Move the capital?
The ministers were stunned, their mouths opened wide, and their eyes were full of questions, as if they had heard wrongly.
"Shang was born in Luoyang, enjoyed its local customs, and had the intention of moving the capital." This sentence was said by Emperor Taizu, but Emperor Taizu died suddenly not long after saying these words.
Regarding the sudden death of Emperor Taizu, the official record is as follows: "On the evening of Guichou, the emperor died in the Long Live Hall at the age of fifty. He was buried on the west steps of the hall..." The record can be said to be very simple and hastily explained. As for the cause of death, Not mentioned at all.
Everyone has a guess as to the cause of death, but no one dares to mention it, because everyone knows that the Emperor Taizong who succeeded him was the governor of Kaifeng for more than ten years.
Move the capital?
Have you asked Brother Zhao for his opinion?
Have you asked the civil and military officials of Bianjing City for their opinions?
Have you asked the opinions of tens of thousands of people in Kaifeng Prefecture?
Even Emperor Taizu couldn't move the capital, so who are you, Wang Erlang?
Are there still few famous officials who have proposed moving the capital since the founding of the Song Dynasty?
In the end, they were not suppressed one by one.
To this day, no one dares to talk about moving the capital anymore. This is an enemy of the entire Kaifeng Mansion. No one can handle it, not even the emperor.
"Why did the Taiwei say this?"
The ministers did not jump out to object. This was the emperor's question, and his tone was very casual, without questioning, because they all knew that moving the capital would not succeed unless the Song Dynasty was destroyed.
"If we don't move the capital today, the country will be destroyed tomorrow!" Wang Zhi replied, categorically and beyond doubt.
"Be bold!"
A censor jumped out, pointed at Wang Zhi and scolded, "The Taiwei is rude and openly cursed Guo Zuo. Please remove all official positions of this person and kill him as a follower."
Zhao Ji frowned, and finally waved his hand. He was not guilty of his words, and asked patiently, "How do you say this, Lieutenant Commander?"
It was related to the affairs of Zhao, Song and Jiangshan, so he had no choice but to be careless. Anyone who still regards Wang Erlang's words as a child's joke today is really an ignorant child.
If a person destroys a country, even if he farts, you still have to smell whether it smells good or bad.
Wang Zhi, neither humble nor arrogant, said: "Your Majesty, the Jurchens' wolfish intentions are clearly exposed. I dare to say that within a year, the army will definitely point its troops at Kaifeng."
"May I ask Your Majesty, if the Jurchens come, how can Kaifeng resist them?"
The ministers were slightly shocked. Everyone present was not a fool. How could they not see through the Jurchens' wolfish ambitions? It was just that everyone was lucky. As long as things had not happened yet, they could cover their eyes and not speculate.
Now that the blindfold was pulled off on the spot, all the officials were speechless as they saw the cruel side.
Cai You couldn't help but finally stood up, "Why did the Taiwei increase the prestige of others and destroy his own ambition? I, the Song Dynasty, now have millions of soldiers in the north, and there are as many famous generals as clouds. Isn't my father also staying in Taiyuan? Does the Taiwei think that the king Will the metropolis be unable to protect the Jurchens?"
The defenses on the Hedong and Hebei roads were all arranged by him, who was a member of the Privy Council. He had to stand up for anyone who did not come forward to refute Wang Zhi, because Wang Erlang insisted that the north border could not be defended, which was a slap in his face.
The mention of Wang Zhen in his words also reminded Wang Zhi that we are on the same warship, so don't make trouble.
"I will never doubt my father, but I will not be blindly confident either. There is more than one Taiyuan in Hedong and Hebei. If a million-strong army is effective, it will not be able to defeat even the small Yanjing city in Zanliao."
Wang Zhi does not deny the number of a million troops. No matter how much free money the military leaders receive, the Imperial Army, Xiang Army, and rural soldiers combined cannot reach this number. They have half a million soldiers for Xixia, let alone As for Liao and Jin.
But as to whether this kind of soldier can work, Wang Zhi said it is more reliable to rely on sows climbing trees.
Wang Zhi's words pulled off the last fig leaf of the monarchs and ministers who were talking freely about conquering Yanyun in the north and returning to Xixia in the west. The civil and military officials in the dynasty seemed to be parading through the streets naked, and everyone was filled with shame and anger.
The most embarrassing thing is that they can't refute it, after all, this is the fact.
"Okay, let's postpone this matter for further discussion and withdraw from the court."
After Zhao Ji finished saying this, he stood up and left before giving the officials a chance to react. If Wang Zhi's words humiliated anyone the most, it would be him, the emperor of the Song Dynasty who believed that he was more powerful than the ancestor of Han Dynasty, Tang Zong. .
He has always regarded the recovery of Yanyun as his greatest merit, but now he is being pointed at and scolded for being incompetent and arrogant like him. How can he withstand it? He is afraid that if he stays for a while, he can't help but let the left and right squad members beat him up on the spot. This guy's dog head.
After the eunuch at the head of the palace shouted to retreat, Prince Zhao Huan stepped forward and grabbed Wang Erlang's arm, pulling him out of the palace.
Wang Zhi did not resist and followed him out of the Wende Palace to a deserted corner.
"Cousin, you are confused."
Zhao Huan slapped Wang Erlang in the face at the beginning, "Why don't you communicate with me when you come to court today?"
Wang Erlang argued: "Isn't it because I couldn't find you yesterday?"
Zhao Huan was furious. Yes, he had been settling down the Xixia royal family yesterday and did not return to the East Palace until very late. He was indeed nowhere to be found.
He didn't know that Wang Erlang didn't go looking for him at all, nor did he want to go looking for him, because Wang Zhi knew that no one would approve of his move today.
As expected, Zhao Huan continued to scold him: "Then you shouldn't have suggested moving the capital. If this capital could be moved, it would have been moved more than a hundred years ago. As for why it couldn't be moved, I understand. Why are you so smart? Got confused."
"Cousin." Wang Zhi pressed his hand and looked into his eyes, "If you knew that one day your country would be destroyed and your family would be destroyed because of this, and the people would be left with corpses everywhere, and they would be homeless, would you be indifferent?"
Zhao Huan was a little frightened by his appearance, "You...what are you talking about?"
Wang Zhi looked firmly and said: "Cousin, do you think what I said in the court was a joke?"
"One year."
"A year at most."
"The Jurchens will come to the city."
Zhao Huan's legs softened when he heard this and he almost fell down, "Cousin, how did you learn about this?"
Wang Zhi stabilized his body, "I said this is what I saw, does my cousin believe it?"
Zhao Huan looked at him blankly, not knowing how to speak.
Wang Zhi shook his head and said: "No matter what the outcome is, I did it and worked hard. If the real thing is not feasible, I can be considered worthy of the people."
Zhao Huan froze on the spot, so confused that he couldn't even remember when his cousin left.
Wang Zhi left and did not attend the celebration banquet in the palace. He thought people here would not welcome him either.
The words in his heart came out. He seemed to have taken off his thick armor and felt much more relaxed. When he arrived at Wangfang Town in the west of the city, he hugged the mayor Zhao Dexian's neck and said, "Dexian, why didn't you see me when I came back yesterday?" Come pick me up."
"My master is unjust. You really blamed me wrongly. I kept calling you from behind yesterday until my voice became hoarse. You didn't even look back at me."
Zhao Dexian deliberately lowered his voice as he spoke, "Listen to my voice."
Wang Zhi heard that his original high-pitched voice had turned into a drake voice. What else could he do but choose to forgive him.
"Okay, let me believe you."
Wang Zhi held him in his arms and walked through the town to take a good look at the originally deserted grove, now a primitive industrial park with a dense population.
"Not bad, Dexian, you look good."
Wang Erlang patted him on the shoulder, which was regarded as a reward.
Zhao Dexian obviously liked this idea, and his gray face that had just come out of the workshop was radiant, "It's the owner who has the foresight to think of this win-win strategy of building a workshop, which not only accommodates the refugees, but also produces benefits. Our town It turned a loss into a profit in the first year, and has made a lot of profits in the past two years.”
Wang Zhi nodded with satisfaction when he heard this, and looked behind him to indicate. Zhao Dexian understood, turned around and drove away the people who followed to watch the excitement, and assigned a few people to guard him to prevent others from getting close.
After doing all this, Zhao Dexian asked softly: "What are your orders from the master?"
Wang Zhi hugged him and lowered his head and said: "Take out all the profits, form a guard, and ask Wang Fei to send people over to train. They need to be like real guys."
Zhao Dexian was obviously shocked and repeated: "Real guy?"
Wang Erlang nodded and said: "Well, a real guy, he needs a knife, a gun, armor, and a bow and arrow."
"Master's house!?"
Zhao Dexian looked at him, his eyes filled with shock and questioning.
Wang Erlang patted him and said: "Don't worry, it's not a rebellion, it's just self-protection."
Zhao Dexian has not yet come to his senses, "Is the imperial court going to attack us?"
"No." Wang Zhi shook his head. The Jurchens will not eat the meat on their lips. We must nip it in the bud. "
"But what if the court finds out?"
Zhao Dexian did not dare to think about it anymore. Making armor privately was tantamount to treason. Once discovered, it would not be stopped by beheading. The nine tribes would be punished.
The thought of privately building armor under the emperor's nose makes one's scalp numb.
"I can't care about that much anymore. You have to do a good job of keeping your privacy secret. If you can hide it for a day, when the day comes that the court finds out, I will take the lead."
Zhao Dexian's hair stood up when he heard this, "Master, have we really reached this point?"
Wang Zhi looked far-reaching and looked at the northern wilderness, "I'm afraid it's more than that."
"What, are you scared?" Wang Zhi lowered his head and asked him.
Zhao Dexian's eyes flickered, and after a few breaths, he said: "How could I be afraid? This useless body can stand here. This life is enough. If the Jurchens dare to trample on the master's hard work, I will risk my life not to bite them. a piece of meat."
He deliberately avoided talking about making armor privately, but he said it sincerely. A soldier will die for his confidant. Loyalty has always been more valuable than life. He is not afraid of death, but he is afraid of killing his clan.
He could risk his life for the workshop and the Jurchens, and he could die for his master's family, but his parents and clansmen are innocent. He still can't forget the scene when his parents and clansmen saw him off more than ten years ago. Those eyes often come to mind, making him He can't forget, and he doesn't dare to forget.
Now he holds a town, governs tens of thousands of people, and controls the Bianjing market. He is already a powerful person. Even people from the imperial court have to talk to him politely. All these are given by the master. He should I work hard for my family, but this privately made armor...
On one side were his parents and clan members, on the other side was the master's family. After Wang Zhi left, he stayed where he was for a long, long time...
