Chapter 207 is in charge

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the ministers in the palace were a little unbearable, especially the many military generals, although there were often precedents of civilian officials commanding troops during the Song Dynasty, but at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, most of them were commanded by military generals.

Lu Xiufu hurriedly went out and said: "Your Majesty, the minister is willing to lead the army." ”

Li Beiyang also said: "The minister is also willing." ”

Jia Rudao knew that as an envoy of the Privy Council, it was time to come out and express his position, so he got up and said: "Your Majesty said that it is funny, I have a lot of generals who can fight in the court, so why bother Your Majesty to recruit in person, the old minister will lead the troops to Luzhou, and he will be able to win." ”

I sat down and said, "Yes, which general." ”

Jia Rudao smiled: "Your Majesty, the former deputy commander of the palace is Lord Xia Guixia." ”

"Xia Gui Xia Aiqing."

I was stunned for a moment, and said secretly, this time Jia Rudao thought of it with me,

The result is the same, but the starting point is completely different,

Although Jia Nidao is not completely clear whether I want to break up the forbidden army in Beijing or just to rescue Luzhou, but at least one thing is certain, that is, the number of forbidden troops will be reduced again, however, since this has become a fact, then Jia Nidao will naturally not choose his cronies to go to the battle, in fact, when Jia Nidao recommended Xia Jiangang to lead the troops to Xiangfan, there is more or less this intention, but I don't know, if the news that Lu Xiufu got is true, it means that Xia Gui and the Lu brothers, the Fan brothers are indeed different, is not completely in the camp of the Jia Party,

Xia Gui is good at fighting, but he is not only the brain of a martial artist, during the period of Li Zong, Jia Nidao covered the sky with one hand, and saw Cao Shixiong, who was more famous than himself, Xiang Shibi and Gao Gao and others were excluded and even killed, and he had no backing in the court, so he could only rely on Jia Nidao,

And I chose Xia Gui in the hope that the tiger general Lu Xiufu said would be able to take on the heavy responsibility and become the commander of one side, so that from east to west, there are Li Tingzhi, Xia Gui, Lu Wende, Zhang Jue and Gundam, this defense line is basically complete, as for the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, there are still several years, and when our main attack comes, I will naturally re-select the attacking generals.

A few years later, Wen Tianxiang, Lu Xiufu, Zhang Shijie and Wen Zhang and others will be able to grow up and become the main force of the Northern Expedition.

Xia Gui saw that Jia Nidao asked him to go on the expedition by name, although he was reluctant in his heart, but he didn't dare to offend Jia Nidao, so he could only go out and play: "Minister Xia Gui is willing to lead the troops to the north to share your majesty's worries." ”

"Okay, Xia Aiqing, I heard that you are brave and good at fighting, and you are a rare victorious general in our dynasty.

Xia Gui was praised by me, and he also said happily: "Your Majesty has won the award, and the ministers should do their best." ”

"Well, the old general is really my old Huang Zhongye." I smiled and said, "Master, when will the forbidden army be able to be deployed?" ”

"Your Majesty, you can go out one after another tomorrow, and according to Your Majesty's wishes, how many troops will be sent."

"The specific number of people I will discuss with Xia Aiqing in a while, because the time is pressing, so I think the forbidden army can set off in batches, the cavalry army goes first, and the infantry army marches later, Shichen, Fan Aiqing, you go and prepare quickly."

"Yes, your ministers obey."

"Xia Aiqing, after the court meeting, I will go to the side hall to discuss the matter."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Okay, let's stop here today, retreat from the dynasty, Xiao Qi, let Ouyang Jianqing wait outside."

I looked at Xia Gui up close and said, "Xia Aiqing, you are in your sixties this year." ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the old minister is eighty out of sixty this year."

"Aiqing should be old and strong, and her spirit is still strong."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Aiqing, sit down." I motioned for Xia Gui to sit on the seat on my left and said, "Getting back to business, what does Aiqing think of the situation in Luzhou." ”

Xia Gui sat in a precarious position: "Your Majesty, what the Taishi said, whether to send troops or not is between the two, this minister also agrees, now His Majesty has decided to send troops, and the ministers also support it, the Privy Council, the Ministry of War is very reasonable in the analysis of the situation in Luzhou, the Mongolian Ashu soldiers are in Luzhou, it is nothing more than a test of the military situation of our dynasty, if you can fight, you will fight, if you can't fight, you will plunder, and you will withdraw your troops." ”

"I know all this, Aiqing has been at war with the Mongols for decades, so I should know a lot about it, and as far as Qing can see, how many forbidden troops should be dispatched to my court this time."

Xia Gui said tepidly: "Please make a decision to Your Majesty." ”

I listened to what Xia Gui said was full of officialdom, and I didn't feel a little annoyed, and I was about to have a seizure, but after thinking about it, Xia Gui knew that he was not my confidant, and he was restrained by Jia Rudao, of course he didn't dare to talk nonsense, my tone was still softened: "Xia Aiqing, I have never fought, whether this time to send troops is correct, I don't know, but I know that my territory, no matter how big or small, I will fight for every inch of land, Luzhou Mansion is the seat of Huainan West Road, of course, there is no room for loss, although Shouchun in the north of Luzhou is still in the hands of our dynasty, but its surroundings are all occupied by Mongolia, If I want you to take back all the land south of the Huai River, can you do it? ”

"Ahh Xia Gui was taken aback and said, "Your Majesty plans to counterattack." ”

Whether it is from the Privy Council or the Ministry of War, Xia Gui has never heard of the counterattack on the Huai River, what is the meaning of His Majesty, Xia Gui said secretly,

"Why not, the area between Luzhou and Shouchun is the territory of our dynasty, and the land further north is also occupied by the original Jin country, I want to take back my own land, it is reasonable."

"Your Majesty, it should be, of course it is reasonable."

I smiled, my fingers lightly tapped on the tabletop, stared at Xia Gui, and after a while, I pointed to the map on the wall and said: "Shouchun is the first military town on the south bank of the Huai River, bordering the Huai River in the north, Wabu Lake, Anfengtang and other lakes in the south, and a large hill in the east. It is to cut off the connection between Luzhou and Shouchun, and its ultimate goal is not in Luzhou, but Shouchun. ”

In the past two days, I have carefully observed the military map of Huainan West Road, I regard me as Kublai Khan, sending troops to Luzhou, what is the purpose, I have not been able to come up with an answer, Lu Xiufu said that it is possible, but as a military strategist, even a casual work will imply another purpose,

Kublai Khan sent troops to Luzhou, on the surface, it may be to test the reaction of the Song Dynasty, if your Song Dynasty forcibly counterattacks, then I will take a vote and leave, if I show weakness, then I have to inch in, but its fundamental purpose is to prepare for the capture of Shouchun,

People who can play chess know that one step depends on the next two steps, and the masters can see ten or even thirty steps outside when they take one step.

Kublai Khan is a master, a real master,

However, I seem to be a master.

If you let Yin Tianya and Daofa be the referees, you will definitely recognize this, Kublai Khan and I are both the top two chess players in the world today, the stars are shining, it is difficult to distinguish between them, I suddenly thought,

Xia Gui is also a famous general, and when I said this, I quickly realized in my heart,

"Your Majesty is far-sighted, and the minister is not as good as it."

"Xia Aiqing, you are one of the few famous generals in our dynasty, think about it carefully, what is the purpose of me letting you go to Luzhou."

If you regard the Song Dynasty as a family, I am the owner of this family, so I will think a lot, and Lu Xiufu and others do not have such a broad vision as me after all, and they don't know that Kublai Khan is so powerful, as for generals like Xia Gui, although they are experienced, they don't seem to regard themselves as members of this family, but more like a doorman, naturally they don't think too much, which is why when the Mongols attacked the Southern Song Dynasty, there were so many Han annihilations.

Xia Gui pondered for a while and said, "Your Majesty, the minister thought that at least 20,000 forbidden troops needed to be taken away. ”

"Oh, let's hear it."

"Your Majesty, if you just hold Luzhou, then the minister does not need a single soldier, as long as the 30,000 troops on the Huainan West Road are enough, but if you want to move the defense line north to the south bank of the Huai River, you need more people and horses, how to arrange it specifically, please forgive the ministers for being stupid, the ministers can't think about it for a while, only by being on the scene can there be a real strategy."

"Aiqing is honest." I praised, "Looking at the map and imagining, I can only have a rough idea, only after on-site investigation, can I draw an argument, Xia Aiqing, I can rest assured that Huainan West Road will be handed over to you." ”

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the minister is here, and Huainan West Road is here."

"Well, Xia Aiqing, only I and you know the purpose of your trip, I don't want a third party to know, can you understand."

"Your Majesty, doesn't the plan made by the minister after arriving in Luzhou need to be reported to the Privy Council and the Ministry of War?"

"Yes, of course, Xia Aiqing, you are a smart person, so you naturally know that some plans only need to be reported directly to me." I smiled and said, "Xia Aiqing, you need to always remember that you are the general of my Great Song Dynasty and the minister of me." ”

"Your Majesty, the minister understands."

"Xia Aiqing, I heard that you have two sons."

Xia Gui didn't know why and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, the minister's two sons are serving in the army. ”

"I heard that the tiger father has no dogs, this time Aiqing will take one of them to Luzhou Mansion, and take care of Aiqing's daily life by the way, and the other person will stay at home to take care of your wife."

Xia Gui knew my intentions, and said helplessly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace." ”

"Haha." I smiled again, "Does Aiqing think that I am keeping you as a hostage?" ”

"Your Majesty, minister, minister don't dare."

"Aiqing, have you heard of Lin'an University?"

"Back to Your Majesty, the minister has heard of it."

"Well, I plan to follow the example of Lin'an University, and then establish a royal military university, specializing in cultivating military talents in our dynasty, at present, I am looking for candidates, I have two candidates in my mind for the time being, one is Ouyang Jianqing in the water division, and the other is Xia Song, the son of Aiqing, the president of this university, I will personally concurrently serve, in the future, all of you old generals will be professors of the university, and go to the university to tell young soldiers about your classic combat examples in your free time."

As the minister of the DPRK and China, Xia Gui of course knows that the Royal Lin'an University is run by me, and I have heard a lot of rumors that after graduating from the university, those qualified students will be reused by the royal family, and if Xia Song can enter the newly established Royal Military University, it will be regarded as having something to do with the current royal family.

Judging from the current situation between the DPRK and China, the imperial power has emerged, and it has faintly stabilized the power of the prime minister, in the past, he and the power of the prime minister were able to get a little bit of a relationship, but they did not have a line with the imperial power, this time it was just an opportunity,

Xia Gui turned his worries into joy and said: "Thank you Your Majesty for being able to take a fancy to the dog, and the minister has thanked Your Majesty for your grace on behalf of the dog." ”

"Xia Aiqing, I have always promoted capable people, as long as Xia Song has this ability, he can naturally be appreciated by me."

"Your Majesty, my Xia family will live up to Your Majesty's love."

"Hehe, also, Aiqing is going this time, and I will ensure the normal supply of military salaries for the army."

Xia Gui heard me say this, his old face turned red, and he also understood that I knew his real surname, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this is ,,,,,。 ”

"Xia Aiqing, it's nothing, the soldiers are fighting bloody battles on the front line, of course I should let them eat well and eat well."

Xia Gui's heart warmed, as if he had found a confidant, he hurriedly got up and knelt down and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, that minister Ming said that he would first set off with 2,000 cavalry, and then said that the dog Xia Qing and Wang Sheng, the commander of the infantry army, would lead about 20,000 infantry troops to set off, so feasible." ”

"Okay, I will temporarily appoint you as the envoy of the Luzhou system, and control all the soldiers and horses on the Huainan West Road, and I will announce it in the early days of tomorrow, you will immediately go to the Privy Council to get the talisman and prepare to take command of the expedition."

"Chen Xia Gui obeys the order."

"Xiao Qi, I am going to go to the Privy Council with Xia Aiqing to go through the relevant procedures."

"Yes, official."

"Well, go ahead, ask Ouyang Jianqing to come in."