As night falls, the Song Army camp on the banks of the Jialing River is dotted with stars. Patrolling sergeants pass by from time to time. The military camp is silent, with the sounds of fighting occasionally heard, and the surrounding fields are deserted.
"Ms. Cui, you have worked hard all day, why don't you go and rest?"
Zhao Hong was a little confused, smiled and asked Cui to sit down with him.
In the evening, he hosted a banquet for Xixia envoys such as Luo Shichang and Li Weiming. They were as beautiful as jade and felt relaxed and happy. He also drank two more glasses and was a little drunk. Even if the wine is not drunk, everyone will get drunk.
Cui Yu came to see him at night. It seemed that this official who was forcibly "resurrected" by him had something to say.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say, and I won't be happy if I don't say it."
Cui sat down with him. He looked at Zhao Hong with mixed emotions.
Before Zheng Sun, the newly appointed envoy of Sichuan Province, could feel his butt, he was transferred back to Lin'an City. He heard that he had committed a crime and had been jailed and exiled.
The emperor acted vigorously and resolutely, establishing the Jinling Lecture Hall and the Naval Academy. Even a branch of the Lecture Hall was established in Chengdu Prefecture, Sichuan. It seemed that the emperor was running wildly on the road to military violence.
Not satisfied with resorting to militancy, but also forcibly intervening in the war between the Tatars and Western Xia. Isn't this causing trouble?
"Xiangong Cui, our monarchs and ministers gathered around the fire and talked at night, and we talked heart to heart. You don't seem to agree with Xixia's use of troops."
Zhao Hong took the initiative to start the conversation.
This veteran minister, a poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, had been in politics for decades. He rose to high status and did not keep prostitutes, add property, or receive gifts. After being widowed in middle age, she no longer remarried, and she only had books to keep her company. I heard that not even a pavilion, garden or pavilion was added to the family. He was honest, smart and capable throughout his life. Except for personal use, the rest of his salary was used to support his relatives and friends.
This is also the reason why Zhao Hong admired Cui Yu and appointed him as an envoy to Sichuan.
With Cui Yu and Fan Zhong implementing the New Deal in Sichuan, and Yu Jie and Cao Youwen guarding the border, he was finally able to relax and put Sichuan's affairs aside.
After all, he is the king of a country and has to deal with state affairs, especially this year's imperial examination, which is a national event. He had to return to Lin'an City to preside over the imperial examination in person.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are powerful and their troops are at their peak. Why bother to provoke them? Even if your Majesty sends troops with only a small amount of money and thousands of mountains and rivers, they can't save Xixia. The veteran said bluntly that your majesty's move is inappropriate, and you should withdraw your holy orders and politely reject Xixia. messenger."
Cui Yu said with a grimace, obviously trying to persuade Zhao Hong to change his mind and not send troops to rescue Xia.
As for the delicate Xixia beauty, the emperor has not accepted her yet, so he will just go back.
"Old Prime Minister Cui, I am planning for a rainy day. In fact, I have been planning the defense of Shukou since I ascended the throne as Dabao."
Zhao Hong said softly, making no secret of his opinions.
"I can tell you that in less than a year and a half, the Mongolian army will use troops against our Song Dynasty. Then you will know that everything I did today is correct."
The Mongolian army first wanted to isolate the border between Xixia and Jin, and would enter the Song Dynasty to show off its force. A battle between the two sides was inevitable. He could not just watch the people of the Song Dynasty being slaughtered.
The next step is for the Mongolian army to "take advantage of the road to conquer gold." Torre, the youngest son of Genghis Khan and the sworn brother of Guo Jing in The Condor, will lead the Mongolian army directly into the Song Dynasty, burning, killing and looting, and millions of Song people will suffer.
Now that he has come to this era, these tragic and bloody histories will never be allowed to happen again.
As the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, it was his duty to protect the safety of the people of the Song Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with the defense of Shukou. But sending troops into Xia is still too hasty and will not help. I beg your Majesty to take back your order!"
He always felt that Zhao Hong's military plan was too reckless, and he also felt that Zhao Hong could accept advice with an open mind, so Cui Yucai tried hard to persuade him.
"Old Xianggong, the Song Dynasty and the Tatars will have a battle sooner or later. The Song Dynasty lacks war horses and has poor mobility, which is a flaw. I want to reinforce Xixia through this time, get more war horses, and even a place to raise horses in Hexi. "
Zhao Hong showed no dissatisfaction and explained patiently.
"As for reinforcements, I will ask them to reinforce them in the form of civilian forces, or in the form of "volunteer troops." Even if they are defeated, they are not soldiers of the Song Dynasty. This is called secretly attacking Chencang. After the war between Tatar and Xixia, if I expect it to be good , Tatar will have a period of chaos for two to three years. That is my last chance for the Song Dynasty."
In fact, during the war between Song and Mongolia, every civil strife among the Mongolian nobles was an opportunity for the Southern Song Dynasty to get a breather. Unfortunately, the Southern Song Dynasty did not seize it.
"Volunteer Army?"
Cui Yu was confused and was taken into the ditch by Zhao Hong.
The Qilian Mountains in Hexi Province, a natural place for raising horses, have been famous all over the world since the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.
For the land of horse breeding in Hexi, Zhao Hong did not hesitate to confront the Tatar army. This is not taking chestnuts from the fire, this is risking his life!
"Yes, the volunteer army, that is, the civilian force, caught the Tatars off guard. However, the Tatars are powerful and will not retreat easily, so..."
Ten thousand soldiers entering Xia for reinforcements may only be able to prevent the Mongolian army from destroying Xia, but it will not allow the Mongolian army to retreat.
At that time, he will send his troops northward to open the passage to Xia, and even fight fiercely with the Mongolian army.
"I have three major things for you to do well. One of them is to train your troops well in Chengdu, Sichuan, select the best among the officers and soldiers, and eliminate the bad ones. The number will be 50,000 to 100,000. At that time, I will send troops north to pick up the troops. The soldiers who return to the expedition may fight against the invading Tatar army.”
Zhao Hong pondered and spoke slowly.
There are more than 200,000 officers and soldiers in Sichuan, and the Chengdu road is the most important. There are 100,000 officers and soldiers, and if 50,000 are trained, it should not be a big problem.
"Your Majesty, how do you train an army of 50,000 people?"
Cui Yu stammered and asked.
Zhao Hong reacted too quickly, and he couldn't keep up with Zhao Hong's rhythm.
"The imperial court will select officers from the martial arts hall and come to the army to guide the officers and soldiers in training. They will thoroughly check the salary and eliminate the old, weak, sick and disabled. Those who are not qualified will definitely be eliminated."
"Your Majesty, it's easy to talk about free pay, just a thorough investigation. Eliminating the old, weak, sick and disabled is just a piece of cake, but how should the eliminated soldiers be placed?"
Cui Yu was worried, and Zhao Hong smiled and said two words.
"Hanzhong!"
"Hanzhong!"
Cui Yu suddenly realized it, shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers can be accommodated in Hanzhong's farmland, let alone tens of thousands?
"Your Majesty, I think that Chen Li, the pacifier of Lizhou East Road, is old and frail, and his temperament is too gentle. It seems that he is not suitable for farming in Hanzhong."
"Does Shuai Cui have a suitable candidate?"
Zhao Hong nodded and signaled Cui Yu to continue.
He originally wanted Jiang Wanzai, the commander of Jiangnan East Road, to assist Chen Li in farming, but Jiang Wanzai was only twenty years old and had no experience in civil affairs, which made him hesitant.
"Chen Longzhi, the magistrate of Chenggu County, is from Sichuan. He is less than forty years old. He is familiar with the people of Hanzhong and can be the chief official of the land."
"Sichuanese?"
Zhao Hong was slightly startled. He has just broken the monolithic situation among Sichuan scholar-bureaucrats, is he going to go back to the past?
Chen Longzhi, who seemed to be a little famous in later generations, was a poet. The Mongolian army invaded Sichuan. As the Sichuan envoy, Chen Longzhi guarded Chengdu and was killed unyieldingly.
There are so many heroes in Sichuan!
"Your Majesty, Chen Longzhi is smart and capable. He is in his prime and can be used by Your Majesty. Peng Daya, a doctor in the Ministry of Industry, is also from Sichuan. He burns cement in the frontier and mines and makes coke. He is an official and can be reused. Once he comes, Your Majesty can put Sichuan at ease. The hearts of local officials will allow the New Deal to be implemented smoothly; secondly, Your Majesty will not be confined to one place in Sichuan, but will always fight it out, and then transfer and promote him when the time comes. He will do no great good to the country and the people."
Cui Yu's words made Zhao Hong suddenly enlightened and laughed.
It was Cui Yu who thought carefully and recommended Cui Yu. From this, it can be seen that Chen Longzhi should be a talent.
Similarly, Hanzhong's farming operations were also part of the New Deal for military training. After all, the war is about logistics. Without the food in Hanzhong, the difficulty of restoring 100,000 frontier troops has suddenly increased.
"Promote Chen Longzhi to the position of general magistrate of Xingyuan Prefecture, deputy envoy to appease Lizhou East Road, and be in charge of Hanzhong farming affairs. Let Peng Daya be appointed magistrate of Lizhou to ensure that there is no need to worry about the way back to Shukou."
Zhao Hong thought for a moment and quickly made a decision.
Peng Daya, the dirty look beside the lime kiln still remains in his memory.
He never hesitates to reward those who are capable of doing things.
"Your Majesty, the Song Dynasty is in ruins and waiting to be revitalized. The New Deal is slowly being implemented. The training of troops has only taken a few months. It is too dangerous to send troops to reinforce Xixia at this time. The implementation of the New Deal is likely to be interrupted. Your Majesty, think twice."
There seemed to be no obstacles to the implementation of the New Deal and the settlement of land in Hanzhong. Cui changed the subject and still remonstrated, trying to change the emperor's stubbornness.
Zhao Hong smiled slightly, changed the topic without comment.
"Old Mr. Cui, do you know what the law of the jungle is?"
Sometimes, without some big moves, it is not enough to change the views of these scholar-bureaucrats.
He could give up reinforcements to Xixia, but could the Mongolian cavalry let go of the Song Dynasty?
"What's the law of the jungle?"
Cui Yuzhi looked surprised.
Now we are talking about the gains and losses of using troops against Xixia, why does it involve the law of the jungle?
"The law of the jungle is that the weak eat the strong and the fittest survive. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, these animals all live in the same jungle. Every day is a bloody fight and fight. There is no benevolence, righteousness, morality, loyalty, filial piety and etiquette. There is only natural selection, survival of the fittest.”
Zhao Hong looked at Cui Yu with a solemn expression.
"During the disgrace of Jingkang, did the Jin people teach us about benevolence, righteousness, and morality in the Song Dynasty? Did the Tatar army invading Xixia say that they should retreat? Every time there was a bloody massacre, with rivers of blood and corpses scattered everywhere. I will not speak lightly. Using troops is all about assessing the situation, waiting for opportunities, and maximizing the interests of the Song Dynasty."
Zhao Hong's words made Cui Yu stunned for a moment. Finally, he stopped trying to persuade him and shook his head with a sigh.
It seems that the emperor has made up his mind to get involved in the war against Xixia.
"Cui Qing, I speak from the bottom of my heart. I have told Gao Dingzi, so I might as well tell you again. A year from now, or even three or four years from now, you will understand my decision today. I am not acting recklessly, let alone going militarily. I am That’s all.”
Zhao Hong's words made Cui Yu shake his head and smile bitterly.
Isn't what Zhao Hong is doing now a scam?
