Guazhou and Suzhou, which were under the jurisdiction of the Shazhou Uighurs, were destroyed one after another.

Li Yuanhao only captured the Uighur soldiers and horses of Shazhou and confiscated their cattle and sheep, but did not plunder the Uighur people of Shazhou, but drove the people to force the soldiers and horses, and frequently retreated.

Then he cut off the supply lines of the Great Song Dynasty, forcing all the soldiers and horses in the Uighurs in Shazhou to retreat to Shazhou, and besiege Shazhou without advancing or retreating.

This move is obviously to use the mouths of the people of Shazhou to consume the grain stocks in Shazhou.

Cao Xianshun, the Uighur leader of Shazhou, was not in charge of the Guiyi Army, and he quickly moved all the grain and grass in Shazhou to the inner city, vacated half of the outer city, and ordered his soldiers and horses to be strictly guarded, so that the people who were driven to live in half of the outer city.

Zhu Neng and Yang Wenguang also did not fall for the scheme, after they discovered Li Yuanhao's conspiracy, they decisively blocked the barracks, and they were not allowed to enter or leave without orders, let alone give food out.

Xue Tian, the supervising army, also did not hit the scheme.

It's just that he relented for a while and made a big mistake.

That is, when he was patrolling outside the barracks, he encountered the scene of Yi Zi eating, and he couldn't bear it, so he took out a portion of his rations and replaced the child who was going to be reduced to rations.

After the news was spread.

The displaced people in Shazhou flocked to the outside of the Song army barracks, asking for their children in exchange for rations.

Xue Tian realized that he had made a mistake and immediately closed the camp.

However, the displaced people in Shazhou could not change their food and chose to rush to camp.

The soldiers and horses of the Western Xia and Huangtou Hui who were besieging Shazhou City were all ready to move when they saw this.

In order to avoid the occurrence of internal and external confrontation.

After Zhu Neng and Yang Wenguang discussed secretly, they decided to suppress it bloodily.

Xue Tian blocked the proposal of Zhu Neng and Yang Wenguang.

Xue Tian believes that the imperial court's rush to help Shazhou this time is to seek fame, in order to show other subordinates, it is not possible to slaughter the people of Shazhou, but to be gentle.

After careful consideration, Xue Tian decided to use the grain and grass in the barracks to open a porridge shed outside the barracks to relieve the people of Shazhou.

This move was fiercely opposed by Zhu Neng and Yang Wenguang.

However.

Xue Tian used the authority of the prison army to force Zhu Neng and Yang Wenguang to act according to his proposal.

It is precisely because of this that the consumption of grain and grass in the Song army's barracks has become variable.

Lu Yijian saw that Kou Ji and Li Di were not good-looking, and sighed: "Xue Tian is also to maintain the reputation of the imperial court......

Kou Ji said coldly: "Is it a fat man with a swollen face?" Cao Xianshun, the master of Shazhou, still doesn't care about the people under his rule, why should we care about the people under his rule?

Li Yuanhao led his troops to besiege but not attack, and what his purpose was for is well known.

It is uncertain when the route of the baggage will be restored, and it is uncertain whether the reinforcements will arrive before the food and grass are exhausted.

And he took the liberty of the barracks to load the good men.

This is a joke about the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and nearly 100,000 people who were besieged in Shazhou. ”

Wang Zeng nodded with a deep sigh and said, "It is true that Xue Tian cares about the reputation of the imperial court, but under such circumstances, it is indeed not worth the risk of the soldiers' lives. ”

Zhao Zhen sighed, "The matter has come to this point, it is useless to say more." We have to find a way to raise food as soon as possible, and then transport it over to ensure that our soldiers of the Great Song Dynasty will not starve to death in Shazhou. ”

Li Di gritted his teeth and said: "It will take some time for the autumn taxes from all over the country to be transported to Beijing. ”

Kou Ji took a step forward and said in a deep voice: "Yizizipu can temporarily lend a part of the money to the imperial court to raise military rations. After the autumn tax from all over the country is transported to Beijing, it will be repaid to the shop. ”

Li Di was slightly stunned, "Is this okay?" ”

Kou Ji nodded, "Naturally......"

Li Di nodded and said, "That's the best...... I'm going to go out and contact the grain merchants to raise rations. ”

After Li Di said this, he was about to walk out.

As soon as he walked a few steps, he heard Lu Yijian sigh behind him: "Duke Li, the official family is in the court today, and you have been dismissed from your position as a subordinate of the Zhongshu Sect. It's not right for you to go out and run around now. ”

Li Di was stunned for a long time, a trace of bitterness appeared on his face, and he sighed: "I've been worrying about state affairs, but I forgot about this stubble." ”

Li Di said with a slight decline: "That's it...... I'll go back to my home, and you still have to worry about the affairs of the Western Regions. ”

Zhao Zhen got up, bowed down with Kou Ji, Wang Zeng, and Lu Yijian, and sent Li Di out of the Shishitang.

After Li Di left, the four of them sighed in unison.

Wang Zeng took the initiative to ask: "Leave the matter of raising military rations to me." ”

Zhao Zhen nodded, picked up a pen and wrote down a piece of paper, and handed it to Wang Zeng.

The document clarified the matter of borrowing money from Yizijiaozi.

Wang Zeng only needs to take the paperwork to the word Jiaozi shop, and Cao Tong will cooperate with Wang Zeng to complete the relevant loan matters.

Wang Zeng was not long gone.

The eunuch who had invited Gao Zhigong hurriedly returned to the palace, and after seeing Zhao Zhen, he hurriedly reported it.

"The official family, the high privy envoy said that he was seriously ill and had to recuperate in the palace for a few days, and he could not enter the palace to meet the official family."

"Bang!"

When Zhao Zhen heard this, he slapped the table and got up, with an angry face.

What Gao Chugong meant by this, Zhao Zhen, Kou Ji, and Lu Yijian knew it.

Gao Zugong was obviously dissatisfied with the fact that the imperial court had reduced his false position.

If the court wants to invite him out of the mountain and ask him to lead the army to go on the expedition, it must return to him what was taken from him, and give him generously.

Otherwise, he would not have been able to lead his troops into battle.

Even if he led the troops to the Western Regions under the persecution of Zhao Zhen, he could still work without contribution.

This matter is not uncommon in the Great Song Dynasty.

Taizu and Taizong both did this.

Whenever there is a war, before going to battle, he will always give a large amount of money to the leading general, or give a beautiful woman or the like, as a sign of favor.

Of course, the emperors of other dynasties wanted to use generals, and they did the same.

It's just that the habit of openly asking the court for favors is only possessed by the Great Song Dynasty.

This is also one of the sequelae of Taizu's release of military power from the cup of wine.

Taizu used a glass of wine to release the power of the army and successfully seized the power in the hands of the generals.

In order to appease, co-opt, and make up for the generals, he also successfully turned the master-servant relationship between the two into an employment relationship.

One gives benefits.

One output.

That's all.

Zhao Zhen gritted his teeth and said, "If I return to him now the job of reducing him, I will reward him with a lot of money." Everything Li Aiqing did before that was in vain. ”

Lu Yijian frowned and said, "Can you only ask Cao Wei to make a move?" ”

Whether it is Zhao Zhen or Lu Yijian, they don't want to see the situation that Li Di just opened up be ruined.

Kou Ji didn't want to.

Not only did he not want to see the situation that Li Di had just opened up ruined, but he also didn't want to see Cao Wei being forced to a dead end because of his high merits.

Kou Ji pondered for a long time, and sighed: "I'll go for a trip......"

When Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian heard this, they all looked at Kou Ji.

Kou Ji sighed and said: "Li Zhaoliang, the secretary of the military dispatch department, leads the troops, and I am the supervising army." ”

Zhao Zhen's first reaction was to refuse.

Lu Yijian frowned and said, "I'm afraid that Li Zhaoliang is the same as Gao Chugong, and he can't say that he is sick." ”

Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "I'll go and persuade Li Zhaoliang." ”

Zhao Zhen gritted his teeth and said: "Kou Aiqing, you don't know martial arts, let alone the art of war, now that the situation in the Western Regions is chaotic, if you go to the Western Regions, I'm afraid you will have to worry about your life...... I would rather give him back the false position of Gao Chugong, and I don't want you to venture to the Western Regions. ”

Since Kou Ji took the initiative to stop this matter, it means that he has thought twice about it, and he will not back down because he is worried about his life.

Kou Ji said solemnly: "The official family doesn't have to worry. When the minister went to the Western Regions, he only performed the duty of supervising the army, not leading the troops to fight. With the army led by Li Zhaoliang protecting me, who can hurt the lives of the ministers? ”

Lu Yi opened his mouth briefly.

Kou Ji took the lead and said: "Although Li Zhaoliang is difficult to entrust with the heavy task, he can barely be used with me staring at it." You and I don't want to see the situation that Li Gonggang opened up ruined. ”

Lu Yijian hesitated for a moment and nodded slowly.

Zhao Zhen opened his mouth several times to refuse, but he still didn't open his mouth after all.

The matter has come to this, everything should be based on the overall situation, not the kindness of a woman, let alone the rashness.

Kou Ji arched his hand and said: "Then the minister will go and persuade Li Zhaoliang first......"

Zhao Zhen nodded heavily, "I will give you the Sword of the Son of Heaven, and the affairs of the Western Regions are up to you to decide." ”

Kou Ji gave his hand again, "Thank you, Guanjia Longen." ”

Immediately.

Kou Ji left the Vertical Arch Palace, got into the carriage, and ran all the way to the Li Mansion.

After the disciples of the Li Mansion saw Kou Ji, they hurriedly entered the mansion to report.

Li Zhaoliang soon appeared outside the house.

Li Zhaoliang looked at Kou Ji with a complicated expression, "Has the war in the northwest changed?" ”

Kou Ji nodded slowly.

The sense of smell of the gate against the battle is far more acute than that of others.

When they rushed straight to the palace for eight hundred miles, the generals had already guessed that there was a change in the war in the northwest.

This is also the reason why before the news came out of the palace, Gao Chu Gong had already chosen to pretend to be sick.

Li Zhaoliang sighed, "I heard that the palace sent people to the Gao Mansion, but Gao Chu Gong did not leave the mansion. ”

Koji nodded again.

Li Zhaoliang continued to sigh and said: "The official family is unwilling to agree to Gao Chugong's conditions, so you found me?" ”

Koji continued to nod.

Li Zhaoliang frowned and said seriously: "I may not be able to control the situation in the Western Regions. ”

Kou Ji finally spoke, "And me!" ”

Li Zhaoliang was stunned for a moment, and said with a wry smile: "If I lead the troops out at this time, I will be spurned by several other families." ”

Kou Ji said indifferently: "You owe me a life, this is enough to convince several other families." ”

Li Zhaoliang smiled bitterly, "It's really a good statement." ”

Kou Ji continued: "It takes three or five days for the imperial court to raise grain and grass. Three or five days later, we rushed to the Western Regions together. ”

Li Zhaoliang nodded helplessly.

Kou Ji arched his hand, let the carriage be driven, and left the gate of the Li Mansion.

The conversation between the two was brief.

Kou Ji did not persuade Li Zhaoliang bitterly.

But Li Zhaoliang was willing to risk being spurned by several other families, and agreed to rush to the Western Regions with Kou Ji.

There is no other reason.

Li Zhaoliang owes Kou Ji a life.

Li Zhaoliang was returned.

After Kou Ji persuaded Li Zhaoliang, he sent someone to send a message to the palace.

Then he rode back to the courtyard outside the city.

As soon as he arrived at the gate of the courtyard, he saw Xiang Yan standing at the door waiting for him with the support of the maid.

Kou Ji hurriedly jumped out of the carriage and stepped forward.

"Are you pregnant...... It's windy outside, what are you running out for? ”

Kou Ji took Xiang Yan from the maid's hand and helped Xiang Yan back to the other courtyard.

Xiang Yan held her stomach and said: "The concubine heard from the servants in the mansion that there were eight hundred miles from the west in an emergency, and I was worried that something would happen, so I was waiting for you at the gate of the mansion." ”

Kou Ji smiled faintly, didn't speak, and helped Xiang Yan to walk towards the courtyard.

Xiang Yan saw that Kou Ji's expression was wrong, and muttered, "Is something really happening?" ”

Kou Ji hesitated for a moment and nodded, "The situation in the Western Regions is a little bad......

Xiang Yan was slightly stunned, frowned, and said, "What happened?" ”

Kou Ji helped Xiang Yan back to the room and told Xiang Yan in detail what happened in the Western Regions.

After hearing this, Xiang Yan frowned and said, "It's so serious...... How does the imperial court plan to respond? ”

After saying this, without waiting for Kou Ji to speak, Xiang Yan said again: "Li Gonggang has reduced the false positions of those martial artists, and it is not easy to ask those martial artists to help.

Is Xianggong worried about this matter? ”

Kou Ji shook his head and said frankly: "The imperial court has decided to send Li Zhaoliang as the main general and me as the supervising army to rush to the Western Regions. ”

Xiang Yan's delicate body was shocked, and her face became very ugly.

Kou Ji took her hand and comforted her in a low voice: "Don't worry, this time the imperial court sent two forbidden armies to the Western Regions. As an overseer, I will be guarded by them, and there will be no danger. ”

Xiang Yan gritted her teeth and said, "The concubine is about to give birth...... Can't the official family be sympathetic to the concubine and you? ”

Kou Ji sighed, "State affairs are important......

Xiang Yan left tears in her eyes for a moment.

Kou Ji slowly hugged her in his arms.

"It's a pity...... I can't be with you when our child is born......"

Xiang Yan didn't speak, just lay in Kou Ji's arms and wept.

Kou Ji comforted Xiang Yan for a long time.

It wasn't until the night, after coaxing Xiang Yan to fall asleep, that he left the bedroom.

As soon as he got out of the bedroom, he saw Kou Zhong standing outside cautiously.

After Kou Zhong saw Kou Ji, he bowed down and said, "Little master, master, please come over." ”

Kou Ji said with some surprise: "Grandfather has returned home?" ”

Kou Zhong said in a deep voice: "The master heard that you were going to the Western Regions, so he came down from the mountain in the evening. I just bumped into the eunuch in the palace who came to deliver the holy decree, and I helped you take the holy decree. ”

Kou Ji nodded and followed Kou Zhong to the main hall.

In the main hall.

Kou Zhun was sipping tea, and after seeing Kou Ji enter the main hall, he put down the teacup and frowned: "You want to go to the Western Regions?" ”

After Kou Ji gave a salute, he nodded, "The situation in the Western Regions is very chaotic, I need to go and see." ”

Kou Zhun said in a deep voice: "As an official of the imperial court, you naturally need to focus on state affairs. But you have to come back completely, and if you have a good one, no one will send the old man to his death. ”

Kou Ji arched his hand and said, "Grandson obeys." ”

Kou Zhun got up and said, "After you go to the Western Regions, you don't want the kindness of a woman. ”

Kou Ji was stunned.

Kou Zhun didn't say anything more and walked out of the main hall.

Kou Ji thought about it for a long time in the main hall, and couldn't understand the meaning of Kou Zhun's last sentence.