Urgent reports originated from the Western Regions.
Every news in the urgent report is not good news for Song Dynasty.
'On September 23rd of the Jiazi year, the defenders of Xining Prefecture were ordered to escort grain and grass into Qingtang. At the junction of Qingtang and Huangtou Huihe, they were robbed by unknown soldiers and horses, and all the supplies were robbed...'
'On September 30th of the Jiazi year, the defenders of Xining Prefecture broke through and entered Shazhou to ask for help...'
'In the Jiazi year, on the sixth day of October, Meng Ziyi, a subordinate of Zhu Neng, led his troops into Huangtou Uighur. He was ambushed by the Xixia and Huangtou Uighur coalition forces. 2,452 people were killed and 3,000 were captured. The civilians were
Eleven thousand three hundred and forty-nine people were captured...'
‘In the Year of Jiazi, on October 13th, Yang Wenguang was ordered to lead his army to attack and force back the Xixia and Huangtou Uighur coalition forces...'
‘On the 16th day of the 10th month of the Jiazi year, the Xixia and Huangtou Uighur allied forces approached Shazhou and stopped at Dunhuang. Chen Sanxing, the Marquis of Yu on the left wing of the Dragon Guard Army, attacked privately and the entire left wing battalion was wiped out...'
"On the 19th day of the 10th month of the Jiazi year, there were still 120,000 dans of grain and grass, and the remaining soldiers and horses were stationed in Shazhou..."
‘…’
Kou Ji guessed that the war in the Western Region would go badly, but he didn't expect it to be so unsatisfactory. It could even be described as terrible.
The five people in the Zishi Hall frowned and remained silent.
Shishido was quiet.
Wang Zeng was the first to break the calm, "I didn't expect Huangtou Huihe to collude with Xixia!"
There was some anger in Wang Zeng's tone.
Lu Yijian said in a heavy voice: "The road for transporting baggage has been controlled by Huangtou Uihe and Xixia, and the Huangtou Uihe and Xixia coalition forces have been forced to Shazhou.
Our army's front and rear roads were cut off, leaving us as if we were alone.
If you are not careful, your entire army may be wiped out."
Li Di glanced at the four people and said doubtfully: "What I am more curious about is that when Zhu Neng entered Shazhou, he brought a lot of food and grass. When Yang Wenguang entered Shazhou, he also brought a lot of food and grass.
Logically speaking, our army should not be short of food and grass.
Even if the road for transporting baggage is occupied, our army will not be short of food and grass.
Why are there only 120,000 dans of grain left?"
Kou Ji frowned and said, "The emergency report didn't explain this matter."
Zhao Zhen pondered and said: "Have I sent a dead soldier to investigate?"
Wang Zeng, Li Di and Lu Yijian all nodded.
Kou Ji was the only one shaking his head.
The four of them, Zhao Zhen, all looked at Kou Ji.
Kou Ji said solemnly: "Let's not talk about whether the dead soldiers sent by the officials can break through the blockade of Xixia and Huangtou Huihe troops. Even if they can break through, it will take a lot of time to come and go.
By the time we respond, it will only take more time.
One hundred and twenty thousand dans of grain and grass sounds like a lot.
However, the consumption of grain and grass in our army is obviously abnormal.
I am afraid that 120,000 dans of grain will not be enough to support our army's consumption in Shazhou.
If we find out about this and make a decision, I'm afraid the soldiers as far away as Shazhou will all starve to death."
Zhao Zhen, Li Di, Wang Zeng, and Lu Yijian frowned even more when they heard Kou Ji's words.
Li Di gritted his teeth and said: "What does Xue Tian do for food? Why did he never mention this matter in his previous documents? Why did he not mention this matter in the emergency report? How could such an important matter be easily ignored?
"
Zhao Zhen looked at Chen Lin beside him and ordered: "Go and see if the soldiers who delivered the letter have recovered. If they recover, take them to Zishitang."
Chen Lin did not dare to neglect and hurried out of Zishi Hall.
A few moments.
He led two armored soldiers into Zijitang.
The two wanted to salute, but Zhao Zhen stopped them.
"The situation is urgent, everything should be kept simple, but it is a sin, I will pardon it..."
The two soldiers bowed their hands and thanked him.
Li Di immediately asked, "How much do you know about the war in Shazhou?"
The two soldiers looked at each other, and one of them raised his hand and said, "I dare not lie to Mr. Li. Bei Zhi doesn't know much about the war in Shazhou. Bei Zhi and others have been stationed in Xining Prefecture and have not set foot in Shazhou."
Wang Zeng asked, "How did you learn about the news reported in the emergency report?"
"Some soldiers far away in Shazhou risked their lives to break through the siege, and rushed to Xining Prefecture with the support of Qingtang soldiers and horses. Seeing the emergency, my general immediately dispatched his subordinates and others from Xining Post, eight hundred miles away, to rush to deliver the news.
return."
Lu Yijian asked, "Did those soldiers who broke through the encirclement say anything?"
When the two soldiers heard this, they felt a little embarrassed.
One of them whispered: "After receiving the urgent report, Beizhi and others immediately rushed to Bianjing City and did not stop at Xining Post, so they did not inquire about the news from them."
After listening to what the two soldiers said.
The five people frowned again.
Zhao Zhen waved his hand, "You guys go down first."
The two soldiers apologized and left Zishi Hall.
Zhao Zhen glanced sideways at Chen Lin with a solemn expression. Chen Lin nodded and exited Zishi Hall again.
After Chen Lin left, Zhao Zhen asked in a deep voice: "Four dear ladies, how do you think we should deal with this urgent matter?"
Lu Yijian said decisively: "Rush to the aid of Shazhou. If nothing can be done, we should withdraw decisively."
Wang Zeng shook his head and said: "Now in Xixia, the Huangtou Huihe coalition troops are surrounding Shazhou. It is not easy to escape."
Li Di snorted coldly: "Why do you want to withdraw? Since you have chosen to fight, let's fight to the end. Xixia can join forces with Huangtou to return to Hehe, and we can also join forces with Qingtang.
We can also send Zhong Shiheng, defeat Jizhong, and send troops out of the Great Wall to poke Xixia in the ass."
Lu Yijian sighed, "If we send Zhong Shiheng and Zhong Jizhong to march out of the Great Wall, I'm afraid the Liao Kingdom will not be happy. The Liao Kingdom will never see me as the Song Dynasty becoming powerful. So if we send troops out of the Great Wall, the Liao Kingdom will
I am afraid that the country will also intervene in the war."
Wang Zeng gritted his teeth and said: "It's not a fear, it's a necessity. Once we pose a serious threat to Xixia, the Liao Kingdom will definitely send troops. They just want to keep Xixia, constantly disgusting us, and constantly containing us.
Especially after our Song troops sent out to the Western Regions to aid Shazhou and became enterprising, the Liao Kingdom was even less willing to see us become powerful."
Li Di said unwillingly: "The national treasury is now too empty for money. If we go to war with Xixia and Liao, we won't have enough money and food to support it.
The Song Dynasty has just disbanded the Xiang army in the hinterland of the Central Plains. Now the morale of the army is unstable. It is not appropriate to start a war with the Liao Kingdom while it is still stable."
Kou Ji questioned: "So... we want to give up rushing to aid Shazhou?"
Zhao Zhen, Wang Zeng, Li Di and Lu Yijian sighed together.
It's obvious.
They have already given up on rushing to aid Shazhou.
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "Of course I have no objection to giving up rushing to aid Shazhou. It's just that we, the Song Dynasty, finally sent troops out of the Western Regions, so we have to make some achievements for everyone to see.
If you shrink back because you encounter difficulties, you will never want to set foot in the Western Regions in the future.
The Xixia Hui took advantage of the momentum of annexing the Ganzhou Uighurs and Shazhou Uighurs to annex many forces in the Western Regions.
When Xixia becomes powerful in the Western Regions, it will definitely become a huge threat to our Song Dynasty.
Xixia is a wolf, a wolf that has always coveted the Song Dynasty.
Anyone who is in power will definitely attack me, the Song Dynasty.
Therefore, we can not protect the Shazhou Uighurs, but we must suppress the rising momentum of Xixia."
After listening to Kou Ji's words, Zhao Zhen and the others fell into deep thought.
After a long time, Li Di said: "I agree with what Kou Ji said. Xixia's wolf ambition is obvious. If Xixia rises again, it will definitely become a huge threat to our Song Dynasty.
Although Qingtang belongs to our Song Dynasty, our ambitions are not small.
If after Xixia becomes powerful, they join forces with Qingtang and Liao, and all three of them attack the Song Dynasty, it will be difficult for the Song Dynasty to deal with it."
Lu Yijian opened his mouth, but seemed to have thought of something and did not speak.
Kou Ji roughly guessed what Lu Yijian said from Lu Yijian's expression and the topic they were talking about, but he didn't say it.
Lu Yijian probably wanted to say that Liao and Xixia had enmity and would not easily join forces.
But he probably thought of the previous issue of joining forces to attack the Song Dynasty after the war between Liao and Xixia, so he didn't speak again.
Between countries, there are only permanent interests and no permanent enemies.
The prosperity of the Song Dynasty penetrated deeply into the hearts of all barbarians.
As long as they can cut flesh from the Song Dynasty, no one will be unwilling.
Wang Zeng frowned and said: "Now the soldiers and horses led by Zhu Neng and Yang Wenguang have become a lone army. If the imperial court wants to rush to their aid and tear apart the blockade between Huangtou Huihe and Xixia, it can only send more soldiers and horses.
past.
But now, the national treasury is empty and there is not enough money to support more military expeditions."
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "When will all the autumn taxes from various places be sent to the national treasury?"
Li Di sighed and said: "The autumn taxes from various places closest to Bianjing City have been sent to Bianjing City. But the money and grain have been regarded as salaries and distributed to the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
There have been many turmoils between the government and the opposition this year. We cannot default on our salaries, otherwise it will cause greater turmoil.
Even if the autumn tax from afar is brought into Bianjing City, it still has to support the expenses of various ministries and yamen.
The autumn taxes from further away may not be delivered to Bianjing until the beginning of next spring."
When Kou Ji heard Li Di's words, he said decisively: "You can ask the yamen at all levels in the distance to exchange the grain from the autumn tax into money and deposit it into Yizijiaozipu semicolons in various places.
Then quickly deliver the large amount of Jiaozi issued by Yizijiaozi Shop to Bianjing City.
It can save a lot of time in between.”
Zhao Zhen and the four others were stunned.
Lu Yijian nodded and said: "This is feasible and can be continued."
Li Di said decisively: "Now is not the time to discuss whether to continue to use it or not. Since the money problem can be solved quickly, the imperial court can send people to contact the grain merchants as soon as possible to collect the grain needed for the expedition."
The king once asked: "Who will lead the troops and where will they be dispatched?"
Lu Yijian frowned and said, "It's easy to arrange the troops and horses, but it's hard to find the person to lead the troops."
Li Di nodded and said: "The only people in the court who are most familiar with the military leadership in the Western Regions are Cao Wei and Zhu Neng. Now that Zhu Neng is in the Western Regions, Cao Wei is the only one left."
Lu Yijian sighed and said: "Cao Wei's contribution has been great enough, and he is the queen's uncle, so he is almost unblockable. If Cao Wei is used this time, when I conquer the Liao Dynasty in the Song Dynasty, I will use him."
who?"
The five people in the Zishi Hall all frowned.
Kou Ji knew Cao Wei well.
But it was not easy for him to recommend Cao Wei.
Cao Wei has reached the point where he can't be sealed.
After a few more achievements, you will reach the point where your achievements are so great that you will be crowned your master.
By then.
He was left with two options.
Either rebel or commit suicide.
It is impossible to live alive.
Even if Zhao Zhen can tolerate him.
Even the civil servants of the entire dynasty could not tolerate him.
Civil servants are absolutely unwilling to see the rise of a strong military minister.
Nor do they want to see the scene that they have worked so hard to cultivate, which emphasizes culture and suppresses military force, be ruined in one day.
Kou Ji hesitated again and again and suggested: "Where is Li Zhaoliang?"
Lu Yijian shook his head decisively and said: "A eunuch and a spy chief can make him miserable. He is simply unable to cope with the chaotic situation in the Western Regions."
Li Di looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice: "Then the only person left is Gao Chugong..."
Wang Zeng solemnly said: "After this incident is over, there will no longer be any need to be respectful."
Li Di and Lu Yijian nodded in unison.
The three of them looked at Zhao Zhen at the same time.
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "Then I will send someone to ask Gao Chugong."
Immediately.
Zhao Zhen sent a eunuch to invite Gao Chugong.
After the eunuch left.
The five people began to discuss again which troops to dispatch.
After a long discussion, it was finally decided to dispatch the two forbidden armies guarding the northwest border.
Two elite imperial troops came out of the Song Dynasty.
Counting the Dragon Guards in Zhu Neng's hands.
Three whole armies of the Forbidden Army.
It can be said to be a big deal.
It's like a big gamble.
Kou Ji discussed and made a decision together, feeling very happy.
He felt that this is what a true heavenly state should be like.
Don't retreat, don't shrink.
With blood and fire, the name of the heavenly kingdom was forged.
to the end.
Kou Ji still felt a little proud.
He felt that without his influence, the monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty would not have become so tough.
After the five people finished discussing.
Chen Lin quietly appeared in Zishi Hall and handed Zhao Zhen a piece of paper.
After Zhao Zhen looked at it carefully, he slapped the table and stood up.
Li Di, Kou Ji, Wang Zeng, and Lu Yijian were all shocked.
Li Di asked in shock: "What happened to anger the officials?"
Zhao Zhen did not hide his anger and handed the paper in his hand to Li Di, "See for yourself!"
Li Di took the paper and looked at it carefully, his face turned pale.
After Wang Zeng and Lu Yijian saw it one after another, their faces were very ugly.
The paper fell into Kou Ji's hand.
After Kou Ji saw it, he almost cursed.
However.
Before he could speak, Li Di took the lead and cursed, "Is Xue Tian an idiot?!"
After cursing, Li Di seemed to find it unsatisfying, and cursed again: "I worked hard and scraped here and there to raise food and grass for the army, but he actually generously distributed it to the people of Shazhou.
The lives of the people of Shazhou are our lives, but the lives of our Song Dynasty soldiers, aren’t they our lives?”
Kou Ji feels the same way as Li Di.
He felt that there was something wrong with Xue Tian's brain.
The things recorded on the paper Zhao Zhen handed to the four of them were far more detailed than the urgent report sent back.
Kou Ji guessed that it was Wude's people in Xining Prefecture who interrogated the soldiers who had broken out from Shazhou and got the information.
The situation in the Western Regions was described in great detail, and it contained all the information the five of them wanted to know.