In the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall, the golden leaves fell slowly, making a rustling sound when stepped on. The pavilions, pavilions, cornices and brackets are simple and elegant, and paired with the blue sky and white clouds, it creates a unique scene.
In the principal's office in the teaching building of the Martial Arts Hall, Zhao Hong was sitting at the table, looking at the sword in front of him.
The exquisite cowhide scabbard is simple and elegant. When the sword is pulled out, it shines with cold light and air-conditioning. It looks like a fine blade.
This is also due to the good iron smelting process of the iron factory. Not only the purity of the molten iron is high, but also the high-quality molten steel formed by frying the iron. The sword produced is naturally extremely sharp.
After ten years of sharpening a sword, who can feel unfair?
Wearing such a sharp blade with you is so cool that it's almost life-threatening.
The total length of the sword is 40 centimeters, the handle is 11 centimeters long and 3 centimeters wide; the handguard is 1 centimeter thick; the blade is 28 centimeters long, just like an ordinary dagger.
The handle is made of wood and wrapped in brass. There is a rectangular frame on one side of the sword handle, with the words "Principal Zhao Honggi" written vertically. On the other side of the sword handle are the words "Serve the country with loyalty and loyalty".
One side of the sword is engraved with four vertical characters "For the Country and the People"; the other side is engraved with three vertical characters "Soul of the Soldier". The scabbard is made of fine cowhide, and the wooden box is plain and unpretentious. The words "Jinling Lecture Hall No. 1" are engraved on the box.
This is the graduation sword awarded to the 600 students who have priority to graduate in the first phase of the "Jinling Martial Arts Hall". Zhao Hong's practice of imitating the Whampoa Military Academy in later generations was also to inspire graduate officers to serve the country with loyalty and fight the enemy bravely.
"Principal, only 30 swords are issued to 600 graduating students. Isn't it too few?"
Vice Principal Wei Liaowen asked curiously.
His precious son Wei Jinyu finally graduated early, which was beyond his expectation. However, he also knew that with his son's grades, he probably wouldn't be able to get into a dagger with such a sense of honor.
In contrast, Jin Dexiu's son Zhen Zhidao was even worse. Because his academic performance is average, Zhen Zhidao will continue to study in the martial arts hall until he has passed the examination for one school year, or even longer, before he can graduate.
"Vice Principal Wei, what do you think this is, a kitchen knife? You can also use it to cut vegetables when cooking, stew pork, cabbage and vermicelli in one pot?"
Zhao Hong raised his head and said seriously.
"This dagger is only given to the best soldiers. If everyone is given one, wouldn't it ruin the streets?"
Wei Liaoweng blushed and smiled.
"Your Majesty, this kind of graduation ceremony is really eye-opening!"
Prime Minister Xue Ji also came to support the graduation ceremony.
"Fighting warriors, we fought together to fight the national calamity. Your Majesty, these graduates are very talented and fierce. Within a year or two, they will be elite soldiers and generals. It's intimidating!"
Xuan Zhen, Minister of the Ministry of War, sighed, not knowing whether it was true or false.
"Xuanqing, have you ever been so scared that your farmyard fertilizer sprayed out and your crotch split?"
Zhao Hong laughed, remembered something, and asked Xuan Zhen:
"Xuanqing, how do the students at the Naval Academy compare with the students at the Jinling Military Academy?"
He did not attend the opening ceremony of the Naval Academy, nor did he teach at the Naval Academy. He did not know the quality of the students.
Speaking of which, I should go to the Naval Academy and take a look at the current situation of the navy.
"Your Majesty, the students at the Naval Academy are much younger. Most of them are fifteen or sixteen years old and have not yet been determined. As for their abilities and knowledge, they cannot be compared with the elites at the Martial Arts Hall."
Zhao Hong nodded seriously.
"Whether you believe it or not, as long as the Jinling Martial Arts School and the Naval Academy continue to operate, and batches of officers continue to flow into the army, one day you will see a different frontier army of the Song Dynasty, a A different Song Dynasty."
The first phase of the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall included a group of the best military talents in the Southern Song Dynasty. Not to mention anything else, Cao Youwen, Yu Jie, and Meng Gong alone have already gained a lot.
Coupled with the powerful generals in history such as Cao Youwan, Wang Jian, and Lu Wende, he had the feeling that "all the talents in the world are among them."
As long as you treat these elites well and don't do anything, you will have a promising future.
"Your Majesty, just by pointing at the indestructible firearms of the Song Dynasty, I was so scared that my crotch split!"
Xuan Zhen echoed Zhao Hong and laughed at himself.
As the Minister of the Ministry of War, he naturally knows the basic common sense. These terrifying firearms alone are enough to change the course of the war.
"Firearms can certainly change the situation of war, but talent is the key to determining war. Can it be said that the 70 million people of our Song Dynasty, united as one, are still no match for the nomads who only number one million?"
Zhao Hong's face was solemn and his eyes were cold and stern.
"The purpose of war is to kill and injure the opponent and make the other party lose the ability to resist. As long as we, the Song Dynasty, regain the martial arts, there will be a steady stream of passionate young people rushing to fight for the national calamity. We, the Song Dynasty, can bleed and sacrifice millions of soldiers, and the Tatars and Jin People, any foreign invaders, do they dare? If they dared to do this, I'm afraid they would have been dead long ago!"
"What your Majesty said is absolutely true!"
All the ministers worshiped together with respectful expressions. I don’t know whether it was true or not, but they must have felt a lot of disappointment in their hearts.
Based on the model of training military officers at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, all officers were disciples of the emperor, and the hidden dangers of separatist feudal rule during the Five Dynasties did not seem to be easy to form. However, the emperor restored generals to control the army, and the power of the scholar-bureaucrats was undoubtedly greatly weakened.
Of course, the responsibility is much lighter.
"Your Majesty, since the school system is one year, why not let the students finish the semester before being assigned to the military. In this way, wouldn't the students be able to learn more?"
Xuan Zhen, Minister of the Ministry of War, could not help but feel curious.
The war between the Jin and Song Dynasties ceased, and there was no fighting at the border fortress. Even if the emperor wants to launch the Northern Expedition, there is no need to be so hasty.
"Xuanqing, do you think I don't want the students to graduate after the semester is over? The situation is beyond our control, and I have no choice."
Zhao Hong's eyes were full of helplessness.
"In the Seven Years' War between the Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, the northwest frontier army suffered serious losses, and the defense at Shukou was ineffective. It is urgent to train the new army and reshape the northwest frontier defense. I am preparing for a rainy day, not going on a whim or militarizing. More than a year later, less than two years, you will You understand my painstaking efforts.”
The Mongolian army could move south at any time, and the first batch of students from the Martial Arts Hall did not even have a "summer vacation" in order to graduate early and prepare for the war that would come at any time. Other roads can be slowed down, but the Tatar army is about to go south to attack Xixia. He has no time for the officers to learn, so he can only do it quickly.
"Your Majesty is wise and I will obey your orders!"
Xuan Zhen was doubtful, but he could only obey the order.
It is understandable that the emperor deployed defenses at the entrance of Shu to strengthen the country's border defense. No one dares to restrain him. It’s better to be prepared for everything in advance than to do nothing at all.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."
Xue Ji was also brave enough not to vomit or feel unhappy.
Shi Miyuan was in power, but he did not have the courage to remonstrate directly.
"Xue Qing, just say it bluntly. As long as it is beneficial to the politics of the Song Dynasty, there is no harm in saying so."
It is estimated that what Xue Ji wants to talk about is about the students in the martial arts hall.
"Your Majesty, I think that Meng Gong is a veteran of the frontier fortress, and he is considered to be the commander of Jinghu North Road, so he is quite qualified. Cao Youwen and Yu Jie have no experience in the frontier army, so they were rashly promoted to be the commanders-in-chief of the two major armies in the northwest, presiding over the frontier war. Isn’t it a little too hasty?”
Sure enough, Xue Ji and Cui Yu, like him, pointed their finger at the issue of the northwest frontier coach.
It seems that the ministers are cautious and not reckless.
"Your Majesty, I am also worried about this. Your Majesty loves talents, so you can let Cao Youwen and Yu Jie serve as deputy commanders. After a few years of training in the army, it will not be too late to appoint them as commanders. I'm afraid it would be inappropriate to let them lead the frontier army rashly. The military's morale is uneasy."
Wei Liaoweng, the Minister of War, was also full of doubts.
"Cao Youwen and Yu Jie serve as commanders-in-chief on both sides, with a large number of battlefield veterans assisting them. What's wrong with that? Soldiers only know obedience and discipline. Who dares to disobey?"
Zhao Hong said decisively, his expression changing.
If you don't accept the emperor's appointment, what's the use of such arrogant soldiers? In several foreign wars in the Southern Song Dynasty, it was so common that generals disobeyed military orders, delayed their chances of fighting, and even refused to save their lives, which is shocking.
"In the Longxing Northern Expedition, frontier commander Li Xianzhong fought hard with the main force of the Jin army, while deputy commander Shao Hongyuan stood still. As a result, Li Xianzhong was outnumbered, Fuli was defeated miserably, and Longxing's Northern Expedition failed."
Zhao Hong continued, his anger boiling over his heart and his saliva splattering everywhere.
"On the opening day of the Northern Expedition, when the commander-in-chief Guo Zhuo saw that the city of Suzhou was about to be defeated, he was afraid that he would be robbed of his credit, so he ordered arrows to be fired at the soldiers of the Zhongyi Army who were fighting in the city. Then in order to escape, he actually agreed to the request of the Jin Army and kidnapped the fierce general Tian Junmai and sent him to the Jin Dynasty. The army, causing him to be killed, he escaped with his life. Then, in order to seek discord, the imperial court actually murdered the prime minister Han Yuzhou and sent him a letter of money. Such a shocking thing has never been heard of in the ages, but it is not uncommon in our Song Dynasty. "
Zhao Hong looked at the ministers, his face was ashen, and his words were murderous and heart-wrenching.
"What happened to Shao Hongyuan and Guo Zhuo will never happen again. Cao You heard that Yu Jie was the border commander. I will never let anyone dare to assassinate him. Besides, on Lizhou West Road, there is a veteran general Cheng Xin who serves as the deputy commander, and he has a fierce General Wang Jian is appointed as the commander of Mianzhou, and he is also assisted by Ma Zhong, Ma Yi, Wang Shixin and other good generals from the northwest. What are you worried about? Is it possible that there are some of your old cronies in the northwest frontier army who want to be promoted?"
Cao Youwen and Yu Jie are both famous generals who have proven themselves in history. The purpose is to let them start as early as possible, instill what they have learned at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall into the entire army, and create a new Song Dynasty frontier army.
"Your Majesty, the loyalty of my ministers can be seen from the sun!"
"I am stupid, but your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty's teachings, His Majesty's judgment!"
None of the ministers dared to insist, so they all saluted. If you persist, you may be classified as a traitor.
Cui Yu was secretly surprised. Once the emperor makes a decision, even ten cows cannot pull him back. This decisiveness alone is already rare.
"I know you are worried, but I am not acting recklessly. Cao Youwen and Yu Jie have outstanding academic performance, and I made the decision after careful consideration and deliberation. I want to train troops according to the training methods of the Jiangwu Hall, so we cannot use the old ones. The general serves as the commander-in-chief. Otherwise, there will be no uniformity between the top and the bottom. It will only be training of officers but not soldiers. Training the new army will be a joke."
Realizing that he was too tough, Zhao Hong's tone was much gentler.
Everyone has his or her own opinion, giving both kindness and power, sometimes as a last resort.
Everyone obeyed the order, but they did not realize that Cao Youwen and Yu Jie commanded the army but were not controlled by civil servants. This was the root of their dispute.
Zhao Hong was rarely confused and did not explain clearly.
He has made it clear to Cui Yu, the envoy of Sichuan, that Yu Jie and Cao Youwen should not be restricted militarily. I am afraid that from the day these two people took office, the civil servants in Lizhou and Lizhou could only be responsible for civil affairs, thus withdrawing from the historical stage of leadership.
"Your Majesty, it's time to go out. The graduating students are waiting at the training ground."
Wei Liaoweng coughed and played softly.
The first batch of 600 graduates will leave the school, and a graduation ceremony and sword-issuing ceremony will be held.
"My dear friends, let's go together to meet the first batch of graduates from our martial arts hall in the Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Hong stood up with anticipation in his heart.
The issuance of "soldier soul" daggers not only expresses recognition of officers and improves morale; secondly, it also means to win over people's hearts and strengthen the imperial power. Awarding "military soul" daggers to outstanding students or generals who have made meritorious deeds can become a tradition that can be continued.
