From Song Yongchen's hand, Wang Anshi took the report and hurriedly read it, raised his head, and met Zhao Ji's anxious eyes: "Your Majesty, this is the report that the horse bears, not Guo Kui's." Guo Kui can deliver in a hurry, one step faster than a horse. Since the horse passed the report, why didn't the Hedong Economic Strategy Division send the message back? ”

Zhao Ji pondered for a moment, "What does Wang Qing mean is that Guo Kui doesn't think those are the cavalry of the Liao Army?" ”

"At least not certainly." Wang Anshi said with certainty, "Whether there is a Liao cavalry in Fengzhou, this matter Guo Kui has not yet been discovered, how dare he report it to the court, he can only wait for the investigation to understand before acting." ”

"Then, according to Wang Qing's view, is the Liao army in Fengzhou real or fake?"

"The Liao State married the princess and Bingchang, and previously intended to force His Majesty to exchange Luowu and Suide for Fengzhou. The Western Xia persisted in relying on it. But it is difficult to say that the Liao State took the chestnut from the fire of Western Xia. The Liao people are greedy for profit, I have 500,000 silver silk and Liao people every year, and the Western Xia country is declining, where do I get the money and give it to the Liao people? ”

"But where did the Khitan cavalry come from?" Zhao Ji was puzzled in his heart, "The party members will not deliberately prepare a group of cavalry for today's use. ”

Wang Anshi thought for a while and said, "Western Xia is adjacent to the Liao State and Shangjing Road. Think about the obstruction and other parts in the Shangjing Road, the customs are similar to the Khitan and the costume, if you pretend to be a Khitan, you only need to change the costume slightly. ”

Wang Anshi asserted this, Han Gang was surprised at first, and then he knew it in his heart. Wang Anshi is comforting the Son of Heaven, but in fact, he is not as sure as he says in his heart. But even if he is wrong, he can withstand it with his status.

In Han Gang's opinion, whether the Liao cavalry in Fengzhou is true or not, since Guo Kui did not send someone back, his original intention is to prepare to kill the past, and try it first.

Han Gang had deep confidence in the Hedong Army led by Guo Kui, although in the Battle of Hengshan in the fourth year of Xining, it was because of the collapse of the Hedong Army that led to the reversal of the entire battle situation. However, that was the result of Han Jiang's indiscriminate order, and the actual combat effectiveness of the Hedong Army was not weak. To the north is the Xijing Road of the Liao Kingdom, and to the west is the Western Xia, and at the same time it is also responsible for supporting Hebei and Guanxi, and the forbidden army and the township soldiers in the Hedong Road can be regarded as excellent, at least stronger than the Hebei Army that has not been in battle for a long time.

If the Hedong army performed well enough in this battle and defeated the Khitan army, it could also give the Son of Heaven and the court a little more confidence in the official army. There is no need to be like now, Wang Anshi must be consoled.

It's just that Wang Anshi can squander his political capital to comfort the Son of Heaven, but Han Gang can't, and the affairs of Hedong are not in the scope he is familiar with, so he doesn't need to say much, just keep silent.

However, things are not so simple, Zhao Ji will not let go of such a good staff object as Han Gang. His intellect has long been proven, and his vision is also superhuman, as the so-called knows people. Since Han Gang was in the hall, of course, he had to ask.

"Han Qing, how is the authenticity of the Khitan Army in Fengzhou?"

Han Gang glanced at Song Yongchen, bowed and saluted: "The minister didn't know about this matter, so he didn't dare to say anything." ”

Zhao Ji understood and said, "Song Yongchen." ”

The chamberlain who was on duty by Zhao Ji's side today hurriedly handed back the report that Wang Anshi had just handed back, and then handed it to Han Gang.

Han Gang hurriedly read it, and figured out the wording again, which can be regarded as a general understanding of Guo Kui's thoughts, "The minister's opinion is the same as that of the prime minister, the Liao people are greedy for money, and the western thieves are poor, so if they don't run for it, there is always a little, and it is just profit-seeking, and they will not fight to the death." And since Hedong has reported this matter, how can Guo Kui not know? I just don't dare to jump to conclusions. However, General Guo Kui, knowing that the Khitan cavalry might come to Xia's aid, will inevitably be prepared, and His Majesty can have no worries. It's just that the capital also needs to prepare early, and it can't wait until the last to rush to mobilize the army. ”

Han Gang's long passage is actually some unsubstantiated gossip that doesn't make much sense. But when he said the last sentence, he was stunned for a moment, as if he had thought of something. Although he quickly returned to normal, his face still changed a little.

Neither Zhao Ji nor Wang Anshi saw the change in Han Gang's face, they were both thinking about Han Gang's words. Where would he have thought that he was scolding in his heart now.

This report came at an inopportune time, just suddenly, the Hebei Army couldn't move!

Although the Son of Heaven and the imperial court will not issue an edict to let the army on the front line of Fengzhou return - from the perspective of time, at this time, the forward of the Hedong Army should have already attacked the territory of Fengzhou, and it is very likely that the battle has already begun, and in the process of entanglement between the two armies, once they retreat, the result will be a fiasco, and they will not be able to retreat at all - but let the Hebei Army prepare to rescue Hedong while guarding against the Liao army going south, this is an edict that must be issued. Without the filling of the Hedong Army, it would be impossible for the second and third batches of the Western Army to go south to Guangxi, that is to say, the only thing that the Annan camp could rely on was the 5,000 soldiers and horses who had just entered Shu and were ready to go straight to Yongzhou.

There's no way to fight this battle. Han Gang thought about it, and secretly shook his head in his heart. It's already impossible not to fight, and the arrow has to be fired. Once they stay in Yongzhou for a long time, the chances of the Western Army soldiers suffering from diseases will become greater and greater, and their morale will be greatly depressed. At that time, it was difficult to do it again.

When he came out of the temple, it was almost dusk. Wang Anshi still stayed in the palace, discussing with Zhao Ji what to do in the future-I think it is nothing more than a plan to calm down, as well as a plan to strengthen the defense of Hebei and Hedong. Although it has not yet involved the headquarters of the Annan camp in the south, it is impossible not to mention it when the eight seats of the two prefectures have arrived.

Tomorrow is tomorrow. Han Gang thought. In order to prevent commotion in the capital, even if it is news about the Khitan army, there will be no urgent convening of the Zaizhi meeting tonight, and everything will wait until tomorrow. And tomorrow, when the Chongzheng Hall was arguing about this, he had already dressed up and went south and went out of the south gate.

If the result in the court is as he expected, then if the Annan camp wants to continue the mission, it must rely on the current strength to break through the city gate of Thang Long Mansion.

The 5,000 troops who had already gone south, plus the 1,500 Jingnan Army, and the new army of Guangxi, which had just been recruited and organized—excluding the troops stationed there, could mobilize about 3,000 or 4,000 to fight—a total of 10,000. That's all the troops that Annam's camp can use.

I'm afraid that the only advantage is that my work is easier, and the grain and straw transportation of 10,000 soldiers and horses is more than half less than the previous workload, and the number of people who need to be recruited is much less.

Of course, the premise of all this is to continue to attack Jiaozhi, and perhaps when he goes south, an edict from the imperial court will make the Annan Economic Strategy Recruitment Division and the Annan camp immediately stop all movements, and the banner will cease.

Han Gang looked back at the majestic imperial city and snorted coldly, he wouldn't let this happen.

Back at home, only Yan Suxin came out to greet her, Wang Yi was still pregnant, Zhou Nan and Yun Niang had just given birth, and they couldn't even get out of bed.

In the hall, the congratulatory gifts were piled up in a whole room. The people in the family are checking the gift list and gifts, and they are registering them one by one. Judging by their speed, don't even think about sleeping tonight.

The transfer envoy, Long Tuzhi's bachelor, and the expectation of the future ruler made Han Gang unusually valued in the capital. On weekdays, there are often many guests, but fortunately today he is closed because he will leave tomorrow, otherwise I don't know how many people will come to visit.

When they arrived in the backyard, Han Gang went to change his clothes first to greet his parents, and the three children were in their room. The family is full of pregnant women, and they can't let their little ancestors disturb them.

After coming out, I went to Han Yunniang and Zhou Nan's room. Zhou Nan is the second child and gave birth smoothly. And Yun Niang is the first child, with a little twists and turns, but it can be regarded as a smooth birth.

There are not too many people in the room, and it is very popular, which is not good for both the mother and the newborn. Zhou Nan was asleep, his face was a little pale, Han Gang asked Mowen next to him, and he was relieved to get up and drink some medicinal porridge before Zhilu Dao. The third son, who was wrapped in swaddling clothes, still had a wrinkled face and did not open his eyes.

Coming out of Zhou Nan's room, Han Gang went to see Han Yunniang. But he was awake, holding his young son who had just been born. There is still the immaturity of a girl in the description, but when she looks at her son, Han Yunniang's eyes are already a real mother.

"Third brother!" Hearing the movement of Han Gang entering the door, the joy that instantly appeared on Han Yunniang's face bloomed like a flower.

"How are you doing today?" Han Gang sat down on the edge of the bed, hugging her slender shoulders and looking at the son in her arms. The six-pound boy was heavier than several of his brothers and sisters, and when he was born, Han Yunniang suffered enough, and almost used forceps.

He nodded obediently in Han Gang's arms, "It's much better." It's just that my body is sweating, and I'm still uncomfortable. ”

Postpartum recuperation, Han Gang doesn't know much, but he has heard of some, which is more reasonable than today's customs in many places. The previous births of wives and concubines have also been confirmed, and the Han family is also experienced in how to take care of mothers.

"I'll be able to take a shower in two days, and I'll be patient for two more days. However, you can only shower, not bath. And be careful not to let your ladies suffer the wind. Han Gang instructed the subordinates who served Han Yunniang.

There is also a shower room in the house, but because it is a rented official property, it is not easy to rebuild it at will, so you can only use the old shower facilities. It's just specially arranged for the pregnant women at home to become warm and sheltered.

In fact, simple boilers used to boil water and provide bathing have long been popularized in sanatoriums in various places, and the barracks of the Fourth Army have recently been set up. Speaking of which, it is just a slight modification of the stove stove used in the public baths outside, and the service provided by the bath yard in Sweetwater Lane is not inferior to that of bathing in later generations.

After talking for a while, seeing that the beautiful woman in his arms was sleepy, Han Gang helped her lie down. Yun Niang opened her beautiful eyes with slightly concave eyes, and her eyes were full of reluctant love, "Third brother, are you leaving tomorrow?" ”

"I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'm still at home today." Han Gang's hand gently brushed Yun Niang's delicate cheeks, "Good, sleep for a while, and then talk to the third brother when you get up." ”

Yun Niang closed her eyes obediently, but grabbed Han Gang's sleeve and didn't let go. Han Gang sat down with a smile, held Yun Niang's slender little hand, and watched her gradually fall asleep.