Chapter 409: Promise

Before this family banquet was finished, a little eunuch came to the palace to send a decree to Zhao Kui to enter the palace to face the saint. It's best to bump into it like this, in order to prevent Shi Bin from backing up, Zhao Kui doesn't care whether the sect is willing to see Shi Bin, whether Shi Bin is ready, and dragged him into the palace together.

Although I hate Zhao Kui's rudeness, I can understand why he is so rude. Therefore, he gradually stopped being angry, but felt a little pity for the old man beside him. Although he tried his best to earn back face for the Great Song Dynasty, Li Zong only wanted to live comfortably in a corner. The two still didn't say a word about the recovery of Shaanxi.

Soon arrived outside Li Zong's study, Dong Songchen came out and brought Shi Bin and Zhao Kui in. When they met, Dong Songchen's face was obviously a little unhappy, and it was estimated that he had received the appearance of Li Zong, and most of them were related to Zhao Kui. Maybe even his arrival made him feel uncomfortable.

The Li Zong in the study is really a dead fish face, looking at the meaning that there is a fire in his heart but it is not easy to make it.

Zhao Kui and Shi Bin gave gifts according to the rules, and Li Zong was exempted from etiquette according to the rules. Then the atmosphere in the study was weird, and Li Zong and Zhao Kui seemed to be expecting each other to speak first, and staring at each other. Shi Bin, a counselor and deputy privy envoy, was the youngest in this room, and Li Zong couldn't speak if he didn't talk to Zhao Kui, which made him very unhappy.

Maybe it was a lack of energy, maybe it was not much time, Li Zong stopped staring at Zhao Kui after a while, and asked, "Zhao Aiqing, did you bring Shi Aiqing today for the things we discussed in the past few days?" ”

"Exactly, Your Majesty." Zhao Kui said unabashedly.

"That's right, it's time to invite Shi Aiqing. He has been at war with the Yuan people for many years, and he has won many battles, and this matter should indeed be discussed with him. Li Zong said, "Then did you tell Shi Aiqing the specific content?" ”

"Emperor Qiqi, Weichen just told Master Shi about it. Wechen didn't know how much Master Shi knew, and felt that Lord Shi should also have some unique opinions on this matter, so Wechen took the initiative to bring him into the palace and ask Your Majesty for forgiveness. Zhao Kui said very calmly. He said that he forgave sins, but he did not feel guilty.

"Shi Aiqing, did Lord Zhao tell you that I want to recover Shaanxi?"

"Back to the emperor, Zhao Zaifu said, he also said that the emperor did not want to recover by force but wanted to recover by redemption, and when he said this, the emperor sent someone to summon Lord Zhao into the palace."

"Oh? So, you had dinner at Lord Zhao's house today? Li Zong looked at Shi Bin with strange eyes.

Shi Bin didn't have much sense of being a friend in his heart, in his opinion, it was normal for several people with a good relationship to have a meal and drink some wine, so he ignored Zhao Kui's reminder and happily admitted it.

After finishing speaking, looking at Li Zong's gloomy face, Shi Bin knew that he had said the wrong thing. Because this series of events expresses a message: Zhao Kui wants to form a party with Shi Bin in order to persuade Li Zong. Fortunately, Shi Bin's reaction was not slow, and he immediately said: "Today, Lord Zhao invited guests not because of the recovery of Shaanxi, but because he discussed something else with me, and the matter of recovering Shaanxi was said on the way to the palace." I didn't know why before I came. ”

The little eunuch didn't know when Shi Bin arrived at Zhao's mansion, and what the two said during dinner, but he knew that Zhao Kui told Shi Bin about recovering Shaanxi on the way, so he didn't deny Shi Bin's nonsense. Therefore, even if the Ricudan wanted to verify it, he would not be able to find a loophole.

"What did Zhao Kui tell you during the meal?" Rizuma asked.

With a bitter face and no words, his brows were furrowed, Shi Bin felt very annoying like this. At the same time, it also made Li Zong realize that what Zhao Kui said to Shi Bin in the mansion was definitely not a good thing, and it was even possible that he was deceiving him. This made Li Zong even more curious, so he urged Shi Bin to tell the matter quickly.

The only thing Shi Bin could feel was that Zhao Kui was discouraged. But he didn't have the wit, and he didn't dare to really talk nonsense, so he had to keep his head down and continue to pretend to be in pain, as if he was killed and didn't say anything.

Zhao Kui, who was watching quietly from the side, finally saw that Shi Bin did not make up a good reason, and the matter had to be solved by himself. So Zhao Kui spoke: "Your Majesty, the minister and Lord Shi were just discussing whether the minister should be at home. ”

The word Zhishi not only made Li Zong dizzy, but even Shi Bin was bombarded so that he couldn't think normally. Although Zhao Kui is nearly seventy years old, he is still energetic, and he can do a good job except for not being able to lead the troops, so Li Zong and Zhao Kui never expected that the word Zhishi would come out of his mouth.

"Shi Aiqing, Zhao Aiqing said this with you in his mansion?" Li Zong obviously didn't believe what Zhao Kui said, and immediately asked Shi Bin.

Knowing why Zhao Kui said this, Shi Bin also knew that Li Zong would definitely not let Zhao Kui be such a loyal and capable minister, so Shi Bin nodded 'painfully' after a long sigh.

"Zhao Aiqing, how do you think about Zhishi, does it have anything to do with the recovery of Shaanxi?"

"Of course it doesn't matter." Zhao Kui opened his eyes and said nonsense, "It's just because Weichen feels that the emperor can be in charge alone, and Weichen is old and frail, so Weichen wants to go home to retire." ”

No one would believe this nonsense, and Li Zong can be sure that Zhao Kui's desire to leave must have a lot to do with his strategy of recovering Shaanxi.

"Zhao Aiqing, if you have an opinion about me, just say it, you don't have to be like this. Although I am not a wise man, I should be able to accept some opinions. As long as you are reasonable, I will definitely consider it. Li Zong swore solemnly.

Fart! Foolish and self-serving! Shi Bin scolded secretly.

Zhao Kui obviously still had some hopes for Li Zong, so he said: "Your Majesty, Weichen wants to know why you like to redeem the land. ”

Like to redeem? Shi Bin didn't understand this sentence at first, but after thinking about it, he understood. The Southern Song Dynasty seems to have always been fighting a defensive war, and it was the 'Zhongxing Four Generals' who recovered some of the country, but it didn't take long for it to be lost again. Therefore, the emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty really liked to redeem his homeland if he wanted to recover his homeland, who told them that they were not strong in force and greedy for pleasure?

Zhao Kui's words made Li Zong very unhappy, but in order to keep Zhao Kui, a pillar of talent, Li Zong had to endure it and said: "Zhao Aiqing, the reason why I want to redeem the land is not because I am afraid of the Yuan people but because I have other considerations. ”

Is there any other consideration for not being afraid of war? After hearing this, Shi Bin glanced at Li Zong with disdain. Zhao Kui seemed to have guessed what Li Zong was going to say, so he was not interested.

"I really can't bear to see my people in the Great Song Dynasty in the midst of war, they can't live and work in peace, and they don't even have a place to sleep in peace." Risudun cried in a fake way.

Hearing this, Shi Bin felt like vomiting, because Li Zong was not worried about the common people, but about himself. I am afraid that he himself will be taken captive to the north to herd sheep like the second emperor of Qinhui.

"Your Majesty, the Yuan people are greedy, the more we give them money, the more they want it. Now Lord Shi finally beat the Yuan people out of temper, and he didn't dare to think about plundering anymore. Now, if you want to spend money on your homeland, I'm afraid it will only arouse their greed again. Zhao Kui said bitterly.

"Zhao Aiqing, I want to ask you, is the location of the eight hundred miles of Qinchuan important?" Rizune made a flank attack.

"Of course it's important. Capture Guanzhong, will seize the most important place in the north, where there are barriers in all directions, advance can be attacked and retreated, can be defended, if you want to restore the old glory of our Great Song Dynasty, you must recapture there. ”

"You are the prime minister, you should understand the current situation of my Great Song State Treasury. Do you think it's enough to support a campaign to reclaim Guanzhong? ”

"So I'm waiting here, it's powerful enough," Shi Bin slandered, "On the one hand, Guanzhong is important, and on the other hand, he said that there is not enough money and food, since it is not possible to fight, then he can only negotiate peace." This is a dead knot, as long as you admit these two points, you will definitely not be able to get around, and you can only agree to the 'redemption' strategy of the Richon. ’

Zhao Kui was so suffocated by Li Zong that he had no choice but to ask Zhishi again. Li Zong naturally refused, saying that Zhao Kui could think more and come up with a suitable way to talk about it.

Maybe he didn't like Shi Bin to be silent on the side and just be a spectator, Zhao Kui threw the ball to Shi Bin. Said to Li Zong: "In the past two years, Shi Bin has often fought with the Yuan people, and he should know better than us about the consumption of battles, let him talk about it, what does the emperor think?" ”

I didn't bother to talk more to Zhao Kui, the old stubborn, Li Zong happened to ask Shi Bin, "Shi Aiqing, I want to recapture Guanzhong but the money and food to launch the campaign are insufficient, Zhao Aiqing has always disapproved of me and Yuan He to negotiate the redemption of Guanzhong, what do you think should be done?" ”

At this time, Shi Bin had already greeted the ancestors of Li Zong and Zhao Kui, and they couldn't fight anymore and pulled themselves in. Even if you are the main battle faction, you shouldn't be pulled in like this, it's too shameless.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks you have a point, but Zhao Zaifu is also right. We finally let the Yuan people have a taboo against us, and we dare not bully us easily, because we must cherish this hard-won dignity. When Zhao Kui was about to follow Shi Bin's words to persuade Li Zong, Shi Bin said again: "But, Zhao Zaifu, what the emperor said is right. Insufficient money and food is not suitable for waging war, and the three armies go ahead before they move grain and grass, and this is the basic basis for using troops, and they must not be violated. ”

These words surprised both Li Zong and Zhao Kui, and they were both surprised that Shi Bin, a staunch main battle faction, actually became a muddy and came to curry favor with both sides.

"Then Shi Aiqing, what is your attitude? To fight, or not to fight? I remember that you were the main battle faction. Rizune said with a smile.

"The emperor is right, I am the main battle faction, please don't misunderstand Zhao Zaifu, I will always be the main battle faction. However, I am neither in favor of sending troops to Guanzhong now, nor in favor of talking about redeeming Guanzhong now. But whatever the emperor's will, the ministers will obey it. Shi Bin said very 'sincerely'.

It's interesting that there are three opinions, and all of them are incompatible with each other. However, Shi Bin's opinion was the most bizarre, so Li Zong and Zhao Kui both had his idea.

"Lord Shi, what do you mean by that? What does it mean that you are neither in favor of sending troops to Guanzhong now, nor in favor of talking about redeeming Guanzhong now? The great defeat of the Yuan people is the best time to recapture Guanzhong, why is it not suitable? Zhao Kui asked very unhappily.

"Lord Zhao, you and the emperor have already said the reason. You don't approve of the peace talks, the emperor doesn't approve of the battle, each has its own reason, but if the monarch and the ministers are not of the same mind, I don't think there is any hope of recovery in Guanzhong. ”

Shi Bin's words embarrassed Li Zong and Zhao Kui, making them all go to some evil fires, and think calmly again.

Soon, the two finally reached a compromise, agreeing: If the political situation of the Yuan people is still unstable before the end of the year, then at the beginning of next year, regardless of whether the grain and grass are ready, they will send troops north. Because the grain and grass hoarded on the front line in Sichuan, Jingbei and Henan is still enough for 50,000 soldiers and horses for a year. If the political situation of the Yuan people is stabilized, and the grain and grass are not complete, the Northern Expedition will not be made. In any case, if the Yuan people take the initiative to ask for peace talks, then they will agree to peace talks, but they are only allowed to take advantage of them and not suffer losses when talking. In short, he will never take the initiative to mention the word 'peace talks', if Li Zong takes the initiative to mention it, he Zhao Kui will immediately send it to him.