[Chapter 339: Arm the family army and beat Yue Pengju]
Zhao Guan's family rewarded the three armies...
The soldiers and generals of the Zhejia Army cheered thunderously, shouting long live the Zhao Guan family.
Zhao Ji looked at the cheering soldiers of the Zhejia Army and couldn't help but feel moved, and his heart was stirred up.
He pulled Zhe Keqiu beside him, and faced the hundreds of generals of the Zhe Family Army who were in front of him, including captains and above, and said loudly with emotion:
"Many of you have lived in the border areas for a long time and sacrificed their lives to support the country. They first followed Zhe Ke, and then followed Zhe to become more powerful. Now they follow Zhe Ke and seek help. They have guarded the border and defended the enemy for many years. I know that your hard work has made great achievements!"
"In this expedition to summer, I vow to quell the troubles in the northwest in one fell swoop."
"I hope that during the battle to capture the capital of the Xia Kingdom, you will obey the military orders and kill the enemy bravely. When the enemy's capital is captured, I will definitely reward you for your merits..."
After hearing the holy words, all the soldiers cheered and gave thanks again...
Zhao Ji gave reassurance to the soldiers of the Zhejia Army for him, and he said loudly:
"I order you and others to be the vanguard in the attack on the enemy's capital. We are not alone!"
"After you and others go out to fight, I will definitely lead the hundreds of thousands of troops behind the enemy's Xijing City and arrive later!"
"I will never let your vanguard army be trapped in a deep situation alone!"
After hearing the Zhao Guan family's public promise, the officers and soldiers of the Zhe Family Army immediately felt relieved and their courage doubled. They cheered and thanked them again...
Zhao Ji took Zhe Keqiu's hand, half-turned around to face Zhe Keqiu, and said earnestly:
"The Zhe family of Ai Qing has been guarding the northwest border for many generations to fight against the family members, gain insight into Tibetan sentiments, and have many plans for the defense of the northwest during the Song Dynasty."
"I know that from Aiqing's ancestors to your father, and then from your brother Zheda to Aiqing, they are all loyal to the country, brave and good at fighting."
"This time, I ordered Aiqing to be the vanguard to attack Xia's enemy capital. Aiqing has a heavy responsibility on her shoulders. I hope Aiqing will live up to the Zhe family's century-old loyalty and century-old reputation!"
Zhe Keqiu was deeply moved and replied respectfully and firmly:
"You can ask for help from a humble minister, and you will definitely live up to the holy hope..."
Zhao Ji nodded, took Zhe Keqiu's hand, walked into the Chinese army's tent, and secretly discussed the specific expedition plan.
Yue Fei, who had a sword on his waist, wisely stood outside the Chinese army's tent and took the initiative to serve as the guard of Zhao Guan's family.
Zhao Ji sat on the main seat in the Chinese army's tent, and Zhe Keqiu stood beside him. Together they pointed at the map of Xia Kingdom spread on the table, planning a strategy to attack the enemy's capital...
Zhao Ji asked in a consulting tone:
"I know the principle of 'soldiers are more valuable than quickness'. I want to let Aiqing lead his troops and repair here for half a day before setting off for the expedition. Is that okay?"
"Very good! I am here, half a day's rest is enough!"
At this time, Zhe Keqiu, who had been dazzled by the kindness of Zhao Guan's family and was eager to make a contribution, immediately replied:
"What the officials say is absolutely true, soldiers are valuable and quick!"
"Therefore, I would like to ask for some advice: This afternoon, I will lead ten thousand elite cavalrymen from my department, bring enough dry food for three days, and make a long-distance attack. I will directly take the Xia Kingdom, which is more than 14 miles away.
Xingqing Mansion in the capital!"
"Weak ministers can ask the officials to make a decision. Is my plan feasible?"
"It's feasible! Ai Qing's plan is very good!" Zhao Ji smiled and nodded:
"Ai Qing is indeed an outstanding general among the descendants of the Zhongyong Zhe family. This strategy is exactly what I want!"
"A humble minister can be defeated, thank you for the high praise from the officials!"
In fact, when Zhao Ji just inspected the 50,000 troops and horses of the Zhe Keqiu tribe, he saw more than 10,000 cavalry in the Zhe family army, all of whom were Dangxiang Qiang people.
It can be used just in time for the first attack on the enemy's capital where the losses are high, and the rebellious general in history can be used to recruit the elite soldiers and horses of his subordinates.
This can be described as killing two birds with one stone.
After Zhao Ji saw Zhe Keqiu's naive smile, he finally softened up a little bit.
After all, six generations of the Zhe family guarded the northwest border for the Song Dynasty, fought against the Liao Kingdom, and fought bravely against the Xia Kingdom. Each generation of the Zhe family has made great contributions...
The Zhe family, father and son, served one after another. They were loyal to the Song Dynasty and sacrificed their lives to serve the country. Their spirit was touching.
Although, after the Jingkang disaster in history, a general named Zhe Keqiu appeared who reduced the loyalty and reputation of the Zhe family for hundreds of years;
However, the current Zhe Keqiu is still worthy of the flag of loyalty and courage given to him by the Zhao Guan family, and the Zhe family army has not done anything to disgrace the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Ji folded it in half and asked:
"My dear sir, do you know that my imperial commander personally marched in the northwest, and the Song army defeated several enemy cities in succession, and attacked the Xijing city of the Xia Kingdom in one fell swoop. The march all the way to this point was unstoppable. What is the reason for this?"
After Zhe Keqiu thought for a moment, he said:
"According to what Weicheng Keqiu knows: This was a personal expedition by the official imperial commander, which greatly boosted the morale of the officers and soldiers of the Song Dynasty and raised their morale. The official army led the righteous army to attack the unjust summer, so we have such a winning streak!"
Zhao Ji smiled slightly and said: "Ai Qing only knows one thing!"
Zhe Keqiu was also very happy when he saw Zhao Guanjia smiling. After all, what he just said was true to his heart, but it also contained a lot of flattery to Zhao Guanjia.
As the best general alive in this generation of the Zhe family, he fully understands the importance of military spirit and morale to victory in war;
However, he also knew that if the military strength was not good enough and there was no inspiring military spirit and high morale, it would not be possible for the Zhao Guan family to win so many consecutive victories as they did during the summer expedition.
Zhe Keqiu recalled the content of several battle reports he had received from the Song army during their expedition to Xia, combined with what he heard when he marched in a hurry and passed several cities occupied by the Song army in Xia, he said:
"I would like to ask you to hear this: The imperial chariot led the army to conquer Xia in person, and with the help of the gods, he could cause thunder to bombard the enemy city. Therefore, he was able to defeat the Xia Kingdom so quickly, including Jianghui, Mengjing, Pulecheng, and Yaode.
city, and even now occupy Xijing City, the capital of Xia Kingdom! I dare to ask the officials, is it true? "
"Hahaha..." Zhao Ji laughed when he heard this.
Zhe Keqiu was astonished by Zhao Guan's laughter, which made Monk Ruzhang Er scratch his head.
After Zhao Ji stopped laughing, he folded and asked:
"Although I am favored by the sky, it is impossible for gods to directly intervene in human wars! It is even less possible for gods to rain down thunder and directly destroy the enemy's city gates!"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Zhe Keqiu seems to be thinking about it, and keeps nodding in agreement.
In order to make concessions and seek loyalty, Zhao Ji had to treat each other with sincerity. He said truthfully:
"As early as last year, I received a dream from the gods and designed new weapons such as artillery, muskets, explosive packets, grenades, etc. The outside world rumored that the Song Army could draw thunder from the sky to bombard the city, but in fact it was just artillery to attack the city!"
"Ah?!" Zhe Keqiu said in disbelief:
"Are those artillery pieces wrapped in burning stones thrown by a trebuchet?"
"Hahaha..." Zhao Ji laughed after hearing this. He also deeply felt that he and the insiders of the Song Army had sealed this military secret very well.
He gave a brief explanation of artillery and other gunpowder weapons...
Zhe Keqiu was shocked when he heard this. He was so impressed that the Zhao Guan family could develop such a powerful firearm...
Zhao Ji said seriously: "My loyal and brave Zhejia army is about to go out as a vanguard army. How can we not have the advanced firearms developed by me?" "I decided to give Aiqing's army a team of fifty artillerymen.
And five artillery pieces, ten engineers and sixty bags of explosives!"
"I am a humble minister, please thank the Lord for your kindness!" Zhe Keqiu was overjoyed when he heard this, thanked him and bowed again.
Zhao Ji hurriedly helped Zhe Keqiu up, and summoned the cavalry from the Imperial City Division to report the urgent recruitment of artillery and soldiers carrying firearms. He quickly returned to the city and ordered to recruit...
He gave these gunpowder weapons to Zhe Keqiu's troops, which did no harm to the various Song army troops he personally led, but for the Zhe family army, it was a timely help.
Zhao Ji knew very well that if he did not send these gunpowder weapons to the Zhejia Army, then in the subsequent war against Xia, when other Lu and Song armies used gunpowder weapons, the Zhejia Army would also be able to see and hear them.
If that's the case, it will make the Zhe family army feel that I favor one over the other, which is really not beautiful.
And Zhao Ji is like this, even if the Zhejia army suffered too many casualties in the battle to attack Xingqingfu, the capital of Xia State, they would have no one to blame.
Zhao Ji also sent an order to the eunuch waiting at the Chinese army's main tent to fetch the red paper and pen and ink prepared in advance for writing couplets. He personally wrote a couplet for the Zhejia army:
"The Fuzhou Army is so powerful that the generals of the Song Dynasty are unparalleled in their bravery!"
Horizontal comment: "Victory with a clear start"!
Zhe Ke asked for thanks and repeatedly praised Zhao Guan's superb calligraphy skills.
This couplet was spread to the army. After seeing it, the soldiers of the Zhejia Army were all excited and their morale was greatly boosted.
When Zhao Ji was leaving, he personally gave Zhe Keqiu two monocular binoculars. One was given to Zhe Keqiu for his own use, and the other was given to Zhe Keqiu for his scouts to use...
Zhe Keqiu thanks again...
Two-quarters of an hour after Zhao Guan's family left the Zhejia Army's temporary garrison, ten Song Army engineers from the city rode fast horses and arrived carrying sixty explosive packets...
After another half an hour, a group of fifty artillerymen arrived, driving five horses pulling five artillery pieces and three carriages pulling cannon shell boxes...
Zhe Keqiu was so happy that he went out to the camp twice to welcome the engineers and artillery sent by Zhao Guan's family...
…
Under the protection of Yue Fei and hundreds of imperial city officials, Zhao Ji returned to the gate of the temporary palace in Lingzhou City at noon that day.
Yue Fei saw that the Song troops he had left to guard the Xia envoys and the Cao family had disappeared. He was suspicious, frowned, clasped his fists, and asked:
"The humble minister Yue Fei dares to ask the officials whether the people who were guarding the Xia envoy and the Cao family were driven away by the officials?"
Zhao Ji said displeasedly: "It was I who ordered the messenger who returned to the city to let Pengju's troops return to the military camp to rest!"
Yue Fei's question just now only triggered a conversation.
His purpose was to know how the Zhao Guan family would treat the beautiful Cao family presented by Emperor Xia.
"The humble minister Yue Fei dares to ask the official family, how will the official family settle down with the Xia envoy and the Cao family?"
"Humph!" Zhao Ji snorted coldly. He could see the loyal, brave and straightforward Yue Fei in front of him, and he also thought of reminding him not to be lucky with Princess Cao who was presented by Xia Guojin.
Although everything Yue Fei did was to advise him from the standpoint of justice, Zhao Ji believed that if he followed Yue Fei's advice, he would miss important matters.
Zhao Ji saw that if Yue Fei's previous intentions were followed and his character was loyal, kind, benevolent and righteous, he would definitely give me advice:
‘The Princess Cao, who was presented by Xia Emperor Li Qianshun in order to beg for a truce and peace between the two countries, was sent back to the Xia capital as if it were a perfect jade piece.
Zhao Ji knew that Yue Fei was doing it for the good reputation of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, but the current Yue Fei did not know that the historical Princess Cao would give birth to Li Renxiao, the leader of the ZTE of Xia Kingdom, for Li Qianshun next year.
Therefore, Zhao Ji did not look good on Yue Fei and asked coldly:
"Before, I have explained my far-reaching intentions to Pengju. Has Pengju forgotten it?"
"I have said before that I will not accept the Xia Kingdom's begging for peace. I will send troops to destroy the Xia Kingdom and eliminate the troubles in the northwest of the Song Dynasty forever!"
"I also said that starting from today, within three months, I will never take the initiative to summon the Cao family that Li Qianshun presented, nor will I favor her!"
When Yue Fei arrived at Zhao Guan's house, he was relieved a lot.
But he was horrified to see that Zhao Guanjia was glaring at him with a straight face.
Yue Fei also knew that his words and actions were a bit excessive.
"Huh!" Zhao Ji yelled angrily:
"I have already been so humble in front of Pengju, does Pengju still want to teach me how to do things?"
"Could it be that Pengju felt that his achievements were so great that he dared to coerce the emperor to order the princes?"
"Ah?!" Yue Fei, who was leading his war horse, exclaimed in fright when he heard this.
A "plop" sound.
Yue Fei knelt on the ground in front of the palace gate. He faced the imperial chariot of Zhao Guan's family who had stopped in front of the palace gate, kowtowed repeatedly and said:
"The humble minister Yue Fei deserves death..."
"The humble minister Yue Fei has absolutely no such intention..."
"The humble minister Yue Fei swears to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic to the death, and has no second thoughts. Heaven and earth can learn from this..."
"Alas!" Zhao Ji sighed and said:
"Pengju, please be free! I know you are loyal and brave, and what I just said is just to give you a blow! Pengju must remember to be careful in what he says and what he does!"
Yue Fei was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat. After he heard Zhao Guanjia's tone softening, he stood up tremblingly, bowed and stood next to the open carriage where Zhao Ji was sitting.
Zhao Ji leisurely said:
"Pengju must remember that sometimes what you see and hear may not be as it appears. Therefore, don't speculate on my meaning just from your personal standpoint or from the public standpoint!"