Within the Liao Kingdom, as the status of the Han people increased day by day, the contradiction between the Khitan people and the Han people became more and more acute.
It has been a hundred years since the founding of the Liao Dynasty. As of today, Yelu Longxu is the sixth emperor. At the same time, Yelu Longxu is also the emperor who has reigned the longest.
Among the first five emperors, the longest one was Taizong of Liao Dynasty, who reigned for twenty years, and the shortest one was Shizong of Liao Dynasty, who died in an assassination attempt in just five years.
As the longest reigning emperor, Yelu Longxu naturally made a series of reforms during his reign.
Among them, improving the status of Han people is one of them.
Before Yelu Longxu, the status of the Han people was quite low. To give the simplest example, before, the Khitan people only had to compensate the dead Han people if they beat up the dead Han people.
And if the Han people killed a Khitan, not only would the criminal be beheaded, but the criminal's family members would also be consigned to slavery.
In the fifth year of Chunhua (994), Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, the Khitan changed its legal system and issued an edict that if the Khitan people committed the Ten Evils, they would also be dealt with according to Han laws.
The promulgation of this decree undoubtedly made the majority of the Khitan nobles dissatisfied. After all, killing Han people only required compensation for cattle and horses, which was undoubtedly the prerogative of the Khitan nobles.
The abolition of this privilege further expanded the conflict between the Khitan people and the Han people.
Fortunately, the Empress Dowager Chengtian was still there at that time. With the prestige of the Empress Dowager Chengtian, even if others objected, she could only temporarily suppress her dissatisfaction.
In addition, the abolition of the privileges of the Khitans also attracted a large number of officials of Han origin.
Only when you have seen true darkness can you appreciate the preciousness of light.
Compared with previous generations, the status of the Han people under Yelu Longxu's rule has been greatly improved, at least avoiding being compared with cattle and horses.
It is precisely because of this that Han officials like Zhang Jian and Ma Baozhong followed Yelu Longxu wholeheartedly.
No, at today's imperial meeting, Yelu Longxu only summoned two Han officials, Zhang Jian and Ma Baozhong.
Zhang Jian and Ma Baozhong were the left and right prime ministers of the Political Affairs Ministry (Zhongshu Province) respectively. Under the Liao official system, the chief official of the Political Affairs Ministry was second only to the Privy Councilor.
(The Privy Councilor is also the prime minister in the true sense of the Liao Kingdom. For example, the Privy Councilor of the South Courtyard is in charge of all political affairs of the Han people, military and civilians, and the political and provincial positions are all under the Privy Council of the South Courtyard.)
"Join Your Majesty!"
"flat."
Yelu Longxu waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for them to be polite, and then he asked directly.
"Yesterday, the conditions proposed by the envoys of the Song Dynasty must have been fully understood by the two Qing family."
"Both of you, Qing, are of Han origin. I would like to ask how much of Song Ting's proposal is true and how false."
"If I reject Song Ting's mediation, what will be the consequences?"
"When you are inferior to the enemy, you should avoid his sharp edge."
Zhang Jian took a step forward slightly: "I believe that regardless of whether the Song Dynasty is true or false, our dynasty should not have another conflict with the other party."
On the other side, Ma Baozhong breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Zhang Jian's reply.
He really didn't dare to say this to make others' ambitions destroy his own prestige.
But Zhang Jian is different.
The Wanping Zhang family was a powerful family among the Han people in the Liao Kingdom.
As early as the Taizong period of the Liao Dynasty, Zhang Jian's great-grandfather Zhang Li served as a regular attendant to Huang Zuosanqi, who was in the third rank of Cong. Although this official was only an advisor and had no actual responsibilities.
But being able to serve as an advisor to the emperor is already an extremely noble official.
Although by the generation of Zhang Jian's grandfather and father, the Zhang family no longer had prominent officials, but by the generation of Zhang Jian, the Zhang family has risen again.
In the 14th year of Tonghe (996), Zhang Jian became the number one scholar in high school. At this time, the status of the Han people began to rise.
Since then, Zhang Jian's career has been on the fast track.
In just over twenty years, Zhang Jian rose from Yunzhou shogunate to a central official.
As Zhang Jian advanced, the Zhang family's reputation also soared, becoming a prominent family among the Han people.
This way.
Although Zhang Jian seemed to be answering Yelu Longxu's question, he was actually thinking about something else.
He is from Wanping, which used to be Youdu County and belonged to Youdu Prefecture, which is now Xijin Prefecture.
However, with the signing of the Tiansheng Covenant, Xijin Mansion will be placed under the Song Dynasty soon.
For a large Liao family like the Zhang family, the Xijin Prefecture belonged to the Song Dynasty, and their family residence would naturally have to be moved.
But just before the migration was discussed, different opinions emerged among the clan.
Some people actually planned not to move with their family, but to follow the Xijin Mansion and return to the Song Dynasty.
The reason why there are such voices within the Zhang family is actually related to their ancestral home. The Zhang family is not a Han Chinese born and raised in Xijin Prefecture.
During the Five Dynasties and later the Jin Dynasty, some Zhang clan members migrated from Qinghe to the Jibei area, which is near the old Youdu County, in order to avoid war.
In other words, the Wanping Zhang family is actually a branch of the Qinghe Zhang family.
Especially after the Qinghe Zhang family gave birth to a queen, those within the Wanping Zhang family who agreed to return to the Song Dynasty suddenly became more vocal.
Although it has been nearly a hundred years since the Wanping Zhang family moved to Jibei, they have the same ancestors. With this incense and love as a guide, returning to the Song Dynasty seems to be a good choice.
At the same time, this is also more conducive to preserving family inheritance.
Hedging your bets!
At present, the military strength of the Song Dynasty has surpassed that of the Khitan. In the future, if the land of Youyun is not preserved, it will be taken back by the Song Dynasty.
Letting some people return to the Song Dynasty in advance can also pave a way for the future.
certainly.
Given Zhang Jian's current status, he definitely couldn't do it blatantly and had to secretly transfer some of his clan members.
In fact, there was one thing that Zhang Jian did not tell his family.
Someone from Da Song has secretly contacted him in an attempt to win over him.
However, faced with Song Ting's solicitation, Zhang Jian refused without hesitation.
It is a matter of eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor. He is now eating the salary of the Liao Kingdom. Naturally, his majesty must be put first in everything. How can he secretly switch to the Song Dynasty?
This goes against the morals in his heart!
On stage.
Hearing Zhang Jian's answer, Yelu Longxu didn't say anything, but glanced at Zhang Jian thoughtfully.
Although Yelu Longxu valued the Han people, the importance he attached to them did not mean that he had no reservations about the Han people.
At the same time, it does not mean that he completely trusts Zhang Jian.
Zhang Jian is from Wanping. Because of the signing of the treaty, the Zhang family had to leave their hometown. Who knows if Zhang Jian has any resentment in his heart?
Today's imperial edict to Zhang Jian is both a sign of trust and a test.
As far as the current results are concerned, it is obvious that Yelu Longxu has not completely dispelled his doubts.
Still need to continue to observe.
In fact, the best way to deal with Zhang Jian is to move him to a noble position by overt promotion and covert promotion.
However, considering Zhang's appeal among the Han people, Yelu Longxu had to give up this 'once and for all' approach.
a long time.
Yelu Longxu turned his attention to Ma Baozhong.
"What do you mean by Ma Qing?"
"I second the proposal!"
Ma Baozhong also agreed with Zhang Jian's opinion, and avoiding his edge was the best choice at the moment.