Chapter 165 Squeezing oil and water

After experiencing this thrilling farce in Qingyuntang, Zhang Xiaochun died.

Originally, he thought that with his personal relationship with Chu Tianya, he could successfully persuade Xishan to accept the conditions proposed by the court, that is, unconditional reconciliation.

Zhang Xiaochun miscalculated. Only then did he understand that he should not use the "customs and practices" in the officialdom of the Song Dynasty to predict Chu Tianya's reaction. Yes, Chu Tianya was very polite to him and did not forget the friendship of his peers in the Battle of Taiyuan at the beginning; but personal friendship is personal affairs, public affairs are business affairs, and Chu Tianya is very clear. In the confrontation of interests between Xishan and the court, his attitude was very clear, and he did not mean to be polite at all.

Zhang Xiaochun deeply realized how disappointing and chilling the things done by the imperial court after the Battle of Taiyuan were. The big pit dug by the official family and Xu Han was Zhang Xiaochun's turn to fill it. Zhang Xiaochun was both indignant and helpless, so he had to be sandwiched between Xishan and the court, and both of them were angry.

After the banquet, Chu Tianya personally accompanied Zhang Xiaochun and others to "visit" Qingyunbao. The two walked side by side, and Chu Tianya said, "I'm sorry, Zhang Zhifu. Most of the brothers in Qingyunbao are used to being fierce and violent. There are many collisions. Please forgive me.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Zhang Xiaochun smiled bitterly and finally felt a little relieved.

"In fact, Chu knows that at this time, Xishan and the court must unite in order to fight against the foreign enemy. Previously, Xu Han's policy of differentiation and suppression of the Hedong Rebel Army was completely wrong. Chu Tianya said, "Xu Han is very responsible for the collapse of Qixingzhai and the hatred of Hedong Rebel Army against the government. What a good anti-Jin Rebel force, it is said that it is gone like this. In the final analysis, this is our own loss in the Song Dynasty. At the time of the great enemy, the court did not think about the border but was busy with internal fighting, which was really chilling!"

"Oh..." Zhang Xiaochun sighed from the bottom of his heart, shook his head and said, "Wang Du has gone. He was imprisoned for a long time before regaining his freedom, but he picked up such a mess. In fact, Xu Han is not easy. He just acted according to the order... In the final analysis, the imperial court's strategy is wrong thousands of miles away. Fortunately, it was not too late to make up for the lost sheep. The strength of the Hedong Volunteer Army did not suffer significant losses and was reunited in Xishan again. After Xu Han arrived in Taiyuan, he also vigorously allocated manpower and material resources to build the city defense, and was committed to restoring the vitality of Taiyuan, which was very effective. Now in this case, we really can't fight in the inside and must be united. Otherwise, if the virgins go and return, Taiyuan will be in danger!"

"Well... that's right." Chu Tianya nodded with a smile, "But since you have made a mistake, you should dare to take responsibility. Now there are 100,000 people in Qingyunbao and Monk Cave in Xishan. More than half of these people have experienced many infighting and changes manipulated by Xu Han. It can be said that they have completely lost trust in the government and hatred for the court. If the court does not show enough sincerity and benefits, it may be difficult to add reconciliation. Even if I really became a stockade owner, I can't insist on this matter, because it's hard to disobey everyone's will!"

"Xiaoguan understands..." Zhang Xiaochun gritted his teeth, "Can Ziyuan clearly tell Xiaguan what kind of sincerity and benefits do you want? It's better to negotiate with the court!"

Chu Tianya smiled and said, "If you get out of my hand, that's all right. Zhang Zhifu, it's better to do it yourself!"

"This..." Zhang Xiaochun smiled bitterly.

"That's it!" Chu Tianya was still smiling, "After Zhang Zhifu went back, he had a good negotiation. Chu also hopes that Xishan can reconcile with the government as soon as possible and work together to save the country.

"Well, then the subordinate will leave!"

Later, Zhang Xiaochun left the village with a group of officials. Chu Tianya was also polite to him. He still sent the big leader Xue Yudian to send a horse team. He didn't return until he sent them away from the Tianlong Mountain Realm.

Not long after Zhang Xiaochun and others left, Meng De said to Chu Tianya, "Brother, why do I think Zhang Xiaochun is weird everywhere?"

"What do you say?"

"Rever since the time, the court of the Song Dynasty treated mountain thieves. In addition to killing, it was a recruitment, but this time it was 'conciliation'. That also means that the court does not expect to recruit An Xishan, nor does it have the ability to send troops to suppress it. Meng De said, "That is to say, in this reconciliation negotiation, Xishan stood almost on an equal footing with the court, right?"

"Yes." Chu Tianya couldn't help laughing and said, "This is unprecedented."

"Since it is equal, what right does the court have to appoint you as the 'big leader of the Hedong Rebel Army' and call it 'Qingyunshuai'?" Meng De couldn't help but be a little angry, "This false name has no meaning to Xishan!" The imperial court has no sincerity for reconciliation at all. It just wants to use us!"

"That's right, everyone knows Sima Zhao's heart." Chu Tianya smiled and said, "I don't know how much the court wants to flatten the Xishan Mountain and kill everyone here. But now the court does not have this ability, so it can only be forced to recognize Xishan as the "anti-Jin Rebel". As for sending out the title of the big leader and Qingyun Shuai, it is nothing more than treating us as a turtle. In their opinion, when we Xishan heroes eat a bowl of lard rice, they will think that they are rich, and it is easy to be satisfied. At the same time, the court did not forget to put on his bad airs at all times, and did not think about whether we were rare and whether he was qualified or not, so he blindly gave us a title. I also want to buy and enslave us with this cheap and false title!"

"That's right!" Meng De said angrily, "As an official, there are really few good things! Bah!"

"Hehe, forget it!" Chu Tianya laughed and said, "In the first hundred years since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the water in the officialdom has become more and more mixed. They are used to such routines and rules, thinking that it will also be effective for us. Just now, I made it clear to Zhang Xiaochun. Don't be empty, get something real.

"How did he answer?"

Chu Tianya smiled and said, "Of course he asked me what I wanted. Of course, I won't open my mouth directly. I don't know what kind of treasure he has in Zhang Xiaochun's arms.

"Oh?" Meng De was surprised and said, "Brother, do you mean that Zhang Xiaochun didn't tell the truth when he came this time?"

"Of course!" Chu Tianya said affirmatively, "Although Zhang Xiaochun is a good official, he also has a friendship with me. But after all, he is a representative of the court. As appointed by the official, he has to be very cautious. The reconciliation with Xishan is actually a bargaining business. How could he reveal the bottom line and shake all his hees as soon as he comes up?

"It makes sense!" Meng De smiled and said, "Brother, you are still shrewd!"

"It's not shrewd, but I know those people and things in our Song Dynasty officialdom too well." Chu Tianya shook his head helplessly, "It's really difficult to get rid of a hundred years of malpractices. At such a juvening point, people like Zhang Xiaochun still want to play tricks with me. What can I do? I can only see the tricks! - So just now in Qingyun Hall, I can't wait for the brothers to make the worse the noise, and even beat the two officials. I just want Zhang Xiaochun to see with his own eyes how disappointed we are with the government and how huge the price he has to pay!"

"I really regret hearing what you said." Meng De was itching with hatred. "Just now in Qingyun Hall, I was a little worried that the brothers behaved badly and talked about big things. If I had known this, I would have been the first to rush forward to pull the bird's edict!"

"Haha!" Chu Tianya patted Meng De's back and laughed, "Forget it, seventh brother, we don't have the same experience as these vulgar officials. The current situation is that Xishan and the government must be reconciled. This is not only conducive to unity and resistance against gold, but also conducive to our own good opportunity to respite and run-in. In addition, now we have nearly 100,000 mouths eating. It is not a long-term solution to plunder the state and county alone. If we do more such things, it will also cause strong resistance from the people of the state and county. After all, it will be an internal consumption. If you can get stable supplies through negotiations with the government, or if you can win more than two years of grain and fodder, it will be the greatest harvest.

"It turns out that my brother has a plan for a long time!" Meng De nodded with relief and smiled, "I'll just say, Xishan needs you to take the lead!" How can we think so far-reaching and thoughtfully? - By the way, in recent days, Ma and I have taken stock of the grain, grass, ordnance and other materials in the cottage, which is really surprising. The savings of Qixingzhai for many years have been relocated, and the Wang Xun brothers have almost taken all of Xu Han's belongings. Food and fodder alone are enough for us 100,000 people to eat and drink for two years; ordnance is enough to arm 150,000 people; there are also military salaries, weights, horses, mules and other things, all of which are Dafeng! We, Xishan, have made a lot of money this time! - I'm surprised that Wang Xun has done such a big vote. Why didn't Zhang Xiaochun say a word when he came up the mountain this time?

Chu Tianya couldn't help laughing and said, "Maybe he wants to mention it, but when he sees such a battle in Qingyuntang, how dare he dares to open his mouth? Isn't it not fueled? In addition, even if Zhang Xiaochun opens his mouth, he will not have the illusion that he really wants to get it back; look, this material will eventually be sent to our Xishan as a favor. If this is not the case, it will not be the style of our Song Dynasty!"

"If you have a swollen face, you will pretend to be fat, and you will suffer a lot of face... Yes, the court will definitely not recover this material, and will generously say 'send' to us." After careful thought, Meng De nodded and said, "If we really want it, we won't give it. Who will spit out the meat in our mouth? That's unreasonable! - Now it depends on what kind of answer Zhang Xiaochun will give in the end!"

Chu Tianya smiled and said, "We don't have anything else in the Song Dynasty, but we are rich. Instead of letting this money fall into the pockets of corrupt officials, turning into all kinds of war reparations or the booty of real women, it's better for us to do something useful. I think the official family should have given Zhang Xiaochun the bottom line for a long time, but the old boy is slippery and tight, and the tight cover will not let us know easily. Don't worry, I'll squeeze him dry; no one can take half of the oil away from my Xishan's mouth!"

"Haha, that's right! - There's really nothing polite to talk to them!"

Just one day later, at noon the next day, Zhang Xiaochun came to Qingyunbao again.

This time he came alone, and there were only a few government officials around him.

Chu Tianya invited him to the living room of Qingyuntang for tea and asked with a smile, "Zhang Zhifu went back so soon. I don't know if he brought any good news?"

Zhang Xiaochun laughed awkwardly and said the excuse he had already thought of: "To be honest, there has been a messenger of the emperor in Taiyuan Mansion for a long time. After the lower official replied, he persuaded many times, and the messenger finally agreed to give some 'benefits' to Xishan to show the sincerity of the government's reconciliation.

"Oh? That's really the governor of Zhang." Chu Tianya didn't break his trick and gave him a step down. He also hugged his fist and thanked him. He asked, "I don't know what kind of benefits it is?"

"First of all, the court will officially recognize the heroes of Xishan as the Song Rebels who fought against Jinwei, and will give the Xishan Rebel Army the name 'Qingyun Army' and award the leader of Xishan as General Zuo Xiaowei, plus seven generals." Zhang Xiaochun said.

Chu Tianya couldn't help laughing, "Isn't it a sanitation officer? ...Well, it sounds better than 'Qingyunshuai'. But this is dispensable and doesn't have much practical significance.

"It's of great significance, Ziyuan!" Zhang Xiaochun said with a straight face, "Yes, my 16th guard general of the Song Dynasty inherited the military system of the former Tang Dynasty, and all the generals and generals were just virtual sanitation officials. However, only the meritorious generals of the clan or the rank of rank, no matter how bad it is, can the princes of a small country be awarded the title of sanitation official. To be awarded this kind of official title means that you heroes in Xishan are already the 'generals' recognized by the Song Dynasty, and are no longer the mountain thieves who are opposed to the government. This will effectively improve your status among the people and win better reputation and more support. Isn't it good?

"Why don't I feel much benefit? The titles of these sanitation officials are like an invisible shackle for us, which means that we need to be supervised by public opinion and restrained by the imperial court from time to time. We are mountain thieves. Have you ever seen harmless and high-sounding mountain thieves? Chu Tianya sneered and said, "Let's be honest, Zhang Zhifu. We are really not very interested in things like names and titles!"

"Well... Ziyuan, you are really getting more and more real." Zhang Xiaochun shook his head and smiled helplessly. "The messenger of the emperor said that the large number of grain and fodder taken by the former king Xun from Xu Han will not be recovered. It should be regarded as the military cost given to Xishan."

Chu Tianya laughed and said, "Listen to the tone, it's quite generous. But the court just wants to get it back, and we won't give it! - In fact, even if we want to give it, we can't give it. One hundred thousand people eat and chew it, and that little thing can last for a few days. Is it possible to spit out everything we have eaten? Seeing that the cottage is about to run out of food, I'm thinking about where to borrow food! - Zhang Zhifu, Taiyuan was strongly supported by the Mongolian court after the war. Should it be quite rich now? Why don't you support me a little?"

"Ziyuan, you are so unkind!" Zhang Xiaochun was so happy that he said, "When Xu Han stationed troops in Taiyuan, he successively gathered a number of soldiers and horses, gathering more than 100,000 people. The court has allocated money and grain several times, which is enough for his soldiers and horses to spend more than two years abroad. It's been less than a month since Wang Xun took a crowd of people to clean up those things and moved them to Xishan. You told you that you were about to run out of food! - You, you are still crying and blackmailing with me!"

"I don't have it." Chu Tianya curled his lips and said, "You said that Wang Xun has rolled up all Xu Han's things. What evidence do you have? Why didn't I receive so much money and food materials you mentioned? Think about it yourself, there are so many corrupt officials in the government and the army. Maybe they are greedy and push it on our heads? It's not uncommon to kill good people and take risks, corrupt and trap thieves, right? Zhang Zhifu?

"Hey! ..." Zhang Xiaochun patted his thigh and shook his head bitterly, "The skillful tongue is like a spring and I don't admit it. I can't say it!"

"Well, this so-called 'benefit' is actually a paper cake. Previously, what Wang Xun brought from Xu Han was written off. That is, for the sake of your personal relationship, I will take the favor of your Zhang Zhifu. Chu Tianya said, "But my brothers won't be happy! - Is there nothing else?"

Zhang Xiaochun is so hateful! - This Chu Tianya is so cunning! If it's cheap and you're good, you have to squeeze him clean before it's done! However, now the government has another request for Xishan. Just now, there was a little threat in his words, saying that he wanted to go out to 'borrow grain' when the cottage ran out of grain, and the target was Taiyuan. If he really does this, Taiyuan will definitely be irresistible, and he will fall day and night. At that time, the official family will definitely be so angry that he will vomit blood. Zhang Zhifu, who has just turned over, is still alive!

In desperation, Zhang Xiaochun gritted his teeth, took out a foldout from his arms and threw it in front of Chu Tianya. He was almost about to turn his face and shouted angrily, "Look at it yourself!" This is the list of gifts from the court listed by the messenger of the emperor! It's all here, it's gone! - Even if you kill me, you can't give me more than half of it! Do you want it? It's up to you!"

"That's right! We all know each other so well. Why are you hiding something? If you take it out earlier, won't it be all right? Chu Tianya picked up the folded book with a smile and opened it out. He was immediately happy!