"It's not loyalty, or rather, it's more than loyalty. Of course I know you are loyal, but not this time... When I entrusted my son to the care of four generals at Yiyou Gate, everyone present was surprised why it was you, a bandit, and not Zhang Jun... At that time, I valued your loyalty, but not this time!"
"I put you and Yue Fei together this time and told you these things because you two are the rare generals who understand the difficulties of the common people and are willing to think from their perspective! Qu Duan managed the people's livelihood in the northwest well, but he didn't consider the common people. He wanted to maintain order... Only with you and Yue Fei can I tell you about the common people. Only with you two can I dare to tell you about the common people."
At this point, Zhao Jiu was about to continue chattering, but seeing Zhang Rong standing there in a daze, he felt a little bored, so he simply stopped talking, then stood up, picked up the summary report from Yu Yunwen, walked over barefoot on the kang, and stuffed it directly into the arms of Zhang Rong, who was still in a daze:
"I won't read it anymore. Take it back to your You Xuejiu... no matter if it's You Xuejiu or Secretary You, ask him to tell you about it! If that doesn't work, then grab your son-in-law and ask him, the original author, to tell you about it!"
Zhang Rong took the item, and unlike other ministers, he did not act out some drama of gratitude between the monarch and his subjects. He just held the document written by his son-in-law, bowed to Emperor Zhao, and then walked out with his head down.
However, when he arrived at the camp gate, this Liangshan hero who almost saved the Song Dynasty in a dangerous time in history turned back and asked seriously:
"Official! As an official, do you understand the difficulties faced by ordinary people?"
Zhao Jiu was slightly stunned, and then his nose felt sore, but he held it back and just sneered: "When I was chased around by the Jurchens, I saw it a little bit..."
Zhang Rong nodded, and just as he was about to leave, he couldn't help but turned back and asked again: "Your Majesty, I had a narrow vision before, and only looked at the people of Liangshan Lake. I didn't think about the people in the south and Guanxi, and I didn't think about who paid for the money and grain... I was reprimanded by Minister Liu that day, and I was reprimanded by your Majesty today. I am convinced... But after being convinced, I still want to ask more questions. When will the difficulties of the people in the whole world be reduced?"
Zhao Jiu was stunned for a moment and didn't reply.
"Did they destroy the Jurchens?" Zhang Rong couldn't help but ask.
"Things will definitely be much better if the Jurchens are destroyed." Zhao Jiu nodded.
"That's right." Zhang Rong also nodded, as if he relaxed a little, but finally turned around and walked out.
Zhang Rong went out without saying anything. Zhao Jiu stood barefoot on the ground, stunned for a long time, before he followed the soldiers outside and got back on the kang, then lay down with his head tilted back.
Moreover, the official knew clearly that this timely pressure had finally helped to regain control of Zhang Rong's semi-independent army. From the emperor's perspective, it was undoubtedly a great victory... After all, no matter what Manichaeism or taking care of old brothers, we must not forget one premise, that is, this army was originally a peasant army formed by Zhang Rong, with its own internal system, and this army still had more people with the surname Zhang.
As for the private interest calculations between him, the emperor, and Zhang Rong, it was not much different... Although he, Zhao Jiu, had the title of emperor and could hold up the banner of anti-Jin justice, but whether it was the victory at Shoutoutan or the later initiative to lead the entire army across Tokyo to guard the river for the country, Zhang Rong had done enough to repay Zhao Jiu.
However, having said that, Emperor Zhao, who had won a great victory today, lay on the kang, thinking about the fundamental reason for the rise of Manichaeism, the impact of the success or failure of the Northern Expedition, the finances and military expenses, the army expansion plan that was slightly invigorated in his mind, and the economic recovery around the capital that led to rising prices, so that the salaries of the surrounding soldiers were depreciated in disguise, the morale of the army was slightly depressed, and the people were slightly disappointed... but he still had mixed feelings.
Fortunately, when I thought about the empty cities I saw along the way from Nanyang to Tokyo that day, the broken limbs, flesh, and rotting bodies I saw from Yanling to Yaoshan and even at the foot of Yinshan Mountain before, I was able to suppress the chaotic thoughts that should have been suppressed many years ago.
The next day, Emperor Zhao slept until noon before getting up. When he heard that Zhang Rong had begun to expel officers and soldiers on a large scale from Heyin and seize property, he felt somewhat relieved. However, what made him feel completely better was another piece of news... That afternoon, a team of royal navy troops who were on a routine river patrol docked early and brought the person that Emperor Zhao had been waiting for for many days.
Wang Yan, the commander-in-chief of the imperial camp who crossed the river from Shanzhou, finally brought back Ma Kuo, the governor of the northern road.
PS: The 150th cute one appeared, the immortal cultivator Luo Xiao, thumbs up!
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