The next morning, in the Ziwei Partial Palace, the Seven Ministers of the Zhizheng Hall and the Son of Heaven Zhao Ji held a secret military meeting.

Since the passage of the education reform law last year, all the changes have been temporarily shelved, and the focus of the Zhizheng Hall has shifted to the war against the Liao State.

This militaristic discussion was initiated by Fan Ning, who reported to the Son of Heaven and the ministers of the Zhizheng Hall on the situation of the inspection of Taiyuan.

"At present, there are 520,000 people in Taiyuan City, 80,000 troops, 1.2 million stone of grain, 700,000 quintals of forage, all kinds of war materials and firearms, and there is no ......problem in holding on for a year."

Wang Anshi raised his hand and asked, "May I ask Xianggong Xiaofan, is 520,000 people a little too much?" I think it would be enough to reduce it to 300,000 people. ”

Fu Bi also said: "Although the base of the people is large, it is good for recruiting people, but 500,000 people eat and drink Lazar every day is also a huge pressure on the city, a little negligence will cause epidemics, it is impossible to prevent it, I also think that the population should be reduced again, 300,000 is enough!" ”

The public has expressed their opinions, and they all believe that 500,000 people is too much, which is not conducive to management.

At this time, Zhao Ji, the Son of Heaven, said: "Fan Xianggong, everyone thinks that 500,000 people are too much, so what do you think?" ”

Fan Ning bowed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, the population of Taiyuan was originally in the early 400,000s, plus some of the population moved from various counties, so that the population increased to 520,000. ”

"Is it too late to migrate?" Zhao Ji asked again.

"From the waterway, it should be in time."

"Then the old and weak, women and children will all migrate south, and I also think that 300,000 people is more appropriate."

Seeing that everyone was in agreement, Fan Ning nodded, "Since Your Majesty and all the ministers think that 300,000 is suitable, then I immediately order the army to organize the people to move south." ”

Zhao Ji smiled slightly: "This issue has reached a consensus, then Fan Xianggong, please continue!" ”

Fan Ning continued: "Just now Weichen mentioned the waterway, now let's talk about the eastern front, judging from the information currently available, the Liao army is planning to cross the sea and land from Dengzhou or Laizhou, occupy the Shandong Peninsula with superior forces, and use this as the foundation, then the question arises, the Liao State is fighting on two fronts at the same time, where is its focus?" ”

Fan Ning glanced at everyone, and said slowly: "I think the focus of the Liao army is still on the Eastern Front, which is determined by the goal of the Liao State to launch a war, they want to plunder the Great Song Dynasty, and at the same time force the Great Song Dynasty to give them a large amount of coins every year, so they must start from the Eastern Front." ”

"I'm sorry! I'll bother you a little longer. ”

Wang Anshi couldn't help but say again: "Since Xiao Fan Xianggong thinks that the focus of the Liao State is still on the eastern front, then what's the point of them attacking Taiyuan?" ”

Fan Ning said unhurriedly: "The attack on Taiyuan is just a kind of confusion, giving us the illusion that they will focus on attacking the Western Front, once we deploy heavy troops on the Western Front, then the Liao army on the Western Front will immediately kill from Jingcheng to Hebei and continue to move south from Hebei, while their Eastern Route Army will continue to sweep the Central Plains and threaten the capital based on the Shandong Peninsula, while the Hebei Liao Army will take the pontoon bridge to go south and join the Liao Army on the Eastern Front in Bianliang, this is my judgment." ”

"But this is just Xiao Fan Xianggong's speculation?" Wang Anshi said again.

"It's really my guess!"

Fan Ning said calmly: "But it's not a guess, it's speculation based on a lot of intelligence, Yelu Hongji is not a stupid person, with the infiltration of the Liao State into the Great Song Dynasty, it is impossible for him not to know the movements of the Song army in Taiyuan, so he deployed 150,000 cavalry in Datong Mansion to know that they have no intention of attacking the city, but just a false shot in Taiyuan, and then kill Hebei, so we must deploy heavy troops in Taihang Jingcheng to prevent him from killing from Taiyuan to Hebei." ”

"In that case, why deploy 80,000 heavy troops in Taiyuan?" Fu Bi asked puzzled.

Fan Ning smiled slightly, "That's to prevent the Liao State from failing to break through Hebei and having to turn around and attack Taiyuan, so the Liao State still wants to attack Taiyuan, but instead of taking the initiative to attack, it is forced to attack." ”

"Then how does the Song army plan to deal with it on the East Road?" Ouyang Xiu asked.

Fanning said again: "Since the enemy is coming, of course we are going by ship, and I will not let them land successfully!" ”

"Can Fan Xianggong be specific?"

Fanning ordered a map to be hung, and he pointed to it to show everyone.

"I have also made full preparations on the eastern front, the grain sent from Kunzhou for two consecutive years has been stationed on Shenmi Island and Heping Island, a total of one million stones, 50,000 troops are stationed on Shenmi Island, more than 500 large and small warships, and the enemy ships sail out of the Yalu River, so the army of the base will deal with them, in order to prevent accidents, I have deployed another 10,000 sailors and 200 warships in Dengzhou, and they will send troops to cooperate with interception to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

After a pause, Fan Ning saw that no one had any doubts, and continued: "This time Kunzhou will also send troops, in the past two years, the logistics military city of Whale Prefecture has been completed, including the harbor and warehouse, and the Kunzhou army will attack the lair of the Liao State from the waterway, and Zhang Qisima will be in charge." ”

"Then how should the Liao army in Youzhou deal with it?" Zeng Gongliang raised his hand and asked.

"The Youzhou Liao army is dealt with by the Hebei army, in fact, in this Song-Liao War, my lowest strategic goal is to recover Youyan."

Speaking of recovering Youyan, the monarchs and ministers present were all in good spirits, he did not doubt Fan Ning's goal, last year no one thought that he would destroy Western Xia and recover the Hexi Corridor, but Fan Ning achieved it.

This time, Fan Ning proposed to recover Youyan, and everyone's hearts were on fire, this is a major event that has been looking forward to for a hundred years.

"Will the Han people in Youzhou belong to the Great Song Dynasty?" Zhao Ji asked a little worriedly.

"Definitely!"

Fan Ning smiled slightly: "The Han people of Liao are very miserable now, and they are all dreaming of Wang Shi recovering Youyan, and the Song army going north, I believe that the Han people of Youyan will definitely dust pots and pulp to welcome each other." ”

The atmosphere in the council hall became warm, and everyone expressed their views on the battle of Liao, and Wang Anshi proposed to fight steadily and steadily, not to rush forward, and to be prepared for a long-term battle, which won the approval of everyone.

Han Jiang proposed to contact the Tiele tribes in the grassland and encourage the Tiele tribes to resist the cruel exploitation of the Liao State.

Fu Bi reminded everyone to be prepared to welcome the return of the Youyan Han people to the south and look for a temporary place to settle.

With this day's militaristic deliberations as the demarcation, the Great Song Dynasty entered the second stage of war preparations, and the Great Song Dynasty will invest 500,000 regular troops and 500,000 militiamen, 4 million stones of grain, and 2 million taels of gold, which will be converted into 20 million yuan of money and 30 million catties of pig iron, thus opening the largest war preparations since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty.

After the militaristic deliberations, the Son of Heaven Zhao Ji summoned Fan Ning alone.

"Your Majesty seems to be a little worried?" Fan Ning saw a trace of worry in Zhao Ji's eyes.

Zhao Ji sighed, "How can you not be worried?" Although the national strength of the Liao army has declined, the combat effectiveness of the Khitans is still very strong, if it were not for Aiqing's use of the city defense battle and the advantage of the naval army, I am afraid we still have no chance of winning. ”

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, the current Liao State is not the Liao State of seventy years ago, the dynasty established by the Hu people, if it is not completely sinicized, it will never exceed a hundred years, the Liao State seems to be powerful on the surface, but the foundation is empty, although their territory is vast, but there is no population of the Great Song Dynasty, let alone the rich land of the Great Song Dynasty, and there is no strong cultural and historical heritage of the Great Song Dynasty, they do not have any support at all, once they fall, they will be completely crushed."

Fan Ning's analysis made Zhao Ji's blocked heart feel a lot more comfortable, he nodded and said: "During this time, the officials of the Manchu Dynasty are asking me to negotiate peace with the Liao State, and they are all saying that the 100,000 iron cavalry of the Liao State and the 500,000 cavalry of the Song Army can't resist it. ”

Fan Ning lowered his voice and said: "Your Majesty, the preparation for the Taiyuan war is the biggest strategic deception made by Weichen, and whether the Taiyuan deception can succeed is very important to the entire campaign." ”

Zhao Ji was stunned, "I don't understand, can Aiqing make it clear?" ”

Fan Ning whispered a few words, and Zhao Ji's eyes widened, "Can it really succeed?" ”

Fan Ning nodded, "Wei Chen came back this time and went to Jingcheng, so I am sure that it will succeed." ”

Zhao Ji was so excited that he rubbed his hands and said, "Then what do you need me to do?" ”

"If Your Majesty is willing to go to Taiyuan to inspect the defense, Weichen's strategic deception will be more successful."

Zhao Ji hesitated slightly, Fan Ning understood his worries, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty can take a boat to Taiyuan, if the Liao army kills, Your Majesty can also take a boat to enter Fenshui, with the escort of the navy, there will be no mistakes." ”

Zhao Ji nodded slowly, "Okay!" I obeyed Fan Aiqing's arrangement and personally went to Taiyuan to inspect the defense. ”