Chapter 5 Dongfeng refuses to enter the east gate The case of Tang Kang and Tian Liewu was concluded, the emperor went down to Taiwan to appeal to the academic academy for miscellaneous discussions, and the Weinan mutiny was officially announced to the world. The rumors circulating in the market were officially confirmed, and the whole world was shocked.Newspapers played an unimaginable role in disseminating information. With the publication of Xinyibao, Bianjing News, Xijing Review, Maritime Business Daily, and Qin Daily, the entire process of the Weinan Mutiny was reported in detail to the citizens of major cities in the Song Dynasty. They, the result caused a wave that Zhao Xu didn't expect at all. Although Zhao Xu had already discussed with the Zhengshitang and issued an edict to exempt Weinan from taxes for five years, ordered Shaanxi Road to properly bury the dead soldiers and civilians, and summoned more than 300 eminent monks to go to Weinan to chant scriptures and save the souls of innocent people. , but Song Tingjun and ministers still underestimated the impact of this matter on ordinary scholar-bureaucrats and citizens.The image of the Forbidden Army and warriors, originally managed by Shi Yue painstakingly, coupled with the great victory of the Xia Dynasty, has greatly improved. It can be said that it has never been so good since the end of Tang Dynasty.However, after this incident, it will inevitably be seriously damaged again.The government and the opposition Qingyi's whipping of the Xiongwu army inevitably brought disaster to Chiyu, and the inherent prejudice and suspicion of the warriors resurfaced, and the overwhelming severe criticism flooded the Shufu, the Ministry of War, and the Weiwei Temple in just a few days up.Even though the privy envoy Wen Yanbo was a veteran of the three dynasties, he was inevitably questioned; even Sun Gu, the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of War, could not escape criticism; He took the initiative to resign, and thus began a nightmare history. Since then, no one in the Song Dynasty has been able to retreat from the position of Wei Siqing.But the more direct pressure is for the officers and soldiers of the Sanya and the Forbidden Army to bear. For a long time, they dare not wear military robes when they go out.

Undoubtedly, the mutiny of the Xiongwu Second Army was not only a disgrace to the army of the Song Dynasty, but the disclosure of the incident was a blow to the reformers who had been determined to clean up the military discipline and reshape the image of warriors since the reform of the military system.Worst of all, the factional disputes within the Song Army became public because of this matter. Qin Bao first publicly argued for the Western Army, and clearly pointed the spearhead at the Heshuo Forbidden Army. It began to turn over the old accounts of the Five Dynasties period, and criticized the Heshuo Forbidden Army for their lack of discipline and low combat effectiveness. , publicly appealed to the court to reuse the generals of the Western Army and clean up the discipline of the Heshuo Forbidden Army.However, such accusations are not convincing. Not everyone in the Heshuo Forbidden Army is a big boss. Immediately, some generals wrote to the court, demanding justice from the court.But the bad thing is that the generals of the Heshuo Forbidden Army were not convinced by the pride of the Western Army. Even in the Heshuo area, among many Forbidden Army, the generals of the Western Army held important positions, which made them even more dissatisfied.They believed that the Weinan mutiny was caused by the court's ignorance of Hebei and emphasis on the Western Army. It was the wrong policy of the court that put the generals of the Western Army in the wrong position, and the recklessness of the generals of the Western Army led to this tragedy.In their view, the generals of the Western Army should bear most of the responsibility for the mutiny of the Xiongwu Second Army.

The generals who submitted this memorial and signed it were soon severely reprimanded by the Shufu, and all of them were demoted and transferred from the imperial army.Song Ting was unwilling to see factional disputes in the army. Wen Yanbo resolutely suppressed the further deterioration of the situation, but such handling could not change anything. The Shangxi Army has spread all over the Shufu, the Ministry of War, and the Sanya over the years, and they can't hide it from them at all. Although the court's treatment makes them unable to say much, their inherent prejudice against the Heshuo Forbidden Army is growing day by day; From the perspective of the Heshuo Forbidden Army, the imperial court's handling is obviously in favor of the Western Army. They dare not have any dissatisfaction with the emperor and Wen Yanbo. The resentment turned to the Western Army who had been pressing on their heads.

In fact, for a period of time at that time, it was not only the Heshuo Forbidden Army or the Western Army that was under pressure, but the entire Great Song Forbidden Army.It's just that people are used to thinking about issues from their own standpoint, so both the Heshuo Imperial Army and the Western Army felt that they had been greatly wronged. The accusations against the military are unanimous, and its huge negative impact can only be eliminated with time.As for the cases of Tang Kang and Tian Liewu, Qing Yi showed polarized opinions.The Weinan mutiny is also hated and heartbroken, but people's views on Tang Kang, Tian Liewu and others are completely different: most people regard Tang, Tian and others as heroes and loyal ministers; but a considerable number of people punish the army for not defending Discipline led to catastrophe, and Tang, Tian and others were regarded as domineering generals who were only one step away from the mutinous second army.

Even in the court, the ministers of the two governments admonished the academy, but they also had different opinions.Although the emperor wanted to pardon Tang, Tian and others in the name of public opinion, he did not expect that the fact of the Weinan mutiny would irritate some of the bloody Taiwan officials who were admonishing them. What these people thought of at this time was all about discipline , They wrote chapter after chapter in support of Ma Mo's judgment, and quoted scriptures, their own views, from Emperor Taizu's demotion of Wang Shenqi, to Shi Yue's punishment of Zhongzhu, Yao Feng and other officials. On the contrary, it seemed amazing.Although Shi Yue wanted to excuse Tang Kang and Tian Liewu, his memorial only mentioned a few words in a roundabout way, and the impeachment memorial came overwhelmingly. Recused from the case.Not only Shi Yue, but even Wen Yanbo was forced to avoid him because of Tang Kang's relationship.

However, what surprised many people was that in such a situation, Lu Huiqing even made a public statement to defend Tang Kang, Tian Liewu and others.When both Shi Yue and Wen Yanbo were forced to retreat, Lu Huiqing's high-profile defense made the opinions within the Political Affairs Hall unexpectedly unanimous.Under the extremely unfavorable situation of public opinion in the Qing Dynasty, the new party, the old party, the Shi Party, and the important figures of the three major powers in the DPRK and China compromised on the case of Tang Kang and Tian Liewu, which finally helped Shi Yue stabilize his position and relieved the pressure of the Qing Dynasty. Down, making Tang Kang and others become victims.

But the case was delayed once again.In the blink of an eye, it was July 15th. It has been more than ten years since Xiao Youdan, the birthday envoy of Daliao, came to Bianjing again.The Duting Station on the north side of Zhouqiaotou West Street seems to have remained unchanged for more than ten years. The Duting Station, which has hundreds of gorgeous houses, is still not crowded and noisy even after a large mission with hundreds of people lives in it. Feel.Opposite Dutingyi, there is still the Liang family bead shop, I don't know when it was opened, but it looks like a century-old brand, and it has been prosperous for a long time.

It's just that things haven't changed, but people have.The post officials at Duting Xiyi have all changed their faces, and even the Liangjia Bead Shop opposite seems to have changed their young owner.The Song officials who were in charge of receiving and accompanying Xiao Youdan also changed.The specifications of the Liao Kingdom's birthday celebration mission really surprised the monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty. Xiao Youdan came to Bianjing for more than ten years. He was just an ordinary middle-level official, but now he is the king of Wei of Daliao, the privy envoy and bodyguard of the Northern Court Situ was highly valued by the Liao Lord. He was not only an extremely powerful figure in the Liao Kingdom, he was also well-known in the court of the Song Dynasty.In order to receive the king of Wei of the Daliao Dynasty, who was famous for his resourcefulness, the Song Dynasty sent Li Qingchen, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, to Chenqiaoyi to meet him in person, and was responsible for the reception.The Ministry of War also dispatched all the elite soldiers and generals in Bianjing to protect and monitor the Liao State Guard. It has long been known that His Royal Highness is also in charge of the most capable spy agency in the Liao State. Bureau.

The power of Xiao Youdan, the secretary never dared to underestimate it, no one in the department knew it, until now, as long as the word "Communication Bureau" was mentioned, it was like a slap in the face of Sima Mengqiu and the official office A clear slap in the face. The first time the Song Dynasty knew about the Liao Dynasty’s spy agency was because Xining’s 16-year-old Party Secretary cracked a spy case in Daming Mansion. At this time, the Communication Bureau had been established for at least three years. , and the spies of the Great Song Zhifang Pavilion in the Liao Kingdom have always thought that the General Affairs Bureau affiliated to the North Privy Council was just an organization for translating documents. The most embarrassing thing is that when the Song Dynasty executed those big names After the government's Liao State worked carefully, the Liao State quickly arrested more than ten Song Dynasty spies and executed them all.The governor of the Hebei Fangfang of the staff side was also moved from the left to the Guangzhou Fang because of this incident.Since there is only one letter difference between the two organizations, the Staff Fang Division and the Staff Fang Museum, many people are easily confused, but the two are by no means as close as their names. Almost from the day of their establishment, The two sides look down on each other and are not convinced by each other.But no matter what, the officials of the Zhifang Division knew in their hearts that Sima Mengqiu's subordinates did not have any bags of wine and food, and since the Xixia incident, the top priority of the Staff Fangguan has been transferred to Hebei Fang. His subordinates played with the characters in the palm of their hands, and the staff members were up and down, no matter what, they were unwilling to follow in the footsteps of the staff hall.

Therefore, no matter what the Liao monarchs and ministers said on the surface, they sent Xiao Youdan as the envoy to celebrate the birthday only out of consideration for the friendship between the two countries and their respect for Empress Dowager Gao. Jing, there is no such thing as another purpose behind it.From the moment Xiao Youdan entered the Song Dynasty, among the officials and soldiers of the Song Dynasty who were in charge of receiving the envoys from the Liao Kingdom, there were spies in charge of Fang Si almost everywhere. Of course Xiao Youdan also felt the existence of these figures.However, he just laughed it off.After all, this is the territory of the Song Dynasty, and he has nothing to do with what the Song people want to do.As King Wei, he certainly couldn't simply come to Bianjing to pay respects to Empress Dowager Gao's birthday. He did have another mission.But his opponent was by no means the official secretary of the Song Dynasty.

When he was in Chenqiaoyi a day ago, Xiao Youdan met Li Qingchen.He knew Li Qingchen's background a long time ago. Li Qingchen was Han Qi's nephew and son-in-law. Too fast, has been deliberately suppressed.Ouyang Xiu compared him to Su Shi's second when he was acquainted with talents and knowledge; when he tried the secret pavilion in the second year of Zhiping, Han Wei was also called Xunqing's second; Han Qi's death was written by him, and he is now the emperor of the Song Dynasty. Known as the material of good history.In addition to well-written articles, Li Qingchen is also familiar with the theory of yin and yang and the five elements. All trembling.After the new official system, Han Zhongyan was appreciated by Zhao Xu for his family background and Li Qingchen for his articles, and became the focus of training. Li Qingchen served as a servant for several times, and he was also a scholar of the Imperial Academy. Many imperial edicts of the Song Dynasty are now written by him. It is an upstart who sees that he is going to enter the political affairs hall and become the ruling power. Xiao Youdan's articles were also first-class figures in the Liao Dynasty.Since he was on an envoy to the Song Dynasty this time, he naturally wanted to pay more attention to the people of the Song Dynasty, so he deliberately made friends with Li Qingchen, and the two talked about the past and the present in Chenqiaoyi until late at night.During the conversation, I only felt that Li Qingchen's eloquence was indeed superior, but he was too keen on fame and fortune. In this regard, he was far behind Sima Guang and Wang Anshi. On July 15th, accompanied by Li Qingchen, Xiao Youdan entered Bianjing and stayed at Dutingyi.When all the members of the mission were settled properly, Xiao Youdan asked Li Qingchen to accompany him, and brought his deputy Yelumeng, and together they went to the Guoxin Office to hand over the letter of credence. After leaving the Guoxin Office, Xiao Youdan smiled and said to Li Qingchen: "Fang to Dutingyi, there is a sense that things are right and people are wrong."When I got here, I realized that the Liang family's bead shop had changed to the young owner, which is really insignificant. Li Qingchen knew that Xiao Youdan meant that the head of the Guoxin Office had changed from an eunuch to a scholar, but he was not surprised to hear that Xiao Youdan even paid attention to such a small matter as the owner of the Liang family's bead shop.Yin reluctantly smiled and said: The king is very familiar with the scenery of Bianjing. There is no such thing as a scholar in the Northern Dynasty, but if he is familiar with things in the Southern Dynasty, there are not many people alone.As Xiao Youdan walked, he saw that the shops on the street were selling ghost vessels, boots and shoes, golden rhinoceros belts, colorful clothes, etc., because he smiled and said: Today is the Ghost Festival, I think the scholar's residence has already bought them. Bon?I don't know whether this winter is warm or cold? What he was talking about was a custom of the Zhongyuan Festival in the Song Dynasty. The Zhongyuan Festival was a festival that the Song people attached great importance to. In addition to offering sacrifices to their ancestors, the women in the Song family would use bamboo slices to weave basins, hold paper money, and use bamboo Supporting the incineration, look at which side the pot is lit to predict the temperature in winter. If it is poured to the north, it is cold winter; if it is poured to the south, it is warm winter;These folk slang customs were originally trivial matters, but Xiao Youdan even knew about them, which made Li Qingchen feel a little jealous all his life.Yin smiled and said: "Winter is cold and winter is warm, it is not by God's will."What the people care most about is not the weather, but the government. Shan Zai Si Yan.Xiao Youdan smiled and praised, but suddenly changed the subject, and said to Li Qingchen: I haven't been to Bianjing for more than ten years, and I want to bother the bachelor. Li Qingchen couldn't help being startled, but saw Xiao Youdan muttering to the attendants and guards in front of and behind him, lowered his voice, and said with a smile: If you bring these people, what's the point?To tell you the truth, I suddenly thought of Grandma Cao's meatloaf, and my mouth became a little greedy.It's better for us to change into white clothes and go and have a good time. Li Qingchen didn't expect Xiao Youdan to make such a request, he couldn't help being surprised, and immediately felt embarrassed, because he said: the king's daughter, if there is an accident, the lower officials can't afford it.If your majesty wants to eat more, just order it, and the next official will send it to the post house, wouldn't it be better? What's the point?Xiao Youdan shook his head and said, if you are afraid of something happening, there is absolutely no need to worry.Even if a bachelor can't trust my martial arts, can't he trust your country's staff? Li Qingchen blushed unknowingly after being pointed at by him, and quickly covered it up with a smile: "I'm afraid it's hard to be safe with only the guards of Fang Si." Xiao Youdan watched Li Qingchen for a long time, then suddenly he laughed and said: "Scholar, don't make things difficult, you are a lonely ear." After returning to Dutingyi, because of the order of the Empress Dowager, all the Taoist temples and temples in the capital held a meeting, burned money on the mountain, and paid homage to the soldiers and civilians who died in Xining and Weinan County. For the ceremony, Li Qingchen had to attend the sacrifice; and Xiao Youdan also had to meet with the envoys of the Liao Kingdom in Bianjing, and it was not convenient for Song Dynasty officials to be present.Li Qingchen pleaded guilty to Xiao Youdan and left Dutingyi. The newly built embassy of the Liao Kingdom is not far from Dutingyi, just south of Touxi Street.At that time, the embassies of various countries still followed the old habits. For example, the Korean embassy was built near the Tongwenguan in Anzhou Lane outside Liangmen. It was the place where the Korean envoys were received in the Song Dynasty. The envoys of Jiaozhi and other countries in the South China Sea are all located near Huaiyuan Post. Because of Song and Liao's diplomatic habits, after the mission entered the other country's territory, the host was responsible for all reception safety.Therefore, even though it was King Wei's mission, the Liao embassy was inconvenient to go to Chenqiao post to meet him, so they only sent someone to wait at Duting post. , just as Li Qingchen was walking on the front foot, he arrived on the back foot. Han Tuo Gulie was originally from Bohai, and he was a slave. He was abandoned for unknown reasons when he was young. A noble family named Han in Liao Kingdom found him in Tuo Gulie and called him Tuo Gulie.Because of her cleverness since she was a child, she was chosen by her master to study with the young master. She is regarded as a rare talent who can remember everything in Khitan and Chinese.Later, Lord Yelujun of the Liao Dynasty came to the throne and opened the imperial examination. The Han family asked him to take the exam for the young master, but unexpectedly won the provincial yuan.During the palace examination, Yelujun saw the flaw.Not only did Yelujun not pursue the crimes committed by the Han family and Tuo Gulie, but he ransomed for him and gave him the surname Han.In a few years, Tuo Gulie was promoted to Linya of the North Academy with his wit and writing.Two years ago, he was entrusted with an important task as the envoy of the Liao Kingdom in the Song Dynasty. After Tuo Gulie arrived in Bianjing, with his articles and talents, he won the favor of the emperor and the scholar bureaucrats in the Song Dynasty.And his bizarre life experience adds a mysterious aura to him.With his outstanding diplomatic skills, Tuo Gulie won many diplomatic benefits for the Liao Kingdom.Moreover, under Tuo Gulie's tenure, the Liao Kingdom's spy work against the Song Dynasty made unprecedented progress.Relying on the friendship with the scholar-bureaucrats of the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty sent important officials to Hebei, Hedong, and Jingdong every time. There is his own portrait.Based on this alone, Xiao Youdan has already appreciated his talent very much. Seeing Tuo Gulie coming in at this time, Xiao Youdan quickly got up to greet him.Tuo Gulie had already bowed down, and said in the Khitan dialect: "The next official kowtows to the king." Lin Ya doesn't need to be too polite.Xiao Youdan hurriedly stepped forward to help him, and also smiled and replied in Khitan language: After two or three years, Lin Ya's spirit will be even better than before. Tuo Gulie refused to get up, and asked respectfully: I don't know if Your Majesty's dragon body is safe? His Majesty is in excellent health.Xiao Youdan answered with a smile, and Tuo Gulie got up.The Khitan people don't have too complicated etiquette, they salute Xiao Youdan first, and then ask Liao Lord if he is well, neither of them agree. Bianjing is indeed a good place. A few months ago, Xiaguan met a big food merchant. He said that Bianjing is the city of paradise and the most prosperous city in the world.After Tuo Gulie got up, he said with a smile that he was Xiao Youdan's old subordinate, so he spoke very casually. The rich and gentle town is not a good place to sharpen one's will.Xiao Youdan smiled and said: Only the north wind can temper brave and strong fighters. Tuo Gulie smiled and nodded, the two were talking, but they heard someone report from outside the door: Majesty, Li Xueshi sent someone to bring Granny Cao's meat pies, as well as mutton from the cooked mutton shop on the east side of Yuan Street, and various fruit snacks. Just let it go, it's nothing important, don't bother me.Xiao Youdan gave an order, and the door answered.Xiao Youdan turned his head and saw Tuo Gulie looking at him in surprise, because he told the matter just now, he smiled again: What does Lin Ya think of Li Qingchen? Tuo Gulie pondered for a while, and said: Wisdom and writing are rare in the world, but broad-mindedness is not enough. Xiao Youdan nodded and said with a smile: If it was Shi Yue, he would definitely accompany me to Granny Cao's place to eat some meat pies, let's see what mysteries are.I keep showing off, just to test him. Although he knows that he is afraid, it may not be that he is not equipped to deal with it, but because of lack of responsibility, no matter how much talent he has, he will be suffocated to death. Tuo Gulie couldn't help but smile, he accompanies King Wei of the Liao Kingdom to eat Granny Cao's meat pie without authorization, and being impeached by Taiwan's admonishment for impoliteness, wouldn't it ruin Li Xueshi's bright future?There were rumors all over Bianjing that Li Xueshi might be the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, even if Fan Chunren changed his mind, the worst thing would be the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Xiao Youdan smiled, like this kind of bureaucracy, he can only be a local prince, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, and cannot be a chancellor.Thinking about how decisive he was to raise some prisons on Jingdong Road.After entering Bianjing City, I was so afraid of wolves and tigers that I didn't even dare to eat a piece of Granny Cao's meat pie with me.With the word Lilu, I don’t know how many heroes I have been tired of! What the king saw was very true.Tuo Gulie said with a smile, but turned the topic to the main topic, and asked: The imperial court suddenly sent the king to the Southern Dynasty, presumably it was not only for celebrating his birthday, but the lower officials were discussing with their colleagues, but they always don't know why.How can Prime Minister Wang have the time to be an envoy for the military and political affairs of the North Academy? Xiao Youdan looked at Tuo Gulie, was silent for a while, sighed, and said: If it is not a last resort, I will not come to Nanchao either.I have to see the situation in the Southern Dynasties with my own eyes, and meet the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Dynasties, so that I can know what to do next. Tuo Gulie heard what he said was serious, he couldn't help being awe-inspiring, and asked again: What happened? Xiao Youdan shook his head and sighed: This fact is unprecedented The difficulties encountered by the Liao Dynasty are actually closely related to the Song Dynasty.Since the Chanyuan Alliance, the Song Dynasty has given the Liao State a yearly gift every year. Although it was humiliating to the Song Dynasty, it played a vital role in the Liao State treasury.Since the revival of the Song Dynasty, civil strife in Liao, and changes in strength and weakness, the two sides have not only canceled the Song Dynasty's annual gift to the Liao Dynasty in the new covenant, but were forced to open up trade between the two countries.Although the year gift was cancelled, the demand for the silk cloth and silk of the Song Dynasty by the nobles of the Liao Kingdom did not decrease, and it was impossible for the nobles to really give up their luxurious life, and the worship of religion required a lot of gold and silver. In addition to the rewards for the army and officials, for the Liao Kingdom, gold, silver, silk, and silk can even be said to be necessities of life, and these necessities either need to be purchased from the Song Dynasty, or are being exported to the Song Dynasty in large quantities. The structure of the Song-Liao trade is that the merchants of the Song Dynasty not only imported a large amount of luxury goods to the Liao Kingdom, but also many of the necessities of life, and the commodities between the necessities and the luxury goods included cotton cloth, which was cheaper than the Liao Kingdom, Cheaper and better salt, smuggled iron products, mainly iron agricultural tools, and other commodities that the people of the Liao Kingdom needed very much but the Song Dynasty government was not willing to export; there were also books, porcelain, spices, silk, popular High-concentration fine wine and unique sugarcane wine are difficult to tell whether they are luxury goods or necessities. In addition, the official arms trade between the two countries is also a large amount.The Liao Kingdom exported to the Song Dynasty mainly medicinal materials, fur, pearls, rams, bulls, and stallions. This is an extremely asymmetric trade, which will inevitably lead to the outflow of a large amount of hard currency, but gold, silver, and copper are also necessary items, and the contradictions are intensified.In the absence of hard currency, money is more important than goods in the Liao Kingdom, and it has suffered even more losses from the merchants of the Song Dynasty in terms of trade.Under such circumstances, the Liao Lord had no choice but to unilaterally violate the covenant, promulgated a decree to prohibit the import of salt in the Song Dynasty, and obtained a necessary sum of money through the salt monopoly.Although under the efforts of Tuo Gulie, the matter was forgiven by the Song Dynasty.But this is at the expense of the people of the Liao Kingdom not being able to eat good salt, and the trade of smuggling salt has been rampant.It can be said that this incident only eased the crisis in the Liao Kingdom, but did not fundamentally solve the problem. Of course, the Song Dynasty was not actually a beneficiary of this incident, but neither side realized it.The hard currency flowing out of the Liao Kingdom is enough to cause great harm to the Liao Kingdom, but it has limited effect on the Song Dynasty. The trade volume between the two countries continued to decline. Although the Liao Lord intended to advocate self-sufficiency, all classes in the Liao Kingdom did not agree with him returning to the grassland to live. Even the Liao Lord did not have this idea. The nobles want luxury goods, and ordinary people want cheaper The necessities of life, whether nobles or commoners, all need fine wine from the Song Dynasty, and spices from the Song Dynasty. No one does not believe in religion.Therefore, completely cutting off the trade between the two countries will do far more damage to the Liao Kingdom than to the Song Dynasty. This has been proved decades and hundreds of years ago. However, in any country, if there is too little money, it will lead to the impediment of business travel, which will further lead to the shortage of department stores, thus causing the economy to suffer.Liao is no exception to this.The so-called self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy imagined by some people has never appeared in real history, but it has appeared in Laozi's fantasy. The Liao Kingdom does not want to see the trade between the two countries shrink, but the Liao Kingdom also does not want to see copper coins become a scarce item in its own treasury and within its own country. But the dilemma they face is that they always have to take one of these two paths that they are unwilling to take. The monarchs and ministers of the Liao Kingdom can be regarded as wise and wise ministers. However, in the face of this unprecedented situation, if they had to choose, they could only choose the former to prohibit the circulation of certain products in the Song Dynasty and impose high taxes on the products of the Song Dynasty.And doing so will inevitably arouse the Song Dynasty's countermeasures, and the Song Dynasty is likely to simply close the border trade.Therefore, in order to obtain some goods from the Song Dynasty, the Liao Kingdom had to rob.Therefore, the Song Dynasty had to fight back.Therefore, the history that has been staged countless times on the border of northern China will repeat itself again And today's Daliao, today's Dal Song, if this scene really happened, it would be tragic. The monarchs and ministers of the Liao Kingdom did not want to see this scene, because they knew very well that going to war with the present-day Song Dynasty would probably risk subjugation of the country, and the best outcome would be that both sides would suffer. However, they seem to have no other way.Personal will is simply insignificant at this time. Xiao Youdan's mission to Song this time is to shoulder such a heavy responsibility. He wants to find a new way for the Liao Kingdom.If he can't find it, then he will also find a way to win the war for Liao. Facing such a historic problem, no matter how clever Tuo Gulie was, he could only be helpless.After a long while, the other side asked a little disbelievingly: Has the situation really deteriorated to this point? Xiao Youdan didn't care about the impoliteness of his words, he just smiled wryly: During the chaos, the imperial court confiscated the property of many nobles.Coupled with the income from the salt, it has not yet reached the point where it is necessary to fight with each other.But if things go on like this, there will always be that day.We had to prepare earlier.Whether it's Khitan people, Bohai people, or Han people, those who win the hearts of the people always win the world.If it caused people's grievances to boil, it can only be blamed on the people of Song Dynasty.In fact, people's grievances are already boiling now, the court is oppressing the barbarians, and rebellions keep coming and going Unless the Song Dynasty promised to restore the trade between the two countries to a limited border market. That didn't help either.Xiao Youdan shook his head and said: Why do the barbarians on the grassland like to fight?Isn't it because they will definitely suffer if they do business?In the trade between the imperial court and the Southern Dynasties, it is always inevitable to suffer big losses on a large scale, and small losses on a small scale.Besides, we can't expect the nobles to live frugally. This scale can't be small.The pressure of the nobles alone is already unbearable, let alone they can still use the name of the common people?In all fairness, trade still brings a lot of benefits to the people, but because the outflow of gold, silver and copper is too severe, the benefits turn into disadvantages. But this reasoning does not make sense to those villagers and herdsmen.It is the court that buys grain from the people with copper coins, and it is the court that rewards the soldiers. They only see that the same grain sells for less and less money, and the court rewards are also less and less. Tuo Gulie couldn't help being silent, for a long time, he asked again: So, does Your Majesty have a good strategy? A few more items of goods prohibited from entering the country will be added, and tariffs will be raised, especially for cotton cloth and silk.That's always a relief.Xiao Youdan said, in fact, I have no good solution, but there are so many outstanding people in the Southern Dynasty, maybe it is not necessary to go to that step.However, he lowered his voice and said: The emperor and the ministers in the court actually have no hope for this. ah?Tuo Gulie cried out in shock, and said hastily: Your Majesty, you must not start a war.We must not underestimate the Southern Dynasty because it was trapped in Yizhou. Today's Southern Dynasty cannot be underestimated! Xiao Youdan sighed silently, and said: How can I not understand this truth?With Shi Yue and Sima Guang in the court, how could the Southern Dynasty be so easy to fight?However, no matter what, this matter is confidential, and Lin Ya must not reveal it.When you are in the Southern Dynasty, you must try your best to create an atmosphere of harmony between the two countries. Your Majesty can rest assured.Tuo Gulie nodded and said, the court really wants to fight, and the lower officials should be the loyal ministers first. Xiao Youdan stared at Tuo Gulie, and sighed: The emperor often said that Tuo Gulie is a national soldier, and he can be entrusted with life and death.The emperor's knowledge of people is beyond my reach. Bianjing is a city that can do magic.The day before, the street was full of white paper fluttering everywhere, and all the shops were selling ghost artifacts; just one night later, the whole city has been decorated with lights and festive atmosphere.People put on their most beautiful clothes and brand-new hair, and rushed towards the east water gate of the outer city like a tide. On both sides of the Bianhe River, willow branches spread out. According to the official announcement, the auspicious mission sent by Koryo will enter the city by boat today.Officials from the Ministry of Rites, Taichang Temple, Honglu Temple and Kaifeng Mansion, as well as the ministers who came here on orders, and the envoys of the Korean Embassy have already set up a colorful shed by the first pier after entering the city. As soon as the Koreans arrived, they greeted Xiangrui and went to Daxiangguo Temple. In the Chongzheng Hall, the promoted officials and foreign envoys, amidst the straight music, the courtiers were overjoyed, and the sound of birthday wishes for thousands of years came one after another. The Empress Dowager Gao sat behind the bead curtain, dumbfounded. He listened carefully to the edict of the inner minister and announced the answer: he was as happy as the public if he got the birthday wine of the public.In this extremely festive season, there is a feeling of loneliness and desolation in my heart.The prosperity of the emperor marrying a wife and the queen marrying a daughter has long faded into the deepest part of memory; the thirteenth brother, a childhood sweetheart, has only been on the throne of the emperor for a few years, but under internal and external pressure, his ambitions have not been fulfilled, and he died young The Empress Dowager Cao, the aunt who regarded herself as her own daughter, also passed away a few years ago; she is now the highest-ranking woman in the Song Dynasty, and she is the mother of the world, and she must set an example for the world.However, on her birthday, she needs a celebration that is not so politically rich that it makes people breathless. She prefers to be with her closest relatives, have a few drinks in Baoci Palace, and go to Qionglin Garden to see Look at the flowers; she dare not extravagantly hope that there are still people who can call herself talkative, but earnestly hope that her sons can call herself a mother from the bottom of their hearts.But all of this can only be an extravagant wish. The emperor's son's mind is becoming more and more unpredictable, while the other two sons, on their mother's birthday, can only communicate with the outside world through a bead curtain far away. Together, people say that the ministers are too happy to wait, and I would like to live for thousands of years. Among all foreign envoys, Xiao Youdan enjoyed the most special courtesy.In the minds of the emperors and ministers of the Song Dynasty, only Liao was a country that could be called a dynasty, and only Liao was a country that was on equal footing with him and resisted courtesy. The rest were just countries and had to wait.Therefore, not only Xiao Youdan, the king of Wei, was much higher than King Huai of Goryeo; even Tuo Gulie, the envoy of the Liao Kingdom, was also ahead of the envoys of other countries. When Xiao Youdan paid his birthday greetings in front of the court, the Empress Dowager Gao who had been answering according to the procedure couldn't help but restrain her mind and carefully looked at the long-famous King Wei through the bead curtain.After the next obeisance, the inner ministers announced that the envoys of all countries would be promoted to the palace, and the ministers of affairs would announce that the envoys of all countries would be enshrined. When Empress Dowager Gao saw Xiao Youdan handing over the birthday gift, she did not wait for the guests to speak, and suddenly spoke softly. Condolences: His Royal Highness King Wei came from a long distance, the pommel horse is tired, and the journey has been hard. Xiao Youdan couldn't help being slightly startled, and immediately replied: Back to the Empress Dowager, Khitan people respect those who are worthy of respect.Empress Dowager Yide reached the Northern Dynasties and was praised by the army and people of our country.When I went to Bianjing yesterday, I saw that there are all kinds of things for the Zhongyuan Festival. Only the empress dowager's sageness can be free from taboos. This alone is enough to set an example for future generations in the world.The minister admires it in his heart, and is also happy for the Southern Dynasty.Also, Song and Liao are a country of brothers. His Majesty the Tai Liao Emperor and the Great Song Emperor are brothers. The Queen Mother is the mother queen of the Great Song Dynasty and the mother queen of the Daliao Dynasty.Therefore, my lord specially sent ministers here to wish the queen mother a long life. These words were extremely polite and cordial, but from what Xiao Youdan said, they were loud and loud, without the slightest flattery intention. Empress Dowager Gao couldn't help showing her face and smiling: I also ask His Royal Highness King Wei to express his thanks to His Majesty the Emperor of your country.May the two countries of Song and Liao cease war forever and become brothers forever. The monarchs and ministers of our country also wish that the Liao and Song Dynasties will be brothers forever.Xiao Youdan replied respectfully, but glanced at King Huai of Gaoli from the corner of his eye.King Huai was peeking at Xiao Youdan with squinted eyes, seeing his eyes sweeping towards him, he hastily turned his head away.A sneer flashed across the corner of Xiao Youdan's mouth, but he heard the provincial envoy shout loudly: Come in, serve out!Xiao Youdan quickly worshiped again, and exited the Chongzheng Hall under the attention of everyone. During the ban, Xiao Youdan was going back to the Duting post under the guidance of the officials of Honglu Temple.When he got on his horse, he suddenly heard a muffled sound like thunder from the east. He was startled, and hastily reined in his frightened mount. Following the sound, he looked towards the sky in the east, but he heard bang, bang, A loud noise like thunder came from all directions on the outer city wall of Bianjing. After each loud noise, huge fireworks bloomed in the sky.Xiao Youdan stared dumbfounded at this extremely dazzling scene, but heard the Song Dynasty officials beside him happily say: "It's using artillery to set off fireworks!"The Korean Mission has arrived at Daxiangguo Temple! The sky above Bianjing was completely covered by colorful fireworks. Under the unprecedented splendor, the citizens in the city couldn't help screaming and cheering, and the whole city became jubilant in an instant. ocean.People packed their homes and rushed towards the Daxiangguo Temple. Xiao Youdan soon discovered that the wide imperial street was crowded with people who suddenly appeared from nowhere. Almost in an instant, he was unable to move even an inch. up.Seeing the officials, soldiers, and messengers of the Kaifeng Mansion and the Imperial City Department working hard to maintain order on the street, Xiao Youdan already knew in his heart that at this moment, there was nothing he could do based on who you were. It can be seen where is King Xiao of the Liao Kingdom?While in a daze, Xiao Youdan suddenly heard Li Qingchen's voice behind him.He reined in his horse and turned back, but saw Li Qingchen in purple robes walking towards him quickly, seeing himself turning his head, he immediately beamed with joy, approached in three steps at a time, and said with a long bow: "Your Majesty, walk slowly, Your Majesty is summoning you!" Well?Xiao Youdan never expected that Zhao Xu would summon him at this time, so he couldn't help being startled. 皇上在集英殿賜宴。 不是說明日方在瓊林苑設宴麼？蕭佑丹奇道。 李清臣笑道︰明日是大宴會，今日是皇上想先見見大王。 蕭佑丹身負使命而來，本來就想盡一切機會多接近宋朝君臣，此時聞言，心中暗喜，忙抱拳笑道︰如此有勞學士帶路了。他卻不知道，這麼著一次集英殿賜宴，雖說是趙頊心血來潮，但亦是拖古烈賄賂內臣之功。 豈敢。李清臣笑著回禮，重又領著蕭佑丹往集英殿而去。 待到了集英殿，蕭佑丹抬眼望時，殿中早已佈好宴筵，皇帝此時未至，與宴的大臣使者們，都正襟危坐著，他掃了一眼殿中諸人，左邊坐著的都是宋朝大臣，最上首鬚髮皆白，一雙鷹眼的老頭，自然是樞密使文彥博，接著的那個五十餘歲，氣度雍容的男子，是尚書左僕射呂惠卿，次於呂惠卿的則是兩個穿著親王服飾的年青人，蕭佑丹雖不認識，卻也猜得出他們的身分。坐在趙顥與趙頵下首的大臣，蕭佑丹卻只認得司馬光、石越、韓忠彥三位韓忠彥雖然曾經出使過遼國，但當時蕭佑丹並不在中京，他認得韓忠彥，卻是因為遼人素重韓琦威名，遼主宮中保存著韓琦的畫像，他見到韓忠彥的長相，便已猜出其身分。與宋朝的大臣們相對而坐的，是各國的使臣，卻是按國家的地位而排列的。右邊最上首的位置空著，自然是留給他蕭佑丹的；與他相鄰而坐的是拖古烈，然後便是高麗國那個乳臭未乾的懷王，餘者他便都不認識了。 大遼衛國王蕭大王到 翰林學士李大人到 在內臣的宣讚聲中，蕭佑丹與李清臣走進集英殿中，由小黃門領著前往各自的座位，在座眾人，認得的也只是微微額著致意。高麗懷王似乎甚是懼怕蕭佑丹，他偷偷看著蕭佑丹走到座位前，卻見蕭佑丹目光向自己掃來，慌忙將頭扭了開去。 蕭佑丹微微一笑，盤腿坐下，忽感覺到對面有目光正注視著自己，他心中一動，抬頭望去，卻見石越正若有所思地望著他，見他發覺，石越淡淡一笑，道︰蕭大王，別來無恙。 在這沉寂的集英殿中，石越的一聲問候，彷彿在平靜的潭水中投入一顆大石頭，頓時將眾人的目光都吸引過來。高麗國的懷王好奇地望著石越，低聲向身旁的高麗正使詢問著什麼。蕭佑丹回視石越，微微笑道︰一別十餘年，學士風采更甚昔日。 石越笑了笑，正要說話，忽聽到樂聲響起，有內官尖聲呼道︰皇上駕到眾人慌忙離席起立，屏聲等待。便見趙頊在內侍、班直侍衛的簇擁下，向殿中走來。眾人嘩啦啦地跪拜於地，齊聲山呼萬歲依宋遼交聘之禮，蕭佑丹只行單膝禮，跪右足，雙手著右肩一拜；而拖古烈此時自動降為副使身分，與高麗懷王以下，皆行漢禮；其餘有些南海諸國使臣，或者南方蠻夷使者，因篤信佛教，便行僧人禮拜之禮。宋朝於禮節上並不固執，如高麗國、交趾使者行漢禮，亦不過是因其本國深受華夏影響，素行漢禮，並非是輕視之意。 趙頊由李向安牽引著，上了丹墀御座，緩緩坐了下來，環視眾人一眼，笑道︰眾卿平身。殿中眾人謝恩起身，趙頊又賜了座，目光首先落到了蕭佑丹身上，衛王遠來辛苦。 四牡騑騑，周道倭遲。臣為宋遼兄弟之誼而來，不敢畏勞。蕭佑丹欠身答道，他偷眼覷視趙頊，只覺趙頊臉色蒼白，氣色不是太好。 卻見趙頊笑著點點頭，又將目光移到高麗懷王身上，笑問道︰王子在汴京可還住得慣？ 高麗懷王聽到趙頊見問，連忙站起，欠著身子，激動地回道︰回陛下，汴京之繁華，有若天堂。 趙頊不由哈哈大笑，道︰那王子不如多留幾日，好好領略一下汴京的繁華。 他這話本來並無深意，但話一出口，殿中許多人立時變了顏色，懷王呆了一下，一時竟不知如何回答，高麗國正使慌忙起身，長揖道︰陛下美意，下國小臣，感激於心，不敢辭焉。然王子出國之日，已約定歸期，遲滯不歸，恐累父王擔憂，有傷孝道。陛下孝德感天，必能體諒小臣為人臣為人子者之心。 趙頊這時亦已悟到自己失言，他本來並沒有留懷王為質的意思，因笑道︰王子孝心可感，君子當愛人以德，朕自當成全你這片孝心。 陛下聖德，下國小臣，永感於心。 趙頊點點頭，又笑道︰諸公不必如此拘禮，今日不過是尋常宴會皇太后有旨，諸公須當盡興而歸。 這時但見內侍宮女們捧著裝滿環餅、油餅、棗塔的看盤，以及各色水果，生蔥韭蒜醋碟，還有一種叫漿水的白色漿液飲品依次進入殿中，置於眾人面前的案上。這種叫漿水的東西，是宋人喜愛的飲品之一，石越亦曾喝過，似乎與後世陝甘一帶的漿水略有不同，他知道後世的漿水是用包菜或芹菜等蔬菜作原料，在沸水裡燙過後，加酵母發酵而成；而宋朝的漿水，卻是用粟米加工，經發酵而成。不過二者的口感與功效都極為接近，頗有點像乳酸飲料的味道，甜中帶微酸，可以消署、消食、開胃，甚至還有治霍亂的療效。與其他美味不同，漿水是用桶裝的，每個桶子裡放著幾把杓子，每三五個人面前才放上一桶。 趙頊口裡雖然說是尋常宴會，的確排場也簡化了許多，但該有的規矩慣例，卻也並沒有變化除了眾人皆有之物外，蕭佑丹與拖古烈面前的看盤上，照例多出了豬羊雞鵝兔連骨熟肉。 高麗懷王眼見著面前的案上美味佳餚堆列得如同小山一樣，水果食品之種類之豐富，更是看得他眼花撩亂，他畢竟年輕，欣喜興奮之情，早已見於顏色。他正高興地偷偷左顧右盼時，卻忽然發現蕭佑丹與拖古烈面前，多了一大堆東西。他不知道這是外交慣例，左等右等，自己這案前始終沒有豬羊雞鵝兔連骨熟肉上來，頓時失望之情現於言表。那高麗正使是千挑萬選才派到汴京來的人物，在高麗國也是一時人傑，這時候看到自家王子這種表現，雖然只是微小的表情，但卻哪裡能逃過這殿中人物的法眼連一個斟酒的內臣，都忍不住露出了笑意；這高麗正使真是又急又氣，坐立不安，拼命地扯著懷王的袖子。那懷王兀自不知道是怎麼一回事，怔怔地回望著他，一臉的不解。 這細微的動作早已落到了眾人眼中，蕭佑丹與拖古烈一本正經地坐著，心裡暗暗幸災樂禍的竊笑；宋朝諸臣有些在心裡偷笑，有些卻在心裡嘆氣當今高麗國王是何等英明的人物，不料虎父犬子，竟生了個這樣的兒子。趙頊心裡搖頭，卻不免要念著王賢妃的情分，兼之高麗又宋朝重要的盟友，他亦不欲其太難堪，沉吟了一下，便招手令李向安過來，低聲吩咐道︰賜高麗國王子看盤例一如大遼使者。 李向安不由一怔，他是用老了的內臣，知道這等破例，在外交禮儀上卻是極大的臉面，不由自主地又望了皇帝一眼，見趙頊眼中露出責怪之意，這才慌張答應了，尖聲唱道︰賜高麗國王子看盤例一如大遼使者。 這旨意一出，高麗正使慌忙拉著高麗懷王拜謝不提，各國使者都是艷羨地望著高麗懷王二人，蕭佑丹與拖古烈卻立時變了臉色，但二人都是城府極深之人，且不願自降身分，與高麗國去爭這短長，只是交換了一下眼神，便又泰然自若了。 這時看盞者見眾人盞中已滿了御酒，連忙舉袖，在教坊樂人的樂聲當中，眾人連忙一齊舉杯，山呼道︰臣等恭祝皇太后千萬歲壽！祝皇帝陛下千萬歲壽！ 這畢竟不是正宴，這時起便不再按正常的禮儀了，李向安朝一個教坊使使了個眼色，便聞樂聲悠然響起，一隊雪膚花容的歌伎魚貫而入，幾聲鼓點之後，眾伎翩躚而舞，宛如嫩柳搖風，羅袖動香。看得眾人心馳神搖，如癡如醉，幾乎不知身在何鄉。在歌舞之中，只見內侍宮女們穿插往來，不斷給眾人倒酒上菜，沒過多時，殿中眾人，竟多有些醉意了。 趙頊這些天來，一直被益州、朝中局勢折騰得心神不寧，睡不安寢，今日難得心情歡暢，禁不住多喝了幾杯，他雙頰微酡，看著殿中眾人中，只見司馬光雖然頻頻舉杯致意，卻都只是微觸嘴脣即罷，小黃門與宮女們從他座前經過，亦絕不停留，顯然都是知道他杯中滿滿，不過是做做樣子罷了。 因笑著對李向安道︰久聞司馬君實不善酒，平素向少留意，看來竟是不假。你去告訴他，以漿水代酒便可。每每舉杯而不得飲，豈不難受麼？ 李向安連忙答應著去了。 趙頊又將目光轉到蕭佑丹身上，笑問道︰衛王這番來汴京，可覺東京有何變化不曾？以往宋遼雖然國力相當，但宋朝在心理上總佔著劣勢。但今非昔比，此長彼消，趙頊自覺如今大宋萬國來朝，國勢興盛，兼之多喝了幾杯，言語中，不免便有幾分炫耀與自得，甚至還夾帶著一些傲慢的語氣。 蕭佑丹是何等人物，又豈能聽不出話中之意。他淡淡一笑，微微欠身道︰臣至汴京不過一兩日，惟覺汴京之繁華與十餘年前無異。 趙頊笑道︰衛王不曾見今日之煙花麼？單是此物，十年之前，汴京便是沒有的。過兩日，朕叫人陪衛王到處走走，好好瞧瞧今日之汴京。封丘門左近，住了不少西夏貴人朕聽說衛王曾經出使過靈武，說不定還能遇上故人 蕭佑丹自是聽得懂趙頊話中隱含的暗示，他以衛王之貴而出使南朝，自是不能在宋人面前示弱，使志得意滿的宋人更增驕氣休說這樣本來就有辱大遼尊嚴，而且若是一味的示弱，只能讓宋人不知進退，野心膨脹起來，又要覬覦幽薊，到時所失者更大。他心中念頭轉過，便決意向宋人潑潑冷水。因又欠身道︰如此便要多謝陛下。臣的副使耶律萌，原本便是西夏舊族，己丑之變時，隻身逃亡至大遼，隨陛下南征北戰，頗立功勞，因得賜姓之榮。他這次隨臣出使南使，本亦想趁便探視舊日故交原本臣還擔心來著 他說到這裡，趙頊心中已是懊悔。他怎麼樣也沒有料到還有這一齣，但他畢竟是皇帝，在蕭佑丹面前說出話來，又怎好反悔。只得在心裡寬慰自己區區一西夏貴族，又能有何為？一面故作大方地笑道︰早知這樣，朕也要見見這耶律萌才好。 蕭佑丹微微一笑，又道︰只不過臣還有點擔心 衛王擔心什麼？ 蕭佑丹意味深長地笑道︰臣所慮者，囊中羞澀也。汴京米貴，居大不易。 趙頊卻一時沒有聽懂蕭佑丹話裡的意思，只道他開玩笑，笑道︰衛王說笑了。 蕭佑丹卻正色道︰臣卻不是頑笑，這兩日間，臣略留心了街市物價，較之十年之前實是貴了不少。陛下方才問臣汴京之變化，城頭的確是多了火炮，封丘門亦的確是多了西夏人，然此皆非臣所願留意者。臣真正感覺的變化，倒是馬行街的餈糕團子貴了兩文錢一個。 趙頊聽出他話中的諷刺之意這是暗諷他窮兵黷武，卻不顧民生，非聖主所為。他有意誇耀武功，卻不想這後面的帝國，實是憂患重重，並無什麼值得誇耀的。這時被蕭佑丹戳破，不覺臉上微紅，幸好此時喝了酒，倒不太看得出來。這時二人的對話，早引得滿殿注意，趙頊終不願在諸國使臣面前失了面子在下意識中，亦是想為自己這十幾年來的功績辯護，因勉強笑道︰物價漲落，亦是常事。衛王又何必駭怪？ 臣卻以為不然。街市魚肉菜價，正是國之大事。臣自河北入境，一路前來，得有機會，亦曾詢問各地商販，不惟物價較十餘年前高出不少，且竟是交鈔一個價，緡錢一個價。臣曾聽說，五代時漢王章為三司使，徵利剝下，緡錢入國庫，則以八十為陌；出國庫，則以七十七為陌至南朝襲此不改，以七十七為官省錢者，便自此始。臣觀這交鈔，竟頗似當時，官府以交鈔易物，則一貫交鈔正值錢一貫，而百姓以之購物，卻大不值錢矣。蕭佑丹悠悠道︰國家財計如此，臣雖為北臣，亦為陛下憂之，豈得謂之常事？ 蕭佑丹侃侃而談，直指宋朝之弊，毫不給趙頊面子，集英殿中頓時一片目瞪口呆，許多朝臣竟已是冷汗直冒。趙頊一臉尷尬，蕭佑丹所說的事情，他並非全不知情，但朝廷財政拮据，不得不依賴多發行交鈔來度過難關，卻也是沒有辦法的事情事實上發行交鈔，對於宋朝打贏與西夏的戰爭，也的確起到了至關重要的作用。而如今，宋朝的財政已經患了一種交鈔依賴癥，為了鞏固在平夏地區的統治而實行的軍屯、民屯需要巨大的啟動資金；為了加強兩北塞防，為了趙頊完成自己更大的偉業收復燕雲，禁軍的軍費亦不能輕易削減，相反，為了在將來的戰爭中保障京師的絕對安全，呂公著正在大名府修築以大名府為核心的耗資巨大的防線；宋軍為了爭奪對平夏、關陝地區至關要的河套草原，亦不惜耗費巨大的人力與財力，在那裡修築城寨，供養軍隊，爭奪對當地部族的控制權除此以外，還有那個雄心勃勃的熙寧歸化計畫，不管因為什麼原因而使得益州出現如今眾議紛紜的局面，趙頊心裡還是認可這個計畫的這是大宋應有的進取心。身為大宋的皇帝，趙頊直到此時，都極為體諒呂惠卿的處境在他看來，如今財政狀況之惡化，是一種迫不得已的暫時性困難。將這一切歸之於對西南夷的戰爭，絕不是公平的指責。不過，趙頊也同樣不能容忍被自己的宰相欺騙如果最近冒出來的攻擊呂惠卿造成益州處於極大的危機中的言論都是真的，那這一切就超出了趙頊的容忍範圍。趙頊也不可能容許他的宰相為了一己的地位，拿著益州路去關撲！ 不過，想是如是想，雖然趙頊也知道在互派常駐使節的情況下，很多事情已經很難瞞過遼國人，但在這樣的情況下被蕭佑丹毫不留情地揭了傷疤，趙頊亦不能不感到臉上無光。他本來是想炫耀國勢強盛，蕭佑丹的回答，卻仿若是當著各國使者的面，說宋朝其實亦只是紙老虎。 所以，再怎麼樣，趙頊這個面子也是丟不起的。何況他從心裡覺得，相比宋朝蒸蒸日上的國力，相比他在位期間建立的文治武功，一時間的物價騰貴、幣制混亂，這些都畢竟只是微不足道的小節。大宋王朝，的確是更加強大了趙頊如此堅信，但是，糟糕的是，一時之間，他卻也無法來反駁蕭佑丹。蕭佑丹說的都是鐵一般的事實，哪怕趙頊認為他是誇大了扭曲了事實，但畢竟他沒有說半句假話。而且，身為聖天子，他也不能夠毫無修養的野蠻的耀武揚威似的炫耀大宋朝的強大他必須說得含蓄，符合自己的身分，他還不能惱羞成怒。但偏偏趙頊此時又被蕭佑丹的一席話鬧得心煩意亂，這微不足道的小節，在他的心裡，如同上百隻蒼蠅一樣嗡嗡亂飛，怎麼樣也揮之不去。它們並不是想推翻趙頊對自己治下功績的自信，卻讓人討厭地不停地騷擾著他的這種自信，讓他的驕傲與自豪，總是顯得不那麼完美，彷彿一塊和闐美玉之上，卻有一小塊黑斑，雖然極小極小，卻怎麼樣也去不掉，使得這塊美玉瞬時間便顯得不那麼寶貴了。 趙頊不安地微微扭了一下身子，下意識地看了呂惠卿一眼。 呂惠卿心裡正在無奈地苦笑。威脅也好，炫耀也好，這樣的事情本來都應當由臣子們來做，但是皇帝們卻似乎都不能控制自己的衝動類似的事情，在以往的各國皇帝身上，已經發生過無數次了，結局大多數是相似的。除非擁有絕對的優勢，並且對方的使者無能軟弱這二者缺一不可，否則，最後定然是皇帝碰一鼻子的灰。雙方身分不同，一開口，身為皇帝的一方，便已經落了下乘。偏偏在這樣的時候，臣子們還不方便強行出頭，一方面怕觸了皇帝的霉頭，另一方面，以眾凌寡，勝之不武，而萬一沒說過人家，只能白白給別人留下舌戰群儒的美名，將己方君臣置於小丑一般的境地。況且，要怎麼樣和蕭佑丹去辯論？這其中涉及到大量的軍國機密，難道為了區區口舌之利，要詳詳細細向蕭佑丹解釋一下大宋朝目前的處境麼？難道還嫌蕭佑丹對宋朝瞭解得不夠透徹麼？ 但呂惠卿亦能揣測到皇帝的想法。 皇帝所要的面子，不僅僅是在諸國使者面前的面子；亦不僅僅是在百官群臣面前的面子蕭佑丹所批評的，正是國內許多大臣們素所批評的，自蕭佑丹口中說出來後，必然更給他們以口實然而這些固然重要，卻還是其次，在呂惠卿看來，皇帝真正要的面子，是皇帝要給自己一個交代。統治這個廣大的帝國近二十年，銳意變法圖強，文治武功，稱得上是大宋的中興之主，還有一腔的雄心壯志欲待實現，他怎麼能容得下讓人暗諷他的統治之下，實則危機重重，百姓之生活不僅沒有改善，反而更加困苦？ ! 這不是罵他是漢武帝嗎？ 皇帝想做的，是既能威加天下，讓四海來朝，又能令國家日漸繁榮興旺的唐太宗；而不是那個雖然立下赫赫武功，卻敗光了祖宗家業，讓天下殘破，戶口減半的漢武帝！ 所以蕭佑丹的批評，才如此的刺耳。 呂惠卿感覺到了皇帝的目光，他瞥了一眼左右，文彥博與司馬光正襟危坐著，看不出半點的表情。他們恨不得有人給皇帝潑潑冷水哪怕這個人是契丹人也無所謂。《資治通鑒》全本已經全部刊行，雖然司馬光自嘲天下將《通鑒》從頭到尾看完過一遍的人不會超過三個，但是呂惠卿卻是翻過的不過他關心的不是歷史本身，而主要是臣光曰後面的那些話。有些地方引起了呂惠卿的注意汲黯與魏徵都曾經有過近似的主張︰將俘虜的、投降的匈奴、突厥人，分給有功的將士做奴隸，將其財產獎賞給有功的將士。《通鑒》全文照錄了這兩篇著名的奏摺，從《通鑒》的種種蛛絲馬跡中，呂惠卿敏銳地感覺到司馬光的態度司馬光的外交理念，是以中國為核心的所有天朝大國的面子都可以丟到一邊，讓百姓過上好日子才是最重要的。所以，司馬光才在《通鑒》中，通過表彰汲黯與魏徵，來反對漢武帝與唐太宗厚待投降蕃夷的政策這還只是兩個典型的例子，兩個讓人容易產生聯想的例子。至少呂惠卿就相信，司馬光在其中表達著對朝廷現行政策的不滿。 所以，蕭佑丹的話，顯然正中他下懷。雖然美中不足的這件事是由遼人說出來的，所以司馬光會認為士大夫們應當為此感到羞恥。但相比而言，司馬光肯定認為，如果皇帝能因此悔悟，那麼丟掉一點點天朝上國的面子，其實算不了什麼。 呂惠卿對這種觀點嗤之以鼻，但是他也有自知之明司馬光不是少數派。至少馮京就在他一邊，馮當世就算不完全同意，卻肯定是的居多。這些目光短淺的北人，