In the political hall, several officials handled the official documents and sat down to take a nap. Wu Yu, who participated in politics, rolled up his sleeves and bowed his hand in front of Prime Minister Jia Changchao: "Xianggong, the king of Linfu Lu, the army and the volcano army Du Zhijun have arrived in the capital and are waiting outside the city. In the battle of Tanglong Town a few years ago, they handled it properly, not only did they get the important place of Tanglong Town, but they also wiped out all the Khitan people who entered the Kou, and they did things in a measured manner, so that the Khitan people had nothing to say. This is a rare victory in recent years, and the court should be rewarded heavily, with the heart of the soldiers and border ministers. It is extremely inappropriate to go to the capital and not enter, and it should be introduced very early. ”

Jia Changchao said unhurriedly: "Tanglong Town is located between the Three Kingdoms, and it is called a minister in many ways, and it is not as good as other places. Although the Khitans finally admitted the matter, they still don't know what the party side thinks. It's better to wait, with the news of Shaanxi Road, it's not too late to lead the way. ”

Wu Yu's face was displeased: "The border ministers have made meritorious contributions, and if they don't reward them quickly, they have lost the hearts of the people, how can there be any reason to refuse them outside the capital again!" In the past two years, the Khitan and the party have been at odds with each other, and the war has been endless, which is the opportunity for this dynasty to consolidate the frontier. In such a snub of the heroes of Tanglong Town, I am afraid that the Northwest soldiers will cringe even more. ”

Jia Changchao said: "I have my own disposal of this matter, you don't need to say more." Frontier affairs, everything should be cautious. ”

Seeing that Wu Yu was full of anger, he returned to his case in a huff, and Wen Yanbo, the new political counselor on the side, said: "What Wu Dashen said is also reasonable, the border ministers should be introduced immediately when they return to Beijing to report on their work, and it is not good for them to wait outside the city." The cardinal government moved the text, and if Wang Kai wanted to see him in two days, the Volcano Army should also be with him. Otherwise, everyone will not look good. ”

Jia Changchao said: "I will discuss this matter with the privy government, and you don't need to discuss it." ”

Shortly before Xia Zhu returned to the court to serve as a privy envoy, it was customary for Zhao Wenxiang to concurrently serve as a privy envoy, and Jia Changchao had just resigned from his part-time job. Regarding the affairs of the Privy Council, the other ministers in the political hall did not say much, Wen Yanbo sighed, and did not say anything more.

Wu Yu and Wen Yanbo are both Heavenly Sage five-year jinshi, and they are in their early forties as the rulers, and they are extremely young in this position. At this time, the combination of the old, the middle and the young in the political hall should have been the time to make a difference. But the two prime ministers Jia Changchao consolidated power, and Chen Zhizhong was sleek, but he looked a little lifeless. Wu Yu was stubborn and outspoken, and had constant conflicts with Jia Changchao after participating in politics. Wen Yanbo is cautious as an official, and he can't make any big waves.

On the other side of the Privy Council, Xia Zhu sat down and asked the deputy envoy Pang Ji on the side: "Wang Kai, the army of Linfu Road, and Du Zhongxiao, the commander of the Volcano Army, have been in the capital for a few days and are waiting outside the city. Is there any news from Zhongshu, when will they be introduced? ”

Pang Ji said: "Jia Changxiang said that he will wait for Shaanxi Road to report back the party and military situation, and then deal with it." ”

Xia Zhu said lightly: "In the battle of Tanglong Town, the report on Hedong Road is extremely detailed, what else is not clear?" Recently, Hedong Road reported that the southwest of the Khitan wants to use troops against the party after the beginning of spring, where is there any spare energy to take care of Tanglong Town? The Dongfu has repeatedly shirked and let the generals and ministers stay outside the city, which is not in line with the convention, what do they think? ”

Pang Ji gave up his hand: "The text has been moved today, and Wang Kai will see him two days later, I don't know how Dongfu will reply." ”

Since the use of troops in the northwest, the status of Zhongshu has been clearly located above the Privy Council, Jia Changchao did not let go, Wang Kai and Du Zhongxiao could only stay outside the city. The two said that they were going back to Beijing to face the king, but when they actually entered the city, it was the Zhongshu and the Privy Council who had the final say, unless the emperor made a special order. How could the emperor interfere in such a thing? disrupted the deployment of the two governments, and I don't know what kind of chaos it will cause.

During the war, border generals should enter the palace immediately when they enter Beijing, and no one is allowed to obstruct or delay. Now that peace has been negotiated, these old rules have been abandoned, and everything must be subject to the arrangements of the two governments, especially the arrangements of the Chinese book. In the final analysis, Tanglongzhen is not a war in the eyes of the courtiers, but a border dispute.

Xia Zhu has been in officialdom for many years, and Jia Changchao's little caution is insightful, but he is helpless. Why does he want to enter the book and become the prime minister? Because the affairs of the world are, in the final analysis, in the hands of the prime minister, and the status of the privy envoy is only similar to that of participating in politics.

After pondering for a long time, a sneer appeared on Xia Zhu's face, and he said to Gao Ruone, the deputy envoy on the other side: "Wang Kai and Zhang Qi wrote repeatedly, saying that this victory in Tanglong Town was due to Du Zhongxiao's musket artillery. It is said that these two things are the most sharp weapons, far better than bows and crossbows, and those who deserve them will die immediately. This time, when they entered Beijing, they specially brought muskets and artillery. If you are ready to cook, please move outside the city tomorrow and watch the musket and artillery drills! ”

Gao Ruone said yes, hesitated for a moment, and said: "I saw the two generals say in the recital, what is the musket artillery, no one has ever seen it." said that it was a projectile fired with flame nitrate, and the lower official was blunt, and he couldn't figure it out when he thought about it. Flame nitrate is a common thing, and the fireworks in the capital are. This thing is widely used in the army, rockets, medicine arrows, millions of dollars per year, although there is a place for its use, but it is not particularly powerful. ”

Xia Zhu didn't know what muskets and artillery were, but he trusted Du Zhongxiao. According to Du Zhongxiao's character, the performance of these weapons will only be told to Xiaoli, and will never be exaggerated. At this time, the Song army used a lot of gunpowder, and there was a special gunpowder in the capital to provide gunpowder for the army. However, due to the formula, the gunpowder at this time was mainly fire and smoke, and was used on bows and crossbow arrows. Further, it is mixed with fecal poison to make medicine arrows. Although those who do not hit will die immediately, arrow wounds are extremely difficult to heal. As for launching the projectile with flame nitrate, Xia Zhu couldn't think of what was going on.

Out of prudence, Xia Zhu sent someone to ask Du Zhongxiao, and Du Zhongxiao replied with a letter. Although Xia Zhu still didn't know the specific principles of muskets and artillery in the letter, it could be seen that Du Zhongxiao was very confident. Du Zhongxiao's self-confidence is enough for Xia Zhu.

Wang Yiyong is a military general and a foreign relative, although he has served as a privy envoy for many years, he has always avoided the specific affairs of the Privy Council. After going to court, he found an excuse to go home, and at this time Xia Zhu only had two deputy envoys, Pang Ji and Gao Ruone.

Seeing that both of them were a little weak-hearted, Xia Zhu said: "We have to believe in the generals and ministers, and we will never exaggerate." When the border ministers entered Beijing to do business, they couldn't wait outside the city like this. Let's go up in a ripe state, this is a matter of the privy government, and there is no need to let the Chinese book be signed. ”

Gao Ruone said yes, said no more, and bowed his head to prepare for ripeness.

The one who submits the documents to the palace is Tong Jintai Division, which is under the Privy Council, and the familiar form can be sent in immediately, bypassing the Chinese book. Xia Zhu really couldn't afford to spend it with Jia Changchao, so he thought of this way to let the officials of the DPRK and China see it first. The ripe form is a prepared Xuan, sent to the palace, with the seal is the emperor's edict. The Chinese book is issued as an edict, and the Privy Council is issued as a declaration, each with its own system. General government affairs, this is actually the itinerary arranged by the two governments for the emperor, and if there is no special reason, the emperor will arrange the schedule according to this.

If it is a Chinese book, the familiar form must be drawn up by the Sheren Academy, which is a check on the prime minister by the procedure. The Privy Council is in charge of military intelligence and pays attention to secrecy, so it is not so troublesome. Gao Ruone prepared the ripe form, Xia Zhu took the lead, and the three of them used the seal in the back. Such a trivial matter, Wang Yiyong can skip it.

In the post house, Wang Kai and Du Zhongxiao were idle and bored drinking, sitting opposite each other, a little depressed. When I came, I was full of interest, thinking that I had made a great contribution and it was time to enter the court to receive the reward, but I didn't expect to wait outside the city for two days, and there was no movement at all. When he was at war with the party in the past, Wang Kai also entered Beijing, where is it like now? At that time, as soon as he arrived outside the city, as long as the city gate was not closed, he immediately flew into the palace and played directly with the emperor.

After drinking a glass of wine, Wang Kai sighed and said: "We hurried all the way, and we didn't dare to delay at all, but we didn't want to go to Bianjing City, but we stopped in the post house." Zhijun, what do you say about this! How many affairs are there in Tanglong Town ahead, waiting for us to go back, how can we afford to delay! ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Let's rest in peace, what can we do?" Now that peace is negotiated with the party, there is an alliance with the Khitan, and there is a conflict on the border, who knows what the officials of the DPRK and China think? Without waiting for them to come up with a result, we are afraid that we will not be able to enter the city. ”