Chapter 309 Yelu Chongyuan's Plan
The next day, Zhao Xing slept in because he didn't have to go to court.
When I woke up, I felt around and only felt one person on the right.
"Well...let me sleep a little longer."
When he opened his eyes, he saw Rulan turned over, facing inside, with her smooth back facing Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing smiled, covered her with the quilt and got out of bed.
After calling the palace maids to help him dress and wash, Zhao Xing went to practice martial arts.
When he came back, Rulan and Minglan had already left.
After having breakfast with Shulan and teasing his daughter for a while, Zhao Xing went to Longtu Pavilion in a happy mood.
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Qingzhi saluted and said, "Yelü Chongyuan's envoy said he wanted to see Your Majesty."
"To see me?" Zhao Xing thought for a moment and said, "Go ahead and tell the Honglu Temple to tell the Liao envoys about this."
When Yelu Chongyuan sent someone, Zhao Xing felt it was a bit strange.
Although the Liao Kingdom labeled Yelu Chongyuan a traitor, Yelu Chongyuan announced to the outside world that Yelu Yixin had placed the young emperor under house arrest in order to purge the emperor's entourage.
Under such circumstances, Yelu Chongyuan sent envoys to the Song Dynasty openly, acting as if he had established independence. Isn't this just slapping himself in the face?
If someone was sent to negotiate terms with the Song Dynasty, then why not send Li Ge?
Although he couldn't understand Yelu Chongyuan's purpose, it didn't stop Zhao Xing from making use of it.
As long as this news is revealed to the Liao envoys, the Liao side is worried that the Song Dynasty will help Yelu Chongyuan, and perhaps they can get some benefits from it.
After dealing with government affairs for a while, Yelu Chongyuan's envoy was brought over.
"Foreign minister Xu Zhengqing pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty!" Xu Zhengqing saluted.
"Han people?"
Zhao Xing took a look at Xu Zhengqing. He was in his forties and slightly plump. Judging from his appearance and name, he should be a Han Chinese.
"The foreign minister is indeed a Han Chinese." Xu Zhengqing bowed.
Zhao Xing nodded and said, "Tell me, why did Yelu Chongyuan send you to see me?"
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty! Now the powerful minister of the Liao Dynasty, Yelu Yixin, has placed our emperor under house arrest and is controlling the government. The Great Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty are brotherly countries. The King of Qin is willing to give the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun as a gift, and asks the Great Song Dynasty to send troops to help the King of Qin restore order!" Xu Zhengqing bowed.
"Restore order from chaos?" Zhao Xing said playfully, "Why did I hear that Yelu Chongyuan was rebelling? Even if I want to help, I should help the Liao royal family. If I help Yelu Chongyuan, how will people in the world view me?"
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty is wrong. The King of Qin is the Crown Prince appointed by the previous emperor. After your Majesty's death, it is natural for the King of Qin to ascend the throne. But Yelu Yixin supported the prince to ascend the throne, intending to control power. Yelu Yixin is the one who plotted treason. The Great Song Dynasty sent troops to restore order!" Xu Zhengqing said righteously.
"What you said does make sense." Zhao Xing nodded.
Yelu Chongyuan was canonized as the Crown Prince that year, which was actually the heir to the throne.
This is similar to the Ming Dynasty's Zhu Yuanzhang enthroning Zhu Yunwen as the Crown Prince.
Yelu Chongyuan was named the Crown Prince, but his brother eventually regretted his decision and passed the throne to his own son.
After his nephew ascended the throne, he conferred him the title of Crown Uncle on him in order to appease him.
However, Yelu Chongyuan had suffered a loss once, so naturally he would not be fooled again.
But no matter what, as the emperor's uncle, Yelu Chongyuan became the crown prince when the Liao emperor died suddenly without leaving a will.
It would make sense for the Song Dynasty to send troops to help.
"However, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were originally the territory of the Song Dynasty, but were forcibly occupied by the Liao Kingdom. Yelu Chongyuan used the territory that was originally the territory of the Song Dynasty and asked me to send troops to help. Isn't it a bit too ridiculous?" Zhao Xing said lightly.
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty is wrong. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were already part of the Liao Kingdom before the establishment of the Great Song Dynasty. How can they be considered part of the territory of the Great Song Dynasty?" Xu Zhengqing retorted.
"I don't want to waste my breath on people who have forgotten their roots. Most of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are in the hands of the Liao court. Yelu Chongyuan uses this as a bargaining chip to let the Song Dynasty send troops to help. Does he think I'm a fool?" Zhao Xing sneered.
"Even if His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty is unwilling to send troops to help, there is no need to speak hurtfully, right?" Xu Zhengqing said with a grim expression.
"Okay, I don't want to waste time talking to you. If you have nothing else, please go back."
Zhao Xing was too lazy to discuss the interests of his country and family with a man who had forgotten his roots.
The Han people in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun had been ruled by the Liao Kingdom for more than a hundred years and had long regarded the Liao Kingdom as their master.
"Please, Emperor Song, consider this carefully. I will take my leave!" Xu Zhengqing saluted.
Zhao Xing looked at Xu Zhengqing's departing back and frowned slightly.
What exactly does Yelu Chongyuan want to do?
As for wanting the Song Dynasty to send troops, Xu Zhengqing did argue for it, but he gave up so easily.
It seems that Yelu Chongyuan really wants the Song Dynasty to send troops to help, but he also doesn't want the Song Dynasty to send troops, which is very contradictory.
After thinking for a while, Zhao Xing still couldn't figure it out, so he was too lazy to think about it anymore.
In short, stay constant in the face of all changes, no matter what his plans are.
After handling government affairs for a while, when it was almost noon, Sanshui reminded, "Your Majesty, it's time for a small court meeting."
"Have all the gentlemen and heads of departments arrived?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Everyone is here." Sanshui replied.
"understood."
Zhao Xing put down his pen, stretched himself, and walked to the side hall to attend the small court meeting. "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!" everyone saluted.
"Stand up!" Zhao Xing waved his hand, sat down, and said, "What do you want to discuss today?"
"Your Majesty, the time for the special examination has been set, but the candidate for the chief examiner has not yet been determined." The Minister of Rites bowed.
"When was it decided?" Zhao Xing asked.
"It's scheduled for September 20th."
"Is time coming soon?"
"There are still four months until Enko. There is plenty of time, enough time."
Zhao Xing pondered for a moment and said, "It's still early. I'll consider the candidate for the chief examiner."
"Yes!" The Minister of Rites bowed and retreated.
"Now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne, you should grant amnesty to the entire nation and let the whole world celebrate." Han Zhang stepped out and said.
"Let's follow the rules of previous years." Zhao Xing said.
"In addition, the candidate for the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture has not been decided yet. After discussing with several ministers, I have drawn up several candidates. Please review them, Your Majesty!" Han Zhang said.
The eunuch stepped forward, took the bundle and presented it to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing took it and looked at it, then said, "Let Yang Zeren, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, take the position. Sheng Hong, the Junior Yin of Kaifeng Prefecture, will be promoted to the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works."
Originally, Zhao Xing planned to appoint Sheng Hong as the prefect of Kaifeng.
However, Sheng Hong tried to play tricks on him regarding the Kang Wang family's affairs, which Zhao Xing could not tolerate.
If he were to be appointed prefect of Kaifeng, things might turn out to be like this again in the future.
The position of Shao Yin of Sheng Hong was not a permanent one. It was only when the crown prince served as the prefect of Kaifeng that he would be appointed to handle government affairs for the crown prince.
Now that Zhao Xing is no longer the prefect of Kaifeng, there is naturally no need for a Shao Yin.
Letting Sheng Hong take over the vacant position of Vice Minister of Works was considered a promotion.
Let him live out his retirement in this position.
Sheng Hong has been a little angry these days because he has not received the promotion order for a long time.
Zhao Xing promised to let him serve as the prefect of Kaifeng, but Zhao Xing had already ascended the throne and the decree had not yet come down.
He didn't know yet that, precisely because of his tactfulness, Zhao Xing had already planned to let him retire in the position of Vice Minister of Works.
After discussing some more things, the small court meeting ended.
Zhao Xing did not let the crowd disperse, but repeated what Xu Zhengqing had said when he asked to see him.
"My dear ministers, please help me analyze what Yelu Chongyuan's intention is?" Zhao Xing asked.
Han Zhang looked thoughtful when he heard this, and his expression suddenly changed. Just as he was about to speak, Sanshui hurried in.
"Your Majesty!" Sanshui saluted and said, "There are rumors in Bianjing that Yelu Chongyuan asked the Song Dynasty to send troops in exchange for the return of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun."
Zhao Xing was stunned when he heard this. Could it be that the envoy from Liao Kingdom revealed it?
Do you want to stop the Song Dynasty from sending troops in this way?
Yelu Chongyuan was the emperor's uncle. From the perspective of etiquette and law, after the Liao emperor passed away, he did not leave a will, so it was in accordance with etiquette and law for him to inherit the throne.
But in the eyes of the Han people, it is the etiquette and law for the son to inherit the property after the father dies.
Even if the younger brother succeeds the elder brother, it is acceptable. But if the uncle succeeds the nephew, especially if there are sons, it is not in accordance with etiquette in the eyes of the Han people, even if Yelu Chongyuan is the crown prince.
Not to mention that the young emperor of Liao had already ascended the throne.
In the eyes of the Han people, Yelu Chongyuan was a rebel.
The Han people have always attached great importance to orthodoxy, so the Song Dynasty naturally could not help a rebel.
Even if Yelu Chongyuan offered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun as a condition, in the eyes of those scholars, it would not help the rebellion.
If Zhao Xing really wanted to send troops to help Yelu Chongyuan, he had to first secretly spread the word that Yelu Chongyuan was the orthodox one and that the Song Dynasty sent troops to restore order.
Now that it was suddenly exposed, he was completely caught off guard.
"Your Majesty!" Han Zhang interrupted Zhao Xing's thoughts and said, "This matter should have been announced by the envoy sent by Yelu Chongyuan."
"Hmm?" Zhao Xing was stunned when he heard this, and asked in confusion: "Why would the great lord say that?"
"If Yelu Chongyuan really wanted to ask the Song Dynasty to send troops, he would never send envoys to Bian Jing openly. He would not send anyone here when Your Majesty ascended the throne. After all, when Your Majesty ascended the throne, the Liao Kingdom would definitely send envoys to watch the ceremony." Han Zhang said.
Zhao Xing pondered for a while and said, "What you mean, Grand Minister, is that Yelu Chongyuan deliberately sent people here and never thought of asking the Song Dynasty to send troops. His purpose was to prevent the Liao Kingdom from daring to move troops on the border?"
"That's right!" Han Zhang said, "Taizu Taizong has always wanted to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. The Liao Kingdom knows the significance of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the Song Dynasty. However, most of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are on the side of the Liao Kingdom's royal family. Although Yelu Chongyuan has occupied a few prefectures, they do not border the Song Dynasty."
"Yelü Chongyuan could promise the Song Dynasty the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in exchange for the Song Dynasty sending troops, but the Liao Dynasty royal family could not and should not promise it."
What Yelu Chongyuan promised was just a blank check. After all, the area he occupied did not border the Song Dynasty.
But it was different for the Liao royal family. They were afraid that the Song Dynasty would really send troops, but they could not offer the same conditions.
After all, the territories controlled by the Liao royal family were directly adjacent to the Song Dynasty, and they couldn't really return these places to the Song Dynasty.
(End of this chapter)