Fenghou

Zhu Shengfei also said: "Even if your majesty does not move the capital back to Bianliang, you should still hold Bianliang in the hands of the court. After all, it is the capital of the Song Dynasty. Secondly, Chen Qing asked Li Qiong's army to block our army from going north. This is also a huge blow to us. Humiliated, I believe that although we try to avoid internal strife with the Western Army, Li Qiong should not be among them, Li Qiong is a traitor of the Song Dynasty, and we have every reason to send troops to kill this person."

"and then?"

Zhao Gou was fascinated by what he heard, and seeing that Zhu Shengfei had stopped, he hurriedly said, "Mr. Zhu, continue talking!"

Zhu Shengfei was not expounding his own thoughts, he was a representative of the Empress Dowager political group, and his explanations were the consensus of the entire group, especially the attitude of Empress Dowager Wei.

"We eradicate Li Qiong and occupy Xuzhou, Suzhou, Sizhou and Haizhou. We can exchange these four states with Chen Qing for Bianliang. Weichen believes that he will agree. Otherwise, Bozhou will be surrounded by the two armies. , and then Caizhou and Tangzhou, if this chain goes on, there will be a cascading reaction.”

Of course Zhao Gou knew that this was the opinion of the Empress Dowager Group, but what he said was very reasonable, and he was quite moved and fell silent for a while.

Qin Hui continued: "Your Majesty, Zhu Xianggong's thinking is indeed reasonable. We used to think this way before, but the fire in Yangzhou caused our operations to be interrupted, but we can continue to adopt this plan. The grain harvests in various places this autumn are good, and we can support We will launch an offensive in the spring of next year, Your Majesty, we can still pretend to attack Guo!"

Zhao Gou understood Qin Hui's last sentence, which meant that Han Shizhong's military power was deprived by the way. The last time Han Shizhong was supposed to be transferred, but the fire in Yangzhou disrupted their plan. If they go to the Northern Expedition again this time, it will be a chance.

"What is Xu Xianggong thinking?" Zhao Gou asked Xu Xiantu again.

Xu Xiantu was concerned about the establishment of the capital. He asked Qin Hui, "If you get Bianliang, then what?"

Qin Hui understood Xu Xiantu's thoughts, and said with a smile: "Bianliang can be positioned as the northern capital. Of course, we will not move the capital there. Because of security issues, I also support the establishment of the capital in Lin'an. Lin'an can be called the southern capital and the real capital. Bianliang It is more of a formal capital, and more of a memory.”

Xu Xiantu nodded, "I support the idea of ​​establishing the Northern Capital!"

By implication, he supported the Second Northern Expedition.

Zhao Gou nodded, "Anyway, let's prepare for the battle first!"

……

It was late, and Qin Hui went back to the mansion directly. He went directly to the study, wrote a note, sealed it with wax pills, found a confidant servant, and told him: "You go to the northern teahouse and take this note. Give a wax pill to shopkeeper Shi of the teahouse, and say that I sent you to come, and he will naturally understand!"

The Northern Teahouse is a teahouse run by the Kingdom of Jin. Qin Hui contacted the envoy of the Kingdom of Jin, Xiao Yi, so he didn't have to go directly to the Kingdom of Jin. It would be troublesome if he was seen. It was so convenient to go to the teahouse.

The servant put away the wax pills and left, when his wife Wang walked in and said with a smile: "So the Son of Heaven has decided to make a second Northern Expedition?"

Qin Hui nodded, "Bianliang is his demon, he will not be reconciled if he doesn't take Bianliang back. Obviously, Empress Dowager Wei also knows this, so she proposed to exterminate Li Qiong and exchange Bianliang with Xuzhou and other four states. I proposed the plan again, that Han Shizhong's military power could be confiscated easily, and this was something he never forgot, and the emperor finally agreed to the second Northern Expedition."

"What about Xu Xiantu? He didn't object?"

Qin Hui smiled slightly and said: "Xu Xiantu only cares about the capital of Lin'an. I know that many ministers have approached him, hoping that he can persuade the emperor. This is also his own interest. All his wealth is invested in the land of Lin'an. In fact, I It is suspected that Xu Xiantu was the one who published the letter in the Beijing News."

"Is there any basis for the master's suspicion?"

Qin Hui dipped his finger in some tea and wrote on the table: "If you take apart the word Xu, it means a double person plus a word Yu. Isn't this Yu Ren?"

Mrs. Wang applauded and laughed loudly: "Master really sees through!"

Qin Hui proudly said: "As long as I support the establishment of the capital in Lin'an, then he will support the Northern Expedition!"

"Will the Northern Expedition be successful?" Wang asked again.

Qin Hui shook his head, "I don't know, if it's just Li Qiong, I guess it will be successful, but if the Western Army joins the battle and the Jin soldiers also join the battle, the situation will be complicated."

……

Hu Yun's pigeon sent a message to Jingzhao.

Chen Qing sighed to Jiang Yanxian: "I really didn't think carefully. I always thought that I would not treat Zheng Quantong badly and pay him rent according to the market price. He must be a businessman! A businessman valued profits, but now he finds himself looking down on people."

Jiang Yanxian smiled and said: "This kind of big ship can't be rented by the rich. Besides, he can make a lot of money with the sea ship, and the rent can't make up for his losses. Now he only needs to rent one hundred guan, and he has to pay for all the crew. Expenses, it can be seen that Zheng Quantong is not for money at all, it should be to report to His Highness for saving his life last time."

"Are you still considering knighting him?"

"Your Highness, Zheng Tongquan is now the Duke of Hejian County. If you go up, you will be the Duke of the State, and if you go up, you will be the King of the County. It is not easy to be named!"

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said: "It's not that complicated. The court is the court, and I am me. I don't recognize the title of the court, just like the court doesn't recognize my title. I consider making him the Duke of Gaoling County, which is already very good." Well, I will use Jingzhao's county title to give him a title, which ordinary people cannot get."

Jiang Yanxian heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "This is reasonable!"

Chen Qing said again: "Also, the imperial court may want to attack the north again, what does Jiang Gong think?"

Jiang Yanxian pondered for a while and said: "Your Highness, this matter may involve a quarrel with the imperial court. It is indeed necessary to treat it with caution. I suggest calling the internal affairs hall for military and political discussions!"

Chen Qing nodded, and immediately convened the Internal Affairs Hall to discuss the strategy to deal with the imperial court's Northern Expedition.

Chapter 72 Lu Die

In the meeting hall, several counselors gathered together, Chen Qing explained the situation to everyone, Guan Shigu said slowly: "Li Qiong is a traitor to the court, this is an excuse for the court to send troops, when he defected, he killed the Minister of the Ministry of War, Lu Zhi, the military staff of the Dudu Mansion, will have serious consequences, so it is morally right for the court to send troops to attack him. I suggest that Li Qiong be transferred away, and the court has lost its excuse."

Zhou Kuan shook his head and said: "Old Guan thinks the court is too simple. Since it is an excuse, if we transfer Li Qiong away, the court will definitely find another excuse, such as attacking Shandong Road. They will borrow Xuzhou, and we will borrow it." Don’t borrow? It’s morally wrong not to borrow. If they borrow, they will definitely stay in Xuzhou and not leave. My attitude is very clear. If Li Qiong can’t be transferred, let Li Qiong guard Xuzhou. If the imperial army can’t attack for a long time, they will naturally withdraw. gone."

Zhang Miao pondered for a while and said, "Old Zhou still thinks simply. The imperial court must be instigated by the Kingdom of Jin behind it. The Kingdom of Jin wants to use the imperial army to weaken us. If it is not good for the imperial court to attack Xuzhou, it is not ruled out that the army of the Jin Kingdom will also Join the war, what about us? We will definitely join the war, and the situation is more complicated."

Chen Qing nodded secretly, he and Zhang Miao had the same idea, Chen Qing glanced at it again and remained silent, Zhao laughed and said, "Sister Zhao, please say a few words!"

Zhao Kai nodded and said to everyone: "Actually, I still can't figure it out. Why did the imperial court want the Northern Expedition? What's the point of you saying they want to capture Xuzhou? They still want to attack Shandong Road. Of course, it is impossible to attack Shandong Road. Then Is it meaningful to seize the four prefectures of Xu and Su? It is impossible for the other party to be so stupid after spending so much money and food to compete for a yellow flood zone, so what are they doing for it? I think Hu Yun must take this Clarify the problem."

Chen Qingdao: "I will arrange for Hu Yun to investigate clearly. Everyone is right. Li Qiong is indeed just an excuse, but I don't plan to transfer Li Qiong away. The reason why I put Li Qiong in Xuzhou is because Li Qiong can't do it. Surrendering to the imperial court, he has no way out, including his subordinates, they can only defend Xuzhou City, as for us sending troops, if we have to teach the imperial court to be honest, then this battle is inevitable."

Just as he was talking, Chao Qing appeared at the door, holding an express letter, Chen Qing asked, "What's urgent?"

"Your Highness, look at this, the urgent letter just received from Hu Yun."

Chao Qing handed a copy of the pigeon letter to Chen Qing. Chen Qing took a look at the pigeon letter and his face became serious. He sighed and said to the crowd: "Two news from Hu Yun, the Son of Heaven A decree has been issued to officially recognize Lin'an as the capital."

Recognizing Lin'an as the capital was already expected by everyone. Everyone knew that this news alone was not enough to make King Yong's expression so dignified, and the other one must be more important.

Chen Qing said again: "Another news is about my family. The former Prime Minister Lu Yihao passed away!"

……

Back in the mansion, Lu Xiu threw herself into her husband's arms and wept bitterly. She had already received the news of her grandfather's death.

Chen Qing patted his wife on the back and comforted her in a low voice.

"Husband, I want to go back with my second brother!"

Chen Qing smiled wryly and said: "It's very risky for your second brother to go back. I'm worried that he won't be able to come back. After all, he is the Sima of the military department. If you go back, you will definitely be detained by the court. Let your second brother go back." Brother, go back on your behalf! We will build a clothing tomb in Jingzhao, and we can go to the tomb to worship."

Of course Lu Xiu knew that her husband was difficult, so she held back her grief and nodded, "I see, I will ask my second brother to bring my grandfather's clothes and build a clothes tomb..."

Speaking of this, she couldn't help sobbing again, Chen Qing comforted her for a while, and then she followed Alian back to the house.

Chen Qing went back to his study and sat for a while. He now encountered a problem that was not easy to solve, that is, Lu Tang, Wang Huan and other intelligence spies from the Kingdom of Jin had been executed, but only Lu Tang was left behind. After all, he is a child of the Lu family. Although the Lu family doesn't treat this Lu Jiao well, killing him himself will still cause hidden dangers. Well, let's wait until Lu Datong comes to discuss this matter.

……

Two days later, Lu Datong hurried to Jingzhao. Although his son had been arrested for a while, no one informed Lu Datong. He just learned that his son was arrested.

Lu Datong came to Prince Yong's mansion in a hurry and asked to see the princess.

Lu Xiu really didn't want to see him, but thinking that her grandfather had just passed away, she had no choice but to meet Lu Datong with grief.

Wearing a plain skirt and white flowers on her head, Lu Xiu came down to the outer hall surrounded by a group of servants and female guards.

Lu Datong, who was waiting in the hall, saw Lu Xiu enter the hall, and immediately rushed up to ask, "Princess, do you know about the arrest of Hang'er?"

He got too close, two female guards raised their swords to stop him, Lu Datong could only take two steps back angrily.

Lu Xiu was really chilled for a while. When he met, he didn't care about his grandfather's death, but only thought about his son.

"Does the third grandfather know about the death of grandfather?"

Lu Datong nodded, "I heard that I'm going back to Lin'an, but before I go back to Lin'an, I have to settle the matter of Hang'er."

Lu Xiu suppressed his disgust and said: "Lu Hang colluded with the spies of the Kingdom of Jin and betrayed important information. If he is not dead, King Yong has forgiven him. How do you solve it?"

"It must be a misunderstanding. Hang'er has always been a simple person. He must have been ignorant and was taken advantage of. I implore the princess to persuade King Yong. For the sake of my brother who just passed away, let's forgive Hang'er this time!"

"Isn't it good to imprison him?"

Lu Xiu said lightly: "He caused trouble everywhere, but this time he actually colluded with Jin Guo and committed a capital crime. If you don't kill him, if you imprison him, he can at least live a lifetime in peace. If you release him, do you think he can still live?" how long?"

"no!"

Lu Datong said angrily: "He is my son, no matter what I want to protect him, I only have one sentence, see Wang Hao for the sake of the dead grandfather, give him another chance."

Lu Xiu pondered for a moment and said: "Okay! I'll go and tell King Yong, I can't promise what will happen. I'll answer you tomorrow morning. This is the last thing I will do for you for the sake of my grandfather. Don't come to me again!"

……

In the evening, Lu Xiu told her husband about Lu Datong.

Chen Qing nodded, "I know he will definitely come in the next two days. I didn't kill Lu Jiang, but I was also considering a proper solution."

Lu Xiu whispered: "Grandpa hated this Lu Tang very much before he was alive. He once wrote a letter saying that if Lu Tang committed a crime, he must be severely punished. We must not let this scum drag the Lu family down."

Chen Qing sighed slightly: "Your grandfather did tell me the same thing, but I can't do it. At least I have to do my best. In the case of Lu Hang, I also have a little responsibility. The first time he contacted I knew it when the Kingdom of Jin was a spy, and if we stopped him then, his crime would not be serious, and he would not have gotten deeper and deeper as he did later on."

"But he's a capital crime! If you spare him, no matter how you explain to the subordinates, I'm afraid the second grandfather will not agree."

"I know! So I'm thinking of a compromise."

Chen Qing took a few steps behind his back and said to Lu Xiu: "I have only one condition. Lu Datong wants me to pardon his son. He must resign and take his son away from my territory. As a relative, I can subsidize him with 1000 taels of silver. , but as King Yong, I will not make any further concessions."

Lu Xiu also knew that this was the biggest concession her husband made, she sighed and said, "I see, let him take his son to the funeral for grandfather! Stay in Lin'an, don't come back."

……

The next day, Lu Datong came to Prince Yong's Mansion again, and Lu Xiu explained the conditions clearly to him. Lu Datong was silent for a moment, and said for a moment: "Do you have to resign?"

Lu Xiu was very dissatisfied and said: "Lu Tang has become a member of Jin Guo's spies and provided a lot of top-secret information. All his accomplices were executed and he was the only one who survived. No matter how he is dealt with, the third grandfather should take the blame and resign, let alone now Let him go, isn't that tolerant enough? How can King Yong make concessions?"

When it came to the end, Lu Xiu was already slightly angry. What is greed and insufficiency, that's it.

Lu Datong sighed, "Okay! I'll just resign. I'll take him back to Lin'an, attend his elder brother's funeral, and then return to his hometown to settle down and never come back again."

Lu Xiu waved her hand, and a maid came forward with a plate. Lu Xiu said lightly: "This is a deposit receipt from Jingzhaobaoji Cabinet Workshop. It contains 2000 taels of silver. It was given to you by me and King Yong. In my hometown, I can become a rich man, so be optimistic about Lu Tang, don’t let him get into trouble again, and next time, no one can save him.”

Lu Datong's face was a bit ugly, "I will educate my son well, and I don't need other people's advice, but I still want to thank the princess for her generosity, thank you very much!"

Lu Datong picked up the list and Yu Pei on the plate and hurried away. Lu Xiu looked at his back and shook her head. Lu Datong didn't wake up at all. She had a faint feeling in her heart. accident.

Chapter 73 Caravan

As time passed by the end of the year, another heavy snow covered Jingzhao City, and Jingzhao City became a snow-covered world again.

There are still three days until the new year, and today is the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. Every household puts up door signs, poles are erected in the yard, Tusu wine is brewed, the table is set up, and the tribute is also served on the table.

Today is also the last day to go to court. Tomorrow will be a holiday until the fifth day of the first lunar month. The new year will start on the sixth day of the first lunar month. However, at noon on the first day of the first lunar month, there will be a New Year's feast, and the officials will be invited by Yong Wang Chen Qing , a tradition that has continued for many years.

Early in the morning, Chen Qing, Jiang Yanxian, Zhou Kuan, and Zhang Miao boarded a large carriage to inspect Jingzhao City, which was shrouded in the atmosphere of the New Year.

The snow on the street was swept clean, and children setting off firecrackers were seen everywhere. The children all put on new clothes, and groups of children ran happily on the street.

"Every time I look at a group of children, I always feel very comfortable in my heart, and I always feel that I see hope!"

Zhou Kuan said with emotion: "I'm afraid of seeing deserted streets, or seeing a group of gray-haired old men, and I feel very panicked, feeling that there is no future."

Zhang Miao said with a smile, "That means you are old!"

"Nonsense! I'm only in my early sixties, 20 years younger than Lian Po!"

Everyone laughed, and Chen Qing said with a smile: "As the saying goes, a family with an old man is like a treasure, and the court is the same. If there are experienced veterans in charge, they will not take detours or be radical, and we can always follow our own rules. step by step forward.”

"Then according to His Highness's rhythm, when will we attack Shandong Road?" Jiang Yanxian asked with a smile.

Chen Qing pondered for a while and said: "I also want to attack Shandong Road earlier, so that we will be facing the sea, but I am more concerned about the situation of the Kingdom of Jin. Don't you find it strange? We captured the Central Plains, but the court of the Kingdom of Jin didn't seem to have any reaction. They didn't send more troops to Hebei Road and Shandong Road, which is abnormal!"

"What do you think is the reason, Your Highness?"

Chen Qing said slowly: "I think the attention of the Jin Kingdom's court is still on the grassland. This is the third year since the Jin Kingdom attacked the Mughal tribe. The Jin Kingdom did not pay attention to us. It should be the most critical moment to attack the grassland. "

"It's best for us to understand the situation on the grasslands. Once the Kingdom of Jin conquers the grasslands, their source of troops will expand a lot, and our pressure will be great."

Chen Qing nodded, "I heard that Jingzhao has a caravan coming from the grassland, but I don't know where they are? I have arranged for the inner guard to look for them. If I can find this caravan, I may get some news."

After a pause, Chen Qing said again: "Speaking of the source of troops, in the battle of the Central Plains, we found that there were many Koreans in the opponent's army. At first we thought they were from Bohai, but later we found out that the military badge was wrong, and they were Koreans. I suspect that the Kingdom of Jin may have obtained a source of troops from Korea."

"What about signing the army?"

Zhou Kuan said: "If the Jurchens recruit Han troops from Yanshan Road, Hebei Road, and Shandong Road, wouldn't the source of troops be wider?"

Chen Qing said with a smile: "Judging from the many years of dealing with them, only Wanyanchang trusts the Han soldiers. The other Jurchens, including Wanyan Wushu, don't trust the Han people. They don't trust them from the bottom of their hearts. Therefore, the treatment of signing troops is very poor, and if the treatment is poor, the morale of signing troops will not be high, they will spare their lives in battle, and they will easily collapse, which in turn will make Wanyan Wushu even less trust signing troops, forming a vicious circle."

"But Li Cheng's army is very powerful. His Royal Highness praised him very much last time, and praised him for his military training skills."

Chen Qing did not deny it, "Li Cheng is quite special. The army in his hands is really good. It can be said that it is the only army that Wanyan Wushu values. I am thinking of using countermeasures to get rid of Li Cheng, but it may not be easy to succeed."

As everyone said, the carriage came to Dongdawazi, and they wanted to know for themselves the price situation before the Chinese New Year.

……

There is a Yuanda Inn in Xianyang, which is relatively remote. It is located on the official road in the northeast of the city, which is also because it is located outside the city. The inn has a large area, especially a livestock pen covering an area of ​​[-] mu, which is very popular among merchants from the Western Regions.