Zhao Zhen and his entourage went out of Bianjing City for ten miles.

Zhao Zhen invited Kou Zhun, who was struggling to move forward on horseback, to sit on the dragon bowl.

Kou Zhun refused, so Zhao Zhen could only let people remove the dragon and change to an ordinary carriage, and invited Kou Zhun to sit on it.

Even if Zhao Zhen changed to an ordinary carriage, the carriage was terrifying, like a moving palace.

Emperor Travel has one main car and several auxiliary cars.

In order to deceive the Assassins.

Zhao Zhen rarely goes out of the palace, so the auxiliary car is not used many times, but the eunuchs and palace women who are responsible for taking care of the auxiliary car in the palace still take care of the auxiliary car cleanly, and it is as new as ever.

There is everything to eat and drink in the car.

It's summer, the sun is shining, and the heat is unbearable.

So in the middle of the car, there is a huge ice book.

The ice cubes inside the ice are cold outside, and the inside of the car is very cool.

Zhao Zhen and Kou Zhun took off their boots and sat barefoot on the blanket in the car, Zhao Zhen instructed Gong E, who was waiting, to prepare melons and fruits for Kou Zhun, and comforted Kou Zhun in a low voice, "Kou Gong don't worry, the news from the front is very vague, Kou Ji may be fine." I have already sent someone to confirm whether Kou Ji is worried about his life, and I believe that news will come back soon. ”

Kou Zhun stared at Zhao Zhen with a solemn expression, and said in a deep voice: "Does the official family think that the old minister invited the official family to go north for personal reasons?" ”

Zhao Zhen instructed Gong E to bring a plate of chilled melons and fruits to Kou Zhun, blinked, and did not speak.

Seeing this, Kou Zhun continued: "The assassination of the old minister's grandson, the old minister is naturally sad in his heart. But the old minister invited the official family to go north, not because of personal feelings, but because of a public heart. ”

Zhao Zhen was slightly stunned, stared at Kou Zhun, and gave Kou Zhun a look that he was willing to hear.

Kou Zhun said in a deep voice: "The old minister has assisted three officials, and he is deeply respected by the three officials. Lao Chen knows very well that state affairs are greater than family affairs. The war in the land of Yanyun has now reached a stalemate, and the government and the opposition are in turmoil.

Now that Lao Chen's grandson has been assassinated in the northwest, the northwest may also fall into a panic.

Under such circumstances, the imperial court should not continue to spend on war.

This time, under the pretext of the assassination of the old minister's grandson in the northwest, the official family and the old minister were angry and raised troops, which can be said to be counted in one fell swoop. ”

Zhao Zhen looked at Kou Zhun suspiciously.

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty felt that it was a very confused thing for him to go north, why did it become a great thing in Kou Zhun's mouth.

Kou Zhun explained: "First of all, the battle in the land of Yanyun, my Great Song Dynasty will not move in the rear, and Cao Wei will lead troops in front of it, and the Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu will definitely not act rashly."

Now that the enemy and us have wasted most of the year, who is more uncertain how long it will take in the future.

If it continues to be consumed like this, I am afraid that the national wealth accumulated by my Great Song Dynasty treasury will be consumed cleanly.

At that time, I am afraid that the government and the opposition will impeach Lu Yijian and Cao Wei as traitors who have brought disaster to the country.

Lu Yijian and Cao Wei, who were guarding the front, under the impeachment of the Manchu Dynasty civil and military, their minds will inevitably change very much.

If Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu took advantage of the weakness to enter, Lu Yijian and Cao Wei might not be able to stop them.

Once Lu Yijian and Cao Wei were defeated in the land of Yanyun, the impact on our Great Song Dynasty would be very huge. ”

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "As far as I know, Lu Yijian is definitely not a person who likes to sit still. With the old strength of the protégés accumulated by the two generations of the Lu family, they can still compete with the civil and military forces in the court. ”

Kou Zhun nodded slowly, "What the official family said is right, presumably the official family has seen the old protégé of the Lu family, and is helping Lu Yijian to quell the impeachment behind his back." ”

Zhao Zhen nodded.

As early as when the Manchu Dynasty civil and military forces set off a war of impeachment over the war in the land of Yanyun, the protégé of the Lu family had already stood up to help Lu Yijian.

Zhao Zhen has seen both the folds handed to the palace, so he understands the inside story.

Seeing Zhao Zhen nodding, Kou Zhun continued: "But the reason why the wall is down and everyone pushes it, the official family should understand. The old power of the protégés accumulated by the two generations of the Lu family is certainly strong, but it is still not enough in the face of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military affairs.

After the alliance of the Yuan Dynasty in the past, the power of the old minister in the court was far greater than that accumulated by the two generations of the Lu family.

But the old minister finally ended up being demoted from the capital.

If the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty sincerely opposed Lu Yijian, it would be impossible to stop Lu Yijian's strength alone.

Once Lü Yijian and Cao Wei were defeated in the land of Yanyun.

At that time, some of the protégés of the Lu family will turn against each other and help the Manchu Dynasty to deal with Lu Yijian and Cao Wei.

At that time, all the officials in the government and the opposition were impeaching the two of them, and even if the officials had the intention to protect them, I am afraid they would not be able to maintain their status and official titles. ”

Kou Zhun has now retired and left the center, and there is no way to lean the government and the opposition again, and he can't threaten Zhao Zhen's throne, so he is not afraid of saying something taboo in front of Zhao Zhen.

In order to let Zhao Zhen see the situation clearly, he analyzed it very thoroughly.

Zhao Zhen listened to Kou Zhun's words, and his brows were twisted.

Zhao Zhen had the heart to refute, but he couldn't say anything to refute.

The wall fell down and everyone pushed it, which was a very common thing in the Great Song Dynasty.

When an official suffers, not many people will go up to deliver charcoal in the snow, but many people will go up and step on it, and completely trample it to the pulp.

If Lu Yijian and Cao Wei really reached the point where the wall fell down and everyone pushed it, then he really might not be able to protect it.

When Li Di fell, he couldn't protect it.

At that time, Kou Ji was furious in the court, which shocked the ministers and saved Li Di's life.

But now that Kou Ji's life and death are unknown, no one will help him deter the ministers.

Kou Zhun has left the center and often appears in the court, interfering in court affairs and meddling in government affairs, which will have an impact on both the monarch and the minister, whether it is fame or majesty.

Unless his throne was threatened, Kou Zhun would never be able to help him intimidate his ministers in the court.

Kou Zhun meddled in government affairs this time, because this government affairs are related to Kou Zhun's only grandson, and it is reasonable for Kou Zhun to interfere in one or two.

Wang Zeng has always been inferior in fame and majesty.

Zhang Zhibai is a bit too incorruptible, which leads to the pitiful lack of followers.

Zhang Zhibai's delay in being promoted to participate in political affairs is not because of insufficient merit or qualifications.

It's that when he spoke out in the court, not many people supported him.

So he couldn't deter the ministers.

No one helped Zhao Zhen to deter the ministers, and it was difficult to subdue the hundred officials with Zhao Zhen's voice alone.

Under the pampering of Taizu, Taizong, and Zhenzong.

The officials and servants in the Great Song Dynasty were not afraid of the master's family.

On the contrary, he is more afraid of the ruthless and prestigious housekeeper.

Compared with Kou Zhun, Lu Yijian is not a qualified housekeeper.

Li Di, Wang Zeng, Lu Yijian and others helped Kou Ji pave the way, and decided that Kou Ji could enter the inner court to take over their class, because Kou Ji had the potential to become a ruthless and prestigious housekeeper.

When Kou Ji was in the sixth department, he could intimidate hundreds of officials.

Once he entered the inner court, it was easier to deter hundreds of officials.

Therefore, when Kou Ji's life and death were unknown and Kou Zhun could not come out, Zhao Zhen could not protect Lu Yijian and Cao Wei under the impeachment of the Manchu Dynasty.

Zhao Zhen knew what was at stake, so after hearing Kou Zhun's words, he groaned, "I'm going north, but what does this matter matter?" ”

Kou Zhun said frankly: "The rear of my Great Song Dynasty is not moving, and the Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu is naturally also motionless. Now that the rear of my Great Song Dynasty has moved, the Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu will naturally follow suit.

Now the official family has taken advantage of the assassination of the old minister's grandson to transfer all the troops in the north to the northwest.

Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu will inevitably be impatient and will fight with Cao Wei.

If Cao Wei is defeated, the official family can send heavy troops to invade the Liao State from the two lines of Yongbian Prefecture and Yanmen Pass.

Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu and Cao Wei spent so long, and it cost Liao a lot of national strength.

Even if he defeats Cao Wei, he will break his muscles and bones.

In the face of my Great Song Heavy Soldiers coming to attack again, his greatest possibility is to ask for peace with my Great Song Dynasty.

Once the situation has developed to this point.

Take my big song and you can take the opportunity to open your mouth.

Not only can we exempt our Great Song Dynasty from paying tribute to the Liao State every year, but we can also ask the Liao State for the territory of three or five states to calm our anger. ”

When Zhao Zhen heard this, he said with a bitter face: "How could Emperor Liao agree to such a ridiculous condition." ”

Kou Zhun's face was straight, staring at Zhao Zhen and said in a deep voice: "Official, you have to face me face up to the Great Song Dynasty." My Great Song Dynasty is not lost to the Liao State in all aspects. In the weakest period of my Great Song Dynasty, I can still fight head-on with the Liao State.

Now that my Great Song has become stronger, I am qualified to suppress the Liao State.

The first emperor paid tribute to the Liao people, because the first emperor did not like war, and longed for the peace of the four seas of the Great Song Dynasty and the people to live and work in peace and contentment.

But it doesn't mean that my Great Song Dynasty is weaker than Liao.

During the reign of Taizong, the three expeditions to the Liao State, although they all ended in fiasco, Emperor Taizong never felt that the Great Song Dynasty was weaker than the Liao State. ”

Whether it is Taizong Zhao Guangyi or Zhenzong Zhao Heng, they are all kings that Kou Zhun has served.

As a minister, he does not say anything wrong.

So Kou Zhun could only use a positive image to describe the two of them when he encouraged Zhao Zhen.

When Zhao Zhen heard Kou Zhun's words, he was actually a little confused.

Zhenzong Zhao Heng has been soft to the Liao people for many years, and has allowed the Liao people to dominate Bianjing City for many years, and gradually made many people in Bianjing City have the terrible and invincible thoughts of the Liao people.

Zhao Zhen was also more or less affected.

And since he was sensible, the Liao State was in its heyday.

Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu led the iron cavalry, and the news of destroying this today and that tomorrow often spread to Bianjing.

On the other hand, the Great Song Dynasty was violated by this today and by that tomorrow.

The two are contrasted.

Zhao Zhen naturally felt that the strength of the Great Song Dynasty might not be as good as that of the Liao State.

It wasn't his fault.

It's that his father loves peace, and the sharp blade of the Great Song Dynasty is rusty, which creates a false impression that the Great Song Dynasty is easy to bully, and also makes the Great Song Dynasty mistakenly think that the Great Song Dynasty is easy to bully and the Great Song Dynasty is weak.

Zhao Zhen looked at Kou Zhun, "My Great Song Dynasty is not weaker than the Liao State?" ”

Kou Zhun nodded seriously and said, "We have always been stronger than the Liao State, but we will not use our own strength." ”

Zhao Zhen nodded thoughtfully.

Kou Zhun continued: "Lao Chen has read a few battle reports in the land of Yanyun, and the Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu is now taking those small tribes attached to the Liao State to fight us.

When those small tribes are exhausted, he will have to use the power of the Khitan Eight Tribes to consume us.

But does Liaohuang Yelu Longxu really have the financial and manpower to spend with us? ”

When Zhao Zhen heard this, he didn't know why, but he suddenly remembered the Yizi Jiaozi Shop, and he stared at Kou Zhun and said, "I haven't used the money of the Yizi Jiaozi Shop so far. Once the money of the Yizipu is used, the Liao State will definitely not be able to consume us. ”

Kou Zhun nodded slowly, "If we consume it, in the end, it will only hurt our muscles and bones." But if the Liao State is consumed, it will eventually be the destruction of the country. As long as Liao Emperor Yelu Longxu does not want the Liao State to destroy the country, he will definitely find an opportunity to negotiate peace with my Great Song Dynasty. ”

Zhao Zhen heard Kou Zhun's words, was slightly stunned, and muttered: "I always thought that only the strength of the soldiers and horses determined the victory or defeat of the battlefield, but I didn't expect that money can also influence the war. ”

Kou Zhun sighed and said: "I don't blame the official family for this matter, it's because some people don't want to see the money in their pockets end up on the battlefield, so they deliberately hide it from the official family." From the time the official family can remember, to the present, what they hear and see has been modified by others, and it is common not to understand these. ”

If Kou Zhun was in the court, he would never say this to Zhao Zhen.

Because he occasionally embellishes his words.

But now that he is not in the court, he doesn't have to covet fame and fortune to deliberately curry favor with Zhao Zhen, so he can tell Zhao Zhen the truth.

The people felt that the emperor was the happiest person in the world.

Kou Zhun didn't think so, Kou Zhun felt that the emperor was sometimes quite pitiful.

If the government and the opposition deliberately conceal it, the emperor is no different from the deaf and blind.

During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, he uttered the phrase 'why not eat minced meat', which has been satirized for thousands of years.

Everyone thinks he's ignorant, but is his ignorance his own fault?

He was at fault himself, and his courtiers were even more wrong.

If it weren't for the deception of his courtiers, how could he have been so ignorant?

Zhao Zhen was reluctant to eat mutton soup before, was it really because mutton soup was so expensive that he couldn't afford it?

You must know that in the Great Song Dynasty, where mutton was the main meat, mutton soup was very cheap.

A few big bucks can drink a big bowl.

If you meet a kind store, you can also add a bone with shredded meat to gnaw.

Mutton soup is not expensive, but after entering the palace, it becomes expensive.

The meat sheep entered the palace from the camel and horse market, and after only passing through a palace gate, its value would be doubled.

A big bowl of mutton soup is a few big bucks in the folk.

When the eunuchs told Zhao Zhen, it was possible that it was too much.

The eunuchs who bought it took advantage of this to eat both inside and outside, and they could eat a lot of money.

Zhao Zhen heard Kou Zhun's words and thought that since he reinstated the Wude Division, there were too many things that he had found out about deception, so much that he was too lazy to look at it.

He is too lazy to look at it, not because he is indulging the wicked who deceive and deceive.

But inside and outside the court, up and down the government and the opposition, nine out of ten people are deceiving and concealing their subordinates.

He couldn't have cut them all down, so he had to pretend he didn't know.