In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the second year of Xianding.
On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Xia returned to Hanzhong.
Zhang Hongdao, who accompanied him, returned home after entering the city. Early the next morning, he learned that Mr. Lushu had asked to see him.
"Goro."
"You don't need to be polite. You have returned from Lin'an. Can you handle things for the prince?"
The old man who recorded the book said: "I met the prince yesterday and handed over the errand."
What he was doing in Lin'an this time was not a confidential mission, or so he said.
Zhang Hongdao listened indifferently and said: "Liu Mengyan knows that I have joined the prince, and is he still willing to help me?"
"Yes, he said it was to repay Wulang's kindness."
"False, it's the Zhang family that can threaten him, not just me. Does he seem to be willing to cooperate like this to deal with Jia Sidao?"
The old man who recorded the book said: "The little old man also thinks that's what he means."
"Um."
"I originally thought we could just get rid of Jia Sidao, but it's a pity."
"Whatever." Zhang Hongdao didn't care much about the affairs in the southeast. He thought about it and said in deep thought: "Liu Heima is ill. This time I went on a tour to the south with the prince of the county. When I came back, I passed through Chengdu and saw that Liu Heima was very ill.
"
"Mr. Liu is only sixty and three years old, right?"
"Although we have invited famous doctors, I am afraid that time is running out... The prince may want me to take over the role of pacifying Chengdu and work with Liu Yuanli. What do you think?"
Zhang Wulang didn't speak clearly, but his meaning was very clear.
Now Liu Yuanzhen is training troops in Hanzhong, and Liu Yuanli is following Liu Heima in Chengdu.
And if Liu Heima dies, Li Xia will definitely not let Liu Yuanzhen take over the post of Chengdu's pacifier, lest it become like a hereditary inheritance.
At most, Liu Yuanli can be appointed as a deputy envoy to appease others and cooperate with others.
In Sichuan and Shaanxi, there are few people with higher qualifications, talents, and status than Liu Yuanli, and Zhang Hongdao can barely count as one.
Lu Shulao shook his head and said: "When I went to Lin'an this time, I also got news that Li Fen was in contact with the Song Dynasty... In other words, it is the time to seek Henan. Why should Wu Lang go to Chengdu? No credit, others still
I want to say that the county king appoints people as relatives."
Zhang Hongdao nodded, deeply convinced.
But he immediately realized that whether he wanted to or not, Li Xia had already said this and he couldn't help but refuse.
So, he just nodded and Zhang Hongdao said again: "I help my brother-in-law do things for the sake of merit? I will go wherever there is need."
Lu Shu Lao was stunned, thinking that Wu Lang was not so lucky in front of the old marshal. What happened today was really...
"Then...congratulations to Goro."
"Get ready, come with me to Chengdu after the new year."
At this time, a servant came over from outside the hall and reported: "Wu Lang, the prince invited you to come over and said that he wanted Wu Lang to meet an old friend."
Zhang Hongdao then got up and went out, sighing that he was so busy just after returning to Hanzhong.
On this day, Li Xia was meeting guests in Hantai.
Zhang Hongdao walked up to Han Terrace step by step and saw the man standing there talking to Li Xia.
He really knew this person...that annoying big mouth, that annoying smile in his eyes.
Wang Shu.
Zhang Hongdao didn't expect to see Wang Xun again in Hanzhong today, so he couldn't help but be stunned.
Wang Xun turned around and saw Zhang Hongdao, grinned and said hello.
"Wu Lang, long time no see! Back then, you and I made an alliance with our blood and agreed to start an attack on another day. Now the opportunity has arrived..."
Wang Xun can be regarded as one of the people Zhang Hongdao hates most in his life.
When he was chasing Li Xia, it was Wang Xun who was by his side and took advantage of him little by little.
The results of it?
"Oh, making an alliance based on blood? You, the Wang family, and your son secretly linked up, but then turned around and surrendered to Kublai Khan, and in turn reported on me."
Zhang Hongdao became even more angry as he spoke. He walked up to Wang Xun and said again: "I should kill you."
"Wu Lang misunderstood." Wang Xun smiled and stretched out his arms, as if he wanted to hug Zhang Hongdao, "How about I listen to my explanation?"
"There is nothing to explain. You, the Wang family, and your son betrayed me."
Wang Xin smiled again, turned to Li Xia, and said with emotion: "I still remember that year, when Zhang Wulang went to Kaifeng to hunt down the prince, I contacted Yang Guo to help the prince out of trouble. Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the prince had conquered the southwest."
This was the first time Li Xia met Wang Xin, but he already knew him well.
To understand Wang Xun, the first thing you need to know is Wang Xun’s father, Wang Wentong.
Wang Wentong was Li Fen's counselor, Li Fen's father-in-law, and the teacher of Li Fen's son.
Generally speaking, the relationship between Wang Wentong and Li Fen is so close that if one person rebels, the other person will inevitably be implicated.
But just before Kublai Khan ascended the throne, Zhang Wenqian recommended Wang Wentong.
Kublai Khan saw that Wang Wentong was really talented and appointed him as the political minister of Pingzhang of Zhongshu Province, responsible for reforming Mongolian government affairs.
From being a member of the royal family's staff, he was promoted to deputy prime minister.
If it is rare for Lian Xixian to serve as provincial prime minister before he was thirty, it is even more rare for Wang Wen to become deputy prime minister after he becomes an official.
Only Mongolia always has such miracles of officialdom.
Wang Wentong was not only the deputy prime minister, but also the de facto prime minister.
Since Kublai Khan ascended the throne, in the past two years, Wang Wentong has been in charge of the Zhongshu government affairs. He changed the old Mongolian system, established the Ten-Road Xuanfu Department, formulated laws and regulations, restrained officials, issued Zhongtong banknotes, and made their circulation unimpeded.
It is worth mentioning that the banknotes handed over by the Central Government are physical banknotes.
At first, silk was used as the standard. Later, silver was used as the standard, which was called "Zhongtong Yuanbao Banknote".
Anyone holding Zhongtong banknotes can exchange it for silver at the official treasury at the silver price, and the people of the North can use it to pay taxes.
Wang Wentong's reforms were very effective.
In just two years, good results have been achieved.
Li Xia thought about it. It was also a reform. When he compared Wang Wentong and Jia Sidao, he realized that there was a huge difference.
Jia Sidao was a relative who had a very senior position in the Song Dynasty. He was a general and a prime minister. He had military exploits and favors, and was responsible for the military and state affairs.
Wang Wentong had only followed Kublai Khan for two years. He had no qualifications or merits. He only had the hidden danger of rebellion. He took charge of state affairs as soon as he became an official.
But looking at the results of the reforms, Jia Sidao, the powerful prime minister of the Song Dynasty, suffered repeated setbacks; Wang Wentong achieved outstanding results and formulated a set of laws for the founding of the country.
However, at this time, Wang Wentong's son was still secretly colluding to prepare for rebellion.
…
Li Xia knew that it was indeed Wang Xin who contacted Yang Guo and handed him a piece of information, but Wang Xin had never done anything to help him get out of trouble.
Wang Xun just killed Yan Fu and made a half-hearted effort.
This is nothing to argue with.
Li Xia said: "Let's get down to business, when does Li Fen plan to raise troops?"
Wang Xun didn't expect him to be so direct. He was stunned for a moment and responded: "We will raise troops as soon as the first lunar month is over."
"Kublai Khan hasn't come back yet?"
"It's time to fight with Ali Buge in Haraholin."
"What is Li Fen going to do? And what are the conditions?"
"Haha, Prince Li is really a straightforward person." Wang Xin grinned and said: "When I come here, I ask Prince Li to send troops to respond. How about we make an alliance and raise troops together once the first month is over?"
Li Xia shook his head and said, "Muchiao has come a long way, so he should rest for a few days."
"What concerns does Prince Li have?"
"No, the New Year is coming soon. Let's talk after the New Year. Wulang, you entertain him well."
Wang Xuan stood aside with great confidence, but he didn't expect that Li Xia would put it aside after asking. He couldn't help but said anxiously: "Why is Prince Li doing this? I have a few words to say to Li..."
"You're welcome, Mu Qiao." Zhang Hongdao had already stood up, "You have come all the way here, how can you do anything without a two-day rest? Please..."
He didn't expect that Li Xia would leave Wang Xun alone, so he felt inexplicably gloating about his misfortune and felt much calmer.
Wang Xuan turned to look at Li Xia again, very surprised.
He found that Li Xia's enthusiasm for responding to Li Fen was far less than he expected...
At the same time, Shi Tianze faced the envoys and agreed readily.
"Ask Shi Gong to make an alliance."
Shi Tianze smiled cheerfully, swiped the dagger in his hand, cut his finger open, and pressed the blood seal on the alliance book.
"So, do you trust me?"
"Okay, once the first lunar month is over, we will raise our troops together..."
The first lunar month has not yet arrived, and right now, people all over the world are still preparing for the New Year.
Li Xia was not in a hurry to reply to Li Fen.
He thought that no matter how he answered, Li Fen would raise his troops in February next year, so why would he send Wang Xun to take the risk as an envoy?
There may be other problems in this...
This was the second day after Li Xia returned to Hanzhong. He had already met many people. It was not until the evening that he had time to go to Baoyuan and hand a letter into Yan Rong's hand.
The beauty who read the letter straightened her body and gradually leaned into Li Xia's arms.
Then he started crying again.
"What's wrong?"
Yan Rong wiped his eyes, smiled while crying, and asked, "Didn't you read this letter?"
"I didn't read it. It wasn't written for me."
"This is also written for you. I have settled all my grudges with you..."
"Well, that's good."
Li Xia agreed and thought casually, maybe Wang Cui was deceived by Jia Sidao, who knows...