Inside and outside the Zhang Mansion, soldiers surrounded him.
Zhang Yue bowed before the emperor and said that since he was ill, the emperor and his ministers had not seen each other for more than half a year.
Although they did not meet each other, the monarch and his ministers wrote letters to and from each other.
There is a tacit understanding between the monarch and his ministers.
After all, people rule.
After Zhang Yue reported his illness, the officialdom did not feel that layoffs were affecting the arteries. As a minister, Zhang Yue did not realize that he was the only one in the world.
Now that the emperor is here in person, I don’t know why?
The official looked at Zhang Yue for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I haven't changed, but I'm getting older these days."
Zhang Yue looked at the official family and his temples were all gray and said: "I have been sleeping in a thatched cottage recently and cannot worry about Your Majesty..."
After listening to Zhang Yue's words, the official reached out and immediately picked up the scroll beside his bamboo couch and said: "You are a prophet who predicts things, and I can't explain some things clearly in the memorial, so I came to see my old minister. Why did you say that?"
Why am I not as good as Zhuge Liang?"
Zhang Yue thought to himself that it was no wonder that the officials personally visited the thatched cottage. It turned out that they had won three battles.
Zhang Yue said: "Your Majesty is concerned that when Zhuge Wuhou was in Jingzhou, he went on a study tour with Yingchuan Shi Guangyuan, Xu Yuanzhi, Runan Meng Gongwei and others. All three of them studied for mastery, while Zhuge Wuhou only studied for rough knowledge. Zhuge Wu studied
The three Hou Yans can serve as governors and governors of the county."
"I also strive to become proficient in my studies. It is said that I am just a talent of the county guard. I was promoted to the position of Prime Minister and Assistant because of His Majesty's respect."
The official said: "I promoted you to the position of prime minister because you are capable."
After a pause, the official smiled and said, "That's right. Isn't it good to study for mastery?"
Zhang Yue said cautiously: "Okay, but it's not as good as looking at its rough outline."
"To be proficient is to learn and know, but to observe the general knowledge is to know it from birth. Zhuge Liang rarely has outstanding talents, and he comes from a family of officials, so he can observe his general knowledge. However, his ministers are dull, and the only way to learn is to progress with diligence.
.”
After Zhang Yue finished speaking, Zhang Cheng, Shi Deyi and Xu Xi wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
Zhang Yue's implication is that Zhuge Liang relies on talent, and I rely on hard work. This is really shameless. A man who won the top prize at the age of seventeen actually said that he relied on hard work instead of talent.
How can there be such a shameless person in the world?
Zhang Yue knew that others would not believe him even if he said it. He was indeed a mediocre talent. He did not have the ability to remember photographs, and he was not as talented as Zhuge Liang. When he was young, he relied solely on cheating in reading in his dreams to become what he is today.
.
What is born knowing? From the beginning, cognition is a full-level existence. They are good at discovering problems, and then they are oriented to solving problems, and the optimal solution is calculated.
And to learn and know, you have to go through a long process of "the more you practice, the more you know, the more you know, the more you practice." In the beginning, you don't even know what the problem is, so you can only run into it blindfolded.
This is often the case for people who climb up from the bottom. By the time you have a vision and structure, your life is already halfway through.
The official laughed and said: "One knows it from birth, and the other knows it from learning. Zhuge Wuhou is the former, and Qing is the latter."
Zhang Yue smiled and acquiesced.
Xu Xi and Shi Deyi, the officials all thought that they had no foresight, just like Zhuge Wuhou, who was omnipotent, so they visited the thatched cottage to ask for advice on how to plan the next step for the overall situation?
The misunderstanding was huge. If I really had the ability to command the Song army to win this battle, why did I oppose the expedition to Xia in the first place?
The chamberlain put the throne on the throne, and the official waved his robe and sat down, saying, "I just heard your son's poem about Zhang Yong, the prime minister of the previous court, but I thought about the time when Zhang Yong and Kou Zhun encouraged students to learn."
"Zhang Yong once said that Kou Zhun was a genius, but unfortunately he lacked academic skills. Therefore, when Zhang Yong met Kou Zhun, he told him that Huo Guang's biography must be read. Kou Zhun was puzzled at the time. When he went back to read and read the words "Huo Guang has no knowledge and skills," he understood what Zhang Yong meant."
"You have great talent, knowledge and skills. You are much better than Kou Zhun. What can you tell me about the expedition against Xia?"
Zhang Yue always advocated a slow and shallow attack before advocating for the expedition to Xia, but the emperor wanted to attack quickly and violently, so he withdrew from Zhongshu. The emperor no longer trusted him in this matter, so Zhang Yue took a step back and let the emperor use what he felt
A minister you can trust.
Zhang Yue said: "I am stupid and dare not speak on this matter."
The official said: "This three-pronged attack on Xia was successful. Since you already knew it, why did you advise me not to attack it?"
Zhang Yue said: "I expected victory in all three directions."
"The Xia people are not as good as me in field battles. In the past, when they defeated me, they all knew how to lure me out of the fortress and then regroup and annihilate them. This time during the expedition to Xia, Xia Jue was not as good as me when the two armies faced each other."
"Secondly, His Majesty has worked hard in the past few years. The Western Army has strengthened its troops and horses. He also has the skills of a teacher and an expert, and is assisted by famous generals such as Liu Changzuo. It is not difficult to win."
"The third reason is that there is discord within Xixia. The Xia Kingdom leader and the Empress Dowager Liang Yimi are fighting for power. At the beginning of the dispatch of troops, the orders must be inconsistent and cannot be organized, so it gives us an opportunity to take advantage of."
"So I know that the three routes will be successful, but it's not because I have foresight."
The official somewhat understood that what Zhang Yue was capable of was not unexpected. In recent years, Xixia's combat power has declined, while the Song army's combat power has increased. This is an indisputable fact. No wonder Zhang Yue was able to predict such a judgment.
.
The official asked: "You think that after the three-pronged victory, what will be the next step?"
Zhang Yue heard this and said: "My lord..."
The official said: "There is nothing wrong between you and me, the monarch and my ministers."
Zhang Yue said: "We will close it when we see it. After Xihe Road and Jingyuan Road take Mingsha, we will set up strongholds and fortifications here. As for Fuyan Road, we will take Xiazhou, Suizhou, Yinzhou, Youzhou and Shizhou.
Xihe Road ends at Lanzhou."
There was one sentence that Zhang Yue did not say, so that there would be no danger of losing his troops and overthrowing his army, and even if there was a small defeat, there would be no major defeat.
Zhang Yue wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't.
To put it bluntly, the Song Army's logistical supplies were insufficient and they could only carry out a weekly offensive. The victory in the front was unpredictable, and once it exceeded the necessary number of days, it would not be able to hold on.
However, Xixia was deceived at the beginning. In the later period, in order to take advantage of the Song army's weak defense in depth, they cut off their food and grass and harassed their supplies. The Song army was bound to lose.
Therefore, Zhang Yue has always advocated a shallow attack, hitting at intervals and stopping at intervals.
The official said: "I will consider what you have seen. I have ordered the Xihe, Jingyuan and Huanqing roads to protect Wang Zhongzheng's troops and horses along the way, and Hedong and Yanyan to protect the troops and horses along Gao Zunyu's route."
"There will be no loss."
Zhang Yue looked at the emperor and knew that he didn't listen to his words. He could only say: "Your Majesty, Zhong'e is so easy to take advantage of. Don't give him the power to do things expediently!"
The official smiled and said, "I understand. How is your health lately?"
Zhang Yue said: "I haven't recovered from my cough yet!"
The official understood the implication of Zhang Yue's words and said: "That's good, Qing is resting and recuperating. I will come to visit Qing's family in a few days!"
After saying that, the official stood up.
This is using me as a counselor... Zhang Yue said: "Your kindness is so great that I can't repay you even if I am so heartbroken."
Zhang Yue and his family personally escorted the emperor out of the mansion, but saw the soldiers inside and outside the mansion evacuating.
And when they arrived at the gate of the mansion, there was a huge crowd of people watching Tian Yan, and everyone praised the Emperor for his courtesy in treating the Prime Minister!
I'm afraid there are not many ministers in the world who can expect the emperor to visit him in person.
The emperor left immediately, and Zhang Yue watched the emperor express his thoughts.
He knew that the emperor's intentions were good.
For example, Wang Anshi, Sima Guang and other ministers were motivated by their intentions. They were not for the world, for the country, and for the people. But why did they go in opposite directions and become incompatible with each other?
But when it comes to right and wrong in the world, you really can’t just ask about your heart! There are too many such things in history. Can just saying that your intention is good can avoid mistakes? In this way, Wang Mang can also be called a saint.
When he returned home, Zhang Cheng looked at Zhang Yue's worried face and couldn't help but asked: "Dad, your Majesty personally visited the thatched cottage, and the king and his ministers met so kindly. There are few people in ancient and modern times who can compare to dad."
"Why is daddy still so worried?"
Zhang Yue smiled bitterly when he heard this and said: "At this stage, how can I worry about personal honor and disgrace?"
…
Thousands of miles away, the emperor personally visited Zhang Yue's thatched cottage to ask for advice.
Xixia court.
Liang Yi buried and Liang Yongneng both returned in defeat. Li Qing said nothing. He had already followed my advice and ceded the five Dingnan states long ago, so this matter would not have happened.
The leader of the country, Li Bingchang, who was sitting behind Li Qing, remained silent. After the disastrous defeats of Liang Yi and Liang Yongneng, there were not only many generals who continued to advocate war against Song Dynasty, but actually asked for war one after another.
Liang Yi said: "The only strategy now is to ask for help from Daliao! As soon as the Pishi army arrives, the Song army will roll up its armor and flee overnight."
Li Qingdao: "No, in the past few years the Liao Kingdom has used the pretext of observing the ceremony to explore our country's path several times, and the intention is obvious. The Liao Kingdom cannot be trusted."
Liang Yi said: "Your Majesty, only Daliao can save me now."
Li Bingchang followed Shan Ruliu and said: "I understand, I will pay tribute to the Liao Kingdom with camels and horses, and ask the Lord of Liao to send troops to help."
Liang Yongneng, who was defeated by Zhonge, said: "Your Majesty, it has been confirmed that there are hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the east direction of Yanyan Road, and there are more than twice as many civilians."
"As for Jingyuan Road and Xihe Road, the total is less than 100,000. Both roads are heading towards Xingqing Mansion."
"What to do?"
At this time, a veteran general stepped out and said: "Your Majesty, the troops of the Eastern Dynasty are extremely fierce. I think it is better not to reject them. We only need to strengthen the walls and clear the country, allowing their troops to penetrate deep. Then we will gather troops and horses in Xingling Prefecture and plunder them with light cavalry."
The food road means that the armies of the Eastern Dynasty have no food and will be trapped without fighting."
Liang Yimi and Liang Yongneng both said well.
"This old method can still be used. We used this method when we lost to the Song Dynasty."
Li Qing questioned: "But Liangzhou and Lanzhou are being besieged by the Southerners and Qingtang. What should we do if they are abandoned now?"
"We don't have to worry about so much anymore. Let's kill the current Eastern Dynasty soldiers and horses first," Li Bingchang said, snapping the case and saying, "Immediately send an order to mobilize the troops of the Twelve Military Supervisors and Taodui elite soldiers to come to the aid of Xingqing Mansion."
When the generals met, the king was young, but he was very decisive. He had been saying before that he was bent on being friendly to the Song Dynasty, but he could still handle it in old times.
After being fooled by the Song Dynasty in the early stages, the Xia Kingdom quickly adjusted its strategy.
From the original position of occupying the enemy's gate, first break through all the way, then immediately turn to strong walls and clear the country, abandon the outer perimeter, and gather heavy troops in Xing and Ling prefectures.
As a result, the Song Army's Yanyan Route Army advanced smoothly and conquered Xiazhou, Suizhou, Yinzhou, Youzhou, and Shizhou, which were almost reduced to empty cities in one fell swoop.
Gao Zunyu was overjoyed and immediately went to report the victory. He occupied troops and consolidated several states, leaving Zhong'e to advance his troops to revitalize the state!
The soldiers and horses from Xihe Road and Jingyuan Road also met at Mingsha, and discovered that the Xixia soldiers and horses had stored hundreds of thousands of military rations. The military ration problem that had been bothering the Song army on Jingyuan Road was immediately solved.
Wang Zhongzheng continued to go north and attacked Lingzhou, an important town in Xixia, as planned!
For a time, good news came frequently on the northwest front.