Du Zhongxiao was looking at the official documents of the imperial court in the room. Cui Xiang came in and arched his hand: "Taiwei, Sun Peng from the village in the south asks to see you." ”

Putting down the official document, Du Zhongxiao said, "What's the matter?" ”

Cui Xiang said: "Yelu Hongji still doesn't work, and he was punished today and not allowed to eat." As a result, Yelu Chage wanted to give it to him, but Sun Peng stopped him in time. At that time, the Khitan people looked like they were going to make trouble, but they were able to suppress it. Tonight, their team leader Sun Xuan wanted to gather all the people Khitan to speak, and Sun Peng agreed. This is unusual, and I came to ask for a meeting. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Okay, let him in." I'm here these days, and I'm going to take a look at these things. I will return to the capital in a few days, and I hope that these Khitan people will take care of themselves, work hard, and be good people. After a few years, I can go out and be a citizen. ”

Not long after, Sun Peng came in and bowed to Du Zhongxiao.

Du Zhongxiao said: "I heard that Yelu Hongji still refuses to work and has no food? ”

Sun Peng arched his hand and said, "Captain Hui, that's true." Xia Guan saw that this was not a solution. If Yelu Hongji has been refusing to work and not giving him food, what if he is really hungry? He was once the Khitan Emperor, and he really starved to death here, doesn't it make people laugh? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Who is laughing? You just have to follow the rules to manage these Khitans. It's really ruthless, I'd rather starve to death than work, and it has nothing to do with you. The prison camp is very simple, it is to do work and eat. When this simple thing is done, we will talk about anything else. ”

Sun Peng sighed: "Doing work and eating is easy to say, but difficult to do." The designated team is Ma Xuan, because of Yelu Hongji, has been punished for only half a meal for two days. He told me a few times that he didn't want to be a team leader anymore and asked me to re-select people. I told him that the team was selected from above and that it had nothing to do with me. Seeing that he really can't stand it, tonight he will gather his men to discuss together. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Of course, the team can't be chosen by them. These people were originally the monarchs and ministers of the same dynasty, and if they were chosen by themselves, they would not bring in their previous official positions, and they would still be the same as in the Khitan. They know clearly earlier and do things better earlier. ”

After thinking about it, he said, "This Ma Xuan seems to be a little unbearable." Since they are on their business tonight, I will also go and see. ”

Sun Peng was stunned: "Tai Lieutenant, do you want to listen to Ma Xuan's deliberations?" ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head again and again: "This is their own business, how can I listen?" With me here, they are also good to speak. Just wait on the sidelines, wait for them to finish, and hear how it goes. The designation of the team is supposed to let him do these things. ”

Sun Peng nodded: "What the Taiwei said is true." Now there are Yelu Hongji in the team, as well as Yelu Chage and other former princes, Ma Xuan does not dare to offend them, and he has never dared to care. I was starved for two days, and it seems that I can't stand it. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Not giving food doesn't seem to be a heavy punishment, but in fact, people are starved to the core, which is very uncomfortable." Yelu Hongji was able to go without eating for two days in a row, and he also admired him a little. However, remember, even if the Khitan starves to death, the rules must not be broken. The rules are set, and once there are exceptions, things are difficult to do. As long as they follow the rules, things will slowly get better. ”

Sun Peng said yes. asked Du Zhongxiao's itinerary again before saying goodbye and leaving.

When Sun Peng went out, Du Zhongxiao asked Cui Xiang: "These days, apart from Yelu Hongji, are there any other Khitans making trouble?" ”

Cui Xiang said: "Not really. Xia Guan thought that everyone else was looking at Yelu Hongji. If we hold back, I'm afraid it won't be easy to manage in the future. Therefore, we must not be soft on Yelu Hongji. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Yes, it should be so." Managing these Khitans is an easy task for your subordinates. Even many people may not recognize the significance of this matter. Teach your subordinates more so that they understand. Those who are locked up here are all Khitan upper-class, and the lowest-ranking ones are also middle-level generals. If these people can be convinced, the rest of the Khitan places will be much easier. ”

Cui Xiang said: "What does Taiwei mean is to take care of these Khitans and let them go back to contact relatives and friends to welcome the imperial army?" ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "If you do this, you will fall behind." When we do things, we must be frank and open, and we should not be foolish. The Khitan people in the prison camp really let them learn to work here, learn to be ordinary people, and have no other ideas. However, even if we don't say it, the things here will still get out. When it reaches the ears of the Khitans who have not yet surrendered, what they think is actually quite interesting. ”

Cui Xiang arched his hand: "It's a misunderstanding by the lower officials." It turned out that what Taiwei thought was so far-reaching. ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled and waved his hand, letting Cui Xiang go busy with his own affairs. What you think is far-reaching, is not far-reaching at all, is it good. Now the advantages of the Song Dynasty are too great, and there is no need to use any means to deal with the Khitan. The dignified army drove over, and the Khitans either surrendered or were wiped out, so there was no need to think too much about it. Even if there is a temporary failure, it cannot change the general trend.

The Khitan was a brotherly state of the Song Dynasty, and this is not to say, but for decades, the two countries have done just that. The two countries exchanged envoys, and in addition to court officials, there were also envoys from the emperor's private domain. The emperors of the two countries were commensurate with each other, and the envoys performed brotherly salutes without interruption. Although later Yelu Zongzhen took advantage of the great victory against the party to seize Tanglong Town in the Song Dynasty, he ended up sending his life there.

How to deal with the defeated Khitan was a big deal for the Song Dynasty. Some people understand the importance of this matter, and some people don't. If it is handled well, not only will it destroy the Khitan, occupy the land, expand the territory, but also conquer the four sides. If it is not handled well, it will chill the surrounding neighbors, and it is not uncommon for the surrounding areas to be full of wolves.

Historically, the Jin State defeated the Khitan, made an alliance with the Song Dynasty, and cut the land of Youyan. The Song Dynasty couldn't see the situation clearly, so they went to receive the land in a hurry, making a mess, not to mention, and also let the Jin State see the strength of the Song Dynasty clearly, and soon went south. In the end, the Northern Song Dynasty perished, and only half of the Song Dynasty remained.

Du Zhongxiao didn't want to make such a mistake, and if Youzhou won a big victory, he had to eat the fruits of the victory. You can't just let a moment of negligence cause trouble. A random killing, although it is painful, will have great hidden dangers. Raising these Khitans well will also give the surrounding small forces an illusion. The best way is to let these Khitans transform and become ordinary people.

With the example of the Khitan, the surrounding forces can recognize the situation and know what they can and cannot do to the Song Dynasty. Only when the surrounding areas settled down could the Song Dynasty reform the country with peace of mind and truly develop its national strength.

The reason for building this prison camp and coming here in person is not only the reason why Du Zhongxiao avoided the current fierce political dispute between the DPRK and China, but also the reason why he really wanted to reform these Khitans well. This is responsible for these Khitans, but also for the Song Dynasty.

Cui Xiang is not right, Du Zhongxiao did not think about it at all, it was neither necessary nor easy to consider. It is not easy to get these Khitan people to accept the transformation honestly. Thinking more is purely asking for trouble for yourself.

Standing up, Du Zhongxiao walked outside the door, looked at the bright spring light, and stretched. Many things are easy to start with, but it is difficult to have a happy ending. The war with the Khitan is actually not difficult, many times it is to scare yourself. But it may not be much easier to have an ending than to fight a battle.