"Long enough?" Han Gang repeated, then nodded, "If Lu Jifu wants to do something on the border of Hebei, time is indeed enough. ”

Wang Anshi looked at Han Gang quietly. The irony in Han Gang's words was too heavy, and it was much worse than the attitude when he was always confident.

"provoked a border provocation, just to let Lu Huiqing return to the two mansions. Father-in-law, this is a little too big. ”

"There won't be a fight." So far, Wang Anshi doesn't have to hide it from anyone, "The official army can't fight, the Liao people can't fight, and Lu Jifu hasn't considered a big fight." ”

"Yes, Lu Jifu just wants to make a show." Han Gang still had a scathing tone.

"Yukun, you're out of shape." Wang Anshi sighed. It's too rare to see Han Gang so cynical, his style has always been straightforward.

"Of course it's going to be gaffes." Han Gang laughed, "In this matter, it was your father-in-law who was wrong. Father-in-law, the weight of your selfishness this time was unexpected by the son-in-law. In the past, even if the new law was unsatisfactory, Han Gang always thought that Pingzhang's original intentions were good, but this time, there was no public intention at all. ”

Wang Anshi was unmoved: "This matter is harmless to the country. ”

Harmless to the country?

Han Gang sneered.

If everything is as Wang Anshi and Lu Huiqing wish, they can't afford to smoke, of course, it will be harmless to the country. But conflicts on the border are still indispensable, how can military and civilian casualties be avoided?

But in the eyes of the high-ranking people, those sacrifices are just simple numbers, but the cost to be paid - in Wang Anshi's view, it is harmless to the country.

Han Gang will not accuse Wang Anshi of anything for this.

"But in the eyes of the son-in-law, the arbitrary border ministers are not conducive to the future of the Emperor and Song Dynasty." Han Gang said coldly, "Fortunately, there is still room for redemption. ”

"Do you want to rely on that Liu Shunqing?" Wang Anshi asked rhetorically.

……………………

Liu Shaoneng stood above the gate of the wall, looking at the dark north, and a small colonel behind him bowed his head and said,

"Metropolitan Supervisor, Zhizhou invites Metropolitan Supervisor to go to the state, there are important matters to discuss."

Liu Shaoneng slowly turned his head and looked at the little school who had hurried from the state city.

"No." He answered.

Meet the colonel's surprised gaze with a smile.

Zhizhou Liu Shunqing wants to summon himself to the state city, what is going on, Liu Shao can think of it with his toes.

Once you're in the city, don't think about getting out in a few days.

But there are some things that Liu Shaoneng has already arranged, and Liu Shunqing's actions are too late.

……………………

"What will Liu Shunqing do, the son-in-law doesn't know." Han Gang shook his head, "With his character, he will only do what he has to do, including prohibiting his subordinates from provoking side provocations." Maybe it's late, maybe it's early. ”

Wang Anshi was indifferent, and turned his head to look at the imperial city shrouded in night.

"Of course, my father-in-law and Lu Jifu don't necessarily need to provoke a side provocation, as long as there is some change on the Liao side, it is enough."

"What is an anomaly?" Wang Anshi asked without replying.

"The 100,000 troops knocking on the pass can be counted, and the more than 1,000 cavalry marching on the boundary can also be counted. Eight thousand leather rooms are there, and one or two thousand support for side affairs come out, and this matter happens every year. ”

……………………

"Liu Shao can't have arrived yet?!"

Liu Shunqing paced back and forth in the courtyard, the pace was fast and heavy, the huge courtyard, seven or eight steps to the wall, turned around, and then seven or eight steps to another wall. Back and forth, I don't know how many laps I walked.

It was too late when he received the news, he really didn't expect Liu Shaoneng and the big man behind him to be so anxious.

"It should be soon." One of the generals whispered back.

"How long is it going to be fast?!" Liu Shunqing stopped and shouted with raised eyebrows and glaring.

The general hurriedly said, "The last general has already sent someone to investigate, and there will be a return soon!" ”

With a heavy snort, Liu Shunqing paced again.

As early as two months ago, a Liao army was stationed in the counties of Zhuozhou and confronted Xiongzhou across a white ditch.

After careful confirmation, there were as many as 8,000 leather room troops who came to Zhuozhou opposite Baigou. In his report, they also said that they had heard that one of them was an elite group that had been withdrawn from Goryeo, and that it was all armored cavalry.

Originally, most of the soldiers and civilians in Xiongzhou didn't know what was going on, but when the news of Yelu Yixin's proclamation as emperor came, the border guards were strengthened, and everything was revealed.

Rumors immediately became loud, and now there are rumors that a total of 100,000 troops have been added to the entire Nanjing Road, and Yelu Yixin intends to usurp the throne and become emperor, and grab a handful from the Great Song Dynasty as a celebration.

It's just that there is also news that in fact, there are no more troops in Nanjing Province. In order to successfully proclaim the emperor, Yelu Yixin has transferred the garrison on Nanjing Road to Linhuang Mansion in Shangjing. These 8,000 leather room troops are just bluffing,

Nanjing Road is the place where the wealth of the Liao State gathers, and unlike other Sijing Road, a large area of land is occupied by the major tribes, and it almost completely belongs to the Great Liao Imperial Court and the Great Liao Emperor.

For a long time, the Liao Emperor had firmly controlled this place through the civil and military officials sent by the imperial court. Then, through the wealth obtained from this place, he controlled the territory that stretched for thousands of miles. Without the loss of Nanjing Road, the Liao State will fall apart in three or five years.

At that time, Yelu Yixin was in charge of the government, and he also managed to master Nanjing Road first, thus laying the foundation for killing the king and usurping the throne. After the killing of the king, the opponents of Tokyo Province were eliminated, and Yelu Yixin also transferred troops from Nanjing Province.

Contrary rumors, but they all have their own truths.

But when he heard the patrolling Ma Jun come back, the patrol on the opposite side was different from the previous one.

In the past few decades, the border counties of Xiongzhou have patrolled the national border, and when they meet the Liao people's lawyers, they can say hello, tell a joke, and even exchange some specialties with each other. It is said that there are also people who have good friendships, can sit together and drink a little wine, and scold their respective bosses together.

There are many ponds here in Xiongzhou, which was originally the river pond left after the Yellow River and its tributaries broke the embankment, and was built in the time of Zhenzong, making it a natural danger to block the Liao army from going south. From the beginning of Shinshu, until now, the embankment renovation work has never stopped. But in the winter, when everything is frozen, it is too easy to cross this Tangbo defense line.

Once Liu Shao can provoke a border provocation, the army of the Liao people may be killed at any time.

In a normal confrontation, Liu Shunqing has nothing to say, and if he takes the court's money, he should do things well. But for the ambition of a certain big man, it would be too unjust to confront the Liao army.

Liu Shunqing stomped on the floor tiles fiercely, as if the long strip of masonry was the face of Liu Shaoneng and his backer.

He has never taken a penny from Lu Huiqing!

……………………

"Lu Huiqing is shouting that he wants to attack the Liao State and crusade against the rebels, and the border is in an emergency, and the Liao army is preparing to enter the Liao." Han Gang pointed to the place where the lights were shining in the distance, where the city of Tokyo was never sleeping, "Everyone will know that this must be Lu Jifu's work in private." ”

"Harmless to the country." Wang Anshi said.

"It's even more unsubstantiated!" Han Gang added, "Even if there is solid evidence, it can't be found,"

"How can you walk away from the words of men!"

"People talk about people, how can Lu Jifu care? And the result will only be what Lu Jifu wants. Han Gang shook his head and smiled, "Father-in-law should know that he will definitely stand on Lu Jifu's side after the discussion is clear." Otherwise, what is the father-in-law and Lu Jifu working so hard for? ”

……………………

Approaching the New Year's Festival, Lu Huiqing's wives and concubines are preparing New Year's money for the young nephews and grandchildren in the family.

The red silk bag was small and contained a few coins. Although the quantity is small, it is all gold and silver coins newly minted by the Mint.

Lu Huiqing gently picked up a piece of money.

Money weighs half a tael. There is no square hole in the middle, and it resembles a small cake.

This is a coin that Han Gang has been forging and pressing for a long time.

The lines on the money are fine, the back is as intended, the front is as Yuanyou ingots, and the small teeth on the outline are all unmessed.

A small amount of money, perfect as a handicraft. And the silver money is just as beautiful.

If it weren't for the fact that the mold of the mint was seriously damaged, the mint would have promoted money and silver money a long time ago.

At present, such gold and silver money cannot be used in the world, but can only be used for victory.

The imperial court gave important ministers, and Lu Huiqing gave the children at home.

Year after year, this time is indispensable.

Yes. Year after year!

Lu Huiqing threw the money into the small basket containing the money, and there was a crisp clang.

The year coin was the greatest humiliation since the founding of the Emperor and Song Dynasty.

The state of brothers is only a name, and the year coin represents the real relationship between the Song and Liao countries.

If any of the courtiers can abolish the New Year's coin, they will immediately become heroes in the eyes of the world.

Even if he repelled the Liao army that entered the Kou, seized the land of Lingwu, and gnawed down on the Xijing Road, the imperial court did not abolish the New Year's coin.

But this time, Yelu Yixin usurped the throne, giving the court the best excuse.

No matter which Zaifu is, he has the intention to take this opportunity to abolish the old covenant and no longer provide the Liao people with New Year's coins.

And Lu Huiqing, who is in Hebei, happens to have an excellent geographical advantage.

As long as there is a battle for this, or even no war, just the mobilization of the Liao army and the troops and horses to knock on the pass, this credit must be counted on his head.

At that time, even if the Zaifu in the capital said that they would abolish the New Year's coin, the credit would not fall to them after the most reckless.

Is it possible to move your mouth in a safe place compared to the actual merit of going to war? As long as the imperial court no longer presents New Year's coins, anyone will say that this is the credit of Lu Huiqing to repel the Liao.

Even if he can't defeat a city, or even if the army doesn't cross the boundary river to the north, this credit is all due to him Lu Huiqing.

And if the New Year's coin is cut off, will the Liao people not come?

I was not afraid of the Liao people entering the army, and I had artillery equipment in the army, but I was still worried that I couldn't stop the Khitan iron cavalry?

All he had to do was change the order.

The fact that the imperial court cut off the New Year's Coin provoked the Liao people to make a stir is said to be because of his own attack to end the shameful New Year's Coins.

It is only cause and effect.

Just do it first.

……………………

"It's not too easy to become the prime minister, and it's not difficult to return to the capital." Han Gang looked at the sky, without the interference of the moonlight, the Milky Way was clearer than usual, "What Lu Jifu needs, what his father-in-law wants to see, is a reputation that can compete with his son-in-law." ”

"It's not that the son-in-law is arrogant, but if it's only from the reputation, Lu Jifu is indeed too far behind the son-in-law. Under normal circumstances, he would never be as good as his son-in-law. Unless there is any change in the future, the son-in-law will be ruined. ”

Wang Anshi listened quietly, letting Han Gang speak as if talking to himself.

But this time, Yelu Yixin gave him a chance. Yelu Yixin usurped the throne and cut off the supply of coins is an established fact. But now that Lu Jifu is fighting the main battle, once the Liao army presses over, even if it is just a threat, as long as Lu Jifu rejects it, the credit for abolishing the New Year's Coin can be all on him. Yes...... And the father-in-law. But presumably, the father-in-law will not compete with Lu Jifu, and Lu Huiqing is needed for new learning. ”

Wang Anshi's eyelids moved, but he was still silent, and he didn't evaluate whether what Han Gang said was right or wrong.

"But there is one thing, the father-in-law and Lu Jifu are probably mistaken."

Han Gang's tone sank, and he turned to look at Wang Anshi, his eyes reflected the lights not far away, flickering like stars,

"The Emperor of Liao does need New Year's coins. When Fu Yanguo sent an envoy to the Liao State, he once said to the Liao lord, if the Liao and Song Dynasty were good, and the Emperor and Song Dynasty gave them the New Year's coin, then 'the lord of the people will focus on his own profits, and his subordinates will not get anything'; if the two countries fight each other, and there is no New Year's coin, then 'the profits will go to the subordinates, and the people will be in trouble', and the Liao lord will of course choose the New Year's coin. ”

"How can you summon people if you don't have money? The god arm archers in the army, every salvo must be credited with a merit, and if there is a merit, there must be a reward. Whether it is a Liao person or a martial artist, loyalty and righteousness cannot compare to the greed for goods. With the 500,000 silver silks sent by the Great Song Dynasty every year, the Liao lord was able to buy the hearts of the armies and the hearts of the people, and firmly control the national politics. ”

"Yelu Yixin also needed New Year's coins back then, and as a powerful minister, the last thing he could not lose was financial power and military power. Without the New Year's coins to buy people's hearts, he can't even control three or five thousand soldiers and horses. He can't even lose his coins, otherwise he will lose his reputation as well. ”

"But there is one thing, the son-in-law wants to ask his father-in-law." Han Gang stared at Wang Anshi's eyes and said slowly, "Yelu Yixin, does he still need the New Year's Coin now?" ”