The next day, at 5:00 am, it was time to go to the morning court again.

In the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen sat upright in the hall, listening to the two ranks of court officials in the hall bowing to him with his tablet and paying respects.

Although he was unable to get along in Zhang's bedroom last night, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, who was full of anger that night, had nowhere to vent or release him. Especially when he finished bathing and changing clothes, he was about to go to bed with Zhang's bed, but he found that Zhang's lower body was bleeding, and Kui Shui came. He immediately disappointed him and had to give up.

The depressed Song Renzong Zhao Zhen was not only in Zhang's bedroom, but also made him feel a little insomnia. He fell asleep very late. At about the fourth update today, he was awakened to get up and change his clothes to prepare for morning court.

After hearing the court officials bowed and greeted each other, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, who was sitting in the hall, yawned several times in a row. Suddenly, he thought of the matter about the peace talks between Xixia and asked first: "I want to know how the matter of sending envoys to discuss peace talks in Xixia is progressing. Pang Gong said that he would listen to me and all the ministers and discuss it. I hope that the peace talks will be handled as soon as possible and that there will be no war with the Xixia Dangxiang people on the northwest border."

As soon as Song Renzong Zhao Zhen finished speaking, Pang Ji, who was the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, immediately left the line and reported carefully: "Report to Your Majesty, I and Xixia Special Envoy Li Wengui have been discussing peace talks with our Song Dynasty for more than half a year. The text content on the peace talks cannot be determined at present."

Speaking of this, Pang Ji deliberately paused for a moment, then changed his tone, cleared his throat, and continued to say loudly: "However, after many discussions with Li Wengui, the special envoy of La Liga, one thing can be confirmed, that is, the Western Xia continues to submit to our great Song Dynasty. The Western Xia side requires that our great Song Dynasty cannot actually govern its territory, and retain its Western Xia army, as well as the power of appointment and removal of officials, etc., please let Your Majesty observe clearly."

Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, who was originally sitting in the hall, had not slept well last night and was still yawning at the beginning of the morning court. After listening to Pang Ji's report, he immediately became much more energetic as if he was injected with chicken blood.

However, Zhao Zhen felt mixed feelings about the content of Pang Ji's report, and was happy that the Western Xia surrendered to the Song Dynasty. On the surface, Xixia belonged to the Song Dynasty.

But the problem is that the monarch of Xixia Li Yuanhao was very persistent in retaining the army and appointing and removing officials. It can be said that he would not give in. This made Zhao Zhen feel that Xixia was accused of the Song Dynasty, which was not a name or a truth. This was not the result of the peace negotiations he wanted to see.

After thinking for a while, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen glanced at the court officials standing in the hall, and asked with great enthusiasm: "All the officials have heard what Pang Ji said just now. What do you think and what opinions do you have? You might as well say it. I don't want to fight against the Xixia Dangxiang people on the northwest border. What good strategies do you have to make Xixia Li Yuanhao surrender to my Song Dynasty as soon as possible?"

When Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty finished inquiry, Yan Shu, who became the prime minister with the Privy Councilor and Tongpingzhangshi, took the lead in leaving the list without hesitation, expressed his insightful opinions, and said: "Report to Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that our Song Dynasty has fought against Xixia for years on the northwest border, resulting in the displacement of a large number of people in the northwest border, and the devastation of life. A large amount of land was abandoned and no one was planted. It also allowed hundreds of thousands of soldiers to be buried in horse robes and bury them on the battlefield.

"What's more, every year, just dealing with the military expenditure of Xixia on the northwest border, will occupy nearly half a year of taxes in the Song Dynasty. If it continues, it will inevitably increase the tax burden of our Song Dynasty people. Furthermore, the Khitans in the Northern Liao Dynasty were eyeing our Song Dynasty. A few days ago, tens of thousands of cavalry were deployed on the border of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, waiting for our Song Dynasty to fight against Xixia, and both were injured. We should take the opportunity to go south to attack our Song Dynasty and rent and sell the benefits of fishermen.

'In my opinion, our Song Dynasty has been on the northwest border with Xixia for more than half a year. Li Yuanhao of the Western Xia has also sent envoys to our Tokyo many times to discuss peace affairs with Deputy Envoy Pang. Xixia should be quite sincere in seeking peace this time. Under this situation, our Song Dynasty does not need to ask too much for the time being. As long as Xixia agrees to pay tribute to our Song Dynasty and cancel the title of emperor, Li Yuanhao accepts the title of the Song Dynasty and calls it the title of Xia State.

"As for the Xixia continuing to retain its army and the power of appointing and dismissing officials, the old ministers believe that our Song Dynasty must not be too forced. If the Xixia Dangxiang people and the Northern Liao Khitans join forces to deal with our Song Dynasty, then our Song Dynasty will be in danger! Now, our Song Dynasty should first appease Li Yuanhao, so that the Western Xia cannot form an alliance with the Northern Liao, and pulling the Western Xia to our Song Dynasty is the most important thing at the moment."

As soon as Yan Shu finished speaking, the court officials standing in the hall were shocked. They could not whisper, but they looked at each other, and the surprised expression on their cheeks could not be gone for a long time.

In the eyes of most court officials, the Song Dynasty was a country of the Celestial Empire. It was able to allow the Xixia Dangxiang people to bargain. Not only did it require the Xixia to submit to the Song Dynasty and cancel the emperor's title, Li Yuanhao should also pay homage to the Zhao official family in Tokyo.

Moreover, the army of Xixia must be disbanded, and the power of appointing and dismissing officials in Xixia should be handed over to the Song Dynasty court to eliminate future troubles. Otherwise, once the Xixia Dangxiang people are neglected to manage, it may not necessarily cause any major trouble in the future.

Not only most of the court officials were very worried about this, but also the same was true for Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty, Zhao Zhen, who was sitting in the hall. He also felt that he was too indulging in Xixia for what Yan Shu said just now.

So, Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty, Zhao Zhen, continued to seek opinions from the court officials standing in the hall and said, "What Yan Qing said just now, I think that the concessions made by our Song Dynasty have too many, which will inevitably make Li Yuanhao of the Western Xia and look down on me. I wonder what other ministers in the hall have any higher opinions?"

At this time, Ouyang Xiu, who was aware of edicts, had a teacher-student relationship with Yan Shu. When he saw that the officials were not only dissatisfied with Yan Shu's speech, but many court officials also criticized Yan Shu. He believed that what Yan Shu said just now was the best good strategy.

Only by stabilizing Li Yuanhao of Western Xia can the Khitans in Northern Liao dare not go south to attack the Song Dynasty easily. There is no way to treat Western Xia. If they come hard, they will inevitably cause a stalemate in the end, which will be unfavorable to the Song Dynasty and Western Xia, but it will be beneficial to the Northern Liao Dynasty.

Thinking of this, Ouyang Xiu took the tablet and supported his teacher Yan Shu, and even said: "I believe that everything that Prime Minister Yan said just now is reasonable. Now, the best choice is the best strategy. Only by appeaseing the Western Xia can we fight against the Northern Liao and protect our Song Dynasty.

"In my opinion, as long as the Western Xia praises our Song Dynasty and abolishes the emperor's title, Li Yuanhao claims to be the "Zhao Lord" to the outside world, and sends a division to our Song Dynasty to worship on major festivals every year. My Song Dynasty can reward Western Xia with some silver, silk, tea and other money every year.

"In addition, during the previous battle between the two sides, the generals, soldiers, and households that they had plundered were returned to each other; from then on, if people on the border between the two sides fled to each other's territory, they could not send troops to pursue them, and both sides returned to each other's fleeing.

"Besides, in the war, the territory occupied by the Western Xia and other border areas of the Fan Han Dynasty were all returned to our Song Dynasty. Both sides can build their own castles on their own territory for defense purposes. The above is the opinions of the ministers, and I hope Your Majesty can adopt them as appropriate."
Chapter completed!