After Yelupo's envoy left, Zhang Yue sat on a high chair and meditated alone.
In the Liao Kingdom, there was indeed a peace-promoting faction headed by Yelupo, the privy envoy of the Beiyuan, but there was also a war-promoting faction.
Then he picked up a pen and wrote three lines of words on the paper.
If the Song Dynasty did not return Liangzhou to Dangxiang, would the Khitan risk launching this war?
Or if the Song Dynasty did not return Liangzhou, what other price would it have to pay?
Where is the bottom line for Liao's negotiations?
No one knows this.
Strategic decision-making at the highest level has been a very mysterious matter since ancient times.
Often the group participating in the decision-making has made a logical and self-consistent choice, but in the end it has led to a bad result.
In fact, when making decisions, most people are just like the country. They are averse to risk and the losses are greater than the gains. They appear to be too rational.
It's like a classic story: You picked up a hundred dollars on the street and were happy, but when the owner came and returned the money, you ended up feeling depressed for the whole day.
But actually you have nothing to lose.
Therefore, people and countries will tend to be conservative when making choices, and are more averse to risks than returns. This was true in the Song Dynasty, and the same was true in the Liao Kingdom.
During the hundred years of peace between the Song and Liao Dynasties, no one dared to take the step beyond the thunder pool.
The Liao Kingdom was not a Jurchen. When an organization like the Jurchen was first established, before the courage to dig in was interrupted, it was completely unreasonable.
But even so, Wanyan Aguda still planned to maintain the agreement with the Song Dynasty Maritime Alliance when he was alive, but the people below refused. He had no choice but to say, "I have made an oath with the Song Dynasty Maritime Alliance, and we can't break it. Wait until I die."
From now on, I will leave it to you.'
The Song Dynasty really had nothing to do with the Liao cavalry drinking from the Yellow River.
However, the Liao Kingdom also had no way to deal with the fortified cities of Ding, Zhen, Ying, and Wei. They were not allowed to retreat until the end of the battle. When they finally returned home, they realized that they had worked so hard and robbed them of half a day's profits. It was better to let the Song Dynasty take them.
Money is delivered to your door.
There is no way to collect rent while robbing.
So this is what Zhang Yue insists on time and time again.
Only when you can fight can you make peace. If you don't have chips, there's no point in playing games. Politics involves struggle and compromise.
…
There are no secrets in the palace. Sun Gu's opposition to Zhang Yue in the political hall and Han Zhen's behavior outside the palace were discovered by the officials.
The official Xuan summoned Zhang Dun alone, who had just returned to Beijing.
Officials had high expectations for Zhang Dun. From Wang Anshi at the beginning of Xining, to Lu Huiqing during Xining, and to Zhang Yue during Yuanfeng's reign, they were all his favorites and personally selected as prime ministers.
Now Zhang Yue said that he would resign as prime minister in more than two years, and he sincerely hoped that Zhang Dun could succeed Zhang Yue in the future.
It's not that the officials hate Zhang Yue, they want him to resign.
Officials know clearly in their hearts that the contradiction between the power of the prime minister and the power of the monarch is inevitable from ancient times to the present.
After the great victories in Lanzhou and Liangzhou, Zhang Yue became more and more powerful. From personnel appointments to government policies, I mostly had to listen to him. He couldn't even keep his favorite Wu Juhou, and the emperor's face was completely gone. Although he had
For the time being, I have to put up with my thoughts for the past two years, but I have to start looking for a good replacement for Zhang Yue.
Zhang Dunjing's talents were no less than Zhang Yue's, but he was arrogant and pursued the country rather than his own life, and made many enemies in the court.
Without the care of the emperor himself, he would surely have been overthrown by his political opponents in a matter of seconds.
Therefore, Zhang Dun summoned him alone this time, and the officials offered him a seat and tea.
Zhang Dun also knew that this was a sign of great kindness from the emperor. As the saying goes, a minister dies for his confidant. Ordinary ministers would be moved to repay the emperor with their own lives. But Zhang Dun was not flattered, because he had already had this idea in his heart and would not care about his master.
His favor changes his personal honor and disgrace.
He is a national scholar, so the emperor should treat him as a national scholar.
The official felt at ease when he saw this. Seeing Zhang Dun was like seeing Wang Anshi and Zhang Yue. Such people can be relied on in critical moments.
However, the officials knew Zhang Dun's character, so they were determined to kill him face to face for his arrogance.
The official smiled slightly and said: "I remember that when you first came to Beijing, you criticized the imperial court's strategy of shallow attacks and fortresses. Do you still hold this opinion now?"
Zhang Dun said: "Your Majesty, this minister made a mistake at the beginning. This dynasty is attacking big countries and invading small countries. We use strength as a long-term plan to trap the thieves."
"As the saying goes, those who use strength should have enough money and food, more than enough people, and many soldiers and horses. To attack the party in this way, you will use the strength of a big country, spend time, and sustain it for a long time. If the thieves consolidate a small country, can they be safe? This is not the case.
There are cunning and secret plans to achieve extraordinary results."
"The imperial court first took Lanzhou, and then Liangzhou. The purpose is to advance when there is more than enough strength, and stop when there is insufficient strength. It can be urgent and urgent, and it can be slow and slow. There is no need to strengthen what is weak, and it should be slow and urgent."
The officials were overjoyed when they heard this. After the imperial court captured Liangzhou, Zhang Dun, who had been opposed at first, also admitted his mistake.
When a big country attacks a small country, it means to use its strength to grind it down, wait for the time, and persist for a long time. The party is being beaten every day, and it is depleted of men and horses, so how can it have any chance of victory?
The most important thing is that the strategic initiative is in my hands. I can fight whatever I want, as fast or as slowly as I want.
The official said: "That's the case. No wonder Zhang Qing told me that today's so-called side affairs can engrave thousands of printing plates to leave behind the thieves, and they are not afraid of their knowledge."
Zhang Yue told the officials at the beginning that even if I copied a thousand copies of this strategy to Dang Xiang, I would not be afraid that he would know about it.
Just asking what can you do to me?
Since Zhang Dun's attitude had changed and he admitted his previous misjudgment of Xia's strategic line, the official brought the topic back and said with a smile.
"Last year, the imperial court intercepted the profits from the salt banknotes and used them in the attack on Liangzhou, although only one third was used."
"But in the final analysis, we still have to borrow it from the local government. The profits from last year's salt banknotes have not been returned to the local government since the Battle of Liangzhou."
"No one knows how to deal with the benefits of salt banknotes this year. I leave everything to Zhang Qing and the Third Division. But now the finances of various military and state governments are in a state of exhaustion. Such use of troops is really a lack of finances. If Song and Liao Dynasties
What will happen if we lose peace again?"
Zhang Dun knew the elegant meaning of the string song after hearing it.
"Your Majesty, the construction of the Dangxiang has indeed cost too much money. Besides, waiting and waiting is useful for the Dangxiang, but it is useless for the Khitan."
The official said: "That's exactly it."
Zhang Dun continued: "We must not treat Liao like we are fighting the party. Spending so much money to build a pile of earthen forts will make money and food go to waste. We should train a strong army, otherwise how can we compete with Liao in Hebei, which is defenseless."
"Although capturing Liangzhou is an aggressive strategy, it is also Zhang Jiangong's strategy to maintain his position and favor, and make the generals on the border want to ask for generous rewards. Han Zhen did this before when he attacked Weizhou."
The official said: "Yes, if the ancients did not have three years of savings, then the country would not be the same. I also suffer from a lack of financial resources. Although the salt banknotes and exchanges are very profitable, the border control is still insufficient. What wealth do you have?"
Policy?"
After the reopening of the Western Regions, the Silk Road is now about to be renamed the Cotton Road. However, officials still feel that money is coming too slowly.
Zhang Dun said: "Your Majesty, we can temporarily control salt in Hebei for three years."
The officials couldn't help but feel disappointed after hearing this. In terms of financial management, Zhang Dun was still lacking, far inferior to Zhang Yue. Hebei Yanyan's method was something that neither Renzong nor Zhou Shizong did (this is what Zhang Dun did when he was prime minister in history).
The official said: "I think Liao should be tolerated. Now that the party matters are not settled, we really shouldn't start border provocations with Liao."
"The ministers in the DPRK are opposed to this, but Zhang Qing ignores it. If the Liao troops leave Hebei, how will I treat the millions of people in Hebei?"
Zhang Dun said: "I see that Zhang Jiangong is now unwilling to negotiate peace with the Liao Kingdom. This move is just a bluff. If the Liao Kingdom is attacked, then he will be embarrassed to seek peace at that time. He will be so arrogant in front of him and respectful in the back, which will really make the world laugh at him."
Zhang Dun's words reached the heart of the emperor. He was also afraid that Zhang Yue was bluffing. If the Liao Kingdom really sent troops, he would find that the Song Dynasty was just a paper tiger.
The official said: "What if the Liao Kingdom is just trying to scare me, but I abandon the land of Liangzhou? What do you think?"
Zhang Dun said: "Now Hebei must first discuss the strategy of war and defense, organize troops and accumulate grain to the Liao Kingdom to show that they are prepared!"
"It is better to choose commanders in the major offices in Hebei Province, to choose defenders in border states, and to garrison arrogant soldiers."
The officials were delighted to hear this, as Zhang Dun was indeed knowledgeable.
"Speak carefully!"
Zhang Dun said: "First the war strategy! We won't wait for the Liao Dynasty to invade Hebei first, but I will first restore China's former territory and defeat the rebellion with submissiveness. When the king's army goes north, the Han people of Youyan will eat pots of pulp to welcome them."
When the officials heard about the Northern Expedition to Youyan, they thought it was too bold, but Zhang Dun's words spoke to his heart.
The story of Cao Zhongshou's return to the Han Dynasty from the Guiyi Army was adapted by Cai Jingyi and made into a drama in Bianjing, which can be seen in the streets and alleys.
Now the people are also looking forward to conquering Youyan and rescuing the Han people who fell into Liao Kingdom.
Zhang Dun said: "Your Majesty, this dynasty has some disputes over the legal system of Li and Tang that succeeded the Zhou Dynasty. However, both the Zhou and Tang Dynasties regarded Yanyun as their own territory, and the Song Dynasty also followed this legal system."
"All Han people in the world want to return to the Song Dynasty, so the people of Yan yearn for the Han Dynasty. This is something that cannot be questioned by tens of thousands of people."
There is no such thing as confidants, the monarch and his ministers are of the same mind, this is it.
Zhang Dun continued: "Since your Majesty Xining's reform, he has taken it as his own duty to whip the barbarians and restore the old territory of the Han and Tang Dynasties. This time your Majesty regained Liangzhou, why do all the people in the world admire it? Wherever Wang Shi passed, the people were impressed.
from?"
"Why did Cao Zhongshou, the governor of the Guiyi Army, come to surrender? This is where the Han people in Hexi came to think of the Song Dynasty. This is where the so-called orthodoxy of the world lies."
"With the righteousness of the world and the unrighteousness of the world, the great unification of the world will be unified. This is orthodoxy!"
The official's heart was full of enthusiasm and he thought, "Yes, our great Song Dynasty is the orthodoxy of China. I am the co-leader of the world. This is the ambition of succeeding the Five Dynasties."
Although Cao Zhongshou's identity cannot be verified, the significance of political correctness cannot be overemphasized. Zhang Dun does not flatter, but he invisibly flatters the highest level.
If it were Sima Guang, he would only say, have the people had enough to eat? The people in your own country live a busy life, but you care about the Han people in the northwest of Youyan?
The official asked: "How is your strategy?"
Zhang Dun said: "The trouble in Hebei is that there is no danger to defend. Once the Liao army goes south, it can reach the Yellow River and peek at the capital."
"I think we can imitate the three auxiliaries of the Han Dynasty and set up auxiliary counties around Bianjing to protect the capital. Each auxiliary must gather a heavy army of 20,000 to 30,000 people. Once the Liao army goes south to drink the Yellow River, it can meet them face to face, and then cooperate with Zhen, Ding, Ying, and Wei.
If the town is suppressed, the Liao army will be attacked from both sides and will not be allowed to return to Liaodong alive!"
When the official heard this, his eyes lit up and he asked, "Is this your plan?"
Zhang Dun said: "I dare not hide it from your majesty. This policy is the opinion of my clan brother Zhang Kai, the deputy privy envoy."
After listening to Zhang Dun's words, the officials wanted to see Zhang Kai who had been neglected for many years.