The carriage rattled.

In the large carriage, ice cubes contained in jars in the corner were steaming, making the carriage feel more air-conditioned than outside.

Di Qing was in a trance as he looked at the young man sitting casually across from him. He couldn't tell whether he was envious or jealous.

He fought for many years and became the deputy commander of the Cavalry Infantry Army when he was over 40 years old.

But the young man in front of him, who was only twenty-four years old, had no experience in the battlefield, but already held the position of deputy privy envoy. This made Di Qing feel mixed emotions in his heart.

Zhang Heng saw that Di Qing was in a daze, and he didn't understand what this man was thinking. He smiled and said: "The weather is hot, and there is only the last bit of ice left here. Thinking that Di Qing is riding a horse outside, it is extremely hot.

I thought of inviting you to come in and enjoy the last moment of coolness together. After walking for a while, the coolness was gone."

Zhang Heng's words made Di Qing wake up. He looked at the water drops hanging on the earthen pot, sighed secretly in his heart, and then said: "The general is a warrior and has long been accustomed to the heat, so it doesn't matter."

Zhang Heng said with a smile: "Di Shuai feels in his heart that I, a dandy boy, am too extravagant. Even when I go out on official business, I have to be so extravagant and wasteful?"

Although Di Qing was disdainful, he did not want to offend Zhang Heng after all. He quickly said: "Ms. Zhang has misunderstood. I will never have such thoughts."

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "It doesn't matter even if there is, I am a person who likes luxury..."

He discovered that Di Qing was a talent when he was in the military camp, and he has always valued Di Qing since then, and later he was promoted along the way.

Zhang Heng's laughter gradually subsided, and the smile on his face gradually faded: "Shuai Di, are you willing to help me?"

The military expenses given by the imperial court were allocated to each soldier, which was only enough for food and clothing. As for training, specialization, and elite troops, it was basically impossible.

These things Zhang Heng said really shocked him. Although Zhang Heng only said a few simple words, Di Qing had already felt how much effort was required, and he suddenly thought of the previous

The Haizhou case seems to be caused by the severe drought in the Jianghuai River.

Zhang Heng shook his head and said: "There is nothing we can do about it. Zhong Shiheng is dead and Wang Xin is dead... Di Shuai, I'm not saying you can't do it, but you all have your own characteristics..."

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "The Song Dynasty valued literature over military force, so you, a general who fought hard on the battlefield, have to treat a young man like me as a subordinate. You should be unconvinced, but this is the fact.

A gust of wind blew outside the window, blowing up the car curtains, and the setting sun shone in, covering Di Qing's narrowed eyes.

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "It's really not something I can decide, but I want to try something."

When I learned about Quanzhou, I made Quanzhou become a sea trade city not inferior to Hangzhou and another southern economic center besides Jiangnan. Millions of people in Fujian Road benefited from it. After I left Fujian Road for several years, the people in Fujian Road still remember the chapter.

Zhizhou;

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "Then why do you ask this?"

Di Qing said: "Xiangong Zhang, the general is just an ordinary warrior. What he is best at is killing enemies for the country. Wherever the officials say there are enemies, the general will go there with his sword. As for the officials commanding, the rest of the Xianggong

It doesn't matter whether you are directing or not.

Di Qing was just being modest at first, but when he heard what Zhang Heng said, he suddenly became unconvinced: "Xiangong Zhang, although I, Di Qing, come from a poor family and am not a general, I joined the army as a young man and am good at riding and shooting.

Di Qing stared at Zhang Heng closely: "How does Xianggong Zhang start building a strong army?"

Zhang Heng smiled: "So, we need to lay off a lot of people this time."

In the second year of Qingli, there was a severe drought in the Jianghuai River. At that time, I was appointed as the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture. I was worried about the people in the Jianghuai River and went south to raise relief grain. I created an original method of shipping grain to the north to save the lives of millions of people in the Jianghuai River.

In the seventh year of Qingli, there was a severe drought on the East-West Road in Hebei, and millions of victims had no food and clothing. At that time, I served as the transfer envoy of the East-Guangnan Road, and wrote to the court, resolutely and resolutely used a barbaric road to receive five million victims, leaving millions of victims on the East-West Road in Hebei.

No one died of hunger;

At that time, Pang Ji served as a direct bachelor of Longtuge. He knew Yanzhou, managed strategies, appeased people, and recruited envoys. He was a popular person around the emperor and an upright and loyal minister.

Di Qing was also depressed. He was a dignified commander who was in charge of the army and one of the eleven highest-ranking generals in the Imperial Army of the Song Dynasty. He was reduced to the bodyguard of a young man. How could he be convinced?

Di Qing looked at the somewhat domineering young man and felt dumbfounded: "I didn't expect that I, a thirty-year-old mother, would end up with a child, and you would actually turn me on!"

Di Shuai, I tell you this not to brag about how powerful I am, but to tell you that I am a true patriot!

Why do I always have tears in my eyes? It’s because I love this land deeply.”

With such a large number of troops, the regular military expenditures alone overwhelm the imperial government every year.

However, Di Qing's family has no background. If no one promotes him, he will at best be considered an excellent soldier or become a small leader, but it is unlikely that he will become a general.

Zhang Heng smiled and said: "To see what kind of person a person is, don't look at what he says, but rather what he does.

As the transfer envoy of Guangnan East Road, I not only took over five million disaster victims, but also made Guangnan East Road one of the roads that paid the most taxes in the Song Dynasty last year. And next year at the latest, Guangnan East Road, which bears my lingering shadow, will

It will become the richest road in the Great Song Dynasty! And the people who will directly benefit from my favor will exceed five million people.

As long as the general kills the enemy for the country, the officials will reward him and give him a wife. In this way, the general will be satisfied and has nothing more to ask for."

Di Qing closed his mouth and shook his head. He thought to himself that it was nothing more than a gold-plating method used by a playboy.

Di Qing suddenly felt something bad and quickly asked: "How many people do you want to lay off?"

Zhang Heng talked about what happened after he came to Bianjing from Pucheng in great detail, as if he was bored during the journey and wanted to find someone to chat with, and also as if he was showing off his achievements. The more Di Qing listened, the more irritable he became, and finally

Still couldn't help but ask: "Why did Mr. Zhang ask the last general to accompany him during this disarmament?"

Di Qing was furious. Zhang Heng's words were a bit frivolous, and his sitting posture was also very frivolous. Although he was a subordinate, he was a meritorious general who fought on the battlefield, but this young man was so disrespectful, which made him extremely angry.

Di Qing nodded and said: "You are the number one scholar in the Three Yuan Dynasty of the Song Dynasty, a disciple of Zeng Xianggong, the most valued young man in the official family, and the youngest prime minister in the Song Dynasty. Also, your poems are my favorite.

I have read some of them, especially the one you wrote about Breaking Time, Reading Swords While Drunk."

Di Qing recited this sentence silently in his heart. For some reason, his eyes felt warm and he seemed to be about to cry.

Zhang Heng immediately cheered up: "I have some ideas, but they may not be mature yet. Let me just talk about them and you can listen to them. If there are any shortcomings, feel free to ask questions."

But it was not enough for the Song Dynasty to be rich but not strong. It was just the money bags of Liao and Xia. If the people of the Song Dynasty wanted to live a good life, the court must not only be rich, but also strong. How to be strong? The only way to be strong is to be strong.

military!"

But how could such words be said out loud, so Di Qing kept silent.

Zhang Heng's words made Di Qing frown. He understood the first words, but he could only guess at the next words. After chewing for a while, he finally came back to his senses: "

This is true, but to build such an army, the military expenditure required is not small."

Di Shuai, please don’t misunderstand me. Although I am richest in the world, this wealth does not come from embezzlement of public funds. I earned it by my own ability. This money is very clean.

"That's all?" Zhang Heng asked.

Although he was far away in Zhending Mansion at that time, because he had reached a certain level, he knew some things. It was involved in a wide range of things at the time. Although he was suppressed later, the shock was as shocking as earth-shattering!

This young man is really willing to do something!

Di Qing mainly came to prominence in the battles with Xixia. Because he wore a mask, was maverick and fought bravely, he repeatedly killed Xixia troops and routed them.

Di Qing was angry in his heart, but when he really wanted to speak out, he still had some scruples, but he lowered his head and stopped talking.

Di Qing looked at Zhang Heng in surprise, and finally said: "Ms. Zhang, please stop teasing the general. How can you and I decide the rules of the Song Dynasty that lasted for hundreds of years?"

Xianggong Pang is Pang Ji, and Pang Ji is the person Di Qing respects the most.

"...After all, I am already rich in the world, so it is natural for me to be extravagant.

I have been in the army for thirty years, and I have never stopped studying. I have read countless military books in particular. Among the current generals, the last general dares to be ranked second, but no one dares to be ranked first. You asked me to help strengthen the army, but you asked me to help strengthen the army.

By the way..."

Di Qing's face was also very solemn.

Zhang Heng laughed: "So, you still don't understand me, Di Shuai, have you heard about me?"

Therefore, lack of training, lack of specialization, lack of weapons, armor and horses, this kind of army is just a mere appearance. If it is really drawn out to fight, it really can't handle big things.

Zhang Heng was silent for a while and said: "To tell you the truth, the mission of this trip is to disarmament, nothing else."

Having reached this point, Di Qing had no choice but to say: "Then please tell Mr. Zhang more."

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "That's natural, but do you know why I want to take on this offending job?"

This can still be discussed.

Zhang Heng smiled proudly, and Di Qing could only force a smile.

Having said this, he was stunned for a moment, and then when he saw the smile on Zhang Heng's face, he suddenly came to his senses: "... Mr. Zhang, you are irritating the general!"

Zhang Heng laughed.

Di Qing snorted in his heart, isn't it like that? If we were on the battlefield, I could kill ten people like you!

Without Pang Ji, he would not have been able to grow from a pawn to become the deputy commander of the Ma Bu Army and become the commander-in-chief of one of the eleven highest-ranking generals in the Forbidden Army of the Song Dynasty!

"Did Xianggong Pang really propose this matter?"

This is something Di Qing has been holding back in his heart for a long time. He originally planned to keep it in his heart and treat it as the deputy privy envoy accompanying Zhang Heng, but he really didn't want to hear Zhang Heng boasting about his past, so he simply asked the question

Out.

I, Zhang Heng, am different from other scholars. Let me tell you, Di Shuai, that I do not agree with the practice of using culture to control military force..."

Di Shuai, I am just a scholar. I understand economics and have the ability to promote all things, but how to build a strong army? I need a real master of art of war to help me, and you are this master of war!"

Therefore, my idea is to massively reduce the army, and then maintain military expenditures. Use the extra military expenditures to conduct a lot of training, replenish sophisticated weapons and armors, and then purchase a large number of horses to create an army capable of integrated joint operations, efficient command, and efficient

An army that delivers, accurately strikes, and is highly mobile is a truly powerful army!"

In the previous battles between Song and Xia, Sanchuankou, Dingchuan Village, and Haoshuichuan were all defeated, which roughly explained the problem.

Di Qing was silent for a long time and said, "Do the officials know?"
To be continued...