After the successful completion of the disaster relief, Zhao Yingluo returned to Kaifeng.

The war-torn city of Kaifeng is bathed in the warm sun of early winter, the streets are lined with shops, the flow of people is weaving, and the prosperity and vitality are rapidly recovering.

As soon as she returned to Kaifeng, Zhao Yingluo went straight to the palace.

Zhao Ji was so happy to see that his daughter came back safely, and praised him repeatedly, "Yingluo, you have really made a great contribution this time!" The disaster relief matter was handled so properly, it is really the pride of my Zhao family! ”

She smiled slightly, "This is all the credit of everyone, and it is also my duty to help the people of the Great Song Dynasty." ”

In Zhao Yingluo's mansion, Jiang Laosi and the housekeeper Zhou Wang muttered in private.

"Your Highness really gave away a million taels of silver for nothing this time!"

They feel sorry for the lost wealth, and they inevitably feel some regret in their hearts.

After returning home, Zhao Yingluo saw their thoughts, and said with a smile, "Money is something outside the body, and life does not bring it to death." The important thing is that this food has saved countless lives, and this is the real merit. ”

"Your Highness has the world in mind, but the villains are narrow-minded."

……

On the tenth day of the winter month, General Yue Fei, who was guarding Xingzhou, returned to Kaifeng, accompanied by Wanyan Zongyi, the prince of the Jin Kingdom, and 10,000 majestic war horses.

In Zhao Yingluo's mansion, Wanyan Zongyi sat in the guest seat and said, "Your Royal Highness Princess, the war horse has been brought, and the seeds can be delivered, right?" ”

"Very good, Jiang Laosi, you take Prince Yan's people to the warehouse in the small town in the north of the city and hand over the seeds of one million acres of fields to them."

Jiang Laosi responded and took Yan Zongyi's men and horses to the north of the city.

In front of the warehouse, both sides carried out careful seed inspection and delivery procedures. With the last bag of seeds loaded onto the wagon, the business was finally reached with satisfaction for both parties.

After the seeds were delivered, Wanyan Zongyi stood on the bank of the Yellow River and watched the convoy loaded with precious seeds slowly cross the Yellow River, which flows eastward.

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the surface of the river, creating layers of golden ripples, reflecting his tightly knit brows and deep eyes, and he was worried that the Jin Kingdom would further widen the gap with the Great Song Dynasty.

In the main hall, the ministers were solemn, and Yan Sheng sat on the dragon chair and listened to Yan Zongyi talk about his planting plan in detail.

"Your Majesty, the minister plans to plant these crops on a large scale south of Yanjing to reduce dependence on grain from the Great Song Dynasty and enhance the self-sufficiency of the Dajin Kingdom."

"Your plan is far-sighted, I've got it! Get started today. ”

Wanyan Zongyi was overjoyed, and when he was about to retreat, Wanyan Sheng stopped him again, "I still have something to ask you." How's going on with your side about firearms? ”

"The minister has obtained the drawing of the firearm through the secret agent. I believe that in the near future, we will be able to make our own artillery. ”

"Good!" A flash of excitement flashed in Wan Yansheng's eyes.

"I order you to make a hundred cannons in five months. In the spring of the next year, the iron cavalry of the Dajin Kingdom must drink the Yellow River, seize Kaifeng, and wash away the shame of two defeats! ”

"Your Majesty rest assured, the ministers will do their best to live up to Your Majesty's trust!"

While the Dajin Kingdom was in full swing preparing to seize Kaifeng, the Lin'an Imperial Court was not without movement.

However, this time, the imperial court did not intend to directly send troops to attack.

After all, past history has proved that even if the Dajin Kingdom and the imperial court join forces, it will be difficult to shake Zhao Yingluo's tenacious defense line, not to mention that now there is only the power of the Great Song Dynasty, how can it compete with it?

What made Zhao Gou even more scruples was that there was the Emperor Taishang and his brother in Kaifeng City, and if he forcibly broke it, he would not only be charged with unfilial piety, but also cause a huge political turmoil.

But Qin Hui made an insidious suggestion at this time - to divide Zhao Yingluo's power from within.

He knew that any strong fortress was often breached from within, and this time, he planned to use this strategy against Zhao Yingluo.

In early winter, the weather in Luoyang, Xijing, is sunny, and there is a strong smell of ice and snow in the cold air. Lan Gui, the deputy governor, was lazily lying in the bedroom of his mansion.

The two maids around him served him carefully, fanned him and brought tea, and his life was very comfortable.

Since he was sent from Lin'an to Zhao Yingluo's territory as a prisoner, his life has been like falling into a honeypot.

Here, he doesn't need to serve the official family as carefully as he did in Lin'an, but has a maid to serve him.

In addition, Wang Shan also sent him silver money every now and then, allowing him to accumulate a lot of wealth in more than a year.

As the saying goes, "Eat people with a soft mouth, and take people with short hands." ”

Her Royal Highness the princess treated Lan Gui so warmly, and Lan Gui naturally turned a blind eye to Kaifeng and Wang Shan's army, and ended up idle and quiet.

However, this idle and quiet day did not last long.

A document from Lin'an shattered the peaceful life.

Lan Gui looked at the strategy proposed by Qin Hui to divide Her Royal Highness the princess in the document, and his heart panicked. He knew that once this plan was implemented, it would pose a huge threat to Zhao Yingluo, and he himself would be involved.

Lan Gyu held the secret letter, his fingers rubbing lightly on it, his heart was numb. He knows very well that this is a major decision related to his own life.

On the one hand, Her Royal Highness the princess, who is extremely polite to him, as long as he doesn't spend money indiscriminately, the silver money given by Wang Shan can be saved.

On the other hand, he remembered the unquestionable order of the official, and in the end he chose the imperial court.

Lan Gui ordered people to prepare carriages and horses, and then stepped out of the mansion and galloped straight towards the camp of Wang Shan's army outside Luoyang City. The carriage galloped on the official road, the wheels rolling, bringing up smoke and dust all the way, reflecting the anxiety and expectation in his heart.

When we arrived at the barracks, it was already dusk.

In the Chinese military tent, Wang Shan was studying the military book under the lamp, and suddenly heard that Lan Gui was visiting, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

You must know that the last time this deputy visited the barracks was three months ago.

Wang Shan put down the military book suspiciously and went out.

"Lan Duzhi is the time to monitor again?" Wang Shan quipped.

Lan Gui smiled slightly, but did not directly answer Wang Shan's question, but looked around at the environment of the military camp. I saw that the camp was in order, and the soldiers performed their duties, showing that Wang was good at governing the army.

Lan Gui secretly praised in his heart, then retracted his gaze and said, "General Wang, I came here this time, I have something important to discuss." ”

Wang Shan saw Lan Gui's solemn expression and knew that something big would happen, so he waved his hand and signaled to retreat left and right. Suddenly only the two of them were left in the tent. Lan Gui took a deep breath, then took out a stack of silver tickets from his sleeve cage and put it on the table and pushed it to Wang Shan.

Wang Shan was stunned for a moment, and looked at Lan Gui suspiciously: "What does Lord Lan mean by this?" ”

Lan Gui lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "If General Wang is willing to surrender to the imperial court, the imperial court will not be to blame for the past, and these silver tickets are a little bit of the official family's heart." In addition, he also added an official to General Wang. ”