Zhao Gou waved his hands and said: "My dear friends, there is no need to argue. The separate establishment of Xihe Road is my answer. Since I have already agreed, don't go back on your promise. Let's discuss the matter. Xihe Road can be borrowed from the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Division."
He entered the memorial hall, but was not under the jurisdiction of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Department."
The Emperor has made a final decision, so there is nothing to argue about.
This was a bit unexpected by Lu Yihao. He originally thought that Chen Qing would be deprived of his power to appoint personnel and handed over to the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Department. Unexpectedly, the official vetoed it on his own initiative. This was very unlike the official style. He seemed to have concerns.
What is he worried about?
Everyone sat down, and Zhao Gou handed Chen Qing's memorial to all the ministers for circulation. He slowly said: "As for the recruitment of the Xihe Army in Bashu, Chen Qing explained in the memorial that he had captured Lintao Mansion and found out.
There were almost no Han people in Lintao Prefecture, and a lot of cultivated land in the Tao River Valley was abandoned. The entire Xihe Road population was too small, so he had no choice but to recruit 10,000 young people from the northwest immigrants from Bashu and arrange for them to farm in the Tao River Valley to solve the problem.
The problem of insufficient military rations seems not impossible, so I said that if we explain the matter clearly, some unnecessary misunderstandings will disappear, Qin Xianggong, don’t you think so?"
"Your Majesty is absolutely right, but I am worried that this is just an excuse for Chen Qing to recruit more troops. He is a military commander. If there is no civilian control, it does not comply with the Song Dynasty's rule of using civility to control military affairs!"
Chen Qing is Lu Yihao's grandson-in-law. Lu Yihao had to avoid suspicion on this bill, so he went to Zhang Jun yesterday and asked Zhang Jun to come forward to help Chen Qing today.
Zhang Jun sneered and said: "Qin Xianggong is just talking on paper!"
Qin Hui said angrily: "What I said is true. Where is the talk on paper?"
Zhang Jun shook his head, "Do you think Chen Qing can over-recruit troops if he wants to? Do you know how much military salary ten thousand people have to pay? It is the same amount every month in peacetime, but double in wartime, as well as their food, drink, toilet, clothing, etc."
Shoes cost at least 2 to 3 guan per person a month, which is 200,000 to 300,000 guan a year. In such a poor place as Xihe Road, the restaurant clerk only earns 3 guan a month. The entire Xihe Road only earns 300 yuan a month.
With a population of 100,000, do you think they can afford military expenditures of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year?"
Qin Hui was speechless for a moment. Zhu Shengfei asked Su Qi, the Minister of Household Affairs, in dissatisfaction: "Excuse me, Minister Su, what is the population of Xihe Road now?"
Su Qiying stood up quickly, bowed and said: "Reporting to Xianggong Zhu, last year the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Division provided an approximate number of people. It was about 300,000 people in the six prefectures and one prefecture on Xihe Road. However, this is just an estimate. Xihe Road is not in our area.
In hand."
Everyone laughed knowingly, and Zhu Shengfei was a little embarrassed. Last year, he was the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan and Shaanxi! As a result, the Ministry of Revenue gave the data he provided.
At this time, Xu Xiantu, the Privy Councilor, also stood up and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhang is right. The military salary on Xihe Road is controlled by the imperial court. Chen Qing really cannot afford the additional military expenditure. This is actually the imperial court's control of the army."
It is a kind of control over Xihe Road, and it is the most important kind of control, so the Privy Council never worries about Chen Qinghui’s extraordinary actions.”
Xu Xiantu's words have been very straightforward. Chen Qing's balls are being pinched by the court! If he dares to disobey, just give him a little tug to ensure that he begs for mercy.
Lu Yihao frowned slightly. Zhang Jun and Xu Xiantu were right! How could Chen Qing afford a military expenditure of 10,000 people?
His expression became slightly unnatural. He thought of something terrible. Could it be that Chen Qing was minting money in private?
At this time, Zhao Gou glanced at everyone and said slowly: "This is the end of Bashu's recruitment of civilians to farm. I believe that Chen Dutong must have sent the memorial early and then sent people to recruit. Just as Chen Dutong did
The memorial stated that he had to recruit laborers before the winter wheat was sown, but because the journey was too far, the recruitment over there had been completed, and the memorial had not yet been sent here. The situation was special, and this matter was excusable."
The emperor has set the tone and there are extenuating circumstances, so this matter ends here.
Everyone stood up and left one after another. Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei were helpless and had to get up and go back to the court room. Unexpectedly, the official was actually speaking for Chen Qing, which really disappointed them.
At this time, a young eunuch came forward and whispered: "The official family invites the two husbands to go to the imperial study."
.........
In the imperial study room, Zhao Gou was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his hands, a solemn expression on his face. The relaxation in the court discussion had disappeared without a trace. On his imperial desk was a secret report from Lu Fasheng, the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu envoy.
This report was also delivered yesterday afternoon, arriving in Lin'an almost at the same time as Chen Qing's memorial.
Lu Fasheng described in detail the current situation of Xihe Road in his report, such as the expansion of the army, the construction of cities, the eastward expedition to Deshun Prefecture, the westward attack on Gongzhou and Lintao Prefecture, several fierce battles with the Xixia Army, sending people to mine saltpeter mines, and using prisoners of war to mine iron.
Mines, etc.
As for appointing magistrates of states and counties, these are trivial matters.
In this report, Zhao Gou saw the actions of a Tang Dynasty Jiedushi, not a Song Dynasty Jiedushi. The Song Dynasty Jiedushi did not have such great power. It can be said that at the beginning of the founding of the Song Dynasty, the power of the Jiedushi was limited.
All the rules and regulations set by Chen Qing were broken.
This made Zhao Gou shocked, angry, and deeply anxious at the same time. Removing Chen Qing was of course the best way, but Zhao Gou was also a little bit cautious!
At this time, a eunuch reported outside the door, "Xianggong Qin and Duke Zhu are here!"
"Invite them in!"
After a moment, Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei walked in quickly, bowed and saluted: "See your majesty!"
"Please sit down!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei sat down, Zhao Gou said calmly: "Today's court meeting, the two ministers seem to have different opinions?"
Qin Hui immediately said anxiously: "Your Majesty, we are recruiting 10,000 young men to work in the fields. I am afraid that this can only deceive a three-year-old child. This is definitely a recruitment of troops. There is no doubt. If you recruit troops, you will recruit troops. I have no objection. What I am worried about is
The imperial system was destroyed, and military commanders had to be controlled by civilian officials. Without this restriction, military commanders would be lawless, and the disasters of the Mid-Tang Dynasty would reappear."
Zhao Gou was silent for a while, and Qin Hui's words touched his heart.
Zhu Shengfei also said: "Your Majesty, I know Chen Qing very well. He is arrogant and arrogant. When Chen Qing came to Beijing, Wei Chen sent someone to temporarily set up an envoy for Qinzhou, but he sent someone to pretend to be a puppet Qi army and killed him.
Yes, this person has no bottom line in what he does and is ruthless. If Your Majesty does not eradicate him as soon as possible, he will become a disaster to the Song Dynasty sooner or later."
Zhao Gou nodded, "I completely understand the concerns of the two husbands, and I am also very aware of what Chen Qing is doing in the northwest."
With that said, Zhao Gou took Lu Fasheng's secret report and handed it to Qin Hui and Qin Hui. Qin Hui took the report and his heart jumped suddenly. This is the secret report of Lu Fasheng, the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu envoy! He actually bypassed the imperial court.
Obviously Zhang Jun didn't know either. You must know that Sichuan and Shaanxi are Zhang Jun's territory, and Lu Fasheng was the Xuanfu envoy recommended by Zhang Jun.
Qin Hui immediately realized that the officials had secretly crossed to Chencang and had already secretly held Lu Fasheng in their hands.
Zhu Shengfei also realized this, but he was not as happy as Qin Hui. When he was appointed as the envoy to Sichuan and Shaanxi, he suppressed Lu Fasheng deeply. The two of them had almost turned against each other. If Lu Fasheng became the prime minister in the future, how could he not take revenge on himself?
I'm afraid he is more ruthless than Zhang Jun.
Zhao Gou walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and said with a worried look on his face: "You think I don't know anything and let the people below deceive me? In my heart, I am actually like a mirror."
Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei looked at each other, it turned out that the officials knew everything.
Qin Hui said cautiously: "Lu Fasheng said that Chen Qing was using Xixia prisoners of war to mine iron ore, but Wei Chen believed that Chen Qing had a large number of captured weapons in his hands. He was not short of iron. He must be using the iron ore as a cover to mine copper ore.
Cast money, otherwise where will he get the money to recruit troops? This is the key. Wei Chen suggested that an envoy be sent to Qinzhou immediately to verify the iron mines as a breakthrough."
Zhao Gou shook his head, "If something can be done, I said it during the court meeting. Whether it is copper or iron ore, it has seriously violated the prohibition of enforcement personnel not to mine without authorization. I have concerns!"
"What concerns does Your Majesty have?"
Zhao Gou sighed, "I'm worried that if we press too hard, he will surrender to the puppet Qi. With his ability, Sichuan and Shaanxi will be completely finished. This matter must be discussed in the long term. I hope the two gentlemen can understand."
Qin Hui rolled his eyes and said: "We understand your Majesty's difficulties, but you cannot let Chen Qing do whatever you want. We suggest you start with Lu Yihao and let him lure Chen Qing back to Lin'an. At the same time, your Majesty will secretly support Chen Qing's successor."
Once Chen Qing leaves, Wei Chen thinks this is the best policy."
Zhu Shengfei also deeply agreed and said: "Qin Xianggong's strategy is completely feasible. I hope your Majesty will consider it."
Zhao Gou nodded slowly, Qin Hui also made sense. Although he couldn't force him too much, he couldn't just watch him grow up. He had to do something.
