"Mr. Fuxiu advocates the study of the Holy King, and asks the prime minister to return to His Majesty, although the intention is good." Wu Chichang stumbled, "But, but at this time, it is very scary." At present, the scholars, governors, and regimental training envoys of various states and counties are all elected by the squires of Xiasheng, and only the assassin is appointed by the imperial court. If you are still in power with Your Majesty, do you still want to return to the old system of the imperial court and be elected as a magistrate by the Ministry of Officials? The so-called flooding is difficult to recover, so it is necessary for the scholars and governors to desperately keep their official positions. Although they can't interfere in the affairs of our Chuzhou and Taizhou, they can support the imperial court to abolish the salt tax, and instead buy Sichuan salt from the Xia State to supply the southeast, and pull out our foundation. The people's hearts are not as good as in ancient times, and it is impossible for the second duke of Zhou Zhao to return to the king, and it is impossible to reproduce it today. Even if Chen Shaoyang agreed, the gentry of Tianxia Prefecture and County did not agree. Mr. Fuxiu, this is hard to recover! ”

"Are you doing lobbyists for Chen Shaoyang?" Lu Yunsun's face turned cold, "Are you still blackmailing the old man?" ”

"The disciple doesn't dare," Zhan Deshi's face turned pale and he defended, "It's just that Chen Shaoyang's hand is too vicious." Jinghu South and North Road have been importing private salt from Shuzhong, if we go against the Prime Minister in terms of etiquette, as long as Chen Shaoyang is slightly biased towards them, Xia Guo's private salt will pass throughout the country unimpeded. He let out a long sigh. Because the salt tax is extremely important, the salt official is a shortcut to the official career, Jingdong, Huainan, Liangzhejiang, Fujian, Liangguang coastal officials in these salt field prefectures and counties, it is very easy to make political achievements, promoted to the center of the imperial court, Fan Wenzhenggong and many other famous ministers have also served as salt officials. Therefore, despite the people's complaints about the salt tax, no matter which minister is in power, he does not dare to easily change the salt tax and the salt monopoly system. However, the Liao people entered the prison and almost wiped out all the officials in the capital, and even if they escaped, they were deliberately screened and used by the prime minister because of "abandoning their posts and absconding". In today's court, the officials from the north and south roads of Jinghu are very powerful, and most of them support the purchase of salt from Shu. Other inland prefectures and counties also want their governments to open up the Xia Guoyan Road, and in contrast, the opposition between the DPRK and China is much less than before.

"The Prime Minister's Mansion doesn't have to change the salt system," Zhang Anshi looked at the old man opposite with some concern, "As long as Yanchang Prefecture and County don't go against the Prime Minister's Mansion, there is still room for negotiation." After finishing speaking, seeing that Lu Yunsun was not angry, Zhang Anshi sighed softly. Although the old man is still stubborn and resolute, his temper is still much calmer than before. Zhang Anshi couldn't help but have a glimmer of hope in his heart, and said in a low voice: "The salt tax is related to the livelihood of more than a dozen states and counties, Lord Lu, you can't just go your own way." ”

"Teacher, you might as well put up with it for the time being," Zhan Deshi's face showed indignation, "Chen Shaoyang and Deng Shouyi are so aggressive, I want to see what good results they have!" These words were immediately echoed by the other two, and everyone scolded the Prime Minister for being too vicious, however, outside the words, he still advised Lu Fuxiu not to embarrass the Prime Minister in the Great Ceremony Discussion.

"Alas-" Lu Yunsun sighed and waved his hand, "I understand what you mean. He picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp, the tea was already slightly cold, with a bitter taste. Lu Yunsun smacked his lips and closed his eyes, as if he was detached, but the expression on his face was very gloomy. "Lu ......" Zhang Anshi's face was puzzled, and Zhan Deshi motioned for him to stop talking, and nodded towards the other two.

............

The thick smell of gunpowder smoke permeated the city of Jeju. For more than ten days, the shelling of the Liao army has almost never stopped. The area around Jeju is mountainous, making it ideal for setting up barrel artillery to bombard the city. Countless black shadows streaked across the night sky, like a huge whip shadow pumping, with a huge whistling sound smashing inside and outside the city wall, "bang", and occasionally a few screams in the night sky were even more palpitating. Wherever the Liao army's artillery stones were hit, the ground was trembling slightly, and the ashes of the city walls and houses were constantly falling down. In order not to give directions to the enemy forces outside the city, the entire city of Jeju was plunged into deep darkness. Not only is it dark, but it's as quiet as a dead city. Occasionally, a child cries and is immediately covered with panic. The strong men all went up to the city wall, and the old and weak women and children stayed at home and begged for the blessings of the gods and Buddhas. The roaring cannons, the shouts of killing, faintly came from all sides, and the whip was like a whip in people's hearts.

"Lord Xin, Lord Xin." The defenders huddled in the corridor to avoid the cannon stones, recognized the Lord Zhizhou patrolling the city, and stood up one by one.

Xin Zan was dressed in a military uniform, and despite the tiredness on his face, he still cheered up, signaled to the soldiers, and stopped from time to time to encourage two sentences. After experiencing the southern invasion war, the Liao army became more and more proficient in using artillery to attack the city. The Song artillery at the head of the city counterattacked slightly, and the Liao army would immediately gather a larger number of artillery to bombard back in the direction of the cannonball. The fortress was built on the extension of the Jeju city wall, and the muzzles of the guns followed the direction of the city wall, and each time the cannonballs were fired far or near, most of them fell near the city wall. The Liao army attacked day and night for half a month, not only could the people almost unable to hold on, but even the city wall had many cracks, and it was in danger. Xin Zan maintained order in the city, distributing food to the people and organizing strong women to repair the damaged city walls.

At the height of the battle, the cannons and stones in the sky were like raindrops, the Liao army outside the city was like flying locusts, and the Song army guarding the city was hiding in Tibet, and still suffered heavy casualties. Now it is a day to drag on for a day, where the city wall is tight, the regimental training envoy Wang Zhidao led the elite in the city to help.

"My lord, where are the reinforcements from the imperial court?" "Lord Hou won't leave us alone, will he?"

"The artillery of the Liao people is so powerful, is Jeju finished?"

The soldiers described them as withered and worried, and Xin Zan could only inspire them with righteousness when they asked questions. The Liao army was very cunning, and adopted the method of encircling three without one, trying to induce the Song army to abandon the city and flee, and then kill them in the field. Fortunately, the Jeju regimental training envoy Wang Zhidao and Zhizhou Xinzan both swore to defend the city to the death and stabilized the hearts of the people. The group practice made the strong men of the Wangdao clan go to the city wall, and the old and weak women and children were concentrated in the house, and once the city was broken, they were ready to move their families to righteousness. As time went on, the casualties of the Song army increased, the people's hearts gradually became depressed, and Xin Zan's own confidence became less and less. Urgent documents were sent to Dengzhou every day, but there was no trace of reinforcements at all.

"Reinforcements, reinforcements!" Sinzan slammed his fist into the hard battlements, and fire burst out of his eyes.

The wilderness outside the city is like a dark abyss, countless bonfires are devil's blood-red eyes, and black shadows fly up from the Liao army camp, and even the stone troughs, tombstones, stone thresholds, etc., which are fed to pigs, have been made into stone bullets by the Liao army, and smashed into Jeju City day and night. And the Liao army is like a beast hidden in the darkness, while maintaining great pressure on the city of Jeju, while waiting for the defenders to exhaust themselves, fall, and then pounce on the prey and tear it to pieces.

In the military tent in the camp of the Liao army, Marshal Xiao Lira, Prince Yelu Yilie, the cavalry army were all under Xiao Tachi, and the infantry army was under the command of Yan Zongbi and other generals sat cross-legged in a circle. The torches burned brightly on all sides, illuminating the faces and moods of everyone in the tent clearly.

"The Song people really dare to come to the aid of the relief state?" Yelu Yilie asked, "Didn't Uncle say that the Song people are cowardly, fighting in the house, and they are on guard against each other, so they won't come to save Jingdong Road?" The prince's face was excited and eager to try. Xiao Tachi is about the same age as the crown prince, and he is much calmer than him. Wanyan Zongbi looked respectful, and calculated in his heart that in order to lure the Song State to gather reinforcements to relieve the state, Xiao Dutong did not urge the Jurchen army to attack the city with all its strength. If the reinforcements are defeated in the field, with a little more effort, Jeju Fortress can be captured. Most of Jingdong Road is the same as Hebei, a horse is flat, there is no danger to defend, and after conquering Jeju, only Denglai, which is surrounded by the sea on three sides, is left, and Jingdong Road is all in the hands of Liao.

"Aren't they the ones we're waiting for?" Xiao Lili smiled a little embarrassedly. The crown prince Yeluieliel did not like long and dreary sieges. The so-called siege of the city for reinforcements was also a plan from Wanyan Zongbi, but he didn't expect it to really attract reinforcements from the Song army. Originally, the three towns of Henan Province in the Tokyo Left-behind Division cobbled together 50,000 horses. It is said that Han Shizhong's department also set sail in Jiangning, but the wind direction of the sea route is unpredictable, and he doesn't know when he will reach Laizhou.

"Since this Song army is the most arrogant," Xiao Tachi said with a smile, "Defeat them, and the rest will be terrified." Xiao Du has a good strategy. ”

"The Song reinforcements are divided into orders, so it is convenient for us to eat them one by one." Xiao Weili said with a smile, "Although the people of the left-behind division have always dared to fight, after Zhao Xingde was taken away by the Song Dynasty, several generals did not subordinate each other, and their strength has been reduced by half. It's okay to protect yourself, but if you want to fight us in a decisive battle, you can't do it. Maybe Henan will also take it. The generals laughed together. He left 40,000 to confront the Zhenguo army across the river, personally led 30,000 horses to attack Jingdong Road, and requisitioned 50,000 troops along the way. The crown prince Yelu Yilie led 20,000 Erb cavalry and 30,000 northern cavalry. After a winter recuperation in the north, morale was high. The cavalry did not participate in siege battles, and held back their strength to fight a battle with the Song army.

"Okay, war, war!" Yelu Yilie turned sideways and said, "Tachi, this is the first time I have been on the battlefield in person, I must teach the Song people a good lesson!" His eyes flashed with excitement, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, showing full confidence and pride. Xiao Tachi nodded and did not speak. In the Khitan New Year, Xiao Tachi and Yelupu got married quickly. Marrying the princess made Xiao Tachi truly have the identity of a concubine, and became closer to the royal family, especially the queen and the prince.

Yelu Yilie's mood, Xiao Tachi can understand. Ever since his grandfather, Haidu Khan, was killed by the Xia people, he no longer had this childish mentality. Yelu Yi has his father, and Xiao Tachi's father, the useless man, has been hiding under the wings of Da Liao since he invaded the Xia Kingdom a few years ago and was repulsed, and he seems to be content with the status quo and honestly stay in the fiefdom of Yunzhou. It is said that the daily life is almost the same as that of the Song people. Xiao Tachi and the princess got married, and the Murbo Department also sent congratulatory gifts, in addition to gold and silver, blankets, etc., there were also a bunch of books and calligraphy and paintings. Fortunately, Yelu Dashi didn't care about him, joked a few words, and laughed off. Xiao Tachi felt very embarrassed because of this.