Li Tingzhi drank wine silently and listened to Jia Sidao's confession.
"Gradually, I found that my pursuit of power was getting bigger and bigger, just like taking five-stone powder. I couldn't stop. I also knew that I had made too many enemies in the court. Once I lost power, I would definitely die without a burial.
Land. And when my power expands to a certain level, it will touch the imperial power. Now everyone outside is saying that my dynasty has three powers: imperial power, prime minister power, and queen power. This will undoubtedly push me to the top of the wave. As long as
If you are not careful, you may fall into eternal disaster. I spend my days drinking, drinking, and sensual. Sometimes I feel that I am no longer myself, and I can only muddle along. Brother Xiangfu, you are an upright person when you drink. There are some things you
I don’t understand, even I don’t understand, how we got to where we are today.”
Li Tingzhi drank another drink and thought for a moment: "Brother Xian, now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, there may be opportunities."
"The new emperor Zhao Yu? Haha, brother, I have seen this Zhao Yu grow up since he was a child. To be honest, he is not as good as the previous emperor."
"Brother Xian Xian, I heard that although Emperor Duzong has just ascended the throne, he is extremely diligent and studies in the study every night."
"Brother, didn't the emperor in history always behave like this when he first came to the throne?"
Li Tingzhi fell into silence again, Jia Sidao's words were true.
"Xiangfu, if you have wine today, you will get drunk today. Don't stop drinking and eating wine and vegetables."
Li Tingzhi drank another glass of wine, and his mood became heavier and he said, "Then according to what Brother Xian said, there is no hope of reviving our country?"
Jia Sidao smiled and asked: "Brother, what do you think? Is there still hope?"
Seeing Li Tingzhi speechless, Jia Sidao continued: "I see it very clearly. In my opinion, the new emperor will relapse within a few months. How can a drunkard and a womanizer do anything? As long as Zhao Yu continues
Give me the power and I will continue like this, otherwise..."
"What else?"
"Haha, drink, drink."
Jia Sidao was already lying on the table. He didn't know whether he was really drunk or pretending to be drunk, but he was still whispering: "Drink, drink, until you are drunk, you will not come home."
Li Tingzhi felt disappointed and looked gloomy. Looking at the leftovers on the table in front of him, he was dumbfounded. Is Mr. Jia Sidao in front of him loyal or traitorous? He could no longer understand it more and more.
Is the Song Dynasty exhausted? Li Tingzhi picked up the wine glass and remained motionless.
######
In the main hall, the ministers stationed abroad reported their duties to me one by one in order of rank.
This kind of debriefing was just a formality. The minister submitted a memorial to me, which is today's debriefing report. Xiaoqi accepted it one by one. These debriefing reports were eventually forwarded to the corresponding departments in the DPRK and China for reference.
"My envoy to Yangzhou, Li Tingzhi, comes to see the emperor. Long live the emperor."
This was the first time I saw this last famous general in the late Southern Song Dynasty. Although Li Tingzhi was tall and tall, he looked haggard.
"I love you, I'm free of charge."
"Your Majesty, in addition to reporting on my duties, I also have this memorial."
"My dear, please speak."
"Your Majesty, Yangzhou City's military resources have been exhausted. I have recruited 20,000 refugees south of the Bian River to supplement the army to defend Yangzhou City. This matter is urgent and I have not reported it to the Privy Council before. I sincerely request your Majesty's permission."
This is the idea I came up with last time, so there is nothing wrong with it.
"According to the report, I will name this unit the "Martial Tax Army". The Privy Council will then issue an edict. Do you have any objections? Li Aiqing guards Yangzhou and has repeatedly accomplished extraordinary feats. I am very pleased. I hope Aiqing will continue to work hard. Make many new contributions to my court."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Tingzhi responded respectfully, but his expression was dazed.
"I have no objection," Jia Sidao said calmly.
"My envoy Lu Wende from the Jinghu pacification system has come to see the emperor. Long live the emperor. Long live the emperor."
"My beloved, I will live without any ceremony."
Brothers Lü Wende and Lü Wenhuan were also considered famous generals in the late Song Dynasty. They were able to defend Xiangyang for several years despite being isolated and helpless, delaying the demise of the Southern Song Dynasty. In the end, Lü Wende was killed and Lü Wenhuan surrendered to the enemy.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Thank you for your hard work, Lu Aiqing. I hope you can protect this important place in Xiangyang."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The morning passed by in such a hurry, but I couldn't remember most of the people.
Not long after I returned to Ningqian Palace, Xiaoqi came to report and Lu Xiufu asked to see him.
As soon as Lu Xiufu entered the room, he said: "Your Majesty, just after going to court, Mr. Li found me and told me that he would leave the capital tomorrow and asked me to arrange an interview with the god who offered me the plan as soon as possible."
"I'm leaving Beijing tomorrow. Is there a change in the border? It's impossible. The north is covered with snow and the roads are blocked. It's not the time to use troops." I thought for a while and said, "Junshi, let's meet at the Shifeng Tea House in the afternoon. Okay, by the way, call Song Rui along."
Li Tingzhi has been restless since her deep talk with Jia Sidao last night. When she saw me in the teahouse, she was shocked and looked at Lu Xiufu beside her.
I laughed and said, "General Li, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
Li Tingzhi immediately knelt down in a panic: "Chen Li, Li Tingzhi..."
I helped Li Tingzhi up and interrupted: "Xiangfu gets up, this is not in the palace, there is no need to be polite."
Lu Xiufu next to him said in a low voice: "Sir, your Majesty calls himself Young Master Yan when you are outside. Sir, you can call him this way. Young Master is the god who offers advice."
"Ah?" Li Tingzhi said in surprise.
"Everyone, sit down and talk slowly. Xiao Qi, serve tea, serve good tea."
I pointed at Wen Tianxiang and said, "This is Wen Tianxiang, the weapons supervisor."
"Could it be Song Rui, the number one scholar during the Baoyou period?"
"Exactly."
"This is my martial arts professor Yuan Ji."
"I have met Mr. Wen, Mr. Yuan."
Yuan Ji, Wen Tianxiang and others also hurriedly returned the greeting and said, "I have met Mr. Li."
I saw that Li Tingzhi looked very restrained, so I poured him a cup of tea myself and said, "Xiangfu, let's have some tea. We are together today. Just feel free to do it."
Seeing this, Lu Xiufu hurriedly said: "Sir, when I was telling the young master about the defense of Yangzhou City, the young master said, the city's defense is perfect, the only blind spot is from the air, and the recruitment of troops on the spot is also the young master's method. .”
After Li Tingzhi finished drinking tea, he calmed down and said with admiration: "Li Tingzhi thanked Your Majesty on behalf of the soldiers and people of Yangzhou, and called Young Master Yan. The Young Master's plan is very clever, so that our city of Yangzhou can be made impregnable."
"Xiangfu, it is good to be impregnable, but blindly defending is not a long-term solution."
Li Tingzhi said blankly: "What do you mean, Master?"
"Of course it's Beiding Central Plains."
Li Tingzhi felt happy, but in an instant she shook her head and said, "Sir, please be frank, do you want to follow the example of the late emperor and enter Luo Ping?"
The Duanping invasion of Luo was a war launched during the Lizong period. After Song and Meng joined forces to destroy the Jin Dynasty, a vacuum was left in Henan. Song Lizong intended to regain his homeland and establish unparalleled achievements. In the end, he rashly sent troops to the Central Plains when he was not fully prepared. Although he recovered Kaifeng, but was attacked by the Mongols in front of Luoyang and returned with a great defeat.
The failure of "Duanping's entry into Luo" caused heavy losses to the Southern Song Dynasty. Tens of thousands of elite soldiers died in the war, a large amount of materials invested were wasted, and the national power of the Southern Song Dynasty was seriously weakened. More importantly, the "Duanping's entry into Luo" gave Mongolia a way to attack
As an excuse for the Southern Song Dynasty, Mongolia began to attack the Song Dynasty.
I knew what Li Tingzhi was thinking, so I smiled and said, "Yes, and no."
Li Tingzhi thought for a while and said: "I am stupid, please tell me clearly."