Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"I'd like to ask you, you can just write a letter with them."

"It's my first time writing, I'm afraid I won't be able to write well."

"Are you afraid that you can't write some characters?"

"No, no... just because I'm afraid I can't write well..."

Defang smiled and patted Baili, "Okay, thank you for your hard work, my chief manager Baili. After they enter the palace, I will do other things for a month or two to get familiar with them. Then I will see who is good to arrange. Don't worry. This king will reward you, Baili."

"Thank you lord!"

At the end of the first month, Emperor Taizong decided to conquer Yanyun from the north, and appointed Cao Bin to deploy the horsebu land and water capital of the former army in Youzhou camp, Cui Yanjin to deploy as the deputy capital; Depart; Tian Zhongjin deploys for Dingzhou.In a few days, Taizong dismissed Li Zhi as the minister of the Ministry of Rites on the grounds of illness because he obstructed the Northern Expedition.

Above the Golden Palace, Wang Jien yelled to go down, the officials stepped out of the hall, Defang walked down the imperial steps and came to Li Zhiqian, "Deputy Prime Minister..."

"Your Majesty, I have ceased to be the servant of the Ministry of Rites."

"How can I put it this way? Physical illnesses require more recuperation. Your Majesty... is also for the good of Mr. Li. Only after recuperating his health can he share the worries and manage affairs for His Majesty."

"The lower official knows that the lord is consoling, maybe the lower official is thinking too much. I am afraid that no one else in the court can listen to the official except the lord."

"Lord Li, the matter has come to this point, so don't think too much, but now I can only offer advice on the Northern Expedition, and hope that the day when Yanyun can be recovered is not far away."

"What the prince said is what he said"

"Lord Li must have many good strategies to stabilize the country. If you don't think this king is stupid, this king really wants to ask the deputy prime minister for some government affairs."

"My lord has been exalted." Li Zhi cupped his hands, "I would like to offer my humble opinion to my lord."

"Then I would like to thank Master Li, and thank you for the people of Song Dynasty, Master Li, a good official who has worked hard for his family and country."

"My lord..."

Defang held Li Zhi's arm, "Let's not talk about this, the king is also rushing back to the mansion, Mr. Li, let's go back separately, please"

"My lord please"

In February, because Tian Zhongjin marched smoothly and quickly returned to the imperial court, he thought it was the right time to recover the border cities at this time, so the imperial court ordered Pan Mei to be deployed in Yunzhou, Yingzhou, and Shuozhou, and Yang Jiye to be deployed as the deputy capital. He led the army to send troops from Yanmen to Liaobian Pass.In the same month, Li Jiqian, a party member, surrendered to Liao. Liao appointed him as the Jiedu envoy of the Dingnan Army and the governor of Xiazhou's military forces; Li Jichong, Li Jiqian's younger brother, was appointed as his deputy envoy.

In March, the Song army marched rapidly, and news of the battle was frequent. The governor of Youzhou deployed Cao Bin to lead his army to start a fierce battle with the Liao army in the south of Gu'an City, and conquered Gu'an city a few days later; the governor of Dingzhou deployed Tian Chongjin to defeat the Liao army north of Feihu; Zhouzhou, Yingzhou, and Shuozhou all deployed Pan Mei to lead the army from Xixing to attack the Liao territory. After several days of fighting, the Liao army was defeated again. Lu Song army continued to attack north, Zhao Yanxin, governor of Huanzhou, took the initiative to surrender the city to the Song army; within a few days, Cao Bin defeated the Liao army in the east of Zhuozhou, took advantage of the victory to attack the north gate of Zhuozhou, and captured Zhuozhou two days later; Immediately taking advantage of the situation to surround Shuozhou, Zhao Xizan, the defender of Shuozhou, opened the city and surrendered.

The frontier war report came to Beijing every day, and all the officials and people at home and abroad were delighted. Taizong was even more delighted, and ordered to reward the soldiers of the Northern Expedition. In the early court, all the ministers praised their merits. Defang was not used to listening to flattery, but Looking at the good news, he was also in a good mood. In the past few days, Taizong also left the court early, and summoned important officials to discuss the next step of marching with the Chongzheng Palace.