In the first year of the Great Song Dynasty, 1230 A.D., Jiangnan, Jinling.

Standing on the bank of the Yangtze River, watching the surging river flow endlessly, rolling away. The giant willows on the shore sway with the wind, and the boats in the river come and go from south to north, and thousands of sails are everywhere. The harbor is full of ships and the wharves are bustling with carts carrying goods.

Boatloads of rice, boatloads of sulfur, boatloads of saltpeter, boatloads of sugar, and boatloads of gold, silver, copper, and iron ore were unloaded at the wharf of Jinling City.

On the wharf, Shang Shu Xuanxuan of the Great Song Dynasty Military Department looked at the lively port, and his tone was full of emotion.

Gaozong once said: The benefits of the market are quite helpful to the country. If the measures are taken properly, will millions be moved, and will not they be able to win from the people? Today's benefits of the market are far better than those of Gaozong. I am amazed that the Song Dynasty is prosperous! ”

Not to mention anything else, the overseas grain and gold, silver, and copper mines alone have completely solved the problem of the border army's rations. Moreover, overseas grain has been fed back to the Great Song Dynasty, and the drought and flood relief in many places have been solved by relying on overseas grain.

"My Great Song Dynasty is thriving, and the subjects of the Great Song Dynasty are all grateful to the emperor. Now the emperor's prestige in the hearts of the people of the Great Song Dynasty is increasing. When it comes to benefiting the people and loving the people, the emperor can be the leader of the emperors of this dynasty. ”

Wang Gang, the envoy of Jiangnan East Road, nodded and said.

In terms of the people being fed and clothed, the emperors of this dynasty have done their best, and the emperors of all dynasties have done the best, so it is no wonder that they have won the hearts of the people. Those kings only care about their own thrones, who will care about the life and death of the grass people?

However, there is a fart to win the hearts of the people! The Great Song Dynasty doctor and the king rule the world together, and the grass people are precious, isn't it putting the cart before the horse?

Of course, these words can only be kept in the heart, but they dare not say it.

"Water can carry a boat, and it can also capsize a boat. The Son of Heaven has won the hearts of the people, and the officers and men in the army are even more worshiped as gods. borrowed overseas to feed the Great Song Dynasty, this big game of chess, the emperor manipulated freely. This big deal, this piece of thought ......"

Xuan Xuan praised that the emperor's overseas layout originally seemed foolish, but now I know that it is far-sighted and very accessible.

"Just like the motto of Jinling Wutang, for the country and the people. The emperor benefited all the people and recreated the Great Song Dynasty! The fortunes of this dynasty are pinned on His Majesty alone, and it is not easy for His Majesty! ”

Although he was dissatisfied with Zhao Hong's suppression of scholars, and although he complained about Zhao Hong's promotion of martial arts and suppression of literature, Wang Gang was still impressed by the emperor's cultural governance.

Not only is there a storm in civil governance, but also in martial arts, the emperor seems to be ambitious and fearless.

Even the Mongolian iron cavalry that dominates the world took the initiative to provoke, and the emperor's audacity made him feel shocked when he thought about it.

"The emperor changed the Yuan and Jianwu, and I don't know if he wants to use troops again? For example, Japan, or Tatar. ”

Wang Gang looked at Xuan Xuan, wanting to get more information from the mouth of this Great Song Dynasty military secretary.

Counting up, this is the sixth year of the emperor's ascension to the throne, five years of Xingqing, and this year, it is the change of the Yuan and the establishment of the military.

Building force, hegemony is built on force. Could it be that the emperor wants to raise troops again?

In all dynasties, the emperors changed the yuan, all because of major events, drought and flood disasters, foreign invasions, and internal civil unrest, all of which were the reasons for the change of the yuan.

"Japan? I'm afraid not! ”

Xuan Xuan shook his head slightly.

"In His Majesty's mind, the restoration of the Central Plains is obsessed. Judging by his words and deeds on weekdays, he always regarded Tatar as a danger to his confidants. It is not the best time to mobilize troops in Japan for the death of the uncle, and His Majesty has not mobilized in the army. ”

Uncle Zhou An was killed in Japan, although the emperor was angry, and some generals in the court asked to send troops, but in the end the situation was calm and there was no action.

"Then Your Majesty leased land on the southeast coast of Goryeo and Tamna (Jeju Island) to build a wharf, is it for the purpose of using troops against Japan?"

The emperor was fierce, and it was impossible for Zhou An to be killed, as if nothing had happened. The Coastal Formation Division recruited troops year by year, and the naval division went north and south, drifting across the ocean, and its maritime power became more and more powerful. said that he couldn't use force, Wang Gang himself didn't believe it.

"I'm afraid so. Your Majesty's temperament is as fierce as fire, and the matter of the uncle of the country is probably going to be a national war. ”

Xuan Xuan said quietly, and his face was full of sadness unconsciously.

In the future of the Great Song Dynasty, there will be a lot of battles.

"Swords and soldiers are ominous, not a good prescription for governing the country. Tatar, Jinren, Japan, Nanyang, I don't know who is next? The Great Song Dynasty continued to use troops, which may not be the blessing of the people of the world. ”

Wang Gang frowned and said with a dark face.

After having a lot of contact with Zhao Hong, he really didn't understand, why did the emperor despise and hate Japan so much? I also don't understand why the emperor called Japan "Little Japan".

Does "Little Japan" mean that the Japanese are short?

"Wang Gong, in the world of great contention, the weak eat the strong. If you don't use troops, can you deal with them calmly? ”

I don't know when, Prime Minister Xue Ji walked up, greeted the two of them, stroked their white beards, and talked eloquently.

"According to the news from the steppe, the Tatars have elected a new Great Khan Okotai. The internal strife in Tatar has ended, and the use of troops in the south is probably inevitable. ”

In the autumn of last year (1229 AD), the Mongol king and important ministers held the Kurultai Assembly to elect the new Mongol Great Khan. The conference was disputed for 40 days, and some people in the court adhered to the old system, advocating the establishment of a young son to tow mines, and opposing Genghis Khan's last order to establish a nest and a platform. At this time, Genghis Khan's eldest son Jochi was dead, and the second son Chagatai fully supported Ogedai; Genghis Khan's youngest son dragged the thunder and was lonely, so he had to support Wo Kotai. After repeated urging and persuasion from the Mongolian nobles attending the meeting, Ögedei finally obeyed his father's will and accepted the advice of his brothers to inherit the throne of the Mongol Khanate.

"After Wokotai succeeded as the Great Khan of Tatars, in the spring of a few years, he sent troops to the Keyi Gate of Western Xia and the Yumen Pass of Hexi to try, but they were repelled by our Great Song Border Army and the Western Xia official army."

Xue Ji looked at the two of them and asked rhetorically.

"The two ministers, Tatar has been at peace with each other. Do you think that my Great Song can be at peace with the Tatar army? ”

"The Tatars are determined to destroy the summer and gold, how can they give up halfway? As the old man expected, the Tatars would send envoys to let me give up the reinforcements of the Western Xia and the Jin Dynasty. ”

Xuan Xuan nodded, agreeing with Xue Ji's opinion.

Three years ago, although Mongolia and the Great Song Dynasty fought several large and small wars on the northwest border, the two countries then negotiated peace, and even if the Song army occupied Hexi, the two sides were basically at peace.

Between countries, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. Presumably, the Mongol army went south to destroy Xia Vajin, and would not forget the former "ally" of the Great Song Dynasty.

"In this way, isn't Western Xia in danger? If the Tatars send envoys, I am afraid that the Western Xia and Jin dynasties will not be idle. The Xixia lady in the emperor's harem may not be idle. ”

The border is not quiet, and the mountain rain is about to come, and the wind is full of buildings. Wang Gang shook his head and sighed, feeling heavy.

"It's not just that she won't be idle, this virtuous concubine has already arrived at the Jinling Lecture Hall, and I'm afraid she is persuading Your Majesty to rescue Xixia again. The envoys of the Western Xia and Jin dynasties were already on the way. Family affairs, state affairs, Your Majesty is not easy! ”

Xue Jibai's beard trembled, and his brows tightened.

Li Weiming has been promoted to a virtuous concubine because he gave birth to a prince. This time, she followed the emperor to Jinling City, and I don't know if she got any news in advance?

"What? Envoys from the Western Xia and Jin dynasties also came? ”

Xuan Xuan and Wang Gang were both taken aback.

The Mongol iron cavalry was going south, and the Song people became an unavoidable target. Whether it was attacking Xia or cutting Jin, the Song army could attack at any time and threaten the back of the Mongol army.

Inadvertently, the Great Song Dynasty became a fragrant bait, and also became the object of the tripartite attraction of Mongolia, Western Xia, and Jin Dynasty.

"The border pass is 600 miles urgent, and the envoys of Mongolia, Western Xia, and Jin Dynasty are all on the way. I don't know, how will Your Majesty choose? ”

Xue Ji stroked his beard, looked at the rolling river, and thought thoughtfully.

The land of the Western Xia projectile is like a dead country, will Your Majesty still rescue it?

The Jin State is the feud of the Great Song Dynasty, and the Mongolian army and the Jin Dynasty are in a fierce battle, and the Song army is likely to watch from the wall.

As for Mongolia, the emperor regarded it as a big danger to his henchmen, and he didn't know how to deal with it?

"What choice? Three years ago, when the national strength was weak, His Majesty dared to argue with the Tatar army. Three years later, with hundreds of thousands of border troops, strong soldiers and horses, sharp firearms, sufficient food, grass and ammunition, and the lives of the three armies, will Your Majesty still be afraid of other countries? ”

For the bold emperor, Xuan Xuan thought he knew well enough.

If you want to say bold, the emperor says second, and no one in the world dares to say first. The emperor is as fierce as fire, and he eats soft but not hard, but he is afraid that the Mongolian envoy will come and there will be no good fruit to eat.

"Xuan Xianggong, is the food needed for Jiangnan West Road now from overseas? And these sulfur saltpeters are also overseas supply side plugs, right? ”

Wang Gang pointed to some ships full of goods that had entered the port, and there were naval warships escorting them in front and behind, and I am afraid they were all military supplies.

"Not bad! Nowadays, the rice used in Huaidong, Huguang, and Jiangnan West Road is imported from overseas. The production of Tuntian in Hanzhong is enough for the use of Lizhou Lianglu and Lintao Mansion. Hexi is self-sufficient, not to mention, and next year, it will be able to feed back Lintao Road. Our army has enough ammunition and food to support a big war! ”

Sulphur came from Suqiu and Kuawa, saltpeter from Ceylon and Mumbai in the Indian Ocean, grain mainly from Champa and Borneo, and gold and copper from Australia and South Africa. The grain and other strategic materials transported from overseas ensured the supply of grain, grass and ammunition for the border army of the Great Song Dynasty, and Xuan Xuan was also excited.

War is fought on national strength and logistics. The Great Song Dynasty now has a wide range of soldiers and has all the food and grass, but I am afraid that the soldiers of the border army are already ready to move.

What's more critical is that today's Great Song Dynasty has a strong martial arts style, and people who practice martial arts abound. He suspected that once the imperial court ordered the expansion of the army, the young and strong people would enthusiastically participate, not to mention hundreds of thousands of troops, even millions, and it was not easy to come by.

There are warriors everywhere, and once this belligerent wind is fanned, it is not easy to suppress it.

"The two ministers, the Western Xia court sent an envoy here, dare to ask, will Your Majesty still send troops to rescue the Western Xia?"

Wang Gang couldn't help but asked again.

This is no longer the case. Western Xia no longer has the ability to resist and protect itself, so the Great Song Dynasty can't send troops to Zhongxing Mansion, right?

"Your Majesty has always been ruthless in major matters, and the interests of the Great Song Dynasty are the first priority. Your Majesty wants to revive my Great Song Dynasty, will you tolerate a country within a country? I don't believe it. ”

"What Xuan Gong said is very true! At this moment, Western Xia sent envoys to come, one was to ask the Great Song Dynasty to send troops to save Xia, and the other was to bow down and pay tribute. In this way, I am afraid that the second, the latter seems to be more pragmatic. Could it be that the two cities of Western Xia should be saved endlessly by the Great Song Dynasty? Aren't they afraid that the Tatars will destroy the country at any time? ”

Xuan Xuan and Xue Ji said one after the other.

Three years ago, the Western Xia had already fallen into ruin. Now that the Mongol army is invading the south at any time, the people must have fled. Without the people, Western Xia would have no reason to exist.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the old man is old and lacks energy, and I am afraid that he will be killed next year. The Western Regions and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, I'm afraid the old man won't be able to see it. However, if you can go to Yumen Pass and see the Yellow River, the old man will be satisfied. ”

Xue Ji looked at Jiang Shui and said, his white hair moving with the wind.

Go to Yumen Pass to have a look? Who wouldn't?

However, thinking of the future war, he couldn't help but worry again, and his brows were worried.