The first month of the first year of Yuanyou is Yimao (26).
Bianhe River Old Embankment Division stacking yard.
Zhang Dun and his relatives and friends who came to see him off one by one said goodbye.
"My lords, the mountains are long and the rivers are far away. See you tomorrow!"
Zhang Heng, Zhang Yi and others all raised their hands and watched as Zhang Dun, surrounded by Yuan's followers, boarded the southward ship.
On the Bian River, at this moment, flags are like clouds.
The ten commanders of the First General Yulong have all boarded the ship.
One after another, the canal boats sailed toward the south along the Bianhe River.
Tens of thousands of family members, relatives and friends from Bianjing crowded on the embankment, waving goodbye to their departing relatives.
Lu Gongzhu and Sima Guang were both standing on the embankment in civilian clothes, watching hundreds of cannon boats loaded with imperial troops and armor as they headed south down the river.
"I hope all the troops can return safely!" Lu Gongzhu said softly.
When he was young, he witnessed the sad scene of every household in Bianjing being plain and crying.
Naturally, I don’t want to see the whole city crying for the army again.
Sima Guang sighed and said softly: "In the southern expedition of Xining, the number of people who died from Jiaozhi's swordsmen was only a few hundred...but the number of people who died from miasma was tens of thousands!"
Lu Gong wrote: "Zhang Zihou and Di Zijia are both stable and mature people... they will not make the same mistakes again!"
"Weren't Guo Zhongtong (Guo Kui) and Zhao Gongcai (Zhao Xi) a stable and mature minister in those days?" Sima Guang asked in return.
Mr. Lu suddenly choked on his words.
Sima Guang said: "Uncle Hui, for the sake of the present plan, we should take precautions and calm down the war before it breaks out!"
Lu Gongzhu shook his head: "The arrow has to be fired when it is on the string!"
The fighting spirit of the two palaces, the emperor, and the ruling and opposition parties have all been aroused!
Bianjing Xinbao will publish information about the events before and after Xining's Southern Expedition every two or three days.
Sometimes we will also popularize the story of Cochin’s independence and founding of the country.
Moreover, it is always emphasized that Jiaozhi has never been separated from China for thousands of years since the Han Dynasty.
Even in the era when the Southern and Northern Dynasties coexisted, Jiaozhi was still a Chinese county.
In the late Five Dynasties, the Later Tang Dynasty was destroyed, and Liu Yan of the Southern Han Dynasty was incompetent, so Jiaozhi was separated from China.
By the way, that tabloid always mentioned one thing - although states such as Jiaozhi and Guangyuan are wild and savage, they are rich in mineral resources.
In the past, Nong Ni was so smart that he could mine thousands of taels of gold from Guangyuan Prefecture every year!
Therefore, under the instigation of the tabloid, the Tai students became furious, and the people and public opinion in Bianjing also shouted for beating and killing.
The general trend has been formed.
Sima Guang sighed and asked, "Uncle Hui, if we want to attack Jiaozhi, how can we have enough 5,000 soldiers and horses?"
Lu Gongzhu said in a deep voice: "Guangxi should be able to mobilize more than 10,000..."
"Including the Dong soldiers of Nongzhihui, Nong Shengde and others, there should be more than 20,000 Dong soldiers..."
"Hire local men from the local area, young and strong... So, it should be around 50,000!"
"Is it enough?" Sima Guang asked.
Mr. Lu shook his head, this was definitely not enough.
No matter what, Jiaozhi is still a big country in the south, with more than 100,000 soldiers.
Once they know that the Song Dynasty is moving south, they will definitely mobilize.
It should be no problem to gather an army of 200,000 to fight against the Song army.
However, it is said that Jiaozhi and Champa have a feud.
Zhang Zihou and Di Zijia also said they would contact Champa and attack Jiaozhi together.
No matter what we do to capture the city, we should be able to attract tens of thousands of Cochin troops.
In this way, the Jiaozhi troops that the Song Dynasty had to face were around 150,000 to 60,000.
One to three troop strength comparison.
This battle is not easy to fight!
"So..." Sima Guang looked at Lu Gongzhu: "For the sake of the world's livelihood, please ask Uncle Hui to be in front of the emperor and insist on being incommunicado to start the war!"
"At least, don't mobilize a large number of soldiers and horses from the two lakes and Guangnan East Road..."
Mr. Lu nodded.
If it were just the current strength of troops, Guangnan West Road might still be able to supply it.
But if there is a need to mobilize soldiers and horses on Guangnan East Road, the two lakes, and even the border areas.
That was something that the poor military state of Guangxi could not afford.
It is inevitable to transport a large amount of grain and grass from Guangnan East Road, the two lakes and even the two Huaihe Rivers to supply military supplies.
As a result, military spending this year will inevitably soar.
This will even lead to skyrocketing prices for the already heavily burdened Huaihe and Zhejiang provinces - most of Bianjing's eight million shi of grain each year are transferred to Beijing from the Huaihe and Zhejiang provinces.
This is the lifeline of Bianjing City, and not one stone of food can be missing.
If there is less, there will be a food shortage in the capital.
This is something the Song Dynasty would never allow.
Therefore, the burden can only be transferred to the grain-producing areas of Zhejiang and Lianghuai.
But these places are already exhausted to supply Bianjing, and now they have to supply the Guangxi army.
Lu Gongzhu knew that it must be a disaster for people's livelihood!
Soaring prices are inevitable!
Maybe it will cause famine in the originally prosperous grain-producing areas!
terrible!
So, he assured Sima Guang: "You can rest assured, if the emperor and the two palaces want to mobilize a large number of troops and horses from the two lakes and other places..."
"I will definitely advise you in front of the emperor!"
"Taishi Wen, Zhang Jiedu and other elders will never sit back and watch such a disaster happen!"
Sima Guang listened, although he was not very satisfied - because Lu Gongzhu only opposed the large-scale deployment of troops and horses.
In other words, if it was only a small-scale transfer, such as the transfer of several thousand people, he would not object.
But Sima Guang still handed over his hand and thanked him: "With Uncle Hui's words, I feel relieved!"
…
"The army marched south, flags fluttering...all the officers and men were fierce and powerful...the canal boat went down the river, its sails covered the sky and the sun..."
In front of Zhao Xu, Feng Jing described the lineup of the army going south.
Zhao Xu was also fascinated as he listened.
To be honest, he had never seen with his own eyes the scene of an army of thousands of people riding down the Bian River in a mighty way.
He had never seen such a scene in his previous life.
He could only hear the relevant description from the minister's mouth.
only……
"Did the Bianhe River freeze this year?" Zhao Xu asked.
"I heard that there was only a thin layer of ice in late December..."
"After the first month, everything has melted..."
"So the Bianhe River was opened to navigation at the beginning of the first month of this year!"
For Bianjing City, this is naturally a good thing.
But for the surrounding agriculture, this may not be the case.
A warm winter means drought, which also means an increase in pests and diseases in the coming year.
This year's wheat harvest in the north may fail.
Zhao Xu suddenly felt troubled when he thought of this.
Then he said to Feng Jing: "Go and get some paper and pen... I want to give an order to Cai Jing and Chen Mu..."
"And Dengzhou Su Shi..."
Feng Jing took the order and left, and was quickly given paper and pen.
Zhao Xu sat down, started writing, and quickly completed the three hand edicts.
Then he handed it over to Feng Jing and asked: "Send Tong to see the Secretary, hand it over to Guo Zhongxiao, and order it to be delivered by horse to Su Shi in Dengzhou, Cai Que in Quanzhou, and Chen Mu in Mingzhou..."
"Nuo!" Feng Jing respectfully sealed the three edicts with fire paint, and then took them to the Tongjian Department.
Zhao Xu let out a slight breath.
He knew that Bianjing City was too fragile.
Millions of businesses, officials and citizens rely on the Bian River for consumption and daily needs.
As a result, the entire fourteen counties of Kaifeng Prefecture were drained of their surplus grain, but it was still not enough.
Every year, eight million tons of grain need to be transported from the south to Beijing.
If an offshore transportation channel can be opened from Dengzhou, Quanzhou and Mingzhou.
Let rice from Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and even Jiaozhi be transported to Dengzhou by sea.
It would be great!
With the navigation technology of this era, there is no problem in completing such sea transportation.
The maritime merchants of the Song Dynasty were able to sail to countries in Southeast Asia.
It is said that some people have also arrived in India, Sri Lanka and other places.
Zhao Xu remembered that according to modern historical data, the Yuan Dynasty once supplied most of the capital by sea.
Therefore, perhaps all it takes is an inspiration and a command to open up a new lifeline.
Even at the beginning, only hundreds of thousands of grains of grain could be transported to Dengzhou by sea every year.
This is also excellent.
Sea transportation, no matter what, is cheaper than water transportation.
…
In the afternoon, after Zhao Xu woke up from his nap.
Feng Jing took Sima Guang's letter and sent it to him.
Zhao Xu opened it and read the words on it.
When he saw that "the people today are exhausted, endure hunger and cold, brave whippings, and are in a hurry to pay for the government all year round, how can your Majesty tolerate the people's exile and migration to the ditch", he finally sighed and said to Feng Jing: "Tell Tong
When I see you, I will send word to my servant Sima Gong to come to the throne!"
Now, Zhang Dun and Di Yong have already set off.
There is no turning arrow when the bow is opened, so Sima Guang can be seen.
What's more, Sima Guang wrote so seriously.
Zhao Xu really needs to give an explanation or a guarantee to appease the old party scholar-bureaucrats, including Sima Guang.
Therefore, the Tongjian Division immediately made arrangements to notify Sima Guang that His Majesty ordered the Duke to come to the meeting.
Sima Guang was delighted when he heard this.
…
Zhang Dun was sitting in his own cabin.
The two beauties given by the palace stayed with him and held his shoulders.
While enjoying the beauty's service, Zhang Dun slowly took out the booklet given to him by the emperor from his sleeve.
He had already seen it once last night.
But he was still not satisfied.
It was the contents of this booklet that really opened his eyes.
He looked at the strategy above and sighed softly: "If Jiaozhi is really like this... I am afraid that only these five thousand forbidden troops will be enough to succeed in this southern expedition!"
Because, in the book the emperor gave him, the strategic goal for him to go south was not to destroy Jiaozhi.
He just beat Jiaozhi painfully, made him bow his head, pay tribute, lose rice, and take back Guangyuan, Silang and other prefectures that were given to Jiaozhi after Yuanfeng as punishment.
In other words, in fact, when he went south this time, he did not need to consider the situation north of the Furian River at all.
In addition, the emperor also told him in the pamphlet - I read the text left by the emperor and learned that there is sugar cane in Jiaozhou, which can be squeezed into sugar!
My husband is going south. If he has time, he can try planting in Guangyuan and other states.
Zhang Dun put the pamphlet away and looked towards the south with burning eyes.
Sugarcane?
sugar?!
He was breathing a little faster.
Sugar is a luxury product!
Can sugar cane really be grown in the barren land of Cochin? Can sugar really be extracted from the sugar cane?
Zhang Dun had no idea that in the cabin next to him, Gao Zunhui was also looking at a piece of paper.
The paper given to him by the emperor.
There is a secret method in the palace on the paper.
The secret method of turning sucrose into white sugar.
The uncle of the Empress Dowager suddenly felt that even the beauties around him no longer smelled good.
Sugar?!
This is as good as gold!
"The officials treat me, Mr. Gao, with great affection and righteousness!" Gao Zunhui said with emotion.
He seemed to see countless copper coins piled up in the cabin in front of him!
only……
"Who should I plant this sugar cane for?"
Gao Zunhui rolled his eyes and already had an idea.
Nong Zhihui!
…
Di Yong stood on the deck, facing the early spring wind.
The booklet in his hand was compiled tightly.
On the booklet, there is a sacred command: God has the virtue of good life, you must remember, do not kill prisoners! Xiaoyu's entire army: In this battle, the reward of capture is equivalent to beheading! However, the sage has taught: repay evil with kindness, how to repay kindness? Therefore, everyone
The captured Jiaozhi soldiers can be sold in the market, and the money and silk obtained will be rewarded by the armies!
Di Yong took a deep breath.
During the Song Dynasty, the sale of people was prohibited.
But he had the emperor's edict, so he could skip the legal regulations directly.
After all, loyal military ministers do not understand benevolence, justice and morality.
The warriors are all very simple.
All I know is that I am loyal to you and follow your orders!
so……
Di Yong knew that this imperial edict was equivalent to breaking the seal of the army he commanded!
They will go to Jiaozhi in the south to let the Jiaozhi people know why the vassal towns of the Five Dynasties were able to fight in the south and north with a single army, and even often go to the grasslands to harvest grass and grain.
Because they are more bloodthirsty than tigers and leopards, and more barbaric than barbarians!
Kill people and do all kinds of evil!
The army of the Song Dynasty was sealed by the civil servants and officials.
I was put under all kinds of shackles.
Now the shackles are broken and the beast is unleashed.
Because of the emperor's decree, the army was allowed to freely sell the captives it obtained.
The money and silk obtained became rewards for the soldiers.
This means that this army is no longer fighting for the Bianjing officials, but fighting for themselves!
Of course, Di Yong also knew that if something happened.
He must bravely shoulder the burden of enslaving people.
You may be thrown to Xihe, Jingyuan, or to reflect...
But what does this matter?
It is normal for a simple military minister to take the blame for the emperor with his passion for loyalty to the emperor.
How many people want to take the blame but haven’t had the opportunity yet?
It is an honor to be able to take the blame for the emperor! As for reputation?
What kind of reputation does a warrior need?
The higher the rank and the higher the status of the military officials of the Great Song Dynasty, the worse their reputation should be! It is best to be criticized by thousands of people, and it is best to bear the world's infamy! The most typical example is the brothers who conquered the world in the past.
All of them are greedy for money, lustful and killing innocent people indiscriminately.
But everyone had a happy ending!
A negative example is his father Di Qing!
Because of his good reputation, he was constantly impeached by the imperial officials. Those officials could not find any evidence of guilt, so they bit him randomly and even accused his family dog of having horns.
Although Renmiao is trustworthy, it cannot withstand the constant criticism from both inside and outside the government!
In the end, his father was forced to go to jail and died there.
Di Yong spent his last moments with his father, so he already knew.
In the Song Dynasty, middle and low-level generals may also need reputation.
But senior military ministers, especially those from Yaojun and above, must not seek fame!
Therefore, facing the pot sent by the emperor, Di Yong happily accepted it, and he was very happy with it!
