Yuan Ji replied: "Your Majesty, Ye and Yao have not sent back the news yet. The mountains at the junction of our country and the Annan Kingdom are steep and the terrain is complicated. If Nanong hides in the mountains and cannot come out, we will have to wait a little longer. Already."
"Well, there's no rush. If you have any news, please report it to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Okay, sir, let's go to the martial arts training hall. Jun Shi, Zhao Aiqing, you two should exercise more when you have time. Your body is the capital of doing things." I almost said that the body is the capital of the revolution. If that's true. .It’s probably going to be a big joke.
In ancient times, whenever dynasties changed or monarchs changed their surnames, it was called a revolution.
Revolution. As an emperor, whose life do I want to revolutionize? My own. I couldn’t help but laugh secretly.
Lu and Zhao saluted and said: "I will bear in mind your Majesty's teachings. I will take my leave."
I nodded and said, "Sir, Xiaoqi, let's go too."
Along the way, I said as I walked: "Sir, I feel that my body is much stronger. Winter is here, and I don't feel so cold anymore."
Yuan Ji smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the diligent training over the past year has definitely paid off."
"Well, sir, I have learned all of Taizu's Changquan and Taizu's sword techniques, and they are quite effective. Both speed and strength have been greatly improved. As for the Shadowless Step, I remember them very well. But I can’t see the effect yet. How should I practice in the future?”
"Your Majesty, there is still more than February this year. I think your Majesty will still focus on practicing Taizu Changquan. As for the content of next year, I am still thinking about it."
"Okay. Let's practice boxing first. We'll talk about the rest until next year."
As soon as the three of us entered the martial arts training hall, we saw Eunuch Zhou coming in a hurry.
"The official family. The old slave has sent some snacks to the official family according to the order of Concubine Quan."
Quanjiu knew that I had not eaten at noon and was worried that I was practicing martial arts on an empty stomach, so he sent someone to bring snacks. I suddenly felt warm in my heart. He pointed to a table at the door and said, "Okay, Eunuch Zhou, just put them here."
"Yes. The official family. Concubine Quan asked the servant to tell the official family. Eat it while it's hot."
The next afternoon, outside the Shifeng Trading Company.
Zhang Shun and Zhang Gui arrived at the trading company on time according to the address I left. "Brother, tell me, who is Mr. Huyan? How could he let us come to this trading company for an interview instead of going?" Go to the Ministry of War Yamen."
"I don't know who Mr. Zhang Gui Huyan is. At least I don't think he has any ill intentions. And he can treat illnesses for us who are strangers. He has the heart of a Bodhisattva."
"That's true. I also think Mr. Huyan is a good person. I just don't know what his purpose is."
Zhang Shun smiled: "You will know it when you see it."
"You two, what are you doing here?" Xiaosi stepped forward and asked when he saw someone arriving.
"Brother, is this Shifeng Trading Company?"
"Yes. You are."
Zhang Shun cupped his fists and said, "I'm Zhang Shun. This is my brother. The two of us are here to attend the appointment with Young Master Huyan."
Xiao Si returned the greeting and said, "It turns out they are the Zhang brothers. The young master is already waiting for you upstairs. Please."
"Brother, thank you."
Xiao Si led Zhang Shun and two others upstairs. In front of the door, he said respectfully: "Master, the Zhang brothers have arrived."
"Come in."
Xiaosi pushed open the door, stretched out his hand and gestured to Zhang Shun, saying, "Please."
"Zhang Shun kowtows to Master Huyan and Mr. Yuan." Zhang Shun knelt down with Zhang Gui after entering the room.
"Get up."
After Zhang Shun stood up, he thanked me again and said, "Zhang Shun thanked Mr. Huyan for donating medicine to treat his illness. He also thanked Mr. Yuan for his great kindness to my Zhang family."
"It's nothing to worry about. As the saying goes, acquaintance means fate. Zhang Shun looks a lot better. Sit down and have a cup of hot tea."
Yuan Ji also said: "Two worthy nephews. No need to say thank you. Please sit down."
After the two sat down, I pointed to Lu Xiufu next to me and said, "Zhang Shun. This is Mr. Lu from the Ministry of War. He is also the person in charge of recruiting generals for the imperial court."
After Zhang Shun heard this, he quickly stood up and said, "Zhang Shun is from Anji on Liangzhe Road. Zhang Gui has met Mr. Lu."
Lu Xiufu nodded and said, "I, Lu Xiufu, currently serve in the Ministry of War."
"Okay. Now that everyone knows each other, let's get started."
"Yes, young master," Lu Xiufu said. "Zhang Shun. Zhang Gui. Let me introduce your experiences first."
Zhang Shun said: "Yes, sir. I am Zhang Shun. I am thirty-one years old this year. I have been fond of reading military strategies since childhood. When I was nineteen years old, I won the fourth place in Anji County Examination and was awarded the title of scholar. After that, I spent five years and studied for two years. Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and other places. Later, I became a disciple of an unknown elder. I studied the marching formation method and the battle cases from ancient times for three years. After the master traveled around the world, I have been studying these battle cases at home. Until I recently heard that the imperial court is recruiting military talents, so I came here to apply."
Lu Xiufu said: "That means you have no experience in the military."
"Yes, sir."
According to today's terms, it means that Zhang Shun has no work experience.
Lu Xiufu continued to ask: "Zhang Shun. Then tell me what your master taught you."
"My lord, the master mainly imparted knowledge in the following three aspects. The first is the method of marching and formation. This aspect is similar to that in the military books. The second is the analysis of various cases since ancient times. The master asked me and him to fight separately. For example, when talking about the Battle of Guandu during the Three Kingdoms period, let me first act as Yuan Shao, and then as Cao Cao, look at the Battle of Guandu from different perspectives. The third one is about how to win the war. And When to fight, when to defend, and when to retreat.”
The first and second points mentioned by Zhang Shun are similar to the content of the Military University. But I am quite interested in the third point. To achieve victory, many necessary and sufficient conditions need to be met. Zhang Shun can also talk about war. Choosing the right time to withdraw was not easy. I was about to ask Zhang Shun when I heard Lu Xiufu say: "Zhang Shun, let me focus on the third point."
"My lord, the master said: If you fight three, you will fight. If you fight one, you will defend. If you fight three, you will retreat."
"Three to one."
"Sir, no, the three and one mentioned by the master does not refer to simple military strength. It refers to the three aspects of 'heaven, earth and people'. That is to say, when two armies are fighting, there will be advantages in the three aspects of time, place and people. In war, the commander of the army must take advantage of or even create the advantages in these three aspects in order to stand in a position of victory. Since ancient times, in famous wars, there have been endless cases of defeating more with less. In these cases, it is actually impossible. The analysis is based solely on the strength of both sides. It also depends on the combination of time and place. Because the factor that determines the outcome of the war is not just the number of soldiers on both sides. For example, a soldier who was born as a woodcutter can easily defeat a soldier in the mountains and forests. Soldiers who are not good at mountains. A soldier who is good at water can easily defeat a soldier who is not good at water. This is the combination of heaven, earth and man. What is formed is called three."
Lu Xiufu nodded and said: "I see. Your master's words are very reasonable. The battlefield is changeable. Sometimes every tree and plant may affect the outcome. Zhang Shun is recruiting generals in the army this time. The highest position is Xiang. Commander. If you were asked to serve as the commander of the Lin'an war zone, what would you do?"
Zhang Shun thought for a while and said: "The Lin'an War Zone is newly established. Its soldiers come from the original Forbidden Army and new recruits recruited from the private sector. Therefore, the first task is to train troops and generals. The soul of any army lies in the commander of this army. Therefore, the commander's thoughts must be conveyed to the entire command system. For example, if the commander is a wolf, then the entire command system must have wolf nature. An infantry will not be an opponent of a cavalry. But in a team This is not necessarily true for the infantry. This requires the commander to understand the principle of three and one. Of course, the basic quality of the soldiers must meet the requirements. I believe that without considering the Mongolian horses, the same infantry During the battle, the military strength must be equal to that of the Mongolian soldiers."
"Well, Zhang Shun, I understand this first point. You continue."
"Yes, sir." Zhang Shun continued. "The second point is the integration of the team. There are more than 10,000 people in one compartment. It may be composed of half new recruits and half forbidden troops. This requires all personnel to accept the unification of the new theater. Even the ideology must be consistent. That is to say, in this group, there are no forbidden troops and no new recruits. There is only this group in the Lin'an Theater. The third factor depends on the future combat intentions of the Lin'an Theater. It is offensive. Or defense. But no matter what it is, as long as the soldiers in this group can do the first two points, they can adapt to any battlefield."
"The last question. Zhang Shun, I want to ask you. If you were a Mongolian, where would you choose as the attack point? If you were a Song Dynasty, how would you choose the route of the Northern Expedition?"
"Sir, whether it is the Song people or the Mongols, they will choose to use multi-channel attacks as a supplement and focus on key points. In other words, the four war zones at the border may become attack areas. However, for the current two sides, We don’t know the situation of the army very well, so we can’t determine the key attack target for the time being. But one thing is certain. Our navy’s strength is much stronger than the opponent’s. Therefore, it is necessary to go north by sea.”
"Well, Zhang Shun, please rest for now. Zhang Gui, come here."
Although Zhang Gui's speech was still a little stuttered, his meaning was very clear: "Sir, I am proficient in martial arts and diving. I have also studied the art of war with my master for three years with my eldest brother. According to the master, my eldest brother is handsome, and I can only To be a general."
"Zhang Gui, don't talk nonsense."
"Brother, what I'm telling you is the truth. That's what my husband said when he left that day."
Lu Xiufu smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. Zhang Guinai is a straight-minded person. As long as it is the truth, I can accept it."
Zhang Gui also grinned and said: "Sir, this is of course the truth. Brother, you see how Mr. Lu is not like you. He is always modest." Zhang Gui's words also made me laugh: "I also believe what Zhang Gui said. It’s the truth.”
"You are still Mr. Huyan. You understand me."
I nodded slightly and said, "Zhang Shun, what you said about three and one, I think is quite insightful. The outcome of a war depends on reality and momentum. Reality refers to the reality of strength, and momentum refers to the momentum of power."