Zhang Yue's return to Xizhou this time was met with suspicion.
Originally, everything in the temple was planned by the Song army, but in the end, the main force of the Song army led by Zhang Shen was delayed due to snow, which led to the final failure of the battle, causing almost all of Bian Sibojie's troops to return.
This time when he returned to the army, Zhang Yue's command ability and conservatism in response were questioned. In particular, some rather radical generals in the army believed that Zhang Yue should surround and eliminate the border troops before the main force arrived, or that there was something wrong with the method that their staff team had worked hard for several months.
This question was not a blatant accusation, it was precisely the fact that no one was accusing him. Instead, Zhang Yue suffered an inexplicable pressure in his heart.
Even if no one said anything, Zhang Yue still blamed himself a little for why he had calculated everything except that there would be heavy snow in the winter.
There is a saying that the incompetence of one general exhausts the entire army.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but fall into doubts about himself at this moment. Even if he had been cultivating his qi for more than ten years, how could he not have fluctuations in his heart? Even after sitting in the quiet room for a day, he could not calm down the fluctuations in his mood.
"Am I really not the material to lead troops?" Zhang Yue asked himself.
Thinking of the emperor's trust, his father-in-law's trust, and the thousands of Xihe soldiers, he felt a little embarrassed. This time he had the audacity to ask the court for help, which really made it difficult for him to say anything.
At this moment an old friend came looking for him.
This old friend was none other than Fan Zuyu, his classmate at that time.
Fan Zuyu held a letter and said to Zhang Yue: "Duzhi, I am here on behalf of Sima Gong. I implore you to think of the hardships of the people in Shaanxi and not to start a war. Please think of the people!"
What Fan Zuyu said was extremely sincere.
Zhang Yue's hand trembled as he held the letter. The way he looked at Fan Zuyu seemed to go back to the time when the two of them were fifteen or sixteen years old and talked all night long in the Taixue studio.
At that time, they often argued about scriptures and meanings and argued over different views, but today is different from the past.
Zhang Yue finished reading the handwritten letter given to him by Sima Guang, and then said to Fan Zuyu: "Chunfu, you also know the friendship between me and you, and Sima Gong. It is really difficult for me to refuse your words, but now I had to say I couldn’t do it.”
Fan Zuyu said excitedly: "Look, the imperial court has used troops to open the border. It has long been grudged against the foreign barbarians. The world is miserable and the people are exiles. Only in the northwest, the troops have killed and injured no less than 20,000 or 30,000 people, and there are countless Tibetans. Don't you see it at all? ?”
Zhang Yue said: "Chunfu, is this what I want? When Li Yuanhao invaded my borders, he killed so many Han troops and civilians, and kidnapped so much food, and so many wives and daughters. The emperor wanted to prepare for the summer. , the enemies of Xueren Temple are working hard to control it, and to control the summer, we must first conquer the Qingtang Dynasty. These cannot be measured by how many lives or how much money we have."
"You are right, the people are miserable, but compared with being pressed down by a large army in the future and having the country destroyed and the family destroyed, which one is more serious?"
Fan Zuyu said: "Du Zhi, you are wrong. These Sima Gongs have long thought that stopping the conflict is the only way out. The Xihe Road should not have been taken in the first place."
Zhang Yue's expression suddenly changed after hearing Fan Zuyu's words. Seeing Zhang Yue's expression, Fan Zuyu continued: "Look, it cost tens of millions of money and grain to build Xihe Road, and it takes millions more to maintain it every year. If we save this money and spend it on people's livelihood, the people will be rich and the country will be rich." It’s natural to be rich, but now how can the country be rich if the people are not rich?”
The two views are like, one is to use money to invest in the future, and you can sacrifice your current living standard. The other is to use money to live a good life now, and if the life is good now, the life will be good in the future.
Both approaches have their own merits, and there is no superiority.
But the problem is that the Song Dynasty has been living according to the latter method for a hundred years, and it has been just like this.
】
Zhang Yue knew that Fan Zuyu did not agree with his own views, and it would be useless for the two of them to continue talking. In the end, he could only stop talking and stop the argument.
Fan Zuyu had a phone call and was extremely disappointed when he saw that he could not convince Zhang Yue.
Fan Zuyu didn't look like he was full of enthusiasm when he came, and the light in his eyes was gone. He cupped his hands and said, "Look, gentlemen are harmonious but different. I will say this and take my leave."
Zhang Yue said: "What are you talking about, Chunfu? We haven't seen each other for many years. You need to rest here for a while, and we can have a good chat."
Fan Zuyu shook his head and said: "We don't agree with each other, so I'll take my leave."
After saying this, Fan Zuyu insisted on leaving regardless of Zhang Yue's attempts to stay. Zhang Yue walked him to the front door of the mansion, and the two of them bowed and said goodbye.
Zhang Yue looked at Fan Zuyu's back and felt a wave of discomfort in his heart. After this incident, I am afraid that the friendship between the two of them for so many years will no longer exist.
After Fan Zuyu left, Zhang Yue felt depressed because of the failure of his teacher's work and the breakup of friends. A few days later, Gao Zunyu and Miao Shu arrived here with their troops.
It turned out that after they knew that Zhang Yue was going to attack Taozhou, they came to help.
Gao Zunyu also knew that Zhang Yue had not gained much from sending troops before, so he brought money and food here.
Gao Zunyu sat down carelessly and said: "Since ancient times, wars have never been smooth sailing. Two or three times out of ten, you will be lucky. However, the commander-in-chief had a good plan this time, and he was almost able to capture Bian Sibo Jie alive. ”
Zhang Yue nodded after listening to Gao Zunyu's comfort. Gao Zunyu added: "The road to Taozhou is difficult and it is difficult for the army to travel. The money and food here will be used by the government for the time being. It can be used as military supplies for the army."
Although the money and food brought by Gao Zunyu was not much, it was like providing help in times of need. Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Thank you for the group training."
Gao Zunyu said: "Thank you, thank you. Tai Shigong said something, it's called so and so, that's right, it made the ancients rich and famous, but their reputations are indelible, but only those who are suave and extraordinarily praised."
"You and I are considered to be high-ranking officials, but if we don't make world-shaking achievements and become famous for future generations, it's nothing. A momentary misfortune is nothing. It's not easy for those who have achieved great things in the past."
Zhang Yue couldn't help but laugh, he didn't expect people like Gao Zunyu to say such words.
He immediately stood up and said, "Yes, that's exactly it."
Official position is not the purpose he pursues. The most important thing is to establish immortal meritorious service for the country and the nation. Otherwise, what is the meaning of life?
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue couldn't help but become more motivated.
At this time, Cai Yanqing walked into the Jinglue Mansion with brisk steps and said excitedly: "Save it, save it, I'm so happy, so happy. The imperial court has agreed to let all roads in Shaanxi fully assist me on Xihe Road. Take Taozhou, and the imperial court will allocate eight million guan of money and food from the internal funds to help us fight this battle!"
"real?"
Zhang Yue held the imperial edict in his hand and looked at it in disbelief for a long time, unable to speak.
The imperial court did not hold him accountable for his failure. Instead, he continued to support him in this battle and gave him a full eight million dollars.
What should we do to repay such trust?
Zhang Yue took a deep breath, and the original haze was suddenly swept away. He regained the excitement in his heart and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving Zhang a second chance!"
