But he also thought that even if there were courtiers like Wei Liaoweng who dared to speak out, there were not many in the court. Emperor Duanping was not considered a faint monarch in the true sense of history in history, and even because of the promotion of a group of science masters into the imperial court, he was widely praised among the people. The emperor admired the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, and he also understood that a Ming Jun's hall should accommodate a few ministers who dared to speak. Even if Tang Taizong, who is strong and strong, can personally go into battle, there must be a Wei Zheng.

Thinking of this, the emperor couldn't help but raise Mingjun's shelf: "Qing's words are reasonable." Siming talents are famous all over the world, although there are some unsatisfactory places, after all, they are flaws. That's why I'm adding Enke, it's just trying to be wild, so how can I keep the talents out of the cardinal? It's just that he lost in Luo, and Shi Songzhi can't help but say that he is also responsible. hastily promoted him to the political hall, which disappointed the world's hopes. After next year's autumn defense, let's choose an opportunity to select a powerful person from the four Ming backgrounds to enter the political hall. ”

"First ask the court to unite as one, and then you can command the locality, select generals to train troops, reserve grain and grass, and win a decisive victory on the border with the Hu people." Wei Liaoweng said solemnly: "The strong enemy is outside, and the internal fighting is endless, and the disaster is in front of you." ”

"I know." There was a hint of impatience in the emperor's tone: "I dare not compare with the ancient Ming Jun, but I am also diligent in government affairs every day, thinking that I can catch up with Yao Shun. But what's the use of me working alone? Even if there is a sage king, there must be a sage courtier. ”

Wei Liaoweng saw that the emperor was a little unhappy, and he could only comfort: "There are also loyal and good people in the city of a hundred miles." As long as His Majesty can speak widely, humbly accept advice, so that the feelings can be reached, and the talented people can be heard, talents will always emerge in a steady stream. This time, the minister went to Jinghu to supervise the battle, and he saw many young talents, Lianghuai and Sichuan, the minister did not see it with his own eyes and did not dare to assert it, the minister can guarantee that in just Jinghu and one place, there will be at least three or five people who can be promoted to the envoy of the festival in the future. ”

When the emperor heard that his tone was so resolute, he became interested and asked, "What kind of materials did you see when Qing went down this time?" Let's talk about it in detail. ”

Wei Liaoweng regretted it in his heart, and said it for a while, letting these young people who were sharp enter the field of vision of the Son of Heaven too early, would it be a blessing or a curse for them?

It was already the second watch, and the moon in Lin'an today was half covered by thin clouds, and the moonlight became more and more dim.

In the corner of Funing Palace in the north of the imperial city, the lights are still in hand. The Son of Heaven above the Great Song Dynasty did not go to bed early as usual.

He asked the chamberlain to bring a complete map of the geography of the world, hung it on the screen, and asked the little yellow door to take the lamp and shine it, and he approached to check it carefully.

Lianghuai, here is the border area closest to the Beijing Division, but the people are strong and capable of fighting, the soldiers are still elite, and the city walls are still perfect. Although the Mongols are said to have millions of horses, it is not so easy to break through here. At that time, the prince of Hailing of the Jin State led 600,000 horses and horses to march south from Lianghuai. Isn't it also blocked on the river? The most important thing is that behind the two Huai is an insurmountable moat, as well as the 70,000 elite army of the military horse division in front of the Lin'an Palace, once the situation changes, reinforcements can be carried out immediately.

Sichuan, the emperor saw the winding mountains on the border and felt a burst of relief, Bashu is known as the natural danger, there are Qinba mountains to self-consolidation. The Tang people have a discussion that "it is difficult to go to the sky". In the past, the Wei army had twice entered Hanzhong, and it is said that Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu, only used 1,000 men and horses to guard the pass, and intercepted the 100,000 army of Wei. Even if Zhong Hui and Deng Ai destroy Shu in the future, it will only take a detour to Yinping Road and win by luck.

But since the beginning of the war, no, even before the start of the war, all the emperor heard from all his courtiers was unfavorable remarks about the defense of Shukou. Some people say that the actual strength of Shukou is actually less than 30,000, and most of them are old and weak soldiers, and the most people with combat effectiveness are only seven or eight thousand.

Others say that the army in Shukou was treated poorly, and the soldiers could only eat brown rice mixed with sand and soil, and stinky greens. In normal times, the military uniform is worn and old, almost like a beggar. He also said that the army of Shu was extremely violent, and often staged mutinies to blackmail local pacification envoys and state and county officials. Moreover, the army of Shu has a very bad problem, when it encounters the enemy, it will retreat at every turn, and when it is dispersed, it will become bandits, robbing houses everywhere, harming the people, and even the most elite cavalry among them also pretending to be the appearance of the Mongols and Tubo, and robbing unscrupulously.

Some people complained that they had known that Lu Dao was in this situation today, and they should have accepted the surrender of Wang Shixian, the general of the Jin State of Gongchang Mansion, at least when the Mongols went south, they could have a fence in front of them. And Wang Shixian has become their striker instead.

The words of a school of scholars are the words of a school of scholars. The Emperor thought angrily. What kind of person is Wang Shixian, he is the hero of Longnan, and he was recruited by the Jin State to become a local general, this kind of person is the most at both ends of the first rat, in the face of the Mongol army, is he so willing to act as a barrier to the Great Song Dynasty? When the time comes, the story of Guo Yaoshi in Youzhou will be repeated, and these scholars will accuse the imperial court of not distinguishing between good and bad, so they will casually recruit suspicious generals into their command.

It's easy to talk and hard to do. At this time, he missed Zheng Qingzhi who was decisive and could understand his own wishes. I further thought of the banquet held in Zheng Qing's house, and the words that the second son of the Zheng family had said.

Could it be that he should really give Zhao Yanna an order to prepare for a protracted war after the Shukou breakthrough?

Thinking so, he returned to the imperial case, picked up his pen and hurriedly wrote a few words, and shouted, "Someone." ”

A young eunuch hurried up to the temple.

The emperor looked at him and asked, "Where is Chen Meisheng?" ”

The young eunuch lowered his head and replied, "Gonggong Chen is infected with a fever today, and he does not dare to come to serve His Majesty. Send the villain to replace him on the shift. ”

The Emperor asked again, "What is your name?" ”

The eunuch didn't even dare to be angry, but still lowered his head and said, "The villain is Dong Songchen, the minister of the Inner Servant Province. ”

The emperor nodded and ordered: "You go and show this edict to the people on duty in the political affairs hall, and ask them to discuss a result before tomorrow morning, don't go directly to the court, and go to the Funing Palace first to report to me face to face." ”

The emperor's orders did not conform to the rules of the imperial court. But Dong Songchen's new arrival in the inner court is not very clear. Even if he knew, he didn't dare to hesitate at all. He immediately took the edict and bowed out of the palace.

The emperor felt that the minion looked quite obedient, and finally relieved some of his depressed mood a little. He put down his pen and told the little yellow door to move the lantern closer to the map. The eyes fell on the Jinghu place between Sichuan and the two Huai.

The big circle in the upper reaches of Jinghu Lake is Xiangyang City, and the small circle across the water is Fancheng. These two castles are the teeth of Gyeongho, and Gyeongho is the barrier of Gyeonggi.

The emperor picked up the pen on the table again and wrote a few names in small block letters on the edge of Xiangyang City. He put down his pen, stared at these names for a long time, sighed softly, and asked himself: "The world is so big, is it only these few people who can use it?" ”

While the Emperor was saying these words, he suddenly heard the sound of a ring outside the house.

It was the cold time of the night, and the sound of the gentle footsteps and the gentle impact of the ring was particularly clear.

Even if he didn't have to ask, he knew who was coming at this time.

In the entire harem, in addition to the queen mother and the queen, there is only one lady who dares to break into Funing Palace at night.

The chamberlain reported: "Concubine Jia asked to see the emperor. ”

The Emperor turned around and said, "Let her in." ”

Surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, the noble concubine Jia gently stepped into the house, and Ying Ying bowed: "The concubine has seen the official family." ”

The emperor asked, "It's already so late at night, what are you doing in Funing Palace?" ”

Jia Shi said calmly: "The concubine saw that the lights in the Funing Palace had been on, and she knew that His Majesty was working on state affairs until late at night, so she went to the imperial kitchen to personally cook some pearl lotus seed soup for the official family and sent it to His Majesty, so that His Majesty could do less to satisfy his hunger." ”

As he spoke, he gestured with his eyes, and the inner attendants standing on the side hurriedly took the food box in the hands of the palace maid, filled a bowl of pearl lotus seed soup, put it on the imperial case, and put eight treasure fruits and various small snacks.

Jia Guifei said softly: "Your Majesty is worried about the world, don't work the dragon body, the health of Your Majesty is the health of all officials and people." The concubine then retired. ”

A warm current surged in the emperor's heart, he put down the pen in his hand, picked up the bowl and said, "It doesn't hurt if you stay here for a while." ”

Jia Guifei answered a promise, secretly happy in her heart, but this little joy must not be half revealed, if the emperor noticed, many previous efforts would be in vain.

The emperor drank half a bowl of soup and said to Jia, "You sit down." ”

Immediately, a stool was brought by the attendants, and the concubine sat down beside the emperor.

The Emperor put down the bowl and pointed to the map hanging on the screen and said, "I was looking at that just now." ”

The Great Song Dynasty inherited the legacy of the Tang Dynasty, and the harem interfered in political affairs, and the control was not as harsh as that of later generations. Although various palace rules and ancestral precepts emphasize that women should not interfere in political affairs, in fact, the tradition of harem politics has always quietly existed.

The concubine smiled lightly: "Your Majesty is strategizing, this matter of transferring troops and sending generals to the concubine is completely a layman, but with the wisdom of the official family, I think the planning must be excellent." ”

The emperor felt a burst of pride, what he loved most about Concubine Jia was that she slightly violated the courtesy of the monarch and ministers, and she was coquettish to herself, pretending to be a little woman, so that she could loosen herself a little from the shackles of the Ninefold Son of Heaven and enjoy a moment as a man.