Han Gang sat at the table.

The cyan gauze shrouded the candlelight, illuminating the room in a faint yellow, and the occasional crackling candle burst would make his figure on the wall shake for a while

The sound of drums outside reminded him that it was almost the third watch, but Han Gang was not sleepy yet. Tomorrow should be able to hear the results, I don't know if the Son of Heaven will do what he and Zhang Dian wanted.

In fact, Zhang Dian is not a suitable candidate, Wang Shao is. If Wang Shao is willing, as long as he applies to the Son of Heaven, there is no reason to refuse it. And when he becomes the coach, it is easy to solve how to transfer troops.

Han Gang had discussed with Wang Shao the day before yesterday, hoping that Wang Shao would take the initiative to apply for the position of commander of the Southern Expedition, but Wang Shao shook his head.

Wang Shao didn't want to go south. Even if the elimination of Jiaozhi can make him go further, he is more willing to become a privy envoy by virtue of his military exploits against Western Xia.

Wang Shao seems to be radical, offering strange strategies, using strange soldiers, and Li Qixun, and is known as the Three Strange Envoys, but he is actually a conservative character. In the old years, he traveled to Shaanxi for several years, and after understanding the geography and people of the Hehuang border area thoroughly, he presented the Pingrong policy. When he served as Qin Fenglu, he also had an in-depth understanding of the personnel of the road, and promoted a suitable subordinate before officially starting the process of expanding the border. Hehuang Kaibian's military success is actually inseparable from his solid foundation for employing troops.

Now that he was asked to immediately lead the army to the completely unfamiliar southern Xinjiang, Wang Shao was not willing to take this risk, and he was even more unsure of commanding the Jingnan army, despite Li Xin and Liu Zhongwu. "If it's limited to three years, you can go once."

"Where can Yongzhou wait for three years, and I can't wait for three months." Han Gang remembered that he said this to Wang Shao yesterday.

And Wang Shao replied very coldly: "Yongzhou doesn't need to be saved, and it can't be saved." The only military states that can rescue Yongzhou in time are Guizhou and Guangzhou. Even in Tanzhou, on Jinghu South Road, it took almost a month from receiving the imperial edict to sending troops to Yongzhou. Counting the delay in the delivery of news back and forth to Beijing. From the siege of Yongzhou to the arrival of reinforcements in Tanzhou, it will take more than two months at the earliest—almost seventy days!

"With the national strength of Jiaozhi, can you support the supply of food and grass for the 100,000 army that went to war? I have also checked the number of grain stocks in Qinzhou, Lianzhou, and several military villages south of Yongzhou, and they can't support 100,000 troops for long. The more troops were sent to Jiaozhi, the shorter the siege would be, and it would never exceed two months. The reinforcements sent from Tanzhou arrived, and the Jiaozhi people had already retreated. ”

"It's also possible that it's just 100,000." Han Gang retorted.

"If 100,000 is only a claim, but in fact there are only 20,000 or 30,000, then Yongzhou City doesn't need to worry at all. Even if it is thirty or fifty thousand, as long as it loses three or four thousand during the siege, it will have to retreat, and the city defense of Yongzhou can't kill three or four thousand thief troops? When did the Jiaozhi people ever be good at attacking cities? ”

Wang Shao said that it was a soldier's righteous argument, and Han Gang had no way to refute it, these were all things he knew, and there was no way to deny it. But he always felt that the safety of a city with tens of thousands of people was at stake, and as long as there was a 1 percent possibility, he had to make 100 percent efforts.

Wang Shaozhi said that Han Gang was not convinced, and said patiently: "Just like the rebellion of Pingnong Zhigao back then, Di Qing was ordered to be the commander on the twenty-first day of September in the fourth year of Huangyou, and he only went to the palace on the eighth day of October to resign. By the time he led the army to Kunlun Pass, it was already the first month of the fifth year of Huangyou. This is still fast, no one in the DPRK and China is in the way, and there are two places in the northwest that have the alliance of the Yuanyuan and the Qingli Peace Conference, which will not hinder the transfer of troops. Now, do you think about whether it will be too late? ”

"In the case of Yongzhou, either it will be conquered within a few days, or the Jiaozhi people will not be able to support it and withdraw from the siege. It is said that the Jiaozhi thief army can besiege Yongzhou City for dozens of days, or even months, and it is almost impossible for this. …… Yukun. You've always been calm, why are you so anxious this time? Wang Shao asked puzzled.

"It's not impatience, it's just that I feel like it's time to do it." Han Gang replied.

His attitude was influenced by the prejudice of later generations against Jiaozhi, and Su Mian, a year-old friend, was also the reason why Han Gang wanted to send troops to rescue him as soon as possible. After hearing the news of the Jiaozhi Northern Criminals, Han Gang regretted very much that he did not listen to Su Mian's warning, and did not try his best to help him persuade the court.

The south is humid and rainy, and the eight hundred Divine Arm Bows can't last long, even if the Divine Arm Bow doesn't use many tendons and horns, etc., it is also susceptible to the effects of moisture. If Yongzhou falls, Han Gang doesn't feel that he will be without responsibility.

It's just Wang Shao's attitude that makes it difficult for Han Gang to get his wish. And this kind of thing is also reluctant to come, and Han Gang can't persuade Wang Shao to change his mind, as Wang Shao said to him: "Haven't you thought about the situation of rushing out troops and failing?" Not everyone can be bullied as easily as Nong Zhigao. ”

Even Guo Kui, I'm afraid he may not be willing. There is a precedent for Di Qing, and the higher a military general rises, the more dangerous it is. If he wins, he can't make more contributions, and if he loses, he won't be exempt from punishment, so why should he suffer that hardship?

It's just that Han Gang's intention to rescue Yongzhou was firm, so he hit it off with Zhang Dian and mobilized the Jingnan garrison to rescue the south as soon as possible. The first thing to consider is to put aside the destruction of the country in advance, to repel the Jiaozhi people first, and to determine the security of Guangxi.

In the near third watch, at the urging of his wife and concubine, Han Gang was preparing to go to bed, and the summons of the Son of Heaven was also sent to his home.

From the mouth of the chamberlain who came to convey the message, when he heard which people the Son of Heaven had recruited into the palace, Han Gang's face changed greatly. Shaking his head, he mounted his horse, and hurried to the palace in the night with the attendants who were not familiar with him in front of him.

When I was about to arrive at the right gate, I saw a team of only a dozen people in front of me, in front of the city gate.

When he saw Han Gang when he saw him, Zhang Dian couldn't help but complain.

"Why is the Son of Heaven so confused?!" Zhang Dian didn't choose to speak, and he didn't care about the two attendants and walked in front, "What is the identity of Zaizhi, recruited into the palace overnight." Tomorrow, rumors will spread all over Beijing! ”

"That's what I said." Han Gang shook his head and sighed, he also felt that Zhao Ji was really confused.

During the day, he and Zhang Dian both thought that Zhao Ji would bypass the two mansions and give an order directly. The two governments and eight princes are now divided into three factions, one is the old party, the other is the new party, and the other is lively. And the Son of Heaven is anxious, Zhang Dian and Han Gang gave him another choice during the day, even though it may lead to a series of future troubles, but it has not happened at the moment, so it is very likely to directly adopt the opinions of the two.

But the two never expected that they would be called into the palace overnight. And not only they, but also the deacons were called. After hearing the news from the mouth of the inner servant, Han Gang kept shaking his head. If something like this happens, I don't know what it will be like tomorrow, and no matter how urgent the military situation is, I can't act like this!

It's nothing to recruit a minister to enter the palace at night, even if it is a two-system official like a scholar from Hanlin and a scholar from Zhongshusheren, it is also reasonable. But the prime minister's government is different, he is the weight of the country, and his every move affects the overall situation of the court, and how many pairs of eyes look at them. When I saw the Zaizhi hurriedly entering the palace, what other associations could I have? To put it mildly, now Yongwang Zhao Hao may have been called up from the bed and listened to the movements in the palace with his ears pricked up.

After listening to the rumor outside, the two of them walked into the hall. The eight dukes of the two mansions, Wang Anshi, Han Jiang, Wu Chong, and Lu Huiqing did not arrive, while Feng Jing, Wang Qi, Cai Ting, and Wang Shao all arrived. And Yanda, who was summoned at the same time, also arrived.

The mansions of the deacons are very close to Miyagi, and it is impossible to go out to the banquet at this time, so they should all be at home. What hasn't arrived now, most of them are directly blocking the Son of Heaven's dictation. Han Gang said in his heart, it seems that who is the real prime minister can be distinguished at this time.

Zhao Ji's face was ugly, and when Wang Anshi was the first to drive back the chamberlain he had sent, he knew that he had done something wrong. But this is already the case, and there is no room for remedy. Anyway, rumors are rumors after all, as long as there is no follow-up of the facts, no matter how big the storm in the capital is, it can be calmed down.

Seeing Han Gang and Zhang Dian coming in, Zhao Ji didn't say much gossip, and said directly: "Zhang Qing, Han Qing." Regarding the rescue of Yongzhou, how many Tanzhou garrisons need to be mobilized. ”

"Your Majesty, this matter must not be allowed!" Feng Jing immediately stood up against it, "In case Jiangnan becomes chaotic, dare to ask how to clean up the mess?" ”

Wang Jue also said: "Your Majesty, Jiangnan is fundamental, if there is no Jiangnan grain, there will be a famine in Beijing." ”

Feng Jing and Wang Qi's obstruction was expected, and it can't even be said that they are selfish and bad for state affairs. In today's situation, none of them is a foolproof strategy, and Zhang Dian and Han Gang's proposal is also a risk. Compared with the two of them, Feng Jing's proposal is more secure - as long as Yongzhou is thrown aside.

And now there is no Wang Anshi, no Lu Huiqing, Wang Shao does not support Han Gang's proposal, and he will not help to speak, only Han Gang and Zhang Dian are fighting alone.

"As long as the relief is timely and the appeasement is well-managed, why not be afraid of the displaced people making trouble? Could it be that the public thinks that there are many unscrupulous officials in Jiangnan who will provoke the people to rise up!? ”

Feng Jing didn't pay attention to this level of rebuttal at all: "The Hebei refugees two years ago relied on the grain of Jiangnan. Now that there is a famine in the south of the Yangtze River, where can we rely on the food for the relief of the victims? When the army marches south, where will the grain and grass consumed come from? ”

"Enough!"

Zhao Ji scolded sharply. It's back to the scene of the two sides arguing during the day. Seeing that the Son of Heaven was angry, Feng Jing and Zhang Dian bowed their heads and pleaded guilty.

"Zhang Qing, Han Qing, how many soldiers and horses are needed to mobilize the Tanzhou garrison to rescue Guangxi?"

"Two thousand people are enough!" Zhang replied.

"Two thousand soldiers and horses?!" Zhao Ji asked in surprise.

"Only two thousand!" Han Gang explained to the surprised Son of Heaven, "For example, a horse chopping knife can cut off a horse's head with a single blade. But the nearly six-pound long knife is not all made of stainless steel, but only steel as the blade, and the blade is still wrought iron, that is, the steel clamping method is made. The same is true with soldiers, the elite is the blade, and the ordinary soldiers are the main force. With thousands of battle-hardened elites to open the way, and the defenders of Guizhou covered up from behind, the Jiaozhi thief army was vulnerable. ”

Feng Jing sneered: "It's only two thousand reinforcements, less than thirty percent of the Guizhou garrison." The leading generals are shallow in prestige, how can they be valued by the commanders and used as a blade? Jiaozhi dared to invade China, and Liu Yi was guilty and evaded his post. The governor of Guizhou has not yet been selected. Since Zhang Dian swore an oath, the ministers asked Zhang Dian to be the governor of Guizhou, lead the military of Guangxi, and pacify the road. ”

"Zhang Qing?" Zhao Ji turned his gaze, Feng Jing's proposal was not bad......

Zhang Dian was stunned, he was going to be the commander of the Southern Expedition, not Guangxi Economic Strategy. But he is a character who dares to work hard, and he refuses at this time, and the matter of the Southern Expedition has nothing to do with him. Promise to come down, there will be a chance in the future, "Minister's decree!" ”

Seeing that Zhang Dian agreed to go to Guizhou, Zhao Ji remembered Han Gang's position again, "Han Qing." Feng Qing, Wang Qing, and Wu Qing all recommended you as the deputy envoy of Guangxi Transport, I wonder if you are willing to take up this position? ”

Han Gang was also stunned, how could he be the deputy envoy of Guangxi? As soon as my mind turned like this, I immediately reacted. sneered in his heart, be careful to steal chickens and rice. stepped forward and said: "Since the minister eats the court, he should share the worries of His Majesty." ”