Song Taizong saw that Zhang Qixian suddenly stopped and didn't speak but asked for water to drink, so he hurriedly asked the little eunuch Duan Li to come forward and wait.

Duan Li walked up to Zhang Qixian with a large teapot and a small teabowl, Zhang Qixian did not take the small teapot but only held the large teapot in his hand; Press the place of the water inlet to your lips, and drink it like a cow drinking water.

Song Taizong laughed loudly, and the civil and military ministers standing in the court all laughed; Everyone was shocked by Zhang Qixian's informality and straightforwardness, and felt that his rough and wild character was a bit difficult to be elegant.

But Zhang Qixian is so straightforward and cheerful, he can do whatever he wants.

Song Taizong saw that Zhang Qixian was savage, and suddenly remembered the story of him eating beef.

Zhang Qixian was born in the eighth year of Tianfu, the ancestor of the Jin Dynasty, his family was poor when he was young, his father died early, and he moved to Luoyang with his mother when he was three years old.

Zhang Qixian, who grew up in poverty, had great ambitions and worked hard to learn, and became a person with lofty ambitions when he was young.

In the first year of Taizong Taiping's rejuvenation of the country (976), Zhang Qixian was awarded the general judgment of Hengzhou. Zhang Qixian served as a local official for 7 years after joining the office, and successively served as the transfer envoy of Xinzhou Zhizhou and Jiangnan West Road. Zhang Qixian cares about the people's lives in the local area, and often goes deep into the people to understand the political gains and losses, as well as the local advantages and disadvantages. When Ren Hengzhou was sentenced, he reviewed a theft case and found that five of them were innocent, so he immediately changed the sentence and saved the lives of five people from the knife.

Hengzhou is located in the traffic hub, there are many post stations, thousands of servants; These servants had heavy labor and a difficult life, and Zhang Qixian calculated the actual number of servants in detail and reduced the number of servants by half at a time.

During his tenure as a transshipment envoy in Jiangnan, Zhang Qixian verified the actual number of copper used to mint money in Jiangxi; Plugged the loopholes of corruption by traitors.

At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, Jiangnan prisoners were sent to Beijing for retrial, and due to the long distance and mistreatment, more than half of the prisoners often died on the road.

Zhang Qixian found that many Jiangnan prisoners were sent to Beijing because the magistrate was irresponsible in asking about the case and relied on Beijing to adjudicate the case, resulting in many innocent civilians being implicated in prison and dying on the way to transfer.

He reported the situation to the imperial court and suggested that the imperial court send the most capable officials to review the prisoners, and if Zhu Lian was found innocent, the original official would sit back.

As a result, Jiangnan officials took the case seriously, and the number of prisoners sent to prison was greatly reduced.

Before the unification of the Northern Song Dynasty, Jiangnan was under the jurisdiction of several small countries, with a wide variety of tax items and extremely heavy tax amounts. Zhang Qixian asked the imperial court to make strict cuts. In the eighth year of the Taiping rejuvenation of the country, Zhang Qixian worshiped the privy envoy and was in charge of the country's military and political affairs.

Zhang Qixian had a large amount of food, and once ate 5 large plates of beef at one time; His stomach seemed to be in a state of eternal unsaturation, and the amount of food for one person was as good as five people.

One day, when he was so hungry that he saw someone else killing an ox, he sat there and did not leave, and they took pity on him, and gave him the hides that had been peeled off, and he went back and somehow got them, and ate them all.

On this day, it was just in time for Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin to go out to visit Luoyang, Xijing; Zhang Qixian got up early and prepared to come to a self-recommendation.

When others recommend themselves, they adopt the method of "pitching", that is, they respectfully submit the pre-written self-recommendation letter to the relevant departments, and then forward it to the emperor. But Zhang Qixian's self-recommendation was too reckless: he went directly to the road to stop the car and meet the emperor.

At that time, Song Taizu was patrolling in Luoyang, driving a guard of honor, very majestic. But in this atmosphere, a person ran over and blocked the drive. When the officials asked him what he was doing, he said that he would make some reasonable suggestions to the emperor and make suggestions for the country.

Hey? Zhao Kuangyin heard it, this is a good thing. Then he said to his attendants, "Take this man with you and go back to the palace to talk about it." ”

But when he arrived in the palace, Zhang Qixian did not hurry up to report the plan, but sniffed everywhere. It was noon, and it was time to eat. Song Taizu said, "Let this person eat with the guards." ”

Who knew that Zhang Qixian's nose was sharp and his eyes worked, and when he saw a large plate of cooked beef in the kitchen, he grabbed it and ate it, and ate a plate of beef in three bites. The people on the side were stunned when they saw his eating appearance, and even Song Taizu was surprised, and beckoned to the guards and said, "Serve him some more meat and see how much he can eat." Another plate of beef was served, Zhang Qixian didn't talk, and lowered his head to eat.

After eating another plate like this, he didn't seem to be full, and he didn't look at the emperor, but only at the kitchen. Then another plate of beef was served, and it was piled up like a hill. Song Taizu saw that Zhang Qixian was not finished eating, and walked over and knocked on his head. Say, "Stop, stop, I'll ask you a few questions, see if you can answer them?" "Oh, this Zhang Qixian is really amazing, although his head was knocked loudly, he still didn't even raise his head, he stuffed beef into his mouth, and said while stuffing: "Your Majesty, you ask, I'll answer while eating." ”

So Song Taizu asked ten questions in a row, Zhang Qixian answered while eating, and when his mouth was too busy, he drew the ground with his feet and carried out "illustrations", in short, he did not delay eating meat. In this way, another large plate of beef was eaten, and only then did he answer the emperor's question, then wiped his mouth and stood aside.

Song Taizu was very satisfied with him, and nodded again and again: "Strange people, strange people, a lot of food, and good learning." Can you still eat it? Zhang Qixian was a little embarrassed, his mouth was full of oil, and he said in a low voice: "It depends on whether the emperor lets me eat it." If you want me to eat, you can eat three plates. ”

As soon as these words came out, the people present burst into laughter. Song Taizu couldn't hold it back, and said with a smile: "Can't you eat enough?" Then he turned to the guard, who had not yet eaten, and said, "Don't eat it at all, but bring him all the cooked beef, and let him go home and eat it again." Give him some more gold and silver, so that he can study in peace and take the exam next year. ”

Although Zhang Qixian was poor before entering the office, he was very free and easy, and never cared about other people's opinions, so he stood on Luoyang Road in cloth clothes, waiting for passers-by to give alms. One day, more than a dozen thieves ate and drank in the tavern, and everyone avoided it, and they didn't come to eat, but Zhang Qixian went straight forward and said: "I'm really poor, I want to ask you for a drunkenness, I don't know if it's okay?" The group of thieves was overjoyed, and one of them said: "Show talent and deign to enter the table, why not!" It's just that my generation is rude, and I'm afraid that I will be laughed at by Xiucai. ”

Zhang Qixian said that it might as well be fine, so he took the seat. During the feast, he talked about the world's humanity, and some thieves had low self-esteem, saying: "We are thieves and thieves, but there is nothing we can do, but in fact, our hearts are uneasy, and we are in fear all day long." ”

Zhang Qixian said: "The person who is a thief is not an incompetent person, but he is helpless for a while and goes astray." I am also a man of generosity, so what can I see from you? ”

So he took a large bowl, sifted it full, and drank it all. After drinking three bowls in a row, his face did not change color, and he was calm and relaxed, and the group of thieves sighed greatly, saying that it was rare for a scholar to put down the shelf like this.

Zhang Qixian was also really hungry, and took the pork leg again, broke it into several pieces, gobbled it up, and the group of thieves saw it, and was even more shocked, and sighed again: "What a talent for the prime minister!" Otherwise, how can you be so unruly! When you become prime minister in the future, you will definitely take care of us as a last resort, and we are willing to be friends with you. ”

parting, the group of thieves gave each other gold silk, and Zhang Qixian did not shirk and returned with a heavy burden.

Song Taizong recalled Zhang Qixian's informality, and saw that he had poured a large teapot of tea into his stomach; Then he laughed and said, "Do you still need a few plates of beef!" ”

Zhang Qixian paused, smiled and said: "If you drink enough water, you won't be hungry, Weichen will continue to talk about the previous topic!" ”

Song Taizong nodded, and Zhang Qixian chattered again:

Helian Bobo's brother's son, the left general Helian Luoti, led 10,000 infantry and cavalry to Dingyang to attack Yao Xing's general Yao Guangdu, conquered the pit and killed more than 4,000 people, and took women as a reward in the army; The appointment of Yao Guangdu is too constant.

Helian Bobo went to Qingshui City to attack Yao Xing's general Yao Shoudu, Yao Shoudu fled to Shangqi, and Helian Bobo moved the 16,000 families of Qingshui City to Dacheng. In the same year, Qi Nan and Yao Guang both rebelled, and Helian Bobo killed them all.

Yao Xing's general, Yao Shen, abandoned the three cities and fled south to Dasu. Helian sent the generals to intercept Pingdong Luyi on the road, captured Yao Shen, and captured all his troops. After Yao Shen was captured, Helian Bo scolded and killed him.

In the same year, Helian Bobo led 30,000 cavalry to attack Anding, and fought with Yao Xing's general Yang Fosong in the Qingshi Beiyuan, defeated Yang Fosong, and his 45,000 soldiers surrendered and captured 20,000 war horses.

Helian Bobo went to Dongxiang to attack Yao Xing's general Dang Zhilong, Dang Zhilong surrendered, Helian Bobo appointed him Guangluxun, and moved more than 3,000 households to Ercheng. Yao Xing's Zhenbei joined the army, and Wang Maide came to defect.

Helian Bobo said to Wang Maide: "I am a descendant of Dayu and have lived in the north for generations. The ancestors had glorious achievements and were often enemies of the Han and Wei dynasties. It is not strong in the medium term and is subject to others. I am not talented, I cannot inherit and carry forward the achievements of my ancestors, the country is ruined, and I am displaced. Now it is about to rise up and restore the great cause of Dayu, what do you think? ”

Wang Maide said: "Since the Emperor Jin lost discipline, the regime moved south, and the heroes confronted each other, everyone had the ambition to win the championship, not to mention that His Majesty has accumulated virtue for generations, inherited the cause of the former king in the north for generations, and the gods surpassed the Han Emperor in power and strategy, but did not build a great cause when the heavens opened?" Now that the state of Later Qin is in decline, the feudal town is still stable, and I hope that His Majesty will accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity to make detailed preparations before acting. Helian Bobo praised him very much and appointed him as a lieutenant general in the military division.

In 413 A.D., Helian Bobo implemented a general amnesty in the territory and changed the era name to Fengxiang. He appointed Qigan Ali and the general as a master craftsman, levied 100,000 Hu people and Han people in Lingbei, and built the capital city in the north of Shuofang Water and the south of Heishui, which was called Tongwancheng (now Jingbian North of Shaanxi).

Helian Bobo himself said: "I am about to unify the world and rule all nations, and I can use Tongwan as a name. ”

He was very ingenious by nature, but he was cruel and cruel, and he built the wall out of dust, and if the awl could be inserted into it, he killed the builder and built it into the wall.

Helian Bobo regarded Gulganali as loyal, so he entrusted him with the task of building the capital. It also manufactures five weapons and is extremely elite.

After it is finished, there must be a craftsman who will die: if the bow and arrow can't get into the bell, the person who made the bow will be killed; If you shoot into it, you will kill the craftsman who made the boring armor.

The Great Xia Kingdom made a hundred steel knives, and made a dragon bird ring on it, known as the "Great Xia Dragon Sparrow", and the inscription on the back of the knife said: "The ancient sharp weapons, there are Wu Chu's Zhanlu." The dragon bird treasure knife of Great Xia is the crown of the imperial capital. It can be used to appease distant places, and it can be used to warm the fugitives. It's like the wind blowing grass, and the power is to subdue Kyushu. "The world cherishes this knife very much.

Then they were made of bronze into drums, and the cheeks of Fei Lian, Weng Zhong, bronze camels, and dragon beasts were decorated with gold, and they were listed before the palace. Thousands of craftsmen were killed, so the artifacts were all exquisite and gorgeous......

Zhang Qixian is like a storyteller, telling the history of Zahu Helian's vigorous family and career; Song Taizong applauded him.

Song Taizong sighed and said: "Zhang Aiqing is really a genius of the world, worthy of the big-bellied Zhang Qixian!" ”

After Song Taizong finished saying this, he glanced at the civil and military ministers in the court and said: "Zhang Aiqing told the history of the development of the Huns Helian Bobo, which is a great warning to me; At present, Li Jiqian is probably the second Helian Bobo, and we must attach great importance to it! ”

Song Taizong said here and fixed the gods: "Now let's get down to business and talk about the matter of Lichu!" ”

Song Qi hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Weichen proposed to ask the eldest prince Zhao Yuanzuo for the matter first, and I hope that the saint will make a clear decision!" ”

Song Taizong said bluntly: "I agree with the opinions of Song Aiqing and the others!" ”

The emperor agreed with Song Qi and the four of them to ask for Zhao Yuanzuo's opinion; If Zhao Yuanzuo is willing to be the prince again; Then he will be the ironclad prince.

If Zhao Yuanzuo re-became the crown prince, then it would be really ironic - Song Taizong took away his crown prince because Zhao Yuanzuo was wronged for Zhao Tingmei, if he was re-established as the prince, wouldn't he slap himself in the face?

There have been many cases of the emperor slapping himself in the face in the past dynasties, but it was a wise choice for Song Taizong to slap himself in the face for the establishment of the crown prince.

Song Taizong verbally agreed to Shangxia Prefecture to ask Zhao Yuanzuo's opinion, but his heart was tormented sharply.

Love is like a father, Song Taizong After a long time of thinking and pondering, he finally bet on Zhao Yuanzuo; Moreover, Qin ordered a "Lichu Group of Seven" to rush to Xiazhou to meet Zhao Yuanzuo to ask for his opinion.

The members of the seven-member group of Lichu were Li Fang, a scholar of Tongping Zhangshi University, Lu Mengzheng, the governor of the council, Zhang Qixian, the envoy of the Privy Council, Lu Duan, the right counselor, Kou Zhun, the left counselor, Zhou Huaizheng, the eunuch, and Yang Heyi, the general of Dingyuan.

Song Qi is not in the group of seven, the reason is very simple; If the two prime ministers both go to Northland and Kyushu, it will be a bit of a loss for the other, leaving Song Qi to preside over government affairs, and letting the right prime minister Li Fang lead the seven-member group to go is more realistic.

Yang Yiyi was able to become a member of the Lichu Group of Seven, and it was his clever mouth that "blew" Zhao Yuanzuo to the sky; Song Taizong made him a member with a reward.

The eunuch Zhou Huaizheng was recommended by Kou Zhun, and Zhou Huaizheng was an orphan who was picked up by Song Taizong on the battlefield and given to the eunuch Zhou Shaozong to raise him; Attached to Kou Zhun.

This time he went to Kyushu in the north to inspect Zhao Yuanzuo, and Kou Zhun recommended Zhou Huaizheng.

Kou Zhun's recommendation was approved by Song Taizong, because Zhao Huai was the child picked up by Song Taizong when he conquered the Northern Han Dynasty; The loyalty and affection to the emperor are even greater than ordinary people.

In order to ensure the safety of the "seven-member group" on the road and shorten the trip, Song Taizong and Song Qi, Lv Mengzheng, Zhang Qixian, Lv Duan, Kou Zhun and others discussed, and planned to go directly from Kaifeng to Taiyuan, from Fuzhou to cross the Yellow River; And Yang Linyu, the head of the forbidden army, led 100 forbidden troops to protect all the way......