The beacon fires were lit one after another, and the express deliveries to and from the west and Bianliang did not stop for a day...
The war is really coming.
Zhao Xi saw the sad faces in Manchaotang.
Although the effect of the last burst of tears prevented the courtiers from making sarcastic remarks again, the look in his eyes showed that he had known this before, and Zhao Xi could see it clearly.
Fear? Zhao Xi really understands.
But he couldn't figure it out. Is it possible that Xixia was ready for a national war?
It's just a trick to make smoke.
What needs to be determined now is where the main line of Xixia's war is.
Since the training of the escort battalion, the New Army has never participated in border confrontations. Whether it is scout battles or the attack and defense of small border villages, the New Army has never participated.
This is Zhao Xi's strict order.
Zhao Xi has been preparing for a war, hoping that a great victory can arouse the country's martial spirit and eliminate its long-standing timidity.
Therefore, he had been hiding firearms from Liao Xia, just waiting to make a big splash.
There is no other way, or the safest way to do it.
Because what he needs is victory, an overwhelming victory. Only in that way can it have the effect he hopes for.
Five days have passed, five days have passed since the first smoke was ignited. Basically, the reports from the border states bordering Xixia have reached the court...
"They are all border villages. There is no state or city in emergency. Most of these border villages are camps guarded by thirty or fifty people. However, Xixia Rangers have been found in all the border camps."
After collecting all the memorials, Chui Gong Hall began to discuss the war.
Today's political ministers, Han Qi and Fu Bi, can be considered to have presided over the Western Military Affairs, and Bao Zheng also served as the Shaanxi Road Transport Envoy. Although others, including Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang, did not know the situation in the west, they cannot be said to be blind.
"Now that there is a lot of smoke everywhere, how can we determine the main attack of the Western thieves?"
"The direction of the main attack can be judged based on the purpose of the troops sent by the Western bandits and the war. Please see, since the end of the previous dynasty, Huizhou has gradually become desolate due to the cutoff of the western road."
"The area around Qingqing is full of hills and barren mountains, and to the east, apart from the two prefectures of Linfu, to the west of Kelan Army is the natural danger of the Yellow River."
"It can be concluded that if the Western bandits are just under ten thousand cavalry and want to plunder the products of one city and one village, all the border states have the possibility of main attack."
"If the Western bandits send more than 50,000 troops, the only way to satisfy their desire to plunder more than 50,000 troops is from Xiao Pass to Qinzhou."
"In this area, there are many military strongholds and state and city cities. It is a wide area where horses can gallop anywhere. Regardless of the convenience of cavalry fighting against the Western bandits, or the original intention of plundering the Western bandits, this is the only area.
This can be regarded as the main attack of the Western bandits."
Although Zhao Xi does not agree with this approach of negotiating strategies, he has to admit that what Han Qi said makes sense.
Today's Chui Gong Hall is filled with inaccurate sand tables made by the guard camp. After Han Qi said this, it is really the case.
Huizhou is probably the least familiar area to the soldiers of the entire escort battalion, so it should be relatively vague during production.
As for the map... Zhao Xi really didn't dare to learn from the dog-like drawings of this era.
As for Huanqing and Lin Mansion, it is indeed as Han Qi said.
Perhaps the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Haoshuichuan was really not caused by Han Zhigui’s improper command...
Because when Han Qi was talking eloquently, Fu Bi was nodding.
Of course, when Han Qi's hand slid across this so-called narrow and wide belt, his fingers particularly stopped at the Haoshui River, and his face twitched at that moment... After all, it was the pain of his life, and it was also his.
A hurdle that I can never get over in my heart.
"As Zhigui said, will the Western bandits focus on Qinzhou?"
"I agree with what Zhigui said. Regardless of whether the Western bandits are now fighting on all fronts, the ultimate goal is Qinzhou."
The battle has been determined, and the leader of this battle has also been determined, and it is His Highness the Crown Prince himself.
In this meeting, the father asked the father-in-law to make a pre-war plan for his son to take command... Even if Zhao Xi didn't need it, or even resented it, he still had to pretend to listen carefully.
Nothing, this is just strategy, not specific tactics.
What's more, from a strategic analysis point of view, the princes are not really ignorant, and it really sounds like that.
Originally, this was the result that had been agreed upon in the escort camp.
Seeing that Zhao Xi did not refute, he seemed to agree with this statement. Zhao Zhen, Fu Bi, Han Qi and others seemed to be relieved.
I don't know when it started, but Zhao Xi has been able to put pressure on them. Whether it's political affairs or war, or even talking nonsense in court, His Highness the Crown Prince can impress people every time.
It seems that it is very difficult to get the approval of His Royal Highness.
"Nowadays, the Western Army has many capable generals. Guo Kui is on Qinzhou Road and can lead an army of troops. Zhong Jia Zhong Er can lead a group of soldiers and horses. In addition, Zhong Jia in Hedong can also lead the Chinese army to fight."
"It's just His Royal Highness's central army..."
How should I put it, although Zhao Xi had the experience of the Southern Expedition, the command seal at that time was controlled by Di Qing.
Although the final reports from all parties showed that His Royal Highness showed amazing commanding abilities during the war, it was a small-scale battle against Annan.
In view of the many performances of the escort battalion, they were all in battles that were suitable for the mobility of the escort battalion. But this time, it will be a decisive battle involving tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands.
His Highness the Crown Prince is not a courtier, he represents the country. Once this battle is lost, it will not only affect His Highness the Crown Prince, it will even lead to the direction of the future national policy of the entire court.
Therefore, even though His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has decided to go on a personal expedition, neither Zhao Zhen nor the ministers are quite sure.
This is also the reason for convening this meeting.
"Report... to the official family, all my ministers, Di Qing, Di Hanchen, the governor of Xingzhou, asked to see you!"
Di Qing became an official due to illness. In recognition of his military exploits, the imperial court named him the military governor of Xingzhou. Originally, Zhao Zhen had intended to give him a higher position, to a county prince or something. After all, Di Qing was already on the verge of death at that time.
It's a pity that he was stopped by the courtiers. The reason was very good. Even the nobles who founded the dynasty were all posthumous kings. The highest title was the title given to a king when he was seventy or eighty years old.
However, Di Qing was in his prime. Although he became an official due to illness, he was not qualified to be crowned king.
Di Qing? At this moment, everyone seemed to smile heartily, except Zhao Zhen.
"Veteran Di Qing joins His Majesty to pay homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, gentlemen..."
"Di Qing...are you...are you still healthy?"
Zhao Zhen was a little excited. He almost forgot about Di Qing. Occasionally, he remembered the trembling look of Di Qing when he and he retired.
Even though the war was about to begin, Zhao Zhen never thought of Di Qing.
Now, seeing how healthy Di Qing is... there are generals in Xi'er's army!
Zhao Zhen actually trusted Di Qing's loyalty, but it was only temporary that he had to make decisions that were not in line with his wishes.
"Your Majesty, I am in good health. I heard that the Western bandits are making trouble, and I feel that I can still raise my spear and mount my horse to chase the thieves! Today, I am here boldly to ask Your Majesty and all the ministers for my title, so that I can contribute my little strength to the Song Dynasty."