"this……"
Is it too much to belittle Song Jun in this way? Zhao Ji didn't know how to refute for a while, but Cai Jing and Tong Guan were silent and did not dare to answer.
Huang Shang remained indifferent and continued: "My idea is to let the Liao and Jurchen fight evenly. No one can beat the other, and there will be a stalemate."
"ah!"
Huang Shang said: "Actually, Your Majesty, we have supported the Jurchens a long time ago."
Zhao Ji asked: "When?"
Huang Shang said: "As early as when the late emperor first took charge, the war between Song and Liao was about to break out. Before the late emperor was ready, he provided a large amount of materials and weapons to the Jurchens, who were still a tribe at the time, so that they could contain Liao from behind. It’s just that the Jurchens were also very cunning at the time. They did not oppose the Liao directly, but only made trouble secretly. However, this also prevented the Liao from easily starting a war with the Song Dynasty. The Jurchens now have the ability to fight against the Liao directly, which is inseparable from the support we gave them at that time. But we were Helping the Jurchens is not through the formal way, but through Goryeo, and the Jurchens don't know that it is the Song Dynasty that really supports them."
And this!
At that time, Zhao Ji was still there and Cai Jing was not in the central government, so neither of them knew about it.
Cai Jing thought more. He knew Huang Shang's resume. At that time, Huang Shang was just Zhao Ji's teacher and did not hold any important position in the court. It should not be his turn to know about this kind of thing. The ability of Goryeo to resume tribute with Song Dynasty relied on the Yanping Huang family's connection, so this strategy should have come from Huang Shang.
That is to say, the late emperor asked Huang Shang, who was unemployed, at a critical moment. Afterwards, Huang Shang was still unhappy in the court. Was it because the late emperor did not reuse him?
I'm afraid not, but Huang Shang refuses to be reused. If Huang Shang had the intention to seize power, he shouldn't have been without Shengfu for so many years.
Huang Shang took a sip of tea and said: "I think this kind of secret support is better than a formal alliance. The Liao Kingdom has the Song Dynasty in front of it and the Jurchen Kingdom in the back. Xia also borders Song, Liao and Tubo at the same time, and the Jurchen Kingdom has the Liao Kingdom in front of it. , followed by Goryeo, each of which was attacked from both sides, so this is the most powerful for us. If there are any other ethnic groups in the north that can rise, we should also strongly support it, but we should not support any one to unify the north, but maintain the coexistence of multiple ethnic groups in the north. "
Huang Shang's words made the three of them think deeply. They had never thought about the problem in this way.
Zhao Ji asked: "Then how to take back the sixteen states of Yanyun?"
Huang Shang said: "Once the Jurchens raise troops to fight against the Liao, we will deploy troops in the north, but there is no need to rush to join the war. It will only involve the energy of the Liao, making it impossible for him to exterminate the Jurchens with all his strength. If the Jurchens are too weak, we will still pass The Goryeo line supports the Jurchens. As long as the Jurchens have the upper hand, we can propose to the Liao that as long as Yanyun is returned, the Song Dynasty will never send troops, so that they can do their best to eliminate the Jurchens. Xiao Feng is the sole and important minister of the Liao, and has a close relationship with His Majesty Due to the friendship of the same family, when the time comes, I can personally travel to Liao and convince Liao that as long as Yan Yun is returned, even if they don't put a single soldier on the border of Song and Liao, Song will never take a step northward, and he can gain the trust of Liao. When the time comes, if the Jurchens are weak, we will support the Jurchens, and if the Liao are weak, we can also support the Liao."
Zhao Ji's eyes shone brightly, as if he had withdrawn Yan Yun and was right in front of him.
Huang Shang said: "We don't need them to destroy each other. What we need is that none of them can destroy the other."
Zhao Ji was excited for a while. He was worthy of being his teacher. Even he kept looking at the teacher.
Zhao Ji's purpose of going south this time was not to ask for Huang Shang's opinion. He just mentioned it in passing, but he felt suddenly enlightened that he really came to the right place this time.
Zhao Ji then asked: "Teacher, what do you think of the reform?"
Cai Jing's whole body tensed up. When Huang Shang was asked what he said before, Cai Jing would not be nervous. But now, even he has been conquered by Huang Shang. Once Huang Shang comes up with any constructive suggestions, depending on the emperor's attitude, he may step aside during the reform.
Is it possible that Huang Shang has no opinion on the reform? I'm afraid it's impossible.
Cai Jing stared at Huang Shang closely.
Huang Shang frowned and fell into deep thought.
Zhao Ji knew Huang Shang to some extent. Since Huang Shang had such profound insights into international relations, reform was now the top priority in the country and closely related to him, so he could not be without words. The only explanation for such silence is that Huang Shang was choosing his words, or he didn't know whether he should or not.
Zhao Ji said anxiously: "Teacher, don't hide anything, speak freely."
Huang Shang said: "In my opinion, it is only a matter of time that the advancement of the reform will be blocked. The Wuyue land in the south of the Yangtze River was not conquered by Taizu's troops, but surrendered. The aristocratic families in the south of the Yangtze River have been preserved, so the issue of land annexation has always been They all exist. This dynasty has wanted to solve this problem through reform since Emperor Renzong. With the dignity of the emperor, we pushed forward forcefully, and with the talent of Wang Xianggong, we managed the reform, but it also ended in failure. You can imagine how difficult it was."
Zhao Ji asked: "Teacher is not optimistic about the reform?"
Huang Shang said: "Reform means the redistribution of interests. There are problems with change, and there are problems that remain unchanged. The resistance to change comes from aristocratic families, but if they remain unchanged, if aristocratic families continue to control social resources and exploit the working people at the bottom, sooner or later it will be aroused. To start a popular uprising among the people at the bottom. Generally speaking, I am inclined to reform, but how to change requires careful consideration. Your Majesty can refer to the history of the Sui Dynasty. The south holds the money bag, and the big families in the south actually do not want the reunification of the north and the south. , secession is the best way for the big southern landowners to protect their own interests, and it is not impossible for them to directly collude with foreign races."
Huang Shang's words plunged the Jiangnan family into a situation of no return. Zhao Ji had endless speculations in his heart, but he did not dare to speak out easily, fearing that he would not be able to control them by then.
Zhao Ji said: "Teacher, please express all your thoughts."
If Huang Shang couldn't solve it, he wouldn't even mention it. He must already have a solution in mind, and there was no need to rush.
Huang Shang was silent again. This silence made Zhao Ji understand that Huang Shang was not thinking, but hesitating. This method may be unusual or shocking.
Zhao Ji said to Cai Jing and Tong Guan: "You guys retreat first."
The more scruples Huang Shang had, the more Zhao Ji had to listen. Since it was inconvenient, he should be alone.
Both Cai Jing and Tong Guan's eyes flickered and they stood up to leave.
Huang Shang stretched out his hand to stop him and said, "No need."
Huang Shang didn't need anyone to avoid him, he was just very cautious at this time.
Huang Shang let out a long breath, and the three of them immediately concentrated, knowing that he was about to speak.
Huang Shang said: "The root of the problem is that Jiangnan has not experienced the disaster of weapons. To solve the problem, we must go back to this root."
Zhao Ji asked: "What's the answer?"
Huang Shang said word for word: "The officials are forcing the people to rebel!"
"ah!"
The three of them all looked at Huang Shang dumbfounded.
