Han Gang worked hard and came up with merit. So for a long time, it has not been very pleasing to look at those ministers who take the official route.

In the old years, the Yellow River burst and changed to flow eastward, resulting in frequent floods. The imperial court prepared to renovate the river defenses and asked the ministers for advice. Sima Guang played repeatedly, and the imperial court saw that he was talking about water conservancy, so it decided to let him raise the river defense fortifications and preside over the construction of the river defense fortifications according to his own proposal. Then Lu Gongshu said that this is not the method of preferential treatment of Confucian ministers - 'not so praise the near post and treat the Confucian ministers'. However, Sima Guang did not take the initiative to invite himself into battle, but later took over the errand of inspecting the interests of river defense.

In other words, the so-called Confucian ministers only need to cross their waists to speak, and do not need to do things. Supervision is okay, but doing things is free. If you must send them to do practical things, it will be 'not to praise the near post and treat the Confucian ministers'.

But several of the core of the New Party are from practical backgrounds. Wang Anshi, Lu Huiqing, and Zhang Dian have never done imperial history, and Han Gang is the same. It's not by scolding people.

This is because he has a lot of identification with the New Party, and he is doing things anyway. There is never anything wrong with not doing things, and you can stand on the dry shore and laugh and scold from your heart, but officials who do things can be singled out and thorned.

Han Jiang was also displeased when he heard this: "It's not for businessmen, but for state affairs." Otherwise, why do we need to work and discuss this matter in the Chongzheng Palace?! ”

Li Qingchen opened his mouth and said: "Could it be that the two societies of Qiyun and Horse Racing have been fighting for state affairs in the past few days?" ”

Li Qingchen completely did not give face to the prime minister, and Han Jiang's face turned blue: "That's the ignorance of businessmen, don't you know what is important after reading the book of sages?!" ”

"It's not just businessmen!" Li Qingchen refuted it faster.

As soon as Li Qingchen and Han Jiang argued, Han Gang was easy to speak. He stood up and played a round game, "Xianggong, Taicheng, and listen to Han Gang's words." ”

Han Gang spoke, and Li Qingchen immediately took a step back, no longer arguing with Han Jiang, but secretly scolded Han Gang for being cunning. He didn't want to contradict the prime minister, and if Cai Jing said afterwards that he was willing to sacrifice for state affairs, he would be a villain in vain, but after Han Gang deliberately pointed out Cai Jing's official position in public, he had to come out to maintain the authority of Yushitai, otherwise he would not be able to convince the public.

Han Jiang frowned directly, just now Han Gang forced Li Qingchen out, and the Zai Fu in the palace could see it.

He turned to the queen and said, "Your Highness, in the opinion of the minister, this time unless it is the envoy of the governor, Yelu Yixin will only see him once." Those who were sent out to negotiate should be no more than first-class domestic slaves. Although it is a state affair, it is not too much to send a good minister to deal with domestic slaves. After all, it is still up to the businessmen to talk. It is most appropriate for the merchant to let the merchant negotiate, even if it fails, or if it spreads, it will not damage the dignity of the court. He looked at the chief executive in the palace, "As for winning the trust of the Liao people, it is better to send an old and stable nobleman to serve in the Department of Health and Welfare, and let Li Mingde accompany him and go to the Liao country." ”

Everyone in the palace knows who Li Mingde is, a pox doctor who specializes in planting pox for the children of noble families, and is very famous in Beijing. The so-called noble relatives originally refer to the clan, but it can also be extended to the ranks of foreign relatives. The clan must be out of consideration, of course, it can only be a relative, in fact, it is a family member. If you make a name in the Department of Health and Welfare, you can get a good reputation. Moreover, even if there is a precedent for the Ministry of Health and Welfare to send people to the Liao State, it will not cause discussion, and it can win the trust of Yelu Yixin more than any courtier—even if the Song people have any tricks, they will never throw the maiden family of the curtain queen out as a sacrifice.

But he hesitated to the queen. Originally, in the business group dealing with the Liao people, there were family members involved, but after all, it was an in-law on the other side of the Xiang family, so it didn't hurt face. But now that I want to show my family, what should I do if I am seduced and break the door? Moreover, Han Gang is the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and it is impossible for his relatives to stand side by side with him, and it is impossible to promote him at the same time, so what position should be arranged.

She looked at the Zaifukes, hoping to hear their opinions. It's just that the princes of the two provinces fell silent.

Han Gang has made a clear statement on this matter, and he still adheres to his previous proposition. Naturally, the two people from the West Mansion would not object, and the three people from the East Mansion did not intend to risk angering the entire civil service system after Li Qingchen knocked out all the possibilities of the close civil servants going to the Liao State with a stick. What Wenchen doesn't think he's important? Li Qingchen's words are what they like to hear. In this case, there is no need to take the dirty water on the body - one is Shilin Qing to spread some strange words, and the other is to anger the Chinese courtiers of the DPRK, which is more important? Who wouldn't figure it out - let Han Gang deal with it himself!

As a zaifu, what needs to be considered is the trade-off between inside and outside. Han Gang's proposal really does not damage the country's face, as Han Gang said, it will only be Yelu Yixin's house slaves who sit down with the merchants to talk, and the court does not need to be responsible for the actions of the merchants. There are people and soldiers who have fled to Liao every year, and the court can blame the local government for being too harsh, but the businessmen went to Liao to make money, and the court has no following proposition on this.

The most important thing about the whole thing is the word default!

In other words, when the situation changes, the court can tighten the rope without saying hello. Since the rope trap has been put around the necks of the merchants, the Zaifu naturally have nothing to say. There will be some murmur, but there will be no opponents of any policy. Almost all of the princes of the two governments are new parties, and the old party has survived the tsunami of several counterattacks back then, so are you still worried that some small storms will not be successful?

Xiang waited for the queen for a long time, and saw that he couldn't wait for the arguments of the Zaifu, and after thinking about it, he felt that they should be Han Gang's opinion was correct, so he acquiesced. Now that the Zaifu have no opinions, there is no need to think about it again.

"This lieutenant official of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is it a hook or a hook?" She asked Han Gang. Compared with the promotion or the same lifting of the Department of Health, the prefix with the pipe hook is one level worse, and the hook is one level lower. It is impossible to lift or lift at the same level or close to Han Gang, so you can choose between the two titles of Gou Dang and Guan Gou.

"This matter is free for His Highness and the ministers to decide."

Han Gang had already intervened in the appointment and dismissal of personnel, and if he interfered in specific official positions, it would be a violation of his authority. The inside is all in hand, and the face is so good that it is left behind.

After discussing a few words with the empress and the three governors of the Eastern Mansion, he soon made a candidate to go to Liao as an envoy under the pretense of being in charge of the Gou Housheng Division.

Let his cousin go out and solve a big problem to the queen. After a pause, she spoke again: "Merchants need a large amount of silk to trade with the Liao, is the imperial court buying a part of it and providing it to them?" ”

"No!" Cai Qu and Zhang Dian opposed at the same time. And buying is already a bad thing, and the benefits are returned to the merchants, who is the fool in the court!?

Zhang Dian came out to defend: "Those merchants will handle it themselves, the taxes that should be collected will be collected, and they will be punished if they violate the law, and they will not interfere except for trade with the Liao." In case the government intervenes to come in, those merchants may even take the opportunity to buy from the people. For example, the two Zhejiang tribute silk, the rule is to buy and buy. In the old years, the price was in line with people's favor, and it was paid in advance by the government, so everyone was enthusiastic. This is the law of the people. However, until the implementation of the market law, the price of silk on the market has doubled compared with more than 100 years ago, and the price of buying has not changed at all, and there is even a practice of forcibly taking silk without giving money, which has lost the original intention of convenience for the people. ”

"Since you are a businessman, you have to follow the businessman's practice. You can buy it from where you should buy it, and you can't use the prestige of the court to fish the people. ”

Han Gang is also afraid that good things will turn into bad things. There is a world-famous trading house in his family, but Han Gang never believes in the ethics of merchants. In particular, businessmen who are combined with power tend to be more greedy and unrestrained, and they must be suppressed.

And he didn't take the task as seriously as outsiders thought. If you want to buy Yelu Yixin by economic means, and then affect the foundation of the Liao people's rule, it is not impossible, but it is too laborious. Do you still have to pin your hopes on the stupidity and greed of the enemy, which is completely inconsistent with Han Gang's character.

The real reliance is still on industry, even if it is only a handicraft, which is better than pure commerce. Han Gang is very sober about this. It is iron and blood that really determine the victory or defeat of the two countries, not the tinkling of gold coins.

What Han Gang wants to do is to expand the coverage of interests and make the cake bigger. While Yelu Yixin benefits himself, he can also share a share of the benefits to others. He will inevitably wholeheartedly support Han Gang's plan. On the side of the Great Song Dynasty, the scope of trade expanded. In fact, it can attract more Liao people to do business, with the big Liao Shangfu taking the lead, other tribes and wealthy families will definitely squeeze up to get a piece of the pie. With the expansion of the scope of trade between the two countries, maybe even war horses can be bought. For the Liao people, the benefits of robbery are not as good as doing business, and who would go to make a foolish fight?

The whole thing was almost finalized, and basically the plan was set according to Han Gang's idea. At the end of the summary, Queen Xiang listened attentively. Shi Deyi did not squint at this time, but he held a piece of music and confessed his guilt outside, and then walked to the center of the hall, with a gold-lacquered token in his palm, "Sage, Huanqing sent the gold medal to report urgently, and the Liao people had already besieged Pule City ten days ago." ”

"Soldiers besiege Pule City?!" Several people asked at the same time. Is this preparing to fight?! No, counting the time that the report was on the road, Pu Lecheng should have already started fighting.

"But you want to send someone to help?" Xiang asked the queen urgently, and even fidgeted.

"Your Highness, don't worry, the city lord of Pule City, the son of Pu Nai, is good at the art of war and has many merits. There are more than 3,000 elites under his command. Unless there is a shortage of food and weapons......"

Zhang Dian interrupted him: "Pule City, Weizhou, Yanzhou, Mingsha City, several cities and military villages adjacent to the Liao people in Guanxi, there are abundant grain, grass and weapons. The grain in Pule City is enough to last for a year. ”

Han Gang matched it well: "In this way, there is no need to rush to send troops, and let Xuanfu Si choose the right time." ”

Of course, there are no opponents to such a proposal, and the Shaanxi Xuanfu Division was established for this purpose.

seemed to have solved a matter, but Empress Xiang was still puzzled, and couldn't help but ask again: "In case the Liao people really start attacking Pule City, will this make the Liao matter a delay?" ”

Han Gang shook his head: "According to the minister's opinion, the plan to form an embassy does not need to be stopped. It's just a matter of seeing what the situation in Kansai will become. If Pule City is broken, everything will be suspended. Since then, the army has been reorganized to fight and avenge the dead soldiers. But if Pule City is held and the Liao people are defeated, then they can send people as usual. ”

Zhang Dian has always cooperated well with Han Gang: "I didn't attack Weizhou, but chose Pule City." It can be seen that the Liao people have no idea of breaking the alliance at all. Just wait another three or five days. If you can't break the city in five days, and if you want to break the city again, it will take a month or two to say the least. With the siege level of the Liao State, I am afraid that it will take too much time to break the city. ”