The four people returned to the train and automatically moved their standing positions back. Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan were reduced to the level of fourth-level magistrates and could only stand near the entrance of the hall.
Zhao Zhen sighed and said: "My dear sirs, do you have any good strategies to deal with the incident in the northwest? Now that the situation is tight, there is no need to talk big words and empty words. Just tell us what countermeasures should be taken based on the facts."
All the ministers remained silent, and no one dared to express any opinions on such a major matter. Say less and you will make fewer mistakes, and say more and make more mistakes. This is the official motto that many officials believe in.
Zhao Zhen glanced over the faces of the officials, who were either fat or thin, young or old, and felt weak in his heart. He couldn't blame these officials for protecting themselves. The matter in the northwest was indeed a difficult problem.
Yan Shu looked at Lu Yijian and saw that he was sitting on the stool with his eyes, nose, nose and heart in mind, and seemed to have no intention of speaking. Seeing that the emperor was waiting for everyone to reply on the dragon throne but no one answered, he looked extremely embarrassed and couldn't bear it, so he stood up
Dequeue.
"Your Majesty, I believe that after this battle, the power of the enemy and ourselves will be out of balance. We must make plans early to avoid changes later."
"Yan Aiqing has something to say, but it's okay to say it." Seeing Yan Shu come out to speak, Zhao Zhen felt a little more at ease. Yan Shu was not a person who liked to make big guns. Although he was tactful, he never made any foolish ideas on major matters.
"Your Majesty, I believe that two things must be done as urgent tasks now. One is to adjust the strategy of using troops in the northwest, and the other is to quickly mobilize troops to supplement the strength. We must not wait and see. The hearts of Xixia tigers and wolves, and Yuan Hao's people cannot be expected to do so.
Xiaosheng stops."
Zhao Zhen frowned and said: "How to adjust the northwest policy?"
Yan Shu said: "If you want to increase the prestige of others and destroy your own ambition, there is still a gap between the combat power of our Song Dynasty soldiers and the soldiers of the Western Bandits. Looking at the advantages of both sides' soldiers, the Western Bandits' advantage lies in the strong cavalry, sturdy armor, vertical and horizontal
We are really invincible, but our soldiers of the Song Dynasty are better at bows, arrows, chariots and crossbows. The adjustment of this strategy should be based on how to use our own strengths to attack the enemy's shortcomings. Originally, the enemy's commander was placed in the south of the Yangtze River in the Central Plains of our Song Dynasty.
There is no advantage in being surrounded by lakes, but the war is in the northwest, where the Gobi desert is vast, the grasslands are vast, and the vast plains are suitable for their cavalry to roam; so it is unwise to confront them head-on."
Zhao Zhen said: "Ai Qing is saying that the previous strategy of attacking by force was wrong?"
Yan Shu said: "I can't say that, otherwise some people will say that I am putting things in hindsight. My views on military affairs are not as good as those of Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan. I think it is better for them to make adjustments."
Zhao Zhen looked at Yan Shu doubtfully, and then suddenly stepped back after he had said it well, asking Fan Zhongyan to explain. It was really strange.
Du Yan, Lu Yijian and others secretly cursed in their hearts: "Old fox, you will retreat when the critical moment comes, for fear that if you propose specific measures that will not work in the future, you will be hurt."
Yan Shu didn't take it seriously. He originally admired Fan Zhongyan and planned to recommend him to the center as soon as the Northwest War ended. However, he did not expect to encounter the defeat of Haoshuichuan. In fact, the defeat had little to do with Fan Zhongyan.
, but after all, he had been punished, and if he wanted to promote him, he had to perform differently, so he asked Fan Zhongyan to propose a change in strategic thinking.
It is obvious that Fan Zhongyan's strategy of sticking to the counterattack will definitely work, because no matter from any aspect, this strategy is more secure. Even if it is futile, it will definitely not be a fault. As long as it is delayed for a few years and Yuan Hao cannot enter the hinterland, he will
It's a credit to him, and it will be a matter of course to recommend him when the time comes.
Of course, there is also selfishness involved here. Yan Shu first considers himself. If the proposed strategy does not work, someone will always come to settle the score with him when the situation worsens. Therefore, he should try to stay back and avoid proposing specific measures. There will be room for maneuver.
Bigger.
Yan Shu called his name, and Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi were called to the front again. They had not noticed before, but when they walked from the palace door to the throne, everyone noticed that Fan Zhongyan was staggering and seemed to have difficulty walking.
Zhao Zhen asked: "Why is Fan Qing's legs and feet not so good? I remember that you have no leg problems."
Fan Zhongyan said hurriedly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am in good health."
Han Qi couldn't help but answered on his behalf: "Master Fan has been in the northwest for a long time, dining and drinking with the soldiers. He has been bitten by poisonous insects in more than ten places and has festered for more than ten days."
Zhao Zhen changed his tone and said: "How could this be so? Didn't you let the army doctor treat you?"
Fan Zhongyan's dark and thin face twitched and said: "Your Majesty, the army has limited medicinal herbs. Many of the soldiers and ministers have sores, but I am better. Those soldiers are all going to fight, how can I rob them?
I will take the medicine to cure myself. Your Majesty, please rest assured that a little scabies will not defeat you."
Zhao Zhen looked sad, stood up and walked down from the dragon throne, came to Fan Zhongyan's side, stretched out his hand to untie Fan Zhongyan's robe.
Fan Zhongyan said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, no, how can your holy eyes be stained by this filthy disease?"
Without saying a word, Zhao Zhen stubbornly opened Fan Zhongyan's robe. Han Qi also helped, opening up his underwear and trousers. He saw three shocking ulcers on Fan Zhongyan's thighs, the size of which were wine glasses. The sores were rubbed away by the clothes.
His head was broken, and the pus and blood were stuck together, which was scary to look at.
The ministers lamented loudly, and Zhao Zhen shed tears in a daze, sighing: "Fan Qing's patriotism can be seen from these three abscesses. With Fan Aiqing in the northwest, there will be no place for Western thieves."
Fan Zhongyan prostrated on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"After the court comes later, I will go with the palace doctor to help Mr. Fan apply medicine to treat the wound." Zhao Zhen said to the chamberlain while wiping away tears.
The chamberlain bowed and agreed, and Fan Zhongyan hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, why bother? This is just a minor illness. If Your Majesty is so determined, why not send a batch of medicine to the front lines to cure the illnesses of the soldiers."
Zhao Zhen said: "Yan Aiqing, can you assemble a batch of medicinal materials and send them to the northwest?"
Yan Shu hesitated for a moment, nodded and said: "I will try my best to handle it. Your Majesty, don't worry."
Zhao Zhen nodded, sat back on the dragon throne and asked: "Fan Aiqing, get up, what strategies do you have to defend the northwest border and prevent the situation from getting worse? Let me and all the other gentlemen hear it."
Fan Zhongyan immediately perked up and stood up and said: "As ordered, I just listened to what Master Yan said about the advantages and disadvantages of the enemy and ourselves, and I felt very sad. What Master Yan said was exactly what I was worried about day and night. However,
The best way to maximize your strengths and avoid your weaknesses is to fight steadily, not to engage in field battles with the enemy, but to camp step by step, build fortresses and earthen cities, defend the city inside with bows, arrows, crossbows and chariots, and set up horse traps and pits outside to block it. If the enemy forces a forced attack, they will suffer heavy losses.
Loss; although Yuan Hao is foolish and brave, his Xixia people and financial resources are not the same as those of the Song Dynasty. As long as he suffers a few losses, the arrogance of the traitors will definitely be extinguished, but the situation will be stable."
Lu Yijian said coldly: "With this method of attack, how can we recover the Hulan, Zhenrong and other prefectures and counties occupied by the bandits?"
Fan Zhongyan said loudly: "Under such a situation, stabilizing the position is the most important thing. Thinking about regaining the lost ground at this time is a joke."
Lu Yijian said: "If we can't regain the lost territory, are we going to follow your method and let me be enslaved and humiliated by the Western thieves by the people of Zhanzhou County?"
Fan Zhongyan said: "At present, we can only stabilize the situation and Xu Tu recovers. If Prime Minister Lu wants to go down to the official position, he can immediately regain the lost territory. I forgive you for not having any good ideas. I am not a person who talks in vain. One is one and two is two. All that can be done is
If you can do it, if you can't do it, then you will never lie."
Du Yan yelled: "How shameless, you and Prime Minister Lu are talking like this? Are you saying that Prime Minister Lu is just talking in vain?"
Lu Yijian secretly scolded Du Yan for being an idiot, but no one could hear the thorn in Fan Zhongyan's words, so he pretended not to understand and let it pass. However, this idiot wanted to point it out and make it difficult for him to get off the stage. He was either really stupid or had ulterior motives.
Zhao Zhen was anxious to hear what was going on. How could he allow himself to say these unnecessary words at this time? He coughed and said with a cold face: "Lu Aiqing, Du Aiqing, don't say too much. I have more questions."
Lu Yijian and Du Yan had no choice but to shut up. Although the emperor is kind, he is not a doll that can be manipulated by others. Just by the way he shed tears on a sore, you can tell how scheming the emperor is; "The emperor is no longer the queen mother."
As the emperor ascended the curtain, Lu Yijian suddenly sighed.
"Fan Aiqing, although the strategy of sticking to it is good, what Prime Minister Lu said is also true. When can this strategy recover the prefectures and counties that were invaded by the Song Dynasty? Are there any follow-up considerations?"
"Your Majesty, I have told you that this strategy will have long-term success. I will build the city and refuse to accept it, so that I can defend the enemy and settle the people who fled back. Although the Western bandits occupy several states, there are no people, so it is an empty city.
What's the point of having one? Just stick to it for a year and it will achieve miraculous results."
"I don't understand what you mean." Zhao Zhen was realistic.
"Your Majesty, the Western Bandit lives by chasing water and grass, raising horses, herding cattle, sheep, fishing and hunting. Rice cannot grow in the northwest, and Yuan Hao and the Khitan are not good neighbors. How can he have the financial resources and manpower to support a long-term war? And he can't mobilize the whole country.
His soldiers went south to attack me because he also had to guard against the coveting of the hungry wolf of the Khitan Kingdom. From this, we can draw a conclusion: the purpose of the Western bandits' attack on us was not to occupy the barren northwest states, but to rob and destroy the barren northwest states.
Once this plan came to fruition, he had no choice but to retreat. The purpose of Chen's method was not to defend, but to use the power of defense to defeat Yuan Hao and make him retreat automatically. Our Song Dynasty has a vast territory, southeast
In the rice warehouse, one year's harvest can cover several years of food. If it is consumed, the Western thieves will become our enemies in the Song Dynasty."
After hearing what Fan Zhongyan said, everyone nodded and discussed, feeling that it made sense. Lu Yijian's beard almost stood up in anger, and he thought to himself: "I asked you just now, and you said there was nothing you could do. Now that the emperor is asking, you can do it."
Tell the truth and make it clear that you don't want to give me face, and you are frivolous. How can I allow you to be so contemptuous?"
Only then did Zhao Zhen's heart fall back into his stomach. Although Fan Zhongyan's method was a bit conservative, it was absolutely effective. As long as he could stop the northwest wolf and ensure that his ancestral heritage would not be occupied by others, he would be satisfied.dd