The emperor traveled thousands of miles, and Cao Youwen admired his physical strength.
"Your Majesty, after leaving Lizhou, are you going back to Lin'an City to preside over the imperial examination?"
This year is the year of the imperial examination. The emperor has many things to deal with, including military and civil affairs. Unlike them, he only needs to fight a good war.
"It's not just about presiding over the imperial examination. According to military intelligence, the Tatar army may send troops to Shandong, and Li Quan may not be able to support it. Once Li Quan surrenders to the enemy, I will sit in the Jianghuai area, stabilize the Jianghuai defense line, and not give the Tatar army a chance to go south." "
Zhao Hong didn't hide anything and gave them peace of mind.
"I feel relieved to have you in Xixia and Northwest China. The battle in Xixia will last at least a year and a half, and I'm afraid it won't be decided until next summer. I will come to pick you up after I have finished handling the political affairs."
It was difficult for him to estimate whether the war with the Mongolian army would expand due to the intervention of the Song Dynasty's border army.
"Next summer, our army may fight the Tatar army. At the same time, we will need to reinforce Yu Jie and Cao Youwan. Cao Youwen, Lizhou Camp and Lizhou Road, you have to train these troops for me. By then, , I want to see at least one hundred thousand elite soldiers!"
Zhao Hong warned again, his eyes full of expectations.
"You remember, it's the Lizhou two routes, and it doesn't include the Lizhou camp."
The bigger the goal, the more pressure can bring motivation.
"I will live up to your majesty's trust!"
Cao Youwen solemnly accepted the order.
According to the military training methods of Jinling Military Academy, it should not be a problem to train 100,000 elite soldiers in Lizhou Camp and Lizhou Road in one year.
"Your Majesty, when the Tatar army attacks Xixia, they may have to attack Jin along the way. Lizhou West Road borders the Jin Kingdom. Once the Tatar army attacks, how will our army respond?"
Cao Youwen couldn't help but ask.
Before the emperor comes in person, we still need to ask clearly about the military response.
"Why would you ask about a foreign invasion?"
Zhao Hong looked at the embarrassed Cao Youwen in surprise, his face full of astonishment.
"Anyone who offends our borders in the Song Dynasty will be punished no matter how strong he is. Remember, the sixteen-character principle: If someone doesn't offend me, I won't offend them. If someone offends me, I will offend them!"
When a foreign enemy invades, why would the border troops hesitate to fight or not? In this case, why would Cao Youwen ask?
It seems that the evil of the Song Dynasty's "general control in the center" has indeed caused endless harm.
"I'm confused! I'm careful!"
Cao Youwen's face turned red when he heard this, and he quickly accepted the order.
"If my prediction is correct, the Tatar army will attack first. If you are too bold, you will take action when it is time. Even if it causes a war between the two countries and causes a river of blood, I will not blame you."
When the emperor was angry, he laid down millions of corpses. The only way to deal with the invaders is with the swords and guns in their hands. Tolerating blindly will be counterproductive.
"I will obey His Majesty's military orders!"
Cao Youwen's brows widened unconsciously.
With the emperor's support, he no longer had any scruples.
"Cao You heard that I am going to inspect the frontier fortress tomorrow. You and the generals on Lizhou West Road should go with me. I also want to find out about the Hanzhong farming matter."
There was no rush anyway. Naturally, he wanted to inspect the northwest border defense, especially those big cities and dangerous passes, as well as the deserted fields in Hanzhong.
"Your Majesty, you have worked hard all day. Let's have something to eat."
Cao Youwen and others retreated, and then Li Weiming walked in uneasily.
She listened to the entire conversation and understood that Zhao Hong really wanted to rescue Xixia, but she was also uneasy about the ambition in his words.
Wherever the sun and moon shine, and where rivers reach, they are all Han lands.
With such lofty ideals, is her Daxia just a stopgap measure for Zhao Hong?
"Princess, it's so late, why haven't you rested yet?"
Zhao Hong stood up and asked Li Weiming to take a seat.
Wearing a light-colored green shirt from the Han family, without applying any powder, she is slender and graceful, has a natural air of clothes, and is a graceful and luxurious beauty.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Weiming was slightly embarrassed.
The Emperor of the Song Dynasty was too humble in terms of etiquette. And the playful eyes make people's hearts beat faster.
"Your Majesty, what you just said about taking back the Western Regions, doesn't it also include our Daxia?"
Li Weiming asked softly, his brows furrowed slightly and his demeanor was demure.
"I am just boosting the morale of the soldiers. However, I must take back Hebei, Hedong, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun!"
Zhao Hongnan said, feeling guilty for a while.
No one knows, in a few years, will there still be Xixia or the Kingdom of Jin in the world? Maybe when he regains these old places of the Song Dynasty, he no longer needs to take care of Li Weiming and Wan Yanchun.
"Your Majesty, do you think Daxia can be saved?"
Returning to the war in Xixia, Li Weiming was touched and immediately became uneasy.
The Mongolian army of 100,000 troops is attacking cities and territories in Xixia, burning, killing and looting. Only 10,000 Song army reinforcements can save Xixia?
"Princess, Daxia now has a population of less than one million, maybe less than half a million, and only tens of thousands of soldiers. Without people, there is no hope of counterattack. As of now, everything can only be decided by people."
Zhao Hong looked at the food on the table and sighed softly.
Xixia was originally a small land with a population of just one million. Can it really be saved from the attack of the Mongolian army?
Depends on human effort?
Li Weiming's brows were furrowed and his face was filled with sadness.
"Princess, you look so outstanding, don't you really have someone you like?"
Li Weiming looked pitiful, and Zhao Hong changed the subject.
"Your Majesty, I have admired the culture of the Song Dynasty since I was a child, and I like Tang poetry and Song lyrics. Among the Xia people, I have never met a man I fall in love with."
Li Weiming's face turned red again as he spoke.
He is already his, why does he still ask like this?
"Princess, I speak from my heart. If you want to return to Zhongxing Mansion and your Daxia, I will never stop you. No matter what the princess decides, I will definitely save Daxia!"
Zhao Hong looked at Li Weiming, who still had a childish face, and couldn't help but tell the truth.
War makes women go away. He didn't want this beautiful girl, thinking that everything was a transaction and that the world was dirty.
"Your Majesty, do you dislike me? Are you not going to save Daxia?"
Li Weiming's face suddenly darkened.
Her father and brother earnestly warned her that for the survival of Daxia, she could only hold on to the man in front of her so that he could save her motherland as much as possible.
"Okay, okay! Of course I will save Daxia. Of course I'm happy if you want to stay. I wish you the best."
Zhao Hong quickly comforted Li Weiming. The majestic Princess of Daxia, is she relying on him?
"Your Majesty, why do you want to save Daxia?"
Zhao Hong vowed, and Li Weiming immediately became happy.
After all, she is just a seventeen-year-old girl.
"I said it was for the Xixia civilization. I don't want it to be erased like this. Do you believe it?"
Zhao Hong smiled slightly and picked up the chopsticks.
The whole night was filled with drinks from those arrogant soldiers, so some hot gruel was just right.
"Xixia civilization!"
Li Weiming picked up the porridge bowl in front of him with a sad expression.
"I wonder if our people in Daxia can still have a bowl of gruel and a full meal now?"
Zhao Hong was slightly startled. Unexpectedly, this pampered Xixia princess also has a heart of fraternity.
"Princess, the rise and fall of the people are suffering, and the Tatars are powerful, and there is nothing you and I can do about it. Daxia has its own protection from heaven, so you don't have to worry."
Zhao Hong could only persuade Li Weiming.
Subconsciously, he wanted to make some promise, but he still didn't speak.
The Song Dynasty does not have this strength yet. If you just keep talking nonsense and you can't do it when the time comes, it's better not to give the other party too much hope.
Besides, in his grand plans, he had no plans to retain a "Xixia Kingdom". I don’t know if one day, when that time comes, this Xixia princess will complain to him?
"Princess, I will go to the border patrol tomorrow. Will you come with me or wait here for me to come back?"
Li Weiming wanted to go, but then he thought about it and shook his head.
"Your Majesty, I will wait for your Majesty to come back at Lizhou Camp and return to Lin'an City together."
When she went to patrol the border fortress, instead of staying at the Yamen Station all day, she might as well wait in the camp and take a look at the situation of the Xixia reinforcements.
"Princess, please be patient and wait patiently."
Zhao Hong's smile was kind and contagious, which made Li Weiming feel calmer.
Inexplicably, she had some hope for Daxia's future.
"Princess, please sit down and eat together."
Zhao Hong smiled and handed over a pair of chopsticks.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Li Weiming picked up the chopsticks and started eating slowly.
When Zhao Hong returns to Lin'an City, she must follow him until Zhao Hong sends his troops north to rescue Xixia next year.
Thinking of Luo Shichang's words, Li Weiming put down his chopsticks, blushed and said in a harsh voice:
"Your Majesty, please stay for a while. Do you want... me... to stay?"
Although Li Weiming's voice was soft, Zhao Hong heard it clearly.
He raised his head and stared at the girl in front of him who was as elegant as a chrysanthemum, his mind filled with thoughts.
How could such a big cabbage be eaten by a pig?
This is so unfair!
The building boat crosses Guazhou in the snowy night, and the iron horse disperses in the strong autumn wind.
Dashan Pass was a pass for the scattered kingdoms of the Zhou Dynasty, so it was called San Pass. It is located at the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi and has been known as the "throat of Sichuan and Shaanxi" since ancient times. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, Liu Bang "built plank roads openly and visited Chen Cang secretly" passed through here. During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao's western expedition to Zhang Lu also passed through this place. Dashan Pass has been a transportation hub since ancient times, and its strategic location is extremely important.
Due to its important strategic position, Dashan Pass has been one of the four major gateways in Guanzhong since ancient times. From ancient times to the present, it has been a place visited by literati, dignitaries and ordinary people.
On a spring day, at noon, Zhao Hong, accompanied by the generals, finally boarded this ancient pass known as the "throat of Sichuan and Shaanxi" and the junction of Song and Jin Dynasties.
During the Song and Jin Dynasties, Dasan Pass suffered many losses due to successive wars and was already in dilapidated condition. Standing at the pass, looking into the distance, you can see the dangers of the mountains. The mountain breeze blew on his face, his clothes fluttered, and Zhao Hong felt a surge of pride in his heart.
There are many mountains, lush ancient trees, thousands of mountains and valleys, and waves of pines. The peaks on both sides are like crouching cows, like galloping horses, and like airtight natural barriers. At the foot of Dashan Ridge, the Qingjiang River flows rapidly and endlessly.
High in the sky, a goshawk screamed and soared, its wings vibrating and fighting powerfully. Zhao Hong's eyes were attracted by it and he was dazzled. He envied this kind of power and longed for this aloofness.
Is this the fate of Emperor Qin, Han Wu, and the Song Dynasty?
"A tribute to "The Red and the Black"!"
