Since recovering Qingtang, suppressing Western Xia, and surveying the northwest border where the Great Song Dynasty took advantage, Zhao Xu has a kind of mysterious confidence in his heart, he has a magical feeling, as long as he wants to do it, there is nothing in the world that he can't do.

After hearing Zhang Dian say that he was going to fight Liao, he felt that there was a door.

"What does Zhang Xiang mean to recruit troops to establish a new army as a killer weapon to attack the Liao State?"

After listening to Zhang Dan's explanation, Zhao Xu immediately made a judgment in his heart and agreed to Zhang Dan. Of course, you still have to ask, after all, you have to give the prime minister enough respect.

Zhang Dian bowed and said: "Official, my Great Song Dynasty has always been in the northern Xinjiang of the Liao State, the first two years of the Great River was diverted, I am worried about the whole court, I am deeply afraid that the Liao State will follow the Great River Waterway and easily reach the Daimyo's Mansion." Once the defenses of the Daimyo's Mansion were broken, the Central Plains were left to the Liao Iron Cavalry to trample on. ”

"Didn't the river go back?"

Zhao Xu felt that there was no need to mention this issue, in fact, it was simply the court of the Great Song Dynasty that was worrying about the sky. As for which broken ships in Liao, how many soldiers and horses can they carry?

If the Liao State gave up the most powerful cavalry and advanced with a naval division, the Great Song Dynasty would be able to beat the Liao people to the point of doubt.

But the diversion of the Yellow River at that time really scared the Song Dynasty into a cold sweat. This Yellow River is too unpositional, and all of a sudden, from the mouth of the sea near Laiwu on Jingdong Road in the Great Song Dynasty, directly to Nanjing Road in the Liao State, isn't this a betrayal of the Central Plains?

This is just one of those crises.

Zhao Xu found out that he had said something stupid, and immediately said with a dry smile: "Zhang Xiang, the forbidden army in the northwest of my Great Song Dynasty can't move. The forbidden army on the two roads of Hebei is probably not the opponent of the Liao. ”

These words are definitely a gold paste on the face of the Great Song Dynasty, not only is it not an opponent, but even the forbidden army in Hebei does not even have the ability to block the southward movement of the Liao State. At the time of the Lanyuan Alliance, the forbidden army on the North Hebei Road was still very strong, and it caused great trouble to the Liao army. But now, a hundred years have passed. The Great Song Dynasty was in the armament of the two roads in Hebei, and I don't know how much the Liao people were missing. It can be said that the 100,000 forbidden troops have almost become decorations.

Zhang Dian said wistfully: "Relying on these people, I'm afraid it won't work." No, Renjie gave the minister an idea, although some of our forbidden army is already overwhelmed. But now that the Great Song treasury will be full, it is not a problem to train a new army. The only difficult thing is how to train, what kind of training to be, and what kind of weapons to use to block the cavalry, these ministers will wait and see. But the minister thinks that doing it may be a failure; But if you don't give it a try, you certainly won't have any hope of success. ”

Zhao Xu asked: "How sure does Zhang Xiang think I am in the Great Song Dynasty?" ”

"This ......" Zhang Dian couldn't say clearly, so he could only look at Li Kui with a mocking face.

Li Kui scolded in his heart: "Old thief, you can't be a little responsible, when Boss Wang was in power, he basically patted his chest and took it on his old man's shoulder." ”

There was no way, Li Kui had no choice but to bite the bullet and say: "Today's iron supervisor can produce refined iron in batches, if the technology of the iron supervisor is better, it should be able to produce hemp steel." At that time, the cannon casting of my Great Song Dynasty will be able to use iron cannons instead of bronze cannons. As long as there are enough craftsmen and workshops, it should be able to meet the demand. The only thing that is the naval division is that today's naval warships are not suitable for installing artillery, and the structure of the warships needs to be modified to build large ships that can threaten the coastline of Liao on the sea. ”

"As for the musket, it is necessary to explore its structure, and only after it is built can we see whether it has the ability to suppress the cavalry. Coupled with the battle against Liao, my Great Song should be prepared to ride heavily. ”

Zhao Xu was curious: "Why do you want to ride again?" ”

"Because the Liao people like to use light cavalry, if they want to restrain light cavalry on the frontal battlefield, they can only use heavy cavalry. However, if it is combined with firearms and foot soldiers, the light cavalry is not as powerful as the heavy cavalry. ”

Li Kui asked and answered, so that Emperor Zhao Xu finally understood all the preparations for dealing with Liao. These are ready, he is curious, the Great Song Dynasty and the Liao State really went to war, what is the chance of victory?

"Li Qing, if all the conditions are met, what is the winning rate of my Great Song?"

"Sixty percent!"

Li Kui smashed his mouth for a while, thinking: "Because there is no way to know how the firearms army fights and what kind of tactics are applied. Because it's a brand new class, you need an opponent to practice. It's too early to form an army, and once the equipment is complete, you can try to form a battalion or so of non-commissioned soldiers. ”

One battalion of the Great Song was three thousand men, including five commanders, each commanding five hundred men.

"Who's suitable?"

Zhao Xu felt that if he didn't fight Liao, there didn't seem to be a very suitable opponent.

On the contrary, Li Kui sneered: "Xixia." ”

Speaking of Zhao Xu, what do you hate the most in your life?

One is the Western Xia and the other is the Liao State.

They were all opponents who had caused heavy pain to his father, Emperor Shenzong.

As soon as he talked about these two states, Zhao Xu couldn't help but go up, gritted his teeth and said viciously: "If I want to be famous in the Great Song Dynasty, I can't let the Western Xia divide my northwest, and I can't let the Liao people threaten my Central Plains." I have made up my mind, so I will do what Li Qing thinks, don't be afraid of spending military funds, now the Great Song Dynasty has money. ”

Li Qingchen opened his mouth, but he couldn't help it, so he spoke: "Official, according to Li Kui's assumption, I'm afraid the money is a little insufficient." ”

"Alas!" Zhao Xu was stunned, his heart was a little drumming, he couldn't make money!

The key is that Li Qingchen mentioned: "Official, the Liao State's desire to go south is no lighter than my Great Song Dynasty's desire to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. The new army is a smear in terms of weapons, tactics, and training. If it is really fanfare, I am afraid that the Liao people will not wait for my Great Song Dynasty to complete the preparations, and they will take the lead. I have to guard against it! ”

This is a question, Zhao Xu looked at An Tao and felt that he couldn't ask the result.

can only look at Zhang Dan, although Zhang Dan is not very good-tempered, stubborn personality, and even when he wants to make a decision, no one in the court is decisive as Zhang Dan.

"Zhang Xiang, what do you think?"

Zhang Dian thought for a moment and said clearly: "Establish a new ya, and let officials who are good at their skills serve as the chief officials." Start by crafting the weapons needed by the firearms battalion, such as artillery and muskets. ”

As he spoke, Zhang Duan looked at Li Kui, and the meaning couldn't be simpler.

An Tao came to his senses and said: "Official, the new government should be located in the Privy Council, and there are three reasons for this. First, artillery will become a sharp weapon for our Great Song Dynasty to attack the city in the future, and it is an ordnance, so it should naturally be in the Privy Council; Second, although the training of the new army is said to be a direct step in front of the palace, firearms are different from others and need to be kept secret; In the end, only the Privy Council could coordinate such a complex affair, and no other government could do it. ”

When Zhang Dian heard this, he was anxious, and pointed at An Tao and said, "This is a bad ancestral system." Your Privy Council only has the right to command, when did you even put the training of troops under your control? ”

An Tao said unhurriedly: "Expedient, when my Great Song Firearms Battalion is formed, I will inevitably hand over the right to train troops to the palace Qianzhi, and before that, it is completely a last resort." It's not going to be handed over to the front of the palace, right? In front of the palace, can you still coordinate the iron supervisor, and can you command the Ministry of Works? ”

That's for sure, the military generals command the civil officials, and there are no doors.

I was busy for a while, and finally cheapened the Privy Council, can I do this?

But when he looked at Li Kui, he almost had a crooked nose. Li Kui actually stayed out of the way to watch them quarrel, so he had to move a bench to watch the play. As soon as he pondered, this matter had to fall on Li Kui, and it would be best if he could take the power to prepare and train the firearms battalion in the capital hall. If it can't be collected in the capital hall, at least it can't let Li Qingchen and An Tao get cheap.

"Renjie, you are the person who hosts, tell me what you think?" Zhang Dian kicked the ball to Li Kui.

Li Kui shook his head and said, "I don't have any ideas." I'm still waiting for the provincial relatives to go to the Imperial Observatory to take office. When the time comes, when the firearms battalion is being prepared, I can give some advice. ”

Dream!

Regarding Li Kui's still thinking about being a righteous and awe-inspiring imperial history, Zhang Dian, Li Qingchen and An Tao all felt that this kid was dreaming a thousand years. The research and development of firearms and the preparation of firearms battalions are inseparable from Li Kui. Because only Li Kui is knowledgeable, one in the court counts as one, and none of them can perform the official duties of the new yamen.

Let the Goshidai manage the firearms battalion, isn't this a saber for the Goshi?

Anyway, it's scary to listen to.

Zhang Dian threatened An Tao: "The Privy Council must not train firearms battalions, and the training of firearms battalions must be under the jurisdiction of the official family, so you don't even think about it." ”

Li Qingchen and An Tao made eye contact, as if everything was expected.

As long as the firearms battalion did not let Zhangdun interfere, it was a victory for them.

On the contrary, it was Zhang Dan, but the well-intentioned Li Kui bewitched: "Renjie, you don't know the benefits of subduing the sixteen states of Yanyun. This is the merit of the king. ”

Zhao Xu also seemed to be cooperating with An Tao, nodded and said: "The edict of the first emperor will recover the sixteen states of Yanyun and crown the king." ”

Li Kui didn't even hesitate, and immediately refused: "Can the king still be the prime minister?" My ambition is not to become a king. ”

Zhang Kui was so angry that he almost fought with Li Kui, and Li Kui told him before that his ambition was to eat well, dress well, live in a big house, and marry a few more beautiful girls. In a blink of an eye, he secretly remembered his position as prime minister.

But in a blink of an eye, Zhang Dian became melancholy.

It seems that Li Kui is only twenty-one?

He was sixty-two.

Even if it is consumed, Li Kui will consume him to death. Even if Zhang Dian can live like Wen Yanbo, he can't survive Li Kui.

During this period, Zhao Xu didn't know what he was thinking, but was a little silent. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and said to Li Kui: "Li Qing, it is my wish for the Song Dynasty to recover the sixteen states of Yanyun, but whenever possible, I must go all out." For the sake of the Great Song Dynasty, you can't shirk. As long as the long-cherished wish of the Great Song Dynasty can be realized, the condition of being crowned king remains unchanged, and I can promise you the position of prime minister. ”

It's all like this, if Li Kui still refuses, I'm afraid it will be inappropriate.

He bowed down and said, "The minister should bow down and die to repay the king's kindness." ”

"Good!"

Zhao Xu breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, he wondered, could someone else train a firearms battalion?

The answer is definitely yes.

As long as Li Kui has more staff officers and more opinions in key places, the firearms battalion can be built as well.

But for Zhao Xu, no one can believe it, that is, he believes in Li Kui.

It's not the blindness of being a king, but Li Kui's record that makes him have to be blind. has never been defeated, every battle is an earth-shattering scene, and the weak defeat the strong. Such a person, none of the Wenchen generals can pick out.

Especially for the Great Song Dynasty, the battle of Song and Liao cannot be lost. I can't afford to lose.

After the Battle of Lanzhou, although the Great Song and the Liao State have maintained a long period of peace. However, the friction between the two sides has never stopped, and for the Great Song Dynasty, the sixteen states of Yanyun are the eternal pain of the Central Plains Dynasty. As long as the sixteen states of Yanyun did not return for one day, the Great Song Dynasty would not have unified and complete Chinese territory for one day. After all, the sixteen states of Yanyun occupied by the Liao State are Youzhou, one of the nine states. Kyushu lacks one of them, can it be regarded as a great unification?

Coupled with the lack of favorable terrain to block the cavalry, the Great Song Dynasty was strategically passive, so that the Great Song Dynasty had to invest huge manpower and financial resources, but with little success. In particular, the Liao State was not a peaceful lord, and often threatened the Great Song Dynasty with force. It wasn't a day or two that the Great Song Dynasty wanted to fight the Liao Kingdom.

But most of them are thinking about it, the rise of Western Xia made the Great Song Dynasty have no time to take care of the affairs of the Liao State.

All the strategic centers of gravity of the Great Song Dynasty were attracted by the northwest.

From the bottom of my heart, any Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, one is counted as one, and there is no one who does not want to recover the sixteen states of Yanyun. In particular, Song Shenzong's anger against the Liao State was unprecedented.

In the early years of Yuanfeng, Shenzong prepared to use troops against Western Xia. Let's not talk about the outcome of this war, the Great Song Dynasty was defeated and suffered heavy losses. But before the outbreak of the war, the Liao State intervened, saying that it was okay for the Great Song Dynasty to fight the Western Xia, but it was necessary to cede the ten counties of Guannan to the Liao State, otherwise the Liao State would definitely not sit idly by and watch the Western Xia, a subject of the Liao State, be attacked by the Great Song Dynasty. In fact, the Liao State is also testing the Great Song Dynasty. wants to see Da Song's attitude through coercion. The ten counties of Guannan have actually been demarcated in the Lanyuan Alliance and belong to the Great Song Dynasty.

Although Emperor Shenzong said that his luck was poor and his life was shorter, he was not bad at all as an emperor. categorically rejected the unreasonable demands of the Liao State, so the Liao State used the old routine to scare the Great Song Dynasty by displaying soldiers on the border.

In this way, when the Great Song Dynasty was preparing to attack the elite of Western Xia, it had to defend against Liao, and it was no longer possible to attack Western Xia. When Emperor Shenzong was helpless, he could only agree to the request of the Liao State to retreat and increase the annual coin by 200,000, from the Chinese New Year's Eve of the Yuanyuan Alliance to 500,000 per year.

Shenzong gritted his teeth and agreed.

If the Song army finally destroyed Western Xia and recovered the Hetao region. This 200,000 years old coin per year is worth it for the Great Song Dynasty.

It's a pity that Western Xia didn't beat it down. It's a matter of luck. But it is more of a reason for the disagreement of the generals, Yan Yanlu Xuanfu made Shen Kuo obey Xu Xi's words in the matter of Zhi Dacai, and held the contradictions between 80,000 elite seeds and Shen Kuo and Xu Xi, all kinds of reasons, resulting in the final defeat of Yongle City.

At this stop, the vitality of the Great Song Dynasty was greatly injured.

Since then, Shenzong has been depressed, and even had to be forced to suspend the reform under the pressure of the old party.

Although the Fa-changers have always controlled most of the court in the Shenzong Dynasty, Wang Anshi, the person who carried the banner of the Fa-Chang, was expelled from the court. The factions that formed gangs and factions began to split internally, and they became even more unstable.

Even before Shenzong died, he still left an edict: "Those who recover the sixteen states of Yanyun, although the Zhao family is of the opposite sex, can also be crowned king." ”

After Zhao Xu became in power, it was unlikely that Western Xia would want to destroy it in a short time. But after recovering the land of the river, Zhao Xu felt that he had achieved his father's most brilliant achievement.

Next, he also pondered, can't he surpass his father?

No, it's coming.

Zhang Dian said that he wanted to attack the Liao State, but this suggestion, on the surface, the Great Song Dynasty did not have. The Liao State is different from the Western Xia, the Liao State with millions of soldiers, its military strength, war resources, and even talents are not comparable to the existence of the Western Xia, which is in a corner of peace. Fighting, I really want to fight; But if there is a real fight, it will not be a matter of the northwest roads, but the whole of Hebei, the entire east of Hedong, and even the Central Plains may become a battlefield.

If Li Kui commands the army, I'm afraid that the Liao State will not be able to defeat the Daimyofu, right?

Based on this alone, Zhao Xu said that he would let Li Kui form the first firearms battalion of the Great Song Dynasty.

He even did not hesitate to allocate the iron supervisor, the foundry workshop of the Ministry of Industry, and the Dengzhou Sailor to the new yamen.

It's almost a low-key name to cover up the future strategy of the Great Song Dynasty against the Liao State.

What's a good name?

Zhang Dian suggested that he call the firearms battalion directly.

was mercilessly ridiculed by An Tao: "You let Jie be a camp general? ”

Civil officials are battalion generals, and the battalion generals only have five grades, which is tantamount to debasement and humiliation. Is Li Kui capable?

You don't need to ask, just look at Li Kui's expression and know that it is impossible.

Li Qingchen said: "Why don't you call the Firearms Bureau, which is directly commanded by the officials?" ”

"No, firearms are too general, they should be obscure. I had no choice but to name the firearms exposed by my Great Song Dynasty. ”

Zhang Dian frowned, always feeling that something was not right.

Emperor Zhao Xu suddenly thought of a name, and Chrysostom opened: "How is the artillery bureau?" ”

"Artillery Bureau?" Li Kui's head buzzed when he heard it, what a broken name, but the problem was that the emperor came up with, and he didn't dare to refute it immediately.

Especially Zhang Dian nodded in agreement, Li Kui had no choice but to say, "I can't be alone, right?" I need to find a good helper, who is very capable, especially an assistant who is good at coordinating all kinds of miscellaneous things and doing things vigorously. ”

"Renjie, what do you think of the planting?"

"He didn't. If the Great Song Dynasty wanted to establish heavy cavalry, it could only be formed in Qingtang. And the farmer is one of the few generals in my Great Song Dynasty who has cavalry training and combat experience. The Great Song Dynasty wants to train heavy riding, and it is the best choice to build a plant. Li Kui immediately objected.

Zhang Dian was in charge of the appointment of officials in the ministry, and as long as Li Kui wanted officials, he had no one he couldn't find.

Immediately, he said to Li Kui in a big way: "Renjie, the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty, officials below the fourth grade, as long as you can name it, the old man will recruit it for you." ”

Li Kui's eyes lit up and asked, "Really?" ”

Zhang Duan snorted coldly and said: "The old man is a person of credibility who spits and spits. ”

Li Kui pursed his lips and said softly, "Okay, I want Cai Jing." ”

Zhang Dian stumbled, so he hung and fell to the ground, Cai Jing, you really dare to think about it.

It's not that Cai Jing has a big official position, but that Cai Jing is now on the way to degrade, which fully meets Li Kui's requirements. It's just that Cai Jing can't be managed, but these chapters are not worried. What he worries about is that Cai Jing has been famous for a long time, and his heart is not very open-minded. If he really becomes Li Kui's deputy, I'm afraid the two will have a fight every day. He looked at Li Kui with a strange face, and said in his heart: "You still dare to say that you recruited Cai Jing as your deputy, don't you want to take revenge?" ”