Yan Yun returned to the Song Dynasty, and the whole country celebrated.
The entire Song Dynasty was plunged into carnival and remembrance.
Inside Youzhou City.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji only partyed for one day, but they could no longer party anymore.
On the second day after Cao Wei regained all the sixteen prefectures in Yanyun, he fell ill on his bed.
After Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji received the news, they hurried to the Lord's Mansion of Youzhou City.
Arriving at the city lord's palace.
Then he saw Cao Wei lying on the couch in the backyard, his face pale and sleepy.
Zhao Zhen immediately ordered the imperial doctor to diagnose and treat Cao Wei, and at the same time sent Chen Lin to block the news.
After the imperial doctor checked Cao Wei's pulse, he walked up to Zhao Zhen with a solemn expression, bowed and said: "Guan family, Mr. Cao's body and bones have been dying for a long time. I have been working hard day and night with the army this time, and I have reached the end of my life."
The point where the lights are dry.
Previously, Mr. Cao was holding on with a strong breath, but now his breath seems to have been released."
As soon as the imperial doctor said these words.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji's expressions changed.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji knew what the imperial doctor meant by "one breath".
That breath is the sixteen states of Yanyun.
Yan Yun had not recovered yet, but Cao Wei did not dare to fall, so he held on with one breath.
Now that Yan Yun has returned to the Song Dynasty, Cao Wei loosened his breath and fell down.
Zhao Zhen stared at the imperial doctor and asked: "Is there any way to treat it?"
The imperial doctor bowed and said: "I can use a silver needle to wake up Duke Cao, but Duke Cao can no longer fight with the army. Now Duke Cao should return to Bianjing City to rest, and if he can fight with the army again..."
When the imperial doctor said this, he paused.
Zhao Zhen frowned and shouted: "What will happen?"
The imperial doctor sighed and said frankly: "I will definitely die..."
Zhao Zhen's brows wrinkled in an instant.
Kou Ji then frowned.
Zhao Zhen did not ask the imperial doctor to wake up Cao Wei, probably because he wanted Cao Wei to sleep a little longer.
After Zhao Zhen ordered people to take care of Cao Wei, he called Kou Ji and the two left Cao Wei's bedroom.
Outside the bedroom.
Zhao Zhen was silent for a long time, and suddenly asked Kou Ji, "Can Fourth Brother stop the murderers outside the Great Wall by himself?"
Kou Ji heard Zhao Zhen's words and somewhat guessed Zhao Zhen's thoughts.
Zhao Zhen is a person who is cold on the outside but fiery on the inside.
Even though the officials he suppressed in the court were breathless, he was very domineering.
In fact, in private, he has a very gentle attitude towards some ministers who have contributed to the country, and he also thinks of some friendship.
Cao Wei was seriously ill, but he still went to war despite his illness. Now he has fulfilled his promise and captured Yanyun. It can be said that he dedicated his whole life.
Zhao Zhen does not want Cao Wei to die now.
He hopes Cao Wei has a good death.
So he had the idea of bringing Cao Wei back to the court.
Kou Ji knew what Zhao Zhen was thinking, so he thought for a moment and said: "With the support of the Great Wall, and the support of Zhong Shiheng, Di Qing, Gao Chugong, Li Zhaoliang, Wang Kai and others, I have 60% chance of success."
Being sure can keep the criminals away from the Great Wall."
Zhao Zhen hesitated, "Only 60%?"
Kou Ji nodded and said: "All the elite members of the Liao Kingdom have been lost. Any tribes that still have some strength left in the Liao Kingdom will probably not miss such a good opportunity. They will definitely attack them all.
At that time, everyone in the Liao Kingdom can be said to be a murderer.
Until the situation becomes completely clear, no one can guarantee that it will not happen.
Therefore, I dare not say that I am 100% sure."
Zhao Zhen frowned and was silent for a long time, then asked again: "What about me and Cao Aiqing staying?"
Kou Ji said solemnly: "Then it's only 50%..."
Zhao Zhen stared in astonishment and lost his voice: "Why is it decreasing instead of increasing?"
Kou Ji said bluntly: "If you and Cao Wei stay, we will need to send a large number of troops to protect you. If you return to Beijing, I can put all the troops on the Great Wall defense line."
Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, and after thinking about it carefully, the expression on his face became very complicated.
The purpose of his staying in Yanyun is to cheer up the soldiers and to tell him something, I will live and die with you, and you have no other choice but to win.
But now that the Song Dynasty has captured Yanyun, the morale of the Song Dynasty soldiers has reached an unprecedented high, and there is no need for him to sit in Youzhou City to improve the morale of the soldiers.
Therefore, his stay in Yanyun is no longer of much use.
Not only can it not help improve the morale of the soldiers, but it will also divide some of the troops.
To put it harshly, he is now a burden.
Staying here will only do harm and no good.
Zhao Zhen let out a long sigh, "Then I will return to the court with the Royal Guards and some of the soldiers who support the Japanese army. I will leave the affairs here to the fourth brother."
Speaking of this, Zhao Zhen stared at Kou Ji solemnly and said: "Fourth brother must keep those murderers out of the country."
Kou Ji's face straightened, he cupped his hands and said, "I will do my best."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "Fourth brother, you can let go. All the troops and horses in the east and north are at your disposal, and the money and food are open to use. I can't help you in other places, but in terms of money and food, I can't help you."
I will never let Fourth Brother get in his way."
Kou Ji took a deep breath and said: "Guan family, the troops and horses in the east and north now have exceeded 70% of our troops in the Song Dynasty. Isn't it inappropriate to let me dispatch them alone?"
Zhao Zhen did not answer Kou Ji's words, but asked with a smile: "Fourth brother, do you think Korea is better, or Japan?"
Kou Ji didn't understand why Zhao Zhen suddenly talked about him, but he still replied seriously: "Each one has his own merits..."
When Zhao Zhen heard this, he was stunned for a moment and said with a smile: "That's right... Fourth brother, you have never been to Korea and Japan, so naturally you can't tell which one is better.
I think both places are good, but the people in both places have no bones.
The Japanese are better off, and they will decisively stick to them when they encounter a strong one.
The Korean people are not only weaklings, but also grassroots."
Kou Ji stared at Zhao Zhen doubtfully.
Zhao Zhen continued: "I am more inclined to Goryeo... because Goryeo can reach Bianjing City by both land and water, and it is relatively close."
Kou Ji stared at Zhao Zhen suspiciously and said, "What do the officials mean by this?"
Zhao Zhen shook his head, smiled, and walked away.
Kou Ji hurriedly spoke, "Isn't it inappropriate for me to dispatch all the troops and horses of the official family, the eastern border and the northern border all by myself?"
Kou Ji asked this question again.
Zhao Zhen did not speak.
Kou Ji could only watch Zhao Zhen leave the city lord's mansion.
After Zhao Zhen returned to the palace, the imperial orders were passed out of the palace one after another to all the generals and generals in the east and north.
This was the first time Zhao Zhen formally conveyed his orders to the army after joining Yanyun, and it was also the last time.
The content of the imperial order is very simple.
The eastern and northern borders, both local troops and the imperial army, were all under Kou Ji's command.
Anyone who refuses to obey Kou Ji's military orders can be killed first and then punished.
There is no upper limit and no lower limit.
In other words, there are no grade restrictions.
As long as there are people in the east and north who don't obey Kou Ji's orders, Kou Ji can kill them all.
Even if he is a prince, as long as he serves in the army and does not obey Kou Ji's orders, Kou Ji can kill him first and then punish him.
After Kou Ji learned the news, he was shocked and dumbfounded.
Kou Ji felt that Zhao Zhen was seeking death.
His power is already very huge, yet Zhao Zhen still does this.
If someone puts a yellow robe on Kou Ji while Kou Ji is not paying attention, then nothing will happen to Zhao Zhen.
Kou Ji refused.
But before he could even say his words of refusal.
Zhao Zhen had already ordered people to pack his bags, took his people, and protected Cao Wei, and left Youzhou City.
Before leaving, Zhao Zhen left a special edict.
The king issued an edict.
The person who was awarded the title was not Kou Ji, but the late Taiwei Yang Ye who was lying outside Youzhou City.
Kou Ji once promised Yang Wenguang that after Yan Yun returned to the Song Dynasty, he would ask Zhao Zhen to be his admirer for the late Taiwei Yang Ye.
But now that Yang Wenguang was in northern Xinjiang, it was impossible for Zhao Zhen to cross the Yang family and move Yang Ye's tomb, so he left a royal edict as compensation.
According to Yang Ye's contribution to the Song Dynasty, he did not meet the standards for being posthumously crowned king.
However, the standard for being crowned king after the death of the Song Dynasty is not only based on the achievements during his lifetime, but also the achievements of his descendants.
As long as their descendants' achievements are great enough, even if they are civilians before their death, they still have a chance to be crowned kings.
The government decrees and regulations are from the ancestors of three generations.
Generally, it is only awarded to important ministers, and those whose ancestors have died.
If the ancestors in the family were still alive, even if the court awarded them rewards, they would not be generous.
In the Song Dynasty, posthumous title was a symbol of honor, not power or money.
So there are certain rules and regulations.
The late Taiwei Yang Ye's merits were not enough, but Yang Wenguang's merits were enough.
Not only Yang Wenguang, but also several other people's contributions were enough to push their ancestors' posthumous title to the rank of king.
Therefore, Zhao Zhen went beyond the central government and left a royal edict to the late Taiwei Yang Ye, which would not make anyone dissatisfied.
After the officials in the court learned about this, not only would they not gossip, they would also encourage Zhao Zhen to pursue a few more titles.
The military officials who participated in the Eastern and Western battlefields of the Song Dynasty this time all made great contributions.
Someone has even achieved great success.
If Zhao Zhen pursues the ancestors of several military ministers, the merits of the military ministers will be weakened.
If the warrior's son is given some titles and official positions, the warrior's contribution will be reduced to an extremely low level.
In this way, there will be no situation of being unable to seal.
According to the rules in the court, you may not be punished if you break the rules, but you must reward those who have merit.
Even the smallest contribution must be rewarded.
In this way, civil and military officials in both the government and the public will be motivated to work for the court.
What's more important is that if a giant like Kou Ji refuses to reward his merits, even if he himself has no complaints, the people under him will be dissatisfied.
When Kou Ji was appointed as the Director of Punishments and Prisons, he aggrieved Shangguan Zhang Lun and was not scolded or opposed by others. This was because there was such an implicit rule in the court.
Zhao Zhen left.
Walking in a hurry.
Walking very freely.
What was left to Kou Ji was an edict, a piece of paper, and half a military seal.
When Kou Ji got the three things, he stood at the entrance of the palace and was stunned for a long time.
The edict was to postulate Yang Ye as the King of Hanhai County, and there was nothing noteworthy about it.
What made Kou Ji stunned for a long time at the entrance of the palace was the piece of paper and half a military seal.
There was only one sentence on the paper. After Kou Ji glanced at it, he quickly tore it into pieces.
The half military seal is the Privy Council military seal that Kou Ji and Zhao Zhen were in charge of.
Kou Ji had half of the coin himself, and Zhao Zhen kept the half that belonged to Zhao Zhen.
The two seals combined into one can command all the soldiers and horses in the world.
The seals of commanders such as the Grand Marshal of the World's Soldiers and Horses were not enough before this seal.
After Kou Ji fumbled with the half of the military seal for a long time, he said in confusion: "Which official can withstand such a test?"
After a few words of ridicule, Kou Ji sighed, stuffed the military seal into his arms, and then gave instructions to his subordinates.
"Pack your bags and go to Gubeikou."
Gubeikou is an important pass where the Sixteenth Great Wall of Yanyun is interrupted.
Its importance is no less than that of Yuguan (Shanhaiguan).
After the Liao people were expelled from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.
Gao Chugong and Zhong Shiheng joined forces and sat together at Gubeikou.
Kou Ji led his men and galloped on horseback, traveling under the stars at night.
Three days later we arrived at Gubeikou.
There are many battle flags inside and outside Gubeikou.
After Kou Ji arrived at Gubeikou, Gao Chugong and Zhong Shiheng came out to greet him in person.
Kou Ji's current status is like that of the general marshal of the world's military who controls absolute power.
Anyone who is in the army must bow their head in front of him.
Anyone who dares to hold it will be killed if Kou Ji says so.
Therefore, Gao Changgong, who has always been outspoken, became very well-behaved after meeting Kou Ji.
At the pass, Kou Ji exchanged a few words with Gao Chugong and Zhong Shiheng, and then entered the city.
In Guancheng, many soldiers are busy repairing Guancheng.
In the past, this pass was in the hands of the Liao people, who obviously didn't like something that could stop them from galloping.
So it was not well maintained.
After the Liao people became Sinicized, they paid more attention to Guancheng.
But Guancheng had been in ruins for many years, and the Liao people had to spend a huge amount of money to repair it.
The Liao Kingdom was too poor to spend so much money to repair Guancheng, so it simply repaired some commonly used Guancheng.
Ignore those that are not commonly used.
Gubeikou Guancheng is also a commonly used Guancheng by the Liao people.
The Liao people also repaired it.
It's just that the repairs are not perfect.
It was far from meeting the needs of the Song Army.
Therefore, after Zhong Shiheng and Gao Chugong occupied this place, they ordered the local soldiers to renovate Guancheng without any hesitation.
Kou Ji entered Guancheng under the leadership of Gao Gaogang Gong and Zhong Shiheng.
A courtyard completely built in the style of the Song Dynasty has been vacated in Guancheng. The furnishings and layout inside are also full of the style of the Song Dynasty.
Kou Ji entered the courtyard, and after tidying up for a while, he gathered with Zhong Shiheng and Gao Chugong in the main hall of the courtyard.
Kou Ji sat down, followed by Zhong Shiheng and Gao Chugong.
Kou Ji asked with a stern face: "How is the war outside?"
Gao Chugong and Zhong Shiheng looked at each other, and Zhong Shiheng said: "One word, chaos!"
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "How chaotic..."
Zhong Shiheng made an analogy: "Before the elites of the Liao Kingdom were lost in the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, it was still clear whether they were human beings and ghosts. After the elites of the Liao Kingdom were lost in the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, those outside were
It's impossible to tell the difference between a human and a ghost.
People from various tribes are taking advantage of the situation to cause chaos.
There are also tribesmen who are taking advantage of the opportunity to plunder in the name of killing the murderers.
Others simply raised the flag of rebellion.
In short, Liao land is even more chaotic now than before.
In the past, there was only chaos in Shangjing Road and the areas west of Shangjing Road, but now the entire Liao Kingdom is in chaos."
Kou Ji pondered: "Has Yelu Zongzhen changed his mind after he returned?"
Zhong Shiheng said in a deep voice: "Yelü Zong really almost didn't go back."
Kou Ji was stunned and looked at Zhong Shiheng in astonishment.
Zhong Shiheng explained: "We only left Yelu Zongzhen with 50,000 soldiers and horses, but now the murderers in Liao are not able to be quelled by 50,000 soldiers and horses. After Yelu Zongzhen escaped the pursuit of our Song Dynasty soldiers and horses, he led
The soldiers and horses rushed to the capital, but encountered several ambushes on the way.
Those who took action were almost all soldiers from various tribes.
The most powerful one among them was the Mature Nu Zhen from Hesu Hall. They had 3,000 men and killed nearly 5,000 elite soldiers under Yelu Zongzhen."
When Kou Ji heard this, he raised his eyebrows.
Three thousand were killed by five thousand, and the results looked average on the surface.
But if you think about it carefully, you will find something extraordinary about it.
Before Yelu Longxu died, the soldiers and horses he left to Yelv Zongzhen for self-protection were drawn from the Pishi Army.
It can almost be said that he is the elite among the elite Liao soldiers.
Against the Song Dynasty's muskets and artillery, there was nothing powerful about them.
But against other enemies armed with cold weapons, it would be an absolute crushing blow.
The Miu Jüzhen of the Hosu Hall ambushed 50,000 with 3,000 men and killed 5,000 in formation. This was a very powerful and remarkable achievement.
After all, although the mature women in the Huosu Palace had previously submitted to the Liao Kingdom, they also claimed the Liao nationality.
But their life under the rule of Liao Kingdom was not satisfactory.
The real armament of the mature women in the Huosu Pavilion is more than a star and a half worse than that of the elite Liao soldiers.
Even though the military equipment is at a disadvantage and the numbers are at a disadvantage, to be able to achieve such a record is naturally impressive.
Kou Ji asked: "Isn't it true that the mature women in the Three Thousand Hesu Pavilion are also doomed?"
Zhong Shiheng nodded and said: "Almost the entire army was wiped out."
Kou Ji nodded and ordered: "Continue talking."
Zhong Shiheng continued: "After Yelu Zongzhen defeated the Mature Women Real rebels in Hesu Hall, he led his army to Shangjing City. But before they entered Shangjing City, someone from the Xi Wang family, one of the eight Khitan clans, raised an army
It's the other way around.
Frankly speaking, Yelu Longxu was arrogant and arrogant, ruining the common prosperity of the eight Khitan tribes.
They want to exterminate the Yelv clan and revive the common empire of the eight Khitan tribes.
The Xi Wang family's rebels recruited many rebels from various tribes, and even hijacked some civilians to form an army of nearly 100,000 people, setting an ambush on the only way to the capital.
Yelv Zongzhen's soldiers and horses defeated the rebels, but Yelv Zongzhen himself was almost killed."
Kou Ji thought about it and said, "In other words, Yelu Zong has really returned to the capital?"
Zhong Shiheng nodded and said: "Yelu Zongzhen has returned to Shangjing City, and with the support of the Yelu and Xiao clans, he officially inherited the unification of the Liao Kingdom and ascended the throne as emperor."
Kou Ji raised his eyebrows and sneered: "How dare he claim to be emperor?!"
Kou Ji knew clearly that Zhao Zhen had to give Yelu Zongzhen a way out, and Yelu Zongzhen could not claim the title of emperor.
Zhong Shiheng didn't know about this, thinking that Kou Ji was dissatisfied with Yelv Zong's true proclaimed emperor, so he said: "I heard from spies that Yelv Zong really has no intention of proclaiming himself emperor. It's just some old people in the royal family and some old ministers.
If you insist on making him emperor, he will have to obey."
Kou Ji snorted coldly, "So, he couldn't help himself?"
Zhong Shiheng nodded and said: "That's about it."
Kou Ji asked again, "Then can his throne be secure?"
Zhong Shiheng shook his head, "People's hearts in the Liao Kingdom are now unstable. Each of the eight Khitan clans has their own agenda. Except for the Yelu clan and the Xiao clan, the other clans have not clearly expressed their continued support for Yelu Zongzhen."
Kou Ji sneered and said, "It seems that Yelu Zongzhen is really not going to be the emperor."
When the building is about to collapse, I don't want to try to turn the tide, but I want to take advantage of the situation and gain benefits.
Sure enough, all crows in the world are as black as black.
Kou Ji continued to ask: "What about the murderers in Shangjing Road and other places?"
Zhong Shiheng slowly shook his head and said: "Shangjing Road and other places are now very chaotic, and spies and scouts dare not go deep. However, small groups of thugs who want to take advantage of the opportunity to go south and plunder have appeared outside the Great Wall in Yunzhou and other places."
Kou Ji frowned, "I'm afraid a large number of gangsters will appear later."
Zhong Shiheng nodded solemnly.
Kou Ji thought for a moment and said, "Call Li Zhaoliang, Wang Kai, and Di Qing to come over for a meeting."
Zhong Shiheng did not hesitate, nodded, and went down to send someone to deliver the order.
After the order reached the ears of Li Zhaoliang, Wang Kai, and Di Qing, the three of them hurried to Gubeikou with some troops.
Several people gathered again in the courtyard where Kou Ji lived in Gubeikou.
After Li Zhaoliang, Wang Kai and Di Qing arrived, Kou Ji did not chat with the three people, but decided to talk about business.
Several people were sitting in the main hall of the courtyard in Gubeikou.
Kou Ji stared at them and said in a deep voice: "Nowadays, outside the Great Wall, it can be said that there are almost all murderers with ulterior motives. Some are thinking about the foundation of the Liao Kingdom, while some are just taking advantage of the opportunity to cause chaos, burning, killing and looting.
It doesn't matter if they are having fun in the distant lands.
But if they take the opportunity to invade our territory of the Song Dynasty, then we cannot sit idly by and do nothing."
Wang Kai sat upright and said: "The key is food. Most people in the Liao Kingdom make a living by herding horses and sheep, and rarely farm. It is precisely because of this that there is not much grain stored in the Liao Kingdom.
Nowadays, both humans and ghosts are causing chaos in the Liao Kingdom. It can almost be said that it is a mess.
No one herds horses and sheep.
Wherever the murderer passed, it was like locusts passing through, eating everything clean.
They depleted the Liao Kingdom and if they didn't want to starve to death, they had no choice but to invade the Song Dynasty.
Just like people during famine years, after eating up everything in the local area, they will go to other places."
It was purely the instinct of survival that drove them to try their luck in the Song Dynasty.
If you break into the Song Dynasty, you may die. If you don't break into the Song Dynasty, you will definitely die.
So they will definitely break in.
Therefore, the Song Dynasty will definitely face the danger of invasion by a large number of thugs.
Kou Ji and others heard Wang Kai's words and nodded in agreement.
Kou Ji pondered: "They regard me as a landlord in the Song Dynasty, but the landlord's family has no surplus food."
Gao Chugong and others looked at each other and then all looked at Kou Ji.
"Did we consume a lot of food in this battle? Did we empty Chang Ping Cang?"
Kou Ji was stunned and smiled dryly, "I just said it casually."
This time the Great Song Dynasty fought on the east and west fronts, the consumption was indeed huge.
But it was not enough to make the Great Song Dynasty burn out.
Zhao Zhen, Kou Ji, Li Di, Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng and others were like misers, saving money and food.
Saved for many years.
The soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty could not finish them all in a short while.
Today, only one-third of the Song Dynasty's grain reserves have been consumed.
When Gao Chugong and others heard Kou Ji's words, the corners of their mouths twitched.