Chapter 427 Plea
Zhao Xing's purpose of doing this is of course not just to fool the people.
After the people believe it, he doesn't need to care too much about how many officials oppose him when he does something.
The New Year is coming soon, and after the New Year, he will use his own reign name.
After taking the throne for more than half a year, Zhao Xing did not do much to rectify the place.
Now it is time to rectify the administration of officials.
Rectifying officialdom is not just about combating corruption.
The official power of the Song Dynasty was chaotic, there were too many shady titles, and promotions needed to be managed, all of which needed to be rectified and changed.
The reason why Zhao Xing did this before was because he knew that there was great resistance to rectifying these problems.
According to Zhao Xing's original idea, he would conduct a thorough investigation of the land and gather some public support before starting to do this.
The appearance of Yuxi can be regarded as a timely help.
While Yin Hanzhang was secretly stirring up public opinion, Zhao Xing often summoned important officials in the court to discuss issues of rectification of officialdom.
At first, Zhao Xing had no intention of showing his fangs. He just pointed out that the responsibilities of various departments in the officialdom were unclear, and there were also problems with the supervision system. He convened the ministers to discuss how to clarify the responsibilities and improve supervision.
Officials did not object to this.
…………
Five days before the Chinese New Year, Gu Tingye and Wang Shao returned to Bianjing.
Zhao Xing summoned the two men in Longtuge and listened to them describe the situation in the northwest.
"It's a good thing that Dong Xiang is capable. Now he has a stable footing in Hehuang. However, Xixia will not let it go. They will definitely launch troops against Hehuang in the coming year." Zhao Xing said.
"Your Majesty is wise, I think so too," Gu Tingye said.
"Now that Zhong Huai has thought of this, is there any way to deal with it? I don't want to break up with Xixia just yet." Zhao Xing said.
Hearing this, Gu Tingye bowed and said, "I didn't think of any good solution, but Zichun did think of a solution!"
"Oh?"
Zhao Xing looked at Wang Shao and said, "What is Zichun's solution?"
"Your Majesty, as long as the Xixia tribe declares its complete surrender to the Song Dynasty, and your Majesty canonizes Dong Xiang as King of Hehuang, then Xixia will break the alliance by sending troops, and the Song Dynasty can directly intervene. And Xixia will not dare to send troops easily." Wang Shao said.
Zhao Xing frowned when he heard this and said: "Zunsiluobu has already accepted the reward from the Song Dynasty. In name, he is a minister of the Song Dynasty. Does it have any effect to be granted another title?"
The Xixia tribe was nominally a vassal of the Song Dynasty before, but Xixia still fought.
Not only the Xisiluo tribe, but also the Xixia people had received canonization from the Song Dynasty before the founding of the country.
"Just a simple canonization can't stop Xixia's mouth, but what if the Song Dynasty sent a troop of troops to serve under Dong Feang?" Wang Shao said with a smile.
"But will Dong Xiang agree?"
Zhao Xing understood what Wang Shao meant. Originally, the Jisiluobu was only a vassal of the Song Dynasty.
Xixia also knew this, which was why Xixia sent troops to attack the plateau.
It was impossible for the Song Dynasty to send troops to fight Xixia for a nominal vassal.
Wang Shao's intention was to make Xi Siluo truly become a vassal of the Song Dynasty. Of course, this was as fake as the so-called real one, just for outsiders to see.
And sending a troop of soldiers and horses into Hehuang is also a matter of seconds.
Once Xixia mobilizes troops, it can take some of the pressure off the Xixia army in the early stage. If the army was defeated, the Song Dynasty would have a legitimate excuse to send troops to intervene.
But the Song Dynasty sent troops and horses into Hehuang, which was equivalent to inserting a knife in Hehuang, and Dong Zhan was afraid that he would not be willing to do so.
"I tested Dong Felt. Although he did not agree directly, he proposed to make peace with the Song Dynasty." Wang Shao said.
"A marriage?" Zhao Xing said with an ugly face when he heard this: "There are no unmarried princesses in the Song Dynasty. How to make a marriage?"
There is an instinctive aversion to marrying Zhao Xing.
Since ancient times, the peace achieved through covenants and marriages has been highly praised by people.
But in Zhao Xing's view, the reason why so-called covenants and peace can bring peace is because the other party itself does not have the ability to invade.
Although if you don't do this, border friction will continue, but after you agree, it will also make the subsequent emperors lose their enterprising spirit.
Not to mention that the Song Dynasty did not have a princess of the right age, even if there were, Zhao Xing was not willing to let a woman sacrifice.
"Dong Zhan also knew that there were no princesses of the right age in the Song Dynasty. He meant that the Song Dynasty could choose a princess from the clan to be canonized." Wang Shao said.
"Does he want to imitate his ancestors?" Zhao Xing sneered upon hearing this.
The Gongsilu tribe was a tribe formed after the split of Tubo. It seems that Songtsen Gampo is indeed his ancestor.
Princess Wencheng, whom he married in the early Tang Dynasty, was the daughter of the clan. Li Shimin could not bear to marry his own daughter, so he chose a princess from the clan to be canonized.
"Zichun wants me to agree?"
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"I think I can agree. The marriage will not only appease Dong Felt, but also prevent Xixia from launching troops against Hehuang in the coming year, so that the Xisiluo tribe can have time to cultivate and recuperate." Wang Shao said.
"What to do to appease Dong Fei?"
Zhao Xing sneered and said: "The reason why he agreed to the Song Dynasty sending troops to Hehuang was because he wanted to gain time to recuperate. If I don't agree, will he not agree?"
Zhao Xing also figured it out now. Although Dong Fei didn't agree, he didn't refuse directly either.
This shows that Dong Fei himself wanted the Song Dynasty to send troops into Hehuang.
The purpose is simply to prevent Xixia from sending troops to attack Hehuang for the time being, so as to gain time to recuperate.
Therefore, whether there is a marriage or not, Dong Xiang will agree to let the soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty enter Hehuang.
"Did he limit the number of soldiers and horses entering Hehuang?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Never!" Wang Shao shook his head.
"Hmph!" Zhao Xing snorted coldly when he heard this: "He didn't mention it because he just wanted to wait until the Song Dynasty agreed to get married before mentioning it. You just reply to him directly and say that there are no princesses of the right age in the Song Dynasty. It is inappropriate for clan girls to canonize princesses. If he If you don’t want the Song Dynasty to send troops into Hehuang, forget it.”
"Yes!" Wang Shao didn't dare to say more when he saw Zhao Xing getting angry.
"Okay, you have worked hard. Go back and have a rest. I will hold a banquet in the palace to celebrate your success tonight." Zhao Xing said.
"I resign!"
Wang Shao bowed and retreated, but Gu Tingye did not move.
Zhao Xing knew Gu Tingye's purpose, but he pretended not to know and asked, "Is there anything else wrong with Zhong Huai?"
"Your Majesty!"
Gu Tingye knelt down and said: "My brother did something treasonous and unjust, and he deserves to die. However, as the elder brother, I still want to intercede for him and beg your Majesty to spare his life."
After hearing this, Zhao Xing stared at Gu Tingye without speaking for a long time and then said: "Zhong Huai, you have been with me since you were a child and have never asked me for anything. Since you have spoken, I will give you face and spare his life. But I won’t reward you for your contribution in Hehuang this time.”
Although Gu Tingye did not capture Hehuang, it was because Zhao Xing took the initiative to ask him to withdraw his troops and hand over Hehuang to the Xisiluo tribe.
In any case, Gu Tingye was ordered to enter Hehuang and fought several victorious battles, so he must be rewarded.
Zhao Xing said this, which was tantamount to using Gu Tingye's contribution in exchange for Gu Tingwei's life.
Originally, he planned to save Gu Tingwei's life because of his father's words.
Now that Gu Tingye is asking for mercy, it would be good to offset Gu Tingye's contribution.
(End of chapter)