In the early summer of the fourth year of Jianwu's reign in the Song Dynasty, on Lizhou West Road, in the northwest frontier fortress, in the south of Mianzhou City, on the banks of the Hanshui River, there was the Martyrs' Shrine.
The sky is clear, under the white clouds, on the thick soil, surrounded by mountains and protected by tall trees.
In front of a series of tombstones, Emperor Zhao Hong of the Song Dynasty is in the middle, followed by civil and military officials Wei Liaoweng, Hu Mengyu, Fan Zhong, Guo Zhengsun, Yu Jie, Cao Youwen, Wang Jian, etc., and dozens of Song Dynasty border army generals are lined up in order, facing With the souls of heroes and martyrs, we take off our hats and observe silence.
"Play and sing!"
The official who presided over the sacrifice shouted loudly, which made people awe-inspiring. The music played, everyone was awe-inspiring, and the military generals all stood up straight.
Involuntarily, Zhao Hong sang along with the soldiers leading the song.
"I am so angry that I lean on the railing, and the mist of rain stops. I look up, look up to the sky and roar, my heart is full of passion. Thirty years of fame and fame, and eight thousand miles of clouds and moon. Don't wait for your youthful head to turn gray, and feel empty and sad."
Civil and military officials, regardless of age or official position, all followed the music and sang.
"The shame of Jingkang has not yet snowed. The hatred of the ministers, when will it be destroyed? Driving a long chariot, trampling through the gap in the Helan Mountains. The ambition is to eat the meat of Hulu when hungry, and laugh and drink the blood of Huns when thirsty. Let's start from the beginning, clean up the old mountains and rivers, and face the sky."
What a "Man Jiang Hong"!
In the Battle of Hanzhong two years ago, the blood of countless soldiers turned the Han River red.
"The Emperor of the Song Dynasty will read out the memorial text!"
The voice of the sacrificial official sounded again. Zhao Hong looked solemn. He picked up the sacrificial text and read it aloud:
"On Bingyin, the fifth month of the Guisi year of the fourth year of Jianwu in the Song Dynasty, the soldiers and civilians of the Song Dynasty would like to pay their respects to the martyrs of the Song Dynasty:
I heard that I was guarding the four barbarians, following the teachings of the sages. To put away the old and make new things, there were quarrels at the beginning. A strong man is virtuous and has a sharp edge. The soul is strong and the ghost is strong, and the metal and stone are shocked. Reminiscing about the past..."
Zhao Hong's voice was sonorous, powerful and impassioned. Many generals and ministers felt sad, and many emotional people could not help but shed tears.
Although the Battle of Hanzhong was a complete victory, it was also a tragic victory. More than 30,000 comrades in the army remained on the land of Hanzhong forever.
Coupled with the invasion of the Mongolian army a few years ago, the Song Dynasty frontier army suffered tens of thousands of casualties in Lingzhou City and Lizhou West Road in Xixia. The losses of the northwest frontier army were huge.
"Both boarded the car and ignored it, only pursued righteousness and forgot to spin. Sweep away the prestige accumulated in the fourth generation, and invigorate the people's aspirations for a hundred years. How can the loyal soul enter the dream, and the feelings of those who come here. Our people will be rich, and our country will be strong. Mingming is illustrious. , standing in the east. The heroic spirit sees it as happy and healthy..."
After Zhao Hong finished reading, the sacrificial official shouted loudly.
"Salute! Bow!"
Zhao Hong and all the generals looked solemn and raised their hands in salute, while the civil servants bowed deeply to honor the souls of the dead.
"Shot!"
"boom!"
"boom!"
The soldiers raised their guns and pulled the triggers. The sound of gunshots continued, alarming countless birds in the cemetery. They fluttered their wings and flew high, hovering over the cemetery.
Wine was spilled in front of the tombstones, and wreaths were piled around the tombstones. Many people cried bitterly, and Zhao Hong felt sad.
He had personally experienced the battle to defend the city of Xingyuan Prefecture, and also witnessed the tragic battle between the Song and Mongolian armies. The heroic and fearless fighting scenes of the Song Dynasty soldiers shocked him, even a little scared, and a little emotional.
How terrible is an awakened nation! An awakened and roaring Eastern giant will surely shock the world!
But the foundation of a country's prosperity is based on the bloodshed and sacrifice of soldiers.
"Warriors, rest in peace!"
Zhao Hong murmured to himself and bowed again.
The small court of the Southern Song Dynasty committed suicide, played with power and politics, but turned the Song people into fourth-class citizens. How incompetent and tragic!
The Song Dynasty had 70 million people!
"Your Majesty once said that a nation without heroes is unfortunate, and a nation that has heroes but does not know how to respect and cherish them is hopeless. They died for the country and deserved their death, and the court did not treat them badly. Your Majesty does not need to be too sad. .”
The new Sichuan envoy Hu Mengyu had no choice but to follow Zhao Hong in bowing and whispered advice from the side.
Since the year of Dinghai, for six years, wars have continued in the northwest, and tens of thousands of soldiers who died in battle have gone to the Martyrs' Shrine to offer sacrifices.
When the emperor first came to the throne, he proposed the construction of a Martyrs' Shrine in the northwest frontier fortress, which he was opposed to in his heart. Now it seems that it is the right choice that suits the military's morale.
"Your Majesty, they are all heroes of our Song Dynasty, and future generations will worship them from generation to generation!"
Yu Jie looked serious and followed along.
"In the Battle of Hanzhong, have the pensions and arrangements for the fallen and seriously injured soldiers been in place?"
Zhao Hong asked subconsciously.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. This matter is related to the morale of the military. I have already made arrangements and will not dare to slack off at all!"
The three border officials, Fan Zhong, Guo Zhengsun and Zhao Yanna, bowed and saluted together.
Zhao Hong nodded. This matter has already been reported to the imperial court. Fan Zhong, Guo Zhengsun and others should not deceive the superiors and conceal the information.
"The imperial court treats its soldiers well, and they also love their imperial court. Your Majesty is the king who loves the soldiers and the people the most among the kings of the Song Dynasty. It is precisely because of this that the soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives and sacrifice for the country."
Cao Youwen's words hit the nail on the head.
No more sashimi, no more thieves in the army, no more low status. The salary and money are sufficient, the land is rewarded, the family is taken care of, and military personnel are given priority.
A country loves its people, and the people love their country. The same goes for soldiers.
Zhao Hong nodded, his words heavy.
"In the autumn of the Northern Expedition, I don't know how many soldiers will be bloody on the battlefield and never come back. Thinking of it, I feel heartbroken."
Although more than half of the Mongolian army was lost, its vitality was still there. Moreover, the Mongolian army was tenacious and resistant, and when the time came there would be fierce battles again, with countless casualties.
"Your Majesty, as a soldier of the Song Dynasty, our duty is to protect our country and defend our country. It is also our wish to die on the battlefield. Now in our northwest frontier army, everyone wants to make contributions. For this expedition, the officers and soldiers of the army have requested to fight. Just to appease the arrogant and capable generals who can’t go, it’s already giving the general and others a huge headache!”
Wang Jian said with a sad face, Cao You heard that Yu Jie and others shook their heads. The northwest frontier army has 300,000 troops, but only half of them can be sent to the Northern Expedition. It is indeed necessary to appease the generals who are eager to fight.
Zhao Hong was slightly startled, then nodded happily.
The improvement of the status of soldiers, the heavy investment in logistics, and the victory after victory completely aroused the bloody spirit of the soldiers of the Song Dynasty.
"Hu Mengyu, is the immigration from Sichuan to Shaanxi going smoothly?"
Thinking of Shaanxi, Zhao Hong blurted out subconsciously.
"Your Majesty, I made some statistics before the spring plowing. In more than a year when our army regained Shaanxi, a total of more than 700,000 people immigrated to Sichuan. If I, the King of the Song Dynasty, regained the Central Plains, I am afraid that more people in Sichuan would immigrate."
Hu Mengyu said softly, slightly embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, the good immigration laws can be largely attributed to Shi Songzhi, the former pacifier of Xixia Road, so that I can learn from it and save a lot of trouble."
"Shi Songzhi is a talented person, but it's a pity that he has evil intentions and I misjudged him."
Zhao Hong shook his head and said helplessly.
"Immigration must still persist, and the population of Shaanxi must reach at least 1.5 million."
According to the 10% population growth rate during the Great Reign, it will take at least ten years for Shaanxi's population to reach 3 million. Therefore, immigration must continue.
"Fan Zhong and Zhao Yanna, we need to prepare at least a month's supply of food and grass for the northern expedition. Is there no problem?"
Zhao Hong cast his eyes on the two frontier officials, Fan Zhong, the pacifier of Hexi Road, and Zhao Yanna, the pacifier of Hanzhong.
Hexi and Hanzhong roads were both the northwest granaries of the Song Dynasty. Shaanxi is facing a lot of waste, and Hexi Road and Hanzhong Road are doing their part to supply grain, grass and baggage.
"Your Majesty, as of the beginning of the month, Hexi Road and Lintao Road have transferred grain and grass to Chang'an, Shaanxi Province, which is enough for the army for three months. Please take a look at it!"
Fan Zhong was well prepared and spoke on behalf of the two of them. He handed over the account book. Zhao Hong took it and opened it to look at it carefully.
"100,000 shi of wheat, 50,000 shi of soybeans, 100,000 shi of black beans, 300,000 shi of rice, 3,000 cans of pickles, 5,000 iron pots..."
Zhao Hong nodded and closed the account book.
The northwest frontier army also had rice, because more than half of the frontier army were Sichuanese. As for Hexi Road, Xixia Road, Lintao Road 3rd Road, most soldiers like pasta.
"I see in this account book, beans amount to 150,000 shi. Why is this?"
Zhao Hong often checked the memorials and knew how to use them in the army. However, the amount of beans needed by the Northwest Army is indeed too large.
"Your Majesty, there are 100,000 cavalry in our northwest army, and the number of cavalry for this expedition reaches 70,000. There are too many war horses, and the beans needed are naturally much more than those required by the southeastern frontier army."
Zhao Hong suddenly realized the explanation given by Cao Youwen, the commander-in-chief of the Rong army in Xixia.
"I see!"
Northwest frontier army, one hundred thousand cavalry!
Thousands of cavalry charge into battle, who can compete with them? It seems that the Song Dynasty's border army's chronic problem of lack of cavalry has disappeared in this dynasty.
"Zheng Tu, are there any problems with the supply of ammunition and weapons for the Northwest Frontier Army's Northern Expedition?"
Seeing the fat man Zheng Tu, Zhao Hong's face became gentle.
Like Tian Yi, Zheng Tu, a chubby young man, lived all over the world and made many contributions to the military industry of the Song Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, please listen to me."
Like Fan Zhong, Zheng Tu also took out the account book and introduced it to Zhao Hong carefully.
What works first and what works next. It seems that Zhao Hong's habit of talking with numbers has become popular among these civil and military ministers.
"Your Majesty, the supply of weapons and firearms for the Northern Expedition has been prepared, and in Chang'an's baggage warehouse are: 200,000 9-pound iron balls, 300,000 7-pound and 5-pound iron balls; 10,000 shotgun shells; 500 heavy artillery pieces Gate, 700 medium-sized artillery pieces, 500 medium-sized double-barreled cannons, 200 breech-rifled cannons, 200 short-barreled cannons; helmets, armor and protective gear..."
After Zheng Tu finished his report, Zhao Hong nodded slightly, and all the officials were speechless.
War is all about logistics. This sentence could not be more appropriate.
For example, this cannonball, a solid iron ball alone, weighs 6 million kilograms. Isn't it the steel industry that we are fighting for?
There are also these explosive bombs. One shell is worth 200 thousand dollars. Just these 10,000 explosive bombs are worth 2 million dollars. Isn’t it a matter of whose treasury is rich?
"Your Majesty, the breech rifled cannon is a powerful weapon in the army, and can shoot five miles away. Your Majesty, in this Northern Expedition, our Song Dynasty border army must defeat the Tatars and restore the old land of the two rivers in one fell swoop!"
"Your Majesty, the same is true for the explosive bombs and the thunderbolts. Not only are the explosive bombs very destructive, but the opponent has nowhere to hide. They can be a powerful weapon for attacking the city. The thunderbolts do not need to be ignited, which is equivalent to a small gun for each soldier. Artillery. It can be said to be even more powerful for our army in the Northern Expedition."
As the coach of the West Route Army, Yu Jie and Cao Youwen were both excited and said one after another.
The two major weapons manufacturing branches in the northwest, Mianzhou Branch and Lanzhou Branch, together with the iron factory expanded in Chang'an, Shaanxi Province last year, are enough to ensure the production of firearms needed by the northwest frontier army for the Northern Expedition.
"Your Majesty, now we, the Song Dynasty, are gathering in Shaanxi one after another, waiting for the cold weather for the Northern Expedition. Your Majesty, do you want to go to Chang'an and meet the generals of the army?"
Yu Jie's eyes were full of expectation.
"Of course I want to go! What Chang'an City is like, I have always dreamed of seeing it!"
Zhao Hong said decisively.
Isn't he just here to boost morale during his inspection of the Northwest Frontier Army?
The last time I was supposed to go to Shaanxi, because Queen Mother Yang Guizhi was critically ill, she had to return to Lin'an City. This time I came to the northwest to boost the morale of the Western Route Army in the Northern Expedition, so of course I wanted to go.
Looking northwest to Chang'an, one can see countless mountains. Is Chang'an City still the graceful and luxurious capital of the Celestial Empire where all nations come to visit?
