Chapter 3
The Xixia Palace was caught in a melee.
Li Qing commanded the squads in the east chamber and Wei Mingrong's squads in the west chamber to work hard to deal with each other.When Wei Mingrong's army appeared in front of the palace, Li Qing already knew that the coup had failed.Originally, he wanted to be lucky, but unlike Bing, Li Qing was really prepared to fail, which is not unexpected.
Amelie!Li Qing commanded loudly, you take a hundred people from the headquarters to protect the Queen Mother!
yes!A military officer shouted: Come with me!One hundred squad guards trotted towards Queen Mother Liang's bedroom.
After Ameile left, Li Qing wandered around to observe the current situation.Because the guards of the king's city already had people from the west wing participating, Wei Mingrong's troops easily broke into the king's city, dividing half of the king's city with the east wing.Therefore, the guards of the east wing guards blocked the guards of the west wing who had entered the king's city across a narrow Jinshui River, and the guards of the west wing who had not entered the king's city did not make a detour to enter the city, but continued to attack the guards of the king's city The guards of the East Wing squad.Wei Mingrong's intention is obviously to trap Lord Xia, not to win the first battle, but to prevent Lord Xia from escaping.As long as Liang Yibu's army arrives, victory will be within easy reach.
Protecting Lord Xia to break through is Li Qing's only choice now.It would be great if Ameile could attract some of Wei Mingrong's troops
Li Qing had no time to think about it, so he turned around and walked towards the hall.The panic-stricken Lord Xia Bingchang, who was dressed in military uniform, saw Li Qing coming in, got up abruptly, and asked angrily: "Is Wei Mingrong really going to make trouble?"
yes.Li Qing didn't want to waste time on such boring questions, so after answering briefly and directly, he said directly: The bandits are powerful, your Majesty, please hurry up and go hunting.
East hunting?Bingchang was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head immediately, and shouted: I am the emperor of Daxia!Let's go, I want to see who dares to kill the king in the west wing class?
His Majesty!Li Qing looked directly at Bingchang impolitely, and said in a deep voice: The thief has lost his mind, Your Majesty, the Lord of Wancheng, how can he be in danger!You just need to rush out of the city before Liang Yibu's army arrives, and go east to hunt and Jingsai army commander.His Majesty then summoned all kinds of troops to help the king to pacify the king, and the rebellion can be quelled.
But Bingchang ignored him, and walked quickly to the outside of the hall, Li Qing and all his trusted officials and guards followed in a panic.Your Majesty, Your Majesty kept shouting, but Bingchang ignored it.
When Bingchang walked five or six steps away from the Jinshui River, the West Chamber was being attacked fiercely, and guards guarding the river were constantly dying in battle.But when all the soldiers saw the emperor coming, their morale was greatly shaken, and they all shouted: Long live the dead!Long live!They rushed forward one after another, and drove back the people in the West Chamber.
In high spirits, Bingchang took a few steps forward and shouted towards the other side of the river: You are my confidants and confidantes, how dare you make trouble?It must be held hostage by Wei Mingrong, if you can return from the wrong way, and help me to suppress the thief, I will forgive your sins!Those who can win the honor of the first rank will be immediately granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households and worshiped as the Great General!If you are stubborn, the family will perish!
The guards in the west chamber hesitated for a while, but suddenly they heard a man shouting in a high-pitched voice: The emperor has been held hostage by treacherous ministers, and he couldn't help himself.The Empress Dowager has an order that anyone who punishes Li Qing, the rebellious official, will be named a general and will be rewarded with thirty taels of taels!
All the guards looked back, and it was the eunuch, the Queen Mother's confidant, who was shouting, and they were completely suspicious, roaring loudly, and came to kill the river.Bingchang still wanted to speak, but he was covered by the thunderous killing cries. In the wind and snow, several arrows almost flew past his ears, which made Bingchang break out in a cold sweat.A few guards had already pulled and hugged him, pulling him to a safe place.
His Majesty!Li Qing didn't wait for Bingchang to regain his composure, and persuaded him again: Please order Dongshou immediately!
stop!stop!At this time, Bingchang had no choice but to issue an order: eastward tour of Weizhou.
Your Majesty is holy.Li Qing was about to arrange for the crowd to break up, when suddenly, he saw a gray mass flying towards him, he avoided it, and the thing fell on the snow ground a few steps away in front of him.He looked intently, and the attacker turned out to be something wrapped in a gray cloth.One of the soldiers didn't wait for orders, he stepped forward quickly, pulled the cloth away, and heard a sound, a bloody head was exposed inside the cloth, it was obviously the one who went to protect the Empress Dowager Liang's Ameile.
At the same time, the roar of long live came from the other side.
Bing Chang stammered and said: "The Empress Dowager Li Qing turned her head and looked, it was indeed the Empress Dowager Liang who was surrounded by guards and came to the battlefield in person.His heart sank immediately, and he secretly gritted his teeth and said: If it was Shi Shisan who went, it wouldn't be like this!But at this moment, Shi Shisan was still missing.
He also didn't have time to be upset for too long, seeing that Queen Mother Liang was about to speak, he knew very well that Queen Mother Liang was powerful, so he hurriedly shouted: Wei Mingrong made trouble and kidnapped Queen Mother, everyone will fight him!Kill Wei Mingrong and make Wanhuhou!
Kill Wei Mingrong and rescue the Queen Mother!The two military officers in charge of the Jinshuihe defense line raised their knives and shouted loudly: Kill!All the guards rushed across the river immediately, and fought with the guards in the west chamber.
This Xixia's most honorable and elite army was engaged in bloodthirsty internal fighting on a day that was most unsuitable for fighting.The corpses kept falling down, and the blood almost dyed the white snow red, but the two sides still fought a tie, the east wing did not take a step back, and the west wing did not take a step forward.
Bingchang and Li Qing did not stop by the Jinshui River.When this place was in the middle of a fight, there was a piece of good news from Wangcheng.A group of people of unknown origin suddenly attacked the Banzhi army in the west wing outside the east gate of the king's city.
Shi Shisan came at the right time.No need to ask, Li Qing also knew that Shi Shisan had arrived.
Li Qing protected Lord Xia and ran towards the east gate, constantly summoning guards along the way, and when he arrived at the east gate of the king's city, there were more than five hundred people behind him.
The military officer guarding the east gate saw Lord Xia and Li Qing coming, and hurried forward to greet them.
What about those who attacked the rebels from behind?Seeing him, Li Qing opened his mouth and asked.
General.It seemed to be a civil rebel army. After defeating the rebels at the east gate, its leader said that it was not too late to attack the rebels at the south gate.Seeing Li Qing's expression, he didn't dare to tell the truth. In fact, he was afraid of accidents, so he didn't dare to let Shi Shisan and others enter the royal city.Shi Shisan had no choice but to move to the south gate of Wangcheng.
south gate!Li Qing took a deep breath, there was Wei Mingrong at the south gate leading the army himself!
In the end, the general will see that they are brave in battle, and with the help of wind and snow, they will surely succeed.
That's all!Li Qing has no time to say more, you immediately order to gather everyone.
yes.The military officer was taken aback for a moment, and immediately realized that he was about to break out.He ran away immediately, yelling and cursing loudly, and gathered all the guards who could fight, and gathered outside the east gate together.Li Qing counted the number of soldiers, and there were more than a thousand soldiers, but their morale was low. Many of them were exhausted after a day of fighting in such bad weather.
Li Qing secretly sighed, but he didn't dare to show it on his face.He asked Bingchang to take off his armor and hat, and found a guard who looked similar to Bingchang to wear it, but made Bingchang wear the costume of a first-class military officer.After mediating these matters properly, he strode up to the assembled guards to give a lecture.
Listen up everyone!This time the rebels are rebelling, and the emperor wants Dongshou to summon troops to quell the rebellion. This is the time when the loyal ministers are desperate!If you can protect the emperor's integrity and fix the day of rebellion, you and I will all be meritorious ministers in protecting the emperor.Conferring officials and worshiping nobles, wives and sons are expensive, nothing to worry about!But if the army is defeated and the emperor's country is missed, everyone will die without a place to bury him!Everyone must fight bravely to be the first, and don't take chances. If there are those who are timid and fearful of the enemy, they will be killed immediately!As the wind and snow howled, Li Qing's murderous voice still clearly entered everyone's ears.
yes!Everyone suddenly agreed.
Li Qing's cold gaze swept over everyone's faces.Everyone is awe-inspiring.After Li Qing saw everyone, Fang turned his head and said to Bingchang: Your Majesty, I will protect you well!
Bing Chang nodded slightly.
With a bang, Li Qing drew out his saber, raised it high to the sky, and shouted loudly: Let's go!
Thousands of people lined up in several rows and left the royal city in a mighty way.Because the wind and rain did not stop, the snow was unpredictable in some places on the street, so although they claimed to break through, in fact everyone was just jogging on horseback.At this moment, Li Qing could only comfort himself in his heart, such heavy snow would also limit Liang Yibu's marching speed.
Outside the south gate of Wangcheng.
In the street fighting, the ruffians led by Shi Shisan may not have their strengths.They suddenly appeared from the back of each building and among the snowdrifts, maybe they gave a cold knife to the famous guards in the west wing, or threw a stone, and waited until the elite of these elites entered the imperial enclosure. By the time the guards of the Sixth Squad gathered together to pursue them, they had already disappeared into the white snow.
Wei Mingrong tried hard to restrain his soldiers.
Forget those damned rabbits!He shouted loudly with a knife in his hand, and kept his eyes on the south gate, preventing those rebels from leaving the city.Suddenly remembered something, grabbed another soldier, and loudly ordered: Take a few people to see the east gate.The soldier agreed, called two men, and rode on horseback towards the east gate.The three of them rode their horses for only a hundred steps when they heard the sound of the wind whistling. A figure leaped down from a tree they were passing and landed on a soldier's horse, and then heard a click. The soldier's neck was twisted and he fell off his horse.However, his horse was controlled by the man, without stopping for a moment, he caught up with another soldier in an instant, the soldier was looking back, and saw a flash of white light, the man raised his knife and fell, and another soldier died unexpectedly.Hearing the sound, the remaining soldier was scared out of his wits, whipped his mount desperately and ran forward, but the man stopped chasing him, he reined in his horse and laughed.Seeing this, Wei Mingrong breathed a sigh of relief, but unexpectedly, the knife in his hand flew out, drawing a red line in the air, and just slashed on the back of the remaining soldier.With a thud, the soldier also fell off his horse, unable to survive.
Who is this man?Wei Mingrong asked in surprise.His personal soldiers are not easy to mess with. They can fight against ordinary generals for dozens of rounds regardless of the outcome. In this way, three moves kill three lives, and they are killed like chickens. Not only Wei Mingrong, Even his generals were stunned.
No one knew who that man was.
No one from Dongmen has come to contact me for so long.Wei Mingrong thought about the current situation, the emperor must have broken through.These people are used to pester me so that I cannot pursue them.After thinking through this section, the more you think about it, the more likely your idea is.
In any case, Lord Xia cannot be allowed to leave Xingqing Mansion.If Lord Xia fled to a place where the local princes lived, Xixia would inevitably start a civil war.During the civil war in Liao, the Song people were still unable to share a share of it. If there was civil strife in Xixia, luck would never be as good as that of Liao.
All the troops obey the order!Wei Mingrong started to move again.
Wei Mingrong believed in his intuition so much that he even summoned all the soldiers and horses outside the south gate of Wangcheng, marched straight to the east gate of the inner city of Xingqing Mansion.Facing an army of this size, the militiamen led by Shi Shisan would never dare to provoke them.What's more, Shi Shisan didn't know Wei Mingrong's intentions either.Sure enough, Wei Mingrong's troops passed through almost unimpeded, and rushed straight to the east gate of the inner city.
Just when the guard at the south gate of Wangcheng and Shi Shisan breathed a sigh of relief almost at the same time, the two received news from Lord Xia Dongshou one after another.
Grandma's!Almost without thinking too much, he knew what Wei Mingrong was doing.There was no need to defend the king's city anymore, the guard at the south gate immediately abandoned the city, led his guards, and chased after Wei Mingrong's footsteps.
Shi Shisan reacted faster than him.
However, when the general trend has been determined, no matter how appropriate the response is, it can only increase regrets, but it is extremely difficult to change the outcome of the matter.
The dead soldiers led by Shi Shisan were the first to encounter an ambush.
Arrow rain!
The rain of arrows at that moment melted the dense snow in the air, and they flew towards them like locusts covering the sun. In an instant, hundreds of people turned into corpses, and many of them were directly shot into hedgehogs. .On the two parallel streets, there were only arrows, corpses full of arrows, and some living people injured by arrows.
This is not the scale that Wei Mingrong's troops can have!
Shi Shisan realized it immediately.
Moreover, this is a heavy snow day, and only an army with a lot of actual combat experience can form such a rain of arrows under such weather conditions.
Liang Yibu has entered the city.Shi Shisan muttered a curse, gritted his teeth, pulled out the arrow shaft that hit his left arm with one hand, and tore off a piece of cloth to bandage himself.
Of the dead men I brought with me, less than one-third may be alive now. Some of them have already looked around, wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to escape; some lay on the snow and pretended to be dead; .There may not even be ten people who really want to fight for their lives.
A large number of Xixia troops appeared on both sides of the street.Each soldier held a shield and a single knife in his hand, and they entered the alley carefully, beheading everyone who died, taking their belongings, and killing everyone who was still alive.
All the living people, seeing their actions, knew their fate. Holding their weapons, they retreated slowly, and all gathered around Shi Shisan.But those Xixia soldiers seemed to see that they didn't have bows and arrows, but they were not in a hurry, they still just squeezed towards the middle slowly.
Time seems to be ticking.
Shi Shisan felt everyone's heavy breathing.
Is this my burial place?He didn't know what happened to Li Qing and Lord Xia, or what happened to her. He squinted his eyes and looked at the Xixia soldiers who were getting closer.
At this time, there were vaguely painful shouts and neighings from nearby people and horses. Although Shi Shisan didn't know that this was the south gate guard who chased out with him and was shot back by Wei Mingrong, he also understood The fate of those guards in the East Chamber will not be much better than their own.
When Shi Shisan and Nanmen Dongxiang Banzhi were in a tight siege, it was time for Lord Xia and Li Qing to face their own destiny directly.
There are soldiers everywhere in the surrounding streets.Reports from the scouts are discouraging.Along the way, they kept running into Liang Yibu's vanguard team, and kept fighting the future. At this time, they were only a few arrows away from the east gate of the inner city, but they found that the troops at each gate were very strong.Moreover, Liang Yibu's officers took over.
Liang Yibu has completely controlled Xingqing Mansion.There was a hint of despair in Bing's usual words.
Your Majesty, Li Langjun.The guard in normal attire said suddenly: Let me distract them. Li Qing is still thinking, this may be the last card.
No need.Bingchang interrupted them, and we changed the clothes back.
His Majesty?Li Qing raised his head.
Even if captured, there must be the majesty of a king.At this time, Bingchang thought about it instead.hurry up.The guard looked at Li Qing, Li Qing nodded helplessly, he quickly took off his clothes, and exchanged views with Bingchang.
Li Langjun.Changing back to Lord Xia's costume, Bingchang is indeed more like a monarch. Mrs. Liang is willing to have you, but I'm just worried about you
His Majesty!Li Qing prostrated himself on the ground, his eyes were moist, the minister deeply misunderstood His Majesty, death is inevitable.
If they dare to kill the king, they will be infamous through the ages.Bing usually said comfortingly.In fact, he wasn't sure either. After all, it was just a glass of poisoned wine.
Li Qing choked up and couldn't speak.
Li Langjun, do you think Ren Duohan can come to rescue him?
Li Qing shook his head.If Ren Duohan can deal with Liang Yibu, is it still so troublesome?Originally, if Lord Xia was not in Liang Yibu's grasp, there might still be a chance.
Then our monarchs and ministers are destined to fall into Liang's hands?Bing usually was unusually calm at this time.
Unless Li Qing didn't finish speaking.
Unless what?
Unless it is the southern dynasty sending troops.It is better to hand over Xixia to the Liang family than to the Song Dynasty.This is Li Qing's real thought.
Southern Dynasties!Bingchang muttered for a while, and said: If I die, my ancestors' foundation will fall into Liang's hands.Even if I don't die, the Liang family is in power in this country, and I'm just a walking dead.Instead of that, it's better to be cheaper in Nanchao!If the Southern Dynasty can avenge me, I will also be named a marquis and a rich man!
While talking, Bingchang tore off a piece of white cloth from his body.With a backhand stab, he killed his mount.With some blood on his fingers, he began to write on the white cloth.After finishing writing, he took out the seal again, folded it, and handed it to the guard who had pretended to be himself.He lowered his voice and said: You take this memorial.Neither I nor Mr. Li Lang can escape this calamity.If you escape by luck, you will be sent to the Southern Dynasty, and the Southern Dynasty will definitely reward you.If you can't escape, dedicating it to Liang Yi's burial is also a great achievement.I will never let you spend a time with me in vain!
emperor!The guard took Bingchang's memorial and fell to the ground crying.
Li Qing stepped forward to help him up, and said in a low voice: Don't attract attention and bring trouble to your upper body.
The guard hurriedly wiped away his tears, put the blood cloth in his arms, and stepped aside.
The footsteps and shouts from all sides became more and more clearly audible.It wasn't long before this group of hundreds of people was discovered.Sure enough, before long, troops appeared on both sides of the street.
The emperor is here!Ask Liang Yibu to come and meet you!Li Qing's scolding frightened the troops at the intersection, they neither dared to advance nor to leave.I had to send someone to inform Shangguan.Not long after, the street was almost surrounded by Liang Yibu's army.More and more officials came to visit Bingchang, but Bingchang kept ignoring them.
Bingchang, Li Qing and hundreds of surviving guards in the east chamber waited quietly.
Finally, a triumphant voice sounded in the street: Chen Liang Yibu rescue came too late!Please Your Majesty forgive me.
Bingchang looked coldly at Liang Yibu, who was prostrating on the ground, but Liang Yibu did not wait for Bingchang's will, and stood up by himself. He pretended not to look at Bingchang, whose face was flushed into a pig's liver, and just ordered loudly: welcome the emperor Go back to the palace and take down the traitor Li Qing!
slow!Li Qing shouted loudly, straightened his clothes, and bowed twice to Bingchang.Standing up, looking around at the crowd, his eyes fell on Liang Yibu.Li Qing pulled out his sword suddenly, and cursed contemptuously: How can a man be humiliated by a villain!After saying that, he swung his sword and cut his neck with his backhand, and killed himself.
Liang Yibu glanced at Li Qing who was dying in front of him, gritted his teeth and cursed: Thief!Hugh, if you die, you will stop, I will kill you all over the house!
He glanced at the pale Bingchang again, and shouted: Welcome back to the palace, Lord!
Welcome back to the palace!
Welcome back to the palace
The wind and snow in Xingqing Mansion became bigger and bigger.
In March in Shaanxi, the vegetation has sprouted, but there is still a slight chill in the air.
It was the evening of March 4th in the thirteenth year of Xining.It has been a month since the Xixia Ji Chou coup.Because Wen Huan and Ren Duo Baozhong successfully escaped Liang Yibu's pursuit and arrived at the control area of the Jingsai Military Division more than ten days later, the news of the coup d'état in Xingqing Mansion on the ugly day of the first month and Xia Zhu's imprisonment spread quickly.Ren Duohan immediately sent an envoy to report the matter to the Twelve Supervisors of Xixia, but this strong man among the local vassals of Xixia Kingdom was very cautious and did not immediately stand in the position of being at odds with the Liang family.This is beyond the expectations of many people.
Only two days after Ren Duohan learned part of the facts about the coup, a piece of information about the details of the Xixia coup was placed on the official case of Shi Yue, the appeasement envoy of Shanxi Road in the Song Dynasty, and the information was sent to the Privy Council with a gold medal at the same time. Even in front of the imperial court, with the post-transmission system of the Song Dynasty, it can be guaranteed that this information can be placed on the imperial case of the emperor of the Song Dynasty at most four or five days later.Because the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month in the thirteenth year of Xining was Ji Chou Day, this information from the Song Dynasty stated that the coup that took place in Xixia on that day turned into Ji Chou.At the end of February, the "Qin Bao" of the Jingzhao Mansion got the news of the Xixia coup through some channels. Wei Tang wrote an article himself, and the headline on the front page was titled "Ji Ugly Coup". From then on, regardless of the Song, Liao and Xia Dynasties, regardless of the officials and the people, they all called the Xixia coup a self-ugly coup.
Of course, how to call what happened in Xixia is just an insignificant tidbit.
The two enemy countries of the Song Dynasty were not stable, but one made the monarchs and ministers of Bianjing happy, and the other worried the monarchs and ministers of Bianjing.In Xixia, Song saw a golden opportunity; in Liao, Yelujun was invincible. The emperor of Daliao was so supported by the people and soldiers that wherever his army went, the people killed the guards and the soldiers killed The generals surrendered and rebelled one after another. Even with the help of smuggling from the people of the Song Dynasty, Yang Zunxu did nothing at all, but was scared and hid under the high city of Datong Prefecture, lingering on his last breath.
Yelujun surrounded Datong three times inside and outside, and Yang Zunxu's overthrow was just around the corner.
The victory of the Liao Lord, to a certain extent, stimulated the nerves of Zhao Xu and his courtiers who had just finished the funeral of Empress Dowager Cao.
A simple ox-drawn four-wheeled cart, under the afterglow of the setting sun, stopped in front of the post station in Yijun County, Fangzhou.
Ladies and gentlemen, Yijun station has arrived.An old carriage driver sang rudely to the carriage and greeted him loudly.On the four-wheeled cart, seven or eight travelers bent down and got off the stage coach.
Huh?There are monsters!Suddenly, a child shouted loudly in front of the post station, and several post officials at the post station picked up the Zhuge crossbow beside them, looked left and right, and asked loudly: "Where is it?"Where?They were all born in the Xiang army. Although they did not teach the parade army, they had eaten the military food after all, and they were a little bit more courageous than others.
A twelve or thirteen-year-old child showed his eyes from behind a stagecoach pulled by a mule, pointed to a person who had just got off the stagecoach, and said timidly: "There are hairy monsters there."
Everyone looked at his finger, it turned out to be a foreign merchant, they couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, and immediately burst into laughter before the post station.A Yicheng came up behind the child, kicked him lightly on the buttocks, and spat: "What kind of long-haired monster, no barbarians know?"I asked you to help earn a little money, not to cause trouble for me.Don't do anything yet?
Seeing the expressions of the crowd, the child knew that it was definitely not a monster, but he was still afraid in his heart, he didn't dare to look at the foreign merchant, turned around and ran away.The postman spat at the child's back, walked up to the traveler who had just got off the bus, bowed and said with a smile: "It's rare to see countrymen, so you officials don't want to be surprised."He deliberately walked up to the Tibetan merchant and asked in a half-baked official dialect: "Don't dare to ask this guest what to call?"
My name is Acardo.Acardo is now able to speak an authentic Bianjing dialect.This is the first time for him to visit the mainland of the Great Song Dynasty. Because the Silk Road has been broken for a long time, people in the Song Dynasty in the inland rarely see Taixi people. After entering Shaanxi, he was often mistaken for a monster. I'm used to it, but I don't mind it.
It turned out to be from Akaguan. Yicheng finally didn’t understand Acardo’s name, so he typed it vaguely. He smiled and apologized to Acardo: “The child is ignorant, so I offended him so much, please don’t blame.
Those who do not know are not guilty.
Yi Cheng was taken aback by the polite words that came out of the Fan merchant's mouth.However, in Yijun County, a postman like him can be regarded as a well-informed person, and after a few pleasantries, he warmly greeted these guests to enter the station to rest.Most of the travelers who got off the stagecoach dispersed separately, and only three or four people followed the postmaster into the station.
The post station in Yijun County looks like a large courtyard from the outside, with a spacious space and exquisite furnishings inside.Yijun County was originally a medium-sized county, originally affiliated to Fangzhou. After Sima Guang presided over the merger of prefectures and counties in Xining, Fangzhou was withdrawn and merged into Fuzhou. Since then, Yijun County has become the southernmost county seat in Fuyan area. Located on the official road connecting Yanzhou and Chang'an, Jingzhao Prefecture, it is also an important city in the Shaanxi Road post administration network.It is ninety miles away from Tongguan County in the south and sixty miles away from Zhongbu County (formerly Fangzhou City) in the north.The water transportation is far less developed than that of the central county, and it is not even as good as the official county, but relying on the official road passing through Yijun County, the post station in Yijun County and the post stations in Tongguan and Central counties have a post car every day at dawn They sailed to each other's cities respectively, and they could return to their respective cities in the evening.In addition, Yijun County also has a post car connecting Shengping Town, which has an alum mine in the county.Because of the convenient transportation in Yijun County, the number of business travelers has gradually increased, and the business has also prospered a lot.
With the smooth advancement of the military system reform, under Shi Yue's strong support, the Song Dynasty completely changed the chronic problem of the weak defense of the division of troops in the past, and further improved the border defense system.Although the previous military road was abolished, four camps, Yansui, Huanqing, Qinfeng, and Xihe, were set up on the border between Shaanxi and Xixia (the camp is more complete than the military road, and it is completely separated from civil affairs and other aspects. relationship, it is just a purely military region organization), and the setting of Chang'an as the general rear of the four camps is actually the result of the game between Shi Yue and the Privy Council. Yuhou, the capital of the supervising army, was appointed by the Shufu and Weiwei Temple respectively, which not only ensured Shiyue's authority in Shaanxi, but also reduced the Song Dynasty's worries about the separatism of the feudal towns.
At the same time, a group of reorganized Forbidden Army began to station in the major camps.In the thirteenth year of Xining, during the coup d'état of the Western Xia Kingdom, Yanzhou, Suide, Yanzhou, and Bao'an Army's Yansui camp were restrained, except for the third army of the Zhenwu Army of Yao Si and the Yunyi Army of Zhonggu. The newly reorganized Second Army of the Zhenwu Army and the Third Army of the Shenrui Army entered the camp. Therefore, in the Yansui camp, the Imperial Army's infantry reached 42,000, and the cavalry reached 10,800.In addition, there are two battalions of divine guards, as well as border archers in Tuntian, some teaching parade troops, and fan soldiers.Because of the attack on Hengshan, many Hengshan tribes attached themselves. Zhong Gu and Liu Shunqing wrote a letter to ask them to move some of these tribes to the open area along the river in Suizhou to live in the open area along the river in Suizhou, half farming and half pastoral. , the imperial court gave them kindness and trust, making them the support of the Great Song Dynasty. The salary of their soldiers is enough, although it is not a universal law, as a temporary expediency, it is very cost-effective.So near Suide City, the Dali River, Wuding River, and Huaining River intersect with the Weiming tribes. The newly migrated tribes are all over the river banks, the newly reclaimed farmlands are connected, and the cattle and sheep that were grazing in the past are all over the mountains. Along the banks of the Dali River, the Wuding River, and the Zhunning River, three small towns without city walls were built. In addition to the Buddhist temples believed by the Hengshan Fan people in the small towns, there are also specially established schools, stationed doctors, and a Trade bazaar.
With more than 50,000 regular troops and tens of thousands of newly attached Fan tribes, even at the risk of a war, the business opportunities in the middle are enough to attract merchants from as far away as Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Quanzhou to trade.
As for Yijun County, because it is the south gate of the Yansui area, many merchants coming and going will rest here, and by the way, they will also buy a large amount of alum and sell it to Bianjing or even Hangzhou. At that time, I like to pile alum on a plate and put it in the banquet. It looks like ice and snow, and it is called alum mountain.The Military Supervisory Committee and various weapons workshops are also very interested in Yijun County. Using alum water to write is not only the patent of the staff office, but many departments are interested in it; and Yijun County also produces some materials for making bowstrings. It has also been purchased in large quantities by official and private workshops.
This originally inconspicuous county, even an inland county that people believed had no future because of the lack of smooth water conservancy transportation, became prosperous in a short period of time by chance.Although the post car is still a slightly old ox-drawn four-wheeled cart because of the cost saving during the reform of the post administration, the layout inside the post house has long been more and more refined and attentive.
Acardo knew very little about all this, since he entered the territory of Shaanxi Road, what he saw and heard along the way was very different from what he saw in other places, and he was always amazed.Based on his experience, his impression at this time was that Shaanxi Road was the center of wealth in the inland area of the Song Dynasty.He followed Yicheng to the counter to pay the deposit, chose a room, tidied up the salute, cleaned it, and then came out to look for the two young men who were friends with him in the same car.
Acardo had a very good impression of those two young men.From the conversation on the road, he already knew that one of these two young people was a top student at the martial arts school in Zhuxian Town. Acardo guessed that he was ordered to report to the Yansui Camp.This young Song military officer has a military temperament that fascinates Acardo. Although he is only in his early twenties, he has a calm demeanor, quick-witted and decisive actions, few words but sure to mean what he says. I heard that this is a kind of The young man who taught Taoism came from a family of military generals of a caste in the Song Empire, and he was the best of the younger generation in this family.
Another young man, compared to Zhong Shi, has a more noble background.The young man named Chai Yuan, whose ancestor was once the emperor of China, until today, his distant cousin is still honored as a state guest and enjoys the honor.Although according to the Chinese custom, he was born from a side branch and had no title and privileges many generations ago, but in Acardo's view, the honor and glory of his blood will never be weakened by this.Moreover, Chai Yuan is also a well-capitalized businessman, which undoubtedly makes Acardo love him even more.
When Acardo approached the front hall of the inn, it was already getting dark.A few oil lamps were lit in the hall. Compared with the extravagant Bianjing people, Shaanxi people are more simple and frugal. Therefore, bright candles are rarely seen except in Jingzhao Mansion.Under the dim light, the guests living in the inn, either alone or in twos and threes, had dinner while talking with each other.
Acardo opened his eyes wide and tried hard to find Zhong Shidao and Chai Yuan. After searching around in the crowd, he finally found Zhong Shidao and Chai Yuan sitting at the same table, talking and talking about something.He quickly walked over and said with a smile: Mr. Zhong, Mr. Chai, let me find it easily.
It turned out to be brother!Please sit down!Chai Yuan responded enthusiastically. Like most Song people, he was not very clear about Acardo's name.
Zhong Shidao just gave Acardo a friendly smile.
Acardo thanked him and sat down, added food and wine to Yi Cheng, and then prepared to chat with Zhong Shidao and Chai Yuan.Just when he was about to open his mouth, he suddenly heard someone scold loudly: Are you blind?It's the other way around, open your dog's eyes and see, this is a post ticket from the imperial court!My master is the new head of Ganquan County. If you don't come to serve him, how dare you deny this post ticket?
This scolding attracted everyone's attention.It turned out that there were two well-dressed masters and servants, who thought the postman was negligent and refused to pay, but the postman refused to accept the post voucher, so the servant spoke rudely.Acardo and Chai Yuan were fine, but Zhong Shidao frowned, his contempt was evident in his words.
Hearing that the postman was a real official, he felt a little bit timid, but the Shaanxi Road had clearly issued an edict, and the post office was different from other places, so he couldn't suffer by himself and advance money for others, so he immediately thought of words explain.
Unexpectedly, he didn't speak, someone spoke for him first.
Is the director of Ganquan County a big deal?You dirty servant, wanton on Shaanxi Road, be careful to implicate your master and lose your future.Ten years of cold window, studying hard is not easy.A well-dressed young man dressed as a Confucian scholar sarcastically embraced the injustice.
Who are you?Dare to speak wild words?The master and servant all looked at the person in front of them with their eyes, and couldn't figure out the details of the other party for a while.
The man smiled and said: It doesn't matter who I am.The imperial court clearly issued an edict stating that Shaanxi Road will carry out the new post political law, and all officials passing by in Shaanxi will be charged according to the mileage of the official product, and they will be transferred to the Shaanxi Road Transfer Envoy to withdraw.Those who cannot come in person can be reissued in the salary.All post coupons shall be abolished along the way in Shaanxi.Unless the matter is related to military affairs, those who have gold and silver plaques can spend it first and then reimburse the account. Even the angels of the imperial court have to pay for the posthouse when they arrive at Shaanxi Road.What is a mere Oasis master book?In Tongzhou, Yaozhou, and Shanzhou, all county magistrates were dismissed for disturbing the post administration. Haven't you heard of it?Whenever you enter Shaanxi, I advise you, master and servant, to put away your domineering heart. You have come all the way, and this Yijun Inn is not the first one. Why are you so quiet all the way, why can't you bear it now?
In the Song Dynasty, the corruption of post administration was one of the most common maladministration among the three redundant ones.Shi Yue's reform of the post office and the establishment of a post office network are only one of them, and the improvement of the service method is only the second. It is his utmost dedication to get rid of the disadvantages of the post office.When the officials of the Song Dynasty went on business trips, they originally had post coupons, and they could use the post coupons to spend when they arrived at the post station. The cost of the post station is also far more than the regulations allow.Once the supply is unsatisfactory, Yicheng is often beaten by these officials.And the extra money they spend, the government refuses to admit it, often can only be subsidized by the post office itself, and it can't be subsidized. Local officials dare not offend their colleagues who are officials, so they forcibly apportion it from the nearby people. Therefore, the post office is the same, it is really the Song Dynasty The great maladministration.The imperial court spent a huge amount of money to maintain this network, while the common people were tortured at the same time.But because the post office is the same, and it is also related to the military, it has always been wary of rats. Even if there are improvements, it will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause.
However, Shi Yue's Xinyi political law has solved these problems very well.After weighing with the Zhengshitang and the Privy Council, Emperor Zhao Xu also agreed to his new post administration, and issued an edict to implement it first in Shaanxi.In Shiyue’s new post administration law, the post administration network along the Shaanxi Road is divided into main lines and branch lines, and the network connecting important military towns and major cities to Bianjing is called the main line, and all the main lines are government-run.The rest of the networks between states and counties are branch lines, and these are either government-run or private-run.而無論是幹線還是支線，如同那人所說，整個陝西的驛政網中，都廢止了驛券，官員們可以根握品階與里程領取一筆固定的差費，想多花自己出錢，少花了錢便是自己節省的。而且，為了減少情弊，這筆錢直接到陝西路轉運司去結算，與地方驛站、地方官府都不發生關係。而另有一套方法，由轉運司與各驛站來進行結算。從此，官員們進驛站，便與住客棧一樣，現錢交易。驛站再也不是各級官員作威作福的地方。當然，以宋朝的條件，不可能花巨資另建一套軍方的驛傳系統，因此，驛政網的幹線，同時也軍方的驛傳系統，並且要優先保證戰爭的需要。所以樞密院另外頒佈了通報軍情的方法，即所謂的金字牌遞發、銀字牌遞發等，各驛站必須優先保證軍方的用馬與信使的一切用度。但是，除此之外，如普通武官的出差，也與文官一樣，並無特權可言。
石越的新驛政法可以說是觸動了一大批人的利益。在汴京，找出種種藉口來反對石越的新驛政的官員，可以說是頭一次比的官員還多。有些人只看到一點可能的不足，便死死咬住，完全不去顧它的巨大好處，不遺餘力的攻擊。因為這件事情，一旦陝西成功，肯定要推行全國，注定是要損害到那些官員的利益的。須知自從陝西推行新驛政法後，官員上任帶一大堆人的事情，立馬就消失了如果是自己出錢，即便是宋朝官員薪水優厚，許多人出行，也是一筆可觀的開銷。而且，更讓這些人無法接受的是，在新驛政法推行後，地方上專門用來招待過往官員及使者的公使錢，也自然而然地被大幅壓縮了新驛政法規定，三品以下官員過往，不得動用公使錢；三品以上官員過境，可以動用的公使錢也有限額，不再是隨地方官員想怎麼用就怎麼樣。在新驛政法的限制下，根本就不存在官員們迎來送往的空間。這讓許多人認為缺少人情味，實則不過是減少了官員用公費進行逢迎上司、建立良好關係網的機會，自然使人覺得深惡痛絕。於是，石越與劉庠將陝西路的公使錢挪用去興修水利，竟然也成為這些官員攻擊的藉口。
石越這是頭一次向天下展示他猙獰的一面。以往，儘管石越不動聲色的做過許多實事，但他的形象始終是溫和的，似乎是一個善長調和與妥協的官員。但是現在，天下開始看到石越勇於任事的一面。自從石越撫陝之後，這種形象便越來越鮮明，到新驛政法推行之後，更是達到了一個頂點。石越的強硬之處，一點也不遜於他溫和、妥協的一面。
安撫陝西後接連取得對夏戰爭的勝利同時也給石越贏得了巨大的威信。加上他自熙寧三年以來積累的政治資本也頗為雄厚，在朝中又得到了司馬光、馮京、韓維甚至是呂惠卿等一大幫人的。這些政策推出之後，慶曆老臣們要麼保持沉默，要麼公開；而三大報更是異口同聲的讚揚，白水潭出身的進士，懷著年輕人的熱情，也公開提倡單騎赴任，以示；從朝廷到地方，更有許許多多與石越利益相連、或者理念相合的官員替他辯護，為之聲援。於是，陝西路的新驛政法，雖然非議、污蔑、攻擊的聲音從未停止過，但卻終於被堅持下來了。但凡敢在陝西路破壞新驛政法的官員，無一例外，都被石越與劉庠參劾得罷官革職。陝西的驛政網絡，也終於一日比一日健全成熟。
只是，陝西也是無法自外於全國的。由外地入陝的官員，難免會有幾分不適應。
宜君縣驛站的事情，不過是這種不適應症的一個小例子罷了。主簿大人若是往他路就任，雖然職位卑微，但是因為是進士出身，一路之上，莫說驛館要殷勤招待，過境的地方官員，免不了也要召集歌妓大興宴會迎送，許多詩詞便在這樣的宴會上誕生。這既滿足了他們文人身分都需要的風雅，又滿足了他們官員身分所需要的逢迎。當然，這一切都要由大宋的財政來買單。但是，在陝西路，除非三品以上的官員，地方官員要接待，就要自掏腰包，否則被石越、劉庠知道，便會擔上貪腐的罪名被彈劾。這樣一來，各州縣的地方官員們都自然而然變得小氣許多，如主簿大人這樣級別的官員，更是被不自覺地忽略了宜君縣的知縣，完全是假裝不知道有位甘泉縣的新任主簿要經過自己的轄區。當然，主簿大人也不是頭一次有這樣的遭遇，進入陝西境內之後，只有一個縣派人迎接過他，那是因為那個縣的主簿，是他的同鄉。但是宴會的規模，卻遠遠低於傳說中曾有過的盛況，由私人出錢與由官府出錢，永遠是兩個模樣。席間兩位主簿喝著酒大罵石越與劉庠的祖宗十八代，但是一覺醒來之後，卻也無可奈何。
甘泉縣主簿大人與他的僕人雖然被那年輕儒生譏諷得臉上紅一陣白一陣，但是始終不敢鬧將起來，將自己的前程丟在這宜君縣石越與劉庠的決心，舉國皆知。那僕人嘟囔兩句，便被主簿大人喝住，主僕二人自己給自己找個臺階下，乖乖付錢吃飯去了。
阿卡爾多三人將這一幕鬧劇看在眼裡，不免都各有感慨。
柴遠便嘆道︰何日能將這善政推行天下便好。他有他的算盤，陝西驛政網絡支線中幾個富庶地區的，大抵都被江南十八家商號聯號瓜分，其餘的一小部分也有陝西本地富豪民營的，餘下的便只是些沒什麼利潤的支線由官府經營這樣的地方，由官府來做，成本並不高，不過是一兩個老廂兵，一兩輛破舊牛車。但是對於商人來說，卻是沒什麼興趣的，因為這樣的地方，十年可能也掙不出一輛破舊牛車錢來。陝西算是被瓜分乾淨了，但是在柴遠這樣的商人看來，真正的商機絕不在陝西。大宋比陝西富庶的地區數不勝數，試想一下，如若能獨佔兩浙路驛政網
种師道彷彿是知道柴遠的心思一般，淡淡接道︰柴兄不知杭州蔡元長已經上表請求朝廷許可兩浙路效法陝西，行新驛政法麼？
really?柴遠這下當真是喜出望外。蔡京是想拍石越馬屁，故意呼應石越，還是想真的做點政績，柴遠並不在乎。他在乎的，只是結果。朝廷可許了他？
在下亦不曉得。不過是聽說而已。种師道說這些話的時候，沒什麼表情。他是個純粹的武人，對政治、經商，都有著天生的厭惡感。雖然他有著世家子弟應有政治敏銳，但是正如他也有著世家子弟應有的禮貌一樣，那都不是他的本心。
失望的表情浮上柴遠的臉上，不過只是一閃而過。他喝了一盅酒，搖搖頭，笑道︰休管那些不著邊際的。弟但有一事，想請教种兄。
种師道不願意輕易許諾，只是笑笑，沒有說話。
柴遠也笑了笑，壓低聲音，問道︰小弟想請教种兄，兄以為朝廷到底會不會墨用兵，征伐靈夏？
种師道似乎怔了一下，立即說道︰朝廷不是還在議論麼？語氣還是如平時一樣的平淡。
但凡有大事，朝廷總是要議論不休的。柴遠的話中帶著譏諷，果真要朝廷諸公議論妥當，只怕夏主連兒子都生出來嗣位了。他說的話未必沒有幾分道理。小弟雖不是讀書人，但是朝廷那些事，我亦看得清楚。想打的也有，怕打的也用，各自的理由雖多，但歸結起來，也就那麼幾點。想打的，認為機會難得，必能建功；怕打的，擔心軍費不夠，禁軍打不過西夏人。
那柴兄以為？种師道反過來問了一句。
太皇太后剛崩不久，王大將軍又突然生病，眼見著不起了。朝廷諸公一時疑心不定，瞻前顧後。但是以弟之淺見，天予弗取，反受其咎。假設遼主滅了楊遵勖，突然佈告天下，要替天下行義，為夏主除奸，出兵滅夏，易如反掌。屆時以遼並夏，我大宋要如何自處？眼前夏國是以下犯上，朝廷出兵，是正三綱五常，一介使者至遼，休說契丹無力西顧，但是有力，大義之前，亦只得拱手。否則日後遼主無以服天下者。我軍亦不是不能戰，石帥主持西事，屢戰屢勝，區區一個王韶，何關大局？
這麼說，西方果然要打仗？阿卡爾多興奮的插話問道。大宋皇帝要出兵替一個國王平定叛亂的臣子？
天才曉得。柴遠大大咧咧地笑道，聽說司馬君實幾次叩得頭破血流，諫阻出兵
那朝廷養我們做何用？一直不願意多說的种師道忽然語氣激烈地說道。
柴遠頓時吃了一驚。
朝廷並非沒有能戰之兵，禁軍整編已完成了八成。不取靈夏，養兵何用？种師道聲音不高，但是卻是辭氣慷慨，顯然對於司馬光反對伐夏十分不解，對於种師道在內的大部分北方世家子弟來說，司馬光一直是他們所尊敬的人。
禁軍整編已完成了八成？柴遠卻愣住了，《新義報》去年底曾經報導過禁軍整編的事情，當時報上說對遼部署的禁軍整編順利，但是對西夏部署的禁軍整編卻因為戰爭而進展緩慢。顯然，《新義報》沒有說真話。
种師道意識到自己說錯了話，忙輕描淡寫的掩飾道︰我不過是推測而已。以我的階級，亦不能知道這些事情。
阿卡爾多對宋軍有多少軍隊完成整編不太感興趣，他用旁觀者的語氣笑道︰想知道朝廷是不是要用兵，其實只要打聽一下陝西的糧價有沒有上漲便知道了。
柴遠讚道︰果然是高見。
种師道含笑望著阿卡爾多，心裡面對這個蕃商也不由得開始另眼相待。兵馬未動，糧草先行，如若朝廷果真有意西北，此時雖然未必集結兵力，但是卻一定會開始暗中籌措糧草，否則，朝廷的三公九卿們，未免也太讓人失望了。
這個年輕的軍官，此時還並不知道，居高位者最常做的事情，就是讓有識者失望。
三人如此邊吃邊交談著，忽然，聽到驛站外傳來急促的馬蹄聲，然後便聽到奔馬急停的嘶鳴，有人牽馬進入驛站，大聲說道︰驛丞，好好餵餵這匹馬，快燒點熱水，熱點小菜，我還要趕路。
Why.官人，這邊請驛丞答應著，引著來人往前廳走來。
門吱地一聲開了，一股寒風吹進廳中，眾人不覺一齊縮了縮脖子。便見一個戴著英雄帽的英俊的中年軍官大步走了進來。种師道看到這人，不覺一怔，忙站了起來，軍官顯然也看到种師道了，遠遠便笑道︰彝叔，你怎會在這裡？不是聽說你在朱仙鎮麼？一面笑著，一面走近。
种師道連忙抱拳還禮，遵正兄，你怎的來陝西了？他心中的確是非常奇怪，這個軍官，乃是宋朝另一個武將世家、世世代代替大宋鎮守府州的折家將年青一代的佼佼者，折可適。折家雖然是羌人，但是世代忠義，頗得宋室信賴，府州知州，向來都是折家世襲，現任府州知州，便是名將折克柔。而折家的男子，大多都有武職在身。像面前這個折可適，不過三十歲，便已經是正七品上的致果校尉。
有點公務。折可適笑了笑，向柴遠與阿卡爾多告了罪，對种師道說道︰彝叔，後面敘話。
种師道也向二人告了罪，隨著折可適走進驛館後面小院的一間房間裡。驛丞將一直備著熱水端了一盆來，放到坑邊，折可適一屁股坐在坑上，將馬靴、襪子脫了，把腳伸進熱水裡，舒服的叫了一聲︰痛快！驛丞已將酒菜端到坑邊的小案上，折可適也不理會种師道，一面便吃將起來。
种師道笑吟吟望著，自己找了張椅子坐了。他注意到折可適腰間有一塊銀牌。种師道與折可適用兩種類型的人，折可適不拘禮數，灑脫隨意，注重實效；种師道卻是時時刻刻用最嚴格的武人要求來要求自己，舉止有度，注重風範。但這樣不同性格的人，真正交往過的時間也不多，卻是極好的朋友，這正是世間奇怪的一種事情。
彝叔是去延綏行營罷？折可適吃了一口酒，看著驛丞退了出去，便開口問道。
你不是要去宣武軍麼？莫非傳言有誤？
原是要去宣武軍第一軍。种師道略有點自豪地說道，宣武軍第一軍，是步軍教導軍，號稱大宋最精銳的步軍部隊。能夠進入宣武軍第一軍做武官，沒有本事是不可能的。
怎的來了延綏？
种師道笑道︰託了點關係。
折可適理解地笑了笑，想打仗？
yes.宣武軍沒動靜。按兵制改革的方案，整編後，朝廷在陝西的馬步禁軍有十七萬，加上蕃兵、沿邊弓箭手，總兵數過二十萬。打個西夏，足夠了。我怕朝廷不去調動京師附近的部隊，宣武軍是殿前司的
折可適笑著搖了搖頭。
种師道是明白人，立時問道︰你來陝西，河東的飛武軍、飛騎軍都要參戰？
難道西夏就是陝西石子明的事？折可適白了种師道一眼，我們折家和西夏人打了一百多年，難不成算總賬的時候，反要落下了我家了？
种師道笑了起來，也是。不過朝廷沒有議定打不打
你以為今上忍得住麼？折可適蠻在不乎地笑了起來，石子明費了這麼多心機，不伐滅西夏，他萬般辛苦為誰忙？我從北面過來的，你去河邊看看，現在江河剛剛解凍，河面上就熱鬧起來。運往延州的都是些什麼？糧食！一船一船的糧食！
ah!种師道吃驚得叫出聲來。
陝西糧價沒有半點波動。熙寧十二年陝西大熟，石越下令不許半粒糧食出陝，熙寧十一年打仗的軍糧都是外路運來的，熙寧十二年陝西軍費，也是外路運進。你說說陝西路存了多少糧食？河面一解凍，又開始往陝西運糧石子明不是鐵了心要打西夏，他折騰這些事，不是有病麼？折可適壓低聲音，又說道︰若說長安那位沒有聖心的默許，打死我也不信。不論怎麼鬧騰，官家的心是鐵定了，石子明的心也鐵定了，這仗就非打不可。
遵正兄說得在理。种師道搓著手，更加興奮起來。
Of course it makes sense.折可適得意笑著，一面朝种師道呶呶嘴，种師道忙上前從熱水壺中摻點熱水進洗腳盆。折可適笑道︰你們种家，我就看你最順眼。种樸和种師中呢？還在拱聖軍和朱仙鎮？依我說，你勸勸种樸，別去拱聖軍，那是老頭子待的地方。男子漢大丈夫，要真刀真槍到前線來掙功名，拱聖軍有什麼本事？別看它是殿前司的，都是花架子，我帶一千蕃騎，就可以吃掉他整個軍。
那也不是他本意。拱聖軍平日操練也極嚴的
折可適搖著頭，滿臉不屑，朝廷最好不要派這些殿前司的禁軍來打仗，他們做做樣子，嚇唬嚇唬契丹人就夠了。
种師道笑道︰遵正兄，還沒說你怎麼來陝西呢？
I?官家要問我叔叔的意見，我去送表章。順便去長安，拜訪一下名滿天下的石子明。繞了這個大彎子，生怕耽擱了時間，只得晝夜兼程地趕，可把我累著了。折可適輕描淡寫的說道。种師道心中一動，卻立即知道折可適的用意︰如果果真要和西夏開戰，折家肯定想知道未來的主帥是個什麼樣的人物。石越毫無疑問最可能是主帥，但是他畢竟是一個文官，折家這樣的武將世家，可不會憑他的名聲就服氣，他們總要眼見為實才肯放心。若是石越不能讓他們服氣，折可適前往汴京，一定會反對石越為帥雖然折家的意見不是決定性的，但是以折家在邊疆的威望，毫無疑問還是很重要的，何況此時朝中有不少痛恨石越的人，不願意讓石越來立此大功。
种師道幾乎可以肯定，折可適懷中，有兩封不同內容的奏摺。這一瞬間，种師道有幾分猶疑，他很想出言勸阻折可適，如果折克柔的奏章被別有用心的人利用來打擊石越，對於西夏的戰局，絕不是一件好事。种師道從來不相信朝廷會派一個出色的統帥給他們，以對一個文官的要求而言，种師道對石越已經夠滿意了。
然而，种師道也知道，折家的人，從來都不是那麼容易說動的。他們只相信自己的眼睛、自己的耳朵。
心情複雜地望著折可適，种師道終究還是吞下了到嘴邊的話。
就讓他們自己去判斷吧！
陝西路京兆府。
安撫司官衙與平時沒有什麼兩樣，在轅門外面，依然是停滿了車轅相接的馬車，衣著體面的達官貴人帶著或憂或喜不同的表情進進出出。
安撫司的親兵護衛們神情也很輕鬆，絲毫沒有如臨大敵的樣子，唯一能從他們身上看出與平時不同的，是這些親兵護衛們，依然身著素袍，沒有換成宋軍常見的紅色戰袍石越對已故的太皇太后，有著他自己的尊敬。所有的長安人都知道，安撫司自接到喪報之日起，便在內部停止了一切娛樂與慶祝活動，直到此時，亦未恢復。
折可適自從進入長安城之後，便感覺到一種異樣。
這已不是他記憶中的長安。
長安城古老而常見的坊牆，大片大片的消失了。取而代之的是，在昔日的居民區內，出現了鱗次櫛比的商舖，還有挑著擔子沿街叫賣的走販。甚至於連安撫司的轅門之前，都擺滿了各種各樣的攤販。
即便是折可適這種不太關心民政的武人，也聽說過在陝西發生的一些事情。
石越在陝西推行的另一個引起舉國議論的重要舉措，便是他與劉庠一道，斷然改革了陝西一路計算戶等的方式，下令牛馬桑樹，凡十匹（樹）以內，不必計為戶產。這個措施推行之後，陝西路內有無數的民戶戶等下降，其相應的賦役也因此大為減輕，無異於一次大規模的減稅。而在另一方面，農戶們也因此沒有了顧忌，敢於大膽的種植桑樹，牧養牛馬，生產的積極性立即提高。雖然陝西路當年因此兩稅收入大減，石越與劉庠的考績都被評為下，但既然皇帝陛下決定對此睜一隻眼閉一隻眼，而且此事也得到了陝西路士大夫的普遍（自己不需要承擔政治風險卻可以坐享其成的事，大多數人都不會吝嗇自己的），這件事終於也得以堅持下來。
但老天永遠是公平的。
既然你能得到長期的好處，就必須忍受短期的損害。連折可適這種幾乎不懂民政的人都知道，至少三至五年之內，陝西路都必須接受兩稅大幅減少的現實。石越在《秦報》上撰文為自己辯護之時，也坦率的承認了這一點。雖然從長遠來看，民間的富裕會使得陝西一路最終恢復元氣，從而導致農業的恢復與商業的繁榮，商稅農稅都必然會有相應的增長，但是石越本人也承認，他絕沒有不切實際的奢望。無論是農業還是商業，都需要時間。牛馬不會一年滿圈，桑樹不可能一年成材，這只是簡單的現實。
為了彌補兩稅上的損失，石越必須另覓善法