In the Chongzheng Palace, Zhao Zhen ordered the tea soup and said to Di Qing: "This time to destroy the party, Taiwei has made great contributions. In the past few days, the DPRK and China have celebrated, and the lieutenant and a cadre of generals have worked hard. The forbidden army is about to be retrained again, and there will be a place for you to work in the future. ”

Di Qing praised Wat and said: "The ministers share their worries for the court, what a merit!" ”

Zhao Zhen nodded, used tea with Di Qing, and said, "What about the future, does Taiwei have a plan in his heart?" ”

Di Qing said: "The ministers are ordered by His Majesty, but they are ordered by the imperial court." ”

Zhao Zhen was silent for a while, and said: "Now that Taiwei Du is in charge of the military reform, for a while, there is no suitable position in the army. After the destruction of the party, there are many places in the world to raise horses, how about the Qing as the Xuanhui Yuan envoy and the herding envoy? ”

Di Qing was silent for a while, and said, "The minister doesn't know much about Ma Zheng. If it's convenient, it's really grateful to have a small county. ”

Zhao Zhen looked at Di Qing, and after a while, he nodded and said, "It's okay, when you get to the place, it's okay to relax and rest." ”

After that, there was nothing more to say, Di Qing bowed and retired.

Di Qing withdrew from the Chongzheng Palace, and Zhao Zhen looked at his back. After a long while, he sighed: "It's different." To build a new army, the old man will eventually retreat. It's Di Qing today, who is it tomorrow? ”

After saying that, I was a little sad, and I was motionless there for a long time. When Du Zhongxiao made contributions to Hequ Road, Zhao Zhen thought that he could combine the strengths of Hequ Road with the forbidden army and get a strong army at the minimum cost. As a result, it can only be said that it backfired. Especially when Di Qing finally occupied Hengshan, the chaos that occurred in the army let Zhao Zhen know that his thoughts were shattered. These days, Du Zhongxiao often worked with the instructors of the military academy to explain military affairs to Zhao Zhen and the ministers of the DPRK and China. Zhao Zhen understands better that a new era has begun, and the old man must retreat.

Di Qing grew up watching Zhao Zhen, and he was more emotional than others. During the Baoyuan period, Yuan Hao rebelled against the Song Dynasty, and Di Qing was transferred to the front line by the Gongsheng Army and served as a commander in Yanzhou. Since then, every time Di Qing has made meritorious contributions and every promotion, Zhao Zhen has handled it single-handedly. Although there are reasons why Di Qing has a deep relationship with front-line coaches such as Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Yin Zhu and others, Zhao Zhen's personal support is the reason why he has risen to the top.

In this party battle, Zhao Zhen deliberately asked Di Qing to take the trained forbidden army to try to make a show, and strengthen his idea that the forbidden army would not change much. In the end, compared with Han Qi, Di Qing's department was a little bleak.

Standing up, Zhao Zhen walked to the back, feeling a little heavy. In this military reform, except for the cadets of the military academy, most of the generals who have been promoted are not familiar with themselves, which makes him worried. Military power is the most important foundation of imperial power, and Zhao Zhen doesn't know what this overhaul means.

In Datong Mansion, Xiao Ge read the letter from Pang from Bingzhou, and said happily: "Although Han Xianggong returned to the dynasty and became the prime minister, fortunately, Pang Xianggong on Hedong Road is as good as talking." With them answered, what else is there to be afraid of! ”

After speaking, Tsai carefully put away the letter and went straight to Yelu Chongyuan's palace. When I entered the palace, I saw Yelu Chongyuan crooked on the desk, drinking and watching the dance in front of him. stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the Hongji army has broken through Tiancheng County and surrounded Changqing County, and it is about to attack Datong Mansion, how can you still be in the mood to drink here?" In this extraordinary period, if you are not careful, you will die and the country will be destroyed! ”

Yelu Chongyuan looked at Xiao Ge coldly and said, "What can I do?" The front-line soldiers are useless, and they can't beat others, so they have to give up the throne. Hongji is my nephew, and it's nothing to be a Khitan emperor. ”

Xiao Ge hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, once we fall into the hands of Hong Ji, we can only let him be humiliated!" ”

Chongyuan drank a glass of wine and said, "What can I do?" If you can't beat others, that's the only way. ”

Xiao Ge said: "There are Shuozhou and Yingzhou in the south, we can go there and slowly find a chance to make a comeback." ”

Chongyuan laughed when he heard this: "I have Xijing Province, and the Queen Mother of Zhongjing Province in the north to help me, but I was defeated by Hongji." Now that the army is gone, what is the use of Shuozhou and Yingzhou? Prime Minister, this is my family matter, Hong Ji has come, you don't have to stick to it, just find a way out. ”

Xiao Ge said in his heart, I naturally know that I have to find a way, but the way out is not Yelu Hongji. His mind raced, and he said, "Your Majesty, you and I have the same desire, and now I won't say these words." The battle ahead is unfavorable, and Hongji's two large armies are about to encircle Datong Mansion. We can't just be caught with our hands tied, so let's avoid it in Shuozhou. Who can tell what is going on in the world? Once there is a change, it is not known whether His Majesty will make a comeback. ”

Chongyuan shook his head: "At this time, the overall situation has been decided, what else do you have to say?" I'll just wait here and see how Hongji attacks! ”

Xiao Ge was a little anxious for a while, and said: "Your Majesty, the ants are still stealing, as long as there is a glimmer of life, it is difficult to say who wins and who loses!" I have arranged for soldiers and horses to guard Datong Mansion, and tomorrow morning, we will go to Shuozhou. As the saying goes, stay in the green mountains, don't be afraid of no firewood, and hide! ”

After speaking, he no longer discussed with Yelu Chongyuan. After leaving the palace, he went to find a general, arranged for someone to guard the city, and arranged for someone to prepare to flee to Shuozhou. Shuozhou is a border city, originally garrisoned by a large army, and in the past two years of fighting with Hongji, the troops have been exhausted. Xiao Ge discussed with the Song army, and deliberately did not bring a large army, but arranged his most trustworthy soldiers and horses to protect himself and Chongyuan to the south.

In Tanglong Town, Zhao Zi and Jia Kui sat down in the handsome tent. After reading the official document in his hand, he said: "Pang Xianggong in the south has already discussed with Xiao Ge, and after he takes Chongyuan to withdraw there, we will attack the city overnight." With Xiao Ge as the internal response, it doesn't take much effort to think about it. ”

Jia Kui said: "Can this Xiao Ge be reliable?" For such a major event, there has been no news of Yelu Chongyuan, it is all Xiao Ge's contact, don't go wrong then. With 100,000 people in our two armies, it is not difficult to attack Shuozhou, but it is difficult to do it quickly. Otherwise, the Khitan soldiers and horses came from Datong Mansion, and it would be troublesome at that time. If Shuozhou cannot be attacked, the result will be defeated, and the court will inevitably punish it heavily! ”

Zhao Zi said: "Xiao Ge is the first important minister under Chongyuan, and all the military power has been in his hands all these years. Chongyuan waste, only know how to drink and have fun, where can you manage national politics? As long as Xiao Ge is willing to surrender, Shuozhou will be ours! ”

Jia Kui shook his head again and again: "Captain, you can't think like this." Our 100,000 soldiers, once something goes wrong, it's not a trivial matter! ”

Zhao Zi smiled: "I am the one who leads the troops, of course I know this truth." This time, Xiao Ge sent his son to deliver a letter when Han Xianggong was on Hequ Road, and he was willing to surrender, of course, he had to arrange his surrender. However, the imperial court transferred 100,000 people from our two armies, and preparations were made early on, of course, it was not the treasure capital that was bet on Xiao Ge. If we don't surrender, we will attack the city with 100,000 men. Shuozhou didn't have many soldiers and horses, and it was not difficult to capture the city before Hongji was able to march south. As long as you get out of the city, you are not afraid that Hongji will lead troops to attack. ”

Jia Kui said: "This time, the imperial court let us only occupy Shuozhou, and we are unwilling to fight with the Khitan, which is really difficult. When the two armies fight, they are most afraid of tying their hands and feet. This attack on Shuozhou is like this, and it always makes people feel uneasy. ”

Zhao Zi said: "When the left and right armies meet, just puff up their chests and fight." Our march this time, according to the news sent by Xianggong Pang, is that after Hou Xiaoge fled into the city, he immediately led a large army to the city. It would be a matter for him to open the city and return to obedience, if not, then he would storm it. Anyway, the imperial court has decided to take Shuozhou, and it must capture the city. ”