On the evening of the same day, Su Jin entered the palace to meet Zhao Zhen, and when he heard that Su Jin had returned from the northwest, Zhao Zhen was quite happy and summoned Su Jin in the dormitory; The two gentlemen exchanged a few words of greeting, and after retiring from everyone, they entered the main topic.

Zhao Zhen waved away the attendant, turned his head and asked, "How is the matter of the war horse?" ”

Su Jin said: "Fortunately, the Longshan South Horse Farm has raised 10,000 horses, the grass seeds sprinkled in the 10,000 acres of grassland are growing well, and the minister has selected 2,000 stallions. ”

Zhao Zhen smashed his fists and said in his palm: "Great, a piece of my heart is about to go, with a war horse, who country are I afraid of?" Su Jin, you have made another great contribution, but you have been promoted too quickly, and this matter cannot be publicized publicly, so I will not reward you this time. ”

Su Jin bowed and said: "If you serve the country, how can you ask for rewards everywhere." ”

Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "Very good, everyone is as high-spirited and energetic as Su Jin, why is my Great Song not strong?" ”

Su Jin said: "Your Majesty, don't put a high hat on me, in fact, this time I want to ask the emperor to order the Privy Council to receive the first batch of 8,000 war horses, I can't afford the essence and forage of these horses, if it goes on like this, I will be naked and begging when I enter Beijing next time." ”

Zhao Zhen laughed and said: "I'm crying poor again, I know that you can absolutely afford it, and I don't have any money for you now, so you can only find a way to solve it yourself." ”

Su Jin shouted, "Your Majesty, how can you do this? Isn't that my life? Millions are pressed on horses and grain, what do you want me to give to the depositors who save money when Huitong Yinzhuang settles at the end of the year? If that's the case, I'll stop trading the war horses in the future. ”

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said: "Don't be impatient, I don't have money, but I can replace it with others, this year the south is building water conservancy, this year the Yangtze River embankment on Huainan Road is also being reinforced, and the official roads in various places are also being renovated, this all costs money, I don't want to give, but I am really stretched, the matter of the horses being delivered to the army is naturally the top priority, but I know that you must have a way to solve it, but those mediocre people can't solve it on their own, I can only give money if I want them to do things." ”

Su Jin's eyes widened and said, "I'm unlucky if I co-author, right?" If you wear this high hat to the minister, half of the minister's hair will be white, and I can't do it. ”

Zhao Zhen looked at Su Jin and said sincerely: "Su Jin, I am talking to you from the bottom of my heart, I have high expectations for you, you know how I treat you, although you have made a lot of great achievements, but you have also made a lot of big mistakes, I have also forgiven you, you should repay my favor, how about thinking of a way?" The Privy Council budgeted a year ago, and this year's army's armor will be forged, and 20,000 new pairs of armor will be added. Every year, the imperial court only has an income of 20 or 30 million yuan, and in the year of Dafeng last year, the purchase method you proposed saved 3 million, but even then it was only 32 million yuan, and money was needed everywhere, and everyone said that his affairs were the most urgent, what do you think I can do? ”

Su Jin looked at Zhao Zhen's haggard appearance and pitiful tone, and he was also a little soft-hearted, the emperor thought that it was better to be a landowner and be happy, worrying about this and that all day long, and vomiting blood when he thought about it, it was really not interesting.

But Su Jin can't go back empty-handed, use his own money to fill the holes of the country, Su Jin doesn't live or die, if he goes on like this, he will go bankrupt, and when the whole family drinks the northwest wind?

After thinking about it, Su Jin said: "The emperor's words have been said to this point, and if the minister doesn't agree, it will be too much to give the emperor a son." ”

Zhao Zhenxi said: "I know that you are well aware of the righteousness, I remember your favor, and when the court relaxes, it will be paid in full, plus interest?" ”

Su Jin waved his hand and said: "The emperor doesn't need to paint sugar cakes for his ministers, you haven't given me the grain money I paid for Yangzhou grain affairs the year before last, and I don't want to; I can't get this money, so can I ask the emperor for other things? ”

Zhao Zhen said: "You say, as long as you don't go out of line." ”

Su Jin said: "I want a place. ”

Zhao Zhen was stunned and said, "Want a place?" You mean fiefdoms? ”

Su Jin shook his head and said: "No, I heard that there is a place in the east of Yinzhou on Yanyan Road that produces oil, and refining can obtain hot oil, but it costs a lot, but this thing can be made into ink after burning, and the minister wants to make mills and sell them, and return the funds, otherwise where will the minister get the money to continue to drink the Yeli tribe to do business?" ”

Zhao Zhen was stunned and said: "Ink? How much can you earn? You wouldn't be like that, would you? ”

Su Jin said with a smile: "You don't care about this, the emperor only needs to give me the barren mountains and mountains in the east of Yindongfang, and in the future, the ministers will supply the imperial court war horses for free, but the amount is limited to 10,000 horses per year, and the ministers will not be able to bear it." ”

Zhao Zhen was very suspicious of Su Jin's motives, but Zhao Zhen also knew that the land of Ningdong bordered Western Xia and was a barren barren mountain range. Besides, there are still a few states that produce oil, which is not a precious place; But since Su Jin wanted that place to make ink or do something else, he would also go with him, after all, for Zhao Zhen, a barren mountain and wild mountain was not worth the high value of the supply of 10,000 war horses a year.

"Okay, I will love that silver and give you fifty miles, you don't regret it, 10,000 war horses a year, one less I will turn my face."

Su Jin smiled: "How dare the minister disrespect the promise, and the minister still wants a head?" ”

Zhao Zhenwan said: "It's good if you understand, you work hard, in a few years, I will transfer you back to Beijing, and then you will have to pick up the heavy burden, don't make any tricks in the next few years." ”

Su Jin nodded yes, Junchen took two sips of tea, and the topic changed, and naturally turned to the changes of Fan Zhongyan and others.

Zhao Zhen coughed and asked Su Jindao: "I heard that in the winter of last year, Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, Fubi and others invited you to change the law together, but you refused, right?" ”

Su Jin said: "Yes." ”

Zhao Zhen said: "It's strange to me, during the palace test, your strategy was the Tao, and it seemed to be cynical and change the world's attitude, why did they invite you but you refused?" ”

Su Jin said: "The minister doesn't have that talent, so it's better not to make trouble." ”

Zhao Zhen frowned and said: "If you don't say it, you must be insincere, I see that you are extremely interested in changing the law, otherwise how could you immediately write a strategy and ten evils?" And as if the rules were well thought out, I ordered Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi and others to carry out reforms, and the blueprint was based on your strategy, and Fan Zhongyan said that your strategy and ten disadvantages have been quite detailed, and you can proceed with it almost without how to modify it, but you, the initiator, refuse to participate, I really feel strange. ”

Su Jin looked at Zhao Zhen and said: "Actually, the emperor should understand what I mean, last year the emperor summoned Wei Chen to ask the minister if he could make changes according to the ten disadvantages of the policy, and the minister had already made it clear at that time that some items are feasible, and some items are not feasible at the moment; Although the medicine of the tiger and wolf seems to have immediate results, it is also quite toxic, and the minister does not dare to use it rashly, but the minister still insists on the step-by-step method. ”

Zhao Zhen said: "Are you saying that Fan Zhongyan and them are too aggressive? ”

Su Jin shook his head and said: "The minister doesn't dare to comment on it, the minister is not in his position and does not seek his own politics, the change of the law is only supported by the emperor, Fan Shuai, Han Shuai, Fubi, Lord Ouyang and other famous ministers participate, we should not interfere." ”

Zhao Zhen said: "The more I listen, the more I feel that you have something to say. ”

Su Jin got up and knelt down and saluted: "The minister doesn't mean anything else, the minister only asks the emperor to promise Weichen one thing today." ”

Zhao Zhen was surprised: "What is this for?" Flat! You name it. ”

Su Jin said: "Lord Fan, Lord Han, Lord Fu, Lord Ouyang, Lord Bao, and all the adults who are actively promoting the change of the law are all for the sake of the Great Song Dynasty, no matter what happens in the future, the minister dares to ask the emperor to remember this, don't believe the villain's slander; The minister did not want them to be slandered, and the minister also hoped that the emperor could grasp the priorities of the change, and if he was too hasty, it would lead to a lot of trouble. ”

Zhao Zhen felt more and more strange, why did Su Jin seem to imply that the change would fail? even pleaded for Fan Zhongyan and others in advance, Zhao Zhen felt a little funny.

"Get up, you're too much to do." Zhao Zhen said with a smile.

Su Jin didn't move, and arched his hand: "Ask the emperor to promise Weichen." ”

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said indifferently: "Promise you, I really can't understand you, what are you thinking about?" ”

Su Jin was indifferent, and said in his heart: You will be scared to death if I tell my secret, if I recall it carefully, I can calculate your death date, but will I tell you?