The first prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 80
Zhao Kuangyin turned and left. He didn't know that after he left, Zhao Xu was standing behind him, watching him leave and he didn't know what he was thinking.

On the first day of the first month of the seventh year of Xiande in the later Zhou Dynasty, that is, the first day of the Lunar New Year in the Gengshen year, everyone came to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor. The new emperor did not change his year name when he ascended the throne, but still used Xiande's year name.

Calling the New Year is a traditional Chinese custom, and it is a way for people to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.What we usually know is that at the beginning of the first lunar month, the parents of the family lead the younger generation to visit relatives, friends, and elders, and wish each other a new year with auspicious words.

New Year's greetings have existed in the Central Plains since ancient times. The ministers' New Year's greetings to the emperor are more solemn, accompanied by rituals and music. With the celebration of the rituals and music, the ministers kneel down and kowtow to the emperor three times, and then the emperor will give the ministers snacks. To show favor.

The ministers are busy in the morning. Not only do you need to pay New Year greetings to the emperor, but you also need to give a general plan for this year. There must be a general direction, just like the current construction. There is also a several-year plan or planning.

Everyone has their own opinions and commented in the courtroom. Civil servants are concerned about people's livelihood and political stability. As for military commanders, they just want to expand generals and land. Needless to say, Zhao Kuangyin is the main one.

After Fan Zhi finished speaking, Zhao Kuangyin walked out from the front of the generals, saluted the empress dowager and the emperor first, and then said:

"Qizuo the emperor, the world will be divided for a long time, and the world will be united for a long time. Unifying the world is the trend of the times, and it is the last wish of the late emperor. Therefore, I hope that the emperor, queen mother and ministers can brainstorm, whether to go south first, then north or First go north and then go south to calm down the chaos."

The little emperor on the dragon chair has been walking for a whole morning, and he has long been impatient. It is really hard for him to do it for such a long time for an eight-year-old child, so why do you still want to play?

Seeing this, Zhao Kuangyin frowned slightly, but he didn't show it clearly, and continued, "I don't know what the Queen Mother's order is?"

Where did Queen Mother Fu hear what Zhao Kuangyin said, she was busy holding the little emperor to keep him from moving, and the little guy was trying to slide down the dragon chair.Hearing Zhao Kuangyin ask her what she meant, where did she hear anything, let alone have any thoughts.

She didn't understand, but she remembered that her husband Chai Rong said that if you don't understand any internal affairs, you can ask Fan Zhi, so she put on airs:
"What's your opinion, Fan Xiang?"

Fan Zhi, who was sitting on the bench, immediately rose up and gave a slight salute:
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, the old minister thought that the unification of the world is certainly the late emperor's last wish, but that is the future, the future." Fan Zhi said here and looked at Zhao Kuangyin in embarrassment. He and Zhao Kuangyin had a good relationship. At that time, it was because they jointly assisted the young master to unify the world.

"For the future, as the government's policy goals in the future, perhaps we will wait until the emperor grows up and personally conquers before making a decision."

After hearing this, the young queen mother quickly calmed down:

"Fan Xiang is right. Since the first emperor ascended the throne, he has been fighting for years, and the soldiers have worked very hard. It is better for everyone to rest and recuperate in the past few years. Let's talk about the unification of the world later."

The empress dowager's meaning is already obvious, that is, let's talk about the unification later!Everyone kept silent, but Zhao Kuangyin's expression changed.

It seems that Fan Zhi and the Queen Mother have discussed it long ago, and they will not agree with my opinion, let me ask you one last question

"Qi Empress Dowager, although there have been wars in our court for years, we will win every battle and our morale is like a rainbow. We can take this opportunity to work hard. Join and let them disarm and return to the fields. They don't repair military affairs. At that time, let them serve the country I'm afraid morale is not as good as it is now, so I still think that now is the best time."

Brother Chai, this is the last chance I give to the Queen Mother. If they still insist on going their own way, for the sake of our great cause of reunification, I can only feel sorry for Da Zhou.

At this time, the queen mother, the emperor and the ministers didn't know what Zhao Kuangyin was thinking. Hearing what Zhao Kuangyin said, the queen mother didn't pay attention again, so she turned to Han Tong again.

Han Tong and Zhao Kuangyin are both standing in the ranks of generals. Han Tong is now the deputy commander of the Mabu Army of the Guards, that is, the second in command of the Ma Bujun of the Guards.

Han Tong is eight feet tall and has a tall and straight figure. It stands to reason that he should be a great man, but you don't think so when you look at his appearance.He had a black face, and even Zhao Xu's guard, Dong Xuanye, couldn't compare to him.

At the same time, he has a pair of small eyes, and he can't see the eyeballs when he squints, but it's just such a pair of eyeballs that seem to emit light.He just didn't get along with Zhao Kuangyin, and always opposed Zhao Kuangyin everywhere.

Thinking about how long he has followed the Taizu and the late Emperor than Zhao Kuangyin, his qualifications are older than yours, Zhao Kuangyin, but Zhao Kuangyin is better than himself, which makes him feel extremely unbalanced.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the minister also agrees to rest and recuperate." As he spoke, he looked at Zhao Kuangyin proudly, I don't agree with the sample, what can you do to me, what can you do to me?But before he finished speaking, a person hurried in from the outside.

An urgent envoy from the border, this is a messenger from the northern frontier, to report urgent matters on the frontier, he ran in, only shouted: "Urgent report from the frontier." Then he passed out.

Zhao Kuangyin immediately stepped forward to check it out. This person fainted from exhaustion, so he ordered Ran to carry him down, so that he could take care of him. The memorial in his hand had already arrived in the hands of Empress Dowager Fu.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Fu's complexion became more and more ugly, and everyone didn't know what to say, at this time, the old prime minister Fan Zhi stepped forward again and asked Zhang Dejun to show him the border report.

"Zhenzhou and Dingzhou jointly reported the Khitan and Northern Han's joint invasion, and went straight to Kaifeng, hoping that the imperial court would send a large army to help."

This time the Khitan marched from north to south, and the Northern Han marched eastward. This was not a joint march. It was not the first time for the Northern Han and Khitan. What the hell is Liu Jun doing this time? Da Zhou is still afraid of him.But this time it's really different.

Because the two countries attacked Dazhou in the past, if you stand next to the map, you will definitely find that the direction of these two armies is Bianjing. Their goal this time is the capital of Dazhou. They have not yet fought with the soldiers on the frontier. Entangled, went straight to Kaifeng.

Originally, Fan Zhi thought that this time they had negotiated to let their own people lie about the military situation, trick Zhao Kuangyin out of the capital, and then uproot his power in the capital.He had discussed this matter with Han Tong before.

Han Tong was also very happy. He thought it was arranged by Fan Zhi and the others, so he knew that Zhao Kuangyin would be transferred out of the capital soon and would be replaced soon.

"What do you think is the best way to deal with this matter?" Empress Dowager Fu was in a hurry. The orphans and widowed mothers had no idea, so they could only ask for help from the court ministers again. Fortunately, these courtiers were her husband's most loyal courtiers.

Her words fell silent, and no one spoke to them. Everyone was thinking in their hearts. They just said they wanted to recuperate. Who would dare to say that they would send troops at this time? The most important thing is that they don't know what the queen mother and the prime minister think.

Everyone has a candidate in their hearts, and they fight in turn. Whoever is the civil and military opponent of the Manchu Dynasty will be inspected before going to the palace, Songzhou Jiedushi, Taiwei Zhao Kuangyin.Zhao Kuangyin has been in charge of the army for six years from the first year of Xiande to the present. All the soldiers admire him very much, and he has made a lot of contributions under his command. In their eyes, Zhao Kuangyin may not have the current emperor.

There is still one candidate in everyone's mind, and that is Zhao Xu, the former Marquis of the palace, and some officials who are not qualified to know the inside story. After Zhao Xu disappeared and returned, why did the court not use him?But he wasn't their concern.

It's not a problem if everyone doesn't chew, it's very embarrassing to the empress dowager.It was the loyal minister Fan Zhi who did his part. It has to be said that Fan Zhi played a great stabilizing role in the court of Da Zhou when he was in Chai Rong.

"Northern Han and Khitan united into the bandits", Fan Zhi's tone was a little surprised, and at the same time, he glanced at Han Tong, who was in the forefront of the generals, and blamed him for making too much noise. According to what he meant, an urgent battle report That's it, who asked you to report that the two states have been invaded.

But now is not the time to blame him, let's settle the matter before us:
"Empress Dowager, the Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan joined forces to invade the bandits. If I invite the Empress Dowager, I will issue an order to lead the army to the north to fight against the enemy. Mr. Zhao is brave and resourceful. The vice-capital inspector Murong Yanzhao is brave and good at fighting. They will definitely come back victorious."

After Fan Zhi finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement. May I ask who else can compare to Zhao Kuangyin in saying that he is brave? Since the prime minister has said so, what else can we say?
"My lord, Wang Pu, also agrees with Mr. Zhao to lead the army." The unqualified partner Wang Pu, the right minister, immediately jumped out of my old partner to cheer.At this time, the two prime ministers both supported Zhao Kuangyin's expedition, and everyone reconsidered one after another.

"Since all the ministers are recommending it, Mr. Zhao, Zhao Kuangyin, are you willing to lead the army?" Empress Dowager Fu said while supporting the little emperor with one hand.

It seems that you still don't want to let me go. Since this is the case, I don't have any scruples. This may be God's will; "I will never refuse to die."

"Okay, I decreed to appoint Zhao Kuangyin as the marshal, and Murong Yanzhao as the vanguard to lead the army to resist the invasion of the Northern Han Dynasty and Khitan."

Soon the tone was set, and Zhao Kuangyin led the army to go out. At this time, Fan Zhi, Han Tong and others were all relieved. It would be easy for Zhao Kuangyin to leave the capital. As the inspector of the capital, Han Tong , Are you afraid that you can't control the situation?

"The old man congratulates Mr. Zhao for flying the flag and returning soon." After the court, Han Tong rushed over to congratulate Zhao Kuangyin.In fact, what he wanted to say in his heart was, Zhao Kuangyin, if you go out this time, don't even think about coming back.

(End of this chapter)