The emperor called, and all the generals came in one after another and stood in awe in the tent. Many people's eyes were blazing and their hearts were full of expectations.
In the Battle of Hanzhong, the northwest frontier army defeated the Mongolian army. Everyone made a lot of contributions. The emperor always made clear rewards and punishments. This time, he will not treat the generals badly.
"Dear gentlemen, in the battle of Hanzhong, our army of the King of the Song Dynasty defeated the 70,000 Tatar army. It was all due to the unity of all the officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives. On behalf of my 70 million people of the Song Dynasty, I would like to thank you all!"
Sure enough, Zhao Hong stood up first, bent down and bowed.
"Share your worries for the king, kill thieves for the country!"
The generals knelt down on one knee, the civil servants bowed and saluted, and everyone was in awe.
The generals straightened up, and Zhao Hong picked up the reward list prepared by the Minister of War, Xuan Zhen, and others. His eyes swept across the generals, and finally fell on the anxious Cao Youwan.
Cao Youwan had bandages around his head and hands, and the bandage on his neck was still stained with blood. It looked like he was scarred after a fierce battle.
"In this battle, Yangzhou's defense line played the most important role and made the first contribution. Cao Youwan, the commander of Yangzhou, bravely won the three armies and made great contributions. I am very pleased. I will reward 2,000 strings and 200 shi of rice. I will promote Cao Youwan to the west of Lizhou. The commander of the road will continue to serve in the border army and relieve the country's worries."
Zhao Hong was very pleased with Cao Youwan's bravery.
Cao Youwan was reckless and straightforward by nature, and had too much loyalty in the world. He could only serve as a general, not a commander. Even if you want to be handsome, you have to go through years of training and baptism. Now is not the time.
"I thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
All the generals and ministers looked at him with envy, but Cao and his friends didn't agree with him at all, so they quickly knelt down on one knee and kowtowed repeatedly.
He didn't care about his promotion, as long as the emperor looked at him favorably and affirmed him, he would be satisfied.
The emperor only rewarded the military generals of this dynasty with promotions and salary increases for their meritorious service, leaving out those frivolous honors. I wonder if the emperor did this on purpose. But the emperor didn't mention it, and the ministers didn't bother to ask.
"Cao Youwan, get up, you deserve it. Your mother, your eldest brother, your family, and your fellow soldiers will all be proud of you."
When Cao Youwan got up, Zhao Hong's eyes fell on Wang Jian.
"Wang Jian, you are the commander-in-chief of the Yangzhou Defense Line. You are not afraid in the face of danger and your command is decisive. You have contributed a lot to the sniper attack on the Tatar army. The reward is 2,000 guan and 200 shi. Our army is about to enter Shaanxi. You will serve as the commander of the Shaanxi capital and guard the city. Stay on the front line of Guanzhong and make new achievements."
Wang Jian, as his name suggests, is indestructible. With the power of the Mongolian cavalry of the Torre tribe, they were unable to penetrate the shield of the king's defenders, which is evident from his ability to lead troops.
Wang Jian was very happy and quickly received the order to thank him.
Shaanxi is so big, the mountains and rivers are dangerous, and the ancient capitals of the Han and Tang Dynasties are located in Shaanxi. How can it be compared to Lintaofu Road, a small place?
"On the Yangzhou defense line, all the generals were brave and made unparalleled achievements. Cao Shixiong was rewarded with 1,000 guans and 100 shi per meter, and was appointed as the commander of the Shaanxi Road. Gao Guoshou was appointed as the artillery commander of Lintaofu Road, with a reward of 500 guans and 50 shi per meter. Gao Hu was appointed as Lintao Road Artillery Commander. The commander of the road cavalry will give a reward of 500 guans and 50 shi of rice. Generals, please keep up your efforts."
Cao Shixiong and Gao Guoshou and Gao Hu came out, knelt down together and received the order to express their gratitude. Everyone was elated.
Yangzhou's defense line has shown spirit and reputation, and the emperor's affirmation is the best reward.
All the generals in the tent looked at each other in confusion. Although they felt a little dissatisfied, no one said a word.
More than 20,000 people died on the Yangzhou defense line. Wang Jian, Cao Youwan and others deserved this credit and honor.
They just complained secretly that the emperor did not give them this opportunity.
"In this Hanzhong battle, all soldiers who died in the battle will receive a pension of 200 guan meters and 20 shi each. Those who are seriously injured and disabled will receive a pension of 100 guan meters and 10 shi. All other soldiers, the Yangzhou defense line and the Xingyuan Fucheng defenders will each receive a pension of 50 guan meters. 5 Stone, and the other armies will be rewarded with 30 guan meters and 3 stones. All seriously injured and disabled people will be properly accommodated by the court, and no one will be left injured and homeless. All rewards and promotions will be distributed to the hands of the soldiers and their homes before the festival."
Zhao Hong looked at the ministers with a solemn expression and a sonorous voice.
"I cannot let our soldiers of the Song Dynasty bleed and shed tears. I will not let the families of any soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country starve. I will do everything possible to let the families of the fallen soldiers receive the care of the court. If their lives It would be a shame for me and the Song Dynasty. As long as I am the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, this kind of thing will never happen in the Song Dynasty!"
In the past, the Song Dynasty valued literature over military affairs, and the ridiculous thing of rewarding officers and soldiers with three sesame seed cakes for their meritorious service must never happen again.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Zhao Hong took the matter seriously, and all the generals were solemn and accepted the order together.
The emperor loved his soldiers as his sons, with clear rewards and punishments, and sincerity. Everyone in the court respected him.
Nowadays, the currency of the Song Dynasty is strong, and the new Huizi is valuable. The soldiers hold it in their hands and feel at ease, instead of the guilty conscience they felt when the number of Huizi was rampant in the past.
After awarding the generals of the Yangzhou Defense Line with awards, Zhao Hong looked at the tanned and lean Wu Feng and nodded with satisfaction.
"It is enough to hear the Tao in the morning and die in the evening. Wu Feng, you and Zhang Zhongxia were both students of the first batch of Jinling Lecture Hall. They joined the army, went through life and death, and made many military exploits. You are the role models for the children of Lin'an and the soldiers of the Song Dynasty. Role models. I am proud of you!"
Zhao Hong raised his hand and gave a thumbs up towards Zhang Zhongxia and Wu Feng.
Playboys and scoundrels seem to be classified as hazardous waste. But if you hire people properly and train them, you can turn waste into treasure and make them good generals who can serve the country.
"Thank you for your compliment, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you for your teaching, Your Majesty!"
Wu Feng and Zhang Zhongxia walked out, both of them blushing.
"Wu Feng was promoted to deputy capital commander of Hexi Road, with a reward of 500 guan and 50 shi of rice, and he continued to guard Hexi; Zhang Zhongxia was promoted to deputy commander of Shaanxi Road, with a reward of 500 guan and 50 shi of rice; Cao Shixiong served as the commander of Shaanxi Road. After New Year's Day, Wang Jian and Zhang Zhongxia led 50,000 troops into Shaanxi, and together with Shaanxi's pacification envoy Chen Longzhi, they bravely shouldered the heavy burden."
The generals clasped their fists and obeyed the order, and knelt down on one knee.
"Thank you, Your Majesty for your grace!"
Zhao Hong laughed and signaled the generals to get up.
These people were all his proud disciples at the Jinling Military Academy, and now they have made great achievements, which shows that he was right in establishing the martial arts academy.
"Cui Yu, the envoy of Sichuan, and Chen Longzhi, the pacifier of Shaanxi, were each rewarded with 1,000 guan and 100 shi of rice. Guo Zhengsun was rewarded with 500 guan and 50 shi of rice. He also served as the pacification envoy of Lintao Road. Zhao Yanna was rewarded with 300 guan and 30 shi of rice. , took over as Hanzhong's pacification envoy. As for other related people, the imperial court will also reward them."
Zhao Hong looked at Xuan Zhen, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, who was smiling apologetically, and smiled slightly.
“Mr.
A few civil servants stood firm to clear the country, appease the people, and devoted themselves to serving the country and the people. This is what Huanghuang scholar-bureaucrats are.
Xuan Zhen, Cui Yu, the Sichuan envoy who hurriedly arrived, and Chen Long, a group of civil servants, all received orders to thank him.
After rewarding several civil servants, Zhao Hong faced the expectant generals in the tent.
"Lu Wende concurrently serves as the governor of Lintao Road and is rewarded with 1,000 guan and 100 shi per meter; Yu Jie, Zhao Shu, Jiang Wanzai and Meng Gong are each rewarded with 1,000 guan and 100 shi per meter; the remaining Lu Yuanting, Wang Shixin and Huang Xi are rewarded with 500 guan. , 50 stones per meter; for the rest of the soldiers, I will discuss their merits and reward them, and I will not miss any of them!"
All the generals smiled happily and received orders to express their gratitude.
For soldiers who have made great achievements in battle, the emperor will reward them generously and never treat them unfairly. The emperor also controlled the army very strictly, and he hated corruption deeply, and the generals knew it well.
The emperor was in a good mood, and Cao Youwan couldn't wait to play:
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are defeated, why not take the opportunity to send troops northward and restore the Central Plains!"
The emperor commended him, and his impatience was revealed again.
Send troops north to restore the Central Plains?
While Zhao Hong was astonished, Yu Jie stood up and played in excitement.
"Your Majesty, this is a good opportunity for the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains. We can take this opportunity to destroy the Kingdom of Jin and fulfill the centuries-old wish of our people in the Song Dynasty!"
"Your Majesty, after destroying the Kingdom of Jin, first restore the land of Henan. Then send troops to the north to recover the land of Two Rivers. I am willing to be the vanguard!"
Lu Wende walked out, also full of fighting spirit.
In the Hanzhong War, he was not the absolute main force, so of course he was unwilling to do so.
"What your Majesty said is absolutely true! After the fierce battle in Hanzhong, there were many casualties in the army, and a lot of ammunition was lost. Shaanxi is now broken and needs to be restored. The Northern Expedition is too hasty at this time!"
Xuan Zhen, Minister of the Ministry of War, quickly came out to dissuade him.
These arrogant and powerful generals are like wolves and tigers, and they just want to make achievements, but they don't care whether the court has money or food. War is not just about logistics, it also requires careful preparation, down to the smallest detail.
"Your Majesty, the Northern Expedition is a national war, and it is complicated and cannot be carried out hastily. Your Majesty, think carefully!"
Guo Zhengsun, the pacifier of Lizhou West Road and Lintaofu Road, also hurriedly came out to speak.
The Hanzhong War had just ended, with numerous casualties, and the soldiers had not yet been recuperated, so the Northern Expedition was about to begin. It was too aggressive and too hasty.
"Your Majesty, in the opinion of my veteran, the Tatar army has suffered a disastrous defeat and is severely weakened. It is not a bad idea to make the northern expedition at this time. However, we must first solve the problem of food and grass before we can go north with peace of mind."
After the Battle of Hanzhong, Cui Yu, the envoy of Sichuan, seemed to have become interested in the Northern Expedition.
"Destroying the Jin Kingdom and restoring the two rivers is my dream!"
Zhao Hong laughed and then shook his head slightly.
"Everyone, the troops and horses have not moved, and the food and grass have gone first. Not to mention that the trapped beasts of the Jin Kingdom are still fighting, and the strength of the Tatars is still there. Even the food, grass, baggage, firearms and ammunition needed for the Northern Expedition will have to be prepared for more than half a year. My soldiers of the Song Dynasty cannot rely on Let’s fight with passion.”
Xuan Zhen and Guo Zhengsun were right. The Northern Expedition was a national war. We should not rush into it and make decisions as soon as our heads are hot.
All the generals laughed, feeling embarrassed for their recklessness.
The soldiers and horses have not moved, but the food and grass go first. War is all about logistics, and they still understand these simple principles of marching and fighting.
"You are all right. The Northern Expedition is what the people want and it is also the responsibility of our generation. Soldiers, don't be impatient. In the battle of Hanzhong, our Song Dynasty border army suffered a lot of losses. We must first train our troops to prepare for the coming year. If you don’t get promoted, don’t be discouraged. In the future, you will have to recover the Central Plains, recapture Liaodong, return to the Western Regions, and even send troops overseas. If you want to make contributions, there are many opportunities!"
After Zhao Hong's big words, all the officials in the tent were excited.
Judging from the emperor's words, he is preparing for the Northern Expedition next year.
Recovering the Central Plains is not only a reward for achievements and promotions, but also the ideal and dream of generations of people in the Song Dynasty. Who wouldn't be tempted?
"Your Majesty, Chang'an is our former capital of the Han and Tang Dynasties. Don't you want to go north to admire the old glory of our Central Plains Dynasty?"
Yu Jie asked with a playful smile.
"Of course I want to go! When the time comes, you will all come together. Wouldn't it be great for us to admire the historical sites, talk about the past and the present, and sing songs over wine?"
Zhao Hong also became interested and said loudly.
Life is too short to drink and sing. Fortunately, he is still young and still has the enthusiasm to play.
"Your Majesty, it's New Year's Day soon, won't Your Majesty return to Lin'an City?"
Lu Wende asked with expectant eyes.
"Why, can't you bear to leave me?"
Zhao Hong laughed, stood up, and walked away.
"Dear gentlemen, I am going to spend this New Year's Day in Hanzhong. Let's talk about our innermost thoughts and life ideals together! Now, you go out with me and visit our frontier soldiers of the Song Dynasty! They, He is the real hero!”
In Shaanxi, only Cao Youwen has more than 20,000 troops. The Tongguan natural barrier is still in the hands of the Jin army, and Shaanxi has not yet been fully controlled. The Mongolian middle army is attacking Henan. Who knows whether it will attack Shaanxi?
The Hanzhong War has just ended, and the morale of the military is not yet stable, so it is indeed not appropriate to leave prematurely.
Talk about your true feelings and your ideals in life!
All the ministers looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.
Isn't the ideal of life just what you, the old man, point to?
Zhao Hong left the tent. The guards moved forward, and all the ministers followed.
Xuan Zhen thought secretly, to appease the soldiers and stabilize the morale of the army, he would wait until Shaanxi stabilized at the earliest. It seems that the fastest time for the emperor to return south is next spring.
Zhao Hong and his ministers came out of the tent, and the guards rode away and went down to convey the military order of reward. After a while, all the Song soldiers in the field raised their swords and guns, cheering like thunder, as if the sky was falling and the earth was falling.
"Long live Long live Long live!"
"Soldiers, thank you for your hard work!"
Zhao Hong climbed to a high ground with a smile on his face and waved frequently to the Song Army soldiers in the surrounding areas.
The troops cheered, the sound shook the sky, and all the ministers gathered around Zhao Hong, their blood boiled and everyone's face turned red.
The emperor loved his people like his sons and his soldiers like his sons. With such a king, his future was promising, and the future of the Song Dynasty was limitless!
