Kou Ji thought for a long time in the main hall, but could not figure out the meaning of Kou Zhun's last sentence.
In the end, don’t think about it anymore.
Kou Ji's eyes fell on the high table in the main hall.
On the high table, there is a scroll of imperial edict, a seal placed in a box, and a very gorgeous sword.
Kou Ji unfolded the imperial edict and glanced at it twice.
According to the imperial edict, Kou Ji was appointed as the pacification envoy to the states in the Western Regions. He was also responsible for overseeing the military affairs of the country, revitalizing the country, and was given the emperor's sword to behead first and then report.
More importantly, Kou Ji was given the power to dispatch the Imperial City Division.
Although Kou Ji could use Liu Heng's identity to interfere in the affairs of the Imperial City Department and mobilize the personnel of the Imperial City Department, this was not justified.
Now that Zhao Zhen has given Kou Ji the power to dispatch the Imperial City Division, Kou Ji can clearly dispatch the people of the Imperial City Division to do things.
Kou Ji put away the seal, the imperial edict, and the Emperor's Sword, and sent them to the printing room in his house, which was guarded by guards.
Then, he left the Kou Mansion Courtyard in the darkness and entered the equipment forging workshop behind the Ruian Town Steel Forging Workshop.
The stay lasted for three days.
During this period, carriages frequently came in and out of the equipment forging workshop.
The carriage always goes in empty and comes out fully loaded.
The carriage was driven by the driver and stopped outside the Kou Mansion Courtyard.
Each carriage was wrapped in cowhide felt and nailed to the carriage board.
The surroundings were heavily guarded by temporarily dispatched troops, and no one knew what was inside.
Three days later.
Kou Ji came out of the equipment forging workshop with disheveled hair, washed himself, and after talking a lot with Xiang Yan, he put on his court clothes and entered the palace.
In the palace.
Zhao Zhen, Wang Zeng, Lu Yijian, and Li Zhaoliang gathered in Zishi Hall.
After Kou Ji saluted Zhao Zhen.
Wang Zeng was the first to speak.
"As soon as the food and grass are received, I have made preparations and sent people to escort them outside the city."
Wang Zeng's eyes were bloodshot and his face showed exhaustion.
Obviously.
In order to raise enough army rations, Wang Zeng traveled for three days and three nights.
Lu Yijian said: "To suppress the country and rejuvenate the country, the two imperial troops have already left their camps and rushed to Xining Prefecture. You will see them when you arrive in Xining Prefecture."
Kou Ji nodded slowly.
Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "I have dispatched 30,000 civilians and 3,000 Japanese soldiers to escort you all the way to Xining Prefecture."
Kou Ji handed over his hand and said, "Thank you, officials..."
Zhao Zhen stood up slowly, stared at Kou Ji, and said seriously: "I do not ask you to make achievements in the Western Regions. If you really feel that it is impossible to do, come back decisively. I will not blame you."
When Wang Zeng and Lu Yijian heard this, they frowned decisively.
Li Zhaoliang smiled brightly when he heard Zhao Zhen's words.
Zhao Zhen's words were equivalent to giving Kou Ji a gold medal to avoid death.
Tell Kou Ji clearly.
If you can't fight, run away.
If you really lose or something happens, I won't blame you.
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said: "The officials are at ease. I never fight an unprepared battle. Since I have decided to go to the Western Regions, I am sure to protect myself and my soldiers of the Song Dynasty."
Zhao Zhen nodded heavily, stared at Kou Ji, and Li Zhaoliang said: "Two dear friends, I will rely on you for everything when I go to the Western Regions."
Kou Ji and Li Zhaoliang both bowed.
"I will definitely fulfill my mission."
Zhao Zhen said again: "I will personally send you two out of the capital."
Kou Ji decisively refused, "No..."
Zhao Zhen asked, "Why?"
Kou Ji sighed and said: "The officials are willing to show their kindness. If I don't die in the Western Regions, how can I be worthy of the officials' favor?"
Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "I was the one who was rude..."
Wang Zeng took the initiative to invite you and said, "I'll send you two..."
Kou Ji nodded in agreement.
Zhao Zhen, Lu Yijian, and Wang Zeng escorted Kou Ji and Li Zhaoliang to the palace gate.
Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian cannot send each other off anymore.
Wang Zeng accompanied Kou Ji and Li Zhaoliang to the outside of Bianjing City.
Without Zhao Zhen by his side, Wang Zeng no longer cared about it, and immediately said: "Kou Ji, when we go to the Western Regions, how sure are you that you can help Zhu Neng and Yang Wenguang rescue them?
How sure are you of bringing them back?"
Kou Ji looked sideways at Wang Zeng, "How confident do you think I should be, Wang Zeng?"
Wang Zeng frowned and whispered: "You must bring back Zhu Neng, Yang Wenguang, and their troops. The damage cannot exceed 50%. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for the Song Dynasty to send troops again in the future.
Difficult.
Those ministers who advocate peace as the most important thing will never let us send troops rashly again."
Kou Ji nodded slowly, "I understand...I'll try my best..."
Wang Zeng frowned even more tightly, "If you can't do your best, you have to."
Kou Ji frowned.
Wang Zeng said in a deep voice: "Your grandfather, you, me, and Li Gong, the four of us are constantly sorting out the court and making the court stronger. What is the purpose? It is to complete Taizu. The two Taizongs have not completed it.
The great cause is to take back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, and to wash away the shame of the Song Dynasty.
If the troops and horses that went to the Western Regions were lost, more than 50% would be lost.
In the future, if we want to send troops to attack the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, half of the civil and military people in the Manchu Dynasty will not agree.
So you must bring back at least 50% of your troops.
We can’t let the hard work of the four of us go to waste.”
Kou Ji stared at Wang Zeng seriously and said: "I didn't go to the Western Regions to save people. The imperial court has spent so much manpower, material and financial resources. If it fails to make any achievements in the Western Regions, how can it explain to everyone in the government and the public?"
Wang Zeng frowned and said: "In this current situation, it is difficult to achieve anything..."
Kou Jidao: "So, I want to go and see why it is so difficult for my soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty to make achievements after they leave the Song Dynasty."
Wang Zeng still wanted to speak.
Kou Ji rode his horse away from Wang Zeng.
Wang Zeng could only ride his horse to chase him.
They galloped all the way to the outside of Bianjing City.
Then they saw 30,000 civilians and 3,000 Forbidden Army soldiers, guarding nearly 10,000 grain trucks, waiting for Kou Ji and Li Zhaoliang.
Other than that.
There were nearly a thousand well-dressed men driving the loaded carriages to the grain truck.
Wang Zeng rode his horse to catch up with Kou Ji, stared at the tightly wrapped carriages, and asked, "I heard that you spent three days in the equipment workshop to make these things?"
Kou Ji stared at the tightly wrapped carriages and said calmly: "Only the things on the front carriage were made by me. The rest were made by craftsmen in the previous equipment workshop.
came out.
It has been piled in the warehouse.
Now it’s time to take it out and dry it in the sun.”
Wang Zeng looked at it carefully and pondered: "The ruts are very deep, deeper than a grain truck full of grain. What's inside?"
Kou Ji didn't reply, but rushed out on horseback.
Wang Zeng intended to catch up, but he reined in his horse after seeing Xiang Yan not far away, carrying a basket and bulging her belly.
Although he has doubts in his heart, he is not a person who does not understand the style.
Kou Ji rode his horse to Xiang Yan's side.
Jumped off the horse.
He quickly rushed to Xiang Yan.
"Didn't I tell you not to come out?"
Xiang Yan's eyes were red, but there was a smile on her face, "My husband is going to war, and I will naturally come to see him off. It's my first time to go to war, and I will also see him off. Did you forget?"
Kou Ji's eyes turned slightly red, "That day, there was heavy snow in the sky. You were wearing a red cloak and your cheeks were red from the cold. How could I go there?"
With tears in her eyes, Xiang Yan nodded, "As long as your husband remembers..."
While talking, Xiang Yan had already asked the maid to take out the food in the box.
"My husband, try the horns made by me..."
Kou Ji nodded, picked up the chopsticks, and stuffed dumplings into his mouth.
Pure mutton filling.
Koji's favorite food.
But I don’t know why, but I didn’t have any taste at all when I ate it today.
Xiang Yan watched Kou Ji eating dumplings and said softly: "Although I don't know why my husband always likes to call Jiao'er dumplings, but my husband likes to eat them, so I made them for him."
Kou Ji swallowed the dumplings in the bowl without hesitation, pursed his lips and said to Xiang Yan, "Wait until I come back..."
Xiang Yan nodded with tears in her eyes, "Well..."
Kou Ji got on his horse and ran back to the team escorting the grain and fodder.
Wang Zeng had already cooperated with Li Zhaoliang to order all the men, horses, and food.
Kou Ji took the account book and flower book from Li Zhaoliang's hand and glanced at it for a few times, nodded, and said angrily: "Let's go..."
Wang Zeng cupped his hands and said, "I'm in Bianjing City, waiting for your triumphant return."
Li Zhaoliang and Kou Ji returned the favor.
Kotilma, take the first step.
Li Zhaoliang said hello, followed closely behind Kou Ji with his family's music.
The convoy escorting the army rations slowly began to move.
Three thousand Forbidden Army soldiers quickly found their positions and escorted the convoy to the left and right.
Kou Ji ran all the way for three miles before reining in his horse and stopping.
Li Zhaoliang chased after him from behind, and when he got in front of Kou Ji, he smiled calmly and said, "Can't bear to part with you?"
Kou Ji did not hide it and nodded, "When I went to war before, I had no worries, so I didn't know the pain of separation. Now that I know that someone at home is thinking about me and my child is about to be born, I feel very reluctant to leave."
Li Zhaoliang nodded and smiled: "It's human nature... It was the same when I went on an expedition for the first time."
Kou Ji nodded and said nothing more.
Li Zhaoliang was speechless and asked: "Are you sure you want to go to the Western Regions wearing this official uniform of a civil servant?"
Kou Jidao: "When I get to the inn outside Bianjing City, I will change into a suit of armor."
Li Zhaoliang nodded and said, "What are you going to do when you go west this time?"
Kou Ji pouted and said, "You are the commander-in-chief, isn't this something you should worry about?"
Li Zhaoliang rolled his eyes and said angrily: "You have the Emperor's Sword, and you are also the pacification envoy of the Western Regions personally awarded by the officials. When you go to the Western Regions, you should be the main one in all matters."
Although I am the commander-in-chief of both armies, I still have to listen to you."
Kou Ji glanced at Li Zhaoliang and said, "You will know when you get to the Western Regions."
Li Zhaoliang said hurriedly: "No! You'd better tell me so that I can be mentally prepared. It will be too late when we get to the Western Regions."
Kou Ji stared at Li Zhaoliang and said: "I am a civil servant! I don't know how to fight! When encountering this kind of thing, I have only one way."
Li Zhaoliang stared at Kou Ji blankly, "What can I do?"
Kou Ji straightened his back and said coldly: "Kill all the way, whoever blocks your path will be killed!"
Li Zhaoliang stared in astonishment and said in horror: "This is not how battles are fought. Besides, the enemy is not a wooden stake. He will not stand there and let you kill him..."
"Then it depends on whether their legs and feet are fast enough!"
"..."
Li Zhaoliang chased Kou Ji and asked for a long time, but he still couldn't figure out what medicine Kou Ji sold in his gourd.
But Li Zhaoliang could feel that there was a burning anger in Kou Ji's chest.
That ball of anger needs to be extinguished with the blood of the enemy.
He had a premonition that when Kou Ji went to the Western Regions, he would kill many people.
The two chatted for a long time on the road.
The team escorting the grain and fodder caught up with Li Zhaoliang and Kou Ji under the urging of officials such as the army.
Li Zhaoliang and Kou Ji returned to the team and accompanied the team escorting the grain and grass as they headed westward.
Because they were escorting a large amount of food and grass, the team moved very slowly. It took a full day and a half to get out of the Kaifeng Mansion.
As soon as I left Kaifeng Mansion.
Kou Ji put on a fine chainmail suit, equipped with the Emperor's Sword, opened the ceremonial guard and walked in front of the team.
Its purpose is to clear the way for the team escorting grain and grass.
Avoid unnecessary inquiries that waste time along the way.
Exited the boundary of Kaifeng Prefecture.
Walk to the boundary marker of Jingzhao Mansion.
Kou Jiting was slightly stunned.
Because at the boundary marker of Jingzhao Mansion, a group of people seemed to be waiting for them.
Kou Ji saw a familiar figure among this group of people.
Kou Jice immediately stepped forward, and the other party also took the initiative to greet him.
"Fourth brother..."
The leader greeted Kou Ji with a smile.
Kou Ji stared at him in astonishment and said, "Liu Heng?! Why are you here?"
Liu Heng sat on his horse, raised his hands in the direction of Bianjing City and said: "By order of the officials, I will go to the Western Regions with you and listen to your orders."
Kou Ji said dumbfounded: "The official family is really generous..."
The smile on Liu Heng's face faded and he said solemnly: "In addition to helping you deploy the Imperial City Division's manpower in the Western Regions, I also received a special order."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows, "What's the purpose?"
Liu Hengce immediately stepped forward, got close to Kou Ji, avoided everyone, and whispered in Kou Ji's ear: "I am ordered by the official to protect you."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, frowned, stared at Liu Heng, and whispered: "What do you mean? Anyone who goes to the Western Regions here can die, but I can't die?"
Liu Heng nodded solemnly, "This is what the official family means."
Kou Ji sighed, "It seems that I have to find a way to keep myself in a safe place. Otherwise, I will easily cause trouble for you."
Liu Heng said seriously: "I will follow you every step of the way."
Kou Ji glanced at Liu Heng, "Is this also what the officials mean?"
Liu Heng shook his head, "What I meant!"
Kou Ji sighed: "It doesn't have to be like this... I have prepared a lot of things for myself, which is enough to protect myself. The people who are really in danger of their lives are those from the countries in the Western Regions."
"What has Fourth Brother prepared?"
"If I tell you the name, you may not know what it is."
"..."
Kou Ji chatted with Liu Heng for a few words.
Liu Heng led his own people to join the team escorting the grain and grass.
Liu Heng really kept his word and followed Kou Ji every step of the way.