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After learning about Yang Keshi's defeat in Langoudian, Tong Guan was shocked and angry!

Yang Keshi disobeyed military orders and entered the enemy territory without any hesitation, ruining the major affairs of him and Zhao Ji, and making the peaceful recovery of Yanjing a flower in the mirror and a moon in the water. According to military law, he should be executed.

But Tong Guan really couldn't make up this cruelty.

Yang Keshi was a confidant general promoted by Tong Guan. He followed Tong Guan to fight against Tubo and Xixia in the northwest, and also followed Tong Guan to quell the rebellions of Tian Hu, Wang Qing and Fang La.

Yang Keshi was brave in fighting and had outstanding military achievements. He was a veritable enemy of thousands of people and one of Tong Guan’s favorite generals.

Therefore, Tong Guan didn't want to deal with Yang Keshi from the bottom of his heart.

But if Yang Keshi is not dealt with, where is the military power? How can we convince the public?

Tong Guan hesitated!

Tong Guan asked Liu Wei, "Yang Keshi violated military orders and entered the enemy's territory without permission. According to your opinion, what should we do?"

Liu Wei knew about Yang Keshi and Tong Guan's relationship, so he defended Yang Keshi's explanation for "General Yang did not actually violate the military order. He led his army into Liao territory to support the people of Yan. He was just an ambush by the Liao army. Zhong Shidao is the commander-in-chief, so why not hand over General Yang to him for disposal?"

When Tong Guan heard this, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

How could Tong Guan, the old fox, not understand that there are at least three benefits to handing Yang Keshi to Zhong Shidao for disposal?

1. Yang Keshi is not only his favorite general, but also his favorite general of Master Zhong. After being handed over to Master Zhong, he is likely to save Yang Keshi's life.

Second, doing so can slightly alleviate the increasingly sharp conflict between the Xuanfu Department and the Commander-in-Chief.

Third, doing so can put the responsibility for whether the handling is appropriate to Mr. Zhong.

However, Tong Guan was still a little worried and said, "Ten thousand kinds of teachers use military law to deal with Yang Keshi..."

Liu Wei smiled and said, "You can rest assured that General Yang is upright, strong and brave in combat. Zhong Shidao also values ​​him very much and cannot deal with General Yang according to military law. Besides, if Zhong Shidao really wants to deal with General Yang in military law, shouldn't he still ask for advice and pacification?"

After hearing Liu Wei's words, Tong Guan was completely relieved and immediately ordered "Article Yang Keshi to go to the command headquarters to wait for the disposal, and Wang Yuan will be responsible for the front army of the Western Route Army."

After seeing Zhong Shidao, Yang Keshi was ashamed and said, "The last general is incompetent, he will lose his troops and lose his generals, and will ruin his military reputation. He is extremely ashamed and requests punishment."

Liu Wei was right, and Zhong Shidao also liked Yang Keshi. Moreover, Zhong Shidao also guessed Tong Guan's attitude towards Yang Keshi, and then said to Yang Keshidao, "Victory and defeat are common things for military affairs, and you should take it as a warning in the future."

Zhong Shidao arranged for Yang Keshi to stay in the Eastern Route Army to continue to serve as the former army and redeem his sins.

Yang Keshi was very grateful to Tong Guan and Zhong Shidao, and then put away his previous arrogance and obeyed orders.

Zhong Shidao then summoned the generals to hold a meeting and reiterated Tong Guan's instructions.

"The people in Yan are all the people of the government and our Han brothers. If they can come and surrender, we will come forward to accept it. If they don't come, our army will be strong and prepare for the Liao Kingdom to undergo internal changes. We must not kill a person through the border..."

Zhong Shidao, who did not want to fight this war, had already figured it out at this time and began to act in accordance with the Imperial Imperial and the Propaganda Department's regulations.

...

Let’s talk about the Ma Kuo’s envoy to Yanjing.

That day, Ma Kuo and more than a dozen heroes crossed the Baigou Border River and came to Xincheng County, a border town in Liao Kingdom.

Here, Ma Kuo saw that many people were willing to surrender to the State of Song, and also found out that the Liao army was weak and had only a few thousand people. One of them, a soldier named Liu Zongji, even secretly found Ma Kuo and then vowed to present Zhuozhou to the Song Dynasty.

Ma Kuo thought about it again and again, and wrote a letter to Tong Guan. He took out one of the new shoes given to him by Tong Guan and handed it to Liu Zongji as a token.

Soon, the Han official companion sent by Yelu Chun came to Zhuozhou to welcome Ma Kuo and his entourage.

Outside Yanjing City, Ma Kuo was warmly welcomed by Xiao Ao, the commander of the four-way government, and Zhang Jue, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites.

Xiao Ao and Zhang Jue acted as their companions and accompanied Ma Kuo and his party to settle in Jinggu Temple.

Judging from the reception along the way, Yelu Chun attached great importance to the visits of the envoys of the Song Dynasty.

The next day, Yao Meng, the commander in front of the hall, and Xiao Kui, came to Jinggu Temple to invite Ma Kuo together.

During the meal, Xiao Kui said, "The officials of the two governments want to borrow a letter of nationality brought by the ambassador."

The letter of nationality was brought to the emperor and ministers of Northern Liao. Ma Kuo was indecisive, so he handed over the letter of nationality to Xiao Kui after dinner.

In the evening, Xiao Kui returned to Jinggu Temple and said to Ma Kuo, "Ma Xuanzan, there are a lot of crazy and perverse words in the letter of nationality you brought, and most of them are accusations and scolding. How dare we submit them to Your Majesty?"

Ma Kuo said, "The Liao lord rushed to Jiashan. The nine kings did not send troops to rescue the enemy, but they usurped the throne and demoted the Liao lord to the King of Huaiyin. This is an extraordinary move. The Song and Liao lords are brothers, so they come to raise troops to ask for punishment. What's wrong?"

Xiao Kui said, "The country cannot be without a master for a day. Emperor Tianzuo of this dynasty lost his way, ran around and ignored the country, and even the clan and society subverted, so that his subjects supported and appointed His Majesty today. What should he do with the noble dynasty? Why do you have to ask for punishment? Besides, this matter has happened since ancient times. Emperor Ming of Tang fled to Shu and Emperor Suzong was in Lingwu. Isn't it the same as this? The Song Dynasty should consider the long-term peace of neighboring countries, and use troops to overcome great troubles together to achieve the style of a great country. But today, you are facing the border and seize the people's land. What is the system of Li Yan, who forcibly occupy the land of the Great Liao Dynasty and repeatedly attacked our army? He fought as the banner of "The Envoy of Xuanfu in the Song Dynasty". I hope your country will give us a reasonable explanation."

Ma Kuo said, "The Emperor Ming of Tang is for Shu, and the prince is in charge of the country. When the prince ascended the throne, he appointed Emperor Ming of Tang as the emperor. After the chaos was settled, he welcomed Emperor Ming of Tang to return to the capital. This is the way for the monarch and ministers. The nine kings of the dynasty ascended the throne, not entrusted, but self-reliance. He also demoted Emperor Tianzuo to the King of Xiangyin. How could this be done by the ancients? The fake teacher asked for help, and he should be sincere. Bao Xu cried Qin and Kong Ming went to Wu, and they all had their sincerity. If you ask for help in this way, how could the neighboring countries not respond? It's a precious dynasty who never sent a messenger to our Song Dynasty. Although this dynasty had

There is no need to provide any kind of mercy. Today, the army is in the face of the brink of troubles and fortunes, and the king and ministers of the dynasty will be punished! As for Li Yan, he is no different from the Jurchens of the dynasty, and he is a traitor. He is worried that our dynasty will destroy him, so he fled to Yundi. At present, our dynasty army is still encircling and suppressing his remnants. If you don’t believe it, you can send someone to our dynasty to check the east and west roads of our dynasty, so what Li Yan does is not instructed by our dynasty and has nothing to do with our dynasty. But if you have the chance, our dynasty will definitely send a large army to completely wipe out him."

Bei Liao also knew Li Yan's followers a little. They did regard Li Yan as the Jurchen of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, Xiao Kui was speechless by Ma Kuo and retreated only in vain.

In the next few days, officials from Northern Liao have been discussing how to deal with the matter of Ma Kuo’s mission?

At the same time, Ma Kuo was also under house arrest.

On this day, Xiao Kui came to ask Ma Kuo.

Ma Kuo asked, "Where do you go?"

Xiao Kui said, "I'll know after I go to Ma Xuanzan."

Ma Kuo listened to the words and stopped asking more questions.

Soon, Ma Kuo followed Xiao Kui to the imperial city located in the southwest corner of Yanjing.

Outside a main hall, Xiao Kui said to Ma Kuo, "Ma Xuanzan is ready to perform the worship ceremony."

Ma Kuo asked seriously, "Why do you need to worship?"

Xiao Kui silently refused to answer.

Ma Kuo made up his mind to never give Yelu Chun a prayer ceremony.

Ma Kuo knew that he might bring death to himself if he did this, but as an envoy, he did not represent an individual, but a country. If he gave a great worship ceremony to Yelu Chun, it would be equivalent to the Song Dynasty admitting that its ascension to the throne was legal and valid, which was very unfavorable to the Song Dynasty.

Ma Kuo walked into the hall and saw that there was no one in the hall. In the middle of the hall was a simple incense table. There were candlesticks and incense burners on the incense table. The incense smoke curled around the beams, and an old tiger-skinned mattress was placed under the incense table.

Ma Kuo was confused. He didn't know what ceremony Yelu Chun was going to hold?

While Ma Kuo was thinking, two Khitan girls wearing narrow-sleeved robes and long leather boots walked in from the side door of the hall with two paintings.

When they arrived at the incense table, the two Khitan girls faced the horse, with a solemn expression, and then slowly unfolded the scroll.

Ma Kuo looked closely and was surprised. It turned out that it was a portrait of Emperor Zhenzong of Song and Emperor Renzong of Song.

Ma Kuo quickly stepped forward, then picked up three incense sticks from the incense table, and knelt on the mattress to worship.

After Ma Kuo's courtesy, the two Khitan girls silently rolled up the portrait and walked out slowly.

Ma Kuo understood that Yelu Chun was telling him that the Liao Kingdom respected the two emperors of the Song Dynasty very much.

Soon, a gray-haired old man slowly walked in from the side door. He said to Ma Kuo with a solemn expression, "I am your translator. Your Majesty is not safe in the dragon body and cannot receive the envoy. I would like to forgive me. There are a few words, Your Majesty ordered me to tell the envoy... Your Majesty said that the two dynasties have been well-told for more than a hundred years. Suddenly, the Song Dynasty broke through the alliance and was in the fortress of the army. Didn't he fear the heavens? Since ancient times, the country has not been long for violating the oath."

Ma Kuo gave a tribute first, and then said, "The two dynasties have been reconciled for a hundred years, and all the people are lucky. However, the Liao lord is still there, why did the nine kings ascend the throne to the emperor without authorization? Why did the Liao lord be deposed as the King of Xiangyin? The emperor of our dynasty has brotherhood with the Liao lord. Can't we raise troops to ask?"

The translator said silently and withdrew in small steps.

After a while, the translator returned to the hall with a few documents and said to Ma Kuo, "This is the affidavit of Emperor Zhenzong of the Gui Dynasty, Emperor Renzong and Emperor Zhaosheng of our dynasty. Your Majesty ordered me to read it to the envoy."

Ma Kuo was stunned, but he didn't expect Yelu Chun to take this move.

In the first year of Jingde, Emperor Zhenzong signed this peace agreement with the Liao Kingdom in Chanzhou. Since then, the Song Kingdom began to exchange annual tribute for peace on the northern border.

The Song Dynasty has always had two completely different voices about this alliance.

One thought was that this was a humiliation of the Song people, and they had to earn peace by paying tribute every year.

Another type believes that it is great good to exchange for peace on the northern border at such a small price.

Although Ma Kuo, who was a soldier, prefers the former, he does not deny the latter.

After reading the affidavit, the translator saw that Ma Kuo seemed to be immersed in it and quietly retreated.

Soon, Xiao Kui walked in through the side door and said, "What do Ma Xuanzan feel after listening to the affidavit? Do you have the heart to break the contract by the monarch and ministers?"

Ma Kuo was silent for a moment, and then said, "Our dynasty did not breach the contract, but you should not establish a new king. The Liao lord fled to Jiashan. Not only did you not send troops to pick him up, but you abolished him. Isn't this a turmoil? Besides, Li Yan had occupied the mountain, and the Jurchens also held troops outside the pass, Yanjing was in danger, and our army was on the border. The purpose was not to start a war with you, but to stand up for the Liao lord and save the people in Yan's land from water and fire. In this way, how can we say that our dynasty breach the contract?"

Xiao Kui said, "Ma Xuanzan's good eloquence, Xiao has learned it... Your Majesty is not safe and cannot meet you in person. Our court will send Secretary Wang Jieru to Xiongzhou with you to meet Tong Xuanfu to discuss the peace of life between the two families."

Ma Kuo's heart moved and said, "It seems that Yelu Chun already has the intention to call him Fan."

Ma Kuo originally wanted to find out how Yelu Chun was in a state of condition, but he swallowed it back when he said something.

He thought, "Yelu Chun had the idea of ​​being a vassal, and the task had been basically completed, so it would be better not to cause trouble."

However, when Ma Chao returned to Jinggu Temple, he was placed under house arrest again.

Ma Kuo felt very strange. Didn’t Xiao Kui say that he would send a secretary to Xiongzhou with him? Why didn’t he see anyone? Could it be that something happened?

Since the connection with the outside world has been cut off, Ma Kuo can only judge the situation by guessing.

He speculated that it was possible that the two armies had already fought, otherwise, under the previous situation, the Liao people would not have put him under house arrest.

As expected, it didn't look like the horse.

In the evening, Xiao Kui and a large group of people came to Jinggu Temple.

Xiao Kui asked Ma Kuo in a fierce manner, "You Song Dynasty only praised the soldiers, but they didn't expect that the laws of nature were not going well and people had no fighting spirit. Yesterday, Yang Keshi led his army to invade Langoudian and was hit by our army head-on. Your army was damaged by the generals and lost their armor and fled in the dust. If it weren't for the thought of sending you to negotiate a reconciliation, our army would have long attacked Xiongzhou. Your Song Dynasty sent envoys and advanced at the same time, what does this mean? What are you planning?"

As he said that, Xiao Kui took out a letter and a shoe from his arms, and then said angrily, "Ma Xuanzan, do you know these two things? It doesn't matter if you don't recognize them. Liu Zongji has been captured by our army, and he has confessed all the filth between you. Ma Xuanzan, you may not be able to go back!"

Ma Kuo's heart tightened, but his face was still calm. He slowly replied, "Ma's visit to Yanjing this time is different from ordinary envoys. He is the envoy who recruits him. Liu Zongji told me that he wanted to offer the city, how could Ma not accept it? Besides, my army received the imperial edict when he first arrived at the border, and he was not allowed to kill one person. This was written in the list of surrenders. General Yang Keshi was defeated and must have been bound by the list of surrenders. If the Xuanfu Department applies for the imperial edict to surrender the imperial edict to attack and mobilize, then it will not take long for my elite troops from the Song Dynasty to gather on the border. In that case, it may not be a blessing for the people of Yanjing."

Xiao Kui looked stunned. He didn't expect that it was already this time, and Ma Kuo dared to threaten them.

Xiao Kui said, "The Song Dynasty sent you to Yanjing to be a dead room, right? I didn't expect that your Song Dynasty would abandon the fate of the literati and officials as much as grass."

The so-called Death Site is one of the five Sun Tzu's Art of War. It refers to spies who sneak into the enemy camp, spread false information, and lure the enemy into being deceived. Because the true feelings are exposed, they will definitely die, so it is called Death Site.

Ma Kuo laughed and said, "Ma came here to exchange for the fate of Quan Yan. If you can understand it, you will be born together; if you cannot understand it, you will be dead together."

Ma Kuo has put life and death aside, and then continued to say, "Ma thought that the best way to use the military and family is to use the best. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn the boat. It can be used to succeed or fail. You are strong and weak, or you and I are evenly matched. At this time, you may be able to use the separation, but at present, the strength of our two dynasties is very different. Why do you need to use the army? How can your dynasty be? Can it be one tenth of our dynasty? Or one hundredth of our dynasty? Or one thousandth of our dynasty? If it weren't for the fact that the two countries were adjacent and friendly for many years, our dynasty had divided the troops and entered the whole formation together, and I wonder how your dynasty would defend it? Under such circumstances, why should our dynasty come to Yanjing to analyze the good fortune and death with you? Isn't this contrary to common sense? So, what you said just now is simply a child's knowledge!"

Xiao Kui and others were speechless by Ma Kuo’s refutation, with embarrassment and left in anger...
Chapter completed!