This is an astonishing statement.

Yang Wenguang was stunned, and said, "Oh, how can you see it? ”

Zhi Zhao frowned and said his opinion: "Grandfather, as we all know, what I implemented in Daqi is the Sui and Tang Dynasty system, and the military strength is mainly based on the government soldiers, these government soldiers are busy and work hard, train in their spare time, and their combat effectiveness is really uneven, far less than the border army such as the Zhenwu Army, to put it mildly, I use 50,000 Zhenwu troops, enough to sweep the 200,000 government troops, I believe that the Liao iron cavalry is the same." ”

Hearing Zhe Zhao's words, Yang Wenguang changed color and realized the seriousness of the problem for the first time.

Speaking of which, although he was the privy envoy of the dynasty, the privy council was a civilian official rather than a military general, and now it has been a long, long time since the years when he fought the world.

Moreover, since the Battle of Lianghe, the most elite military force of Daqi has almost been destroyed, and the quality of the government soldiers has become even inferior.

Zhi Zhao bluntly said that he was able to sweep away 200,000 government soldiers with 50,000 Zhenwu troops, and I believe that it was also a conclusion reached after accurately judging his own combat strength and having a certain understanding of the government soldiers.

But such a conclusion made Yang Wenguang a little unbearable.

Especially thinking that the sharp teeth of the Liao people were hanging on Daqi's neck at any time, as a privy envoy, he was naturally even more worried.

Zhi Zhaozheng said: "Grandfather, the shortcomings of the army, the first is the implementation of the government soldier system, these government soldiers are half civilian and half soldiers, regardless of their training level, or ability and quality, are inferior to the border army, it can be said that the implementation of the army's change of law is imperative, if it is not changed, if the Liao people are a large-scale invasion in time, the imperial court in addition to the Zhenwu Army and the Guanzhong Army, the two elites, I am afraid that it will fall into a situation where there are no soldiers available." ”

Yang Wenguang pondered for a long time, and sighed lightly: "In this way, the change advocated by Wang Anshi is really correct, but it is a pity that there are too few people of insight at present, and they have doubts about the change, so it is a pity that the change cannot be pushed away for a long time." ”

Zhi Zhao didn't know much about the change, and asked: "Grandfather, how does Wang Anshi want to change the army?" ”

Yang Wenguang said: "In terms of the military system, Wang Anshi wants to weaken the huge number of government soldiers, so as to establish a real sense of elite soldiers, and these elite soldiers are called the forbidden army, which is not engaged in production and training, and the number is maintained at about 200,000 people, specializing in defending Luoyang and dealing with the Western Xia of Liao, and at the same time, local prefectures and counties are establishing a small number of van armies for garrison purposes. ”

"Is it possible?"

"It's very difficult, the soldiers of the Gain Mansion can be engaged in production, and the cost is not much, but the forbidden army is different, the old man used to calculate a detailed account with Wang Anshi, 200,000 forbidden troops also need 50,000 cavalry, 100,000 foot soldiers, 50,000 bows and crossbows, and the rest of the auxiliary army is 50,000, that is, as many as 250,000 people."

"It's okay to say that the foot crossbowmen are the most troublesome cavalry, Ah Zhao, do you know how much a cavalry costs?"

Zhi Zhao didn't think about it, so he replied: "If you want to equip elite soldiers, armor costs ten taels, weapons and equipment cost five taels, war horse saddle bridle costs twenty taels, training costs seventeen or eighty taels, and the annual fixed expenditure must be about ten taels of silver." ”

Yang Wenguang sighed: "Yes, just one cavalry will cost more than sixty taels of silver, and fifty thousand is more than three million taels of silver." And if you want me to say, your estimate of the war horse is still low, the Central Plains to establish the cavalry of the two places to produce horses are only Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures and Longxi, at present, Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures fall into the hands of the Liao, Longxi is occupied by Tubo, for such an important strategic material, if I want to buy in large quantities, not to mention whether the Tubo people and the Liao people are willing, even if they are willing, they will sit on the ground and start the price. ”

After listening to the words, Zhi Zhao bowed his head silently, and he was also very worried about the current military situation of Daqi.

Yang Wenguang immediately said with a firm face: "However, after these understandings, it can also be proved that Wang Anshi's ideas for the reform of the army are very correct, as long as the old man can be this privy envoy for one day, he will support him unreservedly." ”

Zhi Zhao nodded, but when he thought that the army's change of law was not an overnight thing, his grandfather was now eighty years old, and he could do such a long-term meritorious thing, could his body do it?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but ask: "By the way, grandfather, I wonder if the imperial court has a suitable candidate for the next privy envoy?" ”

Yang Wenguang smiled bitterly: "The old man is interested in letting Tong Zhou, the envoy of Hedong Road, take over as the privy envoy, but judging from the current situation, Xie Junhao will have a greater chance of taking over as the privy envoy." ”

Hearing this, Zhi Zhao said with a worried face: "If Xie Junhao takes over as the privy envoy, I am afraid that the reform of the army will become difficult again, after all, he is a staunch opponent of Wang Anshi's reform!" ”

Yang Wenguang nodded and said: "Yes, if Xie Junhao is really made a privy envoy at that time, so that the change cannot be pushed away, Ah Zhao, you must do one thing." ”

Seeing that Yang Wenguang's tone and expression were uncertainly serious, Zhi Zhao couldn't help but become solemn, and said, "Grandfather, please speak." ”

Yang Wenguang said with a straight face: "No matter what, you must maintain the Zhenwu army, defend the northern frontier for the Great Qi, and try to have a good relationship with Xie Junhao in order to win the support of the imperial court." ”

Zhi Zhao thought for a while and sighed lightly: "Although I don't like Xie Junhao's personality very much, since my grandfather has already said so, I can only work hard." ”

Yang Wenguang nodded with satisfaction and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

After lunch, the two walked out of the private room and walked up the stairs to the first floor.

As he was crossing the corridor, the chatter of the diners next to him talking and laughing with each other suddenly came to Zhezhao's ears:

"Hey, if you want me to tell me, that Cui Wenqing is really amazing, even the prime minister Xie Junhao dares to be tough, he is really too individual."

"Hehe, not only has a personality, it can be regarded as lawless! Don't you want to think about it, a normal person would go to the palace gate to sound the drum and complain to the prime minister? ”

"Yes, and it is said that the official family is still very supportive of him, that Xianggong Xie is said to be very embarrassed at present, and his wife and brother Gao Shiyu will most likely be severely punished by Lord Bao."

……

Hearing this, Zhi Zhao had already stopped, and his delicate face showed a look of shock and helplessness.

Yang Wenguang didn't care about listening just now, but when he saw that Zhe Zhao's expression was different, he couldn't help asking: "Ah Zhao, what are you doing here?" What's wrong with you? ”

Zhi Zhao sighed, and said with a wry smile rather embarrassed: "Grandfather, my husband is only afraid that he will be in trouble again." ”

"Trouble?!" Yang Wenguang raised his eyebrows, but he couldn't help but smile leisurely, "Wen Qing is lively and active by nature, and it is normal to get into trouble, nothing strange." ”

Zhi Zhao sighed lightly: "However, the person he offended this time is not simple. ”

"No one, can't even you be the governor of the Zhenwu Army?" Yang Wenguang asked in surprise.

Zhi Zhao said helplessly: "The person who my husband has sinned against this time is Xie Junhao, who my grandfather just asked me to have a good relationship with, and it is said that my husband used a drumming drum in front of the palace gate to sue Xie Junhao." ”

When these words landed, Rao is Yang Wenguang's composure was like a mountain, and he couldn't help but open his mouth wide at this time, stunned on the spot, and his face showed disbelief.

(End of chapter)