In the Chongzheng Hall, all the officials were beaming with joy. Even the prime ministers such as Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, Ouyang Xiu, and the privy officials such as Wen Yanbo also wore auspicious clothes and went to the hall to congratulate the officials.
It had been a long time since the Song army suffered a series of defeats at the hands of Xixia. It had been a long time since the Song army had experienced such an exhilarating victory.
The officials sat in the Chongzheng Hall and accepted the congratulations from the officials without expression.
All the officials admired him sincerely from the bottom of their hearts. This is the sign of a gentleman, who remains calm in his emotions and anger. In the past, the officials did not cry during the funeral of Emperor Renzong, but now they do not rejoice when the Song army is victorious. This shows that the officials' efforts in cultivating Qi have reached an extreme level.
However, some officials are strange. It is understandable that officials are serious about speech, but why do they seem a little depressed? This is too strange. The Song army finally won a great victory in the northwest and saved the country's face from repeated defeats against Xixia. But shouldn't the officials have this reaction of displeasure and worry?
Of course, some officials have seen the third level. Is this what Fan Wenzhenggong said, "Be worried about the world's worries first, and be happy after the world's happiness"?
Sure enough, compared with the state of the official family, we are still far from enough.
Of course, some officials believed that this great victory was entirely due to the deliberate cover-up of defeat by border officials. In fact, the Song army was severely defeated by Xixia, so the officials had no choice but to pretend to be victorious and accept the congratulations of the officials, but in fact it was Secretly worried.
This wave of officials can be said to be standing in the atmosphere.
In any case, the official family was like this, and they accepted the congratulations from all the officials without expression throughout the process.
When they arrived at the back hall, Han Qi, Wen Yanbo and other prime ministers from the two palaces took their seats to discuss the follow-up to the victory.
Wen Yanbo first told the officials about the battle.
In August, Li Liangzuo, the Lord of Xia, raised 100,000 troops to attack Dashun City and Rouyuan Village in order to avenge the humiliation of Xia envoys by Zhang Yue and others.
Cai Ting, who was responsible for the strategy and pacification of Huanqing Road, divided his troops to garrison. He believed that Dashun City was strong, so he did not send heavy troops to defend it, but ordered his soldiers to lay many iron caltrops outside the city. However, Rouyuan Walled City was not well defended, so Deputy Chief Zhang Yu was sent to defend it with heavy troops.
Li Liangzuo failed to attack Dashun City repeatedly, so he went to the city to supervise the battle, but was shot through his armor by a powerful crossbow from the Song army. Seeing that he could not defeat Dashun City, Li Liangzuo turned to attack Rouyuan Village. As a result, Zhang Yu led three troops. Qianye attacked the Xia army and was defeated.
The Xia army was defeated and the northwest was shaken. Wang Shao, the signer of Qinzhou, took advantage of the Xixia retreat and defeated the Qingtang people. His reputation was so great that he won the surrender of 30,000 people.
Therefore, Xue Xiang, the Shaanxi transshipment envoy, wrote the two things together in Lu Bu and went to Beijing to declare victory, announcing the victory of the battle of Dashun City. At the same time, he reported to Li Liang that Zuo knew he was guilty and said that the war was the work of border officials, so he sent envoys to sue for peace.
Han Qi and Wen Yanbo had been in power for many years, and they were all like old foxes. They could see that although the battle of Dashun City reported by Cai Ting was a victory, it was not enough to be called a great victory.
However, the Song army had been suppressed by the Xixia people for more than ten years. It was easy to win a defensive counterattack. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a great victory.
At the same time, Xixia's request for peace is also an old routine.
Han Qi and Wen Yanbo both expressed their opinions: "The Xia people's request for peace is just an old trick and should not be taken seriously."
Ouyang Xiu also said: "Your Majesty, I think that the Xia people are cunning, deceitful and good at scheming. When they are strong, they rebel, and when they are weak, they ask for peace. When they rebel, they are easy to plunder and invade borders. When they ask for peace, they ask for more coins and open the salt ban. , so since the Qingli Dynasty, our dynasty has been sending troops to the west. The Xixia people have rebelled infrequently, and the defenders have not yet been able to get the point."
The official asked: "Then let's continue the fight?"
Ouyang Xiudao: "Song and Xia were at odds with each other, and it was Yuan Hao who caused the disaster. The imperial court had no choice but to use troops. The people of the world all supported the imperial court in sending troops to Xixia."
The official shook his head and said: "I think we should take advantage of this great victory to negotiate peace with the Xixia people first."
For the officials, it would be good to defeat Xixia, so that the court would have more important things to attend to.
Deputy Privy Councilor Chen Sheng came forward and said: "If we want to negotiate a peace, we must at least let the Xia people send their hostages to the court and return them to Lingzhou. Only then can we agree."
However, the officials were still eager to take advantage of the victory to negotiate peace, and all the ministers had no choice but to agree.
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, in this battle of Dashun City, thanks to the good strategy of the defender Cai Ting, he should be rewarded heavily. Also, Wang Shao unexpectedly recruited 30,000 people, and his contribution is even more generous than Cai Ting's. "
"I still remember that it was Zhang Yue who recommended Wang Shao as a border minister. The merit of this recommendation should also be rewarded."
After Han Qi finished speaking, he suddenly saw that the official's face looked ugly.
Several prime ministers present knew who Cai Ting was? The younger brother of Cai Kang, the admonisher who had just been demoted from Beijing.
There is also Zhang Yue who recommended Wang Shao...
How should this reward be given?
At this moment, Zhang Yue and his family of more than thirty people were walking on the streets of Bianjing. Not far from him was the city gate.
Zhang Yue sat on his horse and watched the familiar scenery, while the Seventeenth Mother and her son stayed in the carriage.
There were bustling crowds, and the heavy rain in August turned Bianjing into a state of chaos. But now that all the disasters have passed, Bianjing is once again the bustling and lively Bianjing city it once was.
Zhang Yue was walking on his horse when he suddenly heard the rapid sound of horse hooves behind him.
"Save it, save it!"
Zhang Yue looked back and saw that it was Han Zhongyan.
Zhang Yue stopped his horse.
Han Zhongyan scolded him: "How could you leave without saying goodbye?"
Zhang Yue said: "It's not like we left without saying goodbye. I live in the suburbs of Bianjing. You can come see me anytime you have time. I'm just afraid that you, the noble man, will be too busy in the future and look down on me, a commoner."
Han Zhongyan looked at Zhang Yue up and down and laughed and scolded: "Who are you scolding in a roundabout way? Am I, Han Da, a villain who likes to flatter others and underestimate others? Please make amends with me, otherwise I will make you look good."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Okay, Mr. Han, I must have said something out of proportion. It's a favor for you, and you came here to see me off."
Han Zhongyan said with a smile: "Who sent you here? Yes, I just heard about the victory in the northwest. Wang Shao recruited 30,000 people in the ancient Weizhai. Now he has asked the court to reorganize the stronghold in the ancient Weizhai. military."
"Duzhi, do you know that the imperial court has not expanded its territory for many years. If the establishment of an army is successful, this matter will be worthy of a special mention. Not only does Wang Shao have a reward, you are recommending Wang Shaozhi People also have merit, and officials don’t need to dismiss them if they are happy with it.”
"I'm here to tell you this in a hurry."
Zhang Yue smiled when he heard this, not for himself, but for Wang Shao. This person has really come forward this time. He has made such a big contribution, so he will definitely be rewarded.
Zhang Yue said: "I told you that Wang Shao is as far away as Ban Ding, but you believe it now."
Han Zhongyan laughed and said: "I believe it, I believe it. You are really discerning. Where did you find such a powerful person who can achieve such feats in both literature and martial arts?"
Zhang Yue said: "Can I still teach you how to recognize people?"
The two were chatting and laughing, and Han Zhongyan said: "Dad said that he will recommend you to the official family for reinstatement. You don't need to leave yet. Please wait here for a while, and I guess there will be a decree."
After hearing this, Zhang Yue thought to himself, what would he do if the emperor used him again at this time?
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue looked in the direction of the palace.
At this moment, Han Jiang and Cai Jing were talking among the three divisions.
Cai Jing reported everything about the operation of the Exchange to Han Jiang. In fact, Zhang Yue had almost been the hands-off boss in the past few years, and Cai Jing was single-handedly responsible for all matters in the Exchange.
After Cai Jing finished speaking, Han Jiang admired his shrewdness and ability and said: "Yuan Chang, you are really a genius. I wish I had known Yuan Chang for three years."
Cai Jing was overjoyed in his heart and said humbly: "What kind of skills does this official have? All of this was taught by Inspector Zhang."
Han Jiang appreciated it even more when she saw that Cai Jing did not take the credit for herself, but instead delegated it to Zhang Yue, who was the culprit.
Han Jiang immediately asked Cai Jing to sit next to him and said, "Are you interested in taking a further step in your official career?"
Cai Jing lowered his head to hide the ecstasy in his heart and said: "From now on, Yuan Chang will only obey the orders of the prime minister."
Han Jiang nodded and said, "Then I will be your judge."
Cai Jing was so excited that he almost trembled all over. He knew that because of Zhang Yue's recommendation, he had gained Han Jiang's appreciation and trust, and a road to success was slowly unfolding in front of him.
And now in the palace.
After listening to Han Qi's words, the official said: "Nowadays, peace negotiation is still the most important thing. If we exaggerate the border merits, it will make the border generals want to provoke. The establishment of troops in the ancient Wei stronghold is also temporarily put aside."
"In my opinion, the two Wangs are the ones who can easily commend Cai with an imperial edict."
Both Han and Wen were surprised. For such a great achievement, it was just a matter of writing an edict to commend them?
Han Qi said: "Your Majesty, if you do this, I'm afraid it will dampen the enthusiasm of the border ministers to serve the country."
The official said: "I understand what Han Qing said. I didn't say that if I don't reward you now, I will find another reason to reward you in the future. Now it is better to negotiate peace with the Xia people as soon as possible."
At this point, the official waved his hand and said there was no need to discuss it further.
Han Qi insisted: "The two kings of Han can slowly award rewards, but your Majesty, with Zhang Yue's talent, is letting him dismissal from office. Is it possible that the court will lose a talent?"
The official said: "Talents? The most indispensable thing in this dynasty is talents. In my opinion, Su Shi's talents are better than Zhang Yue, and Fan Bailu and Li Qingchen, who held the exam this time, are also talents."
…
After Zhang Yue withdrew his gaze from the palace, he said to Han Zhongyan: "Shi Pu, have you read too many dramas, do you think that every emperor can distinguish between loyalty and traitor at the last moment and repent?"
"Perhaps they also know who is a traitor, but even if they know they are wrong, they will not change it, because they feel that there are so many talents, and the lack of you is just a drop in Taicang. Since I want to be an official, I will start from the beginning. From now on, tell yourself not to take yourself seriously.”
Han Zhongyan said anxiously: "Du Zhi...are you really waiting a moment?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Thank you so much, master servant, for your kindness. I will never recall me with my current temperament."
After saying this, Zhang Yue clasped his fists at Han Zhongyan and rode away.
Han Zhongyan heard Zhang Yue suddenly sing loudly: "If you want to cross the Yellow River, which is blocked by ice, you will have to climb the snow-covered mountains of Taihang."
"When I am free to fish on the Bixi River, I suddenly go on a boat and dream of the sun."
"The journey is difficult, the journey is difficult, and the roads are divergent. Where are you now?"
Han Zhongyan watched Zhang Yue's back on horseback. He didn't know how long it had passed before his servant sent a letter.
After Han Zhongyan read the letter, he whipped his horse whip in the air and said, "It's amazing, it's just as he expected."
Ps: Historically, the Battle of Dashun City was fought in April of the third year of Zhiping, about half a year earlier.
