Zhang Yong was so anxious that he stomped his feet and said: "How can it be done, this is a big thing, private provocation, this is provoking a war between the two countries, how can you hide the past?" ”

Deng Yufu nodded frequently beside him, and Zhao Xing pouted disdainfully: "What's the big deal - let me ask you, when Wang Jinggong set up the Qingmiao Law, millions of people in the capital were displaced, selling sons and daughters, pawning wives, demolishing houses, and cutting down mulberry trees...... Millions of people, millions of people crying along the way, Jingzhao is under the nose of the political hall again, do the princes of the political hall know about this? Do they know that millions of people are wailing? ”

Zhang replied angrily: "Why don't you know, Jingzhao officials report three times a day, why don't the officials of the political hall know?" ”

"So does the official know?"

This question completely choked Zhang Yong, and he hesitated for a long time before he said carefully: "Official...... At first, he didn't know that this was a matter of political affairs, and Wang Xianggong thought that this was the ulterior motive of the old party officials to attack the new law. Hence ......"

"Therefore, all the officials who come to report the plight of the people are said to be slandering the new law, a vicious attack on the new law, and a demonizing propaganda to change the law.

Back then, Zheng Xia described the tragic situation of millions of displaced people in the "Diagram of Displaced People" and asked the imperial court to abolish the new law. Song Shu was sent to the pavilion gate, but it was not accepted, so he had to pretend to be a secret emergency side report, and the horse delivery was sent directly to the Yintai Division and presented to Emperor Shenzong. Right? …… And then what? ”

Zhang Yong thought for a long time, but it was difficult to answer. Deng Yufu had never been an official, but looking at Zhang Yong's face, he guessed carefully: "However, the official family finally knew." Right? ”

"How do you know?"

"An official ......"

"Stop! You've already uttered the key word - a certain official! Only when the official reports will the above know. When officials don't want to report it, no matter how big it is, it's treated like a fart. Jingzhao's millions of people are all fart. In this way, what is the trivial matter of a few hundred of us? There was no official report, so how could this happen? Even if there is an official report, if someone does not want it to appear, even if you report it three times a day, how has this ever happened? Those who dare to report are not afraid that the road to exile is long?

All right. So. How many of us in Michigan can report this? Well, Wang Zishao counts as one, Suo asks for one, and what else?

So, it only takes two people to get this done. Hmph, so you think it's a big deal, I think it's small - just shut up two people, can't we do it? It's a big deal, plus a few officials in Dengzhou. Who else, who else can talk? ”

Zhao Xingdi actually said half of what he said, and the books often taught the children: the emperor does not know the truth about all the ugly things, and is deceived by the lower ones - in fact, this is a foolish people, a political means to find scapegoats.

Zhang Yong was the janitor of the palace. He knows more about the truth. For example: under the nose of the millions of people in Jingzhao Mansion to flee from their homes. The Emperor could not have been ignorant—he was just pretending to be ignorant. When do officials need to know the truth - first: when they can't hold it; Second: when an event is needed as a political weapon to hit someone, the person concerned can "really know".

Politics. It's always been that way. Zhang Yong only has a perceptual understanding of this, so he panics; And Zhao Xing rationally recognizes this, so he is very calm, he knows calmly: politicians will selectively not hear things they don't like to hear, even if you shout in his ear, he still pretends not to hear.

Perhaps, the chapter to the land guarantee ticket is not credible; Perhaps, the rumors will eventually reveal the truth, however, in a short time, he only needs to get the two of them. Buying through the two individuals is a small investment, but it can bring him big returns, and from the perspective of cost-effectiveness, this risk is worth fighting.

Zhao Xing's words just now are tantamount to accusing the emperor in disguise, and in other dynasties, it may be regarded as a great rebellion, and the audience will turn their faces and walk away. But in the Song Dynasty, although the two people present felt embarrassed, they were still listening attentively, listening to Zhao Xing's ways to make the people in the court "choose to be deaf" on this matter.

"What did we do today, hundreds of people were caught in a storm during the escort, drifted to an unknown place, and then landed on the shore and accidentally crashed into Yingzhou...... You think about this matter a little further", Zhao Xing asked seductively.

"Above, Zhizhou is ......," Zhang said with a stupid look like he was being hypnotized.

"Wang Zhizhou doesn't count, he and we are grasshoppers on the same line, you think about it again."

"...... the military department"

"Think higher, be bolder, push higher."

"The Privy Council? Official? ”

"You go to Taizu and Taizong to speculate."

"Taizu and Taizong know about this......

"You are ......" Zhao Xing was helpless to take you, and he guided with great effort: "Let me ask you, what is the wish of Taizu and Taizong in their lives?" ”

Zhang Yong answered this question quickly: "Taizu and Taizong's lifelong wish is to restore Youyan!" ”

"Okay, you relate what you just said to our events today."

Zhang Yong still looked dazed and ignorant, Deng Yufu had already understood, and he muttered to himself: "Taizu and Taizong's lifelong wish is to restore Youyan - we strayed into Yingzhou today. ”

The two of them were still thinking hard about the connection between these two sentences, but Di Yuan Yeping, who had experience in sailing, had already reacted, and he immediately objected: "This is not good, our small boat can carry at most twenty or thirty people, and if we want to put tens of thousands of troops on the seaside, we need at least hundreds of large ships, in addition, we also have to transport siege equipment and food supplies...... Such a lone army plunged into the vast mountains, and did not dare to go too deep into the interior6 - it did nothing to do with the big things. Yuan Yeping's discussion made the two of them suddenly wake up, and Deng Yufu replied quickly: "Even if it doesn't help with major events, there will be no trouble from now on!" ”

What Deng Yufu said was that if the Liao State continued to harass the war on the border, then the Great Song Navy could go to the rear of the Liao State. Anti-harassment is carried out in coastal areas, so that small-scale harassment can be achieved, although large-scale cross-sea operations are limited by shipping and the timing is premature. And so it goes. The Liao side had scruples, and no longer dared to come to the Great Song Dynasty to rob unscrupulously - the Liao people elegantly called this kind of robbery "beating grass valley".

Although Zhang Yong is stupid, he is still very clear about the operation of officialdom, and Deng Yufu mentioned it. He immediately comprehended the mystery: "You mean: If we succeed in the attack this time, in order not to alert the Liao State, as long as we do something secretive, the ministers of the political hall will pretend not to know." ”

"That's right! If our attack is successful this time, the officials of the political affairs hall will be on alert along the coast in order to shirk their responsibilities and not let the Liao State be alert. And even evacuate coastal personnel. As a result, future large-scale operations have lost their concealment...... So, as long as we do a clean job, they will help us wipe the ** - this matter is confidential, who asks you in the future, you are responsible for the righteousness, but all the officials who know, who dares to leak it privately?

If no one speaks below, will the government hall have nothing to do? What's more, we already have clean hands and feet - aren't there more than a hundred Jurchens in the team, and there are still enough Japanese armor in my cabin. Distribute all those Japanese armor and Japanese swords. Give each soldier a title and forbid them to talk to each other in Song. You say, what will the surviving officials of Yingzhou think when they see these civilians armed in Japanese armor and armed with Japanese knives? Is it more likely that they will decide that we are Song or Jin?

We also have a real Japanese man, the source of the officer, but wherever there is a place to speak. For example, war briefings. It's all up to him. His habits can't be changed, and his words and sentences are different from ours...... In addition to the real Jurchen. The Jurchens in the team can't hide it, and the above, all of them add up, you say, even if we shout everywhere afterwards that we did it, do you think the Khitans will believe it? ”

Zhang Yong was a little tempted: "No, they will think that the Jurchens deliberately pretended, or the real Japanese insulted Yingzhou......"

But there was still a trace of hesitation in Zhang's heart, and he asked hesitantly: "Liren, you said that we attacked a small city with hundreds of people, once the attack is not resisted, and the soldiers are damaged, how can we explain to the above?" ”

This question is also a problem of Deng Yufudi. There is not much oil and water in a small city like Yingzhou, once the soldiers have losses, and they can't capture that small city, how to explain to their superiors. After Zhang Yong finished asking, Deng Yufu also stretched out his hand and put on a persuasive gesture: "Sign the judgment, let me discuss this matter later......"

Zhao Xing flipped his hand, took out two notes, and replied: "This is the information that the Liao State caravan sent back not long ago, you see: Ding Sishuo in May, with a herding horse and a million interest, reward the herdsmen, and advance to the next level." Yihai, stationed in Nagarao. Wu Yin, Prime Minister Liang Ying went out to know the affairs of the Xingzhong government. It was the month, and twenty-six people including Zhang Hub were put in. ”

Deng Yufu finished reading the first note, and asked puzzledly: "What do you mean, this matter, the Liao Guodi newspaper will be logged in sooner or later, I don't see what this has to do with Yingzhou?" ”

"The shepherds of horses are as much as one million, and the herdsmen are rewarded-" Zhao Xing repeated this sentence in a long tone: "The emperor of the Liao State rewarded the herdsmen because of his meritorious work in herding horses by his domestic slaves and the breeding of war horses to one million." Millions, war horses, what is this? Silver! Millions of war horses are just the private property of the emperor of Liao, so how many war horses can be bred by the shepherd slaves under the major nobles of Liao? ”

"Innumerable!" Deng Yufu and Zhang Yong replied in unison.

"That's right! Break the camp state...... We don't even have to break the camp, we just have to go to the vicinity of the camp, gather a few reliable people, and tell them that every month our ship will stop at the seashore and wait to trade the horses, let them drive the horses to the sea, and then ...... Everyone can get rich. Millions of horses in Liao Country are not worth a few dollars, but my Great Song horses are worth a lot of money, and each horse can be sold for a hundred yuan......"

"More than 100 guan", Zhang Yong interrupted Zhao Xing's words, he rubbed his hands and said excitedly: "These are war horses, they are different from the envoy's horses, each can be sold for 300 guan, the two high-headed horses you gave me, someone gave 20,000 guan, I am not willing to buy them." There are also shepherd slaves, each of whom is worth a hundred, which is not an ordinary land. ”

Deng Yufu was a literati, and in the face of the behemoth of the Liao State, he always wanted to think about the difficulties as much as possible, and he asked: "How is the defense of Yingzhou?" ”

At this time, the fleet had slowly approached the coast of Yingzhou, and 6 places could already be seen in the distance on the horizon. These 6 places are a little white, and they seem to be frosted. Zhao Xing glanced at it, shook out the second note, and read: "In the autumn and July, Ding Si, Concubine Hui's mother, Mrs. Yanguo, cut the ancient to disgust Liang Wang Shijue. Fu Zhu, Zilanling County Wang Xiao Fu was removed. Wu Wu, hunting sand ridge. Jiazi, give Xingsheng and Jiqing the second palace poor money. Ethyl unitary. Out of Su Zhen Liaozhou poor. In August, the hunt was stopped with snow. ”

Deng Yufu came back to his senses, and there was no name in the two notes, but the whereabouts of the person mentioned in the note turned out to be the emperor of Liao, who was hunting outside and "hunting with snow" halfway.

"What, it's snowing heavily in Liao?" Deng Yufu was a little surprised. How could this news record the whereabouts of the Emperor of Liao in such detail?!

I had what I just experienced. Deng Yufu worked hard to sift through useful information from the details of this news - Deng Yufu, who had systematically compiled agricultural books, had the ability to organize words and words, and Zhao Xing also took a fancy to this point at the beginning, so he included this officialdom rookie under his banner. Although he has no professional training, he also pays attention to the most critical detail of this operation - "Jiazi, give Xingsheng and accumulate money for the poor people of the second palace." Yi You, out of Su Zhen Liaozhou Poor"

"There was a great famine in Liao, and the famine in Liaozhou was particularly severe. So much so that Emperor Liao gave relief to the poor for the first time, right? ”

"This year's climate is extremely abnormal, and Hangzhou is also suffering from drought. However, the drought in Liaoguo caused the local grain harvest to fail, and it snowed in July, which fell several months in advance, and many horses did not stock up on winter feed. Watching him starve to death. Zhao Xing added meaningfully: "If the defenders of Yingzhou still have the strength to stand up." Well, I don't think we need to shoot arrows at them. Throw grain at them - it's more useful than arrows. ”

At this time, the Jiawen brothers who went to the bottom of the ship climbed back to the deck, these two brothers had already put on Tang-style armor, and they were holding the Japanese Tang knife presented by Zhao Xing, which looked majestic, they had obviously heard Zhao Xing's last words at the hatch, and hurriedly nodded in agreement: "Yes, this year's heavy snow has fallen too early, and many Meng'an Mok have not had time to prepare forage."

This winter must be tough. Those war horses can't be killed, and some have to be left to make seeds, what should I do? Seeing the aquatic weeds covered in heavy snow, many herders turned white with worry. It's bitter. ”

In fact, the disaster in Liaoguo is not just because the snow fell too early. Zhao Xing also analyzed from the piece of information just now: due to decades of peace, the Khitan people have caused them to breed cattle, sheep and horses without control, these people do not understand the principle of soil and water conservation, and excessive reclamation has brought about the disaster of soil and water degradation and desertification of grasslands. This year's snowstorm was the straw that broke the camel's back, and the consequences of soil degradation will follow.

The grain harvest was lost, and the Khitan people insisted on taking the war horse as the source of strategy, not selling it to the outside, seeing the sturdy horses become thin and weak in batches, and finally fell into a pile of bones, but they forbade the herdsmen to replace the war horses with grain, and as a result, after the disaster, the herdsmen's vitality will be greatly damaged.

However, the power of hunger can conquer people's hearts more than a thousand slogans, and since the government openly forbids the sale of war horses, it is private. Zhao Xing just wanted to open this trade route and use the strong economy of the Great Song Dynasty to predatory absorption of the wealth of the Liao State - this should have become the national policy of the Great Song Dynasty, but the Great Song Dynasty had strong economic advantages, but it did not match the relevant economic knowledge. As a result, this powerful economy did not turn into war potential, but rather created the luxury of officials who were full of agrarian ideas.

Breaking this impasse may change the course of history a little.

Since the Jiawen brothers decided to participate in the robbery in person, they had no reservations about Zhao Xing, and Jiawen Qingchen pointed to the east and said: "There is Yuguan, there is a Meng'an stationed, over Yuguan, east is Jinzhou, where the Linhai Navy of the Liao State is located, and the Linhai Navy has a naval army of more than 100 ships.

Once there is an incident in Yingzhou, I estimate that Yingzhou will ask Yuguan for help, Yuguan has few soldiers, and he will not dare to go out lightly, so he will inevitably ask for help from the Linhai Navy. Therefore, we do not have to worry about the army east of Liao in this battle, and we should beware of Yuguan or the Linhai Navy coming from the waterway. Zhao Xingcai didn't care about the reaction of Yuguan and Linhai, but he was very polite to the two people in front of him who were destined to carry the black pot, and asked cordially: "In your opinion, once the Yingzhou incident occurs, how long will it take for Linjunjun and Yuguan to react?" ”

"Yuguan sent at most a pathfinder force - the mountain road was rugged, the road was closed by heavy snow, and they only had one path in and out. By the time they deliver the news to the Navy, it will take about a day; It will take another day to find out our situation; In this way, it is calculated that the Navy will send troops. The fleet coming by water takes at least three days.

It's hard to say about the army that walked from the 6 land, the Khitan people and horses were fast, and the Linhai Navy made Sha Hudai very brave, and there was a brave general Gao Lu Mountain under his subordinates, if he sent Gao Lu Mountain light cavalry forward. It will take about three days to arrive, and if he is transferred to the infantry brigade, it will take ten days. ”

"That is, to be on the safe side. We have three days left at most. Three days, emptying a city, that is an impossible task. Zhao Xing's embarrassed expression was very fake at first glance.

As soon as Brother Jia Wen Meng stepped on the deck, he was caressing his new knife, and when he heard Zhao Xing's words, he felt that after receiving this gift, he had to do something for the other party, and Zhao Xing hesitated. He also needs to light a fire: "My brother said it." There is only one way to Yingzhou by taking 6 roads from Yuguan. They rode forward lightly, and there would not be many people coming to the land, so I didn't want too many people, so I took ten people to ambush on the side of the road, and allowed them not to enter Yingzhou. ”

Jia Wen Qingchen glanced at his younger brother reproachfully, but after another thought, it seemed that his reckless younger brother could leave the land of right and wrong in Yingzhou, which was better for the family, and he nodded in agreement: "Ten people are too few." Take at least two shews with you. ”

Zhao Xing thought for a moment and made a heavy bet: "I'll give you twenty pairs of armor and five thousand arrows, and you take twenty people to guard that mountain road for three days." Three days later. Whether anyone has passed by or not. You can all withdraw to Yingzhou City. ”

Brother Jia Wen Meng looked at Zhao Xing curiously, in his feelings. Zhao Xing's ship seemed to be like a treasure bag, constantly taking out some good things, first five hundred jars of spirits, and then armor, treasure swords, bows and arrows. His heart was full of anticipation, but when Jia Wen Qingchen heard this, his eyes narrowed.

"I still need twenty knives, your knives are so good, twenty of us need this kind of knives to block thousands of troops. Give me twenty knives, and I will never let anyone enter the city of Yingzhou. ”

Zhao Xing smiled: "Here you go, you take someone to pick up a knife, I will not only give you twenty knives, but everyone in your clan will be given a suit of armor and a knife." ”

Zhao Xing's knife was a cheap knife specially sold by the Wa Kingdom to the Song Dynasty, and it was not even a carcass knife. This kind of knife is very sharp when used to cut people because it is too rigid, but it is easy to break when used in fighting. And once broken, this kind of iron core ground clad steel knife, with Jurchen technology, can not be returned to the furnace at all. Therefore, Zhao Xing was not afraid that the other party would have a slaughtering weapon to let the Jurchens carry the black cauldron, which was the second purpose of Zhao Xing's trip. With the carrying capacity of his current fleet, he couldn't carry away the extra horses, and he was planning to throw those burdens to the Jurchens.

According to history, it was almost time for these Jurchens to establish an independent state, but they have not yet attracted the attention of the Khitans. But if the Jurchens pursue the Yingzhou incident, and in the end the Jurchens are the most suspicious, then when the Jurchens are not ready, there will be a large-scale collision with the Khitan explosion. In this way, it is likely to disrupt the pace of Jurchen statehood.

Zhao Xing is a historical troublemaker, and he can make normal history as chaotic as a pot of porridge, and this sense of accomplishment makes him extremely excited. With this excitement, he directed the big boat to slowly approach the Yingzhou beach, and then the soldiers began to take small boats to gradually land on the shore.

Soon after going ashore, each of the Jurchens received the armor and war horses promised by Zhao Xing.

Jia Wen Qingchen saw the treasure knife in the hands of the clansmen, and couldn't help but be moved by this generous gift.

In this place where the weak eat the strong, having a good suit of armor and a good weapon will add a lot of strength to yourself. The Jurchens attach importance to weapons and armor, more than they attach importance to war horses, but these are the most difficult for them to obtain, some Jurchen weapons in their hands are even handed down from their ancestors hundreds of years ago, so seeing the exquisite workmanship and gorgeous scabbards of the fake and shoddy sword, Jia Wen Qingchen felt that he should do something to repay Zhao Xing's kindness

He couldn't help but blurt out: "My lord, in fact, we don't have to run long distances, how do you get to Yingzhou City the most worrying, I have a way." We Jurchens often go to Yingzhou to sell goods, as long as we find a small village, get a few horses, and then move some goods from your ship, disguised as a caravan, we can safely enter Yingzhou City. The rest ......"

Jia Wen Qingchen said "find a small village and get a few horses", there is a bit of blood in this statement, and Yingzhou and Jinzhou are cities established by Han captives, among which Jinzhou is a craftsman camp specially for Khitan nobles to weave brocade. Hence the name Jinzhou. Tiezhou is for the Khitan nobles to smelt iron, Yinzhou is for smelting silver ore, and Yingzhou is for horse herding.

These cities are surrounded by Han Chinese villages, and according to the original history, these people will be after the Khitan famine. defected to the Jurchens, and finally became the greatest help for the Jurchens to slaughter their Han compatriots, that is, those primitive old men of the Han Army Banner.

Zhao Xing has no objection to raising a knife against these people, war is cruel. Letting these people out would let the Khitans know about the invasion of the army in advance, so he nodded slightly, and said briskly: "If Brother Jiawen can help me open Yingzhou City, then all the war horses I can't pull away in Yingzhou City will belong to Brother Jiawen." ”

What makes you stupid? Yingzhou City is a horse herding battalion, and there are no war horses in it, and this generous gift directly stunned Wen Qingchen, who was always calm. He used the last sobriety. Reluctantly said: "There are so many war horses, we don't have enough feed there......"

"It doesn't matter, I'll trade it for you, just drive it to a seashore and hide it in the mountains, and I'll send a ship to exchange it for you.

It's not good, food is easy to spoil after being stored for a long time, and the value is low, how about I give you something that is not easy to spoil and has high value? For example, good porcelain, jewelry, silk, ivory, tortoiseshell. You need spices to eat meat, this thing is worth a lot, a barrel can be exchanged for half a barrel of gold......"

Jia Wen Qingchen's eyes were full of gold stars, and he added innocently: "There are also treasure swords and armor." Your weapons are good. I'm going to ......"

"You can't afford this thing, and it's not mine. It is a thing controlled by the imperial court, I can give you some, that is a great risk, this is a big crime, your request, it is difficult for me to meet......

It's not a matter of money, although that sword can be exchanged for three horses, and a pair of armor can be exchanged for two horses, and I will give you more than a hundred sets, which is equivalent to giving you a thousand horses for nothing...... But we are friends, and this is a thank you for your help.

This thing is controlled by the imperial court, have you seen it, my soldiers don't have many weapons in their hands, they are all for you, the court officials are here, I can't let my soldiers have wooden sticks stuck in their waists. ”

Brother Jia Wen Meng had already sorted out the team at this time, and when he heard Zhao Xing's shirk, he couldn't help complaining: "Your soldiers don't have many weapons, and everyone has three long and short knives stuck in their bodies, but we ...... them."

Jia Wen Qingchen scolded, and then explained to Zhao Xing: "Brother, you said that you gave me the remaining war horses in Yingzhou City, and you have already tasted this affection, and I keep the account of armor and weapons in my heart, we Jurchens never betray our friends, you can rest assured, we will definitely repay you this affection."

Brother Meng, take your people away quickly, and don't delay the adult's big event. ”

Zhao Xing heard the other party's confession, and sneered in his heart, how many war horses are left, this guy took the equivalent of 90% of the booty, but said that he repaid the Jurchens for pulling out their swords and helping. And they don't always do stabbing in the back - everything he just said is diametrically opposed to the truth.

However, Zhao Xing was always tolerant of the person who carried the black pot for him, he waved his hand and said goodbye to Brother Jia Wenmeng, with a bright smile on his face. Even he himself was a little moved. Of course, it also moved Brother Jia Wenmeng.

Brother Meng, a rough man, hugged Zhao Xing heavily when he left, and said bluntly: "You are a person, you are not a good person, the goods are good, and you trade with us fairly, and you don't bully us to be honest." I like it a lot, and although you don't see us as friends, I think you're a good trading partner. ”

Of course, it is a good trading partner, every time the Jiawen brothers take a big advantage, can such a counterparty be bad.

Zhao Xing also responded enthusiastically to the other party's hug, and when his warship unloaded all the people and began to prepare to sail to the deep sea, Zhao Xing finally told the captain: "Pay attention to the sea." ”

The captain had apparently done this more than once, and he replied with a sophisticated voice: "No problem, let's go to the Yingzhou dock first, so that the navy there can't leave the port - if there is still a navy in Yingzhou." As for the navy, don't worry, those who ride horses in the sea will have to learn from us for a hundred years. ”

Zhao Xing waved goodbye, and then ordered: "Out!" ”