The Song Dynasty has been deliberate for 16 years, only to know that it is the Water Margin

In the blink of an eye, the new year is approaching, and Zhao Tong plans to return to Xining Prefecture to celebrate the New Year.

Taking Yuan Jing and Xiao Zhaoxun with them, they returned to Qingtang on the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month. The house was already decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and it was full of joy.

After introducing Yuan Jing and Xiao Shiro, they arranged their accommodation until New Year's Eve arrived.

On the morning of the 29th, the palace became even more lively, but Zhao Tong received a letter from the border between Song and Jin Dynasties.

The letter was sent by someone from Zongze, who was serving as the transshipment envoy for Hebei West Road at that time, which was right on the northern border.

After Zhao Tong left Tokyo, Emperor Daojun did not take any action against the people he interacted with. One was that many people had made contributions and were not at fault, so it was difficult to handle. The other was the matter of Zhao Tong's return to Tokyo. Most of the time he has to hide it, and don't do it too obviously. If the outside world knows about it, he will lose his dignity.

Zhao Tong opened the envelope and saw that there were three pages written by Zongze on the sickbed.

Zongze was now nearly seventy years old. He was still in good health, but he was angry because of the Jurchens' seizure of Yanyun. In addition, the Song army was defeated in several repeated attacks. He was so angry that he couldn't feel it for a long time. get well.

Zhao Tong read the letters carefully. They all analyzed the Jurchens' combat strength, troop deployment, and logistics supply lines.

The transfer envoy does not lead troops, and he is not the commander of Hebei West Road. Without military power, no matter how knowledgeable Zongze is in military affairs, it will be useless. The commander of Zhending Mansion cannot listen to him.

He had no backing in the Great Song Dynasty. If Zhao Tao had not gone to Dengzhou to ask for him, he would have been framed and imprisoned in Zhenjiang. It would take several years before he could be released as a minor official collecting wine taxes. How could he be in charge of the Caosi Bureau now? He had the authority, but he also had Zhao Tong behind him to support him.

Originally, if Zhao Tong was here, he would have been able to advance further, but Zhao Tong left Tokyo and immediately became like a lonely duck. When the Jin soldiers attacked Yanyun, he originally submitted a memorial to ask for orders and wanted to go with the army. Later, Yanyun simply refused. No less, Jin Guo put forward three more conditions, from which he realized that the Jurchens had ambitions to go south. He once again tried to persuade the court to be careful, but nothing happened, and there was no news.

The letter ended with Zongze's pleading, saying that if the Jin Kingdom really went south, the current strength of the Song Dynasty would inevitably cause huge losses, and it would be difficult to resist it. If a big change occurred and chaos broke out in the north, he asked Zhao Tao to protect the capital and protect the country. The common people of Song Dynasty.

Zhao Tong sighed after putting down the letter. Zongze was concerned about the country and the people, and his vision and vision made him a hundred times more powerful than those who were in the imperial court, but there was nothing he could do.
The imperial court did not attach great importance to him, and he would soon be serving as an official in his old age. It was impossible for the Daojun Emperor to keep him like his favorite minister and not allow him to leave, so he would probably return home in depression.

And according to time calculation, it seems that Zongze will not live long. I don't know if it is caused by his inherent illness or because the Jin soldiers went south and the north was lost. After regaining Tokyo, Zhao Jiu ignored him in Hangzhou and became anxious and depressed.

After sighing, Zhao Tong couldn't help but think of Li Gang. Li Gang was a loyal minister, a good prime minister, and should be admired by future generations. There is no doubt about this. However, he was sometimes willful and his vision was a little worse. He was not as knowledgeable as Zong Ze, which ultimately led to Some consequences that are difficult to predict and control.

It was Li Gang's suggestion that Emperor Daojun ceded the throne to Zhao Huan. When the Jin army went south, Li Gang presented the Five Strategies of Imperial Army and wrote in blood on his arm, strongly recommending that Emperor Daojun ceded the throne to Prince Zhao Huan.

Li Gang also prevented Emperor Daojun from leaving the city to go to Zhenjiang.

Emperor Daojun had left Tokyo and gone to the south after becoming the Supreme Emperor. It was Li Gang who tricked Emperor Daojun back to Tokyo. Zhao Huan immediately put Emperor Daojun under house arrest.

Li Gang also tried his best to oppose Zhao Huan's move to the capital.

Whether these things are wrong or not depends on the beholder and the wise. Li Gang is somewhat biased.

He underestimated Emperor Daojun and overestimated Zhao Huan.

As a result, his family was directly demoted after the Jinbing siege of Tokyo, and all subsequent plans could not be implemented.

What is a loyal minister? Loyal ministers must be more treacherous than traitorous ministers. Otherwise, loyal ministers will be overthrown before the traitorous ministers fall. How can we talk about protecting the country and the people?

He overestimated Zhao Huan and underestimated the treacherous traitors in the court. As a result, his family was destroyed before all the birds were gone.

He was too upright, and he thought he could always turn the tide, but Zhao Huan actually drove him away and drove him out of Tokyo.

This was all unexpected by Li Gang. He had misjudged Zhao Huan.

So the first battle to defend Tokyo was successful, but the second time he was absent, all his ideas could not be realized, and Zhao Huan made a fool of himself, and the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed.

However, there is nothing to say about Li Gang's loyalty. He lacks strategic vision, but he is strong in other aspects and can be used.

Zhao Tong walked to the window and thought. Li Gang had been recalled to the court as Taichang Shaoqing.

If there were no Jin soldiers surrounding Tokyo and the situation was very critical, then Li Gang probably would not have stood out.

As for whether Jin Bing could reach Tokyo, he was still 100% sure about it, but now it was hard to say.

Because the night before he returned to Xining from Xingzhou, he received a tip from a spy lurking in Shangjing.

The secret report said that recently the Jurchen officials in the capital suddenly made a big move, picking up tall war horses, and even spent money to buy them from the people. Many were also shipped from the north. They also built many iron workshops and hired craftsmen from all over. I don’t know. What are you planning?

Zhao Tong only thought about it for a moment and figured out the reason for the unusual move in Beijing.

A normal southern invasion doesn't have these bells and whistles, and war horses have to pick up tall ones, so it's good to have them, and you have to use them all.

So the reason for the separate selection must be to form a special team. This special team needs tall horses, but what kind of special army must use tall horses?

Combined with the matter of increasing the iron workshop, the official purpose of increasing the iron workshop is to build armor and weapons. However, if the Jurchens take on such a big deal as the Liao Kingdom, the most indispensable thing is armor and weapons, not to mention that the existing iron workshop is not enough. , why do we need to increase so much and hire craftsmen with high wages among the people?

That is to build armor or weapons that are different from the existing ones. They are very special equipment, and the existing iron workshops are simply not enough to complete them.

Tall horses, special armored weapons, the Jurchens are planning to form heavy armored cavalry!
Zhao Tan frowned. Do the Jurchens want to build the Iron Buddha Temple? According to normal development, it will take some time to build this, but now it seems to be ahead of schedule!
Tiefutu was originally Wanyan Zongwang's idea. After Wanyan Zongwang's death, Wanyan Zongbi inherited Zongwang's legacy. It took several years to build it, and then he led the charge into the Southern Song Dynasty several times.

If the Jurchens could build the Tiefutu in advance, then he could not guarantee whether the opponent would be able to reach Tokyo.

Although he has a large army, occupies Hexi, and may be able to lead troops to the Gyeonggi line to advance northward for protection, there are two problems here.

The first is that the army is crossing the border. This is his army. If the Dao Lord and Emperor do not allow it, it is not easy to fight through it at this moment. After all, they are going to save Tokyo, so what's the point of fighting over it? It will make the people of the country even more traumatized.

And when the matter was critical, Emperor Daojun opened his mouth and asked him to come over. By then, I was afraid it was too late, and the Jin soldiers might have already besieged Tokyo.

The second point is still important. If the Iron Pagoda really takes shape and the opponent leads the Iron Pagoda southward, then even if there is no obstacle on our side and we pass ahead of time, is it possible to easily stop the Iron Pagoda? Do we need to use an iron kite to stop it?
But the iron kite is of great use. It cannot be placed on Hedong Road and Hebei Road to intercept Iron Buddha Tu, let alone Gyeonggi Road.

Zhao Tong thought about it over and over, but he had no clue. The Iron Buddha should be the biggest variable. If the other party didn't have the Iron Buddha, everything would be under control. If the other party had the Iron Buddha, then it would depend on the variables.

With the Jurchens in Tiefu Tu, even if Li Gang is in Tokyo, he may not be able to hold on.

If you don't bring Iron Kites with you, it's difficult to intercept them. The best way is to let them in first, and then use them to destroy them. But if you put it in, you put it in, and Tokyo must not lose it!
The next day came New Year's Eve, and Xining City was still very lively this year, because the situation in the west was opened, and a direct passage to Central Asia was opened.

In this way, the depth is expanded, and you can attack when you advance, and defend when you retreat, so you can advance or retreat without any worries.

As usual, Zhao Tong distributed red envelopes to the family and the army, and held a banquet that was lively until midnight. After observing the New Year's Eve, he gradually rested.

The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu, and thousands of households always exchange new peaches for old charms.

In the third year of Jingkang's reign, Xiao Zhao Zhen was six years old, Xiao Zhao Xi was five years old, Xiao Zhao Yi was three years old, and Xiao Zhao Xu and Xiao Zhao Yue were two years old.

They are Dalang, Erlang, Sanlang and Silang, and there is Zhao Xiaoniang.

Early in the morning on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao Tong called all five of them to him. Zhao Zheng was sent by Dafanha sent by Liyanaza. Liyanaza needed to guard the Uighurs and suppress the Eastern Kara Khan, so he did not come during the New Year.

The sophomores and juniors are now able to speak, and they are wishing Zhao Yu a happy new year. Xiao Zhao Yue is learning Chinese, and he can’t speak clearly. Xiao Zhao has not learned anything at all. He just laughs and reaches out to grab the fruit on the table. , and then stuffed it into Zhao Tong's hand.

At this time, Zhao Tong gave gifts, said some auspicious words such as good luck to the family and everything, and then continued to prepare a banquet to celebrate the New Year.

After the seventh day of the Lunar New Year passed, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Because Yandi is far away from Longyou, we cannot wait for the Jurchen news to be delivered before responding, we can only prepare in advance.

Zhao Tong held a meeting with the generals stationed in Hehuang and made powerful remarks. He also asked someone to send a letter to Yao Pingzhong in Xizhou.

After the Xixia soldiers withdrew from Xizhou, Yao Pingzhong led his army back and recovered the place. At this time, Yao Gu and Xin Xingzong were still stationed on the side of Baigou River and had not returned.

There are not too many soldiers in Hehuang at the moment, only tens of thousands. Once an incident occurs in the future, the troops here will be asked to join Yao Pingzhong's troops, and they will count the troops and horses on the south route to rush to Tokyo.

As for Xingqing Prefecture in Hexi Province, they also sent out all the way to aid Tokyo, which was regarded as the Northern Army.

After everything was arranged, Zhao Tong didn't even pass the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so he rushed back to Xingzhou with Yuan Jing and Xiao Zhao Xu.

When they arrived in Xingzhou, they immediately dispatched troops and generals, began to arrange future matters, and then called General Lu to the front hall to discuss matters.

"Weiqing, here's your chance to enter the Martial Arts Temple!"

General Lu was shocked when he heard this. He was not dead yet, so he didn't want to enter a martial arts temple now.

"Your Majesty, is there something unusual going on in the Northeast?"

Zhao Tong nodded, narrowed his eyes and said: "The Jurchen is working on building a heavy armored cavalry, intending to use it as a weapon for the southern invasion."

"Heavy armored cavalry?" General Lu was slightly startled when he heard this: "My lord, heavy armor cannot be made in a moment. Not only do you need special horses and troops, but you also need special armored weapons. Weapons are better to say, but heavy armor is Complex forging technology is required..."

Zhao Tong waved his hand: "Has Wei Qing forgotten the Tielin Army of the Liao Kingdom?"

"Tielin Army?" General Lu suddenly understood after hearing this: "Your Majesty, you mean that Nuzhi obtained the construction method of Tielin Army in Beijing?"

"It should be so." Zhao Tong nodded: "Without the technical methods of the Tielin Army, it would have taken several years for Nuzhi to build a heavy armor, but with these, then... it would take a few months. Done, maybe even faster!”

General Lu immediately began to think deeply after hearing this, and his expression kept changing.

"The information I have received indicates that there were probably unusual movements in Shangjing in October and November last year, but they became more frequent in the twelfth lunar month and could not be covered up. It should be that they have been preparing to create heavy armor."

"Your Majesty, when the opponent doesn't have heavy armor, neither the Western Army nor the Forbidden Army can fight against it. Once they have heavy armored cavalry, I'm afraid it will be like a broken bamboo when they go south!" General Lu immediately took a breath and said: "Your Majesty, you have to send Iron Kites to go there. Welcome?"

Zhao Tong looked at him and slowly shook his head: "I just said that your chance to enter the Martial Temple has come, but you have to rely on this iron kite to achieve success. The iron kite will not be sent to intercept the golden soldiers going south."

"Then what the prince means..." General Lu pursed his lips.

"Since you know, then tell me." Zhao Tong smiled.

"Take this opportunity to make a surprise attack on Huanglong Mansion, kill the emperor's stronghold, destroy the Jurchen lair, and capture and kill Wanyan Wu for begging!"

Zhao Tong smiled slightly and said: "The Jurchen army went south to invade the Central Plains, and the rear is empty. This opportunity cannot be missed, and it will never come back. It will be accomplished in one battle, and it will be completed in one fell swoop!"

"Your Majesty, General Lu is willing to lead troops there to accomplish this wonderful feat!" General Lu was a little excited. He had thought about this plan, but he didn't know who Zhao Tong would send.

After all, this is no better than Ziwu Valley's surprise attack on Xingqing Mansion. The route was shorter, the Xixia army was not very powerful, and the purpose was only to attack Xingzhou City. Although it was also very difficult, in comparison, it was far less direct than this direct attack. The Emperor's Village is even more difficult and dangerous.

Xingzhou is nearly five thousand miles away from Huining. This is only an estimated straight-line distance. If we really rush there and go around mountains and wading rivers, we may not have to cover seven or eight thousand miles.

And once you enter between the white mountains and the black waters, some passes must be removed, instead of just taking Xingzhou as before.

Huanglong Mansion is still more than 400 miles away from Huining. Although going to Beijing can be bypassed quietly, these important towns must be captured. This is the gateway to the south.

And such a long distance and such a complicated march is already an expedition.

"Okay!" Zhao Tong said, "If you accomplish this extraordinary feat, you, Lu Weiqing, will be qualified to enter the Martial Arts Temple!"

"Your Majesty, this, isn't this enough?" General Lu felt a little guilty after hearing this. It's one thing to be arrogant and compare yourself to the sages when you make some achievements, but it's another thing to really be qualified to be ranked alongside the ancient philosophers and ancient generals. .

"Isn't that enough?" Zhao Tong thought for a while, stood up and walked out, followed by Lu Yu.

He glanced at the north and suddenly waved his hand: "Then continue to fight, fight to Kievan Rus, fight to the vast sea, and fight further!"

The vast sea is Lake Baikal in Siberia in later generations, and it is the place where Huo Qubing hit.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" General Lu was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then he was in high spirits and saluted excitedly.

(End of this chapter)