Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 767: “The sky is full of justice”

Chapter 767 "Yuntian"

As for this high-level meeting, Zhao Xu and Zhang Fei had actually communicated it in advance, and its purpose was to slightly modify the strategic policy originally set by Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi's strategic policy is actually to use foreign affairs to promote domestic affairs reform.

It is precisely because we have been bullied all year round that we should work hard to enrich the country and strengthen the army.

Looking back, the purpose of enriching the country and strengthening its army is to expand its territory, so Wang Anshi must actively prepare for the war against Xixia.

If we don’t take this step, everyone will be confused. Why do we do all this work?

Of course, this refers only to Xixia, not including the Liao Kingdom.

Since Taizong's defeat, so far, the Song Dynasty, from top to bottom, has only one strategy for the Liao Kingdom, which is the peace strategy.

Try to be friendly.

Han Qi’s advice to Zhao Xu was to try to maintain the friendship between the two countries and then strengthen defenses.

The implication is that it is in our interests to maintain friendship, but we must also prevent the other party from hitting you.

In the whole matter, Wen Yanbo was the one with the toughest attitude, but what he meant was that you cannot hope that the Liao Kingdom will not hit you. Only when you have enough strength will he not hit you.

Therefore, he believed that the fortifications should not be dismantled, but should be strengthened. But his underlying intention was not to break up with the Liao Kingdom, but to use strength to stop the war.

In fact, he and Han Qi have the same philosophy, except that Han Qi's posture is softer, while he is tougher.

In history, the strategies of Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi were actually highly similar. Even after Wang Anshi left the court, Zhao Xu continued to follow Wang Anshi's strategy, but he still lost in the end.

However, due to Zhang Fei's appearance and the success of the Public Security Bureau, Zhao Xu was more inclined to Zhang Fei's strategic policy.

That is, internal affairs and foreign affairs are calculated separately and are no longer bound.

Although the purpose of majoring in internal affairs is to expand the territory, there is no causal relationship between the two. The expansion of the territory is just one of the purposes of the reform, so there is no need to expand the territory to succeed. , to give legitimacy to the reform.

The purpose of this meeting is that Zhao Xu uses Zhang Fei to announce a strategy focusing on domestic affairs.

But the monarch and his ministers only communicated through letters. Zhao Xu did not meet with Zhang Fei alone before holding this meeting, as he should have done.

Just because of some public opinions that were not conducive to Zhang Fei, Zhao Xu held this meeting as soon as possible in order to convince the public.

Because of many previous examples, the foreign minister and the emperor had private affairs. If Zhao Xu met Zhang Fei alone first, it would arouse many people's suspicion.

However, the monarch and his ministers must meet alone to discuss the diplomatic process.

On the second day, Zhao Xu sent someone to secretly announce Zhang Fei's entry into the palace.

Li Bao was also waiting on the carriage.

"How is the situation outside now?"

After getting on the carriage, Zhang Fei asked Li Bao.

"Very bad."

Li Bao shook his head and said truthfully: "Sanlang really offended everyone with the warehouse tax last time, so this time they are adding insult to injury, constantly creating public opinion in the public, criticizing you, Sanlang, for being weak and incompetent and traitorous. Seeking glory.

The news that you are in a brothel in Taiyuan, Sanlang Keyuan, has been confirmed. Coupled with the cowardly behavior of some previous envoy officials, the people believed their accusations.

This must be solved quickly, otherwise it will inevitably affect Saburo's career. ”

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "I already have a countermeasure."

Li Bao hurriedly asked: "How does Sanlang plan to respond?"

Zhang Fei said: "You pay close attention to one person."

"Who?"

"Cao Dongdong."

"Huh?"

Li Bao looked at Zhang Fei doubtfully.

Zhang Fei said: "The situation at that time was that Cao Dongdong was going to send troops to fight. I deceived Cao Dongdong into going to Taiyuan. When that guy came back and found out that everyone was criticizing me, he immediately separated from me. He valued them very much. The reputation of the Lao Cao family, so this guy will definitely publicize it and then put all the responsibility on me."

Li Bao was even more confused when he heard this. If Cao Dongdong did this, then what he said is true!

This is even worse for you!

"I don't quite understand." Li Bao shook his head in confusion.

Zhang Fei smiled and said: "In fact, the vast majority of officials in the court, including the scholar-bureaucrats in the community, advocated friendship with Liao. So when these people learned that Yanei was going to send troops to fight, they were deceived by me to go to Taiyuan. Then What will they think?"

Li Bao asked: "What do you think?"

Zhang Fei said angrily: "They will think that I am putting the overall situation first and avoid direct conflict with the Liao Kingdom, so I chose to take Cao Dongdong away."

Li Bao said: "When they criticize you, it is purely a personal grudge."

The implication is that they don’t look at the big picture.

"I know."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "But in order to prove his innocence, Yanei must advocate being tough on Liao during the propaganda process. This is a sensitive moment and the people are also angry. If it is really triggered The resentment of the people towards Liao will scare those people.

At this time, our people only need to give a little hint, saying that I was just worried that the Yameni would get angry, so I took them away.

One of the most important evidences is that I have never been to a brothel in Beijing, and Yanei is a frequent visitor to brothels.

So, dominated by worries and fear of the Liao people, they would change their tone and praise my trip. ”

Li Bao broke into a cold sweat and asked in a low voice: "Sanlang, isn't Yameni your best brother!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Fei said: "It's the same now. He can help his brothers. Of course, I do the same, and this operation will not affect him. On the contrary, it can confirm that they are not afraid of the Liao people. Having the courage to fight against the Liao people is worthy of being a descendant of the Cao family, and it can also change my situation. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone."

It turns out that this is the definition of a brother. If he calls me Brother Bao in the future, I have to stop him. I would rather he call me Xiao Bao. Li Bao asked again: "Why didn't Sanlang use newspapers and magazines to fight back this time?"

Zhang Fei smiled bitterly and said: "If I could use newspapers and periodicals, I would have been doing propaganda before I came back. Many things I didn't say clearly, I can only understand them."

If you say it clearly, no matter how you say it, it is cowardly.

Li Bao nodded, "I know what to do."

Zhang Fei asked again: "What's the current situation at the Taxation Department?"

Li Bao said hurriedly: "The situation in Gyeonggi Province is much better than expected. Although the land tax was finally reduced to 30%, it was not less than before the tax law reform, but was actually a bit more. , it’s just less than last year. The reason is that commercial taxes have increased a lot.”

Having said this, he added, "At that time, the Sansi was also fighting fiercely with the big landowners, because according to the survey results, the harvest in the fields this year was only a little more than 30% of the usual amount, but the Sansi They hoped to reduce the tax to 50%, but the big landowners insisted on 30% and refused to give in at all. Finally, the chief judge said that exceeding 30% would be a violation of tax laws. The third division had no choice but to announce that the calculation would be 30%."

Zhang Fei complained: "Aren't those big landowners grateful to me for this? We, the Public Security Bureau, have made the decision for them!"

Li Bao said: "They didn't pay much tax before."

"That's true."

Zhang Fei nodded awkwardly and asked: "What about the tax currency situation?"

Li Bao immediately said: "As far as our Gyeonggi area is concerned, the current collection is about 70%."

"Seventy percent?"

Zhang Fei frowned and said: "This is less than I expected. I expected it to be about 80%."

Li Bao said: "We have already investigated this clearly. It is mainly because some salt merchants from Hezhong Prefecture have hoarded some tax coins."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "These salt merchants missed a wave of opportunities in Hezhong Mansion, so they wanted to find them here, but they must have made money this time, these profiteers."

Li Bao said: "Why is Sanlang so sure?"

Zhang Fei said: "If you think about it, the increase in commercial taxes indicates an increase in the production of goods and an increase in the use of currency. If there is no famine next year, there will inevitably be a shortage of currency. Then the currency will change. It has to be more valuable."

Li Bao nodded slightly.

Zhang Fei asked again: "What is the situation in Huainan and Hebei?"

Li Bao smiled and said: "If there are no accidents in these two places, there will be a lot more, because the tax department found that there were too many tax evaders in the past. In addition to some states and counties in Hebei, many states and counties even have It may double compared with previous years, even though tax revenue in various places has been reduced by 30% to 50%.”

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Do the officials know?"

Li Bao said: "We have informed the officials before, and they are very happy."

Zhang Fei smiled and nodded.

If he wants to convince Zhao Xu to accept his strategic policy, he must first let Zhao Xu see the results.

While chatting, the carriage quietly came to the small gate in the northeast corner of the imperial city. Zhang Fei got off the carriage and was led into the imperial city by a eunuch.

Due to the cold weather, Zhao Xu naturally would not "date" Zhang Fei in the attic, but chose to go on a date in the study.

Seeing Zhang Fei, Zhao Xu joked: "Zhang San, you really shocked everyone this time!"

The news of the war came directly at that time, which frightened the civil and military officials of the entire court.

Zhang Fei hurriedly said: "Your Majesty Ming Jian, it was those Liao people who scared us. As soon as I arrived there, they directly led their troops to invade the border and ran rampant in our territory."

Zhao Xu frowned and hummed: "This is already their usual tactic. Every time they negotiate with our country, they rely on their strong military force to show off their power at the border."

As he spoke, he asked Zhang Fei: "What was the attitude of those northerners during the negotiations?"

Zhang Fei replied: "They are very arrogant, and their goal is not the cultivated land currently occupied by the Liao people. They seem to want more, and they are hinting to us both inside and outside that if we cannot satisfy them , they will take military action to occupy it, and their tone is very firm, as if it is imperative.

Perhaps they think that they can take more than half of the miles we extend to the Xihe River. ”

"They are really bullying people."

After hearing this, Zhao Xu slammed the table.

We spend so much money in Xihe every year, and many people die. You just say a few words and want to take most of it away. This is really bullying.

Zhang Fei said: "But so far, we have no strength to compete with the Liao army on the edge of those restricted areas. Their army can invade at will and burn down some of our defenses.

Moreover, they also require that before the dispute is completely resolved, we must maintain the local status quo, that is, no more fortifications can be built, otherwise, they will send troops to destroy them. Of course, they also promised not to send troops to invade the border again during this period. ”

Zhao Xu was furious when he heard this, but unlike facing Xixia, he could only be angry and did not dare to really break up with the Liao Kingdom.

The reason is very simple, I just can’t beat it with all my heart.

In the Huizong period, the Song Army and the Jin Army attacked the Liao Kingdom, whose life was hanging by a thread, from both sides. The Song Army was still defeated. In the end, the Jin Army helped the Song Army regain most of the prefectures and counties in Yanyun.

Besides, the Liao Kingdom is much stronger now than it was then, because the Liao Kingdom did not exist in the form of tribes like the Huns and Turks. It now also belongs to the national civilization, and the manpower and resources it can mobilize are very large. Many.

Zhao Xu asked Zhang Fei again: "Then how do you think we should respond?"

"Don't give in an inch of ground."

Zhang Fei said: "Although it is an indisputable fact that they have invaded some of our territory, and the Liao people in those areas are more than five times the number of Han people. But whether we admit it or not will be fundamentally different. As long as we don't Admit it, and there will always be disputes here. When our national strength becomes stronger, we can deal with it more forcefully.

Moreover, we can no longer limit our sights to Xixia, but should consider the overall situation. In other words, our next step is not necessarily to attack Xixia, but also to start a war with Liao.

These options should be within our consideration range. Our previous strategy was too narrow, so that the Liao Kingdom knew that we were about to attack Xixia, so they dared to take advantage of the situation unscrupulously.

We must change this thinking, why do we give them so many coins every year, and why can't we fight with the Liao Kingdom? Compared with Xixia, these Sixteen States of Yanyun are of greater significance to us. ”

This is not what he learned from history books, but what he felt after coming here. Before the provocation from the Liao Kingdom, he could not feel the threat of the Liao Kingdom at all, as if Xixia was the only enemy.

But it is obvious that the Liao Kingdom poses a greater threat to the Song Dynasty.

Why I don’t feel it is that the Liao Kingdom is not included in the entire strategy of the Song Dynasty. This makes people have a strange feeling that the strategy is too narrow.

Zhao Xu felt happy and worried when he heard this, and said with a little lack of confidence: "Do you think we can do it?"

Of course he also wants to recover the Sixteen States of Yanyun, but so far, he has not thought about it because he believes that this should be something that should be considered to eliminate Xixia.

But Zhang Fei believes that these are all options before him, in no particular order.

This is also true.

Every time the Song Dynasty sent troops to Xixia, the Liao Kingdom would inevitably interfere, causing the Song Dynasty to lose his wife and lose troops. Why not attack the Liao Kingdom first?

Zhang Fei nodded and said very firmly: "It will definitely be possible, but we still need some time. When the reform of the public security law is completed, so that the country can operate according to the law, then His Majesty can concentrate all his energy on dealing with it. Foreign enemies.

Nowadays, the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate are already playing a role in various places, such as Xihe Tuobian. If the northwest has not completed the judicial reform first, our pressure will not be limited to this. ”

Zhao Xu nodded slightly. He felt this deeply, and he felt more confident. He said, "Then how long do you think we can delay it?"

Zhang Fei said: "It should be able to delay for two or three years, but this is enough for us. However, during this period, the Liao Kingdom will definitely continue to cause trouble, continue to create pressure, create fear, and intimidate us Officials, let us not dare to be enemies with them.

Therefore, His Majesty also needs to form a special team to deal with the provocation of the Liao Kingdom, so as to focus on domestic reforms. ”

Zhao Xu frowned and said: "But it is always difficult for us to avoid fighting on two fronts."

Zhang Fei hesitated a little and said: "Judging from the current situation, it is like this. If you want to avoid it, you need the right time, place and people, but I think it is possible to happen.

Because according to our observation, the Liao Kingdom is also in turmoil now, and the leaders and powerful ministers of the Liao Kingdom are all very young. This is our advantage. We can send more spies to inquire about their internal situation. As long as our internal development is stable, we will definitely be able to wait for an excellent opportunity. ”

Zhao Xu shook his head and said: "Every family has its own scriptures that are difficult to recite. Our problems are not limited to the Northern Dynasties and Xixia, but also Jiaozhi in the south!"

Zhang Fei was stunned, "Jiaojiazhi?"

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "In recent years, the Jiaozhi Li family has continued to expand externally, and recently seized a lot of land from the Champa State. And they have always coveted our Qinzhou territory, especially when they After hearing the news that we were at Tuobian of Xihe River, they became even more aggressive."

Zhang Fei was stunned for a while and couldn't help but sigh: "If your Majesty can succeed, his civil and martial arts skills will definitely surpass those of the Han, Wu and Tang sects!"

This is so difficult!

There is also Jiaozhi in the south.

When Zhao Xu heard this, he felt a little embarrassed and said: "You mean, I can't succeed?"

Zhang Fei hurriedly said: "Of course not, the Han Wutang Sect is not insurmountable."

Immediately asked: "I wonder how Bachelor Wang and the others plan to respond?"

Zhao Xu said: "In fact, when Jiaozhi was attacking the city, the imperial court had been paying attention to their actions. As early as the beginning of last year, Mr. Li thought it was time to teach Li a lesson, so he recommended two people who advocated being tough on Jiaozhi. Officials governed Qinzhou and asked them to train troops there. At the same time, they cut off trade with Jiaozhi and hit Jiaozhi's finances.

But at that time you suggested that I should focus on domestic affairs, so I have been hesitant. Unexpectedly, we encountered another disaster this year, and the matter was delayed.

Now I have just decided to temporarily stop the encirclement and suppression of Xixia. Therefore, sir, you should take this opportunity to eliminate the future trouble of Jiaozhi first. ”

That’s right! I remember that during the Xining period, the Song Dynasty also fought a war with Jiaozhi. Although they won the victory, it consumed a huge amount of national power and laid the groundwork for the future defeat of Xixia, which should only be in the past year or two. Then run to train now? Isn't it a little late?

Zhang Fei suddenly thought of this and couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

But what he didn't know was that he had actually flapped his butterfly wings.

If we follow the historical process, the Qingmiao Law has been fully implemented in the counties in Lingnan, which also caused some local complaints, so Jiaozhi saw an opportunity, because Jiaozhi had always wanted to expand into the territory of the Song Dynasty.

Wang Anshi also saw Jiaozhi's motives. At the same time, he also needed military exploits to support the reform, so he replaced the officials in the south and sent a group of hardliners there to strengthen their troops there and cut off ties with Jiaozhi. trade, trying to hit their economy first, and then send troops to Cochin. In the end, under these many factors, Cochin decided to strike preemptively.

But neither of these things have happened now. Qingmiao Law has only reached Jiangnan and Huguang areas, and because of the turmoil on Jingdong East Road, everyone has restrained themselves, and officials no longer dare to force apportionment unscrupulously.

The replacement of officials and the cessation of trade did not happen, because Zhao Xu preferred Zhang Fei's strategy at that time, which was to focus on internal affairs and endure it for another two years.

However, Jiaozhi continued to occupy the territory of the Song Dynasty, which is an indisputable fact.

Therefore, Wang Anshi mentioned this matter to Zhao Xu again. Anyway, the northern and western fronts were planned to be in the defensive stage, so it was better to pull out the nail in the south first.

This does make sense.

If you want to go out to fight, you have to clean your back garden.

But Zhang Fei didn't know that he had already waved his butterfly wings. He only knew that this happened, and that it happened before the war with Xixia. He didn't remember the specific time or the reason why it happened. It's not very clear either.

Zhang Fei felt that it was very urgent and could not train troops, so he should send troops directly there. He thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, I think we should send troops directly there."

Zhao Xu said in surprise: "Send troops directly there?"

Zhang Fei nodded.

Zhao Xu said: "Do you know how much military expenditure it will cost to directly send troops to station there?"

"Of course I know that."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "But as far as I know, in many places over there there are cave masters and village masters who maintain local security."

Zhao Xu nodded, "But what does this have to do with sending troops there?"

Zhang Fei said: "It is precisely because the local system is different from that of the Central Plains that it is very difficult to implement public security laws there. I suggest sending troops directly there, firstly to prevent Jiaochin invasion, and secondly, It is to use the army to control the local area, and then implement the public security law in the local area. At that time, the soldiers can be converted into royal police on the spot."

Zhao Xu was surprised and said: "Do you want to implement the public security law there?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "At present, the imperial court still does not have enough control over that area, but the Public Security Bureau can better control the prefectures and counties there for Your Majesty. Moreover, I don't think now is the best time to send troops to Jiaozhi. We should take Applying both kindness and power, on the one hand, it increases local defense, and on the other hand, it strengthens trade exchanges between the two sides.

Because according to the news from Xihe, other ethnic groups can integrate into the public security system more quickly, and the people are more willing to live under the public security system than their chieftain system.

Therefore, we can follow the success of Xihe and implement the public security system on the southern border to win over the local people and weaken Jiaozhi step by step.

We can use systems to attack and soldiers and horses to defend, but the premise is that we must have enough royal police. But if we send the royal police directly, it will arouse the vigilance of the local chiefs, but if we send the army to defend Cochin, then It makes sense. ”

It is almost impossible to implement the public security system at the border without military control, because many border areas adopt a detention system. If we want to implement the public security system, we will inevitably encounter armed resistance.

Zhang Fei's previous idea was to push forward slowly step by step, but the Jiaozhi crisis and the success of Xihe suddenly made him think that he could implement it at the border first, as long as the army controls it first, and then the army directly transforms into the royal police, and then Send officials there.

Now the soldiers of the Forbidden Army want to enter the police station, because the salary and bonus of the police station are very timely, and the key point is that the people prefer the Royal Police.

The status of soldiers is very low, not comparable to that of the Royal Police.

Many soldiers would be very willing to switch on the spot, but if you let them stay there for a long time, they would definitely not be willing.

"Institutional attack?"

Zhao Xu was slightly startled. This was the first time he heard this term. .

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Any common people would be willing to live under a system that can defend their legitimate rights and interests, but would not be willing to live under a barbaric system that treats human life as trivial.

The Xihe area has proven this, but it has also proven that those barbarians will definitely use force to create chaos.

War may be inevitable, but compared to offense, defense saves more manpower and material resources, and is less prone to too many surprises. ”

He could not tell Zhao Xu that he would suffer heavy losses by then, and future attacks would also cause considerable losses to the Song army, so he must take precautions immediately.

He had to find a reason to explain all this.

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "Not long ago, I also received a letter from the Privy Council. The strategy formulated by Wang Shaoxin is similar to what you said. He also believes that as long as the Xihe area is stabilized now, it will be better in the future. Many tribes voluntarily surrendered to us. Moreover, he believed that in the face of small-scale enemy attacks, the royal police were better prepared than the army."

Zhang Fei said: "The Royal Police can be better prepared, but the Taxation Department can better carry out small-scale attacks."

Zhao Xu was surprised and said: "The tax department is attacking?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "When we were dealing with the grassroots bandits on Jingdong East Road, the tax police were the ones who did the most work and beat them the hardest. The reason is very simple. When the soldiers conquered a place, they actually didn't get much reward. It’s golden, but the tax department is different. If you have more land, the tax department will have more income from the area.

In the eyes of the Taxation Department, those cave masters and village masters are all fat pigs. They will find ways to get rid of those cave masters and village masters without His Majesty's orders.

When the time comes, we can also use this trick to deal with the Liao people who invaded our territory, that is, to make them pay taxes. ”

Zhao Xu really didn’t believe it: “Is this possible?”

Zhang Fei smiled and said: "As long as our army can defend the opponent's attack, then I can guarantee that the Taxation Department will be able to expand a large tax area in the local area every year."