Then Yelu Hongji looked at everyone and said, "Therefore, this time in the Western Xia, our Liao State cannot sit idly by, but ......"

There are difficulties, but Yelu Hongji is the lord of the Liao State, so the courtiers can say it, but as the Son of Heaven, Yelu Hongji must not be able to say it. ｛｝

Hearing Yelu Hongji's words, Zhang Xiaojie thought for a while, then touched Ma Zhi with his arm, and said in a low voice: "Master Ma, in the Hetao and Yanyun areas, isn't the grain harvested in the autumn on the way to the capital?" You might as well reduce the supply of the steppe tribes again, and at the same time add a poll tax, as long as food! This is the time when it is related to the fortunes of my Great Liao, and it is not too much to let the people of Great Liao be thrifty......"

"This ......" Ma Zhi heard Zhang Xiaojie's words, and looked like he wanted to speak and stopped.

Zhang Xiaojie and Ma Zhi's whispering also made Yelu Hongji notice, and then Yelu Hongji asked, "Zhang Lao Aiqing, what are you and Ma Daren discussing?" ”

"Back to the emperor!" Zhang Xiaojie stood up, first glanced at Ma Zhi, and Ma Zhi nodded slightly when he saw Zhang Xiaojie glaring at him.

Then Zhang Xiaojie said to Yelu Hongji and everyone present: "Just now Master Ma said that the autumn harvest grain in Yanyun and Hetao, as well as in Liaoxi and Shangjing Road, has begun to be collected, but this is the food that my Daliao has survived the cold winter, and I can't act rashly, but I can immediately add a poll tax to use it for military salary." I don't know what the emperor and you think? ”

The composition of the Liao State is very complicated, and the Yelu family and the Xiao family are naturally at the peak of the full force, but there are still many grassland tribes below, as well as the Jurchens in Liaodong.

This is a country composed of Hu people, with many tribes, and the cohesion can only be regarded as average.

The rash imposition of a poll tax will certainly cause dissatisfaction among the people.

So Yelu Hongji asked Ma Zhi: "Ma Aiqing, is it feasible to increase taxes?" ”

Zhang Xiaojie said that the additional tax was Ma Zhi's attention, and Yelu Hongji naturally could only ask Ma Zhi.

Ma Zhi is still confused, this is obviously Zhang Xiaojie's attention, but he was forced to put it on himself.

Ma Zhi knew that Zhang Xiaojie was putting the notoriety of this tax increase on his Ma Zhi's head, but Ma Zhi couldn't tell the facts.

Because Ma Zhi was reprimanded by Yelu Hongji just now, he is now feeling insecure, and Zhang Yuanzhi is too sharp, and Zhang Yuanzhi has never had a good face for these old ministers in the Liao court.

So Ma Zhi can only stand on Zhang Xiaojie's side, and now Zhang Xiaojie wants him Ma Zhi to be blackened, and Ma Zhi has no choice but to admit it.

"Your Majesty!" Ma Zhi said to Yelu Hongji: "Increasing taxes and grain is indeed the only way to solve the shortage of food for the troops at the moment!" ”

did not say that it was feasible, but Ma Zhi also admitted that he made the proposal.

Yelu Hongji thought for a moment, and then glanced at Yelu Aluhan and Zhang Yuanzhi again.

With such a big matter as raising taxes, Yelu Hongji also had to be cautious.

Because he knows that the morale of the entire Liao country, from the courtiers to the people, is not very good, especially the people have even complained, especially in Liaodong.

Xiao Tian also took soldiers and horses to Liaodong to suppress it.

After thinking about it, Yelu Hongji decided to listen to Yelu Aruhan's opinion, after all, Yelu Aruhan is a prince and an old man who has lived for more than fifty years, and it is always good to listen to the old man's opinion when it comes to major events.

Yelu Hongji asked Yelu Aruhan, "What does the imperial uncle think?" ”

Yelu Aluhan replied: "The ministers don't know, especially the matter of money and food, which has always been in the hands of Zhang Xianggong and Master Ma, so the ministers don't dare to talk nonsense!" ”

Raising the grain tax, Yelu Aruhan really didn't dare to make a decision on this matter, but it was necessary to rescue Western Xia, so although Yelu Aruhan did not express his position, he also vaguely expressed his opinion to Yelu Hongji.

The money and food affairs are all in charge of Zhang Xiaojie and Ma Zhi, they said yes, then it's okay!

Yelu Hongji thought for a while, and then said: "Since this is the case, the poll tax will be increased, and the holy decree will be prepared by people later, and then Zhang Lao Aiqing and Ma Aiqing will be fully responsible for this matter!" In addition, the matter of sending troops to rescue Western Xia must also be agreed, and you can see who can be in charge? ”

Speaking of taking charge, everyone looked at Jeru-Aruhan.

There was no way, it could only be Yelu Aluhan, but Yelu Hongji shook his head and said: "Uncle Huang is in poor health, and he is old, so he is not suitable for an expedition!" ”

Yelu Aluhan hurriedly thanked Yelu Hongji, and then replied: "What the emperor said is very true, besides, the old man is dying, and it is time for some young people to go out and break through, otherwise, in the future, I will have no one to be handsome, won't it become a joke?" ”

Regardless of Yelu Hongji's intentions, he didn't want Yelu Aruhan to be in charge, Yelu Aruhan's answer was very convincing.

Speaking of handsome talents, the current Liao Kingdom is really only the old man Yelu Aluhan can handle it.

Yelu Aluhan said this, it seems that he took the initiative to give way to the young man to experience as he said, but in fact, Yelu Aruhan was telling the people present that the current Liao Kingdom really can't live without him!

For such words, Yelu Hongji naturally skipped it lightly, but he couldn't express embarrassment, in that case, he was afraid that it would make Yelu Aruhan unhappy, so Yelu Hongji smiled and said: "Uncle Huang is right, since this is the case, this person in charge will choose someone else, do you have any suggestions?" ”

After that, Yelu Hongji first looked at Zhang Xiaojie.

After all, Zhang Xiaojie is a governor of political affairs.

Zhang Xiaojie got up and replied: "Back to the emperor, the minister recommends a person, this person is a famous family after the founding hero, and he is also a young talent!" ”

Hearing the young talent, everyone couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yuanzhi first, but it was obvious that Zhang Xiaojie could not recommend Zhang Yuanzhi, and ......

Zhang Yuanzhi's ancestor was also the founder of the Liao State, and he was not a famous family of the times.

"What Zhang Xianggong said is ......" Ma Zhi seemed to also think of this person, and then said: "This person is Han Shu, who inherited the position of Lu Guogong after the founding of the country, Han Shu?" ”

"Not bad!" Zhang Xiaojie nodded, and then said to Yelu Hongji: "Your Majesty, it is Han Shu!" ”

"Han Shu?" Yelu Hongji frowned when he heard this.

Yelu Hongji, the Duke of Lu, also knows that Han Shu is twenty-four years old this year, capable of literature and martial arts, and can be regarded as a talent among the nobles of the Liao State.

But...... Han Shu has a shortcoming, that is, he has no experience in leading troops!