From the perspective of Dai Jin, in the past hundred years, the autocratic domain, which had submitted to the Song and Xia countries, was like the master of the world. However, in the eyes of the soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty was always a powerful country that could compete with the Jin Dynasty. The Song Dynasty's continuous defeat in front of the Jin Dynasty was due to the weakness of the Song Dynasty rather than the weakness of the Song Dynasty.
That's why so many people were overjoyed when they saw the decline of the Jin Kingdom. They felt that the Song Dynasty had been struggling for a long time and finally waited for the opportunity. The restlessness of the imperial students is just the beginning. Next, when the powerful officials step down in shame, when the wise men return to power, when the soldiers are outraged and the people cheer, when the homeland is regained, the momentum is overwhelming.
The above is all a dream.
One day, in front of thousands of people, the Northern envoy Li Yun showed a tougher attitude than any previous Jurchen envoy. As a result, the pillars of the Song Dynasty also withered with confidence.
Perhaps in order to cover up their inner weakness, many people in Lin'an City quickly forced themselves to turn their attention to another aspect, as if the humiliation by the Northern Envoy had never happened. And in order to cover up their high-spirited emotions when they were talking about the relationship between uncles and nephews between the two countries, their emotions were jumping on another matter, which was even more exciting and scary.
Another thing is a bit ridiculous.
After the newly appointed Lin'an Prefecture Yin Yuan Shao came to power, he kept a close eye on Li Yun, the Northern envoy in Banjing Hall. Perhaps because of Li Yun's bad record, his manpower was really not enough to use, so one day he sent an official document to the Xiang Gong Office and transferred the Fangyu patrol officers stationed in the military patrol shops in various places to take over the control of the official alleys in the city. .
The Military Patrol Shop was originally an agency responsible for fire prevention and theft prevention, but in recent years it had taken in many homeless people. Therefore, when the brigade marched to Prince Yi's Mansion in the city, they were regarded as thieves by the guards and servants of the Prince's Mansion. At that moment, everyone rushed out bravely and beat them up.
Of course, this is the official explanation given in the evening. It is up to the audience to believe it or not. There is another rumor in the palace that the prince is not in good health these days and often coughs and has fever. It is not known whether this will trigger a fight between the powerful ministers and the young clan.
In the final analysis, there is no truth to many things in Lin'an City. What many people care about is never the truth. Everyone works hard for something and is even filled with righteous indignation, ultimately to achieve what they want.
For the civil and military officials of the Song Dynasty, who the future leader of the court was was a matter of paramount importance, and the lives and fortunes of many people depended on it. As a result, no one suddenly cared about how the negotiations between the Song Dynasty and the emerging power in the north were going. The originally huge waves disappeared without a trace, as if they had never appeared before.
It's a good thing for both parties that no one is paying attention to the negotiations.
Prime Minister Shi was quite embarrassed when facing the furious heir of King Yi, but this did not affect the negotiations. With his status, he only needs to set a bottom line, and it is never the prime minister himself who talks about specific matters.
If we speak more truthfully, the outcome of the negotiations between the two parties will not depend on the person who speaks. Since the beginning of the negotiations, the thousands of miles of border between Song and Jin have never stopped. Each side is trying to gain more benefits for itself, just not to break up and start a large-scale war.
Guo Ning doesn't like this kind of thing.
After he roughly determined the military and political arrangements for the Nanjing Road and related directions, he turned his energy to dispatching troops and generals, allowing the soldiers to set off and return to their respective stations.
Naturally, Li Ting's subordinates were the first to leave. A considerable part of this army will soon return to Kaifeng, and then head west to the Qinlong Fourth Road in the Kingdom of Jin. Before carrying out such a difficult and long-term mission, all soldiers should be given the opportunity to go home, rest and enjoy family happiness.
After Li Ting's troops invaded Kaifeng, they suffered a fire attack and suffered heavy losses. It was out of sympathy for them to be the first to return. This is very necessary.
Twenty miles to the north of the city, on the high wall of a post station east of Fengqiu City, Guo Ning was wearing a gray military uniform, without armor, and without his marshal's flag and honor guard, he just sat cross-legged. Watching groups of soldiers marching quietly.
It’s nearly September and autumn has already begun. The temperature is not low during the day, but it seems cool in the morning. Sitting high up, you can also enjoy some cool breeze.
Guo Ning opened his arms with satisfaction and stretched.
He noticed that there was a general in the queue, Zhang Peng, who had made meritorious service by killing enemies in Triangle Lake. That time, he and his companion Lao Liu killed Alihan, the son of a high-ranking Mongolian official, Zabal Huozhe. Because of his merits, he was given the opportunity to train in a military academy and was later transferred to Li Ting's subordinates.
This time, Zhang Peng accompanied Li Ting to the south and led his troops to hold on in a fierce battle on a rainy night. They killed Pu Chahurian, the deputy general manager of the Hebei West Road Army and Horses appointed by the Kaifeng Court. This meritorious service is not small. Soon after he returns to Hebei, a new appointment from the Marshal's Office will be awarded. If his luck is not so bad, his military career will never stop at being a general.
It's a pity that Lao Liu died in the battle.
That greedy old soldier was very familiar with the fighting methods of the Jin Army, the Song Army, and even the Mongols. If he hadn't been older, had poor memory, and was not suitable for studying in a military school, he could have been promoted to a general. There is a shortage of suitable teachers in the military academy. Guo Ning thought that after this war, the military academy teachers should be the main place for veterans. Their experience should not be wasted, and their experience should be sorted out. Organize and form orderly military regulations.
But since Lao Liu died in battle, certain experiences and skills that only he had have been buried in the soil since then. It may take a lot of blood to be shed by future generations before they can be summed up again.
Guo Ning thought with some emotion as the army continued to march and passed by the road not far in front of him.
The soldiers did not pay attention to the warrior sitting on the wall of the post station watching. Anyway, judging from the color of the uniform, it was enough that he was one of their own.
Only Zhang Peng had undergone military academy training and had been Guo Ning's attendant for a few days. When he passed by the post station, he suddenly realized what he was doing, so he marched past and looked back from time to time.
Guo Ning waved to him.
Zhang Peng was stunned and pointed at himself.
Guo Ning smiled and shouted: "Zhang Peng, come here!"
Zhang Peng quickly ran out of the queue. He came to the station wall and looked up at Guo Ning, laughing non-stop.
"I remember at the beginning of the year, you married the Wu family girl who raised horses in Guanqiao Town... How was it? Is she pregnant?" Guo Ning leaned over and asked.
Zhang Peng was a little embarrassed and said something, but his words were drowned out by the marching footsteps of the soldiers behind him. Guo Ning didn't hear clearly: "What?"
Several heads popped out from behind the high wall of the inn, and a familiar attendant asked: "What? Speak louder, so you can't hear me!"
"Not yet!" Zhang Peng blushed and shouted at the top of his lungs.
Several attendants laughed wildly and retreated into the inn. Guo Ning also laughed: "You kid, you have to work harder!"
As he said that, he reached behind the wall and touched it a few times. He held a golden hairpin and handed it down: "Take it! The reward for you was awarded yesterday. This is for your wife!"
This golden hairpin is made extremely finely, and the overall shape is like a phoenix about to fly. The feathers on its wings and tail are clearly visible, and the phoenix is holding a pearl in its beak. The pearl was as big as the belly of a finger, emitting a soft luster in the morning sun.
Zhang Peng is a rough man and cannot understand the finer details, but he also knows that this golden hairpin is a rare treasure that can be passed down to the family and is probably worth hundreds of dollars. He didn't dare to hold the hairpin hard and almost fell off. Fortunately, he reacted quickly. He followed up with his left hand, closed his two palms, and held it in his palm.
"My lord, this is too precious! I don't dare to..."
"Don't be shy. It's not for you. What's your idea? Keep it and take it back to my wife. Treat her well!" Guo Ning said with a smile.
A guard behind the courtyard wall shouted: "Let her give birth to a son quickly!"
Many people burst into laughter, and Zhang Peng also laughed.
When he was about to kneel down and thank you, Guo Ning waved his hand: "Go, go! Stop showing off. If you make too much noise, everyone will see it... How can I give them so many benefits?"
Of course this was a joke, but Zhang Peng also understood that Guo Ning had no intention of making a big splash, so he gave a half salute and chased after his team with a happy face. Guo Ning sat lazily on the wall and continued to look at whether there were any acquaintances or soldiers with special honors. After looking at it for a long time, his expression suddenly darkened.
The army moves on, and Shang Lai sees him off as Guo Ning. Why is Li Ting, the commander-in-chief, missing?
Not only did Li Ting not be seen, his two deputies, Shi Tianying and Yelu Kechou Baer, also did not accompany the army!
Could it be that after this victory, the general got carried away with his pride?
Guo Ning became a little unhappy when he thought about it.
At this time, Ni Yi hurriedly came to report: "My lord, there has just been a military report saying that Zhao Fang's troops have retreated past Ye County and stationed themselves at Fangcheng Mountain. It seems that they are unwilling to leave. They must swallow up the Tang and Deng states." .”
Guo Ning frowned. After a while, he said in a deep voice: "It's okay, don't pay attention to it for the time being. The results from Huainan are about to come out, and when the time comes, the people of the Southern Dynasty will be able to kneel down and beg us."
