Seeing that Zhang Yue had gone around in a circle, he still wanted to advocate provocation against Xixia.
Han Qi said: "Xixia lost first and then won in the battle of Hequ. The country is very powerful..."
Zhang Yue saw that Han Qi was still worried and believed that fighting was a waste of time.
Yes, in the physiocratic economy, productivity was the first priority, so they hated war and commerce. Therefore, the feudal dynasty was based on valuing agriculture and suppressing commerce.
Regarding the trade with the Xixia forecourts, the scholar-bureaucrats generally held the view that they were losing money because you Khitans and Xixia people took advantage of our Song Dynasty.
But if it is a mercantile economy, then the opposite is true.
In a mercantile economy, smooth trade exchanges are the first priority. Trade is not another form of plunder besides war. If trade is not smooth, once the other country adopts trade protection measures, it means war.
The Song Dynasty was rich, while the Western Xia and Liao Dynasties were poor. The economy of the Song Dynasty was self-sufficient, and domestic circulation was fixed. From top to bottom, they always thought that I was taking advantage of you by trading with you. .
But in fact, even if I am rich and you are poor, rich countries still have ways to cut off the leeks of poor countries such as you.
Monetary means is the best way for rich countries to cut off the wealth of poor countries.
What do you, Xue Xiang, do about the inflation caused by issuing so many salt bills indiscriminately every year? Cutting back and forth is just cutting the leeks of the people of the Song Dynasty, so the people of Xixia must be brought in to cut together, and even the Liao Kingdom will be brought in in the future.
However, the Liao Kingdom cannot afford to offend the Song Dynasty for the time being.
The Western Xia Liao Kingdom attacked the Song Dynasty just to plunder, while the Song Dynasty only passively defended.
Therefore, every time there was a war between Song and Xia, no matter whether they lost or won, the Song Dynasty always lost money.
Historically, during the Yuanyou Dynasty, Sima Guang and other ministers gave to Xixia for free the land that the soldiers of the Shenzong Dynasty had fought and sacrificed in hundreds of battles. This is the logic.
When they had the capital to attack Xixia, they could still carry out the attack. Now that they have no capital, this loss-making business cannot continue.
Sima Guang abolished Wang Anshi's reform, and the court lost its financial resources, so it had to withdraw its defense line.
How does this work according to Zhang Yue?
So harvesting must be done in reverse! Let the war bring benefits to the Song Dynasty.
Zhang Yue said: "Xiangong Zhaowen, Mencius once said, 'There is no righteous war in the Spring and Autumn Period.' In fact, in my opinion, although Mencius is a virtuous man, he does not understand what war is."
Han Qi frowned, Zhang Yue's words were too loud, but the next sentence made Han Qi immediately change his mind.
But Zhang Yue said: "In my opinion, war is the continuation of politics, and politics is the continuation of business!"
"War is the continuation of politics, and politics is the continuation of business!" Han Qi repeated these two sentences repeatedly.
These two sentences can be said to break through the eternal fog.
One sentence hits the nail on the head.
It takes a lot of reading, a lot of understanding of the world, and a lot of experience in politics to say something so "hitting the nail on the head."
Confucianism advocates that "the teacher has a reputation", and one must look for the righteousness in everything before entering the army. If this is where justice really lies, then how can one explain the victory of an unjust war?
War is never about justice, but about politics.
Zhang Yue's words speak directly to people's hearts.
Han Qi suddenly looked at Zhang Yue. From the time Zhang Yue proposed 'priority, circulation, exchange for price' in the political hall, he realized that he could not see through this young man at all.
Now there is another sentence: "War is the continuation of politics, and politics is the continuation of business!" Han Qi also had the same feeling as Wang Anshi at this moment, that is, there is a thick fog behind this man, and he is still standing indistinctly behind the fog. A master who is hard to look up to!
Zhang Yue said: "Mr. Zhaowen, if you can't get it on the battlefield, don't even think about getting it through negotiation! This dynasty wants peace, but can it achieve peace without war? If we just seek peace, we will not get it."
Han Qi carefully examined Zhang Yue's suggestion and asked, "Is there a comprehensive plan to deal with it?"
Zhang Yue said confidently: "Yes, I discussed this matter with Ambassador Xue Cao when I was on my mission to Shaanxi..."
Han Qi changed his color when he heard this and said: "Okay, so are you provoking the Xixia envoy in Chongyuan Pavilion?"
When Zhang Yue heard this, he immediately denied it, otherwise he would have put the shit basin on his head: "There is absolutely no such thing... In fact, Xixia has long wanted to offend me. No matter what happens with Chongyuan Pavilion, Xixia people will definitely invade this year. If not A great war cannot stop the ambition of the Xixia people."
Han Qi remembered that Xue Xiang, the envoy of Shaanxi Province, had informed him that the new ruler of Xixia had ascended the throne.
Han Qi looked at Zhang Yue familiarly, suddenly stroked his beard and said slowly: "If the arrogance of the Xixia people is really destroyed, it will be done."
…
There were many officials sitting outside the Political Affairs Hall who were interfering with Han Qi, including senior officials from the Supervisory Department, but they were all queued up to wait outside.
When the officials of the political hall come and go, they just say, "We will discuss important matters fairly."
Zeng Gongliang had been feeling unwell for the past few days and did not arrive at the Political Affairs Hall until noon that day. What he saw in front of the hall was this scene.
As for Ouyang Xiu in the left hall and Zhao Gai in the right hall, they also came out to take a look at it.
Zeng Gongliang asked the two of them, "What's wrong?"
Ouyang Xiu pointed inward and said, "Mr. Tang, you see we have been talking for almost an hour."
Zeng Gongliang was stunned.
"Who is discussing with Zhaowen?"
Zhao Gai looked at Ouyang Xiu, and Ouyang Xiu said with a proud look on his face: "Zhang Duzhi is responsible for seducing people into prison."
Zeng Gongliang showed a look of surprise when he saw Zhang Yue walking out of the political hall.
Han Qi came out of the hall to see him off...even to the bottom of the steps...
Zeng Gongliang and Zhao Gai were both shocked. It was not surprising that this scene happened to Fu Bi, because he would be like this after every official came to discuss with him, no matter how low the official position of the other party was, he would be like this. .
However, although Han Qi is also a courtesy person, he is not as good as Fu Bi, but now he sent Zhang Yue out of the political hall, and he still sent him off with a lower rank...
By the way, didn't Zhang Yue throw a glass of wine on the Xixia envoy's face... It's good that Han Qi didn't cause trouble for him.
At this moment, Han Qi said to Zhang Yue: "That's it. I'll pay for the reconstruction of a pagoda temple in my hometown. Your articles and calligraphy are unparalleled in the world. Do you have time to write a pagoda diary for me?"
Zhang Yue was stunned.
I thought of Teng Zongliang asking Fan Zhongyan to write Yueyang Tower for him.
Han Qi asked Ouyang Xiu and Cai Xiang to write the diary of Zhoujin Hall for him.
Asking someone to write for you means that the relationship between the two is very good, just like asking someone to hang a piece of writing in your home, like a talisman.
Therefore, after Zhang Yuezhong became the champion, he did not easily write for others, and this was the case for writing inscriptions. Although the price offered by Bianjing officials for asking him to write one calligraphy was not as high as one thousand gold for one word, it was still equivalent to ten gold for one word.
Han Qi asked Zhang Yue to write a pagoda note for him, which reminded Zhang Yue that when Teng Zijing was demoted, Fan Zhongyan would rather resign himself than defend Teng Zijing.
In addition to Ouyang Xiu, Cai Xiang is now involved in politics, and the three envoys are Han Qi's right-hand men.
Then it is self-evident that Han Qi asked him to write the pagoda record. Zhang Yue thought about it, even if Pu Yi was implicated in the future, he had to submit this testimonial now!
"This is an honor for a lower official."
Zhang Yue walked to the door of the hall, gave Han Qi a long bow, and then strode away.
After Zhang Yue left, Zeng Gongliang, Ouyang Xiu, and Zhao Gai all came to Han Qi to inquire.
Han Qi did not comment on Zhang Yue, but said: "I will discuss the matter of Xixia envoys again."
When Zhang Yue arrived at the palace gate, he saw that the escorts, escorts and several officials who were in Chongyuan Pavilion were waiting here with anxious faces. Zhang Yue smiled and said: "I have already arrived in Han Dynasty." I will bear this matter in front of my husband, you don’t have to worry, if there is any punishment at that time, I will bear it alone."
Everyone was overjoyed when they heard this and said in unison: "Thank you so much, Mr. Zhuangyuan!"
