Chen Qing returned to Wuhu County in the afternoon. As soon as he arrived at Daying, he received news that Zhong Huan, who was sent to Lin'an by Zhou Kuan, had returned, and he also brought back Dong Qun, Lin'an's intelligence leader.
In the Chinese army's tent, Chen Qing met with Zhong Huan and Dong Qun.
Zhong Huan bowed and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, Zheng Dutong's affairs are very secret. Most officials don't know about it, and Manager Dong didn't hear about it either. Later, Beizi met Zheng Dutong's father in the newspaper office, and he told Beizi that the matter was true.
The emperor also met with him, saying that he was encouraging him to make persistent efforts to persuade Zheng Dutong to surrender, but in fact he was forcing him. Zheng Guojiu said that he was under great pressure and that he couldn't do it anymore and that he wanted to hide overseas."
"If you have a newspaper in your hand, why should you go overseas to hide?"
Chen Qing asked again: "How is the newspaper situation?"
"It's already normal. It's called Lin'an Beijing News. It publishes about 30,000 copies every day and is still increasing gradually."
Chen Qing nodded, "I'll write a letter later, give it to him, and he'll know what to do."
"The news brought by my humble position is about the negotiations between the Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty. Wan Yanchang has been in Lin'an for nearly half a month, and has been putting pressure on the court, asking the Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty to jointly destroy the Sichuan-Shaanxi Army as a condition for the two sides to reach a long-term armistice agreement.
I heard that the emperor was reluctant to join forces to attack Sichuan and Shaanxi at first, but I heard that Qin Hui, the Queen Mother, Zhu Shengfei and others had been persuading the emperor, and the emperor was a little shaken. This is a rumor in official circles, and I cannot confirm the specific situation."
Zhou Kuan was surprised and said: "It is rare for the emperor to be able to resist for more than half a month!"
Chen Qing sneered and said: "He is very sober. If he dares to be my enemy, the previous abdication edict will be invalid, and another Song Dynasty will appear."
Zhou Kuan pondered for a moment and said: "But Qin Hui and others have tried to persuade him again and again, and he will eventually compromise. After half a month, he still hasn't made a conclusion. It shows that the emperor himself is also hesitant. Your Highness, we have to help him."
"
Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and said to Dong Qun: "Take two letters back. One letter is written by me to the emperor. You give it to Mr. Lu. He will have a way to deliver it to the emperor. The other letter is for you."
Give it to the newspaper!"
Chen Qing then said to Zhong Huan and Dong Qun: "Zheng Dutong, don't worry in advance. The results will not appear until a month or two. You must focus on protecting the newspaper. Someone will definitely threaten the newspaper. Of course not."
Officials, you must be ruthless. Anyone who dares to harass the newspaper will be killed without mercy. If you find out who is attacking the newspaper, kill them back and show them some color."
The two of them bowed together and said, "Obey!"
Chen Qing then wrote a few letters and gave them to the two men to take away, and they hurried away with their men.
Chen Qing then said to Zhou Kuan: "I'm afraid I have to leave early tomorrow morning. Please ask Counselor Zhou to stay in Dangtu for a month or two more to get things done in Dangtu. In addition, I would also like to ask Counselor Zhou to pay attention to Lin'an."
, we must not allow the Song-Jin alliance to be achieved.”
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will do my best!"
Early the next morning, Chen Qing led the army and finally left Wuhu. More than 90,000 troops marched by land and water and headed west in a mighty manner. He Shi and his party traveled hundreds of miles by boat with great momentum. Zhou Kuan led 3,000 troops and had quietly moved away.
I went to Dangtu County and stayed in Dangtu to complete my cooperation with Zhang Jun.
In Lin'an, Xu Xiantu arrived at Lu Yihao's house early in the morning. Lu Jin took him to the guest hall, where Lu Yihao was already waiting for him.
"My legs and feet are inconvenient and I cannot go out to greet you. Please forgive me, Governor Xu."
"Where! It's really gratifying to see Lu Gong in good health."
The two of them exchanged a few words and then took their seats respectively. Xu Xiantu asked with concern: "I heard that Qingshan is going to work in Sichuan and Shaanxi. Is it true?"
Lu Yihao said calmly: "Is this what the officials want to ask, or is Mr. Xu himself interested?"
"The officials don't know about this yet, I'm just asking."
Lu Yihao said calmly: "Qingshan is only over fifty years old and in the prime of life. Since the court does not need him, it would be good for him to go to Sichuan and Shaanxi to look for opportunities. But I heard that many officials who are sitting on the bench are going to Sichuan and Shaanxi.
is that true?"
The implication of Lu Yihao's words is that there are many idle officials going to Sichuan and Shaanxi, so don't just focus on Lu Qingshan.
Xu Xiantu sighed and said: "This time Chen Qing came to An'an. Although he didn't last long and left soon, it had a profound impact. Many officials looked down on Chen Qing before and always felt that he was a local warlord and could not make a difference. But now many people
They all suddenly became enlightened and submitted their resignations to the Ministry of Civil Affairs one after another, and went to Sichuan and Shaanxi with their families. As far as I know, if Qingshan is included, twenty-seven officials have resigned, and the number is still increasing."
"What's the attitude of the officials?"
"No one dared to tell the emperor about this. The key is that almost all those who left were idlers. Everyone had gone through so much trouble to escape from the north, but there was no real job for them. Some people had been sitting idle for six or seven years. They had to receive a
With a meager salary and expensive house prices in Lin'an, I can only rent the cheapest thatched huts to live in. I live in poverty. I can tolerate it at first, but as time goes by, no one can bear it. If you want to leave, just leave! It's not like that anyway.
We all have a tacit understanding that it affects the government. We should just turn a blind eye to this matter and pretend we don't know about it. We won't tell the emperor and ask for trouble."
Lu Yihao drank tea and asked again: "I heard that the Kingdom of Jin was planning to return the Central Plains to the Song Dynasty. Is it true?"
"This is the new condition proposed by Wan Yanchang. If the Song and Jin Dynasties join forces to destroy Chen Qing, the Jin Kingdom will not only return Sichuan and Shaanxi to the Song Dynasty, but also return the Central Plains, including Bianliang, to the Song Dynasty."
"Then what happens? The officials are tempted?"
"The official did not express his position, but he was firmly opposed to joining forces with Jin Guo to deal with Chen Qing before, but now he has not expressed his position. I think the official's attitude has obviously softened."
Lu Yihao pondered for a moment and said: "As for the situation in the Central Plains, we have repeatedly discussed it in the past few years. Everyone knows that the situation in the Central Plains is extremely bad. Can the government's finances afford it?"
"I have also advised the officials. The officials are not interested in the Central Plains. It seems that they are more concerned about Sichuan and Shaanxi."
Lu Yihao shook his head, "Even if Chen Qing is wiped out and Sichuan and Shaanxi are captured, will the Jin Kingdom give Sichuan and Shaanxi to us? It's too simple to think. I'm afraid the Song Dynasty will be in danger of annihilation by then."
Xu Xiantu let out a long sigh, "We all know this truth, but some people won't cry until they see the coffin."
Lu Yihao did not talk further. He took out a letter, put it on the table, and pushed it to Xu Xiantu.
Xu Xiantu was startled, "This is."
"This is Chen Qing's personal letter to the officials. He entrusted someone to give it to me. Mr. Xu can give it to the officials for me!"
Only then did Xu Xiantu understand why Lu Yihao wanted to come to him. It turned out that it was Chen Qing who had sent a letter to the official.
"Okay! I'll hand it over to the officials."
"Please Mr. Xu tell the officials that the letter is original and I have not read it. I have no idea what is in it."
"Understood! I will tell the officials."
Xu Xiantu picked up the letter and said goodbye.
Lu Jin sent Xu Xiantu away, when a boy delivering newspapers ran over, "Master Lu, today's newspaper!"
Lu Jin took the newspaper, rewarded the child with a few pennies, opened the newspaper and read it carefully in the sun. He suddenly exclaimed "Ah!", turned around and walked quickly into the house.
When I walked to the atrium, I happened to see two young men helping my father out.
"Father!"
Lu Jin shouted about today's newspaper: "Look at today's newspaper!"
Lu Yihao stopped the boy and took over today's newspaper. He was also stunned by the headlines on the front page.
"The Song and Jin Dynasties secretly discussed the killing of righteous men, and the father and son cried blood and talked about Jingkang."
This topic was so eye-catching that Lu Yihao almost read it in one sitting. He knew that the joint efforts of Song and Jin Dynasties to annihilate the Western Army were completely finished. This report was enough to turn the entire Lin'an upside down.