Lizhou West Road, south of Chuzhou, on the bank of the West Han River, in the Martyrs' Shrine.

The weather was clear, the sky was blue, a few white clouds were drifting slowly, and tall trees were chirping cicadas.

The turquoise lawn is lined with trees, and rows of white tombstones are separated by a blue-brick path, which is spread on both sides of a wide, straight concrete avenue. The tombstones are neatly arranged, surrounded by short pines, like a soldier guarding his home country, which is magnificent and awe-inspiring.

More than 2,000 Song soldiers who reinforced Western Xia, as well as more than 5,000 donors who died in the battle on the West Road of Lizhou, and 8,000 people were buried here. When they were alive, they were comrades-in-arms who shared life and death, and after sacrificing their lives for the country, they were still close and accompanied by each other.

Since ancient times, China has had the habit of setting up shrines for loyal ministers and martyrs, such as various martyrs' shrines, Zhaozhong shrines, martyrs' temples, Baozhong shrines, etc., to worship the heroic souls, praise the spirit of loyalty and righteousness, and promote righteousness.

The heroic soul has a place for the soul to return, and the country has set up a shrine for the loyal ministers and martyrs, and the name of the loyal martyrs' shrine could not be more appropriate and appropriate.

In front of a tombstone, a family dressed in linen and filial piety, some old and young, are sacrificing the owner of the tombstone, paper ashes are flying, and low crying keeps coming.

In front of another tombstone, a young woman is spilling a glass of cloudy wine on the grass in front of the tombstone, hiding her face and weeping. It is also unknown if the owner of the tombstone is her husband or her sweetheart.

Being in a place in the forest from the tombstone, silently watching the family members worshipping in the distance, Zhao Hong's brows were tightly locked, and his heart was heavy.

There is no haze in the sky, there are still pigeons flying freely, and there are sacrifices of relatives, friends and lovers to prove the love and life of the young warriors in those tombstones.

But those living lives are gone forever.

"A nation without heroes is unfortunate, a nation with heroes but does not know how to respect and cherish is incorrigible, and a country with heroes without knowing how to love and admire is hopeless......"

Zhao Hong muttered to himself, and a few words came out unconsciously.

Every soldier who sacrifices his life for the country deserves a tombstone.

This is the duty of the government, and it is the honor that these heroic souls deserve.

Since Zhao Hong's accession to the throne, the newspapers have vigorously waved their flags and shouted in the past five years, so that the people of the Great Song Dynasty clearly felt that the status of the military had been greatly improved, and the martial arts of the people had become increasingly strong.

The substantial improvement in the status of military personnel lies not only in their high salaries, but also in the respect they receive and the improvement of their social status.

Not to mention anything else, the words "soldiers are sacred and inviolable" alone already explain everything.

Pensions for military families, survivors' pensions, and veterans' living allowances: pensions, preferential treatment, subsidies, not to mention, priority treatment in all aspects of clothing, food, housing and transportation.

Subtly, the status of soldiers has improved, and soldiers have a sense of honor and mission, which is manifested in well-trained and forgetting death on the battlefield. A soldier's duty is to obey, and a soldier's duty is to defend the country. The soldiers used their young lives to vividly interpret what is the mission of a soldier and what is the honor of a soldier.

Unconsciously, the military has become a symbol of praise under the rule of the Great Song Dynasty.

And this is what Zhao Hong has always wanted.

"Your Majesty, those soldiers who sacrificed their lives to save the Xia people and the country deserve a courtesy."

Li Li, the former emperor of Western Xia, now the courtier of the Great Song Dynasty and the king of Xia, together with Li Deren, the duke of Xia, solemnly bowed to the tombstone group.

The reason why he did not serve as the pacification envoy of Xixia Road and sat in Zhongxing Mansion was also to reassure the monarchs and ministers of the Great Song Dynasty. Instead of making the Song people suspicious, it is better to go to Lin'an City to enjoy the joy of glory and wealth.

"King Xia, Xia Guogong, you are my in-laws, and you are also the courtiers of the Great Song Dynasty, and your descendants, such as Li Weizhong, can still make contributions to the country. You don't have to be careful, I still have that confidence. ”

Zhao Hong smiled slightly, and Wang Bazhi's qi leaked.

Shi Songzhi replaced Li Wei as the pacification envoy of Xixia Road, and Lingzhou Zhizhou was appointed by Jia Zikun, the general judge of Xihe Prefecture of Lizhou West Road. Jia Zikun has a good official reputation, is shrewd and capable, and is a suitable candidate to serve as the governor of Lingzhou.

"Your Majesty, I want to go to Jinling to lecture on martial arts, is it okay?"

Ten-year-old Li Weizhong asked out loud.

Zhao Hong and Li Deren glanced at each other and smiled softly.

"Li Weizhong, you are still young now, study in the academy for a few years first, and then go to Jinling Lecture Hall or Jinling Academy. You have to understand your ambitions in life, and then you decide whether you want to join the army or politics. ”

The group came out along the path, and Zhao Hong said softly as he walked.

"Obey the order!"

Li Weizhong was helpless, and hurriedly shouted his order.

He was only a ten-year-old boy, and when he entered the martial arts hall, he was indeed too young.

"Your Majesty, if you refuse the coercion and temptation of the Tatars and submit to my Great Song Dynasty, the kings of Ogedai and Mongolia will definitely be angry and use troops against Zhongxingfu. On the northwest border, I'm afraid the sword soldiers will rise! ”

Li Deren was half a step behind Zhao Hong, and said softly to Zhao Hong.

It's summer now, and it won't be long before the weather gets cooler, I'm afraid the Mongolian army will use troops against Zhongxingfu.

"Your Majesty, the Tatar army will march south, probably from the Keyimon Gate in the eastern part of Helan Mountain. This place is a fortress going south and going north, so your majesty should be careful! ”

Li Li also reminded Zhao Hong softly on the side.

Keyimen is the garrison of the military division of the right chamber of the Western Xia, the two mountains confront each other, the middle passes a path, it is difficult to climb, the fortifications crisscross and crisscross, in order to prevent the Mongolian army from going south to the military town of Zhongxingfu, the Western Xia army has repelled the attack of the Mongolian army here many times.

"Rest assured, you are. Cao Youwen is a fierce general in the army, and there is no problem with 10,000 troops stationed here in Keyimen, and tens of thousands of enemies are resisted. ”

Li Deren and Li Li looked at each other, and their faces were much more relaxed.

10,000 Song army soldiers, complete with firearms, defended according to the fortress, and dealt with tens of thousands of Mongol troops, I believe it is not a problem. At that time, the Song army of 4,500 people assisted in defending the city, and Genghis Khan's 100,000 army could not conquer it. If there are 10,000 Song troops with complete firearms, and the Mongolian army does not have 40,000 or 50,000, don't even think about it.

However, it is not in its position, and it is not in its own right. What is the situation of the Song army and the Mongolian army, and what does this matter to them, the Western Xia royal family?

Li Li's expression was a little dazed. From now on, is he Song Chen?

Li Wei and others, how did Zhao Hong know, he frowned, but what he thought of was the situation in the western border.

With 50,000 troops on Hexi Road, more than 30,000 on Xixia Road, 30,000 on Lintao Road, and 60,000 on Lizhou Road, plus 80,000 soldiers from Lizhou Camp and Chengdu Prefecture, the entire western border concentrated more than half of the elite border army of the Great Song Dynasty.

With more than 200,000 troops, grain and grass are provided by Sichuan alone, and 50 or 60 people support a sergeant, and the life of the people of Sichuan is not easy.

If they can feed the people's livelihood, the 80,000 troops in Hexi and Xingling Land can be self-sufficient. Lintao Road and Lizhou Road can also bear part of their own food.

It's a pity that the Mongol army will not give him this opportunity.

"King Xia, Duke Xia Guo, when you go to Lin'an City or Jinling, take a good look at yourself, if you want to do something, just look for me at any time. As for Li Zhongge and Zhang Gongfu, the imperial court will choose the best and use them, and those who are unwilling to be officials will come and go freely, and the court will not interfere. ”

Zhao Hong said softly, comforting Li Deren's uncle and nephew.

From the monarch of a country to the courtiers of a foreign country, the psychological hurdle must be crossed by oneself.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Wei whispered, his heart sour.

His Great Xia is gone forever?

"King Xia, Duke Xia, you have to discuss, the temples of the kings of the Great Xia dynasties can be moved to Lin'an or Jinling for you to worship at any time. As for the tombs of the Western Xia kings on the side of Helan Mountain, I will also send local officials to properly repair them and offer sacrifices, and when the war is over, you can go to comfort your ancestors at any time. ”

Zhao Hong said slowly, Li Deren's uncle and nephew glanced at each other, knelt on the ground together, kowtowed and thanked him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The Mongol army invaded Western Xia, and some of the royal tombs were already damaged. It can be said that the Song army came at the right time.

Zhao Hong's good deeds made many estrangements in their hearts go a lot.

"Your Majesty, one day the Great Song Dynasty repels the Tatars, will it allow me to restore the kingdom of Great Xia?"

I don't know when, Li Weiming followed and whispered.

Zhao Hong frowned slightly, and did not immediately express his position.

"Princess, don't talk nonsense!"

"Your Majesty, the princess is joking with you! Don't take it seriously! ”

Li Deren and Li Li both changed their faces and spoke out one after the other.

The Song army has already entered the land of Xingling, does it make sense to say anything about the restoration of Western Xia at this time?

"Your Majesty, Huaidong is six hundred miles in an emergency, and Li Quanda has soldiers and horses under his command, and it seems that he is about to move!"

Zhao Hong was silent, and Shangshu Xuanxuan of the Ministry of War walked over quickly, his face was full of anxiety and sweating profusely.

"Xuanqing, don't worry, speak slowly."

Zhao Hong's gaze was unconsciously cold.

Li Quan and the Great Song Dynasty, the two sides have torn their faces, and it is finally time to see the poor dagger.

"Your Majesty, Li Quan recruited troops everywhere, cut down the grave to take the coffin board, used the iron money as a nail, boiled the prisoner fat and carried the putty, and built a warship. Recruit coastal outlaws as sailors and train sailors in Sheyang Lake. A few days ago, Li Quanda paraded the boat for several days, and in the name of catching thieves, he led tens of thousands of sailors and troops directly into Yancheng, and all the public and private salt goods stored in the city were all owned. Li Quan wrote to the imperial court again, asking the imperial court to dismiss Zhao Shanxiang, Huaidong General Yue Ke and others from the coastal system! ”

Xuanxuan's words made Li Li and the others stunned, and their eyes looked at Zhao Hong together.

Zhao Hong is round on the outside and square on the inside, and has a strong temperament, Li Quan's move does not seem to have any other benefit except to anger Zhao Hong.

Sure enough, Zhao Hong sneered and scolded him sharply.

"Who does he think he is? Kicking my nose in the face, just a clown jumping off the beam, do you really think that my Great Song Dynasty can be bullied? ”

The Great Song Dynasty cut off all of Li's food supply, and Mongolia did not have any food, so Li Quan seemed to have no other way to go except looting. However, Shandong was devastated by the war and was in ruins, and Li Quanquan wanted to survive and went south to attack the Song Dynasty and plunder, which was probably the best choice.

"Your Majesty, Li Quan's southern invasion is a foregone conclusion, how should I deal with it?"

"Let Meng Heng and Du Gao wave their troops to the north and work together to defeat Li Quanchu's state department by land. Ordered Wu Qian to lead the sailors to the mouth of the Lianshui Army and destroyed all of Li's sailors. ”

Sure enough, Zhao Hong did not choose to settle the matter anymore.

"Your Majesty, what should I do if Li retreats to Shandong?"

Xuan Xuan subconsciously asked.

"Then wave your troops to the north until you annihilate Li Quan!"

Zhao Hong's face was solemn and said categorically.

Da Song is lying down and tasting gall, it is time to clear the tumor of the southeast. Only by annihilating Li Quanquan can he concentrate his forces to deal with the southern invasion of the Mongol army.

"Your Majesty, the Goryeo envoy arrived at Chengdu Mansion and said that it was bullied by the Tatar army, and asked my Great Song Dynasty to send troops to help."

"Let's go back and talk about it."

Zhao Hong whispered softly and took a step. Xuan Xuan understood seven or eight points and followed behind Zhao Hong.

In front of the Western Xia royal family, the emperor did not seem to want to discuss the matter. It can also be seen from this that the emperor did not believe in these relatives.

Li Weiming still wanted to speak, Li Deren and Li Li's uncle and nephew both shook their heads lightly, and Li Deren whispered.

"Nameless, never!"

They could already feel that Zhao Hong was very annoyed by Li Weiming's repeated presumptuous behavior, but he didn't show it because of his feelings.

The brilliance in Li Weiming's eyes suddenly dimmed.