The next morning, in the meeting hall of Chen Qing's study, Chen Qing asked his men to hang up the map of the Central Plains and the map of Jinghu South Road. He immediately summoned five counselors from the Internal Affairs Hall to discuss the matter.
Five counselors had been notified and rushed over. Guan Shigu asked with a smile: "What kind of melon did your Highness give to Wei Chen last night? I have never seen it before?"
Zhou Kuan gave a thumbs up and praised: "You really haven't seen it before? It tastes very good, sweet and glutinous."
Chen Qing smiled and said to everyone: "I call it pumpkin. Chao Kun brought it back from Nanyang, but this kind of melon does not exist in Nanyang. There is only one in the world in a very far away place. You all tasted it last night, but
I have already planted it at home. If it is successful, I will promote it. The yield is large, it does not take up any land, it can be used as a staple food, and it can save many people in disaster years."
Zhang Miao smiled and said: "Your Highness, I also like to grow vegetables at home. Can you give me a few seeds and I will try growing them too."
"No problem. I'll wait for the butler to collect the seeds and bring some to everyone. Let's all try it and plant them like winter melons."
After chatting a few more words with everyone, Chen Qing clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Let's get started!"
Everyone calmed down, and Chen Qing said slowly: "Hu Yun got the exact news from Lin'an. One of the real purposes of the Emperor's Northern Expedition was Lin'an. He wanted to capture Li Qiong and use Xuzhou, Suzhou, Pizhou, Haizhou and other four
The state exchanged Bianliang with me for another purpose, which everyone knows, which was to reduce the vassal status and completely remove Han Shizhong's military power."
Jiang Yan was confused and said: "Bianliang City is just a small piece of land in Kaifeng Mansion. Even if they get Bianliang, how will they manage it? It's unrealistic!"
Chen Qing said with a smile: "I guess the emperor himself has not thought about this problem, or he has taken it for granted, thinking that I can allow him to cross the border at any time, but if I only give Bianliang to him in name so that he can gain face, then I
Use this face to exchange face with him, and take all the remaining seven or eight states on Jinghu South Road into your pocket. Our border will be pushed to Ezhou in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and Jinghu North Road will be surrounded. In order to annex Jinghu North Road in the next step
The foundation was laid.”
Zhao Kai nodded and said: "So His Highness wants to take advantage of the emperor's eagerness for Bianliang and give him Bianliang in name in exchange for the remaining seven states on Jinghu South Road?"
"Exactly!"
Chen Qing said calmly: "Bianliang is the foundation of the emperor's ancestors. If he wants to answer to his ancestors, he must regain Bianliang. I understand his mentality very well."
Zhou Kuan sighed and said: "The emperor is not stupid at all, he is smart! The Jin Kingdom had previously expressed its intention to return the Central Plains to the Song Dynasty, but the court unanimously opposed it and refused to accept the Central Plains. The reason was that the financial burden was too heavy and they were unwilling to take over this lousy place.
The burden, we took over in the end, and then the emperor wanted Bianliang, and at the same time he didn’t have to bear the heavy financial pressure of Henan Road, so he was very smart in his calculations!"
Everyone nodded. Zhou Kuan was right. This is indeed what happened. Chen Qing smiled and said: "But the more this happens, the more successful I will be in proposing the conditions for Jinghu South Road. Anyway, Jinghu South Road is actually under our control."
, he can’t get a penny from finance and taxes, so why not do a favor and he also gets the nominal ownership of Bianliang, I believe he will settle this account clearly.”
Jiang Yanxian asked: "How is the nominal ownership of His Highness considered?"
"I will give him two positions at most, Kaifeng Prefectural Governor and Tokyo Remainer. Whether he sends people to Bianliang or not is the same thing. These two are false positions. The actual control is with the Kaifeng Prefectural Governor appointed by me. In addition, the imperial court
We cannot garrison troops in Bianliang. Of course, I can also promise not to garrison troops in Bianliang. I will instead garrison troops in Chenliu. Without a garrison, staying in Tokyo is equally useless. As my sincerity, I can return the palace and ancestral temple to him.
The tombs of the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty were also handed over to him. He promised so much, which is enough to be benevolent and righteous."
These concessions did not involve the vital interests of the Western Army, and no one had any objections. Jiang Yanxian asked: "Who does Your Highness intend to involve in the negotiations?"
Chen Qing said slowly: "I have written a very detailed letter to Hu Yun, telling him the goals I want to achieve and my bottom line concessions. He can negotiate with the court on my behalf and the location of the negotiations.
It can be placed in Lin'an."
Zhang Miao, who has not expressed his position, reminded: "There are still some details that Your Highness needs to consider carefully. For example, since the other party owns Bianliang in name, they will definitely restrict our presence in Bianliang. Some of them may allow it, such as the county government,
I guess they will only allow the county government to exist. This is understandable. Since it is nominally theirs, but nominally we cannot exist too much in Bianliang, just like the Xuanfu Envoy Si Guan Yamen, the Prefecture Official Yamen, and the Transfer Envoy Si Guan Yamen.
, Defense Commissioner, etc., has His Highness considered how to respond?"
"Does Counselor Zhang have any good suggestions?" Chen Qingxiao asked.
Zhang Miao bowed slightly and said: "I have considered three options. The first one is a tough one. Maintain the status quo. At most, I will command the envoys and officials to move to Chenliu to ensure that no troops are stationed in Bianliang, while the Xuanfu envoys and prefecture offices will remain open.
In Bianliang, just don't interfere in Bianliang affairs.
The second plan is called a compromise plan, which is to limit the other party's reputational ownership within the city walls of Bianliang during the negotiation, but we can arrange the relevant government offices outside the city, so that it has nothing to do with the other party.
The third option is a compromise. The prefect and commander will be moved to Chenliu County, and the pacifier will be moved to Luoyang. Your Highness can consider these three options."
Chen Qing nodded, "The first plan is too tough, the third compromise plan is too weak, they are different, but the second compromise plan is very smart, changing the soup without changing the medicine, and also limits the other party's nominal ownership to the county.
, this idea is very good, do you have any other opinions?”
Guan Shigu said with a smile: "Your Highness, the county government must have rural soldiers to maintain public security! It doesn't need too many people. It is enough to select 500 elites from the scout camp. Appoint a commander as the county captain to directly command the 500 townships.
Soldier."
Chen Qing said happily: "It's a very good plan, I support it very much!"
With everyone's words, the final plan was finalized. Chen Qing immediately ordered a team of cavalry to ride three horses and send the final plan to Lin'an in a hurry of 800 miles.
After the discussion was over, everyone went back. Chen Qing stopped Jiang Yanxian, saying that he still had something to discuss with Jiang Yanxian.
In the official room, Chen Qing asked Jiang Yan to sit down first and asked with a smile: "The imperial examination will be held in ten days. Is the examiner confirmed?"
Jiang Yanxian replied: "The princess recommended Lu Cunyi, a doctor of Taixue, as the examiner, and the Internal Affairs Hall voted unanimously to approve it. Currently, Lu Cunyi and many examiners are isolated in the examination hall. The examination questions are the ones determined by His Highness last time."
Chen Qing nodded, took out a piece of paper and handed it to Jiang Yanxian. Jiang Yanxian opened the note first, with the words "Bianliang Yushou" written on it. He couldn't help but be startled, "Your Highness, what does this mean?"
"This person is the third son of Xu Xiantu. According to the political conditions reached by Xu Xiantu and I, we will admit his third son as a Jinshi. The ranking can be a little lower, but he must be admitted, no matter how well he does in the exam, and then he will be placed outside
Yuchi County, Kaifeng Prefecture, is the county captain, which is also the condition for my agreement to Xu Xiantu."
"I understand, I will definitely make arrangements for you!" Jiang Yan bowed first and left.
When Chen Qing was deep in thought, someone came to report, "Your Highness, Chao Kun wants to see you!"
"Let him in!"
Not long after, Chao Kun walked in quickly, bowed and said, "I'm sorry to see you, Your Highness!"
"When will you return to Quanzhou?"
"The humble post will leave tomorrow morning. Zhang Doujian said that for the 80,000 gu, a counter note of 80,000 gu will be issued to me from Chengdu Baoji Cabinet. Baoji will then be responsible for cashing it in Quanzhou. All cash will be paid within two months.
complete."
"Very good, this is safer than carrying 80,000 copper coins on the road."
After a pause, Chen Qingdao said: "I have a few things to tell you. You must go to Nanyang again this summer to implement some of my ideas."
With that said, Chen Qing handed him a letter and told him: "The letter is confidential, keep it!"
Chao Kun took the letter and said: "You must be cautious in your humble position!"