One Piece of Song Dynasty

Ma Kuo thought for a while and said, "Thirty thousand troops are enough."

Tong Guan shook his head and said: "Now that the imperial court has brought out so many people, can there be less?"

Ma Kuo replied: "Of the at least people, will be stationed in Yunzhong, and the remaining will be stationed in other key places."

Tong Guan nodded and said: "Twenty thousand people will be no problem. We will give you three million yuan in military expenses every year. All the talents recruited can be allocated to you. In this way, it can be done in a few years."

Ma Kuo replied, "It only takes three years."

Tong Guan nodded after hearing this. Ma Kuo felt very excited when he saw that Master Tong intended to let him lead the troops to guard Yunzhong.

At the end of November, Ma Kuo, Xin Xingzong and his party came to Yunzhong. Unfortunately, Zong Han was not in Yunzhong. He went back to Shangjing for a meeting. Xi Yin stayed in Yunzhong to act as marshal, and he sent people to ask Ma Kuo and Xin Xingzong to pay homage. Ma Kuo argued with the visitor for a long time and refused to accept it.

Ma Kuo insisted: "When meeting the other party's ministers, there is no need to perform the courtesy of court attendance."

Wanyan Xiyin sent someone again and said, "When Tan Xuanfu was here, everyone paid me court tributes."

Ma Kuo replied: "Tan Zhen was ignorant, that's why he was dismissed by the court." Later, Xi Yin sent people to debate several times, but Ma Kuo still insisted on his principles unwaveringly.

Wanyan Xiyin had no choice but to send a message to Ma Kuo and Xin Xingzong from Gao Qingzong: "Since the two observers are unwilling to worship, we cannot force them, but Lord Xiyin does not dare to meet you, because the land behind the mountain is The Prime Minister returned to the court for the time being, and Lord Xiyin did not dare to make decisions on his own. In addition, your court accepted the officials who fled from Yanshan. It was written in the alliance that each country was not allowed to accept rebels. Your court had already broken the agreement, and although the land behind the mountain was It has been promised to your court before, but it is difficult to deliver it now."

Ma Kuo replied: "It is Zhang Jue's crime that officials and rich people fled back to Yanjing. This dynasty has beheaded Zhang Jue and sent a letter. The rest of the households are hidden in the valley. Those who were found have been repatriated one after another, and those who have not been found are also there. During the search, it was not to accept the rebels. The imperial court once said that there was no strategy behind the mountain. When it was handed over to Yuzhou, troops and horses were mobilized to seize it again. The imperial court did not dare to defend it, for fear of causing disputes between the two countries. The imperial court has accused Tan Zhen, if you appoint Grand Master Tong again, with this hope in mind, the deal will be completed as soon as possible, so that the lives of the two worlds will be safe. If you believe the words of the people now, when will the reconciliation of the two dynasties be completed?"

Gao Qingyi said: "The day before yesterday, people said that there were thieves in Yuzhou. This dynasty sent troops and horses to eradicate them. However, they received an ultimatum from your dynasty to declare and Fu Si, so they allowed the disciples to return. Now, the land behind the mountain has been destroyed. In the end, I can't regret it, and I won't break my promise, but your court also promises to be good, and will not offend the Jurchen family. It is pure and honest, and there will be no misunderstandings. There have been many articles before, and the officials and households will be released early. Come here and deliver the goods, everything will go smoothly."

Then, Ma Kuo and Gao Qingyi went through the ultimatum formalities, and then left Yunzhong with Xin Xingzong and others to return home.

In early December, Ma Kuo returned to Taiyuan Mansion, and Tong Guan asked him: "What did you see after entering the country?"

Ma Kuo replied: "The Jin people are training the Han soldiers, increasing the guard strength of Feihu and Lingqiu. They have pointed out Zhang Jue several times and invited officials and civilian households. They are actually harboring evil intentions and hope that the Grand Master can reorganize the army and prepare for the border as soon as possible. "

Tong Guan did not express his position after hearing this. He always believed that the Jin people were unlikely to send troops to attack the Song Dynasty at this time. Because they had just founded the country, the country was not yet stable, and they lacked economic support. Why should they go south to fight the Song Dynasty? However, they had to strengthen their defenses just in case. Tong Guan planned to go to Yanjing personally to deploy the Ever Victorious Army and the Hebei garrison. Even if the Jin people dared to risk going south, they would ensure that nothing would happen.

Since the two wars of pacifying the Fangla Uprising and the Northern Expedition to recover Yanjing were launched, a large amount of money was spent. In addition, Wang Fu and other ministers were personally corrupt and squandered, and "the state was running out of money." Minister You Chengyu Wen Cuizhong was deeply worried about this. After Wang Fu became an official, he said to Song Huizong: "In the time of our ancestors, all the national plans were based on real figures, and we lived within our means, and had more than enough. In recent years, various bureaucracies have been spending a lot of money in unnecessary expenses. If it were not for drastic reductions, I would worry about it. A wise man cannot deal with the consequences."

Yu Wencui, whose Chinese name is Zhongda, was born in Huayang County, Chengdu Prefecture. He became the third Jinshi in the second year of Chongning. He is the elder brother of Yuwen Xuzhong and Yuwen Shizhong, and the nephew-in-law of Cai Jing.

Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty felt that what Yu Wencuizhong said was very reasonable, so he issued an edict to abolish the Yingfeng Division. He also issued an edict to Cai You, Bai Shizhong, and Li Bangyan, ordering them to set up a Financial and Profit Discussing Division in the Shangshu Province to "remove the disadvantages." thing". "Therefore, things that are not urgent and insignificant expenses should be considered and saved."

Previously, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty had intended to promote Cai You to the position of prime minister, but some people clearly expressed his opposition: "How can Cai Liu be the prime minister?" Cai You then gave up his yue and still served as the Privy Council.

Both the Grand Prime Minister Bai Shizhong and the Young Prime Minister Li Bangyan were "cowardly and weak". Soon, thieves swarmed along Jingdong Road, and the situation in the north suddenly became serious. Cai Jing's party took the opportunity to make a fuss. They believed that Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan were too young to assume the prime ministership and were unable to conquer the world. They called for Cai Jing to come out again.

Zhu Meng was very favored at this time, and he also "strongly urged the use of Beijing, and the emperor followed it." When Fang La rebelled, Zhu Meng became the target of attack and was deposed. Later, he actually "regained his ambition and his reputation was blazing. He was as simple as a chamberlain, and he never avoided the concubines when he came to see him."

In December of the sixth year of Xuanhe, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty wrote a handwritten edict to Cai Jing: "I hold power and take important measures, uprightly guide the way, do things and make achievements, and the responsibility lies with the ministers. Over the past few years, I have been appointed to someone who is not my own, and the government has In the midst of losing control, I became frightened and wary. I read the instructions of my fierce examination, corrected the evils of Gu, and persisted in following them. I was ordered to be near the end of my life, and I appointed the Secretary to discuss it. At the beginning of my career, Cai Jingfu, the Grand Master, became an official. Min Lao, with his official position, is to Anli and Lu Xian, and his words and deeds still depend on Yan. The book does not say anything: Ask Huang Min, and you will not be wrong. Jing can also lead the lectures, and listen to private decisions, but still avoid punishment. Sign the letter, don’t be diligent, just to say that I am noble, old, greedy and virtuous.”

In this way, Cai Jing came out again, "concurrently led the Department of Discussing and Discussion", and still "led the affairs of the three provinces, went to the court once every five days, and went to the capital hall to manage affairs", and once again appeared on the political stage of the Song Dynasty. This is the fourth time Cai Jing has served as prime minister. He is already years old.

Song Huizong's re-appointment of Cai Jing was a helpless move. He believed that Cai Jing would be able to find a way to solve the difficulties and overcome the crisis. Therefore, he still has great expectations for Cai Jing.

Cai Jing was appointed prime minister for the first time in July of the first year of Chongning. That year Cai Jing was fifty-six years old and Song Huizong was twenty-one. At that time, the Song Dynasty was faced with the choice of two roads, either the road of reform or the road of conservatism. The new party and the old party launched a fierce struggle over this. Song Huizong, who had just come into power, was eager to make a difference, so he resolutely chose to follow his father and brother on the path of reform, and chose Cai Jing as the first minister.