Yue Rong traveled day and night and arrived in Tokyo without stopping. He went to the Prime Minister's Office, informed him of his intention, and took out the marshal's handwriting. The guard at the door asked to come in. Yue Rong entered the prime minister's house. A servant took Yue Rong to Kou Zhun's study. Entering the study, Master Kou was not seen, but suddenly he saw a big man in white, with a majestic appearance, lingering in the study to wait. Yue Rong recognized this person at a glance as Guan Canghai, a gambler at Tianmen in Hangzhou City and an arrogant warrior at Jingchan Mountain.
For a time, Yue Rong's blood boiled and she was full of passion. The scene of the three of them struggling to kill the enemy at the foot of Jingchan Mountain reappeared before their eyes. Yuerong couldn't help but called out in surprise: "Brother Guan!"
Guan Canghai also noticed Yuerong's arrival early and said happily: "Brother Xiao!"
The two of them came together by chance. Guan Canghai patted Yuerong on the shoulder happily and said, "Good brother, long time no see!"
Yuerong also sighed with emotion: "Brother, it's been a long time indeed!" Yuerong added: "But now that I see you, your elder brother is still the same, and his style is still the same. It's really comforting to my heart."
Guan Canghai said with an appreciative smile: "How many trials and tribulations have made Brother Xiao a good man now. Looking at Brother Xiao's heroic deeds today, he is really different from what he was back then!"
Yuerong smiled and said: "Thanks to the help of my friends in the martial arts world, my little brother has been able to escape the catastrophes of life and death, and I have the opportunity to see my elder brother again. Recalling my trip with you that day, I made my little brother have the blood of a man, and his heart to serve the country will remain unswerving until death."
Yuerong said again: "To be honest, I am here to meet Lord Kou for the military situation ahead."
Guan Canghai said: "I have just returned from Lin'an. Tianmen Gambling Guoxingnan has already shown its fox tail, and King Chai is even more ready to make a move. The war is about to break out."
Yuerong sighed: "What's even more incredible, does eldest brother know who the Khitan escort leader was who was escorting the escort truck at the foot of Jingchan Mountain that day?"
"Who?" Guan Canghai asked.
Yuerong said: "This person is Xiao Talan, the pioneer of the Liao Kingdom who attacked our army outside Chanzhou City." Yuerong said again: "I didn't expect that letting him go for a moment would lead to today's disaster."
Guan Canghai nodded and said: "Xiao Talan, let's compete on the battlefield tomorrow!"
The two of them were reminiscing about old times when they saw a tall man coming into the study. This man was born with a majestic and magnificent appearance. When Guan Canghai saw him, he hurriedly bowed and paid homage. He also saw the moon. The person who came was Kou Zhun, the prime minister of the dynasty.
When Yue Rong saw it, he couldn't help but secretly sigh: "If it weren't for Mr. Kou, who in the government and the public would have such an upright and upright aura." Although Yue Rong has never met him.
, but just by looking at his awe-inspiring loyalty and the magnanimity and uprightness of his eyes, one knew that the person coming was none other than Lord Kou.
Kou Zhun smiled and asked the two of them to excuse themselves. Guan Changhai introduced Xiao Yuerong's intention to Kou Zhun. Yuerong personally handed Marshal Yang's letter to Master Kou. Yuerong said: "The war ahead is tense, please make your decision."
Kou Zhun was calm and composed, and said with a calm smile: "Today is the only day, and I have already received five urgent letters from the border!"
Yuerong said: "The matter is extremely urgent. I wonder if you have any good ideas?"
Kou Zhun smiled happily and acted as if nothing had happened, and said: "It's nothing to worry about the Liao soldiers. I will tell you tomorrow that the army will march into Chanzhou and repel the Liao army." Then Kou Zhun asked Guan Canghai: " I wonder what’s going on in Lin’an?”
Guan Canghai said: "King Chai recognized the thief as his father and demolished all obstacles for Yelv Xingnan in the city of Hangzhou. He was planning to do something wrong."
Kou Zhun nodded and said confidently: "In the coming days, internal and external troubles will be eliminated." He then ordered his servants to prepare wine and food, and wanted to have a drink with Guan Canghai and Yuerong.
Yuerong was anxious when she saw Master Kou planning to entertain her family. She thought to herself: "In the face of a formidable enemy, Master Kou is so elegant. It's really amazing. I'm afraid I can't learn from such an open-minded mind."
It was already dark, and the moonlight showed that the lights in the prime minister's mansion were brightly lit, and the servants coming and going were refreshed and happy. The study room was even more brilliantly lit by candles and well-equipped with wine and food. Lord Kou was chatting and laughing happily, and when he felt up to it, he even composed a poem to cheer him up.
Yuerong sighed to herself: "Is this really the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty who is facing internal and external troubles? Is this really the Prime Minister Kou who can save the Song Dynasty from crisis?" Yuerong couldn't believe what she was seeing. Although she firmly believed in Master Kou's character, he still felt a little wary in his heart.
After the banquet was over, Kou Zhun said to Yuerong: "Today, I will invite Xiao Yishi to rest in the Prime Minister's Mansion. After the meeting tomorrow, the Prime Minister will come back with his own edict." Yuerong then lived together with Guan Canghai in the Prime Minister's Mansion. It was very emotional to talk about the encounters after parting ways.
In the early morning of the next day, all the civil and military ministers gathered in the court. Commander Kou informed Zhenzong of Chanzhou's urgent situation and presented yesterday's letter and five memorials from Marshal Yang. After Zhenzong read the memorials one by one, they all said that Chanzhou was in crisis, and he felt that Long Yan was dim. Regarding the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty: "Today the Empress Dowager Chengtian and the Emperor of Liao are on a personal expedition to intimidate the Song Dynasty. Do you have any good strategies for retreating from the enemy?"
After hearing Zhenzong's words, all the civil and military officials in the dynasty were in panic. Some officials proposed to give the Liao people more than two pieces of silver and negotiate peace with them. Just teach the Liao people to retreat. Some officials even proposed moving the capital to Jinling. Wang Qinruo, a political advisor, proposed to take the capital to Chengdu to avoid war.
Kou Zhun opposed all opinions and strongly advocated fighting. Zhen Zongdao said: "Marshal Yang made it clear in his letter that not fighting would only fuel the arrogance of the Liao people. Although moving the capital would ensure peace for a while, it is a pity that once Chanzhou is defeated, our door will be wide open, and the Liao soldiers can march straight in. It was not just Chanzhou that was lost, but probably the entire Song Dynasty!"
Kou Zhun continued righteously: "What's more, your Majesty moved the capital and put the safety of the people at risk. Wouldn't it make the people suffer and the lives of the people be ruined?"
Kou Zhun looked at Wang Qinruo and his ministers with anger, and said seriously: "Anyone who dares to talk about moving the capital will be killed without mercy." Wang Qinruo and the officials listened silently, but they held a grudge.
Zhenzong said: "According to your words, how should we retreat from the enemy?"
Kou Zhun said: "The king of Chai raised troops and horses privately, colluded with thieves, and committed rebellion. We should first send King Chai's 50,000 troops to Tokyo to guard them in order to weaken the threat to your majesty. From now on, we should quickly send 150,000 troops from Tokyo to Chan." The state is here to help in the battle to meet urgent needs, and we must not delay Marshal Yang’s life.”
Prime Minister Bi Shi'an also reported: "What Mr. Kou said is absolutely true. The situation is urgent. Please send troops to respond to the enemy quickly."
Zhenzong saw that the two prime ministers were loyal and remonstrated, so he agreed and ordered the Privy Council to immediately mobilize troops, and ordered the Privy Council to speed up their schedule and lead troops to Chanzhou.
When Kou Zhun saw that Zhenzong had finished allocating his troops and was about to retreat, he admonished him: "I have not yet reported to Your Majesty the best strategy for retreating from the enemy." Zhenzong asked what the best strategy was.
Kou Zhun said: "Your Majesty, please take charge of the expedition personally. We can defeat the Liao thieves without a long battle."
Zhenzong was shocked when he heard this. He was accustomed to living comfortably in the palace and the temple, and his hobby was dancing and writing. He had never seen a sword fight since he was a child. How can he gallop on the battlefield like Taizu and win the world? Therefore, after listening to Kou Zhun's words, he wanted to leave the dragon bed and the phoenix bed and go to the front to suffer the hardships of war. How could Zhenzong be willing?
However, Kou Zhun was upright in managing the affairs of his family and country. He was naturally tired of Kou Zhun's timidity, so he declined and said, "How can I go?"
Kou Zhun said bluntly: "All the soldiers have sacrificed their lives and are eager for the encouragement of Long Live. What's more, the Liao Shengzong has traveled thousands of miles to invade. People can commit ninety-five lives, why can't my Lord?"
Zhenzong knew Kou Zhun's character, so how could he refute his straightforward words? Therefore, Zhenzong pretended to be evasive for a moment and declined: "This matter - let me think twice about this matter and discuss it again in the future." After saying that, Zhenzong stood up and wanted to leave.
Seeing that Zhenzong wanted to escape, Kou Zhun hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, please wait!" He had already greeted Zhenzong when he spoke, and persuaded him bitterly: "The country is in danger at this time, how can your majesty refuse. Please agree to the old minister's proposal, Chanzhou The difficulty can be solved soon."
Zhenzong looked helpless and said: "Kou Aiqing, I will follow your advice!"
Kou Zhun said: "The safety of the world depends on this. I hope your Majesty will prepare to set off quickly without any delay."
Zhenzong felt that Kou Zhun was forcing himself on him everywhere and was suffocating him, so he wanted to get rid of his entanglement first. So he responded helplessly: "Okay, I will just follow your words." After saying this, he withdrew from the court in dismay...
Kou Zhun saw that Zhenzong was just coping with the situation and had no sincere intention to go to war, so his family was still very upset. Even if Zhenzong stopped conquering Chanzhou in person for one day, Kou Zhun's desire to persuade him to fight would never go away.
When I returned to the prime minister's residence, I saw Xiao Yuerong and Guan Canghai waiting in the study. The two asked about the situation of the saint. Kou Zhun then told the court affairs from the beginning. Yue Rong and Guan Canghai both looked happy. Yuerong was sincerely convinced and said secretly: "Master Kou, it is indeed Master Kou!"
So Yuerong said: "Your Majesty has approved the dispatch of reinforcements. Now that the siege of Chanzhou can be lifted, the common people should return to Chanzhou to pay their respects to Marshal Yang as soon as possible to comfort the morale of the army."
Kou Zhun said with a smile: "Xiao Yishi has worked tirelessly for important matters for his family and country. Thank you very much!"
Yue Rong thanked him and said: "This is the hard work of ordinary people. It is the great fortune of ordinary people to be able to contribute a small amount to their family and country."
Kou Zhun nodded happily and said: "Go back to Chanzhou and take me with you to greet Marshal Yang: The crisis of the country depends entirely on the loyalty of the Yang family to defend our territory. Kou has done a great job in offering his heart and soul to the people of the world."
Yuerong obeyed the order, took Lord Kou's blunt words to heart, and returned to Chanzhou City on a fast horse without further delay.
