Faced with Zhao Gou's question, Wang Lun swallowed in surprise.
He couldn't believe that this emperor, who had always been soft-spoken, would actually take the initiative to ask about armaments, and even...
I have the desire to start a war.
Why?
He didn't know what kind of mental journey Zhao Gou had gone through, and he didn't know why Zhao Gou, who had always been as fearful of enemies as a tiger, suddenly wanted to prepare for war.
Maybe it's because the enemies we face are different?
Maybe Zhao Gou had illusions because he had never fought against the Ming army?
Wang Lun didn't know the reason, but Wang Lun knew his responsibility.
So he took a step forward.
"Your Majesty, I have been submitting the report on the military armaments of the Song Dynasty for a long time."
Zhao Gou was slightly embarrassed.
In the past, he only thought about living a stable life, enjoying happiness, and helping the younger brothers below him to raise their heads again, regain their male prowess, and seize the tail of their prime to have a good time. How could he care about these things?
At that time, wouldn't talking to him about military affairs be equivalent to killing him?
but now……
"I know, I just want to confirm again, with the current military equipment of the Song Dynasty, can it fight against the Ming army?"
Wang Lun was silent for a while.
"The total number of rated troops in the Song Dynasty is 413,762, but according to previous combat readiness surveys, at least 30% of them were eaten up by military officers and border guards from various places, and the remaining 70% were There are not many real elite soldiers in Chengzhong, and there are a large number of old, weak, sick and disabled people who make up the numbers.
Moreover, the situation in various places is very complicated, and the situation of empty pay is unevenly distributed. There are some who are dedicated to guarding the full quota of soldiers, and there are also a large number of people who are empty pay and only care about themselves. Currently, the number of people punished by the imperial court is limited. The small is the big, and there may be many similar ones. The matter went undiscovered. "
He slightly refined the content of the previous arms report.
Zhao Gou's expression changed a lot.
"The Song Dynasty has only been stable for more than ten years, and it has reached this point?"
"Yes, once the peace treaty was signed, Wen Tian's martial arts became the norm, the armaments were depleted, and the army's training was seriously insufficient. A considerable number of soldiers were ordered as private slaves of the officers, doing everything they could to farm and do chores, but without training.
The few troops that maintain training also have poor military discipline. They only drink and gamble every day. When the superior officer comes to inspect, they pretend to practice. Once the superior officer leaves, they return to their original state and continue to drink and gamble. They will not take the initiative to practice combat skills. Therefore, I suggest that your majesty reorganize the armament. talent……"
"Okay, I already know the specific situation."
Zhao Gou quickly stopped Wang Lun from continuing and asked: "I just want to ask you one question. Once a war breaks out, how many fighting troops can the Song Dynasty mobilize at most?"
Wang Lun thought about it for a while.
"If we just defend, we can mobilize up to about 200,000 troops. If we choose to attack, we can't mobilize more than 100,000 troops at the moment."
"Is two hundred thousand for one place or..."
"The sum of Huainan, Jinghu and Sichuan."
Zhao Gou took a deep breath.
"The Song Dynasty's 400,000 soldiers and horses were devoured so much free money?"
"Thirty percent is considered good. I even heard that in some places, three out of five soldiers were left without pay."
"What?!"
Zhao Gou slapped the table: "Who is it?! How audacious! I admitted 30%, but he actually asked for 60%? Do you want to rebel?!"
Wang Lun said hurriedly: "I just heard it, and there is no real evidence. It is not accurate. Maybe it is just a rumor."
"What rumors? I want real numbers! Real numbers!"
Zhao Gou slapped the table and roared: "Wang Lun! What did you do as Privy Councilor? Why are you so derelict in your duties! Do you still want to do it?! The same thing happened before, not rigorous or cautious at all! Privy Councilor What an important position! Tell me! Do you still want to do it?"
Wang Lun was so frightened that he quickly knelt down.
"I know I was wrong! Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! But Your Majesty, I really tried my best! Every time I send people to the army to investigate, they always encounter inexplicable obstacles. The officers in the army are colluding, and it is difficult to investigate. If the real situation is revealed, if a comprehensive investigation is really needed, His Majesty must personally order it and form a separate investigation team!"
Zhao Gou stood up angrily and walked around left and right. After thinking about it, he felt that he couldn't swallow this breath.
"The Ming Dynasty has bullied us at our doorstep, but our own armaments have been depleted to this extent. It seems that we can no longer control it! In any case, Wang Lun, I leave this matter to you. If you want the power, I will give it to you. You choose the person yourself, I want the results!"
Wang Lun swallowed his saliva and said bravely: "Your Majesty, three feet of ice cannot be frozen in a day. If we want to rectify our military armaments in a short period of time, we will not be able to see great results. And if the Ming Dynasty takes advantage of my absence, Be prepared and go south to coerce, it will be very difficult for the Song Dynasty."
Of course Zhao Gou knew that this was true.
Wang Lun had mentioned the matter of reorganizing the armaments to him many times before, but he was helpless. He just wanted to live a stable and comfortable life and didn't want to spend so much time reorganizing the army.
The family law tradition of the Zhao and Song Dynasty royal families was to honor military generals and make them rich and comfortable enough, so that even if their status was low and they had little dignity, they would not want to rebel.
Which emperor in the past dynasties didn't know about empty pay?
But they don't want to solve it comprehensively, and it's difficult for them to solve it comprehensively.
Earning empty pay has long been regarded as a potential benefit for military officers in addition to regular benefits. If we really want to rectify the issue of empty pay, it will be equivalent to attacking the interests of all military generals, which will inevitably cause collective protests and even backlash among the military generals.
Moreover, this also helped the court to restrain military generals, control military power, and prevent generals from seizing power. Zhao Gou, who had experienced the Miao and Liu rebellions, the Huaixi military rebellion, and the Four Generals Incident, was quite sensitive to this.
In a peaceful era, a mediocre and obedient army is the reason why Zhao and Song family law can solve the legacy of the Five Dynasties.
But in troubled times, such a family law is somewhat inappropriate.
As an emperor, how could Zhao Gou, the great god, admit that the essence of this matter was caused by his failure to rectify his armaments in time, his indulgence in enjoyment, and his deliberate indulgence?
"If you don't prepare your armaments at ordinary times, only to find out that there are no troops available when the crisis comes, my ministers have misunderstood me! Wang Lun! You have misunderstood me too!"
Zhao Gou forcibly passed the blame to Wang Lun, ignoring the fact that Wang Lun had repeatedly requested military rectification, which surprised Wang Lun.
But he was surprised. Wang Lun knew that Zhao Gou needed a step up, a scapegoat, and a scapegoat who could shoulder the responsibility for him.
So he could only confess to Zhao Gou sadly.
"I know that I have sinned, and please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"Get up and go do the work. I promise you will make meritorious deeds. If you can't, you will be punished for all your crimes!"
Zhao Gou warned Wang Lun with a majestic look.
So Wang Lun sadly became the main responsible person, carrying everything on his shoulders, and provoked this sudden political incident with one shoulder.
On the other side, Tang Sidui and Shen Gai took full responsibility for the important task of negotiating with Xin Qiji, vowing to use their righteousness to reject the unreasonable demands of Xin Qiji and the Ming Dynasty.
Because Zhao Gou was very angry and did not want to see Xin Qiji, Xin Qiji directly negotiated with Tang Side and Shen Gai.
This time the negotiation was not as friendly as before. Tang Sidui and Shen Gai looked at Xin Qiji with frosty expressions on their faces and assumed an uncompromising attitude.
"General Xin, we are sincere to the Ming Dynasty for sending their envoys to the south. I thought that General Xin would bring good news that the two countries would overcome the difficulties together, but I never thought that the Ming Dynasty would violate the agreement between the two countries. Covenant? This is not what a gentleman would do."
As soon as Tang Si retreated and sat down, he began to attack Xin Qiji.
Xin Qiji sneered.
"Xiangong Tang's words are wrong. Does the covenant between the two countries contain any content related to the management of the Yellow River? No, right? Of course the two countries are good neighbors and friendly, helping each other, and you said that the Ming Dynasty successfully controlled the Yellow River, and the Southern Dynasties Won’t you benefit from this?”
Tang Sihui blinked his eyes and thought for a while.
At present, Huainan is indeed under the rule of the Southern Song Dynasty. Whenever the Yellow River overflows and takes the Huai River into the sea, the Southern Song Dynasty will also be invaded, and it is by no means unscathed.
If the Ming Dynasty successfully managed the Yellow River and changed it back to its original course, the Southern Song Dynasty would certainly benefit from it, restoring the former prosperity of Huainan, increasing fiscal revenue, reducing disaster prevention losses, etc.
This is a real benefit, so it seems reasonable and reasonable for the Ming Dynasty to ask the Southern Song Dynasty for some expenses for regulating the Yellow River... What a ghost!
Tang Si stepped back and slapped the table.
"This is the Northern Dynasty's own business. Whether it is cured or not is the Northern Dynasty's own choice. Whether it is affected by the disaster or not is also faced by the two countries themselves. Our DPRK has never asked the Northern Dynasty to pay for the losses suffered by Huainan when the Yellow River overflows. Pay the fee!”
"Does Nanchao have the nerve to say this? Who did the Yellow River fall to what it is today? Isn't Nanchao unclear?"
Xin Qiji said with ridicule: "Emperor Renzong of the Southern Dynasty, Emperor Shenzong, Emperor Zhezong, and Emperor Zhezong regulated the Yellow River three times, and failed three times. Each time it resulted in a catastrophic disaster. Not only do we think so, but don't the people of the Southern Dynasty also think so?
I heard that Su Dongpo was in Xuzhou when he failed to return to the river for the second time. He was almost killed along with the whole city when the flood hit him. After he escaped with his life, he cursed at the court, which made it a big talk. You see, Is this what I said? "
"That...that..."
Tang Situi didn't know what to say for a while.
