After Qingyuntang experienced this thrilling farce, Zhang Xiaochun gave up.

Originally, he thought that with his personal relationship with Chu Tianya, he could easily persuade Xishan to accept the conditions proposed by the imperial court, that is, unconditional reconciliation.

Zhang Xiaochun miscalculated. Only then did he understand that the "customs and conventions" in the officialdom of the Great Song Dynasty should not be used to predict Chu Tianya's reaction. That's right, Chu Tianya was very polite to him, and he didn't forget the friendship of his comrades during the Battle of Taiyuan; But private relations are private relations, and official affairs are public affairs, and one yard is one yard Chu Tianya is very clearly divided. In this conflict of interests between Xishan and the imperial court, his attitude was very clear, and he did not mean to back down or be polite at all.

Zhang Xiaochun deeply realized how disappointing and chilling the things that the imperial court did after the Battle of Taiyuan were before. The big hole dug by the official family and Xu Han was filled by him Zhang Xiaochun, who was both indignant and helpless, so he had to be sandwiched between Xishan and the imperial court, and he was angry at both ends.

After the banquet, Chu Tianya personally accompanied Zhang Xiaochun and others and took them to "visit" Qingyun Castle. The two walked side by side, and Chu Tianya said, "I'm sorry, Governor Zhang." Most of the brothers in Qingyun Castle are stubborn and violent, and there are many conflicts, and I ask for forgiveness. ”

"It's okay, it's okay." Zhang Xiaochun smiled bitterly, and finally felt a little relieved.

"In fact, Chu knew that at this time, Xishan and the imperial court must unite in order to fight against the Jurchen foreign enemy. Xu Han's previous policy of dividing and suppressing the Hedong Righteous Army was completely wrong. Chu Tianya said, "The disintegration of Qixingzhai and the hatred of the Hedong Righteous Army towards the government, Xu Han has to bear a lot of responsibility. What a good anti-Jin rebel army, saying no, it's gone. In the final analysis, this is our own loss. At the moment when the enemy is present, the imperial court is busy with infighting without thinking about the imperial side, which is really chilling! ”

"Hey......" Zhang Xiaochun sighed from the bottom of his heart, shook his head, and said, "The king is gone, and the lower officials have been imprisoned for a long time before they can regain their freedom, but they have picked up such a mess. In fact, Xu Han was not easy, he just acted according to orders...... In the final analysis, it was the improper strategy of the imperial court, which was thousands of miles away. Fortunately, it was not too late to make amends, and the forces of the Hedong Righteous Army did not suffer heavy losses, and they were reunited in Xishan again. After Xu Han arrived in Taiyuan, he also vigorously deployed manpower and material resources to build city defenses, and devoted himself to restoring the vitality of Taiyuan, which can be regarded as fruitful. Now in this situation, we really can't fight among ourselves anymore, we have to be united. Otherwise, if the Jurchens go and return, Taiyuan will be in danger! ”

"Hmm...... That's right. Chu Tianya nodded with a smile, "However, since you have made a mistake, you must dare to take responsibility." Now in the Qingyun Castle and the Monk Cave in the West Mountain, there are 100,000 people. More than half of them have experienced many infighting and changes manipulated by Xu Han, and it can be said that they have completely lost trust in the government and hated the court to the core. If the imperial court does not show enough sincerity and benefits, it may be difficult to reconcile. Even if I really become the owner of the village, I can't insist on making decisions about this matter, because it is difficult to disobey the will of the people! ”

"Xiaguan understands......" Zhang Xiaochun gritted his teeth, "Can Ziyuan clearly tell Xiaguan, what kind of sincerity and what kind of benefits do you want?" It's better for the lower officials to negotiate with the imperial court! ”

Chu Tianya smiled slightly, "If you can get out of your hand, if you can get into my hand, then it's okay." Governor Zhang, it's better to watch it yourself! ”

"This ......," Zhang Xiaochun smiled bitterly.

"So be it!" Chu Tianya was still smiling, "After Governor Zhang went back, he would negotiate." Chu also hopes that Xishan can reconcile with the government as soon as possible and jointly resist Jin and save the country. ”

"Okay, then the next official will leave!"

Later, Zhang Xiaochun took a group of officials and others and left the village. Chu Tianya was also polite to him, and still sent the big leader Xue Yudian to send a horse team, and he didn't return until he sent them out of the Tianlong Mountain realm.

Not long after Zhang Xiaochun and the others left, Meng De said to Chu Tianya: "Brother, why do I think Zhang Xiaochun is here and is weird everywhere?" ”

"How?"

"Historically, the court of the Great Song Dynasty has treated the bandit Xiangma, except for killing and recruiting peace, but this time it is 'reconciliation'. That also means that the imperial court does not expect to be able to recruit An Xishan, and it is not capable of sending troops to kill it. Meng De said, "That means that in this reconciliation negotiation, Xishan is almost on an equal footing with the imperial court, right?" ”

"Yes." Chu Tianya couldn't help but laugh, "This is unprecedented. ”

"Since they are equal, what qualifications does the imperial court have to make you the 'Great Leader of the Hedong Righteous Army', and you can also call it 'Qingyun Shuai'?" Meng De couldn't help but be a little indignant, "This kind of false name has no meaning to Xishan at all!" The imperial court does not have the slightest sincerity for reconciliation at all, it just wants to use us! ”

"That's right, Sima Zhao's heart is known to everyone." Chu Tianya smiled and said, "The imperial court doesn't know how much it wants to raze Xishan and kill everyone here. But now the imperial court does not have this ability, so it can only be forced to recognize Xishan as an 'anti-Jin rebel army'. As for giving away the titles of the big boss and Qingyun Shuai, it is nothing more than fooling us as turtles. In their opinion, we Xishan heroes will think that they are rich people after eating a bowl of lard rice, and they are easily satisfied. At the same time, the imperial court never forgot to put on his stinky shelf, and did not want to think about whether we were rare or not, whether he was qualified, so they blindly gave us titles. He still wants to buy and enslave us with this cheap and false title! ”

"That's it!" Meng De said angrily, "There are really few good things to be an official!" Bah! ”

"Hehe, forget it!" Chu Tianya said with a smile, "In the hundred years since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, the water in the officialdom has become more and more muddy, and they are all used to such routines and rules, thinking that it will also work for us." Just now, I made it clear to Zhang Xiaochun, don't come to the hypocrisy, get something real. ”

"How did he answer?"

Chu Tianya smiled: "Of course he asked me what I wanted." Of course, I won't speak directly, I see what treasure he still has in Zhang Xiaochun's arms. ”

"Oh?" Meng De was surprised, "Brother, do you mean that Zhang Xiaochun came this time and didn't reveal the truth?" ”

"Of course!" Chu Tianya said with great certainty, "Although Zhang Xiaochun is a good official, he also has a friendship with me. But after all, he was a representative of the imperial court, and he was appointed by the officials, so he had to be very cautious in his behavior. The reconciliation with Xishan is actually a bargaining business. How could he reveal the bottom line and shake off his belongings as soon as he came up? ”

"Makes sense!" Meng De opened his eyebrows and smiled, "You are still a brother, you are shrewd!" ”

"It's not that I'm shrewd, it's that I know too well those people and things in our Great Song Dynasty officialdom." Chu Tianya shook his head helplessly, "A hundred years of accumulated evils are really difficult to get rid of overnight. It's all at such a juncture, and people like Zhang Xiaochun still have to play tricks with me. What can I do? You can only see the moves! - So just now at Qingyun Hall, I wished that the brothers would make as much trouble as possible, and even hold down the two officials and beat them up. I just want Zhang Xiaochun to see with his own eyes how disappointed we are in the government and how big the price he needs to pay! ”

"I really regret hearing you say that." Meng De hated it, "Just now in Qingyun Hall, I was still a little worried that the brothers would behave inappropriately and ruin the peace talks. If I had known this, I should have been the first to rush forward and pull the Bird Decree! ”

"Haha!" Chu Tianya patted Meng De's back and laughed, "Forget it, Seventh Brother, we don't have the same knowledge as this class of laymen." The current situation is that Xishan and the government must reconcile. This is not only conducive to unity and anti-gold, but also conducive to winning a good time for ourselves to breathe and run-in. In addition, now we have nearly 100,000 mouths eating, just by plundering the state and county is not a long-term solution, such a thing is done a lot, it will also cause strong resistance from the people of the state and county, and it will be an internal friction after all. If you can negotiate with the government to get a steady supply of food, or if you can win more than two years of grain and grass supplies, it will be the greatest gain. ”

"It turns out that my brother has already planned it!" Meng De nodded and smiled with satisfaction, "I'll just say it, Xishan needs you to take the lead!" Where do we think so far-reaching? -- By the way, in the past few days, Ma Kuo and I have counted the grain, grass, ordnance and other materials in the cottage, and it is really a surprise. Qixingzhai's savings for many years have been relocated, and the Wang Xun brothers have almost taken all of Xu Han's belongings, and the grain and grass alone are enough for 100,000 of us to eat and drink for two years; ordnance, enough to arm 150,000 men; In addition, military salaries, baggage, horses, mules and other things are all Dafeng! We Xishan, this time we made a lot of money! ――I'm surprised, Wang Xun did such a big vote, this time Zhang Xiaochun came up to the mountain, why didn't he mention it at all? ”

Chu Tianya couldn't help but laugh and said, "Maybe he wanted to mention it, but seeing such a battle in Qingyun Hall, where did he dare to speak, wouldn't it be a fire?" Moreover, even if Zhang Xiaochun opened his mouth, he would not really want to ask for it with illusions; Let's see, this material will eventually be 'sent' to our Xishan as a favor. If not, it is not the style of our Great Song Dynasty! ”

"If you slap a swollen face and become fat, you will die to save face and suffer the crime...... That's right, the imperial court will definitely not pursue this material, and will generously say that it is 'sent' to us. After thinking about it carefully, Meng De nodded and said, "If you really want us, we won't give it, who will spit out the meat in your mouth, it doesn't make sense!" -- Now it's up to Zhang Xiaochun to give what kind of answer he will give in the end! ”

Chu Tianya smiled and said, "We don't have anything else in Da Song, but we are rich." Rather than let the money fall into the pockets of corrupt officials, turn into all sorts of war reparations, or become spoils of war for the Jurchens, let us do something useful. I think the official family should have given Zhang Xiaochun the bottom line a long time ago, but this old boy is treacherous and slippery, and he will not let us peep lightly. Rest assured, I'll drain him; No one wants to take half a grain of oil from my Xishan's mouth! ”

"Haha, that's right! -- I really don't have much to say to them! ”

Just one day later, at noon the next day, Zhang Xiaochun came to Qingyun Castle again.

This time he came alone, with only a few government servants by his side.

Chu Tianya invited him to the living room of Qingyun Hall to serve tea and treat him, and asked with a smile: "Governor Zhang's mansion went and returned so quickly, I don't know if he brought any good news?" ”

Zhang Xiaochun laughed embarrassedly twice, and said the excuse that he had already thought of: "It's not a secret, there is already a messenger of the Son of Heaven in Taiyuan Mansion." After much persuasion after the return of the lower officials, the envoy finally agreed to give some 'benefits' to Xishan to show the sincerity of the government's reconciliation. ”

"Oh? That's really the prefect of Lao Zhang. Chu Tianya didn't break his trick and gave him a step to go down, and he hugged his fists and thanked him, and asked, "I don't know what kind of benefit it is?" ”

"First of all, the imperial court will officially recognize the heroes of Xishan as the Great Song Righteous Army that resisted Jin and defended the country, and gave the Xishan Righteous Army the name 'Qingyun Army' and awarded the leader of Xishan as General Zuo Xiaowei, plus seven generals." Zhang Xiaochun said.

Chu Tianya couldn't help but smile, "Sanitation officer, right?" …… Well, it's better than what 'Qingyun Shuai' sounds a little more pleasing to the ear. But this is dispensable and does not have much practical significance. ”

"The meaning is heavy, Ziyuan!" Zhang Xiaochun said, "That's right, the Sixteen Wei generals of my Great Song Dynasty inherited the military system of the former Tang Dynasty, and all the generals and generals are just fictitious sanitation officers. However, only the meritorious generals of the clan or ranks, no matter how bad they are, the princes of small countries can be awarded the title of sanitation officials. Being awarded this kind of official title means that you heroes in Xishan are already 'generals' recognized by the Great Song Dynasty, and they are no longer bandits who are opposed to the government. Wouldn't it be a great way to raise your standing among the people, to win a better reputation and more support? ”

"Why don't I see much benefit? The title of these sanitation officials is like an invisible shackle to us, which means that we must always and everywhere be subject to the supervision of public opinion and the control of the imperial court. We're bandits, have you ever seen harmless, high-sounding bandits? Chu Tianya sneered, "Let's do something real, Governor Zhang." We're really not interested in things like names and titles! ”

"Okay...... Ziyuan, you are really getting more and more realistic. Zhang Xiaochun shook his head helplessly and smiled, "The envoy of the Son of Heaven said that the large amount of grain and grass that Wang Xun took away from Xu Han in the previous round will not be recovered, and it should be given to Xishan for military expenses." ”

Chu Tianya laughed out loud and said, "Listening to the tone, it's quite generous. But the court just wants to get it back, and we won't give it! -- Actually, even if we wanted to, we couldn't. 100,000 people eat and chew it, and that little thing can last for a few days, is it possible that we will vomit out everything we have eaten? Seeing that the cottage is about to run out of food, I am trying to figure out where to borrow food! ――Governor Zhang, Taiyuan was strongly supported by the imperial court after the war, and now it should be quite rich, right? Why don't you support me a little? ”

"Ziyuan, you're too unkind!" Zhang Xiaochun was going to be happy, and said with a sigh, "When Xu Han garrisoned Taiyuan, he successively collected a number of soldiers and horses, and gathered more than 100,000 people. The imperial court has allocated money and food several times, enough for his soldiers and horses to support him for more than two years. Wang Xun led a group of people to roll up those things and move them to Xishan for less than a month, and you told you that you were about to run out of food! - You, you are still crying poor and blackmailing with me! ”

"I don't." Chu Tianya pursed his lips, "You said that Wang Xun rolled up all Xu Han's things, what evidence do you have?" Why didn't I receive so much money and food as you said? Think about it yourself, there are so many corrupt officials in the government and the army, maybe they themselves fish in troubled waters and greed things and then push them on our heads? It's not uncommon to kill good people and take bribes and trap thieves, right, Governor Zhang? ”

"Hey! ......" Zhang Xiaochun patted his thigh and shook his head bitterly, "Clever tongue and death don't admit it, I can't talk about you!" ”

"Well, this so-called 'benefit' is actually a piece of paper. Previously, Wang Xun brought something from Xu Han was written off. That is, for the sake of your personal relationship, I received this favor from your Governor Zhang. Chu Tianya said, "However, my brothers won't be happy!" - Nothing else? ”

Zhang Xiaochun is so hateful! - This Chu Tianya is too cunning! If you get cheap and sell well, you have to squeeze him clean to finish! However, now the government has to ask for Xishan. Just now, there was a little threat in his words, saying that the cottage would go out to 'borrow food' when it ran out of food, and the target was Taiyuan. If he really does this, Taiyuan will definitely not be able to resist, and it will fall overnight. At that time, the official family will definitely be so angry that he vomits blood, and Zhang Zhifu, who has just turned over from salted fish, can be regarded as having lived to the end!

In desperation, Zhang Xiaochun gritted his teeth, took out a folded book from his arms and threw it in front of Chu Tianya, almost turning his face with a look of urgency: "See for yourself!" This is the list of gifts from the imperial court made by the envoy of the Son of Heaven! It's all here, gone! - Even if you kill me, you won't be able to give me more than half a cent! If you want to do it or not, you can do it! ”

"That's right! We're all so familiar, what else are you hiding, take it out early, won't it be fine? Chu Tianya smiled and picked up the folded book and took a look, and was immediately happy!