In Qingtang City, the elders were arguing endlessly.
An elder said: "The Empress Dowager Liang of Xixia took advantage of the Song people's attack on Hezhou to defeat the Shazhou Uighurs. If the Xia Kingdom attacks again without the support of the Song people, Qingtang City may not be preserved."
Another elder said: "The purpose of taking Xihe in the Song Dynasty was to control summer, not in the Qing and Tang Dynasties."
The elder on Aligu's side said: "But the Song people have already reached Taoyang. If we go down further, Bian Sibojie will die."
"I think so, I will send an envoy to Hezhou to mediate. If the Song people refuse, they will withdraw their troops. We will send troops to Hezhou again."
"Yes, the Song people still have to rely on us. If we cut off contact with them, where would the merchants go to Xihe's market? In the past two years, Mu raised troops and cut off the trade routes. Our Qingtang City was also a lot of waste. Before The monks who respected Buddhism also refused to come, but asked Tuolin Temple to hold several conferences."
Ali was so angry that he did not expect that after the Song people conquered Taoyang and talked about Zhucheng, these elders would still be so short-sighted.
Everyone talked for a long time before finally sending envoys to Hezhou for negotiations.
…
A few days later, several Tibetan monks from the Qing and Tang Dynasties came to Hezhou. They did not enter the city first but went to Baojue Wanshou Temple in Hezhou. After meeting the monks here, they met with Zhang Kai, the magistrate of Hezhou, under the leadership of the monks.
Zhang Kai received the Qing and Tang Tibetan monks ceremoniously.
They proposed to stop fighting, otherwise Qingtang City would dispatch 50,000 elite troops to attack Hezhou.
After listening to the other party's opinion, Zhang Kai said that it was the Biansi Bojie who invaded first without any reason, so he had to send troops to punish him. But since you said so, I need to report to the commander before making a decision.
The next day Zhang Kai sent someone to report to Cai Yanqing in Xizhou City.
At the same time, Cai Yanqing and Li Xian, who were in Xizhou City, received the imperial edict from the imperial court.
It turned out that the imperial court received news that the Khitan wanted to seize the land in Hebei. At that time, the famous Song Dynasty general Yang Wenguang who was guarding Hebei died of illness. After learning about this, the Khitan was ready to take action.
At the same time, Jiaozhi knew that the Song army was worried about the Liao Kingdom and was using troops in the northwest to encroach on the southern border of the Song Dynasty.
Wang Anshi, the representative of the second government, asked Zhang Yue and Li Xian to stop using troops in the northwest and not to easily start a war with the Qingtang Qiang tribe. If the Khitan and Jiaozhi moved, they would not be able to provide comprehensive support to the northwest like last year. support.
After Cai Yanqing learned of this, he immediately sent people to cross Lugu Mountain and arrived in Taoyang to report Zhang Yue.
After Zhang Yue learned about this, he also felt that the imperial court was really too long-handed and hindered him just when he was about to conquer Taozhou in one go.
However, there was a sudden snowstorm on Xihe Road at this time, which made the Song Army's food road even more difficult, and the main force commanded by Zhang Shen was also trapped on the road.
Reinforcements didn't arrive at this time, which was why Zhang Yueqi missed a move.
Zhang Yue was not determined to temper Touqian. If it didn't work next time, he would wait until the next time. He negotiated peace with Bian Sibo on the condition that Taoyang returned to the Song Dynasty and allowed him to punish several leaders who sent troops, and he agreed to do so. Zhucheng and Yigongcheng retreated.
At this moment, Bian Sibojie faced the armies of Zhonge, Mu Zheng, Shen Kuo, and You Shixiong in front, unable to advance or retreat. Taoyang in the rear was cut off by the Song army. It was a dilemma.
Just when Bian Sibo was about to fight to the death, Zhang Yue sent someone to make peace.
Before Biansi Bojie agreed, the leaders below him kept urging him to agree, so in the end the two sides hurriedly negotiated a peace.
Bian Sibojie killed three tribal leaders who were plundering Minzhou this time, and finally got the opportunity to retreat.
Zhang Yue immediately left Wang Hou to garrison Taoyang, while he led more than a hundred cavalry back to Xizhou.
Zhang Yue braved the snow and arrived at the foot of Xizhou City, only to see firecrackers set off both inside and outside the city. The leading troops had no sense of time outside, and it was already New Year's Eve before they knew it.
"Who came into the city late at night?"
The defenders at the top of the city asked loudly.
"Are you blind? Didn't you see that this is the flag of Mr. Jinglue?"
"Wait until I report to the superiors..."
Subconsciously listening to the questions and answers from people above and below the city, Zhang Yue stood at the foot of the city wearing a big cloak, and heavy snow covered him in a moment. He looked at the bright and dark lights on the top of Xizhou City and murmured, "It turns out it's been Xining for seven years!"
…
The first month of the seventh year of Xining.
Bianjing is immersed in the joy of the New Year.
The people are still enjoying this peaceful age.
The emperor accepted the congratulations from the officials, but he was not in a good mood. Several princes had died early. In the eighth year of his accession to the throne, he still had nothing to say to his ancestors.
At the same time, the promiscuous relationship between Khitan and Jiaozhi also annoyed him.
Even during the Chinese New Year, the officials of the two governments did not rest, and the emperor was not idle either. Zhang Yue sent a letter to the palace in an urgent manner, asking the emperor to agree to Ping Tao.
Therefore, the emperor and the officials of the two governments were forced to "work overtime" by Zhang Yue's letter and discuss the matter of sending troops.
"Last year I asked him to fight, but he said he couldn't fight. This year he said he must fight!" The emperor was even worried, "Doesn't the imperial court have a strategy for using troops?"
Wen Yanbo said: "Your Majesty, it is indeed impossible to fight. The Khitan troops are pressing down on the territory, and Yang Wenguang died of illness. There is one less strong general at the side. If the Khitan raises troops at this time, the imperial court will be unable to fight."
Feng Jing said: "Cai Yanqing said that Qingtang sent a letter to mediate the matter, and Jiaozhi is about to move. It is unwise to risk taking Taozhou at this time. There have been too many troops in recent years, and there are rumors among the people that His Majesty's heirs are not prosperous, and it was the imperial court that killed the emperor. Heavy."
Feng Jing's words just hit the emperor's heart.
Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty, in recent years, we have governed the Qing and Tang Dynasties, treated the people generously, and left countless people alive. How can we say that the killings are too heavy? Last year, when we attacked Taozhou, the people were not in favor, but this year, we can attack it easily, and we can fight without bloodshed." Ping Zhi. At present, all the soldiers on the border of Taozhou have rebelled and separated from their relatives. It is time to make an effort to pacify Taozhou."
The emperor said: "If we send troops to Taozhou again, how much will it cost?"
Xue Xiang, the Third Commander-in-Chief, who was still barely in office, said: "Last year, when Baicheng was attacked, Qinfeng Road was in ruins, and people's livelihood in the northwest was also difficult. If we want to attack again now, it will cost at least eight million guns!"
Wen Yanbo said: "Your Majesty, Khitan Jiaozhi peeked, there were many major and minor disasters last year, and so many people are still suffering. How many lives can these eight million cans survive? Even if Taozhou is conquered, such a barren land, the imperial court How much does it cost to raise it?”
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Yue calculated an account for me before. Before, it cost the court four million yuan to open the Xihe River border every year. After the Xihe farmland and the market are mutually traded, it can be reduced to three hundred yuan every year." Wan Guan. If Taozhou is captured again, there are many gold and silver mines here, and Minzhou Xizhou does not need to garrison troops, and a large amount of land can be used for cultivation. The most important thing is to surrender Dong Xiang, so as to determine the future summer control. The foundation of the world."
"If the pacification of Xixia can save a lot of money, the people of Shaanxi will no longer have to suffer like this. For the sake of the country, we should settle big accounts and long-term accounts, not just small accounts and immediate accounts."
The emperor asked: "Does your husband want to fight?"
Wang Anshi said: "I still say what I said, ministers should be left alone, and if it doesn't work, they will be punished later."
The emperor nodded after listening to Wang Anshi's words and said: "In that case, I will give you the money."
