Shao Ling and Niu Gao entered Wang Xiao's hunting hall and saluted together.
Wang Xiaolie said: "I am going back to Xiangyang tomorrow, and there are many political affairs to be dealt with. Councilor Chen will stay in Xinye to help handle military affairs. I have called you here today with a few instructions. You two sit down."
After saying that, he asked Chen Yuyi to come over and sit opposite Shao Ling and Niu Gao.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Accurate news is that Shaanxi's army has begun to gather to prepare for a decisive battle with the Jin army. The Jin army replaced Lou Su with Yu Liduo as the commander of the attack on Shaanxi, and increased its troops to 60,000. Now Liuhe's Wushu is about to Bring 20,000 fine cavalry to Luoyang and prepare to enter Shaanxi."
Niu Gao said: "When Wu Shu arrives in Luoyang, I wonder if he will spy on Dengzhou?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "The war in Shaanxi is imminent, Wushu has no chance to threaten Dengzhou. However, it is only a few days away from Ruzhou, and he is all cavalry, so we have to be on guard. The day I leave Xinye, the three of you Together, prepare the army to march north. The departure time is set for mid-July. The number of soldiers is appropriate to be 30,000."
Chen Yuyi, Shao Ling and Niu Gao said yes together.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Shaanxi has the last fighting force of the imperial court. When assembled, it can threaten Hedong. I heard that the Jin people intend to make Liu Yu a puppet and hand over the border area with our dynasty to him. Before that, the Jin people The army should try its best to defeat Shaanxi and eliminate the threat of Liu Yu. This court is also worried that the Jin army will go south again in the autumn, and intends to let the Shaanxi army take the initiative to attack and attract the main force of the Jin army. Zhang Shu gathered nearly 200,000 troops, and the Jin army counted There are eighty or ninety thousand. This is the biggest battle since Kaifeng Mansion."
Chen Yuyi couldn't help but frown after hearing this: "The outcome of this battle will directly determine the ownership of Shaanxi. If the Privy Council loses, the imperial court will have no army to rescue. If the Jin army takes advantage of the situation and goes south, Sichuan and Shu will be in danger!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "If we lose, we can only use the Qinling Mountains to stop the Jin army. We can't speculate on the imperial government's plans, so there is no need to talk more about this matter. You just need to prepare the army to go north and beware of Wushu. .”
Chen and Yi could tell that Wang Xiaolie had no confidence in this battle. If he is confident, he will concentrate all the troops and go north to Luoyang to coordinate with Zhang Jun's military operations in Shaanxi. Just gathering 30,000 troops is obviously a defense technique.
Of course I have no confidence in Wang Xiaolie in the first battle in Shaanxi. With the Song Army's combat power and current combat readiness level, which is twice that of the Jin Army, it really can't be said to have much of an advantage. Not to mention, there was obviously something wrong with Zhang Jun's command, and the preparations of the Western Army were not completed. Judging from Zhang Jun's appearance, he would not give up until the last bit of the Song Dynasty's family fortune was finished.
What should we do if Shaanxi loses? The Song Dynasty gave up, the Jin Dynasty felt at ease, supported a puppet Liu Yu, and officially entered the stalemate stage. With Wang Xiaolie's current strength, there is no way to change the general trend, he can only follow the trend.
"Besides, there is one more thing." The outcome of the Shaanxi battle has been determined, and Wang Xiaolie does not want to spend too much energy. "The rectification of the military in the past few months now seems to be a failure. That day you said that 90% of the military disapproved. I learned more about it and it is roughly like this. Since it has failed, there is no need to persist in this matter. Keep doing it. The people who do it are tired, and the officers in the army are also tired."
Chen Yuyi looked at Shao Ling and Niu Gao with complicated expressions on their faces. Regarding the failure, Wang Xiaolie's calmness was somewhat surprising. However, Chen Yuyi knew in his heart that if he was so calm, he was afraid that something would happen later.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Failure is not terrible. What is terrible is not knowing why we failed. We cannot do things in a haphazard manner. Whether we succeed or fail, we must make it clear. Let the generals above the commander in the army write an official document. , analyze why it failed. Tell them, don’t fool around. You can write it in any way, but you can’t just find someone from the military and hand it over to deal with it. This is attitude. With a good attitude, even if you are temporarily lacking in ability, you can still learn. , can be cultivated, without attitude there will be no future!”
Seeing Wang Xiaolie's stern tone, the three of them were all frightened and crossed their hands in agreement.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Next, let's start learning from the middle and senior officers in the army. We must first let them understand why I want to rectify it. The same is true for you, too. If you don't understand why, things will not be done well."
Chen and Yi were a little embarrassed. Wang Xiaolie was right. The three of them also didn't understand why Wang Xiaolie was reorganizing. After successive victories against the Jin Army, morale was high. It was time to recruit troops, so why bother?
Wang Xiaolie said: "The most fundamental thing is why our army exists? What are we going to do? If we don't solve this problem, the foundation will not be solid. The faster it develops, the more big problems will occur."
Chen Yuyi said: "The Jin army broke through Kaifeng Mansion, and the two emperors hunted in the north. The people suffered, and half of the country fell. As a people of the Song Dynasty, how could we allow the Jin captives to be so arrogant! It is time to rebel and defend the Tusi people! Observation began with King Qin, Baidu After the war, we have today’s situation! It’s time for the army to inherit this ambition, fight the Jin army to the end, and restore our Central Plains rivers and mountains!”
Looking at Chen Yuyi, Wang Xiaolie nodded: "What you said as a counselor is equivalent to not saying it. The Jin army invaded the south, and the people were devastated. The people suffered from this disaster, so there is nothing wrong with rising up in resistance. Now I am talking about the army, and the foundation is What? Why does it exist? What do you want to do? Or do you ignore this problem and just like the Forbidden Army, are the eagle dogs of the court and the minions of the Holy One?"
Chen Yuyi was stunned for a moment and said, "Is there anything wrong with this?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Obviously I think it is wrong! If it is just the hawk and dog of the imperial court, then after the imperial army suffered a series of defeats, why does our army, which originated from King Qin, exist? If the army is like that, why bother to set up a town? As envoys, it is up to the imperial court to recruit and maintain troops. Or is it because I am coveting the power of envoys and recruiting you into the army to gain my family's wealth?"
Chen Yuyi thought about it and was speechless for a moment. Yes, if that's the case, why did you join the army?
Looking at the three people, Wang Xiaoxian said: "When the country was founded, Taizu's position for the imperial army was not only to defend against external enemies, but also to serve as the emperor's minions internally. Therefore, all the unscrupulous people in the world and those who do not abide by the law were recruited into the army. . What our army wants is good people, and those who are idle are not allowed to join the army. Have you ever thought about why this is?"
Niu Gao said: "Of course good people join the army. They have a morale and are unstoppable on the battlefield!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Yes. But this kind of army is very different from the previous Forbidden Army. So, what is the difference between our army and the Forbidden Army? You have to think about this issue clearly. You think about it clearly, Only then can we explain it clearly to our subordinates, and only then can we explain it clearly to our soldiers. Why was there a rectification a few days ago? It’s related to this. But I didn’t expect that the most basic foundation is still too shallow.”
The three of them looked confused. Wang Xiaolie added: "I started from King Qin, and I am actually a militia. Even now, there is no official designation from the court. This army is actually a militia. Since it is a militia, it cannot be separated from the word "people". I said mine Opinion. We are an army that originates from ordinary people, protects our home and country, and pleads for the people. Our foundation is the people, and our fight is also for the people. This army was born for the people, and will also fight for the people. War! Once separated from the people, the army becomes water without a source, a tree without roots, and loses its combat effectiveness! This is determined by our special experience, and it is also where our future lies!"
Chen Yuyi felt his scalp numb as he listened. After a while, he whispered: "If this is the case, where will the court be located?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Yes, I also ask you, where should the court be placed in this situation? Until now, except for giving me a few empty official titles, the court has not given me a penny or a stone of food. This An army is supported by taxes paid by the people of the eight states. What does the imperial court mean to us? If this continues, how can we unite the soldiers and maintain the combat effectiveness of the army? "
Chen Yuyi said flatly: "As a minister, you should be loyal to the emperor and the country. How can you think of anything else!"
Wang Xiaolie waved his hand: "I know this truth, you know it, and they also know it. But how do you use this truth to convince the tens of thousands of soldiers under your command? Counselor, what I'm talking about is, how to unite the soldiers under your command? Get up and let them fight for their country!"
After saying that, Wang Xiaolie couldn't help but shook his head: "Do you think that telling your soldiers to be loyal to the emperor, patriotic, and to work hard without complaint will make them put life and death aside? They are not fools! There is the greatest truth in the world! What reason? Convincing the soldiers is what I need!"
Chen Yuyi was stunned for a moment. I have never thought about this issue myself. In other words, do we need to think about this issue? When you are alive, you should be loyal to the emperor and patriotic. How can you have other thoughts? But is it appropriate for tens of thousands of people to believe such a sentence?
Shao Ling and Niu Gao are warriors, and warriors' minds are sometimes very simple, especially when the soldiers in the Song Dynasty were generals. Now Wang Xiaolie is his commander. As long as he does not surrender to the Jin people, it is only natural to obey Wang Xiaolie's orders. Not only does this happen to you, but your subordinates should also do this. Suddenly, Wang Xiaolie said that he should use reason to unite the army. Both of them felt that it was a bit unnecessary.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Why should we be loyal to the emperor and patriotic? In the final analysis, it is because of destiny. Zhao and Song Dynasty are the destiny, and they represent the herdsmen of heaven. As subjects, we should naturally be loyal. However, the Jin army invaded the south and the two emperors hunted in the north. Half of China was lost. How to convince others that Zhao and Song are destined by fate? If destiny is in Zhao and Song, how could there be such a disaster? An army with tens of thousands of people cannot do this unless we explain this truth clearly!"
Chen Yuyi took a deep breath. Asked: "Based on observation, what should it be like?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "In my opinion, the destiny is too illusory and it is difficult to convince people. Why? The destiny is high in the sky and is not down to earth. How can the people believe it? At this time, we have no choice but to pull the destiny from the sky. Come down and replace it with the people. Tai swears that God sees himself and the people see, and God listens to the people. How do we know what God sees? How do we think? See through the people's eyes, hear through the people's ears, and come through the people's opinions. Guess what Tianming thinks!”
Chen Yuyi nodded slightly, somewhat understanding what Wang Xiaolie meant.
People often say that the power of kings is granted by heaven, which is the basis of power of ancient Chinese emperors. Where the destiny lies, all people admire it. But at this time, the Zhao family's destiny was faced with many challenges.
The Song Dynasty was founded, and Taizu was followed by Taizong. Although there is an alliance in the Golden Chamber, there are also shadows of candles and the sound of axes. The stories in between may be true or false, and they remain popular among the people of the Song Dynasty for a long time. After the rise of the Jin Dynasty, Jin Taizu collapsed and Jin Taizong ascended the throne. The envoy Xu Kangzong went to congratulate him and unexpectedly discovered that Jin Taizong's appearance was very similar to the portrait of Song Taizu. After returning to Kaifeng, Xu Kangzong told the matter. Therefore, there are rumors that Jin Taizong went south to invade the Song Dynasty because Song Taizu wanted to regain the world after a hundred years. This rumor spread widely, and everyone in the government and the public knew about it. Because Zhao Gou had no children, when he chose his eldest son to succeed him, he specifically chose Taizu. After Zhao Gou ascended the throne, in order to strengthen his legitimacy, he said that he was destined by fate and made up a story about a white horse crossing the river.
Wang Xiaolie's words indicate that Zhao Gou's destiny lies now, and he is not very convincing. Even if he believed it himself, he could not make his tens of thousands of soldiers believe it. This kind of argument cannot be used as the foundation of the army. A new set of principles must be found.
