All the officials despised Gao Qiu in their hearts. Emperor Zhao Ji actually knew what these people were thinking, but did it matter what they were thinking? No matter how useless Gao Qiu was, he was still his favorite minister. Without it...loyalty, no
Ambition!
With military power in the hands of such a person, what emperor would not be worried?
Next came the cavalry formation of the bodyguard Ma Junsi. Groups of cavalrymen with bright helmets were majestic, cheering and dancing under the high platform and shouting long live. Zhao Ji saw it well, and the people who poked their heads in the distance also echoed.
Applause.
Suddenly, there was a commotion behind Zhao Ji, and it seemed that Gao Qiu was arguing with the Minister of War.
Zhao Ji frowned: "Gao Aiqing, what's the fuss about?"
Gao Qiu took a few steps forward and bowed to salute: "Returning to your majesty, the left minister actually said that the cavalry trained by me was not good at riding! The minister refused to obey, so he argued with him for a few words."
Zhao Ji smiled indifferently: "The Bianliang Forbidden Army is not fighting, and most of the Song Dynasty's cavalry is in the west with the Zhending generation to resist the barbarians. Even if the capital's cavalry is worse, it's not a big deal..."
The military system of the Song Dynasty was simply a mess and smelled like a latrine! Ever since the ancestors released their military power over a cup of wine, the Song Dynasty's vigilance and suppression of all warriors became more and more extreme.
It stands to reason that the Song Dynasty had a total of four military systems: the forbidden army, the Xiang army, and the rural army. In addition, the Fan army was specially recruited and pacified in the border areas.
Needless to say, the rural soldiers are a kind of militia like local soldiers. The Xiang army is supposed to be a military force that guards the local area, but now it has become a dumping ground for recruiting homeless bandits. The mobilization of the imperial army is under the command of the Sanya, but the Privy Council is responsible for formulating
The planning and communication center! All kinds of military equipment, food and grass planning, etc. belong to the nominal Ministry of War... It is simply bloated and corrupt to the extreme!
Gao Qiu is now favored by the emperor and has been promoted to the rank of Taiwei, commanding all affairs of the Imperial Guards of the Three Governments. But first of all, the Ministry of War vaguely does not want to see him, and Tong Guan, the Duke of Chu, who once was promoted to the rank of Privy Councilor, is not interested.
Take him seriously! The deputy envoys and other officials in the Privy Council are even more dependent on the cabinet and don't care about him. As for the Northwest Forbidden Army outside Bianliang... they are actually in a semi-independent state!
This was also the helpless choice made by the Song Dynasty more than 100 years ago.
Without it, he would be beaten alive like this...
Civil servants unified the army, eunuchs and supervisors, until Zhao Ji ascended the throne... Except for the Zhe family army, which still maintained strong combat power, all the generals of the Yang family and the Wang family were killed by the Song Dynasty itself.
Fortunately, there are two Zhong brothers who maintain a Zhong family army, which can best contain the Zhe family army, which has become more and more silent in recent years, and Yao Pingzhong, who is newly rising in Taiyuan City. These people... It is impossible for them to do it at all.
Follow Gao Qiu's command.
As for the Forbidden Army Xiangjun in the south of the Yangtze River... they are a group of slaves who collect taxes and grains! But all the troops with some fighting strength are in the west and Hebei, and the goods are all in Bianliang...
Therefore, what Gao Qiu can really mobilize are the hundreds of thousands of imperial troops near Bianliang and the Xiang troops from several surrounding prefectures. And even if he wants to pull out the troops in full force, the Privy Council and the Cabinet will have to work together.
Sign the book and issue the military talisman... Otherwise Gao Qiu will be tantamount to rebellion!
Of course, the Cabinet and the Privy Council, who put down their weapons and armor and went out to work and earn money in disgrace, were invisible. Who told the court that it could not spend sufficient military expenditures?
Emperor Zhao Ji's words seemed to hurt the young heart of the old star Gao Qiu. The man said with a hint of sadness: "Your Majesty... the Forbidden Army is short of horses. All good horses can be selected by the Western Army and the Hebei Frontier Army. The old minister dare not
No comment! But when it comes to the riding skills of the cavalry, our Bianliang Forbidden Army is not convinced by the cavalry elsewhere..."
The Minister of War sneered: "The Duke of Chu has just returned from a victory in the west, and he happens to be accompanied by the guards of the northwest frontier army who are fighting with the Xixia barbarians. I heard that Duke Tong is also gathering orphans from the north to form a victorious army... Gao Tai
If the captain is not convinced, how about letting your Bianliang Forbidden Army compete with Tong Guogong’s western cavalry?"
Cai You, who had been standing behind the emperor, suddenly raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, I have heard for a long time that the athletes from the west under Tong Guogong are excellent in riding and shooting. Why doesn't Your Majesty agree to come down and let them compete?"
Zhao Ji is so jealous...are you guys joining forces to give Gao Qiu bad medicine? Although Gao Qiu is not a good person, he will never offend you. Gao Qiu is the same. In the past, these people used to push him.
He usually just treats it as farting... Did he take some crazy medicine today? You are not afraid of being embarrassed in a competition with Tong Guan's Western Front Army, but I don't want to be embarrassed!
Before Zhao Ji could speak, Tong Guanzi smiled slightly: "How does the Bianliang imperial army guard Your Majesty compare with the border troops who are accustomed to fighting?"
Good guy, Gao Qiu suddenly became unhappy! He bowed to Zhao Ji and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I happen to have a few good horses in my hands! I am not convinced and want to compete with the northwest athletes under Tong Guogong...
"
Zhao Ji couldn't laugh or cry, are you crazy? Do you really think I don't know what your imperial army does all day long? Digging ditches, filling rivers, mowing grass and planting land, and you have to help all the powerful ministers in Bianliang repair it.
Build a house, build a village, build a house... everyone knows that the Imperial Army has insufficient military expenditures, so don't get too excited about it?
"This...Gao Qing, this matter..."
Cai You behind him suddenly glanced at Gao Qiu and said with a smile: "Since it's a gambling fight, what's the prize? Your Majesty is still here. If any of you lose, you must accept the punishment!"
Gao Qiu frowned and said, "Just bet. Although I am an honest official, it is not too difficult to come up with a thousand taels of silver. I wonder if the Duke of Chu dares to gamble?"
Tong Guan smiled: "It happened that I captured thirty fine Xixia horses in the west. In addition to one thousand taels of silver, how about thirty BMWs?"
Gao Qiu stretched out his palm and slapped Tong Guan... "A gentleman's words are hard to chase!"
Good guy, all the ministers around immediately looked at Tong Guan like a stupid coin... No matter how useless Tong Guan is, he is still a seasoned veteran. You have to bet against a jester who has a football background.
Is he embarrassed?
Zhao Ji was a little dissatisfied, but when he saw Gao Qiu suddenly turned over and knelt on the ground, he started to say: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for my incompetence... It's just that I just want to train your Majesty's army. Although it is difficult, I have no complaints."
Regret! It is indeed indecent for important officials of the imperial court to gamble and fight..."
Everyone was vomiting secretly. How the hell do you know it's indecent? This is unbecoming... a disgrace! Even Wang Fu was already secretly planning whether to let the two censors go out to impeach them in front of Zhao Ji.