Chapter 371 Zeng Gongliang
"Your Majesty, I can go and persuade Envoy Li."
Han Zhang said that with Li Jin's support, he would be able to suppress the opposition voices.
He was confident that he could persuade Li Jin to support sending troops.
However, no one expected that Zhao Xing would actually have the idea of replacing the Privy Councilor.
The Privy Councilor is equivalent to a prime minister, and replacing him will inevitably cause a stir in the court.
What's more, it comes at such a critical time.
"No need!" Zhao Xing waved his hand and said, "Lord Li is old, and he had submitted a letter of resignation before, but I rejected it. Does the Grand Master have any suitable candidates to recommend?"
Although he had some concerns and could not send troops by force, he also had no reason to ask for help from a minister.
Although Han Zhang said that he was going to persuade, in Zhao Xu's opinion, this was no different from him going to beg Li Jin.
He did not touch any officials above the third rank, and these officials really treated him as a soft persimmon.
Han Zhang saw that Zhao Xing had made up his mind. He was silent for a while and said, "Vice Prime Minister Zeng Gongliang can serve as the Privy Councilor."
"I remember that you, Lord Zeng, once participated in the compilation of Wujing Zongyao, right?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Wujing Zongyao" is a comprehensive military book compiled at the initiative of the imperial court.
"That's right!" Han Zhang replied.
"Since Lord Zeng participated in the compilation of the military book, he must be proficient in military affairs and is suitable. But I remember that he was also opposed to sending troops just now." Zhao Xing frowned.
"Your Majesty, Mingzhong's opposition to sending troops does not mean that he disagrees with sending troops."
Han Zhang smiled bitterly and said, "I think the Hehuang area is of great strategic significance, but I also think that now is not a good time to send troops."
Han Zhang's words may seem contradictory, but their meaning is actually very simple.
At this time, the Song Dynasty was building the Great Wall and there was rebellion within the country, so it was not a good time to send troops.
Zeng Gongliang opposed it not just for the sake of opposing it, but simply because it was inappropriate to send troops.
"My Lord, please ask Minister Zeng to come and see me," said Zhao Xing.
"Yes!" Han Zhang bowed and said, "I'll take my leave!"
"Sanshui, ask someone to summon Li Jin, the Privy Councilor," Zhao Xing ordered.
"Yes!" Sanshui responded and walked out.
Zhao Xing pondered for a while and continued to review the notes.
After about a cup of tea, Sanshui reported: "Your Majesty, Lord Li has arrived, and Vice Prime Minister Zeng has also arrived."
"Call Zeng Gongliang in and let Li Jin wait in the side hall. Tell him that I want to ask him why his eldest grandson has been staying in his hometown in recent years." Zhao Xing said.
Sanshui was completely confused, but he didn't ask any more questions. He just responded and left.
Li Jin and Zeng Gongliang were waiting outside, both of them had calm expressions and did not communicate.
Sanshui came out, bowed, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, please let Master Zeng go in first. Master Zeng, please!"
Zeng Gongliang nodded slightly as a return gesture and walked into the hall.
"Lord Li, please go to the side hall and rest for a while." Sanshui looked at Li Jin and smiled.
"Thank you for your help, sir!" Li Jin said with a smile.
"Master Li, you are too polite. Please come this way!"
Sanshui smiled and led Li Jin to the side hall, saying, "There are people waiting outside the hall. Sir Li, if you need any instructions, just let me know."
"Sorry to trouble you, eunuch. You are busy serving His Majesty and don't need to bother me." Li Jin said.
"Then we'll leave first."
"Please do as you please, sir!"
Sanshui smiled and bowed, and just as he turned to leave, he stopped and said, "By the way, His Majesty asked me to ask Lord Li why your eldest grandson has been staying in his hometown!" Li Jin's face changed when he heard this, and he said, "Please go back, eunuch..."
"Your Majesty only asked me to ask, and Lord Li will meet His Majesty and reply to His Majesty himself later."
Sanshui interrupted Li Jin, bowed again, and left with a smile.
Li Jin watched Sanshui leave and sat down in a daze.
Li Jin was suddenly summoned, and on his way there he was thinking about the purpose of Zhao Xing summoning him.
He felt that Zhao Xing wanted to gain his support and send troops to Hehuang.
He had already thought of several reasons to refuse, but Zhao Xing suddenly asked someone to ask why his eldest grandson had been staying in his hometown in recent years, which cast a gloomy shadow on his heart.
Li Jin had few descendants, only two sons.
Fortunately, both sons grew up safely and did not die young.
However, the two sons had many wives and concubines, and only the eldest son had a son, while the rest were granddaughters.
Therefore, Li Jin doted on his grandson very much, which led to his grandson becoming a playboy when he grew up.
He has done many things to bully men and women.
Given his status, it wouldn't be a big deal even if his grandson was a little bit of a dandy.
After Zhao Xing took office as the prefect of Kaifeng, Li Jin was worried that his grandson would fall into Zhao Xing's hands, so he sent him back to his hometown.
Li Jin's grandson bullied men and women in Bian Jing, so one can imagine what happened to him in his hometown.
However, Li Jin's hometown was far away from Bian Jing, which was considered as being far away from the emperor.
Given his status, he is not worried that local officials will not only ignore it, but will also cover it up.
But Zhao Xing's sudden question made him feel a little uneasy.
Li Jin took a deep breath. If Zhao Xing really knew what his grandson had done, he would have no choice but to agree to Zhao Xing.
…………
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!" Zeng Gongliang bowed.
"No need to be polite, please take a seat!" Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zeng Gongliang bowed to express his gratitude, waited for the eunuch to bring a soft stool, and sat down.
"Your Excellency Zeng participated in the compilation of Wujing Zongyao, so you should have some research on military strategies, right?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Your Majesty, in my spare time I like to read some military books, but I can't say I'm doing research," said Zeng Gongliang.
"My dear minister, you are too modest. I have also read the "Wu Jing Zong Yao". It is well compiled. It shows that my dear minister has a lot of insights into the art of war."
Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Do you think the Hehuang area is important to the Song Dynasty?"
"Although I know a little bit about military tactics, it's just theory. Since Your Majesty asked, I will tell you my humble opinion!"
Zeng Gongliang pondered for a while and said, "I have some knowledge of the territory map, but I have not paid much attention to the Hehuang area. After listening to your majesty's words, I have also carefully considered that the Hehuang area is indeed of great strategic significance."
"But now the treasury is empty, and we are facing internal and external troubles. It is really not the time to send troops."
"Since you understand military operations, you should know that opportunities cannot be missed. If we wait until the Song Dynasty has strong soldiers and sufficient food and grass, and the civil unrest in Liao has been quelled, do you think there is still a chance?" Zhao Xing asked in return.
"I understand what your majesty said, but I think the Hehuang land is not a must, so there is no need to take such a big risk!
Your Majesty, have you ever considered that if the Song Dynasty sends troops, it will provoke the Western Xia to send troops, and the war will not be able to end in the short term.
Moreover, the rebellion in Jiangzhou and other places has not been quelled yet, and the outcome is still unknown. If it drags on for too long, how can the court afford to mobilize troops on multiple fronts? "Zeng Gongliang said.
Zhao Xing fell silent after hearing this. What Zeng Gongliang said might indeed be true.
But time is running out. If I miss this opportunity, I may not have another chance in the future.
"I have said before that I will solve the problem of food and fodder, and the national treasury will not need to pay any money, and the people will not be taxed more. Do you think we can send troops?" Zhao Xing asked.
(End of this chapter)