"Xianggong, today is a double happiness!"

In Zhang Dan's study, Cai Jing looked at Zhang Daxiang, who was in a beautiful state of Xixi, and reported with a smile: "Haizhou's maritime merchants, Wu Yanen, the right Cheng Zhilang, sent a letter to Wu Dongmen. ”

As he spoke, Cai Jing glanced at Wu Haogu, who was standing in Zhang Dan's study.

Wu Haogu hurriedly handed over Wu Yanen's book with both hands, and a scholar who was waiting in Zhangdun's study took it and respectfully handed it to his master.

"A maritime merchant's book? What's the point? Zhang Dian asked with a frown.

"Xianggong," Wu Haogu explained with a smile, "this person is not an ordinary maritime merchant, one of his clan brothers is a liberal arts scholar of the Goryeo Kingdom, and now he has become a great official. ”

"Goryeo Kingdom Jinshi?" Zhang Dian frowned, "Why don't you go to the imperial examination in me?" ”

Cai Jing said: "Maybe you don't have real talent to learn, right?" How good would it be to be a jinshi in my court? What is the good thing to cross the ocean to Korea? ”

"That's right." Zhang Dan nodded.

In fact, this Jinshi who has no real talent and real learning is Wu Yanchong, a famous general of Goryeo. In the later Goryeo-Jurchen War, he made a lot of contributions as Yin Qiang's deputy, and there were really few Jinshi in the Great Song Dynasty who could compare with him in military ability...... If this guy's moral article can be better, he can be a jinshi in the Great Song Dynasty, and most of them are now a new party cadre, maybe he is now working as a pacifier on Shaanxi Sixth Road.

"Oh, is Goryeo really going to war with a female straight man? Will they be able to win? At this time, Zhang Duan had already read the book at a glance and ten lines.

"I don't know," replied Wu Haogu, "but there is always a distinction between the Goryeo and the Nünao. At that time, no matter who wins, it will be a big trouble for Liao. Moreover, as far as our DPRK is concerned, if they want to fight, they will inevitably have to buy armaments, grain and grass, and sell the spoils of war...... There's a lot to be made in this, so why don't we go with the flow? If it works properly, it may be able to bring Goryeo and Nuzhi over. ”

"Makes sense!" Zhang Dian frowned slightly, "But if Goryeo defeats Nuzhi, I'm afraid it will be another Goguryeo, and it's best to let them divide the victory and defeat without deciding life and death." ”

Compared with the Jurchens, Zhang Dian was obviously more worried about the Goryeo people becoming another Goguryeo.

Cai Jing said: "If Goryeo really becomes Goguryeo, the Liao State will be attacked on its back, and the land of Yanyun will be restored." As for Goryeo...... It's a big deal to transfer the New Year's coins to Liao. ”

Hehe, it's addictive to give away New Year's coins!

Wu Haogu thought to himself: Cai Jing thought about it, and he actually wanted to send money to Goryeo sticks!

Zhang Dian shook his head and said with a smile: "Yes, even if you become Goguryeo, I don't have to be afraid of them in the Great Song Dynasty...... As long as the Privy Council's Department of Military Studies can do it well, there is no need to be afraid. ”

The adulterous appearance is really insightful and knows what is most important!

Zhang Dian thought for a while and said to Wu Haogu: "This book can be sent to me, and you don't have to take it to the official family." You go back and talk to Wu Yanen and ask him to come to me. ”

"Whoa."

Wu Haogu responded. I thought: If I can see Zhang Dan, the old man of Wu Yanen must be satisfied. As for the Wu family's "big deal", it is estimated that Wu Yanpet will have to come to Kaifeng Mansion in person to facilitate it.

But this matter has nothing to do with me, so let's hurry up and deal with the affairs of the lighthouse market.

"In addition," Zhang Dian said at this time, "Wu Chongdao, the specific negotiations in Jiehe Shang City will begin soon, and you and Zhang Tianjue will go together to negotiate with the Liao." He's a man of letters, he doesn't know how to do business, so you have to be prepared, understand? ”

"Whoa."

During this time, negotiations at the top level of Jiehe Shang City were going on, and in July, the envoy sent to the Liao State to celebrate his birthday (Yelu Hongji's birthday was the second day of the eighth month) brought with him an official credential. According to the report of Li Zhong, who was specifically in charge of the preliminary negotiations, the Liao side was very interested in the proposal of the Jiehe commercial market - as long as the tax revenue could be guaranteed, the Khitans did not care about a "free commercial market" standing between the river, could it be that the Song army still dared to send troops from there to fight Yanjing? It's impossible to win......

Therefore, Zhang Dian estimated that negotiations on specific matters would begin soon. And this negotiation requires the next Hebei East Road transfer envoy Zhang Shangying and Wu Haogu to go together.

Wu Haogu, who received Zhang's words, left with Cai Jing and went home to prepare to meet with Zhang's henchman Zhang Shangying. And as soon as he and Cai Jing left, Zhang Dan's preparatory grandson-in-law, Right Deng Shilang, and Ji Yi, the editor of the Editorial Department of the Privy Council, rushed over.

It turned out that Ji Yi also spent a lot of money on Gao Yu, so Gao Yu immediately went to Ji Yi's mansion after sending King Duan into the palace, and informed Ji Yi, who was studying behind closed doors to prepare for the imperial examination, the news that Zhao Ji was about to become a father. Ji Yi immediately came to the Prime Minister's Mansion to report to Zhang Dian.

"Xianggong," Ji Yi saw the joy on Zhang Dan's face, and he already understood in his heart, "You already know that King Duan is about to have a queen?" ”

"Got it." Zhang Duan nodded, "Wu Dalang just came with Cai Yuanchang. He paused, "By the way, do you recognize Wu Yanen?" ”

Ji Yi was stunned for a moment, and immediately nodded and said: "I recognize, he is the owner of the Wu family firm in Haizhou, and he is the largest maritime merchant in Haizhou." ”

"He has a brother who is an official in Goryeo?"

Ji Yi replied: "Yes, it seems to be called Wu Yanzhong, and it is Langzhong of the Goryeo National Military Department." ”

"Oh." Zhang Dian nodded, and said, "This morning, Wang Shu sent someone to send good news, and the blind envoy trapped in Qingtang New City asked to surrender. ”

Ji Yi's face was overjoyed when he heard this: "Please surrender blindly?" Isn't the river set to happen? ”

Blind Zheng is the fourth-generation leader of the Na Gang regime, but he himself is not of the bloodline of the Tu Gang (the founder of the Au Gang regime is a descendant of the Tubo Zampu), but the adopted son of Dong Yu, the grandson of the Gang Guy, not even a Tubo, but a Khotanese. Because of his impure bloodline, his rule in Qingtang was not stable, and the people of the Ao Luo family did not obey him, so he has been very weak since he ascended the throne. Not long ago, he encountered a rebellion from the aristocracy, lost his nest Qingtang, and fled to Qingtang New Town with his wife to cut his family.

Under the rule of such a weak leader, Qingtang Tubo was equal to a group of dragons without a leader, so the western army under the command of Wang Shu and Wang Zhan fought all the way to Miaochuan, which was not far from Qingtang New Town, without much effort, and also received a letter of surrender from Blind Zheng. Won this river war almost without bloodshed!

And the river is certain, and further west is the nomadic area of the Yellow Uighurs (Qaidam Basin). If the yellow-headed Uighurs could be appeased, then the Great Song would be able to establish contact with the Western Uighurs to the west of Western Xia. The Manichaean monks sent by the Uighurs from Xizhou had recently contacted Ji Yi, who was in Liao.

Incidentally, there are not many yellow-headed Uighurs left. They originally lived in the Hexi Corridor, and after being expelled from the party, the population dropped sharply, and now there are tens of thousands of people at most, and there is no political power, just a group of tribes, and it is not difficult for the Great Song Dynasty to buy them.

"Xianggong," Ji recalled, "if the Uighurs of the Western Prefecture can be contacted through the Hehuang Tubo and the Huangtou Uighurs, then we will be able to obtain good horses and horse breeders from the Western Regions...... Now that the Privy Council Military Science Department has it, it will definitely be able to train elite soldiers in the future, if there is another good horse, not only will the recovery of Yanyun be just around the corner, but it will be impossible for me to regain the prestige of the Great Song Dynasty, and it is not impossible to restore the weather of the Han and Tang Dynasties. ”

Zhang Dian glanced at his future grandson-in-law, shook his head and said, "Remember, you don't have to ask about this now. The most important thing now is next year's Spring Festival, your article knowledge, there is no problem in the Jinshi, but whether you can enter the first class is not necessarily! And you have made great contributions before, and the official family has summoned you a few times, if you do well in the exam, it is possible for the world's great leaders. At that time, you can directly grant a county, and after three years, it will be a general judgment, and then you will be able to use it when you expire with the test hall. ”

The Jinshi of the Song Dynasty were generally sent by the Zheng Jiupin, the Wensan official from the Jiupin, and the shogunate officials such as the judge and the secretary of the judge. Only the first three Jinshi can be conferred relatively high official positions, such as Dali Commentator, Two Envoys (pacification envoys, transfer envoys), shogunate official offices, or magistrates. Among them, the magistrate is a dispatch that can only be awarded by the champion!

However, most of the champions who have been awarded the magistrate have not done well, after all, the champion came out of the article, and the magistrate is a very difficult official. But Ji Yi is an exception, he is not from a righteous family who farms, but a scholar from a wealthy businessman, and his ability to do things is already strong, but there are a group of brothers and nephews who can do things in the family. There is no problem in managing a small county.

Zhang Dian paused, and said: "If Qingtang can really make a big decision, the old man plans to set up a Xining Prefecture there, and you will be the magistrate of Qingtang County, the first county of Xining Prefecture...... Whether or not you can appease the yellow-headed Uighurs and open up a trade route to Xizhou depends on your own ability. If you can really bring good horses from Xizhou, why can't Mani Temple return to Kaifeng Mansion? ”

Ji Yi breathed a sigh of relief, Zhang Dian did not close the door to reopen the Mani Temple, but just asked him to be admitted to the top first, at least enter the first class (the county governor of Xining Prefecture is not a good errand, and he should be able to go to the first class), and then find a way to open up the Uighur trade route.

The military expenditure of Xihe Road has always been a headache, because the land owned by Xihe Road is barren and inaccessible, and most of the residents are fanbu, not only can they not collect any taxes, but they also have to be bought by rewards. Under normal circumstances, once Hehuang and other places are restored, the cost of Xihe Road of three or four million a year cannot be saved.

If you want to make some money back on Xihe Road, you can't rely on farming, the only way is to trade with the Western Regions - it's not always bitter there! If it has always been bitter, what did the Han and Tang dynasties spend so much effort to fight westward? The area there was a rich Silk Road in the Han and Tang Dynasties!

If the Silk Road is reopened...... Are you afraid of three or four million taxes a year? With money to be made, the maintenance of Xihe Road is not a problem.