Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 262

Fan Ning saw a pair of expectant eyes looking at him, so he smiled and said: "I was summoned by the emperor a few days ago, and I also mentioned the issue of fighting with the Liao army and the Xixia army. I think our advantage is the warship and water army. , why don’t you use your own advantages to attack the Liao Kingdom by sea? Or attack Xixia from the Yellow River?”

These two words made everyone look at each other in dismay. This suggestion was really beyond their expectations, and they couldn't imagine what it would be like to fight with a navy.

At this time, Yang Wenguang asked hesitantly: "Is there any successful precedent for this kind of plan?"

"Of course there are successful precedents!"

Fan Ning said to everyone: "Back then, the Sui army attacked Goguryeo on a large scale and lost three times by land, but only the water army led by Lai Huer won the victory. Of course, I don't mean to rely entirely on the water army to fight, but mainly rely on land warfare. Lord, but the navy is an amazing army, it can play a role at the critical moment, thus turning the tide of the battle."

Di Qing shook his head, "There are a lot of complicated factors involved, such as how the land and water sides cooperate, how the two sides rely on to deliver messages, etc. The enemy cavalry can run hundreds of miles a night, and the fighters are fleeting. Even if the navy can break through the enemy The blockade is also very difficult to seize the opportunity, it is really difficult."

Di Qing smiled apologetically at Fan Ning and said: "The navy is still not very practical. I think it should be pragmatic and improve from cavalry and crossbows. It may be difficult to reverse the problem of cavalry for a while, but bows and crossbows should be able to change. The Privy Council and the army The Qijian has already proposed a high reward, and if anyone can solve the big problem of the range and penetration of the bow and crossbow, the reward will be [-] guan."

Di Qing's words made Fan Ning laugh and remained silent. In fact, his starting point was not to fight the enemy, but to destroy the cities and settlements behind the enemy, aiming at the weak points of Khitan and Dangxiang's sparse population, killing and destroying civilians and cities , This is a cruel strategy of drawing salary from the bottom of the pot, and it is estimated that it will not be adopted by the court, so Fan Ning does not want to explain too much at this time.

Fan Ning laughed again: "I would like to ask Mistress Di, has the imperial court offered a reward for solving the problem of war horses?"

"Not yet. Only firearms and crossbows have rewards. Does Governor Fan have a solution?"

"I have made some suggestions to the emperor. I don't know if I can accept them, but the emperor seems very interested. I can't say more about this matter. We will talk about it later when we have the opportunity!"

Fan Ning got up to bid farewell to everyone. At this time, everyone had to go back to the room. Fan Ning walked a dozen steps, but heard someone calling him from behind. When he turned his head, he saw Di Qing hurriedly chasing him. Fan Ning stopped and said with a smile. : "Is there anything else the Privy Envoy has to do?"

"You didn't finish what you said just now, do you really have a way to solve the war horse problem?"

Di Qing heard the meaning of Fan Ning's words. It seems that Fan Ning has a solution to the shortage of war horses in the Song Dynasty. He believes that it must be for this reason that the emperor gave Fan Ning the gold medal for exempting him from summoning. Don't go on, eager to know the answer.

Fan Ning smiled slightly, "Da Song has signed a covenant with Xixia, the war should be over, and the Privy Envoy still cares so much about war horses?"

Di Qing sighed and said angrily: "Don't mention the covenant again, it's really shameful. On the surface, Xixia surrendered to us, and then we gave them the old coins, but I know that Li Yuanhao's statement in Xixia is by no means surrender, but We ask for peace and are willing to use the old coins in exchange for an armistice. The court agrees to negotiate a truce as a last resort. If we can have [-] cavalry, whether it is Xixia or Liao, we will never give any more old coins. At least I, Di Qing I will never agree!"

Fan Ning glanced at Di Qing sympathetically. Historically, Di Qing had been squeezed out by civil officials everywhere since he entered the imperial court.

In the final analysis, it was because Song Dynasty and Xixia signed an armistice covenant, and there was no worry of border wars. Di Qing also lost his value. Naturally, the birds are exhausted and the good bows are hidden. If the suggestion of his horse breeding base can be realized, will that change? Does history also change the fate of this famous historical general?

Thinking of this, Fan Ning said calmly: "It is indeed difficult to find a place to raise horses in the Song Dynasty, but there are overseas. In the north of Japan, there are two uninhabited islands with fertile land thousands of miles away. Grassland, if we win, Da Song will have a base for raising horses, I told the emperor, 20 years later, Da Song will also have a million war horses!"

Di Qing was very excited and grabbed Fan Ning's arm, "Is the plan feasible?"

"It should be feasible. The Song Dynasty has developed sea transportation, and there are large-scale horse transport ships. There are many islands that can be used as transit in the middle of the trip, so that the war horses can rest and recuperate, and avoid the fatigue of long-distance travel."

Di Qing clenched his fists and said, "If that's the case, I would like to ask the emperor to lead an army overseas to open up a horse breeding base in the Song Dynasty."

"This matter needs to be prepared for at least two years. We need to send people to investigate first. I estimate that the privy envoy will go to the south soon. After returning from the campaign, he will apply to the emperor. Maybe the emperor will approve it."

Di Qing froze for a moment, "You mean the rebellion of Nong Zhigao, a barbarian from Yuanzhou?"

Fan Ning smiled slightly, "I heard that Nong Zhigao's rebellion was huge, captured Yongzhou, and threatened Guangzhou. Now Lingnan is in chaos, and the court has been defeated in repeated battles. I think it is better for the Privy Councilor to lead the army to the south than to sit in the court as an official. To counter the rebellion, the value of a privy envoy should be reflected on the battlefield, not in the court, what does Marshal Di think?"

The blood in Di Qing's heart was ignited, and he said with a sigh: "You are right, the battlefield is where I belong. I have been sitting in the court for a long time, and my whole body is about to rot. Tomorrow I will invite the emperor to lead the army to Lingnan to fight the rebellion .”

At this time, Fan Ning asked curiously again: "Is the imperial court really offering a reward of [-] guan for bows and crossbows?"

"Exactly! Could it be that Superintendent Fan is interested?"

Fan Ning smiled slightly and said, "Money touches people's hearts!"

Di Qing still had to meet some officials. He bid farewell to Fan Ning and hurried away. Fan Ning also walked to the front hall. It is estimated that his grandfather Fan Zhongyan and the others were resting in the front hall. As soon as they walked to a small bridge, they met Cao Shi face to face. Come in a hurry.

"Where did senior brother go? I looked for you everywhere." Cao Shi complained a little.

Fan Ning was taken aback, and asked tentatively, "Have you found the reason?"

"I went to check. The No. 17 invitation was originally for Song Xiang, but Song Xiang is not in the capital now, so I canceled it. As for why it was given to you, I haven't found out the reason, but my grandfather wants to see you, so he probably wants to see you. The reason you want to know has something to do with it, so come with me!"

Fan Ning wondered that he and Cao Cong did not know each other. Cao Cong was the patriarch of the rich Cao family and the queen's uncle, and he was only No. 1 in the Children's Department. If he valued himself because of this ranking, why didn't he give the invitation to the number one scholar? Feng Jing?
If he valued himself just because he was exempted from calling for a gold medal, the Cao family would not have enough confidence. Fan Ning believed that it had nothing to do with exempting the gold medal, so what would it be?
Full of doubts, Fan Ning followed Cao Shi to the inner house, walked into a small quiet courtyard, and walked out of the room. It was Cao Shi's father, Cao Yu, who waved and smiled at Fan Ning, "Fan Shaolang is here!" , please come in!"

"excuse me!"

Fan Ning bowed slightly, and followed Cao Cao into the room. This should be a quiet room, except for a few pedestals, there is nothing else, the walls are painted white, not even a picture.

There were three people sitting in the room. Fan Ning only knew the person on the left. He had seen him at the gate. It was Cao Fu, the younger brother of Empress Cao. However, he changed his clothes, no longer military uniform, but a white Confucian robe.

In the middle is an old man with white beard and hair. He should be the 70-year-old birthday star Cao Cong. He looks very strong, with a ruddy complexion and a smile on his face.

Cao Cao stepped forward and introduced to the old man, "Father, this is Fan Ning and Fan Shaolang!"

"It should be Fan Duxue or Fan Guanren. You can't underestimate him." Cao Cong's voice was loud and slow, but his attitude was very sincere.

Fan Ning hurriedly bowed and knelt down to salute, "The younger generation kowtows to the old birthday star, wishing the old birthday star good luck like the East China Sea, and a longer life than Nanshan!"

Cao Cong smiled and waved his hands and said, "Good boy, there is no need to salute, please sit down!"

Fan Ning just sat down on a soft pier. He noticed another person sitting opposite him. His eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Cao Fu's, but his skin was very dark. He was wearing a Taoist robe. He was about 35-[-] years old. He is young, but he has a sense of immortality.

"Could he be Uncle Cao Guo, one of the famous Eight Immortals later?"

At this time, the man in Taoist robes opposite opened his eyes, looked at Fan Ning sharply and asked, "How do you know Ezodi?"

Fan Ning was secretly taken aback. Has this man been to Maoren Island?

Cao Cong quickly waved his hands, "Third brother, don't be rude!"

Cao Cong introduced to Fan Ning again: "This is another nephew of mine named Cao Yu. Although he was an official military governor, he was indifferent to fame and wealth and advocated Taoism since he was a child. He has been traveling outside for 20 years, looking for the holy mountain. Xiandao, even went to sea for several years, a few days ago, there was news from the palace, saying that Governor Fan advised Emperor Jian to raise horses overseas, mentioning the land of Ezo, my nephew is very interested and wants to meet Governor Fan!"

These words made Fan Ning immediately understand three things. First, the Cao family never gave up the interests of the palace. Only two eunuchs could hear what he said to the emperor Zhao Zhen. One is the eyes and ears of the Cao family.

Second, this Cao Yi must have been to Japan, to Hokkaido, which is Ezo;

Thirdly, it’s not that Cao Yi is interested in this place, but the Cao family is interested in this place, which even involves the major interests of the Cao family. This is the real reason why the Cao family gave themselves the No. 17 invitation .

(End of this chapter)