Han Gang is in the Wende Hall today.

Only courtiers who are not practical will participate in the regular court of the Wende Palace, and they are generally escorted by a member of the Zaifu, and the Son of Heaven or the Queen Mother will not be present.

When Tong Guan came out to spread the word that the Queen Mother would not look at the court today, Han Gang led the ministers to visit the throne, and was surrounded by several courtiers who felt that they could speak.

Although there was a lack of officials in the officialdom of the Great Song Dynasty, it mainly referred to low-grade candidates and small envoys, and there were very few courtiers waiting for the courtiers. The courtiers who did not have a real job were basically either palace envoys or relatives of the emperor. The number of Kaifu Yi and the three divisions is more than the two provinces combined. And the nobles among the military ministers such as the festival envoys and the observation envoys are basically here.

The courtiers who can surround Han Gang are basically either old enough to get a long-term meal ticket in the palace, or they are relatives who have a relationship with Han Gang. As for those clans with the positions of kings and county kings, they avoided them one by one - they would never dare to get involved in military affairs.

The news of the Liao army's knock on the pass has spread all over the court, and it is natural that everyone is worried. The voice of shouting and beating Baigou before, and taking down Xijin Mansion was no less in the court than outside, but when the real Liao division soldiers were in the city, most of them were panicked.

The envoy did not close the knock. As long as the imperial court did not recognize Yelu Yixin's identity, it would not recognize the envoys he sent. The Liao side will be questioned about this matter, and the border will also be turned away, and they will not be able to enter the door and close the door one step.

But the army knocking is different.

Although in Xiongzhou's urgent report, the Liao people only went south with a large army, questioning the officers and soldiers in order to cross the border to kill, but the army did not agree with each other, will they not be able to return home?

However, judging from this matter, the temper of the Liao people has been very restrained, and in the past, they must have killed the generals directly, regardless of the three, seven, twenty, and twenty. Get dozens of lives to sacrifice the souls of the dead. Now I know how to salute before I fight.

Li Gefei was also in the palace when he heard Han Gang talking to the people around him, "It's a little thing, why panic." ”

The person who talked to Han Gang, Li Gefei knew, was Cao Xun, the nephew of Emperor Cao-the palace servant Yushi had the duty of purging the court, and the potential object of impeachment could not be unrecognized-but someone next to him interjected, Cao Xun's words sounded a little vague, and he could hear that he was still talking about Liao affairs.

"It's a shame that Han participates in politics and has a good temper."

There was a burst of schadenfreude chuckles.

The teasing of his colleagues in Taichung, Li Gefei didn't hear it.

Which well-informed courtier would be unhappy at this time? Now the people who come up are all unrealistic, although they are well-informed about the news in the palace, but their understanding of the changes in the court situation is far inferior to the courtiers who participated in the inner court in the vertical arch hall, and they have committed Han Gang's taboo.

And Han Gang's answer, Li Gefei heard it very clearly. The voice of the governor was low but clear, and no one dared to interject when he spoke, "First, the Liao people have not yet come to attack, but more than 10,000 cavalry are stationed a little closer to the border. Second, it is called, there are still elite soldiers in the border states to resist, the situation in the country is far better than two years ago, I know that the monarchs are worried about state affairs, but you can rest assured, don't worry. ”

"But when the border is in turmoil, the people will be plagued, and the farmers, businessmen, and businessmen, no matter which one of them, will suffer."

'Shinong Merchants! Li Gefei snorted coldly in his heart, he knew that what Cao Xun wanted to ask must be the issue of the mutual market on the Song-Liao border. The royal relatives in the capital have invested a lot of money in it. But at such times,

"If the people of the border state really suffer from the war, how can the imperial court ignore it? Give alms. ”

Without seeing it with his own eyes, Li Gefei can imagine what kind of bitter face Cao Xun's round fat face will be now. Although Han Gang had made it clear that he would ask the imperial court to compensate for their losses in the future, the imperial relatives represented by the Cao family who had profits in the north hoped that Han Gang would stand up and stop the war.

Han Gang definitely didn't want to fight, but now he didn't dare to agree to Cao Xun's request, and he didn't even have a hint. Li Gefei shook his head, which showed how bad the situation Han Gang was facing.

"Politics." Cao Xun was still trying to convince Han Gang and chattered, "If you can exempt the soldiers, you won't need relief." ”

"Is the battle going to be won by the imperial court?!"

Han Gang seemed to be a little angry, and his retort was much more severe.

If you want to avoid war, you have to appease the anger of the Liao; If you want to appease the anger of the Liao people, you have to give an explanation to the Liao people for the three deceased. Maybe the whole thing was really instructed by Lu Huiqing behind his back, but no matter what, the court would not agree to give them an explanation.

According to Xiongzhou, all the responsibility is on the side of the Liao, although this is mostly Lu Huiqing's handiwork, but even Han Gang is unlikely to debunk it, and it may not be able to debunk it.

In the list of the Hebei Forbidden Army, there are only three or four percent of the people whose names are not found, and there are two percent of the less. If you want to complete the matter, kill two people casually, and then change your clothes, and now you even have human and physical evidence.

What else can Han Gang do? Do you want Liu Shunqing to investigate thoroughly?

Anyone knows that if there are two parties in the court, whether it is true or not depends only on the strength of both sides.

Lu Huiqing acted so recklessly, but Zhang Dun just fell back. Han Gang's position in the court is in jeopardy, can he win the new party?

Li Gefei is very optimistic about Han Gang, after all, there is the Queen Mother.

If Han Gang and Zhang Dian join hands, they can suppress Lu Huiqing in the local area and not return to Beijing, so that Wang Anshi cannot continue to interfere in the government affairs. But now that Zhang Dian has fallen back, Han Gang, who is weak and weak, will inevitably use the power of the Queen Mother.

But in the first round now, Han Gang must take a step back first.

Looking at Han Gang, Li Gefei sighed in his heart, this can only be blamed on Han Gang for not seeing the right person.

It was indeed surprising that Zhang Dian would go back so quickly. But how Wang Anshi and Li Ding persuaded Zhang Dian is very curious. To be able to sit in the position of Zhangdun, and to rely on merit and ability rather than the appreciation of the Son of Heaven, there must be a firm mind.

It's just that Li Ding's personality is serious, and the officials have always been afraid of him. Li Gefei's relationship with him is not good enough to talk about personal privacy, and it is difficult to find out what the situation is.

The wind is about to rise in the court, not an ordinary wind, but a typhoon that can kill.

is optimistic about the results of Han Gang's faction, but Li Gefei is sure that before his victory, there will be a great turmoil in the court.

Are you looking for a chance to leave the Goshidai?

Li Gefei thought.

……………………

When Han Gang came to the Vertical Arch Palace, he had been discussing with the Empress Dowager and the important ministers for a long time for the sake of northern affairs.

However, because of Su Song's proposition and the Queen Mother's insistence, it has been dragged out without reaching a conclusion.

Seeing Han Gang coming, the Queen Mother had a backbone. After he paid his respects, he sighed in the hall, "You can talk about participating in politics, it's just three people, how did you get to this point." ”

"If it weren't for the current situation, it would be okay to kill thirty or three hundred people in the north!" Lu Jiawen stood up, "In the past two years, the first rank of the Northern Captives has taken a lot, and there is no shortage of leather room army and palace division army. But Beiyu was premeditated today, they would come if they had an excuse, and they would come if they didn't have an excuse, and if they didn't give them a full year of coins, how could they be willing? ”

Age coins.

The Liao people will invade the south because of the year's coins, which is a recognized reason in the court.

Han Gang once told Wang Anshi, Zhang Dan, Su Song and others that it was impossible to bring it to the court. There is no clear evidence, and it is all based on Han Gang's one-sided words. He was able to convince Wang Anshi and Zhang Dian in private, but he couldn't resist the public refutation of political enemies.

When the Empress Dowager asked Han Gang for her opinion, Han Gang did not use Japanese gold and silver to refute Lu Jia's words, "No matter whether the northern captives will raise troops to the south, and no matter what the reason is, Shaanxi, Hedong, and most importantly, the border states of Hebei must be prepared to meet the enemy. ”

Wang Anshi and Zhang Dian had repeatedly expressed the same opinion before, but the Empress Dowager Xiang had been hesitating, but as soon as Han Gang said this, she immediately nodded, "...... Participation in politics is reasonable. What do you think? ”

responded one by one: "The minister has no objection." ”

Han Gang didn't want to rely too much on the power of the Queen Mother. What he always wanted to maintain was the balance between the court and the central government, so that the entire bureaucracy could exclude the imperial power, rather than wanting to become a powerful minister who was favored by the empress dowager and controlled the court. Although this is not bad, after the death of the Queen Mother, no matter which emperor is in power, there will be some twists and turns in the court, and it will even affect the entire Qi Science.

Even now, he tries not to borrow too much. At least he will not borrow the power of the Queen Mother to suppress political opponents on important matters related to the military state. It's not a matter of state, nor is it a brother who stands outside the wall to resist his insults, it's just that he knows that it is in his own favor to do so.

"Then how does Hebei need to prepare?"

Empress Dowager Xiang asked Han Gang again.

"Almost all of the Hebei forbidden army has experience in fighting the enemy, and it has been strengthened in the past two years, and it is by no means inferior to the Liao. Grain and straw have been continuously replenished in the past two years, and according to the report of the Hebei Transshipment and Changping Second Division in November last year, there should be more than one year of grain stock. In terms of military funding, you can ask the Privy Council. ”

"Su Shumi." Empress Dowager Xiang skipped Zhang Dian and nodded Su Song to answer.

Zhang Dian had a calm face, and watched Su Song come out of class and replied, "The Hebei soldiers are full of food, and your majesty can be worry-free." The military depots of the prefectures in the border areas of the north of the river have just been inspected a few years ago, and the armor, bows and crossbows, knives and guns, and arrows are all counted, which is enough to be used. There are more than 83,000 military horses in the register, and they are also counted and checked. ”

"Where's the artillery?"

"Of the artillery produced by the Firearms Bureau, 130 light and heavy howitzers, 2,880 tiger squat guns, more than 100,000 large and small shells, and 200,000 gunpowder packs of various types have arrived in Hebei."

Speaking of this, Han Gang paused. How deep is the national power of the Great Song Dynasty? It is enough to look at the production of artillery over the year.

This is not the full strength of the Ordnance Superintendent, if the time comes, only need to transfer personnel from the Ordnance Superintendent, the Firearms Bureau can quickly expand, while ensuring the quality of the production capacity doubled, howitzers can achieve one a day - six-inch city defense artillery or four-inch field artillery, Tiger squat artillery a day 20 guns. In this era, in this world, no country can compete with the productive forces of the Great Song Dynasty, and even close to it.

It's just that because it is not inferior to the power of the eight-bull crossbow, it is easier to maintain and use, which makes the artillery widely popular in the army. More than one border minister wrote to the court to equip them with artillery as soon as possible - including both civil ministers and military generals. The current production is still far from meeting all the demand. Yes, far from enough. However, there is no need to worry about Hebei and Hedong border prefectures, which have priority, and their armaments have always been more than sufficient.

"As long as it is used properly, the city of Hebei will be broken by the Liao army." Han Gang added.

"If I have to participate in politics, I will be relieved." The Queen Mother said.

In another month or two, the rivers and lakes of Hebei will thaw, and the defense line of Qianlipitang will resume its function, and at that time, the threat of the Liao people will only be one or two points now. As long as it can hold on for a while, the Liao army will have to retreat. She also understands this truth.

"Since the invasion of the north and the south is imminent, according to the story, the power of Hebei should be one." Pu Zongmeng, who was at the top of the line, unexpectedly stood up, "The minister asks His Majesty to set up a post of Xuanfu in Hebei, command the armies, and pacify the middle of the road to prepare for the Liao." ”

All the ministers in the palace looked sideways. Wang Anshi's face also changed slightly. This Pu Zongmeng jumped out and was really good at choosing the right time.

"Why do you need to preach the envoy!" Su Song immediately went out of the class and said, "Just set up an envoy with a system." The northern captives entered the east of the Kou River, but they were only set up to defend against them, and now the northern captives are still outside the border, and the envoys are more than enough. ”

"The northern captives are already on the bow, and the war is imminent." Pu Zong Meng Dao.

Su Song immediately retorted, "When Han Gang set up Hedong, I don't know where the arrows of the northern captives went? ”

Wang Anshi's face was calm, Pu Zongmeng was openly and secretly obstructed. It is proposed to set up the Xuanfu Division, the most suitable time is when the Liao army begins to attack, and now what is just an order to strengthen defenses,

Only by taking charge of the military and politics can we monopolize the credit. If it is only in charge of the military system, the Hebei transit envoy will have to share at least 30% of the credit.

Pu Zongmeng is not welcomed, but he can always stay in the capital, and his vision and gambling are a little bit better.

However, it already makes enough sense to set up a system. Without Han Gang's approval, Su Song would not have come out. Is it forced by the situation, or is there no hole cards?

Almost everyone is speculating.

The Queen Mother asked Han Gang's opinion, "I don't know what to think about participating in politics?" ”

"It is only natural for the northern captives to be stationed on the border of the cantonment and set up a system to take charge of the military in order to defend against the enemy. However, I don't know if Your Majesty has ever thought that seventy years after the alliance of Lanyuan, the soldiers and civilians of Hebei did not know what a soldier was, and why did the Liao people always invade the south in the past few years? ”

"Why?"

Han Gang glanced at Wang Anshi, "It's because of the country." ”