One Piece of Song Dynasty

At this time, Zhou Wuzhong interrupted: "When we came, the emperor asked us to pay close attention to Xijing."

Wanyan Xiyin said: "When we were in Fengsheng Prefecture, we gave you the Xijing Road, but Zhao Longtu said no, saying that we only talked about the return of Yanjing. There is no need to talk about the Xijing issue now."

Ma Kuo said: "The old land behind the mountain has been agreed since we met at sea. How dare Zhao Longtu say not to include Xijing every time he talks about the land of Yan, and your dynasty has promised to take it. Today Yanjing has been ceded back, but Xijing is in the southwest, far away from your dynasty. How will your dynasty hold it in the future? There are rumors that your dynasty wants to give Xijing to other families. If it is promised to others, how can it be returned to the Southern Dynasty and to us? It kills two birds with one stone, one allows our court to regain its old place, and two, it shows the sincerity of your court's friendship."

Wanyan Xiyin thought for a while and said: "I have no right to answer this matter. I want to report to the emperor. You can wait here for news."

Three days have passed and Wanyan Xiyin has not returned yet. Zhao Liangsi was a little anxious. He complained that Ma Kuo should not have raised the issue of Xijing in such a hurry. He was worried that even the recovery of Yanjing would be ruined. Ma Kuo said: "We should fight hard for the imperial pen. How could I not say it?" The two had a heated argument.

Zhao Liangsi said: "Three days have passed, and Xi Yin has not come back to discuss, so this is bound to change. I quickly went to find Li Jing and asked him to send a message, asking them not to discuss the Xijing issue for the time being."

Ma Kuo threatened: "If you dare to ask Li Jing to discuss this matter, then when I return to the court in the future, I will go to the Yushitai to accuse you."

Zhao Liangsi was frightened and embarrassed: "What I mean is to quickly complete the matter of recovering Yanjing. This can be regarded as a contribution we have made to the court. I am worried that by raising the request of Shanhou, I will ruin the important event of Yanjing." , Xuanzan, why are you doing this?"

Ma Kuo comforted: "It won't be bad, don't worry. If we can get all the land in Yanjing and Xijing for the imperial court, restore the five passes, make the country thousands of miles in size, and take advantage of the opportunity to control the Jin people, then we can say We have made great contributions. But today, we have not only lost the three states of Pingluanying, but also lost the two passes of Yu and Songting. Every year, we have to add another one million generation taxes, draining China, and we will start from now on. . If we no longer have Kyushu behind the mountains and face disputes and disasters, what credit will we have to speak of?"

Zhao Liangsi asked: "Even if the Jin people promise to give us Xijing, they will definitely ask for more annual gifts. The court's power has been exhausted, how can we do it?"

Ma Kuo said: "Long Tu, you are a close minister of the emperor. You can make suggestions to the emperor and ask the court to eliminate all unnecessary and unnecessary expenses. The military expenses for guarding the border will be more than enough. You didn't see that I am heading to the west with In the battle of Xixia, although every city and fortress must be fought hard, because the fortress is a city that must be fought for, it must be obtained by every means. I don’t think the Jin people will occupy Xijing for a long time, because this place is thousands of miles southwest of their country. In the future, they will definitely It will be returned to us, but it may take some time."

Zhao Liangsi asked again: "If the Jin people return Xijing to us, do you think we can hold it based on the current situation of the court?"

Ma Kuo said: "Whether you get it and discard it depends on the emperor's intention. This is not something we can predict."

While Zhao Liangsi and Ma Kuo were arguing, Xi Yin and Yang Pu came to the post house together. Wanyan Xiyin said: "As for the land in Xijing, the princes and ministers discussed it. They believed that when Xijing was captured, the siege lasted for more than forty days, and there were countless casualties among the soldiers. It was not easy to obtain, so it is better to give Xijing to Xixia. This way I can get some gifts. However, I said to the emperor: Emperor Zhao is very generous. I asked for an increase of one million guan every year. He did not violate every word and fully agreed. Today, he asked me for Xijing. How can I If you don’t agree, besides, I already agreed when I was in Fengsheng Prefecture, so returning Xijing to the Song Dynasty is better than giving it to the Xia State, but I will take away all the households in Xijing.”

Zhao Liangsi said: "Since we have been promised land in Xijing, how can we not give us households? If we only get empty fields and no households, what is the use of asking for them? Moreover, after the war, the city was desolate and the households were gone." It’s reduced a lot.”

Wanyan Xiyin said: "Our army has been fighting for eight or nine years and endured a lot of hardships before we captured Xijing. Now we promise to give the land of Xijing to your dynasty. We only need people to live in it. Why don't we give it to Xijing?" If the soil is divided into two parts, how about your family and mine each get half?"

Zhao Liangsi replied: "Now that our two dynasties have been well connected, we are like one family. Your family promised to give us land. This is a sign of loyalty, but it did not give us a household. This is really incomplete. Why not Give us both the land and the people, which is a very humane thing."

Wanyan Xiyin said: "If you give land, you have to give it to households again. What's the point of this? How should we discuss this? Generally speaking, land is more important than the people. Since we have promised to give you land, this is interesting enough, but But you still want the people if you have no other reward, no other thanks, how is this possible?"

So Wanyan Xiyin, Zhao Liangsi and others went to see Wanyan Zonghan and listen to Wanyan Zonghan's views.

Wanyan Zonghan said: "There is a lot of land in Xijing. Since we have promised to give you the land, you are still not satisfied and ask for the people. You often say that we are greedy for money. Aren't you also greedy? Besides, Xijing was the emperor of two dynasties. It is a place that we all attach great importance to. Logically speaking, your dynasty should add something more. I told the emperor that there is no need to add more property. This is a good thing. This shows that the emperor of my dynasty has a piece of Chicheng. If your emperor can agree to add some more As long as the property is good, this is how we express our feelings to each other."

Deputy envoy Zhou Wuzhong said: "Giving you one million generations of tax is already a lot, and we can't increase it any more."

Wanyan Zonghan said: "When these places were originally owned by the Liao Kingdom, you had to pay silver silk to the Liao Kingdom every year. Now, we are returning all these lands to you. Isn't it right for you to give us some silver silk?"

Ma Kuo said: "The princes may not know something. The silver silk given to the Liao Kingdom was initially given to them after several years of fighting. Because the two dynasties made peace, they were promised to give them yuan. Later, because of the Xixia army, The Liao Kingdom went to persuade it to become a vassal, and then another two hundred thousand were added."

Wanyan Zonghan said with a smile: "It turns out that your country has been fighting with the Liao Kingdom for many years, and it was not until it could not defeat the Liao Kingdom that it agreed to give the silver silk. Otherwise, let's put aside the negotiations first and let the two armies fight. , when your army fails, give us more silver silk; if our army fails, we don't want one, two, or even one horse, how about"