"Ladies and gentlemen, whether the news of the return is really something that can be discussed later. I'm just a little learned, so I haven't been able to understand how Gaozong would have responded if the Jin people really sent the second emperor of Huiqin back to the Great Song Dynasty? After Song Gongming said these words bluntly, he stared at the officials carefully. Song Gongming was born as a cadre, and he consciously did not know much about history. What can be compared with the Mongols now is the Jin Guobi who conquered Bianliang. When this question was raised, Song Gongming really wanted to see what conclusions these literati could make.

Silence, silence. This is the response of the civil servants to this question of relevance. In addition to the silence, there was blame in their expressions, as if they were blaming Song Gongming for daring to talk about this kind of problem publicly.

Li Tingzhi secretly scolded Song Gongming's arrogance in his heart, but it was an official who provoked this topic first, and Song Gongming was a member of the Ministry of Rites, so it was really inappropriate to directly criticize Song Gongming. In order to break the embarrassing situation, Li Tingzhi raised his wine glass and said, "Come on, drink, drink." ”

So everyone raised their glasses and said some scenes one by one. This tour of wine also lifted the atmosphere. Li Tingzhi said with a smile: "Brother Song, there is always no way to assume the affairs of the Heavenly Family. It's disrespectful for us to guess. I came to ask you this time, just to know what the Mongols say, and I want to hear what Taiwei Zhao means. So that we can have peace of mind. ”

"The Mongols said that if we are willing to be vassals, cede land, and pay tribute, we can return the few royal figures they have captured, and we can also redeem the clan and ministers with money." Song Gongming readily took out the request made by the Mongolian envoy Dou Mo earlier, and at the same time looked at the officials. At this time, the origins in the Great Song Dynasty were divided into officials and cadres, and Zhao Taiwei's subordinates were called cadres.

"Really?" An official named Xiong Shang next to him asked in disbelief.

Faced with such doubts, Song Gongming's face was not good-looking. He didn't expect that there would be such an uninteresting guy who would openly question Song Gongming's credibility. Of course, the latest negotiation results cannot be told to these people, but Song Gongming has no reason to lie about such things. What he said was the original request of the Mongol envoy Dou Mo.

As soon as he saw Song Gongming's expression, the group of people who were more sophisticated in terms of human affairs immediately knew that Xiong Sheng had said the wrong thing, and Li Tingzhi didn't want to mess up this relationship that was finally eased. He hurriedly smiled and said: "These Mongolians also dare to speak, and when they hear it, it is like Zhao Taiwei has fought a big defeat." Everyone said no. ”

It is very common for the Jinshi to have their eyes above the top, and it is rare for them to be completely idiotic. Li Tingzhi took the lead, and other Jinshi officials also hurriedly expressed their approval of Li Tingzhi, and the topic was cleared up when they saw it. However, even though Xiong Sheng knew that he had just lost his words, his face was still not very friendly. Seeing that Song Gongming, who was born in an ordinary person, actually became the person in charge of negotiating with Mongolia, Xiong Shang, who was born in Jinshi, felt that he couldn't swallow this breath.

Li Tingzhi regretted Xiong Shang's city government in his heart, he was also not so able to look down on Song Gongming, who was born in the system, but the topic of the system was indeed not simple, but it was somewhat similar to the Ming Jing Department abolished by Song Shenzong. Even if the Jinshi of the Jinshi Department looks down on the Ming Jing Branch, the Jin Shi of the Ming Jing Branch is also a Jinshi.

Of course, Song Gongming could see Xiong Shang's expression, but Li Tingzhi was so polite, he also felt that he would not have a seizure. But there was anger in his heart, Song Gongming sneered: "Those Mongolians probably don't read my Great Song newspapers." ”

It was also funny, and many officials laughed. Li Tingzhi smiled: "Even if they read it, they probably think we are talking nonsense." ”

In the midst of laughter, everyone toasted a second round of wine. When the atmosphere became more harmonious, another official asked: "Brother Song, we know that Taiwei Zhao will never cede land, call himself a minister, or pay tribute." But if this is the case, what is there for the Mongols to talk about Taiwei Zhao. ”

"It is not necessary to cede land, call vassals, or pay tribute to negotiate peace. If the Mongols want to negotiate peace, they have to make us agree. As for what the Mongols want to say, how can we control it. Song Gongming said common sense, and although the officials still had doubts in their hearts, they also nodded slightly.

"What if the Mongols insist on their idea?" Li Tingzhi asked.

"Back then, Li Zhizhou guarded Yangzhou, and the Mongols still insisted on trying to conquer Yangzhou, but finally escaped with their tails between their legs. Captain Zhao has a good saying, what can be held on the battlefield will not be thrown away when peace is negotiated. If not, what is the use of negotiating peace? Song Gongming said with a smile.

"Well said!" Whether it was true or false, Li Tingzhi applauded, and other officials also applauded. And Song Gongming couldn't stand this false atmosphere. He raised his glass and triggered a third toast. As the saying goes, 'wine has passed three rounds and dishes have five flavors', and at this time the dishes that should be served are all served, and the wine is almost drunk. After the ceremony arrived, Song Gongming got up and said goodbye. Li Tingzhi and the others were very firm in their attitude when they saw Song Gongming leaving, and they could only let him go first.

Waiting for Song Gongming immediately, Xiong Sheng said angrily: "This person is really a one-time winner. Look at his madness! ”

The officials who were born in Jinshi all knew Xiong Xiang's madness, and when they saw this guy actually saying that others were crazy, they were amused and felt understandable. The more crazy he is, the less he can see others crazy in front of him. And everyone really doesn't like the status quo of Song Gongming, who is a young descendant with heavy responsibilities.

Li Tingzhi was a rare type of Jinshi in the Great Song Dynasty who insisted on fighting against the Mongols, and the other representative figure was Zhao Jiaren and Zhao Taiwei. So he felt that he had appeal, and after listening to what Song Gongming had just said, Li Tingzhi said hesitantly: "It seems that Taiwei Zhao really wants to negotiate peace with Mongolia." ”

"Won't there be no war after that?" The jinshi immediately made the judgment they were expecting.

Even if he bravely participated in the war, Li Tingzhi also realized the horror of war through reality. If he can avoid fighting, he still hopes to stop going to war. Without waiting for him to speak, he heard Xiong Sheng say: "If the Mongols don't achieve what they want, they are afraid that they will have to send it back to the official family and the queen mother." ”

These words shocked the hearts of the jinshi, although Xiong Shang is more crazy, but he also belongs to the type of arrogance. At least he accurately pointed out the mentality of the Mongols, and the official family and the queen mother who were taken away by them were just bargaining chips in the hands of the Mongols. And Xiong Sheng ignored the shock of his colleagues, and continued to say to himself: "As for returning the official family and the queen mother, don't even think about it." Hmph, Taiwei Zhao is quite capable of fighting now, and the only ones in the bargaining chips in Mongolia's hands who can really make Taiwei throw a mouse bogey are probably the captured officials and the queen mother. They will not give up at all until they reach the point of exhaustion. Why bother asking this Song Gongming again for such a thing! ”

Even with the last complaint, officials still have a high opinion of Xiong Xiang's insight. Of course, if it weren't for that sentence, everyone's evaluation would be higher. There are also some officials who think that Xiong Xiang is a true temperament and there is nothing wrong with it.

Li Tingzhi gathered everyone to eat together, the purpose was to have a deeper understanding of the peace talks, and with the news from the two sides, he was much more sure in his heart. And after a little more they had spoken, the crowd dispersed. The next day, Li Tingzhi went to see Zhang Shijie, the commander of the forbidden army.

After the two met, Zhang Shijie immediately asked bluntly: "Li Zhizhou, I heard that the Mongols are going to send back the captive official family and the queen mother. ”

Li Tingzhi knew that Zhang Shijie would ask this. The situation was chaotic before, and Li Tingzhi didn't want to come. Now that there is a relatively clear answer, Li Tingzhi said with a smile: "How can the words of the Mongols be believed, how can they be willing to return the official family and the queen mother to us." ”

Zhang Shijie hurriedly asked, "Why?" ”

Combined with Song Gongming's intelligence and Xiong Shang's analysis, Li Tingzhi told Zhang Shijie about the killer value of the captured official family and the empress dowager to the Mongols. “…… As long as I, the Great Song Dynasty, is no longer defeated, and Mongolia wants to mess up the Great Song Dynasty, there is only this one trick left. Since Mongolia has not yet reached the point of exhaustion, they will definitely not send back the official family and the queen mother who were taken away. ”

Zhang Shijie was originally from Mongolia, and after listening to the analysis, and then confirming it with the Mongolian style in his memory, he felt that his heart was open. But then he said: "It's better to ask Li Zhizhou to come with me to meet the Queen Mother." ”

Hearing this, Li Tingzhi felt a little emotional. When he was guarding Yangzhou that year, the Mongolian Marshal Ashu surrendered Li Tingzhi several times, and also took out the edict of the Empress Dowager and the edict of Kublai Khan. Li Tingzhi burned both edicts at that time to show his determination not to surrender.

However, after all, it was a situation in wartime, and it used to take all kinds of troubles to see the Queen Mother, but Li Tingzhi didn't expect it to become so easy to meet the Queen Mother. Li Tingzhi hurriedly got up and walked from the imperial city to the palace with Zhang Shijie, and said at the same time: "If the queen mother is in the court, there is no need to summon the minister so troublesomely." ”

When Zhang Shijie heard this, he turned his head to look at Li Tingzhi, but he didn't say anything.

Empress Dowager Yang met Li Tingzhi in the cold palace, and after Li Tingzhi saw the ceremony, Empress Dowager Yang immediately gave her a seat. If it was before, Li Tingzhi would probably be a little nervous, but now he sat down steadily and waited for Empress Dowager Yang to ask. More than an hour later, Li Tingzhi left the palace.

Did Empress Dowager Yang finally understand Li Tingzhi's analysis, Li Tingzhi had no confidence at all. It can be seen that Empress Dowager Yang's last silence is just that she can't find a reason to refute, not that she really thinks that Mongolia will not let go of the Empress Dowager and the petty officials.

After the looting of the Mongols, the imperial city withered as much as the imperial palace. Li Tingzhi walked inside and felt very desolate. However, he believes that it will not be long before the place will return to its usual bustle. Because of the threat of the Mongols, Empress Dowager Yang has made up her mind to come to the court no matter what. This is also something that can't be helped, after all, the Empress Dowager Quan was the queen when Duzong was alive, and the Empress Dowager Yang was just Concubine Yang Shu.

Li Tingzhi can fully understand. Only in the Linzhao Dynasty can Empress Dowager Yang protect the petty official family and herself.