Across the Water Margin: Officials of Ximen

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After Ximenqing and his party left Liaoyang Mansion, they continued southward to Hosu Hall.

After arriving at Hesuguan, Ximenqing took a generous gift to visit his old friend Sandu and Bojingoushi in Hesuguan.

For these Jurchen nobles, Ximen Qing's current strategy is to get acquainted first, whether it is useful or not, so that they think they have a reliable friend Ximen Qing in Song Dynasty.It is uncertain when, among the idlers that I planted, there will be two that will be able to play its role.

The Jurchens here in Hesuguan used to be mature Jurchens directly managed by the Liao Kingdom. Compared with the raw Jurchens in the north, their lives were more affluent, and they were more influenced by the surrounding Song Kingdom, Koryo Kingdom, and Japan. It is well-informed.Even so, Sandu and Goushi are still full of praise for the fine wine and books that Ximen Qing brought, they really love them.

Stayed in the Hosu Pavilion for a few days, and when the men who had been sent back to Dengzhou to report the news came back, saying that the sea-going ship from Dengzhou was waiting for orders at Tieshan Port outside Suzhou Pass, Ximenqing set off again and headed south to Suzhou Pass.

After arriving at Suzhou Pass, Ximenqing also gave a generous gift to Muke Wulin Mocilu, who escorted him all the way, to express his gratitude for his dedicated protection.

After Muke Wulin Luocilu handed Ximenqing and his party over to the Suzhou customs guards for protection, he also led the army back north.

Hesi Hanmeng Anyuli, the guard stationed at Suzhou Pass, naturally also heard about Ximen Qing's victory in the Willow Shooting Contest in Huining City, the capital city, and was awarded by the lord Wanyan Aguda.Now seeing the Jurchen warriors from the Wulin Mo tribe escorting Ximen Qing to the south for thousands of miles, he secretly marveled in his heart, and warmly entertained this mysterious businessman Ximen Qing from the Song Dynasty.

After another bout of drunkenness with Yu Li, Ximen Qing finally left Suzhou Pass and arrived at Tieshan Port.

Because this time Ximenqing brought back more than 2000 good horses from the Kingdom of Jin, as well as many precious medicinal materials special to Liaodong, so Ximenqing sent people in advance to transfer dozens of large ships from Dengzhou, Shandong, and all of them were moored at Tieshan Port. , it is magnificent.

In the port, many Korean and Japanese businessmen watched the legendary Song Guohao merchant Ximen Qing load dozens of large ships of horses and goods at a time, and even Yu Li, the Suzhou gatekeeper who often exploited himself on weekdays, came to see Ximen Qing off in person. At that time, my heart was full of envy and jealousy.

They are also doing business across the sea, so why does this Song countryman get this preferential treatment alone?Are we going to be inferior to others in Dajin Kingdom?

When several Korean merchants and Japanese merchants were resentful on their own merchant ships in the port, Ximenqing's huge fleet set sail, and large ships passed by the merchant ships of the two countries.

Looking up at the big ship of Ximenqing's fleet, and then looking down at the small boat that looked like a sampan under his feet, these Korean and Japanese businessmen stopped talking in shame.

For these foreign businessmen who can only do business in the Jurchens, Bohai people, and Liaodong Han people who can only come to Suzhou Guan and Huosuguan, Ximenqing, who won the gold medal of the Jin Kingdom and can directly go to the capital of the Jin Kingdom to do business, is really within reach. Impossible.

Under the envious eyes of everyone on the pier and in the port, Ximen Qing's fleet sailed out of Tieshan Port and headed for Dengzhou Penglai Port in the south of the Bohai Sea.

Borjijin? Alan, Ulun Zhurig and several other Mongols were on the same ship as Ximen Qing.It was the first time they crossed the sea on a sea boat, and they all looked nervously at the frightening sea that was said to hide monsters and ghosts.

Ximen Qing stood on the deck holding Borji Jin? Alan's little hand, enjoying the beautiful sea view together, which relieved her fear a lot.

Ximen Qingxuan went out to sea on a sunny day, and there were no big waves on the Bohai Sea. Ulun Zhurig and other Mongolians gradually got used to the turbulence of the ship and did not suffer from severe seasickness.

In order for these Mongolians to overcome their fear of the sea, official Ximen Qing made a plan.He asked Ulunzhurige and the others to go to the boathouse to help take care of the horses.

The Mongols are a nation on horseback. When these Mongolians were among the horses, they really felt very cordial and temporarily forgot their fear of the sea.

On a smooth journey, Ximenqing's fleet crossed the Bohai Sea in one day and returned to Dengzhou Penglai Port.

After Ximenqing landed at the port, he immediately rushed to Dengzhou City and handed over the secret letter of Ma Zheng and Hu Yanqing to Wang Shizhong, the prefect of Dengzhou.

After reading the letter that Ma Zheng and Hu Yanqing entrusted Ximenqing to bring back, the prefect Wang Shizhong knew that the emperor of the Kingdom of Jin had not sent corresponding envoys to send the envoys of the Kingdom of Jin back because the Song Dynasty court first proposed an alliance. This is a diplomatic faux pas This move angered the emperor of the Kingdom of Jin, causing Ma Zheng and others to be temporarily detained in the Kingdom of Jin.

Both Ma Zheng and Hu Yanqing asked Wang Shizhong to report to the court that the army of the Jin Kingdom is strong, the monarch and his ministers are aggressive, and they are very tough on the Liao Kingdom.Whether or not the imperial court would join forces with Jin to attack Liao needs to make a decision as soon as possible. It must not be indecisive and indecisive. It failed to please Liao and offended Jin, a powerful neighboring country, for no reason.

At the same time, Ma Zheng mentioned in his letter to Wang Shizhong that Ximenqing met many Jurchen nobles when he was doing business in the Kingdom of Jin, and he was quite popular in the Kingdom of Jin.In the future, if the imperial court is unable to formally contact the king and ministers of the Kingdom of Jin, Ximen Qing can use the name of business to send news to the nobles of the Kingdom of Jin and mediate for a while.Therefore, please Wang Shizhong treat Ximen Qing as kindly as possible, so that he can be used by the court in the future.

After reading the letter, Wang Shizhong asked Ximenqing some information about his trip to the Kingdom of Jin. He didn't dare to delay, so he immediately wrote a secret report and sent his son Wang Gui to the capital in a hurry.

After Wang Shizhong sent Wang Gui away, he immediately stepped forward to hold Ximen Qing's hand, and planned to hold a banquet in Dengzhou City to welcome Ximen Qing.

Ximenqing declined Wang Shizhong's invitation, saying that he had to go to Ma Kuo's house to report his mother's safety and hand over the letter from Ma Kuo and his son.Moreover, Hu Yanqing also had a letter to his family for Ximenqing to bring back. Ximenqing must first be faithful to his entrustment and complete the delivery of the letter.

Ximenqing told the magistrate Wang Shizhong that he would hold a banquet in his Ximenzhuang tomorrow, and hoped that the magistrate would come.

After listening to Ximen Qing's words, the magistrate Wang Shizhong praised Ximen Qing's loyalty, and agreed with him to meet in Ximenzhuang.

Chapter 471 Collusion between government and businessmen to build seagoing ships

After Ximenqing left the mansion of the magistrate Wang Shizhong, he went to the mansion of Ma Zheng and Hu Yanqing to deliver a letter to report his safety, fulfilling his promise to Ma Zheng and Hu Yanqing.When he left Huyanqing's house and returned to Ximen Village outside the city, Jiao Ting and Ximen Zhong had already unloaded all the horses and goods from the fleet and brought them back to Ximen Village.

Ximenzhong told Ximenqing that Ximenping had followed several Japanese businessmen across the sea to Japan to expand business routes, and now his return date is uncertain.And recently, according to Ximen Qing's instructions, he sent people to buy a lot of Korean ginseng from Korea at a low price.

The little Mongolian fox Borji Jin? Alan and Ulunzhurige and other Mongolians also lived in Ximen Zhuang. Under the arrangement of the old supervisor Ximen Zhong, they all changed into Han Chinese clothes and settled down.Borji Jin? Alan took Ulun Zhurig and others to wander around the Ximen Manor, looking curiously at the gardens, pavilions and pavilions of flowers and trees in the manor.

This manor is so beautiful!Is this the home of master Ximen Qing?Ulun Zhurig and others have now changed their minds, thinking that it is not bad for the little master to live here.

When Ximenqing found Bor Jijin Alan in the courtyard and told her that this was just a small part of his own business in Dengzhou, and that his home in Yanggu County, Dongping Prefecture was much bigger than this, Bor just Jin? Alan's master and servant all stared wide-eyed in surprise, full of anticipation in their hearts.

After dinner that night, everyone who was tired from the journey fell asleep early.Ximen Qing also rarely turned upside down, but fell asleep peacefully with his arms around Borji Jin? Alan.

The next day, Ximen Qing held a banquet in the manor and entertained the prefect Wang Shizhong.The prefect Wang Shizhong wanted to win over Ximen Qing, so he hinted during the meeting that he could support Ximen Qing in Dengzhou to annex the land and expand the manor.

Ximenqing is planning to build a shipbuilding workshop in Dengzhou, to produce his own merchant ships and form his own sea caravan on the surface, but secretly to recruit shipbuilding talents to prepare for the future construction of warships.Since the magistrate Wang Shizhong took the initiative to show his favor, Ximen Qing would not be polite.He informed Wang Shizhong of his intention to build a ship, saying that he wanted to turn Dengzhou into a prosperous maritime trade hub.

If Ximenqing's merchant fleet plan is successfully implemented, large-scale maritime trade with Dajin, Korea, Japan and other places will indeed bring prosperity to the small Dengzhou.This is of course a good achievement for the prefect Wang Shizhong.Therefore, Wang Shizhong, who was about to win over Ximen Qing, had no reason to object.

During the banquet, the prefect Wang Shizhong immediately agreed to Ximen Qing to find him a treasure shipbuilding site near Penglai Port with deep harbor and quiet water.In order to solve the problem of timber for shipbuilding, the prefect Wang Shizhong suggested that Ximenqing buy the area around Nadengyun Mountain.

Because Dengyun Mountain is high and densely forested, there are often robbers occupying it. The forest and land there are not valuable, and few big families are willing to buy the forest land there.And for Ximen Qing, who was able to beat up the bandits in Liangshan, climbing Yunshan Mountain was like something in his pocket.After he occupied Dengyun Mountain, which robber would dare to come here to fall grass?

This Zhifu Wang Shizhong really has a good plan!He left the burden of Dengyun Mountain, which is often occupied by thieves and threatens Dengzhou City, to the local hero Ximenqing, and he really hoped to rely on his reputation in the rivers and lakes to suppress the lurking thieves in Dengzhou and protect his own Dengzhou City. Safety.However, Ximen Qing did have the strength to swallow the bait thrown by the magistrate, so he accepted it with a smile.

Ximen Qing said in his heart that when he builds warships in the future, in the name of helping Dengzhou defend against pirates, I'm afraid the magistrate will turn a blind eye, close one eye!Hey~ Collusion between government and business is good!

When Ximen Qing stayed in Dengzhou, arranging the building of a shipbuilding workshop and occupying Dengyun Mountain, Wang Gui, the son of Wang Shizhong, the prefect of Dengzhou, had already rushed to Kaifeng Mansion in Bianliang, Tokyo with Wang Shizhong's espionage and secret letter.

When Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty received the secret report from Wang Shizhong, they immediately started another discussion on whether to join the Jin Dynasty against the Liao Dynasty.

During the period when Ximenqing left the Great Song Dynasty and went to the Great Jin Kingdom, the situation in the Great Song Dynasty had another new change. Tai Wei Tong Guan sent back a good news to the imperial court from the northwest frontier.

After the veteran general Liu Fa was defeated and died in March, Tong Guan organized another three-pronged army to attack Xia in April.Yang Weizhong from Liuling, who had fought bloody battles, showed his skills this time and led his troops to conquer Weizhou in Xixia.Today, Tong Guan's army is advancing step by step, and has already occupied Hengshan, the barrier of the Xixia capital.Tong Guan is building a fortress on Hengshan to lock up the Xixia Kingdom.The Xixia Kingdom is now in trouble, and the Song Dynasty seems to have seen the dawn of victory in the war against Xixia.

The dominance of the Northwest battlefield gave Song Huizong confidence in the commanding ability of his confidant Tong Guan and the combat effectiveness of the Western Army. In his opinion, with such a powerful army in hand, he went north to defeat the Liao Kingdom and regain Yanyun Sixteen It seems that it is not impossible to complete the unfinished great cause of our ancestors!

Full of illusions and full of confidence, Song Huizong was inclined to unite the Jin Dynasty against the Liao Dynasty, but there were also important officials such as Zheng Juzhong in the court who believed that the conditions for recovering the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun were not at all available at this time. big risk.

Among the officials who opposed Lianjin, Yu Wenxuzhong, a member of Zhongshu Sheren, made admonitions like this:

"In the strategy of using troops, one must first consider the strengths and weaknesses, plan the false and the real, know the enemy and know yourself, and be safe. Today, there is no tool to deal with the enemy, and the treasury has countless months of storage. Safety is at stake. It is a matter of one action. How can it be taken lightly? It has been more than a hundred years since China and the Khitan made peace. Since they were invaded by the Jurchen, they have been obedient to their own dynasty. Today, the submissive Khitan is unruly and feudal. It is my fence, and it is far beyond the overseas, and the strong Jurchen thinks that Neighborhoods. Jurchen took advantage of the victorious momentum, vainly boasted, could not be courteous, and could not be seduced by words, followed the strategy of Bianzhuang and Zhuang, and led troops across the border, using the century-old arrogant soldiers as a new and hard-to-resist enemy ; A general who seeks peace and comfort with few people, competes in the forest of flesh and blood. I fear that China's disaster will not have a peaceful end."

Yu Wenxu analyzed the internal and external situation of Song, Liao, and Jin incisively, and believed that Jin was strong and Liao was weak, and that Jin would pose a greater threat to Song than Liao in the future.Instead of destroying Liao, a neighbor who lived in peace with him, and choosing to be a neighbor to the fierce Jin, it is better to try to preserve Liao and use it as a strategic buffer between the Song Dynasty and the Jin.

Yu Wenxu's analysis is not unreasonable. In April, the King of Koryo also specially sent someone to send a message to the court of the Song Dynasty: "Liao is a country of brothers, and it can be safe if it survives; gold is a country of tigers and wolves, and it cannot be handed over. !" It can be said that it is similar to what Yu Wenxu saw.

Both at home and abroad, there were voices against his alliance with gold, and Song Huizong became hesitant.At this time, things changed dramatically again. A spy in Bianzhou, Hebei Province secretly reported that "Tian Zuo looks like a subjugated country."

Song Huizong, who had always believed in Taoism and physiognomy, decided to send envoys to Liao to decide whether to send troops to Liao with the face of Emperor Tianzuo.

Chapter 472 Song Huizong looked at the prime minister and defeated Liao

The emperor wanted to find a reason to persuade everyone for his ambition, and the minister who was good at figuring out the official will jumped out to handle this matter.The Shaozai Wang Fu came before all the ministers to share the worries and problems of the Daojun Emperor.

Wang Fu was originally named Wang Fu. Because he had the same name as Wang Fu, the eunuch of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Song Huizong gave him the name Wang Fu.