March fifteenth.
Funing Hall.
There are only three days left before the palace examination.
Different from the provincial examination, although the institution responsible for the palace examination is nominally the Gongyuan of the Ministry of Rites, it is actually the Imperial Medicine Academy that handles this matter.
Why Imperial Pharmacy and not another institution?
the reason is simple.
Because of trust!
The Imperial Pharmacy Institute was originally established to manage intrauterine medicines.
As we all know, medicine cannot be taken indiscriminately.
If you eat the wrong things, you will get a stomachache at most, but if you take the wrong medicine, it will be fatal.
Therefore, only confidants can take charge of the imperial medicine hospital.
As mentioned earlier, the royal family of Zhao and Song Dynasty had a family genetic history.
The cause of Zhenzong's death was "wind disease", which recurred one after another. Wind disease is the modern stroke.
The cause of Renzong's death was cerebrovascular disease, probably high blood pressure or cerebral thrombosis. The cause of Yingzong's death was similar to Renzong's, also cerebrovascular disease.
When he arrived at Shenzong, the cause of his death was a stroke.
Precisely because of the family's genetic history, most of the emperors of the Song Dynasty had medicine jars. In his later years, Zhenzong basically took medicine every day.
The Royal Pharmacy Academy has more and more responsibilities, which also started from the Zhenzong period.
After all, the chief officer of the Imperial Medicine Academy was a close confidant of the emperor, and the Imperial Medicine Academy was responsible for many matters related to the palace examination, thus eliminating the possibility of fraud.
The printing of examination papers is also the responsibility of the Royal Pharmacy Institute.
To be precise, it was the miscellaneous person under the Royal Pharmacy Hospital who was in charge.
Now that there are only three days left before the palace examination, the examination papers have naturally been printed.
At this time, Li Jie was reading the examination papers sent by the Imperial Medicine Institute.
In previous years, the examination content of the palace examination was one question each in Fu, Poetry, and Essays, but the content of this year's palace examination is different.
Today's imperial examination only relies on one item!
Peaceful policy!
The imperial examination is a national event. The questions in each imperial examination are often related to the current affairs at that time. In a sense, they can also reflect the will of those in power.
The word 'ping' in Pingbiance is enough to let outsiders know Li Jie's thoughts.
It's a flat edge, not a royal edge!
The latter's word "roy" is more defensive, while the word "ping" is self-evident in its meaning and full of offensive nature.
Here, just as Li Jie put down the examination paper in his hand, there was a burst of rapid and chaotic footsteps outside the hall.
Before the person arrives, the sound has already arrived.
"Officials, officials, there is an urgent report from Khitan territory!"
Lei Yungong panicked and ran into the palace holding the secret report.
"It is said that Khitan and Beijing have recently mobilized a large amount of grain and grass, and the amount is difficult to estimate."
"Khitan...Khitan is likely to withdraw from the side within the year."
The soldiers and horses have not moved, but the food and grass go first.
This truth is not only familiar to modern people, but also to the ancients.
Therefore, the spies of the Imperial City Department are particularly concerned about the movements of the Khitan capital. Like large-scale food and grass mobilization, they can basically detect it with a little effort.
Last year, the Khitan sent troops south, and its intention was clear.
Later, the imperial dynasty also took the initiative to send troops into Khitan territory. So, is there any need to think about the purpose of Khitan's mobilization of grain and grass now?
This is not a lice on a bald man's head, it's obvious!
"Where's the secret report?"
Upon hearing the news, Li Jie waved his hand quickly.
"Send it up."
"yes!"
Upon hearing this, Lei Yungong immediately stepped forward, half-bowed, and slowly handed the secret report to Liu Maoqin's hand.
Then Liu Maoqin forwarded it to Li Jie.
Li Jie frowned when he opened the secret report.
He was very dissatisfied with this secret report. The secret report only stated that the Khitan had mobilized a large amount of grain and grass, and there was no other information such as the specific quantity and storage location.
In the eyes of professional intelligence personnel, such simple information is undoubtedly unqualified.
It seems that the talent training within the Imperial City Department needs to be improved.
Of course, he certainly cannot do this kind of thing himself.
Because it doesn't fit the identity.
The emperor has his own prestige, and if he has to personally do things like training spies, it will inevitably affect his own prestige.
Li Jie thought so, but it wasn't because he couldn't let go of his airs.
But because it is necessary.
The concepts of ancient people and the concepts of modern people are definitely different, and there must be a limit to going too far.
"In the future, the content of the secret report must be changed. Secret reports like this that are not detailed enough should not be sent to Funing Hall again."
"This matter must be done as soon as possible. After you go back, immediately start drafting specific regulations."
"yes!"
Lei Yungong nodded repeatedly.
"Go down."
Li Jie waved his hand, then turned to look at Liu Maoqin.
"The ministers of the two governments are ordered to discuss matters in Chongzheng Hall."
…
…
…
Xingzhou.
Xixia Palace.
Li Deming also learned about the developments in the Khitan territory, but unlike the Song Dynasty, he directly received the order from the Khitan emperor.
Yelu Longxu directly ordered Li Deming to lead the invasion of the northwest of the Song Dynasty.
Upon receiving this edict, Li Deming was surprised and happy.
Fortunately, the Khitan's counterattack was much faster and more powerful than he expected.
In order to appease Li Deming, Yelu Longxu mentioned in the edict that the Khitan would mobilize an army of 300,000 troops to attack the Song Dynasty with all its strength.
However, Li Deming is not a fool.
It is tacitly understood how much water there is in the 300,000-strong army.
However, no matter how much water is mixed, there will always be an army of hundreds of thousands, right?
Li Deming thought so.
The Khitan army attacked the Song Dynasty, which was naturally a happy event for Li Deming.
However, Emperor Liao was shocked when he asked him to send troops.
Shocked and angry!
Doesn't Emperor Liao know what the Li family's situation in Xiazhou is now?
They suffered a defeat last year and lost a great pass. As of now, the Liugu Tubo and Liangzhou Uighurs still enter Xixia territory from time to time to clear grass valleys.
If Li Deming's wishes were followed, he would definitely not send troops.
But Khitan was the suzerain state of the Li family in Xiazhou.
Does Li Deming dare to disobey the other party's orders?
I couldn’t cure the Song Dynasty, so I can’t cure you?
Therefore, sending troops is necessary.
As for the specific number of troops to be sent, there will be room for maneuver.
First of all, these soldiers cannot all come from the Li family!
Other tribes also had to send troops to contribute.
Secondly, whether to enter the Song Dynasty and whether to fight the Song army depends on the situation.
There is one rule that must be kept in mind.
Xiazhou Li's family can only play a diversionary role, and Xiazhou's party items cannot bleed any more.
The fire must be preserved.
Of course, if the time is right, Li Deming wouldn't mind entering the Song Dynasty and grabbing a few.
It is a fact recognized by the world that the Song Dynasty is rich.
It's also good to grab a little bit and get some blood back.
In addition, if there is a chance to recapture Xiaoguan, Li Deming will not begrudge his troops.
As long as we can retake this great pass, the appropriate sacrifice will be worth it.
After thinking for a long time, Li Deming finally made a decision.
During this expedition, the troops were divided into two groups. He personally led 10,000 troops to the Song-Xia border, while the remaining tens of thousands of troops stayed in Xingzhou.
】
Once the opportunity came, he immediately turned his guns, gathered two armies, and marched straight to Xiaoguan.
