Nowadays, Lu Huiqing is almost alone in charge of Zhongshu Province. Wang Gui and Feng Jing were unwilling to compete, but the other could not compete. Such a day of monopolizing power was exactly what Lu Huiqing and many officials in the world dreamed of.
At this moment, Lu Huiqing said to Lu Wenqing: "According to what is said in the letter, Zhang Duzhi does not like the changes in the market law. If he is allowed to return to the court, I am afraid that Zeng Zixuan will be second, or even worse."
"If the officials let Zhang Yue come to try the case of Yisi, then everything will be over!" The case of Yisi is Lu Huiqing's key point. It affects Lu Huiqing's position and the New Party. Survival or death.
Therefore, Lu Huiqing was absolutely unwilling to let people like Zhang Yue, who opposed the market change law and were deeply trusted by the officials, enter Beijing.
Lu Wenqing said: "Brother, in the past when Lu Yijian was in the court, hundreds of officials would stay with him and leave if they didn't. Just like Fan Zhongyan, Kong Daofu was demoted far away. Everyone in the government and the public respected Lu Gong's methods."
"Now the only way to make Zhang Yue come out is to exaggerate the strength of the Khitan army. This is not my lie. The Lord of Liao established his teeth in the clouds and sent envoys southward. Everyone in Bianjing was doubtful."
"Let's exaggerate some words and say that the Khitan is afraid of Zhang Yue. When the time comes, the officials will follow the public opinion and have to push Zhang Yue to guard Hebei." Lu Huiqing nodded and said: "It's a good plan, but I don't like to use tricks. The ancients Everyone admires Duke Fan and demotes Duke Lu. Duke Lu has done everything in the world with great skill and skill. How can his achievements be compared to those of a corrupt scholar?" Speaking of this, Lu Huiqing said: "The case of Shiyi Division must be settled with ironclad iron. Who do you think is the best person to try this case?" Lu Wenqing said: "It is better to let Zhang Zihou do it!" Lu Huiqing's eyes lit up, Zhang Dun is the governor of Yingzhou and the backup candidate for Gaoyangguan Road Economic Strategy and Comfort Envoy. If Zhang Dun is allowed to investigate this matter, then... Zhang Yue will be more confident about leaving Yingzhou.
Lu Wenqing said: "It's just that Zhang Zihou is hard to know his emotions and anger, his likes and dislikes are unpredictable, and he is arrogant and unruly. I'm afraid he will be difficult to control in the future. But Zhang Zihou and his brother are at least from the same hometown." Lu Huiqing said with a smile: "Are they both from the same hometown? It doesn't matter, if Zhang Zihou and I don't speculate, will he speculate with Zeng Zixuan and Zhang Du?" After a pause, Lu Huiqing said: "In addition to the case of Shi Yisi, there is also the traitor Zheng Xia, who must be severely punished. !" Zeng Bu and Zheng Xia both came from Wang Anshi's sect. Both of them 'betrayed' Wang Anshi, which led to the other party's dismissal. The new law was almost abolished, so he must enforce discipline and be punished severely!
This is a superficial reason. At the same time, dealing with a person externally can also improve cohesion internally. This is what he must do now as the leader of the new party. Lu Huiqing must do it whether he wants to or not.
In the past, Lu Huiqing saw why Wang Anshi offended so many people when he became prime minister, and even fell out with almost all his good friends.
But now he understands that as long as you are in this position, you have no choice! You are not representing your own wishes, but the wishes of a group of people.
Just like the scene of the Chenqiao mutiny where the yellow robes were added to the body, many people studied whether Taizu had this idea.
In fact, it doesn’t matter, because when you get to that seat, a group of brothers below are waiting there. What should you do?
Does it matter whether you want it or not? ...Since the official meeting with Wu Chong and Lu Huiqing that day, we heard that the people in the capital were unsettled. There were rumors that a million Khitan troops were pressing on the border and could move south at any time.
Now that Han Jiang has been transferred back to the capital as prime minister, although Wen Yanbo is the judge of Daming Mansion and the other party has experience in pacifying the Beizhou Rebellion, he is still too old after all and needs a young and powerful person to assist him.
All in all, there are no good ministers and famous generals in charge, and Hebei is now unstable. The officials were very worried after hearing the news from Shi Deyi.
This day, I met Empress Dowager Gao and Empress Dowager Cao in the palace of Empress Dowager Cao. The two queen mothers also heard the rumors and asked the emperor about the Khitan envoy Xiao Xi's request for the Song Dynasty to convert the land, and whether the Khitan had stationed heavy troops on the territory and wanted to raise troops?
The official said: "This son's crime has alarmed the Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother." Empress Dowager Cao said: "It is useless to talk about this now. How did the ministers in the court discuss it?" The official said After talking about it in general, Lu Huiqing said that he wanted Zhang Yue to go to Yingzhou to serve as the pacification envoy for the Gaoyangguan Road.
Yingzhou, later known as Hejian Prefecture, was located in the north of Youyan and east of Qingji. It was the key point of the waterway and the only way for the Khitans to go south to the Central Plains.
Placing Zhang Yue here can make the emperor sleep a little more peacefully at night. Empress Dowager Cao said: "But the Lord of Liao built his teeth in the clouds. He may not have passed through Yingzhou, but he might have gone to attack Hedong." The official said: "Yes, Hedong, Yanyan should also choose generals to defend it." Empress Dowager Cao shook her head secretly. There is simply no room for defense against enemies.
Empress Dowager Cao asked: "Is it Lu Huiqing who wanted to place Zhang Yue here?" The official said: "It was Lu Huiqing's intention to report back to the Empress Dowager. I speculated that he was worried that Zhang Yue would oppose the market change law when he returned to the court." Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao nodded happily when they heard this. The officials still saw things clearly.
"But I am worried that no one except Zhang Yue can deal with the Khitan in Yingzhou." At this moment, the official almost had the word "coward" written on his forehead.
Empress Dowager Cao smiled and said: "Your Majesty, I think this chapter is not about generals, but good at strategy and planning. I have read his Pinghe Huang Ce, and it is a temple strategy comparable to Ping Bian Ce. You can rely on it." After that, Hehuang was taken over successively, and the Qing and Tang Dynasties also returned to the Song Dynasty. It can be seen that the calculation of his temple is correct and everything is in the painting." After hearing this, the officials repeatedly said: "The intention of the Empress Dowager is to let her ministers issue an edict. I asked Zhang Yue how to deal with the Khitan?" Empress Dowager Cao said: "Zhang Yue is a national scholar. The master issued an edict and failed to treat him with courtesy. He should send an important minister to inquire. Zhang Mao is now in Yongxing Mansion. Your Majesty can order him to act on his behalf. The owner will inquire in person." After a pause, Empress Dowager Cao said: "First ask Zhang Yue about his strategy, and then ask him if he is willing to go to Yingzhou to take up his post?" After hearing this, the official said, "Go to Yingzhou? But I still want to transfer Zhang Yue Go back to the capital!" Empress Dowager Cao said with a smile: "Why is your majesty so anxious? If you want to enter, you must first observe his ambitions."... Zhang Yue and his party have already stayed at the post house in Yongxing Mansion. Except for Peng Jingyi and Huang Haoyi, they returned to the capital this time. In addition, he only brought a dozen followers with him, and there was no sign of him being a frontier official.
After Zhang Yue stayed in the post house, he learned that Zhang Maoze, the governor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, came to see him. Zhang Yue and Zhang Mao were old friends in the past. When they attacked Ren Shouzhong, they were on the same front.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, in accordance with the rule of one emperor and one courtier, Zhang Mao retired from the front line and only served Empress Dowager Cao and Empress Dowager Gao.
In order to avoid suspicion, Zhang Yue also stopped interacting with him. On the Lantern Festival in the sixth year of Xining, Wang Anshi rode a horse into the palace and his horse was beaten. It was Zhang Maoze who ordered someone to do it. Zhang Maoze also scolded Wang Anshi to his face, saying that the prime minister is also a minister, and he rode into the forbidden palace because he wanted to be Wang Mang. ?
Now Zhang Mao and Zhang Yue meet at the post house. After a few words of greeting, Zhang Maoze revealed his purpose of coming to consult on the affairs of the state on behalf of the emperor. He asked: "What is the purpose of the Lord of Liao in building Yayunzhong Mansion?" The Liao Kingdom had two routes to attack the Song Dynasty. The Central Government sent troops to attack the direction of Taiyuan, east of Hedong. The terrain here is quite dangerous and can be defended.
There is also the east road. Due to the loss of Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures, there is almost no danger here and it is all plains.
If they can't win in the field, the Liao cavalry can fight all the way to the Yellow River and reach Bianjing in one go. Zhang Yue said directly: "The Khitan did not dare to raise troops, they were just drawing up the territory. The court could respond slowly but refuse sternly. As for the Lord of Liao who built Yayunzhong, he only wanted to see me regaining Hehuang, so it was just a plan to invade. My territory.”
"Certaining land is just for temporary peace. The Liao Kingdom is insatiable. It can only gain an inch in the morning and a foot in the evening." Zhang Mao nodded, feeling a little relieved after hearing this.
Zhang Yue continued: "Now that the war in Xihe has just stopped, it will take three to five years for this dynasty to restore its national strength. During this period, it is necessary to recuperate and not engage in war and cause trouble." Zhang Maoze said: "But the difficulty now is how to restore the national strength in the three years." In five years, we will coexist peacefully with the Khitan and Xixia without fighting each other?" Zhang Yue said: "The Xixia country is exhausted and unable to make progress for the time being, and the Khitan is clamoring to send troops. How could it be that they would have fought earlier if they wanted to fight? In fact, the Khitan is more afraid of me. They are bluffing because they are fighting, but many people can't see it. They are just afraid of the Khitan's power." Zhang Mao then asked: "According to Zhang Jingluo, can peace really be maintained in these three to five years?" Zhang Yue said : "We can renegotiate the border demarcation matter with the Liao Kingdom. Twenty years have passed since the alliance at Chanyuan and when Duke Fu returned to the Liao Kingdom. The Liao Lord will also re-define the alliance in order to seek greater benefits."
"You can't deceive the Khitan by paying lip service without giving real money and silver. But once we show weakness, Xia will be eager to make further progress and will take advantage of the situation to propose an increase in annual tribute." Zhang Mao listened. His head was covered with sweat and he said: "Our family is a little confused. Why did the governor just say that the Khitan did not want to fight and was just bluffing, but here they said that they wanted to re-draw the alliance?" Zhang Yue said: "Because of the troubles in the Liao Kingdom. It is in the country, not the dynasty, that is why we instigated the border dispute with the Song Dynasty. Mencius said, if you enter, you will be helpless, and if you go out, you will be invincible to foreign patients, and the country will be permanently destroyed."
"So the Liao State knew this well, so it would not fight, but it would provoke Song Dynasty to consolidate its power." Zhang Yue was talking about the issue of primary contradictions and secondary contradictions.
The biggest problem of the Liao Kingdom was to deal with domestic conflicts, and the issue of Huajiang with the Song Dynasty was a secondary conflict.
But if the two countries do not handle this matter well, then the secondary contradiction will rise to the main contradiction.
After Zhang Yue said this, Zhang Maoze was suddenly enlightened. Zhang Maoze thought to himself, no wonder the officials think so highly of him. The empress dowagers of the two palaces asked me to consult Zhang Yue personally. This man has clear knowledge and clear judgments. If he is the prime minister and assistant, he must be called a prime minister.
Zhang Maoze asked again: "Now that the governor of Yingzhou is vacant, I wonder if Zhang Jinglue intends to go out to know Yingzhou?" Zhang Yue smiled and said, "I would like to be sent by your majesty." Zhang Maoze asked, "Oh, If the Khitan invades south, Yingzhou will bear the brunt, shouldn't the manager be worried?" Zhang Yueze thought to himself, Yingzhou has been in business for a long time during the Song Dynasty. In history, when the Jin soldiers went south twice, they failed to break through Hejian Prefecture, and Bianjing fell. Hejian Mansion is safe and sound.
Zhang Yue said: "If the Khitan really dares to invade south, I will definitely defend Yingzhou! The Khitan will not dare to go deep!" Zhang Mao smiled and said: "We know it."
