It wasn't until late afternoon when the dishes on the bed had been removed that Li Xia returned to the hall.
Yuan Congzheng was already sitting there alone, taking care of all the official matters discussed in the morning and marking them clearly one by one.
Li Xia took a look and was quite satisfied.
"With Heyi's help, I feel a lot more relaxed. There are so many things that ordinary people can't do. I didn't expect to meet such a talented person as Heyi."
"Students get handsome rice?, that's what they should do."
"Okay, then, please Heyi, please do these, these... and these."
Yuan Congzheng took the account books and said, "It's an honor for the students to be able to share the worries of the commander-in-chief."
He took another look at the documents on the agreed affairs on the table and asked casually: "I wonder how long the commander-in-chief will stay in Tongguan before these government affairs can be implemented?"
"Tonight I will send a horse to Chang'an, and it will be implemented soon." Li Xia said: "There is still time to wait at Tongguan. When my army arrives, we will deploy the defense of the Yellow River."
"Students heard that over in Shanxi, the Mongolian army is also intensively engaged in defense."
"After all, Lian Xixian moved a lot of manpower and material resources there." Li Xia asked, "I have actually mentioned him many times today, does He Yi recognize him?"
Yuan Congzheng said: "I heard that Jiufeng Academy was founded by him."
"Seen?"
"Never, but I heard about his reputation when I was young. He must be an old master."
"No." Li Xia said, "He is only twenty-nine years old."
Yuan Congzheng was surprised.
"I never thought of that."
"The person I went to interrogate today was one of his confidants. They hid an ambush and planned to ambush me in Huashan. In the end, Lian Xixian threw himself into the fire and died. It's a pity."
"What a pity?" Yuan Congzheng asked: "Isn't he the enemy of the commander-in-chief?"
"He is my enemy, but there should be a distinction between enemies. A Uighur changes his surname to a Chinese, inherits Confucianism, establishes a Han system, eliminates tyranny, and comforts the poor... Looking at the Uighurs in the world, who else can
To achieve this for Hanization? If I can’t tolerate a Uighur like Lian Xixian who has become a Han, shouldn’t I kill all the Uighurs in the world, and then kill all the foreigners?”
"But...he wants to ambush the commander."
"If he threatens me, I will kill him. This is just a job. Everyone does his or her own thing. I will never be resentful because everyone does their own thing. If you don't even have this kind of tolerance? Why bother?
Talk about ambitions?”
Yuan Congzhengdao: "The commander-in-chief has a mind that embraces all rivers, and the students admire him."
"What do you mean by the surname and given name 'Lian Xixian'?"
"As the name suggests, it's not difficult to understand."
"At a time when the world is in chaos, if officials are honest and uphold the Constitution and laws to protect the common people, isn't that not the hope of all people?"
"yes."
"Then Lian Xixian's ambition is also my ambition? He thinks Kublai Khan can do it, and I think I can do it. The difference is just that, isn't it?"
Yuan Congzheng said: "Yes, it's a pity that he is dead, otherwise the commander might try to persuade him."
"That's why I say it's a pity."
"Throwing himself into the fire and dying, did the commander ever think that he was not dead?"
"No, he's dead." Li Xia said, "I've already sent the body away, he's just dead."
"That's right." Yuan Congzheng seemed to be not interested in these things and was not in a good mood.
"Go ahead." Li Xia pointed to the account book in his hand and said, "Don't worry, you can think about it slowly. Liu Yuanli won't return to the army so soon. I will stay in Tongguan for a while."
"Students like to do things, so it's better to do them as soon as possible."
Yuan Congzheng responded, bowed, turned around and walked out.
He turned his back to Li Xia, his eyes turning from doubtful to surprised...
~~
Chang'an.
Because many people were worried that the banknotes in their hands would be abolished, they gathered and looted shops on August 20. Today, few shops are open on Chang'an Avenue.
In the next two days, the atmosphere in Chang'an City became uneasy...
In this case, the government responded quickly.
Announcements began to be issued to allocate farmland to those who had lost their registration, and to cancel the additional distribution of autumn grain.
On the 23rd, the bell tower in Chang'an rang continuously. As the sound of the bells spread, soldiers with loud voices began to shout loudly.
"The land will be divided after registration, and no ding tax will be added..."
Then many people rushed to the street.
And beside the official road outside Nancheng, Yelu Youshang was standing with his hands behind his hands, looking at the notice posted on the roadside.
Behind him stood a group of people, all of whom were grateful people in the past.
"My benefactor, what are you talking about?" Lu Ata asked.
"The Song bandits want to win people's hearts." Yelu Youshang thought for a while and said, "They say they are settling down to divide the land, but actually they want to harvest your grain."
Lu Ada was puzzled and asked again: "But listen to what they say, don't add any faction."
"Of course I won't join any factions. The Song bandits have always been harmonious."
"What is this 'He Bian'?"
"He Bian means that the Song invaders will pay to force you to buy your grain."
"Pay?" Lu Ata turned his head and looked at everyone. Seeing that no one else said anything, he had no choice but to say: "That seems to be okay."
"It looks good." Yelu Youshang said: "But the Song bandits are using Huizi to buy the food you need to support your family in Hukou."
"What is this 'Huizi'?"
"The banknotes from the Song invaders." Yelu Youshang tried his best to use words that they could understand, and said: "But the Song invaders' Huizi were issued indiscriminately, and a hundred guan of Huizi could not be exchanged for 16 guan of copper coins. I understand.
Is that so? They will use less than two cents to buy your ten cents worth of food."
"real?"
"If I exaggerate, I will die badly."
Yelu Youshang vowed to do so.
He didn't know that this happened the year before last. In the Song Dynasty, one hundred guanhuizi this year could no longer be exchanged for 13 guan copper coins.
But the surrounding Chang'an people were already frightened.
"How can this be done?!"
"That's not all." Yelu Youshang sneered and said: "In addition to the worthless Huizi, the Song bandits also had officials who were greedy for ink, layer after layer, and their official documents all said, 'Public discussion is in vain', which means
The so-called buying of grain for the Song invaders is actually an act of robbery. If you don't believe me, ask those who fled from Sichuan before."
"This, this, this...this..."
Lu Ata was frightened and didn't believe it, and murmured: "How can it be done? Then what do they want this and... and what? How much grain do they want to 'buy'?"
"Buy as many as you want. How many troops do they have, and how many troops do they need to support? When Prime Minister Lian was there, they provided supplies for the northern expedition and the two armies in the west to defend Guanzhong. Where are they?"
"It can't be true, right? How do people in Song Dynasty live?"
"Just waiting to destroy the country."
Someone shouted: "Lu Ada, don't ask. The benefactor and the Prime Minister are good officials. If you don't believe them, you can't believe the Song invaders."
Lu A was so anxious that he shouted: "Well, no! Of course I don't believe in the Song Kou. I'm just asking what to do!"
"..."
Everyone talked for a while and then looked at Yelu Youshang.
Yelu Youshang said: "Recently, there has been a strict investigation in the city. I have to withdraw my manpower and ask the villagers to take one in and hide it temporarily. After that, I will look for opportunities to make a big deal..."
As he said this, a group of Song soldiers came over from a distance, and they quickly dispersed.
Yelu Youshang supported Lu Ata's burden and walked a few steps. He saw the Song soldiers posted another notice and then walked down the official road. He couldn't help but turn back and take a look.
"My benefactor, what are you talking about?"
Yelu Youshang was silent, thinking over and over again. If he didn't say anything today, these people would hear about it sooner or later.
"Song Kou said that if the report is detailed, once it is verified, he will be rewarded with fifty copper coins."
"So many?!" Lu A exclaimed in surprise.
Yelu Youshang was startled and subconsciously took two steps back.
"My benefactor...well, it's not...no, don't worry, I will definitely not betray my benefactor..."
That night, the inspections in the city were even stricter.
Yelu Youshang stayed at Lu A's family outside the city. After thinking about it, he felt uneasy and took out a fifty-guan note from his sleeve and gave it to Lu A's family.
"Take these first. When Prime Minister Lian recovers Jingzhao, he will be rewarded heavily..."
"My benefactor, it's not what you think. It's the first time I heard about such a large amount of money. I was shocked, but I never thought of betraying my benefactor."
"I know." Yelu Youshang said, "Thank you for hiding your whereabouts for me during this time."
"I really can't accept it."
"Received……"
The two resisted for a long time. Yelu Youshang pretended to be angry, but Lu Ada retracted timidly.
Yelu Youshang looked into Lu Ada's eyes and felt the simplicity and sincerity of this common man, which made him feel relieved.
…
These days, Yelu Youshang has gained a lot of insights in learning the "countryside" way.
The people's support lies with your majesty and with the honest prime minister. Therefore, although Chang'an temporarily succumbed to the military power of the Song invaders, the people's support was still available. As long as he continued, Li Xia's administration would be in trouble.
He only needs to wait until His Majesty returns to the army after the Northern Expedition, and he can recruit people to support him...
The things Lian Xixian arranged for Yelu Youshang at the beginning were not these, but to assassinate Li Xia like Hu Zhiyuan and then give out clues that the Zhang family girl was watching in Lianping.
It's a pity that Yelu Youshan didn't find the opportunity.
Maybe Lian Xixian didn't expect that he could escape capture.
Now Yelu Youshang also received the news of Lian Xixian's death. He was sad and then became more determined.
"Prime Minister Lian, you must have never thought that I could do this. It's a pity that I can't save you. But when Master Wang returns to Guanlong, I will definitely explain your painstaking efforts to His Majesty!"
Yelu Youshang secretly swore in his heart.
However, in the next few days, the situation in Chang'an gradually began to exceed his expectations.
On the 24th, he went to the city and saw that there were still many landless people who had settled down and divided their fields. After the news spread, more and more people flocked to it. Some of the landowners were also worried that their fields would eventually become ownerless land.
They also rushed to lose their citizenship. Of course, many people were dissatisfied.
But the next day, the heads of several lustful businessmen were hung on the bell tower, shops in the city were opened one after another, and more officers and soldiers patrolled the streets. After that, the bank posted a notice ordering the people to exchange the banknotes in their hands for copper coins within a time limit. Although it was only
It can redeem 80% of the previous price, but many people are worried that the Song Dynasty will take control of Guanlong and the coins in their hands will become waste paper...
On the 26th, officials and squires went from door to door asking people to register and exchange money as soon as possible.
This is just the beginning, but Yelu Youshang has already felt the changes.
In the next two days, people who had benefited from Lian Xixian's administration began to run to register.
Yelu Youshang was very puzzled and asked, "Have you forgotten the great kindness of Prime Minister Lian?"
"Abolition of the Lamb Li, isn't this what the government should do?!"
Yelu Youshang was stunned, wondering where these simple people could hear such ridiculous remarks.
He walked through the streets of Chang'an and gradually heard the source of these remarks everywhere.
"The Criminal Code of the Song Dynasty stipulates that the monthly interest cannot exceed six cents. Even if the accumulation is large, it cannot exceed double interest. Compound interest is strictly prohibited. Anyone who collects compound interest will be punished with a cane and shown to the public with a yoke. Now my king's division has entered the city, and the commander-in-chief has issued an order.
The staff punishes those who prey on the people and returns the illegal gains to show the king of the Song Dynasty..."
Yelu Youshang cursed secretly in his heart.
"Fart, you, the powerful people of Zhao and Song dynasties, are the best at plundering people's wealth through loans."
Having said that, it is obviously not the case in Guanzhong under the current rule of Li Xia.
Li Xia only conveyed one meaning, no matter how good Lian Xixian did, it was never good enough.
"Mongolia has no king's law. It only burns the coupons for lamb profits. How can you be grateful? Mongolia has no king's law. It only rents your land. How can you be grateful? If you don't see it, it is your money. It is you.
The land of our ancestors! The Mongols robbed them with butcher's knives. Recently, some people have told them to rob less, but you are shouting to the sky..."
In such an atmosphere, as each day passed, Yelu Youshang became more and more panicked.
He discovered that Lv Ada, who protected him, had secretly lost his residence and had exchanged the fifty guan banknotes into less than 40 guan copper coins...
"what you do?"
"Well, I just feel..." Lu Ada was not good at words and couldn't say anything.
Yelu Youshang became even more furious, raised his hand and pointed at Lu Ada, picked up his baggage, and strode out.
He no longer planned to hide in this shabby house, and cursed again before leaving.
"Ungrateful thing!"
Lu Ada rushed out as if he was shocked by electric shock.
"I'm not ungrateful... No! But I don't owe anyone anything. I borrowed eight dans of money that year... I worked hard year after year to farm and paid back more than 30 dans of money. Who do I still owe?" I kept saying.
You are good officials...Now the government wants to return my grandfather's land to me, why don't I want it? My benefactor...he didn't..."
As he was talking, seeing Yelu Youshang not looking back, Lu Ata chased him again, shouting incessantly.
Gradually, Yelu Youshang ran past the entrance of the village and disappeared.
On the contrary, it was Lu Ada who couldn't help crying.
"Well, what do I owe you... Let me tell you clearly..."
~~
Yelu Youshang walked for a long time, still angry in his heart.
What makes me angry is that for six years as Prime Minister Lian, I worked tirelessly to care about the sufferings of the people, only to be treated like this in the end.
He hid in the bushes, wanted to change his clothes and unpack his bags, but was stunned for a moment.
I saw that there were still forty coins inside.
Looking back again, I saw the vastness of the surrounding fields, and I didn’t know where else to go...
~~
Tongguan.
Several letters were delivered to Li Xia.
Lin Zi grinned and said, "I've caught a lot of traps in Chang'an recently."
"It can only be regarded as the initial determination of people's hearts."
"Now we can send more manpower to Shanxi to find Zhang girls for the commander-in-chief."
"Then I thank you, go ahead."
Li Xia compiled the information for a while, thought about it, and asked someone to find Yuan Congzheng again.
"I have some news for He Yi to read..."
Yuan Congzheng looked at it and responded: "It seems that things in Chang'an are gradually going smoothly?"
"The detailed work left by the enemy... is more like a test of whether I can control Guanzhong. I should thank you for the method."
"Even if there are no students, the commander can still come up with ways to exchange money and stabilize people's hearts."
Li Xia asked: "Are you sincere?"
"Yes." Yuan Congzheng said sincerely: "In the final analysis, the commander-in-chief governs Guanzhong better than Lian Xixian."
"What's so good about it?"
"Fortunately, the commander-in-chief does not have the arrogance, lewdness, and domineering Mongolian princes and nobles. What the commander-in-chief can do, Lian Xixian cannot do even if he wants to."
Li Xia thought for a while and said, "You are not sincere."
“What students say comes from their hearts.”
"But I haven't finished saying it yet. You have a twist later, but you're hiding it."
Yuan Congzhengdao: "The students don't understand what the commander-in-chief means."
"Forget it if you don't understand. Let's talk about it later." Li Xia said, "How about you draft a few more letters for me?"
"To whom?"
"Sent to Luoyang, whether it is for Zhao Bi or Shang Ting, the content is simple... I do not plan to take advantage of the battle between Kublai Khan and Ali Buge to start a war with the Central Plains, lest a bad Kublai Khan loses
As for Brother Ali, civilized Mongolians are better than barbaric Mongolians. In short, this is what it means. After He Yi writes it, just show it to me, and the tone needs to be more authoritative."
"yes."
Yuan Congzheng sat down, spread out his pen and ink, and started writing. As he was writing, he asked casually: "I dare to ask the commander-in-chief, what does the commander-in-chief think of the detailed work in Chang'an?"
"Lian Xixian learned my methods." Li Xia was reviewing the documents by himself and said casually: "What you learned... is too rough."
"Rough?"
"How did he do it? He only gave an order to Hu Zhiyuan and Yelu Youshang, 'You go and assassinate Li Xia. If you fail, send information and lead him to Huashan.' This is the best policy; another order was placed in Huashan,'
Let's wait for Li Xia to attack and kill him in ambush. This is the middle strategy."
"Is there any other solution?"
"It's already a last resort, how can it be useful?"
Yuan Congzheng started writing quickly and asked again: "What would he do if he were the commander-in-chief?"
"I will not withdraw from Guanzhong and will defend it to the death. It may not be possible that I cannot defend it."
"Students don't understand the military situation and can't understand it."
"That's fine." Li Xia said: "To put it simply, Lian Xixian wanted to learn from me, but at the beginning, his position in Guanzhong was too small. How can I put it... When I broke the situation in the past, I always tried to use momentum.
Suppress the opponent, or stand on a higher ground than the opponent."
"A higher ground?"
"Before, when I went north, some people wanted to catch me. What did they do for that? To make meritorious deeds. I am different. I am seeking to survive and work hard. And fighting hard is greater than my willingness to make meritorious deeds. I can be as ferocious as a wolf, and they become sheep."
Li Xia couldn't describe it in specific words, so he said casually: "In short, we can't lose in terms of momentum. For example, in Lin'an, Jia Sidao wanted to deal with me. He was stronger than me, but I beat down the emperor he respected the most."
, and he became confused.”
Yuan Congzheng's hand shook, and the ink stained half of the letter he had written.
This time, it came out of the blue, catching him off guard and not thinking about how to respond.
Li Xia didn't even raise his head, as if he hadn't seen it, and his tone was casual.
"Liu Heima surrendered to Kublai Khan and refused to surrender to me. I first had to tell him that I would be a more orthodox and majestic emperor than Kublai Khan. Before making plans, I must have such confidence in my heart that I can be strong enough to withstand pressure.
Being able to hold him back is the basis of everything, and other means are just to prove this point."
Yuan Congzheng picked up another piece of letter paper, but did not put down the pen, only thinking deeply.
Li Xia waited for a while, but didn't hear his response and continued chatting.
"If Lian Xixian wants to defend Guanzhong, he must first have more courage than me. It's not difficult. All he needs to do is prove that Kublai Khan is better than me. But you see, while he is saying that Kublai Khan is good, he also says that Kublai Khan is better than me."
Bei Zheng couldn't take action. It seemed that even he knew that Kublai Khan's main advantage was his soldiers and horses. What about the others? How about generosity? How about caring for the people like children? Can the people of Guanzhong be defended to the death?
Why did Lian Xixian want to defend Guanzhong? In order to get money and food for Kublai Khan, he started the war... and he was petty. If he really stood for the righteousness of the people of Guanzhong, he could just raise his arms and the people of Guanzhong would gather to respond and win.
If you have food and scenery, why should you be afraid of fighting me to the death?"
"This..." Yuan Congzheng said: "I'm afraid this will leave a broken Guanzhong..."
"If it were me, I wouldn't be afraid." Li Xia said, "I am convinced that what I can do to the people of Guanzhong is better than anyone else in the world. The fact that I did this in Chang'an proves it. This is confidence. If you have confidence, no matter who comes to invade, then fight
Lie down on him."
Yuan Congzheng tried his best to smile and started writing again, no longer as calm as before.
"It's a pity that Lian Xixian, who only wanted to get money and food for Kublai Khan, didn't learn these things. He only learned my spy methods, but forgot what I used these methods for, and why I won. It was not about cleverness, nor was it just
It’s about hard work, but about self-confidence, and being unconcerned about one’s own safety. Only in this way can we have the confidence to win against our opponents. How can people who are used to compromise and compromise have the purest self-confidence and unconcern for one’s own safety?”