Chapter 0658 As long as my Song Dynasty is strong enough, it makes sense to fight
If Kou Ji knew that the soldiers guarding the gate were very eager to divide their fields and fight against the Xixia people, he would definitely not let the soldiers guarding the gate continue to guard the city wall.
Kou Ji led the soldiers of the Hengshan Army out of the Great Wall to the north of Yinzhou, and headed west along the Great Wall.
On the way, Kou Ji and Liu Heng rode their horses side by side. Kou Ji looked sideways at Liu Heng and said with some emotion: "You are also a duke now. You always follow me as if you are an official. Isn’t something inappropriate?”
Kou Ji had already reported the achievements of Liu Heng and others to Bianjing City.
After Zhao Zhen received Kou Ji's report, he discussed it with Wang Zeng and fulfilled Kou Ji's promise to the soldiers. PC::/
In fact, even if Kou Ji didn't promise, the imperial court would inevitably reward him generously after getting Xiao Xiaomu's head.
The Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom fought against each other for many years. The largest official of the Liao Kingdom that the Song Dynasty killed was Xiao Taolin, the king of Lanling County of the Liao Kingdom.
It's just that the soldier who shot Xiao Taolin, the king of Lanling County in Liao Dynasty, failed to get Xiao Talin's head, so his military merits were weakened by one level, and he was awarded a marquis.
Liu Heng was different from the soldier who shot Xiao Talin.
Xiao Xiaomu, whom Liu Heng shot and killed, had a far higher status in the Liao Kingdom than Xiao Taolin.
Xiao Talin was only a second-class two-character king in the Liao Kingdom, while Xiao Xiaomu was a first-class one-zi king in the Liao Kingdom.
In addition, Liu Heng cut off Xiao Xiaomu's head with his own hands and presented the head to Zhao Zhen so that Zhao Zhen could have something to take to the Ancestral Temple to praise his ancestors, so his credit was naturally greater than that of the soldier who shot Xiao Taolin. big.
More importantly, Liu Heng made a real contribution to the expansion of territory in the northwest during the war in the northwest.
Naturally, a person who holds the position of Duke cannot escape.
Even if the picky civil servants in the court wanted to find a fault and take away Liu Heng's achievements, they would not be able to do so.
Therefore, after Zhao Zhen discussed with Wang Zeng, he decisively issued an order to canonize Liu Heng.
Liu Heng was granted the title of Duke of Ningguo County.
Duke third class.
Zhao Zhen and Wang Zeng seemed to think that producing a duke in the Northwest War was enough, so the subsequent rewards became much stingier.
Gao Chugong, Liu Qi, Guo Yi, Wang Kai and others presented the heads of Huang Pian and other demoted generals from the Liao Kingdom.
After discussion between Zhao Zhen and Wang Zeng, they only rewarded four counts.
A grandson of Gao Chuang Gong was named Yongfeng Bo in the name of Zu Yin.
Yongfeng is a place name, belonging to Xinzhou.
Gao Chugong's father, Gao Huaide, once sat in Xinzhou and served as the governor of Xinzhou when he was young.
Zhao Zhen named Gao Chugong's grandson Yongfeng Bo, and his intention was very obvious.
That is to ask Gao Chugong's grandson to learn from his great-grandfather's style, rather than from his grandfather.
Liu Qi was awarded the title of Andingbo.
Guo Yi was granted the title Suide Bo.
It is worth mentioning that Wang Kai, and I don’t know whether Zhao Zhen thought of Wang Kai’s ancestor’s contribution to the Song Dynasty, or because he took a fancy to Wang Kai’s talent, and actually made Wang Kai the Zhenbei Bo.
The title of earl is not high.
But the word Zhenbei is definitely not something that everyone can afford casually.
Liu Heng heard Kou Ji's words and smiled calmly: "Master, that's all. When I didn't have a title before, I wanted one. Now that I was awarded the title of Duke, not only did I not feel happy, but It’s a bit unsettling and feels like I’m in a dream.”
Others may not be able to achieve the achievements they pursue throughout their lives, but he achieved them easily, so naturally he felt a little vain.
Hearing this, Kou Ji glanced at Liu Heng and said, "If Gao Chugong hears what you said, he will fight you tooth and nail."
Liu Heng said quietly: "Does he dare to fight for me in the Hengshan Army?"
Hearing this, Kou Ji burst out laughing.
Gao Chugong really did not dare to fight against Liu Heng in the Hengshan Army.
After Zhao Zhen awarded Liu Heng and others with awards respectively, he also changed the positions of Liu Heng, Wang Kai, Liu Qi, and Guo Yi.
Liu Heng was dismissed from his official position in the imperial city affairs department and was appointed as the military governor of Hengshan Army.
Some of the Hengshan Army were elite members of the Zhejia Army and were very powerful in combat, so Zhao Zhen made an exception and promoted the Hengshan Army to the Forbidden Army.
Liu Heng is now legitimately in charge of the Hengshan Army, so if Gao Chuanggong makes trouble for Liu Heng within the jurisdiction of the Hengshan Army, he is seeking abuse.
Seeing Kou Ji smiling and saying nothing, Liu Heng said in a low voice: "After leaving the Imperial City Division, I suddenly don't know what to do."
When Kou Ji heard this, he was stunned for a moment, looked at Liu Heng and said: "Although you have been yearning for military affairs since you were a child, and your martial arts are not weak, you have never really controlled an army, so you don't know what to do. , which is also normal.
Controlling an army of soldiers and horses does not mean leading the soldiers and horses to fight all the time, and to march south and north all the time.
You also have to worry about daily training and daily food, rice, oil and salt.
Although the Hengshan Army has been promoted to the Forbidden Army under special circumstances, the armaments have not been replaced, and the training is still the same as that of the Xiang Army before. You need to worry about these."
Liu Heng nodded slowly.
Kou Ji continued: "When you are free, you can go to Gao Chugong to ask for advice. Although Gao Chugong has a bad mouth, he has real things in his belly. The Gao family has a long history in controlling soldiers and horses.
Don't give up this opportunity to study just because the high-ranking minister will take advantage of it to harm you."
When Liu Heng heard this, he hesitated a little and said: "Isn't it a little late to learn these now?"
Kou Ji almost opened his mouth and said something like Su Laoquan, twenty-seven, starting to work hard, but when the words came to his lips, he realized something was wrong and quickly changed his words: "The former Soochow general Lu Meng didn't start studying until he was about thirty years old. , after a lot of hard study, his talents and strategies have improved to a higher level. There is a saying that after seeing each other for three days, he should look at each other with admiration.
You are less than thirty now, how can it be too late to learn how to run an army?"
Liu Heng opened his mouth, and just as he was about to speak, Kou Ji continued: "I have also been studying military art recently..."
Liu Heng stared at Kou Ji in astonishment and said, "Fourth brother also wants to learn the art of war?"
Kou Ji said calmly: "Of course. Although I can't lead troops to fight, when I can be the backbone of the center, I will inevitably have to deal with many military affairs. How can I do it when my eyes are completely black?
I am not one of those shameless sticks in the court who know nothing and should meddle in military affairs at will.
They do harm to the country and the people and don’t mind others poking their backs, but I am afraid of others poking my back.”
Liu Heng heard what Kou Ji said, stared at Kou Ji and said seriously: "Even fourth brother, you have started to learn the art of war, so naturally I can't fall behind."
After a pause, Liu Heng asked: "Should we study the art of war together? In our free time, we can also seek advice from higher authorities together."
Kou Ji decisively refused: "No need, you can just ask for advice."
Kou Ji was really embarrassed to tell Liu Heng that he lacked knowledge in the art of war. He had read a lot of books on the art of war and strategy, but he still didn't understand many things about military matters.
It can be said that the art of war has little connection with him.
Liu Heng didn't know what Kou Ji was thinking. Seeing Kou Ji's decisive refusal, he didn't go into details.
Kou Ji saw that Liu Heng didn't ask why he didn't go to Gao Gaogong to ask for advice on the art of war, so he quickly changed the subject and said: "You are now in charge of an army, and you can be regarded as a frontier official. Don't always follow me as if you are an official.
By my side.
You must have your own dignity and momentum."
When Liu Heng heard what Kou Ji said, he curled his lips and said nothing.
Kou Ji obviously didn't feel pain in his back while standing and talking.
Zhao Zhen handed over the military and political power in the northwest to Kou Ji. Kou Ji was the largest in the northwest, let alone a small fiefdom in the northwest. Even if the king arrived in the northwest, he would have to do things according to Kou Ji's instructions.
Unless Zhao Zhen comes in person, no matter who comes to the northwest, they have to listen to Kou Ji.
Kou Ji said these words to Liu Heng.
Basically, it's like Zhao Zhen said to the inner court and several important ministers of the six ministries, you are now considered important ministers of the imperial court, don't think about following me like a servant, you must have your own majesty and momentum.
Zhao Zhen could say it so grandly, but who among the three prime ministers in the inner court and several important ministers from the Six Ministries would dare to take this statement seriously?
He ran to Zhao Zhen and said, I am the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. If you want an official from the Ministry of Users to do something, you must first ask me if I will agree?
Believe it or not, Zhao Zhen had someone bury you alive.
Liu Heng did not explain his thoughts to Kou Ji, and Kou Ji did not delve into it.
The two men led the Hengshan Army and rushed for a day and night to Dejing Town outside the Great Wall where Shizhou was located.
When the Xixia people made way for the Liao people to enter, they only gave some territory east of the Mingtang River to the Liao people for transit.
The west side of Mingtang River was not let out.
However, when the Liao people were attacking Yinzhou, they sent people to Dejing Town, west of Mingtang River, and wandered around Qili.
When Kou Ji sent people to seize the Xixia territory occupied by the Liao people, he decisively crossed the Mingtang River, but did not invade Dejing Town and Qiliping.
The reason why we did not touch Dejing Town and Qiliping is because there is an iron smelting service not far from Dejing Town and Qiliping.
It was one of the few places in Xixia where iron was smelted and one of the few important military locations.
Kou Ji speculated that if he threatened Tie Yewu, Xixia would definitely not sit still and wait for death, and would definitely have a fight with the Song Dynasty, whether it was diplomatic or military.
Previously, Kou Ji had been waiting for the outcome of Cao Wei's war in Yanyun Land, so he did not take action without permission.
Now if we want to force the Xixia people to take the initiative to provoke a war, starting with Iron and Steel is undoubtedly the best choice.
One stroke can poke Xixia's sore spot, and one stroke can force Xixia to fight with them.
There were many places for iron smelting in the Song Dynasty, so I didn’t mind if one or two places were missing.
But the places where iron is smelted in Xixia can be counted on two hands, so every place is very important.
Kou Ji led the Hengshan Army to Dejing Town and effectively suppressed the forces surrounding Dejing Town.
More than a thousand Xixia soldiers and horses who were left behind in Dejing Town saw Kou Ji leading an army of 50,000 strong and coming in force. They were so frightened that they almost ran away.
They had more than a thousand soldiers and horses, and when they faced the 50,000-strong army led by Kou Ji, they were not enough to fill their teeth.
Although the Xixia soldiers and horses who stayed in Dejing Town wanted to run away, they did not flee immediately. Because according to Xixia military law, fleeing without fighting would be punished.
Ninety-nine percent of the time the person leading the army will be killed.
Therefore, when Kou Ji was about to arrive at Dejing Town, the Xixia soldiers and horses who stayed behind in Dejing Town immediately sent people to negotiate with Kou Ji.
Ask Kou Ji why he came.
After the people dispatched from Dejing Town found Kou Ji, Kou Ji ordered people to bring them up.
The person sent by Dejing Town was a middle-aged man in his thirties. After seeing Kou Ji, he first saluted and then asked tremblingly: "It's not just General Shangbang who has led heavy troops to harass our border area in Daxia.
, what is your desire?”
"Xixia Frontier?"
Kou Ji pretended to be stunned for a moment, stared at the middle-aged man and said, "Are you telling me a joke?"
The middle-aged man looked at Kou Ji with an ugly expression.
"General Shangbang is as majestic as a torch. When foreign officials see General Shangbang, they don't dare to take a breath. How dare they play tricks on the general."
Kou Jileng snorted: "My Song soldiers fought bloody battles, and the territory we wrested from the Liao people has become your border of Xixia."
The middle-aged man looked at Kou Ji in astonishment, "Didn't General Shangbang take back all the territory he had gained from the Liao people?"
Kou Ji said coldly: "I thought so too at first, but it wasn't until I counted the gains two days ago that I discovered that Dejing Town and Qiliping were also occupied by the Liao people before.
It's just that when our Song soldiers attacked the Liao people, they didn't have time to seize it, but you Xixia took advantage of it and seized it."
The middle-aged man stared at Kou Ji dumbfounded.
After being stunned for a moment, the middle-aged man said angrily: "Is General Shangbang bullying me, Daxia? Is he preparing to provoke a war between the two states? Dejing Town and Qiliping have always been owned by Xixia.
The Liao people had already occupied it, but when did it become the territory that Shangbang took back from the Liao people?"
Kou Ji narrowed his eyes and stared at the middle-aged man coldly, "Do you dare to say that during the war between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom, the cavalry of the Liao Kingdom never visited Dejing Town and Qiliping?"
Naturally, middle-aged people dare not say it.
When the Liao people attacked Yinzhou, they did send a small group of troops to Dejing Town and Qiliping.
The purpose was to see if there was any breakthrough in the Great Wall defended by Shizhou south of Dejing Town.
The middle-aged man's cheeks turned red because of Kou Ji's anger. He stared at Kou Ji with slightly red eyes and said: "The Liao people invaded our territory of Daxia, but our Daxia did not lose Dejing Town and Qiliping.
"
"Nonsense!"
Kou Ji shouted without hesitation and said: "The Liao people did not encounter any resistance when they entered Dejing Town and Qiliping. This shows that the Liao people have taken control of Dejing Town and Qiliping.
If you Xixia never lost Dejing Town and Qiliping, then when the Liao people entered Dejing Town and Qiliping, why didn't you see your Xixia troops resist?"
When Kou Ji said this, he asked sternly, "Could it be said that the Liao people were deliberately let in by you, Xixia, just to plunge the Song Dynasty into endless flames of war?
The reason why the people in the northwest of the Song Dynasty were massacred by the Liao people was all caused by Xixia?"
The middle-aged man was trembling all over and his eyes were getting redder, but he didn't say another word.