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In early November of the sixth year of Xuanhe, Tong Guan sent someone to invite Baozhou Lianfang Envoy Ma Kuo to Taiyuan. The reason why Tong Guan called Ma Kuo to come to Taiyuan was because Tong Guan planned to ask Ma Kuo to go to Yunzhong with Xin Xingzong, the Binzhou Observer, to pay homage to Wanyan Zonghan and discuss the matter of returning to Yundi.

Tong Guan admired Ma Kuo very much and believed that Ma Kuo was the most suitable candidate for negotiations with the Jin people.

After receiving Tong Guan's order, Ma Kuo set off as soon as possible.

In just one day, Ma Kuo came to Taiyuan.

When Tong Guan heard that Ma Kuo had been to Yanjing not long ago, he asked Ma Kuo about the situation in Yanjing.

Ma Kuo then gave a very detailed report to Tong Guan on the issue of Yanjing, and focused on the "profits and interests of the ever-winning army's land grant."

Tong Guan said: "I have always been worried that the Everlasting Army will become a disaster for the Song Dynasty in the future, and are preparing to reduce the Everlasting Army. I wonder what you think?"

Ma Kuo replied: "The officials also know that the victory army will be a disaster in the future. However, now the woman is really worried about the victory army and dare not raise her troops to peek at Yan. If she cut it off immediately, she will probably eliminate the last bit of worry about the Jurchens. In that case, the Jurchens will be fearless of our Song Dynasty, and the Yan land will probably be dangerous, and the victory army may also mutiny or surrender to the Jurchens."

Tong Guan was actually very clear about this, and he asked: "What good way do you have to do if you are?"

Ma Kuo replied without thinking, "Now the Changsheng Army can fight, there are only more than 30,000 soldiers. If the Taishi could select 100,000 elite horses and stairs from the three routes of Shaanxi, Hedong and Hebei, divided into three divisions, and then select good generals to command, one stationed in Yanshan, and the other stationed in Guangsheng Army or Zhongshan Prefecture; the other stationed in Xiongzhou or Hejian Prefecture. The Duya is approaching, so that the Changsheng Army has some entrustedness and some taboos to retreat. In that case, even if the Jin people have malicious intentions, how dare they come easily?"

Tong Guan shook his head and said, "Although your idea is good, the country is now in a difficult situation and we can't raise so many elite horse stances."

Ma Kuo also knew that since the defeat of Zhong Shidao and Liu Yanqing, the Song Dynasty did not have many available soldiers, and they had to guard against the invasion of the old enemy Xixia. It was indeed difficult for Tong Guan to raise 100,000 elite troops now, so he sighed: "The country's threat is all due to the escape from Yanqing. If Zhong Shidao was launched again at that time and many Western soldiers were involved in the invasion, it would not be so harmful to the country's major events!"

Tong Guan remained silent.

Tong Guan was reluctant to mention the two defeats again.

First of all, no matter how you shirk it, in name, both defeats were led by him.

Secondly, he does have some responsibility.

Let’s talk about Liu Yanqing’s escape first.

At that time, Liu Yanqing had asked Tong Guan for instructions before withdrawing his troops, but Tong Guan's ambiguous answer made Liu Yanqing decide based on the facts.

After Liu Yanqing was arrested and imprisoned, when interrogating him, he took out a note signed by Tong Guan and Cai You, allowing him to make a decision on his own, and went to defend himself. The interrogation was so unsuccessful, and Liu Yanqing was finally acquitted.

Later, the court discussed Liu Yanqing's loss of his troops and humiliated the country, and all believed that it was necessary to implement the law, so he demoted Liu Yanqing to the deputy governor of Yunzhou.

As for the defeat of Zhong Shidao, Tong Guan was very clear about it. If it weren't for the long-standing conflict between him and Zhong Shidao and the two of them worked together sincerely, perhaps there would be no future events.

Tong Guan is really optimistic about Ma Kuo. Otherwise, Ma Kuo would only mention Zhong Shidao and Liu Yanqing in front of Tong Guan, and criticize one and praise the other. Ma Kuo's career may be over.

A few days later, Tong Guan issued an order to Ma Kuo and Xin Xingzong to "go to the clouds and go back to the clouds with the Jurchens."

Before leaving, Tong Guan specially convened more than a dozen staff members of the Xuanfu Department, including Li Zongzhen, Xin Qizong, Xin Yongzong, Sun Wo, Yao Youzhong, Du Changlan, and other members of the Xuanfu Department, to hold a banquet to see off Ma Kuo and Xin Xingzong.

These dozen people were arranged around Tong Guan, drinking wine in golden cups and drinking one after another.

Tong Guan took the initiative to say: "The general ministers in front of the mountain are not good people, and they have suffered from bad habits. If you can go back to the mountain, choosing a general minister is not a trivial matter. Let me tell you, who is suitable to be a general minister behind the mountain?"

Li Zongzhen and others then counted all the sixth routes in Shaanxi, as well as the military officials in Hedong and Hebei.

Tong Guan shook his head and said, "This kind of peaceful land can be used as a border commander. The mountain is behind Xixia in the west, Tatars in the north, and Yan in the south. Therefore, one must have both civil and military knowledge, wise and brave, and honest, and know the human feelings of all countries to achieve this great purpose."

Speaking of this, Tong Guan looked at Ma Kuo and said, "I think it's impossible for me to proclaim my horse."

No one expected that Tong Guan actually wanted to recommend Ma Kuo to become the leader of Yundi, including Ma Kuo himself.

To be honest, seeing that Tong Guan intended to lead his troops to guard Yunzhong, Ma Kuo felt very excited and grateful to Tong Guan.

Tong Guan glanced at Ma Kuo and asked, "If Youzi was the one who guarded the clouds, how many military horses should be used?"

Ma Kuo thought for a while and said, "It should be used for 30,000."

Tong Guan said: "The country is struggling now, can it be less?"

Ma Kuo said: "It cannot be less than 20,000, Yunzhongfu stationed 10,000, and each pass is divided into 10,000."

Tong Guan smiled and said, "Twenty thousand is much easier to deal with. Every year, you should invest three million troops. I will follow the talents you recommend."

Ma Kuo said: "Kuo will live up to the expectations of the Grand Master!"

...

At the end of November, Ma Kuo and Xin Xingzong came to Yunzhong.

Unfortunately, Wanyan Zonghan was no longer in the clouds and he went back to the capital.

Wanyan Xiyin, who acted as a marshal, sent Gao Qingyi to argue with Ma Kuo and Xin Xingzong.

Gao Qingyi said: "The Grand Marshal is not here, and we dare not talk about the issue of Yundi. Moreover, the Gui Dynasty accepted the former Liao officials and Yan land and the people of Yan. The affidavit said that each of them was not allowed to accept defections. The Gui Dynasty had already broken the agreement, so in my opinion, even if the Grand Marshal returns, he will not return the land behind you."

Ma Kuobian said: "Original Liao officials and Yan land rich people fled to Yanjing, which was Zhang Jue's crime. This dynasty had already killed Zhang Jue's head and sent him to him. The rest of the households were mostly hidden in the valleys, and those who saw him were repatriated one after another, and those who did not see him had sent someone to capture him, not to take him away. The dynasty once said that Tan Zhen had many unwell actions, and our dynasty had already criticized and demoted Tan Zhen, and he appointed Tong Taishi to be sincere and make good friends with your country. I hope that your country would return the land behind the Great Song Mountains to stabilize the creatures in both worlds."

Gao Qingyi said: "If you want a land behind the mountain, you will send back the old officials of Liao and wealthy families in Yan, and then discuss the return of Yundi, otherwise you will not open this."

Ma Kuo, Xin Xingzong and Gao Qingyi spent until early December and there was no progress.

Ma Kuo discussed with Xin Xingzong and decided to return to Taiyuan first.

After the two returned to Taiyuan, Tong Guan asked: "What did you see after you entered the country?"

Ma Kuo said: "The Jurchens are now training soldiers in Han'er Township and increasing the number of guards in Feihu and Lingqiu. When they talked to him, they pointed out Zhang Jue several times and asked former Liao officials and wealthy families in Yan. The officials felt very bad, and they were afraid that they would not return the Yundi for a long time, and even invaded me in Hedong. I hope the Grand Tutor will make preparations early and strengthen national defense."

After listening, Tong Guan did not express his opinion.

Tong Guan always believed in his heart that the Jin Kingdom was unlikely to send troops to attack the Song Dynasty at this time, because the Jin Kingdom had just established the country, and the country was not stable and economically lacked support. The only thing about food and grass was enough for the Jin Kingdom to worry about. Moreover, the Jin Kingdom had not captured Emperor Tianzuo, and there was also a strong neighbor of the Liangshan Mountains on its side. Therefore, it is extremely unwise to go south to fight with the Song Dynasty, and it may cause the great situation that the Jin Kingdom finally established without a chance.

...
Chapter completed!