Chapter 459: Court War

Zhao Xing thought for a moment and reminded: "The attack should be fierce, but this battle is not about winning, and it is required to be stable and steadily advanced. Even if the Xixia people retreat in large numbers, they should not pursue it easily - no matter how the Xia people act, we just need to implement the established combat plan step by step."

The war machine started immediately, and the entire Shaanxi area was mobilized. The shocked Jingzhao Yin, Yongxing Jun Road Transporter, and Qin Feng Jun Road Transporter found that the situation was beyond their control, so they reported to the court urgently. After the intentional delay of the Privy Councilor Liu Kui, the imperial court also issued a reprimand. On the first day of March, more than a dozen eunuchs were sent to Shaanxi. Liu Kui watched the envoy leave on Xuande Tower, and said to himself without looking back: "Ma Du, I have kept my promise, I have delayed for fifteen days. I need to handle the rest according to the rules."

Behind him, Ma Mengde smiled and replied: "Hou Tiju (Hou Meng), Grand Master Zhao is extremely grateful. He will visit his house in person next time."

Liu Kui nodded gently, as if Ma Mengde did not exist, and stepped down from Xuande Tower. Beside Ma Mengde, his son Ma Xi snorted and said dissatisfiedly: "In February, the imperial examination ceremony of the imperial examination was busy. This business was delayed for fifteen days, which was easy for him. Afterwards, he was grateful to the Nanyang Yamen and Beiyang Yamen. Liu Kui also looked like a gentleman, which was really disgusting."

Ma Mengde waved his sleeves and looked at the soldiers on both sides. The ghost army was maintaining order on Xuande's building. They faced outside the palace walls, as if Ma Mengde did not exist. Ma Mengde found that no one was paying attention, and he whispered: "This matter is so important. It is because it is easy to delay fifteen days that Liu Kui could agree smoothly, but he didn't know that the fifteen-day delay had no more country... Immediately notify the secret disc in the capital and said that my mission had been completed."

After a moment of pause, Ma Meng looked at his son and smiled kindly: "I have been in the capital for twenty years for my father, just for this day. After this matter is done, it is time for my father to go home and enjoy my old age. In the future, this world is your world, and you will take over the affairs in the capital tomorrow..."

On March 1, Zhao Xing boarded a boat in Yanshui Town. At the same time, Fuyan Road sent an envoy to the court to inform the Shaanxi Fourth Routes that according to the imperial court's instructions in previous years, the Shaanxi Fourth Routes launched a counterattack against Xixia on March 1 - but in fact, the four routes agreed to attack on March 3.

The imperial envoys rushed to Yanshui Town, Fuyan Road, at an accelerated speed of 800 miles. When they arrived, the entire Yanshui Town was empty, and the four routes launched a strong offensive to Xixia as scheduled. The Fuyan Road Palace Commander Zhe Ke was out of Longzhou. From land attacking Wuyan City of the Jianing Military Office, Zhong Shizhong used Zhao Xing's remaining ships to head north along the Wuding River and attacking Yingzhou of Xiangyou Military Office from water.

At this moment, Zhao Xing passed through Suide and arrived at Ningbian Prefecture on the border between Liao and Song. He had already been waiting there to meet Zhao Xing and reported in a low voice: "Taiwei, the Ningbian Army's Wuluo Ge Zhan has agreed with me that he will restrain his soldiers in the camp for a whole day tomorrow, and we will have a whole day to pass through the river where the Ningbian Army belongs."

Zhao Xing shook his head: "I'm afraid one day is not enough. We have nearly 4,000 warships, which will take at least two days."

Lu Qiuguan grinned: "Taiwei. Brother Luo has collected money. What is the difference between hiding one day and two days? At worst, I can add some money to him later. Please rest assured that the Taiwei will wait until the sun rises tomorrow and the Taiwei will arrive in the ship. I will negotiate with him for the rest."

Yuan Yeping stood beside Zhao Xing and asked, "How much did you spend?"

Lu Qiuguan raised four fingers: "Forty thousand tens of thousands!"

Yuanyeping gave a thumbs up and praised: "It's worth it. It's worth buying a country for 400,000 yuan."

At dawn, Zhao Xing's fleet set off on the road. The entire riverside was quiet and there was no one. Zhao Xing's boat passed through the Ningbian army and stepped onto the land of the Liao Kingdom. Behind him, thousands of boats were sailing across the river, and the shadows of sails filled the river, alarming countless white ducks in the reeds by the river.

Amid the sound of ducks, the Tatar girl crawled out of the cabin towards the deck and came to the deck. She walked to Zhao Xing, knelt at Zhao Xing's feet, with her face on Zhao Xing's knees, and pointed to the river surface and said, "After passing the Ningbian Army, everything is fine. There are three troops in Dongshengzhou. The Ningbian Army is stuck at the mouth of the Yellow River, the Jinsu Army, and the Heqing Army are on the Xixia border. The Yellow River goes deep into the land of Dongshengzhou, and the Jinsu Army and the Heqing Army are in the south of the Yellow River, but they have to cross a sea of ​​sand to reach the border of the Yellow River. Therefore, behind the Jinsu Army and the Heqing Army is a large blank area.

In the past, my tribe was chased by the Xixia people and had no way to the sky. I just secretly crossed the border of Dongshengzhou and hovered in this area. I knew several hiding places that could hide a large group of people..."

Zhao Xing nodded with a smile. He didn't know that he went south from Yanshui Town and passed through Linzhou, Fuzhou, Suide Army, Baode Army, and Volcanic Army. None of these troops received a notice in advance. They were confused about this inexplicable army because the army came from the downstream. They hurriedly posted a message to ask about the downstream Suide Army. At this time, the important officers of the Suide Army had left, and only a few eunuchs sent by the court were left in the barracks.

The eunuchs sent by the court were at a loss. When they received the news from various governments along the route, they were shocked and rushed to the capital without looking back. On March 10, the eunuchs rushed back to the capital. When the ministers of the court received the news, they were shocked.

Huang Tingjian ran ahead without changing his expression. He sat upright there without saying a word. Zhang Lei, the counselor, looked up at the sky, and then the sound of the fat big-bellied man hammering the mountain. Liu Kui flipped the map anxiously. Zhang Shangying was already stupid. He sat on the chair and muttered in disbelief: "It's not wrong. This must be Zhao Liren's army. He passed through the Baode army and the volcanic army. Where are they going?"

"Liao Kingdom! Ningbian Army!" Liu Kui looked through the map for a long time and said these words in disbelief: "The only destination that this big river leads to is the Ningbian Army. According to the itinerary, he has passed through the Ningbian Army. Everyone, the disaster is going on, how should the Liao Kingdom deal with it?"

Zhang Shangying glared at Huang Tingjian sternly, Huang Tingjian shrugged his shoulders and said innocently: "I don't know! I really don't know!"

Zhang Lei slapped his stomach and said with a smile: "Why do you need to panic? The Liao Kingdom needs to negotiate. It's only a few days, wait - but I think that since Zhao Liren dares to go straight up the river, maybe he has other arrangements."

Wang Qinchen jumped up and shouted in anger: "Severe punishment, why don't you say something about such a big thing in advance?"

Zhang Shangying did not find the answer at Huang Tingjian. He looked at the envoys sent to the capital of Shaanxi Fourth Road. The envoys of the Fuyan Road shrugged indifferently. Under Zhang Shangying's stare, he replied easily: "Drift from Yanshui Town. After walking for more than twenty miles, the Yellow River began to divert. When driving west, it was Wuding River, and when driving east, it was the main road of the Yellow River.

In the past, I, Fuyan Road, planned to attack Xiangyou Military Office along the Wuding River. This plan was also approved by the Privy Council. I guess, maybe the Taishi misreaded the map and entered the main road of the Yellow River."

Zhang Shangying jumped up as if he was stepped on his tail and shouted: "Will he look at the wrong map? Zhao Liren will look at the wrong map. Why didn't he look at the wrong map when he went to Southeast Asia? Why didn't he look at the wrong map when he went to Japan? Today, he looked at the wrong map in a river ditch. You, you. You walked out of Xuande Building and went to the street to pick someone up on the street to ask, and see if anyone in the capital believes that Zhao Liren will look at the wrong map?"

The envoy of the Fuyan Road smiled: "Justice Zhang said just now that Zhang Xiang was in the ditch. Isn't there a saying - a boat capsized in the gutter, maybe the Taishi really capsized in the gutter this time."

The envoys from the other three routes did not speak, but they couldn't hold back their smiles. Zhang Shangying was still angry. The king of Yan hurried into the hall. He asked, "I just heard that Grand Master Zhao led the fleet through the Suide Army and the Volcanic Army. Is it true or false?"

No one in the palace dared to answer. Hanlin Zhou Bangyan said softly: "I'm afraid it's true."

The King of Yan was covered in sweat: "Just just now, the Privy Council received a series of reports that the Four Beast Army and Dragon Cavalry of the Nanyang Yamen all rushed to Yanshui Town. Then, Zhao Liren brought all the troops of the Nanyang Yamen this time."

Liu Kui shook his head gently: "It's not all the troops. The ghost army is now guarding the palace. The demon army is in Dali. Five of the seven fleets belonging to Nanyang have already headed to Arabia. I heard that the battle there is very hard. Zhao Liren has sent two armies to eliminate demons and destroy demons to reinforce."

The King of Yan took a breath: "In other words, the Navy forces of the Nanyang Yamen went to Nanyang, and most of the army rushed to Yanshui Town. There are only two armies in the country now. Do the Liao people know about this?"

Zhang Shangying shouted nervously: "You can't let them know... transfer the Beiyang Yamen's army to Beijing for protection."

Zhang Lei patted his belly and attracted everyone's gaze. He whispered: "Zhao Liren once said in the past that the Liao people have become corrupt."

Huang Tingjian's eyes lit up, and Zhang Shangying hurriedly asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Lei raised his fat finger and smiled silly: "The military newspaper said that Zhao Liren set off on March 1st and speculated that he should have crossed the Ningbian Army before March 5th. The last report of the volcanic army was March 6th. The fleet was moving very quickly. The army along the way reported that the troops were covered with black cloaks outside, and the ground was not on Fan Yang hat on their heads, but they were a bit similar to the steel helmets of the Nanyang Yamen.

We can now be sure that this army is the Four Beast Army under the Nanyang Yamen, and the remaining Iron Cavalry Army. The Volcanic Army finally reported that there were no ships on the river and that the army was missing. In other words, they successfully passed the Ningbian Army. The Liao Kingdom has not responded yet."

After Zhang Lei finished speaking, he glanced at Liu Kui, and Liu Kui nodded in agreement: "Today is March 10th. If there is any news in Zhending Prefecture, the prefectures and counties on the border of Hedong Road, it should have been sent to the urgent report. But now it is strange that the Liao Kingdom seems to have no response. This army disappeared. They appeared strangely on the surface of the Yellow River, and were strangely without a trace."

Zhang Lei slapped his belly and emphasized with a smile: "So we can't say it either!"

Zhang Shangying quickly agreed: "It is better to have less than more things. If the Liao people do not make any negotiations, we must not say."

Huang Tingjian had already clarified his thoughts at this time. He slowly glanced at the envoy of Shaanxi Fourth Route and added: "Now it is certain that Shaanxi Fourth Route and Zhao Liren have long colluded with him. It can even be said that they knew where Zhao Liren went, but they just didn't want to say it. In fact, since Zhao Liren has arrived on the river, would he fight against the Liao Kingdom?"

Zhang Shangying calmed down and shook his head slightly. The King of Yan was anxious and blurted out: "Although Zhao Liren is domineering, I know. I'm afraid he can't do anything privately to provoke the border."

Liu Kui also thought about Zhao Xing's Buchu clearly. He pointed to the four Shaanxi envoys in the hall and replied: "It must be Xixia. If these four people come here to pretend to be crazy, then Zhao Liren will not be able to go elsewhere, it must be Xixia."

After Liu Kui finished speaking, he rushed to the map and gestured along the Yellow River, and couldn't help but slap the table and say: "Miscellaneous hand, there is such a big gap in Dongshengzhou, why didn't I find it? The Jin Su army of Liao, Heqing army, and Ningbian army are all on the border. As long as you steal the Ningbian army, the fleet will sail into the sea of ​​sand..."

Liu Kui drew a big bend along the Yellow River in Dongshengzhou, and his fingers hit the Xixia border: "Mona Mountain, the Muna Mountain City of Tiande Army. Zhao Liren has now arrived at Muna Mountain City."

Huang Tingjian smiled and said slowly: "Now, we want to discuss how to reward this military achievements?"

Liu Kui first reacted, and he immediately answered: "Prince's Court--"

He paused. He emphasized the Privy Council in particular and continued to add: "The Privy Council agreed to Shaanxi's plan to launch a comprehensive counterattack last year, and began to allocate supplies two years ago, praising the war."

King Yan lay on the map and continued to gesture with Liu Kui's finger prints just now. His fingers drew a circle, and finally stopped somewhere on the map, taking a breath of air conditioning: "Xingqing Mansion!"

As soon as this word came out, everyone understood why Liu Kui was so impatient just now. Zhang Shangying's expression changed and he looked at Huang Tingjian with great enthusiasm, asking as if seeking support: "Huang Xiang, Grand Master Zhao enjoys the name of yam. Since he has passed through the Ningbian Army safely this time, do you guess he has already broken into the territory of Xixia?"

Without waiting for Huang Tingjian to answer, Liu Kui immediately interrupted: "Yes, you must be sure. Zhao Liren is good at taking advantage of the situation. Since he started, he must be 80% sure of this battle. Maybe the Tiande Army has fallen now."

Zhang Shangying nodded with a smile. Huang Tingjian continued slowly: "Zhao Liren has no rewards. I remember that he asked the court to keep the news of his trip to Fuyan Road confidential?"

Zhang Shangying smiled and nodded frequently: "Of course. The court agreed to his memorial as he asked."

Zhang Shangying was talking lies with his eyes open. The King of Yan unconsciously revealed the real reason why he said this: "A hundred-year-old strong enemy ends in our hands. We will be famous as a generation of famous officials in history. I hope--No, when Zhao Taishi goes here, he will definitely clear the western corridor."

The words of King Yan caused everyone to nod. Zhang Shangying summoned Zhou Bangyan with a smile: "Zhou Hanlin, how should I write the answers in the palace today?"

Zhou Bangyan was tactful and immediately replied vaguely: "The official must be a brilliant man!"

Zhang Shangying reminded again: "Then I will issue a new edict to the various routes in Shaanxi immediately - remember, you must fill in the date in reverse."

Liu Kui nodded immediately: "Yes, our Privy Council has had a secret agreement with the Shaanxi generals. In order to keep the secret, the army was ordered to set out first, and the court issued a resignation. In fact, the ministers of the court had already discussed it. The edict had been entrusted to the Xiaguan several days in advance and sealed it by the Xiaguan himself..."

...

The war has not yet begun, and a group of officials have begun to divide the results of victory. This is because they know that Zhao Xing has no choice but to be promoted. Such an official has made great achievements. In order to repay him for his contribution, the court could only kill him to avoid threats to the court.

The public reward for foreign wars was very large. After Cai Jing stepped down, the new cabinet of the Song Dynasty was busy wiping the emperor and Cai Jing, and it was also necessary to win such a foreign war to show their achievements. Song and Xia had been in stalemate for a hundred years. If Zhao Xing won this time, then no one of the ministers of this generation would be left behind, and they would inevitably be recorded in the historical books. Now, if more credit is taken for himself, it will inevitably occupy a larger share in the historical records. Therefore, each of the officials spared no effort to show their prophets and their wise and thoughtfulness. Therefore, Zhao Xing did not notify the court in advance, and secretly arrived at Fuyan Road with an edict from the court to preside over the war. It was said that it was the pre-planning of the court ministers and the confidentiality measures specially set by the court...

But the court was still afraid of Zhao Xing. After the victory was divided, the King of Yan first spoke: "The Duke of the State should reward him!"

King Yan did not name his name, but everyone knew what he was saying. Zhang Shangying glanced at the map in Liu Kui's hand. This map was the site of the Nanyang Yamen. The map not only marked the current Song Dynasty, but also the area of ​​the Song Dynasty. Zhang Shangying searched for a long time. His eyes fell on a point on the map. He pondered: "A few years ago, Goryeo presented Danluo Island, and the court has not made any statement. The management of this overseas land is troublesome and it is not very good. It is better to use this island as his fiefdom..."

Everyone applauded, but the King of Yan was still unsatisfied. He also added: "Assigned to the title of Duke of the Kingdom to be promoted by the Nanyang Yamen, he would inevitably be too authoritarian..."

Huang Tingjian immediately interrupted: "Zhao Liren has gone to Fuyan, Shuai Fan is still there, and Wan Qi Yong is also there. These two people have been in charge of the Nanyang Yamen for many years and will be succeeded by them. I believe Zhao Liren will not mind either."

A relatively weak official replaced the powerful Zhao Xing, which was in line with the wishes of the court. Of course, with Zhao Xing's strongness, if the successor of the Nanyang Yamen did not meet his wishes, he probably wouldn't agree. Therefore, the King of Yan did not hesitate about this proposal and quickly finalized: "That is the case. The court immediately issued an edict, and Wanqi Yongquan would take the initiative to take over the Nanyang Yamen."

This is the seizure of power while Zhao Xing is not doing it, but now it can only be done. Huang Tingjian hesitated for a moment. He reluctantly nodded. Wang Qinchen sighed and remained silent. Zhang Lei laughed, unable to say how bitter it was in the laughter: "In this way, everyone has gained the battle to destroy Xia, but Zhao Liren lost the most."

When Zhang Lei said this, everyone was a little embarrassed, and Huang Tingjian was a little embarrassed, but he insisted on adding: "Since the confidentiality was so perfect in the early stage, I think it is necessary to strengthen confidentiality now - from now on, no officials present will be allowed to leave the palace or communicate with the outside world."

King Yan slapped the table and agreed: "Yes, please sign together. Immediately order the palace to be enshrined. You and I are waiting for the frontline news here... I believe that at this time, the follow-up news should come."

Huang Tingjian looked up to the northwest and smiled bitterly: "It's time to come, it's time to come for news these days."

In Dongshengzhou, another sunrise has come from the Yellow River. On the Great Plain, the morning sun is particularly huge. Zhao Xing stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the sunrise and muttered to himself. He turned to the bard Buffett and said, "We have an ancient poem in China, saying, 'The desert is lonely smoke straight, the long river sets in the sun'. Look, there is no word in this scene in front of you that can be more appropriate than this sentence. It's so beautiful!"

Buffett tweaked the six-stringed zither and asked inexplicably: "Where is the smoke, I only see the sun, but not the setting sun, but the rising sun. Where is the smoke?"

Zhao Xing turned around and pointed at the direction of the fleet's advance. In the distance, in the sky, under the morning glow, a straight wolf smoke rose high into the sky. Under the red sky, the black smoke seemed particularly conspicuous, further contrasting the scene in front of him and adding a sad and beautiful atmosphere.

As the wolf smoke rose, immediately afterwards, near the sky, waves of wolf smoke gradually rose into the air, rows of wolf smoke, like the water columns of goldfishes squirting in a row of sailing lines in the sea, morning glow, lonely smoke, yellow earth, lonely white clouds, ducks that were occasionally shocked by the fleet, and reeds in the wind, made all this look poetic and picturesque.

There are always people who destroy this picture inappropriately. On the mast of the fleet, a sailor raised his horn and blew a shrill war horn with all his might. Then, the captain trotted to Zhao Xing and reported loudly: "Twenty miles ahead of Tiande Army, Tiande Army has lit up the wolf smoke. Please order the Grand Tutor."

Zhao Xing flicked his fingers lazily a few times and ordered: "Project No. 1!"

The officer reiterated loudly: "Plan No. 1: The fleet is not allowed to stay. Each ship is ready for artillery shooting in turn. When the artillery distance is entered, the artillery shooting in turn. After the artillery distance exceeds the artillery shooting, the firing stops."

Zhao Xing nodded, the captain turned around and ordered the sailor: "Rise the signal flag, plan No. 1!"

The ancients said, "Looking at the mountain and running to death," which means that when you see a mountain ridge on the large plain, you may not be able to run for ten days and half a month. This sentence is exactly the current scene.

The Yellow River is bent and there are more twists and turns in Hetao. The place where the wolf smoke rises seems not far away. The fleet has been bent for a few times, so it can clearly see the towering Tiandebao by the river and the wolf smoke from Tiandebao. However, this clarity is not within reach. The fleet still has a long way to go.

Zhao Xing's fleet came from the east, and Tiandebao was in the west. The fleet was too large. Under the red glow in the morning, the white sails of the fleet were like a large number of leeches, which seemed extremely clear. Tiandebao did not know the origin of the fleet, but the fleet of such a large size was walking on the Yellow River and was moving up against the current, obviously malicious. Therefore, Tiandebao took the lead in igniting wolf smoke. Then, the beacon towers in the entire Xia Kingdom had risen one after another like relay races. However, the contact battle between the two sides had to wait until noon.
Chapter completed!