Li Zhixiao and others felt sad about Shi Miyuan's death, but Shi Miyuan's death was just an excuse for them to get together.

The real purpose of everyone is to regain control of the court for their own benefit.

At this time, everyone expressed their dissatisfaction with Zheng Qingzhi, and Li Zhixiao immediately said: "Zheng Qingzhi excluded dissidents, favored military personnel, violated the laws of his ancestors, and destroyed the foundation of the Song Dynasty. If such a person continues to control the imperial court, he must be Han Yuzhou's second.

We, the ministers of the Song Dynasty, consider the country and the country, and we cannot let him act recklessly and damage our country of the Song Dynasty."

Xue Ji nodded, "I have long wanted to bring down this traitor, but now the officials believe his lies, what can we do?"

Li Zhixiao said in a deep voice: "I do have an idea. Just wait and come over. It only needs to be like this... like this..."

Xue Ji and others couldn't help but change their expressions after hearing what he said.

…

Haizhou.

After Zhao Tai defeated the Mongolian army's three-town siege, he had the strength to capture Jinan, but Zhao Tai held back and continued to assume a defensive posture.

He didn't want to put pressure on Tasi and ask him to ask for help from Ogedei.

Zhao Tai knew very well that what he defeated were Zhang Rourou and Shi Tianze's new recruits, who had little combat effectiveness. If they lured the main Mongolian force over, they would immediately be in crisis.

At this time in Haizhou City, Zhao Tai was standing outside the city, inspecting the construction of the workshop.

Wang Wentong asked: "Commander, the Mongolian army has suffered a defeat. Will Tasi send someone to ask for reinforcements and ask Wokuotai to send troops for reinforcements?"

Zhao Tai knew that he was worried that the Mongolian army going south would ruin his construction in Haizhou, so he asked this question.

"Don't worry, sir!" Zhao Tai said with a smile: "I got the news that Tasi did not report the war situation truthfully. Now as long as I don't put pressure on him, he will not take the initiative to invite Mongolian reinforcements to enter Shandong!"

Wang Wentong said: "In this way, I can rest assured about my humble position!"

Zhao Tai urged: "The workshop must resume work as soon as possible, especially the Ordnance Bureau, and more gunpowder must be prepared. I will be of great use at the end of the year!"

Wang Wentong nodded and bowed, "I understand my position and will do my best to arrange production!"

At this time, the two of them were talking when Wang Bin hurried over and said, "Commander!"

Zhao Tai couldn't help asking: "What's wrong with the right military advisor?"

Wang Bin stepped forward and bowed, "Someone is coming from the south!"

Zhao Tai was a little confused, "Who sent it? Is it Zhao Zhizhi's envoy?"

Wang Bin shook his head, "He's from Lin'an."

"Lin'an?" Zhao Tai asked: "Is it the Southern Song Dynasty court or Prime Minister Zheng's personal messenger?"

Wang Bin said: "He is an envoy from the Southern Song Dynasty court, but he is also from Zheng Qingzhi!"

Wang Wentong couldn't help but ask, "What did he send people to do?"

Wang Bin said solemnly: "Ask us for Haizhou and Pizhou!"

Zhao Tai was shocked. As soon as he established a foothold in Shandong, the Southern Song Dynasty asked him for prefectures and counties. Wasn't he working for the Southern Song Dynasty?

"What's going on?" Zhao Tai couldn't help but wonder, feeling a little unhappy.

Wang Bindao: "According to what I know about the situation, it should be related to the recent criticism of Zheng Qingzhi within the Southern Song Dynasty court!"

Zhao Tai initially established an intelligence collection system in major cities such as Chuzhou, Yangzhou, and Lin'an.

Wang Bin is in charge of military affairs, and some information from the Jinyi Guards will be sent to the Right Military Division for Wang Bin to analyze.

Zhao Tai frowned, "What's the criticism?"

Wang Bin said solemnly: "Some censors impeached Zheng Qingzhi, saying that Zheng Qingzhi spent millions of dollars to support the Jin Dynasty without bringing any benefit to the Southern Song Dynasty, and he also trained Li Quan!"

Zhao Tai was quite annoyed. The so-called training of Li Quan implied that he was an uncontrolled warlord who would threaten the Southern Song Dynasty in the future.

After Zhao Tai listened, he probably understood why Zheng Qingzhi asked him for the prefecture and county.

He wanted to use two states to silence hundreds of officials. As for whether Zheng Qingzhi had any intention of weakening and controlling him, it is impossible to know now.

Wang Wentong frowned, "We just took Haizhou, and the Southern Song Dynasty asked us for it. If we hand it over, wouldn't our work be in vain?"

Wang Bin said solemnly, "Commander, he is in Zhouya now. Do you want to meet him first and hear what he has to say?"

Zhao Tai shook his head, "No, we must discuss this matter clearly before we can meet with the envoy. Otherwise, if the envoy makes a request and I don't agree, or there is hesitation, it will affect our relationship with the Southern Song Dynasty. At the moment,

We rely heavily on the Southern Song Dynasty and must not create a rift with them!"

Wang Bin said: "The humble duty is to arrange for the envoy to rest first, and entertain him with good wine and meat for a while!"

Zhao Tai nodded and then said: "I will not go back to Haizhou today. I will go to Donghai Island to spend the night. You guys come with me to discuss a countermeasure."

At that time, in order to avoid the Song envoy and avoid meeting prematurely, Zhao Tai took a boat to Donghai Island to inspect.

At this time, Donghai Island has developed from a fishing village into a seaport after a year of development.

In addition to growing rice on the island, a huge industry has formed around whaling. Ten to twenty thousand people are engaged in whaling and related processing industries, making money every day.

This is also an important transit point for Zhao Tai and Li Fen's smuggling trade. Tea, porcelain, and cotton cloth produced in Zhongyi Town and imported from the Southern Song Dynasty were all transited here and shipped by sea to various parts of Shandong. There were even ships going to Goryeo and Japan for trade.

Today's Donghai Island is like Mao Wenlong's Pi Island, which is the main source of Zhao Tai's income.

At this time, the ship arrived at Donghai Island. Zhao Tai and a few people got off the ship, but they did not go to inspect all walks of life on the island. Instead, they found a place to analyze the requirements of the Southern Song Dynasty overnight.

That night, in the study, Zhao Tai was discussing with two military advisors.

Wang Wentong said solemnly: "The Southern Song Dynasty has a tradition of emphasizing civility over military affairs. Now they think that the commander-in-chief is a minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, so it is impossible to allow the commander-in-chief to become an uncontrolled vassal town! Although Zheng Qingzhi has a good relationship with the commander-in-chief, but

After all, he was the prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty.

They must be facing the Southern Song Dynasty, not the Marshal. Now I am more worried. Asking for Haizhou and Pizhou is just the beginning. Later, they will directly send officials to take over the Marshal's territory! In this way, all our hard work will be lost.

It belongs to the Southern Song Dynasty."

Zhao Tai nodded slightly, Wang Wentong's worry was not unreasonable.

Zhao Tai didn't develop before, so the Southern Song Dynasty didn't care, but now that he has grown stronger, the Southern Song Dynasty hopes to reap the results.

Wang Bin frowned and said: "Based on the tradition of the Song Dynasty, the general will not be allowed to become a vassal town. So they will ask for prefectures and counties and arrange for officials to decentralize power. They will definitely do these things. In fact, the last time Qiu Yue was appointed as the envoy of the Huaihe River system

, there are already signs of this.”
Chapter completed!