Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 37

Inside the imperial tent, ministers of civil and military affairs above rank five gathered to discuss matters.After reporting the current situation, everyone looked heavy and talked a lot.

Dr. Taichang Li Guangzan came out of the class, and said solemnly: "Officials! I beg the officials to return to the imperial court for the time being, and look for opportunities to plan the Northern Expedition later."

Zhao Kuangyin's face was unwilling, his expression was gloomy, and he didn't speak.

Seeing this, everyone felt even heavier in their hearts.

The Prime Minister Zhao Pu sighed in his heart, stood up from his seat, saluted Zhao Kuangyin, and said, "Officials! The 3000 troops sent out to rob the grain road have not yet found the Khitan army who robbed the grain. A local government reported that However, the Khitan's three thousand elite soldiers turned into pieces and disappeared without a trace. I believe that the reason why the Khitan's three thousand elite soldiers were able to cross thousands of miles and go around to the rear to burn our army's food and grass is very likely because there is an internal force in the Great Song Dynasty. Otherwise, even if the [-] people are wearing the armor of the Song Dynasty, it is absolutely impossible to do this, let alone break it up into pieces afterwards, and avoid the encirclement and suppression of a large number of township soldiers and [-] forbidden troops in various states."

When Zhao Kuangyin heard this, his pupils shrank slightly, and his heart shivered.Remember some old things.In fact, he knew that Zhao Pu was also hinting at this old incident.

Inside the Great Song Dynasty, there has been a mysterious force hidden all the time. The few high-level founding officials of the Great Song Dynasty headed by Zhao Kuangyin know the existence of this force.Because Zhao Kuangyin was able to mutiny at Chenqiao and successfully added the yellow robe, he also got the help of this force.But later, because Zhao Kuangyin was quite afraid of this force, he planned to wipe it all out, but unfortunately, the news was leaked in advance, and this force disappeared, or hidden in the world. Zhao Kuangyin sent spies to investigate for many years, although some clues were faintly found , but it has been difficult to reach the core of this force.

If anyone within the Song Dynasty could help Khitan's three thousand elite soldiers sneak into thousands of miles, and rob and burn the army's food and grass, it must be this force.

Seeing Zhao Kuangyin's changing expression, Zhao Pu knew that the officials had understood his hint and began to worry about something happening in Kaifeng, so he should be able to suppress his unwillingness and make up his mind to withdraw.Then he went on to say: "Officials! I also think that Jinyang City will be difficult to break through within ten days, and the Khitan enemy army has already overwhelmed the territory, and now our army is short of food and grass, so we can't stay here for a long time."

Zhao Kuangyin's unwillingness was well understood by most of the civil and military ministers present, and they knew that if someone could contribute a big plan at this time and break through Jinyang City within a few days, he would make great achievements in the world.But even if they racked their brains, they couldn't do it.

Xue Huaguang, the minister who returned from the Northern Han Dynasty, also saw Zhao Kuangyin's unwillingness and anger because of the futile return of the Northern Expedition.Can't help but go out and say: "Officials! I heard that all loggers must first remove the branches and leaves, and then get the roots. Today, the Northern Han Dynasty has the help of Khitan outside, and there are people inside who have lost money. They are afraid that the time will not fall. It is appropriate Build fortifications in Beishiling Mountain in Jinyang, Jingyang Village, Lepingyi, Huangzeguan, and Baijingshe in Hebei, and send troops to guard them to hold back Khitan reinforcements, and then move the residents of the Northern Han Dynasty that I have occupied to Xijing, In Xiang, Deng, Tang and other places, the idle fields were cultivated by the envoys, and the internal supply of the Northern Han Dynasty was provided. After a few years, the national power and military strength of the Northern Han Dynasty will be greatly reduced, and Jinyang will be pacified."

Zhao Kuangyin's eyes lit up when he heard the words, and the sullenness in his heart dissipated a little. He deeply felt that Xue Huaguang's words were reasonable, so he immediately ordered someone to start carrying out the matter.The army returned to the court two days later.

A few days ago, Guo Wuwei sneaked into the Song Army at a risk, destroyed the salt in the Song Army's salt storehouse, and used secret poisons to spread the disease. He wanted to put the Song Army in danger, and then appeared by himself to help the Song Army break through. Jinyang City, so that he can make an indelible contribution and be able to seek a high position in the Song Dynasty.

Unexpectedly, there were also experts in the Song army, and Qian Yi, the world's miracle doctor, was in the army, and he easily developed a good medicine to cure the disease and controlled the disease.And the lack of salt in the Song Army did not seem to have much impact on the Song Army.

After Guo Wuwei finished his work that night, he sneaked into Jinyang City, and only sneaked out of the city today.So he didn't know about Ye Chen's salt production.

Otherwise, if he knew about Ye Chen's salt production, he would risk sneaking into the salt field barracks at night and take Ye Chen away.

In the abandoned old castle more than ten miles away from the Great Song Army Camp, Guo Wuwei knew that he should be the one after hearing the news from two of his subordinates about Khitan sending reinforcements and that the West Road Army was approaching Jinyang City. It's time for Zhao Kuangyin to 'send charcoal in the snow'.The guard guarding the south gate of Jinyang City has always been his pawn hidden in the Northern Han army, and he is his confidant. As long as he gives an order, the guard will open the south gate for the Song army and surrender to Song Li for him. The merits of the world.

Guo Wuwei wrote a secret letter and sent a subordinate to the Song army in the name of his messenger, and then waited for news.This time he decided to pick up his subordinates himself to prevent the messengers he sent from being killed by some people in the Song army who didn't want him to be an official in the Song Dynasty.

In the evening, in the tent in the corner of the salt field, Jia Xian brought good wine and meat to comfort Ye Chen.

Ye Chen, Luo Yaoshun, and Jia Xian chatted while eating and drinking.After Ye Chen learned from Jia Xian that the Khitan army was coming and that the Song army would return to the imperial court in two days, he began to frown and ponder.

He remembered that after Zhao Kuangyin's imperial expedition to the Northern Han Dynasty, which ended in failure and returned to the court, something that Zhao Kuangyin regretted very much happened in Jinyang City.But I can't remember it for a while.

"Hey! Speaking of this attack on Han, it's such a pity. It took four months from the day the troops were dispatched, but in the end it was impossible to break through Jinyang City." Luo Yaoshun took a sip of his mulled wine and sighed. Said angrily.

"Yes! A few days ago, Jinyang was flooded, and a gap of several feet was broken through in one of the city walls. In the end, Jinyang City was still not breached. You said that the flood of that day did not destroy the entire Jinyang City. Will the city wall fall down?" Jia Xian graciously handed Ye Chen a chicken leg and wine jug, his face was full of worry, and then Luo Yaoshun said in a tone.

Jia Xian knew about his own family affairs and the destruction of the salt storehouse. Although Zhao Pu interceded and then Ye Chen made salt to make up for the major consequences of the destruction of the salt storehouse, he knew that the emperor would still remember it. In my heart, it is time to settle accounts when I return to Bianliang.If Jinyang can finally be defeated and the Northern Han Dynasty won, and the officials are happy, this matter may be turned into a small matter, and a small matter will be turned into nothing.But now that he has returned without success, he has even guessed that he will return to Bianliang, and he will be dismissed from office if he is serious, or demoted if he is light.

Thinking of this, Jia Xian's face was filled with gloom.But Jia Xian is still very grateful to Ye Chen. If Ye Chen didn't make salt, even if Zhao Pu begged him to save him from death, he would be dismissed from office at least, and at worst, he would be imprisoned.In addition, Jia Xian admired Ye Chen's attainments in mathematics.In the past few days, I have been taking advantage of the opportunity to transport salt back and forth, and I have been asking Ye Chen for advice from time to time, and I deeply feel that Ye Chen is unfathomable when it comes to mathematics.

Therefore, now Jia Xian is grateful, respectful, admired, and close to Ye Chen.

Jia Xian was thinking wildly, when he suddenly found that Ye Chen didn't pick up the wine and meat that he handed over. He looked up and couldn't help being startled.

Ye Chen was overjoyed, like a hysterical person, the corners of his mouth were still drooling.

After Ye Chen heard Jia Xian's words just now, he was suddenly caught by Jia Xian's words, "You said that the flood that day was so big, why didn't the entire city wall of Jinyang City collapse?" Inspired by this sentence, he finally thought of the thing that he had been thinking about for more than ten days.

It has long been recorded in history, just two days after Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin led the army to retreat.People in Jinyang City dug up the remaining water under the city and put it into Taitai Ze. After the flood fell completely, the city walls of Jinyang, which had been soaked for several days, collapsed one after another.

Some people in later generations commented: "People in Song Dynasty only knew one thing, but not the other. If we could irrigate first and then release water, Jinyang would have fallen long ago."

As soon as Ye Chen thought of his plan to pump water, the city wall of Jinyang collapsed, turning the world around, thus breaking Jinyang City, and making the Song Dynasty conquer the Northern Han Dynasty.What kind of official position will Zhao Kuangyin reward him for such an unworldly achievement? According to the practice of the Song Dynasty, as long as he has made great achievements in opening up the territory, he will be granted the hereditary founding title.

Ye Chen's excited heartbeat started to speed up, and his breathing was a little short.

"Brother Ye! Are you okay?"

"Brother! What's wrong with you?"

Luo Yaoshun and Jia Xian looked at Ye Chen with concern.

Ye Chen glanced at the two of them, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and said, "I'm going to see the official! I'll go now."

Luo Yaoshun and Jia Xian were stunned, and after looking at each other, the former said: "Brother! What are you doing seeing the official? Besides, it is already evening, and it is a little late to ride a fast horse to the Central Army. The official may have stopped. Next. With our official position, I'm afraid it's not good to disturb the officials at this time!"

"Yeah! Brother Ye! I also participated in today's discussion. The official returned because of the futility of the Northern Expedition, and he was in a bad mood. You disturb him at this time to rest, and accidentally angered him. You made salt Great achievements will be greatly discounted. The subsequent rewards may be gone." Jia Xian dissuaded him earnestly.

Ye Chen knew that both of them were doing it for his own good, but he had his own reason to see the official as soon as possible.

He looked at the two, his eyes were as bright as stars, and said: "I have thought of a way to break Jinyang City, if I tell the officials tonight, implement it at night, and break the city tomorrow."

Jia Xian and Luo Yaoshun were shocked, and couldn't help but look at each other. Luo Yaoshun said solemnly, "Brother! Are you sure that the method you think of can break through Jinyang City?"

Ye Chen said decisively: "I am very sure about this matter."

Luo Yaoshun stared deeply at Ye Chen for a while, and said: "Okay! I believe you as a brother! It's already very late when you arrive at the middle camp. If the official family rests, with your position, no matter what you say, most of the people below will not The one who asked you to meet the official family, but brother Wei will take you there, and the people around the official family will give brother Wei a little noodle and inform you."

"Okay! It's not too late! Let's go see the official right now." Ye Chen was overjoyed and said decisively.

(End of this chapter)