Wu Ji was the confidant guard Zhao Gou sent to Zhangzhou to inquire about Yue Fei's activities. Although Zhao Gou wanted to re-enable Yue Fei, he still had doubts. He always suspected that Yue Fei and Chen Qing were colluding. This was his taboo.
He won't be able to use it either.
But Zhao Gou didn't expect Wu Ji to come back so soon. He quickly said: "Xuan him to come in!"
Not long after, the guard quickly walked into the imperial study, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See your majesty!"
"Tell me! How is the situation?"
The guard stood up and lowered his head and said: "I rushed to Longxi County, Zhangzhou. The investigation went very smoothly. It was completed in three days and I rushed back."
Zhao Gou frowned, "The investigation was completed in three days. What did you encounter?"
"Exactly! When I met the Quanzhou government, I sent a cart of seasonal fruits to the Yue family. Mrs. Yue did not refuse and accepted them all. Then I spent some money to inquire about the surrounding shops. The Quanzhou government often sends special products to the Yue family.
, sometimes they also send some sheep, but they also say that Yue Zhizhou is very honest and will never accept bribes from any officials, so it is strange for him to be humble. If he is unwilling to accept bribes, then why does Yue Mansion accept everything sent by the Quanzhou government?
Isn’t this contradictory?”
"Yes! Why?" Zhao Gou also wanted to know the answer.
"Bizhi found the answer on the third day. He invited a servant of Yue Mansion to drink. He told the truth. These things were rewards for Yue Fei's eldest son Yue Yun. Yue Yun had made many contributions on the battlefield and he did not want any rewards personally.
, I requested that the reward be transferred to my parents, so Yue Mansion would happily accept it."
"Wait a minute!"
Zhao Gou suddenly realized something was wrong and asked: "Yue Fei's eldest son is under Chen Qing?"
"Exactly, Yue Yun is currently the deputy commander of the army directly under Chen Qing. It is said that he is highly regarded by Chen Qing. He will be sent as a vanguard in every battle. He has outstanding military exploits. Yue Fei is also quite proud of his son and even wrote poems to him.
, praising him for recovering Shandong Road and Hebei Road.”
"okay!"
Zhao Gou heard something extremely harsh and interrupted Wu Ji's narration with great displeasure. Wu Ji lowered his head and did not dare to say a word.
After a long while, Zhao Gou asked again: "Is what you said true?"
"Beizhi can guarantee that it is true. Not only is it the account of the servants of the Yue Mansion, Beizhi also inquired from people who are familiar with the situation in the Yue Mansion and got the same answer. Your Majesty can send people to Jingzhao to inquire, and it will definitely be the same answer.
"
"I understand. I will reward you with ten taels of silver. Go and rest!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward!"
Wuji was really a little disappointed. His Majesty only rewarded him with ten taels of silver, which was not enough for his various expenses. However, he did not dare to show it, so he bowed and retreated.
Zhao Gou walked to the window with his hands behind his back. He was really disappointed. He originally thought that Yue Fei was capable and could train troops for him, but he didn't expect that his son was actually a general of the Western Army and accepted various gifts from Prince Yong's Palace. He would rather Yue Fei was greedy.
I don't want Yue Fei to be so close to Prince Yong's Mansion at all. It is true that he is not unjustly accused of colluding with Chen Qing.
Regardless, Han Shizhong could only be used. Although Han Shizhong was not as capable as Yue Fei in leading troops, he was loyal to himself. In Zhao Gou's view, nothing else was important compared to his loyalty to himself.
At Zhang Jun's request, the negotiations between the two parties started again. This time Zhang Jun proposed an annual compensation of 200,000 taels of silver, and at the same time, he was given the treatment of the East Palace according to the etiquette system.
However, this condition was still rejected by Hu Yun. The amount between the two parties was five times different, and it was impossible for Prince Yong's Palace to accept it.
"Zhang Xiangguo, it's not that we must force others to make things difficult. I really can't see your sincerity. If you are unwilling to accept our million taels of silver, then both parties can give in to 800,000 taels of silver. I think this is a
The most reasonable amount.”
Zhang Jun shook his head, "Eight hundred thousand taels of silver is still a difficult task. It accounts for half of our fiscal and tax revenue. Two hundred thousand taels of silver is the limit we can produce. To be honest, we all thought that 200,000 taels of silver would be our problem.
A huge mountain will weigh us down and will only make the people more miserable. After all, the two hundred thousand taels of silver will ultimately be borne by the people. If His Highness King Yong really cares about the people, he should not agree to this condition.
"
Hu Yun smiled slightly and said: "We will not agree, but it is not because of the people, but because the amount is too small. I might as well tell you the bottom line. Our bottom line is 600,000 taels of silver per year, and even one tael less will not work."
After a pause, Hu Yun continued: "Maybe we can work it out. We can sign the agreement once a year. You don't want His Highness King Yong to make a permanent commitment. We will give in one more step, five hundred thousand taels of silver per year, and we can sign it for one year.
How about we talk again in a year?"
Zhang Jun shook his head, "I can't even get half a million taels. What's more, what the emperor wants is a permanent commitment, and signing it once a year is meaningless!"
"In this case, it cannot be less than 600,000 taels of silver per year. I have shown my sincerity and I will not make any more concessions on the amount of silver!"
Zhang Jun spread his hands and said, "Then there is nothing to talk about in terms of compensation. We really can't afford 600,000 taels of silver. Let's talk about something else! Does His Highness King Yong have any other conditions?"
Hu Yun was silent for a moment and said: "If we can't agree on monetary compensation, then the only thing left is land!"
Zhang Jun's heart sank. He had a clear intuition that this was Chen Qing's real condition. If he guessed correctly, Chen Qing wanted the Fujian Road.
Zhang Jun waved his hand to stop Wan Qixi, who was about to jump up, and said with a fake smile: "Since it is a negotiation, any conditions can be put forward. Whether we agree or not is another matter, but maybe we
We can find consensus from it, so don't have any worries, just envoy Hu can put forward the conditions."
Hu Yun said slowly: "If the imperial court is willing to hand over Fujian Road to the jurisdiction of Prince Yong's Mansion, then Prince Yong will not consider overstepping the rule and will wholeheartedly manage the country for the Song Dynasty."
Sure enough, it is Fujian Road.
Zhang Jun naturally could not agree to the other party. They had to go back and ask the emperor for instructions. In fact, even if the emperor agreed, it would not work, and the Zhizhengtang would have to agree. Only Jianghuai and Jiangnan West Road had been completely occupied by Chen Qing. Zhizhengtang
There is nothing you can do if you disagree.
Just when Hu Yun left Zhizhengtang, Wan Qixi said anxiously: "How can you exchange land for a promise? The promise can be overturned at any time, but once the land is lost, it can never be taken back."
Zhang Jun said calmly: "Fujian Road is already the food of the Western Army. They just want to look good. If you don't give it, they will still take Fujian Road."
Wan Qixi was silent for a long time and said: "No matter how good Zhang Xiangguo's reasons are, I believe that the Zhizhengtang will not agree this time."
Zhang Jun smiled and said: "Actually, I won't agree either!"
The conditions finally proposed by Chen Qing were rejected by both Emperor Zhao Gou and Zhi Zhengtang. At this point, the negotiations could no longer proceed and actually broke down.
Chen Qing did not want silver or copper coins. The reason why he raised the price so high was that the other party could not afford it. Otherwise, he would negotiate a price that the other party could accept. Once an agreement was reached, the huge compensation would eventually fall on the people of Jiangnan.
Chen Qinghui is hated by the people in Jiangnan. He will not do such stupid things.
What Chen Qing really wants is the Fujian Road. He is determined to win the Fujian Road. As Zhang Jun said, Chen Qing just wants to look good and look good, nothing more. As for any permanent commitment, it is meaningless in front of Jiangshan Sheji.
Back then, Zhao Kuangyin also vowed to protect the country forever, but what was the result?
What's more, even if Chen Qing agrees, his subordinates and generals will not agree. Everyone has been fighting for this for many years, how could they give up for a false name.
Only the strong can live in the country. It would be too naive for Zhao to constrain the other party through a promise.
At this time, Chen Qing had returned to Jingzhao. The next step was for him to embark on important official position reforms to completely decouple local officials from the imperial court in legal terms.
This is a reform he has been planning for many years, and now he is finally about to implement it.