Sure enough, Zhang Dexiang stood up and said suspiciously: "Zheng Lang, the loyalty of the soldiers is not as good as the forbidden soldiers, and the people in the northwest are fierce. ”

Zheng Lang replied calmly: "Xianggong Zhang, what you said also makes sense. However, in the autumn of national crisis, we should not only look at the shortcomings, but also look at their strengths. The thieves were all cavalrymen, and over the years, they had fought many battles with the Tibetan Uighurs, and they had rich combat experience. Although Yuan Hao cannot be called a hero, he is also the hero among people. This is the era of dimming the stars, although Yuan Hao is not a famous general, but our dynasty and Khitan have not been at war for a long time, and they are not as good as Yuan Hao. The soldiers have not been on the battlefield for a long time, and it is not very beneficial for our DPRK to take the initiative to fight. But defense alone is just as harmful. ”

It is the current problem of the Song Dynasty that cannot be fought or reconciled.

Zheng Lang gave them the answer: "If you want to defeat Yuan Hao, there are only four words, defend and counterattack." They are a small country, without strong financial support, without sufficient people, even if everyone is a soldier, there are even women as military attachés Ma Kui (to be precise, it refers to the female soldiers of the Western Xia, accounting for about 10 to 15 percent of the military strength of the Western Xia, the main responsibility is to clean up the battlefield in logistics, and if necessary, they also go to the battlefield to fight, and also set up Ma Kui female officials), and finally the tribes are mixed, and the hearts of the people are uneven. As long as there is a stalemate for a few years, our generals are more familiar with the war, the generals are trained and grown, and the internal chaos of the Western Xia, we can defeat the Western Xia. ”

This is a positioning for the Northwest Military Policy.

Han Qi is too aggressive, and Fan Zhongyan is too conservative, which is not what Zheng Lang likes.

Then he turned to the township soldiers: "As for the Tibetan soldiers, the rural soldiers I am talking about are not the Tibetan soldiers, and the Tibetan soldiers account for a very small share in it, and the negative effects are also very few." Besides, without the support of Zhuqiang and Zhufan, it is also difficult for the northwest to gain a foothold. As for the harm, it can also be prevented, the key is whether the officials in the northwest of the country have done a good job, and take a look at what the seed master Heng has done in Yanzhou and Jingzhou? ”

When it comes to the seed master Heng, Zhang Dexiang can't make a sound.

"The finances can't support it either," Zheng Lang sighed.

In order to support the Northwest Campaign, Zhao Zhen continued to raise taxes in history, not wanting to exploit the people, so he increased the commercial tax, the Song Taizong commercial tax (refers to the tax levied on the customs of goods, excluding the income from monopoly and various prisons) was only 4 million guan, Song Zhenzong increased to 12 million guan because of the Feng Chan, and after the Song Dynasty fought with the Western Xia people, it increased to 22 million guan. It was not until after the peace negotiations that it gradually declined.

This heavy tax undoubtedly hindered the development of commerce in the Song Dynasty.

However, in order to support the expenditure of the war in the northwest, the monopoly wealth was increased one after another, as well as the two taxes of the peasants.

Because of myself, there was no tax increase last year, but this year it will inevitably increase.

In order to reduce the burden on the state, the various revenues and related tax income generated by the Ping An Jian are far from being supported.

But it is not without effect, these revenues reduce the burden on the state, the pressure on the people, the burden on the country is not heavy, the ministers of the DPRK and the central government and Zhao Zhen will have the belief to continue fighting, and they will be able to fight a protracted war.

For the time being, it cannot be seen that it has actually had a bit of an impact on the front, including the pension, which is also better than in history, which will stimulate morale.

The development of Jiangdong has increased the grain harvest and also enabled the soldiers at the front to have sufficient logistical supplies.

Some of the credits are not visible to the monarchs and ministers, but most of the credits are known. Otherwise, Zheng Lang would not have been awarded the important position of Privy Councillor.

Think about it, Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi have been famous for a long time, have they been awarded the position of prime minister?

continued: "Choose the most important and abandon the light. Although I proposed to exempt the village soldiers from taxes, provide them with weapons and simple armor, and give them some subsidies, it invisibly increased the burden on the imperial court. However, it will make the morale of the township soldiers higher, the northwest border is too long, and if there are no township soldiers, hundreds of thousands of forbidden soldiers will be deployed to defend it, and no matter how the township soldiers are treated, the cost of five township soldiers is less than that of one forbidden soldier. This is to throttle, otherwise there will be a serious crisis in the imperial court's finances this year. Your Majesty, the minister has also been to the three envoys and read the account books of the three envoys. Unless the tax of the common people is increased, His Majesty will probably not acquiesce in this move. However, the invasion of Western Xia was only one point, and the village soldiers would not fight all the time, and there was little delay in agricultural production. Please think twice about Your Majesty and all the ministers. ”

There is another one, from time to time vendetta, the resentment is deeper, and the Fan Qiang in the Song Dynasty will not be able to reconcile with the Western Xia people, so there is only one choice left, cooperate with the Song Dynasty, just like the folding family.

But this is not humane, Zheng Lang did not say.

Yan Shu said: "Zheng Lang, there are already township soldiers in the northwest, if they increase further, the tail will not be lost." ”

"Better than the Northwest lost. When Li Jiqian made his fortune, he only owned one place in Xiazhou, and later went to Yinyanling and other state capitals, and seized its Hengshan Mountain, Liupan Mountain, Tiandu Mountain and other key points, and also seized several states in the Hexi Corridor, the land of Shazhou Uighurs, and the border of Tibet. Will it take me Shaanxi next? ”

Just one sentence, almost everyone dared not answer.

It seems very possible that it will continue to expand at this rate. After capturing Shaanxi and directly threatening Henan and Hebei, it has become possible for the Song Dynasty to destroy the country.

Compared with this harm, Yan Shu's so-called possibility of being too big to fall is really nothing.

"Although the forbidden soldiers of our dynasty are mighty, they have not been in battle for a long time, like flowers in a greenhouse, everyone, you may as well disperse the court, and I will take you to see the comparison between the two sides." After Zheng Lang finished speaking, he returned to the train.

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said, "Scatter the dynasty." ”

Let's take a look at the contrast.

The Manchu ministers and Zhao Zhen himself were taken by Zheng Lang to the military camp outside the city.

Zheng Lang asked Yan Shu to personally order a thousand of the most elite forbidden troops in the capital, and asked Wang Zhi to call out the seven hundred and dozens of Jurchens and let them stand in line and practice.

At least it seems that the forbidden soldiers in the capital are more beautiful than these Jurchens.

Standing in a neat line, well-trained, and standard of movement planning.

Zheng Lang also secretly bowed his forehead, at this time all aspects of the Song Dynasty had not yet been completely corrupted and fallen, including the army, including the soldiers in the capital.

It was this army that went to the northwest and carried out several actual battles, and its combat effectiveness broke out, which was also very impressive.

Then Zheng Lang asked them to simulate the army for actual combat.

In order to reduce unnecessary sacrifices, the tip of the gun was cut off, the knife was also used with a wooden knife, and the arrow was cut off from the arrow.

Only a moment later, this forbidden soldier selected by Yan Shu was beaten and fled.

It can't be compared, this group of troops composed of all Jurchens, Yehan can be called the first in this world, the so-called Western Xia army, the Khitan army can only be regarded as a small amount compared to them.

This forbidden army is not useless, but it lacks that kind of fierceness, and the personal martial arts keep up, and the fierceness is far inferior.

Fortunately, if the war starts with a real sword, I am afraid that it will not take a pillar of incense time, and this forbidden army will be defeated and sacrificed heavily.

Zheng Jian's mouth opened wide, and he whispered, "Zheng Xingzhi, where did you bring this army from?" ”

It's so fierce.

"North, but don't worry, the armies of the Tanguts and Khitans are not as good as this Jurchen."

"Khitan ......" Zhao Zhi had a sad look on his face on the side.

"Your Majesty, you don't have to worry, this Jurchen army is not the Bohai people who were friendly with our dynasty at the beginning, but in the north, the number is small, although it belongs to the Khitan ministers, but the Khitan people are not strong in control, and they are rebelling and subduing, so they cannot be used by the Khitan. However, once they unite, it will be very terrifying, so no matter what time it is, they can't sit idly by and watch this race replace the Khitan, then there will be endless troubles," Zheng Lang said.

His goal was also achieved, not only to persuade everyone to increase the number of village soldiers, but also to be cautious about the Jurchens.

Zheng Lang's intuitive sparring this time had some effect.

In fact, before this, Fan Zhongyan, Xia Zhu and Han Qi had already increased the number of archers, and Zhao Zhen's seven kingdoms knew Cao Cong of Qinzhou (Cao Bin's seven sons, Can, Jue, Wei, Xuan, Xuan, Xun, Cong, Queen Cao is the daughter of Cao Xi) also had tens of thousands of archers in Jianxiang in the northwest.

Originally, it was a matter of course, but Zheng Lang's township soldiers were qualitatively different from the archers in the hands of these generals and ministers.

Xia Zhu wanted to set up native soldiers and officially became an establishment, but was opposed by the minister and did not implement it.

On the one hand, Yang Kai misled the country because of his selfishness, and the minister's heart was also jealous.

Zheng Lang's proposal is not to make them regular soldiers, but also to be a formation. Take the initiative to give them weapons, exempt them from taxes, and subsidize them a little.

In this way, the cohesion is stronger, the combat effectiveness is stronger, and it can become an army in a short period of time. But the archers who exist more than the forced labor make the ministers jealous.

After several days of discussion, some prefectures and counties in front of the edict were implemented, not in the whole of Shaanxi, but in the frontline states for a period of time, to see the results.

Take your time, and two big things are coming.

Han Qi returned to Weizhou City, and suddenly thousands of people stopped his war horse and asked, Han Gong, my son went out with you, you are back, where is my son?

They are the families of the martyrs of the good water river.

Han Qi's tears rained down.

He suddenly thought of Fan Zhongyan's words, in this situation, it is difficult to care about victory or defeat.

But is Han Qi wrong? There was a mistake, but when the Manchu Dynasty was thinking about peace, only Han Qi made the strongest voice.

The first battle of Haoshuichuan played the dignity of the Han family's men, either not to be a soldier, not to be a soldier to protect the family and defend the country, for what? Mixed rice?

It can also be said that there are professions in the world, such as soldiers, doctors, policemen, teachers, prisons, political axe officials, which are related to the rise and fall of a country's honor and disgrace, and must not be done as a profession, let alone as a profession with a career of money and a woman.

The Song Dynasty was defeated many times, and this kind of thing was the first time in the history of the Song Dynasty, and it was also the only one in the history of the Song Dynasty.

How did it happen, Zheng Lang faintly felt the smell of a glimmer of conspiracy in it. Could it be Xia Zhu's ghost? It doesn't seem to be like it, or Fan Zhongyan, it's even less like. However, it is definitely an abnormal occurrence, and even brings serious consequences, so that the generals at the front are afraid to fight and preserve. It's just a conspiracy, with Han Qi's current mood, he has no intention of investigating it, let alone wanting to investigate.

Zheng Lang immediately consulted with the bigwigs of the Privy Council in Xifu.

Because the treasury is better than in history, although he has sacrificed many times this time, the imperial court has a very generous pension, and Zhao Zhen is really willing. Not only is it a pension, but it is willing to be awarded to officials, and it is better to be redundant.

Zheng Lang said the consequences of this time.

As a conservative minister, Yan Shu didn't have much of a good impression of Han Qi, but when he heard it, he also felt that the matter was a little serious. Right or wrong, it's easy to settle accounts after the autumn, if from now on, the soldiers in front don't dare to fight hard, the consequences will become serious.

In the following early dynasty, Yan Shu wrote a melody and played it in the early dynasty.

The punishment of Han Qi has not been sentenced, and it seems that it is not very easy to punish, saying that Han Qi is not good, but he dares to fight and dare to go to the front line. Can it be done by other officials?

The solution is very simple, you are afraid of your son's death, so you don't let them become soldiers. It just so happens that the country is redundant. But soldiers are needed at this time, and such words cannot be uttered. So he issued an edict to once again commend the heroic deeds of these soldiers and show mercy to their families. But the family members were euphemistically reprimanded for blocking this time. You don't let your son risk fighting, and he doesn't let his son go to the front, who will protect the territory of the country. If there are no soldiers to protect the territory, the Tangut invasion will be like locusts, and you will be taken captive, and then not only your sons, but also your grandsons, wives and mothers, will die tragically under the enemy's sword.

Zheng Lang stood at the bottom of Yan Shu, and when he saw the edict, he was very relieved.

In fact, many ministers are also working hard, and the emperor is working harder, but it is a pity that the ancestral legal system is like a ghost, always floating in the sky above the Song Dynasty, lasting for a long time, and invading the national strength of the Song Dynasty bit by bit.

The next thing was Fan Zhongyan's.

Fan Zhongyan was bent on peace, Zheng Lang guessed Fan Zhongyan's thoughts, Fan Zhongyan was definitely not the kind of surrender faction, otherwise he would not have made so many arrangements in Yanzhou. But he is not the main battle faction, he may think that the Western Xia country is poor, the land is barren, and it is useless to gain it, so it is better to make peace with them, give them some money and silk a year, and everyone will not fight and pull them down, it will be beneficial to the country and the people, and many wives will not be separated because of the war.

Intentions are good, but can you really make peace? And the Song Dynasty has been weak for a long time, what's the matter?

Therefore, his subordinate Han Zhou went to Western Xia with Gao Yande, but Han Zhou did not see Yuan Hao, who was raising pigeons in Haoshuichuan at this time.

After the battle of Haoshuichuan was over, Han Zhou handed Fan Zhongyan's affectionate and touching letter to Yuan Hao. At this time, Yuan Hao reached the strategic goal, and he really negotiated peace? Master Fan, you are stupid, I am not stupid.

So Han Zhou brought back a 26-page letter of state, which was full of insults and insults. Fan Zhongyan was really dumbfounded when he saw it, this is a national letter, you can't hide it if you want to, but you can't hand it over, the matter is picked up by yourself, once it is handed in, the emperor and the prime ministers will dismantle themselves!

Headache.

After thinking about it for a long time, he then burned the twenty pages with the most unsightly content in front of the envoy of Western Xia, and said to the envoy, you go back and say to Yuan Hao, I have a limit to goodwill, and the remaining six pages are revised and polished personally.

But no matter how good his foundation was and how the letter was modified, after arriving at the imperial court, the monarchs and ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were furious.

Song Zhen said directly angrily: "Your Majesty, Fan Zhongyan has misled the country and insulted the country, and in order to affirm the dignity of the country, Fan Zhongyan must be killed." ”

Look at the good things he did, just click.

Du Yan said: "Fan Zhongyan's original ambition is to recruit rebels, with good intentions, and he can't be guilty. ”

Then glared at Song Zhen dissatisfied, Fan Zhongyan has no merit, and there is hard work, besides, Yanyun Road is under the management of Fan Zhongyan, just like an iron bucket, just a letter of state, click, so who goes to the northwest, you will go!

Lu Yijian was more direct, summoned Han Zhou, and asked, "Why did you trespass into the Western Realm?" ”

"Lu Xianggong, I dare not disobey the right to kill."

Zhao Zhen snorted angrily on the dragon chair, don't you dare to disobey, dare to bring this national letter back? Immediately cut off his officials, demoted them to supervising state taxes, and went to the north of Nanling to be a small tax collector to reflect.

Then asked Fan Zhongyan how to deal with it?

Lu Yi simply helped him speak, Sun Wei of the Zhiyuan wrote a book to distinguish Zhong Yan, Zhao Zhen looked at Zheng Lang again, Zheng Lang sighed and said: "Han Qi should be degraded, Fan Zhongyan should also be degraded, but who else in the northwest can take this burden?" ”

In any case, they are far better than others in the northwest, or change Fan Yong, or change Zhang Guan, that is even more.

It's about to change the outlook.

The edict descended to Shaanxi Jingluo to appease the deputy envoy and Zhiyanzhou, Longtuge Zhishu, and Fan Zhongyan of the Hubu Langzhong as the Household Member Wailang, Zhiyaozhou.

Xia Shouyun is cowardly and can't convince the public, but Shaanxi always has to grasp the overall situation. And Xia Zhuhe's comings and goings also made the bigwigs in the DPRK and China very dissatisfied, so he issued an edict to let Zhang Guan and Shaanxi deploy and appease the border and other envoys, and know the Yongxing army. Still edict Xia Zhu sentenced the Yongxing army as before, migrated to Qin Feng and deployed the deputy capital, and knew that Cao Cong of Qinzhou was the deputy.

Originally, it was Chen Zhizhong, and Chen Zhizhong went to Hangzhou at the request of Zheng Lang.

Even Chen Zhizhong did not do well in Shaanxi.

Zheng Lang immediately objected and said: "Zhang Guan is honest and has little desire, and he is cautious in his words and deeds, but he doesn't understand military affairs, and going to the northwest will harm our army." If Zhang Guan is allowed to go, it is better to let Cao Cong take the position. ”

"It's not proper, Cao Cong, as a royal in-law, must be avoided," Zhang Dexiang said immediately.

Cao Wei led the army, and at that time, there was no woman in the Cao family to be the queen.

In fact, this is the rejection of military generals.

Cao Cong's military ability is not as good as that of his brother Cao Wei, but it is okay. But because of the identity of this royal abbot, as well as the military general, he has always carried a soy sauce bottle in Shaanxi, running around all over Shaanxi, and the soy sauce in the bottle is running loudly.

"Then Zhang Xianggong will go to Shaanxi."

Zhang Dexiang was a little dizzy, and said for most of the day: "I don't understand military affairs. ”

"Exactly, Zhang Guan doesn't understand military affairs, otherwise Xifu would not have been derelict in his duties a few years ago, how could he go to Shaanxi?"

Zhao Zhen asked: "So who understands military affairs?" ”

Several bigwigs looked at Zheng Lang together, and then shook their heads.