In the study room. Song Che and He Qiu sat around the small stove, making some tea and discussing some things.
"According to the news from the capital, since the attack on Dijon, Daliang sent two envoys. One went to Dijon to seek peace, and the other went to Xiqiang to form an alliance. However, they were all turned away," He Qiu said. .
Song Che picked up the small pot, made a cup of Longjing for He Qiu, and said calmly: "I can guess the results of these things without hearing them."
"Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Daliang has valued culture over military affairs and does not like fighting."
"The knife may not be used, but it must not be rusty. It must be sharpened all the time, because you never know when the enemy will attack. Unfortunately, no one in the Zhao royal family realizes this. In the end, it is still comfortable. We are used to it." Song Che added two pieces of charcoal to the stove and said softly: "People are born in sorrow and die in happiness." He Qiu picked up the tea cup and blew on it, sighing softly.
"As a great minister, I have to do something."
"This is why I came to have tea with you." Song Che said: "There is a 'She Island' overseas corresponding to Tongzhou in Huainan. It was a gold mine taken from the great pirate Wang Zhi in the past. Now this island It is under my control. Tomorrow, in the name of the government, you will recruit a miner to dig for gold on the island, and then find a way to get a set of alchemy equipment. The gold mined out will be smelted and purified directly on the island; oh, by the way, you will do it again. Find a way to get a set of oil refining equipment and send it to the island. If you are short of money, just go to Tianxia Bank to pick it up." He Qiu frowned: "Gold, silver, copper and iron, they all belong to the government..." Song Che said: "That's why I came to you. You are the prefect of Suzhou, and you represent the official family to do things easily." He Qiu shook his head,
"I understand what you mean. You want to seize the gold mine privately. If you are investigated and punished, this will be... but a serious crime that will be executed." Song Che said: "Stop scaring people, Shedao is overseas and does not belong to Daliang. Territory, and besides, Huainan and the two Zhejiang naval divisions all have my people, and everything will be fine." He Qiu thought for a moment before asking: "You have to tell me what the purpose of doing this is."
"I'm investing in war." Song Che said: "Didn't you say we should do something? I'm just doing it. War needs food, money, and weapons; Dijon attacks Liang from three routes. If they attack Liang from Hebei Landing with Jingdong and crossing the Yellow River, we can reach Jiangnan within three days. You don't expect us old soldiers from Jiangnan to resist the Dijon cavalry, do you? We need to recruit troops and horses in advance, prepare weapons and food, and prepare for the future war. Prepare."
"You think that Daliang's army is too weak. What if Dijon is repulsed?"
"What if, one in ten thousand, look at you, subconsciously I feel that it is impossible to repel Dijon." Song Che stood up, patted He Qiu on the shoulder, and warned: "You don't have money to build roads. I donated ten thousand taels without saying a word. If you don’t have a wife, I will marry my sister to you. Ask yourself, brother-in-law, when have I ever cheated you? Be obedient and do as I say." He Qiu cheered up and said Song Che held his hand and hummed softly: "Don't say that all the credit belongs to you. The reason why Suzhou City is so good is mostly due to me."
"Hahaha... If you continue to maintain this temper, I can definitely say that you will become the prime minister in the future." Song Che laughed and walked out of the study.
...A few more peaceful days passed. In the excitement of family reunions, people seem to forget that there is still a war in the north.
"Dijon has broken through! Dijon has broken through!" There was an uproar early in the morning. This day has finally come.
only
These four words "Dijon breaks the pass" completely kill all the joy. In the spring of the second year of Jianxing, on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the Dijon Middle Road army took the lead in breaking through Feihu Pass. One hundred thousand cavalry drove straight in, heading straight from Hebei Road to Beijing.
The south of the Yangtze River is far away from the north, and it was already the ninth day of the first lunar month when I learned the news of breaking the customs. After three days of delay, how far could Dijon attack the city?
On the day he learned the news, Song Che went straight to Yangzhou. From the mouths of the refugees fleeing from the north, they learned that Dijon had gone all the way south, killing all humans and animals wherever they went. Now that Jizhou had been conquered, Beijing was in danger.
As for Daliang, it seems that he was
The "blitzkrieg" was in vain and no effective response was made.
"Brother Jiang, according to your plan, led 60,000 troops to Xuzhou two days ago. Counting the days, it should have arrived." Liao Heng asked again in front of the private room window of Fuman Inn, "What should we do now?" Song Che whispered one word: "Wait."
"What are you waiting for?"
"Dijon has captured Jizhou. According to this speed, Beijing will be captured in three days at the latest. Once it crosses the Yellow River, Tokyo will be besieged." Song Che paused and then said: "When then, in the name of the prince, you will In the name of coming to Beijing to serve the king, he openly recruits troops and buys horses to win over people's hearts."
"Then what?"
"Better wait."
"What are you waiting for?"
"Wait until you have enough soldiers and armor, wait until the hearts of the people turn to you, wait until Dijon breaks the capital!" Song Che said: "At that time, the world will be terrified, and there will be a cry: 'A family cannot be without a master for a day, and a country cannot be without a king for a day.'" I will take the opportunity to welcome you to the throne again."
"What...and then?" Liao Heng's voice was trembling. Song Che said with a smile: "We can't wait any longer. The emperor will personally march on the battlefield, with the hope of all the people, and the strength of the whole country, to drive out the Tartars, regain the mountains and rivers, unify the world, and achieve hegemony!"
"Brother Song..."
"Don't get excited yet. Hold your breath, lest the plan fails to keep up with the change."
"Da da da..." There was a knock on the door.
"Brother-in-law, a group of beauties came outside the inn, saying they came to see you." Shen Fang informed outside the door.
Song Che glanced at Liao Heng: "Go through the back door." Liao Heng nodded and left the private room. After a while, Nangong Yue and Lu Jingxiang brought a middle-aged man into the private room and then closed the door.
"Master Gao, you're fine." Song Che greeted warmly. Gao Chen frowned: "Mr. Song, what do you mean by this? Why did you tie me to Yangzhou?" Song Che said: "Now that Dijon has broken through, the situation in the north is dangerous, Master Gao has been kind to Song, and Song I couldn't bear to see Mr. Gao get into an accident, so I made a little plan and invited you to Yangzhou."
"Absurd!" Gao Chen shouted: "It is precisely because of the emergency in the north that I have to stay in the capital. Do you think Gao is the kind of person who runs away from battle?"
"Sir, please don't be angry. I invited you to Yangzhou not to let you escape, but Song is already aware of the general trend of the world," Song Che said sincerely: "Since the emperor decided to move the capital and break the alliance with the Xiqiang, The outcome of Dijon's occupation of the north is irreversible. If Mr. Gao is truly loyal and patriotic, he might as well follow my strategy and guard Xuzhou. First stabilize the south, and then try to restore the Central Plains and the north in the future." Gao Chen frowned: "But the emperor Your Majesty is still in the capital——"
"No, the emperor will be in Jiangnan soon." Song Che stared directly at Gao Chen. He was a smart man and should understand what he meant.
"Loyalty to the king can be loyal to many kings. Patriotism can only love one country. Therefore, patriotism is more important than loyalty to the king. Are you right, Mr. Gao?" Song Che asked again.
Gao Chen gritted his teeth, punched the table with his fist, and cursed: "It's all the fault of Taishi Jia and his gang of sycophants who have killed thousands of people!"
"Come here." Song Che called softly. The female swordsman walked into the private room. Song Che turned his back, waved his hands slowly, and ordered softly: "Send Lord Gao to Xuzhou to fight alongside General Jiang."
"yes!"……
