"Congratulations to your Majesty on your return to the capital!"
In front of the Chui Gong Hall, Prince Liu Yang, Prime Minister Zhao Pu and several important military and political officials stood respectfully on the side of the royal road, paying homage! .
"No gifts! No gifts at all!" A smile spread across his face in the gentle autumn breeze. Emperor Liu seemed to be in a very good mood and his attitude was very cordial.
"How is your majesty recovering? Is it going as well as you want?" Liu Yang smiled and asked in a warm and caring voice.
"Very good, this view of the scenery of our Han Dynasty makes me feel refreshed physically and mentally!" Emperor Liu looked at a few people and said, "However, I am out touring the mountains and rivers, enjoying my leisurely life, and I am tired of all of you who are working hard and dedicated in the capital to manage state affairs. I’m a little embarrassed!”
"In his position, to plan his affairs, he has your majesty's trust, and he trusts his ministers with his heart and soul. I should only fulfill my duties and fulfill my expectations. If the corpse is left alone, I will not only betray your majesty's trust, but also my ministers and others will be uneasy!" Zhao Pu said.
"Haha! Among all the ministers of the dynasty, Zhao Qing's awareness of serving the country and the people is worth learning from. I am particularly relieved to leave the government affairs to you!" Emperor Liu looked at Zhao Pu with a smile.
When Zhao Pu heard this, he immediately made an expression of honor, bowed slightly, clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is so complimentary. I feel ashamed, but I really don't dare to accept it!"
"There is no need for Zhao Qing to be modest!" Emperor Liu said: "Before returning to the palace, I walked around the capital. The city was prosperous and full of people. I felt that the rivers were clear, the sea was flowing, and everything was peaceful. These are the hard work of all the ministers. The merits of politics!"
"Don't stand still, let's go back to the palace!" After a few words of greetings, Emperor Liu called a few people to go into the Chui Gong Palace, and said: "I don't need you to pick up the wind for me. It's getting late, and I ordered someone to prepare a banquet of wine and food. , let’s chat while eating!”
"yes!"
Stars held the moon in their hands, and they entered the palace and took their seats, and tea was served inside. The rich aroma of tea gradually filled the empty hall, and it soon turned into a high-end tea party.
Putting down the tea cup, Emperor Liu raised his head and looked at Cao Bin, the deputy privy envoy in charge of military affairs, and said: "Before we arrived in Beijing, we have already received the news of the victory in Liaodong! I have already read the victory report. Cao tell me more about the current situation in Northeast China!"
"Yes!" Cao Bin stood up and spoke solemnly as if on reflex.
"Sit down and talk!" Emperor Liu said with a chuckle, both happy and helpless about Cao Bin's unchangeable habit.
After hearing this, Cao Bin returned to his seat and calmly reported: "According to the follow-up military reports, Huanglong Mansion has been completely recovered. The Liao army entrenched in it was wiped out by Ma Renyu in one fell swoop, and 3,299 people were captured. The Liao army commander Yelu Xiezhen , was eventually captured by the military cavalry, but eventually committed suicide and was not captured alive.
There were also Liao generals Yelvxiu Ge and Xiao Taolin who led the remnants of more than a thousand people to escape and hid in the mountains and forests. Unable to pursue them, Ma Renyu judged that this remnant enemy would return to Liaojing!
Currently, Ma Renyu is personally in charge of Huanglong Mansion, resting his troops and waiting for the next move! "
Emperor Liu couldn't help but nodded, with a slight smile on his lips, and said: "Ma Renyu is becoming more and more like a general. This battle has almost achieved full success. All the land and Khidan have been lost in the Northeast. The court should reward him!"
"Yes!" Cao Bin responded.
"Ma Renyu has three more things to ask for!" After a pause, Cao Bin continued: "First, whether the head of the stubborn enemy Yelv Xiezhen should be delivered to Xijing, or whether it should be sent to all sides to show the military's power and scare the masses. ?”
Hearing this, Emperor Liu sighed with regret in his tone: "Yelü Xiezhen can be regarded as a famous general and loyal minister of his generation. Although he is an enemy general, he also caused great losses to our army in the previous battle. But on the battlefield, everyone is I admire his master's talent and wisdom very much.
Now, he can be regarded as martyred for his country. The deceased is already dead, so there is no need to humiliate his body. There is no need to show the military power of the Han Dynasty through this method. Let's keep his whole body and give him dignity!
In reply to Ma Renyu, Yelu Xiezhen was buried in a coffin, and the inscription on the tree monument said, "Let him rest in the northeastern land forever!" "
"yes!"
"Your Majesty, this is a very good move!" After hearing Emperor Liu's treatment, Zhao Pu stood by and took the lead to speak out, saying: "This can't help but give Yelu Xiezhen some dignity, and it also shows our emperor's magnanimity and benevolence, and his bloody battles with our Han soldiers. It is also a kind of commemoration. If you treat your enemies like this, if word of it spreads, and your majesty’s majesty is destined to reach far and wide, why worry about tribes coming from far away to surrender to the Han to show their submission?"
Listening to Zhao Pu's words, Emperor Liu had a sweet intuition and couldn't help but laugh. This Zhao Pu, a simple act of kindness, turned into countless good things from his mouth.
As for Zhao Pu, his expression was as usual, he was a prime minister, and he didn't feel shy at all about flattery. With his face and self-cultivation, he could be considered a master of cultivation, and few people in the court could match him.
Cao Bin continued: "Secondly, after the Huanglong Mansion was recovered, Wanyan Bahai, the leader of the Jurchen Wanyan tribe, asked for help, hoping that the imperial court would fulfill its promise and make it accept Huanglong Mansion. Ma Renyu did not dare to act on his own and asked the court for instructions. resolution?"
"Does this kind of matter still need to be reported to the imperial court for resolution?" Shi Shouxin expressed his attitude on the spot, saying: "How can we, the Han soldiers, surrender the city and land gained by fighting to the death to these barbarians? This is just Wanyan Bahai, it is too whimsical. Bar!"
"You can't say that!" Wang Pu shook his head and said: "Last year, when the Northern Expedition was in full swing and the situation was unclear, His Majesty promised to make Huanglong Mansion its territory and gave him the post of governor, but the Wanyan tribe dared to betray the Khitan and raised The troops in the north involved a lot of energy of the Liao army. In terms of affairs against the Liao, their troops had contributed to the Han Dynasty after all. Now I respectfully request you to make a promise. If the court directly refuses, it may be an act of betrayal and betrayal of the national dignity. It is not a great country. What you did!"
"You really can't say that!" After listening to Wang Pu's words, Shi Shouxin glanced at him sideways and retorted: "Wanyan's tribe did indeed have merit, but he moved his clan south to fight against an empty Huanglong Mansion, but he ended up abandoning his troops and armor. , the result of a huge defeat.
It would be fine if he takes Huanglong Mansion by himself, but now Huanglong Mansion is captured by my king's army. It takes a lot of time and effort. If we give it to others, I am afraid that the military will not be convinced. Wang Xianggong is in charge of the government. He doesn't know the hard work of the soldiers. He wants to give up the country's land. He talks so easily and high-sounding. I really don't agree! "
There was inevitably sarcasm in Shi Shouxin's words. He, Wang Pu, was also a man who wanted to save face. How could he bear it? He immediately said angrily: "Privy Master Shi, you have said it! I never said that I would give up the land. I was just worried about the dignity of the country. Could it be that you Do you want His Majesty to break his promise and lose face?"
"I only know that selling the country's territory and tarnishing the achievements of the soldiers will harm the dignity of the country!" Shi Shouxin immediately refuted.
“Privy Master Shi’s words were taken out of context!”
"Don't you feel that Wang Xianggong's remarks are insulting to the country?"
These two people, one the Prime Minister and the other the Prime Minister, started arguing in front of Emperor Liu. Their voices became louder than the other, which surprised everyone. Emperor Liu was the same, looking at the two with a little curiosity, thinking to himself, when did these two people have a grudge, and they actually competed like this in front of him.
It was Prince Liu Yang who spoke out and tried to dissuade him a little, and then things calmed down. Moreover, both of them suddenly realized it and turned to Emperor Liu. They saw him looking at them with a playful expression. His expression suddenly calmed down and he returned to the demeanor of an important minister.
"Second Qing, are you done with your quarrel?" Emperor Liu chuckled.
Hearing this, everyone was shocked. Wang Pu immediately said: "I have lost my composure!"
"I've lost my decency!" Shi Shouxin had a similar reaction.
His eyes wandered around the two of them twice, and Emperor Liu said: "Both of you are important ministers of the country. They both consider the great man and have their own opinions. There is nothing wrong with that. However, we are all colleagues, so we need to restrain our anger." !”
"Yes!" As soon as Emperor Liu spoke, the two of them fell into a complete hibernation and their attitudes returned to their original state.
Withdrawing his gaze, Emperor Liu instructed: "What Wang Qing said is reasonable. The promise I made last year is not empty talk. The emperor speaks gold and gold. I don't want to break my words and make the barbarians laugh. Shi Qing is also right. If I If I give Huanglong Mansion to the Wanyan Department, at least the Northeastern soldiers will not agree."
"Now it seems that I was generous in the beginning but ended up in this embarrassing situation now. How to solve such a dilemma?"
Faced with Emperor Liu's question, the palace was silent for a moment, and the important ministers of the Han Dynasty seemed to be in trouble at the same time. It seems that it is indeed difficult to handle while taking Emperor Liu's face into consideration while not allowing the country to lose its land.
There was silence in the air for a long time, but Zhao Pu finally spoke, and he raised his hand to Emperor Liu: "Your Majesty speaks of the Tianxian, and since he has said what he said, there is no reason to break the contract. I think that the Wanyan Ministry is asking for land, so you might as well agree to it!"
Upon hearing his words, Shi Shouxin was immediately ready to make a move, but seeing that Emperor Liu did not refute, he restrained himself from having the same attack as before.
As for Emperor Liu, he knew Zhao Pu to some extent and knew that he still had something to say, so he did not express his position and just continued to listen to him. Sure enough, Zhao Pu did not pretend to be mysterious and continued: "However, the land of Huanglong Mansion is a strategic point in the northeast and cannot be allowed to others. It is also obtained by the soldiers' hard fighting, and it cannot hurt the morale of the soldiers. Therefore, I suggest that it is better to set up another place outside Huanglong Mansion. Choose a place to reward it!"
After hearing what he said, Emperor Liu thought for a moment, smiled on his old face, and asked: "In Zhao Qing's opinion, where is the appropriate place to change the gift?"
Zhao Pu obviously had a plan for a long time and did not hold back. He immediately answered: "I think it is better to give the Tieli area north of the Hun Tong River to the Wanyan tribe. Although it is not as prosperous as the Huanglong Mansion, it is better than the vastness. Just like According to the precedent, he was asked to take it for himself. If he could take it and accept it, the court would also admit it. If his strength was insufficient, the court would not be blamed.
I think that Wanyan Bahai is not a mentally retarded person, and he probably understands that it is not easy for the imperial court to ask for Huanglong Mansion. He just wants an explanation, and the imperial court will give him an explanation.
In addition, support his unit with some money, food and weapons to reassure him. In this way, it will not harm His Majesty's face, but also benefit Wanyan's troops, so he can have both ends.
I think this is the case, so I would like to ask Your Majesty to review it! "
After Zhao Pu finished speaking, everyone was thoughtful and could not help but look sideways at Zhao Pu. The ministers present were very knowledgeable and they all vaguely felt that this proposal was feasible. Including Shi Shouxin, he no longer insisted that Tu Zhi said that he could not let the earth talk, and sat there silently.
Emperor Liu looked at Zhao Pu and smiled slightly: "If Zhao Qing is quick and wise, he can help me out!"
