Chapter 494: An Agreement is reached

Pretending to be a little embarrassed, he sighed, and then said to Jia Ling and Sai Xishi: "After this battle, the emperor added me as a scholar of Longtu Pavilion, the title is still Pingbei Hou, and the official position is still to participate in the governor's affairs and the privy deputy envoy, you know, Lord Lu Wende will be transferred from Jiangnan and Lianglu to Hedong Road as a pacification envoy, and ordered us to take up the post as soon as possible.?? Huo Ranwen w?w?w?.? You have been with me for many years, and you know that there is a lot to do after the war, and you cannot go to work so quickly. What's more, once we take up our posts, Shaanxi and Hedong will definitely be empty, if the Yuan people take the opportunity to fight back, won't this hard-won result be lost? So the two of us decided to garrison here first to guard against the Yuan people, but at the same time they also disobeyed the holy decree."

Listening to Shi Bin's words, Jia Ling and Sai Xishi's faces became worse and worse, Jia Ling even interrupted Shi Bin's words very rudely, and pointed at Zhao Kui angrily and said, "Husband, did the emperor send him Zhao Kui to urge you to go back?" ”

With a bitter smile, Shi Bin pressed Jia Ling's white jade-like hand down, and shook his head gently to indicate no. Knowing that Jia Ling couldn't wait, Shi Bin quickly told the agreement he had just reached.

Zhao Kui thought that this agreement would satisfy Jia Ling and Sai Xishi, but the two Hedong lions roared in unison: What! The imperial court dared to make such a shameless request, it was too deceitful!

Hearing Jia Ling and Sai Xishi, two women with status, insulting the court so unscrupulously, Zhao Kui and Lu Wende were shocked. This time, Zhao Kui couldn't bear it, broke out, and shouted angrily regardless of his face: "Shut up for me!" Is the court something you can evaluate and insult? Don't think that your husband can do whatever he wants! Believe it or not, because of these words, your husband will be demoted three levels in a row? ”

And Lu Wende also kept giving Shi Bin a look, asking him to deal with the matter quickly, so as not to anger Zhao Kui and mess up the agreement that was finally reached.

Maybe Sai Xishi will be afraid of Zhao Kui's threat, but Jia Ling is not afraid, her father is the famous 'Cricket Prime Minister' Jia Nidao. Now, although it has been released into Huainan and two roads to pacify the envoys, the protégés and former officials are all over the world. For her, as long as she doesn't rebel, she can do anything. Scolding the court for two sentences is nothing.

"Xiaoling, didn't you just say that you wanted to apologize to Lord Zhao, why are you arguing with him again now? That's not right. Shi Bin smiled and persuaded.

glared at Shi Bin fiercely, and scolded: "You are just too honest, you don't know if you were tricked by this old man." It's been sold, and you have to help people count the money! ”

"How so? How could Lord Zhao be that kind of person? What's more, there is still Lord Lu here, could it be that both of us have been sold by Lord Zhao? What's more, he swore just now. Shi Bin shook his head and said, obviously 'not believing' what Jia Ling said.

Although Zhao Kui didn't think he had deceived Shi Bin, he couldn't tolerate Jia Ling and Sai Xishi being so messy, so he said, "Lord Shi, what are you going to do?" Are we listening to you or to your two ladies? If you listen to your two wives, be careful and become the laughing stock of your colleagues in the future. ”

Realizing that Jia Ling and Sai Xishi couldn't get around, although he had a good relationship with Jia Yidao, Lu Wende couldn't stand Jia Ling and Sai Xishi's nonsense, and this time he also stood on Zhao Kui's side, asking Shi Bin to make a decision quickly, who to listen to.

As soon as these words came out, Shi Bin, Jia Ling and Sai Xishi realized that the time had come, and Shi Bin sighed helplessly and said, "Two adults, just take their opinions into account." "But suddenly the conversation changed, Shi Bin said to Jia Ling and the others very seriously: 'You listen to me, it is an exception to let you join this time, if you still don't know how to refrain from speaking, I will immediately let the guards escort you back to Sichuan, don't want to come out with me in the future!'

After listening to Shi Bin's words, Jia Ling and Sai Xishi immediately nodded 'happily', and repeatedly said that they would never be open-mouthed again. For a while, it seemed that they had become two well-informed ladies again.

This change made Zhao Kui feel that something was wrong, but he couldn't think of anything wrong. A burst of stench wafted over, and Zhao Kui suddenly thought of a question: Why did Shi Bin suddenly have diarrhea, he wasn't good before?

After thinking about it for a while, he asked Shi Bin coldly: "Lord Shi, may I ask why your stomach is suddenly broken?" Can you tell the cause of decay? After finishing speaking, he still stared at Shi Bin tightly, obviously to see if Shi Bin was lying.

Since he had prepared his words before, Shi Bin was naturally not afraid, and said calmly after smiling bitterly: "Lord Zhao, I'm more comfortable if you don't ask this, I regret it a little when you ask." ”

Regret? Zhao Kui and Lu Wende were a little confused, where did Shi Bin's 'regret' come from.

"Lord Lu should know that I like to eat betel nut and peppercorns, right? It is estimated that Lord Zhao has also heard of it. ”

Eating habits are not a secret, and they are easy to know by small talk, and it is easier to know if they drink regularly among colleagues. Therefore, Zhao Kui and Lu Wende both said that they already knew this, but at the same time said that they couldn't understand why they regretted eating betel nut and peppercorns.

"I often lead troops outside, and I will take betel nut and pepper sauce with me. I'm afraid the two adults don't know this habit, but it's precisely this habit that makes me ugly today. Shi Bin said "ashamedly": "In this hot weather, food is easy to spoil, but I am greedy, and I ate a lot of spoiled pepper sauce and moldy betel nut at breakfast today, so it became like this." I'm ashamed."

Of course, he didn't just believe Shi Bin's empty words, so Zhao Kui asked about Lu Wende. The answer given by Lu Wende was that what Shi Bin said was the truth and not adulterated. Originally, Lu Wende wanted to say that he didn't know if the food had gone bad, but after a little thought, he swallowed it. Because he didn't think that Shi Bin would pretend to be sick for no reason.

Since Shi Bin was telling the truth, Zhao Kui had no choice but to agree to let Jia Ling and Sai Xishi also join the negotiations, but his pressure suddenly increased a lot. Negotiating with two somewhat outrageous women is certainly not going to be easy, even if they have promised not to throw tantrums again.

"Lord Zhao, I'm not in good health right now, just sit farther away and listen, it's good to be able to hear. As for the discussion, I will leave it to my two ladies. They are all women, so please forgive me if there is any offense. But it shouldn't be, and they probably won't want to be escorted back to Sichuan by me. Shi Bin reminded Jia Ling and the others while talking to Zhao Kui.

"Please rest assured, Sister Xi Shi and I will never come to me again." Jia Ling said with a smile on her face, even with a little coquettish taste.

Such a huge contrast made Zhao Kui and Lu Wende tremble, and they both sighed that Shi Bin's heart was strong enough to withstand such changes.

"It's good to know, okay, you can talk to Lord Zhao and them, don't worry about me. If I have an opinion, I will say it too. ”

As soon as Shi Bin finished speaking, Jia Ling immediately asked: "Lord Zhao, I heard from my husband that you handed over to him the three powers of military, government, and finance in the north, and allowed him to transfer grain and grass cheaply in the prefectures and counties on the south bank of the Yellow River, but you must still pay taxes and support conscription?" ”

"That's true. Why, isn't that right? Zhao Kui asked suspiciously. Lu Wende also cast a puzzled look at Jia Ling, in his opinion, this is very good, and it is a great concession from the imperial court.

"Of course not." Jia Ling said categorically. Although the tone is no longer so bad, there is clearly a hint of anger hidden in it. Although Sai Xishi didn't speak, he nodded fiercely to show his support for Jia Ling's opinion.

I didn't expect Jia Ling's attitude to be so tough, and she denied all the previous agreement results before she even started, which once again surprised Zhao Kui. But since Jia Ling has been put at the negotiation table, there is no reason to push her down arbitrarily, so Zhao Kui can only choose to continue to talk patiently.

"Then Jia Ling, what do you think is wrong?"

"Lord Zhao, now that the Great Song Dynasty has levied taxes and miscellaneous taxes, isn't it a bit ridiculous that in this place that has just recovered and needs to recuperate, it is not exempt from taxes and forced labor, but also has to pay taxes to support forced labor?" Jia Ling said coldly.

Jia Ling's words stopped Zhao Kui. Indeed, at any given time, the first thing a war-torn ruler should do is to recuperate and be exempt from taxes and servitude. However, Zhao Kui's agreement with Shi Bin and Lu Wende still requires them to pay taxes to support forced labor, which is absolutely unreasonable.

Although this is the case, fortunately, Zhao Kui is not a nerd, he immediately said: "Of course this is not appropriate, but in exchange I gave them Shaanxi, Hedong, and Jiangnan two roads, a total of four military, political and financial powers." If they don't want the power and wealth there, I can consider exempting them from tax and servitude. ”

"Lord Zhao, the account can't be counted like that. It is true that you gave my husband and Lord Lu the three powers of military, government and finance, but if you still have to bear taxes and forced labor, then you don't want this financial power. Don't play this left-in, right-out trick. Even if they have financial power, maybe the two of them will still be unable to make ends meet because of the heavy taxes, and they will not even have food to maintain the army at that time. If the Yuan people come again, even my husband will not have the strength to return to heaven, and I am afraid that he will have to retreat. ”

Looking at Jia Ling in front of him and Lu Wende, whose face gradually turned gloomy, Zhao Kui became anxious. He realized that his good plan was about to fail. Lu Wende obviously realized that he was being calculated, and things were difficult. As for Shi Bin, I'm afraid he already knew, but he didn't say it.

Therefore, now Zhao Kui's confidence is insufficient, but he still said with a hard mouth: "Could it be that only your husband and Lu Wende can resist the Yuan people in my Great Song Dynasty, and the other generals are all rice buckets who only know how to run when they see the Yuan people?" ”

"Lord Zhao, you know whether the rice bucket is in your own heart, I'm afraid we don't need to say more. We all know the meaning of the imperial court, you just want to use my husband and Lord Lu as firefighters, send them out if you have something, and watch when you have nothing. Jia Ling snorted coldly and said, "What a good calculation!" If it weren't for me and Sister Xi Shi coming today, my husband and Master Lu would probably fall into your trap! ”

The facts are in front of us, and the only ones who can confront the Yuan people head-on without defeat are Shi Bin and Lu Wende, and Zhao Kui can't deny it. So he said, "Even if you have a point, what are you going to do?" Do you want to be exempt from all taxes and forced labor? ”

saw that Jia Ling didn't make a sound, but gestured to Sai Xishi to signal her to speak.

At first, Shi Bin didn't understand why Jia Ling suddenly didn't say it, but asked Sai Xishi, the female bandit leader who didn't actually negotiate, to say it, but after thinking about it for a while, he understood it again. There is no other reason, just because Sai Xishi, the bandit leader, has a low status and is suitable for opening conditions.

"Lord Zhao, in my opinion, you should ask the imperial court to exempt my husband and Lord Lu from tax and conscription for another three years, and allocate 500,000 taels of silver to them every year from now on as military funds. Moreover, they should be allowed to garrison in various grain cities on Henan, Jinghu North Road, and Jingdong Road, so as to ensure that they can really get grain at any time. Sai Xi Shi said with a smile.

It is acceptable for Zhao Kui to be exempted from three years of conscription, after all, this is reasonable, and he can accept it if he allocates a part of the money as military funds, but he cannot accept allowing Shi Bin and Lu Wende to garrison troops to the place where the grain is stored. Because it was too dangerous, once the two rebelled, things would be out of control. Therefore, he immediately made it clear that he could only agree to the first two articles, and that the appropriation would not exceed 250,000 taels of silver, and that he could never agree to the third article.

It was long expected that Zhao Kui would not be able to agree to all the conditions, and the third one was almost completely impossible, but Jia Ling and Sai Xishi were not in a hurry. Jia Ling even said with a smile: "Two hundred and fifty thousand taels is two hundred and fifty thousand taels, but Lord Zhao doesn't have to refuse in such a hurry, the last one of these three is the most important, you must agree." ”

How can you not know that the last one is the most important? Zhao Kui refused to agree because he knew it was important.

"Lord Zhao, we all believe in your credibility. But we don't believe in the credibility of Lord Wu and Lord Li. If the Yuan people came, they would close the city gate, and it would be a small matter to prevent us from entering the city, and if we couldn't get food, then Hedong and Shaanxi would definitely be lost again. Jia Ling smiled.

Jia Ling's words made Zhao Kui fall into contradictions, and he was also worried that the emperor would rather lose Shaanxi and Hedong when the Yuan people invaded the south, and take the opportunity to kill Shi Bin and Lu Wende. This kind of stupid thing of cutting off one's arm has been done a lot by successive emperors, and the final result is the demise of the dynasty.

But Jia Ling's conditions were too different from his previous plan and that of Li Zong. Not only did Shi Bin and Lu Wende not be overpowered, but if this agreement was reached, it would boost their strength, and it would be even more important. As if knowing what Zhao Kui was worried about, Sai Xishi said: "Lord Zhao, you are nothing more than afraid that my husband and Lu Wende will rebel. I've come up with a plan to dispel your worries. ”

Hearing that there was a way to relieve his worries, Zhao Kui immediately stopped being sad and looked at Sai Xishi expectantly.

"You just let my husband and Lord Lu each take charge of a grain land of 80,000 stones of grain and grass, where we only occupy half of the garrison, or one-third, what do you think?"

This method is okay, because the two grain lands have not completely fallen into the hands of Shi Bin or Lu Wende, as long as you are cautious, you are not afraid of accidents, so Zhao Kui feels acceptable in his heart. But Zhao Kui still didn't want to just forget it, it was too embarrassing.

So he said, "This is a solution, but I also have a condition. I will take back the administrative power of these two roads, and the envoys will be appointed by the imperial court. Moreover, your total strength on each road must not exceed 50,000, and you can only recruit troops when the Yuan people come to attack. ”

If you have soldiers, food, and salaries, you are not afraid of anything, so you don't want the administrative power, and as for the so-called total strength, it is even more ridiculous, just hide the troops from the people. So Shi Bin and Lu Wende happily agreed. In this way, an agreement was finally reached, and Zhao Kui was very frustrated. And Lu Wende looked at Jia Ling and Sai Xishi with gratitude in his eyes, and was obviously very envious of Shi Bin for having such good luck to find two such powerful wives. Shi Bin smiled at the two ladies with satisfaction.

Because of this, Shaanxi and the southeast of Hedong completely fell into the hands of him Shi Bin. Lu Wende not only took back the two roads in the south of the Yangtze River, but also fished out the half of the east of the river, and gained a lot. The closer the connection between the two is, the more secure they are.