"Hey, shouldn't it be about rewarding the generals of the border army? Why are you arguing again? ”

As the helmsman of the Great Song Dynasty, Zhao Xu often wanders above the court, and there are many reasons for his distraction. For example, he wants to be a ledge and does not want to follow the ideas of the ministers.

For example, the ministers always disrupted his plans without even realizing it.

Just like the current situation, Zeng Bu and Li Qingchen competed in private, but the horse boy who came out was not Zeng Bu's person, but Xing Shu's person, which made Li Qingchen have to wonder if it would be Zhang Dan's conspiracy.

Since he reluctantly became this privy envoy, Li Qingchen felt the malice around him, especially Zhang Dan's wariness of him, which made him feel helpless and sad. He was interested in Su Zhe's official position before, and that was because Su Zhe's official position was as long as he added a Shangshu left servant, he was the prime minister with real power. The status can be comparable to that of Zhang.

As long as Li Qingchen drives Su Zhe out of the court, after he occupies Su Zhe's official position, he can start to peek into the position of prime minister.

As for Cai Bian, a junior who asked him to be a privy envoy, it was already a lot cheaper for him.

But today's Zhangdian is no longer the Zhangdian of ten years ago, cautious, wary of people everywhere, and even suspicious in private at every turn, which made several of his plans fail.

In particular, the emperor does not seem to support him either, which is embarrassing.

Any minister of the court, who wants to be the prime minister, without the nod of the emperor, this last step is not going up.

Thinking that the emperor might be prejudiced against him, Li Qingchen also had a lot less obsession with wanting to be the prime minister. Especially seeing that there was another Zeng Bu eyeing him, which made him even more uneasy.

Zeng Bu's family background is much better than that of other bigwigs in the court, not to mention his brother Zeng Gong, he is also one of the seven sages of the Zeng family, the son of one of the best big families in the south, and his protégés are all over the officialdom of the Great Song Dynasty. In particular, Zeng Bu's ability overlaps with Li Qingchen, unlike the executive faction like Zhang Dun, Zeng Bu, like Li Qingchen, used to be the most important think tank around Wang Anshi.

Li Qingchen led the reform of Yuanfeng and changed the official positions in the Great Song Dynasty, which was more conducive to the implementation of the reforms.

And Zeng Buke helped Wang Anshi formulate the City Change Law, and he was one of the formulators of the law.

On the contrary, most of the practical talents like Cai Qu and Zhang Dian are responsible for specific things and become the executors of the new law.

Those who use their brains are definitely a little stronger than those who use their hands, which is easier to resonate with among readers. It's a pity that both of them were pressed under Zhang Dun, and in front of the position of prime minister, they could only swallow saliva and quench their thirst.

Even as a privy envoy, Li Qingchen's life was not easy.

He couldn't figure it out, what was the boss of this broken official? Are your eyes hot one by one? Only when he became a privy envoy did he understand how difficult it was to specify a strategy for the Great Song Dynasty. The army and military industry of the Great Song Dynasty are naturally very strong, but the problem is that they always win first and then lose in wars, and the little face they earn can be lost in a blink of an eye, and even the underwear can be picked up.

The army of the Great Song Dynasty was difficult to command, and the privy envoy of the Great Song Dynasty was even more difficult to serve.

Li Qingchen had a deep understanding of this, and originally, he was a little disheartened. But suddenly, Zhang Dian didn't like him, Zeng Bu also made small moves, and even Cai Jing seemed to have thoughts about him, which made him angry.

Honest people, should they be bullied?

Li Qingchen simply didn't leave, this Northwest War, he was terrified for a long time, and he was about to lose and lose. Although it doesn't have much to do with him, if it's really far-fetched, there will inevitably be some blame.

But suddenly, good news came from the front, which made him not believe it.

As a last resort, arrange for the Privy Council to go to the northwest to investigate the news, so as to be foolproof. What if it's a trap? I stupidly went to report the good news to the emperor, and then the news from the front line was not good news at all, but bad news of a big defeat?

The crime of deceitful kings cannot be explained clearly in two sentences.

Li Qingchen calmly glanced at the court, especially at Zhang Dian for a long time. Zhang Dan, who didn't do anything wrong, was also looked at by Li Qingchen's compassionate eyes, turned his back, and didn't pay attention to him. On the contrary, Li Qingchen recognized that it was Zhang Dun's ghost, and of course Xing Shu, this product actually took refuge in Zhang Dan! Li Qingchen felt that it was really impossible for a person like Xing Shu not to take refuge in Zhang Dun.

Li Qingchen came out of the ranks, bowed to Emperor Zhao Xu and said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Yu Shitai slandered the important ministers of the imperial court, and as an official, he convicted the important ministers of the imperial court without evidence and no evidence, and he was a traitor of the country. ”

The other party was just a little minion, Li Qingchen didn't care at all, he paused, and looked at Xing Shu with contempt: "Xing Shangshu, it doesn't matter if your niece and son-in-law go to Dali Temple, right?" ”

After Xing Shu heard this, his face turned green. If it were according to the ordinary court rules, Li Qingchen should defend himself, but now, Li Qingchen didn't bother to defend himself at all, but instead targeted Xing Shu, and asked Xing Shu by name: "What kind of heart do you have this old boy?" ”

Xing Shu shouted: "Your Majesty, the minister is wronged!" ”

Seeing this, Zhao Xu pondered in his heart. Li Qingchen should not be untargeted, he is having a hard time now, mainly because of the previous Western Xia attack, and the Privy Council can't come up with an effective way.

Now Li Qingchen has broken the rules, bypassed the impeachment of the official, and stabbed the enemy directly.

Don't really say it, the effect should be good, Xing Shu was immediately anxious.

Zhao Xu said helplessly: "Ladies and gentlemen, since I ascended the throne, I have been bullied by Western Xia for a long time, and now the border army has won a big victory, which is a great blessing for my dynasty." As Li Qing said, there is no evidence, and it is difficult to convince the public to impeach only on the basis of selfishness, how reckless? ”

Speaking of this, Zhao Xu changed his words and said: "As for the good news of the border army, I also received a secret report from Su Qing, so there should be no mistake. The Privy Council did not report it, or for other reasons. ”

Zeng Bu was instantly stunned when he saw Xing Shu, so he had to go down in person: "Your Majesty, since the border army has won a big victory, why did the Privy Council hide the news, and what is the reason?" ”

Subsequently, Zeng Bu stared at Li Qingchen deadly, as long as Li Qingchen couldn't explain it, it was time for him to make trouble.

However, Li Qingchen had already prepared and said: "The statistics in the battle report are unprecedented victories for our dynasty, and they cannot be treated unless they are cautious. Secondly, in the battle report, before the deputy marshal of the elite Iron Harrier of Western Xia was killed, the Iron Harrier lost more than 1,000 riders. More than 20,000 Xixia soldiers were killed and captured, but the number of troops participating in the battle in our Beijing camp did not exceed 7,000. As a last resort, the minister had arranged for the Privy Council officials to go to Yan Yan Road yesterday to verify. ”

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In the main hall, there was the sound of gasping cold air everywhere.

The Great Song and Western Xia fought for fifty years, and never annihilated so many Western Xia troops on the battlefield. Especially the Iron Harrier, once the Western Xia uses this elite to appear on the battlefield, it will always be invincible.

The Iron Harrier has a strong defense, a powerful ability to rush and kill on the plains, and even the Divine Arm Bow can't help this kind of heavy cavalry with heavy armor.

More than a thousand were killed at once, and people who were familiar with the Great Song and Western Xia wars couldn't believe it, it was true. You must know that there are only 3,000 Iron Harriers in Western Xia.

Zeng Bu didn't know the actual situation, but his eyes in the Privy Council told him what he knew.

"It can't be, right?" Zhang Dian was surprised.

Even Zhang Dian felt that there was something wrong with the good news, the iron harrier was powerful, although he had not seen it, but the ears of the records he heard were calloused. How did it fail without warning? And it was done by the old soldiers of the Beijing camp, in addition to making trouble, these people have never heard of fighting!

According to the rules of the court, Zhang Dian was not granted the right to know the military affairs by the emperor.

In other words, the Privy Council has no right to interfere in the affairs of the Privy Council.

This was also the beginning of the contradiction between Zhang Dian and Li Qingchen. Li Qingchen tried his best to reject Zhang Dian, and Zhang Dian's heart was really itching, if he stood in the court and asked a group of Wenchen: "Which of you knows how to fight better than the old man?" ”

There are no guts and bandits, not a single one.

But he was obviously the person who knew the most about military combat, but he was excluded from the discussion of military strategy, and only Zhang Dian himself knew about this grievance.

So he could only hold back his thoughts, and even at the banquet outside, Zhang Dian often complained that the prime minister did not have the power to govern the army, and it was incomplete.

If it were normal, Zhang Dian asked, Li Qingchen would definitely go back.

However, at this time, Li Qingchen was also very confused. The Iron Harrier is very powerful, the Great Song Dynasty and the Western Xia have been fighting for fifty years, and there is no restriction on the appearance of the Iron Harrier's troops at all.

It stands to reason that the Iron Harrier will not lose so much.

But in the battle report, it was truly recorded that the deputy commander of the Iron Harrier, Yan Qiman, should also be the main general of the Western Xia army attacking the Yan Road, but he was killed in front of the battle.

It's weird to think about it this way.

Zhang Dian asked: "Has the Privy Council designated the battle formation, if it is taken out, it may be possible to see the clues." This is also the method that Zhang Dian thought of was not a way.

After all, the Great Song Dynasty Operation, and the battle formations of many wars were drawn up by the Privy Council. If there was a battle formation map, Zhang Dian felt that with the military talent of his countrymen, he should be able to deduce some clues.

However, Li Qingchen sneered disdainfully: "The Privy Council has not designated a formation map for thousands of people to fight, so I can't do this." Moreover, the Privy Council overstepping its authority is contrary to the implementation of the law of dismissal. ”

In a word, Li Qingchen sent Zhang Dian back.

Emperor Zhao Xu also wanted to know the reason, and he asked, "Then did Li Qing make any other discoveries?" ”

Li Qingchen sighed and said, "The minister estimates that it may be the cause of the artillery. ”

"Artillery?"

Zhang Dian hadn't heard of it, and looked back at the Ministry of Industry, and the other party shook his head helplessly: "The Ministry of Industry has not supervised the manufacture of weapons like artillery." ”

"So where did this come from?" Zhang Dun is going crazy, is this good news serious? Why is such an important detail not being said?

Emperor Zhao Xu thought about it, but said in affirmative: "Su Qing's secret report also talked about artillery, and before the war, hundreds of doors were built in Fushidu, and they were taken to the battlefield by the Beijing camp. The main general Cheng Zhijie ...... It may have been known that people have made good use of this never-before-seen weapon, and have brought into play great results. ”

"Cheng Zhijie's ability is insufficient, and his enthusiasm is not enough to succeed." Zhang Dan's eccentricity is all kinds of ridicule for people who don't look down on him, how can a waste like Cheng Zhijie get into his eyes.

If it were normal, Liu Baosheng, the Taishi, would just come to the court to pretend, but as soon as Zhang Duan opened his mouth, he treated his son-in-law as a waste, which made him how could he bear it. Liu Baosheng said angrily: "Your Majesty, my son-in-law has made meritorious contributions to the Great Song Dynasty, shed blood for the Great Song Dynasty, and served the country loyally, but let Zhang Xiangwu become a mediocre talent. Let's ask, Yong can defeat the Western Xia army in the northwest? ”

Zhang Dian snorted coldly: "Whether it is your son-in-law's credit, let's talk about it!" ”

But Liu Baosheng is very determined, either the second or the fifth. Li Kui is with Cheng Zhijie, and there is no reason to let outsiders get cheap.

Even Su Zhe didn't pay attention to artillery, because in his opinion, morale is the biggest magic weapon for the army to defeat the enemy. Weapons are all secondary, and even if they are like the Divine Arm Bow, they can only be effective in the field. Weapons such as the Divine Arm Bow will only exert great effects in the battle to defend the city.

"Haven't heard of it!"

"I haven't heard of it either."

As a last resort, Li Qingchen looked at Su Song, who was dozing off.

"Old man!"

"Su Qing!"

……

Su Song opened his eyes with great difficulty, glanced at Li Qingchen, and thanked: "Bangzhi, have you retreated from the dynasty?" ”

After speaking, he yawned and apologized: "I'm old, and my energy is not as good as before." ”

"Old man, I want to ask if you have heard of artillery?" Li Qingchen is also full of helplessness towards Su Song, this upper dynasty is pretending, and the backstage is the emperor. With the emperor protecting him, no one can help him.

Su Song blinked his eyelids for a while, and suddenly said: "It seems that this kid Li Kui said something, what is it, the old man forgot." ”

Li Kui?

Why is it Li Kui again?

Xing Shu heard Su Song mention Li Kui, his heart jumped for no reason, Li Kui made a big fuss to the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, not only did not get benefits, but was degraded out of Beijing. All the benefits were for him Xing Shu, and there was a way to be weak in his heart, and he didn't plan to give Li Kui some of the benefits he had gotten. Because of his weak heart, he had to be afraid of Li Kui, a newcomer to officialdom.

Hearing Su Song talk about Li Kui, he always felt that things had become not simple.

On the contrary, when Li Qingchen saw Xing Shu's appearance, he was very happy in his heart, and joked: "If the artillery can really restrain the iron harrier, it is not an exaggeration to call it an artifact of the Great Song Dynasty to protect the country." ”