Became a feudal lord in the late Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 289 Fairy Game
On the bank of the Yellow River's most turbulent current, only the sound of a crashing wave could be heard. Zhao Gou stood with his hands behind his hands, feeling the cold wind blowing towards his face.

It's very cool, but it makes people feel clearly about their surroundings.

Behind Zhao Gou, more than a dozen generals stood quietly. When Zhao Gou turned around, one general said: "I heard that 300,000 forbidden troops have gathered in Bianjing, and the imperial court has sent edicts to all directions. "King Qin."

"Three hundred thousand"

Zhao Gou chuckled and said, "It would be great if the imperial court can muster 30,000 people to defend the city now."

"It is difficult for an official to defeat a 30,000-strong garrison. Our army now only has more than 50,000 troops. We are short of money and food, so we can only rely on the support of Yan and Han in the north. Once time is prolonged, it will still be detrimental to our army."

Six years ago, the people of Song Dynasty transported money and food to Liu Ling and asked him to defend against the Kingdom of Jin and the stability of Yan. In fact, they wanted to let him bleed.

Six years later, Liu Ling transported money and food to the Song people and asked them to go south to attack their Bianjing. The purpose was still to shed the blood of the Song people.

There is an idiom that says drinking poison to quench thirst, and Zhao Gou is doing the same now. He knows that Liu Ling is not well-intentioned, but he has only two options at the moment. Either accept Liu Ling's help and fight this battle for him, or be sent back by an edict. Bianjing, even if he doesn't die, will definitely end up under permanent house arrest for the rest of his life.

It's just a knife to stretch one's head and shrink one's head, just take a bite before death.

He waved his hand, but no one among the generals moved away. Even Liu Guangshi stood there honestly.

The sound of the Yellow River is too loud and the distance is so far away. Who can hear what the old man on the high platform is saying.

It's understandable if you don't understand military matters, but you can always do arithmetic, right?

Zhao Gou looked at Liu Guangshi carefully, a trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

When Hebei was about to be in chaos at first, the imperial court used Liang Fangping to take the lead and mobilized troops from all over the country in an attempt to forcibly station troops in Hebei to eliminate this top-down crisis. However, in the First Battle of Hebei, Yue Fei traveled hundreds of miles to attack Daming Mansion. As a result, Liang Fangping abandoned the city and fled, and the entire imperial army was wiped out.

Earlier, the seven states in northern Hebei were ceded to Liu Ling. Fortunately, Liu Ling's attention now seems to be in the Guanlong area. Zhao Gou feels that he can gain a foothold in Hebei and look for opportunities to slowly push Liu Ling in the future.

Liu Guangshi's luck can't be said to be bad, it can only be said that it's a bit disappointing. After all, he didn't do anything outstanding from beginning to end.

Liu Guangshi's miscellaneous troops were bound to collapse first in the field battle, but they were very familiar with this kind of killing and stealing. What's more, with the help of the Hebei family who finally regained their reputation, Zhao Gou could barely control the entire Hebei.

General Liu, I ordered your troops to capture the Jujube City in the north of the capital within five days without any mistakes! "

Immediately, Liu Guangshi, who was no longer very young, stepped out and bowed to Zhao Gou under the different looks of everyone.

Zhao Gou put away his thoughts, looked at Liu Guangshi, and ordered: "Bianjing may send troops to attack at any time today. I have divided my troops to garrison various strategic points, but if we want to continue to move south and defend ourselves, there is a lack of a place in the south. It is convenient to continue marching in Tunliang.

But this official's current prestige is still a bit high. Most of the generals in front of him killed the city guards in response to Zhao Gou. The interests of both parties have long been tied together.

Bianjing.

These are dressed in black and white, probably to symbolize yin and yang. There are men and women, but it is obvious that the leader is an old woman with white hair. She is wearing tattered clothes, and between the two women With help, he walked to the high platform and sat down.

Zhao Gou replied, pointing to the Yellow River next to him.

All the generals suddenly looked shocked and looked at each other, seeing the stunned expressions on each other's faces.

But not long after, Zhao Gou sent someone to find him and expressed his beautiful vision of "cooperation between both parties."

Immediately, Zhao Gou began to mobilize other generals. After conveying the orders respectively, Zhao Gou nodded with satisfaction and said: "I am very relieved to have you all helping me. When I enter Bianjing, you will all be honored!"

"If King Qin from all directions does not have the troops, this battle will not be fought!"

"Where is Liu Guangshi?"

"General, I have met the official family."

"The money, food, and soldiers from the big men in the north will be transported continuously. On the baggage and food road, you can rest assured. I know that the soldiers are fighting hard, and you will not be missing in money and food. I have only one request, and that is to delay!"

Above the high platform, the old woman suddenly raised her hoarse voice and said in a sharp voice: "Please help our army win a great victory, Queen of the Yellow River! If the emperor is victorious, he should repay his wish with a hundred boys and girls!"

Doing this before the war would probably boost morale, but if the lower-level soldiers could be deceived by these things, how could middle- and high-level officers not know how ridiculous this move was.

There was a high platform standing on the bank of the Yellow River, which was obviously just built. After Zhao Gou stopped talking, a group of people from the other side immediately climbed onto the high platform.

"The general will obey the order!"

Zhao Gou was not a fool. He screened out a group of veterans to prevent generals from defecting after he handed over military power to them. Most of the generals in front of him were middle-aged or even young people, and they at least had a sense of wildness in their hearts. Son.

"Drag slowly."

"What is she doing?"

At the end of the team, a young general asked in a low voice. The colleague next to him shook his head, and then replied in a low voice: "Probably at the River Sacrifice?"

Anyway, Zhang Xiaochun's whole family is dead, and the blame is on everyone's back, and no one can escape. If this battle is defeated, the court's liquidation should not be half-hearted.

Now 50,000 soldiers and horses are attacking, and they are facing a Bianjing and 30,000 useless defenders. They have to wait until the soldiers and horses of King Qin from all directions arrive. By then, the court may really have gathered another 300,000 troops, and 50,000 will fight against three. One hundred thousand, one against six per person, everyone takes the lead?

Liu Guangshi was trapped in Dezhou City at that time. He was naturally afraid that the Hebei Army would take advantage of the situation and swallow up his side, so he then desperately recruited defeated soldiers and thieves to form an army and used as much force as possible to bluff people.

Six years ago, Liu Ling was just a commoner in Yanland, and he could still make a fortune by fighting. He was a nobleman of Tianhuang in the Song Dynasty, and he owned half of Hebei. The situation he faced when he started was countless times better than Liu Ling.

"This"

Immediately, she faced the Yellow River and began to pray devoutly.

Because there is a more important "ritual" next.

He is no worse than that Yan thief!

Yue Fei is still far away in Hedong, and God knows whether he will come back.

Although his favorite candidate is not the other party, Liu Guangshi was born in a general, and having such a general's disciples join him will definitely attract more people with the same status.

Liu Guangshi had no choice. He originally thought that Zhao Gou had taken control of Hebei. Who knew that the damned King Kang actually had a hand in the matter, and waited until Liu Guangshi's soldiers were tricked into saying that he needed his help to seize power.

The situation in the city is no longer what it was six years ago. The Central Forbidden Army died in batches in the north. Even the common people in the countryside know that their army is constantly losing battles. The truth about how the imperial court got Yan Yun back six years ago has long been known. spread out.

As Zhao Mingcheng walked on the street, he could see and hear uneasy voices and faces everywhere, but he turned a deaf ear to it. Finally, he stood in front of a fur shop, and his eyes were filled with the scene from six years ago.

The character of the King of Han has always been guaranteed, and it has not changed at all even after six years. Zhao Mingcheng settled his wife in Yandi, and every month he received letters from Yandi, which he could identify as his wife's handwriting. letter.

Even though Li Qingzhao was dissatisfied with her husband in her letters, she often admitted in her letters that the living conditions provided to her by the King of Han were indeed excellent.

No matter where he was, he could receive this kind of family letter on time every month. This must have involved a certain amount of financial, manpower and material resources. It can be seen clearly that the king of Han was indeed willing to spend money.

In contrast, what about the official family? On the surface, Zhao Mingcheng was the first local official in Hebei to voluntarily turn to the imperial court. The officials only gave him a first-level false position and then put him aside, which was obviously a sign of distrust.

The shopkeeper of the fur shop noticed Zhao Mingcheng and immediately shouted: "We brought in high-quality wolf skins today. Can the guests come in and take a look?"

"Are you a good guy?" Zhao Mingcheng said calmly, as if he had said it countless times.

"Yes, one horse costs fifteen guan."

"It's a bit too expensive."

"Then come in and take a look, there are cheap ones."

"Ah"

This is called the joint code,

Zhao Mingcheng thought it was funny at first, but later at night when people were thinking quietly, he realized with horror that there were too many daily conversations like this in Bianjing, and they would not attract attention at all.

In addition to himself, how many details did the King of Han bury in Bianjing?
He stepped into the fur shop and followed the shopkeeper into the back room. The latter immediately took out a letter and handed it to him, and said diligently: "There are also two sets of fox fur coats prepared outside. Please give me your respect, sir. Come on when you go out." Take it with you.”

"it is good."

Zhao Mingcheng is not polite. This fur shop can only sell a small number of goods each time, and has few repeat customers. The inventory is also very limited, and sometimes you even have to "make a reservation".

But as the saying goes, there will be no war for three years but three years of war. The fox fur jacket that Zhao Mingcheng wanted to take away when he left was worth a minimum of two hundred guan, which was already a real sky-high price.

People in Bianjing City are either rich or wealthy. It was obviously a deal that was deceived by fools, but everyone seems to be okay with it. Every time they buy a set of clothes from this fur shop, they are used to meet relatives during the New Year and festivals. It feels good to wear it when visiting guests.

He rubbed the fire seal on the letter and asked, "Is there any news from home?"

"The head of the family said that Mr. Zhao is staying well in Bianjing and doing what he was told before. Except that he must prevent the Song Dynasty from breaching the Yellow River's embankment, he believes that Mr. Zhao can judge other matters."

"understood."

Zhao Mingcheng nodded, thought for a while, and said: "Recently, the capital has ordered King Qin. The Hebei army has crossed the Yellow River. The two armies may start fighting in the near future. When can I go back?"

A man from the Song Dynasty, in the capital city of the Song Dynasty, could not sleep peacefully day and night. After all, he did this kind of thing. In his dreams, he would occasionally dream of a group of wolves and tigers from the Imperial City's officials smashing him apart. In front of his house, he dragged himself and his wife to Caishikou and quartered their bodies on five horses.

"The head of the family said there is no rush."

"It's been almost three years."

The smile on the shopkeeper's face deepened. Although he said nothing, Zhao Mingcheng clearly saw the expression on his face: "What if I keep you for another three years?"

But there is no other way. Compared with the official family, the Yan people can even be said to be kind. In addition to passing on family letters, the Yan people can help Zhao Mingcheng find any epigraphic catalogues, famous calligraphy and paintings that Zhao Mingcheng wants at any cost.

"gone."

"You walk slowly."

Zhao Mingcheng picked up two fox fur coats with some hints. There were several servants from wealthy families outside. When they saw him walking out carrying the furs, their eyes shone and they immediately rushed towards him.

"Your Majesty, are you willing to bear the pain and give up your love? My master is going to visit Mr. Cai next month. No matter how much your Majesty paid for it, we are willing to pay double the price."

These people are similar to the "scalpers" of later generations. They say that they belong to a certain family, but in fact they may not know who they will sell it to immediately.

If they dare to quote, they are naturally confident that they can earn back the price.

"Absurd, it's only twice as much?" Someone next to him sneered, and immediately said loudly: "Four times, my master is the prime minister of this dynasty, Wang Xianggong, who dares to fight?"

"Ugh"

Zhao Mingcheng sighed. There was still time anyway, so he quietly watched these people quarreling with red faces and thick necks, bidding desperately against each other.

After a while, a voice suddenly cheered him up.

"My husband is going to visit the current Prime Minister Zhao in three days. He came back from Hebei not long ago!"

When the word Hebei was mentioned, the other people were stunned for a moment.

Are you scared?
The man looked at Zhao Mingcheng proudly, cupped his hands, and said: "If you are willing to cede it, I am willing to pay ten times the price!"

"ten times?"

Zhao Mingcheng smiled and asked, "Why, what exactly did your master ask him to do?"

"Well, your Majesty, don't ask. If you are willing to cede, just pay and deliver."

Zhao Mingcheng shook his head and said: "If there are calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, regardless of the quantity, just bring them to my house to exchange them, antiques and the like are also acceptable."

"This gentleman must have a name and a place to live."

"Your master knows where I live," Zhao Mingcheng said without turning around, "Just say, Zhao Mingcheng."

In the court hall, Zhao Mingcheng was passing the time silently thinking about the trivial matters of the past few days. In front of him, Cai Jing and others started arguing again in the court hall. One side said that they wanted to serve the king, and the other said that they could not serve the king, and they had to find a way to recruit him.

Anyway, many of the hundreds of thousands of Xiang troops in the world were recruited and settled. Naturally, those from Qiu Ba in Hebei Province could also be recruited and settled. Everyone makes money by being harmonious. Who doesn't understand this principle?
"What Mr. Cai said makes sense, and I agree with you!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I think Cai Jing is domineering and insults the officials in public. I ask the officials to bring him to trial as soon as possible!"

"Asshole, is this what you can say to Mr. Cai?"

Seeing the quarrel started again, Zhao Guanjia finally got angry again, hammered the desk in front of him, and said loudly: "Shut up, I already have a perfect way."

Immediately, the court became much quieter, and everyone, including Zhao Mingcheng, immediately looked at the officials.

"I have been patrolling among the people recently, and I have found a divine man who is good at the method of forming an army with six soldiers and six armors."

Zhao Guanjia said coldly:

"If you use your gods to resist the enemy, the Hebei bandit army will definitely be defeated without a fight!"

(End of this chapter)