This Song Dynasty is different

Chapter 55 General’s Praise

Zhao Zhen met Wen Yanbo and had a good impression of Li Xian's disciple, saying that he had the style of the ancients.

That's just pretending... Apart from himself, Li Xian is probably the only one in the world who knows the city and methods behind Wen Yanbo's gentlemanly mask.

In the torrent of the times, Wang Anshi was defeated miserably, and Sima Guang dug a hole for himself before he died. Only Wen Yanbo could live a long life and start well and end well.

This is not just destiny, but ability.

Facing such evil disciples, Li Xian had a big lesson from the beginning.

When the amounts of various materials were classified and summarized in formulas and icons, and the daily, monthly, and yearly changes could be seen at a glance, and the reasons behind them could be analyzed, Wen Yanbo's city couldn't hold on anymore.

He wrote letters home.

"...Sir's talent makes the children think that he is an immortal! Those children have never heard of knowledge, but the teacher has it at his fingertips. Not only can he teach, but he can also quote from other sources, introduce current events or make practical comparisons..."

He raised his head and thought for a while, then continued to write: "My child didn't want to take the imperial examination too early, especially after meeting my husband. Such a famous teacher is rare to meet in a thousand years, and my child wants to concentrate on studying hard..."

At the end of the letter, he couldn't help but sigh again: "It's God's blessing that I can meet my husband!"

One more student means one more trouble for Li Xian, so when he went to the palace to talk to Zhao Zhen, he would inevitably say that he was born to work hard.

Zhao Zhen could only look at him with resentment. There was a thick pile of homework on the desk.

"Li Deming's envoy is about to arrive in Bianjing." Zhao Zhen said casually: "They have brought Li Deming's apology letter. The ministers and ministers all said that this is a great victory. What do you think?"

"The Song Dynasty actually fell into a situation where the apology memorial was a great victory. I have nothing to say." Li Xian knew the ambitions of the Dangxiang Li family, but all the emperors and ministers in the dynasty were intoxicated by the apology memorial.

Last time he ambushed and killed more than [-] party spies. If Li Deming dies, then he should send an important person to Bianjing to plead guilty.But it was heard that the identity of the envoy was ordinary, which showed that Li Deming was not in a hurry, maybe he wanted to do something with this.

As for the secret spies, it is not a problem for Li to have dozens of them die.

Before Li's envoy came to court, the monarch and his ministers held a discussion, and Li Xian was also brought in.

"Be polite before fighting, give some benefits first, and then intimidate." Wang Qinruo gave advice.

Zhao Zhen immediately objected, "Shock first, then reward."

"The Li family is different." Wang Qinruo said with a smile: "The Li family is isolated in the northwest, surrounded by either Tubo or Northern Liao. It seems unruly, but it blocked the Tubo and restrained the Northern Liao for the Song Dynasty. Therefore, we should not be too harsh. , otherwise it will trigger a backlash, which will bring unpredictable consequences."

Zhao Zhen's words are poor.

The ministers and assistants immediately reached an agreement, and the Queen Mother was about to nod with satisfaction, but she saw through the curtain that the corners of Li Xian's mouth were slightly raised, as if he was sneering, "Do you have anything to say, Marquis Dingyuan?"

Wang Qinruo turned around and said, "Oh! I forgot that Dingyuan Marquis ambushed and killed a party member last time."

Come!
Tell me something.

Feng Zheng had already retreated. It was said that tomorrow would be a good day for Wang Qinruo to ascend, so he looked in high spirits at this moment.

Zhao Zhen glanced at Li Xian, his eyes flashing with excitement.

"I don't think it matters whether you should be polite first and then send troops or whether you should be soldiers first and then polite."

Li Xian's opening remarks made Zhao Zhen want to roll his eyes. Wang Qinruo's smile became more and more kind, and the tumor on his neck seemed to be shining.

It turns out that you, Li Guoan, also have to give face to Prime Minister Xinzha?
"First of all, I think we should first define the nature of the Dangxiang Li family." Li Xian analyzed this matter from a different angle than the prime ministers and ministers. "The Dangxiang Li family is isolated in the northwest, surrounded by tigers and wolves. If you can lay down a territory in that land of tigers and wolves, The Li family who was able to defeat the Northern Liao army was by no means a submissive person."

"You mean..." Lu Zongdao asked, "Li family has a disobedient heart?"

"Yes." Wang Qinruo said, "It existed many years ago, but they didn't dare to fall out. Otherwise, the Song Dynasty and the Northern Liao Dynasty would join forces and turn the Li family into a fan in an instant."

Yes!

Later history confirmed these words. Dangxiang Li proclaimed himself emperor, the Song Dynasty attacked, and the Northern Liao attacked... But the Li family became more and more courageous as they fought, and the Song Dynasty was full of teeth, and the Northern Liao Dynasty suffered a headache.

In the end, the Li family rose up during the war and became a serious problem for the Song Dynasty and Northern Liao Dynasty.

But the two countries have nothing to do about it.

"I thought that Li would definitely become emperor!" Li Xian said.

"What's the basis for you?" Wang Qinruo asked.

"I heard that Li Deming's eldest son, Li Yuanhao, was decisive and heroic at a young age. This man was very ambitious. He said many times that the Li family should not surrender to the Song Dynasty and the Northern Liao Dynasty, is that right?"

Li Xian asked.

Wang Qinruo nodded, "Li Yuanhao is like this, but the young man is impulsive. When he realizes it, he will naturally realize the absurdity of his words."

Li Xian felt that all civil and military officials in the dynasty were like tortoises, so he retracted his head into the tortoise shell, thinking that he was extremely powerful.

"Dangxiang must be Li Yuanhao if he becomes emperor!" Li Xian pointed out the great concern of the Song Dynasty and Han Qi's lifelong nightmare.

Wang Qinruo smiled and said: "It's just a child with a yellow mouth, why should you care about his sleep talking!"

Li Xian said: "Li Yuanhao, don't underestimate him!"

Wang Zeng sighed and thought of Li Xian's words. Sure enough, once he entered the court, he would argue with the ministers and ministers.

Wang Qinruo seemed to be taking things lightly, but he was a little angry. Apparently he felt that Li Xian was messing around.

Li Xian looked a little impatient, probably wishing he could go back immediately.

"Who knows Li Yuanhao?" the Queen Mother asked.

Wang Zeng said: "Cao Wei is in Bianjing."

Cao Wei is the son of Cao Bin, a famous general in the Song Dynasty. He has been in the army for decades and is powerful in the northwest.

The Queen Mother immediately sent someone to ask.

Later, the chamberlain came back and reported, "After the servant left, Duke Cao heard what he said and asked first who said it."

Wang Qinruo glanced at Li Xian and smiled slightly.

Cao Wei is a famous general in the Song Dynasty. You are just a scholar. You are talented, but what qualifications do you have to talk about martial arts?

The Queen Mother smiled, "Is Cao Qing eager to try?"

The servant said: "My servant said he was Marquis Dingyuan. Duke Cao asked about the age of Marquis Dingyuan. I don't know, but he is less than twenty..." The Queen Mother obviously thought of the fact that this guy was still single even at his age, and she couldn't help frowning.

"When Duke Cao heard about it, he stood up and said, "This man has a unique vision. Please invite me here. I will drink with him and discuss the war in the northwest!"

Empress Dowager: "..."

Cao Wei is the only remaining general in the Song Dynasty, and he can be called the Dinghai Shenzhen.

He opened his mouth to talk about things in the northwest, but Wang Qinruo didn't have the guts to argue with him to avoid humiliating himself.

"Cao Gong said that he had also heard about Li Yuanhao. This son was young, but he was brave and capable. It is said that Li Deming valued this son very much and said that the great success of the Li family must be due to this son. Cao Gong finally said that he should not be underestimated The Li family..."

Li Xian saluted and said, "I take my leave."

This is……

Lu Yijian smiled and said: "Is Marquis Dingyuan angry?"

Wang Zeng said calmly: "The purpose of his coming here is to tell us not to despise the Li family and not to despise Li Yuanhao. Now that we all know it, what is he doing here?"

Just like a swordsman, one hit and then escaped.

But all the prime ministers and assistants felt depressed about being looked down upon by this guy.

The messenger came, and there were many people accompanying him, including some outsiders.

"This is a lively place." A monk looked at Bianjing City with a smile.

Li Xian, who had been camped by Cao Wei's family as soon as he left the palace, rode by on the side, and their eyes met.

Then Li Xian came to Cao's house.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time." Cao Wei waited at home with a smile.

Then there was a drinking battle that made Li Xian's liver tremble.

He drank with his mouth crooked and his eyes squinted. Cao Wei's face turned red and he dragged him to drink a few more bowls before letting him go.

"Bring me the map!"

Cao Wei opened the food and wine on the table, spread out the map on it, pointed to the northwest and said: "The northwest is the place where the Fourth War was fought. The Zhe family stayed in Fuzhou and laid a wedge for the Song Dynasty on the bank of the Yellow River. But Zhe family The small area of ​​​​the Li family is not enough to change the overall situation. The Western Army has fought against the Li family many times over the years, and they all say that the Dangxiang people are fierce."

This is the current situation in the northwest.

"The northwest seems to be peaceful now, but I always feel that the Li family will not surrender for a long time. Now the Northern Liao people are cunning..." Cao Wei raised his head and sighed, "There are capable people in the Northern Liao Dynasty, and the Emperor of Liao is becoming more and more generous to the Li family. King, as a reward, every time an envoy goes to the Li family, the first thing he does is to praise the Li family's strength... What does all this make you think of?"

"Instigating a war between Xixia and the Song Dynasty."

"So, what do you think the Song Dynasty's chances of winning are if a war breaks out?" Cao Wei looked at Li Xian with bright eyes, "I have heard about you recently. You are very skillful and talented. If you are here, If you make a difference in side affairs, I seem to have seen the prototype of a generation of famous ministers. Let it go, people come, look around, and don't allow anyone to approach."

Li Xian heard the footsteps disappear.

He originally wanted to express his views on the northwest, but the ministers and ministers were not able to speak out. In this way, telling Cao Wei might be helpful.

"In my opinion, Li's claim to the throne is certain and will not last more than twenty years." Li Xian said, attracting Cao Wei's increasingly curious and interested gaze, "Continue!"

"It's not scary for Li to become emperor. What's scary is what Li thinks of the Song Dynasty army." Li Xian looked at Cao Wei, and then told all his views on the northwest.

Cao Wei took a deep breath and said, "Who do you study under?"

"Martial arts?"

"Yes."

"Teach yourself."

Cao Wei stared at Li Xian with his eyes wide open, but Li Xian remained motionless.

"What a boy!" Cao Wei slapped the case, "When I was here, the armies in the northwest were still able to compete with the Tubo and Li clans. Later, I was framed by Ding Wei and transferred to another place. After returning, I heard that the northwest has been peaceful for a long time. , Wen Tian and Wu Xi, all of this could not have been hidden from the Li family who was a good spy. If Li family was proclaimed emperor, the Song Dynasty would definitely be furious, and if the Li family knew the details of the Song Dynasty, they would use this as a reason to send troops. By then..."

In the afternoon, Cao Wei entered the palace to see the Queen Mother.

After a long discussion, Cao Wei asked before leaving: "I heard that Marquis Dingyuan is close to the official family?"

The Queen Mother nodded, "I am both a teacher and a friend."

Cao Wei said happily: "I am old and can no longer wear armor and fight for the Song Dynasty. Seeing the young man's eyes like this, I am very happy. I am happy for the Queen Mother and the official family."

He glanced at the chamberlain beside him and said, "I am most worried about something."

"Cao Qing, just say it." The Queen Mother respected this general very much.

"It is right for civil servants to be wary of military men, and I agree with that. But I believe that we should not go too far. Otherwise, good young people will be suppressed by civil servants in the name of being wary of military men."

Cao Wei knelt down, and the Queen Mother stood up, with a horrified expression on her face: "Cao Qing, get up."

Cao Wei raised his head and said, "Queen Mother, Li Xian has a unique vision. I have been in the army for decades and have seen many civilian and military generals who are praised as famous generals, but they are all mediocre people.

After a conversation with him today, I know that the Song Dynasty has obtained the seed of a general!
Queen Mother, please don’t destroy him.Otherwise, when the war breaks out at the frontier, who can lead the army in the Song Dynasty? "

Historically, when Dangxiang sent troops, the Song Dynasty at that time sent the so-called strongest combination of Han Qi and others, but they were defeated by Li Yuanhao.As a result, the power of the Song Dynasty declined.

Cao Wei kowtowed, and the Queen Mother walked out of the curtain and helped him up with her own hands, "Cao Qing, don't worry, I know."

Cao Wei resigned and after leaving the palace, his attendants felt sorry for him and asked him, "Alang, why are you doing this?"

"I also want to enjoy my old age in peace, but I have been recuperating at home these past few years. When I look at the northwest, I feel murderous. The biggest problem in the Song Dynasty must be the Li family in the northwest!"

"There are many generals in the court." The attendant said.

"They're all bragging idiots!"

"Could it be that Marquis Dingyuan is really a famous general?"

"What is a famous general?" Cao Wei pointed to his own eyes, "Perspective! I have experienced it for decades, and I have seen the only one with such vision. If he does not become a famous general, there will be no one available in the Song Dynasty after me. !”

(End of this chapter)