Moreover, this matter is obviously a major military matter, and more importantly, military strategy. As the chief official of the Ministry of Punishment, Wang Shu has the serious task of revising and promulgating the "Penalty Regulations". Logically speaking, he should not be called here to participate in this meeting. However, the officials still called him here, and no one else raised any objections. It was simply because this man had once been in charge of the overall military and political situation in northern Shaanxi, and they hoped that he would provide relevant intelligence, information and opinions.

But now that Wang Shu has clearly provided his opinion as an expert and important minister on the issue of northern Shaanxi, we have to further consider the possibility that the Xixia people are really involved in northern Shaanxi.

"Even so, we can dig deep ditches and high bases, prepare food and strengthen troops, and remain unchanged to cope with all changes." Under the serious atmosphere, Hu Shijiang responded sincerely and insisted on his position.

"How can we just deep trenches and high bases, prepare food and strengthen the troops? Why not send the security army and the Dingbian army out together as a reinforcement?" Qu Duan, the imperial cavalry army who had just returned from Jingdong, finally couldn't bear it anymore.

Hearing Qu Duan's words, Wang Shu, who was about to refute Hu Shijiang, felt tight in his chest and could not speak. However, Hu Shijiang seemed a little incomprehensible, and then asked him seriously:

"What does Qudutong mean?"

"Aren't the Jurchens going to give gifts to the Xixia people?" Qu Duan stood in the shadow of the main hall at dusk and sneered. "Let's also send the security army and Dingbian army out as a supplement, so we shouldn't be weak. It has lost its momentum... and seems to have lost the dignity of a great country."

Hu Shijiang finally realized that the other party was maliciously mocking him, and he suppressed his anger and said: "Qu Dutong, this is talking about national affairs!"

"I'm also talking about national affairs." Qu Duan responded proudly. "The security army, the Dingbian army, and the North Sanzhai of Gyeongju are actually more convenient to connect with Yan'an. Since we need to have deep ditches and high forts, and we need to save food, what about What if I can’t send it out? Didn’t Sima Xianggong do it too? In fact, let me tell you, Hu Shangshu still doesn’t understand the geography of Guanxi. If you want to save food and energy, you should send it to Huaide Army, Zhenrong Army, Xi’an Prefecture, and Huizhou Go out. If you still want to save trouble, the entire Hehuang area west of Lanzhou can also be sent out! If you still think it is a waste of food, the entire Guanxi area can also be sent out, and only Tongguan, Dashanguan and other passes are guarded. Wouldn't it be more appropriate?"

Hu Shijiang was stunned for a moment, then his anger surged, and he turned around to impeach this person. Even Li Guang finally took action.

At this moment, Prime Minister Zhao Ding and Prime Minister Zhang Jun both took the lead and shouted: "Qu Duan, this is the lobby of the Wende Palace. If you make any more absurd remarks, get out immediately!"

"Qu Duan! I asked you to come here to discuss matters properly, not to talk nonsense like this!"

"So that the two prime ministers will know!" Qu Duan was scolded by the two prime ministers in person, but he was not afraid at all, and continued to confront each other loudly in the hall. "For us Guanxi people, letting Xixia into Yan'an is also the world.

A first-rate absurdity!"

There was silence in the hall for a while, and many people were shocked, but Qu Duan continued to roar in the hall:

"My lord, the ministers are so happy, have you ever looked back before the sun set to see whether the faces of so many Westerners in the palace were red or white? Ask us face to face what we Kansai people think?! Not today!

It doesn’t say that even Yelu’s big stone can defeat Xixia, nor does Xixia prevent our cavalry from winning over the Fan cavalry. It only talks about Yan’an. Previously, the Jin people were powerful and the female soldiers were heavy. We were helpless, that’s all. How can we make it happen?

What Xixia dog has been taken?! Are we Guanxi people actually afraid of Xixia people? According to me, Hu Shangshu is from Changzhou, and the army is short of rations. Just ask Changzhou to increase the tax. If the increase is not enough, just borrow it in advance.

After a hundred years of taxation, are you afraid of running out of money and food? Why should you sit back and watch Yan'an being passed around like goods? Changzhou people are human beings, but Yan'an people are not human beings?!"

There was a roar, and General Hu Shi's face turned red with anger, but he forced himself to hold it back. Even several ministers and the censor Zhongcheng were speechless... Because, just when Qu Duan was roaring, many people in the palace were from the Western Army.

The generals from Wang De down, Zhang Jing, and Qiao Zhongfu had already led many people to gather behind Qu Duan. Even Wang Yuan, the commander of the imperial camp who had always lost his temper, moved towards Qu Duan with a long face.

step.

In other words, Qu Duan's words may seem absurd, but inside they are opinions that cannot be ignored - people from Kansai, especially military commanders from Kansai, will not tolerate Yan'an being controlled by the feuding Xixia people.

"Are you done howling?!"

At this moment, Zhao Guanjia finally spoke coldly. "Can't you speak properly? Do you have to be so sinister?"

"I'm ashamed..." Qu Duan's scalp went numb, and he quickly stepped out of the shadows and saluted respectfully. "But I am really angry and unbearable."

"Now that I'm done howling, just wait. The fact that I didn't ask you just now doesn't mean I don't ask you, but it's not your turn." Zhao Jiu ignored the other party and just looked at Wang Shu again. "Didn't Wang Shangshu have something else to ask?

?"

"I don't need to ask anymore." Wang Shuru just glanced at the side of his body and felt as helpless as if he had eaten a fly. "I just wanted to ask Hu Shangshu. Although his words have some truth, he has never thought about our Kansai

How do the scholars and people view the Xixia people? Yan'an is an important town in Guanxi, a big town, and the core of several counties in northern Shaanxi. In the hands of the Jin people, the Jin people were powerful before and had a lot of live female soldiers. It is true that they will not be able to take them for a while.

But if the Jin people want to leave and give the country to Xixia, but the court wants to sit back and watch... I'm afraid the people in Guanxi will be unstable."

"You and Qu Duan finally agree on Yan'an." Zhao Jiu finally smiled and went to see Hu Shijiang again. "Hu Shangshu, don't be angry. It's right for us to discuss things based on utilitarianism in the temple.

.But we have to understand in our hearts that if we start from the center, the wealth and lives of tens of millions of people must be sacrificed... How do you say that? The overall situation of troubled times is like a dust, falling on the shoulders of ordinary people, it is the mountains.

It's so serious that it may lead to being shattered into pieces... Today's matter is nothing more than weighing the pros and cons. If it really doesn't work, it's not enough, even if Qu Dutong yells, it will just be a howl."

"I'm not howling." Hu Shijiang was about to answer, but Qu Duanfu spoke first. "Guan family, if the Jin people really want to abandon Yan'an and lead the Xixia people there, I am willing to be the vanguard to regain Yan'an... The geographical location of Yan'an is

With my heart in my heart, there is absolutely no reason for the soldiers of the Western Army not to fight to the death in this battle."

Zhao Jiu just nodded casually.

Next, the civil and military officials who were summoned roughly spoke in turn, but they still held their own opinions. Moreover, because of the tone and twists of the governors, the three officials Wang Shu and Hu Shijiang

Conflict, the core argument of the matter is focused on two issues.

One is whether the news brought by Yelu Yujian is true or false, that is, whether the Jin people will really give Yan'an to Xixia. The two sides are discussing non-stop.

The other is that once it is assumed that Jin Renzhen gave Yan'an to the Xixia people, and then the Xixia people really joined the battle, there are clear positions between the civil and military officials, the central government and the officers of Western origin... the central government and the civil servants

I really don’t want to start another war with a big country, and it is likely to be a decisive battle with a large army. That would consume too much and the gains outweigh the losses. However, the military officials, especially those with a Western background, all have a clear attitude. Once the Xixia people come over, they will never tolerate it!

The former is rational and the latter is emotional. No one has a problem. It is a structural contradiction.

The few Kansai people like Yang Yizhong who choose rational defense are not enough to change the balance between the two sides.

Zhao Jiu listened to the opinions for a long time without expressing his position, but the sky gradually became dark, so the argument stopped for a while, and Ban Zhi and the servants came in to light the lamps.

The first candle holder was lit, and still only one candle was placed according to the rules. One candle illuminated a small area in the palace. When Zhao Guanjia saw a familiar face under the fire, his heart moved slightly, and then he directly called the name: "Hu Canjun

, The Qing family seems to have remained silent, I wonder what they think of this matter?"

Hu Hongxiu was caught off guard, and then hurried out of the queue, only to find that the middle was completely dark, and he could not advance or retreat for a while.

"Let's talk under the light." Zhao Jiu was also a little tired.

"Thank you, officials." Hu Hongxiu responded carefully, then gave a hasty salute, and then spoke quickly. "I think the key point of this matter is not whether Yu Jian's words are trustworthy, nor what we think internally..."

Zhao Jiu immediately became speechless... The others also cheered. If you say this, wouldn't it mean that the rest of the people had talked about it all night in vain?

"It's not as nice as what I say!"

A familiar voice mocked directly in the dark.

"Officials." Hu Hongxiu quickly explained after hearing these reactions. "I'm not saying you shouldn't consider whether Yu Chi is trustworthy or not, or ignore our differences..."

"You might as well not say anything!"

The uproar turned into laughter, and the person before was even more taunting.

"It doesn't matter, say it carefully and slowly." Although Zhao Jiu also felt a little irritated and ridiculous, he still maintained his grace, because he also remembered when he just turned on the light that this person was Wang Xianggong's foundation, with both qualifications and merit.

However, he has always been in the army and often uses it himself, so he actually wants to be promoted and used. "What do you mean, sir?"

"What I mean is..." Hu Hongxiu replied sincerely. "Don't speculate on whether Yu Jian is trustworthy, and don't speculate on whether the Jurchens will be sent out of Yan'an, let alone whether the Xixia people will be sent to Yan'an. Instead, we must put these things into perspective.

Only by filing layer by layer, wrapping layer by layer, and then peeling off the outermost layer can we be condescending and deal with it calmly."

In the silence, Zhao Jiu thought thoughtfully: "What is the outermost layer?"

"They are the remnants of the Northern Liao!" Hu Hongxiu raised his hand in response. "If the remnants of the Northern Liao really have the military strength of the Xixia, then Yelu Dashi is indeed a hero, and he does have thoughts of revenge, then it doesn't matter whether the Jurchens can turn around or not.

Yan'an, whether the Xixia people can harvest or not, why can't they directly connect with the Liao to control the summer? Besides, haven't we always thought about the war horses being isolated and restricted by the Xixia and Jin people? If we can break the summer, the cavalry will have no worries."

"The Xixia people have deep roots and have not been conquered for a hundred years. How can they be so easy to defeat?" In a moment of silence, Zhao Ding suddenly rolled his sleeves, but he immediately realized that the Xixia people have not been conquered for a hundred years precisely because there has always been a stable ally behind him.

Daliao protected Xixia's back in all directions, so he immediately added. "After all, I remember hearing the news about Yelu Dashi the year before last. He was only active in Mobei and had only 10,000 or 20,000 troops. How could it be possible in one year?

Do you have the strength to compete with Xixia? And Mobei and Xixia are separated by thousands of miles of desert, how can they really attack from a flank?"

"Then we can naturally take a step back and think about things without the help of Bei Liao... But we should contact them based on the assumption that there is an army of Bei Liao, right?" Hu Hongxiu argued quickly. "Whether Yelv Dashi will become a thing or not is not something we can think about here.

If you think there is none, there won't be. If you think there is, there will be. He is over there. If you go to him and take a look, you will know. As for whether he can come from behind Xixia, it is determined by local geography, not by our words...

…”

Hearing this, Zhao Ding finally sighed.

After this sigh, Hu Hongxiu flinched for a moment, but many smart people in the palace had already woken up.

Let's say that Hu Hongxiu's methodology is of course the best and most correct. There is nothing to say about this. This is how it should be done... But this military bureaucrat who is more technical has not realized at all that sometimes a completely correct logic does not necessarily mean that it is politically correct.

correct.

Do you really think that these ministers, ministers, governors, and governors are all fools?

When Hu Hongxiu laid out his methodology, these people quickly calculated it clearly in their minds. But the problem is that today's dispute is not about what to do, but about how to deal with things in the next period of time.

The focus is on military activities or financial activities.

It is a typical dispute between conservatism and aggressiveness.

During the Baima-Shaoxing incident, the imperial court eliminated a large number of conservatives and determined the general line for continuing the war. In other words, Zhao Jiu's fundamental purpose that day was this, not the Second Saint. But to be honest, conservatives are not necessarily wrong.

, it’s just that the lines are different, and conservatism is a relative term. Unless there is only one person left, you will never lack conservatives.

Therefore, even if the conservatives on the basic lines were eliminated on a large scale as at that time, there will still be superficial swings with the established strategy, and there will still be disputes.

People like Zhao Ding, Liu Ji, Hu Shijiang, and even Yang Yizhong are not maliciously obstructing, nor are they pretending to be confused, but are expressing their stance; in the same way, Zhang Jun, Chen Gui, Wang Shu, Qu Duan, etc.

People are not maliciously provoking or deliberately attacking others, they are also making a statement.

Political voting is the most effective and direct means to resolve political differences and influence decision-making under normal conditions in peacetime.

But the problem is that now the Zhao family seems to be shaken and doubtful because of the haste of the news and the seriousness of the matter, and even seems to be a little confused and confused. At the same time, the statements of relevant ministers have not resulted in an overwhelming vote.

...Two prime ministers versus two prime ministers, one minister against another minister, only the prime minister has the most power, but he has to consider the military morale and public opinion represented by many officers from Kansai.

So, things happen to be in a delicate balance.

Of course, to be fair, if it were Lu Yihao here, this kind of large-scale voting would not happen at all, because the people who oppose him would not be here; if it were the more classical elite scholar-bureaucrats of the Song Dynasty, they would have already changed their hats

I put it down and asked Zhao Guanjia, do you choose me or him? The most interesting thing is of course meeting an honest person like Wen Yanbo who likes to tell the truth. When he is annoyed by such a person, he doesn't even bother to debate such superficial issues, and just goes up to discuss it.
To be continued...