It was too late. Only a few days later, news of Yang Tian's defeat reached the capital.
Yang Tian was really unjustly accused. First of all, he was actually at home like Ouyang Xiu, but Nong Zhigao fell into Yongzhou, and the court forcibly resurrected him - who made him a general of the Yang family who was both civil and military, and had rich resources?
With his experience in suppressing bandits in the south, it would be unreasonable not to use him.
Although Yang Tian was reluctant when accepting the task, he still had a high consciousness as a loyal martyr. After being appointed to "pacify the two roads of Guangnan and control thieves and thieves", he crossed the Yangtze River and crossed the Qinling Mountains non-stop.
, embarked on the battlefield between Guangdong and Guangxi.
Then he relived his old dream in Hunan. In the decisive battle, his troops disappeared in an instant under the impact of the fierce barbarians. Fortunately, he learned the lesson from the previous time and caught up in time, so he did not do it again.
Being left behind...
But in Hunan, he had time to clean up the mess, train the troops, and figure it out slowly, because it was the mainland, and nothing major would happen if the chaos lasted for several years. But Guangdong and Guangxi were border areas. If they were defeated again and again, Nong Zhigao would become the second best.
Li Yuanhao, whether in Dali or Jiaozhi, will be ready to make a move. From now on, there will never be peace in the southwest.
What's more, there are Xixia and Liao Kingdoms who are eyeing them...
Therefore, it is completely understandable that the officials and ministers of Bianjing were shocked when they learned of this defeat.
In the Chui Gong Hall, the emperor once again summoned his ministers, but this time it was not just Han Qi, but also two prime ministers, Chen Zhizhong, Pang Ji, and another privy councilor, Gao Ruona.
There will be a court meeting later, but in fact, at this highest-level core meeting, military and state affairs have already been decided.
The officials were wearing crimson robes, black gauze and straight-legged turbans. They looked at the ministers who were wearing jinxian crowns, crimson robes, and square heart-shaped collars. They sighed and said, "My lords,
What do you think of Nong Zhigao's surrender?" It turns out that after Nong Zhigao defeated Yang Dan, he went to Shu again to demand surrender. This time, the condition was that he asked the Song court to allow him to serve as the governor of Yonggui and other seven states.
make.
This time, no one dared to suppress his letter. The so-called "lowering of the list" and the battle report of the Song army's defeat were delivered to the capital at the same time.
Several ministers had been staying at the emperor's side for a long time, trying to figure out what the officials were thinking...most probably because they wanted to settle the matter and consider agreeing to Nong Zhigao's conditions.
In fact, there is more than one husband who has the same idea. But if you say this kind of thing, you will definitely be scolded.
But we can't let the officials be scolded like this, right? After waiting for a long time, no one said anything, so Prime Minister Chen Zhizhong had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "Report to the officials. The rebellion in Lingnan originated from a misunderstanding. According to what I heard, that
Nong Zhigao originally wanted to be consecrated, and he petitioned for canonization several times, but the request was lowered again and again. In the end, he was just asking for a small magistrate. However, all his requests for conferment and conferment were withheld by the former prefect of Yongzhou.
. Nong Zhigao felt humiliated, so he raised troops to attack Yongzhou. Now he has once again petitioned to surrender. The official family cares about the livelihood of the people and the country, and should give him a chance to change his ways... I think it seems possible.
Accept the reduction."
"Yes." After Chen Zhizhong finished speaking, Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Do you have any other opinions?"
"I think it is absolutely impossible!" Han Qi took a step forward and said loudly: "I am telling the officials that if we agree to Nong Zhigao's conditions, Lingnan will be separated from the Song Dynasty forever! By then, not only will the two territories be lost,
, the entire financial and taxation land in the south of the Yangtze River will face wars all year round, and the foundation of the Song Dynasty is in danger!"
"Xiangong Han is a bit alarmist." Chen Zhizhong shook his head and said: "Felting him as a military envoy is just a policy to restrain the emperor. In the future, he will slowly recruit his elite soldiers and control his money and grain, and the harm will be eliminated."
"King Han's recipe is based on the strong military power of Emperor Taizu." Han Qi always couldn't understand why incompetent fools like Chen Zhizhong and Gao Ruona could be ranked among the top officials?
What do you think of the most important weapon of the country? He said sharply and sarcastically: "Now we are killing people like shit on the battlefield. When the time comes, we can only treat them like grandfathers! We also recruit their elite soldiers and control their money... I'm afraid
I want money to give you money, and I want food to give you food. If things don’t go your way, I’ll turn over the table and fuck your mother!”
"You..." Chen Zhizhong is an elegant gentleman. Not to mention being rude in front of the emperor, even in private, he would not say a single curse word. Now his face turned red and he was unable to speak.
"Han Qing's family, be careful what you say." The officials had no choice but to smooth things over.
"I know I was wrong." Han Qi said, but he didn't care at all.
"What do you two think?" The official then looked at the other two.
"I second the proposal to Prime Minister Han." Pang Ji came out and said in a deep voice.
"My minister, I also second my opinion, Mr. Han." In fact, Gao Ruona was partial to Chen Zhizhong in his heart. But how could he dare to offend Han Qi? He was working in the Privy Council, and he didn't look up when he looked down, fearing that he would be punished all day long and not come to Taiwan.
He is still a gentleman like Chen Zhizhong, and he has no pressure to offend someone.
Three to one, the officials were silent for a long time, and then asked: "You are leading the battle, are you sure of victory?"
"As long as the imperial court selects strong generals and uses elite soldiers, it will win!" Han Qi said firmly. In fact, there is no guarantee of victory in the world. It's just that this official is good at everything, but he is too striving for stability and is unwilling to take any risks. If you
You can't let him make up his mind unless he talks to you.
"What is a strong general and what is an elite soldier?" Yang Tian, who was promoted by the civil servants as the number one Confucian general, was defeated. How could the officials still have confidence?
"Reporting back to the officials, the best soldiers are none other than the Western Army, and the strong generals are right in front of us." Pang Ji sang loudly and said word for word: "To destroy Nong Zhigao, it must be Di Qing!"
As soon as he said this, an imperceptible smile flashed in Zhao Zhen's eyes, but he still said calmly: "I remember that as soon as the news of the fall of Yongzhou came, Di Qing went to war lightly, but the ministers all said that Yang
Wei is more suitable than Di Qing..."
"At that time, one did not pay enough attention to Nong Zhigao, and the other did not expect that the army in Lingnan was so decayed." Han Qi blushed slightly. Those were his exact words. In fact, he had always been unhappy with Di Qing and could not say it.
The reason is that he doesn't want to give him a chance. Even now, if possible, he is not willing to use Di Qing, but-the famous generals Liu Ping, Ren Fu, Guo Zun, Wu Ji, and Wang Gui who fought fiercely with Xixia in those years have all fought.
Zhang Ba from Lin and Lin Prefecture also died early due to injuries. Zhong Shiheng from Qingjian City has entered his old age. Looking around, the only famous general in the Song Dynasty who has been tempered by war is Di Qing: "At that time, I
I thought I could kill a chicken with a sledgehammer, but Nong Zhigao is actually a ferocious tiger, so we can only use a cold saw!"
"Yes." Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "It seems that we can only use him... The ministers can recommend him as the commander-in-chief at the meeting tomorrow."
"Officials should think twice. A warrior cannot be a full-time official. It is best to send another civilian official to assist him." Han Qi disagreed. The so-called assistance actually means supervision and restraint. The Song Dynasty emphasized literature and suppressed military force. It believed that warriors had soldiers in their hands and it was difficult to control them.
Therefore, it is the consciousness of every civil servant to suppress military attachés.
Sure enough, this statement attracted the echo of Gao Ruona, and even Chen Zhizhong said that if the government must fight, it would be better to send a civilian as the commander-in-chief. When the time comes, Di Qing will be in charge of the military and the civilians will be in charge of Di Qing... Only in this way can we rest assured.
The official was a little undecided, so he looked at Pang Ji, who had not expressed his opinion, and said, "What does the prime minister mean?"
"Report it to the officials," the 'Master Pang' who was just as wronged as Chen Shimei said earnestly at this moment: "In marching and fighting, it is important to have unified orders and to have everyone work together. Di Qing was born in the army. If he is assisted by civil servants, his orders will not be single-minded.
The situation is very unfavorable for leading troops in war. If the officials don't trust Di Qing, it's better not to send him."
"The Southern Han Dynasty was also established in this way." Han Qi said coldly. He dared to say anything. The official family suddenly changed their colors.
"Not to mention that Di Qing has always been loyal and brave, but now he is no longer the fifth generation of grass-headed kings in troubled times. The Song Dynasty has been established for a hundred years, all directions have returned to one's heart, and the country is solid!" Pang Ji said angrily: "Ten thousand steps back, we will not use the imperial army at that time.
Well, regardless of the Western Army, if the whole family is in the north, who will rebel against him?"
"You dare to guarantee it with your life?" Han Qi provoked him.
"Why don't you dare?" Pang Ji said with all his hair and hair: "Even if you use the nine tribes as a guarantee, I won't hesitate!"
"Stop arguing." Seeing that the smell of gunpowder between the two was getting stronger and stronger, the official finally became the judge and said: "Pang Qing is right, you don't trust the people you employ, and you don't use the people you suspect!"
"The official family..."
"My decision has been made, and there is no need to discuss this matter again." The emperor said decisively, and turned to his servant: "Eunuch Hu, the weather is very hot. It is not easy for you, sir. Each of you will carry a load of cold melons from Xixia.
Send it." This is Zhao Zhen's habit. Every time he meets with ministers, he always ends with this kind of not expensive but very thoughtful gift.
"Thank you so much, officials." The ministers sang and left knowingly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At three o'clock on the fifth watch of the next day, the court officials gathered in front of the Zichen Hall. When the court drums sounded, everyone followed their orders and lined up the Danqi. After worshiping and dancing, the civil and military classes were divided into classes and lined up under the jade steps. The Minister of War came out.
The class played:
"Your Majesty, you sent Yu Jing and Yang Tian yesterday to lead the army to march to Nongzhigao in Lingnan. Due to the recent miasma and heat, the army and horses are not accustomed to the soil and water, and the battle is unfavorable. Now the army has retreated to Guizhou to rest temporarily and wait for the imperial edict."
The official then asked: "How should we deal with it?"
"Yang Tian should return to the capital to listen to the case and discuss the crime. Yu Jing will retain him in the army. Don't let one person be the commander and then go on an expedition to ask for imperial edicts." Han Qi came out and said.
"This bandit is a serious problem and must be eliminated. Who can share our worries?"
"Wei Chen thinks that in order to defeat this thief," Pang Ji went out to report: "If you are not the deputy privy envoy and the military envoy of Changhua Army who knows Yanzhou, it is none other than Di Qing and Di Hanchen!"
"What do you think, dear friends?"
"I second the proposal!" The ministers of the two houses have already unified their opinions: "It must be Di Qing!"
"In this case, I order Di Qing to come to Beijing as soon as possible to have an audience."