On the third day after Zhang Yue paid homage to the Prime Minister, the Khitan envoy Xiao Xi came to Bian to question him.
The people in Bianjing were trembling with fear, and the monarchs and ministers felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy. The official ordered Han Zhen, and Master Zhang was the companion of the palace. They entertained Xiao Xi with good food and drink, and asked for everything he asked for.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Xi was eating and drinking the fine wines and delicacies provided by the Song Dynasty, and enjoying the singing and dancing of beauties, but when delivering his credentials over there, he showed no politeness at all.
He issued an ultimatum to the officials in the tone of an envoy from a higher state.
The official was shocked to see that Xiao Xi did not save any face for him. He could not get angry with Xiao Xi, so he had to question Han Zhen and Zhang Shiyue.
Han Zhen and Zhang Shiyue were also aggrieved.
What does the rampant envoys of Liao have to do with them?
The officials could not eat well or sleep well, so they had no choice but to summon the governors again to discuss matters.
Zhang Yue had just paid homage to the prime minister and went to the palace to discuss matters, and the matter happened to be related to him.
The privy envoys and deputy privy envoys Chen Shengzhi and Cai Ting claimed to have been ill for many days, so there were only five ministers, Wang Anshi, Wu Chong, Zhang Yue, Lu Huiqing and Wang Gui, to discuss matters.
"How about using Changlian City and Liufanling as the boundary?" the official asked.
Lu Huiqing said: "Your Majesty, although Changlian City and Liufanling are still nominally our territory, in the second year of Zhiping, the Khitan has occupied this land. If we give it to the Khitan again, I am afraid that the Liao envoy will not be willing to accept it."
"Then what should I do according to your opinion?"
Lu Huiqing said: "I would like to send all the written records of the exchanges between the two countries in these years to the Liao Kingdom as evidence, and I will strive to do this!"
The officials were not satisfied with Lu Huiqing's answer. What's the point of talking about it now? The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were still the homeland of the Han and Tang Dynasties. If they show the evidence, will the Khitan be willing to return it?
The official said: "I have been on good terms with the Khitan for many years, and I don't want to damage the general friendship between the two countries with the details of the battlefield. How can I get the Liao envoys to leave the capital and report back to the Lord of Liao? Please tell me!"
Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty, the Liao envoys will not dare to return due to geographical disadvantages. Previously, the imperial court sent envoys to discuss the borders, and the Lord of Liao stationed hundreds of thousands of troops at the border fortress. This dynasty delayed the envoys by pretending to be ill. Now Xiao Xi
This is why we entered the court for further discussion. If Xiao Xi cannot get an answer and report back to the Lord of Liao this time, then war between the two countries is imminent."
The official said: "The situation of mountains and rivers is in the interests of the country. How can we treat Khitan lightly? But I have received a secret report that the chieftain is about to cause trouble. If there is an unexpected change, how can the court protect itself? What strategies can you all take to defend yourself?
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Zhang Yue also saw that among all the people in the court, who was the most afraid of the Khitans?
It must be from an official family!
However, the millions of troops of the Liao Kingdom were on the alert, and the nervousness of the officials was understandable.
Lu Huiqing said: "Your Majesty, why do you need to use a defensive strategy? Everything in the world is in a hurry, but government must be peaceful. If the enemy does not move, I will not move. Besides, China is so big. If there is an emergency, respond quickly, and if it is slow, it should be slow.
There are no troops and no wealth in trouble."
Zhang Yue heard what Lu Huiqing said. In fact, Wang Anshi said it in the sixth year of Xining.
This is true, but Wang Anshi and Lu Huiqing have been making this argument for so many years, and everyone’s ears have grown calloused.
The official said: "I want to do something?"
After the official finished speaking, Zhang Yue was dumbfounded. He went from worrying about not being able to defeat the Liao Kingdom to taking the initiative to send troops to attack the Liao Kingdom. This was from the South Pole to the North Pole. The leap in the official's thinking must have been too big.
Zhang Yue sighed silently in his heart, this is an old problem among officials.
Wang Anshi and Lu Huiqing were not confused and urged them together. The officials said: "It was difficult to defend Jingdezhong at the beginning, and it was the same during the Qingli Western Event. It is better to attack it!"
Lu Huiqing said: "Your Majesty may not be able to attack the country today because of its strength, but it can be defended compared to Qingli and Jingde."
The official said: "But if we don't agree to the Liao envoy, the Liao Kingdom will definitely send troops. How will we protect the safety of the country at that time?"
Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty, during the reign of Emperor Shizong of the Zhou Dynasty, a group of troops could resist the Khitans. Why don't you dare to do so now?"
The official said: "It was the war of the Five Dynasties, but now the country is at peace, I must keep the country safe and the people safe!"
After hearing this, Zhang Yue somewhat understood the official's thoughts. As the emperor, his consideration position was different from that of their ministers.
The officials were not afraid of being beaten, but were afraid of breaking the pots and jars, so they wanted to use offense as defense.
Lu Huiqing said: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. The rich will cherish their lives, but the poor will not, but for the sake of the world, we must not be timid!"
When Zhang Yue heard what Lu Huiqing said, he also lamented that it was not easy for Lao Lu. His talent was unquestionable. He had nothing wrong with being the prime minister. He was even very good. He couldn't find any faults even if he wanted to.
There is no point in opposing for the sake of opposition, and Zhang Yue doesn't even bother to do so.
Wang Anshi and Lu Huiqing persuaded the officials for a while and proposed that the officials should first cultivate political affairs and then deal with the Khitans.
Anyway, you can't change the enemy, but you can strengthen yourself first. When you become stronger, the enemy will also become weaker.
There was nothing wrong with Zhang Yue after hearing this, but
Wang Anshi said: "I thought that we could make chariots into an army and use chariots to control the riders. This would be my strength and the shortcomings of Khitan. However, the chariot driving method has been out of date for a long time. The court can recruit people to teach the chariot driving method. There must be people who are good at driving chariots."
Those who do it.”
Zhang Yue felt very ridiculous after hearing this. Wang Anshi actually wanted to recruit chariot soldiers?
After hearing this, the official was not convinced and said: "The ancients sat on seats, but today's people sit on chairs. Times are different, and the carriage may not be as convenient as riding."
Wang Anshi said: "A horse's bow and arrow are no better than a chariot."
The official said: "Exactly."
Lu Huiqing said again: "Your Majesty, I think that the ancient method of seventy-five generals, three people on the cart, is not special for bows and arrows, and because they are high up, they can command the troops. Now if we use the war boxcar made by the military warden, we can defeat the Khitan.
Just like what Duke Huan of Qi did when he defeated the mountain soldiers."
Lu Huiqing added: "When Guan Zhong ruled Qi, although Qi had few armored soldiers, he punished the people with halberds to atone for their sins, so there were enough armored soldiers. With the wealth of the world, it is not difficult to build such armored soldiers."
Zhang Yue came out of the classroom and said: "Your Majesty, what Lu Huiqing said is absolutely ridiculous. Making war boxcars is really a waste of money and people!"
Lu Huiqing was shocked and angry when he heard this, but even though his expression lasted only a moment, it was still clearly revealed.
Everyone present saw Lu Huiqing's expression at this moment, even the officials were no exception. Now there was a smile on Lu Huiqing's face again, but everyone could see that this smile was extremely far-fetched.
Wang Anshi and Wu Chong were also surprised. They did not expect that Zhang Yue would criticize Lu Huiqing's political opinions in public at the first imperial meeting among the prime ministers!
Can't wait even a moment? The process is gone.
Zhang Yueze said: "As your Majesty said, the ancients sat on seats and the modern people sit on chairs. They have been different for a long time. They were used in different ways at different times."
"In the Spring and Autumn Period, chariots were the dominant force, but King Wuling of Zhao, who was riding and shooting in Hufu, used his chariots instead of his cavalry. After that, it was rare for a chariot to win. Why? Anyone who has ever ridden a horse will know that stirrups and saddles did not exist in the Spring and Autumn Period, but existed only in the Han Dynasty.
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"The cavalry had stirrups and saddles, so they could stand up from their horses and even have both hands free to hold bows and arrows. But in the Spring and Autumn Period, there were no stirrups and saddles, so how could they hold them with both hands? So Duke Huan of Qi defeated the cavalry with his chariot and defeated the mountain soldiers!"
"But now we use cars to defeat cavalry, and we also manufacture boxcars in large quantities to fight against the Liao cavalry. Needless to say, it wastes people and money."
"What's the difference between this and carving a boat to find a sword, or using a tree to find a fish?"
After saying this, Zhang Yue looked at Lu Huiqing, but Lu Huiqing was so angry that her face turned purple.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, being in power is comfortable, if you want to scold him, you can scold him!