But not everyone was in favor of the Northern Expedition.

Li Zhi said euphemistically: "Youling, Rongzhi's right arm, Wang Shi will attack, and he will come to resist." There are no less than tens of thousands of people besieging the city, and there are many soldiers, and it is necessary to prepare military rations extensively. ”

Song Jiu replied: "In addition to the frontline for many years, in addition to the use of the soldiers, the imperial court has transferred tax grain from Hedong and Hebei to the border in the past few years, and the border grain has a slight surplus. However, it was used for the Northern Expedition, and the border grain was far from sufficient. And some soldiers are greedy for ink, or some soldiers use grain to make wine, if the deficit is too much, the shortage will be heavier. ”

Li Zhi nodded, this is the advantage of Song Jiu as a privy envoy, if you let Shi Xian answer, I am afraid you will not be able to answer.

He also said: "There is also the side of Youzhou, there is no Lingfu, it is far away from the mountain, and it is difficult to take stones. The strength of the golden soup, not the stone is broken, the machine can be used to make the stone, where to take the stone? These are the three things that the minister is worried about. ”

But he saw that Zhao Kuangyi had made up his mind, and regardless of Zhang Qixian's affairs in the northwest did not settle down, he transferred Zhang Qixian and other generals and ministers back to the capital, Zhang Qixian returned to Xifu, and other generals listened to the arrangement, knowing that things could not be changed, so he said: "If Your Majesty resolutely goes on a northern expedition, the ministers think that the Beijing division is the foundation of the world, and I hope that Your Majesty will not leave the hub, respectfully guard the temple, show the enemy to leisure, comfort the admiration of billions of trillions, this is also the best policy." Daimyo, the throat of Heshuo, or temporarily stationed in Luan, threaten to be a general, to show the strength of the army, and strengthen the army, this is also the middle strategy. If it is far away from the division and brigade, and the border is in person, there is a risk of military aid in the north, and there is a concern about the Central Plains in the south, then the earnestness of the drag, the madness and foolishness of the broken martingale, although the ministers are not good, are ashamed after the former sages. ”

That is, you don't have to be fooled. If you do it again like last time, I'll pull your robe. Pull your war horse and forcibly stop you.

Zhao Kuangyi's face turned red.

Last time in Gaoliang River, his performance was too disgraceful.

But he may be really poor militarily. is not a stubborn emperor, so he gave Xiao Kou the opportunity to perform later.

Therefore, he said: "I am in the capital this time to command remotely. ”

"Your Majesty is wise," Li Zhi retreated.

Not only him, but after the defeat of the Gaoliang River, many ministers often thought that if there was no personal command from Zhao Kuangyi, Yelu Xiuge would not be able to force Zhao Kuangyi to escape, so would the Northern Expedition be successful?

If Zhao Kuangyi doesn't go, it probably doesn't matter.

Originally, Song Jiu didn't want to say it. This time, I finally couldn't help but say it, and said: "Your Majesty, everyone, last time the Gaoliang River was frustrated, some people thought that His Majesty did not do well, and I think it was wrong." That defeat was due to the exhaustion of the soldiers and the neglect of the new force of Jerod. If there is no personal command from His Majesty, with the vision of Jeruxiugo, he can also find other loopholes. When the time comes, the two armies will hold each other, and there will still be tens of thousands of Liao troops coming behind the mountain, but they still can't take the clouds, and maybe they will be defeated even worse. However, His Majesty is the foundation of the country. The master said that if a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, it is best for His Majesty not to venture to the front line again. ”

Don't think that Zhao Kuangyi will be able to win a big victory without blind command this time.

"What do you mean?"

"The minister's idea ......" Song Jiu was confused.

He's done a lot over the years. Including military reforms, increasing state revenues. With troops in the northwest, he even stayed in Liaodong for more than two years. Isn't it for today?

Compared with history, Song Jiu believes that the national strength of the Liao State should be a little weaker, and the national strength of the Song Dynasty should be a little stronger, including the combat effectiveness of the soldiers, which will also be a little stronger.

However, when the country is rich, strong, and has advanced weapons, will it definitely win the war?

Besides, the two demons of Liao.

After being silent for a long time, Song Jiu said: "The minister said a few things, the first is the queen of Liao, what is her relationship with the other two, Chen Zhen didn't pay attention, but according to the intelligence ahead, the minister knows that Lu Dao is more, and even in order to establish his authority, the Liao royal family Zhuozhou assassin Shi Yelu Hugu bumped into Han Derang a few words, Han Derang snatched the weapon in the hands of the guards on the main hall of the Liao royal court, and beat Yelu Hugu to death. But the Liao State is a Rong people, and the people are open, which is nothing at all. On the contrary, under the auspices of Han Derang, Empress Dowager Xiao initiated several reforms, if there is no arrangement of our dynasty, the Liao State is becoming more and more leveled, not to mention anything else, just say Youyun, except for the border people, the rest of the people's lives have been greatly improved in recent years, and these two people should not be underestimated. Please remember, Han Derang, Liao Guo Xiao He also! ”

Everyone fell silent.

Because of this sentence, Song Jiu also said it before the first Northern Expedition.

But few people took it seriously, and as a result, under Han Derang's insistence, the Song army was never able to take Youzhou City.

"Your Majesty, and He Lingtu wrote a book, saying that the orphans and widows of the Liao State are easy to bully, but He Lingtu forgot the words of the soldiers, the mourning soldiers will win, if the Empress Dowager Xiao is not angry, it can be used by our dynasty, but no, the Empress Dowager Xiao is a generation of heroines, she will take advantage of this to arouse the mourning of the Liao army, but increase the combat effectiveness of the Liao army. If you cut down, don't take it lightly, otherwise you will lose even worse this time. ”

Zhao Kuangyi was silent again.

Song Jiu continued: "Also, I don't know how much silk there is in the inner treasury? In the opinion of the ministers, if it is cut, it is better to cut it again next year, and rest for a year this year, if there is no major disaster, the surplus of the treasury, plus the money and silk of the inner treasury, then there is no need to harsh the people, and this surplus can be used to support a huge war. If you get Youyun, it's the best, if you can't get it, as long as it's not a fiasco, it's not a big loss for our dynasty, but the Liao State will be withered because of this, and as long as you send a few envoys to Tartar, Xishan, Zhubu, Goryeo, and Liaodong, the Liao State will inevitably be even weaker. After a few more years of rest, the Third Northern Expedition will inevitably succeed. And after a year of preparation, the Northern Expedition is more certain. ”

Then he arched his hand and said: "The minister has a family in the Liao State, and he wants His Majesty to go on the Northern Expedition more than anyone else, but he can't abolish the public because of his own personal interests, and he hopes that His Majesty will think twice." ”

It can be said that what Song Jiu said was very calm, but Zhao Kuangyi only seized the day and couldn't wait.

There is another person, Song Qi, who was very unwilling to leave the phase, so he wrote repeatedly and supported Zhao Kuangyi's Northern Expedition in a high-profile manner.

He even ridiculed Song Jiu, who originally had more money to support the war, but because Song Jiu made a big fuss and used up most of the treasury savings in the northwest, the expenses were tight.

Zhao Kuangyi didn't listen. Although he also thought that Song Jiu spent a lot of money, he only used troops in the north. If Li Jiqian is still there, he will continue to toss in the northwest. It's not beautiful in the end.

And so the state apparatus set in.

And although he listened to Li Zhi's advice, he was still very confident in his military talents, so he personally planned the entire Northern Expedition plan, but it was inevitable that he would encounter various problems, so he often summoned the ministers of the Western Mansion to the palace to discuss matters.

One day, Zhao Kuangyi summoned the ministers of the Western Mansion to the palace six times to discuss.

Song Jiu and Wang Xian, Zhang Qixian, and Wang Wei were very depressed, although the imperial city of the Song Dynasty was not as good as the imperial city of the Tang Dynasty, it was not small, and the Privy Council was several hundred meters away from the Great Interior. One round trip is more than one kilometer, and six round trips is seven or eight kilometers.

Run, run on both sides every day, not in Xifu, just in Ouchi, or on the road in between.

In fact, war is very costly.

After the war, Zhao Pu used the people of Nanyang as an example, more than 10,000 taxpayers had to pay 100,000 yuan to transport 20,000 stone of military grain to the front line of Mozhou, and each household had to bear an average of 10 yuan tax at a time. It is said that most of the main households are overwhelmed. More than six or seven percent of the cattle were sold, and there were even tragedies of selling children and daughters who hanged themselves.

Zhao Puna exaggerated, but because of this war, it did make the people of the Song Dynasty suffer again. In addition, the cost mentioned by Zhao Pu is also relatively accurate. Although one stone of grain in the Song Dynasty was less than 300 wen in the Song Dynasty. If it is corn, it will be cheaper, but it will cost five times to transport it to Mozhou. This is still Mozhou, if you go to the northwest. The cost is higher.

Zhao Pu was hindsight, but at this time everyone asked for the Northern Expedition. Including Hu Dan, Hu Dan said in the book. We have recovered Taiyuan for seven years, and now the army is strong, and it is a good reward system, I believe that our army will be able to easily take Youyan. There are four city walls in Youzhou, so we will send four brave generals to attack the city respectively, and there are ten intersections in the north of Youzhou City that can go south, so we will send ten generals to guard them respectively to prevent the enemy from going south to rescue. In this way, the capture of Youzhou is just around the corner.

Song Jiu wanted to scold Hu Dan, but Hu Dan's nonsense made Zhao Kuangyi like it, and he was immediately promoted and awarded the title of intellectual system, which made Wang Hu almost go into shock with anger.

The whole country, Song Jiu is not counted, only Li Zhi is more sober, seeing that everyone is so proud, he persuaded him several times, but no one listened, so he angrily asked for the resignation. After the last, he was exempted from the Ministry of Rites.

At this time, Yelu oblique completed a great victory.

He stayed in Huanglong Mansion for several years, gradually figured out the situation in the lower reaches of the Tongjiang River, and plotted against several departments, and then took advantage of the cold of the first month, Wu Xuanming was unprepared, and suddenly sent troops to Wuya City.

In this battle, Wu Xuanming lost six important cities, including his royal capital, Ujak City. Let the Liao army capture hundreds of people, nearly 100,000 excellent Northeast horses, as well as a large number of weapons, baggage, grain and grass.

Fortunately, Shi Pu faithfully carried out Song Jiu's strategy, taking advantage of the characteristics of Liaodong's vast land and sparsely populated land, large mountains and dense forests, constantly fighting guerrillas in the back, harassing the supply of the Liao army, and escorting the troops of the people and horses back, forcing Yelu to retreat.

Otherwise, Yelu can be forced to annihilate the entire Bohai Kingdom.

It's a pity that it's too far away, otherwise after Song Jiu learns about it, he will definitely insist on fighting in the coming year and avoid its edge.

The Northern Expedition of the Song Dynasty was issued, and in just half a month, all the troops and generals were assembled.

The pawns are divided into three ways.

The East Route Army deployed Cao Bin as the former army of the Youzhou Daoxing camp, Cui Yanjin as the deputy, Guo Shouwen as the capital supervisor, and Fu Qian, Li Yanbin, Ma Zheng, Yang Chongjin, Fan Yanzhao, Li Jilong, Xue Jishao, Shi Qi, Liu Zhixin, Fu Yanshou, He Lingtu and other generals.

In addition, the general Mi Xin was deployed for the camp and the horse infantry army in the northwest of Youzhou, Du Yangui was the deputy, and Zhao Yanpu, Zhang Shao, and Dong Yuan were the capital supervisors. At the same time, there are also generals such as Cai Yu, Han Yanqing, Dou Hui, and Cao Mei.

The two armies took Xincheng and Zhuozhou.

The commander of the Middle Route Army was Tian Chongjin, Wu Yuanfu and Yuan Jizhong were the capital supervisors, and there were generals such as Jing Si, Zhang Chengyan, and An Dezuo under the account.

The Western Route Army had Pan Mei as the main general, Yang Ye as the deputy general, Wang Yu and Liu Wenyu as the capital supervisors, and Yang Yanlang and other generals under him.

Also, let Gao Qiong lead the sailors of the building boat to go to sea from Cangzhou and attack Pingzhou in the north.

He also ordered Wang Chengmei and Zhe Yuqing to lead the troops to attack the West Mountain of Liao. But these two paths are sideways. At the same time, he sent a scout to sneak into Liaodong and immediately sent a letter to Wu Xuanming, asking him to cooperate with the counterattack on Xiantong Erzhou.

It should be said that not to mention weapons, and the morale of the soldiers, even from the offensive line, there are more choices than in history. And there was probably no longer a threat from Western Xia, which was why Song Jiu did not resolutely oppose the expedition.

The main force is the East Route Army, 120,000 soldiers and horses, and the Middle Road and West Route Army have a total of 80,000 soldiers and horses, including Gao Qiong's, a total of 220,000 forbidden troops, which is also the maximum strength that the Song Dynasty can handle. But in fact, there are more than that, there are also village soldiers, as well as archers and strong men in Hebei, with more than 300,000 troops. If you add the people, then the number is even larger. If you add the two families of Zhewang and Wu Xuanming's subordinates, it may be that the regular strength alone is actually close to 300,000 soldiers and horses.

The plan was mainly drawn up by Zhao Kuangyi.

In view of the lesson of the last time, Zhao Kuangyi changed his strategy, so he faced Youzhou head-on with the strongest soldiers and horses, but did not fight, but slowly slowed down, attracting the main force of the Liao army under the city of Youzhou, and let the two roads in the middle and west go straight to the back of the mountain (Youyun Sixteen Prefectures, the seven states of Tanshun Ji Youzhuo and Moying in the southeast direction of the north branch of Taihang Mountain are called the seven states in front of the mountain, and the Confucian concubine Xinwu Yunshuo Huanhuan in the northwest of Taihang Mountain should be called the Kyushu behind the mountain, and some of them are under the control of the Song Dynasty), then the Liao State will take care of one and lose the other, and how to choose from the perspective of the other party must be to choose to keep the thistle, then after the Central and Western Second Route armies successfully took the mountain, the Third Route Army successfully met in front of the mountain, and the situation was settled in one fell swoop.

Seems like a good strategy...... But Song Jiu thought about it for a long time after hearing this, and felt that something was wrong, mainly because he was not too proficient in military affairs, so he didn't know what was wrong. If you can't think of it, you can't say it.

The plan was discussed, but the candidate was chosen by Zhao Kuangyi himself.

Seeing this list, Song Jiu was shocked, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, slow down." (To be continued......)