'The Xia people came suddenly, they have arrived in Weizhou, and the war is in advance'.

The carrier pigeon was quickly sent to Zhao Xu, and looking at the short dozen words, Zhao Xu took a deep breath.

Su Song, Zhang Dan, and Cai Bian stood solemnly in front of Zhao Xu's table, with different expressions.

Zhao Xu examined the dozen or so words for a while, looked up at the three ministers, and said, "Three Qing families, let's talk about it." ”

Su Song was accustomed to being silent, Cai Bian was the first to speak, raised his hand and said: "The official family, the current strategy of Huanqing Road and others is to defend it, after so many years, there is no problem at all to hold it, please relax the official family." ”

Cai Bian's meaning is that the main focus of the Song Dynasty is 'defensive counterattack'. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, with Liao, and then Xia, fought for nearly a hundred years, hundreds of times, large and small, although Kaifeng City was uneasy, but no one really thought that Liaoxia would hit Kaifeng City.

This is a hundred years of self-confidence!

Zhao Xu was noncommittal and looked at Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Danjian raised his eyebrows, his eyes were burning, he clasped his hands, and said in a flat voice: "Your Majesty, since you want to fight, then fight well." I am united, plus I have learned the lessons of the defeat in the Yuanfeng period, with the ability of Zhang Qi and the generals of the five roads in the north, and the ministers guarantee with their heads, this battle will never be defeated! ”

Su Song was expressionless and looked at Zhang Dian with a frown.

Zhang Dian set up a 'military order' in front of them and the officials, and if he was really defeated, even if he eased up afterwards, he would not be able to stay in this court.

Cai Bian followed with a condensed face, and then said: "Official, I will work together this time to mobilize 200,000 troops, and the elite of the north are all there, so I don't have to worry about it, please rest assured." ”

Zhao Xu's expression was dark, Cai Bian, is this to appease him? Afraid that he will waver?

Su Song glanced at Zhao Xu, pondered for a moment, and said: "Official, the Xia people are pouring out of the nest this time, in addition to dealing with the battlefield, we can also exert pressure through the Liao State." ”

Zhao Xu was stunned, looked at him, and said, "How do you say this?" ”

Su Song said: "The Xia State has been experiencing frequent internal strife recently, and there have been many provocations against the Liao State, if our dynasty puts pressure on the Liao State, it may be able to distract the attention of the Liao State and reduce the pressure on the front line." ”

Zhang Dun glanced at him and said, "Don't think about it." The benefits that the Liao people want, there is no one at all! ”

Zhao Xu understood that he had to pay a lot of price to find pressure from the Liao. Whether it is money, various mutual market policies, or that letter from a 'courtier', Zhao Xu will not give it!

Zhao Xu raised his hand, motioned to Su Song not to say any more, sat up straight and looked at the three people in front of him, and said in a deep voice: "It's about fighting with Xia, all decisions, from the confidential room, from now on, I will sit in the confidential room, and everything will make way for the confidential room!" In this battle, I will win, I will win a big victory, who dares to add to the chaos and be punished with treason! ”

Su Song and Zhang Duan had different expressions, raised their hands solemnly, and said, "The ministers obey the order!" ”

Zhao Xu looked outside and said: "Chen Pi, the proposed purpose, tell the hundred officials, at the moment when the enemy is now, we must work together and not infighting!" ”

"Yes." Tangerine peel responded.

……

Half an hour later, the government hall.

In the small meeting room of the political affairs hall, Su Song is located in the main seat, and Zhang Dian and Cai Bian are listed on the left and right.

More than 20 people from the six departments and seven temples of the imperial history platform, the waiter, and the temple are standing respectfully not far away.

Su Song's face was expressionless, and he said: "When the Xia people come to attack, Your Majesty and the imperial court will be as strong as a mountain, and they will never back down!" The imperial court must work together to unite as one, and there must be no chaos! ”

Everyone raised their hands in unison and said, "Your Majesty will receive orders!" ”

Su Song looked around at everyone for a while and glanced at Zhang Dun.

Zhang Duan sat upright, looked at these people, and said: "First, the political affairs hall has ordered that the government and the opposition should no longer argue, this battle has begun, and anyone who dares to drag his feet will be regarded as defecting to the enemy and treason!" The Criminal Department, the Imperial History Terrace, you can take it first and then give it! ”

Huang Lu and Cai Jing came out of the ranks, raised their hands and said, "Obey!" ”

"Second, the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of War are listed as confidential rooms, participating in military aircraft, coordinating logistics arrangements such as money and food, and military armor, and all departments must be fully supportive, and must not be perfunctory under any pretext!" Zhang Dan said.

"Command!" The crowd raised their hands in unison.

Zhang Dian paused for a moment and said, "Third, the deployment of troops inside and outside Kaifeng City, including the imperial palace, will be redeployed, so you don't need to make a fuss. ”

The crowd looked gloomy and did not speak.

It's too complicated for them to think about it.

"Fourth," Zhang Dan said with a stern face: "All ministries must speed up the handling of the affairs of various ministries without delay, especially money, food, soldiers, and armor, if the local government is perfunctory, we must be held accountable as soon as possible, set up a few targets, and warn the world!" ”

"Yes." Many court officials raised their hands again in awe.

They can all clearly feel that this time, the imperial court is unprecedentedly serious, and in the absence of many constraints and the firm support of the official family, what Zhang Dian and the political hall can do is far more than before!

Su Song, Cai Bian didn't speak, and sat and watched Zhang Dian's arrangement.

Zhang Dian said more than a dozen things in a row, and then waited for these people to say that it was difficult.

This meeting, from noon to evening, the venue was transferred from the political hall to the blue tile room to the vertical arch hall to Zhao Xu's study, and the number of people kept changing, almost until dawn.

Early the next morning, the government hall issued a series of edicts.

The first is the edict stamped with Zhao Xu's great seal to declare war on Western Xia. This kind of blatant declaration of war edict has never been done before, and it really shocked the government and the public.

The second is the 'mobilization order', the comprehensive mobilization of manpower and material resources on the five northern roads has become a national battle!

The third way is to appoint and dismiss the officials of the five northern routes, and add Zhang Kai as the 'rank of squire of the military department' and 'signing of the Privy Council', and lead all military and civilian politics in the north.

Fourth, the imperial court will further strengthen the 'reform', sort out the powers, clarify the responsibilities, strengthen the connection with the localities, and strengthen the powers and duties of the various transit divisions, as if they are above the state capitals.

The fifth way is to deploy the prefects of the prefectures and counties to which Kaifeng Prefecture belongs, and the prefects of the counties and prefectures are deployed, and many intricate official positions are directly vacant, and the 'prefects' and 'prefects' are appointed, and the powers, responsibilities, and terms of office are clarified.

Sixth, on the grounds of 'Yunjiejun mutiny', the 'Sanya' except for the front division of the palace was exempted from the guard Ma Jun Division, the commander of the Guard Infantry Military Division, the deputy commander and the Marquis of Du Yu, etc., and the power was temporarily taken by the military department.

……

The issuance of this edict and decree quickly caused waves inside and outside the government and the opposition.

In these edicts, not only did they mobilize for war on a large scale, violating the previous national policy of 'harmony for preciousness' of the Song Dynasty, but they also tried to break through the 'ancestral system' and prepare for the reform of the law.

None of these are acceptable to the 'old party' and the conservative forces, and too many people are panicking, worried, and restless.

Zhao Xu sat in the vertical arch hall, and from time to time went back and forth to the green tile house and the confidential room, to understand, adjust, and dispose of various affairs.

In the seventh year of Yuanyou, on September 21, the Great War began.

The Western Xia was at the border of Xihe Road, Jingyuan Road, and Huanqing Road, and was divided into five routes, which was almost a full-scale attack.