Two continents are seated! After. Wang Hang swept his eyes. Arching in the direction of the palace, he said in a hoarse voice: "Everyone, yesterday the new emperor succeeded to the throne, and the Empress Dowager hung the curtain to listen to the government. The Empress Dowager ordered Lord Cai and Benxiang to deal with government affairs and military affairs with the two princes. Many things have not been dealt with in a timely manner, so many things have been delayed. Therefore, this meeting will be convened on an ad hoc basis to deal with the most urgent matters first, and the rest will be dealt with later in the regular meeting. Today's agenda," he picked up a piece of paper from the table next to him, glanced at it, and said, "There are six items in total. ”

The first issue was proposed by the Ministry of Households, and the new emperor ascended the throne and proposed to exempt Yuanfeng from the taxes owed six years ago as a sign of the emperor's favor. At the end of last year, there was a famine in Hedong and floods in Hebei, which washed away countless houses in Mingzhou and other places. The food for disaster relief was insufficient, and the household department proposed to provide additional relief money. Tell the people of the household department to come in! ”

The recorder at the door hurriedly agreed, got up and went out, and after a while, the head of the household came in with two officials, and sat down after giving a salute.

It was common practice for the new emperor to ascend the throne and grant amnesty to the whole world, which included both pardoning or mitigating the guilt of certain offenders, as well as pardoning tax aid. So the first one, which was not studied, was quickly passed unanimously.

Then, the Tobe Shangshu briefly explained the situation of the disaster, and then the two officials read the plan to add this year's disaster relief money valley.

After reading it, Wang Jia asked, "Do you have your opinions?" ”

According to the rules, in addition to the two prime ministers, the other six prophets are not limited in order, and finally after Cai Zhenyan. Wang Jia made another summary. Du Wenhao is not ready to take the lead. He wanted to hear what else to say first.

Lin Xi, the deputy privy councillor, was the first to speak, and after some emotion, he agreed. Subsequently, Shangshu left Cheng Cai Bian and right Cheng Huang Lu all said. They all first made an official tone, and then expressed their agreement with the household department's draft opinions. Du Wenhao said this, and simply said that the farmers who rely on the sky for food, once they encounter a major disaster, a delay will be at least a year, so additional disaster relief should be provided, and then follow their example, play two official sentences, and then agree. In the end, Cai said that Wang Jia concluded and unanimously agreed to the additional disaster relief plan formulated by the household department.

The third item was reported by the Ministry of Rites, and there was naturally no objection to the topic of "Kuncheng Festival" on the birthday of the Empress Dowager Gao Taotao, and it was unanimously approved.

The fourth item is the proposal put forward by the Ministry of Officials on the vacancy of two high-ranking officials, the Waiter of the Criminal Department and the Waiter of the Ministry of Works. This controversy is very big, Du Wenhao looks at it coldly, Wang Jia is one faction, and Cai is indeed one faction. It's just that Cai Qu's side has to account for the majority, and the candidate nominated by the Ministry of Officials is exactly what Cai Qu agrees with. In the end, the minority obeyed the majority, and agreed to the candidates for senior officials proposed by the ministry.

The fifth item is military, and the Huanqing Economic Strategy Division reported a secret report on the military situation, saying that the Western Xia cavalry repeatedly invaded the Huanqing border, burned, killed, and plundered, and killed and injured thousands of border people in the month. Although it was repelled by the Great Song Army. But after going and returning, most of them were cavalry teams, and the Song army pursued and set up ambushes several times, but they could not be eliminated. Please send a large army to conquer it.

When it came to the military, the deacons were silent, which was diametrically opposed to the dispute between the two squires just now. They all took the tea and tasted it slowly, as if they were pondering, but they were actually looking at the direction of the wind.

Wang Fa said twice, please express your opinion. No one opened his mouth, so he had to order: "Lord Han, your Privy Council is in charge of the military, so let's talk about Gao Zhi first." ”

Han Jin coughed lightly and said: "It is not uncommon for Xixia to repeatedly violate my border, but this time the scale is relatively large, and the harm is more serious, killing and injuring thousands of people on my border in a month. It's just that in the battle of Yongle City, our army's vitality was greatly damaged. So far, it has not been recovered, and if the army is rashly recruited, not to mention the worse, it is difficult to predict whether it will be victorious. I'm afraid that when the Western Xia army learns that our army is coming, it will flee, and as soon as I retreat, it will attack and disturb again. It's hard to go on and on. ”

Lin Xi, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, also echoed: "The soldiers are fierce. It is not advisable to act recklessly unless it is absolutely necessary. After more than ten years of fighting with the Western Xia, our army was defeated repeatedly, especially the battle of Yongle City, which was even more devastated by the vitality. Therefore, I think that the current situation of my Great Song Dynasty really can't fight anymore. ”

Cai Qu's face showed displeasure: "What do you mean by the two of you, do you want to let the Western Xia army burn and kill and plunder my border people?" ”

Han Jin and Lin Xi glanced at each other, and Han Jin smiled and said, "The inferior rank has no such intention. ”

"What do you think?"

"I think that at the beginning of the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, I fought with the Great Liao for more than 20 years, and failed to defeat the enemy, and the alliance of Emperor Zhenzong Yuanyuan, with a mere 200,000-year-old coin, was exchanged for hundreds of years of border peace, and also saved a lot of military expenditures. Forty years ago, our Great Song Dynasty and Western Xia had already formed a good alliance between Qin and Jin, and the annual currency was exchanged for more than 20 years of peace and tranquility on the border. Exchange New Year's coins for peace. ”

Cai Qu glanced at the few Wenchen on the left with a gloomy face: "What do the three mean?" ”

Zhang Shen, the servant under the door, arched his hand and said: "I think I am humble." Han Shumi and Deputy Envoy Lin said, although they were aggrieved, they were also helpless, if they could exchange a few tens of thousands of coins for border safety, and avoid the pain of swords and soldiers, it was really the best policy! ”

"I also think that what the previous three adults said is extremely true!" Shangshu Zuocheng Cai Bian glanced at Du Wenhao and said lightly: "Our army is weak and invincible, what can I do?" Blame yourself for not having the ability, the army is from, the quality is good, the well gambling rice will not fight, the huge and Dan military divination is raised, and there is no other use for the blood and sweat of the people! ”

Huang Lu said: "Exactly, the military funds are consumed. The treasury is seven or eight, behemoths, and it is useless to look at it, alas! The scourge of redundant soldiers, the source of poverty and weakness! ”

Cai Qu frowned and said, "It's far away!" As far as the matter is concerned, does this mean that the matter of using troops in Western Xia is to do anything? ”

Huang Lu hurriedly said: "Yes, I also agree with the high opinions of the previous adults, the soldiers who surrender without a fight, and the good ones who are good, exchange the New Year's coins for the withdrawal of the Western Xia Army, it is not a good policy." If the Western Xia does not meet the number of tens of thousands, add one or two hundred thousand. I thought that as long as I could exchange it for the withdrawal of the Western Xia army, and the people could live and work in peace and contentment again, it would be okay. Anyway, hundreds of thousands are just a drop in the bucket for my Great Song. The annual cost of fighting and inserting weight is far more than that, hehe. ”

Cai Qu turned his head to Wang Jia and said: "Prime Minister Wang, the meaning of the original appearance is the same, otherwise," I will advise the emperor, ah no, the empress dowager, send envoys to negotiate peace, and give them three or two hundred thousand coins. In exchange for a strike, right? ”

Wang Fa glanced at him and smiled faintly: "It seems that General Du hasn't expressed his opinion yet." ”

Cai was stunned for a moment, as if he remembered that Zai Zhi had one more Sanyadu check, he hadn't spoken just now, he was a little embarrassed, smiled apologetically, and looked at Du Wenhao: "General Du, what do you think?" Ahem, by the way, you are a new recruit, and you are only weaker, but I am afraid that you don't know much about the battle between my Great Song Dynasty and the Western Xia for more than ten years, and the analysis of the previous adults, I think you have also understood, I hope you will consider it carefully. Don't be presumptuous. What does the general think, what is the strategy of my Great Song Dynasty to exchange the New Year's coins for the Western Xia retreat? ”

"There's a lot of money to burn!" Du Wenhao snorted coldly.

Everyone in the audience was taken aback, and their faces were full of displeasure.

The privy envoy Han Zhen was the first to be difficult: "General Du's words are just afraid that they are inappropriate, right?" The year's coins for peace, this is the Zhenzong Towering Initiative, relying on this to maintain a hundred years of peace on the Song-Liao border, Emperor Renzong also imitated Emperor Zong, in exchange for decades of peace on the Song-Xia border, as the general saw, could it be that the two emperors are burned with more money? ”

Du Wenhao sneered: "The day before yesterday, the Empress Dowager asked her humble post about the Battle of Song Liao and the Battle of Song Xia, and commented on the exchange of New Year's coins for peace, saying that this was a loss of power and humiliation of the country.

The Empress Dowager once asked: The two countries are at war, everyone needs peace, why is it that every time my Great Song Dynasty takes money out to beg the other party to strike the army? Why didn't they pay us to buy the soldiers? At the very least, it should be an equal strike, right? We give them three or two hundred thousand coins every year, isn't it more money to burn, what is it? Can such a treaty be considered equal? What is it if it is not a loss of power and humiliation of the country? ”

"You!" The servant Zhang stood up cautiously, pointed at Du Wenhao and said, "You actually slandered the two emperors of Zhenzong and Renzong for forming an alliance with Liaoxia. Is it a loss of power and humiliation of the country? Okay, well, this official must be involved in your big disrespectful crime! ”

Du Wenhao laughed: "I thought Zai was in charge of politics." It was possible to express their opinions freely, but there were still people hiding here to beat sticks, button hats, pull braids, and put bags! Haha, what an eye-opener! Hahaha"

Zhang Yu took a step forward, pointed at Du Wenhao and said sharply: "Zai is in charge of politics, so he can naturally speak freely, but he can't insult the first emperor!" Isn't that disrespectful to you, but what is it? ”

Du Wenhao sat there for a long time and said, "Master Zhang, don't be impatient!" You understand, I didn't say this, it was the Empress Dowager who said it, and the Empress Dowager only said that the two alliances were humiliating and humiliating, not saying how the first emperor was. I just conveyed the words of the Empress Dowager, if you are not convinced, if you want to question, why not question the Empress Dowager? ”

Zhang Yu was dumbfounded suddenly, and thought about it, Du Wenhao did say the words of the Empress Dowager just now, but he relayed it in his own words, and it sounded as if it was his words.

"Master Zhang is angry, and he has something to say." Shang Shu got up and pulled Zhang Yi back to sit down, looked at Du Wenhao and said, "What the Empress Dowager said is naturally reasonable. Although whether it is humiliating the country or not can be discussed, everyone actually understands in their hearts that the exchange of New Year's coins for the dismissal of soldiers does damage our Great Song Weiyi to a certain extent. But what can be done? You let the Great Liaoxi Xia take the money out? The two barbarian states of Daliao and Western Xia, just because they are poor and crazy and have no money, look at my Great Song Dynasty and spend the world red-eyed, so the soldiers went south to loot, they are willing to be brothers, willing to be ministers, and it is okay for us to give some money. Why should it be involved in the loss of power and humiliation of the country? ”

Shang: "The exchange of New Year's coins for peace is indeed an insult to my Great Song Guowei!" Just, alas! Our army of millions can't beat others, what can we do without spending money? Keep fighting? Throw all the treasury revenues into it and drag it down? Fill all the people's hard-earned money into this bottomless pit? ”

Du Wenhao said with a smile: "I have heard a lot about the two countries fighting and defeating the surrender, and I have also heard a lot about the land cession indemnity. I think everybody knows that very well. The peace that is exchanged for humiliating the country is not much better than the destruction of the country! I think that most of the thousands of people in my Great Song Dynasty are willing to die standing and not live on their knees! I just don't know if it includes all the kings? ”

"You! You yellow-haired kid, dare to speak out?! Cai Bian, Huang Lu and others were furious, and it was difficult to stand up suddenly.

Prime Minister Wang Jia slapped the table: "Okay!" What a noise! ”

He is the prime minister, who dares not to order" The two people were suddenly dumbfounded, and each sat back in the chair with a sneer, raised his eyebrows, and called Yichuan with an indifferent look.

Wang Fa glanced at everyone and said: "Let's not talk about whether the exchange of New Year's coins for peace is a matter of losing power and humiliating the country, since the Empress Dowager said this, let's discuss its rights and wrongs." It's disrespectful in itself! ”

As soon as Wang Fa's words came out, the expressions on the faces of Cai Bian, Huang Lu and others changed.

Wang Fa coughed lightly, turned his head to Cai and said, "Prime Minister Cai, since General Du thinks that it is inappropriate to talk about peace, why not listen to his high opinions?" ”

Cai said: "Exactly, since General Du does not agree with what we and others discuss, let's talk about your high intentions." ”

Du Wenhao was tepid, and arched his hand: "There is no high opinion, it can be regarded as a low opinion." I won't talk about the big truth, anyway. Since my Great Song Dynasty is a big country, I shouldn't take the initiative to negotiate peace with Western Xia! Isn't he a guerrilla warfare movement war? We are not helpless in dealing with guerrilla warfare. What I want to say is that my Great Song Kingdom is rich and strong, and it is not a problem to deal with such a small-scale border conflict, but what about Western Xia? I don't know exactly what his national strength, talents, and manpower are, but I'm sure it's definitely far inferior to ours. If you drag it down, it will definitely bring them down, so the final victory must belong to us! It's called a protracted war! ”

The word protracted war, the first time they heard it, not only did they look at it.

Cai Bian coughed lightly and said, "General Du wants to use the war in the next few decades and the large number of casualties and casualties of the border people to verify that the Great Song Dynasty will definitely be able to defeat the Western Xia?" ”

Du Wenhao said: "We don't choose war, but we must not be afraid of war, if others impose war on us, we can only face it!" We must not surrender on our knees, nor can we cede land and pay reparations, lose power and humiliate the country! There is one thing I can reveal to you in advance, the Empress Dowager has authorized her to take up her post yesterday to conduct a detailed investigation of our Great Song Army and formulate reorganization measures, and the Empress Dowager is very disappointed with the current situation of our army and has made up her mind to rectify it! ”

Lin Xi, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, chuckled lightly and muttered in a low voice: "The rectification of the army did not start today. ”

Du Wenhao's eyes were like lightning, staring at Lin Xi and said, "Lord Lin has a different opinion on the Empress Dowager's idea of rectifying the army?" ”

"Don't dare!" Lin Xi was a little embarrassed, and arched his hand: "The humble position is just a matter of facts, our army has a lot of problems, it should be rectified, the first emperor did this, and the empress dowager also continued to do this, this is a good thing." What can I say about it. I'm just saying, "

Wang said: "In this way, please ask Lord Du to finish his thoughts first, and then the others will express their opinions." ”

Du Wenhao said: "Okay, my opinion is very simple, the enemy is riding on our necks and, if we can bear it, we can't call people!" This battle must be fought! At least that's an attitude! ”

Han Jin said coldly: "Repeatedly defeated, still fighting?" It's just a humiliation! ”

Du Wenhao's words were even colder: "As a soldier, it is not terrible to be defeated repeatedly, but what I am afraid of is that I dare not fight again if I am defeated!" Since ancient times, there have been no victorious generals! Winning a hundred battles is just an ideal, and you must know that victory and defeat are a common thing in soldiers. Only those who have been defeated and fought repeatedly and have a tenacious fighting spirit can win the final victory! Liu Bang wins Xiang Yu, that's it! ”

"Alright, brother!" Fu Zhen stroked his gray beard and said lightly: "You are young and youthful, and you are inevitably impulsive, waiting until you are my age."

Du Wenhao slapped the table, stood up suddenly, and said sharply: "If you don't work hard, I'm afraid that my generation won't be able to wait for the day when you have a handful of old and white beards." The Great Song Dynasty is about to die! ”

This sentence was like a thunderclap, and everyone was stunned, who would dare to say the word "dead country"?

But Du Wenhao knew that the Northern Song Dynasty would be destroyed by the Dajin Kingdom in forty years, and there was not much time left for the Northern Song Dynasty. Lianzhu said: "Kill 10,000 enemies, and lose 3,000 yourself." In the first battle of Yongle City, our army was defeated, with 200,000 dead and wounded, everyone knows this, but what about Western Xia? How do they have who knows? ”

Han Zhen sneered: "Them? They overcame, and naturally they were complacent. ”

"Wrong! They are also licking the blood from their wounds! As far as I know, in the battle of Yongle City, the total number of casualties among the Western Xia army and civilians was by no means less than 200,000! Because there are many soldiers around me who have conquered the Western Xia, including General Li Pu, the deputy commander of the Sanya, who was the pioneer and led the troops all the way to the capital of the Western Xia! You know? Our army is attacking with weapons that can spread the disease! This weapon is capable of causing widespread tuberculosis epidemics. Therefore, countless soldiers and civilians died in the Western Xia, and corpses were everywhere. This is the reason why the Xia army avoided fighting in the later period! Our army was able to drive straight into the capital of Western Xia! And wherever our army goes, regardless of towns and villages, the material equipment that can be transported back is brought back, and those that cannot be transported back are destroyed, and countless cities and towns are burned! Half of the Western Xia has been ravaged by this battle! Do you know all of this? ”

Everyone looked at each other again, these are all literati, including the Privy Council envoy Han Zhen and the deputy envoy Lin Xi, who are very good at dancing and writing ink, and do not understand military affairs, and when they learned of the defeat of the Great Song Dynasty, in addition to following the emperor to beat their chests and cry, scolding the army for being incompetent and redundant to plague the country, they did not delve into the mystery, and they naturally did not know about it.