Everyone retreated, and only Cao Ping and Li Yanqing were left in the lobby. Cao Ping glanced at Li Yanqing and smiled and said, "Yanqing is here today, it shouldn't be as simple as just talking about homework!"

Li Yanqing was appointed as Jingzhao Mansion for three months and returned to Beijing for the first time. Of course, he would not be as simple as talking about family matters. Cao Ping certainly understood this truth, but Li Yanqing wanted to talk about Gao Qiu even more today.

He thought about it and decided to talk about Shaanxi Road first. He slowly said: "I wonder what my grandfather thinks about border disarmament?"

In the past three months, many major events have happened in the Xixia area. Xixia invited Yelu Yanxi to plot against Yunzhou together. Yelu Yanxi was deceived and his army was completely wiped out by the Xixia army. Yelu Yanxi fled back to Daqingshan but was surrounded by Jin soldiers. The Liao Kingdom was completely destroyed, and all wealth was taken away by the Jin Kingdom. Yelu Yanxi also became a prisoner of the Jin Kingdom, and Xixia took advantage of the situation to occupy Yunzhou.

Cao Ping said angrily: "I am so angry when talking about this. The civil officials of the court are thinking all day long. They fight for power and profit all day long, either do nothing or just talk about poetry and lyrics. Even my Cao family knows that the situation is not good and begins to move to the south. They are still confused and have no sense of crisis."

Li Yanqing smiled bitterly in his heart. The old man turned the topic aside and could only bear it.

Cao Ping complained for a long time before he realized that he had gone astray. He turned back and said, "Border disarmament, Wang Fu's suggestion was to let the border army be disarmed and returned to the field. Of course, I knew that this was actually what the official family meant. He wanted to completely eliminate the influence of Zhong Shidao through this opportunity. But I told the official family that it was the Western Army that pacified Fang La. The success of the Northern Expedition was also the credit of the Western Army. The imperial army in the capital was defeated. It was a pity that such an elite army was disarmed and returned to the field. The official family finally agreed to my suggestion to transfer the border army to the capital, but all the generals above were replaced. Unfortunately! The dandy boys in the capital have become the main generals of the Western Army, with a bunch of corrupt bones to support the Western Army. What is the difference between this and returning to the field? This is the root of the Song Dynasty, which is rotten to the core."

Li Yanqing felt really uncomfortable, especially he knew very well that the strategic purpose of Xixia was not just that it was not just that Yunzhou in the north had to give up annual monies in exchange for border peace. Whether it was Hedong Road or Shaanxi Road, in the past century, the war with Xixia has been confronted with Xixia for nearly a hundred years, and a complete defense system has been formed on the border. Hundreds of castles and military camps must be guarded to maintain it. A hundred thousand troops is the lowest number of troops.

However, the transfer of monies in Xixia made the Song Dynasty give up on this defense system that had been built for nearly a hundred years, leaving only 20,000 troops, which would mean that at least nearly half of the military camps and castles would have to be given up. Once they gave up, they would be deserted and dilapidated, and it would be difficult to pick them up again.

Li Yanqing had to say that the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty was not accidental, but it was really a corruption within the country. For a little dignity and small profits, he even gave up his own strategic defense system.

But now the agreement has been signed and has been implemented without fail. Besides, these are meaningless, they are just a hindsight.

Seeing that Cao Ping was a little tired, Li Yanqing didn't want to delay any more, so he naturally turned the topic to the main business, "Grandfather, Gao Qiu will treat me to tea at noon tomorrow!"

"Then go!" Cao Ping replied a little tiredly, but he immediately realized that something was wrong. How could it be Gao Qiu?

Cao Ping's tiredness disappeared without a trace. He straightened his back and looked at Li Yanqing with bright eyes, "What's going on?"

"I don't know what's going on. He asked a friend of mine to bring a message. I also felt something was strange. It was a matter of solving a piece of invitation, but he made it so complicated."

"He is afraid that Liang Shicheng will feel uncomfortable!"

Cao Ping waved his hand. That was not important. What was important was what Gao Qiu asked Yanqing to drink tea at this time? He glanced at him and saw that Li Yanqing was thinking, so he asked, "Yanqing, what do you think?"

Li Yanqing thought about it and said slowly: "If he just gave a simple greeting, there is no need for him to make it so complicated, or let his son treat him. I think it should be a big deal for him like this. I wonder if there is any big thing going to happen in the court recently?"

Cao Ping thought for a while and suddenly realized, "I understand, it must be for the purpose of increasing the quality!"

Seeing that Li Yanqing was a little confused, he quickly explained: "The prime minister of the court has always had two chiefs and four deputys, but after the officials began to reuse the eunuchs to separate the power of the prime minister, he reduced the position and became two chiefs and two chiefs and two chiefs. However, Yang Jian, Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, and Li Yan made the people in the world resentment and the officials were in chaos. In addition, the Zhizheng Hall formed a situation where Cai Jing and Wang Fu competed. Under pressure, the official family had to restore the pattern of two chiefs and four chiefs and deputy again, so that two chiefs and four chiefs and deputy chiefs must be added. One has been decided, and it should be Bai Shizhong to re-enter the prime minister again. The other is said that the official family intends to restore the old system and let the Privy Council serve as the prime minister. Then it is Gao Qiu, but there are many oppositions against Gao Qiu, especially Wang Fu's strongest opposition."

"So Gao Qiu hopes to get support from the military, but in fact he hopes to get support from Cao, Pan and Gao's three families, so he invited me to have tea?" Li Yanqing asked Cao Ping with his eyes.

Cao Ping nodded, "Bai Shizhong has always been a neutral faction, and Cai Jing and Gao Qiu have been quite close during this period. Once Gao Qiu becomes a prime minister, a pattern of strong and weak Cai will be formed in the Zhizheng Hall. Therefore, Wang Fu firmly opposes it because Wang Fu is too firm in opposition, so the things that were originally set before the New Year have been delayed. Gao Qiu's situation is not going well. He should hope that I can express my opinion to the official."

"Does my grandfather think this attitude can be expressed?" Li Yanqing asked again.

Cao Ping smiled and said, "Actually, I think if Zhizhengtang had a military representative, the court would be more attentive in the defense of Hebei. This is a good thing. Moreover, Gao Qiu is a person who is more realistic than Tong Guan. Although his character is not very good and he is more jealous of talented people, he is self-aware and will never take any commander of the Northern Expedition, which will make the Song army defeated. Of course, if you can enter Zhizhengtang, I would not consider Gao Qiu."

Li Yanqing laughed, "Yanqing can't afford to praise my grandfather!"

"Okay! If Gao Qiu mentions this tomorrow, you agree, but I want to remind you not to be arrogant. You have to fight for the resources in Gao Qiu's hands. You are not an alliance with him, but a transaction. Since it is a transaction, you cannot suffer any loss."

Li Yanqing nodded, "My grandson understands it in his heart!"

Many secret transactions between officials are carried out in the alum building, mainly because the alum building has eight entrances, and they are all inside and outside. Even if you break in by accident, it is difficult for people to find people eating together.

Li Yanqing entered the Alum Tower from the northeast entrance. He and Zheng Rongtai followed a guide maid to the third floor and walked into the booked elegant room. Gao Yanei opened the door for them.

The name of Yanei generally refers to the children of high-ranking officials, and there is no derogatory meaning. In the future, Li Yanqing's son will also be called Li Yanei, but Gao Qiu's son defiled the name and became synonymous with playboys. As for what Gao Yanei is named, Li Yanqing has never known it, but he doesn't want to know that the name Gao Yanei has enough representative meaning.

Although Li Yanqing and Gao Yanei had some unpleasant past events, as everyone gradually matured, there was no need to recall those fighting past events.

Li Yanqing bowed and smiled when he entered the door, "I heard that Yanei has been promoted to Du Yuhou, congratulations!"

Gao Yanei bowed slightly, "I dare not be a good person. An official like me is just a blessing to support my father's conscience. Unlike Tongzhi who got it from a bloody battle on the battlefield, it is really not worth mentioning!"

Li Yanqing nodded. This guy can speak. Of course, this is also in front of himself, and he may not be so humble in front of others.

"Yanei is too humble, can you be here?"

"My father just arrived, please come in!"

Gao Yanei invited Li Yanqing into the inner room, while he and Zheng Rongtai were having tea outside. This was also what his father meant, and asked them to keep watch outside.

Li Yanqing pushed the door and entered the room. Gao Qiu was chatting and laughing with the tea prostitute. Gao Qiu was dressed casually, wearing a deep dress and a squid on his head, looking like a servant playing with birds.

"Ah! Yanqing is here."

Gao Qiu smiled and said, "It is inconvenient to sit on the kang, so we won't be able to greet you, sit down quickly!"

Gao Qiu was extremely enthusiastic and had a sincere attitude, just like an old friend who had been with him for many years. Li Yanqing smiled and bowed, "It's better to obey your orders than respect, I'm not polite!"

He handed the outer clothes to the maid and sat cross-legged at the small table opposite Gao Qiu. Gao Qiu poured him a cup of tea, "I heard from Xiaopang that he was back the day before yesterday. It was snowing so heavily, so it was hard to walk on the road!"

"It's really hard to walk. I heard that several passages in Taihang Mountain have been closed. When I come to Hedong Road, I can only go to Fenglingdu. Fortunately, it's so heavy snow, otherwise I wouldn't dare to come back safely this year."

"You are right. With such heavy snow, Xixia should be calm for a while. You know the matter in Yunzhou!"

Li Yanqing nodded, "I guess the goal of Jin Kingdom this year is Xixia, and we have another year of preparation time."

Gao Qiu's face became serious, "Yanqing, do you think the Jin Kingdom really wants to attack the Song Dynasty?"

Li Yanqing pondered for a moment and said, "There are indeed many rumors outside that the Jin Kingdom is going to attack the Song Dynasty, but I think these rumors are not groundless."

"Oh? How do you say this?"

"The reason is actually very simple. Pingzhou and Juyongguan are both in the hands of the Jin Kingdom, which makes people have to be wary."

Gao Qiu pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, the court realized it, so he gave Guo Yaoshi a quota of 50,000 soldiers. In addition to the village soldiers, Guo Yaoshi had at least 100,000. I hope Guo Yaoshi would not disappoint the court."

Li Yanqing sighed secretly. In history, it was Guo Yaoshi, who had more than 100,000 troops who surrendered to the Jin Kingdom, which made the Jin Kingdom unstoppable and headed south. Before that, many Hebei ministers, including the Yanshan Prefect Wang Anzhong, warned the court that Guo Yaoshi was not trustworthy, but Zhao Ji turned a blind eye, which led to the smooth transition of the Jin army. This was also one of the important reasons that led to Zhao Ji's crimes and abdication.

Li Yanqing pondered for a moment, and said implicitly: "I think the court should strengthen its defense in the two prefectures and Zhending Prefectures. We cannot relax just because of Yanshan Prefecture, the defense on the Baihe line will be loose."

Gao Qiu frowned, "Do you think Pharmacist Guo is unreliable?"

Li Yanqing smiled faintly, "How many generals are Tong Guan recommended? "

This sentence made Gao Qiu feel extremely happy, and it was simply to his heart. He nodded, "You are right. Since you betray the Liao Kingdom and surrender to the Song Dynasty, you will also betray the Song Dynasty and surrender to the Jin Kingdom. If you have the chance, I will remind the officials that you cannot remove the Zhending Prefecture and Baihe defense line."

Li Yanqing knew that Gao Qiu was not really considering the Song Dynasty. If Guo Yaoshi was not Tong Guan’s person, he would never say this.

The two of them drank another cup of tea, and Gao Qiu asked, "Do you need help with any difficulties in Yanqing now?"

The topic is here, Gao Qiu wants to give first, and gives favors to himself first, and then he makes a request. Li Yanqing was thinking about this question yesterday. What should he ask for Wang Gui and Niu Gao to Jingzhao? Just ask Gao Shen for help in such a small matter. Fan does not waste Gao Qiu's resource.
Chapter completed!