Wang Zhi!
No one here knows about this taboo in the Great Song Dynasty.
This is a person who can't eat or spit out, so he can only throw it at the border gate, out of sight. I didn't expect that this person is thousands of miles away, and he can still be famous. Or it came from the mouth of the enemy country. This name What's the matter!
"Wang Zhi?"
"What do you think happened to Wang Zhi?"
An urgent inquiry suddenly came from above the court.
The censor who had retreated before saw this and jumped out again and shouted loudly, "Your Highness, please pay attention to your manners in the court hall!"
Zhao Huan came to his senses and hurriedly bowed and apologized. Zhao Ji waved his hand and asked according to his words, "What did Wei Mingqing say happened to Wang Zhi?"
"This is the person!"
Wei Mingding's eyes were full of hatred, and his saliva was spitting out, "This is the man who instigated the Song army to kill our ministers and massacre tens of thousands of our country's soldiers!"
Shock!
Although when they heard Wang Zhi's name, they felt that this boy had something to do with the Xixia war, the officials were still extremely shocked after receiving the accurate answer.
If I remember correctly, this guy has not arrived at the border for half a year, and he is just a junior general in the army. How could he have caused such a big incident that even the Xixia country could not deal with, and had to send envoys to discuss it? statement.
Wei Mingding continued: "Your Majesty, since the two countries negotiated peace between Song and Xia four years ago, there has been no war at the border, the world is peaceful, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and everyone praises your majesty's virtues. Now this person has started a war and has really made your majesty unkind. This place, your Majesty, please investigate clearly!"
All the kings and ministers in the court watched him perform alone with cold eyes.
Yes, it's just a cold look, talking about living and working in peace and contentment, and talking about praising saintly virtues, but they are just unable to conquer. If the national treasury was filled with strong soldiers and horses, your whole country would have been wiped out.
It's just that the person who killed you is called Wang Zhi. This is very sad. All the ministers in the court looked at their noses and hearts, but they didn't speak.
"Well, I already know about this. Wei Mingqing came here after a long journey. You can go back to Honglu Temple to rest first. I will call you after I know more about it."
Seeing that all the emperors and ministers in the court were not interested in the idea of righteousness in the world, Wei Mingding became anxious and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to request you to report this in private."
As soon as this statement came out, the whole hall was moved, and then several ministers directly came out to object, saying bluntly that state affairs were no small matter, and there was nothing they could say in front of the ministers.
Although private memorials have been practiced since ancient times, there is no precedent for an emperor of a country to privately communicate to foreign envoys.
Matters between countries cannot be decided by the emperor alone.
Zhao Ji wanted to hear what Wei Ming and Ding had to say to the ministers, but in the face of the angry ministers, he couldn't do it. "Wei Ming Qing, all state affairs must be discussed with others. If anything happens, it will be done in this hall." Tell me."
Wei Mingding lowered his head and thought deeply. He felt that he could not hide this matter for too long. He would just embarrass himself in front of so many people, so he simply gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, Wang Zhi single-handedly controls the border trade between the two countries, including food, youth, etc." Salt, cloth, tea, porcelain, all items are traded through his hands..."
Wei Mingding couldn't help but beat his drum when he said this, because what he said next was so embarrassing, and it was so embarrassing that he had lost it in a foreign country.
When the officials in the court heard the first half of the sentence, they were shocked but did not express anything. The Song Dynasty itself had extremely strict control over the trade between the two countries. Wang Zhi's strict control in the past did not exceed his authority. After all, the border guards also had duty to combat smuggling.
I think it may be that the control was too strong, which led to Xixia's dissatisfaction and conflicts, and the losses were too great, so they came to ask for an explanation.
No wonder the Xixia envoy was hesitant and refused to speak out. After all, although the Song Dynasty acquiesced in these Xu smuggling matters, it could not be put on the table. It was understandable that it was done in private.
But after Wei Mingding finished the second half of his words, all the ministers present were as stunned as statues.
"This person gathered merchants from the Song and Xia countries, established a chamber of commerce, bought from Xixia people three times, and sold them all, disrupting the commodity markets of the two countries. If this continues, it will cause endless disasters!"
"Wait...wait...Wei Mingding, which country do you think people bought three times and sold two times?"
One of the ministers asked in a daze, wondering if he had heard it wrong just now, or if Wei Mingding had said it wrong?
All the ministers also turned their attention to Wei Mingding, waiting for his answer.
Wei Mingding took a deep breath and said: "I bought it from Xixia people three times and sold it twice."
The ministers who received the affirmative answer again were dumbfounded.
What's the point of buying the Xixia people three times and selling them twice? Even the enemy wouldn't do this, right?
And even if you are funding an enemy, what does it mean for you, the enemy being funded, to report it?
"Your Majesty, everything I said is true, there is no falsehood at all!"
"Wei Mingqing..."
Zhao Ji was also a little confused by this abnormal and weird news. He wanted to ask about specific matters, but he didn't know where to start, so he had to look at his confidants in the audience.
Gao Qiu, the commander of the imperial department in front of the palace, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, Wang Zhi has overstepped his authority and interfered in the trade between the two countries. He has also used weapons to cause disputes between the two countries, and even committed acts of capitalizing on the enemy and betraying the country. We should immediately order someone to arrest him and bring him back." Go to court, Mingzong canon punishment!"
As soon as Gao Qiu made this statement, he was immediately approved by some ministers, and they all expressed their support.
Just when Wei Mingding was gradually relieved, the first prime minister and minister on the left, Wang Fu, the prime minister, said: "Your Majesty, this matter is quite strange, and we need to consider it in the long term. Why is it not me who is responsible for Wang Zhixing's support of the enemy?" The border generals of the Song Dynasty came to report, but the envoys of Xixia came to inform? Is there any hidden secret that is unknown? "
The prime minister's words were of great weight, and they also caused many ministers to second their opinions.
"Your Majesty, Wei Mingding said that tens of thousands of Xixia soldiers died before March, so why did you wait until today to report it?"
"There have been constant disputes between our country and Xixia for more than a hundred years. The reason is that Xixia is dissatisfied with our country's isolation from trade. But now it has given Xixia such great conveniences. Why is it that Xixia not only is not grateful, but also causes friction and uses force, and even wants to leave the country? Are you going to come here to hold me to account?"
"I suggest that we send someone to the border to inspect and understand the whole story before making a final conclusion."
What this minister said was well-organized and well-founded, and he was supported by some people. However, this person is Li Bangyan, the right minister of Shangshu, who is recognized as a mortal enemy of Prime Minister Wang Fu. Why did he not oppose him today, but instead sang in harmony with Wang Fu? , are you supporting Wang Zhi?
Wang Fu also looked back at him, and Li Bangyan snorted coldly, as if he was helping the manager and would not avoid revenge. In fact, everyone knew the real reason.
The giant businessmen who were able to smuggle at the border could not lack the care of those in power. This was the reason why the court had no news of Wang Zhi's control of the trade between the two countries at the border for three months.
If Wang Erlang knew that the people speaking for him in the Manchu Dynasty were actually two famous traitors in history, he didn't know what he would think.
Seeing that Zhao Ji nodded slightly, before Wei Mingding could speak, Gao Qiu said: "Your Majesty, no matter whether there is a secret or not, how can the important weapon of the country be held in the hands of a child? We should immediately send people to the northwest border." If Wang Zhi is released and returned to the court, if there is any secret, let him explain it in front of the court officials, otherwise things may change!"
Although Gao Qiu had a high and powerful position, he was only a nouveau riche. He could not know what happened at the border. Even his youngest son Gao Yaofu had not received news for several months. Originally, he thought It was because his son had forgotten or something, but now it seems that the situation may be in danger, so how can he not be in a hurry.
Zhao Ji nodded when he heard this. Both sides were reasonable, but he was more biased towards Gao Qiu. Just like Tuoba Li's family was sent to the Song Dynasty as an envoy, what is good for the state is not necessarily good for his own family.
Since this matter can cause panic in the Tuoba Li family, it must be something that is beneficial to the Song Dynasty. Although the ministers were worried about the presence of Wei Mingding and did not say this clearly, everyone in the court except the prince Zhao Huan probably understood it. .
Some people have even realized the profound meaning of Wang Zhi's move, and their scalps are numb.
But what is good for the Song Dynasty is not necessarily good for the Zhao family. What does Wang Zhi want to do with the trade between the two countries? Rebellion!
His Zhao family does not allow such people to exist, even if they are beneficial to the Song Dynasty.
So he waved his hand to stop the debate that had divided the court into two factions, and issued his final decree: immediately send people to the border to investigate the whole story, and ordered Wang Zhi and Zhong Hao to return to Beijing to report on their duties.
He was not released and returned to the court, but was simply recalled to Beijing to report on his duties. Gao Qiu's faction achieved their goal, and Wang Fu's faction had nothing to say, so the matter was settled.
As soon as he left the court, Prince Zhao Huan trotted onto the carriage and returned to the Kaifeng government office. After entering the government office, he went straight to the study without even taking a sip of water.
Chen Xiucai, Qin Abacus, Chen Dong and others were still working on dictionaries here.
"Everyone...everyone, something bad is going to happen!"
Zhao Huan came in panting, interrupting everyone's work.
"Master Fu, what's wrong?"
The scholar asked first, and everyone looked at Zhao Huan.
"My cousin got into a fight with Xixia in the northwest, and was reported directly to the court by the Xixia envoy. The court ordered my cousin to return to Beijing to report on his duties!"
Zhao Huan finished speaking in one breath, panting heavily and sat down to drink water.
"Isn't Aba a deputy commander of the first battalion of the Forbidden Army?"
"Xixia is such a big country. How come it can't even deal with a young general in the army? Why does it still need to come to the Song Dynasty to complain?"
Chen Xiucai was greatly puzzled, and everyone was confused. Although they all knew that Wang Zhi was an extraordinary person, the plot was too outrageous.
Zhao Huan calmed down and talked to everyone about what they had seen in the court today. It took everyone a long time to digest it.
"Master Wang is so powerful. How did he defeat tens of thousands of Xixia troops?"
"Master Wang has only been at the border for a few months, and he has forced Xixia to this point. This must be embarrassing to all the predecessors who have encountered difficulties in Xixia for more than a hundred years."
"Why do you think Master Wang wants to control the trade between the two countries? This is a taboo."
While everyone was pondering, Chen Dong's eyes lit up and he said with great admiration: "Brother Wang controls the Xixia Chamber of Commerce, which is equivalent to controlling the lifeblood of each tribe in Xixia. Over time, he will definitely replace Dangxiang Li in the hearts of Xixia people. status, seize Xixia without any bloodshed!"
