female concubine

Western Xia·Xingqing

The King of Xixia gradually grew from a young monarch to an emperor, eradicating powerful officials by himself, and his inflated ambitions are increasingly dissatisfied with the current situation.

Although Ye Li became the queen, Li Yuanhao did not allow him to live in the middle palace, and was severely criticized by him when he mentioned the failure. Soon after, he ordered the closure of the middle palace and did not allow anyone except himself to enter.

It has been half a month since the central palace became an abandoned palace, and no one has entered, and the furnishings in the palace are still as before.

The dresser was covered with a thin layer of dust, and the spider webs between the curtains and the beams were clearly visible.

"Is Wuzu feeling sorry for the queen?" Li Yuanhao's confidant followed carefully, seeing the monarch's slightly sad expression, he asked tentatively.

"The emperor will not regret it..." Li Yuanhao lowered his head, and immediately saw some Han people's things on the dressing table. He claimed that all Han people's ornaments and costumes in the palace were discarded because the queen liked it. , The concubines in the palace followed suit one after another.

"Perhaps for some people, death is the only relief." The sadness in Li Yuanhao's eyes gradually dissipated, "but death belongs to the weak."

After leaving the central palace, Li Yuanhao ordered to burn all the old things in the palace, and the queen officially moved to the central palace.

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At the end of the eighth year of Qianyuan, the emperor re-administered the government. The reform lasted for a year and achieved remarkable results. Nearly [-] redundant officials were abolished. Compared with the early years of Qianyuan, the salary expenditure was reduced by [-]%. Along with the official ranks, those without meritorious service will not be awarded, the emperor will still be in power, and the old and new parties in the court are still in constant disputes.

In the ninth year of the Qianyuan Dynasty, the Zhengdan Great Court Meeting, the king of Xixia, who had endured for more than ten years, returned to the military and political power after solving the internal hidden dangers, overthrew the claims of the former Privy Council and the Song Dynasty, tore up the covenant and sent a message to the Northern Liao Dynasty and the Wei Song Dynasty He proclaimed himself emperor, and registered his favorite concubine Ye Lishi as the queen.

At the Great Court Meeting, the envoys who regarded death as home told the news of proclaiming the emperor in the Daqing Palace, which aroused the anger of the Wei and Song emperors and the shock of the envoys from all over the world.

"The king of Xixia deposed his original wife, took back the military power of his relatives, and reused the two leaders of his relatives from the Yeli tribe. No general in the country had ever fought against them, but the eldest brother of the Yeli family has always been known as the number one warrior in Xixia. What is the strength?"

"Generals don't rely on brute force and kung fu. The bravery of a man can never be the enemy of ten thousand people. There are more and more people opposing the new law in the court. This battle must be fought. I need a victory to verify the new law. Those courtiers shut up."

Han Bo knew that the emperor was eager, but he was still worried: "After the old craftsman died of illness, his disciples took over the full power, but in Sichuan... there has been no progress in the past few years, until the end of last year, the siege fire was created. gun, but it blew up during a test fire..."

"Five years, ten years, I can't wait forever, I can still attack the city without firearms."

"Those ministers who are used to living a comfortable life may not support war against Xixia." Han Si said worriedly.

"They don't have any soldiers in their hands, and I don't need their support." The emperor sat down with a memorial, leaned on the armrest and stared at Han Bang, and said, "If I die before Jingming, I will ask you to give me a posthumous title." Show mercy."

The emperor said that he was about to die very calmly, but Han Bang was taken aback. He quickly lifted his clothes and knelt down: "The official family is in its prime, and the heavens have the virtue of good life, so they will not take away my pilgrimage master."

The emperor smiled and said: "People are mortal, but I don't want to be too embarrassed by you accusing me after death, so I won't be worthy of my sister."

"Officials?" Han Si raised his head and said in a daze.

"Going out..." The emperor didn't care about Han Bang's surprise, but lowered his head and continued to think: "Who should I send?"

"From the beginning of the Qianyuan period to the ninth year of the expansion of armaments, there are now nearly 60 forbidden troops including the horse army infantry, 20 standing troops in Hebei, 20 standing troops in the Northwest, and nearly 120 million troops from all over the country." Han Han Si lowered his head and fell into worry again, "Almost all the expenses after reducing redundant officials were spent on military pay. Now the country's military expenditure has changed from [-]% to [-]%. Restructuring, calling for a stop."

"Raising soldiers for a thousand days and using them for a short period of time is called redundant because it is useless and redundant. I didn't raise soldiers to eat, drink and play games. To put it bluntly, they are used to living a comfortable life. Apart from vanity, they are also afraid of death."

"You can let the founding father of Xingyang County take command."

"Where's the fourth son-in-law?"

"Dian Shuai's qualifications and experience are far inferior to the Founding Duke."

The emperor propped his forehead and sighed: "It would be great if Mount Tai was still there. After all, the second uncle spent more time with the late emperor, and the relative actual combat experience is much less."

"The officials can use the old generals of the first emperor's dynasty. The Cao family and the Li family can do it. If the officials don't trust outsiders to let them join the army and go out with the army, that is. Calm and good at following the advice of counselors, dispatching troops and generals is not weak."

"The Li family... let's forget about the Li family. Zuo Xiangfang Zhiyan's wife is the daughter of the Li family. He is already an official prime minister. He can no longer support the Li family. You can let the Cao family go, but you have to ask General Cao. Are you willing to come out of the mountain?"

"The Cao family..." Han Si asked after counting the old generals of the former emperor's dynasty, "Is he the father of Hangzhou Zhizhou?"

"Yes, I heard that General Cao, who is old and strong, can personally lead troops to the sea to destroy pirates."

In addition to the Xiao family, the Cao family and the Li family were equally famous with the late emperor and Taizong. They were all independent generals and not subordinate branches of the Xiao family army. "I remember that General Cao resigned early and was younger than the late emperor. It should be the year of Jiazi now, right?"

"Old Wing Fu Li, aiming for thousands of miles."

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At the beginning of the ninth year of Qianyuan, the imperial court ordered to stop trading with Xixia, convict Li Yuanhao and offer a reward for his arrest, intending to send troops.

In February [-]st of the ninth year, Shuo Shen, February has reached the height of spring, and the length of winter nights and the shortness of days gradually tend to balance.

When the cock crows at the fourth watch, the night is still dark, and many residents in the alleys in the capital have dragged their sleepy bodies to get up. It is not until the fifth watch when the sky meets the sky that the light begins to shine, and the night gradually changes from black to dark. It was gray.

The woman took out the neatly folded scarlet robes from the suitcase, "A month ago there was news from Hangzhou that Weng Weng had received a talisman from the court's Ministry of Officials, which was an edict about reinstatement."

Wang Wenfu put on his official uniform, hung the whitebait bag behind his waist, and said along the lapel of his clothes, "There is going to be a war. Not only Xixia will endure it, but the officials have endured it for nearly ten years since they came to power."

"To be honest, I am not optimistic about this hasty fight, but the old party's opposition to the new law is fierce and it is impossible not to fight. The law of enriching the country and the law of strengthening the army are originally determined for war."

Wang Wenfu opened the door, and the strong cold wind made people unable to open their eyes. He immediately stepped out of the door and said, "So we can't lose."

Mrs. Cao wore a sackcloth and felt the biting cold wind, so she turned around and filled a hand stove and rushed out. Before her husband got in the car, he handed it over, "Chunhan, when I go to court, let the nobles from Yushitai help take it down." yes."

Wang Wenfu took it with his hand and said with a smile, "Thank you, madam."

The carriage crossed the bridge from Guozi Lane and headed north all the way. When passing by the market square, there was a big red rooster crowing on the roof of the square.

The lantern with the words Yushitai and the lantern with the words Quanzhi Kaifengfu came together from opposite directions, "Wang Zhongcheng."

"Is there something wrong with Zhang Zhifu?" Although they are Jinshi on the same list, the two are not close to the court officials.

"The officials transferred you to Yushitai. Yushitai has become an institution for the emperor to control the power since the establishment of Wuzong in Taizong Dynasty. If the officials want to send troops, the old party will definitely not allow it. Now Yushitai is divided. Second, the other Zhongcheng is not in the same heart as the official, and he is ambiguous, so the old party is headed by my father, and these years have been intertwined..." Zhang Hou looked around, and said in a low voice: "He and my It's inconvenient for me to come forward..."

"I see."

When he reached the second gate, Wang Wenfu waited at the gate of the palace with a lantern, watching the courtiers passing by.

Dutang came over, the lantern was very conspicuous, Wang Wenfu stepped forward, "Zhang Zuocheng."

— Boom! — Boom! — Boom! — Boom! - "Yin Shi Ji Mo!"

Shangshu Zuo Chengzhang had to turn his head to look at the Wende Hall on the side, "At five o'clock and three quarters, Yushi Zhongcheng still has a quarter of an hour."

"The next official didn't come to warn the vice-president of the picket."

"Oh?"

"The lower official said something about the Holy Majesty's plan to send troops to capture Hexi."

Zhang De's face turned cold, "Yu Shitai and the officials are of the same mind, it must be supported by power, what else can you say if you and I have different political views?"

"This time the dispatch of troops is tied to the political reform. Zhang Zuocheng's objection is nothing more than the political reform. I don't know if Zhang Youcheng dares to take a gamble. The officials are young and energetic. Now they want to show their ambitions and have great power. You and I can't shake it. It's better to let it go." It is better to have a new method that wins and is abolished immediately if it is defeated, than to tear the face of the monarch and his ministers without any results."

Zhang De turned his head, "Aren't you from the official family?"

Wang Wenfu said with a smile, "Jiang Zhongcheng used to be a member of the official family."

Zhang De didn't reply, and immediately walked into the palace gate with a lantern.

At the third quarter of Zhiyin time, all the courtiers in Beijing were lined up on both sides of the Zichen Hall. The officials of ceremonies and music struck the palace, and the emperor climbed up the palace steps from between the green robe and the crimson robe.

Apart from the sound of bells and ritual music, only the footsteps of the emperor remained in the entire court.

"bye."

The courtiers went to the center of the hall and knelt down to worship.

"Bow down and worship."

After the salute, the court fell into a deadlock. Except for the neutral courtiers, officials of the old and new parties were at war.

"Your Majesty, the Hexi Military News, Li Yuanhao said that the emperor and the imperial court are no longer trading with him. Xixia has repeatedly sent troops to invade and disturb the border people. The Ministry of War urges us to send troops to conquer."

"Your Majesty, I don't think it's right to send troops rashly," Fei Pao stepped out of the standing row, "Those who assist the master with the way, don't use soldiers to strengthen the world, it's easy to pay back; where the teacher is, there are thorns; after the army, There must be an unlucky year; if goodness has fruit, dare not take it by force; if the fruit is not arrogant, if the fruit is not cut down, if the fruit is not arrogant, if the fruit is helpless, do not be strong if the fruit is strong; when things are strong, they will grow old, which is called immorality. I don't know long ago."

"Zuo Sijian, don't forget that this is not the country's initiative to launch a war, but Xixia's provocation. The emperor is the lord, how can he tolerate the two ministers sleeping soundly on the couch?"

Zhang De took a look behind him and immediately came out and said: "Your Majesty, war will not only consume national power but also increase the burden on all people in the world. If all young people with strength go to the battlefield, then the land in the world will be abandoned, and there will be no one to cultivate the land. Where did it come from?"

Zhang De's words incited a group of civil servants who didn't want to fight, and there was a very low-pitched discussion in the court hall, "Yeah, why is the peaceful and prosperous world suddenly going to war."

"This battle hasn't been fought yet, why are you talking about defeat?" The military officer was dissatisfied with the timidity and cowardice of the civil servants.

"During the reign of the first emperor, several wars were launched, resulting in famine in the north, rampant plague, and the people's livelihood. A large number of disaster victims flooded into the capital and led to chaos. All courtiers have witnessed it. It has only been 20 years since the Battle of Gyeongju. But ten years."

"Yes, it is the common people who suffer in the war, and this battle should not be fought."

The chattering noises on the side of the ears are really ear-piercing, "Your Majesty, Xixia is really deceiving people too much. In the past, they were supported by the government to survive the famine, but today they tore up the covenant and openly betrayed it. This is the shame of the Song Dynasty. Minister As a minister of the Song Dynasty, how can you allow the thieves to be so rampant?"

The armored guard standing beside him felt very noisy when he heard the chattering of the courtiers, so he walked out from the hall and turned around and said: "Your Majesty, the princes can endure such humiliation, but the ministers cannot. They are afraid of death and let the ministers replace them." Go out and fight, I am not afraid of death."

Without waiting for the ministers to criticize Huo Qing's disrespect, Han Si stood up and said: "Being a ruler should stop with benevolence, being a minister should stop with respect, being a son should stop with filial piety, being a father should stop with kindness, and being a father should stop with kindness. Believe me, even Colonel Huo, who is illiterate, knows the truth of this, so why don't you ministers from Qingliu who are familiar with the sages' books?"

"Deputy Han Shu also said that being a king ends with benevolence, and war is killing, which runs counter to benevolence..."

"Zhang Zuocheng, "University" talks about benevolence rather than tolerance, and "The Doctrine of the Mean" talks about tolerance, but it doesn't say that even national humiliation can be forgotten, right?"

Zhang De held the wat board and turned his head, remembering the conversation with Wang Wenfu in front of the palace gate in the early morning. The emperor had made up his mind to send troops, so he bowed and stepped back into the queue without arguing with him.

Staring at the debate in the hall without saying a word, the emperor suddenly said: "Is it finished?" Immediately he stood up and got off the stepping bed, "War is a waste of people and money, and I am not a warlike king, but regaining the land of Hexi is the most important thing. Tai. Zu Taizong and the last wishes of the three generations of emperors and emperors are also my long-cherished wishes. Zhuqing only saw the pain of the war, but forgot the gratitude of the people in the sixteen prefectures after the recovery of Youyun. There are also Han people in Hexi. , Don’t those who are in a foreign country look forward to returning to the court?”

The courtiers standing bowed looked left and right, and immediately kowtowed, "The emperor is holy."