"Wang Qing, please step back first. I will come back to you."

"Yes, I will retire."

Wang Si exited Wende Hall.

Zhao Ning asked people to put away the armor, knives and axes.

"Do you know why I asked someone to come back to you?"

Ma Kuo said: "This humble minister is stupid, please make it clear to your majesty."

"Golden thieves are wreaking havoc in Hebei and Hedong, and you are traveling around Hebei and forming a rebel army. I have heard about it. You know better than most people what the situation ahead is. I want to hear your side of the story."

Ma Kuo immediately said truthfully: "Reporting to your majesty, in Hebei, the loss of three towns will cause great chaos to the people's livelihood. This is mainly manifested in the fact that many officials abandoned the city and fled, bandits were everywhere, and the system was often collapsed, so that the people had no way to live, and even thousands of miles of bare ground, and pregnant women on the road.

, and famine is raging, so much so that the Yizi can eat each other."

Zhao Ning said solemnly: "I am ashamed of the people."

On his way back to the capital, Ma Kuo had already heard about the many actions of the imperial court in the past six months.

Large quantities of grain crossed the Yellow River, and people from all walks of life in Hebei also received military pay and military rations.

Moreover, the ministers of the main war faction were promoted one by one. He said excitedly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to blame yourself. The people are turning to the court."

"The officials you mentioned abandoned the city and fled. I have also heard of such incidents. I am all sad and angry at the weakness and incompetence of some officials. The country is facing a crisis and they abandon the people without caring. If such shameless people are allowed to run free, how can they be worthy of it?

Those people who were slaughtered by the gold thieves!"

"I came to you this time because I have an important task for you."

"Your Majesty, please make it clear."

"I am determined to resist the Jin Dynasty, but I am suffering from the inability to obtain intelligence from the front. I plan to form a special military intelligence department. You know a lot about border affairs. I want you to form it. How about it?"

Ma Kuo never thought that he would receive such great trust. He was dedicated to serving the country. He had been admonishing Zhao Ji with all his heart, but he could not get a response.

Previously in Hebei, I witnessed the Jin Army's brutality and wreaking havoc, and all of them were filled with grief and anger, so they could only form a rebel army among the people to fight against the Jin Army.

He immediately knelt on the ground and said excitedly: "The Emperor has placed such great trust on me, how dare I not do my best and be willing to go through fire and water for His Majesty."

Zhao Ning quickly helped him up and said earnestly: "This Military Intelligence Department involves military and national secrets. You have to be careful. I believe you can handle it well."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will definitely live up to your Majesty's great trust."

"Okay! Now that you are here, I feel relieved. I can finally know the military situation, people's situation, and enemy situation in the north on a regular basis. I want to know this. I will not ignore the people of Hebei and Hedong. I promise you that I will expel the gold thieves and return the favor."

Our rivers and mountains will give all living people a stable and happy land."

Ma Kuo burst into tears immediately. He had seen too many tragic separations and separations these days.

The entire land of Hebei trembled and bled under the butcher's knife of the Jin army. Countless people were homeless and died violently on the roadside.

A real man holds a sword in front of him without changing his expression, but when he sees people being killed, he can't help but feel sad in his heart.

"Your Majesty, I will never give up even if I die!"

As if he suddenly remembered something, Ma Kuo said: "Your Majesty, I want to impeach Du Chong, the magistrate of Cangzhou. Du Chong killed people indiscriminately, causing the people in the north to hate the imperial court and scatter their hearts!"

What he was talking about was that at the end of the year before last, the Jin army attacked the Song Dynasty for the first time, and a large number of Han people fled south from the land of Yanyun.

When entering Cangzhou, Du Chong thought that all these people were spies sent by the enemy and killed them.

Even children of several years old were not spared and all were killed and put to death.

Du Chong is not only good at sneaking into camps, but also very easy to kill.

Historically, after Zongze died of illness in Tokyo, Zhao Gou sent Du Chong to guard Tokyo.

After Du Chong arrived in Tokyo, he withdrew all Zongze's defenses, and Wanyan Wushu came to attack Tokyo. Without thinking about defense, this guy actually opened up the Yellow River, creating a yellow flood zone that has been a disaster for thousands of years.

Moreover, this traitor later surrendered to the Jin Kingdom.

It was said that Du Chong killed so many unarmed people in Cangzhou. If he was not punished severely, would other officials follow suit?

Once people fled, the principle of killing them all was adopted. How could the imperial court's prestige in Hebei be maintained?

The people are the key to victory in this war.

Although at this time, the role of the common people has not really been played.

Zhao Ning patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I have sent people to get this person. I didn't touch him before because Cangzhou still needs someone to take charge. Now that Li Gang is here, I have already heard about Du Chong's evil deeds."

, I will not spare him."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Ma Kuo said again, "There is also Liu Yu, a common official on Hebei East Road. When the gold thieves came, this man actually abandoned the city and fled, causing other officials to take action after hearing the news, and the people ignored him!"

Of course Zhao Ning knew about Liu Yu, the great traitor in history. He had already sent people to look for Liu Yu, but Liu Yu seemed to have fallen into a mouse hole.

"Do you know where he is now?"

"Wei Chen only knows that if he fled all the way south, he must not be in Hebei. Given his timidity, he might be hiding on Huainan East Road."

Liu Yu in history was hiding in Yangzhou.

Zhao Ning also sent people to Yangzhou to look for him, but he couldn't find it.

This guy is the puppet emperor supported by the Jin people.

According to the current situation, if the Jin people really support him again, even if the Jin people withdraw their troops, the land of Hebei will fall into even more tragic internal strife.

"You also use the people in your hands to search for Liu Yu with all your strength. If you find him, don't kill him. He will be escorted to the capital. I will use his head to display to the public and spread throughout the border towns!"

"yes!"

"When people's hearts are broken, the Military Intelligence Department must choose reliable people. You don't have to worry about the expenses of the Military Intelligence Department. I will definitely support you with all my strength."

Later, Zhao Ning discussed with Ma Kuo in detail his plans to build the Military Intelligence Department.

Including selection criteria, placement and training of intelligence personnel, secret transmission of intelligence, how to mobilize the power of the people, and what name to use as a code name.

If a spy appears, how to deal with it quickly, how to deal with traitors, etc.

Some of what Zhao Ning said may not be professional, but the core logic was clearly expressed. Ma Kuo helped him improve the details.

The two of them chatted until dark.

After Ma Kuo left, Zhao Ning wrote to Zongze.

Zhao Ning tried not to interfere with the military deployment of the front line. After all, his understanding of the front line was very limited.

However, given the current situation in Hebei, where bandits are raging everywhere, we cannot sit idly by.

He wrote to Zongze, hoping that Zongze could send a team of troops to suppress the bandits.

Moreover, he asked Yue Fei to come out of the battle.

It's time for Yue Fei to fight monsters and upgrade. After all, there is still a long way to go.

Moreover, the Jin army must be mobilizing food and grass right now, and a large number of spies may have become active in Hebei and Hedong.

Let Yue Fei go out and engage in small-scale field battles.

September 20, Cangzhou, Hebei.

Li Gang, the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Front, was checking the recruitment situation in Cangzhou at the commander's residence.

Han Shizhong walked in and said, "Xianggong Li, I have heard that the commander of the Jin Army who came to Hejian Prefecture this time is called Wanyan Zongfu. The Jin thieves have begun to set up defenses in Hejian Prefecture. Some people saw a grain transport team going to Hejian Prefecture.

Transport grain to the government."

When Li Gang came to Cangzhou, he still thought highly of Han Shizhong. After all, Han Shizhong was personally appointed by His Majesty the Emperor to assist him.

Moreover, Han Shizhong had always had a prestigious reputation, outstanding military achievements, and good military management.

"How many troops does the Jin Army have?"

"We don't know yet."

"Keep exploring."

"Yes." Han Shizhong paused and then said, "Xiangong Li, I heard that Du Chong sent people to kill people outside the city two days ago."

"What! How can he be unreasonable!" Li Gang was furious and said to Zhang Suo next to him, "Ask Du Chong to come see me!"

Zhang Suo said: "Xiangong Li, Du Chong is a man who likes to kill. He is the cause of the collapse of people's hearts in Cangzhou. It is better to kill this man as a warning to others."

"Find him first."

"yes."

At this time, Du Chong was counting money in the prefect's Yamen. While counting, he was writing a letter.

Naturally, he wrote a letter to the general of the Jin Army.

It was already the end of September, and news of the Jin army's invasion of the country spread throughout Hebei, causing a sudden uproar.

Panic is spreading everywhere.

According to rumors, Cangzhou was the focus of the Jin army's attack.

Du Chong absolutely did not want to face the Jin army head-on.

And he knew Li Gang, one of the most stubborn "anti-golden hardliners".
To be continued...