Li Zhang stayed in Hejian Mansion for two days, inspected the military academy under preparation, and then returned to the capital. The railway has been repaired to Baozhou, and it is much more convenient to come here from the capital. Where the transportation is convenient and the railway is connected, there are often court officials who come down to inspect.

Seeing off Li Zhang, Liu Ji and Song Shouyue returned to the official hall and sat down.

Song Shouyu said: "Taiwei, I feel that Taiwei Li came this time, and many words were not explained. Du Taiwei has always been kind, how can he be so strict? The Khitans are all cavalry, the place chosen is good, we don't know how to intercept it for a few days after crossing the border? ”

Liu Jidao: "I have been training in Suizhou with Captain Du for several years, so I naturally know. However, if it really encounters a big event, Taiwei Du will never hesitate. What happened to the imperial court and why Taiwei Du gave a strict order, we don't know, so we don't have to guess. The most important thing now is how to make the Khitan people have no return! If we can't, neither of us will end well! ”

Song Shouyue sighed: "If the Khitan sends out cavalry and suddenly enters the country to plunder, I can't think of how to intercept it." The border stretches for hundreds of miles, how can it be prevented from leaking! ”

Liu Ji didn't speak, and was silent for a while before he said: "The Ding Lingde who came with Taiwei Li said that he was listening to orders in Shuaisi and didn't go back. The Privy Council should have a special purpose in bringing such a person here. ”

Song Shouyue was stunned for a moment, and said, "Looking at that person's kind face, he looks like a business supervisor, what use can he be?" ”

Liu Jidao: "People can't look good, Taiwei Li specially brought him here, he must have a good intention." Don't forget, now in the Privy Council, Captain Li is in charge. There are many things that are not humane to outsiders, and there are also many strange people. ”

After speaking, Liu Ji instructed people to invite Ding Lingde to come over and talk.

Ding Lingde entered the official hall, still smiling, and saluted the two.

Liu Jidao: "You're welcome. I wonder what official position General Ding holds in the Privy Council? ”

Ding Lingde said: "Back to the captain, the lower officials are just doing some chores." He was appreciated by Du Taiwei on the meandering road of the river, so he did the inner temple chongban. ”

Liu Ji nodded, understanding what Ding Lingde meant. He may be in the Privy Council, and he may really do some miscellaneous things, or he may be in charge of things that are not easy for the ministers to know. pointed out that he was the inner temple chongban, so that Liu Ji and Song Shouyue knew what their status was. The inner temple Chongban is an ambassador minister, and he is considered a middle-level officer in the Song army, and his status is not low.

Song Shouyue looked at Ding Lingde, no matter how he looked at it, he felt that he was a store supervisor, and he couldn't think of how such a person could be promoted. The general in the army, not a family, at least a little majestic, is not like this. Then he asked: "Taiwei Li deliberately left the general, he must have a good intention." ”

Ding Lingde nodded again and again: "The captain does this, naturally he has a reason." As he spoke, he looked at Liu Ji.

Liu Ji said in a deep voice: "What Taiwei Li means, the general can say clearly. ”

Ding Lingde said yes, "It's late October, and in another month or two, the Juma River will be frozen." The imperial court estimated that it was very likely that the Khitan would send troops and horses across the border at that time. Shuai Si Xinli is not long in coming, and he has to deal with this matter, but he is afraid that there will be some difficulties. ”

Liu Ji nodded: "Naturally, it is extremely difficult." I wonder if the general has taught us? ”

Ding Lingde hurriedly said that he didn't dare to say, "I came here, and before leaving, the captain ordered two things. One thing, we must pay close attention to the movement in Zhuozhou, as soon as the soldiers and horses are assembled, we will get news here. It is best to know where the Khitans want to attack in advance, so that they can make arrangements as soon as possible. Another thing is to guide the Khitan people to cross the river, the route to travel. The front-line work, naturally, was sent by the captain's commander to do it. I'm here for the latter. Fighting with the Khitan is nothing more than taking in hundreds of people who fled south. When the Khitans crossed the border, most likely, they were taken captive. I stayed here to help Shuai Si and try to guide the Khitans there. ”

When Liu Ji heard this, he couldn't help but stand up: "You can do this kind of thing?" If this is the case, it will be much easier to leave the Khitans! ”

Ding Lingde was still smiling, but his expression was a little helpless: "The Taiwei sent me here just for this matter." If you don't do it well, you will be punished when you go back. It's hard, but you have to do it, don't you? ”

Liu Ji looked at Ding Lingde, and after a long while, he smiled and said, "Not bad." No matter how hard it is, do it! ”

With an army of 150,000 under his command, for Liu Ji, there is no problem in fighting the Khitan, and there is no problem in leaving them. The hardest part was that his troops were not allowed to cross the border. Dozens of miles away, for cavalry, it is really easy. Secretly assembled at the border, suddenly crossed the border, and retreated the next day after plundering, the army of the Song Dynasty had not yet assembled.

This is a difficult point that is almost impossible to crack. As long as the Khitans are careful, no matter how strict the Song army is, there is no way. However, if Ding Lingde could really let the Khitans attack the fixed place, everything would be easy. The army laid a net of heaven and earth, and as soon as the Khitans crossed the border, they went to block the retreat. Then the ambush soldiers went out and surrounded the Khitan to the death, and they could not escape.

Looking at Ding Lingde, Liu Ji said, "I don't know how the general is going to do this?" ”

Li Lingde shook his head: "Where do you know now?" I have to go to the people who have fled south and get to know them well before I can come up with a solution. I need the help of the Captain in this matter, and I must not let others know my identity. - And, of course, send a few clever people to help you get things done. ”

"What's so hard about that!" Liu Ji laughed. "This matter is not too late, tomorrow I will let Zhang Qi go to Hejian Mansion and instruct him to take you to Xiongzhou. He has an army of 50,000 under his command, and whatever you want, go and ask for it. When you have an idea, tell me about it! ”

Ding Lingde crossed his hands: "The subordinate will do his best, thank you Taiwei for your success." ”

Looking at Ding Lingde, I saw that he was smiling all the time, and he was completely a businessman. And this smile comes from the bottom of my heart, not the kind of fake smile, and I can't see any flaws at all. I can only sigh in my heart, there are really all kinds of people in this world.

instructed his subordinates to set up a banquet, and Liu Ji and Song Shouyue were together and invited Ding Lingde to drink. At the banquet, Liu Ji asked about Ding Lingde's past, but he refused to say anything at all. only said that he was originally a forbidden army, and he was transferred to Hequ Road during the training, and he was occasionally appreciated by Du Zhongxiao, and he has been working there.

When he was in Suizhou, the intelligence personnel in the army trained by Du Zhongxiao were mainly surveying and mapping maps, calculating the enemy army according to some traces, and so on. As for spying on military intelligence, as well as secret missions, there were no in the army at that time. Later, in Hequ Road, the director of the first handsome division had these people.

Listening to Ding Lingde's words, he didn't know what he had done over the years, so Liu Ji stopped asking. After all, this is someone from the Privy Council, and it's not easy to press it. Although his official position is not high, Ding Lingde works in the Giyi Division and has access to many secrets.

Although he has been persuading him to drink, Ding Lingde has also drunk until the glass is dry, but his face has remained unchanged. Liu Jijinshi was born and was originally a Wenchen, where can he drink so much wine? In the end, the wine was on the rise, so he could only send Ding Lingde away.

Seeing Liu Ji away, Song Shouyu saw that Ding Lingde was still like that, as if he hadn't drunk, and said, "The general is not drunk, do you want to drink some?" ”

Ding Lingde hurriedly said: "Don't dare." The lower officials are not good at drinking, but they are not good at refusing. Now that you've done your best, it's better to leave it at that. ”