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Chapter 49 The Northern Expedition

Sanhe County, Youzhou.

There is a quiet little village at the foot of Jiangfu Mountain called Qingniu Village.

The village is not eye-catching, but it is known to the Youyan family because there is a person living in seclusion in the village.

He is Song Xiong, one of the two Song dynasties of Yanji.

Youzhou is originally located in the northwest. This land of Yan and Zhao is a place of martial arts. Since ancient times, there have been many generous, tragic and heroic people.

There are very few celebrities who are familiar with classics and historical anthologies, but the Second Song Dynasty is an exception.

His talent and reputation are as great as ever.

Song Qi participated in the imperial examination and won the first prize in one fell swoop. The examiners did not dare to comment on her beautiful article because she felt so ashamed that she immediately became the attendant of Yelv Jing, the eldest son of Emperor Taizong of the Liao Dynasty and the current emperor of Khitan.

Some people once said that if Song Qi had not been short-sighted and left Yelujing's minister improperly, and went to work as an aide for Zhao Yanshou, and now he was an important minister of the Liao Kingdom, why would he have entered the Central Plains and heard nothing about it.

Today, only one of the two Song dynasties remains.

Song Xiong's reputation became more and more famous.

Many people said that if he was willing to take part in the imperial examination, he would win the first prize in one fell swoop like Song Qi did.

However, because of this attitude of not seeking fame, Song Xiong appeared even more noble and his reputation became even louder.

Song Xiong was walking along the country road with three sets of potions in hand, feeling really good.

I got together with some old friends today and got some news from China.

Emperor Guo compiled the "Picture of Equalizing Land", sent envoys to various places to equalize land rents, and also gave official land to the people. He was really happy in his heart.

I only hope that Wang Shi can make the northern expedition and regain his homeland as soon as possible.

At this time, a person walked towards him, and Song Xiong leaned to the side.

The country road is not wide, so make room for the other party.

Unexpectedly, the two of them bumped into each other, and then something was stuffed in their chests.

Song Xiong was about to speak, but the other party quickly walked away.

Song Xiong was wary and hurried home. After reporting to his mother who was spinning in the house that she was safe, he returned to the house and took out the foreign object from his arms.

A letter.

"Brother Song personally initiates"

These familiar four words made Song Xiong's eyes wet.

Back then, as a young man, he felt that Song Qi's participation in the Khitan imperial examination was a betrayal, and he violently severed ties with her.

Fast forward more than ten years, Song Xiong's mentality has become increasingly calm, and he can slowly understand Song Qi's difficulties back then.

What is the difference between me now and Xiao Siwenxu and Weishe?

"I know, I know!"

Song Xiong said to himself in a trembling voice: "The world says you are short-sighted, but I know you must be living your most longed-for life somewhere in the Central Plains."

He opened the letter with some trembling.

In addition to the similar handwriting, the letter also contained a few private matters between the two, further proving their identity.

Looking at the scene in the Central Plains described in the letter, and seeing that my best friend has now become Luo Youdu's right-hand man, I feel really happy for this good friend in my heart, and a little bit envious.

When I saw the invitation at the end of the letter to go to the Central Plains, I felt even more lonely.

"Foolish brother wants it too!"

"This mother is still here, how can I stay away from her?"

"But you and I, brothers, will eventually see each other again."

Song Xiong said with emotion and tore the letter into several pieces, just in time to prepare medicine for his mother, just to use it as a fire starter.

In fact, he had already had a plan in mind. He would first serve his mother for a hundred years. Then he would serve as a Khitan official and wait for Master Wang to go north to cater to Master Wang.

Historically, in the third year of Yongxi reign, when Zhao Kuangyi was on his Northern Expedition, he persuaded Ai Zheng, the deputy envoy of Yingzhou Jiedu, to give Yingzhou as a gift to the king of the Song Dynasty, thus returning to the Central Plains that he had longed for.

Song Xiong concealed himself very well, but he knew his son better than his mother.

Mrs. Song still saw some clues.

"Is my son worried?"

Song Xiong smiled and said in surprise: "Not yet."

Mrs. Song coughed. She was still in good health, but she had a stubborn heart and lung disease and couldn't stop coughing. She looked at her son quietly without speaking.

It's not that Song Xiong can't lie, he just won't lie in front of his mother.

Unable to block his mother's gaze, he elaborated on Song Qi's letter.

There was a trace of reluctance in Mrs. Song's eyes, but she still said: "My son, go ahead and don't worry about your mother. I know you are filial, and you want to wait until a hundred years later to develop your ambitions. But my body can eat and sleep."

Yes, it’s just that my throat is a little uncomfortable. You have to live for at least ten or twenty years. Do you want to go to the Central Plains to show your ambition when you are over fifty? Or do you want to be your mother, so I can fulfill your wish now?"

As soon as Mrs. Song said these words, Song Xiong's expression suddenly changed. He quickly knelt on the ground and said, "My child has absolutely no such thoughts."

Mrs. Song helped Song Xiong up and said: "Good men have ambitions in all directions, as long as they don't work for the Khitan thieves. How could mother block your future? If it weren't for the chaos on the border, it would be too dangerous for you, a scholar, to go south rashly. Mother would have had the intention

I advise you to go south. Now that you have this opportunity, my son must not hesitate."

Song Xiong knew that his mother was strong-willed, and if he refused, he would really risk forcing her to death. He gritted his teeth and said, "After the child establishes himself in the Central Plains, he will decide how to take his mother to the Central Plains together."

**********

Waterside pavilion in the side courtyard of Kaifeng Imperial Palace.

Guo Rong rarely had time to play chess with Wang Pu.

On the chessboard, black and white stones are fighting against each other, and the fight is extremely fierce.

Wang Pu's expression was relaxed and at ease, while Guo Rong frowned from time to time, obviously not optimistic enough.

"I lose, I lose!"

Guo Rong threw the chess piece in his hand on the chessboard and said, "Uncle Wen didn't even know how to let me play."

Wang Pu laughed and said: "When we talk about chess, how can we give in?"

Guo Rong smiled, his chess skills reflect his personality.

When playing chess with Wang Pu, he would give up pieces quietly, and Fan Zhi would also give up pieces, but he would leave a small flaw for others to see. Wang Pu would not give up a word and go all out.

Therefore, Wang Pu was generous and diplomatic.

Although Fan Zhi is honest, upright and self-sufficient, he likes to fight over the situation.

Wang Pu has an upright personality and is decisive in dealing with things, but he is too tough in dealing with things and shows his sharp edge, so no one dares to touch his edge.

As for Luo Youdu.

Guo Rong couldn't tell. After all, he could win with his feet, so there was nothing to say.

“Taxes look good this year!”

After Guo Rong was idle for a while, he started talking about state affairs again.

Wang Pu's current position is the third envoy.

The three ministers were created after the mid-Tang Dynasty. At that time, financial administration became increasingly complicated. The ministers were divided into the tax department, the household department, and the salt and iron transport envoys, respectively managing financial revenue and expenditure, renting, and salt and iron monopoly affairs.

.

But in the first year of Changxing, the three envoys were merged into one envoy, called the Sansi Envoy, who took charge of financial revenue and expenditure, rent and tax, and salt and iron monopoly affairs.

At this time, the Third Secretary had replaced the Ministry of Household Affairs in charge of the cashier of the country's money and valleys, balanced the financial revenue and expenditure, and became the highest financial officer of the imperial court.

Wang Pu is now Dazhou's money bag.

Wang Pu smiled and said: "After we captured Huainan, the salt tea from Huainan brought us huge tax revenue. Especially the tea, it was a huge profit. Plus the annual coin gifts from Jiangnan, Shu, and Wuping, compared with

In previous years, there was a lot more revenue, and the national treasury was indeed very rich."

Guo Rong's eyes sparkled and he said: "The Ministry of Revenue has also sent news that there will be no major disasters in all directions this year, especially in the Jianghuai area. The weather is good and it is 80% likely to be a good harvest year."

All the money and food are available.

Wang Pu had followed Guo Rong for the longest time, so how could he not know the holy will? He said: "If your Majesty wants to make an expedition to the north, you must make preparations after the autumn harvest."

Guo Rong said duplicitously: "I'm not in a hurry, I'm worried about Youdu. As early as a few months ago, he was secretly planning to take back the land of Yanyou."

Wang Pu laughed secretly in his heart. It was impossible to see that the Emperor of Zhou was trying to support others.

To start a war, you have to convince the prime ministers in the council hall.

Guo Rong can indeed go his own way and decide such important matters with one vote. But if he does this kind of thing too often, he will feel embarrassed.

If it makes sense, then say it. If it really doesn't make sense, then let's make a decision.

Wang Puzhengrong said: "I still support Mr. Youdu's prediction. I have been paying attention to the Khitan's movements these years. As Mr. Youdu said back then, the Khitan is far from being comparable to China's powerful enemies in the past. They have integrated with us.

While maintaining their culture, they also preserved their traditions. The Khitans were used to govern the Khitans, and the Han people were used to rule the Han people. Today, in Youyun Land, they are completely governing the way we govern the people, and they have achieved certain results."

"Two years ago, there was a heavy snowfall in Shangjing of Khitan, and many cattle and sheep died. According to the situation in previous years, their strength will be greatly affected. But Youyan transported a large amount of corn, wheat, and rice to Shangjing to help

Khitan has overcome this difficulty."

"After this incident, the Khitan paid more attention to farming, encouraged the development of wasteland within the territory, and promised that successful agricultural land development would be free of rent and taxes for ten years."

"They have now overcome the environmental enemy that has troubled them for thousands of years with the help of Yanyun Land."

"Their policies treat the Han people in the territory extremely favorably, even exceeding our own. I am worried that one day, the Yanyun land will be like the Hexi Corridor occupied by the Tubo in the past. The people only have Khitan in their hearts, and not the Central Plains.

"

"Fortunately, the current Khitan emperor is quite ignorant and many systems have not been implemented in place."

"Just like Mr. You said in the past, if the Khitan gets a Ming Dynasty, it doesn't even need to innovate. It just needs to put the current system in place. In less than ten years, this terrible situation will appear."

This was the first time Guo Rong heard about this, and he said in a deep voice: "Is the Khitan policy better than ours?"

Wang Pu smiled bitterly and said: "Yes, we won more than a little bit. We can't solve this problem yet. They have a vast territory and a sparse population. They can promise all kinds of preferential treatment, but I, the Zhou Dynasty, can't do it. Once we follow suit, the world will be in chaos.

"I can foresee that the Khitan system has great hidden dangers. Once the population increases in a hundred years, various problems will arise. But within a hundred years, it has miraculous effects."

"In order to prevent long nights and long dreams, I support sending troops. We cannot repeat the mistake of the Tang Dynasty when it lost the Hexi Corridor."

"Besides, the Tang Dynasty can bear the loss of the Hexi Corridor, but we cannot bear the terrible consequences of losing the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures for a long time."

Guo Rong had already told Luo Youdu that he was ready to make a move, but now that he heard what Wang Pu said, he immediately said: "Then there is nothing more to say. Let's prepare for the Northern Expedition."

Wang Pu said: "Before preparations are made, we can create some conflicts with Liu Han in the south and create the illusion of a southern expedition to confuse the Khitans..."

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