Lizhou Camp has towering archery towers, trenches several meters deep, cement walls three feet high, tall iron gates, guards standing with guns, solemn and majestic, and a huge signboard saying "An important military site, keep away from idlers". Pedestrians and common people stayed away.
Sichuan Zhizhi Commander Cui Yu stood at the edge of the training field, frowning as he looked at the soldiers training on the field.
These new recruits, who have only been trained for four or five months, have already shown a formidable and powerful force.
But do they work?
There are many former arrogant generals and oily soldiers here. Can these guys with bad habits really be brave enough to serve the country without fear of life and death?
And those newly recruited soldiers walking around like this, is it useful?
There are also those cement walls and cement roads. Do they need to be repaired? Isn’t this a waste of time and money?
The reason why he did not stay in the Chengdu Manufacturing Department but came to the Shukou Defense Line was because the Mongolian army was at its peak and had invaded Xixia. He needed to be stationed at Shukou to prepare for the Mongolian army's invasion.
Second, because the emperor had already arrived in Sichuan and was on his way to Shukou, he had to wait in Lizhou. It is impossible for the emperor to reach the front line of Lizhou while his minister is hiding in the rear.
But in fact, he also knew that the war at the frontier would be handled by these proud soldiers from the Jiangwu Hall. He came here just to meet the king and give him advice.
"Cao You heard about them, haven't they come back yet?"
Cui Yu frowned and asked the guard on the side, his tone slightly dissatisfied.
The emperor has arrived in Shu, but these arrogant and powerful generals have not come to the Lizhou camp to meet the emperor. It is really too domineering.
Do they still want to be officials?
"Back to the Prime Minister, Cao Youwen was training new troops in Mianzhou and repairing the city gates. It was a long way and he had already arrived all night. Cao Youwan escorted the firearms to Xingyuan Mansion. The road was damaged by water, so it was delayed for two days. It must have been this time The two brothers and their subordinates will arrive in two days."
The guard's words made the anger on Cui Yu's face soften a lot.
Brother Cao Youwen's loyalty to his post is worthy of consideration.
"How's the Hanzhong farm situation going?"
"Back to Xianggong, Xianggong Chen and Yu Shuai returned to Lizhou Camp after arranging spring plowing. I think the arrangements have been made."
The guard's answer made Cui Yu nodded slightly.
When farming in Hanzhong, not only can the Xiang army be stationed, but also retired sergeants and refugees returning home can be arranged to farm, so they can achieve multiple goals with one stone.
The imperial court exempted Lizhou from paying taxes for three years. As for the grain received, it was naturally used for the defense of the northwest frontier.
Seeing Fan Zhong, the head of the Sichuan Anti-Corruption Division, watching the soldiers practice attentively on the side of the teaching field not far away, Cui Yu was moved and walked over.
"Mr. Fan, do you know why the emperor did not go to Chengdu and came directly to Lizhou?"
Cui Yu asked softly to Fan Zhong, who was watching the military training carefully.
As the chief officer of the Sichuan Anti-Corruption Division and in charge of anti-corruption matters in Sichuan, Fan Zhong was a close official of the emperor, and this matter was known to the world. Perhaps we can learn the emperor's intentions from Fan Zhong's words.
"Xiangong Cui, these new troops are so elite, I am afraid that the elite of the front division of Lin'an City Palace are no more than that! Xianggong Cui, you have made great achievements!"
Fan Zhong didn't answer the question, and seemed to be still immersed in his own world.
"The power of the emperor is unpredictable. How can you and me, ordinary people, guess it?"
Cui Yu got off the donkey along the slope and softly complimented the emperor.
In fact, most of these so-called new armies were the original frontier troops of the imperial court. They only eliminated the old, weak, sick and disabled, and added newly recruited young and strong men, which made them more powerful.
"The emperor's literary and military strategies only established the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall and carried out the New Deal. He can already leave his name in history."
Fan Zhong's eyes finally moved back from the new soldiers.
Founding the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall and advocating martial arts may seem simple, but it is deeply in line with the current situation of the Song Dynasty.
If the arrogance and extravagance continues and the morale of the people continues to languish, the Song Dynasty will really fall.
The previous kings' anti-corruption efforts were in vain, and the laws of the world came to an abrupt end. Just because the emperor accomplished these two important things, he was already a wise king.
Not to mention, the emperor founded the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall to train soldiers first and officers, which would completely change the Song Dynasty's chronic military sluggishness.
"The emperor's ability lies in penetrating the essence of things and having a way to resolve them. This is what a wise man does, and it is beyond the reach of ordinary people."
Cui Yu looked deeper. Redundant soldiers, redundant officials, redundant expenses, poverty and weakness, the emperor seemed to have a finger on the pulse of the Song Dynasty's politics, and knew how to prescribe the right medicine, which is powerful.
Establishing the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, forging firearms, and strengthening the army were enough to change the situation on the battlefield. What's more powerful than these is that the emperor is in charge of the overall situation, eliminating drawbacks one by one in an orderly manner. This is the kingly way, and this is what he admires.
"What Mr. Cui said is absolutely true!"
The sound of artillery drills came from the training ground, and Fan Zhong was immersed in it and excited.
"Just say that this firearm, when it comes to the battlefield, the artillery fires, and the thunder bombs indiscriminately, even if there are thousands of troops, it will be crushed into pulp? No matter how strong the Tatar cavalry is, he is still made of flesh and blood. , in front of the firearm, flesh and blood are also flying everywhere."
"The emergence of firearms can indeed change the way war is fought. Even if the Tatar cavalry gallops freely and comes and goes like the wind, it is no longer scary. The Tatar cavalry is like this, let alone the Jinmen."
Cui Yu deeply agreed with Fan Zhong's words.
Imagine thunder flying all over the sky and being thrown out, bombing indiscriminately; hundreds of artillery pieces in a row, what a suffocating and terrifying scene it would be.
I just don’t know if the emperor’s planning of war at the frontier is considered militarism?
"Xiangong Cui, I am a reckless official and my mind is wandering. What did you say just now?"
Fan Zhong's words returned to Cui Yu's issue.
The new army was so brave that it opened his eyes and made him lose his mind for a while.
"I mean, do you know why the emperor came directly to the frontier?"
Cui Yu smiled and said it again.
It's really interesting that Fan Zhong, a civil servant, is so enthusiastic about military affairs.
"Ms. Cui, like you, I don't know why. The emperor just asked me to go to the Lizhou camp. I don't know anything else."
Fan Zhong replied loudly, muttering secretly in his heart.
He couldn't guess why the emperor didn't go to Chengdu first. As for why the emperor wanted to go to Lizhou Camp, he was even more confused.
The Tatars have invaded Xixia. Does the emperor's move mean he is going to launch troops against the Tatars?
However, as the chief officer of the Sichuan Anti-Corruption Division, he still has many political matters to report. And these things are enough to set off a bloody storm in Sichuan official circles.
"I hope your Majesty will think twice and don't use weapons rashly."
Cui Yu shook his head and revealed Fan Zhong's worries.
This new emperor is so imaginative that he is really unpredictable.
"Xiangong Cui, sooner or later the emperor will use troops abroad. Otherwise, he will not transfer you back to Sichuan from Lingnan. To use troops at the frontier, the Sichuan Production and Construction Department must provide money and food. Xianggong Cui must prepare for a rainy day."
Fan Zhong smiled slightly and said seriously.
Cui Yu is a wise man, familiar with Sichuan government affairs, and has a good official reputation in Sichuan. If the emperor wants to implement the New Deal in Sichuan, I am afraid that this official will be indispensable.
And this is probably why the emperor transferred Cui to Shu.
