and the 'military reform' must be accelerated to stabilize the north this year." I'm going to roll out the new law next year, and you have to keep up. ”

Zhang Qi didn't take the chess pieces anymore, stared at Zhang Dian with both eyes and said, "You were very calm years ago, why are you in such a hurry now?" ”

Zhang Dan's face did not move, picked up the teacup, and said lightly: "Time is not waiting for me." ”

Zhang Qi couldn't guess Zhang Dian's thoughts, and carefully reviewed the 'military reform' in his heart, and after a long time, he said: "At the end of the year, the northern military reform can have a rough appearance, but if it advances to the south, it can only be a border area, and it cannot be fully rolled out, but it must be gradually and steadily promoted." You should know better than me that your 'new law' has already caused a lot of uproar in the world, and if the military reform is not good and makes a big move, you and I will have to leave, and it will be a blessing and a curse at that time. ”

Zhang Dian is about to become a ruler, no one can take the blame for the disaster for him, there is really a big thing, Zhang Dian must bear the brunt!

Zhang Duan took a sip of tea and said, "I know this. So, be sure to speed it up. Governor of the Thirteenth Road, Cai Yuandu and I have basically decided to give them half a year to stabilize the place, and next year we can try to implement some new laws. And the 'Fangtian Average Tax Law' should be fully implemented in the north! ”

Zhang Ji's brows were deeply locked.

The 'Fangtian Average Tax Law' has caused anger and resentment in Kaifeng Prefecture, and the world is in turmoil.

It stands to reason that they should seek stability now, but they can't stabilize it at all.

Zhang Qi was silent for a while and said, "You are too anxious. What do the officials say? ”

Zhang Dian said: "I talked with the official family for two hours that day, and the official family did not object, but only said eight words: be bold and careful, and let it go. ”

Zhang Qi savored the eight words, nodded thoughtfully, and said, "Since the official family acquiesces, I won't say much." But the military reform is already the fastest, it can't be faster, it's useless for you to force me. ”

Zhang Dian obviously came prepared, and said: "If Li Xia can be defeated this year, then everyone will go south and be stationed everywhere, who can, who dares to move?" Military reform must be fast! ”

Zhang Qi still shook his head and said, "I said, it's useless for you to force me, even if I get to the front of the palace, I still say so." ”

Zhang's eyes were burning and he said, "If you can't walk in front, then I'll have to push you away." ”

Between the 'military reform' and the 'new law', Zhao Xu has a tacit understanding with the imperial court, that is, the 'military reform' should be one step faster and stability first.

Zhang Qi looked at Zhang Dan, his expression was a little more puzzled, and said, "This is not your character, because of what?" ”

It is very dangerous for Zhang Dian to use the 'new law' to force the acceleration of 'military reform'. Not only for Jiangshan Sheji, but also for the officials in the palace.

If the official thinks that Zhang Dian is too aggressive and not suitable for the imperial court, it is a matter of one sentence!

Zhang Dian was just about to speak, Pei Yin hurriedly came to the door, and said respectfully: "The two ministers, the condolence envoys of the Liao people have arrived, and they asked to see the official's house." ”

Zhang Dan didn't squint and said, "What is their purpose?" ”

Pei Yin glanced at Zhang Qi and said, "They asked my Great Song to stop attacking the Xia people and not to continue...... Mess around. ”

Zhang Dian snorted coldly and said, "Let's just say that the official family is not available." ”

Zhang Qi felt that Zhang Dian had changed a little bit today, and secretly wondered what he thought, thought about it, looked at Pei Yin and said, "You let Li Shangshu go to see Zhang Xianggong on behalf of him, just be courteous." ”

The Great Song Dynasty could not go to war on both sides, especially with the Liao State for the time being.

Pei Yin listened and looked at Zhang Dian.

Zhang Dian waved his hand to Pei Yin, and said to Zhang Yin: "The 'military reform' should be accelerated, and the preparations for Qinfeng Road and Huanqing Road should be strengthened. ”

For the battle with the Western Xia, the Great Song Dynasty is generally more 'relaxed', after all, it just won a big victory last year, and now it occupies a geographical advantage, and it is completely impossible to lose!

Zhang Qi could hear that what Zhang Dian wanted was not just as simple as 'undefeated', but 'big victory'!

But Liao's sudden intervention made Zhang Qi faintly aware of something.

In the past, the Liao State regarded itself as the 'Shangguo', above the Great Song Dynasty and the Western Xia, and was happy to see the Great Song Dynasty and the Western Xia fighting endlessly, consuming each other.

This time, I actually came to 'persuade peace'!

Zhang Ji looked at Zhang Dian and said slowly: "I will discuss it carefully with the Ministry of War, and in a few days, I will ask the official family." However, even if the 'military reform' accelerates, your 'new law' cannot be rolled out too much and too quickly, this is not only the stability of the society, but also the real thoughts of the officials, you must deeply understand it. ”

The longer you get along with the officials in the palace, the more you will understand that the official family is very deep, and his thoughts are far more than just the surface!

Zhang Dian stared at the chessboard and said, "I heard that Su Song left Beijing and took dozens of carriages with him?" ”

A trace of irritation appeared on Zhang Qi's face, and said, "He's gone, you still have to hold on?" ”

Zhang Qi is tired of party strife, and the party strifeth the country!

Zhang Dian glanced up at him and said, "If I want to leave, two carriages will be enough." One for me and the lady, and the other for clothes. ”

Zhang Qi understood what Zhang Dian meant this time, shook his head with some emotion, and said: "The advantages of the national dynasty to the scholars far exceed those of the previous dynasties, Su Song is still honest, and if he is Lu Dafang and others, I am afraid that dozens of cars are not enough." ”

To put it simply, money has always been equivalent to one or two pieces of silver, which is twenty-five catties, but where there are thousands of catties, that is, tens of thousands of catties, several carriages are needed to pull, if it is tens of thousands of taels, or even more than a dozen, more than 200,000 taels, plus other silk silk, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and many household goods, as well as maids and servants, etc., it is really dozens of carriages may not be enough!

Zhang Dian said: "What I am saying is that I have nothing to worry about. ”

Zhang Kai really understood this time.

What Zhang Dian said about 'no worries and no worries' is actually talking about his lack of desire for external things, and he only has the 'new law' in his heart!