Fenghou

The butler glanced at them and nodded, "This is Lu Xiangguo's mansion, what's the matter with you two?"

The sergeant took out his military badge and handed it over, "We are coming from Qinzhou, and we are sending a letter to Lu Xianggong under the order of my family's governor!"

It turned out that my aunt sent someone to deliver a letter, and the housekeeper hurriedly said: "You two please follow me into the mansion, and the horses will be handed over to the servant."

The two sergeants took off their leather bags, handed over the four horses to the servant, and followed the steward into the gate.

The butler took them to a room in the outer house to warm up and rest, and arranged for the maid to prepare meals and hot tea. He took Chen Qing's token and walked quickly to the inner house.

Coincidentally, today happened to be a holiday, and the heavy snow had just stopped. It was rare for Lu Yihao to rest at home.

Lu Yihao was wearing a soft cotton robe and was sitting comfortably in front of the brazier drinking tea and reading a book. Two little maids stood behind him and gently patted his shoulders.

At this time, the second housekeeper reported at the door, "Master, Uncle Sun sent someone from Qinzhou to deliver a letter."

Lu Yihao cheered up, and quickly asked, "Where is the letter?"

"They said they must deliver the letter to you."

The butler came in and handed over the token, "This is their identification!"

Lu Yihao quickly waved his hand and said, "Please come in quickly!"

In the past two days, Lu Yihao is planning to send someone to Qinzhou, firstly to see his granddaughter, and secondly to learn about the situation in Qinzhou. Ten thousand strong men and thousands of people.

Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei immediately made a fuss about this matter, and the officials also asked themselves, Lu Yihao really doesn't know what's going on?

But Chengdu Tong judged that Li Jiong was his in-laws, and with him, the memorial written by the Chengdu government must have concealed a lot. Lu Yihao vaguely guessed that Chen Qing should be recruiting soldiers in Bashu, not as simple as recruiting strong men.

He believed that Chen Qing was a sensible person, and he would not go to Bashu to recruit soldiers unless he had to, so as to attract the attention of the court.

At this time, the two messenger soldiers were led into the study room, and they bowed and saluted, "See Lu Xianggong!"

"You don't need to be too polite, where are the letters you sent?"

A soldier took out a leather bag from his bosom, and took out two documents from it, one was a letter to Lu Yihao, and the other was Chen Qing's memorial to the Privy Council, and presented them to Lu Yihao together.

Lu Yihao hastily read the letter, and he probably knew the meaning. Chen Qing was recruiting a militia from the Northwest in Bashu. They belonged to soldiers, but not to the regular army. There is a serious shortage of troops, and it is necessary to recruit [-] troops before the beginning of spring. The population of Han people in Xihe Road is too small, and the source of soldiers is exhausted. They can only look for sources of soldiers from the northwest immigrants in Bashu.

Lu Yihao nodded. He knew the situation of Chen Qing's troops. At the beginning, 8000 people rushed to the northwest. At least a population of 3 is needed to have a source of about 2 troops.

The population in the northwest is too small, which has reached its limit. No wonder Chen Qing went to Bashu to recruit soldiers.

Lu Yihao looked at the memorial written by Chen Qing to the imperial court, which was interesting. Chen Qing didn't mention recruiting soldiers at all, but only said that he was recruiting strong men for reclaiming wasteland and placing them in the Taohe Valley.

"This kid is very good at making excuses!"

Lu Yihao put away the memorial and asked again: "How is Mrs. Dutong doing? What happened to her?"

The soldier bowed and said: "Madam is in good condition. She walks slowly around the mansion twice a day. She looks very good. I heard that she is going to give birth in a few days. We set off a month ago, and the recent situation is not good. understood."

"I understand. You go down and rest for two days. I will write a letter later and you can take it back to Qinzhou."

The steward took two soldiers down to rest.

Lu Yihao paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. In fact, Chen Qing's problem was not serious. He was a Jiedu envoy with an army of [-] troops. It would be normal to have [-] more logistics soldiers. It would be no problem at all for the states to recruit militias.

The army is not the problem. Chen Qing's problem is the appointment of magistrates. He has been back to the northwest for a year, but he has not sent a record of the appointment of magistrates to the official department. This is a bit unreasonable. Lu Yihao is really worried about the officials. A supervising army will be sent over. At that time, many of Chen Qing's powers will be restricted.

After all, he is his grandson-in-law!If you don't help him yourself, who will help him?

Lu Yihao pondered for a long time. He still had to ask Zhang Jun for help on this matter. If Zhang Jun supported him, Xu Xiantu, the privy secretary, would give him a favor. Then the proposal to send a supervisory army would fail in the Zhizheng Hall first, and then he would try to persuade the emperor. Even if Qin Hui is the right minister, there is nothing he can do.

Thinking of this, Lu Yihao immediately ordered: "Prepare the carriage, I'm going to Mr. Zhang's residence!"

……

Early the next morning, Chen Qing's memorial was transferred by the Privy Council to the emperor's imperial case. Chen Qing was the Jiedu envoy, so he could submit the memorial to the emperor directly, or he could submit it to the emperor after discussion in the Zhizheng hall. After all, Chen Qing also In charge of Xihe Road government affairs, since he is in charge of government affairs, he cannot escape the interference of Zhizhengtang.

However, with Lu Yihao's operation, the Privy Council directly transferred the memorial to the emperor.

As Lu Yihao expected, in the morning, the official Zhao Gou summoned him to the Ziwei side hall to have an audience.

Lu Yihao hurried to the Ziwei side hall and found that several ministers had arrived. He bowed to the emperor Zhao Gou and sat down on his seat next to him. Soon, the main officials from the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Households all arrived. It's a small court discussion!

Zhao Gou picked up Chen Qing's memorial and asked Lu Yihao, "Did Lu Xianggong transfer Chen Qing's memorial to the Privy Council?"

According to the normal process, the local government of each prefecture should have a Jinzhaoyuan in Lin'an, which is equivalent to the Beijing Office. The memorials of all localities are first sent to the Jinzhaoyuan in this state, and then sent to the relevant departments by the Jinzhaoyuan. It was the Tang system, and the Song Dynasty also inherited it.

However, Xihe Road did not set up a concert hall in the capital, so Chen Qing's memorial had to be handed over to Lu Yihao, the minister, and there was no problem with public or private.

Lu Yihao said calmly; "Xihe Road didn't enter the theater in Lin'an, and yesterday happened to be the imperial court's ten-day holiday, so the soldiers who delivered the letter had to send it to Weichen's mansion first."

Zhao Gou accused Lu Yihao of meaning that he just wanted to put Xihe Road on the right track as soon as possible.

"Then we have to solve the first problem. Xihe Road must set up Jinzhaoyuan. Do you think it should be established separately, or merged into the Jinzouyuan in Lin'an of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Propaganda Department?"

Zhu Shengfei got up and said: "Your Majesty, I think it is more appropriate to merge into the Xuanfu Department of Sichuan and Shaanxi. After all, Xihe Road was originally under the jurisdiction of the Xuanfu Department of Sichuan and Shaanxi."

This is Chen Qing's eye drops!Find a boss for Chen Qing, and the appointment of officials in the future must be decided by the Sichuan-Shaanxi Propaganda Department.

Zhang Jun sneered and said: "Mr. Zhu is talking nonsense! When I am very busy, can the Xuanfu Department of Sichuan and Shaanxi manage the affairs of Xihe Road? When I was the envoy of Xuanfu of Sichuan and Shaanxi, I couldn't manage Xihe Road. Could it be that in Zhu When you were a husband, the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu Division expanded its power?"

Qin Hui got up and cupped his hands to Zhao Gou: "Your Majesty, Zhu Xianggong's suggestion is not unreasonable. The reason why the Xuanfu Department of Sichuan and Shanxi cannot control Xihe Road is not because it has no authority, but because Xihe Road is not in the hands of the Song Army. Once Xihe The road was captured by the Song army, so it naturally came under the jurisdiction of the Xuanfu Department of Sichuan and Shaanxi. If I remember correctly, the Sixth Shaanxi Road includes Xihe Road."

Chapter 451

Zhao Gou waved his hands and said: "My dear friends, there is no need to argue. The independent establishment of Xihe Road is my answer. Since I have already agreed, don't go back on my word. Let's discuss the matter. Xihe Road can borrow the Sichuan-Shaanxi Propaganda Department. Entering the Zouyuan, but not under the jurisdiction of the Xuanfu Department of Sichuan and Shanxi."

The emperor has made a conclusion, so there is nothing to argue about.

This was somewhat beyond Lu Yihao's expectations. He originally thought that Chen Qing would be deprived of the right to appoint personnel and handed over to the Sichuan-Shaanxi Propaganda Department, but he did not expect that the officials would veto it on his own initiative. This is very unlike the style of the officials. He seemed to have concerns. What is he worried about?

Everyone sat down, and Zhao Gou handed Chen Qing's memorial to the public for reading, and he said slowly: "Regarding the recruitment of the Xihe Army in Bashu, Chen Qing explained in the memorial that he had captured Lintao Mansion and found There are almost no Han people in Lintao Prefecture, and a lot of cultivated land in the Taohe Valley has been abandoned. The population of the entire Xihe Road is too small. The problem of insufficient military rations does not seem to be impossible, so I said, explain the matter clearly, and some unnecessary misunderstandings will disappear, Qin Xianggong, don’t you think so?”

"Your Majesty is very right, but I am worried that this is just an excuse for Chen Qing to over-recruit troops. He is a military general, if he is not restrained by civil officials, he will not conform to the Song Dynasty's rule of using literature to control military affairs!"

Chen Qing is Lu Yihao's grandson-in-law, and Lu Yihao had to avoid suspicion on this proposal, so he specifically approached Zhang Jun yesterday and asked Zhang Jun to help Chen Qing today.

Zhang Jun sneered and said, "Mr. Qin is just talking on paper!"

Qin Hui said angrily: "What I said is the truth, where is it talking on paper?"

Zhang Jun shook his head, "Do you think that Chen Qing can over-recruit soldiers if he wants to? Do you know how much military salary 1 people have to pay? It's the same monthly money in normal times, doubled in wartime, and their food, drink, and clothes Shoes cost at least two to three pennies a month per person, and two to three million pennies a year. In such a barren place like Xihe Road, the restaurant staff only earn one penny a month. The entire population of Xihe Road is only 30. , do you think they can afford the hundreds of thousands of military expenses a year?"

Qin Hui was speechless for a while, and Zhu Shengfei asked Su Qiying, the Minister of the Household Department dissatisfiedly, "Excuse me, Minister Su, how many people are there on Xihe Road?"

Su Qiying got up quickly, bowed and said: "Reporting to Mr. Zhu, last year the Xuanfu Department of Sichuan and Shanxi handed over an approximate number of people, about 30 people in six prefectures and one prefecture on Xihe Road, but this is only an estimate, Xihe Road is not in our hands .”

Everyone laughed knowingly, Zhu Shengfei was a little embarrassed, last year the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan and Shanxi was himself!As a result, the Ministry of Accounts gave the data he provided.

At this time, Xu Xiantu, who knew the privy secretary, also got up and said: "Your Majesty, what Zhang Xianggong said is reasonable. The military salary of Xihe Road is controlled by the imperial court. Chen Qing really can't afford the extra military expenditure. It is a kind of control of Xihe Road, and it is the most important kind of control, so the Privy Council is never worried about Chen Qing's outrageous behavior."

Xu Xiantu's words are very straightforward, Chen Qing's balls are pinched by the court!If he dared to be disobedient, just talk about it, and he was guaranteed to beg for mercy.

Lu Yihao frowned slightly, Zhang Jun and Xu Xiantu were right!How can Chen Qing afford the military expenses of 1 people?

His expression became slightly unnatural, and he thought of a terrible thing, could it be that Chen Qing was minting money in private?

At this time, Zhao Gou glanced at the crowd and said slowly: "This is the end of Bashu's recruitment of civilian husbands to farm the fields. I believe that Chen Dutong must have sent out the memorial early, and then sent people to recruit, just like Chen Dutong did in the past. The memorial said that he had to recruit labor before the winter wheat was planted, but because the journey was too far, the recruitment had already been completed there, and the memorial had not yet been delivered here. The situation is special, and this matter can be forgiven.”

The emperor has already set the tone, and the circumstances are justifiable, so this matter will come to an end.

Everyone got up and retreated one after another, Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei were very helpless, they had to get up and go back to the court room, they didn't expect the official to speak for Chen Qing, which really disappointed them.

At this time, a young eunuch stepped forward and said in a low voice: "The official invites the two gentlemen to go to the imperial study."

……

In the imperial study room, Zhao Gou was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, with a dignified expression on his face. The relaxation in the court meeting had disappeared without a trace. On his imperial case was a secret report by Lu Fasheng, the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan and Shanxi. The first report was also delivered yesterday afternoon, and arrived in Lin'an almost at the same time as Chen Qing's memorial.

Lu Fasheng described in detail the current situation of Xihe Road in his report, such as the expansion of the army, the construction of the city, the conquest of Deshun Prefecture in the east, the conquest of Gongzhou and Lintao Prefecture in the west, several fierce battles with the Xixia Army, sending people to mine saltpeter mines, and using prisoners of war to mine iron Mine and so on.

As for the appointment of magistrates and magistrates, these are trivial matters.

In this report, Zhao Gou saw what a Tang Dynasty envoy did, not the Song Dynasty envoy. The Song Dynasty envoy did not have that much power. It can be said that at the beginning of the founding of the Song Dynasty, the envoy was limited All the rules and regulations set by Chen Qing have been broken through here.

This made Zhao Gou startled and angry, and at the same time deeply anxious. Replacing Chen Qing was of course the best way, but Zhao Gou was also a bit wary!

At this time, an eunuch reported outside the door, "Qin Xianggong and Zhu Xianggong are here!"

"Please come in!"

After a while, Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei walked in quickly, bowed and saluted, "See Your Majesty!"

"Give me a seat!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei sat down, Zhao Gou said indifferently: "Today's court meeting, the two gentlemen seem to have different opinions?"

Qin Hui immediately said anxiously: "Your Majesty, recruiting [-] young men to farm the fields may only be able to deceive three-year-old children. This is definitely recruiting, and there is no doubt about it. Recruiting soldiers is recruiting, and I have no objection. What I am worried about is The system of the imperial court is destroyed, military generals must be controlled by civil officials, without this restriction, military generals will be lawless, so that the disaster of the mid-Tang Dynasty reappears."

Zhao Gou was silent for a while, Qin Hui's words touched his heart.

Zhu Shengfei also said: "Your Majesty, I know Chen Qing very well. He is arrogant and conceited. When Chen Qing came to Beijing, I sent someone to temporarily act as the envoy of Qinzhou, but he sent someone to pretend to be a puppet Qi army and kill him." That's right, this person has no bottom line in his actions and is ruthless, if His Majesty doesn't get rid of him as soon as possible, sooner or later he will become a disaster for the Great Song Dynasty."

Zhao Gou nodded, "I fully understand the concerns of the two gentlemen, and I am also very aware of what Chen Qing has done in the northwest."

As he said that, Zhao Gou took the secret report from Lu Fasheng and handed it to Qin Hui and Qin Hui. After Qin Hui received the report, his heart skipped a beat.It was obvious that Zhang Jun didn't know about bypassing the imperial court. You must know that Sichuan and Shanxi are Zhang Jun's territory, and Lu Fasheng is Zhang Jun's recommendation envoy.

Qin Hui immediately realized that the officials secretly crossed Chen Cang, and had already secretly pinched Lu Fasheng in their hands.

Zhu Shengfei was also aware of this, but he was not as happy as Qin Hui. When he served as the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan and Shanxi, he suppressed Lu Fasheng very deeply.I'm afraid he is more ruthless than Zhang Jun.

Zhao Gou walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, and said worriedly: "You think I don't know anything, and let the people below be deceived? In fact, my heart is like a bright mirror."

Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei looked at each other, it turned out that the officials knew everything.

Qin Hui said cautiously: "Lu Fasheng said that Chen Qing was using the Xixia prisoners of war to mine iron ore, but I believe that Chen Qing has a large number of captured weapons in his hands, and he is not short of iron. He must be using iron ore as a cover to mine copper ore. Make money, otherwise, where did he get the money to recruit soldiers? This is the key, I suggest sending envoys to Qinzhou to check the iron mines immediately, and use this as a breakthrough."

Zhao Gou shook his head, "If something can be done, I said it in the court meeting. Whether it is copper or iron ore, it has seriously violated the prohibition that the executives are not allowed to mine without authorization. I have concerns!"

"What concerns does Your Majesty have?"

Zhao Gou sighed, "I'm worried that the pressure will be too great, and he will surrender to the puppet Qi. With his ability, Sichuan and Shaanxi will be completely finished. This matter must be discussed in a long-term way. I hope the two ministers can understand."

Qin Hui rolled his eyes and said: "I understand your majesty's difficulties, but I can't let Chen Qing's reckless behavior. I suggest that you can start with Lu Yihao, let him lure Chen Qing back to Lin'an, and at the same time, your majesty will secretly support Chen Qing's successor." People, once Chen Qing leaves, replace him, Wei Chen thinks this is the best strategy."

Zhu Shengfei also agreed deeply: "Mr. Qin's plan is completely feasible, and I hope His Majesty will consider it."

Zhao Gou nodded slowly, and Qin Hui also made sense. Although he couldn't be forced too much, he couldn't just sit back and watch him grow up. He had to do something.

Chapter 452 Upgrade

December is also the cold winter on Xihe Road. After entering December, there have been three consecutive heavy snowfalls, and the world has become a vast expanse.

This morning, Chen Qing led thousands of soldiers to rescue more than 200 dilapidated houses that were crushed by heavy snow in the southwest of the county. Hundreds of houses.

The soldiers worked hard all night, rescued most of the trapped people, and pitched a tent next to each family's house to accommodate these temporarily homeless people.

Chen Qing arrived at the scene at the fourth watch, commanding thousands of soldiers to move the excavation, remove the roof beams, and carry away the large bricks and stones. The injured people were carried out and bandaged urgently to stop the bleeding.

It was finally bright, and the soldiers chanted and lifted up the mud wall of the last house that had been crushed. This was the most serious house. The entire wall collapsed. It happened to be the bedroom. It's hard to save people.

Some soldiers shouted, "Below is the girder, and the girder is obliquely pressing on the bed!"

There was another glimmer of hope in everyone's heart. The girders were obliquely pressed, and might be able to withstand the heavy wall.

"Come out! Come out!"

First, a three or four-year-old child was carried out. The child cried out in fright, and then a woman was carried out. The woman had few clothes, and everyone wrapped her in a quilt. Both she and the child were terrified, but luckily It was not injured.

Finally, a man who lay on top of his wife and children saved their lives.

The man was covered in blood, and everyone felt that the possibility of surviving was unlikely. Suddenly, someone shouted: "He's still alive, take him out!"

The crowd hurriedly carried out the seriously injured man, wrapped him in a quilt and sent him to be bandaged. The soldiers and people around him cheered.

All the rescue was over, only more than [-] people were injured, but fortunately no one was killed, it was incredible, how could everyone not cheer.

At this time, Yang Yuanqing stepped forward and said to Chen Qing: "Let's all go back! There is a lowly official here who is in charge. Didn't the doctor say that the wife might give birth in these two days?"

"It should be unlikely today. She was fine when I came out."

As soon as Chen Qing finished speaking, a maid from the mansion came running in a panic, "Master, go back quickly! Madam is about to give birth."

Chen Qing was startled, and asked anxiously, "Did you call the midwife?"

"I have invited you a long time ago, butler please go back quickly!"

Chen Qing gave Yang Yuanqing a few words, turned his horse and ran towards his mansion, followed by more than a dozen personal soldiers.

After a while, he rushed to the gate of the mansion. Chen Qing got off his horse and ran towards the mansion. The mansion was also in chaos. go.