Chapter 22 Section 2 Talking with Song

Putting down the rebellion of the Li family and subduing the party has been the dream of the two emperors of the Song Dynasty for many years, but they have not been able to realize it due to the lack of suitable timing.At this time, the party leader is few and the country is weak, and it is facing a situation of internal and external troubles. It is the best time for the Song Dynasty to send troops to annex.So can Song Zhenzong seize this opportunity to eliminate the party in one fell swoop? Song Zhenzong said that since Li Deming was in such a precarious situation, he would definitely ask us for peace. Since he is willing to ask for peace and agrees to be a minister and pay tribute, why bother to fight against each other?Song Zhenzong's best way to solve diplomatic conflicts is to spend money to buy peace, and the alliance with Liao's Chanyuan was reached in this way.The imperial court politely declined brother Pan Luozhi's request to join forces. You have a very good relationship with our Great Song Dynasty. I accept your wish, but the imperial court does not plan to raise troops, so you can go back.The imperial court also refused to agree to Cao Wei's appointment, and such a great opportunity was missed in vain.

Li Deming saw that Pan Luozhi's alliance with Song's strategy against Dangxiang failed, so he instigated Pan Luozhi's Dangxiang members to rebel, and Pan Luozhi was killed by his own powerful chieftains.Once Pan Luozhi died, the Tubo power would be completely disintegrated.Li Deming avenged his father, and felt that he had enough strength, and it was time to negotiate peace with the Song Dynasty. So Li Deming sent one of his generals to see Song Zhenzong with 25 horses, a few camels and some local products.I am willing to make peace with you now, how do you think we will make peace?Song Zhenzong was very happy, what did I say?There is no good way for Dangxiang, he must make peace with me.In this way, the two sides start to talk, and the rest is to bargain.After more than a year of back and forth, extortionate prices, and repaying the money on the spot, the two sides reached a preliminary intention. The Song Dynasty canonized Li Deming as Jiedushi of the Dingnan Army and King of Xiping, and his salary was equal to that of the mainland Jiedushi.In fact, before that, Li Deming had already received Liao's conferment, and he bought both sides. Liao gave me such an official position and title. Song can't be worse than this, right?Whatever benefits Liao gave me, Song also had to give me some benefits.The Song Dynasty agreed, and there are two additional benefits that Liao did not give: the first is that party members can come to the Song Dynasty to trade in the mainland, and you can sell your local products to make money; The land is rich in green salt, and the Song Dynasty allowed Dangxiang to sell tens of thousands of tons of salt to the mainland of the Central Plains every year.

Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Central Plains Dynasty implemented a monopoly on salt and iron. Salt can only be sold by the state, and private individuals cannot.What problem will arise if party members are allowed to sell salt to the mainland of the Central Plains?Who will buy the salt sold by party members?If it is an official sale, it should be purchased by the imperial court, which means that the imperial court will have an additional expense. If party members are allowed to trade with local merchants, it will disrupt the country's salt monopoly system.Therefore, the Song Dynasty paid a great price for this extra benefit to the party.Of course, these benefits cannot be given in vain, the Song Dynasty put forward conditions.