Prime Minister

Chapter 1374 Letter
Even after the Emperor and Empress Dowager approved the national policy of attacking the Dangxiang, Zhang Yue still felt somewhat apprehensive and even had the urge to regret it.

There was a strong sense of 'Is this a decision that's been made without any objections?'

He was not unaware of the principle that one's achievements could overshadow one's master.

In both his previous and current lives, he has seen many people who promote the most capable subordinates to higher positions, only to have them replaced by the newcomers.

The other party has never truly respected you and sees your promotion as something within their capabilities, not as a sign of your mentorship.

However, for Zhang Yue, the saying "great talents are hard to employ, and great achievements are even more subject to jealousy" is an irrefutable truth.

If it weren't for the external threats from the Liao and Tangut states, I wouldn't be in my current position.

After the officials withdrew, Zhang Yue remained behind.

The Emperor asked Zhang Yue, "Minister of Works, after your western expedition, to whom can you entrust the administration of the court?"

The Empress Dowager, behind the curtain, also said, "Minister Zhang, please speak."

Zhang Yue almost blurted it out.

Guo Youzhi, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, and others, who served as Attendants-in-Ordinary and Vice Ministers, were all honest and upright, with loyal and pure intentions.

General Xiang Chong was of virtuous character and knowledgeable in military affairs.

However, this was just a thought. Zhang Yue said, "The position of Right Minister is currently vacant."

"Su Song, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, can be appointed as the Right Vice Minister; Huang Li, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, can be appointed as the Vice Minister of the Chancellery; as for the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel... I recommend Fan Chunren, the Censor-in-Chief in charge of miscellaneous affairs!"

The emperor was surprised to hear this. Although he was only fourteen years old, he was mature beyond his years, having spent his days in the palace dealing with ministers like Zhang Yue who were adept at manipulating people's hearts.

He immediately asked, "Minister Zhang, leading an army of hundreds of thousands on a distant expedition against the Dangxiang, shouldn't you leave behind trusted and capable ministers?"

"As far as I know, Fan Chunren opposes this western expedition."

Zhang Yue nodded; it seemed the Emperor was gradually coming to understand the truth.

Since ancient times, a great general on a distant expedition should avoid trouble at home, so he wanted to send Lü Gongzhu out at this time.

The Empress Dowager in the inner court was not firm in her decision regarding the western expedition, and if Lü Gongzhu were still alive in the outer court, the imperial edict would probably catch up with the army as soon as it left Bianjing.

"Your Majesty."

"The key to governing a country lies first and foremost in appeasing those who disagree with you." At this point, Zhang Yue paused and said, "Your Majesty, let alone your subject, even as the emperor, there will always be officials who oppose you, and even dare to contradict Your Majesty. How should Your Majesty deal with such situations?"

The emperor asked, "I should embrace it with a generous and benevolent heart!"

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty is wise and benevolent; in this respect alone, you surpass many ancient rulers."

"When encountering dissidents, the first thing to do is to eliminate them. This is the first choice of many rulers who are not good at governing. Do you remember what I said to Your Majesty back then, why we still need to use officials from Sima Guang's faction?"

The emperor said, "I remember."

Zhang Yue said, "The principle is the same. If you start eliminating dissidents as soon as you encounter them, it will easily lead to dissidents banding together. A ruler should first divide and rule them."

“Those with talent and ability can be entrusted with tasks, and their performance will be assessed. Those who perform well will be rewarded, and those who perform poorly will be punished. In this way, whether things succeed or fail, it will be a blessing for Your Majesty and a benefit for the country.”

"Why did our ancestors establish a system that allowed for the mixing of dissenting opinions? It was so that those who held dissenting views on the affairs of the court must be used effectively. Imagine if the court was full of ministers who were subservient to His Majesty? Unless His Majesty could make correct decisions in every matter, he would be held responsible if anything went wrong."

TV dramas often feature the elimination of all political enemies at once, which is certainly satisfying to watch. But problems arise after problems follow; once there are no external enemies, internal strife ensues.

A shrewd and calculating politician would never do this; rather, the key lies in choosing how to support dissenting opinions.

Zhang Yue continued, "The Liao emperor's practice of counterfeiting currency caused widespread suffering among the people. The Liao emperor also regretted his actions and intended to summon officials to abolish the currency."

"As a result, the officials criticized the Liao emperor for his mistakes. The Liao emperor was so angry that he dismissed and exiled all the officials who criticized him, and instead continued to promote the use of paper money."

"There are countless examples of monarchs making serious diplomatic mistakes due to flawed domestic policy decisions. Your Majesty must take heed of these lessons."

The Emperor nodded and said, "I will remember your wise words, Sikong."

Zhang Yue said, "Throughout history, the biggest dilemma for those who hold high positions and wield great power is not knowing whether they are doing the right thing, because the people around them are unwilling to offend them."

"Many monarchs, due to their great power, have made their ministers afraid to speak the truth. Over time, this has led to a situation where one monarch has the final say and believes that he is always right. In the end, they often make great mistakes that ordinary people would not make."

The Emperor nodded again and said, "I have remembered what Minister Zhang said."

Zhang Yue said, "Your Majesty, in this reform of the Imperial Academy's appointment system, I have appointed Lü Dalin, a disciple of Zhang Zai, to replace Cheng Hao as the Chief Instructor."

"Its intention is to integrate the Luo School (the School of Principle) and the Guan School (the School of Qi)."

"This idea lies in Master Hu's understanding of the essence and its application."

"To understand the essence and apply it effectively, we must attack from both sides!"

"To attack both sides, one must listen to advice and accept criticism; one can believe one side but not listen to only one side."

Zhang Yue was imparting all his insights on governing the country to the emperor who was about to assume power.

“Your Majesty, Fan Chunren is the son of Fan Wenzheng. Although he opposes my western expedition, he is of upright and honest character and is a minister that Your Majesty can trust.”

In another historical timeline, Fan Chunren served as Minister of Personnel, specifically as Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and concurrently as Vice Minister of the Chancellery in the third year of the Yuan You era.

Historical records state that Fan Chunren's administration was characterized by his broad-mindedness and open-mindedness, which intensified the opposition's factional struggles. He even pleaded for leniency for Zhang Dun and Deng Wan, two reformists who had been demoted at the time.

At the same time, he was incorruptible and never consulted the court before recommending officials. This time, Fan Chunren's opposition to Zhang Yue's western expedition was also open and aboveboard, unlike when someone whispered behind his back or secretly sabotaged him.

Most importantly, he stood up to oppose Sima Guang's plan to abolish Zhang Yue's exemption from corvée labor.

This story will be remembered forever.

Zhang Yue said, "Besides Fan Chunren, Bi Zhongyou, Fan Zuyu, and Guo Lin are all capable men. I hope Your Majesty will make good use of them."

"Your Majesty, if you want to govern the country, take your time. Things in the world cannot be rushed."

The emperor initially found the words agreeable, but upon hearing this, he became displeased and asked, "What do you mean by this, Minister of Works?"

"Does he really intend to leave me?"

The Empress Dowager, who was sitting behind the curtain, also said: "A country cannot be without a Minister of Works."

Zhang Yue looked at the Emperor and said with delight, “Your Majesty will be fifteen next year. Although it is still a little early for Your Majesty to assume personal rule, Your Majesty’s maturity surpasses that of emperors throughout history, which is already sufficient.”

"If I succeed in this western expedition, I will retire with honor; if I fail, I will be punished. In either case, I will no longer be able to serve Your Majesty and accompany you..."

Zhang Yue's eyes reddened slightly as she spoke.

"The late emperor trusted me implicitly, and thus entrusted me with the affairs of the empire on his deathbed, looking after Your Majesty. I am cautious by nature and my talents are insufficient to fulfill the duties of prime minister. Therefore, for the past three years, I have been trembling with fear, as if walking on thin ice, for fear of failing in my duty and ruining the affairs of the country."

"The late emperor foresaw this, hence his rebuke that it is useless for a minister to be detached from the affairs of the nation. We are entrusted with a task and must be loyal to it; this is our duty, and we dare not refuse. As for matters concerning our personal talents and reputation, we can only do our best in the face of restoring order and rebuilding the country. As for the argument that those who usurp power and ruin the country, I dare not listen to it."

"Now that Your Majesty has come of age, you are wise and sagacious, and you will surely become a great ruler in the future, living up to the expectations of our ancestors, the nation, and all the people, and reviving the great cause of our Han Dynasty. I, too, am happy to return the reins of power to Your Majesty, thus repaying even a fraction of the kindness of the late Emperor!"

At this point, the emperor couldn't help but shed tears, and his attendants Shi Deyi, Li Xian, and Song Yongchen all wept upon hearing it.

Sobbing could be heard coming from behind the curtain.

Zhang Yue looked at the weeping emperor, as well as eunuchs such as Li Xian and Song Yongchen, and was at a loss for words.

He looked out of the hall and saw a clear blue sky over the south, where a flock of wild geese was about to fly south.

Never before has he felt so deeply how intertwined the rise and fall of the nation and the personal ups and downs of his official career are.

It was as if he could leap up at any moment, soaring into the sky with the wild geese, and see all the beautiful landscapes of this land in one day!

I truly wish I could drive a long chariot right now and trample through the Helan Mountains.

Let us start anew, reclaim our lost lands, and return to the imperial palace.

They risked their lives for the sake of the nation and its people.

Zhang Yue finally said resolutely, "Although I am of average talent, I will brave arrows and be the first among the generals in this western expedition against the Dangxiang. If I were to sacrifice my life, it would be enough to repay the country's kindness."

"The western expedition is of utmost importance, while my duties are minor. I vow to annihilate this bandit, even unto death!"

"If I am incompetent, then I have nothing more to say. I beg Your Majesty to send another wise minister to destroy this false Xia dynasty. Do not forget the late Emperor's will! Do not forget it!"

……

The news of the western expedition caused a great uproar in Bianjing.

There has always been considerable opposition to Zhang Yue's western expedition.

When news of the western expedition spread, some people said, "The calamity of today is known only to the crimes of Zhang Yue and Han Zhongyan, but people do not know that the chaos in the world originated from Wang Anshi."

Zhang Yue, ostensibly in the Yuanfeng and Jiayou eras, is actually implementing the policies of Wang Anshi, which will inevitably lead to great disaster in the future.

Many others questioned, "The Tanguts had already surrendered; did Sikong really have to destroy their kingdom?"

Cotton cloth gradually replaced silk and became the primary manufacturing industry of the Song Dynasty, used for circulation in the Western Regions.

In fact, cotton textile industry was the largest manufacturing industry from the 10th to the 19th century, and even in the 1970s and 1980s, cotton clothes and quilts were used as dowries.

Merchants worried that if war broke out, trade routes would be disrupted and cotton cloth could not be exported to the Western Regions. As a result, the price of cotton cloth at the exchange dropped to 30%.

When cotton cloth prices plummeted, salt certificates and paper money also suddenly followed suit, their prices skyrocketing. Salt certificates and paper money had become financial reservoirs. Meanwhile, prices in Bianjing (Kaifeng) were soaring, reaching exorbitant levels. The court and the public immediately cried out in alarm that Zhang Sikong's three years of governance had been completely wasted.

However, Zeng Bu, Cai Jing, and others had anticipated this.

Cai Jing immediately dispatched people to the streets to control the flow of speech, and anyone spreading rumors or causing trouble was arrested on the spot.

Meanwhile, Zeng Bu and Chen Guan simultaneously took action at the Ministry of Revenue and the Exchange Bureau, and also in the market, using real money to purchase large quantities of cotton cloth and salt paper money, gradually stabilizing prices in Bianjing, and cotton cloth prices gradually returned to normal.

Despite the constant doubts and opposition, few doubted that the Song army could defeat the Tanguts.

The court officials were well aware that after years of war with the Tanguts, the Song army could take a city today and occupy a prefecture tomorrow. With this ebb and flow, the Tanguts' national strength had become extremely weak.

This was not comparable to the campaign against Western Xia launched by the late emperor during the Yuanfeng era, and was even somewhat weaker than the Battle of Yongle City.

Most officials believed that the chances of success in this western expedition were over 70%.

The only question is whether we can destroy their country in one battle.

If they are not eradicated, what if the Tanguts reappear like a stubborn skin disease in the future? The Tanguts have been resurrected from the dead in Dijinze many times in history.

Throughout history, how many times have boats capsized in ditches?

In a war that involves the entire nation, even if there is only a 90% chance of victory, the remaining 10% loss is a responsibility that no one can afford to bear.

This is why, apart from the founding emperor, subsequent emperors tended to maintain the status quo more and more.

And now, all the burdens are on Zhang Yue's shoulders.

He spearheaded this western expedition. If he succeeded, he would naturally retire; if he lost, the consequences would be far worse, not only ruining his lifelong reputation.

Zhang Yue's actions were truly asking for trouble.

At this point, Zhang Yue was no longer merely saying that he was repaying the late emperor's kindness and the heavy responsibility of entrusting him with the care of his son; he also wanted to comfort himself by saying that he would do anything for the future of the country and the nation.

Within the Privy Council, the Western Expedition had been planned and discussed countless times.

When facing the enemy in battle, one must make a comprehensive assessment of their abilities.

Conversely, if I don't know how strong my opponent is, how could I not know how bad I am?

Both Shen Kuo, the Privy Councilor, and Xu Xi, who had been promoted to Minister of War, had personally commanded the war against the Dangxiang. Both were front-line generals and knew the Dangxiang and the Song army's strengths and weaknesses thoroughly.

Although their calculations showed that the Song army would win most of the battles, the one or two missed opportunities were enough to make Shen Kuo, Xu Xi, and all the ministers and generals turn pale and panic.

At times like these, Zhang Yue would comfort everyone, saying that if the matter failed, it would be entirely his fault and that everyone should not take it to heart.

After two months of preparation, September arrived.

Li Bingchang once again refused the Song Dynasty's request to come to the capital to pay homage.

The Song Dynasty had already decided to make changes, appointing Li Zuoming as the military governor of Dingnan Army, officially replacing Li Bingchang.

At this point, there was no possibility of reconciliation between the Song and the Tanguts.

At the same time, countless supplies of money, provisions, and weapons were being continuously transported from Bianjing (Kaifeng) through Guanzhong to Shaanxi and the Hedong front.

All the sealed warehouses in various places were opened, and money, food, and military supplies were sent to the front lines without any hesitation.

Since the first year of the Xining era, thirty years of accumulation, the painstaking efforts of several generations of emperors and ministers, and countless ambitions have all been poured into this battle.

……

Wuying Hall.

Zhang Yue faced the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

"Everything is ready for the western expedition!"

"My strategy for eliminating the Tanguts is to supplement the attack with peace negotiations."

"To destroy a nation is inferior; to conquer the entire nation is superior..."

In the midst of their conversation, Privy Councilor Shen Kuo rushed in in a panic, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager..."

"The Liao Kingdom... The Liao Kingdom decisively defeated Mogus's 100,000-strong army in the northern desert... Mogus wanted to use the enemy's fierce tribe to raise an army again, but he was betrayed by treacherous people, and now... now..."

Both the Empress Dowager behind the curtain and the Emperor in front of the curtain were flustered and pale.

Zhang Yue then said, "Go on..."

“Yes,” Shen Kuo said, regaining his composure. “The Liao emperor has now ordered someone to send Mogus’s head to Xiongzhou, along with a letter to the Minister of Works.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue's gaze sharpened. He wasn't concerned about what Yelü Hongji was saying, but rather that this letter wasn't addressed to the Emperor or the Empress Dowager, but rather to him, Zhang Yue. His intentions were despicable.

Shi immediately opened the letter and read it.

I have heard that the Southern Kingdom is home to a gathering of virtuous and talented individuals, and that the Minister of Works, at the age of forty, has taken charge of the Song Dynasty's affairs, cultivating civil administration to bring peace to the people and strengthening military power to deter the barbarians. This truly makes me sigh deeply. In the past, Emperor Wu of Han expanded the borders, punishing even the most distant enemies; Emperor Taizong of Tang established the dynasty, his name as the Heavenly Khan resounding throughout the land—but these were the achievements of great rulers. Now, the Minister of Works, a civil official, commands the six armies, and wherever his banners point, the entire realm submits. Even if Xiao He and Fang Xuanling were reborn, they would have to step aside!

Although the barbarian tribes of the northern deserts have invaded our borders, I have personally led my iron cavalry to wipe out the 100,000-strong Mogus army, beheading them and displaying their heads in Xiongzhou, to demonstrate that Heaven's justice prevails. You should know that the ironclad armor of the Great Liao can still shatter mountains and split rocks; how can my thunderous might allow ants to shake a tree? Although we are separated by north and south, we are both acting as shepherds of the people on behalf of Heaven—I truly admire the great talent and strategies of the Minister of Works.

If you, Sikong, can lay down your arms and renew the alliance at Chanyuan, I will treat you as before and forever solidify the brotherhood between the North and South. If you insist on fighting, I will lead a million troops to hunt you down at Lingwu. The oaths of the past can be changed in the blink of an eye; your ten years of reform efforts will likely be in vain!
Emperor Yelü Hongji of the Liao Dynasty personally wrote
In the autumn of the fourth year of the Da'an era, in Shangjing.

The emperor's expression turned solemn upon hearing this.

The Empress Dowager, behind the curtain, fiddled with her prayer beads, clearly troubled.

As expected, the Empress Dowager was the first to waver.

Empress Dowager Xiang said, "Since the army started fighting, I haven't slept well for more than ten days. I've dreamt of the late Emperor several times, and he seemed to want to say something but stopped. I'm really uneasy."

"Minister, it's not too late to stop the fighting before the army sets out."

P.S.: I'm writing more and more, and I feel like I won't be able to finish the finale this month. The next update will be in two days.