"Peace? It's true? Xu Wei sat behind his desk, drinking strong tea to relieve the oil meat just now. But the lard didn't dazzle him, and he was contemplating this unusual thing.

Zhang Jun, Ma Kuo, and Zhang Qing were all sitting in his office hall, and because they had just finished eating, they all looked a little lazy. Hearing Xu Wei's question, Ma Kuo said: "Yes, the Jurchens really sued for peace. Han Fang proposed that as long as our DPRK agreed to negotiate peace, cede the war, and suspend the alliance with the Khitans, they would cede back Huaidong, and the Song and Jin would become friends and not invade each other. ”

As he was talking, Wan Qiyu walked in, Xu Wei nodded slightly, he also saluted, and sat down after greeting a few colleagues, Ma Kuo had to say the matter again, and finally said: "Now, Han Fang is looking forward to the king's reception." said that it was a farewell in the past year, but in the blink of an eye for more than ten years, it seems that I miss it very much. ”

"Hmph." Xu Wei laughed and trembled, "Missing? He was my prisoner back then, I almost didn't kill him, will he miss me? ”

Zhang Jun secretly hiccuped, coughed dryly, and said, "No matter what, Song Liao jointly sent troops, which really scared the Jurchens." This time, he took the initiative to sue for peace, and promised to cede back Huaidong, and did not mention any uncles, uncles and nephews, New Year's coins, etc., which is an unprecedented thing and worth celebrating. ”

When Wan Qiyu heard this, he frowned and said: "Even if the Jurchens want to negotiate peace, they should also send an envoy to Jiangnan, why did they come to Xingyuan to visit King Xujun?" Are they ......"

Xu Wei raised his eyebrows, and without waiting for him to finish speaking, he immediately cut off and said: "No matter if this matter is not at all up to our Sichuan and Shaanxi Xuanfu Disposal Division, there is no need for me to see Han Fang." Zichong, you afternoon, no, immediately go back to Han Fang and tell him that there is something to say directly to Hangzhou. In addition, Deyuan, you immediately report this matter to the imperial court in the name of this department, and within today, go out with a blue card. ”

Ma Kuo was a little surprised: "What? The king doesn't see Han Fang? ”

"Why should I see him?" Xu Wei asked rhetorically.

Ma Kuo saw that his expression was serious, and swallowed back the words that came to his mouth. He wanted to say, even if you don't agree to negotiate peace, the envoy still needs to see him, right? But I suddenly remembered that Wan Qiaowei was present, and it was hard to say. Then he immediately changed his words and said: "That's right, whether to negotiate peace or not, the court has its own decision, and there is no need for the king to see him." Okay, let's go back to him. ”

Xu Wei made a decision, the officials didn't say anything, they went to work, Zhang Qing watched him leave, stood up, went to Xu Wei's case and said, "What are you doing with Wushu?" Is this peace discussion true or false? ”

Xu Wei's expression was solemn: "It doesn't matter if it's true or not, the important thing is that this bastard is making trouble for me, so I can't take this stubble"

Zhang Qing was also expressionless: "Even the Jurchens have heard of it?" ”

"It's inevitable that the tree will attract the wind. And do you know what the purpose of the vultures is other than to make trouble for me? Xu Wei asked.

"Stir up our relationship with the Khitans?" Zhang Qingdao.

"It is now that the Khitan people have returned to the East after 20 years, and they want to restore the country with a belly of fire. If at this point, I

When they negotiated peace with the Jurchens, they gained nothing more than a piece of territory in Huaidong, and lost a powerful ally. Xu Wei said.

Zhang Qingyi tilted his head: "Not really, right?" ”

"Not really? Isn't that obvious? We have an alliance with the Khitans in exchange of credentials, and any change with the Jin State is related to the interests of the two countries, if we unilaterally conclude a peace agreement with the Jurchens, this is a betrayal of the alliance, do you think the Khitans will eat this as a bowl of noodles? The Khitan people hate us to the point that they will not be lower than the Jurchens, and the reason why we come together is entirely because of the common enemy of the Jurchens. If peace is negotiated unilaterally, it means that the foundation of the Song-Liao alliance does not exist, so what else can we do? Xu Wei said solemnly.

Zhang Qing hugged his hands and thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "Damn, the real knives and guns on the battlefield are still cool, this is called killing without blood." The Khitans were in Hexi, and they offended them, and the first to suffer was the Western Army. ”

"Who's to say it's not?" Xu Weidao.

"But does it work? As soon as he mentioned this, we knew what kind of medicine he was selling in his gourd. Zhang Qing questioned.

Xu Wei shook his head: "We understand because we are in it." But those people in Hangzhou may not be, the Song-Liao Alliance was carried out by us, and the imperial court almost did not make any efforts, they will not value it as much as we do, and ...... How good does this sound? The Jin people sued for peace and wanted to return Huaidong, I was really afraid that those people's heads would be hot, so I agreed to come down."

"With Sixth Brother Xu here, he will definitely obstruct this matter." Zhang Qingdao.

Xu Wei leaned back in the chair and sighed, "I hope I hope I can count on him now." ”

Han Fang didn't seem surprised that Xu Wei refused to meet him, and after getting Ma Kuo's reply, he left the next day. This extremely short trip to Sichuan and Shaanxi was not without gains. After he returned to Yanjing, he not only reported the process and results of this trip to Emperor Jin and Wushu, but also paid special attention to what he saw and heard along the way.

Under the leadership of Xu Wei, the military and civilians of Sichuan and Shaanxi are working hard to restore and rebuild. Abandoned and damaged cities have been restored, barren fields have been reclaimed, and people have built earthen walls and grass roofs on the ruins of former villages. When Han Fang went back and passed through Hedong, he was catching up with the prefectures and counties in the southeast of Hedong that had been recovered by the Song army, and was forming an official government and restoring administration.

The Southern Dynasty recovered very quickly, and it became stronger and stronger, if the Dajin State continued to let this situation unfold, I am afraid that it would lose more than just the hegemony, this is the warning given by Han Fang to the monarchs and ministers of the Jin State.

In the last month of the ninth year of Jianwu, some ministers were proposing to change the era name, because the era name "Jianwu" had been used for nine years, and there were really some inappropriate places for this era name. However, Emperor Zhao Chen did not have this leisure, and was inspired by Xu Wei's recovery of half of Hedong, and he was excitedly planning the next recovery goal.

Needless to say? Naturally, the former capital of the Great Song Dynasty in Tokyo in the Central Plains failed the Northern Expedition last time, not because the Song army could not fight, but because it acted in a hurry and did not have sufficient accuracy

Prepare. Now the situation is different, the Great Song Dynasty and the Khitans formed an alliance, and this time they even sent troops together, and the Western Army even recovered half of the east of the river. This forced the Jurchens to focus their defenses on the west, and the Central Plains were inevitably weakened. According to Han Shizhong, who acted as the Jinghu Xuanfu envoy, in the second half of this year, the Jin army moved more frequently in the vicinity of Tokyo, and according to the insider, some troops were transferred out of Tokyo and headed north.

How can this opportunity be missed? Now the Northern Expedition aimed at recovering the whole territory is not capable, but it should still be feasible to set the goal in the Central Plains, right? Of course, this idea has not yet been mentioned by Zhao Chen to the ministers.

"Official, take medicine." Shen Ze was holding a tray with a medicine bowl on it, and the soup was steaming inside.

This is Zhao Chen's bedroom, at this time, he is wearing a robe, pressing the map in one hand and holding a handkerchief in the other, and there are bursts of coughing from time to time. It's not a big problem, it's just that he was infected with wind cold, but counting, after winter, the emperor had five or six wind chills, and he never broke the roots. After each symptom relief, a new one comes. Therefore, the doctor repeatedly suggested that you must pay attention to rest, not work, and talk about it after you have completely recovered.

Zhao Chen straightened up, stared at the map and said, "Look, how many steps is the front of Wang Shi from Tokyo?" I can't go back after so many years. ”

Shen Ze stretched his neck and glanced at it, anyway, it looked like it was only a few fingers away from the map. Then he said: "The official family is relieved, I believe that in a few years, Wang Shi will be able to recover the old capital." ”

Zhao Chen turned around, his face was pale and bloodless, his eyes were sunken, and his lips were dry and white. Other people are born thin and weak, and this disease is even more described as withering, how can it be like a person who is in the prime of life?

He took the medicine bowl and sighed, "How many years can you wait?" After that, he handed the bowl to his mouth, took a sip, and muttered, "Why is the medicine prescribed by the doctor always not good?" ”

Shen Ze also sighed and persuaded: "The imperial doctor has repeatedly instructed the official family to recuperate in peace, but His Majesty always works day and night, and even Hua Tuo can't prescribe a prescription to cure the disease." ”

Zhao Chen turned a deaf ear, and after drinking the medicine, he looked at the map for a while, felt cold in the back and front, and his snot kept running, so he returned to the couch. Shen Ze stepped forward to cover the quilt for him, his face showed a sad color, so he stood in front of the couch and waited for a while, and when he saw the emperor sleeping deeply, he went out lightly and served outside.

"Shen Duzhi, Zhao Xiang is here." An attendant stepped in lightly and said to Shen Ze.

"What's coming at this time? Do you really not know what he said? Shen Ze frowned and asked.

The chamberlain leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Say it's from the north." ”

"Huh? Jurchen? Shen Ze said in surprise. Seeing that the chamberlain nodded, he also became suspicious, this is almost the New Year, what are the Jurchens sending envoys to do? You know, once this battle is fought, there will be no diplomatic relations, so is it possible to celebrate the New Year?

"The official family needs to be quiet, you go and tell Zhao Ding that Sensei is here today." Shen Zedao. The chamberlain took the order and left, and as soon as he left, he heard the emperor's voice from the palace. Shen Ze hurriedly entered

I saw the emperor propping up the couch with his elbows, raising half of his body, and asking, "What are you muttering outside?" ”

"The Chinese say some trivial things, I don't want to disturb the official family, I am guilty." Shen Ze prevaricated.

Zhao Chen frowned: "Are you cheating?" Who's out there? ”

"Go back to the official's house, it's really not, lie down, it's easy to get cold when you see the wind." Shen Ze continued to be perfunctory.

Zhao Chen gasped and struggled to get up, Shen Xue saw it, and he had no choice but to say: "Zhao Ding is here, the little slave has already asked someone to call him back, and he will come back another day if he has something." ”

When Zhao Chen heard this, he blamed: "You, I don't know the severity, Zhao Ding is the prime minister, can he come if he has nothing to do?" Quick, call him in. ”

Shen Ze was very embarrassed, Zhao Ding's style was not clear to him, he didn't know when he came in, he was hesitating, and seeing that the emperor was a little impatient, he had to go out to summon Zhao Ding after appeasing him.

After a while, Zhao Ding, who saw a few snowflakes on his body, walked in quickly, and said, "Minister Zhao Ding, ask Your Majesty how well." ”

Zhao Chen waved his hand: "Give Zhao Qing a seat." ”

Shen Ze's face was unhappy, and he moved a chair for him to sit down, and the emperor immediately asked, "What happened to Zhao Qing entering the palace?" ”

Zhao Ding is really a straight gut, and he said straight to the point: "Your Majesty, the Jin envoy is here, and he asks me for peace."

Zhao Chen, who was halfway up, was stunned for a while when he heard this, and suddenly sat up straight on the couch and said in surprise: "Really? ”

"It is true that the messenger has asked Honglu Temple to arrange it, and the minister has also personally met it," Zhao Ding said.

Zhao Chen exhaled and kept beckoning: "Come, come, dress me." ”

"Your Majesty, don't ......" Zhao Ding knew that he was not in good health, and dissuaded.

"Hey, how can I see the minister on the couch?" Zhao Chen was encouraged by this "good news", and for a while, his face seemed to have color. Shen Ze had to come forward and put on a robe for him, and he had to insist on going to the outside world for talks, which was more formal, and then he gave up under the persuasion of Zhao Ding and Shen Ze.

"Zhao Qing, tell me quickly, what is the specific? What do the Jurchens want to discuss? Zhao Chen asked impatiently.

Zhao Ding also showed a smile on his face, and said: "The Jin people admitted that they were defeated, and this time they negotiated peace, the other party only put forward one condition, a truce and a halt. ”

"Truce?" Zhao Chen was a little puzzled when he heard this.

Yes, but they also made the following concessions. First of all, the provisions of the previous Song-Jin peace conference were abolished, and the Song-Jin Dynasty was a friendly country, no longer an uncle, nephew, and nephew, and the old coins were all abolished.

Zhao Chen was really shocked when he heard this, and asked in a lost voice, "What did you say?" Return, return to Henan? Includes ......"

"Including Tokyo," Zhao added.

Zhao Ding looked dazed for a while, less than a cup of tea time ago, he was thinking about raising troops to the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains and recapture the old capital of Tokyo, but in the blink of an eye, the Jurchens were going to send me back, am I sick and confused, this is dreaming? But look at the surrounding furnishings, it is your own sleeping palace, two in the palace

People, one is Shen Ze, the other is Zhao Ding, and there is no mistake

"And ......"

"There is also Huainan East Road," Zhao Ding added.

"On the condition of a truce?" Zhao Chen questioned.

"Exactly, in addition, there is no side," Zhao Dingzheng said.

Zhao Chen stood up with a sore body, his head was really dizzy at this time, Henan, Huaidong, this is not a state and a county, but two major regions, among them, Henan is of great significance to the Great Song Dynasty, just because of a Tokyo, which is the place where the first emperors of the Great Song Dynasty worked hard to manage, and the symbol of the Great Song Dynasty is where they want to take it back in their dreams, not to mention, including Huainan East Road.