In the Song Dynasty, there was no law or order.

In September of the sixth year of Qingli in the Song Dynasty, the war in the northwest was in full swing.

Han Qi sent Zhang Kang Jingtai and others to attack Yuan Hao in the west, surrounded Mochuan City, and then attacked Zhuolu City. The battle went smoothly.

Now the Xixia army outside Miaochuan City has been wiped out, and the Song army is bombarding the city.

At this juncture, the Liao Kingdom suddenly invaded Goryeo. In the battle at Guizhou in Goryeo, Goryeo was beaten to a pulp and fled south in a hurry.

Pyongyang in later generations was not the capital of Goryeo, but Xijing of Goryeo.

After King Wang Huinan of Goryeo fled to Xijing, he left General Kang Chengzhi to garrison him while he fled to Kaijing, which was later known as Kaesong in North Korea.

Although the Liao Kingdom once captured Kaicheng and occupied it for a period of time, Wang Hui decided to defend Kaicheng.

Because it is surrounded by two rivers, namely the Xushui River (Licheng River) and the Ni River (Beihan River), and the Bohai Sea is to the west, the terrain is extremely dangerous, making it convenient for the Song Army and Navy to come for reinforcements.

Although the area further south was also the territory of Goryeo, such as Seoul later became Goryeo Nanjing, and the east of Daegu City was Goryeo Tokyo, the south was almost undefendable.

Therefore, in order to prevent the country from being destroyed, the King of Goryeo had no choice but to make a desperate move and chose to fight to the death with the Liao Kingdom in Kaijing to defend his capital.

Almost at noon when the Constitutional Yuan meeting ended, many prime ministers immediately went to the back garden to discuss with Zhao Zhen after discussing it.

Zhao Zhen learned about the situation and heard that this battle could bring back Qingtang, Zhuoluo, Nan and the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun. At that time, he almost died of joy and happily sent troops.

The Song Dynasty was full of obsession with the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, Song Huizong even threatened to make anyone who could take it back the king of the opposite sex, which is enough to show that the Song Dynasty attached great importance to this land.

In the final analysis, the geographical location of Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures is too important.

Without Yanyun, there would be no important defensive position against the northern nomads. He would have to face their offensive pressure at any time, and had to heavily guard the country in order to protect the country. As a result, military expenditures were huge and the treasury was eroded.

Now that he finally has a chance to take it back, it's no wonder Zhao Zhen doesn't want to die.

September 22nd, morning time.

Yesterday afternoon, Zhao Zhen signed the troop deployment order at the speed of light, and the Privy Council also passed it at the speed of light. Then the Ministry of War and the Privy Council quickly began to mobilize the Bianliang Forbidden Army.

Today, the Song Dynasty has more than 600,000 troops. In addition to the Shaanxi and Hebei roads, which add up to about 300,000, and the more than 200,000 scattered locally, there are still about 200 battalions left in Bianliang, which is about 100,000. .

Compared with the nearly 400,000 forbidden troops gathered in Bianliang before the army was reorganized, with a total of more than 630 Tokyo battalions, the forbidden troops at this time appear to be more refined and much stronger.

After removing the old, weak and those who were dawdling in the army, only the elite who dared to fight and fight were left. In addition, every ten battalions constitute an army, and each army has a general who serves as the army commander to manage daily training and army discipline, which greatly enhances combat effectiveness.

At this moment, Fan Zhongyan had just gone to the Privy Council to get the transfer order. When he came out of the Privy Council, Zhao Zhen was already waiting for him.

The shortest way out of the Privy Council Palace is to go south through Duanli Gate, but Fan Zhongyan had to go out through Xihua Gate today to go to the Bianliang Forbidden Army Camp to take the soldiers away, so he took the back gate of Wende Hall in the north. , and then go to Xihua Gate in the west from Fudao.

Outside the gate of Chui Gong Hall, Zhao Zhen came out from the North Palace, while Zhao Jun and other prime ministers came out from the back gate of Daqing Hall to the gate of Zichen Hall. After the two sides met, they saw Fan Zhongyan coming out of the back gate of Wen De Dian from a distance.

Fan Zhongyan's actions in the palace were naturally controlled by them. Seeing everyone waiting for him on the road, Fan Zhongyan hurriedly walked over and saluted Zhao Zhen and said, "Official family."

"Well, I, Han Long and the others will send Duke Xiwen off together."

Zhao Zhen put his hands behind his back, his face was slightly flushed, and he was obviously very excited. After all, this was a major event to regain the Sixteenth State of Yanyun.

Zhao Jun had already told him that during the Song Dynasty, it was only briefly recovered in the late Northern Song Dynasty, and it was only bought back, and was quickly repulsed, which even made the Song Dynasty the laughing stock of future generations. And such a feat is about to happen in his hands, how can it not be exciting?

"I will die, your majesty is at your service."

Fan Zhongyan quickly replied.

"hehe."

Zhao Zhen waved his hand, and then walked towards Xihua Gate first, saying as he walked: "This battle is no better than before. Although the previous battle with Xixia and Liao Kingdom was important and established our current status in the Song Dynasty, the Sixteen States of Yanyun have always been This is the heart disease of Song Dynasty, and I take it very seriously."

"Yes, Taizu and Taizong have tried to take back the Sixteenth State of Yanyun many times, but unfortunately they always failed. If we can take it back in this battle, our Song Dynasty will truly return to the prosperity it once had during the prosperous Tang Dynasty."

Yan Shu next to him also sighed.

Everyone has a solemn look on their faces. If Yan Yun is not taken back, it will always be a lingering cloud over the Song Dynasty, which is heartbreaking.

"I must do my best to let Yan Yun return to Han Dynasty."

Fan Zhongyan said seriously.

Several people walked side by side, Zhao Zhen was walking in front, Zhao Jun was on his left, and Fan Zhongyan was on his right.

Then many prime ministers on both sides and behind him slowly walked towards Xihua Gate one by one.

Zhao Jun also put his hands behind his back, raised his head and glanced at the slightly pale warm sun in late autumn, and said with a smile: "Actually, Lao Fan, don't be too stressed. With the current size of the Song Dynasty, you can defeat the Liao Dynasty." There is still no big problem with the country, it’s just that we don’t want to annex the Liao Kingdom immediately.”

"Um."

Fan Zhongyan nodded slightly and responded.

"The people of the Song Dynasty are only about three million square kilometers, and the Liao Kingdom is close to six million square kilometers. It is still very difficult for us to swallow up twice our own territory at once."

Zhao Jun said as he walked forward: "But this time, I will sow the seeds of decline and destruction for the Liao Kingdom. Without the land of Yanyun, Yelv Zong will really be like a thorn in the back, and use the power of the whole country even more crazily. Develop firearms and military industry and let his national power decline further."

"It seems that I will destroy the Liao Kingdom, take over the Northeast, and reach a huge territory that even the prosperous Tang Dynasty could not reach. It is just around the corner."

Zhao Zhen couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Although the prosperous Tang Dynasty was powerful and had nearly 13 million square kilometers of land, a large part of the area actually came from Jisu Prefecture, such as Anxi, Anbei, Annan, Andong and other protective prefectures.

Jisi Prefecture can indeed be included in the map territory, because Jisi Prefecture is an area under actual control. Jisi Prefecture is just a means of control. It cooperates with local leaders or rulers to jointly manage it. It is just that its control power is slightly weaker than that of the Central Plains. It does not mean that Jisi Prefecture is not Belongs to the Tang Dynasty.

But what the Song Dynasty wanted to do was not to actually incorporate these territories into their territory. In the future, trains and ships will be used as transportation to truly achieve local control. Instead of being as high as the sky and the emperor as far away as before, once there is trouble in the Central Plains dynasty, the remote border states of Jisi can immediately rebel and become independent.

So to a certain extent, if the Song Dynasty could officially take back the Western Regions, Northeastern China, Mobei and other places, it would mean the elimination of the Western Xia and Liao Kingdoms, the Black Khan Dynasty, the Xizhou Uighurs and other places, and there would no longer be a Jizhou Prefecture. If it is truly included in the territory, then the Song Dynasty will indeed be stronger than the Tang Dynasty at its peak.

After all, one is restrained rule and the other is actual control, which are not the same.

"It's just around the corner, but brother, don't be too happy too early."

Zhao Jun poured cold water on him and said: "The larger the territory, the more difficult it is to govern. With the level of development of our future generations, the Big Bear Bear with more than 20 million square kilometers can fall apart overnight. Unless we are so crazy and crazy. Kill everyone and let the Han people occupy this vast land, otherwise ethnic conflicts will be inevitable. "

"Yes, of course I know."

Zhao Zhen calmed down a little from the excitement just now, nodded and agreed with Zhao Jun's opinion: "I understand these principles, so I also know that many things cannot be rushed."

"Well, I've always been worried that when you see my great power in the Song Dynasty, brother, you'll slap your head and say you want to conquer a huge territory."

Zhao Jun was very pleased that Zhao Zhen was self-aware, but he was afraid of hurting him, so he continued: "But don't worry too much, brother. The basis of feudal society's rule is actually productivity. As long as productivity increases, people can afford to eat. If you can afford to wear clothes, the turmoil will be much less, the resistance will be much less, and the rest will naturally be the means of domination and enlightenment. "

This was the case in the Qing Dynasty. Only a few people from the Manchu and Qing Dynasties entered the customs. But as long as they won the war and established the Qing Dynasty, and the end of the Little Glacier in the late Ming Dynasty, sweet potatoes and other products were introduced, and productivity increased explosively, then the people would have the power to rebel. It's smaller.

Although there were many rebellions during the Qing Dynasty, there were very few that shook their rule, and most of them were concentrated in the late Qing Dynasty. There were not many rebellions in the early and middle periods. We can know that if the Song Dynasty occupied that vast land, as long as it could provide With enough productivity to support such a large population, the foundation of rule will still be very solid.

After that, we only need to complete education and ideological transformation, and reasonably build the surrounding ethnic groups into one of the Chinese ethnic groups, an indivisible family of fifty-six. Then there may be great sages within those ethnic groups who will take the initiative to defend the Han people. Classics, let them become noble people of the Song Dynasty honestly.

Just like the people of Goguryeo, Japan, and Silla, they all dreamed of becoming people of the Tang Dynasty.

A few people were walking and chatting, and it didn't take long before they arrived at Xihua Gate. There was a small team waiting outside Xihua Gate. There were about two hundred people in them, arranged in a neat line, fully armed, like a group of steel. The warriors stood in place.

Di Qing was riding on horseback. Further away, such as outside Qingtai Street, Xihuamen Street, and Qishengyuan Street, many people gathered nearby and commented on the army standing outside Xihuamen.

"This is our army of the Song Dynasty, so powerful and majestic. By the way, what are they doing standing here?"

"You don't know yet, haven't you read the newspaper?"

"No, I went to work this morning, so I don't have time to look at it."

"The Liao Kingdom is attacking Goryeo. The officials want to stand up for Goryeo and plan to send people to rescue them."

"Is there going to be another war?"

"What are you afraid of? Now in our Song Dynasty, who dares to provoke us? Even the Liao Kingdom can only bully Goryeo."

"Yes, with such a powerful army, our Song Dynasty is invincible."

The people talked one after another.

This is the confidence that a strong army can bring to people.

In ancient times, the Han people themselves were the most confident nation in the world. They had the slogan "Anyone who openly offends the powerful Han will be punished no matter how far away".

It is far different from some people in later generations who only believe that the moon is the roundest in foreign countries. Even if they cannot be reincarnated abroad, they still risk their lives and being teased by Lao Mo to eat donuts in a foreign country.

Although this self-confidence was slightly defeated in the Song Dynasty, at the official level, this sense of pride among the people is still there and is far from declining.

Therefore, the people of the Song Dynasty have always been full of martial virtue and are not afraid of enemies, let alone war.

Not to mention that the Song Dynasty has defeated Xixia and Liao Kingdom and regained the throne of Asia's No. 1 brother. Even if they are not defeated, I am afraid that the people are looking forward to the rise of the Song Dynasty again and slap Li Yuanhao and Yelu Zongzhen hard.

At this moment, everyone had reached the gate of Xihua. Zhao Zhen couldn't leave the palace, so he stopped where he was. There were noisy sounds outside. Although he couldn't hear clearly what the people were saying, he could always guess something.

"The people of Li are watching. Presumably they are also hoping that I can take back Yanyun, let the Han people there return to their homeland, and make the Song Dynasty strong again!"

Zhao Zhen looked out from the palace gate and saw in the restaurant outside the palace. He didn't know how many people were lying on the railings talking, so he turned to Fan Zhongyan and couldn't help but sigh: "Xiwen Gong, this battle depends on everything." is you."

"I will definitely live up to your Majesty's trust and live up to the trust of all the people!"

Fan Zhongyan bowed his hands seriously.

"Be careful here and take care of yourself."

Zhao Zhen remembered that Wang Zeng had died of illness not long ago, and that Lu Yijian was still bedridden and might not have long to live. He couldn't help but hold Fan Zhongyan's hand with concern and said: "It's cold in Liaodong, so you must not take risks."

"Yes, I understand."

Fan Zhongyan raised his head, glanced at the sky and said, "The sky is almost dark."

He was about to say goodbye and leave.

Zhao Jun suddenly said: "Wait a minute, I have something to say."

"What's wrong?"

Fan Zhongyan was puzzled.

Everyone also looked over.

Zhao Jun rolled his eyes and smiled suddenly: "I originally had a few words to tell you, but I think it would be more thought-provoking to tell you a joke from the Song Dynasty."

After hearing this, everyone's expressions changed slightly, but Zhao Zhen said with great interest: "Come and listen to what the great grandson has to say."

It's not that Zhao Zhen is immune or has failed, but since the Song Dynasty defeated Liao and Xixia, Zhao Zhen's self-confidence has also improved.

In the past, when the self-confidence of the Song Dynasty was defeated, it was not the people who were defeated, but the powerful people above.

From the ministers to the emperor, they were extremely afraid of the Liao Kingdom.

During the Zhao Guangyi period, a donkey cart drifted away, destroying the self-confidence of most of the upper-class dignitaries of the Song Dynasty. Even during the reign of Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng, if it weren't for Kou Zhun, Zhao Heng would have moved the capital long ago and ran away.

But today is different from the past. The Song Dynasty has become truly powerful and has enough confidence to face the Liao Kingdom, which it once feared to death.

Just like in the past, when you were skinny and always bullied, you would naturally become more and more inferior to yourself.

But you have been training hard in the gym for two years, and you are so muscular that you can push someone who once bullied you three to five meters away with just a push. At this time, all you have left is your vigorous self-confidence.

Therefore, Zhao Zhen's attitude towards the Song Dynasty jokes that had previously embarrassed him gradually changed.

Song Dynasty jokes themselves are satirizing the Song Dynasty.

But what you are mocking is about the Song Dynasty in the past. What does it have to do with my current Song Dynasty?

Only Yan Shu, Cai Qi, Song Shou and others still resisted the Song Dynasty's jokes.

It's not that they haven't raised their self-confidence, but that this is a feudal society after all, and they have to consider the emperor's feelings.

Scolding him in front of the emperor was always a life-threatening act.

Sometimes when an official hears your sarcasm towards him, he just smiles indifferently and doesn't pursue it, which is magnanimity.

But once the official gets angry, the irony becomes a crime, and he doesn't even know how to die.

Accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger.

But the good news is that this emperor is Zhao Zhen, and the even better news is that Zhao Jun has easily controlled Zhao Zhen.

I saw Zhao Jun thinking for a while and then said: "After the Song army took back Yanjing, when an old Han woman from Youzhou watched Tong Guan's entry into the city, she pointed at him and said he looked like her nephew.

Others scolded her: "What nonsense are you talking about? This is the Prince of Guangyang!"

Old lady: "What did he do to become king?"

Others replied: "He drove away the Khitans."

The old lady asked eagerly: "Can he drive away the Song people too?"

"How about it, do you hear anything from this joke that I want to express?"

Zhao Jun looked at Fan Zhongyan and said.

Fan Zhongyan pondered for a moment, then said: "I know the three major disciplines and the eight points of attention."

"It would be best to compile it into a simple and easy-to-learn song and spread it among the military."

Zhao Jun said.

"I know, I will make the Youzhou Han people return to their motherland with sincerity!"

Fan Zhongyan looked serious.

The Yanyun Han people have been away from their motherland for too long.

Now is the time to come back.

And since you are bringing your compatriots home, you should naturally have an attitude towards your compatriots.

If Yanyun is captured, they will burn, kill, loot and commit all kinds of evil.

What you get in exchange will definitely be disunity.

By then, the Han people in Yanyun will only say, "It's better not to come back."

Therefore, Zhao Jun has always emphasized only one thing - to maintain military discipline and welcome compatriots home!

"Okay, I'm leaving! Official, I'm leaving!"

Fan Zhongyan bowed his hand to Zhao Zhen again, then turned his head and walked out of the palace gate, got on his horse, took one last look at the palace gate, and then headed north, straight into Yanyun.

Seeing his leaving figure, Zhao Zhen and many of the prime ministers of the Constitutional Yuan were reluctant to leave for a long time.

This time Fan Zhongyan carried their hope for the return of Yanyun's homeland, and it was also the unforgettable scar that the Song Dynasty had cherished for decades.

Everyone is full of expectations, looking forward to the day when Yan Yun comes back.

And this day.

It's finally coming.

"Let's go."

Zhao Jun waved his hand, looked up at the sky in the distance and said: "We in the Song Dynasty still have a long way to go. Not only Yanyun, but there will be more and more vast lands in the future, which will all be the territory of the Song Dynasty. Our Chinese civilization will become more brilliant!"