Hao Jing put on the black hood again and sat under Kublai Khan and Yin Tianya.
In the Mongolian court, except for a few core ministers and Tianya Shenzun, most people did not know that this Mongolian imperial master who suddenly appeared was Hao Jing, who was detained as an envoy to the south five years ago. The ministers only knew The Imperial Master is extremely favored by Kublai Khan. When he goes to court, he always puts his face in a black hood, which makes him look mysterious and exaggerated. However, the Imperial Master is always full of emotions when he speaks and acts. Wisdom makes people have to respect him.
"Your Majesty A'shu meets the Great Khan,"
"No need to pay tribute,"
"Thank you Khan,"
Kublai Khan pointed to the empty seat opposite Hao Jing and said: "General A'shu, you have been fighting for many days. You have worked hard. Come and sit down."
"Yes, Great Khan," Ah Shu saluted Yin Tianya and Hao Jing before sitting down and said, "I have met Lord Shen Zun and Lord Imperial Master,"
Yin Tianya just nodded his head slightly as a reply, but Hao Jing stood up and returned the greeting: "General, you're welcome."
After Ashu sat down, Kublai Khan said: "Ashu, although this time we went south, we failed to expand our territory, but we also killed four generals of the Luzhou garrison in the Southern Dynasty. Moreover, we also observed the situation from Luzhou to Anqing." The topography can be regarded as equalizing the merits and demerits,"
Ah Shu was still uneasy in his heart, but when he saw that Kublai Khan had determined the nature of his southern expedition as soon as he arrived, he felt relieved: "My Lord, Ah Shu, is sincerely frightened."
"Haha," Kublai Khan laughed and scolded, "when did you, A-shu, learn the hypocritical language of the southerners? You clearly said in your heart that it was fine, but where did you come from with such sincerity and fear?"
"Great Khan, I know my mistake,"
"A Shu, tell me about the topography of Luzhou area,"
Ah Shu knew what Kublai Khan wanted to ask: "Great Khan, although Luzhou is known as "the lips and teeth of the south of the Yangtze River and the right breast of the Huaihe River", its east side is dominated by puddles and lakes, and its west side is mostly rugged mountain roads, which is really not conducive to us. With the large-scale cavalry advance, as long as the southern army defends Shouchun and Luzhou and does not come out to meet the enemy head-on, it will be difficult for our army to break through, so I suggest not to choose Luzhou as the main offensive point."
Kublai Khan opened the map on the table, looked at it and said: "Judging from the information fed back from many sources, Liu Zheng's plan is still the most feasible."
"Yes, I agree,"
"A'shu, it's the end of the year. It's freezing cold. Your troops should focus on training and take a break. After next spring, we will capture Shouchun first. This will cause our army to attack Yangzhou and Luzhou. The power gave the Southern Dynasty an illusion,"
"Yes, Great Khan Shengming,"
Hao Jing suddenly asked: "Great Khan, I have something to say and I don't know whether I should say it or not."
"Sir, please tell me something,"
"Great Khan, General Ashu. I am a scholar and have no military experience. I shouldn't interrupt, but I think that on the south bank of the Huaihe River, our army only occupies a small area of Yangjia Town. Our army wants to take it. If we go to Shouchun and become the leader, will the Song people also want to take over our Yangjia Town?"
Ah Shu praised: "The Emperor's Master is worthy of being the Emperor's Master. From common sense, from the art of war, and in any case, the Southerners should have done this long ago. It's just that the Emperor's Master is unaware of something. Since thirty years ago, the Southerners' army has After Luoyang was completely defeated by our dynasty, they no longer had the intention to launch attacks and gradually relied on the city to fight defensive wars. Just like this time, the Xia Gui soldiers had many generals and only dared to attack Anhua in the suburbs of Luzhou. As for the activities in Feishuang Town, even the last thousand or so of our army can retreat under their noses. Therefore, the emperor's division can rest assured that if our army does not attack, they will secretly laugh to themselves and how can they take the initiative to attack? ,"
Hao Jing sighed: "Hey, soldiers don't know how to be brave, and generals don't know how to be shameless. The people of Song Dynasty don't know how to live long."
Kublai Khan said with a smile: "Emperor Master, Ah Shu is right. The southerners have lost their courage and there is no need to cause trouble. Moreover, Yangjia Town has a dangerous terrain and is easy to defend but difficult to attack. After a few years, our army will capture Shouchun again. It can intimidate the southerners to cross the Huaihe River."
"Yes, the Great Khan is mighty,"
"Emperor Master, the current financial situation of our dynasty is the key to going south to destroy the Song Dynasty in the future. This Khan needs to rely heavily on Emperor Master,"
"The great Khan is relieved, and I should devote my whole life to it."
"Okay, but you can bow, but you don't have to do your best. Otherwise, when this Khan unifies the world in the future, who will govern the country for me," Kublai Khan continued, "Since the rebellion of Ali Buge, our country has also added more The Western Expedition consumes a lot of financial resources, and currently we are unable to launch a large-scale war. Imperial Master, I will give you two years to accumulate the financial and material resources for the Southern Expedition. At that time, all the soldiers will use their full strength to conquer the Southern Dynasty in one go."
"Yes, I obey your order,"
Yin Tianya said: "We Mongolian soldiers grew up on horseback. Although we are good at fighting, we are not as good at economics as the Han people. Large-scale wars need to be supported by financial and material resources. Whether we can determine the country in one battle? It all depends on the financial resources I have accumulated in Mongolia. The burden on the Imperial Master is not light,"
"Yes, but there is no need to bear too heavy a burden on the Imperial Master. I and the Divine Lord will support you,"
"Great Khan, Lord God, I will definitely raise enough military expenses for the southern expedition within two years,"
"Report, Great Khan, the Lord God is here, Lord Fa Jue has something to do and needs to meet with the Lord," the voice of the duty officer sounded again.
"It's really lively today, Xuan,"
"See the Great Khan, Lord God,"
"The law is absolute and there is no need for etiquette.
"Fa Jue, why do you need to come here to see me?"
"Sir, the water priest Yang Lianzhenjia has requested to see the god. This is the letter from the water priest."
After reading it, Yin Tianya said: "Great Khan, there are three letters here. One is written by Yang Lianzhenjia, one is written by Jia Sidao, and the other is personally handed over by Jia Sidao to Wulihan."
Kublai Khan was surprised and said: "Jia Sidao, prime minister of the Southern Dynasty,"
"Exactly,"
After reading it, Kublai Khan said with a smile: "Ashu, please step aside first. We will discuss it tomorrow. Imperial Master, please take a look at this letter."
After Ashu left, Hao Jing said: "This is Jia Sidao conveying the news that Wulihan is still alive. He wants his ministers not to act rashly, otherwise Wulihan's life will not be saved."
"Is this a threat?" Kublai Khan glanced at Yin Tianya and said, "Then Xuan Yang Lianzhenjia will enter."
After Yang Lianzhenjia entered the house, he knelt down carefully and said: "I, the priest of Tianya Water, Yang Lianzhenjia, see the Great Khan and the Lord God."
"No gift,"
"Thank you, Great Khan," Yang Liazhenjia stood up and said to Hao Jing, "I have met the Imperial Master."
Hao Jing returned the greeting and said, "You're welcome, priest."
Yin Tianya asked casually: "Yang Lianzhenjia, I asked you to go to Jishou to stir up a dispute between Han and Miao. Why did you fail?"
Yang Liazhenjia, who had just stood up, was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Returning to Master Shenzun, this trip was originally going smoothly, but later it was ruined by Wen Tianxiang, the minister of the Southern Dynasties from Lin'an, and others."
Kublai Khan said: "Wen Tianxiang, who is this person?"
Hao Jingdao: "Great Khan, this Wen Tianxiang was one of the number one scholars during the Lizong period of the Song Dynasty. He was quite talented. It is said that he was highly appreciated by the young emperor of the Song Dynasty."
Yang Lianzhenjia said: "Exactly, Master Hao, ah, no, Master Imperial Master is right. Wen Tianxiang is now the chief academician of the Southern Dynasty Government Affairs Council. Together with another man named Lu Xiufu, he is known as the right-hand man of the little emperor. "
Kublai Khan said thoughtfully: "Really? Wen Tianxiang, Tianxiang, the name is quite good. I will definitely recover this person when I go south. Imperial Master, please write down this name and let the soldiers capture him alive during the southern expedition in the future." This person,"
"Yes, I have already written it down," Hao Jing didn't know why Kublai Khan suddenly had such a strong interest in a minister who was not a very well-known minister in the Song Dynasty. Could it be because of his auspicious name?
Historically, Kublai Khan did have a good impression of Wen Tianxiang, and failed to persuade him to surrender several times. It was not until Wen Tianxiang was imprisoned for five years that Kublai Khan, under pressure from the traitors who surrendered to the Yuan Dynasty, ordered his execution. Even so, he was executed on the execution ground. , the prison officer also said that as long as Wen Tianxiang is willing to surrender, he can be spared from death immediately.
Kublai Khan continued to ask: "Yang Lianzhenjia, what is the Government Affairs Council and what department are you talking about just now?"
"Great Khan, according to the information I gathered, the Government Affairs Council is a newly established department of the Southern Dynasty. It is composed of Wen Tianxiang, Lu Xiufu and other officials. It is said that it will replace Zhongshu Province and become the core agency of the Southern Dynasty's government affairs."
"That means the young emperor of the Song Dynasty and Jia Sidao were competing for control of the Song Dynasty," Hao Jing thought for a while.
Kublai Khan said: "Well, it's very possible. Yang Lianzhenjia, you should collect more information on the movements of the Southern Dynasty court in Lin'an and try to obtain more detailed content."
"Great Khan, I understand that I have already hooked up with Jia Sidao. I believe that the sources of intelligence will be wider in the future,"
"Okay, Yang Lianzhenjia, please continue to explain to the deity why you failed to go to Jishou,"
Yin Tianya's face was slightly gloomy: "Priest Shui, I have learned what happened from your letter. It seems that Wen Tianxiang left well-prepared. The martial arts of the two guards are not trivial. I thought that you would do my best for me." Mongolia has found a lot of useful information. Forget it this time. If there is another failure next time, it will have to be dealt with according to the canon rules. Yang Lianzhenjia, get up."
Only then did Yang Liazhenjia feel relieved, stood up and said, "Thank you, Lord God." As one of the two great priests of Tianya, Yang Liazhenjia certainly knew how terrifying Yin Tianya was. Even in the face of thousands of troops, Yang Liazhenjia had the courage to escape. But when facing Yin Tianya, let alone courage, he didn't even have the slightest thought of escaping.
"Water Priest, I will record this crime first. You have to rest for a day and return to Lin'an tomorrow. Find out where Wulihan is being detained as soon as possible and try to rescue him. In addition, you must follow the orders of the Great Khan to increase the number of people. Strengthen your efforts, whether it is from Nanshan or Jia Sidao, we must collect more information about the Southern Dynasties,"
"Yes, Lord God, I will obey the order,"
"Master Priest, Hao, I would like to ask you a question,"
Yang Lianzhenjia hurriedly said: "Emperor Master, please speak."
"Judging from your contact with Jia Sidao, what is Jia Sidao's mentality?"
"Back to your lord, I feel that Jia Sidao seems a little decadent. He is not as arrogant as the rumors say, nor is he as peaceful as the last time I saw him."
"Master Priest, why is this?"
"Emperor Master, I have been taught by the Lord God and have a brief knowledge of physiognomy. I took this as an opportunity to have a deep conversation with Jia Sidao. From his words, I can feel that Jia Sidao has a certain kind of kindness. It’s a feeling of frustration,”
"Frustrated,"
"Yes, my lord,"
"Could it be that the struggle for imperial power in the Song Dynasty began to intensify?"
"Sir, this subordinate cannot be sure,"
Yin Tianya said: "Then you should investigate carefully after you go back. What the Emperor wants to know must be very important."
"Yes, Lord God,"
"Yang Lianzhenjia, please go down," Kublai Khan said, "Master, what do you mean?"
"Great Khan, the Song Dynasty has always had imperial power, and the struggle for prime ministerial power later involved the power of the queen. The three parties were fighting against each other. In the late Song Dynasty, when Emperor Lizong was mediocre and the government was young, the prime ministerial power headed by Jia Sidao began to gain the upper hand. However, , after the young emperor ascends the throne, the imperial power and the power of the prime minister will inevitably collide again. This time it seems that the power of the prime minister is at a disadvantage. I vaguely feel that this is not a good thing. I hope I will worry more about it."