In August of the fourth year of Jianwu's reign in the Great Song Dynasty, Chuzhou was in the important town of Huaidong.
In the second year of Jianyan of the Southern Song Dynasty (1128), Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, appointed Du Chong as the prefect of Kaifeng and the stay in Tokyo. When Du Chong heard that the Jin army was approaching, he crossed the Yellow River to the Qinghe River in the west at Li Gu to stop the Jin army. Since then, the Yellow River has lost its ancient north and east routes and diverted the Huai River into the sea, causing flooding and disasters.
Today, in Chuzhou City and the wilderness on the south bank of the Huai River, the Song army's camps stretch for several miles, and the formations are one after another, covering the banks of the Huai River. Warships were moored along the south bank one after another, with rafts and oars like a forest, and the "Song" flag flying high above them making a sound, which was really spectacular.
The Song Army's Northern Expedition launched in three directions. The West Route Army entered Hedong from Shaanxi, and the Middle Route Army broke into Hebei from Shandong, and attacked from north to south with the East Route Army heading north by sea, captured Hebei, penetrated Hedong, restored the two rivers in one fell swoop, and captured the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun.
On the north bank of the Huai River (Yellow River), the land that had never been restored and owned by the Southern Song Dynasty for hundreds of years was waiting for the Song army to recover and conquer.
In the middle of the military formation, there is a high platform about ten meters high and forty to fifty meters in radius. There are wooden ladders that can be climbed straight up. Around the base of the high platform, the Imperial Guards were standing guard, as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Hundreds of Song Dynasty scholars and civilians were surrounded by them. They were all dressed in different attires. Some were officials and some were civilians, but most of them had official experience.
"Looking across the Changhuai River, the pass is suddenly flat. The dust is dark, the frosty wind is strong, and the sound is quiet. It is dark and condensed. Looking back on the events of the past, it has been countless days, and it is not human power. On the Zhusi, the place where strings and songs are played is also smelly.
Thinking about the arrow in the waist, the sword in the box, and the moth in the air, how could it be possible! The time is easy to lose, the heart is weak, and the age is about to be zero... I heard that the old people in the Central Plains often look south, and the green banners are shining. When travelers come here, Zhong is filled with anger 20, and tears pour out like... "
Among the officials and people under the high platform, Liu Kezhuang, the head of the Information Department of the Song Dynasty, glanced at the thousands of troops and horses that made him tremble, and landed on the north bank of the Huai River. He choked up while reciting this six-state song in his mouth.
The Longxing Northern Expedition was the first Northern Expedition after the Song Dynasty moved south, and it was also one of the only two Northern Expeditions. Song Xiaozong's work ended in a hurry, but Zhang Xiaoxiang, who stayed behind in Jiankang at that time, was so sad and angry that he composed this Liuzhou song that has been passed down through the ages.
"Looking north to the Central Plains, the mountains and rivers have moved. The Jin people invaded the south, hunting with fires at night, and singing drums. The country with thousands of years of culture has been reduced to a den for dogs and sheep. The imperial court is in peace, the elders of the Central Plains long for recovery, and the passionate men have no way to serve the country. It is a pity. , Zhang Qianhu was born at the wrong time, so he couldn’t see the grand deeds of our dynasty today!”
Ye Shaoweng, a poet of Jianghu School, admired Zhang Xiaoxiang so much and was filled with emotion.
The Song Dynasty had such elites and the country was at its peak. Even though he was over forty years old, he still couldn't help but get excited and wanted to join the army to fight.
During the Longxing Northern Expedition, Song Xiaozong mishandled the two important battles against the Jin Dynasty and lost both battles.
In the Battle of Shaanxi, he followed the advice of Prime Minister Shi Hao, rejected Yu Yunwen's advice, and voluntarily abandoned Shaanxi, resulting in the defeat of Wu Ph of the West Route Army and the loss of his local strategic advantage.
In the Battle of Fuli, Song Xiaozong was neither able to lead the expedition himself nor go to the Jiankang front line to supervise the battle. He rushed the Northern Expedition and was not prepared for a vicious battle, which resulted in Li Xianzhong's defeat. The Song army won first and then lost; in the process of investigating the responsibility for the defeat of Fuli , If Shao Hongyuan, the culprit who caused the Song army's defeat, is not killed, the military power will not be established.
In the two important diplomatic games against Jin Shizong, Song Xiaozong's appointment was unclear and his will was weak. Both diplomacy ended in failure.
During the Longxing Northern Expedition, the Southern Song Dynasty signed the "Longxing Peace Agreement" with the Jin Dynasty. Although they got rid of the disadvantageous position of professing a vassal, they were still at a disadvantage in terms of diplomatic etiquette. Song Xiaozong still had to stand up to accept the Jin Kingdom's credentials, which was extremely humiliating.
"Although the Longxing Northern Expedition was rough, compared to the Kaixi Northern Expedition, it was already heaven and earth."
Lu Zixiu, the third son of Lu You, the great poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, who had been silent, also joined in.
Kaixi Northern Expedition, the second Northern Expedition of the Southern Song Dynasty. In the second year of Kaixi (1206), it was launched by Han Yuzhou, who was in charge of the Pingzhang Army. At first, the Song and Jin Dynasties had their own victories and defeats, with the Song Army winning less and losing more. However, Wu Xi, deputy envoy of Sichuan Xuanfu of the Western Route Army of the Song Dynasty, rebelled against the Song Dynasty and surrendered to the Jin Dynasty. Unfavorable, Han Yuzhou had to seek peace from the Jin Dynasty, but failed because the Jin Dynasty proposed to cut off the heads of Han Yuanzhou and others.
In the third year of Kaixi (1207), Wu Xi's rebellion was put down, and the situation in Huainan gradually stabilized. General Kui of the Jin Dynasty died of illness in the army, and the situation was favorable to the Song Dynasty. However, the peace faction within the Song court began to conspire. Shi Miyuan, the Minister of Rites, colluded with Queen Yang Guizhi to kill Pingzhang's military official Han Yuzhou. The Song and Jin Dynasties stopped their troops and negotiated peace, and the annual coins were increased to 300,000 taels of silver and 300,000 bolts of silk. The Southern Song Dynasty also rewarded the Jin army with three million taels of silver (compensation).
"The Kaixi Northern Expedition gave birth to such a great traitor as Shi Miyuan, which caused the country to decline day by day. Fortunately, His Majesty strategized and turned the tide, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable just because of the unrest in the northwest."
Liu Kezhuang was touched and blurted out.
Everyone nodded. The Dinghai Incident, including the Mongolian army passing through Guanzhong in the second year of Jianwu, had the emperor not made arrangements early, and the people would have suffered countless casualties, and the northwest would have been in ruins.
"Brother Lu, my father said in the past: On the day when the king's army decided to go north to the Central Plains, the family sacrifices did not forget to tell Nai Weng. Now his grandson has made great achievements in the northwest frontier army, and the king's army will go north today. You can finally comfort your father."
"Brother Lu, after crossing south from the Song Dynasty, the third Northern Expedition of the Song Dynasty, the Jianwu Northern Expedition, will definitely destroy all the lands in the Central Plains! If there is knowledge in the underground, you can smile with a smile!"
Ye Shaoweng and Liu Kezhuang said generously. Lu Zixiu's heart was throbbing and he returned the gift solemnly.
What Ye Shaoweng said is true. His son Lu Yuantinggui is the commander-in-chief of the first army, and he will also join the Western Army in the Northern Expedition, inheriting his grandfather's legacy, which is a good story.
And with the power of the Song Dynasty today, with an army of 300,000, who dares to fight?
"It's a pity that my east and west armies are not here, otherwise the Song Dynasty would have had three to four hundred thousand warriors gathered, thousands of ships sent out, and thousands of cavalry, what kind of grand occasion would it have been?"
Dai Fuxu, one of the leaders of the Jianghu Poetry School, is still radiant and generous even though he is nearly seventy years old.
"There are also tens of thousands of artillery pieces and countless sky-shaking thunders. The most important thing is that our master is well-trained and willing to sacrifice his life."
Xuan Zhen, the former privy envoy and minister of the Ministry of War, has gray hair, but he is still in good spirits.
"The strong point of our attack is that we fire three arrows from land and water at the same time. There are hundreds of thousands of cavalry alone. Wherever the soldiers point, they are invincible. It's a pity that the old guy Xue Ji can't see it."
Xue Ji, the former prime minister of the Song Dynasty, passed away a few months ago.
"Before Xue Ji died, he still asked Wang Shi when the northern expedition would be, and he never forgot about the army going north. In comparison, I am much luckier."
Ge Hong, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, is very old. He is already eighty years old, several years older than Xue Ji. He does not need support and his energy is enviable.
"Mr. Ge, I heard that you took hundreds of bribes from His Majesty to save a few of my people. Is this true?"
Liu Kezhuang couldn't help but asked immediately.
"It is indeed true. That was ten years ago. His Majesty and Yang Guiyi came together at that time. Not only the two pieces of gold collar, but also the number of hundreds of gold collars. It is a pity that the two of them have now separated. .”
Mentioning the past, Ge Hong sighed and sighed.
"Mr. Ge, you accepted so many bribes from His Majesty, but the Anti-Corruption Department didn't investigate you?"
Xuan Zhen made a joke about Ge Hong.
That day, in order to protect themselves, he and Xue Ji each spent a full 50,000 yuan of "filial piety money."
And for this Northern Expedition, he donated another 50,000 yuan, which was almost his entire fortune.
"That was before His Majesty came to the throne, and the world was as dark as crows. In this Northern Expedition, I, like Mr. Xuan, donated as much as 50,000 yuan, almost bankrupting the family, which was enough to repay His Majesty's "bribery"!"
Ge Hong's words caused a burst of laughter and admiration.
The Northern Expedition was a major event that related to the national destiny of the Song Dynasty for hundreds of years. Everyone was excited and took it seriously.
Liu Kezhuang nodded, feeling filled with emotion.
At that time, Zhao Hong's future was uncertain, and he and Shi Miyuan were fighting to the death, but he was able to generously help them, unrelated prisoners, out of trouble, which was full of chivalry.
This kind of kindness, the righteousness between the king and his ministers, is not so easy to repay.
"If Your Majesty doesn't destroy the Jin Kingdom first, will there be trouble from tigers?"
Dai Fuxu was upright by nature and couldn't help but ask.
"Brother Dai, with the national power of the Song Dynasty today, the tiny land of the Jin Kingdom is just like the Xixia of the past, and is not worth mentioning. Your Majesty's move is just to give the Jin Kingdom a chance to surrender as a whole."
Liu Kezhuang defended Zhao Hong against his will.
"Your Majesty is merciful. After all, your Majesty and Princess Jin have a son. Your Majesty cannot bear the loss of his life, but he has no choice but to do so."
The two rivers are about to recover, and Xuan Zhen's ambition is far less than it was back then.
"However, your majesty's benevolence as a woman will inevitably lead to..."
"Brother Dai, Your Majesty is not a foolish king. Once Lianghe and Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures are restored, we will soon know how to deal with the Kingdom of Jin."
Dai Fuxu still persisted and gave Ye Shaoweng a word to stop him.
Dai Fuxu was startled for a moment, and then he laughed dumbly.
The army had just begun the Northern Expedition, and he was a little too obsessed.
"Your Majesty is the king of a country. He has his own sense of what is light and what is important. It takes ten years to sharpen a sword. When my master, the King of the Song Dynasty, returns in triumph, the Kingdom of Jin will soon surrender!"
Xuan Zhen added with a smile.
"When the army recovers the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, wouldn't it be nice for us to go north together?"
The head of state, Zhou Jiacheng, who had not spoken for a long time, interrupted with a smile.
"Then it's settled!"
Xuan Zhen said decisively, and everyone nodded and laughed, and everyone was excited.
Suddenly, the earth-shattering "Long Live" sounds came one after another. Everyone who was talking was startled, and they cheered up and looked in the direction of Chuzhou City.
Needless to say, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty came out to support the soldiers of the Northern Expedition.
The gates of the Chuzhou city were wide open, and the cavalry cleared the way. Zhao Hong, dressed in a crimson gauze robe, a sky-high crown on his head, and the Song Dynasty King's sword hung on his waist. He was calm and powerful. Surrounded by a group of civil and military ministers, Zhao Hong came to beat the horse.
"Hello, soldiers!"
Among the thousands of troops, Zhao Hong rode his horse and marched slowly. He smiled and waved frequently to the soldiers on both sides.
"Long live Long live Long live!"
Wherever Zhao Hong passed, he was surrounded by earth-shattering cheers. Whether they were new soldiers or veterans, everyone was red-faced and hoarse. They raised their swords and guns and shouted wildly, like crazy.
Zhao Hong beat his horse and walked slowly, and all the civil and military ministers who followed behind him straightened their backs.
The emperor was so loved by the six armies, and the military morale was usable, there was no reason why the Northern Expedition would not succeed.
Zhao Hongxin's horse was reined in. Amidst the sound of thousands of troops, he couldn't help but feel in a trance.
Is this a cry for national rise?
Under the gaze of all the troops, Zhao Hong slowly walked up to the high platform, and all the troops below the stage were silent and silent.
"106 years ago, an old general named Zongze from the Song Dynasty saw the mountains and rivers shattered. Before he died, he shouted three sentences. Each sentence was the same and only had two words. You know What?"
Knowing that the soldiers didn't like long speeches, Zhao Hong stopped talking and asked loudly.
"Cross the river!"
"Cross the river!"
In the formation, soldiers shouted one after another.
"Cross the river! Cross the river! Cross the river!"
Zhao Hong drew his sword, pointed it diagonally to the north, and shouted loudly, also at the top of his lungs:
"Cross the river! Cross the river! Cross the river!"
Tens of thousands of soldiers shouted in unison, everyone's face turned red, and the sound shook the sky.
"My soldiers of the Song Dynasty! Cross the river! Northern Expedition!"
Zhao Hong roared angrily, raised his sword and shouted.
At this time, he didn't need to say anything more. Because his words had been annihilated by endless angry shouts.
"Northern Expedition! Northern Expedition! Northern Expedition!"
The scene of tens of thousands of people was once again overwhelmed by the sound of huge waves. Countless people began to board the ship in a busy but orderly manner.
Zhao Hong stood on the high platform, watching the thousands of troops attack, and his heart was agitated.
It has been 10 years since he came to this era and 9 full years since he took the throne. He finally changed this era.
As for the longer and more difficult road ahead, he still has to walk on it without hesitation and cannot look back.
