The First Yamen of the Great Song Dynasty

Chapter 144

Gao Ming got up to leave. Except for Hua Rong, the other members of the Song Dynasty were still stuck to their chairs. Even Zhao Kai didn't get up immediately. It was obvious that everyone wanted the Youyun area, and they seemed afraid of walking away. Yes, after passing this village, there is no such store anymore.

Can you guys do it? Didn't I tell you on the road that now Song Guo has the initiative and is not as passive as before.

The Liao Kingdom is afraid that we will form an alliance with the Jin Kingdom, and they will sit on the ground and raise the price, so we have to bargain!

Get up and leave when you hear unreliable prices, and firmly hold the initiative in your own hands.

As a result, one by one of you showed that you really wanted to buy it, and they decided to eat you.

It may be that most of these civil servants of the Song Dynasty were children of rich families. Even if they were of ordinary background, they also concentrated on studying, and did not ask about daily necessities. How could they know the way of business.

Gao Ming saw that these guys didn't leave, but left by himself. They didn't follow, so he procrastinated and hummed: "Even if you turn Song Guo upside down, you won't be able to shake off so much money. It's impossible to pay. Buy it back to You After the cloud, we Song Kingdom will not have to live! But you, don’t starve with gold bricks! Back then, during the Anshi Rebellion, Shi Siming’s son Shi Chaoxing was surrounded by people when he was at the end of his life. He used his gold belt as a bribe, hoping that the other party would You can let him live. But the other party said, don’t bother you to do it yourself, we will pick it up after you die. Today’s situation in Liao Kingdom is not much better than that of Shi Chaoxing back then!”

If you don't wait for your Liao Kingdom to die, we will fetch Youyun ourselves!

The words were not only to scare the Liao Kingdom, but also to wake up the members of the Song Kingdom's mission.

Sure enough, after Gao Ming finished speaking, some people on Da Song's side began to move and stand up, and the more they stood, the more people there were.

Seeing that they were about to leave their seats, everyone in the Liao Kingdom showed nervous expressions on their faces. Yelu Dashi hurriedly said, "How much can you pay?"

"Our 30-year-old coins this year are all made with great difficulty. How much do you think we can pay?"

Zhang Lin said: "Because of the 30-year-old coin every year, our Liao Kingdom exempted the year-old coin and gave you the Sixteen States of Youyun. It shouldn't be too much to charge a century-old price. And in the past 100 years, more money and less goods have been the trend. Both If you count it, the money is already very little. It would be even more expensive than this if it weren't for the fact that the Song and Liao countries have been repaired for a hundred years."

There are really you, even inflation is counted.According to Zhang Lin, this is still too little.

Yelu Dashi also said: "The old coins used to be 30 per year, and 100 million in 3000 years. Now Youzhou will return you forever. It is not too much to ask for 100 years of coins. Considering that you don't have so much silver, you only need 1000 million silver. The rest will be deducted with gold and silk."

The abacus has been made 100 years later, the key is that 100 years later, let alone the Liao Kingdom, I don’t know what the Song Kingdom is like.

Gao Ming snorted and said, "Brother Yelu, this is the first time I've heard that when a child is born, it is necessary to prepare all the expenses for his whole life in one go. Sorry, the price is really beyond our reach. We don't want this kid from Yunshiliuzhou."

After he finished speaking, it was obvious that Yeluchun, who had always been serious, showed a subtle smile at the corner of his mouth.

Gao Ming was taken aback, this kind of smile is definitely not a good sign, especially when he simply rejected the conditions of the Liao Kingdom.

Is this Yeluchun a diehard?Would you rather die with your ancestral foundation in hand, than survive without grievances?

This kind of person is the scariest, those who are stupefied are afraid of being violent, and those who are violent are afraid of dying.

At this time, Yeluchun said coldly: "It's better not to, my king didn't agree to cut off these state capitals to you Southern Dynasty from the very beginning."

Yelu Dashi didn't show his expression on the surface, but he sighed secretly. The King of Jin opposed the compromise with the Song State from the bottom of his heart, and he was still unwilling to let go of his previous arrogance to the Song State.

If Gao Ming's attitude followed Yeluchun's intentions, the negotiation might end prematurely.

Gao Ming realized the problem, adjusted the policy immediately, and said to Yeluchun, "I forgot to mention one thing, we don't want to cede it permanently, we just want to lease it for 30 years."

"Lease? Isn't it a cession?" Yeluchun was extremely surprised.

Gao Ming proposed this strategy to Zhao Ji because he was afraid that there would be diehards among the Liao people, so he guessed it, and there really were.

While essentially the same, lending sounds a lot more palatable.

For someone like Yeluchun who does not support the cession of the city that his ancestors took so hard to conquer, it is simply the right medicine.

Yeluchun asked, "How long?"

Gao Ming stretched out three fingers, "Not much, just 30 years."

"30 years?" Yeluchun hesitated. The time is not very long. He worked hard and maybe he could live until the end of the lease. "That's something to talk about."

Hua Rong tugged Gao Ming's skirt, and Gao Ming sat down again.

The Liao Kingdom dispatched Yeluchun as a tough guy, so he had to proceed with caution.

"Since it's a lease, there must be rent?" Yelu Dashi said: "How much do you plan to pay? Let's take a step back. If you can't afford that much gold and silver at one time, it's okay to pay annually."

"10 taels of silver per year."

Yeluchun snorted nasally, shook his head vigorously, and muttered something in Khitan dialect, the voice was so small that even officials of the Song Kingdom who knew Khitan dialect could not hear it clearly, but it was probably something like whimsical.

Zhao Kai frowned slightly and looked at Yeluchun, he really couldn't understand Yeluchun's superiority.

Today is different from the past, do you think you are the invincible Khitan before?

Yelu Dashi and Zhang Lin also shook their heads with the same attitude, "Originally, there were 30 taels of silver in the old coins, and 20 pieces of silk. Now, the lease of so many cities only gives 10 taels of silver per year?"

Hua Rong said: "Now that the Song Kingdom is short of money, we can only come up with this amount. We have to buy horses from the Jin Kingdom, and we really don't have any money left."

Zhao Kai didn't speak, but nodded in agreement.

Yelu Dashi said: "This time, you are dishonest, 10 taels of silver every year, this Youyun is rich, and the tax revenue is more than this amount every year."

"Don't say that, in order to bring the Youyun Sixteen Prefectures close to the Han to surrender, you have to subsidize these places with old coins every year to reduce or exempt the local people from taxes. Now they return to the Song Dynasty. You don't need to subsidize it. Expenses Also small."

"Thank you for saying it." Yelu Dashi laughed angrily, "What is the difference between you and saying that people don't need to spend on soup and medicine after they die?"

Yeluchun's face was so gloomy that it could rain. He just wanted to try to talk about it when he heard that the lease was only for 30 years. He didn't expect that the rent offered by Song State was so low. Ancestors and ancestors.

Gao Ming could see that this Yeluchun was the representative who opposed the ceding of Youyun in exchange for the neutrality of Song.

It seems that the purpose of his negotiation is to prevent the negotiation.

Zhao Kai stared at Yelu Chun, Yelu Chun thought of the glory of his ancestors, but he never thought of the shame of his ancestors being chased and killed by the Khitans.

Zhang Lin said: "If there is only 10 taels of silver per year, but we agree to such a condition, there is really no way to explain it to the emperor and the people."

Gao Ming sighed first, and then said: "Another [-] yuan, no more. This is because our two countries are friendly neighbors."

Zhang Lin carefully looked at Yeluchun's face, and said to Gao Ming knowingly: "Even so, there is only 15 taels of silver per year. It would be good to rent it for 30 years, but the result is only paying such a small amount. It seems that Song Guo is taking advantage of the fire .When our Liao Kingdom recovers, we are afraid that it will be detrimental to the Song Kingdom in the long run."

Let's talk harshly.

I can't do anything to you now for extorting such a small amount of money to go to Youzhou and other places, but tell us to hold back our grievances, and when our Liao Kingdom recovers, you should be careful.

Yelu Dashi followed closely: "We will use all the rent you give us to fight the Jurchen. You don't want the Jurchen to become bigger, so be your neighbor. Don't look at you trading with them now, it's because of our Daliao Now, let’s just look at you high, and if we make a mistake, you will be nothing but Jurchen’s dinner.”

It's not because of our Liao Kingdom that the Jurchen will fight for you. When we are gone, how can the Jurchen care about you.

Gao Ming raised his eyebrows, thinking very strangely, if you don't give money, will the country perish if you don't have money to fight?

Tell Song Guo to be a neighbor with the robbers!

Hua Rong smiled, and then said: "This kind of statement is inappropriate. The Liao Kingdom is good at attacking, while the Song Kingdom is good at defending. You and the Jurchen encountered each other. If you lose, you will lose. But the Song Kingdom is different. The worst thing we can do is to go backwards. Retreat, retreat to the mountainous areas in the south of the Yangtze River, and no matter how many horses the Kingdom of Jin has, you will not be able to run. No disadvantage!"

The mission of the Song Dynasty couldn't stop nodding in agreement when they heard the words.

Gao Ming looked at the other party and snorted coldly in his heart, who are he threatening?Do you think our country of Song is so easy to be wiped out?

Your Liao Kingdom is dead, we will survive for another hundred and eighty years, let me tell you.

The trick of destroying the country and bringing disaster to the south did not work, and the missions of the Liao Kingdom fell silent.

After calming down, Yelu Dashi said expressionlessly: "If you can only take out 15 silver, then you can only rent the three states of Huan, Ying, and Zhuo."

Wholesale has been changed to retail, and the value of these three states is very low. For example, Youzhou is on top of Zhuozhou.

The Song Dynasty mission collectively shook their heads.

"No way, 15 taels per year can only take three states." Yelu Dashi bargained, "Unless 80 taels of silver per year, we are willing to let go."

80 taels of silver?Why not grab it.

Zhao Kai finally spoke out at this time, "You all know that these states are not very useful, so I hope you can show your sincerity."

Zhao Kai was secretly dissatisfied that the Liao Kingdom did not change its arrogant attitude.

Yeluchun bit him to death, "As Dashi said, 80 taels per year, otherwise there will be no negotiation. Only such a condition can be reluctantly agreed. If not, you people from the Southern Dynasty, where did you come from, and where did you go back!"

Zhang Lin and Yelu Dashi had serious expressions on their faces. Obviously, they still wanted to bargain and were currently in the stage of asking for a price, but Yelu Chun directly bit him to death.

From the very beginning, Gao Ming saw that Yeluchun was a tough guy, and he was indeed difficult to deal with.

Zhang Lin bargained with Yelu Dashi, but she wanted to facilitate the negotiation in her heart.

This Yeluchun is different, the Liao Kingdom does not take advantage of it, so there is no need to talk about it.

"15 per year!" Zhao Kai said, "One or two more, we won't pay."

Yelu Dashi and Zhang Lin lowered their heads and murmured a few words to each other, then looked at Yelu Chun, and saw Yelu Chun frowning and shaking his head, the corners of his mouth were tense, he didn't speak, but his attitude was firm, no need to say more.

"After talking for so long, my mouth is dry, take a break." Gao Ming suggested: "I think you guys have something to say."

Everyone knew what was going on. Taking the opportunity of drinking water, members of the mission discussed with each other.

Gao Ming and other people from the Song Kingdom sat at the side of the table and discussed together. Hua Rong glanced at Yeluchun, "I don't think this person wants to negotiate at all."

Gao Ming frowned, and said in a low voice: "That's not true, the royal family probably wants to embrace these states to perish."

Zhao Kai looked at the map in his hand, "The three states are useless, but I think with their attitude today, it is unrealistic to ask them to give up all of Youyun Prefecture."

Pointing at the map, Hua Rong said in a low voice, "Actually, if you can't get all of them back, you can also take back the state capitals east of Taihang Mountain. When these seven state capitals come back, they will incorporate the natural barrier of Taihang Mountain into the Song Dynasty, and there will be Juyongguan. The three passes, Zijing Pass and Daoma Pass, can be defended, and they are connected with the existing Piantou Pass, Ningwu Pass, and Yanmen Pass in the Song Dynasty to form a line of defense. Although there are still gaps, there are no military hidden dangers in the east. Concentrating troops to garrison each pass, from the previous defensive area to only needing defensive points, the situation in the north will be greatly reversed."

The terrain of the sixteen prefectures of Youyun is easy to understand. The seven states headed by Youzhou are on the plain east of Taihang Mountain, and the remaining nine states headed by Yunzhou (Datong) are on the plateau west of Taihang Mountain.

Gao Ming remembered that after the Jin army attacked the Great Song Dynasty, they were divided into two armies. The east army that came down from Youzhou seemed to be in no man's land, and quickly approached the city of Tokyo. However, the west army was frustrated in Taiyuan, until the second time it went south. Only then did they conquer Taiyuan.

With the recovery of several state capitals on the eastern plain, the pass of the Taihang Mountains can be firmly defended, and the defense gap in the northeast is blocked. With the impregnable east, there is a kind of family army stationed in the northwest, and the defense level is much stronger than it is now.

Facing Hua Rong's analysis, Zhao Kai nodded repeatedly, "Hua Rong is right, so we must at least get these state capitals in the eastern part of Taihang Mountain. We have already retreated so much, and the Liao Kingdom should be about the same. We must never let go gone."

Gao Ming said: "It's really not possible. It's not a bad idea to take the eastern part first. Slowly digest the state capitals ruled by the Liao Kingdom. If you take them all back in one go, you won't be able to eat as much as you want. First, let the eastern part be governed smoothly, and the experience can also be used in the western part. "

When the delegation of the Song State was discussing, the Liao State was not idle.

Zhang Lin expressed her opinion, "If the three cities are taken for 15 taels, Song will definitely not agree."

Yeluchun snorted heavily: "If you don't agree, you don't agree. I heard them say that the lease is 30 years, so I just listen to the terms they offer. But 15 a year, don't even think about it! If it's a big deal, come and fight. Soldiers guard Youzhou personally, let's see who can break it in the Southern Dynasty!"

As a Han Chinese, Zhang Lin couldn't persuade her with some words. She just sighed in her heart. The key point is that once the war started, the Jurchens would call, and guarding Youzhou was also for the Jurchens.

Yelu Dashi was thoughtful, "The people of the Song Dynasty must have seen that the Liao Kingdom will not donate all the state capitals in one go, and they should give him the next best thing. If they are smart, they should only take the state capitals in the eastern part of Taihang Mountain. Ask for the line of defense to be connected. If so, Your Highness, we might as well agree."

It is easier to explain to the country by only leasing out the eastern states.

Yeluchun said: "That depends on how much they are willing to pay. If there is less, it will not work!"

After resting for half an hour, they all returned to the negotiating table. Gao Ming stopped talking and said directly: "10 taels of silver every year, we want Youzhou, Shunzhou, Jizhou, Zhuozhou, Yingzhou, Mozhou, Danzhou."

Yelu Dashi thought in his heart that it was indeed the case, and the Juyongguan and other passes in the Taihang Mountains were included in the Song Dynasty, and the worries about the north were resolved by [-]%.

Yeluchun snorted and said something to Yelu Dashi in Khitan dialect, then simply closed his eyes.

Yelu Dashi looked at Huarong and said, "You understand the importance of the towns in the east, and you can tell them to you people in the south, so I won't repeat them. So, I don't think 10 taels a year is too little for such an important line of defense. Already? At least 40 taels per year."

Gao Ming shook his head, "10 taels per year, 30-year lease for Youzhou, Shunzhou, Jizhou, Zhuozhou, Yingzhou, Mozhou, and Tanzhou!"

Zhao Kai also had a tough attitude, "We already only want these states in the east, but you are still making things difficult. You don't have any sincerity at all. From 1000 million taels of silver in one go to 80 to 40 taels a year, just like in the past, extorting everything! There is no other room, and we will not waste our saliva. I will give you one night to think about it, and we will leave Youzhou tomorrow." After that, he got up and left.

Seeing him go, the rest of the mission set off to follow him.

Seeing the people of the Song Dynasty leaving, Yeluchun relaxed all over. As the uncle of the Liao Kingdom's close branch, he watched the fatuous nephew destroying the ancestor's foundation. He saw it in his eyes and was anxious in his heart. , he also refused in his heart.

When Shi Jingtang died, his nephew Shi Chonggui succeeded to the throne. He openly refused to accept Daliao, and claimed that there were [-] great swords waiting for Daliao if he refused to pay tribute. As you can imagine, Taizong was furious, and Shi Chonggui was taken to Liao as a prisoner. .This Youzhou is obtained by the ancestors' predecessors in battle, how can they let go easily.

Even if you let go, the price will not be less.

The conditions just now were already very lenient, so it's fine for Song Guo to bargain again.

A scholar can be killed but not humiliated. Humiliation is worse than cutting off land for nothing.

Zhang Lin was a little anxious, her knees were slightly bent, and she seemed to get up, but Yeluchun glanced at her, so she had to sit down.

"They're gone, in case..."

He was afraid that the envoy Song would turn around and form an alliance with the Kingdom of Jin if he left without looking back.

Yelu Dashi said to Zhang Lin: "I believe Song Guo is just putting on airs, and they will take the initiative to contact us tomorrow. Since Song Guo wants this northern fence, he has to come back to us."

Yeluchun said: "The state of Song just wants to take advantage of the situation by looting. According to this king, there is nothing to talk about. Let them go back to Song and forget it!"

Zhang Lin and Yelu Dashi were silent.

-

Gao Ming and the others returned to the embassy, ​​and one of the accompanying people said, "Did we leave too recklessly, there was actually room for relaxation just now."

In addition, some people said: "That's right, if the Liao people are so angry that they don't even open this hole, how can they get it back. In fact, it doesn't matter if the amount is raised a little bit."

Someone supported King Yun and stood up and said, "40 taels per year. At this price, what do you need Youyun? It's enough to move mountains and stones along Baigou!"

"Hey, what you said is nonsense, it's not enough."

Everyone was arguing, and at this moment Zhao Kai said: "That's enough! The people of the Liao Kingdom don't seem to realize that they have nowhere to turn. Give them a night to think it over!"

The members of the mission still knew Zhao Kai's identity, and when he spoke, many people shut up.

But what frightened the delegation of the Song Dynasty was that there was no movement from the Liao Kingdom the next day. From morning to night, the expected Liao Kingdom came to the embassy quickly and asked them to return to the negotiating table, but it never happened.

Some people sat in the hall looking forward as if they were white-headed palace maids.

Until it got dark, there were still no Khitans coming.

Just when everyone was a little impatient and asked Gao Ming to take the initiative to contact the Liao people

Seeing King Yun coming out of the house, he announced loudly, "Pack up your bags tonight, and leave Youzhou tomorrow morning to go back to Song Dynasty."

"No, let's not talk about it?" Someone stammered and asked.

Don't, just go back like this?

"The Liao people have been blackmailing Da Song in the past, how can they be blackmailed again!" Zhao Kai shouted loudly standing halfway up the stairs.

If the Liao people are really not afraid of the alliance between Song and Jin, let them go!

Words such as "No" and "Think twice" are endless.

It is no longer easy for the Liao Kingdom to agree to transfer these state capitals. It is just a matter of price. It is fine to talk about it. Why is it so tough.

Zhao Kai cleared his throat in dissatisfaction, everyone shut up, and he turned back to the room.

Gao Ming and Hua Rong stayed in the next room.

Hua Rong said: "This move is based on retreat, will the people of Liao take the bait?"

Gao Ming curled his lips, "I don't know, but I think His Royal Highness Yun's temper is quite good, so you don't have to indulge the Liao Kingdom like those ministers outside. Negotiation is a thing, if you can't agree on it once, come back again. But compromise once, next time It's even harder."

The failure of this talk is not necessarily a bad thing.

Zhao Kai is much stronger than the official family and the prince, at least he has a temper, the father and son have no blood at all.

Soon, the next day will arrive.

Gao Ming and the others packed their bags, left the embassy, ​​and walked out of the city.

The Liao Kingdom should have sent people to send each other off, but there was no movement at this time, not even a single person.

"This, is this really gone?" Someone looked at Zhao Kai with a bitter face, "Let's think about it again, isn't there still room for negotiation?"

Zhao Kai had a cold face.

Gao Ming has already got on his horse and urged everyone, "Hurry up, don't dawdle, you must leave the city gate before dark. If you don't stay here, you will have your own place. If you don't stay anywhere, I will go to Wushu."

Seeing that Zhao Kai and Hua Rong had already mounted their horses, they didn't want to leave anymore, and they couldn't stand the decision of their superiors to go, so they all got on their horses unhappy, left the embassy and went out of the city.

At this time, a figure hiding in the dark saw all of this, and after Gao Ming and the others left, he went to Youzhou to stay in the yamen without stopping, and went straight to Yeluchun and others to report.

"Gone? Really gone?" Zhang Lin blew out her beard and stared, "I thought Gao Ming was just talking, but he's really here?"

Yelu Dashi asked the person in charge of the investigation, "They really left? Are you sure you saw the three envoys of the Song Dynasty Mission?"

"It can't be wrong. After Gao Ming got on his horse, he said that if you don't stay here, you will have a place to stay, and if you don't stay anywhere, you will go to Wushu."

The Liao Kingdom naturally knew who the sons of Wanyan Aguda were, and one of them was Wanyan Zongbi, a Jurchen whose name was Wushu.

"It's not good, it's not good." Zhang Lin sighed. As a Han Chinese, she didn't dare to be too active. She was afraid that the Liao people would think that he had mastered the Southern Dynasties, but he knew that he was really thinking about the Liao country. Forming an alliance will fall short.

After hearing this, Yeluchun just snorted coldly, "Tell them to go!"

Yelu Dashi said helplessly, "Your Highness..."

Yeluchun said: "Dashi, you are the eighth grandson of the Taizu, don't be insulting to the soft bones of your ancestors! Daliao's request is reasonable, it is the Song Kingdom who is dishonest, took advantage of the fire to rob, go back and report to His Majesty, and His Majesty will not blame us."

After a day like this, the servants came to report, "They have left Youzhou City."

“We are almost in Zhuozhou”

"The envoys of Song Dynasty left Zhuozhou and went to Baigou on the border..."

Zhang Lin and Yelu Dashi said in unison: "Your Highness—"

Yeluchun was unmoved, "Tell them to go!"

-

Ahead is the checkpoint for the Liao Kingdom to leave the country. The envoys of the Song Dynasty dismounted one after another, and most of them were downcast. Could it be that they just left the Liao Kingdom and returned without success?

Many people kept looking back, hoping to see Liao people chasing them on horses, hoping to see through the autumn water.

Gao Ming looked at the checkpoint ahead, and scolded the Liao people in his heart, you can do it, you can do it, you can hold your breath.

The reason why he didn't persuade Zhao Kai was also because he felt that the Liao people would regret it at the last moment.

Who would have thought that Yeluchun was a ruthless person.

He could see that Zhao Kai was a little bit regretful, but Lidu left, the checkpoint was in front of him, and he couldn't turn his head back, so it would be more than 80 taels, and he was afraid it would become 180 million taels.

Zhao Kai couldn't get off the tiger, so he continued to walk, and told the others, "Follow!"

He glanced at Gao Ming and saw that he nodded firmly towards him, apparently still supporting his decision.

Zhao Kai took a deep breath and walked towards the checkpoint.

After leaving the checkpoint, someone in the mission looked at the scenery ahead and muttered to himself, "We, are we really back?"

The Song Dynasty mission returned to its own country just like that, and the expected obstruction did not appear.

Seeing Zhao Kai's lost look, Gao Ming persuaded in time: "Your Highness, don't worry, let's discuss the issue of ownership next time."

"You have also seen Yeluchun's attitude, and I am afraid that next time..."

"The soldiers of the Song Dynasty are disadvantaged, so Yeluchun thinks that he can defend against the enemy from both sides. Only the Song Dynasty strengthens its troops and trains. In the next negotiation, show the strength of the Song Dynasty to Yeluchun. At that time, let alone the eastern defense line, it will be the entire Youyun It’s also within reach.”

"Train soldiers? Strong soldiers?"

Gao Ming nodded, he had thought clearly about this negotiation, it is good for the Liao Kingdom to agree, if not, he just took the opportunity to persuade Zhao Kai to propose military training to the emperor.